The Braille Forum Vol. XXVI July-August 1987 No. 1 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 1987 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents President's Message, by Grant Mack ACB Awards 1987 Scholarships Dancing in the Dark, by Dana Walker News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Important Reminder: ACB's Hospital Income Plan Some Issues Never Die: They Just Come 'Round Again, by Kathleen Megivern Bells Across America -- A Ringing Tribute BANA Adopts New Code for Computer Notation "Regneg" Means Non-Discrimination by Air Carriers Against Handicapped Travelers, by Oral O. Miller A Little Sight Goes a Long Way -- Aging and Rehab Leaders Discover Fair Housing for the Disabled, by Deborah Gore Dean Supreme Court Rules on Contagious Disease Controversy, by Lynn Abbott New Low-Cost Printer Now Produces Braille Oregon Commission Wins Restraining Order Skiing Is Believing, by Kathy Morrill AFB Announces Balloting for Alexander Scour by Narrator of the Year Award Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Grant Mack A flood of mixed emotions engulfs me as I prepare this final "President's Message." By the time you read this issue of The Braille Forum, the sixth president of the American Council of the Blind will have been elected by the membership at the 26th annual convention in Los Angeles, California. In addition to a new chief executive officer, it is quite likely that several new faces will be among the other officers. Along with a new look will come new enthusiasm, new ideas, new thrusts, and new energies. All of this bodes well for the future of the American Council of the Blind. We should all be reminded of and be thankful for the great wisdom of those who framed ACB's Constitution. History is replete with examples of the value in rotating leadership, whether it be of nations, organizations, or businesses. Many people are asking me how it feels not to be president of ACB any more. Would that all questions could be answered so easily. My prompt reply is, "It feels just great, thank you!" This does not mean it has been a disagreeable experience. To the contrary, nothing I have ever done has been so rewarding or stimulating. The commitment of time, personal resources, and energy has been offset by the many rewards. The thousands of stimulating and exciting new people I have met, both in and out of the blindness movement, have been worth all the effort. The new president will soon learn that he cannot please everyone. It goes with the territory that one will have detractors when the leadership role demands hard decisions. I say to the new president: Be prepared to dodge a few darts. One learns first­hand what Winston Churchill meant when he said, "One of the exhilarating experiences in life is to be shot at without result." To those who may have been offended by anything I did, I apologize. Would that every member of ACB could be president for a short time and have the opportunity to meet the thousands of outstanding people -- many of whom never attend a national convention -- who belong to this marvelous organization. This is a rare and privileged experience. The caliber of people that ACB has attracted to its ranks is a great testimony to the kind of organization it is. In no membership organization anywhere in the world will there be found more dedicated, stimulating, and effective people. It is important that ACB continue to grow in numbers and in influence. Good people, working together in a positive and upbeat manner, can make a tremendous difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired persons in the years ahead. I pledge my support to the newly elected officers, and I urge every member of the American Council of the Blind to do the same. The future of ACB was never brighter. Even though our growth during the past several years has been remarkable, I am confident when I say, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!" And in the words of the Utah Jazz basketball announcer, Hotrod Hundley, "You gotta love it, baby!" ***** ** ACB Awards 1987 Scholarships The American Council of the Blind awarded its 1987 scholarships totaling $8,500 to six outstanding blind students at its 26th annual convention, held July 11-18 in Los Angeles. The awards were given to students in academic, professional, and vocational curricula at the undergraduate and graduate level. Hundreds of qualified blind and visually impaired students applied for these honors. The recipient of the ACB scholarship in the graduate category is Omhny J. Romero, who is completing a master's degree in electrical engineering at the University of Delaware. Omhny will begin his doctoral degree program in electrical and computer engineering in September. In the undergraduate field, the winner of the ACB scholarship is Heidi von Ravensberg, a student in business administration at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. Another undergraduate who beat stiff competition for an ACB scholarship is Arlene K. Sethi, an entering freshman who will attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Arlene is from Elmwood Park, New Jersey. In the vocational and professional category, the Council is pleased to award a scholarship to Stephen J. Guth, a student in the counseling certificate program at North Texas State University. The Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship for 1987 was awarded to Christine M. Faltz. Christine is an entering freshman in the B.A. program in English and journalism at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. This year for the first time, ACB administered a new scholarship fund for the VTEK Corporation of Santa Monica, California. The winner of this scholarship is Mike Naugle, a master's student of English literature at the University of San Diego. The Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships were established in 1982 in honor of ACB's third president and dedicated leader. Two years later, the Tarver Foundation of Richmond, Virginia, created the Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship for a deserving undergraduate student. Letters from two of last year's recipients, Wendy Pava and Gynger Ingram, underscore eloquently the importance and effectiveness of this scholarship program. Ms. Pava, a student in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of Washington/Seattle, writes: "(I) extend my sincerest thanks to the American Council of the Blind for your very generous scholarship. This Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship award has helped me immensely with my educational endeavors this year. I am deeply grateful for your generous support. Thank you again." Gynger Ingram is an English education major at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Her letter reads in part: "I have successfully completed the academic year for which I was awarded a scholarship by the American Council of the Blind. Enclosed is a copy of my grade report for the spring semester 1987. It seems this scholarship brought me luck or strength or something. This was my second perfect semester in a row. I cannot thank ACB enough for that scholarship and for the fabulous time I had at the national convention last summer ..." The American Council of the Blind has an endowment fund to help continue and expand its valuable assistance program and relies on contributions from individuals and organizations. For applications for the 1988 ACB scholarships, contact the Council's National Office, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 393-3666, or toll-free (3:00-5:30 P.M. EST) at 1-800-424-8666. Application deadline is April 1, 1988. ***** ** Dancing in the Dark By Dana Walker (Dana Walker is currently President of the National Association of Blind Teachers. In addition to serv­ing as Contributing Editor for The Log, published by Friends in Art of ACB, she has written for Dialogue, Lifeprints, and Kaleidoscope.) "Sighted people are too dependent on the light," says Ann Chapman of Washington, D.C. Elaborating on this unusual opinion, she says, "They are always saying they can't do this or that because it's too dark. They need to learn to function in the dark." A little dimming of the light never stopped Ann from pursuing her career as a dance teacher, even though she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in the third grade. Her teen years were spent "just making it through school," she says. At 19 she began learning tap, ballet, and acrobatics in her native Idaho, and then began teaching them herself. Later she migrated to the Washington area and became associated with Marian Venable School of Dance. The manager there, says Ann, "recognized that I had ability and said that I could use her name as a reference." As a result, Ann got a job teaching dance at a big apartment complex in Arlington and then at another apartment complex. After making many contacts in this way, she was able to open her own dance studio in Arlington during World War II. She maintained that studio for some twenty years. At that time she was functioning basically as a sighted person, using her peripheral vision and the help of a secretary. During the RLF epidemic in the 1950's, she got many referrals of blind children who wanted to learn to dance. Ann organized a parents group which persuaded the Columbia Lighthouse to hire her to begin the children's dance lessons there. She worked fifteen years for them. Ann began teaching the blind children tap dancing because with tap one gets immediate audio feedback, unlike with ballet. The dancer as well as the teacher, who might both be visually impaired, can tell from the sound if the steps are being performed correctly. Ann also developed a method of teaching the steps without relying on a visual model -- no "Do like this" commands in her classes. Instead, she has given each step a name and a detailed verbal description. The student learns by imitating the description. After that, Ann can say, "Do a slap shuffle and a grab-off," and both sighted and blind students can perform the correct steps. Ann has found that dancing helps blind students with their rhythm and sense of motion. "I gave the children a lot of arm movement and taught them how to hop first," she says. "A lot of blind children are afraid to hop because they don't know where they are going to land." Using a trampoline and an open, uncluttered studio, Ann taught the children first to hop and then to run, and then to move about completely freely. "They really became little free spirits," she says proudly. At retirement, Ann went to the community center in her area, where they asked her to take the tap classes. By this time, she was dependent on sighted help, so they hired an assistant for her. The hired helper turned out to be no help at all, and Ann was forced to take over. "I found I could do it," she says. "I still had the same teaching ability." She found with careful organization and planning, she could work around her lack of vision, which was now total. "My classes grew and grew," she says. "The mothers wanted lessons, so I organized adult classes." One of her adult students was Linda Ellerby, the NBC newswoman. This contact led to an appearance on NBC's Today program, complete with TV crews filming Ann conducting a dance lesson. One of her former dance students contacted her after that and has since become her assistant, doing the detail work and bits of styling that Ann can't get to. "But I can still do a lot of criticism myself," she says. Ann also says that for blind people, tap dancing is excellent exercise therapy and recreation. "We teach the whole body -- arms, shoulders, torso, legs, everything," she says. "It's wonderful exercise, and you do have that satisfaction of knowing ex­actly what you are doing. The thing about dancing that's so much fun besides the exercise is that you get the rhythm and the music. You have something to respond to and something to interpret. It's like playing an instrument, only your body is the instrument." (NOTE: Ann Chapman is a member of the National Association of Blind Teachers, D.C. Association of Workers for the Blind, the Braille Revival League, and Friends-In-Art of ACB. She is a past recipient of ACB's Ambassador Award.) ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Many of the successes of consumer advocacy organizations take place at the local level, where the knowledge and enthusiasm of members can be called upon and most effectively utilized. That is why I enjoy meeting, whenever possible, with local chapters of ACB affiliates. In late April, it was my pleasure to meet with the members of the Nova Chapter of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and during a relaxed, informal dinner meeting to talk to them about their concerns and the interest of the American Council of the Blind in assisting them. The effectiveness and practical good sense of working in coalition with other national organizations was underscored again recently by the 1987 National Assembly of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), of which ACB has been a member for several years. The LCCR is made up of approximately 180 national organizations such as the League of Women Voters, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Council of Churches, and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund -- all dedicated to the advancement of civil rights. Much time and attention was devoted to the progress of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 and the Fair Housing Amendments of 1987. As reported in earlier issues of The Braille Forum, the Civil Rights Restoration Act is desperately needed in order to undo the narrowing effects of the Supreme Court decision in the Grove City College case, which held, in substance, that the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other anti-discrimination statutes apply only to the exact entities or subdivisions receiving Federal financial assistance. This means that a specific department in a college may discriminate against a handicapped person if that department does not receive Federal financial assistance, although the college itself generally receives massive Federal assistance. As of this writing, more than 50 Senators have agreed to serve as co-sponsors of this important legislation, and efforts are now under way to develop similar support in the House of Representatives. As children, you may have read about "The Little Engine That Could." That description might be applied now to the Rhode Island Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, whose state convention it was my pleasure to attend during May. That affiliate, which is made up of a good combination of experienced members and energetic new members, has become a very effective advocate for the right and capabilities of blind and visually impaired people. It was clear that its views are being heard in the places where decisions are made concerning blind and visually impaired people in Rhode Island. Do you remember my observation earlier in this article about the effectiveness of consumer advocates on the local level? For the past several months, it has been my pleasure to work with a group of ACB members and others from the Memphis Chapter of the Tennessee Council of the Blind regarding the way in which the transit authority in that city plans (or does not plan) to serve blind and other handicapped people. That concern was concentrated in late May when a delegation from Memphis, representatives from Tennessee Congressional offices, and I met with officials of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to find out what DOT could or would do. The Memphis delegation knew before arriving that DOT could not simply snap its fingers and correct the problem. During a lengthy meeting, however, a strategy was formulated for challenging the plan of the Transit authority at the regional level of the Urban Mass Transit Administration. Although the DOT regulations (which themselves are being challenged in court) do not compel transit authorities to provide special service to handicapped people unless they are incapable of mounting and dismounting transit vehicles, the plan of the Memphis Transit Authority was probably too broad in automatically declaring blind people ineligible for service. We are watching this situation very closely, inasmuch as in some cities a few unrealistic and misguided blind people insist publicly and loudly that no blind person should be considered eligible for special transportation services. One national service organization which has been very supportive of many activities by and programs for blind people at the local level is the Telephone Pioneers of America. Not often do we have an opportunity to thank the Pioneers and tell them about some of the interests and concerns of blind people with which they are not already familiar. Hence, my pleasure in speaking to the Alexander Graham Bell Chapter Life Members recently in