Resolution 2003-02
Concerning funding for the Division of Blind
Services
WHEREAS, the Florida Division
of Blind Services is the only Florida Public Agency providing services,
funded by the state budget, for the Rehabilitation of blind persons,
to aid them in finding meaningful work; and
WHEREAS, statistics, which
are readily available, show that over seventy per cent of all blind
persons and those at risk of becoming blind, are unemployed or
underemployed; and
WHEREAS, the number of cases
successfully closed by the Florida Division of Blind services has
increased as the amount of assistive technology and assistive technology
trainers has increased in the state of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the federal government provides matching
funds to the Florida Division of Blind Services, at a rate of $4.00 for every
$1.00 provided to the agency by the Florida Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the Florida
Legislature initially voted to cut its allocation of funds provided to the
Division of Blind Services by one million dollars, which action would have
result in a loss of five million dollars in funding available to the
Florida Division of Blind Services, to carry out its worthwhile mission to
serve the blind; and
WHEREAS, the blind of Florida,
through our vehicle for self-expression and concerted action, the National
Federation of the Blind, clearly and forcefully articulated the need for
quality rehabilitation services and won a reversal of the proposed cuts; Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED...that this
organization strongly commend the Florida House of Representatives
Appropriations Committee, for its stand in favor of quality services to blind
Floridians, and urge that the full House and Senate of our state join in this
action in furthering the goal of fully integrating blind Floridians into the
mainstream of our society.