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From: Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jamal Mazrui)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Proposed Resolution at 1990 NFB Convention
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Date: 3 Dec 90 16:59:45 GMT
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Index Number: 12174

[This is from the Advocacy Conference]

I have for a couple of years felt that too much of the Federation's 
resources were being devoted to fighting for the right to sit in exit 
row seats of airplanes.  While I agree with our basic position because 
of the inequities of other groups with non-visible disqualifiers not 
being so restricted, I believe that a number of other issues are more 
important in our present struggle for first class citizenship.  In 
particular, I feel that the unemployment problem is the most serious 
and troublesome one we face.  I thus introduced the following 
resolution at the convention this year.  Unfortunately, it was not 
debated on the merits:  not one resolutions committee member publicly 
spoke of another issue tht should receive higher priority.  Rather it 
was debunked as not being a resolution, but a proclamation, or being so 
poorly written that it wasn't worth considering--statements I have 
never heard made about other resolutions in my ten years as a member.
    RESOLUTION ON UNEMPLOYMENT OF THE BLIND
                         By Jamal Mazrui
                          July 2, 1990
Whereas seventy percent of working age blind persons are
unemployed or severely underemployed; and
Whereas this fact is not a temporary, passing phenomenon but a
steady, stubborn pattern that has existed for decades; and
Whereas experience, research, and logic demonstrate that
joblessness among the blind is due, not to limitations of
blindness, but to mistaken attitudes and poor training; and
Whereas the National Federation of the Blind has worked hard to
combat this problem in many ways, including the Job
opportunities for the Blind information and referral program,
legislative campaigns to achieve enactment of nondiscrimination
laws in various occupations, court battles to enforce such laws,
public education about the capacities of blind persons, and
numerous other activities on local, state, and national levels;
and
Whereas we are justifiably proud of these efforts for the
positive impact they have had on the welfare of the blind; and
Whereas this 50th anniversary convention is a time both to
celebrate our accomplishments and to plan strategically for even
greater success in the years ahead; and
Whereas the unemployment problem persists in ugly proportions,
damaging the security and psyche of tens of thousands of our
blind brothers and sisters; and
Whereas our society as a whole thereby also suffers in its
economic health and spiritual well-being:
Now therefore be it resolved ... that this Federation hereby re-
affirms its long-term committment to combatting unemployment of
blind people and declares this matter to be its top priority in
our struggle for first class citizenship; and
Be it further resolved that this organization orient and
coordinate its programs and activities in light of this
priority. 

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