Washington. What I had expected to be a relatively small group turned out to involve almost a thousand people, who were very receptive to information regarding, among other things, the wide range of physical and intellectual activities engaged in by blind and visually impaired people. Who said that bankers never listen? They did -- and with interest -- recently during a session of the Continuing Education Institute sponsored by the credit executives of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. No, one lecture to bank executives cannot change inappropriate attitudes or correct potentially discriminatory practices on the part of some banks, but I know I made tremendous progress with the bankers present. Many of them learned for the first time that blind people, the same as sighted people, may be interested in the full range of services and confidentiality available to the general public. I would like to welcome the national office of the Association of Radio Reading Services (ARRS) as a neighbor of the American Council of the Blind. Beginning July 1, the ARRS office will occupy, as a sub­lessee a part of the ACB National Office suite. ACB has always supported radio reading services as an extremely important service available to blind and print handicapped people, and we are looking forward to an even closer relationship with this ARRS office, which represents most of the radio reading services on the national level. In early June, the Department of Transportation began the process which by the end of 1987 will result in the publication of preliminary regulations as directed by the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986. In view of the uniqueness and magnitude of this process, it is discussed in a separate article in this issue of The Braille Forum. ***** ** Important Reminder: ACB's Hospital Income Plan As announced in the May-June issue of The Braille Forum, the American Council of the Blind's Hospital Income Plan is now available. YOUR ACCEPTANCE IS GUARANTEED. No medical questions are asked. Now you can enroll yourself and your family quickly and easily. HOW THE PLAN WORKS -- The ACB Hospital Income Plan pays from $40.00 to $150.00 for each day you are hospitalized. If you are hospitalized because of cancer or need to be in an intensive care unit, the plan will pay twice the daily benefit amount, or the maximum of $300.00 per day. The benefit is paid directly to you, regardless of any other coverage you may have, to be used as you choose. You may also buy the same amount of protection for your spouse and 50 percent of your coverage amount for your children. You can buy this plan ONLY AS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND. As an example of the low group rates, you can receive a $40.00 daily benefit for as little as $10.20 every three months. (Rates are based on your age. This rate is for an under-30 member.) Information is available in large­print or cassette format. Simply contact the ACB National Office, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 393-3666. If you have further questions after receiving the material, you may call the Client Service Representatives of Marsh and McLennan Group Associates toll-free at 1-800-621-0299. Illinois members call 1-800-572-2038. In Alaska, call collect, 1-312-930-6331. ***** ** Some Issues Never Die: They Just Come 'Round Again By Kathleen Megivern This is the season of summer re­runs, and that may be what this legislative update feels like. It seems that Congresses may come and go, but certain issues are sure to remain. For instance, zero-funding for "Revenue Foregone" has once again reared its ugly head. I am sure you all remember this battle from past years. Revenue Foregone is that category in the U.S. Postal Service budget which subsidizes reduced mailing rates such as the Third Class non-profit permit. It also includes "Free Matter for the Blind," and in the past, efforts to defund this section included the elimination of Free Matter. At least they seem to have learned their lesson on that particular "hot potato." This year's proposal to eliminate funding for Revenue Foregone specifically separates out the Free Matter program and assures that it will be funded at a sufficient level, no matter what. However, so many non-profit agencies rely on that reduced mailing permit to raise money and otherwise keep their operations going that one doesn't have to reach too far to understand that elimination of or significant increases in these reduced­rate categories could have a major negative impact on non-profits and the people they serve. Perhaps most distressing about this latest round is that the proposal did not come from the Reagan White House, but, rather, from the Democratically controlled Subcommittee on Appropriations. A coalition of non-profit mailers has managed to create so much controversy that as we go to press, the full Committee has delayed any action, and the Subcommittee proposal is said to have been "pulled back." Another old, familiar issue is the effort to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Grove City case. As you remember, that decision seriously limited the scope of civil rights statutes, including Section 504. Despite broad bipartisan support in the last Congress, opponents managed to kill the bill. This time, with 54 Senate co-sponsors, the bill has been reported out of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and could conceivably come to the floor of the Senate for a vote at any time. Opponents are threatening many of the same tactics we have seen before; namely, killing the bill by attaching abortion-related amendments. Bills such as this one (formerly called the Civil Rights Restoration Act) are high on the Democratic agenda, and there have even been rumors to the effect that Democrats may "hold hostage" the Administration's Supreme Court nomination unless they get agreement from Republican leaders to take up some of these important legislative issues. As for budget and appropriation issues, they, too, sound all too familiar. The Democratically controlled House and Senate have each passed a budget resolution which relies upon some tax increases in order to pay for defense and domestic expenditures. Education programs, including special education and rehabilitation, fare pretty well in these budget resolutions. However, the budget is merely the "outline" for Federal spending. The actual line item expenditures will be decided upon by the Appropriations Committees, and their work is still a long way from completion. As usual, all we can say is: Stay tuned! ***** ** Bells Across America -- A Ringing Tribute September 17, 1987, is the 200th anniversary of one of the most significant events in history: the signing of the United States Constitution. On this date in 1787, 39 men signed their names to a document which established the world's first government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Today the U.S. Constitution is the world's oldest written instrument of national government. It is the cornerstone of the American republic, a symbol of our national ideals of freedom, justice, and equal opportunity. To commemorate the historic moment when the Constitution was signed, the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution is inviting every American and every institution, from religious and educational to social service and professional, to join in "Bells Across America: A Ringing Tribute to the Constitution." The Ringing Tribute will start at 4:00 P.M. EDT, the time of the signing of the Constitution. Individuals and groups across the nation will simultaneously ring bells for 200 seconds. During the 200 seconds, organizations are invited to release red, white, and blue helium-filled balloons into the air. During the 200 seconds, Americans can reflect upon the blessings of liberty and the ideals of justice and equal opportunity made possible by the Constitution. ***** ** BANA Adopts New Code for Computer Notation (Reprinted from Update, April­June 1987, Volume X, No. 2, published by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress) In April 1986, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) adopted a new computer braille code that supersedes the Provisional Braille Code for Computer Notation adopted by BANA in 1972. Based on a code developed by MIT in the 1960's, the new computer code permits a one-to-one representation of print characters. The 1972 code allowed a transcriber to use a slightly