Whereas, blind college students need reader service to perform the assignments in matriculating through school; and
Whereas, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 specifically authorizes vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide this service without reference to financial need; and
Whereas, the Maryland Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has made an arbitrary decision, based on erroneous logic, to withhold reader service in most instances from blind college students thus virtually ensuring problems or ultimate failure for these students; and
Whereas, the decision to insure that blind college will fail was adopted by rehabilitation officials unilaterally and is in keeping with their approach to de-emphasize the importance of rehabilitation in general and denigrate the efforts of blind students in particular; and
Whereas, this practice has no rational basis other than that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation does not seriously believe that blind persons should enter educational institutions with an expectation that they can achieve employment opportunity in the professions; and
Whereas, the National Federation of the Blind knows from demonstrated experience that blind persons can compete successfully in the educational process and in the professions and that, in order to achieve success, reader service is not only needed but authorized by federal law and regulations for those students who need it regardless of their financial capability; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled in the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, this 26th day of October, 1980, that this organization condemns and deplores this regressive and oppressive practice by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; and
Be it further resolved that this organization demands that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation provide reader service to all blind college students in order to ensure maximum vocational success; and
Be if further resolved that copies of this resolution be sent to Governor Hughes and other appropriate State and Federal officials.