THE Braille Forum Vol. XXX April 1992 No. 6 Published By The American Council of the Blind PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE LESS MONEY MEANS GREATER VIGILANCE FOR ALL OF US by LeRoy F. Saunders It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the 30th anniversary issue of "The Braille Forum." (See "Editorial: One perspective on turning 30," this issue.) This is a particularly fitting time to bring the number of issues from six to nine per year. I'm convinced that the benefits of increased publication will far exceed the increases in cost and effort. In Oklahoma, we are very concerned about developments within the Department of Human Services. This department houses the rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. Our rehabilitation service contains two divisions--Visual Services and general rehabilitation. The Department of Human Services has undergone severe funding cuts. This huge department is responsible for practically all social services within the state and has an annual budget of around $2 million. These cutbacks are beginning to affect the services rendered by the rehabilitation department, both for general rehabilitation and Visual Services. I feel that rehabilitation services should not be affected by these cutbacks since the majority of the funds for that program are Federal rather than state funds. Newly enacted policies which freeze the hiring of any new staff and the replacement of employees who leave are creating some real hardships for service providers. I think this points out how important it is for our state affiliates to stay on top of what is happening within their states and to muster the forces necessary to keep the services as adequate as possible. In Oklahoma, we are concerned that after they make these drastic cuts and reduce supervisory personnel, the rehabilitation department will not meet the regulations as set forth by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Should this occur, Oklahoma would not be eligible for the Federal funds and this would in turn affect services even beyond what is administered by the Department of Human Services. Unfortunately, I think funding problems are here to stay for some years to come. They will affect the services all of us consider so vital to enhancing our quality of life. It is essential that we all work collectively to keep services to blind and visually impaired people as intact as possible. This will not be an easy task but we all must strive to accomplish as much as we possibly can. CONVENTION REMINDER The program for our upcoming convention in July is beginning to take shape. I have just received the first draft and we are waiting to hear from some of the speakers that have been invited. I hope by now you have made your reservations at the hotel and if not you are making plans to do so. Phoenix can get rather warm in the summer but I think you will thoroughly enjoy what is planned for this ACB convention. EDITORIAL ONE PERSPECTIVE ON TURNING 30 by Nolan Crabb Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries is a part of life for a majority of us. While we may not participate in lavish celebrations, nearly all of us find ways of marking special occasions. My family recently celebrated the second birthday of our youngest child. If you've never seen a two-year- old eat red Jell-O, you'll never be able to understand how the child can get Jell-O from the top of her head to her diaper and still manage to get enough in her mouth to be satisfied. As I watched this amusing, body-painting, mouth-stuffing ritual, I began to understand why we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. We don't celebrate the day itself. After all, the day is merely another number on a calendar. Where birthdays are concerned, we celebrate two things--First, that life began and continues for us; and second, that we have progressed in some way since the last celebration. Life and progress are inseparable, provided we can maintain the perspective that mistakes are mistakes, not irreversible failures, and that progress can be measured in a variety of ways. I think we celebrate anniversaries for organizations and publications for essentially the same reasons we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries for people--we honor their existence and celebrate their progress. This issue commemorates the 30th anniversary of "The Braille Forum." In April 1962, the first issue of the Forum was published by a newly-formed organization. Thirty years later, the magazine and the organization that gave birth to it can truly celebrate tremendous progress. I was four years old in April 1962. Obviously, I was oblivious to the powerful, dynamic forces that had begun shaping the magazine's birth and ultimate destiny. The wrenching labor which finally gave birth to "The Braille Forum" began in the mid to late '50s. "The Braille Free Press" was the predecessor to "The Braille Forum." (See "A Backward Glance," this issue.) As time has permitted during the past year, I've been developing a subject index of every story which has appeared in "The Braille Forum" since its inception. So while I may have been oblivious to the forces that shaped the magazine's destiny in 1962, I've gained tremendous respect for those early writers. While some of those early writers are no longer alive, I can honestly say that I've developed a spirit of kinship with them by reading their president's messages and editorials and looking at the way they edited the magazine. Although I never knew Ned Freeman, I'm fortunate enough to glimpse his personality through his writing. We're reprinting some of his earliest statements regarding the magazine's purposes and publication policies in this issue. We're also reprinting here Marie Boring's first "statement of purpose" from the April 1962 Forum. From my perspective, the various men and women who edited and regularly wrote for "The Braille Forum" had one thing in common: While they never forced their readers to look at the world through rose-colored glasses, they never fell into the trap of constant criticism and defeatist writing so in vogue in so many sectors of society today. While their writing styles were sophisticated, they were devoid of arrogance. I recall reading a story Ned Freeman wrote about a visit he paid to the White House during Lyndon Johnson's presidency. Anyone reading the story would get the impression that Ned was genuinely pleased to have been invited, and that while he was indeed president of a growing organization, he was also very much the father of four from a family farm in Georgia. It seems that all of the Forum's editors from Marie Boring to Mary Ballard have played unique and invaluable roles in shaping the progress of the magazine. As it is with any birthday, we have much to celebrate as "The Braille Forum" turns 30. We celebrate its ongoing existence and the legacy of those who believed in it and worked so hard to keep it going in good and bad times. We celebrate the magazine's progress as we increase our publications from six to nine this year. Finally, we celebrate the conviction that the Forum will continue to find new and better ways to meet the needs of its readers. THE "BRAILLE FORUM" AND NEW HORIZONS by Marie Boring (Reprinted from "The Braille Forum," April 1962) This is the first issue of "The Braille Forum." It is published by the American Council of the Blind, a new national organization of blind persons established in July of last year. Information concerning the publisher will be found elsewhere in this issue. We concern ourselves here with the aims and policies of this magazine. Many of those receiving this first issue of our magazine have during the past three years become acquainted with "The Braille Free Press," a magazine published by the Braille Free Press Association. Some of its readers have requested information concerning the future of this magazine. The Braille Free Press Association has been dissolved, and all its assets have been transferred to the American Council of the Blind. "The Braille Forum" has thus become to some extent the successor to "The Braille Free Press." However, as the American Council of the Blind is a new organization with broader aims, "The Braille Forum" is a new magazine with broader horizons. Though "The Braille Forum" is published by the American Council of the Blind, it has not been planned as a house organ of the publisher. There are already in the United States 105 braille publications. Of these, 30 are house organs of organizations, schools or agencies. Most of the remaining publications are dedicated to specific fields such as religion and news. It is the hope of the American Council of the Blind to publish a magazine that will be unique in its approach and broad in its presentation. As the name implies, "The Braille Forum" will present to blind persons a medium through which they themselves may discuss any issue of special interest to blind people. It is the aim of this magazine to open its pages to all and to give space insofar as is practicable to discussions on both sides of those issues which may be of a controversial nature. It is hoped that the pages of "The Braille Forum" will also be used to disseminate information of special interest to the blind population of this country. At present, "The Braille Forum" is prepared by an editorial board under the direction of a publications committee. This magazine will succeed if the readers make use of its pages and demand the fulfillment of its promise. We believe that many of our readers are not interested in any publication so insipid as to be totally without bias. However, we also believe that a publication so narrow as to present only one point of view would soon cease to hold the interest of many of our readers. We believe that there is a need for the kind of publication which inspires thought and presents a challenge in developing attitudes toward blindness and the problems of blindness. It is hoped that "The Braille Forum" will appeal to those who seek the freedom to develop their own opinions and their own personal philosophy toward life and the handicap of blindness without the kind of presentation that gives the impression that one must fit into a special pattern or be cast forever into outer darkness. The aims of "The Braille Forum" then might well be stated as fairness, growth and progress. GREETINGS TO ALL ACB MEMBERS AND READERS OF "THE BRAILLE FORUM" by Ned E. Freeman A new national organization of the blind brings you a new national magazine of, for, and by the blind. We hope it will be read by every member of the family and your friends. We want this to be your magazine and will bend our utmost efforts to make it the kind of magazine you want. The purpose of "The Braille Forum" is to provide information and news and to stimulate discussion and the exchange of ideas and opinions on all subjects in which you are interested. We cannot do this without your assistance and participation. These pages are open to anyone for the expressing of ideas and opinions so far as the