THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXI January 1993 No. 6 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 MS-DOS 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 has available 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, 6 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only Tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1993 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message Bush Honors Oral Miller News Briefs From the ACB National Office and Report on the 1992 Quadrennial Assembly of the World Blind Union Action Needed Now! Leave Your Heart in San Francisco ACB's Agenda for Change Should We Modify the Braille Code? ACB Scholarships Available to Blind Students Affiliate News Award Nominations Sought The First Blind Astronaut ACB Membership At Large Applications Go for the Job You Will Enjoy Here and There High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by LeRoy F. Saunders As you read this issue of "The Braille Forum," we will be preparing ACB's budget for the 1993 fiscal year. I will be holding meetings with staff and others in order to present recommendations to the budget committee for approval by the board of directors. ACB has achieved solid financial gains in 1992. We will have a surplus for the first time in years, due to increased income from thrift stores. I will recommend that a large part of our surplus be set aside and held in a reserve fund to be used only in an emergency. The board of directors would have to approve any use of this money. ACB is at a point where we need to do some real planning for the future. We need to have input from many members, and when a decision is made by the board of directors we all must support the plan. Our upcoming presidents meeting will serve as an excellent way for our presidents to pass along the suggestions of the members of their affiliates. Having money sometimes is as difficult as not having money, although certainly most people would rather cope with the problems of having money! The main difficulty lies in allocating available financial resources in a way that pleases as many people as possible. I hope I can develop a plan for ACB that will utilize our resources to their highest potential in order to carry out the goals and objectives of this organization. With the help of our members, staff, and board of directors, I am sure we can accomplish this. 1993 will be, at the least, a very interesting year. With so many new people in Congress and a new administration, we really have our work cut out for us. Now, more than ever, we need your help in getting acquainted with the new representatives from your states. We will need their support on many issues. Your voice will make a greater difference than you realize, since you can vote for them. The upcoming legislative seminar in March in Washington D.C., will be our chance to make ourselves known on Capitol Hill. Those who attend our affiliate presidents meeting next month will receive more details. I hope each state can send at least one delegate to this seminar. The legislative seminar will be an important way for you to work with your state government to improve services for blind people in your state. You can make a difference. Picture Caption ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders BUSH HONORS ORAL MILLER Oral O. Miller, national representative of the American Council of the Blind, received the Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States on December 8. The award was presented by Justin Dart, chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In addition to his duties with ACB, Miller is a member of the board of the Columbia Lighthouse. The Distinguished Service Award was presented as part of the Lighthouse's annual meeting in Washington. "It is my special privilege to be here today to represent President Bush in honoring Oral Miller," Dart said. He referred to Miller as "an all-American man," commending him for his efforts as a scout leader, current president of the United States Association for Blind Athletes and former president of the American Blind Bowling Association. He is a former vice president of the International Blind Sports Association. Oral Miller has served as ACB's national representative since 1981. Prior to that, he worked for the Small Business Administration, where he was named Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee of the Year in 1974. He has served as president of the American Blind Lawyers Association, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Miller has also served as a member of the ACB board of directors, chairman of the budget committee, national convention coordinator, and ACB president. Dart said Miller has ably represented ACB on numerous occasions before Congress and other official bodies and at a variety of international meetings. "He has been instrumental in the creation of, and advocacy for, virtually every significant piece of disability rights legislation in the past decade," Dart said. Dart said Miller has worked on such pieces of legislation as the reauthorizations of the Rehabilitation Act, the Air Carriers Access Act, the Fair Housing Amendments Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. "It has been my personal privilege to work closely with Oral Miller over the years," Dart recalled. "We've served together at international meetings in Japan and Canada; we worked together as the National Council on Disability wrote the original draft of the Americans with Disabilities Act; ... we marched together down Pennsylvania Avenue and up and down the halls of Congress, and did a hundred other things together in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Dart said Oral Miller has been "front row center in the most significant human rights revolution of the latter half of the 20th century." On a more personal note, Dart commended Miller for what he called a special quality. "In a city of flashy, flamboyant figures, Oral Miller is a constant, quiet power for justice," Dart said. "In a city of prima donnas who insist to be invited, but don't show up if they can be more visible elsewhere, Oral Miller is a constant quiet presence for justice. In a city where others shout about invasions of their turf and slights to their dignity, Oral Miller is a constant quiet voice for justice." "I'm certainly pleased that Oral is the recipient of this prestigious award," said ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders. " I'm sure I speak for the membership of the American Council of the Blind in offering my heart-felt congratulations." "It is a real genuine and sincere pleasure for me to accept this award," Miller said, "because in so many ways, I'm receiving this in behalf of countless others--disabled people and able-bodied people-- who've been working so long in the vineyard to bring about independent, dignified, and fully participating lives for the nation's 43 million disabled people." He said the award was made even more special by the fact that it recognizes work which he performed during difficult times when ACB was understaffed, forcing staff members to wear a variety of hats. "During one six-month period," he recalled, "I was out of the office attending something like 27 days of meetings connected with negotiating the federal regulations under the Air Carriers Access Act. Add to that the hundreds of hours which I was very honored and very fortunate to be able to dedicate towards working for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Miller said he plans to devote hundreds of additional hours to working on the promulgation of the thousands of pages of regulations that are available and those which will yet be written to implement the ADA. He commended the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind for "the positive, enlightened, and progressive attitude and policies which it has displayed and followed over the years as an advocate. ... It has supported not only the letter, but the policy and the intent behind legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act." Miller expressed his appreciation to Justin Dart for his efforts in behalf of disabled Americans. "It's been a pleasure and a real honor for me to be able to work along with a distinguished American citizen, a patriot and advocate such as Justin Dart. In this day and age, major legislation of the types that Justin outlined would not have been adopted had it not been for hard, hard work on both sides of the isle and on the part of people who have the recognition, knowledge, and wisdom of such people as Justin." The award which Oral Miller received was inscribed as follows: "The Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States cites Oral Miller for distinguished service to America in promoting the dignity, equality, independence, and employment of people with disabilities." Picture Caption Oral Miller receives the Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States from Justin Dart, chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE & REPORT ON THE 1992 QUADRENNIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD BLIND UNION by Oral O. Miller, National Representative Although most of this article will be devoted to the 1992 assembly of the World Blind Union, reference should be made to a few of the other important, recent activities involving National Office staff members. For example, much time has been spent on the ongoing issue of federal accessibility regulations, some of which are under attack from ideologues who continue to parrot the well-rehearsed line that blind people do not need such things as detectable orientation warnings. Much time was also spent by staff following the presidential election in communicating with transition personnel and others regarding transition issues. Also, Paul Schroeder and I had the rare opportunity following the election to hear luncheon presentations and a lively question and answer session involving four extremely prominent and knowledgeable members of the American media--Linda Wertheimer of National Public Radio, Paul Duke of public television and the Washington Week in Review, Hodding Carter (a columnist with the Wall Street Journal, well-known political analyst and producer of documentary films) and R. W. "Johnny" Apple (Washington Bureau Chief for the New York Times.) The American Council of the Blind has been an active member of the World Blind Union since its formation in 1984. In fact, it was my pleasure to draft the resolution and then preside over the meeting adopting that resolution to merge the International Federation of the Blind and the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind into the WBU. Following the very well funded, informative assembly held in Saudi Arabia in 1984, and the extremely well financed assembly held in Madrid in 1988, there was strong interest in holding the next assembly in a developing nation. Cairo, Egypt was selected as the site for the 1992 quadrennial assembly, which obviously received significant assistance from the Egyptian government but did not have the massive support and infrastructure enjoyed by the two preceding assemblies. The 1992 assembly, while continuing the practice of subsidizing representatives from smaller developing nations, planned a financially more modest activity, asked the more affluent members to provide additional assistance and required most attendees to pay almost all of their own expenses. The American Council of the Blind was represented at the 1992 WBU assembly, held from November 1 through November 6, by ACB First Vice President Paul Edwards as its Official Observer and by this writer as its delegate. The theme of the assembly, which was attended