The Braille Forum Vol. XXIV April 1986 No. 10 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 Gramm-"Rambo"-Hollings: The Onslaught Begins, by Kathleen Megivern Knoxville Notes -- ACB 25th Annual Convention Convention Travel Supports ACB News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Hands-On History: Workshops on Access for Disabled Visitors to Historic Sites, by Laura Oftedahl Access Liberty WGBH Launches Descriptive Video Service Pathfinder Tiles, by Mervin J. Flander Does "Least Restrictive Environment" Mean Mandatory Mainstreaming?, by Kathleen Megivern A New Face in Town, by Bernard Posner AFB Establishes Alexander Scourby Award NDAB 50th Anniversary Convention, by Elaine S. Kelm Outdoor Adventure Programs, 1986 Blind Tuners Worldwide Conclave Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack On June 16, 1980, Salt Lake City made its initial installation of audible traffic signals in the downtown area. This marked the beginning of a very successful and universally accepted program which has been expanded during the five-plus years of its existence. The system has gained wide attention throughout this and other countries. Inquiries have been received from well over 100 cities worldwide (see The Braille Forum, October 1983). Recently a team of investigators from Oakland, California, spent two days in Salt Lake City checking out the system and doing an in-depth study of its practicality, cost, and public acceptance. Oakland has made a vow to be the most accessible city in the United States. This study was simply another step toward making that vow a reality. The committee has now prepared a report for the City of Oakland. Following are excerpts from that report: On Thursday and Friday, February 6 and 7, 1986, five members of the Audio Pedestrian Traffic Signal Device Subcommittee were sent to Salt Lake City, Utah, from Oakland, California, to make an on-site inspection of the signalized locations of the audible pedestrian traffic signal devices and to interview and receive comments on this system and return with a detailed report of the findings. Those Subcommittee members in attendance were Henry Hurlburt, Chairperson of Subcommittee, Chairperson of the Mayor's Commission on Disabled Persons; John diFrancesco, Chairperson of the Commission's Committee on Orientation Systems for the Visually Handicapped; Dorothy Hurlburt, volunteer; Michael Pickering, City Traffic Engineer; Peter Margen, of Access California ... By walking and listening, we used 14 of the 18 installed signalized locations that had been in place for between two and five years ... Salt Lake City initially installed devices at four intersections and two mid-block crossings in 1980 and to date has increased the number to 18 locations, with five more locations in the process of being completed ... Salt Lake City placed each device on a time clock for operational hours between 7:30 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sundays. These changes have eliminated any complaints of annoyance. ... In Salt Lake City's harsh environment, the devices have required virtually no maintenance and are not subject to vandalism, since they are ten feet above the sidewalk. They automatically operate each time the "WALK" light indication is displayed, and there are no push-button activators involved ... Based on its experience, Salt Lake City intends to continue the use of the existing audible devices and continue expanding the number of locations covered ... Many (Salt Lake City seniors) have to walk slowly and must start crossing immediately when the "WALK" indicator lights. They like the audible system because, although not legally blind, many have vision problems and the audio tells them when to start crossing. When asked to tell of any complaints about the system, they said they have none, except they wish there were more locations covered. They felt safer and went downtown more often than before to entertainment and shopping and were able to take advantage of "sale" days. The director of the Senior Center confirmed all of their statements and gave the system her highest praise for its safety and other features. ... Mobility instructors and the Assistant Director of the Blind Center supported the system, and the usage was included in their orientation and mobility training for their blind clients. They encouraged installations at more intersections. Their blind clients had expressed enthusiasm for the system. No complaints were voiced about the system ... The Assistant Manager of the Hotel Utah said, "No complaints from our guests or other persons. The Hotel thinks they're great, since they now turn off at 9:00 P.M.!" From others: "I'm so used to them that I don't even know they are there, except I know I use them when crossing the street. I guess they are wonderful for blind people. For me they even get me moving when I am daydreaming." ... There were no negative comments expressed, and the persons interviewed were all supportive, including a newspaper reporter and the employees working on the street-front office of the Tribune newspaper directly in front of a mid-block crossing. ... Our group "walked through, listened to, and observed" fourteen locations. The advantages for the two blind members of our group were extensive, and both Mr. Hurlburt and Mr. diFrancesco were able to start crossing at exactly the beginning of the "WALK" indications and commented on this as a "phenomenon." Sighted pedestrians were observed departing by interrupting their conversations and automatically starting across the street when the audible indicator began. ... All of the information which we gained during our visit to Salt Lake City has confirmed the success of that city's audible pedestrian signal experience. The system is unobtrusive and of great worth. It was a pleasure to have this group from Oakland spend some time in our city. We hope that by sharing our very positive experience with audible signals, we can help them meet their goal to become the most accessible city in the United States. ***** ** Gramm-"Rambo"-Hollings: The Onslaught Begins By Kathleen Megivern The first round of automatic budget cuts under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act (or Gramm-"Rambo"-Hollings, as one European leader called it) took effect on March 1. Even though these first cuts were "mild" compared to what could lie ahead, the pinch has already been felt by several agencies. The Library of Congress has announced that it will start closing on Sundays and will eliminate its evening hours for the first time in this century. Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory wrote about the severe cutbacks which the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will have to suffer. She reported that blind patrons "will be deprived of 80,000 new books by Gramm-Rudman, or rather by a Congress which has abdicated its powers." That last point, Congress's abdication of power, is the issue which now goes before the U.S. Supreme Court, after a lower court ruled that those provisions of Gramm-Rudman-Hollings which provide for automatic budget cuts rather than Congressionally approved cuts are unconstitutional. Some people are estimating that if automatic cuts go into effect in fiscal year 1987, it could mean as much as a 20 percent across-the-board slash in every Federal program. That means EVERY program -- departments will not have any discretion about eliminating one program while maintaining another, etc. The meat cleaver of Gramm-Rudman-Hollings will take its toll on everything from the Department of Defense to Independent Living Services for Elderly Blind Persons. These automatic cuts, called "sequestrations," simply must not be allowed to happen. And that's where all of us come in. Every one of us should communicate with our Representatives and Senators, urging them to make only those cuts which are necessary, and to do so in a well-thought-out, rational manner. The timetable is short, and especially in an election year, the decisions are tough ones. But we cannot allow our elected representatives to wash their hands of the appropriations process and stand by while vital social programs are devastated. The President's budget proposal is already in trouble on Capitol Hill. As you may know, for fiscal year 1987, the President has requested some deep cuts in areas such as rehabilitation training and special education personnel preparation. He also has asked for zero money for Title VII, Part C -- Independent Living Services for Elderly Blind Persons. We all worked very hard last year to have that program funded for the first time in its history, and if the President has his way, it will disappear again. The level of funding for the rehabilitation state grants program, as requested by the President, would result in an estimated 85,000 fewer blind and handicapped persons being served in fiscal year 1987. Appropriations and budget battles are not the only things happening in Washington these days. Both the Rehabilitation Act and the discretionary programs under the Education of the Handicapped Act must be reauthorized this year. The Reagan Administration has asked for a simple one-year extension of both programs, but that seems unlikely. The House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor has marked up its bill for reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act. The bill makes several changes in the law, including a reduction in the Federal share of the basic state grants program. The program is a matching one, with the Federal Government providing 80 percent of the funding and each state matching with 20 percent. The House bill changes that ratio to 75/25. There was some concern expressed during the committee markup about the change, and it is possible that an amendment will be offered when the bill reaches the floor of the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, on the Senate side, Senator Weicker has held hearings on the reauthorization of the discretionary programs under the Education of the Handicapped Act. He has made it quite clear that he is determined to defeat Administration efforts to slash funding for special education programs. Two other items of interest have been the subject of some recent activity. The Civil Rights Restoration Act -- sometimes referred to as the Grove City Bill because it would overturn the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Grove City College v. Bell ? has remained paralyzed in the House of Representatives, but has recently become the subject of intense lobbying. The Grove City decision, you may remember, ruled that if only certain departments within an institution are receiving Federal financial assistance, other parts of that institution are not covered by civil rights laws such as Section 504. Thus, if the medical school of a major university receives Federal money, but the English Department does not, the English Department is not subject to any of the Federal civil rights statutes. Prior to this decision, it was assumed that if any part of a university or other entity was receiving Federal financial assistance, the entire university or entity would be covered. The House Rules Committee has before it two versions of the Grove City Bill, one of which includes language concerning abortion. Civil rights advocates are urging the House to adopt the "pure" version of the bill. The Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) was an important provision which expired on December 31, 1985. This section of the Tax Code provides a credit to employers who hire members of certain groups such as handicapped persons referred by a vocational rehabilitation agency, Vietnam veterans, and certain welfare recipients. This section was intended to ease unemployment among these identified "high risk" categories. Even though a recent Harris poll showed that two-thirds of disabled Americans aged 16 to 64 are unemployed and the TJTC could help find jobs for disabled people, Congress allowed the tax credit to expire. The TJTC was responsible for as many as 750,000 jobs nationwide last year. There seems to be plenty of support in Congress for this tax credit. It was included in the omnibus tax reform bill passed by the House of Representatives before they adjourned last December. However, there are so many other controversial provisions in that tax reform bill that Senate action on the bill is most likely a long way off. Both the Senate and the House chairmen of the committees responsible for tax legislation have expressed support for reviving the targeted jobs tax credit, and efforts are afoot to have separate legislation passed to retroactively extend this provision. ***** ** Knoxville Notes ACB 25th Annual Convention The 25th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, June 28-June 5, 1986. Blind and visually impaired people will gather from throughout the United States to discuss current issues, learn of the latest technological developments, make new friends and renew old acquaintances, and enjoy a spectacular week in the mountain city of Tennessee. The convention will be housed in three hotels -- the Hyatt Regency Knoxville, the Knoxville Hilton, and the Holiday Inn World's Fair. A special convention shuttle will provide continuous transportation service between hotels for a minimum of 18 hours each day. Room rates for the convention are $32.00 per night per room. Reservations have been pouring in. The Hyatt is already filled, and the Hilton is nearing capacity. To make reservations, write or call the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 5012, Knoxville, TN 37901; (615) 523-7263. DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL. This could result in overbooking and duplication. ACB general convention sessions will be held each morning in the Hyatt Regency beginning Monday, June 30. Special-interest conferences, workshops, and seminars will be scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29, and every weekday afternoon, June 30-July 4. The time is fast approaching when the pre-registration form will arrive in your mailbox. Often the form brings with it problems for those who cannot read print. Many of you have expressed difficulty in locating someone who can take the time to read the entire form, including schedules, descriptions of special events, and instructions. In an effort to assist you with this problem, we have included a special Convention Supplement in the braille and cassette editions of this issue of The Braille Forum. Because the pre-registration materials this year will be produced in large-print, this Convention Supplement is not included in the print edition. This list is approximately 90 percent complete; there will be some additional information and a few activities on the pre-registration form that are unavailable at this writing. We hope, however, that this supplement will be helpful, as it is important that you complete and return your pre-registration form as quickly as possible after you receive it. If you have questions or problems, we will be happy to try to assist you with them. Contact one of the following individuals on convention?related matters: 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 North Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (717) 826-2364 (daytime only) ***** ** Convention Travel Supports ACB When you travel by air to the 1986 ACB convention, you could be saving money on your ticket as well as helping cut ACB's expenses. Cosmopolitan Travel Service of Jacksonville, Florida, will act as official travel agent for the 1986 national convention of the American Council of the Blind. One of Cosmopolitan's employees, Linda Ward, is blind and is anxious to provide first-rate assistance to ACBers in making their travel plans. Further, Linda has made arrangements with her agency and Eastern Airlines to provide a bonus ticket to ACB for every 40 tickets sold. And, if you fly Eastern, you will be eligible for a discount of 53% off coach fare, or the lowest applicable rate. No matter where you live, no matter which airline you use, you can participate in this program. When you call Cosmopolitan Travel (at no cost to you), ask for Linda Ward. She will help you obtain the lowest possible fare on the flight that suits you best. Purchasing an airline ticket through a travel agent does not increase the cost to you. And purchasing your ticket through Cosmopolitan can save ACB well over $1,000 in convention expenses. Remember, all travel agents have access to the same fares. A good agent will take the time to ensure that you receive the best possible rate on the flight you choose. Here is how you can reach Cosmopolitan Travel. If you live in Florida, call toll-free 1-800-447-TRIP (that's 1-800-447-8747). If you live in Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, or Hawaii, call Cosmopolitan collect at 1-904-743-9080. From all other states, call toll-free 1-800-435-TRIP (that's 1-800-435-8747). We realize that many of you may already have purchased an airline ticket. If you have already booked a flight directly with an airline but have not actually paid for your ticket at this time, you can still participate in this program. Simply call Cosmopolitan and tell them which flight you have reserved. They will then be able to write the ticket for you and ACB will benefit from your reservation. For those of you who have yet to make your travel plans, however, it is hoped that you will consider this program. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative February started in the ACB National Office not with a Valentine greeting, but with the receipt of the formal answer by the Librarian of Congress in the suit filed by the American Council of the Blind and others in connection with the braille Playboy magazine issue. The answer, submitted by the U.S. Department of Justice in behalf of the Librarian of Congress, argued, in substance, that in the first place ACB and the other plaintiffs do not have standing to sue, and that the complaint did not allege a wrong for which there is a legal remedy. These arguments were expected, and ACB and the other plaintiffs are now proceeding to gather additional evidence through the discovery process. This process will take several weeks, and the decision by the U.S. District Court probably will not be rendered for several more months. Recently a spokesperson for the National Federation of the Blind stated in an article in Dialogue magazine that resorting to the courts was the wrong strategy in his case, and that we should merely have relied on Congress to correct the situation. This position, another effort by NFB to justify its lack of action, overlooks the fact that restoration of funding for the braille edition of Playboy would require an affirmative appropriation in the midst of a legislative climate which is concentrating on the reduction of appropriations for even well established human services programs. Recently ACB representatives met with representatives of the American Public Transit Association (APTA), the Washington-based association representing most transit system operators, to begin exploring anew the broad policy issues relating to the provision of transportation services to blind and other handicapped people. A second meeting, which was also attended by representatives of disability rights organizations made up primarily of orthopedically handicapped people, resulted in a decision to call upon the Department of Transportation to discuss proposed regulations with the interested organizations before actually publishing such regulations, so as to avoid the premature crystalizing of positions on very controversial subjects. While most blind travelers do not have the same degree of concern as do many orthopedically disabled travelers concerning such matters as accessible buses and subways, there are, nevertheless, many issues that vitally con?cern blind people. These include eligibility for and/ or availability of alternative transportation systems and improvement of existing transportation services in ways that would also benefit blind people. Later in February, it was my pleasure to represent the American Council of the Blind at a reception hosted at the White House to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the enactment of Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Secretary of Education William Bennett, expressed the interest of the Reagan Administration in maintaining special education capabilities at a high level. Since the main purpose of the reception was to celebrate the enactment of the statute, no discussion was devoted to the realistic difficulties which blind students, in particular, have encountered under various interpretations of Public Law 94-142. During the month, ACB representatives met with a representative of Criminal Justice Associates, a national consulting firm, to provide input concerning possible service programs that should be considered for establishment in large state prisons. We discussed many of the traditional programs and recommended new areas to be considered. However, it would be helpful if we could receive suggestions from Braille Forum readers as to service areas which might be feasible for prison programs to enter. A few of the realistic considerations to keep in mind include the impact of such services on established businesses providing such services, the cost of equipment for entering the program, the degree of technical knowledge needed, and the availability of materials needed. Suggestions should be in written form and should be submitted to either the National Representative or to the Public Affairs Director, Laura Oftedahl, in the ACB National Office. By the time this issue of The Braille Forum goes to press, ACB's Laura Oftedahl will have competed in the 1986 World Skiing Championships for the Disabled, taking place in Salen, Sweden, during early April. She is a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, having been selected to the team by the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes. Laura was a member of the women's cross-country skiing relay team which won the silver medal for the United States in the 1984 Winter Olympics for the Handicapped, held in Austria. Good luck to Laura and all the other members of the U.S. team! ***** ** Hands-On History: Workshops on Access for Disabled Visitors to Historic Sites By Laura Oftedahl Director of Public Affairs The National Trust for Historic Preservation conducted six regional workshops during 1985 to provide site personnel with the information and know-how necessary to make their locations more accessible and enjoyable to disabled visitors. Disabled persons themselves serving on advisory committees in each region provided the know-how for the directors and curators present at the two-day workshops. The American Council of the Blind provided consultation and technical assistance for these events. Three Council members served on advisory committees and articulated the needs of blind and low-vision people. Sheilah Carroll of Springfield, Massachusetts, presented at the Stockbridge, Massachusetts workshop; Joanne Davidoff from Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, spoke at the Philadelphia session; and Marsha Mazz of Riverdale, Maryland, presented at the Mount Vernon, Virginia workshop. Other workshop locations, all of which were conducted at historic house museums, included Charleston, South Carolina; Oak Park, Illinois; and New Iberia, Louisiana. Relevant information such as what is Section 504 and what it means for the historic site was presented at the beginning of each workshop. Participants learned first-hand about the nature of visual impairments, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, and mobility impairments. Issues, problems, and solutions relating to each disability were also presented. Workshop exercises included how to assess a site's current accessibility, implementing practical solutions, training staff, and building an audience of disabled visitors. Emphasis throughout the workshops was placed on integrating accessibility ideas into existing programs versus creating special programs for disabled visitors. The visually impaired presenters made many valuable recommendations in such areas as better lighting for partially sighted visitors, accessible large-print and tactile signage, more descriptive tours, touchable items, written brochures in accessible media, and basic dos and don'ts of dealing with blind people. Recognizing that historic house museums generally operate on meager budgets, the National Trust, with grant assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, implemented a mini-grant program. This is intended to assist historic sites across the nation to develop and put into operation ideas generated from these workshops. Projects which encourage disabled visitors to participate in a site's regular programs, and accessibility activities which are a part of the daily interpretive programs are examples of eligible grant projects. ***** ** Access Liberty In 1986, the Statue of Liberty will have graced New York Harbor for one hundred years, and in 1992 it will be one hundred years since Ellis Island opened as an entry point for immigrants. Exposure to the elements has left these monuments in a seriously deteriorated condition. To address this situation, the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation was established to restore and preserve these national treasures. In the past, both of these monuments have presented substantial physical and programmatic barriers to disabled people. Thus, the Access Liberty efforts of the Foundation are under way. Close to $3 million must be raised to carry out the many accessibility features proposed by an ad hoc Disability Advisory Committee. If the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are to truly symbolize America's ideals of equal opportunity for all, it is imperative that they be made available to all people regardless of age or level of physical ability. While the primary consideration is the elimination of architectural barriers, the Disability Advisory Committee has attempted to investigate every aspect of the sites to ensure that the experience of disabled and non?disabled visitors will be substantially the same. Some of the plans for blind and visually impaired visitors are quite exciting. Since even the most detailed verbal description of an exhibit limits the experience of a blind tourist, tactile displays will be available. One such display will be a four-foot model of the Statue of Liberty. Other features will include large?type signs with contrasting colors and raised-letter signs throughout the monuments. Visitors with low vision will appreciate the adequate and even lighting and non-glare glass used throughout the buildings. Blind and visually impaired visitors will also appreciate the fact that pay telephones, drinking fountains, fire extinguishers, and other such fixtures will be recessed into the walls. Portable cassette players with recorded tour and accessibility information will be available as well. To serve the needs of a broad spectrum of visitors, a nine-channel infrared listening system will be installed in the Ellis Island theater, where two films on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island immigration experience will run continuously. One channel of the system will broadcast a narrative description of the visual elements of the films so that the blind viewer can experience important actions, facial expressions, gestures, opening and closing credits, and other non-verbal information. Other channels will carry amplified audio for the hard-of-hearing viewer and half a dozen foreign language translations. To make these monuments accessible according to the recommendations set forth, the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation must raise approximately $3 million. A challenge grant of $1 million toward this goal has been received from the Disabled American Veterans, and the J.M. Foundation has granted $50,000. In order to meet the DAV challenge and to create a national monument with optimal access for all, contributions from concerned organizations and individuals are needed by the Access Liberty Campaign, P.O. Box 4112, New York, NY 10163. This support will help ensure that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island set a standard for universal access that public and private institutions throughout the world will emulate for many years to come. ***** ** WGBH Launches Descriptive Video Service The WGBH Educational Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Easter Seal Research Foundation to launch an exciting new project that will make television more complete, understandable, and enjoyable for blind and low-vision viewers. An emerging new technology called multichannel television sound (MTS), or stereo TV, offers the potential for providing audio descriptions to persons with visual impairments during regular television broadcasts. MTS provides an additional channel, the Secondary Audio Program (SAP) channel, which permits transmission of program or non-program?related audio. By simply switching to the SAP channel of stereo TV, you will be able to hear, during the pauses in the regular program dialogue, specially trained announcers describe the visual action ? the sets, the costumes, facial and body movements, location, etc. We've dubbed this concept Descriptive Video Services (DVS). It was originally conceived by Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, President of the Washington EAR, a radio reading service for the blind. Dr. Pfanstiehl describes DVS as "the art of talking pictorially." The innovative and pioneering work of Dr. Pfanstiehl, combined with the new MTS technology, offers an exciting opportunity to make television as accessible to visually impaired people as closed?captioning is for hearing impaired. WGBH will begin on-air testing of the service in the Boston area late this spring. After a short trial period, with volunteers from the visually impaired community as viewers, WGBH will evaluate plans for extending the service on a national basis. For more information on the DVS project, or if you live in the Boston area and would like to participate as a viewer, please call Sharon Davenport, (617) 492-2777, Extension 3734. ***** ** Pathfinder Tiles By Mervin J. Flander (Note: Mervin Flander is Chief of the Bureau of Services to the Blind, Carson City, Nevada.) In recent years, there has been a growing concern and effort to eliminate the physical and social barriers that separate the handicapped from the rest of the community. To ensure mobility for the handicapped, improvements have been made in public transportation with the addition of wheelchair lifts on buses, ramps to public buildings, restroom modifications, and a variety of other environmental accommodations. Most notably, curb cuts and blended corners have been added to increase access at intersections for the physically handicapped. The Federal standard which provides for wheelchair access through curb cuts and blended corners has proved to be effective for the 645,000 physically handicapped persons using wheelchairs, but has proved to be a hazard and an architectural barrier for the 11,500,000 persons who make up the visually impaired population and the 500,000 persons who are legally blind. Paradoxically, because the world seems to place increasing emphasis on the visual senses, blind persons find themselves isolated and handicapped in their effort to compete with the rest of society. Yet the visually handicapped person asks only for supplemental aids to become self?sufficient and to become a useful member of the community. The key to self-sufficiency is linked to personal mobility. The visually impaired person must learn how to move about in a world that was developed by sighted persons (primarily) and oriented to their needs. At intersections, visually impaired persons learn to use the sound of traffic for guidance for proper alignment to cross the street. Traffic sounds are also used to indicate when to step off the curb as well as to maintain the direction of travel while crossing. However, unusual crosswalks, diagonal crossings, exceptionally wide streets, and particularly curb cuts are potential architectural barriers for visually impaired persons. There appears to be an alarming lack of awareness of the continued proliferation of these hazards with the uncontrolled installation of curb cuts and blended corners. There are seven major problem areas: 1. Curb cuts provide no tactile reference to indicate where the sidewalk ends and the street begins. Often a blind person will take a full step into the street without being aware of impending danger. 2. More often than not, curb cuts are made at an angle to the street. This adds to the confusion, and the blind person may wander out of the crosswalk. 3. The curb cuts are often not made within the crosswalk stripes; that is, they bisect the corner. This is an impossible situation, and blind persons often walk diagonally into the street and are exposed to traffic. 4. The curb cuts are often not directly across the street from each other, posing problems for the blind traveler in determining a path across the street since there should be a reasonable expectation that curb cuts line up with one another. 5. Blended corners create a similar, but more serious problem as bisected corners. The problem is compounded here, since there is no tactile reference for direction or where the street is located. 6. Loading platforms at rapid transit and public transportation facilities are hazards and have resulted in tragic accidents. Tactile platform warnings must be provided. 7. Bus stop locations are not standard; therefore, tactile identifiers should be provided to make them more accessible for the blind community. Other areas which should be identified to improve safety and mobility include entrances to public buildings, approaches to escalators, stairways and fire escapes, and, most importantly, guideways to assist in crossing large parking areas surrounding shopping centers. Normally, shopping centers do not provide tactually identifiable sidewalk approaches to the island of buildings and shops. Although there have been studies evaluating tactile references sponsored by the United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (A&TBCB), there appears to have been little or no effort toward implementation of a national standard to resolve the problem. I have been following the development and evaluation of a new tactile warning and directional tile system which appears to have gained acceptance because of its simplicity and effectiveness. The key to the potential success of this concept is in the ease, simplicity, and cost effectiveness with which the tactile tiles can be produced. Thus, the required doctrine of uniformity can be met and the reality of a national standard becomes possible. This tactile warning tile is being referred to as the "Pathfinder" concept. The concept is based upon two types of molded tiles, with two distinct surface patterns. One pattern consists of a series of raised dots to indicate caution or stop. The other pattern consists of a bar configuration which, when aligned with the desired objective, indicates direction. These raised indicators are designed to be detectable with a cane and/or underfoot. The concept also provides for a four-inch-wide guidestrip which is affixed to the roadway surface parallel to the center line of the crosswalk, and which provides assistance with crossings involving right-hand turn lanes and diagonal crosswalks between non-aligned curb cuts on blended curbs. Installation of the tactile tiles and guidestrips has been made in several cities and in the major public transportation system of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco. A main issue is public awareness of the situation as it exists today. If you are one of the 11.5 million persons who are blind or visually impaired and whose daily lives and activities are being affected by impaired personal mobility, we need your help. Nearly 12 million individuals acting in a concerted effort can bring about the adoption of a national standard. The influence of that many people cannot be ignored by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and by members of Congress. Will you join those of us working for acknowledgement of the Pathfinder concept and the adoption of a national standard? Write to your Congressmen (consult your local library for addresses) and to the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, Washington, DC 20202. You should also be aware that two committees of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials are considering whether or not to recommend the adoption of a policy or standard on tactile aids for the blind for inclusion in their manual known as the "Green Book." These are the Subcommittee on Design, chaired by Marcus L. Yancey, Jr., State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, Greer State Highway Building, 11th and Brazos Streets, Austin, TX 78701, and the Task Force on Geometric Design, chaired by Brooks O. Nichols, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, State Highway Department Building, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203. It is critically important that these two committees be informed of your views. While it is generally conceded that curb cuts and wheelchair lifts are beneficial to the 645,000 wheelchair users, there is resistance to assisting visually impaired persons. That resistance must and will be overcome by your expressions of concern and those of your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. You have an opportunity to flex your muscle. Each of us has a moral responsibility to assist the nearly 12 million visually impaired persons who require supplemental mobility aids in order to continue to be self-sufficient. A number of organizations have adopted resolutions supporting the directional tile concept (Editor's Note: See ACB Membership Resolution 85-22). Your local Lions Club, service groups, and other organizations can further assist by adopting supporting resolutions. These resolutions and your letters of support will document the need to resolve these issues. That documentation can bring about funding from the same channels which provided funds for curb cuts and other installations to assist the physically handicapped. Editor's Note: For the past several years, Eugene Lozano of the California Council of the Blind has been working with Sacramento public works officials, service organizations, and blind consumers in developing use of the Pathfinder Tiles at particularly difficult street intersections with blended corners (see The Braille Forum, June 1985). These tiles, manufactured by Guidance Systems, Inc., of Carson City, NV, were demonstrated at the 1985 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Las Vegas. In a recent letter, Mr. Lozano writes: "In April 1986, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Task Force on Geometric Design will be convening to consider new regulations for their regulatory handbook. The handbook consists of standards for highway and transit traffic and pedestrian control devices for streets and transit facilities. One of the items being considered for inclusion in their AASHTO Handbook is the Pathfinder Tiles System. "Guidance Systems, Inc., is asking members and affiliates of the American Council of the Blind to write to Chairman Brooks Nichols of the AASHTO Task Force on Geometric Design (see address above), informing him of comments they have on the Pathfinder Tiles System and what this system means to them in terms of safety for blind and visually impaired pedestrians; also that the system is a directional system assisting them in detecting bus stops, train platform edging, curb cuts, etc. Please take this opportunity to give your input to a regulatory body that is interested in providing greater accessibility for the blind and visually impaired when traveling on streets and through transit facilities. It would be appreciated if copies of your comments be sent to: Guidance Systems, Inc., 400 W. King Street, Suite 400, Carson City, NV 89701." ***** ** Does "Least Restrictive Environment" Mean Mandatory Mainstreaming? By Kathleen Megivern (Note: The following article is reprinted from the February 1986 issue of AER Report, published by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Since the time this article was written, the Department of Education has formally notified interested parties that they will review all of the comments received and will work on "clearer" revision of the manuals in question.) Organizations and individuals concerned about education of blind and visually handicapped children around the country responded recently to a move by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to implement a basic philosophical change in the thrust of Public Law 94-142. Advocates of handicapped children fought hard for the passage of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act ten years ago. A major premise of this law is that every handicapped child should receive a "free and appropriate public education" in the "least restrictive environment." For many children this has meant mainstreaming into regular classrooms. However, through the "IEP" process, the law tries to assure that each child's individual needs will be considered in deciding upon the most appropriate placement, whether that might be in a regular classroom, a special classroom, a residential school, etc. The importance of this range of options -- "continuum of services" -- is recognized in the law and its implementing regulations. In recent months, the office within OSERS which is responsible for monitoring compliance of State Education Agencies has produced new versions of some of its compliance manuals. The one which has caused the greatest controversy is Manual 10 on the subject of "Least Restrictive Environment." What seems to come through "loud and clear" in this manual is a philosophy that all handicapped children must be mainstreamed into regular classrooms regardless of their individual problems and needs. The result would be the sort of reverse discrimination which has characterized many affir?mative action programs. The victims, of course, would be those handicapped children who would be better served in a residential facility or a special classroom. By making such placement so difficult, the new manual would have the effect of further stigmatizing the very children it is supposed to be helping. The manual states that handicapped children could be removed from regular classrooms only on the basis of "compelling evidence" that their IEP goals are not able to be met for the following reasons: i. "Inability to achieve such goals and objectives is based solely on the presence of non-handicapped children in the classroom or the educational environment. ii. Other factors which might account for non-achievement, such as instructional methodologies or content (curriculum, teaching approaches, and classroom settings) must be eliminated as potential contributors to non-achievement. iii. Any removal from the regular educational environment will result in improved educational achievement. iv. Any necessary service in a more restrictive environment cannot be provided in a less restrictive environment." Obviously, to find "compelling evidence" that the aforementioned reasons are operative in any individual child's case would be extremely difficult and would thus make any placement other than in a regular classroom seem virtually impossible. The emphasis of this section on failure to meet IEP goals has led many observers to conclude that the language might require that a child be placed in a regular classroom and actually fail before a more restrictive placement could be justified. Almost as disturbing as the substance of this language is the process whereby the "draft" manual was reviewed. AER and others feel that what is being attempted is in fact a major policy change in the interpretation of P.L. 94-142. Such a change should only be accomplished through the legislative process or, at the very least, through regulation changes requiring publication in the Federal Register and a period for public comment. Instead, we learned of the draft manuals very late in the process, and no organization representing blind people was ever included in the limited review which did take place. AER has filed written comments with OSERS, as have many other organizations and individuals ... We believe this effort to impose "mandatory mainstreaming" runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of P.L. 94-142, a law which is intended to protect and best meet the individual needs and rights of each handicapped child. ***** ** A New Face in Town By Bernard Posner So the Association of Radio Reading Services now has a "presence" in Washington -- an office, thanks to the American Association of Retired Persons; a national coordinator who is a volunteer; a couple of helpers, also volunteers. Now what? Some "presences" in Washington are just that -- sitting, unblinking presences, waiting for the phone to ring, yawning secretary who has just polished her nails for the fifth time. ARRS won't be like that at all. Its Washington office will be a pretty busy place. That's why when you call you may get a tape recording or a busy signal. Among its functions: * Establish contacts with Federal agencies involved in disability and in broadcasting. Also, contacts with appropriate committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. * Keep disability organizations and organizations of senior citizens informed about ARRS. We'd like ARRS to be a leading force in the disability world. * Keep the membership informed of Washington activities that may affect them. This includes, of course, covering Congressional hearings and keeping tabs on administrative developments. * Provide an idea exchange for member stations. We'll share ideas, share projects, so that everybody benefits. * Publicize ARRS and its stations, so that everybody will begin to get some notion of the great good being done for great numbers. The time is right for a Washington presence of ARRS. Serious deliberations about disability are now going on. The National Council on the Handicapped has just issued its long-awaited report to the President and the Congress on what's needed in the disability world. The National Organization on Disability is building a grassroots movement. The consensus of these and other efforts is: Disabled people want to be equal parts of society. They don't want second-class status any more. Radio reading services provide a kind of platform to equality. Finally, finally, through a radio reading service, a disabled person or a senior person can know what's going on in the world out there; can form decisions; can forge points of view on issues. "Speak out! Speak out!" Thomas Jefferson proclaimed. Well, now those who avail themselves of radio reading services can speak out ? same voice level as all other Americans. Hopefully, the Washington office can help. (Note: Bernard Posner was for many years the Executive Director of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. He is now retired from the Federal service and as a volunteer is working for the Association of Radio Reading Services as its National Coordinator. He is in charge of the Association's new Washington office at 1133 20th Street, N.W., where several hundred friends attended an open house reception on March 4. He has been invited to speak at the 1986 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Knoxville.) ***** ** AFB Establishes Alexander Scourby Award The Alexander Scour by Narrator of the Year A ward has been established by the American Foundation for the Blind in memory of its most popular talking book narrator. Scourby, who died in February 1985, recorded his first talking book in 1936, and for the 48 years that followed continued to contribute much of his time, talent, and energy to the recording of books for blind, visually impaired, and physically handicapped people. In all, he recorded nearly 450 talking books -- far more than any narrator in the program's history. These include Homer's Iliad, Tolstoy's War and Peace, and by far Scourby's most famous recorded work, the King James Version of the Bible. "The Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year A ward will be presented annually to the most popular talking book narrator as selected by the vote of talking book readers nationwide," said William F. Gallagher, Executive Director of the American Foundation for the Blind. The Foundation will present the first award in June of this year. All talking book readers are eligible to vote. Simply write in the name of your favorite narrator on a piece of paper, preferably a 3-by-5 card, and mail to: Alexander Scourby Award, Box 111, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. If a reader cannot recall the narrator's name, simply write the title of the best-read book. Ballots must be postmarked no later than May 1, 1986. Although he received many accolades for his work on stage, radio, television, and in films, Scourby once remarked, "The recordings for the blind are perhaps the greatest achievement." ***** ** NDAB 50th Anniversary Convention By Elaine S. Kelm In North Dakota, 1936 was a memorable year because of its drought, choking dirt storms, economic depression, and great unemployment. However, to many it was also memorable because of the fact that this was the year that the North Dakota Association of the Blind had its beginning in Jamestown in August. There was a growing need for someone to speak for the blind in North Dakota. And who could better speak than the blind themselves? The movement was sparked by a young piano tuner, Melvin Eckberg, of Jamestown, in collaboration with Ms. Bessy Brady, a staff member at the North Dakota State School for the Blind at Bathgate. The official meeting was held in the City Hall, August 23-24, with nine blind people and two sighted persons present. The constitution was drawn up. The Association first affiliated with a national organization of the blind in 1944, and NDAB became an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind in 1961. The 1986 NDAB convention will be the third statewide convention held in Jamestown since NDAB was organized. Look at it as fifty years of success and it will be a real celebration. The meeting will be held at the Jamestown Holiday Inn, June 6, 7, and 8, 1986. There will be a craft fair Friday afternoon, the 6th, with local talent providing background music. Association members are requested to bring their craft items to provide door prizes during this convention so everyone has a souvenir. At the banquet on June 7, there will be dramatized readings of the history of the Association, going back to its inception. There will be time to renew acquaintances, review and learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future during this most joyous occasion for NDAB. We invite our friends from other states and the national organization to participate. ***** ** Outdoor Adventure Programs, 1986 "Daisy, Daisy" of tandem cycling fame has truly moved into the 20th century! This coming summer, International Bicycle Tours, Inc. (IBT) is offering a tandem tour of Holland for blind cyclists and their companions. Holland is a biker's delight, with an extensive network of bike lanes. The tour will be led by IBT founder and director, Mr. Frank Behrendt, and Mr. Michael Conway, a blind university student from Iowa. Dates for the tour are July 19-August 1. Estimated cost is $1,595 from New York. This includes round-trip trans-Atlantic airfare (with your cycle, or one can be provided), all overnight accommodations, daily breakfast, guides, a van to carry your luggage, etc. To learn more about this unique and exciting opportunity, write International Bicycle Tours, Inc., 12 Mid Place, Chappaqua, NY 10514, or call collect (914) 238-4576. The Handicap Program at Winter Park Resort, Winter Park, Colorado, will host a series of adventure programs for persons 15 years of age and older. No prior outdoor experience is necessary -- just some mobility and a willingness to try. Adaptive equipment will be available to augment your physical abilities. Additional information and registration can be obtained by calling Hal O'Leary or Gigi Diminguez at the Winter Park Handicap office at (303) 726-5514, Extension 179. Listed prices include food while in camp, camping and climbing supplies, fees, and ground transportation from Denver. Rock Climbing for Blind Persons: Three outdoor workshops of instruction in technical rock climbing will be offered June 23-27, September 1-5, and September 25-29. Working with the world-renowned International Alpine School, blind students will learn the history, equipment, safety systems, and technical skills of rock climbing. The camp will culminate in a climb that challenges each participant's skill level. Cost: $500.00 per person per camp. Rock Climbing and Whitewater Rafting for Blind Persons: This trip will take place July 26-August 2 on the Colorado River in northwestern Colorado and will include a three-day climbing course and a two-day rafting trip. Participants will camp along the river and enjoy short hikes, group discussions, and solitude. Cost: $225.00. Rafting and Camping Trip for Physically Challenged Disabled Persons: An exciting trip June 23-29 down the Yampa and Green rivers in northwestern Colorado, with camp being made along the water. Cost: $250.00 per person. Other programs offered by the Winter Park Resort include advanced ski technique and race training camp in Italy in July and summer day programs for all ages and ability levels from July 1 through September 30. The Colorado Mountain School of Estes Park is offering a four-day rock climbing camp for the visually impaired, August 2-5. No prior experience is necessary -- just a willingness to try and a desire to have a good time. Cost is $235.00, which includes food and lodging. Partial scholarships are available. Contact Mike Donahue, Colorado Mountain School, P.O. Box 2106, Estes Park, CO 80517; (303) 586-5758. ***** ** Blind Tuners Worldwide Conclave Visually impaired tuners, both at beginning stages and advanced, are cordially invited to attend the 1986 annual convention of the Piano Technicians Guild, to be held July 21-25 at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada. PTG's Visually Impaired Committee has arranged a program on Monday, July 21, to address the specific problems of blind tuners. Kai Okada will lecture and demonstrate some thirty devices particularly useful to the blind technician. Mr. Okada is a highly skilled blind tuner and machinist, and the tools he produces represent the best thought and know-how of several generations and are not made anywhere else in the world. There is no charge for this golden learning opportunity. A limited number of free cassette tapes covering facts on Kai Okada, Francis Mehaffey, and tools and grand action regulation procedures for the blind tuner are available from Stanley Oliver, 1965 East Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48234; (313) 891-9226. The ensuing four days of the PTG convention will feature over 30 exciting classes on all phases of piano service -- from tuning to pitch-raising, stringing, grand and vertical regulation, business-building, etc. Registration for the period Tuesday, July 22, through Friday, July 25, is $90.00 for PTG members, $150.00 for non-members. You will never get a better bargain in your life! For further information, write Piano Technicians Guild, 9140 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114; (816) 444-3500. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon In answer to the question, "What was the first record you ever bought?" in a column, "Let's Ask," in USA Weekend, country recording star Ronnie Milsap replied: "It was a 45 rpm by Elvis Presley, Mystery Train. It cost $.49 in 1955. I was 12 years old and left the campus of the North Carolina School for the Blind without permission to go buy it. I got caught and lost my privileges for two months." At the Lenoir Museum, located at the Norris Dam State Park some 20 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee, visitors are actually encouraged to touch exhibits on display. The museum represents 60 years of collecting by owner Will G. Lenoir, who believes museums should be fun. He leads the tours of everyday life in 18th-century Tennessee. The museum is open weekends during the winter and daily from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. summers. Contact Director of Information, Box 23170, Nashville, TN 37202. "Placement of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons" is the theme of a conference to be held May 28-30 at the Radisson Inn and Conference Center, I-75 at Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA. For Further information, contact Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, P.O. Drawer 5365, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Most of the 160,000 eye injuries suffered annually by American children occur during play or sports activities, according to Prevent Blindness News. And baseball-related accidents result in more eye injuries among youngsters between the ages of 5 and 14 than does any other sport. The latest Consumer Product Safety Commission report shows that in 1983, children aged 5 to 14 suffered an estimated 2,389 injuries from baseball, 1,010 from football, and 915 from basketball. There were 275 injuries from ice and field hockey. The fourth annual Congress of the International Retinitis Pigmentosa Association (IRPA) will take place May 10-13 in Bad Nauheim, West Germany. Hosted this year by the German RP Association, IRPA is composed of various RP associations representing twenty different countries throughout the world. These groups act on behalf of three million people worldwide affected by inherited retinal degeneration such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Usher's syndrome. In the United States alone, 400,000 people are affected by these disorders. The 1985-86 catalog of Products for People with Vision Problems is now available from the American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. The