The Braille Forum Vol. XIII March-April 1975 No. 5 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 Radio Reading Services for the Blind: Where Have We Come From? -- Where Do We Go from Here?, by Raythel D. Jones First National Conference Movin' On -- 1975 ACB Convention, by Joyce L. Smith Notice from ACB Treasurer, J. Edward Miller Iowa Court Rules Against Dismissal of Lawsuit Art Not By Eye -- A Book Review, by Margaret Freer Performance Recognizes Robinson's Book Educating Visually Impaired Children in Public Schools, by Linda B. Carlson NFB Comments on GAO Report Who Needs Another Communications Skill Among the Hearing Blind, by Joseph Wiedenmayer News on NAC, by Reese Robrahn Consumer Volunteers in the Accreditation Process, by Durward K. McDaniel Helping Blind Secretaries Solve Problems -- Trudie Musier of VISTA, by Arietta Hudson A BOLD Venture, by Mimi Winer Air Travel and the Handicapped, by Durward K. McDaniel Hyde Park Corner: Democracy Thwarted in Washington, by Jim Doherty House and Senate Deny Request to Rescind Rehabilitation Moneys Am I You? State Convention Highlights: MFB Convention, 1974 California Convention KAB Holds 54th Annual Convention Here and There, by Alice Bankston Insight Israel, 1975 NBA Wants to Know ACB Officers and Directors ***** ** 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. ***** ** Radio Reading Services for the Blind Where Have We Come From? -- Where Do We Go From Here? By Raythel D. Jones, President Oklahoma Federation of the Blind, and Vice Chairman, Radio Talking Book Advisory Committee The idea of a radio talking book service was first presented to Blind Oklahomans in September of 1971 at an Oklahoma Federation of the Blind board meeting by Durward McDaniel. Having recently returned from a trip to Minnesota where he had observed that state's subcarrier broadcasting system, he had grasped instinctively and immediately its significance and potential for blind people in his home state. The plan received a shot in the arm when, a month later, the Oklahoma Federation membership passed a resolution requesting Travis Harris, Director, Division of Visual Services, State of Oklahoma, to present the idea to M.L.E. Rader. Mr. Rader heads the Department of Institution, Social and Rehabilitation Services in Oklahoma, and in this capacity has overall charge of the Visual Services program. At the same time, to underscore its support for and to give momentum to the project, OFB pledged $2,500.00 in support of the radio talking book program. The project was ultimately approved, and in July of 1973 the Oklahoma version of radio talking book went on the air. At the same time, a Radio Talking Book Advisory Committee was established. This was made up of blind and physically handicapped consumer-listeners of the service. The initial selection was made by Travis Harris and by then president of OFB, John Simpson. Under their leadership, the Committee initiated a number of innovative and far-reaching ideas, the most significant of which, without doubt, was a National Radio Conference on Reading Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Travis Harris, who like so many dedicated, sincere people in work for the blind wears many hats, is also chairman of the American Council of the Blind Educational Radio Committee. He has constantly emphasized the importance and the responsible role which must be played by the consumer in development of a radio talking book network, and we of Oklahoma consider this First National Conference to be a tribute to his dedication and farsighted efforts. ***** ** First National Conference "The best conference I have ever attended!" "Well organized, interesting, and very informative!" "We need to do this again next year." These are examples of comments from people in attendance at the First National Conference on Radio for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which wound up at noon on Thursday, March 13, 1975. Well over 200 conferees from 36 states, representing radio services, consumers, volunteer groups, universities, visual service agencies, state and local libraries, radio stations, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio, the Library of Congress, and similar organizations heard speakers, panelists, and experts in the field of radio for the blind and physically handicapped cover a wide variety of subjects. Although no formal national organization resulted from this first meeting, a recommendation that such an organization be formed was made by one of the conferees, and the group voted in the majority to do so. Initiated by Travis Harris, chairman of the American Council of the Blind Educational Radio Committee, and by the Consumers Committee of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind, the conference was thought to be a great success and will probably be an annual occurrence. Seven major aspects of the typical radio reading services project were under discussion at the conference. These included administration, engineering, funding, legal issues, programming, open-circuit broadcasting, and information exchange. Travis Harris, Director, Oklahoma Division of Visual Services, chaired the administration forum. C. Stanley Potter, Director of Services for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Minnesota, provided the Keynote address. Mr. Thomas Warnock of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Washington, D.C., spoke on "What is Public Broadcasting?" The day-to-day administration of a radio talking book service was discussed by Bill Mcllvain, Administrative Librarian, Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. A paper on open-circuit broadcasting was presented by Florence Grannis, Librarian, Iowa Commission for the Blind. Joni Jonson and Dorothy Peterson, Services for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, St. Paul, Minnesota, fascinated the group with excerpts from and a discussion of Minnesota's radio talking book program. Ray Jones, Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Advisory Committee and President of the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind, expressed the view of the program from the viewpoint of consumers. The legal aspects of such specialized programming were ably presented by Robert A. Woods, Attorney of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, and by Mr. Sam Holt of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A panel on technology and engineering was led by Robert Watson of Minnesota Services for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, and a panel on private funding was chaired by Rev. Boniface L. Wittenbrink, WMRY Talking Book, Belleville, Illinois. Two provocative topics were left to round out the conference on Thursday morning: "The Role of National Organizations," chaired by Patricia S. Smith of the American Foundation for the Blind, and "Where Do We Go from Here?" led by William F. Gallagher, also of AFB. It was difficult for Mr. Harris to close the meeting because of the many questions which continued to be asked. ***** ** Movin' On -- ACB 1975 Convention By Joyce L. Smith Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each tomorrow Find us farther than today. (Longfellow, A Psalm of Life) These words by Longfellow aptly describe the activities of the Planning Committee for the 1975 ACB annual convention, except that our destined end will be enjoyment. In the meantime, the Committee is busy acting and hoping that each tomorrow will find us farther than today in planning a great convention. As reported in the last issue of the Braille Forum, the ACB convention will be held in Mobile Alabama, from Wednesday noon, July 23, through Saturday, July 26, 1975, with numerous special-interest conferences taking place from Sunday, July 20, through Wednesday noon, July 23. A highlight of each year's convention. is the presentation of awards. In the past, this has taken place at the Friday evening banquet. This year they are being split, and an ACB Awards Gala will be held on Wednesday night. There will be an emcee, a receiving line of dignitaries, a Bicentennial Marching Band, lovely Southern Belles, and the awards presentation -- a very special evening. Program planning is progressing rapidly, and there will be subjects of interest for all. Governor George Wallace has been asked to give the keynote address on Wednesday afternoon. Other speakers will be Mr. Frank Kurt Cylke, Chief, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Dr. Richard W. Bleecker, Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council; Mr. Ralph Brewer, Tennessee School for the Blind, speaking on pre-school blind children; Mr. Jack Redding, Houston, Texas, organizer of the Blind Writers Association; Dr. Andrew S. Adams, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration, Washington, D.C.; also Mr. Edgar Lowell, Director of the John Tracy Clinic for Deaf-Blind Children, Los Angeles, California; Bruce Hulberg, Alabama Sight; and William Snyder, Public Relations Counselor, Baltimore, Maryland. The Committee also hopes to have speakers on low-vision aids, workshops for the blind, national legislation, and a panel discussion on agency versus commission forms of rehabilitation services. It's too soon to announce the Friday evening banquet speaker, but the Committee promises that he will be nationally prominent and terrific. The two Saturday sessions will be devoted to internal business, including committee reports and a report of the national representative. In these sessions, policies will be established, and performances and goals evaluated. If you have new ideas to advocate, you are urged to initiate them through the Resolutions Committee, to be presented to the membership. Likewise, your suggestions for changes to ACB's Constitution and By-Laws will be welcomed by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Chairman of the Resolutions Committee is Mary Inez Mauldin, 108 S. MacArthur, Panama City, Florida 32401. Chairman of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee is Delbert K. Aman, 929 S. Second Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401. The chairmen of these committees urge that draft resolutions or amendments be submitted well in advance of the convention, if at all possible. Convention headquarters will be the Admiral Semmes Hotel, with the Admiral Semmes Motor Hotel (directly across the street) and the brand-new Sheraton Inn (one block away) also available to house convention guests. All rooms, of course, are air conditioned. There is a swimming pool at the Sheraton Inn, as well as at the Admiral Semmes Motor Hotel, the latter also being available for use of guests at the Hotel. A 24-hour restaurant is located next door to the Motor Hotel, with another at the Sheraton Inn. Rates at both the Admiral Semmes Hotel and Motor Hotel are $10 for a single, $14 for a double at the Sheraton Inn$14 for a single, $18 for a double. At all three hotels no charge will be made for children under the age of 14, staying in the same room with an adult. Full details on the convention -- pre-registration materials, program details, and information on the special-interest organization meetings -- will be mailed about May 1. However, if you are really anxious to get your arrangements made before then, a letter to the Admiral Semmes Hotel Mobile, will be sufficient. If you are a newcomer and not on the mailing list, full information may be obtained from ACB's national office, 818 18th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006. Final details will be published in the next issue of the Braille Forum. See you in Mobile! ***** ** Notice from ACB Treasurer, J. Edward Miller Officers of all American Council of the Blind affiliates, please note: Affiliate dues must be received by ACB Treasurer J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28205, no later than June 22, 1975, which is thirty days prior to the opening of the annual convention. Per capita dues are to be paid for all voting members whose names and addresses have been previously certified to ACB by your organization and for any new members who may have joined since January 1, 1975. Dues are $.50 for each of your voting members, except that no organization pays more than $312.50. Please note this change from previous years. To bring the maximum annual affiliate dues in line with the maximum affiliate vote, at the 1974 convention in Chicago, the last sentence of By-Law 3, Paragraph B, was amended to delete the words "two hundred fifty dollars" and to read instead: "No affiliate shall be required to pay more than three hundred twelve dollars fifty cents ($312.50) in any one year." Per capita dues are to be paid for all voting members whose names and addresses have been previously certified to ACB by your organization and for any new members who may have joined since January 1, 1975. As you know, your voting members are also voting members of ACB at its annual convention, and when they are in attendance, they have full individual voting rights. Each affiliate also has voting rights at annual conventions. The organizational vote (as distinguished from the individual vote) is based on a formula of one convention vote for each twenty-five (or major fraction thereof) of the affiliate's voting membership, with a maximum organization vote of twenty-five (not counting the votes of individual members). It is important that you certify the names and addresses of voting members on your rolls as of December 31, 1974, who were not included in earlier certifications. Members who have joined since January 1 should be certified in a supplemental list, with names and addresses. Names and addresses of those who have left your affiliate's membership should be certified as deletions, and, of course, per capita dues are not required for them. It is our sincere desire to maintain an accurate and honest membership roll and to protect the rights of members. Your prompt attention to the payment of dues and to the certification of names and addresses will be greatly appreciated. ***** ** Iowa Court Rules Against Dismissal of Lawsuit (Reprinted from the Des Moines Register, Thursday, March 20, 1975) A lawsuit accusing the Iowa Commission for the Blind, its three commissioners, and its director, Kenneth Jernigan, of misusing public funds should not have been dismissed, the Iowa Supreme Court held today. The suit, filed by eighteen blind persons in Polk County District Court in 1972, accused the defendants of converting funds and other resources to unauthorized purposes, including the National Federation of the Blind, which Jernigan heads. District Judge Leo Oxberger dismissed the suit in January, 1973, saying that it was "motivated by feelings of enmity toward Jernigan and the National Federation of the Blind by those leading a competing blind organization, the American Council of the Blind." But the Supreme Court held that Oxberger erroneously dismissed the suit before all the facts were in and before the plaintiffs were allowed to seek additional information from the defendants. Judge Oxberger had stated that such action files "would be to permit a fishing expedition into the defendants' files without substantial basis." Wednesday's ruling opens the door for a resumption of the trial in Polk County District Court, with the eighteen blind persons allowed to seek depositions. ***** ** Art Not By Eye By Yasha Lisenco (Published by the American Foundation for the Blind; Reviewed by Margaret Freer) While many blind persons may feel excluded by the so-called "visual arts," the American Foundation for the Blind has searched for answers to make this field of aesthetic experience possible for the blind not as viewers, but as creative participants. The author of Art Not By Eye deals with the myth of the "black world of blindness," pointing out that it is more often a dull grey, and that the inactivity that blindness sometimes imposes can be relieved through the study of an involvement in community art programs. Written as a guide for administrators and teachers, the book can also serve the blind who are looking for new stimuli. Perhaps nothing is more exciting than to expand one's ability into an area previously thought to be impossible. The book explains media in which the congenitally blind may express feelings and impressions, as well as how the adventitiously blind can continue in the art world. Best of all, it helps the blind person's teacher to understand the non-visual conceptions of blind students and the variations in blindness itself. Photographs of blind artists at work show the ingenuity of the adult voyageur in sculpture work, who reverses his position while sculpting, so that he can use his own profile as a model. Haptic sensations (those received through touch) will lend the would-be blind artist the vital information to depict the world about him as he sees it -- the artist's first obligation, sighted or blind. Divided into two parts, the book comments upon barriers of both the congenitally blind and the adventitiously blind, such as the concept of space and height, visual memories that inspire the visual person, the reluctance to touch and learn in art museums, and the "DON'T TOUCH" signs and reminders by museum guards. Obviously, the previously sighted and the visually handicapped have an edge but not an impregnable one. The individual is still supreme, and the teacher is urged to remember this. The danger of the "middle man" (the one who may try to interpret for the student) own must also be guarded against, so that the blind person's own creation is not stilled. Media and techniques, such as the use of pins as guidelines for painting, have been devised. Color perception can be accomplished by odor identification -- raspberry-red -- lemon-yellow -- mint-green, etc. Raised-line drawings, leather tooling, and other tactile work are not uncommon. Clay is easier to work with than wood carving, but many blind people have disproved this. Mosaics, etchings, and block printing are possibilities. An exciting trend is the contemporary "light and motion" sculptures, some including sound! Self-expression is often as difficult for the sighted as for the blind. The important thing is to do something! Above all, the author points out, the teacher must treat the adult student as a mature individual. If a teacher intervenes too much or too soon, he may stunt the student's talent and motivation. The true value of this book, perhaps, lies in its attempt to bridge the chasm that exists in the world of art between the blind and the sighted, and to make it possible for all to enjoy and participate together in the aesthetic experience. ***** ** Performance Recognizes Robinson's Book The most recent issue of Performance, which is published by the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, advertises Light at the Tunnel End, by Leonard A. Robinson, co-chairman of ACB's Legislative Committee. The book is the only history of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. It contains a complete text of the recently amended vending stand law and a summary of the new amendments by Senator Jennings Randolph. The book is now available through the ACB, The advance price is $6.00. This book is the best source of the revised law. It contains more than 200 pages and 26 pictures. Checks should be made payable to the American Council of the Blind and sent to ACB's national office, 818 18th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006. ***** ** Educating Visually Impaired Children in Public Schools By Linda B. Carlson (The following presentation was given at the 1974 meeting of the National Association of Blind Teachers in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Carlson is a resource-room teacher in the Endicott Public Schools, Endicott, New York.) Not every blind or visually impaired youngster could best be placed in a public-school setting. But trends in New York State indicate that an increasing number of visually handicapped students are being educated in public schools throughout the State, whenever a well-equipped, supportive services program is available. During the 1972-73 academic year, 1,550 legally blind children attended public schools, while 600 were enrolled in one of the three residential schools for the blind. Trends also reflect that even if a blind youngster initially embarks upon his educational experience at a residential school for the blind, at some later point in time he may return to a public school near home. The Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) offers special services to public education, and one of these services is a program for the visually impaired. BOCES offers services to an area of more than 250,000 adults and 65,000 students and is a comparatively recent innovation in public education in New York. Eleven visually impaired students are presently enrolled in the program in grades 1 through 12. Two of these youngsters serviced by the program are totally blind and also mentally handicapped. Several adolescents will soon be totally blind. The program provides more than a well-equipped resource room. Academic demands, visual limitations and ability or disability to cope with one's visual impairment all combine to determine the extent of participation of each student in either a full service or a supplemental service program. Study materials and teacher guidance are provided by the certified teacher of the visually impaired. In addition, optional and required curriculums are focused in the areas of braille, typing, abacus arithmetic, mobility and orientation instruction, study techniques and methodology adapted to the blind, techniques of daily living, grooming and self-management and career development. Independence is stressed, and students in the program have grown to become somewhat like a close-knit family, disregarding age or extent of visual handicap. The cooperation, interest, and interaction of the local community, schools, and parents are of vital significance to the success of the BOCES program for the visually impaired in Endicott, New York. Only with the progress of time and the developmental expansion within the program will we be able to record the impact of such an extensive program within the public-school superstructure. ***** ** NFB Comments on GAO Report The General Accounting Office (GAO) is the investigative department of Congress. On September 24, 1974, GAO issued a report made at the request of Congressman John Brademas, Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor, entitled "Charges Made by the National Federation of the Blind Against the National Council Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped." The following comment is excerpted from an article entitled "GAO Reports on NAC: An Analysis," by James Gashel, The Braille Monitor, January, 1975: "... The first of the three 'National Organizations of the Blind' listed by GAO is the NFB. In one brief paragraph the activities and purpose of the Nation's largest organization of the blind are set forth. This section comprises approximately one third of a page (eleven lines of type). "The second organization listed with an equivalent subheading is the American Council of the Blind. According to GAO, the ACB is truly national in character and comprehensive in its scope of activity. GAO states that ACB 'claims' a national membership of ten thousand. Apparently, ACB is so important and so prominent on the national scene that it requires an entire page and twenty-four lines of type to describe its work. "The third of these 'National Organizations of the Blind' is the Blinded Veterans Association, consisting of some 1,777 members according to GAO. Again, the heading is equivalent and the relative space devoted to the description of BVA's activities is all out of proportion to its size -- one half page and fifteen lines of type. "It is only too plain from the foregoing that the net effect of this presentation is to give legitimacy and superior status to the ACB and to suggest that both the BVA and the ACB are fully as large and completely as active as the true organization representing the Nation's blind. ..." ***** ** Who Needs Another Communications Skill among the Hearing Blind? By Joseph Wiedenmayer "Communication" means various things to various people, and of course it includes brailling, talking, touching, and typing. But for the blind, there is also, as we know, another form of communication needed to communicate with the deaf-blind. That is finger-spelling into their hands. Although anyone, blind or sighted, can memorize the finger-spelling alphabet in an hour (and that is all that is necessary), virtually no blind people do it. It's true that most of the blind rarely meet a deaf-blind or sighted deaf person, so that this extra skill is not often needed. Yet the small neglected minority, the deaf-blind, desire and need friendship, too. Any deaf person, teacher or interpreter of the deaf in your community can teach this extra communication skill, the manual alphabet, to the blind in a very short time. Remember, this means finger-spelling, not the language of sign. Indeed, finger-spelling is so easy to do that I wish all sighted and blind people could learn it so that they can communicate not only with the deaf-blind, but with the deaf, also. Robert Smithdas, Community Relations Director at the National Center for Deaf-Bling Youths and Adults, who is deaf-blind, agrees and says: "It is likely that most people will never have an opportunity to use the manual alphabet with a deaf-blind person, but it is a tool that can be used for communication with the sighted deaf as well. It is highly desirable that people who work with the deaf-blind or those who live with them or are aware of their needs should learn and use the alphabet. Both the deaf-blind and the sighted are very responsive to those who sincerely wish to communicate with them." ***** ** News on NAC By Reese Robrahn On February 27, 1975, at the Prince George Hotel, New York City, there was held the regular interim meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, which, as a first order of business after opening formalities, took action on the filling of seven vacancies in its membership. This action came about as the result of a resolution adopted by the special membership meeting of the National Accreditation Council on November 7, 1974. That special membership meeting adopted by-laws amendments among which was an amendment requiring that at least one-third of the membership of the Board of Directors of NAC shall be selected from lists of proposed nominees of national organizations of the blind or visually handicapped, and who shall be members of such organizations or recommended by such organizations. This by-law was accompanied by an implementing resolution which set forth the procedure to be followed and called for its implementation in the manner prescribed elsewhere in NAC's by-laws for the election of Board members. But, in addition, the special membership meeting adopted the resolution calling for the filling of the seven vacancies on the Board at the next Board meeting, so that there would occur a more immediate action to put into effect the principle of increased involvement and participation in all of NAC's operations by blind persons, especially by blind persons who are members of or recommended by national organizations of the blind. In compliance with the directive of the membership meeting, invitations were issued to the three national membership organizations of the blind to submit lists of proposed nominees to fill the seven vacancies. The American Council of the Blind and the Blinded Veterans Association submitted lists, but the National Federation of the Blind refused to submit a list because NAC had not agreed to accept ten NFB members as members of NAC's Board of Directors. The nominating committee nominated from these two lists three persons from each organization as follows: from ACB, Durward McDaniel, Elizabeth Lennon, Carol Derouin; and from BVA, Hilliard F. Kirby, David L. Schnair, George E. Stocking. The seventh nominee was Roy Kumpe. Prior to the call for the report of the nominations committee, there was the report of the Executive Committee which recommended to the Board that only four of the seven vacancies should be filled, on the grounds that only two of the three national organizations of the blind had submitted lists of proposed nominees, and that the filling of four vacancies instead of seven would represent an economy measure to NAC. A motion was made to that effect, and in the discussion that followed, it was apparent that ACB opposed any move to reduce the number as directed by the special membership meeting. There was an attempt to amend the motion or substitute therefor the proposition that none of the seven vacancies should be filled. This motion failed to get a second. Its author was Harold Bleakley. There was also an attempt to compromise by filling four positions now, and electing the remaining three to take office at the time of the regular annual meeting of NAC. This motion was ultimately withdrawn, as was the main motion. Whereupon the seven persons nominated by the nominations committee were elected by acclamation, with one dissenting vote. The seven new Board members are legally blind, and their election brings the total membership of the Board to thirty-five, eighteen of whom are blind. The president of the National Accreditation Council, Daniel D. Robinson, announced that official notification had been received from Andrew Adams, Acting Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of HEW, that the grant from HEW for the balance of the calendar year from and after March 31, 1975, is terminated. The grant was in its fifth and final year, and the early termination represents a loss of revenue to NAC of approximately $33,750.00. The grounds alleged by Acting Commissioner Adams were that the grant was no longer a demonstration or research project. It is reported that similar action was taken with regard to a similar grant to the Council on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, but with the tacit understanding that a new grant application by the latter would be approved when submitted. It is the opinion of NAC officials and many other individuals with competency on government grants that this termination was ordered without legal justification. No action was taken by the NAC Board to direct the initiation of appeal, although that procedure is available administratively, and thereafter in the courts. Preliminary reports were made by both the Commission on Standards and the Commission on Accreditation, which included preliminary proposals for increasing involvement and participation of consumers who are blind in the procedures and operations of the two commissions. Final reports are to be submitted at the annual meeting this fall. The annual meeting and Board meeting of the National Accreditation Council will be held November 12-13, 1975, at the Camelot Inn, Little Rock, Arkansas. ***** ** Consumer Volunteers in the Accreditation Process By Durward K. McDaniel The National Accreditation Council maintains a roster of volunteers on whom they can call to serve as members of on-site review teams -- the teams that help to assess the management and programs of agencies and schools applying for NAC accreditation or re-accreditation. On each team, they endeavor to include one or more persons who have not previously served. For this reason, they continuously welcome suggestions of additional persons who, because of their training and experience, could be invited by NAC to make themselves available for this volunteer service. In particular, they are seeking persons who are competent 1n the various administrative functions and services encompassed by NAC's standards and evaluation instruments. ACB will from time to time nominate persons who are informed and concerned consumers, in addition to their other competencies. About one hundred persons a year are utilized as members of on-site review teams. However, NAC needs to maintain a large panel of persons in order to fill places on particular teams at the times they are scheduled. Thus, a person on the roster may not be called on in the year, should his specialty or his location not fit the requirements of specific teams. On the other hand, they do not ordinarily ask any one member of the roster to serve more than once or twice a year. As noted, team members are volunteers. They are reimbursed for out-of-pocket travel and living expenses related to a team visit, but receive no honorarium or fee. Each team member is sent detailed information in advance of a visit. Each review takes from three to four days, including travel time, and is under the leadership of an experienced team member who is designated as chairperson. An invitation to serve on a particular team is extended as far in advance as possible so each team member will have an opportunity to adjust his regular schedule accordingly. The entire team visit is an integral part of the process by which agencies and schools are helped to upgrade their management and services in order to qualify for accreditation, and thereby to carry out the basic purpose of NAC, to improve services for blind and other visually handicapped persons. If you would like to be considered for nomination by ACB for this purpose, you should communicate your interest to ACB's national office and include biographical and qualifying information about yourself. Present standards cover the following subjects: agency function and structure, financial accounting and service reporting, personnel administration and volunteer service, physical facilities, public relations and fund-raising, education, library services, orientation and mobility services, production of reading materials, rehabilitation centers, sheltered workshops, social services, and vocational services. ***** ** Helping Blind Secretaries Solve Problems: Trudie Musier of VISTA By Arietta Hudson Through television commercials, IBM Corporation claims to be the company that helps people solve their problems. Gertrude (Trudie) Musier, President of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association, is glad that blind people are among those whose problems are being solved. First with the Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST), and more recently with the Mag Card I the Mag Card II and the Memory Typewriter, all made and sold by IBM, blind secretaries the nation over are scoring new heights of accomplishment, and Trudie is very much involved. After graduation from the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind in the Bronx, Trudie held several transcribing jobs, which usually paid her less money than that earned by her fellow workers, just because she happened to be blind. In 1947, a friend suggested that IBM might offer a more nearly adequate salary, so she wrote for and got a job as typist-transcriptionist for the Engineering Department at IBM headquarters in New York. Here, over the next several years, she worked for some twenty engineers. When others were out of the office, she found many ways of making herself useful, undertaking chores usually performed only by sighted workers, until she had worked her way up to the secretarial rank. Then, when IBM moved its corporate headquarters, Trudie decided to stay in New York and was transferred to the Office Products Division as a senior secretary. The first reaction of her new boss was that, never having worked with a blind person, he knew nothing about what a blind person could do; and, never having worked with Trudie, he knew nothing about what she could do. His instructions were to let her try out anything she wanted to try, and when she needed help, to help her. The arrangements they made for working together were so effective that he still uses the same system with his sighted secretaries. In 1965, Trudie moved up to become staff assistant, where she handled every chore from setting up meetings and handling personnel to doing the necessary research to keep salesmen in every city where IBM has offices informed of latest developments. Relying on her own imagination and initiative, she found ways to do whatever job had to be done. Then, last year she became involved with helping a salesman who had a school for the blind in his territory, where he was trying to sell magnetic typewriters. Trudie went with him and they made the sale. This was followed by several other sales involving schools and agencies for the blind. Trudie found herself going here and there about the country, explaining magnetic typewriters and equipment and trying to convince employers that they should hire blind secretaries, which many of them did. After several successful sales, many of them complete with a blind secretary, Trudie was asked to do this full-time. A job performance plan was drawn up and Trudie became an Educational Marketing Developmental Program Manager. Since July 1, 1974, she has, in this new position, traveled all over the country training people --particularly blind people -- to use IBM's new magnetic equipment. Local classes are being set up under her supervision, where training will be available for both the Mag Card I, already being used by many blind secretaries, and the more complex Mag Card II. A belt package for training with the Mag Card I is already available, and that for the Mga Card II will be ready by early 1975. Many community colleges are setting up programs where training will be available. For example, Dad County Community College in Miami, Florida, already has twenty students. The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind also has training available, and Northern Virginia Community College will be starting courses for interested persons in the Washington, D.C. area. The University of California at Berkeley plans to set up its own training program for people with all sorts of handicaps, who will then be employed in the University's various colleges. Still another community college in California, which cannot yet be named because plans are still incomplete, will devote an entire floor for the training of blind students. Other training sites are being sought, and when the program is in full swing, secretaries now using conventional equipment in offices where magnetic typewriters are being introduced, or who are now using the Mag Card I and desire training on the Mag Card II, may attend day or night classes, thus qualifying themselves for better job opportunities. IBM is, indeed, helping people solve problems, and Trudie and the other members of VISTA are proud that blind people are among those whose problems are being solved. Everyone is invited to visit the VISTA booth in Mobile next summer at Expo '75. Members promise that if all goes well, Trudie will have on hand there in the booth the latest thing IBM has to offer, for all to see. ***** ** A BOLD Venture By Mimi Winer I would like to share with readers of the Braille Forum the wonderful experience I had through BOLD, Blind Outdoor Leisure Development. I first heard of BOLD last fall. I am an avid skier from way back, but because of progressive visual loss, I had all but given it up. After I heard about BOLD, I took myself off to Aspen, Colorado, in January for one of the most incredible experiences of my lifetime. BOLD was started by Jean Eymere, a French ski team member, Aspen ski instructor, and former artist. Jean designed the Kennedy half dollar, among other things. When Jean went totally blind from diabetes four years ago, he started BOLD by teaching his instructor friends to teach the blind skiing. All instructors must first ski blindfolded themselves for several days before they can instruct the blind. Within four days, I was "combing" the mountain, with my instructor calling commands behind me all the way. My roommate was a girl blind from birth. She had first come to the summer program the year before and had been on skis for the first time the previous winter. Now she, too, is a skier. I urge any of you who can to take this fine experience in Aspen. It is beautifully run for the visually inconvenienced. The winter program consists of cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, skating and swimming. The summer program consists of backpacking, camping, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and a music festival. For more information, write BOLD, Inc., P.O. Box 10098, Aspen, Colorado 81611. ***** ** Air Travel and the Handicapped By Durward K. McDaniel The American Council of the Blind has filed a statement to be included in the record of the hearings on S. 421, a bill sponsored by Senators Cannon and Kennedy, which would, among other things, provide for reduced air fare for handicapped persons. The Council has endorsed similar bills in the past and it supports S. 421 with some suggested amendments. The following excerpts from the statement filed by ACB explain two of the major suggested amendments: "It is quite true that many blind persons travel by trains and buses without the assistance of sighted attendants, and the law does not require that blind passengers have sighted assistance when traveling. Nevertheless, many blind persons lack the experience, confidence, or ability to travel conveniently and safely alone, either during the actual travel or upon arrival at a destination. Approximately two-thirds of those who come within the legal definition of blindness lost their sight after the age of 60 years. While some of these persons adjust very well to traveling with impaired vision, many do not. We are pleased to report that younger blind persons in increasing numbers are becoming more efficient in traveling and have demonstrated their abilities, but we cannot forget those who want assistance, for reasons of necessity or convenience. It is only equitable that handicapped passengers who need or want the assistance of an attendant should be spared the double cost which will continue to be imposed unless this legislation is amended and enacted." "The Federal Aviation Administration has on two occasions proposed regulations which would restrict air travel by handicapped persons. Moreover, the FAA entered into an agreement in 1962 with the Air Transport Association dealing with the interline acceptance criteria for disabled persons under Section 412 of the Act. Under this agreement and other rules of the FAA, air carriers have been permitted to exclude handicapped persons for a variety of unjustified reasons, or upon the arbitrary decision of airlines personnel. The official rationale for excluding handicapped passengers is based on safety. With reference to the apprehensive assumptions about evacuating handicapped passengers, there is not, in any event, any guarantee by the government or an airline that any passenger will be safely evacuated after a survivable accident. Handicapped passengers are as aware of the risks of flying as anyone else, and it is no solution to merely exclude such persons. Nor is it any solution to anybody's problem to exclude such persons on the speculative assumption that their presence might increase the risks for other passengers. "This organization urges a revised governmental perspective, one which would regulate the airlines rather than the passengers. We request that the Subcommittee on Aviation review the regulations proposed by the FAA in the 1962 agreement with the Air Transport Association. We recommend that S. 421 be amended to preclude the exclusion of handicapped passengers by air and surface carriers. A number of incidents have occurred in which handicapped passengers have been excluded because they were not accompanied by attendants. We urge the Subcommittee to deal with this subject by amendment or by a definite policy statement in the committee report which will provide a legal base to prohibit such discrimination, whether a blind or handicapped passenger is accompanied by an attendant or traveling at a free or reduced rate. ***** ** Hyde Park Corner (Editor's Note: This column exists to provide a forum for the expression of divergent views of writers on timely subjects. Views expressed need not necessarily be concurred in or endorsed by the publisher.) * Democracy Thwarted in Washington By Jim Doherty "I have always believed that the United States of America was the one place in the world where one could find true democracy. Now, I begin to doubt that." This was the reaction of a blind African student after witnessing the takeover by the National Federation of the Blind of its Washington, D.C. affiliate. The seizure was accomplished through the National Executive Committee by revoking the affiliate's charter, intending to reform the local group with members who "remained loyal to the national organization." This move was reportedly made on the grounds of an alleged violation of National Federation policy, inactivity of the local membership, and lack of cooperation with the NFB's Washington office. The policy allegedly violated is one that prohibits membership by any NFB affiliate or chapter in the recently formed American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Though the D.C. affiliate's president and a few other members are active in the Coalition, the affiliate itself has neither joined nor cooperated with the ACCD. Local inactivity was both admitted and regretted by some members. However, as one speaker pointed out, inactivity, by itself, is hardly sufficient grounds for such drastic action. Another opinion voiced at the meeting was that the atmosphere of conflict between the national leadership and some local members had so undermined morale that inaction was inevitable. The "lack of cooperation" charge was not explained. At first, the D.C. Federationists challenged the authority of the Executive Committee to take such action. The Executive Committee member present answered that, according to the National Constitution, the Committee governs the Federation between national conventions. He did not have a copy of the constitution with him, but a later review of that document confirmed this. The constitutional provisions applicable in this case read as follows: Article V, Section B. "The function of the Executive Committee as the governing body of the Federation between conventions is to make policies when necessary and not in conflict with the policies adopted by the convention. Policy decisions which can be postponed until the next meeting of the national convention shall not be made by the Executive Committee." Article III, Section E.: "The convention by a two-thirds vote may expel and by a simple majority suspend, or otherwise discipline any member or affiliate for conduct inconsistent with this Constitution, the Affiliate Standards, or policies established by the convention; Provided that notice of the proposed action shall be announced to the convention and to the party concerned on the preceding day." Though some doubt that the contention would hold up in court, it is assumed that a disciplinary action of this sort could be called a policy decision. However, the Executive Committee clearly did not adhere to the requirement for notice to the party concerned on the preceding day. Therefore, neither those who might have supported the action nor those who opposed were given an opportunity to hear the charges, discuss them with Executive Committee members and prepare their arguments. Two reasons why the NFB felt compelled to move against the D.C. affiliate were posited. One concerned the election of new local officers scheduled for May. It seemed obvious to many that a former member of the Federation's Washington staff intended to run for president, apparently hoping thereby to steer the membership away from ideas like the Coalition and back to more orthodox NFB philosophy. The speculation goes that this former staff member discovered she could not win the election, and the national officers decided on this power play. The other suggestion was that the NFB leaders fear the liberal, individualist tendencies of some chapters throughout the country, and that the D.C. experience is meant to serve as an example to others. This view draws some validity from the report that a chapter in Virginia is soon to be threatened with the revocation of its charter. Whatever the motivation, it is clear, from statements made at the meeting, that by taking this step the National Federation of the Blind has lost the respect and support of many of its former members in the nation's capital. The reactions of those who attended the meeting included shock, disappointment, bitterness, anger, and, as in the case of the young African student, complete disillusionment. ***** ** House and Senate Deny Request to Rescind Rehabilitation Moneys On Monday, March 17, the U.S. Senate, by approving only some of the rescission requests of the President, has in effect denied the Administration authority to rescind (i.e., impound) a total of $29.848 million in funds already appropriated by Congress for rehabilitation services for fiscal year 1975. The Senate thus joined the House of Representatives in making its view known that these previously appropriated moneys for rehabilitation should be spent by the Department of Health Education and Welfare. The House acted on this matter on Monday, March 10, by a vote of 371 to 17. A move to allow a partial rescission of the funds was defeated by a vote of 132 ayes to 252 noes. The turn-down of the request was necessary by only one house of the Congress. The Administration has now in effect been advised by the Congress that these moneys are to be spent, after their having been "deferred" for some nine months. RSA officials have indicated that the release of the moneys will now proceed. The rehabilitation services moneys which were at issue are as follows: innovation and expansion grants, $23 million; training moneys, $6.628 million; and the National Center for the Deaf-Blind $.22 million. ***** ** Am I You? (Reprinted from the Florida White Cane Bulletin) I am a blind individual. My friend is an individual who is blind. I sit alone most of the time because I cannot travel independently. My friend has a very full life, as he has very good mobility. I eat TV dinners and baloney sandwiches, while my friend eats good nutritious meals he has prepared himself. I have no hobbies or interests, because my favorite saying is, "I can't do that." My friend finds ways of adapting to most situations and figures out ways of doing it for himself. I don't participate in organized groups of people with similar problems. My friend gives freely of his talents in such groups and thus helps others as well as himself. I do not function well in the sighted world, as I don't read or keep up with current events. My friend does these things and is an asset to any group. My blindness is a total disability. My friend's blindness is a slight hindrance. Am I you? ***** ** State Convention Highlights * MFB Convention, 1974 Over 150 persons were in attendance at the 1974 convention of the Missouri Federation of the Blind, held in Kansas City October 25-27. The program focused on MFB activities over the past year and laid plans for the always bigger and better year ahead. In her Annual Report to the membership, outgoing president Alma Murphey touched upon the Federation's accomplishments over the past four years and set forth more explicitly the achievements of the past twelve months. These latter include numerous conferences with welfare and Social Security officials, sponsorship of an orientation seminar for new and prospective members, the second annual summer camp for MFB members and their families, steady growth of the MFB Credit Union -- and, by no means to be omitted from the list, receipt at the American Council of the Blind annual convention in Chicago of MFB's charter as an ACB affiliate. In his report Public Relations Committee Chairman Darrell Lauer played three recorded "educational spots" about MFB which have been circulated to and played by radio and TV stations throughout the state. He also reported that the committee is working on a brochure (which, among other things, will carry pictures of the summer camp activities) which should be of great public-relations value. A recently organized group of young people from the St. Louis area, the Blind Futures, had applied for membership and became MFB's tenth affiliate. A stimulating discussion and question-and-answer period were led by a three-member panel of young, totally blind people engaged in interesting and unusual occupations. They were: James Wants, an instructor of meteorology at the National Weather Service in Kansas City; John Weidelich, a news man on KPLR-TV in St. Louis; and John Farein, a teacher of history at Notre Dame High School in St. Louis, a school with an enrollment of some 525 young ladies. In many respects, the Saturday night banquet was the high point of the convention. Three awards were presented: to Robert Leighninger of the St. Louis Society for the Blind, the Federationist of the Year Award; to Bendix Corporation of Kansas City (which for many years has employed blind persons), the Meritorious Citizen Award; and to Alma and Jack Murphey, the Ellis M. Forshee Award. This latter award, designated the highest honor the Missouri Federation can bestow, was named for an early leader of the organized blind movement in Missouri and is given to deserving persons who have contributed to promoting, extending, and improving the basic programs of the organized blind movement. In the words of Xena Johnson (she and Victor had themselves been completely surprised by the award several years ago), "I vowed that some day those two fine people who have given so much to the organized blind cause should be honored, and what better time than at the close of Alma's four-year term . . ." Thoughtfully, Xena had had her presentation remarks brailled for Jack, "to give Alma a rest" (from translating for Jack into the deaf-blind manual code), she announced. "Neither of them even surmised for several minutes what I was up to!!" Newly elected officers were: Fred C. Lilley of St. Louis, President; Laura Welle of St. Louis, First Vice President; Louise Rieman of Kansas City, Second Vice President; Lucille Fierce of St. Louis, Recording Secretary; Gladys Rigdon of Ste. Genevieve, Corresponding Secretary; and Xena Johnson of Marionville, Treasurer. * California Convention With "consumerism" and consumer action being proclaimed throughout the nation, "Consumer Action Through Organization" was a "natural" as the theme of the 31st semi-annual convention of the Associated Blind of California, held October 18-20, 1974 in Oakland. From Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, the program was a series of informative speakers and discussion. A highlight of the convention was an address by Berthold Lowenfeld, Ph.D., retired superintendent of the California School for the Blind in Berkeley. Author of several books since his retirement, Dr. Lowenfeld reviewed his latest work, The Changing Status of the Blind, subtitled "Ward! to Integration," reading provocative passages from the prologue and epilogue. The book will be available in March, 1975. James McGinnis, member and past president of the Blind San Franciscans, told of progress made by that organization in establishing broadcast services in the Bay Area and San Francisco Peninsula. Response from a letter inquiry as to interest has been enthusiastic, an FM station willing to broadcast programs has been found, and it is hoped that the service can begin within about a year and a half. A panel of employed blind persons was presented, each of whom had an occupation the achievement of which represented much study and effort. Panelists were: Beverly Hammer, public health specialist; Christine Emley, legal secretary; and Jack Johnson, owner of the Yarn Bin in Redwood City. Besides selling his own, products and designs, Jack teaches knitting to interested blind and sighted persons. In describing his effort to start the business he said he had applied for a loan to three banks and was turned down. He urged the audience not to overlook the United States Small Business Administration when looking for financial backing. When he applied to SBA, he said, he received prompt and courteous attention, and his loan was made in record time. The thrust of an address by James Keating, Chief, State Department of Consumer Affairs, was that the consumer of retail products must make his problems known to the Consumer Affairs Department for appropriate action. He cited several examples to show what could be done if the consumer made a real effort to correct a situation where he believe he had been unjustly treated. Nearly 100 persons attended the Saturday night banquet. George Fogarty was master of ceremonies, performing the duties with his usual wit and charm. An unexpected pleasure for all was the presence of Donald Wilkinson, Judge of the Superior Court, Humboldt County, who gave a delightful talk concerning his career as an attorney and judge in Eureka. Another speaker was Robert Campbell who spoke on the subject, "Then and Now in Education." To conclude the program, Mrs. Juliet Esterly, Awards Chairperson, presented the completely surprised Bob Campbell with an Award of Merit for distinguished service to his fellow blind. A similar award was sent to Margaret Wilson of San Francisco, who was unable to be present. * KAB Holds 54th Annual Convention How many affiliates can boast a direct contact with the White House from the convention floor as part of their program? Not many, certainly. Yet this was one among many features of the 1974 annual convention of the Kansas Association of the Blind, held October 25-27 in Wichita. It all began shortly after the start of the Saturday morning session, when American Council of the Blind President Floyd Qualls suggested getting in touch with the White House direct from the convention floor to demonstrate by clapping, yelling, and whistling KAB's support for the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments, then on President Ford's desk for signature. After long moments of suspense and the usual red tape, contact was finally made with a secretary, who was informed of KAB's position and who promised to communicate this support to the proper person. Trudie Musier, newly elected president of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association, pointed out that the more successful we are, the greater our responsibility to help others so that they will not have the same problems we faced. Trudie, in developmental programming work for the IBM Corporation, was at the convention to demonstrate IBM's Mag Card Typewriter. ACB Second Vice President Billie Elder praised KAB for the part it had played in the Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas Regional Leadership Training Seminar in 1971. This experience had, she said, convinced her that ACB should have part of her time and attention. Her remarks were climaxed by the story of a Frenchman who, after touring the United States, concluded that the genius of Americans lies in the fact that they have mastered the science of affiliation and have developed the ability to organize and work together for a high cause. The science of affiliation, she concluded, is the mother of all sciences. Robert Barnhardt, formerly of the Kansas Department of Services for the Blind, and now field representative for the National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, emphasized the important role which KAB could and should play in helping the Center to identify and contact deaf-blind persons in Kansas. The Center is responsible for maintaining a registry of deaf-blind people, and offers assistance in staff development for those serving or planning to serve the deaf-blind, through a one-week training seminar. Dr. Alfred Lamoine, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Kansas University Medical Center, spoke concerning recent developments in the field of ophthalmology. Teacher, writer, administrator and researcher, Dr. Lamoine expressed his view that when one has a handicap, it is difficult to achieve a proper perspective; that it is easy to become entrapped emotionally and to be exploited. He stated that research is now on the decline, with more dollars going into actual delivery of health-care services. Warning his listeners not to be pushed into electronic devices, he suggested that although some of these are valuable in technical jobs, generally they are too costly for the good that is derived from them. Highlighting the Saturday night banquet was a dramatic presentation of Francis Campbell, Father of Modern Rehabilitation," an original play by Billie Elder. Those who attended the 1973 ACB national convention in Knoxville will remember this as an outstanding part of the program there. Among resolutions passed at the Sunday morning business meeting were the following: establishment of a Consumer Affairs Committee to assist actively in the solution of problems and improvement of services to blind consumers; establishment of a committee to study the need for and availability of camping programs for blind children; endorsement of Resolution 74-03, adopted by the ACB national convention in Chicago this past summer, seeking full departmental status for the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. ***** ** Here and There By Alice Bankston From the Department of the Interior comes the following news release: The United States Geological Survey and the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, are cooperating on a special project to prepare maps of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for the dual use of blind and normally sighted persons. These maps are to be placed in public buildings and distributed to selected organizations and individuals in the National Capital area. Under U.S.G.S. funding and coordination, the research and development is being done at the University of Washington. Consultants from the University of Maryland and the American Printing House for the Blind will participate in the research. The project will include a Washington, D.C. metropolitan area general reference wall map, an accompanying content guide, and maps of the mall and adjacent areas. U.S.G.S. mapping officials hope that the project may stimulate an official recognition of the national need for urban maps for the visually handicapped. Dr. Richard Kinney has been named President of the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Illinois, succeeding Donald Wing Hathaway, who becomes President Emeritus. Formerly Executive Director of the internationally known correspondence school that tutors blind persons through braille and recordings, Dr. Kinney is believed to be the first deaf-blind educator to assume leadership responsibility as president of a major organization in a service to the handicapped. Harvard University has awarded Dr. Otis Stephens of Knoxville, Tennessee, a postdoctoral Fellowship in Law and Political Science for the 1975-76 academic year. This fellowship is designed for professors in the social sciences and humanities who teach and conduct research in law-related fields of study. Dr. Stephens, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee and a member of the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors, will spend the coming year in residency at Harvard Law School. This period will be devoted to independent study, research, and writing in his fields of public law and jurisprudence. A bill initiated last January by the Arkansas Council of the Blind was signed into law on Thursday, March 13, establishing by statute a separate identifiable agency for the blind and making mandatory an advisory committee to work with that agency. This victory is particularly significant since it runs contrary to the recent nationwide trend in many states to merge services for the blind into general rehabilitation agencies for the handicapped. From a Forum reader, Mr. Irwin Lutzky, comes a letter written by a teacher of the blind in India, requesting used braille or recorded materials for his students. Mr. Lutzky writes that he has been in correspondence with the teacher, Mr. A.R. Rao, and has been sending his own copies of the Braille Forum to India. The letter reads in part as follows: "Let me keep you informed of recent developments in my activities. As you know, I am the honorary adviser for the Kasturaba Memorial School for Blind Girls in Bangalore. I have been distributing materials I received to many libraries all over the country. I have been presented with a record player, a tape recorder, and recently a duplicator by my foreign friends but I don't get enough material to circulate between my students and colleagues. Lack of aids and appliances is my only problem. If you could help me with used materials such as tapes and cassette recorded items, I would greatly appreciate it. ..." Long-time members of the ACB will be happy to know that George Howeiler is recovering from the automobile accident that put him in the hospital with a broken leg, dislocated arm, and slight concussion. George was walking his dog Tack early on December 24 when he was knocked down and thrown across the road. Tack was killed and George was in the hospital, and then a convalescent facility, until the middle of February. He is now on his way to full recovery. George, a county judge in Sandy, Oregon, was one of the original group of forward-looking blind people who launched ACB in 1960 and served on the Constitution Committee. He has been active in the American Blind Lawyers Association and in recent years has been active in developing the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind in Sandy. To Dialogue readers who have been interested in following Don Nold's imaginative efforts to expand the magazine since its inception in 1961, the name B.T. Kimbrough will be familiar. Mr. Kimbrough, who has been on the editorial staff for some years, has recently taken over as editor-in-chief, relieving Don to exercise his talents in more public-relations and fund-raising capacities. During the past several years, a number of departments have been added or expanded and the publication's policy changed for the benefit of readers. In 1972, the Class A subscription, which had been $20 a year, was eliminated, and the annual rate of $6, formerly called Class B, was made a single subscription rate. This permitted all subscribers to keep their issues permanently. Since Dialogue includes many features such as recipes, travel information, and eligibility to participate in low-cost trips, this offered advantages not available to those who received their Dialogue copies through the library. We wish Don outstanding success in his new freedom to devote more time to public relations and receiving more funds to carry on Dialogue's excellent activities. From Mrs. Margaret Howse of Springfield, Illinois, comes the following information about a project of the Springfield District Association of the Blind. They have compiled a cookbook comprised of recipes submitted by blind persons. Every recipe was tried out by the blind individual. The name of the cookbook is Sharing, and it is available in interpoint braille, large type, or on tape. A donation of $1.50 is necessary to cover costs of producing and mailing. The Association also has available a small pamphlet of 20 pages listing convenience foods, together with prices of items, number of servings and method of preparing, which is also available in braille, large type, and on tape. The cost of this pamphlet is $1.00. Orders should be sent to the Springfield District Association of the Blind, P.O. Box 1135, Springfield, Illinois 62705. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Association. From Arkansas comes this word of a new project: INNER VIEWS is a new cassette magazine being launched in Little Rock. Mr. Dennis Holter, the editor, writes: "We talk with many active blind people involved in hobbies, sports, careers, and education. We are interested in you and your ideas so the magazine is full of personal insight." Among the special features is the "Write-On" column through which people can get in touch with other people. Another feature is "Dear John," for original contributions. To obtain your first issue of INNER VIEWS, send your name, address, $1.00 and a 60-minute blank cassette to Dennis Holter, Editor, 2811 Fair Park Boulevard, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204. The National Braille Association announces that its Braille Book Bank services have been expanded by the establishment of a music unit. A separate BBB music catalog has been printed and is available free of charge in braille and print. Although the collection is small at present, comprising about 250 items of scores, theory and harmony studies, it is anticipated that the collection will grow steadily. Charges, below the cost of NAB's production, are $.60 per page for individual orders, $0.06 per page for foreign orders and for libraries ordering for their collections, with a minimum of $1.00 per order. NBA urges anyone owning or transcribing master copies of music braille to explore the possibility of adding such masters to the BBB Music Unit so that copies can be made available to others who would use them. For full information, contact National Braille Association Book Bank, Music Unit, 85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey 07432. From Home Service Enterprises, P.O. Box 19, Santa Maria, California 93454, Jean Johnson, Manager, comes the following information about the service they offer to blind persons: The firm is organized in three departments. The Service Department can repair most recorders for as little as $9.95 labor, plus parts, insurance, and postage, if required. For those who prefer to repair their own recorders, the firm can supply many of the parts needed. They will also repair cassettes that have jammed or need to be spliced for $1.00 each, provided the housing can still be used. The Duplicating Division specializes in duplicating monaural cassettes for small groups. The Sales Division offers a complete line of blank cassettes and accessories at money-saving prices. The company can also provide a reading on to cassette service at the cost of $1.00 per cassette which entitles the blind person to return the cassette twice during the year for an update without additional charge. ***** ** Insight Israel, 1975 "Insight Israel, 1975" is the caption for a travel tour of Israel, specially planned for persons who are blind, sponsored by the Philadelphia College of Bible through Franklin Tours, Inc. The tour grew out of the experiences of this college with three blind students who took a tour last year sponsored by the College. It will be headed up by a professor at the College who has lived in Israel and who has led other tours to the Middle East. Plans call for fifteen blind persons and fifteen sighted persons, in addition to the tour director. The sighted members of the tour will be students or staff at the College, and each will be assigned as guide for each of the blind members. It will be a "feel and touch and taste and learning" experience. Present plans call for departure of the tour on May 13, 1975, from Philadelphia, for ten days, and the present cost is $845 per person, which includes air fare from Philadelphia, first-class hotel accommodations, and meals. For more information, write or call Gordon G. Ceperley, Philadelphia College of Bible, 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; telephone 215 564-4820. ***** ** NBA Wants to Know ... Could you use more braille? Did you know that there are Library of Congress certified braillists who are looking for materials to transcribe? Life for transcribing groups seems to be feast or famine -- a glut of work when the assignments come in from the schools and then nothing to do until next year's assignments arrive. Some unaffiliated braillists have no sure sources of work the year around. This seems a shame, in view of the relative scarcity of braille materials. The National Braille Association is contemplating establishing a registry to bring braille readers and transcribers together. We would maintain a list of available certified braillists, including such information as the kinds of work they are willing to do, the amount they are willing to produce per month, etc. A reader would write NBA stating what he wanted transcribed and how soon he needed it. He would then be sent the name and address of a transcriber to contact for the transcription. Readers would probably be asked to supply their own paper or pay for it, but no other charge is contemplated. We would also ask that they not request the re-transcription of materials already available, but no other limitations would be placed on the kinds of materials that could be ordered. Requests would be honored not only for books, but also for job-related and daily living materials. Before proceeding further, the National Braille Association would like to know if the need for such a service really exists. We would appreciate your opinion as a braille reader. Would you use such a service? How often? What kinds of materials do you want most? Have you any suggestions or comments to offer? Please send your letter, typed or in braille, to Braille Transcribing, National Braille Association, Inc., 85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors * 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 George Fogarty, 5565 Florence Terrace, Oakland, CA 94611 Jack Lewis, 540 Rogers Drive, Macon, GA 30204 Lester McGlaughn, 2403 Monroe Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35901 Wallace Menning, 2750 Ellis Avenue, N.E., Salem, OR 97301 Herbert Pitz, 403 Merritt Street, Oshkosh, WI 54001 Norman Robinson, 7107 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60619 Reese Robrahn, 818 18th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006 Otis Stephens, 2021 Kemper Lane, Knoxville, TN 37920 John Vanlandingham, 5800 N. 19th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85015 ###