THE Braille Forum Vol. XXIX January/February 1991 No. 4 Published By The American Council of the Blind PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY LeRoy F. Saunders, President Oral O. Miller, J.D., National Representative Nolan Crabb, Editor Nicole Willson, Editorial Assistant National Office 1155 15th St. N.W. Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax (202) 467-5085 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large type, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and IBM computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions, which are tax- deductible, may be sent to Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB National Office offers printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will And Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 8 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only, tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1990 The American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message NFB Blows Hot Air in the Windy City ACB Scholarships Available to Blind Students She's Helping Blue Grass Grow in St. Louis Tampa on the Bay Welcomes ACB in 1991 Descriptive Video Honored at Emmys Family Forum: "Boomerang!" Magazine: Entertaining Education on Cassette A Synthesizer That's Great for People on the Go Affiliate Profile: ACB Social Service Providers: People Helping People Here and There ACB Membership At Large Applications Award Nominations Sought Award-winning Book Offers Winning Job Strategies High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Leroy F. Saunders I'm writing this almost immediately after the conclusion of our ACB board meeting in Tampa, Fla., which occurred January 19. This important meeting included a review of the budget for the coming year. First, I'm pleased to announce that the board approved the priorities for the 90's, which were very similar to those originally presented in my President's Report to the ACB National Convention last summer in Denver. Subsequent issues of The Braille Forum will contain more information about these priorities. Staff members Oral Miller and Nolan Crabb updated the board regarding events in our Washington office and Washington's political scene. Our staff emphasized the importance of ACB's involvement in the many things currently happening in Washington. It's clear to me that we will be spending a great deal of time and effort ensuring that our interests are made known during the process of the Re-authorization of the Rehabilitation Act and the regulation writing efforts for the ADA. If you include all the other projects in which we will be involved this year, you can quickly see that ACB's members and staff will be extremely busy. Our Treasurer reported that ACB ended its year with a very small deficit which occurred in the final six months of the year. However, this deficit is extremely small and did not affect ACB's activities during the year. The Budget Committee reported on the budget which they had approved the week before. This budget increases funding to our Washington, DC office, enabling us to hire another professional person and a support staff member. This professional position would be dedicated primarily to legislative and governmental affairs projects. I hope I will be able to present our Board of Directors with the name of a candidate to fill the professional position within the next six to eight weeks at the latest. Doing so will allow us to become more involved in legislative work that has intensified greatly this year. I pointed out in my President's message at the Convention in Colorado that ACB needed to become more involved in the Washington scene. In the coming months I think you will realize this has become a reality. In fact, we will be relying heavily on ACB members in various states to attend some of the hearings that will be held in reference to the rule making for ADA. Whenever these are scheduled we will be informing ACB members in those states so they may attend these meetings. As most of you are already aware, Tampa, Fla., is the location for our upcoming convention in July. I hope all of our members are making plans now to attend. Our Program Committee is working very hard to develop a most interesting program with a great lineup of speakers for this convention. Also, the Convention Committee is making the necessary arrangements with the facilities so that each of you will have the best accommodations possible; we believe the logistics will be in place for you to attend all the meetings and have a good time. By the time you read this, our Washington office will have supplied the affiliates with membership lists. If you haven't updated and returned your list to the national office, you have only days to do so. As you probably know, the bylaws require that updated lists be returned to the national office not later than March 15, 1991. Your promptness in returning these updated lists will mean that our staff can provide an accurate certification list for the convention. NFB BLOWS HOT AIR IN THE WINDY CITY By Nolan Crabb What was to have been a quiet informative dinner in Chicago in early December turned into a row when the meeting was disrupted by a group of uncooperative, uninvited members of the National Federation of the Blind. Before the meeting was over, one Federationist had accused Grant Mack, a member of the American Council of the Blind's Board of Directors, of assault. The confrontation ultimately involved the Chicago police, according to Mack. The dinner, sponsored by the National Committee for the Advancement of Accreditation, was designed to educate prospective agencies on the benefits of membership in the National Accreditation Council. In a telephone interview in late January, Mack briefly recalled the events of December 8 at Chicago's Bismarck Hotel. "We'd had meetings similar to this one in St. Louis and Ohio," he says. "At those meetings, members of the National Federation of the Blind were present by invitation. All of the meetings were by invitation only, and the Chicago meeting was no exception. One Federationist, Catherine Randall, an advisory board member of the state's rehabilitation agency, had been previously invited to the meeting and remained there throughout the evening." Mack says although tickets to the dinner were not for sale, Federationists wangled 10 tickets from someone in the caterer's office. A closer examination by hotel security later revealed that the tickets were for the hotel dining room, not specifically for the NCAA-sponsored dinner. Mack said he was notified that the Federation had reserved rooms next to the one in which the NCAA-sponsored dinner would be held, apparently to facilitate a Federation gathering. Mack, who chairs the NCAA committee, said he was concerned that the NCAA dinner would be disrupted by noise from the other meeting, so he asked the hotel to move the dinner to another room at the opposite end of the hall--a request which they cooperatively filled. Upon arriving at the meeting, Mack learned the Federationists were there, complete with video and audio recording equipment. Mack and other NCAA members emphasized that their meeting was private. After some verbal exchanges and threats to call the police, all of the uninvited Federationists were cleared from the room. Among the last to leave was Steve Hastalis, who stood in the room with recording equipment in his hands. Mack said he was unaware of Hastalis's attempts to electronically eavesdrop on the meeting until notified of his presence by Milt Samuelson, executive director of the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. "He had that microphone right under my nose," Mack said. "In my frustration, I just yanked it out of his hands and threw it on the floor. It was one of those fancy microphones with a hood at the top. I did not touch Hastalis, however. I didn't grab his arm and spin him around as he claims." During the meeting, Chicago police escorted Mack to a nearby police station to discuss the incident. ACB National Representative Oral O. Miller went to the station to provide any necessary legal assistance. No charges were filed against Mack. In fact, Hastalis reportedly received a lecture from police officers regarding the illegalities of electronic eavesdropping. Hastalis and company have since filed a complaint in the Cook County Circuit Court. Mack said the summons was mailed to him. A Cook County judge reportedly told Mack's lawyer the complaint would be thrown out unless the State's Attorney's office hand delivered the summons to Mack in Salt Lake City by February 11. Mack said he feels it is unlikely the summons will be hand delivered. At press time in late January, no summons had appeared. While Mack characterized Hastalis's legal maneuverings as "frivolous," he admitted they've taken their toll personally. "I never went through a Christmas season where I festered with such hate," he said. "Christmas is a pretty important holiday for me and for my family, but I couldn't help but feel furious at the gall of that guy." ACB SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO BLIND STUDENTS by Veronica Braun, ACB Scholarship Coordinator The American Council of the Blind will award fifteen scholarships to outstanding blind and visually impaired students in 1991. All legally blind persons admitted to academic, vocational, technical and professional training programs at the post-secondary level for the 1991/92 school year are encouraged to apply for one of these scholarships. One $1,500 and one $1,000 Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to the top students in each of these categories: entering freshmen in academic programs; undergraduates (sophomores, juniors, seniors) in academic programs; graduate students in academic programs; and vocational/technical school students. Applicants will be compared with other applicants in their category, which means that entering freshmen in academic programs will be competing for funds with other first-year students. The $2,000 Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Tarver Memorial Fund, will be granted to an outstanding student at the undergraduate level. A $1,000 Ann Masimore scholarship will be awarded to an ACB member who demonstrates financial need. National Industries for the Blind will award two scholarships of $2,000 each. The $1,000 TSI/VTEK scholarship, provided by Telesensory Systems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., will be awarded to an outstanding student in the graduate category. This year two scholarships will be made available in the amount of $1,500 each to Pennsylvania residents. We encourage all qualified Pennsylvania residents to apply. Applications are available from the ACB National Office, Attention: Veronica Braun, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC, 20005, (202) 467-5081. All completed applications and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than April 1, 1991. Leading scholarship candidates will be interviewed by telephone in May and early June. The ACB scholars will be notified no later than June 15, 1991. The scholarships will be announced at the 30th national convention of the American Council of the Blind to be held June 29 through July 6, 1991 in Tampa, Fla. Scholarship winners are expected to be present at the convention and ACB will cover all reasonable expenses connected with convention attendance. Among the criteria to be considered in selecting the scholars will be: demonstrated academic record, involvement in extracurricular/civic activities, and academic objectives. The severity of the applicant's visual impairment and his/her study methods will also be taken into account in the selection process. SHE'S HELPING BLUE GRASS GROW IN ST. LOUIS By Nolan Crabb Saturday mornings in St. Louis are probably quite similar to Saturday mornings elsewhere. But for ACB Member Naomi Soule, Saturday mornings in St. Louis are far from routine. Every Saturday from nine to noon, Soule steps in front of a microphone at a small community FM radio station and steps into a different world--a world of celebrities strangely unaffected by their fame--the world of blue grass music. Soule co-hosts "The Saturday Morning Blue Grass Show With Naomi and Terry" on St. Louis's KDHX-FM, 88.1 on the dial. Although Soule was a blue grass neophyte when she began co-hosting the show in 1988, she says she learned quickly, immersing herself in the contemporary blue grass scene. Soule's involvement with blue grass has paid big personal dividends. She's met members of the Desert Rose Band, Female Vocalist Emmylou Harris, and many other blue grass and country music celebrities. Those who aren't blue grass fans may assume that today's blue grass fans are limited to the descendants of the people who gave birth to the genre. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth, according to Soule. For more than a decade, alternative or community radio stations have been playing blue grass music. Soule says the growth of blue grass is the result of a void in commercial radio. "There's no doubt that blue grass is growing, not just in St. Louis, but throughout the country," Soule asserts. "It's growing because there's a void in radio in general. There are prescribed pre- packaged formats in radio. I can count on one hand the stations in this country who are going off and doing something interesting--doing a good job. "I think what's happening is people no longer hear on a regular basis the progressive country sounds they grew up with in the 1970's-- artists like James Taylor. You don't hear people like that much anymore. Those people aged 25 to 49 remember great stuff they once heard and are looking for something different--something they can't find in commercial radio." Community radio, Soule says, offers fertile ground for the growth of blue grass and even folk music. She believes her Saturday morning show has contributed to the growth of blue grass in St. Louis. "We've gotten calls from people who say 'I've never listened to this before until I started listening to you guys' or 'I want to start a blue grass album collection of my own; can you recommend some good artists I can start with?' So I think even though we're not the only blue grass show in the area, we're making a difference," Soule says. Soule began co-hosting her show in 1988. She says originally she signed on as a volunteer, answering phones at KDHX during a fund drive. She learned more about blue grass in much the same way her listeners do--by listening to the music and attending blue grass festivals and events near St. Louis. She says while blue grass recording artists are well known to their fans, they manage to retain the friendliness and down-to-earth qualities other artists may no longer possess. That openness, she says, helped her more quickly understand the blue grass scene. Like the artists themselves, "The Saturday Morning Blue Grass Show" is open and personal. The show is devoid of the slick glossiness of pre-packaged commercial radio. The conversation between the co-hosts flows effortlessly and demonstrates that the two have done their homework where the music is concerned. Listeners respond to the professional but quiet home-grown quality of the show. When Naomi Soule and her co-host Terry Moses announced their engagement on the show, congratulatory cards and letters poured in from St. Louis and surrounding towns in Missouri and Illinois. During one show, a young listener who had moved to St. Louis from Idaho simply dropped by the station to quietly observe and listen to the show. The two co-hosts take requests, read a calendar of upcoming blue grass events, and even allow local musicians to perform live. The show also includes interviews with blue grass celebrities who perform periodically in the St. Louis area. "We have a core or central group of bands and vocalists we know will play well to our audience," Soule explains. "Then when we get other things in that sound like a blue grass song that might fit, we'll play it. As a result, people often call and ask 'who was that?' We like to keep our listeners actively listening and thinking." Soule says national statistics indicate that blue grass listeners aren't limited to any particular region or socioeconomic class. "We've documented that our listeners are well educated, make pretty good money, listen to other types of music like classical," she says. "I think people like it because it's a simpler kind of music; the technique is musically sophisticated, but the music is simple and clear, and the harmonies are incredible. People like the lyrics because they represent a lot of values that have been lost." Soule isn't content to simply co-host a blue grass show once a week. She and Terry Moses are involved in a local organization which supports a theater near St. Louis which is used to book blue grass and acoustic artists. She says the nonprofit foundation will also be bringing blue grass artists to other sites in and around St. Louis. While St. Louis may be the gateway to the west, community radio in St. Louis is a gateway to real gratification for Soule. She says she's met with no discrimination on the part of her supervisors at the station, and she heartily recommends that other blind people interested in broadcasting get involved in community radio if practical. "I've had some broadcasting background," she explains, "but you throw everything you ever learned about commercial radio out the window where community radio is concerned. They just aren't the same universe. As far as special adaptations go, I haven't had to worry about that much. I label all the albums in braille, and everything else is pretty cut and dried. The station has a remote meter reading capability, so I simply dial a number on the phone and hear the transmitter meter readings so we can keep track of them as required by law." Soule is enthusiastic about community radio's role in blue grass; she's equally enthusiastic about her own role in the St. Louis blue grass scene. "If the opportunity ever came for me to get more involved in blue grass broadcasting and related things, I'd be interested," she says. "I'd love it. If I could do this full time, I would be the happiest person in the world. It's the most gratifying thing I've done in the last few years. You give a lot; you get a lot back; that's what's important about it." (Editor's Note: The interview for this story occurred during the ACB 29th Annual National Convention in Denver last summer. Naomi Soule and Terry Moses were married in August. We're told the wedding was a great success, featuring--you guessed it--a blue grass band. The newlyweds still host the blue grass show on Saturday mornings.) TAMPA ON THE BAY WELCOMES ACB IN 1991 By John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator The American Council of the Blind's 1991 national convention in Tampa, Fla., marks 30 years of service to blind people and to the general public providing education, advocacy and democratic leadership on all issues concerning blindness. Make your arrangements now so you won't have to miss a moment of the excitement of a great national convention. Each year our conventions are becoming more challenging with dynamic programming, exciting tours, and rewarding social events. After 29 years of successful accomplishments, 1991 promises to be the best ever. The dates are June 29 to July 6, 1991. The place is the Airport Holiday Inn, 4500 West Cyprus St., Tampa on the Bay, in fabulous central Florida. Room reservations at all three hotels are secured by telephoning the Tampa/Hillsboro Convention and Visitors Association at (800)-272-7756. The cost for the Airport Holiday Inn, the lead hotel where most convention activities will occur is $44.00 per night. Rates at the Omni are $45.00; the Omni is one block from the Holiday Inn. The Sheridan Grand, three blocks away, will charge $43.00. Rates apply equally for single, double, triple, and quad rooms. Please do not call any of these hotels directly for room reservations since they will not accept your request. However, you will receive confirmation directly from the hotel. A VISA or MasterCard number or check or money order to cover one night's lodging must be provided to hold your reservation. Please note that the Tampa/Hillsboro Convention and Visitors Association will take your credit card number when you call but will not accept a check or money order. If you are going to use a check or money order, it must be sent directly to the hotel when you receive notice of your room reservation. Some special-interest affiliate meetings will take place at the Jefferson High School, which will also serve as the headquarters for the exhibits. The school is located directly across the street from the Airport Holiday Inn. Air-conditioned mini buses will be available to shuttle conventioneers between the three hotels and the high school. Transportation from the Tampa International Airport, only twenty minutes away, is provided by each hotel at no cost. Some restaurants, the large West Shore Mall, and other stores are within walking distance of the three hotels. Van service from the Airport Holiday Inn will also be available. Again this year, a Sunday evening convention session will be held on June 30th for ceremonial and roll call purposes. However, the convention will officially convene Monday morning as the constitution and bylaws require. Arrangements for the pre-convention overnight tour and the Wednesday evening cruise on the Gulf are now complete. Conventioneers taking the overnight tour, Friday and Saturday, June 28th and 29th, will depart the Holiday Inn on Friday at 8:00 a.m. and arrive at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:00 a.m. A box lunch will be provided and snacks and soft drinks will be available on the buses. An air- conditioned double-decker bus will take you on a narrated tour of the launch site. In addition, the Center features space craft exhibits and a 37-minute film in the IMAX Theater entitled "The Dream is Alive." Our Assistant Convention Coordinator, Patricia Beattie, is working to secure an audio description of the film. You will also have time to browse in the gift shop. After these activities, the tour will depart for historic St. Augustine arriving at 5:30 p.m. The Ramada Inn, with both single and double rooms available, will provide lodging for the night. Dinner at 7:00 p.m. will complete Friday's program. It will be a sit-down barbecue served on the lawn adjacent to your hotel, under a huge oak tree that is more than 500 years old. Saturday's schedule will begin with breakfast at the hotel. At 8:00 a.m., you will board the St. Augustine train to tour this colonial city. You will depart the train to sample the water of the Fountain of Youth and to follow in the steps of Ponce de Leon who claimed all of this land for Spain in 1513. A second train stop will be at the Spanish Quarter where a travel guide will introduce you to the daily life of Spanish settlers of the 1700's with working craftsmen and settlers in period costumes. The tour will conclude with lunch at the Clam Shell Restaurant located at the Ocean Front Marina. After lunch you will board the buses for the return trip to your hotel, arriving at 6:00 p.m. in time to participate in Saturday evening convention activities. Advance reservations are required for this fabulous tour. They can be made by contacting Jim Olsen, ACB Convention Registration Chairperson, 310 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 822, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Tel. (612) 332-3242. Reservations will be accepted after March 15th and will only be confirmed when full payment is provided by VISA or Master Card Number, check or money order, made payable to ACB Convention 1991. You will also need to indicate if you desire a single or double room for Friday night at the Ramada Inn. The cost of this overnight tour is only $145.00 per person, which includes air-conditioned bus transportation, snacks and soft drinks on the bus, all meals, all admission tickets, and one night's lodging at the Ramada Inn. Be certain to sign up for this tour as early as possible after March 15th since space on the buses is limited. Plan now to join your fellow conventioneers on a cruise on the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday evening, July 3rd. The beautiful 300- passenger cruise ship Europe will set sail at 6:00 p.m. fully loaded with only ACB passengers. Transportation from the Airport Holiday Inn to dockside will be by air-conditioned buses. Once aboard, you will be served a delicious sit-down dinner in a cool dining room. There will be several entrees on the menu from which to choose. There will be live music, dancing and a cash bar. The second level of the ship offers a casino with slot machines, blackjack and craps where you can determine if Lady Luck is cruising with you. The third level is an open deck with tables and chairs where you can enjoy the sunset, do some star-gazing away from the city lights, and experience the cool summer breezes off the water. There is also a bingo game, snacks for late evening and more. Volunteers will be on board to assist you. This entire package, including transportation and return to your hotel, the sit-down dinner, etc., will be only $40.00 per person. Several members of the Tour Committee have taken this cruise and recommend it highly. The pre-registration packet will provide sign-up details. Remember to please use International Tours, Inc., of Muskogee, Oklahoma when planning travel. This is the current ACB official travel service which provides the lowest fares and earns credit for ACB convention staff toward free flights. Call International Tours toll-free at (800) 847-7676. Oklahoma residents call (800) 722-9822. Also, please use Delta or American Airlines since they are a part of this agreement. Remember, if you want to receive the pre-registration packet on cassette tape, you must notify the ACB National Office by April 15, 1991. However, printed forms only can be used for pre-registration. Special-interest group presidents or program chairpersons are reminded to respond promptly to activity and program forms sent out by Patricia Beattie. This information is necessary to help our committee coordinate meetings and other activities. Those who wish to conduct one-session workshops, seminars, or social events should contact Pat at (703) 765-1502. The ACB Convention Committee and representatives of the Florida Council of the Blind are doing their best to make this 30th ACB Convention exciting and challenging. ACB is the fastest-growing organization of blind people in our nation and is realistically tuned- in to the needs and concerns of blind persons. You won't want to miss Tampa, Florida in 1991 for opportunities for learning, sharing and fellowship. DESCRIPTIVE VIDEO HONORED AT EMMYS NEW YORK -- Two individuals and two institutions were honored by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with Emmy Awards for outstanding achievements in "the development and implementation of television for the visually impaired." Dr. Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl, president of The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc., was honored for her extensive work in the field of television for the visually impaired. Dr. Pfanstiehl, with her husband Cody, pioneered and developed Audio Description for television, theatre, museums, exhibits, and films. (See "Descriptive Video at the Smithsonian," The Braille Forum, November/December 1990.) The Tulsa-based Narrative Television Network, founded in 1989 by Jim Stovall, was also awarded an Emmy. The Narrative Television Network produces the weekly program "NTN Showcase," which features a talk show followed by classic films which utilize descriptive video. Gregory Frazier, Co-Director of the AudioVision Institute at San Francisco State University's School of Creative Arts, was honored for the "original concept and need for television for the visually impaired." Dr. Barry Cronin, Executive Director of Market Development and Technology at WGBH-TV, Boston, accepted an Emmy on behalf of PBS, which carries Descriptive Video Service. Says Dr. Pfanstiehl: "As the population ages, more and more people have less and less vision. Audio Description...is a service whose time has come in fulfilling the obligations of the new Americans with Disabilities Act." FAMILY FORUM "BOOMERANG!" MAGAZINE: ENTERTAINING EDUCATION ON CASSETTE by Nicole E. Willson If you're worried that your children are more interested in the next episode of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" than in current events, the producers of "Boomerang" magazine are hoping to surprise you. The magazine's aim is to present current events in a manner that children will understand and enjoy. In addition, the magazine's audiocassette format makes its informative stories especially accessible to blind and visually impaired children. David Strohm, president of the company which produces "Boomerang," came up with the idea for the magazine when his eight-year-old daughter began asking him complicated questions about the Berlin Wall. He realized that although children are interested in current events, they often don't receive information about them in a form they can understand. Strohm's work in audio products gave him the idea for a magazine on cassette, and "Boomerang" premiered in September of 1990. "Boomerang" is a monthly magazine which can be purchased on a subscription basis. The sample copy which I received covered topics as diverse as the Berlin Wall, the life cycle of cicadas, and the meaning of the word "ranarium." The stories are all narrated by children who sound to be the same age as the magazine's target audience, children who are seven to ten years old. Included with the cassette is a print newsletter which features a quiz-type game about the stories on the tape, as well as a reading list which recommends books that are relevant to the stories on the cassette. According to Clarissa Lee Shetler, the magazine's director of public relations, "Boomerang" has recently covered issues such as the First Amendment and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In upcoming issues, "Boomerang" will also focus on such contemporary topics as drug abuse and cigarette smoking. For the most part, I felt that "Boomerang" has done a good job of making complex issues entertaining and interesting. I was especially impressed by how well "Boomerang" has tailored itself to its young audience. A message on the cassette cover urges the listener not to play the entire tape in one sitting, good advice for those with MTV- sized attention spans. Also, a narrator on the tape suggested that listeners play back a story about the Berlin Wall that even I was having difficulty following. The sound effects, such as the trademark "boomerang" sound, are well done, and the overall audio quality is good. The biggest problem I had with the cassette was that the enunciation of two of the young narrators was at times difficult to understand. In addition, the sound quality on one story about teenage rappers was rather muddy. And, inevitably, I found some stories to be more interesting than others. I feel that "Boomerang" does best when it sticks to its stated aim of relating current events and downplays the "Sesame Street"-style entertainment songs, which I didn't find all that entertaining. Also, it's worth noting that the print in the newsletter accompanying "Boomerang" is most likely too small to be read by a visually-impaired child, and would require the help of a sighted parent or friend. Overall, though, I feel that "Boomerang" is a worthwhile investment for parents, especially those having difficulty finding reading material for blind and visually-impaired children. I also appreciate that its producers credit children with enough brains and awareness to be interested in current events. For those who would like to give "Boomerang" a spin, the current subscription rate is thirteen issues for $39.95, or a trial subscription of three issues for $12.95. Anyone interested can write to BOOMERANG! Magazine, 123 Townsend, Suite 636, San Francisco, CA 94107 or call (800) 333-7858. A SYNTHESIZER GREAT FOR PEOPLE ON THE GO By Nolan Crabb Many computer industry pundits have declared the 1990's "the decade of the portable computer." Those predictions are coming true as computers get faster and smaller. It seems only logical, then, that synthesizers would shrink and improve along with other components. Computer Conversations, a suburban Columbus, Ohio-based software producer, has jumped into the synthesizer hardware market with the Verbette Mark I and Mark II, respectively an internal and external synthesizer. The Verbette Mark II is an incredibly small external synthesizer. It fits easily into the palm of a hand, runs on either electricity or a nine-volt transistor radio battery, and plugs into the parallel printer port on IBM and IBM-compatible computers. For folks on the go, or anyone who transfers a synthesizer between the computer at work and the one at home, the Verbette Mark II's size will be an immediate attraction. For computer beginners, the Mark II is almost stark in its simplicity of installation and use. The synthesizer offers no bells and whistles--no dip switches or jumpers to worry about; the synthesizer doesn't even have a volume control. All the features-- speed, pitch, and volume--are controlled from the computer keyboard. The synthesizer features a fingernail on/off switch and three receptacles--one for the cable which connects the synthesizer to the printer port, one for the electrical power source, and one for the external speaker or headphones. Clayton Hutchinson, president of Computer Conversations, recommends using the Verbette Mark II with an amplified speaker for better sound. That's probably a good idea. I tested the review unit ACB received on unamplified speakers. The result was an understandable, albeit raspy voice. The unit sounded reasonably good with light stereo headphones or an earphone. Battery installation is simple. If you've ever inserted one of those flat nine-volt batteries into a small radio, you can install the battery in the Verbette Mark II. The removable cover is clearly marked. If you're planning a marathon computer session using the synthesizer's battery, you may want to have more than one battery on hand. Of course, the battery life of the synthesizer won't affect your computer's actual performance. MIXED RESULTS The Verbette Mark II connects to the computer through the parallel printer port. That means the port must be completely IBM compatible. One Verbette user reported a problem getting the synthesizer to talk to an Epson Equity II Plus computer. Fortunately, the problem was easily resolved by his dealer, who installed a new parallel port in the machine. Computer Conversations reports, however, that incompatibility problems are extremely rare and usually easily resolved. At present, the Verbette Mark I and Mark II are driven exclusively by Computer Conversations's Verbal Operating System. If you use another software program to make your computer talk, you'll have to learn VOS. If you already use Hutchinson's program, the jump to the Verbette synthesizer won't pose a problem. You'll only have to learn a few new alt-function key combinations, and the Verbette speaks those keys when you depress them, so the learning curve is smaller than the synthesizer for people currently using Computer Conversations's products. While the synthesizer may be big on portability, it's small on pronunciation and clarity at times. That's not the software driver's fault. Hutchinson's VOS software can be used with other synthesizers and can drive other synthesizers with excellent clarity. The pronunciation problems lie within the Verbette chips. The review unit I tested pronounced "watch" like "lots." It pronounced the letter X as "echsh." The Verbette also lacks the inflection of the Votalker or other similarly designed synthesizers. What the Verbette lacks in pronunciation quality, it more than makes up for in durability, portability, and ease of use. I deliberately dropped our review unit several times from varying heights onto hard surfaces. The little Verbette took the jolts with no discernible ill effects. Hutchinson's software is quite transparent and easy to use. The version sold with the Verbette Mark I and Mark II allows the user to create a pronunciation dictionary which is accessed each time the synthesizer and software are activated. The dictionary is a great feature which adds value to the Verbette. It's easy to create, and there's no limit on its size. Hutchinson offers the Verbette free to people buying his Verbal Operating System software for the first time. The software costs $500, and payment plans are available. The company offers coupons which may be redeemed for the free synthesizers. The synthesizers normally cost $250 for the external Mark II and $350 for the internal Mark I. Hutchinson included some of his coupons in the review unit I tested. By and large, the Verbette synthesizers are a good bet for people who need portability and don't mind dealing with some pronunciation quirks. Hutchinson continues to update and enhance the Verbette, so the day may soon come when the tiny synthesizer will make a big difference in the access technology marketplace. AFFILIATE PROFILE: SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS: PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE By Pamela Shaw, President, ACBSSP Child abuse, AIDS, homelessness, and private practice are only a few of the compelling topics discussed when a group of social workers gather to talk about critical issues which confront them daily. While the topics they discuss are noteworthy, the most significant factor in the discussions is that all of the participants are blind or otherwise visually impaired. While they share the same profession, they have common experiences and concerns as service providers who are also disabled. It was this type of discussion that sparked the formulation of one of the newest and fastest growing special-interest affiliates of the American Council of the Blind--ACB Social Service Providers. Formally chartered at ACB's 29th Annual National Convention in Denver last summer, ACBSSP's purpose is to promote full participation by visually impaired social service professionals in the field of social welfare. To this end, ACBSSP plans to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with professional organizations such as the National Association of Social Workers. ACBSSP will emphasize enhanced educational experiences by working directly with schools of social work throughout the country. To ensure greater access to employment opportunities, ACBSSP will establish its own job bank. These activities are particularly critical in light of the legal regulation of social service practice and related continuing education requirements. The membership of this organization is as varied as its name implies. Members include social workers, social service professionals, and students pursuing careers in social welfare. Practice settings and types of employment are diverse indeed. Members work in hospitals, schools, and local, state, and federal agencies. ACBSSP members are caseworkers, mental health counselors, supervisors, and teachers. They possess degrees in social work, education, psychology, and vocational rehabilitation. Services are rendered to children, families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Helping is a major theme of social welfare. ACBSSP helps by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. Each year, ACBSSP holds its annual conference concurrently with the ACB annual convention. A quarterly newsletter is published on cassette. "All of us went into this field to be of help and service to others," says Joyce Driben, founding president of ACBSSP, "and we can help ourselves by sharing information and supporting each other's endeavors." For further information about ACBSSP and its activities, contact Pamela Shaw, President, ACBSSP, 8750 Georgia Ave., 721A, Silver Spring, MD 20910. HERE AND THERE By Elizabeth M. Lennon BVA SCHOLARSHIPS The Blinded Veterans Association announces the availability of eight $1,500 scholarships under the Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program for the 1991-92 academic year, according to a press release. Dependent children or spouses of blinded veterans are eligible for the scholarships. The veteran must be legally blind, but the blindness does not have to be service connected. The veteran need not be a member of the BVA. Applicants must have been accepted or be already enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher education or business, secretarial or vocational training school. Scholarship payments will be made directly to the educational institution. Applications for the scholarship may be obtained from The Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program, Blinded Veterans association, 477 H. St. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2694. Completed applications and supportive materials must be returned to the BVA by no later than April 15, 1991. ADA INFO AVAILABLE To help individuals with disabilities understand the Americans With Disabilities Act and their rights under this law, the Department of Justice has developed technical assistance materials and established an ADA information line, according to a letter from the justice department. The technical assistance documents are: "ADA Pamphlet" (summary of the major points of the act), "General Fact Sheet" (general information about the ADA), "Public Accommodations Fact Sheet" (information about the public accommodations provisions in the act), and "Statutory Deadlines Fact Sheet" (listing of when the various provisions of the statute become effective). These documents are available in regular print, large print, braille, audio tape, computer disk, and electronic bulletin board. Copies of these materials can be ordered from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office on the Americans With Disabilities Act, P.O. Box 66118, Washington, DC 20035-6118. The department's information line can be reached by calling (202) 514-0301 (voice), (202) 514-0381 (TDD), (202) 514-0383 (TDD), and (202) 514-6193 (electronic bulletin board). The information line operates Monday through Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time. AFB JOB OPENING The American Foundation for the Blind is seeking applications from interested candidates who qualify for the position of president/executive director. According to a press release from the foundation, the appropriate candidate has an advanced degree and successful experience in education or rehabilitation of persons with visual impairment. Broad knowledge and understanding of the present and future direction for delivery of quality services is vital. The candidate should possess demonstrated leadership abilities in present and previous positions and in professional organizations. The ability to monitor the budgetary process of a large national organization is essential. Applicants must be skilled in oral and written communication with a variety of audiences. The position is open until an appropriate candidate is identified. Send letter of intent and resume to Mr. Michael M. Maney, Sullivan and Cromwell, 125 Broad St., New York, NY 10004. AFB is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer. LARGE PRINT CALENDARS South Dakota Industries for the Blind now offers three large print items: A 1991 calendar, an address book, and a check register. The calendar displays one week per page; the address book can display one name/address per page. Each features extra large print on one side of 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper. The check register provides space to record 12 checks/deposits on each side of an 8-1/2 by 11 inch page. The calendar costs $5.50; the address book is $4.50; the check register is $3.50 (plus 50 cents handling per order). Order from SDAB Gadgetry Program, 3901 S. Hawthorn Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57105. Tel. (605) 338-9310. For price quotes on large quantity orders call (605) 339-6583. HIGHBROOK LODGE Highbrook Lodge will open its summer camp sessions on June 14, according to a press release. The lodge will host seven sessions between June 14 and August 18, 1991. Camp guests will include infants, children, young adults, and adults. Seminars dealing with adjustment to blindness will be featured. For more information, contact Bashir A. Masoodi, Cleveland Sight Center, University Circle, P.O. Box 1988, 1909 E. 101st St., Cleveland, OH 44106. Tel. (216) 791-8118. BLACK HILLS VACATION A unique week-long vacation for visually impaired persons is being planned by Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D., for late July 1991. The vacation features dormitory housing, most meals on campus, classes on a variety of interesting subjects, tours of many Black Hills attractions, and other recreational options. Among classes being considered are: History of the Black Hills, Current Events, and creative writing. According to Mrs. Verla Fish, summer activities coordinator at the university, the choice of subjects will depend on the preferences of those registering in advance. Morning classes will leave afternoons free for tours and social events. Student volunteer readers, escorts, and tour guides will be provided. The vacation cost had not been fully decided at press time, but planners estimate a $325 charge per person. The fee includes housing, meals, tour fees, and transportation to and from the airport in Rapid City, S.D. To receive an application and details, contact Mrs. Verla Fish, Coordinator, Extension Summer Sessions, University Station, Box 9508, 1200 University St., Spearfish, SD 57799-9508. Tel. (605) 642-6771. WILDERNESS ADVENTURES Wilderness Inquiry II, an organization which designs outdoor trips for non-disabled and disabled people, plans a full winter and spring schedule. Tours include Rocky Mountain dog sledding, kayaking in Utah, touring Australia, wintering at Boundary Waters and Wolf Ridge, and more. Contact Wilderness Inquiry II, 1313 Fifth St. S.E., Suite 327, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Tel. (612) 379-3858. SAIL ON The New Zealand Council for Sailing for Vision Impaired Persons, Inc., is organizing sailing competitions for visually impaired people in a regatta scheduled for February 1992 in Auckland, New Zealand. Blind and visually impaired people are urged to contact the New Zealand Council to offer support, express interest in competing or offer assistance with the regatta. The council plans a series of races held over a week. For more information, write Beth A. Baylay, Secretary, New Zealand Council for Visually Impaired Persons, Inc., Kanuka Road, RD2, Warkworth, New Zealand. HELP WITH TRAVEL PLANS Uniglobe All Points Travel offers customized travel itineraries for people with disabilities traveling individually or in groups, according to a company press release. The agency identifies airlines, airports, trains, hotels, cruise ships and car rental companies with suitable access and facilities for disabled travelers. The international database includes lists of domestic and foreign tour companies providing services to disabled people. Uniglobe also provides a toll-free help line travelers can call for emergency assistance in solving problems encountered en route. The agency prints itineraries and other documents in braille; it is located in a wheelchair accessible building. For more information, contact Uniglobe All Points Travel, Inc., Spectrum Office Centre, 175 Olde Half Day Rd., Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Tel. (708) 913-9776 (voice) (708) 913-9764 (TDD) TRAVEL EXCHANGE World Exchange is an organization which places disabled and non- disabled travelers with host families in foreign countries, according to "Perspectives," the newsletter of the Michigan Library for the Blind. The program seeks to place disabled people with families who have experience with similar disabilities. World Exchange accepts travelers who are at least 15 years old. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Contact Aileen Marcus, Director, World Exchange, Programs for People With Physical Disabilities, White Birch Rd., Putnam Valley, NY 10579. Tel. (914) 526-2299. BOUND FOR GREECE Blind and visually impaired travelers planning to visit Greece may be interested in the services of Travel Now, a company which provides programs and services designed for blind and partially sighted travelers. According to a letter from the company, tours will be organized on either an individual or group basis. Those involved in organizing the tours are themselves blind. For additional information, contact Mrs. Rania Kyriakou, Travel Now, 31 Veranzerou St., Athens 10432 Greece. Tel. (Greece number only) 52 29 040 fax, 522-3696. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS A group of disabled and non-disabled young adults will visit the USSR in July. The group is sponsored by Mobility International USA. Applicants should be between 16 and 22 years old. Older people may be included if space permits, according to a press release from Mobility International USA. The organization's goal is to send people with a variety of disabilities as well as non-disabled people. The tour will cost approximately $2,500, and some scholarships are available. MIUSA also plans to host a leadership conference exchange involving 10 people from Mexico and 10 from the United States. The group will gather in Eugene, Ore., for three weeks of leadership skill building, outdoor activities, and cross-cultural exchanges including exploring issues for disabled persons in both countries. Applicants should range in age from 18 to 26. Blind people are encouraged to apply. Some scholarships will be available. To request an application for either program, write MIUSA, P.O. Box 3551, Eugene, OR 97403. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and identify the program which interests you. Applications will be screened on a first-come first- serve basis. EXPECTATIONS AVAILABLE The Braille Institute of America announces "Expectations," a braille anthology of the latest children's literature. This marks the 42nd edition of the annual anthology, which originally began as a collection of Christmas poems and stories. This year's "Expectations" follows an international theme. To order, write to Douglas Menville, Braille Institute, 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029. NEW JERSEY DOG USERS ACB Member Christina Brino is interested in starting a New Jersey chapter of Guide Dog Users, Inc. Interested New Jersey residents should contact Brino at Riverside St. Clare Medical Center, 9 Pocono Rd., Denville, NJ 07834. Tel. (201) 625-9565. TRIBUTE TO BRAILLE Four Ohio youngsters won the ACB of Ohio's annual braille essay contest. Jamie Zadzilka, a fourth-grader at Parma's Forrest Elementary, Jennifer Struthers, a sixth-grader at Cleveland's Anthony Wayne Elementary, and twins Jasper and Arnisia Jackson, fifth-graders at Anthony Wayne, were honored in ceremonies at the ACBO convention in Columbus last fall. BRAILLE FROM USDA "Braille" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you hear the words "United States Department of Agriculture," but USDA officials are hoping to change that over the next decade. In a ceremony at USDA headquarters late this fall, USDA officials unveiled a braille edition of "Framework for Change," a document written to promote equal opportunity and civil rights issues within the department. In "Framework for Change," USDA officials frankly admit they have a long way to go before they are perceived as an organization which fully taps the potential of women, minorities, and people with disabilities. The first braille copy of "Framework for Change" was presented to ACB Member Denise Decker, a USDA employee. USDA officials say the braille edition symbolizes the department's desire to make information accessible to every American. CLOTHES IDENTIFIERS Code-A-Vision, Inc. offers Do-Dots, small brailled buttons designed to snap onto clothes, linens, or other types of cloth. One side of the clear button lists the design of the fabric, (plaids, stripes, etc.), and the other side identifies the color. The buttons are braille labeled and come with instructions for installing them on fabric. The buttons are laundry and dry clean safe. For more information, contact Code-A-Vision, Inc., P.O. Box 10506, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Tel. (305) 782-8433. The buttons cost $51.95 for 200 pieces. BRAILLE NEWSPAPER A braille daily newspaper containing stories from a print morning daily is now available in Hong Kong, according to a press release from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. "The Braille Post" is printed each work day and reaches nearly 500 people. The paper's stories are downloaded directly from the computers at Hong Kong's main English language daily, "The South China Morning Post." Stories are transferred from the paper's computer to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind's centralized braille production center. The high-speed modem used for the transfers was purchased for the society by "Boston Herald" Publisher Patrick Purcell. The "South China Morning Post" provides its stories to the society for the blind at no charge. According to the press release, the "New York Times" is the only American paper to express interest in the technology at present. NEW BOOK ON TAPE "The Professor's Family," an autobiography by Esther V. Taylor, is now available in recorded format from the National Library Service for the Blind, according to ACB Member Jeri Nold. Published in print by Vantage Press, the book details the experiences of Taylor and her four-member family, three of whom are blind. Written in novel form, the book covers Taylor's work as a concert violinist and teacher of the blind in Kansas. A long-time ACB member, 90-year-old Esther Taylor was the recipient of ACB's George Card Award in 1980. To order the book, contact your regional library. CCTV DISTRIBUTION Seeing Technologies, Inc. has established a national CCTV headquarters designed to distribute CCTV equipment. The company plans to buy used equipment which can later be resold. Lease and rental plans are also available. Seeing Technologies deals with both new and used equipment. For more information, write Seeing Technologies, Inc., 7074 Brooklyn Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55429. Tel. (612) 560-8080. DART DART TOURNAMENT The second annual Audio Dart Tournament will begin April 5 in Minneapolis, according to "Feeling Sports." There will be competition in Count-up, Team 501 and Individual 301. For more information, contact the Braille Sports Foundation, 7525 North St., Minneapolis, MN 55426. Tel. (612) 920-9363. A LAW TO PROMOTE BRAILLE B. H. and Carol Newman of Nashville, Tenn., are working closely with state legislators there to draft legislation which would encourage the teaching and use of braille in Tennessee schools. ACB members who have had experience in drafting similar legislation in their state should contact the Newmans with suggestions and copies of any drafted legislation. Contact B. H. and Carol Newman, 201 E. Palestine, Apt. F4, Madison, TN 37115. The Newman's interest is based on ACB Resolution 87-01, adopted at the ACB National Convention in Los Angeles. ACB MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE APPLICATIONS The American Council of the Blind Constitution and Bylaws provide that any person who has reached the age of 18 and who is not a voting member of an ACB state/regional affiliate is eligible to become an ACB member at large with the right to an individual vote at the ACB national convention. Annual membership at large dues are $5. Application forms for new members at large are available from the ACB National Office. The ACB Constitution and Bylaws further provide that all dues are to be received no later than 90 days prior to the ACB national convention; that is, in 1991, no later than Friday, March 15. All membership at large dues must be clearly identified as such and should be sent so as to be received no later than March 15, 1991, to American Council of the Blind, Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St., NW Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT ACB's Board of Publications is pleased to announce criteria for the 1991 Ned Freeman and Vernon Henley Media Awards. For the Freeman award, the Board of Publications will accept submissions from any writer on a topic that would be of interest to readers of The Braille Forum. Submissions may be published in the Forum depending on space. Articles published in the magazine between April 1990 and April 1991 are automatically eligible. Materials which have been published by an ACB affiliate will also be considered if submitted. When submitting previously published material, send a print or braille copy of the original manuscript along with the published article. The Vernon Henley Media Award will be presented to a person, either sighted or blind, who has created a radio, television or print media product conveying positive and useful information concerning blind people in general or the American Council of the Blind in particular. Submissions for the Ned Freeman award and the Vernon Henley Media Award must be postmarked no later than April 1, 1991 for the Henley award and April 30, 1991 for the Freeman award. All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter providing details about the submission, its origin, and any other pertinent information. Please include your return address in the cover letter. If you want your manuscript returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send submissions to ACB Board of Publications Awards, 1155 15th St. NW Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. AWARD-WINNING BOOK OFFERS WINNING JOB STRATEGIES By Nolan Crabb Almost from birth, most of us are repeatedly told to "never judge a book by its cover." In the case of "Take Charge: A Strategic Guide for Blind Job Seekers," one shouldn't judge the book by its funding source. Funded in part by the National Federation of the Blind, "Take Charge" is published by National Braille Press. Authors