WHEREAS, During the annual sessions of the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Public Television ( MPT) produces a weekly program, "State Circle," reporting and commenting on the week's activities of the Maryland General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Although "State Circle" presents a broad spectrum of issues confronting the General Assembly, "State Circle" has presented none of the many issues raised by the organized blind of Maryland, despite repeated invitations by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; and
WHEREAS, At the end of each annual session, "State Circle" always devotes a segment to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Governor's Mansion for the children at the Maryland School for the Blind- this segment has no relationship to the General Assembly, this segment is totally out of character for the content of "State Circle" programming, and this segment is furthermore a waste of valuable public television broadcasting time; and
WHEREAS, this type of news coverage plays on the public's sympathy and pity for the blind, and reinforces the stereotype of
the poor helpless blind, instead of promoting the capabilities of blind persons: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 11th day of September, 1988, in the City of Towson, Maryland, that this organization requests "State Circle" to stop devoting its valuable broadcasting time to the Easter Egg Hunt for the Maryland School for the Blind, and use that time to report on legislative issues concerning the blind.