The Braille Forum Vol. XXII March 1984 No. 9 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 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 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 A Serious Challenge to the Randolph-Sheppard Act: Round 1, by Scott Marshall Be a Delegate for Independence -- Attend the 1984 ACB Convention, by John A. Horst President's Message: Make Convention Travel Plans Now!, by Grant Mack Your Participation Is Important Award Nominations Sought ACB Summons Students to Fourth National Seminar, by Laura Oftedahl Polish Your Publications -- ACB to Provide the Know-How at July 1 Workshop News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Walhof Ousted as Director of Idaho Commission for the Blind, by Barbara Nelson Stevens Ousted as Head of Missouri's Bureau for the Blind, by Fred C. Lilley Budget '85 Update, by Scott Marshall American Blind Skiers Successful in Winter Olympics, by Oral O. Miller High Tech Swap Shop Calendar of Events Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Committee Chairpersons, 1984 ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates Notice to Subscribers ***** ** A Serious Challenge to the Randolph-Sheppard Act: Round 1 by Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs On December 28, 1983, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) requested bids for the food service location at its headquarters building in Washington, D.C., signaling a dangerous new trend which could jeopardize the Randolph-Sheppard Program. Thanks to concerted effort by the American Council of the Blind and several other organizations, this initial challenge to the priority given to blind vendors under the Randolph-Sheppard Act has been met, but much still needs to be done to ensure that blind vendors will not lose out to "Whoppers" and to "Big Macs" as the Federal Government attempts to open its cafeterias to fast-food enterprise. The 1974 amendments to the Randolph-Sheppard Act give to blind persons a priority to operate cafeterias on Federal property if the state Randolph-Sheppard licensing agency guarantees that a blind vendor can provide food "at a reasonable cost and of a high quality comparable to that currently provided." This statutory language has been interpreted by regulations to mean that the priority is not absolute, and that state Randolph-Sheppard licensing agencies can be required to bid (often against commercial restauranteers) for cafeteria space located on Federal property. The regulations further provide that if the state licensing agency's bid is within a "competitive range," the cafeteria contract must be awarded to the state licensing agency. Although the American Council of the Blind, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and several other organizations joined in a lawsuit to challenge this regulatory interpretation of the law, the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the validity of the regulations, and this ruling was affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in July 1980. The December 28, 1983, GSA bid request was constructed in such a manner as to facilitate bidding by fast­food enterprises, thereby precluding bidding by Randolph-Sheppard licensing agencies. For example, the bid request required bidders to be able to operate in at least five states. Randolph-Sheppard licensing agencies operate only on a statewide basis. In addition, the bid request stated that the price per square foot paid would be the determining factor in awarding the contract. These terms and conditions made it virtually impossible for the District of Columbia state licensing agency to bid on the GSA proposal. The bid request also indicated that ten other GSA food service locations in other parts of the country would soon be available for fast-food franchises. When the District of Columbia Randolph-Sheppard state licensing agency realized that its opportunity to bid on the GSA contract had been undermined, and that this trend could seriously jeopardize the Randolph­Sheppard program throughout the country, it alerted the D.C. Vendors Association, which in turn alerted national organizations of and for the blind. Mr. Robert R. Humphreys, a Washington attorney, former Administrative Assistant to Senator Jennings Randolph, and former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, was retained by the D.C. Vendors and ACB because of his particular knowledge and expertise with respect to the Randolph­Sheppard program. A group of the major organizations of and for the blind met on January 13 and agreed to a plan of action. The National Federation of the Blind was invited to the meeting, and its local affiliate president attended. It was agreed that the first step was to request a meeting with the head of the General Services Administration to file a "bid protest" with the General Accounting Office (GAO), the Federal agency responsible for oversight of Federal bidding procedure. The organizations present further agreed that if these actions did not result in GSA's revocation of the bid request, it would then be appropriate to call a press conference, alert our members, and take possible legal action. On January 16, ACB met with the new head of the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Services Administration to brief him on our action plan. During that week and the days which followed, the bid protest letter was filed with GAO and correspondence was had with GSA. Senator Randolph, at our request, also sent a letter to GSA requesting that GSA officials meet with us. During this time, ACB was in continual contact with Paul Verner, President of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors ofAmerica. The Washington Connection was updated with new information as it became available, and numerous phone calls from concerned vendors were received by the National Office. The first evidence of progress came when GSA sent a memorandum to bidders indicating that an "administrative matter" had arisen with respect to the cafeteria bid and that further action by bidders should be held in abeyance until the issue had been resolved. Subsequently, GSA withdrew its bid request and advised that it plans to meet with the Department of Education to discuss how its cafeterias can be opened to fast-food enterprise -- presumably without violating the Randolph-Sheppard Act. How can blind vendors be protected against encroachment into the program by fast-food interests? One alternative is to change the regulations to give blind persons an absolute priority vis-à-vis cafeteria space, ad advocated by the National Federation of the Blind. Because rulemaking is a time-consuming process, and because the present regulatory climate is such that opening the regulations may bring unwanted or unanticipated consequences, ACB feels that for the present, the wisest approach is the issuance of a policy directive by the Department of Education which outlines parameters for the terms and conditions of bids, and which further clarifies existing regulations. This can be done in a relatively short period of time, without changing current law or regulations. By the time this issue of The Braille Forum is published, the American Council of the Blind and the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America will have presented this alternative to the Department of Education and to GSA and will begin a dialogue with industry to explore innovative solutions to the GSA problem. The challenges now facing the Randolph-Sheppard Act require creative solutions. Since the introduction of fast-food in Government buildings is upon us, Randolph-Sheppard vendors must develop new approaches which preserve the integrity of the program. Although immediate harm to the program has been thwarted at least temporarily, the future remains uncertain. Unfortunately, the National Federation of the Blind has chosen to politicize this issue and has tried, through innuendo and otherwise, to cast aspersions upon ACB. In these days of trial, no one organization can claim that it is the "savior" of the Randolph-Sheppard program, while discounting the work of others, even though such rhetoric may be appealing to its membership. To do so is nothing more than naive. ***** ** Be a Delegate for Independence -- Attend the 1984 ACB Convention by John A. Horst Assistant Chairperson 1984 Convention Host Committee In the spring of 1776, delegates from the thirteen original colonies traveled to Philadelphia to prepare a declaration of freedom and independence from tyranny and oppression. In the summer of 1984, blind persons and their friends from our now fifty United States will travel to Philadelphia to declare their freedom as self­sufficient citizens, rejecting ignorance, prejudice, and dependency. The City of Brotherly Love and the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Host Committee will be ready to welcome everyone and to provide challenging learning experiences, opportunities for growth and friendship, and lots of fun at the 1984 national convention of the American Council of the Blind. Philadelphia is a city with style, where there are many exciting things to see and do. Historical: National Historical Park is home to our nation's most precious monuments to freedom, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell. There are a dozen more buildings open to the public where our forefathers lived, debated, entertained, and worshiped. Valley Forge National Park, the scene of the famous encampment of Washington's Continental during the bitter winter of 1777-78, is only a few miles from the city. Penn's Landing on the city's front boasts a series of historic such as Admiral Dewey's flagship, U.S.S. Olympia, and the World War II submarine, Becuna. Museums: Philadelphia has more than one hundred world-renowned museums -- the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with over 500,000 works, the Franklin Institute, a science museum for children of all ages, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the University of Pennsylvania Museum, and more. Night Life: When the sun goes down, Philadelphia night life begins. There is a "restaurant renaissance" that is the envy of the nation. There are 25 theaters and night spots featuring everything from jazz to rock. The temperature in Philadelphia in the summer averages about 80 degrees, so that many activities can be enjoyed. Yes, Philadelphia has style, and there is no other style quite like it! Information: The ACB convention is always packed with information, and this year is no exception. You will find many new ideas which you can use in your work, at home, or in your state or local ACB affiliate or chapter. There will be discussions, presentations, and exhibits on many topics of interest to blind and visually impaired people. Besides those included in the ACB convention itself (Wednesday through Saturday, July 4-7), there will be many seminars, workshops, and discussions sponsored by special-interest affiliates. Upon arriving at the Philadelphia Center Hotel, be sure to stop by the registration desk to pick up your official convention program. Browse through it, and plan early to attend those sessions that interest you most. Attention to Details: Special-interest affiliates and other groups planning special meetings or seminars are reminded to send details of their needs for meeting rooms, equipment, etc., as well as plans for special events (luncheon, banquet, dance, etc.) to the Host Committee immediately. Program details such as speakers, meeting details, and exact times must be received right away so that this information can be printed in the convention program. Address all correspondence concerning special-interest activities to: John A. Horst, Chairman, Committee on Special-Interest Groups, 96 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701; (717) 826-2361. One last word: If you have a question or problem concerning the convention that must be answered immediately, you may call the office of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, (215) 561-1079. You know the dates: June 30-July 7, 1984. You know the place: Philadelphia Center Hotel, 1725 J. F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103; (215) 568-3300. You know the room rates: $38.00 per night for single, double, triple, quad. You know some of the tours and other activities. So make your plans now to attend the 23rd annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. See you in Philadelphia in July! ***** ** President's Message: Make Convention Travel Plans Now! by Grant Mack The national convention of the American Council of the Blind, scheduled to take place in Philadelphia the week of June 30-July 7, 1984, promises to be not only the largest, but also one of the best in ACB's long history. A very effective host committee has been working long and hard to make this a well-planned and exciting event. You will be sorry if you miss this convention. It is time to start making travel plans, and since travel expenses represent one of the largest costs to convention goers, and because we know you are interested in minimizing these expenses as much as possible, we have again made arrangements for ACB convention-goers to travel at the lowest possible rates. Again this year, GTU Travel has been selected as the official travel agent. GTU, Inc., is the nation's largest firm specializing exclusively in providing coordination services for corporations and national trade and professional associations. This Washington, D.C.-based company did a good job for us in 1983 and promises to do an even better job this year. Airfares continue to be very inconsistent, with as many as half a dozen different rates on any given flight. GTU states: "We are determined to offer the lowest fare available based on the passenger's travel itinerary. The times when the airlines may come up with special limited-time 'promotional' fares, which in some cases may be less than the meeting fares. If this is the case and the passenger qualifies for the special promotional fare, this is the fare we will offer, providing seats are available." GTU has the necessary computerized equipment to guarantee lowest possible rates and, in addition, has made special arrangements with United and Delta Airlines which give an extra advantage. United Air meeting fare is 40 percent of the regular coach fare. In Delta's case, their already low coach fares are reduced by 30 percent. Many of you used GTU last year. GTU has assured us that they will provide even better service this year. You may want to deal with a local travel agent, but GTU is an option you should know about. You should also know that there are some financial benefits to ACB if you use GTU's services. The toll-free number is: 1-800-424-5468 Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable trip to Philadelphia. See you the first week of July. ***** ** Your Participation Is Important Each year, the national convention of the American Council of the Blind sets the course for the organization during the year ahead. It is vitally important that each person attending the convention exercise his or her rights and responsibilities as members. There will be discussions of important resolutions, constitution and by-law amendments, reports of ACB staff and officers covering the wide range of ACB activities and services over the past year, selection of the 1986 convention site, and election of directors to the ACB Board and of representatives to the ACB Board of Publications. To be a part of the American Council of the Blind, to voice your ideas and opinions, you must be present at these important business sessions. Mr. Paul Edwards, 2933 Claire Lane, Jacksonville, FL 32217, will again chair the Resolutions Committee. He will appreciate receiving as many of your draft resolutions as possible prior to the convention. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee will again be chaired by Mrs. Sue Graves, 4504 N. Wilson Drive, No. 2, Shorewood, WI 53211. She, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. ***** ** Award Nominations Sought The presentation of a number of prestigious awards has become an important tradition at each national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The following awards are to be presented at the 1984 Awards and Charter Gala in Philadelphia. Nominations should be sent directly to the chairpersons indicated and should be postmarked no later than June 1, 1984. The Robert S. Bray Award was established in memory of the late Chief of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. It is presented from time to time, but not necessarily annually, in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices or techniques. Nominations should be sent to Committee Chairperson Leslie Gertsch, 2400 S. 11th West, Woods Cross, UT 84087. The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award recipient is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who, by their lives, associations and activities, have demonstrated their integration into, and their interaction with, the life of the community. It is not necessary for the candidate to be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, or that he or she be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is periodically to an outstanding blind who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year. Nominations for both the Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award and the George Card Award should be sent directly to Bettye Krause, 1500 E. Karen, No. 35, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For convenient reference, a list of key 1984 ACB committee chairpersons appears elsewhere in this issue. ***** ** ACB Summons Students to Fourth National Seminar By Laura Oftedahl Director of Public Affairs Blind and visually impaired college and other post-secondary students have a valuable experience in store for them at the Fourth National ACB Student Seminar, planned for June 30-July 1 in Philadelphia. In keeping with its campaign to help students, the American Council of the Blind, along with its affiliates, will provide financial assistance to help many attend from across the nation. This special seminar will be kicked off with a "get-acquainted mixer" on Saturday evening, June 30, at the Philadelphia Center Hotel. Then Sunday, the seminar sessions will run all day -- with informative presentations and discussions on such topics as recorded and brailled textbook procurement, career planning, financial assistance, getting the most out of laboratory courses, personal management, public speaking, and more. Useful resource materials to share with other blind students will be provided in braille, in large-print, and on tape. That's not all, though. Monday and Tuesday, July 2 and 3, the National Alliance of Blind Students (student affiliate of ACB) will continue the activities with interesting programs and social events. During these same days, the other fifteen special-interest affiliates of ACB will be meeting, so students who are majoring in computer science, rehabilitation, teaching, law, office skills, and other areas are sure to want to check out these meetings. On Wednesday, July 4, the 23rd annual convention of the American Council of the Blind officially gets under way, although all of the activities mentioned here are part of the ACB National Convention Week. The American Council of the Blind is prepared to sponsor one blind or partially sighted student from each state, as well as one student for each special-interest affiliate. The ACB affiliates are being asked to co-sponsor the students by making the selection of the sponsored students, along with helping with the costs of the week. ACB itself will pay transportation for each sponsored student and will also provide a generous stipend. Under this arrangement, ACB will be paying much more of the total expenses than ever before. Each sponsored student will be expected to attend the special seminar, attend special-interest affiliate conferences of interest to him or her, and attend the ACB national convention, leaving no earlier than Friday, July 6. Special-interest affiliates are asked to extend honorary registration privileges to students attending their conferences on Monday and Tuesday. Before the guidelines which affiliates should use in selecting sponsored students are listed, it should be emphasized that ANY CURRENT STUDENT, PROSPECTIVE STUDENT, OR RECENT STUDENT is welcome to take part in the Seminar. These following guidelines pertain to the selection of financially sponsored students only: 1. The blind student must be at least 18 years of age and must have completed high school by the date of the convention. 2. The blind student must already be, or must plan to be, a full­time student next fall in college or other post-secondary educational program. 3. The blind student must be pursuing a degree or a certificate in an ongoing educational or training program. 4. The blind student should be able and willing to take home with him or her the materials and knowledge received at the seminar so they can be shared with others in the student's school and affiliate. 5. The blind student should have demonstrated some leadership ability in his or her school or community. 6. A preference should be given to undergraduate students as contrasted with graduate students, although graduate students are most assuredly eligible and welcome. 7. Priority should be given to students who have never attended an ACB student seminar and national convention before. Blind students who are interested in attending the seminar should contact the ACB affiliate in their state. Also, affiliates should take the initiative in locating students for sponsorship. Any student who does not know how to contact the local ACB affiliate should contact the ACB National Office, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036; (800) 424-8666 (in Washington, D.C., (202) 833-1251). ***** ** Polish Your Publications -- ACB to Provide the Know-How at July 1 Workshop The ACB Board of Publications is planning a stimulating and worthwhile program for its 1984 publications workshop, to take place Sunday, July 1, at the Philadelphia Center Hotel. The workshop is scheduled for Sunday morning and is one of several activities to take place on this first day of ACB Convention Week. Vernon Henley, Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications, and Laura Oftedahl, ACB's Director of Public Affairs, are co-chairing the workshop. Information will be presented to help editors and writers polish their publications. Topics which are being considered for the four-hour session include: "Adding Life to Your Stories"; "Use of Computers for Word Processing and Mailing List Maintenance"; "Everything You Need to Know About Copyright and Libel"; and "How to Use (Not Misuse) the Free Matter Mailing Privilege." Attendees will have time for audience participation, and new editors can call on the expertise of Board of Publications members to help them develop a lively vehicle of communication for their affiliate. Editors and prospective editors of ACB affiliate newsletters are offered a subsidy by the American Council of the Blind to assist them in defraying expenses incurred in attending the workshop. By now, affiliate presidents and editors should have received details from the ACB National Office concerning the procedure to follow in registering the editor to be subsidized. In addition, the ACB Board of Publications is hosting a breakfast for these sponsored editors, to precede the workshop. All interested editors and writers are welcome to attend. Be sure to indicate on your convention pre-registration form that you will participate in this workshop, another useful program presented by ACB. Members of the ACB Board of Publications include: Vernon C. Henley, Chairman, Norman, Oklahoma; Don Cameron, Tampa, Florida; Dean Flewwellin, Aberdeen, South Dakota; Chris Gray, Mountain View, California; and Marvin Brotman, Newton, Massachusetts. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office by Oral O. Miller National Representative The end of the year was not the slow time for the ACB National Office that it was for many other offices, because the staff was busy evaluating 1983 activities and planning new programs for 1984. The ACB Board of Directors kicked off the new year by adopting the largest budget in ACB's history and authorizing for the first time, renewing, or expanding many interesting and valuable services -- such as the Spanish edition of The Braille Forum (which has already received accolades from our Spanish readers), our first televised public service campaign, and the second generation of regional leadership training seminars. Separate articles on the various programs and services will appear in The Braille Forum throughout the year. Starting around Christmas time, people who called the National Office may have heard a soft, new voice -- belonging to Audrey Sundstrom, ACB's new data processing coordinator. Before moving to the Washington metropolitan area in early 1983, Audrey was employed by the Boeing Aircraft Corporation in Seattle, Washington. She wasted no time in learning her new duties and disposing of any work that had accumulated following the departure of her predecessor. She brings an outstanding computer background to this position, and we are confident that her knowledge and hard work will enable us to do so many more of the things our computer equipment is capable of doing. We are pleased to welcome Audrey aboard. During January, I, as ACB National Representative, was pleased to chair a subcommittee and serve as a member of a larger committee charged with the responsibility of proposing standards to be used in the evaluation of the policies, management, and administration of agencies seeking accreditation by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). Members of the committee came from many different walks of life and business or professional fields, thus drawing on the expertise of, among others, educators, administrators, accountants, engineers, management experts, and service consumers. The proposed standards will be made available for review by the public around the beginning of April, and we urge any Braille Forum readers who may be interested in providing input to obtain copies and submit their comments to NAC. The procedures to be followed in commenting will be published at the time NAC officially solicits comments. However, we are already looking into a procedure by which ACB members who come to the 1984 ACB national convention will have an opportunity to provide input there. This is a genuine opportunity for consumers to comment on the standards by which all applicants for accreditation are measured. Although all state and regional affiliate presidents will have received a memorandum about the subject by the time this article is published, plans are moving forward for the 1984 ACB national legislative seminar scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., beginning Wednesday morning, May 9, and ending on Friday, May 11. This year's seminar will concentrate on fewer issues and, at the same time, give workshop attendees more time to familiarize themselves with the issues and the legislative procedure. Although efforts will again be made to match attendees with members of key Congressional committees, every state and affiliate will be invited to send at least one person to the seminar. The method to be used by the affiliates in selecting their representatives to the workshop will be left up to the affiliates. All ACB affiliates are urged to process their membership lists promptly and accurately as soon as they are received, because such timeliness and accuracy will influence the receipt of the 1984 national convention materials as well as other materials be sent to the membership in the future. We remind all readers of The Braille Forum that they should call the Washington Connection (toll-free, 1-800-424-8666) regularly during non-working hours in order to stay informed about the latest legislative and governmental developments of importance to the blind and visually impaired. There is simply not enough time in a day or a week for staff members to discuss every issue with everyone who calls during working hours. For example, at the time this article is being written (early February), ACB is vigorously and effectively blocking the efforts of the United States General Services Administration (GSA) to bypass blind vendors licensed under the Randolph­Sheppard vending program when contracting for food service in Government buildings. Negotiations and proceedings are lengthy as well as fast moving, and we plan to keep Braille Forum readers informed of progress. However, week-by-week changes may be followed best by calling the Washington Connection. One final reminder: Applications and supporting documents for the ACB scholarships must be postmarked no later than April 1, 1984. ***** ** Walhof Ousted as Director of Idaho Commission for the Blind by Barbara Nelson, Staff Attorney Ramona Walhof, a staunch supporter of the National Federation of the Blind, has been fired from her position as Director of the Idaho Commission for the Blind, a post she has held since the autumn of 1982. The three-member board of the Commission terminated Walhof on February 3, after the Idaho Council of the Blind, the Idaho Council of Citizens with Low Vision, and a new organization, Independent Blind of Idaho, provided the Governor and Commission Board members with information about critical problems with the administration of the Commission. The two-to-one decision of the Board was apparently triggered by the personnel changes made by Walhof. Knowledgeable sources claim that over 50 percent of the Commission staff quit or were terminated while Walhof was in charge of the Commission. In December 1983, the Commission Board passed a resolution requiring Walhof to seek their approval before making hiring, promotion, and termination decisions. She apparently ignored the Board's directive and fired the manager of the Commission's Business Enterprises Program, replacing him with an NFB member from outside of Idaho. Brian Wardle, a former NFB member, now the president of the newly formed Independent Blind of Idaho, has proved a capable leader in recent efforts to improve the Commission. He cites the following examples of mismanagement at the Commission: 1. Harassment of Commission staff members. According to Wardle, Commission staffers critical of Walhof were followed during non-work hours and asked to report conversations and activities of his organizations to Walhof. Personal mail was allegedly read and phone calls monitored. Staff members were also allegedly required to work overtime and holidays without reporting the hours so that they could be paid. 2. Wardle and others allege that Walhof used Commission facilities to promote an NFB-controlled corporation, Services for the Blind. He points to a letter written and signed by Walhof as Executive Director of Services for the Blind, asking for a bequest for that organization. The letter uses the Commission address and a telephone number at the Commission. 3. The number of rehabilitation clients whose cases were completed during fiscal 1983 reportedly declined by 30 percent from the previous year. 4. Independent Blind of Idaho also alleges that 68 percent of the budget for the fiscal year which began July 1, 1983, had been spent by October 1, 1983. The decision of the Commission Board to terminate Walhof is challenged in court by Mark Mauer, an NFB member and attorney from Baltimore. His lawsuit -- brought against the two Commission members who voted to terminate Walhof, the Governor, Howard Barton (appointed to replace Walhof) and others -- asks for $500,000 damages and alleges that Walhof was fired illegally. He apparently claims that the two Commission members who voted to fire Walhof violated the State's open-meeting law by discussing the situation in a of their February 3 meeting, though the two-to-one vote to fire her was taken in an open meeting. The dissenting vote was cast by Board member Norman Gardner, President of the NFB of Idaho and a Director of the national NFB organization. The lawsuit further challenges the right of Jack Ugaki to vote. Ugaki has been serving on the Commission since his appointment by the Governor last July, but his appointment had not yet been affirmed by the State Senate the day the vote was taken. However, on Monday, February 6, the State Senate did affirm his appointment. On Monday, February 6, an Idaho judge issued a temporary restraining order reinstating Walhof. Between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning, the Commission offices were occupied by Walhof, Ralph Sanders, Director of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, Mark Mauer, Richard Edlund, Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind, and Norman Gardner, the Commission Board member who did not vote for Walhof's termination. However, state police locked and guarded Commission files and records during this period. On Wednesday morning, February 8, the same judge overturned the temporary restraining order and ordered the Governor to appoint a new Acting Director of the Commission. The Governor appointed Larry Selland as Acting Director until a hearing can be held on the merits of the lawsuit on February 27. It is doubtful that the legal challenge to Walhof’s termination will be successful. Also on Wednesday, February 8, Walhof was ordered to leave the Commission offices, and all of the financial and client records of the Commission were carted off to the State Auditor's office for a thorough examination. Although the Independent Blind of Idaho and the Idaho Council of the Blind have successfully cleared the way for a new administration at the Idaho Commission, obstacles to improved services to the blind and visually impaired still remain. The damage caused by the alleged mismanagement of the Commission has led state legislators on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee to seriously consider cutting off all funds for the Commission. Hopefully, the cooperative efforts of the Independent Blind and the Idaho Council will convince the Governor and the Legislature to continue offering rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired people through a revitalized Commission under responsible new leadership. ***** ** Stevens Ousted as Head of Missouri's Bureau for the Blind by Fred C. Lilley The Deputy Director of the Missouri Division of Family Services and Head of the Bureau for the Blind, Charles T. (Tom) Stevens, was fired from his position on February 6 for alleged mismanagement of the agency. Fred C. Lilley, Executive Director of the Missouri Federation of the Blind (Missouri affiliate of the American Council of the Blind), was interviewed by both St. Louis newspapers. He stated that Tom Stevens was a qualified blind person, but unfortunately did not know how to separate his work with the National Federation of the Blind from his duties as administrator of the state agency. The incident is regrettable, since the newspapers always play up the fact that the individual is blind, and any publicity which reflects badly on a blind person reflects negatively on all blind people. We must all continue to defend the civil rights of the blind, of course. But how many more blind people must be sacrificed "on the barricades" before we realize that there are alternatives to militant attitudes? And that unscrupulous tactics inevitably adversely affect the total blind community? ***** *** Budget '85 Update by Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs Some Republicans called it "realistic" ... Democrats called it "a security blanket in an election year" ... But all agreed that deficit reduction will be a hot topic in the Presidential and Congressional elections in the year ahead. Two hundred years ago, Alexander Hamilton called money the "life blood of politics." If money is, indeed, the life blood of politics, the budget is its circulatory system. In its simplest form, the budget -- attempts to balance anticipated revenue and expense. In this process, certain assumptions are made which may or may not come true. In the case of the Federal budget, these assumptions include such diverse factors as the unemployment rate (which affects not only tax revenue, but welfare expense), the value of the dollar vis-à-vis other world currencies, the inflation rate, the price of oil, and the growth of so-called "entitlement programs" such as Social Security and Medicare, the cost of which increases automatically each year with inflation and increased numbers of beneficiaries. Obviously, if these assumptions are correct -- and economists can never agree about whether or not they are -- the budget will hopefully balance or, at the very least, arrive at the projected deficit. All of this is not so mysterious when one considers what a family does when it sits down to make a budget. Here, too, there are many variables which can easily unbalance the most carefully crafted budget: Will you get the raise next year which you expect? Will Junior need expensive orthodontic work in the fall? Your spouse claims that a new car is absolutely necessary, but you feel that the money could be better spent fixing the roof. And don't forget your own "uncontrollables" — things like your mortgage payment and property taxes which you have contracted to pay for perhaps over the next thirty years. And who knows how much these ongoing expenses may increase in the years to come? The point of all this is simply that a budget is not just a set of figures. Rather, it is an intricate framework of assumptions and decisions about how money will be raised and spent, which may have ramifications well into the future. This year, perhaps much more so than in previous years, the Federal budget is also a political document as the interests of particular constituencies which will vote next November influence budget policy. Not to be outdone, the Congressional Democratic leadership has indicated that it will offer its own deficit reduction package which the Democrats believe will reduce the deficit by $200 billion. President Reagan's fiscal 1985 budget projects spending of $925 billion, with a projected deficit of $180 billion. Although "handicapped" programs, strictly speaking, are spared most of the cuts this year (see table following this article), other programs which may benefit handicapped persons do not fare as well. As contrasted with previous Reagan budgets, however, domestic spending cuts are more modest this year. Defense remains a high priority, with an increase from $237 billion to $270 billion next year. The numbers themselves are meaningless without knowing how a program will be changed. Keep in mind that program changes cannot generally take place unless Congress agrees, and in many instances the President's F.Y. '85 proposals are simply warmed-over rejects from the 1984 budget. If the President's budget is accepted, fees for physician payments under Medicare would be frozen for one year. Although this may seem appealing at first blush, unreimbursed costs would probably be passed along to patients. Medicare premiums and deductibles would gradually increase through 1990. The Medicare premium would rise to approximately $40.00 per month by that year. States would also impose nominal service fees on services rendered to Medicaid patients. The Legal Services Corporation, which has seen zero funding in previous Reagan budgets will again have to look to Congress for its salvation. Food stamps will also be cut, and family income eligibility will be redefined. Mass transportation subsidies will also be reduced. Other policies reflected in the Federal budget favor the needs of particular constituencies. For example, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 4.3% cost-of-living adjustment next January. In addition, no funding reductions are scheduled for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or for the "Free Matter for the Blind or Physically Handicapped" mailing privilege. Other budget sweeteners include increased contribution for couples with a non-working spouse to tax-deferred Individual Retirement Accounts, tax credits for private school tuition payments, and the creation of an "education savings account" which would provide a tax break to those saving for their children's college education. Other increases are slated for scientific research (including eye research), hazardous waste removal, dioxin contamination, parklands, and prevention of drug smuggling. Turning specifically to the rehabilitation area, the overall budget is reduced by approximately $29 million from 1984 levels. Although grants, which comprise approximately 90 percent of the rehabilitation program, are increased slightly, sharp reductions are evident in many discretionary programs such as special projects, training, and evaluation services. Special projects include operative work arrangements with industry (known as Projects with Industry), services to migrant workers and to Indians, as well as the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. Personnel training and evaluation services also see significant reductions. In the final analysis, the President's budget is only a starting point. Congress, which is probably no better equipped than the President to face hard issues in an election year, will have its turn as the budget committees in both the House and Senate work on a Congressional budget based upon other economists' ethereal notions of what may or may not happen to the economy. As battle lines are drawn, further developments will be reported in The Braille Forum. ** F.Y. 1985 Presidential Budget-Selected Programs (Figures are in thousands of dollars -- multiply each entry by 1,000.) Columns in this table are in the following order: F.Y. 1984 budget request; F.Y. 1984 appropriated; F.Y. 1985 budget request. * Legislative Branch: Library of Congress, Books for the Blind: $35,691; $35,099; $36,594 * Department of Agriculture: Food Stamps: $10,916,705; $11,022,914; $10,780,926 * Department of Education: Education for the Handicapped State grants: $998,180; $1,043,875; $1,068,875 Pre-School Incentive Grants: $25,000; $26,330; $26,330 Deaf-Blind Centers: $9,560; $15,000; $12,000 Severely Handicapped Projects: $2,880; $4,000; $4,000 Early Childhood Education: $11,800; $21,100; $21,100 Innovation, Development: $10,800; $15,000; $12,000 Regional Resource Centers: $2,880; $4,500; $4,500 Media Services: $11,520; $14,000; $14,000 Teacher Training: $33,600; $55,540; $37,640 Architectural Barrier Removal: $0; $40,000; $0 Transition Services for Youth: $0; $6,000; $0 * Rehabilitation Services Basic State Grants: $943,900; $993,900; $1,003,900 Service Projects: $26,094; $37,600; $31,200 Independent Living: $17,280; $19,400; $21,000 Training: $19,200; $22,000; $5,000 National Council on Handicapped: $193; $500; $0 National Institute Handicapped Research: $30,060; $36,000; $30,060 American Printing House for the Blind: $5,500; $5,000; $5,000 * Department of Health and Human Services National Eye Institute: $143,276; $150,783; $157,873 Medicaid Grants to States: $20,737,578; $20,673,708; $21,213,000 Medicare (B) Trust Fund (SMI): $16,292,000; $16,811,000; $19,020,000 SSI Benefit Payments: $6,425,000; $8,339,000; $9,383,076 AFDC Benefit Payments: $6,425,000; $7,722,364; $6,944,025 Developmental Disabilities: $31,977; $61,950; $64,200 * Department of Housing Sec. 202 (Elderly Handicapped) Loans: $476,000; $666,400; $500,000 * Department of Transportation Architectural, Transportation Barriers Board: $1,700; $1,900; $2,000 * Independent Agencies Committee for Purchase of Bind-Made Products: $687; $687; $710 Legal Services Corp.: $0; $275,000; $0 Postal Service – Free Matter for the Blind: $50,455; $33,946; $33,946 ***** ** American Blind Skiers Successful in Winter Olympics by Oral O. Miller Would you believe that not until 1982 did the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD) believe that blind athletes could safely and effectively compete in both Alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country) skiing? During the 1980 Winter Olympics for the Handicapped, held in Geilo, Norway, they had been allowed to compete in cross-country events only. Almost no one seriously considered allowing blind athletes to compete in downhill events until they observed a downhill skiing demonstration in Geilo by three Americans -- Dick Kapp, a sighted electrician and volunteer ski guide from Wisconsin; John Novotny, a blind college student from Illinois; and Debby Cooper, a blind teacher from Arizona. Dick had gone to Norway as head coach of the American cross-country team, and both John and Debby were team members. Nevertheless, they removed their "skinny" cross-country skis, donned their heavy downhill skis, and showed all the "experts" present that a blind skier could safely ski a downhill course with the assistance of an observant, quick-thinking, and "loud-mouthed" sighted guide. As a result of that demonstration, ISOD officials reluctantly agreed to allow blind downhill skiers to compete in the 1982 World Winter Sports Championships for the Disabled, held in Switzerland, and in the 1984 World Winter Games for the Disabled, held in Innsbruck, Austria, January 13-20. The 88-person team which represented the United States in Innsbruck was made up of visually and orthopedically handicapped athletes, plus support staff, and all were selected and trained, respectively, by the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes and the National Handicapped Sports and Recreational Association. The team, which was sanctioned and modestly assisted financially by the U.S. Olympic Committee, consisted of skiers, racing guides, coaches, trainers, a physician, an administrative coordinator, and a group leader. Although very important financial assistance was received from a few outside sources, most of the money that made the trip possible was raised by the team members themselves. Raising money and getting into excellent physical condition were not the only obstacles faced by the team from the U.S.A. For example, in Innsbruck, the team members plus the 75 friends and relatives who completed the American group were housed in five different hotels, spread over a two-mile radius, thus making rapid and thorough communication almost impossible. In addition, in that vicinity there was barely enough snow on which to ski -- so little, in fact, that each day after practice or competition, the Austrian Army hauled truckloads of snow to the cross-country course and manually shoveled it on to the trail so there would be enough snow for skiing the next day. Further, the team learned shortly before leaving for Austria that the Austrian organizing committee refused to recognize the three internationally accepted visual categories for competitive purposes, thus forcing "very low partials" to compete in the same visual category with "high partials." Since the American team and many other teams had been selected almost a year earlier, with the understanding that the three classes would be recognized, and since "low partials" had been training and engaging in fund-raising activities diligently during the entire period, the U.S. team formally protested the decision. Although the basic decision was not changed, the organizing committee increased the number of partially-sighted participants allowed to compete in each event, thus making it at least possible for the low partials to compete internationally. In spite of the above-mentioned difficulties and disappointments, the American blind skiers enjoyed and acquitted themselves outstandingly. During their first full day of competition, they won four medals in downhill race — whose Alpine course ran basically straight down a mountain, with only a few turns included, thus putting the primary emphasis on speed. Among the totally blind women, Sheila Holzworth, a college student from Iowa, won the silver medal, in spite of a fall, and Dunne, a 13-year-old junior-high-school student from Chicago, won the bronze medal. Among the totally blind men, Michael May of California won the bronze medal, in spite of a fall and while still wearing a knee brace following an injury last spring. Among the partially sighted women, Connie Conley, a college student from Nevada, won the bronze medal. Two days later, the Americans demonstrated their skill and agility by winning five medals in the giant slalom event -- during which each skier had to zigzag at high speed around and between gates consisting of bamboo poles. Among the totally blind women, Sheila Holzworth "came home with the gold," and little Cara Dunne won the silver medal, while among the totally blind men, Mike May was winning the bronze medal. Among the partially blind women, Connie Conley won the silver medal, and among the partially blind men, Glen Abramowski, a college student from the Chicago area, won the silver medal. The following day, after combined performances in the two events had been calculated, Sheila Holzworth won her second gold medal (based on her over-all performance); Cara Dunne won a bronze medal; Mike May won a bronze medal; and Connie Conley won a bronze medal. One of the truly pleasant surprises of the week took place when the American women's cross-country relay team won the silver medal in the 4-by-5km relay race. Each of the four members had to ski five kilometers in succession, and at least two of the team members had to be totally blind. The members of the team were Jean Parker of Colorado, Billie Ruth Schlank of Virginia, Barbara Lewis of Connecticut, and Laura Oftedahl of Virginia. International cross-country skiing is so heavily dominated by the Scandinavians that it is difficult for non-Scandinavians to win medals, whereas such domination by one country or one region is not so pronounced in the field of downhill skiing. The amputee members of the American team won approximately the same number of medals as the visually impaired members. The American team generally finished fourth in the number of medals won, although it did not enter competitors in approximately one-third of the events, such as icespiking, in which physically handicapped athletes propel very streamlined, lightweight sleds around an ice-racing rink through the use of very short ski poles. Some of the dignitaries present were the President of Austria and the Queen of Sweden. An American who received much press attention and who befriended several of the American blind skiers in his hotel was young Teddy Kennedy, who is improving rapidly as an amputee Alpine skier. The outstanding performances of all the American blind skiers would not have been possible without the assistance of their dedicated, hard­working racing guides. Every totally blind skier relies upon the verbal instructions, warnings, and other types of information provided at great speed and under very difficult conditions by his/her guide, who usually skis ahead of the Alpine racers and beside or behind the Nordic racers. Racing guides also assist partially­sighted racers by giving some verbal information and, most importantly, by serving as a visual target to be followed, always at high speed, down the Alpine slopes and down the usually narrow Nordic trails. The relationship between the blind racer and the guide is crucial because it necessarily involves accurate and quick verbal communication, split-second timing, and reliance on the other person to provide or react to accurate information. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved in the winter program of the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes should contact Dick Kapp, Winter Sports Technical Committee Chairman, 423 W. Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074; (414) 284-2704. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: Apple II Plus computer with 16K RAM card and RF modulator (no monitor needed). Some talking software included. For complete system, you would need disk drive and speech synthesizer. $800.00. Optional: two Apple disk drives also available - $200.00 each. Contact Rod Moag, 2200 Fuller Road, Apt. 1115-B, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; (313) 668-6914. * Wanted: Talking clock female voice - e.g., Sony Tick-Talk or Norelco. Contact Rod Moag at the address above. * For Sale: Optacon - used, but in excellent condition. $2,000.00 or best offer. Inquiries by braille or casette only: Ms. Dee Wilson, 375 N. Craig Street, Apt. 903, Pittsburgh 15213. ***** ** Calendar of Events ATTENTION, ACB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND CONVENTION CHAIRPERSONS: This Calendar of Events is compiled by the ACB Public Affairs Director in the National Office to assist you in publicizing your events. We need your meeting dates, however, to maintain this popular service. Contact Laura Oftedahl at 1-800-424-8666 as soon as your conventions are set. April 7-8 - Old Dominion Council of the Blind Spring Convention - Virginia Beach May 4-5 - ACB of Minnesota State Convention — Minneapolis May 9-11 - ACB Legislative Seminar - Washington, D.C. May 12 - Connecticut Council of the Blind Spring Convention - Waterbury June 8-9 - Iowa Council of the Blind State Convention - Council Bluffs June 12-14 - Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America - Ninth National Delegate Assembly - Washington, D.C. June 24-28 - AAWB/AEVH International Conference - Nashville, Tennessee July 1-7 - ACB National Convention - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ***** ** Here and There by Elizabeth M. Lennon From The Missouri Chronicle: Claire Michaels, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shoulders a canvas bag before dawn each morning and sets out with her guide dog to deliver newspapers -- her way of proving that, despite blindness, "there’s nothing I can’t do if given the chance." With the help of Cinder, a black Labrador Retriever, Miss Michaels, who was blinded in an automobile accident ten years ago, negotiates broken sidewalks and steps. When she misses a porch, the dog fetches the errantly thrown paper so that she can try again. Miss Michaels, who has college degrees in English and sociology, began delivering the Pittsburgh Post­Gazette more than a year ago and has 48 customers. She also delivers the Pittsburgh Press inside her apartment building. She is hoping for a full-time job at a hospital or the courthouse, but will continue delivering papers until that comes along. Amazing musical prodigy, Satauna Howery, is just 9 years old and has been blind since birth. However, she has already astounded experts with her uncanny composing and performing talents. The Simi Valley, California, youngster, who has been playing the piano since she was 2 1/2 years old, has written more than 35 musical compositions, performed at music festivals, and even appeared on TV's "That's Incredible." In 1982 and 1983, she performed at the Southern California Bach Festival in Santa Barbara. She also played a benefit for Children's Hospital in San Diego and has appeared on several TV shows. After learning music on her own for four and a half years, she began taking lessons when she was 7. Today she practices on a $15,000, gleaming concert grand, presented as a gift from Young-Chang Piano Company executives who were impressed by her incredible ability. A professional broadcaster with an M.B.A. degree in finance operates a reader service for blind people who need accurate and expeditious reading of complicated business, political, and law materials. The reading is done on cassette for a negotiated fee. Contact Mary Verna, 710 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147; (215) 238-9728. A new brochure entitled "Seeing Eye Dogs Are Good Tenants" has recently been prepared by The Seeing Eye for use by landlords and rental agents. It explains what a dog guide is and how it has been bred, raised and trained along with its master to settle comfortably into an apartment. For further information, contact The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ 07960. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: A text-to-speech system for Japanese has been developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, P.C., in Tokyo. Two robots work together to read to the blind. One reads Japanese text and synthesizes the voice. When the end of a page is reached, the other turns the page, enabling the robot reader to go on. *** The Education Department of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City has brochures listing special services for blind and visually impaired opera lovers, as well a season's repertory in braille and large-print. For further information, contact Debi Yanover, Special Services Coordinator, Education Department, Metropolitan Opera Guild, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023. The Franklin County (Missouri) Special Education Cooperative, a non-profit organization, has announced that cassette tapes of over 1,000 elementary, secondary, and career education books can now be ordered by special education teachers, students, and parents throughout the country. The taping program is being carried out by inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary and the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center. Inmates are volunteering their time to narrate textbooks on tape and to translate books into braille. A Media Catalog listing books on tape is available for $2.50 postpaid. Taping service is also available nationwide. Two taping centers are in operation, providing for faster turn-around time in recording and handling orders. Copyright approval is obtained in advance for recorded books. For further information, contact Mrs. Angela Donahue, Franklin County Special Education Cooperative, Box 440, Union, MO 63084. From RFB Annual Report: In 1982-83, 19,665 borrowers used the services of Recording for the Blind, with a total of 88,795 books having been circulated. Over one million books have been circulated since RFB began. The largest group of borrowers are undergraduate college students. New York has the most users, with 2,232, and California is second, with 1,950. For Sale ... Reading Center cabinet to hold your talking book machine as well as tape player, tapes, records, and braille materials. Finished in walnut, cherry, mahogany, or left clear. With plain or molded edges. Delivered anywhere in the continental United States. For further details on this and other attractive, handmade items in wood, contact John Postma, 1466 W. Michigan., Battle Creek, MI 49017; (616) 962-0185. Available now -- a limited quantity of large-print copies of the ACB Service Net Callbook of Blind Hams is available for purchase. A handy compilation of over 400 radio amateurs, it includes names, calls, and addresses. It is also broken down by call prefix and state. An excellent reference for the ham or dedicated SWL. For your copy (large-print only), send $5.00 check or money order to ACB Service Net, 1108 N.E. 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111. John B. Dashney, a member of the Oregon Council of the Blind and recipient of the Ned E. Freeman Award in 1982, was recently awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster ranking by Toastmasters International. This is the highest award a Toastmaster can achieve, and fewer than 2,000 have been given in the 60-year history of the organization. According to Toastmaster records, Mr. Dashney is only the third blind person to achieve this distinction. Government is an institution through which sound travels faster than light. Attention, Catalog/Mail Order Houses and Aids and Appliance Stores: Increasingly in the past several years, visually impaired people have had the opportunity to purchase goods through shop-by-mail services. The number of specialized mail order houses is expanding so quickly that it is hard to keep up with them all. Since there have been several requests for a listing of these sources, lnnavision plans to write an article detailing access to this information. To be included in this article, please send (1) sample catalogs; (2) catalog media (e.g., large or standard print, braille, cassette, disc); (3) any other details. Send to Innavision, 14 White Knoll Road, Wayland, MA 01778; (617) 235-2606. ***** ** ACB Committee Chairpersons, 1984 * Awards Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award and George Card Award - Bettye Krause, 1500 E. Karen, No. 359, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Robert S. Bray Award - Leslie Gertsch, 2400 S. 11th West, Woods Cross, UT 84087 Resolutions Committee - Paul F. Edwards, 2933 Claire Lane, Jacksonville, FL 32217 Constitution and By-Laws - Sue Graves, 4504 N. Wilson Drive, No. 2, Shorewood, WI 53211 Credentials Walter Smith, 2412-H Landmark Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607 Thrift Store Income Revenue Sharing Patricia Price, 337 S. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201 Special Grants Charles Hodge, 2895 S. Abingdon Street, Unit A-2, Arlington, VA 22206 Management Review Dick Seifert, 1023 Scott Street, Apt. F, Rock, AR 72202 Scholarships M.J. Schmitt, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, No. 2-A, Forest Park, IL 60130 ***** ** ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates American Blind Lawyers Association - John P. Nelson, President, 1209 N. 4th Street, Montevideo, MN 56265 ACB Service Net - Travis Harris, President, 3840 N.W. 31st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 ACB Federal Employees - Charles Hodge, President, 2895 S. Abingdon Street, Unit A-2, Arlington, VA 22206 ACB Parents - Jimmy Gibson, President, 6209 Lycoming Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 Braille Revival League - Floyd Cargill, President, 216 W. Miller, Springfield, IL 62702 Council of Citizens with Low Vision - Carl Foley, President, 1357 E. David Road, Kettering, OH 45429 Council of Rehabilitation Specialists - Charles Shecter, President, 135 W. 23rd Street, No. 1004, New York, NY 10011 Guide Dog Users, Inc. - Phyllis Stern, President, 1178 S. Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304 Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers - Geraldine Stroh, President, 3311 Girard Avenue, N., Minneapolis, MN 55412 National Alliance of Blind Students - Harry Herzek, President, 3901 Market Street, No. 1221, Philadelphia, PA 19104 National Association of Blind Teachers - Floyd Cargill, President, 216 W. Miller, Springfield, IL 62702 Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America - Paul Verner, President, 7505 Robindale Road, Tampa, FL 33619 Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association - Kathy Lutz, President, 3232 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 Visually Impaired Data Processors International - M.J. Schmitt, President, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, No. 2-A, Forest Park, IL 60130 Visually Impaired Veterans of America - Jack Courtney, President, P.O. Box 2002, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 World Council of Blind Lions - George Illingworth, President, 26695 S. Western Avenue, Redford, MI 48239 ***** ** 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. ###