The American Council of the Blind of Nebraska began as the result of a conflict that arose regarding where the Library for the Blind would be housed. Originally this specialized lending Library was housed within the offices of the State services for the Visually Impaired, now known as The Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which is primarily controlled by the National Federation of the Blind. The very first meetings to establish the state organization, came about in order to assure equal access not only to the library but also to guarantee access to other blind rehabilitation services to all visually impaired persons in the state.
The American Council of the Blind is a grass roots organization, and we are committed to maintaining that grass root philosophy. The first meetings were held in the homes of Betty Hofmann and James Faimon, and these two individuals are regarded as the founders of the state organization; along with a core of concerned and dedicated individuals including John Smith, Bob and Garnet Nalley, Marge Morre, Bill Orester, Janet Ineck - Doulas and Joann Curusso who worked to organize the state organization. These persons were all concerned over issues regarding visual impairments.
James Faimon is an attorney, with the city of Lincoln and served as president of the state organization for many years. He is still active at both the state and national level. For his dedicated work he was the recipient of the Carl T. Curtis award, which is presented by the ACBN to an individual for his/her outstanding contributions in service to The Visually Impaired. Additionally, he also received the Optimists Man of the Year award for his contribution to organizing Beeper Ball and other community services. Thank you Jim for all your work both inside and outside the organization over the years.
Betty Hofmann was an elementary school teacher who, after losing her sight to diabetes, taught cooking and kitchen skills to newly blind students at the Nebraska Services for the Visually Impaired. She was one of the founders of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska. As a result, The Betty Hofmann National Trust Account has been established in her memory by ACBN. This account allows ACBN to send a member in good standing to a national convention for the first time.