THE Braille Forum Vol. XXX September/October 1991 No. 2 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: Board of Publications and Committee Appointments Announced News Briefs From the ACB National Office ACB Convention Highlights Challenges and Opportunities: The Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Bush Commemorates Signing of ADA Talking Book Librarian Wins Media Award Vendors Win and Lose in Minnesota Summary of 1991 Resolutions Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report Here and There High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED by LeRoy F. Saunders I am pleased to have made two appointments to the Board of Publications. I have asked Billie Jean Hill to serve as Chairperson and Ed Potter to serve as a member of the Board. Both of these people have accepted and I am sure that we will enjoy their talents in working with the Board of Publications. Billie Jean Hill is currently the editor of "The BVA Bulletin," the monthly newsletter of the Blinded Veterans Association. A native of Mississippi, she worked with a radio reading service there prior to coming to Washington. Ed Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and TV Broadcasting from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He holds a Masters in Speech Communication from the same university. He was in broadcasting for 13 years, and currently teaches speech communication at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, N.C. Perhaps many Braille Forum readers know him best as editor and producer of "Playback Magazine," now in its 12th year. By the time you read this, all of our State and special-interest Affiliate Presidents will have received a copy of our 1991 Resolutions both in large print and braille. Also, they will receive a memo in reference to the Presidents Meeting in January, 1992. This meeting will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., on January 26 and 27, followed by an ACB Board of Directors Meeting. In my memo, I asked for input as to the agenda for this Presidents Meeting and any recommendations that our presidents might have in reference to programming at our National Convention, which will take place in Phoenix in July. If you have not sent this information, I urge you to do so as soon as possible. I am working very hard to establish a good agenda, but because some of the agenda items will take some preparation, we need your input very quickly. As most of you know, ACB has many committees and it is necessary for me to appoint not only committee chairmen but committee members. As of this date, I have appointed chairpersons for the following committees: Convention Committee, John Horst; Constitution and ByLaws Committee, Stephen Speicher; Credentials Committee, Dawn Christensen; Membership Committee, Durward K. McDaniel; Scholarship Committee, Jack Lewis; and Resolutions Committee, Mitch Pomerantz. I am very pleased that these people have accepted these appointments and I feel confident that they will do an admirable job. Should any of you have items to forward to these various chairpersons, please feel free to do so. Send materials to the National Office and the appropriate person will be contacted. I was very pleased with the outcome of our convention last July in Tampa, Fla. The weather was warm and the humidity was high, but I appreciate the willingness of everyone to cope with the problems that popped up along the way. It was very difficult to conduct such a large convention when staying in three hotels and using a school for exhibits. With everyone's help and patience, everything went together pretty well. Hopefully, the convention next year in Phoenix will be mostly contained in one hotel, which will minimize many of these problems. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative One of the real highlights of the 1991 National Convention of the American Council of the Blind was the extremely informative presentation by Alexandre Neumyvakin, president of the All Russia Association of the Blind. (See "ACB Convention Highlights" in this issue). The All Russia Association is responsible for almost all rehabilitation, vocational training and vocational placement of blind people in the Republic of Russia. This program, in turn, serves as a model for the programs of most of the other republics in the Soviet Union. Following the conclusion of the convention in Tampa, it was our pleasure to host Neumyvakin and his interpreter/guide for several days in the Washington area. While here, Neumyvakin addressed the Rehabilitation Services Administration Task Force on Rehabilitation Facilities, which had previously been told incorrectly by a speaker that there were no rehabilitation facilities for blind people in the Soviet Union. He also visited the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, where he was cordially greeted and hosted with a delicious luncheon. We extend our thanks to National Industries for the Blind and the Blinded Veterans Association for wonderful dinners which they sponsored in his honor. Following his return to Russia, Neumyvakin invited some ACB representatives to visit Russia in 1992. The first anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act was celebrated July 26. The occasion was celebrated in Washington with a number of large, impressive receptions and similar functions on Capitol Hill. However, perhaps the most impressive celebration was the rather simple, low-key ceremony on the south lawn of the White House that morning. (See "Bush Commemorates Signing of ADA" in this issue). As a few hundred leaders in the political and disability rights fields piled in, (contrasted with the thousands who were present one year before), they were entertained by the Marine Band. The ceremony consisted of a short speech by President George Bush during which he recognized the role played by a few political leaders in his party in the passage of the ADA and pledged the continued support of his administration in the implementation of the act. Chuji Sashida was the most recent international visitor to the ACB National Office. A blind lawyer and researcher from Japan, he was touring the United States to obtain information concerning support service given in this country to blind people in a variety of professions and vocations. He explained that his trip, which also took him to Europe, was sparked by the fact that Japan is now attempting by legislation and other means to change the traditional employment pattern of blind people. Until recently in Japan, most blind people have been trained to work in such fields as massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Following his visit, we asked our special-interest affiliated organizations to assist Sashida by completing and returning to him a lengthy questionnaire concerning support service received in the performance of professional and vocational tasks. Do you use an automatic teller machine very often while doing your banking? While it is possible for a blind person to use an ATM which does not contain braille or otherwise accessible operating instructions, it is extremely difficult, usually necessitating sighted assistance, especially if the ATM is different from one previously used. The current and future importance of such machines, the next generation of which is expected to be much "smarter" and more technologically complex, was underscored earlier this year. Requests for comments on proposed regulations were issued by various federal agencies and departments regarding ATMs under the ADA. The use of ATMs by blind people was the subject under discussion when a filming crew from "Good Morning America" visited the ACB National Office recently. Following the interview with other staff members and me, it was time for a demonstration, but where? The bank down the block whose outdoor ATM had been equipped with very abbreviated and cryptic braille operating instructions a few years earlier by the Sight Through Helping Hands project of Austin, Texas, had recently replaced all of its ATMs with a newer model. We located another "marked" ATM a few blocks away and were assured that it would respond to different network cards we had available. How did the demonstration go? You guessed it! None of the three cards available would make the machine work. As if to underscore the importance of making the machines truly accessible to blind people in the future, each unsuccessful attempt was accompanied by a number of visual (hence unaccessible) explanations shown on the screen. No, the machine didn't "eat" any of the cards, and, no, the bank manager wasn't able to make it work either. Although Congress was in recess for several weeks during the summer, the governmental activities of the ACB National Office continued at a fast pace. For example, during July, several federal agencies and departments issued the regulations they were required to issue pursuant to the ADA, and it was necessary to ascertain how various important issues had been handled. However, the final regulations suffered from a shortcoming which had plagued the preliminary regulations--most were not issued in accessible formats. Only the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had both braille and tape recorded versions available the day the regulations were issued in print. Continue calling "The Washington Connection" at (800) 424-8666 to get information on how to obtain accessible copies of these regulations. A considerable amount of time has also been devoted in recent weeks to the reauthorization of the rehabilitation act. (See "Challenges and Opportunities: The Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act" in this issue). On Sunday, October 20, members of the ACB National Office staff will take part in the Lions Walk for Sight and Independence, a Walkathon designed to raise funds for ACB and several other blindness- related organizations in the Washington Metropolitan area. We're asking ACB members and friends to help by either walking and obtaining pledges for each kilometer walked or by pledging a specified amount for each kilometer to be walked by a specified staff member. Every staff member plans to walk at least five kilometers, and we hope that each pledge will be at least $2 per kilometer. People living within a reasonable distance of Washington have already been invited to walk or pledge. We're now asking the people who live outside the Washington area to help by calling their pledges into the national office before October 20. We realize that the various editions of The Braille Forum do not reach readers on the same date. If you don't want to designate a specific walker, your pledge will apply to the staff member who walks the greatest number of kilometers. We wish you could all be walking with us. ACB CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS by Nolan Crabb The high attendance at the opening session of the 30th Annual National Convention of the American Council of the Blind proved beyond a doubt that last year's experiment of opening the convention on Sunday night has become a new tradition. ACB's convention in Tampa, Fla., provided attendees with an exciting week of networking, sharing the latest information on everything from jobs to technology, and rebuilding friendships. From the hustle and bustle of the exhibit hall to the relaxed environment of the hospitality room, the convention offered the perfect mix of hard work and great recreation. Vincent Mistretta, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, welcomed conventioneers to the Sunday, June 30th opening session. "I'm not one for speeches," he said, "so we hope that everyone enjoys themselves and takes advantage of the tours and other activities we've set up." Following Mistretta's remarks, ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders welcomed his audience and gave his annual convention report. (See "President's Message: The Year in Review," July/August.) Saunders reminded the convention that he had established a list of priorities during the 29th annual national convention in Denver last year. He talked about the progress ACB has made on those priorities and expressed hope that more of the goals could be met over the next year. Saunders said he wants to continue to enhance the communication link among ACB state and special-interest affiliate presidents. "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." Saunders told the convention that ACB had taken over the management of its thrift stores, relieving the management company of that duty. He had high praise for ACB Assistant Treasurer James Olsen, who has assumed the management of the stores. The July 1st session of the convention began with a credentials committee report. ACB National Representative Oral O. Miller then introduced the first speaker of the session, Alexandre Neumyvakin, president of the All Russia Association of the Blind and a member of the U.S.S.R. Supreme Council, equivalent to the parliament. Neumyvakin told the convention about services for blind people in the Soviet Union. Speaking through an interpreter, Neumyvakin referred to blind Russians as "rather cheerful, joyful people who look forward to peace in the whole world." He said the All Russia Association is comprised of 210,000 members, 65 percent of whom are over 60 years old. He said the association operates 190 workshops in the Russian Republic. Profits from the workshop operations, Neumyvakin said, go to build new facilities and evaluate and purchase new technology for association members. He said there are three rehabilitation centers and one guide dog school in the Russian Republic. Neumyvakin drew enthusiastic applause when he explained that blind Soviet citizens pay no taxes. He said the Russian Republic contains 168 libraries for the blind, which provide cassette books. At the end of his remarks, Neumyvakin announced that a delegation of ACB representatives had been invited to visit the Soviet Union next year as guests of the All Russia Association of the Blind. Tamara Bibb, region IV commissioner for the Rehabilitation Services Administration, was the second speaker for the Monday morning session. She said four factors would influence the integration and empowerment of people with disabilities in the 1990's. They include technology, research, legislation, and service delivery. She said technology not only allows professionals to more fully participate in their careers, "technology creates choices in careers and leisure time activities for people with disabilities." Bibb said political and economic research would "ultimately establish the existence of people with disabilities as full, first-class citizens in our society." She said legislation would continue to play a key part in integration over the next decade, as would service delivery. "What we're trying to do in the state and federal program ... is to put forth some of the appropriate and ideal concepts of how services should be delivered," she said. Caroline Longmore, collection development officer for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, succeeded Bibb at the podium. She said the two components that build a good book collection for NLS are stability and flexibility. "NLS provides reading material for a readership of 700,000," she explained. "Can you imagine the infinite variety of interests and concerns represented within that 700,000 figure? We're not simply talking about one person's preference for mysteries and another for westerns; think for a moment about your own choices and your own information needs and how they change from day to day and year to year." She said in addition to changes in personal reading preferences, NLS deals with a constantly changing readership, losing about 12 percent of its readers annually and gaining 14 percent new readers. Longmore said new books are chosen based on written policies and directions and input from an advisory committee comprised of librarians and patrons. "Patron input is imperative to the collection's health," she explained. In a question and answer session following Longmore's remarks, NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke answered questions about new talking book machines, the availability of various public laws in braille, and the criteria used in magazine publishing. The July 2nd session began with a panel of state rehabilitation agency directors who talked about trends in rehabilitation services. This year's panelists included Donald Gist, commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, and Carl McCoy, director of the Florida Division of Blind Services. Gist said government alone can't find jobs for blind people. He called for increased efforts to help them find work in the private sector. "I want to meet with President Saunders," he said. "I want to bring him to South Carolina; I want Mr. Saunders to be in the position of talking to and speaking with industry and business reps from throughout that state to make sure that they understand that people who are blind deserve as much of an opportunity to have a job and take care of themselves as anyone else." McCoy said consumer input, quality staff members, the amount of money available, accessible training resources and opportunities, and how the counselor's performance is measured are important factors in the quality of rehabilitation services states offer. "We all know from reading the newspaper that there's going to be a shortage of labor," he said. "In many areas, there already is a shortage. That certainly should bode well for us as blind people seeking jobs; but in order to do that, of course, we're going to have to be prepared for those jobs; hopefully they're going to be highly skilled or professional jobs." Ritchie Geisel, executive director of Recording for the Blind in Princeton, N.J., followed the rehabilitation panel. Geisel announced the official merger of RFB with Computerized Books for the Blind, an organization which provides books and manuals on computer diskettes. Geisel continued his theme from his 1990 ACB convention address of "the new RFB." "We had a disgraceful record of keeping people on hold who were calling to order books," he said. "If we had been in business, we'd have been out of business. Last year we added three new watts lines to our incoming telephone service; during our peak month, we answered 94 percent more calls than we had the year before. So we think we're being responsive." He said RFB has added 800 new volunteer narrators to its pool in the last two years. He said RFB would add academic and professional journals as well as its own book catalog on computer diskette. The company, Geisel said, is considering entering the descriptive video distribution business by mailing home videos which include audio description. Frank DiPalermo, product planner at the IBM Special Needs Center, talked about the evolution in the computer industry and the growing importance of the graphical user interface, a system that displays pictures rather than characters which can be read by speech synthesizers. "The attitude of 'down with the graphical user interface' is not going to cut it," he said. "That kind of attitude is like standing in front of a train and saying 'this horse is a better way to motivate myself, and I'm going to stand in front of this train and make it stop.' I won't say that I embrace every new technology that comes along, but I think that when something as large as a train comes down a track, I'd rather get a ticket and take a ride." He said the people who provide the products must work with consumers to create a product that will work with computer graphics. DiPalermo said IBM had provided a prototype machine that works in the graphical environment. "The fear (of computer graphics) that runs rampant throughout this community is really unfounded," he said. Tuesday's concluding speaker was Carl R. Augusto, president and executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind. He praised ACB for its long, close association with AFB. He provided some background on the foundation, listing its technology center and consumer products division among its many services. "As a former and present consumer of AFB I've not always been pleased with AFB's consumer products department, and I'm very interested in hearing from you." Augusto said the foundation offers a Careers and Technology Information Bank which includes more than 1,200 visually impaired people in a variety of careers, all willing to share information with others about their careers and any necessary equipment or adaptations. He said in addition to receiving input from AFB's consumers, much of his time is spent working to strengthen AFB's financial position. Augusto presented 10 areas where ACB and AFB can work to better the lives of blind and partially sighted people. ACB Board Member Michael Byington opened the July 3 session by moderating a panel discussion on the importance of supported employment. Panelists included Robert Hanye, director of rehabilitation at National Industries for the Blind in Wayne, N.J., and Mindy Oppenheim, co-coordinator of the Supported Employment Telecourse Network at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. Supported employment, according to Hanye, involves placing a severely disabled person on the job and providing training after placement. Training and support is provided by a job coach who assists the severely disabled person on the job. Hanye said blind people have been all but excluded from the supported employment picture, according to statistics from Virginia Commonwealth University. "These figures from 1989 ... are the most recent available," he said. "Broken down by disability, 3.4 percent had a sensory disability. That group covers all sensory disabilities including blindness and vision loss. "Because so few blind people have been served, even the severely and multi-disabled," Hanye said, "the argument can be made that supported employment has had no impact on blind people. However, that in itself is a negative impact, because resources which could have been used to assist blind people have been used by other disability groups." He said supported employment may not be appropriate for many blind people. Hanye said on the positive side, new opportunities are gradually opening up for blind people with other disabilities to receive supported employment services. "I do think that supported employment, with modification and perhaps a name change, has the potential to be of significant importance for working people who lose their vision but want to stay on the job." Oppenheim said supported employment had helped 52,000 people nationwide find work since it began. "What does supported employment mean for people with visual impairments?" she asked. "It means that you have another choice, and that if the choice is appropriate and you fit into the federal definition and you have a funding base in your state, you have a choice. It's not right for everybody; the sheltered workshop may be appropriate for some people." Realizing that discussing all work and no play can make a dull convention session, those planning the program gave attendees a chance to learn about another aspect of recreation--water skiing. ACB member Theodore C. Henter, president of Henter-Joyce, the company which created Jaws, a screen reading program for blind computer users, talked about water skiing as a recreation option for blind and partially sighted skiers. Henter said he began skiing before he lost his sight, and decided to continue the sport as a blind person. In 1986, he won his first championship in the Slalom Wake Crossing competition which involves successfully crossing the wake of the boat on one ski. Henter encouraged his audience who have never tried the sport to take up water skiing. "It's a very enjoyable sport," he said. "I've tried snow skiing, roller skating and other things that move because I like to go fast, but waterskiing is nice because of that controlled environment. I go skiing with a lot of sighted skiers, and I use the same boat, same equipment, same driver they do; it's an integrated sport." At the conclusion of Henter's address, President LeRoy Saunders presented life memberships to Nelson Malbone of Chesapeake, Va., and Lila Shafer of Willits, Calif. Malbone's life membership was purchased by the Virginia Association of the Blind; Shafer technically received life membership status last year, but was awarded her certificate in Tampa. The convention turned its attention from life memberships to life safety with an address by Dr. Wendy S. Pava, a clinical psychologist and a member of ACB. Pava discussed "Self Defense Needs and Training of Visually Impaired People." "The issue of feeling safe and knowing that we can protect ourselves in the event of a physical or sexual assault is a concern that all of us share and a reality that many of us will face at some point in our lives," Pava told her audience. "It has been estimated that a woman in the United States is raped every six minutes." Pava presented five myths about rape and said there are no national data on rape and assault as it applies to disabled or blind people. She said a survey she designed and conducted among blind women in Seattle revealed that three had been victims of either rape or attempted rape. Nine of the ten felt that their visual impairment put them at greater risk of being an assault victim. Pava said two 12- session self-defense courses for blind and visually impaired women were implemented in Seattle which taught resistance skills, safety precautions, and shaping the emotional response to attempted rape. Following Pava's remarks, Jim Stovall, founder and president of the Narrative Television Network, addressed the convention. The Narrative Television Network provides audio description for movies which are shown on The Nostalgia Channel, a cable television network, and by various cable systems throughout the nation. A member of ACB, Stovall lost his sight three years ago. He talked about the transition from a man who was convinced he would never leave his home again to one who provides weekly broadcasts of classic movies to millions of TV viewers. "I'd never met another blind person," he said. "I wasn't sure what I was going to do; I knew there were two things I'd never be able to do again--one was public speaking and the other was television. I'd done both of those in the past, and enjoyed them, but I couldn't imagine how a blind person could do public speaking and television. Now I spend all my time either taping television shows or interviews or public speaking about taping television shows or interviews. So it's important to never say never." Stovall told his listeners, "We all have a right to choose, and we're just one quality decision away from anything we want." He warned against the so-called experts--friends, family members, and colleagues- -who "will tell you 900 reasons why what you want to do will absolutely not work." From audio description, the convention turned its attention to the description of a new internship program at National Industries for the Blind presented by Kathy Gallagher, a rehabilitation specialist at National Industries for the Blind. She said the internship program seeks blind people interested in business careers. (See "Opportunities Open Doors," May/June). "I see this program as very valuable," she told her audience, "not because I'm an employee of NIB, but because I'm a blind person who spent three years looking for that first job." Gallagher introduced one of NIB's internship success stories, Michael Harris, marketing director of the Lighthouse for the Blind in St. Louis. He said before his NIB internship, he sent out 130 resumes, got 66 interviews, and 66 rejections. After the internship, Harris said he began working for the lighthouse. "Today, the lighthouse and I are working on a business plan that will take that organization into the 21st century." The July 4th session began with a series of reports from various committees and the passage of some of the 30 resolutions ultimately adopted by the convention. ACB National Representative Oral O. Miller reported on the activities of the national office during the past year. He recalled the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act, quoting from President Bush's address on that occasion. He complimented Laura Oftedahl, producer and host of "ACB Reports" and informed the convention that the national office is now duplicating and distributing "ACB Reports" to 150 individuals and radio reading services throughout the nation. Miller introduced ACB's Governmental Affairs Director Paul Schroeder and the other members of the national office staff present at the convention. He urged ACB members to take a more active role in making comments on proposed federal regulations and legislation. "What I'm saying is, ladies and gentlemen, in the future if we want to have an impact, we've got to respond quickly and in numbers--and in numbers, please!" Miller lashed out at the National Federation of the Blind for what he called "cheap, shameless, deliberate, and irresponsible actions of some blind people in this country in trumping up and publicizing specious misdemeanor charges against a past president of the American Council of the Blind." (See "NFB Blows Hot Air in the Windy City," January/February). "This matter has been ballyhooed beyond belief and I'd like to say also beyond truth by many of those same people who have been conducting a vendetta against the National Accreditation Council now for almost 20 years. Why? Because they've never been able to control it." At the conclusion of his report, Miller was presented with his 10- year pin by President Saunders. "Thank you very much," he said, "this is indeed a pleasant surprise; I'll wear this with pride and pleasure." Following Miller's report, Convention Coordinator John A. Horst reported on the current convention and talked about the upcoming convention in Phoenix. He began by acknowledging those who assisted the convention committee. He introduced Robert Williams, president of the Arizona Council of the blind who gave an overview of the Phoenix hotels and surrounding area of the 1992 convention. "We need ACB in Arizona," Williams told the convention. "The enthusiasm (about the 1992 convention) is high." The July 5th session opened with the report from Treasurer Brian Charlson. He said ACB's financial picture continues to improve, as does its ability to provide services to ACB members and friends. ACB's financial outlook will look even better, according to Charlson, now that ACB has taken over the management of its thrift stores. The stores were formerly managed by a management company which charged 12 percent of the gross profit of the thrift stores to manage them, Charlson said. "Jim Olsen and his management staff are managing those stores for approximately 2-and-a-half percent." He said ACB Enterprises and Services, the corporation which operates the thrift stores, is looking at possible diversification schemes which would further enhance ACB's financial picture. The banquet speaker for this year's convention was Lt. Col. Michael R. Turner, who served as Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf's briefing officer during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. "It was a tremendously fascinating experience," Turner recalled, "interesting, terrifying, extremely lonely." Turner expressed his views on why the United States went to war earlier this year. "In October, my grandmother wrote me a letter and said 'I don't like this. You're over there so that the price of gasoline at the pump will be five cents a gallon lower.' Wrong. We were over there to free Kuwait, that's true; I agree with that. I'm a firm believer in the fact that the United States is and always will be the good guy. We are, in addition to being the good guys, the most powerful guy on the block. Whether we like it or not, I think that bears an incumbent responsibility to do something about wrongdoing when we see it in the world. I don't think that should make us the world's policeman, but there are going to be situations in international politics whereby we are simply the only ones that are capable of doing anything." Turner used a slide presentation to explain how the war was won by the allied forces. He spoke of his feelings for Schwarzkopf, explaining that the two worked together closely throughout the conflict. "The one thing I can say about General Schwarzkopf, other than that he is the finest officer I've ever known, is that what you see is what you get. What you see in the press is General Schwarzkopf all the time. He is a tremendous family man, a man of extremely high integrity and character, and I would follow him anywhere. I cannot tell you how fortunate this country was to have that man in that place at that time." If Turner had high praise for Schwarzkopf, he had little appreciation for the way the war was covered by the press. "I got to sit in on a lot of the press briefings," he recalled, "and I saw what went on in the war room. I saw six or eight hours later what was reported in the press. (Cable News Network) and the international press was lagging about six to eight hours. The information that came out of the military briefing was pretty accurate. If it was freelance information they'd gotten on their own, it was pretty wacky, which we didn't object to. What I did object to was some of the military experts who got up on CBS news. It was the night before the ground attack, the 101st had gotten to the Euphrates and the Iraqis didn't know where they were. They'd swung 90 degrees and the order had gone out to be prepared to attack the next morning. This gentleman on CBS news took a light pen and described exactly where their positions were and exactly what they were going to do in the next 24 hours. I remember General Schwarzkopf sitting in that room and just shaking his head." During his briefing, Turner offered a variety of statistics on everything from weapon systems readiness to prisoners of war. But he said the war is far more than mere statistics. "War has a tendency to distill out the unimportant things in your life," he said. "I found when the war started that I wasn't really concerned whether we should be there or not, I was concerned about whether I would see Kathy and the kids again. Now that I'm back I hope that the lesson I can come out of the war with is that the really important things are the things that we really do have control over in our every day lives. If I could tell you one thing, it would be don't get so caught up in your daily existence that you lose sight of what really is important." The remainder of the convention's time during the July 5th and July 6th sessions was spent passing resolutions and amendments to the constitution and bylaws. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE REHABILITATION ACT by Paul W. Schroeder, Director of Governmental Affairs More than two billion dollars are spent each year to provide vocational and other rehabilitation services to Americans with disabilities. The services are provided by state agencies through a federal program, established by the rehabilitation act, which authorizes funding and sets minimum standards. SUMMARY OF THE ACT The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, is spread across seven titles. The Helen Keller National Center Act is also included in the reauthorization of the rehabilitation act. Title I contains the bulk of the requirements for case services along with the funding levels for the state program. It sets forth the type and scope of services, and the plan for provision of these services, required of each state vocational rehabilitation agency providing assistance to eligible individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment. Title I also establishes the very important Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program--"a contract" between the vocational rehabilitation counselor and the client which is to be jointly developed and reviewed annually. The IWRP includes the client's long- range rehabilitation goals, the vocational objective, the services which will be provided and an assessment of the need for post- employment services and, where appropriate, rehabilitation engineering services. It must also include a description of the assistance with appeals of vocational rehabilitation agency decisions available through the Client Assistance Program. The CAP itself is established in Title I. The other important rehabilitation act Title with respect to services is Title VII, which governs independent living services. These services are provided to people whose disabilities are so severe that they do not currently have the potential for employment, but who could benefit from services to function more independently. Funds are authorized under this Title for independent living services to be provided directly by state vocational rehabilitation agencies or through independent living centers. Title VII also contains Part C which establishes independent living services for older blind individuals. Additional services and supports are spelled out in Title III of the Act, along with authorization of funds to assist in training personnel and in the construction or expansion of facilities designed to provide vocational rehabilitation. A host of grants are provided to state agencies as well as to private organizations to carry out specific initiatives designed to improve services, expand the type of services available and demonstrate the efficacy of various models of service delivery. This Title along with Title II authorizes research and demonstration projects. Other Titles of the rehabilitation act govern: the National Council on Disability (Title IV); establishment of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, nondiscrimination by recipients of federal funds and electronic equipment accessibility (Title V); Supported employment and projects with industry (Title VI). CALLS FOR CHANGE In recent years, the American Council of the Blind has approved resolutions calling for change and improvements in rehabilitation services. For example, in Resolution 91-20, ACB reaffirmed support for an adequately funded formula-grant program to provide independent living services to older blind individuals; the creation of a commission to study education and rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired; and, establishment and continuation of separate agencies and specialized services to meet the needs of blind and visually impaired persons. (See "Summary of 1991 Resolutions" in this issue.) The Resolution also stated that ACB "vigorously supports the provision of rehabilitation services which lead to appropriate employment and dignified independence." In addition, that resolution calls for an examination of other critical issues such as expenditures for administration, physical restoration and case services; the provision of job placement and job development services; and client choice in selecting services and service providers. Other ACB resolutions address issues relevant to rehabilitation. Support for long-term training of specialists in the provision of services to blind people, and the need for increased federal funding for this purpose is contained in Resolution 89-15. In Resolution 90- 13, the Council supports a requirement that "at least one third of the board of any private agency for the blind which is certified for receiving rehabilitation act funds be composed of blind persons representing consumer organizations." And, of course, ACB has long supported appropriate accreditation of agencies serving the blind. Other thoughtful calls for change have emerged: simplifying eligibility determinations; accessibility of the Rehabilitation statute, associated regulations and case documents such as the IWRP; emphasis upon career rather than mere employment as the goal for vocational rehabilitation services; relax restrictions on the provision of post-employment services; and, assessment of the role of rehabilitation agencies and services with respect to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noting that ACB does not have an official position on many issues likely to emerge in the reauthorization debate, resolution 91-20 urges ACB's president to appoint a committee to "work with the president, the ACB board of directors and ACB staff on positions to be taken ... " The disability community, fresh from the victorious passage of the ADA, is ready to play a more significant role in the rewrite of the rehabilitation act. Ideas flow fast and furious: Consumer input into, or even control over, the development of the state plans to provide services under the Act; establish a system which would provide lifelong services; remove, or significantly alter, the case closure status; establish a "voucher" or client choice model of service delivery as a demonstration program; more support for advocacy training; and, increased funding and independence for independent living centers. THE REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS Two subcommittees--the Subcommittee on Select Education in the House of Representatives, and the Senate's Subcommittee on Disability Policy--are responsible for carrying out the bulk of the work in rewriting and reauthorizing the rehabilitation act. The Subcommittee on Select Education begins an examination of rehabilitation services and programs in hearings this fall. The Subcommittee on Disability Policy will hold hearings early in 1992. Initial drafts of new language for the rehabilitation act will probably begin to circulate through these subcommittees in December. At this time, Congressional staff and the administration are hesitant to go too far in dramatically altering the rehabilitation act. As the old cliche says, "if it ain't broke don't fix it," and they're not sure it's broke. Concerns are also raised about disability- specific services. As one key staff aide on Capitol Hill states emphatically, "My objective is to keep the disability community together." How do these views affect ACB's goal to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired receive the services they need from rehabilitation agencies and independent living service providers? That is one of many challenges facing us during this reauthorization process. However, challenges should lead to opportunities to improve rehabilitation services and programs. BUSH COMMEMORATES SIGNING OF ADA by Nicole E. Willson On the morning of July 26, 1991, President George Bush addressed senators, businessmen and disability leaders in a Rose Garden ceremony that commemorated the one-year anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Speaking to a crowd that included Vice President Dan Quayle, Attorney General Dick Thornburgh and Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan, the President gave a brief speech that touched upon both his memories of the signing of the bill and his expectations for the future of all civil rights legislation. After twice noting that several of the people in attendance had also witnessed the signing of the ADA a year ago, the President remarked on the feeling of "eager impatience" he sensed last year: "After all, the signing of the ADA didn't mark the end of a long struggle, it marked a beginning... We've made tremendous advances since that ceremony...and introduced changes that will transform people's worlds." Rather than elaborate on those advances and changes, Bush went on to make general observations on the quest for civil rights. He stressed the importance of inclusiveness in civil rights legislation. "The quest for civil rights...shouldn't mean advancing some at the expense of others...It's a crusade to throw open the doors of opportunity and tear down the walls of bigotry. (The ADA) works because it embodies what must be at the heart of all civil rights struggles, the spirit of inclusiveness, the devotion of individual rights and equal opportunity." At one point during his speech, the President worked a plug for Supreme Court nominee Judge Clarence Thomas into his theme of equal opportunity for all: "We see (the promise of equality) fulfilled by a man I presented to this nation four weeks ago, and we can be proud to live in a country whose highest court will include a man who understands the importance of basic American values: tolerance, industry and decency." Despite the aspersions that this statement cast on the values of the current members of the Supreme Court, President Bush made the point that Judge Thomas, who once worked at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, exemplified the idea of equal opportunity both in his work and in his life. Bush also made special mention of the members of the business community present, noting that, "American corporations, you see, are a vital part of this team and (their) support of the ADA is critical to its success." President Bush stated that businesses can only stand to benefit from "the wisdom, energy and industry of people who want just one thing: a fair chance." The day was significant for more than the one-year anniversary of the ADA signing. Bush said the ADA required five federal agencies to develop implementation regulations pertaining to employment, public accommodation, transportation and communications. Bush announced that the federal regulations of the Department of Justice, the EEOC and the FCC would be issued that day, and that the Department of Transportation's regulations would soon follow. Bush also mentioned that he would issue a memorandum to federal departments and agencies directing them to recruit people with disabilities and ensure that Americans with disabilities have equal access to federal programs. Upon the conclusion of his speech, disability leaders presented Bush with a book containing the signatures of 6,262 Americans with disabilities, in acknowledgement of his role in passing the ADA. The book's cover bore President Bush's statement, "Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down," which he made upon the signing of the ADA. TALKING BOOK LIBRARIAN WINS MEDIA AWARD Barbara Moyer, subregional librarian with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, was the 1991 recipient of the Vernon Henley Media Award. The award was presented by the Board of Publications of the American Council of the Blind during the 30th annual convention in Tampa, Fla. Moyer spearheaded an extensive public relations campaign in 1990 designed to introduce thousands of Floridians to the benefits of talking books. The campaign included numerous newspaper and magazine stories on the services available through the subregional library. Moyer's public relations package included T-shirts, buttons, and exhibits all featuring a specially-designed logo and slogan. In addition to the newspaper and magazine coverage, Moyer received extensive television reporting. "I want to thank you so much," Moyer said during the presentation of the award. "Recognition from our consumers is the highest praise there is. I'm just so honored that you selected our South Florida public awareness campaign for talking books for your Vernon Henley Award. I'm real proud to accept the award on behalf of the Miami -Dade Public Library System." Moyer referred to the campaign as "a team effort," giving credit to library patrons for their help in getting the word out to eligible talking book users. After accepting the award, Moyer presented t- shirts and buttons to Chris Gray, former chairman of the Board of Publications, and ACB President LeRoy Saunders. VENDORS WIN AND LOSE IN MINNESOTA by Charles S. P. Hodge, ACB Second Vice President As the old saying goes, "you win some, and you lose some." That statement was never more true than in the arbitration case between the Minnesota licensing agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs. For many years, the DVA and its administrative subunit, the Veterans Canteen Service, have operated vending machines on DVA property, bypassing state licensing agencies and their licensed blind vendors under the priority granted within the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Instead, the department contracted out the servicing and maintenance of such locations to commercial vending service contractors. (See "Summary of 1991 Resolutions" Resolution 91-24.) The Minnesota licensing agency operated one of the very few locations in the country on DVA property that had been granted to a licensed blind vendor. When the Department of Veterans Affairs threatened to remove the blind vendor from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at St. Cloud, Minn., in 1987, the Minnesota state licensing agency brought an administrative complaint against DVA before the U.S. Department of Education to determine its rights under the Act. The Department convened a three-member arbitration panel to decide the case. On August 8, 1991, the Department of Education released the final finding of the arbitration panel. In a two-to-one decision, the panel reaffirmed its holding, first announced in its interim decision of September 2, 1988, that the priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act does apply to vending machine locations on DVA property even where a veterans canteen is also operating under the aegis of the canteen service. The arbitration panel also held in the state licensing agency's favor on three other disputed points. First, the licensed blind vendor does not have to pay DVA a one-and-a-half percent commission for utility and storage services provided by DVA/VCS to the blind vendor. Second, DVA/VCS is not permitted under the Randolph-Sheppard Act to operate vending machines itself in direct competition with a licensed blind vendor at a DVA facility. Third, disputes which may arise under any operating agreement between the state licensing agency and DVA should first be resolved under the grievance arbitration mechanisms established under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and not, as DVA had argued, under the mechanisms established by the Contracts Disputes Act. However, on two crucial points, the arbitration panel ruled against the state licensing agency. First, despite its reiterated holding that the Randolph-Sheppard Act priority applied in this case, the panel held that DVA was not required to approve the permit application of the state licensing agency to operate the vending machine location in question in order to comply with the Randolph- Sheppard Act priority. DVA could insist that the state licensing agency operate the vending machine location under a contract similar to the ones it imposes upon its commercial vending service contractors, including the requirement that the state licensing agency pay DVA's canteen service a seventeen percent commission on gross sales. As pointed out in the dissenting opinion of Panel Member James Gashel, director of governmental affairs for the National Federation of the Blind, this holding in effect forces the state licensing agency to purchase the priority right, guaranteed under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, for its blind licensee, and would permit DVA to put the Act's priority up for sale whenever such an operating agreement comes up for renewal. This holding will also serve as a great disincentive for state licensing agencies to obtain DVA/VCS vending machine locations. The second adverse holding of the panel was that the contracts or operating agreements envisioned in its holding would be for a set term of five years after which the state licensing agency would have to bid in a competitive contract award in order to retain the location instead of being able to operate such locations under the usual vending machine permits, which are indefinite in their term and do not require periodic competition in order to retain the operating privilege. While the arbitration award in this case does constitute an important partial victory for the state licensing agency and its licensed blind vendor, and also resolves a number of vital issues under the Act, the adverse holdings of the panel will make DVA vending locations less than attractive for state licensing agencies and licensed blind vendors. The decision also does not satisfactorily resolve the issues raised in ACB Resolution 91-24. The Minnesota state licensing agency in consultation with the Attorney general of Minnesota now must decide whether or not to proceed to federal court to seek judicial review of the arbitration panel holdings. Thus the panel's decision may well only be the opening chapter of this legal saga. SUMMARY OF 1991 RESOLUTIONS 91-01: Urges the American Heart Association to provide informational materials in media accessible to the blind and visually impaired including braille, large print, and audiocassette. 91-02: Urges all major cable and over-the-air television networks, locally owned broadcast stations, and local cable companies to announce all telephone numbers and emergency information which appear on screen. Copies are to be mailed to the major networks, cable operators, the Federal Communications Commission, and to the presidents of state affiliates for dissemination to local broadcasters. 91-03: Endorses a statewide day of observance in Arizona to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Copies of the resolution are to be mailed to the governor and heads of the Arizona state legislature. Phoenix is the site for the 1992 ACB 31st Annual National Convention. 91-04: Encourages ACB's officers, board, affiliates, and national staff to take all necessary steps to reform our current health care financing and delivery structures in order to guarantee access to high- quality, comprehensive health care for all Americans, including catastrophic and long-term health care without regard to ability to pay, employment status, or disabling condition, pay for various medical supplies and services, and health care cost containment measures. 91-05: Authorizes ACB leaders and staff to work with a public transit coalition known as "Transit Now" to increase federal funding for public transportation and reduce the disparity between the federal match for highways and public transportation. 91-06: Affirms ACB's support for comprehensive amendments to the Civil Rights Act such as those included in HR 1; it authorizes ACB staff members to work with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights toward passage of comprehensive amendments in the 102nd Congress, and expresses support for strengthening the remedies and enforcement available under Title VII which apply to individuals alleging employment discrimination on the basis of disability. 91-07: Calls for the prompt revision of elementary, secondary school, and college curricula to incorporate accurate information about disabilities and to emphasize the capabilities of disabled persons, as well as the kinds of reasonable accommodation needed to enable them to achieve full participation in society. Copies of the resolution are to be mailed to various teachers unions, textbook publishers, and state affiliates for local dissemination. 91-08: Supports the provision of printed material by government agencies and business entities in a variety of accessible formats for the benefit of individuals unable to read braille. 91-09: Urges companies producing and/or distributing computer products intended for use by blind individuals to provide complete and thorough instructional material in accessible media. It further calls upon those companies to extensively publicize the existence of accessible documentation both by direct mail and through announcements in publications targeted to blind and partially sighted readers. The resolution is to be mailed to the major producers and distributors of access technology. 91-10: Calls upon the Board of Directors of the Hadley School for the Blind to reconsider its decision to discontinue offering modern foreign language courses. The resolution is to be mailed to Hadley's president and board of directors. 91-11: Affirms ACB's support for both residential school funding and the broader, less specialized funding of education for disabled children under PL 94-142. It urges that both programs be funded and kept structurally and economically separate. 91-12: Calls upon the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and other appropriate federal agencies to develop and disseminate standards regarding the design, placement, operation, and maintenance of audible traffic signals. It encourages ACB's Environmental Access Committee to work with the Access Board to and others to develop such standards as soon as possible. Copies of the resolution are to be mailed to the Access Board and other appropriate agencies. 91-13: Requests that the Internal Revenue Service include information about both the disabled access and targeted jobs tax credits and other appropriate provisions of the tax code as part of its small business workshop package. It also requests that the IRS print information about the tax credits in its Tax Guide for Small Businesses. Copies of the resolution are to be mailed to IRS, Department of Justice, and Small Business Administration officials. 91-14: Instructs the ACB Convention Coordinator, convention committee, and Board of Directors to make all reasonable efforts to have hotel registration handled directly by the convention hotels. 91-15: Directs the ACB National Office staff to communicate to ACB state and local affiliates the ADA access standards relevant to blind and visually impaired people. 91-16: States that ACB strongly opposes the centralized distribution of braille books and playback equipment provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Copies of the resolution are to be mailed to the Librarian of Congress and appropriate U.S. House and Senate committees, and NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke. 91-17: States that ACB opposes the expenditure of funds by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for the purpose of studying a plan to centralize the distribution of braille materials and playback equipment. It is to be mailed to the Librarian of Congress, NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke, and appropriate House and Senate committees. 91-18: Adopts the position that consumer demand should take precedence over established category of excluded publishers with reference to recorded, braille, and large print book collection development at NLS. NLS currently excludes books published by vanity presses from its collection. 91-19: Authorizes ACB's elected officials and staff to work with appropriate federal and state agencies and others to develop a public awareness campaign to alert motorists of the importance of stopping before turning right at red lights. The resolution will be distributed to state affiliate leaders for dissemination to motor vehicle departments. 91-20: Authorizes President LeRoy Saunders to appoint an advisory committee of at least three members to work with the president, board of directors, and ACB staff members on positions to be taken during the reauthorization of the rehabilitation act. 91-21: Reaffirms ACB's support for qualified braille instruction for blind and visually impaired students for whom it is appropriate. It urges state and local ACB affiliates to seek administrative and statutory changes designed to foster braille instruction. It names the ACB National Office to serve as a clearinghouse to disseminate state braille bills and other background information. Copies are to be mailed to state affiliate leaders. 91-22: Authorizes ACB's special-interest affiliate, Guide Dog Users, Inc., to work jointly with other ACB representatives to establish a liaison relationship with the Assistance Dogs International to promote quality services and joint legislation where appropriate. Assistance Dogs International deals with service dogs used to aid people who are deaf or who have mobility impairments. 91-23: Commends ACB's board of directors for their efforts in approving the purchase and use of technology that results in accessible material being made available by the national office to ACB members and others. It instructs the board and staff to continue to acquire and use suitable equipment to provide material in braille, large print, cassette tape, and computer disk. The resolution does not mandate that ACB use its braille and large printing capabilities to produce The Braille Forum, convention programs or other lengthy documents. The resolution requests that the president include an update in his 1992 convention report which should detail the progress made toward providing materials in an accessible format. 91-24: Mandates that ACB join with its special-interest affiliate, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to honor the blind priority for the operation of vending machines and other facilities on federal property under its jurisdiction. The resolution requests that the U. S. Department of Education monitor the policies and practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to its compliance of the requirements of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. It calls upon all state licensing agencies administering the Randolph-Sheppard Act to apply to DVA for permits for licensed blind vendors to operate, service and maintain all vending machine locations within their respective jurisdictions. The resolution calls upon ACB to take necessary legal steps to enforce the provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act whenever such permit applications are denied. It calls for a joint effort on the part of ACB, the National Council of State Agencies Serving the Blind, and the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America in achieving these objectives. 91-25: Urges the designers and developers of electrically powered automobiles to seek input from ACB members and others regarding the use of appropriate sound-emitting equipment which would make the very quiet electric cars easier to detect by blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to appropriate federal agencies and to the designers and developers in the auto industry. 91-26: States that ACB strongly disagrees with any implied position putting the Rehabilitation Services Administration in opposition to environmental adaptations currently proposed by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. This resolution stems from remarks made by Nell Carney, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, in which she said she has "understanding and appreciation" for the position taken by the National Federation of the Blind which opposes the environmental adaptations for the blind proposed by ATBCB. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. 91-27: Encourages the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to add a career-oriented periodical to its magazine collection. 91-28: Urges various youth organizations to increase the volume and scope of materials for their blind and visually impaired members and leaders, making those materials available at costs comparable to regular print materials. The resolution is to be sent to the national boards of directors of all youth organizations. 91-29: Expresses appreciation to Rep. Edward Roybal, D-Calif., for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of older blind individuals. The resolution expresses ACB's support for HR2437, a bill which would provide $26 million for funding of programs for elderly blind people under Title VII Part C of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to Roybal and Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. 91-30: Expresses appreciation to Rep. Tom Campbell, D-Calif., for his work to improve employment opportunities for blind Social Security Disability Income beneficiaries. It expresses ACB's support for further legislation designed to improve incentives to work for blind SSDI beneficiaries. Copies are to be sent to Campbell and relevant House and Senate committee members. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE REPORT by Stephen Speicher, Committee Chairman This year's convention passed two amendments to the bylaws. The first changes Bylaw 6 Section C Paragraph 1 subparagraph C by changing 30 minutes to 10 minutes. The effect of this amendment is to limit to 10 minutes the time allowed to each side in credentials debates. The second amendment limits the number of affiliate votes which can be cast by any one individual. This amendment added to the end of Bylaw 8 Section A the following new sentence: "No person shall serve as official delegate and/or alternate to the convention for more than one affiliated organization, unless such person is the only voting member present at the convention from each of the affiliated organizations to be represented by such person." President Saunders has asked me to serve as chair of the Constitution and Bylaws committee for the coming year. If you have any thoughts or suggestions you wish the committee to consider, please call me at (402) 475-8355 weekdays or (402) 489-7836 evenings and weekends before 9 p.m. central time. 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. SKI FOR LIGHT The 17th annual Ski for Light week will be held from February 2 to February 9, 1992 at the Inn at Silver Creek in Grandby, Colo. Participants need not be athletes, but must be at least 18 years old. The total cost of the week, including room, board, ground transportation to and from the Denver airport, and a small registration fee, is $475. First-time participants will be given necessary ski equipment. All participants must pay their own way from their homes to Denver. Interested persons should contact Celeste Lopes, 25 Helen Ave., Plainview, NY 11803. Tel. (516) 935-4670 evenings before 10:30 p.m. If you respond in print, please send type-written material. TALKING APPLES AND MORE The American Printing House for the Blind announces Textalker-gs, an updated screen access program for the Apple IIGS. gs] The program runs on an Apple IIGS with 512K RAM. An Echo Commander synthesizer is required. The program costs $34.50. APH also offers a floppy disk edition of the "Apple IIGS Owner's Guide" for $5, according to "The APH Slate," Summer 1990. APH also sells a battery-powered talking book machine designed for portability. It includes a variety of features. It costs $375. According to the newsletter, APH is also releasing "Parents and Visually Impaired Infants," designed to help parents of visually impaired babies become involved as primary members of the intervention team. The entire set costs $26. APH has reduced prices for database searches on APH-CARL, the company's computerized cataloguing system. Individuals wishing to search for information on APH-CARL must have a personal computer, modem, and telecommunications program. For additional information on any APH product listed, contact The American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, 1839 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206-0085. Tel. (502) 895-2405. BI-LINGUAL CHIPS Today's synthetic voice chips are increasingly multi-lingual, according to "AFB News," Summer 1990. The American Foundation for the Blind's new catalogue titled "Products for People With Vision Problems" offers a variety of products which speak languages other than English, the article explains. The catalogue offers a talking watch which announces the time in both English and Spanish; a Spanish-speaking bathroom scale is also available. AFB also announces French and Spanish versions of a talking blood glucose monitoring kit. AFB's catalogue, available free in print or braille, features more than 400 household, business, recreational, and health care products. To order the catalogue write the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. Tel. (212) 620-2000. BRAILLE MANUAL A three-volume hardcover users' manual for the Braille 'N Speak is now available. The $35 manual contains complete descriptions of all the commands. According to "VISTA News" Fall 1990, this is the only braille edition available until next year. Send check or money order payable to Kentucky NAPUB to Braille Action Laboratory, Life Sciences Building, Room 358, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292. TECH FUNDING TAPES For many individuals who need assistive technology devices or services, the biggest barriers are determining who will pay and how can they be motivated to pay. The Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America offers a six-cassette publication on funding assistive technology. The recordings are excerpts from a conference on funding technology sponsored by RESNA in March 1990. The tapes cost $30. For more information, contact Patricia Beattie, RESNA Technical Assistance Project, Suite 700, 1101 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20036. Tel. (202) 857-1140. LOUISIANA COOKING The Louisiana Council of the Blind is selling "Madame Sauce Piquante's Cookbook II" in large print and braille, according to "The LCB Slate," September 1990. The three-volume braille edition costs $20; the 18-point type large print edition is $12.50. Make check or money order payable to the Louisiana Council of the Blind, 1894 Dallas Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Tel. (504) 925-1635. MAGNIFIER CATALOGUE Eschenbach Optik of America offers a 12-page catalogue of new illuminated magnifiers. According to the American Council of the Blind of Indiana newsletter "Focus" 1990-03, the catalogue offers battery- powered magnifiers with a variety of options. To obtain a catalogue, write Eschenbach Optik of America, 25 November Trail, Weston, CT 06883. Tel. (203) 227-9409. BRAILLE LITERACY The American Foundation for the Blind has published "Braille Literacy," a pamphlet which discusses the braille literacy crisis in America and presents possible solutions. To order (print or braille), write American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. Tel. (212) 620-2000. BIBLE CONCORDANCE The Braille Bible Foundation has released a three-volume braille concordance to the Bible, according to "The LCB Slate," December 1990, the newsletter of the Louisiana Council of the Blind. For more information about the concordance or other materials offered by the foundation, contact The Braille Bible Foundation, P.O. Box 948307, Maitland, FL 32795-8307. Tel. (407) 897-3367. SSI STUDY How is it that one person qualifies for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance while someone else in similar circumstances does not? That's the issue the Senate Special Committee on Aging addressed at hearings late last year. According to the "National Academy of Social Insurance Update," August 1990, evidence exists that the Social Security Administration faces an increasing backlog of delays in the processing of claims and in the performance of continuing disability reviews in the Disability Insurance and SSI income programs. A General Accounting Office study found that 58 percent of those denied benefits were not working three years later. When compared to those who were awarded benefits, they were found to have similar health problems. The issue raised by the GAO study is whether people are being improperly denied. A recent survey by state disability determination directors found that 72 percent of the states do not have adequate staff to process cases in a timely manner, further compounding the problem for applicants. SPECIAL ED POLICY The Office of Special Education Programs, a division of the department of education, has released a policy letter regarding the role of assistive technology as it applies to special education programs. The policy reads as it appeared in "The Assistive Technology Quarterly," Fall 1990. "School districts cannot presumptively deny assistive technology to a student with a disability. The need for assistive technology must be considered on an individual case-by-case basis in the development of a child's individual education program (IEP); assistive technology can be special education or a related service; assistive technology can also be a form of supplementary aid or service utilized to facilitate a child's education in a regular education environment; if participants on the IEP team determine a child requires assistive technology in order to receive a free appropriate public education and designates such assistive technology as either special education or a related service, then the services must be provided at no cost to the parents." For more information on the policy clarification, contact Dr. Judy Schrag, Director, Office of Special Education Programs, 330 C St. S.W., Washington, DC 20202. GOLD MEDAL WINNER Blind Cyclist Laura Oftedahl of Watertown, MA won the gold medal in the Tandem Cycling Mixed Class at the U.S. Disabled Sports Championships held at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y., last July. Oftedahl, the host and producer of "ACB Reports," rode to victory in the 100K race in three minutes six seconds. "My goal is to finish in the top five in the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain," says the 39-year-old Oftedahl. "I finished seventh at the World Championships (France) in 1990, now I want to do better." Oftedahl, development manager for WGBH-TV's Descriptive Video Service in Boston, and Pilot Richard Mlyranek of Boston trained six days a week, including three days of 25 100-mile workouts. COMPUTER ACCESSORIES Blazie Engineering announces a new device which allows people with limited hand dexterity to operate the Braille 'n Speak with one hand. According to a press release, the company also offers a battery powered portable disk drive which can work in conjunction with the Braille 'n Speak. For more information, contact Blazie Engineering, 3660 Mill Green Rd., Street, MD 21154. Tel. (301) 879-4944. TALKING WATCH Style Asia, Inc. currently offers a talking watch which can be set by a blind person. The watch sells for $20 plus $6 shipping. The company accepts COD orders only. The watch operates on three button batteries, (included), has an alarm which sounds like two roosters crowing, and can be optionally programmed by the user to announce the time every hour. The watch is black, and is very similar in size to other digital watches on the market for sighted people. While there is no way to adjust the volume, the watch is loud enough to be easily heard in most situations, but not overly loud. For a braille catalogue and price list, or to order the watch, contact Style Asia, Inc. by calling (800) 522-7465. WATCH THAT WATCH A new watch for visually impaired people is now available from Maxi-Aids. The watch offers higher contrast than do other similar products. It is swiss made and offers quartz movement. Contact Maxi- Aids, P.O. Box 3209, Farmingdale, NY 11735. CHECK OUT THE CHECKS If you're a computer user, your checkbook and your PC can get cozier than ever thanks to a new product from Accessible Technology. The company offers tractor-feed business and personal checks which have a lengthened, bold, embossed signature line, according to the newsletter of the Iowa Council of the United Blind. The signature line has starting and ending tabs to more clearly define it. The business and personal checks come in a variety of sizes and styles. The checks are standard, printed by an authorized bank check printing company, and can be used at any financial institution in the country. For more information, contact Accessible Technologies, 3201 W. Clinton Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85029. VOICE ACTIVATED PC "Look, Ma! No keyboard!" If typing into a computer isn't a key to personal success for you, Dragon Systems, Inc. may have the answer. The company offers speech recognition software which allows you to speak to your computer and have your words appear on the screen. DragonDictate is billed by its manufacturer as "the first commercial general-purpose voice-driven typewriter," according to a press release. The system includes a 30,000-word vocabulary and learns the speaker's style rather than forcing the speaker to use pre-set word patterns. Product users claim text can be created at between 25 to 40 words per minute. It runs on an IBM PC or compatible AT 386 machine and requires MB8 of RAM. The $9,000 package includes the speech recognition software and an internal board. For more information, contact Dragon Systems, Inc., 90 Bridge St., Newton, MA 02158. Tel. (617) 965-5200. AUDIO COLORS It's one thing to hear a verbal description of a work of art. Now a St. Paul, Minn., company offers computer software designed to musically interpret colors in 11 famous paintings, according to a press release. Cilantro Computing Services, Inc. offers Pixound, a $79 program which works on IBM or MS-DOS-compatible and Amiga computers equipped with a mouse and a MIDI synthesizer. The user selects from a list of paintings or imports a graphic of his own design. The computer then composes music which corresponds with the light and dark colors in the graphic. The music is created based on the blue, red, and green content in a picture. For more information, contact Cilantro Computing Services, Inc., 2277 W. Highway 36, Suite 224, St. Paul, MN 55113. Tel. (612) 636-5777. TSI OFFERS BRAILLE-MATE Telesensory Systems, Inc. announces the availability of Braille- Mate, a portable note-taking device which includes both a braille display and a speech synthesizer. The one-pound machine comes complete with carrying case, manuals, and a variety of cables. The machine includes an eight-dot braille display which varies in length between 20 and 80 cells, depending on the model. For more information, contact Telesensory Systems, Inc., 455 N. Bernardo Ave., P.O. Box 7455, Mountain View, CA 94039-7455. Tel. (800) 227-8418. DICTIONARY ON DISK A 59,000-word dictionary is now available on MS-DOS compatible computer disks, according to "CCLVI News 1991-01." The dictionary is reportedly speech accessible. It includes a Terminate and Stay Resident program which allows you to call up words with the touch of a key. The dictionary offers only main definitions of words and does not include pronunciation indicators. The shareware program called the "JORJ Dictionary" is available on some computer bulletin boards. The $30 registration fee entitles you to program updates costing $5 each and a word game. For more information, contact JORJ Software, 4354 Fletcher Rd., Manchester, MI 48158. Tel. (313) 428-8010. LOW-PRICED AND PORTABLE L S and S Group announces the availability of EZ Reader. The company says it's the first portable reading system for low vision users priced under $1,000. It attaches to any television and to most computer monitors. The eight-ounce handset does not require focusing, since it is placed directly on the material being read. A company spokesperson says the machine can read both flat and curved surfaces. A slightly more expensive companion to the EZ Reader has also been introduced which allows low vision users to write under the camera. For more information, contact L S and S Group, P.O. Box 673, Northbrook, IL 60065. Tel. Toll-free (800) 468-4789. FREE "READER'S DIGEST" Those interested in receiving a free flexible disc edition of "The Reader's Digest" may do so beginning with the January 1992 edition, according to a press release from the American Printing House for the Blind. Those who received the magazine from their regional libraries may receive it directly from APH, and may keep their copy. If you are interested in receiving the flexible disc edition free of charge, please notify APH in writing. No phone calls. Contact APH Magazine Department, P.O. Box 6389, Louisville, KY 40206. The braille edition of "The Reader's Digest" will continue to be mailed to readers free, and the cassette edition will continue to be available by subscription for $16.80 for one year or $8.40 for six months. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Brand new AFB Braille wind-up lady's gold watch, $40. Also Braille Webster's 36-volume dictionary, excellent condition $150. Contact Kathleen O'Brien, 170-40 Highland Ave. Apt. 208, Jamaica, NY 11432. Tel. (718) 523-4958. FOR SALE: Complete 12-volume large print copy of "Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases," like new, $75; Also, complete seven-volume braille set of "The American West Pocket Dictionary" for $30; also, complete five-volume large print "American Heritage Dictionary," $50; Also, "The Holy Bible, Old Testament" on 33-1/3 records, brand new, still in plastic wrapping, $25; Also, Type and Talk speech synthesizer with cable, includes manuals and installation instructions, $150; also, Smith Corona large print manual typewriter with carrying case, needs new ribbon, otherwise in very good condition, $25. Contact Celeste at (516) 935-4670 evenings. FOR SALE: Visualtech RS-10 reader/magnifier. Includes camera and 19-inch monitor, excellent condition, manuals and other information included. $700 or best offer. Contact Charles Thomson, 121 Timothy St., Bricktown, NJ 08724. Tel. (908) 840-1598 after 6 p.m. eastern time. FOR SALE: Electric Webster Spell Checker for use with VersaBraille II Plus. $100. Includes cassette and print manuals and braille reference information guide. Contact: Ed Sroczynski, 22 Old Hook Rd., Apt. #1, Westwood, NJ 07675. Tel. (201) 664-2602 evenings. WANTED TO BUY: Hard disk drive compatible with the Apple II GS. Contact Jim East, 1515 Truewood Ln., Fern Park, FL 32730. Tel. (407) 331-1184. NEEDED: Sections from the Votrex Votalker manual. Forum Editor Nolan Crabb will pay for copies of pages of the Votrex Votalker manual which include dip switch and jumper settings. Votrex no longer supports the unit, nor does it offer any extra manuals. Anyone who has a Votalker manual and would be willing to send photocopied pages (not the entire manual, just those pages which deal with the switch settings), please contact Nolan Crabb at the ACB National Office. ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Robert Acosta, 20734-C Devonshire, Chatsworth, CA 91311 Patricia M. Beattie, Crystal Towers #206 N., 1600 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202 Michael Byington, 909 S.W. College, Topeka, KS 66606 Ninetta Garner, 231 N. Grafton St., Romney, WV 26757 John A. Horst, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 Grant Mack,139 E. South Temple, Suite 5000, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Jean Mann, 6D Downing Sq., Guilderland, NY 12084 Durward K. McDaniel, J.D., 5816 Gloucester Ln., Austin, TX 78723 Dick Seifert, 1023 Scott St. Apt. F, Little Rock, AR 62202 Stephen Speicher, 825 M St., Suite 412, Lincoln, NE 68508 Otis H. Stephens, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, University of Tennessee, 1001 McClung Tower, Knoxville, TN 37996-0410 Board of Publications Billie Jean Hill, 737 N. Buchanan St., Arlington, VA 22203 Edward Potter, 1308 Evergreen Ave., Goldsboro, NC 27530 Carol McCarl, 735 21st Pl., Salem, OR 97304 Phyllis Stern, 922 North Blvd., Apt. #502, Oak Park, IL 60301-1243 Dana Walker, 341 Eagerton, Montgomery, AL 36116 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 5707 BROCKTON DR. #302 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220-5443 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON