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.