The Braille Forum Vol. XXIII June 1985 No. 12 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 Notice to All Large-Print Subscribers President's Message, by Grant Mack Senate Budget Resolution Restores "Free Matter" Mail Funding Authority, by Scott Marshall News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Pair-a-Dice Prepared -- 1985 ACB National Convention, by David Krause Special-Interest Notes -- 1985 ACB National Convention ACB Special-Interest Affiliate for Radio Amateurs Reorganized, by John McCann Paperless Braille Moves Ahead, by James T. Bliss An Experience That Transformed, by Ann Brash ACB's Valued Expertise Shared at PCEH Annual Meeting Capitol Capsules A Playboy Bunny for Just Twelve Minutes, by Billie Jean Hill The Unsolvables, by Lois Wencil Greater Pedestrian Safety Through Use of Pathfinder Tiles, by Eugene Lozano and Erlinda Ibarbia Physical Education: A Missing Link in the Education of Blind Children, by Rose Resnick "Investment in People Pays" -- National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week PCB Sponsors State Legislative Seminar, by Scott Marshall High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events Notice to Subscribers ***** ** Notice to All Large-Print Subscribers We are planning soon to conduct a survey of the mailing list for the large-print edition of The Braille Forum. The purpose of the survey (which has not been done since publication began a number of years ago) is to be sure that each of you now on the list does wish to continue your subscription, or to give you a chance to change to another format, should you wish to do so. We also want to be sure that we have your name and address correct in our computer. Very shortly you will be receiving a pre-addressed, postage-free card which we are asking each of you to fill out and return by August 15 if you wish to remain on the mailing list. Please check the name and address label on the reverse side of the card and make any necessary changes or corrections. If we do not receive your card back by August 15, your name will be dropped from our mailing list for the large-print edition. You will be reinstated immediately even if your card is received after that date. But please let us hear from you promptly so that you won't miss an issue. Thank you for your assistance. ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack "It's too bad you lost your eye­sight before your first trip to Europe!" This statement, made by one of my well-traveled friends, was leveled at me a few weeks ago, just prior to the departure of my wife and me and another couple for a three-week, whirlwind tour of the Continent. The tour covered a swath of central Europe from Rome on the south to Trondheim, Norway, on the north -- a "play it by ear" sort of tour that included visits to Paris and Niece in France; Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan in Italy; Bern and Interlaken in Switzerland; Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Cologne in Germany; Amsterdam, The Hague, and Delft in The Netherlands; Copenhagen in Denmark; and Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim in Norway. I have thought about that statement and other comments and similar intimations heard prior to our leaving. Also, less kind comments were made, such as: "It is too bad to waste the money on a blind person"; and "Why not let someone go who can see, particularly when you are going to an area abundant with great cathedrals, medieval castles, and beautiful art?" As I sit here in my office and reflect on the whole experience, having returned only a few hours ago, I wonder just how different my recollections of the trip are from those of my companions. Are their memories, mind pictures, and impressions of people, places, and things different from mine? Will their recall the brighter and more vivid? I have a notion that the retrospective mind pictures will be different for each of us in some respects and, at the same time, a lot alike. How unlike mine will be their memories of the visit to the old Roman Colosseum, a stadium which hundreds of years ago packed up to 50,000 barbaric spectators as they watched human beings and animals engage in death struggles? Will they remember the large steps and massive columns in more detail than will I? Certainly they will be able to remember with more clarity the magnificence of Michelangelo's paintings in the Sistine Chapel, but I wonder if they heard the expressions of awe of the onlookers as they observed the three-dimensional qualities of this unique artist. Will their appreciation of the massiveness of St. Peter's Cathedral be any greater than mine? It is not likely that any of us will ever forget the dismal dankness of the catacombs. How will they remember the uniqueness of Venice, its dirty canals and narrow streets? Will they remember the cleanliness and quaintness of Interlaken? Did they enjoy any more than I the ride to the top of the Jungfrau, the famous ski resort at the top of the Alps? Certainly the thrill of riding a cog train up a steep, rugged mountain must be the same whether or not one can see. All of us will remember the train ride along the Rhine from Frankfurt to Cologne. Each bend of the river seemed to produce another view of picture-post card villages nestled at the foot of an ancient medieval castle. This scene was repeated dozens of times as we followed the Rhine to the North Sea. Did they enjoy any more than I the Keukenhof flower field in Holland? Would that everyone in the world could sometime visit this 70-acre park of bulb flowers and flowering shrubs, with spectacular cascades and ponds. Without doubt, this is the most beautiful display of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and amaryllis in the world. The fragrance of this paradise was heady, almost ethereal. How will they remember the two­night, two-day boat trip along the west coast of Norway from Bergen to Trondheim? Will the starkness of this rugged coastline be more striking in their minds than in mine? How will they recall the winding fjords which periodically split that jagged coastline? This three-week trip to Europe is one I will always remember. I hope my friend who suggested that, "It's too bad you didn't get to see Europe before you lost your eyesight," comes around soon. Perhaps I can convince him that I lost nothing by waiting until I was blind before having this experience. Hopefully, he will understand that the world and its beauties are no less exciting and wonderful to blind persons than they are to anyone else. Maybe, just maybe, one more person's attitude about blindness will be changed to a more realistic and positive one. ***** ** Senate Budget Resolution Restores "Free Matter" Mail Funding Authority By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs In the wee hours of the morning on May 10, the Senate finally passed the F.Y. 1986 budget resolution, which sets spending and revenue targets for the coming year. By the time this issue of The Braille Forum reaches you, the House version of the budget will most certainly have been passed on the House floor. A reconciliation of the two budget resolutions will then be necessary, to be worked out by a conference committee of both House and Senate members. The Senate budget resolution assumes -- i.e., contains -- budget authority in the amount of $100 million for the revenue foregone postal subsidy, which finances the "Free Matter" mailing privilege. Although this is considerably less than the $981 million full funding requested by the Postal Service for the revenue foregone account, it seems very likely that the Appropriations Committees in both the House and Senate will recommend full funding for the "Free Matter" mail privilege, even though the $100 million figure is roughly one-tenth of the spending authority requested by the Postal Service. The American Council of the Blind was instrumental in drawing attention to the "Free Matter" funding crisis. In addition to correspondence, telephone calls, and contacts on Capitol Hill by National Office staff, ACB members and friends swamped Congressional offices with telephone calls and letters regarding this important issue. ACB's Washington Connection toll-free legislative hotline service was continually updated as developments occurred. During the month of April alone, 7,000 calls were logged to the Connection, an all-time record for the service, which began in January 1982. In addition, the telephone company reported that almost 11,000 "busy conditions" were encountered, which means that almost 11,000 callers tried to reach the Connection, but were not able to get through. The impact of ACB's efforts finally came to a head when Senators Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH) and