The Braille Forum Vol. VIII March 1970 No. 5 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * Editor: Alma Murphey 4103 Castleman Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 * Associate Editors: George Card 605 South Few St. Madison, WI 53703 Earl Scharry 5714 Ridgway Ave. Rockville, MD 20851 * President: Reese Robrahn 329 Woodbury Lane Topeka, KS 66606 * National Representative: Durward K. McDaniel 20 E Street NW Suite 215 Washington, DC 20001 To inform its readers and to provide an impartial Forum for discussion. ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large type, and on tape -- seven-inch, dual track, ips 3 and 3/4. Subscriptions and address changes should be sent to Floyd Qualls, who is in charge of our three mailing lists. His address is: Mr. Floyd Qualls, 106 N.E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104. Items intended for publication should be sent to the editor or to one of the associate editors. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to ACB Treasurer Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. ***** ** Table of Contents ACB Welcomes Iowa Council of the Blind, by George Card President's Message, by Reese Robrahn A Convention Invitation Ralph Graves to be ACB M.C. at Convention Notice to All Secretaries, Stenographers and Transcribers Programmer's Conference Planned for Oklahoma City in July "Blind Lions" to Meet at Convention Requesting All Nominations, by Assunta Lilley Clyde Ross Dies, by George Card ACB Legislative Efforts, by S. B. Burson Wagner-O'Day Act Amendments Introduced -- S. 3425 Illinois Blind Vendors File Lawsuit Court Action Secures Earmarked Funds in Oklahoma Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind, Inc. The Treasurer Reports Progress Notes on Electronics Training Program in Florida Work on Mechanical Eyes Oregon Report, by Fred Krepela Has This Happened to You? The Tennessee Federation of the Blind Convention, by Francis Morton Here and There, by George Card Scholarships for Blind Students ACB Officers Directors ***** ** ACB Welcomes Iowa Council of the Blind By George Card On Saturday, January 17, a large and enthusiastic group of blind Iowa citizens and their friends met at the Roosevelt Hotel in Cedar Rapids and formed the Iowa Council of the Blind, adopted a constitution and unanimously voted to apply for affiliation with the American Council of the Blind. The new organization starts with one hundred and eleven charter members, a strong majority being legally blind. Some seventy-five of these braved sub-zero weather and a lot of snow in order to attend. Some of them braved more than that. Some of those with vulnerable jobs came to the meeting in the full awareness that they might later feel the vindictive wrath of the Director of the Iowa Commission of the Blind. The immediate occasion for this uprising among the blind of Iowa was an attempt by a power-hungry blind politician to take over their beloved Braille and Sight-Saving School at Vinton, Iowa, and to add it to his little empire! It was stated at this meeting, however, that there has been a steadily rising feeling of dissatisfaction and resentment among the Iowa blind concerning the iron rule of their Agency Director. It was stated that this man has gained complete and absolute control of the Iowa Association of the Blind and that an independent organization of the blind is long overdue. Most of the members of the new ICB had been former members of the Iowa Association of the Blind but had resigned from that now captive group. The Iowa Council of the Blind elected as its provisional president Mr. Wyman Howard, of Council Bluffs. It will hold its first annual convention some time next summer and it expects to double its membership by then. It was reported that a group of about twenty commission supporters also came to the Roosevelt Hotel, only to find that they must cool their heels in the lobby. This was not a public meeting, and admission was by invitation and ticket. The leaders of the new movement took no chances on having their meeting disrupted. President Robrahn and I were at this meeting by invitation and acted as resource people. We each spoke briefly and what we had to say was greeted with warm applause. The following resolution was accepted by acclamation and released to the press: The Iowa Council of the Blind, in formal session assembled at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on January 17, 1970, does herewith resolve as follows: WHEREAS, the Iowa Commission for the Blind and particularly its Director have completely dominated and controlled the Iowa Association of the Blind, as well as all blind affairs of the State, for the last ten years, and WHEREAS, this fact has rendered the Iowa Association of the blind totally weak, ineffective and unable to represent the blind of the State, and WHEREAS, the operating methods employed by the IAB are completely undemocratic, arbitrary and high-handed as most recently evidenced by IAB support of the Commission's efforts to take over the Iowa Braille and Sight-Saving School -- a movement not supported by a large percentage of IAB and never put to a vote of the organization, and WHEREAS, these intolerable conditions show no hope of change so long as the present Commission Director continues in office; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the members of this organization do hereby formally resign and withdraw from the Iowa Association of the Blind and its national affiliate; 2. That the Iowa Council of the Blind calls for the immediate resignation or dismissal of the Director of the Commission for the Blind; 3. That this organization demands that the State Auditor immediately conduct a complete audit of the financial affairs of the Commission for the Blind; 4. That we strongly oppose the effort of the Commission to take over the Iowa Braille and Sight-Saving School and thereby give the Commission cradle-to-grave control of the lives of Iowa's blind citizens; 5. That we urge all blind citizens of Iowa to join with us, ending the dictatorial domination of blind affairs by the Director of the Commission, under which they have suffered for ten years, and in establishing in Iowa a strong and democratic organization dedicated fully and exclusively to the interests of all blind citizens of the state. * President Wyman Howard's Acceptance Speech January 17, 1970 In common consent, we gather here for the serious purpose of originating a permanent society. It will be the aim of this organization to create dignity for the blind in this state who may wish to speak with a different voice. It will be the aim of this organization to nurture and encourage the gentle right of individual thought and to initiate a forum where a man need not be afraid of censure in the practice of that priceless freedom, the statement of his own worth within this universe. In unity we shall seek to guarantee divergency. Our harmony will come from different multiples of songs. From wider and larger backgrounds we will strive for slender truth in commonality of pursuit, but we will not turn away the wisdom of our different members for control sake. Our actions in concert will be through the principles of consent arrived at in mutual deliberation rather than under the ravages of barbed and abrasive pressures brought to burden down to the knee, the lonely individual who must acquiesce or hide. I accept this chair out of an intensity of desire as a parent having a child enrolled at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School to struggle for her right to individuality as is her present education regimen constituted. As a teacher I am proud to see the concern for each student as an unusual person made by God and not an unmeaningful segment in a simplistic index called a philosophy of blindness. As one legally blind, I should like to preserve and uphold the opportunity of every blind person within this state to climb his own tree, and with a free hand, to stretch out and grasp the sun. * President Wyman Howard's Letter to the Governor The Honorable Robert D. Ray, Governor of Iowa Members of the 63rd General Assembly of Iowa As Provisional President of the newly formed Iowa Council of the Blind, I have been instructed by the Council to forward for your information a copy of the attached Resolution which was adopted by the Council on January 17, 1970. Our organizational meeting was held on January 17, 1970 at Cedar Rapids and was attended by Judge Reese Robrahn, National President of the American Council of the Blind and Mr. George Camp, Secretary of the Wisconsin Council. Both were present at the invitation of this Council. The Resolution sets forth the broad purpose of the Council and the reasons why it was formed. It also expresses the Council's unqualified opposition to the transfer of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School to jurisdiction of the Commission for the Blind. We of the blind community have borne patiently for many. years with the spreading domination of blind affairs by the Commission's Director -- many of us because of fear of economic reprisal. But this latest attempt to gain control even of our children is simply too much. The time has come for the silent majority to speak, regardless of consequences. You may not know that the "organized blind" of Iowa consists of a handful of very vocal individuals under control of the Commission's Director. In fact, the Iowa Association of the Blind has a membership of only 300 of the approximately 5,000 blind of the State. The charter membership of this Council is well over 100 and we expect that number to double very shortly, now that a rallying point for those opposed to Commission domination has been established. We are confident that within one year our membership will far exceed that of the IAB. Some of us are graduates of the Vinton School and we are proud of that institution and of its educational record. We are also sure that, under direction of Dr. Rocco, it is on its way to becoming the best in the nation. We would ask that you support the Council in its effort to establish fair and democratic representation for the blind citizens of Iowa, and that you oppose the Commission's effort to gain cradle-to-grave control of the lives of blind citizens. Very truly yours, Wyman Howard, President Iowa Council of the Blind ***** ** President's Message By Reese H. Robrahn February 4, 1970 It gives me great personal pleasure to announce to the FORUM readers that the Iowa Council of the Blind is now the 24th affiliate of the American Council. Welcome to all of you. Hawkeyes! Complete details concerning the story of the Iowa Council affiliation are found elsewhere in this issue. Our 23rd affiliate, the Alabama Federation of the Blind, is still on the move and is growing rapidly. Evelyn Lee, President of that fine affiliate, has announced the affiliation of an 8th chapter at Muscle Shoals, and that there is soon to be a 9th. One of the significant actions taken by the General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, New Delhi, India, was authorization to employ a full time Secretary-General. In the past Mr. John Jarvis, of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, has served in this capacity without pay. Mr. Jarvis announced his retirement at the General Assembly meeting, but will continue to serve until a successor is found. The notice and details of the new position as released by Mr. Jarvis are as follows: ** World Council for the Welfare of the Blind Appointment of Secretary-General The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind is proposing early in 1970 to appoint a Secretary-General who will work from its Paris Headquarters. Applications are invited from persons who have wide administrative experience of blind welfare, or of international organizations or both. Candidates must be prepared to reside in Paris and must be fluent in English and French which are the official languages of the Council. A certain amount of travel will be involved and contacts with International Agencies and Charitable Foundations would be an advantage. The appointment, which would be for five years in the first instance, would command a salary of (U.S.) $5000.00 per annum. Applications, in triplicate, accompanied by three recent testimonials, should be addressed to the Secretary-General, World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, 224 Great Portland Street, London WIN. 6AA., and should reach that office preferably by the end of 1969 and certainly not later than 31st January, 1970. All who have labored so long in the affairs and activities of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind were greatly heartened and encouraged to learn that their efforts had brought about significant cooperation and results from the United Nations agencies, UNICEF and UNESCO, the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization. Such organizations as these can accomplish much where the WCWB is not in a position to act because WCWB is an advisory and consultative body and also is without funds to engage in or make grants to fund programs. I invite your interest and attention to the following resolutions adopted by the 1969 General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. ** World Council for the Welfare of the Blind Dear Colleague, I now have pleasure in enclosing the Resolutions of the New Delhi Assembly, and I shall be grateful if you will give them the widest possible publicity in your country, and make whatever use of them you can during negotiations with your Government and with other appropriate authorities for the improvement of all aspects of work for the blind. I also enclose an advertisement, approved by the Officers of the Council, which we all hope will result in the early appointment of my successor, and with this end in view I shall be most grateful if you will arrange for its insertion, as soon as possible, in all those periodicals concerned with work for the blind which circulate most widely in your country. A number of you may wish to know that Mr. J. C. Colligan, who is now the Council's Treasurer, has authorized me to inform you that as from 1970 annual Membership Fees paid in respect of Representative, International and Associate Members may be paid into a new account which the Council has opened at the Branch of the Westminster Bank at 154, Harley Street, London, W.1., by any Member of the Council who would find this arrangement more convenient than payment to Paris or New York. With all best wishes, Yours sincerely, JOHN E. JARVIS, Secretary-General * Resolution 1. A Plea for Public Awareness. This Assembly, representing Organizations concerned with blindness in 62 Countries, requests the cooperation of the World's Press, radio, television and publicity media in all countries, in bringing the following facts forcibly to public attention: 1. There are, by the lowest estimate, at least 15 million blind people in the world today. Unless decisive action is taken, this number may double by the end of this century. Two-thirds of this blindness is due to preventable causes, and much of it is curable. In Asia, Africa, Central and Southern America, where most of the world's blind live, there are millions whose sight could be restored by simple, inexpensive surgery. 2. Over 90 percent of the world's blind children receive no systematic education. Denied this basic human right, they progress from a frustrating childhood to a life of illiterate dependency; great numbers die prematurely from the malnutrition which blinded them. 3. There must be at least 5 million blind men and women to whom modern systems of rehabilitation and training could offer a chance of economic independence. Denied such help, great numbers live out their lives as beggars, and family dependents; in impoverished communities they remain the poorest of the poor. The cost of rehabilitation is demonstrably minute compared with the massive and mounting cost of avoidable dependency. 4.This situation is a reproach in an age of science when curable blindness should be a barbaric anachronism and when the development of efficient "sight substitutes" is clearly a research objective well within the range of modern technology. The situation is likely to be remedied only when national and international authorities, stimulated and supported by informed public opinion, are prepared to devote to this cause the priority and resources necessary for decisive action. * Resolution 2. Technology And Equipment. REALIZING that limitation in the means of gathering information is a primary cause of poverty of experience, that discrepancies between the expected and the attained are a serious cause of maladjustment, and that the modern world's "information explosion" makes exceptional demands; and could imply exceptional opportunities, for blind people, their teachers and counsellors; WELCOMING the most promising efforts which are now being made by research workers in some countries to apply the resources of advanced technology to the development of "sight substitute" appliances to compensate for the traditional handicaps of blindness in mobility and communication; REMEMBERING, however, that for many blind people in many countries, the greatest need is for access to basic equipment which has long been in production, but is beyond their financial resources; THE ASSEMBLY RESOLVES: 1. That the Council re-affirm that the aim of all its policies and the most cardinal principle of its philosophy is, by every means in its power, to encourage a total integration of blind people into the activities, production and cultural life of their community, and to penetrate every physical, mental, or cultural barrier which would obstruct any blind person from the realization of maximum potential as an individual and as a citizen. 2. That every encouragement be given to the advancement of responsible and systematic technological research, and that priorities in such research should be kept constantly under review by the Council's Committee on Technical Appliances. 3. That all Member Organizations be urged to make better use of the International Research and Information Service (I.R.I.S.) by informing it of any equipment or appliances in production or under development in their development projects and available equipment. 4. That the Council, and its constituent International Organizations continue to do everything in their power to reduce the cost of basic equipment and to facilitate its distribution in countries where, through poverty or currency limitations the blind are denied such equipment, and that everything possible be done by the manufacturers of such equipment to achieve reasonable uniformity. * Resolution 3. Prevention and Cure of Blindness. RECOGNIZING that most of the world's blindness is preventable and that much of it is curable; ALARMED by evidence that, despite increasing control of communicable eye diseases, the number of blind people in Africa, Asia, Central and Southern America -- already massive -- is increasing with population growth and that one consequence of increased longevity and reduced child mortality, may be an unprecedented increase in the number of blind children and old people, noting also that even in countries with advanced medical services, the number of the blind continues to grow with a disturbing increase in the prevalence of multiple handicaps amongst children; CONVINCED that the world is here confronted by a medical and social task of major proportions requiring, as a matter of and utmost urgency, increased action on a national and international scale and the deployment of much greater resources in money and personnel; WELCOMING most cordially the Resolution adopted at a Meeting of the 22nd World Health Assembly held in Boston on 29th July, 1969, with its clear recognition of the size and urgency of the problem and its implication that W.H.C., which has already done valuable specialized work in this field, may henceforward be comprehensively involved in promoting measures for the Prevention of Blindness and for the collation of statistics; THE ASSEMBLY RESOLVES: 1. That the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind should immediately seek consultative relationship with the World Health Organization and should assure that organization of its readiness to collaborate to the maximum of its power in action following the Boston Resolution. 2. That the Council continue and strengthen its liaison with the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness and its encouragement of the activities of other non-governmental Organizations engaged Internationally in this field. 3. That in countries where effective machinery for the prevention of blindness does not already exist, the appropriate national delegation be urged to take the initiative in establishing such machinery and in ensuring that it has adequate recognition and support. 4. That all constituent organizations be urged, to the maximum of their constitutional power, to support, both nationally and internationally, ophthalmic research, activities for the prevention and cure of blindness and all action designed to bring the facts more forcibly to public attention and to achieve a greater priority and sense of urgency in this work. 5. That the Authorities concerned with policy planning, whilst being understandably concerned with long-term preventative and environmental health measures, be urged simultaneously to promote and encourage measures of immediate relief and cure particularly in rural areas, and that where optimum facilities cannot immediately be provided, use should be made of mobile clinics and hospitals and of well-organized village eye camps, to restore sight and prevent blindness. 6. That UNICEF and the Organizations concerned with ophthalmic research, famine relief and community development be urged to devote greater resources to a systematic investigation of the causes, both medical and social, of nutritional blindness and to the promotion of practical measures to reduce this scourge, which, if left uncontrolled, may well result in an unprecedented increase in the number of blind children in the developing countries. 7. That the World Prevention of Blindness Committee, having regard to the Council's previous Resolutions on this question, do everything in its power to promote international acceptance of a uniform definition of blindness. (NOTE: Space does not permit the printing of the entire set of Resolutions here. Others will appear in future issues.) ***** ** A Convention Invitation The Skirvin Hotels Park Avenue at Broadway Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73124 January 30, 1970 Mrs. Alma Murphey, Editor The Braille Forum 4103 Castleman Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63110 Dear Mrs. Murphey: Will you permit me space in the Braille Forum to extend a cordial invitation to all readers to be in Oklahoma City for the annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind. The Skirvin Hotel, its management and staff, will exert every effort to make your stay with us and your visit to Oklahoma City a memory you will cherish. The hotel is undergoing renovation at this writing, but we are promised it will be completed by the time you arrive. You are assured of comfortable, well appointed, air-conditioned rooms regardless of your location in the hotel. Downtown theaters, outstanding stores, and restaurants are within comfortable walking distance. Within the hotel you will enjoy excellent food in our Sooner Room. The Sun Suite Club, available to all guests, overlooks the spacious swimming pool. The hotel is granting special rates to all who attend conventions during the week. Single rooms are $9.00, doubles $11.00 and twin beds $13.00. Those interested in one and two bedrooms and parlor $40.00 per day. Early reservations will facilitate our arrangements for your visit to Oklahoma City. Please write directly to the hotel at the above address and send a copy of your request to Floyd Qualls, 106 N. E. 2nd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104. I will look forward to a pleasant week visiting with you in July. Sincerely yours, THE SKIRVIN HOTELS John L. Utt, Sales Manager PS: Those convention dates are July 15, 16, 17, 18, with several preliminary activities scheduled on July 13, 14. ***** ** Ralph Graves to Be ACB M.C. at Convention Our convention program chairman has announced that ACB conventioneers will have the pleasure of an outstanding master of ceremonies at the banquet on July 17th at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Ralph Graves of Shawnee, Oklahoma, is one of the best-known blind persons in the southwest. He is engaged in insurance and banking businesses and is one of the leading members of the Oklahoma Senate. He is an active member of the Oklahoma Federation, ACB, and a longtime member of the Blinded Veterans Association. ***** ** Notice to All Secretaries, Stenographers and Transcribers A seminar for visually impaired secretaries, stenographers and transcribers dealing with ideas and special techniques of occupational interest will be held under the auspices of the American Council of the Blind at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 14 and 15. In addition to the methods of handling specific occupational problems encountered, plans are underway to have personnel from training and placement facilities present, to have useful exhibits on display and to have the possibility of advancement explored. Since it is only by the united examination of common problems and their solutions that goals can be achieved, it is hoped that all those working in the field of secretarial transcribing and all those interested in this field will attend this conference of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association. To submit your name to the mailing list for more information about this conference, please contact Betty Ann Jones, 907 Harper Street, Utica, New York 13502. ***** ** Programmer's Conference Planned for Oklahoma City in July "VIDPI," a newly formed organization of Visually Impaired Data Processors International will hold a seminar and an annual membership meeting in Oklahoma City immediately prior to the ACB Convention. The dates are 13 July through 15 July. A formal announcement including an agenda will be mailed at a later date. Doctor S. Bradley Burson has been appointed seminar program chairman. We are looking forward to an excellent program. We are in the process of building a structurally sound organization in which the blind programmer's voice will be heard. In order for VIDPI to be an effective organization, we must have the support of as many blind programmers as possible. VIDPI now has 62 charter members. If you are interested in becoming a member of this international organization, contact Mike Mady, 2700 Arcadia Street, Apartment 105, Amarillo, Texas. As you know, the American Council of the Blind sponsored the first seminar for blind programmers in which the blind programmers themselves were full participants. The progressive approach to the problems of the blind programmer by the American Council of the Blind is greatly appreciated by the officers and the membership of VIDPI. We look forward to a continuing cooperative effort between VIDPI and the ACB to improve the professional status of the blind programmer. Ray Jones President, Visually Impaired Data Processors International ***** ** "Blind Lions" to Meet at Convention One of the special events to be included in this year's ACB convention, to be held in Oklahoma City, will be a luncheon for "Blind Lions" ... The luncheon is to be held on Thursday, July 16. Already the Arrangements Committee has a tentative commitment from Dr. Robert D. McCullough, who by that time will be President of Lions International, to speak to the assembled group. Presiding at the luncheon will be Fred C. Lilley, a member of the Board of Directors of ACB, and an active Lion for fourteen years. He has held all local club offices and is currently district fund-raising chairman for District 26A. Throughout the United States there are many blind Lions. Some of them will read this item in the Forum, but some will not. This luncheon will be publicized through the Lions magazine, but of course this magazine is in inkprint and the luncheon may not be called to the attention of those who may be concerned, so we are asking that Forum readers who know a blind Lion to pass this information on to him, and ask him to contact Floyd Qualls, who is the convention chairman. Lions do much to assist the blind, but blind Lions are in a position to guide Lions Clubs so that energy and money may be properly directed. A meeting such as this can be the platform for an exchange of ideas which could be beneficial to blind people everywhere. ***** ** Requesting All Nominations By Assunta Lilley The Awards Committee, of which Assunta Lilley is chairman, is now ready to accept all nominations for possible recipients of the Ambassador and George Card Awards, to be presented during the Oklahoma City convention of the ACB. Awards will be made only if qualified candidates are found from among the names submitted. The following guidelines have been prepared by the committee to assist those who wish to make nominations for either the Ambassador Award or the George Card Award. * Ambassador Award 1. A nominee may be a male or female, must be 21 years of age or over, and must be at least legally blind. 2. A nominee must have demonstrated, through personal achievement, his ability as a blind person. This may include his achievement in the field of employment, endeavors in church and civic work, and other activities which may have created a favorable impression of the blind individual in the sighted community. 3. A nominee may or may not be in work for the blind. 4. Information concerning a nominee must include clear and concise data which will support the above requirements. * George Card Award 1. Nominee may be a male or female, 21 years or age or over, and may be sighted or blind. 2. He shall have demonstrated outstanding service to the blind community on a local or national basis. 3. Information concerning a nominee must include clear and concise data which will support the above requirements. All nominations must be in the hands of the Awards Committee by May 1, 1970. Names and addresses of the committee members are: Assunta Lilley, chairman, 7629 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, Mo. 63117; Bettye Krause, 2121 P St., NW, Apt. 615, Washington, D.C., 20037; and Marion Briggs, 3214A University Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63107. Communication between readers of the Forum and any or all members of the committee is invited. ***** ** Clyde Ross Dies By George Card As I wrote after the death of Jacobus tenBroek, no man is indispensable, but a few are irreplaceable. In my opinion one of these was Clyde Ross, who passed away after still another heart attack on January 17th. Clyde was a man of many talents and possessed indomitable energy and dauntless courage. He built the Ohio Council of the Blind into one of the mightiest state organizations in the country. When he first came on the scene it was a weak and faltering infant. He was its President for many years and served a number of terms on the Ohio Commission for the Blind. He built his local Akron chapter into one of the strongest and most active anywhere. He established an international reputation in Lionism. We in the ACB owe him a great debt of gratitude. During the year that followed the ghastly events at the Miami convention of the NFB in 1960, Clyde was one of a little group which struggled long and hard to prevent the split in the organized blind movement, the others being Frank Lugiano, of Pennsylvania, George Burck, of New Jersey, Alma Murphey, of Missouri, and myself. When the showdown came at the Kansas City convention in 1961, Clyde Ross was our candidate. He ran in the full knowledge that he had no chance of winning and that he was committing political suicide insofar as his future in the Federation was concerned. He made this sacrifice simply and solely because he believed our cause was right and just. Clyde could not openly join the ACB without splitting the Ohio Council of the Blind, which he had worked so long and hard to build. He did all he could for us in other ways and he told me that his heart was always with us. It is some slight consolation to those of us who knew and loved Clyde that the ACB awarded him its highest honor at the Charlotte convention last July. No one ever deserved it more. ***** ** ACB Legislative Efforts By S. B. Burson, Legislative Chairman Have you ever done any serious soul searching and tried to enumerate reasons why blind people seem so disposed to join organizations and to form new ones? I have occasionally and I usually come tip with a rather imposing list, but under close scrutiny, many of the reasons turn out to be rationalizations rather than reasons. However, since President Robrahn appointed me legislative chairman, I have found one reason that will stand up under the most critical evaluation. Without organizational backing, legislative efforts are but empty gestures. During the past couple years I have begun to develop a sensitivity for some of the philosophy commonly found behind the thinking of the men who work on "Capitol Hill." Two questions to which they inevitably get around when you discuss legislative proposals with our elected law makers is "What is the organization you represent, and how many members does it have? Have you discussed this matter with other agencies with common interests?" In the long run, our legislative efforts probably constitute one of the most significant justifications for the existence of organizations of the blind. During the third week of January, I spent several days in Washington working with Mr. McDaniel on our legislative program. Together we visited nearly a dozen offices of senators and congressmen. It is not the intent of this article to review exhaustively all of the pending legislation of interests to the blind, but rather to remind FORUM readers that this is an area in which an ongoing effort is being made and to bring you up to date on a few of the bills in which ACB has been instrumental in having introduced. Although the administration of welfare programs is carried out by the state agencies, these programs must meet with federal standards in order for the states to obtain matching funds. It is through this financial lever that the Congress can, in some measure, control the quality of the state welfare provisions. The present Social Security law still permits states to require the parents of adult blind persons to provide medical and other aid under certain circumstances. Senator Charles H. Percy of Illinois has introduced an amendment to Title XIX of the Social Security Act S. 1251, which will remove this degrading and discriminatory provision. A companion bill, H.R. 6752, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman John Erlenborn of Illinois. While affecting relatively small numbers of blind persons, the "relative responsibility" laws have long been a major source of insult and irritation to blind citizens. If these amendments are passed, we will have accomplished a major stride toward social equality and the removal of discrimination. Establishment of the "earned-income exemption for the blind" was a major step toward modernizing public-assistance laws. The law provides that, in computing the needs of a blind applicant for assistance, the first $85.00 of earned income, plus 50% of amounts above this, must be disregarded. The base $85.00 was pegged at that figure when the law was adopted nearly a dozen years ago, and it has not changed since. Congressman Erlenborn has also introduced an amendment to the Social Security Act, H.R. 14650, which will update the base to $150.00 and tie it to the cost-of-living index. The benefit of this incentive will thus no longer suffer downgrading as a result of inflationary trends. The above bills are all still under consideration by appropriate House and Senate committees. The pending amendments to the Randolph-Sheppard Act were formulated over a year ago by an ad-hoc committee comprising representatives from six major national organizations of and for the blind. Representatives of the Division for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (H.E.W.) also participated. The bill, S. 2461, was introduced by Senator Jennings Randolph, co-sponsor of the original 1936 legislation. We visited with Senator Randolph and his legislative assistant to reestablish our support and to encourage action. The bill, still in the Senate sub-committee, now is co-sponsored by fifty-one senators. No serious reaction has been detected from the government's administrative agencies; however, some opposition is evident and the bill deserves our concentrated effort. Although some months ago we visited the offices of Senator Jacob Javits in an effort to dissuade introduction of amendments to the Wagner-O'Day Act, this legislation has been recently introduced. The nature and possible consequences of this legislation is discussed in another article in this issue of the FORUM. This brief review of the ACB legislative activities is not intended to be comprehensive; we are also working on the development of several other bills. Many of these are found in resolutions adopted by the ACB conventions and relate to such subjects as special provisions for air travel, tax credits for employers of the blind and unemployment compensation. We will keep you informed as developments take place. Remember, our legislative effort can only be as effective as you make it. Write to your senators and your congressmen; you elect them, and they do not forget it. ***** ** Wagner-O'Day Act Amendments Introduced -- S. 3425 On February 10th, Senator Jacob Javits and others introduced proposed amendments to the Act which has enabled workshops for the blind to sell commodities to the federal government without competitive bidding. Readers are referred to the article in the FORUM for November, 1969, which included the Council's resolution in opposition to such legislation. S. 3425 would authorize the purchase of products and services by the federal government from non-profit agencies for the blind or other severely handicapped persons. The present law does not include the purchase of services from workshops for the blind. The bill provides for a preference for workshops for the blind in the purchase of products and provides for a similar preference in the purchase of services through June 30, 1975. One or more central non-profit-making agencies may be designated to allocate purchase orders. The bill does not define blindness. It does define "severely handicapped" as follows: "an individual or class of individuals who is under a physical or mental disability which constitutes a substantial handicap to employment and is of such a nature as to prevent the individual under such disabilities from successfully competing in normal competitive employment." The bill does not provide for any number or percentage of blind or otherwise severely handicapped workers who must be employed in order to qualify a non-profit agency to receive government purchase orders. This detail would be left to rules and regulations. Regulations under the existing law require that seventy five percent of the production labor exclusive of supervision must be blind. The bill has no provision which would prevent regulations authorizing the mixing of the two categories or the lowering of the percentage who must be blind or otherwise severely handicapped. It has no protective provision relating to collective bargaining of blind or severely handicapped employees, nor does it require unemployment insurance coverage or the payment of minimum or prevailing wages whichever is greater. In 1968, 78 workshops for the blind in 35 states employed more than five thousand blind workers and paid them 8.82 million dollars. These shops sold 22.4 millions worth of products to the government in that year and paid an average hourly wage of $1.57 according to the report of National Industries for the Blind. In his introductory remarks, Senator Javits refers to qualifying 1,500 agencies and to service for 100,000 severely handicapped people including the blind. Proponents of this legislation contend that the inclusion of services will greatly increase the volume of purchase orders. Opponents do not believe that the business will be expanded 20 times the present rate. Among the organizations listed as supporting S. 3425 are the American Association of Workers for the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind and National Industries for the Blind. A large number of non-blind organizations are also listed as supporting. The supporting agencies for the blind took the initiative in working out the draft which has been introduced and believe that the preferences contained in the bill represent protection for the existing shops. What will happen to the preference provisions now that the bill is introduced remains to be seen. The blind workers were not included in the negotiations for this bill, and they are the ones who stand to lose if the categories are mixed or the business divided among too many shops. The Council will actively oppose S. 3425. ***** ** Illinois Blind Vendors File Lawsuit The Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois and several of its officers and members as individuals joined together as plaintiffs to file suit in the federal court in Chicago on February 10th, 1970. Since 1951 supervisory and managerial services for the vending stand program have been furnished by a private non-profit corporation, Business Opportunities for the Blind, by contracts with the state licensing agency. In recent years dissatisfaction has grown among operators and on the part of the state licensing agency. Grievances came to a head late in 1969; and the operators through their board of directors asked the state licensing agency to terminate the existing contract between the state, the operators and the nominee agency. Alfred Slicer, Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Illinois, issued the notice of termination of the contract on December 18th. The operators consulted representatives of the Illinois Federation of the Blind, and the board of directors of that organization took a strong stand in support of the operators prior to the cancellation notice was issued. Later, the American Council of the Blind was consulted for advice and assistance. The complaint filed in the federal court says that the private nominee agency is attempting to alienate certain business locations away from the Randolph-Sheppard vending stand program; that administrative and supervisory personnel of the private agency are being used for that improper purpose; that such activities are in violation of the contract which does not expire until June 30, 1970; that the administrative and supervisory personnel are paid from set-aside funds derived from the operators and from federally appropriated funds and that in these respects the funds are being improperly used, and that since the notice of cancellation of the contract was given, the private nominee agency has defaulted in the performance of its contractual services to the operators. The complaint names the Secretary of H.E.W. as a defendant because of the federal legal and financial involvement in the program but asks no judgment against the government. It also names the state licensing agency as a defendant and asks that it be restrained from approving any further collections and expenditures of set-aside and federal funds. The complaint also says that the private nominee agency has refused to meet with a designated committee for the purpose of working out an accounting and an orderly transition to a new program. The nominee agency has said that it will not meet with representatives of the operators and that it has a right to keep certain of the locations, arguing that it was in business before it became the nominee agency for the state licensing agency. Its board of directors is composed of prominent business and political names in Illinois. The filers of the lawsuit ask for a temporary restraining order against the private nominee agency and a permanent injunction to prohibit it from any further efforts to alienate business locations away from the official program; for an accounting of the liabilities and assets of the program, and a declaratory judgment determining the rights and obligations of the parties. This is the first suit of its kind to be filed in any of the state vending programs. The operators are well organized and unified. The operators pay about $90,000 annually in set-aside funds. Terry King of Chicago is the President of the Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois which represents the 117 vendors in the state. This aggressive, well-managed organization is an affiliate of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America which in turn is an occupational affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. The suit was filed by Durward K. McDaniel, of Washington, D.C., National Representative of the American Council of the Blind, and by S. Bradley Burson of Downers Grove, Illinois, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind. Dr. Burson is best known to our readers as a research physicist at Argonne National Laboratory, but he is also a licensed attorney. ***** ** Court Action Secures Earmarked Funds in Oklahoma All of the major agencies serving the blind in Oklahoma are financed by revenue from the State Sales Tax and federal matching funds. About two years ago the State Attorney General ruled that earmarked or dedicated funds are subject to appropriation by the Legislature and could not be spent beyond a certain time period without action by the Legislature. This ruling would have had the effect of placing the financing of affected programs in the annual competition for money in the Legislature. A taxpayer's suit was filed in the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Attorney General because of the far-reaching consequences on many state programs, including those for blind persons. The principal state agency administering programs for the blind intervened in the suit and the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind filed a brief in the interest of securing this all-important source of revenue and to establish the legality of dedicated or earmarked funds. The Oklahoma Federation is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind and called upon the Council's National Representative to prepare and file its brief. After almost two years of litigation, the issue has now been decided favorably and this source of funds has been secured. The Oklahoma Federation of the Blind has made a substantial contribution in this effort toward the continuing improvement of services and living conditions for blind people in the state. Its rapidly growing rehabilitation and library services will be able to continue at an accelerated pace. Oklahoma has for many years been among the top ten states in payments of Aid to the Blind and has during the past five years made significant gains in the educational field. It is this working organization which bids us welcome to the annual convention of the American Council of the Blind in Oklahoma City this summer. ***** ** Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind, Inc. The 1969 Interim Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind was called to order by President Reese Robrahn at 9:30 A.M., on Saturday, November 8, 1969, at the Gateway Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. The role showed all members to be present with the exception of Arnold Whaley. The first item of business was the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. They were unanimously approved under a motion made by Bradley Burson, seconded by David Krause. Aileen McDaniel next read a letter from the Alabama Federation of the Blind to the President requesting affiliation with ACB. A m6tion was made by Vernon Williams; seconded by George Card, to grant this affiliation. This motion passed with no dissenting votes. The agenda covering the remainder of the meeting was then set. Durward McDaniel reported on his activities as National Representative. He stated that the ACB Service Net Organization has applied to the Federal Communications Commission for a club license; that strenuous organizational efforts are underway in New Mexico, New York, and Colorado; that the Visually Impaired Data Processors International group has been formed; and that a national secretaries group will undoubtedly come into existence just prior to the ACB convention in Oklahoma City. Durward reported that he attended the conventions of the Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, and Oklahoma affiliates and discussed progress within those states. He explained that plans are underway to hold a luncheon for blind Lions during the Oklahoma convention at which the main speaker will be the International President. This will be held in the hope that, as a result of it, a special interest group for blind Lions might be organized within the framework of ACB; Durward then stated that the vending stand law suit is still pending and reported on current legislation in conjunction with which he mentioned his recent appearance before the Ways and Means Committee. The Credit union and Group Health projects are still being pursued, and; it is hoped that they will eventually come into being. At this time, the President stated that the policy of this Board shall be that the National Representative must make himself available to the Board at all times while it is in session. Edward Miller reported a meeting that he and Durward had attended with Mr. Grady Galloway, North Carolina Commissioner for the Blind. As a result of this meeting, Ed was offeree a position as second in command in the Bureau of Enterprises in North Carolina. Ed took and passed the test for this job and will begin work on November 15. Mr. Galloway asked Ed to convey his thanks to the ACB since, without, the help of ACB, to the North Carolina Federation of the Blind, he would have been unable to raise the salaries of the vending stand operators in that state. Mr. Nate Rosenblum, our fund-raiser, was next to be heard from. He stated that, as of November 6, ACB had received approximately $1,500 from the program with a little less than 110,000 pieces working in the mail from which the bulk of the revenue was yet to be derived. Mr. Rosenblum feels that it will take another sixty days before we can determine the actual success of this venture with a view toward another mailing. At this point, it was moved by Vernon Williams, seconded by George Card, that the Board express to Mr. Rosenblum our appreciation and thanks for his undertaking and our sincere wish that it proves to be of mutual benefit. The motion was unanimously adopted. The treasurer gave a short report but stated that the written report received by the Board just prior to this meeting covered just about everything. Alma Murphey reported that approximately $125 per month should continue to be adequate for secretarial and other help with THE BRAILLE FORUM. Alma also mentioned the fact that the Forum mailing list is being handled by the Oklahoma League for the Blind; and, because those people have done so much and donated so freely of their time and facilities to the Council, it was the consensus of the Board that Floyd should take back to his staff the sincere thanks of the ACB Board of Directors. Durward McDaniel next explained that the ACB has filed a registration statement and report covering 1968 with the New York Attorney General's Office, in order to safeguard our future right to engage in fund-raising within the State of New York. Durward also filed a registration form to comply with a New York state statue relative to charitable trusts. He merely showed on this form that we are administrating no trusts within that state at the present time. Floyd Qualls, Finance Committee Chairman, reported that we did make our utility envelope mailing to Wichita, explaining that it is one of the few cities left where the utility companies do not mail envelopes with their statements. Into Wichita, we mailed 10,007 packages at an outgoing cost of $206.47. Of that number, 1,322 packages were returned at a cost of $158.54; there have been 1,055 contributors netting $1,991.10 thus far. The last mailing was made during late October. To date, no follow-ups have been sent, but a reminder will be sent out, after which Floyd hopes the receipts will about double. The gross cost, including postage, was about double. The gross cost, including postage, was $.28 per unit. Floyd further reported that a mailing is being made to a list of contributors obtained as a result of our Artistic experience who had contributed over and above the amount required to pay for their cards. To these people, we are mailing a sheet of name cards, six to a sheet, containing very colorful pictures of the Holy Land. With this sheet, we are sending a brochure together with a request for a contribution and the information that three additional sheets can be purchased for two dollars. These are to be placed in the mail during the week of November 10, and there are about 12,000 of them. David Krause, Chairman of the Budget Committee, next read and explained the tentative budget for 1970. After a question and discussion period, it was moved by Vernon Williams, seconded by Bradley Burson, to adopt the Budget Committee's budget as recommended. This motion received unanimous approval. Fred Krepela then moved to increase the amount budgeted for the treasurer's office in the 1969 budget by $125, due to the extra auditing required in connection with filing the forms for the New York Attorney General's Office. This was seconded by Fred Lilley and adopted unanimously. At this time, Catherine Skivers moved to reconsider the motion which provides that the Board approve award recipients. This motion was seconded by Don Cameron, and it passed with one dissenting vote. Then, a motion to rescind the Burson resolution dealing with Board approval of award recipients was made by Fred Lilley, seconded by Catherine Skivers. The resolution was rescinded by unanimous vote of the Board. We next discussed the voting procedural problem relative to deciding how many votes a special interest group will have. Fred Lilley moved to rescind our present policy motion on this subject. George Card seconded the motion, and it received unanimous approval. Bradley Burson then made a motion that the vote of a special interest group be allocated in the same manner as that of any other ACB affiliate, irrespective of a duplication of members. This was seconded by Fred Lilley and passed with one dissenting vote. A thorough discussion followed relative to the new Visually Impaired Data Processors International group which has come into existence, and the possibility of creating a new type of membership was raised. Under a motion made by Fred Lilley, seconded by Vernon Williams, the discussion was tabled; the vote on this motion was unanimous. The report of the Awards Committee was presented by its Chairman, Assunta Lilley. It was moved by Vernon Williams, seconded by Fred Lilley, that the report of the Awards Committee make selection of such recipients as they desire, and that, by the July Board meeting, they come in with specific recommendations, in writing, relative to the standards to be set for making future awards. The motion was approved unanimously. The President read the report of the Convention Guidelines Committee, which was submitted by its Chairman, Helen Vargo. He instructed the Secretary to make notes covering the suggestions being made by members of the Board and to forward these suggestions to the Guidelines Committee. It was moved by Vernon Williams that the report of the Guidelines Committee be received and that, with the suggested changes and additions, it be forwarded to the Convention Director for his assistance and consideration; the motion passed unanimously. This meeting was adjourned at 5:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Mary Jane Schmitt ***** ** The Treasurer Reports Send all contributions, dues or memberships to Fred Krepela, Treasurer, American Council of the Blind, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. The following were received between November 10, 1969 and February 6, 1970: * Members at Large $3.00 Maryan Harrison, St. Louis, Missouri; Wilbert J. Moehrke, Denver, Colorado; Paul W. Douglas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; James Piraino, 15 Grant Street, Waltham, Massachusetts. * Sustaining Membership $10.00 Ron Carey, Pacific Grove, California * Affiliate Memberships 20 cents per member Oregon Council of the Blind; North Dakota Association of the Blind. * Contributions to Braille Forum -- Total $15.00 Maryan Harrison, St. Louis, Missouri; J. Leslie Shaw, Augusta, Georgia; Mrs. Katherine Raspa, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Margaret Stancil, Washington, D.C.; Hazel Krieg, Denver, Colorado; Joe DeBeer, Chattanooga, Tennessee * General Contributions -- Total $73.00 Miss May I. Thrall, Sarasota, Florida; Miss Margaret Beale Danbury, Connecticut; Pioneer Chapter, Oregon Council of the Blind, Portland, Oregon; Corra B. Grant, Chicago, Illinois; Helen K. Wolfe, Columbus, Ohio; Georgia Irwin, Des Moines, Iowa. * Contributions to I. Affiliate Membership -- Total $85.00 Floyd Qualls, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Cathreen Coney, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; George Card, Madison, Wisconsin; Walter R. McDonald, Atlanta, Georgia; Gordon Stephens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Harriet Fielding, Sacramento, California. * Contributions for Thermoform Machines Chattanooga, Tennessee, Federation of the Blind $200.00. State affiliate per capita dues can be sent in any time between now and 30 days prior to convention. The national organization stands ready to assist the affiliates with any problems they may have, but does so only upon request. There is no limitation as to the number of independent affiliates which may exist within a state or community and state-wide membership is not required. Where two or more affiliates exist within a state, each is a separate entity and each is entitled to its own affiliate votes in proportion to its membership. However, no one person may be counted as a member of more than one affiliate. The right of an affiliate to vote at any convention is conditioned upon receipt, not later than 30 days before such convention, by the ACB Treasurer of a certified list of voting members* (as of the preceding Dec. 31) together with annual dues in the amount of 209 for each listed member. Affiliate votes are based on one vote for each 25 (or major fraction) certified members. No organization may have more than 25 affiliate votes nor pay more than $100 annual dues. New members-at-large (those not members of an affiliate of ACB) must have paid their initiation fee of $3.00 at least 30 days prior to the convention. The following is a list of our state affiliates as of January 1, 1970: Alabama Federation of the Blind; Arizona - Maricopa County Club of the Blind; California - Associated Blind of California; Florida Federation of the Blind; Georgia Federation of the Blind; Georgia - Bertha Perry Memorial Thrift Club; Illinois Federation of the Blind; Kansas Association for the Blind; Kentucky - Associated Blind of Kentucky; Maryland - American Council of the Blind of Maryland; Michigan Federation of the Blind; New York, Associated Blind, Inc.; North Carolina Federation of the Blind; North Dakota Association of the Blind; Oregon Council of the Blind; Oklahoma Federation of the Blind; South Dakota Association for the Blind; Tennessee Federation of the Blind; Texas - Lone Star Federation of the Blind; Vermont Council of the Blind; Wisconsin Council of the Blind; Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. The two states underlined (North Dakota and Oregon) have already paid their 1970 affiliate dues. *Two certified lists are required of new affiliates only. Former affiliates need only report their total membership. ***** ** Progress Notes on Electronics Training Program in Florida (News release from Dade County's Employ the Handicapped Committee) Fred Haynes will be putting his skill on the block when Dade's Employ the Handicapped Committee starts a campaign to sell local electronics companies on the value of hiring blind persons for jobs in electronic production. Haynes, 21, is one of some two dozen blind persons who have completed a special electronics training project financed by a Federal Grant and conducted in the Daytona Beach facilities of Florida's Bureau of Blind Services. The sales program will be launched at a noon luncheon meeting Friday, September 12, at Lenny's Hide-A-Way, 5055 N.W. 36th Street. Representatives of 25 Dade electronics firms have been. invited to the luncheon meeting to learn about job skills in electronic manufacturing which do riot require sight. On hand to dispel any doubts among the potential employers will be Bill Luther, Project Coordinator. Luther will tell about 15 blind persons already on the job with major electronics firms throughout Fla. For two other Dade youngsters, Robert Hearn, 20, and Joe Ray King, 21, graduation from the training course and job hunting are imminent. Leading a task force to help them find employment will be William G. Thompson, a member of DEHC. "These trainees can solder resistors, do crimping, testing and a lot of other jobs," says Thompson. "Honeywell, Dynatronics and Metric Systems have hired them, and we believe Dade electronics firms will find them just as valuable." ***** ** Work on Mechanical Eyes (From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) The bursting spots of light that an individual sees when struck on the head are something that scientists will use to help blind persons regain limited sight. Utilizing these light illusions which can be stimulated in the so-called visual portion of the brain, the researchers are moving toward the development of a mechanical eye. This artificial eye would give the blind some of the advantages of the sighted. But it is not possible in the foreseeable future to duplicate the enormous sophistication of natural human vision. "The blind person could read a book, see obstacles and possibly drive an automobile," said Theodor D. Sterling, professor of computer science and engineering at Washington University. Sterling is chairman of the Association for Computing Machinery's Committee on Professional Activities of the Blind. He was chairman of a confidential conference of scientists in December 1966 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That conference dealt with the possibilities of developing the artificial eye or as the scientist termed it visual prosthesis. Sterling believes that within two years an artificial eye experiment in a human being will be performed within the United States. Dr. Giles S. Brindley of the University of London, England, performed the first in a volunteer in 1967. Dr. Paul Bach-y-Rita of the University of the Pacific in San Francisco has had some success with a large television camera and stimulation of the skin of the back. Dr. Brindley stimulated the light spots by electrodes in a plate placed directly under the skin of the head and over the brain. Sterling and a research associate, Jay Weinkam, used computers to simulate visually what the brain sees when its light producing segments are stimulated. They said that: it would be possible within five years to perform a much more sophisticated artificial eye experiment than either of these. It would be possible if the National Institutes of Health had the money to make available about $2,000,000 a year to American scientists involved in this research, Sterling said. The federal budget tightening because of the Vietnam war and inflation has resulted in extensive fiscal reductions for NIH. He described this mechanical eye this way. It would include a plate similar to that which Dr. Brindley used but it would have the capability to stimulate from 200 to 400 points of light. Dr. Brindley's original human experiment involved only 37 scattered light points. The additional light points would move the visual power on the brain from the crude patterns of Dr. Brindley's first eye to something like a movie marquee or the Astrodome's animated scoreboard that would make light pictures. A sonar device and a television camera with both conventional and infrared lenses for vision at night would be involved as would a computer. The sonar would be miniaturized to the point where it could be implanted in the useless eye socket of a blind person as would the television camera. The computer would be the size of a cigarette package and would be carried in a pocket. "There is no component that cannot be built today," said Sterling. "But to put the whole thing together would take about five years." The sonar would sweep the area in front of a walking person using the device much like a ship's sonar sweeps the ocean listening for submarines. The sonar would detect the outline of an object like a fireplug. It would signal the computer which would in turn alert the television camera. A television picture would then be sent back to the computer which would then stimulate the electrodes that would turn on the light points in the brain. A picture of the fireplug would be reproduced there, and the person would step around the obstacle. It would not be as precise as the ordinary television picture which involves thousands of moving light points. But Sterling believes that as the work progresses, the eye could be as useful eventually as normal eyes in persons that need heavy correction glasses. ***** ** Oregon Report By Fred Krepela The Oregon Council of the Blind was formed and incorporated in January 1954 with George Howeiler, Christine Backe and John Zimpelman as incorporators. The first two are still active in work for the blind in Oregon; George as director of the Oral Hull Foundation and Christine on the staff of the Oregon Commission for the Blind. Mr. Zimpelman has passed away. Our Council is extremely active in membership and now has twelve active chapters in 11 Oregon cities. There are two chapters in Portland. Our total membership is well over 300 and each year seems to show an increase. We are extremely active in implementing our constitution article which says we are formed to "improve the economic and social welfare of the blind." Some of the more important examples are: Legislation which will improve the status of the blind such as increased welfare payments, non-discrimination against blind teachers, improved vocational opportunities, retention of our Commission for the Blind and providing for blind members thereon. Our OCB Loan Fund, which provides loans to our members of up to $500 at 3% interest; approximately $7,000 has been loaned and repaid since this loan fund was started. In cooperation with the Lions Clubs we have a large fund for any needy blind person who needs financial assistance for low vision aid and who is not eligible for state or federal funds. We also have a Grant-in-Aid program for sighted children of blind parents for post-high school education in vocational schools or colleges. In 1969 we provided five grants of $400 each, then when matched by schools and government can amount to $11,600 for each of the five grants. Children of blind non-members as well as children of our own members are eligible. Our 15th Annual Convention was held for the first time in Salem in October. Attendance at our banquet was 105 with State Representative L.B. Day as our main speaker. Vivian Dignan of Portland was awarded our plaque for outstanding service to the blind. As soon as we receive our share of the White Cane funds from the Lions, we will allot $1,600 to the above-mentioned Grant-in-Aid program for 1970. Wally Menning was re-elected for a third term as President as well as our ACB delegate to the 1970 national convention at Oklahoma City. Richard Kohl was elected as alternate delegate. Eric Gehrke was re-elected to another three-year term on the OCB Endowment Board of Trustees. Oregon is ever on the alert to borrow or implement new, progressive programs from other state affiliates as well as innovating many of our own. The Oregon Council of the Blind continues its excellent rapport with Governor Tom McCall's office in the State Capitol. Gov. McCall reappointed both T. G. Merkley and Fred Krepela to the Oregon Commission for the Blind, and also added Wally Menning as a new replacement, making three of the four appointees blind persons. In addition, there are five sighted members on Oregon's Commission by virtue of state law. ***** ** Has This Happened to You? * December 18, 1969 Mr. Kermit Hardwick, Manager John A. Brown Company 213 West Main Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Dear Mr. Hardwick: The enclosed article written by Mr. Art Buchwald and lifted from page 155 of the November issue of Reader's Digest is sent to you for your entertainment and, I hope, information. I experienced a very similar treatment in the John A. Brown downtown store. There were two major differences, however. (1) No one came over and recognized me and (2) I am totally blind. An American Express Card, BankAmericard, Sheraton Hotel and several oil company cards were insufficient. I did not have a driver's license. And, oh yes, no one offered to buy me a drink and I haven't been back in the store since. I send this hoping the message may reach to store employees. That is, unless "drivers licenses" are mandatory for identification. Sincerely yours, Floyd Qualls 111 N.W. 25th Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103 * December 26, 1969 Floyd Qualls 111 N. W. 25th Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103 Dear Mr. Qualls: We are replying to your letter of December 18, and we want to thank you for writing us about your experience, for this gives us the opportunity to make needed corrections. We have taken the liberty of showing your letter and article to many of the people in our store who are charged with the responsibility of authorizing checks. We believe they got the message. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention. Your letter has been very helpful. Yours sincerely, K.J. Hardwick Vice President * Un-American (From Reader's Digest, November 1969) I have a confession to make. I don't drive a car. Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact that a person is an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, even a newspaperman. But if a man doesn't drive, there is something wrong with him. Last week I went to a shopping center to buy a portable typewriter. I decided on one and asked the salesman, "May I write out a personal check?" "Naturally," he said kindly. "Do you have any identification?" "Of course," I said, I produced four different credit cards and my pass to the White House. The man inspected them all and then said, "Where's your driver's license?" "I don't have one," I replied. "Did you lose it?" "No, I didn't lose it. I don't drive a car." He pushed a button under the cash register, and a floor manager came rushing over. The salesman had now become surly. "This guy's trying to cash a check, and he doesn't have a driver's license. Should I call the store detective?" "Wait a minute, I'll talk to him," the manager said. "Did you lose your driver's license for some traffic offense?" "No, I've never driven. I don't like to drive." The floor manager looked at me suspiciously. "How did you get here if you don't drive?" "I took a taxi," I said. By this time a crowd had gathered. "What happened?" ... "Guy doesn't have a driver's license." ... "Says he doesn't drive." ... "How un-American can you get?" Then the president of the store arrived on the scene. Fortunately, he recognized my name and okayed the check. Embarrassed by the treatment I'd received, he said, "Come on, I'll buy you a drink." "I forgot to tell you," I said, "I don't drink either." ***** ** The Tennessee Federation of the Blind Convention By Francis Morton The Tennessee Federation of the Blind held its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee at the Noel Hotel, in Music City, USA; home of the Grand Old Opry. Several interesting speakers were guests of the convention: Roland Wolf, the only man alive who has fallen out of a seventh-floor window to the ground when a child and has lived to tell about it, was the Master of Ceremonies for the banquet, and Bob Abernathy, director of Extension U Field Services for Middle Tennessee State College, gave the Keynote Address, which was educational and filled with humor. The Nashville Chapter then hosted a bingo game which was attended and enjoyed by all, especially those who won prizes. Door prizes and favors were given by the host chapter thanks to the local dealers and kind merchants of the different jobbers in the city. Reese Robrahn gave a talk about the American Council of the Blind, explaining its beginning and purpose. We agreed to back all legislation with letters, personal contact and any way we could, to help the blind through the ACB. The election of officers resulted in Francis Morton, President; Herbert Hudson, Bernard Bagwell, and Terry Carney, Vice Presidents; Patricia Parton, Secretary; Ann Goforth, Treasurer; Chester Ogelsby, Delegate At Large. Francis Morton was chosen to go to Oklahoma City for the ACB and delegate from Tennessee. We of Tennessee are looking forward to seeing all of you in Oklahoma in July. ***** ** Here and There By George Card From Insight: Financed and sponsored by the Northwest Foundation for the Blind, Inc., visually impaired students at the University of Washington now have a convenient on-campus place at which they can meet with sighted volunteers to produce recorded versions of text study material. -- The Editor writes, "There have been some scholarly books and various fantastically academic treatises on the subject of blindness and too many of them only succeed in being wildly fanciful excursions on what blindness seems like. These, of course, are books on blindness by people who draw conclusions from what might be termed laboratory observations under controlled conditions. Only the writer who has actually lived, the experiences of blindness can be in a position to recognize the real differences between himself and a sighted person." -- By instilling a topical steroid into the eye for a six-week period, the average population will fall into three groups: 64% will not show an elevation of pressure, 32% will have a moderate elevation of pressure and 4% will demonstrate a greatly elevated pressure. These latter two categories will probably develop glaucoma. Among the factors increasing the likelihood of being a steroid responder are diabetes, myopia, hypothyroidism and a family history of glaucoma. From the AFB Newsletter: Andrew J. Bowers has been appointed to the newly created position of specialist in services for multi-handicapped blind persons. The creation of this position reflects AFB's recognition of the service needs of blind persons who have additional impairments. The AFB hopes to record at least 30 books on cassette tapes during the coming year. -- AFB's Washington representative, Irvin P. Schloss, has been elected chairman of the HEW Round Table, an informal group consisting of the Washington representatives of some 40 national organizations interested in health, education, welfare and similar programs. From the Standard-Bearer: Joseph Kohn, member of NAC's Commission on Accreditation, became president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind on November 4. For the first time a state (Oklahoma) law has specified that the library standards of the NAC "shall be followed." High praise to the organized blind of our sister state of Minnesota! Success has finally been realized in eliminating the most unfair and disruptive elements of their relatives' responsibility law by limiting it to spouses and to the parents of minor children. We have tried to do the same thing in Wisconsin for years but either our legislature is more intractably hidebound or we have been less persuasive. We will keep right on trying but it may take congressional action in the end. Vic Buttram writes in the Observer (Peoria): "It would seem that far too many of those blind who are doing well for themselves show little concern for the welfare of their less fortunate fellow blind or interest in the organized blind movement." From the Missouri Chronicle: A special project for the blind at Elephant Rocks State Park, near Ironton, will include a 4,500-foot "braille trail," designed to take the user through as many areas of interest as possible in about an hour's time. It is anticipated that about 2,500 blind residents of Missouri could benefit. -- Fred C. Lilley, ACB Board member, has been appointed coordinator of the handicapped by the U.S. Army Aviation System Command. In this capacity he is required to follow up newly employed handicapped persons to determine if any problems exist and to make recommendations for correcting them. The nine-man Oregon Commission for the Blind now has three blind members -- Messrs. Krepela, Menning and Merkley. The Erie County branch of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind has made available a braille booklet to assist blind persons interested in bowling. For further information write to Mrs. Mary Tammaro, 2402 Cherry Street, Erie, PA. The Oregon Council held a successful 1969 convention in Salem October 11-12. Wally Menning was re-elected to the presidency. Clifford Stocker, Executive Secretary, Oregon Commission, stated that a substantial gain in blind employment had come about by reason of a contract for the assembling of In-Flight Kits. State Representative L.B. Day warned that services and rehabilitation for the blind might be absorbed by the Department of Human Resources -- a proposal that OCB had defeated during the past legislative meeting. The Palmetto Auroran reports that a thrilling feature of the 1969 South Carolina convention was a report by three blind individuals who had for years been earning barely subsistence wages in a workshop but who now, owing to the activity of the recently achieved Commission for the Blind, are in well-paid positions. Also that the average public assistance grant to the blind had been raised by $9, owing to the organization's efforts. Dr. Fred Crawford, who so delighted the ACB audience at Charlotte last summer, was the banquet speaker. Although only three years old; the S.C. Commission has already brought its rehabilitation record up to third in the nation. In his banquet speech he said that from 1920 to 1943 blind applicants were turned away from the rehabilitation agencies because their disability was considered too severe. According to federal reports only 162 blind persons were placed in employment in the year 1939 and most of them were operators of vending stands. Last year alone more than 7,000 blind people were placed in remunerative employment in the U.S. "We should worry less about the duplication of services sometimes and more about the elimination of some of the unnecessary agencies. There are now 350 in the U.S., of many of them providing little or no real service. Our workers for the blind should have a pioneering spirit, not a highly professional attitude. These professionals usually can't get around from behind their desks to talk to you, they want the desk between the person they are talking to and themselves as some kind of protection or barrier. They watch the clock." From the OCB Bulletin: The blind of Canton, of Ohio and of the nation have lost a wonderful most friend and champion of their cause -- Harry Stiller. Under most adverse conditions he was a human dynamo. He never ran out of energy and he never lacked ideas. (This writer deeply mourns his loss -- he was a long-time personal friend.) From Performance: Skiing for the blind, deaf, amputees and other handicapped groups contradicts limitations so often arbitrarily inflicted on the handicapped. It has proved to be valuable attitude therapy not only for the student but also for the public. Now being developed by a major electrical firm is a communications system which the instructor will use to guide the blind pupil. With the speaker held by the teacher and the earphones worn by the pupil, the speaker can guide the skier away from any obstructions in the snow. From the KAB News: The golden anniversary of our Kansas affiliate will be celebrated in 1970 in Topeka, the city where the organization was founded. -- Since 1938, 3288 persons in Kansas received sight restoration which in all instances removed them from the category of blindness. -- My old friend, Esther Taylor, a past president of KAB and who had served in just about every capacity and has devoted countless hours to help the blind of Kansas, received the 1969 Eleanor A. Wilson Award. -- The first 20 members who apply for it will receive $50 each toward their expenses at the 1970 ACB convention in Oklahoma City. The ABC Digest (Calif.) reports the re-election of ACB Board member, Mrs. Catherine Skivers, to another two-year term as its President. -- San Diego Industries for the Blind claims the highest rate of pay for its workers of any shop in the country. -- "Our bill to increase the number of teachers for pre-school blind children was vetoed by Governor Reagan. ABC sent him a telegram which read in part: "We are shocked and deeply disappointed at your veto of S-733 ... We cannot think of why such urgently needed services should be denied blind and deaf-blind infants." -- A new state law grants blind, visually handicapped and other physically disabled persons full and equal access to all housing accommodations offered for rent lease or compensation. -- Frank Kells, of Arizona, has made a list of 29 euphemisms for the word "blind." (This writer sees no real point in dodging or evading the word.) -- Of the 140 children now at the California School for the Blind, about 85% are multiply handicapped. From the CCB Outlook: There are at least 12 million blind people in the world. If they marched eight abreast, the column would stretch 852 miles. In each line of eight people, one would be a child, four would be blind from some cause which could have been prevented, and two would be people whose sight could even now be restored. -- South African placement counselor for the blind -- himself blind -- has invented a device which permits a blind worker to achieve results in nine seconds which had always taken sighted workers thirty-two seconds. This invention -- a special tool for securing car seats to springs -- has so impressed manufacturers they have adopted it for regular use by non-handicapped workers. -- CNIB tape talking books will soon be available to blind Eskimos in their own language. -- Arthur J. Gosselin, Montreal, claims he's retired, but judging by the volume of braille he turns out it's hard to believe. His latest achievement is the 935-page Oxford Companion to Canadian History and Literature. In print it is one thick volume. In braille it is 42 volumes of approximately 100 pages each! It will be used by blind students everywhere in Canada. -- The Japanese City of Sendai has installed special braille traffic signals for the blind. A post vibrates when the lights change and a braille signal on the post signifies whether the light is green or red. -- The San Bernardino National Forest, east of Los Angeles, now has a braille-marked nature trail. The Washington White Cane reports that Tom Gronning, of Seattle, a former WSAB President and Chairman of the Board of the White Cane Magazine, died on November 30 at the age of 81. -- Also that the State School for the Blind is now teaching the use of the Cranmer abacus to all of its students. -- Twenty-three students of this school were taken to a recent International Lions Convention in Chicago. They put on a variety of performances while there which captured hearts of the 40, 000 Lions in attendance, as well as a vast radio and television audience. One of the most outstanding accomplishments was performed by a partially blind boy riding a six-foot high unicycle. -- During the four weeks last summer, a pilot summer school was held at the Washington State School for the Blind for visually impaired seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth grade children regularly enrolled in public school classes. Self-sufficiency was a major goal of the program. Daily living skills were emphasized, and the children made great gains. (In view of the fact that blind children in public schools are deprived of so much invaluable special training, this seems to me a tremendous idea.) David Swerdlow, 621 West End Avenue New York NY 10024, urges blind residents of the New York City area who may be interested in drama to get in touch with him. He is the Director of the Elbee Audio Players. Lack of space prevents our publishing his letter in full but Mr. Ralph S. Pfiefer, of Hammond, gives a rather shocking account of how a number of highly qualified blind applicants for head of the Indiana Agency for the Blind were passed over by a screening committee, of which one member was Ray Dinsmore, of the NFB Executive Committee. The directorship had always been held by a blind person heretofore but, according to this letter, Dinsmore agreed to this discrimination without a whisper of protest. In the AAWB News and Views Howard Hanson writes: "The World Council now has 54 member countries. The papers which were presented at the WCWB Assembly were both inspirational and depressing if that is possible -- inspiring from the standpoint that the developing countries are trying so hard to do something which will benefit their literally millions of blind persons, and depressing from the standpoint that progress is so slow. If all the ophthalmologists from the U.S. and the United Kingdom were put to work in India doing cataract surgery alone, they would barely catch up with the backlog of cases." ***** ** Scholarships for Blind Students (from National Federation of Music Clubs) The National Federation of Music Clubs is offering eight $100.00 Scholarships to Blind Students; two will be awarded in each of the four NFMC Regions. Applicants must be a member of the Junior Division, either in a Federated Junior Club or as a Junior Special Member, dues having been paid by February 1st and must not have reached 19th birthday by March 1st. Applicant shall send a tape of the selections on which the judging is to be based, accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the entrant's teacher, and an affidavit from the attending ophthamologist stating the entrant is "officially blind" with 20/200 or less vision after correction. The tape, letter of recommendation, and the opthamologist's affidavit shall be sent, by the deadline of the Junior Festival in entrant's area, to: Central Region - Mrs. Dwight D. Robinson, 7 Ransom Road, Athens, Ohio 45701 Northeastern Region - Mrs. Gerald Q. Decker, 100 Seaside Place, Sea Girt, N.J. 08750 Southeastern Region - Mrs. Harold G. Deal, 375 4th St. N.W., Hickory, North Carolina 28601 Western Region - Miss Nielsine M. Neilsen, 26 10th St. N.W., Hampton, Iowa 50441 The Regional Chairmen, after checking qualifications, will have the tapes heard by competent judges in her area. The tapes and pertinent data of the two entrants receiving highest rating, with judges' signed comments shall be sent to the National Chariman by March 31, 1970. Blind composers between the ages of 10 to 16 and from 16 to 30 may submit their compositions in manuscript, together with data as required above (Scholarships), to the National Chairman. These compositions will be adjudicated by composers of merit. All compositions will be returned with judges' signed comments. All entrants must be member of a Junior, Student, or Senior Club or a Special Member. A $100.00 award will be given to the entrant receiving the highest rating in the 10 to 16 group. A $200.00 award will be given to the entrant receiving the highest rating in the 16 to 30 year group. Scholarships and awards will be offered annually hereafter. Committee: Mrs. Harold G. Deal Mrs. Gerald Q. Decker Mrs. Lloyd B. Mielenz Mrs. Glenn W. Morrison Miss Nielsine M. Nielsen Mrs. Dwight D. Robinson Mrs. G. Franklin Onion, Chairman ***** ** ACB Officers * President: Judge Reese Robrahn, 329 Woodbury Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66606 * First Vice President: George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, Wisc. 53703 * Second Vice President: Vernon Williams, 217 Western Union Bldg., Aberdeen, S.D. 54701 * Secretary: Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt, 510 Terrington Rd., Rochester, N.Y. 14609 * Treasurer: Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301 ** Directors Mrs. Catherine Skivers, 836 Resota Street, Hayward, Cal. 94545 Floyd Qualls, 106 N.E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104 Dr. S. Bradley Burson, 917 Kenyon Street, Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28205 David Krause, 2121 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 Fred Lilley, 7629 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, MO 63117 Don Cameron, 724 S. Davis Blvd., Tampa, Fla. 33609 Arnold Whaley, 8458 East Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, Tenn. 37421 ###