The Braille Forum Vol. X July 1971 No. 1 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * Editor: Earl Scharry 5714 Ridgeway Ave. Rockville, MD 20851 * Associate Editors: George Card 605 South Few St. Madison, WI 53703 Alma Murphey 4103 Castleman Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 * 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. ***** ** Table of Contents Notice to Subscribers Convention Notes: Pre-Convention Meeting of the Constitution Committee Special Interest Groups at Milwaukee Convention Week Lions International President at ACB Convention ACB Service Net -- Convention Broadcast Station Credit Union Luncheon at ACB Teacher's Pet, by Bettye Krause Affiliate Conventions: Arkansas Council of the Blind Convention, by Chester Holden ACB Comes to Colorado, by Helen Moore Iowa Council of the Blind Convention, by Charles Kintz Tennessee Council of the Bind Convention, by Francis Morton Treasurer's Report of Donations Methinks Thou Dost Protest Too Much, by Fred Lilley Achievements: Singdoy, Singdoy, Singdoy, by Michael Ewart Surmounting the Barriers Legislative Highspots, by Durward McDaniel Hyde Park Corner: Why Not Loving Common Carriers?, by Robert P. Phelan Why Don't You ...?, by David Arocho ... Or You? Consumer Participation, by Loretta Freeman Texans Prefer Commission Form of Agency Banks Pocket Braille Writer Available A New Approach to Teaching Braille, by Earl Scharry Four New Affiliates in ACB Where There's a Will There's a Fray, by Kenneth Hinga Additional Titles from ACB Tape Library Here and There Last Minute Convention Notes ACB Officers Directors ***** ** 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: 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 should be sent to ACB Treasurer Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. ***** ** Pre-Convention Meeting of the Constitution Committee There will be a meeting of the Constitution Committee in Room 1808 on Wednesday, July 28, at 5:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to submit an amendment to the constitution or by-laws should do so in writing to the chairman. At the present time proposed amendments have been submitted pertaining to the definition of membership, to a change in dues and to the establishment of a Committee on Credentials. Anyone wishing to comment on these propositions is invited to attend the meeting. The Committee would appreciate advance notice. Garland Dowling, Chairman 20 E Street, N.W., Suite 215 Washington, D.C. 20001 ***** ** Special Interest Groups at Milwaukee Convention Week The May issue contained extensive information about programs and activities of special occupational and professional groups which hold their own sessions immediately prior to the ACB convention. The Forum welcomes to Milwaukee on July 25-28 the American Blind Lawyers Association, the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, the Visually Impaired Data Processors International, the ACB Service Net, and the International Association of Blind Lions. Each of these organizations is autonomous. Each has its own officers, bylaws, meetings and programs. Periodically, the Forum will carry the names and addresses of the respective presidents of these organizations to facilitate new correspondence. Mail may be sent at any time to the Council's national office to be forwarded to any of these special organizations. They are proving to be beneficial to their members, and eligible persons are encouraged to work with them. ***** ** Lions International President at ACB Convention Fred C. Lilley, Chairman of the International Association of Blind Lions and a director of the Council, has announced that Robert J. Uplinger will be the featured speaker at the annual Lions Luncheon at the ACB convention at the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee on Wednesday, July 28th. Blind Lions from all points will be attending, and those who have not made reservations should do so very soon. The Association will hold a business meeting from 10:30 to 12 noon on the 28th at the hotel. Blind Lions may communicate with Mr. Lilley at 7629 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, Mo. 63117. If readers know blind Lions who are not on the mailing list, this information should be passed along to them. The Lions Luncheon will be followed by the general sessions of the Council which will conclude at 5 p.m. on Saturday, the 31st. ***** ** ACB Service Net -- Convention Broadcast Station The amateur radio operators who have made such a success of the Service Net during the past year will be operating an amateur station from the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel during convention week -- July 25-31st. An antenna will be installed on one of the upper floors of the hotel and the station will operate from Room 1907 in the hotel. Howard K. Traxler of Milwaukee is working directly with the Coordinator and the Manager of the Service Net to make this special service possible. The president of the local amateur radio association is lending his antenna, and Howard is providing the station. Hams and convention-goers generally will be talking by radio to friends and relatives over a wide area when they are not attending the convention. The Council is proud of these volunteers who have handled thousands of messages for blind and sighted people during the past year on the Service Net. More than 500 amateurs have participated during the year. The Net will meet on the air during that week, as it does every week, at 12 noon CDT on 20 meters, 14.305. ***** ** Credit Union Luncheon at ACB Credit union enthusiasts and those who want to learn about this important service institution will gather at a special luncheon at the Sheraton-Schroeder, the convention hotel, at noon on Thursday, July 29th. CUNA International is the association of credit unions and will be represented at our luncheon by one of its officers. John Vanlandingham of Phoenix will report on the formation of the newest credit union for visually impaired persons in his state. Time will be allowed for discussion of special questions about the formation, operation and growth of credit unions. If your credit union for the blind is not represented on the Council's Credit Union Committee, you are invited to send a representative. If your organization does not have a credit union for its members, your interest and inquiries are invited. We can and will assist in establishing new ones. ***** ** Teacher's Pet By Bettye Krause On the evening of February 26, 1971, every radio and TV newscast in Washington, D.C. reported that a Superior Court jury had ordered a local hospital to pay $300,000 to George Rose, Jr. This is the story behind that story, as I saw it and experienced it firsthand. It is the story of a little boy, a very special little boy. It began in February, 1968, just two months before his sixth birthday. George Rose, Jr., affectionately known as Geo, was like most little boys in kindergarten. He was full of life and eager to learn everything his world had in store for him. His was an active world, a world filled with running and jumping and skipping and hopping. But for Geo, his whole world was to change very suddenly. It had been decided that Geo and his sister, a year older, were to have their tonsils removed. They tossed a coin to see who would go first. Geo lost the toss of the coin and, as a result, he was to lose much, much more. For during the operation, he suffered a cardiac arrest which, according to trial testimony, lasted for at least ten minutes. Trial testimony also brought forth the information that much-needed and required equipment was not available in the operating room or in the recovery room. For the next four months, Geo remained in a coma, bordering between life and death. During all this time, either his mother or his father was present at his bedside constantly. They used every means they could think of to try to bring their little boy back to consciousness. On his birthday in April, they even resorted to having a birthday party in his hospital room, hoping to get through to him. But nothing worked. Mr. and Mrs. Rose just lived from day to day, not knowing what the morrow would bring. When, after four torturous months, Geo came out of the coma, his parents learned the terrible truth that the doctors had only hinted at previously. Geo was totally blind, his speech was seriously impaired, and he was almost totally paralyzed. To the Roses, however, nothing else mattered except that their little boy was alive, and they were thankful. When the day came to take Geo home, the Roses had been given no advice or instruction from the hospital as to how to care for his needs. According to Mr. and Mrs. Rose, they don't know what they would have done in those early days if they had not been able to obtain the services of a visiting nurse. Gradually, however, they obtained the necessary equipment and know-how to enable them to take care of his greatest needs. When he felt well enough, Geo spent most of his days in a wheelchair. Then, in November, 1968, ten months after the tonsil operation, he was admitted to the Sharpe Health School, a school for physically handicapped children within the District of Columbia. It was there that I first became acquainted with Geo. I will never forget my first meeting with him. It was January 21, 1969, a cold, rainy, and dismally gray day. I had been asked by the Director of Special Education to go to Sharpe Health School to see if I could be of any assistance. I knew very little about this child, and certainly not enough to prepare me for the shock I was to receive. I was directed to the occupational therapy suite, where, I was told, a therapist would give me the necessary information, and where I would then meet the Rose child. Well, it just did not turn out that way. I entered the room to which I had been shown and immediately became aware that a tiny figure, half sitting and half drooping, was sobbing its little heart out in a wheelchair which, to me, looked far too large. Not knowing what to do, I just stood there in great dejection. Fortunately, about this time, the occupational therapist entered the room. After introducing herself to me, she introduced me to Geo. She seemed to know who I was and why I was there. I watched while she tried to get some response from the little boy, but there was almost none. Just before Geo was wheeled from the room, I stepped over to the side of his chair and put my hand on his sagging little shoulder. I told Geo I would return the next day to visit with him. There was no response. I discussed the situation with the therapist, who was able to give me some very necessary information. Repeating to the therapist that I would return the next day, I went out into the cold rain with the feeling that I was carrying the weight of the world on my back. During the weeks that followed, I went to Sharpe daily to visit with Geo. At first, I just sat and held one of his limp hands in mine. He cried much of the time, but gradually I could understand the words and half sentences with which he endeavored to communicate with those around him. Also during this period, the therapists were fitting him with straps and other devices for holding him steady and in an upright position while in his wheelchair. Contact was made with his parents, and they were instructed on how to work with him at home. In time, I could tell that he looked forward to my visit each day. Then came the day that he laughed for the first time. I will never forget it. It was a day when he seemed more unhappy than usual. He had cried most of the time I had been there. Finally, in utter despair, I said to him, "Geo, I'm so unhappy that you're unhappy, I think I'll just cry with you." I guess I proceeded to put on a show for him. As a matter of fact, I suppose I got carried away with my own performance, for I suddenly realized that he had stopped crying and was laughing loud and clear. I was so pleased that I grabbed him and hugged him tightly. From that moment on, we started to make progress. It had been determined that the main purpose for my working with Geo would be to develop listening skills and possessed and help him with his speech. I was soon to learn that he possessed unusual ability to comprehend what was read to him. I would read a story to him and have him tell it back to me. His greatest problem was getting the words to come out the way he wanted them to. He knew what he wanted to say, but managing to say it was something else again. However, we just did not let him give up. As a result, his speech gradually improved, and I was able to understand more and more of what he said. I worked with him hour after hour on making whole sentences. I hadn't been around Geo long before I discovered that he was a very affectionate child who responded to being loved. He would try with all his might to hug me with his two little arms that he couldn't raise higher than his head, and he would try to feel the braille from which I read to him, without any success. Since we had been told from the beginning that no one could give us any idea how much return there would be in the use of any portion of his body, we just did the very best we could. I worked closely with the therapists. They helped me and, in return, I gave them numerous suggestions that aided in their endeavor to get Geo to perform the exercises that would develop and strengthen his arms and legs. By the end of that first school year, in June, 1969, we could see the signs of progress. This progress has continued during the past two years, but it has been slow, and there have been special problems to solve. For instance, we discovered at Geo's seventh birthday party in April of 1969 that loud noises were upsetting and frustrating to him. To overcome this, I began wheeling his chair outside, where he was confronted with street noises and all the other outside sounds. When he soon became aware that he could distinguish between a truck and a car passing on the street, he became anxious to learn to differentiate other sounds. Gradually, as a result of this technique, noise has become less of a problem for him. There have been many times during the past two years when all of us working with Geo felt that no progress was being made. Then suddenly something would happen which gave us new hope and encouragement. A particular part of his body would show signs of increased strength; his speech would improve markedly; an old fear would be overcome; or he would find a new method of coping with a problem which had appeared insurmountable. Geo's progress has been truly a team effort: teachers, therapists, and, above all, his parents. The attitude of Mr. and Mrs. Rose has given a demonstration of the potent curative value of the sense of being loved and belonging. They have never given up, nor have they permitted Geo to do so. He is a part of the family in every respect and is never left out of any family activity. Their attitude toward Geo and his physical handicaps is beautiful to behold. They are genuinely appreciative of everything that is done for Geo. They were particularly appreciative when, recently, the D.C. Association of Workers for the Blind presented Geo with a much-needed new hospital bed. In return for what others were doing for Geo, George Rose, Sr., took time off from work a few days before Christmas to play Santa Claus for a Christmas party given by members of ACB in this area for visually impaired children in the public-school classes. And a sensational Santa Claus he was! Most of the totally blind children had never had an opportunity to feel Santa Claus, and for them this was a new and wonderful experience. They started at his boots and examined him to the top of his cap. They hugged him and fought over him and had the time of their lives. It is worthy of mention that George Rose, Sr. served as Santa and spelled success for our ACB Christmas party despite the fact that Geo had suffered a sudden illness and was unable to attend the party. In early January of this year, a trial began in Superior Court in Washington, D.C. The civil suit had been brought by George Rose, Sr., against the hospital where Geo had undergone his tonsillectomy. The surgeon and anesthesiologist involved in the case had settled out of court, but the hospital refused to do so. I was pleased to have the opportunity to testify on behalf of Geo during the trial. After seven long weeks, the jury awarded father and son $300,000. It is not really very much money when one realizes all that this little boy has lost. To those who might say that a teacher doesn't have the right to call any child a pet, I can only say that I am human, and Geo is a very special little boy. It is difficult to put into words that very particular "something" he gives to everyone who comes in contact with him. No one now can say what the future holds for Geo. With the proper approach, careful development, and given a chance, Geo's life may well be filled with many amazing accomplishments. One thing, however, is certain: The world is a better place today for having a little boy named Geo in it. I, for one, am proud to call this little boy "teacher's pet." ***** ** Arkansas Council of the Blind Convention By Chester Holden Some 75 blind persons and persons interested in work for the blind assembled in Little Rock from all parts of the state April 17-18 to attend the first meeting of the newly organized Arkansas affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Officers elected to two-year terms are: Chester Holden, President; Mrs. Christine Taylor, First Vice president; Tracy Daniels, Second Vice president; Miss Cathrine Brodie, Secretary; and Travis Johnson, Treasurer. Pending national legislation, endorsed in a resolution adopted by the group, included H.R. 1, providing for a reduction of the number of quarters covered to make blind persons eligible for social security; S. 1030, providing for expanded services for the blind, and proposed amendments to the Randolph-Sheppard Act providing more opportunity of employment for the blind. In other resolutions the membership recommended that a program for training and employment of the multi-handicapped be developed in cooperation with voluntary and public agencies, and that the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for the Blind retain its identity as a separate division in the new Arkansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Guest speakers included Judge Reese Robrahn, President of the American Council of the Blind; Miss Helen Vargo, President of the Kansas Association for the Blind; L.H. Autry, Jr., Director of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, and Dr. Bob Riley, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. ***** ** ACB Comes to Colorado By Helen Moore On Saturday, June 12, 1971, the Charter Convention of the Columbine Council of the Blind was held in Denver, Colorado. This convention was the culmination of many months of planning, organizing and promoting an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, Inc., in Colorado. With sufficient membership following the Charter Convention, the Columbine Council is in the process of applying for affiliation with the American Council of the Blind, Inc. The Columbine Council expresses grateful appreciation particularly to Mr. Durward K. McDaniel and to Mr. Floyd Qualls for their invaluable assistance, encouragement and counsel throughout the months leading up to the formal establishment of the organization. The Columbine Council is further indebted to Mr. Qualls for his taking time from his busy schedule to be featured speaker at the Charter Convention on June 12. Mr. Qualls bestowed upon the Columbine Council a great honor when he became its first sustaining member. A few of the immediate goals of the Columbine Council include the active support of better state legislation of interest to the blind; the publishing of a monthly newsletter which will strive to give the blind of the state information on current activities; the development and publication of a directory containing accurate and up-to-date information concerning agencies, services and facilities available to the blind in Colorado. The Columbine Council feels there is much to be accomplished by and for the blind in Colorado and is eager to cooperate in any way possible to achieve its goals and objectives. In keeping with this philosophy that there is enough work to be done in Colorado to warrant the existence of more than one organized blind group, it is important to note that the Charter Convention of CCB was held in the building owned by the Denver Area Association of the Blind. The Columbine Council was most appreciative of the offer of the facility for the convention. The CCB feels this is a significant indication of the kind of cooperative efforts to be put forth by the two groups in the future. Below is the list of newly elected officers (all from Denver) of CCB: President, Bryant Moore; Vice-President Bill Griffin; Secretary, Cathy Mobley; Treasurer, John Barnes: and Directors -- Vern Campbell, Walter Smith and Helen Moore. ***** ** Iowa Council of the Blind Convention By Charles Kintz Our Convention, hosted by the Cedar Valley Council of the Blind, got under way Friday evening, June 11, with the arrival of our guest speaker, Judge Reese H. Robrahn. Judge Robrahn's plane was met by ICB officers and board members. The Waterloo Chamber of Commerce rolled out the red carpet and presented him with a walnut key to the city. Wyman Howard, ICB President, gave the keynote address, "We Still Stand." It left no doubt in the minds of his listeners that we are and will be a recognized force in the affairs of the Iowa Blind. Al Morell of Burlington gave us a talk on the new speed brailing which he and his partner, Ned Russell, invented. Dr. Frank Rocco, Superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, talked on "Past Gains and Future Aims" for the School. At the evening banquet the Chester A. Hill Certificate of Merit Award was presented to Dr. Frank Rocco by Mrs. Ruth Hill, widow of Chester Hill. A bronze plaque was presented to the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School for its recent accreditation. Judge Robrahn's speech was the highlight of the convention. It was entitled "Path and Covenant." He expressed his wish that everyone "be his own man" but that we should all cooperate with other organizations as much as possible so that we can maintain the gains we have made over the past fifty years. He admonished us to be aggressive on our own behalf and do away with the handrail and smooth path that society has put there for us. One hundred guests and members were present at the convention. Joe Klostermann of Vinton was named Chairman for the 1972 convention. Richard Farmer of Vinton was elected Treasurer, succeeding Harry Wiggens, who resigned because of poor health. James Saeugling of Marshalltown was elected to finish Chester Hill's term on the executive board. ***** ** Tennessee Council of the Blind Convention By Francis Morton At the last convention in Memphis, Tennessee, we voted to change the name of the Tennessee Federation of the Blind to the Tennessee Council of the Blind. This was done for two reasons: to keep us from being confused with any other organization of the blind in the State and to conform with our parent organization, the American Council of the Blind. We did, however, retain our old charter, so that our former name cannot be used by any other group without the consent of the Tennessee Council of the Blind. We hope that all other chapters will take note of this change. There has been a change in state administration recently. We hope that the new Commissioner of Public Welfare, Mr. Fred Friend, will be able to review and sanction the following bills we are supporting: (1) A little Randolph-Sheppard Act for Tennessee, and (2) the White Cane Law. There are two or three other bills which are being revised, but as of now, this is it. We are also interested in the employment of a blind or partially sighted person by the Tennessee Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. There is some wonderful help at the Library now and we feel that they are doing a good job, but, at present, braille letters have to be read by others than the staff. If the Library is for the Blind, it should have someone who is proficient in Braille. There are other duties a partially sighted person could perform there. ***** ** Treasurer's Report of Donations January 1 to June 1, 1971 * Members at Large - $3.00 Mary Deming, Long Beach, California * Contributions to the Braille Forum - Total $78.00 Ruth Lynch, Janesville, Wisconsin Bernice Thompson, Glen Burnie, Maryland Ida T. Goll, New Orleans, Louisiana J. Leslie Shaw, Augusta, Georgia Mrs. Juliet Bindt, Berkeley, California Bernice C. Brown, Washington, D.C. Carlos M. Erwin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Miss Hazel Krieg, Denver, Colorado Mrs. Virgil Lake, Joplin, Missouri Edna Williams, Portland, Oregon Ken Firth, Caloundra, Queensland, Australia Arthur Bushman, Reno, Nevada Richard Kohl, Portland, Oregon Anne E. Marvin, Charlottesville, Virginia * Braille Forum Tapes - $4.50 Rosemary Moriarty, Largo, Florida Southern Tier Assn. for the Blind * General Contributions - Total $178.00 Mrs. Ruth McComas, Independence, Missouri J. Woodrow Hagadish, Rochester, New York Mr. & Mrs. Martin Howe, Green Bay, Wisconsin Hubert Smith, Augusta, Georgia Pioneer Chapter, Oregon Council of the Blind Louis Sumlar, Detroit, Michigan William Klontz, Waterloo, Iowa William Dancer, Stockbridge, Michigan Alice J. Shaw, St. Louis, Missouri Edna M. Winter, St. Louis, Missouri Mrs. W.C. Applegate, Carthage, Texas Josephine M. Corner, Boston, Massachusetts Robert M. Bernstein, Wyncote, Pennsylvania Alma R. McKenney, Taunton, Massachusetts Helen U. Hoerichs, Baltimore, Maryland * Washington Office Donation - $1,000.00 Oklahoma Federation of the Blind ACB's bills are paid and "All's right with the world." Will see you all in Milwaukee. ***** ** Methinks Thou Dost Protest Too Much By Fred C. Lilley Ordinarily, it is against my principles to engage in argumentative discussion which usually achieves no useful purpose; but a recent article in a "national" magazine was just too much. It would seem that recently a certain gentleman wrote to Mr. Kenneth Jernigan regarding an organization of owners of guide dogs. Mr. J., in his usual patronizing fashion, patiently explained that such special interest groups are unnecessary because they already have the paternal blessing of the "Great White Father in Des Moines," who sees all and knows all about everything. Of course, this is his privilege as long as his dissertation is directed to his disciples and his comments and "advice" are restricted to his own organization. But when he chooses to malign a "splinter group" named the American Council of the Blind, his remarks cannot go unchallenged. It is not my wish to waste valuable Forum space or dignify the correspondence by reprinting it verbatim, but I do wish to excerpt those sections which I find to be significant to illustrate my objections. The fact that someone wishes to start an organization for users of guide dogs could hardly be objectionable to me, since I myself had a guide dog at one time, and did in fact organize and was the first president of the Pilot Guide Dog Alumni Association. Since its founding in 1951 the organization has flourished. The members hold annual national conventions, have assisted each other, and have never in any way intruded themselves into the blind political arena. Mr. J. discourages the formation of such a group because "we should give careful consideration to the trend now going forward to establish more and more so-called 'national' organizations concerning blindness." The next statement is most interesting to me as a citizen of Missouri for reasons which I will explain. I quote: Ideally there should be only one organization of the blind in each locality -- which, in turn, would be affiliated with one organization in each state -- which would be affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind." What makes this statement so remarkable is that this super-egotist leaves no doubt that there is no room locally, statewide or at the national level, for any organization of blind people unless it is guided from Des Moines. And, he is willing to prove his point by sending an organizer into St. Louis to create an affiliate to the so-called Missouri affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind; this, notwithstanding the fact that St. Louis already has three local organizations -- one of which owns a recreational center for the blind, and one which was organized and chartered in 1912, which is 28 years before the NFB was even founded. So obviously, by "ideally" Mr. J. means if they are under his control. However, it is my prediction that his organizational efforts will only serve to solidify Missourians behind their "real" local and state organizations. We recognize the right of those who choose to charter a bus to attend the NFB convention and collectively cast their one vote. However, others will journey to Milwaukee, and even though we are not affiliated as an organization, we have the privilege of voting on a one-man, one-vote principle. Meanwhile, back to the "letter." Mr. J. said further: "From what I can gather, the American Council of the Blind and its array of so-called independent 'national' organizations, (lawyers, Lions, data processors, etc.) is pretty thin and sparse." First, I must call your attention to the fact that the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association is included among the "etc." Could this be because the NFB carries in the same issue of their magazine an article about the formation of a similar group? Also, is it not a fact that one of the members of VISTA was offered her transportation to Iowa to help form the new group? And regarding the membership being "sparse," as chairman of the Blind Lions I can say that our membership is far, far from sparse. The next point that Mr. J. raises is so ridiculous, if it is read factually, that I am going to be kind and assume that he was philosophizing. The subject I refer to is one in which he downgrades the efforts of a group which, in 1896, banded together to fight discrimination against the blind in institutions of higher education. The one sentence which I will quote follows: "The principal problem in 1896 was exactly what it is now: the misunderstandings and misconceptions of blindness which exist, on the part of the public toward the blind and (it must be admitted) sometimes on our own part as blind people. We are part of the culture in which we live and are, therefore, likely to assimilate public attitudes about us and make them our own if we are not careful." He does condescend in a later sentence that we all have a common problem (which I assume is blindness) which requires united action. The significant part of this statement is the fact that its author contends that the problems that existed in 1896 are "exactly" the same as they are today, indicating that all the hard work and effort put forth in the interim has borne no fruit. The facts are, Mr. J., that the fight waged in 1896 made your college life a little easier. The balance of his testament is pretty much repetitive. The same groups he condemns in the American Council of the Blind as "national" independent groups are accepted as contributing to the solidarity of the NFB. What constitutes fragmentation by the ACB is symbolic of unity in the NFB. In closing, I would like to recommend an excellent article in the same magazine, entitled: "Integrity -- the Challenge of Our Time." For some, this should be must reading. ***** ** Singdoy, Singdoy, Singdoy By Michael Ewart About a week after Christmas, the organist of Saint Andrews Episcopal Church informed me and the other members of our choir that we would sing at one of the downtown churches on the 24th of January. This service was special since it occurred near the Chinese New Year, which is January 27. Rehearsals began around the first of the year. The music was taken from the service of Evening Prayer. We also used settings for two psalms taken from the plainsong psalter. These psalms require a cantor, who serves the same function as a Jewish cantor. I was appointed as cantor. Since I did not have the psalms in braille, I had them dictated to me, and worked out a system for figuring the changes in pitch as the pitch related to the words. I put a double italics sign before the word where the pitch changed. If this occurred within a word, I placed the sign between the appropriate syllables. One of the hymns was to be sung in Cantonese Chinese. The hymn was "Holy, Holy, Holy," which in Chinese is "Singdoy, Singdoy, Singdoy." I was not sure how difficult this would be to braille, but fortunately the words were phonetically spelled on the print copy, and the same was done in braille. At the time of the service, our Chinese hymn came through very well. I understand that the service was tape recorded, and I am waiting for a copy. After the service our choir was invited to a Chinese New Year's banquet. The program consisted of a performance by some Chinese children. The Chinese food was very good, and there was plenty of it. Both parts of the Chinese celebration were enjoyed by everyone. When I receive the copy of the service on tape, I will be glad to make a copy for anyone who would be interested. Also, if any of the Forum readers would like to know more about my system for plainsong notation, please let me know. If there are any other blind cantors, I would like to contact them and compare their systems with mine. ***** ** Surmounting the Barriers On June 3, 1971, Dave Krause, a member of the ACB Board of Directors, was appointed Chief of the Occupational and Professional Licensing Division for the District of Columbia. This agency is responsible for the licensing of persons in 23 categories of occupations and professions, including doctors, nurses, architects, engineers, barbers, beauticians, real estate brokers, and others. Dave, who is totally blind, began with O. and P. as a GS 3 clerk-typist in January of 1958. With his new appointment, he culminates a climb from the very bottom to the very top of the agency. Discriminations and misunderstandings there may still be, but there are also rewards and satisfactions for those who are ambitious, competent and fortunate. ***** ** Legislative Highspots By Durward McDaniel As the Forum goes to press, the House of Representatives has just passed H.R. 1, a far-reaching social security and welfare bill. It will be acted on by the Senate soon. Hearings will be held by the Senate Committee on Finance of which Senator Russell B. Long of La. is Chairman. H.R. 1 liberalizes the coverage requirement for blind persons by making the fully insured rule applicable instead of the twenty of the last forty quarters. The Council has supported this modification during the past six years. The Administration estimates that the fully insured rule will qualify 30,000 blind persons for disability benefits and that it will pay them 28 million dollars in 1972. The fully insured rule is that one must have one quarter of coverage for each year elapsing after 1950 or after his 21st birthday whichever is later, regardless of the time the coverage was obtained. This permits a blind applicant to count quarters of coverage earned from the beginning of social security. In no event can an applicant qualify with fewer than six quarters. H.R. 1 provides that disability beneficiaries will be eligible for Medicare benefits after they have been eligible for cash benefits for two years. This is the first time this provision has been adopted by the House of Representatives. At the present time, Medicare benefits are for persons who are 65 or over. The Medicare extension is not limited to blind beneficiaries. H.R. 1 makes many changes in parts of the social security act and the final version will keep the Administration and the rest of us answering questions for a long time. The news media reports constantly on the controversial Family Assistance Plan. It appears that a modified plan will be adopted. H.R. 1 takes the radical step which will over a short period of time phase out the major participation by the states in the public assistance programs for the adult categories. It abolishes Titles I., X., XIV and XVI and merges them. With supplementary provisions, it provides for basic grants to the adult categories of 130, 140 and 150 dollars monthly for the next three years respectively. The Council has advocated the federalization of aid to the blind to avoid the inadequate standards of most of the states. The provisions of H.R. 1 will greatly improve aid payments in most states but will require some state supplementation in the higher-paying states. No hearings were. held in this Session by the House Committee on Ways and Means. The Council will present testimony when the bill is considered by the Senate. Readers will understand why H.R. 1 is not dealt with at length -- it is 687 pages long. H.R. 8011 has passed both branches of Congress and will be effective on August 1st. It contained the final version of the Wagner-O'Day Amendments. Its principal purpose was to extend federal purchasing to workshops for severely handicapped persons. It retains a priority in favor of workshops for the blind in the purchase of commodities and establishes a five-year priority in the purchase of services by the federal government. Periodically, we will make a report on the operation of this special program under the new law. The organizations of and for the blind are sponsoring S. 1030, introduced by Senator Jennings Randolph to authorize and assure rehabilitation services for older blind persons. Hearings are not expected on this bill until major rehabilitation amendments are considered. As the Forum goes to press, the Administration bill on rehabilitation has not been introduced nor has one which all of the national organizations of and for the blind have agreed upon. A general bill sponsored by the National Rehabilitation Association has been introduced but it falls far short of what we will advocate. At the national office we naturally receive inquiries from our members in the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America about the reintroduction of the amendments to the vending stand law. Senator Jennings Randolph has stated that he will introduce these amendments in this session. Letters of appreciation and encouragement to Senator Randolph would be proper. Last year, more than one-half of the Senate joined in sponsoring this legislation, and they will again if their constituents ask them to do it. Hearings on S. 1303 by Senator Stevenson were postponed from a date in June. Your attention is called to the article in the last issue on this subject and to John J. Murphey's article in the March issue. On June 14, Congressman John Rarick of La. Introduced H.R. 9102, which would require that all paper money printed after January 1, 1972, have a designation in braille indicating the denomination of the bill. A similar system is in use in the Netherlands. ***** ** Hyde Park Corner The views expressed in this column are not necessarily shared by the Braille Forum or its editors. It is made available as a platform for the free discussion of diverse points of view of the membership of ACB. * Why Not Loving Common Carriers? By Robert P. Phelan (Windsor, Canada) I'm glad to see Hyde Park Corner beginning again. And "rousing" is the right word for the first contribution. I don't presume to be able to write with the admirable masculine expertise that Mr. Murphey uncorks, but I hope you will find the enclosed comments worthy of inclusion. I'm here at Hyde Park Corner to mount the soapbox on behalf of those who, like me, have to travel alone. In fact, all sightless travelers would benefit if my suggestion was adopted. I propose that the operators of common carriers -- at least inter-city ones -- be persuaded to consider the showing of a pass as payment of fare without us having to be "accompanied." "Charity," you say? So be it! I say that by being allowed to use our passes in lieu of the fare we could then heighten our feeling of self-respect by tipping for the help we might need on a long trip; and, in my unsolicited opinion, a person who expects more than fifty cents for showing us to the john and back is a sleazy crook! And lest there be even one among you who thinks that this whole thesis is just a freeloader's s pitch, let me assure you that if I ever take a very long trip, I will go alone -- only if I have to. I will therefore be glad to pay as much of the guide's fare as I can afford. I cannot support this pending Congressional legislation concerning a two-for-one concession, because it includes that "space available" clause. The airlines could always say there is no space. But of course, we should not expect to be given priority just because we're handicapped. One more thing before I make way for the next speaker: Why must we have to have our passes renewed? I'm not grousing about the cost of having more pictures taken. It's the nuisance of it. You feel a little of the irritation engendered by having to undergo those periodic eye tests that Welfare insists on, when the first one tells them that your visual impairment is total, and at today's level of ophthalmological know-how, is irreversible. I thank you for hearing me out. * Why Don't You ...? By David Arocho I have been an avid reader of the Braille Forum for the past few years, and the Council has had my wholehearted support in its battle to better the situation of the blind throughout the country. Unfortunately, being a student with no funds at all, my sponsorship has had to be limited to the moral realm till now. Until very recently, I found the Forum could hold my interest from cover to cover. In the last few issues I have noted a change which seems significant, and not in keeping with your previous work. I hope that, by calling this to your attention, you will, at the least, re-examine your latest issues; and perhaps that you will bring my view to your readers, so that they may respond directly to you. The first change consisted of a number of articles deploring some social conditions (such as violence in the streets, etc.), which did not directly relate to the problems of the blind. I am glad to note that none of this kind appear in your latest issue. The other change is perhaps more ominous, because it is not so easily identifiable as a departure, but may be a sign of aging. It has been present in other issues, but not so apparent as in your May issue, which came a month late. I see you giving a great deal of space to very small matters. At the same time, you are neglecting to venture into new areas where much work needs to be done. Two articles in this issue are glaring examples of the first aspect -- "Four Years at the Oars," though interesting to an extent, and deserving of some space, in no way merits eleven pages. Hyde Park Corner is just an exercise in writing composition, and contributes nothing to the understanding of the problems of the blind. This should be, in my opinion, the guiding principle for the Forum. These two articles take up nearly one-third of the issue. The most important area in the work of the blind today is employment. There is a great deal which ACB and the Forum could do to advance this work. Here are a few suggestions: a study of the rehabilitation and training services should be conducted and a thorough investigation made to determine how useful the work of the rehab counselors (especially of VRS) is in obtaining employment. Interviews with students should be carried out to determine how much of a voice they are given in determining their career training and placement. An expose is needed to show the discrimination which goes on in hiring on the part of agencies "for the blind." These things are long overdue. Is the Forum still energetic enough to carry these things out? In connection with this, you may contact Mr. Frank Perrino at Choose, Inc., 11 Park Place, New York, New York 10003. He has had a great deal of experience with the problem. * ... Or You? When we receive letters of commendation and encouragement, this is not news per se, and in our opinion they should not be given space in the Forum, except to say here and now that they are deeply appreciated. However, when readers like Mr. Arocho criticize our editorial policy, that's news, and if well-intentioned, like his, such letters will be given space. We must point out, however, that Mr. Arocho's indictment falls far short of the mark. It is perhaps true, as he intimates, that we lack the youthful energy to conduct the type of study he proposes; but we lack much more besides. We lack the time: the editors and contributors of the Forum for the most part are employed at full-time jobs, and the time they devote to work for the Forum must be gleaned from their own leisure hours. If a study of the type Mr. Arocho suggests is to be factual and objective, it would require months of painstaking work. We also lack the money: the editors receive not one cent of compensation and often incur expenses themselves in their work for the Forum. The contributors are not paid for their efforts, except for the $100 Ned Freeman Award made annually for the best article in the opinion of the editors. It would be nice if we had the means to travel and conduct interviews and investigations, but we don't. A word about our editorial philosophy. We believe: 1. That this forum belongs as much to the members of ACB as to its officers and staff, and we actively solicit original contributions as opposed to reprints. 2. ACB has a diversified membership, and we try to have the magazine reflect as much as possible the diversified interests of its readers. 3. We agree with Mr. Arocho on the prime importance of employment. But we also feel that the achievements of other blind people and descriptions of how they did it are encouraging and instructive to all of us. It was for this reason that we requested Mr. Miller to narrate his experiences as an oarsman. We appreciate the effort and enthusiasm he put into the article. As for the "Who, Me?" article, we believe that a sense of humor is still a valuable tool of living, and perhaps nowhere so much as in coping with the problems of organizations of the blind. We invite Mr. Arocho to make a serious factual study of the employment practices of agencies and submit it to us for publication in due time. If it has merit and if we refuse to publish it, he will then have just grounds for complaint. ***** ** Consumer Participation The following is excerpted from a letter from Loretta Freeman. It is good to see the Forum growing back up to a good size. I hope this means that ACB finances are getting more steady. This issue contained two clever articles to be considered for the Literary Award. I shall be much interested to know where the award will go. Have wondered why there was no mention of it in the magazine. I would like again to make a plea for some sort of reader participation to justify the "forum." I was much interested to come across a letter from you dated December 10, 1961, in which you wrote: "A second area in which I believe we can put on a new look distinguishing us from the Federation is in the area of our national magazine ... I for one believe that our magazine should be substantially different in character ... should be at least as much an open forum for the expression of rank-and-file opinion as a medium for administration, presentation of views and news ..." ***** ** Texans Prefer Commission Form of Agency The following resolution was adopted by ACB's statewide affiliate in Texas: "WHEREAS, the Texas Commission for the Blind has developed an expanded program of service to blind people; and "WHEREAS, the Commission form of administration of services permits and affords the kind of specialization and delivery of services most responsive to the needs of visually impaired persons; "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lone Star State Federation of the Blind in convention assembled at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas on this 22nd day of May, 1971, that this organization instruct its officers to work actively for the preservation and retention of the commission form of administration of services for blind persons in Texas and to oppose any efforts to abolish or to merge or consolidate its functions with those of any other State agency; and "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officers be instructed to represent the views of this organization before the State Legislature and other branches of government in order to assist in the preservation and retention of the commission form of administration and in the obtaining of adequate appropriations to assure the further expansion of services to blind persons and the provision of adequate professional staff for that purpose." ***** ** Banks Pocket Braille Writer Available For those who are not acquainted with this machine, the late Dr. Alfred D. Banks, a San Diego, California, physician, blinded in World War I, invented this simple-to-operate, portable pocket­size Braille Writer. The Banks Pocket Braille Writer has six keys and a spacer and writes directly on a narrow strip of paper tape. The characters are read from the tape without transfer. The machine is made of light metal. Directions for the operation of the Braille Writer are enclosed with each machine and are in both regular print and braille. Banks Pocket Braille Writers are available through your local Lions Club. Further information can be obtained from the Banks Pocket Braille Writer Committee of the Boston-Parkway Lions Club, P.E. Pofcher, Chairman, 749 South Street, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131. ***** ** A New Approach to Teaching Braille By Earl Scharry (The following material appeared originally in Volunteer News for January, 1971, and is reprinted here by request.) The Kansas Orientation Center, under the leadership of Claudel Stocker, has developed a new method of teaching braille to blinded adults. This method is described in a recent published series entitled Modern Methods of Teaching Braille. It consists of two books, the first entitled The Kansas Braille Reading-Readiness Book, and the second Braille Reading Simplified. Each part consists of a student's text and a teacher's manual. The entire set may be purchased from the American Printing House for the Blind. ... The application of so much dedication and skill to the solution of this problem emphasizes the indispensability of braille to the rehabilitation process. It gives a measure of reassurance to those who have been concerned that the stress placed recently on "passive" reading devices might eventually lead to the de-braillization of the education and rehabilitation process. This we would consider to be a mortal blow to the education, employment and constructive activity on the part of many blind people, because braille is the only two-way avenue of communication they have that can be used constructively. In Braille Reading Simplified, a point is made of not using any work in full spelling which will have to be unlearned and relearned in its contracted form. This practice was followed by us at The Library of Congress in preparing our Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing back in 1960, and we are aware not only of its value but also of the difficulties and limitations it imposes in formulating sentences for the exercises. Another feature which is stressed in introducing short-form words as early as possible, as soon as the letters comprising them have been learned. This, too, is not an innovation, as it was done in other texts, notably those of Krebs and of Kauffman and Lamb. It is in the Kansas Braille Reading-Readiness Book that a truly innovative approach is taken. This approach recognizes that to the recently blinded adult, reliance on braille and the sense of touch is a radically new experience, and that before braille can be taught to them, they must first become accustomed to using this sense and must develop it. Those of us who have made this adjustment early, or at least many years ago, are apt to forget what a traumatic experience the onset of blindness can be. There is a sort of adjustment gap, just as the generation gap is sometimes caused by the inability to the older generation to recall the problems and pangs of their youth. It is in dealing realistically with this problem of transition from visual orientation that the Kansas group has made a distinctive contribution. In the first twelve pages, the student is required to recognize embossed squares, circles, and triangles, and to differentiate as to size and position on the page. At first, they are allowed to trace around the figures; but beginning with page 13, they are allowed to trace, but must move the finger only from left to right. Starting with page 16, "The student is learning to distinguish likenesses and differences on initial contact." He is also made to use his left forefinger to keep his place and guide him back to the beginning of the line. From page 28 on, actual braille characters are used, but "They are not identified to the student as being letters, for he is again learning to distinguish likenesses and differences." The instructions for page 29 say: "Allow the student to verbally describe, not how many dots he feels, but where the dots are in relation to his finger." The key to the process is summed up in the teacher's manual in the instructions for page 27, as follows: "You will observe that the individual has not as yet been given any real intellectual task to perform. We have merely been concentrating on conditioning the muscles and getting the sense of touch ready to learn." The teacher is also given a number of practical suggestions as to teaching methods and devices. The importance of using both hands for reading is stressed. Things like posture, position of the book, and position of the arms and hands are also treated. The observation is made that the hands should be warm and dry for best preception, and the idea is demolished that rubbing the fingers with sandpaper will improve sensitivity. Since circulation is said to be vitally important to the sense of touch frequent resting is advocated. It is suggested that those with residual vision be blindfolded, just as one closes the door to exclude distracting outside noises. The statistics on improved results with the new method are impressive. It is claimed that tests were conducted with a control group using the older methods and with another group using the newer techniques. The results are stated as follows: "In a group of almost equal size and over a comparable period of time, only 6 of 33, or less than 20 percent, were able to complete Grade Two Braille within four months using the old methods. With the new method, 20 of 32, or 62.5 percent completed the course successfully." It should be pointed out that all the experience with this method has been with rather large groups and with a teacher exercising constant supervision. It is open to question whether it would work as well outside a classroom situation, as where a home teacher visits individuals periodically. Nevertheless, we believe that the Kansas Orientation Center and Miss Stocker have made a valuable addition to the theory and practice of teaching braille to adults. It is hoped that the quite different problem of teaching braille to children will soon be examined by someone with equal originality and enthusiasm. ***** ** Four New Affiliates in ACB By Durward K. McDaniel Certificates of affiliation will be presented to four new organizations at the convention banquet on Friday evening, July 30th. The new organizations are: the Capital City Council of the Blind, in Baton Rouge, La.; the Columbine Council of the Blind, in Colorado; the Arizona Council of the Blind, and the American Blind Lawyers Association. This brings to 34 the number of organizations affiliated with ACB. Information and assistance relating to affiliation and to the formation of new organizations can be had by communicating with the national office. ACB also accepts members at large. We would like to commission every member to be a committee of one to educate others about ACB and to invite them to join with us in our constructive goals. ***** ** Where There's A Will There's A Fray By Kenneth Hinga (Editor's Note: Kenneth Hinga's article is extremely timely. The Wisconsin Council has lost more than $35,000 in recent years in just this way. The money is buried in the State's General Treasury and can never be extracted. George Card, Associate Editor) There is a matter that the Blind Lawyers Association might consider during their special session in Milwaukee this summer. It is this business of attorneys writing up a will for a client who desires to leave a portion of their estate to "The Blind." It would seem that these professional experts would know better than to include such an ambiguous designation in a legal document. Nevertheless, it happens all too frequently. Often, if it doesn't simply say "The Blind," it will throw out some high-sounding title of an organization which doesn't exist. About a year ago a well-meaning lady died and willed a substantial sum of money to the American Federated Foundation of the Blind. It took some convincing on my part to assure her legal representative that what she really meant was the "Kalamazoo Federation of the Blind." More recently, a lady died in the eastern part of Michigan who wanted a good portion of her resources to go toward helping the blind. Another organization of the blind not affiliated with A.C.B. got wind of the deal and immediately sent the president and legal representative to the county seat and advised that this group represented the blind of Michigan, and the prosecuting attorney accepted the contention and granted the bequeathal with no further investigation. Sorry I missed that one! There's one thing for darn sure -- that is you can't confer with the deceased to get their thinking. This confusion is further complicated when the mourners view the remains and deposit memorials in behalf of the blind or an agency serving in the cause. The funeral director looks at the little cards, counts the plate of money, and then scratches his head wondering where the donation is supposed to go. If he phones this writer there is never any question as to the ultimate disposal. If the local, state and national organizations of the blind were on their toes they would make certain that every funeral home and bar association retained a nomenclature of priority. The saddest thing that can happen in this situation is when bequeathed funds are channeled toward some agency for the blind that is already loaded with financial support. We need to emphasize that little preposition "of" so the donor will understand that they are contributing directly to the visually handicapped and not to some facility where the money will purchase a new desk for the director. Publicity is the key word, and we must promote the name of the American Council of the Blind from the country store to the White House. I'm giving you fair warning, however, that if the title comes out "American Federation of the Blind," the bequest may end up in Kalamazoo. ***** ** Additional Titles from ACB Tape Library Now available from the ACB Tape Library, 136 Gees Mill Road, Conyers, GA 30207: A Step by Step Guide to Personal Management for Blind Persons - American Foundation for the Bind, 1970 - 2 1800' reels This is a complete and comprehensive text divided into four parts: Personal Care, Homemaking, Child care, and Social Graces. It represents the combined thought and effort of many persons concerned with the need for "realistic and practical personal management techniques" for both blind persons and those working with them. We feel this book rightly supersedes material on Homemaking which was previously announced as part of the ACB Library. Mere Christianity - The C.S. Lewis Broadcast Talks - 1 1800' reel The Braille Forum on tape is distributed on a rotating system and it is important that tapes be returned promptly so that they may be checked and re-mailed to another reader. The first tapes to be returned are the first to go out with the next issue. When return of tapes is long delayed it may mean that this reader will miss the next issue. When tapes are returned two or three times without having been read, the name is removed from the file. So, if your friends report non-receipt of their tape Forum, please suggest that they check their desk for the familiar plastic box and/or request reinstatement. We strive to give good service but we can't afford to have our equipment tied up or our files crossed up. -- Loretta Freeman ***** ** Here and There By George Card From the BLIND ADVOCATE: The increasing number of decibels from heavier and heavier motor traffic is a problem for all blind foot travelers and the British government is taking vigorous steps against careless drivers. In a 12-month period 13,112 prosecutions were brought against drivers of vehicles with faulty silencers. From the ILLINOIS BRAILLE MESSENGER: The Old Main Building of the Jacksonville School has been demolished and the debris hauled away and the first stages of the renovation of the auditorium are in progress. -- Mr. Robert Bray, Director of the Division for the Blind, Library of Congress, appeared on the ACB Service Net January 15 to demonstrate the possibility of using the net to contact various libraries throughout the country. If a person wanted a book and could not get it locally, he could contact someone on the net and find where it was available. Fifty-three check-ins were recorded representing twenty-one states and one foreign country. The Eye Bank Net has had to change the name of its service to the Eye Emergency Service due to some trouble with FCC regulations. Alaric Nichols reports in the VERMONT INFORMER that they are having trouble with outside solicitors in his state who are claiming the money is to be used for the blind and using the emotional appeal. From the CBBI NEWSLETTER (Calif.): Superior Court Judge Hugo Fisher has ordered that funds collected from blind businessmen and used to pay salaries to state employees be returned to a special fund earmarked for use by the blind vendors in public buildings. Fisher also prohibited the state from future use of such funds to pay administrative advisors. The vendors pay a service charge of 6 percent of their gross sales into the special fund which is to be used for maintenance, repairs, replacement of equipment and new facilities. The current issue of the KAB NEWS contains glowing tributes to L.A. Dubbs of Ransom who was a leading member of our Kansas affiliate, serving on its Board of Directors as Chairman of its Legislative Committee and as its legislative lobbyist for the past 18 years. He passed away on November 29, 1970. -- The resignations of Bonnie Byington as Editor and of Rosemary Distifan as Business Manager are noted with regret. -- At last Kansas has its own regional library, having previously been served from St. Louis. Richard Kinney, famous deaf-blind educator and poet, who brought the assembly of the World Council to its feet by his rousing eloquence at the last session I attended as an American delegate, has been chosen as the Illinois Handicapped Person of the Year. From the Peoriarea OBSERVER: The new John Hancock Building in Chicago is 1456 feet high. From the restaurant on the 95th and 96th floors on a clear day six states are visible. From the Missouri CHRONICLE: Since 1962 the number of operators in the vending program has doubled from 32 to 64; the average income per operator has more than doubled during that period, from $3,215 to $6,996. -- It is impossible to get a Seeing Eye Dog for a blind person by saving empty cigarette packages, used tinfoil, cellophane strips, tea bag labels, etc. These are simply a collection of useless trash and in one incident in California a $2,500 fire was caused by the huge stack of empty packages accumulated unnecessarily. From PERFORMANCE: The International Handicappers' Net now has more than 3,000 members in all the states and in almost all countries. Because of the range of disabilities involved, ingenious devices to meet individual difficulties in handling transmission and reception of messages have been devised. Among them are: voice-controlled relays which permit an armless or paralyzed operator to send intelligible code, radio controls which can be turned on and off by the flick of an eyelid. Lessons for blind persons include raised printed circuits and diagrams so that the blind novices can master the electronic theory required by Government regulations. From LISTEN: Shell-fisherman Stuart Rice of Warwick, Rhode Island, who has been blind for 16 years, mans a 16-foot skiff in search of quahogs. He plies his trade alone, using sounds and the feel of the wind on his face as navigational aids. He manages on a good day to end up with about 250 pounds of the bivalves. His boat is kept steady in the water by a system of ropes and levers. From NACO NEWS AND VIEWS: Advances in medicine and science have all but assured that by the year 2000 the average American will live to be 90 years old. -- One out of every two Americans lives within 50 miles of either the East or West Coast, the Census Bureau reports. -- Unprofessional assessments, done by assessors subject to enormous political and economic pressures, result in a system that favors large economic interests at the expense of the small homeowner and business. -- Ralph Nader. From the WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL: Up until 1830 in the U.S. the blind, deaf and mute were considered to be nonpersons and were not counted in the population. THE TRUMPET'S VOICE (Iowa) announces the formation of Council chapters in Waterloo and Des Moines and that the 1971 convention will be held on June 12 and 13. I was deeply grieved to learn of the passing of my old friend Junius Connor, of Jamestown, New York, a leader of the organized blind in that area. He was a charter member of ACB. In reporting on a national training institute on special and technical secretarial occupations, Richard Kinney, of Hadley stated: "The emphasis at this conference was not on the 'handicapped worker,' but on the competent worker with a physical disability." From the World Council NEWSLETTER: France now has the world's only blind operated taxi service. Equipped with three telephones and a wireless transmitter, four young blind men work in shifts from 5 a.m. till 2 a.m. directing 25 taxis. -- Eric T. Boulter, former Secretary General and former President of the World Council, who tried to retire last year, has been elected to the Council's Executive Committee as a member-at-large. He has also become Deputy Director General of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, United Kingdom. VIEWPOINT (London) reports that the British National Federation of the Blind has set as a principal objective the appointment of at least 50 percent blind representation on the boards of all agencies and organizations for the blind. From the May NEW OUTLOOK: On May 20, 1971, the Helen Keller National Park was dedicated by the Alabama Lions at Ivey Green, Tuscumbia, Alabama, the birthplace of Miss Keller. Sight conservation and work for the blind became one of the Lions' major world-wide activities as a result of an appeal made by Miss Keller at the Lions International Convention in 1925. -- The Westchester Lighthouse for the Blind, White Plains, New York, is initiating a free service to homebound persons who live alone and would like the reassurance of a daily telephone call. Calls are made at a specified time and, if there is no answer, help can be sent. School systems on Long Island and in Westchester County, New York, have begun to rent guard dogs, in an effort to counter rising vandalism and burglary of buildings and equipment. Most popular are Rottweilers (a strong Doberman) and German shepherds. The dogs patrol the buildings and, if an intruder is encountered, hold him without attacking until a uniformed guard arrives on his regular patrol. ***** ** Last Minute Convention Notes By George Card The following items have been added since our last report to the programs of the first four sessions of the ACB Milwaukee Convention: On Wednesday afternoon there will be a brief report by one of the National Membership Co-Chairmen. Paul Kirton has been switched to 1:30 Friday afternoon and the Library of Congress panel to 11:00 Thursday morning. Dr. T. Munford Boyd, blind emeritus professor of law at the University of Virginia, has been added to the Wednesday afternoon program. Those who heard his heart-lifting address at San Francisco in 1956 will never forget it. On Thursday morning C. Laverne Roberts, practicing blind lawyer of Lansing, Michigan, will discuss the strengths and weakness of various state white cane traffic laws. On Friday morning we are delighted to report that we will be addressed by a world-famous leader of the organized blind movement, Mr. Tom Parker, Secretary General of the British National League of the Blind. At 11:00 there will be reports by the special interest groups which met earlier in the week. At the Friday afternoon session there will be a legislative report by Durward McDaniel, and an item titled, "Sunrise on North 34th Street," by Larry Kelly. Mary Jane Schmitt will relate important new developments affecting blind data processors. The President has been urged to start all meetings on time and since there will be an extremely important item at the opening of each session, it behooves those who wish to get the maximum benefit from their ACB Convention experience to be in their seats promptly -- even if this means missing the fourth cup of coffee. Many visitors to Milwaukee, who must change planes anyway at O'Hare Field in Chicago, find it more convenient to board the fast Milwaukee bus, which takes them directly to the Hotel door. This avoids the long and expensive taxi ride from the Milwaukee Airport. The Chicago-Milwaukee bus schedule should be checked when you buy your airline tickets to see if there is a convenient connection. ***** ** ACB Officers President: Judge Reese Robrahn, 329 Woodbury Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66606 First Vice-President: Dr. S. Bradley Burson, 917 Kenyon Street, Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 Second Vice-President: Vernon Williams, 217 Western Union Bldg., Aberdeen, South Dakota 54701 Secretary: Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt, 510 Tarrington Rd., Rochester, New York 14609 Treasurer: Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301 ** Directors Mrs. Cathie Skivers, 836 Resota St., Hayward, California 94545 George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, Wisc. 53703 Floyd Qualls, 106 N. E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104 Earl Scharry, 5714 Ridgeway Ave., Rockville, Md. 20851 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 ###