 | Adopted by the US Congress in 1936, the Randolph-Sheppard Act grants a
right of first refusal to blind business managers to operate vending machines,
snack bars and gift shops on federal property |
| In 1974, Congress formally expanded the scope of the Randolph-Sheppard Act to include
federal cafeterias |
| In 1937, Wisconsin was one of the first states to adopt the federal
Randolph-Sheppard Act |
| Most state legislatures--including Wisconsin--have adopted a "Mini
Randolph-Sheppard Act" which provides similar rights in state, county, and
municipal buildings |
| Forty-six (46) states and the District of Columbia now participate in the
Randolph-Sheppard program |
| With a half billion dollars a year in sales, Randolph-Sheppard vendors are
the seventh (7th) largest organization selling food, snacks, and beverages to
the American public |
| In addition to employing nearly three thousand (3,000) blind women and men
in over forty-six (46) states, Randolph-Sheppard vendors employ ten thousand
(10,000) additional Americans, including a large number of individuals with
disabilities other than blindness |
| Randolph-Sheppard can be thought of as the nation's first affirmative
action program |
| Vendors are trained and expected to perform all the routine managerial
duties necessary for their operations, including customer service, menu
preparation, food safety, sanitation, janitorial duties and other normal tasks |
| In Wisconsin, Randolph-Sheppard vendors want to see consistent compliance
and enforcement of the current law, so this program will be promoted,
expanded, and enlarged |
