The Braille Forum Vol. XX March, 1982 No. 9 American Council of the Blind 21st Annual Convention July 3-10, 1982 Atlanta, Georgia Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor ***** National Office: Oral O. Miller 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 506 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 833-1251 Editorial Office 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: Dr. 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 55415 The Braille Forum seeks to promote the independence and dignity of all blind people: to stress responsibility of citizenship: to alert the public to the abilities and accomplishments of the blind. The Braille Forum carries official news of the American Council of the Blind and its programs. It is available for expression of views and concerns common to all blind persons. ***** ** Contents Contributing Editors ACB Officers President's Message, by Grant Mack The Great Swap, by Barbara Nelson News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Have You Called the "Washington Connection?" ACB National Convention, 1982: Convention Notes from the ACB National Office ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates It's Atlanta for You in '82!, by Stephen E. Douglass ACB Board of Publications to Sponsor Publications Workshop Here to Serve You - The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, by Charles S. Shecter How Rehabilitation Cuts Affect State Services for the Blind, by Scott Marshall Justice Department Proposes Revisions of Section 504 Guidelines, by Barbara Nelson Report of ACB Board of Publications, by Harriet Fielding Tactile Communicator for Deaf-Blind Federal Support for Eye Research Receives $10 Million Increase No Room at the Inn, by Barbara Nelson National Commission on Social Security Reform Louis Braille Commemorative Medal - Non-Delivery and No Refund The Listening Ear, by Dorothy Stiefel Correction Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack The mid-year Board of Directors meeting of the American Council of the Blind was held at the Marriott Hotel-Atlanta Airport on January 9, 1982. Every member of the Board was present for the all-day session to make the important decisions that will guide ACB during the coming year. I want you to know this is a hard-working, effective Board. The American Council of the Blind is fortunate to have so many dedicated, talented, and sincere people filling these Board positions. One of the major tasks your Board faces at its annual meeting is that of approving the annual budget. ACB's improved financial condition resulted in a record high budget for 1982. Your Board of Directors wants to make certain that the greatest utility is squeezed out of each dollar committed in the budget, and I suppose that's why these sessions frequently take many hours. It is gratifying to be able to implement some programs which have long been a dream of the American Council. This, of course, has become possible because of our improved financial situation. Hopefully this trend will continue and we will not only be able to keep up with inflation, but will also be able to expand our services. You will be interested to know that another legislative seminar has been budgeted for this year. We expect it will follow a pattern similar to the very successful session held in Washington, D.C., last spring. The very popular and productive leadership training seminars will be continued. The Board budgeted funds for seminars in the southwestern and north central regions of the United States. At the completion of these two, the entire United States, including Hawaii, will have been covered. It is gratifying to be able to report continued financial support for worthwhile programs such as those of the American Association for Blind Athletes, the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, and the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, plus a number of other grants to ACB state and special-interest affiliates. A committee composed of Carl McCoy, Robert Campbell, and M.J. Schmitt developed details for a fitting memorial in the name of Floyd Qualls, and the Board funded and implemented four $2,500.00 scholarships this year and established a trust fund to which contributions may be made in order to ensure perpetuation of the Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship awards. Many of us who had our lives influenced by Floyd feel especially good about being able to start this program. Perhaps some of the wisest money allocated was that which was given to Good Cheer magazine. Many of you know that this is a magazine circulated among the deaf-blind. It is a communication tool much loved by the deaf-blind and was for many years edited by ACB member Jack Murphey. Letters of appreciation for ACB's contribution have already poured in to my office and to Jim Olsen. The following excerpt of a letter from Aslaug Haviland of Salt Lake City is heartwarming: "The other day I had a birthday again and a stack of cards and letters was waiting for me in our mailbox. The first one that caught my attention was a rolled-up braille letter. So I opened that one first, and that was the one from you. Oh, what more could I wish for a birthday surprise than to receive a letter like that and to learn that our magazine, Good Cheer, would get all that money to help us stay alive! "Fred and I lost no time, but called the editor, Betty Bristol, in Idaho Falls, to tell her the big news. She was simply thrilled about it. She has been worrying a lot lately that our magazine might have to go out of circulation. She told us that the printing price has gone up again and that now it will cost as much to have 44 pages as it used to cost for 48. "Bless that lady! She is doing a lot of work to help us deaf-blind have this magazine of our own, and she never gets one cent for what she is doing." We have also heard from Betty Bristol of Idaho Falls, Idaho, editor of the magazine. "I just finished typing a letter to James Olsen of ACB to thank them for the wonderful donation to Good Cheer magazine. I want to tell you how much appreciated this wonderful contribution is. Good Cheer's funds were getting so low that we wondered how we could even go on for another year. All of us were so thrilled, walking on air, because it gave us all good hope for Good Cheer. The magazine is now assured of funds for another year. And to not have to worry about funds for a whole year - WOW! That's just fantastic!" It is hoped that all the money being spent by the American Council this year will be as effectively used and as much appreciated as that which was donated to Good Cheer. ***** ** The Great Swap By Barbara Nelson In his State of the Union message, President Reagan unveiled a plan for "the great swap," a controversial program that would dramatically realign responsibility for social welfare programs between the states and the Federal Government. The President announced, "In a single stroke, we will be accomplishing a realignment that will end cumbersome administration and spiraling costs at the Federal level while we ensure that these programs will be more responsive to both the people they are meant to help and the people who pay for them." Critics charge that the "swap" is the "going out of business sale for the Federal Government"; an abandonment by the Federal Government of its responsibility for helping to promote the general welfare of our people; and an invitation for a brutal political struggle at the state level, where the most vulnerable and those without clout are almost certain losers. Currently, only the Medicaid and Aid to Families with Dependent Children programs are run cooperatively by the states and the Federal Government. If the states meet minimum Federal standards for these programs, the Federal Government reimburses them for half of the costs. Food Stamp benefits are paid entirely by the Federal Government, with the states assuming some administrative responsibility. Under the President's "New Federalism" proposal, this cooperative relationship between the states and the Federal Government will be destroyed. The Federal Government will take over complete responsibility for the Medicaid program, while the states will control and fund the Food Stamp and Aid to Families with Dependent Children programs. After 1984, the states could terminate these programs completely if they choose to do so. Additionally, the Federal Government will turn back to the states responsibility for over forty other programs such as legal services, vocational rehabilitation, low-income energy assistance, and transportation grants to communities. Monies collected by the Federal Government from excise and oil windfall profits taxes will be turned over to the states in order to help finance these programs. According to a recent statement by Budget Director David Stockman: "While the states collectively are net gainers, the balance differs markedly among the individual states. Broadly speaking, those with the most liberal and comprehensive Medicaid programs gain the most on the swap. Those with more modest Medicaid and Aid to Families with Dependent Children programs but with a large Food Stamp population, generally the southern states, would have insufficient Medicaid savings to finance public assistance benefits from this source alone." It is not entirely clear that the states will be "net gainers," since the economic assumptions underlying the cost estimates for the programs turned back to the states are based on rather optimistic assumptions about the success of the Administration's economic recovery program. In addition, the states with relatively liberal Medicaid programs may also be losers because they will need to supplement Federal Medicaid payments if they wish to retain the same level of medical assistance for their poor citizens. The proposed completely Federal Medicaid program will most likely be more restrictive than the programs currently in effect in many states. Given the Administration’s attitude that working people do not need Federal assistance, it is quite possible that the Federal Government will be cutting back in Medicaid for working disabled people. Over half of the states have already been forced to raise taxes as a result of the recession and cuts in Federal programs. States which have traditionally failed to provide adequate welfare programs for their citizens will have neither the financial means nor the motivation to ensure that essential benefits are not eliminated. Already over half of the states have failed to increase benefits to reflect even half of the increase in the cost of living since 1970. Twenty-two states provide AFDC payments that are less than $285.00 per month to a mother and two children. Even if Congress refuses to adopt the "swap" proposal, these benefit programs are still vulnerable. The Administration has an alternative proposal that would provide for massive cuts in Food Stamps, AFDC, and Medicaid, but would not otherwise affect the administrative structure of these programs. Because the President is still hoping to avoid a tax increase and to step up defense spending, he will have to continue to press for reductions in these important Federal programs. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller The 1982 ACB national legislative seminar and membership visit to Capitol Hill is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., from Tuesday, April 20, through Thursday, April 22. As in the past, the most pressing and timely political issues will be emphasized and primary attention will be given to Representatives and Senators who are on the Congressional committees most likely to deal directly with issues of concern to the blind. We are now analyzing voting records and the changing roles of committees so we may prepare our invitation list on that basis. An action memorandum tape containing more details on the seminar will almost certainly have been distributed by the time this article is published. As in the past, the American Council of the Blind will, generally speaking, pay the transportation costs of members who are invited to the seminar, and we are asking the affiliates to pay other expenses (room, board, local transportation, etc.). Although his departure from the National Office is not an appropriate occasion for a farewell dinner or a similar event, it is now time for us to say farewell, for six months, anyway, to "Thomas the Talking Optacon." A prototype model of the Voice Output Reading System, designed by Telesensory Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, has been under evaluation in the National Office since August 1981. During October, our Missouri state affiliate, the Missouri Federation of the Blind, opted to participate in the evaluation by paying part of the costs of the project and moving the prototype to St. Louis for further evaluation. The Missouri Federation has employed and arranged for the training of an instructor/evaluator there, and we are confident that the extra exposure which the "Talking Optacon" will receive as a result of moving to Missouri for the last six months of the evaluation period will provide an enormous amount of useful information for the developers of the instrument. We understand that whether the "Talking Optacon" is put into production in the future will depend upon, among other things, the availability of large amounts of research funds, and we sincerely hope that such funding does become available. As compared with other reading devices for the blind, the "Talking Optacon" is like moving from a Model T Ford to a Lincoln Continental automobile. All ACB affiliates are reminded to start looking NOW for the blind students they wish to send to the national students' workshop scheduled to take place in Atlanta on Sunday, July 4, 1982, preceding the ACB national convention. As in the past, each affiliate will be asked to pay part of the expenses of the student being sponsored, but ACB will pay the larger part. A detailed announcement concerning this extremely important seminar will be distributed to all affiliates in the very near future. As was reported in the January 1982 issue of The Braille Forum, the Fifth ACB Leadership Training Seminar, held in Atlanta, Georgia, over Thanksgiving weekend, was recorded and is now available. The set of six 90-minute cassettes contains the entire seminar. To order, send check or money order in the amount of $8.00, made payable to the American Council of the Blind, to the Braille Forum office at 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. We urge affiliates to obtain these tapes and to share them with as many members as possible. By the time this article is published, I hopefully will have returned from Switzerland, where I am to serve as Group Leader of the team of blind skiers being sent by the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes to the 1982 World Winter Sports Championships for the Disabled. This will be the first international event in which both downhill and cross-country skiers from the United States have competed. Although we know much about the capabilities of European athletes who train regularly in programs receiving substantial government sponsorship, we are confident that our relatively untried American athletes will do very respectably in their first venture into "hard-nosed" international competition. ***** ** Have You Called the "Washington Connection?" A popular telephone number in Washington, D.C., these days is 1-800-424-8666. During the day, you can reach staff members at the National Office of the American Council of the Blind (toll-free, of course). From 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 A.M., Eastern Standard Time, weekdays, and any time weekends and holidays, you can reach "The Washington Connection," ACB's information hotline service. If you didn't call the Washington Connection in January, you missed out on up-to-the-minute information concerning cuts in rehabilitation funding and a proposed education block grant, as well as information concerning floor action on Senate bill S. 807, legislation which you have read about in recent issues of The Braille Forum. The Washington Connection not only gives you information about important matters such as these, but also tells you to whom you should write to voice your opinion. So donlt miss out! Call the Washington Connection today and you'll find out what self-advocacy is all about. ***** *** ACB National Convention, 1982 ** Convention Notes from the ACB National Office Plans for the 1982 national convention of the American Council of the Blind are well under way, and many people are taking seriously the slogan of the host committee: "It's Atlanta for You in '82!" The host affiliate, Georgia Federation of the Blind, is hard at work to make this 21st annual ACB convention a memorable one. The time from Saturday through Tuesday of Convention Week (this year, July 3-6) is traditionally reserved for board meetings and conferences of ACB's fifteen national special-interest affiliates, as well as for educational workshops and seminars. This year, two seminars are scheduled for Sunday, July 4: (1) the Publications Workshop, details of which will be found elsewhere in this issue; and (2) a national students' workshop, details of which will be announced soon by the ACB National Office. The annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will convene on Wednesday morning, July 7. Pursuant to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws, elections will take place at this year's annual business meeting for four positions on the ACB Board of Directors and three positions on the ACB Board of Publications. Careful thought should be given in selecting those persons who you feel will best represent your views and most effectively direct future programs and policies of the American Council. Careful consideration, too, should be given to Constitution and By-Law amendments and to resolutions to be presented to the convention. Mr. Brian Charlson, 530 Jefferson Street, N.E., Salem, OR 97303, has again been appointed chairman of the Resolutions Committee. He will appreciate receiving as many of your draft resolutions as possible prior to the convention. Mrs. Sue Graves, 1334 S. 57th, West Allis, WI 53214, will again chair the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. She, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. Presentation of a number of awards has become a meaningful tradition at each ACB national convention. This year those awards will include, for the first time, announcement of the recipients of the four $2,500.00 Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships. The Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award is presented annually for an outstanding article written specifically for The Braille Forum. The recipient is selected by the ACB Board of Publications. Again this year, the award-winning article will be selected from among entries submitted to a writing competition. The topic selected for this year’s competition is: "If My White Cane (or Dog Guide) Could Talk ..." One final reminder: The deadline for entries is April 1, 1982. The Robert S. Bray Award, in memory of the late Chief of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, is presented from time to time, not necessarily annually, in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices and techniques. Nominations for this award must be received no later than June 1, 1982, and should be sent to Walter L. Smith, Chairman, Robert S. Bray Award Committee, 2301 Sherbrook Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. The Ambassador Award is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who, by their lives, associations and activities, have demonstrated their integration into, and their interaction with, the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, or that he or she be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year. Nominations for both the Ambassador Award and the George Card Award should be submitted no later than June 1, 1982, to Margaret Sanderfer, Awards Committee Chairperson, 3601 Allen Parkway, No. 446, Houston, TX 77019. If you have questions concerning the convention, the American Council of the Blind, or any of ACB's national special-interest affiliates, you may contact the ACB National Office by calling toll-free: 1-800-424-8666, or you may contact the special­interest affiliate directly for information. * ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates American Blind Lawyers Association - Norman S. Case, President, P.O. Box 65, Bethel, VT 05032 American Council of the Blind Federal Employees - Robert Jones, President, 309 N. 2nd Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153 American Council of the Blind Parents - Gretchen H. Smith, President, Route A, Box 78, Franklin, LA 70538 American Council of the Blind Service Net - Travis Harris, President, 3840 N.W. 31st Street, Oklahoma City; OK 73112 Council of Citizens with Low Vision - Marvin Brotman, President, Friends of Eye Research, 99 W. Cedar Street, Boston, MA 02114 Council of Rehabilitation Specialists - Charles Shecter, President, 135 W. 23rd Street, Apt. 1004, New York, NY 10011 Guide Dog Users, Inc. - Donna Veno, President, R.F.D. 1, Johnson Avenue, Templeton, MA 01468 Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers - James Womack, President, P.O. Box 629, Winnfield, LA 71483 National Alliance of Blind Students - Syndy Selfridge, President, 1700 N. Robinson, Apt. 301, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 National Association of Blind Teachers - Floyd Cargill, President, 216 W. Miller Street, Springfield, IL 62702 Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America - Ione B. Miller, President, 9291 Fermi Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 Visually Impaired Data Processors International - Lee Brown, President, 16205 Fantasia Drive, Tampa, FL 33624 Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association - Patricia Price, President, 337 S. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201 Visually Impaired Veterans of America - Dr. Michael Young, President, P.O. Box 1031, Borrengo Spring, CA 92004 World Council of Blind Lions - Felix Polo, President, 54 Davis Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606 ***** ** It's Atlanta for You in '82! By Stephen E. Douglass Host Committee Chairman On January 23, the Georgia Federation of the Blind National Convention Host Committee met for the third time. As in the case of past meetings, once again Oral O. Miller, ACB National Representative and Convention Coordinator, was in attendance to help guide the committee in this very important undertaking. The committee is making good progress in finalizing plans and arrangements, and we feel confident that ACB’s 21st annual convention will be among the best. In addition to the tours already described in the January and February issues of The Braille Forum, arrangements are also being made for a trip to Six Flags Over Georgia. Excitement shifts into full gear as you enter this wonderful, magical world of over one hundred rides and other attractions. There is truly something for everyone, including the Log Flumes, which make a splash you won't forget ... the Great Gasp, the drop that will leave you speechless ... hours of shows featuring singing, dancing, skits, jokes, puppets, and all kinds of zany surprises. One of the "musts" on this trip is to ride the country's best rollercoaster, sometimes referred to as the "Mind Bender." At one point while making the loop, you actually travel with head down (all passengers are securely fastened in, of course!). With a full­attractions ticket, you can ride every ride, see every show, and experience each and every brand of Six Flags fun ... as many times as you like. Now for a little more information about Atlanta, the "Jewel of the South" and capital of the State of Georgia. Atlanta is a vibrant, living city which rose out of the ashes of the War Between the States to become a thriving metropolis. It emerged from the resurgence of the 1960s as the center of transportation, industry, commerce, and sports for the southeastern United States. Today the population of metropolitan Atlanta is over two million, yet the city has never lost its Southern charm. You know the dates: July 3-10, 1982. You know the place: the Marriott Hotel-Atlanta Airport, 4711 Best Road, College Park, GA 30337; (404)766-7900. You know the room rates: $29.00 a day for single, double, triple, or quad occupancy. You know some of the tours. So make your plans NOW to attend the 21st Annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind. See you at the Marriott in July! ***** ** ACB Board of Publications to Sponsor Publications Workshop The American Council of the Blind, as the parent organization of 66 offspring/affiliates, has long recognized the importance of affiliate communications. It is demonstrating this concern by working cooperatively with the ACB Board of Publications in sponsoring a publications workshop to be held in Atlanta during Convention Week. At the mid­year meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, following the report of the Publications Board with its request for a subsidy or grant for the workshop, the ACB Board voted to budget a subsidy of up to $125.00 to one current or potential newsletter editor or producer from each state or special-interest affiliate. If an affiliate does not have a periodic newsletter or bulletin but sees the need for such a communications tool, the upcoming Publications Workshop can assist by providing information and advice to affiliate representatives. The workshop is to be held on Sunday, July 4, from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M., at the Marriott Hotel-Atlanta Airport. Dean Flewwellin, editor of The Vendorscope, publication of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, is the workshop coor­dinator and chairperson. He has planned a genuine workshop, with much of the four hours to be devoted to audience participation. It is anticipated that experienced editors of affiliate publications will share their expertise with affiliate representatives interested in starting or improving their home publications. Highlight of the program will be a presentation by a U.S. Postal Service official who will discuss the "Free Matter" mailing privilege for the blind and physically handicapped. Laura Oftedahl of the ACB National Office will also be present to discuss public relations and the manner in which ACB affiliates can handle publicity through their own publications and their local public media. All interested ACB convention attendees will be welcome at the Sunday workshop. It is not too soon to plan to attend the workshop and the ACB convention itself. For further information about the workshop, please communicate with Harriet Fielding, Chair, ACB Board of Publications, 1880 Pacific Avenue, No. 504, San Francisco, CA 94109; telephone (415) 928-7744. ***** ** Here to Serve You - The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists By Charles S. Shecter Are you interested in rehabilitation? You should be. From the moment you are diagnosed as blind, rehabilitation enters into your life and stays with you. Rehabilitation specialists come from a wide range of professions - counselors, teachers, social workers, psychologists, mobility instructors, job placement specialists ... Several years ago, a small group of individuals recognized the need for a consumer-oriented, advocacy organization to represent the interests and concerns of all visually impaired persons as they relate to rehabilitation services. The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists (CRS) was formed to meet that need and became a special-interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. The purposes and goals of CRS are clearly set forth in its Constitution as follows: 1. To represent the interests of and support the establishment of academic and professional standards, and to advocate the provision of adequate rehabilitation services for all visually impaired persons. 2. To interrelate and work cooperatively with other organizations of rehabilitation specialists, such as educational institutions, governmental agencies, and private organizations, to improve the status and rights of these special professions and to ensure a broad range of quality services to visually impaired persons. 3. To serve wherever possible as advocates for rehabilitation specialists, and to advocate the rights of visually impaired persons to receive services of high quality. 4. To take such actions, either independently or jointly, with other professional, governmental, private, or citizen organizations to carry out these purposes, and generally to advance these professions. In response to increasing concern about the rate of unemployment as well as under-employment among blind and visually impaired persons, CRS is currently developing plans and seeking grant funding for a comprehensive employment program which would include such services as the following: 1. Job development, job placement, and employment counseling services 2. A toll-free telephone hotline 3. Workshops on employment readiness, the job interview, and resume writing 4. Referral services 5. A computerized information service and data bank So that this project will truly serve the rehabilitation needs of blind persons, CRS invites ideas and suggestions to be incorporated into the program design before the final grant proposal is written. Most CRS members are themselves blind and have been, or still are, recipients of rehabilitation services. Members can and do, therefore, take a personal as well as professional interest in the quality of these services. For this very reason, CRS membership is open to professionals and non­professionals alike. Whoever you may be, whatever your background, you have something important to offer. Annual membership dues are $5.00 ($2.00 for students). We urge you to join at once so that, as a full member of CRS, you will be able to part1c1pate actively in the 1982 annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. Membership lists and dues must be submitted to the ACB National Office no later than April 8. So act now! The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists needs you as a member. An exciting program has been planned for the 1982 CRS annual conference, to be held July 5-6. Highlights of the two-day conference include a workshop, "Common Issues Among Rehabilitation Professionals and Blind Students," co­hosted by CRS and the National Alliance of Blind Students; "Genetic Counseling with Blind Clients," a discussion of the background and theory of genetic counseling and its specific application to blind clients; "The Importance of Becoming Involved in Legislation and Legislative Efforts," featuring Scott Marshall, ACB Director of Governmental Affairs; and "Job Development, Job Placement, and Employment Services for Blind Clients." This year, certification maintenance credits are being offered any certified rehabilitation counselor who attends part or all of the conference program. If you have ideas, suggestions or comments, or if you wish further information concerning the Council of Rehabilitation Specialists or its annual conference, contact Charles S. Shecter, President, 135 W. 23rd Street, Apt. 1004, New York, NY 10011; telephone (212) 741-0031. ***** ** How Rehabilitation Cuts Affect State Services for the Blind By Scott Marshall Frequently my telephone rings in the ACB National Office. I pick it up and hear something like this: "Okay, Scott. I have listened to the Washington Connection and have read Braille Forum articles about the budget situation in Washington. But what does it all mean? All you talk about is megabucks. What will these cuts mean in human terms? How will my state's services for the blind be affected?" To try to answer these questions, I have asked several state agency officials to provide the American Council of the Blind with short "mini­reports" detailing the effect of the budget cuts, delays, and uncertainties on specific state agencies. These "mini-reports" will cover such topics as personnel cuts and program changes necessitated by the current fiscal crisis. The first report has been contributed by Mr. Frank Kells, Assistant Manager for Planning and Development, Arizona State Services for the Blind. His report follows: "Sixty years of progress down the tubes!" "Our only hope — Should have been done long ago!" "Dear Virginia: No. David Stockman." However we view it, the Reagan Administration has touched off a socioeconomic earthquake. The shock waves are dwindling Federal dollars, and our 1981 strategy had to be mainly "damage control." In Arizona we did everything possible - sometimes more - to minimize the negative impact on the people we serve. Nevertheless, we have taken casualties, due more to the funding uncertainties and delays than to the reductions themselves. Here are a few samples of the Arizona experience: 1. During the six months ended 12/31/1981, our agency served 619 vocational rehabilitation clients, of whom 43 achieved rehabilitation. In the same period the previous year, these figures were 732 and 70, respectively. 2. Our Randolph-Sheppard program has recently closed or consolidated three locations, cancelled plans for one promising new facility, and suspended replacement/upgrading of equipment. (No breakdowns, please!) 3. In order to maintain a minimum ratio of 50% of VR funds spent directly on our clients, our state VR agency (including Services for the Blind) has reduced staff by 68 (22%) in the past eighteen months, mostly in the administrative and support areas. 