The Braille Forum Vol. XXII January 1984 No. 7 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor 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. ***** * National Office: Oral O. Miller 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506 Washington, DC 20036 1-800-424-8666 * Editorial Office The Braille Forum: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 442-3131 * Contributing Editor 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: Durward K. McDaniel 9468 Singing Quail Drive Austin, TX 78758 * Secretary: Karen Perzentka 6913 Colony Drive Madison, WI 53717 * Treasurer: James R. Olsen American Council of the Blind Summit Bank Building, Suite 822 310 4th Avenue, S. Minneapolis, MN 55415 ***** ** Contents ACB Officers President's Message, by Grant Mack The Braille Forum in Spanish Come, Let Us Reason Together: ACB Speaks out Firmly on the Sheltered Workshop Issue, by Oral O. Miller Congressional Committee Reports on Sheltered Workshops, by Scott Marshall Celebrate America's Birthday at the 1984 ACB National Convention, by John A. Horst News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller ACB Brochures Now Available in Your Favorite Medium, by Laura Oftedahl Be Prepared: Section 504 Action Needed Soon!, by Barbara Nelson You Can Adopt Love, by Charles S. Shecter NAC Announces New Executive Director New York Subway Safety Campaign Moves Ahead SSI and SSDI Changes Effective January 1984 "Now You See It," by Bill Heilbron USABA to Conduct 1984 National Winter Championships in New England Handicapped Database Now Available to Personal Computer Users Sewing Hotline Idea Explored During National Sewing Month High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack It was raining hard when Albee and I exited the cab and made our way to the southwest gate of the grounds to the White House shortly before noon on Monday, November 28, 1983. We had come to Washington at the invitation of the President of the United States to attend a ceremony for the signing of a proclamation declaring the decade 1983-1992 as the Decade of Disabled Persons. The extra security precautions in our nation's capital which had been announced a few days earlier were very evident as we made our way through the various security check points. Upon clearing security, we were met by a very personable Marine captain who escorted us the rest of the way to the Diplomat Room and who attended our needs at the reception which was in progress there. A string ensemble composed of members of the Marine Corps Band entertained with Christmas carols and helped create a festive, bright atmosphere, made more bright and festive when contrasted with the dismal weather outside. Shortly before noon, we made our way to the East Room and were seated to await the arrival of the President of the United States. President Reagan and Vice President Bush arrived at the podium at 11:55 A.M. and started the short, but significant program which concluded with the President signing the proclamation. To the approximately 150 disabled persons assembled, it was an experience long to be remembered and an occasion which could have significant positive benefits for all disabled persons. Following are excerpts from President Reagan's remarks: Proclamations can summon good people to action and light the path of hope. The 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons and the 1982 National Year of Disabled Persons stimulated new activity to improve the lives of our disabled Americans. Consciousness was raised, new partnerships formed, barriers reduced, and opportunities increased. Our own efforts in the White House, for example, have helped generate a number of private projects involving transportation, elementary school tutoring, eye diagnosis and surgery. But we can't rest on past success. The task before us is to maintain our momentum and to do more. Today I am establishing a clear national goal. Let us increase the economic independence of every disabled American and let us begin today. The disabled want what all of us want. The opportunity to contribute to our communities, to use our creativity, and to go as far as our God-given talents will take us. We see remarkable achievements in medicine, technology, education, rehabilitation, and in preventive medicine. Voluntary efforts by the private sector help in a thousand ways. America is a caring society. But too often, Federal programs discourage full participation by society. Outmoded attitudes and practices that foster dependence are still with us. They are unjust, unwanted, and non-productive. The maze of Federal programs complicates matters even more. Thirty-two Federal agencies fund handicapped research. There are at least 42 separate Federal programs specifically targeted toward the handicapped population, with an annual budget in excess of $36 billion. More than a hundred other programs provide handicapped services and support. Now, many good things are being done, and federal programs help in countless ways. But the patchwork quilt of existing policies and programs can be as much of a hindrance as a help. Programs overlap. They work at cross-purposes, and worst of all, they don't always point toward independence and jobs. So we have a lot of work to do, and this work will be done. The Administration's review of the regulations implementing Law 94-142, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, has been completed. The regulations are fine the way they are. No changes will be made and the program will be protected in its present form. The Department of Health and Human Services will direct a program to strengthen private sector job opportunities. This initiative will feature a new job cataloging service and a national campaign to coordinate and stimulate employment possibilities for the severely disabled. Help is also needed to assist in the transition from special education to community integration and job placement. The Department of Education and Health and Human Services have established a program to assist special education students during this transition. Now, I know these programs are only a beginning, but we believe equal opportunity, equal access, and greater economic independence must be more than slogans. Whenever government puts welfare and charity before opportunities for jobs, it misses the mark. By returning to our traditional values of self-reliance, human dignity and independence, we can find the solution together. We can help replace chaos with order in Federal programs, and we can promote opportunity and offer the promise of sharing the joys and responsibilities of community life. I believe we can make this dream come true. You may face limitations, but not one of you here today lacks the courage, the will, or the heart to do what others say cannot be done. There is a young lady with us today who has demonstrated that so well. Jennifer Boatman has a serious malformation of the spine. Well, Jennifer's handicap didn't stop her from saving the life of a 5-year-old boy. When Jennifer saw young Joshua Mikefell tumbling through a whitewater stretch of the North Umpqwa River in southwestern Oregon, she didn't hesitate one second. She jumped into the swift mountain stream, swam to the boy and pulled him to the river bank. Joshua's father called it a miracle. It is also the story of the courage and the capability of America's disabled. Let us rededicate ourselves to the task ahead; Let the spirit of the National Decade of Disabled Persons capture our imagination. In partnership between the public and private sectors, among national, state and local organizations, and between the disabled and the abled, we can win the battle for dignity, equality, and increased economic opportunity for all Americans. The complete text of the proclamation is as follows: During the 1981 International Year and the 1982 National Year of Disabled Persons, we learned about the many accomplishments of disabled persons, both young and old. We also gained vast new insights into the significant impact that access to education, rehabilitation, and employment have on their lives. The progress we have made is a tribute to the courage and determination of our disabled people, to innovative research and development both in technology and training techniques to assist the disabled, and to those -- whether in the private or public sectors -- who have given so generously of their time and energies to help enrich the lives of disabled persons. We must encourage the provision of rehabilitation and other comprehensive services oriented toward independence within the context of family and community. For only through opportunities to use the full range of their potential will our disabled citizens achieve the independence and dignity that are their due. In furtherance of the initiatives encouraged by observance of the International Year of Disabled Persons, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the years 1983 through 1992 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons. The Congress of the United States, by House Concurrent Resolution 39, has requested the President to take all steps within his authority to implement, within the United States, the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 3, 1982. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the years 1983 through 1992 as the National Decade of Disabled Persons. I call upon all Americans in both the private and public sectors to join our continuing effort to assist disabled people and to continue the progress made over the past two years. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord nineteen hundred eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and eighth. The signing of proclamations and the fanfare accompanying such ceremonies are designed to draw attention and make people feel good. Too often these are the only benefits that derive from such occasions. It is hoped that the Reagan Administration and those Administrations that follow during the next ten years will do more than give lip service to the avowed purposes of this proclamation. If a sincere effort is made to really make things better for disabled people by maintaining effective current programs and expanding on new ones, then the next ten years can truly become the Decade of Disabled Persons. The American Council of the Blind will continue to be vigilant, contributory, and aggressive in order to achieve this goal. ***** ** The Braille Forum in Spanish The American Council of the Blind is pleased to announce that the long-anticipated Spanish edition of The Braille Forum, El Foro Braille, is at last a reality. The first issue, Fall 1983, went into circulation in mid-December, and Winter 1984 is already well under way and should be in the hands of readers sometime in February. At least for the present, El Foro Braille will be published quarterly and will be available on flexible disc only. Included will be articles taken from the monthly issues of The Braille Forum as well as articles written and/ or selected specially for a readership whose first language is Spanish. For instance, the first issue contained a special message from the ACB President; an overview of the structure and programs of the American Council of the Blind by the ACB National Representative; an article outlining the development of the NLS regional library in Puerto Rico, written in Spanish by its former head librarian; material supplied in Spanish by the Social Security Administration titled "Social Security Information"; and from The Braille Forum: "20/20 with a Twist," the Ned E. Freeman award-winning essay for 1983; "International Games for the Disabled"; "How Far We've Come," a history of eye research and treatment; and a composite "Here and There" column taken from several recent issues of The Braille Forum. The Braille Forum office needs your help in developing and expanding the mailing list for this Spanish edition. We know there are countless Spanish-speaking blind and visually impaired persons throughout the country who would welcome information about what blind people are thinking and doing; about the latest technology; about laws and legislation affecting their rights and privileges as blind people -- in short, the kind of information which you regularly receive through The Braille Forum. Please help us find these people. If you know of a blind or visually impaired person (or persons) whose first language is Spanish, please contact us. Send names and addresses to The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. With your help, the American Council of the Blind can provide a significant service to a seriously under-served blind population. ***** ** Come, Let Us Reason Together: ACB Speaks Out Firmly on the Sheltered Workshop Issue Excerpts from a Speech Delivered by Oral O. Miller, National Representative, American Council of the Blind, before the General Council of Workshops for the Blind, November 2, 1983, at Arlington, Virginia (Mr. Miller began his remarks by briefly outlining the history, structure, programs, and philosophy of the American Council of the Blind. He pointed out that history, structure, and philosophy greatly influence ACB's position and the action it takes in reference to such matters as the sheltered workshops subject and the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program. His comments relating specifically to that position and that action follow.) ... There are two extremes of view concerning Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) and the sheltered workshop program. One is the extreme point of view which you will recognize immediately, and it would kill the sheltered workshops as employers of everyone but the most productive blind workers. The other extreme reaction is the knee-jerk reaction to the effect that the status quo must be maintained at any cost because the present system is doing such a good job for so many blind workers that any change in that system would undoubtedly be doomed. These are both extremes. The American Council of the Blind, ladies and gentlemen, is interested first in results rather than PR or press. So when we want to solve problems, we first try to reason together and discuss things together. You remember Lyndon Johnson, "Come, let us reason together." And that's why I am here today. I agree completely with George Mertz. We do enjoy excellent communications with National Industries for the Blind and the General Council of Workshops for the Blind. But I am here to tell you today, ladies and gentlemen, that the members of the American Council are becoming a bit frustrated and a bit impatient with the system, because it appears to resolve to maintain the status quo and to avoid any meaningful improvements. ... My testimony this past May before the Manpower and Housing Subcommittee of the House Committee on Governmental Operations was based on policies enunciated in recent membership resolutions, and today I am here to urge you to try to think of ways to make improvements rather than trying to think of reasons why improvements should not be tried or even considered. I urge you to abandon the argument that any change of any kind will threaten the "blind priority" for workshops, because today I am here to remind you that in the hearings that were conducted last spring, other people stated they wanted the "blind priority" abolished, or shared, or changed in some way. ... Resolutions can grow out of date a little as to detail, but the thrust remains clear. Our Membership Resolution 79-06, adopted in 1979, urged the abolition of blanket certificates and urged that the base floor minimum be raised from 50 percent of minimum wage to at least 75 percent of minimum wage. Now, realistically, we recognize that many multi-handicapped employees are not capable of earning at the rate of 75 percent of minimum wage. But I am going to point out to you that since the average wage in 1982 in the shops was $3.58 (according to NIB's figures), we would like to have -- and we ask you for -- meaningful statistics, meaningful data, meaningful figures about the real impact, the real cost, across-the-board throughout the system, of the 75 percent floor. Our Resolution 83-24, adopted just a couple of months ago at our national convention, urged that the guarantee floor could be reached by using, among other things, part of the NIB commission. It is argued that this should not or could not be done for various reasons. One reason given is because all the shops operate independently and there is no way to dictate for what a rebate would be used. After all, regulations in the program could dictate the use of a rebate. If is argued, also, that this would not work because the subsidy needed would vary from day to day according to productivity. That is very true, if efforts were made to figure a subsidy on a daily basis. I do not have to point out to you that accountants are ingenious people, and I am sure that a system could be worked out, for example, that perhaps a bonus could be given on JWOD work done at the end of a week, month, or other period. And I am not foreclosing the possibility of other systems. It is argued, also, that this could never work because it wouldn't be proper to share a rebate with people who are not doing JWOD work or with a shop not doing JWOD work. But, I ask you, why not, if authorized by regulation, and if this would benefit all shops by further reducing the fee itself? Thirty-six hours ago, there was a radio interview here in Washington -- right in the middle of the televised Washington Redskins football game. And in spite of that, many people did listen to the radio interview. ... (A)t the time of that radio interview, several people called in with pretty good questions. ... They asked some questions, for example, about NIB's surplus, with reference to its impact on wages that perhaps could be higher if the commission were lower. ... The interviewer -- who is, generally speaking, considered moderate and fairly reasonable, although he obviously is subject to being given misinformation beforehand, like any other interviewer -- mentioned in discussing the surplus that he had seen in a press report somewhere that the surplus of National Industries for the Blind was in the neighborhood of $50 million to $60 million. This was his statement before the NIB spokesman made a very rough guess, based on memory, of a surplus of $5 million to $6 million. It has been argued traditionally that the minimum wage cannot be paid because the multi-handicapped are not productive and cannot in fact earn it -- and that, of course, is recognized. What do you think about a bill that was introduced about three months ago that would guarantee the payment of at least the minimum wage to workshop workers whose only handicap is blindness, thereby getting away from the multi-handicapped lack of productivity? The report which was released yesterday by the subcommittee refers to a study concerning the possible differential of wage rates, including at least a 75 percent floor to people with only blindness as their handicap and 50 percent floor for people with other handicaps. ... The American Council of the Blind membership has not yet taken a position on this proposal concerning "blindness only," but you will have to admit it does have appeal, in the absence of system-wide data concerning the cost. I does not appear that the SSI system is really going to be explored seriously as a way of subsidizing less productive workers, although it has been recommended, and was recommended to the Labor Department in 1979. It is likely, as urged by the sub-committee, that the Labor Department now may be scrutinizing more carefully the setting of wage rates. And, as you know, those wage rates, when you are in mainstream industry, are set up with input from labor groups such as labor unions. Last year there was a lot of concern -- and, I might say, a lot of wasted energy -- over the so-called "Goldwater bill," which proposed, among other things, the ridiculous suggestion that the JWOD program could be administered more efficiently, better, etc., by the Commerce Department rather than by centralized non-profit agencies. The Goldwater bill also included a rather appealing push for upward job mobility within the sheltered workshops. I will mention, as a matter of interest, that bill was completely disavowed by its proponents during the hearings in May last spring ... Nevertheless, the sub-committee warmly received the American Council's suggestion that upward mobility for qualified production workers would be encouraged if the term "direct labor" were changed or construed in such a way as to include blind supervisors and administrators who have been promoted up from production jobs after spending a specified period, such as six months, or whatever a reasonable period might be in those jobs. We're not idealists, and we know that not all production workers are cut out to be supervisors or administrators. But our question is: Why perpetuate any system that would keep in it impediments to those who are capable of succeeding? ... Neither is Congress very idealistic, because Congress recognizes, also, that not all blind workers are equally productive. It recognizes that some workshops hire many more productive blind workers than do others, and that some workshops receive subsidies and other assistance from other sources, such as from state grants or state appropriations, or whatever, that help their operations. However, Congress is also beginning to ask why the status quo should not be changed regarding, for example, the use of the commission and procedures to be followed by NIB as well as the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped. ... We in the American Council of the Blind hope fervently that any guidelines or any regulations that may be adopted regarding the use of commissions and fee will be broad. We hope that those guidelines will be also socially oriented in order to enable NIB to promote the well-being of the blind in many ways -- not merely in narrow areas connected with wages or equipment loans, the production of new products, and the development of new products. Much benefit can be accomplished in so many other areas, such as continuing education, employee benefits, mainstream socialization, and a lot of other worthwhile programs. We in the American Council are ready to advocate and to assist you in this direction. Now, I hope you realize that we are not all three-headed monsters who are determined to destroy the workshop program. I hope you realize, also, that neither is the American Council of the Blind an organization of Patsys who see no problems. We fervently hope you will listen to us, because otherwise the workshop program is going to become more isolated. It's going to be awfully cold out there, and it's going to be increasingly difficult to explain that the program is doing such a good job that absolutely nothing needs to be changed. We certainly want to commend you, the members of the NIB and the General Council of Workshops, for the outstanding job you've done ... And the point is, we know you can do an even better job when you listen to the reasonable input of an organization such as the American Council of the Blind. ... ***** ** Congressional Committee Reports on Sheltered Workshops By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs On November 15, 1983, the long-awaited report on sheltered workshops was issued by the Committee on Government Operations of the U.S. House of Representatives. As Braille Forum readers know, the American Council of the Blind testified concerning improvements in the workshop program during hearings held last May before the Manpower and Housing Subcommittee, chaired by the Honorable Barney Frank (D., MA). Following the hearings, ACB met on several occasions with subcommittee staff to explain relevant membership resolutions and to amplify on points raised in the testimony. A summary of ACB's testimony before the subcommittee appeared in the June 1983 issue of The Braille Forum. It is gratifying that many of the recommendations contained in the report reflect the constructive input offered to the subcommittee by the American Council of the Blind. The recommendations contained in the subcommittee report will undoubtedly be the basis of needed improvements in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program. The following is a brief summary of the major recommendations. * Guidelines Specifying Permissible Activity and Expenditures The investigating subcommittee recommended that the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped (CPBOSH) should increase its oversight responsibilities concerning the administration of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (CTWOD) program. Among other duties, the 15-member CPBOSH determines suitable products and services which can be produced by qualified workshops and places these items on the Federal procurement list; establishes the fair market price for these products and services; designates two centralized non-profit agencies (CNA's) to facilitate distribution of Federal contracts; and publishes rules and regulations necessary for the effective operation of the JWOD program. National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is one of the two CNA's which allocate contracts to qualified workshops for the blind. In addition, NIB provides technical support and management services to member workshops. Although the investigating sub-committee found that the undertakings of the two CNA's were generally "laudable and free of fraud or abuse," it recommended that the CPBOSH establish guidelines with respect to the scope of permissible activities and expenditures by the two CNA's. Although the activities of the CNA's are generally undertaken with the advice and consent of CPBOSH, the subcommittee found that CPBOSH often merely "rubber stamps" the activities of the CNA's. Without such guidelines in place, it is impossible for CPBOSH to determine what is or is not legitimate activity on the part of the CNA's. Similarly, the absence of such guidelines makes it impossible for auditors to judge the propriety of expenditures made by the CNA's. The subcommittee cited one example of inappropriate activity by one of the CNA's: namely, the filing by National Industries for the Blind of an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in a labor/management dispute at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind. Although the subcommittee found that NIB's involvement in this dispute was "limited" and was fostered by a "legitimate concern" for the welfare of JWOD workshops, the subcommittee justifiably concluded that NIB should not have interjected itself into a labor/management dispute. This kind of inappropriate activity by a centralized non-profit agency is precisely why guidelines with respect to permissible conduct by CNA's are needed. * Enforcement of Labor Standards by Department of Labor The subcommittee adopted the view set forth in ACB Membership Resolution 82-08 in its criticism of the Department of Labor's enforcement of labor standards in sheltered workshops. The subcommittee found that the issuance of individual rate subminimum wage certificates was virtually an automatic process, and that the Department failed to verify the facts contained in applications for such certificates. In addition, the sub-committee recommended that the Department of Labor should not limit its audit oversight to merely those workshops about which complaints have been received. Further, NIB's Compliance Division should continue to report continual non-compliance with labor standards to the CPBOSH, and that body should implement sanctions for non-compliance with labor standards, including dismissal from the JWOD program. * Wages and Upward Job Mobility Here again, ACB input is reflected in the subcommittee's recommendations. The subcommittee found that procedures were "weak or non-existent," as a matter of policy, with respect to the promotion of qualified blind or handicapped workers into supervisory or management positions within sheltered workshops. It recommended that guidelines should be established to ensure that qualified blind or handicapped workers will not be bypassed for filling of positions within workshops. Placement into competitive employment, however, continues to be the primary responsibility of the state rehabilitation agency. The subcommittee also requests that further study be made concerning the effect and efficiency of a differential wage floor guarantee for blind and other handicapped workers. This recommendation in part responds to ACB Membership Resolution 79-06. The subcommittee suggests that it may be appropriate to raise the subminimum wage floor to 75 percent of the statutory minimum wage, while maintaining the wage floor at 50 percent for other handicapped workers. The CNA's should also be required to report wages categorically to CPBOSH so that such data will be readily available. * Other Recommendations (1) The subcommittee will request the General Accounting Office to conduct a study of CNA activities and expenditures to determine the adequacy of the commission paid to National Industries for the Blind and National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH). Although the CPBOSH has indicated that it will require additional financial disclosure from the CNA's, the subcommittee believes that it is impossible at this time to determine the adequacy of the commission. The customarily paid commission should continue to be paid, subject to review. (2) The "blind priority" afforded to workshops for the blind is a provision of the current law, and an equitable dispute resolution mechanism should be established and implemented by the CPBOSH to remedy disputes concerning the exercise of the "blind priority" between handicapped and blind workshops. Because of the importance of this matter, and because of the complexity of the issues discussed in the sub-committee's report, the entire committee report has been recorded on two 90-minute cassettes (dual track, 1 7/8 ips). Copies of the tapes may be ordered from the ACB National Office. A contribution of $2.00 to help defray production costs would be appreciated. A limited number of print copies are also available. We urge all interested persons to read the report in full, since a summary cannot possibly reflect all of its contents. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day program continues to provide important employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired persons. The American Council of the Blind is pleased to have had substantial input with respect to the subcommittee's report. ACB looks forward to continuing responsible advocacy for blind sheltered workshop employees and intends to work closely with the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped and with National Industries for the Blind toward improving the JWOD program. Representative Barney Frank and his subcommittee staff are to be commended for their intensive investigation and responsiveness to ACB's input. ***** ** Celebrate America's Birthday at the 1984 ACB National Convention By John A. Horst Assistant Chairperson Convention Host Committee Delegates are assembled; work has been assigned. The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind will be ready to welcome you to the City of Brotherly Love and to a great American Council of the Blind annual convention in 1984. The dates are June 30 to July 7. The place is the Philadelphia Center Hotel in Center City, at 1725 J. F. Kennedy Boulevard; telephone (215) 568-3300. Room rates are $38 per night for single, double, triple, etc. The hotel is fully air-conditioned and accessible to all. There are spacious meeting and banquet rooms on the second and third levels that can be reached by escalator or elevator from the main lobby. There are numerous restaurants and snack and gift shops in the hotel and in the surrounding area. During the weekend of January 6-8, 1984, the ACB Board of Directors as well as the boards of five of ACB's special-interest organizations met at the Philadelphia Center. The Host Committee also met again, and real progress and detailed planning have taken place. 1. Tours: Plans include at least five exciting tours to historic Philadelphia, to blindness-related agencies, to exotic nearby points such as Atlantic City and the Pennsylvania Dutch country at Lancaster. 2. Exhibits: Exhibits will be an integral part of the convention. A spacious, air-conditioned room is available which will include the hospitality area. Since we believe this ACB convention will be the biggest ever, your business, agency, or organization should plan an exhibit. For additional information and an exhibit reservation form, write or call Mr. H. Eugene Barton, Exhibit Committee Chairperson, 5000 6th A venue, Altoona, PA 16602; (804) 946-7330. 3. ACB Boutiques: A great way to raise funds for your ACB affiliate, chapter, or special-interest group is to plan a boutique during the 1984 convention. Limited space is available for boutiques, so get your request in early. You will need to decide what items you wish to sell that will appeal to ACBers, at what price, margin of profit, etc. Send your ideas to Mr. Barton (address above) for approval. This is necessary to prevent duplication of items to be sold by several affiliates. 4. Special-Interest Organizations: In 1984, the presentations, seminars, workshops, and special events of interest groups will again be a high point of the convention. There will be several areas of interest for every blind or visually handicapped person and their families. Special-interest affiliates and other groups are reminded to send details of their needs for meeting rooms, equipment, luncheons, etc., to Mr. John A. Horst, 96 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; (717) 826-2361. There are only five more short months to the 1984 convention. You should be making plans now to attend. What better place to remember America than in Philadelphia, its birthplace? The Quaker City has all you. can desire for the greatest ACB convention ever. For further information, write or call the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind office, Adelphia House, No. 5 Mezzanine, 1235 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; (215) 561-1079. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Although most of the ACB state affiliate conventions are over for 1983 and Congress is now out of session, activity continues at a vigorous pace in the National Office. For example, during November, the National Staff Attorney, Barbara Nelson, met with commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the need for much better enforcement of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. This section, when enacted, was intended to stimulate employment of the handicapped by the Federal Government, but over the years the Government's record has not been especially good as far as the blind and visually impaired are concerned. Practices and policies have varied enormously from agency to agency regarding such matters as reader assistance and other forms of accommodation. So we welcome, though cautiously, the pledges of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to provide more guidance to the agencies and departments. Although Congress is in recess, the Federal regulatory process runs onward. How ironic that the first agency to publish the prototype Section 504 regulations developed by the Justice Department should be a little-known agency named the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission! An earlier article in The Braille Forum explained why the publication of prototype regulations by many different agencies and departments makes it very difficult for handicapped people to give meaningful input. Accordingly, it was especially important for the American Council of the Blind to comment on those regulations to prevent them from becoming adopted without significant comment and thereafter serving as encouragement for other such regulations to be adopted. Although a separate article will undoubtedly be published on the subject before long, the ACB National Office is spending an increasing amount of time assisting the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Maryland in their grievance against the nominee agency regarding the use of set-aside funds for purposes not authorized by the Randolph-Sheppard Act and the failure of the agency to provide adequate financial information. Maryland is the fifth state where vendors have received substantial legal advice and other assistance from ACB within the past few months. During early December, Scott Marshall, Director of Governmental Affairs, completed his term as a member of the Commission on Accreditation of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped by taking part in the deliberations of that body during its meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. It will be difficult for the Commission to locate another member who will be as conscientious and dedicated as Scott has been over the past four years. ***** ** ACB Brochures Now Available in Your Favorite Medium By Laura Oftedahl Director of Public Affairs The ACB Public Affairs Department is pleased to announce the availability of new braille, recorded, and large-print brochures describing the activities, services, and affiliates of the American Council of the Blind. The following free publications may be ordered, in reasonable quantities, from the ACB National Office. Members and affiliates may use these new materials for membership drives and other projects involving blind and visually impaired people. ACB will continue to make available regular print copies of these brochures to distribute to persons who do not need to use braille, large-print, or cassette. THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND -- INTRODUCING OUR PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND AFFILIATES Braille, cassette, or regular print. (Large-print available soon.) ACB SPECIAL-INTEREST AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES -- ENLARGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE Braille, cassette, or large-print. The new publication dealing with ACB special-interest affiliates contains photographs of four blind members of ACB who are employed in various professions. The print is a bold 14-point type. Both brochures are contained on one two-track cassette recorded at 1 7/8 ips. An extra audio presentation highlighting the "sounds" of ACB activities through the microphone of Vernon Henley, ACB Radio producer, is also included on the cassette. We hope ACB members and friends will use these new materials to help the American Council of the Blind continue to be the fastest growing organization of the blind in the United States. ***** ** Be Prepared: Section 504 Action Needed Soon! By Barbara Nelson Staff Attorney The United States Department of Justice plans very soon to issue for public comment proposed Section 504 regulations covering the programs it conducts -- probably by the time this issue of The Braille Forum reaches you. Although there are few programs conducted by the Department of Justice which directly affect large numbers of disabled people, these proposals are very important. They will affect the way in which Section 504 is interpreted and enforced for years to come, and they could substantially weaken it. Be prepared for Washington Connection or Braille Forum requests for action. The U.S. Department of Justice is the Federal agency responsible for coordinating implementation of Section 504 by the Federal Government. Therefore, the way in which the Department of Justice interprets Section 504 controls the interpretation of Section 504 by all Federal agencies. The DOJ regulations are expected to be basically the same as the "prototype regulation" which the Department sent to all Federal agencies in April 1983. The American Council of the Blind has had no formal opportunity to express its concern directly about the prototype regulations because they were never published for public comment. This will be our best opportunity to comment about the concepts contained in the prototype. In fact, since the Department of Justice must approve all agencies' final regulations, it is unlikely that other agencies could adopt any regulation in response to public comment which deviates from the prototype regulation. What's wrong with the prototype? Basically, the prototype regulation would not require agencies to eliminate discrimination if to do so would cause "undue administrative and financial burden." The prototype contains absolutely no guidance to agencies about when an administrative burden becomes "undue." Federal agencies could try to argue that any change needed to eliminate obstacles to participation by handicapped people is an undue burden. The burden of proving that the requested change is not "undue" would shift to the handicapped person. Further, it is inexcusable to allow Federal programs to condone and to continue discriminatory practices because their elimination requires change. The "undue burden" language is unnecessary because, even without it, agencies would never be required to substantially modify their programs at the request of handicapped people. This is because the law only requires Federal agencies to ensure nondiscrimination for handicapped people who are already qualified for the program in question. Thus, the law already protects agencies from making fundamental changes in the programs they conduct to accommodate handicapped people. The "undue burden" language will serve only to give agencies a convenient means to perpetuate current practices which have the effect of discriminating against handicapped people. The prototype regulation for Federally conducted programs was issued for public comment less than two weeks after Vice President Bush and his Task Force on Regulatory Relief concluded that no changes were needed in the regulation for Federally assisted programs. Unfortunately, proposed changes to weaken Section 504 as it applies to Federally assisted programs that had been considered and rejected were added into the prototype regulation for Federally conducted programs. Congress has clearly expressed its intent that Section 504 should be applied to programs the Federal Government actually operates (e.g., the Social Security Administration and Veterans Administration hospitals) at least as strictly as it applies to programs to which the Federal Government provides some financial assistance (e.g., schools, colleges, hospitals, etc.) There should, says Congress, be no double standard. The prototype regulation would have a result quite opposite to that intended by Congress: Federally conducted programs would be covered by weaker rules than Federally assisted programs. The American Council of the Blind will continue to express its concern and displeasure with Federal agency regulations which are based on the prototype. The trend to weaken Section 504 can only be stopped if disabled persons work hard to show the Department of Justice that it is politically unpopular to do so. ***** ** You Can Adopt Love By Charles S. Shecter Who are the most loving, faithful, and loyal companions of many blind people? Their guide dogs, of course. From puppyhood to old age, these dogs provide their masters with increased mobility, safety, security, and love. Yet guide dogs, just like people, eventually grow old. An average guide dog may have a life span of fourteen or fifteen years, but a working life of only about ten years. And, just like people, many of them reach a point where they have to be retired. These wonderful animals are especially deserving of happy and comfortable retirement homes in their golden years. Yet, did you ever stop to consider how difficult it is for a guide dog owner to find a person or a family willing to adopt an older dog? Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find such retirement homes. Most people seem to be interested in obtaining lively young puppies, especially if they have children. The retired guide dog, however, is the ideal pet. Neither house-breaking or obedience training is necessary, since older guide dogs have had years of practice at being well behaved. Because of the difficulties experienced in retiring older guide dogs, many members of Guide Dog Users, Inc., an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, have been talking for years about establishing a guide dog retirement project. GDUI has finally done so. How does it work? Simple! We are developing a file on computer of the names and addresses of persons or families who are willing to adopt retired guide dogs. Then, when a person has to retire his or her guide dog, we use the computer to search through this file and find a match, preferably in the person's own geographic area. Thus, we can put guide dog owners and families interested in adopting in contact with each other, resulting in the placement of retired dogs which might otherwise not be possible. The help of the general membership of the American Council of the Blind is the key to the success of this project. We need many more names and addresses of people who are willing to adopt retired guide dogs. Your local ACB affiliate and you personally can help. We have available literature describing the guide dog retirement project which we will be happy to provide. You can distribute this literature in your community, church, school, civic organization, local veterinary offices, and among friends. Those people interested in adopting a dog can then contact us directly, either by mail or by phone. Of course, owners of guide dogs and members of Guide Dog Users, Inc., who are getting ready to retire a dog are welcome to contact us as well, and we will immediately search our files to see if we can find a match. Write or call Charles S. Shecter, Guide Dog Retirement Project, 135 W. 23rd Street, Apt. 1004, New York, NY 10011; (212) 741-0031, preferably after 9:00 P.M. eastern time. ***** ** NAC Announces New Executive Director Dennis L. Hartenstine has been named Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, announced Council President Dr. James D. McComas. Mr. Hartenstine will assume his new responsibilities on or before March 12, 1984. As chief executive, Hartenstine is charged with providing leadership to the corporate structure in evolving goals and achieving results, and he will be responsible for the administration of NAC, the standard-setting and accrediting body in work with the blind. Said Hartenstine of his appointment: "I welcome this opportunity and view it as an exciting challenge. NAC is an excellent organization, and I look forward to implementing a program where accreditation becomes synonymous with quality service for blind and visually impaired persons. First we must begin to sell standards and stop defending them. "I believe that accreditation is one of the best vehicles available that will assure the opportunity for every blind or visually impaired person to develop his or her unique capabilities, thus enabling them to participate as full members of society." He continued, "The public's attitude still needs educating in regard to blindness. I have witnessed some change in the last few years, but a great deal of work remains. It's not something one organization can achieve alone; we must all work together if we are going to be successful in completely sensitizing the public to blindness. I am glad to be a part of that goal." Since 1973, Hartenstine has been the Executive Director of the RP Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national eye research foundation. As the first executive director for the Baltimore-based organization, he was responsible for establishing the basis for its strong funding mechanism that has guaranteed the Foundation's research efforts, During his eleven-year tenure, the Foundation grew from fifteen to over sixty affiliates in the United States and increased its annual income from $225,000 to over $2,000,000. Prior to 1973, Hartenstine, a former elementary school principal, was employed by the Philadelphia Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Community service has been an active part of Hartenstine's career. He served from 1977 to 1979 as chairman for the Mayor's Media Committee for the Handicapped in Baltimore, Maryland, which was responsible for establishing a local radio reading service. He currently is a member of the national Board of Directors of the Association of Radio Reading Services. Dennis L. Hartenstine is a graduate of Elizabethtown College, with a B.S. in education, and has completed graduate courses at Ursinus College, Temple University, and University of Delaware. He succeeds Richard W. Bleecker as Executive Director of National Accreditation Council. ***** ** New York Subway Safety Campaign Moves Ahead Plans to remove the hazardous subway condition involving R-44 and R-46 cars in New York City are "on track" and "moving down the line" at a good pace now (see March 1983 Braille Forum). Shortly after two accidents last winter -- one fatal -- involving blind passengers who fell between the cars, mistaking the area for a doorway, the Concerned Citizens for Subway Safety was formed to look into the problem. Actually, one organizational member of the committee, the Greater New York Council of the Blind (affiliate of the American Council of the Blind), brought the design problems of the R-44 and R-46 cars to the attention of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) way back in 1978. However, it has taken more than two accidents in the past year and the hard work of the Concerned Citizens to get action. One train containing R-44 cars is now operating with gates between each car, and at the November 22, 1983 meeting of the Concerned Citizens for Subway Safety, the MT A read a letter which stated that it will begin installing the gates on all trains containing R-44 and R-46 subway cars in February 1984, and that the project will be completed by July 31, 1984. So, the Concerned Citizens for Subway Safety in New York, with over a dozen organizations and agencies as members, has been effective in getting the New York Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority to do something about the hazardous conditions in the system. Thanks to them, with leadership from the ACB affiliate in New York and the American Foundation for the Blind, all passengers, including blind and visually impaired persons, will have a safer trip on the system beginning in 1984. ***** ** SSI and SSDI Changes Effective January 1984 Beginning in January 1984, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries will receive a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment in their checks. The basic Supplement Security Income (SSI) benefit amount will also increase to $314.00 per month for an individual and $472. per month for a couple. Beginning in 1984, blind people will be able to earn $6,960.00 ($580.00 per month) without having their benefits stopped because they engage in "substantial gainful activity." Medicare Part B monthly premiums will increase $2.40 per month, to $14.60. The Medicare Part A deductible for the first sixty days of hospitalization will increase from $304.00 to $356.00. For employed persons, the maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax will increase to $37,800.00. The Social Security tax rate will change from 6.7% to 7.0% for both employers and employees. However, employees will receive a 3% tax credit on their income tax to keep the contribution rate at the 6.7% level. Beginning in 1984, an employed person must earn $390.00 in order to be credited with one quarter of coverage for Social Security. Only four quarters of coverage can be earned per year. The average wage earner will contribute $975.20 to Social Security in 1984. ***** ** "Now You See It" By Bill Heilbron (Bill Heilbron is a member of the Bluegrass Council of the Blind, a Kentucky American Council of the Blind affiliate. During the last quarter of 1983, he served an internship with the National Health Screening Council for Volunteer Organizations, working as an assistant in the Health Education Department. The work involved setting up a network of vision learning centers across the United States designed to educate the public about vision problems and offer solutions.) "Now You See It" is a learning-center approach to allow participatory education on vision problems. The learning center is a component of a health fair, sponsored by the National Health Screening Council for Volunteer Organizations, Inc. (NHSCVO), a private, non-profit organization, and other volunteer sponsors. These fairs are based on a model which includes health education, screening, counseling and referral to community resources, and follow-up. They have a two-pronged goal of health promotion and disease prevention. All health fairs offer free screening for blood pressure, visual acuity, and non-specific anemia, to name a few. Some health fairs offer glaucoma screening, which has been sponsored for the past two years by Merck, Sharp & Dohne, National Society to Prevent Blindness, American Optometric Association, and American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition, a panel of blood tests is offered for a small fee. The goal of the learning center is to promote awareness of vision problems at their earliest onset and to encourage regular eye examinations and proper eye care. The learning center, based on slides from the National Eye Institute, features pairs of glasses designed to simulate vision impairments. For example, one pair shows the effects of glaucoma; another demonstrates what someone sees if cataracts are present. The success of these vision learning centers will depend on the availability of volunteers to talk one-on-one with health fair participants. Persons knowledgeable about vision problems are being recruited to serve as volunteers. Especially needed are: (1) those who work with the blind and visually impaired; (2) those who are blind or visually impaired; and (3) those who have family members who are blind or visually impaired. Health fairs will be held from mid-March to mid-May 1984. I want to urge that members of the American Council of the Blind serve as volunteers. I believe that education and public awareness of vision problems will open channels of understanding and communication so that mainstreaming into society can be accomplished. To volunteer, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Karalee German, Director, Health Education, NHSCVO, 9411 Connecticut Avenue, Dept. NYSI, Kensington, MD 20895. ***** ** USABA to Conduct 1984 National Winter Championships in New England The U.S. Association for Blind Athletes has announced that its 1984 Winter Sports National Championships in both downhill and cross-country skiing will be conducted in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, during the period March 12-14. At that time, demonstrations will also be conducted to determine the feasibility of figure-skating and/or speed skating as future competitive activities to be sponsored. The USABA is the official sanctioning organization for competitive winter sports by the blind in the United States, and it selected and trained the 24 blind athletes now representing the U.S.A. at the 1984 Winter Olympics for the Disabled, taking place in Innsbruck, Austria, during the period January 14-20. Anyone who is interested in taking part in the 1984 National Championships as a competitor or as a racing guide for a competitor should request an entry form and additional information from Dick Kapp, Chairman, USABA Winter Sports Technical Committee, 423 W. Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074. ***** ** Handicapped Database Now Available To Personal Computer Users The CompuServe Information Service, a nationwide telecommunications database, now offers a service specifically designed for handicapped computer users or others interested in learning more about handicapped persons and issues. In addition to an up-to-date list of adaptive software and hardware, the database includes a list of handicapped organizations, news notes, and a reference library which will contain articles on various disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy. The library currently contains an article entitled "What Is Braille?" for those interested in learning more about that subject. The database also has a feedback section designed to take suggestions and comments from subscribers. The Social Security Administration has also recently announced that it intends to provide Social Security public information material to CompuServe for inclusion in the database. Many blind and visually impaired persons use the CompuServe Information Service to access a wide range of information, including financial data, newspapers, games, and much, much more. A telephone modem plus a speech or braille terminal device is required to access the system. An instructional cassette containing the CompuServe user's kit plus tips for using the system can be obtained at a cost of $5.00 from Tandy Way, 8909 Peppermill Court, Tampa, FL 33614. For more information about the CompuServe system, including a descriptive brochure and rates, call toll free (800) 848-8199. ***** ** Sewing Hotline Idea Explored During National Sewing Month (Reprinted from Consumer News, Vol. IV, No. 10, October 1983) Matching up individual consumers who need the services of home seamsters was the subject of a September 20 White House meeting that coincided with National Sewing Month. Representatives from the sewing industry, various public-interest groups, and the Federal Government met with Special Adviser to the President for Consumer Affairs, Virginia H. Knauer, to discuss the usefulness of an 800 sewing hotline number. Mrs. Knauer said the establishment of such a cooperative effort could possibly expand the home sewing market, provide consumers with needed service, provide employment for many wishing to work in their homes, and enable more home sewers to be independent and self-sufficient, especially handicapped and elderly sewers. The proposed privately funded and operated clearing house would register individuals who wish to sew independently in their homes. Then, according to Mrs. Knauer, "an 800 number would be established to receive calls from individuals in need of sewing services. A caller would dial this number and get the names of three or four persons in the same zip code area who sew." ... The consensus was that many concerns had to be addressed before any sewing hotline could be set up. The questions raised included: Who would pay for the hotline? How can one be sure the home sewers can do a good job? Would a hotline work in non-metropolitan areas? Is there really a need for such a service? Can the hotline system be abused by people looking to bypass labor laws affecting sewing "piece work"? The industry is now drafting a specific proposal for a hotline ... The group plans to meet again in January. For more information, write or call the American Home Sewing Association, c/o Chwat/Weigend Associates, 400 First Street, N.W., Suite 816, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 638-6400. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop FOR SALE: Two variable speech compressors, Model VSC, purchased originally from American Printing House for the Blind. Excellent condition. Price: $55 each. Contact R. Singha, 2930 Scioto Street, No. 11, Cincinnati, OH 45219; (513) 675-3479. Cost of the phone call will be deducted if item is actually purchased. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon AP: Fourteen British School children recently presented a gift to 16-month-old Prince William -- a collection of tales they wrote, entitled "Stories for a Prince." "The book will be sold to aid the blind," the 22-year-old Princess Diana told the children. "I will love reading it to William. I am sure he will love it, but I will have to keep it out of his reach to prevent him from chewing it up." Entry fees from 7,500 children, ages 8 to 15, who took part in the writing competition throughout Britain raised about $75,000, according to a spokesman for the Royal National Institute for the Blind. From the Kalamazoo Gazette: Richard Nixon received criticism about tape recordings he made in the Oval Office during his Presidency. However, his latest tape isn't likely to get him into trouble. The former President of the United States spent six hours recently reading his new book, Real Peace; A Strategy for the West, for Recording for the Blind. Nixon is "an easy, fluent reader," said Georgia Larsen, who oversaw the taping. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has opened a ground floor exhibit for visually impaired visitors. This is a collection of 100 art objects which can be handled and which carry braille and large-print labels. Included are costumes, arms and armor, textiles, sculpture, and decorative art items. The collection was assembled by John Ross, Public Information Director, who is himself visually impaired due to retinitis pigmentosa. Dr. Thomas Hansen, a member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, was recently named Director of the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Illinois Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Most recently, Dr. Hanson served as Director of the Rehabilitation Center at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind. Previous to that, he was on the faculty of Cleveland State University and has served in various rehabilitation capacities in Michigan, Indiana, and Oregon. Trailways, Inc., and the American Association of Retired Persons have entered into an agreement, effective immediately, which gives AARP members a 12 percent discount on all Trailways standard fares. The offer is good on any national Trailways Bus System routes. For further information, contact your local Trailways agent. Freedom Ideas International (FII), a new magazine for the blind, is a review of the minority and radical press throughout the world. FII is published four times a year on four-track cassette by the Our Right to Know Braille Press, Inc., a new organization created and controlled by blind people. Articles are chosen from many publications and countries and reflect a wide variety of ideas and experiences. To request a sample copy or to subscribe, write Our Right to Know Braille Press, Inc., 640 Bayside, Detroit, Michigan 48217. Subscription cost to borrow the tapes is $5 per year; to purchase and keep the tapes, $10 per year. Make check or money order payable to Our Right to Know Braille Press, Inc. "The In Touch Mail Order Shopper" is a weekly half-hour radio program broadcast by the In Touch Network, New York City's radio reading service. The program describes and provides ordering information on items from a wide variety of mail order catalogs. The program is available on cassette to individuals throughout the country. Cost of a sample tape is $3.50. For further information, write In Touch Network, Inc., 322 W. 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: A new alarm similar to a wrist watch is now available which will warn insulin-dependent diabetics of hypoglycemic episodes by sounding off after detecting sweating and temperature drop, which commonly precede such attacks. Marketed by Teledyne Avionics, the "Sleep Sentry" is particularly aimed at those high-risk patients with neuropathic complications who would not automatically awaken at the start of an insulin reaction. There are numerous occasions when the human body will exhibit temperature drop and sweating, and the manufacturer acknowledges susceptibility of the device to false alarm. However, clinical tests at several hospitals nationwide have shown the alarm to be 90 percent effective at awakening sleeping patients about to have an insulin reaction. Teledyne Avionics, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, lists a suggested retail price of $175. *** Blind patrons using the library serving the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque can now make use of a new electronic guidance system in which sub-floor wiring gives off beeps or vibrations that are detected by specially designed canes. The system, which is being installed campus-wide, is used in conjunction with tactile maps. According to the annual report on the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program, prepared by the Vending Facility Branch, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, RSA, during fiscal 1982 a total of 3,729 blind vendors were operating 3,112 vending facilities, located on Federal and other property, generating $269.9 million in gross income and $52.9 million in total earnings for vendors. The annual average earnings were $16,007 per vendor. "The Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Maps and Graphics for the Visually Handicapped" are now available. Held last spring in Washington, D.C., the symposium brought together cartographers, geographers, educators, and other specialists from around the world (see The Braille Forum, June 1983). The paperback volume may be ordered from the Association of American Geographers, 1710 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Price: $9 ($11 Canadian); $10 outside the U.S. and Canada. After a survey of low vision clinics, The New York Times Large Print Weekly has recently been revised to better meet the needs of visually impaired readers. Visual cues have been added. The change in type size from 18-point to a more comfortable 16-point, and the removal of advertising have allowed the publisher to expand to 32 pages. Half-year and full-year subscriptions are available to the large-print edition at a special introductory rate. To subscribe, write New York Times Subscription Sales Department, 229 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Rotary District 730 will sponsor the 39th national Blind Golfers Tournament at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Blind Association will be one of the major beneficiaries of the event. To qualify, participants must be totally blind and must file an 18-hole score, as verified by a local professional, of under 106. When the first tournament was held in 1938, only eight golfers participated. It is expected that at least 24 blind golfers from all parts of the country will participate in this year's tournament. For further information, write Rotary District 730, P.O. Box 145, Bridgeville, PA 15017. Sharon Cromeenes of Helena, Montana, treasurer of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, an ACB affiliate, recently received the Allard Award from the Montana Association for Rehabilitation, in recognition of his efforts to expand low-vision services in his state. Mr. Cromeenes is coordinator of the Montana Low Vision Clinic. From the New York State Library for the Blind and Visually Handicapped News: The Massachusetts Association for the Blind offers a new, fast service for anyone who wants a book, magazine, or other material reproduced in large-print. The regular charge is eight cents a page, but students and senior citizens pay only seven cents per page. Two types of binding are available at an additional charge. For further information, contact Massachusetts Association for the Blind, 200 Ivy Street, Brookline, MA 02146; (617) 738-5110. G.K. Hall and Co., the largest publisher of large-print books in the United States, has announced creation of the Large Print Community Service Award. The first $1,000 annual prize will be awarded in June, 1984 at the American Library Association annual convention in Dallas. The award will be presented to the library or librarian demonstrating the most creative methods and most comprehensive efforts for increasing the awareness, availability, and use of large-print books. The winner will be chosen by a panel of librarians with expertise in community service, outreach, and service to the elderly and visually impaired. Can you speak a foreign language, keep score, fix bicycles, type, administer first aid ... ? Then the 1984 International Games for the Disabled needs you. An Olympic style sports competition for the world's top physically disabled athletes, the International Games will take place in Nassau County, New York, June 16-30. Especially needed are volunteers who can speak a foreign language to assist the 1500 world class athletes who will be attending from some 45 countries. Held in the same year and country as the able-bodied Olympics, the International Games for the Disabled is for qualifying athletes with physical disabilities (blind, amputee, cerebral palsy, etc.) and is not to be confused with the Special Olympics, which is for the mental retarded. If interested, contact Rhoda White, Director of Volunteers, International Games for the Disabled, Eisenhower Park Special Populations Unit, East Meadow, NY 11554; (516) 542-4493. ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large-type, flexible disc (rpm 8 1/3), and cassette (ips 15/16). As a bimonthly supplement, the recorded and braille editions so include ALL-O-GRAMS, newsletter of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America. Please send subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication (which may be submitted in print, braille, or tape) to: The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Those much needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to James R. Olsen, Treasurer, 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/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you or your attorney may wish to contact the ACB National Office. ###