[Nevada-Announce] 2025 Resolutions

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2025 Resolutions

The official policies of the National Federation of the Blind are
established every year with annual resolutions adopted at the state
convention.

Resolutions are voted on first by the  resolutions committee and then

members will vote on them during general session.

Today, April 18, is the deadline to submit resolutions.
RESOLUTION 2025-01: Regarding rehabilitation services for blind high school
students and *Higher Education*

WHEREAS statistically Nevada has 101,500 blind people; And

Whereas, the rehabilitation system currently lacks crucial services,
including mobility training and comprehensive rehabilitation services for
blind high school students and higher education; and

Whereas, the absence of these essential services significantly limits blind
students’ ability to pursue and achieve their educational goals;

And

Whereas, this lack of services infringes on the rights of blind students to
independently integrate into the educational system and fully participate
in academic opportunities;

Now, therefore, *BE IT RESOLVED* *by the National Federation of the Blind
of Nevada in Convention assembled this 27th day of April, 2025, that *the
Nevada Legislature is called upon to mandate and ensure that the training
needs for blind students to achieve their educational goals are fully met;
and

Be it further resolved, that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation is
urged to work closely with blind students to ensure their educational goals
are met in a meaningful and effective way, and

Be it further resolved, that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation retain
and appropriately allocate federal grant money, secure matching state
budget funds for these grants, and provide both equipment and training to
blind students; and

that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation also receive additional
funding from the general fund to adequately support these initiatives and
ensure comprehensive rehabilitation services for blind students.
RESOLUTION 2025-02: Regarding rehabilitation services for Blind Adults
Above the Age of Forty Five and Below the Age of Fifty Five

WHEREAS statistically Nevada has 101,500 blind people; and

WHEREAS, the rehabilitation system currently lacks crucial services,
including mobility training and comprehensive rehabilitation programs for
blind adults aged forty-five to fifty-five; and

WHEREAS, the absence of these essential services significantly limits blind
adults’ ability to relearn and participate fully in everyday activities, And

Whereas, this lack of services infringe on their opportunities for
integration and independence;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of
Nevada, in Convention assembled this *27th day of April, 2025*, that this
organization call upon the Nevada Legislature to mandate and ensure that
the training needs of blind adults are fully met; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge the Department of
Rehabilitation to collaborate meaningfully with blind adults to address
their needs for independence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Rehabilitation retain and
appropriately allocate federal grant funds, along with matching state
budget funds, to provide both equipment and training, and that the Nevada
Department of Rehabilitation also receive additional funding from the
general fund to adequately support these initiatives and ensure
comprehensive rehabilitation services for blind adults.
RESOLUTION 2025 03 Regarding Voting ISSUES WITH ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES

WHEREAS the Department of Justice has implemented laws requiring local and
state agencies to provide accessible voting machines at polling stations;
and

WHEREAS poll workers have demonstrated a lack of knowledge in properly
setting up and operating accessible voting technology; and

WHEREAS three-fourths of blind voters in Nevada have experienced issues
with privacy when voting in person, including difficulty using nonvisual
techniques, inability to activate privacy curtains, prolonged wait times
due to malfunctioning voter cards, and the need to restart the process
multiple times;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of
Nevada, assembled in convention on this *27th day of April, 2025*, that
poll workers receive proper training to understand the user interface of
accessible voting machines, troubleshoot technical issues, and enable
speech functions when needed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all accessible voting machines be correctly set
up, fully operational, and easy to use when polling stations open.
RESOLUTION 2025 04 Regarding the Elimination of Accessibility Barriers on
the Nevada Legislature’s Website

WHEREAS websites and mobile applications are essential tools for full
participation in modern society; and

WHEREAS blind individuals continue to face unnecessary barriers when
accessing the Nevada Legislature’s website, despite accessibility being
both achievable and legally required; and

WHEREAS such barriers include, but are not limited to, double gold
underlines that are unreadable by screen readers, creating obstacles to
effective engagement; and

WHEREAS 96 percent of Americans, including the majority of individuals with
disabilities, rely on the internet for information, civic engagement, and
access to government services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of
Nevada, in convention assembled on this *27th day of April, 2025,* that the
Nevada Legislature take immediate action to eliminate all accessibility
barriers on its website and software applications to ensure full usability
for blind individuals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature establish a grant program to
fund a qualified and accountable technical assistance provider to support
the design, development, procurement, and modification of fully accessible
websites and mobile applications.
Resolution 2025 05 Regarding an immediate motion to dismiss Texas V. Kennedy



WHEREAS, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a landmark civil
rights provision for people with disabilities, protecting us from
discrimination by federal agencies and recipients of federal funding in
public education, work readiness programs, healthcare, elections, the court
system, and more; and



WHEREAS, seventeen states’ attorneys general have filed suit in Texas v.
Kennedy alleging that Section 504 is unconstitutional and should be
entirely or partially enjoined, limiting it only to those programs,
services, and activities directly funded by and through the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973; and



WHEREAS, those seventeen states submitted a status report to the Court on
February 21, 2025, stating in pertinent part, “Plaintiffs clarify that they
have never moved--and do not plan to move--the Court to declare or enjoin
Section 504. . . as unconstitutional on its face. Plaintiffs have not
sought and do not seek to enjoin the disbursement of funds from the
Department on the basis that the statute is unconstitutional.”; and



WHEREAS, at the time of this resolution, Plaintiffs have chosen not to
amend pages 37 and 42 of their complaint, which directly contradict the
previous paragraph by stating: “Count 3: Section 504 is Unconstitutional,”
and “Demand for Relief . . . d. Declare Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794,
unconstitutional; e. Issue permanent injunctive relief against [the
Department of Health and Human Services] enjoining them from enforcing
Section 504.”; and



WHEREAS, when asked by members of the National Federation of the Blind,
Plaintiffs have repeatedly directed those members to the quoted language
from the status report without ever addressing the language in the actual
complaint; and



WHEREAS, if Plaintiffs’ demand is granted, it will have a devastating
impact on blind Americans’ rights to effective communication and reasonable
accommodation in connection with government programs, services, and
activities, including but not limited to education, employment, housing,
healthcare, and other forms of civic life: Now, therefore;



BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, in
Convention assembled this 27 day of April, 2025, in the City of Las Vegas,
Nevada, that this organization immediately call upon Texas Attorney General
Ken Paxton to move to dismiss the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit because of the
far-reaching and harmful effects the lawsuit could have on Section 504 and
the lives of blind and other disabled Americans.
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