December 2009 Braille Forum
Sharon Lovering
slovering at acb.org
Tue Dec 8 16:18:10 GMT 2009
THE
BRAILLE FORUM
Volume XLVIII December 2009 No. 6
Published by
the American Council of the Blind
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE,
SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.
Mitch Pomerantz, President
Melanie Brunson, Executive Director
Sharon Lovering, Editor
National Office:
2200 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
(202) 467-5081
fax: (703) 465-5085
Web site: http://www.acb.org
THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed
four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address
changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon
Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering at acb.org.
The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up
of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the
ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national
office at the number listed above.
Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to
Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a
relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for
this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last
Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose.
If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office.
Join the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Program and help improve tomorrow
today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman at insightbb.com, or by
phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today!
To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this
number: 11155.
For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington
Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or
visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org.
Copyright 2009
American Council of the Blind
*****
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Class Action Ruling Announced in American Council of the Blind v. Social
Security Administration, by Melanie Brunson
President's Message: Technology and Independence?, by Mitch Pomerantz
2010 Conference and Convention: The Sunny Southwest, by Carla Ruschival
Summary of the ACB Fall Board Meeting, by Marcia Dresser
In Memoriam: Margaret R. Pfanstiehl, Radio Reading Service & Audio
Description Pioneer, by Joel Snyder
Passings
Affiliate News
Committee News
2010-2011 Scholarship Applications Available Soon!
An Update on the Breast Cancer Support Group, by Bonnie Rennie
ACB Radio Is Here for You!, by Debbie Hazelton
My ACB Christmas Present, by William Benjamin
Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
High Tech Swap Shop
FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES
You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe,
go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a
podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page.
To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, go to
www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/brailleforum-L.
ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION?
Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office,
1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering at acb.org. Give her the information,
and she'll take care of the changes for you.
*****
CLASS ACTION RULING ANNOUNCED IN
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND V. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
by Melanie Brunson
On October 20, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of California in San Francisco issued a judgment
in favor of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and two classes of 3
million Social Security beneficiaries who are blind and visually impaired.
Our lawsuit had challenged the Social Security Administration’s failure to
provide its critical communications about benefits to recipients who have
visual impairments in alternative formats that would enable them to have
equal access to SSA programs as required by federal disability civil rights
laws.
In his order, Judge Alsup held that the Social Security
Administration's failure to provide recipients with notices and other
correspondence in a manner that was accessible to them constitutes a
violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. He noted that the Social
Security Administration had "been quick to find lame excuses for
non-compliance," and that they had failed to prove an "undue burden"
defense, as required by law. The following is a summary of the relief
granted by Judge Alsup to the nation's blind and visually impaired
recipients of Social Security benefits.
First, by April 15, 2010, SSA must develop a means of producing
notices and other communications in both braille and a navigable Microsoft
Word CD, and shall offer blind and visually impaired people who are either
recipients of Title II or Title XVI benefits, or authorized representative
payees, notices and other correspondence in one of these formats. Second,
by Dec. 31, 2009, defendants must provide notice to all recipients and
authorized persons shown in its records to be blind or visually impaired
advising of the availability of the foregoing new alternatives and giving
them an opportunity to choose one of the two above alternatives for
communications beginning on April 15, 2010. This notice should advise that
selection of one of the two alternatives would discontinue any special
notice previously selected under the special notice policy, i.e., that the
recipient would not be entitled to both a SNP notice and a new alternative.
Another key requirement is that this notice must also advise the
recipient that the blind and visually impaired are entitled by law to ask
the SSA to provide any other alternative accommodation they believe would be
preferable to meet their needs. Judge Alsup ordered that the notice shall
describe the Section 85.51 procedure and that SSA must fully comply with its
duty to both advise as to the individual's rights to request another form of
accommodation and comply in good faith with its duty under Section 85.51 to
consider such requests. A similar announcement must also be posted on the
SSA web site, and SSA is ordered to train its staff dealing with the blind
and visually impaired to communicate orally the notice described above when
such individuals call in, e-mail in, or write in, all to be effective by
April 15, 2010.
By Nov. 25, 2009, SSA was ordered to file with the court a
specific description of the braille and Microsoft Word CD it proposes to
offer, the specific form of notice, and its specific plan of dissemination.
It must also spell out a systematic plan for receiving and ruling on
requests for accommodation under Section 85.51.
After April 16, 2010, no Social Security benefits may be reduced
or terminated to any individual shown in the SSA records to be blind or
visually impaired (or whose authorized payee is shown to be blind or
visually impaired) unless such person was first provided with the notice
prescribed above and the method of notice, if any, selected by said person
was followed.
The judge will retain jurisdiction over this matter so that he
can monitor SSA's compliance with his order, and the adequacy of the remedy
his order granted.
In summary, all Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, as well
as representative payees, who are known by SSA to be blind or visually
impaired should be on the lookout for a notice from Social Security before
the end of this year outlining the alternative formats in which they can
receive future communications from that agency. If you get such a notice,
you will still be able to choose to receive a telephone call or certified
letter from SSA if you wish. If you want to receive communications in
another format that you can access independently, be sure to either choose
one of the formats offered, or request another form of communication that
meets your needs more effectively. It is important for everyone to realize
that requesting another accessible format, such as large print or audio
recording, is a perfectly acceptable alternative and such requests must be
considered by SSA. Individuals who cannot read braille and don't have
computer access may still find a telephone call or certified letter from SSA
insufficient and should have the opportunity to request another form of
accommodation.
This ruling is a major victory for the disability rights
movement, and it sets precedent for the obligations of other federal and
state agencies to accommodate people who are blind or have visual
impairments. The text of the court's decision will be available on the ACB
web site very soon. Copies can also be obtained from the national office if
anyone is interested.
We owe a tremendous thank you to our lawyers from the Disability
Rights Education Defense Fund, Howry, and the National Senior Citizens Law
Center whose hard work made this victory possible. Now, they, and we, are
counting on you to help with its implementation.
*****
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: TECHNOLOGY AND INDEPENDENCE?
by Mitch Pomerantz
Recently, I was thinking about all of the tasks I perform as ACB
president and how many of those tasks are done via computer and e-mail. The
catalyst for such thoughts was the failure of the primary ACB server and the
resulting crash of our web site. I then began musing over how ACB
presidents prior to Paul Edwards handled their duties, particularly those
which could be considered time-sensitive in nature: reviewing contracts,
approving press releases, commenting quickly on governmental policy
documents, to mention only three. Of course, we've conducted business on
the telephone for as long as ACB has existed, but where printed material is
involved, the phone is not a great option.
