Illinois Advisory Committee to
the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Members of the Commission
Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson
Cruz Reynoso, Vice Chairperson
Carl A. Anderson
Christopher F. Edley, Jr.
Yvonne Y. Lee
Elsie M. Meeks
Russell G. Redenbaugh
Ruby G. Moy, Staff Director
The Illinois Advisory Committee submits this report, Civil Rights Issues Facing the Blind and Visually Impaired in Illinois, as part of its responsibility to advise the Commission on civil rights issues within the State. The report was adopted by the Advisory Committee by a 13-0 vote. The Advisory Committee is indebted to the individual participants for their time and expertise and to the Midwestern Regional Office staff for the preparation of this report.
This report contains information received by the Illinois Advisory Committee at a conference held on May 29, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois. The Committee is informed that this is the first report by a State Advisory Committee or the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights focusing exclusively on civil rights issues facing the blind and visually impaired. The Advisory Committee sets out in a separate section of the report a lengthy list of observations, having learned that persons who are blind or visually impaired have a disability that subjects them to an unusually high incidence of discrimination.
The Advisory Committee understands the Commission is charged to study and collect information relating to denials of the equal protection of the law, and trusts the Commission and the public will find the material in this report informative.
Respectfully,
Joseph D. Mathewson,
J.D., Chairperson
Illinois Advisory Committee