The Braille Forum Vol. XXV March-April 1987 No. 5 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 at (202) 393-3664. Available 24 hours a day. Copyright 1986 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents President's Message, by Grant Mack Striking Gold in California -- 1987 ACB Convention Award Nominations Sought News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Mehitabel, a Cat for All Seasons, by Harriet Fielding Washington's A-Buzz with the Three C's, by Kathleen Megivern Revised ACB Convention Guidelines, by Carla S. Franklin ACB to Participate in Air Carriers Access Act Negotiations You Need a Scorecard to Understand This New Ball Game In-Person Observations About Services for the Blind in Japan, by Oral O. Miller Would You Like to Hear My Sculpture?, by Laura Oftedahl Tactic Begins Third Year of Publication Richard and Lorraine Evensen Fatally Struck by Automobile High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack I wonder if the melodious tones of the coqui frog serenaded Christopher Columbus when he first discovered Puerto Rico in 1493. The clear tones of this small creature which sings only at night is a haunting memory that stays with every visitor to this unique Caribbean paradise. The natives say that it is indigenous only to this one place, and that attempts to move it to other islands have been unsuccessful. Once heard, it is a sound one never forgets. The friendliness and hospitality of the native Puerto Ricans is also not easy to forget. At least, these qualities seemed to be in rich abundance among the people I had contact with on a recent trip. There is something different about this 3,515-square-mile island in the Caribbean. Although similar in many ways to other islands in this part of the world, there are subtle differences that attract thousands of tourists here each year and cause many native Puerto Ricans to want to return. The clear, melodious sound of the coqui frog after sundown typifies the uniqueness of this landmass which lies approximately a thousand miles southeast of Florida. Rich with history from its Spanish origins, it is today the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having attained that independent status after being a Territory of the United States from 1898 to 1952. It is also different in that most of the homes are made of cement floors, walls, and roofs. This sturdy material seems to best withstand the threats from nature, wind, rain and termites. Old San Juan cradles in its bosom ancient Spanish fortresses and San Jose Church, the oldest continually used church in this hemisphere. Every day, scores of cruise ships disgorge thousands of curious tourists. Of great interest are the ancient Morro Castle, begun in 1539 and completed in the late 1700's, and the Bautista Cathedral, which houses the remains of Juan Ponce de Leon, as well as the many other historic buildings and colorful shops. Even though the richness of their history has been preserved for current generations to enjoy, the residents of Puerto Rico are progressive and up­to-date. On February 17, the current Mayor of San Juan, Baltisar Corrada, held a press conference to announce the inauguration of a new trolley system in Old San Juan. The trolleys are actually buses built to carry tourists free of charge to the various places of interest on the island. The new bus system will allow automobiles and other vehicles to remain on the outskirts of the Old City, thus relieving the pressure on small, narrow streets. Closer inspection discloses that most of the buses are equipped with chair lifts in order to be accessible to handicapped people in wheelchairs. Mr. Corrada before becoming Mayor of San Juan served for eight years as the Representative of northern Puerto Rico in the United States Congress. His sensitivity to the needs of handicapped people is further demonstrated when it is discovered that he has a special aide by the name of David Cruz to advocate for handicapped people in San Juan. David is a well-educated blind Puerto Rican who uses a guide dog. He received his undergraduate and advanced degrees in the New York City area. David is only one of many well­educated, well-employed blind people in Puerto Rico. Let me hasten to add, however, that it is estimated that upwards of 85 percent of blind people are unemployed. So there are many challenges facing a unique ACB affiliate, el Concilio de Ciegos de Puerto Rico. Although this affiliate has not been very active during the past several years, a new interest and vitality seems to be stirring. New leadership, new life, and greater unity can bring only good things for the blind in Puerto Rico. Perhaps these forces will be heard loud and clear, like the melodious tones of the coqui, a sound that is difficult to ignore or forget. ***** ** Striking Gold in California -- 1987 ACB Convention The news is out! It's spread across the nation! A gold strike in California! And what's best is that you and all other ACBers -- you and every other blind or visually impaired person in America -- are invited to come, bringing your friends and family with you. This great event is the 26th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. We anticipate that this will be the largest meeting of blind people ever held in the United States. Official dates are July 11-18, 1987, but you'll want to come early and stay late in order not to miss one minute of the fun. Read on for more details. * Tours and Entertainment As indicated in the January-February Braille Forum, here are to be both pre- and post-convention activities. An overnight tour of Hearst Castle and Solvang will leave the hotel at 8:00 A.M. on Friday, July 10, and return around 10:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 11. Mickey Mouse and friends wait to welcome you at Disneyland on Saturday, July 11, and again on Saturday, July 18. Other tours throughout the week include a trip to Movieland at Universal Studios; a Los Angeles city tour; Knotts Berry Farm, where you'll feast on Mrs. Knott's famous fried chicken and visit the West as it used to be. But don't stop reading yet; there's still more to come. On Sunday evening, following the traditional CCLV wine and cheese party, the last great King of Swing, Woody Herman and his 20-piece orchestra, will perform live in the International Ballroom -- just for ACB. On Friday evening, July 17, the traditional ACB banquet won't be so traditional this time. Your banquet ticket will include a live concert by the fabulous Lettermen -- an evening unparalleled in ACB history. Other "fun" evening events are the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America dance (Monday); the Friends in Art Performing Arts Showcase, followed by a Mexican fiesta, co­hosted by the International Friendly Circle of the Blind and the National Alliance of Blind Students (Tuesday); an old-fashioned western barbecue, with two live bands, swimming, and an incredible choice of food -- all hosted by the International Guiding Eyes (Wednesday); an LA Dodgers baseball game (Thursday). * On the More Serious Side The American Council of the Blind and its special-interest affiliates and organizations will host a wide variety of workshops, seminars, and stimulating discussions. (See list of ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates elsewhere in this issue.) Many of the most popular seminars will be repeated from years past, but will be updated so as to provide the latest information. The Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCLV) will host a very special program for anyone who has recently experienced a loss of vision or who is having difficulty adjusting to sight loss. The ACB Diabetes Seminar will figure prominently in the week's programming, as will legislative and student seminars. The Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association (VISTA), will sponsor a leadership training workshop on Monday led by Toastmasters International. Anyone interested in leadership development skills is invited and encouraged to attend. Blind vendors are invited to participate in the RSVA seminar on Sunday, and anyone interested in the latest developments in the computer world won't want to miss the microcomputer seminar sponsored by the Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI), also on Sunday afternoon. The Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA) will host an informative workshop on Thursday which will bring attendees up-to-date information on veterans benefits for non-service-related injuries. Check the Convention Supplement (braille and cassette editions of this Braille Forum) or your large-print