Randolph-Sheppard Act

The Randolph-Sheppard Act provides persons who are blind with remunerative employment and self support through the operation of vending on federal and other property. The Act, enacted into law in 1936, was intended to enhance employment opportunities for trained, licensed persons to operate facilities.

Under the Randolph-Sheppard Program, State Rehabilitation Agencies recruit, train, license and place individuals who are blind as operators of vending facilities located on federal and other properties. In FY 2011, a total of 2,584 blind vendors operated 3,100 vending facilities located on federal and other property.

On our website you will find a copy of the Act as well as a Randolph-Sheppard Act training video to give you a better understanding of the rules and regulations associated with the Act. You are even able to test your understanding of the Randolph-Sheppard Act with a quiz. (Good Luck!)

We also have given you Ron Yudd’s “Fifty Points of Profit” curriculum we hope that there will be ideas that you can apply to your businesses. We hope you enjoy that section and appreciate your feedback. Creating personal connections, networking and education is vital to your success. We hope this information helps you to accomplish your goals.

People in a Training Class

NFB Training Centers for the Blind:

Recommended Websites:

  • National Federation of the Blind  The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance.
  • NFB Mailing List The NFB Mailing List is intended for the sharing of information about the accessibility of various consumer electronics devices such as: MP3 players, cell phones, DVD players, receivers (and other stereo and video components), satellite and HD radios, and household appliances including microwaves, washers, dryers, stoves, and the like. With more and more devices having inaccessible controls or displays, a place to share information and experiences is needed.
  • Tennessee Business Enterprises TBE, as we like to call it, is one of the best-kept secrets around. It is a unique public/private partnership that enables independent business people to work in concert with the State of Tennessee to provide vending and other food services to customers across the Volunteer State. These business people just happen to be legally blind. The mission of TBE is to provide entrepreneurial opportunities for legally blind citizens in Tennessee who have been trained and licensed to manage food service and vending facilities. TBE is a unit within the Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Section of the Department of Human Services.

  • Thru Our Eyes

    The Thru Our Eyes website was produced by the Northeast Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey. Their site is dedicated to those individuals who are blind, visually impaired or disabled. Thru our Eyes also offers an audio streaming talk radio show where they interview people from all over the country on topics specifically of interest to the blind and visually impaired.