American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-01

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind recognizes the
importance of eye research and programs for the prevention of
blindness; and

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is of the opinion
that much more could be accomplished in these fields if more funds
were made available;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that the American
Council of the Blind make every effort possible to assure that more
federal funds are made available for eye research and programs for
the prevention of blindness and that these grants be distributed to
reputable universities, laboratories and physicians dedicated to
these objectives.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-02

     WHEREAS, in the provisions of the Social Security law
providing for disability benefits, disability is defined as
inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason
of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and
indefinite duration; and

     WHEREAS, under this definition a great deal of doubt and
confusion exist to just what circumstances constitute such
"inability" to engage in substantial gainful activity, involving
such questions as whether sheltered employment constitutes gainful
activity and whether a person formerly engaged in gainful
employment, but unable to obtain new employment because of the
unwillingness of employers to hire a handicapped individual, is
unable to engage in substantial gainful activities because of his
impairment;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization favors amendment of Section 223(c)(2) of the Social
Security Act to clarify the definition of disability in the
following respects:

1.   To provide that earnings accruing to a disabled individual who
     qualifies for benefits in other respects shall not be
     considered as substantial unless they would be considered as
     excess earnings under the provisions of Section 203(f) of the
     Social Security Act; and

2.   To provide that a person who has by previous employment
     demonstrated his ability to engage in substantial gainful
     activity shall nevertheless not be denied benefits if he is
     unable to find employment because of his disability.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Committee of the
American Council of the Blind be empowered and directed to draft
legislation embodying these changes and to work for its
introduction into Congress and its passage.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-03

     WHEREAS, the number of blind teachers employed in residential
schools for the blind, in the self contained classes for the blind,
in public schools, in resource classes for the blind and in regular
private and public school classes is steadily increasing throughout
the United States, thus demonstrating the public's awareness of the
ability of properly qualified blind persons to teach;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization recognizes the importance of maintaining high
standards of educational preparation and of careful selection of
able persons for the teaching profession in order to continue the
successful beginning in this area of professional employment.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-04

     NOW, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St. Louis,
Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this organization
gives its wholehearted and enthusiastic endorsement to the
provisions of S-394, introduced by Senator Jennings Randolph, which
would assure the income from vending machines operated in
facilities covered by the Randolph-Sheppard Act exclusively to
blind operators of vending stands in such facilities;

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
endorses the provision of this bill providing for the creation of
a Presidential Board or Commission to hear and pass upon appeals
from authorized State executives who believe that the intent of the
law has been violated by a federal department but urges that this
provision be broadened so as to extend the right of appeal to blind
vending stand operators who have been aggrieved by the action or
inaction of a federal department in this respect;

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Committee of the
American Council of the Blind be authorized to take any action
which it may deem expedient to promote the enactment of these
measures.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-05

     WHEREAS, the Federal Government, through the Office of
Information, has been attempting to provide educational information
favorable to a better understanding of the United States and of the
democratic form of government; and

     WHEREAS, there is great need for the education of the people
of countries which are being subjected to communistic influences;
and

     WHEREAS, in these countries, particularly the Mid-East and
South-East Asia areas, there are great numbers of blind persons who
are in need of educational materials and who should also have
available information concerning the government of the free
democratic countries;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization seek additional appropriations for the Library of
Congress to be used for the supplying of braille and talking books
to the United States Office of Information to be distributed in the
Mid-East and South-East Asia areas, such braille and talking books
to be of a type which will furnish a true picture of the history of
the United States and of the social and economic conditions of the
free democratic countries;

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the United States Office of
Information be urged to obtain appropriate braille and talking
books from all other possible sources such as any existing surplus
supplies in regional libraries and in schools for the blind.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-06

     WHEREAS, many communicating devices have been developed to
enable deaf-blind persons to have fuller social, educational, and
vocational opportunities, such as the Telatouch, the Speaking Tube,
and the Alphabet Glove; and

     WHEREAS, some deaf-blind persons are unable to afford such
devices;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization request Congress to make funds available to provide
communicating devices to deaf-blind persons in order to allow them
to lead fuller lives.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-07

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, a newly organized and rapidly growing nationwide association
of blind persons in the United States, that this organization sends
cordial greetings to the Executive Committee of the World Council
for the Welfare of the Blind, commends most warmly the achievements
of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind during this first
decade of its active existence, and salutes the noble aspirations
which are embodied in the goals which the World Council has set for
itself; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
looks forward to the time when this organization will be permitted
to participate actively in the splendid work which is being carried
on by the World Council of the Blind.

Adopted Unanimously by the American Council of the Blind in
Convention assembled at St. Louis, Missouri, on July 16, 1962.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-08

     WHEREAS, blindness is generally defined as the condition which
prevails when a person has a visual acuity of twenty-two hundredths
in the better eye after correction or a field of vision in both
eyes limited to twenty degrees or less; and

     WHEREAS, this definition oftentimes works a hardship against
persons who are unable to read ordinary print although their visual
acuity is greater than that generally required by law for the
obtaining of talking book machines under the rules and regulations
of the Library of Congress; and

     WHEREAS, these handicapped persons are as deserving of talking
book service as are those arbitrarily determined to be blind under
the definition hereinabove set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962:

1.   That Congress be urged to amend the law authorizing talking
     book services so as to make it possible for persons suffering
     from unique visual conditions making it impossible for them to
     have the benefits of talking book services; and

2.   That the Library of Congress be urged to liberalize its
     interpretation of the law or its rules and regulations insofar
     as possible, so as to accomplish this purpose; and

3.   That Congress be urged to appropriate additional funds in
     order to make it possible to provide this additional service;
     and

4.   That copies of this resolution be sent to the American
     Foundation for the Blind, the American Association of Workers
     for the Blind, the American Association of Instructors of the
     Blind and other organizations and agencies which might assist
     the American Council of the Blind in achieving this objective.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-09

     WHEREAS, the proposed new Title XVI of the Social Security Act
included in H.R. 10606 as reported by the Senate Committee on
Finance would permit the states to merge the categories of public
assistance to the aged, the blind, and the disabled; and

     WHEREAS, the merging of categories of assistance might lead
eventually to deletion of the provisions of the Social Security Act
which currently provide special incentives for blind persons to
take employment;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization is opposed to merging of the categories of public
assistance which would be permitted under the proposed new Title
XVI of the Social Security Act included in H.R. 10606 as reported
by the Senate Committee on Finance.

Adopted                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 62-10

     WHEREAS, an amendment to H.R. 10606 adopted unanimously by the
United States Senate would permit the exemption of up to $50 a
month of earned income in determining the need of old age
assistance recipients; and

     WHEREAS, the exemption of earned income for old age assistance
recipients will materially increase the income of many aged persons
who do not have sufficient income and resources to maintain an
adequate standard of living; and

     WHEREAS, there are many disabled persons receiving public
assistance under Title XIV of the Social Security Act who are in
need of additional income to maintain an adequate standard of
living and who would wish to take-part time employment if earned
income were exempted in determining need in the category of
assistance for the disabled;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in Convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization supports the Senate amendment to H.R. 10606 permitting
the States to exempt up to $50 a month of earned income in
determining the need of aid recipients in the old age assistance
category; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
support legislation in the next session of Congress amending Title
XIV of the Social Security Act by extending the exemption of earned
income to the category of assistance for the disabled.

Adopted                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 62-11

     WHEREAS, the white cane has been generally and legally
recognized as a symbol to indicate blindness and has greatly
facilitated and safeguarded blind persons' independent travel; and

     WHEREAS, an increasing number of deaf-blind persons are
learning to travel unaccompanied, and even more deaf-blind persons
are participating in social and vocational activities with the
assistance of a guide but are not aided or protected by having
available a generally recognized or legally accepted symbol to
indicate their double handicap;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that the president
of this organization appoint a committee to contact as many
deaf-blind persons as possible to learn;  first, if they believe
they would benefit by the establishing of generally recognized and
legally accepted insignia to indicate deaf-blindness and safeguard
its bearer; second, if so, what they believe such insignia should
be; and third, if they believe that the American Council of the
Blind should undertake to have such insignia generally recognized
and legally accepted;

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this committee report its
findings and recommendations to the 1963 convention of this
organization.

Adopted                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 62-12

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that the president
of this organization appoint a special committee to study the
function and operation of sheltered workshops for the blind and
that this committee report its findings to the 1963 convention of
this organization for its guidance in formulating the policy of the
American Council of the Blind on this subject.

 Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-13

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that
representatives of this organization consult with officials of the
United States Post Office Department or, if necessary, seek
appropriate legislation, for the purpose of amending the postal
laws and regulations to make it possible for individuals to mail
reading material on tapes to blind persons without charge.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-14

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization prepare and support legislation providing that all
state rules and regulations and state plans of operation required
by federal law as a condition precedent to receipt of federal
grants in aid, be public records and open to inspection by any
citizen.

Adopted                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 62-15

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization wholeheartedly supports the concept of a medical
insurance program financed through Social Security funds and that
it believes such medical insurance benefits should be available to
both aged and disabled recipients of Social Security benefits.

Adopted                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 62-16

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that this
organization supports Section 154 of H.R. 10606 as amended by the
Senate Committee on Finance, which amends Title X of the Social
Security Act to provide that a blind person who has an approved
plan for achieving self-support shall have additional income and
resources necessary to the fulfillment of such plan disregarded in
determining need; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
urge Congress to delete from Section 154 of this bill the
limitation of this provision to a period of twelve months'
duration.

Adopted                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 62-17

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Pick Mark Twain Hotel in St.
Louis, Missouri, on this 16th day of July, 1962, that a study be
made by this organization of legislative proposals pertaining to
vocational rehabilitation which are now pending or which may be
introduced in the next session of Congress, including proposals
relating to independent living services, federal financial support
of workshops, and administrative control, and that the findings of
this study be reported to the Board of Directors of the American
Council of the Blind for appropriate action.

Adopted