AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        RESOLUTION 83-01

     WHEREAS, Section 503 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 as amended, are major federal initiatives to eliminate
discrimination in the employment of handicapped individuals by
federal contractors and by recipients of federal financial
assistance; and

     WHEREAS, these laws are not designed to impose unnecessary
burdens upon employers, but to ensure that capable, qualified
handicapped individuals will be provided with the opportunity to
prove their abilities and to acquire meaningful employment
opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, obstacles to the effective implementation and
enforcement of these provisions have arisen; and

     WHEREAS, there is currently no remedy for individuals who have
been denied employment opportunities by federal contractors in
violation of Section 503, except enforcement by the Department of
Labor; and

     WHEREAS, some courts have held that section 504 only requires
non-discrimination in employment by recipients of federal funds
when the primary purpose of the federal funding is to provide
employment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 7th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization urges Congress to: (l)
provide a private cause of action for individuals who have been
denied opportunities to be employed or to be advanced in employment
in violation of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended; and (2) take the necessary steps to ensure that Section
504 is applicable to all the employment practices of recipients of
federal funds; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should
be sent to the appropriate members of Congress and to the Attorney
General of the United States.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-02

     WHEREAS, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services (0SERS) within the Department of Education has primary
administrative responsibility concerning the federal role in
rehabilitation and special education services; and

     WHEREAS, it is essential that the incumbent in the position of
Assistant Secretary of OSERS be a person of sensitivity, vigor,
talent, and commitment; and

     WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan has recently appointed Mrs.
Madeleine Will to fill the important position of Assistant
Secretary of OSERS; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs Will has demonstrated a strong commitment to
handicapped persons as a parent and advocate.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on the 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization commends President Reagan
for his appointment of Madeleine Will as Assistant Secretary of
OSERS; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization looks forward to
cooperating with Mrs. Will toward the improvement of services to
blind and other handicapped persons; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are instructed to convey our congratulations
to Mrs Will upon her confirmation, which contact we hope will be
the first in a continuing dialogue between the American Council of
the Blind and the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-03

     WHEREAS, legislation is currently pending in the 98th Congress
to reauthorize and improve the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended; and

     WHEREAS, Senate bill S.l340 provides in part for the removal
of the National Council on the Handicapped from the jurisdiction of
the Department of Education, thereby creating an independent status
for the Council; and

     WHEREAS, an independent status for the Council will enable it
to communicate its recommendations concerning the federal role in
services to handicapped persons directly to the President and to
the Congress; and

     WHEREAS, we believe that this change of status will permit the
National Council on the Handicapped to become more visible within
the federal bureaucracy.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization supports an independent
status for the National Council on the Handicapped; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our support of this change should
be communicated to the appropriate members of Congress; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should
be sent to the Chairperson of the National Council on the
Handicapped.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-04

     WHEREAS, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap by the
federal government itself and also by recipients of federal
financial assistance; and

     WHEREAS, in 1978, Congress made Section 504 applicable to the
federal government itself in addition to recipients of federal
financial assistance; and

     WHEREAS, Vice President George Bush and the Presidential Task
Force on Regulatory Relief, after consideration of the views of the
American Council of the Blind and other disability rights groups,
have determined that modifications to the Section 504 Coordination
Guidelines for federally assisted programs are not necessary; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Justice, which is charged with the
responsibility to coordinate implementation of Section 504, has
issued "a prototype" regulation to all federal agencies for them to
use when drafting their Section 504 regulations, which is
substantially weaker than the Section 504 Coordination Guidelines
applied to recipients of federal funds; and

     WHEREAS, this prototype has been developed without an
opportunity for public review and comment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this Organization urges the Department of
Justice to issue for public comment Section 504 Coordination
Guidelines for federally conducted programs which will assure non-
discrimination against handicapped persons at least to the same
extent as the Guidelines which presently apply to recipients of
federal financial assistance; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Council of the Blind
urges the President, the Congress and the U.S. Department of
Justice to make the federal government a leader in providing equal
opportunity to handicapped persons; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should
be sent to the Vice President of the United States, the Attorney
General of the United States, and to the appropriate members of
Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-05

     WHEREAS, the federal government has recognized the specialized
rehabilitation needs of blind and visually impaired persons for
more than forty years; and

     WHEREAS, a plan of reorganization is currently being
considered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, which, if
implemented, will jeopardize the identifiable status afforded to
services for the blind within the jurisdiction of the Division for
the Blind and Visually Impaired; and

     WHEREAS, state experience indicates that blind and visually
impaired persons are best served by specialized rehabilitation
programs administered by personnel trained in services to blind and
visually impaired persons.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 7th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization opposes any reorganization
of the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired which will
operate to undermine the function and responsibilities of the
Division; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution should
be sent to the appropriate members of Congress and to the
appropriate officials within the Department of Education.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-06

     WHEREAS, the Position of Director of the Division for the
Blind and Visually Impaired of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration has been vacant since July, 1982; and

     WHEREAS, strong and effective leadership is needed in the
Division to strengthen the administration of the federal role in
rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired persons.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 7th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization urges the Commissioner of
the Rehabilitation Services Administration to conduct immediately,
a nationwide search to locate the most qualified individual for the
position of Director of the division who, if otherwise qualified,
should be a blind or visually imapired person; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution should
be sent to the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-07

     WHEREAS, unemployment among blind and visually impaired people
is well above the national average; and

     WHEREAS, the current targeted Jobs Tax Credit Act provides
incentives in the form of tax credits to employers who hire
recipients of Supplemental Security Income benefits or clients of
rehabilitation agencies but does not cover handicapped persons who
do not fall within these special categories.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization supports the enactment of
House bill H.R. 3211, introduced in the 98th Congress, which allows
employers a tax credit for newly-hired severely handicapped persons
during their first year of employment provided that such new
employees do not displace other employees; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors and staff
of this organization are instructed to communicate this position to
the appropriate members of Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-08

     WHEREAS, sensory and communications aids, such as "talking"
computer terminals, reading machines and large print displays" are
used by blind and disabled persons in order to advance in
employment and education; and

     WHEREAS, these devices as well as other sensory and
communications aids which benefit persons with other disabilities
are often so expensive that the majority of individuals cannot
afford to purchase them; and

     WHEREAS, funding sources for the purchase of sensory and
communications aids are limited.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization urges passage of Senate
bill S. 1115, introduced in the 98th Congress, which provides for
coverage of sensory and communications aids under the federal
Medicare program and further, permits the individual states to
reimburse for such equipment under state Medicaid programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organizations all communicate our support of this bill to
the appropriate members of Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-09

     WHEREAS, discrimination in the sale and rental of housing is
a major problem for blind and visually impaired people as well as
for members of other disability groups and for families with
children; and

     WHEREAS, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination
in housing on the basis of sex, race and national origin but fails
to protect handicapped persons and families with children.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization supports passage of the
Fair Housing Amendments Act, introduced in the 98th Congress as
Senate bill S. 1220, which extends coverage of the fair housing
provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to handicapped persons
and to families with children, and further provides a prompt,
inexpensive administrative adjudication of fair housing complaints;
and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are hereby instructed to communicate our
support of this legislation to the appropriate members of Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-10

     WHEREAS, the Medicare program currently excludes from coverage
the cost of low vision examinations, routine eye care, and vision
testing; and

     WHEREAS, low vision services provided by either
ophthalmologists or optometrists assist people with severe
uncorrectable vision impairments to maximize the use of their
remaining vision; and

     WHEREAS, the elderly as well as the severely visually impaired
would be greatly assisted if routine eye care and vision testing
were covered under Medicare; and

     WHEREAS, coverage under Medicare would also enable states to
provide these services under their Medicaid programs.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona that this organization urges the enactment of
House bill H. R. 3009 introduced in the 98th Congress, which would
provide for low vision coverage and House bill H.R. 3010 introduced
in the 98th Congress, which has similar provisions but, in
addition, allows for payments for routine eye care and vision
testing; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are instructed to communicate our support of
these measures to the appropriate members of Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-11

     WHEREAS, high technology devices such as "talking" computer
terminals, reading machines and closed-circuit magnification
devices are used by blind and visually impaired persons to gain and
to advance in employment and education; and

     WHEREAS, such equipment is expensive and often is beyond the
reach of many individuals; and

     WHEREAS, alternate funding sources equipment are limited; and

     WHEREAS, such equipment may materially enhance the upward job
mobility and career potential of the blind and visually impaired
persons who use such devices; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Technology Assessment has issued a
report entitled Technology and the Handicapped, which outlines
various ways in which technology can be made more readily available
to handicapped persons including tax incentives and guarantees, and
Medicare coverage for such equipment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 6th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization believes that access to
technology is essential in order to maximize the education,
employment, and independent living potential of blind and visually
impaired persons; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are hereby instructed to support and/or
initiate statutes and regulations which will make technology more
affordable and accessible to blind and other handicapped persons,
with particular attention being given to the recommendations
contained in the Office of Technology Assessment report.


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                        RESOLUTION 83-12

     WHEREAS, American Council of the Blind Membership Resolution
79-06 provides that production employees in sheltered workshops who
receive special minimum wages pursuant to law should be employed
under "individual rate" certificates issued by the Department of
Labor; and

     WHEREAS, American Council of the Blind Membership Resolution
79-06 further provides that the Department of Labor's current
authority to issue "blanket rate" certificates should be eliminated
and that employers should be required to prove that a worker could
not continue to be employed unless paid below the statutory minimum
wage; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Labor, should more vigorously
monitor the issuance of "individual rate" certificates and should
increase its investigatory and audit oversight of workshops to
ensure their compliance with the law; and

     WHEREAS, the elimination of "individual rate" certificates
would mean that the Department of Labor must rely upon a workshop's
own internal records to determine whether workers are paid in
accordance with the law; and

     WHEREAS, the elimination of the "individual rate" certificate
increases the likelihood of error or abuse by workshops in the
calculation of wages paid to workers, thereby increasing the
possibility that workers will not receive the wages to which they
are entitled by law.

     NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona that this organization opposes House bill H.R.
3091 introduced in the 98th Congress, which, if enacted, would
seriously undermine the ability of the Department of Labor to
engage in its oversight and audit responsibilities with respect to
the issuance of and compliance with special minimum wage
certificates; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are hereby instructed to communicate our
opposition to H.R. 3091 to the appropriate members of Congress.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-13

     WHEREAS, there is a substantial need for more materials to be
made available to blind and visually impaired persons that relate
to computers; and

     WHEREAS, it is particularly important that information for
beginners is produced.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 7th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization commends the National
Braille Press for its plans to publish a computer primer; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urges other
publishers, the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, and volunteer transcribers to make
available in all accessible media materials that will forward the
understanding of computers by the blind and visually impaired
population.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-15

     WHEREAS, efforts should be made to enlighten blind and
visually impaired persons on the importance and power of their vote
in public elections; and

     WHEREAS, voting is an essential step in achieving better
legislation for blind and visually impaired persons; and

     WHEREAS, voter registration is a vital prerequisite to
participation in the election process.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization should develop strong
programs to promote voter registration and voter education, and
should promulgate such information among its affiliated
organizations throughout the nation.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-16

     WHEREAS, blind and severely visually impaired persons are
frequently unable to utilize print media for information gathering;
and

     WHEREAS, radio information and reading services provide broad
access to information vital for full participation in society.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind
in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in Phoenix,
Arizona, that this organization favors the strengthening and
expansion of, and accessibility to, radio information and reading
services wherever needed.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-17

     WHEREAS, C-SPAN provides cable television companies with
programming covering the proceedings of the U.S. Congress on a 24-
hour basis; and

     WHEREAS, the public can use this medium to keep fully informed
on important legislative matters; and

     WHEREAS, this means of information is particularly important
to blind and visually impaired persons.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization commends and pledges to
support the work of Friends of C-SPAN: an organization which
encourages cable television companies throughout the U.S. to carry
this unique programming of in-depth legislative coverage; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization should investigate the possibility of making
C-SPAN available to radio reading services.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-18

     WHEREAS, the American Public Health Association has recognized
the importance of extending Medicare and Medicaid services to cover
both vision care and optical aids for eligible visually impaired
persons.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization publicly commends the
APHA's stand and pledges its willingness to work with APHA and
others toward achieving these worthy objectives.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-19

     WHEREAS, the American Association of Motor Vehicle
Administrators seeks to ban drivers who use bioptic lenses in
operating motor vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, many leading organizations of vision care
professionals feel that this action is unduly restrictive and
discriminatory; and 

     WHEREAS, many organizations interested in improving vision
care have taken the position that each case involving a driver
equipped with bioptics should be evaluated individually .

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization joins in the support of
the position advocated by the American Optometric Association and
the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, which opposes a
categorical ban as discriminatory; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers directors, and
members of this organization are urged to communicate this position
to states and to the appropriate organizations and to Congress.

THIS RESOLUTION WAS TABLED BY THE CONVENTION.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-20

     WHEREAS, independent travel by blind and visually impaired
persons is presently discouraged by the absence of audible traffic
signals; and

     WHEREAS, such signals are particularly needed at multiple
intersections and in areas where there is heavy traffic; and

     WHEREAS, audible traffic signals where they have been
installed have significantly increased the safety of blind and
visually impaired travellers.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization strongly urges its state
and local affiliates to work actively to expand the number of
audible traffic signals in their areas.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-21

     WHEREAS, more than 20 million disabled Americans have the
right to vote, yet due to numerous, substantial physical,
communication and attitudinal barriers many are effectively
disenfranchised; and

     WHEREAS, disabled voters, their families, friends and
supporters share many interests and could constitute a powerful
voting bloc; and

     WHEREAS, the resolvable problems faced by disabled people will
never get the attention they deserve from elected officials until
the power of this bloc is preserved and mobilized; and

     WHEREAS, active cooperation among disability advocacy
organizations can result in progress toward this goal; and

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind together with 40
other organizations have formed an ad hoc coalition to support
passage of S. 444 and H.R. 1250, the Equal Access to Voting Rights
Act of 1983.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983, in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization joins with the American
Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities and other similar
organizations in a national, non-partisan "Disabled But Able To
Vote" campaign aimed at promoting and encouraging all citizens of
voting age with disabilities to register for and participate in the
exercise of their fundamental right to vote as citizens in the 1984
national elections.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-22

     WHEREAS, discrimination in employment based on race, sex,
religion or national origin is prohibited under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964; and

     WHEREAS, the rights of disabled persons are not presently
protected under this Act; and

     WHEREAS, there has been continued erosion of the rights of
disabled persons under the regulations of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, and similar, related specialized legislation and
regulations; and

     WHEREAS, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides
the greatest opportunities for equal employment for disabled
persons.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization adopts as a priority
national goal the inclusion of disabled people under the protection
of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President and board be
directed to take such actions as may be necessary to mobilize
support for passage of such legislation in 1984, including
promoting and encouraging the direct involvement of all ACB
affiliates and their members; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President and the Board report
on the accomplishment of this goal at the 1984 ACB Convention; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff shall report progress,
on a periodic basis, in The Braille Forum.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-23

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has long supported
the concept of standards in accreditation in the field of services
to blind and visually impaired persons; and

     WHEREAS, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) has decided to accredit programs serving blind
and visually impaired persons; and

     WHEREAS, CARF is lacking in experience and knowledge
concerning the field of services to blind and visually impaired
persons and further, has failed to include blind and visually
impaired consumers in its standards-setting and accreditation
activities.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 8th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona that this organization deplores CARF's decision to
accredit programs serving blind and visually impaired persons and
calls upon CARF to reverse its decision; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers, directors, and staff
of this organization are hereby instructed to communicate this
position to the appropriate CARF officials; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the ACB is urged
to work actively to encourage facilities to be accredited by the
National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and
Visually Handicapped and toward educating professionals in the
field of blindness, so as to ensure that the best services possible
will be available to blind and visually impaired persons.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-24

     WHEREAS, American Council of the Blind Membership Resolution
79-06 provides that production employees in sheltered workshops
should be employed under "individual rate" certificates issued by
the Department of Labor, having a wage floor guarantee of not less
than 75% of the statutory minimum wage; and

     WHEREAS, most blind production employees in sheltered
workshops earn at or above this 75% floor; and

     WHEREAS, we recognize that some employees may be so limited by
multiple handicaps as to be unable to earn at the 75% floor
guarantee level; and

     WHEREAS, the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) opposes
the American Council of the Blind's position with respect to the
payment of production employees in sheltered workshops as outlined
in ACB Membership Resolution 79-06, primarily on the grounds that
many workshops would be unable to bear the excess wage-over-
productivity cost incurred for workers who cannot produce at our
proposed guaranteed wage floor level

