THE Braille Forum Vol. XXX July/August 1991 No. 1 Published By The American Council of the Blind PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY LeRoy F. Saunders, President Oral O. Miller, J.D., National Representative Nolan Crabb, Editor Nicole Willson, Editorial Assistant National Office 1155 15th St. N.W. Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax (202) 467-5085 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large type, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and MS-DOS computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions, which are tax- deductible, may be sent to Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB National Office offers printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will And Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 8 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only, tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1991 The American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message News Briefs From the ACB National Office Overcoming Obstacles to Independence: Is The Americans With Disabilities Act an End or A Beginning? ACB Election Results ACB Awards Announced American Council of the Blind Awards Scholarships Affiliate Profile: National Alliance of Blind Students Convention Acknowledgments Legal Access: Hello, Washington, Is Anyone Home? Legislator's Job Requires Vision, Not Sight NIDRR Announces Eight New Tech Act Grants, Says Section 508 Applies to Entire State Telecommunications: The Next Frontier Here and There Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Blindness and Visual Impairment High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE THE YEAR IN REVIEW by LeRoy F. Saunders (The following material is excerpted from President Saunders's report to the ACB 30th Annual National Convention in Tampa, Fla.) At our convention last year, I reviewed with you 10 priorities in which I felt ACB should be involved during the 1990's. With some minor wording changes, these priorities have been subsequently approved by the ACB Board of Directors. I've mailed copies of the priorities to all of the state and special-interest affiliate presidents. I'm pleased that we now have priorities we can show others who are interested in ACB's activities. We've invested a great deal of effort this year in making our voice heard regarding the implementation of regulations under the Americans With Disabilities Act. A great deal has been written and submitted to the appropriate agencies, not only by our national staff, but by many of you in your local affiliates as well. The reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act has been postponed for a year, and it's probably a good thing, since so much of our time has been spent on ADA-related issues. Regardless of what you may think of the Bush Administration, it should be noted that this is the first administration that has actively worked to get regulations to implement a law on time, and I think we need to thank them for that. Whenever a law is passed, the accompanying regulations are passed on to the states and to the local communities where you live. We've exercised a great deal of influence to get regulations that will be good for blind and visually impaired people. Just how these regulations get implemented will be largely up to you in your communities. It's not practical for members of the ACB national staff to visit each community. We will assist you in any way possible, but you as members of state affiliates will have to work with state officials and business leaders to implement these regulations. A lot of small businesses are apprehensive about ADA. They need us, and we need them. Start now by forming committees and public education groups who can help business implement this law. One of the things I wanted to accomplish as president was to improve the communication among our affiliates and to involve the presidents of these affiliates more in ACB activities nationally. To that end, we met at last year's convention; we also met in Oklahoma City last fall. We've had three board meetings since our last convention. Among the many decisions made was one which cancelled the contract with the management company which has been operating the ACB thrift stores. At present our nine thrift stores are being headed up by Jim Olsen, the executive director of ACB Enterprises and Services. We inherited a big mess, we knew that, and Jim and his staff have done a tremendous job of upgrading the stores. As I've said in previous messages, the most important thing we'll deal with in the coming year is the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. We have a lot of concerns that need to be addressed. We're concerned, for example, with the allocation of funds. We'd like to make it easier for people who must move from one state to another to transfer their eligibility determination from their old state to the new one. As it is now, once you're found eligible for rehabilitation services in one state, you have to start the process over when you move. We're concerned about placement. I think there's a difference between statistical placement and the meaningful placements that put people to work in gainful employment. We're concerned about a lack of funding for programs for older blind Americans; we want to see monetary expansions of the Randolph-Sheppard vending program. We're concerned about a lack of health insurance for millions of Americans, many of whom are blind and visually impaired. We want to see the establishment of a commission on the education of the blind and visually impaired. This commission would perform a detailed study of the education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired people so we can find ways of improving the training we receive. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative A workshop entitled "Accessibility Beyond Braille" would at first glance seem to downplay the importance of braille as a communication system for blind people, but it did not do that when it occurred in Beaver Creek, Colo., in mid May. The workshop, sponsored by Physically-Challenged Access to the Wilderness, dealt with physical and informational accessibility for blind people to national and state forests, national and local parks, and other outdoor recreation and leisure areas. The program on which it was my pleasure to speak dealt with such subjects as legal requirements, tactile mapping, accessible signage, use of braille and other media for providing both general and specific information, audio description as a part of visually-presented material, available community resources, and the need (or lack thereof) for orientation and mobility assistance. Answers to questions from the dozens of park and forestry officials present could not be given in simple black-and-white terms because consideration always had to be given to the essential nature of park and forestry areas as outdoor, non-urban, natural settings whose purpose is to provide an overall, unique experience. Consider, for example, conflicting issues arising from the need for guard rails in some circumstances along boat docks versus the inconvenience caused by such guard rails to fishermen who use wheelchairs. I'm grateful to Nolan Crabb for standing in for me at the meeting of the National Advisory Council of Recording for the Blind in late May. Among the subjects considered by the council were circulation of educational materials on computer disk (inspired to a great extent by the production of The Braille Forum on computer disk) and the possible role in the future of educational materials on videocassette. The people who attended the 1991 ACB National Convention in Tampa, Fla., had an opportunity to hear RFB Executive Director Ritchie Geisel discuss these and other possible services in greater detail. Attending and participating in the conventions of ACB state affiliates has been described as "charging the batteries" because such conventions deal directly with issues that concern the members. That was, indeed, my feeling this spring as I attended the convention of the Louisiana Council of the Blind in Baton Rouge. Although the outstanding program dealt with national issues such as transportation of the disabled and expansion of the Randolph-Sheppard program, it also dealt with a variety of very practical, local concerns such as the statewide rehabilitation services, the radio reading service, the communication of non-verbal information via television and the difficulties encountered by blind shoppers in self-service business establishments. What should be the role of braille in the education of blind students? That was the subject which several other panelists and I discussed during a Chicago radio interview in early May. The educators on the panel supported, in substance, continued use of the present "Individual Education Plan" approach, but the approach which I advocated was that the system that has been used for approximately the past 15 years is a great part of the cause of the present crisis concerning the teaching of braille, and that braille should automatically be considered affirmatively as a possibility for visually impaired students who do not function at a truly effective level with either large print or magnification or who have progressive visual impairments. Cassette recordings of the program may be obtained from the ACB National Office for $3. Any blind person who has ever traveled very much realizes that hotel architectural and decorating practices can be confusing for the blind traveler. Recently, Nolan Crabb and I participated as members of a focus group brought together by a national hotel chain to discuss accessibility issues with disabled members of the group. Customarily, the sponsor of such groups is not initially identified lest the comments of the participants be prejudiced in favor of the sponsor. Both Nolan and I commended the unnamed sponsoring chain for sponsoring the group, and then without any prior discussion of the subject between us, we both roundly criticized the architectural and decorating policies of that unnamed chain because of the orientation and mobility difficulties created by them. Hopefully the chain will listen seriously to the comments of all the panelists. One articulate member, who had both a visual and a mobility disability, put the matter in prospective when she quoted the architect of the then unnamed chain's flagship hotel in Atlanta as saying that he did not design it for "use by cripples." Thank goodness that chain's current management has moved into the 20th century! The stature of the American Council of the Blind as a knowledgeable and responsible advocate on matters related to blindness was underscored recently when representatives of the Building Owners and Managers Association came to the ACB National Office to meet with Paul Schroeder, our new director of governmental affairs, and me concerning measures which BOMA will recommend to its members as they comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. In discussing the accessibility requirements of the ADA, we pointed out that since the orientation and mobility needs of individual blind people are quite different, it will be necessary for accessible accommodations to be geared to a universal population rather than only the best oriented and most mobile blind people. The jury is still out as to the positions which BOMA and its members will take. In late June, it was the pleasure of the American Council of the Blind--in conjunction with the ACB of Maryland, the D.C. Association of Workers for the Blind, and the Northern Virginia chapter of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind--to host a reception at the ACB National Office to introduce Paul Schroeder to the governmental and advocacy community in the Washington area. The dozens of guests who came to the office to meet Paul that afternoon and the countless guests who stayed long after the nominal closing hours of the reception were stirring testimony to the stature of the American Council of the Blind and the important role which Paul will be playing on the Washington scene. The jury is still out on the jury situation in the District of Columbia. (See "News Briefs From the ACB National Office," May/June 1991). As ironic as it may seem, a few weeks ago, I received another summons to appear for jury duty, and soon after this issue of The Braille Forum goes to press, I will again appear as a prospective juror. As the radio announcers of old used to say, "stay tuned for further developments." I'm pleased to announce that the American Council of the Blind has selected George Abbott III of Rockville, Md., to serve as its first visually impaired student intern in the ACB National Office. George, who will be a sophomore at Lynchburg, Va.'s Liberty University this fall, is a pre-law major. We are confident that his connection with the National Office this summer will be a mutually beneficial experience. His name may sound familiar to some readers; his father is a long-time active member and past president of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES to INDEPENDENCE: Is the Americans with Disabilities Act an End or a Beginning? by Paul W. Schroeder, Director of Governmental Affairs When fully implemented and if strictly enforced, the Americans with Disabilities Act will help us remove countless barriers to independence. Although the passage of ADA was a major milestone in our road to independence, other hurdles must yet be crossed. Over the coming months, Congress will be debating a trio of high profile issues which will demand our attention. In different ways, each one could affect our ability to live independent, productive lives. Congress will be working to reauthorize the very important Rehabilitation Act, reform health care delivery and financing, and establish funding levels for public transportation. The Rehabilitation Act is the "bread and butter" issue for the disability community. Funds are appropriated and services are provided under provisions of the Act to furnish vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to people with disabilities. Periodically, Congress must reauthorize the Act, which usually results in a host of changes in its provisions. The Rehabilitation Act was scheduled to be reauthorized in 1991, but Congress elected to invoke a one-year extension to allow more time for the process to unfold. In his widely quoted remarks made prior to House approval of the extension legislation, Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., laid down a challenge: "... Presently, only one in 20 eligible individuals receives services through the rehabilitation program. This is an abysmal statistic, and, while we cannot be all things for all people, it is clear that we must do more." Judging from these comments by the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Select Education, we can expect thorough Congressional scrutiny of the Rehabilitation Act. Clearly, "rehab" cannot do everything, but it must do more. Defining just what "more" amounts to will be the challenge this fall as ACB, along with countless other groups, participates in reauthorization hearings. Many of you have received vocational rehabilitation services, and you probably have some fairly strong opinions about those services. Your views, and your "vocational rehabilitation stories" will be helpful to the National Office during reauthorization. I would appreciate your written accounts on improvements which are needed in rehabilitation services or regarding the obstacles you encountered while receiving services. The lack of public transportation is a major obstacle to employment and independence for many people with disabilities, including blind people. The Americans with Disabilities Act may improve matters because it will require some communities to begin providing paratransit (door-to-door) services along with the fixed- route system they now provide. However, without additional federal funding, the availability of all forms of public transportation will slip. The Surface Transportation Act (commonly known as the highway bill) authorizes the expenditure of billions of federal dollars for highway and transportation programs. That act is currently being debated since it is scheduled to be reauthorized this year. At the same time, budget appropriations levels are being set for fiscal year 1992. The issues surrounding reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act and appropriations for highways and mass transit involve fundamental questions about the use of enormous sums of federal dollars, taxes and individual lifestyles. Federal and state governments spend billions of tax dollars on building and maintaining highways in support of our national love of the automobile. Public transportation programs have never been able to garner the level of federal support given to highway construction and maintenance. The American Council of the Blind is working with other organizations to improve support for public transportation. You can help by staying in touch with the Washington Connection, (800) 424- 8666, where you will hear about pending Congressional action concerning funding and other decisions affecting transportation. Then, be ready to contact members of Congress to express your strong support for public transportation. The third in the trio of high profile areas of activity is health care reform. The need for national health insurance has been debated periodically for much of this century. Every 15 years or so the debate emerges from academic obscurity to reach a fever pitch on the nation's talk shows and op-ed pages. Currently, a multitude of reform proposals are receiving serious consideration. Virtually every serious proposal begins with the premise that all Americans should have access to basic health care at an affordable price. Over the past decade, the ills of our health care system have emerged. Increasing numbers of employers have reacted to the enormous sums spent on health insurance by cutting benefits or shifting some costs to employees or both. At the same time, budget outlays for Medicaid and Medicare skyrocketed, in spite of federal and state efforts to control costs. Almost without notice, the number of uninsured individuals soared to over thirty million, dramatically capturing national attention, while state governors balked at proposed expansion of coverage for people served by Medicaid. The challenge of health care reform is immense: guaranteeing access to high-quality, comprehensive health care for all of the population while controlling the skyrocketing costs. The most widely debated legislative proposals fall into two rough categories. One concept would require all employers to provide their employees with a health insurance package. Employers who could not afford to provide health insurance would pay into a public plan which would finance health care for the uninsured. Supporters note that such reforms can be readily achieved since they build upon the current approach while ensuring universal access. The more radical proposals would completely reshape the current methods of health care financing by reducing or eliminating the role played by health insurers. Under these proposals, a single entity (usually a government agency) would collect taxes and finance health care for everyone. Backers of these plans say that under this system, everyone is guaranteed access to health care while costs are kept down because the single authority could control expenditures. Certainly, it will take a massive effort to enact any comprehensive health care reform, especially since the President has not yet thrown his support behind any plan. However, we must get involved in this debate. Just like everyone else, we need access to health care. Some of us have medical conditions which prevent us from purchasing health insurance. Others fear that taking a job will leave their family without any protection against the cost of necessary medical treatment. I began with a reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act as but one milestone. Bear in mind, protection against discrimination in employment is of little use to an applicant who does not possess the skills necessary for the job in question. Provision of auxiliary aids needed to enjoy a museum or theater will not help the visually impaired person who has no means of travel to that location. And, there is no point in an SSI recipient taking a job and losing access to health care services because she must give up Medicaid. The Americans with Disabilities Act was an important step, but other hurdles must be overcome. ACB ELECTION RESULTS There were no new faces among the group of officers of the American Council of the Blind when elections concluded during the 30th Annual National Convention in Tampa, Fla., but one candidate retained his seat only after fending off a tough opponent. LeRoy F. Saunders was re-elected for a second two-year term as ACB president. Saunders ran unopposed. Others who were re-elected without opposition were First Vice President Paul Edwards, Secretary Patricia Price, and Treasurer Brian Charlson. ACB Board Member Robert J. Acosta, president of the California Council of the Blind, challenged Second Vice President Charles S. P. Hodge for his seat. The two campaigned hard throughout convention week. Most of the questions asked at the candidates forum prior to the election were for either Hodge or Acosta. Both campaigned on their solid records and experience within the organization, but Hodge's argument that a vote for him would allow both men to remain in leadership positions in ACB was a factor in his victory. Had Acosta won the second vice presidency, Hodge would have been ineligible to seek Acosta's vacated position on the ACB Board of Directors. ACB's constitution prohibits two people from the same state serving on the board. Hodge's home state of Virginia is already represented by Board Member Patricia M. Beattie. When the electoral dust had settled, Hodge had garnered 573.75 of the 1,048 individual and affiliate votes for a total of 55 percent of the votes. ACB AWARDS ANNOUNCED Billie Jean Hill of Arlington, Va., is the 1991 recipient of the Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing Award presented by ACB's Board of Publications. The award was presented during the banquet at ACB's 30th Annual National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Hill was cited for two contributions to The Braille Forum during the past year: "Deadlines, Bylines, Bottom Lines and Speaking Along Editorial Lines," (November/December 1990) and "A Strategy/Survival Plan for an ACB Convention," (March/April 1991.) Hill received a plaque and $100 for her winning submissions. "The only thing I wanted to do in ACB was serve on the Board of Publications," an almost speechless Hill said upon receiving the award. "To have something else like this from my peers is just unbelievable; thank you." ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders announced at the banquet that after a one-year break from the Board of Publications, Hill was being reappointed to the BOP and will serve as its new chairperson. Mary Jane Schmitt is the 1991 recipient of the George Card Award. A charter member of ACB, Schmitt is a past president of Visually Impaired Data Processors International, past president of ACB's New York affiliate, and current president of Guide Dog Users, Inc. Schmitt has chaired the scholarship committee and nominating Committee chair for the 1991 convention. A senior systems analyst at Sears headquarters in Chicago, Schmitt served on the board of directors of ACB's Illinois affiliate. "I'm speechless, and you all should be grateful," an emotional Schmitt quipped as she received the award. "To me, ACB has always been a payback--a way to do a little something for people coming along. I figure I've had more than my share of good breaks. ... I still have the enthusiasm, and I still care a lot. As long as I'm moving, I'm going to do anything I'm asked to do in ACB." The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award was presented to Ewa Brantley of Rochester, N.Y. A lawyer and Harvard graduate, Brantley has concentrated her efforts in the field of international human relations. She has taught law classes at Northeastern University and has authored a variety of publications. Brantley has worked to enhance human rights throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. She has worked for the committee for the support of Solidarity in Poland and for the Institute of Democracy in Eastern Europe. She has filed reports and complaints before the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She recently received a Golden Cross Award, presented by the new government in Poland for her efforts in behalf of the Polish people. A more detailed story about Brantley will appear in a subsequent issue of The Braille Forum. "Everyone of you by doing what you do and breaking down barriers each and every day establish the right of the smallest young person in China, in Afghanistan, in the Baltic Republics, and now in an area which I'm particularly concerned about in Yugoslavia--the right of democracy and human rights," Brantley told the banquet audience. "It is particularly appropriate, I think, that the ACB should hold its meetings around the time of the 4th of July because by holding these meetings and by doing what they and everybody does best, they prove these truths to be self evident." AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS by Veronica Braun, Student Services Coordinator The American Council of the Blind awarded its 1991 scholarships totaling more than $22,000 to fifteen outstanding blind students. The awards were given to students in academic, professional, and vocational curricula at the undergraduate and graduate level. Hundreds of qualified blind and visually impaired students applied for these honors. Many of the winners attended the ACB's 30th national convention in Tampa, Fla., to receive their awards and take part in other student activities. The recipients of the two ACB scholarships in the graduate category are Kimberly Morrow of Overland Park, Kansas, and Linda Baker of Vacaville, California. Kimberly received her B.A. in German and will be continuing her studies towards a master's degree in German at the University of Kansas. Linda has graduated from California State University in Sacramento and will be continuing her studies at CSU toward a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling. In the undergraduate field, the winners of the ACB scholarships are Kenneth Frasse of Sacramento, Calif., and Shannon Cary of Eugene, Ore. Frasse is pursuing his studies at California State University, Sacramento, in the field of physics. Cary is continuing her work at University of Portland in the field of English literature. Other undergraduates who beat stiff competition for the 1991 ACB scholarships in the entering freshmen category are Monica Bledsoe of Rivesville, W.V., and Marcus Williams of Troy, Ala. Bledsoe will be pursuing her B.A. in special education for the visually impaired at Kutztown University, Kutztown, Penn., Williams will study computer programming at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala. The ACB is pleased to award its 1991 scholarships in the vocational/ technical category to Aldona Uogintas of Waterbury, Conn., and Daniel Delcambre of Seattle, Wash. Uogintas is pursuing her certification in massage therapy at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in Newington, Conn. Delcambre is working towards his associate's degree in culinary arts at Seattle Community College, Seattle, Wash. The Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship for 1991 was awarded to Cara Dunne of Chicago. Dunne is pursuing a B.A. in East Asian Studies at Harvard University. The TeleSensory scholarship, being administered to the ACB for the fifth year, was awarded to Mary MacDonald. Mary is pursuing her master's degree in social work at University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in Denver. The American Council of the Blind is honored to administer a scholarship for Ann Masimore, an active member of the ACB from Harrisburg, Penn. This $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Dana Ducharme of Worcester, Mass. Ducharme is currently pursuing his B.A. in history at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass., and will attend Boston College of Law in Newton, Mass., in the fall of 1991. For the fifth year, the American Council of the Blind is honored to administer scholarships for residents of the state of Pennsylvania pursuant to a bequest from a Pennsylvania resident. In 1991, two Pennsylvania scholarships were awarded and the winners are Ross Kaplan of Philadelphia and Jessica Reid of New Kensington. Kaplan attends Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and is pursuing his B.A. in liberal arts. Reid will attend Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. to receive a bachelor's degree in English. For the first year, the American Council of the Blind is pleased to administer two scholarships for National Industries for the Blind. These scholarships were awarded to Richard Bazier of Cleveland, Ohio, and Bernice Wong Ong of Berkeley, Calif. Bazier is pursuing a degree in business administration and finance at Dyke College in Cleveland, Ohio. Wong Ong is working toward her bachelor's degree in accounting at University of California, Berkeley. Information regarding 1992 scholarships will be available after August 1. To be placed on the list for a scholarship application for the 1992 awards, contact the ACB National Office, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Tel. (800) 424-8666 weekdays between 3 and 5:30 p.m. eastern time. The application deadline is April 1, 1992. AFFILIATE PROFILE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF BLIND STUDENTS More than 80 students attended the 30th Annual National Convention of the American Council of the Blind in Tampa, Fla., to take part in the variety of events and program sessions sponsored by the National Alliance of Blind Students. NABS, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind since 1974, organized such popular activities as dance lessons sponsored by the Arthur Murray school and a comedy show with local talent from Crackers Comedy Club of Tampa. Also on the NABS agenda were program sessions on topics ranging from "Dressing for Success" to "Locating scholarships and other sources of financial aid," all aimed toward the interests and concerns of college students. Since its formation, the National Alliance of Blind Students has sought to address the concerns of blind and visually impaired college students. NABS membership offers professional development to prepare for academic and career challenges, political activism in legislation affecting blind and visually impaired students and plenty of networking opportunities to meet fellow blind and visually impaired students from all over the country. In addition, NABS members receive "The Student Advocate," a quarterly publication which keeps students informed of disability issues and news and topics of interest to today's blind or visually impaired college student. For more information on NABS and how you can become a member contact Veronica Braun at the ACB national office. Tel. (800) 424-8666 weekday afternoons between 3 and 5:30 p.m. CONVENTION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator Now that the 1991 ACB 30th National Convention is history, it seems most appropriate to recognize the key people who assisted in making ACB's convention in Tampa an outstanding success. These people willingly gave of their time, working long hours to ensure a smooth operation. For most, this was a new experience, and they responded with vigor and enthusiasm. ACB can be proud that its membership includes people who give so freely of their time and talents both during the convention and in preparation for it. In the press room, Van Fulgham of the Florida Division of Blind Services arranged for the computers, printers and other necessary equipment. James Fleming, president of the Visually Impaired Data Processors International, provided technical direction and operated the equipment. Billie Jean Hill, editor of "The BVA Bulletin" for the Blinded Veterans Association, planned and coordinated the press room's activities. Many others assisted. As a result, "Where and When," the daily newspaper, was available in large print and braille, the recorded newsline was kept current, and duplicating services were provided to the convention. Braille Forum Editor Nolan Crabb worked as the liaison between the convention and the news media. Elaine Sanislo of National Industries for the Blind and Naomi Soule, an IBM employee from St. Louis, very ably coordinated the activities of the exhibits at the Jefferson High School, both before and during the convention. Many of the exhibitors expressed appreciation for their help. As usual, Margarine Beaman of Austin, Texas brailled the three hotels and secured volunteers. She was assisted by Leroy Johnson of Springdale, Ark. They were assisted in Tampa by Patricia Turner and representatives of the Tampa Convention and Visitors Association. Laurinda Steele, Bethesda, Md., and Gayle Krause, North Miami, Fla., and others worked long hours responding to inquiries, handing out materials, and sharing information at the information desk. Jim Olsen, registration chairperson, assisted by members of his family, ACB National Office staff, Roberta Douglas, and others again performed the quality work of handling registration and tour tickets in the efficient manner ACB convention attendees have come to expect. ACB Board Member Jean Mann, Albany, N.Y., and Belva Frandsen, West Jordan, Utah, assisted with the work of the convention office. This freed Assistant Convention Coordinator Patricia Beattie and me to deal with problems that needed immediate attention. Jay Doudna, Lancaster, Pa., and Mike Duke, Jackson, Miss., faithfully recorded the general sessions, banquet address, legislative seminar, and employment concerns workshop. Because of their effort, convention tapes will be available for purchase from the ACB National Office after August 15. Bernadean Cameron and Arthur Blessing were always ready to drive to the airport to meet program participants or students, pick up supplies or run other errands. Cameron also secured clergy for general session invocations and entertainers for the hospitality room. Nola Webb, president of the Council of Families With Visual Impairment, and those who assisted her conducted two craft and movie sessions, went on two museum trips, and provided a pizza party during the banquet for children of convention attendees. Several parents have expressed appreciation for these functions. James Cashin, Atlanta, Ga., and his helpers arrived early each morning during convention week to post the ACB affiliate signs in the hotel ballroom. This was not an easy task, since the ballroom was never set up the same way from day to day. Last but certainly not least I want to recognize the excellent and untiring work of Patricia Beattie, who arranged for most tours, coordinated information from ACB's 21 special-interest groups, and generally assisted with the work of the convention. No doubt, the convention program committee and the officers of special-interest groups would include many others who deserve recognition in making ACB's 30th convention a great success. However, I want to especially thank the individuals mentioned above and the many people who assisted them for their diligent work in making the 1991 convention possible. LEGAL ACCESS: HELLO, WASHINGTON, IS ANYONE HOME? by Charles D. Goldman, Esq. Reprinted with permission from "Horizons" April, 1991. Accessibility is a term usually associated with buildings and facilities, the bricks and mortar issues of disability. However, now more than ever, there is need for concerned persons to reach, to gain access to the minds of the federal bureaucrats. Rules to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act have been proposed by officials who, while very caring and committed to the law, seem a bit unaware that there is (and has been for quite some time) life beyond the federal enclaves. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published proposed rules to implement Title I employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The rules are based on rules and principles, such as the duty to make reasonable accommodation, limitations on preemployment medical inquiries, and equality of opportunity, that have been, for the most part, established under the Rehabilitation Act. But there will be problems, which EEOC has not or is not yet ready to address. At a briefing on the EEOC rules, inquiry was made about the application of the rules to companies, such as a CITICORP, which had reported significant losses. Did companies that were losing money have to spend money on making accommodations? The nonresponsive reply was that this was a "theoretical" question. Obviously, the people at EEOC had been so busy writing their regulation that they had not had time to go shopping for clothing in their neighborhood. If they had, maybe they would have noticed that the clothing store downstairs from them on their block had gone out of business after 40 years. That was a reality-- not a theoretical-- end to a merchant/employer. Try this question out, for which one EEOC official had absolutely no response. An employer's health insurance company has, consistent with ADA, an actuarially (cost/benefit) based plan. The insurance company now advises that to cover persons with AIDS (or who are HIV positive), the premium the employer will pay as its share will be significantly (approximately $500 per employee) higher. The company has about 100 employees, so the difference is $50,000 for the coming year. What's the employer to do? These two real world problems are not without solutions. In the first situation, EEOC must make clear in its regulations or the preamble to them that a mere profit/loss statement is not determinative and that an employer spending money on facilities/equipment will have to treat any expense for accommodation as it treats all other business expenses. While case law makes clear that mismanagement does not excuse compliance with the law, at some point financial realities may excuse at that time some heavy expenditures. (Readers should bear in mind that most accommodations in employment do not cost much, if anything.) In the second case, the best way to approach insurance is with "cafeteria" type benefits, in which the employees select what benefits they want and pay premiums accordingly. Not all employees need elect the same coverage. The employer complies with ADA by not seeking the AIDS-related information from the employees and making decisions based on the responses. Employers have had cafeteria-style medical benefits for years, such as those involving dental/mental health. The application to AIDS, if actuarially based, meets ADA. EEOC is not the only agency proposing ADA rules that needs help getting into the real world. The Department of Justice has proposed rules to implement Titles II and III, respectively related to state and local government services, and public accommodations. Again, the rules seem fundamentally well grounded in federal civil rights precedents. However, it seems odd that in the public accommodations proposed rules, the Department of Justice specifically invited comment on the experience under state laws that prohibit discrimination in insurance on the basis of disability. This is an excellent inquiry to raise. However, in the real world, i.e. beyond the federal establishment, there are laws, such as in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, which for years have prohibited discrimination against persons with physical or mental disabilities in public accommodations. The question the Department of Justice should have raised was what were the experiences of owners/operators/users of public accommodation under these laws. In looking only at insurance (a valid issue), the Department of Justice could miss "the rest of the story." It was not a surprise to me that the Department of Justice is uninterested or unaware of the experiences under state law. An attorney in the Department of Justice, when told that the law prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities in the District of Columbia was actually more inclusive than the ADA, innocently and honestly remarked, "We don't know local law." This is indeed a scary statement, when you realize that the Department of Justice will impact owners and operators of public accommodation at the local level, from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, Washington, and all points in between. Hello, Washington, is anyone home? Prediction: The first ADA lawsuit will not be against an employer or a public accommodation. It will not be by an employer. It will be by an organization which believes the rules do not allow or require the use of its product/equipment for complying with ADA. It will be filed within 30 days of publication of final rules. (CHARLES D. GOLDMAN is a Washington, D.C. attorney specializing in solving problems affecting persons with disabilities. He works with public and private organizations and agencies, as well as individuals. The second edition of his award-winning book, "Disability Rights Guide: Practical Solutions to Problems Affecting People with Disabilities" (Media Division, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1-800-366-3342) is now available.) LEGISLATOR'S JOB REQUIRES VISION, NOT SIGHT By Nolan Crabb One of the first things ACB Member Kevin Kolbo did when he won his 1986 election to the North Dakota Legislature was to prove to his colleagues and the press that his job didn't require sight; it required vision--the kind of vision that helps find solutions to problems and enhances the quality of life for his constituents. He says his relationship with the press has helped him prove that vision, not sight, makes the difference. It's a rare politician indeed who generally feels good about the treatment he gets from the press. Rep. Kevin Kolbo, a Democrat from Mohall, N.D., representing the third district, says he and his guide dog Ace have been treated fairly and with respect by reporters covering the legislature. But Kolbo's generally positive assessment of the press isn't the only thing that sets him apart from other politicians. He's one of a small number of blind legislators in the nation's history elected to a third term. "I think in North Dakota I really have nothing but good to say about the press and the treatment they've given me," Kolbo says. "They've been very courteous, very respectful, and not patronizing at all. Of course, in North Dakota we don't have the real press vultures like you see in some of the large cities. These are folks who work on weeklies or dailies, they're down-home people who come to you and give you a chance to explain your side." Prior to losing his sight, Kolbo was an athlete and a coach of a women's basketball team. His father had been a school superintendent in North Dakota. So in 1984 when a search committee looked for a candidate to fill a vacancy in the legislature, the committee turned to Kevin Kolbo, and he accepted the challenge. Kolbo describes the agony and the ecstasy of the 1984 election this way: "I ran in 1984 and won and lost the same race. On election night, my opponent and I finished in a dead tie. A week later, about 12 late arriving absentee ballots came in, and I went ahead by five votes. "I went to the legislature's pre-session in December, was sworn in, and received my committee assignments; I just loved the four or five days I was there. The Monday after I got home from the pre- session, the results of the recount were announced, and I had lost by seven votes." Kolbo says he refused to let the election result destroy his dream. "I tried to maintain a positive attitude about that," he says. "I told the press, 'I'm going to rest today, but as far as I'm concerned, tomorrow is the first day of the 1986 campaign.'" Kolbo proved true to his word. In 1986, he defeated his opponent by 350 votes. He currently serves on the Judiciary and Human Services committees. He says his interest in those committees makes his legislative life easier. "We deal with 1,500 bills in the legislature in any given session," he explains. "Anybody who tells you he's read every page of every bill isn't being truthful. You have to concentrate on those bills which are pertinent to your committee and rely on others to give you good advice on the other bills. While I use readers, I can also count on help from the actual legislative procedure." Kolbo says every bill comes to the floor of the House regardless of the committee's recommendation. The bill is verbally explained to the legislators, the committee recommendation is given, and the floor debate ensues. Kolbo says that's a good way to keep track of all the bills in a session. "I think our legislature is among the most open and efficient in the country," Kolbo says. "The staff is excellent when it comes to processing information." Kolbo has either sponsored or co-sponsored a variety of bills, but the one he's proudest of is one which he says kept a window of independence open for senior citizens and people with disabilities. "In the last session, I was the chief sponsor of a bill which tacked a dollar onto the driver's license fees in the state," he explains. "That dollar from each driver was put into a fund that would help keep the senior citizens buses and transit for the disabled running in the state." Kolbo says he helped kill amendments that would have removed funding for the buses and replace it with a mere resolution of support for the transit system. Kolbo says while he has worked to strengthen the state's guide dog law, he refuses to be pigeon-holed as the legislator who deals with blindness issues only. "One day a reporter came up and asked, 'How many bills currently in the legislature affect blind people?'," Kolbo recalls. "He thought I'd give him a list of the four or five bills that dealt with blindness or disabled people in general; my answer was simple--I said, 'all bills affect blind people. We're not any different from anyone else.'" Kolbo says it didn't take long for people to treat him like a fellow professional. "It didn't take long before other legislators started asking, 'What do you think about this bill?' The first couple of days," he admits, "some of them were more interested in questions like, 'What's it like to be a blind legislator?' Those kinds of questions just haven't come up in a long, long time." He says the press quickly realized he was as capable a lawmaker as his colleagues. "I told myself I'd take the first reporter to supper who asked me a substantial question, hoping, of course, that it would be some good looking lady. As it turned out, my first supper companion from the press corps was a nice guy who has since done some good stories on me and on events in my district." Kolbo says once the press and his colleagues realized his capabilities, he could get down to the business of legislation--a business which he says is growing more complex and difficult as the federal government pushes more programs onto the states without providing funding for those programs. Since his state is comprised of both rural and urban legislative districts, Kolbo must often decide issues on an urban versus rural basis rather than on party lines. "We often debate bills which are geographically split with the eastern more populated part of the state taking one viewpoint and the more rural western legislators taking the opposite side," he says. Kolbo says while he is aware of the anger many Americans direct at politicians, he believes most Americans are willing to look at an incumbent's total record rather than a single issue. He affirms that while lobbyists obviously play a role in government, they do not control it. "I asked a veteran legislator about lobbyists once," Kolbo recalls, "and I'll never forget what he told me. He said, 'When it comes to lobbyists, if you can't take their money, eat their food, drink their booze, mess around with their women, and then vote against them the next day on the floor, you have no business being in the legislature.' I've used that in some of my speeches." Asked about his future in politics, Kolbo was cautious, but didn't rule out anything. "If you could just snap your fingers and be there at the top, that would be one thing," he says. "But I've seen a lot of good people who tried for the top and were just shot down. The higher you go, the more scrutiny you place yourself under. I don't know that I want to subject myself and my family to that." He says if he were to reach for a bigger piece of the political pie, he feels he could continue to serve as a positive role model. "I think if I could do anything along those lines," he says, "I'd encourage other blind people to get out and get involved in whatever way they would feel comfortable. Not every blind person wants to be a legislator, but every one of us ought to be involved in some meaningful way. As far as my personal future, well, I'd like to spend another two or three sessions in the House and then decide where to go from there." Kolbo plans to seek a seat on the state's legislative council at the end of the 1991 session. A council seat would ensure him a committee chairmanship when the next session opens. He says his membership in the North Dakota Association of the Blind and in ACB has been a real plus for him. "I've been proud to be a blind person, a member of NDAB and ACB," he says. "If anything I've ever done in my career has shed good light on ACB, it's a two-way street. The people I've met in ACB have inspired and motivated me. I'm real proud to stand up and say that I belong to the ACB and that they have helped me. I'm a people person, and ACB is a people organization--people who care about one another." NIDRR ANNOUNCES EIGHT NEW TECH ACT GRANTS, SAYS SECTION 508 APPLIES TO ENTIRE STATE by Patricia M. Beattie, RESNA Project Associate Eight additional states have been awarded grants under Title I of P.L. 100-407, the Technology-Related Assistance For Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (the "Tech Act"). The newly-funded states include Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. The latest round of awards brings to 31 the total number of states receiving three-year grants to develop consumer-responsive, comprehensive statewide systems of technology-related assistance for individuals of all ages with disabilities. States which already have assistive technology projects underway include Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. In order for states to be eligible for extension grants for fourth and fifth year funding, they must be in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1986 (requiring equal access to electronic office equipment for present or future employees with disabilities). For information about funded state projects, designated "lead agencies" in states not yet funded, or extension of provisions of Section 508 to the states funded under Title I of the "Tech Act," readers may contact RESNA Technical Assistance Project, Suite 700, 1101 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. Tel. (202) 857-1140. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: THE NEXT FRONTIER by Frank Bowe, Ph.D. People who are blind or have low vision receive each year, as do others, the bulky White and Yellow Pages telephone directories. Wouldn't it be nice to receive the same information by voice just by picking up a telephone and asking a question such as, "What time does the next bus on route 27 arrive at my bus stop?", and hearing the answer, "1:45 PM". And wouldn't it be nice to be able to call the local telephone company and ask, "What store in my neighborhood sells magnifying glasses?", and hear the response, "Joe's Hardware, 45 Market Street, 555-8500." The technology already exists to make these telecommunications dreams a reality. Information from the White and Yellow Pages is already stored on computers. Indeed, if we look ahead, we can see even broader high technology vistas. More data from other computers would be added. Next, the data would need to be sorted: the computer would search through the entries to find the one about which you are asking. Finally, this piece of information would have to be spoken by a speech synthesizer attached to the computer. The computers exist in your local telephone network; they're called "switches" and they are located in large buildings called "switching stations" or "central offices". Software that sorts through databases and picks out key information is readily available, too. Of course, speech synthesizers are commodities now. So why aren't these services available? Why can sighted people access information while blind and low-vision people cannot? This is especially irksome since the cost of the books is included in your telephone bills, whether or not you can read them. The answer is that the local telephone companies--the exchange companies that collect and maintain information about local businesses--are not allowed to "alter content" or "manipulate data." Current policy says that sorting information is prohibited, and that converting text to speech is also not allowed. I don't understand why providing information to a sighted person in print is permissible but offering the same information to a blind person by voice is not. If you agree with me that this policy makes no sense, we can begin working now to change it. The 102nd Congress is considering legislation which might allow the seven Bell telephone companies to offer telephone-based information services, manufacture products, and research new products and services. Let your Representative and Senators know that you want the telephone networks to become "accessible to and usable by" people with disabilities, including blind and low-vision Americans. The Bell companies have asked me to advise them on how they could do more for people with disabilities. I'm finding that the law is a problem. The law that forms the basis for current policy is the Communications Act of 1934. It would have to be amended. Fortunately, there is a precedent for amending it, a recent one, and one familiar to all Council members. The Americans With Disabilities Act, (P.L. 101-336), in title IV, amended the 1934 Act. It added section 225 to the 1934 Act that requires telephone companies to provide full and equal telephone network access to users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf. Most TDD users are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired. Similar access could be provided to blind and low-vision people by amending the Act to extend equal opportunity to non-TDD users who have vision impairments. Here's the problem: The 1934 Act, as interpreted by the 1984 "Modified Final Judgment" which broke up the old Bell System, prevents the Regional Bell Operating Companies from "content alteration." According to the interpretation, if information is spoken, it is "altered." And if data are sorted or manipulated, that, too, is "content alteration." This defies common sense. Why is providing the same piece of information--the name of a store, its address, its telephone number, its Yellow Pages ad information--okay in print but not synthetic voice? As is often the case, the answer is "politics." I asked David Leach, senior staff aide to Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., why these things are prohibited. Leach says newspapers fear the loss of classified ad revenues. The American Newspaper Publishers Association fears that if classified ad information could be sorted and spoken, allowing people to get information on demand via phone, the need for written classified advertising would drop. The end result would be lower revenues for newspapers. Ultimately, Congress must decide whether the value of providing information to blind and low-vision people outweighs the value of protecting the ad revenues of newspapers. The Hofstra Survey What do blind and low-vision people think? To answer that question, my employer, Hofstra University, in Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., cooperated with the Council to survey 107 blind and low-vision adults throughout the nation. (See "Report Shows Strong Support by Blind and Low-Vision Adults for New Telephone-Based Services," The Braille Forum, January/February 1990). Survey respondents wanted to have information available by voice over the telephone. They felt entitled to accessible telecommunications. They favored legislation that would remove the "content alteration" prohibitions. Hofstra also asked 67 learning-disabled adults, many of whom have dyslexia, for their opinion. These people said that reading White and Yellow Pages information was very difficult. Although they can see the print, reading it is confusing. They too would rather hear it. I took this information to the seven Bell Companies--Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, and U S WEST. I asked them to see what they could do to meet these needs. The Bells have begun studying the issues. They want to know what an "accessible network" would look like. They need information on what is necessary to provide full and equal services to blind, low-vision and dyslexic individuals. They're asking such questions as: How much would it cost to provide these services? What is the state-of-the-art? The Bells also told me that current policy must be changed if they are to do what Hofstra survey respondents requested. My local company, NYNEX, told me that a few years ago, it had offered spoken Yellow Pages information in a service it called "Hello Yellow." However, within a few months, NYNEX received word from Washington that it would have to discontinue that service. "Hello Yellow" was, Washington said, content alteration and thus a prohibited service. I also told Congress about the survey results. The reports from the Hofstra Survey were sent to Dingell and to Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee in the House, as well as to Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C., chairman of the Senate's Commerce Committee, and Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-HI, chairman of the Senate's Communications Subcommittee. I gave copies of the reports to Samuel Simon, president of the Alliance for Public Technology, a Washington-based coalition of organizations interested in telecommunications access. He incorporated many of the recommendations into draft legislation called the "Consumer Safeguard Amendments." This suggested legislation has been provided to Dingell, Markey, Hollings and Inouye. That's where things stand now as the 102nd Congress continues to debate the issues. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at Hofstra, 111 Mason Hall, Hempstead, NY 11550. I'll be glad to send you the Hofstra Survey reports on disk or on paper. CAPTION President George Bush congratulates ACB Member Bonnie Lanzet in the Oval Office of the White House. Lanzet was the recipient of the ten thousandth guide dog trained at the Seeing Eye, Inc., Morristown, N.J. Lanzet, a resident of Newcastle, Del., is a rehabilitation teacher with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division for the Visually Impaired. Zabrina is Lanzet's fourth guide dog from Seeing Eye.--Carol T. Powers, The White House HERE AND THERE by Elizabeth M. Lennon The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services by the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. The Braille Forum cannot be responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned. ACB CONVENTION TAPES Cassette taped proceedings of the American Council of the Blind 30th Annual National Convention in Tampa, Fla., will be available after August 15 from the ACB National Office. Those who ordered convention tapes from the pre-registration form will automatically receive tapes on a first priority basis. If you didn't order tapes from the convention pre-registration form, you may still do so for $15 for the entire set or $3 per session. (The Banquet is bundled with the Opening session as a $3 set). Those purchasing the entire set will receive the Employment Concerns Workshop and Legislative Seminar in addition to all convention morning sessions and the banquet. Sessions are recorded on standard-speed two-track 90-minute cassettes. To order, send a check or money order for $15 made payable to the American Council of the Blind. If ordering a specific session, please indicate which session you want either by date or by the name of the speaker in which you are most interested. Write to: Convention Tapes, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. PLAYBACK CATALOGS Playback Marketing announces the availability of seven revised tone-indexed cassette catalogs. Catalogs include: 1. Jewelry, trinket boxes, and personal items; 2. Household; 3. Collectibles--bells, music boxes, and large and mini figurines; 4. Audio accessories, tools, and items for the car; 5. Toys; 6. Christmas; and, 7. General catalog with 25 categories, most selected from other tapes. Four-track editions of the catalogs are available for $1 per tape or $6 for the entire set. Two-track editions are available for $2 per tape or $12 for the entire set. To order, write in any format to Playback Marketing, 1308 Evergreen Ave., Goldsboro, NC 27530. NEW JERSEY DOG USERS The first formal meeting of the New Jersey chapter of Guide Dog Users, Inc. will be held October 12 as part of the state's convention. This year's meetings will be held in the Quality Inn in Somerset, N.J. For additional information or a registration form, contact Christina Brino, Adjustment to Blindness Project, New Jersey Self-Help Clearinghouse, St. Clares Riverside Medical Center, Pocono Rd., Denville, NJ 07834. DISABLED REPUBLICANS The Republican National Committee has created an advisory council comprised of disabled republicans. According to RNC Chairman Clayton Yeutter, the council will advise Yeutter on matters of interest to people with disabilities. "Our message to the disabled is that the doors are open and you are partners," Yeutter said. TSONGAS ON TAPE Democratic Presidential Hopeful Paul Tsongas has made his 85-page white paper available on cassette, according to a staff member at the Tsongas for President headquarters in Boston. The white paper, entitled "A Call to Economic Arms," was recorded on cassette at the request of ACB Second Vice President Charles Hodge. To obtain a free copy of the paper, call the Tsongas for President headquarters at (617) 422-0100 and ask for Kevin O'Donnell or Tom Geddis. DCAWB MEMBER HONORED Ann Chapman, a member of the District of Columbia Association of Workers for the Blind, was honored earlier this year by WUSA-TV in Washington for her outstanding community service efforts in Washington. Now Chapman's years of outstanding community service have caught the attention of the Jefferson Foundation, a national organization which recognizes persons who have devoted their time and energy to the service of others, according to "Association News," May 1991, the newsletter of the DCAWB. Chapman joined with 76 other Jefferson award- winners in June to receive her award at the Supreme Court. NIB AWARDS Vanessa K. Miller, employed at Bosma Industries for the Blind in Indianapolis, was one of three runners-up for the 1991 Blind Worker of the Year award presented by National Industries for the Blind. Miller is an active member of the Circle City Chapter of the ACB of Indiana.Donald E. McKamie, a member of the Concho Valley chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Texas, works for the West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind in San Angelo. He was also chosen as a runner-up. RFB ROUNDUP Recording for the Blind has produced a videotape entitled "A Vision for the Future." The video was funded by a grant from Citibank, according to "Recording for the Blind News," Summer 1990. The tape is narrated by NBC Correspondent Richard Valeriani. It is designed as a public awareness enhancement tool, emphasizing the use of RFB materials by students with learning disabilities. In addition to featuring four blind students and professionals, the video profiles a psychotherapist who earned a degree despite her dyslexia by listening to RFB books. Copies of the tape are available from Recording for the Blind, Office of Public Affairs, 20 Roszel Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel. (609) 452-0606. RFB is the recipient of a $1 million endowment given by the widow of a prominent Broadway stage designer. According to an RFB press release, Mary P. "Zorka" Oenslager, a friend of RFB Founder Anne T. Macdonald, donated the money which will be used for RFB's Scholastic Achievement Awards. From now on, RFB scholarships will be known as the Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards. Recording for the Blind circulated more than 143,000 recorded books, serving more than 23,000 print disabled readers in fiscal year 1990, according to RFB's annual report. The report says RFB recorded 2,748 new books last year, bringing the total of recorded books in its collection to 76,830. RFB's 1990 budget was $8,103,672. The organization reports its production, circulation, and registration are up significantly over previous years. Copies of the annual report entitled "A Shared Vision" may be ordered by writing Recording for the Blind, Department of Public Affairs, 20 Roszel Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540. EX-RFB BOSS HONORED Stuart Carothers, former president of Recording for the Blind, was the recipient of the American Library Association's Francis Joseph Campbell Citation and Award. The national award is given annually to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to library services for blind and visually impaired people. The award was presented during the ALA conference in Atlanta in July. BOOK REVIEW: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT by Nicole E. Willson "The Encyclopedia of Blindness and Visual Impairment," by Jill Sardegna and T. Otis Paul, M.D., is a comprehensive book which includes entries on all facets of blindness and the blindness field. The topics most frequently covered include diseases, technology, organizations, and legislative acts affecting the blind. However, I also found entries on less concrete subjects such as myths concerning the blind and the age-old question of how blind people dream. In addition to the subject entries, the book has a sizeable appendix which includes several useful features, such as a list of organizations in the blindness field with addresses and phone numbers, a diagram of the eye (which you'll probably need to refer to several times when reading medical entries) and lists of radio reading services and organizations offering scholarships for blind and visually-impaired students. There are also several tables of statistics dealing with subjects such as glaucoma and cataracts, but since these statistics date back to 1978, they're probably of questionable worth. You won't need to be a doctor to understand the entries, which are clear and concise. I also appreciate the fact that the authors capitalize any term defined elsewhere in the book when using the term in another entry. Otherwise, sentences such as, "Strabismus is associated with high amounts of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism" might be difficult for a layperson to follow. In addition, there is an extensive bibliography listing many sources which an interested reader may wish to consult. While this encyclopedia will obviously be useful for libraries and schools, I feel it is also appropriate for organizations which feature an information clearinghouse service. The listings are so comprehensive that you're sure to find something on a topic you're curious about, and the many lists of organizations in the appendix will be indispensable for people needing to find help quickly. The encyclopedia costs $45.00 and is available in print only from Facts on File, Inc., 460 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016. Tel. (800) 322-8755 outside of New York, Alaska and Hawaii, or (212) 683- 2244. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Apple II GS, includes 1 5.25 and one 3.5 inch floppy drive, K512 RAM, VGA monitor, also includes Apple Image Writer II, Apple 300/1200 BAUD modem, some software, all system manuals. $2,500 or best offer. Contact Mike Tate, 360 Starling Rd., Winter Park, FL 32789. (407) 629-5038, no collect calls. FOR SALE: One Thermoform machine, like new, $1,200, includes some thermoform paper. Also, Cranmer Modified Perkins Braille Printer, nearly new, $2,000, includes manual. Contact Connie at (612) 871-3839. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS P.O. BOX 24020 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73124 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 170 N.E. 123rd STREET NORTH MIAMI, FL 33161 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT CHARLES HODGE 1131 S. FOREST DRIVE ARLINGTON, VA 22204 SECRETARY PATRICIA PRICE RILEY TOWER 2, APT. 2300 600 N. ALABAMA STREET INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON