THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXI April 1993 No. 9 Published By The American Council of the Blind PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY LeRoy F. Saunders, President Oral O. Miller, J.D., National Representative Nolan Crabb, Editor Nicole Willson, Editorial Assistant National Office: 1155 15th St., N.W. Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large type, half-speed four-track cassette tape and MS-DOS computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions, which are tax deductible, may be sent to Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB National Office has available printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 6 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only Tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1993 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS News Briefs From The ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller It's Northern California In 1993, by John A. Horst Elementary Geography Of San Francisco Bay, by Juliet B. Esterly Putting An End To Mystery Mail, by Nolan Crabb Whither Civil Rights: Practicalities Or Patronage?, by Charles D. Goldman Technology Alliance Calls For Telecommunications Upgrade, by Nolan Crabb ALL Position Papers, A Compilation: The Chapter I Handicapped Program (PL 89-313)--Why It Must Be Preserved And Protected Meeting The Educational Needs Of Children Who Are Blind And Visually Impaired Health Care Reform And The Effect On People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired Independent Living Services For Older Persons Who Are Blind Congress Must Address Major Problems In The Blind Vendor Program She Learned It's Never Too Late, by Nolan Crabb Thirty Years Ago In The Forum Have You Read A Good Radio Station Lately?, by Nolan Crabb British Readers May Soon Have Digital Talking Books, by Nolan Crabb Here And There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon A College Degree You Don't Have To Leave Home For, by Nolan Crabb High Tech Swap Shop Calendar Of Events Acknowledgements NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative Congratulations and commendations! Such are in order for the ACB members, officers, board members, and staff members who took part in the public hearings recently conducted by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board in Charlotte, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., to obtain input regarding the accessibility regulations being proposed by that agency. It is often too easy to simply "let George do it," but that attitude results in agencies such as the Access Board receiving testimony only from "George," who may not understand your wishes and needs. It is important for agencies to receive knowledgeable and down to earth input from many different blind people, not just those who advocate elitist or unrealistic policies and practices. The ACB members who gave testimony on, for example, the critically important subject of detectable warnings were not speaking for just themselves but on behalf of blind people with greatly differing needs. You may stay abreast of what is happening on the regulatory front by regularly calling the Washington Connection between 6 p.m. and midnight Eastern time at (800) 424-8666. In recent weeks, National Office staff members have continued to advocate for many causes of importance to blind and visually impaired people. For example, Nolan Crabb represented ACB at the meeting of the Coalition for Information Access for Print Handicapped Readers, which is on the verge of announcing another important step towards its goal of making information universally available concerning the availability of materials for print handicapped readers. Paul Schroeder, besides taking part in the Access Board hearings in Denver and Washington, spoke at the annual convention of the Alliance for Public Technology regarding telecommunications equity in the 21st century. Elena Harper, Jessica Beach, Nicole Willson, and Laura Thomasch represented ACB at several receptions and similar functions. It was my pleasure to take part in the meeting of the ACB affiliate presidents following the meeting of the ACB board of directors and to provide continuing input as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian Institution. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed speaking about "Separate But Not Equal Accessibility" at a staff training seminar conducted by the Smithsonian Institution, which operates nine different museums and galleries. We are all looking forward to taking part in the upcoming delegate assembly of the Affiliated Leadership League and the legislative workshop which ACB will be jointly sponsoring with the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America. I am very pleased to welcome Ms. Jennifer Sutton to the ACB National Office Staff as the Coordinator of Affiliate and Membership Services. Jennifer, a 1988 graduate of James Madison University with a BA degree in English, was employed by the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled before joining ACB on March 1. We are looking forward to her energy, innovativeness, imagination, dedication and thoroughness. CAPTION Oral O. Miller, ACB National Representative, addresses the convention audience. IT'S NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN 1993 by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator While you are enjoying April's balmy breezes, you should be thinking about San Francisco, where it's always spring. The wind can be cold for short periods, but in San Francisco, you can be certain it will soon be a comfortable 60 to 70 degrees again. Plans are moving rapidly toward completion for a great convention in 1993. This year, a larger attendance is anticipated, so don't delay in making your reservations. The cutoff date is June 12, 1993. After that, you may not be able to reserve a room at either hotel, especially not at convention rates. Convention dates are July 3 to 10, 1993. The two hotels are the San Francisco Airport Marriott, (415) 692-9100, and the Airport Westin, (415) 692-3500. The Westin is less than two blocks from the Marriott. There is a paved walkway along the bay and along the street. Exhibits and perhaps some special-interest group meetings will take place at the Westin. If exhibits are your chief interest, you will want to reserve your room there. In some aspects, it is a better hotel than the Marriott. This year, exhibits will be from Saturday, July 3 through Wednesday, July 7, with evening hours Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Convention room costs at both hotels are $45 per night for single and double occupancy and $55 per night for triple and quad. Vans from both hotels will transport convention attendees to and from the airport at no cost. You may call your hotel upon arrival for pickup or wait at the designated area. During daytime and evening hours, these vans pick up every 15 minutes. There will be volunteers at the airport and, of course, at both hotels. There will also be a shuttle service between the two hotels. The program planning for the plenary sessions of the 1993 convention is near completion. Some of the speakers and subjects to be presented are: Mr. Arne Husveg, executive director of the Norwegian Association for the Blind and president of the European Blind Union (invited); Dr. J. Elton Moore, director of the research program on service for blind people, Mississippi State University; Stephen Mendelson, noted author and lecturer, who will speak on tax facts blind people should know; and Ritchie Geisel, executive director of Recording for the Blind, who will give an update on RFB. Other speakers include Carl R. Augusto, president and executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind, speaking on "The Future of Blind Services;" and an update on the Fax Reader Network project. Panels on the relevance of independent living services to blind people and "Expanding the Scope of Services For Older Blind Persons" will also be presented. Some features of the convention that can be described as new and different will include the double showing of a descriptive video movie, "Sister Act," by the Descriptive Video Service, a California School for the Blind alumni reception, a National Industries for the Blind breakfast, an entertainment and information session by the National Education Legal Defense Service and a reception for members of AFB's Career and Technology Information Bank. Of course, there will still be regular features such as a "Welcome to California" reception Saturday evening, the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, International's 1950s party after the general session Sunday evening, Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America's auction and dance Monday evening, Friends-In-Art of ACB's showcase Tuesday evening, a dinner tour away from the hotel Wednesday evening, the Candidates' Forum Thursday evening, and a great banquet with delicious food and an outstanding speaker Friday evening. (See "Convention Preview," March 1993 for information on tours). Watch the May issue and your pre-convention packet for more detail. Remember, if you want the pre- convention packet, which will be sent out in early May, on cassette, you must call the ACB National Office at (800) 424-8666 weekdays between 3 and 5:30 p.m. eastern time. All ACB members will receive large print copies which must be used to preregister for the convention and its activities. We want to thank the special-interest group presidents and program chairpersons and those planning one-session functions for providing assistant Convention Coordinator Patricia Beattie with your description of activities by February 28. This is of great help in planning the convention packet and getting it out on time. Please remember that complete program information must be sent to Beattie by April 15. Her address is: Crystal Towers #206 North, 1600 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202. (703) 521-4144. Be certain to keep in contact with ACB's travel agency, International Tours of Muskogee, Okla. Their new telephone number for all of the United States is (800) 259-9299. The old telephone number will be canceled shortly. Prospective convention attendees must call this travel agency to receive the lowest fares offered by ACB's special agreement with Delta and United Airlines. Delta is offering five percent off their lowest fares and 10 percent off senior citizen fares. Airlines are changing their fares constantly. As a result, you must stay in touch with International Tours to receive the lowest fares for your travel. Remember also that your use of this travel agency reduces travel costs paid by ACB and provides income through a profit-sharing plan. A great convention with opportunities to learn, to grow, to make new friends, and to broaden your horizons awaits you. All this, plus the sights and sounds of Northern California--what more could you ask for in 1993? ELEMENTARY GEOGRAPHY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY by Juliet B. Esterly Perhaps some simple explanation about the geography of the San Francisco Bay area would be helpful to those planning on attending the ACB convention in July. If you use your right hand to make a circle with your thumb and index finger, that enclosure will be the San Francisco Bay. Now separate your thumb and index finger slightly and that will represent the Golden Gate entry from the Pacific Ocean into the bay. Your thumbnail can represent the city and county of San Francisco. There are several small cities as you come south down your thumb. The airport is in Millbrae, which is about 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco and on the west side of the bay. The Airport Westin Hotel, our overflow hotel, is also in Millbrae. Two blocks south of the Westin is the main convention hotel, which is in Burlingame. Coming on down the inside of your thumb, there are more small cities until you reach Stanford University in Palo Alto at the base of your thumb. Starting around the bottom of the bay, you come to Silicon Valley and then on into San Jose, which has an international airport. Starting north on your index finger, there are again several small cities, including Fremont, where the California School for the Blind is located. Still going north up your index finger, you will come to Oakland, and just above it is Berkeley and the University of California. The Orientation center for the Blind is in Albany, just north of Berkeley. The San Francisco Bay Bridge comes across from your thumbnail (San Francisco) to where Oakland and Berkeley join. Continuing north to the second knuckle on your index finger, you will cross the Carquinez Bridge into Vallejo, formerly a large navy base. Further up the river from the Carquinez Bridge are the Martinez and Antioch bridges. The transcontinental Highway 80 goes from Vallejo northeastward through Sacramento and Reno. Returning to your index finger, the rest of your finger will go through Sonoma and Marin Counties back to the Golden Gate Bridge. In Marin County, there are large groves of huge redwood trees and good swimming in the Pacific. Guide Dogs for the Blind is located in San Rafael, close to the tip of your index finger. Alcatraz Island, with its restored famous prison, is just about in front of the entry to the bay, and tourists can visit it by launch from Fisherman's Wharf. The Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli's Chocolate Factory and many gift shops are along the top edge of your right thumb. Four bridges cross the bay: The Dunbarton Bridge, which is furthest south; the San Mateo Bridge, which is near our hotels; the double-decked Bay Bridge; and the San Rafael Bridge, which crosses from Marin County to Richmond on the east shore. San Francisco's downtown street patterns should be noted. Market Street, the main thoroughfare, runs from the Ferry Building in a southwesterly direction and has many forms of transportation. On the south side of Market, numbered streets come in at the usual right angle pattern. On the north side of Market, two streets join as they reach Market. Geary Street, going northwesterly, famous for shopping, leaves Market with addresses between 1 and 100. Post Street is parallel to Geary but because it entered Market a block to the north, the addresses in that same block will be from 100 to 200. Likewise, Sutter Street is the next parallel and enters Market still further north, so that its addresses in the same block will be from 200 to 300. The cable car that takes you to Fisherman's Wharf runs in a northeasterly direction and likewise has addresses on adjoining streets that will depend on when that street left Market. PUTTING AN END TO MYSTERY MAIL by Nolan Crabb Another week without a reader. You sigh with resignation as you put down the phone. What was the excuse this week? You couldn't even hear it over that massive, rapidly-growing stack of envelopes that seemed to be screaming "Read me now!" You turn the unread envelopes over in your hands, knowing that some of them aren't worth opening, and keenly aware that some of them should have been opened days ago. You shuffle through the pile one more time, wondering if that thick envelope is another one of those annoying sweepstakes things with Ed McMahon's picture on it or your ACB convention pre-registration information. Unfortunately, you won't know until the day after tomorrow when your reader has rescheduled an appearance. That's a scenario all too common for blind and partially sighted people throughout the nation. But scientists at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute located at the California Pacific Medical Center, Pacific Campus in San Francisco are working to change that scenario to one that looks like this: You grab the mail out of the box as you come through the door. You can't help but be pleased with the small size of the stack of envelopes in your hand. You quietly congratulate yourself for consistently keeping up to date with your mail. When you're ready, you call the number for the Fax Reader Project. "I'd like to fax some mail I received today for you to look at," you say. "I'm ready," says the reader on the other end of the line. Your conversation continues as you turn on the fax machine by the phone. "I'll fax the envelopes first," you say, "so you can tell me who they're from. After that, I'll open the ones worth looking at." After placing the first envelope on the fax machine and tapping some buttons, you wait the few seconds required to send the fax to the reader in another community miles away. "This first envelope's from Community Gas," the reader says. "It appears to be your utility bill. This next one's from the American Council of the Blind. ... " You eagerly tear that one open first, knowing it's your convention pre-registration information. The idea, originally proposed by Bill Gary, a rehabilitation engineer at Smith-Kettlewell, is easy to understand. Uncertain as to the content of the printed material in his possession, a blind person would fax the printed material to a reader who could then tell him what it is. It's true that with a reading machine, the same mission could be accomplished, but scanning can be time consuming, and faxing information directly to a human reader could save large amounts of time by almost immediately eliminating mail or other superfluous information that a person wouldn't want to spend the time scanning. Gary developed the idea after dealing with the frustration of getting information quickly from incoming faxes at work. Gary requested funding from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research for a pilot study to be conducted at the Smith- Kettlewell Eye Research Institute on the feasibility of fax machines and live readers working together to bring about information access. Dr. Bill Crandall, an associate scientist and principal investigator for the Smith-Kettlewell Fax Reader Project, applied for funding from the Easter Seals Research Foundation to purchase two computers adapted to receive facsimiles and pay the salary of two readers. "The readers we selected were people with mobility impairments who wanted to work in their home," Crandall explains. "There will be more and more people working part time from their homes because telecommunications is changing the way we work. My feeling was that there's no reason that the disabled community should be left behind at all in this." The grant paid for telephone usage, and Allnet Communications donated a toll-free number, enabling Smith-Kettlewell researchers to send their fax machines to blind people throughout the United States. "The Easter Seals grant was funded for a second year, and down the road, we're looking at using video that will be an offshoot of teleconferencing," Crandall says. He envisions cameras remotely operated by readers which would allow them to look anywhere on the desk. "The reason for doing that," he explains, "is simple. Let's say that a blind person has a catalog and he wants to get quickly to the index. Trying to find the index in a book using a fax machine is a real killer. You wind up sending many pages only to have the reader say, 'go forward' or 'you've gone too far; back up a few pages.' With video, essentially you wind up with a sighted person standing over the shoulder of the blind person saying, 'go back one more page,' or whatever." Various donations from corporations and foundations enabled Smith-Kettlewell researchers to place 31 fax machines with blind people. "We've been able to operate the service eight hours a day," he says, "and we've kept two active people, who enjoy working in their homes, occupied in a way that they consider to be enjoyable and productive--reading to the people who call." The project officially began in January 1992. Crandall says one Fax Reader Project participant sells Shaklee products. She faxes sales brochures to the readers who then read them to her over the phone. Another participant is a teacher at the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Ill. Another participant is an Illinois student enrolled in a business course. "We found these people through word of mouth and recommendations from people who were involved in the project," Crandall says. "We've also been getting referrals from the low vision clinic here at the California Pacific Medical Center." He says the target group in which researchers are most interested now are people who have recently lost their sight, low vision or elderly people. "Elderly people generally don't have a job where they can stick something under their arm, bring it into work, and say 'by the way, what does this say?' They don't always have the close family connections that they may have once had." Crandall says the fax machine and the reader and participant all use the same phone line. When the blind user hits the transmit button on the fax machine, it takes control of the line until the reader's fax machine has acknowledged that it has received the data. At that time, voice communication between the reader and participant begins again, allowing the reader to identify the print material just faxed. "One of the things we found out is that people like to know what the amount of their utility or phone bill or whatever is right then. They'll often put the bill into their slate and stylus and mark it at that time." The Smith-Kettlewell Fax Reader Project isn't designed to allow blind listeners to have novels faxed and read. "This is a research project," he explains, "not a service that can offer unlimited time to participants." Crandall maintains the project is cost effective, especially if participants factor in the costs of scanning and computer equipment or paying readers. "The fax transmission time for each document averaged 68 seconds," he says. "That time is lengthened if the document is detailed and has to be sent using a higher resolution." With efficient use of readers, the cost of the current small system could be brought to $88 per month per person. As the system grew, using one full-time manager at $30,000 per year and employing 10 readers to work with 300 blind participants, the user cost per month could drop to $37, according to Crandall. "That compares very favorably to costs incurred in paying a conventional reader." He says the project could also be useful to deaf-blind participants as well. Even banks and other businesses wishing to communicate with blind clients could fax information to centrally located readers who could then provide the information to the participant. For more information on the Fax Reader Project, contact Dr. Bill Crandall, Smith- Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2232 Webster St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 561-1620. Fax (415) 561-1610. (Editor's note: Special thanks goes to ACB Member Carl McCoy of Florida for giving us the tip that led to this story. If you have a possible story idea, we'd be glad to listen to it.) LEGAL ACCESS: WHITHER CIVIL RIGHTS: PRACTICALITIES OR PATRONAGE? by Charles D. Goldman, Esq. (Reprinted with permission from "Horizons," March 1993.) There are many pressures on the new administration. There is an expectation that civil rights, including civil rights for persons with disabilities, will be back in vogue. There is also a perceived countervailing pressure that reasonably aggressive civil rights enforcement will be detrimental