The Braille Forum Vol. XV June 1977 No. 12 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 Notice to Subscribers 504 Regulations -- Now the Real Beginning!, by Reese Robrahn Blind Teacher Wins Major Judicial Victory, by Otis H. Stephens Latest Word on the Upcoming ACB National Convention Rehabilitation Teachers to Form Interest Group ACB Conventioneers Invited to Aid in Furthering Understanding Among Handicapped ACB Profile: Alma Murphey, First Vice President In Memoriam: Douglas C. MacFarland, by C. Warren Bledsoe The David Tatel Appointment, by Durward K. McDaniel Why Not Us? ACB Reader Survey Statistical Findings, by James G. Chandler The Rehabilitation Teacher as Advocate, by Sam Negrin Advocacy Programs for the Disabled Beloved New Jersey Leader Honored, by George Card Second National Art Exhibit by the Blind Hyde Park Corner: Some Thoughts on Coalition -- On Public Relations, by Rose Resnick Why the Difference?, by Florence McQuiston ACB Affiliate News: California 36th Semi-Annual Convention, by Harriet Fielding Mississippi Council Convention, by G. Howard Stevens Here and There Calendar of Events ***** ** 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 ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in large-size type, cassette tape, and flexible disc. Send subscription requests and address changes to The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Items intended for publication may be submitted in print, braille, or tape and should be addressed to the editor, Mary T. Ballard, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620, or to one of the associate editors: George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, WI 53703 Margaret Freer, 11816 West Blue Mound Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Ione B. Miller, 9291 Fermi Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 Joseph Wiedenmayer, 5604 Montgomery Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20015 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. ***** ** 504 Regulations -- Now The Real Beginning! By Reese Robrahn On April 27, at high noon, several citizens with disabilities, and sympathizers, gathered in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, in Washington, D.C., to continue the nationwide protest of the failure of Carter Administration to finalize strong, effective regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The rally was highlighted by brief addresses from members of Congress, leaders of national organizations of disabled individuals, organizations of racial minorities, women's organizations, labor unions, and public officials. Each mounted the portable platform and took the public-address microphone to express individually disappointment, dismay, discouragement, or anger over strong signals indicating that Joseph A. Califano, Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, intended to write in changes in the proposed Regulations under Section 504 which would render them weak and ineffective. Each called upon the President to intervene with dispatch. This rally became the climax of demonstrations that got under way on April 5 and were successfully carried on by demonstrators in San Francisco, who sent 25 of their number to Washington to participate, including eleven people in wheelchairs. The following morning, April 28, the ACB National Office received a call from the Public Information Office of the HEW Office for Civil Rights, to inform that the Regulations had, indeed, been signed by the Secretary and extending an invitation to attend a briefing session scheduled for the afternoon. And thus, that day, April 28, 1977, marks the real beginning of the securing of civil rights for citizens with handicaps and the real beginning of the opportunity for handicapped citizens to enter the mainstream of life and to fully participate in their communities. Senator Jennings Randolph, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Handicapped of the new Senate Committee on Human Resources, made a part of the Congressional Record his reaction to the signing of the Regulations. His remarks in part were as follows: "Carter Administration's approval of Section 504 Regulations heralds a bright, new beginning for the handicapped. ... There has been almost three years of unnecessary delay in the development of regulations to implement this significant and far-reaching program. "During the last six decades of developing rehabilitation legislation by the Congress, we have strived to reach the goal of equal opportunity for the more than 35 million handicapped Americans. ... Section 504 seeks to eliminate the physical, communicative, and attitudinal barriers which have deterred handicapped Americans from fulfilling their role as independent citizens." Congressman John Brademas, Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on Education of the House Committee on Labor and Education, issued the following statement to the press: "As one of the original sponsors of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, I believe that today marks the beginning of a new era of opportunity for millions of handicapped Americans. "With this signing of Regulations to implement Section 504 of this Act, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph A. Califano has put into action the first major Federal law guaranteeing the civil rights of disabled individuals. "Congress, in enacting this significant measure four years ago, recognized that handicapped persons have too long been denied their rights to lead productive, useful lives. Because of the inordinate amount of time which has elapsed since this 1973 Act was signed into law and the issuance of these Regulations, I call upon the Executive Branch to enforce them expeditiously. With effective enforcement of these Regulations, our country's promise to its disabled citizens can at last become a reality. "I support Secretary Califano in his stated intention to implement the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 promptly and with conviction. "This is a bright day for handicapped citizens of America." Yes. It is the beginning of a bright new day, but it is only the beginning, the first step. It is just the first step to the securing of full civil rights and first-class citizenship for all handicapped citizens of this land. The way ahead will be tortuous; and the going arduous. We must not falter. Ultimate success depends on you -- on each of us. When called upon for help and cooperation, we must all give of our support and strength in unity and concert. ***** ** Blind Teacher Wins Major Judicial Victory By Otis H. Stephens, President National Association of Blind Teachers On April 25, 1977, a United States Court of Appeals recognized a blind person's constitutional right of access to a public-school teaching position. This decision represents a major victory not only for blind teachers, but for large numbers of handicapped Americans who have been subjected to discrimination in public employment. The lawsuit that led to this momentous ruling was filed by Judy Gurmankin, who, although fully certified as a teacher, was prevented solely because of her blindness from taking the competitive examination required to teach sighted children in the Philadelphia public schools. A year ago, Ms. Gurmankin won her case at the district court level, but the school board appealed. Last fall, the American Council of the Blind and the National Association of Blind Teachers joined an amicus brief filed in support of Ms. Gurmankin's cause at the Court of Appeals level. Expressing the unanimous view of the Court in the April 25 ruling, Judge Gibbons stated that the school district's refusal to permit her to take the teachers examination "violated due process by subjecting Ms. Gurmankin to an irrebuttable presumption that her blindness made her incompetent to teach sighted students." This broad interpretation of the due-process clause could have great significance for handicapped persons in many fields of employment. According to Attorney Robert L. Burgdorf, who filed the amicus brief and took part in the argument of the case before the Court of Appeals, "The Gurmankin case is the first employment discrimination suit by a handicapped person to be decided on the merits at the Court of Appeals level. As such, it will likely be a guiding star for anti-discrimination litigation by handicapped people in the future." ACB and NABT are proud to have had a part in this judicial victory. Although it is possible that the Philadelphia school board might try to take the case to the Supreme Court, that step is unlikely. In addition to the important legal principle that her case has established, Judy Gurmankin has achieved success in her own search for a teaching position. While her case was pending before the Court of Appeals, she was offered a job in the school that was her first placement choice in Philadelphia. In one sense, it is unfortunate that a person is compelled to go to court to gain recognition of rights that most people in our society can exercise as a matter of course. In another and perhaps deeper sense, however, it is reassuring to witness the expanding recognition of those rights. With new regulations implementing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and with broad constitutional rulings such as that in the Gurmankin case, we are moving closer to the goal of equal opportunity in employment. ***** ** Latest Word on the Upcoming ACB National Convention The dates to remember are Sunday, July 10, to Saturday, July 16, 1977! The place to remember is the Deauville Hotel, 6701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141, where the convention room rates are only $17 for a single, $20 for a double, and $25 for a triple! These are the dates, location, and rates of the 1977 National Convention of the American Council of the Blind, as well as the national conferences and workshops of the affiliated special-interest organizations. But by coming to one or more of these meetings, you will also enjoy a stay in a beautiful hotel, a lovely ocean beach, a fantastic Olympic pool, delicious food both inside the hotel and in the community, and a number of interesting and moderately priced stores and shops along the shopping promenade in the lower lobby. Space limitations in this article make it possible to list only a few of the highlights concerning the meetings of the special-interest groups from Sunday, July 10, through Tuesday, July 12. For example, the guest speaker at the luncheon of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America on Monday is scheduled to be Mr. Jack Duncan, assistant to Congressman John Brademas, one of the most influential and knowledgeable of our Congressmen regarding the Randolph-Sheppard Act and other matters of concern to the blind. Never let it be said that students and teachers cannot get along with one another -- On Monday evening, the National Alliance of Blind Students and the National Association of Blind Teachers are hosting a reception and cocktail party preceding the dance being sponsored by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. The American Blind Lawyers Association and the newly formed Visually Impaired Government Employees Association, as well as the ACB itself, plan to focus on the all-important field of civil rights for the handicapped by scheduling presentations or conferences with high Federal officials. On Tuesday evening, the ACB National Task Force on Civil Rights will meet with Federal officials to help clarify issues to be discussed the following day during the ACB Convention, which will begin on Wednesday morning. Among the other special-interest organizations and groups that will meet on Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday are the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association, the Visually Impaired Veterans of America, the Guide Dog Users, Inc., the Visually Impaired Data Processors International, the Rehabilitation Teachers, and the ACB Service Net. The exact meeting times will be spelled out in the convention announcement being sent to all ACB members and friends. If you think the programs and other activities of the special-interest organizations and groups are going to be interesting, you haven't heard anything yet! The ACB National Convention program will spotlight, among other things, the latest developments at the American Printing House for the Blind, the latest medical and surgical developments of interest to the blind, up-to-date developments and plans regarding machines that can read ink-print, the problems or "handicaps" of the sighted in dealing with the blind, the accomplishments and plans of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, important but little-known financial assistance programs available to the handicapped from the U.S. Small Business Administration, civil rights of the handicapped, and unique ways to solve the transportation problems of the blind. On Wednesday evening, the recipients of ACB national awards and of affiliate charters will be honored at a gala featuring music, humor, short speeches, and a reception, after which all people who are registered for the ACB convention will be welcome at a complimentary cocktail party. Very nice door prizes will also be awarded to registered conventioneers at the Awards Gala as well as throughout the national convention. The convention will recess at noon on Thursday in order to give everyone an opportunity to take one or more fascinating tours. For example, you may, if you wish, visit the world-famous Miami Seaquarium, where the unbelievable antics and performances of trained porpoises, whales, seals, and other animals can be seen and enjoyed with the assistance of outstanding narrators. If you wish, you may take a tour through the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. Anyone wishing to go deep-sea fishing during the afternoon may do so (anyone going fishing should dress so as to protect himself from the afternoon sun). A Thursday evening tour that is sure to be extremely popular will include a relaxing bus ride to beautiful Fort Lauderdale, a cruise up the Inland Waterway on the Jungle Queen excursion boat to a restaurant located on an island, a delicious dinner featuring all the barbecued beef and chicken you want, and hour-long Vaudeville show, an organized "sing-along" on the Jungle Queen during the moonlight cruise back to the dock, and another relaxing bus ride back to the hotel. On Friday afternoon, for the benefit of the youngsters and the young-at-heart, there will be a free magic show featuring "The Magic Man" and "The Magic Boy," both of whom are also outstanding clowns. One of the genuine high spots of the entire week will be the ACB Banquet on Friday evening. If pressing White House commitments prevent the invited Guest of Honor from appearing and speaking, the banquet will be addressed by another dignitary who has something of importance and interest to say to the blind. Those conventioneers wishing to "wind down" after the banquet will be able to do so at a dance which will feature live, professional comedy entertainment during the intermission. The ACB National Convention is scheduled to adjourn at noon of Saturday. At that time, the Annual Convention of the Florida Council of the Blind will begin. All ACB conventioneers are welcome to attend the FCB Convention and to attend the nostalgic "record hop" dance to be hosted that evening. Convention announcements are scheduled to be mailed to all ACB members and friends in early June. The reverse side of the announcement is a pre-registration form which should be used to register for any conferences, workshops, tours, banquets or luncheons, dances, and the like. You will note that in many cases, you will save money by registering in advance for several of the functions. Enclosed with the announcement and pre-registration form will be a hotel reservation card, which is to be returned with the pre-registration form to the Registration Chairman of the 1977 ACB National Convention Committee, Mr. W.A. Ouzts, whose address is 133 Spring Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205. Each pre-registration form will also be accompanied by a courtesy envelope for use in returning the form and reservation card to Mr. Ouzts. Hotel reservation confirmations will be sent directly from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach. Anyone wanting additional registration forms should contact Mr. Ouzts. All are urged to come early and stay late at "Heaven in '77!" The various programs and other activities promise to make the 1977 ACB Convention the best one yet. In conclusion, remember that many airlines, railways, and bus lines offer fantastic fare reductions to Florida during the summer for both individuals and groups, so be sure to inquire about them as soon as possible. You will never forgive yourself if you miss the 1977 convention. ***** ** Rehabilitation Teachers to Form Interest Group The growing number of rehabilitation teachers who are members of the American Council of the Blind, and the increasing interest among them in organizing a special-interest affiliate within ACB, will culminate in a meeting to lay the groundwork for such affiliation on Tuesday afternoon, July 12, at the ACB National Convention at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. This organizational meeting will climax two days of workshops and panels sponsored by the rehabilitation teachers on Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12. The results and implications of a national survey conducted recently by the Committee of Concerned Rehabilitation Teachers will be reported by Committee Chairman Billie Elder. A workshop, "Writing Instructional Objectives," is to be led by Vernon Metcalf, Executive Director, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. This is in response to desires expressed by many rehabilitation teachers for help in acquiring such skills, and Mr. Metcalf's unique approach promises to make learning to write objectives a memorable experience. Miss Elizabeth Lennon of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, will moderate a panel on "Working with Counselors to Prepare the Vocationally Oriented Client for the Work Experience," and representatives of the newly organized Bio-Feedback Society will discuss "Bio-Feedback, a New Tool in Rehabilitation." All rehabilitation teachers are invited to participate in both the formal program and in the initial planning of this long-overdue special-interest organization within the American Council. ***** ** ACB Conventioneers Invited to Aid in Furthering Understanding Among Handicapped The upcoming National Convention of the American Council of the Blind offers me what I hope will be an excellent opportunity. My name is Bill Zuckerman, and I am a doctoral student in Psychology at New York University. One of the requirements for my degree is an original research project which can shed new light in an important area. Having worked with handicapped populations for the last three years, I have chosen to study ways of furthering mutual understanding between people with different handicaps (specifically, deafness and blindness). As a first step in doing this, it is important to have a clear understanding of some of the natural things that sometimes make blind people uncomfortable with people with other physical disabilities. I therefore must gather this information in as accurate and economical way as possible, with the least possible infringement upon the time and energy of the people who agree to help me. Toward that end, I have come up with a small series of questionnaires which are as short as scientific accuracy will allow. As they are set up, they can be given orally and information can be collected in the same way in the space of about a half hour. Mr. Reese Robrahn of the ACB National Office has suggested that collecting this information might be easiest at the convention, when everyone is together and travel problems are minimal. I will, therefore, attend the meeting in Miami Beach and try to meet as many people as possible. There is no doubt that you can be of great help to me. But equally important is my hope that the results of this project can be useful to blind people and to deaf people, and eventually to those with other handicaps, on their way to social, economic, and legislative recognition. I hope you are interested and will be able to find time to participate. ***** ** ACB Profile Alma Murphey, First Vice President Blinded by nitrate of silver in early infancy, Alma Rogers Murphey, elected First Vice President of the American Council of the Blind at its 1976 Convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, received her formal education at the Missouri School for the Blind in St. Louis. Three years after graduating from that institution, she became the wife, devoted companion and business assistant of Jack. Murphey, a man who was totally blind and profoundly deaf. They have six children. Five are doing well in their chosen fields; the youngest will graduate from high school in June. In addition to her remarkable career as wife and mother, Alma Murphey has served with distinction in the ranks of the organized blind since 1955, when she became a Charter Member of RITE (Real Independence Through Employment), a now well-known St: of Louis club. (Real Not only has she been an outstanding member of RITE over the last 22 years, but she has also served as President of the Missouri Federation of the Blind during that state-wide organization's most turbulent periods, 1957-1962 and 1970-1972, when she led in the formulation, promotion, and implementation of the Missouri Federation's major policies and programs. Alma also served as Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind from 1958-1960 -- a disillusioning experience for one who had so admired the NFB's leadership until coming face to face with the realities of its intolerance. As a result, she led the Missouri Federation out of the NFB, became a Charter Member of the American Council of the Blind, and served as its Secretary for six years. For a time, she also served as Editor of the Braille Forum. In 1975, she traveled to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as ACB's delegate to the International Conference of the Situation of Blind Women, where she delivered a paper, "The Blind Woman and Her Family and Participation in the Community in an Urban Setting." In Indianapolis, Indiana, in July of 1976, she was named recipient of the Midwest Regional AAWB Award, in recognition of her dedication and outstanding leadership in services to the blind. Small wonder, then, that this quiet, competent, dedicated blind woman was thoroughly amused when asked from the floor of the Missouri Federation's 1970 Convention: "What are your qualifications for the Presidency of the Missouri Federation of the Blind? Have you ever held a job?" ***** ** In Memoriam: Douglas C. MacFarland By C. Warren Bledsoe Work for the blind suffered an irreparable loss in the death of Dr. Douglas C. MacFarland after a heart attack on Tuesday, May 4, 1977. Dr. MacFarland was only 58, and his untimely end deprives the field of one of its most stalwart pillars of strength. Since 1964, he had occupied the key role in the Federal rehabilitation program, the role which was created in the 1930s by Joseph Clunk and was successfully played by Mr. Morris Tynan and Mr. Louis Rives. Like his predecessors, Dr. MacFarland always ran his office having in mind that the major goal was enabling blind people to get jobs, regardless of changing terminology and administrative fashions. Dr. MacFarland came to his position in Washington with a background which could not be matched as preparation for his duties. Blinded at the age of 8, he had been educated in the New Jersey public schools. He graduated with honors from New York University, receiving his bachelor's degree in administration. He took his master's degree and doctor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, also from New York University. The subject of his doctoral dissertation was "A Study of Work Efficiency of Blind and Sighted Workers in Industry," published by the American Foundation for the Blind in 1956. He spent six years as a placement counselor in Jersey City, four years as a vocational counselor and supervisor in Delaware, and ten years at the Virginia Commission for the Blind. For six years he was assistant to the director, and for four years he was director. Previous to his appointment of Chief of Services for the Blind in the Federal program, he had served as a consultant in the Research and Demonstration Program of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and thus had a grasp on the inner workings of the Federal office. However, he often said that no one could realize what it was like to head the Federal program for the blind until he had actually been appointed and had been in office for some time. Assuming the duties as he did in 1964, and performing them with punctiliousness until his death, he dealt with challenges both in resources and in controversies which taxed his natural gift for statescraft to the full. The year 1964 rounded out a decade of achievement and innovation in rehabilitation of blind people, which came as a result of the Amendments to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1964. It fell to Dr. MacFarland to consolidate gains and maintain innovations in the stormy period which followed. By temperament, he was ideally equipped to do this. In such contentions as that between the generalists and the categorists, he was to show eternal patience, fortitude, common sense, and no mean understanding of politics. One of Dr. MacFarland's strong points was suspicion of the spectacular and abhorrence of the melodramatic. This was immediately put to the test after he took office by representations brought in with respect to extra-sensory perception by which the blind could "see." While still at the Virginia Commission, he had worked with Dr. Rhine in exposing fraud of this general nature. And in the new wave of claims to see without the aid of the eye, Dr. MacFarland's office maintained an adherence to science and disbelief in magic. His wide interests and intellectual curiosity are revealed both in his writings and his travels to assist other nations in their programs for blind people. He went to India, Pakistan, Egypt, Poland, and Russia. He was also very restive if he did not personally visit and survey a number of programs in the United States each year. His writings included "The Maze Learning of Blind and Sighted Subjects" (1952); "The Importance of Family Attitudes in Vocational Rehabilitation" (1957); "Functional Definition of Impaired Vision" (1962); "Aging and Blindness" (1964); "Social Isolation" (1966); "The Vocational Role in Prevention of Blindness" (1967); and "International and National Projects on Blindness" (1972). A collection of his papers would yield informed, correct, dependable learning on a variety of subjects related to blindness, written in a clear Ciceronian style. He never used a ghost writer, and he was an excellent braillist; could finger read a text as fast as commentators can talk. Sometimes he would dictate a speech to his tape recorder, have it typed, edit it, and then allow someone else to braille it for him. And he was extremely adept at deciphering the unorthodox braille of others. As time went on, he prepared his public speeches more and more carefully. He often fretted that "anyone should cross the mountains to talk off the cuff." Very exacting with his staff, he was also exacting with himself and, when he could, reviewed his taped remarks, when he had been forced to speak extemporaneously -- seldom, it may be added, with much self-satisfaction, but always with a view to clearer communication with the public. He took his message with respect to the visually handicapped with genuine high seriousness, and no one presented a better image of blindness than he did himself. Honors came to him, including the Order of the Republic of Tunisia and the Migel Medal of the American Foundation for the Blind. One of his responsibilities, however, may have been what he considered his most cherished honor. This was Project Directorship of the Federal grant to establish the Helen Keller Center for the Deaf-Blind Children and Adults, which came to him in addition to his other duties in HEW. And the winds and currents of politics being what they are, it must have been peculiarly satisfying to Dr. MacFarland that, shortly after taking office, Secretary of HEW Joseph Califano went to see him in his office to promise support of the program for the blind. Subsequently, when President Carter visited the Department, Dr. MacFarland was sent for and introduced. It would be hard to say whether we should call Dr. MacFarland a great commoner or an aristocrat. He had elements of each in his character. Certainly he "nothing common did or meaned" upon the scene where he played his leadership role. His personal formula in this was revealed one day when he reviewed the manuscript of a staff member in which the statemen had been made that his office "clings tenaciously to the task of getting jobs for blind people." "Please change that 'clings tenaciously,'" he said, "to 'holds steadfastly.'" ***** ** The David Tatel Appointment By Durward K. McDaniel On April 25, 1977, David Tatel, a member of the American Blind Lawyers Association, was appointed Director of the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In presiding at the swearing-in ceremonies on May 6, HEW Secretary Joseph A. Califano, Jr. commented that he had interviewed twenty persons for the director's job -- that his staff had interviewed many others -- and that Tatel was their choice as the best qualified candidate. Califano referred in his remarks to Tatel's most recent major accomplishment as a civil rights attorney in the NAACP case in Mississippi which involved a judgment for $1,200,000. In his response, Tatel spoke briefly acknowledging to the Secretary his deep commitment to civil rights, saying, "I am sure we will not disappoint you." Tatel is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and has specialized in civil rights litigation for several years. At the time of his appointment, he was practicing with the firm of Hogan and Hartson in Washington, D.C. This appointment of David Tatel to so important a position was well earned by a very able lawyer. ***** ** Why Not Us? Early in May, the Carter Administration announced appointment of Alan K. Campbell as the new chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission. In Mike Causey's column in the Washington Post of May 10 about Mr. Campbell's plan to study the Civil Service Commission, the following statement appeared which is of great interest and concern to blind and physically handicapped persons: "Affirmative Action: Quotas for minorities are out, Campbell said. But he does plan to push for a system that will make it better for women and blacks to get Government jobs, and move up in them, and to advise the President of agencies that have bad records in that regard." Acting swift to reflect that interest and concern, on May 11 a letter was directed to Mr. Campbell by Durward K. McDaniel, Chairperson, on behalf of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL), stating in part as follows: "We have no quarrel with your improving the system to help blacks and women. We are, however, deeply concerned that your plan does not extend to blind and handicapped persons. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is an affirmative action statute intended to affect the employment and advancement in employment of handicapped persons by departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Civil Service Commission has a major responsibility for the implementation of Section 501, which has not yet been implemented. "This organization is a coalition of forty-seven organizations of and for the blind. We believe that the interests of blind and handicapped persons deserve equal consideration in the discharging of responsibilities by the Civil Service Commission. Accordingly, we request a conference with you at the earliest mutually convenient date to discuss the implementation of applicable laws and the equal protection of the rights and interests of blind and other handicapped persons." ***** ** ACB Reader Survey Statistical Findings By James G. Chandler, Chairman, ACB Library Committee In the summer of 1976 the ACB Library Committee invited blind persons who attended the Hot Springs Convention and readers of the Braille Forum to participate in a Reader Survey. Half of the questions were "free form," to be answered in the reader's own words. The others called for specific categories of responses and are readily tabulated. The following tables summarize the categorized replies in the 103 completed questionnaires that have been received. Indicate how useful to you the following media are: (Use A to indicate fully useful; B – satisfactory; C – useful occasionally; D – not worth it!) Medium and Rating (A, B, C, D) Open reel tape: 20, 14, 25, 28 Cassette: 59, 25, 12, 4 Record (disc): 60, 29, 8, 4 Sound sheet: 22, 36, 11, 22 Large print: 7, 2, 6, 47 Braille: 44, 18, 16, 16 Jumbo braille: 2, 4, 3, 49 In-person reader: 35, 12, 12, 12 Remote reader, by phone: 8, 7, 15, 28 Remote reader, by radio: 14, 28, 15, 22 Once you learn of a book, is the availability: Satisfactory: 35 Fair: 36 Not satisfactory: 26 How do you prefer to have your Library contact you: Phone: 70 Braille: 39 Cassette: 20 Large Type: 15 Your age: 0-20: 1 20-40: 44 40-60: 37 Over 60: 16 * Comments on the Replies The respondents are by no means typical of the entire blind population. Most obviously, the representation by age is badly skewed. Those who took the trouble to complete the questionnaire are far more interested in books and reading than the average blind (or sighted) person. However, among active readers, the views expressed are likely to be reasonably typical. The replies demonstrate that disc records are still very much alive. The equally strong showing for cassettes was, perhaps, to be expected, but it is surprising that only four persons rated cassettes "D - not worth it!" (It is possible that this sample of users have cassette players that are better designed or better maintained than average.) The fairly good acceptance of sound sheets is not easy to interpret. A clue is found in notes on some of the replies, indicating that sound sheets are satisfactory for periodicals, which are heavily used, rather than for books. The great number of "D" ratings for large print may be misleading. For a totally blind person, it may simply mean: "I do not use it." Similarly, jumbo braille is little used because many readers are unfamiliar with it, and almost no materials are available in jumbo braille. On the other hand, braille proved to be quite popular, way out of proportion to its use in the blind population at large. Of course, this survey was intended for library users, who are in no sense typical of the total population. Many respondents were not familiar with the various types of live reader service. Some answered with a question mark. If a reader indicated interest in a service but apparently did not have access at present (saying, for example: "It would be nice to have."), then the rating was tallied as "B -- satisfactory." Many checked more than one means of contact by the Library, hence the total comes to more than the number of completed questionnaires. On the evaluative questions, all conditional replies were rounded off to a precise rating, e.g., "B plus" became "B" and "A/B" became "A," the first list rating being given preference. Only four respondents failed to indicate how they wished their library contact them, and two of these were interrupted before completing the questionnaire! * Implications There is a strong demand for cassettes, disc records and braille. (The demand for large print is not adequately treated by this questionnaire, as it was directed to those who identify themselves primarily as blind rather than partially sighted.) The heavy interest in Library contact by phone and by braille suggests that this aspect of library service to the handicapped is so greatly needed that it should have budgetary recognition, since to do it properly requires a significant amount of staff time. The strong showing for cassettes, in spite of the widespread criticism of recent years, suggests that the advantages of this format are so great that major efforts should be devoted to better and more widely circulate statements containing criteria for tape, perhaps by brand name; identification of specific playback models that have a high reliability; and standards for certifying the older players, whether owned by libraries or individuals are receiving adequate maintenance. Since sound sheet acceptance is quite high, and the production cost per unit is so small, this medium should be considered for any materials to be used in large number of copies, where promptness of delivery is important and where durability is of secondary concern. This might include selected best-sellers in addition to periodicals. (Editor's note: A summary of the non-statistical responses to the Reader Survey will appear in an early issue of the Braille Forum.) ***** ** The Rehabilitation Teacher as Advocate By Sam Negrin Director of Community Services American Foundation for the Blind (The following article is based upon a presentation before the Advocacy Workshop sponsored by rehabilitation teachers at the national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July, 1976.) In simpler times, perhaps it was enough that rehabilitation teachers who were working within the field of services for the blind met traditional needs, using traditional methods, and in the process of doing so, casually reinforced the comfortable assumptions that guided their lives. But I do not need to tell you that times have changed radically these past few years, and rather than preserve the illusion of unity in defending the past, we must candidly examine the widest diversity of thinking -- not simply new, unfamiliar concepts, but we must scrutinize our old ideals and practices, because change is the name of the game. The problem of change itself is not new, for the processes of change are part of our social system. The uniqueness of today's situation is not change, but the velocity of change. We are no longer being permitted the luxury of crisis planning or sociocultural drift. Changes within this scientific revolution are geometrical rather than arithmetical and demand direct planning. Reno Patti, in an article which appeared in Social Casework, said, "Curiously amid all this clamor for change, surprisingly little organized expression has been heard from direct-service practitioners who must daily confront the discontent of those who receive the agency's services." He went on to say: "There is evidence that practitioners are dissatisfied with organizational policies and practices that serve as the context for their work. But why has this concern been given so little formal expression? ..." However, recognition and concern will not, in and of themselves, bring resolution of the kinds of organizational problems all of us will be confronting in the years ahead. In fact, they may create new and more complex problems to further complicate those which already exist. I am reminded that William James once said, "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." ... For many of you, what I shall be suggesting today is not a new idea, but one you may have supported or incorporated into your own style of practice, or even opposed and rejected. However, in recent years, there seems to be a growing consensus that rehabilitation teachers should -- in fact, must -- expand their roles and responsibilities beyond the models of service which have traditionally been assigned to them. The roles I am proposing you emphasize and embrace, in addition to your important responsibilities, a those of systems-change agents, community/agency linkages, and advocates. ... The question then becomes, perhaps: How do you utilize your unique knowledge, skills, and training so as to expand your roles and develop mechanisms which will improve the system within which you function? Obviously, this cannot be done if you tend to over-identify with the system which employs you, so much so that you block out those weaknesses of that system to the extent that you cannot be effective in assuming an advocacy role on behalf of that general community to whom you are professionally committed — that is, blind persons and their families. And this brings me to the matter of professional identification. I realize that most of us in this room have chosen to be identified as professional rehabilitation teachers, and as such, we all take on a commitment as professionals to do all we can to meet the needs of our clients, even when this means that our assumption of an advocacy role projects us into the posture of a change agent, with the target of change being the system which employs us. I want to make clear here that I use the term "system" in both the broad and narrow sense: In one respect, the "blindness system" is incorporated into and becomes a part of the broader social welfare system or human services system. In the narrow sense, I refer to those systems which are the agencies where we are employed. I am afraid that the roles I am asking you to take on will not do much enhance your popularity in the field, because what I am calling up rehabilitation teachers to do is to undertake what is sometimes called a "social action" role — a term which has tended to "turn off" a great many of o colleagues who are reluctant to take on any activist role or to be viewed social activists. So, rather than use the term "social action," which real doesn't define fully a professional advocacy role, I prefer to call this role "professional action," which you professionals should feel a responsibility to take on, and so that we might keep it within the context and expertise of our profession, while ensuring that this professional action adheres to what I would deem to be professional values and a code of ethics which might bind you together. This professional action is a professional responsibility which might place you in violation of your professional code when you either choose to ignore it or relegate it to a minor or insignificant part of your professional tasks and responsibilities. It is a professional action because it will be a prescribed task to which a professional has an obligation and a commitment. It is professional action because it does not rely upon a voluntary surplus of benefactions or any margin of generosity which transcends that which is given out of a sense of duty or upon human compassion or political ideology. Rather, it is an integral and essential component of professional practice, cutting across whatever particular methodology or field of practice one might be committed to. In this society, as in other, the quest for justice, for equality of opportunity, for human dignity, is an endless and often frustrating journey, and as I look at what is happening to our so-called "blindness system" and the human services, I am sadly reminded of the opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities which began: "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Indeed, these are the worst of times, because we all seem caught up in violence, imprisoned by our fears and immobilized by the frequent conflict and confrontation which plagues an already over-polarized society struggling to establish new power bases, with an endless variety of agendas. And yet, these may be for us the best of times, in that out of all of this repression, turmoil, conflict, and tension can come the opportunity to build and improve upon those forces which have potential for improving the human condition, and particularly the condition of those blind and visually impaired persons to whom we have a particular commitment. These may yet be the best of times, and possibly it might be the last opportunity, the last time, for all of us to fulfill our own historic mission. But the time for action is right now! You know that by your own existence. ... ... I am sure that most of you are familiar with a number of the charges that have been leveled against other professionals in this particular field. I will not go into detail on this, other than to point out some that have caused me particular distress. Bob Scott felt that too often the client within our system becomes a victim of agency power and is, as a result, converted not infrequently into an object to be used or abused by the agency. Also, Simon Olshansky, in a recent article which appeared in rehabilitation literature, declared that "If counselors were more responsible, and if more of them really wanted to function as professionals, they would clamor for change, and so the client would not often become the victim rather than the beneficiary of agency services." I am certain that these and other critics agree that no system is flawless, and as Olshansky says: "... Every system has its inescapable limitations. The challenge is not to develop the perfect system, but to develop one that combines the possible, desirable, and practical, and that permits both staff and clients opportunity for growth." And this brings me back to emphasis on our responsibility to assume an advocacy role as professionals on behalf of the children, parents, adults elderly blind, and visually impaired persons, and even the agencies which we serve. If we do an effective job on behalf of our clients, we will inevitably be improving the delivery system -- in this case, the agencies which employ us. I would like to make it clear that this advocacy role, this professional action role, this agency/community linkage role, does not place us outside the system in each instance. Rather, I see us as effecting change, for the most part, from within the system. Of course, there may very well be occasions when change cannot be affected without confrontation from outside, and at those times, we shall each have to come face to face with our own moment of truth and in our own good conscience make our own decision as to what action we will or will not take. However, those decisions must be based upon professional guidelines. ... We must regard as our primary obligation the welfare of the individuals we serve, and this includes action to improve those social conditions which create problems for them. Our obligation to our clients takes primary over our obligation to our employer, when and if the two interests compete with one another. I suggest to you that this is not an easy decision to make, nor can this advocacy role be assumed without some degree of sophistication, confidence, risk, knowledge of service delivery systems and institutional change strategy. Unfortunately, many of us are sorely lacking in these skills, nor are we prepared to reach out and utilize the influence and power systems within the community. There are many reasons for these shortcomings among us. For one thing, our education and practice has tended to legitimize a consensus orientation and oppose an adversary one. Also, the human services professions, particularly this field of practice -- that is, within the "blindness system" -- have tended to attract their share of persons with all kinds of hang ups about "rocking the boat." In addition, besides lacking the orientation and technical skills necessary to engage in effective advocacy, our employee status, our security, and our understandable reluctance to risk our jobs has restricted our ability to act as advocates. ... I am disturbed that we have been forced to place a disproportionate emphasis upon protecting our jobs and on survival, so that we do not see those things in society which produce the problems we contend with in these jobs. I am depressed by the realization that we have in our society adjusted to the horror of our times -- and that is the real horror of our times! Of course, I am fully aware that there are some very obvious concerns we all share in terms of the risks involved in undertaking this change-agent role. ... And because there are real fears, it is all the more important that we develop the kind of support we will need from your peers and colleagues. Such group support from other professionals who share your concerns and may be looking to you for leadership will certainly help mitigate individual vulnerability. Your involvement and participation in strengthening this consumer organization should be directed toward developing a powerful consumer/professional partnership. If we are going to solve some of the problems which perpetuate suffering or deny adequate services to masses of people, rehabilitation teachers must assume a more aggressive posture in the education of the general public, our legislators, our community, our agency administrators, and other agency staff members. If we are to work in an environment that is conducive to improving the well-being of our clients, then we must take on the task of changing the system through social and political action. ... You can help to turn things around if you really want to. For one thing, you can go back to your agency, to your community, and document for your administrators, boards of directors, and legislative representatives the impact that budget cuts have on the people we are serving. You can document what happens to your clientele when necessary health and social services are denied to them. You can document the impact of regressive agency policies. You can join in coalitions with other professionals, as well as consumers, to restore cuts in training funds and to help our agencies become more suitable settings for professional practice. You can speak out in favor of standards for agencies which will assure through the accreditation process that no agency will fall below a uniform floor of standards for services and quality, and for qualified, trained personnel to deliver those services. On the broader level, we are going to have to educate ourselves to the existing legislation which affects our daily practice and identify those flaws which deny our clients those services which are desperately needed. For example, how aware are we that Title XX circumscribes the Federal role and gives wide latitude to states for definition, selection, and development of social services which are responsive to the needs of their own residents? Certainly, you should have a great deal to say with reference to what services should be provided, to whom, and under whose auspices. We need to educate the community as to what rehabilitation services are and what they are intended to accomplish, and how they may be utilized. How aware are we of the flaws in SSI as they affect children? We need desperately to assure passage of legislation which will guarantee early entry of children into a comprehensive health and social system in time to prevent reversible disabilities from becoming irreversible handicaps. In closing, I do want to say that though the current picture is grim, there is hope. But let me offer a few words of caution from the Ethics of the Fathers, and it goes like this: "The time is short. The hour is late. The matter is urgent. It is not incumbent upon us to complete the task, but neither are we free to desist from doing all that we can." ***** ** Advocacy Programs for the Disabled (Prepared by Marie L. Moore, National Advocacy Coordinator, United Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc. Amicus, May 1976, a publication of the National Center for Law and the Handicapped. Reprinted with permission.) Type, Purpose, Responsible Organization * Case Advocacy A. Citizen Advocacy: One-to-one relationship between a capable volunteer and a person who is disabled in which the volunteer advocates for the rights and interests of the other, and provides practical or emotional reinforcement for him. Responsible organization: Citizen Advocacy Board operated by a private association or agency. B. Ombudsman: One who acts as an advocate for a disabled individual following the report of a grievance, by investigating, interceding or initiating action on his/her behalf. Responsible organization(s): Private -- Advocacy Council or Committee operated by a private organization or association. Public -- State Human Rights Commission. C. Legal Advocate: One who represents a person in the litigation or legal negotiation process when rights are threatened or violated. Responsible organization: None, unless in an agency setting. D. Case Manager Advocate: One who assists the individual in information, referral, follow­along services, and serves as an advocate when there are barriers to the service delivery system. Responsible organization: Public or private agencies. E. Protective Services: A service mandated by legislation which provides guardianship, trusteeship -- and other advocacy services. Responsible organization: State government board or council. * Class Advocacy A. Legislative Advocacy: Using the legislative process to mandate change in the social system in order to secure the rights of the disabled. Responsible organization: Representatives of consumer organization at local, state, and national levels. B. Community Organization Advocacy: Using the community organization process to develop better communication among agencies serving the disabled; to assist in the development of cooperative or coalition efforts on behalf of the disabled by public and private providers of service, and by consumers. Responsible organization: Community or state-wide planning groups, or consumer advocate groups whose membership includes consumers or consumer representatives. C. Program Brokerage: Service development and program expansion by eliminating barriers which obstruct program development, and combining resources. Responsible organization: Consumer representative organization working in cooperation with governmental and private agencies. D. Protective Services: A service mandated by legislation which provides guardianship, trusteeship, and other advocacy services. Responsible organization: State government board or council. E. Consumer Action Advocacy: Groups of parents or adults who are disabled that act as pressure groups or influencing groups and advocate for desired change. Responsible organization: Independent organizations; groups associated with consumer representative organizations. ***** ** Beloved New Jersey Leader Honored By George Card On April 16, George Burck, perennial leader of the organized blind of New Jersey, was greeted by almost three hundred of his friends and admirers at a splendid testimonial dinner in the seaside town of Keansburg, a few miles from his home. It commemorated fifty years of dedicated service to his fellow blind. George's fellow Lions from all over the state were on hand, and there was much good-natured ribbing, as well as many heartfelt tributes. Several other states were also represented. Many of those who attended national conventions in the late 1950s will remember George Burck. He and three other state presidents -- Clyde Ross of Ohio, Alma Murphey of Missouri, and Frank Lugiano of Pennsylvania -- formed themselves into an ad hoc committee which tried to bring in a compromise plan at Kansas City in 1961 which could have prevented the split in the organized blind movement. But the little group which had seized power in the National Federation of the Blind refused arbitrarily to allow the convention to hear the plan. As she richly deserved to be, George's lovely wife Dolly was included in all of the many, many tributes heard during the long evening. Besides his outstanding leadership of the New Jersey blind, George Burck holds the unique distinction of being a member of both the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and the State Welfare Board. A few months ago the 800-member New Jersey Council of the Blind was expelled by NFB for showing of too much independence. In its place, the NFB recognized a small group of less than a hundred members as its New Jersey affiliate. Apparently things have not greatly changed since 1961. Darlene and I were proud and happy to represent the American Council of the Blind on this gala occasion. ***** ** Second National Art Exhibit by the Blind The second National Exhibit of Art by the Blind is scheduled to open June 22 in Philadelphia. The exhibit, which last year drew nearly 60,000 visitors, is sponsored by both the Free Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, where works will be on display. Emphasis of this year's exhibit is placed on crafts, and works are being submitted in such media as wood, glass, metal, and ceramics. Eligible artists must be legally blind, as defined by Federal standards, and pieces entered must be one-of-a-kind or of a limited edition. It is hoped that the craft work, on exhibit in Philadelphia from June 22 through September 18, will tour later in museums throughout the country, providing an opportunity for America's blind artists to become nationally recognized and appreciated. ***** *** Hyde Park Corner Editor's Note: This column exists to provide a forum for the expression of divergent views of writers on timely subjects. Views expressed need not necessarily be concurred in or endorsed by the publisher. ** Some Thoughts on Coalition -- On Public Relations Dear Editor: As a member of the American Council of the Blind of California, I am delighted that the consensus of our organization is to cooperate with groups for the handicapped other than the blind. People who insist upon working only for the interests of their own welfare are simply not in line with the times, let alone ordinary ethics. My particular reason for writing is to inquire why we hear daily public service announcements on the radio plugging Mr. Jernigan's Federation and never any such national exposure for ACB. The air waves are open to all non­profit organizations, local as well as national. We should be doing both. National groups have the advantage of using the Advertising Council of New York to write the copy. It all bears prompt looking into. — Rose Resnick, San Francisco, California ** Why the Difference? Dear Editor: Why is it that the younger blind and other handicapped persons who are on disability live on a fixed income, just as the elderly do, but can’t ride senior citizens' buses, eat at the low-rent centers, or live in low-rent housing? However, they live on the same income and have a hard time meeting high utility bills, etc. I think they should have the same breaks, don't you? -- Florence McQuiston, Kokomo, Indiana ***** *** ACB Affiliate News ** California 36th Semi-Annual Convention By Harriet Fielding Slightly tarnished, but still glamorous Hollywood was the setting for the newly named American Council of the Blind of California convention, held April 15-17. With Mack Riley as general convention chairperson, three Los Angeles County ACBC chapters planned and executed one of the best conventions the California affiliate has had to date. The co-sponsoring chapters were Metropolitan (metro), Los Angeles County, and Pyramid. A fourth Los Angeles County chapter, Compton, was chartered during the convention. Always innovative, Chairperson Riley planned the convention to emphasize the importance of special interests within the membership as a whole. An entire morning was devoted to group meetings of persons with similar interests, such as rehabilitation counselors, special education teachers, business enterprise vendors, and visually impaired secretaries and transcribers. A new group of visually impaired musicians was formed. The opportunity to discuss mutual interests and goals attracted an excellent attendance in each meeting. "Something for Everybody" could have been the convention theme, there were such diverse subjects to be discussed by the speakers on the program. A report of special interest to Los Angeles County visually and physically handicapped persons was given by two officials from the Southern California Rapid Transit District, who told of the purchase by the District of several specially designed new buses which will enable both the blind and the wheelchair handicapped to use public transportation comfortably and with dignity. They stated their new program was the first in the nation to become operable, although several large cities have similar plans on the drawing boards. The highlight of the Friday afternoon program was a talk by Dr. Samuel Genensky, a physicist employed by the Rand Corporation. His presentation, entitled "To See or Not to See -- That Is The Question," jarred the complacency of many legally blind persons in the audience. Having no sight in one eye and visual acuity of 20/800 in the other, he had successfully completed his education and embarked on a career, using to the utmost the limited residual sight he had. His contention was that most legally blind individuals have some residual sight but do not use it. He stated that with the use of the low-vision aids which have been developed in recent years, many partially seeing persons could and should function well in all fields of endeavor. He felt, he said, that public agencies serving the visually impaired should develop more and better services to individuals who, though legally blind, had even the smallest amount of residual vision. The program presentations which undoubtedly appealed to everyone were a talk by sex therapist and author "Trish" Raley, who spoke on body awareness, and a therapy session with Dr. Arthur Lerner, Director of Poetry Therapy Institute of Los Angeles. The use of poetry in therapy was demonstrated by Dr. Lerner, with the assistance of Maurice Willis, president of Pyramid Chapter, who read poems he had composed. Other ACBC members also shared their poems. The inclusion of this "off-beat" session provided a welcome respite from the heaviness which often pervades conventions. The spirits of convention participants were also lifted by a lighthearted talk given by Mrs. Barbara Kivigne, California representative of the Sons of Norway Foundation. She described the annual "Ski for Light" event and invited her audience to participate in the cross-country skiing program sponsored by the Foundation in several states. Two successful innovations in the convention format were a leadership luncheon and a continental breakfast. The leadership luncheon was attended by ACBC committee chairpersons, officers, and leaders of the special-interest groups. In a "brain-storming" session, suggestions and constructive criticisms were elicited from everyone present. ATTENTION! All convention chairpersons everywhere! Prior to the Sunday morning business session, "coffee and Danish" were served in the rear of the meeting room. For the first time in history, a majority of those attending the convention were fed, happy, and in their seats when ACBC President George Fogarty opened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. sharp. ** Mississippi Council Convention By G. Howard Stevens On March 12, 1977, the sixth annual state convention of the Mississippi Council of the Blind was held in Jackson at the Jackson Hiton Hotel. A large number of MCB members, as well as many workers for the blind from various state agencies, attended. The program covered a wide range of interests and was enthusiastically received. The morning session was highlighted by two speakers, Jackson City Commissioner Doug Shanks and State Senator Jim Noblin. Mr. Shanks told of the progress being made in the building of the new planetarium now under construction in the city. He also related future plans for a fine arts museum for the blind. He urged Council members to have a larger input into their city government. Senator Noblin promised to introduce a bill at the next session of the State Legislature that would enable blind persons to obtain legal identification cards to aid in cashing checks and the like. Mr. Alex McCahan, a utility company executive, was the luncheon speaker. His remarks were entertaining and inspiring. This year there were three recipients of the annual award given by the Mississippi Council of the Blind for outstanding work with blind people. Awards went to Dr. Paul Cotton, Director of the Ellisville State School; Mr. R.C. Benton, Administrator of the Mississippi School for the Blind and Deaf, and Mr. Jim Carballo, Director, Division for the Blind of Mississippi. The first part of the afternoon session was given to reports. Mr. Benton told of two new programs which were initiated this school year; namely, the Title XX program and the program for deaf-blind children. Mr. Sammy Moon and Mr. Randy Blackwell, the directors of these programs, gave informative progress reports. Mr. Jim Carballo, Division for the Blind, brought conventioneers up to date on the progress being made in the new program for deaf-blind adults. Mr. Carballo related that he had received a request from ITT for placement of blind workers in their spacious new plant located in the northern part of Mississippi. It was indicated that if this project is successful, opportunities for employment will be opened to many other blind persons. Mr. Billy Sparkman, assistant manager of Royal Maid sheltered workshop, Hazelhurst, Mississippi, reported on the activities and accomplishments of that facility. Rev. George Cantin, a blind Methodist minister, discussed the topic, "Blind Persons in the Ministry." At the business meeting, Dr. R.T. (Bob) McLean brought greetings from the Louisiana Council of the Blind. He outlined the purposes and structure of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL) and extended an invitation to the Mississippi Council to join this organization. Council members voted unanimously to join ALL. Newly elected officers are: President, Rebecca Floyd; Vice President, Walter Cooper; Treasurer, Mary Granger; Recording Secretary, Doyle Case; and Corresponding Secretary, Peggy Maddox. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From REHABILITATION WORLD -- Braille abstracts of recently published articles in journals of psychology are now available to blind professionals through a joint pilot project of the Warwick Research Unit for the Blind in England and the American Psychological Association. There is no charge for this service. For information, write Warwick Research Unit for the Blind, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4, England. ---- A Dutch firm has developed a device which emits audible signals at traffic lights as a guide to blind pedestrians. The auditory device, formerly installed within traffic light control boxes, gives off a tone measured at 85 decibels within 3.3 feet, to warn blind pedestrians and dog guides that motor vehicle traffic has been given the green light. The tone is sounded for up to 15 seconds. For details, write Netherlands Consulate General, Commercial Division 561, One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020. ---- Trans World Airlines has published a consumer information booklet detailing special services available to disabled travelers, as well as the airline's policy on assisting such passengers. In the booklet, entitled "Air Travel for the Handicapped," TWA stresses the importance of informing the airline or travel agent of the exact nature of the disability when making a reservation. The booklet is available at no cost from all TWA ticket offices. From JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS — "Save the Toll-Free Way" is a compilation of over 2,000 toll-free telephone numbers. Included in the listing are travel agencies, businesses, insurance companies, investment brokers, repair services, public information offices, and consumer protection agencies. The 88-page booklet is available for $2.95 from P.J. Publishers, Box 82, Center Square, PA 19422. A recent issue of TSI NEWSLETTER describes the Mobility Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting handicapped and disabled people by making electronic aids available to them. Working in cooperation with the Electronic Travel Aid (ETA) manufacturer/distributor and qualified ETA instructors, the Foundation reviews applicants for possible financial assistance in the purchase of individual travel aids. Contact Mobility Foundation, 745 Pine View Road, North Wales, PA 19454, for further information. A paper money identifier and light detector unit (PMI/LD) is now in production by EMR, Ltd., 1720 W. 9th St., Los Angeles, California 90015. Selling for $139.95, it comes complete with earphone, rechargeable batteries and charger, plus a 45-minute cassette training tape and printed instructions. The unit, which is guaranteed for six months, can be used to locate lights in a room, to tell when telephone lights are blinking, or to determine whether an object or piece of paper is light or dark. The PMI/LD is also available from the American Foundation for the Blind. The Disability Rights Center, 1346 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, a non-profit, public-interest corporation, is currently seeking information from disabled persons across the country who have had problems in attempts to gain employment in Federal Civil Service. Specific information is desired which will be compiled to identify major problem areas. While the Center cannot represent individuals, it can advise those with complaints of steps to be taken to protect their rights under present laws. Triformation Systems, Inc., manufacturer of computer-related braille embossing equipment, is seeking sales representatives throughout the country. Interested persons may contact Lee Brown, Director of Marketing, Triformation Systems, Inc., 5420 Bay Center Drive, Suite 202, Tampa, FL 33609. Cassette tapes on such topics as effective management, transactional analysis, personal motivation and development, successful selling, and other timely topics are available through the "Success Motivation" series for $9.95 each from Langdon Distributors, 7710 E. Farmdale Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85208. "Look 'n' Cook" is a 240-page cookbook in large-print, containing favorite, practical recipes. It is available for $6.95, plus $.60 postage and handling, from Look 'n' Cook, Box A, Willmar, MN 56201. Tapeople is a voicespondence club in which members provide their own tapes, to be re-circulated. Round-robins on many subjects, as well as articles from members, are featured. For more information, send a C60 cassette, or for full membership a C90 cassette and $2, to Tapeople, 2114 18th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401. From NEWSLETTER, New York State Federation of Workers for the Blind -- The New York State Racing and Wagering Board has ruled that licensee organizations can purchase or accept donations of braille cards for the use of blind players at Bingo games. These cards are to be distributed to blind persons in the same manner as cards are distributed to sighted persons. DBPH NEWS reports that the first edition of a Computer Output Microfiche (COM) catalog, together with microfiche readers, has been distributed to network libraries by the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. Publication of "Reading Materials for the Blind and physically Handicapped" -- marks the first step in the creation of a catalog designed to be the most complete and current listing of loan materials available in braille and recorded form. A second cumulative edition is scheduled for May. The new publication is packed in a loose-leaf binder containing 27 microfiche 4-by-6 segments of film. The microfiche reader magnifies entries to 48 times the reduced size. A traditional card catalog of comparable size would require more than 65 drawers to store the same information. From PERFORMANCE -- Special arrangements can now be made for blind students to take college board admission examinations. Visually handicapped students are allowed special editions of the tests, extended time, separate testing rooms, readers, and other needed assistance. The Scholastic Aptitude Test is available in three editions for handicapped students -- regular print, large print, and braille. All three editions are untimed. Special editions of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test — National Merit Qualifying Exam, are available for junior-year students. Further information may be obtained from a booklet entitled "College Admissions Testing Program for Handicapped Students," College Entrance Examinations Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540. Two new ACB affiliate publications have made their debut within the past few months. The TCB NEWS (Tennessee Council of the Blind) is a semi­annual publication in large-type, braille, and cassette. Editor is Jeanie Campbell of Knoxville. ACB's newest affiliate, the Aloha Council of the Blind (Hawaii) began publication of a bi-monthly newsletter, edited by John Dillon of Honolulu, last January. A list of ACB affiliate publications is available from the editorial office of the Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. A device known as the Insulgage, available from Meditech, Inc., 9485 E. Orchard Drive, Englewood, Colorado 80110, enables a person without sight to draw the prescribed dosage of insulin in a disposable syringe. A second type of Insulgage is made for loading a given dosage of insulin, requiring no setting or adjustment. These gages, made of a durable plastic, come in a variety of dosage sizes and for U-100, U-80, and U-40 insulin. The most recent AFB NEWSLETTER lists two new recorded public service announcements by the American Foundation for the Blind to radio stations and agencies for the blind throughout the country. "Talking About Blindness" contains information on various AFB publications. "Working in the Sighted World" consists of interviews with blind people working in the professions. Both are available upon request from Public Education Division, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. ***** ** Calendar of Events Iowa Council of the Blind Spring Convention, June 10-12, 1977 -- Fort Des Moines Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa. American Council of the Blind Fifteenth Annual Convention, July 10-16, 1977 -- Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida. American Association of Workers for the Blind Biennial Convention, July 17-20, 1977 -- Portland Hilton Hotel, Portland, Oregon National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Board of Directors Meeting, July 21, 1977 -- Portland Hilton Hotel, Portland, Oregon. Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, Second Annual Delegate Assembly, August 6-7, 1977 -- Ramada Inn, St. Louis, Missouri. Michigan Association of the Blind Annual Convention, October 21-23, 1977 -- Kalamazoo, Michigan. National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Annual Membership Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting, November 14 and 15, 1977, respectively -- Phoenix, Arizona. ###