The department shall:

(1) Supervise the administration of assistance under this article by the county departments;

(2) Make such rules and regulations and take such action as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out this article;

(3) Establish the procedure to be followed in securing a competent medical examination for the purpose of determining blindness in the individual applicant for assistance;

(4) Prescribe the form of and print and supply to the county departments such forms as it may deem necessary and advisable;

(5) Publish an annual report and such interim reports as may be necessary;

(6) Designate a suitable number of ophthalmologists and optometrists to examine applicants and recipients of assistance to the blind;

(7) Fix the fees to be paid to ophthalmologists and optometrists for examinations of applicants, such fees to be paid out of funds allocated to the department or to the county departments; and

(8) Initiate or cooperate with other agencies in developing measures for the prevention of blindness; the restoration of eyesight; the vocational adjustment of blind persons, including employment in regular industries, independent business, sheltered workshops, or home industry; and the instruction of the adult blind in their homes.