The Braille Forum Vol. XIX November, 1980 No. 5 U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph Addresses Twelfth Annual Meeting of Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America Blind Hunter Bags Bear with a Bow Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor ***** * National Office: Durward K. McDaniel National Representative 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 506 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 833-1251 * Editor, The Braille Forum: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 244-8364 ** Contributing Editors George Card 605 South Few Street Madison, WI 53703 Elizabeth Lennon 1315 Greenwood Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 ** 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 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 accomplishment of the blind. The Braille Forum carries official news of the American Council of the Blind and its programs. It is available for expression of views and concerns common to all blind persons. ***** ** Contents ACB Officers Report from the ACB President, Oral O. Miller The '80s -- Decade of Realism -- Decade of Challenge, by U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph ACB and RSVA Petition for New Rules Under the Randolph-Sheppard Act Arbitration Decision Made in Georgia Vending Facility Dispute, by Kathy Megivern Bagging a Bear With a Bow Can Put Hunter up a Tree ACB Convention, 1980 (Part III) From the Archives: Jest Talk, by Floyd Qualls Computerized Braille Production -- Today and Tomorrow, by Betty S. Epstein A Nostalgic Noel from GDUI Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** Report from the ACB President, Oral O. Miller By the time this issue of The Braille Forum reaches many of its readers, the northeastern leadership seminar, being conducted by the American Council of the Blind in New Haven, Connecticut, the weekend of November 14-16, 1980, will have taken place. It is expected to attract approximately 100 participants from the New England States, plus New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. All indications are that it is being very well received and that many of the affiliates are providing financial assistance in addition to the very significant subsidies being provided by ACB to the participants. The details concerning the seminar were originally distributed by way of Action Memorandum 80-04 throughout the states involved, and then each person who received a tape received an ink-print follow-up letter and registration form. Because there is a practical limit as to how many people can effectively be trained at one time, as well as very definite limits on the amount of financial assistance available, specific numbers of seminar positions or slots were assigned to each ACB affiliate. However, there will also be representatives present from states in which we do not yet have affiliates. It is quite likely that there will be an affiliate established in one of those states within the next few months. Arrangements are now under way for the far western leadership seminar, which is to take place in Oakland, California, the weekend of January 22-24, 1981. That seminar will provide leadership training for ACB members and prospective members from the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Hawaii. If another state is added to the list, its members will be notified in plenty of time for them to make arrangements to attend. Since it is impossible for ACB to pay all of the expenses of the seminar participants, I want to urge the affiliates in the listed states to start making plans now to supplement the financial assistance we will be giving the authorized participants from those states. An Action Memorandum concerning the far western seminar will probably be in the hands of state affiliate officers and others by the time they read this issue of The Braille Forum. At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of ACB Enterprises and Services, it was announced that tapes containing several humorous, but very effective public service announcements concerning the ACB Thrift Stores had been distributed to most of the radio stations in the communities where the Thrift Stores are located. The people who attended the 1980 ACB national convention in Louisville last summer heard early versions of some of those announcements. I am asking ACB members living in cities where we have Thrift Stores to let me know if they have heard the announcements and what they think of them. On the other hand, if they have not heard them, I urge them to contact their local stations to see why the announcements have not been played more often. The National Office can provide, upon request, a list of the stations which received the announcements. During September and early October, 1980, it was my pleasure to attend the state conventions of the Michigan Association of the Blind (the ACB affiliate in Michigan), and the Vermont Council of the Blind. Both featured excellent programs, outstanding hospitality, and beautiful scenery -- the beautiful northlands of Michigan and the hills and fall foliage of Vermont. As of this date (October 9, 1980), I am preparing to leave for Moscow in the Soviet Union to take part in the meeting of working groups appointed by the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and the International Federation of the Blind for the purpose of exploring and developing means of greater cooperation internationally between organizations of the blind and organizations serving the blind. While I will not be in Russia very long, and while much of the time there will be spent in meetings, I am looking forward to learning more about the environment in which the blind of Russia live and work. ***** ** The '80s -- Decade of Realism -- Decade of Challenge by U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph (Excerpts from an address before the annual conference of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, July 14, 1980, Louisville, Kentucky) It is a privilege to be participating in this twelfth annual convention of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. ... As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Handicapped, we are dedicated in a very special way to the truth "that all men are created equal." All legislation enacted by our Subcommittee has had one priority goal: to ensure that handicapped individuals have an equal opportunity to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," as do non-handicapped citizens. The Subcommittee was established in 1972. It serves to focus attention on the needs of handicapped Americans and has spearheaded new legislative programs to assist them achieve access to equal opportunities in education and employment. Subcommittee members have worked to assure that necessary supportive services are established to help severely handicapped individuals to live independently. Senator Stafford (R., VT) is especially helpful as the ranking minority member. The 1970's represented a time of optimism for handicapped Americans. Landmark legislation was passed by the Congress and signed by the President -- including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and the Rehabilitation Comprehensive Services and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978. These laws set forth that basic truth of which Thomas Jefferson spoke -- "that all men are created equal"; yet we all know the promise of those laws is yet to be realized. ... The 1973 Rehabilitation Act contained provisions of significance for all handicapped individuals. As you know, Section 504 prohibits recipients of Federal funds from discriminating against qualified handicapped individuals. This legislation was signed into law in September of 1973, but regulations to implement the section were not promulgated until May of 1977. The delay in the development of regulations had its effect. Awareness of the protections against discrimination grew slowly over the last years of the '70s. As we enter the '80s, the public has become more conscious of past and present discrimination against handicapped individuals and of the implications of such discrimination. If the promise of Section 504 is to be realized in the 1980s, it is imperative that all Americans -- handicapped and non-handicapped -- return to Thomas Jefferson for guidance. Let us seek the "certain inalienable rights" for all Americans. Let us keep in mind the fulfillment of this promise must rely on the capacity of all Americans to work innovatively, cooperatively, and efficiently. The government deriving its "just powers from the consent of the governed" must possess the cooperative and creative efforts of citizens to achieve an accessible America in a decade where application for scarce Federal dollars is highly competitive. More dollars are not necessarily the only solution for achieving an accessible and non-discriminatory America. The attitude of all citizens is the key, and the willingness and capability of citizens to develop innovative