[Nfbv-announce] NFBV 2014 Convention Resolutions

[Michael Kasey]

>From Jennifer L. Shields, Recording Secretary, National Federation of the
Blind of Virginia 

 

Resolution 2014-01

Regarding Autonomous Vehicles

 

 

               WHEREAS, the Blind Driver ChallengeT of the National
Federation of the Blind is a collaborative, innovative research project of
the NFB Jernigan Institute and Virginia Tech College of Engineering to
create nonvisual interfaces that will allow a blind person to drive a car
safely and independently; and 

 

               WHEREAS, driving does not and will never define a blind
person's independence, but the ability to operate an automobile
independently and safely will provide a greater degree of independent
travel, affording us opportunities that do not currently exist; and 

 

               WHEREAS, mainstream automobile manufacturers are working to
develop driverless vehicles, and many of them have already integrated
autonomous components like automatic parallel parking and adaptive cruise
control; and 

 

               WHEREAS, all autonomous vehicles currently require human
operation, and regardless of the degree to which vehicles become automated,
some degree of human intervention will always be required; and 

 

               WHEREAS, the convergence of nonvisual interface technology
with autonomous vehicle technology promises to result in a vehicle that a
blind person can operate safely and independently; and 

 

               WHEREAS, in order for the development of autonomous vehicle
technology to progress, autonomous vehicle developers must be allowed to
test drive the vehicles legally in a variety of real-world driving
situations; and 

 

               WHEREAS, the states of Nevada and Florida have already
enacted legislation making it legal for driverless vehicles to operate on
their roads, and the National Federation of the Blind, during its 2012
convention in Orlando, commended those states that enacted these laws to
legalize the operation of autonomous vehicles on their roads; and

 

WHEREAS, after the NFB passed Resolution 2012-19, California, the District
of Columbia, and Michigan have passed similar legislation: Now, therefore,

 

                              BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of
the Blind of Virginia in Convention assembled this ninth day of November,
2014, in the city of Hampton, Virginia, that this organization call upon
members of Virginia's General Assembly to enact legislation that promotes
the development, testing, and legalization of autonomous vehicles in the
Commonwealth; and

 

               BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization recommend that
the General Assembly specifically permit the operation of these vehicles
with the use of nonvisual interfaces, which will allow a blind person to
operate the vehicle independently. 

 

 

RESOLUTION 2014-02

 

 

Regarding the Accessibility of Taxis and Transportation Network Companies

 

 

WHEREAS, taxicabs have long been a vital transportation option for blind
Virginians to commute to work and become active in their communities; and

 

WHEREAS, the growth of other transportation options has significantly
increased the affordability and availability of transportation options for
blind Virginians; and 

 

WHEREAS, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), also known as "ride
sharing" providers, are defined as organizations-whether corporations,
partnerships, sole proprietors, or other forms-that provide transportation
services for compensation using an online-enabled application or platform to
connect passengers with drivers who use their personal vehicles; and

 

WHEREAS, technology is changing the way that people request and pay for
transportation in taxicabs and with TNCs; and

 

WHEREAS, smartphone apps used by TNCs for ride requests, pick-up
information, and tracking should be accessible to all, including people who
are blind; and

 

WHEREAS, many of these smartphone apps do not work with existing
text-to-speech software that speaks contents of phone screens to the blind
and others with print disabilities, although standards for coding apps to
provide such access are readily available, in common use; and

 

WHEREAS, fewer taxicabs are allowing people to pay with cash, and many
electronic payment systems used by these taxicabs also lack non-visual
accessibility features; and

 

WHEREAS, notwithstanding claims by some TNCs that they are not
transportation providers, TNCs must be prohibited from discrimination
against blind Virginians, especially those who use guide dogs; and

 

WHEREAS, issues involving regulation of TNCs and taxicabs are currently
under consideration within the Commonwealth, and it is anticipated that such
issues will come before the Virginia General Assembly in 2015; Now
therefore:

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia in
Convention assembled this 9th day of November in the City of Hampton,
Virginia, that this organization urges the Delegates and Senators in the
General Assembly to require taxicabs and TNCs to provide equal, non-visual
access to the systems used to request, track, and pay for transportation;
and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization insist that the General
Assembly explicitly protect the rights of blind Virginians who use guide
dogs, by requiring all taxicabs and TNCs to be places of public
accommodation.

 

Resolution 2014-   03

Commending the Peninsula Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia, for a Job well Done. 

 

Whereas, our National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV) conventions
continue to grow and administration of the convention becomes more complex;
Whereas, in 2014, our Peninsula Chapter took on the opportunities and
challenges of hosting the 2014 (56th) state convention; and 

 

Whereas, our  2014 state affiliate convention operated efficiently and
smoothly. 

 

Therefore, be it resolved in convention assembled this 9th day of November,
2014, in the city of Hampton, Virginia, that we thank our Peninsula Chapter
for a job well done!  

 

Jennifer L. Shields

Junior, Christopher Newport University

English Major

Double Minor, Spanish and Psychology

Alpha Chi Collegiate Honor Society

Recording Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

Secretary, Virginia Association of Blind Students "For we walk by Faith, not
by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

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 have the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.