The official policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania are established every year with annual resolutions adopted at the state convention.
The resolutions committee meets early during the convention. Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.
Resolution 2006-01: Regarding Bureau of Blind & Visual Services
WHEREAS, the services provided to the blind and visually impaired of Pennsylvania through the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services have been inadequate for some time; and
WHEREAS, in 1999 the transfer of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services from the Department of Welfare to its current place within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation under the Department of Labor and Industry was meant to be a positive move for all blind persons; and,
WHEREAS, the blind of the Commonwealth were assured that the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services would remain an independent bureau within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, the blind of the Commonwealth were further assured that the provision of quality rehabilitation service would improve as a result of this move; and
WHEREAS, since 1999 the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services has lost its designation as a Designated State Unit for the purpose of providing rehabilitation services and is slowly being absorbed into the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, the most recent directors of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services have proven themselves to be inept and incompetent; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind believes that the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services is functioning on a more than adequate level despite the ever increasing number of complaints, requests for assistance, and appeals processed through the Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program; and
WHEREAS, both the Executive Director and current President of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind formerly held management positions within the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and might therefore be reluctant to question current management policies; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind currently opposes legislation that would allow the blind of the Commonwealth to speak for themselves and make positive substantive changes in the type of services and manner of service delivery needed by the blind; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Associations for the Blind oppose legislation that would allow the blind of the Commonwealth to speak for themselves and allow them to shape the rehabilitation system; and
WHEREAS, of the 33 Pennsylvania Associations for the Blind and Associated Services for the Blind in Philadelphia, we are aware of only one that has a blind person employed as its director; and
WHEREAS, both the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and the Pennsylvania Associations for the Blind have not committed to sit down with the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania to discuss pending legislation to create an independent commission for the blind in this state; Now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania in convention assembled this 19th day of November, 2006, in the city of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania will move forward to improve the quality and scope of rehabilitation services in this Commonwealth; And
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania will pursue legislation to create an independent commission for the blind regardless of any roadblocks put in its path by the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, the Pennsylvania Associations for the Blind or any other blindness organization or service provider; And
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania will hold firm to the need for adoption of legislation creating an independent commission for the blind and will not tolerate any blindness organization or service providers attempt to water down such important legislation for its own gains.
Resolution 2006-02: Regarding Commendation of Christine Boone
WHEREAS, Christine Boone has served blind and visually impaired Pennsylvanians in various capacities for the last seven years; and
WHEREAS, her working with blind and visually impaired students to obtain good quality rehabilitation training demonstrated a strong commitment; and
WHEREAS, her serving as the Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) from 2001 to 2003 helped improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, she has displayed commitment to blind Pennsylvanians reading the newspapers by providing financial support, in her capacity as the Director of the BBVS, for the Print Media Access for the Blind program; and
WHEREAS, she demonstrated her commitment to upholding customer choice with service providers, as guaranteed under Public Law Number 102-569, or the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act; and
WHEREAS, her commitment to the Business Enterprise Program revived this program that allows blind Pennsylvanians to earn a wage significantly greater than other comparable programs in the United States; and
WHEREAS, her work at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland demonstrated her further commitment to help blind persons outside of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Christine Boone recently obtained employment as the Director of Training with the Michigan State Rehabilitation Agency, thus allowing her to continue improving the quality of life for blind persons in the state of Michigan; Now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania in convention assembled this 19th day of November, 2006, in the city of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania that this organization commend Christine Boone for her commitment to blind and visually impaired Pennsylvanians, and for the outstanding dedication and consideration she has demonstrated on their behalf and on behalf of blind people in other states.