The Braille Forum Vol. XXIV November 1985 No. 5 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 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 1-800-424-8666 * Editorial Office The Braille Forum: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 442-3131 Promoting Independence And Effective Participation in Society ** 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 LeRoy Saunders, Treasurer, American Council of the Blind, 1010 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 2005. 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. Copyright 1985 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents Notice to Subscribers President's Message, by Grant Mack News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Position Available: Director of Governmental Affairs, ACB The Future Isn't What It Used To Be, by Jay F. Rochlin It's Never Too Early -- 1986 ACB Convention Court Rules on Airline Exit Row Seating Controversy, by Lynn Abbott The STORER Center, National Model for Computer Access, by Laura Oftedahl Volunteer in Costa Rica U.S. Government Check to Have a Brand-New Look, by Lynn Abbott NAC Announces New Membership Opportunity "Vision: the Precious Treasure" Begins Twelve-City, Two-Year Tour Pennsylvania Council's 50th Convention, by John A. Horst Kentucky Council Convention Reflects Growth of ACB Over-All, by Carla S. Franklin Museum Training Internship for the Disabled 1986 USABA Winter Sports National Championships High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events ACB Officers Contributing Editor ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack An ancient Greek slave named Aesop, who lived approximately 600 years B.C., was a man of great wit and wisdom. His ability to teach very important lessons by telling easy-to-understand stories not only eventually gained him his freedom, but also provided a great legacy for all generations which have followed. One of the best-known of these fables deals with a king who had several bickering sons. To impress on the boys the need to get along, he handed them a bundle of sticks and asked them to break them. None of them could do it. He then had them break each stick separately and concluded by saying, "My sons, by this example you all can see that as long as you remain united, you are a match for any of your enemies. As soon as you quarrel or become separated, you are destroyed." This simple tale has been used throughout the ages to teach a very important principle; that is, "In unity there is strength." It was probably not known in Aesop's time just how much strength can be achieved through unity. It is a scientific fact that in many instances "a united action of separate agents or organisms produces a greater effect than the sum of the various individual parts." This principle is called synergism. Not too many years ago, dynamite was the chief explosive agent used in the mining industry throughout this country and the rest of the world. As a youngster growing up in a small mining town in south central Arizona, I learned early to respect this very touchy and volatile component. Today, dynamite is seldom used in the mining industry. It has been replaced by a new explosive product called "flurry." There are basically three ingredients in this revolutionary mixture: virtually a garden variety of nitrogen fertilizer, No. 3 stove oil, and aluminum shavings. These rather innocent items, when mixed properly and detonated with a heavy blast, create a force much more powerful than dynamite, and tremendously more powerful than the individual explosive force of each of the three components. Not many of you are interested in explosives or the fact that a new process has almost wiped out the dynamite industry. However, I think you may be interested in considering that synergetic forces are also at work in dealing with people. This is why the merger meeting of the California Council of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind of California in Los Angeles on November 9 is so very significant and important. After 25 years of counterproductive division, these two great organizations have joined forces and will be united into one strong body. It is a tribute to the leadership of both organizations th.at they have been able to accomplish the impossible. Every person involved in this reunification should receive a large medal. Many people deserve credit, and I would like to name them. But, for fear of missing someone, I will name only the two outstanding presidents of the two organizations who have successfully met this challenge and who have demonstrated magnificent leadership. My hat is off to Robert Campbell and to Robert Acosta. Would that all leaders of the blind -- local, state and national -- could emulate their leadership. Wouldn't it be glorious if all the blind in this country could come together? What a tremendously synergetic force it would create! ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative During September, there simply was not enough time to attend or otherwise participate in all of the activities that made up INSPIRE 85, described in the August issue of The Braille Forum. So hard choices had to be made by ACB staff members. Their ultimate involvement included attending a White House reception hosted by First Lady Nancy Reagan, attending selected sessions of the two- day forum concentrating on recreational, leisure, and cultural activities for disabled people, attending a Capitol Hill reception, presenting testimony at a hearing conducted by the National Council on the Handicapped, and observing only a few of the dozens of exhibitions and demonstrations showcasing an enormous number of recreational, sports, leisure, and cultural activities engaged in by handicapped people. Blind participants demonstrated their ability in gymnastics, goal ball, downhill and cross-country skiing (yes, in September -- on an artificial surface!), cycling, swimming, beep baseball, and distance running. In my testimony before the National Council on the Handicapped, I emphasized the need to devote more public resources to recreational and cultural activities and the need to revise current policies and procedures so as to make such resources available to "grassroots"- and consumer-managed programs versus highly structured and professionally staffed organizations. The INSPIRE 85 forum was attended by hundreds of professionals and consumers from around the country, and the festival of activities was viewed by thousands of observers. Later in the month, it was my pleasure as National Representative to make one of the major presentations at the third annual Library Festival sponsored by the New Jersey Library for the Blind and the Handicapped. The hundreds of library users in attendance at the day-long festival in Trenton were very interested in the success of the American Council of the Blind in saving the "Free Matter" postal privilege and ACB's plan to file suit to overturn the decision by Congress to cut out funding of the braille edition of Playboy, as a matter of censorship rather than fiscal economy. Many of the blind and visually impaired persons who attended the festival had not previously been informed about these matters and had not previously seen many of the items and services that were being displayed by a considerable number of exhibitors. The members of the staff of the New Jersey Library are to be commended for conducting such an outstanding program, and we hope other libraries will establish similar programs. As soon as Hurricane Gloria decided to merely brush the Washington, D.C. area rather than hit it directly, it was our pleasure to drive the short distance to historic and picturesque Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to take part in the annual convention of the Mountain State Council of the Blind. The convention, which was well attended, featured several interesting presentations dealing with the range of educational services available to blind children in the state. Among the conventioners were several special education teachers from the public school systems in neighboring counties. The citizens of Oklahoma are known everywhere for their interest in Oklahoma-style college football. However, even that legendary interest did not stand in the way of an outstanding turnout at the early October state convention of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind in Oklahoma City. The varied program covered matters ranging from rehabilitation services to the Client Assistance Program, library services, and education of blind children concerning leisure travel opportunities. The