pre-registration form for more workshops and seminars. You will also find many outstanding speakers on the agendas of ACB and the special-interest affiliates. Plan to attend some of the meal functions sponsored by the special-interest organizations. They offer great food and outstanding programming. In addition, tours are being offered by several groups: the Council of Citizens with Low Vision will visit the Low-Vision Center in Santa Monica; the Braille Revival League will tour the Braille Institute in Los Angeles; Friends in Art plans several outings to local museums. Be sure to sign up for these activities when you pre-register. * For the Younger Set ACB encourages you to bring your family to this great convention. Spouses and children will enjoy most, if not all, of the many tours. The Host Committee plans special movies in the theater (there really is one that seats 150 people on the second floor of the hotel). Special pool-side activities and a game and/or children's hospitality room are also in the works. When small children are along, baby-sitters become an important detail. The hotel will assist with arrangements for bonded baby-sitters. Teenagers attending the convention who wish to baby-sit may register with the Host Committee's "At Your Service" desk. Parents looking for a less expensive alternative to hotel sitters may wish to contact the "At Your Service" desk for a list of available teens. * Important Details Are you attending an ACB convention for the first time? Are you a bit nervous about getting lost in the crowd? Don't be. Help will be just a phone call away. There will be an information desk staffed by competent California volunteers; an "At Your Service" desk — just call to request volunteer help; a 24-hour convention information line -- a short phone call gives you an update on what's going on. When you arrive at the hotel, you will want to stop by the convention registration desk right away to pick up your information packet. There you will find a braille, cassette, or large-print convention program. Inside will be complete room and schedule information for all convention activities. Many of you have expressed concern about the high cost of food at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton, the convention hotel. As this article goes to press, the hotel is working to make arrangements for a special carry-out sandwich service at lunch. Within three blocks of the hotel are several low-cost restaurants, or catch the free hotel shuttle to Manhattan Beach Mall, where you will find a wide choice of international restaurants. You will be asked on the pre-registration form to list the following information: date and time of arrival and departure; air carrier(s); and flight numbers. When you arrive at the LA Airport, you will be met by a competent ACB volunteer. You will be assisted through baggage claims and on to the free Hilton shuttle. Departure information is also important so that we may have adequate numbers of volunteers available to assist you to your gate. The Los Angeles International Airport is among the largest in the world. There are multiple terminals, with much confusion. To make your arrival in California a pleasant one, we need your cooperation. You will be asked on the pre-registration form to list the following information: date and time of arrival and departure; air carrier(s); and flight numbers. When you arrive at the LA Airport, you will be met by a competent ACB volunteer. You will be assisted through baggage claims and on to the free Hilton shuttle. Departure information is also important so that we may have adequate numbers of volunteers available to assist you to your gate. Included in the braille and cassette editions of this issue of The Braille Forum is a GOLD RUSH CONVENTION SUPPLEMENT. There you will find much of the schedule and cost information that will appear on the large-print pre-registration form. While the pre-registration form will not be in the mail until about mid-May, you will want to take this opportunity to review the supplement and begin making plans for your busy week in California. This year for the first time we are exploring the feasibility of an option to charge your tour and meal function tickets as well as all registration fees to your VISA or MASTERCARD. Check the pre-registration form for final details. * ACB Convention Business Each year at the national convention, the ACB membership sets the course for the organization for the coming year. It is vitally important, therefore, that each member attending the convention exercise his/her right and responsibility be being present at all of the very important business sessions. There will be resolutions, Constitution and By­Law amendments, reports of staff and officers concerning activities and services over the past year, selection of the 1989 convention site, and election of officers for the coming two years. Elections this year are particularly significant, since the President, First Vice President, and Secretary have served their three-term limit and cannot stand for re-election. Mr. Paul Edwards, 489 NE 101st Street, Miami Shores, FL 33138-2448, will again chair the Resolutions Committee. He will appreciate receiving as many of your draft resolutions as possible prior to the convention. This is particularly important now, since the Resolutions Committee will in all likelihood be working with reduced staff support during convention week. Members are reminded that all resolutions must be submitted to the Committee in draft form by midnight on Wednesday of convention week. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee this year will be chaired by Delbert K. Aman, 423 S. Lincoln, Apartment 5, Aberdeen, SD 57401. He, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. * Making Arrangements Headquarters for the 1987 convention is the three-year-old Los Angeles Airport Hilton, where room rates are $38.00 singles, $40.00 doubles, triples and quads. You may make reservations directly by calling the hotel at (213) 410-4000, or you may use the Hilton toll-free reservation number, 1-800-445-8667. In making travel arrangements, we urge you to contact Linda Ward of Cosmopolitan Travel Service, who has been working diligently to obtain the lowest possible travel rates for those planning to attend the convention. Making your travel arrangements through Cosmopolitan results in free airline tickets for ACB and thus assists the organization to decrease its operating expenses. You may contact Linda Ward as follows: In Florida, call 1-800-447-TRIP (that's 1-800-447-8747). In Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii, call collect, 1-904-743-9080. From all other states, call toll-free, 1-800-435-TRIP (that's 1-800-435-8747). If you have questions about the 1987 ACB national convention, you may call or write: 1987 ACB Convention Committee, California Council of the Blind, P.O. Box 2714, Northridge, CA 91323-2714; (818) 349-2636. ***** ** Award Nominations Sought The presentation of a number of prestigious awards has become an important tradition at each ACB national convention. Nominations for the following awards for the 1987 convention are now being sought. The Robert S. Bray Award is presented from time to time, but not necessarily annually, in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices or techniques. The award was established in memory of Mr. Bray, late Chief of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. The recipient of the Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who by their lives, associations, and activities have demonstrated their integration into and interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, or that he/she be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind and visually impaired people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by the nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year. Nominations for these three awards should be sent directly to Ms. Deborah Kendrick, Awards Committee Chairperson, 2819 Victoria Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208. Nominations must be postmarked no later than June 1, 1987. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative One of the experiences I have come to look forward to early each year in recent years has been a pleasant interview on "Talk It Over," a regular presentation of the Washington Ear, the radio reading service which serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan and outlying areas. The interview in early 1987 followed the pattern of its predecessors, and it was my pleasure to discuss a number of the timely issues of importance to blind and visually impaired people. Dozens of times each year we in the ACB National Office and in the Braille Forum office receive calls from people wanting to know when a certain subject was discussed in a Braille Forum article at some time in the past. Those callers frequently can identify the article only by some vague reference such as, "I think it was published sometime in 1981." If we do not immediately recall the article, it is almost impossible to spend much time researching the matter by looking through back issues. Hence the importance of a subject index of articles and of the volunteer project now being conducted by Peter Hauchler. Peter is a 17-year-old blind exchange student from Hamburg, West Germany, now attending school in the Washington area under the auspices of Youth for Understanding. Since the ACB National Office was contacted as a resource as soon as Youth for Understanding began considering the placement of its first blind student, from the beginning we knew Peter and knew of his capabilities. The private school which he attends has a requirement that all students must devote a specific number of hours each week to community service. The school officials, who had never had a blind student before, assumed that because of his blindness Peter would not be able to perform the required community service. Accordingly, they planned to excuse him from that requirement. However, Peter was not about to be treated like a "fragile flower," and he immediately contacted the ACB National Office about a suitable community service project. Since Peter's English and braille skills are excellent (his mother is a teacher of English and his father is a college professor as well as a member of the West German Parliament), Roberta Douglas immediately suggested the preparation of a subject index covering every issue of The Braille Forum. Result: every Tuesday morning Peter spreads old Braille Forums, large cards, and a brailler on the conference table and continues the enormous project. We are hopeful the project will be completed by the time he returns home this summer. If it isn't, we may be looking for another volunteer to complete it. We are hopeful, also, that it will be possible for Peter to attend the ACB National convention in Los Angeles in July. The next issue of The Braille Forum will profile another volunteer who is providing valuable assistance to the ACB National Office. ***** ** Mehitabel, A Cat for All Seasons By Harriet Fielding After living with me, a blind person, sleek, elegant, long-legged Mehitabel Fielding has been gone for more than a year now. Known to those who loved her as Mitty, her bright blue eyes, like twin headlights on a dark night, are still a picture in my visual imagination. Time passes, and I can talk freely about Mitty with my friends, and even smile fondly, remembering her antics when playing or hiding for hours in a kitchen cupboard, making no sound, while I searched frantically for her. Mitty was a seal point, typical Siamese cat, with a coat of many shades of brown, ranging from a dark brown face and ears to chocolate brown and creamy beige. Beautiful and elegant as Siamese cats are, their loud, raucous meow can become annoying to some individuals, I know. To me, totally blind, her noisiness was a definite plus. When basking in the sun on the patio, with mealtime rolling around, she would order me to let her into the house, her strident meow never failing to get my attention. However, I had some difficulty in knowing whether she had come through the door. But when I asked, "Mitty, are you in?" she would inform me she was indeed inside with a meow indicating, "Certainly I'm in, you idiot!" My 19 years of living with Mitty were seldom dull. We had good times and bad times together, but we readily forgave each other for the bad times. Most of the time, I believe, she had more for which to forgive me than I for her. For example, there was the time I shut her in the clothes dryer and turned it on. I had been transferring wet clothes from the washer to the dryer and had not heard her come out to the porch. I heard her agonized meow and a thump as the dryer started turning. I hastily opened the door. Mitty jumped out and scuttled back to the kitchen to hide in the broom closet for the rest of the day. This was an accident when "curiosity nearly killed the cat." Another incident when curiosity nearly killed the cat was the time Mitty was shut in the neighbor's garage from Friday to Monday. She slipped into the garage when they were loading their car for a weekend trip and was still investigating her surroundings when they closed and locked the garage door and drove away. Needless to say, after she had been gone for two nights, I supposed she had been either killed in an accident or had been stolen. I was so grief-stricken I could hardly bring myself to go to work on Monday morning. I returned home on Monday afternoon, my head hanging, shambling along, hating every step I took to reach the empty house. I was almost there when I heard hoarse meows coming from Mitty, sitting forlornly on the steps, waiting for me to come home. A cat with laryngitis! It took several days for her to recover her voice. I learned later that when the neighbors opened their garage door, Mitty skinned by them so fast she was just a blur a half a block away before they realized what had happened. Mitty forgave the neighbors in due time, but thereafter approached their garage as cautiously as she did the clothes dryer. Despite her troubles and woes with her blind mistress, Mitty loved me, I know, in her Siamese cat way. I loved her, too! I shall never forget the anguish I felt on that last day when I took her to the veterinarian for the injection which would end her suffering. I still miss her -- Mehitabel -- truly a cat for all seasons. ***** ** Washington's A-Buzz with the Three C's By Kathleen Megivern It seems that the major issues being discussed in Washington these days coincidentally all start with the letter C. For the first few weeks after the 100th Congress convened, political pundits had a good time referring to the "C-word" meaning competitiveness. This particular C-word is everyone's cure for our growing trade deficit problem, although the precise meaning seems to vary considerably depending upon who is doing the speaking. The second C-word is "Contra­Gate," also known as "Iran-Scam," and dubbed by Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory as "Gipper­Gate." Whatever one calls the current controversy over the sales of arms to Iran, it continues to occupy a fair amount of attention on Capitol Hill. Some cynical Washington observers attribute the new interest in our third C-word to a desire to focus attention away from the Iran arms controversy. What is the third C-word? It represents a concept which seems destined for some serious attention in coming weeks and months, although it's not a new idea: "catastrophic" -- as in health­care costs. The President has endorsed a limited plan for coverage of catastrophic health-care costs through Medicare. For Mr. Reagan's conservative supporters, endorsement of even a limited plan financed through Medicare is abhorrent, and for those in Washington of a more liberal persuasion, the limited plan doesn't do nearly enough, and they fear that focusing attention on the President's plan will prevent consideration of a more comprehensive insurance proposal. Some have estimated that the Administration plan would affect only about three percent of our nation's elderly. It would not cover home health-care costs or nursing home care, two of the biggest expenses. What would the annual premium of $59.00 buy? The answer seems to be "peace of mind," but little else for the vast majority of elderly Americans. Representative Claude Pepper (D., FL) is leading a battle for a more comprehensive plan which he says will benefit far more people and cost no more than we are already paying for Medicare. While the more comprehensive plan is not likely to go very far, everyone seems to agree that the new emphasis from the White House will result in some sort of coverage for catastrophic health-care costs being enacted in 1987. ***** ** Revised ACB Convention Guidelines By Carla S. Franklin ACB Convention Coordinator Anyone who has ever attended a national convention of the American Council of the Blind knows that choosing the site of a future convention is a "big deal." There are bid parties sponsored by affiliates and cities, presentations that try to entice you to vote for one city over another, and plenty of politics on the side. In its 26-year history, ACB has