The Braille Forum Vol. XV Convention Supplement, 1976 No. 2 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 Convention Highlights, 1976, by Sue Graves From the Secretary, M. Helen Vargo -- Summary, ACB Business Meeting From the President, Floyd Qualls Luncheon Address, by the Honorable David F. Mathews, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare Convention Tapes Available 1976 ABLA Conference, The Largest Yet, by Oral O. Miller Guide Dog Users, Inc. Addresses Employer/Counselor Interface Blind Students Stress Opportunity and Awareness National Association of Blind Teachers Sets New Priorities, by Otis Stephens RSVA Were Arkansas Travelers, by Ione Miller Data Processors Set Goals for Future Service, by Mary Jane Schmitt Independence, the Key to Achievement -- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, by Pat Price World Council of Blind Lions Calling All Government Employees, by Gary McLaughlin VIVA! Blinded Veterans Unite! Rehabilitation Teachers Organize Publications/Fund-Raising Public Relations Seminar, by Harold Dachtler Citizen Consumer Participation Commission Workshop ACB Library Committee Annual Report, July 9, 1976 ACB Credit Union Workshop, by Linnie Swink ACB Resolutions, 1976 ACB Officers and Directors ***** ** Convention Highlights, 1976 By Sue Graves The fifteenth annual convention of the American Council of the Blind began on July 7 at 1:30 P.M. This year's convention was hosted by the Arkansas Council of the Blind and was headquartered at the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Following a vocal rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" and the posting and retirement of the Colors by the Arkansas National Guard Auxiliary, President Floyd Qualls introduced Mrs. Billie Elder, president of the host organization, who welcomed conventioners and guests to Arkansas. Louis H. Rives, Administrator, Arkansas Office "for the Blind and Visually Impaired, extended greetings on behalf of Governor Pryor of Arkansas. A hand-carved, cherry-wood gavel was presented to President Qualls by Billie Elder, again representing the Arkansas Council of the Blind. This gavel has the date "1961" inscribed on it, denoting President Qualls' charter membership in ACB. The keynote address was given by Mr. A. A. (Bob) Mallas, President, Management Service Associates. Mr. Mallas described a one-year study done on programs and services for the blind in the fifty states, two territories, and the District of Columbia. Money for the study was provided by the American Foundation for the Blind, the Seeing Eye Foundation, and the Visual Research Foundation of Texas, plus resources of the firm doing the study. The speaker painted a very grim picture of the present status of state agencies serving the blind and visually impaired. He said that the most dynamic agencies with respect to service delivery to the blind were those with a separate agency status. The results of this study are available from Management Service Associates, Box 3750, Austin, TX 78704. Plans for the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, to be held in Washington, D.C., in May, 1977, were described by Dr. Jack Smith, Conference Executive Director. He stressed the fact that this national conference will make recommendations which will be submitted to the Congress and to the President and pointed out its potential for bringing greater independence, dignity, and participation in community life for all handicapped individuals. Fifty percent of the delegates voting at the Conference must be handicapped individuals. In this connection, Dr. Smith stated: "I'd like to announce today that I want the leaders of consumer organizations to play an official delegate-at-large voting role at the White House Conference, and it is my honor to personally ask your president to be the very first president of any organization invited to be a delegate to the White House Conference." Dr. Smith was then joined by Miss Betty Ann Jones, a member of ACB and immediate past president of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association. Betty spoke enthusiastically of her work as a member of the White House Conference staff and of her new awareness concerning problems of persons with disabilities other than blindness. "New Developments in Research and Technology" was the theme of three presentations on Thursday morning. The first address was given by Dr. Thomas Stellmack of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas, and Resident Teacher in Ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas Medical Center. Dr. Stelmack reviewed new developments in low-vision aids. Most of the new low-vision aids are of the spectacle-mounted variety or those which require electronic gadgetry, such as closed-circuit television systems. He pointed out that the latter have been much improved, to allow the reader to keep his place on the page more easily and to permit use in conjunction with a typewriter. Dr. Fritz Fraunfelder, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, spoke concerning new developments in ophthalmology. He presented some very interesting statistics, including the fact that 76% of Americans fear loss of eyesight more than any other possible disability. According to Dr. Fraunfelder, more money is being spent on eye cosmetics than on eye research. However, what money is being allocated to research is being spent wisely. Dr. Howard Freiberger, Electronics Engineer, Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Services, Veterans Administration, New York, gave a very enlightening overview of new developments in electronic aids and devices. He spoke briefly about developments in the area of direct electrical stimulation of the visual system, but expressed the view that none of these projects are likely to bear fruit in the foreseeable future. He commented in some detail concerning developments in orientation and mobility aids, as well as communications aids such as reading machines for the totally blind, closed-circuit television systems, compressed speech machines, and talking calculators. Proposed regulations and implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 were discussed by Dorothy Stuck, Acting Director, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. This is the section dealing with civil rights for the handicapped. She praised the American Council of the Blind for its active role and valuable contributions in helping to formulate these regulations. "Affirmative Action Programs and the Civil Service Examination" was the topic discussed by Billy J. Rettig, U.S. Civil Service Commission Area Office, Little Rock, and by George Magers, Assistant Director, Office for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Washington, D.C. Mr. Rettig spoke concerning Federal employment of the handicapped, stressing the fact that we, as members of a national organization, were in a good position to publicize the fact that the Federal Government does hire handicapped persons. The first thing to do if one is interested in Federal employment is to contact one of the regional Civil Service offices. There is at least one in each state, and toll-free numbers are available, listed in telephone directories under Federal Job Information Center. Mr. Magers advised that the new Professional and Administrative Career Examination (PACE), given to persons newly listed for Civil Service employment, is now available in braille, large type, and tape. He described briefly a project for training blind persons in computer-related employment and told of a "talking" audible terminal which has been developed for use by the blind who are working as information specialists or in computer-related programs. "Trends in Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired" was the topic dealt with at length in the third general session on Friday morning. Dr. Roy Kumpe, Director of Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, talked of trends in services of volunteer agencies. He felt that volunteer and public agencies are working more closely together than ever before and are accomplishing more in this way. Louis H. Rives, Administrator, Arkansas Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired, spoke eloquently concerning his views on trends in services by public agencies. He stressed that the trend today is to combine agencies; and, whether this is right or wrong, it is causing problems which must be faced and dealt with. One of his concerns is the problem of the maintenance of integrity in delivering services to clients. If one person has too much responsibility, then nothing gets done. Another trend is that toward consumerism, which, he felt, was a good thing as long as it is handled in a responsible manner and does not become dictatorial in nature. Still another trend is that more public agencies are seeking accreditation, with a desire to meet nationally accepted standards arrived at by consensus, not by individuals. Mr. Roy Clifford, Project Director, Parental Skills Program for Parents of Handicapped Children, Interaction, Inc., of Houston, Texas, described a course Which has been developed to assist parents of handicapped children in meeting some of their own needs, the needs of the handicapped child, and the needs of other children in the family. The program is being developed in three versions -- one designed for agencies in working with parents, one designed for self-run parent groups, and one designed for self-instruction by parents in small communities. The material, which should be available by the end of the year, will be distributed nationally at cost by the Bureau of the Handicapped. A refreshing interlude was provided by Mr. Ed Walker, TV and radio personality from Washington, D.C. Mr. Walker hosts a daily TV show, "A.M. Washington." He discussed his career from its beginning, explaining how he had solved personal and technical problems which would be present for any blind person doing this type of work. He felt that were he, as a blind person, to start out in radio today, he would think twice about it because of the many advancements in the use of visual materials, the speed one must attain in his work, and the competition one would encounter. A blind broadcaster must be a "ham"; he must be gregarious; he must be fast and skilled in the use of braille; he must have good mobility and must be able to present himself on a par with his sighted competitors. Dr. Charles Buell of San Juan Capistrano, California, told of the background and plans for the Olympics for the Blind to be held in Toronto, August 3-11. International