Overview
March marks Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the efforts and achievements of women throughout history. At the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB), we are taking this opportunity to reflect on the many women whose leadership, dedication, and service have strengthened our agency and advanced our mission of empowering blind Iowans to work, live independently, and pursue the lives they choose.
In this article, we recognize a few of the women who have played a vital role in shaping our programs, supporting our clients, and building a culture of excellence within IDB. Through their commitment and innovation, these individuals have made lasting contributions that continue to benefit the Iowans we serve every day.
Florence Grannis
Florence Grannis played a foundational role in expanding access to information for blind and low vision Iowans. As the founder of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, she served as regional librarian from the library’s inception in 1960 until her retirement in 1976.
Grannis was guided by a clear and enduring philosophy: “A library for the blind should supply borrowers the books and information they want when they want them.” Her commitment to responsive, patron-centered service helped shape the library into a vital resource for Iowans across the state.
Her legacy continues today through the annual Florence Grannis Library Service Award, presented at the Elizabeth Perowsky Volunteer Luncheon. This award recognizes individuals whose exemplary service reflects the same selfless spirit and dedication that defined Grannis’s work.
Ruth Schroeder
Ruth Schroeder was a pioneer in teaching independence to blind Iowans. As the first home economics instructor at the Adult Orientation Center in the 1960s, she helped establish a foundation for skills that remain central to the training program today.
Schroeder’s work extended beyond instruction; she instilled in both students and staff the belief that it is respectable to be blind, and that living independently is both achievable and respectable. During the early days of the program, while the IDB building was undergoing renovations, she is remembered for teaching students in her own home kitchen—demonstrating a deep personal commitment to the success of those she served.
Today, her portrait hangs in the kitchen at the Iowa Department for the Blind, overlooking the space where students prepare and serve meals as part of their training—a lasting reminder of her impact.
Karen Keninger
Karen Keninger’s career at the Iowa Department for the Blind reflects a strong commitment to innovation and service. She began her work with the department as a contractor in the library before joining full-time in 1995. After serving in several roles, she became Director of the Library in 2000 and later served as Director of the Department from 2008 to 2012.
In her career at IDB, Keninger helped guide the department through a period of significant technological change. She supported efforts to expand access to computers and training, helping Iowans transition from paper-based systems to digital tools and services.
Keninger also led improvements to library services, including the development of a recording studio and enhancements to audio and braille programs. Reflecting on her time at the department, she has shared that one of her proudest moments was hearing from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) that Iowa’s program was among the best in the nation, noting, “If you’re going to be blind, it’s good to be blind in Iowa.”