undergone many changes. It has grown from that first meeting of 29 in Kansas City to an organization that encompasses over 20,000 members throughout the entire United States. And just as the organization itself has grown and changed, so has its national convention. Attendees see these changes in terms of more tours and seminars, different registration procedures, and changing meeting schedules. Where bid parties were once small receptions in crowded suites, now they are full-blown parties, often sporting food, live music, and door prizes. Bid presentations were once made by one person, usually representing the state affiliate that wished to host the convention. Today members' votes are courted by audio-visual presentations, convention bureau representatives, and hotel general managers. To keep pace with these changes, to make ACB conventions more attractive to cities wishing to host a national convention, to keep individual costs down in an industry where prices continue to rise steadily despite reduced inflation, and to provide a well-run, efficient convention that makes the time you spend with ACB informative and enjoyable, the ACB Board of Directors has adopted a new set of convention guidelines. These guidelines incorporate changes made in the ACB By-Laws in 1986 concerning convention bid procedures. Convention Site Selection -- It is preferable that the convention site be selected two years in advance. However, this is no longer a "must," and the new By-Law amendment permits the seeking-out of multi-year bids with hotel chains and individual hotels. Thus, the site for more than one ACB convention may be chosen in a given year. Bids are always welcomed and encouraged from ACB affiliates. Bids may also come from hotels or convention bureaus. In such instances, ACB affiliates and individual members from the area in question will be asked to assist with the bid and, if the bid is successful, with convention planning. Affiliates are not in any way obligated to provide such assistance. It is imperative, however, that affiliate support be sought before a bid is presented to the membership, but a bid may be submitted without such affiliate support. The Convention Coordinator will present a minimum of two and a maximum of four bids for any given convention to the ACB Board of Directors for its consideration. The Board may wish to make a recommendation to the membership as to the bid that it feels will best meet the needs of ACB. All bids considered by the Board will then be submitted to the convention for consideration by the membership, and the membership, as always, will choose the convention site. After the Bid -- Once a city is chosen as the convention site, a convention committee will be organized to carry out the many details associated with the planning process. Since this is an ACB convention, ACB is ultimately responsible for every phase of this procedure. The Convention Coordinator will serve as chairman of the committee, and other members will include the Assistant Convention Coordinator, individuals from the local area, and such other persons as are necessary for the efficient planning and operation of the convention. Any ACB affiliate (including national special-interest affiliates and local chapters) may seek to be designated as the host for a national convention. Such host will be chosen on the basis of the affiliate's ability to provide the personnel and assistance needed, and on the proximity of its workers to the convention site. Under the old guidelines, host affiliates shared equally with ACB in any profit or loss on a convention. Under the new system, the host affiliate will receive $2,000 or 50 percent of the convention proceeds, whichever is greater, for its participation and assistance. Placing a Bid -- ACB is always looking for convention sites. Because of the ever-expanding business that we bring to a locality, convention bureaus and hotels are constantly seeking us out. During any given year, we may explore the possibility of developing bids in ten to fifteen different cities. Obviously, it is impractical to bring ten bids to the convention floor for consideration by the membership. How, then, you ask, are the bids selected? Several criteria are important in choosing the best of the bids. Some questions that must be explored concerning physical facilities are: Are there adequate sleeping rooms available? What are the size, quality, and configuration of meeting rooms and exhibit areas? Are physical facilities located near each other and near other businesses (such as restaurants)? Will a convention shuttle be necessary, and to what extent? Questions relating to convention costs are: Will there be a charge for meeting and/or exhibit space, and if so, can those charges be absorbed in other normal convention-related expenses? Will any shuttle services that are necessary be subsidized by participating hotels, convention centers, etc.? What are the normal fee structures for such local services as tour buses, audio-visual equipment, and exhibit decorators? What are the costs of meals in hotel restaurants? What will be the ticket prices for meal functions held within the convention hotel? What are the hotel room rates? How accessible is the city by air, and how much does air travel cost compared to those costs for other cities also placing bids? And finally, what tourist attractions are available in the area, and what are the related costs? Extending an Invitation -- Hosting an ACB convention is a lot of work. It takes a great deal of time and energy. Convention committees from the past several years will attest to the fact that for at least eight months, the planning, paper work, and details become almost overwhelming. Hosting an ACB convention is also very rewarding. There is always much satisfaction in a job well done, especially when that job involves showing off your city to ACBers from throughout the country. At the end of convention week, host committee members have tired feet, aching backs, very little patience, and the need to sleep for at least a month! But because ACBers are quick to express their appreciation for a well-run convention, host committee members also end the week with the knowledge that their efforts did not go unnoticed. The real satisfaction comes, however, in subsequent years when, while talking with conventioners from other states, host committee members are asked, "When can we come back to your city? We had such a great time there!" Is your state, special-interest, or local ACB affiliate interested in hosting a national convention? Would you like to have your city considered as a future convention site? For more information, contact Carla S. Franklin, ACB Convention Coordinator, 148 North Vernon Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206; (502) 897-1472. ***** ** ACB to Participate in Air Carriers Access Act Negotiations Last October, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-435). It states that "no air carrier may discriminate against any otherwise qualified handicapped individual, by reason of such handicap, in the provision of air transportation" and that "within 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate regulations to ensure nondiscriminatory treatment of qualified handicapped individuals consistent with safe carriage of all passengers on air carriers." Although some people considered the law to be a "cop-out" because it did not attempt to deal with all of the real and generated difficulties encountered by handicapped travelers, the passage of the law in itself was a tremendous step forward because it clearly stated the policy against discrimination and clearly made that policy applicable to "air carriers" without regard to the receipt of Federal assistance. Few people really expected the Department of Transportation to be able to meet the 120-day limit set by the statute. Many of the organizations that were originally involved in the recent litigation against the Civil Aeronautics Board asked the Department of Transportation to consider negotiating with them before publishing even proposed regulations, so that as many problem areas as possible could be calmly discussed before positions had been crystalized in the form of tentative regulations. Recently the ACB National Office was informed that the Department of Transportation intended to follow the recommended course, and that the American Council of the Blind is to be one of the small number of organizations designated to take part in the negotiations. The number must necessarily remain small enough to be workable, while at the same time large enough to represent people having different handicapping conditions. By the time this article goes to press, the first negotiating session probably will have taken place. Although people with other handicapping conditions may encounter more difficulties than most blind people encounter while traveling by air, it is clear that negotiations must take place in a coalition atmosphere which is broad enough to encompass topics of importance to all handicapped people, while at the same time being narrow enough to address the specific concerns of people with specific handicaps. ***** ** You Need a Scorecard to Understand This New Ball Game (Reprinted from AER Report, February 1987, published by Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired) The 100th Congress is now well under way in Washington, D.C., and there have been some significant changes in several key committees. The biggest changes come on the Senate side, because the Democrats are once again in the majority and all committee chairmanships shift from the Republican to the Democratic Party. The powerful Budget Committee is now chaired by Senator Lawton Chiles (D., FL), while the ever­important Appropriations Committee will now be led by Senator John Stennis (D., MS). The Subcommittee on Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education will be chaired by Senator Chiles (that is the crucial subcommittee which controls appropriations levels for special education and rehabilitation programs). Despite the fact that Democrats tend to be more generous when it comes to domestic programs, in the case of those programs of concern to us, this Democratic Senate may not be as receptive. The difference may be the loss of Lowell Weicker (R., CT) as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee as well as the Subcommittee on the Handicapped. The important Subcommittee on the Handicapped will be chaired by Senator Tom Harkin (D., IA). Senator Harkin is new to the Labor and Human Resources Committee as well as to the Subcommittee. There was an effort to convince Senator Paul Simon (D., IL), long-time advocate for disabled people, to chair the Subcommittee. However, Senator Simon decided to chair the Subcommittee on Employment and Productivity instead. He will remain as a member of the Subcommittee on the Handicapped -- the only Democrat on that Subcommittee who has any previous experience with these issues. Other Democratic members are Brock Adams of Washington and Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio. Senator Weicker remains on the Subcommittee as ranking minority member, and the other Republican members are Robert Stafford of Vermont and Thad Cochran of Mississippi. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, as chair of the full Committee on Labor and Human Resources, will serve as an ex officio member of the Subcommittee. Also serving ex officio will be Senator Orrin Hatch, the ranking minority member of the full Committee. There has been some talk that because the Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act and the Education of the Handicapped Act were both completed last year, there will be little for the Subcommittee on the Handicapped to do during the 100th Congress. However, it would be a serious mistake to make such an assumption. Instead, we must start now with the process of educating the new Subcommittee members about the issues of concern to those who work with blind and visually impaired people. (Update Note: Since the time this article went to press, there has also been a significant change on the House side. The House Subcommittee on Select Education, which has jurisdiction over all special education and rehabilitation programs, has a new chairman, Representative Major Owens (D., NY). You will remember that this committee was previously chaired by Representative Pat Williams (D., MT).) ***** ** In-Person Observations about Services for the Blind in Japan By Oral O. Miller Don't ever believe that you cannot communicate with a person just because you do not speak that person's language. I discovered this reality in 1984 when I roomed for approximately two weeks with Mr. Masahiro Muratani, President of the Japanese Federation of the Blind, while we were both taking part in the International Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. Mr. Muratani spoke no English, and I spoke no Japanese. But for a few hours each day, we communicated quite satisfactorily through the assistance of his English-speaking secretary and his interpreter -- sisters who looked so much alike that many observers could not tell one from the other. When the sisters were not around, however, we soon devised easy ways to communicate simple bits of information such as telephone messages, meeting schedules, and so on. Mr. Muratani had lost his sight while serving in the Japanese Army during World War II. Although I was a small child at that time, I was keenly interested in his perspective on that very important time in the histories of both countries. Beyond that, though, I asked endless questions about the role and status of blind people in Japan, and Mr. Muratani, in conjunction with Mr. Hirotsugu Jitsumoto, Chairman of the Japanese National Council for the Welfare of the Blind, indicated that some day I should visit Japan to observe its education and vocational training programs and to share information concerning many such programs in the United States. In view of the great distance and the high cost of travel, I tucked that possibility away into my always growing collection of things I would like to do some day. Imagine my pleasure when in the summer of 1986 I received an invitation from the Japanese National Council for the Welfare of the Blind to deliver lectures that September in Osaka and Tokyo concerning the historic and legal bases of national service programs for blind people in the United States! The invitation included a very busy schedule (which became even busier as time went on) for visiting and observing several of Japan’s leading rehabilitation, education vocational training, and sports centers for the blind. Though I was to visit just three cities -- Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo -- and though I knew my schedule in advance, I had no idea how truly educational, interesting, and busy each day of my week in Japan would really be. There is no way in an article such as this to describe every facility visited or to comment upon every special accommodation or service observed. Also, it would be presumptuous for a person who spent only one week in Japan to attempt to analyze many practices in depth. However, any account must begin with a statement of appreciation for the genuine hospitality, courtesy, and generosity of my Japanese hosts. They covered the costs of room, meals, and travel in Japan, leaving me personally responsible for my transportation to and from Japan. I was astonished by the large number of people who attended my lecture in Osaka. Present were city and prefecture officials, educators, rehabilitation specialists, and blind citizens of the community. I delivered the lecture a few sentences at a time in English, after which the interpreter (a teacher of English) translated those sentences into Japanese, working from a printed text which I had submitted beforehand. Several very good questions were asked from the floor regarding such concepts as reasonable accommodation, affirmative action, and educational mainstreaming. The lecture was followed by a lavish dinner and reception, during which I had an opportunity to meet many of the attendees, several of whom spoke very understandable English. The lecture which I delivered at a conference center in Tokyo a few days later was delivered in the same manner to another large audience, which also asked many incisive questions. The interpreter there, an employee of the Japanese Ministry of Education, was already somewhat familiar with some of the programs I discussed (such as the Federal/state vocational rehabilitation and special education programs, the Randolph-Sheppard program, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, and the National Library Service). Several months after my return home, I was pleasantly surprised to meet my Tokyo interpreter during a regional forum conducted by the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in Washington, D.C. One of the highlights of my visit was a tour of the Osaka Sports Center for the Disabled, a modern sports, recreation and leisure center which is very popular among the disabled people of that city and prefecture. A few days later, it was my pleasure to visit the very modern and impressive Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled. Some