              RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
                   THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
                                JULY, 1990

The policies of the National Federation of the Blind are established by
resolutions adopted by the national convention. Each year the Resolutions
Committee meets early during the convention in the presence of hundreds of
Federationists, many of whom speak concerning the matters under
consideration. Resolutions are discussed, revised, and ultimately withdrawn
or recommended for passage or disapproval by the full convention. Here is a
summary of the resolutions presented at the 1990 convention in Dallas,
followed by the full text of the resolutions which were adopted.
The Fiftieth annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind
adopted twenty-two resolutions, and a twenty-third was voted down by the
Resolutions Committee. Following is a brief summary of the twenty-two
resolutions:

90-01: Addresses efforts to save the Kennelly Highway Vending Program.

Background: Several years ago at the urging of the National Federation of
the Blind, Congresswoman Kennelly introduced legislation which established
a highway vending program to give blind persons a preference in the
operation of such highway facilities. The American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is currently tampering with
the legal preference given to the blind.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind take all possible steps
to prevent the evisceration of the Kennelly Highway Vending Program.

90-02: Designates the blind as a minority for small business purposes.

Background: A Small Business Administration program offers business
advantages to small contractors who are members of designated minorities.
The Small Business Administration decides which groups qualify as
minorities which will receive the special contractual advantages, but it
has never identified the blind as such a protected minority.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work with the Small
Business Administration to have the blind designated as a minority for
business contract purposes.

90-03: Urges National Federation of the Blind involvement with publishers
of special education textbooks.

Background: Frequently special education textbooks present inaccurate and
damaging information about blindness and the blind. This harmful situation
could be remedied if the National Federation of the Blind were able to work
out an arrangement with publishers so that materials could be previewed and
corrected before actual publication.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work toward the
establishment of a mechanism through which the blind could review and
propose changes in future publications of special education books.

90-04: Commends Senator Hollings of South Carolina for his efforts to pass
the Air Travel Rights for Blind Individuals Act.

Background: The blind continue to experience discrimination in air travel.
Senator Hollings has worked with the Federation for the passage of S. 341
to eliminate the problem.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind commend Senator
Hollings for his outstanding work and that we reaffirm the commitment of
this Federation to obtain a clear national policy against discrimination on
ground of blindness in air travel.

90-05: Supports continuation of AMTRAK service and funding.

Background: Legislation to eliminate federal funding for AMTRAK has been
introduced.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work for continued
funding of AMTRAK so that blind travelers can take advantage of rail
service.
90-06: Calls for clear and accurate regulations issued under the Americans
with Disabilities Act.

Background: In Resolution 89-01 the Federation took the position that it
would support passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act only if it
were amended to make certain that the blind would not be forced to accept
unneeded and unwanted accommodations. The Federation was successful in
securing such an amendment. As soon as President Bush signs the bill into
law, federal agencies will begin to develop rules and regulations.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work with the various
federal agencies to make certain that the proposed rules and regulations
include clear language about the right of every individual to accept or
reject any accommodation.

90-07: Urges direct sales companies to make their sales materials available
to the blind.

Background: Many blind persons have chosen careers in the field of direct
sales. Historically the companies have not provided sales materials in a
form accessible to the blind.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work with direct sales
companies to encourage them to make training and sales materials available
on cassette or in Braille.

90-08: Calls for a change in the Department of Labor's policy against
compensation for attorneys' fees.

Background: Blind employees who are being paid subminimum wages need legal
representation when they are challenging the level of wages being paid.
However, the Department of Labor has declared that compensation for legal
expenses and attorneys' fees cannot be ordered on behalf of individuals who
successfully pursue subminimum wage complaints.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work with the
Department of Labor and Congress for changes so that legal expenses and
attorneys' fees in subminimum wage cases can be ordered.

90-09: Urges that improper state policies be altered in order to protect
the IWRP rights of clients.

Background: Under the current Rehabilitation Act, each blind rehabilitation
client is entitled to participation in the development of an Individualized
Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP), which sets forth the steps by which
the client will achieve his or her vocational objective.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work to make certain
that clients' rehabilitation options are not taken away by state rules and
policies.

90-10: Condemns the negative portrayal of the blind by NBC and its program,
"Empty Nest."