by representatives and observers from approximately 40 different nations, was "the challenge of rehabilitation for all towards the 21st century." It was housed and conducted in the very modern and comfortable Semiramis Inter-Continental hotel, which overlooked the Nile River and was located immediately adjacent to a very famous Muslim mosque. The assembly was hosted primarily by Dr. Mohammed El-Banna, consultant to rehabilitation to the Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs of the Republic of Egypt, and the opening session was greeted by, among other dignitaries, the first lady of Egypt, Her Excellency Lady Susan Mubarak. The keynote address was delivered by the Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs, Her Excellency Dr. Amal Osman. Much of the business of the 1992 WBU assembly, unlike its predecessors, consisted of reports by and limited discussion on various WBU committees. Among the works presented were those of the Committee on Aid to Developing Countries by Alan Johns and Aubrey Webson of the International Development Project sponsored by Hilton/Perkins, the Committee on the Status of Blind Women by Dr. Salma Maqbool, the Committee on Rehabilitation, Training and Employment by Lawrence Campbell and Robert Ransom of the International Labor Office, the Committee on Research, by Dr. John Gill, the Louis Braille Memorial Committee, by Marcel Herb, the Committee on Activities of Deaf-Blind Persons by Stig Ohlson, the Committee on Recreation and Leisure Activities by Alexander Neumyvakin, and the Social Development Committee by Suresh Ahuja. Reports were given by the chairperson of each WBU region concerning the activities within their regions during the preceding four years. During the elections for office for the next quadrennium, David Blyth of Australia was elected president (Duncan Watson of the United Kingdom was not eligible to serve another term); Dr. Rudolpho Catani of Italy was elected vice president in the only contested election; Dr. Euclid Herie of Canada was re-elected treasurer and Pedro Zurita of Spain was re-elected secretary general. A lengthy list of recommended amendments to the WBU Constitution was, generally speaking, rejected, due partly to a very crowded agenda and partly to confusion surrounding the circumstances under which the amendments were developed and publicized. During the assembly, the membership voted, pursuant to the recommendation of the treasurer, to increase dues of members formerly paying $400 to a total of $800-- consisting of $700 as dues plus a levy of $100 for a special fund to assist developing countries in sending members to required meetings. The dues of members formerly paying $250 were increased to $400 and the dues of members paying $100 were not changed. The annual budget for the next quadrennium is estimated to be approximately $270,000 the first year and $260,000 for each year thereafter. The dues of international members and associate members were also increased. The various increases are expected to yield additional income of approximately $80,000. Each member was urged to make a separate donation toward the expenses of the 1992 assembly in Cairo. Various organizations make donations from time to time for the support of favored projects such as the Louis Braille Memorial Home and Library in France. The WBU Assembly adopted nine resolutions. Resolution 92-01 opposed the trend toward cross- disability organizations as spokespersons for specific disabilities at national and international levels and called on the United Nations to recognize the WBU as the only consultative organizations concerning blind people internationally. Resolution 92.02 recognized the importance of specific/categorical interest organizations such as the International Blind Sports Association, urged that IBSA should continue as the supreme governing body concerning sports for the blind at the international level and affirm that its cooperation with other bodies such as the International Paralympic Committee should be consistent with this principle. Resolution 92.03 resolved that the WBU should continue to press the United Nations for the adoption of standard rules for equality of opportunity for disabled people and directed the WBU officers to work toward developing a specific social charter identifying the basic needs of blind people. Resolution 92.04 resolved to officially adopt a program of action to recognize and facilitate formal programs of institutional development in developing nations and directed the newly elected officers to consider this as the highest priority and responsibility. Resolution 92.05 reaffirmed a 1988 WBU resolution regarding the status of blind women, requested national affiliates to carry out projects to advance the status of blind women, requested the regional presidents to report on progress within the regions, and directed WBU to expand its programs to sponsor special projects such as leadership training for blind women. Resolution 92.06 resolved that WBU would support its regional unions in their production and support of braille literacy campaigns and promote the provision of basic equipment as well as technological resources to produce braille materials. Resolution 92.07 directed the officers to establish a special task force to make an in-depth study of the condition of elderly blind people and to determine short and long term strategies to meet the needs of elderly blind people. Resolution 92.08 requested the United Nations to recognize and declare October 13 of each year as United Nations White Cane Day. Resolution 92.09 extended thanks and appreciation to all those whose hard work made the assembly a success. The organizational resolutions are useless if they are not implemented and for that reason the WBU assembly adopted a coherent and well-considered plan of action, including strategies, target dates, proposed actions and, in some cases, positions and recommendations adopted by international conferences dealing with specific issues such as concerns of elderly blind people. The mission statement that was adopted describes the WBU as an international coalition of organizations of and for blind people which exists to actively promote the full participation and equalization of opportunities of blind people in society. The statement said also, "The WBU seeks to coordinate international activities concerning blind people to assure the human rights of blind people and to auspice studies and pilot projects of innovation in service delivery or peer support." The goals as adopted by the plan of action were: 1. Act as an information clearinghouse and facilitate communication between WBU members; produce The World Blind Magazine; provide articles and other contributions to pre-existing national and international organizations both within the blindness field and outside it and develop a series of pamphlets and posters about the WBU to disseminate information in as many languages as possible. 2. Develop resource networks and promote and strengthen national organizations. 3. Work for the enactment of equal rights legislation and work for the elimination of discriminatory laws and practices affecting blind people. 4. Raise awareness concerning prevention and cure of blindness. 5. Raise awareness on issues specific to blind people; advocate on their behalf and provide advice to United Nations agencies, governments and non-government organizations. 6. Seek out and mobilize resources at the local, national and international levels to support services to blind people. 7. Work for increased access by blind people to education, literacy, rehabilitation and employment training and work programs and services. 8. Optimize resource allocations through the identification of needs and the development of policies and guidelines for good practices in service delivery. 9. Promote the specific interests of disadvantaged groups among blind people. 10. Influence standards bodies, governments and manufacturers to develop and implement standards so that blind people can access their environment and the emerging technologies. 11. Support the Louis Braille Museum and White Cane Safety Day. Published as an addendum to the action plan was a set of recommendations adopted by the First International Conference on the Aged Blind, held in Kyoto and Nara, Japan, in 1991 and attended by an ACB delegation. Those recommendations included a call for: 1. An international demographic and social survey of the elderly visually impaired population and for the publication of a report thereof. 2. Further study to identify the nature and extent of services required by elderly visually impaired people generally and further study to ensure that services are developed to meet the cultural, financial and social needs of elderly visually impaired people whether they are living in the community or in institutional settings. 3. Special attention to be given to the following problems of elderly visually impaired people--social isolation, access to information, equity of access to medical, social and all other public services. 4. Greater encouragement and support by governments to promote the training of specialized staff to work with elderly visually impaired people and to improve the awareness of care-giving staff and other professionals for work with elderly visually impaired people. The WBU exhibit hall featured exhibits by approximately 30 exhibitors, most of whom came from Europe and many of whom highlighted computer systems and scanning systems not generally available in the U.S.A. One exhibitor displayed the new Porta- Thiel Braille Embosser, which weighs approximately eight pounds, and will emboss on large paper as well as small, can be carried in a leather carrying case and is soon to be distributed in the U.S.A. The hosting organization arranged for the attendees to travel to a nearby concert hall to hear a band recital by the Blind Women's Orchestra from the Nour Wal Amal Center for Blind Girls. Following the conclusion of the assembly the attendees were served a delicious dinner in two large floating restaurants which slowly cruised along the Nile River during the evening. Since the restaurants were totally enclosed by glass walls, the totally blind diners had to rely solely on descriptions by their sighted colleagues concerning the passing scenery. Many volunteers, such as college and professional students, were enlisted to assist with the assembly and both Mr. Edwards and I were fortunate to have been "informally adopted" by two young men who were studying physical therapy at a nearby university. The students made it possible for us to share cultural experiences that otherwise would have been difficult--e.g., strolling along the Nile River while receiving accurate descriptive information about the river traffic and surrounding scenery, shopping in an authentic bazaar and dining in a typical Egyptian restaurant as contrasted with the various restaurants in the ultra-modern Inter- continental Hotel. Both of us were ready, when the time came, to dine on the dish which our friends assured us is a tradition in Cairo--fried pigeon. Because of the crowded agenda and the great traveling distances involved both Mr. Edwards and I were very limited as to how much time could be devoted to leisure time sightseeing. However, during the one day available for such we, along with a handful of other conference attendees, took a commercial sightseeing tour to observe Egypt's world famous pyramids, many of which are located just a few miles outside of Cairo. The sightseeing guide discouraged anyone from opting to enter one of the pyramids that could be entered by the public; the guide warned that no one should enter if they were bothered by heart trouble, breathing difficulties, claustrophobia, fear of darkness, difficulty in walking, etc. Since no one else in our tour group cared to enter the tomb, Mr. Edwards and I, carrying only lightweight telescoping canes, chose to go by ourselves- -bending over to fit into the access tunnel which was approximately 48 inches high, traversing down steeply for several hundred feet before reaching the center chamber (where we could at least stand up straight), briefly examining that chamber (where the monies had originally been buried) and then proceeding back out through the same access tunnel. At our next stop in the area of the pyramids, I opted to take a ride on a camel and to experience the fun of negotiating with its owner and his assistant concerning the price of the very brief ride. (Inasmuch as camels are customarily kneeling when the rider gets on, do you have any idea whether the camel stands up on his hind legs or front legs first?) Next we visited the site of the mysterious Sphinx and concluded the tour by hearing an excellent lecture and observing an outstanding demonstration of papyrus "paper" being made. Appreciation is extended to Mr. Edwards for information which he has provided in the preparation of this article. Action Needed Now! by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs Blind people are not as accustomed to fighting for accessibility as some other groups, but if you have ever accidentally walked into a street because you didn't notice the curb ramp or, fallen off or come perilously close to the edge of a transit platform then you should be ready to fight, and fight hard, for accessibility. Why? Because a highly effective accessibility aid called a detectable warning is now widely available and its tactile and visual features are designed to assist people who are blind or visually impaired in recognizing curb ramps, uncurbed intersections and transit platform edges. However, as I have written before (see Warnings: Inaction May be Hazardous, October, 1992) this important accessibility standard is under attack. What can you do? Write a letter today describing the experiences and difficulties you have had as a blind pedestrian with curb ramps, uncurbed intersections and transit platforms! Have you unintentionally stepped into a street because there wasn't a curb to warn you or because you didn't notice the gradual slope of the curb ramp? Have you come close to walking off the edge of a transit platform in a rail station, or have you fallen off such a platform? Are you hesitant to use a rail transit system, especially an unfamiliar one, because of the possibility that you might inadvertently step off the edge of the platform? There is no stigma in admitting that one or more of these things has happened to you. Blind pedestrians must not be held to a standard which does not allow any mistakes or which does not acknowledge that the environment is full of distractions which may affect an individual's judgment. Mobility skills among blind people differ and the majority of people who are blind or visually impaired do not receive orientation and mobility training. Blind people have the right to expect the installation of accessibility features such as detectable warnings to help make travel more independent and safe, but we must take a stand in favor of accessibility and safety for people who are blind. To whom should these letters be written? We must write to any or all of the following federal agencies: Access Board, Department of Justice, and Department of Transportation. You will find their addresses at the end of this article. These agencies are responsible for designing or enforcing accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act Please send a copy of your letter to me at ACB. Action Needed! By the time you receive this copy of the Forum, the Access Board will have published its proposed accessibility guidelines for state and local government facilities under the ADA. Although the document was not available at the time this article was written (The Board expected it to be published in the Federal Register on December 21, 1992), it is expected that the proposed guidelines will not require detectable warnings on curb ramps and at uncurbed intersections. Yet, we know that blind people around the country have expressed themselves quite clearly that detectable warnings are helpful and are needed. Letters must be sent to the Access Board and the Department of Justice today asking that the final accessibility guidelines for state and local governments include a requirement for the inclusion of detectable warnings when these governments install curb ramps or uncurbed intersections. In addition, the Board will hold public hearings on its proposed accessibility guidelines for state and local government facilities in the following cities: Charlotte, N.C. and Denver, Colo., on February 22; St. Louis, Mo., on March 1; Washington, D.C., on March 8: and, San Francisco, Calif., on March 15. Individuals can testify at these hearings. On November 17, 1992, the Department of Transportation (DOT) weighed in by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register for the purpose of delaying the required installation of detectable warnings along platform edges in key rail transit stations until January 1995. Under the current DOT regulations implementing the ADA, transit authorities are supposed to install certain accessibility features in key rail stations--including detectable warnings along platform edges--by July, 1993. In the proposal the Department reiterated its absolute support for detectable warnings along platform edges in passages such as this one, "Having an adequate detectable warning system is a vital safety matter for blind and visually impaired passengers." DOT also makes clear that the cost of detectable warnings is not an issue. And, the Department continues to require warnings on newly built or altered platforms. However, the Department proposes to delay the installation of detectable warnings on existing transit platforms because of concerns which have been registered about the available warning products, "The Department believes that rail operators may need additional time to resolve concerns over adhesion, durability, and maintainability of detectable warning materials in the context of key station modifications." The Department asks if the 18-month period will "provide sufficient time for the retrofit- related concerns about detectable warnings to be resolved? Are there ways of resolving these concerns that could involve less than an 18-month period? Comments should be sent by January 19, 1993, preferably in triplicate, to Docket Clerk, Docket No. 48463, Department of Transportation. The lives of blind transit passengers--and other passengers for that matter--should not be put in jeopardy because of the kind of concerns cited in the proposed rule. Adhesives and tiles are available which can meet durability and performance requirements. It is the responsibility of transit authorities to establish adequate requirements in contracts for the installation of detectable warnings. People who are blind or visually impaired who have experienced falls or near falls on transit platforms, or individuals who are hesitant to venture into a rail system because of the fear of such a mishap, must immediately let the Department know that our safety and independence has been put on hold for long enough and 18 more months for transit authorities to drag their feet is inappropriate and unnecessary. We must vigorously express our mobility and access concerns, and we must do so now. Communities can be safer and more accessible places for all people with disabilities, but if people who are blind or visually impaired do not become more assertive in advocating for accessibility we will be left out of the "accessible society." Send Letters to These Agencies The Access Board, 1331 F. Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. You can get a copy of the proposed accessibility guidelines for state and local governments in various accessible formats by calling the Board at (202) 272-5434 or call (toll-free) 1-800-872-2253. United States Department of Justice, Office on the ADA, P.O. Box 75087, Washington, DC 20013. United States Department of Transportation. 400 7th Street, SW., room 4107, Washington, DC, 20590. If you would like further information about accessibility, or if you want to discuss these issues in more detail, please feel free to contact Patricia Beattie, ACB's new Environmental Access Committee Chair during the evenings at (703) 521-4144, or Paul Schroeder during the day by calling the ACB National Office at (202) 467-5081, or toll- free after 3:00 p.m. eastern time at 1-800-424-8666. LEAVE YOUR HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO by John V. Lopez San Francisco, Calif., will be the site of the 1993 American Council of the Blind 32nd annual convention. As president of the California Council of the Blind, I cordially welcome all of you to celebrate the greatest convention ever. The CCB is proud to host this most important and educational event for blind people which occurs during the week of July 3 to 10, 1993, at the Airport Marriott Hotel near San Francisco. As the chairman of the hospitality committee for this outstanding national event, I will be happy to make your stay a most enjoyable one. San Francisco was discovered in 1769 by Don Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish soldier. This was a surprising discovery, since explorers and navigators had missed the harbor for 200 years. In 1775, the first vessel to pass through the Golden Gate and anchor in the Bay was the little caravel, San Carlos. In 1847, only 850 persons lived on the shores of the Bay. But gold was discovered by James Wilson Marshall in Sutter's Mill the following year. The adventurers of the world headed for the Golden Gate, and hundreds of thousands of people crowded the San Francisco peninsula. The charm of its waterfront, its famous restaurants, and its colorful history have made San Francisco the great "story city" of America. Mark Twain and Jack London are among the many authors who have set stories in this famous city. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west. The great bay lies north and east of the city. The bay is spotted with famous islands such as Alcatraz, Angel Island, Mare Island, Yerba Buena, and man-made Treasure Island. San Francisco's land and water area is about 93 square miles. Buildings cling to the sides of the steep hills at the top of the peninsula on which the city lies. Cable cars, a distinctive feature of San Francisco, are used to climb the grades. During the week of the ACB convention, you will have the opportunity to visit some of the world-renowned sites included in the tours offered in the convention's agenda, including a trip to Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island, some of the famous restaurants, exclusive shops, and more. To avoid the last-minute rush and difficulty securing a hotel reservation, make your plans now to attend this inspiring ACB convention. You will experience a week filled with informative sessions, seminars, tours, and the opportunity to join old friends and make new ones. Most likely, after spending an exhilarating week in the "story city," you will leave your heart in San Francisco. Reservations can be made at the Airport Marriott Hotel by calling (415) 692-9100. The Weston Hotel, ACB's backup hotel, can be reached at (415) 692-3500. For flight arrangements and travel information, contact International Tours, Inc., of Muskogee, Okla., at (800) 847-7676. Oklahoma residents call (800) 722-9822. ACB's Agenda for Change by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs The American Council of the Blind has, over the years, established a diverse and progressive agenda calling for change and improvement in our society. This is an excellent time to examine that agenda as a new Administration and Congress get to work. Access to the Environment For more than 15 years, ACB and its members have been working to make buildings and communities more "user friendly" for people who are blind or visually impaired. We have pushed for Braille and large print elevator indicators and signage, detectable warnings, audible traffic signals and, more recently, audible signage. We are now fighting to hang on to some of the hard won gains we have made over the past few years (see Action Needed Now!, This Issue). At the same time, technological advances and increased sensitivity to accessibility needs have accelerated interest in and potential use of innovative accessibility aids such as audible information signage and traffic signals. Our organization remains committed to deploying these aids to increase independence and accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as for people with a variety of other disabilities. Access to Information ACB has called for improvements in telecommunications services and policies. To ensure that individuals with disabilities are part of the future of telecommunications, all new telecommunications equipment and network services must be required to be accessible to people with disabilities, either directly or through inexpensive peripherals. Everything from the basic business directory or bus schedule to an entire library of material could be at our "fingertips." Standard print documents are slowly being replaced by a host of more "lively" formats which involve electronic files. Increasingly, such electronic files (computer disks) are an excellent bridge between printed material and the production of materials in various alternative formats, including the files themselves. Communications technology is rapidly evolving and if accessibility is made a priority the vast majority of magazines, books, manuals and other such material could be made accessible for people with disabilities. One possible incentive which could encourage such developments is a permanent research and development tax credit for companies that invest in new and innovative technologies, including technology which fosters information and other accessibility for people with disabilities. ACB and its members are also committed to improving access to information by fostering the expansion of video description services and encouraging television broadcasters to include an audio announcement along with on-screen visual information. Finally, developing a workable and effective means to provide tactile identification of the United States currency is also a long-term goal of ACB. We will be working with Congress and government agencies to reexamine this issue. The continuing effort to mint an easily identifiable one-dollar coin is a logical component of this overall goal of "accessible" currency. Appropriations for Services to Older Blind ACB has struggled for a long time to achieve comprehensive independent living services to assist older individuals who lose their sight. The newly reauthorized Rehabilitation Act allows for a formula grant program which, if enough money is made available, would allow all states to establish programs to provide independent living services to the large population of older individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The formula takes effect when $13 million is appropriated. Currently, the program is funded at $6.9 million. A modest increase of about $6 million in federal funds for this program must be one of our priorities as we work to see that all blind people receive the services they need to be independent and productive. Education While ACB supports the requirement for a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment now embodied in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the organization also believes that individuals should be educated in the "most enabling environment." We must continue our advocacy efforts to ensure that children who are blind or visually impaired receive the best education possible, including the specific services and supports which they may need, e.g., Braille, technology, orientation and mobility and low-vision services. Education reform should reaffirm that residential schools, resource rooms in public schools, special education teachers and support personnel and specialized classes all may be appropriate in the education of certain children. Employment The primary employment and training initiative for people with disabilities, the Rehabilitation Act, has been reauthorized. Now efforts shift to ensuring that state agencies properly carry out the mandate for change and improvement embodied in the new Act. Central to this mandate is the requirement that individuals with disabilities play a central role in their individual case decisions and in agency policy and administrative decision-making. On other fronts, the Council continues to advocate for a more liberal substantial gainful activity level under the Social Security Disability Insurance program so that blind people, as well as people with other disabilities can become employed. In addition, we support the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit which provides employers with an incentive to hire people with disabilities. ACB remains a vigorous proponent of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program including ongoing action to secure more aggressive commitment to the program by federal and state agencies and an appropriation of federal funds to support expansion of vending facilities. The Council also continues its support for the employment and training opportunities made available under the Javitz-Wagner-O'Day Act, including support for both the advancement of blind employees into management positions within the industries participating in this program and the provision of assistance to those interested in finding competitive employment. Finally, vigorous implementation and enforcement of the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act offer tremendous hope for increased employment through nondiscrimination and the requirement for necessary reasonable accommodations. Health Care ACB has called for comprehensive health care reform. Such reform, including our position that the following services should be available as part of a comprehensive health care package: low-vision services and devices, prosthetics, pharmaceuticals, and orientation and mobility and other rehabilitation services. Transportation A truly national, comprehensive transit policy is needed. Such a policy should support the development and implementation of a variety of travel options for individuals. ACB has expressed support for an increase in the ratio of federal and other governmental support for public transportation as compared with support for highways; and, the development of needed demand-response (or paratransit) transportation alternatives especially critical for people living in rural or suburban areas. In addition, inter-city travel options should be improved by promoting innovative options such as accessible high-speed rail and high tech, short-haul aircraft, along with support for conventional approaches such as bus and rail systems. The 103rd Congress Democrat and Republican members of the United States House of Representatives met in early December to begin organizing for the 103rd Congress. Most of their attention was focused on procedural rules and committee membership. Much of this work will not be finalized until January, 1993. Many of the issues included in ACB's agenda will require legislative action. In the House, the following Committees will be key to our efforts: Appropriations, federal spending; Education and Labor, education reform and employment initiatives; Energy and Commerce, health care and information accessibility; Public Works and Transportation, transportation policy; Ways and Means, health care, Social Security reform and tax policy. Picture Captions Rep. William H. Natcher, D-Ky., chairs the Appropriations Committee. Rep. William D. Ford, D-Mich., chairs the Education and Labor Committee. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Norman Y. Minneta, D-Calif., chairs the Public Works and Transportation Committee. SHOULD WE MODIFY THE BRAILLE CODE? by Christopher Gray AS ACB's official representative to the Braille Authority of North America and the Treasurer of the Braille Revival League, I want to take this opportunity to share with the ACB membership the present state of braille in this country. As you will see, the situation remains poor for those who believe that literacy for blind people is absolutely essential. Bleak though the picture is in certain respects and though braille remains under attack in many quarters, much excellent work is being done that will improve the situation if we are lucky and smart enough to do the work properly. In the coming years, I will be asking for the help of ACB members and friends to truly improve the usability of braille. Fewer and fewer students are learning braille in today's school and rehabilitation settings. Fewer and fewer teachers are being given the skills to help those students who insist upon it to learn braille. In our vocational rehabilitation system, braille is largely ignored and criticized as an unlearnable and unneeded skill for blind adults and seniors. Apparently, people who cannot see don't need to read or write! These are well- known problems for the braille system in this country. The Braille Revival League has sought to rectify some of these difficulties. As we have tackled these problems, a troubling reality has presented itself. What can we meaningfully do to reverse this dangerous and debilitating scenario? We hear from educators in the field that there are so few blind kids who can use braille that teachers can't keep their braille skills up to speed and do all their other work as well. We hear from parents who are told by school administrators that there are too many braille codes, and that their children are better served with books on cassette and personal readers. We hear from rehabilitation staff that adults don't have time to learn braille before rejoining the work force, and that the rehabilitation centers don't have enough staff or money to teach such a complex and archaic skill. Indeed, there are many reasons--legitimate and otherwise--why braille is far less available today. In part, it has to do with the "quick fix" mentality of administrators and bureaucrats. It has to do also with the attractiveness of technology which everybody hopes will solve all problems regardless of their nature. Unfortunately, some hard work and commitment are required for any system of reading and writing that provides true literacy. Braille is no exception. One must come back to the point that braille is still in serious trouble. It is in jeopardy as a legitimate code. This danger is not diminishing despite all our efforts to date. Braille Literacy Week is an excellent example of a community effort that can have tremendous benefit. Many other things can and must be done to remedy this situation. In the remainder of this article, I want to discuss work that is progressing on a possible scheme to unify and thereby simplify braille as we know it today. If successful, this unification and the resulting simplification of braille could prove invaluable to teachers and new readers of braille. In addition, a unified code will be devised so that present readers are not penalized. Please note that modifications to the braille music code are not included in this discussion. As ACB's representative to the Braille Authority of North America, I have worked hard to promote the idea of braille code unification. If this can be done, the code will be far easier to teach and to learn. If such a simplification does not occur, we may not be able to reverse the slide of braille toward obscurity and future demise. At the present time, we have a literary code, a textbook code which adds rules for more formal materials, the Nemeth code which is primarily used for mathematics, and a computer braille code that spans all the other codes. In addition, there is a linear braille code as a subportion of the literary code, variants of the textbook code for the brailling of foreign languages to be read by English-speaking readers, an ancient numeration methodology which is an addendum to the Nemeth code, and one published guideline for raised line drawings which is not a full-fledged code, but important for readers and transcribers to understand. In addition to these adopted codes, transcribers and readers are using extensions of currently existing codes for the brailling of chemistry and linguistics. In a plea for a new logic for braille, Dr. Abraham Nemeth has said that we "are creating a Tower of Babel" and this cannot go on unchecked or reorganized in some coherent fashion. The surrounding history and difficulties which have led us to this situation have been laid out much more fully in documents that will appear in future issues of the "Braille Memorandum," the official publication of the Braille Revival League. But from this simple recital of facts, it is easy to see how many can view the braille system as being overly complex and poorly organized. In an attempt to come to grips with these various codes and the difficulties that readers, teachers, and transcribers have in using them, the Braille Authority of North America has devised a plan to attempt the creation of a unified code that can gather together these various separate and sometimes conflicting codes. Whether this effort will be successful is very difficult to know at this time. The unification project will span the next five years. It must pass many milestones. There will be several trials of the new ideas in this code by consumers, teachers, and transcribers. The plan for the unified code can cause no major changes to existing Grade Two braille. What is being proposed is not a new braille code. Rather, it is a set of required but probably minor modifications that will allow for a wholesale reorganization of the several braille codes existing today. We hope this will restore order to what is becoming increasingly chaotic. The Braille Authority of North America is committed to creating a set of modifications that is completely understandable by present readers. In the years to come, there will be many opportunities for you to be exposed to the changes that will be proposed and tested as a part of the reorganization of braille. We hope to develop a unified code that will be considered as readable and much more teachable than is presently the case. Remember most of all that we are discussing changes that are required in order to safeguard braille as a viable medium for reading and writing that can last into the next century. This is not a discussion of change for its own sake. It is change that must be explored in order to expand and revitalize braille for blind people. If there is sufficient interest, I will continue to provide some information on this to readers of the "Forum." In addition, very detailed information will be appearing in upcoming issues of the "Braille Memorandum." You can receive this magazine by joining the Braille Revival League. Annual dues are $10. They should be sent to me as BRL Treasurer: 549-F Giuffrida Avenue, San Jose, CA 95123. ACB SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO BLIND STUDENTS by Veronica Braun, Scholarship Coordinator The American Council of the Blind will award thirteen scholarships to outstanding blind students in 1993. All legally blind persons admitted to academic, vocational, technical, and professional training programs at the post-secondary level for the 1993/94 school year are encouraged to apply for one of these scholarships. A $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to each of the top two applicants in each of these categories: entering freshmen in academic programs, undergraduates (sophomores, juniors and 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 will be competing for funds with other first year students. The $2,500 Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Tarver Memorial Fund, will be granted to an outstanding student at the undergraduate level. National Industries for the Blind will award one scholarship of $2,000 to a student majoring in business or management. The $1,000 Telesensory scholarship, provided by Telesensory Systems, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., will be awarded to an outstanding student in the entering freshmen category. 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 Street, NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 467-5081. All completed applications and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than March 15, 1993. Leading scholarship candidates will be interviewed by telephone in May or early June. The ACB scholarship winners will be notified no later than June 1, 1993. The scholarships will be announced at the 32nd national convention of the American Council of the Blind slated for July 3 to 10, 1993 in San Francisco. Scholarship winners are expected to be present at the convention and ACB will cover all reasonable costs connected with convention attendance. Among the criteria to be considered in selecting the scholarship winners 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. Picture Caption Mark Kalashian of Haverhill, Mass., winner of a 1992 ACB graduate scholarship. He currently attends the University of Massachusetts. AFFILIATE NEWS FOREIGN FRONTIERS by Kenneth Frasse President, Blind Students of California The following is an abstract from a proposal of the Blind Students of California, an affiliate of the National Alliance of Blind Students. The proposal was initiated on the heels of a recent trend by the federal government to support foreign language studies at universities throughout the United States. The program is called the Program for University Language Studies with Access for the Disabled. For many years, the United States maintained a certain dominance in the world market as one of the most affluent and powerful nations. However, as Asian and European technological markets became competitive and innovative, it became increasingly apparent that greater diplomacy and respect for other nations, as well as an emphasis on domestic education, were needed for the US to remain competitive in the world market. In 1991, Senator David L. Boren, D-Okla., the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, authored the National Security Education Act. The NSEA, which was signed into law by President Bush in 1991, acknowledges the necessity of foreign languages and cultural exchanges to persevere in the World Market, and it reallocates military funds, both short and long term, to support foreign language studies at universities in the US. Noticing this trend toward cultural exchange, and with the advent of NSEA, I realized that a single program could be created to address three major issues. Foreign language courses are relatively inaccessible to the disabled, denying them the full benefits of an education. In addition, foreign language texts and materials are not in accessible formats. Finally, foreign language fluency could provide greater opportunity for internships which, in turn, could provide greater employment opportunities; hence, PULSAD. PULSAD would be a pilot program initiated within the foreign language department at the California State University in Sacramento. Its primary function is to provide all materials and lectures in accessible formats to people with disabilities. Although it includes provisions such as foreign sign language for the deaf and many techniques for other disabilities, I will relate only the aspects relevant to the blind and visually impaired. All textbooks and materials would be rendered in braille and electronic text (E-text). Both the braille and the E-text would be produced at the university. The E- text could be read on one of four computers equipped with voice synthesis. Initially, the voice synthesis would include English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian. The foreign language braille would be produced as needed for individual courses, and eventually braille text could be generated for other universities, or even high schools. In this way, students could regain an independence in their studies that is crucial for optimum performance and rigorous competition. Braille and E-text have been sorely needed in foreign language studies, as cassettes and readers prove inadequate when students are faced with written or orthographic exercises. In effect, PULSAD would open up a world of culture and opportunity for the blind that was previously difficult to achieve. Several factors dictated that PULSAD be initiated at CSUS. CSUS has a foreign language requirement for graduation, and this allows PULSAD to argue ADA title 202 for accessibility to mandated programs. Also, most of the university is behind the program, including several outside disability and foreign language organizations. PULSAD can also jointly encourage internship programs with the BSC's Charlotte's Web, a program recently developed to track disabled university student application, retention, and graduation for internship and employment purposes. The time is ripe for PULSAD. Backed by NSEA and federal grants, and encouraged by disability access within the state educational codes (Chapter 14, California State Educational Code), PULSAD stands in the light of opportunity to set a precedence for access to foreign languages within the disabled community. If you wish to know more about PULSAD, or if you wish to express your support of the program, please address a letter to: Kenneth Frasse, c/o Blind Students of California, 8200 Lake Forest Drive, Sacramento, CA 95826-2958. SENIOR BLIND COMMITTEE DEBUTS AT CCB FALL CONVENTION The Committee on Senior Blind and Visually Impaired of the California Council of the Blind, chaired by Teddie Remhild, debuted publicly with a three-hour workshop at the semi-annual fall convention held in early November at the Holiday inn Crowne Plaza, L.A.X. The workshop was titled "Myths and Realities of Aging and Blindness," and consisted of two panel presentations, along with discussion and questions from a standing-room only audience. The interest in and the need for this committee and its focus was evidenced by the enthusiastic response to the presentation. The first panel was composed of five members of the committee who also happen to be professionals who do one-on-one training and counseling with older adults who are coping with loss of vision. They included Netty Glaze, Pat La France, Elmer Chapson, Jerry Arakawa and Rose Resnick. The panelists pointed out that loss of vision in later years is yet another loss to be added to a long list of losses which occur as one ages. The adjustment will require different techniques and training methods than those used with young persons. The life situations of older persons are usually more complex, with multiple issues needing to be addressed. This panel of professionals provided clear explanations and promising solutions. The second panel was made up of agency directors from the Southern California area, who provide services and programs for older blind and visually impaired adults. They described the needs and interests of their clients, as well as the services the agencies provide for them. The panelists were LaDonna Ringering, Executive Director of the Center for the Partially Sighted; Fortune Zuckerman, Director, Braille Institute of San Diego; Christy Crespin, President, Blindness Support Services Inc. of Riverside; DeeDee Fitch, Coordinator, Braille Community Services of Redlands; and Kim Gibbons, Director, San Diego Service Center for the Blind. The Committee circulated its brochures to all those seeking more information. Eventually the brochures will be distributed throughout California to strategic organizations, agencies and locations. There will be a network of resource representatives to whom individuals will be referred and they, in turn, will be able to provide information and referral, peer counseling, support, and guidance in their local communities. The largest number of newly blind and visually-impaired persons is occurring in the older population, hence the need for such a community and state resource. Chairperson Teddie Remhild expressed great satisfaction with the progress and potential of this very important committee. She invites other state affiliates to join her in this needed work. Picture Caption Kenneth Frasse, president of the Blind Students of California. AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT ACB's Board of Publications is pleased to announce criteria for the 1993 Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing Award and the Vernon Henley Media Award. 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 magazine if space allows. Articles published in the magazine between April 1992 and March 1993 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 E. Freeman Award and the Vernon Henley Award must be postmarked no later than April 1, 1993 for the Henley Award and April 30, 1993 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., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. The annual presentation of awards recognizing outstanding dedication, distinguished service, and achievement by and/or for blind and visually impaired people has become a widely anticipated event at recent American Council of the Blind national conventions. The Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 1993 awards and asks that all nominations be sent directly to the ACB National Office, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. For your information, criteria for the several ACB awards for which nominations are sought are: The Robert S. Bray Award, established in 1975 in memory of the late chief of what is now the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, is presented periodically in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices or techniques. The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award recipient is selected each year from among blind candidates who, through their lives, associations, and activities, have demonstrated their integration into and their interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member of or active in any organizations of the blind, or be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution. Nominations should be postmarked no later than June 1, 1993. THE FIRST BLIND ASTRONAUT by Jenine McKeown A friend and I were discussing the imminent dismissal of a co-worker. "He's just not the leader we all thought he might become," my friend observed. "It's a shame, too, because he really wanted to be a director." "I really wanted to be an astronaut, and you see what became of that," I retorted. "Really?" he asked in amazement. "What kept you from that?" I simply shrugged at the time of our conversation but later I paused to think of what did keep me from fulfilling my dream of going into "The Space Program" in some way or another. What I discovered was a purely innocent mix of ignorance, misunderstanding, and lack of self esteem that must plague thousands of people with disabilities on their journey to become part of the big picture. I was a child of the NASA era, feasting my five year old eyes on the television screen just inches from my face as the Apollo missions unfolded. I remember Sky Lab and the intrigue of the Soviets and Americans joining up thousands of miles over the earth. Science fiction television, from reruns of "Star Trek" and "Lost in Space" to "Battlestar Galactica," fueled my overactive imagination. I wasn't sure exactly what I would do as a working part of a "spaceship" crew, but I knew that equality lay among the stars rather than in the picket-fenced backyards of my hometown. In space, each member of a crew had a skill which was respected and relied upon for the survival of the rest of the party. People were allowed, perhaps even expected, to be eccentric. I belonged there. Although I did not directly relate it then to my desire to explore the galaxies, I am sure that the first setback to my NASA career was learning to read maps. In fourth or fifth grade we were launched into intensive study of how to read maps. Those fascinating "learning packets" of neatly folded materials smelling of rich ink and colored in varying shades of white, blue and gray, were like a drug to me. At that time though, my only way to interpret the images was to squint at them from less than inches away or transfer them to my closed-circuit television where they lost the magic and significance of color and became just so many more lines that I couldn't see enough of at once. I did love maps though, in spite of the frustration and bewilderment my partial vision caused. Maybe I could be a navigator on a star ship? Science had always been one of those subjects which I had to literally see, through any means possible, to believe and understand. As I could not directly see many of the elementary school experiments or elaborate diagrams in the textbooks, much of the fundamentals of scientific theory passed me by. Teachers did not know how to tactually interpret the ideas of basic movement, weather and chemistry. My parents encouraged my interest as much as they could. They bought me an entire collection of "How and Why" books on every subject from oceanography to weather to animals and health to the stars themselves. I loved these books, but because reading print was such a strain, and because I had never been given a good base of reading skills due to my inability to read the large print which all those well-meaning educators pushed on me rather than teaching me braille, I got little out of them. Then it began--the systematic restructuring of my education to fit what I could do "easily." This began in sixth grade, when it was decided that I should be taught to type. This proved to be very beneficial, but the typing lessons took place during a class which the school felt I could not fully appreciate--science. It was too visual, and the teacher expressed open misgivings about trying to convey the visual segments to me. From that point on, my academic career, in this public school in which my parents had fought so hard to keep me, was structured not to what I should learn but rather to what was easiest for people to teach me. It didn't help that I was the first visually impaired student to move through this system in a number of years. Two factors saved my intellect from sure stagnation during my later elementary school years. Our area received cable, and therefore public television! Now I could watch "Nova" and "3-2-1 Contact," and a host of other programs which brought science right up to my eye level. The other factor was the wonder of chemistry, as introduced by my junior high school science teachers. They made no particularly special accommodations for me rather than training the camera of my closed-circuit television on a student as he demonstrated some physics principle so that I too would understand it. I was enchanted with chemistry, test tubes, and the periodic table of the elements. Then the reality of high school hit me. My choices were Biology I, which all my college prep crowd was taking, or Earth Science, which all the dumb kids took for an easy grade. Biology was deemed too difficult to interpret, and therefore to be strongly discouraged. This turned out all right, though, as the crotchety old teacher of Earth Science, chemistry, physics, and other "hard" sciences took a liking to me, and we remained friends through my high school days. Two parts of this introductory science class which rekindled my spacefaring interests were astronomy and geology. This too was the time of "Cosmos," the series with Carl Sagan and his billions of stars. I was in rapture! There was only so much Mr. Leonard could teach me, though, and to this day I wonder what would have happened if I had bucked the system, as my younger sisters did, and followed the prescribed courses of scientific study during high school. Having been conditioned to avoid such messy situations as those posed by biology classes, I entered college still intrigued by science but avoiding any class which would take more effort than the normal struggle of finding competent readers and keeping up with the notes. So many college students these days simply take only what is required to graduate with a degree or only what is relevant to their field or potential occupation. For visually impaired college students without the benefit of a good foundation in problem solving, particularly in regard to disability issues, good study skills and a will to go the extra mile in pursuit of knowledge, the road through post-secondary education is long, frustrating, and often seemingly futile. What does my painting this bleak picture of my educational experiences have to do with my not becoming an astronaut? My elementary days were spent just before and during the birth of those wondrous laws such as the Rehabilitation Act, which supposedly gave me the right to an equal education in the least restrictive environment. Years later, when I discovered what this was supposed to mean, I was shocked. I had been entitled to sit in on the creation of an amazing thing called an IEP, Individual Education Plan, which would define my abilities and interests with my yearly input. This minor detail had been overlooked by the rural Ohio school district where my sisters and I were educated. My parents, sheltered in that same rural atmosphere, were not given the benefits of early intervention or support from other parents of visually impaired children. They did the best they could with what they had. Luckily, it seems to have worked out well, but how many others like me still see their small town as a haven where they are accepted, maybe wanting to be more but not knowing how or where to begin? My dream of becoming an astronaut is vanishing. My interest and intrigue with science is beginning again, though, with the inner workings of the computer. A blind astronaut isn't such a far-fetched idea these days. Aside from a character on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and the insistence of some leaders of "the blind" that we can and should do everything everyone else does, there are actually some people who have gone far up in the scientific arena. They do their work without being held up constantly as "the blind (fill in the occupational blank)." Many of these people were educated long before I came through a backward school system. They may have come from all types of backgrounds but they all have shown the strength and possessed the supportive structure to make it through the maze of obstacles posed by a world which "sees" science mostly with its physical vision. There are people coming after me through the "alternative schools", programs for gifted children and other enhanced and enriched educational experiences which I missed. They do not realize how lucky they are to be benefitting from the knowledge gained by years of teaching visually impaired people, learning from mistakes and listening to successes. With all this opportunity, there are still the young people being discouraged from trying academic courses which are "too hard" for them or "too hard to adapt" for them. My sister, upon beginning her teaching career as a resource room teacher in a suburban Chicago high school, marveled at the protective tendencies of her supervisor. "She doesn't make the kids try things. She looks for reasons for them not to do things. These kids have no sense of how much fun it can be to learn something." I am convinced that this safe approach carries over into how we face the everyday challenges of physical disability and society's reaction to it. No, I will not become an astronaut, and the coworker I spoke of at the beginning of this piece will never be a director of a social service agency. Too often we dream, but no one helps us prepare to make those dreams come true. 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 and 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 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, 1993, to American Council of the Blind, Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. GO FOR THE JOB YOU WILL ENJOY by Rose Resnick With the advent of adaptive technology and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, blind and visually impaired people are entering a wider world of work than ever before. Today they are engaged in every major field of employment. In his definitive book, "Management," Peter Drucker writes, "Work is embedded in man's life, in his emotions, in his existence in society, community, and in his relation to himself. It is one of the ways a person defines himself, measures his worth and humanity. It is an extension of his personality ... We live in an employee society." But beyond status and self-esteem, employment is a key to security and to relationships within and outside the family. And since jobs are where we spend the major part of our lives, work is a determinant of life's satisfaction. Basic to a selection of a career is an honest self assessment. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you can concentrate on developing your abilities and learning new skills to more effectively compete and broaden your options in the job market. In "Take Charge," a treasure trove of job related information, Rami Rabby and Diane Croft highlight employers' criteria when hiring. "Employers look for technical knowledge, competence, a strong work ethic and likability." In other words, employers are more apt to hire someone capable, easy to get along with, and interested in contributing to the firm rather than focusing on the employee's personal problems. For the visually impaired it is extremely important to have the basic skills of methods of reading and writing--Braille, large print, Optacon, typewriter, computer, tape--and should be completely mobile in the use of a white cane or guide dog. The more versatile your skills, the more valuable you are as an employee. Today there are many sources of help in finding a job, not the least of which is yourself. You may wish to register with the State Department of Rehabilitation, State Department of Employment, Community College Placement Office, part or full time employment in your school or college, an agency for the blind with a vocational specialist on the staff, or an Independent Living Center. One of the most effective ways to find a job opening is by your own efforts, just letting everyone know that you are looking for a job. Speak to your relatives, friends, teachers, social worker and other casual acquaintances you may encounter. You might look at the "Help Wanted" columns in newspapers. If you plan self-employment you may wish to design an attractive flyer, detailing your skills and means of contacting you and placing the flyer on frequently-seen bulletin boards such as in colleges, churches, community centers, senior centers or ads in neighborhood newspapers. Before embarking on your job search you will need a neatly-typed brief resume on plain white paper outlining your education, training, experience (paid or volunteer), achievements for previous employers, if any, and work references. If as yet you have no work reference, you might enlist a recommendation from one or more of your teachers. With respect to volunteering, you will learn many of the basic requirements in holding a job--getting along with people, following instructions, punctuality, and talking problems over with a supervisor instead of flying off the handle. You will also acquire practical skills such as answering the phone, using office machines, professional manner when dealing with customers, taking inventory, and writing reports and correspondence. In preparing for the interview you may find it useful to arrange a mock interview with your counselor playing the role of employer. Tape record this interview for an objective evaluation on how you came across. Before the interview, it is important to learn as much as possible about the history, products and personnel of the firm to which you are applying. Remember that the employer is interested in finding the best person to fill that job opening--the one who will deliver the best result for the company. At the interview, appearance is extremely important. You should give the immediate impression of neatness and good taste. Be completely honest, answer questions in a clear, confident voice and stick to the point. Do not volunteer extraneous information. Keep an erect and confident posture. If your eyes are marred, consider purchasing cosmetic dark glasses. "Take Charge" advises: "Never end an interview without an open and honest exchange about your blindness or visual limitation and your solutions to work-related problems." For your prospective employer you may be the first visually impaired person he has ever interviewed. You should be prepared to explain your access to the printed word, your mode of mobility--how you will find various offices and other parts of the building, your use of adaptive aids, technical and electronic. You will find it very beneficial and enjoyable to join activities that interest you in high school or college. These may furnish entry into the world of work or an introduction to those who can give you pertinent information about their work experiences whether it is debating, literature, music, foreign language, outdoor sports. You will enter a wider world of interest and pleasure which will enhance your life. According to studies by executive recruiters, seven out of ten people lose jobs not from lack of ability but because of personality conflicts. No one wants to be around people who bring their personal problems to work, blame others for everything negative that happens to them, or tell you how badly the world is treating them. Are you the kind of person others enjoy being around? The answer may be important to your career and your life. Finally, "Take Charge" advises: "You will succeed on the job and probably the organization, if you believe you can do it. You are what you believe. Believe in yourself." ("Take Charge" is available from National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115.) HERE AND THERE by Elizabeth M. Lennon The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services by the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned. TELEPHONE DIALING AID Assistive Communications Tel-Com recently introduced Back Talk, a telephone dialing aid for persons who have trouble identifying the keys they are pressing, according to the August 1992 issue of the "Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind." Back Talk clearly repeats the number of the key pressed on the telephone. The unit plugs into a power outlet and a telephone jack and is compatible with any Touch-Tone or rotary phone and most pulse-dialing phones. One Back Talk works on all extensions. For more information, contact ACT, 377 Route 17-S, Hasbrook Heights, NJ., 07604. SPORTS FOUNDATION The Braille Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote opportunities for visually impaired persons to participate in therapeutic sports and recreation. The organization focuses on integrating and educating sighted and blind individuals on the positive aspects of physical activity and sports. A bi-monthly sports magazine is available in Braille, cassette and print. Contact the Braille Sports Foundation, 4601 Excelsior Ave, St. Louis Park, MN., 55416. EMERGENCY PUBLICATIONS The Federal Emergency Management Agency has combined three of its public information pamphlets onto a single cassette, according to the July-August issue of "Braille Book Review." The pamphlets are "Checklist for Emergency Preparedness," order number L-154, which provides general information for personal and family emergency preparedness; "Your Family Disaster Supply Kit," (L-189), which lists things to keep on hand in case of emergency such as earthquakes and hurricanes; and "Emergency Food and Water Supplies," (FEMA 215), which suggests life-sustaining foods and ways to obtain portable water if utilities fail. A flexible disk edition of "Checklist" is available. All three publications can be ordered free on one cassette from FEMA, PO Box 70274, Washington DC 20004. PROFESSOR WINS GRANT Geerat Vermeij, a professor of paleobiology at the University of California Davis, is a recent recipient of a $2,800 MacArthur Foundation grant. Born with infantile glaucoma, he is a world authority on mollusks--animals that build shells. The Associated Press says scientists know him as the man whose work has moved the understanding of mollusks from the merely anatomical to the analytical. Vermeij does not rely on color, often an undependable clue to identification. Field trips have taken him to 40 countries whose shorelines are as familiar to him as the shells he brings back. The fellowship grant, he says, will be used for additional travel. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Veterans Administration Hospital, West Haven, Conn., is establishing an alumni association. Former students at West Haven are asked to contact Donald McCarthy, 12 Simonson Place, Staten Island, NY, 10302. NEW CATALOG Independent Living Aids Inc., 27 E. Mall, Plainview, NY, 11803, has just issued its 1992-93 catalog featuring several innovative products. Among these are a talking desktop calculator with an especially clear voice, $24.95; a credit-card sized talking alarm clock, $24.95; the Clever Cube, a desktop talking alarm clock, $24.95; and a talking wristwatch that talks you through the setting functions, $15.95. RECENT DEATHS Josephine Buell, who spent her life teaching and helping visually impaired and blind youngsters, died in mid-June at her home in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. She was 70 years old, according to the "Oakland Tribune." Until her retirement in 1975, she taught at the California School for the Blind. Dr. Charles E. Buell, a well-known educator for the blind and a pioneer in sports and recreation for the blind, died October 23, 1992. He was an author and teacher who continuously and unhesitatingly worked to improve conditions for thousands of visually impaired persons. In 1976, he was the first manager of an Olympic team of blind athletes to compete for the United States. The same year, he was one of the founders of the United States Association For Blind Athletes. WORDPERFECT MANUALS CVD Company announces the release of EASYREADER for WordPerfect. This software package is designed to read the computer files which comprise the WordPerfect 5.1 user's manual and workbook lessons on an IBM-compatible PC. It also works well with screen reading software and speech synthesizers. This software makes using the computerized manual and workbook comparable to using printed copies of the books. To order, send $35.00 plus $4.50 for shipping and handling to CVD Company, 8528 Granville Parkway, Suite 714, Omaha, NE, 68128. Orders must include the size and density of the diskettes you use. C.O.D. orders are available. AUDIO DESCRIPTION Access Theater, a professional theater organization based in Santa Barbara, Calif., which has always accommodated its audiences with special seating, assistive listening devices, descriptive visual services and sign language, now provides descriptive audio service for persons who are blind or visually impaired. The organization, which employs disabled and non-disabled actors to perform in productions that challenge stereotypes about persons with disabilities, provides talent management services for disabled people, acting training, and access consulting for theaters. For more information, contact Access Theater, Inc., 527 Garden St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. APH TOLL-FREE Inquiries about products sold by the American Printing House for the Blind can now be made by calling APH toll-free at (800) 223-1839. Hours of operation are from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, from anywhere in the United States and Canada. COOK AND CRAFT BOOKS "Our Special Magazine" currently offers one braille cookbook and two craft books. The cookbook sells for $8.00 and is a compilation of recipes submitted by readers of "Our Special." A book of crochet patterns costs $10.00 and a book of patterns for items to knit costs $7.50. The craft books have patterns for scarves, afghans, and other items suitable for sale at fairs or church functions. To order, write to "Our Special," 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA., 02115. (617) 266-6160. Another braille cookbook, "The Best of Pancake and Waffle Recipes," can be purchased from the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA., 02146, for $10.00. "R U Hungry?", a book for blind cooks, is being sold by the California Council of the Blind Inland Empire chapter. The Grade Two braille book contains more than 80 personal recipes for dinners and desserts. It includes an easy-to-use table of contents, and is bound in attractive plastic. To order, send a check for $20.00 to Inland Empire Chapter, Christy Crespin, 6667 Cathy Place, Riverside, CA., 92504. ANN MORRIS MOVES The new address for Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc., is 890 Fams Court, East Meadow, NY, 11554. Tel. (516) 292-9232. EMERGENCY BLANKETS The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, is selling emergency blankets as a fund-raising effort. The blankets weigh two ounces, are made of a metallic plastic and can compress to the size of a cigarette package. They open up to five feet by seven feet. Many stories have been told of how these blankets have protected persons from cold, rain, damp ground and provided covering at roadside accidents. The cost of each blanket is five dollars. Send checks payable to CRS to Mrs. Tom Stout, 8270 Vicksburg, Tucson, AZ, 85710. BRAILLE TRADING CARDS Action Packed, producers of football and baseball trading cards sold through hobby shops, continues its commitment to the visually impaired community again this year by introducing eight braille cards that will be distributed in foil packs for the first time with a random selection in each pack. The cards will be donated to schools and organizations throughout the country that serve the blind. The eight players selected to be honored with braille cards are all category leaders in their division. For more information, contact LBC Sports, Inc., 851 Villa Ave., Suite 101, Villa Park, IL, 60181. DVS STATIONS WUSF, Channel 16, in Tampa, Fla., launched the Descriptive Video Service in the Tampa area last June and has been promoting the service through press releases and on-air ads, according to "The DVS Guide," Summer, 1992. WUSF is also broadcasting the WUSF Radio Reading Service on its secondary audio program channel. WHYY, Channel 12, in Philadelphia, began carrying DVS this fall. For the first time, DVS is available to thousands of blind and low-vision people in the Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del., areas. BRAILLE SIGNS Signs which comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act are available in raised print and braille from Arts Computer Products, Inc., 33 Richdale Ave, P.O. 604, Cambridge, MA 02140. The company will make any sign in compliance with the ADA on request. A sample sign is available at a modest cost. TALKING CLOCK REPAIRS Sharp Electronics offers repair service for its talking clocks and calculators as well as information about parts and accessories for these and other Sharp products, according to a story in "The Blind Californian," August 1992. For more information, contact Sharp Electronics Corp., Factory Service Center, 1300 Naperville, Romeoville, IL, 60441. Tel. (708) 759-8555. BLIND GOLFERS The U.S. Blind Golfers Association welcomes new members regardless of their golf skill level. Association members participate in several invitational tournaments each year as well as an annual national championship at Disneyworld. The group publishes a quarterly newsletter and soon will have available an instructional video for coaches and players. Contact Bob Andrews, 3094 Shamrock St., Tallahassee, FL, 32308. BRAILLE OVERLAYS General Electric offers braille overlays for all of its major appliances. These are available free of charge. Simply state the model and serial numbers of the appliance when you call (800) 626-2000. FREE FEDERAL ACCESS The Golden Access Passport is a free lifetime entrance pass to federally operated parks, monuments, historic sites, recreational areas and wildlife refuges charging entrance fees. The passport is available to U.S. citizens who are blind or have a permanent disability and can show proof that they are eligible to receive federal benefits. For more information and a list of regional offices, ask for the Federal Recreation Passport brochure when writing to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Public Affairs, P.O. Box 37127, Washington D.C., 20013-7127. CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE "Circle of Love" is a cassette magazine written from a Christian standpoint, according to the Fall 1992 issue of "The Missouri Chronicle." The magazine features singing, poetry, testimonies, children's stories and games, Bible readings, pen pals, Christian news events, and a swap shop column. Subscription rates are $15.00 for a read and return package or $20.00 if you keep the tapes. For a free sample copy, contact Reverend Charles Gray, 1002 Johnson Street, Pasadena, TX, 77506-4618. NEW CATALOG Talking File Box Publications offers a catalog which includes many cookbooks, some sold by chapters to make them more affordable. The catalog also lists publications for parents, computer users, home owners, women and more. Other catalogs published by TFBP include crafts, children's stories, and adult literature. Each catalog costs one dollar. The general, crafts, and children's catalogs are available in braille and large print. Regular print catalogs are free. Contact TFB Publications, 238 75th St., North Bergen, NJ, 07047. CATALOG FROM SEEDLINGS The 1993 catalog of braille books for children is available from Seedlings, PO Box 2395, Livonia, MI, 48151-0395. Included are print/braille picture books for preschoolers in which the braille is on separate plastic sheets, braille books for children ages four through eight, in which the braille is double-spaced with print above each line, and braille-only books for children ages seven to fourteen. TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE A conference entitled "Technology and People with Disabilities" will be held March 17 to 20 at the Los Angeles Marriott Airport Hotel. For more information, write to the Office of Disabled Student Services, California Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., DVSS, Northridge, CA, 91330. TAPE MACHINE REPAIRS A guide for reconditioning NLS cassette machines has been developed by James Seaton, of the Wisconsin Telephone Pioneers. Designed to supplement the NLS Technical Manual, the guide supplies detailed, step-by-step instructions to completely recondition a cassette machine. It emphasizes cleaning and quality work. For free print copies of the guide, write to James Seaton, Wisconsin Bell Telephone Co., NLAG W24300 Riverwood Dr., 3rd Floor, Waukesha, WI., 53188. For a cassette recording of the guide, write to Brent Duncan, Library of Michigan, Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Box 30007, Lansing, MI, 48915. ACCESS BOARD ADDRESS The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's new address is 1331 F Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington DC, 20004-1111. The new telephone number is (202) 272-5434, voice or TDD, or (202) 272-5449, TDD only. The agency's toll-free number, (800) 872-2253, remains the same. ATBCB ANNOUNCEMENT The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for State and Local Government Facilities covered under Title II of the ADA in the Federal Register. The NPRM proposes new accesibility guidelines for Judicial, Legislative and Regulatory Facilities, Detention and Correctional Facilities, Residential Housing, Public Rights of Way, Public Telephones, Sales and Service Counters, and Airports. The Access Board seeks public comment on the proposed guidelines and other areas such as Entrances, Exempt Areas, Structures and Facilities, Assistive Listening Systems, Assembly Areas and Signage. The Access Board will accept written public comment on the proposed guidelines for ninety days following the publication date. In addition, the Access Board plans to hold public hearings in Denver, San Francisco, Charlotte, NC, Washington, DC, and St. Louis, MO in February and March 1993 to receive oral testimony on the proposed guidelines. The final guidelines are expected to be published in the summer of 1993. Copies of the proposed guidelines may be obtained by contacting the Access Board at 1331 F St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, 20008, (202) 272-5434 or (800) 872-2253. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP WANTED TO BUY: Optacon R1D, price based on condition of machine. Write to Dr. R. W. Cholewiak, Department of Psychology-Green Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1010. or telephone (609) 258-5277 and ask for Roger. CORRECTIONS We incorrectly referred to Michigan's governor as James Engler "(Here and There," November 1992). The governor's name is John Engler. In "Affiliate News," September 1992, the zip code of the South Dakota Association of the Blind was incorrectly listed. The correct zip code is 57101-1622. The "Affiliate Profile" story in the June 1992 issue incorrectly listed the address of Jim Flemming. Those interested in the American Council of Blind Lions or in lionism in general, may contact Jim Flemming at 3232 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, VA 22042. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS 2118 N.W. 21st ST. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73107 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 5707 BROCKTON DRIVE #302 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON