The Braille Forum Vol. XXIV March 1986 No. 9 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 ACB 25th Annual Convention: Quilting the Convention -- Knoxville 1986 ACB Convention Business Award Nominations Sought Notice Concerning Applications for and Renewals of ACB Membership-at-Large News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Simple Justice, by Lynn Abbott Features of BBS Networks for the Deaf and/or Blind, by Stu Turk Travel for the Disabled -- A Book Review, by Laura Oftedahl A Message to the Newly Blind, by Alice Lee Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Blind Ministry Student, by Lynn Abbott Disabled Voters Project Announced at U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Governors Association B.T. Kimbrough Joins Associated Services for the Blind 1986 Tours and Travel Information BVA Announces Scholarship Availability Technology Update High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack One of the more repugnant exploiters of blind people is the opportunistic leech who purports to be helping the blind, but who in reality is interested only in personal gain. These so-called businessmen are everywhere — in large cities, in small towns, and in all parts of the country. Although there is no direct connection between these businesses and blind service groups, they always choose names which imply a connection. "Blind Center Products" or "Blindmade Products" are typical names. They purport to be helping the blind in some way, but in fact they are not. The base of operation for these scams may be a nice-looking store, a van or pickup, or even a pushcart. Unfortunately, their base of operations often resembles a legitimate enterprise. It is difficult for an inexperienced eye to tell the difference. These unscrupulous operators have several things in common. They exploit blindness to the hilt, playing on people's sympathies. Their merchandise is grossly over-priced, and very often most of their goods are not even made by blind people. Demeaning pictures of helpless-looking people with white canes are often used to attract attention. These operations, whether large or small, all smack of chicanery and deceit and produce all sorts of negatives. Consumers are unhappy when they discover that they have been taken. Quality workshops and the legitimate dispensers of their excellent products are often mistakenly linked to the unscrupulous operators. Workshop managers have told me that they spend much time on the telephone assuring people that the inferior broom they purchased was not really made by the blind, even though they were led to believe so. Don't think for a moment that this is nickel-and-dime stuff. It is a thriving and very profitable scheme that has produced fortunes for some of the scammiest dregs of humanity. Ripping off the public by exploiting blindness, making it more difficult for legitimate purveyors of quality blind-made products, and making unscrupulous people rich are reasons enough to want to stamp out this cancer. There is, however, a more important reason than any of these. Many people will agree that the biggest problems blind people face are archaic and unfounded attitudinal barriers. Breaking them down is difficult at best, and the problem is compounded by these nefarious operations. We certainly do not need any more road blocks to changing the myths that have existed for centuries. Once these businesses get a foothold in an area, it is difficult to pry them loose. Like a phoenix, they keep rising from the ashes. In 1978, the blind people in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a cooperative effort, actually picketed one of these places for a full month just before Christmas. The effort paid off. The unprincipled owner was put in the public spotlight, and he was forced to change the name of his unsavory business from Blind Center Products to Gift Center Products. Shortly after that, he disappeared. However, he resurfaced two or three years ago in another part of town, and in spite of a law passed in 1979 which makes his business illegal, he is still operating today. Despite foot-dragging on the part of our enforcement arm, it appears that the vice is about to close and put him away. It is incumbent upon the organized blind in every community to be aware of these insidious businesses and be persistent in trying to eliminate them. *** ACB 25th Annual Convention * Quilting the Convention — Knoxville 1986 Mountain crafts are popular worldwide, and none are better known or more highly prized than the patchwork quilt. Made originally for warmth from leftover material, these creations soon became works of art. Patterns were designed from basic geometric shapes, with flowers and whimsical figures added for increased interest and beauty. Color was an important consideration in planning a quilt, as the proper choice of hues would greatly enhance any pattern. National conventions of the American Council of the Blind are like handmade quilts. Each convention is somewhat similar to those that have preceded it, yet each is also different. No two quilts -- no two conventions -- can be exactly alike. And as the square is basic to the quilt, so are certain annual happenings basic to the convention. As there is infinite variation within the quilt square, so also is there limitless variety in ACB's annual extravaganza, planned this year for June 28 through July 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee. * Tours and Entertainment Last month we outlined many of the tours and other activities being planned for your entertainment at the 1986 convention. We told you about trips to Lookout Mountain at Chattanooga; to shops selling Appalachian crafts at Gatlinburg; to the Indian reservation at Cherokee, North Carolina; to Opryland, and much more. We told you about a Tennessee Hoedown and an ACB birthday party; a dance and wine and cheese parties; a watermelon party and a barbecue. * Seminars and Workshops Now we want you to know more about the serious side of the convention. Conventions are fun, but they also provide an opportunity for you to learn more about education, employment, and many other aspects of blindness and visual impairment. The American Council of the Blind and its many special-interest affiliates host a broad array of seminars and workshops at every convention. The number of these special programs has grown dramatically since 1984, and those scheduled for this year are particularly interesting and timely. Below is a partial listing of these programs. More complete details will appear in the pre-registration packet and in future issues of The Braille Forum. * Employment Career planning and job performance are of major importance to today's visually impaired person. The Council of Rehabilitation Specialists and the National Alliance of Blind Students are co-sponsoring a seminar on non-traditional careers. Presenters will be blind or visually impaired persons who have had work experience in the fields being discussed, and who can answer questions on job preparation and performance. Are you having problems with your present job? Attend the meeting on Wednesday, July 2, for a discussion sponsored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision entitled "Your Job Is in Jeopardy -- What Are Your Rights?" Are you a braille user who needs to increase your productivity on the job? Gather new ideas, tips, and techniques from the "Braille in Employment" workshop sponsored by the Braille Revival League on Thursday, July 3. Nearly every career of today and tomorrow utilizes technology to some extent. The Visually Impaired Data Processors International and the Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association are combining resources for this year's updated and informative microcomputer workshop scheduled for Sunday of Convention Week. The Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America will give members an opportunity to examine the latest technology and newest products for vendors at their Sunday and Monday meetings, and CCLV's Wednesday session will offer additional information for visually impaired persons in their discussion of new technology and low vision. * Education The National Association of Blind Teachers invites all educators to their Tuesday workshop on teaching techniques. And you won't want to miss the Braille Revival League's workshop on Wednesday, entitled "Braille in Education." Blind and visually impaired students will be particularly interested in the student seminar sponsored by the National Alliance of Blind Students on Monday and Tuesday. * Potpourri ACB will host the third annual Diabetes and Blindness Seminar on Sunday, June 29. The program is always outstanding and informative. The latest developments are presented by authorities in the field, and comments and questions are welcome. Whether you are a student, a career person, or just interested in self-improvement, you will want to attend the workshop planned for Monday afternoon by the Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association. Representatives of Merle-Norman Cosmetics will be on hand to assist you in learning to apply makeup and to give you tips on improving your personal appearance. The biennial Publications Workshop is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, to be led by the ACB Board of Publications. Editors of state, special­interest, and local affiliate newsletters should plan to attend. The workshop is also open to other interested individuals. Or if you have an interest in more creative writing, you will want to participate in the writers' workshop sponsored by Friends in Art. Several "first-timers'" seminars will be scheduled during the first part of Convention Week. These meetings give you a chance to find out more about what's happening and to ask questions that may be of concern to you. Watch for more details on the pre-registration form and in the convention program. Have you or someone in your family recently experienced a vision loss? Or are you or someone you know having a difficult time adjusting to loss of vision? Plan to attend CCLV's Friday, July 4, workshop entitled "So You're Losing Your Vision? -- What Now?" Or do you or someone you know have retinitis pigmentosa? A special meeting for individuals with RP is being planned for Friday afternoon, just prior to the vision-loss seminar. This is just a sampling of the many programs and meetings being planned by ACB and its special-interest affiliates. A complete list of the national special-interest affiliates is published elsewhere in this issue. In addition, the American Council of the Blind will hold meetings for all conventioners each morning, during which a wide range of traditional and new topics will be discussed. ** Convention Housekeeping * Exhibits, Boutiques, Advertising Exhibit information has now been mailed to agencies and companies that sell products and offer services of interest to blind and visually impaired persons. If you represent an agency or company that would like to participate in this convention as an exhibitor and have not received any information to date, contact Helen Wild, Convention Chairperson, whose address is given at the end of this article. Boutique reservation information has been mailed to state and special­interest affiliates of ACB. If your affiliate would like to reserve a boutique, immediate action is necessary, as spaces are limited. Boutiques are available on a first come, first served basis to any local, state, or special­interest ACB affiliate. Several forms of convention advertising are available this year. There is something to fit every budget, no matter how large or small. You may choose to purchase a program ad, to sponsor the convention newsline for one or more days, or to have a brochure or other material inserted in the registration packet. For more information, contact Helen Wild, Convention Chairperson. * Hotel Reservations The Knoxville Hyatt is the headquarters hotel. ACB general sessions, exhibits and boutiques, and registration will be located there. The Knoxville Hilton will be the site of special­interest meetings, workshops, and seminars. The Holiday Inn World's Fair will serve as an overflow hotel. All facilities are spacious, modern, and very comfortable. All offer excellent restaurants. All will be connected by the convention shuttle service. Room rates are $32.00 per day, singles, doubles, triples, quads. To make hotel reservations, write or call the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 15012, Knoxville, TN 37901; (615) 523-7263. You may state your hotel preference, and your request will be honored as long as space is available. It is IMPERATIVE that you DO NOT contact any hotel directly concerning reservations. A central housing list is being maintained by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Individual reservations at hotels could result in an overflow situation. Your cooperation in this matter is extremely important. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, you may contact one of the following persons: Helen Wild, Convention Chairperson P.O. Box 4151 Chattanooga, TN 37405 (615) 267-2287 Carla S. Franklin, ACB Convention Coordinator 148 North Vernon Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 897-1472 John Horst, ACB Assistant Convention Coordinator 96 North Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (717) 826-2364 ***** ** ACB Convention Business Each year, the National Convention of the American Council of the Blind sets the course for the organization for the coming year. It is very important that each member attending the convention exercise his/her right and responsibility as an ACB member. There will be discussions of important resolutions, Constitution and By-Law amendments, reports of ACB staff and officers concerning the wide range of activities and services carried on over the past year, selection of the 1988 convention site, and election of directors to the A CB Board and of representatives to the ACB Board of Publications. To be a part of the American Council of the Blind, to voice your ideas and opinions, you must be present at these important business sessions. Mr. Paul Edwards, 3770 Toledo Road, Apt. 13, Jacksonville, FL 32217, will again chair the Resolutions Committee. He will appreciate receiving as many of your draft resolutions as possible prior to the convention. This is particularly important now, since the Resolutions Committee will, in all likelihood, be working with reduced staff support during Convention Week. Members are also reminded of the motion adopted at last year's convention that all resolutions must be submitted to the Committee in draft form by midnight on Wednesday of Convention Week. With the revised Convention Week schedule, those special-interest affiliates planning to submit resolutions may want to plan business sessions early in the week, with this Wednesday night deadline in mind. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee will be chaired again this year by Ms. Anna Marie Hunt, Oklahoma School for the Blind, Box 309, Muskogee, OK 74401. She, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. ***** ** Award Nominations Sought The presentation of a number of prestigious awards has become an important tradition of each ACB national convention. Nominations for the following awards are now being sought and should be sent directly to the chairpersons indicated, to be postmarked no later than June 1, 1986. The Robert S. Bray Award was established in memory of the late Chief of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. It is presented from time to time, but not necessarily annually, in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices or techniques. Nominations should be sent to: Mrs. Maria Lopez, 3925 E. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023. The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award recipient is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who, by their lives, associations and activities, have demonstrated their integration into and their interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary for the candidate to be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, or that he/she be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year. Nominations for both the Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award and the George Card Award should be sent directly to Mrs. Patricia Saunders, 2118 N.W. 21st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73107. ***** ** Notice Concerning Applications for and Renewals of ACB Membership-at-Large The American Council of the Blind Constitution and By-Laws provide that any person who has reached the age of 18 years and who is not a voting member of an ACB affiliate is eligible to become a member-at-large, with the right to an individual vote at the ACB national convention. Annual membership-at-large dues are $2.00. New applicants for membership-at-large pay an initiation fee of $3.00, which includes the first year's dues. Application forms are available from the ACB National Office. The ACB Constitution and By­Laws further provide that all dues are to be received no later than ninety days prior to the ACB national convention; that is, in 1986, no later than April 1. All membership-at-large dues should be clearly identified as such and should be sent, to be received no later than April 1, 1986, to the ACB National Office, Attention: LeRoy Saunders, Treasurer, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative In some fields of endeavor, the month of January is set aside for planning. In the ACB National Office, however, January was devoted to both planning and doing! The Wall Street Journal project (see The Braille Forum, December 1985) went into high gear, and the process of diversifying ACB's fund­raising base was increased. During the month, it was my pleasure, as ACB National Representative, to appear on two feature interview programs aired by the Washington Ear, the radio reading service serving blind and other print handicapped persons of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. One of the programs dealt with the services and objectives of the American Council of the Blind, while the other concentrated on legal issues of importance to blind people. Although there was no connection between the interview programs and the following decision made by the management of the Washington Ear after consulting with its Consumer Advisory Committee, I am pleased to report that the Washington Ear decided to begin airing "ACB Reports" on a monthly basis. Anyone who would like advice as to the appropriate manner of bringing "ACB Reports" to the attention of radio reading services not currently airing the program may contact Laura Oftedahl in the ACB National Office. The Washington Ear is to be commended for the important step it took in agreeing to air such an interesting, informative, and well-produced program. In late January, the National Council on the Handicapped (NCOH) completed the advisory report which it had been commissioned by law to prepare concerning the laws impacting on disabled people. The report was formally presented to Senator Lowell Weicker and other members of Congress at a Capitol Hill reception. The American Council was prominently represented by Roberta Douglas, Director of Development, and by me as National Representative. The following day, I represented ACB at the NCOH forum, during which the substance of the report was discussed and leaders in work for the handicapped reacted to the report and principal addresses on specific subjects. As ACB National Representative, I discussed the need for and importance of independent living services for the elderly blind, as authorized in Section 7(c) of the Rehabilitation Act, and I commended the NCOH for changing its mind and not recommending deletion of that statutory provision. The report is very lengthy and deals with ten or twelve areas of concern to disabled people (such as employment, benefit programs, education, transportation, civil rights, etc.). There is no guarantee as to what Congress will do with the recommendations, and, in fact, the current political and fiscal climate would suggest that many of the recommendations have little or no chance of being adopted. However, the report is the first comprehensive statement prepared by such a broad­based group of consumers and other interested people, and as emphasized by NCOH Vice Chairman Justin Dart, Jr., it is essential for such issues to be presented in a unified manner if they are to be given serious consideration by the nation's lawmakers. Anyone wanting a tape recorded or print copy of the report should request it through the ACB National Office. I am sorry to report that during January Mrs. Gay Gibbons concluded her employment as an administrative assistant in the ACB National Office. During the approximately four years she spent in the office, she became friends with countless ACB members, especially by telephone. During that period, she also became a very valuable source of reference and referral information. We will all miss Gay's cheerful and cooperative spirit, and we wish her the best of good fortune as she continues her career as a member of the enormous group of women who return to the work force as their children grow up. It has come to our attention that the Presidential Commission on America's Outdoors, in conjunction with the National Park Service and National Geographic, plans to conduct a series of information-gathering hearings throughout the country during the late winter and spring to obtain input regarding the use of the out-of-doors for recreation, leisure, and educational purposes. Inasmuch as blind and other handicapped people have as much interest in these subjects as do their sighted and otherwise able-bodied colleagues, and since it is easy for such hearings to overlook the needs and wishes of handicapped people, it will be important for interested persons to request an opportunity to be heard at these hearings. The schedule calls for hearings to be conducted in Phoenix on February 20-21; Indianapolis on March 6-7, Reno on March 23-24, Boston on April 3-4, Denver on May 14-15, Cheyenne on May 16, Seattle on June 5-6, Anchorage on June 10-11, and Minneapolis on June 26-27. Although the ACB National Office will make an effort to communicate with known advocates who are interested in this subject in the cities involved, anyone who would like to make a statement at these hearings should contact Mr. Ed Dole, Presidential Commission on America's Outdoors, P.O. Box 18547, 1111 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 634-7317. At the time the hearings were scheduled, the Government officials involved were a bit apprehensive that there might not be many handicapped advocates in some of the areas (such as around Reno). Little did they know, however, that the Reno hearing will coincide exactly with the dates and location of the Winter National Championships of the United States Association for Blind Athletes and the Nordic National Skiing Championships of the United States Ski Association! ***** ** Simple Justice By Lynn Abbott, Legal Assistant With the passage of four major civil rights bills in the 1960's and 1970's, it was believed that discrimination against disabled persons, women, minorities, and older individuals would no longer be tolerated. Unfortunately, with the U. S. Supreme Court ruling in the Grove City College v. Bell case in 1984, Section 504, Title IX, Title VI, and the Age Discrimination Act were substantially weakened. The Grove City decision, based on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, stated that only the specific "program or activity" receiving Federal financial assistance was protected under the law. In other words, an entire educational institution may discriminate against a person except in a program or activity targeted to receive Federal funds. Because the language of Title IX was modeled closely after Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was repeated in later civil rights statutes, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Grove City ruling has broad implications. The Civil Rights Restoration Act is a bill under consideration this session in Congress which aims to restore the four civil rights laws to their original scope and broad coverage. The Act has been approved by two committees thus far, but a dispute has arisen in the House of Representatives over suggested amendments to the bill which deal with the abortion issue. Advocates of the Civil Rights Restoration Act resist the addition of such amendments, claiming that abortion is not and should not be a part of this legislation. The U.S. Catholic Conference has been the major lobbying force behind the effort to add amendatory language to the bill. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus as well as other civil rights groups have met repeatedly with officials of the Catholic Conference in order to allay the Church's fears that the Restoration Act would broaden abortion rights. The impasse which has arisen must be dispensed with so that the bill can be reported out of committee. The American Council of the Blind supports the Civil Rights Restoration Act and specifically urges the passage of a "clean" bill (i.e., one without amendments relating to abortion). The constitutional issue is not a complex one; rather, it is a matter of "simple justice." Discrimination is still a problem in today's society and must be dealt with through this critical piece of legislation. ***** ** Features of BBS Networks for the Deaf and/or Blind By Stu Turk (An article to be considered for the Ned Freeman Award for Writing Excellence) You relax after dinner with the paper and your favorite brew and are interrupted by a phone call. A voice you have never heard before identifies himself as an ARRL radio operator and tells you he is delivering a message. The message is your birthday greeting from a friend several states away. You thank the radio operator for his call and mention that your friend must have asked someone to make the call for him, since he is deaf and can use neither a phone nor a radio. The radio operator asks, "Does your friend have a computer?" Since you know your friend has a computer with a phone modem, you reply yes and are told, "That's probably how he sent it. You just got a FidoGram!" The above conversation is fictional, of course, but it could, probably has, and definitely will take place in the near future. As more and more deaf and deaf-blind people begin to use computers with phone modems, they find themselves able to communicate more effectively by making use of the local Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's). The deaf community has for some time used Telephone Devices for the Deaf (TDD's) to communicate. But a drawback to the use of TDD's is that the party being called must also have a TDD or the deaf person must use a relay service between his TDD and the person he is calling. The deaf­blind may also have the additional handicap of not being able to see the single-line TDD display properly, since the letters moving across the display are often difficult to focus on. (Some deaf-blind persons use TDD's with a paper printout display, but this, too, may be difficult to read at times, depending on the individual's eyesight.) The computer bulletin boards provide an additional means of communication with a few extra features that appeal to the deaf and/or blind. The computer users may call each other direct and type at each other very much like they would with a TDD, except that the letters displayed on the computer screen may be much larger (depending on the computer and screen being used). And, more important to the partially sighted, once on the screen, they do not move across it. Far more common is the practice of calling a local bulletin board and "posting" a message to a friend or just a general message to everyone that uses the board. Many bulletin boards have "private mail" features that permit posting a message that can be read only by the person to whom it is addressed. The message base permits many deaf people to communicate with hearing persons as equals; you usually don't realize the person you are exchanging messages with is deaf. In addition, some bulletin boards off er a "conferencing" feature that permits a number of users to call into the board at the same time, and after entering the conference, they can type at each other in "real time." Some bulletin boards belong to networks that permit "electronic mail" message exchange between member boards. One such system is the worldwide Fido Network of more than two thousand member BBS's in the United States and Canada, plus many more overseas. While the Fido member boards have a general message section for local message exchange, they also have a separate FidoMail area in which a user can post messages in the normal way, but also specify the member board to which the message is to be "mailed" in the wee hours of the morning (usually between 3:30 and 6:30 A.M. eastern time), the Fido BBS's will all be closed to regular users and will automatically transfer messages nationwide to other member boards in a system that has evolved over the past two years into a super-efficient communications network. It is not unusual for a user on the east coast to enter a message on a Fido BBS Fido­Mail section, addressed to a user at a member BBS on the west coast one day and have a reply waiting for him the following morning. Sound interesting? Let's go a-fido­ing! First, of course, we have to find a Fido BBS. Most computer stores have at least one salesperson who is addicted to the boards and can give you the phone numbers of local BBS's. Calling several of them will usually turn up a list of numbers of other boards. Sooner or later you will come across a Fido member board. When you call a computer bulletin board, it will answer and display something like "CONNECT" on your computer screen. Then nothing will happen. It's waiting for you to enter, so press your "ENTER" (sometimes called "CR") key. You may have to press it several times, but wait a few seconds after each press. The computer is checking your incoming signal and setting itself to match your speed and protocol. If you have not been told the board's baud rate (speed) and protocol, then set your computer to 300 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, full duplex. Most Fidos now run at 1200 baud (bits per second), and many now have 2400 baud. Once the computer has set itself, things will happen fast. You will see an opening banner on the screen. The first line will say, "FIDO VERSION 11 Q," followed by a short message from the System Operator that will include the board's name, usually its hours of operation, baud rate, and protocol. Then you will be asked to type in your first name and last name. Be sure to use your real name. The computer will ask you to wait while it checks the user list for your name. Since you are not on the list, you will be asked, "WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM?" Type in your city and the two-letter state code. Next you will be asked to pick a password. You supply your own password -- a six- to eight-letter word that you will remember, since you must give the exact same word the next time you call (logon) in order to be able to read your private mail. NEVER tell your password to ANYONE! After the password, you will usually see a special bulletin for new users explaining something about the board, its purpose and policies. New users are given limited time to look around, so you can read the public messages in the message area and look at the file directory. Fidos have many areas of different interest. Plan on not staying online more than 15 minutes the first time. Then type "G" for goodbye. You will be asked if you want to leave a message for the System Operator (Sysop). Type "Y" and tell the Sysop that you would like to be verified to use the board. If there was a questionnaire for you to fill out when you first logged on, that's usually all you need to say. If there was no questionnaire, include your address and voice phone number in the logoff message. When you call back in a few days, the Sysop will have had a chance to verify that you are a real live person, not some juvenile cracker that wants to crash the system (a growing problem in the BBS community). You should now be permitted more time online and access to the files area, and be able to post messages and FidoMail (once you have established credit with the Sysop). You will find an instruction manual and a list of all other Fidos in the free world in one of the file areas. It's better to "download" these instruction files to your own computer to read "offline" at your leisure. Of special interest to deaf and deaf­blind computer users of the Fido Network is its FidoGram procedure that permits the sending of a message to anyone with a telephone, even if the addressee has never heard of a computer. The procedure is just as easy as sending a regular FidoMail message, the only difference being that the message must include the name and phone number of the party it is intended for, and the name and phone number of the sender, and that it be sent to the Sysop of a Fido member board that transfers .the messages from the computer to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) network. The message will then be relayed through the radio packet network to the ARRL member operator nearest the person it is intended for, and that radio operator will make a phone call and deliver the message, even one from a deaf person to a hearing friend. NOTE: Vernon Henley, Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications, is using FidoMail to communicate with members of the BOP. Of Stu Turk and Fido, he writes: "I haven't yet had a chance to shake Stu Turk's hand, but I hope to do so some day soon. He is just the latest of many good and trusted friends I have made through the medium of my home computer and a local bulletin board. There are only two differences between Stu and any of dozens of other people I have met this way. The first is that Stu is deaf­blind. This is certainly not unique, as I number several deaf-blind individuals among my acquaintances. What is unique is that I live in Norman, Oklahoma, and Stu lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we have never made a long-distance phone call to each other -- ever! "We met through the facilities of Fido and FidoNet. This amazing public domain program enables users across the nation and around the world to send messages and files to other users of the nearly 600 active Fido systems overnight, at very little expense (my local system charges me $.35 for a message of about 750 words). This is truly a breakthrough for computer communications. "If you have a modem, use it to call your neighborhood Fido. If you have a computer without a modem, here is a good reason to buy one." ***** ** Travel for the Disabled A Book Review By Laura Oftedahl More and more disabled people are traveling each year. Many are reluctant, though, because they don't know the ropes. Registered nurse and seasoned traveler Helen Hecker has done a thorough job in her new book of informing the disabled traveler and educating the travel-agent industry to the needs of disabled people. Travel for the Disabled -- A Handbook of Travel Resources is packed full of information on travel books, magazines, travel clubs, travel agents specializing in services to the disabled, and guides to parks, campgrounds, and special camps. In addition, the reader will find helpful hints for traveling by air, bus, car, ship, and train. Hard-to-find information such as how to seek out an English­speaking physician overseas and where to buy a special-diet foreign phrase book is included. Specific details for blind travelers, such as how to obtain a cassette tape which outlines customs regulations, are scattered throughout this handy travel resource book. The section on access guides to cities; countries, and airports contains over 500 entries -- everything from "Day Tours for the Handicapped in Southern Tasmania" to "Holidays with Sailing Facilities in England" and "Guide to Accessible Public Toilets in Scotland." Most of these access guides are free. Ms. Hecker has done a fine job of rustling up entries for the book. The resources available from the American Council of the Blind, including the valuable handbook for airline passenger service personnel and the braille and large-print list of travel books and tours, are included as well. One of the best features of this paperback book is its type size and style. It is printed in bold 12-point type on non-glare paper. Travel for the Disabled is a valuable addition to the disabled traveler's library and a definite "must" for the travel agency desk. The book is available at better bookstores or by mail for $9.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling, from Twin Peaks Press, P.O. Box 8097, Portland, OR 97207. ***** ** A Message to the Newly Blind By Alice Lee Someone has said, "Loss of sight is dying." When I lost my sight about ten years ago in my early 30's, it was a situation difficult to cope with. The pain and agony were, indeed, insurmountable. My ambition for pursuing further study was hindered, and great dreams of life were shattered. However, due to my strong determination and encouragement from all sides, I went through the rehabilitation program offered by the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. I learned to read and write braille, to type, to sew, and to take care of household chores. I managed to raise two healthy and intelligent children, who are now both in their adolescence. When my children grew older, I began my graduate work, initially with much uncertainty due to my unfamiliarity with the English language. Through much work, and with the encouragement and support of my professors, I studied long and hard with the aid of a brailler, talking books, and talking devices (including a talking calculator and a microcomputer). After five years, I attained the highest academic achievement -- 4.0 -- and became the first blind M.B.A. in northeastern Pennsylvania to receive an award for academic excellence from Wilkes College. Through Dr. Mae Davidow, Immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, I became a member of the American Council of the Blind two years ago. The ACB convention I attended last summer has been a great learning experience for me. The successful stories of my fellow visually impaired men and women inspired me. The meetings and exhibits were great lessons. Since then, I have become more active in organizations of the blind. Currently, I am serving on the Technology and Fund-Raising committees of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind. Although I find volunteer service a rewarding experience, my ultimate goal is to achieve economic independence through gainful employment. Most recently I passed the Pennsylvania civil service test in Personnel Management and have been placed on the waiting list for employment. Meanwhile, I am teaching visually impaired people to use talking microcomputers for computer applications and word processing at home. Loss of vision may be the end of sighted life, but it is not the end of the world. Facing life with a positive attitude, I believe that there is a solution to every problem. So long as you have determination, diligence and perseverance, you will be able to overcome obstacles, thus attaining a meaningful and rich life. ***** ** Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Blind Ministry Student By Lynn Abbott, Legal Assistant A unanimous United States Supreme Court decision was issued on January 27, 1986, which states that vocational rehabilitation funds may not be denied to a disabled student simply because the student wishes to pursue a career in the ministry. The decision, Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind, authored by Justice Marshall, reversed the Washington Supreme Court's earlier ruling and represents a victory for students who depend upon financial assistance from vocational rehabilitation agencies in order to pursue educational goals. When petitioner Larry Witters applied for vocational rehabilitation services in 1979, he was attending a Christian college in Washington in preparation for a career as a pastor, missionary, or youth director. The Commission denied Witters' request for aid on the grounds that his training was "religious instruction" and therefore violated the Commission's policy that public funds could not be used ''to assist an individual in the pursuit of a career or degree in theology or related matters." After two unsuccessful internal administrative reviews of the Commission's determination, Witters filed this lawsuit. Both the State Superior Court and the Washington Supreme Court found for the defendant, and as a last resort, Witters appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court based its decision on the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The establishment clause deals with freedom of religion and mandates that there be a separation between church and state activities. The Court stated: "The establishment clause is not violated every time money previously in the possession of the state is conveyed to a religious institution." Specifically, the Court focused on the fact that "vocational assistance provided under the Washington program is paid directly to the student, who transmits it to the educational institution of his or her choice." Because it is the student who determines whether or not to pursue a religious education, and not the state, there is little justification for the argument that the state is favoring one religion over another. Because the Court sent the case back to the Washington Supreme Court for further review, it is not clear whether Witters will actually receive financial assistance. The state court may choose to re-open the factual record to consider new arguments. Whatever the final result, the decision is a positive one insofar as it recognizes that students have a right to make autonomous choices in pursuit of career goals. ***** ** Disabled Voters Project Announced at U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Governors Association The President of the National Organization on Disability, Alan A. Reich, has unveiled plans for a three­year project to expand the participation of disabled voters in the electoral process. In separate appearances before the mid-winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Human Resources Commission of the National Governors Association, Reich said his private organization and the International Center on Election Law and Administration are mapping plans to implement the new Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act which became law on December 31, 1985. The law obligates election officials at all levels of government to provide special services for disabled persons in primary and general elections, to ensure equal access in registering and voting. Reich announced that Max Cleland, Georgia's Secretary of State, will head the Advisory Panel for the Disabled Voters Project. "Experts agree," Reich said, "that the new law will succeed only to the extent that election officials are informed about its provisions and how to carry out their obligations, and disabled persons are informed about their rights under the Act and register and vote." Reich, who uses a wheelchair, said an estimated 25 million disabled persons of voting age are affected by the new law. There are an estimated 35 million disabled citizens in the U.S. "Millions of us do not vote because of difficulties in registering, inaccessible polling places, or just discouragement and apathy," he added. To assist election officials, Reich said consideration is being given to production of a training manual and a series of regional training workshops to guide election officials "in legal, attitudinal, and assistance factors associated with improving access for disabled persons to registration and voting." The Disabled Voters Project also calls for an "outreach program to disabled persons to familiarize them with their rights and to encourage their participation," Reich said. The law affects 13,000 state and local jurisdictions, 188,000 polling places, and more than one million election workers in general elections. A series of primary elections begins in March 1986, and general elections (Congressional and Senatorial) take place November 4, 1986. ***** ** B.T. Kimbrough Joins Associated Services for the Blind On December 1, 1985, B.T. Kimbrough joined the staff of Philadelphia's Associated Services for the Blind as their Director of Services. In addition to directing the establishment of several new programs, he is responsible for supervising the activities of ASB's radio reading, recording, rehabilitation, and social services. The new programs include a Pennsylvania state-funded job placement unit, a rehabilitation teaching service for deaf-blind Philadelphians, a technology center to provide selected training and general user-oriented in­formation about computers and other electronic devices. "On the surface, this looks like quite a change of pace for me," Mr. Kimbrough told an interviewer recently. "Actually, my coming here grows logically out of where I have been. As Executive Vice President of Triformation Systems, I provided users with practical, down-to-earth information which would help them choose a device or learn to use it once it was delivered. Naturally, I find tremendous appeal in the idea of helping a not-for-profit agency provide this information to consumers generally." "I am also attracted by the challenge of helping a group of rehabilitation professionals understand and fully exploit the definitive, if mixed, blessings of technology. I have been saying for some time now that rehabilitation agencies need a technologist to help them spend dollars wisely and I am glad for the opportunity to come to ASB and practice what I have been preaching." Since 1972, Mr. Kimbrough has served in various editorial capacities for Dialogue Magazine. Before becoming a Triformation executive, he spent five years as the magazine's technology editor. Now that he is no longer with Triformation, he plans to resume his technical columns in the magazine and will continue to edit the publication's "Career" section. Associated Services for the Blind is a multi-service agency serving over 4,000 blind and visually impaired people in Philadelphia and across the nation each year. For more information about the agency and its services, write Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, or call (215) 627-0600. ***** ** 1986 Tours and Travel Information The idea of customized tours for people with physical impairments is being test marketed by International Tours of Mill Valley and Access/Abilities, a resource organ1zation for the physically disabled. A tour of the Bay Area, Highway 1, and Southern California has been customized for people who are blind or severely visually impaired. The tour will begin Thursday, May 1, in San Francisco. For four days and nights, the five human senses will be stimulated by excursions designed to satisfy the curiosity and craving for adventure of people who are visually impaired. Attractions selected for the tour include the De Young Museum, the Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, cable cars, Golden Gate ferries, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Cannery, Pier 39 and Sausalito, including the Bay model built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Two days will be spent in Marin and Sonoma Counties exploring Muir Woods and Sebastiani Winery. For those continuing on the tour to southern California, the delights of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel, Big Sur, Cambria and Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, and the coastal cities south to Los Angeles will be explored before spending three days and nights visiting attractions in and around Los Angeles. For reservations and information, contact Ellen Lieber, Access/Abilities, P.O. Box 458, Mill Valley, CA 94942; (415) 388-3250. Evergreen Travel Service, Inc., is sponsoring the following White Cane Tours for 1986: Seattle and Expo '86 -- May 8-17 -- $1,550 per person, plus air fare to Seattle. Sightseeing tours of Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver; breakfast at Snoqualmie Falls; University of Washington Indian Center; Indian Council; dinner at Blake Island; the Buchart Gardens. Take a ferry to Vancouver for three nights and four days of sightseeing at Expo '86, the celebration of the century. Scandinavia -- September 20-October 6 -- $2,195 plus air. Highlights include: tour of Helsinki and visit to the Temppeliaukio Rock Church, which is carved out of solid rock and topped with a copper dome; a stop in Copenhagen, with Tivoli, the famous amusement park; optional seven-hour North Zealand tour with a visit to the Kronborg Castle, legendary home of Hamlet, Shakespeare's Prince of Denmark; sail up the Oslo Fjord past charming towns and small islands; in Bergen, visit Troldhaugen, home of composer Edward Grieg; and much, much more. For further information, write Evergreen Travel Service, Inc., 19505L 44th Avenue, W., Lynnwood, WA 98036; (206) 776-1184. Catholic Inquiry for the Blind, 228 N. Walnut Street, Lansing, MI 48933, is co-sponsoring a pilgrimage for the blind to three great shrines in Quebec, Canada: St. Joseph's Oratory, Cape of Our Lady, and St. Anne De Beaupre. Leaving September 2, and returning September 8, 1986, the package tour will include plane, bus, hotel, and food. Anyone interested can contact them in print or braille for details. The Holy Land -- Israel -- May 8-21, 1986 -- A trip planned just for the visually impaired. $1,899.00 per person, double occupancy. Tour the city of Tel-Aviv; visit the Botanical Gardens and the School for the Blind and Old Jaffa. Visit the one-time Roman port city of Caesarea and Haifa, Israel's major port city. Drive to the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Beatitudes. Stop at the Jordan River and a specially created baptismal site, before continuing along the river of Jericho, finally arriving in Jerusalem. There visit the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane. Tour the School for the Blind in Jerusalem. Excursion to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the site of the Manger. And much, much more! For information, write Roland C. Graff, South Wind (Nan Fung) Tours and Travel, Inc., 8109 S.W. 82nd Court, Miami, FL 33143; (305) 274-8470. ***** ** BVA Announces Scholarship Availability for 1986-87 Academic Year The Blinded Veterans Association has announced that eight scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each will be awarded under its Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program for the 1986-87 academic year. This is the third year of the program. Dependent children or spouses of blinded veterans are eligible for the scholarships. The veteran must be legally blind, and his blindness can be either service connected or non-service connected. Additionally, an applicant must have been accepted for admission or already enrolled as a full­time student in an accredited institution of higher education, business, secretarial, or vocational training school. Applications are available by writing: Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program, Blinded Veterans Association, 1735 DeSales Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036. Completed applications and supporting materials must be returned to the BVA no later than May 1, 1986, to qualify for the 1986-87 academic year scholarship program. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of answers to questions on the application form, transcripts of high-school and/or college records, letters of reference, and a 300-word essay on the applicant's post-education career goals. ***** ** Technology Update From ACBC Digest (ACB of California), Fall 1985: Nippon Dentsu has introduced a new ink-print and braille printer to the U.S. market, to compete with currently available low­speed printers. The Ohtsuki printer, BT 5000, is capable of generating braille, ink-print, or both simultaneously. When printing only braille, the printer operates at 13 characters per second (CPS). Ink­print alone is generated at 12 CPS, and the braille/print combination is run at a slower 8 CPS. There is a Grade Two translation package built into the printer which allows braille input to be translated to ink-print. The BT 5000 uses an impact dot matrix print method, incorporating an eight-wire dot matrix system for inked characters and a three-hammer dot matrix system for braille. It prints 41 braille characters . per line on 11 1/2-inch-wide paper. This printer is compatible with IBM, Apple, and NEC computers. It is said to be capable of generating braille from standard word processing programs such as WordStar, Apple­writer and Edit. It can also generate raised-line graphics and drawings. The manufacturer also claims the VersaBraille can drive the BT 5000. Price of the printer is $4,980.00. Anyone wishing more information may contact Nippon Dentsu Co. Ltd., 63 Katakuramachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan; telephone: 0426 37-059. From CCLV News (Council of Citizens with Low Vision), Autumn 1985: Compu-Lenz, a new computer screen magnifier which utilizes the same space as conventional screens while enlarging characters up to two times their regular size without distortion, is now available through the Abletech Connection. This device will assist those low-vision people who do not require a large degree of magnification. Compu-Lenz is a powerful Fresnel lens that comes complete with adjustable or removable holder for lens and filter that attaches to most monochrome or color terminals and business computers. These include IBM, Apple, and Tandy computers, and others. Installation is simple and requires no tools or power source. A Polaroid glare filter is also included with the unit. It can help users become more productive using spread sheets, data, or word processing. This unique accessory is synonymous with "user-friendly" and is affordably priced. ... More information is available by writing or calling Richard M. Serey, President, Abletech Connection, P.O. Box 2301, Kettering, OH 45429; (513) 293-6803. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: Teletouch — In good condition. Price: $350.00. Contact Sally Ripplinger, 1110 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613; (319) 277-3972. * For Sale: Sony ICF2010 Radio — AM/FM/ Aircraft/Short Wave. Keypad entry of frequencies. Used six months -- Like new condition. Special instruction tape prepared for blind persons. Price: $210.00 Contact Tim Hendel, 850 S. Miami Avenue, Apt. 314, Miami, FL 33130. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon Reader's Digest is hoping that Stevie Wonder can open the eyes of young people to the dangers of drinking and driving with a new advertising campaign poster released recently. The prize-winning poster is one of approximately 1100 entries in a contest sponsored by the magazine. The blind singer's message on the poster: "Before I'll ride with a drunk, I'll drive." The Florida Arts Council has nominated singer Ray Charles for a National Medal of Arts, to be presented by President Ronald Reagan. Charles attended and received his formal music education at the Florida School for the Blind in St. Augustine. OSERS News in Print is a new quarterly publication from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in the U.S. Department of Education. The first issue was devoted largely to information on supportive employment and news of transition activities nationwide. For further information, write: OSERS News in Print, 3018 Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20202. From Spectrum (El Paso, TX, Lighthouse for the Blind): To help blind and visually impaired persons order their meals with ease and independence, updated braille menus are now available in each of the 6,500 McDonald's restaurants in the United States. Two menus are available -- one featuring breakfast items and the other listing lunch/dinner selections. McDonald's first introduced braille menus in its U.S. restaurants in 1979 and is the only fast-foods restaurant to provide this service. A new special-interest group known as the Disabilities Forum has just been added to the CompuServe Information Service, this country's largest general information service for people with personal computers. The Disabilities Forum has been created as a place where anyone interested in disabilities may meet to exchange information with others. In the Disabilities Forum, issues relating to all handicapping conditions, are discussed. Information can be exchanged through public messages, through online conferences, and through the use of data libraries that contain articles, computer programs, lists of organizations and publications. Organizations serving the disabled are encouraged to submit announcements or articles highlighting their work. Address all information to: The Mainstream Center, Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060-2199. To buy a CompuServe subscription kit, see your nearest computer dealer. To order direct, call or write CompuServe, P.O. Box 20212, 5000 Arlington Centre Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43220; (800) 848-8199. Option Central has available for sale a variety of items useful to blind and visually impaired persons. For a catalog (braille, $1.00; cassette, $1.00 or free if a blank C60 cassette is supplied), write: Fred Sanderson, Option Central, 1604 Carroll Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54304. The 1984-85 Annual Report of the American Foundation for the Blind, "Touching Lives: Responding to People's Needs," is now available on talking-book tape cassette. The report contains eight personal stories about blind and visually impaired people who have benefitted either directly or indirectly from AFB services. To obtain a copy free on request, write to the American Foundation for the Blind, Public Relations Department AR, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. From The White Cane Bulletin (Florida): A blind youth attacked by a mugger in Daytona Beach said his reaction probably wasn't wise -- but it was automatic for a martial arts expert. He whirled on his assailant and dropped him to the ground with a combination of Yoshika and Jujitsu, two Japanese martial arts he has studied since he was 7 years old. Then he ran. "I didn't think I could run so fast blind," said Todd Alan Carter, 18. Todd has a second degree black belt in Yoshika and a first degree black belt in Jujitsu. He was blinded in a shooting accident a little over a year ago and has adjusted well to blindness. Cataract removal is the most common major surgery done on Medicare patients 65 and older, with more than 600,000 cataract operations performed yearly, according to Modern Maturity. Of these operations, 82% are combined with intraocular lens implantations. More and more patients are having the procedure done as outpatients in hospitals, surgical centers, or specially equipped offices. From Hoosier Starlight (Indiana): Comet Halley Returns, a NASA publication, is now available in braille. The booklet provides a description of the history and basic properties of the comet, which will be visible during the early part of 1986. The publication also includes classroom activities designed to enhance the reader's knowledge and interest in the once-in-a-lifetime event. Copies of Comet Halley Returns may be obtained free of charge by contacting Joseph Nervi, Coordinator of Educational Programs for the Handicapped, NASA Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135. At its meeting on December 15, 1985, in Little Rock, AR, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) Board of Directors elected Gibson M. DuTerroil to a two-year term as President. DuTerroil is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lighthouse of Houston, TX. ACB members elected to NAC's Executive Committee were James R. Olsen of Minneapolis, MN, as Treasurer, and Delbert K. Aman of Aberdeen, SD, as Member-at-Large. Newly elected to NAC's Board of Directors were Allen Jenkins of Berkeley, CA, and M.J. Schmitt of Forest Park, IL. Re­elected to the Board were Kathleen Megivern of Alexandria, VA, and Patricia Price of Indianapolis, IN. *** At its meeting December 12-14, NAC's Commission on Accreditation awarded first-time accreditation to three agencies: New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Newark, NJ; Suncoast Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, New Port Richey, FL; York County Blind Center, York, PA. As of December 14, 1985, 105 organizations nationwide qualified for NAC accreditation. The Rehabilitation Counseling Program in Deafness at Gallaudet College, Washington, D.C., has announced the receipt of two long­term training grants in deafness rehabilitation from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U. S. Department of Education. The awards provide a stipend for living expenses plus tuition assistance for full-time master's level graduate students in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Minority and disabled students are particularly encouraged to apply. For additional information, contact Marita M. Danek, Ph. D., Room 404 College Hall, Gallaudet College, Washington, DC 20002. The Kings Tape Library for the Blind, formerly Kings Transcribers Library, 202 W. Grangeville Boulevard, Hanford, CA 91230, supplies recorded books free of charge to blind and physically handicapped persons. Additionally, the library maintains the Kings Union Catalog, which lists recorded books of eight similar libraries for the blind. Requests and/or replies may be sent in print, braille, or tape. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has produced a flexible disc on electrical safety to help locate and rectify electrical hazards in the home. For a free copy, write U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or call toll-free, 1-800-638-2772. "A Job in Your Future" is a 90-minute cassette containing helpful information for the visually impaired job-seeker. Sections deal with preparation, interview techniques, resources to tape, and more. The cassette is free on request from Dialogue Publications, 3100 Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402. Camp Wapanacki is pleased to announce its spring, summer, and fall 1986 schedule of activities, extending from May 23 through October. Activities include canoe and camping trips, camp sessions for children as well as for adults and family groups, and an October long weekend trip to historic Lexington, Concord, Salem and Gloucester, Massachusetts. For applications and/or details, please write or call Kris or Joe Ingram, Camp Wapanacki, R. R. 1, Box 1086, Hardwick, VT 05843; (802) 472-6612. From Forbes Magazine: After years of using braille to read words, a method has been developed to help the blind read pictures. John Brule, electrical engineering professor at Syracuse (New York) University, and graduate student Shrinath Narahari have taken diagrams and drawings from a computer screen and printed them in braille. The system involves special software, an IBM-PC computer, and a Cranmer Brailler. Brule is looking into marketing the software nationally. Many cable television systems across the country have Home Shopping Clubs, which are very convenient for blind and visually impaired consumers. Products are advertised or listed on a cable channel, followed by a telephone number to call to order the products. ACB members in New Jersey have brought this service to the attention of the ACB National Office. Persons are encouraged to call their cable companies to inquire if a Home Shopping Club is available in the local service. The Association on Handicapped Student Services Programs in Post­secondary Education (AHSSPPE) will hold its 9th annual conference at the Sheraton Harbor Island East in San Diego, California, July 23-26. Work­shops dealing with computerization, latest technology in the field, learning disabilities, personal/professional growth, understanding legislation and the legislative process are some of the topics to be presented. For additional information regarding the conference or AHSSPPE, contact Jane Jarrow, P.O. Box 21192, Columbus, OH 43221; (614) 488-4972, voice/TDD. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: The computerized catalog at the Wallace Memorial Library at the Rochester (New York) Institute of Technology is equipped with speech capability. The catalog is accessible to users who have home computers and a speech board. The speech board plugs directly into the computer and interfaces with Talking TermExec, a communications program modified for the speech component. Lois Goodman, Assistant Director of Information Services at the library, believes that the Wallace Memorial Library is the first one to accomplish such a hookup to its catalog. In 1984, an estimated 30 million Trivial Pursuit games sold worldwide for $1 billion, according to Roper Reports. But a recent Roper survey found that Scrabble is now the U.S.'s most popular board game -- 81% of us reported playing within the month, while 37% played a Trivia game. The most popular game played in the U.S.? Cards. Per month, 95% pick up a deck. ***** ** Calendar of Events This Calendar of Events is prepared by the Public Affairs Department 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. April 5 - Badger Association of the Blind State Convention/ACB Day - Milwaukee April 25-26 - Arizona Council of the Blind State Convention 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 May 17 - Rhode Island Regional Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Providence May 23-26 - ACB of Texas State Convention - Fort Worth June 6-8 - North Dakota Association for the Blind 50th Anniversary Convention - Jamestown June 7 - Connecticut Council of the Blind State 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 National Special-Interest Affiliates American Blind Lawyers Association -- James Faimon, President, 4641 Valley Road, Lincoln, NE 68510 ACB Radio Amateurs -- John McCann, President, 2025 Eye Street, N.W., No. 405, Washington, DC 20006 ACB Federal Employees -- Bernice Kandarian, President, 1823 N. Aster Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 ACB Parents -- Roy Ward, President, 6212 N. Franklin, Richmond, VA 23226 Braille Revival League -- Paul Edwards, President, 3770 Toledo Road, Apt. 13, Jacksonville, FL 32217 Council of Blind Lions -- Merrill Maynard, President, 171 Washington Street, Taunton, MA 02780 Council of Citizens with Low Vision -- Elizabeth Lennon, President, 1315 Greenwood Avenue, Apt. 22, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Council of Rehabilitation Specialists -- Juliet Esterly, President, 2408 Ptarmigan, Apt. 1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 Friends-in-Art of ACB -- Janiece Petersen, President, 1629 Columbia Road, N.W., No. 800, Washington, DC 20009 Guide Dog Users, Inc. -- Phyllis Stern, President, 1178 S. Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304 Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers -- James Womack, President, P.O. Box 629, Winnfield, LA 71483 National Alliance of Blind Students -- Margie Donovan, President, 2033 Haste Street, Apt. 118, Berkeley, CA 94704 National Association of Blind Teachers -- Dana Walker, President, 341 Eagerton Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America -- Paul Verner, President, 7505 Robindale Road, Tampa, FL 33619 Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association -- Cathy Lutz, President, 3232 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 Visually Impaired Data Processors International -- M.J. Schmitt, President, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, Apt. 2B, Forest Park, IL 60130 Visually Impaired Veterans of America -- Randolph Greene, President, P.O. Box 10156, Austin, TX 78766 ***** ** 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 ###