Year Honored: 1998

Birth: - 2006

Biography

Beatrice “Bea” Simonds has been an advocate for the blind and visually impaired since 1952, working on creating systems to allow them to have personal, social and financial independence. For 18 years, she worked as an Itinerant Instructor for the Division of the Visually Impaired, where she travelled to clients’ homes to provide instruction and equipment to allow them to function independently.

Simonds volunteered to assist numerous individuals seeking employment by representing them to employers. In the early 1970s, Simonds was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Blind, and shortly thereafter became chair of the committee. She was the driving force behind the increased awareness of the more than 10,000 Delawareans with severe visual awareness. As part of her work, she ensured that the blind are permitted to serve as jurists and helped secure jobs at the 54 cafeterias at State Facilities. She also successfully lobbied for state funds to be used for technical equipment required by visually impaired children at school districts throughout the state.

For her service to the blind and visually impaired, Simonds was awarded the Order of the First State by Governor Carper in 2000. Aside from her work with the blind, Simonds is a highly respected local historian of Georgetown, and also served as director and fundraising chair of the Delaware State Police Museum.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Sources and Additional Readings

Beatrice Simonds Obituary (2006) The News Journal. Legacy.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/delawareonline/name/beatrice-simonds-obituary?pid=145752521

Delaware, T. S. of. (n.d.). About DVI. DVI: About DVI - Delaware Health and Social Services - State of Delaware. Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dvi/about.html