The National Federation of the Blind of Missouri conducts legislative and advocacy activities at both the state and the national level. Assistance is given to blind persons who are the victims of discrimination or whose rights have been denied. Such assistance may take the form of attempting amicable resolution of disputes, initiating court action, negotiating with public officials, conferring with private groups or individuals, and seeking publicity in the press and otherwise.
United States Legislative Directory
Blind Missourians are called upon to urge their U.S. House and Senate Members to support or oppose particular pieces of Federal legislation. The links below allow you to find contact information for your Missouri U.S. Representative or Senator.
United States House of Representatives – Missouri
United States Senate Directory – Missouri
From time-to-time members and their friends are urged to contact their Missouri State Representative or Senator asking them to support or oppose particular pieces of legislation. The following links allow you to access directories of Missouri House of Representatives and Senators.
Missouri House Member Roster
Missouri State Senators
Legislative Archive
Below you will find links to the text of various state and federal legislation supported by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri and the National Federation of the Blind.
Federal Laws and Legislation
This archive includes fact sheets and other information about our work at the Federal level along with the text of key legislation of concern to the blind including:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
- Copyright Exemption Amendments
- Free Matter Mailing Regulations
- IDEA Re-authorization, 2004
- The Randolph-Sheppard Act
- The Rehabilitation Act
- Vocational Rehabilitation Regulations
The NFB has drafted model legislation which has been adopted in whole or in part in Missouri and throughout the nation to address such issues as protecting the rights of blind travelers and guide dog users, ensuring that blind children have the right to learn Braille, protecting the right of the blind to a secret ballot, independent access to information, and to ensure that blind students receive their textbooks in alternative formats at the same time as their sighted peers.
Missouri Blindness Legislation
Blindness Skills Specialist Information Page
To further its commitment to the education of blind children the NFB of Missouri has worked hard to educate their state representatives and senators to the need for blindness skills specialists. These individuals play an important role in ensuring that Missouri’s blind children and youth have a positive start in life and receive early instruction in vital blindness skills and a quality education along with their sighted peers.
Legislative Summary
This is an overview of legislative work done by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri to create new opportunities and to protect the rights of blind Missourians.
House Bill 201 1999
Access to information technology is critical in employment and Education for people who are blind. Representative Boucher Introduced House Bill 201 in 1999 which ensured that equipment Purchased by the State is accessible to all. With the buying Power of the state as our ally, manufacturers now have increased Reason to take our needs seriously when designing products for The general public. The bill requires state agencies to comply With federal law (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). Which Requires procurement of information technology that is accessible By individuals with disabilities unless an undue burden would be imposed. This requirement applies to information technology used by employees and also used by the public wishing to access state services. In addition, the new Section 508 provides individuals with the right to file suit for non-compliance with the accessibility requirement.
House Bill 401: Chapter 167
Pupils and Special Services
This bill Requires an annual report from DESE to the State Legislature about the literacy of blind and visually impaired children; establishes the Taskforce on Blind Students Academic and Vocational Performance (aka BTF or Blind Task Force); requires DESE and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind to develop a joint referral system; creates the Blindness Skills Specialist Program; and requires school districts to give preference in purchasing textbook materials to textbook vendors that make materials available in Braille, or an electronic format approved by DESE.
House bill 438 1997
This legislation introduced by Representative Charlie Fritz was To mandate that any interest earned on funds in the Wolfner Library Trust is credited to that fund. This was a change from The interest going to General Revenue.
House bill 703 1983
Representative O’Toole introduced this legislation to make it a misdemeanor to fake blindness for the purpose of obtaining Something of value.
House Bill 1730 1998
Representative Merrill Townley introduced this legislation at Our request which corrected an oversight in the law which keeps The children of blind parents from driving using a permit. Since blind parents are not licensed drivers, and since current law mandates that the youngster must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is his/her parent or guardian, this legislation will allow blind parents to choose a licensed driver to supervise their children in learning how to operate a motor vehicle using a driver’s permit.
Senate bill 12 1977
With the NFB’s Model White Cane Law as its foundation, this legislation introduced by Senator Wiggins was passed after eight years of persevering by members of the Federation. It was the first legislation adopted which afforded blind and other persons with disabilities the rights to public accommodations. Since its passage, the law has been revised several times and penalty regulations have been added.
Senate Bill 619 1994
This legislation introduced by Senator Caskey increased the State Reader Fund for blind students from $300.00 per year to $500.00 per year. The legislation further mandated Rehabilitation Services for the blind to manage this program instead of being managed through the county Clerk’s offices.
Senate bill 721 2000
This legislation introduced by Senator Harold Caskey, and Representative Bill Boucher expanded the current level of telecommunications services to Missourians who are blind or have another disability. The legislation also changed the management of the program from the Public Service commission to the Assisted Technology council.
Amendment to Senate Bill 740
This legislation passed in 1990 was introduced by Senator Caskey and was designed to ensure that any blind student wishing to learn braille would have the opportunity to do so by mandating that Braille be addressed in the student’s Individual Education Plan.
Commendations, Proclamations, and Recognitions
This section includes local and state proclamations along with state and chapter letters of commendation and recognition of the work done by the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri on the legislative front, and for other achievements and valuable contributions to the advancement of the blind of Missouri.
State Recognitions
This section contains proclamations and other material recognizing the National Federation of the blind of Missouri for its achievements on behalf of Missouri’s blind throughout the years.
2007 White Cane Proclamation
White Cane Safety Day was established to recognize the independence of the blind through the use of the white cane or guide dog, to remind the general public of the capacity of the blind to be contributing citizens to the community, and to remind drivers of state and federal legislation requiring them to give blind individuals the right of way when approaching them. White Cane Safety Day is observed on October 15th of each year. On October 10, 2007 The Honorable Mat Blunt, Governor of Missouri issued the 2007 White Cane Safety Day Proclamation. A number of Missouri federations were on hand for the signing of this proclamation during ceremonies in Jefferson City.
Chapter Recognissions
Throughout the years our local chapters and state divisions have also received various commendations and recognissions for their legislative outreach work among the blind in their communities.
Kansas City Chapter Fourtieth Anniversary Celebration
On Saturday, August 17, 2002, the Kansas City Chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary. A major highlight of the occasion was a greeting from United States Senator Jean Carnahan.