modified Nemeth Code to represent computer notation. This procedure worked fairly well for transcribing flow charts and the like, but as braille-based computer devices came into use, it was necessary for each character to be represented on the display as it appeared in print. American manufacturers of these devices used a code that was similar to the MIT code rather than the Provisional Code. This disparity meant that when using a braille device, a blind person needed to use a different braille code from that found in transcribed books. The new code removes many of the ambiguities inherent in the transcription of computer braille. Some characters for which there is no distinction in literary braille must be represented as separate characters in computer braille. For example, a left parenthesis in print is an "of" sign in computer braille, and a right parenthesis is a "with" sign in computer braille. On the other hand, only one symbol is needed for both opening and closing quotation marks. This one-to-one correspondence between braille and print means that it is now possible for braille readers to know exactly what the equivalent print copy looks like. The computer braille system unambiguously represents all 95 printable characters of the ASCII system (the characters commonly found on the computer keyboard). Since there are only 64 braille characters, however, some character pairs (such as upper and lower case letters and some punctuation marks) must share the same computer braille symbols. It was therefore necessary to adopt a convention to note differences. In the new code, one symbol is set aside to be used as a prefix to indicate situations that could not be represented by the characters of braille. The underline character (dots 4-5-6) is used for this purpose. For example, a letter preceded by dots 4-5-6 represents a single upper-case letter. If an extended string of characters is in upper-case letters, then a two-cell sequence can be used to invoke a "caps lock." There are other sequences in the code that communicate such things as a switch between literary and computer braille code, the beginning and end of emphasis, and so forth. The new Computer Braille Code was developed by a committee established by BANA in 1985. The committee was chaired by Tim Cranmer and included Priscilla Harris, transcriber of literary braille; Donna Pastore, expert in the Nemeth Code; Sandra Ruconich, expert on technology for the blind; Emerson Foulke, researcher in sensory aids; and Joe Sullivan, author of braille translation programs. The committee's work was approved by the BANA Board for field-testing by transcribers and the braille printing houses. Copies of the Computer Braille Code are available for purchase from the American Printing House for the Blind, Order Department, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. The catalog number for the braille edition is 525480. The print edition is No. 725480. ***** ** "Regneg" Means Non-Discrimination by Air Carriers Against Handicapped Travelers By Oral O. Miller National Representative Late in 1986, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Air Carriers Access Act. This law, in substance, prohibited discrimination against any otherwise qualified handicapped individual by reason of such handicap, and directed the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations to ensure non-discriminatory treatment consistent with the safe carriage of all passengers on air carriers. The formal regulatory negotiating (Regneg) process began in early June and will continue for approximately six months. This is the first time the Federal Government has attempted to negotiate regulations relating to handicapped people before publishing proposed regulations. This is also the first time the Federal Government has devoted so much time and so many resources to an issue impacting on handicapped people. The official negotiating body has been set up pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the negotiations are presided over by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. These negotiations are an extremely important milestone in the disability field, and the fact that the American Council of the Blind is an official participant is an indication of the recognition given to this organization at the highest levels of government. The organizations making up the negotiating committee are the Department of Transportation (including the Federal Aviation Administration), the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Air Transport Association, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, the National Air Taxi Association, the National Air Carriers Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, the Regional Airport Authority, the Regional Airline Association, the American Council of the Blind, the National Council of Centers for Independent Living, the Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped, the National Center for Law and the Deaf, and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Several other organizations (including specific airlines, government agencies, travel organizations, and other organizations of disabled people) asked to be included on the committee, but were turned down by the Department of Transportation. This process, which involves a very considerable commitment of time on the part of all participating organizations, is an unparalleled opportunity for the handicapped community to provide direct input to the regulation-making process. Some of the dozens of issues to be negotiated will include the extent to which the regulations will cover airport and related facilities, the extent to which some practices are based on assumptions and have no realistic relationship to safety considerations, possible seating restrictions, possible limitations on numbers of disabled people who may travel on the same plane, communication of information to disabled travelers at all times, duties of independent travel agents, transportation of orientation and mobility aids ... (The inclusion or failure to include any subject in the foregoing list should not be construed as implying any position on that issue, one way or the other.) Although I am familiar with many problems encountered by blind travelers and have a considerable amount of traveling experience myself, I am asking you, the readers of The Braille Forum, to let me know immediately if you believe there are any truly unusual or endemic issues or practices which ought to be included for consideration at the appropriate time. ***** ** A Little Sight Goes a Long Way -- Aging and Rehab Leaders Discover Advances in technology and rehabilitation now make it possible for people with severe vision loss to live independent, productive lives -- but most people who need help don't know what's available or how to get it. This is particularly true for the elderly, according to nationally known authorities addressing a recent workshop co-sponsored by the Center for the Partially Sighted (CPS) of Santa Monica and Telesensory Systems, Inc. (TSI) of Mountain View, California. "Getting information to the people who can use it -- including older people and the professionals who serve them -- is one of our most urgent tasks," said Dr. James Bliss, TSI President and pioneer in development of electronic aids for the blind and partially sighted. "Progress in treatment and surgery means that the overwhelming majority of patients with eye diseases do not become totally blind," said Dr. Alan L. Shabo, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, and Chairman of the Center's Scientific Advisory Board. He called for greater emphasis on helping patients maximize use of their remaining vision through specialized low-vision clinics and use of low­vision optical aids. He also underscored the importance of early detection and treatment to preserve remaining sight. The meeting was keynoted by Dr. Samuel M. Genensky, CPS Executive Director, who estimated that over two million people in the United States are partially sighted, with approximately two-thirds being senior citizens. "Non-technically speaking," he said, "partially sighted people often live in a world of shape and form, frequently augmented by color, but basically devoid of detail except through use of low-vision aids to pick up detail." He told the audience that, "People are partially sighted if, even with the help of ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses, they cannot pick up the newspaper and read column type at normal reading distances. These are people who can see more than just light or tell the direction it comes from." "Comprehensive low vision clinics such as CPS help people with these problems," Genensky said, "by providing evaluation, optical and non­optical devices plus training in daily living and travel skills. They also offer psychological counseling and support groups." Genensky said that 76 percent of those classified as legally blind in the United States have partial sight, "but simply are not blind. With the right help, and the will to make the most of their remaining vision, many can read, write, and get around by themselves." Attending the half-day workshop were representatives from private and governmental agencies serving senior citizens in the Greater Los Angeles area as well as rehabilitation specialists and staff from area universities. They participated in hands-on demonstrations of low-vision aids, including recent advances in electronic magnifying equipment manufactured by TSI. CPS staff provided other demonstrations that help low-vision people become more independent, including orientation and mobility techniques, independent living skills, and low-vision aids, both optical and non-optical. The workshop was entitled, "Beyond Barriers: Seeing Beyond Belief." The workshop is the first in a series to be presented by TSI throughout the U.S., according to Alan Crafton, TSI representative in Southern California. ***** ** Fair Housing for the Disabled By Deborah Gore Dean Executive Assistant to the Secretary Department of Housing and Urban Development Washington, D.C. Everyone is aware of the many difficulties and frustrations involved in the search for a home. Finding housing that meets an individual's needs, budget, and taste requirements and is situated in an area offering ready access to schools, jobs, shopping, and transportation is almost becoming the "impossible" American dream. For disabled citizens, however, the same search can be an almost hopeless one, due to a severe lack of accessible housing in a compatible range of styles, choice, and price. To make matters even worse, they often have to deal with discriminatory treatment as well. Many disabled people know how it feels to be told they will be denied the housing of their choice because they are considered to be a "hazard"; or because owners' "insurance rates will go up"; or perhaps for no reason at all. The sad truth of the matter is that the disabled -- unlike other minorities who have been discriminated against -- usually have no recourse to such injustice. In order to remedy this situation, both President Reagan and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Samuel R. Pierce, Jr., have proposed legislation which would finally give a disabled person the means to fight back. If Congress acts to include the disabled as a protected class under the Federal Fair Housing law, we are going to finally ensure the removal of "dead end" signs for those who need housing as badly, if not even more so, than anyone else in this country. New legislation to discourage old prejudices will certainly lessen the housing problems of the disabled, but it cannot even begin to solve them. The major barrier to real progress is that homebuilders and realtors continue to neglect the growing market for accessible housing. The situation can only change when we recognize that this market is both a substantial and profitable one; and that it is not so complicated and full of red tape as they might suppose. In real terms, the market for housing which is accessible has greatly increased in the past few years, due to the independent living movement and recent laws providing for the protection of the disabled in education, employment, and transportation. More and more disabled people are working. Their buying power has increased. At the same time, a parallel demand for housing meeting their specifications has grown. To begin meeting this demand, both realtors and homebuilders need to know the answers to certain questions. For example: Who are disabled people, and what are their needs? Does it cost more to build an accessible home? Can a person without disabilities benefit from increased accessibility as well? What is a group home? Will disabled people bring down property values? It is of primary importance to educate the real estate industry about the various kinds of disabilities and the related needs of each. When most people think of access or of disabled people, they usually focus upon wheelchairs and ramps for wheelchair users. But the issue of access is much broader. They need to be reminded that, in addition to ensuring housing itself is accessible and in adequate supply, the issue demands that interior facilities also be accessible for use by a disabled person. It is impossible to promote the overall utility and wisdom of universal design — design that meets the needs of all people, disabled or not. Everyone can benefit from design features that promote access. A smooth-running access ramp, for example, is also much easier than a flight of steps for an elderly person, or even a younger person carrying a heavy load. Accessibility features do not have to be unattractive. Builders today are coming up with a multitude of ideas for increasing the appeal and attractiveness of accessibility -- so that it blends into the decor or style of a home. New developments in housing design help to assure universal accessibility of most facilities. Accessible design also has the potential to be widely marketable. Vanity mirrors in bathrooms, for example, are now large enough to accommodate anyone, whether standing or sitting or in a wheelchair. Another development that assists both disabled and non-disabled persons is the inclusion of Lazy Susan cabinets in kitchens. Most of us can recall the struggle to find something hidden in the rear of a floor-level cabinet. The Lazy Susan design allows ease of access to persons in wheelchairs and certainly benefits the elderly as well as able-bodied persons. What about costs? Most persons seek housing that is already accessible because they lack the financial capability necessary to renovate or adapt an inaccessible residence. But the cost of building in access features from the ground up, such as providing doorways that are at least 32 inches wide, is minimal or non-existent. Electrical wiring or other building elements are designed so that access features can be made with minimum labor and cost. It is of key importance to point out that allowing greater ease of movement for the disabled also benefits non-disabled persons. One builder was asked to promote accessibility by putting a bathroom door on the right side instead of the left in all units of an entire development. Realizing immediately that this change would facilitate use of the bathroom for all home buyers, the builder changed the blueprints for all the homes. There is still much work to be done to finally weed out use of terms that are negative -- the "handicapped" -- or even worse, terms like "crippled," "wheelchair-bound," "deaf and dumb," and so on. We can also learn to deal with fact: that the issue of group homes for mentally disabled is raised by fears that locating such facilities in residential neighborhoods will affect property value. This is not true. In fact, studies show that the presence of these group homes has little or no effect on property values. In some declining areas, group homes have even had a stabilizing effect. This is attributable to the promise of assured supervision of residents and the requirement that these facilities be well maintained. If disabled people are promoted as a viable housing market, with many of the concerns as non-disabled home buyers, local businessmen should be made aware that they can profit by enlightening their views. HUD wants to help. If you need help starting an effective outreach program, contact the Department's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The Section 504 Division of FHEO can provide a range of technical assistance services. We know that the goal of the independent living movement is to gain for disabled people the right to a choice of life style and the ability to direct their own lives. When disabled people are given the opportunity to enter the economic mainstream, to live and to prosper in a community, they will soon be in a position to contribute back to that community. Their contribution can be a great national resource -- a