resolutions adopted took firm stands on matters of importance to blind people, such as the Playboy censorship issue. On the lighter, but also important side, the fund-raising auction was a big success. It was my pleasure to make the banquet address, and at convention's end, I was faced with the awkward pleasure of carrying back to Washington on the plane with me a small stepladder donated by the Oklahoma League for the Blind for National Office use. Don't you usually carry a stepladder with you when you fly? I am genuinely sorry to announce the resignation from the ACB staff of Scott Marshall as Director of Governmental Affairs. In early November, he will join the legislative staff of the American Association of Retired Persons. While he takes this enormous step forward in his professional career with our blessings and sincere best wishes, it is needless to say that AARP's gain is ACB's loss! The American Council of the Blind will truly miss Scott and the indefatigable, thorough, competent, conscientious, professional dedication which he has brought to this office since joining the staff in 1981. Knowing Scott as we do, we are confident that he will generate within AARP, which has a very large professional and support staff, an even greater interest in the needs of elderly blind citizens. We are recruiting quickly for a qualified person to fill this extremely important position for ACB. An announcement appears elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum. ***** ** Position Available: Director of Governmental Affairs, ACB The American Council of the Blind is a national membership/advocacy consumer organization of blind and visually impaired people with 53 state/regional affiliates and 17 special­interest/professional organizations throughout the United States. We are looking for an individual with some background in legislative/ advocacy/civil rights work for a non-profit organization, preferably dealing with handicapped concerns. Well-developed writing and verbal skills are essential. Primary responsibilities include: promoting and developing American Council of the Blind programs involving governmental action; advocating changes in existing law; conveying the position of the Council on pending legislative and administrative proposals; maintaining cooperative relationships with other organizations which have similar objectives; providing advice and technical assistance to affiliates and to blind individuals; keeping the membership informed about legislative developments; recommending actions to be taken and policies to be adopted by the Council; and performing other related work as assigned. A reasonable amount of travel is required in fulfilling the above responsibilities. Applicants should have a general familiarity with the public-interest community and a commitment to progressive social and economic reform. Salary: $27,500-$30,000 (beginning salary dependent on experience). Minimum qualifications: J.D. or equivalent degree preferred. Bar membership preferred. Two years' experience preferred. Send resumes before November 1 or as soon as possible thereafter to: Oral O. Miller, National Representative, American Council of the Blind, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. ***** ** The Future Isn't What It Used to Be Banquet Address, 24th Annual Convention American Council of the Blind Las Vegas, Nevada July 12, 1985 By Jay F. Rochlin Human Resources Manager, AT&T (Jay Rochlin is on "executive loan" to the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped for a two-year period which began January 1, 1985. Among his primary areas of responsibility will be working with the Job Accommodations Network and developing employer relations. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Foundation for the Blind.) I am honored to be here among many friends and colleagues and to share in your annual convention. I have come to have a great deal of admiration and respect for the American Council of the Blind, its purpose, its policies, its programs, and, most important, its people. I very often get angry at the news media because they portray business and government as faceless organizations. How often have you heard the media say that AT&T or IBM did such-and-such? Well, AT&T or IBM doesn't do anything. It's people at AT&T and IBM who are responsible for everything that is or isn't done at those corporations. And the same can be said for organizations like ACB: It doesn't do anything either. It is the people of ACB that do. And I commend all of you for the responsible and dignified manner in which you accomplish the business and programs of ACB. ... (M)y background is in business. I have been with AT&T for almost 30 years, and for the past ten years specifically in human resources. ... The remarks that I present tonight will reflect my business perspective. I gave my presentation the title, "The Future Isn't What It Used To Be" because I believe that the immediate future presents almost unlimited job opportunities for people with disabilities. And let me share with you why I feel this way. One simple reason is that business needs people with disabilities. Considering the current employment picture, it seems hard to conceive that a shortage of qualified workers lies ahead. Yet that is what is predicted. Remember the "baby boom" of the '50s? Well, the youngest "baby boomers" are now 21 years old. The demographers indicate that the "baby boom" was followed by the "baby bust" of the '60s, and this generation is about to come of age and seek employment. The number of teenagers living in this country will decline by six million between 1980 and 1990. Another reason is the cost of disability. As a nation, we can no longer afford the cost of keeping people with disability on the dole. I hope the next statistic will shock you as much as it shocked me. It is estimated that over 8 percent of the U.S. gross national product goes out in Government and private programs and payments to persons with disabilities. That equates to almost $300 billion. Business is learning that we must help people with disabilities become tax-producers instead of tax-consumers. Let me quote from a new public affairs pamphlet entitled "Jobs for Disabled People," written by my good friend Dr. Frank Bowe: "We now understand that while disability may be permanent, its effects are not necessarily insurmountable. We are learning, too, that people with disabilities need not be viewed as life­long dependents upon society. Many of them are able to support themselves. Indeed, most people who are disabled prefer to work if they can. That's not surprising. Work not only provides a livelihood, but offers opportunities for achievement, peer recognition, contribution to the community, and an active social life as well." Economic freedom, not charity, is what I believe most people with disabilities are seeking. And let me repeat a quote that I think expresses the attitude of many people with disabilities: "Before, you walked in front of me and shielded me from society, protected from the environment for my own good, you said. Then you walked behind me and guided me through my days, dependent upon you for where I went and what I did. Now all I want is for you to walk beside me and be my equal, to let me be independent and live a life." The importance of personal independence was brought home to me recently when I had the honor and privilege to serve on the Selection Committee for Recording for the Blind's Scholastic Achievement Awards, a recognition given to graduating college seniors who are blind. The Selection Committee had to select three students to receive the award from a list of 120 outstanding applicants. I found this a most humbling experience considering the scholastic accomplishments of these graduates. For example, one of the award winners, Ellen Schwartz, has been blind since age 16. She graduated with honors from Harvard, with a major in biochemistry and a minor in physics. Her first two years of college were spent at MIT, and this fall she will enter the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. At the awards ceremony, I was sitting with Ellen and with Barbara Walters, who presented the awards. At one point, Barbara asked Ellen what kind of a doctor she wanted to be. And Ellen's answer was wonderful. She said, "A good one." Another award winner, blind since age 2 and with an attendant hearing loss, graduated with honors from the University of California at San Diego with a major in animal physiology. He earned an A for successfully dissecting a human cadaver in anatomy class and then tutored students on a one-to-one basis. He