American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a nationwide organization in the United States. It is an organization mainly made up of blind and visually impaired people who want to achieve independence and equality (although there are many sighted members with common aims).

History

The American Council of the Blind was formed out of the dissolution of the Braille Free Press Association in 1961. Braille Free Press had been set up in 1959. It was highly critical of the American Foundation for the Blind, and the ACB was formed as an alternative to it.[1]

The ACB was also very critical of the National Federation of the Blind which many of its first members had also originally belonged to.[1] Relations between the two organizations have been strained ever since—to the extent that they tend to schedule their conventions at the same time, to deter people from being active in both organizations.

In 2013 the ACB elected Kim Charlson as its first female president, making her the first female president of a major national blindness consumer advocacy organization in the United States.[2][3]

State affiliates

References
  1. "History". American Council of the Blind. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  2. "Activist Kim Charlson is unanimously elected to lead rights advocacy group". Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. July 24, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  3. "ACB Announces Election of Its First Woman President". American Council of the Blind. July 11, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
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