Resolutions 2026-05, 03 and 04 to be debated and voted

Following are the reading of 3 resolutions that will be presented to the membership for debate and vote at the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention. This is the original language submitted by the Resolutions Committee so that members may review it in advance of the convention. These resolutions have not yet been debated, amended, or adopted and should not be regarded as having been passed or approved in any context.

Resolution 2026-05

Voluntary Best Practice Guidelines for Self-Description in Professional and Educational Settings

​Whereas, the foundational purpose of Audio Description (AD) and visual interpretation is to provide essential, objective context that grants blind and low vision individuals equal access to core data, narrative, and information; and

​Whereas, a well-intentioned but misguided trend has emerged in professional and educational settings wherein speakers provide unsolicited, hyper-detailed self-descriptions of clothing, hair, and non-essential physical traits; and

​Whereas, this practice introduces irrelevant visual data that violates established professional principles of audio description, creates information overload, and forces participants to expend unnecessary cognitive energy filtering out irrelevant details; and

​Whereas, an emphasis on personal self-description frequently serves as a performative substitute for substantive access, masking critical failures such as the omission of descriptions for charts, graphs, on-screen text, and digital handouts; and

​Whereas, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and its Audio Description Project (ADP) maintain the premier authority on visual interpretation and accessibility standards;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually this XX day of July, 2026 that this organization officially recognize that true visual equity is achieved through concise, context-driven communication of substantive content rather than the irrelevant cataloging of personal attributes; and

Be it further resolved that ACB instruct the ADP to author and publish a definitive white paper and position statement establishing rigorous standards for live visual description in corporate, academic, and government settings; and

Be it further resolved that these standards shall emphasize the prioritization of data and educational content such as slides, charts, and universal design elements over non-essential personal characteristics; and

Be it further resolved that ACB launch a national advocacy campaign targeting major employment, human resources, and higher education associations to integrate these standardized guidelines into national professional development and compliance curricula.

Resolution 2026-03

Amazon Disability Access Line

Whereas, blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers rely on Amazon’s Disability Access Line to obtain effective assistance with product information, account support, ordering, returns, accessibility concerns, and other customer service needs; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind, pursuant to a California Council of the Blind resolution entered into dialogue with Amazon concerning issues experienced by blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers using Amazon’s Disability Access Line; and

Whereas, a disability access line must provide effective communication, accurate information, disability-aware customer service, and meaningful assistance in order to serve its intended purpose; and

Whereas, ACB members have reported that staff assigned to the Disability Access Line have frequently been unable to understand the needs of blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers, accurately describe products, provide reliable information, or effectively resolve disability-related customer service concerns; and

Whereas, inaccurate or incomplete information has caused blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers to purchase incorrect products, experience unnecessary returns, lose time, and face barriers that sighted customers may not encounter; and

Whereas, approximately a year of dialogue between ACB and Amazon regarding these concerns occurred with no solutions being implemented; and

Whereas, additionally, Amazon now requires under certain circumstances users of the Disability Access Line to verify account status by activating a link sent by text message and finding a button on a web page; and

Whereas, this verification process makes it difficult or impossible for many blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers, especially if they are attempting verification and talking to the Disability Access line on the same device; and

Whereas, Amazon could reduce these barriers by offering multiple accessible verification methods, including but not limited to one-time verification codes, accessible in-app approval, email-based verification, and telephone verification, without jeopardizing security;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually this XX day of July, 2026 that this organization calls upon Amazon to ensure that personnel assigned to its Disability Access Line have the communications proficiency, disability-access training, and product-support knowledge necessary to provide effective, accurate, and respectful assistance to blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers; and

Be it further resolved that this organization urge Amazon to consistently provide multiple accessible account-verification options so that blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers are not only offered 1 method of verifying account status; and

Be it further resolved that this organization request that Amazon meet with representatives of the American Council of the Blind by February 1, 2027 to establish measurable service-quality expectations, an accessible escalation process, and an ongoing feedback mechanism for blind, low vision and DeafBlind customers.

Resolution 2026-04

Funding to Institute of Museums and Library Services

Whereas, according to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), 39 state Talking Book Libraries are partially funded through the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) as of FY-2025; and

Whereas, Executive Order 14238 proposed elimination of IMLS; and

Whereas, late in fiscal year 2025 following litigation,

congressionally allocated funds began to be dispersed to IMLS; and

Whereas, despite the President's opposition, over 290 million dollars was included for IMLS in the 2026 Congressional budget; and

Whereas, funding of 291 million dollars is proposed for IMLS in the 2027 budget.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually this XX day of July, 2026 that this organization continue to urge members of Congress to include at least current funding in the 2027 budget for IMLS; and

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be shared with NLS and the American Library Association.

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