The Braille Forum
Vol. V September 1966 No. 2

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

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

* Associate Editors:
George Card
605 South Few St.
Madison, Wis. 53703

Earl Scharry
264 Saunders Ave.
Louisville, Ky. 40206

* Executive Office:
Miss June Goldsmith, Chairman
Board of Publications
652 East Mallory Ave.
Memphis, Tenn. 38106

Published at: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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** 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 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.

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** Notice

The BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, inkprint and on tape. Miss June Goldsmith, 652 E. Mallory Ave., 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.

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** Table of Contents

From the Editor

Young Man on the Go -- ACB's New President

President's Message

Convention Report and Minutes of the Fifth Annual ACB Convention, by Alma Murphey, Secretary

Amendments to ACB By-Laws

Resolutions

ACB President's Annual Report

Magic at my Fingertip, by Carmelite Janvier

USC Unveils Computer Programs

ACB on the Vending Stand Front, by Durward McDaniel

"Careers" by Hadley

Flying Blind, by William L. Lewis

"The Amauroscope"

A Former Rehabilitation Counselor Replies to Mr. Hunt, by W.U. Lewis

Convention Comments, by Fred Krepela

Federal Legislation -- Passed and Pending, by Durward McDaniel

Are the White Cane Laws Effective?, by Harriet Penner

Loretta's Corner

Medicare Talking Book Coming

Wanted: Home Employment Counselors

Here and There, by George Card

ACB Officers and Directors

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** From the Editor

My Friends: 

This is the last time I shall use these words in addressing you. I shall continue to speak to you through the pages of the BRAILLE FORUM, but in a different capacity. However, although the words are not expressed, I shall still consider each of you a special friend and hope that our relationship may remain as cordial as it has been for the past four years. 

At the recent convention of the American Council of the Blind in Atlanta, the Nominating Committee (composed of representatives of seventeen states) presented my name to the convention as their choice for the office of president. Because Reese Robrahn had by then assured me that he would be able to devote the necessary time to the duties of the presidency, and because I felt that I could better serve the total organized blind by giving more time to the serious problems facing the blind in my own state, I requested permission of the convention to withdraw my name from consideration for the office of president. I served for five years as ACB president, from the time of its organizational meeting in Kansas City. These have been wonderful years of growth and development for myself as well as for the organization and I have thoroughly enjoyed the many experiences and contacts made during this period. Now it is time for another to assume the chief responsibility for leadership. 

In Reese Robrahn, ACB has a very capable and devoted young man at its head. With the three new members of the Board of Directors, the organization should continue to grow in size, strength and influence. 

I have not exactly retired. As ACB First Vice President, as Editor of the FORUM, and as president of both the Georgia Federation of the Blind and its Credit Union, I do not expect to find my total work load greatly reduced. 

You will recall that the November '65 Fireside Chat pointed out the advisability of making some changes in ACB officers this year and suggested that the best place to start might be with the presidency. It is a healthy thing for the organization that this was accomplished by the 1966 convention. The same "Chat" also recommended that those who felt that they had the time and ability to serve ACB in an elective capacity should let their availability be known to the membership through the pages of the FORUM. Other national organizations conduct active election campaigns, and these seem to attract able and sincere men as their officers. This adds both fun and excitement to their conventions.

In ACB each individual member present has his own personal vote, but in addition the delegates of affiliates represent the membership back home and have voting strength in proportion to that membership. If these affiliate votes are to represent the sentiments of the members of their organizations, those members have a right to know in advance who the candidates for office will be and what principal issues will come before the convention. Under such conditions those who are unable to attend the national convention in person could let their representatives know their wishes, even as we advise our legislators and congressmen of our views.

Announced candidates and their supporters openly soliciting the votes of members and delegates would create greater interest among the rank-and-file members and eliminate any possibility of important matters being decided by a small group of "steam-roller" technicians in the proverbial "smoke-filled room" or by spur-of-the-moment pressure of a floor oration.

We know now that at least two of the present ACB officers will have to be replaced in '68 and that the term of four directors will expire then. It is not too early to begin to consider these elections. It is hoped that many of you will give serious thought to serving your national organization as an elected official and that you will let your availability be known at the proper time.

My personal thanks to you all for your interest, support and cooperation. With all of us continuing to work together, I have full confidence in a bright future for ACB. I remain,

Faithfully yours,
Ned Freeman

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** Young Man on the Go -- 
ACB's New President

Judge Reese H. Robrahn, who was elected to the presidency of the American Council of the Blind at its recent convention in Atlanta, doesn't waste any time getting ahead in his chosen profession. In his first year out of Washburn Municipal University in Topeka, where he received both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Letters of Law degrees, he was elected County Attorney for Coffey County. It wasn't long before Reese and his wife, Nelda, moved to Topeka where he engaged in the general practice of law until his election to the Court of Topeka in the fall of 1964.

Reese has long been active in the affairs of the organized blind, having served as legislative chairman for both the Kansas Association for the Blind and the Kansas Rehabilitation Association since 1949. He is currently serving his second term as president of the former and he has held every office in his local Lions Club at least twice.

Reese was among those whose activities led up to the founding of ACB and it was his draft which served as the basis for the ACB Constitution. He has served as ACB treasurer since the beginning.

After receiving his elementary education at the Kansas State School for the Blind, Reese was graduated from high school in his home town of Burlington in 1939. He and Nelda, who has served as a resource teacher in Topeka's public schools, have two children, Reesa Lynn and six months old Phillip. They attend the Central Congregational Church, where Reese serves on the Board of Directors.

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** President's Message

Greetings to All Members and Friends of the American Council of the Blind:

On July 23, at our 5th annual convention held at Atlanta, Georgia, Ned E. Freeman stepped aside, not down, from the office of president of the American Council. He had carried the burdens and responsibilities of this office through two 2-year terms and one year as provisional president. Few of us know or can fully appreciate the trials and tribulations of his tasks in piloting our ship on a steady and true course. Untold hours and energy were devoted by him to his tasks, over and beyond what might be expected and demanded of a well-paid professional administrator. It may well be said that ACB owes its life to its retiring president, Ned E. Freeman.

On that same July 23, the convention bestowed upon me the high honor of the office of president of the American Council. I accepted the office with humility because of my appreciation of the true honor it represents and because of my appreciation of the great responsibility of leadership required of the holder of this office.

I departed from the scene of the convention greatly encouraged about the future of the American Council. Three things seemed to stand out among all others that gave rise to this encouragement. First, many persons indicated a desire to be given a job to do on some committee or in some capacity that would be helpful to the cause of the American Council. An appreciable number of these persons heretofore have not been particularly active. Second, the financial condition of the American Council is the best it has been in the short life of the organization and the convention took steps to stabilize our financial condition for the future by the establishment of a reserve fund out of the day-to-day income of the organization. Prospects for further improvement of our financial condition are very good, and it is certainly within the realm of probability that we will soon be in a position to afford a full-time legislative representative in Washington, D.C. And third, our 5th convention was marked by freedom of discussion and the exercise of orderly democratic processes, which has been the case with all prior conventions. This augurs well for the future of our young organization because we have not permitted the leadership of our organization to decline to that point at which a handful of members gain control and establish a perpetual hierarchy.

This is a greeting from your president. You will not be conscripted or inducted, but I do make a call for volunteers. Volunteer, and you will be given a job.

Reese Robrahn

*****

** Convention Report, 
American Council of the Blind
1966
By Alma Murphey

The fifth annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, held at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, July 20 through 23, was a brilliant success. Although exact attendance figures are not available, 183 persons from 18 states registered, making this registration the largest in our thriving national organization's brief history. Thanks to expert planning and hard work by Ned and Loretta Freeman, and by Gerald and Geraldine Pye of the Georgia Federation of the Blind, everything else about the convention was right, too ... the warm, southern hospitality, fine hotel accommodations, excellent programs, delightful recreational activities. Those who had the good fortune to be there will remember this gathering for a long, long time; it was a fitting climax to President Ned Freeman's enlightened leadership of the ACB throughout the past five years.

As was indicated in pre-convention notices, business was conducted on Wednesday afternoon, Friday afternoon and during both sessions on Saturday. This report will be confined to the actions taken at those sessions.

After the usual preliminaries at the opening session on  Wednesday afternoon, the convention began with Earl Scharry's splendid thought-provoking keynote address. There followed the roll call, appointment of the nominating committee, and Finance Chairman Bud Orrell's report ... the most encouraging financial report thus far. It explained the sources from which the ACB had derived income during the past year. These are: the memorial fund, a mailing to the membership, the sponsored ball gum program, and a greeting card mailing.

Then came the Treasurer's equally encouraging report which includes a balance of approximately $5,800.00 as of July 1, 1966.

Resolutions Committee Chairman Bob McMullen began the Friday afternoon session with a discussion of amendments to the by-laws. By-laws two and three were amended, and a motion was unanimously adopted making the amendment to by-law three retroactive as of March 1, 1966. This motion permitted affiliates to vote during the convention, even though their membership lists had reached the Treasurer after March first.

The nominating committee report was then presented by Committee Chairman Marie Boring. It nominated Ned Freeman for President; Reese Robrahn, first Vice-President; David Krause, second Vice-President; Alma Murphey, Secretary; F.W. Orrell, Treasurer; George Card, Kathie Skivers, Vernon Williams and Floyd Qualls, Directors. Also, Fred Krepela, Assunta Jackson and Richard Lee as members of the Board of Publications. Although the committee had done its work well, Mr. Freeman's announcement that other commitments made it inadvisable for him to seek re-election to the ACB presidency made it clear that the proposed slate could not be presented in its entirety. Thus faced with the necessity of seeking a new president, the assembly tried to express its appreciation for Mr. Freeman's faithful and tireless labors in that office.

The Credit Union and Legislative Committees' reports were presented by Chairman Durward McDaniel, and Dr. Samuel Cook, Professor of Political Science, University of Atlanta, concluded the session with an excellent speech: POLITICS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

During the first hour of the Saturday morning session the following actions were taken on resolutions: 66-01 was rejected; 66-03 was referred to a committee for study; 66-02, 66-04 and 66-05 were adopted. Elections having been scheduled for ten a.m., further consideration of resolutions had to be postponed for a while.

Results of the elections are as follows: Reese Robrahn, President; Ned Freeman, first Vice-President; David Krause, second Vice-President; Alma Murphey, Secretary; F.W. Orrell, Treasurer; George Card, Kathie Skivers, Vernon Williams and Floyd Qualls, directors for four years; Edward Miller, Director for two years; Fred Krepela, Assunta Jackson and Jack Lewis, members of the Board of Publications.

Following elections, resolutions 66-06, 66-07, 66-08 and 66-09 were adopted. (See elsewhere in this issue.)

Bob McMullen moved that the President appoint a committee to handle suggestions for amending the constitution, such suggestions to be circulated in writing to the affiliates on or before June 1, 1967. Motion carried unanimously.

Finance Committee Chairman Bud Orrell introduced two recommendations from his committee: (1) that ten percent of all income (not including income stipulated for specific purposes) be placed in a reserve fund to be used only upon the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of the Board of Directors; and (2) that the President be instructed not to incur an expenditure unless money is in the treasury to pay the bill at the time the expenditure is contemplated. These recommendations were enthusiastically approved.

The Audit Committee's report was presented by its very efficient chairman, J.M. Warren.

By a vote of 113 to 44, San Francisco was chosen as the site of our 1968 convention. Charlotte, North Carolian, had also extended a cordial and sincerely appreciated invitation.

Near the end of the final session, our newly elected President, Judge Reese Robrahn, made a few appropriate remarks. The convention was adjourned at approximately four-thirty p.m.

*****

** Minutes, ACB Board of Directors Meetings
Atlanta, Ga. July 19 and 23, 1966

The Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind held its pre-convention meeting on July 19, 1966, at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel. All members were present except R.L. Thompson of Florida, Mary Jane Schmitt of New York and Paul Kirton of Virginia. The agenda included discussions on the following items:

1. The financial status of the organization;

2. The need for a different receiving station for the returns from the greeting card mailings; and

3. Reimbursements to persons who traveled on ACB business during the past year.

These matters were deferred for final action to be taken by the Board just following the convention.

The post-convention meeting of the Board of Directors was held on July 23rd, immediately following adjournment of the convention. Present were: Reese Robrahn, Ned Freeman, F.W. Orrell, George Card, Kathie Skivers, Vernon Williams, Floyd Qualls, Ed Miller, Mary Jane Schmitt, Fred Lilley and Alma Murphey. Richard Lee and Fritz Meyer of Georgia and Durward McDaniel of Oklahoma were guests of the Board during a preliminary discussion of vending stand matters. The Board took the following actions: 

With regard to resolution 66-04, Orrell moved that a committee consisting of Fred Lilley and Fritz Meyer, with Durward McDaniel, Chairman, be appointed with an appropriation up to $500.00 to implement the resolution. Because of the appropriation involved, a two-thirds vote was required. The vote was nine for, one abstention, and three absent. It was recognized that ACB Board members should, to the best of their ability, assist the above-mentioned committee by furnishing it with lists of stand operators in their respective communities.

A motion carried unanimously that the president is authorized to appoint a General Counsel when developments warrant. 

Credit Union Committee Chairman McDaniel's request for $100.00 committee expense money was unanimously approved.

Concerning the greeting card mailings the following motion carried unanimously: That the president be authorized to negotiate with Artistic Greetings, Inc. for an acceptable receiving station for the returns from the greeting card mailings, with the authority to appoint such assistants as may be needed, and bearing in mind that independent accounting should be obtained if possible. Expenses involved in these negotiations should be charged to the budgetary category "officers' travel."

Concerning reimbursements to ACB officials who traveled on ACB business during the past year, such reimbursement was unanimously authorized.

In considering the previously adopted budget for the calendar year 1966, increases were unanimously approved in the items for office supplies and postage, the treasurer's office and officers' travel.

Gerald Pye and Ellouise Whaley with J.M. Warren were selected to serve as the Audit Committee.

It was unanimously agreed that the budget committee should consist of the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

The meeting was adjourned at six-thirty p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Alma Murphey, Secretary

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** Amendments to ACB By-Laws
Adopted 1966 Convention

By-Law 2: Section A. was deleted and Section B. renumbered Section A. By-Law 2 in its entirety now reads --

VOTING. Each affiliate represented at the convention shall be entitled to one vote for each twenty-five of its voting members or major fraction thereof; provided that an affiliate may cast not more than twenty-five votes.

By-Law 3 -- DUES. Section A. remains unchanged. Section B. (amended to read as follows): The right of an affiliate organization to vote shall be conditioned upon the payment of twenty cents for each voting member, which must be in the hands of the Treasurer not less than thirty days prior to the national convention. The affiliate shall also initially furnish to the Treasurer, not less than thirty days prior to the national convention, a certified list of the names and addresses of its voting members as of December thirty-first of the previous year.

Not less than sixty days prior to the national convention, the Treasurer shall notify all affiliates in writing of the forthcoming deadline for receipt of annual dues and lists. Thereafter, the affiliate shall annually furnish to the Treasurer, not less than thirty days prior to the national convention, any additions, deletions or corrections in its previously submitted certified membership list, provided that the Board of Directors may, in any year, require that the affiliate furnish a complete certified list of its members.

No affiliate shall be required to pay more than one hundred dollars in any one year.

Section C. (Old Section C. becomes Section D. and the following new section is inserted.) Affiliates may submit to the Treasurer, not less than thirty days prior to the national convention, the names and addresses of voting members added to their rolls subsequent to December thirty-first, provided that such supplemental list be accompanied by the appropriate amount of dues. Such new affiliate members shall be entitled to vote in person at the national convention but shall not be counted in calculating the number of affiliate votes to which the organization is entitled.

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** Resolutions Adopted by the Fifth Annual ACB Convention
Atlanta, July 1966

* Resolution 66-02

Whereas, the history and records of outstanding sports celebrities have been preserved by installing such individuals in various halls of fame throughout the country; and

Whereas, a number of blind people have achieved outstanding success in their fields throughout history, namely Louis Braille, John Milton and Helen Keller, to name a few; and

Whereas, it is felt that recognition of such persons would not only honor their achievements, but would also aid in educating the sighted public to the abilities of blind persons; and

Whereas, necessary publicity and recognition of these accomplishments can be achieved only by establishing a physical setting in which historical documents and displays could be presented to the viewing public;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that the Board of Directors is hereby instructed to investigate the feasibility of such a project, and to investigate whether or not we could obtain necessary cooperation from descendants and heirs of deceased persons eligible for installation in such a hall of fame, and to report their results to the 1967 convention.

* Resolution 66-04

Whereas, the Federal-State vending programs created by the Randolph-Sheppard Act are successfully employing more than 2,800 blind persons on Federal and other property; and

Whereas, the Post Office Department and some other executive departments have arbitrarily excluded substantial portions of Federal property from the administration of these Federal-State vending programs, thereby denying and defeating the employment purpose of the Randolph-Sheppard Act; and

Whereas, these arbitrary exclusions have permitted the encroachment upon the concession services on Federal property by private profit-making vending machine companies; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind supports and wishes to protect the Randolph-Sheppard Act and the employment opportunities thereby afforded to blind operators of vending stands and machines, and further wishes to pledge its support and active assistance to blind operators, state licensing agencies and to state and local organizations of blind persons in their efforts to protect the employment opportunities of all blind persons and the extension of vending programs to all Federal property; and

Whereas, an opportunity exists for the American Council of the Blind to participate in negotiations with officials of Federal departments which offer the promise of solutions which will protect the employment opportunities provided for in the Act; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind recognizes the need for a single representative system through which the rights and the interests of blind operators of vending stands and machines can be protected;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that:

1. The officers of the American Council of the Blind give support and active help to blind operators, state licensing agencies, and to state and local organizations of the blind in their efforts to protect and to extend the Randolph-Sheppard stand and machine programs on Federal and other property;

2. The president appoint representatives of the American Council of the Blind to work with other interested persons and to negotiate with Federal departments to effect the protection of the employment opportunities of blind persons and the extension of vending programs to all Federal property;

And 3. The officers of the American Council of the Blind formulate, organize and implement a single representative system through which the rights and the interests of blind persons affected by the Randolph-Sheppard Act can be expressed and protected.

* Resolution 66-05

Whereas, the National Advisory Council on Public Welfare has made its report to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare recommending in part that Federal minimum standards be required of the several states relating to the rights and benefits of recipients of public welfare; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind believes that the lack of minimum Federal standards relating to resources of recipients of public welfare and the imposition of a means test upon such recipients has directly and purposely perpetuated the poverty of such persons; and

Whereas, recipients of public welfare cannot undertake to escape from their poverty without the threat of being penalized by official policies requiring that certain resources be deducted from their welfare grants; and

Whereas, social security benefits payable to welfare recipients are often accompanied by corresponding reductions in their welfare grants, thereby further perpetuating and enforcing their poverty;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that we support the establishment of Federal minimum standards for welfare recipients which will provide for them a greater degree of security and which will alleviate their poverty, and further, that the President of the United States, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, and the Congress be notified of this organization's position on such matters and that each of them be urgently requested to take prompt and effective action to alleviate their  poverty, and particularly to take necessary and immediate action to prohibit the deduction of any amounts paid as social security benefits from welfare grants.

* Resolution 66-06

Whereas, the Post Office Department has prescribed in its regulations and in its official manual that local postmasters should not recognize or confer with any agent or attorney of a licensed blind operator of a vending concession in a postal facility on any matters relating to his operation of such concession; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind believes that such restrictions deprive the licensed blind operator of the same rights accorded to Federal employees and other citizens of the United States; 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that a strong protest be made to the President of the United States and to the Postmaster General requesting the deletion of all discriminatory regulations and manual sections which purport to deny licensed blind operators of vending concessions of their rights to be represented by an attorney or agent of their choice.

* Resolution 66-07

Whereas, the General Services Administration promulgated on June 25, 1965, a regulation relating to Federal Buildings under its control and jurisdiction, purporting to exempt postal facilities located in some of such buildings from the provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act; and 

Whereas, the same regulation purports to extend to regional directors of the General Services Administration and the Commissioner of Vocational Rehabilitation Administration the authority to make further exceptions to the application of the Randolph-Sheppard Act to vending facilities on Federal property; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind is informed and believes that the provisions of the regulation complained of are contrary to the letter and spirit of the Randolph-Sheppard Act and that such provisions, when applied, will destroy the employment opportunities for blind operators of vending stands and machines on such Federal property;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that the General Services Administration and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget be notified of our concern and objection to that regulation and further that an immediate rescission thereof be requested.

* Resolution 66-08

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind understands that the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration has issued instructions to state rehabilitation agencies requiring them to obtain signed requests for services and (except for those closed as employed) to give written notice to the client that his case has been closed; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind believes that this new requirement is both desirable and consistent with the right of the client to be informed; and

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind believes that the right of the client also includes the right to know by written notice when his case has been closed as employed;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ... that the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration be commended for its aforementioned instructions to state rehabilitation agencies, and that the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration be urged to add to its instructions the requirement that blind clients be notified in writing when their cases have been closed as employed; and further, that at the time of any closure the client be advised of his right to appeal.

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** ACB President's Annual Report
(Delivered to the Fifth Annual Convention in Atlanta, July 20, 1966)

As most of you know it has not been my practice to point with pride to the past or to view the future with alarm. After listening to Earl Scharry this afternoon it occurred to me that my report to you might be something on the order of what I consider the classic example of mixed metaphors: With one foot firmly planted on the record of a glorious past and the other pointing toward the stars, I firmly grasped the plowhandles of success and rapidly climbed the ladder of fame.

This is about the position in which the American Council finds itself at this moment. We do have a record of the past -- and, I think, a good one. We are pointing to the stars of the future, we are achieving some of that success represented by the plow share, and we are rapidly climbing -- not only in number of members, numbers of affiliates, but also in recognition of the American Council of the Blind as an influential factor in the whole national picture of services for the blind.

I have reported to you through the BRAILLE FORUM some of my activities during the past year. There wasn't space available to go into all of the conferences I have had and all the correspondence involved with the discussions in Washington, Baltimore and New York. It is a very good feeling to walk into the office of the head of the Social Security agency, sit down with several top members of that staff, discuss questions that are of vital concern to us and to them, and to have them say, as they did to me, "We find it very interesting that the American Council of the Blind is the only organization of the blind -- or for the blind, for that matter -- to appear in behalf of legislation which would benefit other handicapped persons."

I also had a feeling of pride in the organization when I was told by the chief of services for the blind, VRA, at the close of our conference, "It is a relief to be able to talk to somebody representing the blind who has something constructive to offer. The points you have raised in this meeting were very well taken. These are areas to which we know we need to give more attention, but instead of sounding off and telling us how bad we are you came in with suggestions as to how the services could be made better." An example of the results of these conferences may be found in the new regulations of the VRA issued in January of this year which require a signed application for rehabilitation services before a case may be opened, and written notice to the client when his case is closed otherwise than "employed." This was one of the principal areas discussed in conferences with Dr. MacFarland and Mr. Joseph Hunt last fall.

This is what I hope our organization will continue to be: one which is free to criticize existing programs -- certainly I think that is our function -- but when we criticize let us have something better to offer -- not criticize simply for the purpose of tearing down. 

I have found that, on the whole, those who are employed by agencies serving the blind are genuinely concerned to see that their clients obtain the services they need or from which they can best benefit. This was particularly true when I met with the National conference of COMSTAC in New York last fall. I found the attitude of the professional people there very sympathetic to our point of view. I haven't seen the completed standards but there were points which we who were representing you made in that conference -- criticism of the draft as presented --  which I believe will show up in the final standards as modifications of those originally drafted. This is a valuable contribution which has been made to services for blind people.

There is another point which I think you who are active in your state organizations should take into consideration. In a letter received just recently from Miss Mary Switzer, Commissioner of VRA, commenting on the State surveys which are to be made of the rehabilitation needs in the states as provided for in the 1965 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, she says, "... We certainly concur in your thinking that comprehensive planning must take into account the needs and suggestions of all disability groups. The initial application is submitted to this Office for approval and contains an outlined plan of action ... In each instance we have made specific references to the rehabilitation needs of the blind and suggested committee participation. Of course, the final decision of how the study is to be conducted rests with the state." 

As you see, this is not likely to happen unless you insist on being represented, on being consulted. This doesn't have to be done by going in with a Carrie Nation hatchet and saying, "I'm going to tear up the place if you don 't listen to me." Let it be known that you stand ready to cooperate, to advise, and that you feel that you have something to offer. I believe in most cases the agencies will be willing to listen to you as to what the needs for blind rehabilitation are in your state and certainly, in doing so, you have the moral support and backing of the Federal office. This is the sort of thing which you can do best at the state level. At the national level we try to make federal regulations as broad as possible -- opening the door, as it were -- but the Federal agencies are very cognizant of the state-federal relationship and the autonomy of state agencies. So, if your state plans are to comply with what is available under federal legislation it is up to you to do your utmost to see that the plans are modified -- to see that the people do get the advantages to which they are entitled.

You heard our treasurer report that ACB finances are very much better than we could report to you last year. This will mean a broadening of our activities. I think it is extremely important that the organization continue to be represented on the national level, as we were just about a month ago. A meeting was called with the General Counsel of the Post Office Department to discuss vending stands in Post Office facilities and our First Vice-President Durward McDaniel went to that meeting representing the American Council of the Blind. With vending stand officials from Oklahoma he met with Douglas McFarland and others of the VRA and with the General Counsel of the Post Office. As a result of that meeting -- the pudding hasn't yet completely jelled -- but from the present looks of things I believe that a national pattern is going to emerge which will greatly strengthen the vending stand program throughout the country.

So, let us hold tight to the plowhandles and climb toward a better way of life for blind folks everywhere.

*****

** Magic at My Finger Tip
By Carmelite Janvier

I wonder if anyone else had as much fun learning braille as I had. Maybe it was because I really like puzzles. Maybe it was because I had resisted it for so long.

Somehow I had convinced myself that to learn braille would be a tacit admission of blindness. For several years, print reading had been getting harder and harder. At the office it was not so bad, as I had a secretary, and she could do most of it for me. At home, however, reading had become a torturous effort rather than a pleasure.

Then, one day, a thoughtful friend had an inspiration. 

"Why don't you learn braille just for pleasure-reading at home?" she asked.
The next day I telephoned to the young man who is in charge of Services for the Blind in the Department of Welfare. I had known him in connection with my work with exceptional children. He came to the office, bringing two books.

"This," he said of the first, "is braille number one, and this is braille number two. You work on the first page until you think that you know it and then go to the second. If you get in trouble, call me."

Do you remember that first page, those of you who read braille? Do you remember those large letters at the top, A, B, C, D, E? And the dots underneath? Under them is that little railroad track broken down every now and then by a dot or a group of dots as though they were stations on the way to somewhere. And so they were! The first station, I think, was the word, "CAB." The station on the second line was "BED." Then, surprisingly, the little word which I had not expected at all, but there it was right under my finger, the word "EBB." Without looking, with just the tip of a finger, I had read those three words! That much braille belonged to me.

On the second page of that book, I found the most exciting sentence I have ever read. "Dad bad Ada bead a bag." The excitement was not because of the content, which can not be called exciting by any stretch of the imagination. That is especially true when we know nothing of the characters involved. The "Dad" in question may have been another Mr. Dinsmore, and the "Ada," another Elsie, and I strongly suspect that the bag was an atrocity. The excitement came from the fact that that sentence was the first bit of real information which had come to me through this new method of communication.

So I went on through the book whenever I could take time from a busy life. Each page was exciting as it brought new bits of useless information using a few more letters as they came into my reading vocabulary. When I had finished the last page of the second book, I called the young man again.

"What do I do now?" I asked.

"Now," he said simply, "you read."

That, of course, was a bit optimistic. At first, there was much fumbling around getting those little dots to stay in place as I tried to remember what five dots in one arrangement meant and what four in another arrangement stood for. Gradually, it became possible to recognize a letter not by rubbing the finger up and down over the dots, but by sliding it along.

Then, with retirement ahead, and time in sight, more time than I had had since I had entered the first grade in school, I decided to use this new skill to read a great book which I had never found time for before. From the library, I got the seven (or is it nine?) volumes of "Moby Dick." From poor little Ada, forlornly beading her bag, to one of the greatest books in the English language! At the very beginning of this book I found the second most exciting sentence I have ever read: "When it is damp, drizzly November in my soul, then I must go to sea."

With Herman Melville as a guide, I set out on my adventure in braille. That adventure has grown better and better. Of course, there are Talking Books, and they are wonderful. There are tape recordings, and they are a great boon, but when the "damp, drizzly November" nights come it is only the braille book which can get under the covers with you as your hands stay warm and no light keeps the rest of the family awake.

To anyone to whom print reading is denied, and who does not read braille, I would say that you are missing a lot of fun in learning, and the priceless "realms of gold" which lie right there at the tip of your finger!

Editor's Note: Speaking of the joys of braille -- imagine the delight of this editor when his fingers discovered a very familiar name in the HOME TEACHER magazine. Miss Janvier was for a number of years associated with the New Orleans Public School System and an active participant in all phases of the life of her native city! Her book, Whimsical Madam New Orleans, is as charming and witty as the lady herself.

*****

** USC Unveils Computer Programs 
For Education of Blind People

LOS ANGELES, Mar. 17 -- The University of Southern California has unveiled a number of computer-based programs "expected to open a new era of employment for the blind and harness the power of the computer to prepare reading material for those who cannot see."

At a news conference here today, William Mitchel, director of USC's Computer Sciences Laboratory, said the university has been working on two major projects, and some smaller ones, aimed at improving the basic education and advanced professional training of the nation's blind persons and handicapped children.

USC also detailed initial results of a joint program with the electronic data processing division of Honeywell Inc. with the first public demonstration of a new Braille printer said to be 100 times as fast as any other standard device in existence.

USC's major "blind" projects, Mitchel said, are the Federally-funded Instructional Materials Center and CITAB (Computer Instruction and Training Assistance for the Blind). Project directors for CITAB are Mitchel and Dr. William Reid, associate professor at USC's School of Education. Reid is also director of the Instructional Materials Center. 

The Instructional Materials Center, dubbed the "Library" project, will provide educational information and materials as rapidly and efficiently as possible to teachers of the handicapped throughout the nation, Mitchel said.

CITAB deals with the problem of how best to use computers to benefit the visually handicapped, he said. Its goals include identifying those computer skills a blind person should be taught for data processing employment and the types of data processing jobs they should aim for.

Other phases of CITAB include development and evaluation of training devices and special equipment and formulation of psychological tests that can be used to select blind students for computer training. USC, and other groups across the nation, have already trained a number of blind persons to handle the complexities of computer programming and operations, and have "proved that the visually handicapped can master the new disciplines as well as their sighted contemporaries."

The Library project has been funded since August, 1964, by the Division of Handicapped Children and Youth of the U.S. Office of Education. Reid said one of its goals is to make available to any school in the country a rapid and efficient means of obtaining Braille texts, magazine articles, speeches or any other "written" material needed by blind students. Other objectives cover material requirements of other types of handicapped children.

"This is part of a new emphasis throughout the country to have handicapped children go to school with 'normal' children," he said. "It has been extremely difficult until now to obtain a sufficient quantity of Braille material to do this for blind children on a timely basis."

Key to the project is a Honeywell 200 computer, donated to USC by the firm, which as part of its equipment has a new Braille printer able to produce 300 Braille cells a second. The next fastest standard device is a typewriter-like Brailler that produces three braille cells a second, Reid said.

Project direction has now changed from development to distribution of instructional materials. The center will expand to include: 1.) Collection, through purchase or donation, of all types of materials dealing with instruction of exceptional children; 2.) Cataloging each item and storing the information on magnetic computer tape for later retrieval and use; and 3.) Making specific textual materials quickly available to teachers.

Reid said the project, when it becomes fully operational, will make it possible for a grammar school, for example, to request six copies of a fourth-grade reader entitled "See John Run!" When the Library receives the request, one of two things would happen:

If there had been a previous request for the same text, the Braille translation would have been permanently recorded on the H-200's magnetic tape and indexed for easy retrieval. In this case, the Library would simply put the right tape on the computer, and it would immediately print in braille.

"Turn-around" time in this situation, Reid said, could be as little as 24 hours -- compared with periods of many months, in some cases, to do the job by hand.

If the text had not previously been translated into Braille, and recorded on magnetic tape, the printed version would be converted into the coded holes of punched paper tape or punched cards. The card deck or paper tape would then be fed into the computer, which would translate the "ink print" text into its Braille equivalent and produce the Braille version on the new printer.

"And, once the text has been translated," Reid said, "it would go into the magnetic tape library and be indexed for further requests."

"This we believe to be a very major step in making Braille material available as required by blind persons," Mitchel said. "Until now, every time one or a few copies of a previously untranslated text has been required -- it has been necessary for a sighted volunteer to sit down with the 'ink print' and manually translate it into Braille with a Brailler.

"If more than one copy is requested, each additional copy takes just as long to produce as the first. The Braille Library, on computer tape, with the Braille printer, completely eliminates these problems."

Not only can Braille now be produced by a computer, Mitchel said, but "input" material for the computer can now be prepared on a special Braille-teletype machine developed by Ray E. Morrison, supervising engineer of the Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Chicago. The new unit can be operated by anyone who can type and is being used to prepare information for the H-200. 

Mitchel said a portable electronic punched card reader, which provides a blind computer programmer with his essential information in Braille, was developed at the Computer Sciences Laboratory by Instructor Lyle Knowles.

If further information on either projects or equipment is desired, you may contact: Mr. William Mitchel, Director, Computer Sciences Laboratory, University of Southern California, 1020 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007 or Mr. J. Ernest Smith, Vice President, Honeywell Inc., Electronic Data Processing Division, 70 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181.

*****

** ACB on the Vending Stand Front
By Durward McDaniel

Within the past year the smoldering controversy between blind operators and state licensing agencies on one side and postal employee organizations and private machine vendors on the other erupted three times -- in Atlanta, Austin, and Oklahoma City. In each instance, a so-called employee welfare committee selected a private company in preference to the state licensing agency to furnish vending service in the non-public areas of the post office.

In Atlanta, blind operators acting through their own organization and the Atlanta Chapter of ACB's Georgia affiliate effectively brought about a modification of the arrangement but not until they had picketed the post office operation. They produced so much publicity that a settlement was brought about with the assistance of Congressman Charles Weltner of Georgia. While the private machine company is still in the picture on a joint basis with the state licensing agency, the significant result is that operators who would have been completely left out are now at work with attractive incomes. At Austin, Burt Risley, Executive Secretary-Director of the Texas Commission for the Blind, stood his ground effectively and produced a favorable solution with the aggressive help of Senator Ralph Yarborough.

In Oklahoma City the close cooperation of ACB's Oklahoma affiliate, stand operators and the state licensing agency was the combination which produced a favorable modification in the vending contract at the new post office. However, it was not until post office officials learned that the dedication ceremonies at which the Postmaster General was to be the principal speaker would be picketed in protest that a promise to negotiate a different arrangement was made. These revised arrangements are partially worked out and will be completed by September.

The conflict in each case has come about because the Post Office Department, by contracts with unions of postal employees, permits the local employee welfare committee to decide which vendor will receive the contract for the non-public areas of a post office building. This concession is important to the employee groups because they receive money from the operation of the concession for their so-called employee welfare funds.

The Post Office Department does not agree that the Randolph-Sheppard Act applies to non-public areas. ACB and many state licensing agencies are convinced that the Act does apply and believe that a solution must be worked out to stop such encroachments upon this federal-state program which now affords employment for more than 2,800 blind persons.

At its recent convention, ACB directed its officers to continue efforts to find a satisfactory solution to this problem. The convention also put the organization on record in support of the Randolph-Sheppard Act and for the extension of the program to all federal property. The official resolution makes it clear that ACB stands ready to assist operators, organizations and state licensing agencies in any recurrence of this controversy anywhere in the country. A committee has been appointed to carry out certain parts of the resolution. It is well known that the Randolph-Sheppard programs have been excluded by many federal installations. The larger the "take" for employee welfare funds becomes, the harder it will be to reverse the trend away from these encroachments. That is why ACB is taking action now and urges others to enlist in the effort.

The Oklahoma City case resulted in a conference in Washington at which the Post Office Department, the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, the Oklahoma licensing agency, the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind, and the American Council of the Blind were represented. That conference is referred to in the letter which follows.

Dear Mr. Freeman:

Let us express our appreciation for your assistance in working out what appeared to be a rather difficult situation. We refer, of course, to vending stands in Post Offices. 

Mr. Harris tells us that Mr. Durward McDaniel, your vice-president, did an excellent job in presenting the case of the blind with the postal officials in Washington, D.C. We feel that this has been an excellent demonstration of how a private organization and a state agency can work together for the betterment of the blind. We know that the meeting in Washington will not only mean a lot to the blind people of our state but throughout the nation, so let me say thanks to you and to your American Council of the Blind for your assistance in providing Mr. McDaniel's help.

Sincerely yours,
Lowell E. Green, Director
Vocational Rehabilitation Division
State of Oklahoma

*****

** "Careers" by Hadley

CAREER PLANNING FOR THE BLIND, newest course in the Hadley curriculum, will help blind youth more wisely direct their high school and college studies toward practical goals of lifetime self-support.

Written by Fred L. Crawford, Ph.D., an experienced rehabilitation counselor who has himself overcome loss of sight, the course answers a long-standing national need ... the need of visually handicapped young scholars for guidance, that their hopes, their determination, may be channeled into rewarding fields. 

CAREER PLANNING follows in the heartwarming tradition of TALKING BRAILLE, HOME MANAGEMENT FOR THE BLIND HOMEMAKER, and other pioneering courses developed by the Hadley School and made available through Brailled and recorded correspondence study to blind persons of all races and creeds, wherever they may live ... without charge to the student. For information about Hadley courses, write THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, 700 Elm Street, Winnetka, Illinois 60093.

*****

** Flying Blind
By William L. Lewis

Have you ever wanted to fly an airplane? Well, it's not as preposterous as you might think. Ten percent of the people in Kansas receiving Aid for the Blind also hold valid driver's licenses. Now, don't get upset and tell me they keep the license for identification purposes in the supermarket because that merry little fact has absolutely nothing to do with my story, so stop muttering under your breath and pay attention. My plan is so easy I'm surprised that you didn't think of it first. All a -- choose one of the following that best suits your fancy: 1. Blind person; 2. Blink; 3. Visually impaired person; 4. Sightless individual; -- needs is to know what is going on in an airplane and if that can be accomplished he can fly as well as anyone else, with or without the aid of alcoholic beverages. All he needs to do is get a seeing eye dog and teach the dog how to read the instrument panel, then transmit that information to the blind pilot via a system of barking code. After all, if a dog can be expected to learn a few words of human talk, a human should be able to learn a few words of dog. Right? To understand this code I shall offer a few suggestions.

1. PROCEDURE. A. Hire a licensed pilot to teach you the fundamentals of airplanes and of flying. Since you are blind you may be able to get a reduced fee, but if the instructor has any sense at all he will charge you at least three times his usual fee and hope to heck you don't accept it. But, you DO ACCEPT it and make him put it in writing so that during a training flight he doesn't get cold feet and bail out. B. Obtain a good seeing eye dog and be nice to him because your Dog (and spelled backwards) will be your co-pilot. C. Have the instructor take you and your dog up for a number of short hops to acquaint you with the proper use of those little paper sacks. And while you're up there, wave a couple of times to Maude Hammersteel. She lives in the little house with the red roof just north of the airport. She'll appreciate it because she doesn't have callers very often.

2. INTERPRETATION OF THE DOG BARK CODE: A. If your dog licks you on the hand it probably means he likes you, but if he bits you on the right knee it means you are probably sitting on his tail. B. If your dog barks with an "ARF" sound, it means you have been sold the wrong breed of dog and should consult an attorney. C. One bark means he doesn't remember what comes next. D. Two barks means you are snobbishly flying with your nose stuck up in the air. E. Three barks means you and the airplane are flying in the same general direction. F. Four barks means you are right on the beam. G. If he barks seven times in a sound resembling a musical scale, you should immediately break into a chorus or two of "OFF WE GO, INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER" with you singing the tenor, the instructor singing the bass, and the dog playing the tambourine because he has a better sense of rhythm than you two do. H. If your dog whines it means he has to go to the bathroom and you'll have to get out of that one the best way you can. If a tree was too big to get into the plane, try to remember to take along a substitute, such as a box of toothpicks. I. If your dog barks forty-four times it means you had better pull the plane up quick within two seconds or hit a power line or perhaps four singing nuns riding a bicycle built for two. It may also mean he spotted a cat or perhaps just loves the sound of his own voice. J. If your dog tries to crawl under the seat, it means your instructor just bailed out. K. If your dog begins barking hilariously like a laughing hyena, it means you have miraculously landed the plane back at the same airport from which you took off, although it may have taken three runways to do it.

Now, you can plainly see from the above that it is much safer for a blind person to be flying around up there rather than wandering around on the streets after dark without proper supervision. You must also remember that national statistics indicate that flying is safer than bus or auto travel. Yet, if thinking about it makes you extremely nervous or causes headaches, then just don't think about it.

****

** "The Amauroscope"
From the Buffalo Courier-Express

MEXICO CITY -- Blind for 27 years, Patricio Hernandez Cruz, 44, walked hesitantly but successfully a 150-foot obstacle course at the Coyoacan Tree Nursery in Mexico City. The "seeing" blind man not only avoided trees but walked around a fallen tree trunk in his path and bypassed a shallow pit along the path. Cruz also picked up a sheet of white paper from the grass, slowly found his way to a bench and sat down to receive a kiss from his daughter, Rosa Maria, 8. "It is a miracle," said Cruz, who lost his sight as a result of smallpox. "I could see!"

Cruz, of course, could not actually see. He could distinguish lights and shadows, the reflection of light from the trees and the fallen trunk, identify and avoid the dark pit and distinguish the paper on the grass.

The "miracle" giving hope of sight to the blind is called an "amauroscope" (from amaurosis, blindness, and skopeo, sight) by Dr. Armando del Campo, 39, Mexican inventor. The sight-giving apparatus can be described as a closed-circuit television system. Instead of flashing an image on a screen, the television signal passes along nerves directly to the brain where sensations of light and shadows are provoked, making it possible to distinguish the outline of objects. "While the amauroscope is still in experimental stages," said Dr. del Campo, a researcher who has been working on his device for years, "I feel that by 1967 or 1968 the apparatus will be of vast benefit to the sightless!" ... "The system of electrical controls which formerly covered the entire surface of an office desk has been reduced to the size of a pack of cigarettes which a blind person can hold in his hand." ... When light hits the cells, this produces a weak current that passes through a miniature electronic system. Electrodes touching the face transmit the signal to the trigeminal nerve, which controls movements of the face. Passing along this nerve the signal reaches the brain, activating the visual center to produce sensations of light and shadow. ... At first the sight will be hazy, but it is hoped that eventually the point will be reached where the amauroscope within limits will approximate human sight.

... Today, the portable amauroscope device costs between $480 and $560 to produce. Within two years using mass production methods, the cost can go down to less than $100.

*****

** A Former Rehabilitation Counselor Replies to Mr. Hunt
(Excerpts from a letter by W.U. Lewis, Jr., Durham, N. Carolian to Joseph Hunt, Assistant Commissioner, VRA.)

When I was a rehabilitation counselor with the North Carolina Commission for the Blind, I differed with some of the principles and practices of the agency which were endorsed by your office. My experience in independent work during the past twelve and a half years has made my difference with the normal practices of work for the blind even more pointed.

I feel that "rehabilitation centers" are a detrimental bringing together of blind people. They develop the blind class notion I have noticed in those who attend schools for the blind. They are unavoidably singled out as being vastly different from normal people by the very act of placing them in this kind of special situation and they almost unavoidably get the idea that they are wards of the agency. Those of them who have been recently blinded have enough problems in readjustment of themselves and their families.

Also, the general public has concrete evidence in the treatment the agency gives the blind person by sending him for "adjustment" that a blind person is something "different," belonging to another world and needing and wanting very different things. The whole thing is excellent for getting contributions and political support for the programs of the agency, but it is ruinous for the blind people.

A competent rehabilitation counselor or home teacher can accomplish much more, constructively, by a few visits to the home of the blinded person without drilling into anyone the "differences" in the blind and the sighted. Certainly, before the loss of his sight, the newly blinded person did all the things for himself that a "rehabilitation center" is supposed to retrain him in. He can re-learn them better and quicker in circumstances familiar to him, once emotional reactions are restored to normal.

In our work helping professional people, lawyers, osteopaths, etc. establish themselves, it was accepted by the Commission for the Blind that we stay in the background and let the general public know nothing of our giving any assistance. This built -p confidence in the professional person. This same practice should be followed in all types of placements.

Most newly blind persons will need training for their jobs as blind persons but they should be trained in the manner and in the same places that seeing people are trained. The strongest argument for this is that the schools or places of training are the normal sources to which employers look for a supply of help.

Also, if there is to be a stand program, it should be completely independent and should be self-sustaining. If it cannot be self-sustaining, it is not worth operating.

(Mr. Lewis reports several cases from his own experience, supporting his views. Just a little honest concern by the counselor for the individual's desires and needs and understanding of his frustrations results in complete rehabilitation without spending an extended period of time away from home in an orientation center.)

*****

** Convention Comments
By Fred Krepela

Almost 3,000 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic -- from Oregon to Atlanta -- came four pioneer delegates by airplane, automobile, bus, railroad and taxi to attend the ACB Fifth Annual Convention. From the Golden State of California came eight delegates, while other states and affiliates swelled the attendance to nearly 200, the largest representation to date. Most of these would have walked, if necessary, had they known what a wonderful program was in store for them. Georgia did treat us to an excellent time and received us with true Southern hospitality. Darn it, if you weren't there, it was your own hard luck. ...

There was something of vital interest to everyone. "Utilizing Community Social Facilities in the Total Program of Services for the Blind" by Wayne Edwards was a timely report and much could be gained by following some of his suggestions. Vernon Williams made an excellent presentation of the Braille switchboard developed for the Oregon Commission for the Blind. This seems like a very efficient board for blind operators and George Card advises that Wisconsin also has one.

There were excellent messages from Wednesday night's group of speakers with Mel Cohen's humor to add spice. More the same night -- a social evening of singing, refreshment and just plain talking from 10:00 P.M. until ... The Thursday morning seminars had much to offer, and Thursday afternoon was fun time, with a visit to Stone Mountain, the largest gob of granite in the world. This was no trip for the weak-kneed or weak-hearted. There was blood, corpses, carnage, cannon-fire and gunsmoke all over the place. Gals lost their dresses and men lost their lives. Transportation included bus, railroad, sky-lift and paddlewheel boat. Pirates and abductions! Then a tasty barbecue meal under the trees. ... Evening of "Can Can" or night clubs on your own, or a visit to the ACB Hospitality Room or an all-night poker game. Some even went to bed!

This was a working convention, too, and Friday morning found committees very busy -- Lucile and I visited the world-famous Cyclorama which portrays the Battle of Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea. Our visit on July 22 was exactly 102 years to the day from the start of this battle! ... More work in the afternoon and some program items had to be scratched in favor of business.

Friday night -- the highlight -- BANQUET! An over supply of good food and lots of cheer and good will. Presentation of charters to Associated Blind, Inc., (New York) and the Vermont Council, making 15 ACB affiliates. ... After the banquet, Resolutions Committee meetings under the able leadership of Bob McMullen ... Saturday, Big Business and lots of it, but you have read about this elsewhere. ... We look forward to seeing all of you in Wichita in 1967, and in San Francisco, the Jewelled Queen of the Pacific, in 1968! So save your pennies and you-all come to "The Golden Gate in '68."

*****

** Federal Legislation -- Passed and Pending
By Durward McDaniel

* Braille and Talking Books

A campaign to extend the benefits of the Library of Congress braille and talking books program which was begun several years ago culminated in the enactment of Public Law 522 (signed by the President on July 30, 1966). This legislation was supported by the American Council and actively promoted by President Ned Freeman, who suggested many of the modifications which appear in the final version. H.R. 60, by Cunningham of Nebraska, introduced in the first session of the 89th Congress, proposed extending the program to quadriplegics and the near blind. The version finally enacted (introduced in the second session by Congressmen Burleson of Texas and Mackay of Georgia, and by Senator Jordan of North Carolina) provides for inclusion of "other physically handicapped readers certified by competent authority as unable to read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations." It further provides that the special library of scores, instructional texts, and other specialized materials in the field of music established in 1962 for the use of blind persons be made available to other physically handicapped persons.

* Library Services

The 1966 Amendments to the Library Services and Construction Act (Public Law 511, signed by the President on July 19, 1966) includes two provisions which will result in substantial improvements in library services for blind persons. These provisions (included in Title IV, Specialized State Library Services) are:

(1) A five-year authorization for Federal appropriations for grants to States with approved plans for establishing and improving State institutional library services. Students in residential schools for the handicapped operated substantially supported by the State would be included for this program to provide books, other library material, and library services to State institutions. The law provides for a minimum State allotment of $40,000 each year, with the remainder of the annual appropriation to be distributed according to population.

(2) A five-year authorization for Federal appropriations for grants to States with approved plans for establishing and improving library services to the physically handicapped. Such services may be provided through "public or other nonprofit libraries, agencies, or organizations" to physically handicapped persons "(including the blind and visually handicapped) certified by competent authority as unable to read or to use conventional printed materials as a result of physical limitations." The State plan must "provide assurance that all appropriate public or nonprofit libraries, agencies, or organizations for the physically handicapped will be accorded an opportunity to participate in the program. ..." The law provides for a minimum State allotment of $25,000 each year, with the remainder of the annual appropriation to be distributed according to population.

* Education of Handicapped Children

On August 4 Congressmen Carey of New York and Fogarty of Rhode Island introduced H.R. 16847 and H.R. 16848 providing for Federal assistance in the education and training of handicapped children. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the Handicapped of the House Committee on Education and Labor held hearings on this bill during the weeks beginning August 15 and August 22. In introducing this bill Congressman Fogarty made this statement: "As in the case of mental retardation, if we are to move forward, we must turn the spotlight directly on the group of children who are so often dealt with on a hit or miss basis today. In my judgment, this means special legislation on a broad base, special appropriations for this purpose only, and separate administrative units within our educational structure whose exclusive concern is for the handicapped child who needs special educational help. These are the real purposes of the bill I am introducing." While enactment of a bill introduced this late in the session seems unlikely, the active interest of Congressman Fogarty (Chairman of the key Labor-HEW Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations) indicates that major improvements in this field are to be expected from the next Congress.

* Unemployment Insurance

H.R. 15119, amending the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and Title III of the Social Security Act, has passed the House and Senate. Substantial differences between the House and Senate versions will have to be resolved in conference. No change was made by the Senate in the House provision which excludes employees of sheltered workshops from unemployment insurance coverage, however. It should be noted that the bill provides for coverage of the administrative employees of rehabilitation facilities and workshops while excluding their clients. The discriminatory nature of the provisions covering nonprofit organizations, research on costs of covering workshop employees, and -- it is to be hoped -- a precedent set by the 1966 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act should be effective in persuading the next Congress to reconsider coverage of workshop employees.

* Minimum Wage

H.R. 13712, the 1966 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act, has passed the House. Action by the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare has been completed, and the bill is scheduled for Senate floor action before the Labor Day recess. The Senate Committee added many liberalizing features to the House version. Of special interest to organizations of the blind is the Morse amendment which incorporates provisions of H.R. 8093 (Dent of Pennsylvania) and S. 2210 (Morse of Oregon). Provisions of these bills were discussed in detail in the Forum for July 1965. With certain exceptions, they provide for periodic increases in the minimum wage applicable to handicapped workers in sheltered shops until they reach 100 percent of the minimum for all workers.

*****

** Are the White Cane Laws Effective?
By Harriet Penner

(Editor's note: An Editorial in the California ABC Digest, March, 1966)

We are becoming increasingly alarmed over what seems to be a growing number of serious and fatal accidents to blind persons when crossing streets in a cross-walk.

Last year a blind college student was killed in Oakland, another man in Hayward was hit. His shoes and white cane were left at the scene. He died later. Our own Espie (Casey) White was hit while crossing a street in Chico in a cross-walk. He and his Guide Dog were thrown fifty feet. Casey has been in the hospital two months, and is facing a stay of two or three months longer.

We share Ned Freeman's thoughts as covered by a letter he wrote to past president Juliet Bindt shortly after the death of the college student. We quote it in part below.

"Letter dated September 20, 1965, to Juliet Bindt, 2709 Derby Street, Berkeley, California 94705.

You Californians should be raising all kinds of Hell over the death of the blind college student! The insignificant sentence imposed in this case indicates an attitude on the part of the Court that this blind man had no business on the street in spite of his white cane and the California White Cane Law. Check your Court Records and see what kind of sentence is usually imposed for a driver who runs a stop sign, or a red light, and causes the death of a pedestrian. It is my impression that the California State Law gives absolute right-of-way to all pedestrians in marked cross-walks.

You folks should completely snow-under the Governor, Mayor, Courts, Police, Public Safety Department and Newspaper Editors with protests over this utter disregard of the White Cane Law and the safety of California's blind Citizens.

If the Police and the Courts will not uphold and enforce the White Cane Laws, we should be better off without these laws on our statute books. At least then we would not be depending upon motorists to recognize and respect the white cane and dog guide. Ned Freeman"

We believe very few drivers know about, or obey, California's White Cane Law. As one of our 1966 projects, why not inaugurate a driver education and information program on this subject. And, while we are at it, how about educating and informing ourselves as to the safest way to cross streets? After all, we have a responsibility, too.

REMEMBER -- Congress has designated October 15 of each year as National White Cane Safety Day. President Johnson and most Governors have issued proclamations each year. The observance in your state and community depends much on YOU. Suggestions for the day will be circularized from the ACB President's office. If you need help, contact him at his address on the back cover. The time is short but it is not too late.

*****

** Loretta's Corner

Thanks to requests by many of you at the convention, Ye Editor has allowed me to nestle down a little more securely in my Corner and chat with you. For those who were unable to be with us in Atlanta, there are some things I believe you would like to know about.

The plane tie-up did keep some away. From Vermont Al and Sylvia Nichols found transportation impossible. A greeting and regrets came from George Burck in New Jersey, and we were especially sad that illness kept Ohio's Clyde Ross away, as well as Georgia's Ed Starr -- both are victims of severe heart attacks. Our beloved George and Darlene came by bus even though he was hospitalized for surgery only a few weeks before -- and many did manage to fly. We were delighted and a little surprised that so many came. I wish space allowed a listing of those who registered.

You have seen the various convention reports and will hear more about our program items in future issues, but I want to tell you about the banquet! The evening was one of fun and delightful speakers -- and surprises. A special bow to our Ambassador Award judges for their choice. Judge C. C. Cates and his so gracious lady charmed us all with their warm and friendly manner and they spent two whole days with us. The judge is a tall, fine-looking gentleman whose twinkling countenance proclaims the fact that he finds this old world and the people in it interesting, entertaining and rather amusing. His voice has a magnetism and sincerity to which one responds with a smile of confidence and approval. It is small wonder that his home state is extremely proud of Judge Cates -- so much so that they had the wire services carrying pictures all over the country of him and Ned, with good stories about ACB. Our guests lingered after the banquet and joined in the group singing that lasted until nearly every song had been sung -- and several pianists exhausted. We especially treasure the tape which records this wonderful singing group and Irene Morgan's beautiful voice ringing through so clear.

For me the banquet held a thrilling surprise which will linger as a pinnacle moment to climax the five wonderful years during which I shared with Ned the excitement, the hard work -- and some of the agony -- as ACB was aborning. A small conspiracy was afoot and as Earl began to introduce our Ambassador, Vernon appeared beside me and suddenly I was holding the most beautiful bouquet, complete with voluminous red ribbon, and the group was singing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," then "For She's (and He's and They're) a Jolly Good Fellow." Again, "thank you" to Vernon and Irving and Kathy and MJ and all the others who had a part in this most unexpected but greatly appreciated gesture.

Our banquet guests were all very special, Congressman Jim Mackay who has done so much for ACB in Congress, our dear friend and Bishop of Atlanta, Randolph Claiborne, and that sincere and dedicated citizen, Judge Tanksley, our speaker. However, I was on a little cloud, all wrapped up in the love and kindness those few moments and the flowers represented.

Yes, it was a good convention and these have been wonderful years, but I must confess that I now look forward to future conventions where we will carry less responsibility and be free to enjoy visiting with you wonderful people.

Loretta Freeman

*****

** Medicare Talking Book Coming

The Social Security Administration is preparing a Medicare Talking Book to be mailed to the 100,000 persons on the mailing list at the Library of Congress, Division of the Blind.

Roy L. Swift, Information Officer, Social Security Administration advises the BRAILLE FORUM, "Our hope is to be able to get into the talking book some of the current provisions of the retirement, survivors, and disability programs under Social Security, along with the detailed discussion of the Medicare program. In addition, we expect to produce a short braille publication on the subject. The Division of the Blind at the Library of Congress will be handling the production of the talking book and braille publication."

It will be some months before this material will be ready for distribution, In the meantime, if you have any questions about your Medicare, either for yourself, your clients, or friends, consult your local Social Security office.

*****

** Wanted: "Home Employment Counselors"

Georgia's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation presently has openings for four persons to become what they refer to as Home Employment Counselors.

The training and experience requirements for these positions are as follows:

1)  Graduation from college or university of recognized standing, and

2)  Two years of full-time, paid employment in teaching crafts and related subjects, or employment with public agencies or institutions working with the visually handicapped.

Alternative: Employment similar to the above may be substituted for college training on a year for year basis. Special Note: If the applicant is visually handicapped, the requirement calling for working experience with handicapped will not apply.

It will be noted from the above that these requirements are somewhat less stringent than the usual standards for Home Teacher. We are advised by the Division that other training and experience, if evaluated as equivalent, may qualify an applicant for admission to the examination. These positions come under the State's Classified Civil Service and the starting salary will be $531 per month. This may be expected to be increased periodically after the six-month probationary period. The top salary for this grade is $730 per month.

Examples of the duties of this position as set forth in the official specifications are: Instruct selected clients in food preparation, sewing and the use of household and other home appliances. Instruct visually impaired family workers in the techniques of family care for others on a pay basis. Instruct visually handicapped clients in craft work and the making of various products for sale to enhance the economic status of family. Coordinate and utilize available community resources to better assist the clients in rehabilitation within the context of home training. Maintain records of services rendered, assist in special studies as required, and co-ordinate activities with counselors and rehabilitation specialists as required. Any one interested in qualifying for one of these positions may write to Mr. Thomas McCollum, Division for the Blind, Georgia State Department of Education, State Office Building, Atlanta 30334.

***

As the FORUM goes to press we are informed by reliable sources that Dr. Jacobus tenBroek underwent major surgery in August. At last report Dr. tenBroek was still a patient at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. At the Louisville convention of the National Federation of the Blind in July Dr. tenBroek was unanimously elected to the presidency of that organization. Best wishes for a speedy recovery are extended by the FORUM staff and ACB.

***

Lyle Von Erichsen, long-time leader of the organized blind in Washington, died in Spokane on March 25. Mr. Von Erichsen was a native of Minneapolis and moved to Spokane with his family at age 6. He was a graduate of the University of Washington and Harvard Law School. While still a college student he took the lead in forming an organization for the blind in Spokane, and was president of the Spokane group for 30 of its 40 years.

***

Two of our favorite "ambassadors without portfolio" have received recent recognition: George Card won his political race last fall and is holding his place on the Dade County Board.

More recently, George Burck received reappointment to the New Jersey State Board of Public Welfare for his fourth consecutive term and to his third three-year term on the Board of Managers for the Commission for the Blind.

These are two pioneers who feel that the organized blind should make a real effort to secure representation in their communities.

*****

** Here and There

From the HADLEY SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT: "... On May 25, Richard Kinney, our Associate Director, who is deaf as well as blind, made the following statement in accepting a Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Mount Union College: 'Thank you for this opportunity to place on record my personal faith that blindness of any kind -- of the eyes, of the mind, of the spirit --- CAN be overcome. Together we will walk through the rain and through the rainbows.' ... The Hadley Student of the Year is Miss Karen Gearreald, of Norfolk, VA. In effect she is carrying two complete courses of study at the same time -- Braille, English grammar, Spanish, French, German, Latin and Business Law, in addition to her public-school curriculum in Norfolk. 

Both the Ohio Council of the Blind and the Missouri Federation of the Blind have held notably successful seminars recently. THE MISSOURI CHRONICLE reports that the high point of their seminar was an appearance by our own F.W. Orrell.

From the NATIONAL NEWS OF THE BLIND (Canada): "… On Christmas Eve a packing case of Braille instruction books was washed up on the shore at Preston, Lancashire. They had been dispatched in January, 1945, from the British Red Cross in Washington to a blinded British prisoner of war in Java but the ship was sunk in the Irish Sea and is apparently now breaking up. The prisoner, Aircraftsman Joseph 'Ossie' Gannon, now lives at Wigan, only fifteen miles from where the crate was found. … Special telephone equipment is now available to the deaf and the partially deaf and includes the following: an impaired hearing handset with an amplifier and a volume control knob which can be turned up to the volume needed and a bone conduction receiver headset designed to aid people who have lost the capacity to hear by normal air conduction. ..."

From the WASHINGTON STATE WHITE CANE: "The first of this year the status of the famous piano hospital and training center at Vancouver, Washington was changed from private ownership by Emil Fries to a non-profit corporation. The transfer was made in order to guarantee permanency. The founder and teacher since 1949, Emil Fries, had recently suffered two heart attacks making it mandatory to taper off his life's work. ... Braille computer printer developed by Honeywell, Inc. The new printer makes indentations 100 times faster than the typewriter-like Braille now in use. One new printer is already in use at the University of Southern California."

From LISTEN: "A bill which would impose penalties on Massachusetts state college or university officials who discriminate against blind persons in making appointments to their faculties was defeated in the Senate this month after earlier approval by the House. ... An advertisement carried in recent issues of two internationally circulated popular magazines aroused immediate and indignant protest from blind individuals and persons in the field of work for the blind. The ad, consisting of a rear-view picture of an unkempt blind beggar with tin cup, cane and obviously shuffling gait wearing a sign on his back with the words 'My Days are Darker than Your Nights,' was placed by the Better Vision Institute of New York City as part of a program to alert the public to the need for better eye care. It appeared in both the READER'S DIGEST AND LIFE MAGAZINE." 

The July ZIEGLER reports that, since July 1, South Carolina has a Commission for the Blind. This is the culmination of years of struggle by the organized blind and others to replace the Division for the Blind of the Department of Public Welfare which, in the opinion of the local blind, had been doing an exceedingly poor job. Also that North Carolina's Rehabilitation Center has a brand-new building, named in honor of H. A. (Pete) Wood; who retired last year. 

The American Foundation for the Blind announces a new aid in the form of a directional compass, powered by a pen-light battery, which emits an audible signal when pointed in any direction except north. 

From the K.A.B. NEWS (Kansas); "Judge and Mrs. Reese H. Robrahn, Topeka, announce the adoption of an infant son, Philip Damon. He arrived home with his parents and sister, Reesa Lynn, in March." ... "Lovelia Hilty writes: Among us there are many near-gifted people. I wonder if we appreciate them. One such is Mary Walton, known to many as editor and founder of "K.A.B. NEWS," during its first four years. Her talents include a phenomenal memory, the ability to write letter-perfect Braille and a lovely mezzo-soprano singing voice. Her intellectual endowments were evident during her student days in the Kansas School for the Blind and later at Perkins, El Dorado Junior College and the College of Emporia. She was helped by a hard-won scholarship during her final two years and took her B.A. degree in 1952." (Mary Walton was a founding member of A.C.B. in Kansas City in 1961.) 

Paul Barbour of Minot, N. D., was elected President of the North Dakota Association of the Blind at its June convention. Lloyd Robertson, of Bismarck, became First Vice-President. The NDAB is our North Dakota affiliate.

Congress has appropriated for the Division of the Blind of the Library of Congress the full amount requested for the next biennium -- which represents a substantial increase over the appropriation for the last biennium. 

From the PIONEER, "From every state in the union handicapped persons and those who work with and for them gathered together for the 18th national meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, April 28-29 in the giant, new Washington Hilton Hotel in the District of Columbia's Northwest. The Veep, introduced by committee chairman Harold Russell, World War II paraplegic, said 'there is not any room in this country for two classes of citizens,' in speaking of the abilities of handicappeds and non-handicappeds to hold jobs successfully ... "Senator Jennings Randolph, co-author of the Randolph-Sheppard Act has been elected chairman of the powerful Senate Public Works Committee .... Children may have faulty vision and not complain because they don't realize what they should be seeing. The Prevention of Blindness is offering a free vision testing kit to parents of 4- and 5-year-old children. With this simple pamphlet a mother can find out whether her youngster can see as well as the average, or whether he needs a complete medical eye examination. If treatment is needed, it should be started well before school age, since early treatment gives the best results. For a free copy of the pamphlet, "Check Your Child's Eyes," send a postcard with your name and address to Prevention of Blindness Society, 907 15th Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 

In this country there are now more than 400,000 children with epilepsy, 500,000 with a hearing loss, almost 3 million with speech defects and 10 million with eye conditions requiring specialist care. 

From the ABC Digest (California): "Doctor Charles Buell, athletic director at the California School for the Blind for nineteen years and author of 'Physical Education for Blind Children,' has become the first handicapped teacher in the school system of Long Beach, California. The only motion picture with a soundtrack on physical education of blind children was produced by Dr. Buell in 1964. One copy of this film has been sold to the Education Office of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. He invented a ball for soccer with a bell in its center which is now available through the American Foundation for the Blind for $5.90. ... Jackie Coker is one of eight deaf-blind persons who will receive Anne Sullivan gold medals for their achievements. ... Miss Adelia M. Hoyt, a graduate of the Iowa School for the Blind, died at age 100 after many years of service at the Library of Congress. ... Popular music scores in Braille may be obtained for 15 cents each from the National Music Transcription Bureau, Quebec Division Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 1425 Crescent St., Montreal P.Q., Canada. ... The Library of Congress will furnish upon request a list of recordings which it has available for loan in the following foreign languages: French, German, Italian, and Spanish. ... Aided by a Federal grant, Stanford University psychologists have been working for the past three years on the development of a non-verbal, problem-solving, intelligence test for blind children and adults. There has long been a need for a satisfactory test of this type."

From the CALIFORNIA ORIENTATION CENTER NEWSLETTER: "Lloyd Stevens is the only blind representative of the Peace Corps operating in the little Himalayan mountain country of Nepal. He is teaching braille to the younger children and conversational English and braille to the older ones. The initial contact was made for him by the famous Dr. Isabelle Grant. ... John Rodriguez is the first blind person to obtain a job as counselor in the State Employment Office."

From the JOHN MILTON OVERSEAS MAILBAG: "In the mud hut village of Salouk, Iran, in the barren hills of Western Persia a British and Iranian research team is working toward the conquest of trachoma, the eye scourge which afflicts one-seventh of the world's population. Twenty-eight smears are being taken from the eyes of every man, woman and child tests, in the village, which, together with cultures and other tests, will make this the most intensive survey into trachoma yet undertaken. So far, only one person in the village shows no sign of trachoma infection, a baby of eight months. The project stems from a novel theory that the virus which caused trachoma is similar to that which causes other eye and genital infection in the Western world. It is suspected that the same virus which causes trachoma called tric virus, may be the cause of a great deal of hitherto undiagnosed infection in the genital tracts of men and women and hence in the eyes of newborn babies. Last spring, a series of concentrated new vaccines, developed under the aegis of the British Medical Research Council, were administered to 600 babies in the region. If the vaccines prove practicable, they could be used not only in the many countries of the world where trachoma is endemic, but also in Western countries against eye and genital infections associated with the presence of these clinically-inseparable viruses. Anyone who has seen the results of trachoma, whose influence on the history of mankind since it was first described in the Ebers Papyrus of ancient Egypt, beggars that of almost every other infection, will wish this team the best of luck. The treatment of trachoma is now probably the greatest single preoccupation of the World Health Organization of the United Nations.

From the CCB OUTLOOK: "Zambia's Luapula Valley, which not so long ago was considered to have the world's highest incidence of blindness, is beginning to see the light -- and not merely metaphorically. One child in 30 was blind. The adult blindness rate of one in 40 was beginning to soar. And because of the ignorance that associated blindness with witchcraft and ancestral wrath Zambia's contribution to the world's 14 million blind was out of all proportion to the population. Thanks largely to the visits by philanthropic ophthalmic surgeons from Britain and the Government's campaign to improve rural medical services, statistics have plummeted gratifyingly to the stage where last year only four new cases were recorded. ... Peggy Mercer, a 14-year-old blind girl who attends the Jericho Hill High School, Canada, and who learned to play the piano by tape recorder, won the first prize in the Kiwanis Spring Music Festival."

And then there was the little lad who was asked what we learn from the story of Jonah and the whale. He responded knowingly, "People make whales sick."

From the AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND NEWSLETTER: "A complete book of short stories has been recorded by AFB on a single, 12-inch disc containing more than ten hours of reading time. The experimental record is made to be played back at the slow speed of 4 1/6 revolutions per minute. The increase in the amount of material per record will provide greater convenience for blind persons using talking books as well as economies in the production of the records. They are not yet available to talking book readers. ...  A grant has been made to AFB by the International Business Machines Corporation to help support the writing and publication of a curriculum guide to be used in both day schools and residential schools for the instruction of educable mentally retarded blind children. ... The American Foundation for Overseas Blind is undertaking a survey of the conditions of blind citizens of West Africa under a contract from the Agency for International Development of the U.S. State Department. The survey will include a study of the incidence and major causes of blindness, family and community attitudes towards blindness, and the traditional religious response to begging by the blind." Because of its most successful fund-raising campaign in its history, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, at its meeting on July 15, was able to make about 30 substantial allocations for various projects, including one of $500 for basic research in the causes and treatment of congenital cataract and one for $1,750 for basic research in acute glaucoma and in the blinding effects of diabetes. It also allocated $15,000 toward the construction of a new Badger Home for the Blind in Milwaukee. The present structure has been condemned and must be replaced.

From LISTEN: "Frederick V. Walsh of South Boston, who was graduated from Perkins School for the Blind in 1900, was cited by his alma mater in recognition of a lifetime of service to the blind. Presentation of the citation was the high point of Perkins' graduation exercises on June 10. Walsh served for 35 years as a social worker and after he retired has kept busy transcribing braille. Another well-known Perkins graduate, Robert J. Smithdas of the class of 1945, delivered the commencement address. He is the only deaf-blind person in the U.S. who has earned a master's degree, and he was one of the eight deaf-blind persons who received the Anne Sullivan Award this year." The Director of the Massachusetts Division of the Blind writes: "We believe that blind persons, with proper training, can become successful small businessmen. We feel also that in the rehabilitation process the blind person should be made independent of the Division and not be continued as an employee of a paternalistic Division vending stand program. Our program, characterized by independent operation by the blind person, has adequately demonstrated the validity of this principle over the past eight years. ... The AFB is sponsoring a conference of both public and private agencies serving the blind this fall and I hope the Foundation will also invite representatives of the state organizations of blind persons. With this troika approach, public agencies, private agencies, and organizations of blind people can all pull in the same direction towards more help and better services to people who are blind."

From the ILLINOIS BRAILLE.MESSENGER: "Currently a nationwide program called 'Operation Change-Over' is under way to replace the two-speed motors with three-speed motors that will also play at 8 1/3 revolutions per minute. The job is being done by the Telephone Pioneers of America. ... For information on life insurance for blind people, apply to Timothy E. Seither (blind), Continental Assurance Co., Executive Towers, 5911 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, 60646."

HORIZON reports the development of an "early warning system" for the detection of certain blinding diseases in time so that otherwise irreversible damage may be prevented, by a team of badly underfinanced researchers based at the famous Moorfields eye hospital in London. The technique utilizes the principle of both the cardiogram and the brain wave analyzer. Wires are attached to the forehead by means of sticking-plaster and electrical impulses from the eye to the visual center in the brain are analyzed and the data fed into a computer. The British Braille magazine predicts that this may very well prove to be the greatest advance yet achieved in the prevention of blindness. Its greatest impact may be in the early detection of congenital abnormalities, which now constitute the third greatest cause of blindness.
 
*****

** ACB Officers and Directors

President: Reese H. Robrahn, 541 New England Building, Topeka, Kansas 66603
1st Vice President: Ned E. Freeman, 136 Gee's Mill Rd., Conyers, Ga. 30207
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: F.W. Orrell, 5209 Alabama Ave., Chattanooga, Tenn. 37409 

** Directors

Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt, 55 Queens St., Rochester, N.Y. 14609 
R.L. Thompson, 104 West Hanlon St., Tampa, Fla. 33604
Fred C. Lilley, 1155 W. 83rd St., Apt. 216, Chicago, Ill. 60620
J. Edward Miller, 2661 Chesterfield Ave., Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
George Card, 605 S. Few Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703 
Vernon Williams, 217 Western Union Bldg., Aberdeen, S.D. 57401 
Mrs. Catherine Skivers, 836 Resota St., Hayward, California 94545
Floyd Qualls, Post Office Box 1476, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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