AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-01 

                         IRS EMPLOYEES 

     WHEREAS, for many years the Internal Revenue Service has hired
blind and visually impaired persons as taxpayer service
representatives and taxpayer service specialists; and 

     WHEREAS, these highly trained professionals provide direct
telephone taxpayer assistance to millions of Americans, many of
whom cannot afford private tax advice; and 

     WHEREAS, the Internal Revenue Service has proposed substantial
cuts in funding for direct taxpayer service which may result in
diminution of service and employment opportunities for blind and
visually impaired persons, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 8th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
is opposed to any funding cuts for taxpayer service provided by the
Internal Revenue Service; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization support upward
job mobility and increased job opportunities with the IRS for
qualified blind and visually impaired persons; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President be directed to send
a copy of this resolution, along with a support letter, to members
of Congress and to the official representatives in the IRS
responsible for making these decisions. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-02 

                     SUBREGIONAL LIBRARIES 

     WHEREAS, library service for the blind and physically
handicapped in the United States is provided through a network of
approximately 160 cooperating regional libraries which participate
in the National Library Service program of the Library of Congress;
and 

     WHEREAS, subregional libraries are often established in local
communities to facilitate distribution of reading materials to
patrons within a geographic area; and 

     WHEREAS, subregional libraries provide a worthwhile public
service to their patrons, who are assured of a local supply of
reading materials; and 

     WHEREAS, it appears that many subregional libraries may be
forced to close as their budgets are strained with ever-increasing
costs and funding cuts, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 8th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
endorse the subregional library concept and support funding of such
facilities to the maximum extent possible; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the ACB President is hereby
directed to take such steps as may be necessary to publicize this
resolution. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-03 

     WHEREAS, millions of disabled persons and senior citizens in
our nation presently rely on, or will be relying on, Social
Security benefits as their sole source of income; and 

     WHEREAS, the climate of political rhetoric has fostered fear
that Social Security recipients will lose their benefits; and 
     WHEREAS, thousands of disabled Americans receiving Social
Security disability benefits have been unjustly terminated in order
to realize cost savings in the disability program, despite ample
surplus in the disability trust fund; and 

     WHEREAS, the Social Security program should be protected from
manipulation for political ends, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 10th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that the Social
Security program not be used to balance the Federal budget, and
that it be removed from the unified general Federal budget. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-04 

                          SECTION 504 

     WHEREAS, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, protects the civil rights of disabled people; and 

     WHEREAS, the Section 504 guidelines were issued by the U. S.
Department of Health, Education and Welfare five full years after
the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and only after an
all-out, concerted effort by the disabled community; and 

     WHEREAS, these guidelines represent a reasoned approach to
Section 504 implementation and were promulgated only after
extensive comment and testimony were carefully considered; and 

     WHEREAS, just at the time when disabled people are beginning
to reap the benefits of the hard-sought-after guidelines and
regulations, the Reagan Administration is proposing to destroy many
crucial provisions, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 8th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
opposes those revisions in the 1978 HEW Section 504 interagency
guidelines which, in the opinion of the ACB staff, are deemed to be
detrimental to the welfare of blind persons; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization support
continued implementation of the Section 504 interagency guidelines;
and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
send copies of this resolution to President Reagan, the U.S.
Department of Justice, and the office of Management and Budget,
informing them of this position. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-05 

                           SSI WAIVER 

     WHEREAS, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients--our
nation's poorest, disabled, and elderly citizens--are entitled to
their full constitutional rights of privacy and due process; and 

     WHEREAS, the SSI program, as established by law, does not
require lower-income elderly and disabled Americans to sacrifice
their constitutional rights and dignity; and 

     WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration has recently begun
to coerce SSI recipients to waive their legal right to
confidentiality of tax records without statutory or regulatory
authority; and 

     WHEREAS, the threatened termination of benefits for failure to
waive their legal right has alarmed SSI recipients across the
country who rely on SSI to maintain a minimal standard of living;
and 

     WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration has alternative
methods to achieve the laudable goal of reducing fraud and waste in
the SSI program; and 

     WHEREAS, the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia has already issued a temporary restraining order against
the Social Security Administration because of its action, 
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
oppose termination of SSI benefits based upon failure of recipients
to waive their right to confidentiality of tax records, unless the
Social Security Administration secures statutory and/or regulatory
authority to terminate benefits based upon a recipient's refusal to
grant such waiver; and provided, further, that such waivers are
obtained only after disclosure of the recipient's rights in a
clear, accessible notice; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and staff of this
organization are hereby directed to communicate this position to
all appropriate public officials. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-06 

          FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND MAILING PRIVILEGE 

     WHEREAS, libraries for the blind and physically handicapped,
as well as other agencies and volunteers who transcribe material
from print into braille and recorded form, can mail this material
to their readers by means of the free matter for the blind and
physically handicapped mailing privilege; and 

     WHEREAS, without this privilege many blind and physically
handicapped people on fixed incomes, especially those who are
shut-ins, would experience much difficulty in paying postage to
receive reading materials; and 

     WHEREAS, libraries for the blind and physically handicapped
would have to practically double their budgets to maintain service
by paying postage; and 

     WHEREAS, free matter for the blind and physically handicapped
postal subsidies are again in danger of being drastically reduced
or eliminated, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
reaffirm its support of the free matter for the blind and
physically handicapped mailing privilege; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and staff of this
organization are hereby directed to make this policy known to
members of Congress and other appropriate officials. 

Submitted by 
Janet Clary 
Augusta Chapter Georgia Federation of the Blind  

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-07 

                 INSTRUCTION OF BRAILLE WRITING 

     WHEREAS, use of the slate and stylus as a skill for writing
braille is essential for the well-rounded education of any child
who uses braille; and 

     WHEREAS, use of the braille writer as the initial means of
teaching braille writing makes future learning of use of the slate
and stylus extremely difficult; and 

     WHEREAS, in many schools, blind children are taught braille
with use of the braille writer before being taught use of the slate
and stylus, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
go on record as strongly recommending and urging that the initial
teaching of braille writing be through use of the slate and stylus;
and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent
to all state departments of education. 

Submitted by Maxine Schranm
Arizona Council of the Blind, 
and Braille Revival League 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-08 

     WHEREAS, opportunities for upward job mobility for blind and
severely handicapped workers are often limited by stereotypical
assumptions concerning the skills and abilities of blind and
severely handicapped workers; and 

     WHEREAS, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act has for the past forty
years provided valuable employment opportunities to many blind and
severely handicapped workers, but fails to address the need for
upward job mobility and placement into competitive employment; and 

     WHEREAS, the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and other
Severely Handicapped administers the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act
program through two centralized, non-profit agencies, namely:
National Industries for the Blind and National Industries for the
Severely Handicapped, which provide services to member workshops,
including new product development; and 

     WHEREAS, the General Accounting office has recently published
a report in which it found, among other things, that NIB serves "as
an effective link between public and private resources" in the
administration of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program; and 

     WHEREAS, stronger Federal enforcement of fair labor standards
is currently needed to protect the interests of blind and severely
handicapped workers, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that the officers and
staff of this organization are hereby directed to take necessary
steps to implement the following basic improvements in the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program and the Fair Labor Standards Act
which will better serve the interests of the blind and severely
handicapped workers: 

     (1)  Stronger enforcement of labor standards by the Committee
          for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely
          Handicapped to ensure that wage rates and production
          standards are fair, reasonable, and accurately
          calculated; 

     (2)  Better evaluation of workers, skills and abilities, to
          ensure that each worker's employment potential is
          maximized and to ensure that, whenever possible,
          qualified blind and severely handicapped production
          workers will be promoted to supervisory and
          administrative positions; 

     (3)  To encourage workshops to promote qualified blind and
          severely handicapped production workers, the
          Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act should be amended to require that
          qualified blind and severely handicapped workers who are
          promoted to supervisory and administrative positions be
          included in the 75 percent direct labor requirement for
          participation in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program, and
          that this eligibility requirement for workshop
          participation in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program be
          vigorously monitored by the Committee for Purchase from
          the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization recommends that
National Industries for the Blind use more of its resources to
improve working conditions, benefits, services, and opportunities
for upward job mobility of blind production workers, after
consultation with blind production workers, their representative
organizations, citizen consumer groups, and workshops. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-09 

           SUB-MINIMUM WAGES FOR HANDICAPPED WORKERS 

     WHEREAS, evidence of continued violations of the presently
existing wage standard for handicapped workers by employers of such
workers has come to our attention; and 

     WHEREAS, the issue concerning appropriate wage rates for
handicapped workers continues to provoke controversy and concern
within the blind community; 

     BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in
convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the Marriott
Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that we in the American Council
of the Blind favor and support prompt enactment by Congress of
amendments to the sub-minimum wages for the handicapped provisions
of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, which would
embody at least the following basic and progressive elements: 

     (1)  The present provision for blanket or workshop sub-minimum
          certificates shall be immediately repealed, leaving only
          provision for individual rate sub-minimum certificates
          for handicapped workers in the statute. 

     (2)  The current floor for individual rate sub-minimum
          certificates of 25 percent of full minimum wage should
          immediately be raised to 50 percent of full minimum wage.
          

     (3)  On each successive annual anniversary date of the
          enactment of such amendment, the floor of the remaining
          individual rate sub-minimum certificates for handicapped
          workers should automatically rise by 5 percent, so that
          after ten years the floor would reach full 100 percent of
          minimum wage, and the Section 14c provision for sub-
          minimum wage rates for all handicapped workers would at
          that certain date in the future be automatically
          repealed. 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization direct its
officers and professional staff to bring these basic elements of
our proposal for resolution of the minimum wage for handicapped
workers issue to the attention of the appropriate congressional
committees which are currently deliberating concerning various
proposals on the minimum wage issue. 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the position espoused in this
resolution should not be interpreted in a manner implying our
support for the repeal of the provisions in the Fair Labor
Standards Act for special sub-minimum wage rates for those working
in work activity centers.  In fact, we support retention in the Act
of these provisions for work activity centers. 

     BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution is intended to
supersede Resolution 79-06 and does reflect the position of this
organization on the issue of sub-minimum wages for handicapped
workers. 

Submitted by Charles Hodge Resolution re-referred to committee,
with specific instructions that the Resolutions Committee consider
and deliberate on this issue in the coming year, and that at the
1983 convention the Resolutions Committee report some resolution on
this issue. 

Resolution withdrawn                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-10 

     WHEREAS, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities,
with which and in which the American Council of the Blind is a
voting member, has liberalized its membership rules to permit state
and local affiliates of national organizations to be voting members
of ACCD if such affiliate is also a participating voting member of
any state coalition of the handicapped for which it is eligible to
join; and 

     WHEREAS, this change will permit a much broader base of
participation by blind and visually impaired people at the local
level, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that the American
Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities' liberalized membership
rule be publicized through The Braille Forum and through direct
communication with the president of each ACB affiliate. 

Submitted by Durward K. McDaniel 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-11 

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind and other major
organizations have developed a plan and useful legislative
materials for the implementation of a National Lobbying Network on
issues affecting the interests of blind and visually impaired
persons; and 

     WHEREAS, ACB legislative seminar participants and professional
staff took the major responsibility in the distribution of the
legislative materials, plus additional material produced by the
American Council of the Blind itself; and 

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Affiliated Leadership
League of and for the Blind of America has officially agreed to
coordinate the National Lobbying Network, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that it continue its
support and participation in the establishing and implementation of
the National Lobbying Network, in the interests of the American
Council of the Blind, its objectives and commitments. 

Submitted by Durward K. McDaniel 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-12 

                          P. L. 94-142 

     WHEREAS, high quality special education services are an
essential investment in the future independence and productivity of
blind and visually impaired persons; and 

     WHEREAS, strong Federal regulations currently safeguard the
right of handicapped children to educational opportunities
appropriate to their needs and ensure that parents have effective
input into the kind of services their children receive, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1962, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
support strong, consistent Federal leadership and commitment to the
education of handicapped children, including comprehensive Federal
laws and regulations, vigorous enforcement of these laws and
regulations, and expanded Federal funding for special education
services; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and staff of this
organization are hereby directed to communicate this policy to
members of Congress and other appropriate public officials. 

Submitted by 
Gretchen Hirsch Smith 
American Council of the Blind Parents 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-13 

                     RADIO READING SERVICES 

     WHEREAS, Radio Reading Services provide current, local news
and information to over 100,000 blind and handicapped people using
closed circuit Subsidiary Communication Authorization (SCA) of main
channel FM public broadcasting stations at 67 kHz of the FM radio
frequency spectrum; and 

     WHEREAS, this radio frequency is currently available only for 
public educational, noncommercial uses, such as radio reading
services; and 

     WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission is considering
a proposal which would allow this frequency to be used for
commercial, noneducational purposes; and 

     WHEREAS, commercial use of this broadcast frequency would
threaten the continued existence and growth of Radio Reading
Services; 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
urge the Federal Communications Commission to reserve the SCA
subchannel at 67 kHz of the public FM radio frequency spectrum for
public, noncommercial broadcast uses, such as radio reading
services; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and staff of this
organization are hereby directed to assist the Association of Radio
Reading Services in its efforts to insure that this frequency
continue to be protected from commercial use. 

Submitted by ACB National Office Staff 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-14 

                    TEXTBOOKS AND EQUIPMENT 

     WHEREAS, quality education for blind and visually impaired
children throughout the country could be greatly enhanced if
up-to-date textbooks could be obtained; and 

     WHEREAS, these materials are available from companies other
than the American Printing House for the Blind, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 9th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that the officers and
staff of this organization be directed to investigate the necessity
and advisability of legislation to make the American Printing House
for the Blind a clearing house so that Federal quota account
funding could be made available to purchase textbooks and equipment
made by other companies as well as that made by the American
Printing House. 

Submitted by Alabama Council of the Blind 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-15 

                       LABELING MEDICINES 

     WHEREAS, there are many low-vision and elderly persons who
have great difficulty reading the labels on bottles, boxes, and
tubes of medication; and 

     WHEREAS, being able to read said labels is important to the
health and safety of these persons, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 10th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that the manufacturers
and dispensers of these medications be required to use large and
clear type on the labels that identify the medications and give
instructions concerning their use; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the labels be placed on the
outside of the containers, and not be obstructed by any material
that degrades the quality of the image presented by the labels to
the low-vision consumer; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that dangerous substances be in
containers that are readily identifiable by touch. 

Submitted by Council of Citizens with Low Vision 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                       RESOLUTION 82-16  

                   NIHR RESEARCH AND TRAINING 

     WHEREAS, major visual impairment represents one of the most
disabling long-term physical disabilities; and 

     WHEREAS, more than three-quarters of those who have disabling
eye conditions have useful residual vision that is frequently not
utilized maximally; and 

     WHEREAS, the National Institute for Handicapped Research has
failed to give adequate recognition to the above, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind, in convention assembled this 10th day of July, 1982, at the
Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, that this organization
urges the National Institute for Handicapped Research to give
priority in its research and training programs to the partially
sighted; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that research and training in low
vision be in major categories listed for funding. 

Submitted by Council of Citizens with Low Vision 

Resolution Adopted                   AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 82-17 

     WHEREAS, travel cost is a disincentive for attending the
national conventions of the American Council of the Blind,
particularly for the States of Hawaii and Alaska and the Territory
of Puerto Rico; and 

     WHEREAS, we currently have chartered affiliates in two of
these states, with potential for affiliation of the third; and 

     WHEREAS, it is equally difficult for the American Council of
the Blind to hold conventions in these locations, 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of
the Blind, in convention assembled this 10th day of July, 1982, at
the Marriott Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, direct its
President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, to appoint
a committee to do the following: 

     (1)  Determine an amount of money between $3.00 and $6.00 to
          be included as a portion of the preregistration and
          registration fee; and 

     (2)  That a formula be devised in order that these funds be
          used to defray travel expenses in excess of ordinary
          expenses to convention attendees from these locations;
          and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon the presentation of a
proposal of this committee, the Board implement a final system in
time for the 1983 convention. 

Submitted by Old Dominion Council of the Blind 

Resolution Defeated