catalog lists numerous aids and appliances in the following categories: Clocks/Timers, Calculators, Communications, Education, Games, Health Care, Household, Kitchen, Measuring, Recreation, Tools, Watches, and Writing. George Shearing, British-born blind pianist, celebrated two anniversaries on February 25, according to New York Times News Service. It was the 50th anniversary of his first professional job as a pianist and the first anniversary of his most recent career -- as a disc jockey on Radio Station WNEW in New York City. Shearing, who was born blind, was 16 years old when another young blind pianist who lived near him in Battersea gave up playing an old upright piano at the Mason's Arms, a club in Lambeth, and passed the piano and the job along to Shearing. "I got the equivalent of $5.00 a week," Shearing recalled recently, "and there was a box on top of the piano for tips. During Christmas week, I made $30.75." Four years later, he was voted the best jazz pianist in England, an honor he held for seven straight years. A position as a full-time braille production specialist is open at the Greater Detroit Society for the Blind, 16625 Grand River, Detroit, MI 48227. Individuals applying must have a thorough knowledge of braille, but computer skills will be taught. For further information, or to apply, contact Carroll Jackson, Executive Director, at the above address. Scrapbook Pages is a bimonthly large-print publication written especially for elderly readers. It includes topics of current interest, "with a slant toward the recent past to encourage reminiscence." There are puzzles, quizzes, instructions for special projects, and hobbies. An annual subscription costs $9 .00 from Scrapbook Pages, P.O. Box 5583, Arlington, VA 22205. When Karen Friedman picked up her dog, Thora, at the Leader Dog School in Rochester, Michigan, she never thought her new canine companion would become a published author, according to MCS Modem, newsletter of Maryland Computer Services. Seven years later, and shortly before Thora's retirement in 1984, she and Karen published My Very Special Tail -- by Thora, as told by Karen Friedman. The book opens with the statement, "The story you are about to read is true. Only the events are exaggerated to emphasize the comedy," which should give the reader an idea of what to expect in the book. Thora and Karen lead the reader through the everyday antics and experiences that helped to create a special relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. For information on how to obtain the book, write Karen Friedman, 2661 Somerset Boulevard, Troy, MI 48084. The Audible Battery Tester is a hand-held unit which emits a strong buzz when the battery is good, a weaker buzz when the battery is marginal and should not be used in recorders, and no sound when useless. This single unit tests AAA, AA, C, D, N, 9-volt, and button cells. To order, send check or money order for $15.95 to: Ann Morris Enterprises, 26 Horseshoe Lane, Department D, Levittown, NY 11756. The American Foundation for the Blind announces a call for papers for a national conference on "The Visually Impaired Traveler in Mass Transit -- Issues in Orientation and Mobility." This national conference, scheduled for Washington, D.C., January 11-12, 1987, will focus on solutions to problems facing visually impaired travelers who need to use buses, subways, and trains. Many individuals concerned about these issues have devised solutions to local problems, either alone or in concert with local agencies. This conference will be a forum for the sharing of successful policies and techniques and devices. Persons wishing to present at this conference are asked to submit a one? to two-page abstract describing the presentation by June 1, 1986. Mail to: American Foundation for the Blind, ATT.: Mr. Mark Uslan, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. A braille edition of the Halley's Comet Self-Teaching Model and Location Finder is available. This hands-on kit is a giant 33-inch, three?dimensional scale model of the inner solar system and intersecting comet orbit. Users can track the daily position of the comet and earth with markers. Order for $19.95 from: Perihelion Scientific, Dept. B, Box 1009, Paoli, PA 19301. The Communicator, a bimonthly newsletter for teachers of visually impaired people, is now available in large-print, cassette, and regular computer print. The publication, compiled by a group of concerned teachers, contains feature articles with a heavy emphasis on technology. Order for $6.00 a year from The Communicator, Route 4, Box 263, Hillsville, VA 24343; (703) 766-3869. The American Foundation for the Blind is pleased to announce the following scholarships for the 1986-87 academic year: Helen Keller Scholarship for Services to Deaf/Blind College Students - Grants of $1,000 to $3,000 per academic year; Rudolph Dillman Scholarship - Three $2,500 grants to legally blind graduate students studying in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of visually impaired and blind persons; R.L. Gillette Scholarship - Two $1,000 scholarships to legally blind women enrolled in four-year baccalaureate degree program in literature or music; Gladys C. Anderson Scholarship - Two $1,000 scholarships to legally blind women studying religious or classical music at the college level; National Chinese?American Scholarship - Financial support up to $4,000 for blind and visually impaired Chinese-American undergraduate or graduate students, or those in need of habilitation, rehabilitation, and/or vocational training - Preference to those persons ineligible for state/Federally provided services or educational benefits. For details, write Saul Freedman, Ph. D., Director of National Consultants, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. Deadline is June 1, 1986. Awards will be announced on July 31. "Hello Yellow" is the name that has been given a new service being tested by Nynex Corp., the New York-New England phone company, according to a recent article in USA Today. Analysts say this operator?assisted yellow-pages service is the wave of the future. Anyone in the test area can call a toll-free number and, for example, tell the operator they are looking for a tanning salon near Main Street. The operator will search the computer and find the listings that best match the description. One catch: You can get only two per call. For now, Nynex is carrying all 22,500 yellow-pages listings from the test region on the service at no charge. But eventually businesses will have to pay. Naomi Kalmus, analyst at International Resource Development, Inc., expects it to catch on. "If I could call up for free and have somebody look something up for me, I'd use it." If the test works, Nynex could decide this spring to expand the service. From Awareness (National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired): Sherry Lowry, parent of a blind teenager, has developed extensive resource lists of people, hardware and software that are making computers accessible for blind students and adults. Contact her at 10622 Fairlane Drive, Houston, TX 77024. *** Microcomputer News for Teachers of Blind Students lists current information about microcomputer accessibility for blind and low-vision students - software, equipment, and resources. To receive the next issue, send name, title, address, and $1.00 to Cathy Mack, Box 328, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203. ***** ** 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 meetings. 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 18-19 - Mississippi Council of the Blind State Convention - Jackson April 25-26 - ACB of Nebraska State Convention - Grand Island April 25-26 - Arizona Council of the Blind State Convention - Phoenix 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 16-17 - 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 of the Blind State Convention - Jamestown 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 August 10-12 - Georgia Council of the Blind State Convention - Rome August 10-14 - Blinded Veterans Association Annual Meeting - San Juan, PR September 20 - Maine Fraternal Association of the Blind State Convention - Portland September 26-28 - Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Wichita ***** ** 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 ###