limitations of space, good taste and the libel laws will allow -- even though the views expressed may differ from the consensus of ACB opinion. "The Braille Forum" will be published as frequently and to as large a mailing list as available funds, material and interest will permit. Our present plan is to appear during the last month of each calendar quarter. We are sure that our non-member readers will understand that ACB members must be given priority on our mailing list. "The Braille Forum" will, however, be sent free of charge to anyone requesting it so far as the available supply will last... It is with confident anticipation that we present the first issue of our new "Braille Forum" and ... I would enjoy hearing from you personally -- and please let us have your contributions of news, ideas and opinions for the "Forum." A BACKWARD GLANCE by Phyllis Stern During the dark days of '59, the members of the Federation found themselves in conflict with one another regarding policies, procedures, voting and fund dispersement. A nucleus of those members gathered together and developed the idea of the Braille Free Press Association in order to communicate their ideas in a tangible form. The publication was not just a pamphlet or a flyer, but was a lengthy issue of more than 100 of the older, large size braille pages. Hollis Liggett of Memphis, Tennessee became its editor. In 1960 Marie Boring accepted the job as editor. She continued as editor through 1961, when the discontented group gathered at the Aladdin Hotel in Kansas City and officially formed the American Council of the Blind. At that time, Marie suggested that the publication be renamed The Braille Forum. She remained editor until Earl Scharry from Louisville took over the reins. After completion of his term as the first President of ACB, Ned Freeman accepted the job. Following his death in 1969, Alma Murphey of St. Louis, Mo., took over temporarily. She edited about six issues, but had to give it up for other responsibilities. From that point Earl Scharry, then living in Washington, said he would accept it again. Unfortunately, Earl suffered a stroke and was unable to continue. The duty of editing fell into the Washington office, primarily the responsibility of Durward McDaniel. Then Mary Ballard took over. Little need be said about the outstanding job Mary did for so many years. While our publication is in the capable hands of an editor, Nolan Crabb, I felt it necessary to just take a brief glance back to the many dedicated members who cared enough to see that our best form of communication, The Braille Forum, never broke down. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative Paper money that can be identified by blind people? Whoever heard of such? Readers of "The Braille Forum" and ACB members who have attended ACB national conventions in the past know that this subject has been discussed pro and con many times over the years, but the issue continues to resurface from time to time. Recently, for example, a disabled advocate who is fully sighted came to the ACB National Office to revisit this issue and to explore possible solutions. Although he now knows that the position of the U.S. Treasury Department is not likely to change, he does plan to contact a few ACB affiliates in the near future to obtain additional reactions to a proposal he is urging. However, with reference to the electronic identification of paper money, a forthcoming issue of "The Braille Forum" will carry an article evaluating the pocket-sized Brytech Paper Money Identifier recently introduced and now being marketed by such firms as Ann Morris Enterprises, among others. Among the important international guests visiting the ACB National Office recently was the representative of the Princess of Thailand, one of whose objectives is the improvement of employment opportunities for blind people in that country. While blind people in the United States have access to a comparatively large number of employment opportunities, Thailand does not yet have government-sponsored and regulated employment programs such as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day industrial workshop employment program or the Randolph-Sheppard program for the employment of licensed vendors. We commend the government of Thailand for the efforts it is making in spite of strong opposition to the employment of blind people in industrial settings such as the textile industry. During the recent conference of the Alliance for Public Technology, it was my pleasure to serve as moderator of a panel dealing with the application of technology for the benefit of disabled people. No, the speakers did not necessarily concentrate on highly technical, extremely sophisticated devices or applications; the great majority of the questions from the audience dealt with common sense matters that were important to both able-bodied and disabled people -- matters such as the sensible location and ordering of controls, the simplification of operating procedures and, of course, the use of universally accessible controls. All the panelists underscored the necessity for designers and manufacturers to obtain input from knowledgeable disabled people while designing products. As part of our continuing interest in expanding employment opportunities under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, representatives of the ACB task force referred to in the last issue of "The Braille Forum" met recently with Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner Nell Carney and key members of her staff to discuss recommendations made by the American Council of the Blind and other organizations. Some of the areas of concern on which we focused included, among others, the lack of recognition given to the blindness priority by many federal agencies, the ambivalent attitude of some federal and state agencies in enforcing the priority, the deliberate efforts of some federal agencies to circumvent the clear meaning and intent of the law and the rejection by many state licensing agencies of meaningful vendor participation in decisions affecting the program. Inasmuch as it is often risky to "open up" the regulations of a financially attractive activity such as the Randolph-Sheppard vending program (because other interests may wish to push their way into the program or to change it in other ways), some of the participants appeared surprised when the two major organizations of blind people agreed that the regulations should be "opened up" to remedy the problems discussed. This matter is obviously going to be under consideration for some time in the future, so readers should continue to call the Washington Connection to stay abreast of developments. Recently, ACB's Director of Governmental Affairs, Paul Schroeder, had an opportunity to enjoy outstanding Arkansas hospitality in connection with his participation as keynoter and legislative resource at the 21st annual convention of the Arkansas Council of the Blind. The convention featured reports concerning impressive growth, the presentation of scholarships to outstanding students, the presentation of an award to a visually handicapped court stenographer and her employer, and very interesting reports concerning important services to blind people--services such as rehabilitation training, the radio reading program and education. For many years, the American Council of the Blind of New York has been conducting an annual legislative seminar in order to focus on specific issues, to formulate a plan of action and then to carry out that action with the state legislature. Paul Schroeder took part in the 1992 workshop. His remarks about legislative advocacy focused on the importance of clearly stating the message, reminding his audience that this year legislators are even more attuned to their constituents. The major issues dealt with by this year's seminar were a vending bill which would open even more opportunities for blind workers, and the certification of schools and trainers of guide dogs. The seminar attendees also heard from Special Services and the New York State Office of the Advocate for the Disabled. For several years, readers of "The Braille Forum" have been hearing about the plans and activities of the Coalition for Information Access for Print Handicapped Readers. Braille Forum Editor Nolan Crabb attended the most recent CIAPHR meeting, held at the headquarters of Recording for the Blind in Princeton, N.J. and represented ACB as CIAPHR enters its next phase of activities. A more detailed report on CIAPHR's activities will be included in the May issue of "The Braille Forum." LEGISLATIVE UPDATE by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs Here is a brief summary of significant legislation in Congress which the American Council of the Blind is following. BRAILLE LITERACY WEEK A congressional declaration of Braille Literacy Week in January 1993 is on track. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is sponsoring the bill in the Senate, S. J. Res. 226. Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C. is the House sponsor. The Week designated for January 3-9, 1993, coincides with the anniversary of Louis Braille's birth on January 4, 1809. Before these measures can move forward, a majority of the members of each body must sign on as co-sponsors. Therefore, your letters to your senators and representatives are very important. Most members of Congress will only consider co-sponsoring these kind of resolutions at the request of their constituents. THE FEDERAL BUDGET Congress has been feverishly trying to determine what to do with the so-called "peace dividend," federal dollars which are no longer needed for defense spending. Billions of dollars are at stake. This year, the usually mundane congressional exercise of setting overall expenditure targets (called the budget resolution) is more significant because of something called the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990. This law, negotiated behind the scenes by congressional leaders and the President and popularly known as the budget agreement, sets "walls" around budget categories--defense, domestic and international--preventing the shift of dollars from one of these categories to another. Legislation has been introduced in different forms into both houses of Congress--H.R. 3732 in the House and S. 2250 in the Senate--which is intended to break down the "walls" between budget categories to redirect several billion dollars in defense spending to domestic programs and deficit reduction. By the time you read this update, Congress may well have resolved the budget "walls" issue, but you should contact ACB's Washington Connection to determine whether action is still needed on this issue. Tearing down the walls is important because if they remain in place it could mean a cut of $7 billion in current domestic spending, which includes programs such as vocational rehabilitation, public transportation, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and a host of other important programs. The actual details of federal spending are contained in a number of appropriations bills which are supposed to be passed into law before October 1 of each year. CIVIL RIGHTS The Equal Remedies Act was mentioned in the January/February issue of "The Braille Forum." This legislation--H.R. 3975 sponsored by Rep. Barbara Kennelly, D-Conn., and S. 2062 sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.--would remove caps on monetary damages which were included in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (P.L. 101-166). The Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources has approved the measure and sent it on to the full Senate. Action in the House should follow soon. The legislation is significant to people with disabilities because the Civil Rights Act of 1991 changed the enforcement and remedies provisions relating to employment discrimination under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Unfortunately, one of the compromises deemed necessary to pass the civil rights legislation placed caps on the monetary damages available to people with disabilities, women, and certain minority groups bringing employment discrimination suits under other statutes. No such cap is applied on damages available to individuals proving discrimination based on race or national origin. COINAGE, ONE DOLLAR COIN Hoping to avoid the mistakes in the design of the much maligned Susan B. Anthony coin, Congress is again considering a one dollar coin. The move for the coin is being lead by vending machine manufacturers and operators and public transit authorities. As you no doubt remember, the Anthony dollar was reviled by blind and sighted people alike because it felt so much like a quarter that it was virtually impossible to tell them apart when fishing for change. The new legislation, H.R. 1245 sponsored by Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., has a majority of House members as cosponsors and is awaiting action in the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee. The Senate included S. 844, which is sponsored by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in banking reform legislation which passed the Senate but was subsequently removed from the final bill by a House-Senate Conference Committee. Both bills call for a coin which has tactile features to aid people with visual impairments in identification. There are differences of opinion regarding the symbol to be used on the coin and whether the one dollar bill should be phased out of production. Those interested in supporting a readily identifiable one dollar coin should contact your United States Representative and Senators along with Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, D-Texas, who chairs the House Banking Committee, Rep. Chalmers P. Wylie, R-Ohio, who is the highest ranking republican on that Committee, Rep. Esteban Torres, D-Calif., who chairs the subcommittee considering H.R. 1245 and Rep. Al McCandless, R-Calif., the ranking minority member of that subcommittee. Since the Senate has already recorded its support of S. 844, it is likely that the bill will pass there shortly after the House acts. EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES As individuals with disabilities and employers prepare for the July 26th implementation of the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a well-known tax incentive designed to encourage employment for groups such as people with disabilities awaits congressional action. The tax break, known as the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, allows employers to deduct a portion of the first year wages paid to an employee who is from a disadvantaged segment of the population. People with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals have seen TJTC as a useful inducement to encourage an uncertain employer to hire a person with a disability. The TJTC was renewed at the end of 1991, just as it was about to expire. When it was renewed, Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D- Ill., chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means indicated that it was time to assess whether TJTC along with other tax incentives should be made a permanent part of the tax code. It will again expire on June 30, 1992, if a law extending TJTC is not approved before that date. TJTC was included in tax bills passed by both the House and Senate. As The Braille Forum went to press in mid March, the legislation faced a certain Bush veto. Eventually, it is likely that Congress will have to separate TJTC, along with other tax incentives, into a separate piece of legislation. REHABILITATION Congressional staff in the House Subcommittee on Select Education and the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy are continuing to review various proposals designed to reform rehabilitation services and service delivery as they work to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The House Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., has held four hearings at which testimony was taken on a variety of ideas. We expect that the first actual legislative proposal will emerge in the House Subcommittee sometime in April with the Senate version to follow in May or early June. Obviously, many ideas to improve rehabilitation services for people with disabilities are circulating. Now would be an excellent time for you to write to Owens and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who chairs the Senate's Disability Policy Subcommittee to express support for increased funding for independent living services for the elderly blind and other improvements. Be assured that our interests will be overlooked if we do not work to secure increased services. SOCIAL SECURITY Two desires are driving most congressional attention on social security: independent agency status for the Social Security Administration and increasing or removing the cap on the amount a retiree aged 65-69 can earn before his or her social security benefits are reduced. Currently, the action is centered on the second issue. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., added a proposal to remove the cap as part of the Senate's bill reauthorizing the Older Americans Act and considered adding an amendment to the Senate version of tax reform legislation. This is relevant because since 1978, the limit on earned income for blind SSDI beneficiaries--substantial gainful activity has been linked to the level of earned income available to retirees aged 65-69. However, the tie is not part of any of the various proposals including McCain's. Congressional leaders now seem to favor an increase in the earnings test for retirees which is now placed at $10,200. Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Calif., who sponsored H.R. 1289 calling for the elimination of Substantial Gainful Activity wrote to his House and Senate colleagues urging them to consider his proposal along with the language in the Senate version of the Older Americans Act. ACB endorsed the Campbell proposal in Resolution 91-30. You may wish to write letters to Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D- Texas, Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., along with Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., Rep. Andy Jacobs, D-Ind., and Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, urging these members of Congress to maintain the tie between Substantial Gainful Activity for blind SSDI beneficiaries and the earnings test applied to Social Security recipients aged 65-69. Raising or removing the SGA cap should help blind SSDI beneficiaries to return to work. The Bush Administration has generally not been in favor of removing the earnings limitation for social security beneficiaries because of the effect on federal spending. TELECOMMUNICATIONS When the telecommunications giant AT&T was forced to divest itself of the regional bell operating companies, certain restrictions were placed on those regional companies in the court decision. Attempts by the companies to lift those restrictions are now gaining momentum both in the courts and in Congress. (See "Who Will Win the Information War?" this issue.) One piece of legislation H.R. 1527, introduced by Rep. Jim Slattery, D- Kan., would grant the bell companies permission to develop and manufacture telecommunications equipment for use on their telephone networks. In response to efforts by several disability organizations and advocates, Slattery added amendments to the bill which would require any such equipment to be accessible and would require the network itself to be accessible to people with disabilities. Unfortunately, in an effort to protect the bell companies from excessive costs the amendments include the long- discredited "economically feasible" language rather than drawing upon the "undue burden" language which was included in the ADA. Attempts are now being made to substitute the "undue burden" language for the meaningless and dangerous "economically feasible" standard. A similar bill to Slattery's--S. 173 sponsored by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.--but without any access amendments, has already passed the Senate. The future of telecommunications is further complicated by other legislation which would delay by several years permission for the Bell companies to provide electronic information services in their own operating areas. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., have introduced varying versions of such legislation, S. 2112 and H.R. 3515 respectively. CONTACTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS If you would like to write a member of Congress, and you should certainly consider letting your elected officials know your views, you should write as follows: The Honorable, (name), United States Senate (or) House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20510 (Senate) or 20515 (House). To telephone, you can call the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121 for the Senate and (202) 225-3121 for the House. To find out the names of your Senators and Representative call your local public library, board of elections or League of Women Voters Office. ON THE ROAD TO PHOENIX: CONVENTION UPDATE by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator The increased publication of "The Braille Forum" during the spring affords us the opportunity to update ACB members on more convention details. The convention committee and the many people assisting us from the Arizona Council of the Blind are working diligently, endeavoring to make the 1992 convention a fabulous experience for you. The Omni-Adams Hotel, formerly the Sheraton, our overflow hotel, has agreed to lower room rates from $45 to $40 per night for up to four persons per room. You can call the Omni- Adams at (602) 257-1525. The rate for the Hyatt, the lead hotel, where most convention functions take place, remains at $45. The number for the Hyatt is (602) 252-1234. Reservations at both hotels should be made before June 4, 1992. After that, the availability of rooms can't be guaranteed. The 1992 pre-registration packet is again