Next came the discussion on both Leadership and ACB-L of the
announcement of the iBill, the low-cost electronic currency identifier.
Would such a device help make blind and visually impaired people more
independent? Does it further increase our dependence on technology? And
would introduction of this device jeopardize ACB's efforts to get the
Department of the Treasury to implement a non-technological solution to
inaccessible currency? As a result, I've been engaging in an internal
debate over whether the proliferation of such devices promotes or inhibits
our independence.
Before going further, let me offer my disclaimer. Yes, I use a
computer, but by no means do I consider myself a techie. Those who know me
at all call me a dinosaur, a moniker which I grudgingly accept. My
perspective is that I want the computer (or whatever the technology being
utilized) to work when needed; I could care less how it functions. I don't
want to be like those early operators of automobiles who not only had to
know how to drive their horseless carriage, but also how to repair it when
it broke down, something which occurred frequently. I neither have the time
nor the inclination for that.
Having provided the foregoing as background, I'd like to explore
whether the growing use of technology by blind and visually impaired people
enhances our independence, or whether we are substituting one form of
dependence for another. Clearly, widespread use of access technology has
lessened -- but certainly not totally eliminated -- our need for sighted
assistance to accomplish some tasks. Devices such as talking calculators,
global positioning systems (GPS's) and microwaves allow us to do many more
everyday tasks with minimal or no help from family members, friends,
co-workers or strangers.
In the late 1970s, my employer purchased one of TSI's
Speech-Plus talking calculators, which I used regularly to do the budget
work that was a part of my job at the time. That device made it possible
for me to perform what was an "essential function" of the job.
Incidentally, several of my co-workers liked to borrow that calculator to do
their own work as it meant they didn't need to keep glancing from the screen
to the paper upon which they were writing. They simply listened and jotted
figures.
Over the intervening decades, I've used a VersaBraille to draft
reports and maintain records, and the omnipresent computer for reviewing and
editing the work of my staff and communicating with employees in other
departments. I am absolutely certain that I wouldn't have had the nearly
34-year career I recently concluded without access technology.
My reservations concerning our increasing dependence upon
technology don't relate only to blind and visually impaired people, but to
society as a whole. I can recall a number of occasions during the past
several years at my former office when the city server went down and all our
computers with it. What did I and my co-workers do during those two or
three hours of non-connectivity? Absolutely nothing! We've all heard
someone almost panic when discovering that their cell phone or PDA wasn't
with them. These days everyone must be connected at all times!
For blind and visually impaired people, more and more of us are
going into serious debt in order to buy the latest and greatest access
gadget. We feel compelled to keep up with the proverbial Joneses -- in this
instance, our friends who are snapping up accessible iPods, talking GPS
units and cell phones that allow us to listen to music and browse the web,
exactly like our sighted peers.
I question whether this rush to own ever-cooler technology is
helping to make us truly independent. Can we do simple math without a
calculator or spell a word correctly without spell-check? Can we get from
point A to point B without relying upon something telling us where we are
every block? Must we carry yet one more electronic gadget to identify our
money? Have we traded one form of dependence for another? Personally, I
believe that's just what we've done. And by the way, my misgivings apply to
the broader society, not only to our relatively small community.
What I'm advocating here is that no matter how many talking
devices we choose to buy, we must maintain those skills which technology is
making easier for us to perform. Keep up your braille, O&M, math and
spelling and old-fashioned daily living skills. Don't become too dependent
on technology; after all, power fails, batteries die, and devices stop
working. Remain or become as self-reliant as possible. Let's distinguish
between necessity and convenience.
I wish everyone a joyous holiday season filled with family and
friends. Donna and I will be at the Rose Parade on New Year's Day cheering
on the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band. We may even have a
welcoming banner. Take care.
*****
2010 CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION: THE SUNNY SOUTHWEST
by Carla Ruschival
It's early November, and some members of the national convention
committee just returned from a hectic planning weekend in sunny Phoenix. A
brand-new hotel, not a drop of rain, and fantastic tours and programs will
add up to a fun-filled, information-packed week with ACB. Don't miss it!
Conference and convention dates are July 9-17. Come early and
stay late so you can take in all the great tours, workshops and other events
that make convention week special.
We don't have tours set as of this date, but we have visited
some incredible and unique venues. Imagine the thrill of visiting the home
of architect Frank Lloyd Wright! When we asked what we could touch, the
guide said, "You can touch everything; that's why we aren't a museum."
Michael Smitherman and I even got to play the grand piano in the living
room!
Other great possibilities will have you stuffing your own bear
at America's only plush animal factory, learning how brass bells are cast,
practicing your blackjack skills at a casino, riding in a Venetian gondola,
visiting a candy factory, and stepping back 250 years in firefighting
history. The popular city tour is back, and day-long trips to the Grand
Canyon, Sonora and much more are being explored.
SPONSORSHIPS: Corporations, organizations and agencies are
invited to become 2010 ACB gems. There's a sponsorship to fit every budget,
from pearl ($1,000) to diamond ($25,000). Information and forms are
available from Margarine Beaman, advertising and sponsorship coordinator, at
(512) 921-1625 or oleo50 at hotmail.com.
PLANNING EVENTS: Each ACB committee and special-interest
affiliate holding events at the upcoming conference and convention has a
representative on the convention-planning e-mail list. This list is my way
of distributing information to these affiliates and committees. A similar
list, designed especially for exhibitors, sponsors, and non-affiliated
groups holding events at the convention, is now being created.
RESERVATIONS: The home for ACB from July 9-17 is the Phoenix
Downtown Sheraton. Room rates are $89 plus tax. Make reservations by
calling 1-800-325-3535. Be sure to say you are with the American Council of
the Blind.
*****
SUMMARY OF THE ACB FALL BOARD MEETING
by Marcia Dresser
The ACB board of directors fall meeting was held at the Downtown
Sheraton Hotel in Phoenix on Sept. 12-13. All board members were present
except for Chris Gray and Cammie Vloedman, who were absent due to work
commitments. Several members of the Arizona host committee were also in
attendance.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 Saturday morning. The
board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda and to approve the minutes of
the pre- and post-convention meetings.
President Mitch Pomerantz has put together a task force, chaired
by Jim Shaw, to determine how we can provide Social Security training for
our members. All committee appointments have been made. Jean Mann will
chair the credentials committee, and Lori Scharff will chair the women's
concerns committee. After considerable discussion, an earlier motion,
tabled since the May meeting, to transfer $50,000 from the general fund into
board-designated reserves was unanimously defeated.
In her executive director's report, Melanie Brunson stated that
the study on ways of making currency accessible contained erroneous
statistics on blindness; there is also concern about the cost analysis. The
Kindle case is going well. Melanie and Billie Jean Keith are testifying in
ACB's Social Security case in San Francisco federal court. With regard to
internal matters, Brunson reported that the phone system is now working
properly; the greetings and the Washington Connection are now available in
Spanish. Beginning Oct. 5, Barbara LeMoine will be employed full-time as a
receptionist and as an assistant to Eric Bridges. There is a plaque in the
national office to honor patrons, those who donate $100,000 or more to ACB.
This plaque will be unveiled at the mid-year meeting. With regard to health
care legislation, ACB is lobbying for accessible prescription drug labels,
durable medical equipment for the blind, and Medicare reimbursement for the
services of rehabilitation teachers and vision therapists. She concluded by
reminding everyone to urge their Congressmen to sign on to H.R. 734 (the
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act) and H.R. 3101 (the 21st Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act). Brunson's report was
unanimously adopted.
Lane Waters, head of the Minnesota office, stated that Paul &
Partners is the new agency handling ACB's direct mail campaign, which is
going well. Mitch thanked the direct mail task force, consisting of Ray
Campbell, Carla Ruschival, and Marsha Farrow.
In his treasurer's report, Mike Godino stated that although
donations are down, revenue from fund-raising has increased. He added that
it would be very helpful if affiliates could increase their donations to
ACB. After going over each item in detail, Godino's report was unanimously
adopted.
There was a brief recess at 11:45 in order to conduct the ACBES
corporate meeting. When the meeting resumed at 12:20, Carla Ruschival gave
the convention coordinator report. Due to the troubled economy, Orlando was
not one of our biggest conventions, but it was not the smallest either.
Carla pointed out that when too many events are scheduled simultaneously,
none of them do well. The new BRL breakfast was very successful. All of
the bills pertaining to Orlando have been paid. The board broke for lunch
at 12:35.
When the meeting resumed at 2:05, Carla said Margarine Beaman
believes that she can obtain many more sponsors for the convention if we
advertise it as a conference. Conventions are often seen as frivolous,
whereas conferences are expected to have more serious programming. Also,
since the word "conference" implies educational content, employers are more
apt to provide assistance to attend. Carla moved that in all materials
pertaining to the convention, we refer to it as the American Council of the
Blind Conference and Convention. (If we billed it as the ACB Conference,
amendments to the constitution and bylaws would be required.) The motion
carried unanimously.
Next, Marcia Dresser gave the board of publications report. Ron
Milliman plans to expand the mentoring program of the public relations
committee to include all affiliates; he also hopes to complete some ACB
talking points and the handbook on writing and producing public service
announcements. The ACB Radio streams are being moved to the new server;
once this is done, the sound quality will be greatly improved. A monthly
program spotlighting ACB affiliates is in the works. Paul Edwards has been
encountering problems with the software he uses to produce "Tuesday Topics";
he is investigating other options. In discussion, it was suggested that ACB
Radio air PSAs requesting donations to ACB and ACB Radio. (There is a
PayPal link on the ACB Radio web site.) A student from South Carolina has
put up a Facebook page that is not under the auspices of ACB. The BOP will
need to come up with policies regarding Facebook, Twitter, and other social
networking sites.
Berl Colley has joined the web site task force as liaison from
the Internet resource management committee. Five interviews have been
completed for the oral history project. To be eligible, a person must have
been an ACB president or active in ACB before 1980. The cost of producing
"The Braille Forum" did not change this year. If we can produce it in DAISY
format to be downloaded to the Victor Reader Stream and other digital
players, this would reduce the number of cassette subscribers, which would
lower production costs. This report was unanimously adopted.
Kim Charlson reported that there are currently 28 affiliates
with representatives to the audio description project; Joel Snyder hopes to
increase that number. The ADP has a Facebook page with 105 friends.
Articles will appear in the Forum to help people understand the impact of
the analog-to-digital conversion. Snyder spoke to Kareem Dale about
producing an audio-described tour of the White House; Dale responded
favorably. Snyder is also working on adding description to the videos shown
at national parks; this would be done for a fee. This report was adopted
unanimously.
Brenda Dillon, Mike Godino, Ray Campbell, and Marsha Farrow were
elected to the 2010 executive committee. The following committee
representatives were elected: credentials, Marsha Farrow; Internet
oversight, Pat Sheehan; and public relations, Michael Garrett.
A motion was made, seconded, and adopted to revoke the Idaho
charter in order to clear the way for any new effort to develop an affiliate
in that state. The Idaho Commission for the Blind has agreed to send out a
mailing, and PSAs will run on Boise stations from Christmas through April.
A membership team will go to Idaho one weekend in May to establish a core
group of people they can work with. The goal is that a new Idaho affiliate
can be chartered at the 2011 convention in Reno.
Of the $4,842 available in funds from life memberships, it was
recommended that $250 be allotted to pay dues to the International
Association of Audio Information Services so that ACB Radio can become a
member in good standing. The remaining funds should be used to make
improvements to the ACB web site. We also discussed putting more pictures
in "The Braille Forum" and on the web site as "eye candy" appealing to
prospective donors. Any unused funds would be rolled over to 2011. These
recommendations were unanimously approved.
The board unanimously approved the proposed policies pertaining
to conflict of interest and confidentiality. (The conflict of interest
policy will apply to the board of publications as well as the board of
directors.) Kim Charlson announced that the revised handbook for the board
of directors should be available at the end of the year.
A motion was made by Mike Godino, and seconded by Ray Campbell,
that the proceeds of the resource development committee 2010 raffle be used
for funding "The Braille Forum." The motion carried.
To close out the afternoon, Jeff Thom recommended that the
vehicle donation task force be disbanded, since this program is going well;
the board approved. From now on, Lane Waters will monitor the reports of
vehicle donations.
The meeting recessed at 5 p.m. and resumed at 9:00 Sunday
morning. The board started the morning by discussing strategies to assist
affiliates in working with schools for the blind and legislators to prevent
additional closings. The task force to study this issue, chaired by Ray
Campbell, will meet again in October.
Regional training for affiliates is still under discussion.
Melanie Brunson knows of some sources for grants we might be able to tap
into.
We need to examine our current long-range plan before we can
develop a new one for ACB. A committee was created to plan the first steps,
consisting of Kim Charlson (chair), Melanie Brunson, Jeff Thom, and Dena
Wilson. The current long-range plan will be sent to the board shortly.
Pomerantz asked that we read it in time for the mid-year meeting in February
so we can decide what we want to retain in the new long-range plan.
Suggested topics for the mid-year presidents' meeting include:
training in database management; the new IRS rules (Form 990); disseminating
press releases; how affiliates can participate in the oral history project;
outreach to the deaf-blind community; putting newsletters into DAISY format;
tips for states planning conventions; and questions and answers regarding
the upcoming convention in Phoenix.
Each ACB officer serves as a liaison to one or more national
committees and, at this meeting, they were asked to report on the work that
these committees are doing. Many committees have not yet met, but those
that have are working well together and well with their liaisons. These
reports were received and accepted. A task force created by Pomerantz is
working to determine whether all ACB committees should be included in the
constitution and bylaws.
The ACB store is looking into affiliating with ILA and
Maxi-Aids. We would post links to them on our web site, and ACB would
receive a percentage of anything purchased through those links.
With no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at
10:30 a.m.
*****
IN MEMORIAM: MARGARET R. PFANSTIEHL,
RADIO READING SERVICE & AUDIO DESCRIPTION PIONEER
by Joel Snyder
It is with deep sadness that I note the passing of Dr. Margaret
Rockwell Pfanstiehl on Sept. 28, 2009.
As many of you know, Margaret was the founder of The
Metropolitan Washington Ear, a closed-circuit radio-reading service based in
the Washington, D.C. area. Throughout the 1970s, I had the privilege of
working for the Ear as a volunteer reader of the Sunday Washington Post and
other periodicals. In its tribute to Margaret, The Washington Post
recounted that “After an inherited retinal disorder left her legally blind
in her 30s, Margaret Pfanstiehl spent the rest of her life working to help
the visually impaired read the newspaper, watch TV and enjoy theater more
fully.”
The Post continued: “Margaret Gillian was born Oct. 10, 1932,
near Norfolk to a naval architect who moved the family to New York and then
Maryland. She graduated from the old Academy of the Holy Names in Silver
Spring. As a young woman, she showed a talent for operatic singing and
received a music degree from Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory in 1960.
“Her early marriage, to Justin Rockwell, ended in divorce. In
1983, she married Cody Pfanstiehl, a longtime spokesman for Metro who liked
to joke that Washington's mouth married Washington's ear.
“Survivors include a son from her first marriage, Justin
Rockwell Jr. of Silver Spring; three stepchildren, Carla Knepper of Glen
Burnie, Julie Hamre of Bethesda and Eliot Pfanstiehl of Silver Spring; nine
grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.”
In 1981, Margaret and Cody Pfanstiehl developed The Ear's audio
description program, the first ongoing description service in the world.
Margaret and Cody, along with a core group of Ear volunteers (myself
included), began offering description at Washington's Arena Stage and soon,
other area theaters. Later, the Ear produced the descriptions that were a
part of the pilot for what became WGBH's Descriptive Video Service. These
efforts, which helped make television accessible to those with vision
problems, earned her an Emmy Award in 1990. Mitch Pomerantz, president of
American Council of the Blind, called her "one of the pioneers in the audio
description arena."
Dr. Pfanstiehl, a Silver Spring resident, died at the Hebrew
Home of Greater Washington of lung disease. She was the recipient of many
community honors and in August received a Leadership Exchange in Arts and
Disability award for lifetime contributions to the visually impaired.
"It's no great honor to be blind," she once told The Washington
Post, "but it's more than a nuisance and less than a disaster. Either you're
going to fight like hell when your sight fails or you're going to stand on
the sidelines for the rest of your life."
Margaret and Cody (Cody passed away in 2007) were in great
demand as trainers of describers throughout this country and around the
world. Their contributions to the field of audio description cannot be
over-emphasized; Margaret will be missed by those who had the opportunity to
learn from her and work with her -- and by the millions of people around the
world who have benefitted from audio description.
A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held in the coming
weeks. For more information, visit the American Council of the Blind's
Audio Description Project web site at www.adinternational.org
<http://www.adinternational.org/> .
*****
PASSINGS
It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members
of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these
people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are
publishing this column. See below for the format in which to submit
information.
Obituary Format
Please include as much of the following information as possible when
submitting material for this column. Submissions must involve dates no more
than six months from intended date of publication.
Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
City of residence (upon passing)
State/province of residence (upon passing)
Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people
may have known this person)
Occupation
Date of death (day if known, month, year)
Age
ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national
committees)
** EAMES, ED
Ed Eames, Ph.D., co-founder and president of the International
Association of Assistance Dog Partners, passed away Oct. 25.
Ed had successful heart surgery two years ago. Recently a
blood-borne infection sent him to the hospital. His chances for recovery
looked very good, until he had several debilitating strokes that quickly
claimed his life.
Ed was an extraordinary advocate. He forged relationships with
corporations around the world and, with his easygoing "ask," brought untold
benefits to the IAADP. Ed knew full well that most of us teamed with guide,
hearing and service dogs were on the lower income scale. His advocacy to
garner support for our canines was only matched by his tireless advocacy for
our access rights. Among other things, Ed and Toni also traveled throughout
the U.S. each year and to other countries with their guide dogs, lecturing
at veterinary schools and veterinary conferences about the special role that
veterinarians play in maintaining the team, to educate them about IAADP,
raise disability awareness and to ask veterinarians to consider free or
discounted veterinary services for assistance dog teams.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ed's honor may be made to
IAADP. We have set up a special memorial section with a few photo
highlights to remember Ed by, as well as an opportunity to make a memorial
donation, at www.iaadp.org. We also invite you to leave a personal message
there.
** GENENSKY, DR. SAMUEL M.
(excerpted with permission from "Vision Access," fall 2009)
Dr. Samuel M. Genensky, founding president of the Council of
Citizens with Low Vision International, died June 26, 2009. He was 81.
He strongly believed in using whatever vision he had. His eyes
were burned shortly after birth when, by accident, the wrong eye drops were
put in his eyes. No sight remained in his left eye, and he had only 20/1000
vision in his right eye.
Sam completed the first eight years of school in seven years.
Then he went to the Perkins Institute for the Blind, where he refused to use
Braille even though he knew it. He eventually left Perkins for a public
high school. One day he took his father's binoculars to geometry class and
discovered that he could see what the teacher was drawing on the board.
With a doctor's help, he added another lens to one side of the binoculars,
creating a bifocal system that allowed him to read the blackboard and the
book on his desk.
After completing high school, Genensky attended Brown
University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1949 with a bachelor's
degree in physics. He earned a master's in pure mathematics from Harvard in
1951 and a doctorate in applied mathematics from Brown in 1958.
In the late 1950s, he joined the Rand Corporation. A colleague,
Paul Baran, noticed how Genensky had to work slumped over his drawing board
with his nose to the paper. Baran suggested that there had to be a way to
improve Genensky's ability to see.
With Baran and others, Genensky hooked up a closed-circuit TV
with a camera. It magnified the type on a page and had controls for
brightness and contrast. When the device was publicized as "Sam Genensky's
Marvelous Seeing Machine" in a 1971 issue of "Reader's Digest," Genensky was
flooded with thousands of requests a week from people with partial sight who
wanted to try it.
In 1978 he founded the Center for the Partially Sighted.
Genensky is survived by his second wife, Nancy Cronig, two
daughters, three stepchildren, and four grandchildren. Memorial donations
may be sent to the Center for the Partially Sighted, 12301 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90025.
** PONCHILLIA, SUSAN
(courtesy of the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes)
Dr. Susan Ponchillia, a dedicated coach of blind athletes and
distinguished professor at Western Michigan University (WMU), died Oct. 12,
2009 in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was 55.
Sue worked extensively with her husband Paul to create and
develop annual sports camps for blind athletes held at WMU. The camps,
co-sponsored by the Michigan Blind Athletic Association and the U.S.
Association of Blind Athletes, impacted the lives of countless students with
visual impairments from across Michigan, the Midwest and from the United
States. Sue also had a direct impact on USABA goalball. She helped host
one of the three long-standing regional tournaments and was also
instrumental in developing local goalball athletes, some of whom competed at
the international level, including the Paralympic Games.
"We have lost an incredible person who made a difference in this
world by dedicating her life to improving lives, with her students and
colleagues at WMU, with the natives of Tlicho in Canada and people who are
blind and visually impaired,” said Mark Lucas, USABA Executive Director.
In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to any of the
following:
Paul and Susan Ponchillia Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Student Scholarship
Fund
Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
MS 5218
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Kalamazoo Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
P.O. Box 50603
Kalamazoo, MI 49005
Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County
P.O. Box 96
Three Rivers, MI 49093
*****
AFFILIATE NEWS
** Funvention 2010
Dixie Land Guide Dog Users, in partnership with Guide Dog Users
of Florida, Carolina Paws and the Charleston Association for the Blind,
would like to invite you to our next Top Dog-Charleston Funvention, to be
held Jan. 15-17, 2010 at the Best Western Inn (250 Spring Street) in
downtown Charleston, S.C.
Room rates are $64.99 per night plus tax for the week of January
11-18, 2010. To get that low rate, you must call the hotel directly at
(843) 722-4000. Be sure to tell them you’re coming to "Top Dog." Most
rooms (except kings) are equipped with microwaves; all have refrigerators.
For those who want to stay longer, there is a restaurant located in the
hotel and 2 fast-food places (McDonald’s & Arby’s) in the same block.
Hospitality suites are located on the 8th floor and will offer
complimentary snacks and beverages for our registered guests. Located near
the hospitality suites will be Carla Campbell, who has graciously offered to
pamper our furriest with one of her famous pet massages at a discounted
price. In addition, the kind folks at Charleston Pet Resort will be
available to trim your guide's nails and brush his teeth at no charge.
Dixie Land's President, Nancy Smith Moore, and her new hubby
(our First Dude), will greet guests flying into Charleston's airport, where
complimentary ground transportation to and from the airport and train
station will be available. One of our volunteers will be waiting at the
Best Western to escort you to either the hotel registration desk or our
Funvention registration room. If you'd like, someone can also escort you to
your room to familiarize you with its layout.
You can register electronically or by telephone. Early
registration (before Dec. 15) for our Top Dog Funvention is only $60 per
person and includes our reception, the awards ceremony, bagged breakfasts on
Saturday and Sunday mornings, a delicious bagged lunch Saturday afternoon,
an all-you-can-eat barbecue roundup Saturday evening, all scheduled "Play
Times" on Saturday, river walks, tandem bicycle and motorcycle rides;
commemorative T-shirts and caps, and more! Registering after Dec. 15
increases the cost to $75 per person.
The exhibit hall will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. You'll meet
representatives from some of the nation's best guide dog schools; experience
some of the latest access technology; and "see" an assortment of specially
prepared jewelry by fellow guide dog user Jenine Stanley. A tour of
downtown Charleston and Battery Point is available for $15 per person.
To learn more about Top Dog Charleston, you can call us at (843)
608-6890 or e-mail us at dixielandguides at gmail.com. Be sure to check out our
web site, http://dixielandguides.blogspot.com.
** Friends-in-Art Scholarship
High school seniors and college students are invited to apply
for the Friends-in-Art scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year. This
$1,500 scholarship is offered annually for achievement, talent, and
excellence in the arts. If you are currently majoring in, or planning to
major in, the fields of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are a
blind or visually impaired student living in North America, you may apply
for this scholarship. To obtain an application form, write to: Harvey
Miller, 196 E. French Broad St., Brevard, N.C. 28712-3410. Include a
self-addressed stamped envelope when requesting the application. You also
may request an electronic application by sending an e-mail to
hhmiller at citcom.net. The completed application form and all requested
information and materials must be in the hands of the scholarship committee
by the end of May 2010.
** North Carolina Elects New Officers
Members of the North Carolina Council of the Blind came together
for the 41st annual state convention in Raleigh Sept. 25-27. It featured
more than a dozen speakers, including two ACB leaders, and the election of
new officers. ACB executive director Melanie Brunson and California Council
of the Blind president and ACB board member Jeff Thom shared information and
insights from the national level. Representatives from a number of agencies
and programs were in attendance, including Social Security Ticket to Work,
North Carolina radio reading services, Governor Morehead School for the
Blind, North Carolina Library for the Blind, Delta Airlines, the training
program for teachers of the visually impaired at North Carolina Central
University, information about identity theft from the Raleigh police
department, emergency preparedness and AARP services.
At the conclusion of the annual business meeting, Melanie
Brunson administered the oath of office to the newly elected officers:
president, Allen Casey; first vice president, Ron Eller; second vice
president, Ricky Scott; secretary, Anne Brewer; treasurer, Jane Ferrita;
members at large, Thelma Crumpler and Darlene McElroy.
** Missouri Hires New Executive Director
The Missouri Council of the Blind recently hired Jennifer Parker
of St. Louis as its new executive director and Lowell Newsom as its new
field service representative. Newsom will also handle fund-raising.
