The Braille Forum Vol. XXI November, 1982 No. 5 Braille Authority of North America and Braille Authority of the United Kingdom Sponsor International Conference on Braille Grade Two 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 ACB Officers President's Message, by Grant Mack NAC and the Peace Initiative ? A Perspective, by Otis H. Stephens International Conference on Braille, by Floyd R. Cargill News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Significant Developments in Proposed P.L. 94-142 Deregulation, by Barbara Nelson Report of the ACB Board of Publications, by Harriet Fielding Third Annual ACB Writing Competition ? Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award Money Makes the World Go ?Round, by Scott Marshall Letter to the Editor White House Fellowships Courts Broaden Section 504 Protection in Employment, by Barbara Nelson ALL Names New Executive Director; Elects New Officers The Listening Ear, by Dorothy Stiefel Project EduTech USABA Skiing Championship Tournament to Select Olympic Participants Intraocular Lenses Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President?s Message By Grant Mack The National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) has been in existence for approximately sixteen years. It is the only recognized accredited body for agencies serving the blind, having consistently been recognized as the official accrediting agency for the blind and visually handicapped. The most recent extension of recognition came from the U.S. Department of Education on June 24, 1982. It is estimated that there are approximately 400 agencies, private and governmental, delivering services to the blind in the United States. During the 16-year period of NAC's existence, only 107 have applied for accreditation. At the present time, 90 agencies stand accredited. The accreditation process involves self-study, followed by an on-site inspection performed by skilled and knowledgeable persons. Simply put, it is like looking at yourself in the mirror, followed by a critique of a friendly judge. This basic process is used by other important consumer providers. All major hospitals and universities are accredited. Most thinking people would not consider attending a non-accredited university when seeking a degree in higher education, nor would they enter a non-accredited hospital when faced with a life?threatening situation. The fact that an institution is accredited often becomes the justification for public financial support. The American Council of the Blind has long supported the idea of accreditation in general, and has supported NAC in particular. We have encouraged the improvement of standards and have worked hard to make the process more effective. We have largely ignored the irresponsible attacks on NAC and have continued to work for the improvement of the program, as well as to encourage more agencies of and for the blind to voluntarily submit to the accreditation process. ACB has done its best, in a quiet, cooperative, and contributory manner to improve the system and to encourage agencies to seek accreditation and thus put themselves into a position of being better able to serve their blind consumers. This low-key approach has not been successful, judged by the fact that only one-fourth of the agencies have sought and received accreditation. It is unconscionable that three-fourths of those agencies which purport to be the source of training, skill development, and rehabilitation of blind people should ignore seeking accreditation. It has been said that the best way for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Even though the American Council has not been passive toward accreditation, it certainly has not been as aggressive as it might have been, and apparently needs to be. Let it be noted that from now on, the ACB will use all its power to encourage every agency to seek accreditation. Those agencies which have turned their back on accreditation in the past will no longer do so with impunity. This is not a threat, but merely a statement of fact, because the American Council of the Blind plans to use every method at its disposal to make certain that every agency serving the blind is accredited. ***** ** NAC and the Peace Initiative ? A Perspective By Otis H. Stephens, President National Accreditation Council Two years ago, William F. Gallagher, Executive Director of the American Foundation for the Blind, began a widely publicized series of discussions with Kenneth Jernigan, President of the National Federation of the Blind. This ?peace initiative? represented a serious effort on Mr. Gallagher's part to help bring about a resolution of the bitter conflict fomented by NFB attacks against other organizations of and for the blind. As President of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, I took part in four of the meetings with Dr. Jernigan between May and December of 1981. On May 7, 1982, Mr. Gallagher suspended the talks, after concluding that the NFB leadership had shown no genuine interest in reducing conflict. In the August 1982 issue of The Braille Monitor, Kenneth Jernigan published his version of what occurred during the final meetings between leaders of NAC, AFB, and NFB. In many respects, his account is inaccurate, distorted, and misleading. It is open to serious question because it omits important facts and makes a number of reckless, unsupported allegations against persons and organizations identified with NAC. Two omissions from the August Braille Monitor account are particularly revealing. The first of these has to do with information that we shared with Dr. Jernigan regarding NAC's recognition by the United States Department of Education. In 1971, the Office of Education first recognized the National Accreditation Council as the responsible accreditation agency for specialized schools serving blind students. This official recognition continues, having been renewed periodically over the years. Prior to each extension, Federal officials carefully review NAC's work and make recommendations based on their findings. The Eligibility and Agency Evaluation (EAE) staff of the Department of Education conducted the most recent of these reviews. Its detailed report was completed on September 8, 1981. On June 24, 1982, Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell extended NAC's recognition for the maximum period of four years. This significant action and the EAE report on which it is based strongly support the judgment of the American Council of the Blind that NAC is doing a good job. Anyone seriously interested in an objective outside evaluation of NAC should examine the EAE study. When representatives of NAC met with NFB President Kenneth Jernigan on December 13, 1981, in Knoxville, we gave him a copy of the EAE report. We pointed out its relevance to a fair evaluation of NAC and asked him to give it careful consideration in reassessing his longstanding opposition to our standard-setting and accreditation efforts. The EAE report was, in fact, one of the chief sources of information that we brought to Kenneth Jernigan's attention in support of our position that NAC is a thoroughly reliable accreditation organization, worthy of the support of all of those interested in improving the quality and performance of agencies serving the blind. We maintained that since NAC is helping to improve services, those who attack it and seek to destroy it are acting in a manner that is harmful to blind persons. If the premise is accurate, then this logical conclusion is compelling and the EAE report provides unequivocal support for the premise. Whether or not one agrees with the report's findings and recommendations, it cannot fairly be ignored. Yet it was not even mentioned in Jernigan's published version of what took place at the Knoxville meeting. No one reading his account in The Braille Monitor was given any indication either that we discussed NAC's evaluation by the Department of Education or that we provided him with the EAE report. Given the importance and relevance of this official review of NAC's work, its total omission from Jernigan?s detailed report to his readers raises questions about his candor and the credibility of his opposition to the National Accreditation Council. The second conspicuous omission from the Braille Monitor account relates to discussions which began at the September 1981 meeting between representatives of AFB, NAC, and NFB in Knoxville. On that occasion, Kenneth Jernigan made serious personal allegations against several NAC officials and supporters. He claimed that these individuals (seven in number) had met secretly during the Helen Keller Centennial Congress in Boston in June 1980 and had plotted to discredit NFB leaders in most of the fifty states. He charged that plans had been made to smear the reputations of these persons, and in many instances to deprive them of employment. He was adamant in making these accusations, and I treated them seriously. I asked him to provide evidence in support of his charges. He failed to do so. I then contacted and spoke at length with each of the seven persons named in his allegations. All of them stated firmly and without hesitation that they had no knowledge of any such meeting and would never condone, much less participate in, the kind of behavior that Jernigan ascribed to them. I communicated the results of this inquiry to him by telephone. I asked him again about the basis for his allegations. He was evasive on this point and provided no evidence to substantiate his claims. At our October 1981 meeting in Baltimore (discussed at length in the August 1982 Braille Monitor), I asked Dr. Jernigan to acknowledge publicly that he had made these allegations and that no evidence had been produced to support them, in spite of a serious inquiry into the matter. He refused to do so. Last December in Knoxville I repeated this request, and again he refused to acknowledge publicly even the possibility that he was in error. Instead, as later events confirmed, he chose to keep the pot boiling by attempting to manipulate NAC's complaint procedure. In the very letter in which he filed a "complaint" against the Minneapolis Society for the Blind, he made it clear that any decision short of the withdrawal of NAC accreditation would prove that the complaint procedure was inadequate. In other words, he attempted to impose his own preconceptions on the very process he was invoking, foreclosing all conclusions except the one that he had already reached. In responding to his letter, I pointed out this inconsistency. I told him that if he would provide written assurance of his willingness to acknowledge the validity of the complaint procedure, his letter would be treated as a formal complaint in accordance with established policies. That offer still stands, but he has refused to accept it. Instead, he admits in the August Braille Monitor that his letter ?was written in the first place to demonstrate the lack of validity of the NAC process.? His letter also demonstrates the fallacy of arguing in circles. In spite of positive evaluations by the Department of Education, the General Accounting Office, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and other external reviewers of NAC's work, the NFB leadership persists in its bitter opposition to NAC. This opposition is based on fallacious arguments, unsupported allegations, and serious distortions of the facts. NAC provides an accreditation process that enables consumers, professionals, and representatives of the general public to work together for the effective improvement of services to blind persons. It is regrettable that the NFB leadership is still bent on undermining this joint effort. Nevertheless, unity in support of NAC accreditation is growing. During the peace initiative, I tried hard to convince Kenneth Jernigan that he should re-examine his position on the National Accreditation Council. At times I had the impression that he might be willing to do so. Unfortunately, this proved not to be true. I suggested possible ways in which we might bring about a reduction in the conflict. For example, I offered to recommend to the NAC Board that it withdraw its current policy which is critical of the NFB leadership, if Jernigan would publicly disavow his stated intention to destroy NAC. He was not interested. I told him during our final meetings in Baltimore and Knoxville that if he could provide some tangible indication of his interest in resolving the dispute, we would be justified in continuing the dialogue. We discussed the possible suspension of NFB picketing of NAC meetings while the talks continued. But even this symbolic gesture in support of peace was not made. And, as previously noted, Jernigan was unwilling to acknowledge publicly that he had made unsupported personal allegations against NAC leaders. His position on NAC remained frozen. In his published reports on the peace initiative, he continued to exploit the conflict. He ridiculed and tried to belittle the efforts of those who were unwilling to accept his viewpoint. It seems clear that the purpose of all his efforts up to now is to perpetuate the clamor. If and when he becomes seriously interested in the restoration of peace, we may yet be able to reach an accord. But this cannot happen as long as one of the contenders maintains a vested interest in prolonging the dispute. ***** ** International Conference on Braille By Floyd R. Cargill ACB Representative to the Braille Authority of North America The 1982 International Conference on English Braille Grade Two was held at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., September 13-17. The conference was sponsored by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and the Braille Authority of the United Kingdom (BAUK). The plans and guidelines for the conference were developed by a six?member steering committee, three from BANA and three from BAUK. The BANA members were: Richard H. Evensen, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Darlene Bogart, Canadian National Institute for the Blind; and Floyd R. Cargill, American Council of the Blind. The BAUK members were: William B. L. Poole, John Lorimer, and James Hughes. The conference guidelines and an invitation to participate were sent to individuals and organizations in all countries where English Literary Braille Grade Two is used as a major reading and writing system for blind people. The announced purposes of the conference were to: 1) Register delegates' views on recommended changes in the British and American systems that will promote uniformity and facilitate the production and use of braille; 2) Report progress toward developing one Grade Two braille code for countries using English Braille; 3) Explore ideas for improving the English Literary Braille Code, the implementation of which might facilitate the learning, reading, writing, and production of contracted braille; and 4) Register views on future research in English Braille, and views on an appropriate international mechanism for cooperation in achieving uniformity and in communicating code changes. Each country was invited to send a delegation consisting of one to four persons. It was urged that each delegation, insofar as possible, include: experts in English Literary Braille Grade Two; official representatives of the organization that makes and interprets braille rules for, or determines how the rules will be applied in order to meet the needs of, that country; and representatives of organizations of the blind that are actively engaged in promoting an interest in and the production and use of English Literary Braille Grade Two. The U.S. delegation included: Floyd R. Cargill, a rehabilitation specialist and representative from the American Council of the Blind; Richard H. Evensen, Project Coordinator for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and Chairperson of BANA; Dr. George V. Gore III, an instructor of braille at Michigan State University and a representative from the Association of Educators of the Visually Handicapped; and Kenneth Jernigan, President, National Federation of the Blind. Seven countries were officially represented: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind was represented by a member of its Executive Committee, Bertil Nilsson, from Sweden. Approximately fifty observers attended part or all of the conference. Experts in English Literary Braille Grade Two from around the world were invited to write formal papers ? following predetermined guidelines ? on specific aspects of the Braille Code. The papers were submitted to the Steering Committee for preliminary review. The papers that were selected to be included in the program were duplicated in both print and braille and distributed to all delegates prior to their coming to the conference. During the first four days of the conference, a summary of each paper was read, followed by a thorough discussion by the delegates. Two blocks of time were reserved for the observers to register their individual opinions and recommendation. Some of the subjects presented in the papers were: the position of symbols for coinage, weights, and measurements in Literary Braille; the use of composition signs, particularly the capital sign; how the code might be changed to make teaching and learning braille easier; the space?saving efficiency of Grade Two Braille and the possibility of improving it; and the influences that changes in English Braille might have on smaller countries where English Braille is used, but English is not the first language. The subject that received the most attention was the need for an international mechanism to develop and maintain a unified braille code for all English-speaking countries. The last day of the conference was devoted to a detailed discussion of specific recommendations. The points on which a consensus of opinion was reached included: 1) Organizations of and for the blind should be continuously involved in programs to support the teaching and use of braille and the production of materials in braille ? including the manufacture of an inexpensive braille writer, an upward interpoint braille writing device, and appliances marked in braille. 2) Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom should make substantive changes in the Braille Code before another conference can be convened (no later than 1987) or until efforts to convene such a conference break down. 3) All countries should cooperate in research that might lead to a substantial revision of the Braille Code at the next international conference. 4) An international coordinating committee should be established to promote and oversee research and develop plans for the next international conference. (Such a committee was established.) 5) Establish a committee of knowledgeable people to make a detailed comparison of the British and American Braille Codes and to make recommendations for changes to make them uniform. 6) Strive for uniformity in transcription procedures ? presenting information from a book's dust jacket, full table of contents, and meaningful information on the back of each volume and on each page. 7) Develop a standard contracted code of optimal usefulness to the reader; conduct research to determine which signs should be included in the standard code and which might better be assigned to an advanced code. General agreement was reached on six specific elements of the Braille Code, dealing with the use of composition signs and formatting techniques. Details of these will be released after each braille authority has had an opportunity to review and ratify them. The full text of all areas of general agreement and all of the formal papers, together with a summary of the conference discussions, will be published as the proceedings of the conference. The material will be available for purchase at cost, in either braille or print, from the producers. It is expected to be available by early 1983. The American Council of the Blind was significantly involved in the conference. For four years it provided constant and steady support to the negotiations and development of conference plans and format. The highlight of the conference, a banquet for all delegates and invited guests, was hosted by ACB, with Oral O. Miller, National Representative, acting as master of ceremonies. A special-interest affiliate of ACB, the Braille Revival League, provided break-time refreshments for all participants throughout the entire conference. (Fifteen people attending the conference joined the Braille Revival League.) This is just one more of ACB's efforts to promote educational, professional, and recreational opportunities for all blind people. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative In this age of talking computers, voice output reading systems, and computerized braille printers, who can honestly ignore the importance of technology to the handicapped? Certainly the United States Congress cannot, and on September 29, 1982, the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the House Committee on Science and Technology conducted joint hearings to obtain testimony concerning the report recently prepared by the Office of Technology Assessment. Among the approximately 25 witnesses were leading educators, scientific researchers, manufacturers of technology for use by the handicapped, government officials, and one spokesman representing a consumer organization ? the American Council of the Blind. Yes, although there were other witnesses who were handicapped, my statement was the only one presented in behalf of a consumer organization. The thrust of my testimony in behalf of blind users of technology was that maximum use should be made of ?off the shelf? technology; that greater efforts should be made to complete previously begun research projects that have merit, but were discontinued due to lack of funds or other resources; that the Federal Government itself should set up a specific mechanism to guarantee knowledgeable consumer input in the establishment and administration of research and development programs in order to ensure such input at all stages; and that the financial barriers to the acquisition of useful technical aids by the blind should be eliminated by the use of Federal tax credits available to employers and employees alike, by a low-interest, guaranteed loan program, and by purchases through the national health insurance program. Our testimony was very well received, and although it is difficult to predict what specific actions Congress may take as a result of the hearings, the members of Congress present seemed especially interested in the statements concerning greater consumer involvement and the eliminations of financial barriers to the acquisition of technical aid. The joint hearings referred to above served as the ?kick-off? for the Capital Conference on Technology, which lasted for three days and focused on the technological needs of the handicapped and the interest of the Federal Government therein. The second phase of the conference was a Capitol Hill exhibit of much of the latest technology that is of interest and use to the handicapped. ACB was asked to be part of the exhibit concentrating on the needs of the blind and visually impaired. As part of our exhibit, we demonstrated our Kurzweil Reading Machine, which had just been equipped with the voice output system developed by Telesensory Systems, Inc. The Capital Conference on Technology was the first time the voice output system of the ?talking Optacon? had been used with the Kurzweil Reading Machine, and the experiment was so new that the special component needed for the demonstration arrived the evening before the exhibit and had to be shipped back to Kurzweil as soon as the exhibit was over. ACB members who attended the 1982 national convention in Atlanta will recall a statement during one convention presentation to the effect that the Kurzweil Reading Machine could be equipped with the much more intelligible TSI voice output system. We would like to commend both companies for getting together in this instance to produce a better technological aid for the use of the blind. At the time we prepared our statement urging greater use of ?off the shelf? or existing technology, we did not know of the plans by Kurzweil to use the voice of ?Thomas the Talking Optacon? at the Capital Conference. During September it was my pleasure to speak to the members of our affiliates in Michigan and Pennsylvania. The Michigan program focused on the necessity of making better use of ?The Hours from 5 to 9 ? the Other 16 Hours.? The Pennsylvania program concentrated on, among other important topics, the importance of accreditation to quality service and the role which the Pennsylvania Council will play in hosting the 1984 ACB national convention. Although there is a separate article in this issue of The Braille Forum regarding the expected withdrawal of several of the proposed regulations under Public Law 94-142, and while I am not so naive as to claim that ACB was solely responsible for persuading the Secretary of Education to withdraw the most objectionable of the proposed regulations, I do want to give credit to the countless ACB members and friends who followed our urgings, both in person and by way of the Washington Connection, and communicated their views both to Congress and to the Department of Education. Representatives of several Congressional offices have commended us for informing our members so well concerning the proposed regulations in order that their comments could be precise and to the point. Indeed, Congress and the Administration do listen to comments when they are knowledgeable, relevant, and well-considered! ***** ** Significant Developments in Proposed P.L. 94-142 Deregulation By Barbara Nelson Staff Attorney Secretary of Education Terrel Bell announced on September 29, 1982, that he would "withdraw" six of the most controversial sections in the proposed deregulation of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This represents a major victory for parents and advocates for handicapped children, who responded quickly and effectively to the new proposals. The portions of the proposed regulations to be withdrawn govern: parental consent, least restrictive environment, related services, time lines between evaluation and preparation of a child's individualized education plan (IEP), attendance of evaluation personnel at IEP meetings, and qualifications of personnel. Although the proposed regulations are scheduled to be withdrawn, Secretary Bell reserved the option of making "technical" changes in the current regulations in these six areas. It is not yet clear how and when these portions of the proposed regulations will be modified. Although withdrawal of these regulations represents a significant success for disability rights groups, it is only a partial victory. Even without the changes in these six areas the remaining portions of the proposed regulations would still substantially diminish the rights and protections currently guaranteed to handicapped children. The regulations would no longer specify the content of notices that schools must give parents when they wish to initiate or change the child's educational program and would not require schools to document attempts to contact parents. Schools would need only give parents ?reasonable notice? about meetings to plan their child's educational program. The new regulations do not explain what a school is required to do to ensure that parents are involved in the educational planning process. Further, parents currently are entitled to have an independent evaluation of their child conducted at public expense if they are not satisfied with the school's assessment of the child's needs, unless the school district initiates a hearing to demonstrate that its evaluation was satisfactory. The new regulations would require the parents to initiate a due process hearing to prove that a second evaluation is needed before such independent evaluation could be paid for by the school. Also eliminated is the current requirement that tests and evaluation materials be validated and selected by trained professionals to ensure that they are appropriate for the child. Finally, parents could be required to pay for many of the costs of services for their children who are placed in residential school programs. Because of the weaknesses still inherent in the proposal even after Secretary Bell announced his plan to withdraw portions of the regulations, the House Committee on Education passed the Biaggi Resolution, House Resolution 558, which expresses the House of Representatives' dissatisfaction with the proposals and calls for the withdrawal of the entire package of regulations. This resolution was scheduled to be voted on by the entire House on September 30, in the closing hours of the fiscal year, when the House was in a rush to pass a continuing budget resolution to fund Federal programs and services through mid-December. In last?minute political maneuvering, the ranking Republican on the Education Committee, Representative John Erlenborn (R., IL), blocked floor action on this measure, which had been expected to pass. Congress will have another chance to voice its disapproval of the regulations. After the Department of Education issues final regulations, probably in February 1983, Congress has the power to veto them before they become effective. The American Council of the Blind urges parents of handicapped children and concerned individuals to continue to express their dissatisfaction with the proposed deregulation of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. ***** ** Report of the ACB Board of Publications By Harriet Fielding, Chair The American Council of the Blind Board of Publications has had a busy and productive year, culminating in its annual Convention Week meeting on July 6. Following the mid-year meeting in Atlanta in January, all five members of the Publications Board were busy preparing for the Publications Workshop held on Sunday, July 4. Although the workshop was the crowning achievement of the year, several other items of importance were discussed at the July 6 meeting. Publications Workshop ? The biennial Publications Workshop was chaired by Dean Flewwellin of South Dakota. A highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Mr. Guy Story, United States Postal Service, Atlanta Regional Office, who discussed the free matter mailing privilege as well as bulk mailings and postal rates and regulations in general. The entire workshop was recorded, and within the very near future tapes will be sent to editors of affiliate publications, whether or not they were present at the Atlanta workshop. Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Writing Competition ? The winner of the 1982 writing competition, and recipient of the Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award, was John B. Dashney of Salem, Oregon. Addressing the theme, "If My White Cane Could Talk," Mr. Dashney's essay, "The Secret Cane of Walter Mitty," was published in the July 1982 Braille Forum. The theme for the 1983 Ned Freeman writing competition is: A Perfect Vision of Life for the Blind in the Year 2020. Full details of the contest, including specific guidelines to be followed in submitting articles, appear elsewhere in this issue. Braille Forum ? In her report to the Board of Publications, Editor Mary Ballard indicated that circulation figures for all editions continue to increase significantly. Since last February, The Braille Forum has been sent regularly to all members of Congress. Again this year, a Braille Forum request card was included with the convention pre-registration packet. Plans are to distribute this card annually with the convention mailing, to give each reader an opportunity to update his/her subscription where changes need to be made, as well as to give new members a chance to subscribe. The Braille Forum staff wishes to thank those who took the time to return the card. This is very helpful in maintaining accurate, up?to-date subscription lists. The increased circulation, however, has not taken place without some "growing pains." Specifically, problems have developed in production and circulation of the cassette edition, and just as soon as the entire Braille Forum mailing list has been carefully checked and entered into the computer, significant changes are contemplated. Almost certainly there will be a change to a C60 cassette recorded at 15/ 16 ips. At present, it is sometimes necessary to omit items from the cassette edition for lack of space on the C90 cassette. The change to the slower speed will mean that the cassette edition will correspond exactly with the flexible disc edition, which now also includes, as a bi?monthly supplement, ALL-O?GRAMS, newsletter of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America. A notice will be sent to all cassette readers before any change is made. Please, therefore, watch for this mailing and be sure to return any enclosed card to indicate your continued interest in receiving the cassette edition. A change to the slower speed would, of course, also mean that cassettes must be played on two-speed players of the type provided by the National Library Service. These players are available without charge through the regional libraries. Spanish Edition ? Some progress continues to be made in plans for a quarterly Spanish edition of The Braille Forum, authorized some time ago by the ACB Board of Directors. A notice appeared in the July?August Talking Book Topics. However, the problem continues to be reaching the Spanish-speaking population for whom this quarterly Spanish edition is intended. To date, it has not been possible to develop even an initial promotional mailing list sufficient to warrant a first issue. Elections ? The biennial election of Board of Publications members took place during the ACB convention business meeting on July 10. Elected were Christopher Gray of Arlington, Virginia, and Don Cameron of Tampa, Florida. Re?elected was Dean Flewwellin of Aberdeen, South Dakota. A complete list of names and addresses of the Board of Publications follows this article. A Look Ahead ? At its July 9 meeting, the Publications Board again discussed the need for greater contact and communication between affiliate editors and public relations chairpersons with the American Council of the Blind. The Board of Publications plans to develop a handbook for newsletter editors and public relations chairpersons, with a view to assisting affiliates in the preparation of newsletters, brochures, and similar types of publications. It has been the aim of the Board of Publications to encourage communication among ACB affiliates through the exchange of affiliate newsletters. The members of the Board of Publications stand ready to assist affiliate editors in any way possible, upon the request of affiliate officers. * ACB Board of Publications Harriet Fielding, Chair, 1880 Pacific Avenue, No. 504, San Francisco, CA 94109 Stanley Beauregard, P.O. Box 1, St. Albans, VT 05478 Don Cameron, 724 S. Davis Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606 Dean Flewwellin, Dorian Apartments, No. 3, Aberdeen, SD 57401 Christopher Gray, 1104 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22201 ***** ** Third Annual ACB Writing Competition ? Ned E. Freeman Article of the Year Award The American Council of the Blind Board of Publications is pleased to announce the Third 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 stepped down from office in 1966, 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 the American Council that Ned Freeman most enjoyed. For this reason, an award to stimulate quality writing for the magazine is particularly appropriate. The award was established in 1970. Until 1980, it was based upon what the Board of Publications considered to be the most outstanding article to appear in The Braille Forum during the preceding year. However, in 1980 the Publications Board felt that a change in criteria for selecting the award recipient was in order. It is now based upon a writing competition, the theme for which is selected each year by the Board. The award is presented at the ACB annual convention. It consists of a check for $100 and a certificate in recognition of the winning article, and the article is published in The Braille Forum. The theme selected for this year's writing competition is: A Perfect Vision of Life for the Blind in the Year 2020. The rules and guidelines are as follows: 1. The purpose of this writing competition 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 (type?written, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper) and must be no less than 1,000 or more than 1,500 words in length. 3. Articles will 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 are to be written on a theme to be announced annually by the American Council of the Blind Board of Publications. Theme for the 1983 competition is: A Perfect Vision of Life for the Blind in the Year 2020. 5. Articles must be postmarked no later than March 31, 1983, and should be sent to Editor, The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. All articles become the property of The Braille Forum. 6. No member of the paid staff of the American Council of the Blind, contributing editors of The Braille Forum, or members of the ACB Board of Publications shall be eligible to enter this writing competition. An award recipient shall not again be eligible to enter the competition for a period of five years. 7. Entries shall be judged by the ACB Board of Publications, and the decision of the judges shall be final. ***** ** Money Makes the World Go 'Round By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs Money was very much on the minds of members of Congress during the last week in September. A continuing resolution, House Resolution 599, was passed and signed into law by the President. This continuing resolution funds most Federal programs and operations at 1982 levels through December 15, 1982. If all of the thirteen appropriations bills are not enacted into law by December 15, the continuing resolution will have to be extended. The continuing resolution contains, among other appropriations, increases for special education and the American Printing House for the Blind. Fifty million dollars was restored for taxpayer assistance provided by the Internal Revenue Service, and this is good news for the many blind and visually impaired taxpayer service representatives and taxpayer service specialists. In addition, the continuing resolution specifically mandated that the free mail franking privilege for the blind and physically handicapped should remain free. This is quite extraordinary, since Congress has never before specifically mentioned free matter in an appropriations vehicle. Previously, Congress has only manifested its intent that the Postal Service should spend part of its subsidy for the free mail privilege. The House Appropriations Committee also reported its Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations bill for F.Y. 1983. As the figures below reveal, special education and rehabilitation services saw modest increases over current funding levels. Although it is encouraging to see these increases in the reported bill, the increases are meaningless unless all of the appropriations bills are enacted into law or, as is more likely, the Congress can be convinced to include the higher F.Y. 1983 figures in any extension of the continuing resolution beyond December 15. Congress is expected to return for a "lame duck" session on November 29. Appropriations bills and Social Security issues are expected to be top priorities. In conclusion, significant progress has been made in the funding for programs of particular interest to blind and visually impaired persons. Although the task of educating the Congress regarding these programs is not an easy one, and although the results are sometimes slow in coming, the American Council of the Blind is proud of its efforts to date. * Excerpts from the Labor, Health and Human Services Education Appropriations Bill, H.R. 7205, Passed by the House Appropriations Committee on September 29, 1982 Rehabilitation Services (including discretionary programs) State grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 943,900,000 (increase of $80,860,000 over current levels) Service projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,094,000 (increase of $2,200,000 over current level) Client Assistance projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,800,000 Helen Keller Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults . . . . . . . . 3,500,000 Independent living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,280,000 Rehabilitation training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,200,000 National Institute for Handicapped Research . . . . . . . . 28,560,000 National Council on the Handicapped . . . . . . . . . . 193,000 TOTAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,035,227,000 (Increase of $83,056,000 over F.Y. 1982 level) Education for the Handicapped State grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $962,428,000 (increase of $31,420,000 over current level) Pre-school incentive grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,000,000 Deaf-blind centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,360,000 Severely handicapped projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,880,000 Early childhood development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,800,000 Regional vocational and adult education . . . . . 2,832,000 Innovation and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000,000 Media projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,000,000 Regional centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,880,000 Recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720,000 Special education personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,300,000 Special studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480,000 TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,103,680,000 (increase of $35,100,000 over F.Y. 1982 level) ***** ** Letter to the Editor October 5, 1982 To the Editor: Most of the American Council of the Blind affiliates have not yet sent Mr. J. Scott Marshall, ACB Director of Governmental Affairs, their requested lists of members matched with their respective Congressional districts. I am pleased to report that the Indiana affiliate responded promptly, though it involved several hours of work with a state map of the districts. The map was obtainable at the local library and at the two major political party headquarters. The Board of Directors of the ACB of Indiana feels very keenly the importance of this concerted action by the National Office of ACB. We urge all other affiliates to supply the requested information to Mr. Marshall as soon as possible. There is no influence on legislation as effective as that engendered by voice or letter contact from the individual legislator's constituent voters. The truly successful lobbyist relies primarily on getting the right messages to the legislators through members of each legislator's own local constituency. Though sympathetic, very, very few people are aware of the potential measures that would offset some of the discriminatory socioeconomic effects that frustrate the blind. It is this kind of advice that the individual blind voter alone can give his legislator most authoritatively. Such advice can best be implemented across this nation only if the ACB affiliates send Mr. Marshall the requested names and addresses and Congressional districts of their members. ? Henry W. Hofstetter, Treasurer, American Council of the Blind of Indiana, Inc. ***** ** White House Fellowships (Reprinted from The California Disabled Advocate, Sept. 1982) The White House is seeking applications from persons with disabilities for the White House Fellowship program. The program is designed to provide people with first?hand experience and personal involvement in the process of government. U.S. citizens are eligible to apply, and there are no basic educational requirements and no special career or professional categories. Federal employees are not eligible, except for military personnel. The Commission on White House Fellowships is looking for applicants who have demonstrated achievement in their careers and who are involved in their communities. The Fellowships are for one year and are all located in Washington, D.C. Fellows would serve as special assistants to Cabinet Secretaries or senior members of the White House staff. In addition, Fellows participate in an extensive education program, including seminars with top Government officials, leading scholars, journalists, and businessmen. Application forms and additional information can be obtained from the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, 712 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington, DC 20503; (202) 395-4522. Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 1982. ***** ** Courts Broaden Section 504 Protection in Employment By Barbara Nelson Staff Attorney In the past, Federal courts in many parts of the country have decided that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act does not prohibit employers who receive Federal funds from discriminating against handicapped people in employment situations, unless the ?primary purpose? of the Federal money is to provide employment. This narrow view is based on an interpretation of the amendments to Section 504, which state that all of the ?remedies, procedures, and rights? available under another civil rights act should be available in Section 504 cases. These amendments were added in 1978 to clarify enforcement procedures to be used by Federal agencies. The other civil rights law referred to in the amendments, however, does not apply to employment unless the ?primary purpose? of the Federal money is for employment. Four United States courts of appeals have interpreted this to mean that Section 504 also only prohibits employment discrimination against handicapped people in Federally funded employment programs rather than in all Federally funded activities. The American Council of the Blind and other disability rights organizations have always contended that this narrow interpretation of Section 504 is incorrect; that Congress clearly intended Section 504 to cover the employment practices of all recipients of Federal funds. This trend to narrow the applicability of Section 504 has come to an abrupt and probably complete halt. The Supreme Court recently confronted the same issues within the context of Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in higher education programs. School districts had argued that Title IX, the language of which is nearly identical to Section 504, was also not meant to prohibit discrimination in employment. The Court said this was an incorrect interpretation of the law. Two Federal appeals courts have followed this view in interpreting Section 504. The Third Circuit, which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and the 11th Circuit, which covers Georgia, Florida and Alabama, have both applied the logic of the new Supreme Court case to Section 504, holding that it is not necessary to prove that Federal funds were used for the jobs in order to bring a Section 504 action alleging employment discrimination. In the 3rd Circuit case (Le Strange versus Consolidated Rail Corporation), a handicapped person sued Consolidated Rail Corporation for denying him a job. The court said that it is absurd to find that Conrail is prohibited from discriminating against handicapped passengers, but is free to discriminate against the handicapped in employment. This revitalization of Section 504 is likely to be followed even in those parts of the country which previously took the more restrictive view, because it is based on a Supreme Court decision. The new decisions are a critical step in the slow evolution of Section 504 as an effective instrument to combat discrimination against handicapped people. ***** ** ALL Names New Executive Director, Elects New Officers Following the annual Delegate Assembly of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America in Orlando, Florida, in mid-July, ALL?s Board of Directors named Donald E. Ebbert as that organization's new Executive Director, commencing August 1, 1982. He succeeds Dr. James O'Hair, who died in May of this year. Mr. Ebbert comes to ALL with a diverse background. He has been the chief executive officer of a financial and organizational consulting firm in the Baltimore-Washington area. His educational background with advanced degrees in political science from Georgetown University will bring new insight into ALL's legislative thrust in the months ahead. ALL's National Delegate Assembly elected Durward K. McDaniel as Chairperson for a one-year term. Mr. McDaniel was the organization's first chairperson and served from 1976 to 1979. Re-elected were the following officers: Vice Chairperson, Jansen Noyes, Jr., Chairman, Board of Trustees, American Foundation for the Blind; Secretary, Elizabeth M. Lennon, Michigan Association of the Blind; and Treasurer, Austin Scott, Executive Director, Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. All officers serve a one-year term. ***** ** The Listening Ear By Dorothy Stiefel During the recent convention of the American Council of the Blind in Atlanta, friends, new acquaintances, and total strangers came up to me expressing delight, interest, and praise for this column. It was most encouraging, but ... The future of this column is in the hands of Braille Forum readers. Certainly, some letters have come to me, and I am grateful to those who took the time to sit down and write their positive comments and words of encouragement. However unless more reader response and participation is generated, this column will cease. So please, write directly to the Editor about your thoughts. On the Listening End At ACB: South Dakotan in the Dog House is out! We all went in our car (Ali included) to a local Atlanta cafeteria, without incident, and had a delightful visit. Never thought South Dakota and Atlanta twain would meet! And I know there are readers who have never attended an ACB convention. Try it ? Phoenix in '83 ? It's good for what ails you. Pop Quiz: How many of you wrote to your local newspaper or contacted your area television station, or called the mayor's office about White Cane Day on October 15? A New Twist to Discrimination: A reader writes that a spouse was denied an elevator job offer when it was learned that ?better half? was legally blind. Anyone else have a similar experience? I'd like to hear about it: I am quickly collecting data on the silent, subtle types of inherent discrimination. An Idea for Disabled Groups? Someone suggested having a consumer committee, panel, or board to process and channel complaints about products for the blind and visually impaired. Recourse for the harried consumer is a national problem. No exception here. Getting the Word Out: A reader writes that this column has given her ?encouragement and inspiration? as she had just begun writing a column that is directed to the physically limited for a local newspaper. P.S. She's a new member of an ACB chapter. Remember, write to Mary Ballard, Editor, The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. My probation period has just run out! 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. ***** ** Project EduTech Project EduTech is a three-year project intended to unite technologists and educators in efforts to improve special education service delivery. Through interaction between educators who identify widespread and persistent issues in special education and technologists who pose alternative approaches and equipment that could resolve these issues, the Project aims to develop a base of relevant information and to disseminate this information to the education community. Ongoing activities include the selection of issues on which to concentrate during each year of the three?year project; development of reports and audio-visuals to disseminate information about technological solutions to these issues; and the establishment and maintenance of an information system for educators and others interested in current technological developments and in applications of these developments in special education. The selection of issues will be accomplished early in each project year during a meeting of the Project Advisory Committee (comprised of technologists and educators), with Project staff from the Special Education Programs Office (which is funding the Project) and JWK International. The issues selected for the first Project year are: information management systems and special education service delivery; lack of appropriately trained personnel; modification of the regular education environment; delivery of pre-vocational and vocational services to handicapped students; parent involvement and parent training to extend educational programs. The eleven different technologies that will be explored for appropriate application to these issues are from three major categories: communications, computer, and video technologies. Reports on the progress of refining these technologies so that they will be uniquely suited to the issue for which they are proposed will be submitted periodically to professional journals. Project EduTech's dissemination activities include maintaining an information system for individuals, agencies, and organizations to use. The system contains annotated bibliographies of information on technological advances, special education issues, school programs using technology, funding sources, organizations active in technology development, and technology journals. Project EduTech periodically reports on current relevant additions through direct mail, publications and EduTech's electronic bulletin board on the special net system and will be pleased to respond to requests. Project EduTech is seeking additional information for its files, especially information about school districts using technology to solve service delivery issues. Please write EduTech, Log AB, JWK International, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003; (703) 750-0500; or contact us through SpecialNet. EduTech's user's name is JWK. ***** ** USABA Skiing Championship Tournament to Select Olympic Participants The U.S. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) will conduct the 1983 winter sports national championship tournament near Ironwood, Michigan, during the week of March 6-11 at the Blackjack downhill ski area and the Snowcrest Cross-Country Ski Center. Competition will be conducted in the giant slalom and downhill slalom events, as well as in 5Km and 10Km cross-country races. Demonstration events will also be conducted in speed skating and biathlon (a combination event involving both cross-country skiing and target shooting by the blind). The USABA is the official sanctioning organization for winter sports and most other competitive athletic activities for the blind in the United States. Following the national championships on Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula, the USABA will tentatively select the male and female athletes who will represent the United States in the 1984 Winter Olympics for the Disabled, scheduled to take place in Innsbruck, Austria, during March 1984. All competitors and guides must be members of the USABA. All competitors will be placed into one of the three visual categories prescribed by the International Blind Sports Association, whose rules will also govern the 1984 Winter Olympics for the Disabled. Although competitors who are not American citizens may not represent the United States at the 1984 event, they are invited to participate in all the above-mentioned events in the International Division. The USABA blind and visually impaired skiers who competed in the 1982 World Winter Sports Championships for the Disabled, held in Switzerland in March, won six gold medals, five silver medals, and two bronze medals. The USABA, in conjunction with the Kirkwood Blind Skiing Foundation, plans to conduct, also, the 1983 Western Blind Skiing Championships in both downhill and cross-country skiing at the Kirkwood Ski Area, Kirkwood, California, during the period January 12-14, 1983. At that time, demonstrations will also be conducted in speed skating and the biathlon. Performances in the Western Championships, which are open to competitors from throughout the United States, will influence the seating order to be followed at the National Championships in Michigan in March. All skiers who are interested in competing in either or both of these events are urged to request application forms and other materials by contacting Mr. Dick Kapp, USABA Winter Sports Chairman, 423 W. Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074. Applications for the Western Championships must be received before January 1, 1983, and applications for the National Championships must be received by February 1, 1983. While it is desirable for all competitors to bring their own sighted guides if possible, sighted guides will be provided for all competitors not bringing their own. ***** ** Intraocular Lenses (Reprinted from FDA Consumer Update, April 1982) In December 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted its first approval of an intraocular lens (IOL) -- a plastic lens for surgical implantation after removal of the natural lens. IOLs have been used experimentally, primarily after cataract surgery, for many years. This approval, recommended by FDA's Ophthalmic Devices Section, an expert advisory panel which includes ophthalmologists and optometrists, marks the first time FDA has determined that a particular brand and style of lens is safe and effective. The approved lens, manufactured by Coburn Optical Systems of Clearwater, Florida, is an anterior chamber lens, one of four classes of IOLs. It is implanted in the anterior chamber in front of the iris, the colored part of the eye. The lens is labeled for use in patients 60 years of age or older, based on tests done with patients in this age group. FDA Commissioner Hayes said: "This approval marks a major milestone in the clinical history of intraocular lenses. It shows that the lenses can be an alternative to eyeglasses and contact lenses for some people whose natural lenses have been removed. They can be of particular help to elderly patients who cannot see well with glasses alone and who have difficulty handling contact lenses." The agency is reviewing data from other lens manufacturers, and more applications are expected to be submitted. If the data adequately demonstrates the benefits of these other brands and styles, FDA will grant additional approvals. To help collect data on possible long-term effects of the lenses, a toll-free telephone number has been established for physicians to report any significant complications. Patients who have a lens implanted will be given an identification card and registered with the company to help identify the lens if any problems arise. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From Dialogue With the Blind: The Helen Keller Center for Deaf- Blind Youths and Adults has recently adopted a circle traced with the fingertip on the forehead as the standard signal to a deaf-blind person of an emergency such as a fire or other danger. The letter "X" drawn in the center of the back was previously used to alert trainees at the Center of possible fire hazard, but no method for alerting them to the possibility of other dangers existed. The circle on the forehead was chosen as the new symbol because it could be easily recognized and readily traced on an accessible part of the body that is rarely touched. * * * At the Air Logistics Center in San Antonio, Texas, six blind men are employed to inspect metal turbine engine blades for F-4 Phantom jets. The blades are manually inspected for nicks, and when an inspector finds a defect, he corrects it on a belt sander. If the flaws remained undetected, the blades would burn up prematurely. Over 11 million Americans have seriously impaired vision, not correctable with glasses, according to the 1982 Progress Report of Research to Prevent Blindness, New York. People with eye problems make 31 million visits to doctors for treatment of potentially blinding disorders, and 500,000 people are hospitalized annually for eye surgery and eye treatment. From Matilda Ziegler Magazine: Ved Mata, Indian-born writer, is one of 19 geniuses selected by the McArthur Foundation to receive a tax-free award for the next five years. The award to Mata, 48, totals $236,000. He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker Magazine since 1961 and is author of more than a dozen books about his native land, his family, and his personal history. Blinded by meningitis at the age of 3, he came to the United States at age 16 to attend the Arkansas School for the Blind and has lived in the United States ever since. Expectations 1982, the annual braille anthology of current children's literature published by the Braille Institute, is now available free to any blind American child in grades 3-6. The 1982 edition contains ten complete juvenile books, as well as original poems, a new page of micro-fragrance labels, and embossed pictures of a crocodile, a rhinoceros, a harp, and a rabbit. The jacket portrays the pleasure two children derive from books as they travel through the world of fantasy, adventure, and history. Published since 1948 by the Braille Institute Press in Grade Two Braille, each anthology is geared specifically for children in grades 3-6 and becomes the personal property of each blind reader. Write Betty Kalagian, Braille Institute, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. The United Nations Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons has prepared a first draft of a "Long-Term Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons," which calls for a number of initiatives to improve the lives of the world's estimated 450 million disabled citizens. The plan is being circulated to all U.N. member states. Once comments are received, the committee will review and revise the plan and will submit a final document to the U.N. General Assembly next fall. Relevant terms of action proposed in the plan are "Prevention," "Rehabilitation," and "Equalization of Opportunities." The "Programme of Action" constitutes the first international plan of such scope and depth. An IYDP special trust fund has been established to assist developing nations in the establishment of disability related programs. n the finest tradition of Dickens' "Ghost of Christmas Past," you can also be visited by a benevolent spectre this holiday season. This spectre, however, takes the form of those wonderful radio shows that once floated on the air waves into the radios of the American public. Think of the added pleasure you will experience over the years by having such radio "greats" as Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, Matt Dillon, Sgt. Joe Friday, and Scrooge himself on cassette. For further information, send typed, brailled, or taped inquiries to Todd E. Eggert, 45 Birch Crescent, Rochester, NY 14607. The International Disabled Sports Association will host an International Blind Sports Week in Hawaii from May 29 to June 8, 1983. Sports events will include canoeing, sailing, swimming, bowling, tennis, goal ball, cards, checkers, and chess. Clinics will be offered to learn those activities, so you can participate even if you do not know anything about the sports. Friends and families are welcome to accompany blind and visually impaired participants. Registration is limited to 150 persons. For further information and registration forms, contact International Disabled Sports Association, Century Center, 1750 Kalakua Avenue, Suite 3-188, Honolulu, HI 96826; telephone (808) 947-7044. From Let's Be Human (National Labor Service, American Jewish Committee, Institute of Human Relations): Where are last year's CETA workers now? Congressman Paul Simon (D., IL) gives this illustration: The Shawneetown Day Care Center in a small Illinois county with high unemployment managed to get by in part because one CETA employee was assigned to it. When that CETA employee was dropped, the center folded. Result: the former CETA worker now draws unemployment insurance; the four women who were full-time employees of the Day Care Center are also drawing unemployment compensation. Four other women who were able to work because they had a place to care for their children have had to quit their jobs and go on welfare. The bottom line: one CETA employee's salary saved, and nine added to welfare and unemployment compensation rolls. Dr. Max Woolly, prominent leader in the field of blindness, is retiring after 35 years as superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind. During this time, Dr. Woolly has observed and been part of many changes in the education of visually impaired youth. He was one of the first directors on the board of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. He is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind. Currently he serves as President of the North American Region of the International Conference for the Education of the Visually Handicapped. Dr. Woolly is the recipient of two coveted awards in the field of blindness -- the Anne Sullivan Award in 1956, and the Migel Medal in 1978. Currently he is a member and vice president of the Board of Trustees of the American Foundation for the Blind. Coffee Klatch Household Hints, a collection of more than 125 suggestions on cleaning, baking, cooking, sewing, laundry, etc., is available in large-print and voice-indexed cassette editions for $2.50 from the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association. For a copy, send your check, payable to VISTA, to Patricia Price, 337 S. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201. From Recording for the Blind Newsletter: In 1981-82, more than 82,000 free recorded textbooks were mailed from RFB headquarters and recording units to waiting students. This compares with 76,884 in 1980-81, an increase of 7%. This makes the 31st consecutive year in which RFB's circulation has increased over the previous year. Of the total books circulated in 1981-82, 88% were mailed within five days of receipt of the order. This improved service is made possible by the new automated order processing system. The King's Transcribers Library, Hanford, California, has published a booklet to help sighted people read braille letters or notes, according to Update (National Library Service). The Braille Decoder contains a chart of simulated braille and numerical symbols based on the braille cell. Copies of the booklet may be obtained for 75 cents (stamps are acceptable) from King's Transcribers Library, 202 W. Grangeville Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: Individuals who use dog guides are eligible to participate in a discount program offered by the Ralston Purina Co. The Purina Pro Club makes coupon books worth $15 available to registered dog guide owners. For further information, contact Maurice Parisien, Ralston Purina, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63188. ***** ** 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. ###