WHEREAS, the number of Oklahomans
over age 55 is rapidly becoming a larger percentage of the general population,
and
WHEREAS, this trend is
projected to continue for years to come, and
WHEREAS, the occurrence of
disabilities in this population tends to accelerate the frequency of visual
impairment, and
WHEREAS, the number of older
individuals with visual impairments doubled in the last 20 years and is
projected to double again during the next 10 years, and
WHEREAS, in order to maintain
their independence older people who experience substantial vision loss need a
variety of specialized services, including instruction in adaptive techniques
for accomplishing daily tasks, assistive devices for reading and other
purposes, orientation and mobility training, transportation, support groups and
help finding needed community resources, and
WHEREAS, the Division of Visual
Services in the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services administers a
project that makes these specialized services available to older individuals
with vision impairments, and
WHEREAS, increased state funding
for the older blind program will be needed to enable the Department to commit
more specialized staff and resources to serve this growing population of older
Oklahomans with severe visual disabilities,
Now therefore be it resolved by
the membership of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind in convention assembled
this 22nd day of September, 2001, in Oklahoma City, that the Oklahoma
Council of the Blind membership and Board of Directors strongly support
additional funding for the older blind program, and
Be it further resolved that the
Oklahoma Council of the Blind request the Rehabilitation Services Commission to
support and advocate for additional funding to serve the older blind of
Oklahoma, and
Be it further resolved that the
concerns expressed by this resolution be communicated to the Governor and the
leadership and individual members of the state legislature.
RESOLUTION 01-02
WHEREAS, the right to vote is one of the most precious rights of our
country,
AND WHEREAS, blind/visually
impaired persons have traditionally had to have sighted assistance to exercise
this right,
AND WHEREAS, technology is now available allowing blind/visually impaired to exercise this right independent of sighted assistance.
Now therefore be it resolved by
the Oklahoma Council of the Blind assembled in convention on this 22 day of
September 2001 that
The board of directors is directed
to contact all necessary election board officials
And strongly encourage the purchase/implementation of the necessary technology making it possible for the blind/visually impaired of Oklahoma to vote independently,
And be it further resolved that
when this technology is purchased/implemented the option be provided to vote
independently or with sighted assistance,
And be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be provided to the governor and the leadership of the state legislature.
RESOLUTION 01-03
Where as the right to vote is one of the most precious
rights of our country,
And
where as blind/visually impaired persons have traditionally had to have sighted
assistance to exercise this right,
And
where as technology is now available allowing blind/visually impaired to
exercise this right independent of sighted assistance.
Now
therefore be it resolved by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind
Assembled
in convention on this 22 day of September 2001 that
The
board of directors is directed to contact all necessary election board
officials
And
strongly encourage the purchase/implementation of the necessary technology
making it possible for the blind/visually impaired of Oklahoma to vote
independently,
And
be it further resolved that when this technology is purchased/implemented the
option be provided to vote independently or with sighted assistance,
And
be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be provided to the
governor and the leadership of the state legislature.
Adopted September 22, 2001