Every person aggrieved by an action of the Commission shall be granted, upon request, a hearing before a hearing officer assigned by the Commission. The hearing officer shall not be a member of the Commission. The hearing officer shall have authority to conduct hearings, to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of records and other documents, to administer oaths and to take testimony. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the hearing officer to the Commission for the blind. The Commission shall hold a hearing on the matter which shall be attended by at least three members. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the Commission to the court of common pleas for the county where the appellant resides and the matter shall be heard de novo in the court as a matter of equity. The appellant shall, within ten days after notice of the decision of the Commission, serve notice of appeal upon the chairman of the Commission, stating grounds upon which the appeal is founded and file such notice with the clerk of court to which such appeal is taken. Such appeal shall act as a supersedeas until it is finally determined. The clerk of court shall place the case upon the docket for trial.