The Braille Forum Vol. XXIV June 1986 No. 12 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 News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Voice Mail: A New Approach to Communication, by Christopher Gray Beefing up the Library Stacks, by Deborah Kendrick Senator Randolph Speaks at NCSAB Meeting, by Kathleen Megivern Visually Impaired Secretary Wins Section 501 Arbitration, by Lynn Abbott Sounds of Nature, by Robert J. Redington Innovative Braille Institute Sensory Aids Subsidy Program Senator Weicker Voices Concern for Education of the Handicapped The Justice Department Needs Your Help, by Oral O. Miller Calling All Handicapped Sailors High Goals Set by Low Country Chapter, ACB of South Carolina, by Roberta Douglas ACB Affiliate President Appointed Commissioner of Virginia State Agency Serving the Blind, by Charles Hodge In Memoriam: Vernon C. Henley, by Laura Oftedahl From the ACB Board of Publications Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon Calendar of Events ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack It is never easy when old friends must say good-bye. There does come a time, however, in all our lives when it becomes necessary to go our separate ways. It is somewhat easier when these separations are accompanied with the expectation that there will be future meetings. Although tears flow freely at school graduations, for example, almost everyone expects to see their close friends in the future. It doesn't always work that way, but at least good-byes of this kind are easier when accompanied with that hope. I have been including myself in this kind of melancholia during the past few weeks when it became evident that Albee, my dog guide, needed to be retired. For ten years we have traveled the width and breadth of this country. We have been together virtually 24 hours a day. He has done his job with impeccable exactness. In return for a superb job well done, his demands have been few. A pat on the head, a kind word, food and water, and a few minutes with the brush each day have been his only requirements. He has never complained, even on long travel days when food and drink were a long time coming. Most of us return in somewhat equal amount that which is given to us. In Albee's case, the scales are way off balance. He has given so much more than he has demanded. For what little he has required, he has given to me complete freedom and independence. He has put up with my idiosyncrasies and shortcomings without any complaint. Whether I will see much of Albee in his retirement years is uncertain. But even if I never see him again, I will always carry the memories of these past ten years. The good times, the bizarre situations, the many humorous incidents will always be with me. I wonder if he will recall, as he drowsily suns himself, any of the approximately 600,000 air miles we traveled together. Will there be some special memories for him from any of the 45 states he visited and revisited? I wonder if he will recall crowding up in a restaurant basement in Lincoln, Nebraska, during a tornado alert. Will he wince a bit as he recalls getting his foot caught in an escalator in Boston? Will he give an involuntary scratch when he remembers the voracious fleas he picked up in New Orleans? Is it possible that he may contemplate how rich he would be if he had $1 for every hour he spent lying under tables at meetings? This good-bye as Albee goes into retirement is going to be much more difficult for me than for him. He deserves to be spoiled, eating whatever he wants and being loved by another family. My thanks to you, Albee, for ten great years. I hope you have several more peaceful and comfortable ones. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Although a separate memorial article appears elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum concerning the untimely death of Vernon Henley, Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications and producer of ACB Reports, I must express the shock and sense of loss felt by all the members of the ACB national staff. We dealt with Vernon frequently in the preparation of ACB Reports and in connection with other matters. We always found him to be completely cooperative, dedicated, and conscientious. We have lost a true friend and ally. Over the past year, ACB's training handbook for airline employees has been exceptionally well received by the airlines and by individual employees alike. During April, it was my pleasure to take part in two training workshops conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the benefit of airline and airport employees connected with John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Because of scheduling conflicts, it was not possible for an ACB staff member to take part in similar workshops conducted at La Guardia and Newark airports. However, those workshops were capably handled by Ms. Theresa Snyder of the ACB of New Jersey, with the use of materials provided by the ACB National Office. The training of airline and airport employees is a continuing process, and we commend the Port Authority for its progressive policy in an effort to improve service to all handicapped people at one of the busiest international airports in the world. During April it was the pleasure of ACB staff members to attend the state conventions and to speak on the programs of the Badger Association of the Blind (Wisconsin), the California Council of the Blind, the Arizona Council of the Blind, and the Tennessee Blind Vendors. Each featured an outstanding program, with emphasis on timely concerns. For example, the California Council, in its first convention following the historic merger of the two California affiliates last fall, gave serious attention to the censorship issue involved in the braille Playboy magazine litigation. California media representatives (newspaper, television, and radio) expressed the matter sympathetically and at length, while giving the California Council convention excellent coverage generally. The Badger Association, while very interested in the censorship issue, also gave considerable attention to the re-authorization of the Rehabilitation Act, in view of the importance of that law to almost all blind and visually impaired people. The role of the American Council of the Blind as a knowledgeable source of input concerning Federal programs was underscored during the month when representatives of the Social Security Administration met with ACB national staff members to outline procedural changes contemplated by that agency for the handling of Medicare cases in the future. This meeting gave ACB an opportunity to emphasize, among other things, the disincentive aspects of Medicare as it now exists. The subject of such disincentives is to be discussed by one of the major speakers on the ACB national convention program in Knoxville in July. In late April, national staff members attended selected sessions or subcommittee meetings of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped (PCEH), held annually in Washington, D.C. The role, duties, and future of the PCEH are now being studied carefully by Congress, which is seeking ways to reduce the budget and the national deficit. Therefore, this year's conference may have been the last in its present form. Next year's PCEH conference is scheduled to take place outside Washington for the first time, in an effort to make it more accessible to those interested in employment of the handicapped. It is our understanding that thereafter the conference will take place in Washington in alternate years. This conference is one of the best opportunities for almost all aspects of employment of the handicapped to be discussed by employers, Government officials, handicapped workers, and advocates of the handicapped. Late in the month, the attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Playboy magazine lawsuit took the deposition of the Librarian of Congress, who appeared to be uncomfortable about having to testify on a matter relating to censorship, in view of his outstanding record as an advocate of intellectual freedom. Other depositions were to be taken later. Some time ago, we called for volunteers in a number of major cities to assist us in monitoring the Wall Street Journal Radio Network. We still need several more volunteers. If you are interested, please call the ACB National Office during weekday afternoon hours and give your name and address to Stephanie Cooper. The toll-free number for the ACB National Office is 1-800-424-8666. ***** ** Voice Mail: A New Approach to Communication By Christopher Gray If you live in a major metropolitan area, you may already have heard of it. If you have called a major company to request information or to get help with a problem, you may even have experienced it. But even if you live 50 miles from everything and everybody, you can try it by calling a toll-free number. "It" is most often referred to as Voice Mail. Digitally recorded spoken words, speech synthesis, and the help of a large-scale computer to form a system that allows individuals and organizations to have quick and easy communication with one another simply by recording and retrieving messages. Voice Mail is a kind of tape-recorded conversation. This conversation can take place between you and a large corporation or between you and your friends or associates. As blind people, we often make a brief tape as a means of communicating. Voice Mail is similar to this. To use Voice Mail, you simply dial a local telephone number, or sometimes a toll-free number like the one used for ACB's Washington Connection. A polite voice invites you to leave a message or to enter a personal code number and secret password to receive messages left for you. After entering the system, imagine that you wish to retrieve messages others have left for you. You would begin by pressing the appropriate number for this operation on your touch-tone telephone. The messages would then be played automatically for you. Most systems allow the listener to speed up or slow down messages with additional touch-tone codes. For example, F (or touch-tone button 3) may make a voice go F-aster, while S (or touch-tone button 7) will S-low down the speech. The host who greeted you originally will guide you as much or as little as you choose during this or any other part of the process. Incidentally, don't worry if you don't have a touch-tone telephone. Special hand-held beepers can be purchased from Radio Shack or other outlets to produce these tones. After listening to a message, you may answer immediately and then delete the message from the system. You may also save it for later answering or reviewing. Message saving should be done judiciously, however, because message storage space can be expensive on some systems. On the other hand, if you wish to simply leave a message when you call in, you may immediately enter the number of the person to whom you wish to speak. Some systems have a directory service to help you find a person's identification number. After recording the message, most systems allow you to review your message, insert or delete words, and generally do what you would if you were making a traditional, tape recording. Most systems automatically remove pauses from your message. Knowing this provides an opportunity to think about specific words or new thoughts while recording messages, without worrying about wasting time in that expensive storage space. Besides collecting and distributing messages, Voice Mail services can do a variety of other things as well. These include: keeping track of your day and evening telephone numbers; classifying your messages as "general" or "emergency"; calling you if an "emergency" message is left for you; keeping track of alternate numbers when you are traveling; playing a message from you so that the person on the other end is sure to whom he/she is really speaking; telling you exactly when another person picked up your message; forwarding messages you received along with your answers to others who may want or need to know the contents; and keeping lists of other code numbers in groups so that you can route one message to a distribution list with the press of a button. Voice Mail has immense potential to improve communications among members of the American Council of the Blind. Even at the state level, some organizations have serious difficulties with members keeping in touch with one another. However, with a Voice Mail system, it is possible to record one message and to send it to an entire committee or board of directors simultaneously, without the time and expense of producing, stuffing, sealing, and labeling traditional mail. Several messages can be collected, answered, and distributed just as one would do with regular correspondence. Possibilities are even more staggering at the national level. Every one of the problems experienced by state affiliates with their internal communication is magnified considerably at the national level. Services such as special tapes and one-time mailings are labor intensive, expensive, and time-consuming. A Voice Mail approach offers several fundamental advantages for the organization. First, it can be an efficient use of staff time. When an important notice needs to get out, it need be spoken only once on the telephone and then routed to a preselected list of participant code numbers. Second, immediate action can be taken by recipients of a message. This is guaranteed, since a message can be delivered within seconds rather than days or weeks. Third, Voice Mail would represent somewhat more of a fixed cost to state affiliates and to the national organization. Various classes of service exist, ranging in cost from $10.00 to $45.00 per month. Varying amounts of connect time and storage space are available, depending upon the monthly rate paid. Once established, these fees are predictable and controllable. This is not the case with long-distance telephone services and other kinds of communications with affiliates. Often costs simply prevent communication that would otherwise be taped, printed, or brailled and distributed through the mail. Fourth, such a service would provide affiliates with a direct, fair, and accountable means of participating in the paying of the very real and very necessary costs. Yet, it is not so burdensome that affiliates would be prohibited from such participation. Also, each affiliate would get something that is very real, tangible, and useful; that is, information. At this time of limited financial resources within ACB, new and less costly solutions must be found to tackle problems of communication. Voice Mail systems offer a new and unique way of promoting desperately needed "quick communication" within the organization. For a demonstration of one of several high-quality Voice Mail services, dial 1-800-428-6423 (which can also be written 1-800-4AVOICE. To find my code number, dial 0 and ask the operator. I will be delighted to hear readers' thoughts concerning this communication service and its applicability to the American Council of the Blind. If response is good, a resolution to encourage the use of such services can easily be prepared for consideration at the upcoming national convention. ***** ** Beefing Up the Library Stacks By Deborah Kendrick The Playboy magazine lawsuit has focused a certain amount of attention on the "democratic mechanism for book selection" at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. As representative for the American Council of the Blind to the consumer ad hoc committee on collection-building, l recently had an inside glimpse of that process and was favorably impressed. There are three consumer advisory committees coordinated by the National Library Service (NLS): one provides input regarding children's services, a second deals with NLS publications, and a third -- collection-building -- suggests possible titles or categories of reading material to be added to the braille and/or recorded collections. The committee on collection-building is comprised of four organization representatives, four reader representatives, and four regional librarians. (Actually present at our meeting April 24-25 were three organization representatives, two readers, and four librarians.) The groups first meet separately (i.e., librarians in one room, blind consumers