The Braille Forum Vol. XI September-October 1972 No. 2 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * Editor: Earl Scharry 5714 Ridgeway Ave. Rockville, MD 20851 * President: Reese Robrahn 329 Woodbury Lane Topeka, KS 66606 * National Representative: Durward K. McDaniel 818 18th Street, N.W. Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 * Associate Editors: George Card 605 South Few St. Madison, WI 53703 Margaret Freer 11816 West Blue Mound Rd. Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Ione B. Miller 9291 Fermi Avenue San Diego, CA 92123 To inform its readers and to provide an impartial Forum for discussion. ***** ** Contents Notice to Subscribers Address Change -- Washington Office From the Office of the President Letter from Margaret Freer, Associate Editor Hyde Park Corner -- Iowa Litigation Fund, by Lyle Williams The Psychological Implications of Blindness, by Carolyn Carney New Radio Series ACB Service Net News, by Doris Hauser ABLA Has Successful Seminar, by Vernon Williams ACB Resolutions Retinitis Pigmentosa, by Bernard Berman Old Radio Programs on Tape Hyde Park Corner -- The Five's on the Bottom, by Kenneth Hinga Activity in San Diego, by Ione Miller Social Security Benefits Ex-Judge Starts Nationwide Drive to Set Up Credit Unions for Blind Persons in All States Washington Report Available Medical School Accepts Blind Student Here and There, by George Card A Versatile Canadian Mobile Unit for Ontario Centrex No Problem for Blind Operator Blind Testing Search Research Helps 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 ¾. 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 may be sent to ACB Treasurer Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Ave., Charlotte, North Carolina 28205. ***** ** Special Notice American Council of the Blind National Office has moved to 818 18th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006. New telephone: (202) 833-1251. ***** ** From the Office of the President Floyd Qualls In accepting the Presidency of the American Council of the Blind, I have a sense of great pride and deep humility. It is a position I do not covet, but a responsibility to which my best efforts shall be given. The congratulatory words and messages I have received from all parts of the country -- both within and outside of ACB -- are most comforting. The offers of cooperation and assistance assure me that our American Council of the Blind is destined to grow: grow in numbers, grow in prestige, and grow in respect from those organizations and agencies of and for the blind whose objectives are to provide services which the blind themselves want. I am grateful for the congratulations and good wishes. Thanks to all who have extended them. Many blind persons are prone to accept the services available to them today, as being the result of a benevolent and concerned government. Little they know of the dedication and hard work which went into the building of welfare programs, rehabilitation, vending stands -- and so many others -- by those pioneers in work for the blind. Little they know of the struggles throughout the years to keep gains that have been made, and to develop new services, and to improve those we now have. The American Council was organized on a positive and progressive foundation. I propose to stand on that foun­dation through my tenure of office. Estimates run as high as one million persons in this country with sight problems. How many have been reached by all the organizations of and for the blind? I am convinced that progress is made through reason and rationality. This approach will attract to the Council large numbers of capable blind men and women who are not now identified with any organized movement of or for the blind. Man may be bludgeoned into submission, but he cannot be bludgeoned into agreement. Agreement comes only through reasoning and mutual desire. I solicit your counsel and aid in carrying out my duties as President. A tremendous amount of work is to be done. It cannot be accomplished by the few. Many within our membership have skills and abilities unknown to our officers and board members. Some of you are excellent in organizing, writing, planning actions — others excel in Legislative procedures, public relations, lecturing etc. Will you write to me and tell me your favorite field of interest; what you do best, and what you will volunteer to do for ACB? Within our organization is a wealth of talent. Leadership is abundant as was evidenced at our Portland convention when six new members were elected to the Board of Directors. (ACB had just experienced its greatest growth of any two years in its history.) We have talent, and we are using it. Communication is, and always has been, a major obstacle for the organized blind. Many ACB members who attend annual conventions hear little -- between conventions -- of the organization's activities; beyond what space will permit to appear in the Braille Forum. Others, who rarely if ever get to a convention, are even less in touch. I intend to construct a line of communication which will reach from the national level, to the affiliates and to the chapters within the affiliates. In this manner, a maximum number can be informed of the Council's activities. Furthermore, this will be a two-way line whereby local groups and individuals can give "feedback" to the National Officers and Board. I approach the coming two years with optimism and confidence. There is much to be done. Together, we will do it. Our time, our talents, and our resources will be dedicated to the purposes and aims ACB has established for itself. Before I announced my availability for the ACB Presidency, I wrote to some friends, "We are too big for personal prejudices and too small to afford the luxury of petty personalities." I still believe this to be true. ***** ** Improving Magazine Covers (The following is an excerpt from a letter from Margaret Freer, an Associate Editor to Editor Earl Scharry.) ... If you were present at last year's editorial session, perhaps you heard my plea for more interesting covers on our braille magazines, i.e. PLAYBOY and PSYCHOLOGY TODAY. As a newly blinded person, this is still important to my aesthetic sense and would fill the void a bit in the transition from a world of color and design. I questioned Robert Bray about the difference in cost of having such a cover instead of the usual drab title cover we have on most today. He replied, "I could hug you for asking that question, for we would love to have more of these imaginative covers. There is no extra cost and all we would need to do is provide the design for the thermoform." ... I still move in a world of artists and could have a symbolic design drawn up, if you are interested in the idea. ... If so, please give me a few ideas on what you think is symbolic of the FORUM. ... ***** *** Hyde Park Corner (Editor's note: This column exists to provide a form for the expression of divergent views of writers on timely subjects. Views expressed need not be concurred in or endorsed by the publisher.) ** Iowa Litigation Fund by Lyle Williams Box 680 Council Bluff, Iowa 51501 Dear Friend, I am one of eighteen Iowans who have filed a court action for an order permanently enjoining and restraining Kenneth Jernigan and the appointed members of the Iowa Commission for the Blind from converting and misusing its funds and resources for purposes not authorized by law, including, but not limited to: (a) promotional activities for the National Federation of the Blind and its affiliates, and (b) the private business and other interests of officials and employees of the Commission. As Iowans, we want the Commission and its staff to use state and federal funds to provide services to which blind residents of Iowa are legally entitled. By this suit we want to terminate the use of our Commission and its resources for partisan, political purposes which are detrimental to blind persons throughout the country as well as in Iowa. The travels of the Commission's politically oriented staff have been widely advertised and the agitation of these state employees is well known to their victims across the nation. Our primary concern is the proper functioning of our commission, but the political factors indicated above make our action one of national concern. We are contending with well entrenched forces who are well financed and quite determined to retain control of our Commission for political purposes. Lawsuits are expensive. We, in Iowa, are determined to cure this political affliction and we need your help. This lawsuit will cost thousands of dollars, and I hope you and your organization will send contributions now. Donations will not be publicized. Please make checks payable to "Iowa Litigation Fund." ***** ** The Psychological Implications of Blindness by Carolyn Ann Carney (Miss Carney is a graduate student in psychology working towards her Ph.D.) Psychology can be defined as the science of human behavior. Since everyone is concerned with other people, and behavior plays a large part in the way relationship activities develop, almost every human being has some interest in psychology. There are several schools of psychology. In other words, each school attempts to explain human behavior according to different terms causes and effects. I have often compared psychology with the Bible. Depending on your interpretation or school, you can make psychology and the Bible say anything you want to. For example, some people explain behavior in Freudian terms involving the id, ego and super ego while others explain it in terms of environmental influences. The school of psychology which attempts to account for behavior through the influences of environment is called behaviorism. The principles of this school are simple and easily understood. A behaviorist would say that people behave as they do because of reinforcement techniques both occurring at the present time or in the past. This school does not explain behavior according to unconscious influences but rather we behave as we do because various aspects of our behavior have been encouraged or reinforced by both the present environment, and the people in our growing up years. When we are praised or given monetary or social rewards for our behavior, we are likely to maintain this behavior and continue it in the future because we like the way people have reacted to it, and it has been beneficial to us. However, behavior that does not give us either material or social gains is not likely to continue. Thus, we continue the behaviors that have been reinforced by the environment and do not continue those which do not prove beneficial for us. However, different environments encourage different types of behavior and various physiological factors also make various patterns develop. For example, a cold climate would not encourage its inhabitants to wear light clothing. Blindness does not reinforce those afflicted with it to drive automobiles. However, if one follows this line of thinking, the various implications in our social relationships that blindness involves has far more far-reaching and less obvious consequences. What generally happens when a parent is informed that his child is blind? Many parents have not had to face the situation of blindness closely before and panic because they aren't quite sure of the limitations that this handicap will impose upon the child. In dealing with the child, the natural instinct of the parents is to overprotect. When blind people meet others for the first time, they are quite often greeted with pity responses or again a form of overprotection. What kind of behavior does this type of reaction produce in the blind person? If the blind child, and later the blind adult, mostly deals with people who contend that they need a great deal of help, they are going to be convinced that they really do need this help. This would occur since they are never or rarely reinforced for independent behavior. Of course, there are various degrees of situations in which this dependency occurs, and it is rare that all the relationships are with those who strive to make the blind person dependent and convinced that he is not capable of a high level of achievement. However, criticism has often been leveled against the blind because they ask for help too often or appear too dependent when there really is no need for this. In reality this type of attitude cannot be blamed on the blind person himself because he may have been conditioned, through his previous and present relationships, to behave in a dependent manner. For example, if one never wins at a certain athletic endeavor, he is likely to feel that he is not a competent player when in reality, his competition may be too stiff or perhaps he had a poor teacher. On the same hand, if a blind child is told that he will be hurt if he travels alone, and is taken about from place to place, he is not likely to feel comfortable traveling alone. He has been told time and time again that this is the best way to travel and so he naturally believes it. If a blind person sees that most blind people in his particular circle are not working, he may become convinced that they will never work. Also, if they are provided with recreational activities which all of their friends engage in, they will be satisfied with these activities if they are not encouraged to do more. Perhaps for years they were met with the image of the blind person simply working in a sheltered environment and were not provided with an education because of the unprogressiveness of their particular society. The implications of this are enormous. How many students have been denied college admission because that particular educational institution did not feel that a blind person could succeed? This reaction on the part of a college or university official, is going to have an influence on the way the blind person feels about that particular institution and perhaps sighted people in general. When blind people are not permitted to use their total potential because sighted associates feel that the blindness limits them, when actually it does not in that particular aspect. It is quite natural for the person to become bitter because his potentials are not being reinforced by those around him. At the same time, the environmental and psychological implications of blindness influence the blind person because of the way others around him react to the visual lack. Also, the way the blind person behaves and performs influences the sighted people around him. Perhaps a friend is convinced at first that his blind companion cannot perform a certain act. The situation can develop in one of two ways. If the blind person does not do the thing himself, although he is capable of performing the duty or task himself, the friend's opinion is going to be further reinforced and maintained in the future. But suppose that the blind individual insists on being independent and doesn't permit the friend to help when help isn't needed. If the blind person is successful and the results of the success are visibly obvious, then the associate will see that his help is not needed and the belief will be extinguished. The process of conditioning and reinforcement by the environment is a continuous one. Thus, reinforcement does not stop after a child grows up but goes on daily. An element of change, through another type of reinforcement, can be introduced here. Take a dependent blind child who starts school or goes away to a rehabilitation center. Here, independence will be reinforced. Not only will he receive verbal encouragement for performing activities himself, but the physical conveniences will reinforce the individual to continue in self-reliant actions. It is certainly more convenient to have something done immediately by oneself rather than have to wait for a friend to drop by to do it when it is convenient for that person. Thus, environmental influences of convenience as well as social influences in the new environment will reinforce independence. When a blind person achieves success and verbal encouragement, it will soon become apparent that he is capable of independent behavior. The more this behavior is reinforced by success and social approval, the more it will continue. This principle of conditioning even carries over into the advertising to the general public. Let's consider two type of television spots. One shows the blind person productively functioning at a job while the other shows him sitting at a table and requests funds to help make him happy by providing him with wool so he can knit in his spare time. Using the same situation with the wool it can be seen another way. If we take this same person knitting and request money for wool so that this person can make hats or mittens to sell fand eventually support himself, a different impression is created. If the general public is presented with a request for funds which is aimed at a charity level, the idea of the blind as a charity will be fostered. However, if money is requested to educate the blind, or develop new equipment to make the blind person more self-sufficient and productive, the idea of productivity and health will be emphasized rather than the notion of need and charity. Quite often in the literature written for and about the blind, such humanistic ideas about inner feelings and adjustment procedures are emphasized. Perhaps these feelings developed because of the way the blind are treated, or the way they see other blind people behaving. These ideas can be changed by altering the experience through varying the associations and agencies for the blind. By the same token, the ways in which the blind behave are going to influence the concepts that sighted people have about us. If blind people show their assets, the sighted world will be made aware of them. Their opinions will eventually change through proof or reinforcement by the blind themselves. If the employer sees that the blind person brings profits to his industry, he will be likely to hire another blind person. This paper has attempted to show some psychological implications of blindness from a behavioristic point of view. All of us can think of situations in our own lives that will support the presentation. Perhaps through reinforcing behavior of your associates which indicates that you are independent and capable, you can change your own environment and the ideas of the sighted about the blind in a small way. ***** ** A New Radio Series The American Foundation for the Blind is distributing a new radio series called "Working in the Sighted World." This series consists of ten programs of four and a half minutes, each dealing with a different occupation held by a blind person. Some of the varied jobs held by blind people described in the series are undertaker, computer programmer, teacher, physicist, and musician. The series is available to radio stations and any groups interested in using it in their public education programs. ***** ** ACB Service Net News by Doris Hauser The ACB Convention in Portland in July was the scene of the largest known gathering of blind radio amateurs ever held. I was not able to attend, but Travis Harris, W5P6D, informed me that there were approximately 35 blind amateurs in attendance. The business meeting was held in rooms arranged for by the Convention Committee and with the cooperation of the Portland Amateur Radio Club. Many thanks to all the people connected. Traffic was run all during the convention to places as far as Japan and Florida. Sixteen members re-elected last year's officers: Travis Harris, President; Lester McGlaughn, Vice President; Doris Hauser, Secretary-Treasurer. Board members are Mary Ballard and Walter Siren. We are very pleased to be accepted as a new affiliate of the American Council and hope the Net will grow in membership and in service. Remember -- 14,305 Kh every day at 12:00 p.m. CST. ***** ** ABLA Has Successful Seminar by Vernon Williams Because of the efforts of our past President, John Vanlandingham, and Judge George Howeiler, local chairman of arrangements, ABLA had its most successful seminar and program prior to the ACB convention in Portland, Oregon. There were just over forty in attendance. The topics discussed were extensively covered, and for those of you who were not present, you missed taking advantage of this outstanding seminar. The business session was devoted primarily to the discussion of increasing our membership and making those persons eligible acquainted with the organization. Applications for membership can be obtained from Vernon Williams, newly elected President, P.O. Box 826, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401, and Oral Miller, Treasurer, 6327 31st Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015. Everyone present is looking forward to the next annual meeting to be held in Knoxville, TN, prior to the ACB convention next July. It is anticipated that our membership will be substantially increased for the 1973 seminar. ***** ** ACB Resolutions The following are two of the Resolutions passed at the 1972 convention. The remaining Resolutions will be published in the November-December issue. * Resolution No. 72-01 WHEREAS educational radio transmission for blind persons on subcarrier frequencies has proven to be a feasible and desirable way of reaching visually impaired persons with material not immediately available through regular library sources; and WHEREAS this method offers a practical enlargement of library services particularly with respect to current events and other materials of direct interest to blind people; and WHEREAS a growing number of blind people in the American Council of the Blind who expressed a definite interest in the establishment of such broadcast services in their states or localities; and WHEREAS this resource can be of great important to blind persons throughout the nation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled this day of the 7th of July 1972, that 1) the American Council of the Blind endorses the concept of specialized Subcarrier broadcasts; 2) the President is instructed to appoint a Committee to study the methods of aiding in the promotion of such broadcast and then to make recommendations to the Board of Directors before its next meeting; 3) and the Board of Directors is authorized to act on any such recommendation it finds feasible and advisable; and 4) the Board of Directors shall report in the Braille Forum and to the 1973 convention on what recommendations it received and what action was taken as a result of the Committee study. Passed July 7, 1972 * Resolution No. 72-02 WHEREAS the blind and physically handicapped are appreciative of the courtesies and services provided by the various telephone companies to all types of handicapped persons; and WHEREAS information and long-distance operators have traditionally provided courteous and concerned directory assistance which is indispensable to many elderly, blind and handicapped persons; and WHEREAS many telephone companies are seeking authorization for a fee charge for such assistance, and such charges will impose an undue financial hardship upon many elderly, blind and handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled this 7th day of July, 1972, that a Committee be appointed to contact regulatory bodies, the telephone companies and legislative bodies to inform them of the strong opposition of the American Council of the Blind to any system of fee charges for operator assistance being imposed upon blind, elderly or handicapped persons. The Committee shall report to the BRAILLE FORUM and to the convention all known efforts by any telephone company to have any such system of fees imposed upon blind, elderly or handicapped persons and what actions the Committee took to prevent such impositions. Passed July 7, 1972 ***** ** Retinitis Pigmentosa by Bernard Berman Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disease although the inheritance pattern varies widely. Some types are dominant, some are sex-linked, and some are recessive. The latter may strike without warning since there need be no previous history of the disease in the family. Its first symptoms which usually appear in children and adolescents are night blindness and stumbling. Stumbling occurs since the victim's degree of vision is narrowing and he cannot see things ahead and beneath him simultaneously. Over a lifetime, the disease gradually decreases a person's ability to see at night and cuts down on the amount of side vision resulting in "gun barrel vision." The loss is caused by changes in the retina, the innermost layer of the eye, which receives light and generates nerve impulses to the brain. To date there is no known treatment that can halt the progress of retinitis pigmentosa in a person who has the gene for the disease. In many cases, however, retinitis pigmentosa does not progress to complete blindness. Many patients keep their reading vision throughout their lives although it may be restricted to a small central part of the visual field. It should also be noted that the symptom of night blindness does not necessarily indicate retinitis pigmentosa. The disease can be diagnosed in the more advanced stages by an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. Looking into the interior of the eye, if the disease is present, the ophthalmologist can see many black pigment deposits scattered throughout the retina, but particularly around its edges. This extra pigment is characteristic of the disease, as the name retinitis pigmentosa indicates, but in rare cases the pigment may be absent. Retinal research has been hampered by the location of the retina since it and the optic nerve through which its signals are carried to the brain are part of the central nervous system. Research involving the retina has accelerated recently, due to the development of new techniques to study this highly inaccessible part of the central nervous system. These new methods allow one to detect the minute signals produced by retinal nerve cells when struck by light. The strength and timing of these signals are measured by electronic computers; when retinitis pigmentosa is present, the signals are very weak. In this way, retinitis pigmentosa can be distinguished from other diseases and can be analyzed in young children before they are aware of any visual handicap. Scientists can then study the earliest phases of the disease and test hypotheses on treatment. Many scientists are conducting research to find out how retinitis pigmentosa affects retinal tissue. They have observed that in this disease the rods and cones, which are the specialized light-receiving cells of the retina, become less active. The rods which are used for peripheral or side vision are particularly affected. Because there is great damage to the rods which are also used to detect shades of black and white in dim light, night vision is also damaged. The deteriorated light-receptor cells no longer respond to stimuli and gradually the blood supply to the retina decreases. This loss of blood supply further decreases the ability of the retina to function. Recently new forms of retinitis pigmentosa that mimic the human variety, have been discovered in rats. It is hoped that important clues can be obtained from the application of modern biochemical and electrophysiological techniques to such forms of retinitis pigmentosa in these animals which will bear on human disease. One of the important clues to the disease appears to lie in the chemical rhodopsin which is the part of the rod cell that actually catches the light that enters the eye which is perceived by the brain. Rhodopsin is a molecule composed of a protein and vitamin A. It is known that when vitamin A is removed from the diet, rhodopsin will not be formed, and the entire photoreceptor cell slowly dies leading to blindness. Human subjects who cannot absorb vitamin A develop the symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa, though when treated with massive amounts of this vitamin, sight is restored. Most patients with retinitis pigmentosa do not have any such obvious abnormality of vitamin A in their bloodstream and do not improve when given large amounts of this vitamin. Vitamin A is carried through the bloodstream by a recently identified protein called the vitamin A binding protein. Scientists feel there may be a problem of some kind in retinitis pigmentosa that does not permit vitamin A to enter the eye. Another important development has been the discovery that the photoreceptor cells are continuously growing and are constantly trimmed by the pigment cells that surround them. In rats the inability to perform this function by pigment cells leads to retinitis pigmentosa. A third aspect of this disease is the adverse effect of light. Rats with retinitis pigmentosa become blind faster if exposed to continuous illumination, or conversely, they retain their sight longer if deprived of light. Light seems to interfere in some way with the vitamin A cycle in the photoreceptors. People who have retinitis pigmentosa know therapy to arrest the disease is vital. Even a peephole of sight is cherished, and that is threatened since typically retinal deterioration has indefinite periods of remission. The National Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation in Baltimore was formed last fall to initiate a multidisciplined approach for research at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. This planned laboratory is bringing together anatomists, biochemists, electrophysiologists, geneticists, and others to achieve a concentrated effort. It comprises the first research center in the world exclusively devoted to this disease. Our Foundation's goal and responsibility is to fund and support this research. The foundation consists entirely of volunteers; therefore, all monies raised will be used only for retinitis pigmentosa research. So far, we have successfully raised the initial capital that was needed by January 1, to insure the laboratory space allocated by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in their new building presently under construction. We are now actively engaging in educating the public about retinitis pigmentosa, forming chapters, and raising funds on a continuing basis for the additional monies needed to support, maintain, and expand this research. We are also compiling a confidential National Registry of persons who have Retinitis Pigmentosa, and a questionnaire will be sent to all RP patients to complete. The information gathered through this registry will be used for scientific data and statistics -- this information is now non-existent. We would appreciate the name and address of anyone you might know who has RP. More information can be obtained from the National Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation headquarters, 3408 Rolling Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21207. ***** ** Old Radio Programs on Tape There are thousands of old radio programs available on cassette or reel. For example, Amos and Andy, Fred Allen, I Love a Mystery, Inner Sanctum, and Sherlock Holmes, just to name a few. You may write for a catalog to: Remember Radio Inc., Dept. DCC, Box 2513, Norman, OK 73069. The publisher waives its usual 50-cent charge for the catalog when requested by a blind person. (This information is printed only as a service to readers and no charges is made by this magazine for the announcement.) ***** ** Hyde Park Corner The Five's on the Bottom by Kenneth Hinga This morning when I was paying my bill in a hotel cafeteria, the cashier calmly handed me change for a ten-dollar bill and advised that the five was on the bottom. I figured this lady must have good sense and realized that blind people need to keep their folding money separated, or she has had previous experience in the procedure. In most instances when you ask a clerk or even a bank teller to identify your money, they seem befuddled and wonder what it is all about. It is always simple enough to inquire, but sometimes we get careless and the first thing we know, we are getting short-changed by the eager taxi driver. Isn't it strange how a minor event such as this can start one thinking. As I was leaving the cafeteria, another event occurred that really turned my thinking machine on and not in too happy a manner. There was a two-inch step out of the place, and some well-meaning character grabbed about an eighth inch of my left arm and tried to lift me over the precipice. He probably had visions of this blind man crashing in a heap to the floor. I said, "Thank you -- damn it!" I honestly believe that in all my years of travel I have had almost every portion of my anatomy utilized for a guidance system. I especially like those good souls who grab your cane and start steering by remote control. It is so refreshing when on rare occasions you have a stranger come up and offer his arm and quietly ask if he can be of assistance. It makes you wonder if all our efforts to educate the public are doing any good. "I know all about the blind. My dear old grandmother went blind when she was eighty years old. She lived on a farm, and the outhouse was a good two hundred feet from the house — so far as I know, she always made it." One time in Detroit I spoke for half an hour pouring out my heart explaining how blind people are no different from any other mortal, except they have had the misfortune to lose their vision. It can happen to you or anyone. When you study the visual contrivance and its intricate parts, you marvel that there aren't more blind than there are. At the conclusion of my eloquent presentation I allowed a period for questioning. "Tell me, sir, did you have to learn to read Braille, or were you born blind?" I've squawked for years in my humble way that there should be a course in high school -- "Living with the Handicapped." There the teachers could learn as much as the kids themselves. A substantial part of this curriculum should be devoted to acquainting the class with the blind and how to cohabit the globe with them. Live samples from organizations of the blind should be brought in to lecture, visit with the students and even give them an opportunity to walk through the halls utilizing a non­ pinching method. Uncle Sam might relinquish his expenditures to provide a personal rehab center for every sightless individual in the country and spend a few bucks for promoting this kind of an innovation. After all, many of these sighted youngsters in high school will be the future employers whom we approach to hire the blind. ***** ** Activity in San Diego by Ione Miller The Blind Recreation Center at 1805 Upas St. is in the process of changing its name to San Diego Center for the Blind. Since the new project called TID (Training for Independent Development) is emerging under the able direction of Conway Alsup, the spot is alive with activity. Most of the personnel has been hired, remodeling has begun and enrollment is taking place accompanied by the hammering and sawing of carpenters. Nooks and corners are being transformed into offices, equipment is coming in and the new program for the blind is underway. ***** ** Social Security Benefits for People Disabled Since Childhood (Reprinted in part from a Social Security brochure) Nearly a quarter of a million Americans received social security benefits because they have severe disabilities which began in childhood, and which keep them handicapped as adults. Many families with persons disabled since childhood are able to take care of the additional expense of caring for them. But when the family's regular income is reduced or stopped because of retirement, disability, or death, the burden sometimes becomes too great. When this happens, the social security benefits paid to persons disabled since childhood can often mean the difference between care at home and care in an institution. Each month, millions of dollars in benefits help lighten the financial burden for these families. And there is the security of knowing that the benefits will continue to be paid, even if both parents should die. Consider, for example, the case of Henry B. -- 29 years old and severely mentally retarded -- alone and helpless after the sudden death of his parents in an automobile accident. Henry's history, taken from the files of the Social Security Administration, tells how he came to get a new home: Henry B. was the only handicapped child in a family of six children. He had been mentally retarded since birth and had always been entirely dependent on other people to care for him. At the time his parents died, he was the only child still living with them. One of his sisters wanted to take him into her home, but she and her husband couldn't afford the extra expense involved. When the social security representative got in touch with this daughter about her father's social security, he explained that Henry might be eligible for childhood disability benefits as a survivor of his father. Henry's sister applied on his behalf. With the social security benefits, the sister and her husband are able to take care of Henry in their home where he is happy and does well. More than 65 percent of childhood disability beneficiaries have some degree of mental deficiency; Henry's case is a typical one. Other prevalent conditions include cerebral palsy, schizophrenic disorders, and epilepsy. Further on, you will find other case histories of typical beneficiaries. Who is Eligible? When a person becomes entitled to retirement or disability benefits or does after having worked under social security long enough for benefits to be payable, his children (including adopted children and stepchildren) may receive monthly benefits. Normally, a child's payments stop at 18 (or at 22 if he is attending school full time). However, a child's payments may continue indefinitely -- or start at any age -- if he has a severe physical or mental impairment which began before 18 and which keeps him from doing any substantial gainful work as an adult. It is not necessary for a person disabled since childhood to have worked under social security. His benefits are paid on the basis of his father's or mother's social security work record. (If you are a woman worker and a previous claim on behalf of your disabled son or daughter was turned down because he or she was not considered "dependent," check again with your social security office. A recent change in the law makes it possible for many disabled sons and daughters who were not eligible under the old law to qualify now for benefits.) A mother caring for her disabled son or daughter may receive benefits for herself. She is not eligible for benefits if the disabled person is in an institution or elsewhere. However, she may be eligible for other reasons. She should check with her social security office for details. An Application is Necessary. Just as for other kinds of social security benefits, someone must complete an application before payments can start. Sometimes the disabled person can handle money and can apply for himself. More often, however, someone else represents him and receives benefits for him. Ordinarily, a parent or other relative with whom the disabled adult is living, or who has a strong interest in his welfare, is chosen to receive the benefits. In some cases, a legal guardian or representative of an institution or non­profit agency is named to manage the funds. If the disabled son or daughter is under 18 and is receiving social security benefits, an application for childhood disability benefits should be made at least 3 months before he or she reaches 18 so that payments will continue past 18 without interruption. No Upper Age Limit For Applicants. Even if many years have passed since a person disabled in childhood become 18, he or she can still be eligible for benefits when a parent becomes entitled to retirement or disability benefits or dies. If all the eligibility requirements are met, benefits are payable. Back payments can be made for no more than 1 year, so an application should be made promptly to avoid possible loss of benefits. Example -- Alice W., now 36 years old, has never walked because of malformation of her legs. Her mother took her back and forth to school until she finished the sixth grade. The death of Alice's father, a self-employed carpenter, made it necessary for her mother to go to work, so Alice's education ended. Neither Alice nor her mother could get benefits at the time her father died because self-employment had not yet been covered by social security and her father was not insured. The mother became disabled because of a severe heart condition which prevented her from working. When Mrs. W. applied for her social security disability benefits, she learned that Alice, whose impairment began at birth, might also be eligible for benefits as an adult daughter disabled in childhood. Both mother and daughter are now receiving monthly payments. Mrs. W. also has greater peace of mind for she knows that even after death, her daughter will have a continuing income. You Will Be Asked To Submit Evidence. Before payments can be made, medical evidence is needed which shows: 1. That the person now has a severe disability; 2. That the impairment began before 18 and has continued; and 3. That there is little likelihood for improvement in the near future. The evidence will usually include a report from the family doctor or from an institution where the person is a patient. In some cases, other information -- such as school records or social agency records -- may be needed. Proof of the disabled person's age and proof of his relationship to the worker are also necessary. Usually a birth certificate will show both age and relationship. If the disabled person's benefits are based on a step-parent's social security record, he will have to furnish the marriage certificate of his parent and step-parent. When an application is made for an adopted child, proof of adoption is required. If you need help in obtaining medical or other evidence, the people in the social security office will be glad to help you. Amount of the Benefit. The amount of the benefit for a person disabled in childhood depends on the average earnings of the parent who has retired, become disabled, or died. Depending on that average, he may receive as much as $137.90 a month if the parent is retired or disabled and as much as $206.90 if the parent has died. The mother of the beneficiary is eligible for similar amounts if the disabled son or daughter is in her care. Not Only Help But Hope. A main objective of social security is, of course, to provide cash benefits when they are needed most. In the case of disabled persons, another major goal is to help as many of them as possible return to productive work. So, in addition to financial help in the form of benefits, many are given hope for rehabilitation. Disability claims are sent by the social security office to a State agency (usually the vocational rehabilitation agency) for evaluation. There, the evidence is reviewed to see if applicants are disabled within the meaning of the law. Every applicant is also considered for possible vocational rehabilitation services. These service include vocational counseling, training and help in finding jobs, and medical services and supplies. Example -- John C. 's father died when John was 12 and he and his mother began receiving survivor’s benefits. A year later, John had rheumatic fever which left him with a serious heart condition. He was unable to leave his house, but kept up with his schooling through private instruction. Shortly before John was 18, he applied for childhood disability benefits. His claim was approved because his heart condition prevented him from working. His mother's payments also continued since she was caring for him. Like all disability applicants, John was considered for rehabilitation services by his State vocational rehabilitation agency. Since his prospects for becoming self-supporting seemed good, an agency counselor met with John and discussed the special training and job placement services available to him. Although John was eager to work, he didn't know if he could hold down a steady job. He was afraid that his benefits would stop as soon as he started work and that if he then failed in his attempt to work, he would be left without any income. The counselor put John's fears to rest. He explained that his benefits could continue for a "trial work period" of 12 months. Because of this "trial work" provision, John's benefits would not stop until after he had demonstrated his ability to work despite his impairment. John accepted rehabilitation services and is now working full-time for an insurance company. Rehabilitation services are financed largely with Federal-State funds. In addition, money from social security trust funds is available to help pay for the rehabilitation of selected disability beneficiaries. ***** ** Ex-Judge Starts Nationwide Drive to Set Up Credit Unions for Blind Persons in All States (Editor's note: This article is reprinted in part from THE CREDIT UNION MAGAZINE. John's address is: Suite 206, 5800 North 19th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85015.) ... The executive director of the Phoenix Council of the Blind, touched on one of the major problems of the blind and partially sighted — coming up with money or credit for big ticket purchases. For the 87 members of the Arizona Council of the Blind Federal Credit Union and for the members of the 15 other blind credit unions across the country, the problem isn't so great. But for the rest of the nation's blind — and about one out of every 1,000 of the nation's citizens is legally blind (unable to read newsprint), credit can be a major problem. Now Phoenix lawyer and ex-judge John Vanlandingham is to change all this. He is mounting a major assault on the problem from his position as president of the 60-member American Blind Lawyers Association. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Vanlandingham urged the 60-member Blind Lawyers Association to work with the Councils of the Blind across the nation to establish credit unions for the partially sighted. Already his appeal to the convention in Portland, Oregon is bringing inquiries for help in forming blind credit unions he says. A blind group around San Diego in Southern California has asked for help in forming a credit union. And a group from Utah Council of the Blind has also approached Vanlandingham for information on credit unions. If he has his way, every one of the 40 affiliates of the American Council of the Blind will have a credit union with the help of the legal minds of the American Blind Lawyers Association. For Vanlandingham, the thrust he hopes to initiate toward formation of the blind credit unions is a simple matter of the blind initiating a bootstrap operation to improve their social and economic lot. The credit union is the tool. Says Vanlandingham: "Being blind means a lot more than the loss of sight. In many cases it carries with it a loss of dignity and adverse prejudice from money lenders and managers. "It's not that blind people are any less responsible than others. But lenders just have a reluctance, because of their lack of knowledge, to lend money to the blind and partially sighted. Somehow they're convinced that they'll be unable to repay the loans." The solution? Says Vanlandingham: "If you can't borrow someone else's money, create your own supply. That's what we're doing by organizing the credit union. It just seems a natural thing." But what seems so natural to Vanlandingham apparently is foreign to others, particularly the state and federal regulatory bodies of credit unions in Arizona. Says Fred Tejan, director of field services for the Arizona League, himself partially blind: "We had a rough time getting a charter to set up the credit union for the Arizona Council of the Blind. You have to show people that the blind can raise capital and make and repay loans." Says Vanlandingham: "Arizona Council of the Blind FCU is now at $5,400, with about $1,500 out in loans, reports credit union president Walter Herendeen." "It's something to see these people squeeze out $1 a week or $1 a month from their meager incomes," Herendeen explains. "They come to the credit union -- they're like new people, with a new sense of pride in themselves, a new worth." In money terms, that $5,400 in assets is a lot for 87 members. "More often than not, these people have fixed incomes ranging from $100 to $175 a month if they're on blind assistance. And it's about that way across the country. So you can see the problem." (Only about half the nation's blind receive blind assistance, given the basis of financial need, says Vanlandingham.) ***** ** Washington Report Available The American Foundation for the Blind publishes bi-monthly their WASHINGTON REPORT. It is designed for persons working in the field of services for the blind and covers activities of Congress and federal agencies of concern to the field. It is available in print by writing the AFB, Publications Division, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. There is no charge. ***** ** Medical School Accepts Blind Student (Reprinted from the Washington Post, Sept. 17, 1972) Philadelphia -- David W. Hartman heard the same thing over and over again. "It's impossible for you to become a doctor -- you're blind." But the dream of becoming a doctor never faded. Now, Hartman has won his first battle. He was accepted at Temple University school of medicine. "I don't know what kept me going, except that I believe that somehow, I can do it," he said. Hartman, who has been blind since the age of eight, said he felt psychiatry would be his natural field because "you've got to understand the handicapped before there is any hope for psychological impact." Hartman applied at 10 major universities. Six rejected him despite his Phi Beta Kappa standing as a biology graduate at Gettysburg College. Three others gave him interviews, but were pessimistic. Only Temple responded favorably. Officials at the university said they believe he is the first blind person admitted to a medical school in the past 100 years. "I talked to them at Temple and told them my ideas about medical education," he said. "I explained to them that it would take a great deal of time and that I would need help." At Gettysburg, professors and students helped Hartman through difficult anatomy and other pre-med courses. Hartman said he didn't want to limit himself to helping just blind people. "I want to study all handicaps and work with them. I want to know about their interaction with other people, and with their families." ***** ** Here and There by George Card Peter J. Salmon, LL.D., was elected president of the National Accreditation Council at the meeting of the Board of Directors June 24, succeeding Arthur L. Brandon. The Arkansas Council has welcomed a big new chapter in the northwestern part of the state. Its members are drawn from the counties in the Ft. Smith area. The Little Rock members have also organized a separate chapter. Jack Lewis writes, "The Georgia Federation of the Blind held its annual convention in Macon on August 13-14. There were approximately 120 persons registered, representing five chapters and members at large. The banquet speaker was Don Nold of DIALOGUE, and Ed Miller, of North Carolina, represented the ACB. The new GFB President, elected for a two-year term, is Johnny Wilson of Tucker. While he was president of the Atlanta chapter it grew substantially and it is now one of the nation's largest, with 85 active members ... Johnny has attended every ACB convention since Charlotte in 1969 and has been active in the Blind Lawyers organization. Great people talk about ideas, ordinary people talk about things and small people talk about other people. From the AFB WASHINGTON REPORT: According to HEW, about 24,000 blind and visually handicapped rehabilitants attained jobs, ranging from service occupations to professional positions in fiscal 1971. -- Recipients of aid to the blind totaled 80,300 in December 1971, 700 less than in the same month a year earlier. Blind persons received an average payment of $106 in December 1971, which was the highest average per person payment in the cash assistance program. (It would be comforting if we were not so painfully aware of the numbers racket in Vocational Rehabilitation and could just accept these figures as tremendous achievement. - G.C.) From the World Council NEWSLETTER: Those of us who attended the meeting of the WCWB Executive Committee in Moscow were unanimous in their appreciation of the warm welcome and perfect organization — down to the smallest detail — of the meetings and visits. The Soviet Union takes great care of its blind population and through education and vocational training ensures them a decent and full life. We also noted with great satisfaction the interest taken by the Soviet Government in problems of the blind. We visited schools for the blind and partially blind, remarkably designed and adapted, as well as an electric motor factory where a number of visually handicapped are employed. The production of this plant is purchased by the Government at a competitive price and the profits, like those of a number of other factories employing blind workers throughout Russia, are given to the National Association of the Blind for social and cultural purposes, rest and holiday homes, their special hospitals, etc. The Executive Committee members were then divided into five groups to visit the Republics to which they had been invited by the All-Russia Society: Armenia, Georgia, Latvia and Lithuania, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. The major decisions reached at the three-day meeting of the Executive Committee included the choice of Brazil as the site for the 1974 General Assembly, the membership dues to be increased, a $1,500 quinquennial subsidy for the maintenance of the Louis Braille Memorial Museum and immediate attention to the needs of the blind of Bangladesh who are in a critical situation. -- Two new countries have joined the World Council -- the Socialist Republic of Rumania and the Republic of Mali. --The International Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm at the same time as the Moscow meeting of the WCWB Executive Committee. The latter sent a telegram to the conference urging that effective measures be taken to eliminate the cause of river blindness in the Savanna zone of West Africa between the 8th and 12th parallels which has places where 13-36% of the population is blind because of this disease. -- A study Group on the Prevention of Blindness is to be convened by the World Health Organization in November, 1972, for a more precise technical determination of the possible future WHO activities in this field. -- UNESCO has decided to provide embossed or recorded literature and duplicating equipment for the blind of developing countries. From the ABC DIGEST (Calif.): We have a new chapter in ABC — the Redwood City Club of the Blind. -- A feature of our Oakland convention occurred at the Banquet, where we paid tribute to our own Ferne Pritchard and presented her with a Sony cassette recorder. The presentation was made by Dolly Glass, who told of the years of dedication which Ferne has given to us. -- This issue contains a moving tribute to Dr. Henry F. Schluntz, who passed away March 3. He had been very active in the organized blind movement, first in Iowa and later in California. -- A major change has been announced by the Calif. Dept. of Rehab. Under the new system the program manager will be able to cut across other administrative lines in the department to give strong leadership and direction in the rehabilitation of the blind. Organizations of the blind will be represented on a newly created advisory committee to the Department. -- Former President Cathie Skivers is now employed on the staff of the Oakland IRS office, answering telephone inquiries from taxpayers. -- Another aid for blind medical transcribers is the Drug List Section of the Physicians Desk Reference in braille for $3.60 from the American Printing House, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. Catalogue number 5-9821. -- Dr. David Choyce of Southend General Hospital in Essex, England, who developed the new technique, screws plastic lenses into the eye. Similar operations have been attempted before but almost always the eye rejected the artificial material. The method he uses to prevent rejection of the plastic material is to enclose the plastic in an "envelope" of natural tissue until the eye accepts it. Dr. Choyce is very willing to share his knowledge and techniques with other surgeons. NATIONAL NEWS OF THE BLIND (Canada) reports: John Mills, of Leicester, who is blind, is learning to fly in a dual control glider in an experiment to determine to what extent sound can replace sight for a pilot. -- A group of blind Americans took six weeks' instruction in skin-diving from blind Swedish instructors and are planning to teach the sport to other blind Americans. -- Ten blind skiers, members of the CNIB Ski Hawks, and two sighted guides flew to a wonderful week of skiing at Les Diablerets, Switzerland, last March. A week before their arrival six ski instructors were given a crash course in guiding blind skiers. From the FEDERATION NEWS (Mich.): Governor Milliken has signed a law which exempts the first $3,500 of a home property owned by a blind person from real estate taxes and removes the ceiling on the permissible value of such property. THE SEEING EYE GUIDE reports: The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pa., was the appropriate setting of a banquet March 27 by local Lions clubs in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Pendleton of Mobile Alabama for their work in sight preservation. The Pendletons were honored for their untiring efforts in the nationwide Emergency Eye Network, a group of amateur radio operators who relay information about the need and availability of healthy eyes and corneas bequeathed for use in transplant operations. The network is said to be responsible for saving the sight of nearly 6,000 people. In 1967, the Pendletons were officially commended by the U.S. Naval Commander at Guantanamo Bay for communications services rendered during the Cuban missile crisis. (Eileen Pendleton is a former President of the Mobile chapter and of the Alabama State Federation.) -- The chemical process that strengthens the glass windows of the Apollo Lunar Landing Module may be used to make stronger and safer lenses for eyeglasses. The new lens is four times stronger than a standard glass or plastic lens. From the Oregon STYLUS: The Oregon Rehabilitation Center for the Blind has been established on the campus of the Oregon School for the Blind. Formerly blind clients had to be sent to rehab centers in other states. In addition to braille, mobility and typing is a course called techniques of daily living and the availability of a completely outfitted exercise room for building and maintaining physical fitness. -- Many states have abandoned the plan of trying to educate the blind and deaf on the same campus but Oregon trying seems to be attempting to revive this discredited practice, which would appear to be a long step backward. From the GFB DIGEST: Harry Delany, charter member of the Georgia Federation and for many years active in work for the blind, passed away recently. From the NEW OUTLOOK: At the Essen University Eye Clinic Prof. G. Meyer-Schwickerath has successfully treated a retinoblastoma using bundled light rays to establish a ring-shaped combustion zone around the tumor, cutting it off from the blood supply and so-to-speak "starving it out." The cancer cells died off and the tumor turned into a scar on the retina causing no serious loss of vision. Prof. H. Hager is using an argon laser to treat glaucoma. The laser, with a beam ten times finer than what has up to now been standard, is used to shoot minute holes through the cornea of the affected eye, thus making drainage of the fluid from the interior of the eye possible. From the AFB WASHINGTON REPORT: Section 904 of Public Law 92-318 specifically prohibits discrimination, solely on the grounds of blindness, against blind persons in any course of study in federally assisted education programs. -- Three days of hearings were held on bills to amend the Federal Aviation Act to authorize reduced fares on airlines for the elderly and reduced or free transportation for a blind or otherwise handicapped individual accompanied by a guide or other attendant. Representatives of the ACB, AAWB, AFB and BVA testified in support of the airline concession for blind persons while John F. Nagle, representing the NFB, opposed the legislation. -- A major new effort to harness up-to-the-minute engineering concepts to benefit the disabled has been announced by HEW Secretary Richardson. He quoted President Nixon's statement that, "The skills that took us to the moon and back need to be put to work developing devices to help the blind see, the deaf hear and the crippled move." ***** ** A Versatile Canadian From the CCB OUTLOOK: James Swail of Ottawa, whose vision is limited to light perception in one eye, has been very active in inventing and developing devices to aid blind people. These include darkroom thermometers to permit blind people to work in darkroom developing; color photography; metering circuits, which have enabled some blind people to obtain commercial operating licenses for radio transmitters and equipment; metering devices, originally to help blind students meter their tape recorders but eventually permitting professional use of high quality tape equipment in professional recordings; a card reader which allows a blind computer programmer to read a punched card by a series, or group, of photo­cells -- if there is a hole they can see light through it; then they raise pins (similar to a braille dot) to indicate the punched sequence in the particular column that is being scanned. This seems to be a great improvement in speed over the earlier devices available to blind programmers. He has worked on a folding cane which is completely rigid when in use and yet folds up to a small package and can be operated (folded or unfolded) with one hand. There are many other folding canes, but they are all either very floppy so that they don't permit the long cane technique or they are a bit difficult to assemble or disassemble. There is a raised line drawing system on which he has worked to produce raised lines on the upper side of the paper, as well as an ink drawing simultaneously. This is instead of the reversed drawing made in many cases -- or some of the kind of torn up paper things produced by tracing wheels. It is for use, hopefully, in communicating between sighted teachers and blind children. He has worked on a remote control sound beacon, an ultrasonic device similar to the wand that operates the channel switch on some remotely controlled television sets. A blind person can use this to control a sound beacon from a hundred feet or so away. This permits him, if he wants to leave one of these beacons at home, to find the pathway into his house if it's not well identified by other landmarks or covered by snow; or he can set it by his lawnmower or whatever is his particular need. At any fixed point that he might want to return to and which isn't easily identifiable by learnable landmarks, this device would be very good. The actuating probe is very small and just kept in the pocket until it is needed. Other things are liquid level indicators. Again, there have been several of these produced, but we have tried to make some very compact, simple ones. These are used for pouring liquids to find out the level without sticking your fingers in as many people do, or having to be supercritical in listening. It is also a help with cold and very hot liquids. Mr. Swail has worked on a braille slide rule which seems to be considerably improved in accuracy over the earlier types. ***** ** Mobile Unit for Ontario (Reprinted from the National News of the Blind, Canada) The CNIB mobile eye care van is now serving Ontario communities on a weekly basis. A grant of $75,000 from the Physicians Services Incorporated Foundation covered purchase of the van and its equipment, operating costs and staff salaries for the first year. Designed for conducting eye examinations and testing for eye diseases such as glaucoma or amblyopia, the van is also equipped for minor emergency eye surgery. Medical director of the project Dr. W. S. Hunter describes the van as "an ophthalmologist's office on wheels," and adds, "In each area the trained staff which consists of an ophthalmologist and nurse, will work with local general practitioners, public health units and Lions Clubs to coordinate the eye care program." The van will concentrate on areas where eye service is not readily available. The first CNIB mobile eye care unit financed by the Lion's Club of Weston, Ontario and equipped by CNIB has been in service in Newfoundland since May 1970. (Such a mobile unit is being planned by the Wisconsin Council of the Blind as soon as proper arrangements can be made.) ***** ** Centrex No Problem for Blind Operators (Reprinted from the National News of the Blind, Canada) Everyone at CNIB headquarters is pleased with the efficiency of the new Centrex telephone system, which was installed to replace the old, unwieldy PBX. To adapt the new console board for use by blind operators Bell Canada marketing and engineering personnel worked out modifications which have made it one of the most advanced systems operated by and for blind people. The new board works on a tone principle rather than with visual indicators and an Ampliphone sounds a tone for each of the four trunk loops. A medium pulsing indicates an incoming call; a slower pulse means a call is on "hold" and a faster pulse of any of the four tones indicates an inside call to the operator. The light for the console fuse alarm has been replaced by a buzzer. Blind operators use a Braille directory and card file and for the new operator there is a map with Braille labels to show which buttons do what. Bell service advisers conducted training for extension users as well as the blind operators so that the day of change­over ran very smoothly. ***** ** From PARADE: Blind Testing There's a new future for the blind in the food and fragrance industries. So reports Mrs. Elisabeth Freund, formerly of the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, and now working full time to train and place the blind as "tasters" and "sniffers." Food and perfume manufacturers, Mrs. Freund explains, have long conducted "blind tests" -- so called because the testers are often blindfolded -- to weed out deviant tastes and smells. Most blindfolded testers, however, suffer from the occupational hazard known as "dread fatigue of the sensory organs." They can only work a few hours a day, after which their olfactory and gustatory organs suffer exhaustion. Not so the blind, whose sensory acuity is legendary. "In this work," Mrs. Freund explains, "blindness is an asset, not a liability. The blind make better use of their remaining senses. They are not easily distracted and therefore work with greater concentration. They have better taste perception and taste memory, so their evaluation are more consistent. And they are strongly motivated to do a good job -- it enables them to make a living for themselves and their families in a dignified way instead of being supported by welfare." Already blind testers are employed by General Foods in Montreal, Glidden-Durkee in Jacksonville, Fla., and Backus and Johnson, Lima, Peru, Mrs. Freund reports, and several other firms have expressed interest. For further information, write to Mrs. Freund at 6050 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131. ***** ** Search Research Helps (Reprinted from the National News of the Blind, Canada) Researchers at the Huntington Institute of Applied Medical Research are investigating the possibilities of electronically controlled optical sensors and signal processes as a substitute for sight. The research is based on techniques used to guide military missiles to their targets. Theoretically, reflected light signals would be reproduced electronically, processed in a tiny computer and transmitted as minute electrical signals to any array of electrodes implanted in the brain. The electrical impulses would communicate pulses of information called phosphenes to the brain by way of the optic nerve and radio its signals directly to the brain. The goal of the research is to give blind persons "traveling sight" and, it is hoped, the ability to recognize faces, read a newspaper or even watch television. However, even if successful, the device would not benefit all blind persons, and none could hope to regain full vision. ***** ** ACB Officers * President: Floyd Qualls, 106 N.E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 * First Vice President: Dr. S. Bradley Burson, 917 Kenyon St., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 * Second Vice President: Mrs. Billie Elder, 5317 W. 29th St., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 * Secretary: Mrs. Catherine Skivers, 836 Resota St., Hayward, California 94545 * Treasurer: J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28205 ** Directors George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, Wisc. 53703 Paul Kirton, Rt. 1, Box 56 C, Woodford, Va. 22580 Lester McGlaughn, 2403 Monroe Ave., Gadsden, Ala. 35901 Wallace Menning, 2750 Ellis Ave., Salem, Ore. 97301 Norman Robinson, 7107 South King Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60619 Reese Robrahn, 329 Woodburn Lane, Topeka, Kan. 66606 Earl Scharry, 5714 Ridgway Ave., Rockville, MD 20851 John Vanlandingham, 5800 North 19th Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85015 Vernon Williams, P.O. Box 826, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401 ###