The Braille Forum Vol. XXVI September-October 1987 No. 2 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 26th Annual Convention -- American Council of the Blind President's Message, by Otis Stephens Conventions Before and Beyond ACB: Organization of Opportunity, by Carla Franklin News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller ACB Names Official Travel Agency Blindness Is in the Mind of the Beholder, by Kathleen Megivern Further Legal Efforts by ACB and Others to Stop Department of Defense from "Thumbing Its Nose" at Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program, by Oral O. Miller Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, by Joanna Cargill Weather Report from Washington, by Kathleen Megivern Former ACB Staff Member Named Healthy American Fitness Leader Cooking Manual Available for Blind and Visually Impaired People "Regneg" Means Progress Regarding Air Carriers Accessibility Regulations, by Oral O. Miller Help Us Help You! 1988 National Blind Skiing and Speed-Skating Championships Coming in February High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** 26th Annual Convention -- American Council of the Blind The 26th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind was held July 11-18 at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Hosted magnificently by the California Council of the Blind, this 1987 convention broke all records in attendance as well as in its range and number of activities and exhibits. ACB and its special-interest affiliates packed each day with workshops, seminars, interesting speakers, luncheons and banquets, tours, receptions, entertainment, and more. Although space does not permit a detailed report on the many events worthy of special note, significant highlights of the annual business meeting are given here. A record-breaking 39 resolutions were brought before the convention. These resolutions will be summarized in the November-December issue of The Braille Forum. Several By-Law amendments were adopted. By-Law 1 was amended to eliminate the initiation fee for membership-at-large, and By-Law 3A was amended to increase dues for members-at-large from $2.00 to $5.00 a year. By-Law 4 A was amended to expand the responsibilities of the ACB President as follows: "The President shall send each Board member an agenda fifteen days prior to any Board meeting except the post­convention Board meeting. The President may, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, appoint an assistant to the Secretary and/or an assistant to the Treasurer. Such assistants may be paid for their services." Of great significance, is the shift in leadership mandated by the convention. In accordance with the ACB Constitution, the five Officers were to be elected at the 1987 convention, to serve for the coming two years. Officers were elected as follows: President, Otis Stephens, Knoxville, TN; First Vice President, Paul Edwards, North Miami, FL; Second Vice President, Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA; Secretary, Elizabeth Lennon, Kalamazoo, MI; Treasurer, LeRoy Saunders, Oklahoma City, OK. Durward McDaniel was elected to fill the unexpired Board position which had been held by Second Vice President Charles Hodge. On behalf of the entire ACB membership, The Braille Forum wishes to thank outgoing President Grant Mack (who will continue to serve on the Board of Directors as Immediate Past President) and outgoing Secretary Karen Perzentka for six years of dedicated service to the organization. A complete list of the names and addresses of ACB Officers and Directors will be published in the November-December issue of The Braille Forum. Tapes of the 1987 convention are now available. Cost of the five cassettes containing most of the major program presentations is $10.00. Also available are tapes of the 1987 ACB Seminar on Diabetes and Blindness. Cost of the two-cassette seminar is $4.00. To order, send check made payable to the American Council of the Blind to: The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens In his final "President's Message," Grant Mack emphasized the importance of continued growth "in numbers and in influence" of the American Council of the Blind. He reminded us that: "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." Grant's dedicated leadership during his three terms as President of ACB reflects his strong commitment to the advancement of this organization. On behalf of the Officers and Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Grant Mack for his important contribution in advancing the objectives and programs of the American Council of the Blind. I am pleased that as Immediate Past President he intends to remain active in the ongoing work of ACB. Since the close of our national convention in Los Angeles, I have gained a more complete understanding of just how extensive, challenging, and interesting this work is. In addition to the consideration of new committee assignments, a review of current ACB programs, and correspondence by letter and phone with a number of members, I have had an opportunity to participate in the conventions of several state affiliates. During August it was my pleasure to take part in the convention of the Georgia Council of the Blind, held in St. Mary's, and in the ACB of South Carolina convention the following week in Charleston. Over the Labor Day weekend I participated in the annual convention of the Tennessee Council of the Blind in Nashville. All of these excellent state meetings were well planned, informative, and enjoyable. Our Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee affiliates, like their counterparts in most other states, are active and influential in the areas of governmental affairs and public awareness. In addition, the local chapters comprising each of these affiliates are conducting active community service, social, and recreational programs of their own. The effective work of these and other state and local organizations throughout the country is critical to the success of ACB as a national organization. While in Washington during early September, I had ample time to observe the wide range of activity in which our National Office is engaged on a day-to-day basis. The current agenda includes: legal advocacy, fund­raising projects, and support of proposed Federal legislation and regulations beneficial to blind persons. In addition, the National Office responds to numerous requests for information on a wide range of questions concerning blindness, visual impairment, and the availability of services in this complex field. I want to commend National Representative Oral Miller and staff members Roberta Douglas and Stephanie Cooper for the fine job they are doing. It is important to recognize that our influence as a national organization is enhanced not only through the efforts of our Washington staff, but also by the continued publication and wide dissemination of The Braille Forum. The dedicated and efficient work of our Editor, Mary Ballard, and her staff in the Rochester office merits strong commendation. Sound financial management is, of course, essential to the ongoing work of ACB. Again we are most fortunate in having dedicated professionals working as part of the ACB team. James Olsen and