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  • Home
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  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
      • 2001 ACB Board Minutes
        • July 7, 2001, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 20, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22 & 23, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2002 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 30, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30, JULY 5, 2002, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 41ST ANNUAL CONVENTION, HOUSTON, TEXAS
        • July 6, 2002, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 29, 2002, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 21 & 22, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2003 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 15, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 11, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 5, JULY 11, 2003, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 42nd ANNUAL CONVENTION, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
        • January 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2003, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2003, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 4, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2004 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 1, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • April 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • August 11, September 1, October 6 & October 12, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 15 & 16, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 3, JULY 10, 2004, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 43rd ANNUAL CONVENTION, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
        • January 14, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2004, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 3, 2004, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2005 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Standing Rules, Adopted July 4, 2005
        • February 14, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 2 - JULY 9, 2005, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 44th ANNUAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
        • January 22, & 23, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 2, 2005, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 9, 2005, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 11, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 22, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1 & 2, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2006 ACB Board Minutes
        • February 20 & 21, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 8 - JULY 15, 2006, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 45th ANNUAL CONVENTION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
        • July 15, 2006, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 8, 2006, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 30, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 23 & 24, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2007 ACB Board Minutes
        • August 2, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30 – JULY 7, 2007, CONVENTION RECORD, 46th ANNUAL CONVENTION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
        • January 4, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 7, 2007, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 30, 2007, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 10 – 11, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 23, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 13, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 29, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2008 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Record of the 47th annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 8 and 9, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • January 2, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2008, Post-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2008, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 4, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 15 - 16, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2009 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 15, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 20, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 11, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 4, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 21, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 12 - 13, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2010 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 13,2010 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 19, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2010, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 17, 2010, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2011 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 14, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • January 11, 2011 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Mid Year Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • October 1, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Post Convention Meeting of the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors
        • Pre convention Board of Directors Meeting, American Council of the Blind
        • Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, May 5th 2011
      • 2012 Meeting Minutes
        • December 12, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 23-24, 2012 Mid Year Board Of Directors Meeting
        • July 14, 2012 Board of Directors Meeting of the American Council of the Blind
        • July 7, 2012 Pre-Convention Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • June 7, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • May 9, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • September 15, 2012 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Meeting Minutes
        • August 21, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • December 17, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Mid Year ACB Board of Directors Meeting
        • January 3, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 5, 2013 Pre-Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • Minutes of the American Council of the Blind 2013 Post Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • October 30, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • September 28, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
      • 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • December 8th and 9th, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • January 30, 2014 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • July 12, 2014 Pre-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • July 19, 2014 Post-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • November 13, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • October 17 and 18, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • December 3 and 10, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 21, 2015, Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 4, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • October 30-31, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2016 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 27, 2016 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2017 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Aug 22, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 25, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Jun 30, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 27, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Oct 27, 2017
      • 2018 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 29, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Oct. 5-6, 2018
      • 2019 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes August 22, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Feb. 23, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes July 5, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 11 and 18, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes: Oct. 18 and 19, 2019
      • 2020 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Apr 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 22, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Jan 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Mar 30, 2020
      • John McCann for ACB Board of Directors
    • Board of Publications
      • 2009 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 6, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 20, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 14, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2010 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 5, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 2, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 19, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 11, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 7, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 3, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2011 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 4, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 1, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 5, 2011, Board of Publications Meeting Minutes October 3, 2011
        • February 25, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 7, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 10, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 6, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 2, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 5, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • August 6, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 10, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 24, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • February 6, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • January 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • July 8, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 7, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 1, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 13, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 2, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 6, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 9, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 7, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 4, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 1, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 13, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 2, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 3, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 8, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 6, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 1, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • March 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 4, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 9, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2016 BOP Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes-Apr. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Aug. 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Dec. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Feb. 8, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jan. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-July 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jun. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Mar. 7, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-May 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Nov. 1, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Oct. 4, 2016
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes for September 6, 2016
      • 2017 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes for April 4, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for August 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for February 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for July 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for June 6, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for March 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for November 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for September 5, 2017
      • 2018 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 30, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 3, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 5, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - May 1, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 13, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 4, 2018
      • 2019 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 2, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 13, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Dec. 3, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Feb. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 8, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jul. 6, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 4, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 12, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - May 7, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 1, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 3, 2019
      • 2020 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Feb 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Apr 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 2, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Mar 3, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - May 5, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Nov 10, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 6, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 1, 2020
      • 2021 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Jan 5, 2021
      • April 14, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • August 4, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • BOP Editorial Policy Manual, 2015
      • Board of Publications Hosts Internet Candidates' Page
      • Board of Publications Minutes
      • Charles Hodge for ACB Board of Publications
      • December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • January 30, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • July 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • June 2, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • March 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Marcia Dresser for ACB Board of Publications
      • May 5, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • November 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • October 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • September 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Thomas Mitchell for ACB Board of Publications
    • Committees & Task Forces
      • ACB Radio Management Committee
      • ACB Store-Mini Mall Committee
      • Advocacy Services Committee
      • Audio Description Project (ADP) Committee
      • Audio Description Project Task Force
      • Awards Committee
      • Braille Authority of North America
      • Constitution and Bylaws Committee
      • Convention Coordinating Committee
      • Convention Program Committee
      • Credentials Committee
      • Employment Issues Committee
      • Environmental Access Committee
      • Fitness Equipment Equity Task Force
      • Information Access Committee
      • International Relations Committee
      • Internet Oversight Committee
      • Investment Committee
      • Leadership Institute Training Committee
      • McDaniel Fund Committee
        • Recipients of the Durward K. McDaniel First Timer and J.P. Morgan Chase Leadership Fellow Awards Speak Out
      • Membership Committee
      • Monthly Monetary Support Committee
      • Multicultural Affairs Committee
      • National Library Service
      • Next Generation Committee
      • Nominating Committee
      • Other Representatives
      • PR Committee downloads
      • Public Relations Committee
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force
      • Resolutions Committee
      • Resource Development Committee
      • Scholarship Grant Committee
      • Sight and Sound Impaired Committee
      • Social Media Committee
      • Special Education/Schools for the Blind Task Force
      • Transportation Committee
      • Voting Task Force
      • Women's Concerns Committee
      • World Blind Union Delegates
    • History
    • ACB Resolutions
      • 2009 Resolutions
      • 2010 Resolutions
      • 2011 Resolutions
      • 2012 Resolutions
      • 2013 Resolutions
      • 2014 Resolutions
      • 2015 Resolutions
      • 2016 Resolutions
      • 2017 Resolutions
      • 2018 Resolutions
      • 2019 Resolutions
      • 2020 Resolutions
      • Resolution on Full Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
    • Affiliates
      • Special Interest Affiliates
        • ACB Diabetics in Action
        • ACB Families
        • ACB Government Employees
        • ACB Human Service Professionals
        • ACB Next Generation
        • ACB Radio Amateurs
        • ACB Students
        • Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss
        • American Association of Blind Teachers
        • American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys
        • American Council of Blind Lions
        • Blind Information Technology Specialists
        • Blind LGBT Pride International
        • Braille Revival League
        • Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
        • Friends In Art of ACB, Inc.
        • Guide Dog Users, Inc.
        • Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers
        • Library Users of America
        • Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
        • Visually Impaired Veterans of America
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Events
  • Programs & Services
    • ACB Community Events
      • Recurring Events
      • Weekly Events
    • Scholarships
    • Audio Description Project
    • Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
      • Advocacy
    • ACB Radio
      • ACB Radio Offers Variety of Programming for Your Listening Pleasure
    • Convention
    • Membership
  • Resources
    • Jobs
    • ACB Archives
    • Blind / Low Vision Resources
      • Scholarship Program
      • ACB Leadership List Guidelines
      • ACB-Chat List Rules
      • ACB-L List Rules
      • ADA Signage
      • AFB: Be a Better Champion for Specialized Services
      • Banks with Talking ATM Machines
      • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents used by the Low Vision Community authored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Arlington, VA
      • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents used by the Low Vision Community authored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Arlington, VA
      • Braille Resources
        • Braille Business Cards
        • Braille Instruction
        • Braille Paper
        • Braille Writer Repair Services
        • Description and History of Braille
        • Producers of Braille Documents
      • Diabetic Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired
      • Filing a Video Description Complaint with the FCC
      • General Resources
      • Guide Dog Resources
      • Homes for the Blind
      • Low Vision Resources
      • Medical Information Resources
      • Microsoft Office Accessibility Resources
      • Music Resources
      • Outreach RE Requesting Alternate Formats From SSA
      • Religious Resources
      • Resources for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
      • Resources for Parents and Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Children
      • Resources for Persons with Low Vision
      • Section 904
      • Sports, Recreational and Leisure Resources
      • Where Taxpayers With Disabilities Can Find Online Help from the IRS
      • White Cane Laws for States
    • Affiliate Resources
      • Encouraging Affiliates with Techniques to Reach More Members
      • Exploring How Affiliates Can Reach New Members
      • Fundraising for ACB Activities Including the National Convention
      • Gaining and Maintaining Membership
      • Growing a Great Convention
      • How Can We Complete Our Business During Meetings More Efficiently?
      • How Can We Reactivate Past Members and “Wow” Our Current Members to Retain Them?
      • How to Find Blindness Related Resources and Sharing Them
      • Ideas for Affiliates and Chapters
      • Ideas to Interest Students
      • Involving Youth in ACB
      • Leadership Materials
        • Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
        • Creating a Media Kit for Your ACB Affiliate or Chapter
        • Simplified Parliamentary Procedure
        • The PSA Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
        • The Press Release Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
      • Membership Incentives
      • Networking, Communication and Contact
      • Officer’s and Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Reaching Blind and Visually Impaired Seniors
      • Reaching Out to Your Community to Educate and Inform People About Blindness
      • Secretary's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Strategies for Enhancing Membership
      • Strategies for Member Renewal and Reactivation
      • Tips for Successful Membership Recruitment and Retention
      • Tips to Retain Members
      • Treasurer's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Vice President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
    • Peer Support
    • Handbooks / Manuals
      • "Modern" Signalized Intersections
      • Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
      • Advocacy
      • Afterword
      • Appendix A: Letter from FHWA re Accessible Pedestrian Signals
      • Appendix B: Template for Your Letter
      • Appendix C: Four Case Studies
      • Appendix D: Glossary of Terms
      • Are You a Senior Citizen Struggling with Vision Loss?
      • Are You the Parents of A Blind Child?
      • Crossing Where There Is No Traffic Control
      • Finding the Crosswalk and Aligning to Cross
      • Guide to Successful College Experience
      • Mitch's Message
      • Pedestrian Safety
      • Pedestrian Safety Handbook
        • Acknowledgements
      • Regulations Related to Accessible Public Rights-of-Way
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Revised Rehabilitation White Paper
      • Whitepaper On Rehabilitation and Training
    • Products & Services
      • Accessible Cards and Gifts
      • Computer Products, Publications, Training, and Information Sources
      • Funding Assistive Technology Resources
      • Magnifying Aids - Low Vision Center
      • Technology, Software, Related Resources
      • Travel Resources
      • Useful Products for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
    • Professional Employment Associations
  • Publications & Media
    • Live Events
    • News
    • Braille Forum
      • 2009 Issues
        • BF Dec 2009
          • Class Action ACB v. SSA
      • 2010 Issues
        • BF April 2010 downloads
        • BF August 2010 downloads
        • BF December 2010
        • BF February 2010
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AWARDS: THIS YEAR IT COULD BE YOU!
          • HERE AND THERE Edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • PASSINGS
          • SECOND ANNUAL ACB WALK by Dan Dillon
          • SPOTLIGHT YOUR AFFILIATE WITH A BOP AWARD!
          • THE MMS PROGRAM MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU TO HELP ACB by Dena Wilson
          • THE SUNNY SOUTHWEST: ACB CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION 2010 by Carla Ruschival
        • BF January 2010
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • Here and There
        • BF July 2010 downloads
        • BF June 2010 downloads
        • BF March 2010 downloads
        • BF May 2010 downloads
        • BF November 2010
        • BF October 2010
        • BF September 2010 downloads
      • 2011 Issues
        • BF Dec 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: Lola Siren
        • The Braille Forum, April 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, February 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • YOU CAN SHOP ANYTIME AT THE ACB STORE by Carla Ruschival
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, June 2011
          • Affiliate News: Convention Sneak Preview
        • The Braille Forum, March 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, May 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Library Users of America to Host Book Flea Market, by Peggy R. Garrett
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, September 2011
          • Affiliate News
        • The Braille Forum, january 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2012 Issues
        • Affiliate News
        • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, April 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, December 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, February 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, January 2012
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2012
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, June 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOP with 2012 Candidate's Page
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, March 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, May 2012
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, September 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2013 Issues
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  1. Home
  2. Do Transportation Networking Companies Like Uber and Lyft Offer a Viable Alternative to Taxicabs for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired?

Do Transportation Networking Companies Like Uber and Lyft Offer a Viable Alternative to Taxicabs for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired?

By Ron Brooks
 
Prepared for:
American Council of the Blind
Transportation Committee
 
April, 2015

Introduction

Ask ten people who are blind or visually impaired to share the top three challenges they face, and one thing is certain. Transportation will be somewhere on each and every list.
 
We all deal with the transportation challenge in different ways. Some of us can use public bus, rail or other forms of public transit to get where we need to go. Others of us depend on ADA paratransit to get from Point A to B. Still other blind and visually impaired people hire taxicabs or personal drivers. Still others of our cohort must rely on friends and family to get around. Most of us probably use a mix of these strategies: transit for the trip to and from work, paratransit for shopping, a taxi to get us to the airport, and a friend or family member when we need to run around town for the Saturday list of errands.
 
Over the past few years, a new travel option has begun to emerge. Transportation Networking Companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar are changing the transportation landscape, offering a new technology-based transportation product that is more flexible, more cost-effective and in many ways, one of the most exciting travel products to hit the market in a long time. On the other hand, these new services pose new challenges: the accessibility of the technology, the quality and safety of the service, and the potential for discrimination against those of us who travel with service animals.
 
In 2014, the membership of the American Council of the Blind, led by the members of one of the ACB’s largest special interest affiliates, Guide Dog Users, Inc., adopted a resolution at the ACB’s 2014 Conference and Convention, calling on the ACB (with input from Guide Dog Users, Inc.) to research these new transportation services and to prepare a white paper, explaining how the new products work and the extent to which they meet the needs of ACB’s and GDUI’s members
 
Within the body of this paper, we will define the term “Transportation Networking Companies”, provide examples of services being provided by TNC’s, discuss how these services differ from more traditional taxicab services, explore the extent to which these services are geared to meet the needs of ACB and GDUI members, discuss “pro’s” and “con’s” of this service model for people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled, and then close with resources for additional information.

What is a Transportation Network Company?

A Transportation Network Company (TNC) is a company that uses Internet-based technology (typically a smart phone app) to link individuals selling transportation (drivers) with individuals who need transportation (customers). Uber, Lyft and Sidecar are perhaps the most well known of the TNC’s, but others include Wingz, Summon and Haxi. Some larger taxi and retail transportation providers have also created on-line technologies which enable customers to access networks of drivers directly. Examples of these tools include ZTrip (available in a number of major taxi markets across the country) and Rideshare (available primarily in the Phoenix metropolitan area).

How Do Services Provided by TNC’s Work?

The products offered by each of the TNC’s differ slightly, but in general, the TNC uses software (usually a smart phone app) to connect drivers with customers. Here’s how.

  • The TNC recruits individuals to serve as drivers. Drivers must provide a vehicle that meets minimum requirements established by the company and pass the company’s insurance, background and training requirements.
  • Once qualified as a driver, the driver downloads software which enables his/her vehicle (when logged in) to be visible to the company’s software.
  • In order to receive transportation requests from customers, the driver must:

     

    • Create a profile within the system that generally includes the driver’s name, and the year, make and model of the driver’s vehicle. Some TNC’s also require drivers to create a more robust profile that will help to better match customers and drivers.
    • Log into the software so that the driver’s location is visible to the technology and to any customer whose trip the driver agrees to provide.
    • When logged in, be available to accept trips requested by customers.
  • The TNC advertises its product to customers—often using on-line marketing, social media, etc. In order to receive service, customers must:

     

    • Download the company’s software/app
    • Create a profile that includes the customer’s name, a picture (usually optional), and credit or debit card information which enables the customer’s trips to be billed by the TNC.
  • Taking a trip on a service like Uber, Lyft, Sidecar or one of the other TNC-provided products generally works as follows:

     

    • The customer opens the app on his/her smart phone.
    • The app uses the smart phone’s location to pinpoint the customer’s location. This location is generally fairly accurate, but the apps allow the customer to correct or revise the actual location, thereby improving the accuracy of the customer’s location.
    • Once the app pinpoints the customer’s location, the app calculates the distance from the customer to the nearest driver who is currently logged in and available. Most of these apps allow customers to set parameters which will help to ensure that the vehicle will be appropriate to meet the customer’s needs. For example: Uber and Lyft allow customers to request a larger vehicle for parties of four or more. Some of these apps (such as ZTrip) show all of the vehicles who are available within a given geographic region as a means of letting the customer know how many vehicles might be available at the time the customer wishes to travel. (Drivers who are not logged in, and drivers who are currently providing other trips are not considered when determining the closest driver to the customer’s location. This ensures that customers have a more realistic idea of the vehicles which are actually available at any given time.)
    • Once the app pinpoints the customer’s location and that of the nearest driver (or drivers), the customer can use the app to request a trip.
    • Once the customer requests a trip, the app offers the trip to the nearest appropriate driver (based on the customer’s location and any parameters such as vehicle size). The driver who receives the offered trip can accept the trip or decline it for any reason. Reasons that a driver might refuse a trip include, but are not limited to: distance to the customer, or a low customer rating (described later in this paper).
    • Once the driver accepts the customer’s trip request, the app informs the customer and provides the driver’s name, the driver’s picture, a picture of the driver’s vehicle and information about the driver’s vehicle. The customer is also given the ability to call or text the driver. Some of the apps also provide access to the driver’s profile.
    • As the driver proceeds toward the customer, the built-in map shows the location of customer and driver, and the app provides the driver’s estimated time of arrival (ETA).
    • At any point prior to the driver’s arrival, the customer or the driver can cancel the trip. However, some of the apps will charge a fee if the customer cancels the trip.
    • Once the vehicle arrives, the app notifies the customer (usually with a push notification and a text message. At this point, the customer is expected to immediately board the vehicle for his/her trip. Drivers are expected to wait a reasonable amount of time, and generally, drivers will wait because they have already invested time to get to the customer. However, if a customer does not show up for the trip, the driver may be entitled to a trip cancellation fee, and the driver will almost certainly provide a poor rating for the customer.
    • Once the trip begins, the app tracks the time and distance of the trip. This becomes the basis for charging the customer for service.
    • At the end of the trip, the driver presses a button on his/her phone, ending the trip, and the customer exits the vehicle.
    • Unlike traditional taxicab service, customers do not pay their drivers. Instead, the app charges the customer’s account which is linked to a credit or debit card provided by the customer. The customer can add a tip and provide comments which are given to the driver anonymously. The driver also has the opportunity to rate the customer.
  • A key feature of products like Uber and Lyft is the ability of drivers to rate customers and customers to rate drivers. For example: a Lyft customer is invited to rate each driver on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best) and to provide specific comments to the driver. Customers can comment on the driver’s safety, navigation, vehicle condition, etc. Customer comments are presented anonymously. Drivers are also invited to rate customers. Ratings may be based on the customer’s promptness, courtesy, etc. If a customer rates his/her driver below a pre-determined threshold (on Lyft, it is 3 stars or fewer), that customer’s trips will never be given to the same driver again. This is also true for any driver who rates a customer below the same pre-determined threshold. These ratings are designed to encourage better quality by drivers and better behavior by customers.

How TNC’s are Different from Traditional Taxi and Other Transportation Companies

Many taxi companies have introduced their own software that enables customers to use their PC’s and smart phones to request trips, to monitor the progress of their drivers, and to pay for service. This fact gtends to blur the lines between services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar on the one hand and services like GoFastCab and Curb on the other. The key difference is that taxi companies who use services like Curb and Go Fast Cab maintain contractual agreements with their drivers (generally in the form of a vehicle lease), but companies like Uber and Lyft do not. Drivers for TNC’s provide their own vehicles and merely agree to meet the TNC’s minimum requirements in order to receive trips. In fact, many drivers for TNC’s operate service for other TNC’s and/or for other transportation companies. It is not unusual to find drivers who spend a portion of their time leasing a taxi and driving for a traditional taxi company, only to spend additional time using their own vehicle to work for one or more TNC’s.

What Does Service Provided by TNC’s Cost?

The cost of service provided by TNC’s vary, but typically, services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar cost less than traditional taxicab service. In fact, in some markets, the difference in price may be as much as 30%. However, some of the TNC’s use what is generally referred to as “surge pricing”. Surge pricing means that prices can go higher at times when demand for service is high. (Surge prices may range from slightly more than standard rates to several times higher than standard rates, so it is important to know what the surge pricing rules for the TNC are before proceeding.) When surge pricing is in effect, TNC apps like Uber and Lyft will generally advise the customer so that he/she can make an informed decision about whether or not to book the trip.

Are Services Provided by TNC’s Accessible to People with Disabilities?

The accessibility of services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar is a mixed bag. Here’s why.

  • The accessibility of the apps varies by product and depending on the operating system used, e.g. VoiceOver for Apple devices vs. speech products available for Android phones. In general, the apps for Uber and Lyft are relatively accessible. Map functionality is not great, but the text-based elements of the apps work well—including the vehicle’s ETA.
  • Vehicle accessibility varies widely, both by product and by city. For example: Uber has launched wheelchair accessible services in several markets, including New York City, Washington DC and elsewhere. However, comments on a number of accessibility-related blogs indicate that Uber’s definition of wheelchair access is not universal and may not meet all accessibility provisions of the ADA.
  • Service animals are welcome, but some individuals who use service animals have experienced discrimination by drivers who don’t want to transport service animals. (Uber has been called out specifically, and the NFB has filed a suit against Uber on this issue.) (Of course, guide dog handlers have experienced similar discrimination from taxi drivers, and it is arguable that the driver rating systems employed by companies like Uber and Lyft may actually give customers who use service animals more leverage to ensure better access for themselves and their guides.)

One of the challenges that customers with disabilities face when using services like Sidecar, Lyft and Uber is what to do when there is a problem. Information regarding how to file a complaint or a claim of discrimination is available via the web but not readily available from the apps. The accessibility-related information is a bit difficult to find on-line. Uber’s website indicates that accessible service is available in some locations, but the text is somewhat vague. When discussing the access to accessible vehicles, Lyft presents a list, organized by city, of other companies that customers can contact for accessible service, leading to the logical conclusion that Lyft really has little or no wheelchair accessible service to offer. Finally, on-line information regarding each company’s policy on guide dogs and other service animals is hard to find and somewhat vague. (In general, service animal and other accessibility-related information is buried in the “Help” section of each company’s website, and it is not available via each company’s app.) Therefore, it is a good idea to have these sites bookmarked in your smart phone’s Internet browser—just in case.

What are the “Pro’s” and “Con’s” of Services Like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar?

  • Pro – TNC’s generally cost less than traditional taxi service. The exception is when surge pricing is in effect.
  • Pro – Services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar allow customers to pay without having to present cash or a credit card. This is not only convenient. It also makes the trip quicker, gets around the inaccessibility of most of the in-vehicle taxi equipment currently in use across the country, and promotes the safety of passengers and drivers who do not have to store or handle cash.
  • Pro – TNC apps tend to be relatively accessible, and they provide critical information such as the drivers’ name, contact information for the driver, information about the vehicle and the driver’s ETA.
  • Pro – Service quality tends to be at least as good as with that offered by traditional taxicabs. This is because customers rate drivers, and drivers rate customers.
  • Pro – Although some drivers may discriminate against people using service animals, most guide dog handlers who use both services report that discrimination is more prevalent on taxicabs.
  • Con – At times, the cost of services like Uber and Lyft may be higher, due to surge pricing.
  • Con – If service is busy, it may not be possible to book a trip at all.
  • Con – If a customer needs an accessible vehicle, it may be difficult to obtain one from services like Lyft, Sidecar and Uber. (This may also be true for most taxi companies.)

Are Services of the TNC’s Legal?

In most markets, traditional taxicab services are heavily regulated. However, in most markets, regulations are not set up to govern services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. Thus, the regulatory environment is less defined, and it is evolving. Generally, customers are not responsible for the legal compliance of these services. However, a customer’s ability to sue or recover damages from a TNC may be impacted by the regulatory environment. Thus, while the legal environment may not impact the cost or quality of service, it may impact the customer’s rights when something goes a rye.

For More Information

  • Uber – https://www.uber.com
  • Lyft – https://www.lyft.com
  • Sidecar - https://www.side.cr/

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