to business and state and local governments, adversely affecting economic recovery. There is a corollary concern that the downsizing of government will inhibit civil rights enforcement. These are illusory conundrums. By taking a practical approach, even at the cost of patronage and offending the bureaucracy, responsible and meaningful civil rights efforts can be ensured. The community of persons with disabilities must realize that the mood for change, a neo-liberalism, is for practical policies, not a simple reversion to or recycling of the '60s. There is a clear need to bring into government political appointees with a breadth of experience in civil rights. The governmental leadership vacuum on civil rights during the past dozen years meant the public interest and private sectors have had to take the lead. While it would be ideal to see persons with experience in disability rights appointed, bear in mind that persons with civil rights experience in race and women's issues can be educated on disability issues. This administration should find the best persons--based on their abilities and not on their disabilities--for key posts involving day to day civil rights administration. Appointees' experience should include working with business or state and local government as well as complainants. In other words, professionals with commitment, seasoned by history, are needed. Those who are only flame throwers need not apply. The new administration has shown it will reach out for the previously disempowered. The effectiveness of the appointments should not be measured in terms of quotas. Watch appointees' qualifications and real world experiences instead of doing a head count of how many are in a wheelchair, blind, deaf or learning disabled. Responsible enforcement results when appointees have had practical, non-governmental experience. To make government work effectively, the new administration should scrutinize the veritable multitude of federal agencies doing civil rights. And be prepared to make changes--even though that will decrease the number of political plums. The time has come to take a good hard look at the diverse agencies with civil rights responsibilities. What functions do a Civil Rights Commission or National Council on Disability serve in the '90s? How effective are the various offices for civil rights in the different departments? Do the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission processes and structures of the '60s make sense in the '90s? Has the real world, i.e. beyond the Beltway, surpassed the President's Committees on Mental Retardation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities? Should the Access Board be put out to pasture after (belatedly) issuing its Title II rule? Does the Department of Transportation really do civil rights? How well do these multiple federal agencies interact with the states, which for the most part have highly centralized civil rights entities? Lamentably, agencies whose missions have been accomplished, such as by enactment of the ADA, persist and try to grow like Topsy by adding new projects. Redundancy of function in government remains a problem. Agencies commonly use the word "unique" as they strive to justify what is, in reality, obscurity and obsolescence of purpose. The need is for a high powered governmental commission composed of appointees from the civil rights, business, state and local government communities, and Congress, a blue ribbon panel, to study the problem and come back in six months with serious recommendations in a new, workable structure. Make this a high profile entity with Vice President Gore as chair. Frankly, for too long, there have been many straws in the winds of civil rights, too often discombobulated, too weak, or just out of sync. The need is for clout, a brick, with institutional checks, such as private rights of actions for uncapped damages for violations of employment as well as public accommodations mandates not to discriminate. To pay for this commission, the Clinton Administration should tap the resources of all agencies doing civil rights. That would ensure more than adequate funding. Take the slots from the agencies too. How many committees are there with four vice chairpersons? (Answer, at least one: President's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities.) Secondly, it should insist that first rate staff be detailed to the commission. Bureaucrats who object to the change are free to try and earn a living elsewhere. This should be the commission on which the bureaucracies want to work. Reshaping federal civil rights programs should mean some political losses for the president. It should mean fewer appointments. So what if there are fewer people with presidentially signed certificates making trips to Washington? The net result could mean more balanced, more effective civil rights. In essence, the opportunity for a high level change in federal civil rights is an opportunity for practical input from committed persons at the expense of patronage and politics as usual. Wow! TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE CALLS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE It's the vacation you've waited years to enjoy. You're hundreds of miles from home in a small rural community where people lock their doors at night only if they remember. Maybe today you'll do a little fly fishing, or just sit and read. You have an appointment at 2:30 with your doctor back home, but that's no problem, even in a town too small for a hospital. You're an expert at using the wireless medical monitoring device you brought--a device which will record a host of facts about you, compress the information, and send it to a broadband communications network which transmits the information to your doctor. If he sees a problem, he can activate the receiver in your medical monitor and talk to you about it. Back at the quaint little motel room you've taken for the week, your kids are in front of an intelligent TV/computer terminal, not merely watching TV, but competing with other kids around the nation in an exciting quiz program. At the same time, that intelligent communications device is recording the compressed audio that will make up your daily paper. The stories are selected for you based on a comprehensive reading profile you set up earlier using the same communications device on an interactive two-way hookup between your vacation spot and the newspaper's offices. Sounds too much like science fiction to be believable, right? Maybe, but the technology is already here that would allow for just such a scenario and for even more sophisticated ones. One thing is certain. Blind and partially sighted Americans can't afford to be shut out of the communications revolution by graphical delivery schemes that are unfriendly to speech or braille output. The technology's here, but a profusion of questions still remain--questions like who will actually lay the electronic super highway needed to carry the information to your door. How fast will the fiber optic super highway be put in place? And above all, who will ultimately pay the bill for all this added access? Perhaps you're wondering about the difference between broadband and narrowband telecommunications. The copper wires that connect your phone to the vast public network of telephones around the world are okay for doing single jobs like talking to a friend or sending information between two computers. Those wires currently operate using the narrowband concept. Fiber optic cables are hair-thin wires capable of transmitting and receiving large amounts of information. A telecommunications super highway will be made of fiber optic cables and have the capacity to handle an almost unlimited number of transmissions, especially when compared to current copper wire technology. All those unanswered questions ultimately need answers. That's where the Alliance for Public Technology comes into play. Consisting of individuals and more than 40 nonprofit groups with thousands of members including the American Council of the Blind, the alliance will likely be in the forefront when policies are made which deal with who has access to the telecommunications super highway and at what price. At its annual conference in Washington, D.C., in late February, the alliance released a report entitled "Connecting Each to All: A Telecommunications Platform for the Information Age." The report calls on Congress and the Clinton administration to bring the revolution in communication technologies and services to all Americans in their homes, schools and workplaces. "We do not want a single household or school district to be denied access to the telecommunications revolution," said Dr. Barbara O'Connor, chair of the APT Board of Directors and coauthor of the vision paper. "The benefits of 'connecting each to all' range as far and wide as our imagination will take us," O'Connor added. "But we have to have a common vision that guides the legal and regulatory decisions being made today--decisions that will have consequences reaching well into the 21st century." The Alliance vision paper calls for upgrading the public telephone network to a broadband telecommunications platform that supports two-way interactive multi-media applications. Panel members say unless regulations can be crafted early on in the super highway- building process, a two-tiered system will inevitably develop. Panelists fear that society will be divided among people who are information rich and those who are information poor. "APT believes that everyone should have access to two-way voice, video and data communications," according to Dr. Susan Hadden, an Alliance for Public Technology board member and coauthor of the report. "But there is a real danger that the benefits of a broadband network will only flow to the fortunate few if public policy makers are timid or guided by a minimalist vision of the future. To do great things, we have to imagine great things. Universal access to the broadband network and its services will allow individuals to obtain information and entertainment when and how they want it. It will allow information providers to offer innovative services to everyone on the network. And it will make the United States competitive in global markets with nations that are well on their way to deploying national broadband telecommunications networks." Current telephone and video technology are transmitted by narrowband facilities. The copper wires that bring telephone voice and data service to your home today can't handle broadband technology. Sending broadband signals down narrowband copper wires is analogous to funneling the contents of the ocean through a straw. But the new elements of the telecommunications super highway are expensive to build. Some experts say it could be as long as 15 years before every American home, school, and business is wired with fiber optic cable. Business users will probably be the first to benefit from the broadband advantage. Alliance members say they want to make certain that consumers who are blind or otherwise disabled have every opportunity to enjoy broadband telecommunications. Paul Schroeder, ACB's director of governmental affairs, underscored the importance of telecommunications policy to people with disabilities. In a speech at the conference, Schroeder urged the telecommunications industry to involve people with disabling conditions in the design of telecommunications services and equipment. Drawing a parallel with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Schroeder said, "Telecommunications equipment and network services must be developed and designed to be fully and directly usable by persons with disabilities." While some might argue that the