Note: Only the summaries are published on this page. Should the entire document become available at a later date, this page will be updated.
Summary of 2001 ACB Resolutions
This publication reflects adopted ACB resolutions only. ACB resolutions which were referred, tabled, or withdrawn are not included in this publication. This accounts for the missing numbers.)
Resolution 2001-01 urges state affiliates of the American Council of the Blind to work with their state insurance commissioners and state legislatures to insure availability of automobile liability insurance for blind automobile owners at competitive rates. Staff is directed to assist with implementation.
Resolution 2001-02 commends the staff of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) for opposing those judicial nominees whose records indicate a strong likelihood that their judicial decisions would be detrimental to the civil rights of Americans who are blind or visually impaired, and cites the nomination of Jeffrey D. Sutton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit as an example of a recent nomination which ACB finds it necessary to oppose.
Resolution 2001-03 directs that the ACB 2002 convention program include a general session program item addressing the issues of Braille unification.
Resolution 2001-04 supports the passage of S. 928, and promotes development and passage of either amendments to S. 928 or a separate bill modeled on the concept and language of S. 928 which will redress the negative impact of the Supreme Court’s Garrett decision by requiring that state governments receiving federal financial assistance must, as a condition of entitlement to receive such assistance, affirmatively consent to being sued in federal court for money damages for alleged violations of Title I of the ADA.
Resolution 2001-06 calls on the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the U.S Department of Education and the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) to bring to the attention of the White House and the Domestic Policy Council, the unacceptable conduct of Department of Veterans Affairs personnel in failing to comply with the priority provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act as amended by forestalling implementation of management directive 7632. The resolution also calls upon state affiliates of ACB to demand that state licensing agencies for blind vendors apply for permits to operate vending facilities in appropriate and economically viable VA cations.
Resolution 2001-07 notes that ACB has adopted 13 principles for rehabilitation which it urges the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the state agencies that receive federal funding from the RSA, to adopt; demands that Joanne M. Wilson, who is President Bush’s nominee for the post of Commissioner of RSA, actively support the 13 principles as a part of her confirmation process, and in the event Ms. Wilson will not agree to the 13 principles, directs that ACB oppose the confirmation of Ms. Wilson.
Resolution 2001-10 notes that the staff of ACB has undertaken to draft a proposed model state law which would provide waiver of the state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity, and compel the state to consent to be sued for money damages in actions brought under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and calls upon ACB’s state affiliates to seek introduction, and passage, of the proposed model state law, in their respective states.
Resolution 2001-11 commends the adoption of strong disability access standards which include rigorous requirements for information access and other technology-based access accommodations for people who are blind or visually impaired, and encourages aggressive monitoring of the complaint investigation, determination, and enforcement processes required of the various federal procuring agencies affected by the new 508 regulations.
Resolution 2001-12 urges state affiliates of the American Council of the Blind, and their chapters, to initiate ongoing dialogue with county election supervisors, county commissioners, state election officials, secretaries of state, and, when appropriate, state legislators, for the purpose of making changes to insure that accessible voting systems are available in all precincts; and adopts principles setting forth standards for private, independent, and verifiable ballots.
Resolution 2001-13 thanks the Association of American Publishers (AAP) for its partnership and cooperation in achieving consensus and agreement concerning federal legislation which would increase access to elementary and secondary school textbooks and related instructional materials by students with disabilities, and supports passage of the legislation.
Resolution 2001-14 promotes the purpose and value of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and offers the assistance of the American Council of the Blind to its members and affiliates in filing appropriate complaints when telecommunications equipment and services are inaccessible.
Resolution 2001-15 seeks the cooperation and assistance of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in drafting and disseminating model legislation to all 50 states, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of blindness in determining eligibility for, and cost of, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance.
Resolution 2001-16 urges Congress to amend existing copyright law to expand the exemption categories set forth in the Chaffee amendment to include large print as a valid specialized format.
Resolution 2001-17 expresses ACB’s support for the Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001, and sets forth enhancements to the legislation recommended by ACB.
Resolution 2001-18 commends the ACB Advocacy Services Committee and the ACB staff for their efforts to protect the rights of Americans who are blind or visually impaired to receive “equally effective communications" through descriptive video services (DVS) and reaffirms ACB’s decision to commit time and resources to pursue litigation relevant to the protection of these rights.
Resolution 2001-19 outlines changes which ACB will include in its legislative strategy to incorporate into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during its reauthorization.
Resolution 2001-20 supports efforts by the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools to advocate for reasonable exemptions, such as those in place in Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, to permit guide dogs with appropriate identification, regardless of their country of origin, to accompany their blind handlers into, and out of, the United Kingdom.
Resolution 2001-21 promotes adopt ion by the Department of Justice of an amended definition within ADA regulations clarifying the role of animals trained to perform physical tasks to mitigate a person’s disability, and places ACB on record as joining with a number of other advocacy organizations to educate the general public concerning the role of “assistance animals” as well as the rights and responsibilities of their handlers under the ADA.
Resolution 2001-23 supports legislation which mandates that all states must provide, with all deliberate speed, access to private, independent and verifiable ballots for persons who have disabilities, whether the state accepts federal funds for the modernization of election systems and procedures.
Resolution 2001-24 urges the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to convene a task force, which will explore promotional and training avenues to keep the art of transcription of musical notation into Braille alive and growing, and requests that two special interest affiliates of the American Council of the Blind, the Braille Revival League and Friends in Art of ACB, assist ACB and NLS in bringing other major Braille transcription groups into the process of increasing the amount of braille music available
Resolution 2001-205 notes that RSA distributed a letter requiring impartiality in implementation of training required under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, to all RSA Regional Directors, State Licensing Agency Directors, and grantee universities, and calls upon the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitation Services to investigate and take appropriate action with respect to the practices of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in its management of programs and its application of policies as they relate to the Randolph-Sheppard Program.
Resolution 2001-26 supports the definition of active participation proposed by the RandolphSheppard Vendors of America to the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and the Rehabilitation Services Administration.
Resolution 2001-27 places ACB on record as not endorsing the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) until satisfied that wideranging input has been received, considered and evaluated from consumers in North America, opposes adoption of the UEBC if proposed for adoption at the 2003 quadrennial meeting of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), suggests that the adoption of the UEBC should be postponed until the ICEB’s 2007 quadrennial meeting, and urges the board of the ICEB to consider papers prepared by Abraham Nemeth and Christopher Gray, and review the proposals of the Universal Braille System (UBS), before making a decision on a unified code.
Resolution 2001-28 creates a Task Force on Accessible Voting to assist the members of the American Council of the Blind by developing and implementing strategies to insure that people who are blind or visually impaired will have access to a private, independent, and verifiable ballot, and prescribes make-up, duties and timeliness for the task force.
Resolution 2001-29 strongly asserts that, while blindfold training should be an option for blindness rehabilitation training, it should not be a mandatory requirement in all cases, and the refusal to consent to training under blindfold should not automatically result in the termination of facility-based rehabilitation training.
Resolution 2001-30 wholeheartedly thanks and commends the host committee for its fine work in hosting the 2001 ACB national convention.
Resolution 2001-31 expresses thanks and appreciation for the services and accommodations provided to ACB members during the 2001 ACB national convention by the downtown Des Moines hotels, the Polk County Convention Center, the City of Des Moines, and the Des Moines Police Department.
Resolution 2001-32 expresses ACB’s appreciation to all volunteers who worked to assist the attendees of the 2001 ACB national convention.