his staff in the Minneapolis office deserve our sincere thanks for their excellent work on behalf of ACB. Over the years the success of our organization has depended heavily on a close working relationship between the professional staff and those of us who serve ACB as volunteers. That relationship is most important during periods of financial stress, when temporary staff reductions such as those made a year ago are required. In assuming responsibility as President, I will work to maintain and strengthen cooperation between membership and staff. Our continued growth in size and influence requires the combined efforts of us all. It is an honor to serve as President of this outstanding organization. I greatly appreciate the expressions of support and encouragement that have come from so many of our members. The need for a strong organization such as the American Council of the Blind has never been greater. Discrimination in such areas as employment, education, transportation, and housing persists in spite of the existence of civil rights laws. Our task in strengthening these laws and in educating the general public regarding the capabilities of blind persons is as challenging today as when ACB was founded more than a quarter of a century ago. Gains of the past cannot be taken for granted, and we must be prepared to explore new approaches to age-old problems in a constantly changing technological age. As a dynamic organization with carefully chosen priorities, ACB has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of blind and visually impaired persons. But our continued success requires a renewal of commitment by all of us. More than ever before, ACB needs the active participation and support of all its members. Please join me in this concerted effort to advance the vital work of our organization. ***** ** Conventions Before and Beyond Janus, the Roman God of Beginnings, had two faces -- one looking forward, one looking back. Janus is often referred to as the God of the New Year: one face reviews the year just past, while the other anticipates the year to come. As a new president takes office in the American Council of the Blind, it is appropriate to pause to reflect on conventions that have come before; but reflection is of little use if it does not provide a foundation for the future -- for conventions beyond. Just as the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, so has the ACB convention undergone a metamorphosis since that first meeting of 29 in Kansas City in 1961. Like the caterpillar which emerges very tiny from the egg and spends the first part of its life growing ever larger, ACB devoted its first years to attracting individuals and affiliates from various parts of the country and molding them into a strong national organization. New states joined the young organization; new special-interest affiliates were organized; more and more people came to conventions to see what this new national organization was all about -- to check for themselves that such things as open discussions, open meetings, and individual voting were in fact a reality. After growing several times its original size, the caterpillar spins its cocoon and becomes a chrysalis. To the observer, it appears to be resting. Not so. Inside the cocoon, great changes are taking place -- changes that will soon appear to the outside world -- changes that are far more dramatic than could ever be imagined by the uninformed observer. And so in many ways it was with the ACB convention. The outward appearance did not change drastically: convention traditions such as the RSVA Dance, the ACB Banquet, the Performing Arts Showcase, the CCLV Wine and Cheese Party remained the same. Change, however, was in the air, and change the convention did — from within. 1. The first 24-hour convention information line was initiated in Louisville in 1980. By 1983 heavy use of the service required a second line and two machines. In 1986, five telephone lines were used, with a new machine that allowed continuous rotation and answering of calls. 2. Communication necessary for the smooth operation of convention activities took a giant step forward with the advent of walkie-talkies in 1983. Cellular telephones replaced the talkies in Knoxville, allowing instant communication between convention and hotel personnel from any location. An ideal combination of radios and pagers was used this year in California. Quick contact within the hotel was thus possible, at the same time permitting key people to remain in touch while off premises. 3. The most recent innovation in convention communication is the daily newspaper. One of the exhibitors, Raised Dot Computing, first introduced the concept in Philadelphia in 1984. It was extremely popular, and we received many requests to make it a standard part of the convention. However, logistically it was impossible to do until this year in Los Angeles, when VTEK provided the support necessary to make the braille edition a reality. Due to equipment problems, the print issue was of disappointing quality, but we look forward to a much improved edition in 1988. Also for the first time, we had the capacity to reproduce copies of resolutions, constitution and by-law amendments, and lists of delegates and Nominating Committee representatives. It is hoped that committee chairpersons will utilize this service to a greater extent in the future. 4. The computer first entered the convention scene in 1985. While it created some problems at the registration desk, it gave us the capacity to produce for the first time complete lists of convention registrants for ACB and all special-interest affiliates. In 1986 the simple name-and-address list was expanded to show degree of visual impairment and preferred program format (braille, large-print, cassette). This year telephone numbers have been added, and lists are now being prepared not only for special­interest affiliates, but for all state affiliates as well. Printouts will include information on the types of activities chosen by each conventioner; for example, interest in the legislative seminar, membership development, or student activities, etc. 5. The pre-registration process has changed significantly. over the years. As late as 1982 the pre-registration mailing consisted of one large folded sheet of paper with four 8 1/2-by-11-inch panels. It included the hotel reservation, sweepstakes entry and pre-registration forms, as well as the calendar and tour explanations. By 1984, the number of events of special-interest organizations had grown to the point where it was no longer possible to fit all of the information on to one page. A two­page mailer was introduced. One page included instructions and forms, while the other listed and described activities and tours. In 1985 the hotel reservation form was removed, since many individuals had begun making reservations directly with the convention hotel. By 1986 the Instructions section had expanded to include travel arrangements. That year marked the first of the new agreements with a travel agency through which ACB receives credit toward free travel when conventioners purchase tickets through a designated agency. This one aspect alone has saved ACB $3,500 to $4,000 in the past 15 months. This year, in an