| Friedman Place is sponsored by the Association of
Jewish Blind, which has provided housing and services for blind
and visually impaired individuals for more than sixty years. The
Association of Jewish Blind is a nonprofit organization governed
by a board of directors consisting of visually impaired and sighted
individuals. It was formed in 1944 to combat housing discrimination
suffered by people who were visually impaired.
A house on Douglas Boulevard on the west side of Chicago served
as the first residence of the Association of Jewish Blind. In the
early 1950s, members of the Association raised money to buy the
land and build the Kagan Home for the Blind at 3525 West Foster
Avenue in Chicago. Kagan Home, which opened in 1956, was built during
an era when the prevailing attitude of people caring for the disabled
was “Let us do for you.” Attitudes have changed greatly
since then, as reflected in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The design of the Kagan Home left much to be desired in providing
a model for independent living.
Friedman Place, opened in 2005, allows the Association of Jewish
Blind to continue its mission of serving the blind and visually
impaired in a supportive living environment. In addition, this modern
facility provides important resources to the visually impaired community
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