International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
1999 General Assembly Resolutions

Baltimore, Maryland,
Tuesday, November 2 through Friday, November 5, 1999

1.0 Whereas, there are many countries who make extensive use of the English language, currently not represented in the ICEB, be it resolved that the Executive Committee:

• 1.1 establish contacts with English speaking countries which are not currently members of ICEB;
• 1.2 encourage the establishment of braille authorities in such countries, where none exists;
• 1.3 encourage, and enable where necessary, braille authorities in such countries to participate in ICEB;
• 1.4 encourage participation in ICEB by countries whose first language is not English;
• 1.5 study the financial and constitutional implications of these measures.

2.0 Be it resolved that the ICEB supports the continuation of universal free postage for braille materials and urges its members to lobby its appropriate authorities to press for its preservation under the auspices of the Universal Postal Union.

3.0 Whereas access to text information that is available to the population at large should be universally available in braille as a right, be it resolved that member countries work together through the ICEB Executive on the issue of copyright permission to ensure legal access in each country to this same text and the availability of a mechanism for full access to information between countries.

4.0 Be it resolved that Committees 2 and 4 work closely together to recommend braille representations of print alphabetic characters in relevant languages based on Roman script and also braille representations of the characters of the International Phonetic Alphabetic (IPA) and of other diacritics. These symbol sets are to be presented to the 2003 General Assembly.

5.0 Whereas braille is the primary literacy medium for blind people; the use of multiple braille codes for English-language texts disadvantages braille readers both by reducing their access to the widest possible range of braille materials and by making braille more costly to produce; and noting that good progress has been made by the UBC Project Working Committees towards the development of a unified English braille code; be it resolved that:

• 5.1 the International Council on English Braille endorses the principle of a unified English braille code as a matter of urgency for adoption and use in many countries;
• 5.2 that a unified English braille code should be agreed and endorsed by the International Council on English Braille at its Third General Assembly in 2003 and recommended for ratification by the national standard setting bodies.

6.0 Be it resolved that, ICEB affirms that upper numbers be the number system used in a unified English braille code, except in alignment mode.

7.0 Be it resolved that Committee 2 work with Committee 4 to resolve the issues of language switches by June 30, 2000.

8.0 Be it resolved that Committee 3 complete its assignment by June 30, 2000.

9.0 Whereas a unified English braille code should be consistent in format and preserve the key structural elements of the material; and whereas the Digital Audio Information Systems (DAISY) Consortium and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) have developed international guidelines and whereas NISO (National Information Standards Organization) is developing United States guidelines for the specification of document structure; be it resolved that Committee 5 consider all such guidelines in developing format guidelines for materials produced in a unified English braille code.

10.0 Whereas the General Assembly of 1999 agrees that a unified English braille code be endorsed by the International Council on English Braille at its Third General Assembly in 2003; be it resolved that the following timetable be adhered to:

• 10.1 Committees 3 and/or 4 shall hold face-to-face meetings, if necessary, by May 31, 2000.
• 10.2 Committees 2, 3, and 4 shall submit their final reports to the UBC Project Committee by June 30, 2000.
• 10.3 The UBC Project Committee shall refer these reports to Committee 6 by October 31, 2000.
• 10.4 Committees 5 and/or 6 shall hold face-to-face meetings, if necessary, by June 30, 2001.
• 10.5 Committees 5 and 6 shall submit their final reports to the UBC Project Committee by July 31, 2001.
• 10.6 The UBC Project Committee shall make its final report to the ICEB Executive by October 31, 2001.
• 10.7 At its interim meeting the ICEB Executive shall pronounce on a unified English braille code, as embodied in the final report of the UBC Project Committee.
• 10.8 The Executive shall budget from its own funds, and seek contributions from other sources, to facilitate the face-to-face meetings mentioned in sections 10.1 and 10.4.

11.0 Be it resolved that the member countries of ICEB circulate materials transcribed in the proposed UEBC through their braille authorities and their local braille producers.

12.0 Dependent upon the Executive decision in resolution 10.7, if the outcome is affirmative, then the President of ICEB in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall establish a Technical Committee whose charge is to develop guidelines for training materials to be used with teachers; with readers, including students; and with braille producers to promote the proposed English braille code.

13.0 ICEB recognizes that braille is the primary literacy medium for blind people and that the promotion of braille is one of its highest priorities. Therefore be it resolved that the Executive appoint a Braille Promotion Committee with the following remit:

• 13.1 actively to promote the use of braille,
• 13.2 facilitate and coordinate braille promotional activities,
• 13.3 seek resources to carry out the task of braille promotion.

14.0 Be it resolved that the ICEB Executive establish a Tactile Graphics Project Committee to:

• 14.1 establish an ICEB listserv for the Committee to share information and for the working of the committee;
• 14.2 co-ordinate research in tactile graphics design and productions methods;
• 14.3 co-ordinate research in the teaching methods of the interpretation of tactile graphics;
• 14.4 write guidelines for the design and production of tactile graphics;
• 14.5 prepare basic teaching strategies for the interpretation of tactile graphics.

15.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its warm thanks to the National Federation of the Blind. In particular it appreciates the hospitality, valuable resources and tailor-made accommodation.

16.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its warm thanks to the American Council of the Blind for providing such generous hospitality in entertaining the members of this Assembly.

17.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its warm thanks to BANA for hosting this Assembly and, in particular, to Betty Niceley, for all her efforts that ensured a successful meeting.

18.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its appreciation to the observers for their participation and contributions to the success of the meeting.

19.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its deep appreciation to the observers who provided assistance that contributed to the smooth running of the meeting.

20.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its deep appreciation to Mary Lou Stark who provided parliamentary advice and exemplary secretarial services.