American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-01

     WHEREAS, in recent years Congress has been following the
policy of granting an ever broadening degree of discretion to
federal agencies which is used to develop the working details of
their programs; and

     WHEREAS, in order to permit the affected members of the public
to participate in the deliberations which precede the exercise of
such discretion, Congress has adopted the Administrative Procedure
Act which provides for public notice of all proposed rule making,
including the promulgation of regulations and policy determinations
of general application, and an opportunity to appear before the
agency in an open hearing and express views on the proposals prior
to the adoption of any final action by the agency; and

     WHEREAS, the various programs which are concerned with the
education, rehabilitation, and financial assistance of blind
persons are all exempt from the terms of the Administrative
Procedure Act, with the result that the entire segment of the
affected public is most frequently not provided an opportunity to
participate in the policy formation of programs which vitally
affect them;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
the Congress is petitioned to amend the Administrative Procedure
Act to the extent necessary to make all laws affecting the
education, rehabilitation, or financial assistance of blind persons
subject to the terms of that Act so that blind persons,
organizations of the blind, and agencies working for the blind may
henceforth fully participate in the policy making process for all
programs developed under the authority of such laws.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-02

     WHEREAS, more than 3,000 blind persons are employed in vending
stand programs established under the Randolph-Sheppard Act; and

     WHEREAS, in need for improving these programs through
extension to additional locations and coverage of additional types
of vending facilities; and

     WHEREAS, there is need for clarifying and strengthening
certain provisions of the present law affecting the rights of blind
operators to administrative and judicial review of agency actions;
and Senator Jennings Randolph introduced into the Congress S. 2461,
the Randolph-Sheppard Act for the Blind Amendments of 1969, which
provides for many improvements in vending stand program for the
blind;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization support the amendments to the Randolph-Sheppard
Act embodied in S. 2461.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-03

     WHEREAS, facilities operated by the United States Post Office
Department are now covered by provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard
Act; and

     WHEREAS, this has been introduced into the Congress H.R.
11750, by Congressman Udall and others, which would provide for
operation of the postal facilities of the United States by a
government corporation to be called the United States Postal
Service, instead of by the Post Office Department; and

     WHEREAS, alternate proposals for postal reform are being
considered by the Congress; and 

     WHEREAS, neither H.R. 11750 nor such alternate proposals
provide for applicability of the Randolph- Sheppard Act to postal
facilities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization seek the insertion of an amendment into H.R.
11750, or any alternate proposal under consideration, specifically
making the Randolph-Sheppard Act applicable to all United States
postal facilities under any now entity or administration.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-04

     WHEREAS, H.R. 11750, by Congressman Udall and others, and
alternate proposals for establishing a government corporation to
operate United States postal facilities are being considered by the
Congress; and

     WHEREAS, such proposals do not provide guarantees for the
continuation of free mailing privileges for braille, recorded, and
related materials used by blind persons; and

     WHEREAS, such mailing privileges are an indispensable factor
in the carrying on of educational and library services and
communication between blind persons and agencies serving the blind;
and

     WHEREAS, the ordinary costs for the sending of such mail would
be prohibitive because of the media required; and

     WHEREAS, the continuation of this indispensable service should
not be contingent upon the decision of a new postal facility or
upon an annual appropriation by the Congress;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization seek an amendment to H.R. 11750, or any alternate
for reform which would provide proposals for postal reform which
would provide guarantees for the continuation of the free mailing
privileges which now exist for blind persons, libraries, and
agencies serving the blind without respect to appropriations
therefore by the Congress.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-05

     WHEREAS, H.R. 11750, by Congressman Udall and others, and
alternate proposals for establishing a government corporation to
operate United States postal facilities are being considered by the
Congress; and 

     WHEREAS, such proposals do not provide guarantees for the
continuation of reduced rates for non-profit organizations using
third class bulk mail; and

     WHEREAS, the use of third class mail at reduced rates is a
significant factor in the operation of many non-profit
organizations serving the blind and in the achieving of their
worthwhile and socially desirable purposes; and

     WHEREAS, the loss of such reduced rates would so drastically
increase the cost of operation that it would seriously curtail the
services of many such non-profit organizations serving the blind;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization support the inclusion of provisions in H.R.
11750, or in alternate proposals for postal reform, to assure the
continuation of reduced rates for third class mail for non-profit
organizations without respect to annual appropriations for such
service by the Congress.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-06

     WHEREAS, the Federal-State programs for aid to the blind
created by Titles X and XVI of the Social Security Act have not met
the needs of eligible blind persons in most of the states; and

     WHEREAS, it is a practical impossibility to cure the
inadequacies existing in these programs on a state by state basis;
and

     WHEREAS, even though most of the funds for aid to the blind
are provided by the Federal Government, many of the states are
unwilling or unable to provide enough state appropriated funds to
meet the needs of recipients of aid to the blind to an extent
compatible with reasonable standards for decency and health; and

     WHEREAS, there is no moral, legal, or philosophic
justification for such unequal and inadequate treatment of any
class of citizens;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization seek legislation to provide for an all federal
program of aid to the blind to be administered by the Social
Security Administration; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such legislation include the
following safeguards:

(1)  Provision for an amount of aid sufficient to meet the minimum
     basic needs of such blind persons and for additional amounts
     sufficient to meet special needs where they exist;

(2)  Provision of cost of living increases in aid to the blind in
     accordance with changes in the Consumer Price index;

(3)  Provision of liberal eligibility standards which will meet the
     needs of applicants for and recipients of aid to the blind;

(4)  Provision of a guarantee that no recipient of aid to the blind
     will receive a reduced grant by reason of federalization of
     the program.

