[NFB-Conventions] Proposed 2023 Resolutions

[David Andrews]

>
>Hello everyone,
>These 16 resolutions will be considered by the 
>Resolutions Committee on Sunday afternoon, July 
>2. Those that the committee passes will be 
>brought to the convention floor for a vote on Wednesday, July 5.
>The 16 resolutions are below. Please note that 
>this list could change slightly following Sunday's committee meeting.
>Looking forward to seeing many of you in Houston,
>Cullen
>>
>><https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/proposed-2023-resolutions>https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/proposed-2023-resolutions
>>
>>
>>
>>Proposed 2023 Resolutions
>>
>>
>>
>>The following resolutions will be considered by 
>>the resolutions committee on July 2. Those that 
>>pass will be considered by the full convention on July 5.
>>
>>Resolution 2023-01: Regarding the Promulgation 
>>of Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Website Regulations
>>Resolution 2023-02: Regarding the Preservation 
>>of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program in the 
>>United States through the Liberalization of 
>>Policies Governing Federal Expenditures
>>Resolution 2023-03: Regarding the Accessibility of Twitter
>>Resolution 2023-04: Regarding the Opposition of 
>>the Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, 
>>and Free Speech for People to Fully Accessible Vote-By-Mail
>>Resolution 2023-05: Regarding Audio Delays 
>>During Live Radio Play-by-Play Broadcasts
>>Resolution 2023-06: Regarding the Enforcement 
>>of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
>>Resolution 2023-07: Regarding Text Formatting 
>>in Real-Time Refreshable Braille
>>Resolution 2023-08: Regarding the Transportation Security Administration
>>Resolution 2023-09: Regarding the Accessibility 
>>of Training Administered by the American Red Cross
>>Resolution 2023-10: Regarding Opposing the Revival of Eugenics for the Blind
>>Resolution 2023-11: Regarding the Nonvisual Accessibility of Hearing Aids
>>Resolution 2023-12: Regarding Expediting the 
>>Plan to Achieve Self-Support Processing
>>Resolution 2023-13: Regarding Artificial 
>>Intelligence Chatbots and their Information on Blindness
>>Resolution 2023-14: Regarding the Schedule A 
>>Hiring Authority for Individuals with Disabilities
>>Resolution 2023-15: Regarding the 
>>Inaccessibility of C-SPAN's Coverage of Congressional Votes
>>Resolution 2023-16: Regarding Urging the 
>>National Council of State Agencies for the 
>>Blind and Council of State Administrators of 
>>Vocational Rehabilitation to Promote 
>>Certifications Issued by the National Blindness 
>>Professional Certification Board
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-01: Regarding the Promulgation 
>>of Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Website Regulations
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with 
>>Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, 
>>including Title II requiring that state and 
>>local governments be accessible to Americans 
>>with disabilities and Title III requiring 
>>places of public accommodation to be accessible 
>>to Americans with disabilities; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the twelve examples of public 
>>accommodation provided in Title III of the ADA 
>>include, but are not limited to: places of 
>>lodging, establishments serving food or drink, 
>>places of exhibition or entertainment, places 
>>of public gathering, sales or rental 
>>establishments, service establishments, public 
>>transportation terminals/stations, places of 
>>public display or collection, places of 
>>recreation, places of education, social service 
>>center establishments, and places of exercise or recreation; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, on July 26, 2010, exactly twenty years 
>>after the ADA was signed into law, the United 
>>States Department of Justice published an 
>>advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) 
>>regarding website accessibility regulations for 
>>both Title II and Title III of the ADA; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, six years after the publication of the 
>>ANPRM, the Department of Justice issued a 
>>supplementary advance notice of proposed 
>>rulemaking for only the Title II regulations on May 9, 2016; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, just nineteen months after the 
>>publication of the supplementary advance notice 
>>of proposed rulemaking, the Department of 
>>Justice suddenly announced that it was 
>>withdrawing the website ANPRM entirely on December 26, 2017; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, thirty-two years after the ADA was 
>>originally signed into law, and twelve years 
>>after the original ANPRM regarding Title II and 
>>Title III website regulations, the Department 
>>of Justice announced in the Fall 2022 Unified 
>>Agenda that it would issue an NPRM regarding 
>>Title II website regulations in the spring of 
>>2023, but has failed to announce any plans 
>>regarding Title III website regulations: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization demand the United 
>>States Department of Justice immediately begin 
>>the process of promulgating Americans with 
>>Disabilities Act Title III website regulations 
>>by publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-02: Regarding the Preservation 
>>of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program in the 
>>United States through the Liberalization of 
>>Policies Governing Federal Expenditures
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, a disproportionately high rate of 
>>unemployment and under-employment exists among 
>>the nation’s blind, causing genuine hardship and suffering; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind 
>>has long championed and advocated for programs 
>>within federal and state government, non-profit 
>>organizations, and elsewhere that will 
>>effectively help to minimize and address the 
>>multiple economic and social disadvantages 
>>stemming from unemployment and under-employment; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the national Vocational Rehabilitation 
>>(VR) program, a federal/state partnership 
>>charged with supporting disabled people who 
>>have an impediment to securing work within an 
>>integrated, competitive environment, has—during 
>>its hundred-plus years of existence—received 
>>priority attention and resources of the 
>>National Federation of the Blind, calculated to 
>>advocating that the VR program in this country 
>>adopt policies that positively affect the lives 
>>of blind people by increasing choice 
>>provisions, unique nonvisual training, and 
>>ultimately employment opportunities; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, within at least the last decade, 
>>Vocational Rehabilitation agencies have started 
>>to return substantial portions of their unused 
>>Federal VR grants to the Rehabilitation 
>>Services Administration (RSA), a part of the 
>>United States Department of Education, for 
>>either redistribution through the annual 
>>federal re-allotment process or ultimate return 
>>to the United States Treasury; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, members of the United States Congress 
>>and other relevant Executive Branch officials 
>>have observed that the national VR program has 
>>increasingly been challenged to spend its 
>>federal resources, giving the reasonable 
>>impression that this valuable federal 
>>employment program may not be proving effective 
>>or does not require the level of funding it is currently receiving; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, federal VR officials and leaders of 
>>state VR agencies that manage the day-to-day 
>>administration of the VR program propound 
>>different institutional reasons for the 
>>existing Federal VR expenditure challenge, both 