Alliance for Public Technology's report is just another stack of paper blowing in Washington's legislative wind, the reality is that the report's release is timely. As you read this story, legislation may already be introduced in Congress which would be the first steps in the remodeling of the telecommunications infrastructure. It would lift the ban on equipment manufacture by the Bell companies and could allow the Regional Bell Operating Companies to create and distribute information, something they were prohibited from doing by the court-decreed breakup of AT&T a decade ago. As is true with many revolutions, you can be certain the telecommunications revolution won't happen without a few legislative gun battles and maybe even some casualties along the way. Thorny questions remain about how your phone company and your cable company will operate in the new technological arena. And it's not wise to assume the local newspaper is going to sit back and watch all this happen from a distance. But when the dust settles, you will very likely be able to take that badly-needed vacation and keep that doctor appointment 800 miles away back home. That may happen sooner than you realize. "Our vision can be found today in limited applications across the country," O'Connor says. "In California, the seventh grade science curriculum relies on computer terminals and voice, data and video links instead of textbooks. Doctors in Austin, Texas have monitored dialysis patients receiving treatment 65 miles away using two-way video communications. And Martin Marietta is using a fiber optic broadband network to facilitate telecommuting. The challenge we face is to make sure that services like these are available to all Americans." THE CHAPTER 1 HANDICAPPED PROGRAM (PL 89-313)--WHY IT MUST BE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED (Editor's Note: The following five papers reflect positions taken by the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, and were presented to Congress by ALL's delegate assembly in late March.) What is the Chapter 1 Handicapped Program and how does it relate to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act? The Chapter 1 Handicapped Program (P.L. 89-313) amended Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It was developed to provide educational opportunities to children with severe disabilities who were enrolled in state operated or state supported institutions. This program was enacted 10 years prior to P.L. 94-142 and is intended to provide direct services to children whose severe disabilities require longer term, more intensive or more expensive services. The dollars "follow the child," meaning that they go directly to support the supplementary services needed by these children rather than going to a local education agency for distribution. Under IDEA, up to 25 percent of the dollars may be used for administrative costs whereas in the Chapter 1 Handicapped Program all funds go directly to benefit the children served. How would the loss of this program affect schools which serve blind children? Based on a survey conducted in 1991 by Stuart Wittenstein of St. Joseph's School for the Blind in Jersey City, N.J., of the 37 schools which responded, 34 received funding under this program, amounting to a total of $2,447,514 in fiscal year 1989-90. These monies provided services to 3,674 blind and visually impaired students. What kinds of services are funded? These funds have been used for specialized braille and large print reading and writing programs, for increasing individualization in remedial and multi-handicapped programming, for purchase of and instruction with adapted technology, and for direct- service, community-based integration programs. In fact, nearly 70 percent of the respondents use all or part of their Chapter 1 (89-313) money to sponsor such community-based programming. Couldn't these services be funded from other sources? The respondents to the survey were "pessimistic" about their ability to continue these programs with funding from other sources, particularly state monies. Chapter 1 Handicapped programs are often designed not only to meet the child's learning needs, but also to provide supplemental services for social, emotional and physical needs. Unlike IDEA, which provides services to a multitude of children in need of basic special education, Chapter 1 provides individualized services to a smaller number of our neediest students. Loss of these vital services and programs would have an immediate and profound impact on those students. WHILE CONGRESS MAY NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE CHAPTER 1 HANDICAPPED PROGRAM, WE MUST BE CERTAIN TO PROTECT THIS IMPORTANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR OUR MOST SEVERELY DISABLED STUDENTS. For further information contact: Kathleen Megivern, Executive Director, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired at (703) 548-1884. MEETING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED The organizations and individuals associated with the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America were very much involved in and committed to the effort to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. We have long been supportive of strong civil rights protections for people with disabilities and we share a vision of an inclusive society where every individual has an equal opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential. A major vehicle for achieving that goal is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We reaffirm our support for the critically important provisions in IDEA which assure a "free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment" appropriate for each individual student's needs. The due process protections, the Individualized Education Program, and the guarantee of a continuum of placement alternatives and an array of support services are all integral parts of this important statute and its implementing regulations. As Congress begins to think about the task of reauthorizing portions of IDEA within the next couple of years, we urge that these valuable provisions be maintained. Much is heard about "full inclusion" and we agree that the goal of our educational system should be to assist our children with disabilities to become fully functioning, independent members of the inclusive society envisioned by the ADA. We believe that IDEA could accomplish that goal for every child if it were consistently and fully implemented. Mere placement in the regular classroom is not the goal. Quality education and a fulfilling, independent life are what we want for our children and their specific educational placement is simply a means to that end. Blindness and visual impairment are serious disabilities which can have an extremely negative impact on the learning and overall functioning of children who are visually impaired. However, with specialized services and appropriate supports provided to each child based on his or her individual needs, these children can reach their fullest potential. Whether that happens as the result of placement in a regular classroom, a resource room, a separate facility, or a combination of these alternatives throughout the child's educational career, these decisions must be based on the IEP and the needs and desires of each individual child. WE URGE THE CONGRESS AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO WORK AT IMPROVING AND STRENGTHENING EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, BUILDING UPON THE FIRM FOUNDATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT. A BROAD RANGE OF PLACEMENT OPTIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND THE BASIC RIGHT TO THESE NEEDED ALTERNATIVES MUST BE PRESERVED. For further information contact: Kathleen Megivern, Executive Director, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired at (703) 548-1884. HEALTH CARE REFORM AND THE EFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED Health care should be a critical component in a continuum of services linking independence, productivity and quality of life. Such a structure does not exist under the current health care system. THE DILEMMA Well over 50 percent of individuals who are blind or visually impaired lose their vision after age 65--a time when most people are least able to relearn hundreds of daily tasks and make the other adjustments necessary to continue to live independently with blindness. Unfortunately, all too frequently the assistance and services which these individuals need is not currently available. Many of the causes of blindness--for example, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS-- are also closely identified with a number of additional medical and health-related needs. Regardless of the age of onset or the cause, most people who are blind or visually impaired require personal assistance services or assistive technology to enhance their independence and functional capacity. In seeking health related services, people who are blind or visually impaired, like other people with disabilities, are squeezed between a private health insurance system and a public system. Private health insurance is tied to employment, designed to charge according to perceived "medical" risk and limits coverage for preexisting conditions. Coverage under public programs for health care is sporadic and based on age, poverty status, family structure, and inability to work, and in addition is often limited because of insufficient funds. In public programs, services often do not reflect the needs of the individuals served. For example, Medicare does not currently cover many health-related services needed by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, even though visual impairment affects a substantial proportion of individuals over age 65. WHAT IS NEEDED Prevention of disabling conditions, improving functional capacity and ameliorating the effects of a particular impairment must be seen as important health-related outcomes. Our society must recognize that health is linked to functional capacity, and maintaining or increasing functional capacity is essential for individuals who become disabled to continue to live independent, productive, enjoyable lives. Along with traditional inpatient and outpatient hospital and physician services, the American health care system should include access to the following:  preventive services: regular vision screening, and services to prevent the worsening of a vision-related condition;  health promotion/education services, including information about minimizing vision loss;  services and devices for individuals with low vision;  professional vision care: services provided by ophthalmologists and optometrists and diagnostic services;  long term care, and long and short term home and community-based services;  prescription drugs, biological and disposable medical supplies;  rehabilitation services: rehabilitation teaching, and orientation and mobility training;  personal assistance services; and,  assistive technology devices, equipment, and related training and services. Health care reformers must also guard against creating a system which underserves people with disabilities, including people who are blind or visually impaired, through total reliance on so-called "gatekeepers." All too frequently, these "managers," or primary care physicians, are not knowledgeable about the specific needs of individuals with disabilities. Individuals must be able to choose an appropriate health care provider, service or related equipment. The health care system must also ensure that all people have access to services based on health care need, and not on their employment status or income level. As a group, people with disabilities are unemployed at far higher rates and have much lower incomes than the general population. IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS There are several substantial improvements which Congress can enact without significant delay. The Social Security Act should be amended to require coverage under Medicare or Medicaid for the following services:  services and devices for individuals with low vision;  rehabilitation teaching;  orientation and mobility services and training; and,  assistive technology services and training. In addition Congress should require the following changes in policies providing health insurance:  elimination of restrictions on coverage for preexisting conditions;  community rating;  portability of benefits; and,  elimination of medical underwriting because of disabling conditions. Finally, Congress should amend the Internal Revenue Code, and seek other changes which could enable individuals with disabilities to obtain assistive technology and personal assistance services. For more information, contact Paul W. Schroeder, Director of Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind, (202) 467-5081. INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND Nowhere is the urgent need for a greater federal commitment to blindness issues more apparent than in the case of Title VII, Chapter 2 of the Rehabilitation Act. This program, first authorized as a 1978 competitive grant program, provided grants to designated state units to provide services. P.L. 102-569, the Rehabilitation Act amendments of 1992, converted the competitive grant program to a formula grant program in which all states and territories will be eligible for funding when the appropriation level reaches the trigger amount of $13 million. The demographics of aging and vision loss are staggering. According to the 1990 census, there were 2,578,000 severely visually impaired persons age 65 and over. Between 1960 and 1990 this population more than doubled. The fastest growing group in this population is the 85- plus category and as many as one in four of this group is severely visually impaired. The 1990 census figures show that the rate of nursing home placement for individuals over age 85 is 23 percent. If the rate of projected expansion of the age 85-plus group and the rates of institutionalization continue, the number of nursing home residents could increase by 50 percent by the year 2000. With the public cost of a nursing home placement now averaging about $30,000 per year, it is clear that more appropriate and less expensive alternatives must be found. Many of these institutional placements could be avoided if older individuals with severe vision impairment received the kinds of specialized training in adaptive daily living skills which can be provided under Title II, Chapter II programs. These services can be provided at an annual cost of about $500 per person. We recommend that the Congress appropriate not less than $26 million in FY1994 to fully fund the formula grant program for Independent Living Services for Older Persons Who are Blind. An appropriation of $13 million will service to trigger the program to a formula grant for all states and territories. For more information, please contact Alan Dinsmore, Legislative Network Coordinator, American Foundation for the Blind, (202) 457-1487. CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE BLIND VENDOR PROGRAM The federal Randolph-Sheppard Act provides quality employment for thousands of blind persons throughout the country. Originally enacted in 1936, the law requires that wherever feasible, blind vending facilities must be established on all federal property. The program is virtually self-sufficient: not one cent has been appropriated by Congress for blind vending facilities during the entire 57 year life of the program. In 1974, when Senator Jennings Randolph moved to modernize the law, it was anticipated by Congress that the number of vendors would double in five years. Instead the program has stagnated while 70 percent of blind Americans are without jobs. Although the underlying reasons for stagnation in the Randolph-Sheppard blind vending program are complex, there are a number of things Congress--both collectively and individually--can do to help save the program from its current crisis. Most of these will cost the taxpayer nothing! The Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, a coalition of 80 national, regional, and state organizations serving blind and severely visually impaired people, urges each member of Congress to support the Randolph-Sheppard blind vendor program by:  Demanding that the General Services Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Postal Service adhere to the letter and spirit of the Act which mandates a priority for blind vendors on Federal property.  Insisting that Congressional intent is followed by federal agencies, state agencies, and the courts, to ensure that compensatory damages, fees and costs are awarded to prevailing blind vendors and states, and that sovereign immunity may not shield governments from liability under the Act.  Requiring that the Department of Education rescind several ill advised policies that are damaging to blind vendors and their program, and which are contrary to the law's intent.  Demanding that Federal agencies--including the Government Printing Office, FBI, Library of Congress, and others--provide all income from vending machines on Federal property to the blind vendor program, as the law requires. For further information about these issues, please contact Robert R. Humphreys, Esq., Legal Counsel for the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, (202) 833-0089 or Durward K. McDaniel, Esq., (512) 929-3000. SHE LEARNED IT'S NEVER TOO LATE by Nolan Crabb Linda Carney's life seemed to be unraveling. She had recently left her home in the midwest to move to California; she was facing divorce; she was unemployed; and she was coming to grips with a newly-diagnosed vision problem. Those are difficulties that would make many people give up. But rather than merely accept the cards life dealt, Carney took on a new job and decided to go back to school now that her children are grown, and she did so with the help of a National Industries for the Blind scholarship administered by the American Council of the Blind. Going back to school after a 19-year break wasn't a decision Carney made lightly. "As far as going back to school," she says, "I just laughed at the idea at first." The rocky road to college became smoother for Carney when she learned to network, drawing upon experiences of others to help her avoid the same pitfalls. Linda Carney was one of those millions of Americans who grow up in a kind of netherworld--grappling with a vision problem that was nameless to her and invisible to those around her. It never occurred to her or her family that she might have a permanent visual impairment. She says she lived for years with the mistaken idea that she was merely clumsy. But an evaluation at a vision clinic in San Diego, Calif., proved beyond doubt that she was neither clumsier nor slower than anyone else--she just didn't see as well. "I never really connected my slipping grades in high school with the fact that I didn't see as well as the other kids," she recalls. "I just assumed they saw as well or as badly as I did." She went through prescription after prescription of eyeglasses, each one growing stronger than the one before, but not differing significantly enough to sound alarm bells. "I drove for years knowing that at night I had a real problem driving because of the lights, but rather than learn that I had a visual impairment, I just cut back on my night driving. I floated through for years." She says finding out she had a visual impairment came as a relief rather than bad news. "It felt good to say, 'This isn't something you've imagined all these years. Now you know there's a real problem, you can either give up or find new ways to organize and live your life.'" She asserts that with the right kind of support, anyone can go back to school no matter how long they've been away, if they keep a few things in mind. "You have to know your needs before you attempt a project like this. At the first of the new year, we all make resolutions. All too often, we give up on those resolutions because the goals were just not reachable or feasible. You have to set goals you can accomplish. Maybe jumping into school full time isn't what you want or need. Start with a few courses in the summer maybe, or go part time." She points out that preparation for school is as valuable as preparation for anything else. Classes she took at the sight center in San Diego, for example, gave her the skills she needed to move on. "I had been a great cook," she recalls, "but I had stopped baking because I was a sight baker; I was used to looking in the oven and seeing whether the cookies were golden brown. All of a sudden I couldn't determine the difference between brown and white. So I took an adaptive cooking class." She says preparation counts even where listening skills are concerned. Today, Carney has no problem listening to taped books at higher-than-normal speeds. But when she first went back to school, she had to listen at normal speeds, something that can take hours longer than listening at higher speeds. She says once a prospective student has figured out his/her needs and made necessary preparations, he should learn to do as much on his own as possible as soon as possible. "Use your campus's disabled student services for what you need," she says, "but learn to do as much as you can on your own. Because in reality, when you get out there in an employment situation, there is no disabled work services. You have to know what you need, how you're going to get it, and how to use it once you have it." Carney believed so strongly in the importance of support groups and networking that she organized a group while attending a junior college. "We got tremendous support from the faculty of the city college where we organized the group," she recalls. "We were able to give away 10 $50 scholarships." The group also organized a mentor program, pairing students with similar disabilities. Carney currently attends San Diego State and has a dual major in speech communications and business administration with an emphasis in accounting. When she's not in school or doing homework, she manages apartments with her uncle. "It may not be directly related to accounting," she says, "but that's a real-world internship for me. I get to work with leases and that kind of thing, and I have the opportunity to work with people." In addition to her other duties, Carney finds the time to talk to younger students about AIDS. "I figured as a single mom with kids who were teen-agers when I started," she recalls, "AIDS was something I'd better learn about. I took a class called 'Confronting AIDS,' thinking that I would have enough information to pass on to the kids. We began reading the pamphlets together. The class included lectures from guest lecturers, and I began to feel that I could make a difference if I could return to the city college where I'd attended and provide lectures there." She says the group organizers encouraged her to approach the instructors at her former college to see if they would allow her to speak to their students. With a little persistence, she wore down the initial resistance of those teachers and began talking to their students about AIDS. She says the fact that she's a little older than some of the young people she talks to allows them to talk to her freely and ask questions they might be too embarrassed to ask their peers. Reflecting on last summer's ACB convention