October 18, 2005

To The Honorable Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington , D.C.20510

Dear Senator Obama,

My name is Kevin Dwyer and I am a forty year old resident of Illinois who is legally blind. I was born with a rare form of macular degeneration called stargardts disease.  Stargardts disease causes a gradual loss of the central vision. I was born with 20/20 vision, but by the time I hit my teens I was considered legally blind.

 I am currently a member of the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB) under the Randolph Sheppard Program. The BEPB is a federally mandated program that is intended to create employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.  The BEPB was created after the passage of the 1936 Randolph Sheppard Act. The Randolph Sheppard Act provides that a blind or visually impaired person has the priority to operate businesses on federal property.

Blind Americans currently experience an unemployment rate of over 70%, it is not due to a lack of desire to work, but rather a lack of opportunities. Prior to becoming a vendor in the Randolph Sheppard Program, I experienced the difficulties of trying to find an employer that would give me a chance.  I didn’t think I was going to have much of a future, until I found the Randolph Sheppard Program.

When I became a member of the Randolph Sheppard Program, I was afforded the opportunity to find substantial and gainful employment. More importantly I was able to find a sense of independence that I thought I would never be able to reach.

Shouldn’t that be the goal of any program that is intended to help the disabled?   I currently live in Champaign with my wife and three children. As a parent I’m sure that you can agree that we hope our children will have better opportunities then we had. Better opportunities for education and for a career.

In April of this year my 6 year old son, Kevin Jr. was diagnosed with stargardts disease. My wife and I are still coming to terms with his diagnosis. Having stargardts myself I know I am going to be a staunch advocate for him, but I also know first hand what to expect.

I still remember the day I realized I couldn’t play little league anymore, I know that day is coming for Kevin. I still remember the days when doors were slammed in my face because I was blind; I also know those days are coming for him.

What I don’t know is whether or not the Randolph Sheppard Program will still be there for him, and that scares me.

On Thursday October 20, 2005 , the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, will be holding a hearing on “Federal Programs for People with Disabilities”.

I am asking for your help. On behalf of me, blind individuals within the state and my son Kevin, can you please contact the members of the H.E.L.P.Committee, and let them know that the Randolph Sheppard Program is a program that truly does benefit people who are disabled, and in fact should be a model for other programs.

Can you think of a reason not to support a program for people who are blind, that does what it was intended to do?

I hope not.

Sincerely,  

Kevin Dwyer