The Braille Forum Vol. XXIII February 1985 No. 8 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 Letter to the ACB Treasurer Blind Vendors Encounter Setback in Randolph-Sheppard Litigation, by Barbara Nelson News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Important Announcements from the ACB Board of Publications, by Vernon Henley Chapter II. Workshops and Wages, by Kathy Megivern Your Lucky 7 in Las Vegas -- 1985 ACB National Convention, by David Krause ACB's Director of Public Affairs Profiled in Who's Who of American Women Chicki, by Mary Parker NIHR Asks to Make Funding for High Tech a Priority, by Scott Marshall Toys for Disabled Children Some Day, the Alps!, by Lee Razak Congressional Action Expected to Hasten Progress Against Major Causes of Blindness Sports for the Visually Impaired, by Olivia Ferrante Tactic -- New Consumer Oriented Computer Magazine End of a Long Haul for New York City Subway Safety, by Laura Oftedahl How Does an Eye Bank Work? High Tech Swap Shop Calendar of Events Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Notice to Subscribers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack In 1984, the American Council of the Blind had to borrow money to meet basic budget needs. Also, ACB members and friends were invited to make personal contributions to the organization. This departure from the pattern of the past few years, which had seen an ever-increasing annual budget and a dramatic increase in program expansion, including revenue sharing programs with affiliates, has raised some honest questions. In order to understand what has happened, it is necessary that one be familiar with the budgeting process of ACB and have a clear understanding of its income sources. The Budget Committee meets each year in early December to set up the proposed budget for the coming year, based on anticipated income. Developing budgets is a challenging process, whether it be for organizations or individuals, due to the fact that needs and wants always exceed resources. The large task of the Budget Committee is, of course, to make those hard decisions that will create a balance between anticipated income and needs and wants. The proposed budget is then brought before the entire ACB Board of Directors at its meeting in January, and here is where the final decisions are made. Although adjusting of the budget later on in the year allows for some flexibility, not all of the decisions made in January can easily be changed. Some of the major programs must be implemented at the beginning of the year, and once in place, it becomes impractical or impossible to alter or discontinue them later. For example, it was decided in January 1984 to produce a first generation of television public service announcements. Contracts were signed and financial commitments were established. When it became evident that a shortfall in income was a reality, we could not very well renege on that commitment when decisions were made in July to adjust the budget. Unfortunately, ACB Thrift Store revenues in 1984 were approximately 30 percent lower than anticipated at the beginning of the year. This reduction was not due to lack of attention or to poor management, but to a series of occurrences over which there was little, if any, control. The Board was faced with a hard decision: Should they break commitments already made, or should they borrow money to meet those commitments? Having confidence that the reduction in income was temporary, they voted to borrow. It was also agreed that a special appeal from members and friends would be appropriate. We had great faith that many people would be happy and willing to make small contributions to the national organization, which had never really asked for financial help in any meaningful way. We were right in that assumption: Many of you did respond, and it was gratifying and very helpful. LeRoy Saunders, Chairman of the Board of the American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services (ACBES), is on top of the situation and is optimistic about the future, as you will see from his statement which follows: Approximately 95 percent of ACB income is generated by our Thrift Stores, and 1984 was not a good year for sales in these stores. It was necessary to close one store, and two others were lost because the leases expired and we were unable to renegotiate them. Therefore, our estimated income for ACB was much less than we had anticipated. Since some of the stores have shown improvement in the last two months, we feel the stores will improve during 1985. However, January and February are generally not good months due to bad weather. Therefore, we will not see too much of an upturn until spring. Also, we anticipate adding at least three new stores during 1985, but we will not reap full benefit from these stores until 1986. Financially, 1985 will be a very tight year for ACB. As long as ACB depends on income primarily from the Thrift Stores, there will be fluctuation from year to year. Thrift Stores are a business, and all businesses fluctuate due to market trends and the national economy. ACB's future is certainly a bright one. The tightening of belts in 1985 will increase our efficiency and will help us to better utilize our resources. The Board faced some very difficult decisions at its recently completed meeting. It demonstrated extremely good judgement as it proceeded with the budget decisions for 1985. As a result, there will be some cutbacks in programs and services, at least during the first part of the year. The Board has decided to "bite the bullet" until increased income from the Thrift Stores is assured. In addition, steps have been taken to broaden the income base of ACB and thus avoid future problems which could arise by having "all your eggs in one basket." However, this temporary setback could be a blessing in disguise. It is hoped that by the time the July Board meeting rolls around, it will be possible to restore some of the programs and services. Rest assured that the American Council of the Blind is a vital and growing organization and that there is nothing but optimism in the minds of those who really know what has happened and what is being done to ensure the future health and vitality of the organization. ***** ** Letter to the ACB Treasurer December 22, 1984 Dear Treasurer Olsen: The Virginia Association of the Blind, Inc., the Eastern Virginia chapter of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACB's Virginia affiliate), extends best wishes for 1985. At a recent chapter membership meeting in Norfolk, there was much discussion concerning the financial situation of ACB. Naturally, the consensus of the membership is to keep our national organization strong and sound. The membership recommended and appropriated $100 for ACB. We challenge all ODCB members and all ACB state affiliate chapters to match this contribution to the American Council of the Blind. We know all ACB affiliates and individual ACB members will answer the call in support of our national organization. Let us all unite in the goal to keep the accomplishments of ACB at the forefront of excellence -- an investment in the future of all blind and visually impaired people. -- Nelson Malbone, President, Virginia Association of the Blind, Inc. A note from ACB Treasurer James R. Olsen: I would like to publicly thank the Virginia Association of the Blind for their contribution and for their challenge. May I also take this opportunity to thank the many members, friends, and organizations who so warmly responded to ACB's fall 1984 fund-raising letter. This kind of grassroots support given to ACB financially by so many is both encouraging and very much appreciated. Over 1,000 individuals and more than 25 organizations (including ACB affiliates) responded, contributing over $18,000 to date. Again, our sincere thanks. ***** ** Blind Vendors Encounter Setback in Randolph-Sheppard Litigation By Barbara Nelson, Staff Attorney As this issue of The Braille Forum was about to go to press, ACB received word that the District Court for the District of Columbia had made an unfavorable ruling in litigation against the Defense Department. Last fall, the American Council of the Blind, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, and a number of other organizations and individuals filed two lawsuits. One challenged a contract in which the United States Navy permitted the McDonald's Corporation to open up to 300 fast­food restaurants on Navy bases and provided that the Navy would receive a share of the profits from those restaurants. The other challenged a similar Air Force and Army contract with Burger King. Because only national fast-food companies could bid on these contracts, ACB believes they undermine the priority given by the Randolph-Sheppard Act to blind persons to operate vending facilities on Federal property. In December 1984, the two lawsuits were combined and placed on a "fast track" for decision because the Defense Department alleged that even a two-week delay in implementing the contract would cost the Navy at least $143,000 in lost income. McDonald's, Burger King, the Army, and the Air Force would lose even more. In late December, ACB's attorney, Robert Humphreys, and the attorneys for McDonald's and the Federal Government presented legal arguments to Judge Barrington Parker. ACB successfully met the Government's challenge to its "standing" to bring a lawsuit rather than use the arbitration procedure in each state to settle the matter. The Judge's decision characterizes the Defense Department procurement practices as "high­handed," but declines to invalidate the contracts. Although the Judge's reasoning is not clear, he appears reluctant to require the Defense Department to alter its national contract solicitation so that individual state licensing agencies can bid. His opinion states: "Absent some clear indication from Congress that national procurements such as these are prohibited, the Court declines to enjoin these contracts." The groups which brought the lawsuit have not yet had time to analyze the decision or to plan a strategy to counteract this setback. An appeal of the decision is likely. The March issue of The Braille Forum will contain details of actions planned to meet this challenge. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller, National Representative December is customarily a time for taking stock of one year while making plans for the next. And so it was for the American Council of the Blind in December of 1984. The lawsuits against the Department of Defense, the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force raced ahead, and McDonald's Restaurants obtained permission to intervene in the case. A separate article elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum summarizes a setback received in early January 1985 and the remedial action which will have been taken by the time this article is published. Otherwise, during December ACB National Office personnel devoted considerable attention to meeting with the ACB Budget Committee -- a part of that taking stock and planning referred to above. Those meetings were extremely important because difficult recommendations and decisions had to be made as to the best way to maintain and/or expand services in light of somewhat reduced operating income received during 1984. I am pleased to report that the staff and committee did their work with optimism, in the knowledge that many remedial steps have already been taken and preliminary results are already visible. By the time this article is published, ACB will have completed its handbook for use by airline service personnel in assisting blind and visually impaired travelers. Almost all the major airlines have expressed interest in using this handbook in training their personnel. Obviously, no handbook or direct consultation with airlines will guarantee perfect service in dealing with every blind or visually impaired traveler, but we believe this handbook will be an invaluable resource for the airlines and for many other people involved in the travel industry. We believe, also, though there is no single way of guaranteeing the training of all airline employees, that one such handbook is more valuable than angry confrontations, deliberately provoked or otherwise, at airlines' gates over matters that can be resolved through responsible communication. You will be pleased to learn that ACB Reports, the monthly radio program produced for the American Council of the Blind by Vernon Henley of the Oklahoma Radio Reading Service and distributed to some 85 radio reading services nationwide, is now carried on WRNO worldwide on the 49 meter band, at 0800 UTC, at 6.185 mHz. During December, ACB's liaison committee to the General Council of Workshops for the Blind (GCWB) met with its GCWB counterpart to discuss, among other things, the need for upward mobility opportunities for blind workers in sheltered workshops. During spirited discussions about what should be done, we were informed by National Industries for the Blind that during the past fiscal year, it had focused much attention on the upward mobility of blind workers by including a section identifying upward mobility candidates in that during workshop visits by NIB compliance and rehabilitation personnel, a review with the agency director covering the workshop's upward mobility program is held, with suggestions being provided; and that it will continue to monitor and encourage upward mobility programs and the advancement of blind workers in its associated workshops. We hope to learn about promising results from these encouraging actions. Although it is too early to make a specific report on. the progress of ACB in developing alternative sources of operating income, progress is very encouraging. As we are frequently asked why we do not seek Government funding more aggressively, it is appropriate to report that organizations which receive Federal funds are severely restricted as to the nature and amount of advocacy or other governmental activities they may perform. ***** ** Important Announcements from the ACB Board of Publications By Vernon Henley, Chair Agonizing appraisal has been the operative mode for the ACB Board of Publications in recent weeks. It is no secret that revenues for the American Council of the Blind are down, and the portion of ACB operations that the BOP is charged with shepherding comprises one of the larger chunks of the annual budget. Conserving funds while still maintaining the quality publications that ACB is known for has been the goal. The BOP has been steadfast in its belief that maintaining the editorial integrity and quality of ACB publications is paramount. During the past year and a half, numerous changes and modifications in operations have been undertaken to achieve these twin goals. Without detailing all of these actions, I will simply tell you that, while successful, our recent actions have not been enough, and some additional savings have become necessary. It is with great regret that, at the suggestion of the Budget Committee and after extensive consultation among the BOP members, I must announce that the flexible disc edition of The Braille Forum will be dropped following the March 1985 issue. Those of you who receive the disc edition will receive a special letter and a subscription card to allow you to choose your preferred alternate edition. We urge you to watch for this letter and to return the card promptly. Of course, we expect that most of you will prefer to switch to the cassette version. Because of careful purchases of cassettes, we are able to provide that edition much more inexpensively than disc, with better audio quality. But there is happier news, also. Very actively discussed was the possibility of suspending the Spanish edition of The Braille Forum. While the BOP deeply regretted and deplored this suggestion, it was decided that El Foro Braille could be discontinued for a period, strictly for short-term savings. However, the ACB Board of Directors, recognizing our responsibility as a progressive and pluralistic organization that sincerely wants to be of service to all blind people, voted to continue funding for the Spanish edition. I know I speak for the entire Board of Publications in saying, "Gracias," to the Board of Directors. And there is wonderful news in another area. Entries are now being solicited for the 1985 Ned E. Freeman Award for Writing Excellence. Details of the award and rules for entry were published in the November 1984 issue of The Braille Forum. I am pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has given the BOP funds to pay each of the six preliminary winners $25.00. The Ned Freeman Award winner will receive an additional $100.00. And, of course, all the preliminary winners will be recognized at the 1985 convention in Las Vegas before the 1985 award recipient is announced. The articles of three preliminary winners have already been published: "People in the Fast Lane," by Rose Resnick (October 1984); "Sharing the Museum Experience," by Ruth A. Sheets (January 1985); and "Chicki," by Mary Parker (February 1985). Three more will be selected, and the winner will be notified prior to the 1985 convention. We hope this small writing incentive will spur you on to your best writing efforts. The past few weeks and months have been a period of intensive and dedicated effort by the members of the Board of Publications, and I would like to note the selfless efforts of each of them. In addition to numerous phone calls, at the time of a recent telephone conference call meeting, Marvin Brotman left his wife's birthday celebration, and Don Cameron interrupted his vacation and came in off the Florida Bay while the fish were biting! Each member has made very significant contributions, and each has brought to bear his or her unique expertise and experience. ***** ** Chapter II. Workshops and Wages By Kathy Megivern In the January issue of The Braille Forum, I introduced this series of articles on the scintillating topic of sheltered workshops. In order to get your attention, I resorted to lurid charges and cheap tricks -- techniques which I hope I can maintain throughout the series. Now, where did we leave off? Ah, yes! Slave wages ... Contrary to what you may have heard, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) is not single-handedly responsible for the payment of slave wages to blind persons. In fact, pickets and chanters notwithstanding, payment of subminimum wage can be quite legal, and I suppose if one is in search of a scapegoat, perhaps one should be picketing the graves of those venerable legislators who authored the Fair Labor Standards Act. Codified at 29 USC, Section 14, this Federal law provides for several exemptions from the minimum wage requirements. Section (a) covers learners, apprentices, and messengers; Section (b) takes care of students; and Section (c) deals with handicapped workers. All three of these sections are based on the same premise; namely, that employment opportunities are limited for those categories of persons, and, therefore, allowing the payment of less than minimum wage will "prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment." Section (1) under Paragraph (c) sets the lower limit at 50 percent of the Federal minimum wage for individuals "whose earning or productive capacity is impaired." Section (2) provides for special certificates which may be issued for handicapped workers who are in training or evaluation programs, or for multi­handicapped individuals "whose earning capacity is so severely impaired that they are unable to engage in competitive employment." These special certificates have no lower limit, but wages are supposed to be related to the worker's productivity. Section (3) provides for yet another kind of special certificate: for work activity centers (WAC's). These centers are "planned and designed exclusively to provide therapeutic activities for handicapped clients whose physical or mental impairment is so severe as to make their productive capacity inconsequential." This distinction between a regular workshop and a work activity center is an important one, yet it is a distinction which some critics of the program frequently fail to mention when they cite examples of wage levels like $.50 an hour, leaving the reader with the impression that such levels are common among blind workers in regular workshops. This is probably the point at which I should dazzle you with statistics about wages, piece rates, and JWOD man-hours. But, after all, how much excitement can one audience stand? Besides, we've all just suffered through a presidential campaign where we learned once again the age-old truth that any set of statistics, when properly manipulated, can be used to demonstrate absolutely anything. National Industries for the Blind calculates an "average hourly wage" for 1984 of $3.83. This figure is of little value, however, when you realize that it includes everyone from the most productive blind workers to severely multi-handicapped clients in work activity centers. Perhaps a slightly better indicator of the wage situation is the estimate that about 80 percent of all workers in NIB­associated workshops, excluding WAC clients, are being paid at least 75 percent of the Federal minimum wage. As long as we're talking numbers, probably the most impressive statistics of all are the over-all wage and benefit figures. For 1983, NIB reported total wages of $24,201,639, with an additional $7,671,746 in fringe benefits. But if the statistics can't really tell the story, how can we know "the truth" about whether workshops are paying equitable wages? Maybe that's the point. There is such a tremendous variation -- from regular shops with starting wages of $6.80 an hour and up, to work activity centers where "wages" is not even an appropriate term -- from blind workers who are every bit as productive as any member of the "competitive labor force," to severely impaired individuals for whom productivity can never be a goal. Undoubtedly, there are instances of abuse. After all, what industry or profession can ever claim that it is entirely free from exploitation, injustice, or greed? (Why, even we lawyers have been known to stray from the straight and narrow once in a while.) Many of the instances of "abuse," however, are actually the result of poor record-keeping or incorrect procedures on the part of some workshop administrators. National Industries for the Blind is trying to correct some of these situations by offering compliance workshops to train workshop administrators in the finer points of what is admittedly a complicated and sometimes burdensome system. The ultimate responsibility for compliance lies with the Department of Labor. Whether it's because of staff shortages, budget cuts, or other reasons, everyone seems to agree that the Department of Labor is not doing as good a job as it might in the area of compliance. As I stated in the first article of this series, you, the educated, consumers of the American Council of the Blind, can play an important role in ensuring that the workshops continue to improve their services and provide the best possible training and employment opportunities for their blind workers. What about the demands that all workshop employees be paid the minimum wage regardless of productivity? In the best of all possible worlds, that would certainly be the desirable goal. But in this very real world, what would that mean? Most likely it would mean (and in several instances it has meant) a loss of jobs for the less productive workers. The very people most in need of a "sheltered" employment system would find themselves with no jobs and no options. ACB has addressed these issues in several resolutions. In Resolution 79-06, the Council called for payment of at least 75 percent of the Federal minimum wage for all "production employees'' and elimination of blanket certificates. Recognizing that such wage levels might require significant subsidies for some of the less productive workers and thus create a serious hardship for some workshops, ACB Membership Resolution 83-24 discussed ways in which the cost of "wage over productivity" could be met. Two of the options specified in that resolution were that subsidies might come from the commissions paid to National Industries for the Blind or that subsidies might somehow be built into the "fair market price" formula. The debate on how much to subsidize and how to finance those subsidies is sure to continue. It is important to note, however, that the General Council of Workshops for the Blind, the organization which represents the workshops participating in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program, is concerned about the wage issue. At their meeting last October, GCWB passed a resolution calling on each member workshop to establish its own "floor" of at least 75 percent of the Federal minimum wage under all regular workshop certificates. As noted earlier, that is already the case for 80 percent of those workers. In fact, at least 50 percent currently earn the full Federal minimum wage or better. So, have you learned anything new about the minimum wage issue as it relates to sheltered workshops? Or are you even more confused, more uncertain of who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Well, maybe that's the point, too: that generalizations don't work, and specific charges of abuse — often unsubstantiated -- should not be used to condemn an entire program. The leadership of ACB understands this and continues to work within the system to accomplish productive change. After all, a program that provides nearly $32 million a year in wages and benefits to blind persons can't be all bad! Now, speaking of generalizations and efforts to condemn the whole program, in my next episode, I'll examine that burning question: How did The Wall Street Journal get to be the champion of unions, laborers, and blind people everywhere? ***** ** Your Lucky 7 in Las Vegas -- 1985 ACB National Convention By David Krause, Chairman Convention Host Committee The number 7 is always lucky on the first roll of the dice, and it's even luckier in Las Vegas in 1985. That's because the 24th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will be held in the world's most exciting city in the seventh month of the year. Exact dates are July 6-13 — a full seven days of work and play, the Las Vegas way. The Nevada Council of the Blind is the host affiliate for this year's convention, and we are going to ensure that everyone in attendance leaves with plans already in place for a repeat visit to the Silver State. The convention program promises to be stimulating, informative, and entertaining, with nationally known personalities discussing a variety of important topics. Exhibits will feature the latest and best of technology, services, and publications available to the blind and visually impaired. This convention will be unique, different from any of the past or future. Because it's in the fun capital of the world, there is an abundance of games and shows just waiting. for you. There is so much good food at very reasonable prices that you won't have time to enjoy all of the many choices on the menu. But the week will also have a traditional flavor: There will be tours (just fewer of them) and many annual events such as dances, wine and cheese parties, banquets, and luncheons. The headquarters hotel is the Holiday Inn Center Strip, a completely modern, 1,000-room hotel with all the conveniences and facilities for housing a truly outstanding ACB convention. Room rates are $32 single or double, $40 triple, and $48 quad. All indications point to the largest attendance in ACB convention history, so don't delay in making your room reservations. Call toll-free 1-800-634-6 765 (Nevada residents call 1-702-369-5000). Do not call the national Holiday Inn 800 number, since convention rates cannot be obtained through that number. In writing for reservations, address correspondence to: Holiday Inn Center Strip, 3475 Las Vegas Boulevard, S., Las Vegas, NV 89109. Payment is required for the first night's lodging when making reservations. Exhibit and boutique reservation forms are in the mail. If you represent an ACB state, local, or special-interest affiliate and your group is planning to participate in the ACB boutique as a means of raising funds, complete and return the Boutique Reservation Form to us immediately. If you represent a non-profit, government, or commercial agency or company which would like to advertise or demonstrate its products and services to convention-goers, complete and return the Exhibits Reservation Form immediately. Special activities information packets have gone out to all ACB special­interest affiliate presidents and to other groups who traditionally conduct activities during Convention Week. We urge you to read this material carefully, complete all applicable forms, and return them to the Host Committee as soon as possible. Your cooperation will ensure that your group's special needs are incorporated into convention planning as early as possible, thus making your meeting an enjoyable and successful one. If you have not yet received exhibit, boutique, or special activities materials, contact Dave Krause, Host Committee Chairman, at 1-702-737-5714. A word of advice to those coming to Las Vegas for the first time: Always keep in mind that legalized casino gambling is intended solely as a form of adult entertainment, and not as a means of getting rich overnight -- although the latter has happened to a few lucky people. So plan your attendance at this year's ACB convention the same as other years. Budget what you can afford for entertainment; keep your losses within that budget. This way, win or lose, you're sure to enjoy your stay in the entertainment capital of the world. ***** ** ACB's Director of Public Affairs Profiled in Who's Who of American Women Laura Oftedahl, Director of Public Affairs for the American Council of the Blind, is listed in the 1985-86 edition of Who's Who of American Women. This reference hook is recognized worldwide as the foremost biographical guide to outstanding North American women. Ms. Oftedahl and others listed in this 14th Edition were selected for inclusion because of their position or noteworthy achievements that have proved to be of lasting value to society. Ms. Oftedahl grew up in Antioch, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she received a degree in radio/television. She worked as an air personality and public service director at several radio stations in Florida and Wisconsin during the mid-'70s. Before joining the ACB staff in 1981, she was field representative for the Lions of Illinois Foundation in Oak Park, Illinois. Much of Laura's spare time is spent doing volunteer work with numerous organizations, including ACB's Virginia affiliate and the local Washington, D.C. chapter of Council of Citizens with Low Vision. She edits three newsletters, and sits on the boards of directors of several blindness-related organizations. Ms. Oftedahl is a member of Women in Communications, Inc., Lodge 428 of the Sons of Norway, and the Ski Club of Washington, D.C. Cross-country skiing is Laura's favorite sport. She won a silver medal in the World Olympics for the Disabled in January 1984 and has won many medals in the U.S. National Blind Skiing Championships, sponsored by the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes. ***** ** Chicki By Mary Parker An Article to be Considered for the Ned E. Freeman Award for Writing Excellence The world became a sadder, drearier place once Chicki was no more. Chicki was the perfect guide dog. Her loving personality warmed the hearts of all who knew her. When in harness, Chicki performed perfectly. Out of harness, she behaved like a member of the family. Her laughing face and limpid brown eyes won us over immediately. She strode about with grace and dignity. As a guide dog, Chicki displayed amazing feats. One astonishing performance by Chicki was when she refused to go around an automobile parked in her path. In spite of commands and coaxing, she refused to budge. When the motorist sensed Chicki's dilemma, he immediately turned off the motor. At once, Chicki proceeded around the car. She had realized the danger and refused to take the chance. Another amazing display of Chicki's ability was that when shown a letter, she would head straight for the mailbox. Chicki never ceased to amaze. Once Chicki had gone to a particular place, all that was necessary to get her to return there was to start in that direction. She would head right for the desired destination. When out of harness, Chicki delighted in romping about the house. One of her favorite pastimes was to play hide-and-seek. When the children hid and called her to come find them, she would go at once and would not give up the search until she had found them. Upon command, Chicki would go off to hide and would jump upon the bed and hide her head under the pillow. She was at once loving and lovable, and so very faithful. She would let you know her every want. If it was food she wanted, she would nudge with her snout and proceed to the refrigerator and stand there until she obtained the preferred treat. If it were water she needed, came the nudge; then off to the water bowl to wait until the bowl was refilled with water. She also had a different bark for different things. She barked in one way when she wanted out, and in another to indicate the arrival of a family member or friend. Her bark was quite different when at play or when angry. It was as if she had a language of her own. Chicki displayed her faithfulness when she devotedly stayed by the bedside of the ill. She refused to play and kept watch until she was called to get into harness. She enjoyed every moment of our rides in the old jalopy, picnics in the park, long walks, and quiet evenings at home. She was our constant companion and faithful friend. The love she showed for us was just as deeply felt for her. Then suddenly, and unbelievably, that fateful day came -- a day I shall never forget. We took Chicki to the vet and he told us that Chicki would have to be put to sleep. It was a traumatic moment. I took Chicki's precious head into my hands, kissed her gently, and whispered softly to her: "Thank you, Chicki, for coming to us. I love you, Chicki. Good-by, my Chicki." Chicki went away from us as she had come to us: with dignity and grace. The world became a sadder and drearier place when Chicki was no more. ***** ** NIHR Asks to Make Funding for High Tech a Priority By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs Last October, The Braille Forum carried a message from ACB's First Vice President, Dr. Otis Stephens, which discussed the problem of funding for communications technology. Dr. Stephens discussed the utility of computer technology to blind and visually impaired persons and further indicated that making technology more widely available is a high priority for the American Council of the Blind. As one step toward this goal, ACB recently asked the National Institute of Handicapped Research (NIHR) to adopt as a pre-eminent priority for fiscal year 1985 the development of a funding and distribution model containing specific recommendations which could be presented to Congress, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the private sector. Under the Rehabilitation Act, NIHR is authorized to promote and to coordinate research with respect to handicapped persons in a variety of areas. NIHR is not itself authorized to provide loans or other assistance needed to acquire technology. Each year NIHR publishes in The Federal Register proposed funding priorities and invites the public to comment on these proposals. A solicitation for actual research proposals is made at a later date. This year's proposed funding priorities included, among other things, development of a portable, low-cost synthetic speech output reading machine, improved paperless braille displays, and the development of appropriate electronic mobility aids for visually impaired persons. In its written comments to NIHR, ACB cited two major problems with respect to the acquisition of these technologies by blind and other disabled people. As noted by the Office of Technology Assessment of the United States Congress in 1982, and as confirmed by our own experience, few funding sources for technology are available in the country today. Those sources which do exist need to be catalogued, their performance analyzed, and specific recommendations developed for a national program. NIHR could, for example, fund the necessary research to determine such issues as: (1) the best means by which a capital pool could be established; (2) the most appropriate administration of such a pool; (3) determination of a reasonable and financially prudent interest rate to be charged for loans to individuals, collateral requirements, protection against default, obsolescence, etc.; and (4) research which would reveal needed data relative to other financing mechanisms or incentives, e.g., the cost of Medicare/ Medicaid coverage, the cost and utility of tax credits, loan guarantees, participation grants, etc. In addition, there are several projects around the country which have successfully disseminated information about technology. Too often, blind and other disabled people purchase equipment based on a manufacturer's sales literature, only to find later that the product does not meet their needs or that a competing product would be more suitable. Independent reviews of technology by impartial evaluators are relatively non-existent today, and accordingly, NIHR could sponsor research to review efforts to provide such information to date, in order to develop a model which could then be presented to Congress, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the private sector. Finally, ACB, in keeping with membership resolutions concerning paper money identification, suggested to NIHR that it should consider funding of the design of a low-cost electronic paper money identifier which could be incorporated into a wallet, to be easily carried by the user. The current paper money identifier, marketed by the American Foundation for the Blind, is an expensive table-top unit suited primarily to commercial vending facilities or other business enterprises where a large amount of currency is handled each day. Although the formal comment period with respect to NIHR's F.Y. 1985 proposed funding priorities has already elapsed (the comment period was only 30 days), you may wish to contact NIHR to support these or to suggest other areas of needed research. Your comments should be addressed to: Mr. Darld J. Long, Deputy Director, National Institute of Handicapped Research, Mail Stop No. 2305, Room 3070, Switzer Building, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202. The American Council of the Blind will continue to explore ways to close the communications gap for blind people, in keeping with Dr. Stephens' article. ***** ** Toys for Disabled Children Specialized toys for disabled children can help them understand their conditions better, according to Pat Azarnoff, Executive Director of Pediatric Projects, Inc. The non­profit firm distributes toys designed for children who are hospitalized, chronically ill, or disabled. For example, Sugar Babe is a doll to delight any child, but also has injection sites marked in latex skin so children who have diabetes can learn to administer their own insulin. The Hospital Game is a board game, fun for any school child to play, but also provides abundant information of interest to children who are learning about hospital policies and medical treatments. Fuzzy Felt Hospital offers a felt board and many figures to place on it, such as doctors, nurses, families, ambulance, examining room furniture, and medical equipment. Children can tell their own story about going to the doctor. Play Hospital Cart is a child-size version of a real two-tiered medicine cart, with replica doctor's tools, bandages, and testing materials. Children can push this metal-frame cart from patient to patient and dramatize their own care. Pediatric Projects, Inc., also distributes story books about children who deal with blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and other conditions, and about children in wheelchairs who mainstream into regular school. For a free catalog, write Pediatric Projects, Inc., P.O. Box 1880, Santa Monica, CA 90406. ***** ** Some Day, the Alps! By Lee Razak During the Christmas holiday season of 1983, my two daughters, their husbands, their five children, and I were fortunate to spend four days skiing at Winter Park, Colorado, an experience I heartily recommend to anyone who has the slightest inkling that he or she might like to try skiing. At age 65, I had finally realized an ambition of many years to try my hand (or foot) at downhill skiing. Since I am totally blind, I decided there was no more appropriate place for this than the Handicapped Program at Winter Park. The name of Hal O'Leary, Director of the Handicapped Program, had been mentioned to me several times before the trip. Although I was unable to contact him while there, evidence of good direction, good directing, and good directorship was to be seen throughout the entire operation. Information concerning the program included in this article was obtained from employees and guests. The program has been in operation for about twelve years and is staffed by extremely competent instructors and maintenance personnel. There is a minimal charge to the skiers for the use of equipment, and contributions are accepted, although a large part of the financial support comes from the Winter Park Recreation Association. Skiing season is from approximately the middle of November until about the third week in April. Skiers with varied handicaps come from a wide area of the United States and several foreign countries to take advantage of this program. Since the instruction period for the Handicapped Program was two hours each day, and since the rest of my family was out skiing most of the time, I had the time to visit with several very interesting persons who, like me, were happy to be involved in so exhilarating an experience. There was a young girl with Downs syndrome, Monica Webber, from Texas. Jenny Collison, originally from Korea, was a polio victim at 4. She was adopted at the age of 10 by an American couple, the father blind. She does interpreting at the International Center in New York City. An independent insurance agent, Ann Hammond, was formerly a teacher from Washington, D.C., a polio victim when she was a young girl. Of special interest to those of us from Kansas was Travis Mann, a 6-year-old first-grader from Topeka who was there with his grandmother. Travis has an artificial right leg, and his right arm is fused at the elbow. He and certain other handicapped skiers use a special piece of equipment which is called an outrigger. This is a four-legged cane type apparatus with a short ski attached. These people must feel a deep sense of satisfaction in their accomplishments. And there was Tom Sullivan. I must admit that I had known very little about Tom Sullivan. Tom is an author/performer who has not let blindness since birth keep him from leading a full and exciting life. He graciously gave up some of his ski time one afternoon to furnish information to be used in this article. This was the fifth year for Tom, his wife, daughter, and son to enjoy the excitement of skiing at Winter Park. Tom first became involved as a performer as a result of a book which he wrote, entitled If You Could See What I Hear. That book was made into a movie -- which, by the way, my wife and I were fortunate to view on Cinemax TV shortly after my return from the ski trip. Included in this movie, along with other entertaining incidents, were some of the crazy antics Tom was involved in during his college days. Since the movie, Tom has made records and been active in television, having spent two years as a principal correspondent for "Good Morning, America." He is currently working for the show, "Entertainment Tonight," and a TV series called "Thing." He has written three other books, two of which are for children. Tom is an avid supporter of the Handicapped Ski Program at Winter Park. An almost unbelievable 48 inches of snow was reported to have fallen during the four days we were there. With temperatures of from 0 to 15 degrees, no wind, and humidity under 12%, it was beautiful. Skiing is great recreation, and some year I may return. (Lee Razak is a long-time and very active member of ACB's affiliate, the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.) ***** ** Congressional Action Expected to Hasten Progress Against Major Causes of Blindness Despite cuts in many domestic programs, President Reagan and Congress recently okayed a $27 million increase in Federal support of eye research, raising the annual appropriation to nearly $182 million. The 17 percent hike will accelerate progress in the fight against blinding eye disorders, said Dr. John W. Chandler, Jr., President of Friends of Eye Research (FER). FER is a nationwide citizens' organization that works on behalf of eye research and public education about treatment advances against major causes of sight loss. The Boston, Massachusetts-based organization played a key role in bringing about the latest increase in support for eye research. The money is being distributed in the form of grants and contracts to leading eye research centers throughout the U.S. The funding increase -- part of a larger appropriations measure for fiscal year 1985 -- is expected to be of greatest value in fighting vision problems of our aging population, Dr. Chandler said. The majority of blindness and low-vision problems occur among senior citizens, he explained. FER, which was founded in 1976, currently conducts much of its activity through its Network for Public Education, a coalition of leading organizations in work for senior citizens and the visually impaired. In addition to the American Council of the Blind, coalition members include the following: Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, American Association of Retired Persons, American Foundation for the Blind, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Blinded Veterans Association, Eye Research Institute of Retina Foundation, National Council of Senior Citizens, Perkins School for the Blind and Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation. ***** ** Sports for the Visually Impaired By Olivia Ferrante All the sports I mention here, I have personally tried and succeeded in. My vision is 5/200 in my right eye; none in my left. I am a teacher of visually impaired children and have observed blind, legally blind, and partially sighted children in public and residential settings for several years. All the activities I mention are applicable to blind and low-vision children as well as adults. My only difficulty, perhaps unique to the fact that I have poor sight in only one eye, has been that my balance is impaired. This probably would not apply to blind or low­vision persons with sight in both eyes. The sports I will talk about were not done in a residential setting, but in a public school and home setting. I am not a physical education expert. I learned these sports at home, in my neighborhood, in school, at the YMCA, while taking part in a Young Adult group at a local association for the blind, and at a summer home in New Hampshire, as well as at three summer camps. One was for blind children; one was a day camp; one was a Girl Scout camp. I do not consider myself an expert in any one of these activities, but I do have fun and can enjoy all of them. I live in New England (in Massachusetts), so I have the benefit of the four seasons. I live in a city that has a beach, and I live on a hill. Our summer home had a fresh-water lake and a forest. Here are some children's games and sports that will give a child a good grounding in physical activity. There are the two kinds of hopscotch -- the one played on a sidewalk, the other played on a sandy beach. There is jump-rope, played by yourself or in a group, with all its variations and songs. Tree-climbing and hill-climbing are fun. Races -- relay, three­legged, wheelbarrel, sack, and ordinary running -- are great exercise. Tug­of-war is a wonderful builder of strength. The previous games require no special equipment outside of a rope and some rocks. The following children's activities require some equipment. A playground is a great place, with swings, slides, sandboxes, see­saws, jungle gyms. Riding a three­wheeler is marvelous for young children. Flying kites is stirring. Using a big ball such as a beach ball to play catch, roll, and bounce is fun for all children. Dodge ball is also great, whether you are the dodger or not. All of these are preludes to other sports. Some can be done alone, but it's more fun and safer to have at least one other person with you. My two favorite sports are ice skating and swimming. Neither of these need any special adaptation, but do need competent teaching. Roller skating, both the sidewalk kind and the rink kind, need supervision and also good teaching. Diving is an exhilarating sport and also requires no adaptation. One sport that does require some preparation is bowling, both candle­pin and ten-pin. A low-vision person can use a telescope or monocular. A blind person can use a portable rail to enhance enjoyment and get a better score. In contrast to many of these indoor sports, fishing and hiking are done with no problems. If snow is handy, sledding, tobogganing, and other sliding games are not to be missed. The inflatable toys such as the super­tuber are safe and light -- even safer than a sled. A metal snow saucer is durable and also light. These sports are not done alone, but in a group. If warm-weather sports are more to the person's liking, rowing and sailing are no problem. Neither is horseback riding. I have ridden donkeys, camels and elephants, as well as ponies. A good riding technique is essential, and no one should ride alone unless he or she is an expert. Archery is good if the person can stand near the target. Tandem cycling is great, with a sighted person riding in front to steer. I cannot ride a two-wheeler very well, but can ride on a tandem. Balance is not a problem, and there is not fear of straying into danger. Miniature golf is surprisingly easy and not frustrating. Fencing must be done with competent teaching. It improves balance and quickness of reflexes. The following group of games I do with my family, usually one-on-one, because I cannot successfully compete in a team effort. I can serve in tennis or badminton, but have real trouble returning. The same is true of frisbee, but I have a much easier time because it is bigger and can be heard. I can play a game of basketball like 21 with one other person. I can pitch in a game of softball, but only with a couple of my nieces playing. I can pass a football, but again only with my nieces, as in soccer or field hockey. Croquet is pretty easy and is slow and relaxed, as is horseshoes. That should be variety enough for anyone living anywhere, in any climate, in a city or in a suburb. I believe everyone should have some physical activity, even if it is not a sport. Yoga and calisthenics, the stationary bike and the treadmill as well as the circular metal disc that one spins in quarter-circles -- all of these can help in exercise. But plain old walking -- preferably on a long stretch of sidewalk or up a hill -- is the best exercise. ***** ** Tactic New Consumer Oriented Computer Magazine The most prolific producer of periodicals nationwide, Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, will begin producing a magazine of its own this coming March. Tactic will be a 48-page braille quarterly on microcomputers and adaptive technology for the blind. A consumer-oriented magazine, Tactic will offer articles of a practical, rather than highly technical, nature. Features will include reviews by users of existing braille and voice systems, current reviews of the literature on newly developed hardware and software, and a forum for blind consumers to share problems and solutions. Occasionally, articles will be reprinted from popular print publications dealing with microcomputers, but most material will have the designers and users of braille and voice computer systems as its source. Tactic will be edited by Deborah Kendrick of Cincinnati. Deborah is a member. of the American Council of the Blind of Ohio. She has written for a number of braille magazines (including The Braille Forum) and was the recipient of the Ned Freeman Award for Writing Excellence in 1983. Subscriptions are $4.00. The first issue will be March 1985. Order from: Tactic, Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231. ***** ** End of a Long Haul for New York City Subway Safety By Laura Oftedahl Director of Public Affairs Protective safety barriers on all R-44 and R-46 subway cars in New York City's system have finally been installed, making for a safer trip for all riders, including blind and visually impaired commuters (see The Braille Forum, January 1984). And the Concerned Citizens for Subway Safety, a coalition of New York City area organizations of and for the blind, spearheaded by the Greater New York Council of the Blind (ACB), can certainly be proud of its persistence in working to have this hazard alleviated. The design of the R-44 and R-46 subway cars is such that there are wide spatial gaps between the cars, causing blind and visually impaired people to mistakenly identify the gaps as doorways. A number of people have been killed or seriously injured from falling between the cars — thus, the mission of the Concerned Citizens to have safety gates installed. The fight wasn't easy, though. It took nearly ten years, a complaint with the New York Human Rights Commission, and finally a lawsuit in Federal court against the New York Transit Authority (NYTA) to force the installation of the barriers. But they are finally in place. And to further comply with the court decision, the NYTA must provide safety barriers on similarly designed subway cars it may acquire in the future. The long haul was made all worth it when the gate installation was completed in late December and when the group's accomplishments were reported to the entire New York metropolitan area on WCBS/TV's 6:00 o'clock news on January 7. The Greater New York Council of the Blind and other organizations active in the Concerned Citizens for Subway Safety aren't going to get off the safety track quite yet, though. Their next stops: platform edge detection along subway and rail tracks, and better signs for partially sighted riders. ***** ** How Does an Eye Bank Work? (Reprinted from Awareness, published by National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired, Inc., Fall 1984) The purpose of an eye bank is to act as a clearing house between the person needing corneal transplant surgery and the person who is willing to donate his/her eyes or the eyes of a family member after death, to be used for transplant research or teaching. When an ophthalmologist has a patient who needs donor tissue for surgery, a call is made to the eye bank and the surgeon is put on a waiting list. When tissue is available, the first surgeon on the list receives the tissue, unless there is an emergency. The waiting period can be one week to several months. During this time, the patient must be ready to go to the hospital with only a few hours' notice once tissue becomes available. This is because donor tissue is removed within six hours after the donor's death and must be transplanted within 24 to 48 hours to ensure the quality of the tissue. The cornea is the clear, flat part of the eye which can be compared to the crystal of a watch. If a person is sighted, but if the cornea becomes scarred or cloudy, the person loses his vision. In corneal transplant surgery, a disc-shaped segment of a defective cornea is replaced with clear donor tissue, similar to replacing an opaque watch crystal. The result is that the patient is able to see again. Corneal surgery is 90 to 95 percent successful. This is a better success rate than any other type of tissue grafting. The Eye Bank Association of America can now boast 94 eye banks. Check in your state to see how you can donate your eyes or any vital organs. There is no charge to any family for donating organs in most, if not all states. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * FOR SALE: Visualtek Visual Aid Monitor, CCTV Model M-19, with Read/Write System Model RS-6. Price: $900.00 Contact Roberta Douglas at the ACB National Office, 1-800-424-8666. * FOR SALE: Optacon. Excellent condition -- used by a college student. Most reasonable offer accepted. Contact Lucy Keely, 841 Longhunter Court, Nashville, TN 37217; (615) 366-0332. ***** ** Calendar of Events This Calendar of Events is prepared by the Public Affairs Director in the National Office of the American Council of the Blind to assist ACB affiliates and other organizations of and for the blind in publicizing their events. We need your conference dates to maintain this popular service. Please contact Laura Oftedahl at 1-800-424-8666 as soon as your meetings are set. March 16 - Utah Council of the Blind State Convention - Salt Lake City April 18-21 - ACB of California Spring Convention - Sacramento April 20 - Connecticut Council of the Blind Spring Convention - Wallingford May 2-4 - Association of Radio Reading Services Eleventh Annual Conference - New Orleans, LA May 24-27 - ACB of Texas State Convention - Houston June 7-9 - Florida Council of the Blind State Convention - Lakeland June 7-9 - North Dakota Association of the Blind State Convention - Dickinson June 13-16 - American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities Delegate Council Assembly - Little Rock, AR July 6-13 - American Council of the Blind National Convention - Las Vegas, NV ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From Family Weekly: Is nothing sacred? Dr. Stephen S. Solomon, an optometrist from Oswego, New York, wants to have the color of all fire engines changed from the traditional scarlet red to lemon yellow. Dr. Solomon compared crash rates for fire trucks in nine major cities and found that red trucks got into twice as many accidents as yellow trucks. Solomon reasons, "We just don't see the color red well, so I began wondering, if that's the case, should red be used so extensively for fire-fighting equipment." Because most fire engine accidents occurred at intersections, Solomon concludes that the visibility of fire equipment clearly plays a major role in avoiding collisions. Perhaps a yellow fire engine does make more sense. We only hope Dr. Solomon will allow the firehouse Dalmatian dog to remain black and white! *** Here's an item you'll wish we'd told you about a couple of months ago. There is a magazine devoted entirely to telling Americans how to get something for nothing (except, of course, the subscription price of the mag). Freebies clues you in to manufacturers, trade councils, and non-profit organizations who willingly give their wares away for nothing more than the price of postage. Freebies offers 100 free items each issue. Each item is carefully screened to determine that it has some real value and is not promotional, and that there will not be follow-up sales calls. The magazine has been around for seven years, and it boasts 670,000 subscribers. For info, write to Box 1372, Santa Barbara, CA 93102. From the Associated Press: A new dimension was added this year to its Christmas cards by UNICEF, which introduced its first braille holiday card. Titled "Christmas Tree," the card was embossed and decorated so that blind and visually impaired people could trace the outline of the tree design. The "Season's Greetings" message appeared in braille in English, French and Spanish, three of the official languages of the United Nations. Highly reflective circles and a crowning star on the tree are red, for greater visibility for persons with impaired eyesight. The card for UNICEF's annual greeting card program, now celebrating its 35th anniversary, was created in consultation with the Lighthouse, the Association for the Blind, New York City. Carl Augusto, Associate Director of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC), has been named Executive Director of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind, succeeding Milton Jahoda, who is retiring. Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, Little Rock, recently received the Commissioner's Award from the Internal Revenue Service. This highest honor awarded by the IRS was given in recognition and appreciation of AEB's outstanding and significant service in the public interest. Arkansas Enterprises has worked closely with the Internal Revenue Service since 1967 — and continues today — to train taxpayer service representatives. To date, 250 individuals have graduated, and 146 of these are employed throughout the country. Charles C. Woodcock, Director of the Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, retired from that position on January 1, 1985. Prior to Mr. Woodcock's appointment as Perkins' Director in 1977, he was Superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School for five years. Before that, he served for 18 years as teacher, principal, and superintendent of the Oregon State School for the Blind. From Hoosier Starlight (Indiana): Dr. Maurice E. Langham, head of a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, reports that a new eye test has proved 100 percent accurate in checking for glaucoma. The test is simple and straight-forward and takes only about five minutes. It measures peripheral vision rather than pressure in the eyeball, the method now used for diagnosis. Dr. Langham predicts the test will allow doctors to detect glaucoma earlier, giving more time to arrest the disease or slow its advance. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: Leslie Walker, the New York Jets' talented wide receiver, received the troubling news one day in late September that he had developed a mild case of glaucoma in his right eye. The news caused Walker considerable concern, as he has been legally blind in his left eye since infancy, due to a congenital cataract. The following week, Walker tied a Jets' record of three touchdown catches during their 28-26 victory over the Buffalo Bills, with seven receptions, for 128 yards over-all. "I can't say I wasn't concerned about it," Walker said in a New York Daily News interview. "It distracts you from what you want to do. I was reassured by the doctors and by Jets' owner, Leon Hess, who has had the same condition for 20 years. But a game like today takes a lot of anxiety away. It makes me feel better." If Blindness Strikes, Don't Strike Out: A Lively Look at Living with a Visual Impairment, by Margaret M. Smith, Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, is a storehouse of information on daily life for the visually impaired and those around them. From Options and laser canes to housekeeping to travel, the author describes how to successfully cope with the problems posed by visual impairment and blindness. Individuals who have lived a lifetime with visual impairment, as well as health-care, helping, and educational professionals unfamiliar with the problems resulting from blindness, will find the book a valuable resource. Order from Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, 2600 S. 1st Street, Springfield, IL 62717. Price, $29.75, paperback. According to a recent report published by the Helen Keller International (HKI), 17 million people around the world are blind from cataracts. Of these, 16 million live in developing nations. Every year brings an additional 1.25 million cases. Because cataract is primarily a disease of aging, the report notes, and because there is a predictable five-fold increase in the number of people over 55 in the Third World by the year 2025, the blind population will be multiplied, too. The Louisiana Council of the Blind and one of its chapters, the Capital City Council of the Blind (Baton Rouge), have begun an equipment loan program to aid blind and visually impaired students at Louisiana State University. The Capital City Council began by purchasing two Cannon Star 5 electronic personal typewriters. Printing is done through a special cartridge which does not use regular typewriter keys for activating, which makes the unit very quiet and unobjectionable in a classroom situation. The Louisiana Council has purchased a large-print typewriter, a Perkins Brailler, a talking calculator, and a raised-line drawing kit. The items will be placed on annual loan and housed in the main LSU library. Items needed for classroom use may be checked out by individuals. Title remains with the Capital City Council and LCB, which will be responsible for maintenance. Don Hern, a member of the Greater New Orleans Council of the Blind, has been performing Gospel music for many years. About four years ago, he became the pianist, part­time arranger, and one of the soloists for the B.W. Cooper Community Choir. They have appeared in many churches and on local radio and TV, and on Saturday, November 3, they appeared in the Jazz and Gospel Tent at the Louisiana World Exposition for a 45-minute program. A piano tuner by trade, Don recently received a certificate from the Office of the Mayor for meritorious service in the field of community relations through Gospel music. Fitness for the Aging Adult with a Visual Impairment is a new publication from the American Foundation for the Blind. The 88-page book is an exercise and resource manual, with many exercise descriptions and adaptive equipment suggestions. Dancing, bowling, and bicycling are also covered as suggested activities. Order Catalog No. PAP-125 for $5.95 from American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Blindness and Low Vision, at Mississippi State University, has announced two workshops "designed as continuing education opportunities for professionals in the blindness field." March 13-15, "Placement of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons Through Career Development"; and April 17-19, "Second Annual Research Utilization Conference." For further information, contact MSU/RTC at (601) 325-2001. The Southwest Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired will hold its 1985 regional conference June 23-27 in San Diego, California. A new book, So Who's Perfect, by Dhyan Cassie, a Philadelphia audiologist, allows handicapped and other, "visibly different" people to tell their story about what life is like for them in a world where they stand out as being different. At least one ACB member, Lucy Boyle of Philadelphia, is portrayed in the book. Ms. Boyle is employed as the receptionist at the Overbrook School for the Blind. She, along with 40 others, have their candid accounts contained in the publication, available from Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, 15683 for $12.95. ***** ** 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. ###