4. In theory, the Federal cutbacks were supposed to engender greater responsibility and latitude at the state/local level. Yet our state has ordered a flat 5% cut in current year's spending by all departments, with a similar cut next year. Fortunately, our rehabilitation agency was spared this year. But has somebody missed a signal somewhere? Most puzzling of all is the question, "If a balanced budget is really the goal, why are they cutting highly cost-effective programs like VR, which has consistently returned tax dollars at a rate upwards of four to one?" This is the question we must keep asking our Congressmen and the Administration until they hear us. We're trying to do our part from Arizona. How about you? It is hoped that Mr. Kells' report will be the first in a series of similar reports to be published in these pages. If you are an agency official and would like to contribute to this series, please contact Scott Marshall, Director of Governmental Affairs, at the ACB National Office. If you are a concerned rehabilitation client, you might suggest to your rehabilitation counselor that his or her agency could contribute valuable data to this project which will help us demonstrate to Congress and others the real human loss associated with budget cut, delays, and uncertainties. Let's all do our individual part to gather the hard data necessary to fight effectively for adequate rehabilitation funding. ***** ** Justice Department Proposes Revisions of Section 504 Guidelines By Barbara Nelson The United Stated Department of Justice has the responsibility for coordinating the manner in which Federal agencies implement and enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As part of the Reagan Administration’s attempt to eliminate "burdensome" Government regulations, the Department of Justice is revising the guidelines that other Government agencies must follow to ensure that they are in compliance with this law and that they are providing handicapped people an equal opportunity to participate in Federally financed programs. The proposed changes in the guidelines undermine many of the protections mandated by Section 504. The Department of Justice has proposed changing the current prohibition against policies that have the purpose or effect of subjecting handicapped people to discrimination in all Federally financed programs. The new guidelines could lead to a situation where only intentional discrimination in significant programs is prohibited. This would make it much harder for a handicapped person to prove that unlawful discrimination has occurred. In addition, the new proposed guidelines increase the number of reasons administrators of Federally financed programs could use to justify failure to provide the extra assistance a handicapped person may need to enable that person to participate in their programs. The proposed definition of the term "reasonable accommodation" states that it "does not include modifications in the fundamental nature of a program or steps that would impose an undue hardship on a recipient or other beneficiary." Thus, the new guidelines would eliminate any definition of "undue hardship" and would allow consideration of the impact on “other beneficiaries." Further, another section of the proposed guidelines implies that failure to provide reasonable accommodation will be excused if the program has made some "good faith" attempts to make its program accessible. These changes would result in uncertainty about the responsibility to provide reasonable accommodation. In addition, the new guidelines would permit postsecondary school programs to consider the financial need of students in determining whether the students should be provided with readers or sign language interpreters. Section 504 became law in 1973. Since that time, the guarantee of equal opportunity has often been undermined by many Federal agencies and recipients of Federal financial assistance that have failed to take seriously their responsibility under the law. It has only been through the efforts of the American Council of the Blind and other disability rights groups that implementation of the law has occurred. These new proposals provide agencies with a whole new set of excuses to avoid ensuring equal opportunity for handicapped persons, as intended by Congress. The American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities is coordinating action by disability rights groups to attempt to keep these proposals from taking effect. A letter has been sent to President Reagan, to Vice President Bush’s Task Force on Regulatory Relief, and to Department of Justice officials pointing out that Section 504 has been cost-effective and calling on the President to stand by the pledge in his State of the Union address to continue his commitment to preserve and strengthen laws that guarantee equal rights. The Washington Connection, ACB's telephone information hotline, will provide up-to-date information on developments regarding Section 504 as they occur. ***** ** Report of ACB Board of Publications By Harriet Fielding, Chairperson The ACB Board of Publications met in Atlanta, Georgia, January 8-9, 1982. A major part of the meeting was devoted to development of guidelines to define the function and responsibilities of the Board of Publications. By-Law 7 of the ACB Constitution and By-Laws states in part: "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." Clearly, this delegates to the Publications Board direct responsibility for The Braille Forum. For some time, however, the Board has questioned interpretation of the phrase, "all official publications of the American Council of the Blind," particularly as it impacts upon the scope of responsibility of the BOP. In this regard, a question was raised as to whether the Board of Publications should have some sort of discretion over publications produced and distributed by ACB state and special-interest affiliates. If these organizations are members of the American Council and so state in their publications, should not the content reflect the policies and principles of ACB? It was agreed that the Publications Board could not and should not attempt to monitor or review any affiliate publication unless specifically requested to do so by the affiliate. It was further agreed, however, that a primary function and responsibility of the Board should be to assist affiliates through education and special services to improve their publications. The guidelines proposed by the Board of Publications and approved by the ACB Board of Directors are as follows: 1. The phrase, "all official publications," as used in By-Law 7 of the ACB Constitution and By­Laws, is defined so as to include any and all periodicals, pamphlets, brochures, leaflets, or other comparable materials produced for or by the American Council of the Blind and intended for general distribution. 2. Specifically excluded from the provisions of Section 1 are news releases, public service announcements, and materials designed for rapid distribution to state and special-interest affiliates. 3. The Board of Publications will directly oversee the publication and distribution of any and all ACB periodicals. 4. Concurrence of the Board of Publications shall be obtained as to the need for and the format of any pamphlet, brochure, leaflet, or other comparable material intended for general distribution. Content of materials prepared for use in such pamphlets, brochures, or other materials shall be submitted for approval by the Board of Publications prior to production, when requested by said Board. 5. The Board of Publications shall take whatever action is deemed reasonable and appropriate to assist state and special-interest affiliates in producing effective publications for their members. Such efforts by the Board of Publications shall be exercised only when expressly requested by an affiliate. To date, the biannual Publications Workshop has been the only direct, formal source of assistance and information given editors of affiliate newsletters. The Board of Publications believes that, although such workshops are of value to those able to attend, additional help can and should be given through distribution of a publications handbook and through direct communication with individual members of the Publications Board. Dean Flewwellin of South Dakota, elected to the Board of Publications in 1980, is chairman of the Publications Workshop to be held in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, July 4. The ACB Board of Directors at its January 9 meeting voted a subsidy of up to $125.00 per affiliate editor or representative to help defray expenses in attending this workshop. Further details concerning the subsidy will be announced soon by the ACB National Office. Although the Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year essay competition has been widely publicized in The Braille Forum and in affiliate publications, very little interest has been shown to date. It was decided that unless a sufficient number of entries is received by the revised closing date of April 1, the 1982 competition will be cancelled. Braille Forum editor Mary Ballard reported that circulation has increased enormously over the past six months. The use of alternate voices in reading the cassette and flexible disc has made these recorded editions much easier to use. More durable, four-cassette mailers of the type used by the National Library Service are gradually being placed in circulation to cassette subscribers. In this regard, so that readers do not receive duplicate tapes, it is vitally important for record­keeping purposes that all of the older type cardboard mailers be returned. The editor is working on details of production and distribution of a recorded Spanish edition of The Braille Forum. For the time being, at least, plans are to select the most appropriate articles from monthly issues and to publish the Spanish edition quarterly. The Board of Publications wish to state here its belief that, because of careful and intelligent editorship, The Braille Forum has achieved a top position among publications of and for the blind. * ACB Board of Publications Harriet Fielding, Chairman, 1880 Pacific Avenue, No. 504, San Francisco, CA 94109 Stanley Beauregard, P.O. Box 1, St. Albans, VT 05478 Dean Flewwellin, Dorian Apartments No. 3, Aberdeen, SD 57401 Janiece Petersen, 1629 Columbia Road, N.W., Apt. 800, Washington, DC 20009 Phyllis Stern, 1178 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park, IL 60304 ***** ** Tactile Communicator for Deaf-Blind (Reprinted from The New York State Lion, December, 1981) Budgeting for the new fiscal year by the Lions Club of Port Washington (New York), according to Lion President Robert Hewitt, includes the purchase of six "Tactile Communicators," special communication devices for the deaf-blind and deaf. The Port Washington club has been working for several years with nearby Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), the major institution in the United States for training double handicapped, deaf-blind persons in the development of special training projects. According to Lion Jules Cote, Project Coordinator for the club and an executive at HKNC, the TC units are now being produced on an experimental basis and cost about $300.00 each. Basically, the Tactile Communicator (TC) is a high-frequency (43 megs) radio paging system with a pocket-sized transmitter and receiver. The receiver converts radio frequency transmissions to vibrations. By connecting the transmitter to various conventional signaling devices such as the doorbell, teletype, phone, fire alarm, or call buzzer, normally audible signals can be sent to the deaf-blind user, who feels or senses coded vibrations coming from his shirt­pocket receiver. HKNC encouraged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to set aside a special low traffic radio frequency for the handicapped. In April of this year, the Center became the first organization to receive an operational approval from the FCC for a receiver and transmitter on the frequency of 43.64 MHz. A prototype TC in operation since that time has had favorable results. Dr. Robert J. Smithdas and his wife Michelle, both well-known deaf­blind persons and active in Center training projects, agreed to try out the TC in their Port Washington home. In the words of Michelle, "We know what life is like for other people who are not deaf­blind - how interrupting things can be!" On the other hand, they are both enthusiastic about using the TC and are grateful for an increased sense of freedom gained through its daily use. ***** ** Federal Support for Eye Research Receives $10 Million Increase Congress recently approved a $10 million increase for eye research. The $127.6 million budget was part of a larger appropriations measure signed by the President shortly before Congress adjourned for the Christmas holiday. The eye appropriation will be used to fund activities of the National Eye Institute, the Federal agency which provides more than 75% of grant support for eye research in the United States. "In a period of fiscal constraint, we are encouraged, even though it does not keep pace with inflation, to have this 8.1% increase,"said Dr. Charles L. Schepens, President of Friends of Eye Research. The money is part of the $413 billion appropriations measure that will keep the Federal Government operating through March 31, 1982. This stop-gap measure for the Government must either be extended or replaced with another appropriations measure in the spring. The $127.6 million budget will be used to support major programs of the National Eye Institute. For example, the bulk of funds will go for grants to individual scientists at research centers throughout the country. National Eye Institute-supported work has brought about advances in treatment of many serious eye diseases. The use of lasers in treating common cases of diabetic blindness is an example. The technique has cut the incidence of blindness from diabetic retinopathy by two-thirds. This disease is marked by hemorrhaging and proliferation of abnormal blood vessels in the back portion of the eye. The National Eye Institute­sponsored research also is on the threshold of new treatment that will make it possible to prevent certain types of cataracts or delay onset for as much as ten years. "As heartening as the $10 million increase is, it still means belt-tightening for eye-research scientists," Dr. Schepens warns. "There is going to be a great deal of important research that will remain unsupported, unless the private sector can help more." The Eye Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The 8.1% increase it received from Congress is about three times the average for institutes in the NIH group. Friends of Eye Research is a nationwide public education organization, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It disseminates information about new advances in eye research and treatment. ***** ** No Room at the Inn By Barbara Nelson Keith Bucher of Reader, West Virginia, received a vivid reminder that discrimination against blind people is still very much a reality. In December, Keith arrived at the Washington Trail Motel in Follansbee, West Virginia, ready to check in to the room he had reserved. The owners of the motel told him that they did not allow blind people to stay in their motel. Reservation or no reservation, they forced him to leave immediately. Keith did not take this kind of rude treatment lying down. He immediately contacted the American Council of the Blind and filed a discrimination complaint with the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. With advice from the ACB National Office, he intends to make the owners of the Washington Trail Motel, and other motel owners in the state, aware of their duty to provide accommodations to blind people. Although much progress has been made toward ending discrimination, the American Council of the Blind will not rest until equality becomes a reality for all blind people. ***** ** National Commission on Social Security Reform (Reprinted from AFB Washington Report, Feb. 1982) On December 16, the President issued an Executive Order establishing a National Commission on Social Security Reform, consisting of fifteen members. Five of the members were appointed by the President, five by the Majority Leader of the Senate, and five by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Establishment of the Commission fulfills a pledge made by the President in September to create a bipartisan task force to work with the President and Congress to reach two specific goals: (1) to propose realistic, long­term reforms to put Social Security back on sound financial footing, and (2) to forge a working, bipartisan consensus so that the necessary reforms can be passed into law. The Commission is to report to the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Congress by December 31, 1982. Members designated by the President are: Robert A. Beck, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, New Jersey; Mary Falvey Fuller, Vice President, Finance, Shaklee Corporation, San Francisco, California; Alan Greenspan, Chairman and President, Townsend-Greenspan and Company, Inc., New York, New York, and Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers under President Ford; Alexander B. Trowbridge, President, National Association of Manufacturers, Washington, D.C.; Joe D. Waggoner, Jr., Consultant, Bossier Bank and Trust Company, Plain Dealing, Louisiana, who was a member of the House of Representatives from the 87th through the 95th Congress. Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, in consultation with Senate Minority Leader Robert Byrd, selected the following individuals to serve on the Commission: Senator William Armstrong (R., CO), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Senate Committee on Finance; Senator Robert Dole (R., KS), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance; Senator John Heinz (R., PA), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and a member of the Committee on Finance; Lane Kirkland, President of the American Federation of Labor/Congress of Industrial Organizations; Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D., NY), Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Finance. House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, in consultation with House Minority Leader Robert Michel, selected the following individuals to serve on the Commission: Representative William Archer (R., TX), Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means; Robert M. Ball, Senior Scholar, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and Commissioner of Social Security from 1962 to 1973; Representative Barber Conable (R., NY), Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Ways and Means; Martha E. Keys, former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Carter Administration and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means in the 94th and 95th Congresses; Representative Claude D. Pepper (D., FL), Chairman, House Select Committee on Aging. The President has designated Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Commission. ***** ** Louis Braille Commemorative Medal - Non-Delivery and No Refund The July 1981 issue of The Braille Forum carried an announcement of an offering of Louis Braille commemorative medals re-issued by the Paris Mint. It has come to the attention of the American Council of the Blind and the Better Business Bureau that there have been complaints of non-delivery and no refund. Both the ACB National Office staff and the Better Business Bureau have been unsuccessful in contacting the International Government Trading Corporation, the firm distributing the medal in the United States. Complainants should write to the Better Business Bureau with details of their experience, including copies, but not the originals, of appropriate documents. Address correspondence to: Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York, 257 Park Avenue, S., New York, NY 10010. ***** ** The Listening Ear By Dorothy Stiefel * Dear Dorothy: I read the letter in the December Braille Forum by J. R. of Florida, and I agree with you both. First, it is very embarrassing to catch yourself talking to posts or, in my case, fire hydrants! Second, it's also true that one has to shake off the embarrassment and look for the humor in these incidents. One day I was walking home from the bus and said hello to what appeared to be a small boy wearing a beanie. When he didn’t answer, I bent over for a closer look to be sure he was okay and to see why he hadn't said hello. When I realized it was a fire hydrant, I was so embarrassed I quickly straightened up and looked around to be sure no one had seen me. Then it dawned on me that I couldn’t tell if anyone had seen me or not, as I am too near-sighted to see that well. All of a sudden, it hit me about how funny it was. I went on home and told the rest of my family. This was about two years ago. Yet still today all the little ones says, "Look, Nunna, there's a little boy with a beanie on," every time they see a fire hydrant. It is a standing point of humor in the family now. I have learned that even people who have no handicap talk to themselves and misjudge. So I just go more slowly and try not to speak until I am sure of what is in front of me. Remember, there are a lot of us around! - Wanda Stacy, Ashland, Oregon. Dear Wanda: Your experience is the kind I am sure many of us can relate to and, as you say, it is more common than most people realize. Not long ago, I met a gorgeous little towheaded baby, held by what appeared to be his grandfather. I noticed the child seemed to be spell­bound because all my "clucking" and facial expressions didn't seem to elicit even the blink of an eye. Ah, well! I shall always see that beautiful child in my doctor's office because he is framed within a two-foot-square oil painting hanging on the reception room wall! * Dear Dorothy: Four years ago, I replaced my white cane with a beautiful female German shepherd. Ali affords me much greater speed and safety in travel, as well as companionship. My problems arise when I visit siblings and their families or when they visit me. Most of the time, I avoid bringing Ali with me during these visits because the children either are afraid of her or tug and pull on her hair. Also, my relatives are from rural areas and feel a dog's place is OUTSIDE. When I visit them, they are concerned about the presence of dog hair in their home. When they visit me, they are concerned about dog hair in my home. Even though they don't say anything, they are always checking on where Ali is and how much hair she is shedding. One relative wants to tie her up away from me in the entrance foyer of his house, which only tends to confuse the animal. I worry so much about what they think and about what is or may be happening that I feel most uncomfortable during visits. I have tried to avoid a scene, but I would really like to resolve this problem. I also wish to say that I keep my dog well groomed and, realizing she does shed, I keep carpets and floors cleaned and vacuumed. What is your opinion, Dorothy? Am I making too much of all this? I realize that neither I nor my dog are perfect, but I do have some rights in these matters, too. Do I have a right to impose an animal on another's household, even if it is a working animal? I would like reader opinion, please. - In the Dog House from South Dakota. Dear South Dakotan in the Dog House: In answer to your direct questions: My opinion is that there is an obvious gap in communication between you and your relatives. I don't think you are making too much of the total situation. You do have some rights, but they apply only to public places. Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. has published a booklet entitled, "Current Legislation for Dog Guides in the United States of America," which covers specific laws within each state. You do not have the right to "impose" your dog on anyone's private property, even if it is a working animal and essential to your mobility needs. But if you have been invited to a home and the host is fully aware that Ali will be traveling with you, then both you and Ali should be treated with the same courtesy as anyone else normally would be treated. If such a visit should prove inhospitable, then you most likely would not visit again, would you? I realize all this may be grossly over-simplified, so let’s try to consider all your well-taken points one by one. 1. According to a local shepherd breeder and trainer, all dogs shed, especially females, no matter how well you groom them. Dry climate with extreme opposite temperatures will confuse a dog's internal regulator for shedding. Ali has adapted to a harsh winter climate by growing a thicker coat of hair. Living indoors much of the time in a heated environment will increase the likelihood of shedding. But, asked the trainer humorously, "How much can one dog shed in one short visit, anyway?" 2. You love your animal. Take care of her as you would your child. She is part of your life style; she brings you independence, joy, and security. You do not, and certainly should not, have to defend the presence of dog hair, her movement, or anything else in respect to your unique partnership in your own home. 3. Your siblings seem to be having great difficulty accepting or trusting Ali in their homes, somehow thinking her presence represents an unhealthy or unclean situation. Perhaps an orientation pamphlet as to the role and function of a dog guide may be helpful. Children may benefit from a comic book published by Seeing Eye, entitled "Bonnie Tells Her Story as a Seeing Eye Dog." You might consult your counselor or trainer where you obtained Ali for further suggestions. Harmony necessitates a well delineated two-way street. You have at least three alternatives: (1) Stop visiting your relatives. (2) Visit your relatives anyway and continue to place yourself in the same defensive and uncomfortable position each time. (3) Arrange for an open discussion of feelings on both sides. The last alternative will not be easy, but you will get results so you will know better how to handle future situations. Whatever the underlying reason turns out to be, remember that you have the right to be assertive, the responsibility to at least halfway meet the situation, and then the freedom to make a choice. Readers are encouraged to share their comments in response to any letters appearing in this column. If you have a concern to share or a gripe to air, write to Dorothy Stiefel, c/o The Listening Ear, P.O. Box 8388, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. For a personal response, please be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). ***** ** Correction The January 1982 issue of The Braille Forum incorrectly reported the vote on the Weicker Rehabilitation Amendment as 65 to 39 in favor of passage. The correct vote count was actually 55 to 39 in favor of passage of the amendment, as shown by an accurate count of the list of individual votes which was appended to the article. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon Roy Lockwood of Charlevoix, Michigan, a lifelong member of the Michigan Association of the Blind, was recently granted an Extra Class amateur radio operator's license by the Federal Communications Commission. This is the ultimate in licenses awarded by the FCC and represents years of study and hard work to the average ham operator. But for Roy Lockwood, 88, it required extra patience and determination. Roy has been blind since childhood and deaf since early adulthood, to the point where he now must wear hearing aids equipped with amplifiers. All study and preparation were done through the use of the International Morse Code. The manual used to study for the Extra Class exam was prepared for him in Morse Code by another blind ham, Bob Sikkela, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, also an MAB member. From Mobility on Wheels Review: All architects, in order to be licensed, now must be tested on the new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. This means that they must know the requirements for accessibility for the handicapped. Thorndike Press has recently announced a new book service for the visually impaired, the Large Print Readers Guide. Although increasingly popular large print books are now available in most public libraries, the new Thorndike service is the only personal book service that offers for sale by direct mail the best in current American fiction and non-fiction. Titles include current mysteries, romances, westerns, biographies, and a wide range of general fiction. Some well-known older titles are occasionally offered. Now, for a limited time, Thorndike offers to prospective Guild members a trial large-print book at half price, with no obligation to purchase any further books. For more information, write Thorndike Press, P.O. Box 157, Thorndike, ME 04986. The American Association of the Deaf-Blind will hold its 1982 convention at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley from August 22 to August 29. For further information, write AADB Convention, Commission on the Disabled, 1167 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204. The State of Michigan will soon have a legal definition of deafness, which will make it easier for handicapped persons to avail themselves of services and opportunities available to the deaf or hearing impaired. The following definition was developed by the Advisory Committee to the Michigan Department of Labor, Division of Deaf and Deafened, and will be recommended to the Legislature for adoption: "A deaf person means a person whose hearing is totally impaired or whose hearing, with or without amplification, is so seriously impaired that the primary means of receiving spoken language is through visual input - that is, lip reading, sign language, finger spelling, or writing." The Guild for the Blind (Chicago) has produced a cassette edition of the 1981 Consumer Reports Buying Guide. Recorded on seven four-track cassettes, the guide ranks products and includes general information on buying. To order, send check or money order for $10.50 per set to Guild for the Blind, 180 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1720, Chicago, IL 60601. At its 31st General Annual Meeting in London, the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind announced that its medical teams in eighteen Commonwealth countries restored sight to 165,618 blind persons during the past year. In addition, medical teams treated 1,361,655 persons and performed 31,963 minor operations to prevent imminent blindness. The Zale Corporation of Dallas, Texas, intends to give braille watches to legally blind Boy Scouts who achieve First Class rank or above. The Zale Corporation, the world’s largest retailer of jewelry merchandise, has distributed approximately 54,000 braille watches in the past 28 years. There are currently 150,000 handicapped Scouts in regular units and another 60,000 in special units for the handicapped. Pat Price, President of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association and Immediate Past President of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana, was named First Runnerup for the annual Businesswoman of the Year Award, presented by the Indianapolis Business and Professional Women's Club last October. The Businesswoman of the Year Award honors a local woman whose career achievements, community involvement, and professional activities identify her as an outstanding member of the business community and a model for women aspiring to business careers. Pat's volunteer efforts have also earned her three Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Awards during 1981. Brain-injured persons with visual impairments and other disabilities may benefit from the use of electronic video games, according to an item in Science News. William J. Lynch, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, finds that games that require sighting and hitting a target can aid in the rehabilitation of a person who has had stroke or traumatic brain damage. From White Cane Bulletin (Florida): The IBM Corporation is offering used typewriters to handicapped persons for the trade-in value of the typewriter. Highest price is $400.00 for machines that may have cost more than $1,000.00 new. Call your local IBM office with your typewriter specifications. When a trade-in is received which meets your needs, the office will notify you. Payment is on a 30-day net basis, and the machine must be accepted "as is." However, a service contract is available from IBM for about $90.00 a year. From The Lantern: To augment its vocational training program, the Perkins School for the Blind recently purchased the Pioneer Market, adjacent to the school campus. Students interested in exploring food marketing as a vocation begin their training at the store on campus and transfer skills learned there to work experience at the Pioneer Market. From Reflections (American Council of the Blind Parents): "Imagination Time," a new ten-part series of half-hour dramatic readings of classic children's stories, will soon be aired on National Public Radio. The series is specially designed for the print handicapped so that blind and other physically handicapped children can enjoy classic stories by Andersen, Grimm, and others. Narrator is Frances Kelley, long-time reader for the National Library Service talking book program. From AFB Newsletter: Linda Horner of Waitsfield, Vermont, and Sally Nemeth of Benwood, West Virginia, are the 1981-82 recipients of the R. L. Gillette Scholarships. These scholarships are made possible by a bequest from the Estate of R. L. Gillette which stipulates that the annual interest be used to help female blind students in music or literature at the baccalaureate level. Both recipients will receive $1,000.00 during each of the four years of their course of study. Anyone wishing to apply for the 1982-83 scholarships should contact Dr. Susan J. Spungin, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. Applicants in literature are required to submit a 10- to 20-page manuscript; those in music are required to submit a cassette recording demonstrating their musical ability, vocal or instrumental. From Modern Maturity (American Association of Retired Persons): Jack (The Masher) Derrickson collects aluminum cans on a grand scale. He has gathered $13,000.00 worth - 26 tons - during the past five years. The money has been donated to help dog guide programs for the blind in California. Each day, Derrickson makes his rounds collecting cans, which he then mashes - thus his nickname. His three-wheeler with a large back bin is easily spotted at pickup points. Location for the pickup spots is announced in the local newspaper, and readers are asked to help "the Masher" by donating aluminum cans. Effective January 1, 1982, the substantial gainful activity (SGA) for blind Social Security disability insurance recipients increased to $500.00 a month. This means that blind SSDI beneficiaries may earn up to $500.00 a month without losing Social Security cash benefits. Two blind Englishmen, Nigel Verbeck, 39, and Gerald Price, 47, recently crossed the English Channel on water skis. They made the trip from Folkston, England, to the French coast in about four hours, having to stop twice because of high seas. ***** ** 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. ###