Creating Opportunities for Independence

Karen Keninger is the director of the Department for the Blind, an independent state agency with employees throughout the state of Iowa. Keninger speaks about what it is like to be blind and how the department's services help people regain confidence and get back to living full, productive lives. She addresses misconceptions about blindness, public perception and many of the hurdles a blind person must overcome in order to live an independent life. Keninger has been visually impaired since birth and completely blind since age twenty. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Drake University, a master's degree in English at Iowa State, raised six children, and has worked as a freelance writer.