of the interesting features of this center were track and field competition sites surfaced with thin rubber or Astroturf, a swimming pool made accessible Jor orthopedically and other disabled people, an air-bubble generating system for warning blind swimmers at the end of the pool, talking elevators, traditional Japanese residential facilities for visiting teams, tactile tiles almost throughout, and a fire escape ramp several stories high for wheelchair users. The differing roles and facets of a consumer organization in Japan were underscored during my visit to the headquarters of the Japanese Federation of the Blind, the only membership organization of blind people in the country. Though it is open to the public, it recognizes the traditional custom of asking guests to leave their street shoes at the entrance and to wear light-weight slippers while on the premises, thus creating the sound of softly shuffling feet throughout the building. (I found no slippers large enough to fit my feet, so I was permitted to wear my street shoes.) Among features and services housed in the building were a sizable aids and appliances center, preparation of master plates in metal for the production of braille, recording and duplication of tapes for distribution pursuant to government contracts, a large braille library with reading areas, a large assembly room, residential facilities for overnight guests, consulting rooms, and a sizable staff for providing information, referral, and other services to members. Although the Japanese Federation receives payment from the government for some of the services it provides, it must devote considerable effort to raising funds throughout the country to cover the rest of its expenses. Library service in Japan is provided by approximately ninety different libraries, each of which has from five to six people on its staff. There are generally no geographic limits on the area that may be served, so it is possible for a blind person living on one side of the country to borrow from a library on the other side. The largest of these libraries is the Japanese Library for the Blind, located in Tokyo. Although it is not an instrumentality of the national government, it houses approximately 300,000 tapes and 130,000 braille books. Some of the more important functions and services performed by its staff of eighty include fund­raising, operation of a large aids and appliances shop, tape recording and duplication/distribution of books, preparation of metal plates and production of pressed braille materials, coordination of a large volunteer braille transcribing program, and, of course, all the shelving, shipping, and record-keeping functions connected with operating a busy library. Much of the recorded material is produced at 15/16 ips in half-track configuration, and the library sells a good quality, light-weight, half-track, variable-speed recorder capable of playing such materials. (This recorder is not available in the United States.) A stationary orientation device which assists blind people in finding the library entrance on a busy street is a bell which dings softly every 30 seconds or so. (I heard a similar bell marking the entrance to the subway system in the city of Kyoto.) The first rehabilitation and vocational training center which I had an opportunity to visit was the prestigious Lighthouse and Welfare Center for the Blind located in Osaka. Services provided at this multi-faceted center include social adjustment, vocational training (computer programming, typing and transcribing, switchboard operation, light engineering, and industrial arts), production and distribution of braille and recorded books, information and referral service from a computer base, and operation of a braille and tape lending library. I should mention here that working as a secretarial transcriber in Japan is far more difficult than here because the Japanese language contains several hundred different characters vs. the 26 letters with which we deal in English. My visit in Tokyo to the Vocational Development Center for the Blind and the Tokyo Workshop and Optacon Training Center, which were established only seven years ago with privately solicited funds, and on government-owned land, with a free­rent lease, showed me a different type of "sheltered workshop" and confirmed the importance of up-to-date vocational training. I learned that the Ministry of Labor will pay one-third the cost of an Optacon for anyone using it in employment; that the Center will pay the cost of Optacon training; that training is also given in word processing; that people who cannot find employment following word-processing training may work in the "workshop" until other employment is found; that the "workshop" is usually kept busy typing such materials as official transcripts from the court system as well as documents for the Ministry of Labor and other governmental offices; that the government will pay the entire cost of computer equipment if a blind person needs it to get a job following completion of training at the Center. My trip by train to the National Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled and the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Tokorozawa City, approximately an hour's ride from Tokyo, proved not only that trains are still a viable means of transportation, but also that traditional and modern vocations can be taught side by side very effectively. These centers, which are parts of a large complex formerly owned by the U.S. Air Force, provide training for adventitiously blind adults in acupuncture, massage, daily living, orientation and mobility, communications skills (including Optacon), recreation skills, computer programming, and telephone switchboard operation. The centers are operated by two different government departments, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It takes three years for a high-school graduate and five years for a junior high-school graduate to complete the training program in acupuncture, which has been a popular vocation for blind people in Japan for approximately 300 years. It is believed that blind people have been employed actively in the field of massage since the 7th century. Although I was not suffering from any ailment, the acupuncture instructor, who is a reader of The Braille Forum, demonstrated his healing art by allowing me to experience the sensation of acupuncture in my neck and on one of my shoulders. Since most blind children in Japan are educated in residential schools, my stay could not have been complete without a visit to one of the schools, the Tokyo Metropolitan Bunkyo School for the Blind, which has an enrollment of approximately 150. I was informed that following graduation, most of the students enter into acupuncture or massage training conducted at that school; that only the best students are allowed to enter acupuncture training; that last year approximately one-third of the graduates entered acupuncture and one-third entered massage training; that last year in Japan approximately 97 percent of the blind people who took the examination to be licensed as acupuncturists passed the difficult tests given by the government; that the sighted applicants did not do nearly as well on the examination; and that acupuncture and massage training include, also, training in the management of a business. As taught at the school, the healing art of acupuncture also includes moxibustion. Although I had read about moxibustion beforehand, I was eager to experience it. It involves the placement of tiny cones of maxos fibers on the skin at critical nerve junctures and then setting them on fire. No, they do not blaze; they merely smoulder and apply greatly concentrated heat to an extremely small area on the skin. I also had an opportunity to experience Japanese massage. This differs from Swedish or French massage in that it is far more vigorous and concentrated in a small area at one time. ***** ** Would You Like to Hear My Sculpture? By Laura Oftedahl It looks like a rock or a toad. When people see it, they think it's ugly. But when they shake it and hear the sound, their faces light up. Put your ear to "Star Dust," my precious sound sculpture created by an ingenious artist from Seward, Nebraska, and you will change your mind about what's ugly and what's beautiful. Reinhold Marxhausen (Marx for short) uses his work to get logical-thinking people to experiment with the right hemisphere of their brain -- the half that is intuitive and creative. Marx believes that it's the "getting stuck" in accepted ways of thinking that truly handicaps people and