2025 Resolutions
The official policy statements of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada are established every year with annual resolutions adopted at the state convention.
The resolutions committee meets early during the convention. Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.
RESOLUTION 2025-01: Regarding rehabilitation services for blind high school students and Higher Education
WHEREAS statistically Nevada has 101,500 blind people; And
Whereas, the rehabilitation system currently lacks crucial services, including mobility training and comprehensive rehabilitation services for blind high school students and higher education; and
Whereas, the absence of these essential services significantly limits blind students’ ability to pursue and achieve their educational goals; And
Whereas, this lack of services infringes on the rights of blind students to independently integrate into the educational system and fully participate in academic opportunities: Now, therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada in Convention assembled this 27th day of April, 2025, that the Nevada Legislature is called upon to mandate and ensure that the training needs for blind students to achieve their educational goals are fully met; and
Be it further resolved, that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation is urged to work closely with blind students to ensure their educational goals are met in a meaningful and effective way, and
Be it further resolved, that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation retain and appropriately allocate federal grant money, secure matching state budget funds for these grants, and provide both equipment and training to blind students; and
Be it further resolved that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation also receive additional funding from the general fund to adequately support these initiatives and ensure comprehensive rehabilitation services for blind students.
RESOLUTION 2025-02: Regarding rehabilitation services for Blind Adults Above the Age of Forty Five and Below the Age of Fifty Five
WHEREAS statistically Nevada has 101,500 blind people; and
WHEREAS, the rehabilitation system currently lacks crucial services, including mobility training and comprehensive rehabilitation programs for blind adults aged forty-five to fifty-five; and
WHEREAS, the absence of these essential services significantly limits blind adults’ ability to relearn and participate fully in everyday activities, And
Whereas, this lack of services infringe on their opportunities for integration and independence: NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, in Convention assembled this 27th day of April, 2025, that this organization call upon the Nevada Legislature to mandate and ensure that the training needs of blind adults are fully met; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge the Department of Rehabilitation to collaborate meaningfully with blind adults to address their needs for independence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Rehabilitation retain and appropriately allocate federal grant funds, along with matching state budget funds, to provide both equipment and training, and that the Nevada Department of Rehabilitation also receive additional funding from the general fund to adequately support these initiatives and ensure comprehensive rehabilitation services for blind adults.
RESOLUTION 2025-03 Regarding Voting ISSUES WITH ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES
WHEREAS the Department of Justice has implemented laws requiring local and state agencies to provide accessible voting machines at polling stations; and
WHEREAS poll workers have demonstrated a lack of knowledge in properly setting up and operating accessible voting technology; and
WHEREAS three-fourths of blind voters in Nevada have experienced issues with privacy when voting in person, including difficulty using nonvisual techniques, inability to activate privacy curtains, prolonged wait times due to malfunctioning voter cards, and the need to restart the process multiple times: NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, assembled in convention on this 27th day of April, 2025, that poll workers receive proper training to understand the user interface of accessible voting machines, troubleshoot technical issues, and enable speech functions when needed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all accessible voting machines be correctly set up, fully operational, and easy to use when polling stations open.
RESOLUTION 2025-04 Regarding the Elimination of Accessibility Barriers on the Nevada Legislature’s Website
WHEREAS websites and mobile applications are essential tools for full participation in modern society; and
WHEREAS blind individuals continue to face unnecessary barriers when accessing the Nevada Legislature’s website, despite accessibility being both achievable and legally required; and
WHEREAS such barriers include, but are not limited to, double gold underlines that are unreadable by screen readers, creating obstacles to effective engagement; and
WHEREAS 96 percent of Americans, including the majority of individuals with disabilities, rely on the internet for information, civic engagement, and access to government services: NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, in convention assembled on this 27th day of April, 2025, that the Nevada Legislature take immediate action to eliminate all accessibility barriers on its website and software applications to ensure full usability for blind individuals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature establish a grant program to fund a qualified and accountable technical assistance provider to support the design, development, procurement, and modification of fully accessible websites and mobile applications.
Resolution 2025-05 Regarding an immediate motion to dismiss Texas V. Kennedy
WHEREAS, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a landmark civil rights provision for people with disabilities, protecting us from discrimination by federal agencies and recipients of federal funding in public education, work readiness programs, healthcare, elections, the court system, and more; and
WHEREAS, seventeen states’ attorneys general have filed suit in Texas v. Kennedy alleging that Section 504 is unconstitutional and should be entirely or partially enjoined, limiting it only to those programs, services, and activities directly funded by and through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and
WHEREAS, those seventeen states submitted a status report to the Court on February 21, 2025, stating in pertinent part, “Plaintiffs clarify that they have never moved--and do not plan to move--the Court to declare or enjoin Section 504. . . as unconstitutional on its face. Plaintiffs have not sought and do not seek to enjoin the disbursement of funds from the Department on the basis that the statute is unconstitutional.”; and
WHEREAS, at the time of this resolution, Plaintiffs have chosen not to amend pages 37 and 42 of their complaint, which directly contradict the previous paragraph by stating: “Count 3: Section 504 is Unconstitutional,” and “Demand for Relief . . . d. Declare Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794, unconstitutional; e. Issue permanent injunctive relief against [the Department of Health and Human Services] enjoining them from enforcing Section 504.”; and
WHEREAS, when asked by members of the National Federation of the Blind, Plaintiffs have repeatedly directed those members to the quoted language from the status report without ever addressing the language in the actual complaint; and
WHEREAS, if Plaintiffs’ demand is granted, it will have a devastating impact on blind Americans’ rights to effective communication and reasonable accommodation in connection with government programs, services, and activities, including but not limited to education, employment, housing, healthcare, and other forms of civic life: Now, therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, in Convention assembled this 27 day of April, 2025, in the City of Las Vegas, Nevada, that this organization immediately call upon Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to move to dismiss the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit because of the far-reaching and harmful effects the lawsuit could have on Section 504 and the lives of blind and other disabled Americans.