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 9th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization recommends that any,
excess wage-over-productivity cost necessary to reach our proposed
guaranteed wage floor level can be offset by one or both of the
following methods: (1) part of the commissions paid to National
Industries for the Blind and National Industries for the Severely
Handicapped can be utilized to ensure that production employees
receive a wage at least equal to our proposed guaranteed wage floor
level; and/or, (2) a fair market price formula can be established
by the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely
Handicapped, which includes a factor equal to the excess wage-over-
productivity cost necessary to ensure payment of wages at least
equal to our proposed guaranteed wage floor level; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization present the
foregoing recommendations to Congress, the staff and Board of
Directors of the National Industries for the Blind, and the staff
of the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely
Handicapped without delay, with the goal of implementing the
proposals contained in this Resolution no later than July 1, 1984;
and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution is supplementary
to our previous membership Resolution 79-06, which Resolution
remains in full force and effect.
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                        RESOLUTION 83-25

     WHEREAS, the International Business Machines Corporation has
developed and manufactured products which are beneficial to blind
and visually impaired office workers, enabling them to more
efficiently work with their sighted coworkers.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 9th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that the International Business Machines
Corporation should be urged to more widely market office technology
such as the Model 3278 Talking Terminal and other equipment, such
as the Audio Typing Unit which can be connected to the Memory 100,
the Mag Card media system and similar devices; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Council of the Blind
joins with the Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers
Association in commending the IBM Corporation for its leadership in
making office technology more accessible to blind and visually
impaired office workers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution should
be sent to the appropriate IBM officials.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-26

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is the largest
organization of blind and visually impaired persons in the United
States; and

     WHEREAS, many of the members of the American Council of the
Blind are not totally blind but are in fact, low vision persons;
and

     WHEREAS, many of the members of the American Council of the
Blind would be able to use their valuable remaining eye sight to
(a) avoid the hazards of unmarked steps and (b) to find restrooms
in public buildings; and

     WHEREAS, such markings should be accessible to the totally
blind as well

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 9th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that this organization cooperate with the Council
of Citizens with Low Vision to urge all governmental entities --
local, state and requiring that all other facilities be the runner
and the

federal -- to adopt regulations steps in all public buildings and
marked on the leading edge of both riser with a stripe of paint or
as trip of non-skid material that runs the width of each step, that
is two inches wide on both the runner and the riser and that is of
a color and gray value that contrasts sharply with the color and
gray value of the rest of the step; and (b) the following symbols
be used on the doors leading into restrooms: for women, a plastic
or wood encircle twelve inches in diameter and l/4 inch thick that
is of a color and gray value that contrasts sharply with the color
and gray value of the door to which it is affixed. For men, a
plastic or wooden equilateral triangle, twelve inches on a side
with one vertex pointing upward, and of the same thickness and with
the same contrast as above; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be submitted to
the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board with
a view to its becoming part of a uniform code of facility
accessibility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and standards-setting
bodies are requested to consult with a committee to be appointed by
the officers of The American Council of the Blind, in consultation
with the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, in the consideration
of this and any other matter dealing with tactile and visual
markings.

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                        RESOLUTION 83-27

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is the largest
consumer organization of blind and visually impaired people in the
United States; and

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind's membership is
largely comprised of people whose primary means of reading is other
than conventional print, i.e., large print, braille or recordings;
and

     WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind already publishes
its monthly magazine in several media, which makes it independently
accessible to all members.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this day of July 1983 in Phoenix,
Arizona that this organization undertake a program of publishing a
material addressed to its membership, such as notices of annual
legislative seminars, announcements of Floyd Qualls Memorial
Scholarships, recruitment brochures etc. in large print and in some
other form independently accessible by a totally blind individual;
and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that sufficient funds be set aside for
the Director of Public Affairs or the Board of Publications or some
other duly constituted authority to carry out the actions set forth
in this Resolution.

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.bp
.gr2
                        RESOLUTION 83-28

     WHEREAS, the legislative seminars sponsored over the past
three years by the American Council of the Blind have been less
effective than they could have been because delegates received
materials too late to assimilate them adequately; and

     WHEREAS, this organization is eager to see the seminars
succeed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled on this 9th day of July, 1983 in
Phoenix, Arizona, that the membership of this organization strongly
urges the officers and staff to ensure that at least some
preliminary back ground materials be in the hands of seminar
participants a minimum of two weeks prior to the legislative
seminar; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative seminar be
lengthened to three days and that the additional day be devoted to
providing legislative background; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be transmitted to
the Board of the American Council of the Blind for action