THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVII March 2009 No. 9 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650 Arlington, VA 22201 (202) 467-5081 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2009 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message: A Very Special Inauguration Day, by Mitch Pomerantz A Win-Win Proposition, by Melanie Brunson Convention Time’s A-Comin’, by Carla Ruschival Let’s Make the Watermelon 5K A Smashing Success!, by Ron Milliman Going Once, Going Twice …, by Brenda Dillon A Fitting Celebration for Louis Braille’s Anniversary, by Winifred Downing Ideas on Building Younger Membership, compiled by Ardis Bazyn From Your Perspective: Blindness in the School Systems, by John Justice Web-Wise: Getting More Out of the World Wide Web, by Jenine Stanley Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired from the Hein-Klein Duo, by Sila Miller Affiliate News Letter to the Editor Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: A VERY SPECIAL INAUGURATION DAY by Mitch Pomerantz This is the Friday following a very special Inauguration Day, both for America and for the American Council of the Blind. Experiencing the pomp and circumstance surrounding the departure of an incumbent president and the arrival of a new chief executive gives the observer – at least this observer – a true sense of patriotic pride. But on this past Tuesday, something particularly newsworthy occurred: for only the second time, there was audio description of the inaugural ceremonies carried on a major network’s SAP (Secondary Audio Program) channel. In the January “Braille Forum,” Chris Gray and Joel Snyder outlined ACB’s Audio Description Project. The article, as well as our recent press release, have drawn extremely positive comments from members and non-members alike. Blind and visually impaired people recognize the value of description in our enjoyment of movies, television and live theater. Beyond this, however, audio description provides another avenue by which we achieve equality with our sighted peers because of the importance the aforementioned media plays in today’s popular culture. If we can discuss details of the latest movie with our co-workers, friends and family, we are that much closer to being perceived as equal in the minds of those individuals. Even before Joel was officially on board, he made contact with representatives from ABC Television to see if the network would be willing to broadcast the description of the inauguration and related festivities. The network agreed and ultimately, activities on Sunday and Wednesday were aired as well. WGBH also arranged separately for live description on PBS stations around the country. This meant that at least in theory, blind and visually impaired people would have an unprecedented choice on Jan. 20. As it turned out, in many parts of the country this was not the case; but more on that momentarily. Coincident with the foregoing, Chris asked me if he could try getting the described feed of the inauguration streamed on ACB Radio World. I was pretty pessimistic given that Chris was seeking permission from ABC on the Monday prior to the big day, which just happened to be Martin Luther King’s birthday. Well, the impossible happened! The ABC attorney e-mailed Chris Monday afternoon with permission; and a very good thing, too! Early Tuesday morning, Donna and I awoke, turned on our television, tuned to the local ABC affiliate, pushed the SAP button on the remote and ... nothing, no description. Very disappointing! After a few more tries we turned on my computer and found ACB Radio World. It took a few minutes to verify that Joel and his female co-describer were there, since the ABC team appeared to be trying to do their best not to leave even 10 seconds of dead air. I must admit that we totally forgot to check the local PBS station to see if our cable provider was carrying WGBH’s description. We thoroughly enjoyed the description and Geoff Shang and Naama Erez’s comments during network commercial breaks. From the e-mails they read on those breaks, it is clear that everyone else did as well. As a bonus, Geoff mentioned that ACB Radio World had a record number of hits, certainly a great accomplishment for ACB Radio. Subsequent e-mail seemed to indicate that several major cities -- Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Indianapolis -- did not receive the SAP feed while Denver, San Jose and the New York City area did. Clearly, ABC did its job. It becomes more problematic when attempting to determine whether the lack of description in the aforementioned areas was the fault of the local ABC affiliate for failing to pick up the SAP signal, or the cable and satellite providers for not relaying it. Here in the L.A. area neither of the major cable operators offered audio description of the day’s events. Notwithstanding the spotty national provision of the description of the inauguration, I am tremendously proud of what amounts to the first successful initiative of ACB’s Audio Description Project. I am also very optimistic that Joel and the project will place audio description on the media’s main stage alongside closed captioning for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. It is a sad reality that for a variety of reasons, captioning services are mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, while audio description is not. We have been playing from behind for nearly 20 years and it is long past time for us to catch up and have audio description receive the same respect and status as captioning in federal statute and in the minds of media moguls. Finally, this year’s version of H.R. 6320, which would – among other things – require a set number of television hours per week to be audio described, must be enacted into law. This will necessitate a significant number of Congressional co-sponsors. And that, ladies and gentlemen, will only happen if we make it happen by calling, writing and, yes, visiting our members of Congress to let them know how important audio description is to blind and visually impaired people. Take the cue from President Obama and volunteer to do more for your community; in this case, the community of men and women comprising the American Council of the Blind. ***** A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION by Melanie Brunson Once again, ACB is offering you an opportunity to put yourself in the running for some cold hard cash, and to support the publication of “The Braille Forum” at the same time. On Feb. 16, tickets will go on sale for our 2009 raffle. Tickets are $50 each and as in years past, as many as five individuals and/or affiliates can go together to purchase a ticket. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will benefit “The Braille Forum.” But that’s not all! Each person who buys a ticket will have a chance to win one of three cash prizes. First prize will be $5,000! Second prize will be $1,000 and third prize will be $500. The drawing to determine these prize winners will be held during the banquet at our 2009 national convention in Orlando, Fla. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ACB national office at either (202) 467-5081 or 1-800-424-8666. They will also be sold during our midyear meetings in February and at the convention this summer. If you have questions, please contact Dena Wilson at either the phone numbers listed above, or by sending her an e-mail at dwilson@acb.org. Thanks in advance for your participation. Your support for “The Braille Forum” is greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to finding out who will be the lucky winners! This is a winning proposition for all who will take part, and I hope each and every one of you will join that winners’ circle. ***** CONVENTION TIME'S A-COMIN' by Carla Ruschival The 48th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will be one of the biggest and best ever. Make plans now to be in Orlando July 3-11 for all the information, exhibits, fun and friends. The beautiful Rosen Centre Hotel on Orlando's famous International Drive is home to ACB for convention week. Registration, the information and volunteer desk, general sessions and exhibits will be located on the first floor. Between the lobby and the meeting areas are two restaurants and a 24-hour deli. Special-interest group meetings, workshops and social events will generally be on the second floor. After a busy day in exhibits and meetings, you and your friends may want to walk, grab a taxi, or hop a trolley or bus and explore the many restaurants and other attractions along International Drive. Explore central Florida with ACB tours. Visit the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 3 and the Daytona race track on Saturday, July 11. Check out the world's largest library of braille books in Daytona on Monday. Lie on a bed of nails, pet an alligator, ride an airboat, and have a Holy Land Experience. Many more tours and activities, as well as details about workshops, seminars and informational programs, will be announced in next month's "Braille Forum" and in the pre-registration packet. Just For Kids: This is one convention that your kids and grandkids won't want to miss. The Youth Activity Center will be mousing around at all kinds of fun places. Blind, visually impaired and sighted kids are welcome. Light breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided each day. Convention Details Exhibits, Advertising and Sponsorships: For the past three years, Brenda Dillon has done a magnificent job of obtaining sponsors for the ACB convention. Her efforts, and the efforts of others, have helped to keep costs to convention-goers down and have made it possible for ACB to purchase equipment such as wireless microphones and assistive listening devices. We owe her a huge thank-you for an outstanding job. Due to personal reasons, Brenda has found it necessary to devote her undivided attention to the ACB auction. In an effort to streamline ACB convention functions and to take advantage of the many talents of existing committee members, we have asked Margarine Beaman of Austin, Tex., to assume the role of advertising and sponsorship coordinator. Margarine will continue to work with the hotel on reasonable accommodations, and she will also oversee expanded volunteer services at the airport and act as special assistant to the president and executive director. The 2009 ACB convention gives businesses and agencies a chance to let people from all over the country and around the world know about their products and services. Booth space, advertising, and sponsorships are now available. Early-bird exhibit discounts close on May 15. Convention sponsorships and advertising must also be received by that date in order to appear in the official convention program. For more information on exhibit, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, visit our web site at www.acb.org/convention; or contact Michael Smitherman (exhibits) at (601) 968-4164, or Margarine Beaman (advertising and sponsorships) at (512) 921-1625. Commemorative Program: Every state and every affiliate have special people who have played significant roles in the lives of blind and visually impaired people. Often these outstanding individuals go unheralded on the national scene. Now you can share the accomplishments of these special people by participating in the commemorative section of the 2009 ACB convention program. Commemorative pages will be printed on high-quality paper; pages can include a color photograph of your special person and a short caption about his or her accomplishments. What a wonderful way to honor or memorialize that special person! Commemorative pages must be reserved by May 15. For more information, contact Margarine Beaman at (512) 912-1625, or visit www.acb.org/convention. Color Pages: Attention, program advertisers! Full-page ads and program covers are once again available in color. See your exhibit and sponsorship packets for details, or visit www.acb.org/convention. Exhibit Special for Blind Entrepreneurs: Are you a blind small-business owner? Do you have products such as CDs, books, crafts, or computer games to sell? Are you a representative for a company that sells jewelry, toys, home décor, etc.? Would your products be a popular addition to the ACB exhibit area? If you have always wanted to give the exhibit area a try, but haven't been sure that the hours and cost were right for you, now is your chance. Discounts on tabletop booths are available to blind small-business owners during their first, second and third years of participation in the exhibit hall. For more information, contact Michael Smitherman at (601) 968-4164, or visit www.acb.org/convention. Program Details, Hotel Reservations and More Special-interest groups, ACB committees, and others wishing to sponsor programs or activities at the convention should submit all information for the pre-registration form by April 1. Program details need to be submitted by May 1. Make all arrangements related to convention events (reserving space, ordering food or AV equipment, etc.) with Carla Ruschival (phone, (502) 897-1472 or e-mail, adamcarla@bellsouth.net). Make your hotel reservations at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Room rates are $83 plus tax per night, single/double; add $10 per night for each additional person in the room. Call (407) 996-9840 to make reservations. Keep up with all the latest convention announcements. Join the acbconvention e-mail list by sending a blank message to acbconvention-subscribe@acb.org. For convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net, or call the ACB national office at 1-800-424-8666. ***** LET’S MAKE THE WATERMELON 5K A SMASHING SUCCESS! by Ron Milliman As you may have heard by now, we are planning the first ACB walk/run to be held this summer at the beginning of the national convention, on Saturday morning, July 4. It is officially called the ACB/Track Shack Watermelon 5K Walk/Run. You can participate as a member of the ACB Walk/Run Team even if you don't attend the convention! I will tell you more about how you can participate later in this article. It will be conducted by the American Council of the Blind in partnership with the Track Shack Foundation in Orlando. The event will begin early Saturday morning, July 4 at 7:30 a.m. It will take place in Mead Garden, located in Winter Park, Fla. Since Mead Garden is 17 miles and approximately 25 minutes from the hotel, bus transportation to and from the event will be provided. There is an entry fee of $25 per person, and all participants must send their entry fees to Dena Wilson in the national office to receive the official walk/run packet, which consists of an entry form, instruction sheet, pledge forms and pointers for seeking pledges. All participants will need to arrive at the Rosen Centre hotel on Friday, July 3, and pick up their race packets that afternoon or evening. Buses will leave for the walk route at 6:15 a.m. on July 4th. The estimated arrival time back at the hotel following the walk/run is between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. What's the Point? You might ask: "What's the point of an ACB walk/run?" The primary purpose is to give all of our members an opportunity to help ACB raise the much-needed funds used to support all of our many programs that, in turn, benefit you in many ways, both directly and indirectly. It