AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                       Resolution 90-08  
                ACCESS TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK 
 
     WHEREAS, access to telephones and to the telephone system has
long been and remains a key element in the independence and
productivity of blind or visually-impaired persons; and 

     WHEREAS, recent developments in telecommunications technology
have erected barriers to full use of the telephone network by blind
or visually impaired persons; and 

     WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act, when enacted,
will contain explicit provisions guaranteeing access to the
telephone network for hearing or speech impaired persons; and 

     WHEREAS, the telecommunications industry cannot be relied upon
to assure full access for blind or visually-impaired telephone
users; 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Denver, Colorado, this 6th day of
July, 1990, that this organization instructs its officers,
directors, and staff to seek, through statutory or regulatory
measures, requirements that will mandate and assure full access to
the telephone network by blind and visually impaired persons
through appropriate technologies; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a report be made to the 1991
annual convention of this organization indicating the steps taken
and progress made in achieving the goals set forth in this
resolution.

     This resolution was adopted.

Patricia Price, Secretary                  AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
                        Resolution 90-19
                   TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY 
 
     WHEREAS, telecommunications technology has been very
beneficial to blind persons and persons with vision impairments,
and potential future technologies hold great promise of making
information and interactive communications available for blind
persons; and 

     WHEREAS, new telecommunications services, such as Prodigy,
have already been developed by private enterprises using
communications technology making them inaccessible to blind,
visually impaired, and learning disabled persons; and 

     WHEREAS, there is no federal legislation that requires
telecommunications technology to be accessible to persons with
disabilities; and 

     WHEREAS, the Subcommittee on Telecommunications of the United
States House of Representatives is considering legislation to
restructure the telecommunications industry; 

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the
Blind in convention assembled at Denver, Colorado, this 7th day of
July, 1990, that this organization supports the development of the
public switched network as a telecommunications system designed to
offer electronic communications, transactions, and information
retrieval services to all consumers in a manner that will be fully
accessible, usable, and affordable for consumers with disabilities;
and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind
fully supports the Consumer Safeguard Amendments proposed by the
World Institute on Disability, the Older Women's League, and other
public groups, which include explicit procedures for access to
telecommunications to be provided as a part of basic telephone
service for persons with disabilities and a specific provision that
the national policy of the United States is the creation of an
accessible telephone network.

          This resolution was adopted.

     Patricia Price, Secretary