available on tape. Call the ACB national office during regular business hours at (202) 467-5081, or toll-free at (800) 424-8666 between 3:00 and 5:30 p.m., to request your taped copy. Remember, however, that only printed forms can be used to pre-register; one form per individual. Pre-registration packets are sent out in early May. In earlier information in "The Braille Forum," we indicated there would be no shuttles this year. However, for the comfort and convenience of attendees, we have decided to operate an air- conditioned mini-bus between the Hyatt and the Civic Center, where the exhibits will be located. The shuttle will operate during the hours the exhibit area is open. The civic center is only a short walk from the front entrance of the Hyatt. Those traveling to Phoenix by car should be aware that hotel parking is about $8 per night. There are parking lots close to the hotels where the cost is approximately $2.50 per night. The Sky Harbor airport is some 20 minutes from downtown. Upon arrival, you can call Air Courier or Super Van for transportation. There are telephones in the luggage pickup area. You may also call your hotel, which will call the shuttle service for you. The shuttle cost one-way is about $5 per person. Cabs are also available for about $10. Remember to use International Tours Inc. of Muskogee, Okla. Call (800) 847-7676 for courteous and low-cost service. Oklahoma residents call (800) 722-9822. Convention time will soon be here, so don't delay making reservations. Meet old friends and make new ones at ACB's 31st convention in 1992. WHO WILL WIN THE INFORMATION WAR? by Nolan Crabb Assume for a moment that you want to travel from your community to a city in another part of the United States. Wondering what the weather's like in your destination city, you pick up the phone. But, as they say in the theme song from "Ghost Busters," "Who ya gonna call?" The seven Regional Bell Operating telephone Companies would love to provide the advertising, news, and weather you need--something they recently got permission to do. But your local newspaper might argue loudly that it has been in the information business for years, and who better to call than the paper's information line to get the latest. Congress will ultimately decide whether the Bell companies can compete with the publishing industry by distributing information and selling ads to support information- based services. Until recently, the Bells could only distribute information gathered by others. Those restrictions were so tight that the Bells were prevented from offering talking yellow pages, since creating files that would talk was considered information generation or alteration. Those restrictions came about when AT&T was broken up nearly a decade ago. An appeals court lifted the restrictions last August, but Congress isn't willing to merely sit back and let the information chips fall where they may. Many members of Congress fear allowing the Bells to plunge with abandon into the information industry could jack up the price of your phone bill. Others are concerned about the amount of potential revenue loss which the newspaper industry could experience. The Bells say, however, that without the opportunity to grow today, they could be the backwater companies of tomorrow, losing revenue and America's telecommunications lead. The ongoing war between the newspaper industry and the Bell companies heated up in mid February. Rep. Jack Brooks, D- Texas, chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary and chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Commercial Law, held a public hearing at which the various positions of the two groups were reiterated. Brooks expressed concern about the lack of a telecommunications competition policy in the United States. "This industry--and more important the American people--are adrift in a process whereby competition rules are being made up on an ad hoc basis," Brooks said in his opening statement, "with no coordination with other decisions or decision-makers, and out of the view of an American public just struggling to pay their monthly phone bill." Ivan Seidenberg, vice chairman, Telecommunications Group, Nynex Corp., told the committee the Bell companies are in a better position to provide average Americans with electronic information. "The average American family does not perform searches on Lexis/Nexis or have access to a Dow Jones Wire News Retrieval system," he said, "nor are such services affordable for large numbers of people. CompuServe, a computer information service accessed from the home via a telephone and personal computer, advertises that it serves homes with an average annual household income of $86,200, and boasts that a substantial majority of CompuServe users are affluent males in managerial, technical, and professional positions. "The Bell companies, however, want to provide the average American with electronic information services like those which are available in other countries." Seidenberg said French families have access to Minitel, a news and information service provided by the French telephone company. "This service also provides classified advertising, the primary service that the newspapers are attempting to protect," he said. "Yet the experience in France has been that Minitel has actually increased classified ad revenues for newspapers, in part because many companies that advertise on Minitel also place advertisements in newspapers which tell the customer where within the Minitel system to locate their advertisement. We believe that Americans deserve a widely available information service like Minitel that serves more than just the wealthiest males in this country." Seidenberg warned that unless the Bells were allowed in the information arena, foreign companies would attempt to fill that void. He chided the publishing industry for doing little to make electronic information accessible to the average consumer. "We can no longer sit idly by as foreign competitors chip away at one of our country's core businesses," he warned. "The American public can no longer be deprived of information services just because the publishers and cable operators, who have done virtually nothing to reach America's potential in the electronic publishing field, believe that we should remain bottled up." David Easterly, president of Cox Newspapers, countered that the publishing industry is doing a great deal to bring information to consumers. He said much of the information which could appear in the paper doesn't make it because of the high cost of production. Electronic publishing, he said, will allow consumers access to information they otherwise won't get from the paper. "School news, real estate transfers, thinly-traded options and stocks frequently don't make it into the papers anymore for cost reasons. But there is an interested public. For example, in Atlanta, we offer a fax service for prices on rather esoteric options and commodities and receive more than 30,000 requests for that service each year. "The 'Atlanta Journal and Constitution' offer 25 different telephone information services ranging from weather forecasts for travelers to early information about tomorrow's classified ads. Last year, we received 12 million calls for those services. For owners of personal computers we offer unlimited access to our newspaper library. Primarily this is useful to students, lawyers, and business people who make almost 4,000 connections per month through their computers." He said such services aren't limited to large newspapers. "Our newspaper in Longview, Texas recently started a telephone information service and the call volumes are exceeding 6,000 per month, which equates to roughly one call per year from every man, woman, and child in town." He warned of the dangers of allowing regulated monopolies like the Bell companies to get involved in the information field. "If these services are going to grow and thrive," he said, "newspapers are going to need a fair and reasonable working relationship with their local phone companies. Over time, we can drive an enormous amount of traffic across the telephone network. We are eager to contract with the phone companies to manage the traffic and provide a billing service that would make this enterprise economically viable. But our experience to date shows that the phone companies are not content with that seemingly natural role. They want the entire business for themselves, not a piece of it. "For a brief while, we operated our personal computer service through a Southern Bell Gateway in Atlanta," Easterly said, "and discovered that it took us weeks and weeks to get information from the phone company about the usage of our services by our customers. Of course, the phone company instantly had all that data to themselves. Can you imagine a weaker competitive position than having your customer history in the hands of a potential competitor that is currently restrained in no way from taking advantage of you? "The phone companies have protested that they have no intention of competing with newspapers in the business of providing news reports," Easterly said. "And of course that's both true and quite irrelevant to the issue. News coverage is the part of the business that costs money. It's advertising that keeps the ship afloat, and that's where the phone companies have their focus. Our classified business is their primary target, and the results could be devastating." Easterly had a final warning for the committee members. "I hope that as lawmakers, you have an instinctive understanding that there will be foul play galore if you leave us in a situation where Dominos must contract with Pizza Hut for delivery of their pizzas with no protection from abuse and dirty tricks. We're more than ready to compete with any of the six regional Bell companies in a given region at the same time, as long as the one phone company we must rely upon is not encouraged to take advantage of us." (Part two of this series will look at some of the telephone-based and computer-based services provided by various newspapers around the country.) EDITOR'S NOTE: The following two stories will be of interest to readers who enjoy looking at language and attitudes associated with disabilities. In the first story, ACB Member Jenine McKeown looks at language associated with disability. The second story deals with disability and the attitudes associated with it. In the mid '80s, a reporter from "The Baltimore Sun" won a Pulitzer for a story written about a blind child. I was the editor of "Dialogue Magazine" at the time. We reprinted that story as an illustration of how out of touch the press can be when reporting on blindness. While sighted journalists haven't learned to cover blindness and other disability issues as well as we might hope, this second story indicates that progress is being made. The reporter's parents are members of the Utah Council of the Blind, and she works for a Salt Lake City newspaper--the same paper which employed me as a correspondent for two years. Lois Collins' carefully-crafted language and the tone of the story indicate that progress is being made. We can only hope that there are other reporters and newspapers out there who are seeking the higher ground where disability coverage is concerned. Who knows--maybe some day the Pulitzer judges will award a prize to a reporter for writing something in the same spirit as Lois Collins' contribution. Then we can celebrate real progress. MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY by Jenine McKeown It continues to amaze me; the more I learn, the more I have to unlearn. Going back to college was the right decision for me at this point in life. I realized this one day in class as the professor lectured about psycho-linguistics. The question he posed was one near and dear to the hearts of not just linguists but anyone who writes in the hope of effecting change. "Does language influence thought/action or does language change to fit patterns of thought/action?" Yes, it is a good question. The light bulb came on over my head as he continued. How does this question relate to the way people with disabilities wish to be portrayed to the public in the media. What is the reality of how we interact with the public? When I worked for an independent living center as a consultant on issues affecting people with visual difficulties, we came across a pamphlet instructing staff on how to write about people with disabilities. The main point of this pamphlet was that when writing about someone, he is a person first. When writing about a vocational setting, spotlight the "normal" aspects of the job, then tell about the person's adaptations. In this way we hope to change the public's attitude by bombarding it with written and visual images of "normal" people who do things just a bit differently. That sounded logical to me. Maybe if people saw and read enough, they would not constantly refer to me as "that blind woman." All the words in the world though cannot make up for the images of those people who remain unskilled, unwilling to accept their disability or untrained in adaptive techniques. The public remembers the "blind man who spills his coffee all the time" or the "woman with that dog who won't behave" before they think of the man who owns the restaurant or the woman who shops at the mall on Sundays. My professor gave very convincing evidence that language does not control thought or action but is shaped by such action. I begged to differ at first. Don't we cover up political indecencies with language? What about "Double Speak?" He pointed out though that the language changes occur because of some action we cannot appropriately describe. In that case, language referring to people with disabilities has changed because society is having trouble accepting people first and disability second? Good question. It is more likely that by giving problems and successes new names, we are better able to understand them. The best example of this I could cite was one which occurred within the independent living movement. We were all supposed to be equal in the struggle for acceptance and accommodations by society but it soon became clear that the needs of people wih mobility impairments were different from those of people with visual or hearing impairments. What was to be done about this potentially embarrassing split in the ranks? Categorize. Mobility impairments and sensory impairments. Once the problem could be named, it began to be dealt with. As more and more agencies change their names to things like "Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired," "Department for People with Disabilities," etc., we see the language changing to keep up with those of us who choose to be people first with varying degrees of ability. People may still feel more comfortable saying "that blind man over there" or "that service is for those blind people." Why is this so? Because, to some extent, we keep it so. When we demand special treatment above what others receive, treatment which may not have anything to do with our physical condition, we allow ourselves to become "those blind people." By learning from accomplished people with visual difficulties and rehabilitation professionals those skills which can make things like transportation, job accommodations and domestic chores easier, we can become "people who just happen to have trouble seeing with our eyes." Sure, it sounds utopian but think of it this way. Would you rather be remembered as "that blind guy" or "that guy who throws the great parties, plays chess so well or keeps excellent books?" I was lucky in this matter. Shortly after I lost my sight, I was really thinking of myself as a "blind" person. I was introduced to the local chapter of ACB where I met people who just happened to have trouble with their sight. This helped me immensely to feel like a "person." I know these people are everywhere. Please seek them out. DISABILITY? DEPENDS ON VIEWPOINT by Lois M. Collins (Reprinted with permission from "The Deseret News," October 22, 1991). I shared my friend's pregnancy through long-distance telephone calls, listening on Sunday afternoons as she described preparations for the arrival of the newest member of her family. Last week, a new California girl was born: Katie, the embodiment of her parents' hopes and dreams. Today, I am thinking about the joy of her birth -- and the unspeakable grief that accompanies it. Katie was born too soon. Besides the complications of prematurity, doctors believe she will be blind. She has a spinal defect that means she will probably always use a wheelchair. "How will we live through this?" my friend asked, crying quietly into the phone. "Was it something we did?" I didn't have instant, easy answers, so I mostly listened to her pain and fear. In the last week, I've had time to think about it. And about other parents I know who have had complicated pregnancies resulting in the birth of babies with medical problems. As a human services reporter, I probably meet more children with disabilities than most people do. I've learned a lot from them -- and their parents. We all bring our backgrounds with us into new encounters. I know that I am more optimistic about the future of these children because my own parents are blind -- my mother from birth and my father from young adolescence. I have all my life been introduced to very accomplished people who are blind, deaf or otherwise "disabled." I have learned that much of the so-called disability is imposed by other people who "think about what it would be like" and then accept that as reality. It doesn't have to be. Many of my mother's earliest memories center around long car trips (and they were long in the early '20s) across America, looking for doctors who would tell my grandmother that they could "fix" my mother and her nonfunctioning eyes. They never found anyone who could say that. Eventually, when they stopped searching and settled down to see what could be done, she began to have a normal childhood and a very happy and productive life. She played the piano at age five by ear and learned to type when she was eight. She's fast and accurate and worked as a secretary until she had children (who are all sighted). She has a diploma in massage and physiotherapy. She played the violin for David Rubinoff and earned a gold medal. She is her church pianist. She attended public schools and belonged to all the clubs. She didn't need to be "fixed." She just needed to be encouraged and allowed to grow and explore and prosper. She needed people who would take into account the things she couldn't do -- or the things that are harder because she can't see -- and help her find ways to adapt. She needed the same things that all children need. When I talk to my friend again, I will tell her many things. I will tell her it's okay to grieve. They will face special challenges as Katie grows and it won't always be easy. But they will live through it -- together. They can be happy. Katie will be able to do many things with her life, if she's encouraged and taught that she can. I know attorneys and a judge who are blind. I know others who use wheelchairs. I've met government officials who are both. I know teachers who are deaf, who are blind, who are physically disabled. I know a scientific researcher who has multiple sclerosis and a computer whiz who has muscular dystrophy. I know mentally retarded adults who work eight hours a day. My cousin is severely retarded and operated his family's farm, taking care of the animals when his father died. I know a man who is blind and deaf and works in a glove factory, a blind woman who does the most incredible bronze work, a woman in a wheelchair who holds a paintbrush with her teeth and creates majestic watercolors. I know a blind reporter. We probably would never have had the telephone if Alexander Graham Bell's mother and his wife weren't deaf. Some of our most beautiful music was created by Beethoven, who was still composing after he became deaf. Parents grieve when a child is ill -- and the knowledge that the problems are lifelong is a burden. But I'll never forget the words of a woman whose child was born without a brain and without any chance to survive. In a television interview she said, as she held the baby for the first and last time before donating the infant's heart to another baby, "I am filled with such awe at life. She is so beautiful. I have never felt such love for anyone." My friend will come to know that love, as well. DOGS FROM THE HEARTLAND by Steve Bauer When you think of where the nearest dog guide school is, you probably think of New Jersey, Florida or California. Now you can add Kansas to the list. Kansas Specialty Dog Service is located in Washington, Kan., a small community in north central Kansas near the Nebraska border. Founded by Bill and Karen Acree, the school trains service dogs for physically handicapped persons, social dogs for nursing home residents and elderly individuals still living at home and dog guides for visually impaired people. KSDS is a nonprofit corporation founded in the fall of 1990. The doors officially opened one year later with facilities that include a 6,000 square foot administration/training building, a 4,700 square foot canine housing unit for breeding stock and foster puppies and soon, a housing unit for students. Bill Acree says puppies are placed in foster homes around the state until they are 12 to 18 months old. Then, they are returned to KSDS to begin formalized training. "We have a goal of placing 100 dogs in the first three years of operation," Acree says. At the end of 1991, the school was nine months ahead of schedule. By its fourth year, KSDS hopes to place between 100 and 120 dogs annually. Acree says he has been greatly disappointed with the reception he has received from other dog guide schools in the U.S. "Because the American schools refused to talk with us and share some of the things they have learned, we have gone outside the country and are working with trainers in England and Canada. They are very receptive and willing to assist in the final development stage of our program." He added, "Barring any unexpected delays, we should have a dog guide ready for placement in the 1992 spring class." The training course will consist of four weeks at the school. "In some cases, we may also do some limited training in the clients home community if necessary," Acree says. Unlike other programs, trainees are free to interact with family members and friends during the month of training. "Being away for a month can be hard and interaction with the family and the dog is very important," Acree says. KSDS breeds four types of dogs, including Black and Yellow Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and Boxers. "We have determined that the Boxers and German Shepherds would primarily be dog guides," he says, "but that does not eliminate one of the other breeds from being moved in to this category." The largest corporate sponsor of KSDS is the IAMS Company of Dayton, Ohio. Through a grant from IAMS, premium Eukanuba dog food is provided for each dog while it is in the foster home and throughout its working life. Redeemable coupon vouchers are provided for presentation at retailers. "We are extremely proud of the program and commend the IAMS Company for this wonderful sponsorship," Acree says. KSDS has also arranged for discounted or free veterinary care and supplies during the working life of its dogs. KSDS is committed to providing 51% of its dogs to Kansas residents. It primarily serves a nine-state area around Kansas, but applications are welcome from any state. For more information or to request an application contact Kansas Specialty Dog Service, 124 W. 7th, P. O. Box 216, Washington, KS 66968. Tel. (913) 325-2256. A cassette brochure should be available in the spring. NEW AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE JUST FOR WOMEN by Dana Walker If you've ever envied women who have supermarket access to magazines written especially for them, you may be interested in "Women In Touch," a new publication created for blind women, whether they are homemakers, single women or working wives. Although the magazine is produced on two-track cassette by the Sydney branch of the National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia, its intended audience is not limited to the southern hemisphere. Of the four women editors, Diana Braun's name will be most familiar to American readers because of her contributions to "Dialogue" and "Our Special". The other three editors sound as skilled as Braun as they take turns with articles and interviews. The cassette magazine does not have the slick quality of the periodicals recorded by the National Library Service. Its format more closely resembles the recorded version of "Dialogue". There are taped interviews with women such as the blind mother of a sighted teenager and a blind woman who took a leave of absence from her job to study for a year at a yoga center in India. Another interview features a sighted woman who sells makeup in a party setting. Without mentioning product names, she gives some advice on makeup for blind women. In other brief interviews, two of the editors introduce themselves to the readers. In addition to the interviews, there are reviews of books on tape and in braille, available on interlibrary loan from the Royal Blind Society. One of the books, a two-track recording about women with disabilities, sounds worth borrowing. In other segments, an American woman writes about the death of her son. The magazine also includes a few poems. However, these are professionally published poems. Although the editors solicit letters and comments from readers, they do not state whether they will include reader-written poetry in future issues. They definitely solicit reader contributions for another segment of the magazine, called "Never-Fail Recipes." In this issue, Diana Braun gives a couple of recipes which have never failed her. They tend towards the "Add as much as you need and cook until done" style of instruction, but they do sound delicious. The musical interludes between the articles, enhance the magazine and make it easy to skip one that doesn't particularly interest you. The music is a pleasant original composition if you just want to let it play through. The magazine is free to American and other non-Australian readers. You can get a sample copy or request a subscription just by writing "Women in Touch", P.O. Box 791, Berward 2134, Australia. 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, it 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. MINNESOTA TOLL-FREE Minnesota residents can obtain assistive device information at no charge by calling a toll-free number. The hotline deals with adapted computer hardware, architectural adaptations, communication, environmental controls, mobility, orthotics, personal care, prosthetics, recreation, seating, sensory disabilities, therapeutic aids, and transportation. The number is (800) 331-4027. COUNSELING BY PHONE Tel-A-Counselor, a Wantagh, N.Y., company, offers psychological counseling by state licensed social workers via a 900 phone number at a $2 per minute rate, according to a press release. A 25 percent discount is available for callers who state that they are disabled or a senior citizen. According to Founder Jill Friedman, fees can also be arranged on a sliding scale. People calling the 900 number may speak to a counselor immediately without appointments. Those wishing to receive discounts will be given a toll-free 800 number, but sessions must be pre-booked. Callers can choose either a male or female therapist or a counselor who specializes in a particular treatment approach or problem. Clients aren't required to speak for the traditional 40- to 50-minute therapy hour. For more information, contact Tel-A- Counselor at (516) 783-5006. To talk to a therapist immediately, call (900) 226-2221. HAVE FUN WITH THE PHONE A new service is being established that would allow you to play board games by voice mail with other players around the country. You play the games with an 800 toll-free voice processing system. Call (800) 869-4668 and leave your name and address if you wish further information. 900 ENVIRONMENT LINE A new 900 number has been established to let consumers know about products that are both inexpensive and environmentally friendly, according to a press release from A O-K Services. Calls will be billed to your telephone bill at 75 cents per minute. The company says blind and visually impaired people who provide proof of their visual disability can get a 50 percent discount on the bill. The help line deals with such topics as sources of VISA and MasterCard accounts at low interest, cars and trucks with zero pollution, house designs that generate rather than consume electricity, food and appliances at deep discounts, user-friendly software, and more. To listen to the help line, call (900) 410-4357. To determine eligibility for a discount, contact A O-K Services at (800) 366-1793. TOLL-FREE NUMBER The Architectural and Transportation Barrier Compliance Board can be reached toll-free at (800) 872-2253 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. The new number became available shortly after the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act. People can call the number to obtain information on the accessibility sections of the ADA. A free information packet is available upon request. TELEPHONE INFO News, special interest features, and announcements of interest to blind and visually impaired people is as close as your telephone, according to a press release from Communications/Resource-Link. The service also offers on-line radio ministry personalities who provide prayer and counseling. Call (516) 225-6210. A touch tone telephone is required. WRITING CONTEST If you have had an amusing or embarrassing experience as a teacher or student--and haven't we all--write a brief account of it for the National Alliance of Blind Teachers Spring Writing Contest. The top three entries will receive cash prizes with publication in "The Blind Teacher." Other entries will be published as room permits. First prize is $25; second is $15; third is $10. Entries should be typed and double spaced or brailled on sturdy paper. Length may range from 300 to 700 words. Entries must be received by May 15, 1992. They should be accompanied by a check made out to NABT for the $5 entry fee. Send entries to Marieanna Pape, 15 Curtis st., Apartment 203, Cranston, RI 02920. GUIDE TO DOG SCHOOLS A "Guide to Guide Dog Schools" is now available in print ($5) and NLS-formatted cassettes ($3.50), according to a press release. The book covers 10 guide dog schools in the United States, and deals with such topics as application procedures, contact after graduation, and the costs and benefits of working with a guide dog. Checks should be made payable to Disabled On the Go, and sent to Ed and Toni Eames, 3376 N. Wishon, Fresno, CA 93704. SCHOOL REUNION The Alumni Association of the New York State School for the Blind will hold its annual reunion during the weekend of June 19 to 21 at the Tredway Inn in Batavia, N.Y. To register or for further information, contact Pat Rescorl, 268 Meigs St., Rochester, NY 14607. Tel. (716) 244-9433 no later than May 25. USED EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE The Used Equipment Clearinghouse is a free service to non-profit organizations for the blind, family or friends. Items ranging from braille slates to Kurzweil Personal Readers are part of the registry. To list your items for three months, or for more information, contact Barbara Mattson, 8 Andrews Pl., 519 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302. Tel. (803) 585-7323. LEARN TO SAIL A training manual entitled "Facing the Wind" is now available from the Carroll Center. Designed as a resource for teaching blind and visually impaired people to sail, the manual is based on the author's 12 years experience teaching sight impaired the techniques of small boat sailing using simple adaptive methods. Written by Arthur O'Neill, the manual is available in print or on cassette for $19.95. To order, contact the Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre St., Newton, MA 02158. CASSETTE MAGAZINE "Rumbles" is a twice-monthly cassette magazine available for $99.95 for a 12-month subscription. The magazine includes articles on health, show business, trivia, and conversation between the magazine's two editors. For more information, contact "Rumbles," P.O. Box 328, Glide, OR 97443. Tel. (503) 496-2222. EASIER LABELING A large print overlay is now available for the 3M EA200 raised letter labeler, according to an announcement from the Council of Citizens With Low Vision International. The overlay has excellent contrast and allows a visually impaired person to more easily read the selector dial of the raised letter labeler. The overlay is free and may be obtained from CCLVI, 5707 Brockton Dr., #302, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Tel. (800) 733-2258. The overlay may also be obtained from Maxi-Aids by calling (800) 522- 6294. BRAILLE COOKBOOKS The Massachusetts Association of