Quentin Burdick (D-ND) agreed, at ACB's request, to offer a floor amendment to the budget resolution covering "Free Matter" mail as well as reduced postal rates for non-profit organizations, schools, and libraries. Although the Metzenbaum-Burdick amendment was ultimately tabled by the Senate, the final budget resolution contained an amendment by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) which provided $100 million in spending authority for the revenue foregone account. The resolution itself as passed by the Senate is not specific as to the uses of the $100 million of spending authority within the revenue foregone account, and it will, therefore, be up to the Appropriations Committee to recommend specific spending levels for items such as "Free Matter." We believe, however, that the Appropriations Committees of both the House and Senate as well as the Postal Service are aware of the intent to fully provide for the "Free Matter" mailing privilege. The House Budget Committee is now beginning to finalize its version of the budget resolution. Although we are not absolutely certain at this time about the substance of the House resolution, we fully expect that it will increase the revenue foregone budget account to perhaps last year's spending level, which would be very important particularly to non­profit organizations. Although nothing is "cast in concrete" until the budget resolution is finally agreed to by both House and Senate, ACB members and friends are to be commended for their efforts in meeting this latest challenge to the "Free Matter" program. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office by Oral O. Miller National Representative The month of April kicked off a very busy spring for the ACB National Office. The prestigious Capitol Hill reception hosted by the National Challenge Committee and co-sponsored by the American Council of the Blind and a number of other advocacy organizations demonstrated to Congress and the Administration that handicapped people are united in their determination to advance their well-being and to underscore their capabilities. The National Representative and the Director of Public Affairs represented ACB at the reception. A few days later, ACB representatives also participated in a meeting of the Independent Sector, dedicated to publicizing implications of proposed governmental action that would seriously impair the financial ability of non-profit organizations to provide human services which otherwise would have to be provided by various governmental entities. The Independent Sector is made up of both profit-making and non-profit organizations interested in similar objectives. During April, it was the pleasure of the National Representative to take part in what may have been the final state convention of the American Council of the Blind of California. At that convention, ACBC approved the constitution to govern the organization to be created following the merger of the ACB of California and the California Council of the Blind later this year. Committees representing the two organizations have been meeting for several months while drafting the constitution and working out other details connected with the merger. I want to commend the members of the ACB of California for the resolute, conscientious job they did in putting personal concerns behind them in order to create what will eventually be a much stronger organization than either the ACB of California or the California Council of the Blind. It was also the pleasure of the National Representative to present the featured address in Austin, Texas, during the program in which the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge presented its National Individual Achievement A ward to Mrs. Margarine Beaman for the tireless and outstanding work she has done in, among other areas, making automatic banking machines accessible to blind users. Mrs. Beaman, a member of the ACB of Texas, has become a familiar face and voice to hundreds of ACB members throughout the country in recent years while tirelessly implementing her "Sight Through Helping Hands" project. ACB's Director of Governmental Affairs was pleased to take part in the state convention of the Mississippi Council of the Blind in late April and to enjoy some of the wonderful southern hospitality for which that part of the country is so justly famous. The growth and increased strength of the Mississippi Council as an advocate for blind and visually impaired people were very evident. The month of May is expected to be even busier than April in the legislative and other arenas. ***** ** Pair-A-Dice Prepared -- 1985 ACB National Convention By David Krause, Chairman Convention Host Committee Pair-a-Dice is prepared! The 1985 Convention Host Committee has made all of its plans. Everything is set, just waiting for you to join us in Las Vegas, the world's most exciting city, during the week of July 6-13 for one fantastic ACB convention. To help you get to Pair-a-Dice, and so you won't miss out on any of the events that you wish to attend at this year's convention, this article contains last-minute details that will make your trip to fabulous Las Vegas an occasion to remember. Please read each item carefully. * Registration Information By this time, your pre-registration packet should have arrived at your mailbox. We can't stress enough how important it is that you complete and mail your pre-registration form immediately. Use only one form per person, and be sure to include your check or money order to cover all pre-registration fees and tickets for special events you wish to attend. Why pre-register? There are many good reasons: First, you save money. Fees for many special-interest organizations, as well as tickets for tours and other events, cost less when you pre­register. Also, tickets to all events are limited. Because of the large crowd expected this year (nearly 3,000), all tickets will be available strictly on a first come, first served basis. When tickets are gone, waiting lists will be established. Those who pre-register will therefore be more likely to obtain tickets for the events they wish to attend. Waiting to purchase tickets until you arrive at the convention could very well mean that you will be unable to participate in many workshops, seminars, tours, and other activities. You save time. When you arrive at the convention, plan to stop by the registration desk to pick up your badge, tickets, and program. This year, a new policy has been established: specific time periods have been set aside during which only those who have pre-registered will be waited upon at the registration desk. This will mean faster service, less waiting in line, for those who take the time to pre-register. The registration desk will be open for those who have pre-registered during the following times: Friday, July 5 - 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. Saturday, July 6 - 8:00 to 11:30 A.M.; 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, July 7 — 1:00 to 4:30 P.M. Monday, July 8 - 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. Page 1 of the pre-registration form contains a list of special-interest groups and a schedule of special events and activities. Refer to this schedule so you don't register for two events planned for the same time period. Pages 2 and 3 contain details of selected tours and events; page 2 also contains the sweepstakes entry form, and page 3 has instructions for completing and returning the pre­registration form. Page 4 is the pre­registration form itself. Answer all questions carefully, and check all activities that you plan to attend, even if there is no fee. Then add up all fees and ticket costs (use the lower figure when pre-registering) and your sweepstakes contribution (if applicable). Enter this figure in the space provided at the bottom of the page. Make check or money order payable to 1985 ACB Convention Committee and mail it and your form in the self-addressed envelope provided in the pre-registration packet (add postage, please). If you need additional pre-registration forms, or if you did not receive your form, call the ACB National Office toll-free at 1-800-424-8666. If you have questions concerning registration, contact Donald Franklin, Registration Chairman, at P.O. Box 306, Louisville, KY 40201; telephone (502) 897-6672 after 6:00 P. M. eastern daylight time or on weekends. * To Make Hotel Reservations As indicated in your pre-registration packet, you can make hotel reservations by calling the Holiday Inn Center Strip toll-free, 1-800-634-6765. Since the Holiday Inn is completely sold out for the entire convention, arrangements have been made for additional rooms at other nearby hotels on the Strip. The Holiday Inn is handling all spill-over reservations for the convention. Ask for details on available rooms in other hotels when you call the Holiday Inn. Your reservation will be made through the Holiday Inn. Spill-over hotels are not accepting any direct reservations for the convention. If your room is reserved in another hotel, go directly to that hotel from the airport or bus station. Do not come first to the Holiday Inn to check in to your room. If you have any questions concerning the ACB convention, contact Dave Krause, Host Committee Chairman, at (702) 737-5714. Pair-a-Dice waits! Come to Las Vegas this July. ***** ** Special-Interest Notes -- 1985 ACB National Convention In addition to exhibiting at the ACB national convention, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) has scheduled a special breakfast workshop on Thursday morning, July 11, at 7:00 A.M. The discussion will focus on the upcoming revision of standards for agency services to blind and visually impaired persons. NAC wants to hear your comments and suggestions for improving these important standards. If you are interested in reviewing a particular set of the agency standards prior to the workshop, please contact Ruth Westman or Pam Zion at the NAC office, (212) 496-5880, by June 24 and NAC will send you a copy in print or on cassette tape. Remember, seating for the workshop is limited, so be sure to send your pre-registration form in early. A Women's Concerns Forum will be held Monday, July 8, at 7:00 P.M. Dr. Raymond (Bud) Keith has studied women's issues and is going to share his observations in his own unique manner. Panelists are being invited to be reactors, and there will be time for general discussion. Bud Keith has enjoyed the most amazing adventures all over the world. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama and is now an equal opportunity specialist in the Office for Civil Rights. He is President of Ski for Light, a program promoting opportunities for blind and visually impaired people to learn and enjoy vigorous outdoor sports for physical, social, and mental fitness. Do mark this Women's Concerns Forum on your program. The Friends-in-Art Performing Arts Showcase will be held again this year on Tuesday evening of Convention Week. Interested performers (vocalists, instrumentalists, readers of poetry, etc.) should contact Rose Resnick when they arrive at the hotel in Las Vegas. She will be coordinating the program for the evening and will need to talk to all interested performers before Tuesday. ***** ** ACB Special-Interest Affiliate for Radio Amateurs Reorganized By John McCann As a result of plans discussed during ACB Convention Week last year in Philadelphia, Del F. Wachter, WB8TJO, and I, KW4U, are pleased to announce the formation of ACB Radio Amateurs, a successor organization to ACB Service Net. This step has been taken in order to provide for a more comprehensive program of information, referral, and support services to blind radio amateurs. We recognize that the Net provides a valuable service in the best tradition of amateur radio, but we believe that a reorganized affiliate can and should become more involved in other aspects of our multifaceted hobby. For example, the new organization can take a leadership role in introducing blind and visually impaired persons to amateur radio. In the face of the volunteer examiner program, many clubs and organizations are seeking advice regarding the best methods of administering license tests to blind applicants. A strong and visible organization of blind hams could also approach manufacturers regarding the incorporation of low-cost modifications which would facilitate use of radio equipment by the visually impaired. We would also like to start a newsletter dealing with matters of particular interest to blind amateurs. We have many exciting ideas, but we need you to help turn these ideas into actual ongoing programs. Don't miss this opportunity to become a charter member of the newly reorganized affiliate, ACB Radio Amateurs. Dues are $3.00 if paid prior to the ACB national convention in Las Vegas. Those who are unable to attend the convention are urged to forward dues, together with name, address, and call sign, to John McCann, 2025 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 405, Washington, DC 20006. If you are planning to attend the national convention in Las Vegas, please register to attend our annual meeting, which will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., Sunday, July 7. Payment of the registration fee ($3.00 if paid prior to the convention; $5.00 at the door) will constitute payment of dues. The organizational meeting will be for the purpose of adopting a new constitution and for the election of officers and board members. But we do intend to schedule additional sessions covering a variety of special­interest areas. If you will be coming to Las Vegas, please be sure to have your HT with you. The convention simplex frequency will be 145.55 mHz. Become a part of this dynamic new organization of and for blind radio amateurs. ***** ** Paperless Braille Moves Ahead By James T. Bliss, President Telesensory Systems, Inc. For the past six years, blind people around the world have proved that high-quality paperless braille devices could and should be used, through their support of TSI's acclaimed VersaBraille™ System. With the introduction of VersaBraille II, Telesensory Systems, Inc. is setting a new standard of flexibility, utility, and programmability in the field of paperless braille and, perhaps, throughout the entire spectrum of braille reading and writing equipment. VersaBraille II is the first portable, disk-based paperless braille device to be sold worldwide. VersaBraille II begins with the concept that has been proved by uses and varied applications of the original VersaBraille System. Concepts of cursor movement and basic text editing remain unchanged. Of course, beneficial additions have been made as the direct result of user input and feedback. For example, VersaBraille II features an ample working buffer of approximately 30,000 characters, which can be used in portable operation. Long battery life (approximately eight hours) will guarantee a full day of use before recharging is required. High-speed Find and Replace can quickly hunt through a file and implement whole series of changes with only a few keystrokes. VersaBraille II is based on a network of menus that quickly and easily guide the user along the pathways, not to mention the back alleys, that make up the comprehensive sets of functions and commands that drive the system. If a command is forgotten, simply check the menu and discover how to proceed. For the veteran user, the menu can be bypassed and immediate access can be gained to the desired command. The most exciting -- and the most often requested -- innovation to be included in the VersaBraille II package is the dual, micro-floppy disk drive system. The disk-drive system is an integral part of, and completely compatible with, the VersaBraille II system. Together, these components guarantee complete, state-of-the-art word processing and computing power. Using the latest in today's disk technology, TSI has provided a system that utilizes the 3.5-inch disk standard for the VersaBraille II System. Primarily developed by Sony, these disks represent technological breakthroughs on a variety of fronts. Their most valuable features include smaller size, greater storage capacity, and superior durability. The drive unit ensures rapid and accurate reading, writing, and copying of the disks. The built-in formatter is another powerful component within the VersaBraille II. With the formatter, it is possible to produce a letter, memorandum, or paper in print, with a friendly, business-like, or academic appearance. With special commands that are provided, text can be justified, margins set and reset on the same page, text highlighted with boldface or underlined, and sophisticated tables and charts prepared. VersaBraille II's ability to change and grow with the ever-expanding computer market is guaranteed by design architecture which allows external programming of the unit. In order to provide a sense of the true power and flexibility of this programming capability, TSI is providing a calculator program with each unit. The calculator is similar to TSI's Speech Plus calculator, the first talking calculator to be marketed on a worldwide basis. Naturally, this version of the calculator does not speak, but displays information in braille. Finally, to be successful, a product must have adequate user documentation. TSI has prepared comprehensive manuals to accompany VersaBraille II. These manuals are provided in print and in braille and have been carefully designed to teach the user everything necessary in order to use any feature of the system. TSI believes that VersaBraille II will provide many years of useful, expanding service. (VersaBraille II was first publicly shown on May 23, 1985, during an open house held in celebration of TSI's 15th anniversary.) ***** ** An Experience That Transformed By Ann Brash (An article to be considered for the Ned E. Freeman Award for Writing Excellence) I was numb with fright. It wasn't that I didn't want to walk out on to that stage or that I didn't welcome the opportunity to sing and dance in front of 500 people. After all, I had been fighting for this moment, in a way, for over a year. It was just that I couldn't shake the feeling that the next few moments could make what I had thought to be hard-earned successes look like foolishness. Joining the Sweet Adelines barbershop chorus had not been easy. In fact, it's not easy for anyone. There is the matter of committing one's self to two hours of rehearsal every week with at least thirty people you don't know, the spending of money for chorus costumes, and the two auditions you have to pass. But after I had managed to do all those things -- after I had begun to think that I had it made -- that's when my problems as a totally blind person in a sighted chorus really began. How, I wondered, would I get to and from rehearsals and to the monthly sing-outs at nursing homes, churches, and civic organizations? How would I get to the yearly Contest, usually held in another state, and to the auditorium for our annual show? The answer: call a cab, call a relative, or walk -- all the while hoping that some day somebody would discover that I lived in their direction. How could I make friends when everybody in the chorus already knew each other, and when it was obvious that they didn't know a thing about blindness? I did what a lot of us have to do: smile, be friendly, and punctuate conversation with little bits of information about blindness which the other chorus members might be afraid to ask about. How could I learn all of the music we were supposed to know? Fortunately, that was easy. Sweet Adelines are encouraged to bring cassette recorders to rehearsals. But then I encountered the greatest obstacle of all: stage presence. Sweet Adelines place a high priority on using facial expressions, dance routines, and bodily movements to illustrate the words of the songs they are singing. How could I do what I had no conception of, and didn't see the need for? Wouldn't my gestures look ridiculous to a sighted audience? I was profoundly depressed and seriously considered dropping out right there and then. I'm not sure what drove me on after that. Perhaps it was a longing to be part of a singing group that was dynamic and alive. Perhaps it was an unconscious need to prove to myself that I could do what I believed to be impossible. Perhaps it was simply that I had already purchased my chorus costume. But after hours and hours of tears and hard work, and with the encouragement of relatives and friends, I got to know the other chorus members, learned the music, began getting rides for rehearsals and sing-outs, and mastered, to a significant degree, the movements and dance steps. Now here I was on stage with an octet (formed from the larger group), ready to perform. Could I do it? Well, one year and one show later, I can say that not only was that performance a success, but it was the beginning of a whole range of experiences for me. I am still wrestling with the hassles of transportation, still struggling to make friends and master stage presence. But there are two important differences between now and a year ago. The first is that I have developed a network of support from the other chorus members; and the second is that I know that I, despite my blindness and all of the setbacks it brings, "can do it." ***** ** ACB's Valued Expertise Shared at PCEH Annual Meeting Sheltered workshops, recreation and leisure, transition from school to work, and media were four issues the American Council of the Blind addressed during the annual meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped (PCEH), held during early May in Washington, D.C. Council staff members were called on to participate on several panels during the busy two-day conference. Oral Miller, ACB's National Representative, spoke on "Issues Facing Sheltered Workshops," featuring an open and frank discussion of the problems and challenges facing sheltered workshops now and in the future. The PCEH Committee on Recreation and Leisure also benefited from Mr. Miller's knowledge and experience. Through its involvement with student issues, ACB was asked to pre­sent on a panel entitled "Disabled Youth Speak Out: Are We Ready for Work?" Laura Oftedahl, ACB's Public Affairs Director, who coordinates the Council's scholarship and student programs, was one of the national advocacy organization representatives participating in this thought-provoking session. In the media arena, ACB was one of the eight 1985 PCEH Media Award winners honored during the meeting. James Brady, President Reagan's Press Secretary, presented the awards during the opening session, which also featured Larry King as Master of Ceremonies and Norman Cousins as keynote speaker. Tom Paxton, popular folksinger/composer, was a refreshing interlude during the speeches. James L. Caldwell, an IBM employee who is blind and in a wheelchair, received the Handicapped American of the Year Award. ***** ** Capitol Capsules The American Council of the Blind has testified before several Congressional committees within the past two months on subjects addressed by ACB membership resolutions. In March, ACB testified before the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee of the House Committee on Ways and Means, concerning reauthorization and improvement of the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, H.R. 983, introduced by Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY). The Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC), which unless re­authorized expires at the end of this calendar year, provides a tax credit to employers who hire certain individuals, including handicapped persons. Mr. Rangel's legislation reauthorizes the TJTC for a five-year period and increases the amount of the first-year qualified wages to $10,000, on which the credit is calculated. ACB testified concerning needed improvements, including a simplified certification method for eligibility, use of the credit to encourage employee retention after the onset of disability, and use of the credit to encourage purchase of sensory and communications aids needed for employment or career advancement. Urge your Representative to co-sponsor and support H.R. 983. The Administration is expected to propose a comprehensive tax package in late May. Accordingly, changes in the tax system (which may or may not include credits such as TJTC) will probably be a hot topic on the Hill during the next few months. In April, national ACB Board member Brian Charlson testified before the Select Committee on Aging, chaired by Representative Edward Roybal (D-CA). Mr. Roybal was instrumental last year in persuading the House Appropriations Committee (on which he also sits) to include in its F.Y. 1985 funding bill $1 million for independent living services for older blind individuals, which is authorized by Title VII, Part C, of the Rehabilitation Act. Mr. Charlson testified concerning the needs of older blind Americans — training in the use of braille, low vision aids, mobility, daily living skills, and peer counseling -- services which are frequently denied older blind persons. ACB requested $2 million for Part C and is hopeful that with Mr. Roybal's help, the Appropriations Committee will again fund services for older blind persons in its F.Y. 1986 bill. Contact your own Representatives and urge them to make a specific request of the House Appropriations Committee for a $2 million appropriation for services to older blind individuals, authorized by Title VII, Part C, of the Rehabilitation Act. In May, ACB also testified before two appropriations subcommittees regarding (1) the $2 million request for services to older blind individuals, and (2) a $5 million request for new and expanded Randolph-Sheppard facilities. Although the House Appropriations Committee failed to fund the Randolph-Sheppard program last year, as requested, the committee report indicated that the funding request would be reconsidered this year. Hopefully a good foundation for this funding will also be laid when the Congress conducts oversight hearings concerning the Randolph-Sheppard program later this session. It should also be noted that April 25 was the filing deadline for briefs in the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America vs. Department of Defense litigation. In addition to its own brief, ACB consulted with a top Washington, D.C. law firm to file an amicus brief on behalf of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. This amicus brief will greatly add to efforts to protect the Randolph-Sheppard program. As always, stay in touch through the Washington Connection for late­breaking news from the nation's capital. ***** ** A Playboy Bunny for Just Twelve Minutes By Billie Jean Hill (Reprinted from CCLV Newsletter) In the old days (how old, I'll never tell), if you moved to another state and applied for rehabilitation services, you had to live in the new state for a year to qualify. Well, I went to New York City to "make it big," and when I didn't "make it big" in two months, I turned to rehabilitation: That's when I learned about the year­first rule. Applying for jobs seldom got past receptionists, who seemed to think a person who couldn't fill out an application form must be one of those "V" people sent down to devour the earth, and Starlite Sportswear Company, too. So, I looked for alternatives. A low-vision person can do showroom modeling in the garment district, but it's very seasonal work. Off season, I was a hatcheck girl in a Greenwich Village cabaret, which taught me a lot of songs, but wrecked my social life. My friends were in the cabaret while I was in the hatcheck closet. I decided to come out of the closet. Fabulous tales circulated about the fabulous bucks a Playboy bunny could earn. If I could model sportswear, I could surely wear a bunny suit. I went for an interview and was hired. Bunny girls do not have to get by receptionists and fill out applications. Bunny girls need to look extremely happy wearing rabbit ears, a fuzzy tail, and enough else. I mastered the bunny bob, the bunny smile, and to say while bobbing and smiling, "Hi, I'm Billie, your bunny." Then I learned where to go to collect orders and from what tables to take those orders. And hey-ho! I was a bunny! On reporting for work that first night, I was given (along with the fiberglass bunny suit) a black tray, an order pad, and a teeny-tiny flashlight. Illumination from that flashlight compared to a car's cigarette lighter. On pushing open the black, velvet­covered swinging door, I knew I had made it big. I was there -- right there in the Playboy Club, in New York, in a silver bunny suit -- and I couldn't see a thing. Training sessions had been daylight ones, with day and light. Now, carpets were black, tables were black -- the whole world was black. My first step knocked over the nearest table. I caught the second table before it crashed. And that was it ... Now, I know Section 504 only deals with federally funded programs. But do you reckon I should have asked for one of those helmets with spotlights worn by alligator hunters? As to the moral, I don't think there is one here. But if you have some amusing "happenings" about low vision, let us know and perhaps we can share them. ***** ** The Unsolvables By Lois Wencil (An article to be considered for the Ned E. Freeman Award for Writing Excellence) (Lois Wencil of Millburn, New Jersey, is married and has two children. Totally blind and a dog guide user, she was a professional country and western singer during the late 1960' s. She received her Bachelor's degree cum laude from Seton Hall University in 1963 and was included in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities." From 1964 through 1968, she worked as a rehabilitation teacher for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and in 1971 received her Master's degree in special education. Mrs. Wencil has developed and implemented curricula for multi-handicapped blind adolescents and has conducted workshops to train staff in working with the multi-impaired blind population.) In parenting, there are many questions that cannot be answered by good or bad, right or wrong, or by a step-by-step outline. So, too, with the additional factors of visual impairment, there are certain thoughts and situations, imagined or real, that enter in to a parent's mind. It is certain that each individual would probably have different answers to them, depending on how their children and those involved in their lives react. However, below are some of these dilemmas and how I have dealt with them. 1. How and why are you blind? Tell the truth, even though the child may not appear to understand. Explain that blindness is not catching, like a cold or chicken pox. Blindness means that your eyes do not function like those of people who can see. Because of this, you have had to find other ways of doing things. There are things that you cannot do, like driving a car or reading print with your eyes. Accept yourself so that your children can learn to reflect your feelings. When they ask, explain how you do things. "I read with my fingers." "I know your shirts are blue because someone told me and I put this marker in to help me remember." "I can get the ball because I can hear it bounce." Heredity, when a part of your blindness, should also be discussed, in my opinion, at an early age. 2. Be as open and honest with your children's friends as you are with your children. Children are open, honest, and inquisitive. If you are comfortable with them, they usually respond. Ask them to put things into your hand. Let them know the things you expect them to do when they are in your home or when they are traveling with you. It never ceases to amaze me how their parents will allow them to come to my house for play, and even ask me to walk them to school, just from seeing me with my children. I worried about this when the children were small. I have had few, if any, difficulties with play. I also do not hesitate to say I cannot take a child if I feel uneasy about the child's behavior. I do insist on getting to know my children's friends in the home before we walk any place together. 3. Is my child culturally deprived because I cannot see? Remember that every child does not have everything. Try to avoid the vicious circle of over­compensation or of over-buying of toys, trips, vacations, etc. Do things that you can enjoy together. Allow your child to do things with other families that you cannot enjoy with them. I will never again sit through a ballet that I do not know the story of and music from just because my children should have the experience. I also say "Thank you" to friends who will tell me when my son or daughter is doing well during a game. Once I cheered for the opposition. Now I ask for descriptions. 4. Are people really looking at my children and thinking that I do not take care of them when we come home dirty from the park? At times I go out of my way -- and frustrate my children beyond their limits -- by marking everything and making sure their clothes are color coordinated. I have also rushed them home to clean them up, only to take them back to the sandbox. 5. How am I going to be certain that my children's homework is correct and neat? I can have them read it back to me, hire someone to correct it, or reward them for getting good grades. I have done all of these things at different times, in varying degrees. I can also rely on their teachers to let me know what my children are doing, and I must remember that I went through school, and that this is their work and they must accomplish it in their own way. 6. How much should I be present at school? I have been a class mother, and I headed the class mothers for several years. I also enjoy participating in PTA. My children have always made me aware that they wanted me to come to school. However, I must admit that a trip for the purpose of having them explain their art project to me or to participate in a parent/child party still makes me nervous. They and their friends, however, take it for granted that I will be present at these events. I have developed a stockpile of goodies, games, and compliments to bring with me. Teachers have always been helpful and welcoming. 7. When is it best to get a child a ride to an activity? I suppose it is best when the child wants the ride and when the person driving is as safe a driver as you are a traveler. I never rule out taking a child in a cab, although I do try to avoid it when possible. I always try to exchange baby-sitting for my part in a car pool. 8. Why do I feel bad when my child walks home in the rain, snow, or heat? This occurs even though my children love to play outside and go places in every kind of weather. Also, my children are not the only ones walking home at such times. 9. How do you deal with other people's attitudes in front of your children? I have found that being prepared with some positive response and then moving on quickly is for me the best method. Examples: "Take your mother to a seat." I just work my dog and follow my child. ''Your child is so wonderful to help you so much." I respond, "Yes, he (she) is a good child." I can hope that again the child's reaction will mirror my own. 10. How safe should I try to make this house? My children are old enough now that this is not a major consideration. However, when they were younger, I remember putting plastic inserts in the electric sockets, locks on drawers and cabinets, and high-up locks on cellar doors. They usually faced up to these challenges and soon learned to manipulate them better than I could. I have found that labeling and placing things out of reach has been beneficial. Organization and putting things away immediately has been my best insurance against accidents. 11. When will I ever get my housework done? I have found that I needed to pay attention to what was happening when the children and their friends were in the house. I also found that I needed an organizational pattern and plan to enable me to do my household chores. I often did them during nap time or before the children got up in the morning. Time has gotten them to the point where this constant surveillance is not necessary or desired. I spent many frustrating times when my children were younger in explaining why they should not follow me up the ladder. I also had a spot for favorite toys on each floor. They did like to help with things like folding clothes, sorting items in the hamper, bed-making, and cooking preparations. I wish I had realized that disorder and dust are faithful friends and will wait for you. There are really no best or right answers to these situations. I can only hope that by my example, my participation and my acceptances and my handling of them, my children will develop happy memories and positive reactions. They are but a small part of what we are experiencing together. If there are problems, they will be only as important as we allow them to be. ***** ** Greater Pedestrian Safety through the Use of Pathfinder Tiles By Eugene Lozano and Erlinda Ibarbia In the early 1920's, it was fashionable for city traffic engineers to incorporate blended corners at intersections into street design. The purpose was to expedite pedestrian crossings across streets. In addition, this style of corner was adopted in order to assist senior citizens in avoiding accidents by stepping off curbs, and to give greater access to individuals in wheelchairs when traveling through the inner city. It was not until the end of World War II that problems with the blended corners began to appear. As blind persons were traveling more independently with the aid of white canes and dog guides, they were encountering the dangers of not being able to detect the distinction between blended corners and street intersections. The distinction between sidewalk and street has been of great concern to blind persons living in Sacramento, California, where there are numerous intersections with blended corners. For the last three years, the Sacramento Land Park Lions Club, the Sacramento City Public Works Department, and blind consumers have been working together to find a solution to the problem of how to warn blind persons when approaching blended corners, without interfering with the safety of other pedestrians. After considering various textured materials placed on the surface at these corners, blind pedestrians have found the synthetic rubber tile known as Pathfinder Tiles (manufactured by Guidance Systems, Inc.) to be the most detectable and useful in delineating the distinction between corner and street intersection. The tiles are to be used as a supplementary mobility aid for individuals using white canes or dog guides. The characteristics of these tiles are: • Raised dots and bars which can be felt under the soles of pedestrians' shoes. The dots indicate caution; the bar aid in directing the blind individual to make a straight crossing. • Dots and bars have a height of under one-half inch. • The tiles are yellow, 11 3/4 inches square. • Tiles can be made of synthetic rubber, vinyl, concrete, or ceramic clay. The presence of dot tiles indicates danger and warns the blind pedestrian from entering the street. The presence of bar tiles with dot tiles indicates where a safe crossing can be made within crosswalk lines. The tiles can also be used as guide strips through public facilities and as a warning line at platform edges. In addition, they can be helpful in locating bus stops, head and base of stairways, entrances to public buildings, etc. During the American Council of the Blind national convention in Las Vegas, Guidance Systems, Inc., will have tile installations near hotel facilities. Locations of the tiles will be announced during the convention. The company will be evaluating the effectiveness of the tiles by surveying ACB members and non-members. For further information concerning the Pathfinder Tiles, please contact Gene Lozano evenings at (916) 485-8307. ***** ** Physical Education: A Missing Link in the Education of Blind Children By Rose Resnick, Ed.D. There is common agreement that the aims and hopes of P.L. 94-142, mandating the admission of handicapped children to regular public school classes, have not been realized. Merely seating a blind child, for example, next to a seeing child does not, we learned, necessarily result in social interaction, let alone acceptance. The literature is replete with testimony to the need for training, particularly of congenitally-blind children, in social skills. Yet scant, if any, attention has been given to a closely-related, perhaps even prerequisite of social skills, namely, physical education. Social skills involve two aspects: those that stem from personality, self­confidence, maturity; and those involving physical factors — posture, appearance, stance, movement, use and position of head, shoulders, arms, and body. The sense of self begins with sense of body. Those of us who work with blind children are all too familiar with the poor self-image their bearing conveys -- caved-in chest, sloping shoulders, drooping head, protruding stomach, turned-in toes, fidgeting fingers, rigid movement, overweight. And all too often, the familiar blindisms -- the rocking, the sticking of fingers in the eyes -- pent-up energy seeking release. Little wonder! While their sighted counterparts are playing tennis, volleyball, racketball, or running errands for the family, blind boys and girls are listening to television or a tape recorder, or reading braille. If at school they play cards during physical education periods, or, as in some cases, mobility training is considered their substitute, they remain essentially sedentary children. To gain a clearer picture of just what is provided in the way of physical education for blind children in public schools across the country, I am asking Braille Forum readers who have access to, or knowledge of, such programs to drop me a line (see questionnaire below) if they would be willing to participate in a survey. Potentially, this could be a significant service to blind children, and participants in the survey would have my enormous gratitude. -- Rose Resnick, Executive Director, California League for the Handicapped, 1299 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. I. Please describe the type of physical education program provided for blind students in your district: (a) calisthenics; (b) swimming; (c) folk dancing; (d) aerobics; (e) other. II. Indicate the supervision of physical education classes: (a) resource teachers; (b) physical education teacher; (c) other. III. How often are physical education opportunities provided? IV. What equipment, if any, is used (jumprope, mats, etc.)? Please specify. V. What type of adaptive physical education programs are provided? VI. Does the curriculum provide information on physical fitness: (a) in lectures? (b) through counseling on an individual basis? (c) through contact with parents? VII. Describe the use, if any, of com­munity resources for physical training of blind students: (a) private agencies; (b) YWCA or YMCA; (c) other. ***** ** "Investment In People Pays" -- National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week A Congressional resolution declaring the week of June 23-29 as National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week has been introduced into Congress. This week is particularly symbolic because June 27 marks the birthday of the most renowned deaf­blind American, Helen Keller. Recognizing the growing needs of deaf-blind Americans, the U.S. Congress passed and President Reagan signed the first resolution establishing National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week in June of 1984. A Coordinating Committee has launched a joint effort this year to in­form, educate, and sensitize the general public about the needs of the deaf-blind population and to create an awareness of the potential and abilities of deaf-blind persons. The crucial message is that through education, training, and job preparation, deaf-blind children and adults can become independent, productive, and contributing members of society, in the community and in the workplace. "Investment in People Pays" is the week's theme and it reinforces the concept of mutual benefits for society and for deaf-blind persons. Society's investment in providing economic and human resources will ensure that deaf-blind Americans can develop the skills needed for socialization, recreation, personal management, independent living, and employment. Ultimately, all American citizens benefit. Loss of sight and hearing deprives an individual of the two primary senses through which one becomes aware of the environment and acquires knowledge of the world at large. The dual disability imposes serious problems of communication, mobility, social and vocational adjustment that often lead to isolation and loneliness. Historically, this population has been neglected. But within the past 20 years, some progress has been made to solve these difficult problems, primarily through the efforts of professional workers in education and rehabilitation and through scientists and engineers who have produced aids and devices that are adding a new dimension to the independence of deaf-blind people. Though some 40,000 Americans have been identified as deaf-blind, many individuals still remain mis-diagnosed, inappropriately placed, and even hidden away. The need for services has also increased since the mid-'60's, when some 6,000 children were born deaf-blind due to an epidemic of maternal rubella. Composed of the leading agencies and organizations concerned with meeting the needs of deaf-blind Americans, the Coordinating Committee membership includes: American Association of the Deaf-Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, Gallaudet College, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, and the North American Association for Deaf-Blind Persons. ***** ** Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Sponsors State Legislative Seminar By Scott Marshall Director of Governmental Affairs Two years ago, LeRoy Price of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was not a member of the American Council of the Blind. Nevertheless, he attended ACB' s national legislative seminar in May of 1983. He came to Washington with $50.00 of expense money in his pocket from the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, with the expectation that he would use what he learned at the seminar to benefit the PCB. That modest investment paid off handsomely, because LeRoy Price decided that he would do more than simply give a report about the Washington seminar at the next PCB state convention: he wanted to run one himself. And that he did! With the help of PCB President Dr. Mae Davidow and members of PCB's Public Education and Research (PER) Committee, LeRoy organized the first annual PCB state legislative seminar. This was no amateur effort. Patterned after ACB's national legislative seminar, the PER Committee carefully chose seminar invitees based upon district residence and matched each, insofar as possible, with the participant's own state legislators. Fifty-two appointments were prearranged by the Committee, and a briefing packet which outlined six legislative issues was prepared and distributed to all 253 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature as well as to seminar participants. The event began on Tuesday evening, May 7, with remarks by the Honorable Peter Wambach, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Following Mr. Wambach' s presentation, I spoke about how to approach a legislator or legislative assistant. John Horst, a member of the PER Committee, then introduced presenters who briefed participants on six legislative issues, including the need for a "little" Randolph-Sheppard Act in Pennsylvania, funding for radio reading services, and removal of corneal tissue by medical examiners to ensure an adequate, constant supply of tissue for cornea transplant patients. On Wednesday morning, the substantive briefings were concluded, and John Horst and I staged a meeting between "Senator Scott Blowhard" and his constituent, John Horst of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The group then traveled to the Capitol Building, where guides waited to accompany participants to legislators' offices. Remarks such as, "It was easier than I thought it would be!" and, "How do I make a reservation for next year's seminar?" were heard as participants returned to the rendezvous point to await their next appointment. During the wrap-up banquet on Wednesday evening, participants reported reactions from various offices relative to specific issues and were given advice as to appropriate follow-up. The PER Committee met to discuss how the seminar could be improved next year; established a plan for organized follow-up; and discussed methods of establishing a continuous organizational presence in the state capital. Many individuals contributed time and effort to making this seminar an outstanding success. From providing guide service to making sure all of the physical arrangements at the Capitol building were in place, volunteers and PCB members did it all! The exciting news is that this is only the beginning. LeRoy Price and his PER Committee have the willingness and capability to make PCB's legislative effort a model for other states to follow. With a strong, viable legislative program, an affiliate such as the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind can attract new, politically active members. "I was proud to be part of this organization!" one participant told me afterwards. And so was I! ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * FOR SALE: Model P2C Versa­Braille, $4,700. Call (619) 225-7086 weekdays between 8:00 A.M., and 4:00 P.M., or send correspondence to: Joe Renzi, 7865 Highgate Lane, La Mesa, CA 92041. * FOR SALE: IBM Memory 100 Typewriter with IBM Audio Typing Unit. The IBM Audio Typing Unit provides the user with a complete and detailed display of all operations and functions of the Memory typewriter, including complete spoken words and information, individual letters, numbers, punctuation, line and character position count, end-of-ribbon warning, and much more. The typewriter has a 400,000-character memory. Sale includes a two-month prepaid IBM service policy. For more information, write Perry O. Knutson, 4214 11th, N.E., No. 202, Seattle, WA 98105; (206) 632-0088. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon After four years of hard work, Max Ivey, an 18-year-old Boy Scout from Houston, Texas, recently passed the final exam to earn the rank of Eagle -- the highest a Scout can attain. To receive the award, Ivey, who is blind, had to earn 21 merit badges, each one representing a skill. Tests included such areas as camping, cooking, first aid, lifesaving, and nature studies. As part of the swimming merit badge, he had to retrieve a 15-pound cement block under water -- but first he had to find it! Max felt this test was the most difficult one for him, since he is afraid of water. According to Ivey's troop leader, no exceptions were made for him. He had to do what every boy with normal vision has to do. Only 1 percent of all Scouts ever attain Eagle rank. Independent Introductions, Inc., is a unique introduction (dating) service for the physically disabled, blind, deaf, and non-disabled single. The service provides, at a nominal cost, a personalized way of meeting people for friendship, for telephone and pen pals, as well as for dating. For more information, contact Independent Introductions, Inc., One Penn Plaza, Suite 100, New York, NY 10119; (212) 244-1555. WORDS, a new word processor designed with the blind in mind, transforms an Apple Ile computer with the Echo II speech synthesizer into a talking typewriter. Simple to use, WORDS arranges text in the computer's memory as it appears in print, line by line. This approach makes reading or editing text much like using a typewriter, but with the flexibility of a computer. For details, contact Larry Skutchan, 6804 Asher, No. 62, Little Rock, AR 72204; (501) 568-2172. Who is so uninformed nowadays as to believe that blind people cannot safely scale cliffs, cross deep ravines, and do all the other things that make rock-climbing such an exciting and satisfying sport? Beginning August 11, the Winter Park (Colorado) Handicapped Recreation Program will conduct three eight-day rock­climbing workshops designed specifically for blind and visually impaired climbers. Participants will be instructed in basic and intermediate levels of Class 5 rock-climbing techniques. No prior experience is required, and each seminar will be kept small in order to maximize personal instruction. If you would like to take part or obtain further information, contact Paul DiBello, Winter Park Handicapped Recreation Program, P.O. Box 36, Winter Park, CO 80482; (303) 726-5514, Ext. 158. The San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind has announced its first annual sports and fitness camp for blind and visually impaired adults, July 18-24, at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, California. There will be clinics, instruction, and competition in goal ball, beep baseball, aerobics, aquatics, wrestling, and body conditioning. Other activities in which instruction will be available include horseback riding, rowing, roller skating, bowling, basketball, kayaking, swimming, and archery. Participants need not excel in sports, but must be in excellent health and enjoy exercise and the outdoors. Interested parties should contact Lighthouse for the Blind, Sports and Fitness Camp, 1155 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103; (415) 431-1481, Ext. 45. Able Scientists, Disabled Persons: Careers in the Sciences, by S. Phyllis Stearner, profiles 36 persons who work in science and are disabled. Each profile sketches the work the person is currently doing, the steps taken to achieve his/her career, and how each scientist has coped· with physical and attitudinal barriers. Price: $12.95. Order from Science and the Handicapped, Inc., 154 Juliet Court, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514. A new organic dye laser appears to hold great promise for the photo­coagulation of many types of ocular defects, according to a recent article in Diabetic Outlook. Developed by Dr. Francis A. LaEsperance, Jr., of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, the unit's effectiveness is due to its tunability, high output power, and wavelength versatility. With the instrument, a target tissue can be selectively coagulated with minimal laser energy transmitted through refractive media, causing minimal damage to surrounding normal tissue. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: Motor rallying, in which blind people participate as navigators with a braille route schedule, has been popular for many years in South Africa. The Blind Navigators Club was founded in 1982 and is now anxious to contact actual or potential ralliers from overseas. An international rally is proposed for 1986. Write A. Piencar, Box 7414, Johannesburg, 20001, South Africa. Sign in an optometrist's office: "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place." From The Sentinel (Orlando, Fla): After more than 100 years as the king of vision tests, the eye chart with rows of capital letters — large ones at the top and small ones at the bottom — may be overthrown some day by a set of circles and fuzzy, grey bars. Designed by an aerospace engineer and tested aboard the space shuttle Discovery in January, the Vision Contrast Test system is being touted as a replacement for the Snellen Alphabet Chart, which was developed in 1862 to measure vision under high contrast conditions, black letters on white background. The contrast-sensitivity graph has 49 circles with hazy lines that gradually get closer together and more difficult to see. The person being tested must determine the slant of the lines. By the end, the circles are grey, with no lines. They're there to keep people honest, said Air Force Major Arthur Ginsberg, inventor of the new chart. From NBA Bulletin (National Braille Association): A long-time advocate of the handicapped, Jean Pantano of Wenham, Massachusetts, has designed a calendar trivia game for the sighted and the blind. Based somewhat on the popular Trivial Pursuit game, the desk calendar created by Ms. Pantano offers a trivia question for every day of the year, according to the days of the week: Sunday, religion, the arts, and quotations; Monday, sports; Tuesday, U.S. history; Wednesday, potpourri; Thursday, geography; Friday, famous "firsts"; and Saturday, entertainment. The game, called Triviability, is produced in a magazine format for the blind and can be played by more than one person. Interested persons may contact Ms. Pantano at Encounter Enterprise Associates, P.O. Box 79, Wenham, MA 01984. *** People who do volunteer driving for charity can deduct their mileage at 12 cents a mile beginning in 1985. The old rate was 9 cents. Alternatively, volunteers may compute and deduct their actual expenses. Sharon R. Cromeenes, board member of ACB's Council of Citizens with Low Vision, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Montana Optometric Association at its mid-winter meeting. The award was given in recognition of Mr. Cromeenes' "Contributions to the profession and the community over many years.'' He is founder and director of the Montana Low Vision Clinic. The Mid-Ohio Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society now has available the booklet "Vision and Multiple Sclerosis." It contains information on how and why MS often affects vision, what diagnostic tests the physician may perform, agencies that serve the visually impaired, and practical tips for adjusting to the varying vision problems that often accompany MS. The booklet is available in large-print for $3.00 from Mid­Ohio Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 929 Harrison Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215. From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine: The Peace Corps is seeking blind volunteers with business training or who can teach rehabilitation skills. Volunteers should have at least an associate degree or good vocational experience. Contact Bob Jackson, Office of Recruitment, Peace Corps, 806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Room M-807, Washington, DC 20506. Audio Potter is a magazine for people who enjoy working with ceramics. It is published twice a year on cassette by the Daniel Clarke Foundation. For further information, write Studio Potter on Cassette, Daniel Clarke Recordings, Box 65, Goffstown, NH 03045. The first electronic computer was put into operation in 1946 and had to be kept in a place where the temperature was regulated. It used 10,000 vacuum tubes and was so large it filled an entire room. At its fall 1984 convention, the ACB of California presented Harriet Fielding with an award for her many years of service to the organization. In a letter of appreciation, Mrs. Fielding wrote: "Having served ACBC as editor of ACBC Digest for 17 years, beginning as the first editor, the plaque, with its beautifully grained wood and gold lettering, is now one of my prized possessions and will hang in my study as a symbol of the respect and love I have received from our fine organization." Harriet Fielding also served for six years as Chair of ACB's Board of Publications. ***** ** 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 as well as national 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. June 15 - Rhode Island Regional Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Spring Convention - Providence June 16-23 - American Association of the Deaf-Blind Annual Convention - Upper Montclair, NJ June 29-30 - ACB of Nebraska State Convention - Omaha July 6-13 - American Council of the Blind National Convention - Las Vegas, NV August 17 - Aloha Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Honolulu, HI August 23-25 - Michigan Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - East Lansing August 30-September 1 - Tennessee Council of the Blind State Convention - Memphis September 20-22 - Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Arlington, VA September 28-29 - Mountain State Council of the Blind State Convention - Harpers Ferry, WV October 18-20 - ACB of Ohio State Convention - Columbus October 18-20 - Oregon Council of the Blind State Convention - Portland October 25-26 - ACB of Minnesota State Convention - Minneapolis ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large-type, and cassette tape (15/16 ips). As a supplement, the braille and cassette editions also include ALL­O-GRAMS, newsletter of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent 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, American Council of the Blind, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 506, Washington, DC 20036. You may wish to remember a relative or a friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB 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 may contact the ACB National Office. ###