THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXI November 1992 No. 4 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 has available 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 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only Tel. 296-3552. Copyright 1992 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Preparing For The Challenges Ahead News Briefs From The ACB National Office Congress Passes Reauthorization Of Rehabilitation Act Highlights Of A Russian Visit Braille Literacy Week Resolution Board Elects Budget Committee, Approves Mid-Year Meeting Schedule Make Plans Now For Mid-Year Meetings These Talking Toys Can Help You Create A Novel Holiday Season From Her Heart To Your Mailbox Affiliate News Roundup A Multi-Media Approach to Braille Literacy Here and There High Tech Swap Shop PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: PREPARING FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD by LeRoy F. Saunders As I write this, I'm on my way home from the ACB Board of Directors meeting. As those of you who attended the convention will remember, I asked the board to allow us to use the October meeting as a planning session, and I am pleased they were willing to do so. We recruited a facilitator from Billi Lee and Company to assist us in getting into the right frame of mind so we could give a great deal of thought to new ideas and opportunities for ACB. Our planning session lasted approximately two hours on Friday night and six hours on Saturday. I am very pleased that our board was willing to look into the future and consider some changes in ACB to enhance the organization's efficiency both in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation. During the president's meeting at the convention, I mentioned having a facilitator at the January meeting in San Francisco. I believe the facilitator's techniques would be rendered ineffective because of the large size of our group. Therefore, I'll share some of the results of this planning session with those who attend our presidents meeting. The presidents will hear from me later concerning their input into this process. Many of you will recall that six ACB members recently visited employment and training facilities in the Republic of Russia. We spent seven days there as guests of the All Russia Association for the Blind. We saw their different facilities and visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. The All Russia Association for the Blind is involved in all aspects of serving blind Russians. It deals with education, rehabilitation training, vocational training, workshop placement and operation, housing, and all types of social activities. This is a real contrast to our country where many different agencies provide services to the blind. Those who visited Russia included Jim and Ann Olsen, Otis Stephens, Pamela Shaw, Carol McCarl Mary Otten, my wife Pat and I. It was unusually hot when we arrived in Russia on Sunday. Most of you realize there is no air conditioning and ice is seldom available. We suffered greatly until this heat wave subsided on Wednesday, when we went to St. Petersburg. I am very impressed with the various options, industrial and otherwise, available to blind Russians. However, Russia is experiencing a real economic change. This change frightens some people, while others, especially the young, view it as a challenge. Inflation is extremely high. Concern about the economy certainly isn't limited to Russia. While we were there we exchanged one dollar for 205 rubles, which meant our purchases were relatively inexpensive. I was impressed by the fact that these industries and training facilities had visually impaired people as their directors or assistant directors. That is also a contrast to the United States, where very few visually impaired people are top administrators in the various service agencies for the blind. I learned that the Russians receive a subsidy from their government. This subsidy is paid regardless of their position or how much money they earn. This may be a better system than ours, since our system creates work disincentives resulting from lost benefits. I would like to thank all the people who represented ACB in Russia. This was an extremely difficult trip for everyone. Once we arrived in Russia, we were constantly on the go. The daily schedule was exceptionally tight with breakfast around 7:00 and dinner around 8:00 that night. Since their elevators were very small or otherwise not accessible, we had many steps to climb. By the time the day was over, all of us were ready to just relax. (See "Highlights of a Russian Visit," this issue). I would like to inform the readers of the Braille Forum and the members of the American Council of the Blind that after October 30, my mailing address will be: 2118 N.W. 21st St., Oklahoma City, OK 73107. The telephone number will be (405) 528-8892. If you get my answering machine, please leave your message and I will return your call as promptly as possible. The ACB Board of Directors will meet in San Francisco on February 6, 1993. Therefore, our presidents meeting will start at 1:00 on Sunday, February 7 and conclude by noon on Monday, February 8. Please start making your arrangements to attend this meeting. I look forward to seeing all of our state affiliate and special-interest affiliate presidents, as well as the Board members in San Francisco. NEWS BRIEFS FROM THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE by Oral O. Miller, National Representative In spite of various legislative "solutions," and in spite of perennial and sarcastic complaints by the media, each fall now seems to be accompanied by a mad rush by Congress to complete at least part of the nation's business in time to adjourn early enough to allow sufficient time for campaigning back home. This year was no exception to this practice, and the anticipation or frustration was greater than usual because several pieces of legislation in which the American Council of the Blind was very interested were in the torrent of matters to be considered during those last hectic weeks before adjournment. For example, much time and effort was devoted to monitoring the progress of the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act, the Braille Literacy Resolution, and legislation relating to the earning of income by the recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance. (See "Congress Passes Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act," this issue). Although my voluntary participation as an administrator in connection with blind and visually impaired people is not a part of my official responsibilities with the American Council of the Blind, I would like to commend the first International Paralympic Sports Congress and the Barcelona Paralympic Organizing Committee for the outstanding job which both organizations did in planning their respective international events, both of which followed the 1992 Barcelona Olympics by a few weeks. It was my pleasure to present a paper to the Paralympic Congress, take part in the meetings of the Executive Committee of the International Blind Sports Association, and to observe the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Paralympics. Those ceremonies filled to overflowing the Barcelona Olympic Stadium with more than 65,000 spectators. While it was not possible for me to remain in Barcelona to observe the competition which took place during the following two weeks, I want to commend the members of the United States Disabled Sports Team in general and the members of the team assembled by the United States Association for Blind Athletes in particular for the truly splendid performances they turned in. The athletes won 66 medals, more than 1/3 of the 176 medals won by the team overall, although the blind athletes constituted only 20 percent of the team. The term "paralympics" is used to describe Olympic-level athletic competition by disabled athletes because the International Olympic Committee, among other organizations, will not permit the use of the word "olympics" in referring to competitions involving disabled athletes. Indeed, there is room for education and advocacy on the international level. It was my pleasure recently to represent the American Council of the Blind at the meeting of the North America/Caribbean Regional Committee of the World Blind Union, held in Baltimore at the headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind. Much of the meeting was devoted to discussing matters which are to be taken up at the upcoming international assembly of the World Blind Union, to be held in Cairo, Egypt in early November. One matter which always comes up at WBU regional meetings is the improvement in ways in which the member organizations in the developed countries can be of greater assistance to blind people in developing nations. Commendations to the Smithsonian Institution for establishing and inviting the American Council of the Blind to serve on its Accessibility Advisory Council, which met for the first time recently and will meet approximately three more times throughout the coming year. The Smithsonian staff members who are working with the Council even had appropriate materials ready in braille by the time of the first meeting. Although it is obviously going to be very difficult to make many of the exhibits of this world-famous museum complex truly accessible to or "touchable" by blind and visually impaired people, it is obvious that serious efforts are being made at high levels at the Smithsonian Institution to maximize accessibility for disabled visitors. As in the days of old-time radio, stay tuned for further developments. ACB state affiliate conventions pick up in number in the fall when, as James Whitcomb Riley described it, "the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock." Those famous lines came to mind as I enjoyed visiting the convention of the ACB of Indiana, held in Indianapolis. A truly unique aspect of the program consisted of a visit by several dozen conventioners on Saturday morning to the Eiteljorg Museum, which focuses on native American culture and history. The visit was made even more special, however, by an opportunity to view the life-size statuary in bronze as sculpted by the blind native American sculptor Michael Naranjo. Naranjo lost his sight and partial use of his hands during combat in the Vietnam war. The conventioners also had an opportunity to meet Naranjo and discuss his works and his working methods with him. The convention banquet was stimulated by a stirring address by Dr. Michael Bina, president of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, who urged conventioners to "stand up and be counted" on important issues. Nolan Crabb had the pleasure of speaking to the Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Wichita in mid September. (See "Affiliate News Roundup," this issue). NEW FACES AND VOICES IN THE ACB NATIONAL OFFICE We, indeed, regret the departure of Sarah Haiby as she left ACB to enter the University of Chicago Law School. However, we are pleased to welcome Laura Thomasch and Jessica Beach to the staff. Laura, a native of Colorado and a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary with a degree in political science, will be working primarily with ACB Director of Governmental Affairs Paul Schroeder. Jessica, who is a native of New York state and who recently graduated from St. John Fisher College with a degree in political science, will work primarily with me in the fields of program consultation, public education, and membership assistance. Members and others who call the National Office will become familiar with Laura and Jessica as they add their knowledge and enthusiasm to our many programs and services. CONGRESS PASSES REAUTHORIZATION OF REHABILITATION ACT by Paul W. Schroeder Director of Governmental Affairs During the waning days of the 102nd Congress, legislation was approved to reauthorize the two billion dollar national program of vocational rehabilitation, research, training and independent living. The long months of struggle which surrounded disputes over the best way to change the Rehabilitation Act ended with quiet congratulatory statements as both the House and Senate passed H.R. 5482, the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. PROVISIONS AFFECTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND One of ACB's top priorities, the long sought language which would enable all states to establish a program providing independent living services for older blind individuals, is now part of the Rehabilitation Act. The so-called "formula grant" language is included in Title VII Chapter 2 of the Act. According to Title VII, the formula will only take effect when Congress agrees to spend at least $13 million on this program. Until the $13 million "trigger" is reached, grants will continue to be provided to states on a competitive basis and not all states will receive a grant for this program. For the federal fiscal year which began on October 1, 1992, this program was funded at $6.9 million which should enable approximately 30 states to receive grants. Achieving sufficient appropriations to bring about the formula trigger must be a high priority for the blindness community. Some of the services which would be provided under the "Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind" program include services to help correct blindness such as visual screening and surgery, or treatment for disabling eye conditions. Services and equipment to assist an older individual who is blind to become more mobile and more self-sufficient including mobility training, Braille instruction, guide services, reader services, transportation, and items such as eyeglasses and other visual aids are also included. Other services include rehabilitation teaching, independent living skills training, information and referral services, peer counseling, and individual advocacy training. The National Commission on Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired was removed from the final legislation as a result of Conference Committee action. This came as no surprise since the commission had been the target of an adversarial campaign of misinformation. Key Senate staff was already hostile to the Commission before it emerged in the House bill after surviving the close vote in the House Committee on Education and Labor. However, the final legislation does include a National Commission on Rehabilitation Services. Noting the disputes and dissension, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy D-Mass., remarked that it was his expectation that the National Commission on Rehabilitation Services, which is included in the final legislation, would "address the role of specialized services in meeting the needs of individuals with low-incidence disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired." The final legislation also continues to specifically mention the importance of providing information and documents in accessible formats. According to the Senate Committee Report (a document which provides an explanation of legislation), "The Committee makes special note of the inclusion of the requirement that all programs ensure equal access, 'including the use of accessible formats.' By including this provision, the Committee intends that materials produced by recipients of funds under this Act, such as brochures, reports, individual case plans and other information necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act should be produced in a format which is usable by individuals with disabilities." The demonstration projects on Braille instruction and transportation services which were mentioned in a previous Forum article are included in the new legislation. The transportation project (which received $2 million for this fiscal year) provides for grants to States and to public or nonprofit agencies and organizations for the purpose of providing transportation services to individuals with disabilities who are employed or seeking employment or are receiving vocational rehabilitation services. The project was proposed as a way of testing innovative and model approaches for providing services to individuals with disabilities who need assistance with transportation because they live in geographic areas in which fixed route public transportation or comparable paratransit service is not available. Transportation services provided through this grant must be provided on a regular and continuing basis and at a cost to the individual which is not greater than fees for a comparable service in a similar geographic area. The Braille training grant, which is not funded for the current fiscal year, would support initiatives to train personnel providing vocational rehabilitation services or educational services to youth and adults who are blind in the use of Braille. Funds may be used to develop training materials or to improve methods of teaching Braille to youth and adults who are blind. OTHER PROVISIONS Future issues of the "Braille Forum" will contain more information about specific provisions in the new Rehabilitation Act; however, here are a few of the important changes which you should keep in mind. Because of concern expressed principally by ACB, the Senate included language in its Committee Report to clarify that state rehabilitation agencies can be governed by a commission. ACB members were particularly concerned about recent decisions in several states to downgrade commissions governing agencies for the blind to advisory boards. This concern was expressed at the convention in Resolution 92-18. The language in the report states: "The Committee reaffirms current policy under which States may use a legislatively-based State commission or board made up of a majority of individuals with disabilities to serve as the designated State agency. ... However, the Committee believes that such a body can perform adequately as the designated State agency only when it is vested with policy-making authority, meets on a regular and frequent basis to allow for the proper administration of the State plan, and has the authority to make decisions regarding the selection and retention of staff within the designated State unit." A great deal of time and effort was focused on giving individuals with disabilities more choice and voice in the new Rehabilitation Act. Congress intends that this strengthened consumer voice be exercised in two important ways: by emphasizing the role to be played by each individual with a disability in structuring his or her vocational rehabilitation program through the Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program and by establishing advisory councils through which individuals with disabilities, their advocates and disability organizations can substantially increase input into rehabilitation policy decisions made by state agencies. The new Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program provisions will empower the consumer in three important ways. First, the individual must sign (that is, agree) to this document. Second, the document must include a statement by the individual, describing how he or she was informed about and involved in choosing among alternative goals, objectives and services. Third, the long-range rehabilitation goals listed in the IWRP should reflect the individual's career interests. For the first time, state rehabilitation agencies will be required to establish State Rehabilitation Advisory Councils. These councils are designed to ensure that state vocational rehabilitation agencies will receive input and guidance from a wide variety of interests affected by vocational rehabilitation. The council shall include representatives of disability advocacy groups representing a cross section of individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental disabilities, along with current or former applicants for, or recipients of, vocational rehabilitation services. A majority of the council's membership shall be individuals with disabilities. The councils will also include a vocational rehabilitation counselor, representatives of business, industry, and labor, and members representing the Statewide Independent Living Council, parent training and information center, the client assistance program, and private providers of rehabilitation services. Members of the council will be appointed by the Governor of each state with the recommendations of organizations representing individuals with disabilities. We must be vigilant to see that ACB members are put on these councils. You should also know that where states have established a separate state agency to provide vocational rehabilitation services to the blind, those states may also establish separate State Rehabilitation Advisory Councils. If you would like more information about the Rehabilitation Act, please contact the American Council of the Blind. HIGHLIGHTS OF A RUSSIAN VISIT by Otis Stephens Eight members of the American Council of the Blind recently spent a memorable week in Moscow and St. Petersburg as guests of the All Russia Association of the Blind. Our delegation included ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders, his wife Patricia, ACBES Executive Director Jim Olsen and his wife Ann, Board of Publications member Carol McCarl, Mary Otten, an analyst with the Department