Iowa Commission for the Blind Building

The Iowa Commission for the Blind Building, located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, is a historic nine-story structure completed in 1913, originally serving as a YMCA. Designed in the Neoclassical style by the architectural firm Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson, the building was repurposed in 1959 for the Iowa Commission for the Blind. Under Dr. Kenneth Jernigan's leadership, it became a center for innovative rehabilitation services known as the Iowa Model, emphasizing the potential for blind individuals to lead productive lives. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, making it a significant site for both tourists and researchers interested in the history of disability services.