Large Type Edition The Braille Forum Vol. XIX September, 1981 No. 3 Talking Optacon Newest "Voice" In ACB National Office Braille Revival League Formed to Promote Renewed Emphasis On Teaching and Use Of Braille Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor ***** * National Office: Oral O. Miller 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: Grant Mack 139 East South Temple, Suite 5000 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 * First Vice President: Otis H. Stephens 2021 Kemper Lane S.W. Knoxville, TN 37920 * Second Vice President: Dr. Robert T. McLean 2139 Joseph Street New Orleans, LA 70115 * Secretary: Karen Perzentka 6913 Colony Drive Madison, WI 53717 * Treasurer: James R. Olsen Summit Bank Bldg., Suite 822 310 4th Avenue, S. Minneapolis, MN 54415 ** Directors Delbert K. Aman 115 5th Avenue, S.E. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Robert Campbell 253 Stonewall Road Berkeley, CA 94705 Adrian DeBlaey 912 N. Hawley Road Milwaukee, WI 53213 Christopher Gray 1104 N. Stafford Stret Arlington, VA 22201 Charles Hodge 2895 S. Abingdon Street, Unit A-2 Arlington, VA 22206 Carl F. McCoy 925 E. Magnolia Drive, Apt. D-7 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Patricia Price 337 S. Sherman Drive Indianapolis, IN 46201 LeRoy Saunders P.O. Box 24020 Oklahoma City, OK 73124 M.J. Schmitt 528 Des Plaines Avenue, Apt. 2A Forest Park, IL 60130 Dick Seifert 1023 Scott Street, Apt. F Little Rock, AR 72202 ***** ** Contents ACB Officers Directors President's Message, by Grant Mack Coming Soon! Radio Announcements About ACB The Newest "Voice" in the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller ACB Convention, 1981: The Braille Revival League 1982 and 1983 Conventions Summary -- ACB Resolutions Constitution and By-Law Amendments ACB Convention Tapes Available Second Annual ACB Writing Competition -- Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award The League of Disabled Voters, the Way to Make Our Votes Count, by Durward K. McDaniel NFB Supports Reform of the Social Service Bureaucracy Blind Fisherman Catches Record Channel Bass The Listening Ear, by Dorothy Stiefel Budget Reconciliation Bill Becomes Law, by Kathy Megivern Looking Out from a High Place, by Bud Keith Ad Hoc Advisory Group Meets at Library of Congress USABA to Conduct 1982 National Blind Skiing Championships Toronto Hosts AAWB Biennial Conference Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack On a trip to Chicago recently, a talkative, friendly pilot came on the intercom saying we were crossing the Continental Divide. It reminded me of the lake in Yellowstone in the middle of the Continental Divide: When the wind blows one way, the water ends up in the Pacific Ocean, and when it blows the other, it ends up in the Gulf of Mexico. I started thinking how small things change our lives. A small breeze can send a drop of water to opposite ends of the country, miles apart. It was my casual response to a simple invitation flier telling of an intent to form a local affiliate of the American Council of the Blind in Utah in 1972 that led me to become so involved with the blind and the blindness movement. One thing led to another -- deep involvement with the Utah Council -- a member of the national board -- and now President. Perhaps I didn't then realize the scope of the job as president. The full impact of its responsibilities and the importance of what it meant was realized when I received a call shortly after I returned from the convention in St. Louis from a lady named Agnes Holladay. She congratulated me on being elected fifth president of ACB and told me that she was a private secretary of Ned Freeman, who was the first ACB president. In subsequent conversation, she related some of the trials and frustrations and tribulations of those early days of the American Council, and I began to realize how much we owe those early pioneers of the movement. The American Council has been fortunate to have the leadership of many good men -- Ned Freeman, Reese Robrahn, Floyd Qualls, and Oral Miller. Following people like that presents a real challenge to me. I would like all ACB members to know I will do everything I can to see that the American Council continues to grow and to flourish and to perform its function of helping promote the dignity and independence of all blind people. The American Council is the largest, fastest growing, most responsible and representative organization of blind people in America. We should have more visibility, and that is one of our goals. In order for it to grow, the continued and ongoing support of all its members is essential. We hope that together we will see giant strides in the influence and scope and power of the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Coming Soon! Radio Announcements about ACB How long -- oh, how long -- have we, the members of the American Council of the Blind, lamented the fact that we have not heard any public service announcements about the American Council of the Blind on the radio! We have always recognized the importance of such announcements, but, frankly, until now we were not in a financial position to have them professionally prepared and widely distributed. As announced in The Braille Forum several months ago, the ACB Board of Directors appropriated a limited amount of money for the production and distribution of professionally prepared public service announcements (known in broadcasting circles as PSA's), with the express hope that the affiliates in whose states the PSA's are to be distributed will help significantly with the costs. A set of four separate PSAs has now been recorded and is being prepared for distribution to 1,200 radio stations throughout the United States. The separate PSA's deal with employment of the blind, stereotypical attitudes toward the blind, the range of services provided by ACB, and the problems of the partially sighted. Obviously, a set of PSAs cannot be sent to every radio station in the United States, so they will be sent first to the major market areas and to the stations which have been receptive to such PSA's in the past. Beyond that, it may be necessary to consult with state affiliate officers concerning other appropriate cities and stations. As soon as the announcements are distributed, we will notify each affiliate where they have been sent so our members may follow up and enthusiastically urge those stations to play the announcements on the air. The need for our members to contact the stations to urge them to air our PSAs cannot be over-emphasized. Since it would be impossible to list the names, addresses, or local telephone numbers of all of our affiliates on the announcements, each PSA will give the toll-free telephone number of the American Council of the Blind so callers may be referred to the appropriate affiliate. Since the professional preparation and distribution of PSA's is very expensive, and since we expect many of the callers to be referred to local or special-interest affiliates, the ACB Board of Directors is asking ACB affiliate organizations to co-sponsor the production and distribution of these PSA's by paying, if possible, $10.00 for each set distributed to each station. More specific information will be sent to the affiliate officers in the near future. Although we realize it is impossible to please everyone, and although we wish we could afford to prepare more PSA's, we invite suggestions and comments from ACB members and friends after they have heard the PSA's. Since the American Council of the Blind provides such a wide variety of services, and since it is such an important advocate of and for the blind, it is extremely important for our message to be heard by everyone! ***** ** The Newest "Voice" in the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller, National Representative Can you imagine how disappointed we were at the recent ACB national convention Awards Gala when the representative of Telesensory Systems, Inc. informed us that it would not be possible to demonstrate the "Talking Optacon" because it had been damaged slightly during shipment from the West Coast? I even heard a few skeptical people suggest that the device had not yet been developed sufficiently to be demonstrated. Such disappointment and skepticism had to be set aside, however, immediately upon conclusion of the Awards Gala as we continued with our plan to join with Telesensory Systems, Inc. (TSI) in evaluating an experimental or evaluation model of the so-called "Talking Optacon," the official name for which is the TSI Voice Output Reading System (VORS). As announced in The Braille Forum almost a year ago, the American Council of the Blind agreed to sponsor or co-sponsor one of the six evaluation sites at which experimental models of the "Talking Optacon" would be evaluated by blind users. Many months were spent in an effort to find a suitable location on the premises of a co-sponsoring organization, but several months ago the ACB Board of Directors decided to "go it alone," if necessary, by conducting the evaluation in the ACB National Office in Washington, D.C. The decision to "go it alone" was reached after much spirited discussion due to the high cost of the project (the VORS itself plus the employment of a qualified instructor­evaluator for at least a year). The decision was made, in spite of the cost, because ACB appreciates the importance of developing a better, more easily understood, more mobile, more versatile and less expensive electronic device which can "read" the printed word and convert it into intelligible synthetic speech. The development of the first reading machine a few years ago was, indeed, a significant breakthrough which served to underscore the need for perfecting such devices even further. In making the final arrangements with TSI, we allowed for the possibility that one of our affiliates might be interested in co-sponsoring the project, and as of this date (August 10, 1981), an ACB affiliate is considering such co-sponsorship. Since the last training course for the instructor-evaluator was scheduled to begin soon after the close of the 1981 ACB national convention, the process of selecting the instructor­evaluator had to be completed promptly. We selected Miss Tracy Reynolds of Palo Alto, California, because of her previous employment with TSI, her prior knowledge of the VORS, and her proven skill as an instructor and demonstrator of electronic equipment. The next task to be performed was that of selecting a suitable place in the ACB National Office, a task which was completed by the office manager and office staff just in time for the arrival of the crates containing the "Talking Optacon" and its accessories. With the arrival of Tracy Reynolds a day or so later, the long-talked-about and long­planned-for project was ready to begin! Yes, the "Talking Optacon" does read and talk! It started reading and talking the first time Tracy tried it out, and it still reads and talks when properly directed to do so. I will not attempt to describe it in detail other than to say that it consists of a very compact, lightweight, hand-held camera, an Optacon chassis, and a desk-top "black box" which contains the speaker and the computer circuitry. For purposes of privacy, it can be used with earphones and it can be used by either a blind or sighted instructor-evaluator. Almost as soon as Tracy Reynolds arrived, she started compiling a long list of prospective evaluators and users of the VORS. She was quick to point out that she wanted to contact non­Optacon users as well as Optacon users, inasmuch as the evaluation of the instrument will necessarily involve reactions by people who have not used the Optacon previously. Although she has not yet been in the office for two full weeks, there is already an almost steady stream of prospective users coming to her desk for initial or subsequent evaluations. After each person learns how to use the device properly, he or she will be encouraged to use it on a regular basis so as to improve his or her skill and to furnish additional input for evaluating the instrument, which, it should be emphasized again, is an experimental or evaluation model. It is contemplated that several dozen users will eventually be using the VORS for reading anything they wish. Oh, the delight of reading one's own bills! Since most of the students and users of the "Talking Optacon" have full­time jobs of their own, the instrument will necessarily be used much during evening and weekend hours. Anyone wishing to use it must make an appointment to do so. We, the members of the American Council of the Blind, should be proud that our organization has been willing to support this extremely valuable project, because we realize that it is the printed word which is probably the greatest obstacle to the blind and visually impaired. There are only six such sites in the United States, and we know that the VORS in our National Office is going to be viewed by literally thousands of prospective users, government officials, educators, and scientists during the year-long evaluation period. One international visitor, a gentleman from England, had already viewed it. A subsequent article in The Braille Forum will keep readers up to date regarding the evaluation of this important instrument. ***** *** ACB Convention, 1981 ** The Braille Revival League Fifty-five people gathered at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday evening, July 7, 1981, to discuss the degree to which braille is or is not being taught and used nowadays. The group leader, Floyd R. Cargill of Springfield, Illinois, said that the meeting was called at the suggestion of a number of people who feel that there is a general concern that the teaching and use of braille is declining and that meaningful, formal action can and should be taken. Many individuals described incidents from their own experience as evidence that a renewed emphasis on braille is needed. A braille transcriber told about approaching a large educational facility for the blind with the hope of having some braille material evaluated. When he returned a few days later, he was told by an official that no one could be found to read it. Only ten persons of the approximately 300 enrolled were thought to be able to read and write braille. An experienced teacher of vocal music at the college level who has directed various choral groups for years emphasized the necessity of using braille music while conducting. He told how blind college students who are majoring in music often call on him for help when they reach the practicum in conducting. He explained that the students may or may not read literary braille. They do not know braille music, have been learning their music by rote, and are unprepared for conducting. He related how one educator in the university told him, "These people (teachers of blind students) pass them along and expect me to certify them, but I can't certify them. They are illiterate." A pre-law student noted that the Braille Book Review, which used to be two volumes and was mostly about braille books, and was mostly about braille book, is now only one volume, much of which is about recorded material. He suggested that an organized group should promote the production of more material in braille, the teaching of braille to more people, and the use of braille by blind people. Florence Horton, a retired rehabilitation teacher, reflected the group's feelings with the statement, "It is not simply a matter of literacy. When the ability to read and write is taken away from us, we won't be self-sufficient or able to compete. It is a career-oriented need." Law students, IRS representatives, teachers, and musicians supported this by saying they could not do their jobs without braille. It was agreed that is braille has relevance for our time, it is we, the blind people, who must see that it remains alive. People must be repeatedly told how much braille is needed. The place to begin is with the educators of the blind. As one person said, "If we can't convince the educators to teach it to all, and to teach it with the expectation of its being used, then what can we do?" It was moved, seconded, and carried that the group united in an organization to be called the Braille Revival League, with the expectation of affiliating with the American Council of the Blind. Temporary officers were elected to write a constitution and formally create the organization. Officers are: President, Floyd R. Cargill, of Illinois; First Vice President, Carlton Eldridge of Illinois; Second Vice President, James Gibson of Alabama; Secretary-Treasurer, James Eccles of Washington. All who wished to be charter members of the Braille Revival League were asked to contribute $5.00 to create a small operating fund. Thirty-one members were enrolled that evening. The invitation to become charter members was extended to ACB conventioneers throughout the remainder of the week. By the close of the convention the organization had 106 members. Six more mailed their contributions immediately afterward. Those wishing to join the Braille Revival League may do so by mailing their name, address, telephone number, and occupation (former occupation, if retired), together with a $5.00 contribution, to: Braille Revival League, 216 W. Miller Street, Springfield, IL 62702. ** 1982 and 1983 Conventions Choosing with difficulty from among the invitations of three ACB affiliates, with four possible cities, the membership selected Phoenix as the site of the 1983 ACB national convention. To be hosted by the Arizona Council of the blind, the convention will again be held over the Fourth of July holiday week -- July 2-9. Headquarters is to be the Phoenix Hilton, a brand-new hotel located in downtown Phoenix. Room rates are singles, $34; doubles, $38. As for 1982, the Georgia Federation of the Blind already has its host committee in place, with plans well under way. Convention week is July 3-10. The Atlanta Airport Marriott, which opened this past February, is to be convention headquarters. Room rates are a flat $29, whether the room is used as a single, double, triple, or quad. Watch The Braille Forum for details as plans develop. And remember, everyone: "Atlanta for You in '82!" ** Summary ACB Resolutions Of the 23 resolutions presented by the Resolutions Committee (Brian Charlson of Oregon, Chairman), two were defeated, one was tabled, one was referred to the Computer Committee and one to the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, and 18 were adopted by the Convention. Copies are available upon request from the ACB National Office. Resolutions adopted by the Convention are summarized below. 81-01. Directs the America n Council of the Blind to send a letter, with a copy of the resolution, to all dog guide schools, urging them to seek accreditation and to become involved with the revision of dog guide standards of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. 81-03. Calls upon the ACB Board of Directors and staff to develop a planned program of advice and consultation to those agencies for the blind throughout the nation requesting it, on a wide range of program issues and service delivery systems; such program to be consumer oriented and to involve consumers in the agencies' service areas. 81-04. Calls attention to the sentiment expressed in Congress that a particular braille magazine be discontinued because subsidizing taxpayers would object to its content; asserts that the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, should retain absolute discretion to publish those magazines that are in greatest demand in any format; and directs that: (1) the ACB National Representative take all necessary steps to oppose any banning of a periodical in any format, and (2) the ACB National Office to be directed to take whatever steps it can to advise all readers whenever any such unacceptable legislation is pending. 81-05. Directs the American Council of the Blind to petition the Braille Authority of North America to develop and embark upon a strategy, in conjunction with its various committees and the National Library Service, to encourage and promote the revitalization of braille instruction whenever blind and visually impaired persons are being educated and rehabilitated. 81-06. Directs the American Council of the Blind to urge the National Eye Institute (the funding source for more than 75% of all eye research in the United States and the primary source of funds for research on the human eye) to devote at least 10% of its extramural grant support to practical, applied research that will improve the quality of life and function of this nation's 1.8 million low-vision citizens. 81-08. Directs the ACB Board of Directors to establish a project committee to look into the feasibility of installing accessible public signage; the final report of the project committee to be considered a part of the ACB 1982 national convention agenda. 81-09. Reaffirms ACB's commitment to standards and accreditation, and further affirms ACB's support for the concept of public and private funds being allocated based on criteria that agencies and schools serving the blind and visually handicapped receiving such funds be accredited. 81-10. States that we in the American Council of the Blind espouse the view that blind workshop workers employed in the regular production programs of sheltered workshops for the blind are, in fact, employees, and not mere clients, as asserted by the management of many workshops; and that as such employees, such blind workers have the right, under the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, to organize and select their own collective bargaining representatives and to take concerted action to promote their best economic objectives. This resolution is not intended to apply to those individuals who are engaged in work activity centers or who are not employed in the regular production program of a sheltered workshop for the blind. 81-12. Deplores the irresponsible action of the California State Department of Education and the Administration of the State Government in not fully investigating the seismic hazards and serious environmental problems inherent in moving the school for the blind from Berkeley to Fremont, and in not fully understanding the environmental needs of the education of the blind; and prays the court to take all action necessary in behalf of the blind children attending the school to provide for their safety and adequate education. The resolution further directs the ACB Board of Directors to take the appropriate steps necessary to immediately convey these concerns to the Federal Court in Sacramento, California. 81-13. Directs the ACB Secretary to write a letter of commendation to the 1981 National Convention Host Committee for a job well done. 81-14. Directs the officers and directors of the American Council of the Blind to work with the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America in efforts to initiate and plan for a national conference to review all aspects of the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program, in cooperation with the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, its staff, and other appropriate participants. 81-15. Directs the officers and directors of the American Council of the Blind to join with RSVA in petitioning Congress to include the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program in the budgeting and appropriating actions of Congress, and in requesting the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to support the budgeting and appropriating of special Federal funding for these purposes. 81-16. Reviews the purposes and objectives of the provisions under the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974 for the arbitration of disputes arising in the course of the administration of the Randolph­Sheppard vending facilities program, and emphasizes the value of such procedure in resolving disputes between licensed blind vendors and state licensing agencies, or between state licensing agencies and Federal departments or agencies, as well as their value in providing Federal and state administrators and blind vendors with effective interpretations of the law. The resolution directs the American Council of the Blind to join with RSVA in requesting the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to authorize the use of adequate funds to pay for the cost of such arbitrations as they arise. 81-17. Calls upon ACB officers and directors to join with RSVA in petitioning members of the Congress to have the Comptroller General of the United States and the General Accounting Office conduct thorough­going investigations and audits of Federal departments and agencies responsible for the collection, reporting, and payment of certain revenues derived from vending machines operating on Federal properties to state licensing agencies and to licensed blind vendors, as provided under the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments of 1974. 81-20. Directs the ACB Board of Directors and National Office staff to work with the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, and other interested organizations, in advocating and formulating uniform standards and objective criteria for the determination of ethics and the propriety of fund­raising activities among the several states, involving the purpose or promise of service and benefits for blind and visually impaired persons, as well as uniform standards and requirements in all of the states for registering, reporting, and accounting for the use of donated funds. 81-21. Calls upon the ACB officers and directors to participate actively with the Association of Radio Reading Services and its members, as well as other interested organizations, in the development of advanced plans for the utilization of a nationwide system involving radio, communications satellites, and cable transmissions. 81-22. Sets forth the premise that the Revenue Act of 1978, which grants tax credit to employers for hiring minority group members (including the handicapped), has been generally interpreted to refer only to those handicapped persons certified as handicapped by state departments of rehabilitation, and that the obvious intent of the law is to encourage the hiring of all qualified handicapped job candidates. The resolution advocates amendment of the law to apply to all handicapped job candidates, regardless of whether or not they are clients of state departments of rehabilitation. 