Table of Contents
- Summary of 1995 Resolutions
- Resolution 95-01 - Calling for Movie Studios to Fund Video Description
- Resolution 95-02 - Calling upon Commercial Television Networks and Cable Companies to Make Use of the SAP Technology in Providing Descriptive Video
- Resolution 95-04 - Establishing ACB’s Position on Job Services Consolidation
- Resolution 95-05 - Calling for the Protection and Maintenance of Sub-Carrier Frequencies for Use of Radio Reading Services and Advocating for Assignment of Additional Frequencies
- Resolution 95-06 - Calling for Opposition to the Position Paper of the National Council on Independent Living Concerning Job Services Consolidation Issues
- Resolution 95-07 - Calling on Congress to Continue the Practice of Purchasing from the Blind and Severely Handicapped
- Resolution 95-08 - Calling for the United States Senate to Maintain the Linkage between Earnings Levels for Senior Citizens and Blind Persons as These Earnings Refer to the Receipt of Social Security
- Resolution 95-10 - Calling on the Veterans Administration to Provide Presumptive Services Connected Eligibility for Blinded Veterans under Circumstances Similar to Those Applied with Regard to Other Disability Groups
- Resolution 95-11 - Establishing ACB’s Position on Access to Stairs
- Resolution 95-13 - Calling for Detectable Warnings Where Pedestrian Ways Intersect Vehicular Ways
- Resolution 95-14 - Expresses Abhorrence at Views Recently Expressed in "Vendorscope," But Expresses Support for Corrective Actions Taken by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
- Resolution 95-15 - Establishing ACB Policy Concerning the Need to Adapt the Built Environment in Achieving Universal Design While Accommodating Those Who Are Blind or Who Have Low Vision as Opposed to Depending Too Heavily on Auxiliary Aids and Services
- Resolution 95-16 - Establishing ACB Policy on Parameters of Standards Required in Order to Achieve Universal Access
- Resolution 95-17 - Placing a Guide Dog User on the Convention Committee
- Resolution 95-18 - Expression of Opposition to a Braille Code Which Would Employ More Than One Numbering System Unless Certain Conditions Are Met
- Resolution 95-19 - Expression of Support for Accessible Information Kiosks
- Resolution 95-20 - Support for Adding Braille Literacy Issues as IDEA Legislation Is Re-Authorized
Summary of 1995 Resolutions
Twenty-four resolutions were considered by the committee, with numbers assigned to 23 of them. It is, of course, ACB established procedure that all resolutions submitted must come to the floor unless the maker voluntarily withdraws a resolution.
Resolution 95-12 was withdrawn by the maker, which was the Environmental Access Committee. This committee felt that the subject matter of 95-12 was adequately covered by Resolutions 95- 15 and 95-16.
The Utah Council of the Blind also submitted a resolution which they then withdrew prior to a number having been assigned. In this situation also, the Utah official representatives felt that the subject matter of their resolution was adequately addressed by Resolutions 95-04 and 95-06.
All other resolutions were advanced to the convention floor with a recommendation of due pass from the Resolutions Committee. Resolutions 95-03 and 95-09, however, were defeated on the convention floor by the ACB membership on close but clear and unchallenged voice votes.
Resolutions 95-21, 95-22 and 95-23, which commend the convention hotels, host affiliate and the volunteers who assisted with the convention, are not reprinted here. Copies of these resolutions may be obtained from the ACB national office.
Resolution 95-01
Calling for Movie Studios to Fund Video Description
WHEREAS, MCA/Universal, in cooperation with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, was the first Hollywood studio to provide funding for video description of a major motion picture, Schindler’s List; and
WHEREAS, video description provides people who are blind or visually impaired increased access to films and popular entertainment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization urge all movie studios to fund the video description of all major films.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-02
Calling upon Commercial Television Networks and Cable Companies to Make Use of the SAP Technology in Providing Descriptive Video
WHEREAS, the technology is now available for video description of television broadcasts via the Second Audio Program (SAP); and
WHEREAS, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has proven the feasibility of video description for increasing access for people who are blind or visually impaired;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization urge all commercial television networks and major cable companies to include video description as a standard programming feature.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-04
Establishing ACB’s Position on Job Services Consolidation
WHEREAS, S. 143 is pending in the United States Senate, and H.R. 1617 is pending in the United States House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, although progress has recently been achieved in persuading Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee members and staff to propose that Title I of the Rehabilitation Act, and, thereby, certain specialized services for persons who are blind, remain reasonably identifiable and autonomous within the planned seamless system, H.R. 1617 continues to threaten the existence of specialized or categorical services for persons who are blind; and
WHEREAS, persons who are blind or visually impaired receive lesser quantity and quality of services from generic or umbrella agencies than they do from agencies which specialize in blindness;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 4th day of July, 1995, that this organization vehemently oppose any efforts of the United States Congress and President to incorporate Title I of the Rehabilitation Act into any one-stop job services center, seamless system, or other job services consolidation concept; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization urge the retention of categorical services and the continuation of separate and easily identifiable points of access and entry for specialized services.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-05
Calling for the Protection and Maintenance of Sub-Carrier Frequencies for Use of Radio Reading Services and Advocating for Assignment of Additional Frequencies
WHEREAS, the ability to acquire information through the printed word is one of the major losses incurred by persons who are blind or visually impaired; and
WHEREAS, Radio Reading Services, for over 25 years, have filled this information gap by providing timely information through the reading of newspapers and periodicals, and providing other relevant informational programming via the sub-carriers of FM radio stations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 3rd day of July, 1995, that this organization urge that, when adopting standards for digital radio, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assure that these standards retain, at the least, the capabilities and data-carrying capacity of the analog FM sub-carrier and assure continued viability of SCA programming at no financial hardship to the current lessee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization urge the FCC to consider setting aside an affordable and viable radio frequency or frequencies whereby Radio Reading Services and similar organizations can disseminate relevant and needed information to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-06
Calling for Opposition to the Position Paper of the National Council on Independent Living Concerning Job Services Consolidation Issues
WHEREAS, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has published and widely circulated a position paper concerning the issue of job services consolidation; and
WHEREAS, that document recommends that funding for all separate Commissions and Divisions for serving blind persons be integrated into general vocational rehabilitation state agency programs; and
WHEREAS, the NCIL’s paper recommends that all sheltered workshops be closed; and
WHEREAS, the paper further recommends the incorporation of independent living programs for older blind Americans into programs serving all disabled senior citizens; and
WHEREAS, NCIL-affiliated agencies were initially, and remain, very poorly prepared to meet the independent living needs of older blind individuals; and
WHEREAS, independent living advocates involved in crafting the original Title VII provisions in the Rehabilitation Act acknowledged the difficulties in meeting the specialized needs of persons who are blind, thus resulting in the original inclusion of Title VII(c), now Title II programming; and
WHEREAS, NCIL takes a position that virtually all services should be available through vouchers and should be purchased only from vendors identified on an approved list;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 4th day of July, 1995, that this organization expresses its feeling of betrayal that an entity with whom we have worked closely in the past such as NCIL would oppose choices clearly made by blind and visually impaired persons by suggesting that those persons and the organizations which represent them should be denied the right to choose the entities by which they are served; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the quantity and quality of services received by persons who are blind or visually impaired through generic agencies which purport to offer specialized services within the context of a larger structure are very often profoundly inferior to those services offered by entities who specialize in the blindness and visual impairment fields; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization finds the NCIL position contradictory in that it would cause over 6,000 blind men and women who work for National Industries for the Blind-affiliated facilities to become unemployed in the name of independence, progress, and full inclusion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization advises NCIL that informed choice is achieved only when specialized consultation is offered and cannot occur when the consumer is provided merely a voucher and a list of approved vendors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization formally requests NCIL to publicly retract its positions as addressed herein.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-07
Calling on Congress to Continue the Practice of Purchasing from the Blind and Severely Handicapped
WHEREAS, the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act provides a structure whereby the United States government is able to purchase goods in needed quantities and at competitive prices while making it possible, through National Industries for the Blind (NIB) for, currently, over 6,000 Americans who are blind to be employed; and
WHEREAS, it is the clear intent of Congress to downsize military procurement operations, including the closure of commissaries and supply depots; and
WHEREAS, similarly, several bills pending in Congress concerning the General Services Administration (GSA), would downsize or discontinue the operation of this federal agency, with federal procurement being achieved through the use of federal credit cards which allow procurement officials much greater latitude to choose to buy from whatever vendors they desire; and
WHEREAS, the two largest customers purchasing products and services manufactured or provided through JWOD are the military and the GSA; and
WHEREAS, there is no solid evidence that the federal government will save taxpayers' monies by giving thousands of federal employees, who often have not previously had such authority, credit cards with instructions to make purchases as deemed appropriate; and
WHEREAS, in areas where quantity procurement has been discontinued due to downsizing or closing of military supply depots and GSA facilities, federal officials are already in negotiation with the private sector to procure shipments of large quantities of goods and services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 4th day of July, 1995, that this organization oppose any discontinuation or downsizing of the General Services Administration, military commissaries, or GSA and military warehouses, distribution centers and supply depots which would lessen capacity for purchase from NIB-affiliated facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization urge Congress, and such administrative regulatory bodies as may ultimately, after congressional and presidential action, have responsibility for federal procurement, to insure that a system will continue to exist whereby the federal government will purchase products in quantity from NIB-affiliated facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, as the private sector becomes more involved in quantity federal procurement, this organization urge that prime vendor contracts issued to private for-profit entities contain provisions which require sub-contractual arrangements with NIB-affiliated facilities.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-08
Calling for the United States Senate to Maintain the Linkage between Earnings Levels for Senior Citizens and Blind Persons as These Earnings Refer to the Receipt of Social Security
WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives has passed the Older Americans Equity Act, which would significantly increase the earnings limit used in determining the amount of Social Security benefits; and
WHEREAS, the above referenced legislation breaks the legally established linkage between benefits earnings thresholds for persons ages 65 through 69 from those applied to persons who are blind, thereby allowing earnings thresholds to rise for older Americans while not allowing identical work incentives for persons who are blind; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the Older Americans Equity Act without the inclusion of the linkage of earnings thresholds for older Americans with those applicable to persons who are blind would be tantamount to making blind persons second-class citizens regarded as unworthy of enhanced incentives for work; and
WHEREAS, while arguments advanced against linkage by members of Congress have largely centered around cost factors, cost estimates provided by the Congressional Budget Office do not consider the additional tax revenues generated by the employment of blind and visually impaired persons;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization express support for the Older Americans Equity Act as it proceeds through the Senate only if the linkage between earnings limits for seniors and people who are blind or visually impaired is restored in the legislation.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-10
Calling on the Veterans Administration to Provide Presumptive Services Connected Eligibility for Blinded Veterans under Circumstances Similar to Those Applied with Regard to Other Disability Groups
WHEREAS, 38 USC 1112 allows an award of service connection for any chronic disease becoming manifest to ten percent or more degree within one year after discharge from active military duty; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs has written regulations in 38 CFR 3.307(a) stating that “No condition other than one listed in 3.309(a) will be considered chronic;” and
WHEREAS, 38 CFR 3.309(a) lists 41 diseases, but not a single one of these are eye diseases; and
WHEREAS, the Disabled Veterans of America (DVA) Office of General Counsel, in Precedent Opinion 1-90, held that “Service connection may be established pursuant to 38 CFR 3.309(a) when a hereditary or familial disease first becomes manifest to a compensable degree within the presumptive period following discharge from service provided the rebuttable presumption provisions of 3.307 are satisfied;” and
WHEREAS, the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Offices still routinely deny service connection on a presumptive basis for chronic eye diseases not specifically listed in 38 CFR 3.309; and
WHEREAS, there are dozens of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, chorioretinitis, and choroiditis, which usually have no symptoms for months or years from onset; and
WHEREAS, the arbitrary list of chronic diseases allowed for presumptive service connection is clearly not in conformity with 38 USC 1112, which allows presumptive service connection for any disease; and
WHEREAS, the DVA list of allowable chronic diseases clearly discriminates against veterans with a chronic eye disease by not placing any eye disease on the list in 38 CFR 3.309(a);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization joins its special interest affiliate, the Visually Impaired Veterans of America, in supporting and pursuing change in 38 CFR 3.307(a) to remove the statement “No condition other than ones listed in 3.309(a) will be considered chronic;” and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the above noted organizations support change in 38 CFR 3.309(a) to include the statement “Any chronic eye diseases with insidious onset such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, chorioretinitis, or choroiditis.”
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-11
Establishing ACB’s Position on Access to Stairs
WHEREAS, many persons who are newly blind or whose vision fluctuates have periodic difficulty identifying descending stairs or experience difficulty with visual detection of the edges of stairs; and
WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind, its Environmental Access Committee, and its affiliate, the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, are often called upon to render opinions concerning standards for the built environment set by such organizations as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization join with its Environmental Access Committee and its affiliate, the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, in advocating the following standard with regard to stairs in the interior and outdoor built environments:
- At least a two-foot strip surface of contrasting texture and 70 percent contrasting color should be placed at the top of flights of stairs and located no more than two feet before the first step; and
- A two-inch strip on the nose, with at least 70 percent contrasting color, should be placed at the edge of each step.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-13
Calling for Detectable Warnings Where Pedestrian Ways Intersect Vehicular Ways
WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has long advocated for detectable warnings adjacent to hazardous areas; and
WHEREAS, a “statement of work meeting,” sponsored by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board) and Project Action reached consensus that, where a curb ramp or level curb exists, a 24-inch detectable warning strip must be placed immediately adjacent to vehicular ways in order to indicate for persons who are blind the precise location of the intersection of a pedestrian way and a vehicular way;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization advocate the standard set forth in this resolution.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-14
Expresses Abhorrence at Views Recently Expressed in "Vendorscope," But Expresses Support for Corrective Actions Taken by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
WHEREAS, the federal government and 45 states have enacted laws under which legally blind persons are provided with priority to operate vending facilities on government property; and
WHEREAS, these legislative provisions prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin or religion; and
WHEREAS, there are a growing number of successful women and minority vendors in the Randolph-Sheppard vending program; and
WHEREAS, the editor of the "Vendorscope," in the spring issue, Vol. 26, 1995, No. 1, in an article entitled, "Inclusion of Women in the Randolph-Sheppard Program — BEP Directors Survey," made the editorial comment:
"This survey will eventually bring beneficial results for both male and female blind persons/vendors nationwide. The statistics should generate interest for vendors who may wish to transfer to another state with job openings — but lack local blind interests or talent. Subsequently, most of this survey may be worth including in the annual Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Business Enterprise Program Survey — including a possible addendum of 'Reasons and Explanations.' Also, be aware [sic] that some white males (WASPS's) may have already felt the psychological crunch of unfair inroads — made by blacks, women, minorities, etc. — the past thirty years. Another interesting category could show female vendors who manage their facilities more by emotion than business sense. (Yeh … I know! As you read this, I'm probably already in hot water with you-know-who — my boss. The truth can be tough!! If I survive this one, look for an update in your June issue of 'The Vendorscope.');" and
WHEREAS, the editorial comments of the editor of the “Vendorscope” are discriminatory, demeaning, and deplorable, communicating negative stereotypes, thereby making the “Vendorscope” comments an outrageous insult to all Americans, and in particular, to members of the American Council of the Blind; and
WHEREAS, the logo on the cover of the "Vendorscope" makes mention of "BLIND BUSINESSMEN BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA," and ignores the contributions made nationwide by women vendors; and
WHEREAS, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, in its resolution adopted July 4, 1995, acknowledges by its own admission the gravity of the reprehensible nature of the aforementioned editorial;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization joins with its National Committee on Minority Affairs and its National Committee for Women's Concerns in expressing its absolute abhorrence of the views and attitudes expressed in the aforementioned article; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization express support for the efforts of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America in continuing its efforts to insure corrective actions concerning the article in question as well as future publications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization express support for the change in logo adopted at the 1995 convention of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, whereby their logo will now read, "BLIND BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN BUILDING A BETTER AMERICA."
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-15
Establishing ACB Policy Concerning the Need to Adapt the Built Environment in Achieving Universal Design While Accommodating Those Who Are Blind or Who Have Low Vision as Opposed to Depending Too Heavily on Auxiliary Aids and Services
WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has long supported the concept of universal design within the built environment in order to accommodate the needs of a large percentage of the overall disability population; and
WHEREAS, entities such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board) continue to modify standards in an attempt to accommodate more and more specialized needs; and
WHEREAS, often for persons who are blind or visually impaired, the use of experimental, hypothetical, or impractical technology requiring frequent maintenance, and having low or unproven dependability, is advocated as an alternative to true modification of the built environment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization continue to, without reservation, endorse research and development relating to personal devices, auxiliary aids, and retrofit assistive technologies which provide information about the environment for persons who are blind or visually impaired, but take a firm position that unproven, unreliable or inadequate technology not be accepted as a replacement or substitute for actual modification of the built environment as a means of providing access through universal design.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-16
Establishing ACB Policy on Parameters of Standards Required in Order to Achieve Universal Access
WHEREAS, proposals have come before the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to lower maximum height standards relating to "access to elements and spaces;" and
WHEREAS, excessive lowering of such height standards, including but not limited to braille and contrasting large print signage or accessible automatic teller machines, would seriously limit access for persons who are blind or visually impaired;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization inform the ANSI that significant lowering of maximum height provisions for access to elements and spaces would create hardships and violate the concept of universal design for people who use braille or tactile print signage, who use braille labels placed on other elements of the built environment, who must access information at close proximity due to low vision, and for people experiencing other conditions which prevent bending; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that although this organization continues to support universal design as a concept, it takes note that limits exist in the parameters of universal design as it relates to single height standards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization thus urge, where numerous special needs cannot be addressed by a single height standard, dual placement of features of access to elements and spaces, adjustable height features, or other suitable alternatives which insure access for people who are blind and visually impaired be adopted.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-17
Placing a Guide Dog User on the Convention Committee
WHEREAS, the membership of Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) is concerned with the work, maintenance, and effective participation of guide dog teams in all phases of the ACB national convention; and
WHEREAS, GDUI has worked continuously with the Convention Coordinator and Convention Committee to resolve numerous issues which have arisen as the number of guide dog handlers attending conventions has increased throughout its years of affiliation with the American Council of the Blind; and
WHEREAS, GDUI expresses its appreciation for the quality of cooperation it has developed with the Convention Coordinator and Convention Committee, yet believes that its needs would be even better represented by the addition of a guide dog user serving on the Convention Committee;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization directs that a GDUI member in good standing be appointed by the ACB President, with the concurrence of the GDUI Board of Directors, as a liaison and spokesperson for guide dog users during all phases of planning convention activities.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-18
Expression of Opposition to a Braille Code Which Would Employ More Than One Numbering System Unless Certain Conditions Are Met
WHEREAS, the effort to develop a Unified Braille Code (UBC) was begun by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and is now a project of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB); and
WHEREAS, Committee II, which was charged with creating a base code for the UBC, has submitted its final report to ICEB; and
WHEREAS, the Braille Revival League (BRL) has studied the report as recommended by Committee II and adopted for evaluation purposes by ICEB; and
WHEREAS, BRL recognizes that the adoption of a Unified Braille Code using braille numbers represented in the upper portion of the cell would make immediately obsolete all books and other materials in computer science, chemistry, and mathematics; and
WHEREAS, BRL has noted references to upper numbers as being the “primary” numbering system for the UBC, indicating the reality that the UBC will need to have two numbering systems, as we have today; and
WHEREAS, the need for a secondary numbering system runs counter to the idea of a Unified Braille Code; and
WHEREAS, both BANA and the ICEB have consistently declined to consider a field comparison of upper, lower and dotsix (French) numbers for evaluation purposes; and
WHEREAS, given the many questions raised by an upper numbering system, such as excessive use of space, inability to align material when necessary, etc., it seems reasonable to explore the merits of a similar approach to a Unified Braille Code using an alternative numbering system; and
WHEREAS, BRL is aware that the National Braille Association (NBA) has expressed grave concerns regarding the implementation of this code before and after the adoption by ICEB of the Committee II report for evaluation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization join with its affiliate, the Braille Revival League, to go on record in opposition to a code that would employ more than one numbering system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization go on record with BRL in opposition to the portions of the Committee II report that recommend a base code that employs an upper numbering system and symbol assignments that lead to the creation of cumbersome braille for general and specialized readers alike, unless it is agreed that BANA and ICEB sponsor broadly based field testing of numeric systems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be appropriately disseminated.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-19
Expression of Support for Accessible Information Kiosks
WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind recognizes the need for equal information access for persons who are blind or visually impaired; and
WHEREAS, such access is synonymous with first-class citizenship; and
WHEREAS, recent evaluations of simulated accessible public information systems by blind consumers at the Trace Center Info Curbcuts exhibit have demonstrated that these systems can be successfully modified with currently available technology;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization join its Environmental Access Committee in issuing the strongest possible criticism to the designers, manufacturers and government agencies responsible for the current proliferation of non-accessible public information kiosks and other such touch screen based information technology; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization urge that such entities stop resisting implementation, acknowledge results of the work of the Trace Center, and comply with access requirements as set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act by incorporating accessible information kiosk technology into all existing and future public information systems.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary
Resolution 95-20
Support for Adding Braille Literacy Issues as IDEA Legislation Is Re-Authorized
WHEREAS, the United States Congress is in the process of re-authorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); and
WHEREAS, recent amendments by Representative Traficant (D-Ohio) have been submitted relating to braille instruction and assessment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at Greensboro, North Carolina, this 8th day of July, 1995, that this organization strongly support the concept of "braille presumption" embodied in these amendments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization also endorse the provision of a braille literacy assessment plan and the requirement that instructors of braille be qualified and certified.
Adopted.
Patricia L. Price, Secretary