The Braille Forum Vol. XXII May 1984 No. 11 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor For the latest legislative and governmental news, call the Washington Connection after 6:00 P.M. weekdays or all day weekends and holidays. Toll Free-1-800-424-8666. ***** * 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 Promoting Independence And Effective Participation In Society ***** ** Contents ACB Officers President's Message, by Grant Mack ACB Seeks Appropriation for Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facilities, by Barbara Nelson News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Help Establish Justice for All: Attend the ACB National Convention in 1984, by John A. Horst Convention Week Special-Interest Notes What Goes on at an ACB National?, by Sue Hanson Statement of the American Council of the Blind Regarding Medicare Coverage for Low Vision Services Blind Professor Helps Students "See" Buildings Statewide Comprehensive Planning for Blind and Visually Handicapped Children, by James Mann and Billie Jean Hill Typical Members Landmark Social Security Legislation Passes House, by Scott Marshall Regionals -- Let's Have One!, by Duke Andrews Seeing-Eye Duck Clears Path for Calf Hidden Vision Problems and the Hearing Impaired AFB Develops Stronger, Safer Folding Cane Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack ACB business took Albie and me to Las Vegas, Nevada, a few weeks ago. Upon arriving at McCarran Airport, we followed our usual procedure and, with the help of a very accommodating lady from a service organization, made our way to the ground transportation area. I told the young lady that we preferred using a limousine service rather than a private cab to reach our downtown destination, which was the Holiday Inn Center Strip hotel. This hotel is the one which will be used for the 1985 national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The reason for choosing a limousine over a private cab was the difference in fare. The limousine charges $2.50, compared to an approximate $8.00 charge for an individual cab. Everything went smoothly until we reached the limousine stand, where I was told by the driver that I would have to take a private cab. When I asked why, he replied, "There are other people in the limousine, and they might object to riding with a dog." A brief but firm conversation ensued, which resulted in a rather dramatic attitude change on the part of the driver. At that point, he almost insisted that we ride with him. He told the other passengers that they could take a private cab if they objected to riding with a guide dog. We who use guide dogs owe a lot to those who have gone before; to those who pioneered the way and ultimately brought into existence the legal rights which guide dog users enjoy today. We should never forget, however, that rights always bring responsibilities. "Rights" and "responsibilities" are two words with which all of us are familiar. In order to balance any scale of equity, equal weight must be given to both. Too often, equity gets way out of balance because we overload the scale on one side or the other. Too often, we forget that every right has its compensating responsibility. Let us not become careless and irresponsible users of guide dogs. We owe something to those early pioneers who have it easy for us now. We should also remember our responsibility to our dogs and to the persons around us. Most guide dog users do recognize and accept these obligations, and the members of ACB's special-interest affiliate, Guide Dog Users, Inc., are constantly emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards when using a guide dog. Each year following the ACB national convention, there is criticism leveled at guide dog users. Unfortunately, a few careless people put a stigma on all of us. Some of the most frequently heard criticisms are those relating to poorly groomed dogs; dogs that are out of control; owners who bulldoze their way through a crowd; owners who shout at their dogs; dogs that are off leash in a crowded room; and dogs that are allowed to relieve in areas other than those designated for that purpose. May I offer a challenge to all guide dog users who plan to attend the ACB convention in Philadelphia: Let us do our best to eliminate from our habits all those things that will cause others to be critical of guide dog users. Let us be conscious of the feelings of others and conscious of the comfort and well-being of our dogs who do so much for us. ***** ** ACB Seeks Appropriation for Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facilities By Barbara Nelson Staff Attorney The American Council of the Blind is asking Congress to appropriate $5 million for the Randolph-Sheppard program for fiscal year 1985 to establish new vending facilities. When Congress amended the Randolph-Sheppard Act in 1974, it expected the number of vending facilities operated by blind people to double within five years. Ten years later, this goal has not been met. In fact, the number of vending facilities has remained about the same. There are many reasons for the program's failure to expand. Federal property managers are often reluctant to comply with the property given by law for blind vending facilities on Federal property. Another major factor is the heavy competition for the funds which the state licensing agencies use to establish new vending facilities. Currently, new facilities are paid for primarily with Federal vocational rehabilitation grants which are matched by state monies on an 80%/20% basis. Federal vocational rehabilitation state grants, which are used for vocational rehabilitation services for all disabled persons, have not kept pace with inflation. Thus, there is often not enough money available for new vending facilities. Other sources of funds are also used in some states to establish new vending facilities. These include separate state appropriations, income from vending machines on Federal property, and set-aside funds contributed by blind vendors. However, these funds are usually needed primarily for renovating existing facilities, purchasing fringe benefits for vendors, and management services. In 1982, the average cost of a new vending facility was about $24,000. While $5 million is a very modest amount when distributed throughout the United States, it is hoped that such an appropriation will reinvigorate the Randolph-Sheppard program. It would evidence Congress's commitment to the program and open new opportunities for blind people to be employed. ACB is asking, of course, that this new funding be used primarily for new vending facilities, and that it supplement, not supplant, existing money used for this purpose. Join the American Council of the Blind in its effort to expand opportunities for blind people. Ask your Congressional representatives to support the $5 million appropriation for the Randolph-Sheppard program. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative The torrid pace of legislative and governmental activities that characterized the first two months of 1984 continued through March, in spite of an unexpected absence from the office by Scott Marshall, due to a serious illness in his family. During that time, members of the ACB national staff testified before Congressional committees regarding the Voting Rights Amendments and the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit Act. They also filed comments on Department of Justice Section 504 proposed regulations for Federally conducted programs, as well as Department of Education proposed regulations intended to limit the right of vendors and state licensing agencies to initiate arbitration proceedings under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. By the time this issue of The Braille Forum goes to press, the American Council of the Blind will have testified before at least two more committees and submitted comments on at least another set of proposed regulations. For up-to-the-minute information on these matters, be sure to call the Washington Connection during non-office hours, 1-800-424-8666. ACB continues to monitor very closely and to take an active role regarding the recent efforts by the General Services Administration to circumvent the Randolph-Sheppard Act in awarding food service contracts in Government buildings. Quick, effective action by ACB and others acting in concert with ACB forced the General Services Administration to cancel its plans to award a cafeteria location to a fast-food company, and ACB is now actively encouraging adoption of policies that would make such awards impossible in the future. These facts are repeated here to set the record straight and to put in proper perspective the groundless allegations by another organization of the blind that the Randolph-Sheppard program has been allowed to "go down the drain." As further evidence of ACB's leadership and expertise in the Randolph-Sheppard program, within the past ten days, Barbara Nelson, ACB Staff Attorney, has met with vendors' organizations in Michigan and Illinois. During March and very early April, it was the pleasure of ACB staff members to participate in ACB state conventions in Arkansas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. All three conventions featured outstanding programs and forward-looking advocacy activities. Everyone who attends the upcoming ACB national convention in Philadelphia will have an opportunity to hear the Old Dominion Council's luncheon speaker, Dr. David Hartman, author of White Cane, White Coat, and recipient of international publicity at the time of his graduation from Temple University Medical School. ***** ** Help Establish Justice for All: Attend the ACB National Convention in 1984 By John A. Horst Assistant Chairperson 1984 Convention Host Committee When our founding fathers met in convention in Philadelphia in 1787 to write the Constitution, one of their major concerns as stated in the Preamble was to "establish justice" for all Americans. As the American Council of the Blind meets in convention in Philadelphia in 1984, a primary concern is that this justice be part of the lives of all blind persons. The presentations, seminars, and other activities planned by the special-interest organizations and Convention Planning Committee will offer ample opportunity for freedom of thought and expression of opinion. It will also be an occasion to learn, to grow, to make friends, and to broaden your knowledge and skills. At the 1984 convention, there will be a special group or organization to fit almost every interest or background. In addition to the programs of the sixteen special-interest affiliates, which take place Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, July 1-3, there. will be a meeting and reception on Monday evening by Telesensory Systems, Inc., for VetsaBraille users and those who have other TSI equipment. The National Accreditation Council will have a breakfast on Thursday, July 5. Women's Concerns will meet Monday evening, and the state affiliates that are bidding on hosting the convention in 1986 will have hospitality suites on Wednesday night after the Awards Gala. Features of Convention Week, in addition to those noted in last month's Braille Forum, will include the annual auction followed by a dance for everyone, sponsored by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America on Monday evening; an address by United States Senator Jennings Randolph (D., WV) at the RSVA luncheon on Tuesday; a Showcase by Friends-in-Art on Tuesday evening; a braille slate writing contest sponsored by the Braille Revival League; the Awards and Charter Gala on Wednesday evening, with entertainment by the famous Philadelphia Mummers String Band; the banquet Friday evening, with "Doc" Watson, from Deep Gap, North Carolina, a Bluegrass entertainer. As the program, social activities, tours, and other arrangements are being finalized, ACBers should be finalizing their plans to attend this convention. Be certain to make your reservations early at the hotel and send in your pre-registration as soon as you receive your packet. Remember, there is no registration fee for the convention this year but all persons must register if they wish to attend convention activities. Most special-interest organizations will have registration fees for their meetings and social events. As noted in last month's Braille Forum, special travel discounts by air can be arranged by contacting GTU Travel of Washington, D.C., telephone 1-800-424-5468. When arriving at the Philadelphia Airport, ask for the limousine to the Philadelphia Centre Hotel. Fare is $2.50 per person. Upon arrival at the hotel, ask for a volunteer if you need assistance. Scouts and adults will be available to provide help as needed. Contact the registration or information desks, located on the third level. If you are traveling by auto, free parking is available for hotel guests. The place to be for growth, learning, and fun during the week of June 30-July 7, 1984, is the Philadelphia Centre Hotel, 1725 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19102; (215) 568-3300, where rates are $38 per night for single, double, or triple rooms. If you need additional information, contact the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, Adelphia House, No. 5 Mezzanine, 1235 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; (215) 561-1079. ***** ** Convention Week Special-Interest Notes "Braille is beautiful!" say members of the Braille Revival League (BRL) -- that is, when properly contracted, with clear, even dots, and free of erasures. A misused contraction can result in a misspelled word, and an erasure can make a word unclear or even impossible to read. The Braille Revival League wishes to encourage and reward those who use braille. Again this year it will sponsor a slate-writing contest during ACB Convention Week. The contest will be open to non-professional blind braillists. Contestants will be asked to copy uncontracted sentences into grade two contracted braille, using the 1980 rule changes. Cash prizes will be awarded the top three contestants making the least number of errors. All materials will be provided, including slate and stylus. The Hadley School for the Blind has generously agreed to share its booth with BRL to conduct this contest. You still have lots of time to brush up on your braille skills, so come join us in July. If you are interested in computerizing your mailing list, putting your newsletter on the computer, or many of the other applications which can be handled by a home computer, come to the workshop for home computer users, to be sponsored by the Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI). The workshop will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 1, 1984, at the Philadelphia Centre Hotel. Representatives from the various equipment manufacturers as well as VIDPI members will be there to answer questions, give advice, and try to help you accomplish your goals. VIDPI is ready and willing to offer assistance to users, and this workshop is our first venture in this direction. So bring your questions and problems and we'll try to work them out together. Telesensory Systems, Inc., history-maker with the Optacon reading aid, will be in historic Philadelphia to meet you June 30-July 7, 1984. TSI has lots that's new and exciting to share. Come by the TSI booth and catch a demonstration of the VersaBraille system interfaced with printers and a special new software program called Versatext; portable Viewscan large-display device for those with low vision; VERT talking terminal, and more ... Participate in the third annual VersaBraille users group meeting. Discuss new equipment and experience hands-on demos of the P2D and Ampro bookshelf microcomputer. Relax the evening of July 2 at the TSI Open House: down-home live music, refreshments, and talk about high-tech resources for visually impaired people. Purchase your ticket now with your pre-registration packet. Do you like to compete? Try your hand at the Optacon agility contest. The three-day contest starts Tuesday, July 3. Details can be had at the TSI booth starting June 30th. This will be the seventh year that Friends-in-Art has been active at the ACB national convention. Philadelphia is a Friends-in-Art Elysian Field, overflowing with art and history. The Friends-in-Art program will include a panel on new attitudes in the museum experience, moderated by Rose Resnick. Ann-Linn Glaser of the Please Touch Museum urges conventioners to come to the museum during the week. She is scheduling a workshop for children on brass-rubbing on Tuesday morning and an informal reception early Friday afternoon for Friends-in-Art and interested conventioners. Plans for the week also include the annual Showcase for the Performing Arts, with Janiece Petersen as MC. A special event is the celebration of the first 25 years of Rita Levy's professional career. Twenty-five years ago, Rita performed in the cast of "The Miracle Worker" as one of the children from Perkins. Friends-in-Art invites all those in attendance at this year's convention to join in these and other stimulating activities planned throughout the week. ***** ** What Goes On at an ACB National? By Sue Hanson (Reprinted from Minnesota Memo, published by American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, October 1983). How many of you have been to an ACB national convention? I had heard about them for years, and a few years ago even got to Louisville for the first two preliminary days, which are always workshops and interest groups. But I had never really been able to go to an entire convention, due to a conflict of interest with the national conferences of the American Association of Workers for the Blind (AAWB). But in 1983, AAWB and the ACB held back-to-back meetings in the same city and at the same hotel. Hurrah! Now Tom and I could go to both. And was it an experience! Everyone at one time or another has gone to a conference or a workshop or organizational meeting. But until you have been to a national convention, complete with delegates and state signs and all the pomp that goes with seating delegates and voting, you have not lived. Why, during the roll call vote one time, I expected to see Dan Rather and John Chancellor reporting from the booth high above us in the hall. "Minnesota casts five votes ..." brought images of Kennedy and Nixon and Reagan -- but we were voting on issues instead of people. At ACB national conventions, delegates have the chance to vote on resolutions and policy statements relative to issues concerning blind and visually impaired persons. Each state affiliate is allotted a certain number of delegate votes based on the numbers in a state chapter. A voice vote of those present is usually sufficient, but on close issues, a roll call vote is taken. As I sat and took part in general sessions and listened at keyholes of various committee meetings, I learned and observed many things. Some aspects were interesting, some dull; some made me proud to be an ACB member, some did not. I was impressed that ACB was willing to support policy statements on controversial issues, but disappointed that more stands were not taken on current topics. I was pleased that many members showed a knowledge of current happenings, but sorry to see many of these knowledgeable people vote for only what was in their personal best interest rather than in the interest of all blind and visually impaired persons. I was proud of the smooth professional way the convention was run, but let down by vague statements made from the dais on the size of our organization in relation to the National Federation of the Blind. But all in all, it was an exciting learning experience. If you have never been to an ACB national convention, you are really missing something. The friends you make and the things you learn are worth the trip. ... ***** ** Statement of the American Council of the Blind Regarding Medicare Coverage for Low Vision Services On May 12, 1983, Representative Barbara Mikulski (D., MD) introduced H.R. 3009 and H.R. 3010, legislation which would provide coverage for vision care under Medicare. These bills were the subject of ACB Membership Resolution 83-10 last July in Phoenix. The testimony below was presented by J. Scott Marshall, ACB's Director of Governmental Affairs, before the Health and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, on January 27, 1984. Mr. Chairman: The American Council of the Blind is pleased for this opportunity to testify in support of H.R. 3009, legislation which will provide Medicare coverage for low-vision services provided to individuals whose visual acuity meets the legal definition of blindness. We recommend that this legislation should be expanded to include coverage for the cost of optical aids and for the cost of necessary training associated with their effective use. We also support H.R. 3010, which broadens Medicare coverage to include vision care services for visually impaired persons whose acuity exceeds the legal definition of blindness. Our testimony today, however, primarily concerns H.R. 3009, because we believe that this less inclusive measure is a good first step toward full coverage for vision services under Medicare. ... One of our largest affiliated organizations is the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, a group of people who know well the value of maximizing the use of their remaining sight. ... Legal blindness has many gradations, ranging from total blindness (inability to see light) to the upper limit of legal blindness, a state in which an individual possesses a good degree of usable vision. According to the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, there are approximately 500,000 legally blind people in the United States today, with about 41,000 newly blinded people being added to this estimate each year. About 20% to 30% of legally blind people are totally blind. This means that 70% to 80% of those who are legally blind have some residual vision and therefore may benefit from the use of optical aids. The terms "low vision" and "visually impaired" are much less precise by definition and encompass many more individuals. ... According to the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, about 11.4 million Americans are visually impaired. In addition, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) estimates that of this number, about 1.4 million individuals are severely visually impaired. The definition of "severe visual impairment" used in the NCHS estimate is the inability to read ordinary newsprint with the aid of correcting glasses. About 71%, or 990,000 people, in the NCHS survey were elderly. It is apparent, therefore, that expansion of Medicare coverage to include vision care services for the visually impaired or low-vision population whose visual acuity is above the threshold for legal blindness will greatly increase the number of persons to be served under the Medicare program. The goal of low vision services is to help the individual maximize the functional use of his/her remaining sight. Low vision services are, of course, an adjunct to any needed medical or surgical treatment necessary to restore vision. The low vision specialist, who may be either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, uses his/her knowledge of refractive techniques and ophthalmic lenses to assist the individual to choose the optical aid which will best meet his/her needs. ... Every low-vision person knows that there is a great difference between visual acuity as measured by the Snellen eye chart (primarily a distance measure) and what might be called visual efficiency: how well a person uses his/her remaining vision, whatever its acuity. A small increase in visual efficiency can be of great value to a low-vision person, even though to a fully sighted individual the amount of increased efficiency might seem to be of little consequence. Thus, an individual may be able to read, to work, and to enjoy recreational activities using an optical aid, which might otherwise be more difficult or impossible to accomplish without increased visual efficiency. H.R. 3009, as introduced by Representative Mikulski on May 12, 1983, would appear to limit reimbursement for services in connection with "refractive state and visual function" of the eyes of persons meeting the definition of legal blindness. We believe that the language of the bill should be clarified to make certain that services rendered in connection with the prescription and fitting of optical aids (together with the cost of training in their use) is a reimbursable expense. This is particularly important since the prescription, fitting, and training in the use of optical aids is a time-consuming process and such services are indispensable components to a complete package of low vision services. The reactions of a user to a particular aid must be taken into account when prescribing these devices, since often a device which "should work for you" actually does not meet the user's needs in practice. In addition, we recommend that the cost of the aid itself should also be a reimbursable expense. It is of little value to perform a low vision examination for an individual who cannot thereafter afford to acquire the recommended optical aid. Unfortunately, many blind and other disabled people are poor. The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that 26% of disabled working age adults in America had incomes below the poverty line. This poverty rate is two and a half times higher than that for non-disabled working people. In addition, according to the Social Security Administration's monthly benefit statistics for September 1983, approximately 78,000 legally blind Americans received Supplemental Security Income benefits which are based upon economic need. About 108,000 legally blind persons whose adjusted income is less than $550 per month received Social Security disability insurance benefits. This latter group may receive Medicare benefits after two years of SSDI eligibility. It is difficult to determine the exact number of Medicare-eligible legally blind individuals in the United States because the Social Security Administration does not differentiate among beneficiaries by disability after they reach age 65. Most optical aids are relatively inexpensive, costing perhaps under $100. Other devices cost much more (approximately $2,000 for a closed-circuit television magnification system). Thus, because of the limited income of most low-vision people, we recommend that H.R. 3009 should be broadened to include reimbursement for the cost of optical aids. CONCLUSION: The American Council of the Blind believes that a low-vision examination and the prescription of an appropriate optical aid can make the difference between independence and dependence for many low-vision people. In 1977 alone, this nation spent over $63 billion on behalf of working-age disabled people. Over $47 billion of this total was spent for needed welfare and other support programs. Only about $3 billion was used in that year for direct services such as vocational rehabilitation, and approximately $13 billion was paid for medical care. We must increase those expenditures which permit disabled people to live independently and which enable particularly the elderly to avoid costly institutionalization in their autumn years. Reimbursement for low-vision services by the Medicare program is an important step toward improving the quality of life for low-vision people, while at the same time helping to achieve a reduction in the high economic cost of dependency in this country. ***** ** Blind Professor Helps Students "See" Buildings South Bend, Indiana (Associated Press): Imagine walking through the Empire State Building in New York City or among the ancient stones of the Colosseum in Rome, or beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Imagine doing it with your eyes closed. What can you hear? What can you feel as you grope your way along a wall? Can you still sense the building's size? Its beauty? Stephen J. Rogers is blind, but he says he can still "see" the building -- if the architect considered more than just its visual aspects when designing the structure. By feeling the texture of the walls and floors, pacing off distances and listening for sound reverberations in rooms and corridors, a blind person can develop what Rogers calls a "kinesthetic map" of a building. By putting together these individual impressions, he or she can construct an image of the whole, and if the architect's design included consideration of the physical dimensions of space as well as the visual effects, a blind person's impression of a building can be similar to that of someone who can see, he says. Rogers, a Harvard-educated professor of comparative literature with no formal architectural training, teaches an architecture course on spatial perception at the University of Notre Dame. He tries to get his students to appreciate the feel and the sound of the buildings they will design some day, as well as how they will look. ***** ** Statewide Comprehensive Planning for Blind and Visually Handicapped Children By Dr. James Mann and Billie Jean Hill The Governor of Mississippi recently commissioned a very comprehensive study of blind and visually impaired children throughout the state. As far as can be ascertained, this is a unique project, not attempted on so wide a scale in any other part of the country. This study will convey knowledge of services currently available to visually impaired children and make recommendations for providing new services to these children. Areas covered will range from health to education, social adjustment to vocational planning, and any related or ancillary services for blind children from birth to 21 years of age. The study has five task forces. Here is a description of each task force: Task Force 1 -- Search, Evaluation, and Placement: Will focus on the prevalence of visually impaired children and their geographic distribution in Mississippi; will make recommendations regarding evaluation leading to education; will propose guidelines for placement of these children. Task Force 2 -- Pre-School Through High School: Will analyze educational programs currently available; will recommend new or expansion of existing educational programs, including multi-handicapped blind and pre-school programs for all visually impaired children. Task Force 3 -- Postsecondary and Rehabilitation Programs: Will focus on visually impaired adolescents and the need for and availability of special adaptive programs in areas such as vocational/technical education and college education; adequate social and pre-vocational adjustment for this group; currently available rehabilitation services, with possible expansion or articulation of educational and rehabilitation services. Task Force 4 -- Professional Personnel Preparation: Will be concerned with issues related to the supply of competent, qualified personnel to serve visually impaired children; preparation of teachers and those who provide support services, i.e., mobility training, rehabilitation teaching, low vision aids, etc. Task Force 5 -- Community Services: Will address the needs and alternatives for providing a range of community services, including accessible health and mental health services, reader services, continuing education, etc. Task force members were selected from concerned professional and lay persons. The Comprehensive Plan will be published in December 1984. With all this interest and spirit of cooperation, it is felt that Mississippi's blind children will have every opportunity to become tomorrow's well-adjusted, productive citizens, and hopefully this will serve as a model for other states. For additional information, please contact: Statewide Comprehensive Planning, Blind and Visually Handicapped, 1252 Eastover Drive, Jackson, MS 39211; (601) 982-6458. ***** ** Typical Members (Reprinted from CCLV Newsletter, January-February 1984.) Some members are like wheelbarrows. They are no good unless pushed. Some members are like canoes. They need to be paddled. Some members are like kites. They will fly away unless kept on a string. Some members are like footballs. Who knows which way they will bounce? Some members are like balloons. They are hard to blow up or are full of wind. Some members are like semi-trailers. They need to be pulled. Some members are like lights. They keep going on and off. Some members are like the North Star. They are there when needed and are a guide to others. Which are you? ***** ** Landmark Social Security Legislation Passes House By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs Last October, The Braille Forum reported subcommittee action on H.R. 3755, the Social Security Disability Reform Amendments of 1983. Despite opposition by the Administration, the U.S. House of Representatives on March 27 passed H.R. 3755 by an overwhelming recorded vote of 410 to 1. The lone dissenter was Representative Philip Crane (R., TX). After first learning of H.R. 3755 last fall, members of the American Council of the Blind subsequently followed progress of the bill via the Washington Connection, ACB' s toll-free legislative hotline service. What did we get for our support? Here are just a few of the major provisions of the bill. Section 1619 of the Social Security Act, which continues SSI and Medicaid benefits for disabled people who return to work but continue to incur high disability-related expenses, is made permanent through June 1986. H.R. 3755 would also require the Social Security Administration to show that an individual's condition had medically improved before disability benefits could be terminated. Payments would also continue through the administrative law judge level of appeal, in order to avoid the hardship of loss of benefits in those cases where the initial termination is reversed on appeal. A face-to-face review would eliminate the present reconsideration level of appeal in termination cases. Finally, disability policies must be published as regulations subject to public notice and comment. Companion legislation, S. 476, is currently stalled in the Senate Finance Committee. However, given the overwhelming support for the House-passed bill, it is possible that this momentum will carry over to the Senate. The Administration, however, has recently announced that it may suspend reviews of disability cases through 1985, which may impede passage of S. 476 in the Senate. Since Congress mandated reviews of disability cases, which began in March 1981, 160,000 terminations have been reversed on appeal; 190,000 appeals were unsuccessful; and 120,000 appeals are presently pending. Much public attention has been focused on the hardships of disabled people and their families as a result of these terminations. This attention and concern may help passage of S. 476 in the Senate. Watch for progress reports in The Braille Forum and the Washington Connection. ***** ** Regionals -- Let's Have One! By Duke Andrews (Note: Duke Andrews is First Vice President of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and President of the Cambria County Chapter, PCB. He was blinded in 1935 as the result of an accident and joined the organized blind movement in Pennsylvania in 1937, very soon after the Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind -- now the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind -- was formed. The only living charter member of the Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind, he has served on its Board of Directors for 30 years, although he has never been president.) "Regionals! Let's have one!" Although this may be a familiar phrase to some members of the American Council of the Blind, undoubtedly there are many state affiliates which have not considered the merits and advantages of what we here in Pennsylvania fondly refer to as the "regionals." On April 30, 1983, the Cambria County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind was again privileged to host the Southwestern Regional in Johnstown. In thinking about a summary of that meeting for The Braille Forum, it occurred to me that such an article would have much greater impact and be of much more significance if it were written so as to enlighten those readers who might not know what a "regional" was all about. The Pennsylvania state organization was founded in 1936. Several years later, and as the membership grew, we embarked upon our regional program. Pennsylvania, being a large and long state, was divided into five regions-Northeastern, Southeastern, Northwestern, Southwestern, and Central. Each region is made up of the several affiliated chapters within its boundaries. Every year, pre-convention "regionals" are held in each of the five regions in April or May, with the general state convention in September or October -- thus avoiding the winter months when travel may be difficult. Please bear in mind that state conventions usually last two or three days. This entails extensive travel time and heavy costs for housing and food. At the general state convention, only delegates are permitted to vote. Despite the most careful scheduling, discussion and action on important issues and policies is greatly restricted and limited by time constraints. Regionals do not suffer from these drawbacks. The regional is a one-day affair, making it possible for members to participate and return home the same day. During the business session, which is actually an open forum, all members present may express their views, give their opinions, or enter into discussion on any policy, issue, or action to come before the meeting. Actions taken are not conclusive, but they do serve to establish a consensus of the will and desires of the members at the grassroots level. Suggestions and recommendations are then conveyed to the state president, the state Board of Directors, or appropriate committees. Actions taken and decisions reached by the grassroots membership at these meetings are very helpful to delegates and to state officers. Since local chapters are sometimes rather remote from one another, the regionals also provide an excellent opportunity for neighboring chapters and members to become better acquainted by making new friends; by sharing and coming to understand one another's problems, by exchanging views and ideas, by providing service, and by discussing ways and means to better themselves and their chapters. To some, this may be a new adventure and, amazingly, at times attendance at these regionals far exceeds attendance at state conventions. By way of illustration, the Johnstown meeting, held on a Saturday, opened at 1:00 P.M. with the singing of one chorus of "America," an invocation by Immediate Past President Rev. William Hopson, and a welcoming address by the Mayor of Johnstown. The balance of the meeting was devoted to business. An agenda was adopted, for the purpose of distributing time fairly so that all issues could be discussed and actions or consensus votes taken. Examples of issues considered were: (1) Should the PCB central office remain in Philadelphia, or should it be moved to some other site? There was a strong consensus vote for the status quo. (2) Should the editor of the state newsletter be an elective office, or should it be an appointment by the President and the Executive Board? The consensus vote was to follow the policy of the national ACB for an appointed editor. (3) Is the Governor's Advisory Board, under the Office of Blindness and Visual Services, viable and functioning in the best interests of the blind population of Pennsylvania? This was the subject of wide-ranging discussion and views. It was pointed out that there were several vacancies on the Board, and members were urged to seek qualified persons to fill those vacancies and to utilize the Board more effectively to better serve the needs and interests of blind people. The day's activities concluded with a 5:30 P.M. banquet, with musical entertainment, a quiz with questions about the Council, with cash prizes being given for correct answers, and numerous door prizes. Seventy-five persons attended this very successful and very constructive regional meeting. ***** ** Seeing-Eye Duck Clears Path for Calf (Reprinted from the Nashville Banner. By Nancy Humphrey, Banner Staff Writer) Bell Buckle, Tennessee -- From the pages of life comes an unusual relationship -- a blind calf befriended by a seeing-eye duck. This story of friendship, dedication, and trust emerged several months ago in a large barn nestled on a cozy, green hill in Bedford County, near Shelbyville (Tennessee). In what is a most unlikely relationship, a five-month-old black and white Hereford-Angus calf and a small mallard duck have become the best of friends. ... The calf, owned by livestock dealer Jim Gilmore, lost its sight because of pinkeye soon after Gilmore purchased it at a cattle auction. And the duck, purchased near the same time, lost its mate to a stalking animal. The two came together out of loneliness and need, Gilmore believes, and it was some time before he and co-workers realized that the duck was actually leading the blind calf to its daily activities. The tottering duck noisily guides the calf twice a day to food and water. Without the duck, the calf bumps clumsily into fences and posts. They eat, drink, and sleep together. When the two friends are put back into their pen at night, in a very few minutes they can be found snuggling close together. . . "You can't separate them," Gilmore said. "If you walk in between him (the duck) and the calf, he'll have a fit. He doesn't take kindly to anyone messing with his calf." Gilmore said he has become very attached to the pair, so much so that he worries about them "like you would worry about your kids." The livestock dealer said he believes the duck once saved the calf's life by simply sitting by his side until help arrived. Gilmore had been to a cattle auction and drove to his barn for night feeding time. He saw the duck sitting alone below the barn, next to a steep, narrow ditch. He walked to the ditch and saw the calf lying on its back, scared and near death. The livestock dealer explained that a calf will not survive for a long period of time on its back. The duck was sitting by the calf's side as if it were waiting for help to arrive. "When I walked up, that little old duck walked up to him, like a dog licks its puppies," Gilmore said. The duck seldom leaves the calf's side, but when he does, the calf turns in circles until the duck comes back to help him. And because the calf is not accepted by other larger cows on Gilmore's farm, the duck frequently defends his four-legged friend from the others. And even the duck benefits from the close relationship, Gilmore said. For instance, when the calf drinks water from the water trough near the barn, the duck sits under the calf's chin, catching water droplets as they fall. Gilmore said he worries about the duck's safety around other farm animals and other birds and said he would some day like to give the pair to a zoo, where they would be protected from other animals. "I want them to stay together here as long as things are like they are now," Gilmore said. "But if something would happen to the duck, the calf couldn't make it." ***** ** Hidden Vision Problems and the Hearing Impaired Dr. Donald Johnson and Dr. Frank Caccamise of the Rochester Institute of Technology, National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), have completed a three-year study of nearly 1,000 hearing-impaired college students. The results show that nearly 20 percent had visual problems or pathologies of which they were either unaware or didn't understand the implications in terms of their need for medical/non-medical remediation. A recent NTID "News Brief" reports some of their findings. Hearing-Impaired People Have More Visual Problems Than the General Population. Studies show there is a much higher rate of visual impairment among hearing-impaired people than in the general population. The National Society to Prevent Blindness (NSPB) says that about 25 percent of the general population of school-age children need professional attention because of suspected visual impairment. Figures from three years of research conducted at NTID from 1977 through 1979 place the percentage of visual impairments and eye diseases among its hearing-impaired population much higher -- about 65 percent. Many causes of hearing impairments may also result in concomitant visual impairments. Two of these diseases are maternal: rubella (German measles contracted by the mother especially during the first trimester of pregnancy) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), together with inherited hearing loss -- a condition referred to as Usher's syndrome. About 7 percent of those. with eye diseases that have not yet caused functional visual problems need periodic professional attention, since the disease could eventually cause permanent functional visual problems because of recurrence or the progressive nature of the disease processes. Examples of these functional visual problems are near- and/ or far-vision deficits -- color defectiveness, night blindness, narrowed visual fields, and binocular vision problems. Visual Screening. -- Visual screening was conducted on the 518 new deaf students entering NTID in the summer of 1983. When the final tabulations were in, we found that 22.2 percent of these students needed an on-campus ophthalmological examination because of suspected functional visual problems or eye diseases that may need professional attention. Three Major Visual Impairments. -- Functional visual problems such as these are among the most prevalent: * Binocular Vision -- The ability of the two eyes to function together to produce a single image and depth perception. * Far and Near Visual Acuity -- The ability of the eye to resolve or differentiate detail of objects viewed at a distance or close range. * Color Defectiveness (Color Blindness) -- An inability to discriminate certain colors (e.g., reds and greens). Other colors may be discriminated normally. These problems may be inherited or acquired. The breakdown on these functional visual problems among all NTID students includes approximately 49% with far and/or near visual acuity problems, 4% with color defects, and 11% with binocular vision problems. A few of the students had combinations of these three problems. They were accounted for in the category most likely to hinder their academic success if not corrected. Many acuity problems can be treated through the use of eyeglasses. Others can be treated through different types of medical intervention. However, there is no treatment for color defectiveness. Among the most prevalent diseases or conditions resulting from eye diseases identified at NTID are: (a) strabismus (failure of the two eyes to work together properly for clear vision or depth perception because of faulty muscle control for the two eyes); (b) rubella retinopathy (faulty development of the receptor cells of the eyes due to German measles contracted by the mother and passed on to the fetus during pregnancy); (c) color defectiveness (most often an inherited trait); and (d) retinitis pigmentosa or RP (an inherited progressive degeneration of the retina of the eye often leading to legal blindness by the early or mid-40's). Usher's Syndrome Also Evident. -- When a hearing impairment is inherited (usually severe and bilateral) and occurs in conjunction with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), it is often referred to as Usher's syndrome. Usher's syndrome occurs in about 3 to 6 percent of all people with inherited hearing impairments. Care must be taken in diagnosing a person as having Usher's syndrome. RP can, and most often does, occur in the absence of hearing impairment. When it occurs together with hearing impairment and other problems such as heart deficiencies, the name of the syndrome is different. There is no cure for either the hearing loss or the RP. Thus, there are important personal, social, academic, and career implications to consider in the treatment. Usually the degeneration begins in the periphery or sides of the retina, causing problems with narrowing of the visual field and decreased ability to see in dim illumination or darkness. Later, as it progresses to the more central, posterior portions of the retina, it begins to cause problems with near and far visual acuity and color vision. People with RP often become legally blind by the early or mid-40's. Legal blindness is defined in most states as visual acuity reduced to 20/200 or poorer in both eyes, with best correction and/or visual fields narrowed to 20 degrees or less (a condition often referred to as tunnel vision). Some students are not aware that they have Usher's syndrome, and most don't realize what it can mean for them. This is why there are such tremendous implications for good visual screening, medical follow-up, counseling, and career selection in educational processes. When Are These Visual Problems Usually Detected? -- That depends on the type and nature of the visual problem. Often the functional visual problems are detected during the early school years through visual screening programs or by accident. In other cases, such as often occurs with retinitis pigmentosa, the problem isn't detected until later in young adulthood or the early 20's, when the disease has progressed to the point where it really begins to affect functional vision. It's important to realize, however, that even significant functional visual problems and diseases may go undetected. Why Do These Problems Go Undetected? -- Many students don't realize they need visual attention because of lack of appropriate, or no visual screening and follow-up programs in their schools. Others will have inappropriate corrective lenses because of poor communication during their ophthalmological or optometric examination. Only in the past ten years have persons working with hearing-impaired people begun to be aware of the inordinately high incidence of visual impairment among deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Many people (including the families of hearing-impaired persons) still don't know about this potential problem. ***** ** AFB Develops Stronger, Safer Folding Cane A new, lightweight Super Fold cane -- designed to remain rigid even when damaged -- is now available from the American Foundation for the Blind. "The new cane is made of super-strength aluminum alloy tubing, with snuggly-fitted, reinforced stainless steel joints," says Doug Maure, Director of AFB's Technological Development Department, which designed and developed the product. Stress-tested ten thousand times at each of its four to six joints, the SuperFold cane stayed taut even when the elastic cord inside the tubing was broken. "At the end of the stress test, joints were just as tight as in the beginning," Maure said, adding, "The Super Fold cane is superior in strength, safety, and ease of repair to all previous models." He notes the cane is easy to fold and fits conveniently into pocket or purse. Tension of the elasticized cord can be adjusted to user's preference. The cane retails for $15. Purchasing details are listed in the free catalog, "Products for People with Vision Problems," available in print or braille, by writing Consumer Products Division, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. ***** ** Letters to the Editor * Dear Editor: I would like to share an expensive lesson with my blind sisters and brothers. Any time you ride in a cab, you should ask for the driver's name and the number of the cab. I didn't do that on December 22, 1983. During the Christmas holidays, I was traveling from the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind to my home in Fort Worth, Texas. I had flown from Arkansas to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. A Delta Airlines employee had helped an elderly man in a wheelchair and me to get a cab. The cab driver took the other people to their address first. When he got to my address and took out my luggage, he didn't have my electric typewriter in a case which had been put in the trunk of the cab. He said it must have been taken out at the other address; that he would get it and would be back in 45 minutes. He didn't return, and the cab company claims it has no record of who he was. Although the typewriter was marked with my Social Security number, the police haven't done a thing. It is frustrating that the legal system is so poor and that the cab driver took advantage of a blind person and got by with it. -- Linda Fitzgerald, Fort Worth, Texas. * Dear Editor: Call this a letter to the editor, an article, or anything you like. Following is opinion concerning action we all should take to get the U.S. Postal Service to correct its increasing number of inefficiencies. I hope you will print it in The Braille Forum: Almost everyone has at least one horror story about properly addressed "Free Matter" or First Class mail which failed to reach its destination. Since I have recently experienced and know of six such mail losses occurring over less than two years, I know that action is definitely needed. Since laws are only as effective as those who enforce them, I do not advocate a new law. I do, however, recommend the following action. 1. Send your incidents of Postal Service inefficiency -- complete with dates to within a month of accuracy, addresses of others involved with your particular situation, and specific lost mail content details -- to Postmaster General William F. Bolger, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, N.W., Washington, DC 20260. 2. In your letter, include a recommendation that local Post Offices ought to make annual, semi-annual, or monthly checks of "dead letters" and other undelivered items and mail all those containing at least one readable address, even if the only readable address is the return. 3. Send copies of your letter to the Postmaster General to your local Post Office, your Congressman and Senators, and at least one other politically influential person. 4. Encourage your friends to take similar action. If the United States is really a government of, by, and for the people, we the people can get our postal service improved! -- Mary Lou Lacefield, Louisville, Kentucky ***** ** 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 to maintain this popular service. Contact Laura Oftedahl at 1-800-424-8666 as soon as your conventions are set. May 10-13 -- ACB of California State Convention - Fresno May 12 -- Connecticut Council of the Blind Spring Convention - Waterbury May 18-19 -- Arizona Council of the Blind State Convention - Phoenix May 18-20 -- Louisiana Council of the Blind State Convention - Monroe May 25-28 -- ACB of Texas State Convention - El Paso June 8-9 -- Iowa Council of the Blind State Convention - Council Bluffs June 8-10 -- North Dakota Association of the Blind State Convention - Minot June 8-10 -- Florida Council of the Blind State Convention - Tampa June 12-14 -- Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, Ninth National Delegate Assembly - Washington, D.C. June 22-23 -- ACB of Nebraska State Convention - Lincoln June 24-28 -- AAWB/AEVH Alliance, International Conference - Nashville June 30-July 7 -- American Council of the Blind National Convention - Philadelphia August 7-11 -- Blinded Veterans Association National Convention - Nashville August 11 -- Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Honolulu August 31-September 2 -- Tennessee Council of the Blind State Convention - Knoxville September 28-30 -- Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Hays ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon The St. Lawrence County (New York) Medical Society has issued a statement supporting a blind physician and opposing the State Health Department for censuring him, according to an item in the Kalamazoo Gazette. Dr. John R. Bongiovanni, 53, of Ogdensburg was censured by the State Board of Regents for performing surgery after he was blinded in a 1980 traffic accident. The Medical Society criticized the State Health Department and the media for what it called "undue publicity." "Dr. Bongiovanni is an excellent citizen, a superior physician who knows and has practiced excellent medicine, and is competent," the Society said. From Women's Interest: A talking device from Britain can be attached to an ordinary bus stop and, at the push of a button, will announce the time of day, the bus routes served by that particular stop, and the expected time of arrival of the next bus on each of the routes served. The Missouri Chronicle reports that Sabrina Fowler, Recording Secretary and active member of the Allied Workers for the Blind, chapter of ACB's Missouri affiliate, the Missouri Federation of the Blind, was recently named Blind Worker of the Year by the Kansas City Association for the Blind. The first to receive such an award from the Kansas City Association, she was presented with a framed certificate and flowers from National Industries for the Blind and, together with 23 other blind workers receiving such awards, from throughout the country, was honored at the annual NIB meeting in Washington, D.C., where the group met with President Ronald Reagan. * * * Olga Neal of Grand Forks, North Dakota, long-time member and past President of the North Dakota Association of the Blind (ACB's North Dakota affiliate), was recently chosen Outstanding Public Employee of the Year by the North Dakota Public Employees Association. She has had 21 years' experience teaching the blind. The Capital District Chapter, ACB of New York State, has for sale pins with the official ACB logo. The 3/4-inch oval pin is gold with black lettering. There is a raised dot on the back of the pin to indicate the top. To order, send $3 to Capital District Chapter, ACB/NYS, Box 6, Albany, NY 12201. The Piano Technician's Guild will hold its annual national convention July 2-6 at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. On the afternoons of July 3, 4 and 5, and on Friday morning, July 6, special classes will be geared to the visually impaired, with technical instruction from Steinway, Wurlitzer, and Kimball. On July 6, a tuning forum will be held. Position Available: The Wisconsin Council of the Blind, Inc., is seeking candidates for the position Executive Secretary, to commence work on January 1, 1985. Salary: $20,000 plus fringe benefits (negotiable). For further details and application, write Wisconsin Council of the Blind, Inc., 1245 E. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703. Applications must be returned by August 31, 1984. From The Missouri Chronicle: When David Fee entered Northwest Missouri State University last fall, one of the first things he did was to go down and join the Marching Bearcats, the University's band that performs at football games and other school functions. Band Director Al Sergei admits that he was a little taken aback when he first met David, but he figured that the young man's participation in the 120-member group would be a "challenge." David Fee is blind. "It's worked out fine," Mr. Sergei said. "If he gets out of step, l yell at him just like I yell at anybody else." "What I do when we're marching is listen to the people playing beside me," said David. "I can tell by them if I'm in line or not." * * * Beauty doesn't always exist in the eyes of the beholder. The beauty that Keith Richardson beholds -- and shapes and creates -- is that which he feels with his hands. Mr. Richardson is a prize-winning ceramist -- and he is totally blind. He has won more than forty awards from the last three Kansas City Ceramics Association shows, including a "Freddie," the highest award in hobby ceramics. To make his vases, beer steins, cups, and planters, Mr. Richardson, a 53-year-old former teacher and National Guard instructor, has devised tools that sighted persons might not recognize, and methods they don't need. The fashion world has tried to cope with the Walkman and its many clones by designing jackets with special pockets for the stereos. But now, for those of us who like the idea of portable music, but find earphones a safety hazard because of the blocking out of traffic sounds, there is the Music Vest, clothing with an FM radio and speakers built right in, according to Family Weekly magazine. In the vest, the speakers are placed squarely on the shoulders of the music-lover, says Michael J. Waldron, its inventor. The vest may soon be available nationally, along with Waldron's other tuneful togs, the Music Jacket and the Music Jogger (a jogging suit). The Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, Inc., based in Sandy, Oregon, held its first summer camp for the blind in July 1983. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of the campers, the Foundation is planning two one-week sessions for 1984 -- July 14-21 and August 18-25. Fee for the week is $100 per person. For detailed information, contact Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, Inc., Box 157, Sandy, OR 97055; (503) 668-6195. The second annual National Conference of the Blind will be held August 17-19 at the Marina Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program will include discussion of such far-ranging topics as the future of rehabilitation services for blind persons, the latest affirmative action regulations, library services for the blind, and more. Many exhibitors are expected to be in attendance through the weekend. Room rates are $26 for singles and doubles, $30 for triples, and $34 for quads. Registration fee is $15 per person through August and $20 thereafter. For complete information, write California Council of the Blind, 16119 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91406, or call (818) 782-7014. The Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Blindness and Low Vision announces the availability of research assistantships to graduate students interested in rehabilitation research in the field of blindness and low vision. Assistantships will be awarded to those majoring in rehabilitation counseling, counselor education, psychology, sociology, educational psychology, computer science, special education, vocational evaluation, and vocational specialist in visual impairment. Each assistant will be expected to work with the Center staff on projects of the Center as well as to focus on his/her own study in the field of visual impairment and blindness. Eight assistantships will be awarded for the fall of 1984. For further information, write Director, Research and Training Center in Blindness and Low Vision, P.O. Drawer 5365, Mississippi State, MS 39762. The National Braille Association Braille Book Bank ran off its five-millionth page on January 3, 1984 -- a great way to start off a new year! The Braille Book Bank supplies visually impaired college students and adult professionals with textbooks and career materials in braille. It contains one of the world's largest collections of college textbooks in braille, as well as a collection of music and general-interest materials. For further information about these materials, write National Braille Association, 422 S. Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey, 13.1 million Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 have a health problem or disability which limits the kind or amount of work they do. Of these, 26% live in poverty. Men with a "work disability" are only one-half as likely as non-disabled men to be in the work force -- that is, actually working or seeking work. Women with a work disability participate in the work force at a rate only one-third that of non-disabled women. Of those persons with a work disability who were not in the work force, the unemployment rate was 16%, as opposed to a rate of 10% for others. Blacks were more likely to have a work disability than either whites or Hispanics while 3% of those between ages 16 and 24 reported a work disability, 24% of those between 55 and 64 reported a work disability. Information Wanted: Would any blind parachutist using adaptive equipment please contact me with resource data: Paul Brubaker, Box 119, Monterey, VA 24465. Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. (IRTI) announces two new items which should be of interest to blind and visually impaired persons. The Satoki talking wristwatch, which will be available from IRTI in June 1984, has the following features: speaks time of day; announces time each half hour, if desired; alarm with chime and snooze; and count-up timer. Smaller and more attractive than previous talking wristwatches. Price. $49.95 plus $1.00 for cassette instructions, plus $2.00 shipping and handling. The Weight Talker is an electronic digital talking scale with six individual memories for weight comparison. Announces your weight in pounds and kilograms; voice read-out from 1 to 288 pounds; automatic zero adjustment. Introductory offer from IRTI: $95.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling. Address: Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc., 26699 Snell Lane, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022; (415) 948-8588. ***** ** 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 also 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. ###