by Jerry Annunzio
On February 17, 2002, in Houston, Texas the American Council of the Blind board of directors took action. By a majority vote the board selected a new ACB logo. After five years and more than 60 different versions, the logo selected is a perfectly round circle. With this new logo the world will know that we are a close-knit group of diverse people who will roll over indifference and bigotry, while at the same time inviting in all those who will fight for the rights of blind and visually impaired people everywhere. The Description
Our new logo has been described variously as a doughnut, a Life Saver, or an automobile tire. However some people experience it, it is a series of circles one inside the other, representing our never-ending quest to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.
The following description will help you get an idea of what our logo looks like. Soon it will appear on all ACB letterhead, and on the ACB web site, and it already graces the outside cover of this month's large-print edition of "The Braille Forum." Remember, this logo will find itself represented on a lapel pin only one-half inch across and painted on the side of a truck several feet across. When painted or printed the dark lines and circles will be our normal royal blue on a white background.
Starting with the outermost circle and working toward the center, the outside circle is a thin dark line that encloses a white space of about one-eighth inch. The next circle is a one- inch-wide dark band, within which, arching across the top, within the dark band, are the words, "AMERICAN COUNCIL" written in white capital letters. At the bottom are the words, "OF THE BLIND," again all in white capital letters. In the dark space on the left and right sides separating these two groups of words is an arching white line about two and a half inches long. Then moving toward the center is the second one-eighth-inch white space enclosed by another thin dark line.
Now we have reached the large white center area within which appear the dark-blue capital letters, "ACB." Under each print letter is the braille sign for that letter. This is the first time braille has been a part of our official logo in this writer's memory.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is our new ACB logo. After several years of hard work and many compromises, we have a logo that is not an eyeball but does represent our people and ideas. Most of all, it is an easily recognizable symbol for all to enjoy.