THE Braille Forum Vol. XXIX November/December 1990 No. 3 Published By The American Council of the Blind PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY 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 cassette tape, and IBM computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions, which are tax- deductible, may be sent to Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB National Office offers printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will And Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 8 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only, tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1990 The American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: An Oklahoma Success Story Non-Discrimination and Exit Row Seating Regulations in the Air Transportation Industry-at Last The Florida You Have Been Searching For Editorial: A Season of Fulfillment Descriptive Video at the Smithsonian Daily Newspaper Now Available to Blind New Mexicans Today's NIDRR: Making Rehabilitation Information Accessible Dialogue Revisited Deadlines, Bylines, Bottom Lines and Speaking Along Editorial Lines Family Forum: Talking Toys: More Than a Mere Conversation Piece She Sets the Scene With Video Description Here and There High Tech Swap Shop ACB Special Interest Affiliated Organizations ACB Board of Directors and Board of Publications PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE AN OKLAHOMA SUCCESS STORY By LeRoy F. Saunders, President In October, the American Council of the Blind held its Board of Directors meeting in Oklahoma City. Prior to the board meeting, a number of state and special-interest affiliate presidents met in Oklahoma City. I was very pleased with the turn-out for this first fall meeting of the affiliate presidents and with the excellent participation of those who attended. As president of ACB, I certainly learned a great deal from this meeting and received tremendous input from the people who were here. I hope that through my efforts and the cooperation of the Board of Directors to make ACB a better and more viable organization for its affiliates and members. The presidents and others involved indicated that they would like to have additional meetings of this sort. However, they prefer January to October. By having this meeting in January, affiliates could more easily send their newly-elected presidents. In addition, the January meeting would give affiliate presidents a look at the host facility for our next convention. We will continue to have our affiliate presidents' meeting at the convention. I expect we will follow a procedure similar to last year's, holding this meeting either Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. This will be worked into our overall schedule and people will be informed of the meeting time well in advance. Tapes of the most recent presidents' meeting will be available from the National Office for $5 a set. As I write this article, I realize that the holiday season is indeed here. I always look forward to the holidays, as I'm sure many of you do, since it is a time when things become a little slower and we have an opportunity to see many friends and family members whom we're not able to see very often. After the first of the year, I'm sure we will all be heavily involved in providing input to Congress and others who will determine the laws and regulations of interest to ACB members. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a most happy holiday season. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EXIT ROW SEATING REGULATIONS IN THE AIR TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY--AT LAST By Oral O. Miller, National Representative The 1990 Access to the Skies conference had been scheduled for at least 18 months prior to its occurrence in Phoenix in mid September, but it turned out to be the kick-off conference for the activation of the long-expected and highly publicized regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 and the Federal Administration Aviation regulations concerning exit row seating. Readers of The Braille Forum will recall that during 1987 and thereafter the American Council of the Blind took part in the regulatory negotiations and other processes that resulted, in part anyway, in the issuance of both sets of regulations which went into effect in early October 1990. The DOT non-discrimination regulations, which deal extensively with physical accessibility issues, provide, in part, that a handicapped traveler cannot be forced to accept service not requested or wanted; that an air carrier cannot limit the number of disabled people who will be transported on the same flight; that an air carrier cannot require a disabled passenger to have an attendant except for very specific safety reasons (in that case, the carrier may have to transport the attendant without charge); that passenger seating preferences cannot be restricted unless done so pursuant to FAA safety regulations (to be discussed later); that safety briefings to handicapped passengers must be given in a discreet, inconspicuous and dignified manner, after which there may be no quizzing; that air carriers must designate a complaint resolution official to be available in person or by telephone at every airport at which they do business; that this official shall have dispositive authority and shall, whenever possible, make a decision at the time of the conflict (otherwise within 10 days); that complaints concerning possible violations of these regulations must be filed within 45 days of the alleged occurrence and that an aggrieved passenger may also file a complaint with the Department of Transportation. The issue about which the greatest amount of publicity was generated within the blindness field following passage of the Air Carriers Act of 1986 was that of exit row seating. The FAA regulations which became effective October 6, 1990 provide, in part, that no certified air carrier may seat a person in an exit row if the carrier determines that the person would likely be unable to perform one or more of the listed functions expected in the event of an emergency evacuation. The reasons for such likely inability include: 1. The lack of sufficient mobility, strength or dexterity in both arms and both hands to reach upwards, sideways, and downward to the location of a door, exit slide, operating mechanisms ... 2. The lack of sufficient cognitive capacity to perform one or more of the listed functions; 3. The lack of ability to read and understand instructions provided in printed, hand-written or graphic form; 4. The lack of "sufficient visual acuity to perform one or more of the applicable functions in Paragraph D of this section without assistance of visual aids beyond contact lenses or eye glasses"; 5. The lack of sufficient oral capacity to hear or understand instructions shouted by flight attendants without assistance beyond a hearing aid and the ability to understand the language spoken by the flight attendants; 6. The lack of ability adequately to impart information orally to other passengers, or 7. The person has a responsibility (such as caring for small children) that might be likely to prevent the person from performing one or more of the listed functions or a condition that might be likely to cause harm to the person if he performs one or more of the applicable functions. Regarding the functions referred to above, each carrier shall include on passenger information cards and each seat affected by these regulations a statement that passengers occupying exit row seats may be called upon to perform the following functions: 1. Locate the exit ; 2. Recognize the exit opening mechanism; 3. Comprehend the instructions for operating the exit ; 4. Operate the exit; 5. Assess whether opening the exit will increase the hazards to which passengers may be exposed; 6. Follow oral directions and hand signals given by a crew member; 7. Stow or secure the exit door so it will not impede use of the exit; 8. Assess the condition of an escape slide, activate the slide and stabilize the slide after deployment to assist others in getting off the slide; 9. Pass expeditiously through the exit, and 10. Assess, select and follow a safe path away from the exit. The FAA regulations provide also that, if it is necessary to move the