The Braille Forum Vol. XVII November, 1978 No. 5 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind * President: Oral Miller 3701 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 220 Washington, DC 20008 * 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 Report by the ACB President Friends of Art in ACB Takes Shape, by Janiece Petersen Converting to Tactile American Currencies, by Louis J. Finkle, Ph.D. Low Vision Defined for CCLV Attendees, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Appeal of Lawsuit Contesting Randolph-Sheppard Rules, by Durward K. McDaniel Role of the Municipal Government in the Advancement of the Handicapped, by the Hon. Isabella W. Cannon Update from ACB Board of Publications, by Harold Dachtler Conference Committee Completes Work on Rehabilitation Amendments, by Reese Robrahn Running and Jogging, Hoover Style, by Ronald W. Workman Attention, Independent Businessmen! Reading Services for Blind Federal Employees Settled at Last, by Reese Robrahn Update on National Health Insurance, by Kathy Megivern Transbus Not Detoured, But May Be Delayed, by Reese Robrahn Hyde Park Corner: Some Thoughts on Library Service, by Kathy Gann ACB Affiliate News: South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee State Conventions Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large-type, and two recorded editions-flexible disc (8 1/3 rpm), which may be kept by the reader, and cassette tape, which must be returned so that tapes can be re-used. As a bi-monthly supplement, the flexible disc edition also includes ALL-O-GRAMS, newsletter of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America. Send subscription requests and address changes to The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Items intended for publication may be sent in print, braille, or tape to the Editor, Mary T. Ballard, at the above address, or to one of the Associate Editors. Those much needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to the ACB National Office, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036. You may wish to remember someone by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The National Office now has available special printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. 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. If your wishes are more complex, your attorney may contact the ACB National Office. ***** ** Report by the ACB President It pleases me to begin this report with the information that, at its state convention held in Philadelphia the weekend of September 29-30, 1978, the membership of the Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind voted to affiliate with the American Council of the Blind. This decision had been under consideration for some time by the PFB, and it was our pleasure to meet its president and several other members during the recent ACB national convention in Salt Lake City. Because of prior affiliation difficulties, the Pennsylvania Federation, which has approximately 1,200 members, predicated its decision upon the conditions that it be allowed to retain its name and that no effort would be made to seize its treasury. Our National Representative will be working with the Pennsylvania Federation during the upcoming weeks, and at its meeting in December, the ACB Board of Directors will take appropriate action in connection with the application. The Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind was one of the original founders of the organized blind movement, and throughout its history it has been an outspoken advocate for the rights of the blind. While its views have frequently differed from those of many of the affiliates of the American Council of the Blind, the fact that organizations with different points of view can come together in the ACB to work for the improvement of the status and condition of the blind is a tribute to the flexibility, versatility, and adaptability of the American Council. We are looking forward to working with the officers and members of the Pennsylvania Federation, and we are confident that their affiliation with ACB will be a long and mutually satisfactory relationship. As this issue of The Braille Forum goes to press in mid-October, I have not yet made all committee appointments for the coming year. While I intend to confer with some of the other officers and/or directors on this matter, I welcome any suggestions or recommendations which you, the ACB membership, may care to make concerning possible committee members. Good progress continues to be made by the ACB Board and the ACB Enterprises and Services Board in reorganizing our Thrift Stores in order to improve ACB's financial condition. The first store was transferred to ACBES during September, and later that month the ACB Board approved the basic arrangement under which all present and future stores will be operated. While it is still much too early for us to evaluate the success of the new system, which went into effect on October 1, 1978, we are confident the results will be gratifying, thus justifying the priority consideration given thus far, and to be given in the future, to improving ACB's financial base. A brief discussion of the costs of publishing The Braille Forum, one of ACB's most important membership services and vehicles for public education, will underscore the importance of the income-producing decision referred to in the preceding paragraph. As of now, the cost of simply publishing twelve issues of the braille edition of The Braille Forum is over $9; the cost of the flexible disc edition per subscriber per year is approximately $4.50, and the large-type edition costs approximately $7.50 per subscriber per year. These figures do not include any part of the salary of the editor or other administrative costs connected with publishing and distributing The Braille Forum, which is available to anyone wishing to receive it. ACB receives a little less than $1 per member per year in membership dues, so obviously the huge deficit must be made up elsewhere. ACB has never attempted to coerce its affiliates or members to assist it financially, but the simple figures referred to above show that ACB needs your assistance if it is to continue providing existing services and to expand those services in the future. From time to time, the ACB National Office learns of plans by various Federal Government departments or agencies to hire significant numbers of new employees in fields of work of interest to the blind. However, because of relatively short application deadlines and the relatively long period of time needed to publish and distribute The Braille Forum, it is frequently not feasible to publish such notices. On the other hand, it may be feasible from time to time to distribute short notices (perhaps on cassette) to a limited number of people (such as affiliate presidents), with the urgent request that they inform as many of their members as possible of the contents of such special notices. We are sorry that such notices cannot be distributed to everyone, because such a general distribution would be little better than publishing the information in The Braille Forum originally. We hope to distribute such a notice in the very near future regarding upcoming recruitment by the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and we hope the notice will have reached all of our affiliate presidents by the time this report appears. In order to help this system work more effectively, we ask you, the membership, to urge your affiliate presidents to inform as many members as possible of such notices in the future. Again, we wish we could notify everyone, but we simply cannot. The midyear meeting of the ACB Board of Directors will take place on Saturday, December 9, 1978, at the St. Louis Airport Hilton Inn (officially known as Stan Musial and Biggie's Hilton Inn) in St. Louis, Missouri. Oral O. Miller, President ***** ** Friends of Art in ACB Takes Shape By Janiece Petersen Early on the final morning of the American Council of the Blind's national convention in Salt Lake City, approximately twelve people gathered to discuss the need for greater communication and participation among ACB members concerning art. The enthusiastic sharing of ideas almost made the group late for the morning session. But the important thing is that a structure and plans were