RE: Creation of a Separate Commission for the Blind in the State of Nebraska
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization of the blind in the United States, has a long history of supporting the concept of "separate" agencies or commissions for the blind; and
WHEREAS, it has been consistently demonstrated over a period of time that blind persons, as clients of these separate agencies or commissions, receive better services and thus, following training, compete, to a far greater degree, on an equal basis with their sighted peers; and
RE: Support a Residential Option for the Education of Blind Children
WHEREAS; the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska (NFBN) has long supported the concept of a residential school for the blind as an essential option for the education of blind children; and
WHEREAS; the existence of alternative education options, combined with the relatively small population base of Nebraska continues to diminish the numbers taking advantage of the residential option; and
RE: Negative Advertisements by the Tobin Eye Institute
WHEREAS; the Omaha Tobin Eye Institute portray blind persons in a negative manner in their television advertisements; and
WHEREAS; these advertisements imply that blind people cannot enjoy or participate in life without "no stitch cataract surgery"; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska, in convention assembled this 17th day of October, 1993, in the city of Columbus, that we call upon Omaha Tobin Eye Institute to cease and desist this negative advertising; and
RE: Hosting Events for Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska has a long history of reaching out to the Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped; and
WHEREAS, the Federation's outreach efforts have included: career fairs, informational seminars and "fun night" events, which have been mutually beneficial to NSVH students and NFBN members; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, these activities have ceased; Now, therefore,
RE: Opposition to Audible Traffic Signals
WHEREAS, for the past two years, the city of Lincoln has had an audible traffic signal located at 11th and O streets in downtown Lincoln; and
WHEREAS, this signal is not necessary for blind travelers, and only serves to irritate the public, blind and sighted alike;and
WHEREAS, the city of Lincoln, in its wisdom and in response to the voice of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska, decided to remove this audible traffic signal; Now, therefore,
RE: Television Crawlers
WHEREAS, the average blind person watches television as often as does the average sighted person; and
WHEREAS, television stations frequently broadcast significant information, including but not limited to: sports scores; community calendars; weather information; school closings and public service announcements in print only; and
WHEREAS, this practice denies blind people equal access to this important information and violates the spirit of the ADA; Now, therefore,
RE: Asking RTBS to support Newsline
WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind operates Newsline for The Blind, making it possible for blind persons to read: “USA Today”, “The New York Times”, and “The Chicago Tribune”, every day, simply by using a touch-tone phone; and
WHEREAS, Establishing local service centers in Nebraska, to carry the Newsline signal into our communities, would enable blind citizens living in our state to dial into Newsline without incurring a long-distance telephone bill, making the daily newspaper truly accessible to blind Nebraskans; and
RE: Encouraging SVI to provide Administrative Leave for Any Staff Wishing to Attend a NFB National Convention
RE: Condemning the State of Nebraska for its Plans to Combine SVI with the General Rehab Agency
WHEREAS, The Nebraska Partnership for Health and Human Services significantly affects rehabilitation services to Blind Nebraskans by absorbing the Department of Public Institutions (the umbrella agency under which services for the Visually Impaired is now located) into the newly created Department of Health and Human Services; and
RE: Financial Assistance to Attend NFB Conventions
WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind has had a long-standing tradition of giving partial assistance to members and prospective members of this organization, wishing to attend both state and national conventions; and
WHEREAS, scholarship finalists have been the only persons given full financial assistance to attend state and national conventions; and
WHEREAS, our limited funds will not allow us to offer full assistance to all persons we would like to have at conventions; now, therefore,