Blind
mental disabilities

American Council of the Blind

Corrine Ziemann

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is comprised of approximately 70 state chapters and special-interest affiliates representing a diverse range of groups within the blind community, including students, families, teachers, attorneys, governmental employees, entrepreneurs, vending stand operators and the LGBTQ community.

You’re not alone in your journey through vision loss and blindness. American Council of the Blind (ACB) welcomes and accepts you. Guided by its members, ACB advocates for equality of people who are blind and visually impaired, inspires community, and connects you with education, resources, and each other to support your independence.

Several of these organizations, including the state chapters in Missouri and California, pre-date the founding of the ACB itself. This mix of national, state and local grass-roots organizations has helped ACB to create an organizational culture that values acceptance, peer support, diversity, democracy and direct action.

During its nearly 60-year history, ACB has become a leader in national, state, local and even international advocacy efforts. Some of ACB’s advocacy accomplishments have included:

  • Providing direct advocacy and support for hallmark U.S. legislation which has contributed to the independence, dignity and economic opportunities of blind and visually impaired Americans for more than 50 years. Examples include: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, the Fair Housing Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, and many, many more.
  • Partnering with national and international organizations to promote the independence of and economic security for blind and visually impaired people throughout the world. Efforts have included working side by side with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (https://dredf.org/) and others to advocate for the U.S. to adopt the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), active participation in the World Blind Union (www.worldblindunion.org) since its founding in 1984 and the funding of annual participation from international organizations and speakers at each year’s ACB conference and convention.
  • Assisting state chapters, national special-interest affiliates, local chapters and individual members with the resolution of access issues that impact blind and visually impaired people every day. Examples include support of several blind and visually impaired Californians and ACB’s California state chapter to address access to automated teller machines (ATMs), bank statements and other financial services, participation in negotiated settlements with a number of companies resulting in access improvements in areas as diverse as the accessibility of drug labels, the usability of point-of-sale equipment at supermarkets, and the accessibility of program materials distributed by organizations like Weight Watchers and the American Cancer Society.
  • Working directly with major companies to improve the accessibility and usability of their products and services by people who are blind or visually impaired. Examples include: Microsoft Corporation, Google, Apple, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, and many others.
  • Developing topical resources which are helping to drive improvements in areas as diverse as the accessibility of the pedestrian environment, the safety of quiet cars, the usability of adaptive technology and much more. Building on this history, the ACB is striving to lead local, national and world blindness advocacy efforts for many years to come.