81-23. Asserts that it is the constitutional right of all citizens to read any and all literature of their selection, and that such right shall remain inviolate. Decries efforts to censor or restrict the types of literature made available through programs and services for blind and visually impaired citizens, and opposes any initiative to bar distribution of any materials made available to the public-at-large; copies of the resolution to be distributed to all members of Congress and to the American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom. ** Constitution and By-Law Amendments The 1981 Constitution and By­Laws Committee was chaired by Sue Graves of Wisconsin. Six amendments were adopted by the convention. Of these, two were of a substantive nature; the remaining four were clarifications and/or simplifications of existing language. By amendment to By-Law 2-Voting, and By-Law 3-Dues, payment of dues and submission of certified membership lists are now required no less than 90 (rather than 60) days prior to each national convention. Relevant portions of the by­laws as amended read as follows: By-Law 2 - Voting B. The right of an affiliate to vote shall be conditioned on payment of dues and the furnishing of a certified alphabetical list of names and addresses of voting members to the Treasurer and the National Office not less than ninety (90) days prior to the national convention. By-Law 3 - Dues E. All dues are due not less than ninety (90) days prior to each annual convention. F. Not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the national convention, the Treasurer shall notify in writing each affiliate and member-at-large of the deadline for receiving dues and required membership lists. By-Law 6C was deleted, thereby abolishing the in-house Audit Committee. In its place, a new Section D was added to By-Law 5: By-Law 5 -Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors D. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to ensure that an annual audit of the organization's financial records is conducted by an independent certified public accountant. The following four amendments involve changes in wording only and do not in any way reflect changes in policy or procedures: Article IV - Officers A. The Officers of this organization shall consist of a President, a 1st Vice President, a 2nd Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and their terms of office shall be two (2) years. The Officers enumerated above shall be elected every year in odd-numbered years at the annual convention of this organization. B. In addition to the Officers this organization shall have ten (10) Directors, to be elected by the convention for terms of four (4) years. Five (5) Directors shall be elected in each even-numbered year. No more than one Director shall be elected from any one state. By-Law 5 - Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors B. Dismissal of professional staff shall be exclusively the responsibility of the Board of Directors. By-Law 7 - Publications Board There is hereby created a Board of Publications consisting of five (5) members, whose terms of office shall be two (2) years. The Board shall be selected and constituted in the following manner: Every odd­numbered year, the President, at the close of the annual convention, shall appoint a chairperson and one additional member of the Board; and every even-numbered year, the annual convention shall elect, by a majority vote in accordance with voting procedures contained in the Constitution or in the By-Laws, the three (3) remaining members of the Board; provided, however, that no Board member shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms and no more than one Board member shall be either appointed or elected to the Board of Publications from any one state. It shall be the duty of the Board of Publications to select an editorial staff and to determine the editorial policy for all official publications of the American Council of the Blind. The Board shall meet at least once each year, and more often if necessary, upon the call of the chairperson or upon the request of not less than three (3) members of the Board of Publications. ** ACB Convention Tapes Available A set of seven 90-minute cassettes of the ACB 1981 national convention is now available. Included are all of the major program presentations, introduction of new National Office staff, report of the ACB National Representative, report of the ACB Board of Publications, the Awards and Charter Gala, and the Annual Banquet and Testimonial "Roasting," of Durward K. McDaniel. The tapes are available as a set only, at a cost of $12.50. The Annual Banquet and Testimonial "Roasting," however, may be purchased separately at a cost of $2.00. Checks should be made payable to the American Council of the Blind and orders sent directly to The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. The 1981 convention program was an excellent one, and excerpts from some of the formal program presentations will be included in future issues of The Braille Forum as space permits. ***** ** Second Annual ACB Writing Competition -- Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award The ACB Board of Publications is pleased to announce the second annual Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Writing Competition. Ned Freeman was the first president of the American Council of the Blind. When he chose to step down from office, he assumed editorship of The Braille Forum, a position which he held until his death in 1969. It has been said that editing The Braille Forum was the aspect of his work with ACB that Ned Freeman most enjoyed, and for that reason an award to stimulate quality writing for The Braille Forum is particularly appropriate. The award was established in 1970, and until last year was based upon what the Board of Publications voted to be the outstanding article to appear in The Braille Forum for the preceding year. However, because the number of free-lance feature articles written specifically for The Braille Forum had been declining over the years, the Publications Board felt that a change in the criteria for selecting the award recipient was in order. The award will continue to be given at each ACB annual convention. However, it is now based upon a writing competition, the theme of which will be selected each year by the Board of Publications. The award recipient will receive for his/her first­place article a check for $100.00 and an appropriate certificate, and the article will be published in The Braille Forum. The topic selected for this year's writing competition is: If My Cane (or Dog Guide) Could Talk. In contrast to last year's more serious theme, this topic is lighter, more personal in nature, yet should give latitude for a great deal of imagination and creativity. The simple rules are as follows: 1. The purpose of this contest is to select the recipient of the Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award. 2. Articles are to be submitted in standard manuscript form (typewritten, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper) and shall be no more than 1,500 or less than 1,000 words in length. 3. Articles shall be judged in their unedited form, with consideration given to: a. Appearance (adherence to manuscript form). b. Organization in thought and structure. c. Mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation). d. Content. 4. Articles shall be written on topics as announced annually by the ACB Board of Publications. 5. Articles must be postmarked no later than March 1 of each contest year and shall be sent to: Editor, The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. All articles will become the property of The Braille Forum. 6. No members of the paid staff of the American Council of the Blind, contributing editors of The Braille Forum, or members of the Board of Publications shall be eligible to enter this competition. An award recipient shall not be eligible for a period of five years. 7. Entries shall be judged by the Board of Publications, and the decision of the judges shall be final. The award shall be presented at the ACB national convention immediately following the close of each annual writing competition. ***** ** The League of Disabled Voters The Way to Make Our Votes Count By Durward K. McDaniel The thirteen years I have worked for and against legislation in Washington, D.C. have provided a liberal education in the hard facts of political influence. The American Council of the Blind was able to multiply its effectiveness on issues through coalitions with other organizations having common interests. This has given us greater numbers and greater influence. The defeat of the Administration's plan to repeal rehabilitation and special education laws and to block grant Federal funds to the states is a monumental achievement through collective action. But in our important temporary victories, we must not forget the basic fact that we never have had the economic resources to compete successfully on every important legislative issue. As we win some contests and lose others, we must realize that there is one fundamental factor relating directly to our political influence which we can and should deal with among ourselves. The simple fact is that blind and handicapped people have acquired a reputation among elected office­holders of not voting in their elections in proportion to our numbers. Our collective reputation will continue to be a detriment to our dealing with national legislative matters such as proposals to reduce current and future Social Security benefits. I do not intend to lecture on my and your civic duty and responsibility to participate in the democratic process. My approach relates directly to the practical effect of such participation on legislation. We know that a substantial fraction of eligible voters did not vote in the 1980 elections. We also know that a remarkable number of elections were decided by very narrow margins. Some Congressional elections were won with a majority of 1,000 votes or less -- one of them by only 400 votes. I am not suggesting that winners are undesirable merely because many persons do not vote. Mine is a very simple point: that enlightened blind and handicapped people could decisively affect the outcome of many important elections if we would become serious about voting. We would thereby not only reverse our negative image on voting participation; we would also produce a much healthier effect for our collective influence on legislation. That we are easily identified as blind and handicapped people contributes to the reputation we want to overcome. For the same reason, our greatly increased voting participation would very quickly change that reputation. The fact that many others do not vote makes our votes that much more important if we will just do it. This does not mean that we need to register in one party exclusively or as an independent. Ideally, each of us should exert a constructive influence within our preferred political affiliation. We could thereby keep our legislative goals truly nonpartisan. I have, therefore, decided to work seriously with the League of Disabled Voters to inform, to register, to promote voting by blind and handicapped people, and to help translate their informed actions into effective influences on Federal, state, and local governments according to agreed­upon positions and goals. The League of Disabled Voters is a national, individual membership organization. Its members will form state and local leagues as our numbers grow. State and local leagues will also participate in state and local issues according to established positions and goals. LDV will not endorse any political party or any candidate for elective office. LDV is already publishing informational bulletins for its members. I anticipate that we will soon begin the publishing of a national periodical dealing with national issues and the organization itself. I would like to enlist your help in the building and managing of this unique organization. We have established annual dues at $10.00. LDV's Washington mailing address is P.O. Box 23283, Washington, DC 20024. This past spring, when George Conn resigned as president of LDV to accept the appointment to be the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, I became its president. You may obtain further information about LDV and how to form state and local leagues from the above address. Dick Heddinger is our national membership chairman. Any mail sent to the ACB National Office will be routed to the proper official of LDV. My personal mailing address as of September, 1981, will be 9455 Singing Quail Drive, Austin, TX 78758. ***** ** NFB Supports Reform of the Social Service Bureaucracy (Note: Reprinted below is a news item from the July 9, 1981 issue of the Washington Post, which presents a contrasting point of view and position. So far as we know, the National Federation of the Blind was the only organization of or for the blind or handicapped which supported the Reagan Administration's block grant proposals.) Vice President Bush told hundreds of blind persons massed at the Capitol yesterday that the Reagan Administration is deeply interested in their welfare. But one Republican Senator spoke out against proposed cuts in social services funds. "There are certain limits to what Government can spend," Bush said. But, he added, there are no limits to what communities can voluntarily do to help the handicapped. "In the next few weeks we will be announcing voluntary partnerships which will be of assistance to the blind," Bush said. Bush spoke to members of the National Federation of the Blind, which announced it was staging the rally to "demonstrate support for the Administration's reform of the social service bureaucracy." "Since 1933 a growing number of government and private agencies have been established to give us services, and many of these agencies have been helpful and constructive," Kenneth Jernigan, president of the Federation, told the rally. "But increasingly they have turned away from their original purpose to build empires and enlarge their staffs. Service has become secondary." But Senator Lowell P. Weicker (R-Conn.) told the crowd, "It can't all be done by volunteerism in the private sector." "When I see those who say they are for the handicapped advocating a 25% cutback, I wonder what it is they are talking about," Weicker said. He was referring to the Reagan Administration's proposal to consolidate many social service programs, including aid to the handicapped, into block grants to the states, with a 25% cut in their funding. ***** ** Blind Fisherman Catches Record Channel Bass (Story from Eastern Shore News, Onley, Va.) Mr. Herman Moore, 59, of Cape Charles, Virginia, caught a citation channel bass off of Wreck Island. The record channel bass (Red Drum) weighed 85 pounds, 4 ounces. It is the largest ever caught in Virginia and misses by only 4 pounds, 12 ounces, the world record catch for that species. The thing about the feat that makes it even more noteworthy is that Mr. Moore is totally blind and has been for better than six years. Mr. Moore was born and raised in Virginia. During his working years he almost always found himself back near the water in one capacity or another. Every opportunity he had was spent fishing, and he finds he still will pick up and go at the drop of a hat. The monster bass was caught during the Salt Water Sport Fishing Tournament sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Economic Development, during the third week of June. Mr. Moore, or "Hardhead," as he is known to his friends, caught the fish at approximately 8:00 P.M. at Ebbtide. Then came a battle of at least 40 minutes before Mr. Moore and two companions were able to boat the citation catch. Mr. Moore's two friends couldn't believe the size of the fish and insisted that "Hardhead" touch it. "Oh, I didn't want to touch it. It was just a fish. But when I did ... It was the biggest damn fish I ever felt. It was really a thrill to feel him. All I could think about was suppose I had lost him!" ***** ** The Listening Ear By Dorothy Stiefel One of the most important components of the communications field is listening. It wasn't until I was a year into the mental health associate degree program in 1977 that I realized how little I had been listening to what people around me were saying. I also learned that people often talk in "riddles," mask their intended message, and generally pick surface topics which are less intimidating to themselves in the course of communicating. When I graduated in May, 1978, I possessed the tools of the trade: empathetic feeling for another human being, objectivity as a paraprofessional, and a well-developed listening ear. During six years of answering correspondence and listening to persons' needs and concerns over the telephone, I developed a keen awareness of problems confronting persons with retinitis pigmentosa. This is a skill that can only come with experience, both personal and acquired. I became jokingly referred to as the "Dear Abbie" of the RP population. A striking note through much of the correspondence was the feeling of aloneness. It was suggested that I do a column to better circulate and share the compounded frustrations of persons with vision problems who find themselves isolated or caught in the gaps of the rehabilitative system. I thought hard about the prospect of "going public" and weighed the advantages and disadvantages. I kept coming back to the stark realization that among all of the hundreds of letters, there existed a striking thread of commonality, a consistency or sameness of emotions. I felt the urgent need to let these people know, through a better mechanism than individual letter­writing, that they are NOT alone at all. "The Listening Ear" is being made available on a trial basis to readers of The Braille Forum. I offer alternatives, disseminate information, make suggestions. The decision­making and problem-resolving will always be up to you, the future participants in this column. Dear Dorothy: I am 64 years of age and my vision has been deteriorating more rapidly during the last year or so. I find myself having trouble doing household chores. I just can't seem to get enough light in my house to see with. Do you have any suggestions? -- Mrs. C. B. -- Texas Dear Mrs. C. B.: Your letter contains a common concern among persons of all ages who are losing vision. Even the home can become a stressful environment if you are having noticeable difficulty in performing daily tasks. Many persons note that when they are under stress, they cannot see as well. So removing stress is an important element in establishing well-being. It sounds like it is time for some specific modifications in your home to accommodate your failing vision. A good place to start is with the lighting situation. Fluorescent lighting is cool, economical to operate, and does not cast shadows or cause glare that incandescent lighting does. Persons have suggested that the kitchen is the most important area for installing fluorescent lighting. If you do not care for this type of lighting in other rooms, conventional lighting may be sufficient with some extra help. For fine detail work, several models of high-intensity desk lamps are available which have a lens attachment that provides both magnification and light. This is a lightweight accessory that can be moved easily from place to place, and some models can be folded for traveling purposes. Other tips are to consider soft white or frosted light bulbs for less glare and to use lamps which are placed high enough to allow maximum light where you want it. Too often a lamp shade obscures lighting potential or a lamp may diffuse lighting upward instead of down on a target object. Aside from lighting, you may want to think about being an active defender of your body. Studies show that persons with limited vision have more accidents in their own homes. You may wish to consider "trailing," a method used by people with limited vision to "check out" where they are, especially in hallways and doorways (usually dimmer areas), to avoid the all-too-close encounters with objects! Since you are over 55, you might call your local commission for the blind or rehabilitation agency to see if an independent living program exists in your locality. The program is designed to help individuals by teaching them skills to allow them to remain in their homes as independent managers of their personal lives. Your local electric company may also be able to assist you with your lighting needs. I have encountered many individuals who admit they need a lot of light, but who are hesitant to turn on sufficient light, in an attempt to hold down utility costs. (A local check revealed that lights are the least of the household energy guzzlers: one 100-watt bulb burning for ten hours costs $.06). If you make a few accommodations and learn to let your "fingers do the walking" most of the time around the house, you may find that you have relieved much of the stress from straining to use only your eyesight. Do you have a concern you would like to share? Or a gripe you'd like to air? All letters should be as specific as possible and should be signed. However, you should indicate how your name and address is to be listed in the event your letter is chosen for publication. Initials and state will be acceptable. Questions of a specific medical nature cannot be considered for this column. All letters will be subject to editing for the purpose of clarity. Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with letters requesting a personal response. Address all letters to: Dorothy Stiefel, c/o The Listening Ear, 4630 Coventry Lane, Corpus Christi, TX 78011. ***** ** Budget Reconciliation Bill Becomes Law By Kathy Megivern A compromise version of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act has been passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Reagan. The compromise legislation was worked out by the conference committee with members appointed by both houses. The final version of the bill contains most of the figures for rehabilitation and special education that were included in the legislation as passed by the Senate. That means that the conferees rejected the much lower figures as proposed by the House of Representatives. The following table sets forth the current appropriations as well as the approved authorization levels for major program components affecting disabled persons (numbers are expressed in millions of dollars): Formatting note: the list below shows program, FY 1981 Actual, FY 1982 Authorized, and FY 1983 Authorized. Special Education (grants to states): $874.5; $969.9; $1017.9 Vocational Rehabilitation (grants to states): $854.0; $899.0; $934.0 Independent Living Centers: $18.0; $19.4; $19.4 Projects with Industry: $5.8; $8.0; $8.0 National Institute of Handicapped Research: $35.0; $35.0; $35.0 Developmental Disabilities: $61.0; $61.0; $61.0 These budget figures represent a significant victory for advocates of programs serving blind and disabled people. It must be noted, however, that these figures are merely authorization levels. The actual amounts to be appropriated have not yet been determined. When Congress returns to Washington after Labor Day, they will go to work on appropriations. Historically, monies have been appropriated at levels far below what has been authorized (for example, P.L. 94-142 has been appropriated at only 12% of the authorization level). If that pattern were to continue, it would still mean significant cuts, since the authorization ceilings for 1982 and 1983 are only slightly higher than the amount actually appropriated for 1981. Of course, very little has happened according to past tradition or practice, so there is a chance that Congress could appropriate at levels equal to or very close to its authorized ceilings. ***** ** Looking Out from a High Place By Bud Keith (ACB member Bud Keith is a past president of the ACB Federal Employees and is currently president of Healthsports, Inc. (formerly Ski for Light, Inc.).) From June 21 through July 9, 1981, I had the exciting opportunity to be a part of Project Pelion, a team of disabled and non-disabled people who climbed Mt. Rainier. The two and one-half weeks included training in the high mountains near Aspen, Colorado, training on one of Mt. Rainier's glaciers, a climb of Mt. Rainier itself, and a visit with President Reagan in the White House Rose Garden. At this time, it is hard to say what long-lasting effects the project will have on the lives of those of us who were directly involved or on the lives of the many people who supported us in one way or another. It is even more difficult to guess at what effect it will have on this country in the way our society looks at and relates to disabled people. However, for several weeks now, I have been exposed to more press, laudatory comments, and extensions of friendship by heretofore strangers than I can ever remember. The temporary effect on me is a sense of accomplishment and heightened emotions, even though I was one of those who did not conquer the mountain to its very summit. On the day and at approximately the same time as the participants in Project Pelion were meeting the President, a large gathering of members of the National Federation of the Blind were a mile away at the Capitol, being addressed by the Vice President. All three major television networks and many other representatives of the press covered both activities. For some reason, the press chose to broadcast as headlines and opening stories our meeting with President Reagan and excluded the Federation gathering. It was reported that during remarks before the throngs and the next day, the NFB president referred to the disabled members of Project Pelion as "little people engaged in the ultimate exercise in futility." How blind he really is not to see why he got no press! He has gathered his throngs at the base of "the mountain," preaching in loud tones: "We, the blind (who can do everything by ourselves), have the right to a smooth and clear path. So tear down the mountain!" The message from Project Pelion was clearly stated: "We think that disabled people working with able-bodied people can do almost anything. So let's climb this mountain together!" Project Pelion was one of the finest intensive exercises in cooperation between blind and sighted people that I have experienced. It was not perfect, and there were many instances where insensitivity and false expectations had to be dealt with. They were dealt with, and in a way which fostered understanding, not resentment or exclusion. There was no room or time on the mountain for the "chip on the shoulder" independence fostered by many blind people. Interdependence was the name of the game, and with all its imperfections, Project Pelion caught the imagination of this country and the world. The press and many average citizens have exalted us. Certainly, most of the praise is unwarranted. We are not, nor ever claim to be, exceptional. We did, however, participate in an exceptional event which has left us feeling high and standing tall in the eyes of the nation. From up here we have been given the opportunity to speak, and the nation is willing to listen. This is a rare opportunity and should be a lesson to those who are standing at the bottoms of small hills demanding that those hills be removed. ***** ** Ad Hoc Advisory Group Meets at Library of Congress The American Council of the Blind was among consumer groups represented on an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee which met at the headquarters of the of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C., June 10-11. The committee assembled at the invitation of NLS and was chaired by staff member Mona Werner, Director of Collection Development. The meeting was convened for the purpose of assisting NLS in identifying the widely divergent needs and tastes of blind and physically handicapped readers. Working with limited funds, NLS staff must choose judiciously from among a plethora of publications in order to achieve a balanced collection of quality reading materials for NLS subscribers. The task set for the committee was the making of a consensual slate of recommendations to be considered in establishing collection­building priorities. The ad hoc committee was made up of representatives from the following consumer organizations and groups: American Council of the Blind (represented by Hubert Foster, St. Augustine, Florida), Blinded Veterans Association, National Federation of the Blind, Southern Regional Library, Western Regional Library, Northern Regional Library, and Midlands Regional Library, as well as readers-at-large. Readers-at-large and consumer organization representatives submitted the following recommendations, without any ordering of priority: a. That Talking Book Topics list current offerings by author, in alphabetical order, or by category, rather than in the conventional order by catalog number. b. That the balance of the collection should be shifted to include more scholarly materials in areas such as science, history, and politics. c. That NLS should explore the techniques for providing raised-line drawings of diagrams and charts to accompany recorded materials. d. That NLS record more works dealing with practical solutions to problems caused by handicaps, rather than miracle-oriented solutions. e. That narrators be permitted to correct obvious errors found in printed material to be recorded. (It was later learned that such corrections are already standard procedure.) f. That a glossary of foreign words and phrases be provided either at the beginning or at the end of the work in which they appear. g. That certain editorial policies be modified: 1. The reader should be informed when photographs, diagrams, and charts are omitted from recorded material, in the event the reader can benefit from seeking clarification from the printed text. 2. Photographs which add to the meaning of the text should be described. 3. Footnotes which are explanatory should be inserted immediately following the point in question, and those which are merely referential should be placed at the end of the recorded text, where they will not interrupt the flow of the narrative. The Regional Library representatives recommended, among other things, the re-issue on cassette of classics already recorded on discs. They also emphasized the need for more selections on how-to-do-it, home repair, self-help, crafts, electronics, and computers. These recommendations sparked a discussion of problems in reproducing for blind readers the numerous charts and diagrams which accompany print editions of handicraft manuals and technical works. Staff members were receptive to the suggestion that the advice of successful blind craftsmen be sought in the development of verbal descriptions of craft techniques which are generally shown by pictures or diagrams. Mr. Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of NLS, announced the imminent arrival of a new machine recently purchased from Japan which is expected to be able to accurately reproduce print line drawings into raised-line drawings. Committee members went on record in support of a general statement of library policy which asserts the right to intellectual freedom based upon the Constitutional right of every American to freedom of speech. Participants in the ad hoc meeting congratulated Library staff upon their success in providing a superior service and a balanced collection of reading material, and applauded the staff's concern for avoiding any overlapping or duplication of materials or reader services provided by other agencies. To this end, the Library provides its regional staff with a microfiche cumulative listing of publications prepared by the Library, supplemented by listings from other agencies serving the blind and physically handicapped community. The goal of this microfiche listing service is the compilation of recorded and braille material from all agencies and other sources serving blind and physically handicapped readers, in the same manner in which the Library of Congress Union Catalog serves the general public. ***** ** USABA To Conduct 1982 National Blind Skiing Championships The U.S. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) plans to conduct the 1982 National Blind Skiing Championships in downhill and cross-country skiing January 10-15, 1982. The training and races will be held at Blackjack Ski Area, Bessmer, Michigan, near Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula. Competition will be divided according to sex and long-established and recognized visual categories; that is, totally blind skiers will compete in Class A, skiers who can see no better than 20/400 will compete in Class B, and skiers who can see no better than 20/200 will compete in Class C. Although it will be to the advantage of each skier to bring his/her own sighted guide, efforts will be made to obtain a limited number of qualified guides from the Bessmer-Ironwood area. Anyone interested in taking part in the National Championships in either downhill or cross-country skiing may obtain an application and USABA membership application from Dick Kapp, USABA Winter Sports Chairman, 423 W. Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074. At the USABA winter sports championships, we will also select cross-country and downhill skiers who will represent the United States at the 1982 World Skiing Championships for the Handicapped, being held in Switzerland from March 10-15. Since the 1981 USABA National Championships were cancelled due to lack of snow, it is essential that all interested competitors take part in the 1982 championships. Accordingly, we urge you to request applications as soon as possible. ***** ** Toronto Hosts AAWB Biennial Conference The American Association of Workers for the Blind held its 1981 biennial conference in Toronto, Canada, July 18-23. in The general session program was particularly appropriate in this United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons, featuring speakers from Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. The special-interest group workshops featured informative training sessions in areas such as orientation and mobility, rehabilitation teaching, rehabilitation counseling, and administration. The 1981 conference marked many changes for AAWB. A new constitution and by-laws was adopted which, among other things, provides for a return to annual conferences rather than biennial. Elections were held, resulting in a new slate of officers. In addition, the membership was formally introduced to AAWB's new executive director, Kathleen Megivern, former staff attorney with the American Council of the Blind. There were farewell receptions for outgoing President Jerry Dunlap of Oklahoma and outgoing Executive Director John Maxson, who has moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. The new officers elected at the Toronto conference are: William Coppage of Virginia, President; Donald Wedewer of Florida, First Vice President; David Loux of New Jersey, Second Vice President; Eileen Hancock of California, Treasurer; and Richard Welsh of Maryland, Secretary. The highlight of the conference was the Ambrose E. Shotwell Memorial Award Banquet. This year the Shotwell Award was presented to Donald Blasch of Michigan for his outstanding contributions in the field of work with blind persons. The cost of the banquet itself was partially underwritten by a grant from the Government of the Province of Ontario. The Canadian host committee as well as the cooperating provincial and national government officials provided outstanding service and fine hospitality. The approximately 650 people who registered seemed unanimous in their enthusiastic thanks to Canada and the feeling that this was one of the finest AAWB conferences ever held. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon Each year the Douglass Society of Douglass College in New Jersey selects a former graduate to receive an award for distinguished achievement. Dr. Mae Davidow, ACB member and Immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, received the 1981 award. She is known nationally for her work in educating blind children, particularly in the area of using the abacus. An 18-cent embossed, stamped envelope bearing the message, "Remember the Blinded Veteran," in the indicium, was issued by the U.S. Postal Service on August 14 at Arlington, Virginia. The envelope is the first U.S. postal issue to include braille characters in the design. The first-day-of-issue ceremony was held in conjunction with the 36th national convention of the Blinded Veterans Association. The unique envelope design features an embossed hand reading braille. Above the hand, in two lines of blue type, is the legend, "Remember the Blinded Veteran." Below, in one line of red-outlined type, is, "USA 18C." The braille characters representing "USA 18C" are embossed directly on the print letters and numbers. Betty Hofmann, a founder and first president of the ACB of Nebraska, died suddenly of heart failure on August 9, within two hours of her return home from the ACBN annual convention. She was 32. At the time of her death, she served as ACBN treasurer and was active in community and statewide affairs relating to the handicapped. She was a past president of the League of Human Dignity and served on the Governor's Advisory Committee to the rehabilitation agency for the visually impaired in Nebraska. The Oregon Council of the Blind, with a grant from the Bicentennial Commission, has published a comprehensive history of the development of programs and services for the blind in Oregon. The Status of the Blind in Oregon, 1872-1976, by Mildred Gibbens, is available in print for $5.95 (including postage) or on cassette for $3.00. Address all orders to Oregon Council of the Blind, 530 Jefferson Street, N.E., Salem, OR 97303. The 1981 annual board and membership meetings of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped will be held at the American Motor Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, on November 14-15. Featured speaker at the banquet on November 14 will be George Mertz, Executive Vice President, National Industries for the Blind. The meetings are open to all. -- NAC's informational brochure is now available in braille and flexible disc editions. Send requests to National Accreditation Council, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. The braille edition has been provided courtesy of the Greater New Orleans Council of the Blind, a chapter of the Louisiana Council of the Blind. A research team directed by a Yale University doctor has found preliminary evidence that elderly persons who take aspirin for rheumatoid arthritis have fewer cataracts than those who do not take such medication. Dr. Edward Collier said that separate studies conducted at Yale University and at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary reveal that aspirin users show a slower rate of cataract formation. The evidence is still considered preliminary, according to an article in the AARP News, and doctors are devising new studies to test it. -- Eyedrops with sorbinil, currently being tested on diabetic rats, may some day prevent cataracts in persons with diabetes. Researchers at the New Jersey Medical School, Newark, have found that the treatment allows the lenses of newborn diabetic rats to develop normally, according to an item in Medical World News. On February 11, 1981, ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place inaugurating live broadcast facilities at the Patuxent Institution. Here 22 inmates read the Morning Sun five days a week to more than 5,000 blind Central Maryland residents through the Baltimore Radio Reading Service. Although other prison inmate groups provide some services to the blind, the Patuxent inmates are the only ones in the country who broadcast live. According to Marty Salisbury, Director of Education at Patuxent, the 22 inmates have volunteered their time to serve this special audience without regard to reduction of sentence or other benefit to themselves. Salisbury added, "Providing this service will be for some of the men an opportunity to repay society for the things they have done." John Powers, a charter member of the Iowa Council of the Blind, retired on April 30 after 37 years with John Deere Component Parts. It was during World War II, according to John, that "I got my foot in the door at Deere because they were short of help." He began on a drill press, later moving to threading machines. To aid him in his work, he contrived his own special six-inch scale and wrote down the gearing operations in braille. In May of 1975, John and his wife Lorna moved to a 50-acre farm, where John works with his son and has a workshop. Of his work at Deere, he says, "The great thing was not in my doing the job, but that a big company like John Deere gave me the opportunity." Barrons Business and Financial Weekly is now being recorded for blind and visually impaired persons and is being circulated without charge. If you are interested in business, finance, and the stock market and would like to receive this weekly magazine, please write Recordings for VIP's, 2000 Coral Gate Drive, Miami, FL 33145. Currently the magazine is produced on open­reel tape, but cassette copies may be possible. The ELBEE Audio Players, an independent troupe of blind and sighted amateur repertory players, is now 20 seasons old. Blind players and singers in the Greater New York area are invited to join ELBEE in a fascinating season of exciting drama and popular musicals. ELBEE uses a radio format style (plays and musicals to be heard instead of seen). You should be a competent braille reader and be able to travel independently. Interested? Please contact David Swerdlow, 621 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10024; telephone TR4-5704. Harold G. Roberts, Executive Director, Helen Keller International died suddenly on June 13 at his home in Brookfield, Connecticut. He was 64. A prominent advocate for the blind in the United States and overseas for 35 years, Mr. Roberts guided the expansion of the Helen Keller International activities to prevent blindness and to provide service to the blind in the developing countries. He was a member of the Executive Board of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, Sands Point, New York. Good Cheer, the national braille magazine for the deaf-blind, is in financial difficulties again. ACB members and affiliates have assisted Good Cheer in the past, and interested individuals and organizations may wish to do so now. For 18 years, the magazine was edited by ACB charter member Jack Murphey. However, he retired last year and the position of editor is now filled by Betty Bristol of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Betty is ideally suited to do the job, because not only is she married to a deaf-blind man, Bob Bristol, but she has many long-time friends among this handicapped group. She is an excellent user of braille and is closely attuned to the needs and problems of Good Cheer readers. If you have questions, would like to see a sample copy (braille only), or wish to contribute to Good Cheer, write Betty Bristol, 1225 Atlanta, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. Checks should be made payable to Good Cheer Magazine. The Oklahoma Radio Reading Service, in cooperation with the ACB Service Net, is trying to compile as comprehensive a list as possible of visually impaired hams and workers for the blind who are active in the hobby. Readers are invited to participate by sending their name, address, and call letters to Oklahoma Radio Reading Service, 1108 N.E. 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. ***** ** 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. ###