The official policy statements of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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 Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.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 Illinoisans.

Resolution 2024-01: Regarding Calling Upon the Illinois State and Local News Media to Use the Word "Blind"

WHEREAS, blind people are held back by a common set of misconceptions about being blind, low expectations for blind people, and barriers resulting from a lack of equal access to information and public services; and

WHEREAS, since 1940 the National Federation of the Blind (“NFB”) has used the word "blind" as an inclusive term with a functional definition that encompasses individuals with varying degrees of blindness, but who have in common the need to use nonvisual tools and techniques, some or all of the time, in order to learn, work, play, and otherwise live the lives we want; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, we have rejected the tendency of society to treat the word "blind" as a word to be avoided; and

WHEREAS, for example, in 1993, our national convention affirmed in Resolution 1993-01 that "We believe that it is respectable to be blind, and although we have no particular pride in the fact of our blindness, neither do we have any shame in it. To the extent that euphemisms are used to convey any other concept or image, we deplore such use"; and

WHEREAS, because of our belief in the normality and capacity of blind people, we reject the idea that eyesight or vision is a requirement for success, and believe that vision-centered language focuses on what we are perceived to lack, a negative framing of blindness, rather than on our fundamental normality as people who share a characteristic that, while it does not define us, is a positive part of who we are; and

WHEREAS, increasingly, a common euphemism for the word blind is the phrase "visually impaired," or variants thereof, which is an example of vision-centered language that portrays us as broken because of our lack of eyesight; and

WHEREAS, the news media, in all its forms and to varying degrees, uses words to inform and shape the perceptions of those who consume it; and

WHEREAS, the phrase "visually impaired" continues to be used by many media outlets to describe blind people, even in stories about individuals who embrace their identity as blind people and which purport to be positive and affirming; and

WHEREAS, NFB Resolution 2024-21 addresses this concern at the national level: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois in Convention assembled this nineteenth day of October, 2024, in the City of Naperville, Illinois, that we call upon all broadcast, print, and digital news outlets, services, and other entities operating in Illinois that influence the language used throughout news media in the state to stop using the term "visually impaired" to describe blind people, and to instead use the word "blind" in the way that those of us who have the authentic lived experience of blindness use it; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon all of these entities to consult with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois as they review and revise their guidance to journalists, editors, and producers, and otherwise make decisions about the language they use in describing and characterizing blindness and blind people.

Resolution 2024-02: Regarding the use of the term "visually impaired" when referring to blind people with some vision

WHEREAS, language plays a crucial role in shaping society's perceptions and understanding of different perspectives and aspects of life; and

WHEREAS, accurate terminology is an essential factor in the creation of a climate that fosters respect and inclusivity for everyone, including blind people; and

WHEREAS, at its 1993 convention, the National Federation of the Blind unanimously adopted Resolution 93-01, which says in relevant part, “…the word blind accurately and clearly describes the condition of being unable to see, as well as the condition of having such limited eyesight that alternative techniques are required to do efficiently the ordinary tasks of daily living that are performed visually by those having eyesight..."; and

WHEREAS, this resolution clearly declares that the word "blind" is meant to include people with low vision or no vision and does not circumvent the use of a word that, in other circles, is either avoided altogether or combined with other terms such as "visually impaired," "visually challenged," "sight challenged" or "hard of seeing" euphemisms that are thought to be more acceptable and less off-putting to the broader community; and

WHEREAS, at its 2024 National Convention, the National Federation of the Blind adopted and passed Resolution 2024-22, in which it reaffirms the respectability of the word "blind" as articulated in Resolution 93-01; and

WHEREAS, the term "visually impaired" (often combined with the word "blind" as in "Blind and Visually Impaired") is used by many programs and agencies serving the blind as an attempt to clarify that their services are available to individuals with limited or no eyesight and not just to individuals who are totally blind; and

WHEREAS, the word "impaired" when combined with the word "vision" or "visual" implies a sense of deficiency and inferiority and perpetuates the incorrect notion that people who have lost part or all of their eyesight are automatically less capable or more limited in their abilities as compared to people with normal eyesight; and

WHEREAS, when referring to a group of people comprised of individuals with varying degrees of sight, ranging from total blindness to legal blindness to significant vision loss, the term "blind and low vision" is a more accurate and positive description, in that it correctly indicates less-than 20/20 vision without connoting the negative assumptions and stereotypes that have too often been associated with the blind; and

WHEREAS, organizations such as Be My Eyes outline such language in their published "Inclusive Language" Guide that explains why language matters, and

WHEREAS, other minority groups, such as the deaf community, have successfully advocated for the use of terms such as "deaf or hard of hearing" in place of "deaf and hearing impaired," recognizing the value of moving away from terminology that includes the word "impaired"; and

WHEREAS, self-advocacy and asserting the use of preferred terminology can do much to challenge existing misconceptions and encourage others to adopt more accurate and respectful language; and

WHEREAS, raising awareness and educating the public to use appropriate terminology that is free from negative assumptions and stereotypes can be achieved through educational campaigns, media initiatives, and inclusive language guidelines in academic and professional settings: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, in Convention assembled this nineteenth day of October 2024, in the city of Naperville, Illinois, that this organization reaffirm the respectability of the word "blind" as articulated in Resolution 93-01 and Resolution 2024-22; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon state and local organizations, agencies, and entities that work with or serve individuals who are blind and feel that it is appropriate to use terms such as "blind and visually impaired" or "visually impaired," or entirely to avoid any reference to blindness in their names and/or promotional materials, to use instead "blind," "blind and low vision," "low vision," or similar phrasing.