prevents them from realizing their full potential. The 64-year-old art professor believes that even blind people, who usually develop keener senses of hearing for functional purposes, tend to overlook aesthetic uses of sound. So you can imagine how excited he was with the exuberant response he received from his sound sculptures at the convention of the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention this past fall. Take his "Cosmic Cube," for instance. It's just a stainless­steel box with a bunch of flanges and loose things floating around inside. Pick it up and shake it, though, and your thoughts turn to the tranquility of the ocean. Sound sculptures are made from everyday things such as a cooking wok. The sound emanating from a wok once it is struck with a mallet goes on forever and is the perfect backdrop for some mind meandering. The largest piece in the traveling exhibit Marx brought to Kansas was a weird contraption made from steel wire, pitchforks, a steering wheel, and a lawn mower handle. It wasn't much to look at, but it was lovely to hear! Marx got into this new art form back in 1980 when he was looking for something different. Since then, he has presented exhibits and workshops across the nation. A year ago, he appeared on the popular David Letterman television show and received calls and letters from coast to coast. The only piece he sells is "Star Dust," at $50.00 a crack. His traveling sound sculpture exhibition, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is available for sponsorship from the Mid-America Arts Alliance in Kansas City, Missouri. In the coming months, it is scheduled for Texarkana, Texas; Lancaster, Ohio; Perryton, Texas; and Blytheville, Arkansas. Reinhold Marxhausen is a very interesting gentleman and a masterful artist, with works that will fascinate blind and sighted folks alike. Here is a great opportunity for your ACB affiliate to sponsor this unusual exhibit in your area -- and if you also bring Marx to your town, he can tell you about his other intriguing hobbies, like the five-leaf clover garden in his back yard in Seward, Nebraska. ***** ** "Tactic" Begins Third Year of Publication Tactic is a consumer-oriented braille quarterly concerning technology for the visually impaired. It offers practical information on hardware and software using braille, synthesized speech, or enlarged print output. Reviews are written by blind and visually impaired consumers — both professionals with technical expertise and those working in other fields who have intimate knowledge of one product. Regular features -- "Talk-Tech," "Tac-Tech," and "For Your Information," carry short news items of newly released products, programs, or services relating to technology, and the popular "Feedback" provides a forum in which readers exchange problems, solutions, and tips. Annual subscription price is $10.00. To order, write Tactic, Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231. ***** ** Richard and Lorraine Evensen Fatally Struck by Automobile Richard Evensen and his wife Lorraine were fatally injured on January 12 when they were struck by a car while crossing a street near their home in Wheaton, Maryland. They had crossed five of the road's six lanes and had nearly reached the curb when they were hit. Police said there were no stop lights or crosswalks at the intersection, and alcohol was not considered a factor in the accident. Also killed was Richard's dog guide, Kelly. Since 1984 Mr. Evensen had been Head of the Braille Development Section at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. The Section is responsible for training courses in certification of sighted volunteers in transcription of literary, mathematical, and music braille, and courses for blind individuals in proofreading. He was a past Chairman of the Braille Authority of North America and a leading authority in the United States on braille codes. Lorraine Evensen, known to her friends as Larry, had until last year taught four days a week at the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Washington, D.C. Legally blind, she also did volunteer work for albinos and taught knitting and crocheting to blind residents at Leisure World, an adult community in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Evensens were to have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on February 23. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of donations to Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, where Dick and Larry met while she was a teacher and he was a student. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: VersaBraille, Model P2C. $3,000 or best offer. Contact Jim Blacksten, 1651 Larkin Street, No. 5, San Francisco, CA 94109; (415) 673-0477. * Wanted: Optacon Calculator Lens. Write in print or braille to: Milton M. Ota, 1318 Kanewai Street, Honolulu, HI 96816-1718. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon "Other people go through the motions of living, but Gerry sets life in motion," is the way an article in the Indianapolis Star recently described Geraldine Koors, a long-time member of the ACB of Indiana. Blind since the age of six weeks, Gerry not only looks after her own seven children, but provides child care in her home for other youngsters, sometimes having as many as 25 in and out at various times during the week. Additionally, she served for 12 years as a volunteer teacher at the preschool program her children attended; she sings in her church choir, belongs to a card club, and occasionally lectures at the Indiana University School of Nursing and at the Indianapolis campus of Purdue University, of which she is a graduate. The Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at Virginia Beach, VA, has undertaken an ambitious project of providing public service information in braille, according to NLS News. Voter registration information has been placed in all five of the local public libraries; the City Council agenda is sent weekly to 20 active braille readers, and the Library hopes soon to be able to provide abbreviated minutes of the meetings. Other information available in braille from the Library includes preparedness information for hurricanes or tornados, consumer bulletins from the Department of Agriculture, notes from the Department of Recreation and minutes from the Mayor's Committee on the Handicapped. A popular Merrill Lynch brochure, "You and Your Money," is now available on audio cassette, according to Financial Insights. Topics include budgeting, retirement planning, insurance, and investment strategies. Copies of the cassettes have been distributed without charge to the 150 NLS cooperating libraries. The U.S. Department of Education has produced an audio cassette for visually impaired students. It gives information on financial aid opportunities for 1986-87. Write: Cassette, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, Room 4051, ROB-3, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. The Association on Handicapped Student Services Programs in Post­secondary Education (AHSSPPE) will hold its 10th national conference at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., July 22-25. For information regarding the conference or AHSSPPE, contact Jane Jarrow, P. O. Box 21192, Columbus, OH 43221; (614) 488-4972. Position Available: Executive Director, U.S. Association for Blind Athletes. Salary: $30,000-$40,000, commensurate with experience and professional qualifications. National office is to be located in Colorado Springs, CO. Date of appointment: January 1, 1988. USABA is a national volunteer, non-profit organization with 1500 members in 28 chapters, and is a member of the Committee on Sports for the Disabled of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Application deadline is July 1, 1987. For a job description and qualifications, contact Julian U. Stein, Chair, USABA Search Committee, 1832 Dalmation Drive, McLean, VA 22101. Would you like $10 worth of brailled grocery coupons for $5? Write Braille Ventures, P.O. Box 1709, Montgomery, AL 36117. Getting a 3-month-old infant to communicate anything other than hunger, happiness, or distress is a tall order, but Muskegon (Ml) optometrist Corrine M. Swain is able to go far beyond that, according to Booth News Service. She gets infants to "tell her" how well they can see. It's not that her little patients speak a special language understood only by their examiner. Rather, it is a combination of an undefinable "something" possessed by Dr. Swain that attracts youngsters to some adults more than others, together with a new piece of optometric equipment called the Preferential Looking Test. The portable testing unit uses flashing lights and line patterns to attract an infant's interest. Examinations, which take about three minutes, are able to show a child's level of visual acuity to a normal 20/20 reading. The Telephone Pioneers, a service organization of active and retired employees in all areas of the telecommunications industry, celebrated their 75th anniversary last fall. The world's largest organization of volunteer industrial employees was founded in the fall of 1911 and now has more than 626,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. Foremost among Pioneers activities are "beeper" ball programs for the blind and the repair and maintenance of talking book machines and cassette players for NLS regional libraries. Thorndyke Press, one of the nation's leading large-print publishers, recently announced that 1,000 Waldenbook Stores nationwide will be offering best-sellers and other books from Thorndyke's large-print line. Formerly books were sold primarily on a special-order basis in stores and to libraries. Books are set in type nearly twice as large as regular print, and prices range from $11.95 to $19.95. Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that recreates a New England town of the 1830's. The museum covers over 200 acres, with more than 40 restored buildings where people in historic dress demonstrate the life, work, and community celebrations of early 19th­century New England. Sensory/tactile tours are being offered on the first Saturday of every month, March through November. For more information, call (617) 347-3362, Extension 336. The Mother Earth News(R) is now available on cassette, beginning with the January-February 1987 issue. Back issues will be available on a request basis. Cost per single issue is $4.00, with a full year's subscription being offered for $20.00. Order from Rex Lampman, The Mother Earth News(R) on Tape, 240 Quincy Street, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Braille Publishers, Inc., announces World News Today, a weekly current news magazine in braille. UPI will be the primary news source. Publisher Roger Ebbett says the magazine will do something unique among braille magazines: it will carry advertising coupons and special offers for readers. Each weekly issue will be up to 100 braille pages. Yearly subscription (SO issues) is $40.00; six­month subscription (25 issues), $25.00. For further information, contact Roger Ebbett, World News Today, P.O. Box 675, Alamo, CA 94507; (415) 831-9679. Social Policy, a magazine of social change, is now available on cassette. Beginning with the winter 1987 issue, cassettes of this quarterly publication are available for $5.00 each (plus $1.50 for postage and handling). Annual subscription (four issues) is at the regular subscription price of $20.00, including postage. Address inquiries or orders to: Social Policy, 33 W. 42nd Street, Room 620N, New York, NY 10036, or call (212) 840-7619. The 1986-87 Option Central catalog is now available in large-print (free), braille ($1.00), and cassette ($1.00, or free if a blank C60 cassette is supplied). Included are housewares, writing aids, and personal product categories. Contact Option Central, Fred Sanderson, 1604 Carroll Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54304, (414) 498-9699. Are you tired of folding your paper money and fishing around for loose change? Not much bigger than a small folding checkbook, the Money Organizer -- with its multiple compartments -- gives you ready access to your bills and coins. Features include a compartment for a small slate or charge slips, expandable loop for felt­tipped pen or pencil stylus, and an extra-large toss-all purse for unsorted change. Single orders are $25.00, including shipping. Discount rates on bulk orders. Order from lnnavision, 14 White Pine Knoll Road, Wayland, MA 01778; (617) 235-2606. At its 1987 reunion, the American University Alumni Association presented one of five Alumni Recognition Awards to ACB member Dr. Raymond (Bud) Keith of Arlington, VA. Dr. Keith, who received his B.A. in public relations from AU, is a Senior Opportunity Specialist with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights. Blind since the age of 10, Mr. Keith was a member of the team that developed the first anti-discrimination regulations protecting the handicapped. A member of the Subcommittee on Recreation and Leisure of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, he was a founding member of the Vinland National Center, the first U.S. healthsports center for the disabled. In 1975 he was elected to the board of Ski for Light, Inc., and was elected president of that organization in 1980. The Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Indiana, was recently presented to Bashir A. Masoodi, Special Education Coordinator, Gary (IN) Community School Corporation. The award is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the State of Indiana or to the Governor. Mr. Masoodi, who is blind, is a member of the ACB of Indiana. American Thermoform Corp. has added a 19-hole punched version of its Final Edit to its computer paper line. Paper can be taken from the printer and immediately placed in a binder. The punched, fanfold, 11-by-11 1/2-inch Final Edit paper sells for $38.50 per 1,000-sheet box. For a sample or for further information on quantity purchase, contact American Thermoform Corp., 2311 Travers Avenue, City of Commerce, CA 90040. Harvey P. Jeffries, a past president and director of the ACB of Indiana, died recently of a heart attack. He was also active in the Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA) and in the Blinded Veterans Association. Betty McWethy, a charter member of the American Council of the Blind and a past president of the Michigan Association of the Blind, retired on January 31 after more than 25 years of service as social worker and director of the Visually Impaired Center of Flint, Michigan, an organization which she helped to establish. The McWethy Award, of which she was the first recipient, has been established in her honor and is to be presented annually to an individual who has contributed significantly to services to the visually impaired in the Flint area. ***** ** ACB National Special-Interest Affiliates American Blind Lawyers Association - James Kracht, President, 9901 S.W. 138 Street, Miami, FL 33176 ACB Radio Amateurs - John McCann, President, Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped, 397 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA 23327 ACB Federal Employees - Dr. Raymond (Bud) Keith, President, 737 N. Buchanan Street, Arlington, VA 22203 ACB Parents - Roy Ward, President, 6212 N. Franklin, Richmond, VA 23226 Braille Revival League - John di Francesco, President, 1030 Trestle Glen Road, Oakland, CA 94610 Council of Blind Lions - Arthur Clarke, President, 1932 N.W. 9th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Council of Citizens with Low Vision - Elizabeth Lennon, President, 1400 N. Drake Road, Apt. 218, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Council of Rehabilitation Specialists - Juliet Esterly, President, 2408 Ptarmigan, Apt. 1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 Friends-in-Art of ACB - Camille Vogel, President, 2013 Chippewa Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109 Guide Dog Users, Inc. - Kim Charlson, President, 12 Riverside, Apt. 1-2, Watertown, MA 02172 Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers - James Womack, President, P.O. Box 629, Winnfield, LA 71483 International Friendly Circle of the Blind - Maria Lopez, President, 3925 E. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023 National Alliance of Blind Students - Margie Donovan Johnson, President, 763 Silver Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134 National Association of Blind Teachers - Dana Walker, President, 341 Eagerton Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America - George Abbott, President, 7361 Oskaloosa Drive, Derwood, MD 20855 Visually Impaired Data Processors International - M.J. Schmitt, President, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, Apt. 2B, Forest Park, IL 60130 Visually Impaired Secretarial/Transcribers Association - Milly Stokes, President, 818 Woodlawn Avenue, Apt. H-4, Wilmington, DE 19805 Visually Impaired Veterans of America - Ernest Barlow, President, Route 2, Box 204, Cochrane, GA 31014 ***** ** 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 Editors: Elizabeth Lennon 1315 Greenwood Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Kathleen Megivern 7113 Fort Hunt Road Alexandria, VA 22307 ###