in another) to discuss and prioritize recommendations. After arduous hours of discus­sion, clarification, and compromise, the two groups come together to share their individual "wish lists," and the process begins all over again. Before sharing some of the high points from our finalized list of recommendations, however, it would be negligent not to touch first on the effect of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act. The NLS budget for this year has been cut by some $2 million. The 1987 budget could include a cut of from 7% to 25%. With so much uncertainty ahead, the NLS staff is preparing for both the best and the worst eventualities. The important thing for Braille Forum readers to know is that, in a prioritized list of areas for trimming the budget in the event of a 25% decrease, the very last item to be affected is the production of books. The recommendations, then, which resulted from the two days of discussion include the following: re­issue of classics, and additional classics, in both braille and recorded formats; more books on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting; more braille titles offering poetry and plays; more braille children's books for beginning readers; how-to books (covering such areas as crafts, finance, repair, etc.), in braille and on tone­indexed cassettes; and books on more recently discovered illnesses. Clearly, this is not a list of what to expect in your next three issues of Braille Book Review or Talking Book Topics; it is a list, however, which the NLS staff seems to consider seriously and which we can expect to see materialize in time. A prototype of the "combination machine" we have heard about for so long was available for demonstration. The disc player and cassette playback are neatly housed in one fairly compact unit, which should be a boon to many readers when it is ready for distribution. Other exciting features of the combination machine are fast-forward and rewind for both disc and tape functions, a tone arm which can be easily moved without damaging the disc, and an optional automatic switching of tracks for cassettes. On a personal level, it was fascinating to meet and talk with NLS staff responsible for making book selections, obtaining copyright permission, designing special publications, developing equipment, and coordinating production. (In the metaphorical "pipeline" from book selection to reader's mailbox, there are about fifty stages in processing a typical book.) It was wonderful, too, to realize again that our library is genuinely interested in the services and reading materials delivered to blind and physically handicapped persons. Two particular advocates -- Frank Kurt Cylke, Head of the NLS program, and Judith Dixon, Head of Consumer Relations -- are creatively and constantly striving to meet consumer needs. Working with this committee was educational and rewarding for me. The most valuable lesson gained, however, was that consumers need not participate on a committee level to be heard. Reader input is valued and encouraged by all NLS staff, so none of us should be keeping our requests and our critiques to ourselves. ***** ** Senator Randolph Speaks at NCSAB Meeting By Kathleen Megivern Jennings Randolph, retired United States Senator from West Virginia, was a guest speaker at the recent spring meeting of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, held in Alexandria, Virginia. Looking fit and sounding as feisty as ever, the father of the Randolph­Sheppard Act reviewed the program's impressive statistics of total sales and average earnings and assured the audience that it is his "firm conviction that the future of programs for the blind will not diminish, but will actually increase." Noting that we are about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, the Senator said: "I believed it was sound when we attempted to bring it into being, and I believe that it now has a greater solidarity than ever before." The Senator delighted his audience with nostalgic anecdotes about his early political career, but his mood turned from nostalgia to anger when he discussed the "unmet needs" and "unsatisfied objectives" of the Randolph-Sheppard program. Noting that "a number of Federal agencies have not cooperated -- some have actually placed obstacles in the way" of the program -- Senator Randolph said that whenever we have proof of such actions, "if we can't convince them, let's take them to court." In discussing the current litigation against the Department of Defense and McDonald's, the Senator made it clear that his involvement as a plaintiff in this litigation is not merely symbolic. Pounding the podium as he spoke, he said: "I have joined as a plaintiff to have the Federal courts decide that the Act means what it says." With a top official from the General Services Administration sitting in the audience, Senator Randolph recalled GSA's unsuccessful attempt early last year to enter into a "national contract." But GSA has since redeemed itself (the Senator wondered aloud whether GSA's "redemption would be left up to Billy Graham or not"). Randolph closed his remarks with the promise of a stronger commitment than ever before, and he urged his audience to "keep flying the colors of the Randolph-Sheppard Act." As an expression of their appreciation to Senator Randolph for his life­long commitment to blind persons, the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind presented the Senator with a resolution naming him their first-ever honorary lifetime member. ***** ** Visually Impaired Secretary Wins Section 501 Arbitration By Lynn Abbott, Legal Assistant Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination in Federal employment on the basis of handicap and promotes affirmative action in the hiring and placement of handicapped individuals. Regulations require Federal agencies to make reasonable accommodations for qualified handicapped applicants or employees unless the agency demonstrates undue hardship on the operation of its programs. Job restructuring is one example of a reasonable accommodation that many blind and visually impaired individuals may require and often request. In late 1985, an arbitrator ruled that a visually impaired Department of Labor secretary should be given a restructured job assignment which would include no assignments using a video display terminal (VDT). Barbara LaBrew, while employed by the Department of Labor, became visually impaired in 1983. Part of her duties as a secretary included working on a VDT. Following surgery, LaBrew was reassigned to a part-time position, but was still required to use a VDT. After complaining unsuccessfully about the eye strain which resulted from the use of the VDT, LaBrew filed a grievance under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, with the assistance of the American Federation of Government Employees. The matter was arbitrated, and it was found that the Department of Labor supervisor should have attempted to accommodate LaBrew's disability by restructuring her job in such a way that she would not be required to use a VDT. Reportedly, the Department of Labor is challenging the findings of the arbitrator by appealing the decision to the Federal Labor Relations Authority. The Department believes the decision "interferes with management's right under the Federal Civil Service Reform Act to assign work." (Washington Post article, Dec. 16, 1985). In response to the news that the Department of Labor was appealing the arbitration decision, Michael Urquhart, President of Local 12 of the American Federation of Government Employees, stated: "the idea that a $27 billion Cabinet agency cannot find a typing job for a visually handicapped clerk ... is ludicrous ... The Department appealed the ruling of the arbitrator at a time when Labor Department officials are meeting with unions to preach to them about labor/management cooperation and a new pride in work." (Washington Post, Dec. 16, 1985). ***** ** Sounds of Nature By Robert J. Redington We who have no sight know how important sounds are to blind people. They can be our best substitute for sight in telling us about our surroundings. Physically, our hearing is no better than it would be if we had our sight. However, we are generally more sensitive and more alert to sounds than are most sighted people. Unfortunately, unpleasant sounds and discordant noises are apt to be more annoying to us than to persons who have sight with which to occupy their attention. Conversely, pleasant or interesting sounds can be more rewarding to us than to sighted persons and can engage our attention more fully. This is particularly true of the sounds of nature. The songs and calls of birds and the ability to identify them are always a source of pleasure. These are especially plentiful and varied in the freshness of the morning in spring and early summer. We can learn these bird songs by listening to recordings or by taking bird walks with a naturalist. After the foliage comes out on the trees in spring, even a sighted person will hear more birds than he or she can see. The first thing we hear when we wake up in the morning is often the musical chirping of the robin. This bird, so well adjusted to the habitat of man, may be hopping about on the lawn looking for worms, or it may be calling to its mate from a nest built in the shrubbery near the house. Nearby, the pert little chickadee may be calling out its name. From the adjacent woods we hear the beautiful, flute-like tones of the wood thrush. The chestnut-sided warbler greets us with, "I am very pleased to meetcha!" and the rufous-sided towhee invites us to "drink your tea!" A rapid drumming resounding through the woods tells us that a woodpecker is at work on a dead or hollow tree, seeming to knock his brains out to get at a few insects. A sound which may be confused with the call of a bird is that made by the high-pitched spring peepers. These are tiny frogs located in ponds or other wet areas. The sounds of water can have their own variations. At the seashore we hear the crash and roar of the ocean surf. In contrast, at a lake or pond there may be the gentle lapping of waves on the shore. The sound of a stream may be the pleasant babble of a brook, the rush of rapids, or the thunder of a waterfall. The wind may be a gentle breeze rustling the leaves, or the whistle and dull roar of a gale. The onset of darkness in the country brings its own symphony of sound. We hear the chorus of crickets, katydids, and other insects. Frogs in a nearby pond croak more audibly. From the forest the hooting of an owl or the call of an animal lends an eerie quality to the scene. A storm may come, and with it the crack of lightning, the crash of thunder, and the pelting of rain on the house. However, inside we feel cozy and protected as we lie in bed. Most blind persons live in urban areas. When they visit the country, the forest, and the seashore, they may drink in these sounds of the natural world and relish them in their "mind's ear" long after they have returned home. ***** ** Innovative Braille Institute Sensory Aids Subsidy Program An innovative Braille Institute program has helped many legally blind men and women in Southern California become more independent and effective in their jobs and professions. The Braille Institute Sensory Aids Subsidy Program, now in its third year, has allowed them to acquire expensive electronic devices they could not otherwise afford. "During the past decade, computer-based technology has produced amazing new devices which can serve as 'electronic eyes' for the blind," notes Leon H. Thamer, Assistant to the Executive Director and Chairman of the Braille Institute Sensory Aids Advisory Committee. "Many of these devices are specifically designed for office and business use. Others are more versatile, but many of their functions are directly applicable to meeting job requirements. Thus. they are creating new job opportunities for the blind, enabling them to compete and work on an equal basis with the sighted," Thamer said. Recognizing the tremendous potential for employment enhancement offered by these electronic sensory aids, Braille Institute established a Sensory Aids Learning Center in 1982 at the Braille Institute Sight Center in Los Angeles. Here the newest of these devices have been brought together in one room where they can be inspected, demonstrated, compared, and evaluated by the blind. High interest in these machines is evidenced by the fact that since the Sensory Aids Learning Center opened, more than 1,300 demonstrations and consultations have been given, according to Marguerite Guardino, Director of Student Services at Braille Institute. Despite the great potential and obvious interest, however, it soon became apparent that there was one major problem which prevented many blind persons from realizing the full employment potential of these new machines: they are expensive. Most of those with direct business applications cost from $5,000 to $10,000, with some much higher. After studying the problem and evaluating possible solutions, the Braille Institute Sensory Aids Advisory Committee recommended the subsidy program as proposed by management. The program was accepted and funded by the Braille Institute Board of Directors and became effective July 1, 1983. In the first two full years of operation, 82 individual subsidies totaling $272,000 were granted under the program, according to Thamer. Under the program, Braille Institute pays one-half of the purchase price of needed equipment costing from $2,000 to $15,000. The other half is paid by the applicant. Only those living within the Southern California service area of Braille Institute are eligible. Equipment approved for purchase by subsidy recipients includes such devices with business applications as the VersaBraille II System, Optacon, Apollo Dual Image II, PC Vert, MBOSS printer, Cranmer printer, Maryland Talking Computer, IBM PC System with Votrax speech synthesizer, and a variety of computers with speech output or large-print screens. Necessary software as well as access aids and output equipment also is included, according to Guardino. To apply, a person first obtains an application from the Student Services Department at Braille Institute. Information requested on the form includes such items as employment history, education and skills, equipment desired, proposed use of the device, and a financial statement. Proof of legal blindness is required. As part of the acceptance process, an applicant is asked to come in for interviews with the Braille Institute Sensory Aids Consultant, the Job Placement Coordinator, and the Director of Student Services. The final decision on the application is made by an evaluation committee, after which the applicant is notified by letter. Before finalizing the program, the Sensory Aids Advisory Committee considered a number of alternatives, according to Thamer. These included direct loans, loan guarantees, and outright gifts. The subsidy program was adopted as the best method to help the applicant acquire the equipment on an equitable basis with a minimum of administrative problems. In practice, it has operated smoothly and effectively, Thamer reports. Braille Institute is a non-profit organization for training, education, and assistance to the blind and visually impaired. Major funding support is from private gifts, donations, bequests, and foundation grants. ***** ** Senator Weicker Voices Concern for Education of the Handicapped The following statement by Senator Lowell Weicker (R., CT) illustrates his determination to protect important programs for handicapped people from funding cuts which could have disastrous effects, whether the cuts are intentional or automatic. The reader will note that Senator Weicker is not shy in discussing Administration policies with which he disagrees. * Statement of Chairman Lowell Weicker, Jr., before the Subcommittee on the Handicapped, February 21, 1986 Today is the final hearing to consider the reauthorization of the discretionary programs of the Education of the Handicapped Act. We will consider both the accomplishments of these vital programs and recommendations to improve services for the nation's four million handicapped children. Two weeks ago when we met in this room, the Administration's 1987 budget proposal for these programs had not been released. The subcommittee was told at the time that the Administration wants a one-year extension for these programs rather than a full three-year reauthorization. What we didn't know is that the Administration would submit a budget request for 1987 to return funding of special education and vocational rehabilitation to 1985 levels. And what about the increases Congress approved for this year, fiscal 1986? In the words of the Education Department budget, "The increases enacted for 1986 should not be maintained, and the department proposes that they be rescinded." Let's stop for a moment and put this. budget cut into the context of what we are about to hear. I don't usually like to jump the gun on what our witnesses have to tell us, but this information about the quality of life for disabled Americans is really startling. I am talking here about the results of a new Harris Poll — results that bring us face to face with the reality of obstacles as serious as any minority group has ever known. Among the findings: • Disabled Americans have far less education than non-disabled Americans. • Disabled Americans are much poorer than non-disabled Americans. • Two-thirds of disabled Americans (age 16-64) are not working. We'll hear more about this shortly, but I want to point out an important contrast here. The agenda is obviously unfinished, yet the Administration would have us believe that all is going well -- so well, in fact, that there is actually fat to trim from programs that educate handicapped children. Never mind warm feelings towards one's neighbor or the bright-eyed youngster in the United Way ad. We're talking here about the abandonment of an investment as important as any in this nation; investment in human potential. And the issue once we throw in the towel is not simply lost opportunity, but tremendous out-year costs to the entire nation. This may cause human stress to a minority, but it's a fiscal disaster for all. The proposed reduction in funding is no surprise. The Administration clearly wants the Federal Government to stop all investment in the quality of life in this country and just as clearly we will not allow that to happen. The provision of a free and appropriate education for all handicapped children is not just a deal Congress struck when times were good. It was a long-term investment in this nation's future, and there won't be any short selling simply because times are now considered bad for everyone but the Pentagon. I have to jump the gun on something else that's about to happen down at the White House. As we sit here at this very moment considering cuts, preparations are underway at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for a celebration of these programs — a celebration of ten years of progress in educating the nation's handicapped children under Public Law 94-142. Today the White House celebrates; and in the weeks to come the Administration will send its officials one by one to testify before me in the appropriations committee, to defend the 108 million dollar cut from the program they celebrate today. Quite frankly, the celebration is nothing but hypocrisy. Instead of advocating genuine opportunity for the disabled, this Administration pushes nothing but photo opportunities. Despite glamorous displays of partnership with handicapped children, this Administration's true partnership is with the past, when the disabled were locked into institutions and out of the nation's schools and workplaces. I'm not just talking about the Administration' s actions this year, but its actions every year; almost half the life of this landmark education act. Let's look at the facts, and then I urge those who can to ask the White House to match rhetoric with reality. Beginning in 1981, the Administration attempted to repeal the Education of the Handicapped Act by putting it in a block grant with other elementary and secondary education programs. If Congress had said, "No," education for all handicapped students would have been virtually eliminated. Again in 1982, the Administration proposed the gutting Block Grant. Again Congress had to say "No" to save the program. With its legislative attempt rejected, the Administration attempted repeal by executive order, featuring major surgery on the program's regulations. Had the new regulations gone into effect, protections for parents would have been undermined and the least restrictive environment mandate would have been gutted. In addition, the access of handicapped students to these programs and other services would have been severely limited. Each year, the Administration's budget request spells out loudly and clearly its commitment to the handicapped. For fiscal 1982, the Administration requested a rescission of 258 million dollars, or 28 percent. For the education of the handicapped in fiscal 1983, the Administration proposed reductions of 21 percent. The fiscal 1984 budget request was for a 90 million dollar cut in education programs for the handicapped. Fiscal 1985 and fiscal 1986 requests were for a 26 million dollar cut and a 15 million dollar cut. Now we hear the Administration is ready to turn the clock back to 1985 levels. Well, when this newly celebrated law was passed ten years ago, the Federal share of funding handicapped education was supposed to reach 40 percent by 1982. The Federal dollar commitment, despite the best efforts of this Administration to stop it cold, now stands at only 10 percent. Unable to repeal Public Law 94-142; unable to destroy it by token funding, the Administration has chosen to demonstrate its commitment to the handicapped by refusing to fill key positions within the Department of Education; there has been no permanent Director of Special Education Programs in three years. Where we do have a permanent advocate for the right of public education for all Americans, in the Office of the Secretary of Education, we have witnessed little more than opposition and ignorance when it comes to preparing handicapped children for the future. One key policy position in the Department was given briefly last year to a woman who had written that "Laws for the education of the handicapped have selfishly drained resources from the normal school population ..." Secretary Bennett himself last September wrote that Public Law 94-142 had resulted in students being "Restricted in special education programs . . . isolated from their communities and peers until they are out of school." Obviously, the Secretary doesn't know the facts: according to his own department, 93 percent of the students served under the law are served in regular education programs. He should know many of these students would be receiving no services or sitting in institutions if not for this law. He should know that, but he obviously doesn't. If the Administration really wants to celebrate Public Law 94-142, it's going to take a lot more than rhetoric and refreshments. If the White House has any real interest in maintaining the nation's commitment to educational opportunity, there should be less time spent in the Rose Garden and more time in the thorns making the necessary tough choices. Not choices that demand sacrifices from Society's most vulnerable -- those are easy, those are the stock-in-trade of this Administration. I am talking about the choices that require sacrifices from the political majority -- those are tough. Let it be clear that no Administration proposals -- be they funding cuts or one-year extensions -- will prevent this subcommittee pressing forward with the important business of reauthorization of these programs. ***** ** The Justice Department Needs Your Help By Oral O. Miller National Representative Recently, representatives of the United States Department of Justice consulted with members of the national staff of the American Council of the Blind regarding the validity of procedures used in testing blind people for educational, employment, and other purposes. The Justice Department is responsible for coordinating the Section 504 regulations of the various Federal Government agencies and departments. It is now looking into the types of accommodations that have been made for blind applicants and the question of whether tests as administered to blind people reflect accurately what they are supposed to reflect. We would like to have the names and addresses of blind people who have recently been tested for education or employment purposes and who believe the tests or testing procedures were biased (intentionally or unintentionally) against blind applicants. This request also applies to the parents of blind children who are subject to such standardized testing. Anyone who would be willing to discuss his/her experiences with the Justice Department (if contacted) should give his/her name, address, and telephone number to Stephanie Cooper in the ACB National Office (telephone 1-800-424-8666). We are not looking for complaints by people who simply did not do well on a test; rather, we are requesting input from people who believe that either the test content or procedures were biased against blind candidates. ***** ** Calling All Handicapped Sailors The World Championship for Disabled Sailors will be decided off Newport, Rhode Island, August 25-28. The United States team is forming now and seeks sailors with disabilities who would like to compete. Previous world championships have been run under the auspices of Handicapped Segler Glide, a European group for handicapped sailors. In their first regatta in 1981, those who sailed included amputees, paraplegics, polio victims, and deaf and visually impaired persons. The Council for Disabled Sailors, an arm of the not-for-profit American Sailing Association Foundation, will co-host the regatta with Sail Newport. The Council, which is dedicated to making the recreation and therapy of sailing available to people with physical handicaps, has arranged for the championships to be held in the United States for the first time this year and is organizing the American team. Teams from a dozen other countries are planning to enter. It is expected that 90 sailors will race in two classes of sailboard, a keelboat and a centerboarder. Both boats are new designs particularly suited to the requirements of the physically handicapped. Qualified sailors should send resumes by June 25 to the Council for Disabled Sailors, 60 Padanaram Road, Unit 16, Danbury, CT 06810; or call (203) 748-8650. ***** ** High Goals Set by Low Country Chapter, ACB of South Carolina By Roberta Douglas ACB Director of Development Joan Flanagan writes in her book, The Grassroots Fund-Raising Book: "Grassroots fund-raising will open doors to discover new people and new experiences. Each person can grow and learn something new every day. You will make memories you will cherish for the rest of your life." I am sure the members of the Low Country Chapter of the American Council of the Blind of South Carolina have discovered what Joan Flanagan was writing about. You might say this group moved into the "fast track" in fund-raising when they decided to sponsor stock car races as a means of raising funds locally. Aptly named "Race for Sight," each of the two races they have sponsored (1984 and 1985) have not only brought in considerable funds ($9,000), but have contributed to new bonds of friendship and increased visibility for this chapter in Charleston. But the latest news is perhaps the most gratifying. Dr. Richard A. Saunders, Associate Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, recipient of the funds, writes in a letter to John Ginn, past president of the affiliate chapter, "I think your organization can be very proud of supporting some early research in this mode of treatment (epikeratophakia, or lens implant of freeze-dried corneal tissue) ... I believe this experience directly contributed to our ability to be selected as a study center in the national trial." Just recently, an infant's sight was restored at this center using the lens implant of freeze-dried corneal tissue procedure. ***** ** ACB Affiliate President Appointed Commissioner of Virginia State Agency Serving the Blind By Charles Hodge At noon on Wednesday, April 30, 1986, Governor Gerald Baliles of the Commonwealth of Virginia announced his appointment of John A. McCann, Esq., of Arlington, Virginia, to succeed William T. Coppage as Commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped (VDVH). The new commissioner of VDVH, who is only 31 years old, received his academic training at the State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A. degree in political science in 1977) and the Harvard Law School (J.D. degree in 1980). He then came to our nation's capital and worked from 1980 until 1984 as a staff attorney in the Health Care Financing and Human Development Services Division of the Office of the General Counsel in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Late in 1984, Mr. McCann left Government service and accepted the challenging position of Executive Director of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL), where he has continued to work until the present. The new Commissioner of VDVH has been actively involved in advocacy activities for the blind. He has served as president of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACB's Virginia affiliate) from 1985 until his recent appointment by Governor Baliles. Mr. McCann also served as a member of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee at the 1985 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Las Vegas. At the 1985 Las Vegas convention, Mr. McCann also spearheaded the movement to reorganize ACB's national special-interest affiliate for amateur radio operators, American Council of the Blind Radio Amateurs (ACBRA), and he is currently serving as the charter president of that reorganized and re-chartered special­interest affiliate. Mr. McCann came to the attention of the incoming Governor and Secretary of Human Resources as a result of his highly effective testimony on behalf of ACB's Virginia state affiliate and a coalition of citizens concerned with the problems of visually handicapped Virginians before a number of committees of the most recent session of the Virginia General Assembly. Mr. McCann's effective legislative advocacy at least in part resulted in the General Assembly appropriating an additional nearly $2 million for services for the blind for the coming biennium, above and beyond what the Governor had originally requested in his budget submission. We feel confident that the entire blind and visually impaired community of Virginia is sure to benefit from John McCann's creative and forward­thinking new ideas. ***** ** In Memoriam: Vernon C. Henley 1948-1986 By Laura Oftedahl Producer of ACB Reports. Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications. Radio reading service professional. Computer enthusiast. Ever­present volunteer at ACB conventions and seminars. Devoted husband and father. Friend of blind and visually impaired people everywhere. Vernon Henley, who filled these and many other roles, died May 7 in a tragic house fire. He resided in Norman, Oklahoma, with his wife Linda and two sons, Evan, 13, and Rhys, 5, who survived the fire. His concern for the welfare of blind people and his keen knowledge of issues affecting handicapped individuals will truly be missed by ACB members and friends. Vernon believed in the American Council of the Blind and worked in many wonderful ways to help blind folks enrich their lives. ACB Reports, the Council's popular monthly radio show, carried on 75 radio reading services nationwide, was initiated by Vernon in 1982. He produced the provocative program and especially enjoyed capturing the extraordinary flavor of an ACB convention in the post-convention show each year. ACB convention-goers will remember Vernon as the man behind the microphone and walkie-talkie, as he was always around to set up the sound equipment or silence a squeaky feedback problem. ACB conventions and seminars weren't all work for Vernon, though. He liked to have a good time and was right in there to volunteer with any social gathering, whether it involved loading tour buses or helping folks find the hospitality suite. Vernon Henley ably chaired the ACB Board of Publications the past three years. ACB editors will remember the extremely worthwhile workshop he coordinated at the Philadelphia convention. Vernon was active in the Oklahoma Council of the Blind and ACB Radio Amateurs. He compiled a directory of blind and visually impaired radio amateurs, making it available in braille and large-print at nominal cost. Vernon Henley was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Oklahoma during his teens. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in educa­tional media and worked for the past ten years as Assistant Director of the Oklahoma Radio Reading Service. He spent much of his spare time operating a computer bulletin board and working with area computer user groups. Not only will Vernon's countless volunteer efforts be sorely missed by the American Council of the Blind, but his refreshing sense of humor and repartee will be absent from the lives of those who worked so closely with him. Whether the discussion was yesterday's football game or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Vernon always offered enthusiastic comments and accurate observations. Vernon Henley had blind and handicapped people at heart and worked continuously to help them become integrated as full, contributing citizens. The thoughtfulness of the Henley family is deeply appreciated, as contributions in Vernon's memory are being made to the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** From the ACB Board of Publications What can I say about my colleague, Vernon Henley? When someone dies so suddenly and so tragically, all one can do for a time is sit numbly and remember. I remember Vernon as a fellow member of the Board of Publications. I remember him as a colleague in radio reading services. I remember him as a friend. But, most of all, I remember Vernon as a giving man. Over the years, he steadfastly gave to all of us in the American Council of the Blind. Vernon was not part of the blindness system because of blindness. He was a sighted man who chose to give his time to us. It took many, many hours each month to produce ACB Reports. Hours were given searching for stories, interviewing, writing, recording, editing, dubbing, and distributing one of the top-quality radio programs in the disability movement. ACB Reports was heard on three­fourths of the radio reading services throughout the country. The program was original, professional, interesting. Vernon gave those programs month after month, year after year -- just for us. Vernon also gave much time to the Board of Publications. Many hours were spent preparing for BOP workshops. For the workshop in Philadelphia, he took the time and trouble to read onto cassettes the Washington Post style book and another book on editing newsletters. Affiliate newsletter editors have found these materials to be valuable tools. They were not available in any accessible media, so Vernon produced them. All of us have our memories of Vernon Henley, and all of us will certainly agree that he was a giving man. We salute you, Vernon. We will always remember and appreciate your gifts. -- Billie Jean Hill *** The tragic fire that took the life of Vernon Henley has underscored for me the vulnerability of every life, and the vital role that one life can play in a national organization. I didn't really know Vernon Henley on the same personal level that so many energetic ACB members have. As a newly appointed member to the Board of Publications, Vernon's voice on the telephone (as chairman of that board) had become a familiar one to me this past year. Before that, his presence was highly visible in the Association of Radio Reading Services, as the voice of our monthly radio program, ACB Reports, and as a name that came up in too many sectors of the American Council of the Blind to mention. How does one man become responsible for so many necessary functions within an organization? The answer, it seems to me, is simply good, old­fashioned caring. He wasn't blind. He wasn't unemployed or retired or with idle time on his hands. He had a demanding job, a wife, and two growing children. Yet, he clearly had a desire to make the world a better place, and he gave more than his fair share toward accomplishing that goal. He didn't have time; he made time. Tragedy is only bearable, it seems to me, if somehow some good can be gleaned from the sorrow, something learned from the experience. The "good" in the tragic loss of Vernon Henley can perhaps be found in a twofold lesson: vulnerability and commitment. From Vernon's vulnerability -- to be killed so suddenly, so unjustly, and so young -- each of us can be reminded of the unpredictability of death taking any life touching our own -- or, indeed, ourselves. For me, it also sparks a humbling gratitude for anyone who is willing to contribute to the blindness movement. The second part of the lesson -- commitment -- is learned from the example Vernon established for all of us. There is so much work to be done in a consumer organization, and more of us could be committing ourselves to doing it. It will take many people to fill this one man's shoes. I hope to do at least my fair share. -- Deborah Kendrick ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From The Vendorscope (Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America): During 1985, one award after another came to Dawn Flewwellin of Aberdeen, SD. Last summer, Dawn, totally blind operator of a cafeteria in the Federal Building in Aberdeen for 11 years, received the "Vendor of the Year" award from the Randolph­Sheppard Vendors of America. The award was given in recognition of her unselfish participation in the organization. Also during the year she received the South Dakota Jefferson Award for community volunteerism; she was given "special recognition or the special education job program in Aberdeen"; was presented with the Gus Zachte Memorial Award by the South Dakota Association for the Blind for "outstanding contributions to the welfare of the visually impaired"; and was recently nominated "Outstanding Young Woman of America for 1985," an honor that recognizes outstanding young women for professional achievement and community service. A 12-year-old blind girl properly spelled anachronous and chalkography to win the Midwest Spelling Bee and earn a trip to the national contest, according to the Associated Press. Terra Syslo of Fullerton, Nebraska, has been blind since birth. Rather than write answers to the questions in the first round, she used a typewriter: she could have been eliminated by a misstroke on the keyboard. On February 22, 1986, Judith M. Dixon, Ph. D., received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Stetson University, De Land, FL. The award was presented "for achievement in her profession and life that has brought distinction and special recognition to Stetson University." Ms. Dixon earned a B.A. from Stetson in 1974; an M.A. from Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, in 1976; and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, also from Adelphi, in 1980. She was employed by the National Library Service, Library of Congress, in 1981 as the first Head of the newly formed NLS Consumer Relations Section. She is responsible for maintaining liaison with the readership of more than 600,000 blind and physically handicapped individuals. "We, the Parents of Visually Impaired Children - Ourselves - Our Children - Our Friends" is the title of a conference being sponsored by the National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired, Inc., November 5-8, at the Sheraton Center Plaza Hotel, Arlington, VA. The program will feature a variety of workshops, speeches, films, exhibits, contests, and awards. For further information, write NAPVI, P.O. Box 180806, Austin, TX 78718. From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: Dale Bumpers, U. S. Senator from Arkansas, was awarded the 1985 Migel Medal in the layperson category, presented annually by the American Foundation for the Blind. The award was presented in ceremonies at the Arkansas School for the Blind at Little Rock. A former two-term governor of Arkansas, Senator Bumpers has been active on the Appropriations Committee in the Senate, helping to secure funding for blind and handicapped persons. The Whirlpool Corporation has recently addressed the issue of making household chores easier for blind and visually impaired consumers. New washers and dryers have been equipped with large-print dial labels for the partially sighted. For the blind user, there are braille manuals as well as snap-on braille labels for the knobs. New York Hospital is one of ten centers chosen to test the effects of a drug derived from Vitamin A against the condition known as aquamonis metaplasia — a condition that causes abnormally dry eyes, according to an article in the New York Daily News. Persons with the condition complain of eye irritation, sensitivity to light, burning, and impaired vision. Dry eye usually is treated with artificial tears. But a recent study revealed that a drug derived from Vitamin A, tretinon, can provide more relief, and can even reverse the disorder. At one time in Butte, Montana, it could literally be said that justice was blind, according to the Montana Observer. For many years, nearly all of the judges and justices of the peace were blind, and they were returned to office year after year. Ray Charles, recently honored by Florida lawmakers, says he remembers coming to the state capital of Tallahassee in bare feet to listen to Cannonball Adderley and other great jazz and rhythm-and-blues artists, according to an item in the Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette. Charles, who grew up in the Panhandle town of Greenville and overcame blindness and poverty, recently visited the Florida House and Senate, which gave him a resolution in braille lauding his accomplishments. The Social Security Administration, in cooperation with the National Library Service, has recorded three of its publications on a flexible disc: "Your Social Security," "SSI for Aged, Disabled and Blind People," and "Basic Facts About Medicare and Other Health Programs." The disc is included with the March­April disc edition of Talking Book Topics. Others interested may secure a copy from a cooperating library. The Handicapped Adults National Dating Service (HANDS), 4550 Woodsworth Boulevard, Suite 128, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, is a dating service designed especially to assist individuals with disabilities to expand their social network, according to The Link (Kalamazoo Center for Independent Living). HANDS was created to provide three methods of contact for its members: one-to-one meetings, phone contact, and written communication. Another such organization is Special People for Special People Dating Service, 19622 Hickory, Detroit, MI 48205. LS&S Group has issued a new 31-page catalog featuring a wide variety of unique, innovative, and practical products for the visually impaired. Included are many brand name products — some for personal use, and some great gift ideas for family and friends. For a copy, write LS&S Group, Inc., P.O. Box 673, Northbrook, IL 60065. Some birds are coming to Oakland, CA, and they are coming to stay, according to The Blind Californian, newsletter of the California Council of the Blind. They will not migrate, and they will never have to be fed. They will never be prey to the cat population, for they don't even look like birds. They are, in fact, metal cylinders which will be mounted approximately ten feet high, thus rendering them not so easy prey to vandalism. These cylinders emit two distinct bird sounds: a chirp for one direction and a cuckoo for the other. Their purpose is to alert blind pedestrians to the change in traffic signals at a busy intersection. The project was initiated by the Committee on Orientation Systems for the Visually Impaired, chaired by ACB member John Di Francesco, under the Mayor's Commission on Disabled Persons. It has been endorsed by the two East Bay chapters of the California Council as well as by other organizations and individuals. The city government has fully endorsed the project, consistent with its designation of Oakland, the Accessible City, and installation will be made within a few months. Quik-Scrybe is a quick and convenient way to have your documents prepared in print (letter-quality or dot matrix), large-print (14 or 18 point type), hard-copy braille, or thermo­form braille. Transcription can be made from cassette tape, computer disc, or print. Quik-Scrybe also acts as consultant in the purchase and installation of computer equipment -- hardware/ software, as well as instructing persons in the use of such equipment. For further information, contact Ron and Sue Staley, Quik­Scrybe, 333 N. Berendo Street, 333, Los Angeles, CA 90004; (213) 662-7617. Kaleidoscope, the International Magazine of Literature, Fine Arts, and Disability, announces its fourth annual international poetry, fiction, and art awards. The contest deadline is September 15, 1986. Entries should reflect the theme of disability. There are three categories: poetry, fiction, and visual art. The competition is open to all writers and artists. Submissions should be previously unpublished or unexhibited works. Please send photocopies of manuscripts or duplicates of slides. Include a biographical sketch and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Entry fee is $4.00 in the U.S.; $5.00 for international. For contest guidelines and submissions, write Gail Willmott, Contest Coordinator, Kaleidoscope, 326 Locust Street, Akron, OH 44302. Recording for the Blind recently presented its 1986 Scholastic Achievement Awards to three outstanding blind college seniors. Among the winners is ACB member Sheila Mitchell, a journalism major at Howard University, who is active in the National Alliance of Blind Students, Guide Dog Users, Inc., and the District of Columbia Association of Workers for the Blind. For the third consecutive year, Vinland National Center is conducting a national conference designed to encompass a wide variety of wellness information and topical discussion. Titled "Achieving a Balance," the 1986 version will incorporate eleven major areas of selective sessions. Sessions designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired will include such topics as guiding for blind runners and skiers, cross-country skiing for the visually impaired, sports for the visually impaired and stress management. A joint project of the Vinland National Center and Normandale Community College, the conference will take place July 8-11 in Bloomington, MN. For registration information, contact Vinland National Center, P.O. Box 308, Loretto, MN 55357; (612) 479-3555. Vtek, in cooperation with C-TEK (Computer Training and Evaluation Center), is sponsoring a series of eight half-hour radio segments on the subject of computer access and adaptive devices for blind and visually impaired people. The series, which is directed toward the "beginning," or elementary-level computer user, will cover basic principles of computer use and is being broadcast on most of the 98 radio reading service stations nationwide. The complete series will be available on cassette and can be purchased for $14.95. For further information, contact Kathe Nolan at Vtek, 1625 Olympic Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404; (800) 345-2256. ***** ** 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. June 22-29 - American Association of the Deaf-Blind 11th Annual Convention - Washington, D.C. 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 September 19-21 - South Dakota Association for the Blind State Convention - Sioux Falls September 20 - Maine Fraternal Association of the Blind State Convention - South Portland September 26-28 - Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Wichita October 10-12 - Alabama Council of the Blind State Convention - Birmingham October 10-12 - Michigan Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention - Windsor, Ontario, Canada October 10-12 - Pennsylvania Council of the Blind State Convention - Philadelphia October 17-18 - ACB of Minnesota State Convention - Minneapolis October 17-19 - ACB of Ohio State Convention - Columbus October 24-26 - ACB of New York State Convention - Rochester ***** ** 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 ###