CONCERNING AN INDEPENDENT FLORIDA COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND  

WHEREAS
the blind of Florida have the right to rehabilitation services that address our unique needs;  and

WHEREAS
the National Federation of the Blind of Florida resolved in 2001 to support the formation of a State Commission for the Blind, an independent consumer-controlled organization, made up of  9 Commissioners as such a Commission would respond to blind consumers; and

WHEREAS
the State legislature has not moved to create such a Commission but has moved the Division of Blind Services from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor and back to the Department of Education again; and

WHEREAS
the State legislature has not acted to create such a Commission but has explored privatizing the Division of the Blind;  and

WHEREAS
the State legislature has not moved to create such a Commission but is working to dismantle the Division of the Blind by proposing to incorporate blind services into an agency to serve all disabilities;  and

WHEREAS
it has become obvious that the legislature of the State of Florida does not have a clear idea of the unique needs of the blind or how to best serve our needs and has failed to ask us, the State's largest disability organization, The National Federation of the Blind of Florida, what we want and need

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida assembled in Convention this 30th  day of May, 2005, in the city of Boca Raton, that we strongly oppose, object to and  condemn all efforts to transfer the Division of Blind services to a department of Disabilities; and

BE It Further Resolved that we, the organized blind of Florida,  loudly and clearly restate our enthusiastic, unshakable resolve that the Florida State Legislature place all blind services under a single, independent Commission , reporting directly to the Governor and Legislature.