A Hot Topic for July
by Mitch Pomerantz
“Undressing the Emperor, Addressing Our 70 Percent Unemployment Rate” is the theme of the 2001 ACB Government Employees’ program being held in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind national convention in Des Moines, Iowa.
In a series of letters which appeared in “The Braille Forum” over several months, issues were raised concerning why — more than 10 years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act — the unemployment rate for blind and visually impaired people of working age remains in excess of 70 percent. While we frequently discuss this issue among ourselves (often with a cold one in hand at a professional conference or convention “happy hour”), doing so in the context of an ACB special interest affiliate program may be a first-time event.
In ACBGE’s keynote presentation, a panel of concerned blind people will explore the reasons for this phenomenon and attempt to answer the question: Is the unacceptably high rate of unemployment a matter of personal responsibility, public perception, or some combination of both? Are there other contributing factors (e.g., over-reliance on an outmoded rehabilitation system, inadequate education and/or training) which cause us to be the largest unemployed minority in the country? Today, do most working blind people find jobs in government service rather than the corporate world?
This thought-provoking session will take place Thursday afternoon, July 5, following ACBGE’s annual business meeting and luncheon. There will also be an update on implementing Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Registration for the program costs $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Be sure to include this exciting, provocative presentation among your convention plans. Sign up early to ensure your seat!
Raffle for ACB Quilt
Nearly all of the ACB affiliates are represented in the ACB quilt designed and crafted by the Tennessee Council of the Blind. Again this year at the ACB 40th Convention in Des Moines, the right to display the quilt for whichever affiliate the winner chooses will be the grand prize in a raffle to raise money for ACB, TCB and the affiliate whose member holds the winning ticket. In addition, the winner will receive a fine talking watch. Raffle tickets cost $1 apiece, and will be sold in the exhibits hall and on the convention floor. The quilt will be on display in the exhibits hall until Wednesday of convention week, and thereafter on the convention floor until the winning ticket is drawn at the banquet.
Colorado Addresses the Issues of Visual Impairment and Life-Long Learning in a Day of Seminars and Camaraderie
The Colorado Council of the Blind held its annual convention in Colorado Springs during the first weekend of April. More than 60 presenters discussed the various ways we cope with blindness and visual impairment throughout our lives. There were seminars for family members, discussions with ophthalmologists and educators, practical advice on transitioning from one stage of life to another, finding jobs, and self-defense. After a day of sharing and learning, a banquet which featured a murder mystery with a wild west theme was the perfect way to unwind. On Sunday, the convention tackled the serious issues surrounding an NFB- sponsored commission bill, and elections.
GDUI Heads North to Des Moines
by Sanford Alexander
Guide Dog Users, Inc. will hold its 2001 meeting in conjunction with the 40th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind at the Polk County Convention Center, Des Moines, Iowa. All GDUI functions will take place beginning Sunday, July 1, and will conclude on Wednesday, July 4. The convention center will be the site of the GDUI office and of many events and meetings. In addition, several meetings will be held at the Marriott Hotel. Check your convention program to make sure you catch any scheduling changes.
The GDUI office, Room 148 located on the lower level of the center, will be the venue for GDUI products, the place where dog handlers can meet and where the empathizers will provide peer support. The office will also be the location for the single food delivery on Sunday afternoon. When ordering food, please keep in mind that the five hotels are some distance from the center and that you will need to make arrangements to get your delivery to your own location. Watch the GDUI web site for ordering details.
We will enjoy a more moderate climate than we have in the past several years, with average temperatures reaching into the 80s for highs and the 50s for lows. Drinking water in Des Moines is quite acceptable and you need not bring bottled water unless your dog has problems with water changes.
T-touch therapy may be especially helpful with dogs experiencing stress, fear of loud noises (including thunderstorms and fireworks), arthritis, hip dysplasia, lack of self- confidence, and/or grief. T-touch practitioner Julie Rubey will be available by appointment only for individual sessions to teach T-touch techniques. Her prices are $20 per half hour or $40 for a full hour. She will schedule appointments for Sunday and Monday, July 1 and 2 and Tuesday, July 3, if need exists. Julie can be contacted via e-mail at julier@oedoak.heartland.net or by telephone at (712) 623-2724.
Barking dogs should never be left alone to disturb hotel guests while their owners enjoy a stress-free evening without harness in hand. The hotels will address the owners of dogs who bark excessively as they would address other hotel guests that are a nuisance. If you must leave your dog in your room alone, consider a tie-down or crate to ensure that hotel staff do not enter a room containing a loose dog.
Dog relief areas will be located at each of the hotels as well as two at the convention center. GDUI will have pick-up bags available but be sure to bring plenty of your own just in case. Cleaning up after your dog is a MUST! Assistance will be available to train individuals in cleaning up if need be. It is our responsibility to assure a well-kept relief area. As stated in the ADA, hotels are required to reasonably accommodate us by providing a guide dog relief area; however, they have no obligation to maintain it. You may designate a tip for the guide dog relief fund on the pre-registration form. Remember, however, this contribution is merely a tip for hotel staff who have assisted in maintaining the relief area. It is not payment for someone else to clean up after your dog.
If your dog has an accident indoors and you need assistance in cleaning it up, exercise responsible dog handling by staying near it while asking someone to find help for you. Also, remember that we will be doing a great deal of indoor walking with no curbside or emergency relief areas along the way.
The program this year will offer several segments that may be of particular interest to guide dog users and those interested in what is happening in the access world. We have invited Janet Burleson, director of the Guide Horse Foundation, to participate in a discussion of her program during our luncheon. Many people have had their curiosity piqued with recent attention given to this project as well as to reports about other exotic animals that have been involved in incidents such as the flying pig and the therapy boa. Also, concerns have been raised over potential dangers to access rights created by incidents involving dogs trained to provide protection to their human partners. We will be able to learn more about the training of service dogs and to see how this differs from guide dog training. We will also have a unique opportunity to meet with a group of puppy raisers and a few puppies in training, to learn more about the wonderful service these dedicated people provide to all of us.
In addition to the annual report from the guide dog schools, we will have a panel that will discuss the summit meeting GDUI sponsored in January at which representatives from the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP), the Assistance Dog International (ADI) and the Council of United States Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS) joined GDUI to develop reform language for ADA regulations. We will hear about this meeting and about what happened at the meeting with the Department of Justice at which the summit product was presented.
Make your plans now to be part of this exciting and informative GDUI meeting. See you in Des Moines!