2000 Resolutions

RESOLUTION 2000-01

Whereas the Workforce Adjustment Act creates a one-stop center for all employment programs in every state; and,

Whereas although Vocational Rehabilitation agencies are not required to be housed in the Workforce Center, they are an integral partner in the Center; and,

Whereas all programs and activities of the Workforce Centers are required to be accessible to and useable by people with disabilities; and;

Whereas most counselors and caseworkers in these programs have no experience in Whereas most counselors and caseworkers in these programs have no experience whatever with people with disabilities; and,

Whereas for that reason, the Workforce Oklahoma Training Institute, in conjunction with the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and the Center for Public Management have conducted and are continuing to conduct disability awareness and other forms of training for Workforce Center staff, and have made extensive use of people with disabilities as trainers;

Now therefore be it resolved by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind in Convention assembled, on this 16th day of September, 2000:

1.That the Oklahoma Council of the Blind commends the Workforce Oklahoma Training Institute, the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management for providing vital disability awareness and other training to Workforce Center staff throughout the state; and,

2.2. That OCB further commends Helen Kutz, the Project Director, for her extensive use of qualified persons with disabilities as trainers in this program; and,

3.3. That the President and Board of Directors be instructed to convey the sense of this resolution to all persons deemed appropriate.

RESOLUTION 2000-02

WHEREAS, the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the United States

Department of Education, on June 26th, 2000, proposed changes in the Code of Federal Regulations which would impact state vocational rehabilitation programs, and thereby potentially all blind Americans entering the vocational rehabilitation process; and

WHEREAS, the proposed regulatory changes would establish that a placement does not count as a successful closure if the individuals working around a disabled employee are also disabled; and

WHEREAS, this rule would be applied to employment situations even when an employed blind person is making competitive wages and receiving benefits which are comparable or superior when compared to those received by non-disabled colleagues doing similar work; and

WHEREAS, this regulatory proposal defames blind Americans, and particularly blind workers, by suggesting to United States citizens that it is inferior to have a job where a significant number of co-workers are blind; and

WHEREAS, the research which led to the promulgation of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was not based on analysis of populations of blind Americans, but rather on analysis of a generic disabled workforce; and

WHEREAS, the interpretation of the Rehabilitation Act made in this NPRM demeans blind Americans by limiting their right to make choices as to where they can be employed; and

WHEREAS, this NPRM lacks balance in that it would, for example, dreviewue blind Americans working together in employment provided through certain contracts under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, while continuing to treat as successful, competitive employment closures, employment placements in centers for independent living where a majority of the paid staff, and often 100 percent of staff, have disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the ability to have a job where one receives a living wage and adequate health, retirement, and other benefits of employment is far more important to the American dream and American tradition than the disability status of certain percentages of co-workers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind in convention assembled this 19th day of September, 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, , that this organization express its utter disdain for the rule changes proposed in the NPRM and strongly urge that the proposed rule change be rejected in its entirety.

Be it further resolved that the President and Board of Directors be instructed to convey the sense of this resolution to all persons deemed appropriate.

RESOLUTION 2000-03

WHEREAS, in 1976, the Oklahoma Council of the Blind adopted a resolution specifically prohibiting the organization to hold any official meetings at State lodges on the grounds that these lodges were not in compliance with architectural accessibility standards for people with disabilities; and

Whereas, after 24 years these lodges are now at least as accessible as other comparable facilities throughout the State

Now therefore be it resolved by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind in convention assembled on this 19th day of September, 2000, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that the President and Board are directed to determine the location of any official meetings of the Board of Directors or of the membership, and that any previous restrictions imposed by resolution of this organization are hereby repealed.