Braille Monitor July 1986
When reported earlier in this issue of the Monitor that Wyoming had withdrawn from the vending program, we said that it could happen in other states, but we did not realize that at the very time we were writing it was happening. Montana has now joined Wyoming, and June 30,1986, marks the end of the vending program in that state.
In many ways the Montana disaster is far worse than the one in Wyoming. In Wyoming there was only one vendor on federal property, and we were able to save her job by negotiating an agreement with the General Services Administration.
In Montana there are quite a number of vendors on federal property, and their businesses will close. We have discussed the matter with GSA officials, and they are reluctant to terminate the Randolph-Sheppard vending locations in Montana. However, they point out that the situation is different from the one they faced in Wyoming, where there was only one blind vendor. They say that they are simply not in a position to handle all of the details and responsibilities of a full-fledged state licensing agency--inventorying equipment, training operators, etc. This makes sense, but it does nothing to diminish the threat to the RandolphSheppard program.
The program has now been discontinued in two states, and it is not difficult to predict that others will attempt to follow. It is late for the vendors of the nation to mobilize and join the National Federation of the Blind for collective action. Moreover, because there was not earlier mobilization, the alternatives that are now available are not very good.
If we go to the appropriate committees in Congress and ask them to amend the Randolph-Sheppard Act to require states to have vending programs, it is not difficult to guess what the tradeoff will be. Other groups of the disabled have been trying for a long time to get a piece of the action in the RandolphSheppard program, and they are far more numerous than the blind. If the Randolph-Sheppard Act is opened for amendment, other disability groups are almost certain to be included, and the blind will be submerged. In short, the Randolph-Sheppard vending program as we have known it will be at an end. On the other hand, if we leave matters as they are and try to fight the battle state by state, there is every likelihood that we will lose step by step by erosion. Under the circumstances we have taken the following action: On April 18, 1986, we requested the Subcommittee on the Handicapped of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources to amend the Rehabilitation Act (observe that it is not the Randolph-Sheppard Act to require that the designated state rehabilitation agency for the blind in each state must serve as the licensing agency for blind vendors. If a state violates this requirement, it would lose all of its federal rehabilitation funding. In other words the state would be required to have a Randolph-Sheppard program. Since portions of the Rehabilitation Act expire this year and the remainder next year, this is an appropriate way to handle the problem as part of the overall consideration of the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act.
As a footnote to this sorry mess in the vending program, we must take notice of Montana's claim that one of its reasons for closing the vending stand program is the "cutback in funding." For the past several years the rehabilitation agencies have excused every shortcoming and failure on the grounds of "Reagan budget cuts." To put it bluntly, this is simply not the truth. There has not been one single year in which the Rehabilitation budget has not been increased. Furthermore, the increases have often exceeded the rise in inflation. Here are the figures for the federal rehabilitation appropriations for basic grants to states for recent years: Fiscal 1982 $863,000,000; Fiscal 1983 $943,900,000; Fiscal 1984 $1,037,800,000; Fiscal 1985 $1,100,000,000; Fiscal 1986 $1,190,000,000; after Gramm-Rudman cuts for Fiscal 1986 $1,144,653,839.
It may be too late to save the Randolph-Sheppard program, but we must try. Surely it is not necessary to add that the vendors themselves must try--not just those who have joined the National Federation of the Blind and helped fight the battles through the years but all vendors. Letters and other contacts should be made with members of Congress to urge that the position taken by the National Federation of the Blind be supported. It cannot be stressed too strongly that the effort must be coordinated, not just handled individually and haphazardly. Action is needed--decisively, intelligently, and now!
Here is the relevant correspondence concerning the closing of the RandolphSheppard program in Montana. It should be read (indeed, studied) thoughtfully and with care. Those who cannot understand the significance of these letters can probably not be moved by anything short of the banging of the poorhouse door:
Helena, Montana
March 31, 1986
Chester Avery, Director
Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Rehabilitation Services Administration
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
This Department has determined that the vending stand program for blind vendors must be curtailed in Montana due to the current cutback of funding; contract compliance issues with vendors; excessive costs associated with complying with fire, safety, and health standards; and lack of future accredited training. On March 20, 1986, a meeting of the Rehabilitative Services/Visual Services Advisory Councils was held in Helena, at which the vending stand operators were present. After exploring all alternatives the Advisory Council concurred in the decision to begin curtailing the Vending Stand Program.
Please be advised that immediately we will be returning the administration of the vending stand operations in Federal Buildings located in Billings, Bozeman, Missoula and Helena to the control of the Federal Government. Effective June 30, 1986 our administration of the Vending Stands located in Federal Buildings will terminate.
The vendor in the Helena Federal Building has resigned and that stand will be vacated on May 6, 1986. Dispersal of existing equipment will be coordinated locally through the General Services Administration and the vending stand management contractor, Helena Enterprises.
We will also be curtailing the vending stand state program. As vacancies occur our administration of the stands will terminate.
You will be furnished individual accountings of inventories, equipment and operations contribution shares of the set aside fund for the Federal installations by July 15, 1986 in order to enhance an orderly transfer.
Sincerely,
William A. Vollmer
Acting Administrator
Visual Services Division Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
Helena, Montana
March 31, 1986
J. J. Jaynes, Director
Building Management Division General Services Administration
Denver, Colorado
Dear Mr. Jaynes:
On March 20, 1986, a Rehabilitation Services/Visual Services Advisory Council meeting was held in Helena at which the Vending Stand Operators were present. At that meeting an informational presentation was made outlining: the current cutback of funding; contract compliance issues with vendors; costs associated with complying with fire, safety, and health standards; and lack of future accredited training. After exploring all the alternatives the Advisory Council concurred in the decision to begin curtailing the Vending Stand Program.
Please be advised that effective June 30, 1986 our administration of the vending stands located in Federal Buildings will terminated. However, we would hope that you would continue to give preference to the current operators of the vending stands in your facility. You no doubt are aware that the current operator in the Helena Federal Building stand has given us notice that he will be vacating effective May 6, 1986. Accordingly, a representative from Helena Industries, our Management Contractor, will be contacting Bob Sanders to arrange a time to sort the inventory and equipment.
We have advised the Randolph-Sheppard officials in Washington, D.C, of the June 30, 1986 date.
We do not have a trained vending stand operator to move into the Helena Federal Building. You may wish to consider having the stand operated by Helena Industries through June 30, 1986. Also you may want to initiate advertising to find a replacement operator that would assume operation on May 7, 1986 to preclude any interruption of food service to the Helena Federal Building occupants. Please feel free to contact Margaret Bullock of this office (444-3434) or Dawn DeWolf, Helena Industries (4428632) regarding the above action.
Sincerely,
William A. Vollmer
Acting Administrator
Visual Services Division Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
Helena, Montana
March 31, 1986
Mike Bullock, President
Helena Industries
Helena, Montana
Dear Mike:
In accordance with Section 27 of contract #86-102-0018 I am notifying you that effective July 1, 1986, the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is terminating this contract. This action is based on the advice of its two vocational rehabilitation advisory councils and the independent living council because of the necessity to prioritize programs in this era of budget constraints.
Sincerely,
William A. Vollmer