competition for wheelchair athletes has been going on since 1952, held every four years in the country hosting the regular Olympic Games. This year for the first time, some 300 amputees and some 300 blind athletes from around the world will participate. Rounding out the formal program, Mrs. Billie Elder and Mrs. Alma Murphey related some of their experiences and impressions gained while attending the International Conference on the Situation of Blind Women, held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, November 18-20, 1975. Miss Geraldine Lawhorn, deaf-blind instructor for the Hadley School, Winnetka, Illinois, cited some of the problems and difficulties of daily living faced by a deaf-blind person and related some of the imaginative techniques which have been developed to overcome them. Specifically, she pointed to communications as one of the greatest problems, and outlined several methods which could be used in communicating with a deaf-blind person. The American Council was honored to have as guest speaker at a Thursday noon luncheon the Honorable David F. Mathews, Secretary, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Introduced by his good friend, Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, Dr. Mathews drew an analogy between the advancement of technology and the advancement of the human condition. His address is reprinted in full elsewhere in this Convention Supplement. Three presentations were made at the Awards Gala on Wednesday evening. This year's recipient of the Ambassador Award was Dr. Roy Kumpe of Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. Dr. Kumpe's accomplishments and contributions over the past four decades are well known to people in work for the blind and to organizations of the blind. The George Card Award was given to William (Bill) Ferrell, who has spent 31 years in work for the blind and richly deserves this recognition by the American Council. Recipients of this year's Ned E. Freeman Award, given for the best article to appear in the Braille Forum between July 1, 1975 and June 30, 1976, were William B. Campbell and Otis H. Stephens for "Something New on Campus -- Engineering Aspects of Blindness." Charters were also presented to two new ACB affiliates: The Bay State Council of the Blind (Massachusetts) and the New Jersey Council of the Blind. The annual banquet on Friday evening was addressed by the Honorable Bob Riley, former Governor of the State of Arkansas. Mr. Riley spoke about his experiences in the Marine Corps and life in general, which have brought him to believe that every person should stand his ground for what he feels is right. Chester Holden of the Arkansas Council served as master of ceremonies, and his "down-home humor" was evident throughout the evening. An "Ole Fashioned Hoedown," a pool-side reception, a tour to the diamond mine, walking tours of Hot Springs National Park, and a "Jubilation Bar-B-Q" rounded out a busy, fact-filled, fun-filled week. The final registration for all events was between 1,000 and 1,100. The Arkansas Council of the Blind is to be congratulated for a well-rounded, worthwhile convention. ***** ** From the Secretary, M. Helen Vargo -- Summary, ACB Business Meeting Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon, July 9 and 10, were devoted to business matters, with President Floyd Qualls presiding. Some of the officer, committee, and seminar reports are summarized below. Other more detailed reports appear elsewhere in this Braille Forum Convention Supplement. The Credentials Committee (Cy Selfridge, Chairman) certified 352 individual voters and 337 affiliate votes. Treasurer J. Edward Miller reported that the organization is operating "in the black," and the Audit Committee (LeRoy Saunders, Chairman) reported that the books are in order, but recommended that the Committee be authorized to make an on-site review of the Treasurer's records and the Washington Office records to completely fulfill their obligations. In his National Representative's report, Durward McDaniel noted the significance to ACB of having the Honorable David Mathews, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, as a convention speaker. Mr. McDaniel referred to lawsuits in which ACB is participating, toward implementing statutory provisions (see earlier issues of the Braille Forum for more details). His year's activities also included extensive travel related to affiliate organizations, representing ACB and other organizations concerned with blindness and/ or other disabilities, and playing a major role in organizing the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL). He also emphasized that staff and space expansions in the Washington Office will make communications at all levels more systematic and efficient. Oral Miller, Convention Coordinator, reviewed the convention guidelines relating to convention invitations and pointed out that such invitations may be considered only when extended by a direct affiliate of ACB. He also announced that the 1977 convention will be held at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, July 10-16. Conventioners selected Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 1978 convention site. Reese Robrahn reported on legislative activities. Joined by the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, ACB has directed major efforts toward developing comprehensive amendments to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. In addition, amendments to the Federal Civil Rights Act have been submitted, with plans to see them through in the 95th Congress. Carl McCoy, Chairman of the Membership Committee, announced that charters have been granted to new affiliates in the New Jersey and Massachusetts. Major goals of the Committee are to assist existing and developing affiliates through a brochure statement of purpose, sample constitution, and program and project ideas. Mack Grant reported on credit union activities, pointing out that credit union service to affiliate members was a major project for the Utah Council of the Blind. Effort is now under way to organize a national ACB credit union for the blind. Gary McLaughlin announced that civil service employees are organizing a new interest group, and Dr. Michael Young reported on the organizational meeting of a new veterans interest group. Both organizations have elected temporary officers, and details appear elsewhere in this Convention Supplement. Harold Dachtler, Chairman of the Board of Publications, reported that the Tuesday afternoon workshop on publications, public relations, and fund-raising indicated need for further workshops next year. He urged development of guidelines to delineate more specifically the duties of the Board of Publications and recommended that the Ned E. Freeman Scholarship Fund and selection responsibilities be delegated to them. Election results were as follows: For two-year terms - President, Floyd Qualls, Oklahoma; First Vice President, Alma Murphey, Missouri; Second Vice President, Billie Elder, Arkansas; Secretary, M. Helen Vargo, Kansas; Treasurer, J. Edward Miller, North Carolina. For four-year terms as directors - Delbert Aman, South Dakota; Wallace Menning, Oregon; Oral Miller, Washington, D.C.; Carl McCoy, Florida. For a two-year term as director (completing the unexpired term of Herbert Pitz of Wisconsin, who resigned because of poor health) - Eunice Fiorito, New York. For two-year terms on the Board of Publications - Judy Pool, Oklahoma; Sue Graves, Wisconsin; and Phyllis Stern, Illinois. The following amendment to By-Law VI, Section D2, was adopted (amending words are italicized); "At the beginning of the second meeting of the convention, the Committee shall inform the Convention of the total number of voting members admitted ..." Complete text of adopted resolutions appears elsewhere in this Supplement. ***** ** From the President, Floyd Qualls As both your National Representative and I stated at the American Council of the Blind convention in Hot Springs, recent office and staff expansions now make possible more efficient and more regular communication by the President's Office and the Washington Office with the affiliates. However, communication is a two-way street. To assure that information reaches key persons in your affiliate, we need your help in supplying the following information: current names and addresses (updated as necessary) of affiliate presidents, of the president of each of your local chapters, and of the "task force" committee member from your affiliate appointed pursuant to Resolution 76-01. It will also be helpful to know the dates of each affiliate's state convention. Please send the above information to Floyd Qualls, President, American Council of the Blind, 501 North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. ***** ** Luncheon Address By the Honorable David F. Mathews, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare A Southerner is, for better or worse, a story-teller. I'd like to tell you two stories that have taught me a lot. There is a former United States Senator named Claude Pepper, who is now in the House. He has, over the long career that he has been in Government, built up quite a picture collection. If you go into his office and face the desk, over to the right, high up on the wall are two pictures side by side. One is a picture of the young Claude Pepper standing by a man with a funny-looking round hat and goggles, and a contraption that looks kind of like a combine with wings. And there is an inscription at the bottom: "To my good friend, Claude Pepper. Yours most cordially, Wilbur Wright, Kitty Hawk, 1903." The next picture is in color. It was taken in Florida -- Cape Canaveral. There again is Claude Pepper, not too much the worse for wear, with a group of gentlemen, the first astronauts to go to the moon, with a similar inscription: "To our good friend, Claude Pepper ..." I always thought there was a great lesson in these two pictures, because I doubt very seriously that anybody when the first picture was taken would have imagined that there would have been a second picture. And for one man to be in both would be extraordinary! My grandfather was 90 about two weeks ago. I was visiting with him recently and I asked him if anybody had come along in 1886 and told him what technology would produce in 1976, would he have believed it. "No," he said, "I would have thought he was a fool." We just haven't been able to really imagine the marvels of our technology. The second story I would like to tell you is about a visit I made to Seattle, Washington, in the course of trying to carry out the duties that go with the office I now hold. One of the things I try to do is go and visit the sites and the facilities that we participate in and fund, so that I have a chance to look at the people who run and the people who are served and get a report eyeball to eyeball, rather than paper to paper. In the inner section of Seattle, there is an area that, unfortunately, like most inner-city areas, deteriorated some. The people who live there are, I would say, not affluent. They are largely Blacks. About five to ten years ago, sections like that all across the country were scenes of great disruption and great stress. And the people in that section of Seattle decided that that wasn't going to happen to them. They organized themselves in the community to see what they could do. One of the things that occurred to them first was that they needed to work with young people. And they chose the most difficult group of young people to work with — those that were mentally retarded. There was no facility for them to attend and no program for them. The people got a building, which I believe had served as a garage or a warehouse, and the community leader who had organized the program had to change his whole career, because not only did they not have facilities, but they didn't have anybody who knew anything about mental retardation. So he left the insurance business and went to school for a year to train himself to work with these youngsters. He took me around the facility. It did not, at least outwardly, appear spectacular at all. The youngsters there, who had been sitting around on front porches or hanging out at the corner, or "warehoused" in the back rooms of their homes, had been drawn together in that facility, some one hundred of them. They were doing very simple, but relatively complicated tasks. The amazing thing to me was that out of those one hundred youngsters, the director was putting 25 of them a year into competitive jobs in industry in the Seattle area. I remember the case of one boy who was working with a machine that cut off spikes. He came into the program with an I.Q. of, I believe the director told me, something less than 50. He had been there for about a year. His I.Q. was now measured at about 75 or 80. He said that within six months, this young man will be out working in industry. He will be a productive citizen; he will have a greater sense of pride in himself; he will be a contributing member of society. And we will have moved from that point where an individual was regarded as being totally incapable of functioning in society to the point where that same individual is capable of being a productive member of society. Now, the director didn't have any pictures on the wall, but I thought a lot about what it would look like if he had two pictures, one of that youngster when he went into the program and one of that youngster a year or two later. In many ways, those two pictures would represent as dramatic an unfolding of human technology as those two pictures on Claude Pepper's wall represented the dramatic unfolding of engineering technology. From that experience, I learned two very important lessons. The first one was that with all that we know and have accomplished in the last century, we still badly underestimate the potential of human beings. Everything that I saw in Seattle -- everything that I have seen in working with groups like this in the human development field -- convinces me that the wonder of outer space is still less spectacular than the wonder of inner space. The second lesson it taught me was that we make a terrible mistake -- we make a dangerous mistake -- any time we underestimate the potential of our fellow human beings. The question, then, that I would like to leave on your agenda is the question of the key to that human potential, that human capacity. What unlocks it? What is the equivalent of the structural steel, the propellants, and all of those technological wonders that opened up the mysteries of outer space? Certainly, even with human beings, technology is very important. But I am tempted to wonder if the technology for humanity is still less powerful than the intangibles in human qualities. I was in Chicago some months ago at a rehab hospital dealing with people who had been seriously injured ... They had benefitted by technology, to be sure. But I learned, to my amazement, that their principal devices were very common indeed. They were qualities like hope and courage and determination and will. And if they had any one key that was the secret to their rehabilitation, it was in the capacity of people to form common bonds so that they could in turn form common communities that both sustained them and advanced them ... I would like to suggest that maybe there is a great lesson in the three experiences that I have had, to the effect that not only may we learn from those experiences something about the best way to deliver human services, but I have wondered, with the other responsibilities I have, if those experiences were not trying to teach me something about what this country needs to do to solve some of the great domestic problems that face it. Marvelous technology, not to be underestimated — Great institutions hard at work — But I really wonder if there is anything in our national lives that exceeds the healing power of a bond between people. I haven't studied this enough to come to any firm conclusion, but I offer it as a thought for your consideration. As I said earlier, it may be that the marvels of our technology, the marvels of outer space, are small, indeed, when compared with what we have yet to learn and discover about the marvels of our fellow man. ***** ** Convention Tapes Available The 1976 convention of the American Council of the Blind was taped and is available to anyone wishing a copy. The three seven-inch, open-reel tapes (two­track, 1-7/8 ips) include the general sessions, the business meeting, and the luncheon address by the Honorable David Mathews, Secretary, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. To order, send check or money order for $5.00 to Floyd Qualls, President, American Council of the Blind, 501 North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. ***** ** 1976 ABLA Conference, the Largest Yet By Oral O. Miller A combination of Arkansas hospitality and an outstanding program attracted a record number of blind lawyers, to Hot Springs for the eighth annual conference of the American Blind Lawyers Association. The July 4 meeting of the Board of Directors served merely as an appetizer regarding the subjects and projects that were to be discussed so enthusiastically during the next two days. It would be futile in an article as short as this one to attempt to summarize the remarks of every speaker and panelist who appeared on the program. However, justice demands that mention be made of several of the presentations. For example, the remarks of Miss Eleanor Appel, Director of Job Placement at Harvard Law School, resulted in an enthusiastic decision by the Association to prepare an informational brochure on blind lawyers for use by the Association of Law School Placement Officers. Anyone who believed that tax specialization was not feasible for the blind practitioner learned from Dan Sullivan of Muskogee, Oklahoma, that the tax practice, one of the most complicated legal areas of interest to modern practitioners, can be handled quite successfully by a blind attorney who is willing to work hard at it. The comments of Ronald Coleman, who first joined the ABLA as a student member several years ago, formed a fascinating account of his entry into private practice in a small Missouri town. Mr. Coleman's remarks also outlined several ways in which state rehabilitation programs can be of assistance to a young lawyer. Many people who were not members of the Association made it a point to hear the lively panel discussion regarding the affirmative action program mandated by the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1973. Also, it was a genuine pleasure to listen to the comments of three experienced practitioners on the increasingly important subject of no-fault insurance. All of these and other presentations were recorded, and cassette copies may be obtained by specifying the presentation desired and sending a blank 90-minute cassette to the President of the American Blind Lawyers Association at 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008. It was with regret that the members learned of the decision of the outstanding and energetic past president, Philip Pofcher of Boston, not to accept nomination for another term as president. During the elections which followed, Oral Miller of Washington, D.C. was elected President; Norman Robinson of Chicago was elected First Vice President; Paul Kirton of Ladysmith, Virginia, was elected Second Vice President; Reese Robrahn of Bethesda, Maryland, was re-elected Secretary; and Norman Case of Bethel, Vermont, was re-elected Treasurer. Throughout the conference and during the business meeting, several very important decisions were made regarding the future direction of the Association. For example, it was heartily agreed that the Association would accept the offer of the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Bar Auxiliary to compile the index of legal publications and materials that have been recorded and transcribed into braille by various organizations and agencies over the years. This very important project will be of immeasurable assistance to blind lawyers and law students alike, because as of now, a meaningful, consolidated index of such materials does not exist. It was decided, also, that the Association would play a much more active role in the future as an advocate, especially in the area of employment discrimination and related fields. In this connection, it was decided specifically that the Association would protest to the President of the United States, the U.S. Civil Service Commission, and Congress regarding the decision by many Federal agencies requiring blind attorneys and other blind employees to pay for their own readers, even when adequate reading assistance is otherwise available. A forthright letter of protest has already been sent, and it is anticipated that a separate article on that subject will appear in a future issue of the Braille Forum. It was also decided by the Association that it would assist in the preparation of an informational brochure on the practice of law by the blind for dissemination and use by foundations, rehabilitation agencies, and educational institutions. Now do you understand why I said that the Association made a number of important decisions concerning its future? Anyone wanting additional information on the American Blind Lawyers Association should contact the president, Oral O. Miller, at 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008. ***** ** Guide Dog Users, Inc. Addresses Employer/Counselor Interface Concern for the consumer, the rehabilitation counselor, and the employer provided the framework for the fifth annual conference of Guide Dog Users, Inc., held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, immediately preceding the national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The theme of a panel presentation held on Tuesday afternoon, July 6, was "Consumer Rehabilitation Counseling Services and Employer Interface." Cy Selfridge of Colorado Springs, Colorado, served as moderator, with the three "interfacing" groups being represented as follows: consumers, Gail Schultz of Denver and Mary Jane Schmitt of Chicago, both computer programmers; rehabilitation counselor, Bryant Moore of Denver; and employer, Dean Wilbur of Research Foundation, Cincinnati. Understandably, an employer considering hiring a visually impaired person is concerned with the person's mobility skills and job qualifications. In addition, an area which more and more frequently must be addressed by the rehabilitation counselor is: If a disabled employee must be terminated by reason of inadequate job performance, how do I preserve my right to do so without being accused of exercising discriminatory policies? In the years to come, the panelists concluded, attitudes must change in order to allow handicapped persons to realize the same credibility as other persons. Other areas of discussion centered around what kind of support an employer might reasonably expect from the rehabilitation counselor; the failure on the part of many rehabilitation agencies to offer adequate support for updating job requirements; and preparing the visually impaired applicant in the skills and art of how to effectively seek his own job. At the annual business meeting on Wednesday morning, the following officers were elected: President, Cy Selfridge, Colorado Springs, Colorado; First Vice President, Catherine Gleitz, Baldwin, New York; Second Vice President, Maxine Schramm, Phoenix, Arizona; Treasurer, Hollis Mason, San Diego, California; Recording Secretary, Mary Jane Schmitt, Chicago, Illinois. In reviewing dog-guide legislation, it was announced that a new bill, effective September 1, was recently signed into law in New York State (Chapter 469 of the Laws of 1976), protecting the rights of dog-guide users in that state. Copies of the law, in braille or print, as well as general information about Guide Dog Users, Inc., may be obtained by writing: Guide Dog Users, Inc., P.O. Box 174, Central Station, Baldwin, NY 11510. ***** ** Blind Students Stress Opportunity and Awareness On Tuesday, July 6, the National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) held its fourth annual convention at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The affirmative action program, the first item on the agenda, dealt with career development and employment opportunities for blind persons. The Department of Labor provided a representative from the Dallas Regional Office, who addressed the audience on Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare was represented by Mr. George Magers of the Rehabilitation Service Administration, Washington, D.C., who spoke briefly on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, he enumerated various areas of employment which are being entered into by blind persons for the first time. Finally, Mr. Hollis Mason of San Diego addressed the audience on his proposed resolution regarding civil rights legislation for the blind. The National Alliance of Blind Students and the National Association of Blind Teachers co-hosted a poolside reception for the purpose of acquainting the two organizations with each other and the promoting of ACB's awareness of NABS. An "Ole Fashioned Hoedown" was sponsored by NABS, with the help of ACB, on Wednesday evening to kick off the opening of the convention. An afghan made and donated by Catherine Skivers of the Associated Blind of California was raffled off by NABS at the annual banquet. NABS held its business meeting on Wednesday morning and elected officers as follows: Andrew Woods, Washington, D.C., President; Eugene Lozano, San Diego, California, First Vice President; Charles Glaser, Atlanta, Georgia, Second Vice President; Katherine Bunnel, Riverdale, Maryland, Secretary; and Edward Bradley, Pasadena, Texas, Treasurer. Future activities include a campaign of public awareness focusing on NABS's existence, purposes and goals; stepped-up recruitment, and continued publication of a newsletter. NABS is delighted to announce that it commences its fourth year with a permanent mailing address: National Alliance of Blind Students, American Council of the Blind, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036. Please write for further information. ***** ** National Association of Blind Teachers Sets New Priorities By Otis Stephens The sixth annual meeting of the National Association of Blind Teachers, held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 5 and 6, was highlighted by several excellent presentations portraying blind teachers in a wide variety of professional roles. Dr. Mabel Bailey, a charter member of NABT and for more than twenty years a professor of English, began the program by chairing a panel on junior college teaching as a career choice for blind persons. Floyd Cargill, Director of Services for the Blind in Illinois, sounded the theme of this discussion by emphasizing the growth of the community college movement throughout the United States in recent years. He pointed out that blind persons not only enjoy expanding teaching opportunities in community colleges, but that these institutions, with their emphasis on continuing education and public service, have much to offer thousands of blind persons outside the teaching profession. Another panel was devoted to the teaching of sighted children in public schools. David Ticchi, who teaches seventh-grade English in Newton, Massachusetts, made an outstanding presentation based on his recently completed doctoral dissertation, The Blind Teacher in the United States Public School Classroom. His discussion was supplemented by a movie vividly depicting his work as a totally blind teacher in a public-school setting. With its focus on the daily classroom routine and the techniques that Dr. Ticchi has developed for coping with such potential problems as discipline and paper grading, this movie can be of great value as a means of educating superintendents, principals, and other employers of blind teachers. Anyone wishing to rent this film may contact David Ticchi at 90 Ellery Street, Apartment 11, Cambridge, MA 02138. Blind persons now teach at all levels of education from kindergarten through graduate school, and they teach in an ever-growing array of programs, public and private. This fact was underscored by Ms. Holly Frisch, a graduate in linguistics, who gave a fascinating description of her work for the Illinois Migrant Council. She is teaching English as a second language to Spanish-speaking adults, most of whom have emigrated to this country from Latin America. This unique teaching experience, with the added challenge of a language barrier, is demanding, but Holly Frisch has developed techniques that enable her to perform effectively in this program. One session was devoted to a discussion of changing responsibilities and goals of residential schools in the education of blind children. Carol Derouin, Bob Campbell, Harold Dachtler, Edna Schmidt, Anna Marie Hunt, Helen Weir, and Paul Sparkman led the discussion, drawing from their collective experience in residential school teaching and in the instruction of blind students in public schools. At the business session on Tuesday afternoon, the membership decided to begin publication of an NABT newsletter. Mabel Bailey, 610 S. Darst Street, Eureka, IL 61530, will serve as editor. It is felt that distribution of a newsletter will assist greatly in the exchange of information among members and in promoting teaching as a desirable career alternative for blind persons. This organization is concerned about the continuing and serious problem of discrimination in the employment of blind teachers. We are committed to take every possible constructive step to counteract such discrimination. We will attempt through our newsletter and through the Braille Forum to publicize the achievements of blind teachers at all levels. In response to appropriate requests, we will provide employers with evidence of the competence and success of blind persons in the teaching profession. Anyone wishing further information about the National Association of Blind Teachers is invited to contact Otis Stephens, President, NABT, Department of Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916. ***** ** RSVA Were Arkansas Travelers By Ione Miller Members of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America assembled in the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on July 5, in time to assist Wally Menning in singing "God Bless America" during the ACB annual RSVA convention. The morning of the first day was devoted to welcoming speeches by the Arkansas people, depicting things to do and how to find them in Hot Springs, and a thumbnail sketch of how the vending stand program began and survived in Arkansas. With the roll call of states, vendors discovered old friends had arrived, and the day was off to a good start, full of information, exchanges of ideas, and a lot of good-natured fun. A marketing seminar with representatives from the Continental Coffee and Sweetheart Paper Companies presented an interesting and informative afternoon. The Randolph-Sheppard Fortieth Year Anniversary Dance was festive and well attended. Vendors have become acutely aware of the vast differences in the manner of administration and funding in each state, and the problems involved in setting up uniform committees of blind vendors in states throughout the nation. Strong resolutions to be sent to Congress and to other people were unanimously adopted by the RSVA, in their determination to see the intent of the law carried out by the Administration under the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974. Awards of 1976 were presented to Dalton Brown of New Orleans, Louisiana, and to Francis Morton of Nashville, Tennessee, for their outstanding dedication in organizing the vendors. At the annual RSV A luncheon, members and guests enjoyed the humor and fine speech of Mr. Sam Negrin, Director of Community Services for the American Foundation for the Blind in New York. Chester Holden kept everyone laughing with his Arkansas joke book. Mr. Homer Steele from Peoria, Illinois, was re-elected as president of RSVA. Richard Agman of Florida, as treasurer, and David Hanlon of California, as secretary, were both newly elected to the Board. Most of the RSVA people stayed over to hear the speech by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, the Honorable David Mathews, and also to enjoy the Thursday afternoon ACB activities. ***** ** Data Processors Set Goals For Future Service By Mary Jane Schmitt The sessions of Visually Impaired Data Processors International were, as always, diversified and of extreme interest to the people in that field who attended. The Board of Directors met on Sunday evening. At the general sessions Monday through Wednesday, numerous topics were discussed. One of the highlights was a presentation by a local IBM representative, complete with diagrams, covering the IBM concept of data base. Structured programming was another subject that received major attention. As always, VIDPI meetings were a place to swap ideas and techniques which make visually impaired programmers better able to compete functionally with their sighted colleagues. Projects for the coming year include continuation of the label development program, being done in conjunction with the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and the development of a feasible plan by which VIDPI can help the ACB Washington office consolidate the data they have accumulated into a meaningful form so that it can be readily accessed. Election results were as follows: President, Earl Hembroff, Victoria, British Columbia; Vice President, Don Blalock, Chicago; Treasurer, Helen Moors, Denver; and Secretary Mary Jane Schmitt, Chicago. VIDPI will hold its 1977 convention as a part of the ACB pre-convention special-interest meetings in Miami Beach, Florida. ***** ** Independence, the Key to Achievement -- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow By Pat Price For two and one-half days, persons attending the sixth annual conference of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association at Hot Springs, Arkansas, were challenged anew and repeatedly reminded that personal and vocational success are both achieved through independence. In this Bicentennial year, it was only natural that the opening session initially focused its attention upon this great nation's past, present, and future. This was eloquently done by Red Graham in his highly dramatic reading of the beautiful and patriotic "I Am the Nation." Then, dwelling momentarily upon Yesterday through a comprehensive historical presentation by Roseanne Diehl and Pat Price, conventioners learned the typewriter, the basic piece of equipment for all secretaries, whether blind or sighted, was invented primarily as a means of communication for the blind, but later was recognized by educators in Europe and the United States as a significant vocational tool. Under the expert guidance of Mr. Jean Dorf, five extremely knowledgeable and articulate panelists -- Kathy Lux, Esther Husney, Mary Santorelli, Frances Bigger, and Red Graham -- gave a brief synopsis of his or her occupational responsibilities. They were inspiring examples of independent individuals who, through aspiration, perseverance and dedication, are coping daily with the demands necessary to succeed in today's highly competitive labor market. Following an inspirational and fun-filled banquet, utilizing the talents of Red and Peggy Graham (and which VISTA shared with members of Guide Dog Users and Visually Impaired Data Processors International), the program addressed itself to the practical aspects of actually training the totally blind and visually impaired transcriber-typist. Sarah Andrews clearly explained her technique for training transcribers individually, thus allowing each to progress at his or her ability and desire. Trudie Musier then shared highlights of her training technique for employment of the blind using the sophisticated IBM Mag Card II. New opportunities vocationally for the blind now visible on the horizon were most adequately outlined by Chris Emley in her coverage of new careers in the field of law, and by Kathleen Crawford, pursuing her topic of the visually impaired as information service representatives and in managerial occupations. A high crescendo of excitement and anticipation was struck when keynote speaker, George Magers, optimistically and confidently assured his listeners that inasmuch as studies indicate some 20 million new jobs in approximately ten new fields will be available by 1986, and that three out of every five will be in the clerical (secretarial) category. Tomorrow does hold a meaningful place for the well-trained transcriber-secretary. He proudly announced that definite steps were currently being taken by one midwestern university to offer for the first time in the United States a four-year secretarial course for the blind and visually impaired. Appropriately, the business session, too, emphasized Tomorrow, as evidenced by the assembly's unanimous decisions (1) to become an active member of the newly formed Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL), and (2) to print and distribute the pamphlet, "Out of Sight, But Not out of Touch," recently written and designed by VISTA for prospective employers of the blind and visually impaired. It was most obvious that the newly elected officers (Trudie Musier, President; Pat Price, First Vice President; Chris Emley, Second Vice President; Laura Hopper, Third Vice President; Roseanne Diehl, Secretary; Mr. Jean Dorf, Treasurer), too, were committing themselves to Tomorrow and "advancement made possible only through independence." ***** ** World Council of Blind Lions The 1976 annual meeting of the World Council of Blind Lions started off on Sunday, July 4, with a bang! A "happy hour" provided an opportunity for those present to renew old acquaintances and to meet the many new Lion members among blind persons attending an ACB convention for the first time. A unique feature this year was two 9:00 a.m. coffee hours held on Monday and Tuesday, July 5 and 6. At the formal meeting, much emphasis was given to means of increasing WCBL membership. Discussions also centered around the relationship of the Blind Lion with his individual club, more communication among members during the year, and how blind Lions can better serve Lionism. The highlight of the conference was the annual banquet held on the evening of Tuesday, July 6. International Lions' "Goodwill Ambassador" and Past District Governor, Dr. Roy Kumpe, served as master of ceremonies. Guest speaker was Immediate Past International Director Dr. James Fowler of Little Rock. Dr. Fowler gave a most informative and interesting talk about Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. A check was presented by Chairman Ray Powers, on behalf of the World Council of Blind Lions, to Lion Dr. Jim Fowler for the Arkansas Enterprises. Lion Dr. Fowler and Lion Dr. Kumpe were each presented a copy of Leonard Robinson's history of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, Light at the Tunnel End. On Thursday, a large number of blind Lions attended the weekly dinner meeting of the Downtown Hot Springs Lions Club at the Arlington Hotel. Many of those present expressed the feeling that this year's meeting was the best yet. WCBL members are looking forward to even bigger and better things in Miami Beach in 1977. Anyone interested in learning more about the World Council of the Blind Lions is invited to contact Lion Raymond J. Powers, Chairman, 34572 Sims Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184. ***** ** Calling All Government Employees By Gary McLaughlin On Wednesday morning, July 7, a special-interest group for government employees was formed in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The temporary chairman, Bill McPherson, of Oklahoma City, was elected president; Bernice Kandarian of Los Angeles, vice president; Bob Jones of Hines, Illinois, treasurer; and Gary McLaughlin of Dedham, Massachusetts, secretary. Many problems of common interest to all government employees were discussed. These topics ranged from testing and hiring to promotion and affirmative action policies. Those present at this first meeting were employed by Federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration, Federal Aeronautics Administration, and Social Security Administration. Some state and city employees have expressed an interest in joining this new organization, also. If you are a government employee, we want to hear from you. Please send your name, address, and any comments, questions, or suggestions to Bill McPherson, President, Government Employees, 2946 Cashion Place, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or write to me, Gary McLaughlin, 152 Riverside Drive, Dedham, MA 02026. Write soon so that we will be able to include you in our first mailing. ***** ** VIVA! Blinded Veterans Unite! The 1976 convention of the American Council of the Blind in Hot Springs saw the organizing meeting of a new special-interest group to be formed within ACB: VIVA — Visually Impaired Veterans of America. The first meeting was very well attended, even though there had been a minimum of prior announcement about it. The very first order of business brought before the group by the temporary chairman, Dr. Michael Young, was the need for a viable and impressive name for the organization, one which would identify the organization as being apart from any other organization for blind veterans. The above name was immediately and unanimously adopted, and we were in business. The next order of business was the election of officers to form and guide the organization through the necessary paperwork with the ACB National Office that VIVA might meet all of the requirements of the national organization's By-Laws as an acceptable affiliate. The following officers, all members of the American Council of the Blind, were duly elected: President -- Dr. Michael Young of San Diego; Vice President -- Jack Goldfein of New York City; Secretary -- John Oxford of Decatur, Georgia; and Treasurer -- Henry Crabbe of Rome, Georgia. All members and friends of the American Council of the Blind are asked to pass the word along about this new veterans organization within the American Council. Send names and addresses of any veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who may be interested in being a part of a veterans organization that has full intentions of being seen and heard on the national level regarding veterans rights and privileges to Dr. Michael Young, 3980 8th Avenue, Suite 115, San Diego, CA 92103. ***** ** Rehabilitation Teachers Organize On Wednesday morning, July 7, Rehabilitation Teachers attending the ACB annual convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, met for breakfast and to discuss their mutual concerns. It was the fourth consecutive year that the group had gathered, and it was agreed that, although there were as yet insufficient members to form an affiliate, those present could organize informally, elect officers, form committees, and draw up a constitution and by-laws. Because Rehabilitation Teachers attending ACB are not representing their agencies, it was felt that accomplishments could be made in this way that could not be achieved through Group XI of AA WB. In the election, Billie Elder was chosen as president, Carol Gillispie as vice president, Elizabeth Lennon as secretary, and Gordon Haldiman as treasurer. ***** ** Publications/Fund-Raising Public Relations Seminar By Harold Dachtler On Tuesday afternoon, July 6, the American Council of the Blind Board of Publications sponsored a seminar dealing with the subjects of publications, fund-raising, and public relations. The turnout was far beyond our expectations, both in numbers and affiliates represented. Interest, as displayed by participation, was gratifying. An attempt will be made to draw together much of the information presented and make it available to affiliates in a concise printed form. Mary Ballard served as a resource person for the first part of the meeting, which dealt with publications. Although an attempt was made to keep the subject to affiliate publications, much concern was expressed regarding the Braille Forum. Perhaps the major concern was why so much difficulty seems to be encountered in getting the Forum to many members who are not receiving it. Affiliates were urged to keep notifying the President's Office in Oklahoma City of those who are not receiving the magazine. Perhaps one individual from each affiliate could be responsible for notifying Floyd Qualls of changes of address and also the names and addresses of those who have never received it. We urge persistence. The Forum can be received if you and your affiliate are persistent in your endeavor. Some general principles and guidelines were presented for consideration by each affiliate which either now has some form of publication or plans to have one. The subject of fund-raising brought out many programs used by various affiliates for the purpose of raising necessary funds. Many types of merchandise were discussed which now are, or could be, used for sales purposes. Funds, however, could be raised by other such methods as solicitation, raffles, rummage sales, dinners, and bequests. Bob Engel of Flint, Michigan, described the success of his local chapter with Bingo, which netted the chapter $27,000 last year. As information regarding addresses and the like is forwarded to me which were promised at the time, the information could prove of much value and interest to other affiliates. Billie Elder served in this area as a resource person. She touched upon fund­raising for ACB. She proposed that both ACB and its affiliates could profit from the sale of Bicentennial or Christmas candles. Profits from such sales are shared between ACB and the affiliates. Information on this item may be obtained from the forthcoming brochure on the seminar or by contacting Billie Elder at 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204. The methods and programs used to raise funds must be determined by the size, philosophy, and individual desires and goals of each affiliate. We are all naturally concerned with raising funds for the use of our immediate organization. However, fund-raising should be the concern of each of us on each of the levels of organization -- the local chapter, the state affiliate, and national ACB. Because of the interest in the first two topics, too little time was given to the consideration of public relations programs. This area deals with relations both within an organization and with those outside the organization. Brochures were distributed which some affiliates had developed to tell their story to the public. Radio and TV "spots" were read which have been used in some areas. A speakers bureau within the affiliate was also suggested as a positive measure. Above all, each individual is a public relations symbol of his own organization. We tried to cover too much in too short a time. This would suggest that at future conventions, separate two-hour workshops be scheduled in each of the three areas covered in this one seminar. Interest was also expressed in a workshop covering the various aspects of membership. A strong need was also expressed by those present for workshops dealing with some of the internal concerns of an affiliate. Although some of these areas do not fall within the realm of the Board of Publications, we heartily endorse the wishes of those present at this tri-seminar. Soon available will be a new affiliate publications directory which is being compiled by Mary Ballard. If you have any changes which should be noted, please contact her. Please send any information dealing with the subjects handled in the seminar to me, Harold Dachtler, 600 West Rouse Street, Lansing, MI 48910, before the final compilation is made and published. ***** ** Citizen Consumer Participation Commission Workshop The Citizen Consumer Participation Commission Workshop convened on Wednesday morning, July 7, under the chairpersonship of Dr. Larry D. Baker, professor at the School of Business, University of Missouri, St. Louis. After preliminary remarks by Reese Robrahn, ACB staff consultant, Dr. Baker made a brief interim progress report on a survey which has been conducted by the Commission during the past year, from which it is hoped that useful information will be gained concerning the degree and nature of participation of citizens who are blind on boards, commissions, and committees on the local, state, and national level, in agencies serving the blind and in other community agencies. The workshop program consisted of an audience participation film presentation entitled "Meeting in Progress." The film was approximately 35 minutes long, with twelve stops during the film. At each stop, there was conducted actual audience participation through materials provided in braille and large type. The object of the film was to demonstrate the decisions necessary to be made by a leader or a person chairing a group faced with a problem-solving mission. The materials were presented in such a way that when the film was stopped, the audience was asked to decide which of three alternative decisions each participant would make under the circumstances existing at the time of the stopping of the film. These discussions were lively and participated in with great verve by all attending the workshop. To demonstrate the interest shown, the entire running of the film, including the audience participation time, required the use of the entire morning. Dr. Baker offered to make available copies of the film to any organization which might desire to use it in conducting a similar workshop on the state or local level. He suggests that anyone interested may contact him at the ACB National Office or directly at the School of Business, University of Missouri at St. Louis. ***** ** ACB Library Committee Annual Report July 9, 1976 Every person in this room draws in one way or another on library resources and library services. The American Council of the Blind Library Committee is reviewing needs and the capability to meet these needs. A major effort is the compiling of data and recommendations based on a questionnaire on library service. Representatives of groups of blind persons are urged to distribute copies of this questionnaire among their groups or to make arrangements for wider distribution. Management considerations such as organization affiliation and the modification of standards of library service will be reviewed to see what input ACB might make. All members with suggestions should speak up, whether the ideas are well developed or just the germ of an idea. We will be following with great interest the experimental program of reference by phone in the Washington, D.C. area. In theory, this will open up most of the materials in a large library through a phone call and the efforts of a librarian assigned to this task. More data is needed on cost, administrative support, and the number of persons who would use the service. An important book by Frances Koestler has been published by the American Foundation for the Blind. It is "The Unseen Minority: A Social History of Blindness in the United States." A brief review appears in the July-August issue of the Braille Forum. The Library Committee has worked in close cooperation with the Washington Office of ACB and with the editor of the Braille Forum. (Editor's Note: ACB members who picked up Library Survey Questionnaires at Hot Springs, but have not turned them in, should send them to James G. Chandler, Chairman, Library Committee, 9116 St. Andrews Place, College Park, MD 20740. If you need a questionnaire or would like some for blind friends to fill out, we will be glad to send you as many as you request.) ***** ** ACB Credit Union Workshop By Linnie Swink On Wednesday, July 7, a group of people interested in credit unions met in the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas, in conjunction with the national convention of the American Council of the Blind. Durward McDaniel chaired the meeting, in the absence of John Vanlandingham of Arizona, chairman of the ACB Credit Union Committee, who was unable to attend the meeting. Mr. McDaniel reported that he had met with the regional representative of the National Credit Union Administration in Austin, Texas, to discuss the possibility of getting a national charter for a credit union to serve blind people throughout the United States who have no credit union available to serve them. While the NCUA representative stated that it is rare for a national charter to be granted, he did not say that it was impossible. The LASS Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma has offered its office in Oklahoma City as headquarters for the ACB national credit union when it becomes a reality. There are at present seven state affiliates of ACB that offer credit union service to blind people, plus the credit union that serves only vending facility operators who are blind in Illinois. Members from several of these credit unions were in attendance at this meeting and exchanged views and procedures of operation. Utah's credit union is one of the newest and is making rapid progress. It is hoped by this writer that at future ACB conventions, the time for credit union and consumer participation groups will not be set for the same hour on the same day. Attendance at this year's meeting on credit unions was extremely low compared to the meetings in previous years. ***** ** ACB Resolutions, 1976 * American Council of the Blind Resolution 76-01 WHEREAS, resolutions have been passed unanimously by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on August 3, 1974, and again in convention assembled in the City of Mobile, Alabama, in July, 1975, concerning Federal civil rights legislation for blind and handicapped persons; and WHEREAS, the reasons for passing these resolutions are still real and valid; and WHEREAS, civil rights legislation for blind and handicapped persons has been introduced in the Congress of the United States; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that other civil rights bills will be introduced in the Congress and in the legislatures of the several states; and WHEREAS, an American Council of the Blind Task Force on Civil Rights would be a valuable instrument to promote final passage of such legislation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled at the Arlington Hotel in the City of Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 8th day of July, 1976, that a Task Force on Civil Rights be established to assist the American Council of the Blind Legislative Committee and the National Office in the promotion of civil rights legislation for blind and handicapped persons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the membership of the Task Force shall be comprised of one representative appointed from each state affiliate, as well as one representative appointed from each special-interest affiliate, and one member-at-large who shall be appointed by the President of the American Council of the Blind and shall be chairperson; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the purpose and objective of this Task Force shall be to promote in all practical ways the enactment of a Federal civil rights act for blind persons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Task Force shall have at least one organizational meeting during the 1976 convention of the American Council of the Blind to outline procedures and objectives of the Task Force, and report back to the next annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. * Resolution 76-02 WHEREAS, the Allis-Chalmers Company, Little Rock Plant, and its employees have contributed to the Arkansas Council of the Blind both funds and services for transportation assistance; and WHEREAS, this contribution has been of invaluable assistance to the success of the 1976 American Council of the Blind convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, expresses heartfelt and deep appreciation to the Allis-Chalmers Company and to the employees of its Little Rock Plant, and that copies of this resolution be sent to the executives of the Allis-Chalmers Little Rock Plant, with the request that they be shared with the employees of the Plant. * Resolution 76-03 WHEREAS, the U.S. Civil Service Commission, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Veterans Administration have been and are now conducting special training programs, particularly in the field of information provider specialists, for persons who are visually impaired; and WHEREAS, there are now approximately 450 persons with visual impairment employed who have received such specialized training; and WHEREAS, there is a need for the continuation and expansion of such special training programs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that this convention commends the four above-named Federal departments and agencies for their initiation of such special training programs, and hereby urges the continuation and expansion of such training programs; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Convention directs its President to prepare appropriate letters embodying the foregoing, and to forward the same to the heads of the respective Federal departments and agencies named hereinabove. * Resolution 76-04 WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States passed the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974 by overwhelming vote; and WHEREAS, the Amendments instructed the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to publish regulations within one hundred eighty (180) days; and WHEREAS, regulations as of this date have not been published; and WHEREAS, the proposed regulations of December 23, 1975, and May 7, 1976 do not accurately or adequately implement the intent of Congress; and WHEREAS, this unreasonable delay has been detrimental to the development and improvement of the vending facility programs throughout the nation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, by unanimous vote urges the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to publish regulations that carry out the full intent of the Randolph. Sheppard Amendments of 1974 within forty-five (45) days. * Resolution 76-05 WHEREAS, Mr. Ned E. Freeman, the first president of the American Council of the Blind, founded the Braille Forum and was the editor for several years; and WHEREAS, the high quality of the Braille Forum is the result of Mr. Freeman's leadership and expertise; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Freeman wishes to establish a scholarship fund in her husband's memory, to which she has made the initial contribution; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th Day of July, 1976, that the generous contribution of Mrs. Freeman be gratefully accepted and used to establish the Ned E. Freeman Scholarship Fund, to be administered by the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors; and the President is hereby directed to acknowledge this memorial gift. * Resolution 76-06 WHEREAS, there exists a greater need for qualified professional rehabilitation teachers in each of the several states to serve blind and visually handicapped persons, especially those not accepted for vocational rehabilitation; and WHEREAS, the boards of directors, personnel, and consumers of voluntary and public agencies need to be made aware of the value, knowledge, and skills of qualified rehabilitation teachers; and WHEREAS, there is a need for more training about blindness for those practitioners in allied professions, including those in training at all university levels; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, encourages an increase in the present funding and development of new funding sources for professional preparation and training programs leading to the development of qualified rehabilitation teachers; and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that strategies be designed to develop greater awareness on the part of boards of directors, personnel, and consumers of public and private agencies of the increased need for additional qualified professional rehabilitation teachers; and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that a plan be developed with other organizations and educational institutions to provide short-term training of specific course content on blindness to the practitioners of the allied professions, including those same persons in training at all university levels. * Resolution 76-08 WHEREAS, many of the programs participants travel great distances, sometimes at their own expense, and have tight schedules to meet immediately after their presentation; and WHEREAS, there are regularly scheduled sessions for conducting internal business; and WHEREAS, some official functions require strict adherence to their scheduled times; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that no internal business be conducted during times when invited speakers are scheduled to meet to make presentations. * Resolution 76-09 WHEREAS, the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, meeting at Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in the fall of 1975, conducted a conference on the situation of blind women; and WHEREAS, the situation of blind women in the under-developed nations is extremely desperate; and WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is a member of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, calls upon the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind to issue a report upon its findings of the conference, and that it assist in alleviating the desperate situation of blind women in the under-privileged nations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind offers to assist the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind in this endeavor. * Resolution 76-10 WHEREAS, the Dymo Company has discontinued manufacture of, and has expressed no immediate interest in resuming production of, the Dymo braille labeler; and WHEREAS, braille labels can be produced more efficiently with this labeler; and WHEREAS, braille labeling is essential to blind persons in the preparation and performance of personal and occupational tasks; and WHEREAS, it is our understanding that the American Foundation for the Blind should serve as a marketing agency; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that it encourage its members and affiliates to write letters to the American Foundation for the Blind and to the Dymo Company expressing the need for the availability of this item. * Resolution 76-11 WHEREAS, state and national parks and monuments are provided with public funds for the enjoyment of all citizens; and WHEREAS, many state and national parks and monuments in the United States of America have made provisions for blind and visually impaired citizens, i.e., self-guided tours aided by braille, large print or cassette; and WHEREAS, state and national parks, forests, and monuments in Arizona have failed as yet to develop extensive tours or trails for the blind and visually impaired; and WHEREAS, the Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) is one of the largest and most popular national parks in the United States; and WHEREAS, initial contacts have been made with GCNP officials both to initiate a self-guided tour and to contest AMFAC regulations and practices which prohibit blind persons from participating in mule rides into the canyon which are operated by the AMFAC Company; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, endorses a resolution of the Arizona Council of the Blind that Arizona and U.S. agencies overseeing these parks, forests, and monuments be contacted and urged to implement as soon as possible adaptations which will permit full enjoyment of these facilities by blind and visually impaired citizens; and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that members of the Arizona Council of the Blind will serve in an advisory and/or pilot test group capacity and that these agencies be so informed; and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the Arizona Council of the Blind concentrate upon securing provisions for the blind and visually impaired at GCNP first, and upon contesting the apparently discriminatory regulations and practices against the blind. * Resolution 76-12 WHEREAS, there has been a problem in concluding business of the convention early enough for departures of members, many of whom must leave on Saturday afternoon; and WHEREAS, a five o'clock conclusion schedule means that there are only a few people left to conduct much of the business of the convention; and WHEREAS, it would be desirable for as many members as possible to take part in the deliberations of the American Council of the Blind; and WHEREAS, these matters have been called to the attention of the convention planners at the time of the 1975 convention, without any evidence of remedial action having been taken; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that this Convention instruct the planning committee and/or such other persons in charge of the convention program in the future to schedule programs so that the convention will begin on Wednesday morning and allot sufficient time to conclude all convention business by 1:00 P.M. on Saturday. * Resolution 76-14 WHEREAS, the control of blind persons over their own lives is an objective of the American Council of the Blind; and WHEREAS, in furtherance of this objective, it is in the interest of the American Council of the Blind to stimulate its own growth and that of existing and potential affiliates; and WHEREAS, the United States Government, through Action, provides full and part-time volunteers to assist the growth and effectiveness of grass-roots organizations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that the Board of Directors is hereby authorized to survey the needs, goals, and objectives of American Council of the Blind affiliates, to determine the feasibility and desirability of obtaining temporary assistance from Action and/or other public or private sources; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors shall be authorized to enter into negotiations with Action, and any other public or private source or entity, for the purpose of procuring or providing for the procurement of full- or part-time human resources to assist the American Council of the Blind and its affiliates. * Resolution 76-17 WHEREFORE, existing California state law provides that there shall be no denial in equal access to housing on the basis of blindness; and WHEREAS, the California Civil Code includes an exception in the equal access to housing, in that a blind person who owns a dog guide may be denied such equal access to housing; and WHEREAS, the California Alliance of Blind Students proposed an amendment to California Assemblyman Bob Wilson, who introduced the amendment as Assembly Bill 3263, which will remove the exception from the California state law; and WHEREAS, A.B. 3263 has been amended by the California Association of Realtors to permit the owner of a housing accommodation to establish such terms in a lease or rental agreement which reasonably regulate the presence of dog guides on the premises of a housing accommodation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that this organization strongly endorses A.B. 3263 in its original, unamended version, as the amendment to the proposed amendment by the California Association of Realtors is detrimental to the well-being of blind people, in that it transfers regulatory authority from the law of the State of California to individual property owners, who could exercise arbitrary decisions on what constitutes "reasonable regulation" relative to what a blind person may or may not do with a dog guide on said premises. * Resolution 76-18 WHEREAS, all public buildings built with public funds are eligible to have Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities; and WHEREAS, many Federal, state, and municipal buildings are being constructed throughout the United States without consideration being given to providing space or activity for Randolph-Sheppard operations; and WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind is dedicated to promoting fair and equitable employment to the blind and visually impaired; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that this situation be brought to the attention of the appropriate public officials, and that the American Council of the Blind take appropriate and necessary action to correct the situation throughout the United States. * Resolution 76-19 WHEREAS, no specific guidelines have been established for selection of the recipients of the Ambassador Award and the George Card Award; and WHEREAS, the tangible form of the awards and the statement of recognition of the recipients have been left to the discretion of each successive Awards Committee; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, directs the President of the American Council of the Blind to appoint a committee to formulate and recommend to the ACB Board of Directors specific guidelines for the selection of recipients of the awards; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President make available a written copy of the guidelines to the chairperson of each successive Awards Committee at the time of appointment. * Resolution 76-20 WHEREAS, the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974 provide for priority for the operation of vending facilities for blind persons on Federal property; and WHEREAS, such provisions have not been implemented by Federal agencies in accordance with the law; and WHEREAS, such priorities are required and necessary to assure continuation and growth of the vending stand program for the blind; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that this organization shall actively institute legal processes for violations and omissions in the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974. * Resolution 76-21 WHEREAS, the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973 contain provisions (Section 501 through 504) which create obligations to employ qualified handicapped persons, and which prohibit discrimination against them, denial of benefits, or denial of participation in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance, solely because of their handicap; and WHEREAS, numerous cases involving violations of the provisions of those statutes have arisen (and we expect more to arise) in which the American Council of the Blind has been asked to assist at both the administrative and judicial levels; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of blind persons that these legal rights be protected and expanded wherever possible by the participation of this organization; and WHEREAS, one of our members, Ira Grupper, has been denied employment by a Federal contractor solely because of his visual impairment, contrary to the provisions of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1973; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that it be the policy and practice of this organization to protect the rights of blind and handicapped persons through participation on their behalf in complaints and cases arising from the violation of Sections 501 through 504 of the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1973. * Resolution 76-22 WHEREAS, in 1962, legislation was enacted by Congress authorizing blind Federal employees to utilize readers in their employment, hired by the blind persons or others; and WHEREAS, the legislative history is clear that such legislation was intended to encourage and promote the employment of blind persons, and said Act was never intended to restrict the hiring of blind persons or to penalize them in career development; and WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission and several personnel officers have construed the Reader Act in such a way that agencies have been increasingly ruling that such agencies cannot provide readers to their employees; and WHEREAS, the blind employee cannot economically hire the number of hours of reading service and still have any reasonable amount of income left for his or her personal use; and WHEREAS, the provision of adequate clerical support to blind employees will permit those employees to be more productive and give those employees an opportunity to advance their career by establishing levels of high job performance; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Hot Springs, Arkansas, this 10th day of July, 1976, that the President of the American Council of the Blind be directed to write to the President of the United States to ask that the problem be corrected by executive action. If the President cannot or will not correct this situation, then the President of the ACB shall request Congressional action to solve the problem. ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors * President: Floyd Qualls, 501 North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 * First Vice President: Alma Murphey, 4103 Castleman Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 * Second Vice President: Billie Elder, 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204 * Secretary: M. Helen Vargo, 833 Oakley Street, Topeka, KS 66606 * Treasurer: J. Edward Miller, 1120 Coddington, Place, Charlotte, NC 28211 Delbert K. Aman, 105 Clark Building, Aberdeen, SD 57401 Eunice Fiorito, 330 E. 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 George Fogarty, 5565 Florence Terrace, Oakland, CA 94611 Jack Lewis, 541 Woodland Hills Drive, Athens, GA 30601 Carl McCoy, 1424 Sunland Road, Daytona Beach, FL 32019 Wallace Menning, 2750 Ellis Avenue, N.E., Salem, OR 97301 Oral O. Miller, 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Apartment 220, Washington, DC 20008 Otis H. Stephens, 2021 Kemper Lane, Knoxville, TN 37920 ###