The Braille Forum Vol. XVI September 1977 No. 3 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 Notice to Subscribers ACB Convention Report, by Harriet Penner Fielding Summary, ACB Business Meeting, 1977 Coming Next ... Salt Lake City! by Grant Mack Board of Publications Report, by Harold Dachtler Meeting of the ACB Task Force on Civil Rights ACB Library Committee Annual Report, by James G. Chandler Rehabilitation Specialists Organize New Interest Group What Price Glory, by Dr. Michael Young Affiliated Leadership League Second National Delegate Assembly Ski for Light '78 in South Dakota's Black Hills NEI to Receive 33% Budget Increase ACB Resolutions ACB Officers and Directors ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in large-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 S. 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. ***** ** ACB Convention Report Miami Beach, FL July 10-16, 1977 By Harriet Penner Fielding A one-word description of the 1977 National Convention of the American Council of the Blind is SMOOTH! Really smooth! Planned and executed by the Florida Council of the Blind in conjunction with its Greater Miami Chapter, the Convention surely ranks at the top of successful conventions. The Deauville Hotel and Tennis Club is a "mature" hotel, as ACB Convention Coordinator Oral Miller puts it. The rooms were spacious and the air conditioning excellent. Management and staff, from restaurant personnel to room attendants, provided cheerfully rendered service to all. For five full days, the easily accessible hospitality room provided hot and cold beverages without charge. In one section of the hospitality room there was an excellent array of exhibits, from reading machines to travel aids and more. There were social events to attend -- so many it was not possible to be present at all of them. There were breakfasts, luncheons, and dances, not to mention the Annual Banquet. Most of the social events were sponsored by the special-interest organizations, although several state affiliates interested in hosting or gaining support for future conventions in their states (the Louisiana Council of the Blind, Michigan Association of the Blind, and the Utah Council of the Blind) gave receptions which were jammed with perspiring humanity. As everyone knows by now, the 1978 ACB National Convention will be held in Salt Lake City. The Annual Award and Charter Presentations were made on Wednesday evening. A Charter of Affiliation as a Special-Interest Organization was presented to Dr. Michael Young. Chairperson, Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA). The Aloha Council of the Blind (Hawaii), with a membership of more than fifty persons, is the newest state affiliate in the American Council of the Blind. Mr. Donald Doi, a vending facility operator in Hawaii, accepted the Charter as delegate from the Aloha Council. The George Card Award for outstanding service to his fellow blind was presented to George Burck of New Jersey. Mr. Burck has been a spokesman for visually impaired persons in New Jersey for fifty years, particularly through his work with the Blind Men's Association of New Jersey, a consumer group influential in securing rights for blind people of that state. The Ambassador Award is given annually to a blind person who, through his or her activities and associations, has demonstrated integration into and interaction with the community. This year's recipient was Carl Dotson of Louisville, Kentucky -- active as a businessman in the community; first blind Lodge Master in Kentucky; active in Scouting; and spokesman throughout the community for the rights, particularly employment, of blind people. The Robert S. Bray Award, created two years ago by the ACB Board of Directors in honor of the outstanding achievements of the long-time Chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, was given for the first time this year to Mr. Charles La Casce, in recognition of his creativity and innovative approach in extending library services to visually impaired persons of New Hampshire. Now for the "meat" of the Convention -- the program. Following is a review of the speakers and their subjects. The keynote address was given by Grant Mack, President, Utah Council of the Blind. His talk, titled "The Power of Organization," was presented with wry humor and a light touch. He spoke in general terms of the decline in respect for law and order in the United States and went on to say that motivation is and must be the prime factor in the lives of ALL individuals, and most certainly in the life of the visually or physically impaired person. He concluded by saying, "Each and every one of you can become a salesman for the American Council of the Blind and its philosophy." "The Sighted and Their Handicaps" was the title of the provocative presentation by Dr. Clell Warriner, Clinical Psychologist and lecturer at Florida State University. Using a homespun manner of delivery, sprinkled with dry humor, he informed his audience that sighted people do not know how to treat a blind person. He said that this deplorable situation exists because blind individuals have been reluctant to assume the responsibility of telling them how. Dr. Warriner said that although a blind person harbors within himself a driving force to be independent, independence with anybody is never complete self-sufficiency. Maturity is being able to tell other people what you want. "The handicaps that sighted people experience in dealing with blind people are ignorance, awkwardness, embarrassment, and fear. The ignorance, awkwardness, and embarrassment must be handled by the blind individual. You are your own best public relations firm. ... " The fear on the part of the sighted is engendered by the appalling possibility of their own loss of sight. "The only way they can become unafraid is through some assistance from you. The sighted need your help." The entire thrust of Dr. Warriner's talk was that it is the visually handicapped person who must take the responsibility for overcoming the sighted person's handicaps in dealing with blind individuals. If we take the initiative for greeting people we pass on the sidewalk or in hallways, we will find that the human handicaps of the sighted will soon be overcome. "Your feeling of alienation and isolation will disappear. Each one of you is your own emissary to the sighted world. You may not like it that way. You may hate it that way. Your own hostility toward the sighted world is going to give you away, because there's some of it in each of us. I heard some of it last night and I know it's there. I don't want to deny it and I don't want to say that everything is peachy fine. My lord, I don't! I know that the sighted world does not treat You like you would like to be treated. With all that being true, still, as far as I can tell, you are your own best advocate, and the only thing the sighted world needs to learn is that they have nothing to fear from you. They need to deal with their own fear, the fear of potential blindness. They need to learn that you are NOT your blindness. That is the hardest thing for a sighted person to be able to comprehend." "Improving Vocational Opportunities for the Blind" was the subject of a presentation by Dr. Donald Wedewer, Director, Office for Blind Services, State of Florida. The Office for Services to the Blind within the State Department of Education is a recent achievement, he stated. It was accomplished by the concentrated efforts of mem hers and friends of the Florida Council of the Blind, ophthalmologists, and interested citizens of Florida. Dr. Wedewer said that his own visual and physical disability was the motivating force in his choice of a career in Vocational Rehabilitation. Outlining the history of employment of the blind as Service Representatives in the Social Security Administration, he told of his own experiences in working in the local SSA Office for two months without pay, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of employing trained blind individuals in SSA. From that time on, the SSA Service Representative Training and Placement Program has grown to the extent that there are now 115 visually impaired persons working in SSA Offices throughout the nation. Dr. Wedewer stated that he is completely dedicated to employment placement. He is now investigating the employment possibilities for visually impaired persons in chain retail stores where job detail is identical in every location. Thus, an individual could be trained for a specified job and perform it in any of the stores owned by the chain. In his concluding statement, in his own way he echoed what Dr. Warriner had emphasized in his talk: that blind people are their own best emissaries in the field of employment as well as in their social contacts. Carson Y. Nolan, Vice President and General Manager of the American Printing House for the Blind, brought the audience up to date on the functions of the Printing House. He gave an interesting flashback into history when he told of the early days of the Louisville, Kentucky firm. Establishing APH in 1858 was a cooperative effort of six states. However, no braille books were printed until 1867 because three of the six states joined the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. The Printing House was a part of the Kentucky School for the Blind, which itself was taken over for use as a hospital by the Union Army. Dr. Nolan told of the innovations, changes and additions to the Printing House over the years and