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 Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.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 2007-01: Regarding further restrictions of educational opportunities for the blind
Whereas, the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) has been consolidated into the Office of Vocational Rehabilatation (OVR); and
Whereas OVR implemented a policy in the past enabling them to steal merit-based scholarships awarded to blind college students; and
Whereas, the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania(NFB of PA) was instrumental in causing this illegal policy to be struck down thus enabling students who have won an unrestricted merit based scholarship to choose how they wish to use this award; and
Whereas, OVR, has recently proposed a new policy to reduce the payment for room and board for residential college students receiving Social Security Insurance (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); and
Whereas, the NFB of PA believes this new proposed policy to be clearly illegal the same as the policy regarding merit-based scholarships; Now, therefore
Be it resolved in the Convention assembled this 11th Day of November 2007 in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania condemns and deplores the repeated attempts of OVR to restrict educational opportunities for blind students in this Commonwealth; and
Let it further be resolved, that the NFB of PA call upon the OVR State Board to reject this new policy that we believe to be as illegal as the merit-based scholarship policy, which will restrict educational opportunities for not only blind students but for all students with disabilities; and
Be it further resolved, that the NFB of PA will work diligently to educate blind students as to their rights and responsibilities as a customer of OVR and, we will continue to assist blind students in their fight against OVR to obtain the supportive services that OVR is mandated by law to provide.
Resolution 2007-02: Comendation of Sister Mary Margaret Fleming and St. Lucy’s
Whereas, St. Lucy Day School was founded in 1955; and
Whereas, St. Lucy Day School is the only school of its kind for blind children in this Commonwealth; and
Whereas the administration of St Lucy Day School shares the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania (NFB of PA) that blind children should be provided with the skills of blindness and included in the regular education program set forth by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas Sister Mary Margaret Fleming, affectionately known as Sister Meg, has been the principal of St. Lucy Day School for the past twelve years; and
Whereas Sister Meg’s conviction that blind children can succeed and be independent if they are taught to use academic tools and blindness skills to compete with their sighted peers; and
Whereas, Sister Meg has been the recipient of numerous education awards that attest to her outstanding abilities as an educator of blind children; and
Whereas, the National Federation of the Blind recognized Sister Meg’s achievements by presenting her with the Outstanding Educator of Blind Children Award at its Convention assembled in Atlanta, Georgia in July 2007; NOW, THEREFORE
BE it resolved by the Convention assembled this 11th day of November 2007 in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania commends Sister Meg and her staff for their dedication to the education of blind children; and
Be it further resolved, that the NFB of PA will continue to partner with Sister Meg to improve educational opportunities for blind children; and
Let it further be resolved that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania will work with Sister Meg to share the positive philosophy of blindness not only with the children attending the St. Lucy Day School but also with their parents