THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVI May 2008 No. 10 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 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 (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2008 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: ACB and the ADA Restoration Act, by Mitch Pomerantz Announcing an Exciting New Addition to ACB's Staff, by Melanie Brunson Down the Stretch We Come! ACB Convention 2008, by Carla Ruschival Convention Sneak Preview Guide Dog Users, Inc. National Convention 2008 Grab Your Paper and Plastic to Put ACB in the Winners' Circle, by Ray Campbell Giving Back, by William Benjamin Skip the Soda and Put the Money Toward a Life Membership, by Charles S.P. Hodge Passings Letter to the Editor BANA Publishes New Braille Rules, by Judy Dixon Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: ACB AND THE ADA RESTORATION ACT by Mitch Pomerantz As most of you know, in 2007 Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) introduced the ADA Restoration Act, S. 1881 and H.R. 3195, respectively. It is becoming increasingly apparent that for a variety of reasons, this legislation will not reach the floor of either House for a vote during this session of Congress. Even so, I'd like to offer some perspective, both as a professional working in the "ADA biz" and as ACB's president, regarding the proposed legislation and ACB's input and role in the process. For nearly 13 years I've been the ADA Compliance Officer for the City of Los Angeles. My job is to ensure that all programs, activities, and services offered by the approximately 40 city departments are accessible to individuals with disabilities. I also manage a fund which pays for job- related accommodations for employees with disabilities. Hence, I have responsibilities under both Title I, Employment, and Title II, Public Services of the ADA. So, when the ADA Restoration Act was introduced, I was personally and professionally interested in and concerned about the outcome. When the ADA was initially conceived in the late 1980s, most advocates truly expected that the primary beneficiaries would be people with severe disabilities, including those who were blind and visually impaired. Nonetheless, it was drafted to encompass the broadest range of disabilities and medical conditions possible. The idea was to be totally inclusive, thereby covering the greatest number of such people while reducing the likelihood of opposition from an otherwise excluded disability category. Despite some criticism of this approach -- notably from the late Evan Kemp, former chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under George H.W. Bush -- the ADA became law in 1990. Jump forward to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Title I underwent a serious narrowing in scope as a result of several well-documented Supreme Court decisions. What the disability community was left with is a far less inclusive and effective statute. Among other things, someone taking insulin for diabetes might not be considered to have a disability under the ADA because the use of insulin mitigates or limits the symptoms of the diabetes. It's no real stretch to imagine a court deciding that someone using screen- reading software to mitigate blindness isn't truly disabled. The ADA Restoration Act is a response and a reaction to what has happened in the courts over the past decade. Despite the foregoing, many people (myself included) questioned the timing of its introduction for two important reasons: first, because of a far less sympathetic Congress than 20 years ago; and second, due to increased opposition from the business community. The danger is that by opening the ADA to amendment, those who would further weaken it could introduce their own amendments as easily as those wishing to strengthen it. During a teleconference meeting last August, the board of directors voted that ACB should support passage of the ADA Restoration Act, but also agreed that efforts should be made to include language in Title III, Public Accommodations, regarding enhanced web site accessibility. (Recall that at the time the ADA became law there was no Internet, at least insofar as general usage was concerned.) The board felt ACB must be "at the table" in order to represent our interests, but also felt that since the ADA was being reopened anyway, an effort should be made specifically to benefit blind people. To date, there have been two Congressional hearings -- one on each side of the Hill -- at which the number of witnesses was limited, and written testimony was not accepted. As a result, ACB has not been given an opportunity to provide input on either the proposed legislation itself or any possible amendment to Title III. At this writing, therefore, it appears highly unlikely that ACB will succeed in having a web site accessibility amendment included in this session's version of the ADA Restoration Act. As mentioned earlier, it probably doesn't matter since it's almost certain that it won't come up for a vote. So, where do we go from here? How should the American Council of the Blind approach the reintroduction of the ADARA next year? Regardless of what happens in the November election, ACB must advocate for an amendment to Title III requiring all web sites to be fully accessible to blind and visually impaired people. This is even more critical since the Office of Management and Budget recently rejected the Justice Department's effort to impose this requirement via regulations. And, if such an amendment is not accepted, what then? Let me make it absolutely clear that I would never suggest ACB oppose the ADA Restoration Act. I would contend, however, that we consider not actively supporting it without such amendment. The political process works on the basis of quid pro quo; if you do something for me, then I will do something for you. Hence, while ACB should not oppose the ADARA, neither should we rush to advocate for its passage. My personal hope is that next year's ADA Restoration Act will contain the language ACB wants and that a far more supportive Congress will enact it. ***** ANNOUNCING AN EXCITING NEW ADDITION TO ACB'S STAFF by Melanie Brunson I am very pleased to tell you that ACB has hired a director of development. Her name is Dena Wilson and she lives in Accokeek, Md. She joined our staff on May 1. Dena comes to us from the Epilepsy Foundation, where she worked as individual giving manager. She has experience working on a variety of revenue-generating programs, including direct mail fundraising, database marketing, and grant writing. In addition to these skills, Dena has a very upbeat attitude and a keen interest in helping us promote ACB's agenda. Many of you may have a chance to meet her, either by phone as she gets better acquainted with ACB, or at the convention this summer in Louisville. When you do, I think you will find her a great addition to our resource development efforts. We are very pleased to have her on our team, and are anticipating a long and prosperous relationship with her. ***** DOWN THE STRETCH WE COME! ACB CONVENTION 2008 by Carla Ruschival From the starting gate to the far turn, you've been part of the ACB 2008 Convention Stakes. Now we're heading for home, and we hope you will be in the winner's circle as ACB celebrates its 47th annual national convention at the Galt House in Louisville, Ky., from July 4 to 12. Over 300 programs, workshops, tours and other events will pack convention week. Check out a quiet car, discuss transportation and rehabilitation and legislative issues, and see all the latest high- and low-tech gadgets. Learn about distance education, how to find a job or work from home, and the latest news for diabetics. Have fun playing Braille Bunco, trying out new activities in the Recreation Zone, or make your debut as a stand-up comic at the students' Comedy Night. Hear former Miss Kentucky Monica Hardin share her incredible story at the Sunday evening general session, and meet Hall of Fame and Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Pat Day at the Sports Fanatics' Luncheon. Hang out with friends at the new third-floor lounge area, and gather round the grand piano any time for a sing-along. The Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday in May. Most locals don't go to the track that day; we have Derby parties instead. You'll miss the Derby, but you won't miss the party. You can bet you'll have a great time at the Welcome to Kentucky Party, crammed with music, games, prizes and fun; you might even win a Derby hat! The ACB banquet will be really special. Choose from Southern fried chicken or Kentucky sugar-cured ham or a delicious vegetarian meal. Then take a walk through time as Dr. Tuck Tinsley III shares the APH story, from its humble beginnings in a basement room in the days before braille to its worldwide prominence in the education of the blind and visually impaired of today. Get out and about with an ACB tour. From the beautiful music and outdoor drama of the Stephen Foster Story to the underground wonders of Mammoth Cave, from Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace to Maker's Mark Distillery, from the Thomas Edison House to the Muhammad Ali Museum, you'll explore the rich heritage of Kentucky. Visit the recording booths and plant where talking books and braille come to be, or explore the history of the blind in the APH museum. Choose tours to candy factories, a hand-blown glass factory, or the fabulous Frazier Arms Museum with its many touchable artifacts and audible demonstrations. Just for Kids Bring the entire family to convention. There's a week of fun for the kids. The Youth Activity Center, for kids 6 to 17, will spend a day at Holiday World, a theme park at Santa Claus, Ind. They will take a special tour of APH, check out how pizza and candy are made, have fun at the Science Center and the glass factory, and much more. There will be swimming and games and crafts, and of course special YAC T-shirts for everyone. Light breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. But wait! Little kids want to have fun, too. The new ACB Kidz Club is for children 3 to 5. Available in the mornings during general session, your little ACB-er can enjoy music, stories, toys and fun while you attend meetings. Kidz Club kids MUST be potty-trained. Help us plan for your child and ask questions about convention activities suitable for children by contacting Patti Cox, YAC Coordinator, at (502) 897-3864. Reduced Prices Thanks to the generosity of our many convention sponsors, the pre-registration and registration fees have been rolled back to $20 and $30, respectively, for 2008. The ACB banquet ticket will be $29 on pre-registration, down from a high of $38 in 2006. Many other tickets are also less expensive this year. Finally, you will discover that restaurant meal costs are generally lower in Louisville than in many cities. Convention Registration Pre-registration forms will be mailed on or around May 15, and on-line pre-registration will open at the same time. Pre-registration will remain open until June 25. Special Needs A $20 deposit will once again be required if you wish to borrow an assistive listening device (ALD) for the week. Make the deposit on the pre-registration form; pick up the ALD at the registration desk. Receive your refund when you return the ALD to registration as you leave the convention. The ALD will come with a fresh battery; you are responsible for supplying additional batteries during the week. If you use a wheelchair, scooter, etc. and you plan to take tours, you MUST notify us of your need for a lift-equipped bus when you pre-register. Remember that tour volunteers cannot act as personal assistants on tours. If you need a personal guide or assistant, please arrange to take the tour with a friend who is willing to give you his or her undivided attention. If you need to request an interpreter, please do so NO LATER THAN June 20. Tell us the type of interpreter you need and the session(s) or event(s) you wish to attend. Be sure to include details on how we can contact you for more information. Whether you need an interpreter, a lift-equipped bus, or other reasonable accommodation, it is absolutely imperative that we know of your needs by June 20. We will make every effort to fill requests received by that date. Request reasonable accommodations on the pre-registration form, or contact Darrell Buford, local host committee chair, at (502) 899-2344; e- mail dbuford@aph.org. The American Council of the Blind is not required under the ADA to provide personal care assistants or round-the-clock services of any kind. ACB, hotel staff and volunteers cannot administer medications or provide transportation. Transportation Taxi fare from the airport to the Galt House is a flat rate of $18. The bus station is about 8 blocks from the hotel, and the fare is approximately $8. Several trolleys and buses stop within walking distance of the hotel. Current adult fixed-route fare is $1.25, or 60 cents for the elderly, disabled, and children 6 and up with proper ID. Kids under 6 ride free. Trolley fare is 50 cents. Paratransit (TARC-3) fare is $2.50. The service is door-to-door, and rides can be reserved one to seven days in advance. If you wish to use TARC-3 services while you are in Louisville, please fax documentation of your eligibility for paratransit services by June 1 to Steve Tharpe at (502) 213-3243. For more information about public transportation in Louisville, call the 24-hour TARC information line at (502) 585-1234. Exhibits, Advertising And Sponsorships Attendance at the 2008 ACB convention will be one of the largest in ACB history, possibly surpassing that of Las Vegas in 2005. This is a great chance to let people from all over the country and around the world know about your company's products and services. Early-bird exhibit discounts close on June 1. Convention sponsorships and advertising must also be received by that date in order to appear in the official convention program. For more information on exhibit, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, visit our web site at www.acb.org/convention, or contact Michael Smitherman (exhibits) at (601) 968-4164, or Brenda Dillon (advertising and sponsorships) at (615) 874-1223. Hotel Reservations If you are holding a hotel reservation that you no longer need, please cancel it right away. This is extremely important, as it allows others to reserve that room and prevents ACB from over-committing our room blocks. Your cooperation in this matter in a timely manner is appreciated. To make a reservation at the Galt House, call (502) 589-5200. Choose a standard room in the Rivue (West) tower for $85/night, or spend convention week in style in a newly renovated executive suite (fridge included) for $105/night. Rates are single/double, and do not include tax; add $10 per night for each additional person in the room. Keep up with Convention Keep up with all the latest convention announcements. Join the acbconvention e-mail list by sending a blank message to acbconvention-subscribe@acb.org. Listen to ACB Radio for more convention information. Sound Prints (Wednesday and Thursday) and Marlaina (Sunday and Monday) are two good resources for convention information. Both shows begin at 9 p.m. Eastern and repeat every odd hour through 7 p.m. Eastern the next day. For convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival, ACB convention committee chair, at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net; or call the ACB national office at 1-800-424-8666. ***** CONVENTION SNEAK PREVIEW Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers 2008 Conference Carla Hayes, our convention coordinator, has again planned a well-rounded set of activities for IVIE and its friends. On Monday, July 7, from 7 to 8:30 a.m., IVIE will have its breakfast and business meeting. While eating a traditional breakfast, you can enjoy meeting other business owners and friends. On Tuesday, July 8, ACB members and friends can visit the IVIE Business Expo from 4-7 p.m. Blind and visually impaired business owners will showcase their products and services and answer your questions. On Wednesday, July 9, IVIE is holding a lunch and program session from 12:30-2:45 p.m. called "Entrepreneurs' Cyber School." You will learn about Internet marketing techniques and the access technology products that will help you to start and grow your business. From 2:45-4:30 p.m., IVIE is co- sponsoring the second segment of the employment committee seminar, which is a panel called "Work Opportunities at Home as an Independent Contractor or as an Employee." You will learn about entrepreneurship and home-based employment opportunities. If you wish to purchase booth space for the IVIE Business Expo, please send $10 per table if you are an IVIE member, or $25 per table for non- members, to: Sila Miller, 2201 Limerick Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32309-3506. To join IVIE, send $15 for dues to Sila as well. Please include your name, business name, phone, and e-mail address. We look forward to seeing you all this summer in Louisville! Learn How to Make Your Dream Job A Reality Can we really decide what our dream job would be and then go after it? That's what we're going to answer in part one of this year's employment committee workshop at the national convention in Louisville. The first hour of our workshop is titled "Make Your Dream Job A Reality." This interactive session is designed to help job-seekers of all ages determine which career would be best for them and what strategies they might use to find and succeed in their dream job. Part two of the workshop will focus on working from home. Whether you choose to be a self-employed independent entrepreneur or a salaried employee working at home for a reputable organization, a panel of employers will offer you some valuable information and possible alternatives. We are excited that our program this year involves the active collaboration of two ACB affiliates, the National Alliance of Blind Students and the Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers. Be sure to register early for this year's employment committee workshop, scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. SASI Checks Out the New Deaf-Blind Communicator This summer in Louisville, the Sight and Sound Impaired (SASI) Committee will present a program on the new DeafBlind Communicator (DBC), which HumanWare will be releasing later this year. The program will be presented on Monday, July 7, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Come join Jim Halliday, Vice President for Advocacy with HumanWare, who will be presenting this program. He will give a history of the project, describe the unit and answer any questions. There will be time for participants to get their hands on the device to see how it works. For information on additional events or questions, please call Lori at (516) 884-1336 or e-mail loris1@optonline.net or Karyn Campbell, program chair, karyn1421@comcast.net. News from NELDS The National Educational and Legal Defense Services, Inc. held its annual benefit drawing at the close of the 2008 presidents' meeting in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 10, 2008. The winner of the first prize, airline tickets for two to the 2008 ACB national convention in Louisville this summer, was Leslie Gertsch of Utah. Chris Gray of San Francisco won second prize, five free nights at the Galt House. And the third prize, two tickets to the ACB banquet, went to Roy Harmon from Oceanside, Calif. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped NELDS with this successful endeavor. And we also have a winner in the NELDS logo contest. We received about 20 entries, all of which were judged. And the winning entry came from Robert Spangler of Vinton, Iowa. Congratulations, Robert! We hope you enjoy the $300 prize. To those of you who took the time to create your entries, thank you. NELDS will hold a CD Yard Sale on Saturday evening, July 5, 2008. If you have CDs, records or cassette tapes you don't want anymore, bring them to the yard sale. It may turn out you will find an album you have been longing for and get it at a bargain price. The place and time will be announced later. ***** GUIDE DOG USERS, INC. NATIONAL CONVENTION 2008 Aloha! And we're off! This summer in Kentucky, GDUI proudly celebrates 10 years of travel to Hawaii with guide dogs. This amazing accomplishment and landmark settlement, which many take for granted in 2008, was spearheaded by GDUI and masterfully negotiated by attorney Michael Lilly, whom it is a great privilege to have as our blue-ribbon keynote presenter at GDUI's July 9 luncheon. GDUI's convention program presentations will feature "Around the World with Guide Dogs," an informative panel discussion which may surprise you. Did you know that guide dogs in Norway aren't vaccinated against rabies? Rounding the bend on Wednesday, you won't want to miss the opportunity to participate with, or root for, your favorite dog in the AKC- style Simon Sez Rally, then relax that evening at the Louisville Luau with more details to come on these events and many more. On Sunday afternoon, July 6, guide dog instructors will orient convention attendees to the Galt House and surrounding areas at noon and 5 p.m., where you'll learn how to teach your dogs the best convention routes guaranteed to get you where you need to be on time and in one piece. GDUI's affiliate roundup meeting is scheduled from 2:30 to 3:30, and all affiliate representatives should plan to attend this meeting. GDUI's board meeting follows from 4 to 6 p.m., and there will be some space available for observers. July 7 will get under way with Breakfast Club. Walk to a nearby restaurant at 7 a.m. for a delicious fast break from the hotel, and be back just in time for general session. Breakfast Club will be an official GDUI option Monday through Thursday, for canine teams and cane travelers alike. After general announcements at 1:30, GDUI's Monday afternoon program activities begin at 2:30 p.m. with "Around the World with Guide Dogs," featuring Tone Mathisen, a Norwegian handler, and other international reports, including a special tribute to Michael Osborn, who was so effective in increasing the ability of guide dog teams to travel internationally. Next up, "What You Need to Know about the Guide Dog Schools: Where to go, who to talk to and when to tune in to Dog Club to learn more." On Monday evening at 8, come stroll along the waterfront where there are many new attractions since our last convention in Louisville. If you are a person with some vision and have wondered whether you would benefit from the assistance of a guide dog, you won't want to miss "How Much Is Too Much?" on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30, where a panel of experts will discuss assessment, requirements and training for low-vision clients. Then you will have the opportunity to participate in a town hall- style discussion of "Hot Topics for Handlers," and the final Tuesday afternoon session will be GDUI's caucus at 3:30. On Tuesday evening, GDUI will hold its fund-raising auction. This is our third time around the track with this event, and it just keeps getting better. Brian Charlson, who has been invited to emcee this entertaining event, is the best auctioneer anywhere, and what's more fun than spending money on great stuff for a great cause? The countdown preview is at 7, and the bidding race starts at 8. GDUI is honored that attorney Michael Lilly has accepted its invitation to help us celebrate the famous landmark Hawaii settlement at its luncheon on Wednesday at 12:30, where the membership and other attendees will hear how their sustained effort in "breaking down barriers" in Hawaii paved the way for other service animal teams and ultimately the general public. After GDUI's luncheon, it's the "Simon Sez Rally" at 2:30. Human signs will instruct guide dog teams to perform familiar obedience commands sequentially at indoor stations, a lighthearted competition you and your guide could win. At 7 p.m., join GDUI's Hawaii party aboard the Spirit of Jefferson, where Hawaiian outfits will blend with island appetizers, a brief entertainment and cash bar. Space is limited, so make your reservations early! On Thursday afternoon at 1:30, learn about the innovative programs that Leader Dogs for the Blind has to offer. Then at 2:00, Guiding Eyes for the Blind asks and answers: "How many guide dog puppies does it take to steal your heart?" Finally, on Thursday evening at 8, Dr. Rusty Gailor will tell us what we need to know about "Maintaining Good Health in Our Guides: The Often Overlooked and Important Basics of Canine Health Maintenance, From Tooth Care and the Reasons for Daily Grooming to Vaccination Protocols and First Aid." OTHER INFORMATION Veterinary Contact Information Gailor Animal Hospital 7422 Old Third Street Road Louisville, KY 40214 Telephone: (502) 367-6400 Gailor Animal Hospital is open 9 to 6 Monday through Friday and from 9 until noon on Saturdays. One of the three staff vets is always on call, and they will see patients after hours. For convention attendees who wish to order dog food for Louisville, please call Christopher DiIorio with Doodle Scoopers, 1-888-780-2095. The deadline for orders is Monday, June 23. All dog food orders should be made using a credit card, and you must identify your order as being a part of the GDUI group order. Dog food can be picked up in the GDUI suite between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 6. So please pack enough food for your dog to last until your order is ready for pickup in the GDUI suite. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who is working on GDUI's 2008 convention, and we can't wait to see as many of you as possible in Louisville! ***** GRAB YOUR PAPER AND PLASTIC TO PUT ACB IN THE WINNERS' CIRCLE by Ray Campbell Everyone, get your checkbooks, credit cards, and bidder numbers ready. Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 7 p.m. during the American Council of the Blind's 47th annual convention, we'll all be off to find some great bargains and help ACB at the same time. Just as a racehorse tries to better its time with every run, so will the auction committee seek to better what it did with last year's auction. Last year, we raised almost $19,000 for ACB and the auction committee again thanks you for that effort. Let's make a run for $20,000 this year! To do this, we really need everyone's help. You came through last year to get ACB to the finish line and we know you can do it again. Donations can come from state or special-interest affiliates, agencies that sell products to people who are blind, or local businesses in your areas. Does your state have a unique food product you can donate? Let us know about it. From Wisconsin cheese to California wine, to Alaskan reindeer sausage, almost anything goes. How about a vacation package to one of America's great cities like San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, New York or Chicago? Nashville did it for us last year; let's top that! If you want to get items donated and need a letter for tax purposes, please contact Brenda Dillon, (615) 874-1223, brendan0@bellsouth.net. What do we already have? Well, how about a chance to spend a relaxing week at one of two time shares, the ACB time share in Mexico or a time share courtesy of Charlie Hodge on St. Martin? How about some delicious bourbon fudge from Kentucky, our host state this year? How about a BrailleNote mPower or one of four Victor Reader Streams from HumanWare? These are just a few of the things that will be up for bid. Please note: there are a few changes this year. We are going to ask that anyone attending the auction who wants to bid on anything get a bidder number. This will help both with record-keeping as well as making sure we get those winning bids right. There will be opportunities to get bidder numbers in advance; you can also get them the night of the auction. We will also have a cash bar to help keep those bidding voices lubricated at the auction. We're going to try an auction picnic, too; foods like hot dogs, potato chips, soda and the like will be available for purchase at the auction. So you can't use the excuse of needing to eat for staying away from the auction. Again this year, if you want to donate something for the auction, you can bring it with you to convention. However, so we can prepare braille and large print lists of the items which will be up for bid, please notify us by June 15 of what you plan to bring. Get the name of the item, by whom it is being donated, its dollar value, and a contact name, phone number and e-mail address to Cindy Van Winkle, (360) 698-0827, cindy.vw@msn.com as soon as you are sure you'll be donating the item. If you need to ship auction items to the hotel, please ship between June 27 and June 30. Address as follows: The Galt House Hotel Attn: (insert your name) -- hold for arrival 140 N. 4th St. Louisville, KY 40202 If you are not planning to attend but would like to contribute an item, you may put it Attn: Brenda Dillon. Again this year, we will have several items up for pre-bid before convention. However, that process will work a little differently. What you will do is submit your bids along with a high bid, similar to how things work with eBay. For example, let's say the BrailleNote mPower is offered for pre-bid. You would submit your bid of, say, $3,000. With that, you would also tell us how high you want to go, say $5,000. The night of the auction, we will tell those in attendance what the highest pre-bid is and that is where the live bidding will start. If the item goes above your high bid, you'll be ruled out. And last but not least, we have a surprise auctioneer who will join both Jeff Thom and Ray Campbell, who are back by popular demand. So, get lined up in the starting gates with checkbooks, credit cards and bidder numbers in hand. We'll be off to the races with the ACB auction on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Come on, let's make it a huge win for ACB in 2008! ***** GIVING BACK by William Benjamin When I was young, I was not rich or well-off; I was downright poor. When I left home and got married, we were living on assistance, going to school and barely making it by. I know that many of you were in the same boat; somehow we made it through school and moved on. During that time one of the surprises that happened to me is that I started receiving "The Braille Forum." I did not sign up for it and do not know how ACB got my name and address. I do know that it interested me, what the blind community was doing in America, and took pleasure in reading in the evening to keep my braille skills up. I remember reading box after box of magazines with articles talking about the very issues I thought needed to be addressed. This publication became a real source of interest and information for me. Now I look back at 1968 and am struck with how things have changed. Members in the blindness community like Gil Johnson, George Fogarty, Judge Don Wilkinson and others reached out to me and helped me become a success. Now I am a dues-paying member and try to step up to the plate when asked to help carry the load. I also have found a way to help support the organization that sent me literature about the blindness community without charge, no questions asked. By now most all of you know about the MMS program. It is one small way to give back to the organization that directly affects your life. You can have the money taken out of your account so you never miss it. You can also have a portion of the amount sent to your state affiliate so you will be helping on a national level and on the local level too. I urge you to consider contacting Ron Milliman and signing up for the MMS program. The program is confidential and the amount you give will help to support ACB's programs and services (including "The Braille Forum"). Most of all, you will not be coerced or harassed to join. It is a program that is available when you are ready to join. You can contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325. Thanks to ACB for sending me the "Forum" for so many years with no strings attached. Now I am finally able to give back. ***** SKIP THE SODA AND PUT THE MONEY TOWARD A LIFE MEMBERSHIP by Charles S.P. Hodge Let me state at the very beginning that I am a fully paid up ACB life member, and proud of it. I would never ask you or anyone else to do something that I had not already done myself. At last year's national convention in Minneapolis, a dozen new ACB life members added their names to the growing honor roll of life members. Now it's time for you to consider whether you want to step up and become a life member yourself! I admit that the life membership dues ($1,000) sets a high bar for many dedicated ACB members, but the good news is that the money can be paid in up to five annual installments of $200 each. Furthermore, you will receive your life membership plaque and fully participate as a life member once your first installment of dues has been paid. The annual installment program for life membership will only cost you 55 cents per day, much less than buying a can of soda. Over the years, many state and special-interest affiliates as well as some local chapters have decided to surprise and honor dedicated individuals within their memberships for those individuals' service and contributions to their organizations by purchasing ACB life memberships for them. So, your state or special-interest affiliate, or even your local chapter, may wish to follow the lead of other such organizations by honoring one of your especially deserving members. I am looking forward to welcoming an even larger class of new life members at our upcoming convention in Louisville. If you're interested in becoming a life member, or in honoring someone else through purchasing a life membership, contact Lane Waters in the Minneapolis office, 1-800-866-3242. ***** PASSINGS It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are introducing this column, "Passings." In it, we will include brief obituaries of those who have passed away. See below for the format in which to submit information. Obituary Format Please include as much of the following information as possible when submitting material for this column. Submissions must involve dates no more than six months from intended date of publication. Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate) City of residence (upon passing) State/province of residence (upon passing) Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person) Occupation Date of death (day if known, month, year) Age ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees) PRICE, JOSEPHINE UJEJSKI Josephine Ujejski Price, age 91, passed away March 2, 2008. She spent 27 years as a rehabilitation teacher for the state of Indiana, working with people in their homes. After her retirement, she worked as a volunteer at the Resource and Information Center which was operated by the Circle City Chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana. She was a charter member of the state chapter of ACBI and was active in both groups. She also participated in the national conventions for many years. In 2000, Josephine received the Pat Price Award given by the state chapter for her work through the years with the blind. She also received the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the state chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. She was also active for many years in the alumni association of the Indiana School for the Blind, where she graduated in 1937. Jo was an avid knitter and taught knitting, including at the national conventions on occasion. She lived a long and full life and was vitally interested in everything right to the end. May she rest in peace. ***** LETTER TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, April 15, 2008. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. Taking A World View I was so pleased to read our president's February 2008 column entitled "Taking A World View." When I attended the WBU women's forum which was held in Toronto in 1996, I submitted a resolution for consideration by the WBU, asking for the establishment of a means of getting unused slates, styli, cassettes, etc. to schools for the blind in developing countries. To this day, in spite of several inquiries, I have never heard the outcome of that resolution. I'm still as passionate about it as ever, though, and I'm so glad to see that ACB is going to be taking the lead. It breaks my heart to throw away tapes, etc. when I know that they could be used by someone somewhere. As a Canadian, there is very little that I can do for either GDUI or ACB, but I do hope that if the international relations committee is looking for help on this particular project, they'll call on some of us members who live outside the United States. -- Devon Wilkins, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada ***** BANA PUBLISHES NEW BRAILLE RULES by Judy Dixon, BANA Chair In October 2007, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) released "Braille Codes Update 2007." This update includes official changes to three BANA publications: Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation; English Braille, American Edition; and Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription. The code changes took effect Jan. 1, 2008. As the vast array of print characters, styles, and formats continues to evolve, so must the braille code intended to represent this constantly shifting array of print. It is indeed a challenge for BANA to keep the medium of braille precise enough to accurately reflect the myriad of print symbols and complex print formats, while remaining flexible enough to maintain readability for the braille user. Many of the changes in this update are small but have been adopted in an effort to make braille codes more consistent with print and more usable for both braille readers and braille transcribers. The changes to the Nemeth Code include: a keystroke indicator being added to the list of shape indicators; a subsection added on calculator and computer keystrokes; several examples in the code book added or fixed; and a section added on the brailling of stem-and-leaf plots. Most of these corrections and changes had been approved by the BANA board many years ago and are simply being incorporated into the official code with the publication of this update. A few of the changes to the literary braille code are likely to be noticed in the near future in popular braille books and magazines. These include: Apostrophe Rule: an inserted apostrophe is no longer required in plural abbreviations, numbers or letters where none existed in print. For example, if 1930s is written without an apostrophe in print, it will now be written that way in braille as well. This changed apostrophe rule will give braille readers more accurate information about print practices. New Symbols: A few new symbols have been added to the literary code that were not included previously: dot 4, a: @ -- at sign dot 4, c: insert sign -- cents sign dot 4, e: insert sign -- Euro dot 4, y: insert -- Yen dot 4, &: & -- ampersand sign dots 45, c: insert symbol -- copyright symbol Dots 45, r: insert symbol -- registered trademark Dots 45, t: insert symbol -- trademark Dots 456, 1456: # -- crosshatch Dots 456, 34: / -- slash Since the symbols no. and lb. both represent a print crosshatch, and are easily misunderstood as representing the print letters no. and lb., they have been replaced by a new symbol representing the crosshatch, whatever its meaning. This gives braille readers the same information that print readers have. While a common meaning of the crosshatch is "number," it also has a variety of other meanings: number, pound, and even "sharp," as in the programming language C#. A symbol not associated with the word "number" is more easily associated with other meanings. The new symbol for the slash is meant to be used whenever a slash appears in print that is not a fraction line. In the past, transcribers were required to change slashes that occurred in dates to hyphens. The new rule says to use slashes whenever they occur in print. This revised rule for the transcription of dates provides a step in the direction of giving braille readers more information about print practice. The symbol (dots 456, 34) was selected to represent the print slash symbol because it is already widely used with letters in textbooks and is used in the Nemeth code, British braille, and Unified English Braille. By preceding dots 34 with dots 456, the slash will no longer be confused with the braille "st" sign. Following print with respect to the use of the slash or fraction line gives the braille reader the same information the print reader has. When, in print, a fraction is written as a fraction (numerator above denominator), it is also written as a fraction in braille (using dots 34). When, in print, a fraction or similar construction is written using a slash and with all numbers on the same level, the use of the braille slash (dots 456, 34) shows that. There is no longer a need for the transcriber to know whether two numbers are related to each other as parts of a date, a fraction or have some other relationship. The new rule is simple, easy for a computer to follow and unambiguous for the braille reader regardless of the treatment of fractions. Some agencies and transcribing groups may wish to preserve traditional ways of transcribing fractions in certain publications. The rule allows for this. Changes in the formats section of the update include: Alphabetic Page Numbers: Sometimes, page numbers are shown as words on a page with the numeric page number. Most often used with math, foreign language, and lower grade materials, they reinforce the spelled-out version of the numeric number. The new rule puts the alphabetic number in the note position (cell-7) with leading dots 36. This will help the younger reader find the number quickly. Boxed and Screened Material: The current guidelines for boxes within boxes did not give a true indication of the position of these materials on the print page. Changing the top and bottom boxing lines to the full cell indicates to the reader that everything following the full cell is related until he/she reaches the next full cell. The opening and closing boxing lines indicate the internal boxes. The graphic nature of textbooks and the print placement of text are often very indicative of the importance of, or the relationship to, other materials. This new arrangement for boxes within boxes will better indicate the relationships. Wide Tables: The linear format for displaying tables that was used years ago has been reinstated. It saves space and retains the connection of one piece of information to the next piece. The listed table is a new method of brailling tables and is useful for large tables with multiple row and column headings. The repetition of the headings makes it easy for the student to follow the information and not have to back up to check individual headings. It is clear and easy to understand. To stay up-to-date on the activities of the Braille Authority of North America, you can subscribe to BANA-Announce. BANA-Announce is a one-way e- mail list to facilitate the dissemination of official BANA information -- summaries of meetings and other BANA activities, new publications, announcements about code changes, and general information to promote braille, its use and production. To join this listserv, send a blank e-mail message to bana-announce-subscribe- (then put your full e-mail address in, substituting the equals sign for the at sign) @brailleauthority.org - example: bana-announce-subscribe-jdix=loc.gov@brailleauthority.org. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels 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, send a message to info@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. ** AFB AWARD WINNERS In April, AFB presented six awards to individuals and organizations for their impact in the blind and visually impaired community. The 2008 Migel Professional Award went to Lou Alonso for her work as a leader in deaf-blind education. LeRoy Saunders won the 2008 Migel Lay Volunteer Award for his commitment to expanding employment opportunities for people who are blind. A 2008 Access Award went to Code Factory for making cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs accessible to people with vision loss through Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier, screen-reading and screen magnification software. Another Access Award went to Serotek for giving people access to screen reading software from any computer at any time through System Access To Go. The final Access Award went to Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian for pioneering a legal advocacy method that emphasizes collaboration among the disability community, technology providers, businesses, and lawyers. Through their structured negotiations process, the city of San Francisco agreed to install pedestrian signals designed to guide blind and visually impaired pedestrians at more than 80 intersections citywide. Their negotiations work also resulted in creating more than 20 accessibility settlements with corporations, including Bank of America, Safeway, and Radio Shack. The 2008 recipient of the Gallagher Award was Anita Aaron, who served for 17 years as executive director of the San Francisco LightHouse. ** OHIO SCHOOL REUNION Friday the 13th brings dread to some people, and those affected by this fear usually behave very cautiously. Well, this need not be the case with the 58th biennial alumni reunion at the Ohio State School for the Blind. This event will run Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15. The cost is $60, which covers two nights' lodging, six meals and $10 dues. This reunion will be the last time that we can experience the campus in its current state. Deadline for registering is May 23. For questions, call Paul Dressell at (513) 481-7662 or e-mail pmd@pobox.com. ** RETIREMENT The American Foundation for the Blind recently announced that Gil Johnson, senior adviser, critical issues, will retire on June 13, 2008, after more than 40 years of working to identify and address critical national issues affecting employment and rehabilitation of people with vision loss. ** TOUCH OF GENIUS APPLICATIONS National Braille Press is now accepting applications for the 2008 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation. The prize will be awarded to an individual or group of individuals who contribute to innovation in the field of tactile literacy for blind people. It can be granted for a new educational method; a new tactile literacy product; or a new technological advance. In any of these areas, the innovation must demonstrate some aspect of tactile literacy. The winner receives $20,000. Deadline for applications is June 15, 2008. For more information about the Touch of Genius Prize and previous winners, visit www.touchofgeniusprize.org. For questions, contact Stephanie King at (617) 266-6160 ext. 47 or GeniusPrize@nbp.org. ** AKC'S ACE AWARDS An American Kennel Club (AKC) ACE Award is a national honor, given to only five dogs each year who have performed an exemplary act or series of acts, whether large or seemingly small, that have significantly benefitted a community or individual. One award is given in the following five categories: law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service, and exemplary companion dog. Each of the five honorees receives a cash award of $1,000, an engraved sterling silver collar medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Long Beach, Calif., to be honored at the seventh annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December 2008. Nominations are due by June 30, 2008. For more information about the AKC ACE awards, to download a nomination form, or to view last year's honorees, visit www.akc.org/news/ace/index.cfm. ** CANDLE IN THE WINDOW Candle in the Window, a small national non-profit organization with the aim of building both individual skills and a sense of community among people with visual impairments, will hold its 21st annual conference entitled "Family Matters: The Roles of Blindness in Family Life." Discussion topics will include: what family influences continue to shape our approach to blindness; what factors (culture, the "blindness system," etc.) influenced our families' attitude toward blindness, and how did they respond; what differences, if any, exist between family relationships of those who grew up while blind compared to those who became blind later in life; and how to negotiate dependence-independence issues in current family relationships. The conference will run from Sept. 10 -14 at Wooded Glen, a retreat center located in Henryville, Ind., just outside of Louisville, Ky. Cost: $475 for two to a room; $455 for three to a room; and $405 for four to a room. There is a $40 discount if you pre-pay a $35 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit by August 1; limited scholarships and payment plans available. For additional information, contact Becky Barnes at (914) 243-2210 or beckyb@cloud9.net. You may also contact Donna Pomerantz at (626) 844-4388 or dmpomerantz@earthlink.net. ** AUDIO PLAYER BUYER'S GUIDE "A Pocketful of Sound" was written to help individuals decide which of the audio player gadgets is best for them. Author Anna Dresner describes and compares many of the most accessible players, including the Zen Stone; iPods; players running Rockbox; the Olympus DS-30, DS-40, and DS-50; the Victor Reader Stream; the Icon; and many others. She uses the same checklist for each product to compare their features. She includes detailed descriptions, basic instructions for use, and tips for power users. Also included are brief sections on the media-playing capabilities of notetakers and cell phones, information about how players organize music, links to tutorials and other resources, and sources for downloading music and books. To read the table of contents, visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/POCKET.html. The book is available in Braille and PortaBook for $14. Send orders to National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302 or call toll-free 1-800-548-7323. ** TALKING BOOKS BLOG The Talking Books Librarian blog at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com is a blog about talking books and other great free resources for blind or visually impaired people. You can find out what's happening in the world of libraries and talking books! The blog also includes information and resources of importance to educators and older adults, as well as those with disabilities, or those working with people who have disabilities. ** NEW PARENT RESOURCE The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) has partnered with AFB to launch a resource web site for parents of children who are visually impaired. FamilyConnect.org offers message boards and useful information on a variety of topics, including technology, education, independent living skills, transitioning, and more. Visitors can also find resources based on their child's age. The site includes event listings and a database of service providers around the country. To learn more, visit www.familyconnect.org. ** ACCESSIBLE WOODEN TOYS Roger Schaf of R Schaf Toys makes wooden toys, games, puzzles and some novelty gifts. Many of the games are accessible for the blind. To learn about these products, visit www.rschaftoys.blogspot.com, or contact him at (502) 367-9857. ** NEW HUMANWARE PRODUCTS HumanWare unveiled two new products at the 2008 CSUN conference: a new talking GPS for people who are blind and a communicator for people who are deaf-blind. The Trekker Breeze was designed for use when traveling in familiar surroundings and provides talking GPS directions that help users know where they are and where they are going. Users can record routes as they walk them with sighted assistance. Routes can then be previewed and activated for future use. As they walk by, users receive audible information such as street names, intersections and reference landmarks. The DeafBlind Communicator (DBC) provides three types of communication for deaf-blind users: face-to-face, TTY, and SMS texting. The DBC consists of two separate components that deaf-blind users can easily carry wherever they go. These two components communicate wirelessly with each other using Bluetooth. For more details on these products, visit www.humanware.com. ** NEW SCANNER The Reading Scanner is a hand-held or hands-free scanner with a built-in microprocessor, memory, voice synthesizer, and speaker which scans and reads printed pages. The device is capable of scanning the words on a page and displaying the text on an LCD display panel and/or audibly pronouncing the words through flush mounted speakers. It alerts the user when he/she has reached the end of a page. For more information, call (843) 237-5915. ** ACCESS NEWS SERVICE Access News is a service provided by the Sacramento Society for the Blind in conjunction with the Braille and Talking Book Library. Callers can find information and resources by dialing one easy number: 1-800-665-4667. Browse national weekly and monthly publications, enjoy our growing entertainment sections, and hold your important business meetings with colleagues all over the country. Sign-up is free and easy. For more information, or to sign up, contact Joseph Hamilton at (916) 732-4010. ** FEINGOLD'S WEB SITE Long-time ACB lawyer Lainey Feingold now has a web site at www.LFLegal.com. Lainey has posted all the agreements she and her colleagues, including Linda Dardarian, have negotiated about talking ATMs, accessible web sites, accessible pedestrian signals, braille and other formats, and point-of-sale devices. Structured negotiation, a collaborative advocacy and dispute resolution process, was used to reach those agreements. To read more about ACB's role in structured negotiations, or more than two dozen settlement agreements, visit www.LFLegal.com today. ** LEADERSHIP BOOK IN BRAILLE Cambridge Leadership Associates now offers "Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading," a top-selling business book written by Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky, in braille. This is a personal survival guide for individuals seeking to lead. The writers profess that leading is risky and dangerous work. Exercising leadership is dangerous because you risk making yourself vulnerable, whether you are supporting unpopular initiatives, promoting provocative new ideas, questioning the gap between values and behavior of your colleagues, or asking family and friends to face up to unpleasant realities. The 224-page book costs $29.95 and is available through www.cambridge-leadership.com. ** NEW WEB SITE There's a new web site out that's screen-reader-friendly, and mainly a blind and visually impaired community, for ages 13 and older. You can play games or talk to people using an instant messenger system. Visit www.zonebbs.com to learn more. ** REQUEST FOR HELP Adrijana Prokopenko is a teacher of English working in a school for the blind in Macedonia. She would welcome any books, magazines, games or other items that are designed to help teachers and students of English. She would also like any blindness items that are in good condition, such as white canes or anything that is unwanted but that others can use. Before sending, contact her in braille, tape or via e-mail. Contact Adrijana Prokopenko, bul. Jane Sandanski, 43 5 / 6, 1000 - Skopje, Macedonia; e-mail adrijana.prokopenko@gmail.com. ** RELAXATION TAPE According to Larry Johnson, you can melt away the stress and tension which build up in your body each day in just 15 minutes by listening to and following this scientifically proven, guided relaxation exercise that he has recorded. The CD features three acoustic mood settings: track 1, mountain stream; track 2, celestial sounds; and track 3, ocean surf. You can buy one for $12, or two for $20. Mail checks to Larry Johnson, 10863 Lake Path Drive, San Antonio, TX 78217. ** WILDLIFE PRINTS Prior to losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, John Lewis was a wildlife artist. He recently launched a web-based business selling his prints. The site includes detailed descriptions of the paintings. To learn more, visit www.jdlewiswildlifeprints.com. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP ** FOR SALE: Four used Perkins braillers in good condition with minor defects. Asking $200 each. If shipped in the United States, the braillers will be shipped via free matter mail. If insurance is desired, buyers should add this cost to the price. For more information, contact Christina Kendall, Northeastern Association of the Blind, 301 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206, phone (518) 463-1211, ext. 240, or e-mail ckendall@naba-vision.org. ** FOR SALE: Complete King James Bible on DVD, Alexander Scourby narrating while print word shown simultaneously. Includes other features as well. Brand-new, still in wrapper. Asking $39 (including shipping). King James Bible on audio cassette, Old and New Testaments, together or separately. Brand-new. Asking $75 for the Old Testament, $15 for the New Testament. New high-quality blank cassette tapes, 62 minutes and 92 minutes. Asking 50 cents each for the 62-minute tapes, 68 cents for the 92- minute tapes. Old-time radio programs from the '30s to the '70s. Interested in acquiring various sizes of slates and styli. Contact Joe Kelly at (903) 794-4852. ** FOR SALE: Perkins brailler. Asking $400. Contact Rosemir Rodriguez at (714) 267-3399. ** FOR SALE: Gently used 1996 Romeo RB-25 Braille embosser with USB cable, half a box of paper, and some clear adhesive sheets. Asking $1,000; includes shipping/insurance in the U.S. Call Lars Anderson at (972) 492-4246 or e-mail larski@verizon.net. ** FOR SALE: Alva 380 80-cell braille display. Works with JAWS and Window-Eyes. Asking $1,000; make offer. Braillino 20-cell braille display with Bluetooth and serial ports. In excellent condition. Has calculator, built-in calendar, scheduler and notetaker. Asking $3,200; make offer. Mobile phone organizer, 20-cell unit with built-in cell phone. Asking $1,100; make offer. Alva 20-cell unit, needs battery. In good condition. Asking $200. Contact Isaac Obie, 755 Tremont St., Apt. #205, Boston, MA 02118, or by e-mail, iobie@gis.net. ** FOR SALE: Telesensory Aladdin Sunshine CCTV. It's one month old. Asking $1,500 or best offer. Will ship. Contact Bill at (716) 867-7758. ** FOR SALE: VoiceNote. Comes with AC adapter, protective cover with carrying strap, and manual. In good condition; rarely used. $1,000 or best offer. Contact r.dale.mooney@sbcglobal.net or call (806) 252-4458 and leave a message. ** FOR SALE: Custom tandem bike designed by a blind individual to be as adjustable and comfortable as possible. The front can accommodate captains ranging in size from 5'1" to 6'8". In the rear compartment, the handlebars never need to be moved to accommodate a different sized captain. And it allows shifting by either the front or rear rider, independent pedaling, and has wheels that allow for a huge range of tire sizes to fit any riding style. This bike even comes apart easily and fits into its own hard-shell case (included). In excellent condition. Asking $4,000 (includes insurance and shipping). Payment plans negotiable. Contact Nino Pacini at (313) 885- 7330 or npacini@att.net for further information. ** FOR SALE: Macintosh MR78 FM tuner. Asking $1,150. Drake R8 general coverage tabletop receiver, asking $430. Bearcat BC780XLT police scanner, asking $225. All items are in very good condition. I will take money orders, PayPal, or personal checks if they clear first. Contact Don at (718) 554-0357 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time, or e-mail dbreda@nyc.rr.com. ** FOR SALE: CCTV. Electronic SmartView magnifying system with 18-inch color Optiquest monitor. Barely used. Price negotiable. Contact Beatrice at (215) 331-7250. ** WANTED: I work for a blindness training center as a braille instructor. If you have a braille version of the Bible you no longer need, my students and I would really appreciate having it. Please contact James at (410) 925-0707 or e-mail jakon22@gmail.com. ** WANTED: Donation of laptop computer that has educational software. Contact Bob Groff at 487 T.C. Circle, Quitman, AR 72131. ** WANTED: A reel-to-reel tape recorder without the external speakers. Please call Bob at (508) 994-4972. ** WANTED: I am looking for Clickomatic measuring tape that measures down to 1/16 of an inch, and a talking calculator by TSI. Contact Wayne at (509) 783-2654. ** WANTED: I am looking for a like-new color Optelec Compact Plus, $350 or less. Also looking for a low-cost working color CCTV that can hook to my computer screen, any kind with a foot pedal, costing less than $400. Also on the hunt for a Victor Reader Stream. If you have any of these items, e- mail trekfan79@yahoo.com. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Barry Levine, Homer Glen, IL Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY