The Braille Forum Vol. XV February 1977 No. 8 Published 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 ACB Officers Important Notice Notice to Subscribers From the President's Desk, by Floyd Qualls A Word from the Editor The Challenge of Accreditation, by Otis H. Stephens To Kill a Giant, by Reese Robrahn Randolph-Sheppard Rules Litigation, by Durward K. McDaniel Delay in Section 504 Regulations, One Last Slap at the e Handicapped Heaven in '77, by O.L. Joiner, Jr. Lest We Forget, by George Fogarty More Low-Income Workers Eligible for Tax Credit American Blind Lawyers Win Important Victory for Employment of the Blind, by Oral Miller Braille Authority of North America Index of Legal Materials Being Compiled White House Conference Update, by Betty Ann Jones ACB Affiliate News: New York Convention, 1976 California Convention, by Harriet Fielding Here and There American Council of the Blind Group Life Insurance Program ***** ** ACB Officers * 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 ***** ** Important Notice Beginning with the February issue, The Braille Forum is being published in flexible disc edition, as well as braille, large-type, and cassette. The first disc edition is being sent to every member of the American Council of the Blind. Included with the disc is a pre-addressed reply card in ink-print and braille, listing the available editions and showing the member's current address on file in the ACB National Office. Readers of all editions are requested to return his card, indicating the form you wish to receive and/or noting any change of address. When this has been done, just drop the card into the mail. For readers of the Braille Forum who are not members of the American Council and may not have received the disc and card, you may have your name placed on the mailing list for the disc edition by sending your request to Editor, The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large-type, and cassette (1-7/8 ips), and soundsheet. Items intended for publication may be submitted in print, braille, or tape and should be addressed to Mary T. Ballard, Editor, 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 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, 1120 Coddington Place, Charlotte, NC 28211. Anyone wishing to remember ACB 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, your attorney should communicate with the ACB National Office. ***** ** From the President's Desk By Floyd Qualls Shortly after the American Council of the Blind was organized in 1961, it issued the first edition of The Braille Forum. The need to get information to its members was, and still is, of paramount importance. The braille edition was issued from the American Printing House for the Blind, and the large-print edition was printed, collated, and mailed from Oklahoma City. Durward and Aileen McDaniel supervised the ink-print edition, and the Oklahoma Federation of the Blind volunteered to assemble the pages. The magazine was issued bi-monthly, and in due time an open-reel tape edition was offered. As the cassette became more and more popular, a fourth edition was authorized. This situation continued until the November-December, 1976 Forum was mailed. The American Council of the Blind has made much progress since it was formed. To my mind, the three largest steps are evidenced by (1) establishing The Braille Forum; (2) opening the national office in Washington; and (3) expansion of The Braille Forum, beginning with the January, 1977 issue. Last month it was my pleasure to announce that the Forum is now a monthly magazine; that it has a full-time editor and it would soon have a disc edition. With this issue, the disc edition becomes a fact. The Council wants everyone who desires The Braille Forum to have it in the form which best suits his or her reading habits. Each month, every member can have the magazine by merely requesting it. This first disc edition is going to all ACB members. With it, you will find a card in braille and print which you are asked to return. The Editor's address is printed on the card. Check Braille, Print, Disc, or Cassette as your preference. Also, if there is a change in your address, please indicate this. You need not sign the card, as your name is printed on it. Please give your cooperation and we will try to get the Forum file up to date and you can receive the edition you prefer. The expansion of The Braille Forum has been made possible in large part through a generous grant from the American Foundation for the Blind. This grant does not cover the entire cost. Any contributions made to the Forum fund will be appreciated. There is no charge for the magazine. Only those who can and wish to make contributions are asked to do so. Mrs. Mary Ballard has done an excellent job as editor of the Forum. She has contributed her time and talents to the Council in this and a multitude of other ways. Now she will be able to devote full time to preparing the magazine. I suggest she will be pleased to hear from readers. Comments and recommendations can be of great assistance to her in her efforts. As President of the American Council of the Blind, I am pleased that the expansion of the Washington Office and the expansion of The Braille Forum took place during my administration. ***** ** A Word from the Editor It was with a great deal of pleasure and pride that I accepted this past November appointment by the ACB Board of Publications as full-time editor of The Braille Forum and became, as of January 1, of this year, officially a member of the staff of the American Council of the Blind. These past few weeks, in particular, my thoughts have gone back more than once to a night in November of 1972. My long-time friend, Mary Jane Schmitt, who was then a member of the Publications Board, called me late one evening and, altogether unexpectedly, asked, "Would you consider editing The Braille Forum?" At the time, I had just become active in our local ACB chapter and had read only few issues of the Forum. That challenge, I undertook without a great deal of confidence, but with the personal conviction that, if accepted, it left no room for failure. The present challenge — that of expansion of The Braille Forum -- I undertake with perhaps greater confidence, rooted in four years' experience and in many valued friendships and close working relationships which have developed. But that same conviction that there is no room for failure remains. The Braille Forum must, and will, be a publication worthy of the American Council of the Blind and the positive, constructive programs it promotes and endorses to make possible better, fuller, and more independent lives for blind people. Beginning with the January, 1977 issue, The Braille Forum is being published monthly. This will make it possible to bring to members and friends of the American Council a wider range of articles, with more in-depth coverage of topics which until now, because of space limitations, it has not always been possible to treat in detail. Some interest has been expressed in a calendar of upcoming events, and this will be considered. In that connection, I encourage ACB affiliates to send advance notice of their conventions. With more time to devote to seeking out information, hopefully more current and ongoing information can be included on aids, appliances, and publications newly available to blind consumers from various sources. But these plans merely scratch the surface. Your ideas, your suggestions, comments, and constructive criticisms are needed. Please feel free to communicate or to submit articles in braille, tape or print. In conclusion, may I express to the ACB Board of Publications my thanks for your past support and my appreciation for your confidence in permitting me to serve the American Council of the Blind as a full-time staff member in this important aspect of its growth. Mary Ballard ***** ** The Challenge of Accreditation By Otis H. Stephens For at least half a century, the accreditation process has been an increasingly important fact of professional life in the United States. The broad objective of this process is to improve the quality of professional services. This objective is implemented by developing and applying a set of uniform standards to the widest possible range of professional activity. Today, standards of accreditation are widely applied to all levels of education and are particularly influential in such professions as law and medicine. The accreditation process, so well established elsewhere in the professional world, was late in coming to the field of services to the blind. This lag resulted in part from the great diversity of services provided by the hundreds of public and private agencies in this field, ranging from the education of blind children to the vocational rehabilitation of adults, from mobility training to recreational programs. Another factor that impeded the accreditation movement in this field was the lack of professional identity, that for so many years characterized most of its personnel and programs. Although this picture began to change significantly during the World War II period, it was not until 1966 that national standards of accreditation began to be applied systematically to the specialized programs of schools and other organizations serving blind persons. During the past decade, so much controversy has surrounded the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped that a number of facts and assumptions about the accreditation process in general, and NAC's function in particular, have not received the attention that they deserve. Some of the more important of these points are discussed in the following paragraphs. First of all, it should be remembered that accreditation in the field of services to the blind is voluntary enterprise. It provides the individual agency with an opportunity to engage in a detailed, highly structured self-study and to be evaluated by qualified persons from other agencies and from related fields of activity. Accreditation gives an agency a chance to test itself against standards of performance that have been developed over a considerable period of time, chiefly through the joint efforts of professionals in the field. The formulation and revision of standards is one of NAC's primary functions. The By-Laws provide for a Commission on Standards, consisting of nine members appointed by the president of NAC for staggered terms of three years. Operating under general principles established by NAC's elected Board of Directors, this commission is responsible for the development, review, and revision of standards. These standards are numerous and detailed. They cover virtually all aspects of agency performance, from hiring practices to client or student services, from accounting and auditing procedures to the question of consumer participation in its governing authority. One of NAC's most important current efforts is a two-year project, chaired by Dr. Geraldine T. Scholl, to review and revise standards for special schools and to develop standards for pre-school services. The Commission on Accreditation, another nine-member panel subject to the same appointing procedure and policy control as the Commission on Standards, has direct responsibility for the accreditation process, including "self-studies, on-site visits, awarding and denial of accreditation, and re­accreditation." The major steps that an agency must follow in seeking accreditation include: (1} filing a formal application with NAC; (2) completion of a self-study in accordance with NAC guidelines; (3) submission of a written report based on the self-study for review by NAC; (4) participation in an on-site review of its programs and facilities by a visiting team of observers designated by NAC. When the agency under review has completed all required procedures, the Commission on Accreditation makes a decision to grant or deny accreditation. Its decision to grant accreditation can extend this recognition to a maximum period of five years, or it may be limited to a shorter time span, depending upon an assessment of the agency's strengths and weaknesses. Denial of accreditation (by no means an unusual or infrequent decision) does not bar the agency from re-applying at a later date. An accredited agency is required to submit an annual report of its activities in writing, in accordance with NAC's assessment of its performance and suggestions for improvement of services. At the end of its period of accreditation -- that is, after an interval of no more than five years--each agency must go through a re-accreditation cycle. This involves a self-reassessment and an on-site review, together with detailed written reports and responses to recommendations and suggestions. What does this elaborate review and evaluation mean? What purpose does it serve? Initial accreditation is best understood as a major early step in professional development, not as the ultimate recognition of achievement. Accreditation is badly misunderstood if it is interpreted to signify that whoever receives it has "arrived," and that everything done by the accredited agency somehow gets an advance stamp of approval simply because of the status of accreditation. That is not what accreditation is all about. When a school or other agency applies for accreditation, it in effect announces to the professional field that it is sufficiently confident about the quality and integrity of its programs to submit itself to collective professional judgment by others in the field. That decision on the agency's part may be premature or it may be sound. But whether or not accreditation is granted, the agency has committed itself to a process of review and evaluation that will continue as long as it involves itself in the accreditation process. There will never be a point, even after several consecutive re-accreditations, at which the agency will cease to be accountable to itself, to its clientele, and to the profession of which it is a part. This realization should not minimize the significance of accreditation as an achievement in the life of an agency. It is a strong indication of professional growth, and it is becoming more difficult to accomplish, and therefore more meaningful, as standards are raised. Still, the point must be emphasized that accreditation is an ongoing process. It includes both commendation and criticism based on the assumption that the responsibility of providing services can always be discharged more effectively now and in the future than it has been in the past. With respect to its own internal organization, NAC combines elements of professionalism and consumer participation. NAC is incorporated under the laws of New York. Its governing authority is divided between an elected Board of Directors and an Executive Committee. The By-Laws provide that at least one-third of the members of the Board of Directors "shall be members of, or recommended by, national membership organizations of blind and visually handicapped persons." Thus, the Board of Directors has a strong component of consumer representation. This principle is not built into the membership of the Executive Committee, although several blind persons currently serve on that body. In view of NAC's strong endorsement of consumer participation as a standard for accredited agencies, a provision assuring consumer representation on its own Executive Committee is definitely in order. The National Accreditation Council maintains a full-time staff at its New York headquarters. At present, this consists of twelve persons, five of whom are designated as "professional staff," with the others performing secretarial and other staff support functions. Members of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Commissions on Standards and Accreditation serve as non-paid volunteers. NAC provides limited reimbursement to these persons for expenses incurred in attending its meetings. Financial support has been a chronic problem for NAC, although its present position in this regard appears to be stable. Most of the organization's funding comes from private foundations, led by the American Foundation for the Blind. Private corporations and individuals contribute significantly to NAC's support, and approximately 10% of its annual income is derived from application fees and membership dues. The dues of accredited members are determined by a formula based on the agency's gross operating expenses and range from $50 to $1,000 per year. Sixty-four agencies are currently accredited by NAC. NAC is recognized by the United States Commissioner of Education as the official accrediting authority for programs offering special education to blind children. Accreditation in any professional field is not, and should never claim to be, a perfect formula for professional achievement. Like other human endeavor, it is no better than the people who implement it. But experience indicates that the accreditation process can provide a sound basis for the improvement of services to blind and visually handicapped persons. It is a self-critical process, and therein lies its value and its challenge. ***** ** To Kill a Giant By Reese Robrahn Outside of the military and defense establishments, the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare receives the lion's share of the funds annually budgeted for Federal departments and agencies, currently some $42.2 billion. Its roster of employees tops the figure of 180,000. There is no citizen of any age whose life is not somehow affected by some program administered by the Department of HEW. It is, indeed, a mammoth, a gigantic structure of governance. But the giant is ailing and is wasting away. It doesn't take a Perry Mason or a Congressional investigation to conclude that the Nixon and Ford Administrations have indulged in every conceivable means available to render ineffective, undermine, or destroy many programs of the Department, such as the vocational rehabilitation program. Their first line of attack has been opposition to constructive legislation ranging from comprehensive measures to provisions for research and demonstration and construction of rehabilitation facilities. There has been no reins-check on this attack, for both Nixon and Ford have used their presidential veto power to thwart the efforts of the Congress to make a reality of such desired and desperately needed legislation. Their next line of attack has been outright failure or refusal to comply with the law, or obstruction of the law, through the exercise of a long list of tactics and maneuvers: failure to establish guidelines and rules to implement legislation; promulgation of rules and regulations contrary to the obvious intent of the law or which "watered down" and rendered ineffective meaningful provisions of the law; issuance of never-ending orders of freezes on staff positions and supportive personnel positions; impounding of funds appropriated by the Congress for the operation of programs; recission of allocated funds; failure to perform their duties of oversight and supervision, monitoring and evaluation. Not satisfied with the devastation as the result of these practices, the Nixon and Ford Administrations have systematically appointed and employed administrators and staff who have little or no background of formal training or experience in their assigned positions and whose most notable quality has been lack of leadership. The foregoing is not an unfounded belief of this writer or an unreasoning prejudice of the American Council of the Blind. It is a conviction generally held by those both inside and outside the field of rehabilitation. Sylvia Porter, in an article entitled, "There's Foot Dragging in Rehabilitation" (Washington Star, October 10, 1977), one of series of articles written by her during the latter months of the Presidential campaign, cites as an example the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration: "The head of the RSA, Dr. Andrew S. Adams, is widely criticized for his lack of experience and weak leadership ... The RSA programs survive primarily because they are largely state run and have the strength of a 54 years' history behind them." Who knows the political affiliations of the 25 to 30 millions of citizens with handicaps? Are there any possible political reasons for such tactics on the part of the Nixon and Ford Administrations? Their justification has always been enunciated publicly as an effort to avoid adverse inflationary impacts. But it is uncontradicted that for every $1,000 spent for rehabilitation, there is returned to our economy $9,000; and that every individual who is rehabilitated earns six to 20 times the cost of the rehabilitation. In the Porter article quoted above, Dr. Howard A. Rusk, pioneering chief of the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine of New York City, is quoted as insisting: "The waste in economic terms is as incredible as in human and social terms. When the public realizes it, there will be cries of anguish and demands for change." And again, Dr. Edward W. Lowman, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University, concludes: "Ours was once the greatest rehabilitation program in the world. We must make it so again." John Brademas, Congressman from Indiana and chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on Education, sounded the alert as early as 1973 when he stated: "When word gets out across the country of what I perceive to be a clear intent on the part of the Administration to undermine and weaken and, if possible, to dissolve the federal-state vocational rehabilitation program, there will be, I think, very widespread opposition ... the most militant opposition." There have been cries of anguish and there has been widespread opposition and demand for change by citizens with handicaps across the country. We now have the change in administrations. We await the response and action of the Carter Administration. ***** ** Randolph-Sheppard Rules Litigation By Durward K. McDaniel The story of the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program began a new chapter in January, a few days before the Carter Administration assumed office. The six-year struggle to get the 1974 Amendments, and the more than two-year controversy over the issue of effective and legal rules are well known — that is to say, HEW's inability or unwillingness to do what the law required is certainly well known. The new chapter began when a complaint was filed in the Federal Court in Washington, D.C. by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, its officers and directors, the American Council of the Blind, and by Senator Donald W. Riegle of Michigan. The complaint recites a long series of duties specified by the law. It also recites the defects in proposed rules which were published by HEW in December, 1975, but which were not finalized as rules according to legal procedures. The plaintiffs complain that the proposed rules purport to delegate state licensing agencies the authority to prescribe what each of them will do, if anything, to carry out the Congressional mandates, some of which directed HEW to exercise stronger oversight and leadership functions in the vending facility program. Plaintiffs also complained that the proposed rules purported to delegate excessive authority to managers of Federal property, even to continuing the old "permit" system which has been so restrictive in the establishing and operation of facilities on Federal property. As one after another of the legal deadlines for administrative action became major defaults of duty, supporters of the legislation learned that HEW officials were treating drafts of possible rules as confidential, except for favored ones who sometimes, but not always, shared them with vendors and with other supporters of the law. During the long, wasted months, we heard rumors of an almost incredible series about the status and location of the latest drafts -- once, it was claimed that the latest copy had been lost. As January 20 approached, it was learned that Dr. Andrew S. Adams, one of the defendants, was determined to publish final rules before the 20th -- rules which had not been shared outside the Government except for a few "friends," not including the blind vendors of this country. Accordingly, in order to prevent the issuance of a bad set of rules which would be detrimental to blind vendors, and in order to destroy the veil of secrecy which the defendants had drawn over the public's business, the plaintiffs asked the Court to require publication of new proposed rules which would conform to the Act; and, further, after receiving public comments, to publish final rules which would carry out the intent of the law. The plaintiffs asked that the new proposed rules be published within 45 days, and that the final rules be published no later than 45 days thereafter. The vendors knew that if they permitted bad rules to be issued now, it would take some time to get them reconsidered by the new Administration. Since none were issued, and the lawsuit is pending, the new Administration will have to give the subject immediate attention. The goal of doubling the number of job opportunities in this program by 1979 cannot now be achieved, but with new personnel and a new administrative attitude, the vendors and their allies will be negotiating for an accelerated plan for expansion and for 100% Federal funding for the program to make it possible. Even the old Act required the making of surveys of Federal and other property for vending locations. The amended Act continues that duty, and RSVA will press hard for that obvious prerequisite for the expansion of the program. The old and new Acts also created a Federal duty to survey for other job opportunities for blind people, and many allied organizations will be pressing hard for that neglected function to be activated. The complaint in the vendors' case asks the Court to order that such surveys be done within 90 days. Candidate Jimmy Carter took a special interest in the concerns and needs of handicapped people -- and included a promise that they will confer with the Secretary of HEW in his office rather than in the courtroom. We consider that a bleak chapter in the story of Randolph-Sheppard has ended and that a new, promising one has now begun. The Braille Forum commends the plaintiffs and expresses special appreciation to Senator Riegle for joining in the institution of this constructive litigation. ***** ** Delay in Section 504 Regulations, One Last Slap at the Handicapped One of the last acts of the Ford Administration on January 17, 1977, was the decision of F. David Mathews, Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, not to sign or publish the final regulations prohibiting discrimination against handicapped individuals under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As late as January 14, information from reliable sources close to the Secretary was that he had signed off on all issues and that the Regulations would be signed and published before he went out of office. On Sunday, January 16, those sources advised that the Secretary had decided that he would not sign the Regulations, but instead he would refer them to the Congress for its approval. This procedure is unorthodox and was not called for by Congress. Early Monday morning, Reese Robrahn, Director of Research and Governmental Affairs for the American Council of the Blind, Frank Bowe, Executive Director of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, Dan Yohalen, a lawyer with the Children's Defense Fund, and representatives of several other interested organizations met at the HEW's South Portal Building, where the group went to the offices of the Secretary and remained until granted an audience. The group discussed in detail with the Secretary his proposed decision and action, in an attempt to dissuade him from the apparent last-minute move. It was urged by the group that the Secretary, as an alternative, should simply leave the Regulations on his desk, unsigned, to be dealt with by his successor as he might see fit, rather than to tie the hands of his successor by the proposed referral to Congress. The group reminded the Secretary that he was under the Court's order in the Cherry case (see The Braille Forum, September­October, 1976) to issue the Regulations without further delay. And the group characterized the Secretary's proposed move as a "slap in the face to all handicapped citizens throughout the country." The Secretary was steadfast and announced that he would proceed with his plan. The plaintiffs in the Cherry case filed appropriate pleadings upon which there was a hearing on Tuesday, January 18, at which the Court found that the Secretary was in violation of the Court's Order issued on July 19, 1976, and ordered the Secretary to sign the Regulations. The following day, the Judge denied a motion to stay, but granted a temporary stay for appeal, whereupon the Government took the matter of staying the Order to the Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of the Secretary and stayed the Order. In the meantime, Secretary Mathews by letter had referred the Regulations to the Congress. All efforts of the group are now being focused upon bringing about a decision on the part of the Congress to not formally consider approval of the Regulations and to bring about swift action on the part of the new Secretary, who at this writing has not been confirmed by the Senate. ***** ** Heaven in '77 By O.L. Joiner, Jr. Florida Council of the Blind President Paul Sparkman has devised a unique system to supply members and friends of the American Council of the Blind with information concerning the ACB national convention to be held at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, July 10-16, 1977. This system is for all committee chairmen to notify him of their various activities so that he can pass on to you information about the events that will take place. First of all, place a large star on your calendar for the second week in July, 1977. A good notation for this star would be the theme of the convention: HEAVEN IN '77. Jay Root and his General Convention Committee, along with Chick Cramption, chairman of the Physical Facilities Arrangements Committee, are working closely with ACB National Convention Oral Miller on all details to make this a successful convention. As you who have hosted national conventions in the past know, it takes money to run a convention. Our able fund-raising chairman, Carl McCoy and his committee already have several projects going toward this end. To give you a good idea of the thoroughness of the convention committees, Eric Harris, chairman of the Dog Guide Committee, has already arranged with the Deauville Hotel management for a dog guide relief box. Those of you who use dog guides, please remember to ask for its location as soon as you arrive. Vera McClain, Program Committee chairman, has made a good start toward a wonderful program by contacting prospective speakers. Many of the speakers she plans to invite are nationally known, and the program for "Heaven in '77" is one you won't want to miss. Details on room rates, reservation and registration procedures, and the like will be included in upcoming issues of the Braille Forum. Remember, the star on your calendar symbolizes the star over the Deauville Hotel on the beach in Miami, where it will truly be "Heaven in '77!" ***** ** Lest We Forget By George Fogarty (Editor's Note: The following is based on an address which Mr. Fogarty delivered at the last convention of the Oregon Council of the Blind.) While these remarks may lack originality, they are made with a conviction and sincerity that merit their making and hopefully render them worthy of reading at this time. George Santayana has said, "Those who do not remember the past may be doomed to repeat it." We know that to ignore the past is to deprive today of its meaning tomorrow. An organization exists because a group of people recognize that they have common problems and bind themselves together to work for their solution. If those people can intelligently examine their problems, gather all the relevant information needed, systematically imagine solving their problems, and commit themselves to work for their solution, the organization can be an effective problem-solving body. Dr. Newell Perry, who entered so deeply into the lives of those of us who knew him because he took us so deeply into his, taught us years ago that only through organized effort could the unique needs of the blind be known and met, and that only in this way would the benefits thus obtained be retained and advanced to meet the ever-changing conditions affecting their needs, be they local, state, or national. He learned through years of relentless effort and deep disappointment that individual effort, however well executed and however great, could not of itself bring about the changes he knew to be necessary if the blind were ever to know the full and meaningful life he envisioned for them. He therefore first organized the Alumni Association of Self-Supporting Blind, consisting of former students at the California School for the Blind, in 1898 -- a name that had to be conjured up largely out of hope rather than from reality, inasmuch as self-supporting blind were practically non-existent then. It was Dr. Perry who, more than any other person, imbued us with a sense of common cause, a spirit of cooperative effort in seeking solutions to our problems. More than any other person, it was he who taught us that the blind can and must lead the blind, and the sighted, too, when dealing with the problems of the blind. More than any other person, it was he who made us aware that to go on unorganized was to remain disorganized, and this we can never again afford to be. The culmination of Dr. Perry's dream would seem to have come about with the formation of the National Federation of the Blind, the first national organization of blind people, in 1941. For years, through the tireless efforts of many, its growth was phenomenal and its accomplishments notable. However, with prosperity and power came disaster and tragedy. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a sharp difference of opinion arose as to how best to reach the goals we all sought. Should it require rigid loyalty to a single individual and unquestioning subservience to a single set of ideas as a condition precedent to success, as alleged by some, or could there be a difference with dignity within our ranks as to the best way to go forward, as contended by others? During the course of the argument, many foolish and reckless tactics were resorted to by those upholding the strong leader at any cost -- suspension, expulsion, incredible infringements upon the right of free speech -- unreasoned force rather than the force of reason. Perhaps it could best be summed up in B.H. Robbins' quatrain: "How a minority, reaching majority, seizes authority, hates a minority." While many felt compelled to remain with what had once been a great and consecrated organization, there were also those, and they were many, who could not bring themselves to agree that good ends could excuse bad means, or that bad means could become good ends in themselves. It was with a heavy heart, deep in sorrow too profound to describe, that Dr. Newell Perry, who had shown the way for so long and had made possible so much for so many, together with countless others whose deeds are legion, joined forces with those who could not consent to such acts as just referred to. This unresolved crisis resulted in the formation of the American Council of the Blind on July 7, 1961. The relentless purge went on, spreading havoc within the organized blind movement, resulting in the total withdrawal of some whom the organized blind movement could ill afford to lose. Fortunately, most of them eventually returned, finding their faith restored by the democratic principles practiced and the responsible leadership shown by the leaders of the American Council of the Blind. Let us forgive and forget, say the peacemakers. Fine -- so far as the forgiving goes. We bear no ill will. We are all for peace, for unity, for harmony -- provided we are not asked to sacrifice the ideals for which we have struggled too long. ***** ** More Low-Income Workers Eligible for Tax Credit More low-income workers can claim an Earned Income Credit of up to $400 due to changes in eligibility requirements made by the Tax Reform Act of 1976, the Internal Revenue Service said. To qualify for the credit, a worker's total adjusted gross income must be less than $8,000. In addition, workers must also have paid over half the cost of keeping up a home-owned or rented-for themselves and their child who is under 19 years of age or a full-time student, or for their disabled child 19 years of age or older who qualifies as a dependent. Previously, according to the IRS, the child had to be a dependent and there was no special provision for a disabled dependent child. The Earned Income Credit may be used to help pay Federal taxes owing, or sent to the worker as a refund check. However, any money received because of a credit does not count as income when the person is considered for Federally funded public assistance programs, the IRS said. Eligible workers must file a Federal income tax return, Form 1040 or 1040A to claim the credit, even if they are not normally required to file. Both single and married persons may qualify, but married couples must file a joint return. The IRS will compute the credit if the filer provides some basic information and writes "EIC" on the appropriate line of the tax form. For those whose total and earned income for 1976 was $4,000 or less, the credit amounts to 10% of their earnings, up to a maximum of $400. Individuals whose incomes fall between $4,000 and $8,000 must reduce the credit by 10% of the amount of total income or earned income, whichever is larger, over $4,000. A qualifying husband and wife whose income was $7,000 for 1976, including $5,000 of earned income, would arrive at their credit in the following way: As a starting point, they would use the maximum possible credit of $400. They would then reduce the maximum by 10% of $3,000, which is the amount of income in excess of $4,000. Ten per cent of $3,000 is $300, so their credit would be $400 minus $300, or $100. The IRS said that the Forms 1040 and 1040A tax packages provide instructions for claiming the Earned Income Credit. They also contain a handy order blank for ordering the free IRS Publication 596, "Tax Benefit for Low-Income Individuals." Persons who did not receive tax packages in the mail may pick up the forms and instructions at local IRS offices and at many banks and post offices. More information can be secured from Internal Revenue Service, Public Affairs Division, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20224. ***** ** American Blind Lawyers Win Important Victory for Employment of the Blind By Oral Miller, President American Blind Lawyers Association Isn't it frustrating when you see a bureaucrat do something wrong, while insisting he is acting properly? Can you imagine how I felt last June when I learned that the District of Columbia Government, which is bound by the rules and policies of the United States Civil Service Commission, announced that it intended to withdraw secretarial and reading assistance from a blind employee in its Corporation Counsel's Office? At that time, the blind attorney involved had been with that office approximately ten years, and over the years he had earned several important promotions. In short, despite the gallant demonstrances made and the countless policies adopted by the Federal Government to encourage and facilitate employment of the handicapped, an agency claiming to respect and abide by those same policies was making it virtually impossible for a valued handicapped employee to perform his duties. That situation turned out to be merely the tip of the iceberg. At its national conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in July, members of the American Blind Lawyers Association (ABLA), after hearing full discussion of the issues, directed the president to look into the matter thoroughly and take any steps necessary to compel the Federal Government to give more than lip service to its announced policies concerning the employment of the handicapped. Very soon thereafter, a committee consisting of approximately ten ABLA members working in the Washington metropolitan area met to analyze the problem and map strategy and tactics. As ironic as it may seem, it was the following day when the Washington Evening Star carried a lead article quoting a high District of Columbia official as saying, preposterous though it sounded, that public funds could not legally be used to pay for reading assistance for blind employees. The agreed upon response of the ABLA was swift, direct and telling, as shown by the following excerpt from its letter dated July 29, 1976 to President Gerald Ford: "At our annual convention, July 4-6, 1976, the American Blind Lawyers Association discussed and took official action by the way of a resolution directing the writing of this letter concerning a problem of reader services and readers for Federal and District of Columbia employees who are visually impaired. "In 1962, the Congress of the United States passed the Employment of Readers for Blind Employees Act. ... "The obvious intent of Congress in passing this Act was to foster and encourage the employment of blind persons in Federal and District of Columbia governments, and the retention in such employment of those employees who became visually impaired. In order to accomplish this purpose, the Act authorizes and legalizes the employment of readers for blind persons, to be compensated by such blind employees themselves or by a non-profit organization, and Congress makes it clear that such authorization and the payment for such secretarial services by blind employees or non-profit organizations was not to be held or considered to limit in any way the assignment to a blind employee by an agency of clerical or secretarial assistance at the expense of the agency. "Since the passage of this Act until the last year or two, the policy of most Federal departments and agencies has been substantially consistent with the intent and purpose of the Act and the policies expressed in FPM Bulletin 306-8, which makes provision for the necessary aid and assistance to blind employees from personnel within the agency. However, in the last year or two, it is our understanding and belief that there have been direct agency, inter­agency, and the office memoranda which state or imply that it is illegal to employ or provide secretarial reader services for blind employees unless such employees would otherwise be entitled to secretarial services. Several cases have come to our attention recently in which, notwithstanding the long practice to the contrary, secretarial reader services for blind employees, provided at Federal agency expense, have been terminated or so severely reduced that the amount of secretarial reader services provided 1s an absurdity. We believe that this change in policy and the actions taken pursuant thereto aborts the intent of Congress in its passage of the Act and, in addition, is contrary and repugnant to the spirit and intent of Sections 501, 503, and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. ... "Our organization, the American Blind Lawyers Association, stands ready to assist your staff in the investigation of this matter, not only because of the direct serious effects on the employment status of some of our own members, but also because of the serious and adverse result on the employment of all blind persons in the Federal Government. ..." On September 2, 1976, U.S. Civil Service Commission Chairman Robert E. Hampton responded to the above letter in part as follows: " ... We are concerned if agencies are not following the letter and spirit of the Employment of Readers for Blind Employees Act (P.L. 817-614), as well as our Federal Personnel Manual Bulletin 306-8, dated November 18, 1975, which advises that agencies have administrative authority to assign regular employees to provide reading services on a part-time or "as required" basis to blind employees. ..." On September 15, 1976, the American Blind Lawyers Association, in a move designed to gain additional support for its position, wrote to Senator Jennings Randolph in part as follows: " ... Blind applicants for jobs under Federal Civil Service are being advised that it is illegal for the Federal Government to pay for reader services under any circumstance. Thus, under the foregoing policy, it becomes necessary for the blind Federal employee to provide all or most of the necessary reader services in order to remain an efficient and productive employee ... "Because of your long-standing demonstrated interest in legislation to provide employment opportunity for blind and other handicapped individuals, we address this letter to you to respectfully request your intercession and assistance in bringing about a practical solution to the problem. In the short run, we are interested in the clarification of the law and policy with regard to reader services, and in the long run, we stand ready to support legislation which will require Federal departments and agencies to provide reader services in accordance with the practice of "reasonable accommodation" provided for in the Regulations under Section 503 and the proposed Regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. ..." On October 13, 1976, ABLA representatives met with Civil Service Commission representatives in a very candid, polite, but firm and serious conference and demanded the re-issuance of FPM Bulletin 306-8 (which was scheduled to expire soon thereafter), the inclusion of additional wording in the re-issued bulletin to remove any conceivable ambiguity (although the original bulletin was, in our opinion, crystal clear to everyone but a number of Federal officials), mass distribution of the re-issued bulletin, and the opening of channels for submission of future complaints regarding violations. The position of the American Blind Lawyers Association was thereafter set forth in a second letter to President Gerald Ford, dated October 21, 1976. The official news of victory came by letter dated November 16, 1976 from Ms. Hedwyg Oswald of the Civil Service Commission. That letter stated: "As a result of our discussion on October 13, 1976, we have re-issued the Federal Personnel Manual Bulletin 306-9, 'Reading and Interpreting Assistance for the Blind and Deaf Employees" … This bulletin, which has been distributed to all users of the Federal Personnel Manual system, re-emphasizes the importance of the program and clarifies further details for providing reading assistance for blind employees." The most pertinent sections of FPM Bulletin 306-9 provide, in substance, that the Employment of Readers Act (referred to above) was intended to remove prohibitions which were preventing some blind employees from obtaining any outside reading assistance, but it was not intended to be substituted for other arrangements which some employees and agencies had made; that agencies have the administrative authority to assign their regular employees to provide reading services on a part-time or "as required" basis; that the services can be classified as "other duties as assigned"; that providing reading assistance to a blind employee does not relieve an agency in any way of the responsibility to provide in those clerical, secretarial and/or stenographic assistance to that employee in those instances where the blind employee's position entitles him to or requires such assistance, and that in most instances the person providing clerical, secretarial, and/ or stenographic assistance for a blind employee will also provide reading assistance, since such an arrangement seems to have proven most helpful to blind employees. In order for blind Federal employees and blind applicants for Federal employment to receive the consideration and the assistance to which they are entitled, it is essential for us to know when the letter or spirit of the statutes and regulations summarized above is being violated. Accordingly, anyone who believes he has been or is about to be deprived of his rights should contact Ms. Hedwyg Oswald, Chief, Office of Selective Placement, Bureau of Recruiting and Examining, United States Civil Service Commission, 1900 E Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20415. A carbon copy of any letters of complaint should also be sent to the president of the American Blind Lawyers Association at 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036. Please do not let our efforts be wasted! ***** ** Braille Authority of North America For several years there has been a Braille Authority in the United States. Originally it consisted of representatives of two organizations, the American Association of Workers for the Blind and the American Association of Instructors of the Blind, now the Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped. In more recent times, the National Braille Association was made a part of the Braille Authority. Its function has been that of a final arbiter of changes in the various English braille codes used in the United States. The Braille Authority was rather loosely structured, and the ultimate authority was really in the constituent organizations. Technical committees and an advisory council were utilized as part of the working processes, and many notable people participated in the work. In 1976, the constituent organizations decided that the Braille Authority should be broadened to involve many others. Accordingly, an invitation was issued and a meeting was held in September, with eight additional organizations, all of which have now accepted positions on the re-named Braille Authority of North America (BANA). They and their representatives at the first meeting held on December 2 are: American Council of the Blind, Durward K. McDaniel; American Foundation for the Blind, Loyal E. Apple; American Printing House for the Blind, Carson Nolan and Ralph McCracken; Association of Computing Machinery, Robert A.J. Gildea; Canadian National Institute for the Blind, E.G. Brown and Darleen Bogart; Clovernook Home and School for the Blind, Martin F. Droege; Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Richard Evensen; and the National Federation of the Blind, Kenneth Jernigan and Mary Ellen Anderson. The organizations of the old Braille Authority were represented by Harold G. Roberts for the American Association of Workers for the Blind, Mrs. Irvin P. Richmond for the National Braille Association, and James E. Haralson for the Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped. Four officers were elected unanimously: Chairman, Harold G. Roberts; Vice Chairman, Kenneth Jernigan; Secretary, Mrs. Irvin P. Richmond; Treasurer, Martin F. Droege. The new organization will be formally incorporated and will establish plans and procedures for carrying out its mission. Each participating organization will have one vote and will pay annual dues of $500. A subcommittee was appointed to consider the interrelation of BANA with a research project now being conducted on some of the braille codes by Florida State University. That meeting has already been held. Since there are substantial numbers of French and Spanish braille readers in North America, BANA decided not to restrict its work to English braille. ***** ** Index of Legal Materials Being Compiled The American Blind Lawyers Association, with the assistance of the Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary, is currently compiling a central legal index system as an aid for blind attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. This is known as the Gerritt Smith Van Valkenburgh Legal Index, which is being funded by the Thomas and Frances Leach Foundation. Mrs. Thomas Witt Leach became interested in this project after seeing a televised account of the Association's 1975 national conference. The Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary is searching for legal subject matter which is on cassette, open-reel disc, or in braille. The Van Valkenburgh Legal Index will not be a library or collection of materials. It will be a series of indices telling where such material can be located. If you have any of the aforementioned materials or know of someone who does, please contact the Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary at 3545 E. 51st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135. It will be necessary for the Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary to have the title, author, publisher, publication date, and subject matter. In addition, the Auxiliary would need to know in what form the material exists (e.g., braille or tape), how many volumes or tapes are involved, where the material is located, whether it can be loaned to readers, if there are any charges to borrowers, or whether there are any lending restrictions. If you would like to donate any such material to the Van Valkenburgh Legal Index, send it to the Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary at the address listed above. It will then be indexed and forwarded to a library for storage and circulation. Anyone who would like to have additional information on the American Blind Lawyers Association should write to the Tulsa County Bar Auxiliary, which will forward all inquiries to the Association. ***** ** White House Conference Update By Betty Ann Jones The national White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals is now in the final planning stages. The conference will be held from May 23 through May 27 at the Sheraton-Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, DC 20008. As a natural outgrowth of the conferences held in every state and territory, delegates at the National Conference will consider the issues recommended by the states. The Sheraton-Park Hotel was selected because it was found to be the most accessible facility in the Washington area providing adequate meeting space for the Conference. Also, the hotel management has been extremely cooperative in agreeing to make the necessary modifications for the Conference. A special Site Committee concerned with modifications for the blind has worked with the hotel. This committee consists of Dennis Wyant, Ph.D., who is active with the Blinded Veterans Association, and myself. Immediately preceding the National Conference, and during the Conference itself, members on the White House Conference staff will be designated as liaison contacts for the deaf, the physically disabled, and the blind. If there are any questions dealing with the visually impaired, please contact me, Betty Ann Jones, at the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, 1832 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 382-3722. ***** ** ACB Affiliate News * New York Convention, 1976 "Our Past -- Our Present -- Our Future" was the theme of the 1976 convention of the American Council of the Blind of New York State, held at the Summit Hotel, New York City, over Columbus Day weekend, October 8-11. Despite adverse weather conditions -- high winds and torrential rains which caused power failures and many cancellations in the area -- the convention was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Friday evening was given over to Board and committee meetings, while Saturday and Sunday were highlighted by a roster of outstanding speakers and panelists. Representing the past in work for the blind, Frances Koestler, author of "The Unseen Minority: A Social History of Blindness in the United States," pointed out some of the things which we as blind people take for granted as our right. She spoke briefly of the history of how some of these rights were won, pointing out that central to all was the history of braille itself. Raymond (Bud) Keith, blind employee with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, discussed his work in the area of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the development of regulations to implement that vitally important section. He pointed out the significance of the fact that, largely through the pressures of ACB and other consumer groups, the various stages of these regulations, as published in the Federal Register, have been distributed in braille, large-type and flexible disc. "Outstanding!" That was the expression heard on all sides following the two panels on Saturday afternoon. "Blind People with Unusual Professions" featured a nuclear physicist (Dr. S. Bradley Burson, charter member and immediate past first vice president of National ACB), a psychiatrist, and a stockbroker and analyst. The three members of the panel on "Blind People in the Arts" not only fascinated the audience by their formal presentations, but were on hand throughout the weekend to exhibit their craftsmanship. Panelists were: Gladys Barry, sculptor; Carol Coons, stained-glass artist; and Vasile Snacoveanu, master wood carver. Sunday's program stressed various aspects of the future for blind people. Mr. James Aillo, Architect, discussed research being done by Syracuse University in the area of a "barrier-free environment," and the work of the American National Standards Institute in updating regulations governing various aspects of architectural barriers. "Politics, the Blind, and the American Dream" was the title selected by Dr. Patrick V. Peppe, blind professor of political science, Lehman College, New York City, for his thought-provoking remarks. The balance of the day was devoted to a panel, "Gestalt Therapy — Who Is Responsible?" led by Michael Kriegsfeld, Ph.D., and to workshops on consciousness-raising, gestalt therapy, and transactional analysis. Featured at the Sunday evening banquet was a dramatic reading by the Elbee Players of W. Somerset Maugham's "Winter Cruise," with several ACB of New York members in the cast. Officers elected at the Monday morning business meeting were: President, Eunice Fiorito New York City; First Vice President, Ruth Williams, Albany; Second Vice President, Josephine Defini, New York City; Third Vice President, Ralph Santorelli, Endicott; Secretary, Mary Santorelli, Endicott, Treasurer, Jack Ried, New York City. * California Convention By Harriet Fielding Associated Blind of California, Inc. will change its name. Recognizing the importance of being known as the California affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, the membership of the Associated Blind of California at its October convention voted to change the name of the California organization to the American Council of the Blind - California. George Fogarty, president of ACB-C, states that the California affiliate should benefit greatly from the name change, because of the prestige of the parent group, the American Council of the Blind, now so well-known and respected nationally. The business session at which the momentous decision was made to change the name of the organization was but a small part of an extremely successful convention. With the attendance of nearly 150 alert, concerned visually impaired persons, each convention session was provocative and interesting. Audience participation in question-and-answer periods following various panel discussions was at high level. Among several important issues discussed were two rather controversial matters. California blind persons had been eagerly awaiting the report of a task force appointed by Edward V. Roberts, Director, California State Department of Rehabilitation, to study the operation and programs of the State Orientation Center for the Blind at Albany. There had been much criticism and controversy over the administration of the Orientation Center, and the study was made of the entire facility in order to disclaim or give credence to the many rumors which had been circulating throughout the State for several years. Statements from former students revealed that it was the consensus of opinion of those interviewed that OCB had been of enormous value in adjusting to blindness. They had regained pride and dignity, they stated. Reports from task force members on curriculum and management indicated a definite need for improvement and change, but the task force as a whole agreed that despite present difficulties, the Orientation Center for the Blind is an important, much-needed facility. The director of the Department of Rehabilitation has stated that some of the recommendations of the task force were already being implemented. A new issue brought before the convention was the plight of the partially seeing individual. Very little is now being done for the legally blind person who has usable central or peripheral sight. "He is neither fish nor fowl" was the statement made by a participant in a panel discussion on low-vision aids. There was definite cleavage of opinion among the convention delegates as to whether a partially seeing person should be trained to function as a blind individual or whether he should be trained, through the use of low-vision aids, to use to the best advantage his residual sight. The matter was not resolved, but it was pointed out that many persons with stable, usable sight refuse to attend the Orientation Center, where they could receive much help because they must wear blindfolds when receiving mobility training. One of the task force recommendations to be effected by the Department of Rehabilitation is the establishment of a low-vision department where the partially seeing individual can receive the special attention he needs. In compliance with the usual convention practice, reports on legislation, finance, and membership were given. Highlight of the Sunday evening banquet was a talk by Edward V. Roberts, Director, State Department of Rehabilitation, who spoke of his concept of rehabilitation for the severely handicapped. An unusual complication arose to impede the orderly progress of the convention, when several earnest conventioners came down with the 24-hour­flu. One such victim was this writer, who owes a debt of gratitude to Byrdyna Goodart, San Diego delegate, who provided the notes for this article. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From IN TOUCH WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES (Florida State University): Miss Marjorie Hooper, who after forty years at the American Printing House for the Blind retired as Braille Editor in 1973, has joined the staff of Florida State University. Under a U.S. Office of Education research grant, she will be bringing together authorities in the different braille codes and hammering out differences of opinion as to the best usages in each code. Within three years, she will present a consensus to the Braille Authority of North America. From GUIDE DOG MAGAZINE (Australia): A programmed system of learning braille, using a braille booklet and tape-recorded instructions, has been developed by Dr. Michael Tobin at the Research Center for Education of the Visually Handicapped, University of Birmingham, England. The main advantage of the system, according to Dr. Tobin, is its simplicity. It can be used by anyone with a cassette player. The learner listens to the instructions on the tape and then carries them out in the booklet. They can be repeated as often as necessary. From DBPH NEWS: A 46-page catalog of tape recordings is available from the Johanna Bureau for the Blind, 22 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60602. The catalog contains more than 1,000 titles of hard-to-find books. The Bureau duplicates copies for borrowers, the terms and charges for which are outlined in the catalog. --- Congress has approved, and the President has signed, an appropriation of $21,729,000 for the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for fiscal 1977. This is an increase of $5,794,000 over the 1976 appropriation. The increased appropriation will allow DBPH to provide sound­producer equipment to meet reading requirements at the most economical cost; to continue to convert production to cassettes and flexible discs; to increase the quality and quantity of braille material; to expand the collection of musical scores and texts; and to provide additional administrative support to the national network of cooperating agencies through the development of such services as expanded reference and information systems and support of the volunteer program. From THE SEEING EYE GUIDE: After 17 years of maintaining its quality program of services to blind people without any outside support, the Seeing Eye is resuming its fund-raising efforts. In a recent letter to former contributors, it was indicated that the solicitations would take two forms: annual contributions and a broader deferred-giving program. The action was made necessary, the letter explained, by steadily rising operating costs growing out of the general economic condition of the country. ---- Legislation protecting dog guide users against discrimination is spreading in Canada. The Province of Ontario recently implemented a law, perhaps the strictest such statute passed to date, that guarantees the right of a blind person to have a dog with him or her in all places and conveyances open to the public, including rental housing. Violations are subject to a $1,000 fine. In the United States, the Department of the Army has directed that dog guides accompanied by their blind owners are to be admitted to all military facilities. Legally blind individuals over 14 years of age who are interested in cross-country skiing are invited to participate in the Lions International Blind Cross-Country Skiing Tournament, to be held April 3-10, 1977, at Snowmass Resort, Aspen, Colorado. A registration fee of $100 is required of each participant, to cover lodging, meals, cross-country skiing equipment, and transportation. For those needing it, financial assistance may be available from one's local Lions Club. For more information, write to Lions of Colorado, 7610 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 202, Lakewood, CO 80226. From THE NEW OUTLOOK FOR THE BLIND: Health education literature is available in braille from Braille Volunteers of Huntington (P.O. Box 9422, Huntington, WV 25704). Included are pamphlets from the Arthritis Foundation, American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association. For a complete listing of price information, write to Braille Volunteers at the above address. ---- The North Central Technical Institute, Wausau, Wisconsin, is now using a specially programmed computer to produce braille material such as bus schedules, telephone directories, reference works, and study aids that are vital to bind and visually handicapped person on the job, and possession of which might mean the difference between success and failure. The computer used is capable of producing a page of Grade 2 braille in six seconds from a variety of sources, including typed copy, magnetic tape, and punched cards. The service is being offered to visually impaired people throughout the United States. From NBA BULLETIN: Visually impaired applicants may now obtain the Professional and Administrative Career Examination in braille, large print, and cassette tape forms, according to an announcement by the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Also available in these media are special sample question booklets used for study prior to taking the examination. Further information may be obtained by writing to U.S. Civil Service Commission, Bureau of Recruiting and Examining, Washington, DC 20415. From HOOSIER STARLIGHT: Carleton E. Morse, Radio Programs for the Blind, has several thousand tapes of radio shows such as "One Man's Family," "Burns and Allen," "The Shadow," etc. Write Radio for the Blind, Box 1973, Cambridge, MA 02139, for information or to make arrangements for the tapes. From INSIGHT (Grant County, Indiana Association of the Blind): Another step toward independence has been given to the blind and partially sighted by the installation of plates beside the control button sin the elevators of the Marion National Bank Building. The plates give, both in braille and embossed figures, necessary information for the floors, emergency stop, and location of the bell, telephone, and door "Open" and "Close" buttons. Each floor is marked at a height of 4 ft., 7 in., which can be read either from inside or outside the elevator car. From DIAMONDBACK (University of Maryland): The first braille sign system on the University of Maryland's College Park campus was installed recently in Shoemaker Hall. The system includes 87 directional and informational signs which identify areas both by name and number in embossed, dark-blue and white print, and in braille. This system will serve as a model for possible expansion of the project to all campus areas. From PROGRAMS FOR THE HANDICAPPED: "Affirmative Action to Employ Handicapped People" is a new pocket guide to the regulations of affirmative action requirements of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It was prepared by, and may be obtained from, the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, 1111 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. ---- New Eyes for the Needy is a charitable, non-profit organization which collects and redistributes eyeglasses throughout the world. Last year, over 65,000 pairs of eyeglasses were redistributed to medical missions in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, the Philippines, and India. Those wishing to participate in this program may do so by collecting and mailing used and discarded glasses to New Eyes for the Needy, Inc., Short Hills, New Jersey. ---- The Journal of Rehabilitation is a publication of the National Rehabilitation Association. Braille copies are available on loan from your regional library or on subscription from Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231. The Journal is available on cassette from Recording for the Blind, 215 E. 58th Street, New York, NY 10022. ***** *** American Council of the Blind Group Life Insurance Program Dear ACB Member: It is my pleasure to announce an important new ACB membership benefit: THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM. This is a voluntary program that will provide you with up to $50,000 of group term insurance payable in the event of death from any cause (excluding suicide during the first two years of coverage). This program provides you with maximum protection for your premium dollar and allows you to enroll the members of your family. If you tried to obtain life insurance on your own, you are undoubtedly aware of how the blind have been discriminated against. Rates are typically higher for blind persons, and in many cases applications for insurance are denied altogether. Enrollment in the ACB Group Life Insurance Program, however, is open to all members up to age 65. You now have the opportunity to start or supplement your own insurance plan, and to do so at low-cost group term insurance rates. Members who have been blind for less than five years may enroll in Plan A. All others up to age 65 may enroll in Plan B. With inflation taking more of every dollar you make, the ACB Group Life Insurance program provides you with the opportunity to buy the life insurance you need. Additionally, you have the advantage of being able to insure the members of your family -- your spouse up to $2,500 and each of your children up to $1,000. Some other advantages of this program include: - You will be covered 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world. - Benefits will be paid directly to you or your choice of beneficiary. - You will pay economical group premium rates made possible by the volume enrollment of ACB members. - The program is offered in conjunction with Sentry Life Insurance Company, one of the most respected life insurance companies in America, with over $2 billion of life insurance in force. - Your satisfaction with the program is guaranteed or your money will be refunded, if you so request, within fifteen days of your receipt of your Certificate of Insurance. The ACB has carefully reviewed this program of insurance, its administrators, and its underwriters: We believe them to represent the finest coverage and service available. Since the enrollment period for the ACB Group Life Insurance Program ends on March 31, 1977, we urge you to give the Program your immediate consideration. Sincerely, Durward K. McDaniel National Representative American Council of the Blind PLEASE NOTE: This program will not be initially available to residents of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, and Texas, because regulations in these states do not permit such a program at this time. ** Eight Important Reasons Why You Should Enroll In the American Council of the Blind Group Life Insurance Program 1. To help create a capital fund to partially offset loss of future earnings as a result of premature death. 2. To help your entire life insurance program keep pace with recent inflation (1976 inflation alone is projected to amount to 8.8%). 3. To help pay off your mortgage so that your family would be guaranteed the right to continue living in your home. 4. To provide educational funds for your child(ren) if death occurs before their education is complete. 5. To provide a readjustment fund for your spouse. 6. To provide for parents, siblings, or other relatives dependent on you. 7. To provide yourself with the security of knowing your loved ones will be provided for in the event of your untimely death. 8. To provide liquidity to your estate and beneficiaries so that non-liquid assets would not have to be sold at a loss to meet your family's short-term needs for cash. For all these reasons and more, the ACB Group Life Insurance Program deserves your careful consideration. When you have read the complete details of the program that follow, all you have to do to apply for coverage is complete and return the application form which you will be receiving in the mail in the near future. Enroll in the program now, under the following favorable conditions: LOW GROUP RATES -- Because this is a group plan, administrative procedures are streamlined for significant cost savings (members may enroll through the mail, in the privacy of their own homes). These savings are passed on to you and your fellow ACB members. The premiums for the program are shown on the schedule following the Sample Enrollment Form. HIGH LIMIT COVERAGE -- Under the ACB Group Life Insurance Program, you can enjoy $10,000 to $50,000 coverage, and you can purchase this high-level protection at rates you can afford. You can also insure your spouse (up to $2,500) and your children (up to $1,000 each). FAMILY COVERAGE AVAILABLE -- As stated above, your spouse and dependent children are eligible for protection under this program. Dependent children are those children between the ages of two weeks and 23 years of age, provided they are primarily dependent on the insured member for support. NO PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIRED -- To apply for coverage under the Program, all you have to do is decide the amount of coverage you want, fill out the application form which will be mailed to you, and mail it with your initial premium payment. Your insurability will be determined based on your answers to four simple questions on the application. Members who have been blind for less than five years may enroll in Plan A. All others up to age 65 may enroll in Plan B. LIBERAL EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES -- At any time prior to age 65, you may exchange your ACB Term Life Coverage for any individual cash value whole life policy issued by the underwriter. Sentry Life Insurance Company of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. ELIGIBILITY -- Members of the ACB up to age 65 are eligible to enroll in this life insurance program. Questions and Answers Regarding the Program Q. When will my coverage become effective? A. Your coverage will become effective March 31, 1977, or upon attainment of the Sentry Life Insurance Company's approval, whichever is later. Q. What is the need for the American Council of the Blind Group Life Insurance Program? A. This program provides maximum coverage during the years when you and your family need additional protection. It enables you to supplement your existing life insurance program with low-cost group term insurance. In this way, you obtain maximum protection for your premium dollar. This program enables members to supplement any current insurance that a member may now have, which may be inadequate because of inflation, or an increase in responsibilities. Q. Whom may I make my beneficiary? A. A member may name anyone he wishes as the beneficiary, and he may change the beneficiary at any time upon written notice to the administrator. The member shall automatically be the beneficiary for any dependent coverage. Q. What is my proof of coverage? A. Individual certificates of insurance will be sent to all members stating the essential features of coverage, upon approval of the member's enrollment form by the insurance company. Q. Who pays the claims? A. All claims shall be paid by the Sentry Life Insurance Company, the underwriter of the Program. This fine company is a part of the Sentry Group, which began in 1903. The Sentry Group consists of more than forty companies in over seventy locations throughout the world. * Companies Behind the American Council of the Blind Group Life Insurance Program Administered by: Kirke-Van Orsdale Incorporated KVI Center, Lock Box 1778 Des Moines, Iowa 50306 Des Moines-Chicago-Washington, D.C.-New York Specialists in the design and administration of membership services for business, labor and professional organizations. Toll-Free Telephone: (800) 247-2192. This number can be used in all states except Alaska, Hawaii and Iowa. Underwritten by: Sentry Life Insurance Company Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 Sentry Life Insurance Company is part of the Sentry Group, which began in 1903. The Group consists of more than 40 companies in over 70 locations throughout the world. (Licensed in all States and the District of Columbia) Every member of the American Council of the Blind will receive all of the material contained in this special supplement by mail for his or her consideration and use. The enrollment form included in that material should be filled out according to the following instructions and should be returned in the envelope provided. ** How To Enroll 1. Check the address on the material you receive to be sure your name and address are shown correctly. 2. Please check the appropriate box or boxes to indicate the benefits and the semi-annual premium for the plan you desire. 3. Complete and sign the form as indicated. 4. Make your check payable to: ACB GROUP LIFE PROGRAM, and send it with the application form in the envelope provided to: American Council of the Blind, Group Life Insurance Program, Lock Box 1778, Des Moines, IA 50306. ** Sample Enrollment Form Please print Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial Street City, State, Zip Code Date of Birth (Month, Day, Year) Occupation Height Weight Member must sign at bottom of this form. To be completed if applying for spouse's coverage: Spouse's Name Date of Birth ** Statement of Health Please give yes or no answers to the following questions: 1. Have you ever been told that you have had, or have you ever been treated for: Heart Trouble; High Blood Pressure; Heart Murmur; Cancer or Tumor; Albumin, Pus or Sugar in Urine; Ulcer; Alcoholism; or Disorder of the Nervous or Respiratory System? Yes No 2. In the past three years, have you ever been hospitalized for any condition or filed a claim for disability or sickness benefits, sought treatment or consulted a physician for any reason, including routine examinations, or taken medication on a regular basis? Yes No 3. Has any application for Life, Accident, or Health Insurance, or reinstatement of any such insurance on your life, ever been declined, postponed, or in any way modified? Yes No 4. If the answer to any of these questions is YES, please give details, including reasons, dates, names and addresses of doctors and/ or hospitals, including your personal physician, below. I represent that all of the above statements are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. It is understood that the information supplied by me herein is given to obtain insurance, and that such insurance will become effective only upon the date it is approved by Sentry Life Insurance Company. Authorization is hereby given any licensed physician, medical practitioner, hospital, clinic, or any other medical or medically related facility, insurance company or other organization, institution or person that has any records or knowledge of me or my health, to give the Sentry Life Insurance Company any such information. A photographic copy of this authorization shall be as valid as the original. Date Signature * Up To $50,000 Term Life Insurance Coverage In Increments of $10,000 The following are Semi-Annual Premium Rates for $10,000 coverage. To determine rates for $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, and $50,000 coverage, multiply the rates below by 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. * Plan A -- For Members Who Have Been Blind for Less Than Five Years Age, Male, Female Under 30, $10.25, $7.25 30-34, $11.25, $9.25 35-39, $19.25, $12.25 40-44, $24.25, $18.25 45-49, $41.25, $26.25 50-54, $66.25, $38.25 55-59, $200.36, $57.25 60-64, $159.25, $87.25 65 — COVERAGE ENDS * Plan B -- For All Other Members up to Age 65 Age, Male, Female Under 30, $9.00, $6.00 30-34, $10.00, $8.00 35-39, $14.00, $11.00 40-44, $23.00, $17.00 45-49, $40.00, $25.00 50-54, $65.00, $37.00 55-59, $99.00, $56.00 60-64, $158.00, $86.00 65 — COVERAGE ENDS Semi-Annual Premium Rates (Note: These rates apply regardless of whether you choose Plan A or Plan B.) * Spouse Plan -- $2,500 Coverage Age, Male, Female Under 30, $2.25, $1.50 30-34, $2.50, $2.00 35-39, $3.50, $2.75 40-44, $5.75, $4.25 45-49, $10.00, $6.25 50-54, $16.25, $9.25 55-59, $24.75, $14.00 60-64, $39.50, $21.50 65-69, $56.50, $34.75 Children Plan -- $1,000 Life Insurance at a semi-annual premium of $1.60. ###