RE: Commendation on Insurance Rule 35

WHEREAS, the blind of the State of Nebraska have, in the past, been subject to the unfair and discriminatory practices and policies of insurance carriers regarding life and health insurance and,

WHEREAS, optional coverage in life and hospital insurance was denied to the blind totally on the basis of blindness and not actuarial and sound evidence to justify such discrimination and denial and,

RE: Request for Planning Money for Remodeling and Construction of Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Impaired.

WHEREAS, the Nebraska Unicameral, 86th Legislature, first session failed to appropriate funds for badly needed remodeling of, and construction at, the Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Impaired’s building at 1047 South Street in Lincoln and,

RE: City of Omaha Discriminatory Employment Practices

WHEREAS, the employment form for the city of Omaha requires every applicant to list any "physical defect or disability" and state whether he or she received a disability pension and,

WHEREAS, the city of Omaha conditions an offer of employment on meeting physical standards which are arbitrary and capricious and,

WHEREAS, neither of these employment practices necessarily has any relevance to an applicant’s ability to perform essential job functions and,

RE: Inappropriate Decision and Ineptness on the Part of the Nebraska Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

WHEREAS, the intent of legislation passed by the Unicameral in 1973 was to prohibit discrimination against the disabled in employment and,

RE: Changes in the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act

WHEREAS, chapter 48-119, paragraph 3 of the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act, by the use of the word "intentionally" or references to intentional discrimination, limit and weaken the intent of the law and the powers of the Nebraska Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and,

WHEREAS, discrimination does exist without willful intent and is the product of unfounded assumption, myth and, misconception about the abilities of the blind and,

RE: Provision of Services to Blind Children by the Rehabilitation Agency

WHEREAS, Public Law 95-602, Rehabilitation Act Amendment of 1978, contains provisions that expand the traditional concept of rehabilitation to include "comprehensive services for independent living" and,

WHEREAS, the same law creates a program of reading services for the blind and,

WHEREAS, both these parts of the law explicitly identify services for handicapped children, and,

RE: Acceptance or Dismissal of the Task Force Recommendations by the Governor.

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska is vitally interested in the delivery of high-quality rehabilitation services to blind Nebraskans; and,

WHEREAS, nationally, it has been found and authenticated by recent research that "the strongest, most effective and, most dynamic vocational rehabilitation systems are those in separate agency status": and,

RE: Hike-A-Thon/Bike-A-Thon Donation to the National Treasury.

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is a national movement; and,

WHEREAS, we are attempting to establish hike-a-thons and bike-a-thons to be held on a single weekend with national sponsorship and national recognition; and,

WHEREAS, this coordinated effort on the part of all state affiliates will benefit blind persons throughout the country in ways which cannot be achieved at the state or local level; now, therefore,

RE: Acceptance of Membership Subcommittee Guidelines.

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind as an organized blind movement is the most effective means of dealing with the problems and issues concerning the blind; and,

WHEREAS, there remains a substantial number of blind Nebraskans who need to understand the impact of the blind movement on their lives and their right to participate; and,

WHEREAS, Resolution 1977-03 created a standing membership committee and set forth the intended goals of said committee; now, therefore,

RE: Student Services Provided by the Nebraska Services for the Visually Impaired.

WHEREAS, there has been a lack of direction and clarity of duties regarding student services provided by the Nebraska Services for the Visually Impaired Program Administrator, Donovan Cooper; and,

WHEREAS, it is not uncommon for book orders produced on tape or in braille-¬whether ordered through or from SVI--to be delayed for long periods of time; and,