Aug 27, 2026 · 15 min · 9 segments
On this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Grace Hart discuss a recent court victory concerning the Randolph-Sheppard Act Program. They cover the background of the case, why…
Claire StanleyHost
Grace HartHost
So the Randolph-Shepard program comes from the Randolph-Shepard Act, which was first passed.
So this act established the Randolph-Shepard program, which requires federal agencies to give priority to licensed blind vendors and to operate vending facilities on any federal property.
So the goal of this act was to provide blind individuals the opportunity for gainful employment.
Like what does the Secretary of Education have to do with the Randolph-Shepard program? But actually, the act gives the Secretary of Education the power to promulgate regulations which would carry out the act.
But the act also gives the secretary the power to promulgate regulations which ensure that vending facilities do not adversely affect the interest of the United States.
And that's kind of that kind of sets the tone for this whole this lawsuit discussion that we'll have.
And I love that you made that connection between Department of Ed and the program because it does seem a little misleading.
My assumption is it's because RSA, the program that leads rehab, also falls under Department of Ed.
So there's kind of a correlation there between employment and Department of Ed.
But thank you for letting our listeners know that so we can have that context.
So the Randolph-Shepard program comes from the Randolph-Shepard Act, which was first passed.
So this act established the Randolph-Shepard program, which requires federal agencies to give priority to licensed blind vendors and to operate vending facilities on any federal property.
So the goal of this act was to provide blind individuals the opportunity for gainful employment.
Like what does the Secretary of Education have to do with the Randolph-Shepard program? But actually, the act gives the Secretary of Education the power to promulgate regulations which would carry out the act.
But the act also gives the secretary the power to promulgate regulations which ensure that vending facilities do not adversely affect the interest of the United States.
And that's kind of that kind of sets the tone for this whole this lawsuit discussion that we'll have.
And I love that you made that connection between Department of Ed and the program because it does seem a little misleading.
My assumption is it's because RSA, the program that leads rehab, also falls under Department of Ed.
So there's kind of a correlation there between employment and Department of Ed.
But thank you for letting our listeners know that so we can have that context.
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