listed the achievements of the organization, which were indeed impressive. APH manufactures numerous electronic communication devices for the blind and produces talking books for the Library of Congress, braille books, and the braille and flexible disc editions of numerous publications of organizations of the blind (including The Braille Forum). "Current Research and Future of the National Eye Institute" was the title of the presentation by William Raub, M.D., Associate Director of the National Eye Institute. Relating the background of NEI, Dr. Raub stated that it is part of the National Institute of Health, itself a division of the United States Department of Public Health, and all a part of HEW. The Eye Institute has been in operation for only seven years. "Our research activities are designed to complement those of NIH," he said. "We have as well a program of education, rehabilitation, and training. Our budget for this year is over $64 million, which will allow for over 700 research grants, fellowships and contracts and, in addition, will provide for clinical and epidemiological research conducted in our own facilities at Bethesda Naval Hospital." Since, according to Dr. Raub, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the United States, priority is given to research on their prevention. He stated, however, that new techniques in cataract surgery have measurably increased the number of successes. There is also continuing research in diabetic retinopathy. The surgical procedure known as vitrectomy is now being used routinely, with restoration of usable sight. Good news for the partially sighted is that the NEI is directing its efforts to the provision of tools and guidelines to eye professionals which will enable them to maximize the individual vision. "The Eye Institute intends to interact with other agencies concerned with education and vocational rehabilitation of visually handicapped persons. We invite the collaboration of organizations such as yours," Dr. Raub stated. "New Surgical Techniques to Combat Blindness" was the title of a fascinating presentation by Robert Machemer, M.D., Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine. When he began to speak, the audience snapped to attention. For an hour, Dr. Machemer described in detail the development of a surgical instrument now used widely to remove vitreous substance from the back of the eye in cases of diabetic retinopathy, as well as in other types of retinal ailments. He told of the delicate instruments in which he and a colleague had played a part in designing. Speaking frankly to an appreciative audience, Dr. Machemer stated that although the new instruments he described were breakthroughs in eye surgery, there is always the risk of failure. He said if there is an indication that eye surgery might restore some sight to a patient, the patient is always informed of the possible failure of the surgery and is also told that the restored sight may not remain indefinitely. Each patient must make his own decision, based on the facts given him. He left no doubt that with the new surgical techniques he had described, there is new hope for restoration of sight for many blind persons who had been told they would never see again. Geoffrey Nelson of Telesensory Systems, Inc., began his presentation with a sound demonstration of a voice-output reading machine which can be used as a separate entity or as an attachment to the Optacon. The voice was amazingly clear and readily understood. Still in the laboratory, this reading machine is scheduled for field testing in three or four months. With the changes recommended through field testing, it should be on the market in two to two and a half years, Nelson said. He also said that with mass production, the cost should be well below $10,000, and that with the trend toward Government assistance to qualified persons, the new machine could become at little or no cost to persons who can increase their earning power through the use of the new machine. Nelson also said that Telesensory Systems was a contract with the Bell Telephone System to develop a Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) which can be operated by a blind person. At present, a sighted employee of the Bell System sits at the TSPS console, which has over eighty push buttons and lights. The console is used to intercept calls which must be handled by an operator rather than automatically. TSI has developed electronic hardware which will enable blind employees of the company to operate the TSPS console within the performance standards set by the company for all its Operators. Two prototype systems are now being evaluated by telephone companies, using blind employees hired especially for this evaluation. "There are now 100,000 TSPS Operators in approximately 2,000 offices throughout the country," Mr. Nelson said, "and we think that there is an opening for at least one blind person in each office and a potential for literally thousands of jobs." An Optacon typewriter attachment has been available for typewriters with movable carriages, which permits filling in forms and checking one's own typing. A specially designed attachment is now available for use with IBM Selectric typewriters. Nelson demonstrated the "talking" calculator now being used extensively by blind business persons. He described a new hand-held electronic travel device requiring little or no training, which will soon be available. TSI has recently developed new electronic games using electronic speech, along the lines of those played with a television set. Another development is a silent system for writing, composing, and editing information in braille. This system uses magnetic storage of information, coupled with a dynamic display. It will be battery operated and can be used in a variety of applications, ranging from braille writer to computer terminal. This covers only a small part of the information dispensed by Mr. Nelson. It is suggested that more complete information may be obtained by writing Telesensory Systems, Inc., 3408 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Education of handicapped children was the subject of a well-prepared address by Elizabeth Lennon of Western Michigan University, Secretary of the Michigan Association of the Blind and of the Affiliated Leadership League (ALL). She spoke eloquently about the monumental problems of blind children in securing an adequate education. She gave a brief history of residential schools for the blind in the United States and pointed out that the argument about the advantages or disadvantages of residential schools is still raging. She expanded her subject to include all handicapped children. Ms. Lennon outlined the provisions of Public Law 94-142, which mandates an education for every handicapped child. "Mandatory special education laws in the late '60s and early '70s are what brought about the phenomenon we are now talking about; namely, 'mainstreaming,'" she said. "Now, what is 'mainstreaming'? It is the educational program in which handicapped children and youth are placed in regular classes, with supplemental services and/ or special instructional equipment provided by a special teacher of the visually handicapped." On November 29, 1975, President Ford signed into law the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142). Now the law of the land, it provides for free public education for handicapped children, tailored to the unique needs of each child. Ms. Lennon said that nowhere in the law is the word "mainstreaming" used. Concluding her talk, she said: "You know laws are only as good as their enforcement. And please, in this organization, in your affiliates and in your own local chapters, you have a challenge and a great responsibility to see that P.L. 94-142 works." (Note: Copies of P.L. 94-142 may be obtained from the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, in braille, cassette, flexible disc, and large-print.) Civil rights for all handicapped persons was one of the prirr1e subjects for discussion before, during, and after this Convention. On the evening before the formal opening on Wednesday, Mrs. Carol Derouin, President of the Oregon Council of the Blind, moderated a seminar on all facets of civil rights for the handicapped. This seminar, sponsored by the ACB Task Force on Civil Rights, is reviewed elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum. John Bannon, Attorney, Civil Rights Task Force of the President's Reorganization Project, who had been a resource person at the ACB Task Force on Civil Rights seminar, spoke to the Convention on Wednesday morning. He reviewed what had been discussed at the seminar and stated that the number of Federal agencies concerned with the compliance and enforcement of civil rights laws was proliferated to the extent that there is confusion in the minds of the public. The President's Reorganization Committee is working on a proposal to combine these agencies. Bannon asked for input from the ACB affiliates and special-interest organizations. He said: "There are important issues which should be discussed which cut across agency lines. Any suggestions or advice from members of this organization will be appreciated." (Interested persons may write to Task Force on Civil Rights, President's Reorganization Committee, 26 Jackson Place, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.) The Handicapped Assistance Loan Program was instituted by the United States Small Business Administration in 1973, according to Arthur E. Armstrong, Director of Finance, U.S. Small Business Administration. In his excellent presentation, Armstrong told of the program designed to offer loans to small firms 100% owned by handicapped persons, or to non-profit organizations where at least 75% of the work is performed by handicapped persons. The type of non-profit organizations to which such loans are made are generally known as sheltered workshops, he said. "We can help the handicapped person go into business or conduct a business so long as it is small and he can't get help anywhere else." The loans may be made on a comparatively long-term basis up to fifteen years in the case of real estate loans, with interest at 3%, with collateral or equity of about one-third of the proposed loan. The SBA also offers management assistance to small firms, Armstrong said. The trend toward coalitions of the disabled was exemplified in an address entitled "The Coalition: Cross-Disability Cohesion," by Frank Bowe, Director, American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Mr. Bowe, who is totally deaf, with the resultant speech impairment, spoke to a quiet, courteous, attentive audience on the importance of cooperation on matters of mutual significance between groups of disabled individuals with differing handicaps. Bowe thanked ACB President Floyd Qualls and the ACB Washington staff, and through them the membership of ACB, for their leadership in the fight for civil rights of the disabled. He spoke on his own announced subject with a depth of feeling that was evident to his listeners. "Transportation and the Handicapped" was the title of an address by Dr. Ira Laster, Coordinator for Handicapped and Elderly Programs, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. Dr. Laster gave a comprehensive report of the activities within the Department pursuant to solving the various problems of handicapped individuals with public transit systems. "We are engaged in providing funds to local transportation systems to purchase new equipment and to remodel old equipment to suit the needs of handicapped and elderly persons," he said. He said that if all physically handicapped individuals could use the same type of wheelchair (which, of course, is impossible) -- if one kind of lift for entry into buses could be worked out -- if blind persons and deaf persons had the same needs -- If -- if -- if ... problems of transportation could be solved nicely. But that is beyond the realm of possibility. There is ongoing research into every angle, he said, even though it seems to be the consensus of opinion that visually in1paired persons who must use public transit need little, if any, adaptive equipment. It was heartening to learn that after many years of indifference to the requirements of the disabled on the part of public officials, the United States Department of Transportation is actually moving forward toward a goal which will allow more and more disabled to participate in pursuits which have long been unavailable to them because of lack of suitable public transportation. "Meeting the Needs of the Transportation Disadvantaged in Dade County," a talk by F. Harry Russell, Director, Community Activities for the Disabled and Employ the Handicapped Committees, Dade County, Florida, brought the discussion on public transportation for the disabled down to the local level. He told of the excellent operation in Dade County, where a variety of arrangements have been made for transportation, including subsidizing those who have transportation difficulties with a sum of money in the form of tickets which may be used for the type of transportation best suited to an individual's needs. Judging from the concentrated attention of the visually handicapped audience, weary of coping with transportation problems in their home towns, all were busy hatching plans to move to Dade County, Florida, where their dream of going where they wanted to go, when they wanted to go, would be fulfilled. "The White House Conference on the Handicapped," a report by Dr. Robert McLean, President, Louisiana Council of the Blind, was the final talk on the program. Dr. McLean stated that there were over 100 ACB members present at the conference, and altogether about 200 visually impaired individuals. "A caucus of the blind delegates was held each night in an out-of-the-way place down in the basement. We laid a couple of very good resolutions on the Conference that came out of that caucus. Also, we tried to counteract some of the negative publicity that was going around about the blind. ... There wasn't enough time to get everything done, but, oh the whole, when you consider the years of planning and the effort put into it, it was successful." Conclusion: It is an unquestioned fact that the American Council of the Blind is recognizing the advantages of coalition and cooperation with other organizations of persons with differing handicaps. The following quote from Dr. McLean's report on the White House Conference seems to express clearly the general feeling of the American Council of the Blind membership. "Everywhere there were ACB members, and everywhere there were blind individuals in general ... We made it abundantly clear that we were there to see that every handicapped category got the individualized, specialized delivery system the blind have been enjoying for the past 75 years ... We here at this Convention want to make sure that that continues. We want everyone who hears about what we are doing here to know that when we go after the goals for all the handicapped, we are doing nothing but adding strength to the attainment of our own personal blindness system goals." ***** ** Summary, ACB Business Meeting, 1977 President Floyd Qualls presided at the two half-day business sessions of the 1977 Annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind on July 15 and 16 at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. Complete text of the eighteen adopted resolutions appears elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum. Two matters had previously been referred to the Constitution and By-Laws Committee by the ACB Board of Directors: (1) Technical procedures to expedite voting at National Conventions -- Constitution and By-Laws Committee Chairman Dr. Robert McLean of Louisiana reported his committee felt this was not directly related to the Constitution and By-Laws and recommended that the President appoint a special technical committee to study the matter and report back at the 1978 Convention. (2) Representation at National Conventions of persons who belong to more than one affiliate -- The Committee felt that this important matter should be given more in-depth study before making a recommendation to the 1978 Convention. It had been called to the attention of the committee that both appointment and election to the Board of Publications now occurs in the same year rather than in alternate years, as originally contemplated by the ACB By-Laws. In order to provide continuity in makeup of the Publications Board through changes in administration, a motion was adopted that the present two appointed members be continued through the 1979 Convention, with appointment thereafter taking place in odd-numbered years. The final report of the Credentials Committee (Carla Franklin of Kentucky, Chairperson) certified 46 voting affiliates, including two new special-interest affiliates, Visually Impaired Veterans of America and Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, and one new state affiliate, the Aloha Council of the Blind (Hawaii). National Membership Chairman Carl McCoy of Florida stressed the fact that although interest has developed in several new special areas, the backbone of ACB is still the state affiliate. He emphasized the importance of developing already existing affiliates and chapters, making them more representative of and responsive to the needs and interests of blind persons. A membership development workshop is being planned for the 1978 Convention, and work is being done on a brochure specifically directed to membership. A Federal Employees Group held organizational meetings in Miami Beach, and preliminary work has been done to organize the Council of Citizens with Low Vision. Reese Robrahn, Director of Research and Governmental Affairs in the Washington Office, reviewed ACB activity with regard to civil rights legislation, and particularly ACB's role, in coalition with other organizations of the handicapped, in the signing of the Regulation to implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In calling for meaningful civil rights legislation within the 95th Congress, he stressed the potential value of the rapport which ACB has established with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. He called upon the ACB Task Force on Civil Rights, and through it each ACB affiliate, to lend all possible support when and if Congress is ready to move. In reporting for the Electronic Aids Committee, Chairman Bill Pickman of New York spoke first on behalf of Tom Benham and Science for the Blind. The office and shop facilities of Science for the Blind Products were completely destroyed by fire on May 12, 1977. Anyone on the SFB mailing list, or who wishes to be placed on the mailing list, or who had an order or repair pending, is asked to contact Science for the Blind Products, P.O. Box 120, Bala-Cynwyd, PA 19004. Mr. Pickman reported that the publication made available following the Electronics Fair in New York City in 1974 is being completely revised and updated, bringing together the most current information on electronic devices for the blind, partially sighted, and deaf blind. He urged strongly that anyone considering the purchase of any of the low-vision aids first consult a professional low-vision expert. The Committee further urged that the Library of Congress look very closely at the cassette player developed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind as a possible improved design for American users. The 1978 National Convention will take place in Salt Lake City, headquartered at the Hotel Utah, which can house the entire Convention. This is a very elegant, though "mature" hotel, according to ACB Convention Coordinator Oral Miller. Dates for the 1978 Convention are July 23-29. The membership voted to hold the 1979 Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Pantlind Hotel, which likewise can accommodate the entire Convention under one roof Billie Elder encouraged each affiliate to make use of the ACB Seminars Committee in developing leadership seminars. The Committee stands ready to make recommendations and to furnish leaders, formats, and literature upon request. A motion passed for ACB leaders to seek to have five blind women appointed Delegates-at-Large at the Women's International Year Convention to be held in Texas in December. In his National Representative's report, Durward McDaniel emphasized that the American Council is in a period of growth. He commented at some length upon the new and expanded role of ACB in multiplying its influence and effectiveness through coalitions with other minority and handicapped groups -- namely, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, with 57 member organizations; the Health Security Action Coalition, with some 65 to 70 members; the Affiliated Leadership League, now numbering 49 organizations of and for the blind; and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, comprised of 141 member organizations. ACB was the first organization of handicapped persons admitted to the Leadership Conference, and LCCR's recognition of the fact that the elements of discrimination are essentially the same for handicapped people as for other minorities was clearly evident when, in less than two years, Reese Robrahn of the ACB Staff was elected to the Conference's fifteen-member Executive Committee. "I am going to make the next twelve months the year in which we reassess where we are and what we have not done, and at least begin to do those things," he concluded. ***** ** Coming Next ... Salt Lake City! By Grant M. Mack The 1978 National Convention Committee of the Utah Council of the Blind has initiated a program designed to minimize travel expenses of those planning to attend the American Council of the Blind Convention in Salt Lake City next July 23-30. Substantial savings in travel expenses can be affected if people are moved in groups. This principle applies whether airlines, trains, or buses are used. Most attendees at the Miami Beach Convention received a pre-addressed card requiring no postage from the Utah group and were urged to complete the information and return the card to Mark McLean in Salt Lake City if they thought they might want to attend the 1978 Convention. Murdock Travel of Salt Lake City will computerize all the information and do a feasibility study on possible charter flights and charter buses from all parts of the country. So, if you have any desire to attend the meeting in Salt Lake City in July, 1978, and if you are interested in saving money on travel expenses, please send the following information to Mr. Mark McLean at 152 Hampton Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT 84111: your address and the number of people who are likely to be coming to Salt Lake. It is absolutely essential that this information be gathered soon because charter aircraft must be arranged for no later than six months prior to use. ***** ** Board of Publications Report By Harold Dachtler, Chairman The American Council of the Blind Board of Publications is pleased with the response and acceptance of The Braille Forum now being published on a monthly basis. Now articles more varied in nature may be presented; now the content of the magazine can be kept more current. Acceptance of the flexible disc edition has been gratifying. However, the Publications Board would encourage more readers to request the disc edition if that format is convenient. This will aid in keeping down costs. The open-reel edition has been discontinued altogether, so that The Braille Forum is now available in large print, braille, cassette, and flexible disc. All matters dealing with both content and circulation are now being handled by the Editor. Please keep her informed of changes of address or changes in the edition you wish to receive. She asks, also, that you notify her if there are errors in the edition as you are now receiving it -- editions you do not want duplicate copies, incorrect name, and so on -- or if there are members of your affiliate who wish to receive The Braille Forum but are not presently on the mailing list. Much effort is being put into compiling and maintaining an accurate mailing list, and to do this, the editorial offices request the patience and assistance of all readers whose subscriptions may not be properly processed. It will take time, but it can and will be done. Print, braille, and flexible disc editions of the magazine are available to regional libraries. If your library does not receive The Braille Forum, please ask the librarian to request copies regularly from the Editor. The more readers we have, the better informed will be the public as to the philosophy and programs of the American Council of the Blind. An updated list of affiliate publications is now available from the Editor or from me. Still available, also, are Minutes from last year's Workshop on publications, public relations, and fund-raising. At the 1978 ACB National Convention in Salt Lake City, the Board of Publications is planning to sponsor a Workshop on Publications and Public Relations. Chairperson for this Workshop is Mrs. Harriet Fielding, 1880 Pacific Avenue, No. 504, San Francisco, CA 94109. Any recommendations or suggestions you might have regarding matters to be included will be appreciated. Contact Mrs. Fielding at the above address, or contact me at 600 West Rouse Street, Lansing, MI 48910. The success of the Workshop will be determined by your interest and participation. The Board hopes to begin laying some firm plans for the Workshop by the time of its mid-year meeting. Henceforth, affiliate Presidents and Editors of affiliate publications will receive Minutes of Board of Publications meetings. The Board felt this was desirable in order to keep affiliates informed as to our concerns and hopefully to receive input from the affiliates. The Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award was not presented this year. In the future, the Award will be given based upon the calendar year of January 1 through December 31 rather than on a July 1 through June 30 year, as in the past. This will give the Editorial Staff adequate time to fairly judge articles eligible for the Award. Next year, when the Award will be presented, articles will be considered from July 1, 1976. Three recommendations were made to the ACB Board of Directors: (1) That the Editor of The Braille Forum be notified by the ACB Treasurer whenever contributions are received specifically designated for The Braille Forum in order that proper acknowledgement can be made. (2) Because the ACB Constitution is always in a state of flux, that a Revised Constitution be made available to the membership, in print and in braille, at least every four years. (3) That the ACB Informational Brochure be updated, reprinted, and distributed in large quantity, and that it be made available immediately to the affiliates, to all Thrift Stores, to the Editor of The Braille Forum, and to those attending ACB National Conventions. ***** ** Meeting of ACB Task Force on Civil Rights The American Council of the Blind Task Force on Civil Rights was called to order by Chairperson Carol Derouin, President of the Oregon Council of the Blind, on Tuesday evening, July 12, with 38 ACB Affiliate Representatives present, together with a like number of observers. The following persons made brief introductory remarks and served the Task Force as Resource Consultants: Raymond F. (Bud) Keith, Equal Opportunity Specialist Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare; Hedwig Oswald, Chief, Office of Selective Placement Programs, U.S. Civil Service Commission; John Bannon, Attorney, Task Force on Civil Rights of the President's Reorganization Project; and Reese Robrahn, Director of Research and Governmental Affairs, ACB staff. Mr. Keith reported on the action of the Department of HEW to bring about development and promulgation of regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by all other departments and agencies of the Federal Government by its publication of proposed guidelines and standards, pursuant to Executive Order 119 14. He also reported on progress of the Office for Civil Rights toward the implementation and compliance and enforcement efforts. Final guidelines and standards likely will not be published until September, and progress of the Office for Civil Rights will improve upon the completion of the reorganization of the Office. Ms. Oswald reported on progress in the development of a regulation providing for a complaint procedure under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, affirmative action for handicapped employees and applicants for employment in the Federal departments and agencies. This proposed regulation has been signed by the Civil Service Commission and is now awaiting action by the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Bannon stated that little input from individuals with handicaps or organizations of handicapped individuals had been received by the President's Reorganization Project concerning administration, compliance, and enforcement of civil rights laws for the handicapped; and he urged the development of suggestions and recommendations by the ACB Task Force and all other interested parties and groups. Mr. Robrahn presented a brief survey of all bills introduced in the 95th Congress pertaining to civil rights for the handicapped. The discussion of members of the Task Force and participating observers reflected particular concern about the lack of meaningful affirmative action on the part of the Federal departments and agencies, and about the implementation of P.L. 94-142, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. The Task Force adopted a motion that called upon the President of the American Council of the Blind to establish a special committee to monitor and oversee through ACB affiliate organizations the implementation of P.L. 94- 142 as it affects individuals with visual impairment. The Task Force was assured by ACB staff that a statement of comment and recommendations would be prepared and submitted to the President's Reorganization Project relating to civil rights of the handicapped. The ACB Civil Rights Task Force was created by resolution at the 1976 convention. Its membership is comprised of one representative from each affiliate, and it must meet at least once each year. ***** ** ACB Library Committee Annual Report By James G. Chandler, Chairman Last year, during and following the ACB Convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the American Council of the Blind Library Committee conducted a survey among library users. The first report on the findings appeared in the June, 1977 issue of The Braille Forum, and a second article will appear early next fall. An advance copy of the American Foundation for the Blind questionnaire on use and non-use of the Library of Congress network was reviewed and several modifications were forwarded to AFB. The earlier draft had eliminated consideration of several types of library use and had sought information that many persons would class as private and confidential. The Chairman represented ACB at the collection development meetings at the Library of Congress, July 7-8, 1977. The Library Committee heartily endorses the proposal for international coordination of library services for blind and physically handicapped individuals. Kurt Cylke, Chief, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, will present the proposal formally at the meeting of the International Federation of Library Associations in Brussels, Belgium, September 6, 1977. All members of the American Council of the Blind are ex officio members of the ACB Library Committee. I hope and trust that you will encourage the American Printing House for the Blind in moving into the production phase of the project to place a dictionary on cassettes. The research and development work has been done. A field test confirms the practicality of the design, and a firm indication of interest by potential users is all that is needed to bring about a giant step in the availability of reference materials that blind and physically handicapped persons can use directly. Any comments should be sent to the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206, or to me at the National Office of the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Rehabilitation Specialists Organize New Interest Group An event of great significance in the unfolding scenario of ACB was enacted in Miami Beach July 12 with the formation of the Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, a new special-interest organization. Membership in this group is open to persons involved in the delivery of services to the visually handicapped segment of the population. Persons who are involved in the network of the service delivery system now have a vehicle through which they may work to improve services. The potential membership of this newly organized professional interest group and its potential for bringing to bear the forces of the various helping professions on critical issues in rehabilitation is of great magnitude. The new Council of Rehabilitation Specialists (CRS), with the support and backing of its parent organization, American Council of the Blind, can open up new avenues of communication, set in motion new forces, and link the providers and consumers of services into new, dynamic relationships. The concept of CRS evolved over the past few years, and the impetus for this organization came from ACB members whose life work is devoted to the betterment of society and the creation of new lifestyles for the visually impaired. The "Purpose" section of the CRS Constitution reads: "Statement of Purpose: To provide a national mechanism through which all members of the Council of Rehabilitation Specialists can: "l. Represent the interests of, support the establishment of academic and professional standards for, and advocate provision of quality services to all visually handicapped persons as a matter of legal right; "2. Interrelate and work formally and cooperatively with other organizations of rehabilitation specialists, educational institutions, and governmental and private agencies to improve the status and rights of the specialized helping professions and assure better delivery of a broad range of quality services for visually handicapped persons; "3. Wherever possible, serve as advocate for rehabilitation specialists and for the rights of visually handicapped persons to receive services of a high quality; and "4. Take such necessary action, independently or jointly with other professional groups, governmental, private, and citizen organizations to carry out these purposes and generally to advocate provision of rehabilitation services." Officers of CRS are: President -- Billie Elder; Vice President -- Gordon Haldiman; Secretary -- Elizabeth Lennon; and Treasurer -- Una Guillot. The charter membership roll will be kept open until December 31, 1977. Professional workers who subscribe to the purposes of CRS, who are looking for a dynamic interest group affiliated with a national consumer organization and are devoted to working within the system to bring about change and growth, are invited to become charter members. Send $5 and a request for membership to Billie Elder, 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204. ***** ** What Price Glory By Dr. Michael Young Of all of the unpleasant things that can happen to the retiring veteran after battle in the name of his country, the anguish of disability as a result of that action must rank near the top. The frustration of rehabilitating himself back into the mainstream of life, with or without the help that is available through agencies of local, state and Federal governments, is no easy task. Surely also ranking near the top of the list of problems faced by veterans of military service is to be discharged from the service in apparent good health, and then, within a short period of time, to be devastated with a debilitating physical problem such as visual disability, where there is no apparent reason or relationship brought about through military service. So many veterans today, as they approach and move into the senior citizen ages, are reaching out for that sturdy cane to assist them down staircases and across streets, and generally to steady themselves as they move about. And it is in recognition of the mental and emotional problems of this particular breed of veteran, the non-service-connected visually impaired veteran, that the Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA) was conceived and formed. At the 1977 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Miami Beach, VIVA was recognized as an able, capable ally of the ACB and therefore was awarded a charter of affiliation. At the meeting in Miami, a draft constitution and by-laws for VIVA was accepted by the membership almost without change. The membership meeting was further enhanced by the very inspiring and professional talk of the keynote speaker, Mrs. Exie Hill of the Alabama State Department of Education, herself a member of VIVA. VIVA is growing! Special thanks for recruiting efforts must go to L.O. Chapman of Houston, Texas, and to VIVA Vice President Jack Goldfein of New York City for their patience, plodding work in contacting new prospective Members. Only through the strength of numbers can we attain and keep the recognition we so much deserve. Since the Miami meeting, much time has been spent in preparation of radio and newspaper releases to tell the story of VIVA. As a preliminary step to formal recognition by the Veterans Administration and other agencies of the Government, procedures have been initiated to incorporate this new ACB affiliate. Be a friend and do a favor for a friend or acquaintance: If he or she has had a minimum of at least 24 hours in any branch of the military forces of our country; if the type of discharge that he or she received is recognized by the V.A. for services of that agency; and if he or she has a visual impairment that meets the V. A. or Post Office definition of impairment, tell that person about VIVA. We are proud of the female members of VIVA, and we have a fair number of them on our rolls. So don't bypass the gals! Our goal will always be "just a fair shake" for the veteran who gave of his personal life and energy for the protection and well-being of his country and his fellow man. For a membership application or further information about VIVA, contact the ACB National Office or me, Dr. Michael Young, at 3980 8th Avenue No. 115, San Diego, CA 92103. ***** ** Affiliated Leadership League Second National Delegate Assembly "I do believe that we are now turning the corner on the question, is ALL here to stay." Durward K. McDaniel, Chairperson of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, told delegates and observers at the organization's Second National Delegate Assembly. "I think," he continued, "that we have in many respects made very substantial progress in gaining acceptance of the concept of an organization of and for the blind. We know at this time that there can be strength without any organization giving up its reason for being or its identity." In attendance at the two-day meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, August 6-7, were official delegates representing 36 of the 49 member organizations, as well as several dozen interested observers. Thus, in one year, membership in this voluntary coalition of organizations of and for the blind has nearly doubled from the 28 who participated in the first Delegate Assembly in July of 1976. The two-day program, chaired by Marvin F. Brotman, Executive Director, Friends of Eye Research, Rehabilitation and Treatment (FERRAT), explored in depth a number of matters of concern to agencies for and organizations of the blind. A panel moderated by Jesse Rosten, Executive Director, Minneapolis Society for the Blind, presented various perspectives on the question of unionization of sheltered workshops. The recent N.L.R.B. ruling permitting union representation was clearly outlined by William Thompson, President of the General Council of Workshops for the Blind. Fred McDonald, Executive Director of the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, whose workshop employees one year ago voted down unionization, felt that the union was not appropriate in a sheltered shop setting and stated his belief that would discourage employment of workers with low productivity a sheltered shop were forced to pay union wages. Also, he emphasized the value of the sheltered shop as a step in rehabilitation and contended that unionization would conflict with this. Drawing upon his own experience as a union member, Mr. H. Joseph Brown of Wisconsin, Chairman of the ACB Committee on Sheltered Workshops, viewed unionization as an aid in dealing effectively with management and protecting workers' rights. "Implementation and Ramifications of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973" was the title of a Sunday morning panel chaired by Eunice Fiorito, President of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities and of the American Council of the Blind of New York State. Featured were speakers from both the public and private sector. Two panelists spoke from their own first-hand experience with provisions of the Act. Judy Gurmankin, a teacher in the Philadelphia Public School System, told of her struggle against the hostility of school officials and parents and of her legal battle to obtain a teaching position. Last spring, a U.S. Court of Appeals sustained a lower court decision recognizing a blind person's Constitutional right of access to a public-school teaching position. This is considered a landmark case not only for blind teachers, but for the many handicapped Americans who have been subjected to discrimination in public employment. Ira Grupper of Louisville, Kentucky, spoke of his efforts to secure employment with a large tobacco company. In July of 1975, he had been virtually hired, but was refused the job when it was discovered in a pre-employment physical that he had poor vision. Assisted by a Louisville attorney, the American Council of the Blind, and the U.S. Department of Labor, after nearly two years, he is now working. This could well be a landmark case under Section 503, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of a handicap. Also included on the program were Dr. Robert Winn, Director of the Governor's Coordinating Office for the Visually Handicapped in Texas, who told of the successful functioning of his agency in several areas, particularly that of ombudsman to protect and promote the legal rights of visually handicapped persons. Dr. Robert McLean of the Louisiana Council of the Blind spoke of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, and Dr. Israel Goldberg of the National Eye Institute described progress against major causes of blindness. At the Sunday afternoon business session, six policy resolutions were adopted and the following new directors elected: William J. McConnell (Hampton, Virginia), President, Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped; Mrs. Pat Price (Indianapolis, Indiana), Vice President, Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association; and William Thompson (West Palm Beach, Florida), Executive Director of Lions Industries for the Blind and President of the General Council of Workshops for the Blind. For a more detailed report on activities and plans of the Affiliated Leadership League, see the October issue of The Braille Forum. ***** ** Ski for Light '78 In South Dakota's Black Hills Ski for Light, the annual cross-country skiing experience for the visually and physically handicapped, will be held in South Dakota's beautiful Black Hills during the week of January 29 through February 5, 1978. Previous programs have taken place in Colorado, Minnesota, and Vermont. In the interest of maintaining a quality program, Ski for Light, Inc. and the 1978 host committee have decided to limit the number of participants to one hundred, plus the same number of sighted guides. The twin community of Deadwood and Lead (pronounced Leed), assisted by nearby Rapid City Borgund Lodge of the Sons of Norway, will host the international event. Participants will be staying at the historic Franklin Hotel in Deadwood, whose former inhabitants include Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. The area's Western flavor will find expression in the after-skiing program, according to Host Committee Chairman Sherman Teigen. Neighboring Lead is a typical mining community and home of the world's largest gold mine. Rapid City will be the airport gateway for Ski for Light '78. It is also the site of a full-sized replica of a Norwegian stave church, namesake of the Sons of Norway Lodge. Skiing will take place at the Deer Mountain ski area in a lovely pine forest at 6,000 feet above sea level. Buses will take participants the eight miles from the hotel to the ski area and back every day. While the majority of those accepted for Ski for Light '78 will be persons who have not skied before, participants in previous Ski for Light programs are invited to apply. The participation fee for the week, including room, board and ski rental, will be $150. All participants will be required to pay the full fee. To the extent possible, applicants are asked to pay for their own travel expenses. However, a number of travel grants are available for those unable to do so. The lower age limit is 18. There is no upper limit. The 91 participants in Ski for Light '77 in Woodstock, Vermont ranged in age from 18 to 63, and there was equal participation from men and women. Anyone interested in participation in Ski for Light '78 should request an application form as soon as possible from Grethe Twiford, 2305 Whitetail Court, Reston, VA 22091. Applications must be received back by Ski for Light by about November 1, 1977. ***** ** NEI to Receive 33% Budget Increase The National Eye Institute will receive $85 million in Federal funds for fiscal 1978 -- barring any last-minute changes. A joint House-Senate Appropriations Committee approved the 33% increase for NEI, during a recent meeting. "With this increased funding, eye research is expected to make accelerated progress during the coming year and beyond," said Marvin F. Brotman, Executive Director, Friends of Eye Research, Rehabilitation and Treatment (FERRAT). Brotman also thanked members of the American Council of the Blind who wrote to their Congressmen and Senators in support of the $85 million budget. ***** ** 1977 Resolutions * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-01 WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service is in the process of recommending changes in its rate schedule; and WHEREAS, one of the suggested changes is to increase First Class business mail postage to sixteen cents ($.16), while retaining thirteen cents ($.13) postage for First Class personal mail; and WHEREAS, one of the proposed requirements for identifying personal mail is that either the name and address of the sender or the name and address of the recipient must be handwritten; and WHEREAS, many blind persons as well as others with certain handicapping conditions cannot fulfill this requirement; and WHEREAS, the increase to sixteen cents ($.16) would impose a burden on all non-profit organizations sending out regular business letters, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, on this 16th day of July, 1977, that the National Office of the American Council of the Blind be instructed to take such action as may be necessary to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities and/or non-profit organizations through the method of distinguishing between business and personal mail; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Office of the American Council of the Blind communicate to the U.S. Postal Service its willingness to consult with the Postal Service concerning policy matters affecting handicapped persons. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-02 WHEREAS, certification is a growing concern among computer professionals and the Certificate in Data Processing is an internationally recognized credential and the Certificate in Data Processing Examination, due to its comprehensive nature, involves technical language and analytic evaluation throughout the five lengthy sections set forth in the test pamphlet; and WHEREAS, Visually Impaired Data Processors International is an organization whose purpose is to assist visually impaired data processors with job-related problems and to disseminate information to employers, to agencies, and to the public at large in order to further the employment and advancement of the visually impaired in their careers; and WHEREAS, the administration of the Certificate in Data Processing Examination to visually or otherwise physically handicapped individuals requires certain adaptions due to difficulties with reading and/or writing; and WHEREAS, no satisfactory guidelines have been established regarding candidates' response time and medium of communications, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, on this 16th day of July, 1977, that the President of the American Council of the Blind direct a letter to the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals, urging such Institute to avail itself of the collective expertise of Visually Impaired Data Processors International in establishing guidelines for administering its examination to persons with disabilities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President of the American Council of the Blind direct a letter to the President of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, requesting that the organization write a letter to the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals in a similar manner, to lend support to Visually Impaired Data Processors International in its attempt to initiate and provide input for such guidelines. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-03 BE IT RESOLVED, in convention assembled at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, on this 16th day of July, 1977, that the American Council of the Blind, in conjunction with the National Alliance of Blind Students, investigate the problem of housing discrimination against blind or physically disabled students; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the findings of this investigation be submitted to the American Council of the Blind Task Force on Civil Rights for review and appropriate action. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-04 WHEREAS, preliminary planning is now under way for a White House Conference on Library Services; and WHEREAS, library services for the blind and physically handicapped are a specialized part of these services; and WHEREAS, it is important that there be a recognition of the fact that library services for the blind and physically handicapped are an important part of public library services and that they need constant improvement and expansion in order to meet the needs of those they serve, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled on this 16th day of July, 1977, at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, that the officers and staff of the American Council of the Blind are directed to immediately make all necessary inquiries into the preliminary planning of the White House Conference on Library Services and to do all things necessary to make sure that library services for the blind and physically handicapped are included in the planning. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-05 WHEREAS, in recent years research and technical advancements and discoveries have made and are making available many devices and pieces of equipment that can be of great help to blind persons; and WHEREAS, many blind persons may not be eligible to obtain such equipment through rehabilitation services, and may be successfully pursuing an occupation or profession that would be substantially furthered through the use of such equipment; and WHEREAS, the production of the new electronic equipment is expensive and beyond the means of many individuals most in need of it, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled on this 16th day of July, 1977, at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, that the officers and staff of the American Council of the Blind are instructed to investigate the possibility of causing a public fund to be established for the purpose of making available grants or low-cost loans so that visually impaired and other handicapped persons can purchase these expensive aids. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-06 WHEREAS, the Federal Energy Conservation Act requires as a condition for receipt of funds by any state that such state enact legislation which permits right turn on red signal except in limited circumstances; and WHEREAS, many states have passed such legislation to date; and WHEREAS, a few states permitted turning right on red light prior to such legislation; and WHEREAS, such statutes endanger the safety of all pedestrians -- the young, the very old, the mentally handicapped, the physically handicapped, including blind and visually handicapped, the deaf and those with hearing impairments, and the orthopedically disabled; and WHEREAS, the statutes are confusing to drivers and pedestrians alike; and WHEREAS, each municipality has made exceptions to right turn on red signal because of its preference or individual traffic problems, adding to the confusion for drivers and pedestrians; and WHEREAS, at present, several states permit, or have proposed to permit, left turns on red under certain conditions, which would further compound the confusion and danger, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled, the 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that the provision of the Federal Energy Conservation Act heretofore referred to be removed; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all statutes permitting right turn on red be repealed; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a letter expressing the sense of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the members of Congress, and the Governors of the several States. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-07 WHEREAS, it is the established position of the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, that greater security against counterfeiting of currency is assured by uniformity of size, color, and design; and WHEREAS, the Bureau has opposed numerous attempts to change the design of U.S. currency; and WHEREAS, the Bureau's position is not supported by modern research on the extent to which design changes influence the security and the usability of currency; and WHEREAS, the Bureau's position constitutes a systematic bias against the adoption of design changes which might benefit blind and visually handicapped citizens; and WHEREAS, legislation against barriers to handicapped citizens is an accepted principle, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled the 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that the Bureau of Printing and Engraving be encouraged to conduct research on currency design which, while providing security against counterfeiting, is based upon the best principles of human factors design to assure maximum usability of all U.S. citizens. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-08 WHEREAS, the present method of certification is inconvenient and time-consuming and does not guard against easy duplication, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled, the 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that certification of voting members' name tags be required at the time of registration in a manner that cannot be easily duplicated. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-09 BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at Miami Beach, Florida, the 16th day of July, 1977, that the paid personnel of this organization be instructed that money of this organization may not be spent for, nor may the personnel participate in, public demonstrations in any manner that may reflect upon this organization, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of this organization. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-10 BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled this 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that amendments be sought to the Social Security Act to provide for semi-annual cost-of-living adjustments in lieu of the present annual adjustments, in all payments made to recipients and beneficiaries under said Act. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-11 WHEREAS, the selection of books to be brailled or recorded by the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, would more closely reflect the needs and desires of the consumers of that Division if a greater input into selection of books could be made by said group, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled this 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, is hereby requested to add a section to Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review entitled, "Would You Read ...?" This section would contain ten or more reviews of books not yet available in talking book or braille from the Library of Congress, and a check list should be provided of the titles reviewed so that readers could indicate their interests. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-14 WHEREAS, in most communities there exist facilities which cause a concentration in certain neighborhoods of persons who experience greater difficulty of coping with traffic than in the average neighborhood; for example, training or recreational centers for the aged, physically handicapped or mentally retarded, schools for mentally or physically handicapped children, or homes for aged or severely disabled persons; and WHEREAS, there is no universally recognized traffic sign that can be used to alert motorists to the substantially increased probability of disabled pedestrians in such neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, failure to put motorists on notice that such neighborhoods contain numerous disabled pedestrians is unfair to both motorists and pedestrians, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida, this 16th day of July, 1977, that the American Council of the Blind work with the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, the National Safety Council, enforcement officials, and other appropriate national and state officials to design and have accepted a universally recognized traffic sign for use in neighborhoods containing concentrations of disadvantaged pedestrians. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-15 WHEREAS, legislation has been introduced into the 95th Congress of the United States which, if passed, would centralize and place jurisdiction in one agency of the Federal Government the responsibility for compliance and enforcement of all Federal civil rights acts; and WHEREAS, the President's Reorganizational Project Civil Rights Task Force is reviewing the compliance and enforcement of all civil rights Laws for the purpose of the reorganization of the same; and WHEREAS, there exists a tendency among and by the members of said Civil Rights Task Force, and among and by other Federal officials who have policy and decision-making authority, to treat and deal with the civil rights of handicapped individuals as being different in substantive ways from those of other minorities and other protected groups, which attitude is formed due to lack of information and knowledge or policy dictated by political expediency, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled the 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida: (1) That the same rules and procedures for compliance and enforcement of civil rights laws for handicapped individuals should be adopted as those rules and procedures existing for compliance and enforcement of civil rights laws to prevent discrimination based on sex, race, religion, or ethnic origin; (2) That jurisdiction of compliance and enforcement of civil rights laws for handicapped individuals should be placed at the same level, and the same agency charged with compliance and enforcement of like civil rights for other minorities and groups; (3) That the national staff of the American Council of the Blind is hereby directed to prepare a report and recommendation consistent with the foregoing policy of this organization, and submit the same to the Civil Rights Task Force of the President's Reorganizational Project, with copies filed with the President of the United States and other appropriate officials of the Executive Branch of the Government and members of Congress. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-16 BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled this 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that the membership reaffirm the long-standing policy of the American Council of the Blind in support of separate, identifiable offices for the delivery of services to blind and visually impaired individuals at the national, state, and local levels, and that the national staff of the American Council of the Blind inform the President of the United States and the appropriate reorganizational task force that, based on prior experience, consumers know that better services are delivered by specialized function offices than are delivered by the "one stop" generalized function offices advocated by public administrators and theoreticians. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-17 WHEREAS, the several titles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the other Federal civil rights acts expressly provide for judicial remedies in the courts of the land for all individuals who are members of the minority groups protected thereunder, in addition to the complaint procedures before administrative bodies provided for in such acts; and WHEREAS, there are no express provisions for like judicial remedies for individuals with handicaps under Sections 501, 503, and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, this 16th day of July, 1977, that the officers and Directors and National Office staff are hereby directed to seek passage of legislation by the Congress of the United States which shall make express provision for such judicial remedies under Sections 501, 503, and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and under any and all civil rights acts for handicapped individuals, in addition to, and notwithstanding, administrative remedies made available. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-18 WHEREAS, Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and the Regulation implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, are important milestones in the evolving process toward meeting the educational needs of handicapped children; and WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has long been concerned with, and continues to be vitally interested in, the education of handicapped children, and especially those with visual impairment, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled at the Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, on the 16th day of July, 1977, that the President of the American Council of the Blind direct a letter to Edwin Martin, Deputy Commissioner, for the Education of the Handicapped, Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and other appropriate officials, urging that the Bureau exercise strong leadership in the establishment and maintenance and statutory provisions and procedures prescribed for education of handicapped children, and vigilance in review and monitoring of these; and further urging that special emphasis be given the following essentials: 1. Diagnosis and evaluation must be done by qualified personnel. 2. Full information must be given parents concerning: a. Parents' and child's rights; b. The child's needs; c. The services required to meet those needs; and d. The range and location of resources available to meet these needs. 3. That a full continuum of settings, facilities, and services be provided for in each state. 4. Assessment and evaluation criteria should be established which measure the progress of each child toward attainment of his maximum potential. 5. Criteria for assessment and evaluation of programs be established which measure their effectiveness in terms of realization of all students' maximum potential. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Bureau be urged to establish a committee of consumer advisers which shall include members having visual handicaps, for the purpose of advising and participating in all aspects of the functions of the Bureau in the education of handicapped children, and in particular with regard to the implementation of Public Law 94-142, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the education of visually handicapped children. * American Council of the Blind Resolution 77-19 WHEREAS, blind people at present do not have available to them information about genetic problems which they may encounter as parents; and WHEREAS, each blind person has the right to make the individual, informed decision by his or her own participation in parenthood, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled, this 16th day of July, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, that the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, is hereby requested to make available in braille and recorded form both literature on genetic problems of blindness and literature on sources of genetic counseling available to the individual. ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors * President: Floyd Qualls, 501 N. 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, 2516 W. 6th Street, Topeka, KS 66606 * Treasurer: J. Edward Miller, 1120 Coddington Place, Charlotte, NC 28211 Delbert K. Aman, 104 S. Lincoln, Suite 103, Aberdeen, SD 57401 Eunice Fiorito, 330 E. 33rd Street, New York, NY .10016 George Fogarty, 5565 Florence Terrace, Oakland, CA 94611 Jack C. Lewis, 901 High Street, Anderson, IN 46012 Carl McCoy, 1424 Sunland Road, Daytona Beach, FL 32019 Wallace Menning, 2750 Ellis Avenue, N.E., Salem, OR 97301 Oral O. Miller, 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., No. 220, Washington, DC 20008 Otis H. Stephens, 2021 Kemper Lane, Knoxville, TN 37920 ###