The Braille Forum 
Vol. XVIII March, 1980 No. 9

Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind 
Mary T. Ballard, Editor

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* President: Oral O. Miller 
3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. 
Suite 236 
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


** ACB Officers

* President: Oral O. Miller, 3701 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 236, Washington, DC 20008 

* First Vice President: Delbert K. Aman, 115 Fifth Avenue, S.E., Aberdeen, SD 57401

* Second Vice President: Dr. 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 South Few Street
Madison, WI 53703

Elizabeth Lennon 
1315 Greenwood Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

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.

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** Contents

ACB Officers

HEW Audit of Iowa Commission for the Blind, by Kathy Megivern

In the Back Stretch -- Derbytown Convention, 1980, by Carla S. Franklin

Convention Notes from the ACB National Office

Notice to Applicants for and Renewals of ACB Membership-at-Large

From the Archives -- Part II: "And Now He Belongs to the Ages," by A.L. Archibald

LCCR 30th Annual Meeting, by Kathy Megivern

NIB -- Time Tried and Panic Tested, by Thor W. Kolle, Jr.

The Wall Street Journal's Strange Interest in Workshops, by Durward K. McDaniel

Communications Aids for the Blind -- Part III: Personal Type Speech Compressors, by Leonard Mowinski

Disability Insurance Amendments Pass the Senate, by Kathy Megivern 

ACB Affiliate News:
Connecticut Council Fall Convention
Illinois Federation of the Blind Convention
Affiliate News from Hawaii

Here and There, by George Card

Notice to Subscribers

*****

** HEW Audit of Iowa 
Commission for the Blind
By Kathy Megivern

One of the favorite myths long put forth by the National Federation of the Blind has been the excellent record of the Iowa Commission for the Blind, a state agency dominated by NFB people and NFB philosophy. Now, however, an audit report of the Iowa Commission for the Blind, conducted by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, raises serious questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission. The report is for the period July 1, 1974, through June 30, 1977, a time when the Iowa Commission was being touted as a "model," the most successful state agency in the nation. Even as a barrage of articles by the Des Moines Register began to expose improprieties in the state-run Commission's relationship to the non-profit National Federation, the response to all criticism was merely to point to the excellent record of the Commission under the rule of Kenneth Jernigan. 

The HEW audit was made in accordance with standards for governmental auditing, and it placed primary emphasis on the eligibility of clients and the extent to which rehabilitation goals were accomplished. The auditors tried to soften the blow of their findings with some language of praise for the Commission. However, they concluded: "While many benefits have accrued to blind individuals, we believe the Commission could improve the administration of the vocational rehabilitation program in Iowa to achieve greater program and fiscal benefits." 

On the question of eligibility of clients, the audit found that the Commission provided services to individuals who did not meet Federal eligibility requirements. In a random sampling from the 403 case files designated as Closed/Rehabilitated during the audit period, the auditors selected 57 case files. They found that seventeen of the random 57 did not meet Federal criteria for eligibility. For some, the eligibility was questionable because visual impairment was not severe. One person had 20/20 corrected vision in one eye, loss of sight in the other, and stable vision since 1972. Two others were found with stable, corrected vision of 20/ 50 and 20/70, respectively. 

Another basis for questioned eligibility was the need for services. Rather than rehabilitating only those persons who needed the service in order to find employment, the auditors found the following: "The Commission also used the vocational rehabilitation program to upgrade the skills of some visually impaired individuals who were employed. Some had above-average incomes. By choice, they terminated their employment and requested and received funds from the Commission to subsidize expenses for further education or training. In our opinion, such use of vocational rehabilitation services is questionable and does not comply with eligibility criteria relating to the existence of substantial handicaps to employment." 

Another finding by the auditors was that the Commission used vocational rehabilitation funds to pay for staff services and aids and appliances to other than vocational rehabilitation clients. This conclusion was reached on the basis of several different practices. In the category of aids and appliances, the auditors found that for the period covered, there had been $16,145 charged to the program: Of this amount, they could only verify $6,261, or about 40%, as having gone directly to eligible clients' vocational rehabilitation plans. 

Another basis for concluding that funds went to other than program purposes is the finding that counselors and rehabilitation teachers provided services to former clients long after their cases were closed as rehabilitated and reasonable "follow-up" time had expired. Additionally, the allocation of the cost of operating the library for the blind was "inequitably distributed" to the vocational rehabilitation program. Time studies done and work functions categorized in order to keep track of the amount of employee time allocable to the program were found to be neither accurate nor indicative of actual effort. 

Perhaps the most significant portion of the audit is that section titled "Relationship of Rehabilitation Goals to Accomplishments." This finding discloses the true facts about the "remarkable" statistics claimed by the Commission for successful rehabilitation closures. Of the 57 case files randomly chosen, fifteen showed that the occupations of the persons after closure bore no relationship to the employment objectives in their rehabilitation plans. Some other examples of how the closure statistics were reached are mentioned: "When clients' health problems prevented them from obtaining employment in an occupation specified in their plans, the cases were closed as rehabilitated homemaker. Rehabilitated homemaker was also used when clients terminated training prematurely, or if they elected to remain at home after completing training. There were also instances where closures as rehabilitated appeared when vocational rehabilitation clients terminated training and returned to previous occupations. This practice overstates the number of cases reported as successfully rehabilitated." 

This use of the "rehabilitated homemaker" was a favorite. In one case, "Before the training was completed, the case was closed as Status 26, Rehabilitated Homemaker. The household at that point had two homemakers, the client and the client's spouse." 

The auditors conclude this portion with the following: "We believe that these examples illustrate that clients' occupations after case closure were not always related to the employment objectives specified in the rehabilitation plan and show fewer successful closures than reported. The Federal regulations require successful closures to have suitable employment for a minimum of sixty days. In our opinion, suitable employment is achieved only if the occupation is related to the training received. Otherwise, there would be little value in evaluating client needs, providing counseling, or formulating plans." 

Another section of the audit deals with the fact that costs for post-secondary education of vocational rehabilitation clients could have been substantially reduced if the Commission had simply utilized other resources of funds such as Basic Educational Opportunity Grants and Iowa Tuition Refund Grants. Federal regulations require that "maximum efforts" be made by the state agency to secure other available grant assistance, and some of the files examined by the auditors showed that persons who may well have been eligible for other assistance had never made such applications. 

The audit found that the Commission could reduce its operating costs through various methods. Auditors concluded that maintenance costs for the Commission were more than double those at the state's Vocational Rehabilitation Center, a comparable center, with little justifiable reasons for such a difference in costs. 

A final finding concerned the vending stand program and concluded that Commission procedures relating to the inventory and purchase of vending facility equipment needed to be strengthened. 

The 47-page report is available to interested persons under the Freedom of Information Act (P.L. 90-23) as "Report on Audit of Selected Program and fiscal Matters Related to Vocational Rehabilitation Activities Conducted by the Commission for the Blind, Des Moines, Iowa," Audit Control No. 07-00551; available from Mr. Isaac K. Johnson, Regional Program Director, Regional Office for Rehabilitation Services, Department of HEW, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.

*****

** In the Back Stretch --
Derbytown Convention, 1980 
By Carla S. Franklin 

Check your calendar. Are the dates July 13-19, 1980, circled in red? They should be, just so you will not forget to make plans to attend this year's convention of the American Council of the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky. 

By this time, all special-interest organizations should have received information packets about the convention. Included in this material are menus for special occasions, Boutique information, and requests for program details. We remind each special-interest group to send all details of meetings, meals, and special activities to: ACB 1 980 Convention Management Committee, Attention: Miss Diane Bobrowski, P.O. Box, 306, Louisville, KY 40201.

All ACB affiliates (state and special-interest) should by now have received a letter from Mrs. Verna L. Dotson, Finance Director, concerning the ACB Boutique. If your affiliate would like to reserve a booth in the Boutique, contact the Convention Management Committee by April 1. By the way, the Boutique is open to local chapters of state or special-interest affiliates, too. 

The theme of this year's convention is "An Open Door to Progress for the Blind." Programming will reflect new ideas and services now available or being developed for the visually impaired. To make this convention even more interesting, the Program and Publicity Committee would like to know more about your ACB affiliate's projects and activities. Do you have an unusual project or service for the blind of your city, state, or region? If so, let us know about it by writing Mrs. Carla S. Franklin, c/o Convention Management Committee, P.O. Box 306, Louisville, KY 40201. 

Finally, we promised you more information on entertainment planned during Convention Week. On Thursday evening, July 17, you will have the chance to take a memorable tour to historical Bardstown, home of world-famous composer Stephen Foster. Tour buses will leave the Galt House in the late afternoon. Upon arrival in Bardstown, you will dine at the outstanding Old Stable Restaurant. Following the meal and its accompanying entertainment, you will go to the outdoor amphitheater, where you will be treated to a very special performance of "The Stephen Foster Story." This live play tells the story of the composer of "My Old Kentucky Home," "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "Camptown Races," and many other songs. The acting is superb, and every scene is filled with music. You won't want to miss this tour! 

Convention headquarters is the Galt House, 140 N. 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Room rates are: single, $19; double, $25; triple, $29; quad, $33; suites (one bedroom), $85. 

If you have any questions or suggestions which you would like to share with the Convention Management Committee, please do not hesitate to write us at P.O. Box 306, Louisville, KY 40201; or call at (502) 895-4598.

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** Convention Notes from the ACB National Office 

The time from Sunday, July 13, through Tuesday, July 15, is reserved for board meetings, conferences of ACB's fourteen national special-interest affiliates, and a number of educational workshops and seminars. Among the latter are the Publications Workshop, sponsored by the ACB Board of Publications, and the Section 504 Workshop, so well received at last year's convention. The annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will convene on Wednesday morning, July 16. 

Pursuant to an amendment to Article IV -- Officers, of the ACB Constitution passed at last year's convention, four directors will be elected to the ACB Board at this year's business meeting. Careful thought should be given to select those persons who will best direct the future programs and policies of the American council. Careful consideration, too, should be given to Constitution and By-Laws amendments and to resolutions to be presented to the Convention. 

Dick Seifert, 1023 Scott, Apartment F, Little Rock, AR 72202, has been re-appointed as chairman of the Resolutions Committee. He will appreciate receiving draft resolutions as soon as possible prior to the convention. These may be sent in any form, but braille is preferred. 

Charles S. P. Hodge will again chair the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. He, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. His address is River House One Apartments, Apartment B-1110, 1111 Army-Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. 

The presentation of a number of awards has become a meaningful tradition at each year's convention. 

The Ned E. Freeman Article-of-the-Year Award is presented annually for an outstanding article written specifically for The Braille Forum during the preceding calendar year. The recipient is selected by the ACB Board of Publications. 

The Robert S. Bray Award, in memory of the late Chief of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, is presented from time to time, not necessarily annually, in recognition of outstanding 

Achievement in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices and techniques. Nominations for this award must be received no later than June 1, 1980, and should be sent to Miss Theresa Snyder, Chairperson, Robert S. Bray Award Committee, 26 Island Drive, Old Bridge, NJ 08857. 

The Ambassador Award is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who, by their lives, associations and activities, have demonstrated their integration into and interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, nor that he or she be engaged in work for the blind. 
 
The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year.

Nominations for both the Ambassador Award and the George Card Award should be submitted no later than June 1, 1980, to Mrs. Karen Perzentka, Awards Committee Chairperson, 6913 Colony Drive, Madison, WI 53717.

If you have questions concerning the convention, the American Council of the Blind, or any of the national special-interest affiliates, you may contact the ACB National Office, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036, or you may contact the special-interest affiliate directly for information.
 
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** National Special-Interest Affiliates 

American Blind Lawyers Association -- Norman S. Case, President, P.O. Box 65, Bethel, VT 05032

American Council of the Blind Federal Employees -- Raymond (Bud) Keith, President, 737 N. Buchanan Street, Arlington, VA 22203 

American Council of the Blind Parents -- Gretchen H. Smith, President, Route A, Box 78, Franklin, LA 70538 

American Council of the Blind Service Net (Amateur Radio) -- Travis Harris, President, 3840 N.W. 31 Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 

Council of Citizens with Low Vision -- Dr. Samuel Genensky, President, Director - Partially Sighted Research, Santa Monica Hospital Medical Research, 1225 15th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 

Council of Rehabilitation Specialists -- Mrs. Billie Elder, President, 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204 

Guide Dog Users, Inc. -- Mrs. Catherine Gleitz, President, 2130 Maple Street, Baldwin, NY 11510 

National Alliance of Blind Students -- Catherine Bunnell, President, 4014 Mt. Abraham Avenue, San Diego, CA 92111 

National Association of Blind Teachers - Mrs. Mabel Bailey, President, 610 S. Darst Street, Eureka, IL 61530 

Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America -- Ione B. Miller, President, 9291 Fermi Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 

Visually Impaired Data Processors International -- McKinley Young, President, 514 Quackenbos Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20011 

Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association -- Mrs. Patricia Price, President, 337 S. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201 

Visually Impaired Veterans of America -- Dr. Michael Young, President, 1740 Robinson, No. 2, San Diego, CA 92103 

World Council of Blind Lions -- Felix Polo, President, 54 Davis Boulevard, No. 8, Tampa, FL 33606

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** Notice to Applicants for and Renewals of ACB Membership-At-Large 

The American Council of the Blind Constitution and By-Laws provide that any person who has reached the age of 18 years and who is not a voting member of an ACB affiliate is eligible to become a member-at-large, with the right to an individual vote at the national convention. Annual membership-at-large dues are $2. New applicants for membership-at-large pay an initiation fee of $3, which includes dues for the first year. Application forms are available from the ACB National Office. 

The Constitution and By-Laws further provide that all dues are to be received no later than sixty days prior to the ACS national convention -- that is, in 1980, by May 17. All membership-at-large dues should be clearly identified as such and should be sent to the ACS National Office, Attention: James R. Olsen, Treasurer, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036, on or before May 17, 1980. 

*****

*** From the Archives

As one who knew Dr. Newel Perry intimately, first as a teacher, then as a personal friend and benefactor, and finally as an organizer and leader in the blind movement, I have great appreciation of the splendid and brief account set forth in the article by A.L. Archibald, "And Now He Belongs to the Ages." 

"Doctor," as he was known among his students and friends, was first of all a teacher. In all his relationships, he used a teaching technique. It was in this manner, and because of the originality and greatness of his thought, that he gained numerous disciples. It was his hope that those who followed him would continue to build, through organization and through public education, that philosophy and those principles which would bring about greater equality, security, and opportunity for the blind. 

The basis of his philosophy was, "The only people who can do anything for the blind are the blind themselves." He believed that history clearly proved that Progress and opportunity for the blind only came about when a blind person, despite the well-meant opposition of the sighted, proved that he could do it by doing it. He taught all his "kids" that was the only way they were ever going to get anywhere. 

When Dr. Perry organized the California Council for the Blind, he did so on the basis that the blind must teach those who were calling themselves experts how to help the blind. He saw to it that there were enough votes by blind persons to maintain control, but at the same time he included as partners agency personnel whom he wished to instruct. He often said, "Make them think it's their idea." 

This philosophy was the basis of the great strides he made in progressive legislation in the areas of education, welfare, and rehabilitation for the blind in the early years of organizational work in California. It was this program in legislation which was the model for similar legislation throughout the country. It is this basic principle of teaching and working with those who will work for you that has not been followed by some of his students and that has brought about changes and disagreements in the national organization movement. 

Archibald has given us a good historic background of Dr. Perry's leadership and what this has meant to all of us. -- Bob Campbell, Berkeley, California. 

** "And Now He Belongs to the Ages" 
(Part II)
By A.L. Archibald 
(Reprinted from The Braille Free Press, March, 1961) 

The pressure of events brought Doctor (Perry) back to California in 1912. "There were a lot of theorems and mathematical problems I wanted to work out and write about, but no matter where I was, it always seemed that something had to be done to help the blind." The School for the Blind in Berkeley had reached a decisive crossroads in education. The organized Alumni of the School were clamoring around the State for the return of Newel Perry's progressive influence. The School itself and the Governor of the State wanted him back. He yielded to the call and gave up his pursuit of an academic career. In speaking of this personal decision, he acknowledged the pressure which had been put on him; but it was also discernable in his talk about his personal history that a long postponed and never-forgotten yearning to return in order to marry and to settle down with his beloved Lilly played a part in making up his mind. His love for young people was added in the balance. He and his wife were never privileged to enjoy flesh-and-blood children of their own, but from the time of their marriage onward, they had young people throng to them almost incessantly. The size of their spiritual family grew in multiples.

The broad endeavor to lead the way in opening opportunities for blind people in higher education became an intensified campaign for Dr. Perry at this juncture of his life. Owing to his influence and persuasion, the California Legislature established in the State's regular budget for education a regularly appropriated Reader Fund for blind students attending public high schools, colleges and universities within the State. Dr. Perry was designated as Director of Advanced Studies for the Blind of the entire State after the creation of this fund. The always widening responsibilities of this position occupied a great part of his energies down to the time of his compulsory retirement in 1947 at the venerable age of seventy-three. 

Before Doctor's return in 1912, only an occasional individual had followed the example he had set prior to the end of the 19th century. As a direct consequence of his stimulation and guidance, that trickle became an ever-increasing flow. Wherever he had lived or visited in the United States, Doctor had eloquently preached the great desirability of educating promising young blind men and women in institutions of higher learning. Blind students began to turn up more frequently in colleges and universities scattered all over the country. But programs to promote higher learning for blind students were nowhere else so well organized and so intensively pursued as in California. This fact was made clearly evident in a statistical study of blind people attending accredited colleges, universities and professional schools which was completed by the U.S. Office of Education in 1958. California still led all of the states in the number of such students currently in attendance, and the University of California towered over all other institutions in the number of its blind students. Had this study been able to compile cumulative figures covering previous decades, the statistical results of Doctor's labors in this area would have been revealed in an even more striking display. 

As the years passed, Dr. Perry's proteges began to turn up all over the State and in other parts of the country as successful lawyers, business people, civil servants, farmers, judges, employment specialists, social workers, legislators, salesmen, osteopaths, chiropractors, and as jobholders of various descriptions and in an extending array of different occupations. Doctor was phenomenally talented at persuading schools of higher learning to accept his students for training. His success in broadening the horizons of those who came under his attention and in invigorating them was unmatched. At one point, not long after his return to the West, he induced the Medical School of the University of California to enroll a blind student for regular studies. Had the health of this budding physician not broken before completion of these studies, a convincing precedent might well have been set for others to follow. 

Bright, young, blind people were not the only objects of concern in Doctor's inclusive feeling for his fellows. His understanding and his heart encompassed with deepening empathy the plight of blind people of all ages and in all situations. He constituted himself a one-man placement agency for the blind during time spared from his official duties. He wore out many pairs of shoes while trudging from employer to employer to gain acceptance for blind employees in expanding varieties of occupations. Often it was his luck that, after making heavy outlays from his own pocket in the effort to reach a prominent employer, he would be offered a few greenbacks by a pillar of the community as an expression of sympathy for the blind and a desire to help. Although achievement of his purpose was only occasional, the successes of his arduous endeavors made training and placement of blind persons a continuing function of the State's rehabilitation program.

Beyond these activities, Dr. Perry planned for the day when circumstances would be right to strike a blow for the freedom from abject want for all the blind of California. As Doctor's young people began to show up throughout the State as successful men and women, he finally obtained the measure of support and collaboration he needed to carry out the plan. Whenever he had been able to get together a group of these former students for an evening or a weekend during the 1920s, long hours were spent in earnest discussion of alternative possibilities for creating a better life for the blind. This loose-knit aggregation became known with increasing enthusiasm as "Doctor's Kitchen Cabinet." Only a few of the associates in this renowned companionship are still left among us -- only Stanley Henderson and Ernest Leslie and Dolly Glass. But what all of them did together will not soon be forgotten. They tossed aside in the course of their deliberations all the proposals for a proliferation of private agencies serving limited needs. They concentrated their attention upon broad programs of legislation. Most particularly, they planned for the day when they might finally bring about a modification of the existing prohibition against all "gifts of money or other things of value to persons" by the State Government, which was a provision of the California Constitution and prevented any legislative enactment to establish a program of financial aid to the blind.

Their grand objective was finally attained when in 1928 they rallied together, with Doctor at their head, to circulate an initiative petition to amend the State Constitution. They undertook to secure, person by person, from registered voters, the tens of thousands of signatures required to assure the submission of the proposition to the people of the State at the general elections later that year. Doctor himself spent every available hour in plodding the streets with the petition in hand. His favorite stratagem was to board a San Francisco ferry on weekends and spend whole days plying back and forth across the waters of the Bay, until after months of effort he was assured that a sufficient margin of valid signatures had been obtained. When the people of California voted overwhelmingly to authorize aid to the blind, Doctor was prepared to greet the State Legislature with the completed statute which he and his "Kitchen Cabinet" had carefully worked out during previous years. Dr. Perry presented these proposals with such persuasive reasonableness that the bill was adopted into law with little change.

In the twenty-five years that followed, legislation creating and improving upon programs for the blind grew into a constant stream. In some years, as many as thirty bills affecting nearly all aspects of blind people's lives were enacted. Very few proposals that were adverse to the interests of the blind ever got through. Dr. Perry became a much respected and venerated figure in the offices and the committee rooms and chambers of the capitol. His wisdom and his judgment were revered. His presence was welcomed, and his counsel was frequently sought after. So genial and thoughtful was his company that nearly every political figure in the State took Dr. Perry into the realm of personal friendship.

*****

** LCCR 30th Annual Meeting
By Kathy Megivern

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights held its 30th annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on January 27-28, 1980.

The conference opened Sunday afternoon with a report from Clarence Mitchell, Chairman of LCCR and the guest speaker at the American Council of the Blind 1979 convention banquet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Mitchell briefly outlined the 30-year history of LCCR and its accomplishments, and he stressed the new focus on coalition.

"Thirty years ago, when the Leadership Conference began, the focus was almost exclusively on the rights of black Americans as the largest and most visibly disadvantaged group. But our successes contributed to growth of group consciousness and group pride among other segments of our population and gave impetus to the process of self-organization among women, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, the elderly, and the physically and mentally handicapped. All of these groups, utilizing the methods and techniques developed by the civil rights activists, began to demand and to gain the rights to which they were justly entitled. We are proud that we have helped achieve these victories and that all of these groups are represented and actively participating in the Leadership Conference. 

"Group consciousness and group pride have their dangers as well as their positive aspects. The danger is that each group may become so absorbed with its own separate interest that it loses sight of the other, over-reaching, common interests that bind us together. Democratic pluralism cannot survive as a collection of isolated, competing groups. The equality we seek is indivisible. It cannot be won by or for any group alone, but only through a coalition in which groups that may have differing, and sometimes conflicting, views on some issues commit themselves to work together for goals they share in common." 

Chairman Mitchell's report was followed by the keynote address, "A Civil Rights Agenda for the '80s," by David Tatel. Mr. Tatel is former Director of HEW's Office for Civil Rights and is a member of the American Blind Lawyers Association. His remarks addressed the reasons why our civil rights laws have not succeeded in solving the problems, and he made some far-reaching suggestions for actions to be taken in the '80s. 

" ... (T)he laws designed to eliminate discrimination have not yet accomplished that purpose. They have fallen short for several reasons. They have not been fully enforced; they are often inadequate to deal with today's complex civil rights problems; they rely too heavily on the Federal Government; and their aims are too narrow. ... 

"Discrimination clearly remains one of this nation's most serious problems. Its victims are black, Hispanic, women, the handicapped, and the elderly. Discrimination is overt and pervasive; it is subtle and complex. It is perpetuated by unvalidated tests and admission standards and by other practices which appear neutral, but which discriminate in effect. It is reinforced by inferior educations, by segregated neighborhoods and by other conditions which are themselves the results of years of discrimination. It permeates many of our institutions; it affects most of our people. ...

"The civil rights and poverty programs enacted in the '60s enjoyed widespread public support. ... Today, however, conditions have changed. ... Hispanics, women, the handicapped, and the elderly now also seek relief from discrimination, and our national attention has turned from civil rights to the environment, the economy, the escalating costs of energy, and national defense. ...

"Heightened opposition to further civil rights progress is not our only obstacle. Today's civil rights problems are more complex than those of the past. ... To deal with these problems, we need a civil rights agenda for the 1980's that attacks the causes of discrimination directly and corrects the defects in our existing civil rights enforcement tools. ... The thoughtful development of such an agenda is very important, for I believe that America is fully capable of realizing its goal of equal opportunity during this new decade, if it has the will, the imagination, and the direction to do so. And I know of no organization better suited to provide that direction than the Leadership Conference.

"You can press the Federal Government to use its existing powers to eliminate discrimination in education. You can help fashion a strategy and the new tools to deal with the increasingly volatile problem of urban residential segregation. You can help build a national consensus for the development of state, local, and private civil rights resources. You can insist that anti-discrimination and poverty programs be forged into an effective civil rights tool. And, most importantly, the Leadership Conference can ensure that these issues are addressed at all levels of government, by all institutions, both public and private, and by all political parties and candidates seeking public office. Only in that way will the civil rights agenda we draft here today become the nation's civil rights agenda for the 1980s."

One of the highlights of the two-day conference was the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Awards Dinner on Sunday, January 27. The annual presentation of the civil rights awards had been planned weeks in advance, and the two people selected to receive the honors were Clarence Mitchell and George Meany. The award was presented to Mr. Meany posthumously and was accepted by the new AFL-CIO president, Lane Kirkland.

The Guest speaker at the banquet was Jimmy Carter. Because of a shuffling in the President's schedule, he arrived earlier than expected and was present during the showing of a short film about George Meany's life. The film started off with a clip of Mr. Meany blasting the Carter Administration for its "record of unkept promises." Nervous laughter gave way to good-natured applause as everyone was reminded that George Meany always spoke his mind, no matter who was present. 

There was one very disturbing note to the evening for advocates of handicapped persons. Throughout the day, the sessions had focused on the needs and problems of all minorities and prominent attention was paid to the handicapped as a part of the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, despite recent telegrams from the American Council of the Blind and the Leadership Conference about his failure to include handicapped persons in a previous speech, President Carter repeated the same omission. More than once during his remarks concerning the civil rights struggle and LCCR, the President enumerated those groups who face discrimination. And more than once he failed to mention handicapped persons. This omission was made even more glaring by the fact that Reese H. Robrahn, ACB's Director of Governmental Affairs, was seated at the head table during the President's talk.

"The field is still ripe for the harvest. The passage of the civil rights legislation that's already on the books is just a first step. Women, Hispanics, blacks, the poor, the elderly still wait for true equality in our land of the equal. In the last three years, we haven't done very much. But we've begun again to realize the dreams of Hubert Humphrey, George Meany, Clarence Mitchell, and others like them assembled in this room. More women, more blacks, more Hispanics have been appointed to the Federal courts than in all of the previous administrations in the history of our country. ...

"I doubt if we'll ever see again any official-minded bus driver making blacks move to the back end of the bus. But we are not going to be satisfied with blacks and Hispanics and women driving the bus: We want to see them own the bus company."

The second day of the conference started early with a legislative roundup. The first topic was a report on S. 446, the Equal Employment Opportunity for the Handicapped Act of 1979. ACB National Representative Durward K. McDaniel made the presentation on the progress (or lack thereof) of this important civil rights legislation for handicapped persons.

The afternoon session concentrated on the Fair Housing Act Amendments. In addition to strengthening the current law, this legislation would add handicapped persons to Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. Present at this press conference/strategy session were Moon Landrieu, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Drew Days, Assistant Attorney-General; and Congressmen Don Edwards (D., CA) and Tom Railsback (R., IL).

For those advocates of the civil rights of handicapped persons, the LCCR annual meeting was further evidence (with one disturbing exception) of the growing acceptance of disability rights as a civil rights issue equal in importance to the struggles of other minority groups for full equality of citizenship.

*****

** NIB -- Time Tried and Panic Tested
By Thor W. Kolle, Jr.

(Mr. Kolle is Chairman of the National Industries for the Blind Board of Directors. The following address was given at the Fall, 1979 meeting of NIB and the General Council of Workshops for the Blind.)

In the years that followed the Great Depression and bank failures of the early '30s, a number of small financial institutions adopted and publicized the slogan, "Time Tried, and Panic Tested." To their depositors, stockholders, and the general public, their slogan indicated and boasted of the fact that the institutions had been strengthened by many years of operation and had weathered the storm of a panic-motivated run on their treasuries. 

NIB and the associated workshops might find such a slogan appropriate for them after almost a year of unremitting attack.

Last year, in commemorating the 40th year of operation of NIB, we paused to look at the achievements of the workshops and NIB during those forty years. The record showed beyond any question that NIB and the shops had not only fulfilled their obligation by accomplishing the purposes for which the association was formed, but they had gone much further. By implementing technological advancements and the development of innovative manufacturing techniques, the workshops were providing employment to thousands of blind persons -- so many of whom also had handicaps in addition to blindness. Furthermore, the capabilities of the blind workers had been extended far beyond the dreams of the founders of the NIB association. Time had proved the workshops efficient, viable, and practical.

Now, this year is another story, and yet another test for us. I think it is clear that in 1979 we have been panic tested. NIB and the workshops -- and, yes, even the management of the workshops -- have been the object of unprecedented public scrutiny and publicity which some uninformed or misdirected parties -- apparently seeking gain for themselves -- have obviously inspired in the hope we would panic, in the hope that we would forego the principles upon which we were founded and upon which we have operated for forty years.

Again, NIB and the workshops have stood the test. Public examination and the resulting self-evaluation have shown the workshop concept to be a sound one and the program of NIB and the shops a contributing factor to the lives of the blind and multi-handicapped blind, as well as to the nation's economy. Ironically, in the midst of all that confusion, and at a time when the very existence of workshops was being questioned by some, the NIB-associated shops continued their pattern of growth and have set new records again in every field of endeavor.

Tabulations of early annual reports received, supported by NIB operating data, indicate sales to the United States Government by the workshops this year reached an unequaled $70 million. This figure includes $7.5 million in military resale -- a new record; ballpoint pen sales of $6 million -- highest ever; and approximately $56 million in other Government contracts -- more than ever recorded by NIB shops. Though statistics on other factors are not yet adequately tabulated to quote here, there is sufficient evidence to indicate wages to blind workers, number of blind persons employed, and other important objectives will reflect comparable gain and achievement.

For example, an estimated 100 new jobs for blind persons were created by the addition of 19 new items to the procurement list by NIB. Another 85 jobs were made available to blind workers by the increase in sales of products through the military resale program. Activities in the area of subcontracting, enclaves, and replacement also continue to employ more blind workers each year.

To say the least, while some outsiders have insisted on talking about what workshops have not done, workshops for the blind have been busy doing much worth talking about.

In March of this year, the United States Department of Labor published Volume II of their study of all sheltered workshops. It was pointed out in that report, with some concern, that possibly due to an increase in the number of severely and workers in the workshops, the average hourly wage of workers multi-handicapped in sheltered workshops increased only 7% from 1968 to 1976. During that same period, the statutory minimum wage increased 44%, from $1.60 to $2.30. Let me remind you, these figures covered all sheltered workshops for all handicaps. 

Now look at comparable statistics for the NIB-associated workshops for the blind. In those same years, 1968 to 1976, the average hourly wage to blind workers in the NIB shops increased 50%. Total wages paid to blind workers, indirect labor, increased 38%. Adding tremendous significance to this growth was the fact that in that period, multi-handicapped blind workers in the shops increased 107%. 

For clarity, let me state this another way. In 1968, 23% of all blind workers in the NIB shops had additional handicaps. In 1976, 45% had handicaps in addition to blindness. But the average hourly wage to all blind workers had moved up 50%.

Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that any way you look at those facts, any way you say it, they indicate progress -- not perfection, but definite progress. ...

The attempt to destroy the workshop program by repeated attack in whatever form cannot be tolerated, and it shall not succeed if we continue to provide the excellent service to the blind community for which we have been known for over forty years. ... Accordingly, we should not let detractors from the program tear down what we have striven so hard to build.

If you steadfastly believe in the value of your shop's services to the blind community, and if you maintain the high degree of worthwhile employment opportunities to the blind, your shop will be able to withstand any attack from the outside. But, if you falter in your service, if you let your standards down, if you fail to listen to your blind constituency, and, most of all, if you fail to communicate with your employees, your boards of directors, and your community organizations, you will run the risk of direct attack. ... 

It is paramount to your survival and to the survival of your shop that you listen, that you exchange ideas with others and all blind organizations, and particularly that you communicate daily with those blind workers you serve. 

And as surely as one or another of you ignores this message, you run the risk of not being here when we convene this meeting a year from now.

*****

** The Wall Street Journal's 
Strange Interest in Workshops
By Durward K. McDaniel

Last year, many people in the field of blindness were surprised by critical articles in The Wall Street Journal dealing first with shops for blind employees, and later with those employing other handicapped people. The Wall Street Journal is the most prestigious daily periodical devoted to information about business and industry. Why would it go out of its way to produce critical articles about non-profit shops hiring handicapped people? Was it influenced by blind agitators who are not even remotely within its business and industry constituency? It has not said that it agrees with blind agitators who want to abolish such employment for blind people, but its continued critical interest has now led to an investigation by the Federal Government's General Accounting Office. 

In still another article on January 2, 1980, the Journal says: "The General Accounting Office investigation was prompted by members of Congress, chiefly Representative Barry Goldwater, Jr. (R., CA). Representative Goldwater's office said his request was 'crystalized' by a series of articles about sheltered workshops in The Wall Street Journal last year." In the same article, the Journal says that the investigation is "to determine whether they compete unfairly with small business and whether they exploit physically or mentally handicapped workers." 

The issue of competition with profit-making business became apparent last year when the prestigious Office Products Association and other business interests testified for a bill which would have prohibited the payment of sub-minimum wages to blind persons by any employer. Obviously, this legislation was aimed at those shops which employ blind workers. If the bill had passed, those shops (some of which pay some of their blind employees less than the minimum wage) would have lost some of their competitive production cost advantage. 

More than half of the business done by the workshops associated with National Industries for the Blind is derived through a Federal procurement program authorized by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. A Government committee approves the products and services to be procured from these shops and fixes the price which the Government pays. That Act applies to shops employing other handicapped people, but they have not developed such a large amount of Government business as the NIB shops have. As the volume of Federal procurement has increased for these shops, so have the complaints of profitmaking business and industry seeking through Congressional intervention (and sometimes through litigation), to keep the Government committee from adding products and services to the procurement list.

Let us examine the facts about the amount of competition which has induced profit-making industry to take such an interest in workshops hiring blind workers. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, the shops associated with NIB did $127,270,277 worth of business, almost three times that done only eight years earlier. Of that amount, well over half was through the Federal procurement activities, $71,409,096, just about four times what it was eight years before. We do not have similar statistics for the other workshops, but we know that they have not improved generally as much as those associated with NIB. 

There are many times more shops for the other handicapped than for the blind. The General Accounting Office will not investigate every shop. It should choose enough representative samples in order to obtain an objective perspective ranging from the worst to the best of the shops. If the investigation report supports the claims of business that the shops are unfairly competing because of their tax, procurement and subminimum wage advantages, there will undoubtedly be pressure on Congress to abolish the Federal procurement authorization, the sub-minimum wage authorization for handicapped workers, and perhaps the Federal income tax exemption. 

Last year, the NIB shops paid wages to blind workers amounting to $18,931,156. Fringe benefits amounted to $5,212,756. The average hourly wage was $3.24.

We make no predictions about the investigation report. But, in any event, we expect to hear more from this new alliance, the one to abolish competition and the other to abolish jobs in workshops.

*****

** Communications Aids for the Blind 
Part III: 
Personal Type Speech Compressors
By Leonard Mowinski 
V.A. Hospital, Hines, Illinois

This article presents an overview of the different speech compressors available for the blind and visually impaired. This information has been derived from our experience in evaluating speech compressors, and from the companies' marketing literature, as well as from the veteran population. 

There are four methods a blind person may use to read printed material. These include braille books and magazines, tape and disc recordings, a direct translation reading aid (Optacon, Stereotoner), and a sighted reader. While none of these methods by themselves serve as an ideal means by which to read, collectively they do fulfill most reading needs. Some of the drawbacks are evident:

(1) Not everyone knows the Braille code. Learning braille can be time-consuming, and reading speeds may be slow.

(2) Not only is there a time delay in receiving braille books, but not all books are translated into braille.

(3) The Optacon is an expensive reading machine that most individuals cannot afford. It, too, involves learning a code. The Optacon does give the reader immediate access to print, but reading speeds are low and using the Optacon to read large amounts of material is not considered practical. 

For most people, the use of tapes or discs is the fastest method of reading (150-175 words per minute), and it does not require the learning of codes or building of skills. But even this method has its shortcomings: 

(1) It takes a blind person longer to read printed material than his sighted counterparts.

2) The reader does not have an active part in the reading process.

(3) The reader has no control over the rate at which the tape is being presented. In contrast, the average sighted reader, reading silently, can cover from 300 to 500 words per minute. The ability to speed up recordings in excess of 300 words per minute and listen at a faster rate would save time, as well as eliminate inattention, boredom, and frustration.

For years, people have tried to speed up recordings, with the result being a distorted speech sounding like "Donald Duck." This distortion can be tolerated at 1.5 times normal speed, but for most people it becomes unintelligible at speeds greater than that. Speech compressors have given us the ability to increase the speed of tapes up to three times normal speed, with the result being less total time spent reading, while processing the information at least as well as by normal rate reading. 

Like a doctor's prescription, the speech compressor is a combination of ingredients; the two most important are the variable speed control option and the pitch corrector. The variable speed control allows the user to speed up the tape; the Pitch corrector takes the distortion out of the tape once it is speeded up. There are two systems available that produce compressed or expanded recordings: (1) the cassette deck which employs a variable speed control and pitch corrector built into one unit (examples are the Varispeech 11, the A7 Speech Controller, and the TCS Recorder from Science for the Blind); (2) the modular system, which consists of a pitch corrector that is mated to those cassette players and Phonographs that are equipped with a variable speed control option.

As of April, 1979, there were five speech compressor units available: the Varispeech II, by Lexicon, Inc.; the APH Recorder with speech control module from the American Printing House for the Blind; the TCS Recorder from Science for the Blind; the A7 Speech Controller by the Variable Speech Control Company; and the AmBiChron Pitch Shifter, from Mr. Richard Koch.

Some typical features of speech compressors are: (1) they are A.C. powered; (2) they make uncompressed recordings; (3) they have complex electronic processors (pitch correctors); and (4) they will expand or compress in the playback mode, with the result that their pitch and voice quality will sound normal regardless of the playback speed. They compress up to three times normal speed, enabling people with ten hours of practice to read up to 400 words per minute.

Listed below are five speech compressors, with a description of the accessories one might consider when ordering the unit. It is recommended that when using any speech compressor, a headset or earphone be tried to obtain optimum listening speed. 

Varispeech II - LOG (Lexicon) -- The Varispeech II measures 5.5 by 9 by 13.5 inches long and weighs 12.5 pounds. The playback speed is .5 to 2.5 times normal speed with pitch correction and is continuously adjustable. The machine operates off A.C. power only. Varispeech II recorders can be ordered with a Library of Congress (LOC) option. This permits the user to play not only conventional 1 7/8 monaural cassettes, but the four-track, 15/16 monaural cassettes as well. It only records in the two-track format. When ordering for a blind person, specify LOC; otherwise, the machine will only play two-track cassettes. Other features of the deck are pause control, automatic shutoff, and automatic level control for taping. Taped instructions are included. Price, $595. 

A7 Speech Controller (Variable Speed Control Company (VSC), formerly Cambridge Research and Development Group) -- The A7 Speech Controller measures 7 by 3 by 10.5 inches long and weight 4 pounds. The playback speed is .6 to 2.5 times normal speed with pitch correction and is continuously adjustable. The recorder can be powered from an A.C. outlet or from 12-volt external D.C. The machine is built for two-track, standard cassettes at 1 7/8 i.p.s. Other features are cue and review, pause control, and automatic shutoff.

Also available from VSC is the Model AV1. This is a tabletop unit that incorporates a Wollensak tape recorder and VSC speech compression circuitry. The price of this unit is $366.62; the purchase price of the A7 is $258.12. 

As of December, 1979, VSC introduced the Model LOC-1 Speed Listening Adaptor. The VSC Adaptor (pitch corrector) was designed to be compatible with the Library of Congress C-76, C-77, or later model cassette players. The unit measures 4 by 6 by 2.5 inches high and weighs 11 ounces. The pitch can be corrected up to 2.5 times original speed and is continuously adjustable. The LOC-1 sells for $95.00. Braille and print instructions are available.

TCS Cassette Recorder (Science for the Blind) -- The TCS Cassette Recorder measures 3 by 7 by 9 inches long and weighs 4.25 pounds. The playback speed is up to two times normal speed with pitch correction, and expansion at .8 times normal speed without pitch correction. SFB has two speech compressors available. One model is built for two-track standard cassettes, with playback at 1 7/8 i.p.s., and the second model will record and play back in the two- and four-track mode. Controls include cue and review and pause. 

The Model 5195 (two-track) sells for $234.50, and Model 5195-LOC sells for $305.00. 

APH Recorder/Player (American Printing House for the Blind) -- Unlike previous speech compressors discussed in this paper, the APH Cassette Recorder/ Player does not have a built-in pitch corrector. The recorder and pitch corrector (called the Variable Speech Control Module) are mated together via patch cord. The recorder measures 3 by 9 by 10 inches long and weighs approximately 5 pounds. The playback speed is .8 to 1 .5 times normal speed with pitch correction and is continuously adjustable. The machine can both play and record two and four-track cassette tapes. Other features are pause control, automatic shutoff, and tone indexing. Price, $155.00. 

The Variable Speech Control Module measures 3 by 6 by 6.5 inches and is equipped with its own power amplifier and loudspeaker. It features volume and pitch controls, earphone jack, and on-off switch. It operates off A. C. power only. An audio cable and adaptor plug are supplied. The price is $85.00. 

The following tape decks can also be mated to the Variable Speech Control Module to produce compressed speech: the Sony 105 reel-to-reel recorder, Library of Congress C-75 or C-76, and other disc players and phonographs with variable speed controls as accessories. 

AmBiChron Pitch Shifter -- Mr. Richard Koch, developer and inventor of the AmBiChron Pitch Shifter, has announced the introduction of Models 101 102L and 101 V. Model 101 obtains a signal from a variable-speed player such as a talking book or Library of Congress C-73, C-75, C-76 cassette player, and provides a pitch-corrected signal. It is equipped with an external dry-cell battery, Which makes the system fully portable. The playback speed is .3 to greater than two times normal speed and is continuously adjustable. Model 101 is available for $145.00. Additional information on the other two models can be obtained by writing or calling Mr. Richard Koch, Lynbrook, New York. 

If you are in the market for a speech compressor, you should carefully consider your reading needs. Be specific and list them: 1. Do you read for pleasure? If so, what type of material do you read and how many hours do you spend reading? 2. Do you need to record lectures, meetings, etc.? 3. Do you need a portable unit with rechargeable batteries or a desk-top unit? 4. Do you need four-track capability? 5. How fast do you want to read -1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 times normal speed? 6. Is the quality of the playback a critical factor?

The consumer must make a thorough analysis of his/her reading needs before choosing a deck. If you read for pleasure, and are not interested in recording, the Library of Congress player mated to a pitch corrector is the least expensive unit available. For those who do a moderate amount of listening and recording, the APH, SFB, or A7 units are adequate. If you are a college student or your job requires many hours of reading, choose the Varispeech II. No speech compressor combines the features of a smaller deck and the quality of the Varispeech II. The consumer must make a trade-off when choosing a speech compressor to meet his needs.

*****

** Disability Insurance Amendments Pass The Senate 
By Kathy Megivern 

The Disability Insurance Amendments of 1979 (H. R. 3236) passed the Senate on January 31, 1980. The Senate-passed version differs greatly from H.R. 3236 as it was approved by the House of Representatives. It includes several positive provisions relating to the elimination of work disincentives in both the SSI and the SSDI programs; however, it also includes the two regressive provisions which have been vehemently opposed by nearly every major organization of and for handicapped persons. These two sections place a "cap" on the amount of family benefits and greatly reduce the number of "dropout years" allowed in the calculation of average earnings. Both provisions will only affect future disabled beneficiaries, and they will strike younger workers more seriously. 

There was an aggressive lobbying effort by the Save Our Security Coalition and its member organizations to have the negative provisions stricken from the bill when it came to the Senate floor for debate. Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D., OH) agreed to sponsor such an amendment, and the following Senators went on record as co-sponsors: Goldwater (R., AZ), Cranston (D., CA), Magnuson (D., WA), Kennedy (D., MA), Williams (D., NJ), McGovern (D., SD), Durkin (D., NH), Weicker (R., CT), and Eagleton (D., MO). In some last-minute maneuvers, even the proposed Metzenbaum amendment was further amended and it made no reference whatsoever to striking the section of H.R. 3236 dealing with dropout years. Nonetheless, the amendment failed by a tie vote of 47 to 47. The Vice President could, of course, have broken the tie, but since the Administration favors the regressive provisions, there was no support for Senator Metzenbaum's amendment.

Another amendment of interest was to be proposed by Senator Henry Bellman (R., OK). The Bellman amendment addressed the issues raised by Section 304 of the Senate bill. This section gives the Department of Health, Education and Welfare extensive discretionary rulemaking authority over the administrative structure and the various units of the state agencies responsible for disability determinations. In addition to a letter of opposition from L.E. Rader, Director of public Welfare in Oklahoma, there was a letter from the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, printed in the Congressional Record of January 31, 1980. Senator Bellman indicated that he had received assurances from members of the Senate Finance Committee that there will be further consideration of this subject, including hearings, within a short time, so he felt it was unnecessary at this time to introduce his amendment. 

Another amendment which was passed by the Senate was proposed by Senator Birch Bayh (D., IN). Senator Bayh, whose wife recently died of cancer, proposed that the waiting period for disability benefits be eliminated for persons with terminal illness (defined as illness expected to result in death within the next twelve months). The debate on this amendment was emotional, with Senator Russell Long (D., LA) leading the opposition with the usual argument that eliminating the five-month waiting period for terminally ill persons would cost the Treasury too much money. Despite the opposition of the Administration and the Finance Committee chairman, the Bayh amendment was passed by a vote of 70 to 23. 

Because of the many differences between the House- and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 3236, the bill now goes to a conference committee to try to work out the necessary compromises. It is not likely, however, that the conferees will vote to strike the negative provisions discussed above, since they were passed in generally similar terms by both houses. This is particularly true since six of the eight conferees appointed by the Senate voted against the Metzenbaum amendment. 

*****

** ACB Affiliate News 

* Connecticut Council Fall Convention 

Sixty-eight per cent of Connecticut's motorists, according to a recent survey, are not coming to a complete stop before making a right turn on a red light, as required by law. This statistic, coupled with the failure generally of Right Turn on Red to work effectively, was among the concerns addressed by the Connecticut Council of the Blind at its 1979 Fall convention held Saturday afternoon and evening, October 27, in Hartford. The convention went on record with a resolution expressing concern and urging that proper enforcement procedures for Right Turn on Red be developed and implemented by state and local authorities.

"Safety" was the theme of this one-day meeting -- safety on the streets, safety in the home, safety as provided by state and local governments through police and fire departments, and safety in times of weather emergency. 

An unusual presentation was provided by the Connecticut State Police Dog Training Unit. Trooper Douglas Lancelot traced the use of dogs by the police to 1923 in the case of German Shepherds and to 1936 for Bloodhounds. Overall, Shepherds seem to work best, according to Trooper Lancelot, for locating narcotics, detecting explosives, and tracking. He described the routine life of these dogs from puppyhood as pets in homes of volunteers, to the beginning of their training at the age of ten months. Only male dogs are used, since they are roamers and will not hesitate to search. Harnesses are used rather than collars during tracking, because a dog's sense of smell is keener without something around its neck. There has never been an instance, to Trooper Lancelot's knowledge, of a dog turning on its handler. 

At this point, Poco, a six-year-old German Shepherd, took over and stole the show, as his handler, Philip Caeron, put him through an obedience routine. Not surprisingly, the six dog guides in the room were perfect ladies and gentlemen and showed no hostility to Poco. Poco whined a little -- perhaps in greeting -- although his trainer said this was because he was anxious to do some work. 

The importance of safety in the home was stressed by Jim Salvati, a civilian employee of the State Fire Marshal's Office. Mr. Salvati cited statistics on the alarming number of children and elderly persons who die each year in home fires. Proper installation and maintenance of smoke alarms and exit plans for quick evacuation are among the common-sense precautions which should be taken as a matter of course in every home. Local fire departments, he added, want to know of homes where blind and physically handicapped persons reside. 

Charley Bagley, well-known radio and TV weather personality in the Hartford area, carried through the theme of "Safety" as banquet speaker on Saturday evening. Mr. Bagley has been in the field of meteorology for the past thirty years. The weatherman takes no holidays, he pointed out with pride, but works seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Because the weather is of such great interest and importance to the public, it is part of the job of the weatherman to write interesting forecast scripts, in language which listeners can easily understand. He pointed out safety procedures for thunder and lightning, hurricanes and tornados, stressing the importance of common sense in any weather emergency. There is no truth, he maintains, in the notion that weather patterns are changing. In conclusion, when asked for a forecast for the coming year, his reply was: "Since for the most part weather forecasting is purely guesswork, there is no way anyone can predict what the weather will be for a coming season!"

* Illinois Federation of the Blind Convention 

The 1979 convention of the Illinois Federation of the Blind contained all the usual elements of sharing and learning. The general atmosphere was made somewhat more somber than usual because of the recent death of IFB President Homer Nowatski. 

The program this year focused on "Electronic Aids and Devices to Assist the Visually Handicapped." As always when such new technologies are discussed and demonstrated, conventioneers are interested and learn a great deal. The topic was well covered by a team of four experts from the Blind Center of the Veterans Administration Hospital at Hines, who talked about reading machines, mobility equipment, and low-vision aids, as well as the Visualtek machine, which was demonstrated. 

Both of the social events -- a Friday night dance and a Saturday night banquet -- were well attended and much enjoyed. A little business was mixed with pleasure at the banquet, as the guest speaker was Richard Schrempf, newly appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Mr. Schrempf sounded a positive note in his talk concerning the benefits of working together toward common goals.

The Mary McCann Award was presented this year to Don O. Nold, retiring Editor and Publisher of Dialogue magazine. The presentation was made by Floyd Cargill. 

Newly elected officers are: President, Robert McCann, of the ACB of Metropolitan Chicago Chapter; First Vice President, M.J. Schmitt of Chicago; Second Vice President, Janet Phelps of Galesburg; re-elected as Secretary, Cassandra Hungate of Mt. Vernon; and re-elected as Treasurer, Donna Kluckman of Springfield. 

* Affiliate News from Hawaii 

In addition to news of the fourth annual convention, there is much to report about the many activities of the Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Within the family of ACB, the Aloha Council is relatively young, but as President Coletta Whitcomb gave her annual report at the October 20, 1979 convention in Honolulu, it became obvious that this dynamic organization has already managed to gain the recognition and respect of Hawaiians and others. 

Projects previously reported in The Braille Forum include the installation of audio signals at a dangerous crosswalk and the building of a much-needed sidewalk leading to the library for the blind. In addition, the Council has an active speakers bureau, and members have appeared before service clubs and on radio and TV. The group is also active in advising the Governor, the Mayor, and the Legislature on issues affecting handicapped people.

The Aloha Council is clearly an organization where alternative views are welcome and pros and cons of any issue can be intelligently discussed. Examples of this include Member Yoshiaki Nakamoto's alternative view on transportation systems (see The Braille Forum, November, 1979) and the Council's resolution concerning Hawaii's quarantine law for dog guides. This controversial law has been condemned by many, and the perspective of our Hawaii affiliate, while it may not be popular, is interesting and should be considered. Details and comments concerning this resolution and the law will be included in a future issue of The Braille Forum.

Back to news of the convention itself: Mayor Frank Fasi addressed the group and discussed many issues of interest and concern. Donald Doi, who attended the 1979 ACB national convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was named outstanding member of the Aloha Council for 1979. Other speakers included representatives from Senator Daniel K. lnoyue and Governor Ariyoshi. ACB President Oral O. Miller attended the convention and was much impressed with this affiliate on the move. The Council voted to change its name to the Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. 

*****

** Here and There
By George Card 

At its annual convention last fall, the Missouri Federation of the Blind adopted a resolution which I find very interesting. The Convention felt that the greatly increased revenue from their Kansas City Thrift Store ought to be applied to meet one of the greatest needs of some of its members, and that those needs were in the area of health care. As we all know, hospital costs have become prohibitive. As a starter, the Convention set up a fund of $10,000 which will enable those who must remain hospitalized for more than seven days to receive a substantial weekly amount. 

A recent issue of AFB's Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness records the fact that Illinois has become the first state to give its Human Services Department cabinet status. It also contains a review of an article by a Welsh physician in which he points out the extreme importance to users of contact lenses of giving their eyes frequent, and sometimes extended rest in order to avoid distortion of the cornea by long-continued pressure. 

A letter from George Burck tells me that the big New Jersey organization of the blind, which was formerly one of the few sizable affiliates remaining in the National Federation of the Blind, has decided to join the American Council of the Blind. It has delayed applying for membership, however, in the hope of first negotiating a merger with our existing New Jersey affiliate, which would seem to make good sense. The letter also contains high praise for The Braille Forum's new feature, "From the Archives." 

From The Seeing Eye Guide: Seeing Eye graduate Denise Decker received a surprise this year when she discovered that she had been named an Outstanding Young Woman of America, an award given for community service and academic and career achievement. Miss Decker, a researcher for the Agency of International Development, a branch of the State Department, received her Ph.D. in French from the University of Wisconsin and has completed her course work for a Master's degree in Spanish. She works in the agency's Office of Foreign Disasters. She has written a series of articles on human rights as related to the visually handicapped. 

From the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind Newsletter: The Sixth World Assembly of the World Council, held in Antwerp in August of last year, unanimously elected as its president for a five-year period (1979-1984) Mrs. Dorina De Gouvea Newill of Brazil. She specialized in teaching the blind and was trained at the Institute of Education in Sao Paulo and at Columbia University-New York. She speaks Portuguese, English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Her efforts have resulted in the installation of the largest braille printing press in Brazil, the setting up of the first rehabilitation center for the blind, a low-vision center, the educational and professional equipment production unit for the blind and visually handicapped, and a talking book production unit. -- During the course of a moving tribute to the late Dr. Richard Kinney, it was said, "No one has given a more effective account of the loneliness of the deaf-blind than he did." One of his two-line poems was read: "Through rain and rainbows let us walk. And pause and ponder as we talk of beauty burning like an ember that you see ... and I remember." 

The Matilda Ziegler Magazine reminds us that in Boston next June, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller will be memorialized, and that around 2500 are expected to attend. Eric Boulter, head of the British Royal National Institute for the Blind, will be the keynote speaker. The event is sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind and by other national organizations. 

From the CCB Outlook (Canada): It was all because a group of Johannesburg, South Africa children believed milk came out of a bottle -- not out of a cow. So with the aid of his little brother Ernst, who is also blind, Kallie set about putting them on the right track. The children, on a visit to the Pretoria Zoo, were suitably impressed when the little blind boy squatted down beside Meisie, a large dairy cow, and went to work. When the bucket started filling with fresh, creamy milk, their admiration turned to wonder ...

Christopher Chamberlain is a cop with a difference -- not because he is a 23-year-old bachelor who stepped directly from a job as a library typist into a world where murder, extortion, bombings, and organized crime are daily facts of life, but because he is blind. The Special Constable, Provincial Police, is the first blind man to be sworn in as a policeman in Canada, perhaps in the world. He became a member of the elite Intelligence Unit because he can hear things that people who rely on their sight cannot. 

From the AFB Newsletter: William F. Gallagher, Associate Director for Advocacy at the American Foundation for the Blind, has been named to the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. 

The ACBC Digest (California) reports that Century-Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles has special provisions for its blind guests. On registering, he/she receives a braille letter of greeting from the management. There are raised floor numbers on elevators and raised room numbers on doors. A card is handed to the blind guest showing the layout of the lobby and another that indicates the layout of the guest's room. Braille menus are also available. And when it was discovered that all blind persons do not read braille, a cassette recording was made, and on request, the blind guest is given this tape and a cassette player so he can listen to it. -- Two California agencies for the blind -- in Sacramento and in Palo Alto -- have been forced to go on a "fee for service" basis because of inadequate revenue. -- The biggest dictionary in the world is now Webster's New World Dictionary, College Edition, in braille. It runs to 72 volumes and takes up 21 feet of shelf space. -- Medical and electronic experts working together have given babies with hearing problems a better chance at a normal life. They have perfected a portable computer unit which can "read" instant brain wave responses to sound fed through earphones and detect hearing impairment as early as one day after birth. The testing device was developed by Dr. Philip Peltzman of San Francisco U.C. Medical Unit and designed into a practical, relatively inexpensive working unit by technicians of the Telephone Pioneers of America. 

The KAB Digest chronicles the selection of its two major awards which the ACB Kansas affiliate makes annually. The Eleanor Wilson Award was given to Mrs. Anne F. Card of Topeka. It is for outstanding service to the visually handicapped. The Extra Step Award was presented to Mrs. Esther Taylor of Kansas City for unique courage and successful personal rehabilitation. This item is of special interest to me because, like everyone else who has ever known her, I loved and revered Eleanor Wilson and I have not forgotten the kindness and warm hospitality I received from Esther Taylor when I was a guest speaker at a Kansas convention almost thirty years ago.

From The Braille Reporter (Washington State): Dr. William Ludlan, Associate Professor of Optometry at Pacific University, has become the first optometrist to serve on the Oregon Commission for the Blind. From the rest of the article, it is clear that his specialized knowledge is accomplishing many good things. For instance, of some 159 people examined at Pacific, some 100 have been helped substantially with the aid of low-vision optical equipment. 

The Reading Center is a cabinet designed to hold Talking Book Player Model A-77 at armchair and bed height. It has three shelves for tape player, records, tapes, or braille material. Walnut, cherry, or clear finish; mounted on casters. With molded edges, $95; with plain edges, $80. Prices quoted are for shipping anywhere in the United States. Send check or money order to John Postma, 1466 W. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49017.

Manufacturers Hanover Trust, the Baruch College Computer Center for the Visually Impaired, and the University of Manitoba are co-sponsoring a program to recruit, employ, and train totally blind braille users as computer programmers. A pool of corporations will first hire and then have their employees trained at Baruch College. Requirements for recruitment are a minimum of a high-school diploma and good braille skills and typing skills. Training will be held at Baruch College, New York City. There will be three 13-week training sessions per year. For further information, contact Jack Reid, Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Human Resources Department, 39th Floor, 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10015; phone (212) 623-6382 or 725-7644. -- It's not too early to consider participation in Baruch's summer computer literacy/evaluation program. College-acceptable students can receive three credits for the five-week course. For further information, contact Judy Gerber at (212) 725-7644.

Correction: The January "Here and There" column referred to a $5,000 loan by the Wisconsin Council of the Blind to ACB for fund-raising purposes. The amount of this loan was $10,000. Sincere apologies to the Wisconsin Council. The error occurred not in the material submitted by George Card, but in preparation of final copy in this office. -- MTB

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** 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 bimonthly 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 Editor Mary T. Ballard at the above address. 

Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to James R. Olsen, Treasurer, c/o ACB National Office, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036. 

You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The National Office has available special printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. 

Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his or her Last Will and Testament may do so by including in the Will a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you or your attorney may wish to contact the ACB National Office.

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