THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXI September 1992 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, 6:00 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only, tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1992 The American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: An Update On Priorities For The '90s News Briefs From the ACB National Office Legislative Update Board Approves Final Debt Payment, Boosts Forum Schedule ACB's 31st Convention In Retrospect Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Nearly Complete American Council of the Blind Awards Scholarships to 17 Outstanding Blind Students My Day in Court: The Chicago Episode In A Senseless Vendetta Summary of 1992 Resolutions Affiliate News Roundup Here And There High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: AN UPDATE ON PRIORITIES FOR THE '90S by LeRoy F. Saunders Note: The following is the full text of an address delivered by President Saunders at the ACB 31st Annual National Convention in Phoenix. A detailed report on the convention sessions will appear in the October issue. Two years ago, I presented to the convention ten priorities that I thought ACB should establish for the 90's. With some minor changes, the list was adopted by our board, and we've been trying to follow these priorities ever since. I would like to update you on what we've already done with them, and what we hope to do with them in the future. I'm sure that all of you realize that our resources are frequently devoted to circumstances that none of us can anticipate. Matters that need immediate action can arise suddenly. Therefore, we're constantly having to shift our resources from one situation to another just to take care of what's happening at that particular time. The first priority we had was the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act, which we have been heavily involved with this year. I appointed a committee to provide advice and input pertaining to ACB's Resolution 91-20. That committee has met by conference call three times and provided frequent advice to me and to Paul Schroeder, the Director of Governmental Affairs. Paul Schroeder also worked with the Legislative Working Group, a coalition of all the national organizations representing the blind in the city. They meet on an every-other-week basis to review what each organization has done, as well as to discuss developments in Congress. We have provided written responses to the Senate and House Subcommittee Staff on draft resolution legislation, and met with Senate and House committee staff on issues of importance to the blind. Paul Schroeder has provided input at meetings of the House Subcommittee on Select Education staff. Several articles were published in the "Braille Forum" to inform members about the Rehabilitation Act issues. (See "Challenges and Opportunities: The Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act," September/October 1991 and "Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act," May 1992.) Several messages were included on the Washington Connection about urgent, specific action needed by members in support of ACB positions. Information was also transmitted by "ACB Reports." Paul Schroeder submitted a taped alert to ACB affiliates and presidents in June regarding the need for important actions in support of certain rehabilitation act issues. The accomplishment from all this: the House Subcommittee draft contains the study commission on the rehabilitation and education of the blind, as well as the formula funding for the older blind independent living under Section 7C of the Rehab Act. The house subcommittee was receptive to language to ensure consumer protection with respect to choice in the Rehabilitation Act. Since its establishment, ACB has wanted to work within the system and encourage change where it was needed, but has been interested in building on what is there rather than disrupting and rearranging everything. On our committee, we have two directors of state agencies serving the blind, but these directors have to recognize the fact that even though we are cooperative--we want to work with them, and we intend to work with them--we will not always agree with them. There are times that we feel like things need to be done that they're not too sure need to be done, and since we represent the blind of this country and the consumers, we have no choice but to stand firm occasionally. The second priority was the input for implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA is really just getting started. The key implementation date was the 26th of July, so we'll be working with ADA for quite some time. I happen to be in the district of a congressman in Oklahoma by the name of Mickey Edwards, who has placed a bill in congress to appeal the ADA. I think he has as much chance of getting re-elected in Oklahoma as his bill does of passing in Congress! We have broadened the priority of implementation so that we can continue working with the ADA as it becomes active in the states. We had a session about the ADA on July 4 to inform our members, but please realize that there's only so much that ACB can do in your states. It's up to you in your states to make sure that ADA gets implemented properly. We can assist you and send you information, but the powers that be in your state listen to you. They don't listen to people in Washington. So it will depend entirely on how much activity you put into it. We have responded to working with Notices of Proposed RuleMaking consistent with our discussion last December. We will be expanding this priority as we continue to implement the ADA. ACB has responded to the NPRM's studies in setting forth the regulations and implementing ADA. ACB has responded to notices such as the Architectural Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's request for comments on a five-year plan for ADA and other accessibility research. ACB has requested support from affiliates for a letter to the ATBCB on their mission. Extensive articles have been published in the "Braille Forum" informing members of ADA requirements of particular interest to blind people. Members were informed by the Washington Connection and "ACB Reports" about where to obtain ADA regulations in accessible form. A packet of ADA-related requirements has been drafted and is available in braille, large print, cassette and electronic file for use by ACB affiliates and members. All of these are great accomplishments. A third priority is separate state agency service for the blind. Articles were published in the "Braille Forum" on the battle of the separate state agencies in Mississippi. ACB offered advice and consultation to several state affiliates who were working to keep their separate state agencies. Members should insist on better-prepared and more confident personnel to instruct individuals in teaching and training blind persons. We wanted more input by blind people serving on government bodies of service agencies. We worked with the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired to preserve government boards for the agencies serving the blind. ACB has supported requirements for more consumer input into the rehabilitation agencies, a broadened access to braille teaching in all schools and agencies, and improvements in the way braille is taught. ACB has assisted state affiliates in working on braille skills. ACB has encouraged affiliates and members to work on braille bills, particularly through "ACB Reports." Articles were published in the "Braille Forum" highlighting work on the Maryland Braille Bill, which ACB of Maryland was instrumental in passing. Bay State Council has helped to draft a bill and the California Council is working hard on a braille bill. Louisiana Council is also working on revisions to a Louisiana bill. We must also work towards ensuring that all information is made available in an accessible format to visually-impaired people, including, but not limited to, all aspects of telephone companies, as well as computer access, including graphic user interface. ACB staff has been working extensively with individuals interested in telecommunication issues to ensure access to people with visual impairments. We have organized a CCD ad hoc task force on communications access which is actively working on various telecommunication legislation. ACB is also promoting access to information in accessible forms. The telecommunications industry is working with ACB and others to come to an agreement on language. ACB members are also working to ensure that all blind persons at whatever age have access to education delivered in the most enabling environment. What I'm hoping to do is to appoint a committee to work with this issue. I would like the committee to do the following: 1. To write an ACB position paper detailing the most enabling environment for educating children and youth who are blind. 2. To respond to the national call for education improvement to ensure that the needs of blind students are met. 3. To cooperate with the Study Commission on Education and Rehabilitation. 4. To consider legislation such as P.L. 89-313, Early Intervention Services under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, along with the federal appropriations issues. 5. To address higher education issues such as the responsibility for reader services in the higher education setting. This ACB committee should have broad representation. I would suggest the following: A representative of residential programs; a representative of local public school programs; two parents; an academic from one of the teacher training programs; and a recent graduate from a public and/or a residential school, possibly both. That's basically what we've done with these priorities during this year. As you can see we have utilized our time as best as possible to carry these out as well as we could. I would like now to tell you about some upcoming events. If you recall, last year in Tampa, Alexandre Neumyvakin, the president of the All Russia Association of the Blind, spoke at our convention. He invited ACB to have six people visit Russia so, in his words, they could see what the Russians are doing in training and working with their blind people, as well as for cultural exchange. I would like to let you know the people who have been selected to make this trip. I will be going, as will Pamela Shaw, Jim Olsen, Carol McCarl, Otis Stephens, and Mary Otten. We will arrive in Russia on the 29th of August and return on the 6th of September. It's difficult for me to pick six people out of a membership like we have, but since you pay me so well I don't mind doing these tough jobs! Also last year, a resolution was passed pertaining to accreditation. The board of directors has asked that I set up a summit on accreditation. I intend to do so and I made some proposals to our board of directors at our post- convention board meeting on Saturday. I want you to understand something: This will not be a summit on the National Accreditation Council. This will be a summit on accreditation. We will be trying to look at the best way to evaluate services which are provided to blind people during the '90s. Also, we will try to find a way for agencies or services to be evaluated not only by how well they're staffed but by how good a job they do. For example, if we're reviewing a vocational training course, we want to know how many people are really getting employed. I proposed to our board that we have this meeting next spring, probably in late March or mid April. I intend to work closely with the Department of Education in setting up this meeting. I have talked to a person I know well whose name is Dr. Frank Dickey, a past president of the University of Kentucky. He is very respected in the accreditation field, and has worked in it for many years. I've asked him if he would chair this summit for us. I hope to be able to put together three parts in this summit: to get input from those in the accreditation field on what they think needs to be changed for the '90s; to hear from consumers as to what they think is necessary; and to hear from the providers. Hopefully, this information will tell us what work needs to be done in accreditation and evaluation of agencies and services for the blind. We have done extremely well financially in the last two years. As you know, a year ago last November, we took over the operation of our thrift stores. Under the guidance of Jim Olsen and the board of directors of ACBES, and the encouragement of the ACB board of directors, we're doing much better with thrift stores. And as of right now, this organization is basically free of debt. We will be making some modifications in our budget for the rest of the year, because one of the things that Oral Miller and I are recommending to our board of directors is a new staff position. This staff member would primarily work with our state affiliates in addition to other duties. Because our financial situation has improved so much, and because so many things are changing in this country, I am going to also recommend to the board of directors that our board meeting in October be used as a planning session. We need to start doing some strategic planning of this organization for the next five to ten years. If we don't plan our future, then we will end up having a lot of things that won't be coordinated too well. It's been a good year and we've accomplished a lot. We are very pleased with our financial situation, but I have to say that our accomplishments are due to the hard work of many people. I have many people assisting me, in addition to our staff, Oral Miller, Jim Olsen, our board of directors, and the hundred people who have to be appointed to committees, but most importantly, all of you. I have the opportunity to meet many of you and wish I could meet with all of you. This is a progressive organization, and with your help it will continue to be so. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative The ACB National Office routinely receives many more invitations to attend organizational receptions and similar activities than it is possible to accept, so the few that can be attended are usually very important for liaison, networking, and program consultation purposes. For example, the ACB staff members who attended the June reception welcoming the Washington unit of Recording for the Blind to its new uptown facilities were pleased to commend RFB for the outstanding job it has traditionally done and for expanding its services as outlined by its executive director in presentations at recent ACB national conventions. Likewise, the brief time which some staff members spent at one of the functions during the recent national convention of the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services gave them an opportunity to exchange information with other advocates who are involved in helping to solve the problems of disabled people on a daily basis. One of the truly important events on the advocacy coordination schedule each year in Washington is the awards dinner of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of approximately 180 national organizations (including the American Council of the Blind) dedicated to protecting the civil rights of all citizens. The American Council of the Blind was the first organization made up of disabled people to join the LCCR, which has been a strong ally in support of many legislative objectives sought by ACB over the years--objectives such as the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act, and the Fair Housing Act amendments. ACB, which coordinated the seating for a complete table, was represented at the 1992 awards dinner by Second Vice President Charles Hodge, "Braille Forum" Editor Nolan Crabb, Director of Governmental Affairs Paul Schroeder, and National Representative Oral Miller. The event was especially appropriate this year because one of the honored award recipients was Patricia Wright, a legally blind attorney with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund who worked tirelessly for passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act and for the adoption of appropriate regulations thereunder. The event also honored Rev. Benjamin Hooks, a long-time friend of ACB and the retiring executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. No, problems don't go away immediately after regulations are adopted. In fact, regulations frequently create new problems or concerns; and as a result, it is very advisable that monitoring procedures be established. For approximately the past year, the National Council On Disability has been conducting a monitoring project entitled "ADA Watch." Recently, NCOD conducted a hearing on Capitol Hill concerning the implementation of the ADA. It was my pleasure to testify regarding transportation issues with an emphasis on paratransit service. As part of my testimony, I summarized the difficulty which blind people have been encountering in obtaining regulations and other material from the Department of Transportation in an accessible medium. Eureka! The Department of Transportation official who testified on the panel with me responded quickly, and by the next day, we had received a commitment regarding the delivery of tape recorded regulations, which were then delivered very promptly. Such timely action by the Department of Transportation does not mean, however, that questions may not continue to arise involving blind people and paratransit service. Accordingly, readers of "The Braille Forum" should remain diligent concerning misinterpretations and misapplications of the regulations by local transportation providers. The horror stories which we receive from members underscore the need for continued diligence and advocacy by knowledgeable consumers. The American Council of the Blind is frequently asked by various federal agencies to recommend knowledgeable consumers to be invited to provide input on various specialized subjects, and often those requests specifically ask for someone from "outside the Beltway." The Congressional Office for Technology Assessment recently asked for such recommendations in connection with a workshop which it was mandated to conduct in connection with the requirement in the ADA to study the accessibility of highway buses. We commended the agency first for recognizing that, although physical accessibility of buses may be of primary interest to people with mobility disabilities, the needs and concerns of blind and visually impaired people should also be taken into consideration as part of the overall picture. ACB was capably represented at the workshop by Joyce Driben of Pittsburgh. Joyce is an active member of Guide Dog Users, Inc., the ACB Social Service Providers, and the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind. Readers are reminded that ACB staff members continue in contact with other consumer organizations and representatives of the national telecommunications industry regarding the needs of disabled people and potential legislation relating thereto. Reports will be published from time to time as specific progress is made in this extremely important area. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs Here is a brief update on legislation of concern to the American Council of the Blind. BRAILLE LITERACY WEEK The declaration of Braille Literacy Week is moving. By the time you read this, we expect that H.J. Res. 353, the resolution sponsored by Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., will have passed the House of Representatives. In the Senate, S.J. Res. 278, sponsored by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is moving toward passage. Your letters or calls to your Senators are very important because 51 Senators must co-sponsor this resolution before it can pass the Senate. The Resolution designates the week of January 3-9, 1993, coinciding with the anniversary of Louis Braille's birth on January 4, 1809, as Braille Literacy Week. CIVIL RIGHTS The Equal Remedies Act, S. 2062, sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D- Mass., would remove caps on monetary damages for intentional employment discrimination. Action in the Senate is expected in September. The legislation is significant to people with disabilities because it removes the caps on the monetary damages available to people with disabilities, women and certain minority groups who prove intentional discrimination in employment. No such cap is applied on damages available to individuals suffering intentional employment discrimination based on race or national origin. EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES The long-awaited reauthorization of the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, which allows employers to deduct a portion of the first year wages paid to an employee who is from a disadvantaged segment of the population, is expected in September as part of the final agreement on an urban aid package, H.R. 11. People with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals support TJTC as a useful inducement to encourage an employer to hire a person with a disability. The current authority for the TJTC ran out on June 30, though the law will in all likelihood be applied retroactively when it is reauthorized. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION ACCESS Access to government information via electronic files and computer bulletin boards may be getting closer. Bills have been introduced into both houses of Congress to enable and expedite access by the public to government information stored electronically. The intent of this legislation is to facilitate the distribution of government information through the use of modern technology and to ensure that access to government information by the public keeps pace with the changes in information storage and retrieval. Two of the bills--H.R. 2772, sponsored by Rep. Charlie Rose, D-N.C., and S. 2813, sponsored by Sen. Albert Gore, D-Tenn.--call for the establishment of a single point of on-line public access to a wide range of government data. These bills were discussed at a joint meeting of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Rules Committee. A third bill, S. 1940, sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., emphasizes the need for freedom of public access to electronically-stored information. REHABILITATION (See the article on Rehabilitation Act Reauthorization elsewhere in this issue.) SOCIAL SECURITY The Senate may soon take up a bill which among other things would raise the amount retirees aged 65-69 can earn without affecting their Social Security checks. The bill, S. 2038, which Senator Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, shepherded through the Senate Finance Committee (which Bentsen chairs) may reach the Senate floor in September. Alternatively, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., is likely to push for an amendment to the Older Americans Act, S. 3008, to raise the earnings level for retirees when that legislation comes back to the Senate floor. His original amendment to that Act was stripped from earlier legislation. These actions are relevant because since 1978, the limit on earned income for blind Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries-- substantial gainful activity--has been linked to the so-called earnings test for retirees aged 65-69. However, neither S. 2038 nor earlier amendments to the Older Americans Act would maintain the tie between earnings limits for retirees and SGA for blind SSDI beneficiaries. ACB reiterated our support for maintaining this tie in Resolution 92-09. TELECOMMUNICATIONS Heated struggles continue in Congress pitting advocates for the Regional Bell telephone companies against corporations such as AT&T, supporters of newspaper publishers and traditional anti-trusters in the battle over whether to allow the Bells to provide long-distance telephone service, manufacture telecommunications equipment and provide information services. H.R. 1527, introduced by Rep. Jim Slattery, D-Kan., would grant the Bell companies permission to develop and manufacture telecommunications equipment for use on their telephone networks. Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jack Brooks, D-Texas--H.R. 5096--would require the Bell companies to obtain approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before they could enter into telecommunications equipment manufacturing or provide information or long-distance services. Brooks chairs the powerful House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who chairs the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the equally powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, is also working on a comprehensive bill. Negotiations are underway between several disability organizations and advocates (including ACB) and the Regional Bell Operating Companies to agree upon amendments to H.R. 1527 which would ensure that telecommunications equipment and network services are accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, more wide-ranging disability access language is also being developed in an attempt to ensure that future telecommunications technology will be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. VOTER REGISTRATION President Bush has vetoed the National Voter Registration Act, S. 250. That legislation, which passed both houses of Congress overwhelmingly but without sufficient votes to override the President's veto, would have required service-providing agencies to assist individuals wishing to register to vote. CONTACTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS If you would like to contact a member of Congress, you should write as follows: The Honorable, (name), United States Senate (or) United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20510 (Senate) or 20515 (House). To telephone, you can call the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121 for the Senate and (202) 225-3121 for the House. To find out the names of your Senators and Representative call your local public library, board of elections or League of Women Voters Office. UPDATES For immediate updates on these and other issues, remember to call the Washington Connection, ACB's toll-free education and information service. Call 1-800-424-8666 on weekday evenings and all day on weekends. BOARD APPROVES FINAL DEBT PAYMENT, BOOSTS FORUM SCHEDULE by Nolan Crabb The board of directors of the American Council of the Blind accepted the recommendation of the budget committee to pay off in a lump sum the council's final debt to one of its affiliates. The debt owed to the California Council of the Blind was not scheduled for repayment until 1994, but unanticipated improvements in ACB's revenue picture made it possible for the board to amend the budget to allow for a variety of changes, according to Budget Committee Chairperson Patricia M. Beattie. "This vote means that the Council is completely debt free," said Treasurer Brian Charlson. During the July 11 post-convention meeting in Phoenix, board members voted to boost the publication schedule of "The Braille Forum" from nine to 10 issues this year. "The budget committee is hopeful that we can recommend the increase in publication to 12 issues in 1993," Beattie said. In other action, board members approved funding for new tape duplication equipment and the purchase of audio amplification devices which can be used by hard of hearing convention attendees. Board members also agreed to continue a contractual arrangement with Charles D. Goldman, a Washington attorney whose columns frequently appear in "The Braille Forum." Under that contract, ACB would continue to pay Goldman for time he spends providing one-time legal advice to ACB members referred to him by National Representative Oral O. Miller. Upon recommendation of the budget committee, board members funded a new staff position for the national office. ACB's coordinator of affiliate and membership relations will begin work later this year. In other action, President LeRoy Saunders agreed to chair an equipment acquisitions committee which would ensure that press room equipment at next year's convention would meet specifications set by the committee. In addition to Saunders, the committee will consist of Jim Fleming, president of Visually Impaired Data Processors International, "Braille Forum" Editor Nolan Crabb, and Richard Villa, an ACB member from Texas. Board members re-elected Otis stephens, Grant Mack, Durward McDaniel, Brian Charlson, and LeRoy Saunders to the board of directors of ACB Enterprises and Services, the corporation responsible for the ACB thrift stores. According to Stephens' report, thrift store sales are up 13 percent over the same time a year ago. Stephens credited the innovative management style of James Olsen, executive director of ACBES and assistant treasurer of ACB, for much of the change. During the July 4 pre-convention meeting, board members accepted the report of the convention coordinator. They approved convention sites for 1995 and 1996. ACB'S 1995 convention will be held in Greensboro, N.C., and the 1996 convention city is Tulsa, Okla. The board issued a membership charter to the 27-member Wyoming Council of the Blind. Durward K. McDaniel, membership committee chairman, said a subcommittee has been organized to work on membership development in Montana. He said another top priority for the committee includes revitalization of the New Mexico and New Hampshire affiliates. ACB Treasurer Brian Charlson told board members they could now have access to financial records on computer disk. The on disk access is the result of the installation of a new computer system at the ACBES office in Minneapolis. The next meeting of the board of directors is slated for October 9--11, 1992. President LeRoy Saunders said he wants the October meeting to be principally a planning and strategy meeting for ACB. ACB'S 31ST CONVENTION IN RETROSPECT by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator Successful conventions occur when dedicated people work together to achieve common goals. The American Council of the Blind is indeed fortunate to have many such people who willingly share their time and talents to make a great convention possible. With increased functions taking place and additional diverse activities and challenges, ACB provides great opportunities for commitment and service. Are you aware that in 1992, almost 800 volunteers worked close to 2,500 four-hour shifts to assist convention attendees at both hotels, at the exhibit area, airport, and on tours? I want to congratulate Margarine Beaman, volunteer services coordinator, assisted by Dick Bailey, Leroy Johnson and Betty Whelan, who daily monitored the volunteer desk, for their excellent work. Margarine and Dick were successful in recruiting volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Army and Air Force National Guards, and from other groups. We are also grateful for the many volunteer hours contributed by members of the Hyatt Hotel staff. Attendees should not take braille or large print markings throughout the convention hotels for granted. Margarine and Leroy spend many hours preparing these materials and placing them on doors, walls, even soft drink and ice machines. Up-to-date information for attendees is necessary both before and during the convention. Prior to the convention, this is accomplished by articles published in "The Braille Forum" and through the pre- convention packet mailed to all ACB members. For 1992, James Olsen, registration chairperson, and his staff were of great help in preparing this information. At the convention, both the press room and the information desk kept attendees informed. Billie Jean Hill, assisted by James Fleming, Bud Keith, Nolan Crabb, Tom and Ruth Belsan, Gary Patterson, Elena Harper, Nicole Willson and others put out the daily newspaper in print and braille, prepared the recordings for the message phones, made braille and large print information available, and worked with the media to publicize the convention. Thanks to Billie Jean and those who assisted her for a job well done in spite of the initial technical difficulties. Thanks also to Laurinda Steele, assisted by Gayle Krause, Brenda Shropshire, Dick Ashley, Nancy Jenkins, David Keith, Gary Patterson, Pam Shaw, and others for their work at the information desk. Both the press room and the information desk are a vital part of the convention operation. We are indebted to Elaine Sanislo for her excellent work in preparing for and carrying out the very popular exhibit function at the convention. She was very ably assisted by Art Flucke, David Rutledge, Barbara Scherr, Naomi Soule, and John Ray Fulford. The exhibit room was a great success. We appreciate Elaine's commitment to this function and those who worked with her. Assisting ACB's Registration Chairperson James Olsen in performing the required work of the registration office were Ann and Martha Olsen, Elena Harper and Nicole Willson. Debra Birr of ACB's Minneapolis office was of great help in preparing registration materials. The convention office oversees all the activities of the convention. Those who assisted in this office in resolving problems, taking phone messages, providing information, running errands, and doing whatever was necessary to ensure a smooth operation were Patricia Beattie, assistant convention coordinator, Barbara DiPietrantonio, Belva Frandsen and Jean Mann. Patricia Beattie also gathered program information from the special interest affiliates before the convention and assisted with tours. Additional personnel who performed yeoman's work at the convention were: Jay Doudna and Michael Duke, who operated the sound equipment and recorded the convention tapes, Sherman and Shirley Wheeler, who placed the delegate signs in the ballroom, Harold Newson, who used his automobile for general errands, Tom and Ruth Belsan, who coordinated door prizes, Dwayne White, who arranged for entertainment for the hospitality room and before each general session, Rebecca Reviere, who arranged for clergy and coordinated religious services, Ann Olsen and others who assisted with the voting counts, John Ray Fulford, who supervised the dog guide relief area and assisted generally, and others who monitored tours and performed other important tasks. Our receptions would not have gone as smoothly as they did without the valuable assistance of Cynthia Towers from Washington state. Special appreciation and gratitude must be expressed to the members of the Arizona Council of the Blind Host Committee, who were of great assistance both before and during the convention. President Robert Williams directed the activities of the host committee. Edwin Druding, a local liaison, and his wife Ruth Druding performed many tasks both before and during the convention. We are pleased to report that Edwin, who was hospitalized briefly during the convention, is now doing well. Others who assisted with diverse tasks were: Brenda Shropshire, Faye Williams, Maxine Flucke, and Arie Levels. These people were of significant help in making the 1992 convention possible. ACB's 31st convention was a great success. The 32nd convention in San Francisco will be even better. By the way, Tony Santanaria, the young man from Dallas who suffered the retinal detachment while on tour, is doing well. He underwent surgery on Wednesday during the convention with apparently good results. He remained in Phoenix under the physician's care for several days before returning to Dallas. He specially requested that we convey his sincere thanks to Ann Olsen, Harold Newson and all the others who assisted and were concerned about him. He remarked that ACB was like a second family that helped him through this traumatic experience. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE REHABILITATION ACT NEARLY COMPLETE by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs After a one-year extension and nearly another year of behind-the-scenes negotiation, legislation to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is moving forward very quickly. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 5482, its version of the legislation to reauthorize the $2 billion program, on August 10, 1992. On August 11, the Senate passed its counterpart, S. 3065. The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., includes two of ACB's top priorities. It includes language establishing an authority for a formula grant program to make funds available so that all states can provide independent living services for older blind individuals. The bill also includes language establishing a National Commission on Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Blind and Visually Impaired. At the 1992 convention, ACB members approved two resolutions which reiterated support for these two programs. The House bill also includes an interesting project which would allow for experiments in providing transportation services to people with disabilities who cannot get to their jobs. This is of course especially important in suburban and rural settings. The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, does not contain any reference to a Commission or to expansion of independent living for older blind individuals. However, the Senate bill does include language which stresses that rehabilitation agencies and service providers should provide materials to individuals in accessible formats. In addition, the Senate bill includes authority for grants to be made to train personnel providing rehabilitation and education services in the use and teaching of Braille. A conference committee comprised of a few members from each chamber will meet to iron out differences between the two bills. This committee must come to agreement on all differences between the two pieces of legislation so we must especially direct our efforts toward convincing the Senate to accept the House provisions on independent living for older blind and the National Commission. Though the two bills differ in many other ways, here are some areas of agreement which will create changes in our vocational rehabilitation system. Consumers will have more say in the services they are provided because they will have a stronger hand in the development of the important Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program in which rehabilitation goals and services are to be jointly developed and approved by consumers and the rehabilitation agency. It is expected that grants will be made available to study ways to enhance the ability of consumers to make choices about their rehabilitation goals and services. In addition, both bills call for the establishment of consumer advisory councils to provide extensive input into all aspects of vocational rehabilitation. These committees will have a majority of individuals with disabilities. States will have the authority to establish separate consumer councils where a separate state agency serves people who are blind or visually impaired. The Rehabilitation Act which eventually emerges will place greater emphasis on the provision of technology devices and services. In addition, the inclusion of personal assistance services (such as readers or drivers) as a rehabilitation service should assist individuals with disabilities in becoming employed. Research on assistive technology will become an important area of concentration under the new Rehabilitation Act. Both the House and the Senate call for a renewed focus on meaningful research focusing on methods to improve rehabilitation and independent living for individuals with disabilities. The input of individuals with disabilities will likely be encouraged through advisory committees and hopefully one outcome will be research which actually brings improvements for people with disabilities rather than fancy reports which merely sit on a shelf. Both bills call for greater attention to the independent living needs of individuals with disabilities, particularly through centers for independent living. These centers are to provide services to a cross-disability population and be controlled by individuals with disabilities. While the requirement for cross-disability may eventually bring an end to the handful of state-supported centers which serve only individuals who are blind or visually impaired, the same requirement makes it clear that centers are to provide independent living services to all people, including people who are blind. THE NATIONAL COMMISSION The inclusion of the National Commission on Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Blind and Visually Impaired in the House bill reflects the concern that there is a general lack of scholarship and analysis regarding the education and rehabilitation services provided to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. There is virtual unanimity among consumer and professional organizations representing the interests of individuals who are blind and visually impaired that specialized agencies and specialized services are essential in meeting the needs of this population. Yet, the trend in education and rehabilitation is toward integrated schools and generic agencies. We want to ensure that blind and visually impaired Americans of all ages are able to fully participate in our society. The 12-member Commission would, if enacted, bring together consumers and others with expertise and experience in blindness to create a national vision describing the education and rehabilitation services needed by, and the most appropriate design for programs providing those services to, children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. The Commission would assess the current state-of- the-art in services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, the current and projected education and rehabilitation needs of this population, as well as an assessment of the demographic changes in the population, including factors such as additional disabling conditions. Attention will also likely be given to areas such as technology, Braille literacy, personnel training, early intervention services and independent living needs of older individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In addition, the Commission would examine programs which are under-utilized by individuals who are blind or visually impaired such as supported employment, independent living and adult and continuing education programs. Although the National Federation of the Blind lobbied vehemently to kill the Commission proposal when H.R. 5482 came before the House Committee on Education and Labor, the Commission survived. In fact, Rep. Matthew G. Martinez, D-Calif., angrily denounced NFB's "high handed tactics," reminding the Committee that NFB had opposed the Americans with Disabilities Act until the last minute. Despite tremendous pressure, the Committee defeated an amendment to strike the language creating the Commission. An amendment by Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., was approved by the Committee. The amendment establishes two categories of individuals who are eligible to be appointed to the Commission: (A) blind consumers (who must be a majority of the Commission) and (B) individuals with knowledge or expertise in blindness. The consumers cannot be employees of service-providing agencies. Thus, they have to be real consumers--not professionals who just happen to be blind. This amendment strengthens the consumer perspective and improves the proposal. ACTION Contact Senators Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, chair and Ranking Minority Member respectively of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and/or Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Dave Durenberger, R-Minn., chair and Ranking Minority Member respectively of the Subcommittee on Disability Policy, to express your support for the National Commission and for a formula grant program to support independent living services for older blind individuals. Ask that the Senate conferees accept both provisions from the House bill. These four Senators will play a key role. AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO 17 OUTSTANDING BLIND STUDENTS At its 31st annual national convention in Phoenix, Ariz., the American Council of the Blind awarded its 1992 scholarships totaling more than $25,000 to 17 outstanding blind students from throughout the country. The awards were given to students in academic, professional and vocational curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Hundreds of qualified blind and visually impaired students applied for these honors. Many of the winners attended the convention to receive their awards and take part in other student activities. The winners of the two ACB scholarships in the graduate category are Annee Hartzel of Seattle, Wash., and Mark Kalashian of Haverhill, Mass. Annee received her B.A. in Politics at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., and will be pursuing a master's degree in law and international relations at the University of Washington in Seattle. Mark received his B.A. in Spanish and will be continuing his studies toward a master's degree in Spanish at the University of Massachusetts. In the undergraduate category, the winners of the ACB scholarships are Kenneth Frasse of Sacramento, Calif., and Marilyn Beaupeurt of Wichita, Kan. Kenneth is pursuing his B.A. in physics and French at California State University, Sacramento. Marilyn, who is both blind and deaf, is continuing her work at Wichita State University in the field of sociology. In the entering freshmen category, the winners are Bernadetta King of Carrolton, Ohio, and Karen Harden of Orlando, Fla. Bernadetta will be pursuing her B.A. in psychology at Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. Karen will be studying science at Florida State University in Tallahassee. The winners of the ACB scholarships in the vocational/technical category are Margaret Zalenska of Alexandria, Va., and Ronald Wilton of Superior, Neb. Margaret is pursuing her associates degree in physical therapy at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria. Ronald is working towards his associate's degree in data processing at Central Community College in Hastings, Neb. The Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship for 1992 was awarded to Frank Lopez of Yucca Valley, Calif. Frank is pursuing a B.A. in education at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. The Telesensory Scholarship, being administered by ACB for the sixth year, was awarded to Susan Olson of Jacksonville, Ark., who will be pursuing her B.A. in special education at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Ann Masimore scholarship, being administered by ACB for the third year, was awarded to Imke Durre of Fort Collins, Colo. Imke is currently pursuing her B.A. in mathematics at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. For the sixth year, the American Council of the Blind presented scholarships to two Pennsylvania students pursuant to a bequest from a Pennsylvania resident. The winners this year are Gary Scott of Pittsburgh and Jody Sack of Rosemont. Gary attends Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and is pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy. Jody is attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and pursuing a B.A. in liberal arts. For the second year, ACB is presented two scholarships funded by National Industries for the Blind. These scholarships were awarded to Linda Carney of San Diego, Calif., and Catherine Northan of Newport News, Va. Linda is working toward her B.A. in business administration at San Diego State University. Catherine is pursuing a master's degree in human resource development at the George Washington University in Hampton, Va. The American Council of the Blind is pleased to administer two new scholarships this year. The Scholarship in Memory of Anne Pekar was awarded to Kimberly Morrow of Overland Park, Kan. Kimberly is currently working toward her master's degree in German at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. The Mae Davidow Scholarship was awarded to Ramona Pierson of Rangely, Colo. Ramona is pursuing a B.A. in education/psychology at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colo. For more information and applications for the 1993 ACB scholarships, contact the ACB national office at 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC, 20005, (800) 424-8666, between 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. eastern time weekdays MY DAY IN COURT THE CHICAGO EPISODE IN A SENSELESS VENDETTA by Grant M. Mack Since I became blind about 20 years ago, the history and conduct of Kenneth Jernigan and the National Federation of the Blind has been incredible to me. Even so, I should not have underestimated how far they would go to discredit the National Accreditation Council for Agencies serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. A brief look at NAC's early history will shed some light on this situation. Kenneth Jernigan was elected to the first NAC board. He accepted a second term but did not finish it. It was then that his and the Federation's radical aggressive systematic harassment campaign against NAC took on a new dimension that has continued to the present day. Seventeen years have passed since the National Accreditation Council refused Jernigan's demand to put 10 Federationists on its board. A "do it or else" ultimatum was delivered to NAC. "We have come with an olive branch in one hand and a sword in the other" was the way it was expressed by the NFB representative at a NAC meeting on February 27, 1975. The firm stand by NAC in denying this demand was necessary to maintain the independent status of, and to assure the non-political performance of, its very valuable mission, which is to improve the quality of services to blind people. I certainly never expected to be the object of a personal vendetta that would place me in a Chicago courtroom on a trumped-up misdemeanor charge of battery. I was less surprised to be featured in an inflammatory article in "The Braille Monitor"--"NAC, Grant Mack, and a Chicago Paddy Wagon" (January 1991.) I am learning how much distortion an irresponsible article can present when it is built around a kernel of fact. But listen to the true story. December 8, 1990, began ordinarily enough in Chicago. I went there as chairman of the National Committee for the Advancement of Accreditation to preside at a dinner meeting. NCAA is an ad hoc committee established by the American Foundation for the Blind in March 1988. When I reached the hotel just before noon, I was informed that several NFB members had checked in the night before and were in a strategy meeting. We knew that the NFB was planning a demonstration against our meeting. As usual, they had booked space next to the room reserved for our dinner. At our request, the hotel changed our room location to another area where the NFB's usual tactics of singing and chanting would not interfere. Because of NFB's history, the hotel also agreed to make hotel security available if needed. A woman in the hotel catering department said that a woman named McGeorge had come to her office earlier that day and requested several tickets to our dinner. Diane McGeorge was a longtime NFB First vice president from Denver, Colo. As it was a private dinner and we had not issued tickets, the caterer sold her tickets to the dining room instead. At about 5:00 pm, the picketers (most of them imported from out-of- state) began their chanting and raucous singing in front of the hotel. Marc Maurer, president of NFB, was there to oversee the planned disruption. When I arrived at the new location for the dinner, not only had several NFB members ensconced themselves in our private room, but we found that it had been littered with misleading NFB anti-NAC literature, containing nothing specific against NAC's standards or procedures, but a diatribe of generalities and innuendos. Jim Gashel, the spokesman for the gatecrashers, said that they had decided to come to the dinner meeting. I told them that they were not invited to this private meeting, and asked them to leave. He said they had a right to be there. I said they didn't. His remarks removed all doubt as to their agenda. When they wouldn't leave we called security. They then claimed they had tickets to the dinner meeting. When the McGeorge tickets were checked they were found to be tickets to the hotel dining room. Finally, we issued an ultimatum: Leave or we will have you arrested for trespassing. Then they began leaving. Amid the chaos, I learned that a video camera and tape recorder were being used. Milton J. Samuelson, executive director of the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, standing near me, said, "They are all gone except for one person, and he has a microphone." I turned, reached out, and JoAnna Cargill put my hand on the microphone. In frustration, I yanked the microphone away from Steve Hastalis, the person holding it. It came out of his hand, and the foam cover fell to the floor. In his attempt to save the microphone from hitting the floor, he lunged forward. At no time did I touch any part of Steve Hastalis. With the NFB dispersed, we got the meeting going, and it continued even after it was interrupted when the police station, saying that a battery complaint had been made against me. I did not resist and accompanied the police sergeant, but I did resent the fact that my guide dog Matthew and I were taken there in a paddy wagon. When I told police captain John Minogue what had happened, he disappeared for a very short time. Upon his return, he said he had lectured my accuser on the right to privacy and the illegality of electronic eavesdropping. He apologized to me and Oral Miller, who had accompanied me to the station, and arranged for us to be taken back to the hotel. We returned to our meeting, which was still in progress. But listen to the rest of the true story. A few days before Christmas, nestled among the season's greetings, was a summons to appear in Chicago on a misdemeanor charge of battery. Hastalis alleged that I had hit him, causing an injury. Since my chief eye witness, Milton Samuelson, would not be in town on January 3, I instructed my Chicago attorney to ask for a continuance, telling him that I had no intention of running away from this trumped-up charge. I assured him that the NFB would exploit this incident as far as they could, and so my best interests would be served by ending it as soon as possible by facing them in court. Obviously, he did not understand the message. Instead of asking for a continuance, he proceeded to ask the judge to throw the case out of court, using the fact that I had not been properly served as the basis for his request. The judge agreed that the summons was improperly served and that, if it was not served personally by February 11, the proceedings would be dismissed. My attorney was assured by the judge that it would not be necessary for him, or me, to appear in court on February 11 if proper service had not taken place. I was never served in person by February 11 or later, and, even though disappointed that I would never be able to vindicate myself in court, felt it was time to end the silliness. End of story? Not yet! "The Braille Monitor" account of the incident in the May 1991 issue substituted its Monitor-type "journalism" for accuracy. " ... Hastalis went to the police and swore out a complaint, and a court date was set for January 3, 1991. When the date arrived, Steve Hastalis (as the complaining witness) appeared in the Cook County Circuit Courtroom. Grant Mack did not appear. Instead, he sent a local lawyer, George Weaver, to speak on his behalf. When Mack's assault and battery case was called in the usual morning court call (among the cases of persons who had spent the night in jail), Mr. Weaver walked to the front and asked that the case be dismissed. The judge declined and said he would take the matter up after he had finished the other business of the morning ... In an attempt to show mercy as well as justice, the judge sent a new hearing date for February 11, 1991. When the date arrived. Hastalis was present, but neither Mack nor his lawyer was to be seen. At that stage, the judge issued the warrant for Mack's arrest. If Mack is found anywhere in the state of Illinois (including the Chicago airport), he will be subject to arrest and will presumably have to post bond or go to jail to await trial." The "Monitor" article failed to mention this was a different judge who had apparently not been informed by the former judge that the case was to be quashed: it also neglected to say why the judge set the new date. Actually, the lawyer who represented me at the January hearing had written me a letter to inform me of his agreement with the judge at that hearing and that no further problems were anticipated. I was never served with the warrant for arrest referred to in the "Monitor." I first saw a copy of this warrant when it was circulated by the NFB at a subsequent meeting of the NCAA in San Francisco. I voluntarily appeared in the Chicago court to defend the battery charge on January 17, 1992. I was acquitted of all charges, "a mere technicality" if you believe Kenneth Jernigan's report, in which he states I was "technically acquitted" ("The Braille Monitor," March 1992.) Incidentally, the trial result wasn't even mentioned until after a rehashing of the so-called crime, presented as if it had been proven and I was already on my way to jail. The trial itself was anti-climactic. The Federation's primary role in promoting this nuisance case was confirmed by the presence of Peggy Pinder, who was an observer in the court room. She is a lawyer and a longtime second vice president of NFB from Grinnell, Iowa. During the 2-1/2 hour proceedings, I actually felt sorry for Mr. Hastalis because he was so confused. During the cross examination, he had difficulty answering a simple yes or no question. At one point, after a long silence from Hastalis, during the questioning about the contradictory statements he had signed, I really felt embarrassed for him. The following is a direct quote from the trial transcript. Q: In your testimony a few minutes ago you said that Mr. Mack pulled you, right? A: Yes. Q: That was not a part of any of the three complaints you have previously sworn to, is it, sir? (Long silence from witness.) The Court: Mr. Hastalis, it seems like you are uncomfortable; would you like to take a break for a minute? At the conclusion of Samuelson's cross-examination, my attorney turned to me and said, "We need go no further." He was right. Immediately after closing statements by both attorneys, the judge granted me a full acquittal. Jernigan says that a witness claims Samuelson wasn't near me when I took the microphone from Hastalis. In Jernigan's post-trial "Monitor" article, he shows his natural tilt towards prevarication. He says that one of his witnesses, a Valerie Williams, was not allowed to testify. He says that had she been allowed to do so, she would have been able to refute Milton Samuelson's testimony. She is a sighted woman from Baltimore, an NFB employee who was there, according to the "Monitor," to assist Jim Gashel. The transcript reveals that at no time during the trial was any testimony by her even offered. The claim that she "was not allowed to testify," implying that the court would not allow it, is a pure fabrication. Jernigan says that the trial sounds the death knell for NAC. " ... So, where does all of this leave us?" he writes. " ... Grant Mack is technically acquitted, but in the circumstances it makes little difference. The court proceedings were not and are not the central focus of controversy. There was never any possibility (and, for that matter, never any desire) that Mack receive more than a token fine and conviction." (Of course not! The widely distributed, distorted Federation version was perpetrated to defame NAC, NCAA and me.) " ... To all intents and purposes, NAC is dead. It only remains for the official seal to be placed on the coffin." Don't hold your breath! In spite of the poison darts the Jernigan Federation has been shooting at NAC for more than twenty years, it is still alive. We are aware of the unpublished agenda for a "would be successor" to NAC. We agree that the incident in Chicago. on December 8, 1990, was not about alleged injuries to an NFB member. It was only the latest incident in a long-standing vendetta designed to discredit NAC and those who support it. The frenetic exploitation of this incident has failed. Neither NAC nor I did anything wrong in Chicago. We did not trespass; we did not disrupt a meeting; we did not concoct a story that has changed several times; and we did not have the lie put to us for baseless charges in a court of law before an impartial judge. I won't say that the NFB accomplished nothing during this latest unconscionable attack. It did much to waste several thousands of my dollars. It squandered money belonging to the taxpayers of Cook County, Illinois, to prosecute a bogus charge. It also wasted several thousands of dollars contributed to NFB by well-meaning donors who thought they were contributing money to help blind people. However, its fourth accomplishment is the exposure of its profound ethical deficit. For this, I do not mind paying. SUMMARY OF 1992 RESOLUTIONS 92-01: Urges Assessment Systems Inc. and the various state boards of licensure to adopt the practice of permitting applicants to provide their own reader when such accommodation is requested. Copies are to be sent to ASI and the state boards. 92-02: Supports efforts to make the currency of the United States tactually identifiable within a reasonable period of time; urges the Department of the Treasury to immediately engage in testing to determine whether such a system would be feasible; and instructs ACB officers and staff to work closely with the Office of the Secret Service, Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and appropriate congressional committees to conduct such testing and to work toward implementation of a system of tactually identifiable currency. Copies are to be mailed to the director of the Secret Service, secretary of the Treasury, and appropriate members of Congress. 92-03: Urges the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and all cooperating network libraries to promulgate and implement requirements that each network library establish means to respond to requests and correspondence received in braille in a manner which is as prompt and efficient as that which is employed when print and voice communications are received, and requests that members who use braille direct communications and requests for materials to their network libraries in braille, and further to file complaints with appropriate civil rights enforcement agencies if these requests do not receive appropriate responses. Copies are to be sent to James Billington, Librarian of Congress; Frank Kurt Cylke, executive director, NLS; and to all cooperating network libraries. 92-04: Urges the American National Standards Institute A117.1 Committee to reinstate the following standards, as approved in March, 1992: 3.4, Definitions (Detectable Warning, Vehicular Way-Hazardous, and Accessible Route); 4.3.2, Location; 4.7, Curb Ramps; 4.7.11, Uncurbed Intersections; 4.27, Detectable Warnings; 4.27.1, General; 4.27.2, Detectable Warnings on Walking Surfaces; 4.27.3, Detectable warnings at Hazardous Vehicular Areas; 4.27.4, Detectable Warnings at Reflecting Pools; 4.28, Signage; 4.28.7, Location of Tactile Signage; and reinstate the following standard which appeared in the draft ANSI document prior to July, 1991: 4.9, Stairs; 4.9.2.2, Tread Markings on Stairs. The resolution further urges the Department of Justice to reject any effort to weaken the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines relating to blindness or visual impairment. Copies are to be sent to the United States Attorney General, the several building code-setting entities, the Secretariat of the ANSI A117.1 Committee and to appropriate members of Congress. 92-05: Urges the Department of Justice to rescind its narrow interpretation of the ADAAG raised character and braille signage standards; also advocates that any identifying information relating to a permanent room or space should comply with raised character and braille signage. Copies are to be immediately sent to the attorney general of the United States and appropriate members of Congress. 92-06: Urges the Braille Authority of North America to consider the following points: 1. Before major braille code changes are adopted, extensive peer review should be carried out by a broad cross-section of the braille-reading community; 2. When code changes do occur, the information should be promptly and widely disseminated to the general braille-reading public, the teachers of school-age blind children, the teachers of blind adults, the transcribers who produce braille, and the creators and producers of computer translation programs; 3. In the general non-textbook literature, braille should be an efficient medium for communicating ideas rather than a slavish reproduction of print, particularly since print usage is increasingly irregular. Copies are to be mailed to the members of BANA. 92-07: Directs the board and staff of ACB to actively seek amendments to the Older Americans Act which would create and fund training and adjustment services for older Americans who are blind and visually impaired. 92-08: Commends Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., and President George Bush for their foresight and courage in recommending and nominating to the federal bench a distinguished and highly qualified attorney who is blind; urges the United States Senate Judiciary Committee to promptly convene and conclude its confirmation hearing on the nomination of Richard Casey; urges the United States Senate to promptly confirm the nomination of Richard Casey; and urges the President to extend his commitment to recognize the ability of qualified individuals with visual disabilities to serve as members of the Federal Judiciary by seeking out and nominating such individuals. Copies are to be forwarded to the President of the United States, the attorney general of the United States, the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and members of the United States Senate. 92-09: Asks that Congress be petitioned to amend the pending Social Security legislation to provide that the same earnings test be applicable to both SSDI beneficiaries and retirees. 92-10: Commends both International Guiding Eyes and Guiding Eyes for the Blind for their financial contributions to the legal fund established for the purpose of underwriting the costs incurred in court cases of guide dog users who must take legal action in order to travel with their guide dogs to and from Hawaii; also expresses appreciation for the efforts of all ACB affiliates and individuals who have actively supported this effort to ensure freedom of access to and from Hawaii for guide dog users and their dogs. 92-11: Instructs the board of Directors of ACB, the National Membership Committee, and the National Alliance of Blind Students' board of Directors to work together to develop and implement a comprehensive program to recruit and retain younger members in ACB and its affiliates; asks that this program be forwarded to all state and special-interest affiliates; and directs the President to present a report of the progress of this program at the 1993 National Convention in San Francisco. 92-12: Was withdrawn by its author. 92-13: Would have affirmed ACB's support for meaningful standards and their enforcement in the field of services to blind or visually impaired persons, but urged that ACB take no position on the linking of standards and/or accreditation to the receipt of public or private funds pending the recommendations of the national meeting on standards to be convened by ACB during the spring of 1993; and would have stated that the policy expressed in this resolution could be revised by the membership at a future national convention of ACB. This resolution was defeated. 92-14: Asks that ACB take steps to ensure development and implementation of office procedures which expedite the processing of member orders for materials. 92-16: Urges all academic preparation programs which train interpreters for the deaf to require, for graduation, course work in interpreting for the deaf-blind, and to offer optional opportunities to specialize in the interpreting for the deaf-blind "support service provider" field. Copies shall be sent to all identified academic preparation programs for interpreters for the deaf, and to all state agency programs for the deaf. 92-17: Encourages affiliates in states where free text telephones are provided for deaf citizens to strongly advocate that braille access text telephones also be provided for deaf-blind citizens, and further encourage these affiliates to advocate for changes in law or regulation as may be required to provide such equipment; also urges affiliates in states where free text telephones are not made available to deaf citizens to oppose current or future legislation bringing about free distribution programs unless the provision of braille text telephones is also specifically included in the legislation. 92-18: Reaffirms ACB's official position in favor of the empowerment of blind and visually impaired persons within the several states through the establishment of separate and independent agencies for the blind with strong governing boards on which blind persons are fully represented and to which policy making authority is granted; registers its disapproval of the tactics used by RSA in coercing state agencies to comply with its interpretation of the "Sole State Agency" requirement; and directs ACB officers and staff to seek the inclusion of express language in the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992 permitting state agencies for the blind, including independent commissions and agencies located within umbrella structures, to establish and maintain broadly representative policy making boards. Copies are to be sent to the Secretary of Education, the Assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, the commissioner of RSA, appropriate members of Congress, and other relevant officials. 92-19: This resolution was withdrawn by its author. 92-20: Urges the Association for the Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired to reinstate its project to develop standards for assistive technology specialist, in conjunction with designated members of ACB. A copy will be sent to Michael Bina, president of AER. 92-21: (The Resolutions Committee recommended "do not pass" so no attempt was made to put this into final format.) Urged that the ACB return to the previous convention site bid procedure wherein the convention sites were selected by membership voting. The committee recommendation was upheld. 92-22: Commends the Lions Club International for its outstanding efforts; urges Lions International to place a strong emphasis on the difficulties of unemployed blind and visually impaired persons and on programs and equipment to increase the employment potential of such persons; and takes the position that blind and visually impaired people are, themselves, the best resource available in providing information concerning their needs and therefore offer the assistance of its staff and members to Lions Clubs International in determining future philanthropic emphases. A copy will be sent to Mark C. Lukas, Executive Administrator, Lions Clubs International. 92-23: Extends congratulations to Durward K. McDaniel for his selection as a recipient of the prestigious Migel Medal awarded in October, 1991 by the American Foundation for the Blind. 92-24: Reaffirms previous ACB resolutions calling upon state and local governments to provide accessible electoral materials; also instructs ACB officers, directors and staff to prepare materials to be distributed to each state affiliate which will aid such affiliates in forwarding the objectives of this resolution. 92-25: Urges the American Printing House for the Blind to evaluate the current design of plastic slates with a view towards developing a plastic slate which is more durable and less subject to easy breakage. A copy will be sent to Dr. Tuck Tinsley, Director of APH. 92-26: Expresses deep concern over recent trends in the production of Perkins Braillers; urges Howe Press, the manufacturer of the Perkins Brailler, to investigate the concerns embodied in this resolution and make such changes as may be deemed appropriate; also calls upon the American Printing House for the Blind, which purchases large numbers of Perkins Braillers for distribution under the quota system, to encourage Howe Press to undertake such an investigation. Copies are to be sent to Sally McPhillips, the Manager of Howe Press, Kevin Lessard, the Director of the Perkins School for the Blind, and Tuck Tinsley, the Executive Director of the American Printing House for the Blind. 92-27: Expresses its appreciation to Rep. Major R. Owens, D-N.Y., and Rep. Matthew G. Martinez, D-Calif., for their leadership in support of the National Commission on Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired; also expresses appreciation to the Committee on Education and Labor for its support of the National Commission. Copies are to be sent to Congressman Owens, Congressman Martinez, and to all members of the United States Congress. 92-28: Expresses appreciation to Senator Graham for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of older blind individuals; also urges ACB to consider a comprehensive formula grant program of independent living services for older individuals who are blind or visually impaired as contained in S. 1614 to be an essential national policy. Copies will be sent to Senator Graham and to all members of the United States Senate. 92-29: Expresses appreciation to the Arizona Council of the Blind and to all affiliate chapters for the superb effort undertaken to make this convention a success; also requests that the Arizona Council of the Blind convey our sincere appreciation for the efforts made by Dick Bailey and the large number of volunteers, including members of the National Guard, who assisted at the hotel, on tours, and at the airport. 92-30: Conveys sincere appreciation to the staff and management of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix and the Omni-Adams Hotels for their efforts to assist conventioneers. Copies will be sent to the management of both hotels. AFFILIATE NEWS ROUNDUP The North Carolina Council of the Blind will hold its annual convention from October 2 to October 4 at Horne's Motor Lodge, 200 Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville, N.C. 28302. Room rates are $29.43, including tax, per night. To make reservations, call (800) 682-1919. The Rochester chapter of the American Council of the Blind of New York, Inc., will host the annual state convention. The convention will be held from October 2 to October 4 at the Days Inn Downtown, 384 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607. The room rate is $58 per night for singles, doubles, or triples. The weekend will feature several speakers and exhibits. One presenter, Mr. Michael Onufryk, has invented a special lens designed to increase the amount of useable vision for people with glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. For registration information, contact Shirley Forrester at 20 Knobb Hill Drive, Pittsford, NY, 14534. Tel. (716) 586-7443. Other affiliates having conventions in October include the Alabama Council of the Blind, the Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Illinois Council of the Blind (October 16), the Kentucky Council of the Blind, the ACB of Maryland (October 2), the Missouri Council of the Blind (October 22), the Nevada Council of the Blind (October 17), the New Jersey Council of the Blind (October 24), the ACB of Ohio (October 31), the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind (October 30), the Old Dominion Council of the Blind (October 16), and the Mountain State Council of the Blind. The California Council of the Blind has formed the Committee on Senior Blind and Visually Impaired. This statewide committee will be an important resource for senior citizens who are newly blind or visually impaired. Services will include information and referral, peer counseling, support and guidance. The new chairperson, Teddie Remhild, predicts that this new committee on Senior Blind and Visually Impaired will soon become an official division of the CCB and that its important services and programs will spread to other state affiliates throughout the ACB. "Meeting the needs of this growing population through empowerment and enablement will be our first priority," states Remhild. Remhild requests that committee or division chairs of seniors' issues get in touch with her for the purpose of sharing information. Please contact Teddie Remhild at 4221 Kling St., #7, Burbank, CA, 91505. Tel. (818) 842-7295 (home) or (213) 485-4851 (work). The South Dakota Association of the Blind has established the Delbert K. Aman Scholarship Fund. The following letter is reprinted with permission of the South Dakota Association. June 29, 1992 Dear Fellow Members: As president of the South Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc., I'm pleased to inform you, the members of the American Council of the Blind, that our board of dDirectors has voted to establish the Delbert K. Aman Memorial Scholarship Fund. The details of how the fund will be administered have not yet been completely worked out. The fund will be administered either by the South Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc. or by the American Council of the Blind. Recipients of the scholarship will be persons who have a severe vision problem and who are professionals training to become teachers or counselors of the blind. Delbert K. Aman was born in rural South Dakota. He was graduated from the South Dakota School of Law and was admitted to the bar association. He was employed for over 30 years as a counselor and supervisor of the South Dakota Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired. He was the father of three daughters. Delbert was a strong advocate for the blind. He stated his beliefs and his philosophies either individually or through organizations such as SDAB and ACB. He believed strongly in the democratic process of decision making. His philosophy was embodied in the bylaws of the American Council of the Blind when he served as chairperson of the original bylaws committee. He also helped to write the bylaws of SDAB. Delbert was a charter member of ACB. Until his untimely death, he served in various positions--as vice president, board member, budget committee member, and on the Enterprises and Services committee. You in the ACB who knew Delbert will remember him as a dedicated and hard-working person. Here in SDAB, we also remember him as hard working and dedicated. His clients remember him as the counsellor who was always there in time of need and always espousing the philosophy that independence and self sufficiency spring from within. As a result today, many of his former clients are self sufficient. We in the South Dakota Association of the Blind believe it proper and fitting to keep the memory of Delbert Aman alive. In doing so, we are establishing the Delbert K. Aman Memorial Scholarship Fund. We invite you, his friends in ACB, to join us. For further information, feel free to contact us by writing to the South Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc., P.O. Box 1622, Sioux Fall, SD 57105. Sincerely, Leighton Myers, President, South Dakota Association of the Blind 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. CONVENTION TAPES Tapes of the 31st Annual National Convention of the American Council of the Blind in Phoenix are now available. The 17-tape set includes all convention morning sessions and the banquet. The employment seminar, the legislative seminar, and the Friends-in-Art showcase are not included. The tapes were professionally recorded by Jay Doudna of Lancaster, Pa., and Mike Duke of Jackson, Miss. They are available in standard speed two-track format only. To order, send $20 for the complete set or $3 for any individual session. The Sunday evening opening session is bundled with the banquet. Make checks payable to the American Council of the Blind, and write to ACB Convention Tapes, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. MUSEUM ACCESS The visual layout of the National Mall, the unique form of the Washington Monument, and the intricate details of the columns and engravings of the White House and other national landmarks can now be fully appreciated by blind and visually impaired visitors to Washington. "Washington, Symbol and City," a permanent exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., tells the story of the building of the nation's capital. The accessible portions of the exhibit--which feature taped and brailled captions--were developed as part of Capital Sights Not Always Seen, a project sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind with input from individuals and organizations in Washington. The exhibit features tactile building models of such national landmarks as the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. The National Building Museum is located at 13th and F Streets N.W. in Washington. An upcoming story in "The Braille Forum" will explore the exhibit and its origins in greater depth. NEW COOKBOOK The Massachusetts Association for the Blind announces the availability of "Sconset Cafe: A Village Cafe on Nantucket Island" in braille, according to "The Blind Californian," Spring 1992. Recipes have a gourmet bent--Shrimp and Avocado, Rice Pilaf, Chicken Piccata, and Chocolate Raspberry Marquise--to name a few. The two-volume book costs $20 and may be ordered from MAB Braille Department, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA 02146. MAB also offers its new product catalogue, in braille, large print or cassette for $3. LARGE PRINT MAGAZINE "America At Large" is a new quarterly large print magazine. It offers four- color art work, photos, graphics, and two-column text set in clear 10-point type. It features stories on personalities, health and fitness, travel, the environment, and social issues. It includes regular columns on bridge, gardening, and cooking. It also includes crossword puzzles. To subscribe, send $15 to Bolinda Press America, P.O. Box 14402, Shawnee, KS 66215-0402 DVS RECEIVERS J. B. McMartin manufactures and sells decoders which enable monaural TV sets to receive the Secondary Audio Program channel which carries the Descriptive Video Service on many public television stations. Descriptive Video Service allows blind TV viewers to hear descriptions of visual events as they happen. The SMC SAP decoders are available in three models ranging in price from $63 to $128. For additional information, contact SMC International, 2505 N. 24th St., Suite 501, Omaha, NE 68110. Tel. (800) 456-8107. GAMES FOR KIDS FunSense offers tactile board games designed for play completely by touch. Each game is hand crafted from quality wood and non-toxic paint. The games are both fun and educational, and a visually-impaired child can play without any assistance. Children can play these games alone or with family members and friends. The games teach shape recognition and counting skills. For more information, write FunSense, P.O. Box 9969, Spokane, WA 99209. RETINA TRANSPLANTS The technical capabilities now exist for retinal tissue transplants. That's the finding of Dr. Henry Kaplan at the Department of Ophthalmological and Visual Science, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Kaplan and Dr. Matthew Thomas are pioneering the techniques for this revolutionary procedure, according to the Mid America Rehabilitation Teachers Newsletter. Kaplan, chief of Ophthalmology at Barnes Hospital, performed this surgery on a patient who had Ocular Histoplasmosis and whose sight had decreased to 20/400 even with laser surgery. Within eight weeks after the surgery, the patient noticed an improvement in vision. An eye chart test confirmed that vision had improved to 20/80. Over time, the patient's vision improved to 20/20 and 20/25. Although the procedure is still experimental, the results are encouraging. For more information, contact Barnes Hospital at (800) 392-0933. TAPED ADA TRAINING The Silicon Valley Council of the Blind, a chapter of the California Council of the Blind, announces the availability of ADA training tapes which emphasize the Americans With Disabilities Act's effects on blind and partially sighted people. The program was jointly sponsored by the Northern California Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind. The featured speaker was Elizabeth Savage, national training director at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. Recorded on standard speed two-track cassettes, the training tapes are available for $12 per set. Make checks payable to SVCB, P.O. Box 493, Mountain View, CA 94042. MORE ADA INFO The President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities has expanded its Job Accommodation Network, the committee's free consulting service to businesses. In response to a growing demand for information about the Americans With Disabilities Act, the more comprehensive service includes information about compliance with the ADA. The ADA information number is (800) ADA-WORK. SOFTWARE TUTORIAL A cassette tutorial entitled "Running Q&A" has been produced to introduce visually impaired computer users to this easy-to-use powerful database program. Q&A is a menu-driven integrated program which includes file management features, a database program, word processing and more. According to a press release, the tutorial is specifically designed to explain how the program works and how it responds when using a speech synthesizer. The tutorial is produced in a standard-speed two-track format and costs $20. A supplemental disk containing sample databases, helpful batch files, and speech configurations for the Artic Vision and Business Vision 2.xx and 3.xx versions is also available for an additional $5. According to the press release, tapes are shipped free matter. UPS shipping costs an additional $5. The tutorial includes supplemental information on the latest version of Q&A. To order, or for more information, contact Steve Bauer, 3908 W. 18th St. N., Wichita, KS 67203. Tel. (316) 943-9953. NEW PRODUCTS AVAILABLE Ferguson Enterprises offers a variety of computer products and computer- related services. The company will scan printed material onto computer disks. Regular print, computer disk, and cassette catalogues are available; the first copy is free. Additional copies cost $1. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Ferguson Enterprises also offers free DOS training and assistance in both MS-DOS and Dr. DOS 6.0. You pay for the phone call. The company will help you choose the computer, adaptive technology, and peripherals to meet your needs. The company guarantees a 24-hour turnaround time from the time your broken computer reaches them for repair. For more information or to order a catalogue, contact Ferguson Enterprises, RR1, Box 238, Manchester, SD 57353. Tel. (605) 546-2366. USHERS RESEARCH In connection with the RP Foundation Fighting Blindness and the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders, a national consortium has been created to locate the gene or genes that cause Usher's Syndrome. Researchers are seeking participation of any family that has Usher Type I or Type II. Participating families agree to complete a family medical history form, release any medical records that document the diagnosis of Usher's Syndrome, and, in many cases, various family members will donate blood. More than 250 families have already participated in the project. For more information, contact Usher's Syndrome Project Genetics, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 555 N. 30th St., Omaha, NE 68131. DISABLED TRAVEL GUIDE "A World of Options for the '90s" is a directory for disabled travelers which contains a list of more than 90 resources. To order, send $16 to Mobility International USA, P.O. Box 3551, Eugene, OR 97403. APH LOWERS PRICES The American Printing House for the Blind is lowering prices on large print and braille editions of "My Weekly Reader" to match the regular print edition price. For more information, contact Magazine Section, American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, 1839 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206-0085 NEW FROM RFB While it's true that Recording for the Blind is the preeminent producer of taped textbooks, it has a great deal more to offer. Here's a sample listing of some of the new and more unique titles available either on tape or computer disk. Shelf numbers beginning with an EA or EP are computer disk editions. "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway, EA295, one disk, $10. "Stedman's Pocket Medical Dictionary" by William Hensyl, EA354, 19 disks $50. "Microsoft MS-DOS: Operating System, Version 5.0" by Microsoft Corp., EP017, five disks, $27. "Mastering WordPerfect 5.1" by Alan Simpson, EA010, five disks, $27. "The Norton Utilities Version 6" by Symantec Corporation, EP032, six disks, $29. Cassettes: "Beethoven on Beethoven: Playing His Piano Music His Way" by William S. Newman, CD711. "Mark Twain's Own Autobiography" by Mark Twain, CE204. RIVER BLINDNESS DRUG New detection methods and a new drug promise a more effective treatment for people with Onchocerciasis, also known as River Blindness. The detection method means earlier detection of the adult parasite that causes the disease, and the drug is used to kill the parasites, according to "International Rehabilitation Review," November 1991. River Blindness affects more than 18 million people in tropical Africa and Latin America. According to the publication, Amorcarzine, the drug developed by Ciba-Geigy, has performed well in early tests. It is thought to compliment Invermectin, which has provided significant relief from the disease, but cannot produce a total cure, since it only cures the immature parasites which invade the human body. Merck and Company, developers of Invermectin, have been providing that drug free of charge to developing countries. The new detection method for the parasite involves a blood test which can detect parasites 18 months earlier than the skin snip tests previously used. BRAILLE STANDARDS Those braille readers who find reading English braille from other countries somewhat difficult can empathize with braille readers in the far east. "Unifying Chinese Braille" was the theme of a conference which included China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The three countries have each developed their own different braille systems. While each system has its merits, they're not compatible with one another and users of one system can't understand braille produced under another system. A coordinating committee and several task forces were formed to attempt to unify the three systems. NIB STATISTICS According to the March issue of "Opportunity," the newsletter of National Industries for the Blind, agencies associated with NIB employed 6,234 blind people during 1991, 2,345 of whom have other severe disabilities. These individuals were paid $51 million in wages and fringe benefits. Some 1,700 products and services were provided to the federal government under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. More than 1,500 men and women were placed in competitive employment either with agencies or private employers. COMPUTER DIRECTORY "A Resource Guide to Computer Access for Visually Impaired People" is available in large print or tone-indexed cassettes. The guide lists information on more than 150 companies which sell specialized devices for the blind and visually impaired. To order, send a check for $15, specifying format, to Tri Visual Services, P.O. Box 221310, Sacramento, CA 95822. AT&T CARDS AT&T announces the availability of newly-designed braille AT&T calling cards. Promotional materials for the card are provided in braille and print for those ordering the card. The AT&T label appears in the upper right corner, with the permanent number in braille on the card. The number remains constant even if the card holder moves or changes telephone numbers, according to a press release from AT&T. For more information on the card, or to order, call AT&T toll-free at (800) 942-6021. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Vert Plus internal speech synthesizer. Includes print and cassette instruction manual, external speaker and headphones, in original packing. Excellent condition, $500 or best offer. Also, DP11 includes control unit, internal card, and processor, all manuals, $600. Contact Philip Drapisch, 4472 Smoky Lake Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23462. FOR SALE: Typewriter lens which attaches to the Optacon, $200 or best offer. Also: Optacon, includes soft pack and two battery rechargers, excellent condition, $750. Also for sale, Sony 105 four-track open-reel tape recorder, includes variable speed and tone indexing, good condition, $100 includes shipping. Contact Ann Durber, 138-15 Franklin Ave., Apartment 525, Flushing, NY 11355. Tel. (718) 353-3024. FOR SALE: Prose 4000 with Vert Plus, $350; MB40 hard drive, $100; SR10 printer, $30. Contact Denise Avant, 5300 N. Sheridan Rd., Apt. 401, Chicago, IL 60640. Tel. (312) 878-9518 after 7 p.m. central time. FOR SALE: VersaPoint Model 20 Braille Embosser, excellent condition and includes graphics firmware upgrade, allowing it to produce graphics, sideways printing, and multiple copy printing. The machine can emboss on both wide and narrow continuous-feed braille paper. Comes with quietizing fan-cooled enclosure. $1,200 plus shipping or best offer. For additional information, contact Brian or Kim Charlson, 57 Grandview Ave., Watertown, MA 02172. Tel. (617) 926-9198. FOR SALE: Hal Talking VCR Programmer, may need new adapter, $25; also, James Reminder Timer, $25. Contact Suzie Yost, 825 Weiblen Pl., New Orleans, LA 70124. FOR SALE: "Spanish Made Simple" by Jackson and Rubio, includes entire text of inkprint book through chapter 14 and Spanish-English, English-Spanish glossaries in six braille volumes, excellent condition, complete inkprint text included, $45. Write in braille or cassette only; no phone calls. Respond in writing before sending money. Write to Janell Peterson, 303 Harvard Ave. East, Apartment 302, Seattle, WA 98102. FOR SALE: Optacon R1D, sparingly used, excellent condition, contains carrying case and accessories including training aids. $1,500 or best offer. Please write to Marcia Keller, 300 W. Schuster apartment 25, El Paso, TX 79902. Tel. (915) 542-1294 weekends or Monday and Friday evenings. FOR SALE: VersaBraille II Plus includes BIT Plus joystick, carrying case, manuals in print, braille, and diskette, battery charger, original software, cable to connect VersaBraille to BIT Plus card, and original shipping cartons, $2,995 plus shipping, price negotiable, willing to discuss possibility of trading for six-dot 20-cell navigator. Contact Isaac Obie, 755 Tremont St., Apartment 205, Boston, MA 02118. Tel. (617) 247-0026. FOR SALE: Apollo Imager Model 200, excellent condition, $1,495. Contact C. W. Gatzmeyer 318 Circle Dr., Hutchinson, MN 55350. Tel. (612) 587-3532. FOR SALE: Keynote Laptop 1200 computer with a MB20 hard drive and Accent speech. The machine weighs about 12 pounds and comes bundled with KeyWord, KeySpell, KeyCalc, and KeyTerm. The machine will run DOS programs. Carrying case and Jaws tutorial also available, $2,750. Contact Jo Wullenschneider 5333 S.W. Chelsea Ct., Topeka, KS 66604. (913) 273-5252. WANTED TO BUY: Perkins Brailler in good condition. Will accept machine that is several years old. Willing to pay $200 or less. Also interested in establishing informal CD and tape exchange. Contact Chester Thrash, 1841 Hallmark Dr., Griffin, GA 30223. Tel. (404) 228-7021. WANTED TO BUY: GEM computer game system with associated games. Contact Scott Williams, 18530 Prairie St., #55, Northridge CA 91324. Tel. (818) 885-6346, please leave message. 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