[Colorado-Talk] Another blast from the past

[Dan Burke]

Fun to read this! Thanks Peggy!

On 11/9/21, Peggy Chong via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Here is an article from our NFBCO newsletter from 1975.  Thought it was
> informative.
>
>
>
> [Letterhead]
>
> [Blocked left:  NFB Logo:  A white triangle with the letters "NFB" in the
> center is superimposed on a black circle.  The words "Security", "Equality"
> and "Opportunity" are written around the edges of the circle.]
>
>
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF COLORADO, INC.
>
> Formerly, COLORADO FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
>
>
> 901 EAST 17TH AVENUE - DENVER, COLORADO 80218 - 623-3332
>
>
>
>
>
> April 1975
>
>
>
> A Great Colorado & NFB Victory
>
> NEWS AND VIEWS
>
>
>
>             It was a great day of victory in Denver, April 21, 1975. T.V.
> and news cameras hummed over the battery of tape recorders from various
> news
> media, set up on the press conference table. Behind the table were Ralph
> Sanders, Second Vice-President of the N.F.B., with a statement from Dr.
> Jernigan; Judy Miller, plaintiff in the case; and attorney Bob Keating, who
> did such a superb job in obtaining a favorable decision.
>
>             Of course, we're talking about the N.F.B. of Colorado's lawsuit
> against the Denver School Board's restrictions against hiring blind
> teachers. What's more, it's the greatest victory ever achieved by the
> N.F.B.
>
>             For two years this case dragged on. The week of April 7, had
> been designated for a court battle, but a few days before the trial,
> attorneys began to negotiate for an out-of-court settlement. Attorney Bob
> Keating brought back everything the NFB wanted, in the form of a Federal
> Court order that is absolutely binding. Briefly, the salient points are
> these:  The Denver School Board shall affirmatively interview and recruit
> blind students majoring in education, and encourage them to make
> application
> to the School District for employment; The School District, in an effort to
> extend its program to certify teachers in Colorado, agrees to utilize the
> services available through the NFB of Colorado, Inc., the NFB, Inc., its
> Teacher's Division, and its Student's Division, and such other private
> associations and entities as may be beneficial in the recruitment of
> qualified blind and visually impaired teachers; The School board will
> continue to review nationwide studies concerning the hiring of blind
> teachers, and its visual impairment clause shall not serve as a basis for
> denying employment.  This visual impairment section shall be rewritten to
> read:
>
>             "Visual impairment shall not serve as a basis for denying
> employment unless it is shown that the particular disability prevents
> performance of the work involved."
>
>             The School Board shall seek the best qualified applicants for
> all positions, and will in the future treat qualified individual who are
> blind or visually handicapped on the same terms and conditions as the
> able-bodied.
>
>             This is indeed a momentous decision that will affect blind
> teachers, not only in Colorado, but in the State and the Nation as well.
> Here, again, the NFB has led the way for a court order that will open the
> doors for all handicapped persons.
>
>
>
>


-- 
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

President, NFB of Denver

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal