THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLIII May 2005 No. 8 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Christopher Gray, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Acting Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large print, half-speed four- track cassette tape, computer disk and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Ardis Bazyn at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2005 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Isn't Technology Great When It Works?, by Christopher Gray What's Up and What's Around the Corner, by Melanie Brunson Summary of ACB's Comments on the Proposed Rules for Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel, by Day Al-Mohamed Riviera 101, by Cynthia Towers New Tour Will Thrill Science Fiction Fans, by Berl Colley "What Works in the Real World?" A Different Kind of Technology Conference, by B.T. Kimbrough Friends-in-Art Calling for Art for Show at Convention, by Elsie Monthei Congratulations to the Winners of the St. Patrick's Day Raffle!, by M.J. Schmitt On My Way to Justice, by Shannon Alynn Ramsey Australia: Love at First ... Experience!, by Katie Sacca RP: A Slow, Personal Catastrophe, by Barbara A. Siple Working Together for Community Betterment, by Jack Varnon and Rodney Bickel Here and There, by Sarah Blake High Tech Swap Shop CORRECTION Due to concerns raised with the board of publications regarding the 250-word limit on answers to the questions for the candidates' web page, the board has agreed to raise the limit to 300 words per response, in line with the BOP's 300-word limit for "Letters to the Editor." DEADLINES The deadline for getting articles into the June issue is May 6. For the July-August issue, the deadline is June 8. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: ISN'T TECHNOLOGY GREAT WHEN IT WORKS? by Christopher Gray In late 2001, the American Council of the Blind was contacted by an energetic and dynamic lady, Jane Fowler, from a company based in the United Kingdom called Sound Foresight. Her question: Would we be interested in helping her company test a new prototype product, specifically an ultrasonic cane? After some discussion, two test sites were chosen: one in the Washington, D.C. area, the other in the Bay Area. Testers were identified, and Jane made her way to the United States to show us the first public versions of what is now the Ultracane. No doubt, many readers have held and used electronic canes in the past. I well remember holding a laser cane in my hands about 15 years ago, and being amazed at its shortness, weight, and price, about $3,000 at that time. I was equally amazed and impressed by the information it conveyed about the surrounding environment that I could not get with my standard long cane. I've often thought about owning such a cane, but never really had that much discretionary cash at hand. Might this be the development that could increase utility and decrease costs? Everybody was expectant and excited the first day of the Ultracane trials. Jane was an enthusiastic and organized teacher. Within three hours, everybody knew how to operate the cane, understood what was expected of them in their testing, and felt ready to go out into the world and give this new ultrasonic cane a try. There were surveys to be taken, phone calls to be answered, and after a few months of trials, Jane returned to take our feedback and answer questions we might still have. Even though the canes were prototypes and heavy, many clearly hated to return them at the end of the testing cycle. Three years later, Ultracane is no longer a prototype, but a reality. It runs on two AA batteries and provides feedback at either a two-meter or four-meter distance for overhead objects, and for objects in front of the body, based on differently positioned ultrasonic transmitters and receptors. The canes are carbon fiber so even with the electronics of the cane, it is relatively light and easy to hold. The additional feedback it gives through tactile vibrators on the hand is amazing and quite useful. Compared with laser cane prices of the past, $788 is a very welcome change as well. Also, this price will be further decreased if you purchase an Ultracane through the ACB store before June 1, 2005. Call 1-877-367- 2224. As Alan Brooks, new initiatives manager for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: "Many engineers have an image of what they think blind people want, but here the developers have taken the time to ask blind people, and to involve them in trials. I'm convinced it's going to be a real benefit to its blind and partially sighted users." One of my goals for the American Council of the Blind is to have our membership more involved in testing and development of devices and technology that we need for improving and enhancing our lives. The Ultracane, and our relationship with Sound Foresight, is one example of how this goal is coming true for ACB. As with most things, there are successes in technology, and things that still need some work. Many of you have contacted me these past few months about your frustrations about accessing the world wide web. Airlines charging for their telephone services, and referring customers to the web if you don't want to pay the fee, has undoubtedly spurred interest and frustration in this area. Is this an area where you feel that ACB needs to be more involved and proactive? How are we doing in other areas of technology? As the convention comes closer, please give some thought and feedback to your representatives so we know what resolutions to pass and in what areas you believe further action is needed. Experiences like the input on Ultracane provide clear evidence of how productive it is for companies and consumers to work together cooperatively. ACB has a reputation and a goal of participating positively in such arrangements. Once again, we have shown the value of such participation, and the blind in general can be the beneficiary of this work. Let it be a continued goal of our organization to strive for such arrangements based on cooperation and mutual respect. Through such arrangements, we can only improve things for the blind everywhere. ***** WHAT'S UP AND WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER by Melanie Brunson It may be hard for some to believe, but it's almost time for ACB's 2005 national convention! As I write this, folks are busy putting together the pre-registration forms and if my estimates are correct, you should be getting one very soon after you read this article. There are a number of exciting programs and activities planned for this year's convention. I want to encourage each of you to attend this convention, and to plan to stay for the legislative seminar on Saturday, July 9. It is my expectation that Day Al-Mohamed and I will have a number of significant legislative developments to report to you at that time. This has been a very busy time for us in both the legislative and advocacy arenas. Here is a sneak preview of the kinds of items that have kept us all in high gear since our last convention. ACB and a couple of its affiliates have had significant opportunities to provide input to cell phone service providers on how to make their handsets more accessible. We were part of a program on accessibility during the convention of the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association, and we have provided feedback on prototype phones to both Sprint and Nextel. Our contacts with Cingular and other major cell phone providers continue to be very positive, and we are likely to have several accessible cell phones on display in our convention exhibit hall this year. We are making some inroads toward making the electronic appliance industry aware of the concerns of people with visual impairments about the increasing inaccessibility of home appliances. It is too early to say much more than that, but stay tuned. We may have more to say about this in reports to the convention. The Election Assistance Commission has sought input specifically from ACB about access to voting equipment and the election process, and their response to our comments has been very positive. Their work is, of course, ongoing, but Day should have some additional information about these discussions during the legislative seminar. We have also been very involved in discussions about emergency preparedness procedures around the country. In the course of these discussions, ACB has taken every opportunity to alert public officials and the communications industry to the need for making emergency information that is broadcast on television more accessible to those who can't read the print as it scrawls across their TV screens. These activities have been very rewarding. Of course, we continue to work to increase the availability of audio description, both in film and television. We are excited to report that the bill to restore description to television will be introduced in both houses of Congress by the time you read this! There will be a number of things to tell you about this issue by July. As I write, we are still uncertain what the fate of efforts to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act will be. Negotiations between the administration and Congress are ongoing. We are among the disability groups trying to influence the outcome of those negotiations. I would be surprised if we get to July without some kind of action to report on this issue. There are some items that are of particular interest to students and teachers. We should be able to give you some information by July about efforts to address concerns regarding accommodations provided for blind people taking exams for graduate school admission, and we may have some interesting things to report about access to textbooks. We have much to be proud of, and a lot of work yet to be done. Every member of ACB is important to the process of determining the nature of this work and getting it done. I hope each of you will be in Las Vegas to help with this work and to spur your friends and fellow members on. ***** SUMMARY OF ACB'S COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED RULES FOR NON-DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN AIR TRAVEL by Day Al-Mohamed Today, there are more than 600 million people who travel by air each year. By 2015 that number is expected to be over a billion. Along with the growth in the air industry, we have seen and will continue to see growth in the number of people who are blind and visually impaired participating in air travel. In 1986 Congress enacted the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibiting discrimination in airline service on the basis of disability. The Department of Transportation has frequently issued guidance, in a number of forms, that interprets or explains further the ACAA text to assist air carriers in better meeting the needs of people with disabilities. Although it is impossible to cover all of the issues in the space available, in the following paragraphs I will highlight some of the proposals impacting the greatest number of blind and visually impaired travelers. One of the first alterations in the proposed rules is the definition of "air carrier." The definition now includes foreign and U.S. carriers, which means that the rules listed here and in the act itself are intended as requirements for U.S. airlines domestically and foreign airlines when at least one part of their journey is either to or from the United States. Section 382.43(b), which deals with the provision of information and services through Internet web sites, has exceptional appeal to the blindness community. In response to some recent court cases that have overruled the perspective that the ADA applies to web sites, this proposed rule requires that all airline services and information be provided in a non- discriminatory matter regardless of whether that is in person, over the telephone or on the Internet. By utilizing specific wording, it requires that carrier web sites, including those of contractors and agents, be accessible. What is of special note is that under this section, online travel vendors such as Orbitz or Travelocity would also be required to be accessible. Related to that is Section 382.51(a)(1) regarding electronic ticketing kiosks. These kiosks are appearing in airports all over the country. In our comments we stated our unequivocal support for the inclusion of specific accessibility requirements for these kiosks. They are a point of service and need to be as accessible as practicable for the widest range of users. Offers of employee assistance for disabled passengers to aid in use of the kiosks does not allow for independent access and is not equivalent service in that it circumvents the purpose of the kiosks in increasing efficiency and speed of check-in. One of the proposed rules on which we had specific comments dealt with requesting assistance at the airport. We felt it was important to define the "when" of the assistance. We believed that the term "promptly" as used in "requiring carriers to provide prompt assistance in enplaning, deplaning and connecting to other flights" should be more specifically defined. What is "promptly?" Five minutes? Fifteen? This issue is of particular importance for those of us who might request assistance to a connecting flight, because delays in obtaining assistance may result in the passenger missing his or her flight. As it currently stands, people with visual impairments have no way to discover flight status and other information vital to their travel. So the department of advocacy and governmental affairs made the decision to advocate for the highest level of accessibility possible with regard to airport facilities. We asked that the Department of Transportation consider including access to on-screen flight arrival and departure information which is usually available on monitors at the gates and terminals, and airport directory and map information for people who are blind or visually impaired as a part of general access to terminal facilities and services. What has garnered the greatest amount of controversy and concern is the section concerning service animals. First, let me emphasize that this guidance only reiterates the unwritten policies that many air carriers have. Much of what has been said is not new. ACB's concern comes from the codification of stereotypes into the proposed rules that may lead to discriminatory actions. The proposed rules define a service animal as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability" and make it clear that emotional support animals are included in this category. However one feels about the issue, the problem arises in the manner that this approach is being undertaken. The department has different requirements for guide dogs as compared to emotional support dogs (e.g., requiring documentation or a medical certificate for the latter, but not the former). However, that categorization is not clear because both are simply defined as "service animals." It could cause confusion for airline personnel and has the potential for causing discrimination against guide dog users. The greatest furor, however, was caused by the suggestions proposed by the department involving a "service animal that cannot be accommodated at the seat location of the qualified individual with a disability with whom the animal is accompanying." The options offered by the department none of which are new such as purchasing a second seat, traveling on a later flight, or stowing the animal in cargo, are neither practical nor necessary. As we explained, the problem is that it is very unclear who would determine what constitutes such an animal and when it would be appropriate to seek any of the alternatives listed. This has the potential to discriminate against some service animal users solely based on subjective and unfounded conclusions. The law recognizes that the service animal is there for a purpose; in the case of a guide dog, that purpose includes entering and exiting the plane. If the animal is in cargo, it cannot fulfill that responsibility, and it is essentially denying the handler use of that mobility aid. This is cause for concern because in implementation, passengers who are blind or visually impaired could be denied equal access to air travel simply because of their choice of mobility aid. The department of advocacy and governmental affairs has made it a point to approach all of its arguments from a rights-based inclusive perspective. When commenting on these proposed rules, Krista and I offered a broad examination of how each might infringe on equal access. For both positive and negative commentary we were meticulous in offering explanations, justifications, and when feasible, suggestions to assist the Department of Transportation, so that in the future any rules or guidance on the Air Carrier Access Act would adequately address the needs of blind and visually impaired people. If you would like to see the comments in their entirety, visit www.acb.org. ***** RIVIERA 101 by Cynthia Towers, ACB Convention Coordinator By the time this reaches you, your plane ticket may already be in your hands, and you may be signing up for tours, affiliate meetings and other special events. Well, let me give you some information that will make your trip before convention, as well as the convention itself, an enjoyable one. Before getting on the plane, please make sure that you have current identification. Do not lock your suitcase, only take two carry-ons and please, please, please make sure that you can tell someone how to spot your personal luggage. Las Vegas is a town like no other. Planes land 24 hours a day from all over the world bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors daily. Therefore, help someone help you by putting something on your luggage that is unique. Just saying "it's a black suitcase" is not sufficient. A large decorative ribbon, not a tiny string, an ACB luggage tag or even a brightly colored scarf will assist the volunteers and airport personnel in finding your items among the sea of suitcases that will be revolving around the carousels. When you arrive in Las Vegas, you can get to the Riviera Hotel and Casino via cab, which will cost about $15 each way and take about 15 minutes, or shuttle, which costs $5 one way and $9.75 round-trip and can take up to 30 minutes depending on how many other passengers are on board with you. Just say that you are going to the Riviera or "The Riv" as it is more popularly known. You do not need an address -- the cab drivers go by names of hotels, not numbers. The Riviera has multiple transportation entrances. The Convention Center entrance is where tours will leave. Do not go to this one. There is an underground cab, guest parking and limousine area known as "the dungeon." Do not go to this one either. What you need to instruct the driver to do is to take you to the Riviera South entrance. This is the entrance that is just a few steps from the front desk where you will check into your sleeping room. It is the plan to have a hotel description when you arrive rather than in your packets. You can read it in the relaxation of your room and take some time to try to orient yourself to the hotel. The Riviera has 2,000 guest rooms and ACB will have approximately 800 of them. You will probably be in the Monte Carlo or Monaco towers. These are the two closest to the meeting rooms. The hotel has three other towers for a total of five. Since there are five towers, the room numbering system is such that there are no duplicate room numbers. Rooms 1501 to 2920 are in the Monte Carlo and there is ice and soda on every floor. The Monaco is numbered 4201 to 6407 and also has ice and soda on every floor. If for some reason you are placed in one of the other towers, they are numbered: San Remo, 3100 to 3644; Mediterranean North, 227 to 939, and Mediterranean South, 358 to 1173. This is where the health club is located on the 12th or top floor. The Riviera has 42 ADA rooms, some in each of the five towers. There is also an outdoor pool. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you to the elevator. No ACB volunteer may come to your sleeping room, on tours, to the meetings, in the buffet and possibly in the casino. ACB cannot guarantee that someone will be there each and every time you need help. So, keep this in mind as you make your travel plans. H is for hoagies, hot dogs and hot buttered popcorn. H is also for the room where the ACB Caf‚ will be located. Come there every day from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast items will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and lunch foods will be on hand from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In between times you can go there for snacks, coffee, soft drinks and the like, or to get recharged, literally. There will be tables on the right side of the room with power strips for recharging low batteries on equipment such as Braille Notes and laptops. ACB will not be responsible for items left for recharging. Please stay with your stuff. Stay tuned, there will be other surprises from the Caf‚!! There will be tables for sitting and eating. Or you can take your food with you in the handled bag it will be placed in. The caf‚ will only take cash. The hotel has several other restaurants, but it will be nice to have a place only for us. With the smell from the popcorn machine, the sounds of soft music being piped in and the buzz of a hungry and happy crowd, Room H will be the place to be. It is located among the meeting rooms and is a perfect location to grab something on your way to your next get-together. Tours will leave from the convention entrance doors, which are located directly across from where registration will be. The general sessions will be located in the Grand Ballroom and will once again be set with tables. You will walk through a wide corridor that will open up into the main seating area. When you enter the general sessions, you will be facing the podium and there will be seating to the right and left. Dave Williams will once again be doing the audio streaming of the general sessions over the Internet. You'll want to make sure you are on time for the general sessions each day, because the Nevada Council of the Blind has some sets of silver dollars to give away as door prizes. Carol Ewing and company have been hard at work to ensure that things are running smoothly and that everything will be in place for your arrival. If you and/or your affiliate bring door prizes, please see Pam Shaw at the Information Services Desk, located to the left of registration. Exhibits will be down the hall from the Grand Ballroom in an area called the Royale Pavilion. I have received tons of calls from folks wanting to be exhibitors this year. You will have a lot of selection as you go through this year's aisles, so bring your credit card and shop till you drop. I hope I have covered the basics of what you'll need to get started. I have had the pleasure of speaking to many of you and am looking forward to a large and fun convention. If you still need to make a reservation, you may do so by calling the Riviera Hotel directly at 1-800-634-6753. Be sure to mention that you are with the American Council of the Blind to receive the $77 rate. As always, if you would like to contact me, you may do so by e- mailing me at ctowers@acb.org or by calling me on my toll-free line at 1- 800-474-3029 x00. You must hit the 0 twice. In just a few weeks it will all commence, so start practicing your best Elvis impersonation and rest up because sleeping is not an option (just kidding). I will see you in July. ***** NEW TOUR WILL THRILL SCIENCE FICTION FANS by Berl Colley Make your plans to beam into the worlds of Star Trek! The science and science fiction fans group has put together a tour to the Hilton Star Trek Experience that will take place on Thursday, July 7. You will encounter the alien worlds of Star Trek when you beam into this special tour. You will immerse yourself in the Star Trek Universe as you tour the museum, board a shuttlecraft and aid the crew in fighting the Klingons. You will celebrate the commissioning of the Shuttle Moontype, the first Starfleet fan club dedicated to people who are blind or have low vision and their families and friends. You will also have the opportunity to walk through the museum with a tour guide, ride on a shuttlecraft defending the Enterprise from the Klingons or prevent a Borg capture in the Borg Encounter 4D. Shopping at the Promenade shops just like on DS9 is a must because you will find a galaxy of Star Trek, science- and space-related merchandise to purchase. We will have our lunch at Quark's Bar, where you will be fascinated with the decor, from the large-sized model of the Enterprise that hangs from the ceiling to the numerous closed-circuit TVs throughout the bar. You can watch and listen to your favorite Star Trek episodes from closed-circuit TVs while you eat at Quark's or tour the exhibits throughout the Star Trek Experience itself. We will dine on a variety of foods named for foods served on DS9 at Quark's. A cash bar will be available. You may see a Ferengi, Klingon or Romulan strolling around the Promenade or serving your food at Quark's Bar. The Star Trek Experience also has a variety of other attractions, such as having your picture professionally taken in the captain's chair on the bridge of the Enterprise, or you may want to pose with a Ferengi, Klingon or Romulan. Bring your camera so that you can take pictures of the museum displays and at Quark's Bar. Be prepared for surprises as you never know who you might encounter at the Star Trek Experience. Guide dogs are welcome. They will be allowed to accompany you throughout the Star Trek Experience; however, they will not be allowed to remain with you during the motion part of the two rides. Attendants will wait with your dog and return him or her to you immediately after you depart the motion part of the ride, so you might want to bring your cane to use during this short period of time. This tour includes admittance to the museum, two rides (The Klingon Encounter and Borg 4D), lunch at Quark's Bar and bus transportation to and from the Hilton. Expenses that are not included: alcohol purchased at Quark's, shopping, and your picture in the captain's chair or other novelties sold at the experience. If you have any questions about the Star Trek Experience, the tour, or the use of your guide dog while at the experience, contact Kathryn Johnson via e-mail, kathrynkj@earthlink.net. Liberace Museum ACB tours will be visiting the Liberace Museum twice during convention week. The first time, Saturday, July 2, there will be a concert of some of his music. The second time, Tuesday, July 5, there will not be a concert. Wednesday Night Dinner Cruise And now for a little bit about the Wednesday night dinner cruise on Lake Mead. The Desert Princess is a double-decker ship that can hold up to 150 people if they are squeezed in. We will have 110 people on our cruise, including volunteers and a tour representative. The eating area is on the lower deck; the lounge is on the upper level. Dancing will take place on the lower deck after eating. Dinner is a sit-down meal and will be conducted in two shifts so that everyone can eat comfortably. The lower deck is wheelchair-accessible, but there are only stairs to the top level. There will be narration about some of the areas of the lake, but with people talking and dancing it probably will be difficult to hear. It is about a 45- minute bus ride from the Riviera to the loading docks. Seven Pre-Convention Tours The seven tours that will occur on the weekend prior to this year's convention are: 1. July 1 trip to see the London Bridge; 2. July 1, an evening baseball game; 3. July 2, float trip through lower Black Canyon; 4. July 2, Las Vegas city tour; 5. July 2, visit to the Liberace museum; 6. July 3, repeat of Las Vegas city tour; 7. July 3, go to Elvis-a-rama and Ethel M's candies. Pre-registration forms will be out shortly. Be certain to get your form filled out and sent back before the deadline to give yourself the best chance to get on whatever tours you want. Also make sure you have a room at the Riviera! To make room reservations, call the Riviera Hotel and Casino at 1-800-634-6753. Be sure to tell them that you are with the American Council of the Blind. ***** "WHAT WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD?" A DIFFERENT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE by B.T. Kimbrough Back in the 1980s, when I was writing about technology for "Dialogue" magazine, I regularly asked my readers to let me know what, if anything, they found useful in my columns. During one memorable month, I received half a dozen responses which formed a definite pattern. "Keep it practical," said one. "Tell us about the inexpensive stuff," advised another. "Show us how a blind person can adapt off-the-shelf devices instead of relying on expensive special ones," wrote someone else. I was certainly pleased to receive that kind of attention, but I began to wonder if these people had organized some kind of a propaganda campaign among themselves. Eventually, I met most of those valued readers and found out that although they didn't even know each other, they did have something significant in common: they were all rehabilitation teachers. Now, I have been asked to help with the planning of a national conference on technology specifically for rehabilitation teachers. "What Works in the Real World?" will take place at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas July 5-7, 2005. Since these dates fall within the 2005 ACB national convention, hotel arrangements are subject to the same rates and restrictions which apply to the convention itself. The registration fee for "What Works?" is $150. The conference agenda has nearly three full days in which to unfold, so we will be able to examine many of the challenging technology categories, some of them both complex and competitive. I can guarantee you that the pragmatic, down-to-earth side of the subject will have an honored place right in the center of the program. The conference budget consists of a small federally funded administrative component plus contributions from exhibitor sponsors and the registration fee mentioned above. All the funds will be expended directly on conference items, such as rented computers for learning and exploring, some social events for networking purposes, and meeting space in the hotel. We also expect to pay travel expenses for a couple of speakers, though many of our instructors will offer their time without cost in a spirit of generosity without which the event could not take place at all. For me, one of the most attractive aspects of this event is its cooperative nature. Planning and organizational elements are a product of the collective efforts of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (of which I am the training director), the American Council of the Blind and its affiliate, the National Association of Blind Teachers. We will offer a variety of significant topics with a minimum of tech talk and jargon. Our opening session addresses the age-old challenge of getting textbooks and materials needed by students and working professionals before the semester or the job ends. Other topics on the definite list include: technology 101/102; getting the most from low vision with technology; braille on demand simple but not automatic; notetaker or PDA which does my client need?; optical character scanning, a vital but limited technology; technology and the older client; technology training before college; and, of course, an honored place for simple and effective low-tech, as well as off-the-shelf products that require no adaptation. If, at the end of the conference, our participants want to explore ways of establishing an ongoing dialogue on some of these topics, I believe that we will all feel that the effort has been worthwhile. Although rehabilitation teachers are the primary audience for this conference, all interested applicants are welcome. For more information, contact B.T. Kimbrough, Director of Training, RRTC on Blindness and Low Vision, PO Box 6189, Mississippi State, MS 39762; phone (662) 325-2001; or e-mail bkimbrough@colled.msstate.edu. ***** FRIENDS-IN-ART CALLING FOR ART FOR SHOW AT CONVENTION by Elsie Monthei Eligibility Artists who reside in the USA and are legally blind may enter a maximum of two original works of art. These works must be ready-to-display art work, including the categories of painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, fiber art and jewelry. No patterns or paint-by-number will be acceptable. Entries must be original works of art. Best of the Show will be selected by participants by ballot. The cash awards have increased this year. First prize is $100, second prize $75, and third prize $50. Entry Procedures Artists may enter up to two works of art in the above categories, not to exceed two entries. Each entry should be labeled with the artist's name and title of the work. The entry should be labeled to indicate orientation. All works of art must be ready to hang or display-ready. Your registration form should be sent to Elsie Monthei, 1304 39th St., Des Moines, IA 50311; or phone (515) 277-0442. Information about your work should include media, size (not to exceed 24" x 30"), title, and dimensions. Be sure to include a short description of the work as well. Delivery and Return of Art Work If you intend to attend national convention, you can bring your work with you. You must pick up your work and pack it yourself for the return trip. If you intend to mail your entry, include the shipping fee to return your work to you. Also include the cost of insurance. Your works should be shipped and insured to: Elsie Monthei, Riviera Hotel and Casino, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Or you may hand deliver them to Elsie Monthei. Entry Fees An entry fee of $10 per entry will be charged to cover the display costs. Entry fees will not be returned if the artist does not display his or her art work. Calendar June 15: Deadline for applications to be sent to Elsie Monthei June 29-30: Works must be at the hotel for convention July 2: Hand delivered to Elsie Monthei for display July 3-6: Public exhibit July 5: noon, FIA annual business meeting and luncheon July 5: 3 to 5 p.m. Meet the Artists Reception July 5: Notification of show winners and awards given July 6: Works are picked up or mailed back to exhibitor Liability and Insurance All reasonable care will be given to objects in the exhibition. The art work will be in a secure area while on exhibit. The insurance you purchase from the shipping service will cover the art work in transit. Friends-In-Art is not responsible for deliberate theft or vandalism of art or unclaimed art after the convention. Works not claimed or picked up by July 6 will be treated as gifts to Friends-In-Art. Sales Sales are encouraged. No commission will be charged by Friends-In- Art. Friends-In-Art will not act as agent. All sales must be negotiated by participants. Agreement Submission of an entry to this exhibition shall constitute agreement with all conditions in this application. Friends-In-Art reserves the right to reproduce works for publicity purposes only. Note: Works not ready for exhibition or display-ready can be withheld from the exhibit. The names of show participants may be published in "The Braille Forum" and FIA's "Log of the Bridgetender." There is a new category this year: jewelry! The other categories are painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, and fiber art. The exhibit will be in a more public area where it will have more visibility. I hope that it will promote more sales for the artists. We have not had an exhibit and art show for some time. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in Las Vegas this summer. I am planning to bring several of my new pieces. Please plan to attend our luncheon on Tuesday. We are planning many activities and entertainment in the Friends-In-Art Suite for your education and enjoyment. ENTRY REGISTRATION FORM (Please print legibly) 1. ARTIST:____________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS_________________________________________________ CITY___________________________ STATE___________ZIP_____________ PHONE HOME_________________ WORK__________________________ MEDIA__________________________________________________________ TITLE__________________________________________________________ Purchase Price __________________Not For Sale__________________ 2. ARTIST_____________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS_________________________________________________ CITY__________________________ STATE____________ ZIP______________ PHONE HOME____________________WORK__________________________ MEDIA__________________________________________________________ TITLE_________________________________________________________ Purchase Price ___________________Not For Sale_________________ Return this application with your fee of $10 per entry to Elsie Monthei, or bring it with your art work to convention. ***** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY RAFFLE! by M.J. Schmitt Well, the ACB 12 Days to St. Patrick's Raffle is history! The winners are listed at the end of this article. On behalf of ACB, I want to thank everyone for their interest and participation in the raffle. Thanks to everyone who was thoughtful and brave enough to send checks after reading about it in "The Braille Forum." You really put us over the top! Thanks to those of you who bought 10 or more tickets. You know who you are and how much ACB appreciates your participation. And thanks go to the people who helped me sell tickets: Ardis Bazyn, who sold to four winners; Marvelena Quesada and Chris Gray; the Ruschival and Cox families; Brian Charlson and Ralph Sanders; and Jim Kesteloot from the Chicago Lighthouse. Will I do it again? Perhaps. But if I do, I'll do some things differently. Thanks to all who were involved. The winners are: March 6, Dr. Ed Bradley, Texas March 7, Shirley Gray, mother of the president, Washington March 8, Lillian Johnson, Massachusetts March 9, Charlene Lofrenz, Iowa March 10, Jerry Berrier, Massachusetts March 11, Jaygee Santos, Illinois March 12, A.M. Fuller, California March 13, Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Louisiana March 14, Juan Simak, Illinois March 15, Mike Duke, Mississippi March 16, Myles Tamashiro, Hawaii March 17, Ralph Sanders, Nevada ***** ON MY WAY TO JUSTICE by Shannon Alynn Ramsay Introduction I took the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) on Oct. 6, 2001, along with 10 other blind people throughout the nation that year. It all began in March 2001 when I requested from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) accommodations in the form of the test in braille and the usual extra time necessary for tactile reading of the braille code. On page 7 of the LSAT & LSDAS Registration Book, 2002-2003 Edition, there is a special section where LSAC cautions candidates that "If you receive additional time as an accommodation for your disability, LSAC will send a statement with your LSDAS Law Reports [to the law schools] advising that your score should be interpreted with great sensitivity and flexibility." And on page 122, under the heading "Carefully evaluate LSAT scores earned under accommodated or non-standard conditions:" "LSAC has no data to demonstrate that scores earned under accommodated conditions have the same meaning as scores earned under standard conditions." The first observation is that LSAC has, since the test inception in 1974, an enormous data bank from which many evaluations can be made. In light of the enormous data base, it is difficult to believe that there is "no data" for comparative evaluations. I was disturbed by these statements. On May 17, 2002, with the assistance of Sen. Tom Harkin, I filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Justice, citing LSAC with "systemic disparate treatment discrimination," a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment equal protection clause as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The DOJ Civil Rights Division accepted my complaint on Aug. 28, 2002 in a letter from former Assistant Attorney General Ralph F. Boyd Jr. to Harkin. Discrimination in the LSAT Test Any request for an accommodated test results in the LSAC label of "non-standard" and "accommodated" attached to the reports of disabled test- takers. This occurs when a test-taker requests the LSAT in braille, audiocassette format, extra test time, accessible technology or a reader. As a result of these accommodations, these test-takers will be "flagged" as non-standard. By requesting a change of test date, as happens with "Saturday Sabbath administrations," the label "non-standard administration" is also attached to the records of these individuals. My initial reaction in response to these policies was to document my complaints in a letter to LSAC on Nov. 30, 2001. The discriminatory policies I identified were as follows: Accommodations: Needless and expensive procedures are required of blind applicants in order to obtain the necessary accommodations to take the LSAT. I claimed that the documentation LSAC required of me to prove blindness was excessive and costly in time and money. I submitted numerous documents, but LSAC informed me by telephone that the first submission of documents was unacceptable and that they required a doctor's report, which involved submission of a new set of documents. Drawing Diagrams: The LSAT Analytical Reasoning section, involving 24 logic questions, permits drawing of diagrams to help sighted test-takers analyze many variables and constraints stated in the complex problems. Page 69 of the instructions reads: "In answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw a rough diagram." Being blind and unable to make use of such aids, a handicap was imposed upon me and my score suffered relative to those who are sighted. If sighted people were constrained to answer these complex questions without the use of diagrams, they too may have lost points on their scores. Title III of the ADA requires examinations to be offered "in a place and manner accessible to persons with disabilities or offer alternative accessible arrangements." Drawing of diagrams is not accessible to the blind, nor are there any alternatives. Flagging: Once test-takers are labeled as "non-standard," they are, by written LSAC policy (page 13 of the instructions), deprived of a breakdown of their correct and incorrect responses to the 101 questions. Any LSAT test taken under accommodated conditions is labeled as a "non-disclosed administration." This "non-disclosure" policy serves to benefit the "standard" test-taker compared to the "non-standard" test-taker, considering the learning available should a repeat test be elected. Flagging of subgroups by LSAC as "accommodated" and "non-standard" is a discriminatory policy which must be discontinued, as has been done recently in many college entrance tests following the settlement of the Breimhorst vs. ETS (N.D. Cal, March 27, 2001) case. Finally, all test-takers should automatically receive a breakdown of their correct and incorrect responses along with their LSAT score without the necessity of requesting that information. The labeling policy often called "flagging," described above, can be separated into two distinct complaints. The first one is that certain test- takers are labeled as "accommodated" or "non-standard." The second one is that once a test-taker is so labeled, the test is flagged again as a "non- disclosed administration" and these test-takers, by written policy, will not receive a breakdown of their right and wrong answers as is the custom for standard test-takers. Civil Rights Complaints Filed with the United States Department of Justice Receiving no response from LSAC to my direct appeal for reforms in a letter dated Nov. 30, 2001, I filed on May 17, 2002, a complaint against LSAC with the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Section, stating that four allegations of discrimination amount to "systemic disparate treatment discrimination" and are a violation of both the United States Constitution equal protection doctrines and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq. I was supported in my ADA- based action by Sen. Tom Harkin, an author of the ADA legislation, for whom I worked as an intern while studying at the Stanford University program in Washington, D.C. in 2001. My case was accepted by Boyd and assigned number DJ#202-62-120. The action was taken up by Disability Section Chief John L. Wodatch, who assigned trial attorney Laura F. Einstein to my case. Case Closed Thirteen months later, Einstein closed my case, dropping three of the four allegations without explanation, without test-validation fact-finding and without communicating or sharing any decisions with me. On June 10, 2003, I received a case closing letter from her describing a partial, unofficial agreement between the LSAC attorney and the DOJ attorney. The agreement was unofficial in that it was not processed as a formal "settlement" as occurred in a recent, similar DOJ case involving five blind applicants (DJ#202-62-34 et al dated Feb. 22, 2002). The informal agreement was not signed by Department of Justice supervisors and it was not made public in any form. The agreement, documented by Einstein with the LSAC attorney, was to end "non-disclosure of test results" and provide a breakdown of test results to braille test-takers, beginning in October 2003. Victory It was a victory, but a small one. It was a victory for blind people who will, in the future, take the test in braille and audiocassettes. Unfortunately, the limited agreement fell far short of correcting the civil rights violations incorporated in my systemic disparate treatment discrimination complaint. The agreement to end non-disclosure for braille test-takers did not cover any other disabled groups nor the Sabbath observers, who also are flagged as "non-disclosed." My original May 17, 2002 complaint, which was accepted by the assistant attorney general, did not limit the complaint to blind people. My specific all-inclusive allegation was worded as follows: "LSAC should be required to discontinue all non-standard and all non-disclosure policies." If the civil rights allegation was meritorious for the sub-group, it should be meritorious for all. Einstein, as a civil rights attorney, responsible for redressing civil rights grievances, was obligated to cover all people in the non-disclosed class. Furthermore, by agreeing to the discontinuance of non-disclosure for the blind, a precedent was set, which should have been applied to all groups. This was a classic case wherein the issues presented and relief sought were identical for all members of the class. It is my understanding that the rationale for the selective agreement proceeded from information obtained from LSAC. The nature of the LSAC information, presented to the DOJ attorney, was that there were only 11 blind test-takers of the 2001 LSAT test. Only six blind people took the test in braille, myself included; the other five took the test by means of audiocassettes. This information was conveyed to me in a telephone conversation with the DOJ attorney at the end of May 2003. I gathered from this conversation that the number of blind test-takers was so small that it would be an "undue burden" to change the LSAT test to meet the needs of a few blind people. However, the department undertook my complaint on behalf of the disabled class and my complaint extended beyond the discrimination against the blind. It involved discrimination against others including "Saturday Sabbath" people among many others. Thus the "non-disclosed" flagging continued. I did not accept the minor agreement put together by the two attorneys. I rejected the agreement in certified letters to former Attorney General John Ashcroft, to Boyd and Wodatch. I requested that these superiors vacate the faulty agreement with LSAC and renew all allegations of my original complaint, to no avail. Following is how the DOJ treated my case on each specific allegation. Flagging Allegation: In addition to the flagging of the LSAT test as a "non-disclosed administration" is the flagging of test-takers as "accommodated" or "non-standard." As I indicated in my complaint letter of May 17, 2002, these flagging policies must be discontinued. However, this allegation was dropped without any explanation. Drawing Diagrams Allegation: This major allegation of my complaint was dropped by the DOJ attorney without any explanation. If the "undue burden" clause in the ADA statutes was cited to disregard this allegation, then the DOJ attorney had the responsibility to engage in fact-finding to ascertain any hardships by changing the LSAT test to disallow the drawing of diagrams. As for the monitoring of the test to insure there is no violation of a new policy, whereby no drawing of diagrams would be permitted, there are already test monitors engaged during the administration of the test at every test center; thus, there would be no added cost involved. Accommodations Allegation: This allegation was dropped without any explanation. In my complaint, I cited that an "accommodations" case filed by five blind LSAT test applicants was in progress during the period of March to October 2001 when I sought permission to take the test in braille. Excessive requirements were imposed upon me at a time when the five blind students had entered their similar complaints. On that case DJ#202-62-34, - 55, -56, -62, and -79, damages of $20,000 were awarded and changes to the LSAC accommodations policy resulted on Feb. 22, 2002. Throughout the 13 months of deliberations between the DOJ and the LSAC attorneys, I was not permitted to receive any information or to engage in any of the decisions. All but one of my complaints were dropped without any explanation. I was told by the trial attorney that the DOJ's client-attorney procedure is different from that which I am being taught in law school. With the unofficial decision closing my case on June 10, 2003, I was told by Einstein that I could "file a private ADA action in a federal district court." In two certified letters dated June 26, 2003 and Aug. 1, 2003, I informed Wodatch that the DOJ conduct of my case was unsatisfactory, involving numerous violations of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and that the DOJ should vacate the informal agreement with LSAC and reactivate all the allegations of my original complaint. My request was denied. Discrimination Update Despite my efforts, the systemic discrimination violations by the Law School Admission Council have not been brought to an end. In March 2004, LSAC released its latest 2004-2005 Edition of LSAT & LSDAS Registration and Information Book. It is almost word for word, page for page, identical to the 2003-2004 and the 2002-2003 Editions. There are no changes to the flagging policies. There is no change to the drawing diagrams policy. There is, however, a change which is not in compliance with the June 10, 2003 DOJ/LSAC agreement. The major agreement I obtained, eliminating non- disclosure for braille test-takers, was not fully honored. Page 13 of the LSAT Registration Book 2004-2005 Edition now reads "some braille" test- takers continue to be "non-disclosed." In a certified letter dated March 30, 2004 to Ashcroft, I informed him that the Law School Admission Council was not in compliance with the DOJ/LSAC June 10, 2003 agreement. Summary If in the future, the Law School Admission Council does not willingly discontinue the questionable policies I have challenged, then it remains for an individual or group to institute a class action suit in a federal district court, as the Department of Justice advised. ***** AUSTRALIA: LOVE AT FIRST EXPERIENCE! by Katie Sacca (Editor's Note: Katie Sacca is a senior boarding student at Middlesex School in Concord, Mass., where she plays field hockey and is captain of the ski team. She lives in Gloucester with her parents when she is not away at school or traveling. Joshua Pearson is a seventh grade student at the Quabbin Regional Middle School in Barre, Mass., where he lives with his parents and three younger brothers. He enjoys reading, chatting with friends on the Internet, skiing, acting and travel. In his free time he plays the piano and hangs out with friends. Josh has been totally blind since birth.) It could have been any other ordinary day at the beach; going for a long swim, lounging in a deck chair in the sun, eating ice cream bars and Popsicles, and hearing kids laugh and play all around. It might have been an ordinary day -- except the swimming was actually snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef, and the deck chair was on a moored pontoon 38 miles off the coast of Australia. I was relaxed and worry-free as the 42 11- and 12-year- olds that I was traveling with played around on the boat and in the water, snapping underwater photos of sea turtles and brightly colored schools of fish. I knew that among the 42 there was one who was getting a totally different experience from all the other kids, one who was inciting a certain envious fascination in the other kids -- he had his own personal diver with him, bringing up such tactile delights as bits of hard and soft coral, sea cucumbers and sea stars, and even coaxing a large "friendly" fish over for a treat and a pat. This one was Joshua Pearson, a thoughtful and perceptive 12-year-old from Barre, Mass. Josh's admission into the People to People Student Ambassador Program was a milestone for both visually impaired students and the program itself. Josh has been blind since he was born; the People to People program had never offered admission to any blind students in the past. When three of Josh's teachers at the Ruggles Lane Elementary School recommended him for the program, however, People to People took a second look. Upon accepting Josh into the program, the administration at People to People began to take special considerations. They concluded that one of Joshua's parents would need to accompany him on the 16-day exploration of Australia. Josh protested immediately that his parents would hinder his independence and thwart prospective friendships by hovering too close. Once he voiced these concerns, another suggestion for a guide was brought up: the 16-year-old daughter of Josh's vision teacher. My mother has always encouraged me to take chances and risks if it means I will gain a valuable lesson or experience. As a new ski instructor, she suggested I volunteer with the Adaptive Ski Program (for handicapped/special needs skiers) at nearby Wachusett Mountain where I taught. My first real interaction with Josh was as his ski guide, a terrifyingly responsible occupation for a nervous 14-year-old. As I got to know Josh, my confidence grew and he developed a love for skiing. Soon, the two of us were able to fearlessly traverse the intermediate terrain and even enjoy it. So when my mother first asked me if I would be interested in going to Australia I was very enthusiastic. When I learned, however, that I would solely be responsible for both Josh's comfort and his enjoyment of the trip, my enthusiasm waned. I was a little hesitant, but in the face of an otherwise college-visit-laden summer, I stepped up to the job. Before boarding the plane for our tediously long flight to Brisbane, Australia, I needed to learn a few things about traveling with a visually impaired person. To see Joshua in action, my mother took me to Ruggles Lane Elementary School to witness his day-to-day activities. As I followed Joshua down the winding corridors of the school, I had to keep reminding myself that he was visually impaired. He moved confidently and occasionally swept his red-tipped cane along the ground for extra assurance. He walked swiftly to his destination, and then, in a final act of chivalry, held the door to his classroom open for me. (I had hoped my trailing him would go unnoticed.) I remembered with some difficulty that the adept and confident boy that I had just shadowed was the reason that I was receiving a ticket to Australia. The departure date arrived seemingly days afterwards, inducing feelings of extreme excitement and nervousness, alternating. We had our "People to People" red polo shirts on, our luggage was on the plane, and we were ready to meet the Los Angeles People to People coordinators and our group. A list of things that I had to remember was running through my head and I was struggling with managing sighted guide and finding our boarding passes and not losing our passports when I realized finally that I had so much responsibility in this position and could not escape if something went wrong. This would be the first time in my life that I would have to put someone else first in my personal priority list, and it would certainly be an adventure. As soon as we joined the group, however, there was a chorus of "Hey, Josh!" and several girls came running over to lead Josh to where they were sitting. The room we were in was overwhelmingly crowded with kids of all sizes and ages wearing the same red polo shirts we were wearing. All I'll say is that I'm very glad I wasn't a typical passenger on that flight! After we arrived and exchanged money, we headed straight to the zoo on our coach bus. The kids were in heaven at the zoo between the crocodile show, baby tiger cubs, and petting zoo. Josh especially loved petting the kangaroos. Minutes after encountering his first kangaroo, he informed me that he would "love to own one." After 15 more minutes of kangaroo petting and feeding, owning a kangaroo turned into owning a large section of Australia that he would cordon off exclusively for the use of his herd of kangaroos. Josh was not, however, very fond of the emus, mostly based on the reaction of the girls in the group (screaming and running away). At this point, Josh was still getting comfortable with being in a new country and so I was doing sighted guide, but by dinnertime Josh was off and running (walking, rather) with a new friend. Josh learned many things during his 16 days of traveling in Australia. If I were to retell the whole adventure, it would take up far too much space, so I will pick out several significant experiences of the trip. When we arrived in the outback after nearly nine hours of driving, countless bags of candy, three movies, and a seemingly infinite chorus of "Bingo," everyone was relieved to get off the bus. When we stepped off and were directed to a long picnic table with a roof but no walls, everyone realized that this stay would be very different from the comfortable hotel stay of the previous few nights. Three meals were cooked over a fire in kettles and pits, the children were four or five to a tiny room and the communal bathrooms were a few minutes' walk from everyone (not to mention taking showers was discouraged). Despite the vast differences between the outback farm stay and normal living (to us, anyway), nearly everyone enjoyed the farm stay. The first night, Josh was able to indulge in one of his favorite pleasures, telling ghost stories in front of a roaring fire. We learned some classic Australian bush songs and toasted marshmallows and heard ghost stories and went happily to bed early, eager for the next day's events. After breakfast at 6:30, we were divided into small groups for the main event of the morning: horseback riding through the bush. Josh had his own horse, but was being led by one of the farm staff on another horse. Josh loved the horseback ride, and adapted to it easily and confidently. During the two-day farm stay, Josh made a few new friends: the farm staff. Two of the grizzled cowboys took an immediate liking to Josh, giving him special demonstrations with farm equipment and telling him their best jokes. Josh delighted them with his impersonations of Australian accents and his accounts and opinions of Australia after four days. ("It's just such a wonderful country! I hope to live here when I'm older.") He amazed them with his confidence and incredible optimism. When later we went on a bush walk that turned into a strenuous hike up 45-degree incline rocky surface, Josh's determination never wavered -- although he did not hesitate to let me know that he despised the hike. Even though the hike up was difficult, for the sighted person it was completely worth it. We could see for miles and miles all around, yet there was no sign of civilization (besides the glint of the Jeep that was parked at the bottom of the steep mountain). What really amazed the farm staff was not only Josh's trust in me during the hike, but that he was completely satisfied with knowing that the view was magnificent, and had no remorse for climbing with no apparent reward. They were also very impressed with his audacity on the climb down, which proved to be almost more difficult due to a greater number of loose rocks on the steep way down. Although the experience was not Josh's favorite, he remained in good spirits throughout the day's events, which included learning how to throw boomerangs and crack stock whips. After two long rides, we arrived in Yeppoon, a small town on the coast of eastern Australia. After a fun night of ice cream and the movies (Spiderman 2), we went to sleep in anticipation of an exciting day in the Capricorn Caves! When we got there, we started out in the larger caverns, with all the lights on. The guide brought us through caverns and up narrow sets of stairs and across rickety ladders. We emerged in a giant dark cavern and once the lights were switched on, we saw a sight that could only be described by its name: Cathedral Cavern. There were pews and a pulpit with built-in stairs and a little platform. After we sat down and got settled in the pews, the guide turned off all the lights. It was amazing to be in complete darkness! Without knowing it, when the guide plunged the 48 sighted people in the room into darkness, we were really experiencing what Josh deals with every day! Once the lights were switched on, we listened to a version of "Amazing Grace" to demonstrate the acoustics, which were amazing! It was like a real cathedral, only we were deep inside a huge mountain. After the music, our guide asked if anyone would like to sing. Josh, an avid singer, immediately volunteered. After a terrific rendition of a song from "My Girl," Josh was greeted with enthusiastic applause. One of the things that Josh likes best is performing, so everyone could tell that he was overjoyed at this opportunity. After another song, we were invited to stand on the steps of the pulpit and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner." I thought that it would just be a silly procedure but it was really amazing, when we realized that it would be the only time we would be singing our national anthem for a foreign crowd deep in a cave on the tropic of Capricorn! After making our way back to the entrance chamber, we were given four choices of activity for the next half-hour. The choices ranged from walking back out the easiest way possible to crawling through a tiny chamber for several minutes, and two other choices in between. We were allowed to choose which we wanted, with the easiest option labeled 1 and the hardest labeled 4. When I asked Josh which he wanted, he immediately answered, "Four." Not wanting to hold Josh back, we began in the direction of option four. Personally, I was very nervous about taking Josh through a tiny crawl space, but if he wasn't, maybe it would be OK. Before we got to the group, an instructor told me that it would not be appropriate for Josh to participate in Option Four. This was Josh's first run-in with something that he was being denied, so he was a little disappointed, but we compromised with option two. Even though the guides had said it was OK for him to go through the narrow zigzag pass of option two, I was still unsure of how it would go. Going through the "zigzag" required holding a candle and climbing ladders. I declined a candle, but another family was also going through and offered to help. One followed in front and one followed in back, leaving me to navigate Josh through the pass. Although it was nerve-racking for all the sighted people in the pass, Josh had a great time and wasn't nervous or worried at all. This was one of the main things that Josh had to learn when we were in Australia: that everything was not a piece of cake in terms of accessibility for him. We were in a foreign country and unfortunately could not provide Josh with every opportunity, but luckily Josh had a great time in the caves and had no bad feelings about not being able to do option four. So as I remember sitting on that lounge chair 38 miles out to sea on a floating pontoon, I think about how lucky I was to have gotten the opportunity to go to Australia. Yes, the opportunity came with a job attached to it, but the "job" was enjoyable and an eye-opening experience for everyone involved. I came back from Australia with a greater sense of maturity and responsibility and an appreciation and delight in helping people better understand each other and their surroundings. Josh came back with confidence, gushing about all of his adventures. The other 11- and 12- year-olds in the program came back with an understanding that some people need special services to be able to enjoy day-to-day activities, but that they are just the same and love to have fun in the same ways. These kids really learned how to accept and even take pride in helping out Josh whenever he needed it -- but when he didn't need anything, he was just like any other kid! At the airport back in Boston, the kids were happy to see their parents, but sad to see all their new friends go. While Josh was off saying good-bye to a friend and giving her his e- mail address, a delegation leader remarked what a great addition to the group Josh and I were, and I responded that Josh (and I) were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity as well. All in all, everyone in the People to People delegation from western Massachusetts certainly got more out of their trip than they expected. (Note: The People to People Student Ambassador Program provides opportunities for grade school, junior high and senior high students to explore domestic and foreign destinations, learning about the history, government, economy and culture of the areas they visit. People to People International was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. For more information, call (509) 534-0430, or send an e-mail message to info@studentambassadors.org.) CAPTIONS On our way from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, we stopped at the Australia Zoo. Josh was the only one to touch the wild crocodile (he was a little leery!), but he and another student ambassador happily played with baby albino goats. Joshua and a koala share a hug at the Australian National Park in Noosa. In his essay for application to the Student Ambassador Program, Josh wrote that his dream was to go to Australia and hold a koala. ***** RP: A SLOW, PERSONAL CATASTROPHE by Barbara A. Siple (Editor's Note: Dr. Barbara Siple is a licensed clinical psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be contacted at bsiple@edinboro.edu.) "It is much harder going blind than being blind," stated a 75-year-old man who is blind from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). RP is a group of degenerative disorders of the retina that cause progressive vision loss, usually leading to blindness. RP is characterized by night blindness, tunnel vision, and poor light adaptation. Because of the prolonged course, RP may be regarded as a slow personal catastrophe. There are significant and unique psychological implications for adjusting with RP. Typically, individuals with RP have low vision for many years of their lives. They are neither sighted nor blind, but fall into the ambiguous category of "visually impaired." Therefore, people with RP routinely find themselves in limbo. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of RP is its unpredictable course. There is no way of knowing how long one's vision will be maintained or when there will be subtle or precipitous declines. Thus, as vision changes, there are choices in terms of how to cope. Individuals who navigate the RP course manage the choice points differently. These differences in coping responses were the focus of my dissertation research. To provide a framework for understanding adjusting with RP, the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TMC) was used. The TMC involves a progression through five stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The pre-contemplation stage is characterized by resistance; there is denial that a behavioral problem exists and there is no behavior change. There is recognition of a problem in the contemplation stage, but there is still no behavior change. In the preparation stage, there is intent to change and behavior may begin to change. During the action stage, overt steps are taken to modify the target behavior. During the maintenance stage, there is continuous behavior change for at least six months. The TMC is easily applied to the RP population. Participants who had no intention of making any modifications in their day-to-day lives were classified as being in the pre-contemplation stage. Those who were not using effective strategies to cope with their visual impairment but were seriously considering doing so in the next 6 months fell into the contemplation stage, while those who intended to make changes were in the preparation stage. Participants who were actively changing their lives to incorporate effective coping strategies were in the action stage and those who had successfully maintained use of these strategies for more than 6 months were in the maintenance stage. Research findings have important implications for people with RP and professionals alike. In terms of measuring degree of adjustment, it is the identification of TMC stage that serves as the best barometer. The middle stages (action, preparation, and pre-contemplation stages, respectively) are associated with the lowest adjustment scores. It is during these stages that people with RP struggle the most as they wrestle with the realities of unstable vision. Professionals should be aware that these stages are associated with poorer adjustment and provide interventions which facilitate adaptive coping skills and a strong support network. In terms of avoidance and approach coping responses, participants relied on both styles to manage their loss of vision throughout the five TMC stages. Avoidance coping responses remained stable throughout the first four stages, while approach coping responses were used more heavily during the latter stages. Thus, adults with RP can be educated about specific approach and avoidance coping strategies that may benefit them throughout the course of RP. For example, avoidance coping responses, such as distraction, passivity, positive reinterpretation, wishful thinking, and venting negative emotion may facilitate adaptive functioning and are not necessarily maladaptive. Avoidance responses can be helpful because they allow time to integrate information about the impending situation, prevent anxiety from becoming overwhelming, and reduce stress. Approach strategies create opportunities for appropriate action or to make the situation more controllable. For example, it seems logical that approach coping responses, such as seeking information about the situation, being vigilant about managing the condition, or identifying a plan and putting the plan into action would be implemented during the action and maintenance TMC stages. Therefore, the temporal markers supplied by the TMC stages can be effectively utilized to assess the particular location of a person with RP. Once the person's location is identified, then guidance can be provided to employ these and other approach strategies. Finally, it appears that behavioral methods of coping are incorporated and utilized as individuals with RP continue to use cognitive methods. While individuals with RP move from pre-contemplation through action stages, it is apparent that they are increasingly thinking about how to negotiate behavior change as they cope with the repercussions of RP. Once adaptive behaviors are put into place and become well practiced, there appears to be less of a need to rely on cognitive coping strategies. These behavioral responses may translate into activities which foster a sense of mastery over the situation. The acquisition of new skills is initiated in order to compensate for low vision. These steps toward mastery may be perceived as "controlling" the situation even though the progression of the disease itself cannot be controlled. In conclusion, there are practical applications of the TMC for individuals with RP and professionals who work with them. For professionals who provide services to adults with RP, they should understand the process of change and how to identify an individual's location in that process using the TMC. Timely and stage-appropriate interventions should be implemented to promote social and emotional adjustment, as well as address the practical dimensions of low vision. For example, professionals must know that before individuals can move from early TMC stages to action, they must perceive change to be in their best interest. A newly diagnosed adult with RP undoubtedly requires time to digest the meaning of, and actually experience what it is like, living with RP before being referred for rehabilitative services. Goals must be realistic; that is, a three-month vision rehabilitation program is not compatible with a person in the pre- contemplation stage, but is appropriate for the preparation or action stages. Ideally, goals should be sequenced and tailored as the person with RP moves through the process of adjustment. ***** WORKING TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY BETTERMENT by Jack Varnon and Rodney Bickel Each disability comes with its own unique set of challenges. We, the disabled, must first condition ourselves to be able to function in our social, economic and cultural environment by overcoming the obstacles presented by our respective disabilities. These obstacles are as unique as each of our disabilities. Adapting, no matter what the obstacle, is one thing every disabled person shares; the manner by which we adapt is where the difference lies. However, an area in which we can all relate, no matter the disability, is the tough challenge of educating the non-disabled of these challenges we face on a daily basis. Many blind personal computer users have specialized screen-reading software, such as JAWS (Job Access with Speech) or Window-Eyes, allowing the user to perform banking online, browse the Internet and read and write e- mail. All of this gives the user a sense of independence and the much desired dignity that goes along with that. The City of Gainesville's Office of Equal Opportunity and the city of Gainesville have committed to a goal of becoming the number-one accessible city in the nation for all of its citizens, including those with disabilities. One step toward fulfilling this commitment is web access for those with visual impairments or who are blind. Rodney Bickel, Equal Opportunity Specialist for the City of Gainesville, and Jack Varnon, past president of the Alachua County Council of the Blind, have teamed up to enhance the city's web site. The goal is to make it easily accessible to the blind community. This began several weeks ago at a meeting of the Citizens Disability Advisory Committee. Rodney asked Jack to evaluate the accessibility of the city's web site. The initial report was disappointing: inaccessible! Challenged, Rodney and Gainesville's webmaster, Matt Nobles, met with Jack at the Center of Independent Living (NCFCIL). The computer-training lab at NCFCIL has a PC set up with JAWS. Jack gave his sighted partners a demonstration of how a blind person navigates the web. We logged on and entered the web address: www.cityofgainesville.org. Jack was kind enough to leave the monitor on so the sighted observers could recognize what was being displayed on the screen and what JAWS was picking up or missing as it announced the screen display. Actually, that was the excuse Jack used. Realizing the difficulty of understanding JAWS for the first time without being able to read along on the screen can be difficult for the sighted user. Many surprises occurred, ranging from JAWS announcing items that were not listed on the screen to skipping items it should have read. Fortunately, Matt understood the technical aspect and was able to make the necessary adjustments so that JAWS would announce the correct information. Rodney and Matt consulted with many people on how to make changes and what changes should be made to make the web site JAWS-friendly. It took several phone calls and a number of trips to the independent living center to test the changes and be sure that the desired results were being achieved. At times, Rodney would test the system with the monitor turned off to see what it is like for a blind individual navigating the site. He commented to Jack, "At times it is very frustrating." Jack assured him that this is something the blind community can relate to very readily. Later Jack was asked to visit the site again to grade its improvement in accessibility. While significant advances have been made -- he is now able to navigate to the "government" page and identify the mayor and city commissioners -- some glitches still exist. Rodney and Jack plan to meet at the NCFCIL computer lab to review the latest modifications and determine what else needs to be done. It has been a great learning experience for Rodney, but more importantly, he has a deeper appreciation of how assistive technology expands the capabilities of citizens with disabilities. One thing we both have learned: never give up trying to communicate the obstacles you encounter as a disabled person to one who is not disabled, no matter how frustrating this may become. If no one teaches this, how are people to learn? And if no one ever learns about these obstacles, how can we ever hope to have them overcome? Patience and understanding on both sides are required to develop a working relationship that benefits us all. Rodney and Jack have developed this bond and have been able to accomplish much. Perhaps you can do the same with someone you know, making the world a little easier for all people with disabilities, one person at a time. Postscript: Lately, there has been widespread use of PDF documents on government agencies' web sites. Most of these documents are virtually unreadable with conventional screen readers like JAWS and Window-Eyes. Therefore, the average blind person is denied reasonable access to such information. It's my understanding that if I invest more dollars and upgrade to the latest JAWS (version 6.0) and Adobe Acrobat 7.0 (free), I will be able to read "properly" constructed PDF files. Unfortunately, many of us just cannot justify the extra expense. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sarah Blake The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement 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 held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, you may e-mail Sarah Blake at sblake@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. WANT TO BE A COLUMNIST? Due to health issues, Sarah Blake is resigning as editor of the ever- popular "Here and There" column. Would you like to take on the challenge? Please send a resume and cover letter to Sharon Lovering, Acting Editor, The Braille Forum, American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. Applications should be postmarked no later than June 15, 2005. E-mailed applications are also acceptable. If you attach files, please do so in MS Word or WordPerfect 5.1 formats. If you are uncomfortable with attachments, you may paste your resume and cover letter directly into your message. E-mail to: slovering@acb.org. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE The 19th annual Candle in the Window conference will be held Aug. 24- 28 at Lions Camp Crescendo, just outside of Louisville, Ky. This year's theme is "The Leadership Connection: Confidently Influencing People in Our Lives." In addition to presentations and stimulating discussions, there will be plenty of time for swimming, hiking, eating, singing, quiet reflection, and just plain "hanging out." And we might even get to ride paddle boats around the lake! The cost of the conference is $150 ($15 discount if we receive a $35 non-refundable deposit by August 1). Limited scholarships and payment plans are available. For more information, contact Peter Altschul at (202) 234-5243, e-mail atschu@erols.com; or Kathy Szinnyey at (502) 895-0866, e-mail fredkate@iglou.com. WINDOW-EYES SPECIAL OFFER Want to save $100 and own Window-Eyes Professional and in doing so, also contribute $100 to the American Council of the Blind? Contact Adaptive Information Systems, identify yourself as an ACB member and ask for the Window-Eyes Professional special for $695. For every copy of Window-Eyes Professional sold to an ACB member, $100 will be contributed to the ACB national office. This is an ongoing offer. For more information, call 1-877- 792-4768. CALL FOR PAPERS The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that the fourth VISTA Conference will be held from May 6-7, 2006 in Bonn, Germany. One of the main goals of the conference is to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to encourage interdisciplinary discussion. The theme of this year's conference will be "Classification -- Solutions for the Future." In 2003, the IPC developed a classification strategy with the intention to support and coordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport-focused classification systems and their implementation. This conference will provide an ideal environment in which to discuss how science can contribute to the field of classification in the future. Athletes, coaches, trainers, classifiers, researchers, students and representatives of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Paralympic Sport Federations (IPSFs) are encouraged to submit abstracts for oral presentations that are pertinent to the conference theme. All abstracts submitted will undergo a peer review by the sports scientific committee. The submission deadline is Aug. 1, 2005. Authors must submit the abstract electronically, accompanied by an abstract submission form. For further information, please contact Miriam Wilkens, IPC Media and Communication Director, at 011-49-228-2907-180, e-mail Miriam.wilkens@paralympic.org, or visit http://www.paralympic.org. ART COMPETITION Young artists with disabilities, ages 16 to 25, are asked to submit artwork in the form of slides for consideration in a touring exhibit that will debut at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution. As in the past, artists are encouraged to work from a theme. This year's theme, "Shifting Gears," challenges artists to reflect on a pivotal moment in life that led to a greater understanding of themselves in relation to their art and/or their disability. Finalists will be selected on aesthetic merit alone by a distinguished jury panel. Applicants are eligible for a total of $60,000 in cash awards. Fifteen finalists will be chosen and the grand prize finalist will receive $20,000 - - the largest award presented to a young artist in the United States. Finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill during late September 2005. All entries must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2005. All applicants will be notified by Aug. 26, 2005. Visit the VSA Arts web site, www.vsarts.org/x267.xml, or call 1-800-933-8721 extension 387 for further information. BRAILLER CLEANING AND REPAIR Charlotte Williams performs basic cleaning and repair for Perkins braillers at a cost of $30 for cleaning and $30 for most repairs. For more information, send e-mail to Charlotte at braillerlady@webtv.net. TANDEM BICYCLING NOW MORE ACCESSIBLE People who are blind or severely visually impaired and their families and friends who want to share the ride on a tandem bicycle no longer have to buy one. They can buy half a tandem instead. The CycleMorph Tandem Adapter is a new bicycle accessory that switches a mountain bike back and forth between single and tandem bicycle modes in five minutes with no tools. It is manufactured and sold by Tandem Adapter LLC, an Austin, Texas company. For more information, call (512) 443-9459 or visit www.cyclemorph.com. CAMBIUM LEARNING ACQUIRES KURZWEIL Cambium Learning, Inc., an education company serving the unique needs of the nation's at-risk, minority and special student populations with learning tools, services and technologies, recently signed an agreement to acquire Kurzweil Educational Systems , Inc. HARRY'S COMING! PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW! The sixth book in the Harry Potter series -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" -- will be released this summer. In celebration, National Braille Press is giving you the chance to pre-order the braille book at a big discount: only $17.99 (it's the same price if you pre-order the print version on Amazon.com). NBP will charge your credit card now if you pre-order. We'll send out the braille books as soon as they're ready, in late August; and we'll send the PortaBook version as soon as it's ready in late July. And on July 16th, the date the print book goes on sale, the price will jump back up to the print price of $29.99. Order now and save! We've also lowered the prices of the first five Harry Potter novels to reflect the actual paperback book prices. They're all available in either braille or PortaBook versions. You can order the whole set for only $40! To read more about the upcoming book or place an order, visit our web site, http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/HALF.html, or send payment to NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302. To charge your order, call (800) 548- 7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext. 20 outside the U.S. and Canada. Fax an order to (617) 437-0456. Please note that a $5 processing fee will be added to all purchase orders; no charge if prepaid. GRAPHIC AUDIO Experience a new kind of science fiction/action adventure entertainment: GraphicAudio. GraphicAudio is a virtual movie in your mind. It is intense images generated by full-cast action, 3-D sound effects and original music. GraphicAudio is also fun stuff you can download from the Internet -- like ring tones from the actual stories. These unabridged, vivid series intended for mature audiences include "Deathlands," "Outlanders," "Stonyman" and "The Executioner." Coming this fall, also in GraphicAudio: the "Deathstalker" series. You can get GraphicAudio from Potomac Talking Book Services, either as a single purchase or for a subscription, in two formats: four-track tape and MP3 CD. For a free GraphicAudio catalog on cassette, please call 1-877-848-4354 or e-mail graphicaudio@ptbs.org. Convention attendees, look for the free catalog on cassette in your program bags. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Braille writer, $275. Disk drive for Braille Lite 2000, $200. Calculator for statistics and algebra, $250. Handicassette II player-recorder, asking $75. Talking compass, $25. Contact Rosemir at (925) 969-1877 or (925) 787-6868. FOR SALE: Kurzweil Reading Edge. In very good condition. Make an offer. Call Ken Presnell at (276) 496-7022 anytime and leave a message. FOR SALE: Talking Nokia cell phone with software already inside. Comes with cassette manuals. Asking $300. Call Linda Reeder at (801) 468- 2750 (work) or (801) 364-7006, or write to her at 515 S 1000 E, Apt. #805, Salt Lake City, UT 84102. FOR SALE: Perkins brailler, $100. Talking blood pressure monitor, $100. Talking money identifier, $100. CD burner for stereo system, $100. Contact Kurt Bailey at (617) 861-3175. FOR SALE: VersaPoint braille embosser with one full ream of 11" x 11 «" braille paper. Asking $500. In very good condition; barely used. Write a braille letter to Eileen Wuest, 34 Kelly Ct., Lancaster, NY 14086. FOR SALE: One standard-size Perkins braille writer in excellent condition, with Dymo tape holder and dust cover. Asking $450. Please contact Amy at (574) 848-7451 extension 319. FOR SALE: Type 'n Speak. Comes with all utilities; hardly ever used. For information, please contact Pat at (905) 680-0064 or e-mail pat.smolak@sympatico.ca. FOR SALE: APH Handicassette player/recorder that needs repair. It shuts itself off at inopportune times and the sliding switches are not as good as they once were, but they work. Unit is free for pickup, but shipping will be $15 if it has to be shipped. Battery condition is unknown. Contact Robert Bell at (502) 366-4326, or e-mail jackieb2wh@yahoo.com. WANTED: Donation of laptop computer with Windows 98. Minidisk recorder/player. Sharp calculator-clock. Speak 'n Spell, Speak 'n Math, and electronic talking Whiz Kid. Willing to trade Type 'n Speak 2000 for a PAC Mate or Voice Mate. Any Tiger games. Kurzweil Reader 7315 (stand- alone) in working condition. Contact Melody at (609) 347-1552. WANTED: Laptop computer with Windows 98, floppy disk and CD-ROM drives. Willing to pay in installments. Contact Walter Chavira at (661) 833-3663. WANTED: Version of ZoomText that is compatible with Windows XP, and a CCTV (either the whole unit or one that plugs into a TV). Cannot afford the new stuff. Contact Netagene Kirkpatrick, 841 23rd Ter. N.W., Birmingham, AL 35215; phone (205) 853-2855, or e-mail bhamlady@juno.com. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 7320 DIXON UNIT 204 FOREST PARK, IL 60130 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER ARDIS BAZYN 500 S. 3RD ST. #H BURBANK, CA 91502 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alan Beatty, Fort Collins, CO Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Cynthia Towers, Seattle, WA David Trott, Talladega, AL BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Charles Hodge, Chairperson, Arlington, VA Cindy Burgett, Bremerton, WA Winifred Downing, San Francisco, CA Mike Duke, Jackson, MS DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Manhattan, KS