American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-01

     WHEREAS, one of the purposes of the convention of the American
Council of the Blind is to attract large numbers of blind persons;
and

     WHEREAS, such large attendance will more truly represent a
cross-section of the blind population; and

     WHEREAS, the weekend of July 4th is the most advantageous time
for blind persons to travel with a minimum loss of time and money;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 23rd
day of July, 1965, that future conventions be held, beginning in
1966, over weekends which will include July 4th.

H.E. Moffett
Durham, North Carolina

Resolution Rejected
                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-02

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is constantly
striving to improve the welfare of the blind through legislation;
and

     WHEREAS, other groups of organized blind are also engaged in
the same endeavor with identical motives; and

     WHEREAS, legislators are confused when faced with conflicting
opinions from groups professing to seek the same benefits; and

     WHEREAS, we believe such conflict and confusion results from
a lack of understanding and communication between such groups of
organized blind;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 23rd day
of July, 1965, that the American Council of the Blind Board of
Directors is hereby instructed to take the initiative in solving
such communication problems by recommending that a joint
Legislative Committee of all National Organizations of the Blind be
formed, with equal representation from each group so that
legislation can be discussed and coordinated plans formulated so as
to insure, insofar as possible, the unanimity of all of the blind
before Congress.

H.E. Moffett
Durham, North Carolina                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-03

     WHEREAS, the 14 state area encompassed by the American Council
of the Blind and its associate organizations embraces a blind
population in excess of 119,000; and

     WHEREAS, only 4,693 blind persons in this area are members of
state level organizations open to all for membership; and

     WHEREAS, only 1,583 members of this total blind population are
currently being served by credit unions, which figure constitutes
1.3% credit union service for this blind group as compared to 8.0%
credit union service for general U.S. population; and 

     WHEREAS, credit unions for the blind provide a method for
members to save money conveniently in a local credit union owned
and operated by themselves, thereby increasing their own economic
stability and independence; and 

     WHEREAS, credit unions assist and protect members from
exploitation by providing credit at low interest rates; and

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has recognized the
great need to extend credit union services to the maximum possible
number of people in this group and has established a non-partisan
credit union committee for this purpose in this 14 state area; 

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 23rd
day of July, 1965, that the ACB Credit Union be authorized and
directed to develop and implement on a non-partisan basis, a pilot
project for this 14 state area to extend credit union services to
the maximum possible number of blind persons and (2) to this end be
directed to consult closely with CUNA International and its state
leagues, credit union chartering bodies and all other public and
private agencies serving the blind population in this area.

(Authorized by the Credit Union Committee, Durward McDaniel,
Chairman)

Carried 38-95                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-04

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind,
assembled in convention at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day of
July, 1965, as follows:

1.   That this convention highly commends the work of the
     Legislative Committee in promoting improvements in the Social
     Security Law with respect to disability insurance, which work
     has given a convincing demonstration of the effectiveness and
     influence of the Council in the legislative area.


2.   That the officers and Legislative Committee be instructed to
     continue to work for changes in the Social Security Law which
     would,

     A.   Clarify the definition of substantial gainful activity,
          so that no one otherwise entitled would be denied
          benefits while undergoing any stage of rehabilitation, or
          while receiving substandard wages in any rehabilitation
          facility or elsewhere, or while seeking employment or re-
          employment and being refused employment opportunities
          because of this disability, even though adjudged
          physically capable of substantial gainful activity.

     B.   Permit those receiving disability benefits to have
          earnings which would be at least as much as the maximum
          public assistance grant obtainable in the particular
          jurisdiction.

3.   That it is inconsistent with and detrimental to the overall
     goals of this organization to advocate that blindness will
     automatically entitle one to disability benefits regardless of
     earnings, as such advocacy would accentuate disability rather
     than ability.

(Submitted by Earl Scharry)

Defeated 11-128                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-05

     WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the American Council
of the Blind that many blind clients receiving rehabilitation
services have their cases closed without their knowledge; and

     WHEREAS, in many other cases the client's case is closed
without the client feeling that he has received full service;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 23rd day
of July, 1965, that the Board of Directors be instructed to seek
regulations or legislation which would do the following:

1.   Require the signature of the client acknowledging that he
     knows his case is being closed.

2.   That the client be permitted to file a statement indicating
     his satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services
     rendered.

Carried - Voice Vote                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-06

     WHEREAS, private industry should always be encouraged to
employ blind persons; and

     WHEREAS, private industry depends upon profit for its
maintenance and growth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 23rd day
of July, 1965, that the Board of Directors be instructed to prepare
legislation to provide tax concessions and/or credits to any
employer hiring blind persons, such credits and concessions to
continue over a period of two years.

Carried - Voice Vote

(Motion to amend by substituting "blind" for "Physically
handicapped" persons accepted by Chairman of Committee)

(Motion to strike line, "such credits...". Motion lost.)
                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-07

     WHEREAS, S. 1991 and H.R. 8282 contain liberalizing amendments
to unemployment compensation law which will apply to a large
majority of persons employed throughout the country; and

     WHEREAS, these measures perpetuate the exemption of certain
nonprofit organizations and sheltered workshops from mandatory
coverage under unemployment compensation, thereby excluding the
employees of such organizations from the protection and benefit of
this law; and

     WHEREAS, this organization believes that there is no
justification for such discrimination;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that its Legislative Committee be directed to
advocate amendments to S. 1991 and H.R. 8282 which would remove all
such discriminatory exemptions for nonprofit organizations and
sheltered workshops.

(Submitted by the Executive Board of the Oklahoma Federation of the
Blind)

Adopted - Voice                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-08

     WHEREAS, H.R. 8310 now pending before Congress eliminates the
means test in determining eligibility to receive Vocational
Rehabilitation services, except that insurance, pensions and
compensation must still be considered; and

     WHEREAS, this organization believes that eligibility for
Vocational Rehabilitation services should be based on an
individual's disability rather that his means;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Legislative Committee be instructed to seek
further amendments to H.R. 8310 to eliminate the means test
entirely from consideration of eligibility to receive
rehabilitation services, including elimination of insurance,
pensions and compensation from such consideration.

(Submitted by the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind, Executive
Board, Durward McDaniel, Chairman)

Adopted - Voice                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-09

     WHEREAS, H.R. 8093 provides for the upgrading of minimum wages
for sheltered workers; and

     WHEREAS, this measure places a floor of 50% of the minimum
wage in such employment for protection of shop workers; and

     WHEREAS, the issuance of individual certificates for the
payment of sub-minimum wages is conditioned on certification by the
state rehabilitation agency and an annual review; and

     WHEREAS, work activity centers are restricted in the payment
of sub-minimum wages to persons certified by the state
rehabilitation agency as being capable of only inconsequential
production; 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Legislative Committee be instructed to
support H.R. 8093 and the principles embodied therein.

(Submitted by the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind, Presented by
Durward McDaniel)

Adopted - Voice Vote                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-10

     WHEREAS, the Federal Government grants tax exempt status to
purchase material and services from many entities whose purposes
and practices affect the interest and welfare of blind and other
physically impaired persons; and

     WHEREAS, some of such entities (professional schools, for
example) discriminate against blind and other physically impaired
persons solely because of their impairment, without regard to their
qualification and ability; and

     WHEREAS, such discriminatory practices adversely affect the
rights and opportunities of such persons; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Legislative Committee be instructed to seek
legislation and regulations conditioning the issuance of tax exempt
status and the purchase of materials and services by the Federal
Government on a requirement that there will be no discrimination
against blind and other physically impaired persons for reason of
their physical impairment.

(Submitted by the Executive Board of the Oklahoma Federation of the
Blind, Presented by Durward McDaniel)

Adopted - Voice Vote
                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-11

     WHEREAS, many persons are interested in supporting the work of
the American Council of the Blind and in associating themselves
with the ACB as sustaining or supporting members; and

     WHEREAS, the by-laws provide for sustaining memberships; and

     WHEREAS, it would be advantageous to have additional classes
of non-voting members and varying schedules of supporting dues;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Board of Directors be authorized to
establish additional classes of non-voting members and varying
schedules of dues, and that a systematic plan for acquiring such
members be authorized, including the use of professional
consultants.

Carried - Voice Vote                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-12

     WHEREAS, the Congress of the Physically Handicapped has
demonstrated an interest in cooperating with other organizations
such as the American council of the Blind on matters of common
interest; and

     WHEREAS, this organization desires to work with all groups
interested in the achievement of common goals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Board of Directors be authorized to
consider the most desirable means of implementing a cooperative
relationship and the achievement of common objectives.

(Moved 65-12 be referred to Resolutions committee)

For 109 Against 14                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 65-13

     WHEREAS, the fourth annual convention of the American Council
of the Blind has been greatly enhanced by the efforts of the
Associated Blind of Louisville, Kentucky, the Sheraton Hotel
management, Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America and
many individuals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Louisville, Kentucky this 24th day
of July, 1965, that the Secretary make an appropriate
acknowledgement to these groups and individuals of our deep
appreciation for their efforts.