                        Resolution 91-01    
     WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is totally 
committed to the promotion of braille in our schools, in our 
libraries, and through every facet of our vocational system; and         
     WHEREAS, the two regional libraries serving New York state 
have made commitments to this organization that they will 
implement plans to provide greater service to braille readers; 
and    
     WHEREAS, the upstate regional library, located in Albany, 
New York, has one of the largest collections of braille materials 
in the country, and is taking steps to make that collection more 
readily available to its patrons; and    
     WHEREAS, the newly opened downstate library has promised to 
allocate significantly larger quarters for its braille 
collection:  Now, therefore, 
     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of 
New York state in Convention assembled this third day of 
November, 1991, in the City of Albany, New York, that we commend 
the two regional libraries for their progressive stand on the 
promotion of braille; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage the heads of these 
two regionals to continue to work closely with the National 
Federation of the Blind to make New York a leader in the 
promotion and dissemination of braille and braille literacy. 
                         Resolution 91-02    
     WHEREAS, braille is an essential tool for the achievment of 
both vocational and independent living skills; and    
     WHEREAS, the New York State Commission for the Blind and 
Visually Handicapped is the agency which is mandated to provide 
the services necessary to assist blind persons in achieving full 
independence; and 
     WHEREAS Grade Two is the most widely used and available form 
of braille; and
     WHEREAS, the Commission for the Blind and Visually 
Handicapped has not committed itself to the teaching of Grade Two 
braille:  Now, therefore, 
     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New 
York state in Convention assembled this third day of November, 
1991, in the City of Albany, New York, that this organization 
demands that the Commission for the Blind and Visually 
Handicapped establish and implement a formal policy that every 
client be offered the opportunity to obtain instruction in Grade 
Two braille.
                         Resolution 91-03    
     WHEREAS, full economic participation in society is critical 
for equality; and    
     WHEREAS, the Randolph-Sheppard Act, enacted by the Congress 
in 1936 has provided many opportunities for blind citizens to 
achieve economic independence through the operation of businesses 
on federal properties; and    
     WHEREAS, the Business Enterprise Program of the Commission 
for the Blind and Visually Handicapped is sorely in need of 
growth in order to accommodate the ever-growing number of blind 
people seeking entry into the program:  Now, therefore, 
     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New 
York state in Convention assembled this third day of November, 
1991, in the City of Albany, New York, that this organization 
commend the New York state assembly for its passage of assembly 
bill 3975 known as "a mini Randolph-Sheppard Act", and requests 
the senate to pass the companion bill 3380 at the earliest 
possible date, and that this organization further requests 
Governor Mario Cuomo to sign it into law as he has assured us he 
will, thereby providing many more opportunities for blind New 
Yorkers to enter the mainstream of economic life. 
                         Resolution 91-04 
     WHEREAS, the New York State Commission for the Blind and 
Visually Handicapped is the state licensing agency for the 
administration of the federal Randolph-Sheppard program; and    
     WHEREAS, it is the duty of the state licensing agency to 
protect the rights of blind program members when a dispute or 
violation occurs between the blind vendor and another 
governmental body; and 
     WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service has historically 
ignored and continue to ignore its responsibilities under federal 
law, resulting in major financial loss to the blind vendors of 
this state by permitting unfair and illegal competition with 
these blind vendors:  Now, therefore, 
     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New 
York state in Convention assembled this third day of November, 
1991, in the City of Albany, New York, that we request the state 
licensing agency to actively and aggressively pursue all means at 
its disposal, arbitration, and all other recourse available under 
the law, to safeguard the rights of the blind vendors of New 
York state operating on United States Postal Service property.   
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