The Braille Forum Vol. XXIII August 1984 No. 2 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 23rd Annual Convention, American Council of the Blind Elections 1985 and 1986 Conventions Report of the ACB Treasurer, James R. Olsen Report of the ACB National Representative, Oral O. Miller California Council of the Blind Joins ACB in Philadelphia, by Durward K. McDaniel News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Supreme Court Decides Two Important Special Education Cases, by Barbara Nelson Blind Misleading the Blind "To Photograph Is to See," by Laura Oftedahl Representative Roybal Introduces Congressional Internship Resolution Pigeons as 'Seeing Eyes' for the Blind? In Memoriam: Kathaleen C. Arneson, by Laura Oftedahl Calendar of Events Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers and Directors Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack The 23rd annual convention of the American Council of the Blind has now come and gone. How appropriate that this convention which set some historical high marks in ACB history should have been held in Philadelphia, a city so rich in history! How appropriate, also, to celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day, in this city where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, and the city which more than any other, perhaps, continues to remind us of our great legacy of liberty! The Fourth of July is big in Philadelphia, where marching bands, fireworks, and the Liberty Bell continue to attract thousands. It is easy to get caught up in the "Spirit of '76" when one is in Philadelphia on July 4. The spectres of William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other framers of our Constitution seem to hover near and make one proud to be an American. Philadelphia is steeped in historic significance, and it is highly appropriate that the American Council of the Blind created some significant history at this convention. Although the final figures have not been tallied, it was obvious that a new attendance record was established. The host committee had planned for only a normal increase in attendance, underestimating the crowd that actually showed up. Hundreds of additional print and braille programs were ordered at the last minute to accommodate the unexpected large number of attendees. The headquarters hotel was full, and the overflow hotel was also taxed to capacity. The Philadelphia Centre Hotel staff was hard-pressed to provide extra seating at meetings and to add additional place settings at the many luncheons and extra meal functions. Two new affiliate charters were granted at this convention. The California Council of the Blind, a new state affiliate with well over 1,000 members, and Friends-in-Art, a new special-interest organization, were welcomed into ACB. The addition of these two fine affiliates gives further credence to the fact that the American Council of the Blind is the largest and fastest-growing organization of blind people in America. Philadelphia literally means "City of Brotherly Love." Those who attended this convention can attest to the fact that it is just that. The host committee, the friendly volunteers, and the plain citizens of this magnificent city exuded warmth and friendliness. One of the most impressive welcoming addresses ever made to the American Council of the Blind by the mayor of any city was given by The Honorable W. Wilson Goode, Mayor of Philadelphia. If some of those early leaders of two hundred years ago could have looked in on the ACB convention on July 4 as Mayor Goode presented us with a replica of the Liberty Bell, I think they would have been surprised, but approving, as they saw this strong, effective, warm leader of Philadelphia welcome the ACB to his city. The fact that he is black might have caused William Penn and Benjamin Franklin to raise an eyebrow, and perhaps they would have been startled to observe the large ballroom full of well-dressed, capable people who happened to be blind. Yes, William Penn and Benjamin Franklin might well have been greatly surprised. I would like to think that those great leaders would have been able to accept and would have been pleased with what they saw. And, yet, I wonder if even men of their great stature could have put bigotry, prejudice, and ignorance aside. The struggle for equality of all minority groups has been a long and hard one, and much progress has been made. However, the battle is far from over. It is important that we continue to fight for equality and justice for all Americans. It is also important that minorities continue to work together and continue to flex their muscle, when necessary, until the last wall of ignorance and prejudice is knocked down. The American Council of the Blind is grateful to the people of Philadelphia for their cooperation, support, and warmth as shown by the business and political leaders of that great city as well as its entire citizenry. Philadelphia demonstrated to all of us that it really does deserve to be known as the City of Brotherly Love. ***** ** 23rd Annual Convention American Council of the Blind "A warm welcome to Philadelphia and the 1984 convention of the American Council of the Blind. Philadelphia is known around the world as the 'City of Brotherly Love,' a slogan that originated in Colonial times and was practiced by welcoming any person, regardless of belief or social station. And ACB welcomes you to our 23rd annual convention ... For the next four days, we will be hearing from noted guest speakers, our officers and directors, and, most importantly, from you, the members of America’s largest and fastest-growing organization of the blind. In Philadelphia, the cornerstone documents of American liberty were crafted and forged into the basis of a republic that has survived all the challenges and enemies, foreign and domestic, for generations. In the American Council of the Blind, we practice the same kind of participatory democracy that was the ideal of the founding fathers when they wrote those other documents in this very city. "So now relax, learn, enjoy, and participate in democracy, ACB style ..." Following these stirring words, over 1500 members and friends of the American Council of the Blind who were gathered in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July, Independence Day, stood to attention and raised their voices in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and our National Anthem. On behalf of the City Council, a resolution was then read proclaiming the week of June 30 to July 7, 1984, as American Council of the Blind Week in the City of Philadelphia. In his welcoming address to the convention, The Honorable W. Wilson Goode, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, spoke in part as follows: "It is appropriate for the American Council of the Blind to convene its 1984 convention on the very day and in the very city where our nation's liberty and freedom began. Holding this convention on this historic day symbolizes the freedom that blind citizens deserve. ... "Philadelphia was among the first cities in the country to establish a Mayor's Office for the Handicapped. This office is ten years old ... "I am pleased to be here this morning to officially welcome you to Philadelphia. It is the birthplace of democracy. ... You have come to where it all began 208 years ago ... You have come here to renew your commitment, to renew your involvement, to renew your dedication to providing improved services for those who are visually impaired." At this point, Mayor Goode asked ACB President Grant Mack to stand and presented him with a beautiful replica of the Liberty Bell, "because the symbol of this nation is the Liberty Bell ... And so I say to President Mack, let freedom ring for all citizens of our country." Convention business and activities will be reported in part in this issue, in part in future issues. One program feature, however, should be mentioned here. On Wednesday afternoon, July 4, the convention was addressed by long-time and very popular talking book reader, Alexander Scourby. Initially, Mr. Scourby had expected to be present in person in Philadelphia. Following recent surgery, however, he was ordered by his physician not to travel for another week, and he therefore addressed the convention by telephone. Because of technical difficulties, the quality of the telephone presentation -- and consequently of ACB's recording -- was very poor. The fact that those in attendance listened so patiently and attentively under the circumstances speaks volumes concerning the high esteem in which we all hold Mr. Scourby. Fortunately, Mr. Scourby's wife recorded the address at his home in Connecticut, and that tape was made available to the ACB National Office. To attempt to reduce Mr. Scourby's remarks to print would destroy much of the effectiveness for those of us who have grown up over the past 47 years listening to the nearly 500 talking books he has recorded. Therefore, his taped address is being included as a supplement at the end of the recorded editions of The Braille Forum this month. Extra discs are being ordered, and those print and braille readers who would like a copy may request the disc directly from The Braille Forum office. ***** ** Elections In accordance with the Constitution of the American Council of the Blind, five Directors and three members of the Board of Publications were elected at the 1984 convention. Re-elected to a second four-year term as Directors were Robert Campbell of Berkeley, California, Adrian De Blaey of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Charles Hodge of Arlington, Virginia. Carl McCoy of Tallahassee, Florida, had served his limit of two four-year terms, and Dick Seifert of Little Rock, Arkansas, did not stand for re-election. Their seats on the ACB Board of Directors were filled by Brian Charlson of Salem, Oregon, and by Paul Verner of Tampa, Florida. Re-elected to a second two-year term on the ACB Board of Publications were Don Cameron of Tampa, Florida, and Christopher Gray of Mountain View, California. Dean Flewwellin of Aberdeen, South Dakota, did not stand for re-election. To fill that vacant seat, Billie Jean Hill of Jackson, Mississippi, was elected to a first two-year term. ***** ** 1985 and 1986 Conventions "Go west, young man," as the saying goes -- at least during the week of July 6-13, 1985. Those are the dates for the 24th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. The Nevada Council of the Blind is the host. Las Vegas is the place. The Holiday Inn Central Strip is the headquarters hotel, where room rates are $32 a night for singles and doubles, with a charge of $8 for each additional person. The Holiday Inn is a modern, luxurious hotel, with a swimming pool and a number of excellent restaurants, ranging from 24-hour fast-service to leisurely gourmet dining. This is a 1,000-room hotel, and 750 to 800 rooms are being blocked for the ACB convention. Although the weather in Las Vegas in the summer is hot, humidity is low and the air-conditioning is the best anywhere, according to Dave Krause of the Nevada Council. And he adds, "Nothing closes in Las Vegas!" Watch The Braille Forum as details develop for this very exciting convention. It's a return to "southern hospitality" for the 1986 national convention. By roll call vote, the convention accepted the invitation of the Tennessee Council of the Blind to come to Knoxville. The dates are June 28 to July 5. The Knoxville Hyatt, where 350 rooms have been blocked, is to be the headquarters hotel; and 275 rooms have been set aside at the Hilton, six blocks away. Written into the contract with the hotels is an agreement to provide continuous shuttle service each day from 7:00 A.M. well on into the late evening. Both hotels have swimming pools. Both have excellent meeting facilities, and special-interest activities will be split approximately 50/50 between the two hotels. Room rates are $32 a night for singles, doubles, triples or quads. The Knoxville Hyatt, which was headquarters for the 1973 ACB national convention, is approximately twelve years old. The Hilton is two years old and was built at the time of the World's Fair in Knoxville. The Tennessee Council of the Blind is proud to have the American Council of the Blind return to Knoxville for its 25th annual convention. ***** ** Report of the ACB Treasurer, James R. Olsen The 1983 ACB Annual Report was distributed at the national convention. Copies are available from either the ACB National Office in Washington, D.C., or from the Treasurer's Office in Minneapolis. A recorded edition is available again this year. To obtain a copy of the recorded edition (1 7/8 ips cassette), contact the National Office. In addition to the audited financial statement, the Annual Report highlights the programs and services of the American Council of the Blind during 1983 and includes messages by the ACB President and National Representative. During 1983, the Thrift Stores earned $732,000 on sales of $6,030,000. Other revenues, including contributions to the scholarship endowment fund, amounted to $43,000, for a total revenue of $775,000. Expenditures for program services were $762,000, with $163,000 spent on Management and General and on Fund-Raising, resulting in a deficit of $150,000 (which had been budgeted), due to new Thrift Store openings and the spending of prior years' surplus. On December 31, 1983, the American Council of the Blind had a bank balance of $9,000 and total assets of $580,000. Of this total, $107,000 was the net value of office furniture and equipment; $34,000 was restricted in the endowment fund; and $399,000 was the net equity in the Thrift Stores (American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services). ACB continued to grow in 1983, with two new Thrift Stores opened and one closed. Programs and services were expanded and enhanced when compared to prior years. Thanks to the many individuals and organizations who have answered the letter asking for contributions to the Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. We received $10,600 during 1983, and through July 15, 1984 we have received a total of $21,686 (including $18,625 from a bequest), bringing the fund balance to $36,766 since it was started in 1982. Additional gifts should be addressed to: James R. Olsen, ACB Treasurer, 310 4th Avenue, S., Suite 822, Minneapolis, MN 55415, with checks made payable to ACB Endowment Fund. Your continued support through personal contributions and the remembrance of the American Council of the Blind in your Will is needed and greatly appreciated. Become a partner in the growth and expansion of the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Report of the ACB National Representative, Oral O. Miller It is difficult to present a realistic report regarding the operations of the American Council of the Blind during the past year for a number of reasons. The main one, of course, is that there is simply not enough time to mention even a fraction of the things done by ACB, the staff, and the other people who perform its functions. Another very good reason is the fact that many things have already been reported in The Braille Forum or by way of the Washington Connection. The incoming WATS line has been the single thing most responsible for the enormous increase in the level of business in the ACB National Office in recent years. The incoming WATS line itself was responsible last year for approximately 18,000 calls. That’s approximately one call every seven minutes. And that doesn't take into consideration the four other lines that come in to the National Office. That doesn’t take into consideration, also, the approximately 21,000 calls that came in last year for the Washington Connection. Fortunately, our staff is comparatively young and very energetic. But I point out to you that even energetic people get tired occasionally at this torrid pace. And here I am going to become just a little bit the "heavy" for a minute. People get tired at a torrid pace especially when they are asked to perform various services and tasks that really could and should be performed by other people, such as telephone information operators and the people who publish the various catalogs of aids, appliances, services, etc. The aim of ACB is to provide service to blind people. But I point out to you, also, that our ability to provide that service is decreased as staff members are loaded down with tasks that really should and could be done by other people. I would like to remind you, also, that although a call that comes in on the WATS line doesn't cost the caller anything, ACB most assuredly pays for every minute of WATS line time used. A WATS line is not a magic, cost-free service provided by the telephone company. Now, that concludes my status as a "heavy" this morning. The National Office has benefitted immeasurably in the last year as a result of its expansion by approximately one-third and remodeling of the office. Our modest conference room has been the site already for dozens of important meetings, conferences, and technical demonstrations, and our greater space has added enormously to the efficiency and morale of office personnel. We have also benefitted greatly from the employment of our new data processing coordinator, Mrs. Audrey Sundstrom -- and, no, there is not a Scandinavian movement afoot, with people in the office with Scandinavian names like Oftedahl, Nelson, and Sundstrom! Mrs. Sundstrom has brought a tremendous technical knowledge to this position. She is now taking the steps which are necessary to upgrade the computer system to a much faster, more efficient database, which will improve our capability to produce braille or spoken output. I am pleased to point out to you that in the past year, ACB has become much more visible and audible on Capitol Hill and in the halls of government than ever before. During 1984 alone -- that's only the last six months -- ACB has already testified before Congress ten times. That's versus a total of three times during all of 1983. This is a record of which we can be proud, and this shows the degree to which ACB is recognized as a reasonable, knowledgeable, articulate source of information. We testified on a variety of subjects, including insurance discrimination, the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, travel discrimination, low vision service under Medicare, sensory and communications aids under Medicare, eye research, Randolph-Sheppard appropriations, and appropriations for services to elderly blind people. I want to point out to you, also, that what ACB has said has been listened to, and that's the important thing. Further, during the year, ACB has coordinated basically the disabled community's response to the Justice Department's proposed Section 504 regulations concerning federally conducted programs. ACB during the year achieved legislative authorization of a mandatory state client assistance program. It commented -- and benefit will be seen in the future on this -- on the Rehabilitation Services Administration's proposed regulations concerning the Randolph-Sheppard vending arbitration procedures. And the item that probably took more advocacy time during the last six months than any other single item: ACB responded very effectively and very vigorously to efforts of the General Services Administration to circumvent the Randolph-Sheppard vending priority to blind vendors. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to tell you, ACB is the leader in this field. As a result of our activities primarily -- there were others involved -- but as the result of our activities, policy directives will soon be issued that hopefully will prevent such problems in the future. ... ACB also prepared information for submission in the California litigation against the Bay Area Rapid Transit, connected with the safety of blind people. ACB during the year contributed enormously, through coalition activities, to the passage of the Grove City Response bill in the House. ... During the year, ACB also gave direct legal, technical, and other assistance to vendor organizations in at least ten different states, and it has now completed the initial work for a "friend of the court" brief in support of vendors in North Carolina who were denied monies they had paid into a state retirement system over a period of approximately 11 years. In addition, ACB has provided legal and technical assistance to hundreds of members and non-members alike, as well as to affiliate organizations. ... During the year, the staff completed distribution of our second generation of radio public service announcements and started the development of ACB's first TV public service announcement. Other public information activities would include such things as widespread notice to the airlines regarding this year's national convention, plus extensive communication with the media in connection with the convention. One result has been that this convention has attracted by far the greatest number of first-time participants who came in from the community because they heard about it through the media. Other noteworthy achievements would include preparation of the ACB brochure on its affiliates, available in braille, in print, and on tape. Also there is the brailling of the ACB general information brochure. Another achievement is the accumulation of resource information on many, many subjects, such as low vision aids, scholarships and other financial assistance, recreation and sports activities, aids and appliances catalogs, and information of importance to job-seekers. ACB also assisted the Membership Committee in the preparation of the new Chapter Development Handbook. On a continuing basis, ACB has provided editorship for The Student Advocate, newsletter of the National Alliance of Blind Students. During the year, ACB has maintained the NABS mailing list, and that mailing list now has more than 1900 names and addresses. In addition, the membership of NABS has more than doubled. ... Further, ACB staff provided assistance to the National Convention Committee in the specific areas in which it was asked to assist, such as in providing assistance with registration here — not in planning it, not in running it, but simply in providing assistance to it. It provided membership development assistance and public information advice to approximately fifteen to twenty affiliates, as well as an enormous amount of general as well as specific information about ACB and its affiliates and programs to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and radio and TV stations. I am going to speak more generally at this point. I am not going to attempt to predict the future, but there are some things we should be aware of. ACB as an organization has got to remain vigilant. You, the members, the people who see what's going on every day around the country, must remain vigilant in order to protect and block efforts to erode or subvert the rights and benefits that are important to blind people. I am referring to efforts such as those of the General Services Administration to take away the priority which rightfully belongs to the Randolph-Sheppard vendors, which rightfully belongs to blind people, in connection with operation of food service facilities on Government properties. I am referring, also, to the developing interest -- it's not quite on the surface, but it's there — the developing interest in some governmental offices to eliminate priorities that are guaranteed by law to the blind and visually impaired. This can be generally lumped under the category of the umbrella theory — that there should be no difference in the way that various handicapped people are treated, that all services should be uniform, that there should not be duplication, etc. This is creeping into some areas we hadn't even thought of before. We know, for example, that this definitely applies in the Randolph-Sheppard field. Ladies and gentlemen, this is also beginning to be heard in connection with the sheltered workshop field. And it's probably going to be heard in connection with other programs for the benefit of the blind and visually impaired. The American Council remains an active supporter of various important and very effective coalitions, such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, without whose assistance progress in the Grove City case simply would not have been possible. On the other hand, though, much of our increased visibility has been due to carefully made decisions on our part as to when we must speak on behalf of the blind alone. We are going to have to continue along this line, sometimes at the risk of being misunderstood, in order to close or block the back door through which a lot of specialized services are going to be attacked. ... I want to publicly thank and commend the members of our own hard-working National Office staff, as well as all staff members in the office of The Braille Forum in Rochester and in the Treasurer's Office in Minneapolis, the people with whom we deal every day. But in addition to that, we certainly want to thank you, the members and friends of the American Council of the Blind, for your assistance and your cooperation, and we pledge to you our continued assistance. We ask you to join with us so that we together can maintain the American Council of the Blind as the largest and the most effective organization of the blind in the United States. ***** ** California Council of the Blind Joins ACB in Philadelphia By Durward K. McDaniel The largest state organization of the blind and visually impaired in the nation received its certificate of affiliation from the American Council of the Blind at its Awards and Charter Gala on July 4, 1984, in Philadelphia. CCB is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Its founder and first president was the highly regarded Dr. Newell Perry. It was one of the seven state organizations which formed the National Federation of the Blind in 1940. CCB's president, Robert Acosta, received its charter. He has appointed a committee to explore the possibility of merger with representatives of the American Council of the Blind of California, ACB's long-time, large affiliate. We welcome the California Council of the Blind and its members and hail this progressive action which strengthens and adds to the momentum to unify our movement. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative June is traditionally a busy month for the ACB National Office as it prepares in various ways for the national convention and related workshops and activities. And June of 1984 was no exception. This year, an additional task to be performed by National Office staff involved the preparation of ACB's modular exhibit for display throughout Convention Week in the exhibit hall. The self­contained exhibit, which is primarily visual in impact, gave most ACB members their first opportunity to see the way in which the American Council of the Blind is presented to the public during various professional, scientific, and educational conferences in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area each year. As preparations were completed, there was so much equipment and material to be shipped from the National Office to the convention headquarters hotel in Philadelphia that it was necessary for the National Office Manager to drive it by truck, with the National Representative as a passenger, to Philadelphia. During mid-June, it was almost necessary for staff members to be in two places at one time -- such as at the national assembly of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and the delegate assembly of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL). The thrust of the LCCR awards banquet, which concluded the two-day meeting, was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to honor outstanding leaders in the civil rights struggle — leaders such as Joseph Rauh and Mrs. Clarence Mitchell. ACB members who attended the 1979 national convention banquet in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were privileged to hear a stirring address by the late Clarence Mitchell, who died suddenly in March of this year. I am pleased to report that a representative of the American Council of the Blind was seated at the head table, and that in almost all of the public statements made during the evening, the rights of handicapped people were included with those of the groups protected by the Civil Rights Act. Meanwhile, across the city, near Capitol Hill, the Affiliated Leadership League was hosting a reception honoring Senator Jennings Randolph, so a number of attendees had to rush from one function to the other. Senator Randolph was warmly recognized by many leaders in work for the blind, Government officials, and Congressional colleagues for the outstanding work he has done over the years in advocating for the independence and dignity of blind people. Among the many in attendance at the reception were the Congressional delegation from West Virginia, Senator Robert Stafford of Vermont, Senator Robert Dole of Kansas, and delegations from the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America and the Mountain State Council of the Blind, ACB’s affiliate in West Virginia. During the following two days, the ALL program featured many outstanding figures and a variety of very relevant topics, including the Randolph-Sheppard program, radio reading services, progress being made in sheltered workshop employment, programs offered by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes, current legislation, consolidation of the American Association of Workers for the Blind and the Association of Educators of the Visually Handicapped, Social Security developments, and education of blind children. The fact that the ALL Delegate Assembly took place at all was a credit to the hard work and dedication of its national chairperson, Durward McDaniel, in the absence of its fallen executive director, Dr. James Johnson, who had died only two weeks earlier. During the month, it was the pleasure of various ACB staff members to attend the state conventions of ACB affiliates in Iowa, Florida, and Nebraska. It was the National Representative's pleasure to attend and speak at the John Wanamaker Dinner, which is hosted each year by the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind in Philadelphia for the purpose of honoring an outstanding community leader. The 1984 award recipient was The Honorable Bernard Segal, past President of the American Bar Association. Many of the business leaders who attended the dinner also attended a luncheon hosted by the American Council of the Blind during the national convention a few weeks later for the purpose of educating employers concerning the employment capabilities of blind and visually impaired people. During June, ACB was also represented at the historic first international meeting of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI), made up of organizations formerly identified as the American Association of Workers for the Blind and the Association for Educators of the Visually Handicapped. All of the foregoing activities were accomplished while at the same time conducting very busy legislative and governmental advocacy programs, about which separate articles have been written. ***** ** Supreme Court Decides Two Important Special Education Cases By Barbara Nelson Staff Attorney On July 5, the United States Supreme Court announced two related decisions affecting the education rights of handicapped children. In Irving Independent School District vs. Tatro, the Court held that a school district is required by the Education of the Handicapped Act (P.L. 94-142) to provide "related services" necessary to allow handicapped children to have "meaningful access to education." The case involved an 8-year-old girl, Amber Tatro, who had spina bifida. Her condition requires her to receive clean, intermittent catheterization every three to four hours. The procedure is a simple one which can be performed by a lay person after a few hours' training. The school district, however, refused to allow the school nurse to provide this service to Amber, arguing that P.L. 94-142 requirement that schools provide "related services" does not extend to this type of service. The school district argued that because the catheterization procedure can be used only under a physician's ultimate supervision, it is a medical service that the school should not have to provide. Medical services are required by P.L. 94-142 only for diagnosis and evaluation purposes. The Supreme Court disagreed, holding that just as the law requires school districts to remove architectural barriers so that disabled children can attend school, it also requires schools to provide the services necessary to permit a child to remain in school during the day and to benefit from the school's programs. The Court set forth standards to determine when related services must be provided. First, in order to be given related services, a child must be handicapped and need special education services. Second, if a particular medication or treatment may appropriately be administered to a handicapped child other than during the school day, a school is not required to provide it. Third, the school is not required to provide services that must be handled only by a physician. And, finally, the Court noted that in this particular case, Amber's parents were not asking the school to provide equipment necessary for the "related services," implying that it is not the school's responsibility to furnish equipment needed for related services. The decision will have an impact on visually impaired children. One interpretation may be that although low-vision examinations and training to use low-vision aids must be provided to visually impaired students as a related service, low-vision aids themselves (such as magnifiers) need not be provided by the school. Fortunately, the decision leaves untouched the responsibility of a school district to provide such services as orientation and mobility instruction, and even notes that schools may need to hire additional trained personnel to provide related services. The case is important not only because of what it says, but also because of what the Court chose not to say. Advocates feared that the Court might use this opportunity to drastically limit the obligation of the elementary and secondary schools to provide services under P.L. 94-142, just as it has attempted to limit the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Fortunately, the Court did not apply the same reasoning to P.L. 94-142 that it has used in Section 504 cases; namely, that the law is only meant to provide equal treatment, and that, therefore, special services are not required. Although both P.L. 94-142 and Section 504 are aimed at providing equal access for handicapped people, P.L. 94-142 is different, according to the Court, because it is so specific. It sets out concrete actions that school districts must take in order to receive Federal funding for special education programs. Unlike Section 504, which contains only broad guarantees of nondiscrimination, P.L. 94-142 directs schools to take specific affirmative steps for disabled students and gives them money to do so. The positive decision in the Tatro case is overshadowed by a very negative decision by the Court announced the same day, Smith vs. Robinson. This is a case in which the American Council of the Blind participated by joining in a "friend of the court" brief. The decision states that if parents sue a school district for failure to provide appropriate educational services for a handicapped child and raise issues under the United States Constitution's guarantee of "equal protection of the laws" and Section 504, as well as under P.L. 94-142, the case must be decided under P.L. 94-142 rather than under Section 504 and the Constitution. The problem is that parents who sue on behalf of their handicapped children and win cannot have their attorneys' fees reimbursed by the school district if their claim is based on P.L. 94-142. If the claim is based on Section 504 or the Constitution, the court can order the school district to pay the parents' attorneys' fees. The Supreme Court decision states that in situations where both Section 504 and P.L. 94-142 apply, Section 504 is not available as an alternative basis for a court's decision. The Court reasoned that when Congress enacted P.L. 94-142, it was concerned not only with improving the quality of educational services available to handicapped children, but also with relieving the financial burden on schools of paying for special education services. The Court said Congress intended to "make every resource, or as much as possible, available to the direct programs that are going to benefit the handicapped." Allowing attorneys' fees would upset Congress's "carefully tailored scheme." "Where a remedy is provided with more clarity and precision under the Education of the Handicapped Act," the Court continued, "the plaintiff may not circumvent or enlarge on the remedies available under EHA by resort to Section 504." This analysis ignores the fact that Congress enacted the section of the Rehabilitation Act which allow attorneys' fees in Section 504 case P.L. 94-142 was adopted. When this amendment was added to the Rehabilitation Act, the requirements of P.L. 94-142 and Section 504 were viewed by the officials who enforce these laws as being nearly identical. Thus, it can be argued that because the laws are so intertwined, Congress actually intended that Section 504 claims would arise in all P.L. 94-142 cases, and that Section 504 remedies should be available in situations where both laws apply. Furthermore, it seems ironic to require the parents of handicapped children to bear the financial burden of enforcing laws adopted by Congress to promote and expand their rights and to ensure that their children receive a free, appropriate education. This is especially true in the context of P.L. 94-142 because the law provides for parents to be involved in planning to meet the special needs of their children and to have the right to challenge a school district’s decisions about their handicapped children's educational programs. Thus, Congress intended that parents would play an important role in enforcing the law, and legal representation is often necessary for parents to fulfill this role. The ultimate irony is that while the Court on the one hand affirms an important aspect of disabled children’s right to equal educational opportunity, on the other hand it takes away the tools to ensure that that right is enforced. Finally, the Court again downplays the importance of Section 504, implying that when Congress enacts broad mandates of equal opportunity, it should not be taken as seriously as when it speaks in more specific terms. ***** ** Blind Misleading the Blind (Reprinted from the San Jose (Cal.) Mercury News, Monday, April 30, 1984) (Note: This editorial focuses attention on extended subway safety controversies, some of which were publicized earlier in New York and Baltimore. The National Federation of the Blind has intervened in the litigation on the side of the Bay Area Rapid Transit. Ironically, some of the other blind people injured were members of the Federation. The proposed safety features would help sighted people as well, some of whom have also been injured.) Pride, which goeth before a fall, has led the National Federation of the Blind of California to oppose the installation of textured strips at the edge of BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) platforms. Saying strips would single out the blind as a "subclass of less capable Americans," the federation has asked to become a party to a $12 million lawsuit against BART, filed by two blind women injured in platform falls. Citing the same anti-discrimination laws, but drawing the opposite conclusion, the California Council of the Blind has joined the suit seeking to speed a trial installation of the two­foot-wide plastic strips, which BART has been considering for six years. "Blind people feel they're as capable of carrying on in American society as anyone else," says Andrew Meisel, the first group's attorney. Edge protection "signifies the incompetence of the blind." The federation's mobility experts believe, "A blind person, properly trained and using proper care, can travel safely without artificial protection." By contrast, the council's experts say even a careful person using a cane properly may step over the edge without warning on an angled approach. "BART designs each station differently," says Leslie Levy, attorney for the two blind women who fell, "so a blind person can't memorize one basic layout. And the stations are echo chambers, so they can't use their hearing as a directional aid the way they do crossing a street." The strongest evidence comes from BART's files: Between January 1980 and September 1983, 46 people fell off platforms and 13 of them were blind. BART has settled two suits with blind travelers who fell, is being sued by three more, and will be sued by another in the next few weeks. Injuries include broken ribs, broken arms, and a ruptured kidney, says Levy. "Both of our clients were lifted up by other passengers. We're afraid that when they start running trains three minutes apart, somebody will be killed." Testing strips at three stations would cost BART about $250,000; installing them at all 34 stations would cost several million dollars. Given the potential liability, and the possibility of federal grants to pay for the work, it seems like a prudent investment for the transit system. In fact, BART still has $179,000 in federal funds granted in 1978 to study edge protection strips. It's hard to believe the strips will convince sighted travelers that people are "incompetent," any more than white canes and guide dogs stigmatize the blind. (The federation has pushed for "white cane laws" giving blind people the right to bring guide dogs into restaurants, shops, and transit systems and reserve white canes for the blind.) The fact is that blind people are a "sub-class of less capable Americans": They are less capable of seeing. That doesn't mean they are not capable of productive independent lives -- if they have access to safe transit systems. ***** ** "To Photograph Is to See" By Laura Oftedahl I never dreamed that some day I would find myself wandering through the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., with my guide dog's harness handle in one hand and a camera in the other. Even more ironic was my reaction when I discovered that what I took to be a sculpture in the courtyard was really a tree — and that photograph turned out to be one of the better ones taken by us students at the June 23 workshop co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and Polaroid Corporation. Guide dogs and cameras don’t seem to have much correlation. But, believe me, they do when it comes to "seeing." I, as a low vision person, use my guide dog to help me find my way. And now, as a low vision person, I have learned to use the camera to find those small details that I miss with my limited vision. (Mixing guide dogs and cameras has one drawback, though. Each time I took a picture of my black Lab that day, he came frolicking up to thank me for the attention by placing a big, wet slurp-mark with his tongue across the camera lens.) Close to forty people with low vision (many of whom are members of the local Council of Citizens with Low Vision chapter) participated in this unique workshop. This was the second conference of its type, the first being conducted several years ago in Boston. The concept is the brainchild of George Covington, author of the first photography manual for the legally blind. Mr. Covington ably introduced us to the new and exciting ways to see the nation's museums, and the world in general, through the use of the camera. Most of us low vision people would probably never find ourselves with our noses pressed up against a piece of art in a museum. Either we would feel too self-conscious to do so or we would be hauled out of the gallery by the guard before we knew what was happening. We also probably can't see well enough to tell what an entire building facade looks like, because by the time we get far enough back from the structure to have the whole thing in view, we can't discern the details. Many of us have also longed to see what our friends or dates really look like, and we can't very practically say to them, "Stand still for a while while I stare at you through my bioptic." Photography can help many of us in these situations. Photography for visually impaired people allows the person to compensate for a particular sight problem through light, size, and distance. Pictures of small objects can be taken and enlarged to the photographer's satisfaction. Photos of art objects, people, or whatever, can be viewed with well-directed light or through a low-vision aid to give low vision people a bigger and brighter­than-life image. And with today's camera technology, we don't have to worry about fidgeting with dials and knobs. During the workshop, we were introduced to two different types of cameras: the Polaroid Series 600 instant camera, which produces color prints, and the Olympus "Quick Flash" automatic 35mm camera, which we used to take black-and­white slides. At the end of the day­long session, we had an opportunity to view some of the better photos taken by the participants. It was fun looking at each other's work, and during this session of the workshop, I discovered that I really wasn't being sarcastic when I responded to someone's earlier question, "What are you taking a picture of?" with the reply, "I don't know. I'll see when it's developed." Persons who attended the recent CCLV conference during the ACB national convention in Philadelphia had an opportunity to hear George Covington discuss his photography techniques and interests. KYW/AM, ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, covered this session and aired it throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania region. Mr. Covington's book, Let Your Camera Do the Seeing: The World's First Photography Manual for the Legally Blind (RC17386), is available on cassette from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. ***** ** Representative Roybal Introduces Congressional Internship Resolution On June 27, 1984, Representative Edward R. Roybal (D., CA) introduced legislation which would create one hundred Congressional internship positions in the House of Representatives, earmarked for blind or deaf persons. House Resolution 540 was referred to the Committee on House Administration. At this writing (July 16), the Committee has taken no action and there are no co-sponsors. Congressional interns provide staff support for members of Congress and professional committee staff. They often provide assistance to constituents on issues ranging from Social Security to immigration and veteran's benefits. In addition, interns, who are usually college students or recent college graduates, write letters to constituents, perform research, and engage in a variety of other activities in Congressional offices, under the supervision of professional staff. A Congressional internship is an excellent way to see the workings of the legislative process first hand, and it may be the basis for a professional career as a staff person on Capitol Hill or as a lobbyist for the hundreds of special-interest groups in Washington which feel that it is important to communicate effectively the concerns of their members to members of Congress. House Resolution 540 creates a two-year pilot project to study the value and effectiveness of blind or deaf persons employed as Congressional interns by House members and committees. The one hundred positions would last for a maximum of two years, at an annual salary of $20,000. At the end of the two-year pilot project, the Committee on House Administration would evaluate the program and make program recommendations to the full House. Representative Edward Roybal is to be congratulated for his leadership and commitment to House Resolution 540. In order for this legislation to pass, however, there must be widespread support, and most particularly support on the committee of jurisdiction. Urge your House member to co-sponsor and support House Resolution 540 and ask him or her to request that the Committee on House Administration take prompt action on this measure. Letters to the members of the House Committee on Administration are also important. The names of the committee members are appended to this article. The American Council of the Blind believes that it is essential for the concerns of blind and visually impaired persons to be communicated to Congress. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to encourage employment of blind and visually impaired persons as Congressional staff. Representative Roybal's proposed Congressional internship program for blind or deaf persons is an important step in this direction. Members of the Committee on House Administration, 98th Congress: Augustus Hawkins (D., CA); Frank Annunzio (D., IL); Joseph Gaydos (D., PA); Ed Jones (D., TN); Joseph Minish (D., NJ); Charles Rose (D., NC); Al Swift (D., WA); William Coyne (D., NJ); Thomas Foley (D., WA); Mary Rose Oakar (D., OH); Tony Coelho (D., CA); Jim Bates (D., CA); Bill Frenzel (R., MN); William Dickinson (R., AL); Robert Badham (R., CA); Newt Gingrich (R., GA); Wiliam Thomas (R., CA); Barbara Vucanovich (R., NV); and Pat Roberts (R., KS). ***** ** Pigeons as 'Seeing Eyes' for the Blind? UPI -- Karen Cover of Washington, D.C., wants to train pigeons to become "seeing eye birds" for the blind. Ms. Cover has been a professional animal trainer for the past ten years. "Pigeons have excellent eyesight and can be trained to recognize barriers," Cover said. By pecking on a blind person's shoulders, she said, a pigeon could inform a blind person to stop or move in another direction. In some ways, she said, pigeons are easier to train than dogs or monkeys because the bigger animals are more demanding, requiring the handicapped to be "strict animal trainers." She said there was "more reliability with birds" than with dogs or keys, which may refuse to follow a trainer's command. "The fewer decisions an animal makes, the better its behavior will be," Cover said, adding that pigeons can be trained in half the time it for guide dogs and live just as long -- about 15 years. She hopes to raise money for the program from private groups such as Lions Clubs. The big hitch with pigeons, said, is getting tiny diapers for them to wear. ***** ** In Memoriam: Kathaleen C. Arneson (1917-1984) by Laura Oftedahl Kathaleen (Kay) Arneson, a valued friend and ally of disabled people, died suddenly Tuesday, July 17, following a heart attack in a northern Virginia hospital. In all of Kay's efforts, her ultimate goal was to help realize the civil rights and social independence of disabled persons. She worked diligently in the drafting of and lobbying for much legislation to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. For over 20 years, she was employed in the U.S. Department of Education as the Director of the Division of Legislation of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Arneson was born in Iowa and grew up in South Dakota. She attended the University of South Dakota and received a Master's degree in public administration from the University of Minnesota. She came to Washington after graduation as a Fellow in public administration, and thus began her impressive career advocating for the interests of handicapped people and women. She spent a number of years in England and Norway, and these experiences further enriched her life. The list of accomplishments in the disability arena for Kay Arneson is impressive. She was one of the prime movers who worked to establish the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board as well as the private, non-profit counterpart of this agency, the National Center for a Barrier Free Environment. Her persistence resulted in a revised set of standards in 1980 covering architectural accessibility. She also was instrumental in the founding of the People to People organization in Washington, D.C., and worked relentlessly with the Mary Switzer Seminar involving disabled women. She was named a Mary Switzer Scholar in 1981. Kay spent countless hours volunteering for the League of Disabled Voters, having helped organize LDV in 1978 and using her experiences with the League of Women Voters to strengthen the disabled voter movement. Beginning in January 1982, she devoted her retired lie almost exclusively to others, volunteering for the American Council of the Blind, the League of Disabled Voters, the Foreign Service Wives, etc. She shared her lobbying expertise with ACB members attending the 1983 legislative seminar in Washington, D.C., and most recently was the prime presenter at the Women's Concerns workshop at the 1984 ACB convention in Philadelphia. The ACB National Office was home base for Kay during her retired years. Her exuberance was ever-present, and her enthusiasm for every legislative project she undertook was truly beneficial to ACB staff members working on Capitol Hill. Kay always took time to share what she knew and how she accomplished what she did. She. also shared many light­hearted stories about her three children, three grandchildren, three cats, and one dog. Kay Arneson always had disabled people at heart and worked continuously in an unselfish manner. We are thankful for her kind friendship and for the knowledge she shared with all of us. The thoughtfulness of the Arneson family is deeply appreciated, as contributions in Kay's memory are being made to the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Calendar of Events This Calendar of Events is compiled by the American Council of the Blind Public Affairs Director in the National Office to assist ACB affiliates and other organizations of and for the blind in publicizing their events. We need meeting dates as soon as possible to maintain this popular service. Please contact Laura Oftedahl at 1-800-424-8666 as soon as your conventions are set. August 31-September 1 - ACB of South Carolina State Convention - Charleston August 31-September 2 - Tennessee Council of the Blind State Convention - Knoxville September 22-23 - Old Dominion Council of the Blind (Virginia) Fall Conference - Richmond September 28-29 - ACB of Indiana State Convention - Indianapolis September 28-29 - Mountain State Council of the Blind (West Virginia) State Convention - Clarksburg September 28-29 - Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Hays October 5-6 - Kentucky Council of the Blind State Convention - Louisville October 5-7 - Michigan Association of the Blind State Convention - Benton Harbor October 5-7 - Illinois Council of the Blind State Convention - Chicago October 5-7 - South Dakota Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Mitchell October 6-7 - Washington Council of the Blind State Convention - Seattle October 12-14 - Alabama Council of the Blind State Convention - Gadsden October 12-14 - North Carolina Council of the Blind State Convention - Greensboro October 13 - ACB of Maryland State Convention - Silver Spring October 18-21 - ACB of California Fall Convention - Los Angeles October 19-21 - ACB of Ohio State Convention - Columbus October 19-21 - Oregon Council of the Blind State Convention - Medford October 19-21 - Missouri Federation of the Blind State Convention - St. Louis November 2-4 - ACB of New York State State Convention - Syracuse November 3 - Connecticut Council of the Bind Fall Convention - Cromwell November 10-11 - National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped Annual Membership and Board Meetings - Boston, Mass. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon When Bernie Eagan was 10 years old, he visited a radio station for the first time. "That's where I want to be - in radio," he said, according to a recent article in Hoosier Starlight. At age 14, Bernie's career was launched when he became a volunteer summer disc jockey at Indiana Central's radio station, WICR/FM. His expertise in the field of music, his gift for speaking, and his adeptness with radio controls have led to his current post at 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. disc jockey on Radio Station WENS/FM. Blind since birth, he is a 1975 graduate of the Indiana School for the Blind, where he was class valedictorian. He received a Bachelor’s degree in radio and television from Ball State University in 1979. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (American Foundation for the Blind): Competitive games for athletes with varying and multiple handicaps are growing in popularity worldwide. But the level of competition they provide for young blind athletes is not always satisfactory, according to New Zealand sponsors of such activities. A group of these sponsors would like to hear from teachers, colleagues, and sports associations involved in organizing competitions in which able-bodied 10- to 19-year-old blind athletes could take part. The contact person is Tom Rogerson, Principal of the Homai College for the Blind. He is seeking information on specific meets, events held, who is eligible to compete, and other relevant information. Write Tom Rogerson, Homai College for the Blind, Box 67, Manurewa, New Zealand *** Experiments are being conducted with a new "heatless" laser that is so precise it can split a human hair without crushing, charring, or burning it. The IBM-developed technique is being used by Dr. Stephen L. Trokel, Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, "to vaporize and cut tissue with precision never before realized in laser surgery," according to Medical World News. Trokel said the laser could be used in reshaping corneal tissue in transplants, treating glaucoma, melting cataracts, cutting nerves, and shaving cartilage. It may be several years, however, before the technique undergoes clinical trails. From The Slate (Louisiana Council of the Blind): The New Orleans World's Fair is now in full swing. With exhibits and pavilions from 26 nations and 50 industrial firms, there is plenty to see. If you visit the fair this summer, your first stop should be at one of the six information centers, where you can get braille or cassette information on where to go and what to see while you are there. Many of the restaurants have braille and large­print menus, and all elevators are brailled. Many travel agencies are arranging tours to New Orleans for the fair. You might want to check in your area to see what is available. With twelve people present for the organizational meeting, a new chapter of the Louisiana Council of the Blind, the CENLA, Council of the Blind, was recently formed at Alexandrea. Jane Withers, a member of LCB, was a recent judge in the Fragrance category of a flower show. Ira Bossert, Second Vice President of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, an ACB affiliate, and his wife Jan recently opened the Magnification Center at 3106 N. 16th Street in Phoenix. The Center sells all types of aids and devices to help visually impaired persons to use their sight to better advantage. Mr. Bossert, who lost most of his vision at age 35 due to retinitis pigmentosa, carried on the business in his home. But when it became such a booming enterprise, larger quarters were needed. Now available through NLS regional libraries are two very travel tapes: "1984 World's Fair," a preview of the fair in New Orleans, and "Epcot Tour," a walking tour of the billion-dollar audio-visual addition to the Disney World complex. The National Organization on Disability (NOD) was formed in 1982 to continue the community programs developed in the 1981 lnternational Year of Disabled Persons. Through local committees composed of both disabled and non-disabled volunteers, NOD's Community Partnerships program seeks to promote setting up and working to further such goals as improvement of attitudes toward disabled persons, expansion of access to housing, and increased opportunities in education. For more information on NOD and its programs, contact National Organization on Disability, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20037. The Evergreen Travel Service is planning another in its series of White Cane Tours, a tour to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and to Williamsburg, Virginia. Cost of the trip, scheduled to run from September 15 to September 23, is $975 based on double occupancy, and excluding air fare to the tour's place of origin. For further information, write Evergreen Travel Service, Inc., 19505-L 44th Avenue, W., Lynnwood, WA 98036. The Womyns Braille Press (WB) provides literature on feminist subjects not currently available from other sources in braille, print, and on tape, according to a recent article in Dialogue magazine. WBP also produces a quarterly newsletter in print, braille, and on tape. For a sample issue, send $.50 to Womyns Braille Press, Inc., P.O. Box 8475, Minneapolis, MN 55408. The Save Our Security Education Fund announces availability of a pamphlet entitled "Supplemental Security Income: The Promise and the Performance." The pamphlet examines the SSI program and provides recommendations designed to address the immediate need for justice, equity, and fairness in the program and to improve the program in the long term. Single copies are available free of charge from: SOS Education Fund, 1201 16th Street, N.W., Suite 222, Washington, DC 20036. From The Trumpet's Voice (Iowa Council of the Blind): A Chicago woman, Penny Lilly, who did her student teaching at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, has become the first blind juror to sit in the U.S. District Court in Chicago. "I had no problem," said Penny, 38, blind since birth. She explained that she relied on her hearing and on other jurors to describe physical evidence during the trial. The jury found a former Du Page County sheriff's deputy innocent of a brutality charge. A recent letter from Mr. Tandy Way of Tampa, Florida, reads in part as follows: "I have been intensely involved with computers and their development for over a year and a half, and one area that has bothered me is that the people who have scrimped and saved enough money to buy a machine have, in many cases, no money to buy disks ... It is to this end that I wish to address myself and, I hope, offer one alternative for those who want quality disks but can't spend bucks. ... Would you please print the following announcement: For Sale: High quality single-sided, double-density generic diskettes made by a leading manufacturer. Package of ten, postpaid, $19.00. If you want the Write-Protect notch cut on the reverse side, add fifty cents. Write­Protect notch cutter: $10.00. Contact Mr. Tandy Way, 8909 Peppermill Court, Tampa, FL 33614; telephone (evenings and weekends), (813) 855-7182. From CCB National Newsletter (Canadian Council of the Blind): A research team at Chalmers Technical University in Sweden is developing a talking daily newspaper. The production system takes the same digital computer code used for publication of the print edition and transmits it over regular FM waves to receivers in subscribers' households. A voice terminal translates the coded disk into non­human but understandable speech. Robert Frye has recently been named Volunteer of the Year by the Volunteer Center of Onondaga County (Syracuse, New York, area). The award was sponsored by the Massachusetts Life Insurance Company. Bob was honored for his work in the Onondaga County Public Library's Services for the Handicapped department, where he has served as instructor on the library's Kurzweil Reading Machine. After being the first blind patron in the community to be trained on the machine, he used his new skill to train others. A former student at the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, Mr. Frye also checks talking books for defects and completeness, too time-consuming a task to be performed by a limited library staff. In addition, Bob has spoken at libraries to describe the service provided to handicapped people, and he visits in nursing homes and hospitals. ACB member Bob Simmons of Diego, California, is a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 41st District. A former judge and prosecuting attorney in Ohio, he is currently on the faculty of the University of San Diego Law School. In January of 1978, Simmons lost his eyesight within a 48-hour period due to a rare virus that attacked his retinas. Three weeks later he resumed his teaching and research responsibilities. During the past seven years, he has continued a healthy law practice, co-founded the Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN), legally defended seniors threatened with eviction from an apartment complex, and has written a book on trial techniques. To win, Simmons needs the help of his fellow members in the American Council of the Blind. If you would like to volunteer, contribute, or express your opinion, contact him at 7841 Balboa Avenue, Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92111; (619) 292-0252. ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors * 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 Delbert K. Aman, 151 Fifth Avenue, S.E., Aberdeen, SD 57401 Robert Campbell, 253 Stonewall Road, Berkeley, CA 94705 Brian Charlson, 530 Jefferson Street, N.E., Salem, OR 97303 Adrian De Blaey, 912 N. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213 Carla Franklin, 148 N. Vernon Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 Charles Hodge, 2895 S. Abingdon St., Unit A-2, Arlington, VA 22206 Patricia Price, 337 S. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46201 LeRoy Saunders, P.O. Box 20420, Oklahoma City, OK 73124 M.J. Schmitt, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, Apt. 2-A, Forest Park, IL 60130 Paul Verner, 7505 Robindale Road, Tampa, FL 33619 ***** ** 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 2036. 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. ###