>>perspectives having some merit; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, many state VR Directors and senior 
>>fiscal policy staff believe that some of the 
>>reasons for state VR agencies needing to return 
>>large portions, or occasionally the entire 
>>federal VR grant, back to the federal 
>>government include the strict Federal fiscal 
>>enforcement and interpretation that has 
>>deterred state VR agencies from spending their 
>>Federal grant dollars and the requirement to 
>>reserve and spend 15 percent of the federal VR 
>>grant on Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) services; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the alarming pattern of state VR 
>>agencies returning federal VR grant resources 
>>has caused federal leaders in both the 
>>Legislative and Executive Branches of 
>>government to sincerely conclude that this 
>>pattern of non-expenditure reflects some type 
>>of dysfunction within the national VR program 
>>or that the VR program is simply over-funded; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Federal officials from RSA have been 
>>adopting administrative measures and 
>>encouraging state VR agencies to liberalize 
>>some of their policies and practices that 
>>falsely attribute the inability to spend 
>>federal resources due to an inaccurate 
>>interpretation of the federal VR regulations; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, on October 29,2019, the Office for 
>>Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
>>(OSERS) issued its Frequently Asked Questions 
>>(FAQ) document, which granted prior approval 
>>for certain Participant Support Costs and 
>>Equipment Purchases, making it markedly easier 
>>for VR agencies serving blind consumers to 
>>spend their Federal grant dollars with greater practice and speed; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, during the consecutive fall 2022 
>>conferences of the Council of State 
>>Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and 
>>the National Council of State Agencies for the 
>>Blind, senior RSA officials charged state VR 
>>agency directors with being creative in 
>>reviewing long-existing state policies that may 
>>be legal, but which may not fully take 
>>advantage of latitude that the federal VR Act 
>>allows state VR agencies to exercise: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization call upon the 
>>Rehabilitation Services Administration, the 
>>Council of State Administrators of Vocational 
>>Rehabilitation, and the National Council of 
>>State Agencies for the Blind, to join together 
>>to develop policies that may be relied on to 
>>support state VR agencies to spend their 
>>federal VR grant resources responsibly and consistently.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-03: Regarding the Accessibility of Twitter
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, social media has become a significant 
>>part of many people’s lives, serving as a 
>>vehicle for staying in touch with friends, 
>>seeking advice, searching for jobs, and staying 
>>up-to-date on information about local and national news and events; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Twitter, a mainstream social media 
>>platform, has been a space for the blindness 
>>community, having prioritized accessibility by 
>>establishing a dedicated accessibility team, 
>>and providing frequent accessibility-related updates and communications; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Twitter in the past allowed for third 
>>party clients that use its application 
>>programming interface (API) to ensure an accessible experience; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in the fall of 2022 Twitter laid off 
>>its entire accessibility team and made changes 
>>to its API that have broken accessible Twitter 
>>clients used by our community; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, frequent updates to social media 
>>platforms and apps like Twitter introduce new 
>>features and bring changes to existing 
>>features, and without the accessibility team, 
>>accessibility is no longer taken into account 
>>with new builds and features: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization condemn and 
>>deplore all acts of blatant discrimination and 
>>disregard of blind people by Twitter; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Twitter shall no 
>>longer be a platform this organization supports 
>>due to its complete lack of regard for equal access by the blind; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>shall not abandon our supporters on Twitter, 
>>but shall no longer use it as a primary source of social media engagement; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>demand that Twitter build back its commitment 
>>to creating more inclusive experiences by prioritizing accessibility.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-04: Regarding the Opposition of 
>>the Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, 
>>and Free Speech for People to Fully Accessible Vote-By-Mail
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the ability to cast a secret and 
>>anonymous ballot is a cornerstone of our 
>>democracy that enables citizens to vote their conscience without fear; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Title II of the Americans with 
>>Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that voters 
>>with print disabilities must be provided an 
>>opportunity to mark and return their by-mail 
>>ballot privately and independently at home that 
>>is equal to the opportunity provided voters without disabilities; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, thirty-two states currently permit 
>>military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters to return 
>>their marked ballot either by email, fax, or web portal; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, twenty-eight states currently permit 
>>blind and low-vision voters to mark their 
>>by-mail ballot using a remote accessible 
>>vote-by-mail (RAVBM) system, but only thirteen 
>>states (Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, 
>>Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, North 
>>Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and 
>>West Virginia) have passed state laws or have 
>>been ordered by a federal court to permit 
>>voters with disabilities to return their marked ballot electronically; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, states that do not permit electronic 
>>return of ballots require that ballots that are 
>>marked using an RAVBM be printed out and 
>>returned by regular mail, or placed in a ballot 
>>drop-box, which is a barrier that prevents many 
>>voters with print disabilities from exercising 
>>their right to vote by mail privately and independently; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, organizations such as Common Cause, 
>>Brennan Center for Justice, and Free Speech for 
>>People oppose fully accessible vote by mail, 
>>and therefore the right of voters with print 
>>disabilities to vote by mail privately and 
>>independently, solely on the basis of unfounded security concerns; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Common Cause, Free Speech for People, 
>>and the Brennan Center for Justice claim that 
>>their missions are to “ensure that every 
>>eligible American can cast a ballot,” and 
>>“to ensure people can participate equally and 
>>meaningfully in our democracy”; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the most commonly used RAVBM, the 
>>Democracy Live OmniBallot portal, is hosted on 
>>an Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud server, 
>>which is the server used by the US Department 
>>of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, 
>>Central Intelligence Agency, and other US 
>>federal government intelligence agencies to house top secret documents; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Synack Security, the nation’s 
>>premiere security testing company, has 
>>conducted continuous penetration testing of the 
>>OmniBallot portal since 2020, and a Synack 
>>Security report, dated July 27, 2022, indicates 
>>that recent testing by over four hundred 
>>independent security testers found just one 
>>low-risk security vulnerability, which was 
>>later confirmed to be fixed and no longer present in OmniBallot; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, ballots electronically returned on the 
>>OmniBallot portal are encrypted, protected from 
>>being changed or overwritten, and securely 
>>stored until the elections office prints out and tabulates the ballot; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Democracy Live OMNIBallot RAVBM 
>>portal has been deployed in over four thousand 
>>elections in ninety-six countries since 2010 
>>with no security breaches, and is the most deployed RAVBM in the US; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Enhanced Voting System, another 
>>RAVBM portal commonly used in the United 
>>States,  has incorporated Microsoft 
>>ElectionGuard, an end-to-end verification 
>>system, that permits the voter to verify their 
>>submitted ballot from the time it is submitted 
>>to when it is counted: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization demand that 
>>Common Cause, Free Speech for People, and the 
>>Brennan Center for Justice adhere to their 
>>mission that every eligible American be able to 
>>cast a ballot, including a by-mail ballot by 
>>blind, low-vision, and voters with other print 
>>disabilities, privately, and independently, and 
>>to amend their position on fully accessible 
>>vote by mail to reflect the actual security 
>>status of the state-of-the-art systems 
>>currently in use, and to reflect the requirements of Title II of the ADA.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-05: Regarding Audio Delays 
>>During Live Radio Play-by-Play Broadcasts
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, many blind people are sports fans who 
>>support their local sports teams; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, live radio broadcasts of sporting 
>>events, where available, are pivotal in helping 
>>many blind people to enjoy sporting events, 
>>even when they attend the events in person, 
>>because radio broadcasters typically provide 
>>thorough nonvisual descriptions of the action 
>>on the field of play for listeners; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, there may be a significant audio 
>>delay, ranging from a few seconds to a minute 
>>or more, between the action and the description 
>>of the play over the live radio broadcast, 
>>which can mean that blind people listening to 
>>the broadcast in the stadium or arena do not 
>>receive timely information about the action as it occurs; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, some sports franchises have worked 
>>with their broadcast partners to eliminate such 
>>delays, indicating that there is no broadcast 
>>requirement that the delays be present to meet 
>>Federal Communications Commission standards: 
>>for example, the Baltimore Orioles worked with 
>>the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National 
>>Federation of the Blind to resolve this issue; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, other franchises have reportedly 
>>solved the problem by providing dedicated 
>>pre-tuned receivers to blind fans, tuned to a 
>>direct feed from the broadcast booth, allowing 
>>fans to hear the play-by-play with no delay; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, while these solutions have been 
>>implemented by some franchises, there are not 
>>any league-wide policies, practices, or 
>>standards that recognize and address the 
>>negative effects of broadcast delays: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that we urge all of the professional 
>>sports organizations in the United States, 
>>including but not limited to Major League 
>>Baseball, the National Football League, the 
>>National Basketball Association, and the 
>>National Hockey League, to develop policies, 
>>standards, and/or best practices in 
>>collaboration with the National Federation of 
>>the Blind and with their franchises and 
>>broadcast partners to eliminate audio delays 
>>during live play-by-play broadcasts.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-06: Regarding the Enforcement 
>>of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Workforce Investment Act, which 
>>significantly expanded and strengthened the 
>>technology access requirements for Americans 
>>with disabilities under the original Section 
>>508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was signed into law in 1998; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the strengthened Section 508 went into 
>>effect and became enforceable in 2001; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 
>>requires Federal agencies to give employees 
>>with disabilities and members of the public 
>>access to information comparable to the access available to others; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, Section 508 requires Federal agencies 
>>to make not only websites and information 
>>published on the internet accessible, but all 
>>electronic and communication technology (ECT), 
>>including when those agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use ECT; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Department of Justice is required 
>>by Section 508 to provide a report to Congress 
>>and the President every two years regarding 
>>federal technology accessibility; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the publication of these reports has 
>>been sporadic, and frankly ignored, with the 
>>previous report’s publication in September of 2012; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, on June 30, 2022, Senators Bob Casey 
>>of Pennsylvania and Tim Scott of South 
>>Carolina, along with five other senators, sent 
>>a letter to the Attorney General demanding the 
>>publication an updated Section 508 report; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in July 2022, the Senate Committee on 
>>Aging, led by Senators Casey and Scott, held a 
>>hearing on the impact of lack of 508 compliance 
>>on blind and disabled employees, veterans, and 
>>members of the public as part of a Senate 
>>investigation on Section 508, which resulted in 
>>the Committee publishing a Report on December 
>>1, 2022, entitled, “Unlocking the Virtual 
>>Front Door: An Examination of Federal 
>>Technology’s Accessibility for People with 
>>Disabilities, Older Adults, and Veterans”; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the December 1, 2022, report included 
>>clear and actionable recommendations for 
>>Congress and executive branch Federal agencies 
>>for improving data collection, enforcement, 
>>accountability, and compliance for Section 508; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the effort led by Senators Casey and 
>>Scott ultimately resulted in the Department of 
>>Justice publishing an updated Section 508 
>>report in January 2023, which showed a 
>>significant level of inaccessibility among 
>>federal agency websites, including 10 percent 
>>of external agency pages being inaccessible, 59 
>>percent of internal agency pages being 
>>inaccessible, and 80 percent of PDF documents being inaccessible; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, given the degree of inaccessibility 
>>that the January 2023 Report shows, it can be 
>>reasonably assumed that Federal agencies are 
>>failing at making other types of ECT accessible 
>>in the same way they are failing for web content; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the United States Access Board has 
>>regulatory authority over Section 508 of the 
>>Rehabilitation Act, and the United States Equal 
>>Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has 
>>regulatory authority over employment 
>>discrimination but no authority over Section 508; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, neither the Access Board nor EEOC have 
>>enforcement authority over Section 508, 
>>resulting in little oversight or accountability 
>>for employees and members of the public who 
>>encounter non-508 compliant ECT; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, inaccessibility to this degree after 
>>more than twenty years of the law being in 
>>effect and enforceable is outrageous, 
>>inexcusable, and unacceptable: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization demand federal 
>>agencies immediately cease the development, 
>>purchase, maintenance, or use  of inaccessible 
>>information and communication technology as 
>>well as the publication of inaccessible website content and PDFs; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>demand federal agencies develop and publish a 
>>roadmap by July 5, 2024, to remediate all Section 508 violations; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>demand the United States Department of Justice 
>>publish the next required bi-annual 
>>accessibility report no later than January 2025 
>>and every two years thereafter; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>urge Congress to introduce and adopt 
>>legislation that gives the Access Board and 
>>EEOC the authority to enforce Section 508 and 
>>hold Federal agencies accountable that fail to 
>>make their ECT 508 compliant; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>strongly urge that Congress and executive 
>>branch Federal agencies adopt the 
>>recommendations in the December 1, 2022, Report 
>>of the Senate Committee on Aging; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>commend Senators Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and 
>>Tim Scott of South Carolina for leading a 
>>bipartisan effort to demand the Department of 
>>Justice publish the Section 508 report and 
>>improve Section 508 across the Federal government.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-07: Regarding Text Formatting 
>>in Real-Time Refreshable Braille
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, italics, boldface, underlining, and 
>>other formatting attributes are often used as 
>>an integral aspect of much written material to 
>>emphasize certain words, indicate a shift in 
>>time or speaker, show insertions, or otherwise 
>>convey information that is necessary for 
>>comprehension of the full meaning of the text; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, such text formatting can be displayed 
>>in Braille by the use of specifically-defined 
>>Braille indicators that clearly identify which 
>>attribute is being used and where it begins and ends; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, to reduce clutter, when formatting 
>>attributes are used for visual appeal but do 
>>not add meaning, they are generally not shown in Braille; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, screen reader technology makes the 
>>contents of a digital screen accessible via not 
>>only speech output but also by displaying the 
>>words in Braille via real-time translation 
>>software and a connected refreshable Braille display; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in speech output, most screen readers 
>>can, if set to do so, represent italics, 
>>boldface, underlining and the like by the use 
>>of a different pitch, tone, or voice when speaking the affected words; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in Braille, indication of text 
>>attributes by screen readers is inconsistent at 
>>best—for example, NVDA is the only screen 
>>reader which will, when set to do so, display 
>>the assigned Braille boldface, italic, and 
>>underline indicators wherever these formatting 
>>attributes occur in the text; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, a recent software update gave 
>>Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader the ability, 
>>in very limited circumstances, to render the 
>>Braille boldface, italic, and underline 
>>indicators, but the implementation does not 
>>extend to many popular applications such as the Kindle; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the methods generally used by other 
>>screen readers to render this formatting 
>>information in their real-time Braille 
>>translation are either non-existent or are very 
>>cumbersome and do not use the assigned Braille indicators; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, lack of access to this formatting 
>>information not only denies the Braille reader 
>>some needed elements of the full meaning of the 
>>text, but also represents a missed opportunity 
>>for the Braille reader to learn about the print 
>>formatting customs used in résumés and many 
>>other documents they may be called upon to 
>>create as part of employment or educational endeavors: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization call upon 
>>developers of screen reader technology to 
>>prioritize the implementation of displaying the 
>>Braille indicators for boldface, italics, 
>>underlining, and other attributes with assigned 
>>Braille indicators, wherever these attributes 
>>appear in print, so that the user can show or hide the indicators as preferred.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-08: Regarding the Transportation Security Administration
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Transportation Security 
>>Administration (TSA) is responsible for 
>>screening all passengers and their belongings for safety purposes; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, blind people traveling through 
>>airports every day for work, vacation, or 
>>personal reasons interact with TSA agents while 
>>navigating through the screening process; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, TSA agents will frequently request 
>>long white cane users to send the cane through 
>>the X-Ray machines, but then fail to 
>>immediately return it, resulting in blind 
>>travelers feeling inferior and being forced to 
>>rely on the agent to help navigate the screening area; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, for guide dog users, TSA officers will 
>>frequently attempt to separate the user from 
>>their animal, require that they be screened in 
>>a separate screening room, or attempt to 
>>improperly remove the harness from the dog during the detection process; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, TSA agents often incorrectly inform 
>>these travelers that they are breaking the law, 
>>but when pressed for said law the agent is 
>>unable to provide further information; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, blind passengers have been 
>>unnecessarily delayed or missed their flight 
>>entirely because of aggressive TSA agents not 
>>allowing us to quickly and independently move 
>>through the screening process: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization demand that the 
>>Transportation Security Administration adopt 
>>proper training on dealing with blind 
>>passengers, including how to handle long white 
>>canes, guide dogs, and assistive technology 
>>products, as well as respectfully asking blind 
>>people if they would like assistance, to be 
>>consistently used at all airports while interacting with blind travelers; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>demand that the training be developed in direct 
>>consultation with the National Federation of 
>>the Blind, thereby ensuring the agents 
>>understand how to best accommodate blind travelers’ needs.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-09: Regarding the Accessibility 
>>of Training Administered by the American Red Cross
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the American Red Cross is the premier 
>>organization providing first aid and CPR 
>>training to individuals across this nation; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, accessibility to these training 
>>programs is vital to individuals who are blind 
>>and wish to administer life-saving aid to their 
>>friends and family members who may experience 
>>medical emergencies and need assistance prior 
>>to when emergency medical personnel may arrive; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, members of the National Federation of 
>>the Blind have enrolled in American Red Cross 
>>training programs and found that over the last 
>>several years the electronic portion of 
>>training, including materials provided after 
>>training, have been inaccessible to them; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the American Red Cross has recently 
>>begun to include videos in their training 
>>programs, but these videos are not 
>>audio-described and thus do not provide full access to blind participants; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, members of the National Federation of 
>>the Blind have communicated with the American 
>>Red Cross for over three years to offer 
>>assistance in making the American Red Cross 
>>electronic materials accessible with limited success to date: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization strongly urge the 
>>American Red Cross to take meaningful steps to 
>>make all training programs and services 
>>accessible to the blind and print-disabled; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the 
>>American Red Cross to seek the input and 
>>partnership of blind consumers, notably the 
>>National Federation of the Blind, in its 
>>efforts to obtain and maintain accessibility.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-10: Regarding Opposing the Revival of Eugenics for the Blind
>>
>>
>>
>>This resolution addresses suicide. Suicidal 
>>thoughts or actions (even in very young 
>>children, older adults, and people with 
>>life-threatening illness/disability) are a 
>>manifestation of extreme distress and should 
>>not be ignored. If you or someone you know 
>>needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
>>
>>WHEREAS, people faced with vision loss often go 
>>through an initial period of depression, 
>>sometimes including suicidal feelings, that are 
>>actually calls for help in living with 
>>blindness, coping with depression, dealing with 
>>anxiety about the future, managing grief, 
>>identifying ways to avoid inadequate care 
>>options, and learning independence as a blind person; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, some people who become blind encounter 
>>lack of control, fear, and spiritual despair; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, for most people who express suicidal 
>>desires, public agencies operate a network of 
>>services from public health, medical, and legal 
>>agencies to prevent medical professionals, 
>>caregivers, and family members from taking 
>>advantage of or encouraging a person’s impulse for self-harm or suicide; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, people with disabilities are sometimes 
>>denied access to this protective network of 
>>services based solely on a doctor’s “good 
>>faith” diagnosis of terminal disability, 
>>where terminal disability describes a medical 
>>condition that some doctors would describe as 
>>an incurable and irreversible disease that has 
>>been medically confirmed and will, within 
>>reasonable medical judgment, result in death 
>>within six months—witth or without medical care; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, far too many people consider a loss of 
>>sight as a dying, as evident from the opinion 
>>of one professional: “When, in the full 
>>current of his sighted life, blindness comes on 
>>a man, it is the end, the death, of that 
>>sighted life. It is superficial, if not naive, 
>>to think of blindness as a blow to the eyes 
>>only, to sight only. It is a destructive blow 
>>to the self-image of a man
a blow almost to his 
>>being itself.” Father Thomas J. Carroll, 
>>founder and director of St. Paul’s Rehabilitation Center for the Blind; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, under the guise of “mercy” and 
>>“dignity” in dying, nine US states and the 
>>District of Columbia have passed laws 
>>legalizing physician-assisted suicide, which is 
>>a revival of old eugenic ideologies that steer 
>>people with terminal disabilities away from 
>>necessary mental health care, medical care, and 
>>disability supports, and toward death by suicide; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, this misguided concept of mercy and 
>>dignity creates a two-tiered medical system in 
>>which people who are suicidal sometimes receive 
>>disparate treatment responses from their 
>>physicians and varying levels of protection from the state; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, people without disabilities are 
>>encouraged in response to suicidal desires to 
>>seek counseling, medical care, and other protective supports; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, those with disabilities are regarded 
>>as facing lives of incapacity and despair that 
>>are not worth living, and thus directed toward suicide itself; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, people who are newly blinded often 
>>seek information from the medical profession, 
>>and they encounter doctors who, although they 
>>have much experience in curing ailments, have 
>>essentially none in managing the disability of blindness; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, these doctors sometimes conclude that 
>>they could not possibly function in society 
>>without sight and therefore mistakenly believe 
>>that their patients who are blind must face 
>>irreparable incapacity and irreversible sorrow 
>>from an incurable condition that can never be 
>>reversed, making the lives of these patients no longer of any value; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, a number of groups without knowledge 
>>of disability have decided to persuade state 
>>legislatures that physician-assisted suicide is 
>>a benefit to people with disabilities, which 
>>has led to the adoption of assisted suicide 
>>legislation in a number of states; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, such groups argue that to permit 
>>people with disabilities to escape the dreadful 
>>conditions of their lives is the kindest thing that society can do; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, it becomes clear to legislative 
>>committees that assisting people with 
>>disabilities to achieve suicide preserves 
>>scarce resources available to the medical and 
>>social services communities—suicide is cheaper than providing service; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in direct contrast to this flawed 
>>perception, the National Federation of the 
>>Blind, in the words of its founder Dr. Jacobus 
>>tenBroek, recognizes that “
the blind as a 
>>group are mentally competent, psychologically 
>>stable, and socially adaptable. And that their 
>>needs are, therefore, those of ordinary people, 
>>of normal men and women, caught at a physical 
>>and social disadvantage. This thesis affirms 
>>the capacity of the blind for self-reliance and 
>>self-determination, for full participation in 
>>the affairs of society and active competition 
>>in the regular channels of democratic opportunity.”; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind 
>>asserts that laws legalizing physician-assisted 
>>suicide violate the Equal Protection Clause of 
>>the Fourteenth Amendment by treating people 
>>with terminal disabilities differently as 
>>compared to everyone else who expresses a wish 
>>to die to their medical doctor and fails to 
>>include sufficient safeguards to ensure that a 
>>judgment-impaired, or unduly influenced person 
>>does not receive and/or ingest lethal 
>>physician-assisted suicide drugs without 
>>adequate due process in waiving their fundamental right to live; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind 
>>knows that blindness is not the characteristic 
>>that defines you or your future and encourages 
>>and supports those individuals faced with 
>>vision loss contemplating suicide, their 
>>families, and friends to come to an 
>>understanding that blind people live full and 
>>productive lives, adding value to society: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that we categorically oppose assisted 
>>suicide and euthanasia public policy for people 
>>with disabilities as inherently discriminatory 
>>violations of the Americans with Disabilities 
>>Act Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
>>1973, and the Equal Protection and Due Process 
>>Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>call upon the United States Department of 
>>Justice to enforce the protections for people 
>>with disabilities granted under the Equal 
>>Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 
>>Fourteenth Amendment of the United States 
>>Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities 
>>Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 
>>of 1973 to assure that disabled people, 
>>including people who are blind, have access to 
>>adequate services from medical professionals, 
>>social service personnel, and law enforcement 
>>agencies to prevent fast-track assignment to suicide; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we demand that 
>>State medical, social service, and 
>>rehabilitation agencies immediately desist in 
>>supporting assisted suicide and instead provide 
>>supportive services to affirm the value of the 
>>lives of people with disabilities; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing in this 
>>resolution shall be construed in a manner that 
>>limits the autonomy of any blind or disabled 
>>individual with the capacity to make their own 
>>medical decisions in considering and exercising end-of-life choices.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-11: Regarding the Nonvisual Accessibility of Hearing Aids
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the mission of the National Federation 
>>of the Blind is to improve the lives of blind 
>>people by fostering personal empowerment, 
>>coordinating nationwide advocacy, and building 
>>a network of collective achievement; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, in today’s society, blind and 
>>deafblind individuals need equal access to a 
>>wide variety of information as well as access 
>>to computers, smart phones, and other communication devices; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, recently at least one hearing aid 
>>manufacturer, Sonova, has made the controls for 
>>their Phonak hearing aid accessible, 
>>demonstrating that blind and deafblind 
>>individuals can use these controls independently and safely; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, other manufacturers of devices should 
>>be able to duplicate accessibility; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, many hearing-care professionals have 
>>the same misunderstandings about the abilities 
>>of deafblind individuals that the rest of the public has; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, all hearing-care professionals must 
>>recognize the capabilities of deafblind 
>>individuals to manage their accessible devices; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug 
>>Administration has recently issued a ruling, 
>>effective October 17, 2022, allowing the 
>>over-the-counter purchase of hearing aids 
>>without a prescription from a hearing health specialist; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, such a ruling opens the market for 
>>hearing aid manufacturers to produce more 
>>widely available, affordable, and potentially 
>>accessible products: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization call upon all 
>>hearing care professionals, marketers, and 
>>manufacturers to work with the National 
>>Federation of the Blind so that blind and 
>>deafblind individuals can incorporate 
>>independent management of their own hearing aid 
>>and assistive listening device profiles; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>urge the Food and Drug Administration to 
>>require that all hearing aids be accessible to blind and deafblind people.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-12: Regarding Expediting the 
>>Plan to Achieve Self-Support Processing
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, a Plan for Achieving Self Support 
>>(PASS) is a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
>>provision to help individuals with disabilities 
>>return to work so that the applicant can find 
>>employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or 
>>Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration 
>>(SSA) fact sheet on Plan for Achieving 
>>Self-Support states, “PASS is a written plan 
>>of action for pursuing and getting a particular type of job.”; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, a PASS can include supplies to start a 
>>business, school expenses, equipment, 
>>transportation, uniforms, and other items or 
>>services that an applicant needs to reach his or her employment goal; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, an advantage of an approved PASS is 
>>that SSA does not count the money set aside to 
>>reach a work goal, thus making the participant 
>>eligible for SSI and other public assistance 
>>programs such as Medicaid and SNAP; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the SSA can take years to make a 
>>decision on the approval or denial of this 
>>plan, causing hardship to the applicant because 
>>their decision is not retroactive and the 
>>client must wait in limbo for other public assistance programs; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the SSA does not assist beneficiaries 
>>in developing a PASS, but instead directs the 
>>applicant to seek help from the state rehabilitation agency; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the applicant is forced to work with 
>>two bureaucracies, the state rehabilitation 
>>agency and SSA, resulting in duplication and indefinite delays; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the state vocational rehabilitation 
>>agency has organizational knowledge and 
>>experience evaluating education and training 
>>programs and already has a good working 
>>relationship with the applicant; therefore, 
>>these agencies should take over the approval of the plan; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, precedent already exists for SSA to 
>>get information from the state rehabilitation 
>>agency because it currently uses disability 
>>determination from the state vocational agency: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization urge the Social 
>>Security Administration to issue rulemaking 
>>procedures that will delegate authority to 
>>state vocational rehabilitation agencies to 
>>approve individual plans to receive self-support.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-13: Regarding Artificial 
>>Intelligence Chatbots and their Information on Blindness
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, an artificial intelligence chatbot is 
>>any computer program that can carry on a 
>>natural conversation with a user and provide 
>>responses drawn from a set of existing data; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, chatbots and other artificial 
>>intelligence technologies are becoming 
>>increasingly prevalent in society, including in 
>>the provision of customer service and information; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind 
>>is committed to ensuring that blind and 
>>low-vision people have equal access to information and technology; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the 
>>National Federation of the Blind that some 
>>chatbots, including ChatGPT and Bard, may 
>>provide users with stereotypical and inaccurate 
>>information about blindness and blind individuals; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the provision of such information 
>>perpetuates harmful stereotypes and contributes 
>>to the marginalization of blind individuals; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind 
>>believes that creators of chatbots have a 
>>responsibility to ensure that their technology 
>>does not perpetuate harmful stereotypes or 
>>misinformation about blindness: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that we urge the creators of ChatGPT, 
>>Bard, and any future chatbots that may be 
>>developed to work with the National Federation 
>>of the Blind to build their chatbots in a way 
>>that ensures the provision of accurate, 
>>non-stereotypical information about blindness and blind individuals; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the 
>>creators of these chatbots to collaborate with 
>>the National Federation of the Blind to develop 
>>and implement best practices for ensuring that 
>>their technology is accessible and inclusive 
>>for blind and low-vision people and that these 
>>best practices should include the use of blind 
>>and low vision people in the development and testing of these chatbots.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-14: Regarding the Schedule A 
>>Hiring Authority for Individuals with Disabilities
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, the United States Federal government 
>>claims that one of its primary goals is to be 
>>the model employer of individuals with disabilities; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Federal government hires 
>>individuals either competitively into the 
>>competitive service or noncompetitively into the excepted service; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, since the 1930s, Schedule A 
>>appointments to the Federal government have 
>>included a variety of categories of individuals 
>>who are hired non-competitively and into the excepted service; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, President Jimmy Carter issued 
>>Executive Order 12125 on March 15, 1979, which, 
>>for the first time, established the Schedule A 
>>Hiring Authority for Individuals with 
>>Disabilities as a section within the broader 
>>Schedule A Hiring Authority, in order to create 
>>a pathway to level the playing field for 
>>applicants with disabilities who are seeking 
>>employment with the Federal government; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Schedule A Hiring Authority for 
>>Individuals with Disabilities is intended to 
>>create a vehicle for individuals with severe 
>>psychiatric, mental, and physical disabilities, 
>>including blindness, to be excepted from the 
>>competitive hiring process in order to increase 
>>the number of individuals with disabilities 
>>that are hired to work for the Federal government; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Office of Personnel Management 
>>promulgated the implementing regulation for the 
>>Schedule A Hiring Authority for Individuals 
>>with Disabilities at 5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u) and 
>>is responsible for oversight and implementation of this authority; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, this authority is applicable to both 
>>veterans and non-veterans with disabilities; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, though this regulation has been 
>>updated and modernized on multiple occasions in 
>>its forty-four year history, most recently in 
>>2013, the Federal government has still 
>>struggled to hire and retain employees with 
>>disabilities and routinely fails to meet its own targets; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Schedule A Hiring Authority for 
>>Individuals with Disabilities requires a 
>>two-year trial period for newly hired 
>>employees, which is equivalent to a 
>>probationary employment period, while other new 
>>employees are only required to serve one year of probationary employment; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, though existing employees with 
>>disabilities may use the Schedule A Hiring 
>>Authority for Individuals with Disabilities to 
>>non-competitively be promoted or transferred 
>>within the Federal government, they must serve 
>>a new two-year trial period every time the 
>>Schedule A Hiring Authority for Individuals 
>>with Disabilities is used, effectively 
>>disincentivizing the process contrary to its intent; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the two-year trial period was, in 
>>1979, intended to protect employees with 
>>disabilities because it took significant time 
>>to procure and implement reasonable accommodations; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, technological advancement, commercial 
>>availability, and equity principles have 
>>significantly reduced the amount of time to 
>>procure and implement reasonable 
>>accommodations, rendering the prolonged trial 
>>period unnecessary and potentially punitive; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, on November 6, 2020, the Office of 
>>Personnel Management (OPM) revised 5 C.F.R. 
>>302, which governs the general Schedule A 
>>Hiring Authority, to require the use of 
>>veterans preference and other significant 
>>restrictions for excepted service positions; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, this change has created tremendous 
>>confusion among Federal agencies about how to 
>>implement the Schedule A Hiring Authority for 
>>Individuals with Disabilities, resulting in 
>>multiple Federal agencies severely curtailing their use of this authority; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, some Federal agencies have reacted to 
>>this amended regulation by outright prohibiting 
>>non-competitive hiring using the Schedule A 
>>Authority for Individuals with Disabilities; 
>>decommissioning non-competitive résumé 
>>databases containing applications and résumés 
>>for Schedule A applicants with disabilities; 
>>ranking and rating applicants who seek to use 
>>the Schedule A Hiring Authority for Individuals 
>>with Disabilities behind all other applicant 
>>categories, even competitive applicants; and 
>>other consequences that effectively render the 
>>Schedule A Hiring Authority for Individuals with Disabilities meaningless; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, OPM has indicated that the revised 
>>regulation does not apply to the Schedule A 
>>Hiring Authority for Individuals with 
>>Disabilities, but this guidance is not easily 
>>available, prominently published, or enforced; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, on June 25, 2021, President Joe Biden 
>>issued Executive Order 14035, Diversity, 
>>Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the 
>>Federal Workforce, which directs the Federal 
>>government to, “assess current practices in 
>>using Schedule A hiring authority to employ 
>>people with disabilities in the Federal 
>>Government, and evaluate opportunities to 
>>enhance equity in employment opportunities and 
>>financial security for employees with 
>>disabilities through different practices or 
>>guidance on the use of Schedule A Hiring Authority”: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization emphatically urge 
>>the Office of Personnel Management to provide 
>>Federal agencies with clear instructions 
>>concerning the non-applicability of 5 C.F.R. 
>>302 to the Schedule A Hiring Authority for 
>>Individuals with Disabilities and direct 
>>agencies to reinstate non-competitive hiring 
>>procedures for applicants with disabilities; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>urge OPM to update the Schedule A Hiring 
>>Authority for Individuals with Disabilities 
>>regulations to reduce the trial period to one 
>>year for new hires and eliminate it entirely 
>>for promotions and transfers consistent with competitive hiring principles; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>commend the Biden Administration for elevating 
>>accessibility including the Schedule A Hiring 
>>Authority for Individuals with Disabilities; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>urge OPM to promulgate updated regulations to 
>>implement the Schedule A Hiring Authority for 
>>Individuals with Disabilities that update and 
>>modernize the authority consistent with the 
>>Federal government’s goal of being the model 
>>employer of individuals with disabilities and 
>>include stakeholders with disabilities, 
>>including the National Federation of the Blind, in that effort.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-15: Regarding the 
>>Inaccessibility of C-SPAN's Coverage of Congressional Votes
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, C-SPAN provides complete coverage of 
>>the United States Senate and the House of Representatives; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, typically only C-SPAN equipment is 
>>permitted to cover Congressional proceedings, 
>>including coverage of floor votes in both chambers; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, as votes are taken on bills, 
>>nominations, motions and more, a tally is 
>>displayed on the screen listing the current vote; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, members of the Senate cast their votes 
>>orally, however members of the House record 
>>their votes by electronic device; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, despite the Senate using voice votes, 
>>at no point is the changing vote tally read out 
>>loud for either chamber for those who cannot 
>>see the current vote margin on the screen; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, there are numerous pieces of 
>>legislation that are debated and voted upon 
>>that would considerably impact the lives of the nation's blind; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, C-SPAN sometimes interrupts coverage 
>>for a moment to speak important details, such 
>>as what is about to be considered, but never to 
>>say the current vote totals; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, C-SPAN has been contacted about adding 
>>a feature to make these votes accessible and 
>>has not returned correspondence: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that we urge C-SPAN to audibly update 
>>viewers as votes progress every few minutes; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>urge other services that offer coverage of 
>>state and federal legislatures and government 
>>proceedings to add an accessible mechanism for 
>>following vote tallies and other pertinent 
>>information that is readily displayed on the screen for viewers at home.
>>
>>
>>Resolution 2023-16: Regarding Urging the 
>>National Council of State Agencies for the 
>>Blind and Council of State Administrators of 
>>Vocational Rehabilitation to Promote 
>>Certifications Issued by the National Blindness 
>>Professional Certification Board
>>
>>
>>
>>WHEREAS, all blind Americans deserve 
>>high-quality vocational rehabilitation (VR) 
>>services that empower and inspire them to live the lives they want; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, there continues to be a shortage of 
>>instructors to fill vacancies in positions 
>>providing adjustment-to-blindness training to 
>>blind consumers of VR services; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Council of State Agencies 
>>for the Blind (NCSAB) is composed of 
>>specialized state agencies providing VR services to the blind; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the Council of State Administrators of 
>>Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) is composed 
>>of the chief administrators of state agencies providing VR services; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the National Blindness Professional 
>>Certification Board (NBPCB) was created in 2001 
>>and now offers certifications in access 
>>technology, orientation and mobility, 
>>rehabilitation teaching, and Unified English 
>>Braille and emphasizes a positive philosophy of 
>>blindness and the importance of blind role models; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, some state VR agencies and contractors 
>>with state VR agencies do not accept 
>>certifications issued by the NBPCB, but 
>>recognize certifications by the Academy for 
>>Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and 
>>Education Professionals (ACVREP) when hiring 
>>instructional rehabilitation personnel; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the pathway to obtaining 
>>certifications issued by ACVREP continues to be 
>>problematic for blind applicants, thus 
>>marginalizing blind people within the 
>>professional community affiliated with ACVREP; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, the NBPCB was established to 
>>administer certifications for blindness 
>>rehabilitation professionals in a way that does 
>>not discriminate against blind instructors and 
>>thus treats blind and sighted instructors equally; and
>>
>>WHEREAS, blind people holding certifications 
>>from the NBPCB have been successfully providing 
>>VR services to blind adults through VR programs 
>>funded by the United States Department of 
>>Education since 2001, demonstrating their 
>>capabilities for the last twenty-two years: Now, therefore,
>>
>>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of 
>>the Blind in Convention assembled this fifth 
>>day of July, 2023, in the City of Houston, 
>>Texas, that this organization urge the National 
>>Council of State Agencies for the Blind and 
>>Council of State Administrators of Vocational 
>>Rehabilitation to urge their member agencies 
>>and administrators to accept certifications 
>>issued by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board; and
>>
>>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>>demand that certifications issued by the 
>>National Blindness Professional Certification 
>>Board be treated equally to their counterpart 
>>certifications issued by the Academy for 
>>Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals.
>
>
>Cullen Gallagher
>Affiliate Secretary and Cambridge Chapter 
>Secretary: National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts
>
>The National Federation of the Blind knows that 
>blindness is not the characteristic that defines 
>you or your future. Every day we raise the 
>expectations of blind people, because low 
>expectations create obstacles between blind 
>people and our dreams. You can live the life you 
>want; blindness is not what holds you back.