Diane Croft and NFB Member Rami Rabby worked jointly on the book, designed to help unemployed or under-employed blind people find or upgrade their job. Last year, "Take Charge" won a book award from the President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities, and if you read the book, you'll understand why. Many ACB members may pick up a copy of "Take Charge," glance at the funding sources, look at the names of the authors, and promptly close the book, determining that it's not for them. Such a quick determination would be a mistake. While the book draws heavily on quotes from members of the National Federation of the Blind, it also draws on quotes and anecdotes supplied by ACB members. The book is written in a crisp, snappy style. The Rabby/Croft team have taken great pains to provide essential information without slowing the pace of the book. For the most part, "Take Charge" avoids devoting huge amounts of space to touting NFB's philosophy. However, in one passage early in the book, rehabilitation workers are referred to as "rehabilitation custodians." While the book frequently mentions NFB's JOB seminars, it is not one gigantic commercial for the seminars or NFB in general. If it isn't any of those things, what is it? Well, first and foremost, it's exactly what it claims to be--a strategic guide for blind job seekers. It provides general job-seeking advice, but the authors are at their best when they get specific about advice regarding blindness. Perhaps one of the biggest assets this book offers is its sheer comprehensive coverage of its subject matter. The advice hits home often; indeed, successfully-employed blind people will probably nod their heads in agreement with nearly all of the advice offered, remembering that they used many of the very techniques espoused by the authors. "Take Charge" takes a hard look at things other books on blindness and employment barely consider. With ringing clarity, this book discusses the value of appearance at the interview and on the job. The book even deals with the importance of fitting in--going to the bar after work instead of working with a reader, for example, once the blind person has a job. Very few if any other "how-to" books on job- seeking for blind readers even touch on socialization. Yet every successfully employed blind person knows if you're not part of the rumor mill, so to speak, you could find yourself spiraling down while your colleagues are on the way to the top--and you can't always blame that on blindness. If there's a central theme that runs throughout "Take Charge," it is that the job-seeker should maintain ultimate control over the process. To that end, the book provides excellent advice on managing drivers and readers. "Take Charge" deals with the controversy of whether to disclose one's visual acuity in the resume. The subject is covered sensitively and thoroughly. The authors organized the information logically, presenting a virtual step-by-step process that makes sense. Their judicious use of anecdotes and reprints from other sources enhances the book. Rarely if ever does the book lose focus. Its attention to detail is excellent. For example, the authors encourage newly-hired blind employees to get the orientation done and the computer hooked up before the first day of work. A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM Throughout most of the book, the advice the authors pass along seems rock solid and well founded. But one chapter, which is devoted to discussing how employers feel about hiring blind people, seems a little thin in the credibility department. Admittedly, it would be extremely difficult to get an employer to go on the record and talk about his fears of hiring a blind worker. The authors decided to use quotes, but not to associate them with any names. The book's rock solid advice could have been even more solidified had the authors found someone--anyone--willing to associate his name with a quote. Readers learn very little about the criteria used to pick the employers who were interviewed. The book dealt somewhat with the issue of relocating, but a couple of additional paragraphs on the financial issue--when is relocating financially advisable--would have been nice. The book also failed to discuss how to handle on-site testing that often occurs immediately before or after an interview. In short, while "Take Charge" may not address every issue, it deals well with the issues it does address. Regardless of your affiliation or lack of it, much of the material in "Take Charge" can translate to job-finding or job-upgrading strategy. "Take Charge" is available in braille, (five volumes), on four- track half-speed cassettes, large print, and on MS-DOS compatible computer diskettes. The large print edition costs $23.95. Editions in all other media cost $19.95. To order, or for more information, contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115. Tel. (617) 266-6160. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: 1991 edition of The World Series Baseball Game and Information System for IBM PC and compatible computers. The game includes statistics on 74 pennant-winning teams, World Series historical data, information programs, hall of fame member listings, etc. Send a check for $15 to Harry H. Hollingsworth, 692 S. Sheraton Dr., Akron, OH 44319. Tel. (216) 644-2421. FOR SALE: IBM-compatible computer games, all work well with synthetic speech. Games include: Destination Mars, $20; Casino, $15; and Atlantic City Blackjack, $20.. Buyers may deduct $5 from the total price if purchasing two games or $10 from the total if buying all three. For more information or to order, contact Richard De Steno 20 Meadowbrook Rd., Short Hills, NJ 07078. Tel. (201) 375-7471. When ordering, send checks in the appropriate amount. Games will be sent on a 5.25 inch disk unless a 3.5 inch disk is requested. FOR SALE: Slim Speech Card and software, slightly used, $800, contact Deborah Jenkins, 2609 N. Janes Ln., Chester, VA 23831. Tel. (after 5 p.m. eastern time) (804) 748-8111. FOR SALE: General Electric Super Radio II, includes FM Atlas SCA circuitry which allows you to listen to many radio reading services in various cities around the country. The radio is extremely good at receiving regular AM and FM long-distance as well as local broadcasts. The radio is missing its telescoping antenna, but it has screws for an external antenna. None of the radio's internal circuitry is damaged in any way. $40 or best offer, includes shipping. Contact Nolan Crabb, American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Tel. (202) 467-5081 weekdays. WANTED TO BUY: Hall Braille Writer in good condition. Contact Raymond Washburn, 1916 21st, Oaklahoma City, OK 73139. Tel. (405) 525- 5231. CORRECTIONS The reference to Tri Visual Services "A Resource Guide to Computer Access for Visually Impaired People," "Here And There," September/October 1990, did not include the address for Tri Visual Services. The address is: Tri Visual Services, P.O. Box 221310, Sacramento, CA 95822. Tel. (916) 428-8602. In "Convention Round-up," (September/October 1990), the director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind was incorrectly listed as Bill Peterson. The director's name is Philip Peterson. He was referred to as "Phil" on the tape from which the story was transcribed. The Braille Forum apologizes to Mr. Peterson for this error. The item headlined "Taped Music Course," "Here And There," (November/December 1990), listed an incorrect telephone number for the National Library Service music section. The correct number is: (800) 424-8567. ACB Board Member Ninetta Garner's zip code was incorrect in the list of board members (November/December 1990). The correct zip code is 26757. ACB Board Member Jean Mann's address was incorrect in the same listing. Her correct address is: Jean Mann, 422 Sand Creek Rd., Apt. 230, Albany, NY 12205. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS P.O. BOX 24020 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73124 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 170 N.E. 123rd STREET NORTH MIAMI, FL 33161 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT CHARLES HODGE 1131 S. FOREST DRIVE ARLINGTON, VA 22204 SECRETARY PATRICIA PRICE RILEY TOWER 2, APT. 2300 600 N. ALABAMA STREET INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON