Resolutions Adopted at the 2024 Convention
At the 2024 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held on October 24-27, two resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2024-01 (MS/Word format)
This resolution commend the New Mexico Public Education Department for enacting the Braille Standards and posting the Braille Standards Companion Guide on its web site.
Resolution 2024-02 (MS/Word format)
This resolution states that the $65,000 in federal Part B funds that the Commission for the Blind receives annually allows the Commission to spend program income on the provision of independent living services to persons who are younger than 55. It calls upon the Commission for the Blind, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Statewide Independent Living Council to work cooperatively together to restore the Part B funding that the Commission has historically received.
Resolutions Adopted at the 2023 Convention
At the 2023 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held on September 21-24, two resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2023-01 (MS/Word format)
This resolution commends ABQ-Ride and the Paratransit Advisory Board for their work in expanding the types of qualified professionals authorized to certify applications for those who are blind or visually impaired to include CRCs, CTVIs, CRTBs, COMSs and those holding the NOMC. It also calls upon other communities in the state who offer complementary paratransit service review their application procedures to likewise allow for qualified and certified professionals who serve blind and visually impaired adults and children, allowing for appropriate options and greater flexibility in certification of applications.
Resolution 2023-02 (MS/Word format)
This resolution calls for the expansion of The Open Meetings Act to Allow Virtual Or Hybrid Meetings to Continue, Enhancing Access for People with Disabilities, Including the Blind And Visually Impaired. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Calls upon the New Mexico Legislature to amend the Open Meetings Act to allow for boards, commissions, and councils covered by the Open Meetings Act to meet in hybrid or virtual settings, allowing greater public participation in meetings of public bodies covered by the Open Meetings Act; and that this organization further calls upon entities covered by the Open Meetings Act to use meeting platforms that are shown to be accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired, such as Zoom.
Resolutions Adopted at the 2022 Convention
At the 2022 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held on August 27-28, six resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2022-01 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to the adoption of state Braille standards. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Reaffirms Resolution 2021-01, and calls upon the New Mexico Public Education Department to promptly enact the proposed Braille reading and writing standards.
Resolution 2022-02 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to certification of Sun Van and other complementary paratransit for applicants who are blind or visually impaired. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Call upon ABQ-Ride's Paratransit Board and ABQ-Ride to review policies regarding certification of Sun Van applications for individuals who are blind or visually impaired and to consider expanding the types of qualified professionals authorized to certify these applications to include CRCs, CTVIs, CRTBs, COMSs and those holding the NOMC.
- Call upon other communities throughout the state who offer complementary paratransit service review their application procedures to likewise allow for qualified and certified professionals who serve blind and visually impaired adults and children, allowing for appropriate options and greater flexibility in certification of applications.
Resolution 2022-03 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to the accessibility of state of New Mexico websites information systems. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Commends the administration of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Department of Information Technology for its successful efforts to enhance accessibility for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
- Recognizes that ensuring accessibility is an ongoing process and that additional progress still needs to be made.
- Calls upon the state of New Mexico to continue to proactively work to make sure that all state websites and information systems are fully accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Resolution 2022-04 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to the accessibility of Children Youth and Families services. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Calls upon CYFD to undertake coordinated and systematic efforts to improve and enhance services and communications with persons who are blind or visually impaired; and that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico specifically calls upon CYFD to work to make sure that CYFD respects the rights of parents who are blind or visually impaired, including blind or visually impaired persons who are serving as foster parents.
Resolution 2022-05 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to the expansion of the Open Meetings Act to allow virtual or hybrid meetings to continue, enhancing access for people with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Calls upon the New Mexico Legislature to amend the Open Meetings Act to allow for boards, commissions, and councils to meet in hybrid or virtual settings, allowing greater public attendance and participation in meetings of boards, commissions, and councils; and that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico further calls upon entities covered by the Open Meetings Act to use meeting platforms that are shown to be accessible for persons who are blind or visually impaired, such as Zoom.
