Randolph–Sheppard Act
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The Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq., is a federal law which mandates a priority to blind persons to operate vending facilities on Federal property. The Act was first passed by the United States Congress in 1936. The Act was amended and updated significantly in 1974. James Gashel and Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, both leaders in the National Federation of the Blind, worked closely with Congressman Jennings Randolph who was the original author of the Blind Vending Stand Act of 1936. Congressman Randolph felt strongly that the high degree of unemployment among working aged blind adults was reprehensible. He believed joblessness among the blind must be reduced through a robust program to assist blind people in the establishment and operation of cafeteria, concessions, and vending businesses on federal, state, municipal and potentially private property. He often remarked that if the private sector would not consider the capacity of the blind to work alongside the sighted, blind people should be given opportunities to maximize their vocational potential through the government sector, building their own small business concerns.
At the time of the amendments, the National Association of Blind Merchants began their national effort to train, advocate for, and establish small businesses on government property. These merchants helped state vocational, rehabilitation agencies establish businesses ranging in size from small lobby concession stands to vending machine banks to large cafeterias. In recent years, some government agencies have taken steps to thwart the spirit and letter of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, thus decreasing its effectiveness and limiting the opportunities for blind merchants originally envisioned by Congressman Randolph, Senator Shepphard and the National Federation of the Blind.
Customer surveys, health departments and major wholesalers have consistently shown that blind merchants operate effectively and cost competitively. The record also shows that the myths and misconceptions, which many in society still hold about the capacity and normality of the blind, often creates a climate within the federal and state property management bureaucracy which significantly limits the way many in government apply the Act. In order to combat a growing lack of adherence to the statute by many federal property management agencies, blind merchants and state vocational agencies have begun to partner with leading corporations in the food service industry to bring an array of solutions to the government. Working through the National Association of Blind Merchants, companies like Blackstone Consulting Inc. (BCI), Dunkin Brands, Quiznos, Cantu Food Services and Southern Food Services have brought additional customer service offerings to the industry.
Many Randolph-Sheppard possibilities are created, fostered and improved through the training and information exchange at an annual industry conference known as BLAST. Business Leadership and Superior Training brings suppliers, corporate partners, property managers, vocational rehabilitation officials and blind merchants together for education and networking. In addition, an ad hoc group consisting of The National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB), advocates for the blind, private sector partners and blind merchants themselves have, in recent years, formed the Blind Entrepreneurial Alliance in order to combat erosion of the Randolph-Sheppard Act and to publicize its continued viability.
External links
- Randolph-Sheppard Act
- Randolph-Sheppard FAQ from the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, Inc.
- Summary of the current federal program under the U.S. Dept. of Education
- National Association of Blind Merchants, the largest association of blind merchants providing training, advocacy and marketing services
- National Federation of the Blind, oldest consumer organization of blind people providing an array of programs targeted to the blind in business, as well as an array of other constituencies
- Braille Readers are Leaders, in 2007 Congress mandated the minting of the Louis Braille commemorative coin. The Braille Readers are Leaders Program will use the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille in 2009 to increase braille literacy through the sales of the commemorative braille coin. Many blind merchants will be working collaboratively on the effort to increase braille literacy.
