American Council of the Blind
                       Resolution 80-01  

     WHEREAS, there is a continued surplus of braille materials
both through over-duplication and updating of materials; and  

     WHEREAS, there exists a need for these materials in
underdeveloped nations; and  

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind, through its
affiliation with the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind,
has demonstrated its commitment to all blind persons throughout the
world,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky,
this 17th day of July, 1980: 

     (1) that a braille recycling program be established under the
direction of the ACB Board of Directors.

     (2) that sufficient funds be appropriated to ensure widespread
dissemination of the program's purpose, operation and goals; and  

     (3) that the distribution of materials to underdeveloped
nations be conducted in cooperation with the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind.  

Submitted by Kim Charlson 

Resolution Adopted.                   American Council of the Blind
                       Resolution 80-02   

     WHEREAS, Public Law 95-602, the Rehabilitation Comprehensive
Services and Developmental Disabilities Act amendments of 1978,
contains Title VII independent living rehabilitation services; and 


     WHEREAS, during the fiscal years 1979 and 1980 appropriations
for Title VII have been less than twenty percent (20%) of the
amount authorized; and  

     WHEREAS, independent living rehabilitation services are
greatly needed by blind and other handicapped persons who do not
qualify for vocational rehabilitation services,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in
convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky,
this 17th day of July, 1980, strongly urges and implores the
members of congress to appropriate the sums that were authorized in
Title VII of Public Law 95-602 for independent living services,
including provision for services to older blind populations, during
future fiscal years; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent
to the Secretary of the Department of Education, the Director of
the Administration on Aging, all Presidential candidates,
appropriate congressional committee chairpersons and members of
congress, and other persons as determined by the National
Representative of the American Council of the Blind.  
Submitted by Billie Elder  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                       Resolution 80-03   

     WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration (SSA) administers
the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for the purpose of
providing financial support to persons who, for reasons of age,
blindness or other disability, are unable to engage in employment;
and  

     WHEREAS, the over-all cost of living has at least quadrupled
since World War II (e.g., $.18 in 1945 and $1.25 In 1980 for a
gallon of gasoline); and  

     WHEREAS, the amount of annual increases in SSI payments has
failed to keep pace with the cost of living,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky,
this 17th day of July, 1980, that this organization contact every
member of Congress for the purpose of encouraging the introduction
and passage of legislation designed to bring SSI payments up to the
poverty level for non-farm families, and thereafter that such
payments be regularly increased at the actual rate of increase in
the cost of living; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent
to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services, and the Commissioner of
the Social Security Administration, as well as to every member of
Congress.  

Submitted by Joe Rallo  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                       Resolution 80-04   

     WHEREAS, many blind individuals are engaged daily in
occupations and business transactions in which such individuals
must handle and swiftly identify denominations of paper currency
bills; and  

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has, by formal
resolution at previous annual conventions, gone on record as
favoring the development and implementation of a relatively
fool-proof system for identifying denominations of paper currency,
thereby fostering greater and more effective participation of blind
people in commercial endeavors; and  

     WHEREAS, proposed legislation embodying a virtually fool-proof
system for identification of paper money by denomination through
the clipping of specified corners off bills of specified
denominations has recently been introduced into the House of
Representatives of the Congress of the United States,  

     BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky,
this 17th day of July, 1980, that this organization endorses and
supports the passage and enactment into law of H.R. 6027,
introduced by Representative Stark of California, which, if
enacted, would require the implementation of the clipped corner
system for easy identification by visually impaired citizens of the
denominations of paper currency bills.  The officers and National
Office of this organization are hereby instructed to forward this
resolution of endorsement and support to the office of
Representative Stark and to the appropriate committee staffs in
both houses of Congress.  

Submitted by Resolutions Committee
Charles Hodge, Old Dominion Council of the Blind  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-05

     WHEREAS, manufacturers are producing numerous appliances which
operate by heat-sensitive (i.e., touchmatic) controls; and  
     WHEREAS, persons with severely limited vision are virtually
unable to use such products without modification; and  

     WHEREAS, these controls restrict the visually impaired
consumer's choice of models of such products,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, the
18th day of July, 1980, that copies of this resolution be sent to
all major manufacturers of such products, with the request that
they consult with the staff of the American Council of the Blind in
developing corrective measures to alleviate this problem. 

Submitted by Sue Graves  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-07

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is a member of the
Braille Authority of North America (BANA), the official assembly
for establishing rules for the braille code; and  

     WHEREAS, the general welfare and employment potential of blind
people are enhanced by having information available in braille; and 


     WHEREAS, slight differences in the braille codes used by
various English-speaking countries, as well as the few official
rules for writing braille that are incompatible with modern
technology used to produce braille, needlessly restrict the
availability of information in braille; and  

     WHEREAS, the Braille Authority and its counterpart in Great
Britain, the National Uniform Type Committee (NUTC), have created
an ad hoc committee to plan and conduct a conference to be held in
London, England, during the spring of 1982, to remove those
restrictions,  

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville,
Kentucky, this 18th day of July, 1980, endorses the BANA-NUTC
Conference on Braille for English-Speaking Countries scheduled to
be held in London, England, during the spring of 1982, and pledges
support in manpower and financial resources to the extent deemed
feasible by the ACB Board of Directors.  

Resolution Adopted.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-08

     WHEREAS, the Cleveland Amendment to H.R. 6417, adopted by the
House Committee on Public Works and Transportation, and the
Zorinsky Amendment to S. 2720; passed by the Senate, Mass Transit
Amendments of 1980, in the Congress of the United States, both
exempt mass transit from compliance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and thus set a dangerous precedent; and 


     WHEREAS, the Cleveland Amendment and the Zorinsky Amendment
are both direct contradictions of the civil rights protection and
integration mandates of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, six major mass transit acts, and the Section 504 regulation
of the U.S. Department of Transportation, all of which were
developed over a period of eleven years, after much debate, public
hearings, and study; and  

     WHEREAS, the Cleveland Amendment and the Zorinsky Amendment
both will result in disincentives to sound, long-range, economic
planning toward the integration of disabled persons into the
mainstream of American society, particularly in transportation and
employment; and  

     WHEREAS, the Section 504 regulation of the U.S. Department of
Transportation currently provides for the local option to furnish
special paratransit services in addition to regular, fixed-route,
accessible transit services; and  

     WHEREAS, the technology exists to implement the Section 504
regulation of the U.S. Department of transportation, and it is
being successfully implemented in such cities as Seattle,
Washington, and Washington, D.C., and in Alameda County,
California,  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in annual convention assembled this 17th day of July, 1980,
at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky:  

     (1)  that this organization opposes adoption of the Cleveland
Amendment and the Zorinsky Amendment in any form of mass transit
legislation and views the adoption of either amendment as a clear
vote against the civil rights of disabled persons and against a
cost-effective system of transportation services for disabled
persons; and  

     (2)  that the members of this organization and all disabled 
citizens are hereby called upon to express immediately to their 
respective congressional delegations their position on this 
serious attack against Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973.  

Submitted by Reese Robrahn  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-09

     WHEREAS, the Bureau for the Blind and Visually Handicapped of
the Rehabilitation Services Administration has existed for more
than 35 years as a special entity within the Federal Government
concerned with the rehabilitation of this special population; and 


     WHEREAS, the Bureau was officially established by the
Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974 with specific responsibility
for the administration of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility
Program; and  

     WHEREAS, the mandates of the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of
1974 have not been complied with because of inadequate funding and
the failure to fill positions created by such amendments; and  
     WHEREAS, the budget requests made by the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare have never included funding for the
Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program, even though such
appropriations are authorized by the Act; and  

     WHEREAS, the congressionally established goal to double the
number of job opportunities in the vending facility program cannot
be met without such appropriations; and  

     WHEREAS, the scope and function of this Bureau are of
sufficient rank and importance in the administration of programs
for the handicapped within the Department of Education to justify
its reclassification as a division,

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention this 18th day of July, 1980, in Louisville,
Kentucky, that the Secretary of Education and the Congress of the
United States be requested to take all necessary administrative and
legislative actions to cure the aforementioned deficiencies, and
specifically to: 

     (1)  assure the elevation of the Bureau for the Blind and
Visually Handicapped to division status;

     (2)  assure adequate professional and support staff to carry
out the duties and responsibilities of that agency; and

     (3)  initiate annual appropriations of at least $25 million to
permit adequate funding, including particularly the establishment
of new vending facilities on Federal and other property and the
administration and expansion of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending
Facility Program.

Submitted by Durward McDaniel

Resolution Adopted.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-10

     WHEREAS, discrimination in the sale or rental of housing
continues to be a serious problem for blind and disabled persons;
and 

     WHEREAS, the members of the American Council of the Blind
     unanimously endorsed the Fair Housing Act Amendments, H.R.
5200 and S. 506, during their 1979 national convention;'and 

     WHEREAS, the House of Representatives has recently passed H.R.
5200 and action is now required by the Senate if this bill is to
become law; and 

     WHEREAS, the version of S. 506 which is currently pending
before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary has been seriously
weakened by an amendment sponsored by Senator De Concini; and 

     WHEREAS, if the legislation is passed in this weakened form it
will be of little benefit to blind or disabled persons; and 

     WHEREAS, Senators Bayh and Heflin have proposed an amendment
which will restore S. 506 to its full level of effectiveness and
strength, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention this 18th day of July, 1980, in Louisville,
Kentucky, that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be urged to
favorably report S. 506 as it is amended by Senators Bayh and
Heflin; and, further, that the Judiciary Committee take this action
as soon as possible on Tuesday, July 22, 1980,  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all members of the United States
Senate be urged to support S. 506 as it would be amended by the
Bayh-Heflin proposal, and that if opponents of this bill attempt to
block passage by means of a filibuster, all members of the United
States Senate are urged to vote in favor of cloture so that S. 506
can be duly considered.  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that every state affiliate of the
American Council of the Blind be urged to contact their Senators
asking support of S. 506, and that the National Office of the
American Council of the Blind deliver this resolution to every
member of the United States Senate.

Submitted by Durward McDaniel   

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-11

     WHEREAS, a significant portion of the visually impaired
population are partially sighted; and   

     WHEREAS, these partially sighted and blind persons have
special needs that differ significantly from those of other
handicapped persons,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 18th day of July, 1980,
that the administration of programs that directly affect the lives
of these visually impaired persons be kept separate and distinct
from the administration of programs infringing upon the lives of
other handicapped persons; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be distributed to
all members of Congress.   

Resolution Adopted.                   American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-12

     WHEREAS, the needs of partially sighted and blind persons
demand the attention of the Federal and State Governments of the
United States in good times and bad times,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention on the 18th day of July, 1980, in Louisville, Kentucky,
that, in their zeal to save tax dollars and to cut expenses,
Federal and State Governments take care insofar as not to cause
undue hardship to partially sighted and blind persons by cutting
back programs that provide assistance and support to these visually
impaired persons,  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be distributed to
all members of Congress and all State Governors.   

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-13

     WHEREAS, partially sighted persons are a significant portion
of the visually impaired population; and  

     WHEREAS, counselors and teachers of the blind, rehabilitation
counselors of the blind, and orientation and mobility specialists
in many states currently receive little or no training concerning
how to meet the special needs of the partially sighted,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 18th day of July, 1980,
that the above-mentioned personnel be given special training in how
to meet the special needs of their partially sighted clients.  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be distributed to
the departments of rehabilitation of the several states, to the
United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitation Services, to the Affiliated Leadership League of
and for the Blind of America, and to the National Accreditation
Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped.  


Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-14

     WHEREAS, many blind persons have skills and training that
would enable them to provide effective and competitive services in
the armed forces--and notwithstanding the exclusion of the military
from provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 


     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 18th day of July, 1980,
that this organization is unhappy with the failure of the armed
forces to avail themselves of this valuable resource; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization will take steps
to assure that the authorities and Congress are made aware of our
belief that such waste of valuable people-power can be ill-afforded
at a time when the quality of the armed forces is constantly being
called into question.  

Submitted by Florida Council of the Blind   

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-15

     WHEREAS, the fact that no federal equivalency diploma
examination in the Spanish language is currently available in media
accessible to the visually impaired constitutes a gross violation
of the principles and regulations of Public Law 94-142 and Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 18th day of July, 1980,
that this organization regards the failure to provide these tests
in appropriate media as requiring immediate remedy, since such
tests are currently available for non-handicapped test-takers; and 


     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent
to the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, to the authorities
responsible for preparing the tests, and to appropriate members of
Congress.   

Submitted by Florida Council of the Blind   

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-17 

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind hereby reaffirms
its long-established policy of asserting and enforcing the right of
visually impaired persons to participate in and serve as members of
policy-making and planning committees, boards, and commissions
which formulate policies and plans for the provision of services,
aids, and benefits for persons with visual impairment; and  

     WHEREAS, the ACB Board of Directors has taken action to
provide training for members of affiliates for effective leadership
development, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville,
Kentucky, on the 19th day of July, 1980, that this organization:  

     (1)  directs the President and Board of Directors to take all
appropriate actions to encourage and promote the service of
visually impaired persons on such committees, boards and
commissions; and  

     (2)  participate in and conduct projects to train visually
impaired persons how to become members of such committees, boards
and commissions, and to be more effective members of the same.   
Submitted by Guide Dog Users, Inc.   

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-19

     WHEREAS, blind and visually impaired persons residing in
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana
Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands are not
eligible for SSI benefits even though they are citizens of the
United States; and  

     WHEREAS, one's place of residence should not be a factor in
this benefit program which is based on need; and  

     WHEREAS, blind and visually impaired people in these
jurisdictions receive on an average only about one-tenth of the
amount to which they would be entitled if they resided in one of
the several states; and  

     WHEREAS, our affiliate in Puerto Rico has asked for continued
support by the American Council of the Blind for amendments to
Title XVI of the Social Security Act which would eliminate this
discriminatory situation,  

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention at Louisville, Kentucky, this 19th day of July, 1980,
that the officers and staff redouble their efforts to abolish the
present inadequate benefit system in order that SSI benefits are
made available to blind and visually impaired persons in Puerto
Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 

Submitted by Durward McDaniel 

Resolution Adopted.                   American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-20

     WHEREAS, at least four bills have been introduced and are now
pending in the United States Congress providing for accessible
places of voter registration and polling places for handicapped
persons where Federal elections are conducted; and 

     WHEREAS, said bills, among other requirements to assure
accessibility to handicapped persons, provide that handicapped
persons who require assistance in casting their ballots shall have
the right to designate a person of their own choice to provide such
assistance; and  

     WHEREAS, it is the right of handicapped citizens, including
visually impaired citizens, to participate fully in the political
process of this nation; and  

     WHEREAS, it is imperative that handicapped citizens, including
visually impaired citizens, establish themselves as a credible
political force as first-class citizens through our voting
strength, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at the Galt House in Louisville,
Kentucky, this 19th day of July, 1980:  

     (1)  that this organization supports such legislation in
principle on the Federal, State, and local levels; and  

     (2)  that the President and Board of Directors of this
organization are hereby directed to encourage, participate in,
promote, and conduct voter registration drives and "get out the
vote" drives among visually impaired and other handicapped
citizens.  

Submitted by Reese Robrahn  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-22

     WHEREAS, the Hogans of Indiana--a deaf-blind couple--were
denied passage on U.S. Airlines from Indianapolis, Indiana, to
Boston, Massachusetts, where they planned to attend the American
Association of the Deaf-Blind convention; and  

     WHEREAS, this constitutes a violation of basic human rights, 

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 19th day of July, 1980,
that this organization communicate with U.S, air, the Federal
Aviation Administration, and the Civil Aeronautics Board regarding
this violation, and that the Federal Aviation Administration be
urged to alter its regulations to prevent this situation from
occurring again; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that members of this organization are
urged to write letters of protest to U.S. Air, the Federal Aviation
Administration, and the Civil Aeronautics Board; and  

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the new ACB Director of Public
Affairs give early priority to developing a publication to be sent
to common carriers such as airlines, explaining the needs of blind,
deaf-blind, and visually impaired passengers, both cane and dog
guide users; and     

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the ACB Board of Directors be
instructed to take any further action that it deems appropriate.  

Submitted by Don McBride  

Resolution Adopted.                    American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-23 

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind of Ohio is
interested in and has approved a project involving the research and
development of methods to stimulate the human visual cortex,
described as restoration of sight electronically (ROSE); and  

     WHEREAS, such research has been carried out by scientific
experts over a period of several years, but without a permanent
sponsor; and  

     WHEREAS, research scientists have succeeded experimentally in
stimulating the human visual cortex to produce visible images; and 


     WHEREAS, such scientists believe that more substantial
research and coordination are required to establish the maximum of
feasibility and utility of ROSE; and  

     WHEREAS, the ACB of Ohio believes that it is appropriate and
desirable that an organization of blind persons should take the
primary responsibility for the advancement of such research and
development in the interest of all blind persons; and  

     WHEREAS, the ACB of Ohio is requesting the cooperation of the
American Council of the Blind,  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 19th
day of July, 1980, that the ACB cooperate with its Ohio Affiliate
in its research project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the professional staff of the
American Council of the Blind provide technical assistance within
its expertise to assist the ACB of Ohio in establishing its
project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the research results and project
progress be shared with ACB members and blind people in general.

Submitted by the American council of the Blind of Ohio

Resolution Adopted.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-24

     WHEREAS, the Utah Council of the Blind has promoted the
installation of audible traffic signals to assist visually impaired
pedestrians at several intersections in Salt Lake City; and 

     WHEREAS, the Utah Council reports that such pedestrians have
found such audible signals to be practical, convenient, and a
positive safety factor affording the blind and visually impaired
pedestrian the same information that the seeing pedestrian derives
from visible signs; and 

     WHEREAS, the utilization of such audible signals effectively
reduces a serious barrier to mobility for blind and visually
impaired pedestrians, 

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in
convention assembled in Louisville, Kentucky, on this 19th day of
July, 1980, that the ACB, through its President, commend the Mayor
and City Council of Salt Lake City for their progressive and
innovative leadership in the establishment of such audible traffic
signals, and that the Mayor and City Council of Salt Lake City be
encouraged to make such installations permanent and to extend them
to other busy intersections in Salt Lake City. 

Submitted by Utah Council of the Blind 

Resolution Adopted.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-25 

     WHEREAS, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act has been
implemented since 1977; and  

     WHEREAS, this implementation process has been either extremely
slow or nonexistent within many institutions, organizations, and
agencies; and  

     WHEREAS, a primary cause of this implementation delay has been
the lack of any requirement that Section 504 coordinators be people
holding responsible administrative positions within the federal
funding recipient they coordinate,  

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention at Louisville, Kentucky, this 19th day of
July, 1980, that Section 504 administrative regulations be amended
to specify that a recipient's Section 504 coordinator hold a
responsible administrative position within the recipient's
organizational structure.   

Submitted by James Eccles and Chris Gray   

Resolution Adopted.                  American Council of the Blind
                        Resolution 80-27

     WHEREAS, recipients of Federal funds required to implement
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act have, in some cases,
used Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) funds to hire
implementation staff; and  

     WHEREAS, these funds can only be applied to a specific job for
a maximum of two years; and  

     WHEREAS, an institution, agency, or organization receiving
these funds is not currently required to fund these jobs from its
own funds once the CETA money has been expended; and  

     WHEREAS, legislation formerly governing CETA employment in the
early 1970's required that fifty percent (50%) of CETA employment
positions be converted to permanent positions funded from the grant
recipient's own revenues,   

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled in Louisville, Kentucky, this 19th
day of July, 1980, that such a percentage be reinstated into the
governing legislation for CETA.  

Submitted by Chris Gray   

Resolution Adopted.