Resolution 2022-06 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to partnership with the New Mexico Library For The Blind And Print Disabled. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- Partner with the NMLBPD to increase distribution of e-readers to patrons who qualify and can benefit from them, such as in educational and other appropriate settings.
- As part of this cooperation, call upon the NMLBPD to increase its capacity to promote the use of its Braille, e-readers and other materials and technologies in education and other appropriate settings by hiring an individual who is fluent in Braille and assistive technology.
Resolutions Adopted at the 2021 Convention
At the 2021 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held on August 27-28, two resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2021-01 (MS/Word format)
This resolution pertains to Braille reading and writing standards develop by a committee of six highly experienced educators of blind students in New Mexico. It states that the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico advocates for the following:
- That these Braille reading and writing standards be recognized as highly valuable for the education of students who qualify as blind, as defined in IDEA;
- that we endorse these standards publicly, when necessary;
- and that we support submitting these standards to the New Mexico Public Education Department so that they will become education policy.
Resolution 2021-02 (MS/Word format)
- This resolution commends the administration of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for helping to create accessible Coronavirus and vaccine registration websites;
- and calls upon the administration of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to continue to proactively work to make sure that all state websites and information systems are fully accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Resolutions Adopted at the 2020 Convention
At the 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held on August 28-29, four resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2020-01 (MS/Word format)
This resolution calls upon the Governor, the New Mexico State Legislature, the Secretary of State, and the New Mexico Commission for the Blind to work with the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and other interested parties to do the following:
- Design or procure a system whereby voters who are blind or visually impaired can request an accessible ballot to be made available to them electronically as soon as early voting starts, and have that ballot displayed on their screens immediately after they are verified;
- and design or procure a secure system through which voted ballots can be submitted electronically, thus eliminating the need for voters who are blind or visually impaired to own or find a printer before they can independently and privately mark their printed absentee ballots.
Resolution 2020-02 (MS/Word format)
This resolution calls upon the New Mexico Public Education Department and all New Mexico school districts to do the following:
- Ensure the accessibility of software and online applications for children, parents, and teachers who are blind or visually impaired;
- Immediately evaluate the accessibility of existing software and online applications;
- Immediately discontinue the use of software and online applications that are found to not be accessible;
- And put in place procurement procedures that ensure the acquisition of accessible software and online applications.
Resolution 2020-03 (MS/Word format)
- Commends those teaching professionals working for Albuquerque Public Schools who are providing appropriate Braille instruction;
- Calls upon Albuquerque Public Schools to immediately affirm the vital importance of Braille in the instruction of children who are blind or visually impaired;
- And calls upon Albuquerque Public Schools to immediately begin to invest adequate financial and personnel resources to ensure that appropriate Braille instruction is available to all blind and visually impaired children.
Resolution 2020-04 (MS/Word format)
- Calls upon Doxy.me and other manufacturers of telemedicine platforms to immediately make their video platforms fully accessible to persons who are blind;
- Calls upon all healthcare providers operating in New Mexico to ensure the accessibility of their telemedicine platforms to persons who are blind;
- And calls upon the New Mexico Attorney General to take whatever action may be in its authority to address and rectify the situation of inaccessible telemedicine platforms.
Resolutions Adopted at the 2019 Convention
At the 2019 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, held from April 4 through April 7, two resolutions were considered and adopted by the members present and voting.
Resolution 2019-01 (MS/Word format)
- Reaffirms its long-standing and unwavering support of the Commission for the Blind as a separate state agency;
- Expresses its adamant opposition to any effort to consolidate the Commission for the Blind with any other state agency;
- and calls upon the Legislature and Governor to support effective and efficient services for persons who are blind by maintaining the Commission for the Blind as a separate state agency.
Resolution 2019-02 (MS/Word format)
- Calls upon the Public Education Department to authorize school districts and Local Educational Agencies to employ and contract with individuals who possess the National Orientation and Mobility Certification;
- And otherwise calls upon the Public Education Department to support effective and efficient services for students who are blind.
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.