KAB Background - Milestones of Interest

1920 - KAB formed on 22nd June

From the Second Annual Report

"and after months of careful search and enquiry, a room for an office was secured at 1, Crescent Street, Sittingbourne".

Reverend A B Parry-Evans was the Secretary. After one year succeeded by the Reverend R Wall.

1937/ 1938 KAB moves to 15 Ashford Road, Maidstone.

1945 From the Twenty-sixth Annual Report:-

"The Home Teaching Service stood up to the test of war-time conditions without suffering seriously. The County Council agreed to the appointment of two additional Home Teachers. It was also arranged that Home Teachers should in future be directly engaged by the Council, but that they should continue to work under the authority of the Association."

1946 Ogden Home for the Blind in Ramsgate, officially opened by Sir Edward Hardy, then KAB President.

From the twenty-seventh Annual Report:-

"Our great ambition has at last been achieved. After many years of hopes deferred, we have succeeded in providing a beautiful guest house for elderly blind people."

Mr F P Ogden was the General Secretary

1959 Merrell Holiday Hotel in Ramsgate, officially opened by Sir Edward Hardy.

From the fortieth Annual Report:-

"The final cost of establishing the Holiday Home is not yet to hand but it would seem that this will be in the region of £13,500 of which we have received £8,044 13s 9d in donations etc."

Mr E J Merrell was the Association's General Secretary.

1975 The Kent Talking Newspaper was launched.

From the fifty-sixth Annual Report:-

"But without doubt the most noteworthy achievement of the past year has been the launching by the Association of its own Kent Talking Newspaper, particularly as the benefit of this extends to those who by choice or otherwise (principally age and other infirmities) cannot share the fellowship of club activities."

The General Secretary at this time was Mr E E Stratten.

It is interesting that during 70 years the KAB has had only six "General Secretaries", one having served for only one year.

1984 Agreement commenced between London Borough of Bromley and KAB to provide a Social Work Service.

1984 Agreements commenced between Kent County Council and KAB to provide a mobility service for Mid & West Kent.

1985/ 1986 Merrell Hotel moves to share the premises of the Ogden Home.

1987 County Volunteer Co-ordinator commences

1987 A Rehabilitation Officer is appointed based at Ramsgate

1987 A specialist, working with people with learning disabilities and a visual impairment, is appointed in conjunction with Maidstone Health Authority.

1989 KAB moves to 72 College Road, Maidstone. Rehabilitation and Resource Centre created at the Ogden Home.

1991 Commencement of agreement with Kent and the London Borough of Bromley to provide a full registration and rehabilitation service.

1992/ 1994 Home Care Service Ramsgate.

1993 Maidstone Rehabilitation and Resource Sight Centre opens at 72 College Road.

1994 (April) by now the KAB provides a full registration and rehabilitation service for the entire County.

1996 Tunbridge Wells Rehabilitation and Resource Sight Centre opens at 27 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells.

1996/1997 Rehabilitation and Resource Sight Centre opens at London Road, Canterbury.

2000 Deafblind Guide Commuinicator Service launched.

2001 Information Technology Service introduced.

2002 Kent Equal Employability Project (KEEP) commences.

2004 Partnership with Kent Assessors commences.