of Defense, Pam Shaw, who directs the Washington, D.C. Office of the Homeless, and myself. Fundamental political and economic changes now taking place in Russia greatly affect programs and services available to blind persons, especially in the field of employment. Thanks to careful planning and efficient scheduling on the part of our Russian hosts, we were given the rare opportunity of observing firsthand much of what blind people are accomplishing in employment, education, rehabilitation and library services. We were pleased to find that for the most part, positions of administrative leadership in all these areas are held by blind people. No one minimizes the challenges that confront the Russian nation. But it is encouraging that blind people are taking the initiative to deal with these problems and to articulate their own interests rather than having these interests defined and shaped by others. Here are some highlights of the visit as well as a few impressions of Russia and its people. We arrived in Moscow via Delta airlines early on Sunday afternoon, August 30. The airport was at least as congested and a good deal noisier than an American airport of comparable size. We have heard a lot about the absence of "infrastructure" in Russia. Translated quickly into reality at the airport, this meant no skycaps and no air conditioning. With the temperature at 90 degrees, we immediately understood the "infrastructure problem." However, there is no "people" problem in Russia and we came to appreciate that fact even more. We were welcomed at the airport by Ludmila Tsesarskaya (better known to us as Lucy), a staff member of the All Russia Association of the Blind. Many "Braille Forum" readers will remember Lucy, who attended our 1991 convention in Tampa and served as interpreter for Alexandre Neumyvakin, the president of the All Russia association. Lucy not only interpreted for us throughout our visit, she also coordinated the logistics of our trip with remarkable efficiency. She arranged hotel reservations, local and intercity transportation, tours in Moscow and St. Petersburg--even shopping trips during our very limited "free time." She contributed enormously to the success of our visit and to our positive impressions of the Russian people. On Monday morning, we went to the office of the All Russia association of the Blind, where we were officially welcomed by President Alexandre Neumyvakin. He outlined our itinerary for the week and made it clear that he welcomed an open exchange of information and ideas on issues of concern to blind people. He was also open to Carol McCarl's request that we include in our schedule a visit to a residential school for the blind. Although the school system is not under the supervision of the All Russia Association, Alexandre was nevertheless able to arrange the visit, which took place the following afternoon. We not only talked with the school superintendent, but also met a number of high school students, several of whom had some knowledge of English. We learned that mainstreaming has not occurred in Russia. We were also told that for the most part totally blind students attend residential school separate from partially sighted students. We learned that 16 of the 17 totally blind students who graduated last year from the school we visited have since enrolled either in college or in some other post- secondary course of study. We were very favorably impressed by the staff members and students we met on this informative visit. A large proportion of our time from Monday through Thursday was spent visiting work sites in Moscow and St. Petersburg. These "enterprises," as the Russians call them, resemble sheltered workshops in the United States but with major differences. To begin with, each enterprise that we visited had its own rehabilitation center, library and health facility. The workshops themselves typically employ 1800 or more persons, a majority of whom are blind but many of whom are sighted. Living accommodations adjacent to the workshops are provided at low cost to blind employees. However, with the demise of state ownership and collectivization, employees are now encouraged to live independently outside these enclaves. Still we have the impression that even though basic changes are underway, the traditional approach, with its emphasis on insulated communities of blind persons, is still dominant. The shops themselves are engaged in industrial manufacturing of a kind considerably less diversified than is characteristic of most workshops employing blind people in the United States. Nevertheless, the Russians are beginning to diversify and are now actively increasing their participation in the open market. When the Communist regime was in power, the government provided all work orders for the shops, guaranteeing a degree of job security to the workers. The government still provides a great deal of support for the enterprises but competition in the open market is now much more critical, and the future of government participation in the workshop program is quite uncertain. We talked with a number of workshop administrators and with a few workshop employees. Everyone pointed out the problem of low wages compounded by rapid inflation. We were told that the average wage of a blind production worker, including the state pension and bonus, is between 3500 and 4000 rubles a month, the equivalent of a little over $18. Even with subsidized housing and some provision of meals at the worksite, this is obviously inadequate to maintain the kind of living standard that most people enjoy in America. It was emphasized, however, that blind employees receive the same wages as their sighted coworkers. One assistant director of a large enterprise told us that his monthly salary is about 8000 rubles, or approximately $40. Clearly inflation is a serious problem for salaried employees as well as wage earners. In spite of these difficulties and the uncertainties of competing in the marketplace, we found a great deal of optimism, especially among the younger people with whom we talked. We also found that the emphasis on change is stimulating innovation, not only in the workshop field but also among rehabilitation specialists, designers of computerized technology, and library service providers. The Russians are very interested in exchanging ideas and information with us in these and related areas. I am convinced that all of us would benefit from continuing and expanding this dialogue. We spent Monday and Tuesday in Moscow, then traveled by overnight train to ST. Petersburg, where we visited enterprises and related facilities on Wednesday and Thursday. One dimension of the Russian approach to rehabilitation was of particular interest to us. In providing instruction in independent living skills as well as orientation and mobility for newly blinded adults, the Russians actively involve sighted members of the trainee's family. This again reflects the community approach characteristic of Russian society. After the conclusion of our final enterprise visit on Thursday afternoon we were taken on a guided tour of the Winter Palace, the former residence of the czars in St. Petersburg. That evening we attended a live performance of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" featuring a young, highly- acclaimed ballet group accompanied by a first-rate symphony orchestra. On Friday, we traveled by bus to the Summer Palace of the czars (now known as Pushkin), some distance outside St. Petersburg. At the Winter and Summer palaces we were given excellent descriptions of the elaborate architecture, carvings and statuary. We were also provided ample opportunity to examine many of the art objects and architectural designs directly, a real plus for those of us who were totally blind. After a tour of the city of St. Petersburg and a farewell dinner with our hosts in that city, we returned to Moscow, arriving back at the 6,000 room hotel on Saturday morning. We had a final farewell luncheon with Alexandre and several members of his staff early Saturday afternoon. That left a little time for touring Moscow, including the walk around Red Square, late Saturday evening. During this final evening of our visit, we were on our own. As it turned out, that Saturday marked the anniversary of the founding of Moscow in 1147 A.D. It was quite a celebration on Red Square that evening, complete with a fireworks display. We entered the square as the celebration was breaking up. The atmosphere was open, noisy, and friendly. It reminded me of the University of Tennessee campus just after a football victory! We were driven to the airport early Sunday morning and, thanks to the time difference between Moscow and the U.S., all of us arrived back home on Sunday evening. It was a truly memorable trip. We were greatly impressed by the openness and friendliness of the Russian people. There was no hint of authoritarian control of the kind that prevailed before the breakup of the Soviet Union. I took a cassette recorder with me everywhere, as did Carol McCarl and perhaps others in our group. No one made any objection either to the recorders or to cameras. The hotel accommodations, while not luxurious by American standards, were certainly adequate. The food was good and there was plenty of it. We did note the absence of any apparent policy of architectural barrier removal such as we have in the United States. That is undoubtedly a problem the Russians are unable to address because of the economic conditions. They are however aware of the problem and we discussed it with them. It is important to note one other factor that added greatly to the value and enjoyment of our Russian visit. I am referring to the contribution that Mary Otten made in communicating directly between our group and our hosts. It soon became clear to us that in spite of her disclaimers, Mary is fluent in Russian. She not only worked with Lucy as our interpreter but also conversed directly with many of the people we met throughout the week. Mary's ability to establish immediate rapport with our hosts and with others who we met added an important dimension to the exchange of ideas and information. All of us were impressed by the sincerity and openness of our hosts. They seemed genuinely eager to introduce us to their country and quickly made us feel welcome. The visit was one that we will not soon forget. I hope that it will help strengthen the ties between the American Council of the Blind and the All Russia Association of the Blind and that we can exchange additional visits in the near future. BRAILLE LITERACY WEEK RESOLUTION (Editor's Note: H. J. Resolution 353 was passed by Congress on October 5. The resolution, which was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., and in the Senate by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn, designates the week of January 3, 1993, as "Braille Literacy Week." Following is the entire text of the resolution. The Braille Revival League has prepared a packet designed to help ACB chapters plan events to celebrate Braille Literacy Week. Copies are available from the ACB National Office.) JOINT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING JANUARY 3, 1993 AS "BRAILLE LITERACY WEEK." Whereas Braille, the system of dots used by the blind to read and write, is a truly elegant and effective medium of literacy; Whereas blind and visually impaired individuals must be afforded the opportunityto achieve literacy so that they can compete in employment, succeed in education,and live independent, fruitful lives; Whereas recording devices, reading machines such as the optacon, and computer-screen access programs have enabled blind individuals to gain access to a wide variety of printed material but cannot replace a medium such as Braille which allows a blind individual to read and write independently: Whereas the teaching of Braille has been woefully neglected over the past several decades; and Whereas many States have acted or are acting to ensure that blind and visually impaired school age students are taught Braille if it is judged the appropriate medium to provide such students with the opportunity to achieve literacy: Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. DESIGNATION AND PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION. That the week beginning January 3, 1993, is designated as "Braille Literacy Week." The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including educational activities to celebrate the contributions of the inventor of Braille, Louis Braille, who was born on January 4, 1809, and to heighten public awareness of both the importance of Braille literacy among children and adults who are blind and the great need for the production of the wide variety of commonly available print documents in Braille. SECTION 2. STATE AND LOCAL PROCLAMATIONS. The Governor of each State, the chief executive of the District of Columbia and each territory of the United States, and the chief executive of each political subdivision of each State or territory is urged to issue a proclamation (or other appropriate official statement) calling upon the people of such State, the District of Columbia, or such territory or political subdivision to observe the week beginning January 3, 1993, in the manner described in section 1. CAPTIONS Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., the House of Representatives sponsor of H.J. Res. 353. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., the Senate sponsor of H.J. Res. 353. BOARD ELECTS BUDGET COMMITTEE, APPROVES MID-YEAR MEETING SCHEDULE ARLINGTON, VA. -- The Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind elected the three-member budget committee for 1993 in a meeting here on October 13. Board Member Patricia M. Beattie and ACB Treasurer Brian Charlson were re-elected to serve in the coming year. Board Member Robert J. Acosta, president of the California Council of the Blind, is the new member of the committee, replacing ACB Second Vice President Charles S.P. Hodge. Shortly after opening the meeting, ACB President LeRoy F. Saunders announced the appointment of Patricia Beattie to serve on the Council's Environmental Access Committee. First Vice President Paul Edwards had been chairing the committee. Mitchell Pomerantz, a member of ACB's Board of Publications, agreed to serve as chairman of the Resolutions Committee for the 1993 convention. President Saunders announced that Paul Edwards had been appointed to serve as ACB's alternate delegate to the meeting of the World Blind Union in Cairo, Egypt which occurred earlier this month. National Representative Oral O. Miller will serve as ACB's official delegate to the Union. AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND ENTERPRISES AND SERVICES Dr. Otis Stephens, immediate past president of ACB and chairman of the board of the American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services, said the ACB thrift stores, which provide a significant amount of funding for the Council, are still showing improving performance levels. ACB Assistant Treasurer James R. Olsen, manager of the ACBES thrift stores, said sales in September were up 12 percent over the same period a year ago. But both he and Stephens had some words of caution for board members. "We're beginning to compare performance levels this year against our own performance levels of a year ago," Stephens explained. "Up to now, we've compared our performance against that of the management company that formerly managed the stores. That means those increases won't be as dramatic and spectacular as they have been." "We've made the big significant jumps," Olsen agreed. "Now we have to maintain those levels and continue the increases." Olsen said the thrift store in Lubbock, Texas has moved to a newer, larger location, and the store is doing better. ACBES has opened a new store in Warren, Mich., as well. MEMBERSHIP REPORTING MADE EASIER Treasurer Brian Charlson announced that future membership lists which are disseminated by the ACB National Office will be available in larger print, on computer disk if requested, or in a computer file which could be used if the affiliate has a braille printer. He said efforts will be made in the future to standardize information exchange between the affiliates and the national office, particularly where software is concerned. He told board members that ACB's revenue is higher than expected at this point in the year. The board voted to compensate board members for their hotel rooms and air fare for the mid-year board meeting in San Francisco scheduled for February 5 through 8, 1993. They also approved a motion to compensate members of the Board of Publications for two days lodging and air fare for a mid-year Board of Publications meeting. Following the treasurer's report, board members accepted reports from various staff members. They also accepted a report from Convention Coordinator John A. Horst. The board declined a request by the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America and some members of the Council of Citizens With Low Vision International which would have altered the meeting schedule of the special-interest affiliates at the convention. Under the terms of the proposal, those special-interest affiliates which were vocationally oriented such as the Randolph Sheppard Vendors and the National Association of Blind Teachers, would hold their meetings during one half of the convention week, and those affiliates which were not vocationally oriented--Blind Lions, Radio Amateurs, Etc.-- would meet in the other half of the week. The proposal was intended to help resolve some of the conflicts experienced by conventioners who can't attend both types of affiliate meetings because of simultaneous scheduling. Board members declined the resolution upon learning that the Council of Citizens With Low Vision had not actually officially supported the resolution. The board voted that beginning in 1994, the mid- year meeting will always be held the first weekend in February. In other action, it accepted reports from the Deaf-Blind Committee, the Personnel Policies Committee, and the Scholarship Committee. Board members voted to appoint a personnel committee which would establish evaluation processes for the national office staff. SCHOLARSHIP CHANGES Based on a scholarship committee recommendation, Michael Byington moved that an invitation-only reception be held early in the week for scholarship recipients, and that the reception not include alcohol. The scholarship committee had recommended that the eight Floyd Qualls Scholarships given by ACB be boosted from $1,500 to $2,500. The board approved a Paul Edwards motion which boosted the Qualls scholarships to $2,000. In other action, the board accepted a Membership Committee report from Board Member Sue Ammeter. She said the Idaho Council of the Blind has officially changed its name to the American Council of the Blind of Idaho. The board also heard and accepted reports on convention resolutions and from the Environmental Access Committee. The board asked ACB Governmental Affairs Director Paul W. Schroeder to write to President Bush expressing ACB's support for the efforts of Tony Cothran, an ACB member who until recently was a member of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. The letter would encourage Bush to consider appointing blind individuals to boards and committees from a broad cross section of qualified blind individuals. The next board meeting was scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 1993 in San Francisco. MAKE PLANS NOW FOR MID-YEAR MEETINGS by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator The ACB Board of Directors will meet at the 1993 convention hotel, the Airport Marriott near San Francisco on Saturday, February 6, 1993. Usually during this weekend, the Boards of several special interest groups also meet. Special-interest affiliate presidents should contact Patricia Beattie assistant convention coordinator, regarding their meeting plans for the mid-year meetings. On Sunday afternoon and evening, and Monday morning, February 7 and 8, there will be an affiliate president's meeting. Hotel room reservations for this weekend and for the convention, July 3 to 10, 1993, can be made by telephoning the Airport Marriott at (415) 692-9100. Convention rates are $45 for single and double occupancy and $55 for triple and quad. These rates will apply during mid-year meetings. When arriving at the San Francisco airport, you can call the hotel for free van pickup. A cab ride costs about $6. Since there will be quite a few people attending the February meetings, we again are planning to operate the information desk. Laurinda Steele, assisted by local California Council of the Blind members, will be providing information regarding the hotel facilities and the meeting activities. Those who wish to write to either convention hotel may do so at the following addresses: Airport Marriott, 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA 94010. The Weston Hotel, #1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, Ca 94030. The Weston's telephone number is (415) 692-3500. These hotels are located about two blocks apart with sidewalks along the street and along the bay. THESE TALKING TOYS CAN HELP YOU CREATE A NOVEL HOLIDAY SEASON by Nolan Crabb In the 1947 classic movie "Miracle on 34th Street," a young Natalie Wood played the part of Susan Walker, a very cynical little girl whose practicality prevented her from believing in anything so magically miraculous as Santa. But this year's array of talking and novelty toys are exciting enough to make even the most skeptical Susan Walkers believe in holiday miracles. Some of the toys I looked at this year don't talk, but all of them appeal to anyone who likes toys that make noise. FOR THE MUSICIAN IN ALL OF US Fisher Price offers Playback Keyboard. It doesn't talk but it does remember. If the little one in your life is a budding Bach who doesn't mind creating compositions with a 48-note limit, the Playback Keyboard may be just the thing. It records compositions up to 48 notes, then plays them back. Sturdily built in the Fisher Price tradition, this little keyboard isn't designed to give you multiple voices or anything fancy, but for $17.99, it may be the perfect way to musically entertain someone small even in a recession. The speaker has a pre-set volume control, and the keyboard requires two AA batteries. For ages three and up. This year's editor's choice in the musical toys category goes to Western Publishing for its Sesame Street All Star Band. Kim McLynn, Western's public relations manager, says the toy was actually introduced last year. "It's been very well received this past year," she says. Its big buttons are well defined and easy to use. This is the most audibly appealing toy in the musical category, with its pre-programmed songs and 26 musical phrases and sound effects. Pushing each Sesame Street character results in a different sound while a song is playing. At the end of the songs, Big Bird assures you, "Great!" This toy's excellent for teaching coordination. Each musical character, Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, and Elmo, has a unique sound. The toy has automatic power off to economize on the four AA batteries it requires. A suburban Washington, D.C., Toys R Us sells the All Star Band for $36.99. It's made by Western Publishing Company, 1220 Mound Ave., Racine, WI 53404. Tel. (414) 633-2431. This is the same company which produces the Golden Sound stories featured in last year's talking toy review. McLynn says several new Golden Sound Stories are available this year including "Kids Songs With Crazy Sounds" and "Super Songs With Silly Sounds." So far, none of the Golden Sound Stories are available in print/braille formats, but I'm convinced the availability of such material would be a great boost for those interested in promoting braille literacy among children. This year's toy review wouldn't be complete without spotlighting some new entries from Video Technologies in Wheeling, Ill. This year, the company offers Little Smart Super Sorter, a toy that relies on a friendly voice, musical keyboard, and animal sounds to teach colors and shapes. As with many Video Technologies toys, the buttons are well defined and easy to find and use. The toy teaches six fun activities. It sells for $34.99 and requires four AA batteries. A slide control selects different activities, but it clicks at the location where the next activity starts. It plays 10 nursery rhyme favorites and features an eight-note keyboard, and eight animal sounds. Diane Goldsher, director of marketing at Video Technologies, says the toy is a "high-tech shape sorter with music." The company also offers Electronic Talk and Play Little Smart Critters keyboard. If you press the farmer, he sings "Old McDonald." The toy features an interactive "Where Is It" game and special animal buttons that make animal sounds. The game is designed to teach animal recognition. The toy is targeted to preschool and older children. It requires four AA batteries and was priced at $29.99. "We're releasing a new product this year that might be very valuable to a blind child who wants to learn the print alphabet or a blind parent who has to work with a small sighted child on the alphabet," Goldsher says. "It's called the Alphabet Desk. It's a square toy with buttons which have raised lower-case letters and numbers on them. There are a variety of activities including one which simply announces the name of the letter the child is pushing." Goldsher says the Alphabet Desk also allows the child to play a "find the letter game," enabling children to learn the alphabet with synthetic speech. Goldsher says the Alphabet Desk retails for $39.95 and requires four AA batteries. Contact Video Technologies, 380 Palatine Rd., Wheeling, IL 60090. Techtron Blue Box Toy Factory, 200 Fifth Ave., New York, NY offers the Interactive Talk-To-Me Telephone. It includes three activities and five Sesame Street characters your child can call. The phone offers talking shapes, colors, and numbers. The phone includes 16K of memory, and includes the digitally-recorded voices of the Sesame Street characters. The company recommends it for children aged three to seven. It requires four AA batteries; I found it for $49.99. Last year, we mentioned the Talk-To-Me Pony. It's back this year with a twist. This year, SLM, Inc. offers Magic Unicorn Talk-To-Me Pony. It whinnies, makes a clopping sound, and the unicorn horn twinkles. The batteries are non-replaceable, but you can expect a relatively long battery life. The pony my daughter received last Christmas is still whinnying and clopping on demand. Contact SLM, Inc., P.O. Box 1070, Hatch Rd., Gloversville, NY 12078. Perhaps this year's most controversial toy is Teen Talk Barbie from Mattel. When it was first released a few months ago, the doll said "Math class is tough." Responding to the outcry from teachers, parents, and the politically correct, the toy company deleted the statement from Barbie's sound chip. Lisa McKendall, manager of marketing communications at Mattel, said parents have only a one percent chance of getting a math-hating Teen Talk Barbie. "You'd be surprised at how many people are looking for that particular Barbie," McKendall says, "but there's a very small chance you'll find that one." The dolls retail for around $27, but I found them at a Lionel Kiddie City in Frederick, Md., for $24.99. I've never seen a Barbie who appeared to be real big on intellect, and Teen Talk Barbie is no exception. Each doll can speak four sentences, but Teen Talk Barbie can speak 270 statements. "We wanted to make sure the sound chips in each doll were different enough so that two sisters, for example, wouldn't get a doll that said the same thing," McKendall explains. The voice is very teen-age and very clear, and if you know someone who liked Barbie when she was more taciturn, Teen Talk will probably be a hit. If you'd rather spend $7.99 for a talking imitation Barbie, Toymax of Westbury, N.Y., offers Talking Tina With Ultra-Long Hair. She comes with three replaceable watch-type batteries and says three things. One of the two models I tested says "Let's play dress-up," "I love your outfit," and "Great fun." The other says "This is fun!" "I love it!" "This is beautiful." While critics of these talking dolls can charge that the sentences are pretty brain-numbing, it should be said in their defense that the voices are clear and they have something positive to say, even if it isn't philosophically deep. Maybe the critics would prefer a doll dressed as a TV anchorwoman which says, "You're not as smart as kids in Japan," "Your chances of being kidnapped are increasing daily," or "You'll probably be a victim of violent crime before you're 12." Not every toy that talks this year has something positive to say. Hasbro manufactures Talking Baby Sinclair, the talking dinosaur. Talking Barbie is a genius compared to this pre-historic waste of money. The baby dinosaur says, "Gotta love me," "Not the Mama," "Hello, bad boy," "I'm hungry! Feed my mouth," and my all-time least favorite, "I'm gonna bite you now." Phrases like "I'm gonna bite you now" make Barbie's complaints about math pretty tame. I found this obnoxious reptile priced at $35--money better spent elsewhere. If you're looking for a gift for a baby, but you don't want to stifle its creativity with a pre-programmed talking toy, Mattel may have just what you want with the Disney Watch Me Talk Mirror. As you can imagine from the title, this isn't just any mirror. A voice- activated digital recorder records up to eight seconds of the baby's coos, giggles, or even cries. The baby sees itself in the talking mirror, hears its own voice, and apparently thinks it has a great playmate. The attached telephone is a rattle, and the toy includes attached Mickey and Minnie Mouse squeakers. It requires one nine-volt battery and sells for $29.99. FOR THOSE BOYS WHO WILL BE BOYS While the debate may rage on about whether it's healthy for little boys to play with guns, the toy companies, and a lot of kids, are ignoring it. Trendmasters, a toy company in St. Louis, manufactures the X2 Nitro Blaster--a gun capable of making seven weapon sounds. It also says "fire" when you pull the trigger. It includes a speed control device which allows children to make an even greater variety of gun-firing sounds. WHEN TALK IS CHEAP Digital technology has even invaded the world of posable or bendable toy figures. Troll dolls are back in fashion in a big way these days, and Toymax of Cedarhurst, N.Y., has introduced a $9.99 talking troll whose eyes light up while it giggles and says "hug me" and "I'm lucky." If you give this one to a niece, nephew or grandchild, ask for their parents' forgiveness in advance. If you buy it for your own child, be prepared for a pretty obnoxious sound. But take heart; the batteries are non-replaceable, which means that the troll will merely become something to step on rather than listen to. Tiger Electronics, 980 Woodlands Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, hopes to capitalize on the sequel to the movie "Home Alone" with a new talking Kevin doll, a backpack with Macaulay Culkin's famous scream, and a new Talkboy cassette recorder used by Kevin in the new movie. You should be hearing commercials about the movie around the same time you read this story. Liane Czirjak, director of marketing at Tiger Electronics, says the $25 Talkboy cassette recorder would be fun for blind or sighted kids. "First of all, it can be used with one hand," she explains. "The buttons are close together, but they're easily found and used. It also has a telescoping directional microphone which can be extended and pointed at someone for directional recording, just like the one in the new movie." Czirjak says the screaming backpack is designed to be an alarm. "It's there really to keep people out of your backpack." The company has also introduced talking characters from the TV cartoon series "Land of the Lost." She says that collection includes a 17- inch talking doll, a battery-operated vehicle that makes a variety of sounds, and the cave dwelling of the show's main villain, which includes a microphone designed to alter your voice. It may be true that talking toys don't bring lasting happiness, but with the increasing variety of digital technology hitting the toy stores, you're bound to find something that brings a smile to even the most cynical child on your gift list. FROM HER HEART TO YOUR MAILBOX by Nolan Crabb If you're like a lot of blind or partially sighted people, you probably dread that trip to the Hallmark store to pick out a card that says just the right thing. You know you'll be relying on help from a store employee or taking along someone else to read one card after another until you get just the right one. How many times have you said to yourself, "If only the messages were in braille or large print." Perhaps you take the option of using the phone and avoiding the card store altogether. Kristina M. L. Nutting, a 44-year-old graphic arts designer from Round Pond, Maine has been designing original colorful greeting cards for nearly two years now--cards with braille messages which she says come straight from the heart. Indeed, for Nutting, selling braille greeting cards is more than merely a way to make a little money. For her, braille cards have become a quiet crusade. She approaches her card business with a refreshing openness, reverently crediting God and a supportive family for the inspiration for her designs and the commitment to carry on the uphill battle to get her special cards introduced into the retail market. Nutting's interest in braille greeting cards began when she met a blind woman at a retreat in New Mexico. She designed her first cards and contracted with Braille International in Stuart, Fla., to do the braille embossing. "I felt as though this was the right thing to do almost from the moment I decided to go forward," Nutting recalls. "I talked it over with my husband of 20 years and with my two teenagers, and all of them were supportive right from the beginning." Nutting says where the creative process is concerned, she starts with the picture. "It's true that a picture is worth a thousand words," she explains, "I'll usually start with a sketch and write the message based on the picture." She says ideas for her pictures come from a variety of sources. "Something as seemingly routine as a pattern in a carpet can provide the basis for some shapes I might use in a design," she explains. "The actual inspiration for the cards comes during my quiet times. I always find time during the day to focus on my feelings. There's still a lot of spontaneity, too. You don't just say, 'Well, today I'm going to design a Christmas card between 3:00 and 5:00.' It just doesn't work that way." She says the hardest part is getting the printed message to reflect the depth of her feelings on some designs. Nutting says her success has to be attributed to divine intervention, at least from her perspective. "If you look at what I'm doing," she says, "it becomes very apparent that the numbers don't add up. In fact, that's exactly what the big card companies tell me when I approach them to get braille cards into their retail stores. They say there's no demand for braille cards. While the big retailers and the banks may see it that way, I'm committed to this project because I'm convinced it's what I should be doing." Nutting says braille and large print greeting cards could become more commonplace if more people would ask for them. "I can't convince retailers they should be carrying braille or large print cards unless the people who need them ask," she says. Nutting says while she hopes to someday see her cards displayed in stores throughout the nation, other motives spur her on for the moment. "I'll get letters or I'll talk to people at this convention who say, 'Your cards have made such a difference.' Often, others will tell me that a friend sent one of my cards to them, and now they're interested in some of my other designs. When I meet people who send or receive my cards, and when those people tell me that the cards have made a difference, I can't help but feel I'm doing the right thing." For more information or to order cards, contact Prophecy Designs, P.O. Box 84, Round Pond, ME 04564. Tel. (207) 529-5318. AFFILIATE NEWS ROUNDUP (The following article was submitted by the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind.) Last November, the members of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind unanimously decided to honor the memory of Dr. Mae Davidow by establishing the Dr. Mae Davidow Memorial Scholarship Award. ACB will select the recipients and present the award at each annual ACB convention. When the NFB expelled our state affiliate several years ago, Dr. Davidow's determination proved to be the leading factor that held the group together. The NFB's attempt to take possession of our assets met with little result. She was responsible for our becoming affiliated with ACB and worked tirelessly to build a strong and active organization. When we think of Dr. Mae Davidow, we think of a person who gave 60 years of her life helping to improve the lives of other blind individuals. Dr. Davidow was an educator and a strong advocate for the rights of blind people. While teaching at the Overbrook School for the Blind, she developed new methods of teaching mathematics. She authored several books on the use of the abacus and also on daily living skills for those without sight. Dr. Davidow had a genuine concern for her blind friends. Much of her time was spent being of assistance to them. Hundreds of individuals can attest to how she was able to help them make a better life for themselves. She believed that a consumer organization could play an important part in the planning and development of state and national programs needed to help visually impaired people live more independently. Dr. Davidow played the primary role in organizing the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and served as its first president. She organized legislative seminars and began publishing the PCB newsletter, "The Advocate." Dr. Davidow brought financial stability to PCB when she organized the annual John Wanamaker dinner. This fund-raising project has provided PCB with several hundred thousand dollars over the past 22 years. Dr. Davidow many times personally paid for equipment and travel expenses when PCB was low in funds. Dr. Davidow organized the Pennsylvania Association of Blind Athletes and won several awards for her swimming ability. She served on the Board of Managers of the Overbrook School for the Blind, the Edith Rudolphy Residence, the Associated Services for the Blind, the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. Among the many awards presented to Dr. Davidow were: The Douglas College Outstanding Women's Award; the Outstanding Alumnus award given by the Board of Managers of the Overbrook School for the Blind, and the George Card Award, presented by the American Council of the Blind. Dr. Davidow was also the recipient of the Gimbel award, given annually to a prominent woman. Others who have received this award are Eleanor Roosevelt, Pearl Buck, Amelia Earhart and Claire Boothe Luce. We are honored to have had the privilege of knowing and working with Dr. Davidow and we are pleased to be able to honor her memory by establishing the Dr. Mae Davidow Memorial Scholarship Award fund. COLORADO -- One of the many highlights of the recent state convention of the American Council of the Blind of Colorado was the introduction of the newly-formed North East Colorado Chapter, according to the September 1992 issue of "Sixth Sense," the ACBC newsletter. The new chapter presented its bylaws to the convention, and they were accepted at the June meeting of the ACBC Board of Directors. WICHITA -- Members of the Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired met here September 18 to 20 for the group's annual convention. During the opening session, KABVI members heard various committee reports and enjoyed a lively game of Bingo. The following day, the convention heard from various speakers including Bill Acree from the Kansas Specialty Dog Service, Robert Hanye from National Industries for the Blind, and "Braille Forum" editor Nolan Crabb. In addition to a Saturday afternoon speech, Crabb also delivered the banquet speech that evening. Conventioners were treated to a DVS movie sponsored by Wichita Industries and Services for the Blind. Bernie Pobiak, representing the Text 2000 program at the American Printing House for the Blind, was among the final speakers of the convention. He described the technology used to allow blind students to read textbooks and other material with a computer and either large print, voice or braille display. He said his system differs from other electronic book systems in that it is much more flexible in allowing a reader to set electronic bookmarks and move quickly through the book. The electronic book can display pages which coordinate exactly with the pages referred to by the teacher in the print book. The convention was adjourned after passage of resolutions. KABVI's 1993 convention will be held in Topeka. FAMILY FORUM A MULTI-MEDIA APPROACH TO BRAILLE LITERACY by Nolan Crabb It began as a simple conversation between a man who had money to spend and a company who needed braille labels on cassette tapes. The end result would be a new multi-media children's book series that blends print, tape, and braille into a combination that's bound to be a hit with kids and parents. For Steve Brubaker, president and chief executive officer of Braille International, the conversation was casual enough. The company approached him to provide labels for their tapes, and he simply asked if they had any children's books on tape that could be brailled. "They said they did have a series of children's tapes called 'One to Grow On,' and the idea just grew from there," Brubaker says. As a result of that conversation, the Stuart, Fla., braille production company now sells a variety of children's books which first appeared on tape, and are now available in a print/braille format with the tape as part of the package. Brubaker says including tapes with the print/braille children's books isn't the only twist. "We thought it would be a good format if we put the print on one page and the braille on the other so the book could actually be read by two people," he explains. "That eliminates the problem of not being able to see the print when a braille reader is reading the braille section of the page. Even with clear plastic braille pages, it's not always easy to see the print." The next step, he says, was figuring out how to get raised line pictures into the books with the kind of equipment available at Braille International. Brubaker got together with the folks at Enabling Technologies, a Stuart, Fla., designer and manufacturer of braille printing equipment. They designed a prototype machine that can produce graphics on zinc plates, enabling Braille International to mass produce raised pictures in their books. Even at that, the pictures haven't been easy to produce. "When we finished the zinc plates," Brubaker explains, "they weren't quite good enough to press. That meant we had to raise the dots even higher, and we did that by hand. I don't mind admitting I drove a few people crazy." Brubaker says 16 books will be available when the series is completed. Braille International has been working on the project for nearly a year. Several of the books were completed in time for the ACB National Convention in Phoenix. Since all of the books actually began as tapes, Brubaker says staff members had to be creative when it came time to transcribe the material into print/braille. "We got the script, did the first book, and looked closely to see if what we had really matched the tape," he recalls. "I sat down with the scripts and listened to the tape, and there were times when they didn't even come close. She's such an excellent storyteller that I transcribed two-and-a-half pages of material on the tape that wasn't on her printed script." He says the multi- media approach makes a big difference. "When my children were young," he says, "the thing that encouraged them to read was when they sat down with a cassette tape and an interesting story and a print book, and they could follow along. The name of the game now is to encourage kids to read. What a way to do it." The print/braille/tape books are designed to teach lessons about life to young children. Written by Trenna Daniells, the books are designed to help kids deal with situations that occurred in the lives of her children. There are stories about animals who won't go to bed on time or who tease too much. The stories are delightful in their approach and their absence of patronizing verbiage. Simple lessons are driven home without heavy-handed moralizing or lectures. Brubaker says Braille International decided to place all the pictures at the front of the book. "With the pictures in the front," he explains, "we're introducing the characters of the story first. The child can take the time to look at the pictures; then they have an idea of who they're going to be meeting in the story. If they're using the cassette tape, that allows them to go right on through the story without stopping to look at pictures." He says if children and parents prefer to have pictures throughout the book rather than at the front, the layout will be changed. Regardless of where they appear, the pictures are unique. They're not in color, but they are raised with very simple, uncluttered designs that allow a blind child to easily figure out what a particular animal looks like. The tapes are high-quality standard-speed two-track tapes which include sound effects and the excellent narration of the author, Trenna Daniells. Paula Willson, director of marketing for Braille International, says the books are targeted to children ranging in age from preschool to seventh grade. "The way these books are laid out allows you to verify what your children are reading as they learn to read," Willson says. Some of the books available include "When Jokes Aren't Fun," the story of a Hyena who carries pranks a bit too far and pays an unusual price; "Be True to Yourself: I Don't Want To Be A Lion Anymore," about a lion who attempts life as a monkey, a giraffe, and an elephant, only to learn that the best thing for him to be is himself; "No More Nightmares" is the story of a little boy whose nightmares frighten him and his triumph over the fear; "Taking The Problem Out Of Bedtime" is about a caterpillar who doesn't want to sleep at night because he's afraid he'll miss something. As a result, he sleeps during the day and misses even more. In the story, his father tells him he's going to have to "turn over a new leaf" so he goes out into the woods, finds the prettiest leaf he can, and starts turning it over and over, forming a cocoon. While the print/braille/tape books are good for young blind readers in general, they've been good for Braille International as well. "We've learned a lot as a staff about how to do this kind of thing," Brubaker asserts. "We're going to start doing more books on our own. We want to do some cookbooks and some gardening and home repair self-help books." Brubaker and Willson agree that the 16 children's books are just the beginning where Braille International is concerned. "These books are good for sighted children as well as blind children," he explains. "We've had a lot of interest in them from schools and from sighted children who want a better understanding of braille. These books have the potential of being real bridge builders between sighted and blind children, and that's important." 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. NEW POSITION AVAILABLE The Massachusetts Association for the Blind is now accepting applications for the position of Executive Director/CEO. Applicants should have demonstrated skill in strategic planning, management and fund raising. Interested persons should also have excellent communication and fiscal skills and proven ability to manage change in complex environments. Experience working with the blind and disabled is helpful. The salary is competetive. Send all relevant information to the Executive Director Search Committee, Massachusetts Association for the Blind, P.O. Box 2370, Cambridge, MA, 02239. NEW CANES Autofold is featuring two new canes in its most recent catalogue. The High Fashion Low Vision Cane is a fashionable white and red walking stick available in folding aluminum or rigid fiberglass composite material. The Crook Handle Golf Grip cane is available in fiberglass composite material. All folding aluminum canes are covered by the company's full warranty on the joints. Should a joint split, the company will replace it at no charge upon receipt, providing there is no indication of intentional tampering or abuse. Autofold reserves the right to decide this question. For more information, contact Autofold, P.O. Box 1063, 208 Coleman St., Gardner, MA 10440-1063. DEC DONATES COMPUTERS Digital Equipment Corporation and the National Easter Seals Society are cooperating on a $1 million program that will give people with disabilities access to computer technology that can help them become more independent. Through the National Technology Network, Digital will donate $1 million in Dec-Station (TM) computer systems to 60 Easter Seals affiliates during the next three years. Those affiliates will train people with disabilities to use computer equipment, enabling them to gain greater control of their lives and better control their environment. HANDBOOK FROM PERKINS The Perkins School for the Blind announces the availability of its newest publication "Perkins Activity And Resource Guide: A Handbook For Teachers Parents of Students With Visual And Multiple Disabilities," according to the Summer 1992 issue of "The Lantern." The book is a comprehensive two-volume guide with more than 1,000 pages of activities, resources, and instructional strategies. To order, send a check or money order for $65 (U.S. shipping included in cost), to Perkins School for the Blind, 175 W. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02172. LOW VISION AID Magni Cam, a hand-held light-weight electronic magnifier designed to assist those with low vision, has recently been developed by Innoventions, Inc., a Colorado-based company. Magni Cam connects easily to any television set to provide enhanced visibility. It is portable, compatible with any TV, and costs $695. For more information, contact Innoventions, Inc., P.O. Box 621642, Littleton, CO 80162-1642. STARGARDT SELF- HELP A self-help network is available for people with Stargardt's Disease, according to "Fighting Blindness News," Spring 1992. It functions as a telephone and letters exchange network and provides members with opportunities to interact with others who have had similar experiences, to develop support systems, and to share coping strategies. The network currently includes 200 people. Its membership listing, which is sorted by state, lists names, addresses, telephone numbers, and birth dates. For more information, contact Tom Perskin, Edwin and Lois Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation, 219 E. Cole Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187. RP CONVENTION "Visions 1992--Partners in Sight" is the theme of the upcoming convention of the RP Foundation Fighting Blindness. It will be held at the Walt Disney World Village in Florida from November 29 to December 1. For registration materials, call (800) 683- 5555. PRESCHOOL MOBILITY "Reaching, Crawling, Walking, Let's Get Moving: Orientation and Mobility for Preschool Children" is a new booklet available from the Blind Children's Center, 4120 Marathon St., Los Angeles, CA 90029. According to "Perspective," (the newsletter of the Michigan library for the blind), Summer 1992, the $3.00 booklet is available in English and Spanish. Parents of visually impaired children may obtain a complimentary copy of the booklet. TAPED MAGAZINES "Mad River" publishes essays, original art work, and reviews of books, classical and jazz compact disks. For subscription information, contact Charles S. Taylor, Editor, Mad River, Department of Philosophy, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435. The cassette edition costs $60. "American Country Entertainment" focuses on country music. It contains interviews with country music stars and other information of interest to fans. The cassette edition costs $36. Contact American Country Entertainment, P.O. Box 351, Dallas, TX 75221. JEWISH INFORMATION All blind and visually impaired men, women, and children of the Jewish faith are invited to participate in a rare, sacred Mitzvah. You may have the Hebrew letter of your name inscribed in a holy sefer Torah Scroll now being prepared by the Jewish Heritage for the Blind specifically in your honor and in tribute to disabled people of the Jewish faith worldwide. There is no cost or obligation for this privilege. However, your Hebrew name and that of your mother is needed. Call the organization's toll-free help line, (800) 998-5556, or write Jewish Heritage for the Blind, 1655 E. 24th St., Brooklyn, NY 11229. JEWISH INFORMATION BY PHONE Information is now available by phone on the Jewish view of Moshiach and the redemption. An introduction to the concept of Moshiach is available by dialing (800) 466-7442 in the United States and (800) 261-7442 in Canada. A more detailed learning experience about Moshiach can be reached by dialing (718) 953-6168. The daily message can be heard in English, Hebrew or Yiddish. As with the Moshiach hotline, questions may be left and calls are promptly returned. Information is available in braille and large type. East coast residents call (718) 953-1421. West coast residents call (213) 936-9400. This information was provided by Shluchim Telephone Conferences on the Moshiach campaign, Committee for the Blind, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213. WILDERNESS INQUIRY Wilderness Inquiry II is a non-profit organization that sponsors 200 canoe, kayak, and dog sled trips for people with various disabilities. For information, contact Wilderness Inquiry, 1515 15th St. S.E., Box 84, Minneapolis, MN 55414. DRILL YOUR OWN Eye-Balls is a company which manufactures pool and snooker balls with inverted braille labels. The company has developed a game especially designed for braille readers called Potball. Eye-Balls now offers a drill kit allowing customers to label pool balls themselves. The kit includes a drill bit, a template, instructions, and two ball markers. The kit is available for 13 pounds plus shipping. Contact Eye-Balls, 23 Sebright Ave., Worcester, WR5 2HH England. NEW COOKBOOK The Massachusetts Association of the Blind announces the availability of "Simply Scones" in two braille volumes for $22.00. Contact MAB Braille Department, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA 02146. COOKING TAPES Unique cooking teaching tapes specifically designed for the visually impaired are now available in one-hour length cassettes. Prepared by noted cooking instructor Ina Young, the tapes contain recipes and a complete course of cooking instruction for people with any amount of vision loss. Mrs. Young also provides a gift cassette which teaches visually impaired people how to set up a kitchen cooking area and the general approach to cooking. Braille shopping lists are also available. For information on the content and cost of the tapes, contact Ina Young, Tasty Tapes, Box 552, Marblehead, MA 01945. BOOK FOR SENIORS "Self-Help Mutual and Support Groups for Visually Impaired Older People: A Guide and Directory" is available from the New York Lighthouse for the Blind. The book includes a national directory of self-help groups for visually impaired older people and a guide to the key elements in making such groups successful. It lists 400 groups by state and costs $10. Order from National Center for Vision and Aging, the Lighthouse, 800 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017. VENDORS AND CIGARETTES A judge has ruled that blind vendors in Michigan can sell tobacco products in state buildings again, according to a story in the "Kalamazoo, (MI) Gazette." The June 18, 1992 story said Michigan Governor James Engler issued an executive order in March prohibiting smoking and the sale of tobacco products in state buildings as of Monday, June 15. Blind vendors in state buildings sued, arguing the governor's order violated a state law that specifically allows vendors with the Michigan Commission for the Blind to sell tobacco. They also said the ban threatened their livelihoods because it made them unable to compete with stores near state buildings. Ingham County Circuit Judge Lawrence M. Glazer ruled the governor could not prohibit the sale of cigarettes. However, Glazer said the governor has the right to ban smoking in state buildings to protect the public health. The newspaper story quotes William Archer, an attorney for the vendors, as saying, "We scored a major victory. It was a David and Goliath situation, and David won." SPACE CAMP WANTS YOU The West Virginia School for the Blind is currently seeking blind and visually impaired adults who would like to participate in a pilot program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Adult participants would be involved in the full range of activities consistent with the regular Space Academy Level I program. Staff members at the West Virginia School for the Blind are serving as consultants of programs for the visually impaired at the Space and Rocket Center. Successful programs involving junior and senior high school students have already been completed . (See "A Space Camp Pioneer That Others Will Follow," July/August 1990.) Those interested in this program should contact Kathy Johnson, West Virginia School for the Blind, 301 E. Main St., Romney, WV 26757. GET A BUSH BASHER It's a cane, but it's not made for Democrats only. In fact, the Bundu Basher or Bush basher is specifically designed for use by blind people in Africa. You can also get a 16- minute video which shows how the cane is to be used for $25 including postage. The tape features blind Africans using the Bundu Basher, wending their way gracefully through streams, bushes and weeds, and along paths and fences. The bush basher tip was designed to glide smoothly through rough terrain without getting snagged. For more information, or to order a Bundu Basher, write to Dawn Hall or Brian Collins, Cape Town Civilian Blind Society, 45 Salt River Rd., Salt River 7925 Republic of South Africa. BRAILLE INTERNATIONAL Braille International, Inc. has opened the William A. Thomas Braille Bookstore in Stuart, Fla. Braille readers in the community will now have immediate access to approximately 250 fiction, non-fiction, and children's titles on a variety of topics. The store plans to add 100 new titles to its shelves every year. The books are sold at cost; prices range from 72 cents to more than $300. Free catalogues with titles offered at the store or through the mail are available in print or braille, (please specify), by writing: William A. Thomas Braille Bookstore, Publications Director, 3142 S.E. Jay St., Stuart, FL 34997. BIG-BUTTON REMOTE A television remote control is now available with extra-large buttons arranged for easy access to such basic remote control functions as power, channel, volume, and mute. The unit costs $120 plus shipping and handling. Contact Jesana Ltd., P.O. Box 17, Irvington, NY 10533. INTERNATIONAL SCENE According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of blindness in developing countries is preventable or curable. The WHO program for blindness prevention focuses on cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, and a host of other treatable eye disabilities. The organization hopes to make simple eye care available as part of primary health care, particularly in unserved rural areas. Nearly 70 national blindness prevention committees have been established in WHO member states. Difficulties encountered include lack of trained personnel which compromises the referral system essential to primary eye care and the expense of cataract surgery relative to per capita health care expenditures. Cataracts are the cause of 50 percent of blindness, which affects an estimated 30 million persons globally. BLIND PHOTOGRAPHER After Henry Butler takes a picture, he doesn't gauge the results the same way other photographers do, according to a story in "The Louisiana Slate," June 1992. That's because Butler is totally blind. Being a photographer sounds like a challenge, but Butler is used to challenges. Blind since birth, Butler makes a living as a critically acclaimed jazz pianist and music teacher. His latest album, "Blues and More, Volume 1," has just been released by Windham Hill Records. When he's not playing gigs or teaching at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Butler is working with his cameras. So far, his pictures have attracted studio shows in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Miami. His work was profiled on the National Public Radio show "Soundprints." Butler uses automatic focus cameras to simplify the mechanics of getting a good shot. When he goes looking for pictures, he takes a guide along to tell him about the landscape, the people in it, and the quality of light. A professional develops and prints his film, and his friends judge the results. THEY WON'T HELP YOU SEE According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, advertising claims that wearing opaque eye glasses with multiple pinholes will improve vision are unfounded and misleading. The academy reports that the glasses are useful for the diagnosis of eye diseases by ophthalmologists, but there's no scientific evidence that they have a long- term therapeutic effect. For more information, contact the AAO, P.O. Box 7424, San Francisco, CA 94120-7424. GLOBAL PEN PALS If you're interested in corresponding with someone from another country, you might give International Pen Friends a try, according to the May 1992 issue of "The Missouri Chronicle," the newsletter of the Missouri Council of the Blind. Founded in 1967, International Pen Friends has 280,000 members in 253 countries. To receive a membership application, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to International Pen Friends, Box 43904, Tucson, AZ 85733-3904. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Toshiba 1200 Laptop, includes mb20 hard drive and Accent speech synthesizer. Includes DOS, all manuals, carrying case, and extra battery pack. $1,500 or best offer. Contact Denise Avant 5300 N. Sheridan Rd. Apt. 401, Chicago, IL 60640. (312) 878-9518 after 7 p.m. FOR SALE: Classic VersaBraille (cassette-based unit) model P2C. Includes print and braille manuals, cables, power supply, and utility tapes. Excellent condition, recently fully serviced. $1,600 or best offer. Contact Carla Campbell, 1007 Berkley Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025. Tel. (415) 322-4255. E-mail address: Campbell@well.sf.ca.us NEEDED: Back issues of "National Geographic" from January 1981 to December 1989, braille or disc. Also, January 1981 to December 1989 issues of "Natural History." Also, "Newsweek" from August 24, 1987 to January 1990. Contact Tad Staples, 7403 Brooklyn Rd., Tampa, FL 33625. WANTED TO BUY: Damaged bowling rails, contact Bill Jenkins, 2324 S.W. 39th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73119. Tel. (405) 682-2320. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT LEROY SAUNDERS 2118 N.W. 21st ST. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73107 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 DRIVE #302 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204 TREASURER BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02172 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON