What is ACBs history regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The American Council of the Blind was a supporter of the Americans with Disabilities Act from the time it first appeared as a concept in a report titled “Toward Independence,” published by the National Council on Disability. When the first version of the ADA was introduced in the late 1980’s, contacts were made by ACB through its leadership in various states encouraging individuals to testify at nationwide hearings conducted by the Task Force on Rights of Disabled People, headed by Justin Dart. This official congressional entity gathered evidence to substantiate the need for the Americans with Disabilities Act. When the second version of the ADA was introduced in 1989, the ACB joined with many cross-disability groups in providing input on provisions of the legislation prior to its introduction, and testified before various congressional committees during the struggle for its passage. Many ACB leaders had the privilege of being present at White House ceremonies on July 26, 1990, when Pr