Background: In a February, 1990, episode of "Empty Nest," NBC portrayed the
blind in a negative and demeaning manner.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind urge NBC to eliminate
this specific episode of "Empty Nest" from its library of materials.

90-11: Calls for protection of adequate funding for revenue forgone.

Background: The Federation must be able to do its outreach and educational
mailings under reduced postal rates. These reduced rates are funded by
revenue forgone. A current proposal would significantly reduce this postal
subsidy.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work with the Congress
to fund revenue forgone adequately to insure affordable postage rates for
the NFB and similar organizations.

90-12: Recommends proposals for SSI modernization.

Background: The Social Security Administration is planning to modernize the
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The National Federation of the
Blind has proposed several items for inclusion in the plan.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind urge all responsible
officials and members of Congress to include the NFB proposals in the
modernization.

90-13: Demands that dog guide schools stop asking applicants about their
organizational affiliations.

Background: Some dog guide schools have begun to question the
organizational affiliations of blind persons during the application
process. This practice has the possibility of leading to discrimination
based upon an applicant's organizational affiliation.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind demand that dog guide
schools eliminate questions about organizational affiliation from the
application process.

90-14: Calls for privacy of information about dog guide school applicants.

Background: Dog guide training schools have established a Council of Guide
Dog Schools purportedly to develop standards of training. However, recent
reports suggest that, through this new council, dog guide training schools
have been sharing personal information about blind applicants without their
permission.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind demand that the Council
develop a release of information form which must be signed by the applicant
before personal information may be shared among schools.

90-15: Condemns and deplores the use of waiver-of-liability forms by
instructors of cane travel.

Background: An employee of the Texas Commission for the Blind recently
demanded that a blind client sign a waiver of liability releasing the Texas
Commission from responsibility if the client were injured either during
orientation and mobility training or in independent travel upon the
completion of training.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind condemn and deplore the
use of liability waivers by orientation and mobility specialists.

90-16: Urges that the Department of Labor require sheltered workshops to
develop affirmative action programs.

Background: Under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, sheltered workshops for the blind are required to develop and
implement meaningful affirmative action programs. However, nothing has been
done.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind insist that the
Department of Labor take a get tough stand to make sheltered shops promote
affirmative action for the blind.

90-17: Advocates choices in rehabilitation training paid for by Social
Security.

Background: Many state agencies for the blind offer little or no training
to help the newly blinded individual adjust to his or her blindness. Even
so, under existing law, the newly blinded individual who is being
rehabilitated with Social Security funds is frequently limited to services
in the state where he or she resides, even when those services are
inadequate or nonexistent. This situation places many Social Security
beneficiaries at an extreme disadvantage.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind work actively with the
Social Security Administration and the Congress to establish the right of
the blind client to choose where he or she will receive rehabilitation
training.

90-18: Commends the United States Department of State.

Background: In resolution 89-04, the National Federation of the Blind
condemned the State Department because of its flagrant discrimination
against blind applicants for foreign service positions. Because of
Federation pressure, the State Department has changed its position and will
consider the applications of qualified blind persons.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind commend the State
Department for the nondiscriminatory position which it is now taking.

90-19: Urges funding for public transportation.

Background: Many blind persons use public transportation. A move has been
made to decrease federal funding significantly for these services.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind urge continued federal
support for public transportation programs.

90-20: Calls for the abolition of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
marriage penalty.

Background: If two single blind SSI recipients decide to marry, their
combined SSI benefits will be reduced substantially.

Resolved: That the Federation urge an end to the SSI marriage penalty.

90-21: Commends Recording for the Blind for disassociating itself with the
National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually
Handicapped.

Background: Only the poorest agencies for the blind continue to seek NAC
accreditation (or reaccreditation) in the hope that accreditation will
cover up their inadequacies. In the past Recording for the Blind sought and
received accreditation. However, it has announced that it will not seek
reaccreditation when its current accreditation runs out.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind commend Recording for
the Blind for disassociating from NAC.

90-22: Calls for improvement in services to older blind Americans.

Background: As a result of Federation efforts, programs for older blind
persons have become a reality. However, these are not always as good as
they should be--sometimes because of inadequate funding.

