The Braille Forum
Vol. II January 1964 No. 4

Published Bi-Monthly by the
American Council of the Blind
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

To Inform Its Readers and to Provide an Impartial Forum for Discussion

* Editor:
Mrs. Marie M. Boring
1113 Camden Avenue
Durham, N.C. 27701

* Associate Editors:
Ned E. Freeman
136 Gee's Mill Road
Conyers, Georgia 30207

Mrs. Mary Jane Hills
33 1/2 Edmonds St.
Rochester, N.Y. 14607

George Card
605 South Few St.
Madison, WI 53703

* Executive Offices:
136 Gee's Mill Road
Conyers, Georgia 30207

*****

** Statement of Editorial Policy

The Braille Forum is dedicated to promoting the greater independence, autonomy and dignity of all blind people. 

The Forum will carry ACB official news and programs, but its pages will also be available for free expression of views and opinions. Insofar as possible the Forum will publish news of organizations and agencies of and for the blind and any developments of interest to its readers. Timely material is solicited. 

Selections of material will be made on the basis of interest, timeliness, originality, clarity and forcefulness of expression. In controversial matters space will be made available for the presentation of divergent points of view.

** Notice

The Braille Forum is available in braille, inkprint and on tape. Miss June Goldsmith, 652 E. Mallory Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. 38106, should be notified of any change of address or of any person desiring to receive the braille or inkprint editions. 

The tape edition may be obtained from Mr. Melvin D. Cohen, Tape Library for the Blind, Inc., 94 Broad St., SW., Atlanta 3, Georgia.

Letters and material for publication should be submitted to the Editor or to one of the Associate Editors.

*****

** Table of Contents

ACB President's Fireside Chat

Vermont Council of the Blind, Reactivated, by Sylvia Burton Nichols

White Cane Safety Campaign, by Ned E. Freeman

Legislative Report, by Paul Kirton

How Much Do We Care?, by Annie B. Johnson

Some Thoughts, by George Card

Newest Braille Switchboard, by Delbert Aman

ACB Tape Correspondence Club, by Jack C. Lewis

Notices to Forum Readers

New Courses at Hadley

Letters from Readers

Hyde Park Corner, conducted by Earl Scharry

Here and There, by George Card

ACB Officers and Directors

A Note from Your Editor

*****

** ACB President's Fireside Chat

MY FRIENDS:

You have no doubt noticed that this issue of the Braille Forum is somewhat smaller than usual. Perhaps you failed to notice that the cover now says "Published Bi-monthly." We hope you will approve of this change. It is going to increase our cost a bit, but it is hoped that the more frequent publication will enable us to keep you more currently informed as to developments. Although each issue will not be as large as the ones you have been receiving, the total amount of reading matter you get this year will be at least as great as was published last year.

Bishop Henry of western North Carolina has said, "The Christian Church is the only institution which exists primarily for the benefit of those outside its membership." I have a great deal of respect for Bishop Henry, and in the context of his sermon he was undoubtedly correct. However, to a considerable extent ACB is also in this category. Those of us who are devoting our time and efforts to the furthering of the ACB objectives have no particular need for improved services or increased employment opportunities. But all of us have at some time received such services from governmental or private agencies, and all of us continue to need and to receive assistance from the sighted public.

Our principal concern is for those who have not yet learned to find their way in this world of vague shadows or the monotonous gray of total blindness. We know that our own pathway to independence would have been easier if we had had the benefit of better training and more imaginative counseling. We would have received greater acceptance by the sighted community and prospective employers had there been better public understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people. Our way out of the blackness of despair would have been facilitated had we had an opportunity to meet and to know other blind people who had made their way to independence and responsibility. In many cases it was our over-protective families who stood most in need of counsel. Here the sighted spouse of a blind man or woman or the parents of a blind child could have saved many blind persons from dependence and retirement.

These are the things which we in ACB are striving for. Perhaps I say this too often, but it is nonetheless true. Neither I, the Board of Directors, the ACB Committees nor the Forum staff, singly or even all working together, can do the job that needs to be done, without your help, your support and your action.

What can you as an individual do? You can send in one dollar for your 1964 dues as a member-at-large. You can work to bring your organization into affiliation with ACB. You can write to me or to committee chairmen (see Braille Forum, October 1963) expressing your views. You can write to state and federal officials pointing out needs which are not being met in your locality. You can extend a hand of fellowship and help to your blind neighbor, the hand you yourself so badly needed when you were passing through the Valley of the Shadow.

Once again let me remind you of the final words of the inaugural address of our martyred late president -- "Ask not what America can do for you; ask rather, what can all of us, working together, do for the world?"

Faithfully yours,
Ned Freeman

*****

** Vermont Council of the Blind, Reactivated

(Editor's Note: The following explanatory statement is taken from a letter from Al Nichols to George Card. -- "Burgoyne and his attorneys finally agreed to a Convention after the case had been called up in Rutland County Court of Chancery for hearing. The date set was Sept. 28. On Sept. 21 we received a communication from Burgoyne dated Sept. 17 telling us that he was resigning his office and membership in the Vermont Council of the Blind, Inc. The meeting was held as announced on Sept. 28 in Rutland. We had absolutely no opposition.")

* Convention Minutes

This is a true copy of the minutes of the convention of The Vermont Council of the Blind held Saturday afternoon, September 28, 1963, in the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation building in Rutland, Vermont.

Alaric Nichols of Brattleboro called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m., at which time he suggested that a chairman to preside at the meeting be elected by the convention. This was unanimously agreed upon, and Hayden Nichols of Brandon nominated Clarence Briggs of Bennington. The motion was seconded by Milton Rounds. Motion carried. The meeting was then turned over to Mr. Briggs. Hayden Nichols then presented to the convention a letter from Mr. Burgoyne which stated his wishes to resign from the Vermont Council of the Blind. Hayden Nichols moved, with a second by Alaric Nichols, to accept Mr. Burgoyne's resignation. Motion carried. A brief discussion followed regarding the circumstances surrounding the meeting and it was agreed that such a meeting would resolve, once and for all, the status of the Vermont Council of the Blind. Hayden Nichols advised that the bank would honor the minutes of this meeting thus enabling our funds to be released.

The discussion was followed by election of officers. Alaric Nichols moved, with a second by Hayden Nichols, that voting be done by roll call. (The following officers were elected: Hayden Nichols, president; Clarence Briggs, first vice-president; Ethel Martin, second vice-president; Sylvia Nichols, secretary; Helen Palluotto, treasurer; sergeant at arms, James McKinnell.) Clarence Briggs remained in the chair, and the meeting continued.

Hayden Nichols moved, with a second by Milton Rounds, that the elected officers be the officers of the V.C.B. until 1965 and that the V.C.B. withdraw from membership in the National Federation of the Blind. Alaric Nichols amended the motion to state that such withdrawal be retroactive to October 7, 1961. The motion carried as amended. Alaric Nichols then moved, with a second by Sylvia Nichols, that our attorney be instructed to take whatever steps are necessary to release our funds with the Vermont Bank and Trust. Motion carried.

Hayden Nichols then presented to the convention the bill from our attorney, Mr. Davis of Brandon. After some discussion of this and other outstanding bills, Alaric Nichols moved, with a second by Margaret McKinnell, that we first pay our attorney, and Mr. Lallor of Bellows Falls who audited our books, and then take care of our other outstanding bills as funds are available. Motion carried. The chair was then turned over to Hayden Nichols.

A brief discussion followed regarding recruitment, and Alaric Nichols talked about organizing a chapter in Brattleboro.

Clarence Briggs moved that any member of the Vermont Council of the Blind may belong to whatever organization of or for the blind he chooses. The motion was seconded by Milton Rounds and carried. The Secretary-elect was instructed to send a copy of the minutes to Mr. Russell Kletzing, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

A discussion followed wherein it was agreed that written notice of the meeting would be sent to everyone on V.C.B. mailing list. The newsletter was discussed, and Alaric Nichols was unanimously elected to serve as editor of same. It was agreed that he would appoint those he wished to work with him. The meeting adjourned at 4:45.

Respectfully submitted,
Sylvia B. Nichols, Secretary

*****

** White Cane Safety Campaign Gets Hearty Support from Governors
By Ned Freeman

White Cane Safety Day, 1963, was undoubtedly the best publicized and most effective effort ever achieved in this field. Governors, Public Safety Departments, local officials, radio and TV stations and newspapers throughout the country cooperated with the American Council of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, Lions Clubs and state and local organizations of the blind to bring before the public a greater awareness of the White Cane laws and the importance of these laws to the independence and safety of blind citizens. 

Pursuant to resolutions adopted at the national conventions of both ACB and the National Federation, we wrote personal letters to each of the 50 Governors explaining the need for greater publicity for the White Cane laws and asking their cooperation in making all motorists more aware of their responsibility for the safety of blind citizens. The response was overwhelming and heart-warming -- far greater than our hopes or expectations. The governors of 38 states replied most cordially, indicating their wish to cooperate. Four of these -- New York, New Jersey, Colorado and Montana -- advised that the white cane and the White Cane laws were being promoted at other times during the year. Of the others, 25 actually sent us either the original gold-sealed, beribboned proclamation or a copy of their formal statement to the people of their state.

Five of the proclamations   from Massachusetts, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and Rhode Island -- gave special mention to the ACB sponsorship of White Cane Safety Day. The State of Delaware gave what amounted to a testimonial to the goals and philosophies of our organization. The states of Iowa, Connecticut and Indiana mentioned the NFB and its local affiliates as the state sponsors of White Cane Safety Day. The state of Maryland saluted the local Lions Clubs as sponsors.

A number of state and local organizations of the blind were very active in promoting local observances of White Cane Safety Day, and the mayors of several cities issued proclamations of their own at the request of local groups. Special recognition in this connection should be given to groups and individuals in the states of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida. In several states, however, although the Governor stood ready to cooperate, there was a total lack of response from the organized blind. If this safety effort is to be effective and the public made aware of their responsibility for the safety of persons who must carry the white cane or be accompanied by a guide dog it is our earnest hope that more individuals and organizations will actively participate in future campaigns.

In addition to our contacts with the governors, public safety officials of several states wrote us giving assurance that White Cane laws were included in their driver's manuals, and some even sent copies of their handbooks. In one instance we were advised that a new edition of the state safety manual was in process of preparation and information concerning the White Cane laws would be given special attention.

Lions Clubs were the originators of the white cane. Lions have always been concerned for the well-being of the nation's blind citizens. It was on October 15, 1963, that the late George Bonham, then president of the Lions Club of Peoria, Illinois, introduced the white cane as a means of identifying blind pedestrians. Lions Cubs throughout the country were active in the campaign which resulted in the enactment of uniform White Cane Laws in all of the States. We feel assured that they will heartily support our efforts, provided the local clubs and the individual Lions are conscious of the need for more publicity for the White Cane laws, which are not restricted to the United States. A number of other countries have adopted the white cane officially. It is suggested that local groups contact their Lions Clubs and ask for cooperation in planning publicity for next year.

Other states whose governors responded with proclamations or official statements are listed below. The way is now prepared for you to develop a really effective publicity campaign in your own area to promote White Cane Safety Day, October 15, 1964.

Alabama
California
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Virginia

*****

** Legislative Report
By Paul Kirton
ACB Legislative Chairman

Only two public laws affecting rehabilitation, public assistance or Social Security have been passed in this session of Congress. The first of these is PL 88-156, entitled "Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendments of 1963." This is the final adoption of HR-7544, which we worked so desperately to amend in order to make crippled children's services available to all handicapped children. Our amendments were not accepted because the sponsors of the bill were fearful that our amendments would tie this bill up behind the President's tax program.

The second new Act is PL 88-164, entitled "Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act 3." In Title III are two important features to programs for the blind. First, it provides for extensive training of teachers and other personnel working with mentally retarded or handicapped children (including blind children). Second, it furnishes research and demonstration projects in the education of handicapped children. 

Only one other, piece of legislation has come to hearings, which are still in progress at this writing. This is the President's Medicare program, HR-3920, introduced by King, Democrat, of California. The ACB is joining the AFB and the AAWB in a joint statement for these hearings in which we support the medical proposals, but recommend the following changes:

1.  Payment of surgeons' and physicians' fees for people in hospitals or nursing homes.
2.  Extension of hospital or nursing home care beyond their present maximum when medical rehabilitation is possible.
3.  Extension of benefits to disability benefit recipients.
4.  Change the time of election of deductible plan.

Among the numerous bills introduced since the July convention are two related to the two-for-one travel concession to handicapped persons and their assistants, guides, or guide dogs. The first of these, introduced by Younger, Republican of California, at the request of the Airline Pilots Association, is HR-8068, and the other, HR-8928, introduced by Weltner, Democrat of Georgia, at the request of ACB. These bills have been referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, with Oren Harris of Arkansas as chairman. They read as follows:

* 88th Congress 1st Session: H.R. 8068

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 14, 1963

Mr. Younger introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

A BILL

To amend section 403 (b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to permit the granting of free transportation to guides or seeing-eye dogs accompanying totally blind persons. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 403 (b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1373 (b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: "Nothing in this Act shall prohibit any air carrier or foreign air carrier from carrying any totally blind person accompanied by a guide or seeing-eye dog or other guide dog specially trained and educated for that purpose at the usual and ordinary fare charged to one person, under such reasonable regulations as may be established by such air carrier or foreign air carrier."

88th Congress 1st Session: H.R. 8928

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 24, 1963

Mr. Weltner introduced the following bill: which was referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

A BILL

To amend section 403 (b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to permit the granting of free transportation to guides or guide dogs accompanying blind persons and to attendants of disabled persons.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That section 403 (b) of the Federation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1373 (b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: "Nothing in this Act shall prohibit any air carrier or foreign air carrier from carrying any blind person and accompanying guide or guide dog specially trained for that purpose, or from carrying any disabled person and attendant, if such person is disabled to the extent of needing such attendant, at the usual and ordinary fare charged to a single passenger, under such reasonable regulations as may have been established by such air carrier or foreign air carrier."

In the area of public assistance, S-2181, entitled "A Bill to amend titles X and XVI of the Social Security Act to improve the programs of aid to the blind so that they will more effectively encourage and assist blind individuals to achieve rehabilitation and restoration to a normal, full, and fruitful life.," was introduced by Senator Hartke, Democrat, of Indiana, for himself and for Bartlett, Democrat, of Alaska; Bayh, Democrat, of Indiana; Brewster, Democrat, of Maryland; Clark, Democrat, of Pennsylvania; Eastland, Democrat, of Mississippi; Gruening, Democrat, of Alaska; Humphrey, Democrat, of Minnesota; Inouye, Democrat, of Hawaii; Magnuson, Democrat, of Washington; McCarthy, Democrat, of Minnesota; Metcalf, Democrat, of Montana; Morse, Democrat, of Oregon; Moss, Democrat, of Utah; Neuberger, Democrat, of Oregon; Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia; Ribicoff, Democrat, of Connecticut; Scott, Republican, of Pennsylvania; Smith, Republican, of Maine; Williams, Democrat, of New Jersey; Yarborough, Democrat, of Texas; Young, Democrat, of Ohio. It was referred to the Committee on Finance, with Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, as chairman. Its major provisions are:

1. Removes the twelve months limit from the APSB section.
2. Prohibits relatives' responsibility in APSB.
3. Prohibits liens in X and XVI.
4. Establishes equal minimum payments.
5. Permits differing standards in plans under XVI.
6. Permits a separate agency for administering aid to the blind.
7. Establishes a medical plan for aid to the blind.
8. Permits the State to revert to individual plans after adopting Title XVI, if it so desires.
9. Increases the Federal matching funds to aid the blind.
10. Compels the passing on of increased Federal funds without any decrease of State funds.
11. Prohibits residence requirements in aid to the blind.

HR-8675, entitled "A Bill to amend the public assistance provisions of the Social Security Act to provide that the State agency administering any of such provisions in any State may make direct rent payments to landlords on behalf of recipients of such assistance when such action will aid in reducing rentals or improving such recipient's living conditions.," introduced by Pucinski, Democrat, of Illinois. It has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, Wilbour Mills, Democrat, of Arkansas, chairman. This bill has identical provisions for each of the five alternate plans available in public assistance, and as it deals with aid to the blind, it reads in part:

"1004 (b) Whenever the State agency finds that aid to the blind is not being used effectively and consistently with the purposes of this title because of the fact that individuals receiving such aid are being compelled to pay excessively high rentals for their living accommodations which have become unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise substandard, and such agency determines that such rentals would be brought down to more reasonable levels or the condition of such accommodations improved by requiring the landlord or landlords involved to deal with a responsible public entity in connection with the tenancy of such individuals, then the State agency may pay the rentals on behalf of such individuals directly to such landlord or landlords (reducing the amount of the money payments which such individuals would otherwise receive accordingly);..."

Senator Hartke, Democrat, of Indiana, has introduced S-2227, permitting an additional deduction for a person supporting a blind dependent, and this has been referred to the Committee on Finance.

HR-8695 and HR-8799, introduced by Rumsfeld, Republican, of Illinois, and Watson, Democrat, of South Carolina, respectively, and referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, provide some radically liberal changes in the postal rates for material and letters for blind persons. Two important changes affecting our interests are:

a.	Permission to charge subscriptions for braille, sight-saving, and recorded publications, and
b.	Free postage for letters to and from blind persons.

HR-7210, entitled "A Bill to prohibit the exclusion of dog guides for the blind from certain public carriers, transport terminals, and other places of business which operate in interstate commerce," introduced by Pirnie, Republican, of New York, provides that a guide dog under proper control may not be physically separated from its master and must be allowed to enter without charge any public carrier "engaged in the interstate or foreign commerce of the United States or operating under a charter or franchise granted by the Federal Government ...," or "all transport terminals, eating establishments or other places of public accommodations which serve or operate in interstate commerce." The master may be required to place a muzzle on the dog in appropriate cases. For violation of this act, fines of from $50 to $500 may be levied, plus the right of civil action in State or Federal courts is given to the blind person. This bill is also before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

Senate Joint Resolution 113 has been introduced by Senator Humphrey, Democrat, of Minnesota, for himself and for Allott, Republican, of Colorado; Bayh, Democrat, of Indiana; Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois; Dominick, Republican, of Colorado; Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois; Hartke, Democrat, of Indiana; Holland, Democrat, of Florida; Jackson, Democrat, of Washington; Keating, Republican, of New York; Long, Democrat, of Missouri; McClellan, Democrat, of Arkansas; McGovern, Democrat, of South Dakota; Miller, Republican, of Iowa; Nelson, Democrat, of Wisconsin; Pastore, Democrat, of Rhode Island; Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia; and Williams, Democrat, of New Jersey. It authorizes the President to designate the first week in March as "Save Your Vision Week," and provides for observance of this week by the Post Office Department, health agencies, State and local governments, and the public communications media. 

S-2114, entitled "A Bill to provide for periodic congressional review of Federal grants-in-aid to States and to local units of government.," introduced by Senatore Muskie, Democrat, of Maine, for himself and for Senators Bartlett, Democrat, of Alaska; Bennett, Republican, of Utah; Bible, Democrat, of Nevada; Boggs, Republican, of Delaware; Brewster, Democrat, of Maryland; Byrd, Democrat, of West Virginia; Case, Republican, of New Jersey; Clark, Republican, of Pennsylvania; Dodd, Democrat, of Connecticut; Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois; Ervin, Democrat, of North Carolina; Gruening, Democrat, of Alaska; Hartke, Democrat, of Indiana; Inouye, Democrat, of Hawaii; Jackson, Democrat, of Washington; Long, Democrat, of Missouri; Mansfield, Democrat, of Montana; McCarthy, Democrat, of Minnesota; McGee, Democrat, of Wyoming; McIntyre, Democrat, of New Hampshire; Metcalf, Democrat, of Montana; Miller, Republican, of Iowa; Moss, Democrat, of Utah; Nelson, Democrat, of Wisconsin; Pearson, Republican, of Kansas; Pell, Democrat, of Rhode Island; Proxmire, Democrat, of Wisconsin; Randolph, Democrat, of West Virginia; and Ribicoff, Democrat, of Connecticut, provides:

1.	Grants-in-aid programs passed after this congress will last for five years if not otherwise designated.

2.	Congressional sub-committees shall begin to review grants-in-aid programs one year prior to their expiration, and report to Congress.

S-2114, which has been referred to the Committee on Government Operations, sets forth its purposes in the first section as:

"... to establish a uniform policy and procedure whereby programs for grant-in-aid assistance from the Federal Government to the States or to their political subdivisions which may be enacted hereafter by the Congress shall be made the subject of sufficient subsequent review by the Congress to ensure that (1) the effectiveness of grants-in-aid as instruments of the Federal-State-local cooperation is improved and enhanced; (2) grant programs are revised and redirected as necessary to meet new conditions arising subsequent to their original enactment; and (3) grant programs are terminated when they have substantially achieved their purpose."

In the actual authorization or grant of investigative powers, the sub-committees are instructed to ascertain:

"1. The extent to which the purposes for which the grants-in-aid are authorized to have been met.

"2. The extent to which such programs can be carried on without further financial assistance from the United States.

"3. Whether or not any changes in purpose or direction of the original program should be made."

Two bills affecting Social Security Disability Insurance have been introduced. Neither of these concerns blindness alone, but will be of considerable importance if enacted. The first of these is HR-8664, entitled "A Bill to amend Title II of the Social Security Act to provide that an individual under a total disability for two months shall be considered 'disabled' for benefit and freeze purposes even though the disability is not permanent, and to permit the payment of disability insurance benefits to an individual from the beginning of his disability." It was introduced by Beckwith, Democrat, of Texas, and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The second Social Security bill is S-2127, entitled "A Bill to amend Title II of the Social Security Act to increase the amount of annual earnings includible in determining benefits, to strengthen the actuarial status of the Disability Trust Fund, to increase the amount that recipients of benefits may earn without suffering deductions from their benefits, to permit payment of child's insurance benefits after attainment of age eighteen in case of a child attending school, to liberalize the conditions under which disability benefits are payable, provide for payment of certain disabled widows, and for other purposes." It was introduced by Case, Republican, of New Jersey, and referred to the Committee on Finance. It contains the following points:

1. Tax to be raised from $4,800 to $5,400. The maximum benefit to an individual raised to $137 a month; for a family, to $274 a month. This maximum family benefit will be available to wage earners averaging $343 a month or over.

2. A slight increase in the Social Security tax and increased disability insurance fund set-aside.

3. Increased earned income from $100 to $150 a month.

4. Child's benefits will be continued until age 22 if he is a full-time student.

5. Marriage will not cut off child's disability benefits.

6. The definition of disability need no longer be permanent, but must last at least four months.

7. Disability benefits are established for widows with a waiting period of only four months (three of which may precede enactment of this bill) and retroactive payments not to exceed 16 months.

Each of these pieces of legislation also contain many technical amendments which there is not now room to discuss. However, our immediate efforts should be spent on letters to the Ways and Means Committee and to your Congressmen and Senators in behalf of HR-3920, the Medicare bill discussed earlier. Members and readers will be kept informed as the other legislation approaches hearings and debate. However, it is not expected that much will be done on these matters until after the Congress has dealt with civil rights, tax reduction, foreign aid, and the other programs which President Johnson is now emphasizing.

*****

** How Much Do We Care
By Annie B. Johnson

"Often the world seems divided between people who care and those who don't care enough. ... It takes courage to care greatly."
This quotation by Arthur Gordon is from his article in the October issue of Guideposts, and is reprinted in the Reader's Digest. The article, "Rewards of Caring," contains much food for thought.

In an address to our NCFB Convention, the Rev. Earl Richardson chose for his topic "Who Cares?" His answer to the question was that "God cares." He also touched upon our caring for one another. I have thought much about this last point, and it is the one upon which I wish to dwell. 

I cannot help wondering just how much we who are blind care about each other. I dare say we care very much for our immediate friends and schoolmates; yet how much do we actually care about blind people in general? I do not mean to imply that we should prefer their society to that of persons who see, but do we not sometimes ignore blind people simply because they are blind? How much concern do we have for the welfare of those who live in our own communities? Or if we ourselves have perchance made good, do we go our merry way forgetful of the needs of those who have not fared quite so well?

Not only does proper concern appear to be lacking, but it would sometimes seem that the very fact of blindness gives rise to uncommonly bitter rivalry in some situations. Once I even heard the remark made that few towns are large enough for two blind persons to engage in the same type of business. In this connection I recall two competitive blind newspaper vendors in the same city. These two, who had been fast friends during schooldays, became bitter enemies. Similarly, I could cite instances of bitter feelings among some housewives who were less readily accepted by the sighted public than their more popular sisters. I have actually known sighted persons to make the observation that blind people are more envious of one another than are any other group. Are these feelings really as groundless as we would like to believe? In any event, I dare to hope that there is less justification for such an observation now than in the pioneering days of work with the blind when their economic and social status was far lower. Today's improved conditions along these lines, together with more fraternal organization among us, have brought about a greater degree of fellowship and love. Nevertheless, there are reservations among some of us as to how "deserving" one or another fellow traveler may be. As we examine our attitudes, would it not be well for us to remember the uplift we ourselves have at some time received from a timely word of confidence or encouragement given by a friend.

With all our increased caring about the welfare of our brothers over the nation and even the world, I have in mind one group for whom I feel a particularly grave concern -- those blind persons in independent businesses for themselves. How much do we really care about them? True, we experience an impersonal pride when reading about the "Successful Blind." But how much do we as fellow blind individuals contribute to their continuing success? Do we give our patronage to the blind merchant, insurance salesman, attorney, piano technician, radio serviceman? Is it not true that a majority of us feel it is safer to do business with sighted people? Why? If we are fearful of trusting the services of people without eyesight, how can we expect the public to do so? I am sorry to admit I have heard remarks like this from blind persons: "He may be an all-right lawyer, but I would rather trust my affairs in the hands of one who can see what he is doing." "I would not have a blind housekeeper." "I don't like to knock him since he is blind, but I take my business elsewhere." Can there be some psychological reason behind this sort of attitude? How often do we really investigate the quality of service offered by the blind businessman as compared with that of his sighted competitor? Or can it be that some of us even hope the sighted businessman will make special concessions because of our blindness? Furthermore, when on occasion the blind businessman does make a concession, do we misjudge his motive? On the other hand, if we respect his effort to earn an independent living, then let us show it by extending to him as much of our patronage as possible. Nor should there be any embarrassment on the part of either the patronized or the patron. I once knew a blind woman who gave as her reason for not attending a church pastored by a minister without sight the fact that she feared he might feel embarrassed at her presence in his congregation.

As for the matter of business principles, we may safely assume that blindness per se makes a man no better or o worse than his sighted competitor.

Since any possible solutions to the problems outlined here would naturally involve changes of attitude, we cannot expect such changes at once. It is hoped, though, that this discussion will call forth an exchange of views which will crystallize a more helpful general attitude on the part of blind persons toward one another.

*****

** Some Thoughts
By George Card

I like the following which was part of an editorial in the WASHINGTON STATE WHITE CANE: "Lofty ideals are set forth in the preambles of almost all of our organizations but these alone do not guarantee success in any undertaking. Wishful thinking does not even get an idea off the ground. But lofty ideals and wishful thinking may have within them the seeds that will bring the desired results if planted in fertile soil and cared for by members of an association who are dedicated to the aims and purposes for which the association has been organized. Sometimes we think of those few individuals in every organization, blind or sighted, who carry the real load and do so much more than their share. At such times we wish there were more of them. But far more often we are inclined to sit back and criticize those in office because they do not accomplish more -- due to a lack of active help and cooperation from us! And even worse, at times some of us permit feelings of jealousy and envy to enter our hearts and this can lead to factionalism, disunity and an impotent organization. A bit of soul-searching every now and then is a mighty good thing, lest we forget why we are here -- to give, not to seek personal glory."

And we might add to the above that those who contribute most to the organized blind movement are very seldom motivated by an expectation of direct personal gain or advantage. It is true that all of us in an organization do reap incidental rewards in the form of deeply satisfying social contacts and in the mutually helpful exchange of ideas and experiences. And when the general social and economic level of the blind population is improved through the activities of our organizations, many of our members do benefit. But the real reason why so many blind persons who have no need for an organization nevertheless join one, and give unstintingly of their time and effort, is the knowledge that there are many thousands of their less fortunate fellow blind who need their help. These last, by reason of age or additional handicaps, cannot fight their own battles and if we, the organized blind, did not fight for them, their plight would be indeed a pretty hopeless one.

We have come a very long way since the organized blind movement began. Some of the problems have been at least partially solved. We are no longer universally regarded as social pariahs or as hopeless dependents. But a great deal remains to be done. The time for complacency is most assuredly not here and it probably never will be.

*****

** Newest Braille Switchboard
By Delbert K. Aman

"Tele-Braille," a special PBX attachment for blind operators, was installed this spring at the city offices in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was the nation's second installation of the device, which is being manufactured by Western Electric. This was the first commercial installation of this device. The only other tele-braille board in operation at that time was in the Oregon State Commission for the Blind.

Developed by Oregon telephone engineers, the Tele-Braille is a small metal box which may be attached to either side of a PBX switchboard. By translating visual PBX signals into braille codes, it permits a blind person to operate a regular PBX board.

Briefly, here's how the device works: When a call comes in to the board, a buzzer sounds. The blind operator pushes a "start bar" on the Tele-Braille unit to push pins through a metal plate atop the unit. The first two pins form braille code telling the operator whether the call is from the outside, from an extension, or if it is a flashing light. Eight additional pins form the standard braille number code to identify extensions and trunks.

The operator then handles the call in the same way as a person who can see. If a number of calls come into the switchboard at one time, electronic equipment forward the calls to the Tele-Braille unit in proper sequence.

The official dedication of the Aberdeen installation was held May 23, 1963. To point up the significance of the installation, the first incoming call was placed by Attorney General Robert Kennedy from his office in Washington, D.C. Participants in the dedication were the Honorable Archie Gubbrud, Governor of South Dakota; Chuck Nickerson, co-inventor of Tele-Braille; officials of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company; Aberdeen city officials; representatives of the South Dakota Association for the Blind and the South Dakota Service to the Blind; and Miss Velma Schultz of Sioux Falls, the blind operator of the Tele-Braille unit.

The individual primarily responsible for developing this newest employment opportunity in South Dakota was Mr. Vernon Williams of Aberdeen. Mr. Williams is a charter member of ACB and a long-time officer in the South Dakota Association for the Blind. The SDAB, the State Rehabilitation Agency, and Aberdeen officials all cooperated with Mr. Williams in the achieving of this success. Mr. Jack Vostad, District Sales Manager for Northwestern Bell in Aberdeen, also deserves much credit or his foresight in cooperating with Mr. Williams. Without his active interest and support, the installation might never have been achieved.

Experience with Tele-Braille has shown this type of braille installation to be more efficient than other types currently in use. Miss Schultz operates the board as efficiently as any sighted person could. When not in use, the Tele-Braille unit can be turned off by throwing a single switch and the board can then be operated by a sighted person. With its built-in memory system, Tele-Braille forwards calls in the same sequence as they are received.

Because of the simplicity of operation, Tele-Braille can be attached to any PBX board regardless of size. It is anticipated that in years to come, Tele-Braille will replace many existing braille boards while at the same time making possible the conversion of numerous standard PBX boards so that a blind operator can work them.

*****

** A Report on the ACB Tape Correspondence Club

The very enthusiastic response which you have shown in the ACB Tape Correspondence Club is, indeed, encouraging. Here are two letters that typically illustrate the strong interest in this worthwhile project.

Dear Mr. Lewis,

For a long time I have meant to write you about the Tape Correspondence Club you are trying to organize through the Braille Forum, for I think this is a fine way to form friendships and to exchange information, and I'd like to be a part of it. I have two Reberes, dual track, operating at 3.75 and 7.5 IPS, and always have room for one more voicespondent.

I'm 35 years old, single, a college graduate, and white, although this latter makes no difference in my selection of friends as I have no race prejudice. I'm active in our State Association, whose newsletter I edit, and serve as secretary to my school Alumni Association. Would like to hear from other editors and exchange state publications. Am an evangelistic singer and hope to hear from those who are active in their churches or engaged in evangelistic work.

I love music -- religious, folk and classic being my preferences. But I am wanting to hear from "anyone" and am interested in anything that's part of them.

Sincerely,
Mary Walton
2516 W. 6th St.
Topeka, Kansas 66606

***

Dear Mr. Lewis,

I'm interested in corresponding by tape with another lawyer or another person. My name is John P. Nelson. My home address is 1209 N. 4th St., Montevideo, Minn. 56265. I'm a lawyer engaged in the general practice of law in a community of about 7,000 population. I'm married and have two daughters ages eleven and thirteen. My hobbies are gardening and engaging in community activities. I would think that your project should create quite a little interest, and I wish you the best of luck with it.

Yours truly,
John P. Nelson

Why don't you take an active part in this project. Perhaps you are a piano tuner and would like to exchange ideas on your profession. Maybe you are a musician and would like to trade suggestions and techniques with another who has similar interests. Regardless whether you are a teacher, business man, or housewife, you can benefit others as well as yourself by actively participating in this Tape Correspondence Club.

Your experience as a church worker, father, parent of a blind child could contribute to the social and economic advancement of other blind persons only if you give us a chance to know your views and experiences.

If you have a tape recorder and would like to take part in this project, then write us now. State your name, address, occupation, hobbies, type and speed of your recorder and give any information that would assist in making the proper selection of tape pals for you. Mail your tape or letter to Jack C. Lewis, 742 Ponce de Leon Pl., NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30306.

*****

** Notices to Forum Readers

We are publishing a braille magazine in French and in Spanish and Portuguese braille, and would be glad to put you on our free mailing list if you are studying languages and want to use them for practice. Theosophy is not a specific religion, but a philosophy and a way of life. Please address THE THEOSOPHICAL BOOK ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND, Rt. 2, Box 5A, Ojai, California 93023.

***

The Montana Association for the Blind, Inc., Box 536, Kalispell, Montana, is receiving applications for staff positions at its 1964 five-week Summer School for the Adult Blind, held on the campus of Montana State College, Bozeman, beginning about June 14, 1964. Applicants should give three references and be able to teach at least two of the following subjects and/or be able to assist with office work or be a registered nurse:

Hostess (at least partial vision) with knowledge of recreation enjoyed by adult blind people; instructors in typewriting, braille, signature and handwriting, public speaking, English composition and creative writing, household arts, household mechanics, woodworking, loom weaving, ceramics leather craft and other small handicrafts such as knitting, crocheting, etc.

Deadline for receiving applications is February 15, 1964. We also invite inquiries from blind persons who may be interested in attending the school as students. Arrangements may be worked out through your rehabilitation agency or a local sponsoring organization. Lelia M. Proctor, Secretary-Treasurer.

***

Gregor Ziemer, Director of Public Education of the American Foundation for the Blind, has announced that Public Relations Conference No. 7 will be held on March 11, 12 and 13, 1964, at the "Top of the (World's) Fair" in New York. 

Mr. Ziemer stated in the announcement of the conference that "PR 7 will devote itself to defining, analyzing and spelling out public relations activities that can improve attitudes toward the blind. It's an old subject -- but we have never attempted to explore the role public relations should play in improving these attitudes. Some important nationally known specialists in the field will join us to make PR 7 outstanding, and unforgettable." 

Included with the announcement of PR 7 was a questionnaire concerning attitudes toward the blind and how they may be improved. Some Forum readers may wish to write to Mr. Ziemer for the questionnaire in order to be able to send in opinions on the subject. Others may wish to register to be present in person at the conference.

*****

** New Courses

(From the Fall 1963 issue of the Winnetka (Ill.) Hadley Highlights)

This year has seen the addition of several new courses to the Hadley curriculum. In addition to the 100 academic, vocational, and avocational courses now offered, the following have been introduced this year:

High School Physics
High School Composition
High School Geometry (solid)
Esperanto III
Medical Transcriber's Course
Home Management for the Blind Homemaker

*****

** Letters from Readers

To the Editor:

I am a deaf-blind reader of the Braille Forum. I have read it since its beginning. Boyd Wolfe, chairman of the committee that the American Council of the Blind appointed to see what help the ACB could give to the deaf-blind, had a notice published in one of the magazines for the deaf-blind.

Many of us would like a real news magazine telling the news about people and what is going on all over the world. We would like all kinds of news. Very little news of what people are doing in the world is put into braille. Most of you know how little news is in the Weekly News or in the Ziegler. History in the Making is all right. However, that is news only between nations.

Those of you who can hear get the news on TV and radio and from hearing people talk. We who are deaf are shut-ins, shut-outs and shut-offs. People will not take the time to tell us what they hear or read. Talking to us is more like writing letters; it all has to be spelled out letter by letter.

The deaf-blind do have a little news magazine called Touch and Go. When the editor first took over the magazine, he did a very good job. He told us about the things that most people would like to know. However, a few spoiled it by writing to the Board of the American Foundation for the Blind and saying that they did not want that kind of news. Those few, perhaps not more than a dozen, could spoil it for many of us. If the American Foundation for the Blind would allow the editor to write things as he did at first, the magazine would be much better. However, that little magazine comes only ten times a year. By the time we get it, the news is old, but old news is better than no news.

Two deaf-blind ladies write news as it is told to them. One lady writes what she calls a newsletter. Her husband, who is not deaf, tells her what he hears; and she writes it on her brailler. Then it is sent from one deaf-blind person to another. This lady tries to get out a newsletter of about 20 pages once a month. I am the fourth to read it; after me there are six or eight.

If there are a few of the hearing blind who would and could write the news on their braillers as they hear it and send it around to us who cannot hear, it would be a great help. If anyone can do this, will you please write to me. I will pay for the braille paper that is used for writing such news.

Many of us who are deaf-blind live alone. Some of us live in our homes, others in apartments. Some deaf persons live in nursing homes and others in hospitals. I have lived alone in my home since my husband passed away ten years ago.

Very Sincerely,
Mrs. Florence Watson
302 West Charles St.
Greenville, Michigan 48838

***

To the Editor:

I am a research scholar of philosophy at the University of Delhi, and I have recently been selected for the award of the University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellowship, which is the most respectable fellowship in our country. I shall be getting rs300 per month to carry on my research work for three years. The subject of my proposed thesis for a Ph.D. is "Skepticism in Recent Ethical Theory -- A Critical Study." So far as I know, I am the second blind person working for a Ph.D. in India; the first was Dr. R.T. Vyas.

Having received my primary training in a school for the blind, I embarked upon my academic education in 1953; and, after studying regularly along with the normal students at various colleges, I got through the M.A. Philosophy Examination of Agra University in 1960, securing first division as well as first position in order of merit in the university.

Now, after this brief introduction of my academic education, I must come to the point which, to my mind, is of paramount importance and to which I would like to invite the serious attention of the readers of your magazine. This is the most intricate problem of employment for highly qualified blind persons. As a matter of fact, I have been so greatly influenced by an inspiring and thought-provoking article entitled "Hyde Park Corner" by Earl Scharry published in the July issue of the BRAILLE FORUM that I cannot help giving vent to my views about it. The story delineated in this article is not only the story of Mr. Russell, but, as he himself has rightly pointed out, it is in reality the story of all the blind (irrespective of their race, religion, creed, color or nationality) who, like Mr. Russell, have fought and are still fighting inch by inch to procure their legitimate rights in society which, according to its preconceived fixed notions, tends to regard them as utterly helpless human beings. This, in fact, is a great challenge which all of us shall have to meet with invincible courage, indomitable will, strong determination and patience. Only then can we hope to break the hard barriers of so many prejudices against the blind rooted in the mind of the public.

The story of my own life is replete with far, far harder struggles and greater despondencies and frustrations than those which Mr. Russell has had to face in his life. Born in a very ordinary family and having lost my eyesight completely in the first year of my life, I was regarded by my family as an utterly helpless and worthless human being! My family never hoped that I could do anything worthwhile in my life! The readers of these lines can hardly imagine the great frustrations I have had to undergo and the bitter struggle I have had to make in order to reach the position I am in at present. After receiving my master's degree in 1960, I applied for the post of a lecturer in philosophy at many colleges and universities; but I was rejected, sometimes on account of tough competition and sometimes solely because of my physical handicap. Almost all of my class-fellows have obtained the jobs they desired and deserved, but I am still unemployed and looking for the post of a lecturer. My hard struggle against the prejudices regarding the blind in my community is still going on, and I do not know when, after all my efforts, t will be crowned with success.

You can well understand the great difficulties I am now facing in my research work if you only keep in view the sad fact that we, the blind in India, are not provided with even one of so many facilities you are readily entitled to in your country. There is, for instance, no provision for good braille books (not to speak of the talking book), no service for voluntary readers, home teachers and rehabilitation, which are so common in England and the U.S.A.

Before I close this letter, I would like to request you to kindly supply me with a braille copy of Mr. Russell's book To Catch an Angel. I shall read it with keen interest, for my problems and ambitions are almost similar to those of Mr. Russell. Will you kindly refer this letter of mine to him? I shall be very glad to correspond with Mr. Russell and with any other reader who is interested and can spare some time to do so.

I hope you will kindly publish my letter in your magazine.

With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
V.P. Varma, M.C.
126 Jubilee Hall
University of Delhi
Delhi 6, India

*****

** Hyde Park Corner
Conducted by Earl Scharry

This is your magazine. The Forum is the heir to the Braille Free Press. Materially, the estate was quite meager; but included in the spiritual inheritance was the principle that the magazine belongs to the entire membership and is available for the expression of all points of view, both official and unofficial. We have reiterated this principle many times and carry it on the masthead of each issue. As a principle, it makes fine window dressing. However, we fully intend to put it to the acid test of practice, where it may sometimes prove galling. The comments by Mary Walton which follow are certainly unofficial; they take issue with official action of both the ACB Board and Convention. However, they are sincere, objective and well expressed. Their publication can serve to clarify our thinking both pro and con. If you disagree, then the way to show it is not to muzzle Miss Walton and people like her, but to refute her. We are also confident that, since Miss Walton is in agreement with our general principles and policies, she will continue to deliberate with us and to participate in our organization -- working from within to advance our common goals. In time, close association and free discussion will wear off the sharp edges of our disagreements. Her comments follow.

* Cut the Cards

Last spring the postman brought me a little package. It was from some organization purporting to be of or for the disabled and contained a necktie. The colors were gaudy and would not go with the suits worn by any of the men I know. The workmanship was poor and shoddy. The letter enclosed with the parcel was designed to bring tears to the eyes of the hardest hearted. But both letter and tie, plus the accompanying self-addressed money envelope, went into my waste basket. The post office and the Better Business Bureau tell me I am acting within my legal rights and that, when I throw away the duns which still come to me about once or twice a month from the sender of the parcel, I am still within the law. I did not order that tie. I did not want it. I cannot know that even a small part of any money I might send in payment for it would go to the assistance of the disabled for whom it was supposedly intended. So I shall send no payment, nor am I obligated under the law to return the tie. 

Early last summer the postman brought me another little package. It was from a national organization of the blind and contained greeting cards. These were of fair to middlin' quality, but nothing to write about with glowing superlatives, for I have sold far better ones at the same price or less. I am a blind person, acquainted with this organization -- its work and its philosophy -- but not in whole-hearted agreement with its policies. So the request for payment accompanying the cards and the subsequent "reminder" letters have received the same treatment as those from the sender of the unordered tie. Is it any more right for an organization of the blind to engage in a practice frowned on by both post office and Better Business Bureau, just because it is an organization of the blind, than it is for any other organization? And is it any more right for me, because I am blind, to encourage this practice of sending out unordered merchandise by an organization of the blind with my cash payment than it is for me to do the same for the group who sent me the tie?

Just the other day I learned that the ACB voted to use the greeting card mailing as a fund-raising device. I am a member of ACB and in whole-hearted accord with its philosophy and policy. Yet, because unordered greeting cards are sent out by this organization of the blind, in which I believe and of which I am a member, is it any more right for me to buy and encourage anyone else to buy them -- is it any more right for me to condone this questionable fund-raising practice frowned upon by Better Business Bureaus and others, just because it is done by my group and not by some other to which I do not belong and to whose policies I cannot subscribe? My answer can only be "No!" ...

Give us the cards, the candy boxes or whatever you have to sell to raise ACB funds, and we will go out and knock on doors, buttonhole everyone who come to call on us and everyone we meet wherever we go and use every other means in our power to sell them and see that the profits go to the right place; but don't send unordered greeting cards or any other merchandise to us and to our friends and expect us to buy or encourage others to buy them.

-- Miss Mary Walton, 210 North Vine St., El Dorado, Kansas 67042

*****

** Here and There
By George Card

A recent issue of the NEW BEACON reports that in Israel 30 blind workers are now employed as winding machine operators in government-run cotton mills and that 20 more are in training. Their production rates have been highly satisfactory. It is pointed out that this field may be potentially important for all count where cotton is processed. It can be safely assumed that all such countries will also have an employment placement problem their blind citizens. An unusual feature of the present Israe situation is that 60 percent of the 5,000 blind Israelis are within the age bracket of employability. 

From the ILLINOIS FEDERATION NEWSLETTER: " ... On July 26, a newly-published informational brochure titled a GUIDE FOR PAR OF A SCHOOL-AGE CHILD became available, free of charge. A cop may be obtained by writing the State Commission for the Blind Children's Service, 270 Broadway, New York 7, N.Y. A companion piece, A GUIDE FOR PARENTS OF A PRESCHOOL BLIND CHILD, was published about two years ago and is also available on request. The aim in both of these publications is to present basic principles of caring for a blind child in as readable a way as possible. Done up in picture book form, the new guide serves as a ready reference   reminding parents of child guidance principles they sometimes know but often have a tendency to overlook." ... "In the air-conditioned, three-level school library of the Hadley School in Winnetka, Ill., there are 25,000 brailled textbooks, believed to be one of the largest collections in the world. ..."

From the HOOSIER STAR-LIGHT: "On June 6 Western Michigan University awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities to Russell C. Williams of Washington, D.C. ... The citation accompanying the honorary degree praised Williams for the work he has done in the field of blind rehabilitation and for the personal courage and unfailing spirit with which he did it."

From LISTEN: "A legally blind project engineer, William D. Meyers, father of three children, who works on re-entry instruments for the United States Air Force Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistics Missile at the Lawrence, Massachusetts, facility of Avco Corporation's Research and Advanced Development Division, has been named Blind Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Committee." ... The fourth Winifred Hathaway Award was presented to Mrs. Wilma A. Hull, formerly a teacher at Perkins, by Mr. Enos Curtin, President of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, during that organization's annual meeting at the Somerset Hotel, in Boston.

It is reported that there are at least 22 legally blind persons employed as darkroom technicians in Los Angeles County alone -- 14 of these are totally blind.

The Hadley School has withdrawn from the Winnetka, Ill., Community Chest and will carry on its own independent fund-raising campaigns. Many organizations of and for the blind have found that participation in community chest organizations seriously restricts the publicity they can obtain for the educational phase of their fund-raising projects. A $100 contribution to Hadley finances the education of one blind student for one year. For many years the Wisconsin Council has made a $100 allocation to this fine correspondence school.

Claude Pattermore, 36-year-old Canadian, won the 25th Blind Golf Championship, held this year at the Westchester Golf Club at White Plains, N.Y. He turned in a card of 201 for the 36 holes.

The affiliation of the Tennessee Federation of the Blind with the ACB -- which took place during its 1963 Labor Day weekend convention -- was a source of the deepest personal gratification to this writer. I think perhaps I have more warm personal friends in that state than in any other outside my own. I have been an invited guest at no less than five of its state conventions during the past 14 years.

Because Great Britain is able to maintain an almost 100 percent accurate national registry of the blind, it can obtain statistics and statistical trends which can only be guessed at here. Thus the percentages of the various age groups can be determined with exactitude. At present, the percentage of those above 65 is slightly more than two-thirds and it is predicted that this percentage will rise close to 80 percent in the next two decades.

From HORIZON (London): "Doctors in the west of Scotland are on the break of a startling breakthrough in eye surgery. Within a few months a blind patient will be invited to enter a leading eye hospital to take part in an astonishing operation. He will have the cornea from a rabbit grafted into one of his eyes. The surgeons will have to wait four to six weeks to determine if the graft has 'taken.' In a series of experiments the eyes of many animals have been tested and those of rabbits found by far the most adaptable. One such rabbit cornea was successfully grafted on a dog, with no unfavorable reaction. At present, human patients have to wait up to two years for a human cornea. The reason cornea grafts are so much more successful than those involving other human organs is that the defense mechanism which attacks and destroys 'foreign' tissues is a chemical agent carried by the blood stream and corneas have no blood vessels." ... "Dr. Norman Ashton, of London, has drawn attention to the danger of allowing young children to play with puppies before they have been thoroughly wormed. Some puppies are infested with toxocara canis even before birth and once these minute creatures gain access to a human body, they can work their way through the tissues and bloodstream and do immense damage to the liver, kidneys, brain and retina. Dr. Ashton stated that he had observed more than eighty such cases, most of them children. ..."

Among the deaths listed in the September ZIEGLER were those of Horace Davy, former President of the Rhode Island Federation of the Blind, and of Gordon Hicks, who was Superintendent of the Oak Hill (formerly Connecticut) School for the Blind from 1918 until 1946.

Weslie D. Sprague, former Associate Director of the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, has been named Executive Director of the Lighthouse, New York Association for the Blind, succeeding the late Allan W. Sherman.

John Janssen, of South Bend, was elected President of the Indiana Council of the Blind at its 1963 convention. His hobby, like that of our own Dean Sumner, is racing pigeons.

From the WISCONSIN FREE PRESS: "A blind Japanese musician, Kimio Eto, has arrived in the U.S. to introduce an ancient musical instrument to the Western world. The 'Koto,' a cross between the harpsichord and the guitar in sound, is an 18-stringed instrument, 6 feet long, three inches in depth, and 9 inches in width. It is played with three ivory plectra, attached like elongated fingernails to the thumb and first two fingers of the player's hand. The other hand is used to pull or depress the silken strings to obtain the flat and sharp notes. Mr. Eto is considered the world's greatest master of the 'Koto.'"

From the PEORIAREA OBSERVER: "George Wolber of Sterling, Ill., has very little sight but has no lack of courage. He has two projects going which are quite outstanding for a blind person. He raises and sells hybrid seed corn -- planting, cultivating, picking and packaging. He also has three burros and a mule which play 'follow-the-leader' around a large, fenced area on his property. He sells rides on these animals and the kids really flock around."

From the MONTANA OBSERVER: "The Park County Chapter (Livingston) owns a popcorn machine, which is its principal fund-raising project. At the last county fair it netted the chapter a profit of about $170.   Anyone interested in a braille edition of the 'Birdseye Frozen Foods Recipe Book' may obtain a copy of this 38-page book containing instructions for preparation of all frozen Birdseye products -- vegetables, fruits and beverages -- for 55 cents postpaid from Braille Transcribing Service, New York Association for the Blind, 110 East 60th Street, New York 25, N.Y. Payment should accompany the order."

From VISION (Canada): "Tibbie was a good sheep dog but when she was 3 years old, she lost her sight. That was two years ago but she still rounds up the flock of sheep in speedy fashion and no stray is left. Not only that, her sense of smell and hearing is so good she can tell her own sheep from those belonging to another farmer, and she leaps over a fence put in her way as if she were radar-equipped."

From the ABC DIGEST (Calif.): "A bill enacted during the last session of the State Legislature, SB 1117, provides a drastic change in the administration of public welfare. It makes the Director of Social Welfare, rather than the State Social Welfare Board, responsible for the program, including the setting of policy, assuring conformity with federal programs and other features of administration. The State Social Welfare Board remains in an advisory capacity." ... "AB 2101 creates a revolving loan fund of $35,000 to assist blind persons to establish themselves in gainful employment." ... "In the U.S. it is estimated there are 500 totally blind and industrially blind people in administrative and supervisory work. One hundred and fifty are leaders in the private agency field. ..."

From the NORTH DAKOTA PROMOTER: "A training center for the blind was established last March at Grand Forks, N.D. under the direction of Rod Kossick. The program includes mobility, communication, braille, prevocational preparation, counseling and aid to daily living activities. The Grand Forks area is ideal for the mobility training which Mr. Kossick is carrying on. Mr. Kossick follows students as they learn to use the long white cane to find their way about. First indoors, then on campus, then controlled residential areas, semi-business areas, downtown East Grand Forks in Minnesota and finally in busy downtown Grand Forks. One of the final treks includes finding specific departments in stores and using escalators and elevators with ease. The student also learns to operate electronic machines such as tape recorders and dictation or transcription machines. Students also learn the use of power tools, to care for and maintain their own rooms, identify money, dance, bowl, golf, cook, and to wash and iron clothes. ..."

From the KAB NEWS (Kansas): "The Kansas-Oklahoma Seminar, which was held at the Rehabilitation Center in Topeka during the Labor Day weekend, was a complete success. Each organization felt that it had gained so much that there were suggestions that the two states hold joint conventions. The principles laid down for organization, government, etc. will soon be published in a manual for all officers, board members and committee chairmen."

A correspondent in Seattle, Wash. writes -- with reference to an item in the October BRAILLE FORUM: "Apparently some people around here read the FORUM. Apparently, part of the report got left out somewhere along the line, inasmuch as under our new man the vending stand program has come up sharply in the last few years. Your figures for 1956 were correct. However, in the fiscal years of both 1962 and 1963 the number of stands was 24, which is a reduction, but the average income of these in fiscal years 1962 was $433.35, and in fiscal year 1963, $482.96. The program ... has concentrated on elimination of substandard stands and the location and modern equipping of new worthwhile stands, including some food service operation, with the result that a good income is now provided to the operators. ..."

From the October NEW OUTLOOK: "The coveted annual Migel Medal for outstanding service to the blind for this year was presented to Robert S. Bray, Chief, Division for the Blind, Library of Congress, and to Dr. Guy Smith, prominent blind citizen of Arkansas." ... "John Keith Flake, formerly Assistant Director of the Jewish Vocational Services of Kansas City, MO., has been appointed Executive Director of the Evansville, Ind., Association for the Blind." ... "A modern library which will house approximately 40,000 books is under construction at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. The library is being built within the walls of the old gymnasium, vacated upon completion of the New George W. Nevil Field House." ... "The National Braille Club, Inc., is trying to locate people who have a background or education in any foreign language to act as proofreaders to check the work of the transcribers. People who read and speak Spanish are particularly needed. Interested persons are asked to contact Mrs. W.D. Earnest, Jr., The National Braille Club, Inc., Lake Arcadia, R.F.D. #1, Butler, New Jersey." ... "Some thirty-seven blind piano technicians from 10 states and two Canadian provinces registered during June for an intensive five-day seminar held at the Michigan School for the Blind. ..."

THE HOOSIER STAR-LIGHT reports that the Indiana School for the Blind opened its new swimming pool this fall and for the first time this school will have a full-time mobility instructor and a full-time psychologist on its staff.

THE HORIZON reports some extremely interesting experiments by Dr. William Stone of Mass. After some initial failures, he has now succeeded in inserting plastic corneas into the eyes of laboratory animals without having them rejected by the action of antibodies. He got the idea from observing that war-time aviators experienced no visual impairment when their plastic canopies were smashed and pieces of plastic entered the eye and could not be removed surgically. If the human eye will accept plastic corneas, they can be shaped so that they will correct astigmatism and other visual distortions exactly as do contact lenses.

Jack Lewis, 742 Ponce de Leon Place, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306, writes that he has solved the abacus problem in still another way, with a board manufactured by The School Supply Company of Chicago, 20, Ill. He will furnish full information to anyone writing him. In the same letter he goes on: "... Our ACB Tape Correspondence Club is coming along fine. We are getting many active and interesting participants. The GFB was glad to learn at our October convention that we are losing a member, probably for good, that is, a blind member. Tom Barbaree of Griffin has recently had an eye operation which takes him out of the category of blindness. Like Al Drake, Tom has lost his extra income tax exemption, but I doubt seriously that either one of them will complain."

From PERFORMANCE: "Although Ed Walker is a popular radio voice heard by hundreds of thousands, very few listeners realize that he has been totally blind since birth. ... Since his first WRC show in 1955, when a critic referred to him as 'the most refreshing new radio personality to be uncovered in Washington this year,' Ed Walker's wealth of talent has attracted a large and faithful audience. Currently his broadcast day consists of two 2-hour shows, 'Man About Music' in the morning and 'Time for Music' in the afternoon. His working day stretches out to about 9 hours, however, as he transcribes weather, news, and commercial announcements into braille notes, and plans his next day's shows. The braillewriter is standard equipment near his microphone and is in constant use while the records are spinning. Close by is a precision clock with touchable dials that enables him to keep up a split-second schedule in unison with his engineer. And also within reach is a telephone -- his only intimate contact with the world outside his heavy glass studio. He is under a compulsion to be good, in fact better than the next, for WRC is expected to be a standard bearer; it is one of five stations throughout the country owned and operated by the National Broadcasting Co. He first moved over to NBC from a suburban local station in 1955."

From the WASHINGTON WHITE CANE: "In a report remarkable both for its frankness and its extensive documentation, a fact-finding committee of the California State Senate has sharply challenged the widespread practice of using sheltered workshops as places of rehabilitation. The workshop's program offers a comfortable evasion of meeting responsibilities to a group of people more in need of jobs than of training. In support of its position the Committee noted that subcontracts from defense and industry are forming a larger part of the workshop's program. This work is bid for in competition with other places of employment, and the same standards must be met. If workshop employees can satisfactorily produce quality products of this kind, why cannot they be doing the same work directly for a regular employer who is doing the same work directly for a regular employer who is not exempt from minimum wage provisions and whose employees have the right to organize and bargain collectively?..."

From THE NEBRASKA OBSERVER: "The new school for the visually handicapped was completed and started regular classes September 5th with an enrollment of about 75 students. Nebraska will have two new home teachers -- Mr. Vern Bauder of Hastings, in the western part, and Miss Dot Teel of Decatur, Ala., in the eastern section. ..."

The September issue of WE, THE BLIND (Pa.) contains many bitter statements concerning the treatment which its leaders received at a recent national convention. A correspondent in the East, whose information has proved accurate over a span of many years, informs me that at both the Pa. and New Jersey conventions a decision was made to continue present national affiliation but on a strictly trial, year-to-year basis.

The HORIZON (London) reports that the British Ministry of Labor has finally announced that it is taking over responsibility for placement and follow-up services to the blind. These have traditionally been in the hands of private, voluntary agencies or, in a few instances, local authorities, such as county councils. ... The same issue describes a tiny radio set, no bigger than the head of pain, which will be implanted in the human eye. It will have no wires but will be powered from outside the eye. It is hoped that information derived from this device may be obtained concerning the cause or causes of glaucoma -- about which little is now known.

I have been privileged to attend three state conventions in recent weeks. The South Dakota Association held its 1963 convention in the picturesque Black Hills, at a church camp which was formerly the site of a mining operation. A few stayed several days after adjournment to enjoy fishing, hiking and horseback riding. The Missouri Federation's convention was held at St. Joseph, in the northwest corner of the "show me" state and was well attended. The Illinois Federation's 1963 meeting was at the St. Clair Hotel in Chicago, the site of the ACB national convention. The IFB re-elected President Bob McMullen for another 2-year term. I predict that these three organizations will affiliate with the American Council of the Blind in the chronological order of their 1963 conventions.

According to an article in the Sept. 6th issue of LIFE, a drug known as IDU has been developed which happens to be a specific drug against the virus which produces herpes simplex keratitis, a blinding eye disease. This malady has resulted in an ulcerated condition which has been a major cause of cornea degeneration and has made many corneal transplants necessary.

Miss Fannie Elizabeth Howard of Durham, North Carolina, and James Mayfield of Memphis, Tennessee (both of whom are members of the ACB), were married on December 22. Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield will make their home at 660 North Idlewild, Memphis, Tennessee.

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** ACB Officers and Directors

President: Ned E. Freeman, 136 Gee's Mill Rd., Conyers, Ga. 30207 
1st Vice President: Durward K. McDaniel, 305 Midwest Bldg., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102 
2nd Vice President: David Krause, 4628 Livingston Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032 
Secretary: Mrs. Alma Murphey, 4103 Castleman Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63110 
Treasurer: Reese H. Robrahn, 308 Columbian Building, Topeka, Kansas 66603

** Directors

* Directors Until 1966:

George Card, 605 S. Few Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703 
Delbert K. Aman, 220 West Second St., Pierre, South Dakota
G. Paul Kirton, Room 6327, Department of the Interior, Washington 25, D.C.
Mrs. Marie M. Boring, 1113 Camden Avenue, Durham, North Carolina 27701

* Directors Until 1964:

F. Winfield Orrell, 5209 Alabama Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mrs. Mary Jane Hills, 33  Edmonds St., Rochester, New York 14607
Earl Scharry, 264 Saunders Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, 40206 
Robert W. Campbell, 253 Stonewall Road, Berkeley 5, California


*****

** A Note from Your Editor

It is our aim to have the Braille Forum broad enough in its scope to provide in each issue some article that will reach each of our readers. We cannot hope that you will like everything we publish. With the reduced size of our magazine, it will be a little more difficult to assure balance in each issue. We have a backlog of many interesting articles, and you may watch for these in forthcoming issues. Some of the subjects we hope to be able to include in future issues are: a discussion of employment opportunities for blind masseurs and physiotherapists; a report on the 1963 convention of the Georgia Federation of the Blind; Father Sutcliff's address on the responsibilities of leadership, delivered during the 1963 ACB convention; President Freeman's address to the ACB convention; information about the Cranmer abacus; the blind in Russia; greater speed in reading braille; progress in echo-location; how blind persons may mow their own lawns; a Massachusetts project in the education of social agencies; a blind school teacher's fight against the "no" people; an article setting forth the value of volunteer associations such as the ACB; an editorial by HEW Secretary, Anthony J. Celebrezze; articles about successful blind persons; how ham radio operators, some of them blind, aid in the prompt transport of corneas to hospitals where they are needed.

Please send us your comments, your suggestions and your constructive criticism. We strive to give priority to articles written specifically for our magazine, but we appreciate articles from other publications that may be of special interest to our readers. I would like to express the appreciation of the editorial staff to those of you who have contributed material for the Forum. Please keep sending us your own thoughts and ideas and your gleanings from other sources.

  Marie M. Boring

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