solutions for the removal of barriers will unlock doors long closed to many handicapped Americans. ... Some of you are familiar with the Senate report that accompanied the passage of the 1974 Randolph-Sheppard Amendments. I quote a few words from that report: "The Committee regards the Randolph-Sheppard Act as one of the most practical and effective employment opportunity programs ever enacted by Congress. Blind vendors return in taxes and economic activity far in excess of the initial small investment required to establish their business operations." These words express the essence of the Randolph-Sheppard program. The program has not been without its difficulties. Last year the Subcommittee held hearings to review those problems ... particularly those problems encountered with the Postal Service and Department of Defense. A number of issues raised at the hearings relating to income sharing and the priority requirement in the Act are now being reviewed by arbitration panels. This mechanism to resolve problems was established in the 1974 Amendments, and it is my hope that these difficulties will be resolved successfully in the very near future. Data from the Bureau of the Blind indicates that in 1978, the total gross income of the Randolph-Sheppard program was $2,420,725 and the total earnings of 3,931 vendors was $41,874,403. The average earnings of the vendors were $12,137. For fiscal year 1979, the Bureau of the Blind projects that the total gross income will be $224,270,000 and the average earnings will be $13,400. There were 3,960 vendors participating in the Randolph-Sheppard program in 1979. The optimism of the 1970s was reflected in Section 201(2) of the 1974 Amendments by the statement: " ... the potential exists for doubling the number of blind operators on Federal and other property within the next five years." That potential has not been realized, and the failure to reach that potential was one of the reasons why the Subcommittee held hearings in 1979. Robert Humphreys, the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration at that time, testified that "many marginal and submarginal locations that were in existence at the time the legislation passed have since closed." He noted that "one of the contributing factors in the lack of expansion of vending facilities" had been the delay in issuing regulations. According to Commissioner Humphreys, there were a number of issues relating to policies of the Department of Defense and the Postal Service which delayed implementation and the fulfillment of that promise to double the number of blind vendors within five years. The Bureau of the Blind is working to resolve these matters; arbitration panels have been convened to resolve these matters. These issues must be resolved in the 1980s; I will stay in close touch with the Bureau for the Blind to see that these issues are resolved. It is my belief that the Randolph-Sheppard program is the program of the 1980s. In a decade of realism, the vendors of the program can stand as shining examples of individualism and independence and service to others. ... The dreams and promises of the 1970s are not left behind with the old decade. Handicapped people are no longer the forgotten minority of a decade ago. The legislation of the 1970s brought the problems of handicapped Americans into full view of the public. With this awareness came a better understanding of the cost of full parity: the cost of special services, the cost of facility modification. Billions of dollars are spent annually on behalf of handicapped individuals; and this attracts the attention of the American taxpayer -- and therefore your attention as taxpayers and business men and business women. There was a time a decade ago when any appropriation of funds for services to the handicapped could be expected to pass almost automatically in both houses of Congress, because needs were so great and so little had been done. That time is past. Increased funding in the 1980s for programs serving the handicapped will require careful justification. Programs will have to demonstrate their effectiveness in order to be continued. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Handicapped, it has always been my privilege to be able to say that all the programs under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction were cost effective. And, of course, the Randolph-Sheppard program -- which is premised on the traditional American work ethic -- stands as a model of what individuals can do -- if given the opportunity. What will the words of Thomas Jefferson mean in this decade of realism for handicapped Americans? The promise of equality he spoke of is embodied in the legislation of the 1970s and can be realized. Achievement of this goal will not be easy; however, the challenges of the 1980s will be great -- not just for handicapped Americans, but for all Americans. We must all share the responsibility for creating a better America for all of us. We must be innovative. We must work cooperatively and meet our challenges, and together we can meet those challenges. You represent that indomitable spirit of America that achieves in spite of obstacles. To you, an obstacle is a challenge and a challenge is just another opportunity to prove your business acumen and your willingness to strive for the best. I salute you. You will meet the challenge of the '80s. ***** ** ACB and RSVA Petition for New Rules under the Randolph-Sheppard Act The American Council of the Blind and the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America have begun a drive to gather signatures for a petition to the Department of Education to re-issue regulations implementing the Randolph­Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974. Although final regulations were issued in March, 1977, ACB, RSVA, and others believe these rules to be so contrary to the law that they have actually hindered rather than promoted the growth of the Randolph­Sheppard program. The petition which will be filed with the Department of Education enumerates some of the specific ways in which the rules as issued fail to carry out (or in some cases are actually contrary to) the law. For the most part, the rules tend to give too much authority to the Federal agencies in control of the property and to the state licensing agencies -- authority which the statute vested in the Secretary of HEW (now the Department of Education). If the program is to grow as Congress intended, there must be uniform national standards, and this will only be accomplished if the Department of Education takes the strong leadership role envisioned for it by the 1974 Amendments. Portions of the Petition for Rule Making are reprinted below. Anyone wishing to obtain copies of this petition may do so by contacting the ACB National Office. All interested persons are urged to gather as many signatures as possible and return the petitions to the ACB National Office. In 1936, Congress enacted the Randolph-Sheppard Act which established the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program authorizing the operation of vending facilities on Federal property by blind persons. In 1974, the Amendments emphasized expanded employment opportunities for blind persons and addressed themselves to some of the problems facing the vending facility program which could not have been foreseen in 1936; e.g., competition from vending machines. In addition, in the Preamble to the 1974 Amendments, Congress found that the potential existed at that time to double the number of blind operators on Federal and other property within five years, and that such a goal should be achieved. However, according to a General Accounting Office report dated February 27, 1979, the number of blind vendors on Federal and other property increased by only 4.9% during the two-year period ending September 30, 1977. At this rate, it will take forty years to double the program from its 1974 base. More recent figures are no more hopeful. In 1978, there was a total of blind vendors on Federal property of 1,057, only 53 more persons than in 1975 and clearly far from the potential number envisaged and mandated by Congress in the 1974 Amendments. Likewise, on other property the total number for 1978 was 3,931, an increase of 121 from 1975. There are several factors involved in the failure of this program to grow and flourish as intended by Congress. In the Preamble to the 1974 Amendments, Congress found that while external forces had provided obstacles to the growth of the program, "legislative and administrative means exist to remove such obstacles." Congress enacted the legislative means to accomplish that goal and mandated the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to promulgate the administrative means. However, rather than issuing regulations which would implement the 1974 Amendments and bring about the mandated growth, HEW issued regulations which do not conform to the law and which have in fact become a major obstacle to that growth. ... The Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program is one of the finest employment programs ever enacted. Its cost to the Federal Government is minimal when compared to the benefits of providing self-sufficient, independent careers to so many visually impaired persons. If the Federal agency charged with responsibility for the program were to promulgate proper regulations, the potential recognized by Congress in the 1974 Amendments could at last be achieved. We therefore urgently petition the Secretary of Education to issue regulations which are in conformity with the law and will serve to fully implement the Randolph-Sheppard Amendments of 1974. ***** ** Arbitration Decision Made in Georgia Vending Facility Dispute By Kathy Megivern Despite the controversy over the inadequacy of the rules implementing the Randolph-Sheppard Act, there have been several arbitration panels convened pursuant to the Act and those rules in response to complaints by state licensing agencies or individual blind licensees. One of these arbitration panels has issued a decision which is especially good news for proponents of the Randolph-Sheppard program because of its aggressive interpretation of the Act. The decision comes from the State of Georgia, where the complainant was a blind licensee named Jessie Nash. Mrs. Nash operated a vending facility at the Marine Corps Supply Center in Albany, Georgia. The facts in this case involve a long series of complicated legal and administrative maneuvers, but the main issue arose when the Marine Corps terminated the permit for the operation of Mrs. Nash's facility. The state licensing agency took no action to try to keep the facility open, despite the obvious desire of Mrs. Nash to fight the closing. The case was summarized as follows by the chairperson of the arbitration panel: ''The crux of the case involved here is primarily whether or not the decisions made on the part of the state licensing agency, whether by commission or omission, violated the spirit or letter of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended, and whether or not full consideration was given the additional responsibilities and prerogatives which became incumbent upon that agency under the 1974 Amendments and the 1977 Rules and Regulations." Having framed the issue in that way, the decision goes on to find that the agency has definite affirmative responsibilities under the Act which it failed to fulfill. The State argued that the closing of one individual vending stand could not be considered a major administrative decision. The panel rejected that position, saying: "Intrinsic in the decision to acquiesce closing of this vending stand was the implicit formulation of a policy or a posture not to pursue aggressively the maintenance and extension of vending facilities on Federal property." The arbitration decision recognizes that the state has to work cooperatively with Federal agencies such as the Marine Corps, but found this to be no excuse for failing to protect the rights of its licensees. "In fact, the State was and is operating under the mandates of the Randolph-Sheppard Act and the interpretations of that Act as properly made by HEW. While the Marine Corps' position could be considered as a factor, its evaluation and interpretation of priorities under the Randolph-Sheppard Act could not be definitive and were more properly left to HEW." Another contention made by the State was that in regard to pursuing the priority for blind licensees on Federal property, state decisions are discretionary. This argument was flatly rejected by the arbitration chairperson. Proponents of the Randolph-Sheppard program who have so often heard officials at the Department of Defense raise the argument that blind-operated facilities would somehow injure our national defense will especially appreciate these words: "It is difficult for the panel chairperson to accept the contention that failure to furnish hot food for the civilian personnel on the base would be more adverse to the welfare of the United States than failure to furnish or retain priorities to several opportunities for remunerative employment for the visually handicapped." The panel also found that the State's training and upward mobility programs failed to satisfy the requirements of the Act. There was a long dissent filed by one member of the three-person arbitration panel, who believed the Act to be much more permissive than mandatory for state licensing agencies. The State of Georgia has appealed to Federal Court for review of the arbitration decision. ***** ** Bagging a Bear with a Bow Can Put Hunter Up a Tree (Reprinted from the Minneapolis Tribune, Sept. 4, 1980) For three and a half hours Tuesday afternoon, he sat in a tree stand while a large black bear moseyed around him. And eight times he raised his bow and drew an arrow. But each time the bear moved out of range. Dick Fischer wasn't surprised. His hunting luck had been like that for eight long years. A few ups and a whole bunch of downs. Plenty of anticipation matched with plenty of disappointment. Missed so many deer he'd lost count. Always shoots too low. Tried bear hunting with a bow for two seasons previous. Same story. No bear. Not even a chance. And when it rains ... Well, life itself has sort of poured down on Fischer, 45. Got fired from his teaching job about seven years ago for reasons he couldn't agree with. So he took his case to court. He finally won, too, last year, when the court ordered the school board to give him his job back along with his back pay. He took the pay but not the job. When you've got a wife and four kids, you can't wait for court decisions. He opened a small archery shop in his home in Merrillan, Wisconsin, and got into a few other deals. Ended up making more money a year than the teaching job paid. If anything, he's learned not to give up. Sometimes he's wanted to, but giving up wasn't Fisher's style. Which explains why, for a third time Tuesday, Fischer was on hand for the opening of Minnesota's black bear hunting season. Rifles are legal, but he is a die-hard archer. Been hunting with a bow and arrow for years. Before sunrise on opening day, Fischer and his hunting companion, Kim Loomis, left Ron Carlson's archery hunting camp on Crooked Lake, east of Tofte, Minnesota, and headed for their tree stand. They replenished the bait, meat scraps, and climbed into their perch. By late morning, no bear had come by, so the two went back to camp for lunch. They returned to the tree around 2:00 P.M. "A bear had come into the bait while we were gone," Fischer said Wednesday. "But I was confident it would come back." So the two climbed into the tree to wait. At 3:20, the usual forest sounds were interrupted by the flat­footed shuffling of a bear. It was good sized, 150 pounds or better. It circled the bait and Fischer's hiding place and moved in. Fischer drew the bow. "Wait," whispered Loomis, who shared the tree loft with Fischer. The bear moved again. And again Fischer readied the bow but didn't shoot. "Finally the bear left," said Fischer. "We waited for another 45 minutes before it showed up again. It came in for a medium shot, but I didn't take it. I didn't want to shoot until I was sure." Suddenly the bear presented the right shot. "Aim right, aim left, release," Loomis whispered. "I heard the arrow hit," said Fischer. "The bear only went about 25 yards. We waited until everything was quiet before we climbed down. But we both were shaking so much we almost fell out of the tree. "I was just bananas. I knew I had my bear. But, I guess, we were too chicken to go look right away. We went back to camp to get some help." It was dark when Fischer returned to find his bear. But he didn't mind. Fischer, a victim of diabetes, has been totally blind for the last eight years. (Editor's Note: When Dick Fischer lost his sight in 1971, the school district where he had been working as a high-school teacher for a number of years refused to renew his contract on grounds that because of his blindness, he could not perform his former duties. The story of his eight-year fight through the courts and of his eventual victory appeared in "Report from the ACB President," The Braille Forum, January, 1980. In submitting the article reprinted above, Mr. Fischer wrote: "Perhaps some of the readers of The Braille Forum will find life more enjoyable in realizing that the loss of sight is not a factor in determining what your life can amount to. I am now concentrating on hunting of the white-tailed deer as our Wisconsin season opens. Our lives are much more pleasant since our school case is settled and people are more and more realizing that there is a place in this world for the handicapped.") ***** ** ACB Convention, 1980 (Part III) The formal program is the meat of any convention, and the program of the 1980 convention of the American Council of the Blind was prime quality all the way. From collective bargaining to accreditation and service delivery, from technology to education to transportation, presentations addressed concerns not only of ACB members, but of blind and visually impaired persons generally throughout the country. Much attention has been given over the past couple of years to the general area of collective bargaining as it relates to the handicapped, and more specifically as it relates to blind workers in sheltered workshops. However, much of what has been written and said has reflected a definite a definite philosophy or a definite organizational point of view. "Collective Bargaining for the Handicapped in Sheltered Workshops" was the topic of a presentation by Herbert L. Segal, Esq., of the Louisville law firm of Segal, Isenberg, Sales and Stewart. Over the past year, Mr. Segal has been involved in assisting workers at the Kentucky Industries for the Blind in obtaining the rights, privileges, and benefits to which all workers are entitled. Putting his role and his own philosophy into perspective, he stated at the outset: "The thirty years in which I have had the privilege of representing men and women in labor relations matters and unions covers primarily the private and public sectors. It is only within the past year that I have had the privilege of working in this field of the sheltered workshop employees ... (T)he basic thesis that collective bargaining is beneficial for employees stands the same, and really unchallenged, whether it's in the private sector or the public sector or in the sheltered workshop sector." He related the history of his representation of the sheltered workshop employees of Kentucky Industries for the Blind — the conditions which existed initially, the negotiations with representatives of KIB, and the settlement agreement reached after two weeks of talks. That settlement agreement contained three basic points: (1) that all laid-off part-time employees would return to work; (2) that the Federal minimum wage would be paid; (3) that an impartial panel, including representatives of the workshop employees, would continue to meet until a statement of policy covering wages, hours, and working conditions was agreed to and put in writing and/or on tape so that every employee could know what was expected of him or her and what in turn could be expected from KIB. "Why should there be a different set of rules or working conditions for a disabled employee from those working in the private or public sector?" he asked, in conclusion. "... (I)f this is the decade of the disabled employees, and I believe that it will be, collective bargaining for these employees should be in the forefront of your goals. When you have effective bargaining, you will no longer be second-class employees." In "Library Service Update," Mary Jack (Jackie) Wintle, Assistant Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, spoke concerning current and future programs and plans to NLS. Commenting upon the effects of tight budgeting on the entire program, she indicated that through 1982, no additional funds are anticipated through Congress. The impact of this belt-tightening means that NLS will be doing the same things, but doing them more efficiently in order to maintain the same level of service. She indicated that the newly developed "Standards for Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped" will begin to affect NLS within the next year. These comprehensive guidelines cover all aspects of library service -- staffing, space, how to respond to readers, etc. The Standards are being put into braille and recorded form and will soon be available from the regional libraries. A computerized central mailing list is now being developed, and ultimately only one notification will be necessary for changes of address on all NLS direct circulation magazines distributed through the network libraries. Recent statistics show that approximately 1.5% of the population would be eligible for NLS service to the blind, visually impaired, and physically handicapped. Fifty percent of those now served are over 65 years of age; approximately 85% to 90% are blind or visually impaired, as opposed to 10% to 15% physically handicapped. In the area of equipment, three paperless braille machines -- Elinfa's Digicassette, the Braillo­cord from West Germany, and Telesensory Systems, Inc.'s Versa Braille -- are currently being evaluated to determine reader reaction to this possible alternative to paper braille. NLS is moving ahead with 55 prototype test units of a combination cassette/record player. It is anticipated that in the future, books will be recorded on cassette, magazines on flexible disc. An added feature which has delayed the cassette/record player is the inclusion of an automatic side changer for cassettes. A simplified cassette player with minimal controls is also under development for older persons. Sales are increasing of a special model of the NLS cassette player adapted for overseas use. As this trend develops, there is almost unlimited potential for increased foreign language materials available through international inter-library loan. Three aspects of educating the blind were examined in depth. Will D. Evans, Superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Blind, is one of the very few visually impaired residential school superintendents in the country. He attended the Kentucky School for the Blind and Atherton High School in Louisville under an early form of cooperative mainstreaming. "One might hear that the residential school for the blind is dead," he began, "but I would like to tell you that it is not. We certainly do not rest on our laurels of what has happened in the past ... We must become aggressive at the schools to look for new ways to serve the visually impaired students that we are charged to serve." He pointed out a recent American Foundation for the Blind study which concluded that there is no one specific role for the residential school: It has many roles, depending upon location, organization of the school, and organization within the state. "No longer can the residential school stand by itself, pulling students one direction while local school districts and others pull them in other directions. We must work together." Mr. Evans went on to outline the functions of the Kentucky School for the Blind in this cooperative effort. The school provides student evaluations for local educational agencies. It shares materials, serves as a resource consultant for IEP (individual education plan) meetings. It works with the local school districts in developing the educational plan for each child. These are reviewed annually, involving families in development of the plan for their children. Each time it is determined whether or not KSB is the most appropriate place for that student to be educated. Pre-school conferences are held where families attend the school for a weekend to learn skills needed to work with their children. This provides an opportunity for state department personnel and others to assist families in knowing what their rights are so that KSB can serve as a standard for them to judge the quality of programs in their local school districts. "Whether or not mainstreaming is a success depends upon the individual student. Students' needs differ from student to student and from time to time. … It seems to be that the bottom line is quality program. ... 'Least restrictive environment' is not a geographical question or a question of education with non-handicapped students. It's merely a question of where can the job get done." "Cooperative Education, a 90-Day Free Trial of Your New Career" was the title of a presentation by Dr. Judith M. Dixon, Cooperative Education Coordinator, La Guardia Community College, Long Island City, New York. At La Guardia, all students receive academic credit for three required cooperative education internship experiences which are part of their college program. Who cooperates? Over 300 employers in manufacturing, banking, social services, government ... Currently, there are 49 disabled students in a student body of about 6,000. It is Dr. Dixon's conviction that every one of the 550 internship positions is appropriate for some student with a disability. She has conducted staff training through workshops on legislation, accommodation to employment, accessibility of various kinds, how to overcome attitudinal barriers, etc. A major problem is that disabled students typically have less employment experience in their background. However, the internships do provide an opportunity for on-the-job testing, without a long­term commitment on the part of either the employer or the student. Dr. Dixon cited two major problems: (1) the reluctance of employers to purchase equipment or make modifications for a thirteen­week experience; and (2) concern for Social Security, since many students do receive benefits and the internship experience counts against an individual's allotted nine months of trial work experience. The subject of current trends in the placement of blind job applicants was discussed by Marvin Price, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Division of Services for the Blind, State of Indiana. He shared with the audience some of his personal views concerning the fundamental process of delivery of quality services to blind and visually impaired clients as they experience the transition to obtain, retain, or prepare for employment. Effective placement of blind and visually impaired clients depends upon three factors: (1) appropriate restoration -- medical treatment to increase the individual's functional capacity, if at all possible; (2) adjustment -- learning to cope and effectively deal with blindness; (3) preparation -- training at whatever level is necessary for employment. How does one decide what type and how much education to pursue? Mr. Price outlined procedures which he has developed for evaluating readiness for employment or the need for further training. Once you know your qualifications, he stated, you are ready to derive the full benefit from your potential capacity. Belief in, knowledge of, and enthusiasm for the product are essential client advocacy factors, according to Mr. Price. The greatest product in the world to sell is human capability -- a qualified blind or visually impaired worker -- one who through education and training is qualified to perform a specific job in a safe, productive manner for a reasonable period of time. U.S. Labor Department statistics predict that by 1985 one out of every two jobs will be white­collar jobs, and this is an area where qualified blind persons can work effectively. In "Innovations in Technical Aids," Mr. T. V. (Tim) Cranmer outlined some of the basic consequences resulting when a person is born blind or becomes blind later in life. Mr. Cranmer, who is well known for his work with the abacus and who last year received his doctorate from the University of Louisville in applied sciences, is Director, Division of Technical Services, Bureau for the Blind, Commonwealth of Kentucky. He cited three specific problem areas and the implications that technical aids have for each: (1) social attitudes -- the attitudes of other people toward the blind; (2) mobility -- the ability to move about freely and unaided within the environment; and (3) communications -- the ability to fit into a world primarily oriented to print communication. In the social area, although the past attitude of custodialism has given way today to acceptance and that blind people are productive members of society, there is still a middle group which has not made that transition in attitude. It is in this area, perhaps, that technology has the least real impact. Although a number of mobility aids have been developed over the past several years, none have gained any real acceptance. This is largely because they require an excessive learning period and an altogether unreasonable effort to interpret on the part of the traveler. Mr. Cranmer discussed a project involving a commitment of millions of dollars backed by the Japanese government to incorporate laser beams and microcomputers into what is being called a usable "robot guide for the blind." Sensors would detect steps, obstacles to either side, overhangs, and so on, to be communicated to the traveler by specific signals rather than by the beeps and buzzers of existing mobility devices. In this country, efforts are under way at the Naval Underwater Research Laboratory to develop a "sound of origin" travel aid which when a button is pushed would cause objects to emit a sound so that they could be located. A sighted guide can direct a traveler with a very limited vocabulary. Scientists are now working on travel aids which will have a spoken-word output. In the area of communications, efforts center on overcoming the print barrier. Specifically Mr. Cranmer mentioned the talking telephone directory, the talking form writer, and the rapidly expanding field of speech recognition devices. "This is the best possible time for consumer groups, collectively as a whole and individually," he urged, "to exert some influence on the direction of the development of things available to us in this decade." There is sometimes a tendency to feel that transportation accessibility is of most concern to those with handicaps other than blindness. However, the American Council is deeply committed to the coalition movement, and it is by virtue of that involvement, as well as on its own merits, that transportation is of special concern. In "Transportation for All the People," Dr. Ira Laster, Senior Program Coordinator, Office of Environment and Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation, emphasized the concern of his department to make transportation more accessible to able-bodied persons as well as those with disabilities. He outlined how the Department came into being, in order to show how it works; spoke of the mission of the Department with respect to public transportation; of the Department's efforts to implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibiting discrimination against handicapped persons in Federally assisted programs. He stated the primary focus of the Department is on the development of a national transpor­tation plan and program that is conducive to provision of fast, safe, and convenient transportation. He spoke at some length concerning the controversy over main line versus special door-to-door (demand responsive) transportation and of the fear that many persons have of losing the alternative of this special transportation service. He pointed out the various shortcomings of the specialized services — they are limited in scope, not going where people want to go when they want to go; costs are often not comparable to those of main-line transportation; in most cases, priorities are set, e.g., trips to and from work or for medical appointments take priority over recreation or general purpose trips. He reiterated the Administration's opposition to the Cleveland and Zorinsky amendments and concluded: "We feel that we should move forward in making existing public transportation available to and usable by persons who are disabled." Dr. Betty Bird, Director, Services for the Print Handicapped, National Public Radio, spoke on "The Sound of the Future -- Radio Service for the Print Handicapped." Dr. Bird was hired to implement a service that would produce programming of interest to print handicapped persons. One such assignment was to create a news magazine show -- a collection of short program pieces, either hard news or feature type articles. This program, "Let's Hear It," began in March, 1980, and is being transmitted via satellite to 230 NPR member stations and 42 radio information services. Dr. Bird stressed two aims of the Service for the Print Handicapped programming: (1) to create programming that public radio stations and reading services can use to inform listeners; and (2) to create programming that the media will listen to and pick up on, to encourage general media coverage about handicapped issues and people. An engineer has been hired to staff a mobile laboratory with about $40,000 worth of sophisticated testing and monitoring equipment to be used to help stations and SCA's to align transmitters appropriately. And what of the future? "You must be in the right place at the right time in order to make an impact ... If you're not at the subcommittee hearing or on the floor of the House or wherever the decision is being made, at the time the decision is being made, you can't have an impact on it ... The only way that you can be there on the spot, on time, is to know that it's happening, and that's where media can help you — that's where NPR's Service for the Print Handicapped can help you." Over the years, it has been the policy of the American Council of the Blind to support accreditation, and particularly the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. This support has taken various forms, such as participation on NAC's Board of Directors and on key committees. "NAC: What It Is and Why It Is Important" was the title of a presentation by Dr. Otis Stephens, President of the National Accreditation Council. Dr. Stephens, a member of the ACB Board of Directors, also formerly served as chairman of NAC's Commission on Accreditation. He traced the development of the concept of accreditation in work for the blind from the COMSTAC Report, which recognized that something had to be done to improve the quality of services for blind persons, to the establishment in 1967 of the National Accreditation Council. NAC currently has a staff of twelve administrative and clerical personnel, two of whom are blind. He described the structure and function of the organization and outlined the steps in the accreditation process. NAC's 25 sets of standards cover every aspect of an agency's operation. Currently NAC has accredited 84 agencies, or a little better than 20% of the potentially accreditable agencies in the country. He spoke of the problems the organization has had to confront with regard to opposition from the National Federation of the Blind and stated that, admittedly, this has contributed in large degree to the slow growth of accreditation. NAC's position, he emphasized, has always been to look at criticisms leveled against it, and where those criticisms have been valid, as in a few instances they have been, to attempt to make change. "However, the sweeping condemnation of the National Accreditation Council by the National Federation of the Blind has not been supported by factual evidence as far as we can determine." "My feeling as an active member of NAC, serving first on the Committee on Accreditation and now as the presiding officer, is that NAC has had a significant impact and that its impact is becoming greater as consumer participation becomes a more important dimension of NAC's work ... Clearly, NAC cannot survive if it is not in fact making a difference in the field, if it is not in fact providing the kind of review and assessment which brings about better services ... We need to have more insistence by consumers that the agencies which serve them go through this process, and we also need to have expressions of your interest in taking part in NAC's work." ***** ** From the Archives The NFB civil war had its lighter moments, and not all of these were in "the bedrooms and the corridors." The rebels sang the ballad of Tom Dooley as they walked from the La Fonda to the hall in Santa Fe where the "hangings" took place. If you have heard any of the recording of the Miami convention you know that many in the audience found the proceedings matter for laughter. One of the memorable events at Kansas City was the attempt of the sergeant-at-arms to eject Bob McMullen from the floor. And there was the "two Johns in the Washington office" remark which brought down the house in Santa Fe. Etc. Humor in the written record is rare, however, and the only serious practitioner was Floyd Qualls. He made his debut as a satirist early in 1958 with a widely circulated letter in which he said that the "Card" amendment did not go far enough, that the Executive Committee should be abolished altogether as "a constant menace to the organization's President." His closing sentence was: "May we ever keep a watchful eye on the paternalistic caretakers in agencies and among professionals, and always move as one behind our own great shepherd." He was astounded, as his models Defoe and Swift had been, when some readers took him seriously. The two "Jest Talk" pieces which follow appeared at crucial times in the struggle. The first foreshadowed the Santa Fe debacle. The second came after the tide had turned with the Miami convention and the defection of George Card to the side of the new majority. Some portions of these articles have been omitted because of space limitations. * Jest Talk By Floyd Qualls (Reprinted from The Federation Free Press, June 1959) Tother day Im a settin on a cypress knee down by Choctaw Creek jest a whittlin an cogitatin when long comes Borderline Lee. Now Borderline aint knowed fer bein the smartest citizen in this here holler, but he paws out a bit uv braille an, when his nose is set at bout a 45 degree, he can spell out type sized printin. "Lo, Borderline," I says. "Lo, Iggie," says he. "What ye doin?" "Nothin, jest a settin an a whittlin. Studyin some on this Special Edition of the April Monitor. You reat it?" "Yow," he said. "This Marie an Mac shore must be a couple uv vipers in thu bosom," says I, "goin round sasinatin characters an things. An all them others too whats gettin led round by the nose; Bob, an Earl, an Archie, an Brad, an all them folks. I thot us Federationers wuz thinkers fer ourselves an couldn't be led by the nose by nobody er agencies neither." "Yow, looks your right," says Broderline. "Leastwise they pear not to be mungst Chick's favored few. Sort uv a shame, too. I mind thu time when practical ever one uv um wuz wearin a halo, an a sproutin wings." Borderline set a few minutes a chewin on a stem uv swamp grass, then he went on. "Course it looks sorta to be like Chick an Ken done a fair job uv character sasinatin therselves in this Special Edition. I kep a lookin all the way thru fer why it is sech a crime fer lected folks to serve on thu resolutions an nominatin committees. But I didnt see nuthin; ner I didnt see nuthin sayin why its sech a crime to object to turnin thu organization's treasury over to the president to spend as he see fit -- hundred an twenty-five, maybe hundred an fifty thousand dollars a year I reckon. ... Jest see that snakes in thu grass these folks is what disagree. Seems sort uv funny, they all went down thu crick thu same way. Archie, Earl, and Dave gits a difernt notion, so they git fired. Which is all right, I reckon. Bob, Brad, Marie, and Mac, they git a difrent notion, an they git tanned -- at company xpense, too." "But see here, Borderline," I says, "these bushwhackers is been goin round tryin to sell ther thinkin to loyal Federationers. If you goin to have harmony, ye jest cant have argiments." ..... "Borderline," says I, "what you think bout Bob an Fogarty an em folks out in Californy workin fer agencies an passin therselves off fer good Federationers?" says I, shiftin the talk a bit. "That's purty stinky, aint it?" "Yow," Borderline says. "Them agencies er purty nasty. They wont low a feller to think fer hisself, an they aint toleratin no criticizin frum nobody. But Im kinda confused, Iggie," says Borderline, "Al Jenkins, Perry Sundquist, an that feller Muzzy er all agency folks, an I reckon they all got Chick's blessin — right now, anyway. Course I guess it aint so much which end uv a skunk your lookin at, as it is which way the wind is frum." "What wuz this you said bout Mac wearin a halo?" I asked. "Oh, yow," says Borderline, "I mind back in 40 I reckon it wuz, Mac gets sold on the Federation. He sold it to thu Oklahoma folks. Wernt a easy job, but Mac's persistent. In the late 40's an early 50's, Mac wore a halo, sprouted little wings, an set on thu right hand uv thu throne. An ye know, Iggie, that aint a bad place fer a feller to be when he's got ambitions. Mac's purty stupid, I guess, otherwise he would uv knowed better than to hazard his ambitions by gittin hisself kicked out uv sech a good spot in Chick's good graces. ... Seems sort uv funny, a feller as smart as Chick would take so long to recognize a jerk. Took thirty years fer him to find out bout Bob; ten or eleven on Archie an Mac; four er five, I reckon, on Brad an Dave Cobb; but only two or three on Marie an Scharry. Course, you gotta keep in mind, Chick's a patient man." "I reckon they goin to hang Marie an Mac at Santa Fe, aint they? Leastwise, that's what it sounds like the readers say." I figgered this ud fetch Borderline up, but it didn't. He jest stretched, shifted his settin, and said, "Probly will. Course you cant keep a dog frum barkin jest by puttin him outside thu yard fence. Sides, I didnt see nobody's name on them 'Hang um' statements. Couldnt be Chick an Ken wuz plantin a idee?" * Jest Talk By Floyd Qualls (Reprinted from The Braille Free Press, December 1960) "Lo, Iggie," says Borderline. "What's new?" "Nothin," says me. "Leastwise nothin much. What's a prodin you?" "Oh, nothin, jest been a readin the Monitor sum. Peers like some­uns chunked a yeller jacket's nest an one uv thu criters is got up Jake's briches leg. Leastwise he peers to be hoppin round a rat smart these days." "What je mean, Borderline?" says me. "Well, seems like he tried to splain that Miami Convulsion in thu August Monitor, an it didnt go down too good. So, he's splainin it agin ever month since then." "Borderline," says me. "I read um. He's jest a sayin how them disgrunters, McDaniel factioners, and Free Pressers got therselves spended." "They didnt spend no disgrunters, Free Pressers, or factioners in Miami," says Borderline. "They spends filiates uv N.F.B -- six uv um, and Jake is a jittery as a sinner in Sunday School. Jake's been tryin mighty hard to find sumpin to splain what them filiates done to get hung fer, but peers to be the plowin been purty rockey. ..." "Woe up, now. Woe up," I says. "In this here September Monitor, Jake says these states dangered thu fund raisin; been agin NFB legislation, an in so doin, they've fretted Congress at us; they've fit agin organizin, puned reputations uv elected officers to keep us frum gittin pinted to public service. All six uv um has fetched on the 'larmin instability.' Jake says they all guilty uv all this stuff an even more, maybe." "Yeah he said it," grees Borderline. "But like I allus say, a feller chawin tubacker orten to spit into thu wind. In practical thu same snort wher Jake says these filiates is guilty uv all this stuff, he says thu convention at Miami twernt prosecutin nobody fer crimin. Thu delegates werent spellin filiates fer what they done. They got no tensions to punish nobody fer what they'ud done. Them six filiates, says Jake, wuz spended fer what they gonna do in the future. Sorta like plowin under yer cotton crop in June so as to keep thu weeds from gittin it in July. Come pickin time ye aint got no cotton, but you got a heap purtier crop of weeds." ***** "Iggie," goes on Borderline, "Ye see wher Walter McDonald and Dave Krause it got to bein McDaniel factioners? Wunder how that come bout. Walter, like Brad, Archie, an even Mac wuz simon pure in his day -- up to Santa Fe, leastwise. But when thu filiates only got a half year pay in Santa Fe, Walter axed why. He gits a quick whif uv thu bookkeepin an lows, out loud, thu money aint thar. Aint been stole, jest been spent summers else. In Boston an in Santa Fe, too, Dave is a climbin up thu golden ladder. He's rompin round thu contry sayin 'Bow to Berkeley an be blessed.' Alma too, She's a flutter round readin rishusness into ever action. Iggie, how come these folks is factioners now? They aint tended no McDaniel mesmerisin meetins. Shorely they aint been impurified by that Free Press outfit. Them an ther sheet dont do nothin but sasinate caracters uv saints like Walter, Dave, an Alma -- saints like they wuz, I mean. No, Iggie, peers to me them folks got religion rat at thu execk board which'n they wuz elevated to like wuz Marie, wonst. That execk board peers to be a powerful movin morners bench. Twuz thru its doins, er not doins, that Mac, Marie, Walter, Dave, an Alma all started seein thu light. George, George Card wuz wunst on it, an now, even he's fell from grace. That's sorta like thu Lord throwin out thu Angel Gabriel. But, if'n ye dont witness fer Jacobus, ye git cast down mongst thu factioners." "Borderline, I aint never afore seed you in sech a speechin mood. What's come on to ye?" "This here stuff is sorta got a bur under my saddle blanket," says Borderline. "Ken lows at Miami he's plum frustrated, he's plum put out with folks in thu Federation what's disagreein with him an Jake. He lows he aint gonna officer no more. Sides, he's too busy. He's a workin frum afore daylight to atter sun. Lows he's got more Iowa Commission plowin to do than he'll git dun afore frost. So, he takes over thu Monitor to editor when George gits dropped. He lows how when he got in thu N.F.B. it wuz a smooth runnin outfit. Everbody wuz happy an a pullin togither. But now, says he, its a mess. He never pinted out as how Mac an thu rest uv that spended Oklahoma filiate wuz dun in N.F.B. fer six years when he got thar. Now if'n it wuz a goin smooth when he got thar --." ***** "Borderline, yer shore ferrin a mess uv stuff," says I. "Since thu constitution is been mended to low fer hangin uv folks one at a time, ye jest might be headin fer it yerself." "Could be," says Borderline, "could be." "Ken says in Miami they'll throw out filiates till they git harmony. Even if'n it means gittin rid uv twelve or fifteen. So, who goes twixt now an Kansas City? Who goes at Kansas City? …" Borderline peered to cam down a bit, then duded by sayin, "Well, maybe everthin's gonna be all right cause I heered Ray Penix soundin thu pitch, an Russ Kletzing leadin thu congregation in singin, 'Take my hand Preshus Lord, lead me home.'" ***** ** Computerized Braille Production -- Today and Tomorrow By Betty S. Epstein (Reprinted from the Bulletin of the National Braille Association) (Mrs. Epstein is Immediate Past President of the National Braille Association and is NBA 's represen­tative on the Board of Directors of the Braille Authority of North America. She attended the London conference in the spring of 1979 as BANA's representative.) The Royal National Institute for the Blind hosted an international conference on Computerized Braille Production -- Today and Tomorrow in London from May 29 through June 1. It was the first conference of its kind to be held under the aegis of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. Aims of the Committee are to obtain international cooperation for the development of computerized braille production facilities and to encourage cost-effective use of technology for braille production. Committee objectives are: 1) to maintain an international directory of people and organizations involved or interested in computerized braille production; 2) to maintain a center for the collection and dissemination of information about current production activities and future plans; 3) to hold international meetings to help achieve the aims. The 129 participants from eighteen countries were individuals responsible for the development, direction and management of computerized braille production systems, those planning to embark on such systems, system analysts, designers and programmers or researchers. Papers were presented in English, French or German. Simultaneous translation was provided. Papers covered two general areas: (1) the current use of computers in the production of braille -- the types of systems in use, the impact they have made, the lessons which have been learned, future enhancements. (2) the latest research work around the world affecting braille translation and embossed paper production and the use of computers and other media for the blind, e.g., magnetic tape, dynamic displays, synthetic speech. An exhibition and demonstration of various computers and equipment was held concurrently with the conference. The need for computerized braille production was established at the outset. Braille presses are finding it too difficult to recruit, train, and retain enough stereotype operators (press braille transcribers) to keep up with the demand for braille. Literary braille has been the target for the bulk of computerized production. While computer systems allow for increased output and time saving, they are not less expensive. During the first two days of the conference, the current state of computerized braille was discussed, its tribulations and its triumphs. The greatest problem for producers is contracted braille itself. Present codes are well endowed with rules, many of which require decision-making by the transcriber — human or machine. Some of the necessary decisions have proved to be just too much for the unaided computer. It has not yet learned how to hyphenate at the end of a line and properly contract; so it does not hyphenate. Exceptions to rules have been most troublesome, e.g., when NOT to connect a and the contractions and, for, of, the, and with or when NOT to connect the contractions to, into and by to the words which follow them. If you are thinking that problems of this sort are peculiar to English braille, think again. Speaker after speaker from country after country noted similar difficulties encountered in his country's literary braille code. It was apparent that most computer people have put a great deal of effort into trying to maintain high standards in their end products. They described in detail their methods of overcoming difficulties. In addition to using the computer's memory bank, often pre-editing and/ or proofreading are done. These steps require human intervention and are costly in time and money. Some countries are, or are considering, reviewing their braille codes with an eye to making them more computer-compatible and preserving or improving legibility for the braille reader (see "BANA Modifies Braille Rules," The Braille Forum, July, 1980). If a literary braille code can be devised which can be used by the computer without human intervention, then we can look for more affordable computer-produced braille. "Fast braille" was reported upon. It is not intended for complete books, usually for twenty pages or less. It was produced by the computer without human intervention for individuals who wanted copies of reports, lectures, notes, etc. Transcription was completed within two days of receipt of the print copy. The reporter did not claim that it was absolutely perfect, only that it was quite readable and was well received by the recipients. It answers a need. No mention of cost was made. Paperless Braille. -- There was a great deal of enthusiasm shown for paperless braille. It is possible that in the future we may see a decline in the use of paper for carrying braille from the producer to the user and an increase in magnetic tape, floppy or video discs, etc., coupled with refreshable tactile displays (paperless braille). In one presentation, a complete paperless braille English-Japanese dictionary was described. It would have been seventy-one traditional braille volumes. The speaker suggested that blind students are not apt to house and use paper braille dictionaries of this size because of the storage space required and the difficulty in locating and handling the proper volume. ... There has been talk of using compositor tapes for the production of computerized braille for a few years. These are the tapes that print publishers use. … It is anticipated that in time this will be the procedure for embossing all periodicals done for NLS. Exposure to the world of the computer is often upsetting to the volunteer transcriber. (Work is being done in audio and large print as well as braille.) Some feel that their transcribing days are few and numbered -- that computers will take over. This may very well be true for the "sometimes transcriber" who produces more and better braille talk than braille pages. Dedicated transcribers who meet deadlines and turn in good braille (especially those who are into special codes and formats such as textbook, music, mathematics and foreign language) should have no fear. Computers have moved into braille because they have certain capabilities and they are needed. They are meeting deadlines which wouldn't have been possible otherwise, but they and their output are expensive. No conference speaker claimed that his product was cost-effective. Computers haven't conquered the literary code, let alone the technical codes and formats. They still have some problems to solve, and there is still need for more good, volunteer transcribers of special formats and technical braille. ***** ** A Nostalgic Noel from GDUI Guide Dog Users, Inc., announces an introductory offer of old-time radio Christmas shows. For $3 per cassette, GDUI offers a selection of twelve of the best nostalgic Christmas shows, including, for example, "A Christmas Carol," with Lionel Barrymore, Jack Benny Christmas Show, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Amos and Andy. The complete set is yours for $30. This will be an ongoing project, and GDUI plans to offer collectable selections each month. For a complete listing of current selections and information on future selections, write GDUI Oldtime Radio Offering, 1201 S. Courthouse Road, Suite 823, Arlington, VA 22204. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon A recent issue of the newsletter of Indianapolis Life Insurance Company features an article on ACB of Indiana and VISTA president, Pat Price. The article reads in part as follows: "Legally blind since 1945, Pat completed her high-school education, continued to participate in numerous activities, and has been employed in the insurance industry for a number of years. ... Pat participates in a variety of professional insurance organizations. She has held a number of offices in the Life Insurance Women's Association of Indianapolis, where she served as president for one and a half years. Treasurer of the Indiana Policyholders Service Association for two years, she is former membership chairman and board member of the Indiana Health Insurance Claims Association ... A veteran of the insurance industry, Pat left a position as office manager for National Life of Vermont to join ILICo as a supervisor in 1972 ... Pat is known as an inspiration to all who work with her, and Indianapolis Life is proud to extend congratulations to this remarkable employee ... " The Pony Express Association, the St. Joseph chapter of the Missouri Federation of the Blind, reports that they are having "an extraordinary happening in December." Their chapter president, Elsie Roberts, and her husband Leonard are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married on December 23, 1920, in St. Joseph. Elsie worked until she lost her sight in 1956, when both she and Leonard became interested and active in work for the blind. She has been a three-term president of Pony Express, and both she and Leonard have worked hard for the blind of northwest Missouri. Innovative methods of indicating to blind people when it is safe to cross the street are being used in various parts of the world. The "cheep-cheep" and "coo-coo" at an intersection in Cupertino, California, aren't designed to fool ardent bird watchers, according to an article in The Missouri Chronicle. The electronic bird sounds that come from the traffic lights help blind pedestrians to know when the lights are green. The "coo-coo" means there is a green light for an east-west direction; the "cheep­cheep" tells the blind pedestrian that the north-south crossing is safe. The bird sounds were installed after area residents complained that a fire bell used to assist the blind was too loud. In Focus on ACB of Indiana, Dr. Henry Hofstetter writes from Fukuoka, Japan: "On some of the busier street corners in the busier part of this very modern Japanese city are small, but highly directional 'bull-horn' type public address speakers, used on the same posts as the Japanese equivalent of 'Walk' and 'Don't Walk' signs. When the 'Walk' sign flashes, the green silhouette of a transilluminated walking pedestrian appears, and the musical strains of 'Comin' Through the Rye,' 'Danny Boy,' or another familiar tune are heard. Just prior to the flashing of the red transilluminated silhouette of a non-walking pedestrian, the music stops quite abruptly." Irvin P. Schloss has been chosen as one of twelve outstanding leaders in the field of rehabilitation in the country. The selection was made by the past presidents of 23 national organizations concerned with the disabled, as part of an ongoing research project on leadership in the rehabilitation community. Mr. Schloss's "contributions to the improvement of the quality of life for this nation's visually handicapped and knowledge of legislation affecting this population" were cited as evidence of his outstanding leadership. Currently Mr. Schloss is Director of Governmental Relations for the American Foundation for the Blind, with his office in Washington, D.C. The selection of leaders in rehabilitation is the first phase of the research project, which is sponsored jointly by the Mary E. Switzer Memorial Fund and the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The second phase involves interviewing each of the twelve leaders chosen and, from the data obtained from those interviews, developing hypotheses related to leadership behavior and recommendations for leadership training in rehabilitation. A London, England, tour operator, Norman Wilkes Tours, has prepared a series of six group tours for handicapped travelers, their families and friends. These two- and three-week tours will start in April, 1981, and operate through the year. Included are visits to such famous gardens as Kew, Hidcote and Arley Hall; Blenheim Palace, Leeds Castle, and Wilton House; Canterbury, Salisbury, and Winchester Cathedrals. Stay in London, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Chester, and Edinburgh hotels. Enjoy some of Britain's finest theaters and musical centers. Each tour is personalized and offers unique special events that are not typical of most "package tours." Further details and brochures are available from Norman Wilkes Tours, P.O. Box 616, Indian Hills, CO 80454. Visually impaired persons are invited to participate in a national survey to determine the best application of computers for providing materials and information to those with sight limitations. The survey data will be obtained through short telephone interviews lasting fifteen minutes or less. Those interested in participating are asked to send a postcard or letter with their name, address, and telephone number (in print or braille) to Computer Center for the Visually Impaired, Baruch College, City University of New York, 17 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Century-Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles has special provisions for its blind guests, according to the ACBC Digest. On registering, the guest 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 given 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. Because not all blind persons read braille, a cassette recording was made, and, on request, the blind guest is given this tape and a cassette player to listen to the information. A special braille section outlining boating safety practices for the blind is included in a new publication, Boating for the Handicapped: Guidelines for the Physically Disabled. Produced through a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard, the book is available from the Human Resources Center, D.U. Willetts Road, Albertson, NY 11507, at $5.65 per copy, plus $.20 postage. Expectations, 1980 (Volume II), 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 3-6. This edition, which focuses on the year-long Los Angeles Bicentennial, contains ten complete reprinted juvenile books (five of which were written by distinguished Los Angeles authors), original verse, a new page of microfragrance labels, plus embossed pictures of a dinosaur, a mouse, a tiger, and a parrot. Schools, libraries, and organizations serving blind children who wish to receive this 32nd volume of Expectations should write to Betty Kalagian, Braille Institute of America, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. The publication, "Pocket Guide to Federal Help for Disabled Persons," produced by the Office for Handicapped Individuals, U.S. Department of Education, is now available on one flexible sound­sheet, playable on National Library Service talking book machines. This brief but informative pamphlet describes Government benefits and services available to handicapped persons. Free copies may be ordered from Clearing House on the Handicapped, Room 3631 Switzer Building, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. When contacting the Clearing House, please specify whether the print or recorded edition is being requested. ***** ** 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. ###