Gubernatorial reappointment hearing held for Alan Schneider on Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Alan Schneider, the current chairman of the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI), appeared before the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee for a gubernatorial reappointment interview.

Schneider told the committee he served 35 years as a high school English teacher and described seeking services from the commission after his own vision worsened. "They changed my life," he said, recounting how ICBVI orientation services helped him adapt and ultimately motivated his continued service on the board.

The committee asked Schneider about lessons learned during his roughly 10 years on the commission. Schneider said the biggest learning curve involved navigating government acronyms but praised agency staff: during the COVID-19 pandemic, counselors who could not provide in-person services called clients daily to check on often-isolated, elderly blind or visually impaired Idahoans. "They really appreciated just getting a phone call," Schneider said.

Committee members thanked Schneider for his willingness to serve and noted the value of lived experience on boards that advise or oversee services for specific populations. The committee did not vote on the reappointment at the hearing; the chair said the committee will vote on the reappointment at its next meeting.

The interview was limited to the candidate's background and experience with the commission; no committee direction or formal action was recorded at this meeting.