Approved July 18, 1969                 American Council of the Blind 
                        Resolution 69-07

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare has recognized the need for greater participation by
groups of consumers of services funded by federal appropriations in
the processes of planning, delivering, and evaluating such
services; and

     WHEREAS, this organization believes that such services could
be materially improved by the participation, at all levels, of
individuals and groups of such consumers; and

     WHEREAS, this organization stands ready to cooperate in such
processes of administration on behalf of consumers of service
within its area of interest; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need to establish regular procedures for
such consumer involvement as a matter of right on a permanent basis
by action of the Congress;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization support federal legislation to establish as a
matter of right the participation of citizen consumer groups and
individuals in the administrative processes of planning,
administering, and reviewing the services to the blind funded by
federal appropriations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such legislation provide for
utilization and participation of consumers and consumer
representatives in policy making and advisory bodies affecting
services to the blind, at all levels where they may exist, and that
the cost thereof be provided as a part of the cost of
administration, including necessary transportation, per diem, and
honoraria.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                         Resolution 69-8

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind and other
organizations of and for the blind have recognized the need and
justification for travel fare concessions for blind passengers
accompanied by guides on buses, trains and airplanes; and

     WHEREAS, it is frequently necessary or desirable as a matter
of convenience and safety for blind persons to have the assistance
of sighted companions during travel and after arrival at their
destinations; and

     WHEREAS, such travel fare concessions have been authorized and
have worked successfully for all concerned on buses and trains in
the United States for more than 30 years and are permitted on
airplanes in several European countries; and

     WHEREAS, we believe that the same satisfactory experience
would result if airlines were permitted to extend such travel fare
concessions to blind persons with sighted guides without adversely
affecting the costs or convenience of the airlines;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization reiterate its interest in and support of federal
legislation to permit airlines to extend travel fare concessions to
blind passengers who are accompanied by sighted guides.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-09

     WHEREAS, organizations of and for the blind and the Congress
have recognized the desirability and justification for exempting
earned income of recipients of aid to the blind as an incentive for
the achievement of self support and for the attainment of better
living standards; and

     WHEREAS, the present provision for disregarding the first $85
of earned income and 50 percent of amounts in excess thereof has
not been changed since its adoption even though the cost of living
has increased substantially; and

     WHEREAS, beneficiaries under Title II of the Social Security
Act are permitted to earn greater amounts than those allowed for
recipients of aid to the blind; and

     WHEREAS, there is a great need and ample justification for the
revision of the amount of exempted earnings by recipients of aid to
the blind;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization support federal legislation to exempt earnings of
recipients of aid to the blind in amounts comparable to those
allowed to beneficiaries under Title II of the Social Security Act;
and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such legislation provide for
periodic changes in the amount of such exempted earnings in
accordance with increases in the Consumer Price Index.

Approved July 18, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-10

     WHEREAS, there is no coordinated effort to encourage or to
establish physical fitness activities for blind persons throughout
the country; and

     WHEREAS, this organization concurs with the President's
Committee for Physical Fitness and Sports, and related public and
private authorities, in the need for such activities and in the
attending benefits therein; and

     WHEREAS, several leading members of this organization have
demonstrated ability and willingness to develop physical fitness
projects in cooperation with other persons and organizations
throughout the country;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Charlotte, North Carolina, that
this organization authorize the establishment of a Physical Fitness
Projects Coordinating Committee of the American Council of the
Blind to achieve the establishment of such projects for blind
persons throughout the country; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Physical Fitness Projects
Coordinating Committee of the American Council of the Blind be
authorized and requested to develop plans and activities for such
projects in cooperation with the President's Committee for Physical
Fitness and Sports, the United States Office of Education, and
other interested public or private agencies and organizations.

Approved July 19, 1969                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 69-11

     WHEREAS, Congress many years ago recognized the justification
for an additional income tax exemption for blind persons; and

     WHEREAS, the economic justification for this exemption is
applicable to many other disability groups; and

     WHEREAS, Congressman Wilbur Mills has introduced H.R. 424 to
provide for an income tax deduction of up to $600 for expenses of
transportation to and from work for blind and other disabled
persons and an additional tax exemption for a taxpayer or spouse
who has lost the use of one or more extremities; and

     WHEREAS, other members of Congress have introduced related
bills providing additional tax deductions or exemptions for
disabled persons; and

     WHEREAS, this organization is concerned with the needs of
other disabled people;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this organization go on
record in support of H.R. 424 by Mills and of related measures
providing for additional income tax deductions or exemptions for
disabled people.

Approved July 19, 1969