is one more way that you can engage in an activity shared by lots of your ACB brothers and sisters. How Does It Raise Money? We need each of our ACB Walk/Run participants to solicit pledges from your friends, relatives, neighbors, and the many people you know. We will provide you with a list of potential contributors that you can contact. We will also suggest what to say to potential contributors when asking for their pledges. This information will be included as a part of your official race packet. We want as many of our members to participate as possible by actually getting on the buses Saturday morning at the Rosen Centre, walking or running the race and returning to the hotel, but we also realize that many of you, for whatever reason, are not attending the ACB national convention this year. Even if you don't attend the convention, you can still participate in the event! You can still be a part of the ACB Walk/Run team by requesting your official entry form and materials and helping us seek pledges. In contemporary terminology, you might refer to this as being a "virtual" ACB team member! Regardless, you can still fully participate by helping us solicit pledges. What Does Each Participant Receive? Every participant, whether you are at the convention or not, will receive: a bib number from Track Shack, a race T-shirt and a souvenir gift. If you are actually at the race in Mead Garden, you will also receive: refreshments, live entertainment, and a map of the route. Track Shack will receive the majority of the $25 entry fee, but in return, Track Shack covers all other costs associated with the event. The remainder of the entry fee will be used to help offset the cost of transportation to and from the event. However, all of the pledges that you obtain will go entirely to ACB. Therefore, it is imperative that participants seek pledges and donations from family, friends, local businesses, etc., in order to make this event a big ACB success. Win Prizes! All participants, whether you are at the convention or at home, are eligible to win some really great prizes. The participant who brings in the most in total pledges will win a very, very nice prize. In like manner, the affiliate that brings in the largest total pledges from its members will win special recognition. There will be other prizes for all individuals who bring in between $100 and $249.99 in pledges, and for those who bring in between $250 and $500, and still more prizes for those people who bring in over $500 in pledges! It Is Up to You to Make This ACB Walk/Run A Huge Success! Take the first step by making a commitment to participate in this exciting first-ever ACB walk/run. Sign up today and start seeking pledges now. Send your $25 entry fee to: Dena Wilson, ACB Walk/Run, American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201. ***** GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE … by Brenda Dillon Let's not let time get away from us! It is time now to begin thinking about the third annual ACB auction to be held on Wednesday night, July 8th, at the national convention in Orlando. Not only do we need for you to plan to attend the auction and support ACB through this great fundraiser, but we need your contributions of wonderful items to provide an array of fabulous things to bid on. Consider all the people you know and all the businesses you deal with, and request donations for this worthy cause. We can provide you with a sample solicitation letter. If you have a great idea for an item and have contact information, but just aren't comfortable making the appeal, pass it along to Brenda Dillon, auction committee chair, and she and the other auction committee members will handle it for you. You may call her at (615) 874-1223 or e-mail her at brendan0@bellsouth.net. This year, we plan to implement some new strategies to expand the scope of the ACB auction and better manage the length of the event. We are looking at the possibility of having a combination of live auction, silent auction and even putting some items on an online auction service. The auction committee reserves the right to combine items to put together package deals, and will determine which items are best suited for the various auctioning methods. Let's all work together, each state and special-interest affiliate, local chapter and individual member, to make this the best auction yet! ***** A FITTING CELEBRATION FOR LOUIS BRAILLE'S ANNIVERSARY by Winifred Downing The 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille occurred on January 4, 2009. He was born in Coupvray, a rural town about an hour's drive from Paris. Visitors can see his father's harness shop and the living quarters above it to gain a clear picture of the life of this extraordinary human being. When young Braille was three years old, he lost his sight as a result of an accident he had playing with his father's tools. He attended the local parochial school but then enrolled in the school for blind children in Paris when he was 10. By the time he was 15, he was already developing the braille system, which has been used ever since and now in every country that has services for blind children. He lived only about 40 years, never saw the wide acceptance of his invention, yet changed the lives of every blind child on earth with his 6-dot system, two dots across and three down. Even blind people who haven't learned braille have benefitted because of the greatly enhanced image that the blindness community enjoys because of the many advantages of using braille. The Missouri School for the Blind was the first in the United States to adopt the braille system in the late 19th century, but shortly afterward schools and libraries were established and proliferated. In the early 20th century, Great Britain and the United States developed systems of contractions and short forms which diminished the size and thickness of the books and reduced the number of characters for the fingers to recognize. In about 1950, Dr. Abraham Nemeth introduced a mathematics code, enabling blind children to enter more fully into the academic world. Remarkable and far-reaching as was Braille's system, what it was called upon to express 200 years ago is far different from what is necessary now. Including a blank space, there are just 63 different formations possible in the 6-dot arrangement. When advanced mathematics, computers, and the study of physics and chemistry became part of the academic world, piecemeal additions were made, resulting in four separate codes to master. Since the vast majority of blind children are now mainstreamed, they are expected to be fluent in all the areas available to sighted classmates; and dealing with literary, mathematics, and computers in the first several grades, they encounter such problems as three different dollar signs, two parentheses, two percents, two periods and a decimal point, and other anomalies. Realizing the disincentive to learning braille these problems posed, about 20 years ago, people associated with the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) began working to develop a single code which would represent all the symbols embraced by the four codes then in use. The Unified Braille Code (UBC) first developed the literary area, and that was quite acceptable even though it involved some changes in what long-time braille readers were accustomed to seeing. Because of some basic concepts initially regarded as central to the project, however, the real difficulty emerged when attempting to express mathematical and technical material. From that point of view, the transcribers and users of braille turned thumbs down on the UBC. From the very beginning, though, Dr. Nemeth believed he had the plan for a single code; and over the last 12 years, he has worked on it constantly, recently presenting it to BANA where its chair, Judith Dixon, maintains that it should receive a complete analysis. A request that she follow this path was expressed by a resolution passed at the convention of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in Louisville in 2008. Because almost no one really likes change, and because many of those associated with BANA were so closely involved with the development of the UBC, the task is not widely or willingly embraced. This difficulty, however, is one with which “Forum” readers can assist greatly. Transcribers and users of braille, assured that the Nemeth Uniform Braille System (NUBS) will not require omission of any of the braille characters and usages now included, can express their enthusiasm for change for the benefit of all the blind children of the future should NUBS be accepted. They can do it by writing to Judith Dixon, BANA chair, e-mail jdix@loc.gov, or leaving a voice message for her at 1-800-424-8567. Readers who may know nothing directly about braille can still express their conviction that a single code (NUBS, if it is deemed appropriate) must be established, to ensure that Louis Braille's original invention will continue to meet the needs of the world's blind children. As I have studied NUBS over the last 8 years, I have presented workshops at conventions of ACB, the California Council of the Blind, and the California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped. After having articles about it appear in braille and taped magazines, I have sent out several hundred sample copies of the literary code and the science code for anyone who wants either or both. For transcribers or other sighted people interested in braille, the materials are available in print. The offer still stands. Please contact me, Winifred Downing, at 1587 38th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122; phone (415) 564-5798, or e-mail wmdowning@mindspring.com. Let's have this 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth also be the birth of a single code based on his system and extended to meet the needs of blind children in the 21st century! ***** IDEAS ON BUILDING YOUNGER MEMBERSHIP Compiled by Ardis Bazyn Our next ACB membership focus call will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 5:30 p.m. Pacific (8:30 p.m. Eastern). The call-in number is 1-866-633-8638, and the meeting ID is 4132009. The topic will be “How do you engage new members in your chapter?” We often discuss how to get younger people into your chapter and affiliate, and get them involved. The membership committee has a subcommittee working on this issue; the chairperson is Carol Edwards from Texas. Carol and her crew have come up with a number of ideas for you on involving students. Contact your state agency and ask for the names and contact information of counselors who have consumers in high schools and colleges throughout your state. Ask those counselors to distribute a letter for your organization. The letter should mention ways your affiliate could assist students: scholarships, loan programs, technology assistance, support groups, etc. If your affiliate has a chapter near your state’s school for the blind, encourage that chapter to become involved in the school’s activities whenever possible. Host a pizza party, offer a contest with prizes, or give awards to students. Stay visible and active at the school, volunteering whenever possible. Become active in your community. Offer to speak at events of your school district and pass out letters about your chapter/affiliate. Promote local activities widely. If your affiliate has a scholarship program, be sure to circulate that information to as many places as possible: appropriate newsletters, newspapers, in press releases, bulletin boards, Internet news sites, etc. At the national convention, your membership committee could contact NABS and hold a joint reception or mixer that focuses on young people. Also, at the national convention, parents of children participating in YAC should be encouraged to join a state affiliate if they are not yet members. Invite students you’ve met to come with you to an event or meeting especially of interest to younger people. Personal invitations are often better received than a letter or flyer. Continue to invite them until they come! You can also check out the resources link on www.acb.org and find membership links. There is a link for “Ideas to Interest Students.” ***** FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE: BLINDNESS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS by John Justice (Editor's Note: "From Your Perspective" is a column that appears occasionally. Its contents vary from technology to religion, from internal goings-on to items of concern in the blindness field in general. The opinions expressed are those of the authors, not those of the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the opinions expressed herein.) After I graduated from Saint Joseph's School for the Blind in Jersey City, N.J., I went on to high school at Wildwood Catholic. That was in 1960, 48 years ago. I could have gone to a school for the blind but I chose the course which changed my life forever. In some ways, I envy the young blind person who is approaching this life-changing decision right now. Technology has advanced to such an extent that this young individual has a remarkable chance for success if he or she is capable of using the equipment which is now available. But all of the technology in the world is not going to prepare any young blind student for the challenges of attending high school. The problem isn't the subject matter, the tests or even the transportation. It is how this person without sight will deal with a world in which he or she is an exception. There are so many things that a sighted child relies on daily which are lacking in a blind child. Two children can communicate a great deal with a glance or a facial expression. They see and react almost instantly to the world around them. The blind child must depend on his or her senses, but sight, which makes up such a large part of growing up in this world we live in, is absent. As a result, the blind student might be subjected to any number of different reactions from his or her sighted classmates. Now, I'm going to invent some people to make this easier. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Kelly and Andy. Kelly is 13 and has just graduated from middle school. She is bright, intelligent and very outgoing in her own way. But Kelly is blind. Andy is also 13, has very little usable sight and he has attended a school for the blind. What is in their future? Which avenue will these children take to achieve the next level of education? Kelly has decided to enter her local high school and is counting on the support she will receive from the Bureau for Blindness and Visual Services of Pennsylvania. Andy has a choice. He can continue his high school training at one of the schools for the blind or finish his schooling in a place for which he is not prepared. What happens to each of these children is the point I'm going to make. Kelly has already been exposed to other children with sight. She was pulled out of class regularly during elementary school to learn braille and other skills which will serve her well in the future. Andy has been educated in a state school for the blind. He has had all of the advantages of specialized training designed specifically for the visually impaired. He has never worried about where his next textbook will come from. He was taught braille and learned how to use a computer as a regular part