*****
COMMITTEE NEWS
Fitness Equipment Equity Task Force to Hold Open Conference Call
The Fitness Equipment Equity Task Force (FEET) invites ACB
members to participate in its January conference call on Sunday, Jan. 31 at
8 p.m. Eastern. We'd appreciate hearing about specific experiences,
concerns, design ideas, and any other input to aid pursuit of our mission to
promote the availability of equipment that can be used successfully by
people with limited or no usable vision. We also are collecting ideas on
how to advocate for more accessible fitness centers. Treadmills, rowing
machines, and elliptical machines are prominent in our discussions, but our
agenda need not be limited to those particular devices.
To join our conference call, dial (605) 475-4825 and enter the
access code 661001#.
*****
2010-2011 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE SOON!
The American Council of the Blind annually awards approximately
20 scholarships ranging in amounts from $1,000 to $2,500 to college students
(undergraduate, graduate and vocational) who are legally blind, maintain a
3.3 GPA and are involved in their school and/or local community.
Applications may be submitted beginning Jan. 1, and all
materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 1.
Scholarship monies will be awarded for the upcoming academic year.
To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line
application, visit www.acb.org <http://www.acb.org/> . For more
information, please contact the ACB national office at (202) 467-5081 or
(800) 424-8666.
*****
AN UPDATE ON THE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
by Bonnie Rennie
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," as the song says. What could be
more enjoyable than a leisurely day spent shopping, window-shopping, or
taking in a chick flick with your girlfriends? Whether it's the good times
or the tough times, life often goes better when we share them together.
We wanted to provide an update, especially on our contact
information, for the Breast Cancer Support Group. The ACB Women's Concerns
Committee is still sponsoring this group by phone. It has been meeting on
the first Tuesday evening of the month since December 2008. The group offers
a safe and comfortable place for women living with the dual experience of
having vision loss and a history of breast cancer.
The three group facilitators or moderators, Lori, Linda, and
Bonnie, welcome you to this group. We are all long-time ACB members and
social workers with much experience conducting groups. Since the group is
member-driven, we talk about what the members in attendance want. Laughter,
encouragement, and the sense that you do not walk through this alone are all
common experiences.
If you are a woman living with vision loss and breast cancer,
and you would like to join this lively, friendly group, please take note of
the updated contact information. We meet on the first Tuesday evening of the
month. The time is 8:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern time (5:30 to 7 p.m. Pacific).
Dial (605) 475-4850. Follow the voice prompts and when requested, use the
group ID 727660 pound sign. You will be asked to state your name and
location, which helps the rest of the group know who is attending, and
importantly, helps promote confidentiality. If you have questions, contact
Lori Scharff at (516) 887-1336.
For a somewhat more detailed description of the group and what
it may be like to attend, please refer to the article "A Taste of Support"
in the June 2009 issue of the Forum. We regret that the conference call
group call-in number is not a free call. Those women who do join us, we
believe, will have a positive and helpful experience.
*****
ACB RADIO IS HERE FOR YOU!
by Debbie Hazelton
As ACB Radio approaches its 10th birthday milestone in December,
it is still a best kept secret with all it can do for you and your
affiliate! While you may be aware of one or more of ACB Radio’s five
streams, we believe ACB Radio is still a largely untapped resource.
Perhaps this article will serve as a good introduction for some,
and a review for others, out of which can come a wide variety of new talent,
opportunities, information and more. As ACB Radio is getting ready to roll
out a 10-year birthday celebration during the last week of December, we want
you to know that even now, with much ground work done, there is still a
plethora of ways in which you, our readers, listeners, members and
affiliates can continue to shape the direction and content of ACB Radio.
ACB Radio can help you and others in your affiliates gain so
much more from listening to its streams. There are new friends to find, new
skills to learn. We can learn yet more from the advocacy of others, the
projects of affiliates. While there is much content already on ACB Radio
with our five streams, there is still room for many more shows, topics,
conventions and announcements. We want to hear from you! We want you to
involve your affiliate projects! If you’re doing a fund-raiser with
something to sell, why not announce it on ACB Radio? If you’re having a
convention or large activity that involves one or more speakers, why not
stream it? If the technicality of it all is new or overwhelming, we can
help.
During the last 10 years, ACB Radio has gone a long way to build
five streams, and yet it is still a vastly unused, undiscovered resource,
and we want to change this! You can help. ACB Radio is fun! For some, it
is a thrill to find out that it is possible to broadcast and play favorite
music. And still, ACB Radio is here to be a mouthpiece for ACB! We want
you to get involved. This is a resource that is here for you and all of
ACB!
There are many people who only know of one or two of our five
streams. ACB Radio is working hard to see that all of our streams are
cross-promoted. Currently, Treasure Trove, our stream for old-time radio,
is our most popular stream. Yet we know from how busy our Mainstream
channel is at the time of our national convention that it is also popular
for those who know of its availability. There are some people who only know
of our Interactive stream, which is our music stream for live DJs. Our Café
stream fills in when there is not a live DJ available, and the Café stream
is a lovely place to become more acquainted with the music of blind
musicians. Our World stream will likely be a place for more live
programming, such as conventions and other special programs.
There is so much more ACB Radio can do for you, and we look
forward to an ongoing and growing partnership. Feel free to call upon us
for help, or to brainstorm ideas. We are here to help! If you need help
putting together an announcement you’d like to have on the air, or if you
have the text and want us to create a promo, we’re here to help! Write to
support at acbradio.org. We look forward to getting to know you better and
helping you grow our many wonderful affiliates through ACB Radio!
*****
MY ACB CHRISTMAS PRESENT
by William Benjamin
This year I get to look forward to a very special Christmas
present. It is all the more special because it is from ACB to me -- and
from me to ACB.
I spent the entire day and evening on Christmas Eve, strutting
around the house in anticipation. How much does this present mean to me
and how much does it mean to ACB? Presents are the best when they are
personal and full of good intentions.
On Christmas morning I was up early and out in the living room,
having trouble containing my glee. The lights were on and Christmas music
playing in the background and me full of wonder for the moment I would open
it. Then there were all the other packages under the tree that somehow had
much less meaning compared to my ACB surprise.
After some hot chocolate and a danish, it was time to approach
my present. It was just one envelope lying on the branches, but it had
been placed there in plain view because it was so important. This was a
present that must be kept track of because it was so valuable.
As I held it in my hand, I thought about how important it was
that ACB would bestow this gift to me. I also thought about how the
biggest and best surprises come in small packages. Finally I thought about
how really important gifts last for years and years and stand the test of
time.
As I opened the envelope, I took my time to relish the moment.
A true feeling of satisfaction came over me as I lifted the flap to reveal
the inside. Now it was time to grasp the prize and lift it out.
Here it was: confirmation that they had received my information
and added my name to the list of contributors for the Monthly Monetary
Support (MMS) Program. Anyone who is a contributor knows what I am talking
about. The greatest gift of all is one that we give and not receive.
It would be hard to overlook the importance of this gift. You
can have half of your donation go to ACB and half go to your affiliate. You
can have it come right out of your account each month, any amount that you
like. Also, the gift goes to support scholarships, advocacy and a range of
programs, like "The Braille Forum."
Here is my Christmas wish for you. It is that you will give
this gift as well. I also hope that you are grateful for what you have and
are willing to share it with others in the American Council of the Blind.
We really do have it pretty well compared to the blind in other countries,
so let’s all do our part to contribute to ACB.
*****
HERE AND THERE
edited by Sue Lichtenfels
The announcement of products and services in this column does
not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its
officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our
readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability
of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column,
send a message to info at acb.org, or phone the national office at
1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox.
Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
** HADLEY HOLIDAY CARDS
The Hadley School for the Blind is selling its annual holiday
cards to support its free education courses. This year’s greeting, written
in braille and print, reads, "Wishing you peace, happiness and the spirit of
the season." The photo is an oil painting of a whimsical Christmas tree with
a snowy white background. The design is embossed for people who are visually
impaired to enjoy. A box of 25 cards is $28 plus shipping. Custom imprinting
is available for an added charge. Cards will be available until Dec. 17. To
order, visit www.hadley.edu/holidaycards or call 1-800-323-4238.
** GOT BRAILLE?
The Parents & Friends Association of the California School for
the Blind is selling T-shirts and sweatshirts that honor Louis Braille to
raise funds for some of the school’s extracurricular activities. Their past
fundraisers have enabled activities such as class field trips, school
carnivals, ski trips and goalball programs. The front of each shirt reads,
“Got Braille?” On the back it says, “Happy Birthday Louis! Louis Braille
1809-2009 Blind innovator who gave reading and writing to the world.” All
shirts are solid black with white puffy writing and braille. Shirts are a
50/50 poly/cotton blend. T-shirts go for $12 each, sweatshirts for $20, plus
$4 per shirt for shipping. For more information, contact Staci Gonzales at
(510) 794-3800 extension 216 or at sgonzales at csb-cde.ca.gov.
** OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE
National Braille Press now offers tactile American flags for $5
each. The stars and stripes are tactile; the red stripes are indicated with
a braille “r” and the white with a “w." Flags measure 7 1/2” x 9 1/2”. These
flags also include The Pledge of Allegiance in both braille and large print.
Flags are available in contracted and uncontracted braille. To see one for
yourself, visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/FLAG.html. For more information, call NBP
at 1-800-548-7323.
** DVDs FOR SENIORS WITH VISION LOSS
Two new DVDs are now available through AFB’s Senior Site.
"Better Lighting for Better Sight" discusses ways to enhance vision,
including different types of lighting, positioning of lighting, contrast
sensitivity, and control of glare. It provides suggestions on how to choose
the right light for the person and the task. “Preventing Falls by Adapting
Your Home” suggests simple and inexpensive changes that can be made in the
home to dramatically lessen the chance of a fall, whether it be in the
kitchen, bathroom, or living room. Each video retails for $49.95 through
www.afb.org/ <http://www.afb.org/seniorsite> store.
** FEEDBACK WANTED ON DESCRIBED MOVIES
Job de Reus, a graduate student in the Netherlands, has created
a web site exclusively for people with low or no vision that seeks feedback
on the suitability of described movies. The web site, www.suitablemovies.com
<http://www.suitablemovies.com/> , is unique because it includes no text,
just hidden code that can be read only by screen-reading software. Job’s
database includes all described movies in the U.S. and the UK and a rating
system for their usability for blind viewers. To share your feedback on any
described movies and help Job with his project, visit www.suitablemovies.com
<http://www.suitablemovies.com/> .
** NEW MONEY IDENTIFIER
Orbit Research has developed a new money identifier for people
who are blind. The iBill is small enough to attach to a keychain or lanyard.
When U.S. currency is inserted into the machine, the denomination can be
either spoken or indicated by tone or vibration for privacy. The iBill runs
on a single AAA battery and has a one-year warranty. It can also be upgraded
to accept currency design changes. The iBill retails for $99. For more
information, call 1-888-606-7248 or visit www.orbitresearch.com
<http://www.orbitresearch.com/> .
** iPHONE APPLICATION FOR THE BLIND
Serotek has created an iPhone application specifically for
people who are blind. The iBlink Radio application gives users access to all
known radio stations, reading services and podcasts for people who are blind
or have low vision. This application can provide access to daily newspapers,
popular magazines, and special interest recordings. To learn more, visit
www.serotek.com <http://www.serotek.com/> /iblink.
** ACCESSIBLE TALKING DARTBOARD
The Audio Dart Master is a fully speaking electronic dartboard
available through Sam Jasmine of Access Education. This newly designed board
features human voice announcements of every hit, inside and outside
indicators, large buttons, talking menus and game instructions, and more.
The games offered are various countdowns, high score, golf, baseball, and
cricket. Sam also offers a PVC portable stand with roll-out carpet and
tactile toe line. For more information, visit www.audiodartmaster.com or
call (763) 383-0077.
** BRAILLE WRITER DESIGN WINS AWARD
Perkins Products/Perkins School for the Blind and Product
Development Technologies, Inc., were honored in the 2009 International
Design Excellence Awards (IDEA®) sponsored by "BusinessWeek," the Industrial
Designers Society of America, Target and Autodesk for the Next Generation™
Perkins/APH Brailler®, developed in collaboration with the American Printing
House. The IDEA competition is a celebration of the year’s most innovative
and exciting product and product concept designs and one of the world’s most
prestigious and recognizable design competitions. The brailler received a
Silver Award, one of only 47 such designations out of 1,631 entries.
** YOUTH EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITY
Global Explorers provides educational tourism experiences for
youth of all physical abilities ages 14-21 through its Leading the Way
program. The program integrates science, service, leadership, and culture,
resulting in a life-changing adventure. Far more than just a fun trip, each
expedition involves preparatory curriculum prior to travel and a service
leadership project post travel. Two trips are planned for 2010: Rim to River
Expedition: Grand Canyon, Ariz., July 6-20, 2010 and Yucatan Leadership
Program, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, July 10-18, 2010. For additional
information, e-mail LeadingTheWay at GlobalExplorers.org; call 1-877-627-1425;
or visit www.GlobalExplorers.org and click "Leading the Way." Braille,
screen reader friendly and large print materials are available upon request.
** GOLDEN REFLECTIONS BOOK
Michael Yale has written his second book, “Golden Reflections;
My Master’s Secrets.” The story is told from Vargus’ perspective, Yale’s
Seeing Eye dog for 12 years. Vargus says, "Do you have any idea how
frustrating it is being on the wrong end of a leash with a hippie, for
twelve years? What about living under the stoned hands and harsh rules in a
dogtatorship?” “Golden Reflections" is available in print or on audio CD as
an MP3 file. For more information, contact Mike Yale, 3 Burrow Pit Lane,
Huntsville, Ontario, P1H 1X3 or phone (705) 789-1546.
** RESOURCE FOR BIOPTIC DRIVING
The Low Vision Centers of Indiana have developed a new web site
for people who experience vision loss but want to continue driving with
bioptic assistance. The site is designed as a resource for professionals who
are seeking additional expertise and potential drivers who want to learn
more about the bioptic driving technique. With the help of telescope-like
devices, individuals who have poor central vision but good peripheral vision
may be able to drive independently. To learn more, visit
www.biopticdrivingusa.com <http://www.biopticdrivingusa.com/> .
** RADIO READING COMING TO CHINA
Minnesota State Services for the Blind's (SSB) Radio Talking
Book (RTB) is helping China establish its own radio reading service that
will serve as many as 3 million blind or visually impaired people in that
country. The project is being sponsored by China-based TCL Electronics and
the China Charitable Federation (CCF). CCF intends to establish a nationwide
service using the same technology and radios developed for the RTB and serve
from 200 to 500 cities. To learn more about this venture, visit
http://cszh.mca.gov.cn/article/english/.
** SPIRITUAL STORIES NEEDED
Anyone interested in sharing a story of rejection or alienation
from the church in which you could not use your gifts adequately should
contact Lindy Morelli on her web page, www.alabasterheart.org
<http://www.alabasterheart.org/> , or via phone, (570) 341-5858.
** FREE BRAILLE MAGAZINE
"The Higher Way" is a free Christian magazine, available in
braille. It is published quarterly. If you are interested in subscribing,
call (503) 777-1741 or send e-mail to subscriptions at apostolicfaith.org.
** CAREERS IN HOSPITALITY & CUSTOMER SERVICE
Individuals seeking careers in the hospitality industry and
customer service professions may want to learn more about the National
Statler Center’s Careers in Hospitality Program. The center offers this
class to blind, visually impaired and disabled people at its Buffalo, N.Y.
campus, attracting students from throughout the U.S., North America and
abroad. The 10-week course provides training in hospitality, tourism, travel
and customer service preparedness; the Microsoft Office suite; and personal
job-search assistance to place graduates in fulfilling career positions. For
more information, contact Jeff Pease at (716) 888-4516 or at
www.statlercenter.org.
*****
HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
** FOR SALE: One-year-old Compaq Presario desktop PC with
Windows Vista Home Premium, 500-gig hard drive, Intel Pentium dual
processor, 2 gigs RAM, 17" flat-screen monitor, CD/DVD read-write drive, USB
ports, card readers, Microsoft Office Professional 2003, and JAWS 9. Can
send it with music, movies, text and audio books. Asking $500 or best offer
plus shipping. Contact Irena Franchi, 301 174th St. #2206, Sunny Isles
Beach, FL 33160; phone (305) 932-8856; or e-mail gracewellness at gmail.com.
** FOR SALE: Braille globe, about 4 feet high and 4 feet around.
Used for teaching; heavy duty. Made in 1954, in excellent condition. Price
negotiable. Contact Judith Michels at (313) 535-5188 or e-mail
judithmichels at att.net.
** FOR SALE: Braille Note in excellent condition with carrying
case, headphones, and compact flash card included. Asking $1,500 or best
offer. Talking scientific calculator with charger, case, headphones, and
manual on cassette. In excellent condition. Asking $200 or best offer.
Tadi talking voice organizer with AC adapter, and print and CD manual. In
excellent condition; rarely used. Asking $125 or best offer. Braille
labeler with two rolls of labeling tape. Asking $30. 39-inch folding cane
with rubber grip, gently used, but in great condition. Asking $35. All
prices include shipping. Will accept cashier's check, money order, or
personal check; items will not ship until check clears. Contact Shelley
Richards at cutie10212002 at msn.com or call (856) 577-3564.
** FOR SALE: Perkins braille writer in good condition with
leather cover. Asking $175 or best offer. Call Caitlin at (517) 227-1122.
** FOR SALE: One wooden checkers game in good condition. Asking
$30; money orders only. If interested, contact Nancy Ryder at
owenryder at sympatico.ca <mailto:atowenryder at sympatico.ca> or (319) 217-8385.
** FOR SALE: King James Old and New Testaments on DVD, CD (MP3),
and cassette. Contact Joe Kelly at (903) 794-4852.
** FOR SALE: Compaq laptop with full keyboard, 160-gig hard
drive, 2 gigs RAM, 15.6"-wide screen, Windows XP Professional, JAWS and
ZoomText, Microsoft Word. Like new. Asking $550. Professional dual CD
player for DJs, Danon 4500, in very good condition. Asking $300. QSC
Professional amplifier model RMX2450, almost new, for DJ or band. Asking
$375. Contact Jose at (818) 220-6256.
** FOR SALE: Braille Lite. Asking $300. Perkins braille
writer. Asking $550. Contact Dwain at (773) 597-4263.
ACB OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
MITCH POMERANTZ
1115 CORDOVA ST. #402
PASADENA, CA 91106
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
KIM CHARLSON
57 GRANDVIEW AVE.
WATERTOWN, MA 02472
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
BRENDA DILLON
313 OVERRIDGE COVE
HERMITAGE, TN 37076
SECRETARY
MARLAINA LIEBERG
632 S. 189TH ST.
BURIEN, WA 98148
TREASURER
MIKE GODINO
104 TILROSE AVE.
MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
CHRISTOPHER GRAY
94 RAMONA AVE.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103
ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL
Berl Colley, Lacey, WA
Marsha Farrow, Summerville, GA
Michael Garrett, Missouri City, TX
Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA
Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY
Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD
Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA
David Trott, Talladega, AL
Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK
Ex Officio: Marcia Dresser, Reading, MA
BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS
Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL
Marcia Dresser, Reading, MA
Judy Jackson, San Antonio, TX
Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH
Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY
Ex Officios: Michael Malver, Minneapolis, MN
Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY
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