Unedited Business meeting held virtually during the 2024 ACB Conference and Convention on June 25, 2024 where the following proposed resolutions were read, clarified, debated and voted on:

• Resolution 2024-01 The Use of Shapes and Braille for Labeling Products
• Resolution 2024-15 QR & Bar Code Accessibility
• Resolution 2024-02 NLS and Spelling of Authors’ Names
• Resolution 2024-10 NLS Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Searches

The following Constitution and By-Laws amendments were also read:

• 2024-01 (editorial): To change all instances of "ACB Radio" to "ACB Media"
• 2024-02 align Article XI with the language and intent of Bylaw 6D
• 2024-03 Replacing "voice vote" with "rising vote" and amending the requirements for a record vote
• 2024-04 Removing "or their designee ...."

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Unedited recording of ACB Conference and Convention Call to Order convened via Zoom June 24, 2024, 7:00 EDT

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ACB Next Generation Candidates Forum

ACB Next Generation invites everyone to join us for our first ever Candidates Forum. Come meet and get to know the candidates seeking election for both the ACB Board of Directors and Board of Publications. Sponsored by ACB Next Generation

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20240619 2000 Candidates Forum Originally Broadcasted June 19, 2024, on ACB Media 1 At this year's hybrid convention, members will be electing five positions on our board of directors and three positions on the ACB Board of Publications. The ACB Candidates' Page is where members can learn about the candidates who are running for ACB positions. Join to meet the candidates on ACB Media, to ask questions, and hear their responses.

Candidates' Page is where members can learn about the candidates who are running for ACB positions

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All declared candidates with Candidate Pages for positions to be elected during the 2024 ACB Conference and Convention were invited by the Board of Publications to submit a 30 second campaign spot.

The following candidates submitted spots (in alphabetic order);

• Donna Brown (seeking Board of Directors)
• Belinda Collins (seeking Board of Publications)
• Anthony Corona (seeking Board of Publications)
• Zelda Gebhard (seeking Board of Publications)
• Peter Heide (seeking Board of Directors)
• Chris Hunsinger (seeking Board of Directors)
• Kenneth Semien Sr. (seeking Board of Directors)

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Proposal 2024-04 : Removing the phrase "or their designee, (which designee shall have signed the confidentiality agreement applicable to all board members)," from Constitution articles IV(H) and VI(C)

Current language:

Article IV, Officers: Section H. The president may call a special meeting of the Board of Directors at any time and shall call a special meeting of the Board upon the request of at least five (5) members of the Board. Notice of the special meeting shall be sent to each board member or their designee, (which designee shall have signed the confidentiality agreement applicable to all board members), via written electronic communication at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date. The time, the location, and the specific purpose of the meeting shall be included in the notice.

Article VI, Powers and Duties of the Conference and Convention, the Officers, the Board of Directors and Committees: Section C. ... The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the president, or upon the written request of three (3) of its members. Such request shall be sent to each board member or their designee, (which designee shall have signed the confidentiality agreement applicable to all board members), via any means of written electronic communication at least five (5) calendar days prior to the proposed meeting date.

Proposed language:

Article IV, Officers: Section H. The president may call a special meeting of the Board of Directors at any time and shall call a special meeting of the Board upon the request of at least five (5) members of the Board. Notice of the special meeting shall be sent to each board member via written electronic communication at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date. The time, the location, and the specific purpose of the meeting shall be included in the notice.

Article VI, Powers and Duties of the Conference and Convention, the Officers, the Board of Directors and Committees: Section C. ... The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the president, or upon the written request of three (3) of its members. Such request shall be sent to each board member via any means of written electronic communication at least five (5) calendar days prior to the proposed meeting date.

Explanation

After careful deliberation and consultation, and being fully mindful of the considerations which motivated the passage of the cited language on the floor of the 2022 convention, the committee feels that matters coming within the purview of the above-reference provisions are best addressed on a "case by case" basis in accordance with ACB's "reasonable accommodation" policy.

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The original proposed amendment was amended June 28. The amended version is herein.

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Proposal 2024-02 - align Article XI with the language and intent of Bylaw 6D as passed last year, Conforming constitutional amendment required to align Article XI with the language and intent of Bylaw 6D as passed last year, requiring that constitutional and/or bylaw proposals be submitted sixty (60) days before the opening of convention.

Current language:

Article XI, Amendments: This constitution and bylaws may be amended at any regular conference and convention of ACB provided such proposed amendment has been presented in writing to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee before the end of the first day following the day of the roll call meeting of the conference and convention.

Proposed language:

This constitution and bylaws may be amended at any regular conference and convention of ACB provided such proposed amendment has been presented to the committee in accordance with the requirements set forth in the bylaws.

For context:

Bylaw 6, Committees: Section D. Constitution and Bylaws Committee: The president, within sixty (60) days after the close of each national conference and convention, shall appoint a chairperson and not less than four (4) additional members to a Constitution and Bylaws Committee. This committee shall have the responsibility of considering and preparing amendments to the constitution and bylaws for presentation to the conference and convention. Any amendments to be considered shall be submitted to the committee not less than sixty (60) days prior to the opening date of each conference and convention. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall report all proposed constitution and/or bylaw amendments to the conference and convention with or without committee recommendation.

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Proposal 2024-01 (editorial): To change all instances of "ACB Radio" to "ACB Media" to reflect its current designation. These two references occur in Article V, paragraph C, and bylaw 6L as follows:

Current language:

Article V, Publications Board: Section C. It shall be the duty of the Board of Publications to approve or disapprove employment by the executive director of the editor of “The ACB Braille Forum” and to establish editorial standards and policies applicable to all American Council of the Blind communication formats including, but not limited to, periodicals, the ACB conference and convention programs and ACB brochures, the ACB web site, and ACB Radio.

Bylaw 6, Committees: Section L. Public Relations Committee: In addition, the committee shall have three (3) ex-officio members who shall not have the right to vote. These shall be the executive director of the American Council of the Blind or his/her designee; the webmaster of the American Council of the Blind; and the director of ACB Radio.

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Resolution 2024 15 - QR & Bar Code Accessibility

Submitted by Kim Charlson

Whereas, QR codes and barcodes are gaining traction as one of the most common ways to provide consumer information and engagement beyond what has previously been possible; and

Whereas, because of their increasing use across packaging and non-packaging touchpoints, many different non-standard QR and barcode options are being introduced by various companies, public entities and individuals; and

Whereas, individuals who are blind or have low vision are unable to use, or are having difficulty using and identifying products on store shelves independently, or reading specific product information; and

Whereas, new 2D QR and barcode technologies presently under consideration by GS1, an international organization representing major manufacturing companies, has responded to increasing industry pressure to update current standards to provide more product and consumer engagement information (including QR and barcode data) and to leverage key product identifiers such as GT9 and product serial numbers; and

Whereas, the 1D standard includes specific language regarding disability access; and

Whereas, the proposed GS1 2D barcode/QR code guideline/standard scheduled for adoption and rollout in 2027 does not currently include disability access language; and

Whereas, the absence of such disability access language could result in QR and barcodes being inaccessible and unusable by people who are blind or have low vision;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually that the American Council of the Blind call upon GS1, and any other international standard-setting bodies, to incorporate accessibility compliance requirements into any future QR and barcode standards; and

Be it further resolved that ACB seek the support and collaboration of the World Blind Union to move this issue forward in the international space.

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