Resolved: That the National Federation of the Blind support an expansion of
funding for services to older blind Americans along with the development of
quality assurance criteria.

90-23: Was withdrawn by its author.

                              RESOLUTION 90-01

WHEREAS, the Kennelly Highway Vending Program (Section 111 of Public Law
97-424) provides employment opportunity for blind entrepreneurs and also
provides a valuable non-tax source for blindness programs; and

WHEREAS, Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly worked willingly and
enthusiastically with the National Federation of the Blind in securing this
important legislation and the resulting opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) is a trade association comprised of State highway
officials who are charged with the responsibility of establishing rest
areas on Interstate highways; and

WHEREAS, AASHTO looks covetously at the Kennelly Highway Vending Program
and the income it produces as a potential funding source for the completion
of their charge; and

WHEREAS, AASHTO has developed a detailed proposal for its membership (see
AASHTO report titled "Report of Task Force on the Commercialization of
Interstate Highway Rest Areas," dated October 19, 1989) wherein the
Kennelly Highway Vending Program would be at worst nullified, and/or would
be at least deleteriously curtailed; and

WHEREAS, AASHTO is willing to sacrifice the Kennelly Highway Vending
Program and the blind people and programs it serves on the basis that rest
areas can thereby be built with private, not public funds by
commercializing these rest areas; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Trust Fund has a current positive balance of
more than 10.6 billion dollars; and

WHEREAS, the AASHTO report itself acknowledges that there is popular
taxpayer support for the establishment of rest areas:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization, its officers, and members take every action necessary to
prevent this attempted evisceration of the Kennelly Highway Vending
Program.

                              RESOLUTION 90-02

WHEREAS, the Minority Small Business Capital Ownership and Development
Section 8(a) Program is a federally funded program to assist socially and
economically disadvantaged small business contractors into the mainstream
of business through government contracting; and

WHEREAS, there is clear and convincing evidence that the blind of the
nation are a minority group in the negative and destructive sense of the
word, as evidenced by the fact that the blind face massive social and
economic discrimination in the same way as do other specified minorities,
and, even more damning, over seventy percent of all employable blind
persons are either totally unemployed or severely under-employed because of
this minority status; and

WHEREAS, the Section 8(a) Program has not been extended to include the
blind as an identified and eligible minority in an affirmative effort to
overcome both past and present discrimination; and

WHEREAS, the Small Business Administration has actually ruled that a small
business owner's blindness does not establish minority status:  Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization urge the Small Business Administration and the Congress
of the United States to include the blind as an identified and eligible
minority with equal opportunity, equal protection, and equal participation
under the Minority Small Business Capital Ownership and Development Section
8(a) Program.

                              RESOLUTION 90-03

WHEREAS, more than 16,000 people are graduated annually from special
education programs conducted by hundreds of colleges and universities
across this nation; and

WHEREAS, thousands of additional college students take introductory courses
in special education; and

WHEREAS, the vastness of the nation's involvement in special education is
demonstrated by an expenditure of more than 15 billion dollars each year; 
and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of college textbooks are published which
purport to introduce students to the various facets of special education;
and

WHEREAS, many of these authors are not familiar with blindness and visual
impairment, and as a predictable result introductory textbooks in special
education generally contain misleading, inaccurate, and custodial
statements about blindness and blind people, such as:
1.   Braille is harder to learn and slower to read than print,
2.   the slate and stylus are less practical than the Brailler because,
when using them, it is necessary to make indentations in the paper,
3.   blind students should be taught to use the continental method of
holding silverware when eating because it is simpler and neater, and
4.   blind people cannot use tools effectively and must be protected from
themselves when using such items as knives; and

WHEREAS, such obviously untrue and custodial statements, which appear in
several editions of textbooks, perpetuate myths and misunderstandings about
blindness and make a powerfully negative impact on the lives of blind
people; and

WHEREAS, one way to change what it means to be blind and to enhance the
education and rehabilitation of the blind is to publish more accurate and
favorable textbooks; and

WHEREAS, two sets of textbook authors and editors, using advice and
literature from the National Federation of the Blind as a basis for change,
have already improved such texts:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization initiate a nationwide project to eliminate inaccuracy and
custodialism regarding the blind and visually impaired in special education
literature, especially introductory textbooks.

