Whereas, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has long sought needed improvements for services to the blind in this state by recommending to the General Assembly that services for the blind be separated from general vocational rehabilitation services into a comprehensive service agency; and
Whereas, rather than acting decisively upon this request, a decision was made to direct that a study of services for the blind be conducted by the Governor’s Office for the Coordination of Services to the Handicapped (GOCSH), and
Whereas, this organization is keenly aware that studies can be useful for two purposes: first, to study a situation truly to determine facts which lead to decisive and appropriate action; and secondly, to “study” a situation to death in order to avoid appropriate and decisive action, and
Whereas, actions taken by GOCSH clearly show that its intent is to “study” this situation to death, i.e.;
- GOCSH promised to have immediate results and recommendations in 1978;
- An advisory group of consumers and agencies was created in 1979 to ensure that no immediate result and recommendations would be available;
- Input from the advisory group was not used directly to ascertain results and recommendations;
- The State Department of Planning was called upon to evaluate data and input from the advisory group, and;
- The State Department of Planning report is not the final report form GOCSH, and;
Whereas, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has severely taken GOSCH to task for issuing a report in the name of the State Department of Planning filled with unsubstantiated claims and irrational arguments, and
Whereas, while the “study” goes on, the needs of blind persons in this State continue to go unmet: Now, therefore
Be it resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled in the City of Hagerstown, Maryland this 25th day of October 1980, that this organization condemns and deplores the action and inaction taken by GOCSH in its “study” and in its misuse of the reputation and good offices of the Department of State Planning; and
Be it further resolved that this organization urge the Governor of Maryland t have the “study” of the State Department of Planning immediately withdrawn and completely disregarded and to take decisive and appropriate action to reform services for the blind.