RE: State Program to Assist Employment of the Blind

WHEREAS, it has been the long standing policy of the National Federation of the Blind to promote economic security and competitive employment opportunities for the blind; and

WHEREAS, an existing federal employment program assists blind persons in obtaining employment within the federal government by providing temporary placements on a preferential basis; and

WHEREAS, this federal program has proven successful in creating jobs for the blind, many of which become permanent; now, therefore,

RE: DHHSN-Focus Computer System

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska to promote equality, opportunity and security for the blind; and

WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a aw enacted in 1990 to protect the civil rights of the disabled; and

WHEREAS, under the ADA, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to blind persons; and

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is a major employer in the state of Nebraska; and

RE: DHHS Fair Employment of the Blind

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska is the oldest and largest organization of the active blind in this state—the voice of the blind speaking for themselves; and

WHEREAS, one of our goals is to promote equality, opportunity and security for the blind in employment; and

RE: Braille Textbook Production

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska has long fought for the right of blind children to have an equal education; and

WHEREAS, an integral part of equal education for blind children is learning and using braille; and

WHEREAS, the State of Nebraska Department of Education has endorsed this position in its most recent revision of Rule 51; and

WHEREAS, for such a stance to be as meaningful as possible, texts in braille must be available; and

RE: Change in Tax Code for Blind Vendors

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Business Enterprise Program (BEP) has been providing business and career opportunities for blind vendors for many years; and

WHEREAS, while the national average yearly income for blind vendors is $32,500, the average yearly income for a blind vendor in Nebraska is $16,850; and

WHEREAS, much of the funding for the vending program comes from the vendors themselves, through set aside money and Federal matching funds; and

RE: Access to ATM Machines

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska (NFBN) is the voice of the active organized, blind in this state; and

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the NFBN to promote equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; and

WHEREAS, equal access to publicly available information is a vital need for all citizens, including the blind; and

WHEREAS, the ability to privately handle personal finances is important to everyone, including the blind; and

RE: Access to Print on Television

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska (NFBN) is the voice of the active organized blind of this state; and

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the NFBN to promote equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; and

WHEREAS, equal access to publicly available information is vitally necessary for all citizens, including the blind; and

RE: Offices for Disabled Students

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska has long fought for the right of blind people to receive equal education; and

WHEREAS, an integral part of equal education for the blind is to receive materials in accessible media in a timely manner; and

WHEREAS, it is widely taken for granted that the blind take longer to complete tasks, making it necessary to allow them more time to fulfill educational requirements; and

RE: Playing Presidential Releases

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of the blind in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Federation has affiliates, chapters and divisions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS, each affiliate, chapter and division has the common purpose of promoting the welfare of the blind; and

WHEREAS, each Federation affiliate, chapter and division has as its mission the social, political and economic integration of the blind into society as equal partners; and

RE: State Rehabilitation Council

WHEREAS, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, required that each State rehabilitation agency, general and blind, establish a State Rehabilitation Advisory Council (SRAC), later called State Rehabilitation Council (SRC); AND

WHEREAS, each State Rehabilitation Council was required to have representation from several categories of programs, organizations and individuals; and