                              RESOLUTION 90-04

WHEREAS, the United States Senate has considered the Air Travel Rights for
Blind Individuals Act (S. 341 and H.R. 563) but has failed to invoke
cloture by a vote of 56 yeas to 44 nays; and

WHEREAS, the vote on the cloture petition itself shows that a clear
majority exists in the Senate to pass the Air Travel Rights for Blind
Individuals Act, when considered strictly on its merits; and

WHEREAS, the Air Travel Rights for the Blind bill represents the struggle
of the blind to be understood as competent and to gain social acceptance as
equal members of society; and

WHEREAS, Senator Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina has worked diligently
in the Senate to steer this bill through his committee and has ably managed
the bill on the floor; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hollings has shown meritorious political leadership in
bringing the issue of discrimination against the blind to a national focus: 
Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this Federation express official thanks and commendation to Senator Ernest
F. Hollings for standing tall as a national leader on behalf of equal
rights for all blind people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in praising Senator Hollings for his historic
efforts on behalf of the blind, we reaffirm the commitment of this
Federation to obtain a clear national policy against discrimination on
grounds of blindness in air travel.

                              RESOLUTION 90-05

WHEREAS, public transportation is essential for blind persons to lead
normal, active, productive lives; and

WHEREAS, AMTRAK is the nationwide passenger rail system; and

WHEREAS, Congress is reconsidering legislation authorizing and funding
continued operation of AMTRAK, following a Presidential veto; and

WHEREAS, state and local involvement and support are important components
of AMTRAK's service:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization and its affiliates call upon the Bush Administration, the
United States Congress, and state and local authorities to support the
continuation and expansion of AMTRAK service.

                              RESOLUTION 90-06

WHEREAS, several agencies of the Federal government are now preparing to
implement the Americans with Disabilities Act, designed to expand
significantly the civil rights of persons with disabilities, including the
blind; and

WHEREAS, the Act requires that reasonable accommodations be made for the
disabled in employment and that accommodations for the disabled also be
made by agencies providing public services, hotels, restaurants,
recreational facilities, and providers of public transportation; and

WHEREAS, accommodations--even well-intentioned ones--can become
discriminatory when they limit individual exercise of the various forms of
freedom that the law seeks to provide; and

WHEREAS, the right of each individual to accept or reject any accommodation
is a fundamental civil rights principle for blind persons, and federal
regulations and standards must now assure that this right is observed and
enforced:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization demand that the right of any individual to accept or
reject any accommodation be stated prominently and clearly in all
regulations and standards developed to implement the Americans with
Disabilities Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization consult with agencies and
officials at all levels of government and in the private sector to assure
that individual choice in accepting or rejecting any accommodation is
clearly identified as one of the basic nondiscriminatory rights provided by
the Americans with Disabilities Act.

                              RESOLUTION 90-07

WHEREAS, some blind persons have chosen careers in the field of direct
sales; and

WHEREAS, many direct selling companies provide sales and training
literature to their distributors; and

WHEREAS, blind persons have found it difficult, if not impossible, to
obtain such literature on cassette or in Braille; and

WHEREAS, the literature that is available is often of no use to the blind
direct-seller because it is out-of-date and inaccurate; and

WHEREAS, Braille and tape production facilities have sometimes refused to
put literature in appropriate media for blind distributors, stating that it
is "too difficult" or "too tedious" to transcribe; and

WHEREAS, the best solution to this dilemma is for direct-selling companies
to make literature available to their blind distributors in media useful to
them; and

WHEREAS, many direct-selling companies have shown very little interest in
putting their literature into media accessible to the blind, citing a low
demand for it, but at the same time, have shown more interest in
accommodating other disability groups (e.g., closed-caption videos for the
deaf and translating sales literature into foreign languages); and

WHEREAS, making sales and training literature available in Braille and on
cassette would enable blind distributors to conduct their businesses more
efficiently and would enhance recruitment opportunities for new blind
distributors in the direct sales field:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization encourage direct-selling companies to make sales and
training literature available in media accessible to the blind; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization, through the National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille, stand ready to assist direct
selling companies in finding the best arrangement for achieving this goal.

