The Braille Forum Vol. XXIII September 1984 No. 3 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 Election '84: It's Your Choice, by Scott Marshall News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Summary, ACB Resolutions, 1984 Award and Charter Presentations Convention Tapes Available The Randolph-Sheppard Appropriation: An Effort Not Ended, by Scott Marshall "Where Are They Going?" Why Don't You Ask Them!, by Laura Oftedahl North Carolina Vendors Sue State, by Barbara Nelson Two ACB Members Receive BVA Awards Appeals Court Orders Hospitals to Comply with Section 504, by Barbara Nelson Letters from Readers Calendar of Events Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack Like Hoagy Carmichael, I have "Georgia on My Mind" today. It was a visit to Macon over the weekend that has me humming that well-known tune. The Georgia Council of the Blind held its annual convention the weekend of August 11-12, and I was fortunate enough to have been. invited to attend the meeting and participate in the program. Someone has said that it is very difficult to visit Georgia only once -- as difficult as it is to eat only one potato chip. Once you have been there, you want to go back. The exception could possibly be some of the football players who have visited Athens on a Saturday afternoon and have gone home hoping never to see a Georgia bulldog or a Vince Dooley-coached team again. Fried okra, turnip greens, and country ham cooked Georgia style are, however, attractions that entice one to return to this beautiful southeast state. The greatest attraction, however, is the warm and hospitable people. This entire article could deal with reporting only on the convention itself. The material presented was important and meaningful. The meetings were well programmed, well conducted, and well attended. I would, however, like to write about someone who was not there. For the second consecutive year, Rhoda Walker was unable to attend. Rhoda Walker first came to my attention during the six or eight months preceding the 1982 ACB national convention which was held in Atlanta. Spiral-bound copies of the host committee's planning sessions began to appear on my desk at regular intervals. They were clear, concise, and perfectly brailled. It was obvious that a very special kind of person was at work. During the convention itself, Rhoda's good work again became obvious. Frequently, the registration desk becomes a bottleneck at conventions. This was not true in Atlanta. Rhoda Walker was the registrar in charge, and things ran very smoothly. Later during that same convention, she was called upon to pinch-hit in the treasurer's position. Again Rhoda's capacity to do things right resulted in a smooth transition. In her unassuming but efficient way, she clearly distinguished herself as an outstanding contributor. Although she was absent, I really got to know this lady at the convention in Macon this last weekend. The Georgia Council of the Blind created and made the first presentation of the Rhoda W. Walker Award. Appropriately enough, Rhoda Walker was the first recipient. It was then that I really found out about this extraordinary lady. Many years ago, Rhoda and her husband adopted a young daughter who was blind. Like many parents of blind children, Rhoda recognized the special needs of this young child and the importance of having braille materials available as part of the learning process. She completed a correspondence course in braille through the Library of Congress and became a certified braillist, transcriber, and teacher of braille. Recognizing their special needs, she took it upon herself to ferret out other parents of blind children in the Augusta area. In 1962, the Augusta Braille Club was organized around this group. The primary purpose of this group was to bring together parents of blind children and, among other things, teach them braille skills. The result was that young blind students were provided braille material by their own parents. Included in this group were the parents of Terri Gibbs, the star performer at ACB's 1982 convention in Atlanta. During the past 20 years, Mrs. Walker has brailled literally thousands of items. She has taught braille to others, including special education teachers. She has brailled entire texts for college students and students at the Georgia Academy for the Blind and has transcribed many children's books into braille. The local telephone company in Augusta once won an award for producing a book of emergency telephone numbers which she had transcribed into braille. She has conducted many classes in braille for individuals and for groups. Very significant is the fact that all her work was as a volunteer. Rhoda Walker has never received any monetary compensation for her efforts. Rhoda Walker has served as President of the Augusta Braille Club; as Secretary, CSRA Radio Reading Service; as Secretary-Treasurer of the Augusta Chapter, Georgia Council of the Blind; and as state Secretary of the Georgia Council of the Blind. Evidence of the appreciation for her work is apparent from the many awards she has received. These include the Lioness of the Year Award for 1963-64 from the Flemming Lions Club; the Loving Cup Award from the Augusta Chapter, Georgia Federation of the Blind; an award from the state Georgia Federation of the Blind in 1983 for years of extraordinary service to the blind of Georgia; the Marvin S. Lowe Award from the American Council of the Blind of South Carolina for outstanding service in 1983; and the Service to Mankind Award from the Master City Sertoma Club in 1984 for distinguished service to the community. In March 1983, while talking on the telephone to a friend about braille, Rhoda Walker was felled with a stroke and since that time has been incapacitated. During the past year and a half, her two sisters, Katzie White and Helen Wasileski, have been providing the loving attention which Rhoda has so much needed. It is obvious that they, too, greatly admire and love their sister who has done so much. Rhoda is still confined to her home and is unable to do any of the volunteer work which has been such a big part of her life. When it was announced to the Georgia Council convention last weekend that the Rhoda W. Walker Award was being established, there was a spontaneous affirmative reaction from those in attendance. It was obvious that this lady enjoys a special place in the hearts of Georgians. It was made clear that this is not necessarily an annual award, but one reserved for those very special people who surface from time to time and are worthy of very special recognition. One person was heard to say, "Rhoda always did things right." On behalf of the entire membership of the American Council of the Blind, we say thanks, Rhoda Walker, for your years of tireless volunteer work which has meant so much to so many. For your tireless, unselfish, and effective contribution to the welfare of blind people, we give you our utmost thanks. May God bless you with peace of mind and a speedy recovery. ***** ** Election '84: It's Your Choice By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs From your local school district to the White House, this nation is governed by elected officials. In 1977, according to United States Census Bureau data, there were 80,449 popularly elected officials in the United States. This means that many, many elections are held in this country each year. Unfortunately, however, many of us opt to let someone else do the choosing. The Census Bureau occasionally asks a nationwide sample of people whether they voted in the last election and reports information concerning its survey respondents. In its study of the 1980 election, the Bureau found that 59.2% of the eligible voters reported that they had voted in the election. In fact, voter turnout in 1980 was only 52.3% of the eligible population. This means that large number of eligible voters did not vote at all and that a significant number of the Census Bureau's survey respondents were less than honest about their voting habits. Those who do vote, according to Census Bureau statistics, are generally those who are the better educated and more wealthy among us. Of persons with four or more years of college, 