Senate committee hears reappointee to Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard from the gubernatorial reappointment candidate to the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, who described losing her vision and the services she received from the commission and asked for the committee's support. The committee did not vote; members said they will take the reappointment up the next day.

The applicant told the committee she lost vision in one eye suddenly on Jan. 29, 2003, and lost most vision in the other eye over the next nine months. She said staff from the commission came to her home, provided technology training and mobility instruction, and that the services allowed her to continue working and retain independence. "I am here asking for your support for my reappointment to the board of the Idaho Commission of the Blind and Visually Impaired," she told senators.

The nominee also described serving on the commission for 18 years and said her experience in budget management and program evaluation would continue to be useful to the board. Committee members asked medical and personal background questions; when Senator Harris asked what caused the sudden loss, the nominee said doctors had determined optic nerve atrophy likely caused by clotted capillaries, leaving only a small central spot of vision. The nominee also told the panel she skis with a guide and described current snow conditions at Schweitzer.

Committee members did not debate the reappointment at length and said they would vote the following day. No formal action on the nomination was recorded in the transcript.

Minutes: The committee approved minutes from Jan. 29, 2025, at the start of the session.