effort to provide more efficient airport service, flight information was requested on the pre-registration form. This will be further refined in the coming years. Finally, pre-convention information was greatly enhanced in 1986 when the first insert appeared in the braille and cassette editions of The Braille Forum. This gave individuals who could not read the large-print pre-registration materials the opportunity to browse through events and choose for themselves those activities which most appealed to them. Finally the metamorphosis was complete. By 1986 in Knoxville, the week's schedule was completely overhauled; workshops and special-interest meetings were held all-day on Sunday and in the afternoons Monday through Friday; ACB general sessions began on Monday morning and continued through Saturday noon. This permitted the addition of a number of programs to the agenda and allowed many special-interest groups to greatly expand their activities. Family participation was enhanced in Los Angeles by the addition of a complete schedule of activities for children and teens. A kids' hospitality room provided a gathering place as well as child-care help. There were even special tours for kids. Many people come to conventions to see what's new. In 1980 in Louisville, the exhibit area had 25 booths; in Philadelphia in 1984 there were 56. The number of booths remained about the same -- until California. In Los Angeles, 80 booths offered the opportunity to examine and purchase a wider variety of products than ever before. A new concept to ACB began this year in California. Several activities and services were sponsored by companies in the blindness field. International Guiding Eyes (IGE) hosted the Wednesday night barbecue. Excellent food and bands combined to give conventioners a welcome mid-week break away from the hotel. ACBers paid only for transportation to the six-acre IGE campus; the school and its generous friends supplied the rest. VTEK, already mentioned in connection with the newspaper, was a major participant as sponsor of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCLV) Wine and Cheese Party. All proceeds from ticket sales for this event can thus be used to advance projects for the visually impaired. VTEK also acted as co-sponsor of the convention hospitality room along with the California Council of the Blind. A dazzling showcase of music and entertainment paraded through Convention Week in Los Angeles. There was Dixieland at the Bourbon Street Bash the first Saturday; mariachis at the Mexican party sponsored by the International Friendly Circle of the Blind and National Alliance of Blind Students on Tuesday evening; outstanding entertainment prior to the opening of the ACB general sessions; and the Salute to George Gershwin at the Hollywood Bowl at the end of Convention Week. Les Brown and His Band of Renown entertained on Sunday, July 12. But the highlight of this musical extravaganza was the Lettermen concert at the ACB Banquet on Friday evening. ACBers were not only treated to a phenomenal concert, but had the opportunity to have their pictures taken with the Lettermen during the performance. All who were there will not soon forget this unprecedented gift to ACB by the host affiliate, the California Council of the Blind. The adult butterfly does not continue to grow. It lives out its life in the same form in which it emerged from the cocoon. Eventually it dies. The American Council of the Blind is not at all like the adult butterfly. Very much to the contrary, the organization, like the convention, will continue to grow, to expand, to change. Each convention will be a little different from those which have come before. New ideas will be tried in an attempt to improve convention services and programs. Some will succeed, while others will not be repeated. In 1988, ACB's 27th annual convention will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 2-9. Several hotels will be needed to house the large numbers of attendees. Rates will range from $33.00 to $40.00 a night. All convention activities will take place in the lead hotel, the Excelsior, and in the adjoining Statehouse Convention Center. Each issue of The Braille Forum throughout the coming year will bring you exciting details about this convention. The 28th ACB convention in 1989 will move to the east coast, to the very southern, very historic, and very hospitable state of Virginia. The city of Richmond anxiously awaits the arrival of the American Council of the Blind during the week of the Fourth of July, and we as ACBers just as eagerly await our opportunity to visit this beautiful city. ***** ** ACB: Organization of Opportunity By Carla Franklin The American Council of the Blind is truly an organization in which each of us can find our niche. It is also an organization which brings challenges which we may or may not wish to accept. As a new member of the ACB Board of Directors in 1982, I was certainly surprised and speechless (well, not quite!) when Grant Mack telephoned one October day to inform me that he had appointed me Convention Coordinator and that I should immediately purchase an airline ticket to Phoenix. "Schedule a host committee meeting," he said. "Meet with the hotel. Plan the convention." Me? Meeting with the hotel, planning tours in a city I knew nothing about, organizing a host committee of people I didn't know? Unthinkable! But it had to be thought about. Time was short. From my experience on the host committee for the 1980 convention in Louisville, I knew there were several areas -- exhibits, tours, special-interest meetings, and Braille Forum articles -- which needed immediate attention. From that day, for nearly five years, my life has basically revolved around the ACB convention. It is a year-round volunteer project that knows no limits on time or hours of the day. My children have grown up learning about tour planning, convention registration, and the bid process. They can scan a hotel contract and sleuth out problem areas as quickly as any professional. They can load tour buses, process registration forms, and stuff envelopes with the best. Being ACB Convention Coordinator has been exciting, challenging, and sometimes trying. When little things don't go just as planned -- a tour bus breaks down, the microphones make crazy noises, the major entertainment gets held up in traffic -- feelings of frustration quickly arise. But there is nothing more satisfying to a convention planner than to pause for a moment on Monday afternoon of ACB Convention Week and realize that the special-interest meetings are running smoothly; that the tour buses have been loaded and are on their way; that the new daily newspaper is so popular that a second run is being produced; that the exhibit area is breaking all attendance records ... It's great! But the best part of being Convention Coordinator is getting to know people. Different faces have filled the host committee each year. Now once again there are names to add to the elite group of "host committee alumni" -- Bob Acosta, Host Committee Chairman par excellence; Ruth Ann Acosta, who became the Hearst Castle tour guide at the 11th hour; Barbara Parker, who kept us awake with her humorous good nature while we stuffed registration envelopes at 1:00 A.M.; Marni Alvino and Sheryl Queen, keepers of kids and teens; Socorro and Don Queen, on hand through thick and thin in the hospitality room; Connie Hubbard and Obbie Schoeman, tireless Information Desk coordinators; Denise Weddle, exhibitors' Girl Friday; Grace Trujillo, Cele and Joe Acosta, and many, many more. Thanks, also, to John Horst, Assistant Convention Coordinator, for his tireless help throughout this entire year; to Don Franklin, Registration Chairman, LeRoy Saunders, ACB Treasurer, and Jim Olsen, Assistant Treasurer, for their help on this convention. And special thanks to the ACB teenagers who pitched in to help make this convention fun. Yes, the past five years have been truly challenging and rewarding. As Bob Acosta assumes the role of ACB Convention Coordinator, I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all of you for giving me the chance to serve in this capacity. It's been great! ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Those so-called "lazy, hazy days of summer" began in early June with the commencement of the "Regneg" process. Specifically, in early June, the Advisory Committee charged with negotiating preliminary regulations under the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 held its first meetings, adopted its agenda, and decided on its meeting schedule. Between early June and early November, the Committee will devote approximately 27 work-days to the project, not counting many additional hours that will be devoted to subcommittee meetings. In view of the importance of this project, a separate article will appear elsewhere in this issue of The Braille Forum concerning progress being made. Frequently advocates in the blindness field have limited opportunities to work and "rub shoulders" with advocates dealing with other disabilities. For that reason, it was my special pleasure during June to speak at a training workshop conducted by the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services concerning services to blind people. Though the needs of blind people are distinct from those of people with other disabilities, the system for providing services to blind people must always be viewed as part of a large system which serves (or is supposed to serve) all disabled people. What a small world it is! During a couple of purely casual and informal conversations with some of the outstanding blind athletes who were taking part in the Summer National Championships of the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during late June, I encountered several past or present ACB scholarship winners. It was a pleasure to see such versatile young people taking part in a variety of demanding and socially enriching sports activities. Should fees be paid by some blind people for some services? This was the concept discussed by a panel on which it was my pleasure to serve during the annual conference of the Middle Atlantic Division of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Other panelists came from agencies serving blind clients only and from agencies outside the blindness field. Even a quick perusal of some of the literature in the fields of special education and services to blind people will reveal a large amount of material of questionable practical value. It is refreshing, therefore, to talk to researchers and training specialists who are willing to listen -- and who even solicit input from consumers of services as well as from professionals in the field. This is another way of saying that during the 1987 meeting of the National Advisory Council, the members of the staff of the Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness gave serious consideration to the suggestions and recommendations of the Advisory Council members. Although the guidelines connected with the Federal funding received by the Center (which is only partially funded with such money) impose certain restrictions, the atmosphere was one of receptivity and interest in conducting worthwhile research and training. Among the research projects recently completed or now in progress by the Center, which has been funded for another five years, are evaluation of programs for serving elderly blind people in certain states, the transition problems of blind people entering professional employment, business enterprise program management and training needs, developing a practical yet sufficiently comprehensive textbook on rehabilitation counseling and training, the additional costs of blindness, developing the database needs of state rehabilitation agencies, and assessing visual functioning. The realistic theme of most of the training functions conducted by the Center over the past year could be described as "Let's not reinvent the wheel while staying up with the times." Some of the broad research problems suggested for consideration include: sources and methods of funding high tech devices needed for employment and independent living (including incentives available to employers and other third parties); practical ways of obtaining suitable transportation in areas having no suitable public transportation facilities; accurate psychological and aptitude testing of blind applicants; problems of older and adventitiously blind people returning to work; new funding for expansion of the business enterprise program; attitudes of eye­care professionals; and barriers to upward employment mobility. Suggestions made for training activities include greater use of community resources by blindness professionals, workshops joining the blindness and aging networks, the financial aspects of work by older blind people, follow-up after receipt of rehabilitation services, better training of rehabilitation specialists regarding sensory and technical aids, projects with labor unions to retain jobs through the discovery of vision loss and job accommodation, etc. A profit-making company that could enhance the opportunities of blind students for admission to a good college or training school? It isn't out of the question. Recently it was the pleasure of the National Office staff to discuss such a proposal with an entrepreneur who hopes to establish contact with blind and other "special" students during their sophomore and junior years so that a carefully designed computerized profile on them can be brought to the attention of colleges, other schools, and even the armed forces -- all of which may be interested in meeting specific geographic or other recruiting objectives. Under the proposal, the colleges and other organizations -- not the students -- would pay the fees. We enjoyed speculating about the possible involvement of handicapped people in some of the activities of the armed forces. This article would not be complete without at least a short reference to the very large and very successful 1987 national convention of the American Council of the Blind, held in Los Angeles in mid-July. It was the pleasure of the National Office staff to meet and work with countless ACB members and friends, and although convention week was exhausting, we thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the special-interest conferences and many of the other activities that filled every hour of every day. ***** ** ACB Names Official Travel Agency The American Council of the Blind proudly announces that it has signed a contract with Northridge Travel Service, a multiservice travel agency, of Northridge, California, through August 31, 1988. The purchase of airline tickets through Northridge Travel Service will result in the granting of free tickets to ACB, good anywhere in the continental United States. Therefore, we urge all ACB members and friends to consider this full-service agency when contemplating air travel anywhere. The agency is also ready to make your hotel reservations as well, with this one call, and can often get you into a hotel even when it is officially sold out. To make reservations, persons outside California may call toll-free, 1-800-842-8880. Inside California, call 1-800-523-4396. Tell the agent that you want credit to be given to the American Council of the Blind for your purchase. Your support of ACB in this way when making travel plans will be greatly appreciated. ***** ** Blindness Is in the Mind of The Beholder By Kathleen Megivern The recent attempt at a solo crossing of the Atlantic by Jim Dickson, a sailor who happens to be blind, evoked a wide range of responses from people. Many were admiring of Jim's courage. Some were fascinated by the technology which would assist him in his efforts. Others, like my husband, thought Jim was crazy. You have to understand that my husband did not make that judgment because of Jim's blindness. It's just that he thinks anyone who goes to sea in a vessel which does not serve six meals a day plus a midnight buffet is definitely weird. Jim stated that one of his reasons for attempting this voyage was to demonstrate that blind and handicapped people are capable of doing much more than society gives them credit for. Unfortunately, Jim's trip was cut short by a computer failure and a hurricane off the coast of Bermuda, thereby proving that, technology not withstanding, people with disabilities are just as vulnerable to the vagaries of weather and "equipment failure" as anyone else. What is most interesting about Jim Dickson's effort is that in addition to a hurricane, he encountered another kind of turbulence: a storm of controversy. Why? Other people with disabilities have climbed mountains, wheeled across the continent, and competed in sporting events of every kind. Yet these activities, if covered by the media at all, ended up in the "Features" section of the newspaper. Jim, on the other hand, had his picture on the front page of the Washington Post, with daily updates on his progress from the local all-news radio station. One reason for the increased interest has to be credited to William F. Buckley, stalwart of the Conservative movement. During my fifteen years in Washington, I can't remember that Mr. Buckley has ever cared a bit about disabled people, their problems, or their issues. Yet suddenly, here comes an edition of his syndicated column entitled "The Blind Man and the Sea." Perhaps Jim Dickson put his finger on it when he said that the real issue was that Mr. Buckley didn't want the "common folk" engaged in his sacred pastime -- sailing. Whatever the reasons, Mr. Buckley proceeded to implant quite firmly his foot in his ample mouth. Buckley, in that patronizing tone reserved for those he perceives as inferior -- i.e., the entire world -- was greatly distressed that what Jim Dickson was doing was being characterized as "sailing." It was okay that Jim go out on that boat, mind you, but we all had to be made to understand that what was happening was not sailing. In Mr. Buckley's world, sailing, like a lot of other activities, requires that all of one's senses be functioning perfectly. In a debate with Jim Dickson on ABC's Nightline, Buckley insisted that while Jim might be going through the motions, without vision there simply was no way he could enjoy the experience. This assertion offended even Ted Koppel, who asked, "Who are you to say what he can enjoy?" The answer is, of course, "William F. Buckley." He went on to clarify his point with other examples. A blind man trying to sail is a futile as taking a deaf man to the opera or a blind man to the ballet — as foolish as arranging for a blind man to tour the Grand Canyon. Pay attention, folks. Any of you who went on that tour of the Grand Canyon during ACB's 1983 convention in Phoenix, you now know that despite what you may have believed for four years, you didn't really enjoy it. And if you've ever been to the ballet, sorry, you didn't really experience it. Of course, those "unimpaired" folks who sleep through the opera and ballet nonetheless experience it fully because they belong there. Do I sound angry? I am. Arrogance, condescension, and insensitivity are certainly not new attributes for Mr. Buckley, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But after all these years of struggle and progress (limited, perhaps, but progress nonetheless) in the disability rights movement, the depth of Mr. Buckley's prejudice -- his true blindness -- is appalling. The irony, of course, is that Mr. Buckley, with his caricature of bigotry at its very worst, may have done more to help the cause than did Jim Dickson. And so, we thank you, Mr. Buckley! ***** ** Further Legal Efforts by ACB and Others to Stop Department of Defense from "Thumbing Its Nose" at Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program By Oral O. Miller National Representative In 1984, "Ronald McDonald went to sea" when the Navy Department and other Department of Defense agencies signed contracts with McDonald's and Burger King for the operation of a maximum of several hundred fast-food facilities on military bases -- in violation of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The Request for Proposals which resulted in the contracts had been restricted to "nationally recognized fast-food hamburger organizations" and had ignored the provision in the Randolph-Sheppard Act giving a priority to blind vendors licensed by state licensing agencies and requiring regulations to ensure that, wherever feasible, one or more vending facilities would be established on a Federal property. In the fall of 1984, the American Council of the Blind, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and several other plaintiffs filed suit in an effort to block implementation of the contracts and the operation of fast-food facilities that were established, or to be established, in the place of licensed Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities operated by blind managers. In 1986 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia dismissed the suit without prejudice to allow the plaintiffs to seek an injunction, pending requests for arbitration by aggrieved state licensing agencies and other parties. Early in 1987, state licensing agencies for the states of Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Kansas filed arbitration petitions asking the Department of Education to exercise its statutory authority in enforcing the statutory priority of blind vendors. Soon thereafter, the Kansas agency withdrew, and the other petitions were consolidated by the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the Department of Education. As required by law, the petitioners selected their arbiter on a timely basis. However, the Department of Defense agencies "dragged their feet" and in July 1987 objected to the consolidation of the complaints by the Department of Education. We are informed that the Department of Defense agencies have now selected their arbiter. Strange as it may seem, however, they have not yet officially communicated his/her name to Durward McDaniel, the arbiter selected by the petitioners, so that the two can then select a third arbiter to chair the arbitration panel. In view of the past reluctance of the Department of Education to take forceful action in dealing with Department of Defense agencies in Randolph-Sheppard matters, there is little reason to believe that the Department of Education will attempt to take such action in this case. Accordingly, in September the American Council of the Blind, the Randolph­Sheppard Vendors of America, and other plaintiffs filed suit in Federal Court seeking an injunction compelling the defendants to suspend further implementation of the fast-food contracts pending the arbitration decision; compelling the Department of Defense to cease violating the Randolph-Sheppard Act; compelling the Department of Education and the Rehabilitation Services Administration to require arbiters to be selected forthwith; and compelling the Department of Education and the Rehabilitation Services Administration to accept arbitration petitions from ACB and the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The suit also asks for a declaratory judgment saving the authority of the Department of Education and the Rehabilitation Services Administration to consolidate the arbitration cases; and it also asks for costs and other appropriate relief. At the time the original suit was filed in 1984, the plaintiffs had little faith in the interest of the Department of Education in vigorously opposing the Department of Defense agencies. However, since the Court of Appeals held that administrative remedies must be exhausted before a permanent injunction can be issued, the administrative route is being followed by states whose licensed vendors have been or will be damaged by the establishment of fast-food restaurants on Federal properties. We realize this is a "David versus Goliath" struggle, but we have won such uneven battles before, and we are determined to press this matter as forcefully as possible. In view of the thousands of jobs provided by the Randolph-Sheppard program to blind vendors throughout the country, it is regrettable that more state licensing agencies were not willing to step forward and be counted in support of this extremely important employment program. ***** ** Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? By Joanna Cargill On Thursday night, July 9, about 10:45, the power went off at the Airport Hilton in Los Angeles, where the American Council of the Blind was in convention. I was watching television when everything went dark. As soon as I realized what had happened, I went to the door to see what the reaction was. A bit of distant light was coming in through a window across the hall. There was nothing as I gazed up and down in the darkness -- only an eerie silence. Since I was on the eighth floor, and the elevator was off, there seemed to be nothing to do but go to bed. Downstairs in the lobby, a crowd of people had just come back from an outing. The report was that some sighted people almost panicked, and the blind people were having a great time helping the sighted find their way. Some people wanted to go up by the stairway; but the hotel security said, "No. It's too dangerous for these blind people to be climbing the stairs in the dark." Several of those in the lobby just relaxed and waited. Others made their way to the stalled escalator, and climbed to the next level, where they were free to use the stairs. The Resolutions Committee was working away with a VersaBraille when the power went off. It stayed off for 12 to 15 minutes. There was great concern that all the work of the evening would be lost; but Paul Edwards fortunately found a way to retrieve it. In the darkness, the committee received a telephone call from Deborah Kendrick proposing a resolution: "Be it resolved that ACB hold no conventions where the lights go out and blind people are not allowed to use the stairs." Craig and Alexis Glad were attending a party with friends on the second floor. Someone went to a phone and called the desk: "If there are any sighted people down there who need to find their way somewhere, there are several folks up here who will be glad to help." When the Glads decided to go to their room, they were guided to the elevator area by a sighted person with a cigarette lighter. Once there, they expected to locate their room. However, the fire doors had gone shut with the power outage, and the Glads stood there still disoriented. They could hear only the calm voices of people trapped in the elevator. Finally, they heard the ice machine begin to work as the power came on, and the Glads knew where they were. There were rumors of a flasher on the stairs and in the halls. The security men were about with flashlights; but no such joker was found. Up on the seventh floor, Dana Eastridge, who has normal vision, was using the laundromat. She already had a load of clothes dried. Out the window, she could see the lights of the Marriott. Otherwise, it was dark, and both machines were off. "If they can fold clothes in the dark, I can fold in the dark," she reasoned, as she set to work. "All I know is," declared Ruth Acosta, "when it's totally dark, my guide dog can't see any better than I can. I never moved so slowly through a lobby in my life. We had to have help finding the stairs." Adrien Duncan of Little Rock, Arkansas, who urges all ACB members to come to Arkansas in 1988, roomed on the thirteenth floor. He had chosen to use the stairs throughout the convention; so he found it easy to help people on the second floor find their way up the stairs. "I've been having the most fun leading sighted people around," one young woman told a friend. "They don't have the slightest idea where to go." Any one of us who had ever envied Nydia, who led the people out of Pompeii when Mt. Vesuvius was erupting, may have had a little feeling of triumph the night the lights went out. ***** ** Weather Report from Washington By Kathleen Megivern These legislative updates get awfully boring after a while. It's kind of like the weather forecasts in Washington for every day in August: "Hot and humid, with a good chance of thunderstorms." Likewise, the Congressional forecast seems always to be, "Angry and deadlocked, with a good chance of a continuing resolution." That's right: yet another year when chances are good that the Federal Government will be faced with a threatened shutdown unless Congress can work through the night to pass a continuing appropriations resolution. As we go to press, the start of a new fiscal year is two weeks away, and even though the House of Representatives has passed nine of the necessary appropriations bills, the Senate hasn't reported a single such bill out of committee. While they fight about continuing aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, the nomination of Robert Bork to the United States Supreme Court, and the tangled budget problems of whether to cut defense spending or raise taxes, other issues like the Fair Housing Act Amendments and the Civil Rights Restoration Act are likely to "fall through the cracks" until next year. One bill which has a good chance of final passage is the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. This is the bill which includes funding for residential schools (P.L. 89-313). When I last reported on this bill, it had survived attempts within the House Education and Labor Committee to add limiting amendments. Opponents of residential facilities tried to require that 10 percent of the P.L. 89-313 money be set aside to "transition" students out of residential facilities. The bill, without this limiting amendment, passed the House of Representatives with only one dissenting vote. It has now moved to the Senate, where indications are that the House version (that is, without the negative amendments) will most likely prevail. If the Congressional forecast can be viewed as your everyday "hot and humid," events on the administrative side can best be described as "a tropical storm packing hurricane­force winds." Discontent among state rehabilitation agencies (and elsewhere) has been building for years over Madeleine Will's management (or lack thereof) of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. Most especially criticized has been her refusal to allow the Rehabilitation Services Administration commissioner, Justin Dart, to exercise the authority which Congress has vested in his office. Finally, in August this particular "tropical depression" was upgraded to clear hurricane status, with a letter from the Executive Committee of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation to Secretary of Education William Bennett outlining a long list of complaints against Mrs. Will and indicating that the state directors of rehabilitation simply will not communicate with Mrs. Will, but, rather, will deal only with Justin Dart. The plot took an unpleasantly surprising twist when thirteen disability organizations (including the Association of Retarded Citizens, the Association of Persons with Severe Handicaps, and United Cerebral Palsy) sent a letter in support of Mrs. Will. Thus far, Secretary Bennett's response has been to support Madeleine Will and to tell the state directors that they simply will have to work it out with her. It's hard to predict how (or if) this situation will resolve itself, but it is sure to get even more interesting. So stay tuned, folks. ***** ** Former ACB Staff Member Named Healthy American Fitness Leader Former ACB staff member Laura Oftedahl was recently. named one of ten Healthy American Fitness Leaders. The program is sponsored by Allstate Life Insurance Company, administered by the United States Jaycees, and conducted in cooperation with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Special awards are presented to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the promotion of fitness and health that have benefited themselves, their communities, and the country. Winners are honored at the annual Healthy American Fitness Leaders awards ceremony, held this year in Long Beach, California, on September 26. "I got into physical fitness in 1980 when I decided to try cross-country skiing through Ski for Light," says Laura. "Never being allowed to participate in any gym classes or sports when I was younger, I was what you would call a fairly unhealthy American. Since Ski for Light, I've turned my life around." From a first-time skier seven years ago, Laura has risen to be the National Disabled Female Champion in cross-country skiing, having clinched four gold and two silver medals at the U.S. Ski Association National Disabled Championships. "I hope that by winning this award, it will show both other blind people and potential funding sources that it is possible for a blind person to lead a very fitness-oriented life style. All I can say to the countless blind people out there is that you have to have perseverance and stick with a program. A physical fitness program can be tough, but you need to set your sights and goals to be able to achieve success. The beginning is a hard road, but it's well worth it in the end." Prior to her current position as Director of Development for Ski for Light, Inc., Laura spent five and a half years as Director of Public Affairs for the American Council of the Blind and served as Ambassador for the Lions of Illinois Foundation. ***** ** Cooking Manual Available for Blind and Visually Impaired People For many blind and visually impaired people, one of the most challenging daily activities is cooking. In fact, poor nutrition is becoming a problem, particularly among those who have lost their sight due to diabetes, because they have difficulty finding easy-to-prepare foods with cooking instructions in large-print or braille. To help combat the problem of poor nutrition and to make meal preparation easier, the American Foundation for the Blind is offering a cooking manual, In Touch, available in large-print and braille, with kitchen safety tips, heating guidelines, and diet exchange information for over 60 products from Stouffer Foods Corporation. Creator and author of In Touch is 17-year-old Beth Warshawsky of Shaker Heights, Ohio. A high-school senior, Miss Warshawsky is a typical 17-year-old in many ways -- she is layout editor for the yearbook, participates in modern dance, and lists English as her favorite subject. But while she enjoys these activities during the school year, she has spent the past three summers volunteering for the Cleveland Society for the Blind -- and the last two years working with the Society and Stouffer Foods to produce In Touch. She first became interested in helping the blind and visually impaired in second grade after seeing "The Miracle Worker." The idea, name, and cover design, as well as the initiative to approach Stouffers for its support, came from Miss Warshawsky. With the aid of the Cleveland Society and Stouffers, Miss Warshawsky wrote, edited, and supervised production of the manual. In Touch is available at no cost by contacting the American Foundation for the Blind, 710 W. Linden Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036; (201) 862-8886; Attention: Joe Gawronski. To order the large-print version, ask for SFF1; and for the braille version, ask for SFF2. To demonstrate its appreciation for In Touch and Miss Warshawsky's volunteer work, Stouffers recently awarded her a $5,000 college scholarship. At this time, Miss Warshawsky would like to attend a liberal arts college and major in behavioral biology. ***** ** "Regneg" Means Progress Regarding Air Carriers Accessibility Regulations By Oral O. Miller National Representative A recent article in a legal publication in the Washington, D.C., area commented that the regulatory negotiation, or "regneg" process, like that being used in connection with the 1986 Air Carriers Access Act, is very demanding on consumer organizations, in particular, in that it spreads their limited personnel resources very thin over a long period of time. The National Office staff of the American Council of the Blind has found that to be the case. Since early June we have taken part in sixteen of the approximately 27 day-long