of schooling. Andy attended a school in which his largest class was eight students. His teachers were able to give him a great deal of one-to-one help with the various problems he encountered along the way. Andy did compete with other children in his class, some of whom were disabled in other ways. He has learned from a very young age to accept people no matter what their talents or abilities. But his exposure to the real world is limited. As a graduate of a school for the blind, Andy will be well versed in every aspect of education. But he has never learned to relate to the sighted world around him. When he finally walks through that door, this young man is in for a tremendous shock. The world outside those walls won't be willing or able to give him anything except odd responses to his blindness, something he has never experienced before. Kelly will adjust well to her new high-school surroundings. She may encounter some resistance from the other students, but she has learned how to interact with the world around her. Her blindness is a nuisance, not a disability. If we took Andy out of his carefully planned and organized environment and exposed him to the chaos of walking through a hall in a public or parochial school, he would be shocked and maybe even frightened. He wouldn't know how to adjust his schedules to allow for free periods devoted to taking tests or having material read to him which wasn't available in a more accessible form. He would have to learn all of these skills from the ground up. But Andy's biggest hurdles won't be the education. He will be a complete outcast. He has never been exposed to the ridicule and laughter of other children when he wore something that wasn't cool. He wouldn't have suffered the so-called humor which is an everyday part of high school life. For quite a while, Andy would wish that he had never chosen a public school and had stayed at the school for the blind for his high-school years. My point is that blind children, just like the rest of us, will have to learn to live in a sighted world. Schools for the blind are good as beginnings. In an environment like that, the child can learn the skills he will need later. Learning braille in a school like that is best. There is no guarantee that he would receive the same quality of braille training in an outside location. A child can learn to use a computer best when the teacher knows the abilities and limitations of her blind student. Again, that might not be the case if the child tried to learn on the outside. Why not give blind children the basics they'll need in a closed environment like that? But each blind child should be introduced into the real world at every opportunity. I believe that there is a place for specialized schooling, but it cannot possibly be the final solution. Schools for the blind still exist today, but their students are often people with multiple disabilities in addition to blindness. If a blind child is exposed to regular schooling with supplementary special education for his special needs, that level of training might vary from state to state based on budgetary considerations, available staff or something as simple as state legislation. There is no guarantee that a child will get the help he or she needs consistently. Blind children raised in a sighted environment are often exposed to extreme levels of cruelty from other students. Children like this must have the support they need to survive that kind of treatment. The answer is certainly not locking a blind child away for most of his or her life and then ejecting him into a world which is poorly prepared to deal with that kind of problem. The only way that any child with a visual impairment can exist and grow is with a set of skills and abilities that have to be reliably taught at a very young age. So many people who are now living on their own were unable to face that tremendous crash. After their schooling was completed, they withdrew and never were able to achieve anything significant. Why is this true? The world would prefer that we go away and not bother them. This is an indisputable truth. When someone is rejected time after time, he or she might just back away and reach the conclusion that the pain and frustration just aren't worth it. If that same unforgiving society then provides the blind person with a way to survive without working, then many will make that choice. I have heard it time and time again. "Why should I go where I'm not wanted?" Why indeed? It all begins with the children. If they learn independence early, then they will be independent through their entire lives. Conversely, if the child is never taught to exist in the sighted world, then he or she might find it so much easier to live a quiet existence where there is no challenge, no confrontation, no pain. ***** WEB-WISE: Getting More Out of the World Wide Web by Jenine Stanley It's nearly impossible today to have a conversation that does not include some reference to the Internet, e-mail or some other form of electronic communication. In an effort to implement some of the provisions of resolution 2005-15, which is designed to address the digital divide, the board of publications provides this column. One of the aspects of computer use that can stop someone from accessing vital information and services is a simple lack of knowledge. This lack of knowledge can make tasks such as on-line shopping very intimidating. We're ACB and we're here to help! In this first column we'll look at how to move around a web page. Remember, it's the little, seemingly stupid questions that can stop someone from accessing life. Have you ever loaded a web page and thought to yourself, "Is my screen reader ever going to shut up?" or "How much stuff can they cram onto one screen? My magnifier can't possibly handle all that." Web pages are much like any documents out there. They have certain formatting features that help to divide information, identify controls, etc. Just as paragraphs are denoted in a book by indentation or blank lines between, web pages have a number of design elements that can help you navigate them quickly. The very first thing we need to address is the difference between inaccessibility and poor design. Inaccessible web sites have features that simply do not work with any current screen reader or screen enlargement technology. Most sites have some accessible features. But many web sites are very poorly designed, for everyone, not just people with vision difficulties. There is often too much information crammed onto screens to be easily located. In this column we will deal with accessible features of web sites, things that meet specific guidelines and can be read by all of the screen readers out there today. So, how do we move around a web site? We can load a web page and simply allow our screen reader to read the entire page from top to bottom. Screen readers take the information on web pages and rearrange it into a linear format for reading. The screen may appear to have several vertical columns or horizontal blocks of text, sometimes long columns down one side with headers and footers. Each screen reader handles web site layouts slightly differently, but generally, they all offer ways to find things without having to simply listen until you reach the item. The easiest way to navigate a web site is to move your down-arrow key through the site. Your screen reader will identify elements of the site such as links, buttons, graphics, etc. This is a good way to get familiar with a new site, especially an e-commerce site. Most web sites use a variety of style elements to divide parts of the page. Screen readers have developed shortcut keystrokes to move to each of the elements listed below so that you can skip parts of pages. Text: This is exactly what it sounds like, straight text on the page, read much as text in a word processor. Headings: These work much as they do in a document. The text in a heading is usually a different size, color, font or style from the rest of the text. Tables: Web designers use tables to display columns of related information, like a bus schedule or time table. Tables may also divide sections of the page that do not need headings. Lists: Lists are just what they sound like, groups of information. In some designs they are interchangeable with tables, while in others they provide a linear list of things. Now let's have some action! Controls on a web site refer to those ways you can make the site do things, like change to another page, select an item or choice, etc. In future columns we'll talk about using these controls in practical settings like filling out forms or taking surveys. For now, we're just exposing you to their functions. Links and "on-clicks": Links form the basic structure of the web, allowing you to move from page to page or to specific areas on a page. "On-clicks" function the same way. In order for a link to be of value to you, it must have something called an alt tag, which turns the long string of text identifying its location into plain language. Edit box: This is an area in which you can type text, usually, or enter data of some sort. Sighted users click the mouse pointer once inside the box to enter data. How these areas are handled differs between screen readers but most versions will require you to go into a special mode to enter the data. You must remember to exit the special mode without hitting enter to remain on the current screen. Check boxes and radio buttons: These controls allow you to select a choice or choices in a group of things, like a survey. Most web pages will allow you to hit the space bar once on the check box or radio button to select or unselect it. Buttons: Buttons are devices that function much like links. Hitting enter on a button will take you to another screen, often after having made some choices or having entered information. The buttons you will see most often include "Go" and "Buy" or "Check out.” Combo box: This is a box that only displays one choice until you enter it. Combo boxes can sometimes be coded so that moving within one can automatically change the screen. Here's a hard and fast rule about accessing a combo box. First, hit enter to access the contents of the box. Then hold down the alt key and hit the down arrow to enter the list, using only the arrow keys to move through the contents. To exit the combo box once you've found your choice, use your screen reader's command to exit an edit or text box. This will keep you on the same screen. If you hit enter, you will most likely move to the screen for that choice in the box. The most powerful tool available to you when it comes to finding information on a web page is your screen reader's "find command." Using this command you can locate strings of text on a page, such as a specific link or button, provided the elements are coded properly with alt tags that display text. For more information about your screen reader's specific commands to access the controls and elements listed above, please consult the manual or help section. We hope this information has been helpful. Let us know what you'd like to read about in future issues of Web-Wise. ***** BEGINNING YOGA FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED FROM THE HEIN-KLEIN DUO by Sila Miller Gretchen Hein and Marty Klein have teamed up to deliver yet another helpful tool, “Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired.” Some time ago, Gretchen and Marty asked me to listen to and critique an information-packed five-CD series about yoga. Being a complete novice where yoga is concerned, I had no idea what I was in for. However, I have long been an advocate of people who are blind finding freedom to get moving with confidence and safety, and was glad to take part. Yoga is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise and stretching which increases flexibility and endurance and helps to lubricate joints, ligaments and tendons. I found “Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired” to be a very inclusive and helpful series of yoga instructions about poses, attitude and finding your wings toward good health through yoga fitness. It feeds both body and mind. The Hein-Klein duo has covered everything, from a message to potential yoga instructors about having a blind student in class, to information about orientation to the room and yoga mat, and from pronunciations and different yoga traditions and practices to suggestions about developing your own routine. Marty shares some of his difficulties regarding balancing without sight, which is helpful and makes it all right for us beginners not to be perfect with each and every pose. I truly appreciated the statement “might isn't always right.” The analogy of "creating space to breathe into" is a very helpful explanation, as it truly is amazing how difficult to remember to breathe it can be when you're really concentrating on a pose. On disk 4, the phrase "smile from face to heart" is absolutely awesome and right on time! The CDs are easily navigated and the instructions are easy to follow. Gretchen's voice is like a verbal massage, and I think she may be a mind reader, reminding us to breathe and bring our minds back when they wander. I first met Gretchen and Marty when they were residing in Tallahassee and it was my privilege to get to know them while they were here. When I think of them, several things come to mind: gardener, rhythm class instructor, book author and disability awareness social hour (DASH). Gretchen has been a yoga instructor for many years, is an avid gardener and has an infectious laugh that sounds like a bubbling brook. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding good nutrition, health and well-being, not to mention a genuinely sweet and gentle person. Marty is a counselor, musician (playing drums, harmonica and guitar), and a massage therapist. He is the prolific author of such books as “Blind Sighted: One Man's Journey from Sight to Insight,” his autobiography, and “Emotional Cleansing,” a collection of ideas and strategies drawn from his vast experience to help anyone raise their consciousness and enjoy a happier life. To learn more about “Beginning Yoga,” contact Marty Klein at marty830@verizon.net or call him at (845) 679-7532. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS New Chapter in Spartanburg A chapter of the American Council of the Blind is forming in Spartanburg, S.C. Meetings are being held monthly. Please contact Barb Mattson, 519 E. Main St. #8, Spartanburg, SC 29302; (864) 285-2921 between 9 and 10 p.m. Eastern on weeknights, or e-mail barbieann519@charter.net for more information. VAB Office Moves, Gains New Executive Director The Virginia Association of the Blind has moved! Its new office address is 4209 George Washington Hwy., Portsmouth, VA 23702; the phone numbers are (757) 465-7230 or 1-800-426-2144. Office hours are on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. VAB held its annual meeting in August 2008. Melanie Brunson, ACB’s executive director, was the keynote speaker. At this meeting, Alice Malbone Lovern retired as VAB’s executive director. The new executive director is Ron Hepler. VAB’s project of the year was to obtain a van with a lift for wheelchair users. Judith Edmunds stepped up to the plate and chaired the project committee. And with all that hard work, the dream became a reality: VAB has a van with a lift. The Hampton Roads chapter donated it. Another project involved awarding a scholarship to a young lady to enable her to go with her class to South Africa to work on a charitable cause. ***** LETTER TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, Feb. 5, 2009. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. Optacon Article Gets Response The Optacon is still alive, still being used, and can be repaired. There are a number of dedicated technicians who can repair the machine; one of them is Richard Oehm. His contact information is as follows: Oehm Electronics 2194-C Galveston Avenue San Jose, CA 95122-3617 phone: (408) 971-6250 fax: (408) 271-9188 E-mail: oehmelec@tdl.com There is an e-mail list for those who would like to get in touch with other Optacon users. There are quite a few users (including some new ones who have learned to use the Optacon after reading the manuals and interacting with some of us on the list). There are also former Optacon teachers, technicians, and engineers. We can help with electronic versions of training material and Optacon owner's manuals. To join the list, send a blank e-mail message to optacon-L-request@freelists.org with the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) in the message subject. -- Mary Emerson, San Jose, Calif. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. The Braille Forum cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. 2009 TOUCH OF GENIUS PRIZE National Braille Press is now accepting applications for the 2009 Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation. The award was developed to inspire an innovator to continue the promotion of braille literacy for blind and deaf-blind people worldwide. The $20,000 prize will be granted for a new educational method, new tactile literacy product, or new technological advance in tactile literacy. Whatever your idea -- whether a tactile-based technology project, a viable braille teaching technique, a way to inspire preschool braille learners, or a braille writing instrument – you are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by July 20, 2009. For more information, visit www.nbp.org. 2009 CANDLE IN THE WINDOW The Candle in the Window organization will hold its 2009 conference from Aug. 5-9 at the Wooded Glen in Henryville, Ind. This year’s topic will be "Facing our fears and effecting positive change." Registration is limited to 20 participants. For additional information about the conference or Candle in the Window, contact either Nancy Trzcinski at baxman@adelphia.net or (413) 441-2305, or Jonathan Ice at Jkice@mwci.net or (319) 298-2919. LOW-COST REFURBISHED COMPUTERS For 15 years, the Texas Center for the Physically Impaired has operated a program where, for a $100 donation, they will provide individuals who are blind or visually impaired within the U.S. or Canada with a computer. The computer is a refurbished unit that includes keyboard, mouse, sound card, monitor and speakers. They use Windows XP machines that businesses donate. The computer also includes a demo version of the Window-Eyes screen reader and a demo of the ZoomText screen magnification software. If a recipient can use ZoomText, the person is able to get a licensed version for free from TCPI thanks to the generosity of Ai Squared. Also included is a seven-tape tutorial on how to use the computer. For more information, visit www.handicapability.org/computers.html or call (214) 340-6328. RADIO STATION FOR THE BLIND Serotek has launched a new online radio station. The station, SAMNet Radio, can be heard from http://radio.samobile.net. SAMNet Radio will air the best music of the last 40 years, the latest technology news, live and interactive voice chats, and a portal for all to know what is happening in the SAMNet community. With the slogan, “Your Station, Your Community,” the broadcast is directed at an audience that is blind or has low vision. The station’s manager is Michael Lauf, former creator, host and producer of HandiTalk, the first interactive Internet radio program to discuss the needs of the blind and visually impaired. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GUIDE “Assistive Technology For Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment,” by Ike Presley and Frances Mary D'Andrea, is a new book available through AFB. The book includes: an overview of the full range of assistive technology that students can use to manage information in print or electronic formats, whether they use vision, touch or hearing to access information; how to select appropriate tools and strategies; a structured process for conducting a technology assessment; a detailed assessment form that can be used to determine students' technology needs and solutions to address them; and advice on writing up program recommendations based on assessment results. It also covers tips for teaching technology, a resource section, summaries of the relevant laws, and reproducible blank assessment forms. The guide can be ordered for $49.95 in paperback or ASCII CD-ROM through AFB Press, www.afb.org/store or afbpress@afb.net. NEW PORTABLE BRAILLE DISPLAY AdaptiveTechnology, a division of Perkins Products, has developed the Seika Braille Display. Features of this new device include: 40-cell display, portable and lightweight, USB connection, compatible with JAWS, Window-Eyes, HAL, and Virgo screen readers, and repositioned cursor keys for easier operation. It is available for $2,495. To learn more about this product, visit www.perkinsproducts.org, call (978) 462-3817, or e-mail adaptivetech@perkins.org. DISABILITY SPORTS CONFERENCE The 2009 National Disability Sports Conference will be held Sept. 10-12 on the campus of Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. The conference is expected to be the best ever, with more than 30 interactive sessions on topics ranging from coaching to recruitment and program development. These sessions will be lead by the nation’s top sports professionals with elite coaches and Paralympic athletes sharing their cutting-edge training techniques. Wheelchairs and other adapted sporting equipment will be on hand to ensure a hands-on learning experience. Attendees will also have access to one-on-one consulting on fundraising, risk management, public relations, grant writing, and more. CEUs are available. For more information, visit www.blazesports.org or contact Jeff Jones at (770) 850-9095 or jjones@blazesports.org. NEW O&M TOOL The STEP-HEAR system is a new orientation and mobility device based on radio frequency (RF) technology and is comprised of two units: a transmitter/base and a small receiver/activator. Installed at strategic locations, the base sends out a continuous signal. When the activator, held by the user, is within the range of the base, it vibrates and beeps. Pressing a button on the activator will trigger a pre-recorded voice message from the base. This helps the user to obtain information and become oriented toward the location, be it an office, an elevator or a bus. The system can be used virtually anywhere: government and municipal buildings, post offices, schools and universities, museums, conferences and exhibitions, hospitals, nursing homes, banks, ATM machines, stores, hotels, transportation vehicles, recreational places, and more. Designed with universal recognition, activators can be used anywhere in the world. Step-Hear offers bases for $130 and activators for $25. For more information on obtaining the system or getting it into your community, contact Yael Furman at yael@step-hear.com or internationally by phone 972-3-5710794. On the web, visit www.step-hear.com. SERVING NEW YORK’S BLIND Congratulations to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped of New York. For the third year in a row, CBVH job placements for individuals with vision loss have increased despite the economic downturn. In 2008 CBVH placed 402 legally blind adults in fields as diverse as law, social work, financial consulting, family divorce mediation, radio, youth services, physical therapy, counseling, teaching, retail, food services, banking and research. In addition to vocational rehabilitation, CBVH assists clients with daily living skills, orientation and mobility training, diagnostic evaluations, obtaining adaptive equipment, job development, job training, and job placement services. CBVH also provides rehabilitation services to children who are legally blind, including working with and empowering parents, arranging services to supplement educational activities (including providing college scholarships), and ensuring a smooth transition to adult services. CBVH provides children with the opportunity to attend summer camps and year-round recreation programs. For legally blind individuals who are 55 and older, CBVH has programs to teach the skills necessary to maintain safety and confidence in the home environment. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-871-3000 (TDD 1-866-871-6000) or visit the agency web site at www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cbvh. SEEKING PERKINS ALUMNI The Alumni Association of the Perkins School for the Blind is trying to reconnect with anyone who attended the school for at least one year. This is an opportunity to learn about other alumni, receive the alumni newsletter and share ideas for articles, attend events and conferences at Perkins, participate in alumni weekend and other alumni activities, serve as a mentor to a student or alumni member, or join an alumni committee. To learn more about the alumni group or share your updated contact information, call Alumni President Marie Hennessy at (617) 972-7873 or e-mail her at alumni@perkins.org. BLIND COUNSELOR’S MEMOIR Professional counselor and author Carmella Broome, who has been legally blind since birth, has released her first book. "Carmella's Quest: Taking on College Sight Unseen" is a memoir about her first year at a small Christian college in upstate South Carolina. It is published by Red Letter Press of Columbia, S.C. For more information, or to order the book, visit www.carmellasquest.livejournal.com or e-mail carmellasquest@hotmail.com. SCREEN READER SURVEY A survey is being conducted to find out what blind people think about built-in screen readers. To participate in the one-question survey, visit www.opinionpower.com/Surveys/254055870.html. The survey feedback is available for all to read at the web site. CHECK-WRITING GUIDE Betty Jo and Jack Keitzer offer a multipurpose check-writing and signature guide for $9, including shipping. The guide measures 6 1/4 inches wide by 3 1/8 inches long, weighs 2 oz. and has a lifetime guarantee. To see a picture of it, visit www.checkwritingguide.com. To get one, send your order with payment to Keitzer Check Writing Guide, 5324 Ingleside, Leesburg, FL 34748, or call (352) 326-3437. INSPIRATIONAL BOOK "You Can, If You Think You Can" by Larry Johnson is a compact how-to book based on the author's more than 27 years of conducting highly successful motivational workshops. It offers hope, encouragement, motivation and practical strategies to overcome adversity, rebuild self-esteem and fulfill one's most cherished dream goals. It’s printed in 14-point double-spaced pages. The book is available from amazon.com for $10.75 plus shipping, or from the author for $10 plus $2.50 shipping. Mail payment to Larry Johnson, 10863 Lake Path Dr., San Antonio, TX 78217. MAPS OF ALASKA The Princeton Braillists recently released “Maps of Alaska,” a 74-page book containing 21 maps. The first half of the book consists of overall maps showing land regions, cities and towns, boroughs, rivers, mountains, national parks, native corporations, and climate. In the second half, the state is divided into seven regions: Brooks Range and North Slope, Fairbanks and the interior, Anchorage and south central Alaska, west coast, Kodiak and Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and the panhandle. Each region has a page of introductory information followed by a detailed map. Maps are labeled with key letters that are identified in brailled key pages. “Maps of Alaska” costs $14. Shipping is by free matter mail (if eligible). To get yours, send your check, money order or invoice to The Princeton Braillists, 76 Leabrook Ln., Princeton, N.J. 08540. For information on other maps and atlases available, visit http://mysite.verizon.net/resvqbxe/princetonbraillists/ or call (609) 924-5207 or (215) 357-7715. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Open Book 8.0, $700. Scanner with software, $50. Honistec TV for computers, never used. Asking $60. It comes with a book, all cables, connections, and software on CD. Will accept checks or money orders. Contact Nancy Ryder at (319) 217-8235, or via e-mail, owenryder@sympatico.ca. FOR SALE: 20-cell Millennium Braille display/notetaker with flash drive. Comes with cables, carrying case and manual. Asking $800. Contact Charles Wheatley at (541) 870-0350 or e-mail him, cawheatley@comcast.net. FOR SALE: Braille writer, $350; will trade for Voice Mate electronic talking organizer or Tap Memo. Braille Bible, free to good home. Type ‘n Speak, needs new battery, $100. Disk drive, $75. Braille Lite, needs new battery; $100. Will trade for older laptop computer with JAWS. Talking Nokia cell phone, still in box, $200, or will trade for a Tatti electronic talking organizer. Contact Melody at (609) 517-8433. FOR SALE: Small push-button telephone. Features include menu options, storage, and memory functions. Very few voice commands. Asking $50. Accepting checks or money orders. Contact Tonya Smith at (734) 586-2687, or write her at 1665 Paree, Newport, MI 48166. FOR SALE: Victor Reader Stream version 2.0, never used. Comes with cables, charger, case and CD. Asking $275. Money order only. Will insure and ship free matter in the U.S. Call Johnny at (803) 209-6690. FOR SALE: JAWS for Windows 10.0 standard. Asking $800, which includes transfer fee. Alva 80-cell braille display; comes with display, carrying case, power cord and serial cable. Asking $2,000. Prices are negotiable. Contact Michael at mbaldwin@gpcom.net, or phone him, (308) 286-3592. WANTED: Braille Note QT32 or PAC Mate. Contact Melody Heath at (336) 638-4115 or via e-mail, mhinglesby@triad.rr.com. WANTED: Owaysis 22c cell phone that was put out by Capital Accessibility. I am willing to pay half price of the original cost. Call Carol at (908) 298-0935 after 6 p.m. Eastern time. WANTED: Older money identifier, HandiCassette II, Jehovah’s Witnesses material on CD or cassette, double cassette player with either a record player or a CD player, Sharp talking calculator/calendar/clock with timer that has a charger, older Franklin Language Master dictionary, recipe books on CD or cassette, audio books (CD or cassette), music on CD or cassette (country or R&B), New World Bible on CD or cassette. Talking clock radio and talking pager. JAWS 3.5 or 3.7. Large print embossing tactile labeler, digital voice recorder. Contact Melody at (609) 517-8433. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Berl Colley, Lacey, WA Marsha Farrow, Summerville, GA Michael Garrett, Missouri City, TX Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Paul Edwards, Miami, FL BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL Marcia Dresser, Reading, MA Judy Jackson, San Antonio, TX Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Ex Officios: Barry Levine, Homer Glen, IL Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY