American Council of the Blind
Encyclopedia
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a nationwide organization in the United States. It is an organization mainly made up of blind
and visually impaired people who want to achieve independence and equality (although there are many sighted members with common aims).
, and the ACB was formed as an alternative to it.
The ACB was also very critical of the National Federation of the Blind which many of its first members had also originally belonged to. Relations between the two organizations have been strained ever since—to the extent that they tend to schedule their conventions at the same time, to deter people from being active in both organizations.
Each year, many of its members gather in a major American city for a convention. (In 2006 it was held in Jacksonville, Florida
and in 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.)
for the blind and has acted to achieve this. It prefers to act through negotiations but its members have taken part in demonstrations, marches, and other public acts to draw attention to the problem. Representatives from the ACB took part in the Solidarity March for labor and the national march in support of the Equal Rights Amendment
for women. They have marched with other disability rights groups down Pennsylvania Avenue
in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The organization gives out scholarships to college students each year.
more accessible
to blind persons. In 2002 the ACB filed a lawsuit
against the U.S. Treasury
alleging it to be in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
on account of the Treasury's "repeated and continuing failures to design and issue paper currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people." http://www.acb.org/press061129.html
The National Federation of the Blind opposed the lawsuit, asserting in its Resolution 2002-25 that "blind people are apt to suffer great harm from the attendant publicity surrounding this suit, fostering and reinforcing the notion that the blind cannot easily handle currency as it now exists and, for example, needlessly creating an albatross
around the neck of any blind person seeking employment in any position involving handling money." http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm02/bm0209/bm020912.htm
On November 28, 2006, Judge James Robertson
, trying the suit in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia
, ruled in the ACB's favor. Judge Robertson directed that a status conference be held in which the Treasury and the ACB would work together to devise a remedy. The Treasury appealed the decision.
On December 12, 2006, the NFB responded to the ruling with a press release asserting that "United States currency does not discriminate against blind people" and calling Judge Robertson's decision "dangerous and wrong." http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=111&SnID=695924276
On May 20, 2008, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
upheld Judge Robertson's decision, ruling 2-1 that the United States does discriminate against blind people because its paper money consists of bills that are all the same size regardless of denomination. The ruling received widespread media coverage.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/washington/20cnd-money.html The government may choose to appeal the decision to the full complement of D.C. Circuit judges, or it may appeal to the Supreme Court.
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
and visually impaired people who want to achieve independence and equality (although there are many sighted members with common aims).
History
The American Council of the Blind was formed out of the dissolution of the Braille Free Press Association in 1961. Braille Free Press had been set up in 1959 and had probably been the widest-read publication for the blind. It was highly critical of the American Foundation for the BlindAmerican Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind is an American non-profit organization that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and...
, and the ACB was formed as an alternative to it.
The ACB was also very critical of the National Federation of the Blind which many of its first members had also originally belonged to. Relations between the two organizations have been strained ever since—to the extent that they tend to schedule their conventions at the same time, to deter people from being active in both organizations.
Membership
The ACB counts its membership in the tens of thousands—including that of its 71 affiliate organizations. Membership is open to any citizen or resident of the USA as well as interested persons in other countries. The ACB says it "welcomes diversity" in its membership and that it "is not restricted in any way."Each year, many of its members gather in a major American city for a convention. (In 2006 it was held in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and in 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.)
Actions
The ACB has worked towards full civil rightsCivil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for the blind and has acted to achieve this. It prefers to act through negotiations but its members have taken part in demonstrations, marches, and other public acts to draw attention to the problem. Representatives from the ACB took part in the Solidarity March for labor and the national march in support of the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
for women. They have marched with other disability rights groups down Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The organization gives out scholarships to college students each year.
Lawsuit to make U.S. currency accessible
One example of the differences between the ACB and NFB concerns the question of making U.S. currencyCurrency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
more accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
to blind persons. In 2002 the ACB filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against the U.S. Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
alleging it to be in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
1973 Rehabilitation Act
The U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors...
on account of the Treasury's "repeated and continuing failures to design and issue paper currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people." http://www.acb.org/press061129.html
The National Federation of the Blind opposed the lawsuit, asserting in its Resolution 2002-25 that "blind people are apt to suffer great harm from the attendant publicity surrounding this suit, fostering and reinforcing the notion that the blind cannot easily handle currency as it now exists and, for example, needlessly creating an albatross
Albatross (metaphor)
The word 'albatross' is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse. It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ....
around the neck of any blind person seeking employment in any position involving handling money." http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm02/bm0209/bm020912.htm
On November 28, 2006, Judge James Robertson
James Robertson (judge)
James Robertson is a United States federal judge serving on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Robertson graduated from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, and received a B.A. from Princeton University in 1959. He served in the United States...
, trying the suit in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
, ruled in the ACB's favor. Judge Robertson directed that a status conference be held in which the Treasury and the ACB would work together to devise a remedy. The Treasury appealed the decision.
On December 12, 2006, the NFB responded to the ruling with a press release asserting that "United States currency does not discriminate against blind people" and calling Judge Robertson's decision "dangerous and wrong." http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=111&SnID=695924276
On May 20, 2008, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
upheld Judge Robertson's decision, ruling 2-1 that the United States does discriminate against blind people because its paper money consists of bills that are all the same size regardless of denomination. The ruling received widespread media coverage.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/washington/20cnd-money.html The government may choose to appeal the decision to the full complement of D.C. Circuit judges, or it may appeal to the Supreme Court.