the Blind offers a large selection of braille cookbooks including its newest selection, "From the Apple Orchard: Recipes for Apple Lovers." Available in two braille volumes, the book costs $15. To order or to receive a listing of other available cookbooks, write to MAB Braille Department, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA 02146. Tel. (617) 738-5110. Massachusetts residents may call (800) 682-9200. A six-volume braille cookbook is also available from the Massachusetts Association for the Blind. It contains 375 microwave recipes, and each of the six volumes may be purchased separately for $10 per volume. Volume one includes appetizers, snacks, and sandwiches. Volume two is soups, chicken, and ground beef. Volume three is meat and fish. Volume four is pastas, grains, and vegetables. Volume five is potatoes and breakfasts. Volume six is desserts. Make checks payable to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and mail to the above address. LOEB FOUNDATION PRODUCTS The Gladys E. Loeb Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization, offers the following products: "What, Where, When," a resource handbook listing aids, benefits, and services available to blind people, $10 print or cassette; "Blind Homemaker's Guide," $1.50; "The Real Answer to Non-Braille Food Labeling for Blind Homemakers," free. The foundation also offers stove burner guard rail rings to enhance safety while cooking. It also offers the Vox Com Talking Kit which records and plays back labels, file cards, and recipes. For more information, contact the Gladys E. Loeb Foundation, 2002 Forest Hill Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20903. STAMP COLLECTING More than 300 blindness-related stamps are included in the collection of Kenneth Stuckey, research librarian at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass. His 1990 acquisitions include blindness-related stamps issued by nine countries. He has Tazmanian stamps of Stevie Wonder and Sammy Davis, Jr. He has stamps from Cypruss depicting hands reading braille and a Mauratanian stamp depicting a child reading braille, both announcing International Literacy Year. For more information, contact Kenneth Stuckey, Samuel P. Hayes Research Library, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02172. SENIORS ACTIVITIES A new guide book on integrating visually impaired and blind senior citizens with sighted seniors in activities at senior citizen centers is available through the New York Lighthouse for the Blind. The book offers strategies and techniques by which service providers can help both visually impaired and sighted seniors become more comfortable and involved with each other in common activities at senior centers. "Integrating Visually Impaired Older People into Senior Centers" by Cathy Michaelson is available for $3 from the Lighthouse National Center on Vision and Aging Information and Resource Service, 111 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10022-1202. LOW VISION CATALOGUE The New York Lighthouse has released a 54-page catalogue of non-optical low vision products. More than 250 products designed to help people who are blind or visually impaired are listed. To receive a free copy of the large print catalogue, contact the New York Lighthouse for the Blind, 800 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10017. Tel. (800) 453-4923. HYMNBOOKS The "Evangel Hymnbook" is now available from Christian Education for the Blind in large print and braille. The book includes 200 favorite hymns for all occasions. The braille and large print editions with lyrics only costs $10. The braille edition with lyrics and music costs $20. Contact Christian Education for the Blind, P.O. Box 2399, Fort Worth, TX 76115. BIRDS ON TAPE "Birding by Ear" is a three-cassette guide to bird song identification. The guide includes a booklet of line drawings of birds. The booklet describes the habitat and voice characteristics of birds included on the tapes. Cassettes are sold in two groups--"Birding by Ear Western" and "Birding by Ear Eastern-Central." Cost of either edition is $35. Both may be purchased simultaneously for $65. Contact Science News Books, 1719 N St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036. BRAILLE FOOTBALL CARDS Three years after his retirement from the Los Angeles Raiders, Jim Plunkett is back on his own football card--the first ever braille football card to be unveiled. The card has significance to Plunkett, the only son of visually impaired parents. The card features a raised picture of Plunkett on the front and a braille message on the back which reads: "Raiders win Super Bowl XV--Jim Plunkett named MVP." The card is available in an 800-card set which retails for $120, or it can be purchased in random wax packs of six cards per set for $2.49. For more information on the braille Action Packed Cards, call Gene at G and M Coins, (616) 963-5132. BRAILLE MICROWAVE TIMES CL Productions now offers "The Microwave Times" in braille in addition to its previously available tone-indexed cassette edition. A bi-monthly microwave cooking magazine, "The Microwave Times" includes an average of 45 pre-tested recipes and tips and techniques for better microwave cooking, according to a press release. The 88-page braille edition costs $34 annually. The cassette edition with binder costs $31. To subscribe or for more information, contact CL Productions, 2905 Berkshire Ln., Mesquite, TX 75150. Tel. (214) 681-2771. CCLVI BROCHURES New updated information brochures are available from the Council of Citizens With Low Vision International. According to "CCLVI News 1991-01," The new brochures include general information and application blanks. The brochures are free for single or multiple copies. To order, contact Pat Price, 5707 Brockton Dr. #302, Indianapolis, IN 46220-5443. Tel. (317) 638- 8822 or toll-free (800) 733-2258. TOUR MARYLAND BY TAPE Visitors planning a trip to Maryland may be interested in two tapes available from Travel On Tape which describe various sections of the state. The tapes are narrated by an excellent reader, and the sound quality is excellent. Tape one takes listeners through Harfor, Cecil, Carroll, Frederick, and Baltimore counties as well as Baltimore city. Tape two is an audio guide to Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties. The tapes cost $9.95 each. For more information, contact Jacqueline Baden, Travel On Tape, 517 Nelson St., Rockville, MD 20850. Tel. (301) 762-6745. AFFILIATE NEWS If your state or special-interest affiliate recently completed a noteworthy project or a successful convention, we'd be glad to inform our readers of your event. Send details of recent events and information regarding upcoming events to "The Braille Forum," 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005, attention Affiliate News Editor. ALABAMA CONVENTION ROUNDUP The Talladega Chapter hosted the Annual Convention of the Alabama Council of the Blind at the Oxford-Anniston Holiday Inn on October 17-20, 1991. Re-elected for two-year terms were Vera McClain, President; David Trott, Secretary, and Exie Spradley, Treasurer. Newly elected were Debbie Gibson, First Vice President, and Hugh Gillis, Second Vice President. Rhonda Trott received the Marguerite McKinnon Award, with Rogers Smith and Jimmy Gibson receiving other service awards. John Braden Dashney of Salem, Oregon, was banquet speaker. The grand total for membership this year is 392, with 147 members and guests registering for the convention. OHIO CONVENTION ROUNDUP For the first time in its history, the ACB of Ohio held its annual fall convention in Cincinnati at the Clarion Hotel, on November 1, 2 and 3. The theme was "Sharing the Vision: Opportunities in the 90s." Marcus Canaday, Assistant Director of the Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, set the tone of the convention with his inspirational keynote address. He described an incident in which he was refused service in a restaurant because of his having his dog guide with him, and how he turned it into a positive and educational experience, not only for the restaurant owner, but also for the whole town. The second day got off to a great start as ACB Ohioans were treated to Carl Augusto's famous Countdown speech. Workshops and speakers covered such topics as talking newspapers, library services, employment through volunteerism, fitness, fashion, and feelings. A panel of four fitness enthusiasts described their experiences in a variety of athletic endeavors. Fashion- conscious men and women were invited to discuss and handle the latest styles in clothing. But the most popular workshop was a rap session called "Hang Up Your Hang-ups," presented by Deborah Kendrick, ACBO President, and Dr. Michael Lichtenstein. Other convention highlights included a square dance, a variety of exhibitors, opportunity to participate in the testing of a prototype developed by the Research on Substitute Eyesight project, and, of course, the awards banquet. James Storer received the Ken Morlock award for his advocacy for adaptive technology. The Ruth Davidson award went to Dr. Herman Weed for his steadfast work and dedication to the Research on Substitute Eyesight project. The ambassador award was presented to ACBO President Deborah Kendrick for her exemplary work not only for blind Ohioans but also for people with all disabilities. The convention ended with a moving address by none other than ACB President LeRoy Saunders. Ohioans can be proud of the prestige the ACB of Ohio attracts and the prestige it builds because of the hard work and talent of its members. 1992 RESOLUTIONS: IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN! by Mitch Pomerantz Once more in 1992, the Resolutions Committee will do its disappearing act for several hours each evening during the convention of the American Council of the Blind in Phoenix. President Saunders has again asked me to serve as Committee Chairperson. Our purpose is to develop the policies which will be implemented by ACB's officers and staff if they are adopted by the Convention delegates. Our job is made much easier when ACB members contribute ideas and draft resolutions for our consideration. The development of resolutions is a somewhat lengthy activity, involving thought-provoking discussion and dialogue. It is the essence of what we are proud to call the democratic process, and is at the heart of the success of the American Council of the Blind. As I pointed out last year, your state ACB affiliate is an excellent source for resolutions. In 1991, several of you forwarded state resolutions to us, although many more of you came to the Convention with ideas which we ultimately developed into viable national resolutions. I make one request, which is based on last year's experience. Please try to prepare any research or background information for your idea before the convention. It is very difficult to do such research during convention week when almost everyone connected with ACB is away from the National Office. It may not be possible to track down the needed information in time to write a meaningful resolution. We want to avoid situations like one which occurred last year. An affiliate which had its business meeting early in the week submitted a resolution. The controversial resolution provoked much discussion. We were unable to locate a representative of one of the affiliates which submitted the resolution because most members had left the convention. So, if your special interest affiliate meets early and has a resolution for the Committee, please designate someone who can represent you and your resolution even if the officers must go home. This will avoid a good deal of hassle! If you submit a resolution please plan to attend at least one committee session. I am asking that all written resolutions include the name of the individual or affiliate submitting it with the room number where someone knowledgeable can be reached for consultation. Also, do not give committee members a resolution "on the fly," as someone did to me last year. The resolution in question was another controversial one and it was not easy to locate its author. Fortunately this year, meetings of the Resolutions Committee will take place in the headquarters hotel, so it should be easier for anyone interested to attend. Your participation is certainly welcome! Your resolutions and/or ideas should be sent to me before July 1st at the following address: Mitch Pomerantz, 1344 N. Martel Ave., No.102, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Material may be forwarded to me in Braille, print, on cassette, VersaBraille, or computer disk. Ready, set, resolve! HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: OCU-AID II low vision aid, roof prism monocular, 8x30 with No. 2 and 3 diopter lens attachments, excellent for people with poor central vision and good peripheral vision. Monocular alone good for TV viewing and similar tasks; attached diopters allow for reading mail or phone directories. Three available for $150 each, includes carrying case. Price does not include UPS delivery charge. Contact G. H. Appleby, 1444 Cherokee Ave., Columbus, GA 31906. Tel. (404) 323-6286. FOR SALE: Laptalker Toshiba T-1000, includes Soft Vert speech, Attache file manager, scientific calculator, MS-DOS 3.3 and WordPerfect Junior; also includes an AC power supply, $2,500 plus shipping. Contact Sharon Booker, 430 LaMina Ave., Ajo, AZ 85321. Tel. (602) 387-6461. FOR SALE: VersaBraille II with external disk drive and Soft Bit, $2,150 or $2,450 on installments. includes all manuals and cases, excellent condition. Also, Optacon with Crt Lens for reading computer screens. $800 or best offer. Includes soft pack and manuals. Also, BIT Talkman III four-track tape machine with radio, $30. Contact Kit Lau, 5407 Bryant Ave., Oakland, CA 94618. Tel. (510) 653-6343. FOR SALE: Practically new Kurzweil Model 7315 Personal Reader complete with book-edge scanner and hand-held scanner, braille manuals, and the latest 2.1 upgrade. Reader was used about six months, still under service contract and basically brand new. $8,000. Contact James Kracht, (305) 375-3720 daytime, (305) 251-6983 evenings. FOR SALE: VersaBraille II with Goldstar dot matrix printer, includes all manuals, $1,000 or best offer. Contact Denise Arthur, 25350 Richards Ave., Euclid, OH 44132. (216) 731- 3529. FOR SALE: Viewscan Text System, VTS Portable disk unit, VTS dual disk unit, Epson DX-20 printer, all operating software, and Wordstar word processor, all maintained and in excellent condition. $1,500. Contact William H. Jennings II, 230 S. Beminston, Suite 1000, Clayton, MO 63105-1907. (314) 721-3892 weekdays, (314) 721-0659 weekends and evenings. Fax (314) 721- 1474. ACB OFFICERSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACB wishes to thank its many members and friends who gave so generously in response to our fall 1991 letter requesting support for ACB's ongoing programs and services. This partial list of donors reflects only those persons who gave us approval to publicly acknowledge their gifts and who made their contribution after November 1, 1991. Joel A. Marler, AL; Mary C. Parr, AL; Thelma Nichols, AL; Lorene Denney, AR; Henry Hoster, AR; Billie Haymes, AR; Imogene E. Johnson, AR; W.C. O'Connor, AR; Dick Seifert, AR; Edward Schuler, AZ; Paul Whedon, AZ; Dorothy Pomeroy, AZ; John E. Lane, AZ; Jean C. Moore, AZ; Tracy Barna, CA; Gregory Fowler, CA; Nora C. Johnson, CA; Virginia Katsanes, CA; Dr. Arda J. Penix, CA; Dr. J. Ray Penix, CA; Thomas Toscanalli, CA; Ysidro Urena, CA; Lena Contreras, CA; Margie Donovan, CA; Royanne Hollins, CA; Bob Slauson, CA; J. Henry Kruse, Jr., J.D., CA; Lucinda Talkington, CA; James W. Conway, CA; Rose Resnick, CA; Larry Swenson, CA; Miriam Carson, CA; Richard L. Brewer, Sr., CA; Mila M. Waltz, CA; Norine Krueger, CA; Mr. & Mrs. Stan Smithro, CA; Jeff & Leslie Thom, CA; Charles J. Van Housen, CA; Winifred Downing, CA; Peter Schustack, CA; David Lang, CA; Mitch & Cherrie Pomerantz, CA; Kay Front, CA; Janet Leonard, CO; Peter Link, CO; Melissa Weiser, CO; Robert J. Martin, CO; Barbara Lombardi, CT; George & Carol Gillespie, CT; David Goldstein, CT; Howard Goldstein, CT; Bernie Kassett, CT; Helga Kaczmarzyk, CT; Anna Godrie, CT; Christine Donohue, CT; Louise Manginello, CT; Harriet C. Axelson, CT; Oral O. Miller, DC; Thomas H. Miller, DC; William Spiers, DC; Justin & Yoshiko Dart, DC; Stewart Wiggins, DE; Charles A. Crampton, Sr., FL; Charles Hackney, FL; Nigel Richards, FL; Jay Naiman, FL; Gail Stamps, FL; Mr. & Mrs. Theodore A. French, FL; James & Patricia Kracht, FL; Mark & Faye Pinchasik, FL; Dorothy L. Peterson, FL; A. Cecilia Hess, FL; Naomi Shephard, FL; Frank & Judy Mazza, FL; Dr. & Mrs. W. John Benson, FL; George Burck, FL; Mary Louise Walker, FL; Alex M. Simpson, FL; Sam Dichter, FL; Shirley V. Huss, FL; Gina Rae Adams, GA; Phil Jones, GA; Cynthia Hirakawa, HI; Ann Johnson, IA; Roger H. Larson, IA; Sherman Spiegel, IA; Dorothy M. O'Leary, IA; Sandra Jacobs, IA; Walt Stromer, IA; R. C. Slayton, IA; Florence Horton, IL; Ethan Israelsohn, IL; Mr. & Mrs. George Hoy, IL; Helen Wear, IL; Kim Martinie, IL; F. Lerlene de St. Germaine, IL; Donald G. Morrow, IL; Glenn Wiemer, IL; Patricia P. Clapp, IL; Natalie F. Miller, IL; Marjorie Miller, IL; Patti Schwartz, IL; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosenbom, IL; Alberta M. Jacob, IL; Jim Russell, IL; Homer Steele, IL; Richard L. Olsen, IL; George L. Brinkler, IN; Janet Markiewicz, IN; Inez Swinney, IN; Ken Lewis, IN; Wayne E. Caldwell, IN; Patricia Nichols, IN; Jennifer Thompson, IN; Kathryn Hynes Smith, KS; Maude Klein, KS; Marilyn G. Lytle, KS; Lewis & Anna Cain, KY; I. R. Brandsetter, KY; Clifton Jarreau, LA; Marcy Scott, MA; Chris Devin, MA; Robert J. Redington, MA; Curtis Lawrence, MD; Paul William Schroeder, MD; Jane C. Sheehan, MD; Herbert L. Stein, MD; Mary Mahoney, MD; Laurinda Steele, MD; Francis & Sheila McKeown, MD; M. Robert Rappaport, MD; Gail Bachman, MD; Audrey Koch, MD; Roderick K. Potter, ME; Susan Humphries, MI; Mary La Croix, MI; Paul & Sue Ponchinilla, MI; Joanne Oosterhouse, MI; Carol Hahn, MI; Elizabeth M. Lennon, MI; L. Crilly, MI; David & Rosemary Miller, MI; Kirk Osoinach, MI; Eugene Saumier, MI; Roberta McCall, MI; Fred Neumann, MI; Jack & Sharon Hicken, MN; James & Ann Olsen, MN; Robert & Diane Ziegler, MN; John & Linda Pinette, MN; Edward D. Bender, MN; Maryann Jokela, MN; Ruth M. Cramer, MO; Vera Moeck, MO; Linda Nix, MO; Thelma Donohue, MO; David O. Puckett, Jr., MS; Dr. & Mrs. J. Elton Moore, MS; W. R. Sallis, MS; Rik James, MT; Judith K. Redfield, NC; Mrs. Norma Krajczar, NC; Kenneth R. Pond, NC; Donna Jean Harstad, ND; James D. Faimon, NE; William Orester, NE; Kenneth A. Rowe, NJ; Edward Fedush, NJ; Rita Ebersman, NJ; Lisa Valvano, NJ; James P. Swed, NJ; Robert W. Potter, NJ; Lauren Casey, NJ; Sara Salazar, NM; Pat Salazar, NM; Louis & Paul Tapia, NM; Janis Riceberg, NV; Genevieve Sessions, NV; Mark H. Leeds, NY; Mr. & Mrs. Roald Schroeder, NY; Jason Eckert, NY; James V. Ricciardi, NY; Ann Morris, NY; Martin Mahler, NY; Ken Stewart, NY; Thomas & Inez D'Agostino, NY; Elizabeth S. O'Toole, NY; Margaret Ricciardi, NY; A. Leo Imerti, NY; Robert Larson, NY; John Bealler, NY; Leon T. Ward, NY; Leon Goutevenier, NY; Merritt M. Clark, NY; William Kirchgaessner, NY; Elmer Lee Eveland, NY; Patricia D. Hunt, OH; Cathy Manghelli, OH; Marilyn Huheey, OH; Robert E. Kleinoeder, OH; Dr. Douglas V. Austin, OH; Mary Hiland, OH; Thomas L. Tobin, OH; Norman Dalke, OK; Robert Petty, OK; LeRoy and Pat Saunders, OK; John Simpson, OK; Raymond Washburn, OK; Michael C. Groves, OR; Mariella Dibble, OR; Fred Krepela, OR, Ralph E. Worrall, OR; Wally & Iva Menning, OR; Cathy Bickerdike, OR; Dr. Charles Warnath, OR; Alberta Thyfault, OR; Imogene Nixon, OR; Barbara Kaufman, OR; Rana McMurray Arnold, PA; Dr. M. Mercer, PA; David Eby, PA; Joseph Trost, PA; Hannah Meyer, PA; Evelyn B. Kaufman, PA; Rose Docktor, PA; Marita Mathews, PA; Mr. George F. Harris, PA; Elizabeth R. Pannell, PA; Richard H. Fidler, PA; Helen Schmutzler, PA; Bruno J. Wolozyn, PA; Mrs. Sammy L. Conley, PA; Karen Kaplan Ruggiero, PA; William H. McDonald, PA; Jerold G. Klevit, PA; Pinchas Z. Politz, PA; Mrs. Leonard C. Staisey, PA; Teena Hazel, PA; Jeanette Schmoyer, PA; Catherine Deraco, PA; Stacy Keller, PA; Margaret Sutter, PA; Buelah Holly Flynn Brazzell, SC; Arnold & Betty Auch, SD; Kevin Puetz, SD; Fanny Seville, SD; Ernest E. Campbell, TN; Dr. R. K. Armstrong, TN; Douglas & Mary Dettor, TN; Arne & Olivia Schonberger, TX; Sallie McCown, TX; Rev. George Gray, TX; Stafford S. Sechelski, TX; Herbert S. Kadish, TX; Jo R. Cassidy, TX; B. I. Klepac, TX; Mildred Walker, UT; Eugene M. Wood, UT; Linda Holladay, UT; Eileen B. Wood, UT; Wayne W. Hinckley, UT; I. W. Odekirk, UT; Alyce Bai, UT; Noel J. Rasband, UT; Hortense Bowler, UT; Billie Jean Hill, VA; Nancy P. Jenkins, VA; Ethel J. Floyd, VA; Bud Keith, VA; Peg Mahood- Wild, VA; Roy & Mabel Ward, VA; Charles Hodge, VA; Sonny Roberts, VA; Fred W. Scheigert, VA; Joann H. Nichols, VT; Norman S. Case, Jr., VT; Jack & Deborah Pigott, WA; Pauline B. Eccles, WA; Rhonda L. Nelson, WA; Sue Ammeter, WA; Bill Van Winkle, WA; Robert L. Draves, WI; Kenneth Derwin, WI; Stephen J. Hopkins, WI; Amy Van Boxtel, WI; Marilyn Lundaren, WI; Donald E. Lehmann, WI; Ann Gotzler, WI; Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Brockman, WI; Thomas McConnaughay, WI; Charles J. Varney, WV; J. Frank Stewart, WV; Ninetta L. Garner, WV; Jerry Baker, WY. A list of ACB affiliates and non-affiliated companies and organizations who donated money will appear in the May issue of "The Braille Forum." PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS P.O. BOX 24020 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73124 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 170 N.E. 123rd STREET NORTH MIAMI, FL 33161 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT CHARLES HODGE 1131 S. FOREST DRIVE ARLINGTON, VA 22204 SECRETARY PATRICIA PRICE 5707 BROCKTON DR. #302 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220-5443 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON