The Braille Forum Vol. XIII January-February 1975 No. 4 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * President: Floyd Qualls 501 N. Douglas Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73160 * National Representative: Durward K. McDaniel 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 506 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 833-1251 * Editor: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 244-8364 The Braille Forum seeks to promote the independence and dignity of all blind people; to stress responsibility of citizenship; to alert the public to the abilities and accomplishments of the blind. The Braille Forum carries official news of the American Council of the Blind and its programs. It is available for expression of views and concerns common to all blind persons. ***** ** Contents Notice to Subscribers Robert S. Bray Award, by Floyd Qualls Y'all Come!, by Joyce L. Smith Award Nominations Requested A Change in Wisconsin, by George Card ACB Welcomes Connecticut Handicapped Parents Fight Rejection by Adoption Agencies Oklahoma Radio Talking Book Network National Seminar, Broadcasting for the Blind Reading Aids for the Blind, by Harvey Lauer An Exercise in Democracy A New Law in a New Book, by Durward K. McDaniel Where the Heart Is!, by Billie Elder ACB Joins Coalition of the Handicapped, by Durward K. McDaniel A New Health Security Bill State Convention Highlights: State Convention, Georgia Style, by Jack Lewis TCB Holds Annual Convention, by Otis Stephens New York Convention, by Janice Harden NAC Grant Extended for Ninety Days, by Durward K. McDaniel Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, by Durward K. McDaniel Randolph-Sheppard Amendments -- Summary Here and There ACB Officers ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, in large-type, and on open-reel (dual-track, 3 3/4 ips) and cassette tape (1 7/8 ips). Items intended for publication may be sent to the editor, Mary T. Ballard, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620, or to one of the associate editors: George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, WI 53703 Margaret Freer, 11816 West Blue Mound Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Ione B. Miller, 9291 Fermi Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 Joseph Wiedenmayer, 5604 Montgomery Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20015 Subscriptions and address changes for all four editions should be sent to Floyd Qualls, 501 North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Those much needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to ACB Treasurer J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205. Anyone who wishes to remember the American Council of the Blind in his or her Last Will and Testament may use the following language in a special paragraph for that purpose: "I give and bequeath unto the American Council of the Blind, a District of Columbia not-for-profit corporation, the sum of $ _____ "; or: " _____ %of my net estate"; or: "the following described property: ... ". "Said bequest is made and devised to be used for the Council's corporate purposes, in the interest of blind and visually impaired persons." If your wishes are more complex, have your attorney communicate with the Council's national office. ***** ** Robert S. Bray Award By Floyd Qualls When a man devotes 37 years of his life to serving others and stops then only because health conditions will not permit him to continue, there can be no doubt of his dedication to those he served. This, in a few words, is the story of Robert S. Bray, former Chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, who died November 26, 1974. During his years as Chief, the word "library" took on a new meaning. Vinyl disks, open-reel and cassette tapes and magazines appeared. Mr. Bray strove constantly to learn the needs and desires bf the blind and physically handicapped, and when he could, set about meeting them. Many books and magazines not previously available to the blind appeared in braille or in one of the recorded editions. Those who had a need for specialized materials found Bob Bray interested, and whenever possible, he made such materials accessible in a form useful to the majority. Mr. Bray believed the blind and physically handicapped, insofar as possible, should have the same access to libraries as all other library users. To accomplish this, the number of regional libraries was increased and subregional libraries were created. Small city libraries cooperated with the regional libraries and placed on their shelves talking books and tape materials readily available to those living in the community. Mr. Bray resigned his position with the Library of Congress in 1973 and closed 37 years of services to handicapped persons. In recognition of his outstanding work, Pacific University, of Forest Grove, Oregon, conferred on him an honorary degree of Humane Letters. He will always stand as a giant among men in his chosen field. The American Council of the Blind Board of Directors at its midyear meeting, November 23, 1974, approved the creation of an award to be known as the "Robert S. Bray Award." Prior to the Board's meeting, I wrote Mr. Bray to ask if we might show our esteem for him in this manner. I did not know his health had deteriorated so far. Quoted below is Mrs. Bray's reply. Thank you for honoring Bob with the establishment of an award. Bob was touched with your recognition. Unfortunately, Bob has been in the hospital since June with a recurrence of cancer. It is inoperable and in the terminal stages. He is unable to express his appreciation personally. May I add my appreciation that Bob's name will continue in the field of work for the blind and physically handicapped, and that through him, indirectly help can still go to others. A special committee will be appointed to draw guidelines and qualifications which recipients of the award must meet. Mr. Bray's interests in library services reached far beyond books on a shelf. I shall, therefore, recommend to the committee that its guidelines encompass fields related to libraries. Through this, the Robert S. Bray Award, may the American Council of the Blind always keep alive the memory of a warm and generous personality, the greatness of a loyal public servant, and the selfless dedication of a true friend. ***** ** Y'all Come! By Joyce L. Smith Calling all lovers of history, sight-seeing, flowers, seafood, oceans, sunshine, old homes, new friends, learning, and fun, fun, fun -- It's all waiting for you in Mobile, Alabama at the ACB convention next July. Mobile, named for the Maubilia Indians, is called the City of Six Flags for its succession of rulers and has always been a city of hospitality. It began with the arrival of Frenchmen in 1699. They loved it but complained about the lack of women, so the "cassette" girls came a-flying with French government-issued clothes and a small trunk called a "cassette" in the French language. The girls were heavily guarded after they arrived, but all but one managed to marry within one month. (That one was slow because she was coy, some said. Others claimed she looked more like a guardsman than a girl. At any rate she soon married also.) The French impact remains today with street names as reminders: Dauphin, Royal, Conti, and St. Louis. In 1704 a Masque of St. Louis holiday was proclaimed for the Mobile area. This was the beginning of the Mardi Gras, annually celebrated wildly in Mobile. In the 1760s the French lost out to the British, but then Spaniards moved in during the Revolutionary War. Another war, that of 1812, marked the arrival of the United States, and the flags of the Republic of Alabama, the Confederate States of America, and the United States took turns flying over this lovely city. Mobile today retains its graciousness, and the city officials are very eager to have the ACB convention there. A major feature of the convention will be EXPO '75, with forty-eight display booths featuring equipment for the blind, industries hiring the blind, and individuals who have succeeded in many areas of employment. It will be the largest display of this kind ever presented. Booth rent ranges from $100 to $200, depending on location and size of the booth. Individuals are advised to contact civic clubs or other organizations to seek their financial sponsorship. If you are interested in exhibiting, contact Charles J. Smith, P.O. Box 11471, Chickasaw, Alabama 36611 for details. The convention dates are July 20-26 with EXPO '75 running from the 20-23, special interest groups 20-23, and the ACB annual meeting 23-26. The headquarters hotel is the Admiral Semmes. All hotels, restaurants, stores are well air-conditioned. The program is still being developed, but we hope to have a wide variety of topics, something to interest everyone. Included are problems of deaf-blind preschoolers, training and job opportunities for the blind, public relations tips for local chapters, radio programs for the blind, consumer groups, agencies serving the blind. We plan to have a prominent member of Congress with strong interests in national health legislation as a speaker and a welcome by Governor George C. Wallace. There's lots to see in Mobile and surrounding areas. Tours are being planned for Thursday afternoon. One will be a trip to the sun-drenched beaches at Gulf Shores where you can relax in the beautiful recreation center, frolic in the Gulf of Mexico, or swim in a freshwater lake protected by observant lifeguards, or try your hand at saltwater fishing. A box lunch will be provided. Fabulous Bellingrath Gardens will be the destination for another tour group. The 65-acre gardens are famous for their radiance, symmetry, and beauty. Swans glide on mirror pools, bayous hung with Spanish moss twine through the grounds, and the home contains fine antiques and outstanding collections of rare porcelain, china, and silver. The third tour will be to the battleship U.S.S. Alabama and the submarine U.S.S. Drum. Guides will accompany the visitors and explain the features as you step into the gun turrets and walk the decks of this mighty ship or explore the cubbyholes of the compact submarine. In the planning stages are moonlight cruises on the Gulf of Mexico. For those who prefer to explore on their own, the 1833 plantation home Oakleigh beckons as do historic Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, the restored Phoenix Fire Museum, and the unusual and magnificent Malbis Greek Orthodox Church. For those arriving early or staying after the convention, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is held on the third weekend of July, while the last Sunday of the month features the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet ceremonies. Or you might plan a jaunt to nearby New Orleans or travel on to Florida and Disney World. Other parts of Alabama, close to I-65 and other travel routes, also offer much to see. We have a partial listing of these available in large print and braille and will send it to anyone requesting it. (Please say which format you prefer and write to Joyce Smith, Huntsville Public Library, P.O. Box 443, Huntsville, Alabama 35804.) Mobile is very accessible by I-65 (originates near Hammond, Indiana) and I-10. Several bus lines serve Mobile, and the bus station is only half a block from the hotel. Airlines serving Mobile are Southern and Eastern and National. As is said in the south, "Y'all come! Y'hear?" ***** ** Award Nominations Requested The American Council of the Blind Awards Committee is seeking nominations for two awards which will be presented at the 1975 ACB national convention in Mobile, Alabama. The Ambassador Award is presented annually to a blind person who has performed distinguished service in his own community or state in which he resides. The George Card Award is one which is periodically awarded to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or nature of contribution, and is not necessarily awarded every year. If you know of a blind person who, in your opinion, is worthy of the recognition afforded by either of these awards, the Awards Committee would appreciate hearing from you, no later than May 1, 1975. Please enumerate your reasons for making a particular nomination, so that the award presentation can be suitable for the occasion. Send nominations to any of the Committee members. If nominations can be submitted in triplicate, it would be appreciated, since each committee member will need a copy for consideration. Committee members are: Mrs. Carol Derouin, 3655 Monroe Avenue, N.E., Salem, OR 97301; Jack Chard, Pembroke Road, Lansing, MI 48906; Roland Teele, 112 Dunn Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109. These awards are a cherished part of the ACB tradition so help us choose wisely in making the selections. ***** ** A Change in Wisconsin By George Card Some months ago, the president of the National Federation of the Blind addressed the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and threatened that unless the Council should abandon the American Council of the Blind and apply for affiliation with his organization, he would send organizers into the State to form an affiliate of NFB, and that he was prepared to spend up to $5,000 on such a project. He told the Council that the NFB takes in over $800,000 each year through its unordered mailings, and that it would be greatly to the advantage of the Council to be a part of such a rich and powerful organization as the NFB. The Council realized that Jernigan's threat was not an idle one, and that there was no question but that he could get at least a token affiliate in Wisconsin, because there are always some blind people who are uninformed and who can be impressed by big talk and big promises. The Council has always held out to the Wisconsin Legislature that it represents all of the blind of the State, and some of its members felt that it could not continue to do this if there were a group in the State which it did not represent. A motion to renew affiliation with the ACB next year was defeated by a tie vote. At the same time, however, it showed where its real sympathy lay by appropriating $2,500 to organize a new state-wide, grass-roots membership organization which would become the new ACB affiliate in Wisconsin. An organization meeting was held in Milwaukee on December 15. Although a severe snowstorm resulted in the cancellation of buses from the north, there was still a splendid turnout at the meeting. A constitution was adopted, and interim officers and board members were elected to serve until the first state convention the last weekend in June, 1975. All positions were hotly contested, and this is a mighty good sign. Sue Graves became interim president. Durward McDaniel, ACB National Representative, attended, spoke several times, and was of great help. The new ACB affiliate had received 247 applications for membership by the December meeting, and this number is expected to increase rapidly. ***** ** ACB Welcomes Connecticut The Connecticut Council of the Blind is now a part of ACB, the 47th affiliate in this growing union of capable and purposeful people. At year's end, this very new organization had 97 members, with more coming. The founding meeting was held in Hartford on October 5 — a good job was done in Connecticut by Connecticut people. We are expecting good things from Connecticut, including a good delegation at the Mobile convention. The officers are: Arthur Egan of West Haven, President; Jack McGee of New Haven, First Vice President; Robert Kolker of Stamford, Second Vice President; Anna Godrie of Bridgeport, Third Vice President; Shirley Phelon of West Hartford, Secretary; and Robert Fitzgerald of Waterbury, Treasurer. Welcome to ACB! ***** ** Handicapped Parents Fight Rejection by Adoption Agencies Many blind couples who wish to adopt children have always faced problems with adoption agencies, especially if they wish to adopt normally sighted children. Fred Vieni, who supervises the Rehabilitation Teaching Department at the Industrial Home for the Blind, and Miriam Vieni, a professionally qualified social worker, began several years ago to attempt to adopt a daughter. In spite of their personal and professional qualifications and the fact that they already had a biological daughter, Debbie, they faced rejection on the basis of their blindness from two adoption agencies in New York City. After much difficulty and another rejection, this time, by an inter-country adoption agency, they have finally succeeded in adopting a Black-Vietnamese orphan who arrived at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on July 30. The following letter was written to The Braille Forum by Miriam Vieni: October 29, 1974 To The Braille Forum: Many people have read about our attempts to adopt Melanie and since we understand that you have already printed a story about the Lees and their adoption of Melodie ("A Home Like Any Other," Braille Forum, July-August, 1974) we thought perhaps your readers would like to read our story, also. Our story, in and of itself, is important only to us and to Melanie, but we believe that it has positive implications for other blind people who may for one reason or another wish to adopt children. We are happy to report that a third blind couple is waiting right now for their eight-month-old Vietnamese son to arrive in this country. They were approved by a new adoption agency formed under the old name of Friends of Children of Vietnam. This new agency has developed flexible and individualized policies toward blind people and began operations last spring. We believe that one of the reasons for FCVN's positive attitude toward working with handicapped couples was the support for us by adoptive parents of Vietnamese children throughout the country, as well as a recognition on the part of the staff that the former agency which functioned under FCVN's name had made a dreadful mistake in refusing to serve legally blind couples. Ethel Lee, whom we met through cassette correspondence, was very concerned about our difficulties in adopting Melanie and began a national group called Handicapped Parents for Kids. As president of this group, she was invited by the organizers of the North American Conference on Adoptable Children to run a workshop for interested persons in Washington, D.C. last March. I assisted her at this workshop and was happy to note that many social workers, as well as a member of the New York City Council on Adoptable Children, attended. We won an honorable mention for our display of photographs depicting how blind parents can function with children, and we circulated several hundred copies of the pamphlet on the subject which I had written. So we hope that through the efforts of many people, the attitudes of social workers and the general public toward adoption by blind people are changing. For those people who are interested, Friends of Children of Vietnam, 600 Gilpin, Denver, Colorado 80218, and Holt Adoption Program, P.O. Box 2420, Eugene, Oregon 97402, seem to judge applicants on an individual basis. But one must secure an approved home study from a local agency, and this may still present problems to blind applicants. I would be happy to correspond with or talk with anyone who has questions about these adoptions. Sincerely, Miriam Vieni 298 Red Maple Drive Wantagh, New York 11793 ***** ** Oklahoma Radio Talking Book Network The Oklahoma Radio Talking Book Network is a special closed-circuit radio broadcast carrier on the subcarrier of a local FM radio station. It presently serves about 400 listeners in an area within 70 miles of Oklahoma City, out plans are under way to expand the coverage soon throughout the entire state. The station is on the air sixteen hours per day, seven days per week, Tulsa, the second largest metropolitan area in Oklahoma, will be next to receive the broadcasts in the very near future, and then, through the cooperation of the Oklahoma Cable Television Association, nearly any eligible person in the State will be furnished free cable service to receive the radio broadcasts. For two hours each morning and evening, the local newspapers are read in detail, including such items as Ann Landers' column, stock market news, feature articles, women's interests, sports, editorials, and so on. There are also many programs of special interest to the blind and physically handicapped, such as aids and appliances, services available, biographies of successful blind people. But one of the most popular programs is the three times weekly live talk show, which runs from 9:00 to 11:00 P.M., where special guests such as the city manager, Bill Gallagher of the American Foundation for the Blind, an exorcist, a witch, and stories about unidentified flying objects are just some of the subjects that have been covered. Also, live broadcasts of wrestling matches at the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee have been made, as well as live broadcasts of various meetings; for example, a seminar on SSI benefits by a representative of Social Security from the Dallas Regional Office, an annual meeting of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Association for Workers of the Blind, and the 25th anniversary banquet of the Oklahoma League for the Blind. Much of the diversity of the programming is due to the input of the Radio Talking Book Advisory Committee, made up of blind and physically handicapped listeners who meet monthly to make suggestions and plan long-range programming. A National Conference on Radio for the Blind will be held in Oklahoma City in March of 1975, and it came about at the suggestion of this Advisory Committee. ***** ** National Seminar, Broadcasting for the Blind A National Conference on Radio for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the first of its kind in the world, will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on March 10-13, 1975, at the Hilton Inn Northwest. The American Council of the Blind was a leader in the radio for the blind movement in its earlier days. The conference is under the joint sponsorship of the American Foundation for the Blind and the Oklahoma Radio Talking Book Network and was initiated by a suggestion from the Advisory Committee of the Oklahoma Network, made up of blind and physically handicapped listeners. A wide range of subjects dealing with radio for the blind and physically handicapped will be covered at the conference, such as administration, programming, engineering, use of volunteers, legal aspects, funding, open circuit broadcasting and similar subjects. Representatives of states already on the air and those in various stages of planning are being invited. Some thirty states are expected to be represented, and from two to three hundred people in toto. Anyone planning to attend this conference should contact the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, New York 10011, or Hilton Inn, Northwest, 2945 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112. ***** ** Reading Aids for the Blind Information for Consumers and Teachers By Harvey Lauer (Concluded) Comparability: To make a facetious beginning, both the Optacon and Stereotoner can "see" print. There are differences in the range of sizes and colors which each machine will accommodate. There would be little value in listing these specifications without adding pages of information about the world of print. Reading by means of the sense of hearing requires less hardware, so the Stereotoner has less circuitry and fewer moving parts. This gives it advantages in size, cost, and maintenance. One hand is also free for handling materials or tracking. These advantages, however, only help those who can learn well its ten-channel audible code. Since the Optacon has 24 rows of vibrators, it delivers more information or detail about letter features than does the Stereotoner. This additional information, however, is useful only to those who can perceive its detail with a finger. A choice of machines should, of course, be based on testing and trials. Experience has sadly shown that it's a mistake to base one's decision on such things as proficiency with braille, musical background, or attitudes about the signals. Each of my students is given tests and experience with both machines. Of my last eight students, four were taught the Optacon and four the Stereotoner. This means only that I did the best I could with the available materials. It does not mean that 50 percent of the people need each machine. That percentage will best be found after more research findings are available. Blind Teachers: I teach the use of both machines. I have been trained with both, and I can read with both, but I personally use the Stereotoner. This is because the tonal code was first available to me and because I have higher potential for it. It is highly advisable for a blind teacher to use one machine proficiently. The second machine should be learned to the point where the teacher can completely monitor his students' reading. Human Factors in Learning the Skills: Learning to use a reading aid is like learning a new language. By this is meant that patterns must be apprehended subconsciously as letters and words. For example, the Stereotoner code is in my subconscious. To install the Optacon code in my subconscious would require much motivation and practice. There develops a complex, "intimate" man-machine relationship. The degree of involvement or "love affair" one has with a reading aid is greater than the investment needed in becoming a skilled typist, but lesser than the investment needed in becoming an accomplished musician. Occasionally, we encounter the exceptional person who learns the skill quite easily. Such people have either exceptional ability or exceptional motivation. The following is an example of one among several interesting hypotheses. This man-machine relationship seems to favor the type of person whom Dr. Stanley Martindale calls verbal over the anomic person. He says the verbal person (30% of the population) is one who relates best "self to object," and the anomic person (70% of the population) relates best "self to person." One caution we give to potential students is to keep an open mind about their abilities and lack of abilities. We also recommend that newly blind people first avail themselves of other needed rehabilitative services before they consider a reading aid. Those who have remaining vision should also first try low-vision lenses and closed-circuit TV systems. Generally, students who are learning to use a reading aid find the training to be challenging and rewarding. My Suggestions: Based on my experience I also submit ions: (1) Students should be encouraged to learn the skill only when long-term loan or purchase is highly probable. (2) Agencies which lend reading aids should do thorough follow-up to see that the aids are in use and not in closets. (3) There should be a rental option for those who buy aids. This need not apply to agencies for the blind. Agencies can transfer the aid to another user if necessary. Tracking Aids: I must discuss tracking aids or my colleagues will count me remiss. Some users and most beginners do not have the coordination needed to track print well by hand. Tracking aids have often been inadequate because of initial over-optimism as to the difficulty of the task and because designers who work hard to miniaturize both hardware and costs are reluctant to admit that their "brain children" need mechanical help. Suitable tracking aids for current reading devices became available sometime after production models first appeared. Teachers who do not have experience with a good tracking aid do not know what they and their students are missing. Beginners may also be helped by motor-driven pacing aids. The modern versions are expensive and complex, but the British had a simply operated one for their first optophones. Good instructional manuals have been slow in coming, but the new ones are greatly improved, thanks to the American Institutes for Research and the developers. Population and Future Needs: Let us turn now to demographics. The American Foundation for the Blind found that there are half a million legally blind people in the United States; 25% or 12,000 of them cannot read print with their eyes. All of our candidates are among this group. About two-thirds of these people are over age 60, so most of our candidates are among the remaining one-third or 40,000 people. The latter group also includes the children. We need intelligent, literate, well-motivated people with either good tactual perception or good auditory discrimination ability, who have a need to read print materials independently. The AFB, in its telephone survey of Optacon users, published in The New Outlook for the Blind, February, 1974, says: "AFB estimates that perhaps 10,000 people in the United States and Canada ... might be potential users of the Optacon." Further study may show this estimate to be a little high. I would say that several thousand people in the United States can use one reading aid or the other. Now let us look at the picture for veterans. John Malamazian, Chief of the Rehabilitation Center at Hines, Illinois, gives the following figures which he and others in the Veterans Administration compiled. They estimate that there are 20,000 legally blind veterans. About 4,000 of them are totally blind. Most are World War II veterans. Many of them lost their sight after leaving military service. There are less than 1,000 totally blind people, mainly men, who are below age 55. I estimate that about 150 veterans will be interested in reading aids and eligible for them. Let us turn to the world picture. According to the British Royal National Institute for the Blind, which has facilities in all parts of the world, there are fifteen million blind people in the world. Because of high incidence of blindness among young people in less developed countries, five million of this total is of working age. Though the literacy rate is low in much of the world, a world market would certainly make production of reading aids more efficient. Some Prospects for the Future: So far, we have discussed what are called "direct-translation" reading aids. Current machines, the Optacon and Stereotoner, do not (intentionally) process data. Instead, they provide the user with signals depicting the shapes of symbols "seen by their electro-optical systems." Suppose now that we add to such a direct-translation reading aid logic circuitry so that it will give us the identities of letters. We would then have an Optical Character Reader, commonly dubbed an OCR. Industry has OCR machines feeding alpha-numeric data to its computers. They are accurate, and they feed data faster than we humans could handle it. However, they are bulky, enormously expensive, and too limited in number of type styles they will accept to cope with the world of print faced by the office worker and homemaker. Among several projects to build a personal OCR for blind people are those of MIT, Israel, Canada, and the Veterans Administration. The V.A. project, conducted at Mauch Laboratories, will be described here. Mauch Laboratories calls their design the Cognodictor. It incorporates a reading aid like the Optacon or Stereotoner, with which the user must track the print, adjust for print size, and read whichever symbols the machine's logic circuitry is not programmed to identify. These include numerals, punctuation, unusual print styles, and "damaged" print. However, when so-called "good print" is encountered, the machine "talks" to him in letter sounds or spelled speech. In short, the user must learn to use a direct­translation machine, with which he will read such things as bank statements. However, when the body of a magazine article is to be read, the mini-computer will function, permitting reading rates of 100 plus words per minute. The cost will be several thousand dollars. The concept of the Cognodictor was partially and successfully tested with past designs. In 1971, several blind people, myself included, used a model of the Cognodictor with a spelled-speech output. My colleagues do not agree with my opinion that at the present rate of development, there will be a new prototype in two years and a production model in four years. Let us now look beyond the personal reading aid. A library book could be transcribed into recorded form by a computer. This job may take a team of computers. The spoken-English output for such a system is being researched in a V.A. project at Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut. This output would also be useful in a time-shared arrangement with a large computer. Under such an arrangement, the user would telephone the computer for service. He might then have to track the print with his small machine, which he could also use independently. The computer would then "read over his shoulder," so to speak, and talk to him over the phone in his native tongue. MIT and Stanford Research Institute have also done work in this area. Presumably, if and when computer terminals become common in homes, then computers may also help us read. Our glimpse into the future has shown that future developments, rather than making present skills obsolete, could make those skills more valuable. Conclusion: The Optacon is being well received by many. The manufacturer offers training, as do a number of agencies. The Stereotoner is being introduced into several training facilities, including the Hadley School for the Blind. Hadley offers by correspondence a pre-training, tape-recorded course which will be revised for the Stereotoner. This course will introduce the skill and prepare people for training at Hadley or elsewhere. As we learn about its applications and the kinds of people who can use it, the Stereotoner should take its place among rehabilitation tools. I do not state the case for reading aids as strongly as those who say that they open up a new world for blind people. I do state the case as follows: The reading aids offer certain people a bit of synthetic eyesight. ***** ** An Exercise in Democracy (Editor's Note: Printed below is an excerpt from a speech by Governor Tom McCall of Oregon, delivered in the spring of 1974 at Oregon Girls' State, a practical experience with state government. A blind girl, Donna Bell, had reportedly been refused permission to participate. This is his response.) I assume all of you here have completed school with excellent marks. I know you try hard, because a failing grade on your report card follows you around forever -- kind of like a husband! Good scholarship was one of the attributes that was considered in your selection for participation in Oregon Girls' State. You also had to have a reputation for leadership, character and honesty, cooperativeness, and you had to be physically fit. Somebody is always making up rules for participation in various occupations and avocations. So I wouldn't quarrel with the list of qualifications — except for that one on physical fitness. Because of that rule, one girl qualified in every other way to be here was disqualified. Donna Bell of North Eugene High School is blind, and so she was told she couldn't be here with you -- here where the sponsors of Girls' State tell you that "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." I had a member of my staff discuss this unimaginable occurrence with your sponsors. They advised that the action was in accordance with national American Legion Auxiliary rules. They said the physical-fitness qualification was inserted on grounds that it would be unfair for a member of Girls' State to have the responsibility of helping another keep up with the pace of this week. But that is not an acceptable answer, and following our discussion of yesterday, your sponsors agree that it is not. They have my praise for issuing an invitation to Donna Bell to participate in the remaining events of Girls' State. And she has come. Her leadership, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperativeness, and her physical fitness qualify her to be here. It seems to me that physical fitness ought to be stricken from the qualifications. A folder explaining to you the purpose of this exercise advises: "Through actual practice, the rights, duties, and responsibilities of American citizenship become a reality for the week at Girls' State." This is an exercise in government. Every person not disqualified by imprisonment or mental incapacity is eligible to directly participate in government. There's nothing in the statutes that says you are disqualified if you are blind or if you are confined to a wheelchair ... So in this case, the Oregon American Legion Auxiliary should try to prevail upon its sister states to change the rules. Failing that, our Auxiliary must go it alone. No veteran, whether or not disabled, is barred from taking an active part in government. We have not offered them indifference, but compassion and justice. Anyone disabled for any reason merits equal treatment. We may not dispossess the disabled of any part of the rights attached to American citizenship. I have already patted the backs of the sponsors of Girls' State for their willingness to ignore the physical-fitness rule. I trust that no one will find cause to upbraid them further for seeming at first to abide by a rule that seemed to have validity. But to them, it no longer has that validity, and from this point forward, I am sure that the Donna Bells of Oregon will be warmly welcomed to this exercise in democracy. ***** ** A New Law in a New Book By Durward K. McDaniel The Randolph-Sheppard Act is not new; it goes back to 1936; it was amended in 1954; so the Amendments of 1974 are part of it. But the changes and additions are so numerous and complex that administrators and visually impaired vendors will have much studying to do to make the best and proper use of this new-old law. Fortunately, the new enactment came at a time when it could be included as an appendix in Leonard Robinson's book, Light at the Tunnel End. But what you can read in this new book is more than the Amendments of 1974; it is very important to understand that these Amendments did not change the entire Act. Accordingly, if you should read only Public Law 93-516, it would not include that part of the law which was not affected by the Amendments. But in Robinson's book, the new Amendments have been integrated and codified with the remainder of the old law. This alone is worth the advance price of the book, only $6.00. Send orders for the book to the ACB office: Suite 700, 818 18th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. In case you missed the earlier publicity, Light at the Tunnel End is the story of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, beginning with Leonard Robinson's crusade for its enactment; it contains 193 pages of text and 26 pictures, plus the updated law and a special summary of the new Amendments by none other than Senator Jennings Randolph. ***** ** Where the Heart Is! "Where the Heart Goes, the Money will Follow." By Billie Elder Chairman, ACB Finance Committee If a person wishes to discover what his real values are, he should examine his check stubs for the past five years. After weeding out the stubs spent on necessities, those left will tell him where his heart really lies. The question here was not the amount, but the proportion of the available money that was funneled into this or that channel. Decisions to spend money are dictated by one's perceptions of reality, and they in turn are filtered through one's value system. It is for this reason that fervid oratory or public testimonials of allegiance to a cause cannot speak as eloquently as the stubs in an empty check book. "Why does the American Council of the Blind not have the money it needs to implement new programs which could benefit thousands of people in the United States?" Those who think that all is well within the blind segment of the population, and that every visually handicapped person in the nation is receiving the kind and quality of services which are his by right, or that the great progress gained in the last few decades is guaranteed forever, are ill informed. The pioneers who secured the programs the present generation enjoys got their heads bloodied many times as they fought for rights of a neglected minority, and their accomplishments are laudable. They laid a firm foundation upon which this generation must build a superstructure. Each generation is given its unique set of circumstances, its particular challenges, and the privilege of working for the next generation. Historically, programs and services initiated for the benefit of the blind have a way of undergoing a metamorphosis and changing into something for the benefit of others instead. The idea of "living off the blind" has not disappeared from the earth. It has, in some cases, just become respectable -- a way of making a living. True, there are many warm, capable, empathetic persons working professionally in the field of blindness, but there are also unqualified, disinterested, self-seeking persons in the field, who use their positions and influence to manipulate and thwart the aspirations of their fellow human beings who happen to be blind. As individuals, members may be powerless to do anything about such people. But organized, they have a vehicle with which to change undesirable situations. Once any program providing services for the blind is diluted or the process of erosion sets in, all blind people will eventually be the losers. To preserve, enhance, and augment the legacy of the past is the work of this generation, and it calls for a different and sometimes more sophisticated set of skills than those required to innovate. Just as flag-waving is no assurance that the one who waves it is a patriot, so neither are high-sounding assertions of dedication to the goals and objectives of ACB a certain promise of the finances needed to launch their humanitarian programs into orbit. Those who truly believe that ACB is important to the welfare of its members will support it with their contributions because they feel it has great value for them as individuals and for society. Every member's relationship to the national organization is determined by his value system, and if his heart is truly "in it," then the money will follow as surely as night follows day. Does the ACB member expect to maintain a national office, receive the services of an expert national representative, and reap the benefits of a national organization without paying for them? Only in the world of illusion can life go on without facing the harsh realities of the marketplace. In the world of reality, rents must be paid, salaries kept current, the printer and the telephone company remunerated for their services. This is as it should be. Money is exchanged for goods and services of value to the recipient. In the world of make-believe frequently visited by children, it is possible to maintain the idea that efficient offices can be operated, a quality publication delivered, board meetings held regularly, seminars conducted when needed, or educational materials produced and distributed for a mere pittance — for less than the price of a hamburger per year. A little sober reflection upon the reality of the situation will reveal that it is impossible to maintain ACB on the leavings or crumbs of the financial resources of the body politic. The time has come to "put the money where the mouth is." Charitable foundations do not supply money for operating expenses. For this, an organization must depend upon its members. Boards of foundations tend to be suspicious of organizations whose members do not value it enough to underwrite its day-to-day expenses. From their point of view, any organization that does not pay its operating costs is a poor risk. The foundations instead support worthwhile projects which will benefit large groups of people, but which are beyond the financial capabilities of the membership. Asking a foundation to do for the organization what it should properly do for itself is like a parent who asks others to feed, clothe, and shelter his children so that he may be free to spend money on other things. Each member should examine his conscience and decide which values have first claim upon his resources. By rearranging priorities according to the value ACB holds, it is hoped that most members will come to the conclusion that they can make a substantial contribution immediately -- substantial, that is, according to their means. Affiliates also should examine their treasuries and pattern of giving. Perhaps some will oppose this suggestion on the ground that richer affiliates will try to buy influence. Human beings are subject to such behavior. However, other factors in a democratic organization tend to counter the less admirable types of human behavior. It is only the ignorant who can be manipulated, not the intelligent and informed. If an organization is permeated by apathetic, uninvolved members who operate on the theory of the minimum which they can contribute, then an organization cannot hope to withstand the imposition of dictatorial methods. If, instead, the principles and spirit of ACB are adhered to and every filiate contributed the maximum of which they are capable, every item in the budget could be met. But if the members require high ethical standards of conduct from others, they must also voluntarily impose such standards upon themselves. The affiliate which does not meet its obligations to the parent organization is in danger of becoming self-centered, isolated from sister affiliates and impotent. Problems do not stop at state boundaries, but are national in scope. They must be dealt with on a national plane. In the same way, a creeping malignancy which attacks a sister affiliate in one state does not stop at the state boundary, but soon steals across the imaginary line to erode the health of another which fuels secure barricaded behind the confines of its own jurisdiction. ACB is a national organization. Its goals, aims, and purposes have national dimensions, and its benefits accrue to all alike. Members must overcome regional and local prejudices and realize they are all shareholders in a great humanitarian organization which has been incorporated for the achievement of a better quality of life for all blind persons, which in turn will result in a better quality of life for non-handicapped persons of the nation. Fund-raising is a legitimate function of a membership organization which adheres to the high purposes stated in Article II of the national Constitution. However, fund- raising can really solve the problems either. It is a term frequently misunderstood and applied to such projects as can sales raffles, benefit concerts, theater parties, and bazaars. Projects have their place, but fund-raising refers to the process by which organizations and institutions solicit financial support from foundations, businesses, industries, philanthropists, for the purpose of initiating or sustaining programs that serve human needs. The request for funds the giving of funds are done according to a set of rules which must be understood and respected by both parties. These guidelines have been established by professional fund-raisers, and those who follow them are more likely to meet with success than the brash amateur who insists on doing things his way. As in other fields of endeavor, 100% success is never possible, but the batting average does go up with faithful adherence to the rules of the game and practice, practice, practice! ACB is a fast-burgeoning organization, called into being by the unmet needs of its members. The membership can and will provide for necessary operating expenses. Because of its philosophy (belief in democratic leadership, insistence upon self-reliance, dignified methods of bringing about change, a positive, intelligent approach to problems, a rational way of coping with the imperfect, compassion for the handicapped, a spirit of cooperation and willingness to work for the betterment of the disgruntled, the short-sighted and the uninformed, as well as the beautiful people), ACB is a winsome organization. Its many new affiliates have been formed because of the great awakening that has taken place among the blind. This awakening has aroused in them the desire for self-fulfillment, full participation in the life of the community, adequate remuneration for their labors, and a sense of dignity and worth. They are no longer content to sit in the back room and rock, out of sight and out of mind, as inferior individuals. One who has felt the thrill of this awakening knows that he can best achieve the realization of these desires in company with others with similar limitations and problems — hence, ACB. By joining together, mutually encouraging each other, blind people can retain that which is good, because unless eternal vigilance is maintained, programs and services initially designed for their benefit will be diverted to other ends. The unfinished task of providing quality services for many blind citizens will never be completed without the initiative and participation of the blind in building needed service programs. It now behooves ACB to hire a National Director of Development, whose sole responsibility will be that of developing fund-raising programs for the organization. In each affiliate, the director must have the assistance of a corps of trained volunteers. Working together, funds can be secured to meet national and local needs if: (1) individual members assume financial responsibility proportionate with their ability to give; (2) ACB launches a sound fund-raising program, headed by a capable Director of Development. In this way, a higher quality of life will be assured for this generation and those to come. Remember: "Where the heart is, the money will follow." ***** ** ACB Joins Coalition of the Handicapped By Durward K. McDaniel The American Council of the Blind Board of Directors voted on November 23,1974 to make ACB a part of a new coalition, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, Inc. The new organization was formed last May by handicapped persons attending the annual conference of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. Its purpose is to promote the social well-being and to assure the full exercise of human and constitutional rights of persons with disabilities. Its founders recognized the need for handicapped people to unite their strengths to achieve common objectives. An interim Board of Directors was selected to perfect the organization and to plan for the first plenary session, which will be held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. on May 2 and 3, 1975. The next issue will include more details of the meeting, which will be held immediately following the annual conference of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. The interim Board of Directors includes the following persons, with the organizations in which they are active: Albert Pimentel (President), National Association for the Deaf; Robert Ardinger of Baltimore, Maryland; Fred Fay, National Paraplegia Foundation; Eric Gentile, National Association of the Physically Handicapped; Judy Heumann, Disabled in Action; Roger Peterson, National Federation of the Blind; Keith Russell, National Paraplegia Foundation; and Harry Shweikert, Paralyzed Veterans of America. Roger Peterson is in charge of the Coalition's office at Room 308 Du Pont Circle Building, 1346 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. ***** ** A New Health Security Bill Leonard Woodcock announced on Thursday, December 26, 1974, a new Health Security bill would be introduced in the 94th Congress, with Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts and Congressman James C. Corman, Democrat of California, as chief sponsors. The bill would provide health-insurance protection for everyone and cover almost everything. Woodcock, President of the United Auto Workers, serves as chairman of the Committee for National Health Insurance, a citizens' organization of leading Americans who support Health Security. The Kennedy-Corman Health Security bill would cover every resident of the United States for all hospital and physicians' services, as well as other specified health­care needs such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental services for children, and eventually for everyone. There would be no means test, no work earnings test, no deductibles, no co-insurance, no cutoffs, and no fine print. Woodcock listed the following improvements in the new Health Security program: * Grants would be given to local non-profit agencies to develop and provide social care services to benefit the aged and chronically ill. The Health Security Board, which would. administer the program, is directed to make grants as rapidly as it is satisfied that applicants can provide the services and assure some measure of non-Federal financing. * Ceiling on payroll and individual taxes would be raised from $15,000 to $20,000. * Catastrophic protection would specifically be recognized in the Preamble. * Optometrists and podiatrists would be recognized as "physicians" when functioning within Board regulations, and they could write prescriptions if permitted by state law. * Free-standing alcohol, drug-abuse, family planning, and rehabilitation centers would be recognized as providers. * An amendment on employment rights in health­care institutions would be incorporated. Otherwise, the Health Security bill which has been before the Congress since mid-1970 would remain essentially unchanged. If Health Security is enacted, no American ever again would have to pay a doctor's bill or a hospital bill. Payment in full would be made through a Health Security Trust Fund, with Federal general revenues providing half of the necessary financing and the other half acquired as follows: * 1% tax on individual earned or unearned income up to $20,000 per year (or a maximum tax on the individual of $200 per year). * 3 1/2% tax on employers' pay rolls, which would be largely or entirely offset by the elimination of premium payments for private health insurance. * 2 1/2% tax on the self-employed, up to $20,000 income. Whether working, laid off, not working, or retired, all residents of the U.S. would be entitled to the benefits as a matter of right. During the past two years, the Braille Forum has published several articles on national health legislation. ACB is part of a national coalition of more than sixty organizations which support such a comprehensive healthcare system. The new Corman bill in the 94th Congress was assigned in advance the number H.R. 21. Congressman Al Ullman of Oregon is the new chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means which will have 37 members instead of 25 as before. The change in chairmanship and the addition of more liberal Congressmen to the committee greatly improves the prospects for comprehensive health legislation. ***** ** State Convention Highlights * State Convention, Georgia Style By Jack Lewis "GFB" or "GCB": Should we change our name? This was a major topic of discussion at the Georgia Federation's State Convention in Augusta on August 24-25. At the American Council of the Blind convention in Chicago, a resolution was adopted urging all affiliates which include in their name the word "federation" to change it to coincide with the name of our national organization. Gerald Pye, President of the Macon chapter, submitted a resolution urging that this change be made. The proposed constitutional amendment elicited vigorous debate. Proponents pointed out the simple fact that the general public, including thousands of blind persons not identified with GFB, are often confused by the fact that there are two organizations in the state using the name "Federation." Those opposing the Pye resolution were equally adamant in their insistence that the name "Federation" be preserved. While agreeing that there is some confusion in the minds of the public, over the past 18 years GFB has built an excellent reputation for itself. It enjoys the highest esteem of professionals engaged in work for the blind, and the impact of GFB's influence on agency policy has been most impressive. Furthermore, the Georgia Federation has become a referral service for persons seeking special services for the blind, and GFB is continuing to grow in numbers and prestige. When the final vote was taken on Sunday morning, the resolution was defeated decisively. By unanimous vote, a by-law was adopted which prohibits any chapter, or any individual in the name of a chapter or the state organization, from employing a professional fund-raiser without first receiving approval from the GFB Board of Directors. Chapters or persons utilizing a professional must comply with terms set forth by the Board. Leading off the Saturday morning program was Mel Cohen of Atlanta, editor of Mel's Journal, a semi-annual magazine produced in open-reel and cassette tape. He praised the outstanding contribution made by the late "Babe" Smith, founder and president of Ways and Means for the Blind. "He did more for blind persons than any other man I know," reflected Cohen. It was the generous financial support of "Babe" Smith that made Mel's Journal possible. The second speaker was Ron Cypher of Macon, legally blind director of the Multi-Handicapped Unit of Georgia Academy for the Blind. He told of his expanding program and how he and his staff are endeavoring to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of these youngsters more effectively. Lloyd Harrison of Leader Dogs for the Blind, of Rochester, Michigan, outlined the Leader Dog program and stressed the increased self-confidence and greater freedom of mobility which one can acquire through ownership of a dog guide. The Saturday afternoon session featured panels made up of representatives of the Florida Council of the Blind and Durward McDaniel, ACB National Representative. Various types of legislation affecting the blind were discussed, including efforts in Florida to set up an independent program for the blind, separate from other rehabilitation services, and plans to submit a model White Cane Law before the 1975 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Many state affiliates rely heavily on professional fund-raisers. Professionals are not necessary, in the opinion of Carl McCoy, who heads up the Florida Council of the Blind's Fund-Raising Committee, if members are willing to get out and work. The Florida Council raises funds through direct-mail appeals and a state-wide raffle, wherein funds are divided between the Council and its chapters. Its success hinges on no more than organized team effort. The 175 people in attendance at the Saturday night banquet heard Durward McDaniel speak of current legislative efforts in Washington, giving specific emphasis to the proposed vending-stand amendments. Several awards were presented to Federationists who had made outstanding contributions in the organization. Officers elected at the Sunday morning business meeting were: President, Johnny Wilson of Atlanta; First Vice President, Michael Lee of Atlanta; Second Vice President, Jeri Pye of Macon; Third Vice President, George Stuckey of Augusta; Secretary, Laura Hopper of Atlanta; Treasurer, Jack Garrison of Augusta. A constitutional amendment passed unanimously giving the editor of the GFB Digest (presently Jack Lewis, newly elected ACB Board member) a seat on the GFB Board of Directors. * TCB Holds Annual Convention By Otis Stephens The annual convention of the Tennessee Council of the Blind was held over the Labor Day Weekend at Nashville's Capitol Park Inn. Activities began Friday evening with a successful TCB fund-raising dinner arranged by the host chapter, the Mid-State Association of the Blind. The convention program on Saturday was highlighted by informative presentations dealing with occupational and educational work for the blind in Tennessee. Featured speakers included Elaine Parker and William G. Ferrell of Tennessee Services for the Blind. Ralph Brewer, a member of the faculty of the Tennessee School for the Blind, and ACB National Representative Durward K. McDaniel. Gary Coker, principal of the Tennessee School for the Blind, delivered an excellent banquet address on Saturday evening. He stressed the vital importance of promoting greater consumer participation by blind persons in developing the policies and programs of schools, libraries, and other agencies serving the blind. One of the outstanding features of the convention weekend was a visit to Opryland on Sunday. The host chapter did a fine job in arranging this enjoyable all-day tour for members and their families. Among the major items of convention business were adoption of a new constitution and passage of several resolutions, one of which strongly endorsed continued active support of the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974. At its final session on Monday, the Tennessee Council elected the following new officers: President Floyd Morgan of Nashville; First Vice President, Bernard Bagwell of Chattanooga; Second Vice President, Johnson Bradshaw of Nashville; Third Vice President, Laverne Humphrey of Knoxville; Secretary, Helen Wild of Chattanooga; Treasurer. Geneva Thrower of Chattanooga; member, Board of Directors, Ernest Campbell of Knoxville. * New York Convention By Janice Harden The American Council of the Blind of New York State, Inc. held its fifth annual convention in Syracuse the weekend of October 26-27. The Saturday morning session was highlighted by a panel discussion on the subject of problems in employment of the blind, featuring three employers and three employees. The afternoon session was devoted to informing those present of the specifics of anti-discrimination laws passed within the last two years. Professor Otis Stephens of the University of Tennessee, newly elected member of National ACB's Board of Directors, was guest speaker at the banquet Saturday evening, and at that time, ACB of New York State presented charters to three new affiliates. At the Sunday morning business meeting, the following officers were elected: Mary Jane Schmitt, President; Eunice Fiorito, First Vice President; Ralph Sartorelli, Second Vice President; Stewart Bowden, Third Vice President; Janice Harden, Secretary; Jack Ried, Treasurer. Article IV, Section A, of the Constitution was amended to increase chapter dues to $1.50 above that charged by the national organization. Ten resolutions were adopted, including a resolution in support of guide-dog legislation, in support of increased state supplementation of SSI payments, urging better Medicaid service, and in favor of the Motor Vehicle Bureau issuing some type of identification cards for the blind. The 1975 convention will be held in Rochester. ***** ** NAC Grant Extended for Ninety Days By Durward K. McDaniel On December 30, 1974, Dr. Andrew S. Adams, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, extended the HEW grant to the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. This extension was for a period of ninety days, pending determination of continued funding. This means that NAC will receive one-fourth of the total of $45,000.00 set aside by the Rehabilitation Services Administration for the 1975 calendar year. The grant for 1975 is the final installment of a grant which has been contingent for several years. The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 provided for the establishment of a Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Office of the Secretary of HEW to be headed by a commissioner appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The effective date of that establishment is February 6, 1975. HEW's grant to NAC has been the subject of much agitation and opposition by the National Federation of the Blind, which has initiated a letter-writing campaign to the White House and to the Senate supporting the appointment and confirmation of Dr. Adams as the new Commissioner. Other candidates and qualifying criteria have been suggested by other interested groups. The NAC grant issue is compounded by the fact that a similar accrediting applicant has applied for a continuation grant in approximately the same amount. That applicant is the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. It would be difficult for the Commissioner to treat these applications differently. ***** ** Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped: Organizational Change By Durward K. McDaniel On December 11, 1974, Dr. Andrew S. Adams, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, temporarily transferred the Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped from the Office for Program Development; it is now directly under the Office of the Commissioner. The Director of the Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped will report directly to the Commissioner and will serve as a member of the Commissioner's Executive Staff. This organizational change was made to expedite the implementation of the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974 and to facilitate the necessary interaction with state blind and vocational rehabilitation agencies and other involved organizations. It was also made to produce more efficient relationships with states that maintain separate agencies for the blind. The Randolph-Sheppard Amendments mandate the creation of ten new positions to administer the revised Act. It is anticipated that, in addition to these, another staff position will be created for such purpose in each of RSA's ten regional offices. Advocates of a greatly strengthened Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped continue to urge the creation of new positions within that Office to assi.st directly in the administration of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. The Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped it has always had an insecure existence. Three years ago, it was actually abolished by another commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, who reinstated it after the major organizations of and for the blind united in a determined protest against the abolition. The Office now has less staff than it did in 1954. Its partisans expect that the temporary transfer will be made permanent after the Rehabilitation Services Administration is itself transferred to the Office of the Secretary of HEW from the Social and Rehabilitation Services. The latter transfer is required to be effective sixty days after enactment of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (February 6, 1975). Dr. Adams' transfer of the Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped resulted from a conference with him in which the American Council of the Blind was a joint participant. ***** ** Randolph-Sheppard Amendments -- Summary (Editor's Note: The following summary is reprinted from Washington Report, December 1974 issue. Its editor, Irvin P. Schloss, prepared the summary of H.R. 17503, P.L. 93-516. Washington Report is published bi-monthly and is available without cost, in print or braille, upon request to the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, New York 10011. The revised Act, as amended, will be published in Light at the Tunnel End, by Leonard A. Robinson.) Title I of the Bill, the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974, does the following: 1. Grants blind persons licensed by state licensing agencies a priority instead of "preference" in the operation of vending facilities on federal property. 2. Requires the Secretary of HEW, through the Commissioner of RSA, after consultation with the heads of agencies controlling the operation of federal property, to prescribe regulations to implement the Act. 3. Requires the Secretary of HEW to make the final determination when a vending facility cannot be installed on federal property because it "adversely affects the interests of the United States" and to publish in the Federal Register details of his decision. 4. Requires RSA to be the principal agency for carrying out the Act, and requires the Commissioner to establish nationwide uniform procedures within 180 days of enactment for its administration. 5. Updates various provisions of the Act by changing the term "vending stand" to "vending facility," eliminates the age 21 requirement for a vending facility operator, and gives the state licensing agency authority to determine what items may be sold. Specifically authorizes sale of lottery tickets in states where state lotteries are legal. 6. Requires periodic evaluation of the program authorized by the Randolph-Sheppard Act, including "upward mobility" and other training of vending facility operators. 7. Eliminates the residence requirement for vending facility operators and strikes out "but are able in spite of such infirmity to operate such stands." 8. After January 1, 1975, requires the Secretary of HEW, in consultation with the state licensing agency and the head of an agency controlling federal property to assure provision for a vending facility site on all federal property acquired by ownership or lease, and in federal buildings newly constructed or substantially altered or renovated, unless it is determined that the property will not support a vending facility operated by a blind person, or in the case of leased space there is in existence at the time the lease is made a food-service facility in the building with which the vending facility would be considered competitive. 9. Requires the state licensing agency under the Randolph-Sheppard Act to be the state agency providing vocational rehabilitation services to blind persons. 10. Authorizes the use of set-aside funds for "retirement or pension funds, health insurance contributions, and provision for paid sick leave and vacation time" in accordance with the majority vote of blind operators. 11. Statutorily requires set-aside funds to be based on the net proceeds from a vending facility. 12. Following administrative review, authorizes arbitration of disputes between aggrieved blind vending facility operators and state licensing agencies, with proceedings of the arbitration procedure to be published in the Federal Register, and authorizes judicial review of the arbitration procedure. 13. Authorizes arbitration in the case of disputes between state licensing agencies and agencies controlling federal property, with proceedings to be published in the Federal Register. Authorizes judicial review of the arbitration procedure. 14. With exceptions, requires that, after January 1, 1975, 100% of income from vending machines on federal property in direct competition with a blind vending facility shall be distributed to a blind vending facility operator on that property or the state licensing agency. Authorizes the Commissioner of RSA to set a ceiling on vending­machine income to a blind licensee, with a proviso that such income shall not be less than it was on January 1, 1974, and that the excess shall accrue to the state licensing agency. No ceiling on vending-machine income may be established for a blind licensee operating a number of vending machines as a vending facility. Direct competition is defined to cover vending machines operated on federal property where there is a blind vending facility, except for machines in areas, such as post-office swing rooms and work rooms where the majority of employees do not have access to a blind vending facility. Provides that 50% of vending-machine income on federal property not in direct competition with a blind vending facility shall accrue to the blind licensee or the state agency, except that 30% of such machine income shall so accrue in cases where the majority of federal employees work other than normal business hours, such as postal installations. 15. Excludes vending machines operated by armed services exchanges and ships stores, as well as by the Veterans Canteen Service, from income distribution to blind operators and state agencies. Also excludes from the same income distribution formula vending machines on federal property not in direct competition with blind operators, when the income from the machines does not exceed $3,000.00 annually. 16. Requires the head of each agency controlling federal property to be responsible for compliance with the vending-machine income provisions of the Act and for the collection of and accounting for vending-machine income. 17. Specifies that all vending-machine income accruing to state licensing agencies shall be used "to establish retirement or pension plans, for health insurance contributions, and for provision of paid sick leave and vacation time for blind licensees in such state, subject to a vote of blind licensees ... " Vending-machine income in excess of that used for the previously mentioned purposes shall be used for the regular set-aside purposes specified in the Act. 18. Authorizes the establishment of cafeterias on federal property under the program, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of RSA and the head of an agency controlling the federal property, on a case-by-case basis. 19. Provides that pre-existing arrangements for vending­machine income distribution to blind licensees shall not be adversely affected by the income distribution formula specified by the new Amendments. 20. Requires the Commissioner to ensure adequate training programs for blind persons employed under the Act and to ensure "upward mobility" and other training services to enable blind licensees to achieve their maximum vocational potential. 21. Directs the Secretary of HEW to assign ten additional full-time employees, including five supportive personnel to the Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped in RSA, to carry out duties related to the administration of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. In addition, the Secretary is authorized to assign one additional super grade employee (GS16, 17 or 18) to the office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. The Secretary is directed to give preference to blind persons in assigning personnel to that office. 22. Requires state agencies to provide relevant financial data about the operation of the program in that state to each blind licensee. 23. Requires each state agency to conduct a biennial election of a committee of blind vendors which shall have the responsibility of "participation, with the state agency, in major administrative decisions of policy and program development, receiving grievances of blind licensees and serving as advocates for such licensees." The committee will also participate with the state agency in the development and administration of a transfer and promotion system for blind licensees and for training and re­training. 24. Directs the Secretary, through the Commissioner, to promulgate national standards for set-aside funds, after a six-months study, during which state licensing agencies and blind vendors will be consulted. 25. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the "feasibility and desirability of establishing a nationally administered retirement pension and health insurance system for blind licensees" and to report the results of the study to the President and the Congress within one year of enactment of this Act. 26. Directs the Secretary to complete by September 30, 1975 an evaluation of the method of assigning vending-machine income, "including its effect on the growth of the program authorized by the Act, and on the operation of non-appropriated fund activities," and to report his findings to the Congress within thirty days after completion of the study. 27. Authorizes the Controller General of the United States "to conduct regular and periodic audits of all non-appropriated fund activities which receive income from vending machines on federal property, ..." and authorizes him to have access to all relevant records and documents. ***** ** Here and There A childhood dream to become governor of his native state came true for Dr. Bob Riley on January 3, 1975 when he was inaugurated Governor of the State of Arkansas. In all probability the first blind governor in United States history, he will serve an 11-day interim term created by the resignation of ex-Governor Dale Bumpers to take office as United States Senator. Because of a provision in the Arkansas Constitution, Governor Elect David Pryor cannot take office until January 13. Blinded by a hand-grenade explosion in World War II, Dr. Riley returned to Arkansas, where he resumed his education and achieved numerous degrees, including a doctorate in education. He is a professor of political science at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1970. He was the recipient of ACB's Ambassador Award at the Portland Convention in 1972 and led a seminar, "Lobbying for Legislation," at the Council's 1973 convention in Knoxville. Congratulations, Governor Riley, from your many friends in the American Council of the Blind. HORIZON (United Kingdom) reports a new five-year plan by means of which up to a million people in England and Wales who have a serious hearing problem will receive free, unobtrusive behind-the-ear hearing aids. A priority time schedule has been worked out based on urgency of need with students coming first. From VCVH VIEWS AND VENTURES (Va.): A blind Englishman plans to repay an old debt to the Salvation Army by riding a cycle through African country infested with man-eating lions. Mike Tetley, 44, lost his sight in the 1950s while fighting in Kenya. While in the hospital, he was given a braille watch by a Salvation Army officer. In London, he said he will ride a tandem bicycle with Edwin Rodriguez, a 25-year-old teacher who has normal vision. They will travel from Nairobi to Malindi, a distance of about 500 miles, and will end up at the Salvation Army school in Thika, Kenya, where Tetley will teach blind persons. ---- Dedication ceremonies for a new recreation facility at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Richmond were held November 22, 1974. Funded 50% by the Lions of Virginia, Multiple District 24, the new facility will house an indoor swimming pool, bowling lanes, and an auditorium gymnasium. From NEWSLETTER, Telesensory Systems, Inc.: Continued evidence of the utility and versatility of the Optacon is being demonstrated on many fronts. Frank Belle, Chief of the Ethnic Press Analysis Service, in Ottawa, Canada, has information in dozens of type styles and languages to decipher. An Optacon has recently traveled to the frozen land of the Canadian Northwest Territory, where George Crow is now reading Eskimo and English in his work as a radio station manager on Belcher Island. TSI has trained five deaf-blind Optacon readers. In undertaking the training, communication has been found to be the major difficulty, and training requires much more time and effort on the part of both teacher and student. We regret to report that Harold Henderson of Blue Springs, Missouri, died in December, the victim of Hodgkin's disease. Mr. Henderson was a young man who had become quite important to ACB. He directed operation of ACB's Thrift Stores in various parts of the country. Operation of these stores will be continued under the direction of Mrs. Arless Henderson and James Habel. LeRoy Saunders became Executive Director of the Oklahoma League for the Blind on October 1, 1974, succeeding Floyd Qualls, who became Consultant for Development and Public Relations for the League. Saunders went to Oklahoma City in August, 1973 from Charlottesville, Virginia, where he was the manager of a state-owned workshop for the blind. Saunders is also the current president of the American Blind Bowling Association. Charles M. Simpson of Oklahoma League, Don L. Stephens of Norman is Vice President, and Anthony Cimino of Poteau is Secretary-Treasurer. By July, the League will move its operations to a new location containing 70,000 feet of floor space and more than four acres of ground. Loyal Eugene Apple of Palo Alto, California, has been named Executive Director of the American Foundation for the Blind, effective January, 1975. He succeeds M. Robert Barnett, who is retiring after 25 years in that position. Oklahoma born and Missouri educated, Mr. Apple was blinded in a training accident while serving with the U.S. Army in November, 1955. Since 1967, he has served as Director of the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, Palo Alto, California. Mack Riley, President of the National Alliance of Blind Students, spoke on the importance of student involvement in the organized blind movement at the annual convention of the Oregon Council of the Blind in October. Result: a new OCB affiliate, the Oregon Alliance of Blind Students. Vice President Kim Young states: "One of our main projects will be to increase or improve facilities on college campuses by starting special resource rooms for the visually handicapped. We will also work closely with community colleges and vocational schools to start special training programs for the visually impaired. From ABC DIGEST (Cal.): Scholarship opportunities are available providing supplementary funds for visually handicapped female students of music at the college level. The R.L. Gillette Scholarship was established under the Will of R.L. Gillette and is offered by the American Foundation for the Blind, with selection of candidates made by the Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped. Applications are available from Miss Judith James, Chairman, Scholarship Committee, Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped, 1604 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. --- "Caring ... For Your Patient" is a booklet aimed at helping all those who may find themselves caring for someone who is ill. It includes tips on caring for convalescents, chronically ill, the aged, and others confined to bed for long periods of time. Single copies or quantities are available free from Caring, Public Relations Council, Inc., 18 E. 41st Street, New York NY 10017. From THE HADLEY ORBIT: The Hadley School for the Blind, 700 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL 60093, presents three new tuition-free, home-study courses: Rights and Responsibilities (braille and cassette) has ten lessons based on the articles of the Bill of Rights and the broadened meaning of "freedom of speech," "rights to trial by jury," and "due process" as understood in today's courtrooms. Citizenship (braille) is a concise study of our federal system, designed particularly for those seeking American citizenship, but it also offers those who are American citizens the opportunity to review the rights, privileges, responsibilities, and meaning of citizenship as well as ways of participating in democracy. Civics (braille) is an in-depth study of the structures and functions of government, accompanied by supplemental readings in American government from many sources. ***** ** ACB Officers * President: Floyd Qualls, 106 N.E. 2nd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 * First Vice President: S. Bradley Burson, 917 Kenyon Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515 * Second Vice President: Mrs. Billie Elder, 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204 * Secretary: M. Helen Vargo, 833 Oakley Street, Topeka, KS 66606 * Treasurer: J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205 ###