Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors

02/23/2026

The PDF of the complaint vs. DOE:

02/23/2026

https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-blind-entrepreneurs-file-federal-lawsuit?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJelNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUY0xkRFpHODN1OVpqVjNNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmfcf_eEc3E-2SovFGwsdwqvfSM5OVbJUnqYOadw0BsJJj__W7Xwrz-Pnweq_aem_3dYJT0g7FS8kQuiHHawatQ

Washington, DC (January 30, 2026): The National Federation of the Blind, the National Association of Blind Merchants, and several blind entrepreneurs today filed a federal lawsuit challenging a decision by the United States Department of Education that purports to eliminate the Randolph-Sheppard Act...

02/23/2026

Thank you to the NFB for its reliable leadership.

Today, we, along with the National Association of Blind Merchants and several blind entrepreneurs, filed a federal lawsuit challenging a decision by the United States Department of Education that purports to eliminate the Randolph-Sheppard Act priority for blind vendors to operate dining facilities on United States Army installations nationwide.

The Randolph-Sheppard Act, passed in 1936 and strengthened by Congress in 1974, requires federal agencies to give priority to blind vendors in the operation of vending facilities, including cafeterias, on federal property. For more than thirty years, blind vendors have successfully operated Army dining facilities across the country, often winning awards from the military itself.

“The Randolph-Sheppard Act does not authorize the Secretary of Education to waive the law for an entire federal agency,” said President Riccobono. “Congress created and later enhanced this program to expand economic opportunity for blind entrepreneurs. The Department of Education cannot erase the work of America’s lawmakers through a sweeping administrative finding based on anecdote, speculation, or policy disagreement, and should not exclude blind people from shaping the future direction of the program. The National Federation of the Blind stands with the blind business owners who are providing outstanding and award-winning service to members of our nation’s armed forces every day, and we are determined to reverse this unlawful, unwarranted, and unjust action.”

Read the full press release at: https://buff.ly/55n7NP5

02/11/2026

Thanks to Jason Qu***ia for helping to promote Ken Blum at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office! Way to go Ken!

01/03/2026

Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
53 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 803
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone: 312-663-3007

To All Blind Vendors, Recent Graduates, Trainees and BEPB Staff,

This is an urgent call to action needed by all of us to reach out to our US Senators and Legislators.

On December 23, 2025, a notice from the Department of Education was posted on the Federal Register. This notice eliminates our priority on the Department of Defense, US Army facilities effective immediately. This means any current contracts could be canceled today and all new contracts for the US Army will be open to competitive bid and Randolph Sheppard Programs will lose most, if not all of these DOA facilities. All DOD facilities are obviously next.

We are not crying wolf!
This is not something that might happen, this is something that HAS happened.

Now that this horse has been let out of the barn, USPS and GSA facilities will obviously try to follow the lead of DOD. This means regional or national contracts will be published and open to competitive bids. If that happens, state and local contracts will be next. Unless we amass our advocacy consistently and overturn this injustice, we are likely to lose all priority on all DOD, GSA, federal prisons and USPS locations. Perhaps we won’t win but let’s at least go down swinging!

I am also asking for the staff to help because this will affect you as well. This is a federal issue that has a very real chance to shut all of Randolph-Sheppard down.

You should recall that we were personally warned at our conference in October. Few of us met with our US Reps and Senators and now here it is. We can see how quickly things can change. Nicky Gacos and Terry Smith told us how this could all be lost. This has the real potential to destroy our almost 90-year program and legacy. Who is there to stop them? It is not hyperbole to say that the death of Randolph-Sheppard could be on the near horizon. Half of us won't have jobs if we don’t have this Federal priority and maybe even local priority such as Cook County will soon follow due to changes in federal funding and oversight.

Outrage and even fear are very appropriate emotions. Hopefully, individually and collectively, we WILL act to try and disrupt this administration's destruction of our way of life.

Please see the attached Federal Register notice along with the NFB’s response.

PLEASE contact your Federal Legislators.

Thank you,
Kevin Dwyer, Donnie Anderson,
ICBV Chair Legislative Committee Chair

From the Federal Register:
"Based on the Department of the Army's representations, it is clear that the Randolph-Sheppard priority hinders the Department of the Army's ability to act swiftly, efficiently, and cost-effectively in procuring and managing DFAC contracts, which negatively impacts the availability and quality of food options for the nation's warfighters.
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/statement-federal-notice-limiting-randolph-sheppard-priority-department-army

01/03/2026

https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/statement-federal-notice-limiting-randolph-sheppard-priority-department-army

As always, as Blind Vendors and proud NFB members we are grateful for the steadfast national advocacy as we pursue justice. Please read and share.

December 23, 2025 - Baltimore, MD: The National Federation of the Blind condemns the Department of Education’s decision to “limit” (effectively eliminating) the Randolph-Sheppard priority in dining facility contracts (DFACs) on Department of the Army installations.

12/09/2025

ICBV Upstate Christmas Party Pics! Thank you to our community of vendors, family, staff and supporters for attending! Special thanks the the Francese family for their hospitality and the staff at Mattone for the fabulous food and service! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

11/06/2025

Once again, it was wonderful to meet with Illinois’ 7th District Champion the honorable Danny Davis. We met the afternoon of November 4. Congressman Davis will be leaving office in 14 months and we have seen him many many times over the years in Chicago, out in the suburbs at events and many times in his Washington DC offices. We are grateful for his support and that
Of his staff for the blindness community, including the National Federation of the Blind, the Chicago Lighthouse and the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors.  Seen in this picture are Dustin Cather, Giovanni franchise, congressman Davis, Amanda McKenna and Donnie Anderson. 

10/28/2025

Congratulations and welcome to the new Elected Committee Chairman, Kevin Dwyer, Vice Chairman, Steve Heltsley, and board members Sonia Alcaide, Daphne Flemming, Giovanni Francese, Amanda McKenna, Alex Munoz, William Osborn, Carolyn Randolph, Bill Reif and Stephen Robertson.