will be returning to school to pursue a Ph.D. in epidemiology. One of these students said: "Personal independence is very important to me. I feel so much better about myself when I am able to do things on my own, and I have noticed that my friends, both blind and sighted, feel the same sense of centered happiness that I do when they are able to set limits aside and accomplish things themselves." Recently The Washington Post magazine featured an article entitled "Gary Poe's Smarts," about a man who is mentally retarded and his struggle to become independent. Let me read a paragraph from the article. "Poe wants only to be 'normal,' free of handouts, social workers and sympathy. He is, after all, slow, clinically slow, his measured intelligence falling in the bottom few percent of all Americans. So he fights not only his limitations, but also the fears of his father and in-laws, the cynicism of embittered friends who are themselves slow, the prejudice of bosses, the guaranteed federal disability pay check that can sap ambition, and sometimes even the attitudes of counselors and teachers assigned to help him. Through fear and good intention, they conspire to keep Poe a child forever. The catch is that Poe does need help. He resists, however, when the price is his dignity. About that he is very smart." That article conveys an important message for educators, rehabilitators, supervisors, and people with disabilities: Set realistic but challenging goals. Most often people will rise to the level of our or their expectations, and if we expect mediocrity, that's what we will get. Expect excellence and we will not be disappointed. The commitment to employment of people with disabilities should not be a charity or a benevolent operation. Some time ago, I was asked in a TV interview why my former company was interested in hiring people with disabilities. I replied that it wasn't interested in hiring people with disabilities; it was interested in hiring people who were qualified to do its jobs. However, if some of those people happened to have a disability, that should not be a deterrent to their employment. ... Business owes no one a living, but it does owe people the right and opportunity to earn a living. Business is learning that discriminatory employment practices are economically wasteful as well as being unjust. Let's look at what we know about the future of the workplace. It is changing. We are moving from the industrial age into the information age. For example, John Nesbitt in his book, Megatrends, predicts that ten years from now the electronics industry will be bigger than auto and steel are today. He estimates that this country will need a million or more programmers of software by the end of the decade. Recently I heard another futurist predict that 75 percent of the jobs that will exist in the year 2000 have not been invented yet. At first I was astounded by that forecast. But then I thought of all the jobs that exist today that didn't exist fifteen years ago, and now I don't think that prediction is far off the mark. An article in Time magazine reflected that in the past ten years, the number of workers in manufacturing has dipped to 18.8 million while the total in services has jumped to 19 million. It is estimated that by 1995 there will be 28 1/2 million people employed in services, compared with only 22 million in manufacturing. McDonald's now employs more workers than Unites States Steel. And that gives you an indication of the direction jobs are changing. In the service industry, I have seen outstanding examples of placements of people with disabilities, particularly in the food service industry. And for sound business reasons. Remember the statistics about the declining number of teenagers? The food service industry's major labor force, 16- to 24-year-olds, will drop 14 percent between 1982 and 1995, and the number of employees needed to fill available food service jobs will jump an average of 32 percent. And if that's not enough, between 1980 and 1990 the projected annual employee turnover rate will range from 20 to 57 percent. Bad news for McDonald's? Could be. But it has developed a program to train people with disabilities to meet the shortage -- and, of course, it's called the McJOBS program -- what else! They started training people who were mentally retarded to work in McDonald's. They now employ people in some McDonald's shops who use wheelchairs, and they are currently looking and working with the American Foundation for the Blind on adapting their equipment so that it can be operated by people who are blind and visually impaired. Recently I met with Mike Quinlon, the president of McDonald's, and complimented him on establishing the program. His response typifies the bottom-line concern of business executives: "Thank you for the compliment, but I must tell you that if it wasn't good for us, we wouldn't be doing it." I respect him for his frankness, which also implies that McDonald's has recognized that people with disabilities can become employees who are good for the business. I have become critical of some people in rehabilitation, however, over this program. I talked with some rehab counselors who have said to me that they wouldn't refer any of their clients to McDonald's because they don't like McDonald's pay policies and benefit policies. My reaction to that is that those policies are another issue, but any rehab counselor who does not offer that as an alternative to the individual is doing a grave disservice to that disabled person. That counselor has the responsibility to make the individual aware of pay and benefit policies, but the person with the disability should have the same right to accept or reject that job that any other person has. ... Technology will be a major factor in opening jobs for people with disabilities. I believe we are rapidly approaching the time when technology will enable almost any person with a disability to work competitively. … I might just comment -- I was telling President Mack when we were sitting here about a project that I am work1ng on with Scott Marshall of your Washington office and some representatives from the American Foundation for the Blind in which we are planning to meet with the American Banking Association to encourage the banking industry to consider making low-interest loans available to people who are blind or visually impaired to purchase high technology devices for purposes of employment. I hope that at your convention next year you will be able to hear that we have had some success. ... The future is bright, but it is not without its dark clouds, and my presentation would not provide an honest perspective if I didn't identify some of these issues. For starters, managers tend to be concerned about the cost of accommodation. Many have heard of the firm that spent $60,000 lowering drinking fountains to be accessible to people using wheelchairs. Unfortunately, few managers have heard about the employer who accomplished the same purpose for only a few hundred dollars by installing paper cup dispensers. ... Perhaps my greatest concern is the need for upward mobility. I see this as the next frontier in the history of employment of people with disabilities. Employment has progressed from institutions to sheltered workshops to vending stands to entry-level mainstream jobs. Business and rehabilitation personnel must now recognize that people with disabilities want and expect careers, not just jobs. Placement in entry-level jobs should not be considered the end result. Part of the solution to career mobility is for people with disabilities to take charge of their own lives. In business, I have seen too many people with disabilities frustrated by what I call the "institution syndrome." For years people in institutions were cared for, always given directions, and never given the opportunity to make decisions. Then when they became employed, they expected someone in business to continue to care for them. But in business, it doesn't work that way. ... The real world is tough, but it's getting better. And mainstream education is one reason why. I know it is more difficult to educate children with disabilities in a mainstream environment than in an institution. But that mainstream education better prepares them to face the realities of life. I am a strong believer in mainstream education not only for children with disabilities, but, more importantly, for children who are not disabled. Children with disabilities will always receive an education -- if not in a mainstream environment, then in an institution. However, children who are not disabled will only grow up knowing children with disabilities if they are mainstreamed together. I believe mainstreaming is the long-term solution to eliminating the attitudinal barriers that exist in this country today -- barriers that are having a negative impact on employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Stereotypes and myths can be dispelled by enabling children, disabled and non-disabled alike, to grow up in mainstream environments. Attitudes will then be different. When these children enter the business world in the future, I predict that the impact of mainstreaming will result in supervisors not being apprehensive about supervising employees with disabilities, and employees who are not disabled will not be concerned about reporting to supervisors with disabilities. ... What does the effort to employ people with disabilities mean to employers? Simply this: People with disabilities represent one of the most under-utilized groups in the labor market today. Remember, people with disabilities are our largest minority, for disability does not recognize race or sex or age. I want to leave you with two thoughts about the future: first, the rapid pace of technological advance that is making a wide variety of adaptive devices available to people with disabilities; and second, more people with disabilities will be entering our work force in the coming years to meet the predicted shortage of qualified workers. The challenge, then, is to match people and technology. As I see it, the bottom line is: for business, a qualified labor force and economic savings; for people with disabilities, careers and not just jobs -- and dignity, pride, and an improved quality of life. One of my ACB friends, Jack McSpadden, said it nicely in a news interview in connection with his appointment by President Reagan to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Jack stated: "I hope for a time in the future when people are viewed as people, as honest-to-goodness human beings with their own soul and their own personality, without regard to race, sex, religion, or disability. We're all created from the same thing; we all have the same potential, and we should be given a chance to prove it. That's what it's all about." ***** ** It's Never Too Early -- 1986 ACB Convention Don't think just because it's only November that it's too early to make hotel reservations for the 1986 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Knoxville. True, the convention is scheduled for June 28-July 5, and true, there are still nearly eight months before ACBers will begin arriving in the Tennessee mountains. But, believe it or not, there are already many reservations with the hotel, and you don't want to be left out. The 1986 ACB convention will be held at three hotels -- the Knoxville Hyatt, the Hilton, and the Holiday Inn World's Fair. All three hotels are ultra-modern facilities, complete with swimming pools, fabulous restaurants, and much more. Room rates for ACB's silver anniversary are $32.00 per day for singles, doubles, triples, quads. Please note the following important hotel information: DO NOT MAKE ROOM RESERVATIONS DIRECTLY WITH ANY HOTEL. The Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau is handling all reservations. When reserving a room, you may request the hotel you prefer and your wishes will be honored as long as rooms are available at that hotel. If you do not specify a hotel in making your reservation, rooms will be assigned on an availability basis, with the Hyatt being filled first, then the Hilton, then the Holiday Inn. To make reservations, contact the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, preferably in writing, as follows: Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 15012 Knoxville, TN 37901 (615) 523-7263 If you have comments, suggestions, or questions about the upcoming 1986 ACB convention, you may address them to either of the following: Helen Wild, Chairperson 1986 ACB Convention Committee P.O. Box 4151 Chattanooga, TN 37405 (615) 267-2287 Carla S. Franklin ACB Convention Coordinator 148 N. Vernon Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 897-1472 ***** ** Court Rules on Airline Exit Row Seating Controversy By Lynn Abbott, Staff Attorney The United States District Court for the District of Columbia on September 30, 1985, filed an opinion in the case of Russell Wayne Anderson v. USAir, Inc. Plaintiff Anderson, a member of the National Federation of the Blind, challenged USAir's rules regarding the exclusion of blind persons from emergency exit row seats (otherwise known as the "over-wing seats") on USAir's commercial aircraft. The District Court determined that Anderson had no legitimate grounds upon which to base his lawsuit and thus found for defendant USAir. USAir has a number of safety policies regarding the carriage of passengers on airplanes. Specifically, incapacitated passengers, children aged 12 and under, women and/or men with babies, elderly passengers, prisoners, blind passengers, and obese travelers are not allowed to sit in the emergency exit row. This policy was designed with passenger safety in mind and to permit all passengers to exit the aircraft in the event of an emergency as expeditiously as possible. The District Court decided that, contrary to Anderson's assertions, these safety provisions are not discriminatory against blind persons and do serve a legitimate public safety interest. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that "an air carrier must be able to evacuate the passengers on an aircraft within a period of 90 seconds" and "ensure that access to emergency exit windows is free from obstruction." The District Court stated that it is "clear that the policy is not directed toward discriminating against blind people, since the policy addresses any class of individuals which, in USAir's opinion, would impede the evacuation of an aircraft." It is important that persons sitting in emergency exit row seats be able to quickly and safely jump from the wing and assist other passengers once outside the airplane. Emergency exit row seating policies should be distinguished from other policies which do not reasonably relate to the safety of airline passengers. The District Court noted it "can understand the desire of blind people to be treated equally with sighted persons to the greatest extent possible. Nevertheless, there are situations in everyone's life in which a degree of autonomy must be given to others in the interests of the safety and well-being of oneself and of others. This case presents such a situation." ***** ** The Storer Center National Model for Computer Access By Laura Oftedahl Are you baffled by all the rapid developments in the complex computer circles, wondering which devices will work best for you? Or do you have a bunch of components and cables and feel bewildered by what to make of them all? Whether you are a blind consumer or a rehabilitation professional, whether you are currently employed or hoping for a break once you've been outfitted with print access equipment, the feelings and frustrations are quite similar. The truth of the matter is, things are happening so fast in the computer access arena that it's practically impossible for one person to keep on top of it all. The STORER Center (Specialized Training Orientation and Rehabilitation utilizing Electronic Resources) was dedicated last year as a model computer access center for blind and visually impaired people and appears to be meeting all expectations. This state-of-the-art center is an integral part of the Rehabilitation Department of the Cleveland Sight Center. Its purpose is to provide a non-commercial setting in which clients can evaluate access technology, receive training to use hardware and software, and acquire engineering support. Additionally, Ohio residents may obtain recommendations on funding sources and can even rent equipment for evaluation or for use during repair periods. The services of this comprehensive computer-access center are offered to all persons, not just Ohio residents. In fact, the STORER Center has been designated a training center by virtually all major manufacturers of print access equipment for blind and visually impaired people. Much in­service training of professionals is being done at the Cleveland center. Virtually every piece of braille output, voice output, and large-print output hardware and software for blind and low-vision people is operational at STORER. Students, secretaries, programmers, teachers, college professors, Federal employees, and many other gainfully employed persons have been served by the Center. Whether the individual is at the job-entry level, a rehabilitation worker with blind clients, or someone interested in computers for personal use, the services are tailored to specific needs. Orientation, evaluation, training, system rental, and housing are offered on a fee schedule. Housing in a modern apartment complex adjacent to the Sight Center is available for clients, and equipment from the computer center may be checked out overnight for client use. Major funding for this model center was provided by the George Storer Foundation and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. For information, contact: Director of Rehabilitation, Sight Center, Cleveland Society for the Blind, 1909 E. 101 Street, Cleveland, OH 44106; (216) 791-8118. ***** ** Volunteer in Costa Rica Mobility International USA is sponsoring a four-week international exchange program in Costa Rica during August 1986. The main goals of this project are to develop bonds of mutual understanding and friendship as well as new avenues for sharing information about our cultures, backgrounds, and, more specifically, information that can enrich the lives of people with disabilities in the U.S. and Costa Rica. A group of 25 participants will be able to spend one month in Costa Rica, where they will be living with families and volunteering in a variety of organizations. These settings may include, but are not limited to, rehabilitation hospitals, schools and camps for disabled youth, disabled consumer groups, recreation programs, and community education projects. The group will participate in educational programs and discussions and will have some time to visit various parts of the country. MIUSA is seeking applicants from throughout the U.S. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 24 and must have an interest in promoting international educational exchange and international understanding during the project, as well as continuing these efforts after they have returned home. This is not a tourist trip or a vacation. The people of Costa Rica have requested applicants with an interest in and/or expertise in independent living for people with disabilities, therapeutic recreation, and occupational and physical therapy. Cost of this program will be approximately $650.00 per person, which includes round-trip air fare from major departure cities, insurance, and all meals and accommodations in Costa Rica except during free activity days. The cost will also include orientation and evaluation workshops as well as a few group sightseeing excursions. Priority will be given to applicants with some knowledge of Spanish. This project is being funded in part by the United States Information Agency as part of the International Youth Exchange Initiative. Deadline for application is January 15, 1986. Please apply to: Costa Rican Exchange, c/o Mobility International USA, P.O. Box 3551, Eugene, OR 97403. ***** ** U.S. Government Check to Have a Brand New Look By Lynn Abbott, Staff Attorney On September 20, 1985, the U.S. Department of Treasury held a special briefing to announce the nationwide issuance of the new Federal Government paper check. In a few months, the familiar green punched-card check issued by the Federal Government will be replaced by a new lightweight, multi-colored paper check. The Department of Treasury believes the new check to be superior for a number of reasons. First, there are twelve security features built into the new check, which makes this paper check nearly impossible to alter or counterfeit. As stated above, the new checks are multi-colored, ranging from light blue to pale peach. This color transition is an important security feature because it is difficult to replicate. Additionally, the letters "USA" appear on the check, creating a pale pattern on the background. This is yet another security feature which makes the check virtually counterfeit-resistant. The Statue of Liberty appears on the left of the new check, and a muted closeup of her head and torch appears on the right side. The specially drawn lines within the Statue also represent an attempt to make the new checks difficult to alter. Perhaps the most important reason for the replacement of the old punched-card check with the new paper check is that the new checks are less expensive to produce, handle, and store. The Department of Treasury's Fiscal Management Service estimates that approximately $6 million per year will be saved as a result of this change. The new checks resemble the old checks in size only. For the blind and visually impaired community, it is important to note that there are no tactile markings on the new checks. Also, the new paper checks were not tested with an optical character recognition device. At this time, however, there is no reason to believe that there will be a problem using such devices to recognize characters on the new checks. There will no longer be a color distinction between SSI checks and other Government checks. Old SSI punched-card checks were, and still are, gold in color. The new SSI checks will appear exactly the same as every other Federal Government check. The color of the envelope, however, will be different. SSI checks will be sent in a light blue envelope, while all other checks will be sent in manila colored envelopes. Beginning in mid-October, the Government will air public service announcements nationwide in order to alert check recipients of the imminent change. The first important date to remember is December 3, 1985, the day on which all Social Security recipients across the country will receive the new paper checks. Internal Revenue Service refunds will be issued on the new paper stock beginning February 1, 1986. Civil Service retirement payments, SSI checks, veterans compensation and pension fund checks, and railroad retirement payments will be issued with the new check format beginning April 1, 1986. During the transition period, the old checks will be honored as well as the new checks, and direct deposit arrangements will remain an option for check recipients. The conversion from the old checks to the new paper stock should be completed by the end of 1986. ***** ** NAC Announces New Membership Opportunity In response to several requests from local consumer organizations, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) has established a new level of supporting membership for all local organizations interested in affiliating with NAC. For a minimum annual membership dues of $25.00, a local organization can join NAC as an official supporter. A supporter is an organization not eligible to apply for NAC accreditation, but which believes in and wishes to promote and/or participate in NAC's standards and accreditation program as a means to improving rehabilitative, educational services for blind and visually impaired persons. NAC supporters and all interested members of their organizations receive NAC's regular mailings, including the list of accredited members, the Annual Report, the Standard Bearer newsletter, and news items of interest. In addition, NAC sends special mailings from time to time concerning the revision and development of standards and other activities in which supporters may participate. Each supporter may send a representative to NAC's annual meeting, who will have the privilege of the floor without vote. The minimum annual membership dues for NAC supporters that are state, national, or international organizations remains $50.00. Application forms for membership as well as further information are available by contacting Pam Zion at NAC, 15 W. 65th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10023; (212) 496-5880. ***** ** "Vision: The Precious Treasure" Begins Twelve-City, Two-Year Tour Ever wonder how your eyes work, how a doctor examines your eyes, or what can be done to treat major eye problems? Answers are provided in a new participatory exhibition called "Vision: the Precious Treasure." Developed by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and sponsored by the Metropolitan Life Foundation, "Vision" began its twelve-city, two-year tour on Thursday, September 26, at the Museum of Science, Boston. Among the cities scheduled on the tour are Pittsburgh, Dallas, New Orleans, Midland (Michigan), Cleveland, Tampa, Detroit, Seattle, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia. This educational exhibition consists of four primary areas: how your eyes work; how eye-care professionals examine your eyes; what can be done to treat major eye problems, especially those related to aging; and how technology is helping those with poor vision to live fuller lives. The section on the aging eye explores some of the normal changes that occur as we grow older. Visitors can sit down to try to thread a needle while looking through a plexiglass panel treated to simulate the vision of an undiseased 70-year-old eye. They can also try on specially treated goggles that simulate two of the vision diseases most commonly associated with aging, glaucoma and cataract. More than half of all cataract patients now have permanent implants replacing their clouded lenses, and visitors can inspect a tiny intraocular lens up close. High tech aids for the visually impaired, ranging from a closed-circuit television magnifier to a talking clock, are also on display. In the video segment, an artist affected by retinal disease reads from her journal as we follow her to the hospital for laser treatments. Elizabeth Goldring, Center for Advanced Visual Studies at Massachusetts Institute for Technology, uses special video techniques to convey the experiences of losing her sight. Metropolitan Life Foundation, established in 1976 by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, has contributed over $30 million to support a variety of activities in the areas of health, education, civic affairs, and culture throughout the United States. The Association of Science-Technology Centers, founded in 1973, serves more than 160 member science and technology centers and children's museums in the United States, with approximately 35 million children and adults visiting these museums each year. Programs at member museums are designed to further the public understanding of science, and ASTC provides educational materials, research services, workshops, and traveling exhibits that emphasize visitor participation. ***** ** Pennsylvania Council's 50th Convention By John A. Horst, Second Vice President Pennsylvania Council of the Blind When you entered the Holiday Inn in Harrisburg for the 1985 convention of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind on Friday, September 27, you could feel the excitement. This was the 50th anniversary of the Pennsylvania affiliate. A challenging program had been planned, and this was election year for officers and board members. There was real competition among some of the candidates, and this heightened the interest and sense of expectancy. Those who had been in office for some time, along with their supporters, were apprehensive about change; others desired an open kind of leadership, with more decisions made by the Board of Directors. Even though Hurricane Gloria was drenching the eastern part of the Keystone State, 137 persons were registered for the convention. In addition to business meetings, the convention program included two lively panel discussions plus three outstanding speakers. At the Friday evening session, LeRoy Price, Chairman of the Committee on Public Education and Research (Legislation), conducted a leadership seminar. He called on representatives of each of PCB's 27 chapters to express their concerns and state how they felt the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind could be strengthened to fulfill its responsibilities. On Saturday afternoon, four active members - Sarita Williams, Eugene Barton, Jerry Berrier, and John Horst - discussed legislation, current concerns, and future focus. They stressed getting to know state and Federal legislators in one's home area; how to approach these legislators; coordination with other advocacy groups; believing in your own effectiveness as an advocate; and the need to always maintain a positive attitude. Since this was PCB's 50th year, we were honored by the presence of ACB Second Vice President, Durward K. McDaniel. He addressed the convention on three separate occasions, advising us on how to increase membership and how to build a more dynamic organization. Joseph A. Snyder, Commissioner of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, urged members to keep informed on blindness issues and provided an update on Federal and state concerns affecting blind people. Robert Garrett, advocate for the Pennsylvania Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (of which the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind is a member), described his work and urged the Pennsylvania Council to place an advocate who is blind to work with him at the state capital. At the banquet on Saturday evening, the newly formed Carl Shoemaker Chapter from Juniata County was given its charter. The many accomplishments of outgoing President Dr. Mae Davidow were recognized, and she was presented with a talking watch as a token of our appreciation and affection. Mr. McDaniel gave a stimulating address. Five resolutions were adopted by the convention, under the able leadership of Eugene Barton, Chairperson of the Resolutions Committee: 1. A handbook of resources for blind people in Pennsylvania will be developed. 2. A committee will be appointed to look into the feasibility and cost of placing an advocate in the state capital. 3. Public awareness materials will be prepared and made available. 4. A fund-raising committee will be appointed. 5. The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Newsletter will be published quarterly. Officers elected to serve during 1986-87 are: President, Julian Siewierski; First Vice President, LeRoy Price; Second Vice President, John A. Horst; Secretary, Anthony Evancic; Treasurer, Richard Arnold; Chaplain, Eugene Barton. Dr. Mae Davidow is Immediate Past President. On Sunday afternoon, as we bid friends old and new farewell, our hearts and minds were full of a new motivation and resolve. We accept the challenge to ensure a better and richer life for blind people in Pennsylvania, without discrimination. ***** ** Kentucky Council Convention Reflects Growth in ACB Over-All By Carla S. Franklin The growth and prominence of the American Council of the Blind is obvious to all. Larger and larger attendance at national conventions, increased visibility on Capitol Hill, participation in a broad array of coalitions — these are but some of the indicators of a successful, thriving organization of blind and visually impaired persons. But ACB is a grassroots organization. Excitement, dedication, and accomplishment do not flow from a few at the top down to the masses. Rather, ACB is composed of dozens of state and special-interest affiliates, each pursuing its own goals, working on projects of concern to its membership, and developing quality leadership for the American Council of the Blind of the future. State conventions throughout the nation reflect the increasing excitement and interest in ACB, and in Kentucky, where we just concluded our 1985 convention, participation in this annual event has doubled over the past two years. The 1985 convention of KCB got under way on Friday evening, October 4, with a meeting of the Braille Revival League of Kentucky. This was a significant event, as it marked the first time that a special-interest chapter in Kentucky had met in conjunction with the state convention. Paul Edwards (Jacksonville, FL), President of BRL, was on hand to discuss future goals of the organization, and Fred Gissoni of the Kentucky Department for the Blind, outlined the development of two new electronic braille devices, the Porta­Braille and the Pocket Braille. Both are small, light-weight, versatile, easy to use, and - perhaps best of all - will sell for prices far below those we have come to expect from current technology for the blind. Saturday morning was devoted to exhibits. These included a new low vision clinic in Louisville, Foley's Low Vision Aids (Vtek products), the State Library for the Blind, Kentucky Center for Independent Living (conventioners could purchase games, watches, canes, tape recorders, kitchen aids, etc.), Fred Gissoni (Porta­Braille and Pocket Braille), and Ethel Davis (a blind artist specializing in ceramic sculpture). The annual luncheon was extremely well attended, and Pat Price (Indianapolis, IN), member of the ACB Board of Directors, spoke concerning the contribution each of us can make as active members of local and state affiliates of the American Council. The luncheon was followed immediately by a seminar entitled "An Ounce of Prevention." Speakers included a general practitioner, representatives from the American Cancer Society and Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and a diabetes educator. After a break for relaxation and hospitality, the business meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Resolutions were adopted which expressed KCB support for: (1) funding for non-vocational services for the elderly blind; (2) further development and distribution of mobility aids such as audible signals and tactile tiles; and (3) the efforts of the American Council of the Blind as they relate to publication of Playboy in braille and the question of censorship of reading materials available to the blind and visually impaired. ***** ** Museum Training Internship for the Disabled During the period June-December 1986, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, will provide one internship for a disabled person seeking practical experience in museum work. Applicants must be graduating college seniors, recent graduates, or graduate students in art history or related fields. Applicants must demonstrate a serious commitment to a museum career either through previous employment or affiliation with an art museum, advanced degrees in art history, or other relevant experience. The internship is available in curatorial, education, and administrative departments. The intern will be appointed to a specific museum department to participate in a variety of departmental projects or may focus on a dissertation in progress which utilizes the resources of the museum. Internships cannot be given for projects involving exhibitions organized and installed during the internship period. It is assumed that all projects will pertain to general audiences rather than exclusively to disabled audiences. There are no application forms. A typed application should include the following information: name, home and present address, telephone number, disability; full resume of education and employment; official transcripts; two recommendations, preferably from museum professionals and art historians; an essay of not more than 1,000 words identifying the area of the museum in which to work and describing applicant's career plans and reasons for applying for the internship program. Application materials must be submitted by December 1, 1985, to: Museum Training Internship, Office of Academic Affairs, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5th Avenue and 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028. Final selection and notification will be made by February 28, 1986. ***** ** 1986 USABA Winter Sports National Championships Arthur M. Copeland, President of the United States Association for Blind Athletes, has announced that the 1986 USABA Winter Sports National Championships in Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and ice skating will take place in Reno, Nevada, and Truckee, California, during the period March 21-28, 1986. Athletes will be housed in Reno and transported each day by bus to nearby Truckee, where the Alpine (downhill) championships will be held at the Boreal Ski Area and the Nordic (cross-country) championships will be conducted at the Royal Gorge Nordic Ski Area. Speed skating competition, which will be presented for the first time as an official competitive event for blind athletes, will be conducted in the Reno area. Alpine competition will be conducted in the giant slalom and downhill events. Nordic competition will be conducted in the 5k and 10k races, with an optional 20k race available for those wishing to take part in it. Speed skating competition, for which the rules are now being finalized, will feature at least one race of a sprint distance and one race of a medium distance. Both of the ice skating races will be evaluated and used in formulating rules for expanded competition in the future. The 1986 USABA National Championships are to be conducted for the first time in conjunction with the 1986 National Nordic Skiing Championships of the United States Ski Association (USSA), the national governing body for amateur skiing by sighted and able-bodied athletes in the United States. The USABA Nordic championship races will be conducted pursuant to USABA rules by USSA officials and over the same courses used by the sighted racers. The 20k race will be open to all racers. Regarding the integration of blind with sighted athletes, USABA President Arthur Copeland said: "Our 1986 Winter National Championships will be the first time that large numbers of blind athletes have been integrated into a national championship event conducted by a national governing body. Our National Marathon Championship has been conducted as a part of the Boston Marathon and other nationally recognized marathon races in recent years, but that race has always involved a relatively small number of blind runners with their guides. We are optimistic that the 1986 championships in California will be so successful as to allow blind skiers to participate in USSA sanctioned races with sighted competitors if they wish to do so. Of course, the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes will continue to be the official sanctioning body for blind sports in this country as well as the source of most of the specialized coaching expertise needed in the development and training of blind athletes." Blind athletes from Canada are invited by the USABA to participate in the 1986 Winter National Champion­ships, as they were in 1985. Many of the athletes who take part in the 1986 event will be members of the United States disabled ski team which will represent this country in the 1986 World Winter Sports Championships for the Disabled, scheduled to take place in Sweden in mid-April. However, blind athletes who are not members of that team are encouraged to take part in the 1986 USABA Championships because efforts are under way to arrange international competition opportunities later in 1986 or 1987 for developing skiers who have not yet reached their full potential and perhaps have not yet competed in international competition. Applications for the 1986 USABA Winter Sports National Championships may be obtained by writing to: USABA Winter Sports Coordinator, 4708 46th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20016. Application deadline is February 28, 1986. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: Maryland Computer Services Total Talk II; modified Hewlett-Packard 2621A computer terminal, with Votrax speech output. Manual and accompanying literature intact. Like-new condition. Price negotiable. Call (406) 543-4950, evenings. * For Sale: Apollo Lasers, Inc., Model VM19 with camera, monitor, and stand. Paid $2600 and used for one week. Would be willing to sell for $1800 and pay shipping charges. Contact Jack or Janet Gittelman, 1408 Benbush, St. Louis, MO 63146; (314) 434-8897, or (314) 426-3434. * For Sale: Stenomask Dictation Silencer. Never used. Includes instruction book and tapes. $125.00. Tape classes, make reports without disturbing others. Contact Phyllis Fitzpatrick, 22 Adelle Drive, Dover, NH 03820; (603) 742-3028. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon Every week a group of blind people dressed in leotards and tights may be seen entering the Des Moines Ballet Institute, according to an article in the United Blind of Iowa Bulletin. They are participating in an experimental dance program developed by the Alvin Aylee Dance Company of New York City, and funded by Special Arts-Iowa, a program to encourage disabled people to take part in the arts. The lessons are essentially the same as those given in any beginning ballet class. The difference in teaching a blind person ballet involves the use of alternative methods to describe and teach the various steps and body positions. This has been a learning experience for both students and instructors. The experiment has proved that blind people can do ballet. From Hoosier Starlight (Indiana): A book entitled A Guide to Guide Dog Schools is being prepared by Edwin Eames, Professor of Anthropology, Baruch College, CUNY, Hannan Selwin, Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Stonybrook, and Charles W. Warnath, Professor of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis. This effort is being supported by the American Animal Hospital Association Foundation. The book will be patterned after the available Guide to Colleges for high-school students. The authors are presently soliciting comments from graduates of the various guide dog schools in the United States. Comments may be offered by contacting Professor Eames at the following address: Department of Anthropology, Bernard M. Baruch College, CUNY, 17 Lexington Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY 10010. From The Promoter (North Dakota Association of the Blind): Dr. David Scharp, a surgeon at George Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, has performed experimental transplants in diabetics that have temporarily restored insulin production. He believes that this approach may some day cure the disease. Researchers reported that they injected insulin-producing cells from deceased persons into the spleens of six diabetics. Three of them produced their own insulin for periods ranging from three weeks to three months. During the period when the transplanted tissue did its job, the patients were able to reduce their dependence on injected insulin from 50 to 90 percent. However, the transplants eventually stopped working. "This is a beginning," said Dr. Scharp. "Granted, it's not what people want to hear. They want to hear that everybody's been cured of diabetes. I'm confident that, with continued research, we can achieve that." From The Blind Californian (California Council of the Blind): Frances Mannino of Glendale, California, who has taught deaf-blind persons at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles for 27 years, was recently presented the Peter Salmon Award, the highest honor given by the American Association of the Deaf­Blind. *** The Metrix, a new talking quartz clock, is ideal for visually impaired persons. It is com pact and has an exceptionally loud speaking voice (male). It runs on three size N batteries, which last up to one and a half years. One of the most useful features is the ease with which the clock can be set. This talking clock actually confirms each step of the setting. Cost, $35.00. For more information, contact Metrix, 940 Poli Street, Ventura, CA 93001. From The Los Angeles Times: "When I was 6 years old, I made wine by slitting a hole in the lid of some grape juice and putting the bottle in the trunk of my parents' car," says 38-year-old Larry Parsons, who has been blind since birth. Now Parsons operates the Pepperwood Springs Winery in Mendocino County, California, where this year he will bottle 1,200 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all bearing labels with braille markings. His wine constantly wins medals, and he has sold out every vintage he's bottled thus far. "Wine-making is a sensorial activity," Parsons said. "I listen to barrels and tanks a lot. I smell things and taste things. I touch them, too. I don't think I need to see to do it right." (Many ACB affiliate newsletter editors can attest to the excellence of Mr. Parsons' wines, which he generously donated for the reception sponsored by the ACB Board of Publications at the Las Vegas convention. Those in attendance were disappointed, however, to learn that Pepperwood Springs wines can generally be bought only in northern California and cannot at this time be shipped out-of-state. If you're in the Bay Area, you might want to order Pepperwood Springs wines with dinner.) Expectations, the braille anthology of current children's literature published annually since 1948 by the Braille Institute Press, is now available free of charge to all English-speaking blind children in grades 3-6. This year's anthology includes a folk tale, a fairy tale, stories about animals, stories about families, several poems, and a new page of microfragrance labels. Schools, libraries, and organizations serving blind children who wish to receive this 37th volume of Expectations should write to: Jody Avery, Braille Institute, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. John J. Dragona will soon be introducing the Talking File Box, a resource guide for people wishing to write about blindness (and eventually other disabilities). The File Box will contain the names of disability-related publications, popular magazines which also accept this type of material from free-lancers, and a list of books devoted to writing, getting your work published, etc. For further information, send a cassette tape with return envelope to: John J. Dragona, 238 75th Street, North Bergen, NJ 07047, or call (201) 662-9956. Innavision is pleased to announce the availability of the all-new Money Organizer wallet. Not much bigger than a small folding checkbook, the Money Organizer was designed by a person with a sight loss to meet the needs of others with a similar problem. Made of a durable, lightweight, wheat-colored fabric outlined by a dark-brown binding, the wallet comes with convenient velcro closures. Its attractive, contrasting colors help people with limited vision to locate their wallet more easily. Features include: four separate compartments for $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills so that folding of paper money is unnecessary; an extra compartment to hold items such as a small slate, checkbook, signature guide, etc.; four separate change purses for pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters; a large, "toss-all" purse to hold unsorted change, keys, etc.; five separate slots for credit cards; an expandable loop to hold a pen or pencil stylus; and a penny for good luck. Cost, $25.00, including shipping and handling. Massachusetts residents, add $1.25 sales tax. Only prepaid orders will be accepted. Send check or money order to Innavision, 14 White Pine Knoll Road, Wayland, MA 01772; (617) 235-2606. From The Missouri Chronicle (Missouri Council of the Blind): After receiving a $2,045 grant from the Union Electric Company, the St. Charles Council of the Blind, a chapter of the Missouri Council of the Blind, has produced the utility's educational materials on energy conservation and weatherization in formats usable by the print handicapped - in large-print, braille, and cassette tape. Along with the information, the Council is distributing tubes of "Hi-Marks," so that the visually impaired can mark thermostats, ovens, and other appliances with appropriate settings. Thus far, the program has served about 40 visually impaired persons. From AFB News (American Foundation for the Blind): Studies presented at two national scientific conferences show that childhood eye injuries are a common cause of vision loss, with 55% of injuries occurring before age 25. The studies, prepared by the Vision Statistics Department, National Society to Prevent Blindness, are based upon information collected on 87,002 children and adults. Results showed an over-all injury rate of 84 per 10,000, meaning that one out of every 119 children will suffer some kind of eye injury requiring hospital treatment. The leading causes of eye injury were found to be foreign bodies in the eye, being struck by or against an object, and sports injuries. Columbia University Press has recently published The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia in Large­Print, the only current encyclopedia in large-print that contains every entry contained in the original edition. The large-print edition is set in 18-point type, is printed on opaque, glare-free, off-white paper, and contains extra-large maps, charts, and illustrations. The eight-volume set costs $275.00. For further information, write Columbia University Press, 136 S. Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533. Associated Press: The South African Government has returned blind singer Stevie Wonder to the airwaves, thus lifting a ban on his music after the pop superstar dedicated his Oscar to imprisoned anti-Apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, leader of the South African National Congress. Mandela is serving a life term for a 1964 conviction for planning sabotage. After a popular radio station played a Wonder tune recently, a spokesman for the South African Broadcasting Corporation said that although the SABC objects to "blatant politization of music," the six­month boycott had made its point. The 1985-86 catalog of the National Society to Prevent Blindness is now available by writing the Association at 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. More than 70 publications are listed, along with two home eye tests for pre-schoolers and adults, as well as films, audio­visuals, charts, and posters. Among the audio-visual materials are two new productions: "Eye Safety on the Farm," which examines the many potential eye hazards facing the farmer, and "Vision: A Treasure to Guard," which dramatically depicts four incidents of off-the-job eye injuries where potential risks were ignored. ***** ** 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. December 13-15, 1985 - National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped - Annual Board and Membership Meetings - Little Rock, AR January 24-26, 1986 - Bay State Council of the Blind State Convention - Boston, MA May 4-6, 1986 - Louisiana Council of the Blind State Convention - Baton Rouge ***** ** 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: LeRoy Saunders Box 24020 Oklahoma City, OK 73124 * Contributing Editor Elizabeth Lennon 1315 Greenwood Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 ###