developed, which were later approved by President Oral Miller. The name chosen for the group is Friends of Art in ACB. Why such a group? First, there was the sculpture exhibit, which had closed, but which was opened for some blind persons due to the efforts of Mrs. Barbara Chandler; but there wasn't time for all who would have enjoyed it to learn of the opportunity. Next, but equally important, was the resolution passed by ACB (see Resolution 78-16, Braille Forum, September, 1978) which would promote art and art activities for the blind and handicapped and would give priority to quality work of blind artists in fund-raising activities where art sales are included. Third is the emergence in each state of an arts council for the handicapped, or similar body, which at this time involves few handicapped persons, whether artists, connoisseurs, or others who are interested. These three factors were not the only basis for the formation of the group, but they identify needs and set the stage for action. Not a separate division, with separate meetings, to make choices even more difficult, Friends of Art in ACB may be committee; or it may be something else. Here are the group's goals and objectives: 1. To develop a resource file from which to share information with members and others. Such a file would include names of national and local organizations concerned with the handicapped in art; names of blind artists and their talents; information on arts activities likely to be interesting for and accessible (touchable) to the handicapped in specific areas; and names and addresses of arts and crafts groups which may be of interest to members, such as the National Miniatures Society of the American Folk Festivals organization. The files will be maintained by Mrs. Barbara Chandler and Carlee Hallman, both of ACB. 2. To bring about greater participation of blind and handicapped persons in arts programs and councils set up to encourage art among the handicapped. This includes participation in removal of the tactual barriers so that blind people may touch sculpture and other art work in museums and other exhibits. 3. To focus on the value of self-development and expression through arts as contributing to the quality of life for any person. To this end, we propose to promote activities related to the arts, beginning at the 1979 national convention of ACB. Proposed options are as follows: (a) arts and crafts work of blind persons to be showcased on exhibit at the convention; (b) an evening with the arts, which can include musical performances, literary readings from plays to poetry; etc., a visit to an accessible exhibit (touchable as well as visible) which is near the convention site; (d) a workshop involving teachers, rehabilitation counselors, artists, etc., focusing on avenues for and techniques of participation in the creative experience. Watch The Braille Forum for further details and refinements as the year progresses, and start giving us your input. If you think for a moment that we have enough to do without art in ACB — We will let you know, for example, the number of persons who register in the file for art in the first year of Friends of Art in ACB. Also, think about these questions just a bit: How many blind children get a chance for good art education in the literary, let alone the tactile, art in today's schools? How many times have you been told that you couldn't touch a piece of sculpture, macrame, etc.? How many times have blind people been told they don't know what beauty is? And, have you been excluded from art classes because of a misunderstanding of your ability to comprehend and participate in art? Have you thought about your concerns related to art? If not, take time now and be a part of Friends of Art in ACB. Tell us where you found your favorite relief wall hanging, or give us your ideas concerning convention activities. We want to grow! Write Barbara Chandler at 9116 St. Andrews Place, College Park, MD 20740. ***** ** Converting to Tactile American Currencies By Louis J. Finkle, Ph.D. (Dr. Finkle is with the Department of Special Education, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.) The conversion of American paper currencies is not only a technological possibility, but also a sociological necessity. Resolution 78-24 of the American Council of the Bind, as reported in The Braille Forum, Vol. XVII, No. 3, dated September, 1978, is not only commendable, but vastly important. The value of such conversion extends beyond the reaches of ACB, the population of individuals who happen to be blind, or any other specified interest group. It touches all Americans who at one time or another, in a moment of haste, inadvertently exchange paper currency of the wrong denomination. Such confusions between $1's and $10's, $2's and $5's and $20's, occur daily in all geographical settings throughout the United States, by even those with normal sight. Therefore, it is within the best interests of all people to update our currency design into the 20th century. The rules of constructive criticism often call for the critic to provide an example of a possible solution which lends itself toward removal of further criticisms. So be it! The lamination of an embossed dot at 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) intervals along the opposing longitudinal edges of paper money would allow instant tactile recognition of any paper currency by all people. The following equivalencies are possible: $1 -- one dot; $2 -- two dots; $5 -- three dots; $10 -- four dots; $20 -- five dots. The longest line of dots, that being on a $20 bill, would consume only 6.35 centimeters (or 2.5 inches), assuming the total thickness of five dots is equal to 1.27 centimeters (or 0.5 inch). The depth of the dot need only be half that of standard braille dots generated by the computer brailler at the American Printing House for the Blind. At the present rate of currency replacement of old bills by the Federal Reserve System, a turnover span of 18 to 24 months might be needed to exchange more than 50% of all circulating notes. From then on, it is greater confidence in our monetary system for all American consumers. The extrinsic value of paper money in and of itself will be enhanced by the confidence, visually and tactually, that the bill we are transmitting or receiving is verified at a particular stated value. What it will buy, however, is another problem. The method of testing the durability of such a design is within the realm of any residential school, college, or institution. The Treasury Department could supply a predetermined amount of scrip paper with the above-stated improvements to a researcher at a particular setting. The actual scrip need not have a design approximating any existing monetary system. However, a printed legend should be available to signify it as a "token-experimental­economy," and it should be used as such in the setting. Many educational and training programs worldwide use such "funny money" for token economies. This form of extended gratification or secondary reinforcers are inherent necessities in effective behavior modification programs. As clients, students, etc. receive the token bills, they may place them in their wallets, clips, purses, pockets, and other containers, much like the public sector deposits its notes. Exchange of the experimental bills for valued items or favors within the setting may be carried on as before. At the end of a year-long exchange or circulation experiment, utilizing at least 100 people, tests may be made by the Treasury Department to determine the merits of tactile currencies. Until such tests are conducted, it will be difficult to convince the Government to undertake the necessary initiative needed to provide tactile money to all Americans. It is up to all of us, sighted and blind, to push for experimentation using tactile money. Without conclusive proof, all our conjectures are just that -- conjectures! ***** ** Low Vision Defined for CCLV Attendees By Elizabeth M. Lennon People who have something better than light projection or light perception, gut whose vision cannot be corrected to normal, may be considered as having low vision, Dr. Samuel Genensky, Director of Partially Sighted Research, Santa Monica Hospital, Santa Monica, California, told members of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision in the initial meeting of the group in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind convention in Salt Lake City on July 24. Dr. Genensky went on to delineate some of the things a group of low-vision persons could do. Among these were: (1) find ourselves as low-vision people; (2) find other people in the low vision range and tell them about ourselves; (3) support legislation that would benefit low-vision persons; (4) eliminate barriers; (5) support preventive type activities as related to vision; (6) assist those with low vision to get the aids and appliances that they need; and (7) provide opportunities for training in the use of residual vision. Other program features included a report on Federal legislation affecting low­vision people and how CCLV can help, given by Durward McDaniel; a discussion on new frontiers in low vision research, by Dr. Israel Goldberg, National Eye Institute; implications of P.L. 94-142 for school children with low ion, presented by Dr. Richard Champion, Office of Education, HEW, an overview of programs of the Office for the Blind, HEW, and concerns for the low vision person, given by Dr. Robert Winn, head of that office; working with low-vision client in mobility, by Brian Gerrettsen, mobility specialist, Utah School for the Blind. Officers elected were: President, Dr. Samuel Genensky, Santa Monica, California; First Vice President -- Marvin Brotman, Boston, Massachusetts; Second Vice President -- Howard Nunn, Honolulu, Hawaii; Secretary -- Elizabeth Lennon, Kalamazoo, Michigan; Treasurer -- Robert Engel, Flint, Michigan. Directors: Doris Alsop, San Diego, California; Elna Close, Enid, Oklahoma; Carl Foley, Kettering, Ohio; Roy Kumpe, Little Rock, Arkansas; LeRoy Saunders, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Joseph Sims, Denver, Colorado; Gary Stafford, Sayre, Pennsylvania; and Marilyn Warburton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Stafford and Evelyn Meyer of Marion, Indiana, will edit the group's newsletter. CCLV already has 85 members. Those interested in membership may secure application forms from Robert Engel, 5701 N. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48505. Dues are $3 annually. ***** ** Appeal of Lawsuit Contesting Randolph-Sheppard Rules By Durward K. McDaniel In January, 1977, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, its officers, and the American Council of the Blind filed suit to require the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to issue rules which would conform to and be consistent with the provisions and objectives of the 1974 Amendments to the law. After many delays, the Court granted a summary judgment deferring to the interpretations of HEW. That case has now been appealed and will be seriously prosecuted in the interest of blind vendors, present and future. In its findings, Congress declared that the vending program could be doubled within five years. Almost four of those years have elapsed, and the necessary planning and execution for the expansion of the program is yet to be done. A key factor in such planning and execution must be the revision of existing rules which perpetuate the de facto power of Federal agencies, reduce the power of state licensing agencies, and thwart the function and democracy of elected committees of blind vendors. If the purpose of this law is to be fulfilled, it will be the result of the people and organizations acting through the courts. RSVA and ACB are financially supporting this lawsuit, and we invite you to join us in this worthy cause. ***** *** The Role of the Municipal Government In the Advancement of the Handicapped (Excerpted from an address by the Hon. Isabella W. Cannon, Mayor of the City of Raleigh. Introduced by Dr. Nathaniel N. Fullwood, President of the North Carolina Council of the Blind.) The North Carolina Council of the Blind was the first consumer organization of the blind in North Carolina. It was organized some 23 years ago as the North Carolina Federation of the Blind. Its primary mission is to promote the social, economic, and political well-being of the blind and visually impaired of North Carolina. We are advocates of the blind and visually impaired, but, more importantly, we also provide the atmosphere and mechanisms for fostering alliances and coalitions with other organizations of the handicapped throughout our state and nation. This business of the "rights of the handicapped" is serious, and we shall approach it as such. The event that is taking place here in Raleigh, North Carolina (Mayor Cannon spoke to approximately 17 organizations of and for the handicapped on February 20, 1978, sponsored by the Wake-Raleigh Chapter, North Carolina Council of the Blind) is historically significant and is first of a series of programs throughout our state to provide opportunities and the will for individuals with handicapping conditions to assert themselves the politics of human rights, as manifested in equal opportunities and equal access to meaningful employment, education, and daily living. The North Carolina Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, challenges each handicapped person present here tonight, listening by radio, or reading in The Braille Forum to join each other in building a strong rights of the handicapped coalition which will critique the behavior and remedy the performance of government and industry in guaranteeing and protecting the rights of the handicapped to employment and education and, through them, an independent living. ... I am very delighted and honored to have the opportunity to introduce the speaker for this event. ... Ladies and gentlemen, this is a cannon that knows how to shoot straight! I would like to present to you the Honorable Isabella W. Cannon, Mayor of the City of Raleigh. *** I would like to say that I share in some respects the philosophy of handicapped persons and their representative organizations that Government should provide opportunities, services, and resources which will foster independence by the handicapped. I also believe that the handicapped should be integrated into the regular programs and activities of the Raleigh community. While Government cannot do everything, and in fact should not try to be all things to all people, Government has begun, and should continue, to facilitate the special needs of the handicapped. We should continue adopting policies and ordinances which will result in handicapped citizens having access to public transportation, housing, employment, human services, and recreation. The City of Raleigh has policies and ordinances which provide for the handicapped in many areas. ... Let me tell you some of the things the City has done so far, along with the things it is still working on. I will begin with buildings and barriers. Most city-owned buildings are generally barrier-free. We have entrances on the ground level at the Municipal Building, at Parks and Recreation headquarters, Theater in the Park, and Civic Center. Ramps have been provided at Memorial Auditorium. Rest rooms are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, and railings are provided in rest rooms for the handicapped. Elevators also serve for the handicapped, and there are curb cuts at the lower main entrance of the Municipal Building for wheelchairs. ... Wherever new sidewalks and streets are being built in Raleigh, curb cuts are provided. When streets and curbs are repaired anywhere in the city, the curbs at the corners are sloped for people who must rely on wheelchairs. As time and funds permit, curb cuts will be provided where they do not now exist. This point I must note: that among the City of Raleigh's 29 committees, commissions and boards, there is the Mayor's Committee for Services to the Handicapped. This committee is composed of 50 members and represents all types of mental and physical handicaps, physicians, community organizations, city, state and county governments, and other interested persons. It is chaired by Mrs. Betty Cranor, certified rehabilitation counselor for the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This committee, which was formed several years ago, has done much in achieving programs and activities aimed at benefitting our handicapped citizens. ... In addition to seeing that city-owned buildings and offices are accessible to the handicapped, the City's building inspectors check all new construction of buildings that are open to the public, to make certain that they are carrying out the state laws pertaining to facilities for the handicapped. The Mayor's Committee has helped in this area, also, by bringing deficiencies to the attention of the officials who can do something about correcting them. The Housing Authority of the City of Raleigh manages 1,744 units of public housing. RHA records show that 259 families residing in public housing have disabled or handicapped members. ... Every attempt is made to assign those who are confined to a wheelchair to the new facilities, because they have been built to specifications set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). ... Planning and sensible design can remove or prevent many of the hazards and inconveniences that beset those who move about in wheelchairs or who are disabled in other ways. ... I have been asked what action will the City of Raleigh take to ensure the safety of handicapped individuals during emergency situations such as fire in their homes or on their jobs. ... The Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communication Center now has a teletype machine so that hearing- and speech-impaired persons have access to a teletype machine may communicate with the Center in emergency situations. The teletype machine, along with a special electronic coupler, was given to the Emergency Communication Center by the Tar Heel Lions Club because many Wake County residents -- perhaps as many as 2,000 -- are unable to use even an amplified telephone for emergency communication. Our Emergency Communication Center's new teletype machine service is strictly for use in emergency situations such as accidents, juries, fire, heart attack, or crimes. ... The local registry of interpreters for the deaf are making their services available for emergency interpreting needs. The Raleigh Department of Transportation has been involved in two transportation programs relating specifically to handicapped persons. One of them is the half-fare price on Capital Area Transit buses during off-peak hours. ... Handicapped persons who have been certified by the Mayor's Committee for Services to the Handicapped pay $.15 rather than $.30 for a one-way trip anywhere in the city. ... Blind persons who wish to use the CAT bus system may also request and receive bus schedules which have been prepared in braille. Another important transportation program designed specifically for the handicapped, but available to all citizens, is the Shared Taxi Service. … It consists of taxi service which is subject to being shared by two or more parties going from one general area to another. The Shared Taxi Service, at no additional cost, can provide a handicapped person with a van equipped with a wheelchair lift. CAT bus drivers are happy to stop wherever they see a blind person waiting a bus and to announce the route of that particular bus. ... Capital Area Transit has now installed a representative at the central transit point downtown on the mall to assist any citizens with information about the bus system. He would be particularly helpful in assisting blind persons in making their transfers. In addition to these transportation services for the handicapped, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles provides handicapped people with a special automobile license plate which allows that individual to park in any time or metered zone without regard to time limitation and without having to deposit money in the parking meter. The City's entire personnel system, which includes all policies, procedures and practices, is based upon state legislation passed in the 1971 General Assembly. This legislation is known as the Civil Service Act for the City of Raleigh. It states in part that: "All appointments and promotions of City officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness." The implication is clear that employment decisions must be based upon job-related factors only, and handicap would be a factor only as it relates to a person's ability to perform the tasks required. ... The following points can be made with regard to our Personnel Department program: First, handicapped persons must be aware of employment opportunities. The City regularly advertises all vacancies in local newspapers. In addition, vacancy lists are sent weekly to a number of persons and organizations concerned with the handicapped, including state and local vocational rehabilitation services, Division of Services for the Blind ... and the Employment Security Commission. … Finally, a member of the Personnel Department staff, as well as the City Safety Coordinator, serve on the Mayor's Committee for Services to the Handicapped. Recreation for the handicapped is important to the City of Raleigh, and many programs are offered through the Parks and Recreation Department. The program for the visually impaired is jointly sponsored by the Department of Human Resources, Division of Services for the Blind, and the Raleigh Recreation Division. Programs stress individual independence for the visually impaired in community recreation programs. Programs intended to meet this goal include activities in crafts, athletics, cultural trips, and self-improvement. Classes are held at community centers throughout the city to acquaint the visually impaired with as many areas as possible and to educate the public in working with the blind. ... ***** ** Update from ACB Board of Publications By Harold Dachtler The Board of Publications met during the 1978 annual convention of the American Council of the Blind in Salt Lake City. The Board voted to abolish the designation of Associate Editors which has appeared regularly in The Braille Forum. We wish to thank those whose names have appeared under this designation for their faithful contributions, support, and encouragement. You will note that a new designation has been made, and henceforth the listing will be that of Contributing Editors. Those whose names appear under this heading will be those who regularly contribute the magazine. Thus, the names appearing may change from time to time. Selection of the winner of the Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award will now be the responsibility of the Board of Publications. The Board agreed that The Braille Forum should continue to be sent to those non-members who request it. The Board believes that the magazine is an excellent public relations tool. Both members and non-members are encouraged, when convenient, to request their copy of The Braille Forum on flexible disc. Not only is this more economical for ACB, but the magazine thus is compact, complete; and easy to store for future reference. We encourage you to request your regional library to have its name placed our mailing list. This would help give the magazine more exposure. At its 1978 business meeting in Salt Lake City, the ACB membership re­elected the following persons to the Board of Publications: Sue Graves, Madison, Wisconsin; Judy Pool, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Phyllis Stern, Oak Park, Illinois. The two appointed members are Harold Dachtler, Chairman, Lansing, Michigan, and Harriet Fielding, San Francisco, California. Your comments, contributions, and suggestions are encouraged. Please feel free to correspond in print, braille or tape with the editor, Mary T. Ballard, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. ***** ** Conference Committee Completes Work on the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1978 By Reese Robrahn As The Braille Forum goes to press, it has been learned that the House and Senate conferees on the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1978 have reached agreement and a final version of the bill will be available by October 10. Staff members are busily writing up the final measure, and it is therefore impossible to ascertain at this time the precise results. However, the following important provisions were agreed upon: 1. The House accepted the Senate's amendment providing for services for older blind persons. (The American Council of the Blind, together with other organizations and agencies of and for the blind, was successful in bringing about Senate adoption of this provision which had been sought after unsuccessfully for several years.) 2. The House accepted the Senate version of a provision providing for the furnishing of reader service to blind persons not otherwise entitled to the same under another program such as a rehabilitation plan: The Senate amendment authorizes such service to he provided by non-profit organizations, as well as being provided by rehabilitation agencies. The House bill limited provision of such services to rehabilitation agencies. 3. The House accepted language in the Senate bill authorizing expenditure of funds for radio reading services, in furtherance of the carrying out for the programs authorized under the Act. The House measure used more general terminology, but stated in its committee report that the intent was inclusive of radio reading services. 4. The House accepted the Senate provisions relating to Title V of the Rehabilitation Act, giving the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board more authority in the area of technical assistance, and expressly creating a private right of action and providing for certain remedies such as recovery of back pay and attorneys' fees for handicapped persons under Sections 501, 502, 503, and 504. The House had provided only for recovery of attorneys' fees and would transfer certain compliance and enforcement responsibilities from the Office for Civil Rights to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. (ACB and many other organizations registered a strong protest to the latter proposed transfer.) 5. The extension of the Act is to be four years, by agreement of the conferees, and not for an indefinite period of time. The remainder of the amendments are basically those offered in the House bill, H.R. 12467. (See "Far-Sweeping Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. Passed by the House," The Braille Forum, July, 1978.) In the wake of a successful Presidential veto of the Public Works Act on October 5, notwithstanding solid Democratic Party leadership to override the veto, rumors are rampant that there will be a veto of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments, because of the adverse inflationary impact and because the bill had tacked to it the Developmental Disabilities Act authorizations. The Carter Administration contends that the Developmental Disabilities Act is duplicitous of the Rehabilitation Act and is, therefore, opposed to renewal of the Developmental Disabilities Act. An urgent call has already gone out to organizations of and for the handicapped throughout the nation to write letters and send telegrams to the White House urging President Carter to sign the measure and thus fulfill his campaign promises to disabled citizens. And in the event of a veto, plans are in the making to stage a strong march by handicapped persons on Washington in support of the override of such veto by the Congress. ***** ** Running and Jogging, Hoover Style By Ronald W. Workman Today many people are running and jogging. In the past ten years, it is believed that through physical fitness programs, deaths from cardiovascular problems and heart disease have been reduced approximately 14%. This is a good reason for people to be interested in keeping physically fit, and I am sure that there are many blind people who are interested in physical fitness programs. One way to keep physically fit is through a regular program which includes running and jogging. In September of 1977, our local college announced a physical fitness program for people in the community. I enrolled in this program. The cost to enroll was $100, which included a complete physical examination. A part of the program was an EKG stress test on a treadmill, supervised by a staff doctor. It is very important to know your physical condition when starting on a vigorous exercise program. The program director can give directions to each participant as to where he or she can start and what should be the limitations. The class started by being involved in calisthenics and walking for the first couple of weeks. Then came the program of jogging and running. One may wonder how, being blind, I was able to participate. A number of years ago, I had the benefit of orientation and mobility training in the long Hoover cane. For me to be able to participate in the running program, I used my long cane. The person I was running with would take the crook of my cane in whichever hand was more comfortable. I would follow holding the other end of the cane. I found that this works very satisfactorily. It was easier and more comfortable than trying to run side by side, since my running partner did not always have to be alert to walls or curbs or other obstacles. The cane also kept us far enough apart so that we did not tangle our feet or bump into each other. I found that people were more willing to run with me when they saw how easy it was and how safe it was. With me running behind, the leader can make his own course and not have to worry about running me into obstacles. Since October, 1977, I have been averaging running three mornings a week, running a distance of two and one-half to four miles. I have also participated in two runs, one of 5.5 miles and the other 6.2 miles. I have made an improvement in the way of using the cane in running. Since it is only natural for a person to run with both hands free, I devised a clip on the cane which would attach to my running partner's belt, thus leaving both hands free. This has been even more comfortable for my running partner. Participating in this program has been an exhilarating experience for me. I feel that my health has improved in at least two ways. I have been able to lose that few extra pounds which the doctor had been suggesting I lose for the past ten years, and my at-rest pulse rate has been reduced. In general I feel better, and it is a genuinely pleasurable experience. ***** ** Attention, Independent Businessmen! A new and exciting special-interest organization was formed at the American Council of the Blind annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers (IVIE) found that there are many blind persons engaged in private businesses. The organization feels that it can contribute much information, advice, and suggestions to persons engaged in or thinking about the possibilities of going into private business. Officers were elected as follows: President -- Susan Root, Jacksonville, Florida; Vice President -- Arnold Austin, Butler, Missouri; Secretary -- Jo Anna Harris, Sacramento, California; Treasurer -- Winell Wooten, Anniston, Alabama. Membership is astoundingly versatile in scope and potentially large in size. Hopefully throughout the coming year many more blind and visually impaired persons will join. For more information, write Susan Root, President, at 3114 Phillips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32207, or contact the ACB National Office. ***** ** Reading Services for Blind Federal Employees Settled at Last By Reese Robrahn Notwithstanding Federal Personnel Manual bulletins calling for the provision of reading services for blind employees, blind applicants for Federal jobs and blind employees have frequently been advised that the Government cannot provide or pay for such services. And despite the fact that regulations under Sections 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act specifically enumerate reading services as an example of "reasonable accommodation," some Federal departments and agencies contend that there is no legal authority for the expenditure of Federal funds for such purpose unless there is express statutory authorization. Thus, the question of reading services has been ever present and ever reoccurring. Each time there is a change in personnel who hire, there may be a change in the policy concerning the furnishing of reading services. The American Council of the Blind, with the cooperation and support of the Civil Service Commission, has been successful in getting an amendment adopted as a part of the Civil Service Reform Act which expressly authorizes department and agency heads to assign or employ persons to provide reading services for blind employees and interpreter services for deaf employees. The Act now awaits the signature of the President. Presidential approval is certain because Civil Service reform legislation is a top priority of the Carter Administration. ***** ** Update on National Health Insurance By Kathy Megivern As promised last August, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the Committee for National Health Insurance (CNHI) have produced a new proposal for national health insurance legislation. Their new program, which was offered in response to President Carter's announced principles, has been unanimously approved by the Executive Committee of CNHI. Senator Kennedy has announced hearings on the proposal beginning October 9. He intends to open with hearings in Washington and then move on to other cities, with the first stop planned for Detroit, Michigan. As we go to press, an actual draft of the Kennedy plan is not yet available. However, certain details have been revealed. The plan would include a role for the private insurance industry. This is a departure from previous bills such as the Kennedy-Corman Health Security Act, which would have cut private insurers out of the picture completely. For some time, Senator Kennedy has been heading toward inclusion of such a role for the private sector, as a realistic compromise necessary to overcome the intense opposition anticipated from the insurance lobby. An important aspect of previous bills which remains an integral part of the new proposal is provision for strong controls on health costs. Another feature of the new plan is that private insurers such as Blue Cross-Blue Shield would have to provide equal benefits to everyone, regardless of age or previous illnesses. The new proposal would assure coverage of the poor, the unemployed and certain low wage earners, with the cost to be paid by the Federal Government. While President Carter's proposal was to phase in programs, depending upon various economic factors, Senator Kennedy's plan would go into effect two years after it was passed by Congress. Backers of the new health insurance proposal hope that the hearings to be conducted around the country will focus attention on this vital issue and help convince those persons who are running for Congress that national health insurance is an important issue and a high priority for all Americans, even in this year of Proposition 13. ***** ** Transbus Not Detoured, But May Be Delayed By Reese Robrahn The United States Department of Transportation called a press conference on September 15 for the purpose of announcing its publication of the trans bus specifications. Richard Page, Chief of the Urban Mass Transit Administration, took that opportunity to reaffirm the transbus order requiring all bids advertised after September 30, 1979, for public transit buses purchased with Federal funds to be of the transbus design. The published specifications call for a low-floor bus of not less than 22 inches, with a kneeling capacity to a level not less than 18 inches; a wide front door of not less than 44 inches, permitting double passage and easy passage of wheelchairs; and equipped with either a lift or a retractable ramp at the front door of the bus, by local option. During the ensuring ten days, Congress passed the Department of Transportation authorizations, deleting from the legislation Section 323, which provided for an additional study of transbus and reconsideration of the Department's trans bus order. It was this section that became a part of the bill as the result of General Motors lobbying, and which prompted perhaps the most successful lobby effort yet by handicapped citizens. This episode represents a tremendously important victory for disabled people of this country, but it may be somewhat clouded because the authorizations called for in the legislation total about $62 billion. A Presidential veto, therefore, is a distinct possibility. ***** *** 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 Library Service Dear Editor: I read the article "Book Selection Committee Meets" (August, 1978), with great interest. I was disturbed by some of the statements it contained. Mr. Pike says that only a small percentage of eligible readers are served by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and that the annual cancellation rate in most network libraries is over 20%. He seems to attribute these problems to the multiplicity of media of books for the blind and physically handicapped and the complexity of the equipment required in order to make use of them. Although I agree that the need for several media does create problems in collection development, I am concerned because I believe that Mr. Pike may have linked a cause and effect incorrectly. In regard to the percentage of eligible population served, it should be pointed out that public libraries do not serve all their potential readership either. Some people do not have the time or inclination to read. Another obvious point which the writer overlooked is that some people are not being reached by their network library because they are unaware that such a facility exists. In regard to the annual cancellation rate, some loss can be explained by the simple fact that people die. I am also wondering if that 20% is a gross or net figure. Regardless of which it is, I question the validity of the statement that cancellations are due either to the complexity of equipment or the need to use several media in order to have the greatest possible variety of material available. -- Kathy Gann, Austin, Texas ***** ** ACB Affiliate News * South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia State Conventions Spartanburg was the site of the 1978 convention of the American Council of the Blind of South Carolina, held the weekend of August 18-20. Highlighting the opening of the convention on Friday evening was a social hour hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ford and son Tommy, followed by a talent show with cash prizes for first, second, and third place. On Saturday morning, following the welcoming address by Mayor Frank Allen of Spartanburg, reports were presented on a wide range of subjects of concern to blind South Carolinians. These included Dr. Jack Gallagher, Executive Director, and Robert Bremer, Director of Community Education, who spoke on activities at the Cedar Springs School for the Blind, Deaf, and Multiply Handicapped; Maxine Bowles and Nancy Buchanan, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, respectively, who reported on activities and concerns of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind; and Bob Somogyi, who brought attendees up-to-date on radio reading service in the state. Other subjects covered were Social Security legislation and current developments in eye research. A noon luncheon and afternoon tour of facilities was hosted by personnel of the Cedar Springs School. At the Saturday evening banquet, cash prizes were awarded for first, second, and third place winners in a membership drive conducted by the state organization. A plaque, awarded this yar for the first time in honor of the first president of ACB of South Carolina, Rev. Archie Cfoft, for loyalty and dedication to the organization, was presented to Marvin Lowe of Anderson. The American Council of the Blind was represented by Dr. Otis Stephens, member of ACB's Board of Directors and Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Stephens outlined the history and growth of the national organization and its wide-ranging programs. He emphasized the dependence of the national organization upon interaction with state affiliates and local chapters. "The strength of ACB -- the lasting strength of ACB -- has always been at the grassroots level -- the local chapter level and the state affiliate level," he said. "... Issues change over the years, and we think that our emphasis on local and state affiliates and grassroots support helps us to be perhaps more open to changing issues. Herein, it seems to me, lies the crucial role of our state affiliates in our national organization, as partners in the national effort -- a role that I think is developing, is growing, but a role that must strengthen over the next few years." *** A small but enthusiastic group of blind Virginians were in attendance at the 1978 general membership meeting of the Old Dominion American Council of the Blind, held on Saturday, September 23, according to president Charles Hodge of Arlington. Library services in the Commonwealth of Virginia was among the topics examined in depth at the morning session. Speakers included Ms. Judy Dunham of the Regional Library in Richmond and Mrs. Marilyn Mortensen, Subregional Librarian from Virginia Beach. Emphasis at the afternoon business meeting centered in the Old Dominion ACB's legislative program for the coming year, particularly the issue of blind citizens being disqualified permanently from jury duty. Speaking at the closing banquet on Saturday evening, Irving S. (Chad) Solomon, member of the House of Delegates from Bath County, Virginia, pledged his support in three major areas: (1) the issue of blind jurors; (2) consolidation of all residential educational programs for the blind and deaf at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Staunton; and (3) enforcement of the priority given by state statute for blind vendors to obtain sites for vending facilities in public buildings, which provision has not been progressively enforced by the Virginia Commission for the Visually Handicapped and has been ignored by a number of state agencies. Oral O. Miller of Washington, D.C., recently elected President of the American Council of the Blind, also spoke briefly at the banquet. He outlined his thoughts on what the national organization might be able to do in the foreseeable future to assist struggling young affiliates, and what such affiliates themselves can and should do to ensure their growth and vitality. Several officer and board positions were up for election, with the following results: President -- Charles Hodge of Arlington; First Vice President -- G. Paul Kirton of Ladysmith; Second Vice President -- Mrs. Phyllis H. Trent of Roanoke; and Director -- Skip Sharp of Newport News. *** "Pardon me, boys, is this the Chattanooga Choo-Choo?" No song could have been more appropriate than "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" to the kick-off of the 1978 convention of the Tennessee Council of the Blind held over the Labor Day weekend and hosted by the Chattanooga Chapter, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Friday evening featured a train ride, complete with "dinner in the diner" (chicken), a Bluegrass show along the way, and the opportunity of a lifetime for cassette recording buffs to capture the sounds of a genuine steam engine with whistle and bell. ACB President Oral O. Miller was in attendance, and Dr. R. T. (Bob) McLean of New Orleans, member of the ACB Board of Directors and Chairperson of the Affiliated Leadership League, was the banquet speaker. His topic was, "The Future of ACB." As part of the observance of its 30th anniversary, the Chattanooga Chapter compiled a scrapbook on tape for each member to have as a keepsake. Chapter member Curtis Shepherd interviewed various persons who were present at the beginning, and the following information is excerpted from his article appearing in a recent issue of the TCB News: "Dr. D.M. Coleman called a group of blind people together in the fall of 1936. They formed the Lookout Association of the Blind. Mr. Coleman was the "first and only president of this organization. It lasted only two years and no further effort to organize the blind of Chattanooga was made for ten years. "Meanwhile, the organized blind movement was growing all over the country. In the fall of 1940, a blind lawyer named Walker formed an organization in Nashville called the Tennessee Association of the Blind. Mark Thrower and Theo Smallwood of Chattanooga joined this group. "1946, Mr. Smallwood went to the convention of the National Federation of the Blind. He did not have the authority to do so, but he made application to the Federation for affiliation in the name of the Tennessee Association of the Blind. When the matter was brought before the board of the Tennessee Association of the Blind, Inc., the action was approved, and the organization became an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. "The Easter Weekend of 1948 saw the Tennessee Association holding its first convention ever outside Nashville. They met at the Reed House in Chattanooga. This was a very successful convention, for it led to an organizational meeting on May 15, 1948, at which the first chapter of the Tennessee Association was formed. It was known as the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Association of the Blind, Inc. "When the new chapter looked about for a good fund-raising project, Mr. Bud Orrell remembered that the old Lookout Association of the Blind had been involved in a candy sale. It had not been entirely successful, but he felt that the idea had potential if handled correctly. He was right. A candy drive was organized for the period just before Mother's Day, 1949. The group planned to sell 1,200 boxes of candy, but they sold 3,000 boxes, which was all they could get from the supplier. This project has become an annual event and is a steady source of income for the group. "In five years, the Chattanooga Chapter had considerable capital, and they decided to buy a center for the use of the blind in Chattanooga. They formed a separate corporation to hold the purse and manage the center. It is known as the Chattanooga Association of the Blind, Inc. ... "One of our goals is to serve the blind of our area, so when it was brought to our attention years ago that there were many blind children needing help in Chattanooga, we started a pre-school program at the center, which served for some time. At present, one of our social service projects is working with the elderly blind in local nursing homes. "As I spoke with many of the older members, I came to the conclusion that it is a good thing for people of like handicaps to get together. I have enjoyed the fellowship, and it gives us all opportunity to serve." ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon As some of you may already have noticed, ACB now has a logo, thanks to the committee appointed by the ACB Board of Directors at its post-convention board meeting in Salt Lake City. Mrs. James (Barbara) Chandler, who acted as chairman, originated the design, which was rendered by retired cartographer Nelson Guidry. The logo has the initials ACB following the contours above an eye-shaped design. Evelyn Meyer, Vice President of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana and editor of the ACBI Newsletter, was recently presented the Sidney H. Kramer Award for Meritorious Service to the Handicapped. The award was presented by Lt. Gov. Robert Orr on behalf of the Indiana Rehabilitation Services Board, at the 1978 Indiana Rehabilitation Services professional conference. In addition, Mrs. Meyer also recently received a commendation for voluntary action from Indiana Governor Bowen and an award from the Indiana Public Health Association. Mrs. Meyer resides in Marion, Indiana, where she is executive director of the Grant County Association of Workers for the Blind. Expectations 1978, the annual braille anthology of current children's literature published by the Braille Institute of America, is now available free to any blind American child in grades 3 through 6. The 1978 edition contains eight complete books, chapters from four outstanding books, four embossed pictures, a page of microfragrance labels, and poems written by blind children. Children and any organization for the blind serving blind children who wish to receive the volume should write to Betty Kalagian, Braille Institute of America, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Among familiar faces absent from the 1978 RSVA conference and ACB convention in Salt Lake City was that of Dalton Brown of New Orleans. Dalton suffered an untimely stroke at the age of 49. Although recovery has been slow, reports are that he is making progress. An active member of ACB for many years, Dalton was one of the founders of RSVA, has served on its Board of Directors, and was chairman of its 1975 conference in Mobile, Alabama. Because he had no medical insurance and needed (and still needs) therapy badly, RSVA has established a fund for Dalton's rehabilitation. Those wishing to make donations may send checks to Richard Perzentka, 6913 Colony Drive, Madison, WI 53717. All checks should be made payable to RSVA. Gallaudet College has produced an excellent new film, "Usher's Syndrome -- Retinitis Pigmentosa and Deafness," which is suitable for showing by affiliates and local chapters. To arrange to borrow the film, write Public Service Programs, College Hall, Gallaudet College, 7th Street and Florida Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002. Visualtek is now offering the TCS (Time Compressed Speech), which permits the recording and playback of cassette tapes at twice normal speed with no sound distortion. The new TCS-LOC is a four-track cassette recorder with all the features of a good two-track machine: built-in microphone, memory rewind that returns to a preselected passage, separate speed and pitch controls, locate-by-touch tuning, and A.C./battery/auto capability. Designated Model 5195-LOC, this new unit operates at either the standard 1 7/8 or at 15/16 i.p.s. and allows one to both record and play back four-track tapes at either speed. Cost: $305. For full information, write Department NV-9, Visualtek, 1610 26th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Media Projects for the Blind is considering publication of a braille magazine exclusively devoted to poetry and wishes to ascertain whether there is sufficient interest to warrant such a project. MPB is putting together a representative issue which readers may sample. The magazine will include a wide spectrum of current poetic literature and will seek to encourage blind poets to contribute their work. The sample issue is offered at no cost. Those interested should send $1.50 to Media Projects for the Blind, 80 N. Moore Street, Apt. 4K, New York, NY 10013. The 20th edition of Agencies Serving the Visually Handicapped in the U.S. is now available for $10 from the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. Information for this edition was taken from questionnaires sent out to more than 500 agencies. An important new section in the Directory is on low-vision services. For the more than one hundred agencies and clinics listed in this section, information is given on hours, services, and low-vision aids available. The section is available as a separate reprint for $2. From The Illinois Braille Messenger: The Peoria chapter of the Illinois Federation of the Blind, an ACB affiliate, has achieved two successes with the Peoria City Council. The handicapped have been added to the city's Fair Employment Practices ordinance. Also, a resolution was passed requiring that all newly installed stop lights be equipped with bells and buzzers. -- The Illinois Department of Public Aid reports that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of lost or stolen public assistance checks since the introduction of its Direct Delivery System. The number of lost or stolen checks per month has been reduced from a high of 12,000 in 1974 to a current total of less than 1,000. Under the Direct Delivery System, all public assistance checks are sent to a financial institution of the recipient's choice. Recipients have five days in which to pick up checks and must have with them a photo identification card provided by the Department, a medical eligibility card, and one other piece of identification. Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana recently sent to each member of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana a communication in braille bringing members up to date on legislation of concern to visually impaired persons. Senator Bayh is one of the first members of Congress to report to constituents in braille. Edward L. Potter, 1308 Evergreen Avenue, Goldsboro, NC 27530, recently purchased several hundred reels of first-line Ampex 671 recording tape at Government surplus bargain prices. These 2,400-foot, seven-inch reels usually sell for $7.00, but you can buy them for only $1.75 each. Send orders in print, braille, or cassette. Please include check or money order with your order. From The White Cane Bulletin (Florida): The Telephone Pioneers of America is the world's largest voluntary association of industrial employees. It is composed of men and women from throughout the United States and Canada who have served 18 years or more in the telephone industry. Established in 1911 with 700 members, the organization now numbers 500,000. Information about the Telephone Pioneers may be obtained by contacting Blaine L. Clegg, Community Service Activities Supervisor, Telephone Pioneers of America, AT&T, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007. — Ophthalmologists at the University of Illinois Medical Center and 21 other research centers throughout the country are planning to take part in a study to determine if aspirin can prevent diabetic retinopathy, a frequent complication of diabetes and a major complication of blindness. From Disabled USA: A new device which employs advanced computer technology to emboss metal plates from which braille books are reproduced has been proved successful in its first installation. Manufactured by Triformation Systems, Inc., of Stuart, Florida, the Plate Embossing Device increases the rate of plate production by more than 500%. The first completed installation is in use at Clovernook Home and School for the Blind, Cincinnati. For further information, contact Triformation Systems, Inc., 3132 S.E. Jay Street, Stuart, FL 33494. Fellowships which cover tuition and a stipend of $3,000 for handicapped persons wishing to study for a Master's degree in Library Science are available from the University of Arizona and from the State University of New York at Albany. The program covers two semesters and a summer session. For further information, contact Judy Umberger, Coordinator, Graduate Library School, 1515 E. First Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, or Robert Burgess, Acting Dean, School of Library and Information Science, SUNY Albany, Albany, NY 12222. From NLS News: International Pen Friends, the largest organization of its kind in the world, has launched a division for blind people using either cassette or braille. A fee of $1 U.S. currency or equivalent is required for blind members. For additional information, write Mr. N. O'Donnell, President, International Pen Friends, Box 340, Dublin, 12, Ireland. Dr. James Max Woolly, Superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind, and Robert H. Bennett, member of the Board of Directors of the New York Association for the Blind (Lighthouse), New York City, and of National Industries for the Blind, Bloomfield, New Jersey, have been named recipients of the 1978 Migel Medal. The medal, established in 1937 to honor the late M.C. Migel, first president of the American Foundation for the Blind, is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to education, rehabilitation, and social welfare concerned with blind persons, both directly in the field of blindness and outside the blindness system. The medals were presented at ceremonies at AFB headquarters on October 26. William F. Gallagher and Marvin Berkowitz, Ph.D., have been named associate directors of the American Foundation for the Blind. Mr. Gallagher, former director of the Program Planning Department, is now Associate Director for Advocacy, and Dr. Berkowitz, former head of the Research and Technological Development Department, is Associate Director for Advanced Planning. Franklin Travel, Inc., specialists in international group tours, is projecting four "Insight Tours," designed exclusively for visually impaired persons, through January, 1980: Israel -- March 10-17, 1979; Bermuda -- July 2-6, 1979; London -- September 16-23, 1979; and Winter Caribbean Cruise -- January 5-12, 1980. Tours are designed so that the use of touch and narration will overcome the lack of vision. Escorts will be provided at a very reasonable extra charge for those who need them. Visually handicapped persons will not be accepted on these tours unless they bring their own escort or use one provided by Franklin Travel. No dogs will be allowed. For full information, write Donald K. Graham, President, Franklin Travel, Inc., 344 Suburban Station Building, Philadelphia, PA 19103. ***** **ACB Officers * President: Oral O. Miller, 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008 * First Vice President: Delbert K. Aman, 115 Fifth Avenue, S.E., Aberdeen, SD 57401 * Second Vice President: Robert T. McLean, 2139 Joseph Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 * Secretary: M. Helen Vargo, 833 Oakley Street, Topeka, KS 66606 * Treasurer: James R. Olsen, 6211 Sheridan Avenue, S., Minneapolis, MN 55423 ** Contributing Editors George Card, 605 S. Few Street, Madison, WI 53703 Elizabeth M. Lennon, 1315 Greenwood Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007