Resolutions Adopted at the 2018 Convention
At the 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held from April 19 through April 22, three resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2018-01 (MS/Word format)
- expresses deep appreciation and gratitude to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver for helping blind New Mexicans to have in New Mexico, for the very first time in history, the ability for blind people to independently mark the printed absentee ballot using the nonvisual or low-vision access technology of their choice and
- commends Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver and her office for establishing and maintaining a close working relationship with the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and recognizes Maggie Toulouse Oliver as a true friend of the blind.
Resolution 2018-02 (MS/Word document) calls upon all governmental jurisdictions in the State of New Mexico, when considering the installation of accessible pedestrian signals, to work actively with representatives of the organized blind community, including the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and its local chapters, to develop a rational decision-making process for the deployment of accessible pedestrian signals.
Resolution 2018-03 (MS/Word document)
- Declares that the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services (NAC) is an organization which has failed the blind by misusing the concept of accreditation to protect the worst agencies for the blind and fostering outmoded notions which categorize people who are blind as individuals requiring care who are unable to work with service providers as true partners and
- calls upon New Mexico AER, the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, and the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to demand that the national AER leadership cease its efforts to reawaken NAC and, instead, work cooperatively with the organized blind, including the National Federation of the Blind, to support an effective accreditation system which involves consumers in a meaningful way and injects a positive philosophy of blindness into programs serving the blind.