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,
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