The Braille Forum Vol. X November 1971 No. 3 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 On to Oregon, by Fred Krepela Washington Council of the Blind -- #35, by Durward McDaniel If Not Me, Who? -- ACB Regional Leadership Development Seminar, by Floyd Qualls Hearings on Randolph-Sheppard Amendments Tri-Formation Braille Output Device, by Mary Jane Schmitt An Apple a Day, by Kenneth Hinga Michigan Federation Holds Annual Convention, by Elizabeth Lennon Alabama Federation of the Blind Convention, by Lester McGlaughn Impressions of the ACB of Maryland Convention, by Nicholas Williams ACB of Maryland Resolution Commending Library of Congress Editorial: Sweet Are the Uses of Diversity Achievements: Blind Alaskan Switchboard Operator UWB Votegetter FCC Takes a New Look at Blind Radio Operators Hyde Park Corner: Marked Money, by Harold Rowley Go, Go, Geo!, by Robert Phelan News from Iowa Treasurer's Report of Donations Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation Here and There, by George Card ***** ** 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. ***** ** On to Oregon by Fred Krepela The 1972 National Convention will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 921 S.W. 6th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204, July 5 to 8. General session and committee rooms are being reserved with D. McDaniel's advice and help. The special interest groups, like RSVA, VISTA, ABLA, Amateur Radio, Lions, etc., will hold their meeting at the Hilton beginning Sunday, July 2, and ending before noon on Wednesday, July 5. The American Council will have pre-registration this year for the first time, and there will be registrations on Tuesday and Wednesday and even later at the Hotel. There is no sales tax in Oregon, and up to the present, no hotel or lodging tax. In July the weather is beautiful; warm days and cool evenings. You can't miss that Pacific Salmon or Eastern Oregon beef -- start making immediate plans to attend. Everyone come to see our grand scenery -- the mighty Pacific Ocean, year-round snow-clad Mount Hood, and Christmas trees 100 feet tall. Wisconsin had a smooth deck: Pittz was an Ace Pip; G. and D. Card were King of Clubs and Queen of Hearts; and the convention was a Grand Slam. Thanks, George, for preliminary advice and assistance. Now -- ON TO OREGON and relax in a State of excitement! Oregon Council of the Blind, Host Affiliate; Ralph Jackson, Lions Representative; Vivian Dignan, Secretary; Beryl Berry; Edna Williams; Millard Thompson; Madge Nelson, Coordinator; Fred Krepela, General Chairman, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. ***** ** Washington Council of the Blind -- No. 35 By Durward McDaniel For several months ACB members in Washington state have been working quietly to build a solid organization of the blind. Mrs. Alice Bankston of Seattle has been the energetic educator-organizer. Edward Donnelly is the President of the organization which will be known as the Washington Council of the Blind. Interested persons may communicate with him at 4238 12th St., N. E., Seattle, Wash. 98105, telephone (206) 634-0475. Other officers of the new organization are: Dale Scott, 1st Vice President, Spokane; Leslie Christmen, 2nd Vice President, Seattle; Addie Claypool, Secretary, Seattle; John Quig, Treasurer, Seattle. The Council is especially pleased to welcome a new affiliate in the northwest because its members will have the opportunity to attend the national convention in Portland, Oregon at the Portland Hilton Hotel, July 5-8. This encouraging announcement will be followed in the next few months by others about new organizations in additional states. Judge Robrahn predicted that ACB would have 40 affiliates by the time of the Portland convention. It now appears that his expectations were too modest. If you live in a state or locality where there is no organized group of blind persons in the Council, your inquiries and expressions of interest should be sent to the ACB National Office at the address shown at the beginning of this issue. ***** ** If Not Me, Who? ACB Regional Leadership Development Seminar by Floyd Qualls "If not me, who? If not now, when?" With these questions facing them, approximately 75 persons from Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma gave up their Labor Day weekend to take part in a study program at the Lafayette Hotel in Little Rock. It was an ACB sponsored seminar. The purpose was to train leaders for the three ACB affiliates as well as for the national organization. Enthusiasm marked the proceedings from beginning to end. No time was allowed for extra activities. Yet, no one complained of the rigorous schedule. The planning committee consisted of Durward McDaniel and John Simpson of Oklahoma, Helen Vargo of Kansas, and Chester Holden of Arkansas. The task of coordinating was assigned to Mrs. Billie Elder of Little Rock. The programming was well-timed and ran like "clockwork" from start to finish. Quoting from today's phraseology, "they let it all hang out." To set the stage, Judge Reese Robrahn, ACB President and Durward McDaniel, ACB National Representative, presented "The Role of the Organization." This was followed by a series of subjects relevant and essential to any successful organization. Public relations, publications, fund-raising and membership were each treated in turn and evaluated by a selected committee as well as constructively criticized by the assembly. Throughout the discussion period following each presentation, a free exchange of opinions, experiences and recommendations took place. Mr. Floyd Cargill, Chief of Illinois Services to the Blind, dealt with "Program Objectives and Activities." His dynamic and dramatic presentation was an inspiration for all. The group was afforded a rare treat when the topic of "Techniques of Securing Legislation" was presented. The moderator was Dr. Guy Smith, an outstanding leader in work for the blind in Arkansas. The presenter was Dr. Bob Riley, Lieutenant Governor of the state of Arkansas. Dr. Riley, blind, a lawyer, and a most successful politician, gave liberally of his time, knowledge and experience to further the education of the delegates to the seminar. Those privileged to hear Dr. Riley were unanimous in their prediction of greater things for this man in the future. The seminar was structured on the premise that everyone should play an important role. Each participant was assigned a specific portion of the program in which he, or she, would evaluate: record, or moderate the presentation. In this way seminar presentations became vital, and the individual became an active part of the deliberations. Other distinguished guests who contributed generously to the seminar included Mr. L.H. Autrey, Jr., Director of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind in Arkansas; Mr. Travis Harris, Director of the Division of Visual Services, Oklahoma Department of Institutions, Social and Rehabilitative Services; Mr. Vernon Metcalf, Assistant to the Director of Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind; Mrs. Catherine Brodie, Arkansas School for the Blind, and Miss Helen Vargo, President of the Kansas Association for the Blind. Many others were involved, and the planning committee extends its thanks to all. Mr. Roy Kumpe, Director of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, was unable to attend the seminar because of commitments which took him out-of-state. However, his staff was most helpful and cooperative. Several of the participants were privileged to visit the Rehabilitation Center, guided by Lilax Lampkin, an assistant to Mr. Kumpe. Although students had returned to the Arkansas School for the Blind for the fall semester, Dr. J.M. Woolly, Superintendent, permitted members of his staff to participate where needed. It was a most beneficial seminar and is recommended as a cooperative effort of two or more ACB affiliates. ***** ** Hearings on Randolph-Sheppard Amendments Arthur Segal, a member of the Board of Directors of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and Durward McDaniel, National Representative of the American Council of the Blind, presented oral testimony before the Subcommittee on Handicapped Workers of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare on September 22 1971 supporting S. 2506, the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1971, and also filed the following written statement on behalf of RSVA and ACB: * Statement The Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America is a national organization of blind persons engaged in the operation of vending concessions on federal and other property, primarily as a result of the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936. Vending concessions are now being successfully operated by blind persons in more than 3,000 locations where approximately 3,400 blind persons are employed. It is timely and proper that these affiliated organizations join in this statement to commend Senator Jennings Randolph and all of the others who are sponsoring S. 2506. The Act has not been amended since 1954. Those who do the day-to-day work in this program recognize the practical need for the amendments which are now proposed. We are pleased to join with the other major organizations of and for the blind in support of S. 2506. In 34 years blind operators of vending concessions have demonstrated the ability to do much more than what is contemplated by the Act as amended. The Act's purpose of providing blind persons with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities of the blind and stimulating the blind to greater effort in striving to make themselves self-supporting has been achieved to such an extent that the ability of blind vendors to perform successfully in a greatly expanded program is now beyond question. S. 2506 will update the Act in the light of modern merchandising requirements and in recognition of the proven abilities of the people who will be afforded new opportunities for employment. The bill deletes certain negative and restrictive provisions which all proponents of this legislation believe to be inappropriate and undesirable. The following new and very important language is added: "foods, beverages, and other such articles or services dispensed automatically or manually and prepared on or off the premises in accordance with all applicable health laws, as determined by the State licensing agency." This liberalized authorization is a "must" in order to keep pace with modern merchandising methods and to meet the demands of customers. The liberalized definition of "vending facility" is justified by the substantial number of successful concessions already being operated in all kinds of such vending facilities. Blind persons are today successfully operating automatic vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, cart services, and numerous related auxiliary services. The bill provides for the exclusive assignment of vending machine income to achieve and protect the preference given to blind persons licensed by a State agency. This provision has direct application to revenue derived from vending machines operated on federal property. To the extent that it has been made available under the present law, such revenue has been used to supplement the income of blind vending stand operators and in some cases to supplement State funds for the operation of the vending stand program. Over a period of several years, unions of federal employees have been increasingly successful in acquiring the possession and use of revenue from vending machines operated on federal property. This has been accomplished by the cooperation and acquiescence of the administrative branch of Government through the recognition of de facto "employee welfare committees" and "employee welfare funds." When such revenue is captured through these devices, it is presumably used for the 'welfare and benefit" of federal employees. It has no relevance to work performed by federal employees for the Government. Since this arrangement is not authorized by an Act of Congress, we believe that it constitutes a conflict of interest under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 209. This arrangement is also contrary to decisions 32 Comp. Gen. 124 and 32 Comp Gen. 282 of the Comptroller General of the United States. A bill which would have sanctioned such practices was never reported out of Committee: H.R. 6325, 81st Congress, 1st Session (referred to in the earlier decision of the Comptroller General). These decisions were rendered 19 years ago, but the Comptroller General neglects his public duty by permitting the continuation of the illegal diversions of funds which, according to those decisions should go into the United States Treasury if they are not used for the purpose prescribed by the Randolph-Sheppard Act. We are concerned, and we petition the Congress to be concerned, about the diversion of funds for illegal purposes and about the Comptroller General's failure to enforce three Acts of Congress: 20 U.S.C 107, 18 U.S.C. 209 and 31 U.S.C. 484. The exclusive assignment of vending machine revenue would provide substantial sums of new money for the achievement of the purpose of the Randolph-Sheppard Act without creating any hardships for federal employees. Likewise, the exclusive assignment of this revenue to achieve the purpose of the Randolph-Sheppard Act would place no burden upon the United States Treasury because the funds in question have not been collected by the Government. The provisions relating to the alteration or construction of federal property are practical and are made desirable by reason of experience. They will facilitate planning for vending facilities and will not work a hardship upon the government. The provisions for arbitration of disputes create orderly and desirable procedures for the operation of this program. Another important remedial provision of the bill is that making the Administrative Procedure Act applicable to the Randolph-Sheppard program. This provision has been made necessary by negative court decisions. Although there are now more federal buildings and more federal employees than ever before in the history of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, the increase in the number of vending facilities operated by blind persons has not kept pace with the increase in building and employees. Some departments of the federal Government have declined to implement the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The most significant factor in the administrative failure to implement the Randolph-Sheppard Act has been and is the successful competitive influence of vending machine companies who operate on federal property by virtue of illegal contracts made with federal employees for their mutual profit and benefit. Such arrangements are usually made with so-called employee welfare committees. These committees are not created or authorized by statute. They are the alter ego of federal employee unions and associations. These employee welfare committees are not even unincorporated associations. They make no tax returns; they pay no taxes; and they are not audited by the General Accounting Office. That the employee welfare committees are fictitious mechanisms created to capture funds for the use and benefit of members of unions and associations was clearly revealed in hearings before the House of Representatives last year (and it will be revealed before the Senate in these hearings). That is to say, there was not and there will not be opposing testimony by employee welfare committees but only by the real parties in interest: the unions and associations of federal employees. Federal employees do not operate or service the machines from which they derive profit. The work is done by employees of private vending machine companies. It will be argued that federal employees are entitled to this windfall income because they are the customers. In hearings last year Congressman Brademas accurately diagnosed the "customer" theory by applying it to the House dining room, where the members of the House of Representatives are the customers but do not claim or expect a windfall. * Conclusion S. 2506 will permit a substantial increase in the number of vending locations established and the number of blind persons employed. Its provisions are all progressive and desirable, and we urge the enactment of the bill. ***** ** The Tri-Formation Brailling Device by Mary Jane Schmitt Tri-Formation Systems, Inc., and the Rochester Association for the Blind, of which I am a director, have entered into a contract to promote and market a large quantity of the Tri-Formation Brialle Control Electronics and Embossing Devices. The device is a terminal that can be attached to a computer or teletype machine and convert the output into braille. Because this device was developed primarily for computer programmers, the braille copy comes out on a paper tape. Paper tape was chosen so that the braille could be read, character for character, immediately as it is typed or as it is received from the computer. The device can also produce braille output on sheets of paper, if desired. The braille cell can be extended to 7 or 8 positions in order to provide technical codes used by computer programmers and others. It puts out braille at the rate of 10 characters per second. This is the same speed as the teletype, so that old argument so familiar to programmers that their braille output slows down the works is eliminated. The keyboard is a standard teletype keyboard, and anyone who can type finds it easy to adapt to it. The machine is housed in a standard briefcase and is easily portable. Those of us who have had the opportunity to play around a little with this brailling device are tremendously enthusiastic about it. We in Rochester are proud that our agency is progressive enough and genuinely interested enough in the occupational growth of blind people to embark on this advertising and marketing project. It is my contention that many devices have been developed to the prototype stage, but then we never see them again. If there is a market for this braille terminal (as we believe), we hope to reach interested users and convince them to purchase a terminal. The Rochester Association for the Blind and Tri-Formation Systems are offering blind people the chance to procure this tool. It can help blind people in various occupations to be more efficient at their jobs, can help increase opportunities for advancement, and open new fields of endeavor for blind people. Here are a few of the uses to which this machine can be put. It provides the least expensive and most convenient method for producing braille and typed output simultaneously. For the novice or expert computer programmer it provides a direct teleprocessing capability, compatible with third and fourth generation computing equipment. It enables blind people to participate in the expanding, exciting field of computer assisted instruction. It can be useful to physicists, medical technicians, computer technicians and others who need to monitor test results as they are obtained. For blind people in the information processing field, this system provides a means by which they can work with Western Union, telephone companies, government and private industry in their many teletype networks. Since one can send and receive on the teletype by using this terminal, a blind person could work in a police department, airlines reservations desk or a news service. For the blind lawyer it affords a means for data retrieval from the computerized data banks which are springing up all over the country. Blind secretaries can obtain figures and other output from the computer, thus making employment more feasible in banking establishments, credit bureaus, etc. For the next two years the Rochester Association will market the Tri-Formation brailling device for its inventors: If this marketing is successful, the agency may decide to produce this machine, and in the process employ more blind people. One of these machines is being used in England by the Ministry of Defense. One has been ordered for use in Zurich, Switzerland. The Overbrook School for the Blind has bought one for teaching math. They have ordered three more and consider it such a successful teaching device that they plan to purchase a total of twenty by next year. We feel that this equipment is the coming thing for blind people in this computerized age, and the New York State Commission for the Blind seems to agree. Commissioner Baldwin has said that if this brailling device will help a blind person obtain a job, Rehab will buy one for him. So, if you can establish that this tool will help you to obtain employment or improve your performance, perhaps the rehab agency in your state will be willing to do the same. Print and braille brochures are available. All inquiries should be addressed to: Rochester Association for the Blind, 439 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607. ***** ** An Apple A Day by Kenneth Hinga I don't know how it is in your part of the country, but here in Michigan the trusty little Medicaid card is becoming as useless as a ticket to last year's World Series. One of our leading ophthalmologists, on whom I have relied for over a decade, phoned me recently to advise me in no uncertain terms that he would no longer accept Medicaid cards as payment for his services. He did graciously agree to see and treat any indigent patient who could not afford a doctor, but henceforth, he refused to insult his profession by yielding to the dictates of Public Assistance, which barely covered the expense for the paper work involved. Within a few days after this ultimatum a call came in from the administrator of four local community-operated nursing homes, advising that his Board of Directors had instructed him to not admit any Medicaid applicants until further notice. It seems the normal charge for nursing home care is $19.00 per day, and to continue serving inmates for $5.00 a day less would be impossible. Quite a number of blind persons in the area have phoned in to complain that the good old family doctor had rejected the blue passport and demanded the regular fee immediately after the scheduled appointment was consummated. One lady informed me that she had gone through the yellow pages of the telephone directory and called every medical doctor in town without any takers. The doctors either refused to take new patients or flatly stated that welfare recipients were now persona non gratae. It's really not too difficult to understand this unfortunate development. In the first place, medical costs have risen drastically since the inception of the Medicaid program, and secondly, the waiting rooms are swamped with patients who might visit their doctor once in two years if they paid their own way. Furthermore, the average physician has all the business he can handle just treating those who are rated A-1 with the local credit bureau. They tell me you are never supposed to kick up a storm or raise an issue without offering some feasible solution. One solution would be to make the State legislature realize that you don't operate jet motors on a bale of alfalfa. The highly paid legislators, who take any member of their families to the dentist at state expense, will have to wake up to the fact that you can't buy a loaf of bread for a dime any more, and that the same inflationary trend applies to the medical profession. In the meantime, I am advising my people to buy a bottle of aspirin and request that their pastor throw in a little extra prayer for them on Sunday. ***** ** Michigan Federation Holds Annual Convention By Elizabeth M. Lennon On October 16 and 17 more than 150 members and guests gathered in Flint for one of the best attended and most enthusiastic conventions in the 50-year history of the Michigan Federation of the Blind. Philip White and Robert Engel, members of the host chapter, the Genessee Federation of the Blind, were co-chairmen of the well-planned program. Following registration, participants divided into five discussion groups: Legislation, Library Services, Radio Station for the Blind, Fund Raising, and Inter-Organization Cooperation. The afternoon session opened with a welcome by Hon. Francis Dimmer, Mayor of Flint. Dr. Edwin M. Novak, President of the Michigan State Board of Education, discussed compulsory special education, vocational training for the visually impaired, and the future of the Michigan School for the Blind. A description and exhibit of sensory aids under development and evaluation for use by the blind were given by Dr. Vito Proscia, Director of the Sensory Aids Evaluation and Development Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Miss Susan Haskin and Glenn Veysey, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Lansing, defined some of the problems their agency faces in giving adequate services to patrons. Potentialities of and problems in the use of a Closed-Circuit Television Reading Aid were outlined by Richard Armil, General Electric Company, Detroit. Harold Payne, acting Director, Office of Services for the Blind, reviewed the state program of services to the visually impaired and answered audience questions. The afternoon session closed with a look into the future of the Center for the Visually Impaired, Flint, given by the new director, Dr. David Corthell. At the Saturday evening banquet Don O. Nold, Editor and Executive Director, Dialogue magazine, Berwyn, Illinois, shared with his audience in a most humorous and inspiring manner his philosophy of living as a blind person. The dinner was followed by entertainment by Duane Fisher, blind magician, and dancing. The following officers were elected for 1971-1973: John Luxon, Detroit, President; Kenneth Hinga, Kalamazoo, Vice-President; Elizabeth Lennon, Kalamazoo, Secretary; and Robert Engle, Flint, Treasurer. ***** ** Alabama Federation of the Blind Convention By Lester McGlaughn The convention, held in Anniston, Alabama, October 8-10, opened with record registration and an enthusiastic meeting of members and friends of the Alabama Federation of the Blind. The general session was called to order by President Lester McGlaughn. A temporary committee was appointed to study ways for the Alabama Federation to improve the social and economic conditions of blind Alabamians. Addresses were made by City Manager William Kell of Anniston, Charles B. Bowman of WJBY-WLJM-FM in Gadsden, and Mr. Roy Bouler, Placement Counselor for the Blind and Deaf. Jerry Clower of Yazoo City, Miss., who has recorded for Decca Records, entertained at the luncheon with his comical anecdotes. It was announced that there would be a Southeastern regional leadership seminar in Atlanta, Ga., of ACB affiliates. The convention voted unanimously to invite the American Council of the Blind to hold its national convention in Alabama in 1975. The officers elected were: President Lester McGlaughn, Gadsden; 1st Vice President, Bill Howard, Huntsville; 2nd Vice President, Charles McCamy, Marshall County; Secretary, Arietta Hudson, Birmingham; Treasurer, Crawford Pike, Talladega. The banquet speaker was Mr. John Parsons of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Service. Ronald Horton, a graduate of the Alabama School for the Blind at Talladega, entertained the guests with selections on the electric organ. Roland Teel, of Montgomery, Legislative Chairman, presided at the legislative luncheon, which featured an address by Melba Teel Allen of Montgomery. Installation of officers was conducted by Mr. Durward McDaniel, National Representative of the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Impressions of the ACB of Maryland Convention By Nicholas Williams (Editor's Note: Mr. Williams, who is Coordinator for Employment of the Handicapped, U.S. Internal Revenue Service, is largely responsible for opening the position of Taxpayer Service Representative to blind people. The next issue of the Forum will carry a more detailed description of this program.) The American Council of the Blind of Maryland held its annual convention on Saturday, October 23, in Silver Spring, Md. It was a fine meeting with many unusual presentations and exhibits. More important were the motivated delegates. They came from throughout the area and braved bleak, rain-swept, dreary weather. However, what went on inside the convention and the dedication of this social action group more than compensated for the inconvenience. It really was a rare privilege to participate in the meeting. Earl R. Scharry, Program Chairman, had publicized in his advance notice that "... the Internal Revenue Service will discuss recent developments in the field of the Taxpayer Service Representative. The widespread employment of qualified blind persons in this position is one of the most exciting and significant opportunities to open up for blind people in many a year." And I told them in my presentation that my association with it was the most exciting and rewarding experience of my government career. It was pleasant to report that in less than four years we had over 60 blind TSR's on our rolls working successfully in 34 states, that the program was very much alive and well, and that it continues to gather force and acceptance all on its own momentum. The American Council delegates had many penetrating questions to ask. I told them a little about our hope to retrieve in braille taxpayer information which is now available to the sighted on a screen. We have a proposal on the boards to test out the braille retrieval from the computer, and then to install it in selected locations. But already our blind TSR's are certainly fielding questions on the Stabilization program, Phase II. We may even have to "retool" our training program at the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. The group was especially interested in the light probes that were demonstrated; these are used by our TSR's to locate incoming calls on the centiphones. Elmo Knoch, of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, where the TSR's are trained, had very kindly loaned us two light probes to use at the meeting, and also furnished copies of the light probe schematic for those inclined to build their own; several planned to do so. More and more, both the private sector and government are realizing that involvement in other than every day work situations is a prerequisite for self and/or corporate realization, what John Gardner calls self-renewal. More and more in today's social upheaval, the goal of business includes not just profit, but also the enhancing of the quality of life for everyone. A Wall Street Journal article (Oct. 26) by Charles N. Stabler said, "At long last it seems the corporation is developing a social conscience." Some businessmen are coming to realize that it is not enough merely to make a good product and deliver it at a good price. "What is enough... the answer is to help to clean the air and water, to provide jobs for minorities, to contribute money and talent to the solution of urban problems, to be more helpful to consumers ..." All of this social involvement helps to revitalize a corporation. Mr. Johnnie Walters, our Commissioner, recently scribbled a laudatory note to an employee about the good reception given a blind applicant, and said, "IRS does have a soul." Indeed it has, and although representatives of the Revenue Service get their share of friendly ribbing, the TSR program has contributed its bit to a realization that the Revenue Service does have a soul. But the blind do excel as TSR's, and upon written inquiry, we could report recently to Chairman Wilbur Mills of the House Ways and Means Committee, that the program continues to burgeon on its own merit and momentum. Saturday sort of rekindled me because what I saw and heard was most inspiring. It was a rediscovery, stimulated by the constructive work being done by the blind. It is good that we plan another edition of Human Resources which will feature what our employees do off the job, voluntarily, on behalf of their fellow men. Such a publication may well prove that the Commissioner's statement that IRS does have a soul! We do have high hopes that the blind may soon have computerized output in braille and thus have the same facilities as the sighted. We are soon to make training material on the Stabilization program available to blind as well as sighted TSR's. Jerry Kleiman of our Facilities Management Division is working on this. What we need to do is convince all managers and employers that it is the whole man that counts, not the fact that a man is blind. An old theme, but true. The American Council of the Blind of Maryland convention on that rainy Saturday was living evidence of achievements by whole men and women. At the invitation of the American Council, IRS will furnish an article about our TSR program for the blind to be printed in the Braille Forum. I wish all of the Revenue Service could be informed of the Silver Spring meeting of the ACB of Maryland. ***** ** ACB of Maryland Resolution Commending Library of Congress Resolution 71-02 Adopted unanimously by American Council of the Blind of Maryland Whereas, there is no service which contributes more to the well-being, the opportunities for advancement, and the cultural horizons of blind people than an adequate supply and efficient distribution of reading matter in the form of current and classical literature, magazines, textbooks, and specialized vocational and occupational materials; and Whereas, the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress, under the administration of Chief Robert S. Bray, has done an outstanding job of rendering such service and administering a complex and rapidly expanding program; and Whereas, Mr. Bray and his staff have always been most receptive to suggestions and ideas put forth by blind individuals and organizations and sensitive to their diverse and specialized needs: Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind of Maryland in convention assembled at the Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel in Silver Spring, Maryland, this 24th day of October 1971, that this organization hereby expresses to Mr. Bray and the staff of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped its appreciation for commendation of their work in general, with particular emphasis on the following achievements: 1. The establishment of fifty regional libraries and a growing number of sub-regional libraries throughout the country, so as to establish a closer contact between the librarian and the reader and to adapt the service to the particular needs and interests of the area served. 2. The establishment of selection policies based on the sound premise that the reading needs and tastes of the blind are the same as those of the general public and to meet those needs as fully as possible within the limitations of its budget. 3. Training and coordinating the work of a large and dedicated corps of volunteer braillists and tapists, which is doing an outstanding job of meeting the specialized needs of individuals and supplementing the supply of general literature. 4. Providing on a continuing and current basis such materials as income-tax forms and schedules for baseballs, football and basketball, and providing a wide variety of magazines on a timely basis by instituting a policy of direct mailing by the braille or recording publishers. 5. Cooperating with professional, vocational, and special-interest groups in providing needed current literature and information, such as Datamation magazine for data processors, a handbook for students (which was financed and distributed at the request of the National Federation of the Blind), and a law journal for the American Blind Lawyers Association (an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind). 6. Providing employment for no fewer than eighteen legally blind persons (several of them in positions of responsibility involving policy-making), as well as affording opportunity to qualified blind proofreaders to the number of at least 195 to earn supplemental income. Be it further resolved that the American Council of the Blind of Maryland hereby conveys to Mr. Bray and his staff an offer to cooperate in any way possible in the promotion of their present policies and in the discovery of unmet needs and new means of improved service. The President of the American Council of the Blind of Maryland is hereby directed to send copies of this resolution to Mr. Robert S. Bray, Chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress, Mr. Paul Berry, Director of the Reference Department of the Library of Congress, Mr. L. Quincy Mumford, Librarian of Congress, all members of the Maryland delegation in Congress, all other persons he may deem to be concerned. ***** ** Editorial: Sweet Are the Uses of Diversity The Bard has sung of the sweetness of the uses of "adversity"; and certainly in its early days of travail ACB was well acquainted with the bittersweet qualities of that state. Out of the futility of its prenatal struggle for the right of self-expression on and dissent and the disillusionment bred of the credibility gap, grew a common determination among the founders of the organization to ensure that its policies should be forged from the free interplay of the diverse ideas and interests of all its members. They were convinced that, though bound together in a common cause, the blind population and organizations of the blind have a wide diversity of interests, needs and ideas, and that each group and each individual has its unique contribution to make. We often hear the question asked, "How can the sighted know what the blind want and what is good for them?" We might, with equal justification ask, "How do I, as a government employee working mainly with volunteers, know what a blind teacher wants; how does a blind lawyer know what a blind secretary's needs are; or how does a blind agency official know what is good for a blind vending stand operator?" One consequence of our decision to encourage rather than suppress diversity has been that the pages of our publication have not been commandeered solely for the propagation of official dogma, but have been made available for the expression and competition of all sorts of rank-and-file ideas. We have not felt that any one man, or any group of men has a monopoly of truth and wisdom. We have not felt that the garb of "good aims" and "good intentions" should be allowed to cloak unconscionable means. In the words of that consummate individualist and prototype of the American "protester," Thoreau, "There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted. If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life." So it is that, in the interest of diversity, our President has never been permitted nor ever sought to dominate our Board of Directors, nor has our Board sought to dominate our membership. So it is, too, that we have never aspired to issue edicts from on high as to what certain groups ought to want, such as vendors, teachers, secretaries, dog guide users, lawyers, programmers, etc. Instead, we have encouraged and fostered such groups within our midst so that they may forge their own programs and their own destinies. We have not gone to their house designing to "do them good," but have invited them into our house to deliberate among themselves and determine what they need and want; and we have stood ready to help them attain it. Yet I do not imply that the obligation of these diversified interest groups ends with the formulation of their own programs and with enlisting the aid and facilities of the general body as needed. They also have the obligation to lend their special talents to the achievement of the goals of other groups and to participate in and contribute to the general activities of the organization, as most of them have already done with enthusiasm and distinction. ***** ** Achievements: Blind Alaskan Switchboard Operator (Reprinted from the Anchorage, Alaska, Daily Times) Sightless Trietsch Enjoys New Job at Switchboard By Rosemary Shinohara, Staff Writer Most blind people memorize to survive. But not many go to the extremes of James Trietsch, a man blind since the age of six who has become the first unsighted telephone operator in Alaska. Trietsch began operating the 15-trunk push button switchboard at the Alaska State Court System building here about six weeks ago, when the modern facility was installed. To do the job, he had to memorize who was at the receiving end of 84 telephone extensions, and what their functions were. There are about 250 people in the various departments of the court in three separate buildings, according to a court administrator. "My mind is always working," Trietsch says. The Anchorage Telephone Utility employee who trained him, Patti Shockley, estimates that there are periods of the day when Trietsch handles up to 150 calls an hour. And, says Mrs. Shockley, "Jimmy handles just as many calls just as efficiently as any attendant I've trained." The training began with the memorization of the personnel and extension numbers in the courthouse, Mrs. Shockley said. She made a tape recording for Trietsch containing the data. She and Trietsch modified the switchboard, overlaying it with a portable wood frame which blocks out keys not in use and divides different types of keys. The pair also made a braille file listing personnel in the building, cross referenced by department, as a backup to Trietsch's memory. He doesn't use it much. The actual training period in operating the switchboard was eight days, Mrs. Shockley said. ... Trietsch operates the system according to tones which tell him whether the call is a transfer, an in-house call, a hold call, or a call from an outside line. ... The entire program came about at the instigation of a state legislator, Rep. Genie Chance, D-Anchorage, who is chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Education Committee. Courthouse administrators said it was Mrs. Chance who first brought the possibility of hiring a blind operator to their attention and stimulated discussion of the potentialities with the phone company. The same system could be installed in any modern, push-button switchboard with little trouble, says Mrs. Shockley. But the few blind operators Trietsch and Mrs. Shockley are aware of in the United States are all in state employment. "It's difficult to get private corporations involved," Trietsch says. ***** ** The UWB Votegetter The UWB Votegetter is a device for use by organizations of blind people for voting either on a yes or no proposition, or for as many as four candidates. The unit measures six and one-half inches wide, by seven inches deep, by ten and one-half inches high, and weighs eight pounds fourteen ounces. Briefly, there is an opening in the front of the case, through which the voter reaches his hand. There are four keys inside with Braille markings of A, B, C, and D. A choice of any key may be depressed (only one will go down at a given time) however, the vote will not register until a small door is closed -- the handle being located just above the keys for the most convenience. When the door is closed, a tone is heard, and the attendant has a lever which he depresses to clear the machine and open the door for the next voter. After the voting is completed, a door is unlocked at the rear of the case and the count is viewed as registered and totaled in numbers large enough to enable partially sighted persons to read them. The meters can be set to zero by a blind person. All major parts are of computer grade and the machine is guaranteed to be 100% accurate. Persons interested in purchasing the Votegetter should contact: UWB Future Planning Committee, 7216 Arlington Drive, Richmond Heights, Missouri 63117. ***** ** FCC Takes a New Look at Blind Radio Operators Travis Harris reports that: "through the efforts of members of the American Council of the Blind and others, First and Second-Class Radio Operators' Licenses may now be granted to the blind. F.C.C. regulations heretofore have precluded the blind from becoming engineers with First- and Second-Class Licenses, which, of course, greatly limited the opportunities for blind radio technicians." "This matter has been under consideration by the F.C.C. for the last several months ... It was discussed on the ACB Service Net, and a number of us blind people wrote to the F.C.C. requesting that the rules be revised so that blind people may take the examination for the A and B Class Licenses. We can all be proud that ACB along with others has been able to get F.C.C. to change its regulations so that blind people can qualify for greater opportunities in the field of broadcasting." (Editor's Note: In the "Report and Order" which follows, it is important to distinguish between the report, which presents extremely interesting and often liberal approaches and recommendations, and the order, which, though progressive, still falls considerable short of the more liberal philosophy expressed in the report.) * Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Provide for the Issuance of Radiotelephone Licenses to Blind Persons Docket No. 19182 Report and Order Adopted: Sept. 8, 1971 Released: Sept. 13, 1971 By the Commission: Commissioner Wells concurring in the result. 1. ... 2. ... the question of blind persons holding radiotelephone operator licenses is not new. Eyesight has been viewed generally as essential for the performance of most operator duties. So inherent was this concept that the rules required the examinations for original licenses to be written in longhand by the applicant in the English language. Notwithstanding the written examination prerequisite, several of the Engineers-in-Charge at some of the district offices over the years did take it upon themselves to offer examinations to blind persons. The lack of uniformity and the ad hoc handling of the matter was officially resolved by Commission Order released June 23, 1967, (FCC 67-749, 8 FCC 2d 696) amending Section 13.5(c) (2) of the Rules affording waiver of the written examination requirement with respect to the radiotelephone third class operator license. It was recognized at that time that sufficient adaptations could be made to the radio equipment so as to permit a blind person to perform the operating duties with reasonable accuracy, but not so with respect to the more technically oriented maintenance duties required of the higher degree of license holder. 3. Continued pressure on the part of concerned individuals and groups prompted the instant proceeding so that a more thorough examination of the entire matter could be made, more particularly in light of the present day technologies and uses of the appropriate class license. Upwards of 30 comments were received in all, the largest portion from blind persons and Governors' Committees on the Employment of the Handicapped, as well as several from individual licensees (operator and station) who have worked with or been exposed to blind operators. Virtually all of those commenting urged in essence: that blind persons be permitted an opportunity to take any examination for which they may qualify; the Commission to limit its concern solely to the question of whether applicant passed the necessary test, leaving any questions or restrictions with respect to fitness and/or eligibility for employment to the individual operator and employer, both of whom would be more attuned to the capabilities of the sightless licensee vis-a-vis the job requirements. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) did have some reservations. 4. The responding parties agree that the safety factor is of paramount importance. They contend however, that since the question of personal safety is just as much of concern to the blind individual as it is to the sighted -- that the blind technician has no less regard for his life than has his sighted colleagues -- the compatibility of the particular individual with the job requirements in any given instance should more appropriately be left to the discretion of the parties themselves who are in the best position to mutually evaluate the particular hazards of a given technical operation. They argue that the same should not be the subject of arbitrary and discriminatory limitations imposed by the Commission on sightless individuals restricting the class of license for which he may qualify. 5. The parties urge that, overall, all technical people, whether handicapped or not, differ in their ability and safety habits. However, the blind persons through the exercise of proper judgment and care, will in most situations make suitable accommodations for the lack of sight by developing aids to assist in the completion of a particular task as well as testing and utilizing new devices and techniques. The Utah State Board of Education contends for example, the availability of instrumentation which makes most, if not all adjustments to commercial radio equipment feasible for the blind operator, and the existence of well-designed equipment which permits adjustments to be made through small access holes, with properly insulated instruments, so that operators do not forage about amongst high voltage wires and components while the current is on. Mr. Robert W. Gunderson, a blind first class operator for upwards of 30 years, states that he earns his living in the radio and electronic industry for which these commercial licenses are necessary adjuncts, and has developed numerous auditory measuring instruments which provide aural signals with braille readout which enables the blind engineer, technician, and service man to perform his duties. The consensus generally, however, is that the only effective safety devices available for the protection of any and all operators are care, common sense, and a thorough knowledge of the equipment being operated. 6. It is pointed out further that blind operators have been building and maintaining high-powered radio transmitters for decades in all phases of radio technology; that the blind amateurs work on and maintain their own transmitters, making adjustments on live circuits at their own discretion; that more than 500 blind persons now hold radio amateur licenses from the Commission with "hundreds" operating "HAM" stations involving lethal voltage equipment; that as a matter of fact, ordinary house current could likewise be "lethal." Under the circumstances, the limitations imposed in the commercial operator field appears to the interested parties to be unwarranted. The Commission is convinced by the position of Governors' Committees on the Employment of the Handicapped and blind persons, and hereinafter regards the matter of personal safety of operators to be a consideration of employment between employer and employee. 7. More important however, insofar as the sightless person is concerned, is the prestige and ancillary job opportunities associated with the higher-class license. Mr. Gunderson states that several of his major areas of employment would not have been available to him had he not been the holder of the higher-class license. He would not, he contends, have been able to become an instructor for the United States Signal Corps Reserve in the 1940s had he not had the appropriate first- and second-class licenses, or had the opportunity to teach sighted applicants radio theory. In his view "lack of sight has nothing to do with technical ability." He points out that the passing of the appropriate examination indicates a mark of achievement -- an honor bestowed upon the applicant evidencing that he is trained and disciplined to the extent demonstrated in the examination, and that the licensing agency should not withhold this right. Several others in their responses elaborate on this view. Mr. Sylvester N. Nemers, a former first-class license-holder, notes for example, that the two-way communications field is closed "to technically qualified blind persons because at least a Second-Class Radiotelephone License is required to maintain and repair transmitters of fixed or mobile stations." 8. The Committees and/or Commissions established essentially for the education and rehabilitation of the handicapped make the additional argument that the key to placing handicapped persons is selective placement -- matching individual skills and physical limitations to job demands. Thus, they contend, to "arbitrarily" deny an individual the opportunity to secure the appropriate license is to limit automatically his participation and opportunity of achievement in his chosen field. The blind person does not seek nor must he be given sympathy. He must be allowed to be fairly competitive in attaining the maximum potential of vital importance. This, they urge, can only be accomplished by amending the rules to permit the licensing of the handicapped person who demonstrates by examination (orally, in writing or by braille) that he has the necessary knowledge of rules and technology set forth by the examination. 9. NAB in its comments strongly supports any and all efforts which extend employment opportunities to the handicapped, but nevertheless holds fast to the concept that "it would be foolhardy to permit a sightless individual to either attempt or be legally qualified to maintain equipment under such conditions" where there is a single first class license holder responsible for the technical operation and maintenance of the directional station. NAB points out that the duties required to be performed will involve a multiplicity of functions, to wit, adjustment and maintenance of the antenna system requiring reading of precision instruments, extensive field measurements at remote locations, visual inspection of components for deterioration or overheating, plus a host of other operating parameters as well as maintenance functions involving voltages which could pose a definite hazard to one's personal safety. We appreciate NAB's concern, but do not believe the problem to be insurmountable. The stations are now free to enter into any employee-employer relationship which they deem proper and appropriate, and this free choice will continue to be theirs. The Commission is aware that granting higher grade operator licenses to sightless persons may create certain practical problems for broadcasters in that under many situations of transmitter and other equipment malfunction, the sightless operator may be handicapped vis-a-vis a sighted operator. It should be understood that, as at present, the Commission will hold the station licensee responsible for adaptation of the station's technical equipment to obtain compliance with the rules and for day-by-day operation of the station within the rules and the terms of the station authorization. The rule change will merely extend the blind person's opportunity to compete. 10. Several collateral issues remain for consideration. Section 13.5(c)(2) now requires that the license of the blind operator be endorsed to reflect the physical limitation by restricting the use of licenses in the Safety Radio Services and requiring any radio station employing blind operators to adapt their stations with the necessary equipment for operation by a blind person so that the station is capable of being operated in compliance with the Commission's rules. Several of the parties urge here that since the physical handicap is obvious at first glance no advantage exists to any such endorsement, save to act as a psychological disadvantage; that both parties appreciate the limitations and neither seeks trouble; that since the blind operator is fully aware of the existing hazards and would not want a job beyond his capabilities and the station would not be apt to make the offer to him for a job beyond his ability, any limitations or restraints placed on the face of the license are unnecessary and unwarranted. Mr. Morris Courtright, Jr., of Courtright Engineering, takes the extreme opposite view urging that all first-class licenses (whether issued to sighted or sightless persons) should be identified and endorsed for those with maintenance knowledge and ability, giving full use and recognition for currently issued degrees and certificates of a technical nature in lieu of degrees of examination. The more moderate view recommends that the license issued to the blind applicant be limited with respect to the maintenance factor at least until such time as the station licensee determines that the sightless operator is able to perform the requisite duties without supervision, thus assuring that the facilities will be operated and maintained within FCC specifications. Sections 13.5(c)(l) and 13.5(c)(2) now require that these restrictive endorsements be placed on third class license documents obtained by sightless persons. This practice will be continued for sightless persons obtaining higher grade licenses. 11. On the basis of the comments herein together with available pertinent information, the Commission is of the view that a most equitable conclusion, and one which would best serve the public interest, would be for the Commission to issue all grades of radio-telephone operator licenses to blind persons who qualify by taking the appropriate examination, subject to non-use in the Safety Radio Services and to the requirement that any transmitter operated by a blind person must be adapted by the station licensee for operation so that the station is capable of being operated in compliance with the Commission's rules. 12. We have examined further how best to conduct the examination of blind persons, and have concluded that the same is to be administered by a Commission employee at a Commission district office. Since the examination must be given orally, thus requiring a substantial period of time, the examinations will be conducted only pursuant to pre-arranged appointments made at least two weeks in advance of the examination date. In this way, the examinations will be conveniently spaced and timed and the normal functions of the district office minimally disrupted. 13. In view of the foregoing, IT IS ORDERED, that effective October 26, 1971, pursuant to the authority contained 1n Sections 4(1) and 303 (1) of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended, Sections 0.314, 13.5(c)(2), 13.11 and 13.23 of the' Commission's rules ARE AMENDED as set forth in the attached Appendix. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this proceeding is TERMINATED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Ben F. Waple, Secretary * Appendix 1. A new paragraph (r) is added to Section 0.314 to read as follows: Sec. 0.314 Authority delegated to the Engineers in Charge: (r) Request by blind applicant for appointment for a date and time within which to appear at the appropriate district office for a radiotelephone license examination. (Sec. 13.11 of this Chapter) 2. Section 13.5 (c) (2) is amended to read as follows: Sec. 13.5 Eligibility for new license. (c) (2) If an applicant afflicted with blindness is afforded a waiver of the written examination requirement and is found qualified for a radiotelephone first-class operator license, radiotelephone second-class operator license, radiotelephone third-class operator license, and radiotelephone third-class operator license with broadcast endorsement, he may be issued the license: PROVIDED, That the license so received shall bear an endorsement as follows: This license is not valid for the operation of any station licensed by the Commission unless the station has been adapted for operation by a blind person and the equipment to be used in such station for that purpose is capable of providing for operation in compliance with the Commission's rules. 3. A new paragraph (e) is added to Section 13.11 to read as follows: (e) Blind Applicant. A blind person seeking an examination for radiotelephone first-class operator license, radiotelephone second-class operator license, radiotelephone third-class operator license, and radiotelephone third-class operator license with broadcast endorsement shall make a request in writing to the Engineer in Charge of the appropriate district office for a time and date to appear for such examination. The examination shall be administered only at the district office. Requests for examinations shall be made at least two weeks prior to the date on which the examination is desired. 4. Section 13.23, headnote and text is revised to read as follows: Sec. 13.23 Examination Form. The written examination shall be in English and shall be written by the applicant in longhand except in the case of a blind applicant, where the examination questions shall be read orally to the applicant and the dictated answers recorded by a Commission district office employee authorized to administer the examination orally. ***** ** Hyde Park Corner: Marked Money By Harold Rowley Thank you very much for providing me with that wonderful, substantial soap box from which I delivered my convictions on Representative Rarick's bill H.R. 9102 and for the list of the Committee. That is really a committee and a half. I have been spending much of my time today writing to them. Actually it makes no difference to me whether the embossed designations on the currency would be braille or some geometric design. Either would be better than nothing. But here's a strange thing: Some time ago I read on page 70 of the Braille Monitor for September 1971, that the NFB in convention assembled "adopted unanimously" a resolution to seek to defeat this bill because it "would only serve to strengthen and more firmly entrench the too generally accepted stereotype of the blind person as dependent for participatory functioning upon special gimmicks and inconveniencing adjustments to the sighted"; etc. Yet, a few years back, this same NFB was championing the cause of the blind by urging the various "architectural barrier" bills that were then pending and which seem to have passed safely into law, thanks no doubt in part at least to the efforts of the NFB. As a result today we have braille numbers on the button panels of elevators in newer public buildings, and innovation which I welcome gratefully. But isn't Representative Rarick's bill concerning embossed designations on the currency another step or equal value along the road to greater liberation and self-determination for the blind, toward less dependence on the sighted, not more? Isn't it a bit inconsistent to want embossed designations in elevators and on hotel room doors and not want them on the currency? I myself am for them everywhere, even on the doors of those all-important little rooms that we must all visit betimes. Yet I do not wish to imply that the NFB has no right to be inconsistent. I'm sure we're all inconsistent at times, and doubly sure that I am. It's just part of being fallible, or being human. But I'm just asking if this doesn't strike you as inconsistent. So what's so bad about H.R. 9102? Well, thanks a lot again for the use of your soap box. Next time I'll try to bring a chair. Very sincerely, Harold Rowley ** Hyde Park Corner: "Go, Go, Geo!" By Bob Phelan Hi there, my friend Geo! This morning I read the nice story your teacher, Mrs. Krause, wrote about you in the July issue of a magazine named the Braille Forum. So this is to tell you that I'm on the great big team that is saying: "Go, go, Geo!" You can help us win this big game called "Get Well Fast, Geo" by listening oh-so-carefully to what your folks, the doctor and the nurses, and your teachers tell you, and then letting them know that you are thankful for all their loving kindness by doing your best to follow their instructions. That's known as being brave. C'mon, Geo! You can do that! Mr. Bob Phelan ***** ** News from Iowa Wyman Howard, in the November 1971 "Trumpet's Voice" comments: "Here in the Land of Xanadu we are, of late, promised more than a few paltry domes within which to seek our pleasures. "We hear and read that the Iowa Commission for the Blind under the direction of its inseparable sister the National Federation of the Blind, will charter bright and novel vistas of employment for the blind of this state. "Out of the tinsel leading to the promise of this roseate hour a single name appears. "How sad, what one man must do to get his name broadcast so much." Charles Kintz, Public Relations Chairman of the Iowa Council of the Blind, wrote the following article for release to the news media. "Our Loss Will Be Someone's Gain. "September 28th will go down as a sad day for the blind people of Iowa. It was on this day that Dr. Frank Rocco, superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School at Vinton, gave his resignation to the State Board of Regents. This will be effective June 30, 1972. "Dr. Rocco came to Iowa a few years ago, and immediately became involved in a power struggle not of his own choosing. While fighting off his enemies, he made great strides toward his goals. One wonders what this man might have accomplished if he had not been hindered from without. "I have heard (Dr. Rocco) speak on two different occasions. Both of those times he was speaking on his favorite subject, "the School." When he speaks of "his kids," the air is full of the sound of pride in his voice. He is a dedicated person and has that intangible quality that brings out the very best in a student. A pupil will get more because he wants more. "Dr. Rocco will be missed in Iowa not only by the students but also the adult blind. We can let him go with good grace because we know that wherever he goes, blind children will benefit from his teaching. "We have been very fortunate in having Dr. Rocco in Iowa, and we take this opportunity to wish him and his family all the good things, wherever they go." The Board of Directors of the Iowa Council of the Blind, at its meeting on October 9, 1971, instructed Wyman Howard ICB President, to write a letter of commendation to Dr. Rocco for his excellent work at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, and resolved that the Iowa Council of the Blind offer to cooperate with the State Board of Regents in an advisory capacity. ***** ** Treasurer's Report of Donations June 1, 1971 to Nov. 1, 1971 * Members-at-Large -- $3.00 each Franklin S. Clark, New York, New York; Jimmie H. Trietsch, Anchorage, Alaska; Mrs. Lucille V. Ross, Akron, Ohio; Charlcie Runion, Akron, Ohio; Thomas Lutes, Bardstown, Kentucky; Anonymous, Atlanta, Georgia. * Contributions to Braille Forum -- Total $537.00 Ferne Pritchard, Oakland, California; Franklin S. Clark, New York, New York; North Dakota Association of the Blind; George Fogarty, Oakland, California; Boyd Jr. & Helen Wolfe, Columbus, Ohio; Kalamazoo Federation of the Blind; New York Association for the Blind; Mrs. Mason C. Johnson, Columbia, South Carolina; Harry A. Troop, China Grove, North Carolina; Wisconsin Lions Foundation; Cedar Valley Council of the Blind, Iowa; Ruth Radley, McMinnville, Oregon; Wisconsin Council of the Blind. * Braille Forum Tapes -- Total $29.75 Mr. & Mrs. Elpidio Flores, Uvalde, Texas; Allan Benson, Flint, Michigan; Frank McKinney, Oakland, California; William L. Flint, Rochester, New York; Shirley Skinner, Rochester, New York; Brent & Dorothy Stowe, Norman, Oklahoma; Genevieve E. Fitch, Chicago, Illinois; Richard & Zeena Hogsbro, Orlando, Florida; Arthur Bushman, Reno, Nevada; J.V. Hinson, Hickory, North Carolina; Nebraska Service for Visually Impaired. * Washington Office Contribution -- Total $105.00 North Dakota Association of the Blind; Hubert Smith, Ways & Means for the Blind, Augusta, Georgia. * General Contributions -- Total $52.00 Mrs. Hazel B. Coberly, Wheeling, West Virginia, Eleanor Rainey, Whitinsville, Massachusetts; George Fogarty, Oakland, California; Anonymous, Ohio; Mrs. M.L. Walton, El Dorado, Kansas; Mrs. Nadine L. Worthington, Topeka, Kansas. * Sponsoring Memberships Gussie Unterman, Brooklyn, New York. * Sustaining Memberships Elizabeth G. Flint, Weston, Massachusetts. Finance Committee general accumulation of contributions, etc. $1,300.52 We wish to thank every one of the above for their contribution or membership. Make your donations count, especially between now and the end of the year. we accept contributions from a dime to a legacy. A Happy Thanksgiving and a Cheerful Yuletide Season. From your hopeful Treasurer, Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. ***** ** Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments (Reprinted from the Washington Report of the American Foundation for the Blind, Inc., October, 1971.) Rep. John Brademas (D-Ind.), Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor, has introduced a bill designed to refocus the provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act on the needs of severely handicapped individuals. The bill, H.R. 9847, was introduced on July 15 and would amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act as follows: 1. Increase the authorization of appropriations for the basic program of grants to the states for vocational rehabilitation to $825,000,000 for fiscal 1973; $1,250,000,000 for fiscal 1974; and $1,500, 000,000 for fiscal 1975. 2. Continue the existing authorization of appropriations for grants to the states for innovation programs under Section 3 of the Act at $10,000,000 for fiscal 1973 and each of the two succeeding fiscal years. 3. Increase the authorization of appropriations for research and training under Section 4 of the Act to $150,000,000 for fiscal 1973; $175,000,000 for fiscal 1974; and $195,000,000 for fiscal 1975. 4. Add "and other severely handicapped" to the text of Section 4 of the Act to emphasize that special project grants for research, demonstration and training should be focused on the needs of these disability groups as well as the mentally retarded. 5. Strengthen state plan requirements under Section 5 of the Act to assure a priority in provision of vocational rehabilitation services to severely handicapped individuals; eliminate financial need as a criterion of eligibility for services to such individuals; provide for periodic review of the status of such individuals in extended or terminal employment in workshops for determining the feasibility of their employment in the competitive labor market: and provide for a fair hearing mechanism, individuals requesting or receiving services. 6. Require the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to disapprove a state plan which denies severely handicapped individuals a preference in goods and services. 7. Authorize judicial review for handicapped individuals dissatisfied with the action taken as a result of the fair hearing procedure or arbitration. 8. Authorize applicants for or recipients of services under the Act to utilize individuals or organizations as claims representatives. 9. Establish in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare or any successor agency administering the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, a Division for the Severely Handicapped to administer at the federal level all aspects of the program relating to severely handicapped individuals. 10. Establish a National Advisory Council on the Severely Handicapped in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to advise the Secretary on project grants and on the planning, delivery, and evaluation of services for the severely handicapped under the Act. 11. Provide for improved statistical reporting on the vocational rehabilitation program to the Congress. 12. Add "Outreach, referral; and advocacy" to the definition of rehabilitation services in Section 11 of the Act 13. Exempt the severely handicapped from financial restrictions related to provision of physical restoration and certain other goods and services. 14. Authorize preventive, restorative, and other services which would eliminate or diminish the need of any severely handicapped individual of any age for rehabilitation services under the Act. 15. Foster the utilization of public and private vocational and technical schools for training handicapped individuals in contract to the use of sheltered workshops for this purpose. 16. Authorize 100 percent federal financing of vocational rehabilitation services for severely handicapped individuals while leaving the federal share at the current 80 percent for services to other handicapped individuals. 17. Extend the authorization of appropriations for construction of rehabilitation facilities under Section 12 of the Act and for rehabilitation facility improvement under Section 13 through the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, at the current annual level of $30,000,000 for each and include compliance with occupational health standards specified by the Secretary of Labor as a condition for grants under both sections. 18. Extend the authorization of appropriations for vocational evaluation and work adjustment programs for the disadvantaged under Section 15 of the Act through the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, at the current annual level of $100,000,000; authorize the state agency for the blind to administer the state plan for blind persons as they are now doing for the basic program under Section 2; and require that preference in evaluation and work adjustment programs be given to severely handicapped individuals. 19. Require workshops and rehabilitation facilities receiving grants or contracts under the Act to assure all their employees, including handicapped individuals, or compliance with accepted conditions and benefits of employment. The bill also provides for prior Congressional approval of HEW reorganizations. The national organizations of and for the blind, which participated in the development of H.R. 9847, are planning to support the bill when hearings are held and will recommend statutory establishment of a Division for the Blind and Visually Handicapped as well as the Division for the Severely Handicapped already provided for in the bill. ***** ** Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation (The following announcement has been submitted to us by Albert W. Derda, of the ACB of Maryland, Ed.) The following words are being heard by thousands of parents throughout the United States from their doctors: "I have examined your children's eyes, and they have a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. There is nothing I can do, and unless the answer is found, your children will eventually go blind." They leave his office with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. However, one such couple in Baltimore, Maryland, would not accept these words of despair. They decided to do something, and with the help of their friends they have founded the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, Inc. So diligent have been their efforts that prominent figures throughout the country have subscribed their sponsorship. This organization is dedicated to the sole purpose of establishing and sustaining the first multi-disciplined laboratory for research in the field of RP. The foundation consists entirely of volunteers. The Foundation is starting a National Registry, which will contain the name and address of anyone having this disease. Medical records and histories of RP patients will be gathered and used to help in the research program, for their genetic ancestors and for potential carriers. For more information, you may write or call: Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, Inc., 3408 Rolling Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21207. Telephone: (301) 655-1011. ***** ** Here and There By George Card From the Peoriarea OBSERVER: Up to now no substance has proved satisfactory for the replacement of the vitreous humor which has been lost or damaged through hemorrhaging or from other causes. A new substance, collagen, is solving this problem in many cases, It is injected into the damaged eye by hypodermic. The collagen gel was administered as part of a regular surgical procedure to seven people with eye hemorrhages. In three cases there was a recurrence of the hemorrhaging, and the damage was too severe to be corrected. However, four patients who had been blind regained the use of their eyes -- one to the point where she was once again able to read print. -- Between three buildings at the University of Southern Illinois a beeper system is being tried out to orient blind students. Each beeper will have a braille plaque with directions to buildings in the area. If it works out it will be expanded to the entire campus. From the Missouri CHRONICLE: As the result of a tremendous letter-writing and personal lobbying campaign on the part of the Missouri Federation, the bills raising the pension grant to 4500 blind from $90 to $100 a month finally reached the Senate floor at 4:00 p.m. on the last day of the session and were passed. The governor signed them a few days later, and the raise became effective October 1. -- RITE has been sponsoring a charm school for the blind women of the St. Louis area. The PROMOTER reports that our N.D. affiliate this year abandoned its expensive and, of late, poorly attended summer training course and substituted a week at a summer camp which was great fun. Courses in mobility, script writing and a number of crafts were available. From the OCB STYLUS: Norman Silvers has been named Director of Vocational Rehab by Oregon's Gov. McCall. He becomes an Assistant Director of the Dept. of Human Resources and a member of the Commission for the Blind. He was the recipient of the 1970 OCB Service Award for placing blind and other handicapped employees at Tektronix. -- Mrs. Berge (Vera) Thompson retired June 1 after 26 years on the staff of the Commission for the Blind. Her involvement in OCB activities will long be remembered. -- Preserving the Commission for the Blind was perhaps the chief accomplishment at the Legislature this year. From the NEW OUTLOOK: Today, the medical removal of cataract is successful in over 95 percent of cases because of refinements in instruments, techniques, anesthesia and drugs. -- It has recently been shown that the removal of a cataract in a patient who has both cataracts and glaucoma will cure both conditions in a large number of cases. -- The argon laser beam is now being used to treat cases of diabetic retinopathy by obliterating those blood vessels that appear to be responsible for the bleeding. -- There will be approximately 474,000 blind persons over the age of 65 by 1985. There are 80,700 blind persons receiving public assistance in the U.S. -- Under the proposed Family Assistance Plan the present average grant of $59.85 in Mississippi would be more than doubled. In California and Nevada the present levels of $172 and $168 respectively could be maintained with no additional state outlay. -- There is no evidence that a larger percentage of blind persons are gainfully employed than, say, 20 years ago -- particularly in the professional and technical fields. -- Leland C. Sanborn, superintendent of the N.Y. State School for the Blind, Batavia, has retired after 11 years. Thomas A. Patterson, former dean of instruction at the Governor Morehead School, Raleigh, N.C., has been selected to succeed Mr. Sanborn. From the World Council NEWLETTER: A feature of the banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary of AFB was the presentation of the Migel Medal to Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, president of the Mass. Institute of Technology. -- An insight into the working of the brain has been provided by the discovery that it is easier for children to read Braille using only their left fingers. This should discourage the traditional way of teaching Braille, which involves the use of the left index finger for reading the first half of each line and the right index finger for the second half. The knowledge that one hand in particular is usually favored confirms the generally held belief that each hemisphere of the brain has special responsibilities that are not completely duplicated by the other hemisphere. -- French airlines now extend liberal fare concessions to blind travelers and guides within mainland France and Corsica. -- The Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm has arranged a special exhibit of prehistoric and medieval artifacts entitled "History Through the Fingertips," utilizing a series of suitcase-sized boxes containing stone and metal axes and household objects, plus a synchronized tape recording. From the KAB NEWS: A vacation consists of two weeks which are too short, after which you are too tired to return to work and too broke not to. -- There has been a 1000 percent increase in diabetic blindness in the last ten years. -- On June 2, 1971 Joe Gutierrez, a blind boy from Kansas City, Kansas, was elected governor of the 34th annual American Boys' State. Boys' State is a government training youth program where approximately 1,100 boys spent a week to learn by doing. (A few months ago in Ohio the woman director of Buckeye Girls' State refused even to admit a young blind girl who had been duly elected by her classmates and gave as the reason that she was "protecting" her from a situation which she felt no blind youngster could cope with. The American Legion backed up the director, despite a nationwide protest.) From the ABC DIGEST (Calif.): The Sony 105 tape recorder is equipped with a variable speed regulator and permits blind students to listen and comprehend tape recorded material more satisfactorily. It is available from the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40202. at the cost of $189.50. --Wedding bells will soon be ringing for ABC's Charter President, Mrs. Juliet Bindt, and Everett E. Esterly. From the AFB WASHINGTON REPORT: According to the Social and Rehabilitation Service, 291,272 disabled Americans were rehabilitated to productive activity during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, under the Federal-State vocational rehabilitation program. This represents the largest number of rehabilitants in the history of the program. Of this number, 40,321 were public assistance recipients. (Placements in sheltered workshops are considered "rehabilitations" -- which makes the above figures somewhat less impressive.) -- The Internal Revenue Service has recently ruled that the unreimbursed cost of reader services for a blind person may be deducted as a medical expense. The ILLINOIS BRAILLE MESSENGER reports that a number of handicapped groups, including the blind, have united to form an organization called Political Action for Rehabilitation, opportunity on various levels. From the Vermont INFORMER: At its annual convention on September 25 Al Nichols became President for the next two years. Al has been in touch with the situation in Puerto Rico and it is entirely possible that we may have an affiliate there before much longer. Robert L. Pogorelc has been selected by the Oregon Commission for the Blind to fill the position of Administrator, succeeding the late Clifford Stocker. Dr. Leslie Kay, of New Zealand, is now in the U.S. on a year-long program aimed at evaluating the ultrasonic glasses he invented through a number of established training centers. The Montana OBSERVER reports its success in obtaining a new law giving blind persons and other non-drivers an ID card for personal identification. -- The blind of Montana, along with those of many other states, are vigorously protesting a proposed change in the title of the Library of Congress Division for the Blind & Physically Handicapped to the Division for the Sightless & Physically Handicapped. Most of us agree that the term "blind" is no longer a "brand" and that the use of any such euphemism would be silly and futile. ###