The Braille Forum Vol. XXIV February 1986 No. 8 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor ***** Promoting Independence and Effective Participation in Society * 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 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large-type, and cassette tape (15/16 ips). 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 Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or 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 wish to contact the ACB National Office. For the latest legislative and governmental news, call the Washington Connection. Toll-free: Daily, 5:30 P.M. to midnight Eastern time -- 1-800-424-8666 Washington, D.C., metropolitan area: 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 A.M. Eastern time, weekdays and all day weekends and holidays � 393-3664. Copyright 1986 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents President's Message, by Grant Mack Important Announcement from the ACB National Office The Education of the Blind in China, by Winifred Downing News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller All Aboard for Knoxville! -- ACB Convention 1986 Balanced Budget and Deficit Control Measure Becomes Law, by Lynn Abbott ACB Radio Amateurs -- An Affiliate on the Move, by John McCann Adventures in the Northwoods, by Laura Oftedahl The Sheltered Workshop Minimum Wage Issue Revisited, by Charles Hodge Health Clubs -- They're Well Worth the Effort, by Ann Brash Letters to the ACB National Office Highbrook Lodge Camp Offers Innovative 58th-Season Program AFB Opens Technology Center High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack The beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Knoxville took on the appearance of a mini-ACB convention the weekend of January 17-19. Approximately 75 to 100 ACBers met during that time in very important board meetings. Historically, several special-interest affiliate boards meet concurrently with the ACB Board of Directors. This year, the officers of VISTA, RSVA, CCLV, ACB Parents, and the Host Committee of the Tennessee Council of the Blind were present. Familiar voices in halls, restaurants, and lobby brought on a slight case of convention fever. A few of the hotel staff who were employed in 1973 when the American Council of the Blind last held its national convention there commented that they could hardly wait until July. "We still remember what a great convention and what an interesting group it was," said one staff person. The serious business of these meetings precluded very much "fun and games." However, thanks to the hospitality of Linda and Otis Stephens, the entire ACB Board enjoyed a delicious meal amid an entertaining and relaxing evening on Saturday night. The primary purpose of the mid�year Board meeting is to establish a budget. This is never an easy task, especially for non-profit organizations such as ACB, who never know exactly what their income will be. This unpredictability has caused problems in the past and will likely plague us in the future. It has become quite clear, however, that a more conservative approach to anticipated income must be made and steps must be taken to broaden the base of ACB's income. Your Board responded to both those challenges. They agonized over many decisions. They did vote to cut expenses as far as possible and still maintain services. The Braille Forum will now have ten issues per year. Also, there will be some adjustments in the use of the WATS line. The National Office will make these transitions in a very smooth and orderly mariner, and you will be informed about those changes. In order to further cut expenses, your Board has agreed to forego their own reimbursement for travel and hotel expenses at the national convention and the September Board meeting. This demonstrates a sense of dedication which should not go unnoticed. In addition to developing a raw- bones and balanced budget, the Board approved the appointment of a full�time person whose title will be Development Director. The primary responsibility of this person is to look for and develop new sources of income. This person is to be our own Roberta Douglas. Her responsibilities as office manager will gradually be transferred to another staff person, Stephanie Cooper. Through careful planning and organization, we do not anticipate any measurable decrease in services from the National Office. The end result of these tough decisions is a balanced budget which includes set-asides for debt retirement. Look to a future issue of The Braille Forum for a complete report on the meeting. The future of the American Council of the Blind has never looked brighter. We will continue to grow in numbers and influence and will be in an even better position to serve the blind and visually impaired people of this country in the future. ***** ** Important Announcement from the ACB National Office The new hours during which the ACB National Office may be called on the toll-free WATS line are from 1:30 to 5:30 P.M. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. The new hours during which the Washington Connection may be called on the toll-free WATS line are from 5:30 P.M. to midnight Eastern time, daily. The above changes have been made for budgetary reasons, and these hours will be extended as soon as improved conditions permit. Anyone living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area may contact the Washington Connection by calling 393-3664 between 5:30 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. eastern time, on weekdays and any time on weekends. ***** ** The Education of the Blind in China By Winifred Downing (An article to be considered for the Ned E. Freeman Award for Writing Excellence) (Note: Winifred Downing is a long-time instructor with the Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, Illinois, and a member of the California Council of the Blind. "I asked CCB President Bob Acosta what he thought of my going with this group," she writes, "and whether he knew of any assistance that I might seek from a group that would be interested in seeing a blind person be a part of the group. He encouraged me and also said CCB would make a contribution toward the effort.") Though it was nine o'clock on a hot summer evening, the streets were crowded with buses, trucks, and cabs (no private cars). Along each side of the street, bike lanes were cordoned off, and hundreds of cyclists, rushed by, many carrying a second rider or pulling some sort of cart laden with melons, vegetables, or nondescript bundles. It was impossible to see more because street lights were few and, by our standards, dim � their effectiveness lessened by the rows of shade trees which, we were to learn, are typical of the area. We were in Shanghai, China, after just completing a 14-hour, non-stop flight from San Francisco. Ours was the first group of special educators in the field of the visually impaired ever to visit mainland China, and we were beginning a three-week experience that none of us will ever forget. Since we were the guests of the Department of Education, we had been whisked through the airport on our arrival in the area reserved for diplomats and had been quickly escorted to an air-conditioned bus most welcome in the 90-degree heat) to go to what we were told was a new hotel. New it may have been, but it was only very basic in the accommodations it offered. It presented an immediate challenge because the closet clothes bar was six feet off the ground to provide for the storage of linen underneath. The stool which proudly held the roll of toilet tissue in the bathroom (a sophistication afforded only by hotels serving westerners) provided a way of reaching the bar. Another curious feature of that hotel was that the towels bore the words "J.C. Penney." Wouldn't it be fascinating to learn of the intricacies of trade that had brought Penney's towels to Shanghai � the only incident of this sort of thing that we encountered in our stay. Future hotels were to prove both better and worse than this first one � from some with roach motels and leaks in the ceiling to others with silk rugs in the elevators, silk bedspreads, and maids to turn down the beds at night and furnish fresh towels. It was, however, our interest in education that was our primary concern. In each province we talked with the officers in the Department of Education and we visited such places as teaching facilities for normal pre�school children, the pre-schools themselves, the normal college at Nanjing, and, most interesting of all, four of the country's schools for the blind. These visits followed a pattern beginning with the wonderfully hospitable practice of having the principal and teachers at the bus stop to welcome us on our arrival. At tables with tea to drink, we learned the history of the school, asked and answered questions, and presented the gifts which we brought to share � items that might assist in the education of the children. (My particular contributions were course catalogs from the Hadley School for the Blind and devices used for infant stimulation.) The interpreters were kept frantically busy explaining the purpose of the equipment and conducting the enthusiastic exchanges that always occurred at this time. The schools exhibited many of the advantages that United States residential schools offered sixty years ago. Music was stressed, and we always heard a fine concert done by students, sometimes enhanced by performances of alumnae. Some of the instruments were familiar, like accordions and harmonicas, but others had been previously unknown to us -- flute-like wind instruments, something like a harp, with sets of strings struck with hammers held in the hand, and an instrument with a keyboard and a mouthpiece. The performers were marvelously versatile in their offerings � everything from traditional Chinese songs about the moon, waterfalls, and the seasons to exultant renditions of "Jingle Bells," "Home on the Range," and "Do, Re, Mi" � though we doubted that the clever double meanings of those words were understood by the singers. Besides music, children learned crafts -- knitting, ceramics, and paper work; some daily living tasks such as laundering their clothes; and ordinary academic skills. Braille books and slates and styluses were prominent, but we saw not one braille writer in the whole of China. There were models of places of national interest like Tienanmen Square, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, and the Great Wall, and a fine wooden jigsaw puzzle map showing the provinces of China. (I picked out one and asked its name and was told it was Taiwan!) An important aspect of the children's education was physical fitness, accomplished with calisthenics and nothing more sophisticated than a jump rope. One youngster was jumping from a rope turned by two other students, but was also holding a rope in her own hands which she jumped simultaneously. It is to this emphasis on physical exercise that the teachers attribute the fact that the children exhibit none of the "blindisms" so common in children trained here -- none of the rocking, twisting, eye poking, and head-hanging. The teachers were obviously proud of the children when we commented on their physical behavior. Along with the pluses, though, there were many disadvantages. There was no pre-school training, no parent education, no integration with sighted children, and little analysis of the ways in which training should be modified to accommodate differences in visual acuity. There were no low�vision aids or large-print books, and only very occasionally did we see a child even fitted with glasses. Though we were told that children were tested often, we saw little to indicate any understanding of eye conditions or how they should be handled. When asked, principals could furnish little information about the causes of blindness among the children, other than vague references to congenital conditions and reactions to medicines. We had to suspect, too, that the number of children being educated is but a tiny fragment of the total needing such attention. In San Francisco, for example, 120 blind and visually impaired children have been identified in a population of three-quarters of a million persons, whereas in Shanghai, with 11 million people, there are but 132 children at the school for the blind. Other schools and cities, let alone the provinces of which they are a part, represented similar inequities. The area of unmet educational needs that was most immediately obvious to us concerned the lack of mobility training. The children moved about on their own, but were not taught to use a cane at school or in the outside world. Teachers did not practice the techniques for leading blind persons that we take for granted, pushing the children ahead rather than having them follow the movement of an arm or hand. Feeling that we could make an immediate contribution in this area, Mike Moody, one of the mobility instructors, and I, the only blind person in the group, began, at the second school we visited, to demonstrate how to lead a blind person and show him/her to a chair, and the long�cane movements that are the basis of mobility instruction in western countries. It was marvelous to watch the teachers being led, leading each other, and learning the sweeping cane movements. Their willingness and enthusiasm were so great that each visit ended sooner than anyone wanted it to. More than enthusiasm, though, will be necessary to begin seriously addressing the problem of independent travel for the blind in China. Within the last year, the government issued the first widely available canes � heavy folding instruments with loose joints, a blunt tip to catch in the endless irregularities of the street surfaces, and a single size for all persons regardless of height. Along with better cane design, it will be necessary to have imaginative and innovative teachers to show blind pedestrians how to move safely down the incredibly crowded streets with their unpredictable conglomeration of stalls, carts, bikes, eating arrangements, construction sites, and so on. It probably is not realistic to expect that a blind person can be taught to go anywhere he or she wishes in most of the major cities (Beijing is an exception), but certainly specific routes to places of necessity and interest can be developed. I traveled experimentally down a Nanjing street and found that the people were immediately aware of my problem and that I could navigate safely, though I had to concentrate very closely on the task. Along with increased attention to mobility, additional concern for vocational needs is necessary. Like children educated in the United States sixty years ago, blind children in China face a dim vocational future. A two-year program to prepare "doctors of massage" and some training for limited factory positions are the only job-related skills taught. No blind persons are permitted to attend college or universities because the government chooses, for the comparatively few opportunities there are in higher education, individuals who are perceived as rendering a satisfactory return to the country -- something not yet deemed possible for a blind citizen. While recognizing these discouraging conditions, we had a great feeling of hope. All the people involved with the education of the children cared deeply about what they were doing and wanted desperately to do more. The officers in the cities and provinces were growing in their awareness, too, and new construction at the schools was occurring. Most encouraging of all was the projected opening this fall of the first college for the training of special education teachers -- this one in Nanjing, where forty instructors will be prepared to serve the visually impaired. It is not easy for a country with limited financial resources and a reservoir of intellectuals sadly wanting because of the excesses of the Cultural Revolution to find the money, knowledge, and personnel to address this huge problem; and we all found ourselves looking for ways we might be able to help. The Hadley School for the Blind has already exerted a positive influence in the opportunities the School has been able to provide for the occasional student whose knowledge of English is sufficient to take our courses. I visited all four of our students, two in Nanjing and two in Beijing. In Nanjing, three of us had the fascinating experience of going to the home of Chang Tan-Chang, being conveyed there by a cab which had a hard time fitting down the narrow streets leading to the lane where his house was located. I had the address, which Chang had written in Chinese for me; and since there are no telephones in most private residences, we had agreed that I would come some�time between July 6 and July 8. I believe we were the first Caucasians ever to have been on that street, for the people assembled in completely silent crowds to watch us. Chang and his "adopted daughter Helen" came rushing down the lane to meet us, calling, "Oh, my teacher is here! My teacher from America is here!" Chang's home was more spacious and better equipped than were the crowded, sparsely furnished dwellings we had seen as we traveled about. He had a living room with a table, chairs, and, marvelously, an electric fan. The kitchen had a gas stove which we all had to visit, and an agitator type washer of some sort. The bedroom had a bed, radio, and tape recorder, and Chang reported that he kept the house and cared for all his personal needs himself. He was most hospitable to us, presenting each of us with a half of a watermelon "of excellent quality." We had already become aware that what is regarded as necessary table behavior in one country is not so regarded in another; and just as it is considered an evident flattery of the cuisine to belch loudly in Tibet, so it is thought completely acceptable to slurp watermelon juice in China, sifting out the seeds between the teeth so that all the liquid can be extracted. We formal Americans tussled manfully with our spoons, wishing we had the Chinese approach. Along with the melon came tea in pretty covered cups. fascinating conversation, and an exchange of gifts. It was a wonderful visit! Ren Wang, one of our Beijing students, is a young man with such an excellent knowledge of English that he acted as the interpreter for our visiting group of 18 teachers and for all his former instructors at the Beijing School for the Blind. During the day's visit, he gave me his address, written in Chinese on a paper which also contained some braille; and that evening four of us started out, again in a cab, to visit his home. Imagine our surprise when the driver, seeking directions, showed the address to an American black man who immediately recognized the braille and directed us to Ren's house. The young man, Derrick Warren of Portland, Oregon, taught at the same university as Ren's father did and knew our student well because he audited university classes, though not permitted to register as a student. Ren's family occupied an apartment on the third floor of a building, with furnishings and equipment quite western by comparison with that we had seen. Their hospitality was immediate and lasting, as his mother and cousin served us Coca-Cola with ice, dates, and other delicacies which we feared must have cost the salary of many days. We were immediately attracted by Ren because of his unusual ability, fine appearance, and genuine enthusiasm. It is our great hope that we can find a way to give him an opportunity to study in the United States so that he can become a role model in China for what blind persons can achieve. Loo Tsuling in Nanjing and Huang Jiani in Beijing came to my hotel for conversation, each with an interpreter to help because their written and read English is superior to their spoken and understood language. Loo Tsuling is a violinist eagerly searching for more braille music for his instrument, and Huang Jiani has just completed formulation of a code to express in Chinese braille scientific and mathematical information. Hadley is justly proud of our four Chinese students, who will undoubtedly have a share in extending the opportunities for the blind in their country. May our school continue to have a role in advancing the cause for the visually impaired of the one-quarter of the world's population living in the People's Republic of China! ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Who ever said that nothing happens in December because everyone is involved in planning for the holidays? Well, this just isn't true � at least not in the ACB National Office! The blockbuster event which kicked off December was the filing of the suit against the Librarian of Congress in an effort to reverse the decision to terminate publication of the braille edition of Playboy magazine (reported previously in The Braille Forum and on the Washington Connection). The suit attracted enormous media interest in view of the obvious nature of the Congressional action as censorship based on content of a specific magazine. Playboy is one of the seven most popular of the 36 magazines produced by the Library of Congress. In addition to the dozens of reporters and media representatives who attended the press conference, we were subsequently contacted by several dozen more from throughout the country. During the weeks following filing of the suit, ACB staff members took part in telephone interviews on call-in talk shows on radio stations in major cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Fresno, and Los Angeles. I remind all readers to check The Braille Forum and the Washington Connection (telephone 1-800-424-8666) to stay abreast of legal or legislative developments in this case. In the last year or so, a modest amount of media attention has been given to difficulties and alleged difficulties encountered by blind travelers on airplanes. Although every blind person who travels much has almost certainly experienced difficulties or frustrations at one time or another, it is the view of the American Council of the Blind (as stated in a recent national convention resolution) that much of the media attention is unwarranted and that the best way to remedy the problems is to educate the airlines. During December, it was my pleasure to grant a lengthy interview to the publisher of "NINNESCAH," a magazine which is distributed widely throughout the airlines industry. The purpose of this interview was to obtain the views of a spokesperson from the American Council of the Blind and to compare those views with those expressed in an earlier interview with a spokesperson for the National Federation of the Blind. The interview is to be published in the near future. Hopefully it will clarify some of the confusion created on the exit-row seating, safety, and related issues. Kudos to Dr. Pat Morrissey, the new Deputy Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, for inviting representatives of a wide range of organizations of and for the blind to meet with her rather informally to express their major concerns and objectives. The American Council of the Blind was represented by Lynn Abbott, Legal Assistant, and by me as National Representative. One of the concerns which we expressed was that the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Department of Education generally should take a far more assertive leadership stance in administering and protecting from attack the various statutory programs for which that department is responsible (such as the Randolph-Sheppard program). Another success for ACB as an advocate! During December, we continued and increased our opposition to the proposed recommendation by the National Council on the Handicapped that Congress delete Section 7(c) of the Rehabilitation Act, which provides for services for elderly blind clients. ACB's opposition to the proposed recommendation emphasized that the cause of disabled people generally would not benefit from efforts by some disabled people to repeal programs set up to meet the special or specific needs of a group (such as the elderly blind) who have traditionally been underserved. I am pleased to report that the Vice Chairman of the council informed us before Christmas that following further discussion of our views, a majority of the members of the Council had decided to delete the recommendation. The next issue of The Braille Forum will contain more information regarding the report of the National Council on the Handicapped to Congress. In case you could not reach the Washington Connection for a few days around Christmas, this resulted from the fact that burglars stole the Washington Connection answering machines and several other pieces of electronic equipment (tape recorders, a computer modem, radios, clocks, etc.). The Washington Connection service was restored to national callers a few days later, and since then, service has been restored to local callers. We thank the individuals and affiliates who assisted us in our efforts to restore these and other services so promptly. ***** ** All Aboard for Knoxville! ACB Convention 1986 You've heard the summons of the whistle in the distance. Now you hear the wheels turning -- the sound growing ever louder as plans expand. Soon June will be here and the call will be heard all across the country: "All aboard for Knoxville! All aboard for the 1986 ACB convention!" Get on board the Convention Express and experience over a week of entertainment, information, enjoyment ... Bring your family and turn this ACB convention into the vacation of a lifetime. It's all there waiting for you. A wide variety of tours and entertainment is being planned for you. On Saturday, June 28, you will have the opportunity to visit Lookout Mountain and eat lunch at the famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo. This will be an all-day tour, departing at 9:00 A.M. and offering many interesting activities to keep you busy until you return at 7:00 that evening. There will be two tours to the Cherokee Reservation at Cherokee, North Carolina. One will expose you to the Indian culture, with visits to the museum and other points of interest. The other will consist of attendance at an outstanding outdoor pageant, "Unto These Hills," which depicts the movement of the Chero�kee Nation over the Trail of Tears. Both will also include a meal at the Teepee Restaurant. Do you want to learn more about mountain history? or about science and nuclear energy? or about Appalachian crafts? Don't miss tours to the Appalachian Museum, the National Museum of Science and Energy at Oak Ridge, or one of the Gatlinburg shuttles. And then there's Opryland! Leave Knoxville after the close of the ACB convention on July 5. Ride to Music City via comfortable Greyhound type bus, and arrive at one of America's most famous theme parks in the early evening. Attend a performance of the Grand Ol' Opry and cap off your evening with some free time to visit Nashville's outstanding night spots. On Sunday, go back to Opryland for more fun; then leave on the return trip to Knoxville in late afternoon. But, you say, will there be entertainment at the hotel? The answer is unequivocally YES! Come to the Hyatt on Saturday, June 28. Wear your jeans -- or, better yet, your overalls -- and be right in style at the Tennessee Hoedown. On Sunday evening, the host committee again invites you to the Hyatt for a gigantic birthday party. The American Council of the Blind is 25 years old and you'll want to celebrate in style. As usual, the special-interest organizations are planning a myriad of activities for everyone. There are the old standbys -- traditional events like the CCLV wine and cheese party, the RSVA dance, the FIA Performing Arts Showcase; there are luncheons and banquets galore, receptions and mixers, and even a watermelon party. And that's not all. This year for the first time there will be a whole series of activities planned for the children of convention attendees. Movies, swimming parties, outdoor games and contests are just a few of the kinds of special programs for children and teens. There are even some outings planned with the under-18's in mind. And of course we can't forget about the spouses who might not be active participants in ACB. Many of the tours and other programs will be of interest to sighted as well as blind and visually impaired persons. Now is the time to make your hotel reservations for the 1986 ACB convention, to be held from June 28 through July 5. The Knoxville Hyatt (the headquarters hotel) is already half filled, and more reservations are coming in every day. The convention will be housed at three hotels -- the Knoxville Hyatt, the Hilton, and the Holiday Inn World's Fair. All three are ultra�modern, ultra-convenient. Room rates at all hotels are $32.00 per day singles, doubles, triples, quads. Reservations are preferred in writing and should be made with the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 15012, Knoxville, TN 37901; (615) 523-7263. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS DIRECTLY WITH ANY HOTEL. It is imperative that this request be strictly followed so as to ensure that overbooking of a hotel does not occur. Knoxville is served by both Greyhound and Trailways buses. Or come by air, via Delta, Eastern, United, USAir, Piedmont, and Republic, as well as by several commuter airlines. More details coming next month! But don't wait. Make your plans now to be in Knoxville this summer. Don't let the Convention Express leave without you. If you have comments, suggestions, or questions concerning the upcoming 1986 ACB conventions, address them to one of the following: Helen Wild, Chairperson 1986 ACB Convention Committee P.O. Box 4151 Chattanooga, TN 37405 (615) 267-2287 Carla Franklin ACB Convention Coordinator 148 N. Vernon Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 897-1472 John Horst Assistant ACB Convention Coordinator 96 N. Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (717) 826-2364 ***** ** Balanced Budget and Deficit Control Measure Becomes Law By Lynn Abbott, Legal Assistant By now, most people have heard about Senators Gramm, Rudman, and Hollings and their balanced budget proposal which was signed into law on December 12, 1985. The problem, however, is that most people don't know now the Gramm�Rudman-Hollings measure will work and how it will affect them. "Gramm-Rudman," more formally known as the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, represents Congress's attempt to solve the country's deficit problem. The plan, in a nutshell, is to reduce the national deficit to zero over a five-year period by a set amount each year. Gramm-Rudman does not replace the current budget process. In fact, if Congress and the White House can agree on a budget that would meet the requirements of the Act, the "automatic knife" prov1s1on of Gramm-Rudman will not go into effect. The "automatic knife" provision, also termed "sequestration," requires the President to cut monies without regard to priorities from a broad range of Federal programs. Some programs under the Act are exempt from the automatic adjustments. As noted above, however, the "automatic knife" provision (and programs exempted from those cuts) only applies when the President and Congress cannot agree on a budget which reduces the deficit by a set amount each year. The programs specifically exempted from the sequester cuts are: Social Security, Food Stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Child Nutrition, Women and Infant Care, Veterans Compensation and Benefits, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credit, and interest on the Federal debt. Other programs fall into a "special" category: Medicare, Veterans Health, Indian Health, Community Health, and Migrant Health. The programs in this category may be cut no more than 1% in F.Y. 1986 and 2% thereafter. These programs, though, receive no protection under the ordinary budget process. As far as the unprotected programs are concerned, half of the cuts will come from defense programs and the other 50% will be from non-defense programs. At this point in time, there are still many unanswered questions. In fact, the constitutionality of the law has already been called into question by Congressman Mike Synar (D., OK), who filed a lawsuit in December 1985 to resolve the issue. If Gramm-Rudman's provisions are determined to be constitutional, the American Council of the Blind will closely monitor Congressional action to ensure that programs for the blind and visually impaired are not unduly burdened. ***** ** ACB Radio Amateurs An Affiliate on the Move By John McCann, KW4U As I sit in front of my fireplace, the midwinter winds buffeting my windows and doors (not to mention my rather meager antenna farm), my mind wanders back to an infinitely warmer time and place; specifically, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 1985. I remember emerging from the airport terminal, waiting for the hotel shuttle van and wondering how long it would take before my hand-held transceiver began melting in my hand like the Wicked Witch of the West. I remember the growing sense of anticipation and excitement I felt as I listened to other newly arriving amateurs checking in on the convention's simplex frequency. I remember with great appreciation the dedicated efforts of those amateurs who attended convention functions to solicit new members for our affiliate, their cassette recorders and receipt books in hand. I remember the long hours spent in preparing the charter petition and associated documents for submission to the ACB Board of Directors. Above all, however, I remember the opening of the 24th national convention of the American Council of the Blind, where ACB Radio Amateurs, then sporting exactly 100 members, was seated as the newest ACB special�interest affiliate. Since the convention, ACB Radio Amateurs has become ACB Radio Amateurs, Inc., a non-profit District of Columbia corporation. Our bank account has been established and our tax-exempt 501(c)3 application is ready for filing. Fourteen new members have joined our ranks, and several membership inquiries still await my response. As 1986 gets under way, it is important that we begin directing our energies to those projects which will sustain the momentum of our earlier activities and increase visibility of our affiliate. I believe that the upcoming silver anniversary ACB convention in Knoxville will provide us with an excellent opportunity to meet this objective, while providing a valuable service to the national organization. The convention will be housed in three hotels. Without in any manner intending to disparage the capabilities of blind persons or the competence of the convention staff, it would appear that the logistical difficulties in this arrangement could be greatly alleviated by a cadre of well-trained radio amateurs providing appropriate public service communications between designated locations. It might also be desirable to have radio amateurs riding in the hotel shuttle vans. All communications would, of course, need to be in strict compliance with the prohibition against business communications on amateur frequencies. However, there is a great deal of permissible "public welfare" traffic which could be handled by amateurs. While this proposed project does represent a formidable undertaking, I am confident that we can meet the challenge, and I hope that as many of you as possible, particularly those with technical public service communications experience, will take this opportunity to use your skills for the benefit of the American Council of the Blind. I would welcome any advice or suggestions regarding this project and/or suggestions for other projects which might be considered. Please write to me, John McCann, at 2025 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 405, Washington, DC 20006. ***** ** Adventures in the Northwoods By Laura Oftedahl Looking for something new and exciting to do this summer? Are you an outdoors person who enjoys healthful and energizing activities like canoeing, tandem cycling, hiking and camping? The North Country Regional Sports for Health adventure programs are designed to satisfy these interests. Blind and sighted people interact on a one-to-one basis making it possible to progress at one's own pace. Sighted participants are experienced in the specific recreational activities. The emphasis is placed on doing activities "with" blind people rather than "for" blind people. Visually impaired and blind persons, no matter what their sports skill level, are invited to reach out and learn these new outdoor recreational skills, to develop lifetime leisure sports, to discover true potentials, and to have fun. Three programs are planned for July and August of 1986. Visually impaired and blind people of all ages, with limited or no outdoor recreational experience, will find these of particular interest. The only prerequisites are that you be motivated to learn, in good health and good physical condition, and that you want to share and have fun. * Sports for Health Week -- July 6-13 Spend an entire week recreating in the Northwoods environment of Bemidji State University. Enjoy sailing and water skiing on Lake Bemidji, canoeing on gentle and remote regions of the Mississippi River, tandem cycling on the scenic Heartland bike trail, and hiking/camping in the peaceful, pine-scented Hobson Forest. Lodging will be in modern housing on Lake Bemidji, and meals will be served in the University cafeteria. Cost for the week-long program is $155.00 for double occupancy; $169.00 for single occupancy. * Boundary Waters/Quetico Canoeing Adventure -- July 18-27 In the spirit of the French voyageurs who traveled these waters some 200 years ago, you, too, will travel the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park waterways for eight days. You can expect to paddle about ten miles per day. There will be plenty of time for leisurely canoeing, fishing, and swimming. The first day will be spent practicing canoeing skills and safety procedures. July 18 and 27 will be travel days to and from home. Cost of the trip is $135.00. * Northern Wisconsin Tandem Bike Tour -- August 3-10 Travel by van to Door County Peninsula and begin a fantastic journey exploring boat- and ship�building communities, fishing towns, shores of Lake Michigan, and the rural countryside of woodlands and wetlands. Bike a leisurely 30 to 45 miles per day and camp out under the stars. A sag wagon (support vehicle) will accompany you and transport your camping gear. This is an ideal trip for novice and seasoned cyclists alike. Cost of the trip is $150.00. All trip costs include lodging, meals, use of equipment, transportation from Bemidji to trailhead, and instruction. Scholarships may be available for sighted and blind participants. Sighted instructors/guides who are familiar with the specific activity skills are needed. Persons need not have experience working with blind and visually impaired people, as a thorough pre-trip orientation and training session is conducted for all participants. Although these adventure programs are not intended to be particularly strenuous, there will be times when the activities will be challenging and perhaps difficult. However, with the program support system, appropriate breaks, and team effort, these adventures provide the basis for accomplishment and success. All North Country Sports for Health programs take special care to arrange logistics and offer quality instruction to ensure safe experiences. Space is limited on these trips. For reservations and information, contact: Mary Schutz, Outdoor Program Center, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN 56601; (218) 755-3760. These unique programs for blind and sighted persons are co-sponsored by the Outdoor Program at Bemidji State University and Ski for Light, Inc. ***** ** The Sheltered Workshop Minimum Wage Issue Revisited By Charles Hodge At the 1985 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Las Vegas, a resolution was introduced which, if adopted, would have put A CB on record as endorsing the payment of the full 100% statutory minimum wage in industry and in regular production programs of sheltered workshops to blind workers whose sole disabling condition is blindness. Other handicapped workers and blind workers possessing additional work-related disabilities, who work either in industry or in the regular production programs of sheltered workshops, could be paid below the minimum wage, but only under Individual Rate Certificates issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. Such certificates would have a floor level of at least 75% of the statutory minimum wage. The resolution, however, was tabled. In tabling, the feeling was expressed that the resolution was too long and convoluted to be clearly understood, and that it should be reproduced and explained in The Braille Forum. This article is my attempt to honor that suggestion. For reference purposes, therefore, Membership Resolution 85-08 is reprinted here in full. * Resolution 85-08 WHEREAS, American Council of the Blind Membership Resolution 79-06 provides that handicapped production workers employed in industry and in sheltered workshops should be employed under Individual Rate Certificates issued by the Department of Labor, having a wage floor guarantee of not less than 75% of the statutory minimum wage; and WHEREAS, recent evidence provided by National Industries for the Blind confirms that the vast majority of blind production workers employed in sheltered workshops earn at or above 75% of the statutory minimum wage, and that many workers earn the full statutory minimum wage or above; and WHEREAS, the intent behind the enactment of the subminimum wage provisions of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, was to both further employment opportunities for handicapped workers and to curtail loss of employment by such individuals due to their inability to produce at the full statutory minimum wage level; and WHEREAS, the American Council of the Blind has long worked to improve the economic condition of blind and visually impaired persons and has supported the concept of subminimum wages, recognizing that some handicapped workers, including blind workers, having one or more additional handicaps, may be so limited by their disabilities as to be unable to produce at the full statutory minimum wage level; and WHEREAS, but for the existence of the subminimum wage provisions of Section 14(c), such individuals would not be employed, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled on this 12th day of July, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nevada, that this organization recommends: 1) That blind production workers having no additional work-related handicaps, and who are employed in industry or in sheltered workshops, should be paid in accordance with their productivity, but in no event less than 100% of the statutory minimum wage; and 2) That other handicapped workers, including blind workers having one or more additional work-related handicaps, employed under an Individual Rate Certificate issued by the Department of Labor, upon a clear showing by the employer that the handicapped worker, or the blind worker having one or more additional work�related handicaps, is not sufficiently productive to be retained without the payment of a subminimum wage; and 3) That the wage floor guarantee for Individual Rate Certificates should be 75% of the statutory minimum wage, in order to ensure that handicapped workers and blind workers having one or more additional work-related handicaps will receive a subsistence level of income; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the Department of Labor, in consultation with the American Council of the Blind and the National Industries for the Blind, to develop meaningful criteria, including administrative and judicial review, to certify the existence of a work�related handicap, including behavioral and physical disabilities, which would prevent a blind worker from producing at the 100% statutory minimum wage level; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution applies only to workers employed in industry and in the regular production programs of sheltered workshops, and that this resolution does not apply to workers employed in work activity centers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that American Council of the Blind Membership Resolution 79-06 is hereby revoked, and that the officers, directors, and staff of this organization are hereby directed to work toward the enactment into law of the recommendations contained herein and to communicate same to officials of the Department of Labor, National Industries for the Blind, and to appropriate members of Congress. I will now review Resolution 85-08 clause by clause, summarizing what each clause purports to accomplish. The first "WHEREAS" clause simply states ACB's outstanding position as set forth in Resolution 79-06. The second "WHEREAS" clause indicates that according to recent statistics from National Industries for the Blind, the vast majority of blind workshop workers earn in excess of 75% of the minimum wage, and that many earn in excess of the full statutory minimum wage. The third clause sets forth the reasons underlying the original enactment of the subminimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended; i.e., to create employment opportunities that were not in existence for handicapped workers, and to retain employment opportunities for less productive handicapped workers whose employment opportunities might be lost if their employers were required to pay the full statutory minimum wage. The fourth "WHEREAS" clause states ACB's long standing efforts to improve the economic condition of blind workers, including its past limited endorsement of subminimum wage provisions to some blind workers. The last "WHEREAS" clause states ACB's belief that at least some blind workers are currently employed at least in part because of the beneficial effects of the subminimum wage. The first "RESOLVED" clause, which is the meat of the resolution, states that the American Council of the Blind recommends that workers be paid in accordance with their productivity, but that individual handicapped blind workers in industry and in regular production programs of sheltered workshops be paid no less than full 100% of the minimum wage, and that all other handicapped workers and blind workers with at least one additional work-related disabling condition, working either in industry or in regular production programs of sheltered workshops, be paid at least 75% of the minimum wage under Individual Rate Certificates issued by the Department of Labor. The resolution also makes it clear that in applying for individual subminimum rate certificates for individual handicapped workers or multi-handicapped blind workers, the burden to make an individualized showing that the individual worker cannot produce at or above the statutory minimum wage level should be placed squarely on the employer. The second "RESOLVED" clause calls upon the Department of Labor to develop and implement reasonable, workable criteria for determining other work-related disabilities beyond blindness. The third clause declares that this resolution only applies to the regular production programs of sheltered workshops, and does not apply to separate work activity center programs operated by sheltered workshops. The last clause states that this resolution supersedes Resolution 79-06; that that resolution is revoked; and that the ACB officers are instructed to communicate the positions set forth in the resolution to appropriate officials and to work for prompt enactment into law of the positions adopted by the resolution. Proponents of tabling Resolution 85-08 argued that the heart of the resolution was internally inconsistent; that it stated on the one hand that workers should be paid in accordance with their productivity, but that on the other hand it espoused the position that individual handicapped blind workers should in no event be paid less than the full 100% statutory minimum wage. My response is simply this: Resolution 85-08 is no more or less inconsistent than ACB's current position that handicapped workers, including blind workers, should be paid no less than 75% of the statutory minimum wage under Individual Rate Certificates (see Resolution 79-06). Resolution 85-08, had it been adopted, would simply have moved the floor level for single handicapped blind workers from 75% of the minimum wage to full 100% of the minimum wage, while retaining ACB's previous position with respect to other handicapped workers and blind workers possessing other work-related disabling conditions. Another resolution similar in substance to Resolution 85-08 will in all likelihood be introduced at the 1986 ACB national convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, in July. I would appreciate any comments concerning Resolution 85-08 or any suggested revising language. Write Charles Hodge, 1131 S. Forest Drive, Arlington, VA 22204. ***** ** Health Clubs -- They're Well Worth the Effort By Ann Brash "You might have an accident, and we don't have the insurance to cover you," the manager stated rather flatly, as if that ended the discussion. Clearly, she expected me to leave, but I was too dumbfounded to move. "Who do you think you are," my mind screamed indignantly back at her, "to deny me membership in a health club because I am blind? I have as much right to exercise as anyone else, and besides, where's the insurance when I'm crossing the streets of Chicago every day and the cars turn right on red?" Outwardly, though, I said nothing. Fortunately, my sighted companion was more verbal. "Don't you have a free trial membership you routinely offer people?" This is a statement rather than a question, because she didn't wait for an answer. "We'll just take that and prove to you that everything will be fine." Needless to say, everything was fine. Within a week I knew my way around the club and began thoroughly enjoying myself. There's nothing like swimming 25 lengths of the pool, then settling back in the whirlpool's gentle water massage; or stretching every muscle you have on the myriad of exercise machines available, charting your progress week by week by making the weights on the machines heavier as you get stronger; or exhausting yourself in aerobics class, then taking it easy in a relaxing atmosphere of the sauna or steam room. You can even get a real massage for $10.00 a half hour (a much lower rate than is available almost anywhere else), or you can catch a few rays from the sun-tanning machine. Yes, it's a little awesome at first. And it's sometimes not easy to convince the staff that you're not going to drown in the pool. But you do have to ask some questions. For example: * Ask whether there is an enrollment fee. In most health clubs, you pay both an initial enrollment fee and monthly dues. Depending on which club you join, this fee can range from $50.00 to $500.00, and it adds quite a bit to the prices that are quoted on television ads. * Ask about the interest you will be charged. If you pay dues by the month, you will be paying the club a substantial amount of interest. You might want to find out what the yearly membership dues would be if paid in one lump sum. The quicker you can pay off the sum, the cheaper it will be. Also, health clubs frequently have specials, particularly at membership renewal time. But you will have to ask. * Ask what types of membership are available. There may be several, at greatly varying prices. In the Chicago Health Club, for example, you can buy an Executive membership which admits you to all clubs (including those clubs which are open only to those with this particular type of membership.) There is also an Associate membership for just those clubs in your metropolitan area, as well as a Limited membership for admission only into the specific club you are joining. Periodically there are specials which give you the opportunity to upgrade your membership. But again, you must ask. * Finally, ask what equipment is available at the club you join. Not all clubs have all equipment and services. Does this sound complicated? Yes, it is, but from the point of view of an avid health club-goer, I feel it's definitely worth the trouble. ***** ** Letters to the ACB National Office Dear Mr. Miller: I would like to thank you and the members of your organization for helping to obtain the support of conferees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee for the Senate's proposed increases in rehabilitation funding. ... I was present during the hearing this spring in Washington, D.C., when a member of your organization made a very impressive presentation supporting this proposed legislation. This kind of presentation plus other contacts from ACB members as well as other persons has obviously been very successful. This is an excellent example of how consumers and agencies working together can result in good things for blind persons. -- William K. James, Commissioner, South Carolina Commission for the Blind To Whom It Is Concerned: Enclosed please find a check which I am sending in memory of my friend, Margret Gale. I was Margret's mail carrier and became friends through the years while taking her mail up to her apartment. She never totally lost her sight and used a magnifying glass to write letters to Congressional representatives to ensure that they knew how important free mailing service was/is for those with visual impairments. She knew that the talking book services would become cost-prohibitive to many like herself without it. ... -- Roz Stein, Springfield, IL ***** ** Highbrook Lodge Camp Offers Innovative 58th-Season Program Cleveland Highbrook Lodge, the outdoor learning facility and summer camp operated by the Cleveland Society for the Blind in Chardon, Ohio, will be opened for the 1986 season on June 14. The season will end on August 24. This will be the 58th summer season of the Lodge, which first opened in 1928. Computer literacy, independent living skills, photography, Indian pioneer life, and adaptive physical fitness will be some of the main programs for the season. Other activities include swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, hikes, nature study, arts and crafts, camping, discussion groups, theater parties, hayrides, cookouts, sleepouts, campcraft, health and nutrition lessons, mobility and orientation, music and horticulture therapy, bowling, shuffleboard, and numerous other programs. Independent living skills will receive added emphasis. There will also be lectures on coping with blindness, child care, and information on various aspects of special education and rehabilitation of the visually impaired. For application forms and other details, contact Highbrook Lodge Registrar, Sight Center, 1909 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH 44106; (216) 791-8118. ***** ** AFB Opens Technology Center The American Foundation for the Blind has established the National Technology Center, which will focus on high technology research and development, evaluation, and database services. An opening reception was held January 14 at the Center at AFB's New York headquarters. Several hundred visitors saw demonstrations of computerized braille, voice output devices, and large-print displays. Elliot Schreier, Director of the National Technology Center, said the facility would serve as a resource center for blind and visually impaired people as well as to professionals in the blindness field, employers, researchers, and companies developing and manufacturing special aids and devices. "As we design and develop aids and devices and compile data to meet the present and future needs of blind and visually impaired people, our goal is to create better opportunities for education, employment, and independent living," Mr. Schreier said. The Technology Center will evaluate new and existing devices and report results, provide information on consumer products, training courses, funding sources, and names and comments of users of adaptive equipment as well as previous evaluations of devices. AFB's Technology Center was made possible in part by grants from the United Parcel Service Foundation, the Jessie Ball duPont Religious, Charitable, and Educational Fund, New York Community Trust, and IBM Corporation. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * Wanted: 8X monocular. Prefer Bushnell. Must be in mint or very good condition. Send letter or tape � no braille. William H. Martin II, 4735 E. Hedges Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703; (209) 255-3135 or 251-0101. * For Sale: Visualtek Mini Viewer. About eight years old; in good condition. $900.00. Contact Barbara Mattson, 309 Highland Court Apartments, 144 W. Henry Street, Spartanburg, SC 29301; (803) 585-7323. * For Sale: Apple Ile computer with two disk drives. Seven months old. Does not include monitor or any special peripherals. Print manual included. $700.00. Also, small-print lens for Optacon for enlarging small print. $195.00. Prices include shipping. Paul Migliorelli, 138-15 Franklin Avenue, Apt. 525, Flushing, NY 11355; (718) 762-2623. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From The Missouri Chronicle: Will Jamerson has witnessed several wars, the invention of radio, tele�vision and computers, and the advent of air travel during his 112 years on this planet. So, when his left eye became clouded, Jamerson, an otherwise healthy and curious man who didn't want to miss a single moment of life, headed for a hospital to have a cataract removed and an intraocular lens implanted. The surgery, performed at Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, was a success and left a chipper Jamerson eager to continue his normal activities of reading the newspaper, watching television, and taking strolls through his neighborhood. Travis L. Harris, member of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind, was recently appointed by Governor George Nigh to the State Human Services Commission. Nigh said Harris was believed to be the first disabled Oklahoman ever appointed to the nine-member body which oversees the state's largest agency. The 69-year-old Harris, who spent 48 years working in state government service, retired last year as Director of Visual Services for Oklahoma's Department of Human Services. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: According to a population study done by Dr. Frank Bowe of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, only 19.9% of disabled women hold jobs, compared to 59.1% of non�disabled women in the same 16-64 age group. Only one out of every four disabled women of working age in the United States is in the labor market. The study describes the average disabled woman as being 51 years of age. She has a high-school level of education. She does not work, nor is she actively seeking work. Her income from all sources was less than $1,500 in 1980. From AFB News: The book Clubs Division of Doubleday and Co. has launched a large-print book club. Named the Doubleday Large Print Home Library, it offers a wide range of full-length, hard-cover best-sellers -- including fiction, mysteries, romance, and how-to titles -- printed in large type and economically priced. For more information, call 1-800- 343-4300 and ask for Operator 355, or write to the Doubleday Large Print Home Library, Customer Service Center, 501 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530. The National Braille Press has just published its third book on computers, entitled "Add-Ons: The Ultimate Guide to Peripherals for the Blind Computer User." This guide contains all new material on computer peripherals, including comparative reviews of scanners, modems, print printers, braille printers, speech synthesizers, and braille output devices. And if you have been searching for a particular computer manual in braille or recorded form, consult this book's comprehensive listing. To order "The Ultimate Guide to Peripherals," send check or money order (all orders must be prepaid) to: National Braille Press, Inc., 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115. Print copies are $19.95; braille or cassette, $16.95. LS&S Group, P.O. Box 673, Northbrook, IL 60065, has issued a new catalog of unique, innovative, and practical products selected specifically with the blind and visually impaired in mind. The catalog is free upon request. The following braille cookbooks are available from National Braille Press, Inc., 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115: Our Special Cookbook, $2.00; From Our Kitchen to Yours, 1983, $3.00; From Our Kitchen to Yours, 1984, $3.00. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: Thorndike Press, a leading large-print publisher, recently conducted a survey of 4,500 public libraries nationwide. Of those responding, 93% reported an increase in use of their large-print materials, with the greatest increase coming in "walk-in" users. This is a change from the traditional home�bound user. *** An audio description program for visually impaired theater-goers has been instituted in several theaters in Washington, D.C., including the Kennedy Center and the National Theater. The program was the brainchild of area resident Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl, herself visually impaired, who explains, "Audio narration is the art of describing costumes, settings, action, and body language, and fitting it in during pauses in the dialogue." A visually impaired person can hear the narration from any seat in the house during specially scheduled performances. He or she listens through a tiny headset attached to a receiver the size of a cigarette package. The Washington, D.C., area is the only one currently offering this free service. Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc., a non-profit Christian organization, will transcribe religious material of any denomination into braille free of charge. Also available free of charge are Christian braille materials in 40 languages and Christian large-print materials in 15 languages. Write Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc., 11735 Peachtree Circle, Yucaipa, CA 92399. From Focus (ACB of Indiana): Dr. Henry W. Hofstetter, Treasurer of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana, was recently presented with a medal and letter of commendation by Boleslaw Kedzia, Head of the Department of Optometry at the Academy of Medicine at Poznan, Poland. Dr. Hofstetter was honored last year for his work as a consultant to the Polish Academy's new Optometry Department. He is professor emeritus of optometry at Indiana University and a former director of the Division of Optometry. *** In an effort to meet a genuine community need, the Circle City Council of the Blind, a chapter of the ACB of Indiana, has combined its financial and volunteer resources to launch its first project, a resource and information center. Located in downtown Indianapolis, the center answers questions and disseminates information about resources and special services available to newly blinded people, their families and other interested persons; and refers individuals to other community agencies and services. Open three days a week, with an answering service available during non-office hours, the center also sells, on a non-profit basis, special items used by blind and low-vision persons. The Holiday Inn hotel chain recently announced that all of its company-owned hotels will make available a newly developed Visual Alert System (VAS) to assist deaf or hearing-impaired travelers. Through the use of a sound-activated receiver housed in a small portable box, the device, the first of its kind in the hotel industry, alerts the hearing-impaired person to a smoke alarm, a knock on the door, or a telephone ringing. A strobe light encased in the electronic unit flashes when any of the alarm signals are initiated. Red lights on top of the box indicate which function is in progress. It is anticipated the VAS will be usable also by many low-vision hearing impaired persons. A treatment for a visually disabling side effect of diabetes is so effective that doctors should start using it at the first sign of a problem, according to the findings of a national study published in a recent issue of the American Medical Association's Archives of Ophthalmology. The study used pinpoint-beams of laser light to seal small leaks of blood and other matter in a crucial area of the retina. While previous work showed that intense laser light could be used to heat and seal severe bleeding of vessels in the eyes of diabetics, the new work expands its application to a less severe vision problem called macular edema. Excess fluids and fats swell part of the retina called the macula, causing blurred, distorted vision. The laser treatment, which can be repeated if necessary, seals the sources of this swelling, often preventing further vision loss and even improving sight in some cases, the study said. From Talking Book Topics: The Galloping Knights, Inc., is offering an abridged cassette edition of Excerpts from Chess Life on a loan basis. For a one-time subscription of $7.50, readers can receive Excerpts and a subscription to Castle, a quarterly cassette publication about blind chess players. Contact Gintautus Burba; 30 Snell Street, Brockton, MA 02401. The Trian Corp., distributors of the new Talking Time Quartz Clock (see The Braille Forum, January 1986) has announced the following revised pricing: cost, $34.00 (including batteries and cassette instructions), plus $.50 shipping and handling. Quantity discounts are available. Contact Trian Corp., 4200 Meridian, Suite 205, Bellingham, WA 98226; 1-800-628-2828. Sixty-seven percent of respondents to a survey on hotel/motel accessibility for travelers with physical disabilities reported that they are traveling more than they did five years ago, according to results published in a recent issue of The Itinerary Magazine. Its editor cited greater accessibility offered by lodging chains, transportation systems and popular attractions, as well as an improved economy, for the upsurge in travel by the handicapped. According to the study, 38% of respondents use a hotel or motel three or more weeks a year; 29% stay 11 to 20 nights annually; and 33% spend up to ten nights in a hotel or motel each year. The Oral Hull Foundation for. the Blind, Inc., of Sandy, Oregon, is again offering two separate weeks of summer camp; namely, July 12-19 and August 16-23. Activities will include hiking, fishing, swimming, boating and one-day excursions from the park. Cost for one week is $100, which includes lodging, meals, and all activities. Write for application to: Summer Camp, Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, Inc., P.O. Box 157, Sandy, OR 97055; (503) 771-8786. ***** ** 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. March 14-15 - Arkansas Council of the Blind State Convention - Little Rock April 25-26 - ACB of Nebraska State Convention - Grand Island April 30-May 2 - President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped Annual Meeting - Washington, D.C. May 2-4 - Louisiana Council of the Blind State Convention � Baton Rouge May 15-16 - Utah Council of the Blind State Convention - Salt Lake City June 7 - Connecticut Council of the Blind Spring Convention - Wallingford June 13-15 - Florida Council of the Blind State Convention - Palm Beach June 28-July 5 - American Council of the Blind 25th Anniversary Convention - Knoxville, TN July 7-11 - Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Annual Meeting - Chicago, IL August 10-12 - Georgia Council of the Blind State Convention - Rome August 10-14 - Blinded Veterans Association Annual Meeting - San Juan, PR ** 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 ###