                              RESOLUTION 90-08

WHEREAS, workers being paid subminimum wages are entitled to challenge
their employers' wage determinations through hearings to be provided under
the Fair Labor Standards Act; and

WHEREAS, legal representation is essential for the proper presentation of
cases in hearings on wage determinations; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Labor has stated that compensation for legal
expenses and attorney fees cannot be ordered on behalf of individuals who
successfully pursue subminimum wage complaints; and

WHEREAS, this position is insensitive to the need for legal representation
of blind persons whose subminimum wages force them to live at the poverty
level while challenging their well- financed sheltered workshop employers
and their handsomely-paid attorneys; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Labor's position against attorney fees in
subminimum wage cases is contrary to the policy of the Fair Labor Standards
Act:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization deplore the policy of withholding compensation for legal
and attorney fees in subminimum wage complaints filed under the Fair Labor
Standards Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Federation enlist the cooperation of the
Department of Labor and the Congress, if necessary, to obtain changes in
the regulations (or the law) so that legal expenses and attorney fees in
subminimum wage cases can be ordered.

                              RESOLUTION 90-09

WHEREAS, individualized planning to meet the needs of each client is a
cornerstone of the Rehabilitation Act and an obligation of each state
vocational rehabilitation agency; and

WHEREAS, the promise of an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program
for each eligible blind person is substantially undermined by state agency
policies which apply to all clients in virtually all cases, regardless of
circumstances; and

WHEREAS, examples of agency policies which violate the individualized
planning principle include, but are not limited to, the following: 

(1)  inflexible ceilings on funds for reader service,
(2)  prohibitions on using readers for educationally-related research and   
     study activities outside of specific course work,
(3)  refusal to pay for even a portion of the costs of higher education     
     services from private institutions,
(4)  refusal to pay for services obtained beyond state boundaries in all    
     but exceptional circumstances,
(5)  prescribed evaluation procedures and training programs for almost all  
     clients regardless of individual need, ability, or expressed           
     preference,
(6)  refusal to pay for graduate education, and
(7)  refusal to establish eligibility and pay for costs of study and        
     equipment for career enhancement and promotion; and

WHEREAS, the erosion of individualized planning for clients of
rehabilitation should be reversed by statutory and policy changes to be
considered when the Vocational Rehabilitation Program is reauthorized: 
Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization demand that the right of each client to an Individualized
Written Rehabilitation Program be upheld and strengthened as a matter of
law and federal policy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon responsible federal
policy-makers and the Congress to assure that policies of state vocational
rehabilitation agencies do not obstruct individualized planning in the
provision of rehabilitation services to the blind.

                              RESOLUTION 90-10

WHEREAS, it is the mark of a responsible media corporation that it refrains
from perpetuating negative stereotypes which denigrate any identifiable
group within society, including the blind; and

WHEREAS, on Saturday, February 24, 1990, the National Broadcasting Company,
Incorporated (NBC), aired on television an episode of the comedy series
"Empty Nest" which fostered demeaning attitudes about blindness by giving
the viewing public the impression that blind people are insecure and
dependent; and

WHEREAS, the characters in the episode treated the blind man as though he
were helpless and stupid, which was intended to elicit laughter from the
studio audience directed at the blind; and

WHEREAS, such ridicule of blind persons has long-term negative consequences
including prejudice and discrimination against the blind in employment
opportunities and denial of first-class citizenship to the blind; and

WHEREAS, further damage to the blind through redissemination of this
offensive portrayal of the blind can be prevented by elimination of the
February 24, 1990, episode of "Empty Nest" from the library of material
available for any type of redistribution; and

WHEREAS, on the same evening as the broadcast of the offensive "Empty Nest"
episode, another NBC program called "Golden Girls" also referred to a blind
person in a degrading fashion, demonstrating once again what the blind have
long known--that NBC has a low corporate opinion of the abilities and
achievements of blind persons:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization demand that the National Broadcasting Company,
Incorporated (NBC) eliminate the February 24, 1990, episode of "Empty Nest"
from its library of materials; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon Brandon Tartikoff,
President of the National Broadcasting Company, to take the initiative to
work in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind to create
standards for handling blind characters and references to the blind so that
an accurate image is conveyed when NBC produces or selects television
programs which portray blind persons.

                              RESOLUTION 90-11

WHEREAS, stable and affordable postage rates are essential to provide
outreach and public information programs on behalf of all blind persons in
the United States; and

WHEREAS, such efforts are supported in part through federally subsidized
postage rates under an annual appropriation of funds to the United States
Postal Service for revenues forgone on free and reduced-rate mailings; and

WHEREAS, the Postal Service has announced plans for rate increases which
could amount to a 33 percent higher postage cost for the National
Federation of the Blind beginning in February, 1991; and

WHEREAS, the President's budget request for $485 million for fiscal year
1991 will not provide sufficient funds for revenue forgone, and the
resulting postal rate increases for the National Federation of the Blind
would then be much greater than 33 percent; and

WHEREAS, it is false economy to force groups such as the National
Federation of the Blind to absorb substantially higher postage costs since
support for direct services must drop as the postage bills climb; and

WHEREAS, the tax-supported subsidy of certain postage rates makes possible
many essential services provided by private sector groups, thereby
decreasing the general tax burden for providing the same services by
government agencies:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization urge the Congress to reject the President's budget for
revenue forgone and act decisively to support stable and affordable postal
rates directly affected by the revenue forgone appropriation.

                              RESOLUTION 90-12

WHEREAS, Gwendolyn S. King, Commissioner of Social Security, has appointed
a panel of 26 experts to review the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Program and to develop proposals for its modernization; and

WHEREAS, based on policies adopted by this organization, the National
Federation of the Blind has submitted an agenda of modernization proposals,
including:

(1)  adjustment of income and resource limits to reflect inflationary       
     changes since 1974,
(2)  annual adjustment of income and resource limits indexed to             
     cost-of-living increases,
(3)  prompt approval of plans to achieve self-support,
(4)  outreach activities to explain SSI blindness rules,
(5)  flexibility for recipients in the choice of obtaining rehabilitation   
     services,
(6)  limit of time on the Social Security Administration for recovery of    
     overpayments, and
(7)  work incentive counseling to be available upon request; and

WHEREAS, these proposals raise serious policy and administrative issues
that must be faced in any meaningful attempt to modernize the SSI Program: 
Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this Federation salute the Social Security Commissioner and her staff for
initiating an SSI modernization; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge all responsible officials and members
of Congress to endorse the proposals submitted by the National Federation
of the Blind in order that needed improvements can be made.

                              RESOLUTION 90-13

WHEREAS, there are established and recognized residential training schools
throughout the United States which train dog guides for use by the blind;
and

WHEREAS, a growing number of these schools now include in their application
process questions intended to elicit information about the applicant's
affiliation with consumer organizations of the blind; and

WHEREAS, some of the dog guide training schools ask a question concerning
organizational affiliation both on the application form and during the oral
interview, and at least one school has extended this question to third
parties by including a question about the organizational affiliation of the
applicant on the character reference questionnaire, which must be completed
by a third party for the application to be fully processed; and

WHEREAS, since the sole purpose of a dog guide training school is to train
the dog guide and the blind person to function as a unit, the only possible
purpose for attaining the information concerning organizational affiliation
is to prejudice the student/staff relationship; and

WHEREAS, a blind person's organizational affiliation has no bearing on his
or her performance while in training with the dog guide or the ability
successfully to use the dog guide following training; and

WHEREAS, the right of association is protected by the First Amendment to
the United States Constitution, and the eliciting of information about the
organizational affiliation of a student violates the precepts of the
Constitution and statutory law:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization abhor the inclusion of any question by dog guide schools
that elicits from the applicant any information about the organizational
affiliation of the applicant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that each and every
dog guide training school review its application process and eliminate any
and all questions which may elicit any information from the applicant about
his or her affiliation with any organization, especially consumer
organizations of the blind.

