Emily Wharton retires as Iowa Department for the Blind Director
After a year and a half battle with stage IV kidney cancer, Iowa Department for the Blind Director Emily Wharton will be retiring on July 18, 2024. Director Wharton has held this position for seven years, being promoted from Technology Director in 2016. A former client of IDB and proud graduate of its Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center, Wharton has dedicated her 26 year career to blindness rehabilitation. She began her career as a cane travel and independent living skills instructor at BLIND, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN. During her fifteen years in Minnesota, she created the award winning Code Master Braille Learning System and an access technology training curriculum based on structured discovery teaching methods. Wharton returned to Iowa in 2013. "I was so excited to be able to return to Iowa and try to pay forward what IDB had done for me. The self-confidence, skills, and positive attitude toward blindness I gained from IDB saved my life."
Director Wharton stated in her retirement letter, "[metastatic kidney cancer] is a battle I most likely will be continuing to fight for the rest of my life. Treatment side effects and the chronic conditions they create have greatly reduced my stamina and tolerance for stress. While my love of public service and passion for empowering blind Iowans to be gainfully employed and live independently has not diminished, I am afraid I can no longer continue to put forth the high level of energy and effort our citizens deserve."
Wharton extends her deep gratitude toward her leadership team and agency staff for their caring and support throughout this challenging time. "I'm sure every Director says this, but I am continually amazed by the innovation, work ethic, and dedication of our agency staff. Before I became ill, I had a practice of commenting on and signing every evaluation in the agency. This would regularly make me tear up with gratitude at how much heart and soul people put into serving blind Iowans. I will greatly miss being a part of this extraordinary community."
The Governor has appointed Sarah Willeford, Deputy Director and Library Program Administrator, as Interim Director while a search for a permanent director is completed.
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For more information contact CIO Connie Mendenhall at connie.mendenhall@blind.state.ia.us or (515) 981-8397
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