The Braille Forum Vol. IV September 1965 No. 2 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * Editor: Mrs. Marie M. Boring 113 Camden Avenue Durham, N.C. 27701 * Associate Editors: George Card 605 South Few St. Madison, WI 53703 Ned E. Freeman 136 Gee's Mill Road Conyers, Georgia 30207 John Luxon 7310 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan * 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, Tennessee 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. Ned E. Freeman, 136 Gee's Mill Road, Conyers, Georgia 30207. 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 Editorial, by George Card ACB 1965 Convention Report, by Alma Murphey, Secretary ACB Resolutions Legislative Report, by Durward McDaniel Convention Sidelights, by George Card Mamie's Work Is Easier Now About That Definition, by Ned Freeman Contribution in Memoriam, by Don Cameron Science for the Blind, by Mrs. Lee Fuller Braille and Braille-Inkprint Greeting Cards ACB Tape Club Reactivated Memories of the 1965 ABBA Tournament, by George Card Letters from Readers Here and There, by George Card ACB Officers and Directors ACB President's Fireside Chat My Friends: The response to the question in the July Forum, "Do You Want the Forum on Discs," has been voluminous. The answer is almost unanimously "No" if it means discontinuing either the braille or ink-print editions. Many good reasons were advanced for continuing both of these forms of publication. Mary Walton of Topeka sent what might be referred to as a "brief" marshaling all of the arguments, primarily in favor of the retention of the braille edition. She ends her argument by paraphrasing Marie Anntoinette, saying, "If they don't want to read, let them listen to tape." It was gratifying to learn that we had so many dedicated braille readers. We have not quoted the pro and con statements in the "Letters from Readers" column since this would have required the better part of the present magazine. The excerpts which are included in this issue are, for the most part, from letters prompted by the disc-recording question. Perhaps at some future time when the state of the treasury permits, a disc-recorded edition of the Braille Forum may be added to reach another segment of the blind population, but for the present no change is contemplated. Certainly the braille edition will be continued at all costs. Letters are being sent out from this office to all Governors asking that they proclaim October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. Last fall, President Johnson signed the first National White Cane Safety Day Presidential Proclamation, and it is assumed that he will do so again this year. Letters from you to the White House and to the governor of your state asking for the White Cane Safety Day Proclamation will greatly facilitate our efforts to improve recognition of and compliance with the White Cane Safety Laws. It is suggested that you re-read the article in the May issue of the Forum, "Get Your White Cane into the Picture," and then go ahead with plans as individuals and as organized groups to make the public aware of the White Cane as a safety signal and as a symbol of independence and responsibility. Those of you who failed to get to the Louisville convention missed one of the best we have had. The 1966 ACB convention will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, July 20 through 23 (Wednesday through Saturday). The Georgia Federation of the Blind and the Bertha Perry Memorial Thrift Club are already making plans for a program and entertainment which they hope will outshine all others. If you start saving your pennies now, you should be able to make the trip next summer. Watch the pages of The Braille Forum for further word on the Atlanta convention. It was good to see so many old friends and to meet many new ones in Louisville. I wish it could be possible to meet all two thousand of you in Atlanta. Faithfully yours, Ned E. Freeman ***** ** Editorial By George Card Our magazine is supplied to its readers without charge, and we are delighted to have you as its readers. We want the mailing list for all of the three editions to grow and grow. We try hard to make its contents varied and interesting -- something for everyone. We sincerely believe it is now the best in its field. But we are faced with the grim and inescapable factor of cost. Averaging the three editions, the cost per reader is just about four dollars a year. We have no thought of putting it on a paid subscription basis, but we believe there are a good many of you who are in a position to help and who will want to help. If those of you who can afford it would send an occasional five or ten dollars, more or less, to our national treasurer, Mr. Reese Robrahn, 308 Columbian Building, Topeka, Kansas, it would simplify our problem enormously. This appeal is perhaps slanted just a little toward readers who are not yet ACB members, but heaven forbid that any member should feel excluded. As soon as possible we want to put the Braille Forum on a monthly basis, and your financial support could bring that day much closer. ***** ** ACB 1965 Convention Report By Alma Murphey, Secretary The American Council of the Blind held its fourth annual convention at the Sheraton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 21 through 24. Thanks to excellent cooperation between Program Chairman Earl Scharry and Local Arrangements Chairman Carl Dotson, the convention was an outstanding success. High quality program items, delightful recreation activities, the warm Southern hospitality of our Kentucky host, and good hotel accommodations made this convention truly enjoyable. Since the program as outlined in the July Braille Forum was followed to the letter, this report will be restricted to the official actions of the organization during the business session on Saturday. Just before adjournment on Saturday morning, it was called to the attention of the group that a nominating committee had not been appointed to bring in a name for the one position on the Board of Directors to be filled during the afternoon session. It was unanimously agreed that since the constitution does not specifically mention special elections, Roberts' Rules of Order would be followed, meaning that there would just be nominations from the floor. The afternoon session began with reports from Audit Committee Chairman Marshall Warren and Treasurer Reese Robrahn. The audit report covered the calendar year 1964 and recommended more care in spending, and the treasurer's report covered the first six months of 1965 and showed a balance of $583.52 as of July 1. It was decided to establish a fund to which persons could make contributions to the ACB in memory of their friends who had passed away. The fund is for immediate use by the ACB and is to be known as "In Memoriam." Durward McDaniel requested that the minutes note his objection to the fact that a nominating committee had not been appointed for the election. Vernon Williams and Fred Krepela were elected to complete unexpired terms on the Board of Directors and the Publications Board, respectively. Wichita, Kansas, was chosen as the 1967 convention site, and July 20, 21, and 22 and 23 were selected as the dates for the 1966 convention being held in Atlanta, Georgia. A motion was adopted providing that the entire last day of conventions should be reserved for business. The remainder of the session was devoted to consideration of resolutions, Chairman Fred Lilley reporting. Adopted resolutions will be published in the Braille Forum. The convention adjourned at six o'clock. (Note: Convention tapes are available. The set of six sells for $43; one reel sells for $8.) ***** ** ACB Resolutions The following resolutions were adopted by the American Council of the Blind in convention at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 23, 1965: 65-03, RESOLVED ... that the ACB Credit Union Committee and Board of Directors be authorized and directed to develop and implement on a nonpartisan basis, a pilot project for this 14-state area (the 12 affiliated states plus Missouri and Florida) to extend credit union services to the maximum possible number of blind persons and (2) to this end be directed to consult closely with CUNA International and its state leagues, credit union chartering bodies and all other public and private agencies serving the blind population in this area. 65-05, RESOLVED ... that the Board of Directors be instructed to seek regulations or legislation which would do the following: 1. Require the signature of the client (rehabilitation) acknowledging that he knows his case is being closed. 2. That the client be permitted to file a statement indicating his satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services rendered. 65-06, RESOLVED ... that the Board of Directors be instructed to prepare legislation to prepare legislation to provide tax concessions and or credits to any employer hiring blind persons, such credits and concessions to continue over a period of two years. 65-07, RESOLVED ... that its Legislative Committee be directed to advocate amendments to S. 1991 and H.R. 8282 which would remove all such discriminatory exemptions (exemption from mandatory coverage under state unemployment compensation laws) for nonprofit organizations and sheltered workshops. 65-08, RESOLVED ... that the Legislative Committee be instructed to seek further amendments to H.R. 8310 to eliminate the means test entirely from consideration of eligibility to receive Rehabilitation services, including elimination of insurance, pensions and compensation from such consideration. 65-09, RESOLVED ... that the Legislative Committee be instructed to support H.R. 8093 (upgrading of minimum wages for sheltered shop workers) and the principles embodied therein. 65-10, RESOVED ... that the Legislative Committee be instructed to seek legislation and regulations conditioning the issuance of tax-exempt status and the purchase of material and services by the Federal Government on a requirement that there will be no discrimination against blind and other physically impaired persons by reason of their physical impairment. 65-11, RESOLVED ... that the Board of Directors be authorized to establish additional classes of nonvoting members and varying schedules of dues, and that a systematic plan for acquiring such members be authorized, including the use of professional consultants. 65-12, This resolution relative to cooperation with other organizations of the physically handicapped was referred back to the Resolutions Committee for further study and recommendation to the 1966 convention. ***** ** Legislative Report By Durward McDaniel On July 30, 1965, President Johnson signed Public Law 89-97 containing the Medicare program and other important amendments to the Social Security Act. Space will not permit a detailed explanation of this law, although some of its features will be outlined in this and later issues. ACB invites inquiries on this and other legislative matters addressed to Box 1476, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Eligibility for social security benefits based on blindness as usually defined and six quarters of coverage without respect to age or earnings was our prime legislative objective. We believe that more communications were received by Congress on this subject than on any heretofore of special interest to blind persons. The Social Security Administration strongly opposed our amendment and prevailed except as shown by the following explanation. Congress established an alternative insured status requirement, for workers disabled by blindness before age 31, of one half of the quarters elapsing after age 21 up to the point of disability, with a minimum of six quarters. Blindness is defined as central visual acuity of 5/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a corrective lens; an eye in which the visual field is reduced to five degrees or less concentric contraction is to be considered for this purpose as having a central visual acuity of 5/200 or less. Such persons must meet other requirements for disability benefits including inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity. This means that the Congress rejected completely the earnings exemption which we advocated, and the earnings test remains as it has been since the inception of disability benefits. Dependents of the insured class just described will be entitled to benefits as in other cases. Another amendment which came out of the joint conference committee provides that one who has attained the age of 55 and is blind (as defined above) and is unable by reason of such blindness to engage in substantial gainful activity requiring skills or abilities comparable to those of any gainful activity in which he has previously engaged with some regularity over a substantial period of time will be eligible for benefits if he meets the usual coverage test. However, the dependents of this class of beneficiaries will receive no benefits. This particular amendment is progressive in that it restricts consideration to the worker's usual occupation, thereby precluding some impractical imagination on the part of administrators as to other jobs which an applicant might perform -- even where they do not exist. It is regressive in that it does not apply until age 55, whereas there is no age requirement for insured workers applying for disability benefits on other grounds. Also, the dependents of all others who receive disability benefits are covered. We believe this disparity is unjustified, since the blind worker at age 55 must be just as fully insured as those applying for disability benefits for other reasons. Congress should be urged to eliminate the age factor and to restore benefit rights to dependents. Persons between the ages of 31 and 55 are not affected by the amendments described above. It is estimated that 7,000 persons will qualify for benefits by reason of these two amendments. Another important amendment to the disability benefits section eliminates the requirement that disability must be expected to be of long-continued and indefinite duration and instead provides that, if one has been under a disability which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, he will be eligible for benefits if he satisfies the other usual eligibility requirements. It is estimated that 60,000 persons will become eligible for benefits immediately because of this amendment. Persons in the following categories not currently receiv ing benefits should check with their social security offices immediately because of liberalized amendments: workers 72 or more and widows 72 or more; widows, remarried widows, and women divorced after 20 years of marriage who are 60 or more; remarried widowers 62 or more; children of deceased, retired, or disabled workers who have reached age 18 (but not 22) and are attending school. Important public assistance amendments will be effective in the near future. Many of them are optional, depending upon affirmative action by state welfare agencies. The basic and voluntary supplemental Medicare plans are effective next year. Enrollment in the voluntary supplemental plan commences in September and concludes March 31, 1966. All interested persons and especially officers of organizations of the blind are urged to obtain Senate Document No. 46 for extensive study of the Social Security Amendments of 1965. This publication in available through your Congressman or U.S. Senator, Washington 25, D.C. ***** ** Convention Sidelights By George Card The joy of reunion at the Louisville convention was dampened for most of us by the sad news that, the previous week, we had lost one of our most gallant spirits. Art Parelli of Rochester, N.Y., a charter member of ACB and one of its most loyal members, finally succumbed to the ravages of diabetes -- the disease which had blinded him a few short years ago. Later a leg had to be amputated, but with his indomitable courage he was right back bowling in his league the following season. By then he had no sight whatever, but he still maintained an average of 100. On the morning of the last day, Don Cameron of Florida moved that an "Art Parelli Memorial Fund" be established immediately. Later in the day the name was changed so that contributions could be made in memory of others, but by the close of the convention a substantial sum had been realized. Those who knew and loved Art and who were not at Louisville may still express their feelings by sending their memorial gifts to our treasurer, Reese Robrahn, 308 Columbian Bldg., Topeka, Kansas. I have heard many people say they hesitated to attend a convention in a southern city in July because of the likelihood of high temperatures, but the fact is that on any given day it may be hotter in a northern city. Thus, on the third day of this convention the maximum in Louisville was 94, but in Minneapolis it was 97; and in my own city of Madison, Wis., it was 98. Actually, one may be more comfortable in the South, where not only the hotels but every restaurant and every store are thoroughly air-conditioned. Many will remember the publicity attending the long battle by and on behalf of a blinded veteran named Nyal McConnaughy to secure employment in the foreign service of our government. It was finally successful, and Nyal has been doing public relations for the U.S. Air Force in Japan for a number of years. That battle was spearheaded by the late A.L. Archibald and by David Cobb, a sighted lawyer in Washington, D.C. Largely because of his life-long gratitude to these two, Nyal attended our convention, along with his children and his lovely Japanese-born wife. Word of his intention came too late to get his name on the printed program, but he did address the convention on the morning of the final day, as well as speaking at the banquet the previous evening. Although the trip was a really warm one, the 74 who went on the two buses that made the 40-mile trip to Bardstown were glad they had braved the weather. The dinner at the Talbott Inn (operated since it was built in 1779) was a truly memorable one, featuring mountains of fried chicken, southern biscuits and a luscious wild-blackberry cobbler with sweetened clotted cream. There was a conducted tour through the mansion where Stephen Foster composed "My Old Kentucky Home," which is now government property and still contains the massive beds and the other early American furniture of that period. But the high point was the musical presentation of "The Stephen Foster Story" in a natural outdoor amphitheater in nearby Stephen Foster State Park. The cast of talented and dedicated singers gave it all they had, and there was scarcely a dry eye in the audience after the closing number, an ensemble singing of "My Old Kentucky Home." It was a moving and beautiful performance. There had been sporadic bursts of song on the way down, but on the return trip we were so inspired that singing never stopped. It was such lusty volume and harmony as is heard only from a happy group of blind people. There was one position to be filled on the Board of Directors, and the contest was between Earl Scharry of Louisville and Vernon Williams of Aberdeen, S.D. Now a democratically conducted election, whether there is a lively and spirited contest and no pressure or "suggestions" from the top, is a good and healthy thing. But in our ACB, where there are no feuds or factions and where we are all warm friends and really fond of each other, a choice is always a somewhat painful experience. In this case both candidates were highly qualified and a vote for one was certainly not a vote against the other. Williams won by a narrow margin. Eleven of the 13 present affiliates were represented, and each was presented with its official charter of affiliation at the banquet. It fell to my lot, as chairman of the Membership Committee, to deface these handsome parchments with my deplorable scrawl, and it was my privilege and honor to hand them out. I pointed out that the country which has now become the greatest power in the free world also issued charters to 13 affiliates when it became a nation almost two centuries ago. Invitations for the 1967 convention were received from Kansas and Washington, D.C. Wichita, Kansas, won out since it was felt that the Middle West had a turn coming. If the Washington invitation is repeated next year at Atlanta, it will almost certainly be accepted for 1968. The third week of July was approved as the date for the 1966 convention. An album recording the stage performance of the "Stephen Foster Story" referred to above is available by writing to Mr. Jay Willoughby, Stephen Foster Theatre, Bardstown, Kentucky. ***** ** Mamie's Work Is Easier Now Mamie Tuttle of Mendon, Illinois, was honored recently by her home town. To quote from the Mendon Dispatch-Times -- "A dedicated work of assisting fellow blind people was given a boost Saturday night when the Mendon Lions Club topped off its 25th anniversary celebration by presenting a tape recorder to Mrs. Mamie Tuttle. ... The recorder will enable Mrs. Tuttle, a long-time leader of blind self-help activities, to record radio news reports and commentaries for transcribing on a braille typewriter at a later time. These braille copies are circulated among other blind persons until the dots are too worn to be read by sensitive fingers ... " These news reports and reprints of articles go primarily to the deaf-blind and for some it is their only news media. We of ACB know Mamie for her work with the deaf-blind, for whom she is especially concerned, having a serious hearing problem herself. The newspaper story included a picture of Mamie and all the Lions officers at the presentation and one of her at her braillewriter. This all came about because Mamie wrote a pre-Christmas letter to a friend about her project and mentioned that it was sometimes difficult to type as fast as the broadcaster's voice and how nice it would be if she could afford a tape recorder. Her good friend took it up from there writing letters to "the right people," without Mamie's knowledge, of course, and the presentation came as a wonderful surprise. Mamie hasn't missed an ACB convention and nobody enjoys the fellowship -- and the tours -- much more than she does. We are grateful for Mamie's work and very proud that she received this recognition -- and help. ***** ** About That Definition By Ned Freeman In the July issue of the Braille Forum, Mr. Richard Brown discussed the need for a better definition on blindness. He raised the point that the public and the agencies themselves are confused by the varying statistics concerning blindness which are based on entirely different concepts. Many other individuals and organizations have been concerned with this question, and it has been under study for some years by the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Blindness the American Association of Workers for the Blind and the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration among others. The U.S. Public Health Service defines as "persons with severe visual impairment" those who are unable to read ordinary newspaper print with glasses and estimates somewhat over one million Americans so impaired. In its various programs, the Department of HEW uses at least three definitions of blindness. For purposes of "Aid to the Blind" a blind person is defined as one unable to do any work requiring sight. The definition of disability due to blindness under OASDI is the conventional standard of 20/200 with correction or a central field of 20 degrees or less. For purposes of "freezing" earnings under Social Security, a maximum acuity of 5/200 is used. Recently, Dr. A.E. Braley (The Home Teacher, August 1963) reported a survey made of the definitions of "visual handicap" used by the various states in determining eligibility for rehabilitation services. These varied from a very loose criterion granting eligibility to any person whose visual impairment results in an employment problem (Hawaii), to strict adherence to the conventional 20/200 standard. The Library of Congress limits eligibility to Talking Book and other library services to persons who meet the "standard" definition. In BLINDNESS 1964 (AAWB, p. 202, braille edition) Dr. Richard E. Hoover, commenting on the inadequacy of the present definition, says, "As the definition now stands, there is no indication of any differences in the visual disability between those who have no useful light perception and those who have useful light perception or better. To continue to ignore these useful differences is playing the ostrich role and can be of no benefit to anyone." Dr. Hoover believes that a number of standards should be adopted which would include all measurable eye functions for each eye separately and both together. Statistics based on such realistic and functional criteria would certainly aid greatly in planning programs of services and in determining for each individual the type of adjustment and rehabilitation regime which will best meet the client's needs and abilities. As matters now stand, we know there are somewhere between four and five thousand persons in the United States who are "legally blind." We have no idea as to what proportion of these have travel vision, large print reading ability or how many would be classified as totally blind. Admittedly, it is easier to find employment for a person with considerable residual vision even though he may be classified as blind, than it is to train and place a person who must function entirely without sight. Naturally enough, placement counselors tend to concentrate on the more easily "closed" cases and will frequently neglect their "totals" or shunt them into blind alley sheltered shop situations. We certainly would not want to see less effort devoted to vocational rehabilitation of the partially seeing. As a matter of fact, we strongly recommend the extension of necessary services to all persons with visual impairments. We do feel that greater efforts should be devoted to the vocational training and placement of those who are for all practical purposes totally blind so that they may more nearly achieve their full potential both economically and socially. ***** ** Contribution in Memoriam By Don Cameron As were many delegates to the Louisville convention, I was shocked to learn of the passing of a very dear friend, Art Perelli of Rochester, N.Y. Just to know Art was to love him. I met him at the Kansas City convention in 1961 and enjoyed my renewal of friendship with him in Rochester last year. Arthur John Perelli, who was born in 1926, worked in a machine shop for 20 years until 1959, when he lost his sight as a result of advanced diabetes. He owned and operated a gift shop in Rochester from 1961 through 1963, when he had to give it up after losing one of his legs. An avid bowler, with his artificial limb he went right back to the game and continued it with a 100 average. He suffered much during his last two years with advanced glaucoma and finally succumbed to a kidney ailment on July 15. We, his friends, know he suffered long and hard, but none of us ever heard him complain. I never liked to send flowers, so on the last day of the convention I announced my intention to make a contribution to the ACB in memory of Art to help carry out his fight against blindness and all of its problems. I know he would approve, because he was one of the original charter members of the Council. Before the day was over, a number of delegates had pledged a total of $350 in memory of Art Perelli, A.L. Archibald, Carl Wiley and William Jackson. The latter was also one of the first charter members of the Council. In closing I would like to urge all readers of this article to remember their lost ones by sending in a contribution in their memory to help carry out the projects of the ACB such as the publication of this magazine, the promotion of more and better job opportunities, education of the public, etc. ***** ** Science for the Blind By Mrs. Lee Fuller Science for the Blind has three purposes: 1) To record and distribute scientific information for the use of the blind 2) To conduct and promote scientific research for the benefit of the blind 3) To develop, manufacture, and provide aids and assistance with a view toward enabling blind persons to obtain and retain gainful employment. When Tom Benham, then lecturer in physics at Haverford College, established Science for the Blind in 1955, he had sufficient funds to fulfill the first purpose only. With a grant of $2,000 in addition to a few donations from individuals, he built a multiple-copy tape duplicator of his own design, bought some new tape, found 65 blind persons in the United States and Canada interested in science, and began circulating Science Recorded and Timely Topics, read onto tape by a small number of volunteer readers, mostly local. Material too long or complex for these monthly tapes was put onto tapes called Extras, which were circulated on request. Today Science for the Blind circulates 1500 to 2000 tapes monthly to a mailing list of over 250. Since many people share their tapes and some go to libraries and other organizations serving the blind, it is estimated that SFB tapes reach some 700-800 persons monthly. In addition to Science Recorded, which contains articles of a technical nature from various scientific journals, Timely Topics, which is made up of science-in-the-news type articles, and Extras, the following have become monthlies: Radio Digest: a collection of articles concerned with ham radio; Popular Science and Consumer Reports: abridged versions of the print magazines; General Science Monthly: dealing in a general way with a different scientific subject each month; aimed primarily at high school students and persons with little or no scientific background. A Children's Science Series for jr. high school students and a list of more than 20 technical books are also available. Volunteer readers all over the United States record on their own equipment, some regularly, some only occasionally as they find the time. Blind persons may borrow any (or all) SFB tapes for a fee of $10 a year. Tapes are returned and reused. Listeners receive a few tapes at a time, and fresh tapes are sent as the previous ones are returned. The program is supported by the Services Fees, by regular grants from other nonprofit institutions, and by sale of blank tape and duplicating service. In the summer of 1964, mindful of the other purposes of SFB, Tom Benham, now associate professor of engineering at Haverford, set out to do something about them. He estimated the funds necessary to carry out the work properly and managed to find about one-third of this amount, with which he established the Science for the Blind Instruments and Aids Project. Operating under a severe financial handicap, the program has slowly taken shape. Science for the Blind has, for a long time, offered in expensive tape players to the blind. Both players and recorders are now available. In addition to braille calculators, which have been offered for several years, the following instruments, adapted for use by the blind, may be purchased at reasonable prices: Simpson 260 Multimeter (for electronics work) Recording Level Indicator (for use with tape recorders) Continuity Checker (for testing light bulbs, fuses, current) Thermometers of various kinds, mostly for professional use (Darkroom, Centigrade Lab, Household Weather, Clinical) Disc Player - completely battery operated: 16, 33-1/3, 45 rpm. Capacitance Bridge or Impedance Bridge (both for electronics or hi-fi work) Within the limited budget available, SFB will also undertake to develop special instruments for individuals on request. Preference will be given to persons requiring the equipment for employment. A further part of the Instruments and Aids Project will be the collection and distribution of information on gadgets and aids. Such information will be solicited from persons who have developed or who have had made for them any sort of special instrument for use in a scientific or technical application. The material collected in this way will be used as a basis for preparing stock instruments for sale by SFB, or for giving blind people with a similar requirement ideas for developing their own aids. The final aspect of the program, which is really the second purpose of the organization, is research. With the funds currently available, research will have to be kept to an absolute minimum so that the more important work of assisting blind individuals in their employment can be carried on. However, investigation has been started to find a means for the blind to read the output of a chart recorder and several other projects are on record for future efforts. If you have or are seeking information related to the SFB programs, or if you have a technical problem which needs a solution, please write. We will make every effort to help. -- Science for the Blind, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041 ***** ** Braille and Braille-Inkprint Greeting Cards General assortments of greeting cards for all purposes or boxes containing one kind only, such as Christmas cards, are available at a very reasonable price in braille only or a combination of braille and inkprint. Full particulars may be had by writing to Harry A. Fribush, 27 Colonial Avenue, Albany, New York 12203. Your name in inkprint may be added at a slightly additional charge. Mr. Fribush also has assortments of canned goods labels and elastic fasteners as well as other items. It is not necessary to include a self-stamped envelope when inquiring about these items but be sure to mention this announcement in the Braille Forum. ***** ** ACB Tape Club Reactivated For about a year a search has been under way for a new coordinator for the ACB Tape Correspondence Club. This activity was originated by Jack Lewis but lapsed when Jack was forced to relinquish it because of the time required for his graduate study in social work at FSU. John Sevier (pronounced the same as severe) of Baltimore has now agreed to serve as coordinator for this club. John hopes that this club will help to cement intraclub activities and communication and, in addition, help to develop friendly relationships among the individual members. Of course, matters discussed between club members will not be restricted to activities of organizations of the blind, but the exchange of views relative to programs and projects should be of value to local groups. He would like to have correspondence, preferably a tape, from all persons previously active in this area as well as all new persons who would like to take part in the taping. He would like to have the recording speeds and the tracks of the individual members' recorders (for example, two or four speeds, dual or quarter track) as well as their interests, suggestions, and the like so that he can build up a master file. His equipment will handle dual or quarter track at any of the four conventional speeds. John is a "partial" and a senior dictation machine operator for the Baltimore City Welfare Department. You may write or tape to John B. Sevier, 449 East 28th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218. ***** ** Memories of the 1965 ABBA Tournament By George Card There were 37 on the chartered bus which left Milwaukee one balmy Wednesday evening late last May headed for our nation's capital. It was an 18-hour trip, but the high spirited, tournament-bound passengers gossiped happily, sang lustily, and made the time pass swiftly. A score or so of others from Wisconsin made their way there by train, regular bus and by car. When I entered the elevator at the headquarters hotel, I heard a very familiar voice. It was Dave Krause, who was placing braille numbers on the doors of all the rooms to be occupied by visiting blind bowlers. These easily read numbers proved to be a great blessing during the tournament. It was my first national tournament, and I bowled well below my league average; but I had a wonderful time, and I hope I can get to Cleveland next year. I spent many happy hours in the big Hospitality Room, where I met dozens of old friends -- people I had first met and come to know during my organizing years. Dave's wife, Betty, was the presiding angel in the Hospitality Room and her charm, her warmth and her gaiety set the tone. She did everything to make the visitors feel at home and was ably assisted by a staff of volunteers. I spent two evenings with Paul Kirton and the delightful young lady who is his fiancee. Paul has been the victim of an undiagnosed illness for the past several months but is now slowly recuperating. The real stars of our Wisconsin contingent were Bob and Mae Hartwig, both in their middle 70's. Bob has not only bowled in every ABBA tournament but is a faithful member and rarely misses his turn in two blind leagues in Milwaukee. He and Mae are charter members of ACB, and two years ago we all helped them celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. They would have been at Louisville except for a last-minute illness which prevented their coming. ***** ** Letters from Readers Dear Mr. Freeman: I enjoy reading the Braille Forum. I feel it is improving in quality with each new issue. I particularly liked this last July issue. I am glad that this last issue contained a fine legislative column. I also found stimulating the article by Alford B. Starratt, "Our Concern with Poverty," and also the article by William L. Lewis, "In Defense of Gold Brickers." While I liked the latter article, its truth is far too pathetic. I am now reading the braille edition of the Braille Forum. I prefer the braille form, first, because I can read it on the bus and at work, and second, because I am sending the Braille Forum overseas to Ludiana, India, and I am not certain as to whether they have a record player. Much continued success with ACB. -- Jim Wright, 1505 Sutter St., Apt. 34B, San Francisco, Calif. 94109. *** Dear Mr. Freeman: The piece in the current Forum by Mr. Brown especially interested me. I know many folk who, according to the present vague definition of blindness, fall into a nebulous category. We need accurate statistics on the whole range of handicaps and the combinations thereof. Regardless of the merits of ACB's case against the NFB, the split has weakened our movement. -- Bob Phelan, 537 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07302. *** Dear Mr. Freeman: I have been reading the Forum for some time now and find it very useful and interesting. In the "Letters from Readers" column of the May issue, I found Mary Walton's remarks very interesting. I am not a writer; but I like to read contemporary literature. I can recognize and understand a writer's need and desire for an outlet. In the July issue I was unpleasantly stirred by the letter from Mrs. Hilty. Because she is growing older, her braille reading is slowing down; therefore, she suggests that the Forum be condensed. But I ask you, does not the reading speed and facility of sighted people also become slower as they grow older? And do they have their reading material condensed for them? True, there are many publications in large print; but for the most part, older people simply have to take their time and read more slowly. Although I can sympathize, to some degree, with Mrs. Hilty and others in her position, I hardly think that the slackening of tempo that comes with age is a sufficient excuse for condensing the Forum. In fact, I don't think we can fairly ask you to condense your material for any reason. The Forum is, after all, only bi-monthly; and it isn't really that large. Yet you manage to keep us up to date very well on ACB activities, and to provide us with timely information and discussion by and for the blind. -- Lois M. Goodine, 4418 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111. *** Dear Mr. Freeman: My conscience is bothering me -- and you can help me to do the right thing. I've been deriving pleasure from reading the Braille Forum almost from the publication of its first issue but have never given any monetary expression of my appreciation. I would have done this long ago if I had known the name and address of your treasurer. Please let me know to whom and where to send ... -- Wesley Stevens, 211 N. Dithridge St., Pittsburgh, Penn. 15213. *** To the Editor: I have just been reading the May Forum and noted an inquiry about insurance rates for blind people. This question came up shortly after the North Carolina Commission for the Blind began to operate in 1935. I was assigned to make the inquiry into it then and have followed up any further developments I have come upon since. Insurance rates are determined purely on the basis of the number of persons who are likely to have to be paid for any particular kind of contingency each year as compared to the number of people insured or likely to be insured against the contingency. The best information that actuaries ... can obtain show vary definitely that there are more deaths and more accidents per 100 blind people than in the general population. To be financially sound so they can pay their claims, insurance companies have to charge more for insuring blind persons than persons with normal vision and to reject the payment for accidents, strike it out of their policies. Overweight people and some other groups are also charged higher than normal premiums. While any insurance company could insure blind people at standard rates if someone were to set up a fund with it which would pay the difference for all the blind it insured, group insurance seems the most promising field for relief from this extra burden. Many operators of apartment houses and housing projects operate a group insurance plan for their tenants. In most such plans everybody in the group is insured on the same basis. This is made possible because the insurance companies are relieved of the cost of collecting the insurance and the major part of the cost of selling it. Many of you are familiar with the fact that your savings with and borrowing from credit unions automatically carry life insurance on you in the amount of the savings or borrowings. Personal loans from banks are covered by term life insurance on the borrower, blind or not. If you are buying a house on installment, you can get the same kind of term insurance on the loan on the house. Some banks have college loan plans in which the insurance on the borrower provides not only for the repayment of the money that may have actually been borrowed in the event of the death of the parent but for supplying the remainder of the money for completing the schooling for which the plan was set up. The rates for burial insurance in North Carolina are determined solely on the basis of age of the insured at the time he takes out his burial insurance. But it cannot be more than $200 for any individual. A funeral director just assured me that a burial can be had for that amount, but its main purpose is to prevent using up all or most of the little amount of regular insurance that one may have. Of course, this burial must be done by the funeral parlor holding the policy. Of course, when you buy regular insurance, you can sometimes cut down on the premiums in different ways. Sometimes the premiums can be paid at the company's office and at the end of each year a refund of 10 per cent is given because this is what the man on the debit would have gotten for collecting. Also, there is a saving in paying premiums annually. Even when you mail the monthly premiums in, the annual premium will be less. Term insurance which provides nothing but to pay a specified amount in the event of the death of the policyholder, is considerably cheaper because it does not provide for cash surrender value, dividend, paid-up insurance in the event you cease to pay, or other features. But in most cases, you cannot continue to have the term insurance in force after age 60 or 65. There are some perfectly legitimate indirect ways of getting insurance. A blind parent can insure his children or other relatives at normal rates. Of course, the policies would not be helpful to the family in the event of the death of the parent until they had been in force long enough to have cash surrender value. But this cash surrender value begins to mount up rapidly after a few years so that after 10 to 20 years, depending on the provisions of the policy, the cash value is as great as the face value of the policy, or the amount for which the person was insured. The family could cash in such a policy at the death of the insuring parent or any other time it felt a need for doing so. If the policies are taken out on young children, chances are that when they have attained the cash surrender value equaling the amount of the policy, new policies can be taken out on the children at lower premiums than were paid on the first ones. This is because young children do have a higher mortality rate than average due to diseases and accidents. This letter is already longer than I intended it to be, but I must caution that there are racketeers in the insurance business. If the company with which you are discussing insurance is not well known to you and your friends with local offices and agents operating regularly in your community, it is much better to write your insurance commissioner and find out about the firm before taking out insurance with it. Also, buy the insurance strictly on the basis of what the printed policy form provides. Most policies state frankly that the sole agreement is what is written in the policy and your application; what an agent may tell you is provided is not necessarily a part of the contract -- is not at all a part unless it is also written in the policy. This means also that if you fail to give truthful information in the application, the company can refuse to pay. -- W.U. Lewis, Jr., 909 Alabama Ave., Durham, N.C. ***** ** Here and There By George Card From the June New Outlook: "Talladega, Alabama is the location of a new regional library for the blind which was opened in January 1965. It serves 1200 residents of Alabama who transferred from the Atlanta, Ga., regional library ... Governor Otto Kerner was the principal speaker at ceremonies to dedicate the new building of the Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute in Chicago, April 2. The institute, established in 1887 and originally known as the Illinois Industrial Home for the Blind, is a rehabilitation center operated by the Department of Children and Family Services. ... Hector Chevigny, author of My Eyes Have a Cold Nose and, with Sydell Braverman, of The Adjustment of the Blind, died in April of a heart attack in New York. He was 60 years old." From The Montana Observer: "An English beauty contest winner, Rosemary Williams, almost blind a year ago, leaves London for Hollywood and her first film role. Brain-tumor surgery cured Rosemary, 20, after she had concealed her failing eyesight by memorizing paths she had to take in beauty competition." Although sweepstakes are illegal in most of our states by reason of anti-gambling laws, they are perfectly legitimate in the United Kingdom, and the British National Federation of the Blind derives a substantial portion of its income from this source. For a number of years the Wisconsin Lions Foundation has conducted a free summer camp for blind children. Last year it experimented with a one-week session for blind adults, and those who attended were so enthusiastic that this year the adult camping program has been expanded to three weeks. The camp is on a beautiful lake in central Wisconsin. It has a professional staff of recreational counselors and almost every conceivable recreational facility has been made available. Madison, Wis.: "Dragonflies, the most agile acrobats of the insect world, are helping a University of Wisconsin scientist learn more about how animals see. These flighty denizens of streams and lake shores are especially favorable for such studies because of their huge eyes with large cellular components. Insects have large compound eyes with thousands of separate transparent 'windows' or facets. Under each facet is a cluster of light-sensitive receptor cells, analogous to the retinal rods or cones of the vertebrate eye." From The Washington State White Cane: "A braille booklet on Family Planning and Birth Control is available at $1.50 per copy from Planned Parenthood/World Population, Western Regional Office, 655 Sutter Street, Room 401, San Francisco, Calif. 94102. Attention: Mrs. G.T. Morris." Recording for the Blind has received a generous gift of 20 Wollensak tape recorders from the 3M Company. ... Among the celebrities who have recorded spot announcements for RFB were Maurice Evans, Jan Sterling, Ilka Chase, Dana Andrews, Hugh O'Brian, Arlene Francis, Keir Dulles, Thelma Ritter, Dina Merrill, Ed Sullivan, Sir John Gielgud, Jose Ferrer, Rita Hayworth, Teresa Wright, Brian Aherne, and Cornelia Otis Skinner. The ABC Digest (Calif.) reports that Mrs. Catherine Skivers, president of our California affiliate, is recovering from serious surgery which she underwent a few weeks ago. She has also received many expressions of sympathy for the recent loss of her father. Those who noted Cathy's strenuous participation in the recent ACB convention in Louisville and the long hours she put in working with the Resolutions Committee would never have suspected that she was recovering from major surgery. ... Warren Thompson, director of the State Department of Rehabilitation, told the convention that six additional rehabilitation counselors have been added to the state's staff, with five more expected during the next fiscal year. The staff of 27 home teacher-counselors, serving more than 600 clients, came in for high praise. ... Among a number of resolutions adopted by the convention was one calling upon the state to accept its responsibility by providing a special facility for multiple-handicapped blind children. ... Since there are approximately 2,900 newly blinded persons in the state yearly, the group urged that a second orientation center facility be built in the southern part of California. ... Mrs. Esther Chombeau of San Diego passed away on May 4. Her classmates and numerous friends from Perkins will read this item with deep regret. The Braille Forum extends its sincere sympathy to Bert, her husband. ... Beginning with the April 1965 issue, The Farm Journal has been recorded and is available for loan from the regional libraries. ... The Sports Illustrated magazine on Talking Book records will be issued on a weekly basis beginning with the first issue of July 1965. Up to that time, this magazine has been issued once a month with all four issues for that month in one container. ... The Library of Congress is starting to record at 8 1/3 RPM. Talking Book tape cartridges were shown that would play continuously for 24 hours. ... With the aid of punched tape, braille can now be sent across the country by teletype. Frances B. Ierardi, founder of the National Braille Press and long-time editor of the Weekly News, retired in June amid glowing tributes from many sources. His alma mater, Perkins, awarded him a certificate of merit designating him as one of its most distinguished alumni. National News for the Blind (Canada) features a story in the current issue about Shirley Grenier, an attractive young housewife who is legally blind and who is a professional model, a professional dancer and dance teacher, and a demonstrator of new products. Recently her assignment was to spend five afternoons a week for a whole month promenading on busy streets in Toronto with a poodle and wearing a mink coat. She wasn't advertising fur coats or dogs, but a well-known brand of cigarettes. ... "Of the 23 handless blind veterans who have graduated from St. Dunstan's in Brighton, England, more than half are following a remunerative occupation." On June 19, Philip Dumbleton of Milwaukee, Wis., ACB charter member, suffered a severe coronary occlusion. He was under oxygen for some time. He will recover but must spend a full month in the hospital and a second month in complete inactivity. According to an item in the New Beacon, both the director and the assistant director of the Hadley School believe they have devised what will be the first real advance in the teaching of braille in the past half century. They have recorded 75 lessons, and they believe this will enable the-newly blinded to learn to read and write braille without any sighted assistance. The Illinois Newsletter reports that Dr. S. Bradley Burson, blind nuclear physicist, was honored with the honorary degree of Doctor of Science at Lawrence University on June 13, 1965. Little Stevie Wonder, a Negro boy born totally blind, has now sold over a million records of his song, "Fingertips," at the age of 14. As the product of a broken home in Detroit, he experienced stark poverty, but as a very small youngster started playing on a neighbor's piano. The neighbor was so impressed that she gave him the piano. He now plays the piano, drums, organ, and harmonica and will entertain Senators and Cabinet members in Washington. At this writing Larry Stein, former president of our Arizona affiliate, is seriously ill. We who know him are keeping our fingers crossed. A committee of the California legislature, which was considering a bill to prohibit discrimination against blind teachers, sent out a questionnaire to the administrators of California public schools where blind teachers are now employed. A large percentage responded, and the verdict was overwhelmingly favorable. From the Braille Messenger (Ill.): "Mrs. Victor (Mary) Buttram is convalescing at Methodist Hospital in Peoria following major surgery on June 2. The staff at the hospital are no strangers to her, since she is employed at Methodist as a darkroom technician. ... Available from regional libraries is a braille pamphlet especially prepared for the use of blind diabetics, entitled 'Meal Planning and Diabetes.' ... The Clovernook School and Home for the Blind in Cincinnati will soon have a new braille printing plant. In 1962 Clovernook printed nine braille magazines; this year 19. Preference in employment is given to blind women with multiple handicaps who live in or near the Home. ... Five university medical centers, supported by federal grants, are investigating the various aspects of glaucoma." From The Washington State White Cane: "There are now 80 eye banks throughout the United States, but there are 30,000 blind waiting for cornea transplants. Many of them will not live long enough to get a transplant. ... The only braille press run by blind people is that of the New York Lighthouse, which publishes three braille magazines. Each has a blind editor. One of them is Overtones, the only braille magazine in existence -- $2 a year." The Oklahoma Federation Newsletter reports that the State School for the Blind has now been transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Welfare. The Federation strongly opposed this move on the grounds that there is no guarantee that the school will not be merged with other state institutions, that educational standards may suffer under a department having no experience or qualified experts in education, and that welfare money should not be diverted from its valid purpose. ... Fred Lilley, ACB board member from Illinois, stopped over in Oklahoma City on his way to a Lions International convention in Los Angeles and was entertained by 20 Oklahoma Federationists at the Hotel Black. There was a lively discussion of vending stand problems, where Fred is considered to be a real expert. ... Among the deaths reported in this issue is that of Mrs. Lora McDaniel, Durward's mother. The second annual summer session for newly blinded adults was conducted in Fargo this past summer by our North Dakota affiliate and was very successful. The following subjects were taught: home economics, crafts, chair caning, rug weaving, knitting, ceramics, braille, typing, script writing, and cane travel. From The Wall Street Journal: "A hearing aid that stimulates a nerve with electricity someday may be available for the estimated half million people with severe nerve deafness. Such people are deaf because of defects in the nerve leading from the ear to the brain. Present hearing aids, which are nothing more than amplifiers, are of little help when the nerve isn't working." From the AP: "Charles R. Simpson, blind, who has been serving as director of the Legislation and Regulations Division in the Office of General Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, has now been appointed by President Johnson to a federal judgeship." From the Lion Magazine: "Siegfried Zinnecker, a 39-year old blind German, has scaled Europe's highest mountain, the 15,782-foot Mt. Blanc." ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors President: Ned E. Freeman, 136 Gee's Mill Rd., Conyers, Ga. 30207 First Vice President: Durward K. McDaniel, Suite 305 Midwest Bldg., Oklahoma City 2, Oklahoma 73102 Second Vice President: David Krause, 4628 Livingston Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20036 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 G. Paul Kirton, Room 6327, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240 Vernon Williams, Aberdeen, South Dakota Mrs. Marie M. Boring, 1113 Camden Avenue, Durham, North Carolina 27701 * Directors Until 1968: F. Winfield Orrell, 5209 Alabama Avenue, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37409 Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt, 55 Queens St., Rochester, New York 14609 R.L. Thompson, 104 West Hanlon St., Tampa, Florida 33604 Fred C. Lilley, 1155 West 83rd St., Apt. 216, Chicago, Illinois ###