handicapped passenger from an exit row seat to another seat, the carrier may reassign other passengers to the vacated seat. However, any passenger who does not wish to sit in an exit row seat may request seating elsewhere without disclosing the reason for his preference. Although the FAA regulations state specifically that determinations made under these summarized provisions shall be made in a non-discriminatory manner consistent with the requirements of the section, it is clear that difficult questions will arise in connection with, among others, legally blind and other passengers having invisible handicaps, elderly people with questionable strength or dexterity, and the inconsistent enforcement of these regulations. We commend DOT and FAA for attempting to make these regulations available on audiocassette. However, the duplicating process used must have gone awry because the copies we received were totally unusable. As a result, we had both sets re-recorded. Anyone wishing a set of cassettes may obtain them free of charge by contacting the ACB National Office. The regulations were preceded by lengthy background information and explanatory comments. THE FLORIDA YOU HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR TAMPA - 1991 By John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator It is time to be thinking about Central Florida for 1991. Tampa on the bay with its beaches, its cruises on the Gulf, its historic districts, and Busch Gardens, is the site of the 30th annual national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The excitement will begin Friday, June 28, and continue through Saturday, July 6, 1991. The headquarters hotel where most convention activities will occur is the Holiday Inn-Tampa International Airport located at 4500 W. Cypress Avenue. The two additional hotels which will house conventioneers are the Omni, only one block from the Holiday Inn, and the Sheraton Grand, just three blocks away. The room rates per night for the Holiday Inn are $44.00; for the Omni, $45.00; and for the Sheraton Grand, $43.00 for single, double, triple and quad. All these hotels are first class and ultra-modern. There are restaurants, shopping malls, and other stores nearby. The Jefferson High School, located across Cypress Avenue from the Holiday Inn, will be used for exhibits and some special interest group meetings. A shuttle service utilizing air-conditioned mini-buses is being planned to transport conventioneers between the three hotels and the high school. There will also be transportation from the Tampa International Airport to each hotel at no cost. Van service will be available from the Holiday Inn for trips to restaurants, shopping malls and so forth. All three hotels are located only 20 minutes from the Tampa Airport. Room reservations will be handled by the Tampa/Hillsborough Convention and Visitor Association. A special 800 number has been provided for your use in making these reservations. However, because of increased activity relating to the Super Bowl in Tampa in January, reservations won't be taken until after January 1. Call (800) 272- 7756. As always, the use of a credit card number or payment by check or money order of one night's lodging is required to hold your reservation. The Convention and Visitors Association will forward your request to your choice of hotel. If that hotel is sold out, your second choice of hotel will be notified. You will receive confirmation directly from the hotel. Please remember: no room reservation requests before January 1, 1991. The ACB Board of Directors will again hold its mid-year Board Meeting at the headquarters convention hotel. The dates are January 18-20, 1991, Friday through Sunday. Some special interest groups will also hold their Board Meetings at this time. Please call the Holiday Inn direct at (813) 879-4800 or the Holiday Inn Reservation number at (800) 465-4329 to make your room reservations for these January meetings. Reservations must be made by January 1, 1991. Convention rates of $44.00 per night will apply. Our Tour Committee, chaired by Patricia Beattie, is hard at work planning very interesting and exciting tours during Convention Week. Under consideration at present is a pre-convention tour on Friday and Saturday to the Kennedy Space Center where space shuttles are launched, and to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. There will be tours to Disneyworld, Epcot Center, MGM or Universal Studios at Orlando, and beautiful Busch Gardens at Tampa. The Home Shoppers Network, which is seen on cable television and which has its headquarters near Tampa, is being considered. There will also be a city tour of Tampa including Ybor City, which was first settled by Cuban, Spanish, Italian and German immigrants. You will visit the La Sigunda Central Bakery where Cuban bread is baked fresh each day, the cigar industry which made Ybor City world-famous, the State Museum, and many specialty shops and ethnic restaurants, which are the perfect places to shop and have lunch. Also, for Wednesday evening of Convention Week, we are featuring a dinner cruise on the Gulf of Mexico at a moderate price. The ship, which will include only ACB passengers, will leave the dock at about 6 p.m. and return by midnight. The cruise includes an excellent sit-down dinner, live music and dancing, a casino and bingo, among other attractions. Watch the next BRAILLE FORUM for more detail. We are also planning some special trips and activities for children. These will be at designated times during Convention Week. Again this year, the ACB Convention information and pre- registration package will be made available on cassette tape. To receive a copy of this cassette you must phone or write the ACB National Office in Washington, DC before April 15, 1991. However, as in past years, the print form must be used for pre-registration. One print form per registrant must be submitted. Tape or braille forms cannot be accepted. Since there were complaints about the travel agency used last year, a new agency has been secured. It is International Tours Inc. of Muskogee, Okla. The telephone number if you reside outside Oklahoma is (800) 847-7676; Oklahoma residents call (800) 722-9822. The mailing address is: 1021 W. Okmulgee, PO Box 1607, Muskogee, OK 74401 The regular telephone number is (918) 683-0341. Several ACB members have used this travel service for a number of years and recommend it highly. When calling International Tours, be certain to point out that you are a member or a friend of ACB. You will be eligible for discounted fares at lowest prices and accident insurance of $150,000.00 on each ticket purchased. Also, ACB will receive credit toward free tickets, which are used by Committee personnel in convention planning. You are encouraged to use Delta or American Air Lines when traveling, since these airlines will provide the most benefits to ACB through International Tours, Inc. All travel arrangements must be made through the International Tours Muskogee office since ACB's agreement is only with that office. The ACB Convention Committee, with the cooperation of the Florida Council of the Blind, is hard at work planning the best convention ever for 1991. You and your family and friends won't want to miss this exciting and dynamic 30th convention in Tampa, Fla. EDITORIAL A SEASON OF FULFILLMENT BY NOLAN CRABB By the time you read this, Edmund Gwenn will have appeared on your TV set and will have proven to a young Natalie Wood that he is Santa Claus and that miracles still happen on 34th Street. Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed will have visited your living room repeatedly to reaffirm that "It's A Wonderful Life." These classic movie characters and our numerous seasonal traditions remind us that this is indeed a time apart--a few days on the calendar somehow remarkable, frenetic, strange, possibly depressing for some, but always fulfilling for me. And every year, I wonder why. While I have neither the space nor the inclination to delve into the psychology of what fulfillment is and why some people achieve it while others don't, I think I've found one principle that can help virtually everyone find fulfillment regardless of our seasonal traditions, or lack of them. The principle is simple: Train yourself to feel genuine pleasure over small personal experiences and accomplishments. Finding pleasure in small things is an ongoing process, not a singular experience. I learned the value of finding pleasure in small, seemingly unimportant, experiences while living in a small trailer in a military community on the outskirts of Augusta, Ga. I was working as a volunteer for my church, and I had received a two-year assignment to work in South Carolina and parts of Georgia. I was 19 years old; my co-worker was 20. It was December 1977. My friend and I were both thinking of home, family, and Christmas. We were both aware that there was still plenty of month and very little money. We lived either on funds sent by our families or on money we had saved before signing up as volunteers. This Christmas would be a stark contrast to what we were used to at home. We determined to celebrate the holidays while staying within our meager budget. That ruled out one of those fancy artificial trees; it even eliminated a rag-tag real tree from a tree lot. We reviewed our financial picture for the hundredth time and came to the same conclusion. But the thought of Christmas without a tree was somehow unacceptable. We didn't want to ask local members of our church to help, since they had already provided prodigious amounts of food and gifts. Today, the young man with whom I worked in Georgia is a successful architect in Salt Lake City. But 13 years ago, long before he began designing buildings, my friend designed an unforgettable Christmas for both of us. I remember how the two of us sat in glum silence for a time. I was quietly assuring myself that we didn't need a silly tree anyway. The tree doesn't make the day, I thought. Suddenly, my friend stood and said, "I'll be in the yard for a few minutes." He returned carrying an armful of pine branches which had fallen from a tree in the yard. Wordlessly, he placed the branches on the floor, got the masking tape from the cupboard, and the toilet plunger from the bathroom. Minutes later, my friend had built a sturdy tree upon which we hung foil-wrapped candies as decorations. You can, no doubt, picture that pathetic little tree with its toilet plunger trunk, its yards of masking tape and its raggedy branches. But there was something else about that tree you might not be able to picture as easily. It was magic. We honestly didn't experience a single unhappy moment that Christmas. Somehow, that little tree added in an inexplicable way to the spirit of the season. I've celebrated many Christmases with tall, beautifully-formed trees since that December in Georgia, but the Christmas of 1977 was as happy and memorable as any because of, not in spite of, that little tree; it had become a monument to the resourcefulness of two young men thousands of miles from home. It was a monument to their love for the season. During the past few months, I've visited four state affiliates where I met people who felt pride in their membership in the American Council of the Blind as a result of victories--some small, some large-- in their states. The fact that bus drivers on some Wilmington, Del., routes will announce the bus's identity at certain stops won't make headlines on any major wire service. But it's an accomplishment in which Milly Stokes and other members of the Delaware Council of the Blind can take pride. They waged a battle with transit officials and others for more than two years. In New Jersey, council members gathered in the spirit of unity and pride to participate in a progressive, issues-oriented convention. Some people in Indiana are working toward the establishment of a chapter of the Council of Citizens With Low Vision International. In Massachusetts, ACB members and others fought to ensure the survival of library services. They recognized that freedom of information access does not come without vigilance and participation in the process. The list could go on, but you understand the point. Compared with the news of the world, these issues seem small. But they, like that tiny tree, can enhance the sense of fulfillment we all experience from membership in ACB. By now, you have received ACB's annual fund-raising letter. As you well know, the cost of providing information in accessible formats is on the increase. While ACB continues to find funding from sources outside the membership, we can't succeed without your help. Once again, the principle of doing the greatest good with even small contributions applies. You needn't have the salary of a multi-national corporate executive to make a difference. Your contribution, regardless of its size, counts greatly and adds to your personal fulfillment. Speaking of accomplishments, I hope you'll join with me in congratulating ACB Member Ray Fournier, owner of Diamond Tape Productions in Boston. He came through with the winning bid to produce the recorded edition of The Braille Forum. From now on, the magazine will be produced on four-track cassettes. In this issue, I'm introducing a new section called "Family Forum." It will appear periodically in the magazine when we have stories appropriate for it. This time, the section features a review on some talking toys for the holidays. I hope it appeals not only to parents, but to gadget freaks of all ages. Finally, if I could send each Braille Forum reader a greeting card this season, it would not merely wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Season's Greetings. Rather, I would wish for you the ability to find pleasure in life's small things as I did when I placed presents beneath a toilet plunger tree. My greeting card to you would include the hope that all of us could discover that these remarkable, frenetic days on the calendar--this season apart--can be a time of true fulfillment, regardless of our traditions and circumstances. DESCRIPTIVE VIDEO AT THE SMITHSONIAN Blind and partially sighted visitors to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., can now enjoy descriptive video on two films. In mid August, the museum began showing "To Fly!" and "The Dream is Alive" complete with voice tracks which verbally describe the action on the screen. The descriptions do not interfere with the films' regular dialogue or narration. The video descriptions were prepared and narrated by staff and volunteers at the Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc., the district's radio reading service. Dr. Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl, president of the Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc., commended museum officials for making the films more accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors. Pfanstiehl made her remarks at a media screening of the films in the museum's Samuel P. Langley Theater. Martin Harwit, director of the National Air and Space Museum, welcomed the audience and expressed the hope that the video descriptions would encourage blind and partially sighted guests to tour the entire museum. Visitors wishing to hear the video descriptions of the two films are issued special headphones. Guests should contact the museum in advance to obtain scheduling information and notify personnel that they wish to hear the video descriptions. "The Dream is Alive" documents the mission of a space shuttle. It includes spectacular pictures from space, described eloquently by a Washington Ear volunteer. "To Fly" covers a brief history of aviation from hot air balloons to space flight. Its video descriptions are excellent, detailed, and fast paced in places. Entrance to the National Air and Space Museum is free, and no admission is charged for either of the films. DAILY NEWSPAPER NOW AVAILABLE TO BLIND NEW MEXICANS For the first time, blind New Mexicans are able to read a daily newspaper, thanks to a new service provided by the New Mexico Commission for the Blind. The new service, which is called NEWSLINE for the Blind, went on-line officially on Wednesday, August 1, 1990. Fred Schroeder, executive director of the Commission for the Blind, said, "Blind people cannot truly be fully integrated into their communities until they have equal access to information. NEWSLINE for the Blind is an important step in providing blind New Mexicans with that equal access." The NEWSLINE for the Blind service enables its users to read the "Albuquerque Journal" in its entirety seven days a week. NEWSLINE users access the service via