79.9% said that they had voted. So did 73.8% of those having family incomes of more than $25,000. By contrast, only 44.1% of the eligible voters who had not finished high school said that they had voted, and only 45.9% of those having family incomes of less than $10,000 said that they went to the polls. In addition, persons with jobs are more likely to vote than the unemployed, and homeowners vote more often than renters by a margin of 46.6%. It can be fairly assumed that the voting record of disabled people is no better than these averages, since disabled persons often are unemployed and are two and a half times more likely to have incomes at or below the poverty level, as compared to working age non-disabled adults. Why don't people vote? Apathy, of course, is a major factor. With respect to disabled voters, as evidenced by letters received in the National Office of the American Council of the Blind, inaccessible polling places, cumbersome absentee ballot procedures, and lack of transportation to the polls are frequently cited barriers to voting. At the very least, these are factors which make voting more difficult or inconvenient. The American Foundation for the Blind has published Know Your Rights: The Disabled Voter's Guide, which lists state by state laws and regulations of interest to disabled voters. The guide covers four major areas of concern: registration assistance, accessibility of polling places, personal assistance in the voting booth, and availability of absentee ballots. Free copies of the Guide, in either large-print or cassette form, are available from Publications Department, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011; (212) 620-2154. Many states require registration at least thirty days prior to the date of the general election. Accordingly, you should register immediately in order to vote in the November Presidential election. Registration procedures as well as information concerning accessible polling places can also be obtained from your local Board of Elections. Transportation is frequently provided by the local committees of major political parties. An amendment to the Voting Rights Extension Act, effective January 1, 1984, also ensures that blind persons or those unable to read are guaranteed the right to select a person of their own choosing to assist in the voting booth, provided that such individual is not the voter's employer or an agent of a labor union. In addition, although not in time for the 1984 election, the Voting Rights for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, which has already passed the House of Representatives, will probably be passed by the Senate and signed into law sometime in September. This legislation will include provisions which will assist blind and other disabled voters who prefer to use an absentee ballot by eliminating medical certification requirements as well as the requirement of notarization. The political clout of disabled people is a relatively new phenomenon. On several recent occasions, blind and other disabled people have successfully resisted attempts by the Reagan Administration to ease enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The disabled community's response last year to an attempt to weaken enforcement of Section 504 regulations was so powerful, in fact, that the National Journal, a leading political commentary, described it as "one of the most effective and sophisticated lobbying efforts even seen against an Executive Branch action." Voting is a right of citizenship. Disabled and non-disabled citizens alike share this important responsibility equally. Do you really want someone else to choose candidates this November? ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Although Federal officials assured the recent ACB national convention that efforts were moving forward to protect the statutory and regulatory priority given to licensed blind vendors under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, that issue has continued to demand more time and attention than any other single issue since the ACB National Office staff returned from the convention in mid-July. Since a separate article on this subject appears elsewhere in this issue, I shall not attempt to summarize the latest happenings. However, I feel I should point out that they reflect growing disregard in many Federal Government agencies and departments for the Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities program and for other programs that deal specifically with the unique needs of blind people. I am sounding the trumpet now to urge everyone who is involved with blindness to prepare himself or herself for the possible life-and-death struggle in which we may be engaged within another year to protect such important programs and give them a reasonable opportunity to provide the employment they were intended to provide. Recently we were informed by members of Congress that one of the reasons they did not vote in favor of the petition of the American Council of the Blind for the appropriation of $5 million for the establishment of Randolph-Sheppard cafeterias was that they did not hear from enough different supporters -- e.g., blind vendors, state licensing agencies, rehabilitation counselors, educators, advocates, etc. In other words, we must start preparing ourselves NOW so we will be completely ready before the next session of Congress! By this time, all ACB affiliate presidents have received a memorandum from this office to the effect that each would soon be receiving from the Reader's Digest three complimentary copies of the most recently recorded edition of the King James Bible. This edition, consisting of 80 cassettes or 84 stereo discs, was read and dramatized by 147 different actors and actresses, complimented by appropriate music and sound effects. The complete Bible (both Old and New Testament) will be sold to the general public for approximately $400. Each affiliate has been asked to develop guidelines for giving away or making other appropriate use of these Bibles. Accordingly, if you would like to obtain one of these Bibles, contact your state or special-interest affiliate and let your interest be known. If you cannot obtain one from your state or special-interest affiliate, send to the ACB National Office a written request indicating why you would like to have one of these Bibles. ACB itself is scheduled to receive a few Bibles and they will be given to deserving recipients beginning some time after January 1, 1985. During the past month, the ACB National Office was visited by Messrs. Menzo Barrish and Elijah Ndungane, President and Vice President, respectively, of the South African Sports Association for Disabled People, which, in spite of its sports-oriented name, is in the process of building a multi-million-dollar employment, rehabilitation, and sports center in Soweto, South Africa. Besides discussing the various programs and services available to handicapped people in this country, Messrs. Barrish and Ndungane explained ways in which South Africa's policy of racial apartheid is being moderated in the interests of delivering better services to handicapped people. As with all our overseas visitors, it was a pleasure to meet them and to learn of programs in their country. I am pleased to report that ACB's data processing coordinator, Audrey Sundstrom, has completed conversion of the National Office's computerized records to a much more efficient database system. Although the task of updating records will always be an endless one due to growth and other reasons, the new database system allows most data processing tasks to be handled far more quickly and efficiently than before. During the 1984 national convention banquet in Philadelphia, the Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award was presented to Arthel L. (Doc) Watson, world-famous bluegrass, ethnic, and folk singer and musician. The presentation of the award followed a full-length performance which featured the singing and string music virtuosity of this outstanding blind musician, who has been aptly described as the "best flat-pickin' guitar player in America." We have just been informed that, as a result of the award, National Public Radio plans to interview Doc Watson and to air the interview in the near future. The interview is to be conducted by Washington's Ed Walker, who himself spoke to the ACB national convention several years ago concerning his experiences as a blind radio and television personality. Since we may not have much notice as to when the Doc Watson interview is to be aired, we suggest that you pay more attention than usual during coming weeks to National Public Radio programs that are likely to feature such interviews. ***** ** Summary, ACB Resolutions, 1984 Again this year, the Resolutions Committee was chaired by Paul Edwards of the Florida Council of the Blind. The Committee presented 31 resolutions to the 23rd annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. Of these, four were defeated and one was referred to the ACB Board of Directors for further study. The 26 resolutions adopted by the convention are summarized below. Further information or the complete text of specific resolutions may be obtained by contacting the ACB National Office. Resolution 84-01. Calls upon Congress to conduct an oversight hearing relative to administration of and compliance with the Randolph-Sheppard Act by departments and agencies of the Federal Government; said oversight hearing to be held without delay and to address such issues as funding requirements and other needed improvements in the program. Resolution 84-02. Commends the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (A&TBCB) for addressing the problems of blind and visually impaired persons in locating facilities within public buildings and for conducting research to develop national guidelines for signage and for detectable tactile surface treatment to facilitate access to public buildings. Encourages the A&TBCB to proceed with adopting Federal guidelines and requirements to make public buildings safe and accessible for blind and visually impaired persons. Resolution 84-03. Places ACB on record as supporting H.R. 5341, which makes several program improvements in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, including raising the countable resource limit to $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples, limiting the amount of an overpayment which can be recovered from a monthly SSI check, and excluding from income emergency and low-income energy assistance in calculating the SSI benefit amount. Resolution 84-04. Supports uniform standards of public accommodation and non-discrimination in the travel industry; calls for continuing efforts on the part of the American Council of the Blind to educate travel industry personnel regarding the treatment of blind and visually impaired travelers; commends those travel-providers who have given particularly effective service to blind, visually impaired, and other handicapped travelers; and directs ACB officers and staff to develop comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and/or regulations. Resolution 84-06. Recognizes the fact that subway safety is of concern not only to blind and visually impaired persons, but also to the public generally. Sets forth ACB' s position that installation of warning strips on platform edges, mesh enclosures between cars, and similar appropriate subway safety equipment is in no way demeaning to blind and visually impaired persons and does not reflect negatively upon the ability of blind and visually impaired persons to travel independently. Suggests that such safety equipment or design features should be constructed or marked, after consultation with representatives of consumer organizations such as the American Council of the Blind, in such a manner as to make them apparent to both blind and visually impaired persons. Directs ACB officers and staff to communicate this position to appropriate officials of the Department of Transportation and of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Resolution 84-07. Supports passage of the Fair Insurance Coverage Act, H.R. 4642 and S. 2775, with appropriate amendments to prohibit discrimination in the sale, rating, terms, and conditions of insurance to blind and visually impaired persons, unless sound actuarial evidence demonstrates increased risk to the insurer. Resolution 84-08. Recognizes that the separate, identifiable status of National Industries for the Blind should be preserved, and that any services which NIB chooses to render to National Industries for the Severely Handicapped should be considered secondary to NIB's primary responsibility to serve workshops employing blind and visually impaired persons. Declares, further, that this resolution should not be construed as a blanket endorsement of the policies and practices of NIB, but, rather, as a recognition that the interests of blind and visually impaired persons are best served by a central, non-profit agency devoted to serving workshops for the blind. Resolution 84-10. Recognizes that the statutory priority afforded workshops employing blind workers, as established by Congress when the Wagner-O'Day Act was expanded to include workshops employing other severely handicapped individuals, assists workshops for the blind to provide employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired persons and is fair relative to workshops employing other severely handicapped workers, by reason of the number of such workshops and the greater ability of such workshops to render off-premises services required by the Federal Government. Directs ACB officers and staff to communicate ACB's support of the blind priority to appropriate officials of National Industries for the Blind, National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped, and to appropriate members of Congress. Resolution 84-11. Directs ACB officers and staff to recommend to the Social Security Administration and to Congress that the present substantial gainful activity (SGA) earnings limit applied to blind Social Security disability insurance beneficiaries should be changed to match the earnings test currently applied to retirees, whereby a reduction of $1 in benefits is made for every $2 earned above the earnings limit; and that Medicare coverage, if applicable, should continue until the benefit amount reaches zero. Resolution 84-13. Calls upon ACB to initiate, with other organizations of disabled persons, steps necessary to accomplish a second White House Conference of Disabled Persons; the mandate of this conference to include consideration of the report of the National Council on the Handicapped concerning Federal programs benefitting disabled people, due to Congress by 1986. Resolution 84-14. Recites the failure of the Director of the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI), under the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), to appear and participate in the 1984 annual conference of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. Expresses ACB's great displeasure with RSA at their refusal to send the Director of the DBVI to RSVA's 1984 annual conference under the pretext of lack of travel funds. Requests the U.S. Department of Education to give RSVA assurance that representatives of RSA's Washington office will be permitted in the future to attend RSVA annual conferences as part of their responsibility in the administration of this Federal/state program. Resolution 84-15. Urges the American Council of the Blind and its affiliates to gather detailed reports of "Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped" mishaps which have occurred within the last year, the results to be communicated to appropriate legislators and Federal officials. Directs ACB officers and staff to make recommendations to appropriate agencies and committees based upon the results of this investigation. Resolution 84-16. Directs that the American Council of the Blind work closely with the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) to seek categorical funding to increase the availability of fellowships and stipends for personnel training programs for teachers of visually impaired children, orientation and mobility instructors, and rehabilitation teachers and counselors for the blind. Directs ACB officers and staff to communicate to state agencies serving the blind and visually impaired that the recruitment of qualified, trained professionals should be considered a high priority, given the need to provide effective, specialized training services for blind persons of all ages. Urges the AERBVI to promulgate and enforce standards, which should be communicated to programs providing training in these fields, with a view to maintaining and improving the quality of such programs. Resolution 84-17. Recites the importance to blind diabetics of having access to the total information (including advertising) available in Diabetes Forecast, official publication of the American Diabetes Association. Directs ACB officers and staff to make every effort to ensure that such information is accessible to blind and visually impaired diabetics and to work cooperatively with the American Diabetes Association for the achievement of this goal. Resolution 84-18. States that the membership of the American Council of the Blind regards the timely appointment of standing committee members as a high priority in the functioning and governance of this organization. Resolution 84-21. Commends the officers, Board of Directors, and members of the Association for the Education of the Visually Handicapped (AEVH) and the American Association of Workers for the Blind (AAWB) for their progressive action in unifying in 1984 to establish the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI), and extends congratulations to the newly formed organization. Exhorts the AERBVI to actively continue to seek input from consumers and consumer organizations such as ACB. Resolution 84-22. Recites the fact that a significant number of ACB members who have useful residual vision have difficulty visually negotiating unmarked steps, landings and elevators, as well as locating such facilities as restrooms in public buildings. Urges convention host committees to make every effort to provide appropriate markings to assist such individuals in identifying such hazards and facilities. Resolution 84-23. Establishes that future plenary and programmatic sessions of the annual ACB convention shall be designated as times when smoking will not be permitted in the hall where business is being conducted. Resolution 84-24. Reaffirms ACB's support for substantial funding for programs that will enable senior citizens to remain independent and at home. Directs that ACB encourage Congress to appropriate funds as authorized under Title VII C. of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1978, for the funding of programs for the elderly blind; and directs that the Commissioner on Aging be urged to appropriate funds for demonstration projects as provided under Section 421 of the Older Americans Act, which may be of value to elderly blind persons. Resolution 84-25. Directs that ACB actively encourage and offer assistance to manufacturers who are incorporating touch-sensitive controls on commonly used electrical appliances such as microwaves and television sets, so that modifications may be made to such devices at reasonable cost to enable blind people to operate such equipment independently. Resolution 84-26. Recites the efforts of the Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired to seek modification of the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Law so as to enable users of dog guides to travel freely in that state. Extends ACB' s appreciation and pledges material and moral support to the Aloha Council as that organization continues to press for the right of free and independent access to the State of Hawaii by all visually impaired persons. Resolution 84-27. Supports the Council of Citizens with Low Vision in encouraging low-vision services to seek accreditation through the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC), as a means of increasing the quantity and quality of services throughout the United States. Resolution 84-28. Directs that ACB develop, implement, and publicize a comprehensive recommendation relative to the use of paratransit services by blind and visually impaired persons. Resolution 84-29. Expresses appreciation to the staff and management of the Philadelphia Centre and Penn Centre hotels for their dedication and willingness to help during the 1984 ACB national convention. Resolution 84-30. Congratulates the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and the 1984 Convention Host Committee. Resolution 84-31. Commends Temple University for its willingness to afford equal opportunity and access to its educational programs by blind and visually impaired students, and particularly for its courage, foresight, and openness in allowing Dr. David Hartman to enter its medical school. ***** ** Award and Charter Presentations The Awards and Charter Gala is a high point of every ACB national convention. This year's Gala, held on the Fourth of July, featured presentation of charters to two new affiliates, presentation of the Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships and the Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, and presentation of the Robert S. Bray and George Card Awards. Departing somewhat from tradition, the Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award was presented on Friday evening at the annual banquet. Presentation of charters was made to two new affiliates by National Membership Chairman Vera McClain of the Alabama Council of the Blind. The California Council of the Blind is one of the oldest organizations in the organized blind movement, with a membership well in excess of 1200. "We of the California Council of the Blind came here to demonstrate to you," said CCB President Robert Acosta in accepting the charter, "our wish to work under the banner of the greatest and most democratic organization of the blind in America, the American Council of the Blind ... You are signaling the word unity, and that crosses all barriers, and in our organization as well as yours, we are willing to work with any blind man or woman who is willing to work for the over-all cause of making life better for blind Americans." Friends in Art is a special-interest organization which has been meeting in conjunction with the ACB national convention since its formation several years ago. Its charter of affiliation was accepted by Ms. Rita Levy. "Our purpose is to aid the blind in making all of art more accessible to all of us -- the visual arts, the performing arts, and such arts as writing," she stated. The sixteen Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships and the Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship were presented by M.J. Schmitt of the Illinois Council of the Blind. Four Floyd Qualls Scholarships were given in each of four categories: vocational students, entering freshmen, continuing undergraduates, and graduate students. See The Braille Forum, July 1984, for a complete list of scholarship winners. Mr. Jesse Anderson of Ogden, Utah, a charter member of the American Council of the Blind, was presented the 1984 Robert S. Bray Award for his outstanding contributions in making print materials accessible to blind persons. Throughout his lifetime, he has worked diligently to provide braille and recorded materials in libraries throughout Utah. He served for 23 years on the Utah Library Commission and for ten years on the Utah Board of Education, where he worked to improve rehabilitation services and programs for the deaf-blind. Mr. Anderson also served for two terms in the Utah State Legislation. Dr. Mae Davidow of Philadelphia, President of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, was awarded the 1984 George Card Award in recognition of her long life of dedicated service to visually impaired children and adults -- a life that has combined many years of developing, implementing, and teaching unique methods and techniques in the field of education of the blind. For 36 years she taught mathematics at the Overbrook School for the Blind. In 1966 (with a second edition in 1976), she published The Abacus Made Easy, which has been translated into several languages and is currently being used in India, Japan, South Africa, England, Scotland, France, and the United States. Dr. Davidow's philosophy, "Give service -- help others," is evident in her many accomplishments as educator and leader. Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson, known as America's best "flat-pickin'" guitar player, was the recipient of the 1984 Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award. The award was presented to this blind musician in recognition of his life of musical accomplishment which has brought him national renown, has brought pleasure to millions, and has contributed significantly to demonstrate the abilities and potentialities of blind people. "Doc" Watson received no formal training in music. When he was very young, his father handed him a banjo, with the suggestion, "Here. This might help you get through the world some day." "Doc" is, indeed, a talented person who just happens to be blind. His versatility is demonstrated on more than twenty record albums, with musical selections which range from 16th-century ballads to Gospel to folk blues to bluegrass. The American Council of the Blind believes that a person's abilities are best confirmed through individual achievement, and "Doc" Watson's abilities were certainly demonstrated magnificently during his performance at the annual banquet. The American Council of the Blind is proud to have "Doc" Watson as an Ambassador Award recipient and friend. ***** ** Convention Tapes Available Cassette tapes of the 1984 national convention of the American Council of the Blind and related ACB-sponsored seminars are now available. All cassettes are 90-minute cassettes, two-track, recorded at 1 7/8 ips. To order, send a check made payable to the American Council of the Blind to: The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. 1984 National Convention. Includes major program presentations, key officer and committee reports, and excerpts from the banquet and Awards and Charter Gala. 7 Tapes. Cost, $7.00. American Council of the Blind Fourth Annual Student Seminar. 3 Tapes. Cost, $3.00. American Council of the Blind Diabetes/Blindness Seminar. 3 Tapes. Cost, $3.00. ***** ** The Randolph-Sheppard Appropriation: An Effort Not Ended By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs As readers of The Braille Forum know, one of the major legislative initiatives of the American Council of the Blind during the second session of the 98th Congress was a $5 million appropriation request for the Randolph-Sheppard blind vending facilities program. The Randolph-Sheppard program, originally authorized in 1936, is financed currently through general rehabilitation funds, a portion of each operator's income, and revenue from vending machines located on Federal property. The $5 million requested for F.Y. 1985 was the first time a concerted effort had been made to achieve a separate appropriation for the program, to be used to create additional jobs for blind and visually impaired persons. Unfortunately, both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees failed to include ACB's request in the Labor, Health, Human Services and Education appropriations bill for F.Y. 1985. This, of course, was a great disappointment to the many ACB members and friends who worked hard to achieve this goal. What went wrong? A post-mortem of a legislative defeat is difficult because the legislative process is an art, and not a science. Many factors interplay in the determination as to whether a particular bill or appropriation request will survive the legislative mill. Like it or not, the Randolph-Sheppard program, although very important to blind and visually impaired persons, is miniscule compared with many other programs administered by the Department of Education. These other programs, such as vocational and adult education, have large constituencies and are more familiar to members of Congress. Even though the Randolph-Sheppard program has been around for almost fifty years, Congress's involvement with the program, at least with respect to the Appropriations Committee, has only been indirect, inasmuch as the program has been funded through general rehabilitation funds. The American Council of the Blind was the only organization of or for the blind to testify concerning the Randolph-Sheppard program. Despite this testimony, however, the House Appropriations Committee stated in its report that additional testimony concerning the need for a separate appropriation for the program was necessary. The report further directed the Department of Education to be prepared to testify next year concerning the funding needs of the program. Thus, it is apparent that awareness of the program and the need for more testimony, as perceived by the House Appropriations Committee, are factors which contributed to the Committee's failure to fund a separate appropriation for F.Y. 1985. Even though ACB was unsuccessful this year, a strong foundation has been laid to work toward inclusion of this request in the F.Y. 1986 appropriations bill. In addition, during the past several months, ACB has established or strengthened relationships with many influential members of Congress. Representative Austin Murphy (D., PA), who also spoke at the national convention in Philadelphia, was extremely supportive, as was Representative Carl Perkins (who died suddenly of a heart attack in early August). Representative Robert Young of Missouri also assisted by urging members of the Appropriations Subcommittee to adopt ACB's request. And, of course, Senator Jennings Randolph himself supported ACB's effort in the Senate. In addition, ACB members and friends during the 1984 legislative seminar and on the local level made many valuable contacts which will be useful not only with respect to the Randolph-Sheppard appropriation matter, but also with respect to other legislative issues. We must now regroup our forces and prepare to work toward our goal next year. This means staying in contact with your members of Congress, particularly Appropriations Committee members, to let them know about the Randolph-Sheppard program. Senators and Representatives have local offices in Federal buildings in which Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities are located. Become acquainted with these offices, particularly if you are a vendor, so that the effort to educate members of Congress regarding issues of concern to blind and visually impaired Americans can be continued. Letters of thanks to Senator Randolph and to Representatives Murphy and Young are also a "must." ***** ** Where Are They Going? Why Don't You Ask Them! By Laura Oftedahl Director of Public Affairs "Where are they going?" Blind and visually impaired commuter bus riders have probably heard this question more times that they care to think about. And just as often, they have probably been tempted to reply, "Why don't you ask us." It's the same old misconception that so many members of the sighted public hold: Blind people can't see, so they must not be able to hear or talk either. Fortunately, bus drivers in Cincinnati, Ohio, know better these days, thanks to an excellent booklet written by ACB member Deborah Kendrick. Ms. Kendrick, a resourceful free-lance writer, was contracted by the Queen City Metro to research and write this publication for use as an instructional tool for drivers and other transit personnel. Originally, the idea of conducting a sensitivity training session with drivers had been considered, but since driver turnover is significant, it was decided that a booklet addressing the needs of persons who use the system and who are visually impaired was the "route to go." So Debbie set out to talk to dozens of successful and active blind people to find out about their commuting habits and to obtain their constructive suggestions on how drivers can make the ride less frustrating for blind folks. Fifteen blind residents of the Cincinnati metropolitan area, including the president of the local chapter of the American Council of the Blind, George Coorey, are introduced in "Where Are They Going?" The introductory remarks point out that the extraordinary thing about blind riders is "that they are not extraordinary at all. They are young and old, black and white, women and men, and they frequently depend upon public transportation as their only means of travel." One of the points "driven home" throughout the booklet is that "there is absolutely no way to determine the amount of vision present by looking at a blind person. So, for a bus driver, the best rule is to provide whatever information has been requested." The list of reminders includes the tip to stop the bus at the bus stop if someone is standing there, because, whether the person appears to be blind or not, he or she may not see the bus coming. Other useful discussion topics include, "How do blind people know where they are going?" Mobility devices are listed, and the term "travel vision" is introduced. A good point is made that some blind people request the driver to call out their particular stop and other blind people "enjoy assuming that responsibility for themselves." Bus drivers are reminded throughout the booklet to respond to questions with words, but to avoid using directions such as, "Right there." Instead, if asked about the location of an unfamiliar bus stop which the blind passenger is using, helpful information such as, "You are getting off on the north side of the street in the middle of the block," is suggested for use here. Deborah Kendrick found this free-lance project very rewarding and would like to write similar training publications for other transit systems. What a tremendous project for an ACB affiliate! Get your local transportation authority "rolling" on a sensitivity training program -- or, better yet, a training publication written by Deborah Kendrick, whose address is 9652 Gertrude Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45231. Most of us blind people rely on mass transportation to get us to our jobs, to the store, and to other routine and social activities. So it's always quite enjoyable to get together with colleagues and share anecdotes and gripes about commuting. For instance, I always marvel at how many times I was passed by in Chicago while actually leaning against a bus stop sign. And in Washington, D.C., where I live now, my guide dog Casey provides my morning chuckle when he hops out from under the bus seat as we approach our stop and I hear many exclamations of amazement: "Isn't that incredible! That dog knows where to get off!" ***** ** North Carolina Vendors Sue State By Barbara Nelson, Staff Attorney Randolph-Sheppard vendors in North Carolina have sued the State of North Carolina, Division of Services for the Blind, and the State Employee Retirement System to recover contributions to the state pension fund paid by them. In 1971, the North Carolina Legislature decided that blind vending facility operators could be enrolled in the State Employees Retirement System. They were to be considered employees of the Department of Human Resources. In North Carolina, the State contributes to the retirement system for each of its employees, and each employee makes an individual contribution to the fund toward his or her own retirement pension. However, the State never made the employer's share of contributions to the fund on the vendors' behalf. Rather, the vendors themselves paid both the employer and employee shares of contributions to the pension fund. In 1973, the State Legislature changed the law so that blind vending facility operators were no longer considered to be state employees. However, the State will now return only the employee share of the contributions made to the retirement fund. The vendors are suing the State in an attempt to recover monies they paid as the employer's share of the fund. The American Council of the Blind has been working with the law firm representing the North Carolina vendors and will do all it can to ensure that their rights are protected. ***** ** Two ACB Members Receive BVA Awards Two members of the American Council of the Blind were honored with awards by the Blinded Veterans Association during the BVA's 39th national conference in Nashville, Tennessee, August 7-11. Mr. Ellsworth L. "Skip" Sharpe, a 48-year-old biomedical engineer from Silver Spring, Maryland, and a member of the Old Dominion (Virginia) Council of the Blind, was selected as the recipient of the 1984 Major General Maas Achievement Award. The Maas Achievement Award is presented annually to a service-connected blinded veteran for outstanding achievement in the areas of employment and vocational rehabilitation. Mr. Sharpe works as an engineer in the Ear, Nose and Throat Division of Device Evaluation for the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. In the course of his work, he evaluates medical devices to determine their effectiveness and level of safety. Prior to joining the FDA in 1980, Skip Sharpe worked as an aerospace research engineer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He conducted research on hypersonic aircraft and space shuttle vehicles and is recognized as an expert for his work with insulation to protect liquid fuel from aerodynamic heating in flight. He won the Apollo Achievement Award in 1969 for his work in insulation used on the first manned voyage to the moon. A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Sharpe received a commission in the United States Air Force following his graduation from the University of Massachusetts in 1959. He entered pre-flight school and then pilot training in Texas, where he suffered the partial loss of his eyesight in an accident. Rev. Jack W. Kinley of Phenix City, Alabama, was presented the annual Irving Diener Award. The Diener Award is given annually for outstanding contributions to the BVA by promoting the growth and development of regional groups. Rev. Kinley, a blinded veteran and life member of BVA, currently serves as the pastor of the Seale Baptist Church in Seale, Alabama. He received the Diener Award for his work with blinded veterans in Alabama, especially his efforts to reactivate the BVA's Alabama Regional Group since 1977. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1949, planning to make the military his career. However, he was discharged in 1949 due to a service-connected eye injury. Rev. Kinley is a member of the Alabama Council of the Blind. ***** ** Appeals Court Orders Hospitals to Comply with Section 504 By Barbara Nelson, Staff Attorney The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently decided that hospitals which receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement are covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The case arose when a hearing impaired patient at the Baylor University Hospital was not allowed to have the services of the sign-language interpreter she had hired to be with her in discussions with hospital staff about her condition and how to care for it. The interpreter filed the complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, alleging the hospital had violated Section 504 by not allowing him to interpret for the patient. When the Office for Civil Rights informed the hospital that it planned to investigate the complaint, Baylor University Hospital refused to allow it to do so, arguing that the hospital was not covered by Section 504. The Medicare and Medicaid payments which the hospital receives from the Federal Government, it contended, are basically payments for services given to patients. Because these patients would have to pay their hospital bills anyway, the hospital reasoned, the Federal dollars do not enrich the hospital; rather, they assist the patient. Further, Baylor argued, because the hearing impaired person did not receive Medicare or Medicaid herself, she was not protected by Section 504. The Federal Government took the hospital to court to force it to allow the investigation. The lower court decided that Baylor was wrong: that it was covered by Section 504, and that all Baylor's Federal funds should be stopped immediately. Baylor appealed and again lost. The court held that hospitals which receive Medicare and Medicaid payments must comply with Section 504. The Appeals Court gave the hospital thirty days to allow the investigation, however, before ordering Federal funds terminated. The favorable impact of this decision could be widespread. If followed by other courts, hospitals, nursing homes, and similar health care facilities could be required to provide better services and more employment opportunities for disabled people. ***** ** Letters from Readers Dear Editor: I am upset by the article in the July Braille Forum reporting on testimony before a Congressional committee about the treatment of blind and visually handicapped travelers by the airlines. It and many private comments I hear at conventions, etc., have the overtone of: "Those stupid sighted people act outrageously!" Being totally blind, a rehabilitation teacher for over thirty years, and an active participant in many sighted organizations, I understand these irritations and frustrations only too well. However, I believe that criticism and venting of anger is a deterrent in achieving our goals of independence and acceptance as equals. I believe that education and being understanding and "like others" is the more productive course. We have to recognize and accept the realistic fact that blind and visually impaired persons constitute a small portion of the population. If they also are non-white, women, or burdened by mental or additional physical limitations, then we are even a smaller minority. Many sighted persons go throughout life without ever speaking to one of us. Fortunately, the media is doing a lot to change public opinion, but even then, the reaction often is: "Well, he's one in a million." I have had sighted friends with whom I have worked in organizations for many years suddenly pop out with: "But how do you know which color of shoes you are wearing?" or: "How can you cook without burning yourself?" Sight seems so absolutely essential to most people that it is very difficult to accept the possibility of functioning satisfactorily without it. Many blind persons fail to recognize this "lurking disbelief" even in their closest associates. As a result, a blind person is so annoyed by a question like, "How do you find your mouth to eat?" that he may give a flip answer that will "put down" the questioner and make him uneasy about associating with visually handicapped people. Sure, it seems stupid when a would-be guide who is facing you directs his voice toward your right and says, "Go to the left ..." Remember, you have probably experienced such situations many times, but it may be the first time for that sighted person. We have to learn to obey the direction of the voice rather than the words. I believe that almost everyone wants to assist a visually handicapped person, primarily because they cannot imagine anything worse happening to someone. With my philosophy, I find it much easier to be patient, tolerant, and appreciative of good intentions. If we don't exhibit these qualities, people trying to be helpful will avoid us. Further, no two blind persons are alike or want the same type of assistance. How can the stranger know? I know totally blind persons who are very capable in some areas but need an extra amount of assistance in other areas. I know legally blind persons who do need help in strange places or in poor lighting. If our actions indicate we have a visual limitation, or if a stewardess calls ahead for "assistance," how can the provider know just how much to offer? I think we need to educate people to ask how they can be helpful, but we should not humiliate them if they make assumptions based on no experience or on prior experience. Also, we need to recognize that policies are set up to make it easier and more efficient for airport staff. Why make a scene just because we don't like their policies? If the airline has arranged for an electric cart, or even a wheelchair, it doesn't hurt us to go along. After the Philadelphia convention, I made a short trip to Virginia. The airline asked me to wear a large button reading, "Assistive Services." I didn't particularly like the "publicity," but I didn't know any of those who might read it. And why ask them to break rules when, in all other respects, they were most courteous and helpful? If I refused to obey rules and some accident happened, then the staff member is to blame . ... Ms. Hartman was indignant that some multi-handicapped person would be asked to sit on a blanket for fear he could not control his bladder. Experience probably caused that ruling. I know individuals who have been careless and have had accidents with themselves and with their dog guides. ... Our personal behavior is the only way to offset fears of this kind. I have taken a lot of words to make a plea that we blind and visually handicapped people try to understand those who want to help us and to seek ways of quietly demonstrating our abilities and expressing our needs. There is no one rule or method that meets all our needs. Let's encourage public transit companies to understand that we are all different and not to assume we should be treated alike. Perhaps the American Council of the Blind could set up some national recognition for the most considerate public transit company. -- Juliet Esterly, Walnut Creek, California ***** ** Calendar of Events This Calendar of Events is compiled by the Public Affairs Director of the American Council of the Blind to assist ACB affiliates and other organization of and for the blind in publicizing their events. We need your meeting dates to maintain this popular service. Please contact Laura Oftedahl of the ACB National Office, at 1-800-424-8666, as soon as your conferences are set. Sept. 22-23 -- Old Dominion (Virginia) Council of the Blind Fall Convention - Richmond Sept. 28-29 -- ACB of Indiana State Convention - Indianapolis Sept. 28-30 -- Kansas Association for the Bind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Hays Oct. 5-6 -- Kentucky Council of the Blind State Convention - Louisville Oct. 5-7 -- Michigan Association of the Blind State Convention - Benton Harbor Oct. 5-7 -- Illinois Council of the Blind State Convention - Chicago Oct. 5-7 -- South Dakota Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Mitchell Oct. 6-7 -- Washington Council of the Blind State Convention - Seattle Oct. 12-13 -- Alabama Council of the Blind State Convention - Gadsden Oct. 12-14 -- Mountain State (West Virginia) Council of the Blind State Convention - Clarksburg Oct. 12-14 -- North Carolina Council of the Blind State Convention - Greensboro Oct. 13 -- ACB of Maryland State Convention - Silver Spring Oct. 18-21 -- ACB of California Fall Convention - Los Angeles Oct. 19-21 -- ACB of Ohio State Convention - Columbus Oct. 19-21 -- Oregon Council of the Blind State Convention - Medford Oct. 19-21 -- Missouri Federation of the Blind State Convention - St. Louis Oct. 26-28 -- New Jersey Council of the Blind State Convention - Somerset Nov. 2-4 -- ACB of New York State Convention - Syracuse Nov. 3 -- Connecticut Council of the Blind Fall Convention - Cromwell Nov. 9-11 -- Pennsylvania Council of the Blind State Convention - Pittsburgh Nov. 10 -- Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Wilmington Nov. 10-11 -- National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped - Annual Membership and Board Meetings - Boston Nov. 16-18 -- Bay State Council of the Blind State Convention - Newton ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon For the first time ever, the American Council of the Blind of Colorado awarded a $1500 scholarship to a legally blind college undergraduate, according to Sixth Sense, the organization's newsletter. The search began last March, when every high school and college in the state was contacted. There were seven applicants, four of whom were highly qualified and had real need for financial assistance. The recipient is Kent Keever, a young man with multiple disabilities who is a student in computer science at Colorado State University. He wants to work in the computer field to help disabled children. From NBA Bulletin: The National Braille Association is proud to announce the establishment of its Disk Output Service. Anyone preparing braille with an Apple home computer can mail the floppy disks to the NBA national office and the material will be embossed on paper, bound, if requested, and mailed as instructed. The floppy disks will be returned for reuse. The charge to individuals (including cost of paper) is six cents per page, and the cost to agencies, businesses, and all others is 25 cents per page. NBA will continue to improve its services so that transcriptions can in the future be done on IBM disks. Anyone wishing to use the Disk Output Service should write or call NBA for a form that must be sent with each order: National Braille Association, D.O.S., 1290 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607; (716) 473-0900. The Johanna Bureau for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Inc., recently celebrated sixty years of volunteer service. Housed in the Chicago Public Library from 1924, when its volunteers began to produce hand-copied books with slate and stylus, the Bureau moved to its own offices in 1964. In the past 20 years, large-type and tape have been added. In the past year, according to an article in the NBA Bulletin, 4,313 braille volumes have been produced by volunteers and shipped to various agencies throughout the country. The Bureau now has two computers to facilitate production of braille textbooks and other materials. The Metropolitan Opera Guild's Education Department sponsors outreach education programs of the Metropolitan Opera Association. Through its programs and materials, opera is made accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Services to blind and visually impaired persons include program notes on cassette and in braille, detailing all Metropolitan Opera productions; libretti in large-print and braille for all operas in the Met repertoire; score desk seats, backstage tours, and selected Opera News magazine articles in braille. For further information, contact Debra Yanover, Special Services Coordinator, Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023. Volunteer Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, has available free copies in braille of the "Spice and Diet" cookbook, published by the McCormick Spice Co. There is a limit of one copy per person. Persons traveling to the nation's capital may be interested in ordering a taped Calendar of Events from the Smithsonian Institution. The new publication includes the Smithsonian general calendar, as it appears in The Washington Post, the Museum of American History calendar, the Neighborhood Museum calendar, the National Symphony calendar, and the National Gallery of Art calendar. For further information, write Ruth Sheets, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20569. From The White Cane Bulletin (Florida Council of the Blind): Leonard Hoskins, who served the Florida Division of Blind Services as District Director at Daytona Beach for 12 years until his recent retirement, passed away on June 14. Prior to moving to Florida, Mr. Hoskins served as Director of Blind Services for the State of Wisconsin. Gardening for physically disabled persons is among topics included in "Tools and Techniques for Easier Gardening," a publication available for $4 from: Gardening for All, 180 Flynn Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. Position available: electronic aids specialist at the Cleveland Society for the Blind. Responsibilities include evaluation, training, and integration into employment and educational settings of high technology low-vision systems. Background in rehabilitation teaching, education, and/or technology is required. Applicants are asked to contact Jeff Moyer at the Cleveland Society for the Blind by telephone as soon as possible: (216) 791-8118. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: The American Foundation for the Blind has begun a $1,100,000 development campaign to fund a new center for the development and evaluation of high technology devices to aid blind and visually impaired persons. Douglas Maure, Director of Technological Research at AFB, hopes that the center "will serve as the nation's central exchange of ideas and development in this field, assisting other agencies' efforts and helping to avoid duplication." Flip Track Learning Systems offers operation training instructions on audio cassettes for a wide variety of microcomputer hardware and software. For further information, contact Flip Track Learning Systems, 999 Main Street, Suite 200, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. A wire service item that ran recently in several newspapers reads as follows: "The Colorado Supreme Court Monday denied a public defender's motion to remove blind judge Dana Wakefield from a murder case because he couldn't see the expressions and gestures in the video tape of the defendant's confession." Lifeprints, a magazine designed for teens and young adults who are visually impaired or deaf-blind, is in its second year of publication. The September-October 1984 issue describes work and lifestyles of deaf-blind people, as written by them. Other columns include sports, technology, and books and magazines. Lifeprints is published five times a year during school months. A one-year subscription in braille, large print, or tape, may be obtained by sending $15 to Blindskills, Inc., Box 5181, Salem, OR 97304. For a sample copy, send $3. Be sure to specify the format you prefer. Under the heading of "Where Are They Now?" comes this bit of information about Kate Smith. She survived a diabetic coma and moved to North Carolina in 1979. Now 77 and suffering from glaucoma, she is confined to a wheelchair. Guiding Eyes for the Blind announces its third annual 10k road race and two-mile "fun run," to be held October 7 at the F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights, New York. Persons interested in this special fund-raising event may obtain additional information by contacting Jonathan Schrauer, Race Director, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; (914) 245-4024. The Mid-Michigan Center for the Blind, Box 20247, 111 S. Capital Avenue, Room 702, Lansing, MI 48933, has recently moved to larger quarters. The Center invites readers to request its catalog of aids and appliances for the blind, handicapped, and elderly. Gwynedd Designs announces its 1984-85 catalog. The fashion news section will have 1985 design and color forecasts for apparel, accessories, and home furnishings. Twenty new items have been added, including Christmas ornaments, travel aids, gourmet health food, dog biscuits, and jewelry. The catalog is recorded on a standard cassette and is tone-indexed. To receive the new catalog, send $3 (of which $2 will be credited toward your first order) to: Susan Friedman, Gwynedd Designs, Box 17872, Milwaukee, WI 53217; (414) 351-6880. Horizons for the Blind, 7001 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60626, offers for sale an exciting assortment of inexpensive books which you will want to add to your collection. Included are a wide selection of books and craft instruction booklets as well as books which give step-by-step instructions for growing a vegetable garden, choosing and caring for houseplants, etc. At present, most of the books are available only in braille, but large-print and cassette editions will be available soon. For your free braille or large-print list of new titles, contact Horizons for the Blind at the above address. At its June meeting, the Commission on Accreditation of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped approved first-time accreditation for four organizations: Broward Center for the Blind, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Glens Falls Association for the Blind, Glens Falls, New York; William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Vision Services, Seattle, Washington. This brings the total number of NAC-accredited agencies and schools to 97. NAC has also announced that it has been awarded a two-year grant of $100,000 by the Pew Memorial Trust of Philadelphia. This grant is in support of NAC's project to revise the management standards for agencies and schools for the blind. A national conference on technology for disabled persons will be held in Chicago, October 1-3, at the McCormick Inn. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the conference will feature computers, software, and other technological products and services designed especially for people with disabilities. For further information, write Office of Continuing Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI 54751. ***** ** 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 bi-monthly 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. ###