The official policy statements of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio 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 Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.
At times, resolutions may also be presented and adopted during an affiliate board meeting when timely action is needed between conventions. These resolutions hold the same official weight and reflect the affiliate’s ongoing commitment to addressing current issues affecting blind Ohioans.
Resolution 2026-01 Removing Driver's License Requirements from State of Ohio Job Postings when Driving Is not an Essential Function of the Job
WHEREAS, shortly after taking office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D establishing Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and a Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities, directing state agencies to eliminate barriers in hiring practices; and
WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that employment qualification standards must be job-related and consistent with business necessity; and
WHEREAS, requiring a valid driver's license for positions when driving is not an essential function of the job creates an unnecessary and discriminatory barrier for blind and low-vision people seeking employment with the state of Ohio: now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in Convention assembled this 8th day of November 2026 in the City of Dayton, Ohio, that this organization call upon the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to end the requirement for a driver's license in State of Ohio job postings unless driving is an essential function of the job.
Resolution 2026-02 Ending Discriminatory Practices Against the Disabled in the Organ Transplantation Field
WHEREAS, a recent study from The Ohio State University College of Medicine published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, (JAMA), Surgery reveals that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are 54 percent less likely to be evaluated for and 62 percent less likely to receive a kidney transplant than those without IDD; and
WHEREAS, the study found that, among those who received a kidney transplant, IDD was not a risk, factor for perioperative complications, ninety-day readmission, or one-year graft rejection, demonstrating that surgical outcomes are similar to those of the general public; and
WHEREAS, despite existing protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities continue to face discrimination in the organ transplant process; and
WHEREAS, the demand for donor organs should not lead to the categorical disqualification of adults with disabilities from receiving life-saving transplants: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in Convention assembled this 8th day of November, 2026, in the City of Dayton, Ohio, that this organization call upon the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen laws and regulations surrounding organ transplantation to protect the rights and lives of people with disabilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the implementation of strict anti-discrimination initiatives to ensure equitable access to evaluation and transplantation for all individuals, regardless of disability.
Resolution 2026-03 Regarding Subminimum Wages
WHEREAS, the practice of paying individuals with disabilities a subminimum wage undermines their dignity, independence, and economic self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, Amended Substitute House Bill 225, known as the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act, seeks to phase out this discriminatory practice and ensure fair compensation for all workers; and
WHEREAS, twenty other states have passed legislation to eliminate subminimum wages, demonstrating that fair pay is both achievable and just; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has long advocated the full integration and equal rights of blind and disabled individuals in all aspects of society, including employment; and
WHEREAS, Amended Substitute House Bill 225 has had five (5) hearings in the Ohio House Commerce and Labor committee; and
WHEREAS, the legislation has bipartisan support in the Ohio House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio 14(C) Taskforce of which The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a member, has circulated a letter in the Ohio General Assembly with 185 signatures in support of the Bill from advocates, self-advocates, and organizations of and for people with disabilities and their family members: now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in Convention assembled this 8th day of November, 2026, in the City of Dayton, Ohio, that this organization call upon the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee to take swift and immediate action to pass Amended Substitute House Bill 225 out of Committee; and
BE it Further Resolved that we call upon Speaker of the House Huffman to schedule the Bill for a vote immediately, and upon its passage send it to the Ohio Senate with all due haste;
BE IT FURTHER Resolved that we call upon the Ohio Senate to take all necessary action to pass this legislation before the end of the 136th General Assembly, thereby ending the subminimum wage and advancing economic justice for all Ohioans with disabilities.
Resolution 2026-04 Regarding On-Demand Paratransit Services
WHEREAS, accessible and reliable transportation is a critical component of independence and employment for blind people and those with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, traditional paratransit systems often require shared rides and extended wait times; and
WHEREAS, adaptive Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like UZURV offer on-demand, door-to-door service with trained drivers; and
WHEREAS, studies show that When Transit authorities add Uzurv to their existing traditional paratransit systems service improves for all customers and money is saved; and
WHEREAS, feedback from riders indicates a strong desire for the expansion of these services, alongside improvements in app accessibility and customer service: now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in Convention assembled this 8th day of November, 2026, in the City of Dayton, Ohio, that this organization call upon all public transit authorities throughout the State of Ohio to offer on-demand, adaptive transportation services similar to UZURV to ensure equitable mobility for blind people and those with disabilities.
BE it Further Resolved that we call upon
State and federal funding sources to allocate funding to assist transit authorities to make these services available.