John Gordon Named Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Blind Services

9/29/15

Announcement from Kris Smith, Director of DRS

John Gordon Named Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Blind Services

New BBS Bureau Chief

It is with great pleasure that I announce that John Gordon will start on October 16 as the new Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Blind Services within the Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services.  He will be located at the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) in Chicago.

Throughout Mr. Gordon’s career, he has been an advocate both in Illinois and across the nation working on blindness issues and their enforcement including the Social Security Act, Randolph Sheppard Act, and the American’s with Disabilities Act.   For approximately four years, he was the President and Interim Executive Director of a nominee agency known as the Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois.  He expanded the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors from an advisory board to a revenue generating non-profit agency.  He has also drafted legislation and testified before House and Senate Sub Committees regarding pending legislation that affects individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

Please welcome Mr. Gordon as the new Bureau Chief.  I am looking forward to working with him as we move forward.

Kris Smith, Director

• From Kathy – Congratulations to our very own Mr. John Gordon, Chairman of ICBV.  We have all witnessed his many years of dedication, hard work and advocacy for the Blind of Illinois and across the United States. We appreciate all that he has done, he will be truly missed for sure, here at ICBV but we are very proud and happy for the new doors that have opened for him.  The Blind community of Illinois will be well served by him.