February 14, 2000
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Davis:
The California Council of the Blind (CCB) is an organization primarily consisting of blind and visually impaired people that has been in existence since 1934. We have advocated on behalf of the blind since that time and have been able to bring many programs of importance to that community.
Veteran Legislators are familiar with the problems that exist relative to employment of the blind and visually impaired, and other disabled people. Understandably, the focus of our organization is on those issues that concern the blind and visually impaired. The unemployment rate among persons in our community of employable age is estimated to be more than 70%. By any standard, this is unacceptable.
For the first time in the history of California, both major consumer organizations for the blind, CCB and the National Federation of the Blind of California and agencies serving the blind, have come together and formed a coalition known as the Blind Alliance for Rehabilitation Change (BARC). We have been working since June of 1998 to research information concerning separate agencies to serving blind and visually impaired persons, sometimes called Commissions. We have a measure in place already with the legislative counsel and are hopeful that a Legislator who has been most sympathetic to our cause will carry this bill for us. We should know within a few days. Because time is of the essence, I am sending to each member of the Legislature a copy of a paper BARC has prepared entitled "Why A California Commission for the Blind?" (Statistical information is available upon request.) Pennsylvania currently has a bill in its legislature to establish such an entity. Enclosed is a copy of a letter directed to them by Charles Crawford who headed the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind for 15 years. Last year he became the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind with which the California Council is affiliated. He has given us permission to pass this letter on to you and if we are successful in having a bill introduced, he is willing to come out and testify in its behalf.
We realize that our segment of the population is not the largest in California. However, consideration of our problems, which have been on going for many years, is long overdue. At the end of the enclosed "Why A California Commission…" you will see the list of some
of organizations that are in support of a separate Commission for the Blind in California.
The estimated number of blind and visually impaired served by these organizations is about 60,000. It is our hope that you will look carefully into our cause and be able to sign on to a bill to bring our concerns before the legislature. Please direct any questions you may have to me or to Jim Willows - both numbers are found at the beginning of the "Why A California Commission …" paper. - Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Catherine Skivers
President
enclosures
cc Members of the California Legislature
BARC Steering Committee
CS:eb