where Carney won the National Industries for the Blind scholarship, she says, "No award I've ever won meant as much to me as that one has. This was presented to me by my peers--and that was the greatest recommendation I've ever gotten from anywhere." CAPTION Linda Carney accepts her scholarship at the 1992 ACB national convention in Phoenix. THIRTY YEARS AGO IN THE FORUM In the April 1963 edition of "The Braille Forum," ACB President Ned Freeman used his column, "ACB President's Fireside Chat," to encourage ACB members to send their viewpoints to be published in the "Forum." Freeman wrote, "I know you well enough to know that you have certain opinions which you are glad to discuss at the drop of a hat-- or less. I also know that you disagree with the manner in which some programs for the blind are being carried on. Some of you might want to commend these same programs-- or others. All right. Here's your platform." This issue also mentioned plans for the 1963 ACB National Convention, which was held in Chicago. Colonel E. A. Baker, then the president of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, spoke at the banquet. Two articles, "I Have Never Placed a Blind Man," by Joseph F. Clunk, and "Industrial Employment," by Alaric G. Nichols, dealt with the attitudinal barriers often faced by blind people seeking employment in industrial plants. Another article, "Centers for the Blind: A New Slant on an Old Question," by Frank Kells, posed questions as to what purpose, if any, "centers" for the blind should serve. In "Hyde Park Corner," Earl Scharry refuted some commonly held misconceptions about sheltered workshops, namely that the salaries at such workshops were too low, that the tasks at these workshops were too menial, and that the employers tried to retain especially skilled workers rather than allowing them to advance into private industry. "'I See,' Said the Blind Man," an essay by Mary Walton, addressed the reservations that sighted people frequently have when hearing a blind person say, "I see," "Let me see that," and other such phrases. Walton concluded, "Who is to say that the blind man in his own way does not see? Why should we insist that a blind person use some other word in place of 'see' in conversation? ... Man does not see with the eyes alone, but with the mind." HAVE YOU READ A GOOD RADIO STATION LATELY? by Nolan Crabb If you've tuned up and down the AM radio dial in recent years, you're probably aware of some of the changes that are occurring. FM stations are dominating the market these days, and owners and operators of AM radio stations are searching for novel ways to garner listeners. Until recently, WKGT-AM in Pensacola, Fla., did what a lot of AM stations are doing--sold blocks of time to anyone who would buy. But on April 5, the station ventured in a new direction, becoming the first radio reading service in the nation to sell commercials while targeting listeners who can't read regular print. Most radio reading services operate on special FM frequencies called subcarriers. Special radios capable of receiving these subcarriers are necessary for listeners to hear newspapers, books, and magazines read aloud. Since WKGT-AM doesn't use a special subcarrier frequency, it's considered an open-channel radio reading service. That means that anybody with an AM radio can tune into the service. There are other open-channel radio reading services--one in Memphis and one in New Orleans--but WKGT-AM is selling commercials--something the other open-channel services aren't doing. "This project has all of us very excited," says Ann Goodrich, director of special projects at WKGT-AM. "We're working closely with more than 86 volunteers from Pensacola who are donating their time to read. We're getting a lot of help from Ben Bazo, president of the Northwest Florida Radio Reading Services, Inc., the organization responsible for donating equipment and providing volunteers." The station is looking for celebrity volunteers in the Pensacola area who would be willing to read. So far, some of the community's news anchors have signed on, and actor/director Henry Winkler of "Happy Days" fame will do some of the promotional material for the station. Those who assume that the WKGT-AM staff don't have any real knowledge of the blind community could be in for a surprise, according to Goodrich. Station Manager Bruce Lyons began thinking about turning his station into a radio reading service when he observed the trouble his mother has experienced in Providence, R.I. "His mom is diabetic and can no longer read regular print," Goodrich explains. "She's on a waiting list for a radio reading receiver in her area. He thought the radio reading service would be a terrific community service." Small businesses in the community seem to agree. Goodrich says the station has sold air time to a variety of community businesses, but it hasn't had as much success with large corporations. Since WKGT-AM is the first AM station in the country to try such a format, Goodrich can't rattle off impressive statistics from other communities where the experiment worked. "I did all the market research," she explains. "I didn't just assume that blind and visually impaired people would benefit from our programming. I looked at the counties we cover and at the entire population of those counties. When you take into account people with learning disabilities, blind and partially sighted people, functionally illiterate people, and people in rest homes and hospitals, you have about 49 percent of the population in our county who could be considered potential listeners." Goodrich says she didn't even take into account commuters who don't have time to read the "Pensacola News Journal" and just want to listen to it on the way home from work. In addition to increasing community and small business support, WKGT-AM has received support from the broadcasting industry as well. "Today Show" weatherman Willard Scott and Ed Walker, a well-known broadcaster in the Washington, D.C., area have done promotions for the station. Another company has donated jingles for the new station. "This sounds like real radio. It has to if it is to succeed," Goodrich explains. "Our slogan is, 'Have you read a good radio station lately?'. We also refer to ourselves as 'The voice of print.'" The schedule for WKGT-AM sounds a lot like what you might hear on a radio reading service operating on an FM subcarrier. Bible readings begin the day at 6 a.m., followed by "The Wall Street Journal" and other financial magazines on weekends. "USA Today" and "The Pensacola News Journal" will air weekdays from 7 to 11 a.m. The magazine rack features two-hour readings from magazines such as "Time," "People," "Sports Illustrated," "Southern Living," and others. The schedule also includes short stories from such periodicals as "The Reader's Digest" and "Redbook." Automotive and boating magazines will also be read, and each weekday, the station will read articles on a different topic daily including health, gardening, the law, music news and reviews, cooking/restaurant reviews, Hollywood and entertainment, and "Kids Corner" on Sundays. The schedule also includes a daily reading of a local black newspaper, and novels covering a different genre each day of the week, including mystery, romance, science fiction, biographies, and the classics. From 5 p.m. until the station leaves the air, it will repeat "The Pensacola News Journal." Goodrich says "The New York Times" will substitute for "USA Today" on weekends. Volunteers will also read the comics and TV listings. Sundays will also be the day when various classic and modern kids' stories will be read by young volunteers. "We're hoping to bring in young people from local schools to help host the kids programming," Goodrich says. The station will also devote time on Sundays to "Modern Maturity." Those stations which use the special subcarrier frequencies don't have to worry too much about copyright problems. But Goodrich asserts WKGT-AM hasn't had problems getting permission to read material. But unlike some of the subcarrier reading services which often read adult magazines during the late evening hours, WKGT-AM won't be doing any of that. The station is a 5 Kilowatt daytime only station. "We won't be reading things like adult magazines," Goodrich explains, "and I'm not sure that's all that relevant to the success of our programs." Goodrich says while Manager Bruce Lyons and his staff are confident they'll succeed, they aren't going to pass up opportunities to raise money in ways other than commercials. "We're selling T-shirts with our slogan on them. Since our frequency is 1090 KHz, we're selling the shirts for $10.90 apiece," she says. "Bumper stickers will also be available." Goodrich emphasizes that WKGT's decision to become a radio reading service isn't just an experiment. "We're confident this will work," she says. "In fact, we're hoping that other AM radio stations in other parts of the country will take a look at what we're doing and implement similar programs." For further information on WKGT-AM, contact Ann Goodrich, director of special projects, WKGT-AM, 312 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32514. (904) 474-1099. BRITISH READERS MAY SOON HAVE DIGITAL TALKING BOOKS by Nolan Crabb WASHINGTON--Staff members from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress, representatives from consumer organizations of the blind, and others met at the National Library Service headquarters here in early March where John Griffiths, an engineer at the Royal National Institute for the Blind, England's equivalent to our National Library Service, unveiled a prototype of a digital talking book machine. The prototype Griffiths demonstrated does not play standard cassettes or flexible discs similar to those used by talking book readers in the United States. Instead, it uses a CD-ROM disk used by computers to hold massive amounts of information. Since CD- ROM disks are actually comprised of 1's and 0's which can be translated to speech by the digital talking book machine, there's no need for the arm and needle assembly used by flexible discs in U.S.-made talking book machines. Griffiths began work on a digital talking book machine back in 1987 when the Royal National Institute allocated funding for that purpose. He said building such a machine wasn't easy, since a variety of concerns had to be addressed. "First," he said, "we needed something capable of long-playing audio. We recognized that we needed to protect the surface on which the material is recorded. In the early days of compact discs, they used to say you could put jam on the disc and it would still play. That's just not true. We also recognize that we needed a machine whose functions were similar to those people were already used to." He said the ultimate digital talking book machine would be one which allows users to move back and forth through a book easily and set electronic bookmarks at various sections of the book. While the prototype demonstrated here didn't have all those features, Griffiths was confident that they could be included. Future versions of the machine might also include speech compression and pitch restoration which would allow the reader to increase the speed of the material being heard without creating the chipmunk effect of increased voice pitch. Griffiths demonstrated the machine's ability to remember where the reader last was when he removed the CD-ROM disk from the player. When the first disk was re-inserted after playing a second disk, the machine read the book's title and author, then almost without pause began reading the text, backing up so the reader hears the previous 30 seconds of text before proceeding on to the new material. In the future, users can operate the machine with a numeric keypad accessory similar to those found on touchtone telephones. The prototype demonstrated in Washington had basic functions. Many add- on capabilities would be available in future versions. The disks Griffiths demonstrated were recorded in such a way as to illustrate two different sound quality levels. Level B recording, as Griffiths called it, sounded much like an FM radio broadcast. The Level C disk had an AM radio quality which was still extremely good. The material was copied from high-quality analog masters. Griffiths said the next step will be to introduce the machine to a small group of users and engineers who can actually use the machine at home and make suggestions for revisions. To that end, six machines have been ordered for consumer placement and testing. "We want to develop the basic machine first," he explained. "Every machine can then be extended to include some of the additional features like remote control and variable speed." Playing times depend on the sound quality level of the disk. Using the AM radio sound levels, engineers can get 18 hours of recorded material on one CD-ROM disk. Using the FM-radio sound quality drops the amount of playing time from 18 to 10 hours. Griffiths said his goal is to bring the cost of the digital machine down to a target price of $280 per machine. That's based on the price of the current British talking book player. "We're confident that we can achieve that price at this time for the basic machine," he said. Many questions remain unanswered where the British prototype is concerned. While experts can predict the lifespan of CD-ROM disks, it's harder to tell at this point what the maintenance costs and lifespan would be on the machines. And then there are standardization issues. Even if the NLS were to immediately take the headlong leap into CD-ROM talking books, (it won't, by the way), chances are that books produced by the Royal National Institute won't play on NLS-manufactured machines unless software in the NLS machine is designed to read and play material generated by another manufacturer. So why hasn't the NLS taken the lead in jumping to a new generation of technology? First, it should be remembered that development of the British machine began in 1987, and the machine isn't ready yet for mass distribution and use. There simply isn't enough money in anyone's budget to immediately abandon the current technology NLS uses. Instantly discarding the current technology would be unwise for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the incredible amount of waste that would be inevitable if such a change occurred suddenly. NLS is doing something about the future. Director Frank Kurt Cylke has established the Technology Assessment and Research Program committee comprised of NLS staff members, representatives from the consumer organizations of the blind, and other interested groups including Recording for the Blind. Among other things, the committee will research virtually every option available in the area of book production and delivery before any decisions are made regarding the next generation talking book machine. HERE AND THERE by Elizabeth M. Lennon The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services by the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned. RECENT DEATH Louise Rude, the first president of the Alaska Independent Blind, died March 4 in Anchorage. Before losing her sight to glaucoma, Rude held a job selling advertising for the Anchorage Times. Her anger at being forced to go out of state to receive rehabilitation services compelled her to found the Louise Rude Center for Blind and Deaf Adults (now called the Alaska Center for Blind and Deaf Adults.) Rude was also a founder of the Alaska Information Radio Reading Education Service, and helped to establish transportation in Anchorage for people with disabilities. The Alaska State Legislature and Mayor Tom Fink proclaimed April 22, 1988, Louise Rude Day. Sandy Sanderson, the president of the Alaska Independent Blind, said, "We've lost the true leader of the blind in this state for the past 18 years or so." NATIVE AMERICAN SCULPTOR Michael Naranjo, an internationally known blind artist and sculptor from New Mexico, recently displayed 20 of his works at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. According to "Focus", Fall 1992, Naranjo has conducted workshops for artists with disabilities throughout the nation. A Native American, Naranjo creates his sculptures by meticulously shaping them from clay by hand and then having them dipped into melted bronze by a New Mexico company. While he expresses enthusiasm that his art can be taught to other blind people, Naranjo acknowledges that it is unlikely that he could have enjoyed his present success if he had not had sight during his early years. BRAILLE COMPUTER BOOK How do you adapt a computer work station when you can't see the screen? What do you need? Where do you go to get it? What's going to work? Why is one type of operating system more accessible than another? "Solutions: Access Technologies for People Who Are Blind," available now in print, braille, computer disk and cassette from National Braille Press, answers these and other questions. The book also provides the reader with current information on every type of adaptive device from speech synthesizers to braille printers, from scanners to electronic reading devices--all in non- technical terms. The book costs $21.95 and is available in braille, print, four-track half- speed cassette, and MS-DOS compatible computer diskette formats. (Add $3.50 for postage for the print copy.) Send check or money order to National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115. (617) 266-6160. BLIND GOLFERS NEEDED The Fall 1992 issue of "The BVA Bulletin" reports that the United States Blind Golfers Association is looking for new members. Members receive the association's newsletter, "The Blind Golfer," and a soon-to-be-released instructional video for coaches and golfers. For more information, write to Bob Andrews, Editor, The Midnight Golfer, 3095 Shamrock St. North, Tallahassee, FL 32308. CALL SOCIAL SECURITY The Social Security Administration has changed its telephone number. The new toll free number is (800) 772-1213. Services are available weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. The best time to call is early morning or late afternoon. BRAILLE RULES The 1991 revisions of the English Braille American Edition 1959, adopted by the Braille Authority of North America, are available free of charge in print or in braille. To obtain a copy, contact the Braille Development Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 1291 Taylor St. NW, Washington, DC 20542. PARENTS' GUIDE The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has issued the reference circular "Parents' Guide to the Development of Preschool Children with Disabilities: Resources and Services." The guide includes names of organizations, producers and distributors that offer materials or services on the national level, as well as materials in braille, large print, cassette, and records. Information is available on educational games, toys and play equipment, articles, books, magazines and pamphlets and numerous organizations serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. To receive a copy of the circular, contact NLS at the above address. SAN FRANCISCO TOURS Jose Can You See is the name of the "Blind Guided Walking Tours" of San Francisco led by Jerry "Jose" Kuns. Customized tours are available for individuals or groups of both blind and sighted persons. The cost of the tour is $100 for a group of six for a half-day tour. Rates are based on tours given and group size. For more information, contact Jerry "Jose" Kuns, PO Box 426139, San Francisco, CA 94102. MAGIC KINGDOM IN BRAILLE Thanks to Braille International, the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Fla., is now accessible to braille readers. A braille transcription of the general visitors guide in a compact, 148-page braille version is available. It includes maps, menus, special points of interest and a bookmark that doubles as a wrist strap. To provide orientation to visually impaired guests, braille directories and relief maps have also been installed at various points within the park. Copies of the braille guide can be obtained at the Magic Kingdom Visitors Center in City Hall. For more information, contact Walt Disney World Guest Relations, (407) 824-4321. CATARACT UPSURGE According to a statement from the State University of New York, Drs. Sherry Bass and Alan L. Innes report that a 40 percent temporary ozone depletion over the northern United States could cause a strong increase in the number of persons with cataracts. Dr. Bass warned that ultraviolet rays can cause cataracts and that in spring and summer people should wear ultraviolet protective glasses when in bright sunlight. These glasses should be treated to absorb ultraviolet radiation and should meet the American National Standards Institute guide. Poorly designed plastic glasses that only partially block ultraviolet rays may harm the eyes. OBSOLETE EYEWEAR? A new experimental procedure may soon render eyeglasses and contact lenses obsolete for myopic individuals, according to the January 1993 newsletter of the Greater Detroit Society for the Blind. Eligible patients willing to pay two thousand dollars or more per eye may soon be able to undergo an outpatient surgical technique under local anesthesia which uses an Excimer or "cool" laser to treat moderate cases of nearsightedness, according to doctors at Detroit Sinai Hospital. The procedure must still win approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and is not right for everyone. It is not practical for those whose nearsightedness is still progressing and it doesn't work for extreme myopia. AUSTRALIAN FILM The September 1992 issue of "Video Services" reports that "Proof," a commercial film produced in Australia, has become an international hit with critics. The film, which has won six Australian film awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Director, is the story of a blind photographer who is searching for someone whom he can trust to interpret the photographs which he has taken since childhood. NEW DVS STATIONS The Winter 1992 "DVS Guide" announces the addition of four television stations now offering Descriptive Video Service to their viewers. The stations include WFWA, Channel 39 in Ft. Wayne, Ind., WKNO, Channel 10 in Memphis, Tenn., WNPB Channel 24 in Morgantown, W.Va., and WHYY Channel 12 in Philadelphia. During the next few months, DVS description will be included on special presentations of the new "Explorers" and "National Geographic" specials. LOW VISION AID The Clear Image System is designed specifically to help low vision people read regular print. It is said by some to be the first new design of an optical system for reading purposes in 40 years, according to the December 1992 issue of "CCLVI News." The lenses are especially useful for people with macular degeneration, according to developers Dr. Bruce Rosenthal, Chief of Low Vision Services at the SUNY State College of Optometry, and Dr. Richard Feinbloom, President of Designs for Vision. Clear Image is unique in that it is a flat-field system and as such, provides the partially sighted with a 40-millimeter clear field from edge to edge. For further information, contact your low vision specialist, or Designs for Vision, (800) 345-4009. MONEY SKILLS ENHANCEMENT Tutor Specialty Group recently introduced a money skills interviewer, a tool that can be used for the evaluation and training of basic money handling skills. According to a spokesman at Tutor, the electronic talking device is designed primarily for vocational schools and other training organizations interested in teaching students to enhance changemaking and other money handling skills. The device trains in six money skill areas and can generate sets of questions in more than three million combinations. Money Skills Interviewer can be ordered with a clear braille keypad overlay. For more information contact Tutor Specialty Group at (800) 238-8867. A 15-day free trial is available for agencies and organizations. The device costs $309.95, which includes the braille overlay. A COLLEGE DEGREE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE HOME FOR While it's true that the concept of getting a college degree without leaving your house isn't new, a group of educators in Albany, N.Y., want to take the idea a step farther by offering study information on tape, via computer disk, large print, and in braille in some cases. JRA Educators International, Inc. is in the process of finalizing a comprehensive agreement with the University of the State of New York at Regents College to provide off-campus college courses to minority and disabled students seeking a degree. "JRA was formed because we saw campuses where minorities could have participated more fully than they were," says Roger Carter, JRA's vice president. "We did not see individuals with handicaps attending (college) on an ongoing basis." "What we saw," says JRA President Arnie Rosen, "were inaccessible classrooms and inaccessible material for blind and visually impaired students." JRA's courses are designed to help students learn at their own pace using technology such as computers, video and audiocassettes. Students can take up to a year to complete one course. A three-credit course costs $500, which includes study materials in an accessible format, according to Carter. Students who have problems with the courses can call an instructor 24 hours a day, six days a week. "Of course," Carter explains, "we'll have instructors available during the day, but we feel it's vital for students to have access to help when they need it--during the evening hours when they're working on assignments." Carter says the courses are accepted by the Regents College and have received recommendation from the American Council on Education. JRA's potential agreement with Regents College and the American Council on Education means students can get a degree without ever attending classes on any college campus. Courses include Public Speaking, Computer Basics for the Handicapped, Database Management, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, American Sign Language, Psychology 101, Sociology 101, business management classes, and more. All videos are open captioned. No college class is complete without labs, right? Carter and Rosen say they've already thought of that. "Our plans, when we get enough students from various sections of the nation, is to actually bring the lab to them," Rosen explains. "We would actually have a van which would provide a classroom on wheels where students could come and do lab crash courses. In other words, they might do eight hours of lab work associated with the course they're taking." Carter says that like many off-campus classes, JRA will rely on the mail to move completed assignments and new material between the instructor and students. But on-line computer courses will also be available allowing students and instructors to transmit material via computer modems. "Tests can be given over the telephone in some cases to blind students," Carter explains. He says all courses include pre-tests designed to evaluate how much they already know about a particular subject. "The courses are divided into segments," explains Rosen, "thereby allowing the student to better pace himself and work more closely with the instructors." While JRA is relatively new, one blind student, one deaf student, and one learning disabled student are already taking courses. If the company is new, its founders are far from new on the education scene. "I've taught everything from day care to college," Carter says. He has taught courses ranging from GED preparation through college. Rosen continues to teach at Union College in Albany. Students may pay for individual courses using Visa, MasterCard, money order, or through purchase orders. Course materials begin arriving six to eight weeks after payment is received. For additional information about ordering courses, contact JRA Educators International, Inc., 255 Orange St., Albany, NY 12210. (518) 421-9200. Courses may be paid for with Pell grant awards. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Braille 'N Speak 640, includes carrying case, parallel/serial interface, serial cable, braille and disk manuals, $1,000 or $1,300 with disk drive. Also, Optacon II with manuals, batteries and recharger. $1,250. Contact Rodney Neely, 406 James Ct., Falls Church, VA 22046. (703) 533-2977 evenings and weekends. FOR SALE: VersaBraille Model P2(C) cassette-based unit, includes charger, interface cable, manuals, and master overlay tape. Excellent condition, $400 or best offer. Also, Hitachi CDR-1503S CD-ROM drive. Includes interface card and cable, MS-DOS extensions, and Microsoft Bookshelf Reference Library. Can also play audio CDs. $300 or best offer. For information on either of these items, contact Robert Englebretson, (805) 968-5756 evenings and weekends, no collect calls please. E-mail addresses: 6500reng@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu or 6500reng@ucsbuxa.bitnet. FOR SALE: Arkenstone reader, includes Panasonic 14-inch flatbed scanner with document feeder, Calera board and software, includes necessary software and all manuals. Price is negotiable. Also, IBM compatible computer, includes 80286 processor, 40 MB hard drive, one 5.25-inch and one 3.5-inch floppy drive, monochrome monitor, includes DOS 3.3. Price is negotiable. Contact Pshon Barrett, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., North Building, Apartment 804, Washington, DC 20004. (202) 307-2247 weekdays or (202) 737-1275 evenings. CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL April 15: Final deadline for submission of convention activity information for the convention program to Pat Beattie. April 26-28: National Council on Disability Quarterly Meeting, New York, NY. April 30: Deadline for requests to receive cassette tape of convention pre-registration materials. MAY May 10: Deadline for June "Braille Forum" Articles. May 11-12: Access Board's bi-monthly meeting. May 12-14 President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilitiesannual conference, St. Louis. JUNE June 10 Deadline for July "Braille Forum" articles. STATE CONVENTIONS Alabama Council of the Blind: October 8-10. Alaska Independent Blind, Inc.: September 24-25. Arizona Council of the Blind: April 23-25. California Council of the Blind: May 27-30; November 5-7. ACB of Colorado: April 17. DC Association of Workers for the Blind: September 25. Florida Council of the Blind: September 23-25. Georgia Council of the Blind: August 12-14. Iowa Council of the Blind: April 30-May 2. Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired: October 8-10. ACB of Maryland: October 1-3. Bay State Council of the Blind (Massachusetts): May 1. Michigan Association o/t Blind and Visually Impaired: October 1-3. Mississippi Council of the Blind: April 13-15. ACB of Nebraska: July 22-24. ACB of New York: October 22-24. Oklahoma Council of the Blind: October 1-3. Oregon Council of the Blind: October 15-17. Pennsylvania Council of the Blind: October 22-24. South Dakota Association of the Blind: September 24-26. Tennessee Council of the Blind: September 3-5. ACB of Texas: May 28-30. Utah Council of the Blind: April 30-May 1. Washington Council of the Blind: October 21-23. Wyoming Council of the Blind: April 24-25. "The Braille Forum" staff needs your input! Please send us reports about your state conventions. We'd like to see information about your upcoming state convention (such as when and where to register, who's speaking, what kind of exhibits you're having) as well as summaries of your conventions when they're over. Send your information to Affiliate News Editor, American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Fax: (202) 467-5085. Thank you! ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS The American Council of the Blind wishes to thank the following individuals, who also contributed to our 1992 fundraising campaign. Billie Haymes, Little Rock, AR; Lillian Scaife, Long Beach, CA; Robert L. Simmons, San Diego, CA; Shirley Smithro, CA; Howard Goldstein, New Haven, CT; Ellen Telker, Milford, CT; Alice Capodanno, Wilmington, DE; Denyse J. Eddy, Winter Park, FL; Nigel Richards, FL; Alberta Jacob, IL; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosenbom, Harwood Heights, IL; Anna Johnson, Des Moines, IA; Thomas Doherty, Charlestown, MA; Sharon Strzalkowski, Leominster, MA; Rosemary Miller, Union, MI; Robert Sallis, Jackson, MS; James Faimon, Lincoln, NE; Joan Leonard, Edison, NJ; Robert W. Potter, Clifton, NJ; Olukanyin Lyons, Albuquerque, NM; Judy Blanchard, Rochester, NY; Jo and Fred Durham, Mineola, NY; James and Margaret Ricciardi, Oyster Bay, NY; John Bush, OH; Marilyn Huheey, Columbus, OH; Rick Serey, Westerville, OH; Maxine Lavender, Oklahoma City, OK; Jay Doudna, Lancaster, PA; Jerold Klevit, Jenkintown, PA; Jane Moyer, Camp Hill, PA; Arnold Auch, SD; Dr. Robert Armstrong, Memphis, TN; Ernest Campbell, TN; J. Archie Nichols, Jr., Knoxville, TN; Margarine Beaman, Austin, TX; Peter Connelly, Fort Worth, TX; John and Janet Jones, Houston, TX; Sue Ammeter, Seattle, WA; Dwight Hurst, Morgantown, WV; Tom Kohl, Ripon, WI; Lucille Stanchfield, WI; Gene Zarek, Burlington, WI. The American Council of the Blind would also like to thank the following organizations and corporations which donated in 1992. ACB of Maryland; ACB of Ohio; ACB of Ohio, Columbus Chapter; Alaska Independent Blind; Anne M. Masimore Scholarship; California Council of the Blind; Richard Cannon (scholarship donor); Central Association of the Blind of New York; Dunwoody, GA Lions Club; Florida Council of the Blind; Beulah M. Grandin (scholarship donor); Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael, CA; G.B. Storer Foundation; Audrey Hebner (scholarship donor); Barbara Hebner (scholarship donor); Iowa Council of the United Blind (Des Moines Chapter); Robert A. Jones (scholarship donor); Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired; Fred Krepela (scholarship donor); Macy's Northeast Stores; Michigan Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Detroit Northwest Chapter); Missouri Council of the Blind; National Industries for the Blind Scholarship; Nevada Council of the Blind; New York Telephone; Harold G. Newsom (scholarship donor); North Dakota Association for the Blind; NOVA Chapter of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind; Old Dominion Council of the Blind; Pennsylvania Council of the Blind; Price Waterhouse; Southwestern Bell Telephone; Tennessee Council of the Blind; Touch Books, Inc.; Traver Memorial Fund for Melva T. Owen Scholarship; Vermont Council of the Blind; Visually Impaired Data Processors International; Washington Council of the Blind. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS 2118 N.W. 21st ST. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73107 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 170 N.E. 123rd STREET NORTH MIAMI, FL 33161 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT CHARLES HODGE 1131 S. FOREST DRIVE ARLINGTON, VA 22204 SECRETARY PATRICIA PRICE 5707 BROCKTON DRIVE #302 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON