February 20/21, 1999

Whereas this organization is not an organization speaking on behalf of the blind, rather we are an organization of blind people speaking for ourselves, and

Whereas this organization believes that with training and opportunity blindness can be reduced to the level of a nuisance, and

Whereas this organization believes it is respectable to be blind, and

Whereas this organization believes that people who are blind can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers, and

Whereas this organization believes the real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight, the real problem is the lack of positive information about blindness and the achievements of blind people.

Be it resolved that the above philosophy statements be included in the constitution and membership pledge.