a standard touchtone telephone. By using the buttons on the phone, they are able to choose the section of the paper they wish to read. They are also able to skim or skip individual stories. NEWSLINE users must sign up and receive an authorization number from the commission to avoid copyright liability problems. Once authorized users have signed onto the system correctly, they are presented with a menu of categories to choose from. Currently, the only things not read are some of the legal notices and the classified ads. According to NEWSLINE director David Andrews, "We plan on reading at least some of the help wanted ads from the Sunday paper later this year." Listeners choose a category using a two-digit code. They are then automatically presented with the first story in that section. Listeners can skip the story, start it over again, jump ahead or back in ten- second increments, or exit that category to choose another. All the reading is done by more than 75 specially trained volunteers. NEWSLINE works by turning their voices into numbers, or digitizing them for storage on a computer hard disk. The computer system is hooked up to a number of phone lines. When listeners call, the voices are turned back into audio and fed down the proper phone line. Thus, the caller hears the actual voice of the volunteer. The system presently has eight incoming phone lines but can support up to 24 lines. NEWSLINE is the third telephone reading service to go on-line; other systems are operating in Minnesota and Michigan. (See "Talking Newspaper Goes On-line in Minnesota," The Braille Forum, March/April 1990.) While NEWSLINE is free to New Mexico subscribers, there will be a charge for out-of-state readers. These subscriptions, available in limited quantities, cost $8.50 per month--the same fee which print subscribers pay. The caller pays any additional long-distance charges incurred. For subscription information, contact NEWSLINE for the Blind, New Mexico Commission for the Blind, 2200 Yale Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, or call (505) 841-8862. TODAY'S NIDRR: MAKING REHABILITATION INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE By William H. Graves, director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research I was very pleased to be invited to address a session of the 1990 National Convention of the American Council of the Blind. During my years with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University, I became well acquainted with ACB and many of its members. In my new position as Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, I look forward to increasing contact with this and other consumer organizations. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research is part of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education. NIDRR's mission is to support research on improving systems, products and practices involved in the rehabilitation process, with the goal of enhancing the independence of persons with disabilities. This is accomplished through grants, contracts and cooperative agreements with states, universities, Indian tribes, research organizations, non-profit groups, some profit-making businesses and individuals. Recipients of funds range from graduate student fellows to university consortia. An important part of NIDRR's activity is to insure that information generated by its programs is put to the best possible use. This means not only a vigorous dissemination effort but also the provision of materials in media appropriate to the consumer. In keeping with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, all federal agencies have been asked to make their pamphlets, reports and other documents available in accessible media. In theory, therefore, anyone should be able to request a braille or taped copy of any federally-produced publication. NIDRR is generally able to answer such requests. In addition, I have directed all our projects either to acquire this capability or to make arrangements with some other agency or organization for this purpose. Already, the National Rehabilitation Information Center, supported by a NIDRR contract, makes its information products available in braille, large print, on tape or IBM-compatible disks. Under another NIDRR contract, "Rehab Briefs," concise summaries of recent information on specific topics, are available on tape and in large print. ABLEDATA, a database on assistive technology, can supply information in braille or on disk. You can contact the National Rehabilitation Information Center by mail at 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935, Silver Spring, MD 20910- 3319, or by phone at (800) 346-2742 (voice or TDD). ABLEDATA can be reached at (800) 344-5405 (voice or TDD). To be placed on the mailing list for Rehab Briefs or to inquire about NIDRR activities, write to The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3060 MES, Washington, DC 20202-2572, or call 202-732-1134 (voice) or 202-732-5079 (TDD). DIALOGUE REVISITED Carol M. McCarl has been named editor of "Dialogue, the Magazine for the Visually Impaired." McCarl's company, Blindskills, Inc., was awarded the assets and rights to the name by the Board of Directors of Dialogue Publications, Inc., of Berwyn, Ill. As of press time, no date had been set for publication of the first issue of "Dialogue" under new management. According to a press release from Blindskills, Inc., "Dialogue" won't be published until Blindskills has sufficient funds to pay the contractors who produce the magazine's various editions. The Braille Forum was among the first magazines in the field of blindness to report that McCarl was a leading contender for the editorship of "Dialogue." (See "The Death and Resurrection of Dialogue?" September/October, 1990). "Dialogue" will be published in large print, braille and NLS-formatted four-track cassettes. The disc edition has been discontinued. Reader/memberships will cost $20. McCarl plans to continue many of the columns which were "Dialogue" regulars. She says the magazine will be published separately from "Lifeprints," a careers information, leisure and sports magazine now in its eighth year of publication. To renew your reader/membership, or to become a reader/member, send $20 to Blindskills, Inc., P.O. Box 5181, Salem, OR 97304. DEADLINES, BYLINES, BOTTOM LINES AND SPEAKING ALONG EDITORIAL LINES by Billie Jean Hill As a former member of the ACB Board of Publications, I should have thought of this years ago--but I didn't. So, wearing my editor's hat (my paid job), here goes. An editor's life is a balancing act of skills, hard work, risks, hard work, experience, hard work, immense satisfaction and hard work. As an editor who is visually impaired, it is very satisfying to receive feedback from visually impaired readers all over the country-- including my mom in Mississippi, who says there should be a Pulitzer Prize for disability news letter editors. Those are the "warm fuzzies" of being an editor. But the rewards can be tempered by deadlines, bylines, and bottom lines which cause worry lines. Editors expend energy and time convincing contributing writers that yes, you really did mean the first week in November as deadline for publishing holiday greetings and no, you cannot publish a picture of J's eight grandchildren in their Ninja turtle costumes on the cover of a newsletter for blinded veterans. But always, always of major concern is the bottom line. Sue Ammeter of Washington State gave me the idea at the Denver ACB Convention. She asked what it cost to produce an entire braille, large print or cassette issue of the BRAILLE FORUM. Sue hoped her state affiliate might consider sponsoring an issue in one format. Here are the figures broken down to an individual cost: The large print edition of the BRAILLE FORUM costs ACB $3.60 per year to provide that information for one person. The cassette tape edition costs ACB $4 per year for one person. For braille readers, the cost to ACB for a year is $10.08. These figures only represent the actual amounts we pay our contractors. When you factor in staff time, supplies, equipment maintenance and related items, ACB's total cost of the publication is $12 to $13 for each BRAILLE FORUM reader. With ACB annual membership dues being $3, the bottom line does not add up. Here are some possible practical remedies: * make sure your annual contribution to ACB covers the cost of receiving your BRAILLE FORUM; * suggest that your special interest group or affiliate sponsor one format of the FORUM for one issue. I had hoped that this byline about bottom lines, which met the FORUM's deadline, would have a happier punch line. Next time. (Billie Jean Hill is Director of Public Relations for the Blinded Veterans Association and editor of the BVA BULLETIN.) FAMILY FORUM TALKING TOYS: MORE THAN A MERE CONVERSATION PIECE By Nolan Crabb Editor's Note: This story is designed merely to inform readers of new toys which can either be adapted or are ready for play out of the box. The mention of any product in this story should not be viewed as an endorsement of that product by the American Council of the Blind, its staff or officers. When Clement Moore wrote his famous poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," kids went to bed on Christmas Eve and dreamed of sugar plums. Today, kids can dream of things far more exciting and novel than sugar plums. You may or may not celebrate Christmas; you may or may not have kids; but if you get the urge to check out this season's array of talking toys, give in to it. The talking toy displays are indeed the stuff modern dreams are made of. I spent a wonderful, magical Sunday afternoon in early November playing with every talking toy on display at a suburban Washington, D.C., toy store. I made my list and checked it twice trying to find out what talks and what doesn't. Here's what I learned. A majority of the talking toys out this year are designed for preschoolers or kids just starting school. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun playing with them yourself. Even if you're a blind parent of a sighted child, today's talking technology can make you a meaningful playtime participant. Little Smart Driver If you measure success based on number of products, a Wheeling, Ill., company called Video Technology has the last word on talking toys. One of its products, Little Smart Driver, may be an instant hit for that preschooler in your life. Its controls are similar to those you would find in a car. Every button provides audio feedback. The child can choose the type of horn he wants to beep simply by moving a lever. While colorful pictures help children choose between a bicycle horn, a fire engine horn, etc., a blind child could enjoy this toy as well, since the levers click into place at each choice. The car radio has ten pre-programmed tunes which are selected by another clicking lever. Virtually every function of Little Smart Driver is accessible to a blind child with normal hand dexterity. It retails for $39.99, but you can probably get a discounted price. Diane Goldsher, marketing director at Video Technology, says the company has introduced Little Talking World Play Sets. These toys include a space shuttle and a fire rescue station, all of which talk. The company also offers Tick-Talk Clock, a talking clock designed to teach kids how to tell time. "It doesn't really keep time," Goldsher explains, " but the child can move the hands and hear the time announced. All the buttons are clearly defined. Pressing a bell-shaped button rings the clock's alarm. Another button announces the arrival of the school bus." The clock's suggested retail price is $24.99, Goldsher says. Video Technology also sells Small Talk. When your child picks up the phone and pushes one of a series of clearly defined buttons, he can talk to a synthetic voiced Mommy, Daddy, mailman etc. The toy also features colored shaped buttons which announce themselves when pressed with such solemn declarations as "green square." All of Video Technology's talking products include interactive word, letter, number or color identification games any child could play. Don't Forget the Baby Texas Instruments has discontinued brailled versions of Speak And Spell and similar toys. Regular versions of all of the Texas Instruments talking toys will still be available. It just means that old St. Nick will have to put tactile markings on the toy before Christmas. If there's a child in your life aged infant to 2 years, and if you don't mind spending about $25, the Texas Instruments Listen and Learn Nursery Rhymes and Listen and Learn Farm Animals toys are certain hits. These toys are large sectioned balls with pictures of animals or nursery rhymes on the sections. When the child places the ball on the ground, a synthetic voice announces the name of the animal whose picture is facing upward. Moving the ball gets a new announcement. The ball automatically says "by-by" and turns off after a short period of inactivity. New from Texas Instruments this year is the Peek-A-Boo Zoo. According to a company spokesperson, zoo animals pop up when buttons are pressed, and the animal's name is spoken and it makes a sound. The zoo retails for $34.95. If you can't quite pass the Morse Code tests to get your ham radio license, never fear--all is not lost. Fisher-Price offers Sonic Rangers. Now these aren't just ho-hum regular walkie-talkies, folks, they're voice activated. While they aren't talking toys in the same sense as those mentioned above, I refer to the Sonic Rangers here in case you know a child whose hand dexterity won't allow him to use regular push-button walkie-talkies. This year's toy display boasts the usual array of talking characters--talking Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Big Bird, and a doll I've never seen before, Pretty Penny Chatterbox, made by Remco. Mattel is out of the talking doll business, but its classic See 'N Say toy series turns 25 this year. To my great relief, I didn't see any talking Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles. Kowa-bunga, dude, maybe next year. A Talking Race Car for the 90's Remote control race cars aren't exactly an earth-shaking new concept. But Road Champs, Inc.of West Caldwell, N.J., has released a remote control racer with a twist. Called Sounds of Power, these talking cars are a must-have for any car lover aged 2 to 200. When you push one of the well-defined buttons, what sounds like a digitized human voice says "rev it up!" At that point, the engine revs and the tires squeal. I can't adequately describe how dazzlingly real these sounds are. You have to hear it to believe it. On the Sounds of Power Monster Truck, one button sounds a very realistic air brake--the squeak, the hiss, and a reduction in engine speed. Don't Count Cassettes Out While toys with synthetic voices are very much in fashion, don't brush off talking toys which use tape players. Homestar International, Inc. offers Grandpa Time, a combination clock/cassette player. The clock doesn't talk--a real drawback for a blind parent who needs to set it--but once it's set and the kids' bedtime is defined, the clock puts the cassette player to use in some novel ways. A half-hour before bedtime, the tape clicks on and a grandfatherly voice reminds the kids to put away their toys, brush their teeth, and get ready for bed. At bedtime, Grandpa Time's tape comes on again and tells a short bedtime story. In the morning, Grandpa wakes the kids with a wake-up message. The pre-recorded tape included with the clock offers different wake-up and bedtime messages for 14 days. Additional tapes can be purchased from your toy store or ordered directly from Homestar International, according to Diane Adair, director of marketing and new product development. The tape player will play tapes you've recorded for your kids as well, but it has no rewind feature. Adair says Grandpa Time retails for $49.95 to $59.95. If peace--and quiet--on earth is your goal this season, you probably won't want to buy any of these magically noisy talking toys. But even if you don't buy, at least shed those silly adult inhibitions and play with the talking toys on display. Perhaps you'll find, as I did, that many of these toys are indeed the stuff of holiday dreams. SHE SETS THE SCENE WITH VIDEO DESCRIPTION By Nolan Crabb Imagine a job where you are in a constant race with time; a job where even a half second can make or break your performance. Envision an occupation where you must not merely use the tools available to you, but where you must use them with such precision that the final result enhances rather than damages the final outcome. Sounds like the job description of a surgeon in a trauma unit, right? Michelle Nicholasen is not a trauma surgeon; she's a writer--a video describer. Her tools are not scalpels and lasers, but words. While she doesn't deal with life and death, her skill and precision in choosing the right words to verbally describe the action on the television screen can add life and dimension to the performance for blind and visually impaired viewers. Nicholasen works at WGBH-TV in Boston. She's one of two writers who produce video description scripts which are broadcast simultaneously with certain programs airing on the Public Broadcasting System. Viewers with a stereo television or special decoder equipped to receive the Secondary Audio Program channel can hear verbal descriptions of the visual action as it occurs. Nicholasen says she knew she wanted to write video description scripts as soon as the position was available. She had been working in the promotion department at WGBH when the video describer position opened. "I don't think anybody can really be taught how to write descriptively," she explains. "It's just something that I enjoy doing; I knew that. Just the thought of making a career out of something I enjoy doing was like a dream; it was like a tailor-made job." The road to video description wasn't an easy one for Nicholasen. She says she passed a two-hour writing test which involved describing three video clips from "American Playhouse" and 10 still photographs. One video clip had no dialogue associated with it at all. It depicted a ballet which evolved into a love-making scene. After she was given the job, Nicholasen received training from descriptive video pioneers Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl and her husband Cody. Nicholasen began her training by describing still photographs. Then, as she explains, things began to get exciting. "They would run a video segment once, and I would have to describe it live. The other describers and I would go around in a circle and describe the clip. Margaret and Cody would tell us what we left out or what they would have liked to know about the scene. That's where we really learned to prioritize the visual details." Nicholasen says good video description means the narrator is as unobtrusive as possible. For that reason, descriptions are written in the present tense. Sentences are written with a heightened awareness toward easy pronunciation for broadcast narrators. "Here's an example of what I'm talking about," she explains. "Assume you have a scene where Joey stands, looks back at Catlin, takes off his hat, and takes her hand. That's too many things going on at once to adequately describe and remain inconspicuous. We might describe it this way: 'Joey stands, glances at Catlin, steps closer and takes her hand.' We try not to describe more than two activities in a single sentence." Nicholasen's greatest challenge is prioritizing the 25 events that take place during a three-second pause. "In a 'Mystery' program that we did," she explains, "the scene changed immediately to a beautiful dining room with a grand piano, a long, shiny oak table, and four men in tuxedos waiting to receive the guests. I had one second to say the scene was going to change. So instead of describing the red velvet carpet or the oak walls, we said 'scene changes to a chandeliered dining room'; that's all the time we had." Adding video description to a two-hour program is no easy task. Describers approach the job knowing that at various times during the process they will have to be word surgeons, detectives, and master editors always aware of their stern tormentor Father Time, who dispenses a second here and three seconds there--precious time without dialogue--ever challenging the describers to create descriptions that enliven and inform. Nicholasen says when tapes arrive from the Public Broadcasting System, she and Describer Jason Cahill watch the program together. Then they divide the program in half and begin writing. She uses a Macintosh computer, a television, and a three-quarter inch video tape deck. The computer keyboard controls the operation of the tape deck. "I play the tapes until someone stops talking," she explains, "then I pause the tape and click a button on the computer which registers a time code. I'll roll the tape again until somebody starts speaking, click another button, and the computer calculates the amount of time available without dialogue. Pauses can be anywhere from one second to six minutes long." Nicholasen types in her description and taps another key. The computer calculates the length of time necessary to read what she has typed. The computer's calculations are figured on the basis of 180 words per minute--the average narration speed. "I go through my portion of the program pause by pause, writing and timing my descriptions," Nicholasen recounts. "Then I rewind the program to the beginning and roll it again. This time, I read my descriptions aloud. You have to read them aloud to edit them effectively." Eventually the two portions of the program are merged and the entire script is given to the operations manager who, never having seen the program before, reads the script to ferret out confusing or irrelevant passages. Nicholasen spends between 20 and 35 hours creating, editing, and rewriting descriptive script for one hours' worth of actual programming. She spends five to seven hours to describe a half-hour episode of "Degrassi High." Among Nicholasen's biggest challenges are finding new ways to describe the same thing and describing a program she didn't like to watch. "I'm always looking for new or different ways to describe a certain smile that a character may use throughout the program. Writing description for a program you don't like is harder because you may not like the essence or the mood the director is trying to create. Luckily, I've liked most of the things we've done. If I had to do 'Gomer Pyle' or something like that, I'm not sure I'd want to continue working." Video description demands precision, and that precision, in turn, often calls for research. In addition to an electronic thesaurus, Nicholasen uses a word finder book and goes for the phone when nothing else yields satisfactory results. "I've had to call the Army; I've had to call public works departments and a host of other sources to get exact names," she says. Even the language used by the describers is a factor. Nicholasen says the writers must match the language with the program's target audience. "In a 'Mystery' episode, we might use a word like 'burnished' to describe a surface. We might refer to 'a red leather Chesterfield sofa'. We're trying to write to be in keeping with the intent of the author," she explains. "In 'Degrassi,' we would say something like 'the guy checks out the tape recorder'. We try not to draw too much attention to ourselves, so even though "Degrassi High" is about teen- agers, our descriptions don't use the word 'awesome' or 'rad'." As might be expected, writing video descriptions all week affects Nicholasen's life in other ways. She often prefers reading to watching TV at night. She may even skip a movie or two now and then just because she's watched some excellent movies all day at work. "I feel guilty when I turn on the TV at home," she admits. "I feel like 'no, I've done enough of this; I want to read'. Reading is where I learn more words; it's where I learn different styles of writing." How does video description compare to other forms of writing? That question hangs in the air as the young Boston University communications graduate reflects on an answer. She sits thoughtfully, seemingly unaware of the noise and bustle of the ACB Denver convention hotel where the interview occurred. Finally, she answers. "Each description has to sound just right. It's almost like poetry. I have to pick the right word, and if it sounds right, it will click, and I'll go on to the next pause. A measure of how well I'm doing is the ease with which I can find that harmony. That's the great joy; I'm finding that I'm using this language in a real effective way." HERE AND THERE By Elizabeth M. Lennon LEGAL HELP AT TAX TIME If the Internal Revenue Service points the auditing finger in your direction, you can ask IRS for a helping hand. At your request, IRS officials can put you in touch with a senior law student and a law professor in your area who can help you deal with the audit. According to "The BVA Bulletin" July/August 1990, the service can be used before and during an audit, and even for collections. The law student can help you negotiate payment schedules. To determine whether a program is available in your area, contact your local IRS office and talk to the taxpayer educational coordinator; ask for details about the Student Tax Clinic. FINANCIAL AID "Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families" is a directory featuring more than 600 references for scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants in aid, awards and internships. It includes hundreds of agencies that work with people who are disabled and other financial assistance providers. The book is published by Reference Service Press, 1100 Industrial Rd., Suite 9, San Carlos, CA 94070. It costs $32.50 plus $3 for shipping and handling, according to the "BVA Bulletin," July-August 1990. BLIND RETIREMENT LIVING A Jacksonville, Fla., retirement community is accepting applications for blind and deaf residents, according to an announcement. The Mandarin Manner Retirement Village offers nursing and interpreters, according to the announcement. For more information, contact Jane Waldron, Mandarin Manner Retirement Village, 10680 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32217. Tel. (904) 268-4953. A NEED FOR NETWORKING Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, seeks interested persons for networking. For organization and membership information, send your name and address on a cassette in a returnable mailer to: Arnold Austin, President, Route 4 Box 241, Butler, MO 64730. EASY-TO-SEE SOFTWARE Hexagon Products offers a variety of programs designed to enlarge and enhance a computer's screen. Many of its products are designed to integrate with off-the-shelf software to enlarge the program's output. Available software includes: BIG for 1-2-3, a memory-resident text enlarger which integrates with Lotus (r) 1-2-3 (r), B-EDIT, a text editor, and B-POP, a general purpose text enlarger which is activated by a designated key. It enlarges any text from any program displayed on screen. Check with the manufacturer for current prices. Contact Bill Arendt, Hexagon Products, P.O. Box 1295, Park Ridge, IL 60068- 1295. Tel. (708) 692-3355. COMPUTER SUPPORT GROUP The American Foundation for the Blind has established a national database of blind consumers, rehabilitation instructors, and others who use a variety of adaptive high- and low-tech devices. The individuals in the database are willing to answer questions regarding adaptive equipment. Called the Careers and Technology Information Bank, the system seeks to match users with others interested in information about a particular device. If you are interested in serving as a support person or if you need information about a piece of equipment, contact Jay Leventhal, American Foundation for the Blind, National Technology Center, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. Tel. (212) 620-2080 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 eastern time. EYE RELIEF ON A PC Visually impaired computer users may alleviate eye strain with Eye Relief, a text editor which allows users to create and enlarge documents. The software also works well with a variety of laptops. For more information, contact SkiSoft Publishing Corp., 1644 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 79, Lexington, MA 02173. Tel toll-free (800) 662-3622. Eye Relief costs $295 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. ROCHLIN RETIRES FROM PCEPD Jay Rochlin, executive director of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, retired from that position on November 1, according to a letter from Committee Chairman Justin Dart, Jr. According to Dart, Rochlin led the president's committee from "the brink of extinction" to its current position as a credible disability agency during his five years with the committee. NEW BOOK FROM AFB "Dimensions: Visually Impaired Persons With Multiple Disabilities" is a compilation of articles by experts in the fields of visual impairment and multiple disabilities. Available in print only, the book costs $12.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Contact the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th St., New York, NY 10011. Tel. (201) 862-8838 for credit card orders only. COMPUTER COMPANY MOVES Robotron Access Products, Inc., manufacturer of Eureka A-4 speech and braille notetaker has a new address for its U.S. headquarters. It is 3340 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 1010, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tel. Toll-free (800) 735-1031 or (213) 392-3522. TV GOES BIG TIME Science Products, P.O. Box 888, Southeastern, PA 19399, offers Beamscope, a magnification unit designed to enlarge and enhance TV pictures. Two models are available, one which fits 12 to 15 inch screens and one which attaches to 17-19 inch screens. Prices range from $66.50 to $77.50. For more information, write Science Products at the above address or call toll-free (800) 888-7400. SIGHT LOSS BOOK "Coping With Macular Degeneration" is now available in its second edition. The 80-page large print book features help resource lists and chapters on Macular Degeneration. For more information, or to order, contact Vision Loss Technology, 4619 93rd St., Lubbock, TX 79424. Tel. (806) 974-6387. Send a check or money order for $12. TOLL-FREE IN NEW YORK The New York state affiliate of the American Council of the Blind now offers a toll-free telephone number for in-state use only. The number is (800) 522-3303. The number will serve as an information clearing house. Callers can receive information on issues and events in which the affiliate is involved. Messages may be left on the answering machine; calls will be returned. STAMPS BY PHONE If you have difficulty getting to the Post Office, postal officials have made things easier by authorizing the purchase of stamps by phone, according to a Michigan "Special Education Newsletter." Your purchase must be charged to a credit card and will be delivered to your home within three to five business days. Both stamps and postcards are availiable in specific quantities. The minimum order by phone is a sheet of fifty stamps for twelve dollars and fifty cents. There is a three-dollar service charge for each order. You may order stamps seven days a week, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free (800) 782-6724. FOLDING CANES AVAILIABLE Autofold offers three types of folding white canes-- the Autofold Support Cane, 18 dollars; the Autofold Cane, 15 dollars; and the Cable Cane featuring a stainless-steel cable, 20 dollars. For more information contact Autofold, 208 Coleman St., PO Box 1063, Gardner, MA, 01440. AIDS CONFERENCE A conference on AIDS and vision loss, cosponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind and the Northeastern Association of the Blind, will be held at the Holiday Inn--Turf, Albany, NY, January 24 and 25, 1991. Experts in the field of opthamology, blindness, rehabilitation, and AIDS education and research will lead seminars focusing on the medical, psychosocial, administrative, legal, rehabilitative, and educational aspects of AIDS. For more information, contact Scott Oliver, assistant executive director of Northeastern Association of the Blind, 301 Washington Ave., Albany, NY., 12203. NOMINATIONS SOUGHT The American Foundation for the Blind is seeking nominations for the Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards. The awards, established in 1986, in memory of one of AFB's most popular narrators, will be presented in April 1991 at the Library and Museum of the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, New York City. According to "AFB News," four Scourby awards will be presented, representing outstanding narrators in fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and periodicals-- a new category. To cast your vote, send a letter or postcard with your choice (one vote per category) to the American Foundation for the Blind, Dept. PR, 15 West 16th St., New York, NY., 10011. Submissions may be made in print or Braille and must be postmarked no later than February 1, 1991. ADA GUIDE AVAILABLE The National Easter Seal Society has developed a brochure titled "The Americans with Disabilities Act: An Easy Checklist for Disability Groups and Businesses." This simple 16-page brochure highlights provisions of this landmark legislation and is designed as a guide for businesses in particular, to evaluate their policies and procedures in light of the new law. It is available for 75 cents per copy plus 65 cents for postage and handling from the National Easter Seals Society, 70 E. Lake St., Chicago, IL., 60601. ANN MORRIS CATALOGUE Inexpensive talking calculators with headphone jacks, televisions which receive descriptive video, tactile meat and candy thermometers, Braille craft and cookbooks, and a refillable large-print address book are among the products available in Volume Five of the Ann Morris Enterprises Catalogue. For a free large print or cassette copy (the Braille copy costs eight dollars), contact Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc., 26 Horseshoe Lane, Levittown, NY, 11756. LARGE PRINT BOOKS Random House, Inc., now offers many current titles in large print, including "Trump: Surviving at the Top," by Donald Trump, and "The New York Times Large Print Crossword Puzzles, Volumes Four and Five." To order, call (800) 733-3000. NEW TALKING WATCH The Global Trading Company now offers a new talking watch which is less than one-third inch in diameter. It includes an alarm, a count-up timer, a snooze function, and other features, according to "The Missouri Chronicle." Contact Julius Mohacs, president, Global Trading Company, 500 E. Providential, Burbank, CA, 91501. CHECK REGISTERS A large print check register priced at six dollars and fifty cents is available from the Aids and Appliances Store, Massachusetts Association for the Blind, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA., 02152. The binder contains fifty sheets, each capable of holding six entries. CLASSIFIED ADS "Bi-Monthly Classifieds for the Visually Impaired" is a new magazine on cassette designed to meet the advertising and shopping needs of visually handicapped people. Advertise an item that you would like to buy or sell for just $1. Advertise crafts, services or products for just two dollars. For a one-year subscription send $12 to Chilton and Company, 4905 Park Ave., Nashville, TN 37209. TAPED MUSIC COURSE The National Library Service of the Library of Congress has developed a music-theory course on cassette that introduces blind and visually-impaired students to the basic elements of melody and rhythm. According to "The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness," the course was designed by Barbara Kolb, renowned composer and teacher, and does not require a knowledge of Braille or music. The course is available on loan. For more information, contact Shirley Emanuel, head, Music Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, (800) 424-5567. ART SHOW ANNOUNCED April 5, 1991 is the opening day of the Sister Kenny international Art Show by disabled artists. Held in Minneapolis, Minn., the show will close May 3. The Artsign company will provide awards. First place winners will receive a $100 gift certificate, second place winners receive $75 and third place winners receive $50. An additional $1,500 will be given in cash and purchase awards. The deadline for accepting artwork is February 28, 1991. To obtain an entry form, contact Art Show Public Relations Dept., Sister Kenny Institute, 800 E. 28th St. At Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407. Tel. (612) 863-4400. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Automated Functions Game and Education Machine, includes nine game and educational cartridges and instruction manuals for all cartridges. Manuals are in print and cassette. $295 or best offer. Contact John Glass, 14110 Squirrel Hollow Ln., Saratoga, CA 95070. Tel. (408) 741-1034. FOR SALE: Visual Read/Write System Model M-19B. This two-piece unit includes a 19-inch monitor and a separate camera assembly, eight years old, excellent condition. $800. Contact Walter Ashby, 4504 Parkhurst, Midland, TX 79707. Tel. (915) 685-6668. FOR SALE: Microbrailler, Model MB2400, $900; one Centronics Printer Model 3101, $350. Both items include instruction manuals and may be purchased together for $1200. Contact Ms. Sheila Mitchell, 2515 S. 9th St. Apt. #706, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Tel. (612) 339-6526. FOR SALE: Slightly used Perkins Brailler, $150. Contact Martha Nichols, 1124 Cactus Hill Rd., Cheyenne, WY 82001. Tel. (307) 634- 4575. WANTED TO BUY: Original Sharp Talking Calculator, not the one with clock/calendar. Contact Marilyn Borchers, 1131 S. Forest Dr., Arlington, VA 22204. ACB SPECIAL INTEREST AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS American Blind Lawyers Association, Stephen Speicher President, 825 M St., Suite 412, Lincoln, NE 68508. American Council of Blind Lions, James Fleming, President, 5021 Seminary Rd., Apt. 1506, Alexandria, VA 22311 ACB Government Employees, Charles Hodge, President, 1131 S. Forest Dr., Arlington, VA 22204 ACB Radio Amateurs, John McCann, President, 5501 Seminary Rd., Apt. 301 South, Falls Church, VA 22041. ACB Social Service Providers, Pam Shaw, President, 8750 Georgia Ave., Apt. 721A, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Braille Revival League, Alma Murphy, President, 3841 Giles Ave., Apt. 2N, St. Louis, MO 63116 Council of Citizens With Low Vision International, Patricia Price, President, Riley Tower 2-Apt. 2300, 600 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 Council of Families With Visual Impairments, Nola Webb, President, 1440 Cedar, #108, University Heights, OH 44121. Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, Thomas Stout, President, 8270 East Vicksburg, Tucson, AZ 85710 Friends In Art of ACB, Inc., Janiece Petersen, President, 1629 Columbia Rd. N.W., Apt. 800, Washington, DC 20009 Guide Dog Users, Inc., Mary Jane Schmitt, President, 528 Des Plaines Ave., Apt. 2B, Forest Park, IL 60130 Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers, Arnold Austin, President, Rt. 4 Box 241, Butler, MO 64730 International Friendly Circle of the Blind, Maria Lopez, President, 3925 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90023 Library Users of America,Ruth Ann Acosta, President, 20734-C Devonshire, Chatsworth, CA 91311 National Alliance of Blind Students, Ron Brooks, President, Mark Park Hall, Room 326A, 802 Font Hill Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94132 National Association of Blind Teachers, Marcia Nigro, President, 20 Townehouse Rd., Hamden, CT 06514 Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, Gene Heisler, President, Rt. 4, Box 46C, Grandview, TX 76050 Visually Impaired Data Processors International, James Fleming, President, 5021 Seminary Rd., Apt. 1506, Alexandria, VA 22311 Visually Impaired Piano Tuners International, Stanley Oliver, President, 1965 E. Outer Dr., Detroit, MI 48234 Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association, Donna Seliger, President, 3912 S.E. 5th St., Des Moines Moyn] IA 50315 Visually Impaired Veterans of America, Charles Rhein, President, 5016 Silk Oak Dr., Sarasota, FL 34232-5410 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Robert Acosta, 20734-C Devonshire, Chatsworth, CA 91311 Patricia Beattie, 6421 Olmi Landrith Dr., Alexandria, VA 22307 Michael Byington, 909 S.W. College, Topeka, KS 66606 Ninetta Garner, 231 N. Grafton St., Romney, WV 26757 John A. Horst, 96 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 Grant Mack,139 E. South Temple, Suite 5000, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Jean Mann, 422 Sand Creek Rd. Apt. #230, Albany, NY 12205 Durward K. McDaniel, J.D., 9468 Singing Quail Dr., Austin, TX 78758 Dick Seifert, 1023 Scott St. Apt. F, Little Rock, AR 62202 Stephen Speicher 825 M St., Suite 412, Lincoln, NE 68508 Otis H. Stephens, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, University of Tennessee, 1001 McClung Tower, Knoxville, TN 37996-0410 Board of Publications Christopher Gray, 549 F. Guiffrida, San Jose, CA 95123 Deborah Kendrick, 2819 Victoria Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208 Carol McCarl, 735 21st Pl., Salem, OR 97304 Phyllis Stern, 922 North Blvd., Apt. #502, Oak Park, IL 60301-1243 Dana Walker, 341 Eagerton, Montgomery, AL 36116