resource which can be used so that everyone in our society may benefit. ***** ** Supreme Court Rules on Contagious Disease Controversy By Lynn Abbott On March 3, 1987, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in the controversial case, School Board of Nassau County, Florida, v. Arline. Termed the "AIDS case" by the media and disability rights advocates alike, this dispute actually arose over the firing of a school teacher with the contagious disease of tuberculosis. The issue contemplated by the Court was whether such a contagious disease should be considered a handicap, and if so, whether the protections of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 should apply to Ms. Arline's employment situation. In 1979, Gene Arline was dismissed from her teaching position at an elementary school in Florida after experiencing a relapse of tuberculosis. As a result of this action, she brought suit under Section 504, the Federal law which protects handicapped persons from discrimination in federally funded programs or activities. The District Court held that Ms. Arline was not a handicapped person under the meaning of Section 504; but that even if she were, she was not qualified to teach. Additionally, the court explained that they found it difficult to believe that Congress in passing Section 504 intended to include persons with contagious diseases within the law's scope. The Court of Appeals disagreed with this reasoning and stated that a person with a contagious disease indeed fell within the parameters of Section 504. The appellate court did not determine whether the risk of contagion precluded Ms. Arline's being "otherwise qualified" for her job, and if so, whether she could be reasonably accommodated. The United States Supreme Court, in a seven-to-two decision, agreed with the Court of Appeals and decided that Congress, in passing the anti-discrimination legislation, intended to protect those persons whose disabilities limited their employability. The Court examined the medical evidence presented by Ms. Arline and concluded that her physiological disorder affected her respiratory system and therefore limited one or more of her major life activities. Because of this, it was determined that her contagious disease was a handicapping condition within the Federal law's definition of the term. In dealing with the sensitive issue of the risk of infection to others, the Court noted that the contagious effects on others could not be used to justify discrimination against the person suffering from the effects of the disease itself. It was at this point in the decision that the Court, through a footnote, discussed the AIDS issue. In fact, the Court clearly stated that the case did not present the question of whether a "carrier with a contagious disease such as AIDS could be considered solely on the basis of contagiousness, a handicapped person as defined by the Act" and accordingly declined to expand the ruling explicitly to cover AIDS victims. However, in the actual text of the decision itself, the Court did state that it would be "inconsistent with the basic purpose of Section 504" to allow discrimination based on the contagious effects of a disease, because the purpose of that law is to "ensure that handicapped individuals are not denied jobs ... because of the prejudiced attitude or the ignorance of others." The remaining important issue in this case is whether Ms. Arline was actually "otherwise qualified" to teach. Under the law, "only those individuals who are both handicapped and otherwise qualified are eligible for relief." The Supreme Court ordered the district court to conduct an inquiry and to make that determination. As an aside in another footnote, the Court declared that "(a) person who posed a significant risk of communicating an infectious disease to others in the workplace will not be otherwise qualified ... if reasonable accommodation will not eliminate that risk. The Act would not require a school board to place a teacher with active contagious tuberculosis in a classroom with elementary school children." In searching for the "truth," all that can be said about this decision is that some persons with contagious diseases may be determined to be handicapped, and if this is the case, they may fall within the scope of Section 504. It seems as though the Court was deliberately vague, in an effort to remain non-committal over the AIDS controversy. The Arline decision, however, should be viewed as a victory because it may signal a reversal of the Supreme Court's earlier campaign to narrow Section 504's coverage. (Note: Legislation has been introduced to overturn the opinion because of the AIDS implications. Unfortunately, the bill would exclude all persons suffering from contagious diseases and thus seriously limit the scope of Section 504.) ***** ** New Low-Cost Printer Now Produces Braille You won't find it in the Guiness Book of World Records, but Peter Duran's 14-year dream finally came true. "The results will revolutionize production of computerized braille, " Duran said. "It brings the cost down by as much as two-thirds ... and makes it easy for sighted secretaries and teachers who don't know braille to produce it for those of us who are blind and need it." Duran is the tenacious, innovative president of Arts Computer Products, a Boston-based company that turns dreams into practical high tech equipment for blind and partially sighted people. "My new software does the translating from print to braille," explained Duran, "so that anyone -- whether they know braille or not -- can sit down at a standard computer keyboard and produce grades 1, 2, or 0 braille." Duran's PC Braille software, in combination with a modification kit, turns any Diablo 630 daisy-wheel printer (or compatible) into a braille embosser which produces 35 to 40 dots per second. The software by itself can be used with any braille printer presently on the market. The modification kit comes with a soft rubber roller which has enough "give" in it to produce raised dots that are easy to read. The soft roller can be easily substituted for the printer's hard roller when braille is desired. The printer is quickly converted back to ordinary use by re­inserting the hard roller. The software and kit with interchangeable roller retails for under $1,000. The price is as much as two­thirds below prices charged for dedicated braille equipment that produces braille only. To provide nationwide distribution and servicing, Arts Computer Products and Brother International will distribute the modification kit with the Brother line of printers. The add-on kit is presently available for use with the IBM PC and compatibles. By mid-summer it also will be available for the Apple Ile and II Plus. The Duran system is intended for personal use rather than for mass production. It has already proven very useful to blind business and professional people and is drawing enthusiastic response from special educators. It is also expected to increase production of braille transcribing groups who commonly use manually operated embossing methods. The new braille production equipment has been demonstrated at recent meetings of special educators and was described by Duran on "Connection," a program carried by radio information service stations and some main-line stations of the National Public Radio Network. Duran is no stranger to "firsts." He was the first blind student to be mainstreamed at Stamford (Connecticut) High School. While at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he was part of a team that developed what many consider to be the first talking computer. This was in 1970, during his days as a student majoring in psycholinguistics (the psychology of language processing). He also is a mathematician, who likes to unwind in the evening by reading math books. He has had retrolental fibroplasia since birth when excess oxygen caused severe damage to both eyes while he was confined to an incubator. Duran had partial sight until he was 10, when a playground accident blinded him. Arts Computer Products was founded by Duran in 1977. Besides braille production equipment, the company makes synthesized speech units and computer-access magnifying devices for partially sighted people. Among the first to use Duran's add-on kit is Patrick Iurilli, partially sighted technical supervisor at Bell Communications Research Center in Piscataway, New Jersey. Iurilli uses his add-on kit for translating computer programs into braille, with the aid of a Brother HR-35 printer. He also brailles memos and other correspondence received electronically. It now is easy for Iurilli to prepare braille notes in advance of important business meetings as well as for the computer science class he attends at nearby Stevens Institute of Technology. Although she has less formal technology training than Iurilli, Cynthia Ice, a Providence, Rhode Island, college administrator, uses the Duran system for general correspondence, proofing the documents she writes, and note-taking. Ice lost her sight in 1984. She since has learned word processing and also has voice software from Arts that "comes in handy in my work." John Covicci, a blind computer consultant from Leesburg, Virginia, uses his new add-on kit with a Brother HR-35 printer. It serves as backup for a mass-production braille printer which sometimes breaks down. Covicci has been blind since birth. Further information about this new braille production equipment is available by contacting Duran at Arts Computer Products, 145 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111; (617) 482-8248. ***** ** Oregon Commission Wins Restraining Order (Reprinted from The Stylus, published by Oregon Council of the Blind) The Oregon Commission for the Blind won another round in its battle with unscrupulous vendors when the Attorney General's Office got a restraining order stopping "Blind Industries-Home Products" from selling so-called "blind-made" products over the phone and door-to-door. This organization, by entering into voluntary compliance with the order, agreed not to use the name "blind," "visually impaired," "handicapped," or the like to imply that the business is affiliated with any non-profit group or that the sale of their products aids the blind or handicapped. (This business was in no way connected with the Oregon Commission for the Blind or any consumer group.) The successful action by the Attorney General shows that rip-off operations such as the above can be stopped if consumers and members of the public are willing to make their protests heard. So, ... there is a remedy. We do not have to suffer silently. ***** ** Skiing Is Believing By Kathy Morrill Two years ago I decided to try something that most sighted people believed to be impossible for blind folks -- I decided to learn to cross­country ski with Ski for Light. Like most first-timers, I was a bit hesitant. Despite my concerns, though, I said to myself, it would be fun to spend a week meeting new people and experiencing the refreshing outdoors. And now I can admit that applying to attend the Ski for Light program was one of the best things I have ever done. I loved it -- and you can, too. If you are not quite sure whether or not you want to give skiing a try, let me alleviate some of your concerns by answering a few of the often-asked questions: 1. Don't you get cold skiing? Yes, every time I climb out of the delightful swimming pool at the resort where Ski for Light events are held, I freeze my tail off running around looking for my towel. 2. Aren't you scared of falling and breaking a leg? Yes, every winter I worry about being pulled too fast by my dog guide on icy sidewalks. Then I'd miss another opportunity to apply for attendance at Ski for Light. 3. Don't you feel there is a certain age when you are too old to learn to ski? Yes, and an "over-70" participant assured me he'd let me know when that time came around. 4. Don't you ache and feel exhausted after skiing all day? Not when I'm able to enjoy the swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, or the massage seminar (one of the most popular of the week). 5. What do you do with all of your non-skiing time? I can't find it. There are almost too many activities to fit into one week. There are the daily special-interest sessions on health and fitness issues, talent show, wine and cheese party, nightly dancing to live music, and stimulating conversation with many new friends. Come have a lot of fun with over 200 blind and sighted people from throughout the United States (and Europe, too). The 13th International Ski for Light will be held January 31-February 7, 1988, in Fairlee, Vermont. You will be matched one-on­one with a trained instructor/guide who will teach you to ski and/or review your skiing technique. If you are a first-timer, ski equipment will be provided. Pre-set tracks are made in the snow, making skiing pleasant and quite easy. For those of you familiar with downhill skiing, cross-country differs in that the equipment is much lighter. In downhill skiing, you are propelled by gravity; in cross-country skiing, you basically propel yourself. If you enjoy challenge, want to appreciate nature and the outdoors in winter, would like to be introduced to a more active and fit life style, and enjoy meeting spirited people, apply now to Ski for Light 1988. Cost of the week is $400, which includes lodging in a quaint Vermont inn, interesting meals, skiing, and nightly social/cultural activities. Partial subsidies are available to first-timers, and preference will be given to new participants to the Ski for Light program. Participants pay their own transportation to Vermont. For information and an application, communicate in braille, typewritten print, or by phone before 10:00 P.M. eastern time. Contact Judy Dixon, 1104 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 276-9191. Application deadline is November 1, 1987. Ski for Light thanks SAC (Sensory Aids Corp.), producers of electronic communication and mobility aids, for its underwriting of braille and print promotional materials. ***** ** AFB Announces Balloting for Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has opened national balloting for the 1987 Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award, established last year by AFB in memory of its most popular talking book narrator. Alexander Scourby, who died in 1985, contributed much of his time, talent, and energy to the recording of books for blind, visually impaired, and physically handicapped people. He recorded nearly 450 talking books — far more than any narrator in the program's history. The Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award is presented annually to the most popular talking book narrator, as selected by vote of talking book users nationwide. Veteran narrator Bob Askey of Longmont, Colorado, won the 1986 award. All talking book narrators except prior recipients are eligible to win, and all talking book readers are eligible to vote. To cast a ballot for your favorite living narrator who has not previously won the award, simply write his or her name on a piece of paper (preferably a 3-inch by 5-inch post card), affix a postage stamp, and mail to Alexander Scourby Award, AFB Public Relations, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. If you cannot recall the narrator's name, just write in the title of the best-read book. Ballots must be postmarked no later than October 1, 1987. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From Hoosier Star-Light (Indiana): When he decided to try skydiving two years ago, Mike Conway, who is totally blind, met his first obstacle in trying to find someone to give him lessons. Finally, Bob Rollins, owner of Albany Sky-Diving in rural Duanesburg, New York, took on the challenge. Now, with 22 jumps behind him, Conway has learned the feel of correct form during free fall. "Landing is one of the scariest parts of the dive for me, since I can't see the ground," Conway said. He gets landing instructions from a radio attached to the shoulder of his jump suit. When he's not jumping from planes or trekking by bike or boot, Conway devotes time to helping others to overcome their physical limitations. He writes for Pyramid, an advocacy newsletter for the disabled, and lectures young people on the philosophy of "creative risk-taking" such as skydiving and mountaineering. From AFB News: The Auditory Directional System, which is being field-tested at the Jewish Guild for the Blind's Home for the Aged Blind in Yonkers, New York, incorporates computer-generated musical cues to help visually impaired residents learn routes to specific places in the Home. A destination is selected by pushing a button on a panel, thereby activating a series of musical interludes or "pathways" to guide a resident to that location. The Auditory Directional System is an AFB-sponsored project designed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. For further information, contact Mark Uslan, National Consultant on Orientation and Mobility, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. *** International Business Machine (IBM) Corporation has been named to receive AFB's Corporation of the Year Award for 1987. The award is given annually to a corporation that has demonstrated a historic commitment to improving the lives of blind and visually impaired persons. Since 1965, IBM has provided financial support of AFB services and has maintained equitable employment practices through its affirmative action program. In addition to donating IBM PC equipment and peripherals to the AFB National Technology Center, IBM has taken a leading role in developing and producing braille and "talking" typewriters for blind transcribers. From Library of Michigan News: Lions International Magazine is now available on cassette. To add your name to the mailing list for this free magazine, contact Variety Audio, Inc., 180 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Free samples and information in print, braille or tape, on large, bold, self-adhesive Free Matter mailing labels are available from J. P. Enterprises, Dept. F, P.O. Box 44217, Denver, CO 80201. *** The Washington office of the American Foundation for the Blind moved recently to 1615 M Street, N.W., Suite 250, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 457-1487. *** Persons interested in learning more about the new Model 400 Kurzweil Reading Machine and receiving a free cassette featuring the new speech may call toll-free outside Massachusetts: 1-800-343-0311, Extension 231. From within Massachusetts, call 684-4700. The Model 400 KRM has the latest and highest quality speech and has been reduced in price to $19,800, with a full year's warranty for parts and labor. Calling men and women in the New York City area! Interested in drama? Enjoy performing? The ElBee Audio Players, an amateur troupe of blind and sighted repertory players, invites you to join. Now in its 25th season, ElBee performs live for the entire community. Like radio, their shows are meant to be heard instead of seen. No previous experience is necessary. You should be a competent braille reader and be able to travel independently to rehearsals. Performances: about 20 a season. Rehearsals: one evening a week. Interested? Call Dave Swerdlow, (212) 874-5704. If an Optacon, VersaBraille, Tele­Braille, speech synthesizer, or braille output device will help you to get a job, keep up in the classroom, improve your present work situation, reduce your need for sighted assistance in managing your personal affairs ..., you may qualify for a partial subsidy through the Electronic Aids Program at Associated Services for the Blind. Limited funding is available to assist serious, aspiring visually impaired users in the purchase of helpful high tech equipment. To receive a large-print or braille application, call or write: Electronic Aids Program, Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Herald Krents, who was the inspiration for the Broadway play, "Butterflies Are Free," died on January 12 at the age of 42. Totally blind since childhood, Krents graduated from Harvard College cum laude and earned law degrees from Harvard Law School and University College of Oxford University. Krents served on the Board of Directors of Recording for the Blind. In 1975 he founded Mainstream, Inc., a non-profit group that promotes the legal rights of people with disabilities. He served on the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and in 1980 became a White House Fellow assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services. The 1986 edition of Volunteers Who Produce Books is now available from NLS cooperating regional libraries. The directory lists organizations and individuals providing such services as braille transcription, computer-assisted transcription, large-print typing, tape recording, duplication, and binding. Specialties listed include music, mathematics, and languages. The listings are alphabetical by state. From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine: "Cooking with Sunshine" is a tone-indexed cassette cookbook being prepared by the Food Editor of Georgia Sunshine Magazine. It includes hundreds of original recipes, many from famous restaurants. Contact Peter Davis, 827 N. Charles Street, 2R, Baltimore, MD 21202. Halden Babcock doesn't think his blindness should stop him from seeking the job of manager of the Sparta, Michigan Airport, according to Booth News Service. After all, since he lost his sight a year ago, he has flown a plane and is working toward a degree in business operations management and aviation from Western Michigan University. He has a pilot's license and advanced ratings as a commercial flight instructor and ground instructor. A change in the Medicare law means greater availability of covered eye care services beginning April 1, 1987, according to Aging Network News. The new provision permits Medicare to pay for eye care services provided by the nation's 24,500 practicing optometrists. In the past, only ophthalmologists' services were covered, unless the patient had undergone cataract surgery. Eye care services now covered by Medicare include the eye health part of the examination when a patient has a symptom or complaint which necessitated the visit, treatment for eye disease, and (for those who have had cataract surgery) glasses or contact lenses. Medicare still does not cover other prescription glasses or contact lenses, or the part of the eye examination to determine any lens prescription. From The White Cane Bulletin (Florida): Plans are under way for an organized, competitive sailing event, in the form of a cruising navigational contest for blind sailors along the Florida coast in the fall of 1987. Each team is to consist of a blind navigator and a partially sighted skipper. If you are a legally blind individual with sailing experience and are interested in the Florida Blind Sailors Association, and if you are interested particularly in this event, please contact Ray Erb, 305-894-8331, or Whit Springfield, 904-756-2340. *** Three members of the Florida Council of the Blind recently had a unique experience when they were asked to serve as judges for an exhibit of the State Council of the Arts. This was a "Touch Show" where art was literally felt by the viewers. It took the group nearly three hours to select three outstanding pieces from the 20 entries in the show. The scope of the show extended from a smooth-flowing marble piece called "The Breeze" to a humorous delight containing about 25 faces made up of cloth, metal, and yards of fun. The first prize was awarded to a work called "The Dock," which was a waterfront scene with a small pile of firewood with an axe in place in a log, and a 4-inch-long rowboat jutting out from the surface of the piece. Grant Mack, Immediate Past President of the American Council of the Blind, was elected President of the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America at ALL's National Delegate Assembly, May 26-27 in Washington, D.C. Other officers elected were: Vice President, Jansen Noyes, Jr., American Foundation for the Blind; Secretary, Elizabeth M. Lennon, Michigan Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired; and Treasurer, Kathleen Megivern, Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. New Board members elected were: Durward K. McDaniel, American Council of the Blind of Texas; George Abbott, Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America; and John Granger, Royal Maid Industries, Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Visitors to the Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park in Virginia will find available a raised map of the restored village, with buildings, roadways, and other features labeled in braille. Also available is a guide to the village in braille, produced with a grant from the Eastern National Park and Monument Association. From The Missouri Chronicle: Janis Willyard, a dispatcher for Premier Limousine Company, was recently found guilty of a misdemeanor in St. Louis (Missouri) County for having discriminated against ACB Board member, M.J. Schmitt, by barring her and her dog guide from a limousine at Lambert Field, St. Louis, in April 1985. The company itself, and its attorney, Edward R. Joyce, were cited for contempt of court and were each fined $1,000 for failing to appear for the court proceedings. ***** ** 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 ###