                              RESOLUTION 90-14

WHEREAS, dog guide training schools in the United States recently formed
the Council of Guide Dog Schools; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of this Council is alleged to have been for the
purpose of developing standards for the training of dog guides; and

WHEREAS, although there may be an intent to develop standards for training
dog guides, it is reported that dog guide schools are using this Council to
share personal information about applicants who may wish to apply to a
different school when seeking a replacement dog; and

WHEREAS, this sharing of information extends to those applicants who, for
whatever reason, have been unsuccessful in the completion of the training
program in one school and thus wish to enroll in another; and

WHEREAS, such an exchange of personal information may be helpful in the
training of persons with dog guides; and

WHEREAS, although this exchange of information may be helpful, such
information may also prejudice the dog guide training school against the
blind person; and

WHEREAS, this personal information is currently being shared without the
knowledge or consent of applicants--an action by the Council of Guide Dog
Training Schools and its member schools which flies in the face of all
decency; and

WHEREAS, in almost every instance, the contents of the file maintained by
the school are unknown to the applicant and unavailable for review and
inclusion of rebuttal to negative evaluations:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization demand that the Council of Guide Dog Schools develop an
appropriate Request and Authorization for Release of Information form
specific to the sharing of information between dog guide training schools;
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Request and Authorization for Release of
Information form be signed by the student/applicant prior to the
interschool sharing of any personal information from the student's file;
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon each school to make
progress and training files available for review by individual students
during the training period and by each graduate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each blind person be afforded the opportunity
to place in his or her file any letter of rebuttal he or she considers
appropriate to refute information contained in that file.

                              RESOLUTION 90-15

WHEREAS, the primary means of independent travel for the blind is through
the use of the long white cane; and

WHEREAS, some blind persons who want to learn cane travel are told by
orientation and mobility specialists or by other vocational rehabilitation
workers that they are "unsafe travelers," even after these persons have
demonstrated their ability to travel; and

WHEREAS, recently, in the State of Texas a blind woman demanding proper
cane travel instruction was told that she and her husband must sign a
waiver of liability, releasing the Texas Commission for the Blind and the
orientation and mobility instructor from any possible damage suits which
might result from an accident or injury to her, both during training and
after its completion; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind operates orientation and
adjustment centers which have proven that many, if not all, blind persons
can learn to travel safely and independently, when taught by a competent
instructor who believes in the capabilities of blind persons, thereby 
diminishing the concern for liability; and

WHEREAS, liability waivers are just one more hurdle that blind clients must
cross in order to obtain quality orientation and mobility training; and

WHEREAS, travel training provided by many state vocational rehabilitation
agencies is inefficient and inadequate and is taught by incompetent
instructors exhibiting negative attitudes about blindness and blind people: 
Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization deplore and condemn the use of liability waivers by
orientation and mobility instructors and state rehabilitation agencies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization insist that such vocational
rehabilitation agencies employ competent orientation and mobility
instructors, who possess a positive philosophy about blindness; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the practice by rehabilitation agencies of
requiring clients to sign liability waivers continues, this organization
shall work with state legislatures to pass laws prohibiting the use of such
documents.

                              RESOLUTION 90-16

WHEREAS, all sheltered workshops in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program are
federal contractors or subcontractors and thereby subject to Section 503 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and

WHEREAS, Section 503 requires federal contractors to take affirmative
action to employ and advance in employment qualified handicapped
individuals; and

WHEREAS, this affirmative action mandate has existed for almost two
decades, but hiring practices of workshops still have not changed--blind
persons are hired for direct labor, and sighted persons are hired for
management and supervisory positions; and

WHEREAS, promotion of blind people into management or supervision receives
little more than lip-service from the workshops; and

WHEREAS, by historically failing to enforce the affirmative action
obligation in workshops, the Department of Labor has turned its back on
blind workers, relegating them to subminimum wages and dead-end jobs:  Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization insist upon a get-tough stand by the Department of Labor
to promote affirmative action in sheltered workshops so that meaningful
progress can be made toward ending the pay inequities and job
discrimination against the blind in sheltered workshops.

                              RESOLUTION 90-17

WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration has expressed an increasingly
strong interest in promoting work incentives in the Disability Insurance
and Supplemental Security Income Programs; and
WHEREAS, effective adjustment-to-blindness services are essential to give
blind persons the skills and attitudes necessary to achieve self-support;
and

WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration is required by law to provide
funds for successful rehabilitation efforts but can do so only if the
services are obtained from a state vocational rehabilitation agency; and

WHEREAS, this limitation restricts both the Social Security Administration
and its beneficiaries from obtaining the best services possible, whether
from a state agency or otherwise; and

WHEREAS, alternative referral and funding arrangements could improve access
to quality services for beneficiaries and would be cost effective:  Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization affirm its strong support for choices in rehabilitation;
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization work actively with the Social
Security Administration and the Congress to enact legislative changes to
improve access to rehabilitation and productive employment opportunities
for the blind.

                              RESOLUTION 90-18

WHEREAS, in Resolution 89-04, the National Federation of the Blind
condemned and deplored the State Department's refusal to work
constructively with the blind to develop an affirmative action program and
actively to recruit blind persons for positions in the Foreign Service; and

WHEREAS, State Department officials have since advised the Congress, the
media, and the National Federation of the Blind that the policy of denying
Foreign Service appointments to blind persons has been rescinded and
positive steps will be taken to recruit the blind into the Foreign Service;
and

WHEREAS, the State Department's announced new policy is a complete
retraction of its former stand, which must now be matched by the actual
hiring of blind persons and their assignment to posts in foreign lands: 
Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization acknowledge the progress represented by the State
Department's new policy on employment of the blind; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the spirit of cooperation and goodwill for
the State Department's new-found understanding we invite officials of the
Foreign Service to work with this Federation in their efforts to recruit
and employ qualified persons who are blind.

                              RESOLUTION 90-19

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has time after time supported
a strong public transportation system; and

WHEREAS, the National Administration is suggesting that Federal support for
public transportation be reduced or eliminated and that state and local
government take up the Federal portion of the cost; and

WHEREAS, many state and local governments do not have a commitment to
public transportation:  Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization go on record as urging the continued support by the
Federal government of public transportation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the non-driving public, of which the blind are
a segment, has a right to move from point to point in this country with
ease and reasonable cost.

                              RESOLUTION 90-20

WHEREAS, individuals, including blind individuals who are married or
unmarried, have certain basic minimum economic needs; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program is
to meet these needs by providing a standard federal payment amount with
states having the option to supplement this amount; and

WHEREAS, both members of an SSI couple are by law each eligible for
benefits as individuals in their own right; and

WHEREAS, two single individuals living alone have a combined presumed
minimum need of $772 ($386 each), but two married individuals in an SSI
couple are presumed to need only $579; and

WHEREAS, this difference in treatment between individuals and couples under
SSI is a marriage penalty for which there is no rational or economic
justification:  Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization support an end to the marriage penalty in the
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program and urge the United States
Congress to recognize that all individuals have the same presumed minimum
need, regardless of their marital status.

                              RESOLUTION 90-21

WHEREAS, Recording for the Blind (RFB) has had a long-time relationship
with the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and
Visually Handicapped (NAC); and

WHEREAS, John Kelly, Director of Library and Borrower Services of Recording
for the Blind, attended the Annual Convention of the National Federation of
the Blind during which he disclosed to NFB officials that Recording for the
Blind has decided to sever its relationship with NAC and not seek
reaccreditation upon the conclusion of its current period of accreditation: 
Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization commend Recording for the Blind for making the decision
not to reaccredit with the National Accreditation Council for Agencies
Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped.

                              RESOLUTION 90-22

WHEREAS, the Independent Living Rehabilitation Program was established in
order to provide services to those individuals who by reason of age or
other circumstances are not eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind developed and presented to
Congress the original legislative proposals which resulted in a special
program of grants for services to older blind persons; and

WHEREAS, state administrators of services for the blind have claimed that
improved services to older blind persons will result from placing the older
blind program on a formula grant basis and substantially increasing the
available funding; and

WHEREAS, services to older blind individuals should be expanded but not
merely through the wider distribution of increased funds; and 

WHEREAS, older blind persons deserve quality services; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is prepared to support
increased funding for older blind services available by formula grant to
every state, provided that the agencies are willing to establish and adhere
to quality-assurance criteria to be developed in partnership with the
blind:  Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this sixth day of July, 1990, in the City of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization support an expansion of funding for services to older
blind Americans along with the development of quality-assurance criteria;
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization invite the representatives of
agencies serving the blind to join with us in a combined effort to create
the standards by which quality services to this important population will
be assured and expanded.
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