negotiating sessions that are to be conducted by early November to develop proposed regulations as mandated by the 1986 Air Carriers Access Act. The purpose of those regulations is to "ensure non-discriminatory treatment of qualified handicapped individuals consistent with safe carriage of all passengers on air carriers." The regulations agreed upon by the committee by consensus will be published for public comment late this year. Since the Negotiating Committee (established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act) operates by the consensus method rather than decision by majority rule, many issues have had to be discussed in great detail before being assigned to a working group or subcommittee charged with preparing draft language. Since the Committee consists of representatives of the most involved Federal agencies, the air transportation industry, and the major disabilities, progress has been slow but definitely perceptible in dealing with such important and often controversial issues as identification of handicapped passengers at the time reservations are made; pertinent information available through computerized reservation systems; security screening procedures; availability of ground assistance; pre-boarding and on-board briefing; boarding and on-board wheelchairs; accessibility of airplane interiors to mobility-impaired passengers; seating restrictions; evacuation procedures; transportation and stowage of orientation and mobility aids and devices; circumstances under which attendants are required; etc. The meetings are open to the public, and many presentations have been made to the Committee, at its request, on technical subjects such as the design and performance of airplanes used in commuter service, the programming of computerized reservation systems, and the evacuation procedures used during emergencies. Several of the final negotiation meetings will be devoted to putting together concepts or wording agreed to during prior meetings, so little purpose would be served now by attempting to summarize the provisions tentatively agreed upon. Generally speaking, many airline policies and procedures (as contrasted with mandatory Federal regulations) have been examined to determine which are based on assumptions, company convenience, and economic and safety considerations. The regulations that will be proposed will give handicapped passengers as many options as are feasible in determining the type of service they will receive. For example, in many cases, handicapped passengers will be given choices, and as a result of greatly improved training programs, airline personnel will honor the choices made. Two day-long sessions conducted by the Committee on Capitol Hill in early September were devoted to obtaining input from the public in the form of statements followed by questions from committee members. Testimony was received from several dozen witnesses from disability­rights organizations, the air transportation industry, and the general public. Most of the witnesses provided by the National Federation of the Blind (inadvertently omitted in the July-August Braille Forum in the list of members of the Negotiating Committee) emphasized the inconsistently enforced policies of most airlines with regard to the seating of blind and several other types of passengers in over-wing exit seats or exit-row seats and attempted to create the impression that exit-row seating is the most important issue in the minds of most blind travelers. Most of those witnesses provided the same information which had been included as part of paid ads placed by the National Federation in several national and large metropolitan newspapers during the month preceding the hearings. Dr. Otis Stephens, President of the American Council of the Blind, and Charles Hodge, Esq., Second Vice President, presented testimony stating the policy of ACB favoring full accessibility, decrying the inconsistent and ambiguous policies of many airlines, urging greatly improved training of airline personnel, and emphasizing the lack of objective evidence underlying many policies and procedures. Ms. Patricia Beattie of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision discussed the problems of partially sighted people and suggested ways in which service to them could be improved as a part of better service to the general public. Although much discussion was devoted by blind witnesses to the issue of over-wing, exit-row seating and the inconsistent practices of various airlines in connection therewith, the Committee in meetings following the hearings has devoted significant attention to the realistic and safety-related duties of passengers sitting in such seats, and the extent to which the "safe carriage of all passengers" might outweigh the desire to sit in a specific seat. The next article on the Air Carriers Accessibility "Regneg" will go more in depth concerning some of these detailed considerations, which clearly were not understood by some of the witnesses. ***** ** Help Us Help You! The National Technology Center of the American Foundation for the Blind wishes to thank everyone who responded to our call for participation in the User Network. We are continuing our search for persons with hands-on experience with computers, low-vision aids, talking products, and other devices for blind and visually impaired persons. We are interested in people of all ages who use adaptive devices, including students from grade school through college. Please contact us if you are interested in serving as a resource person and/or evaluator for the Center. Just fill out the form below or call our hot-line number: 1-800-232-5463. Your response will be followed by a brief, confidential telephone survey. Information will be used only for NTC purposes and will not be given out as mailing lists to vendors, organizations, etc. The NTC database will store information about the equipment you use, your experience with it, training, and employment. As a resource person, other users may contact you to share your knowledge and experience. As an evaluator, you may be requested to evaluate both existing and newly released devices. As a result of our first call for users, a telephone survey was conducted with over 900 users and trainers. Two evaluations have been completed with the data gathered from our User Network Database. The reports appear in the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness and are available by request in large-print and braille. Name: Address: City, State, Zip Code: Home Telephone: Best Time to Contact: Work Telephone: Best Time to Contact: Mail to: National Technology Center, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. ***** ** 1988 National Blind Skiing and Speed-Skating Championships Coming in February The 1988 national Alpine (downhill) skiing and speed-skating championships of the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) will take place in world-famous Vale, Colorado, February 20-28. They will also feature instructional and developmental programs for people who cannot ski or ice skate, or who need to become acquainted with the basic aspects of racing. The 1988 USABA national Nordic (cross-country) skiing championships will take place at the fantastically beautiful Giant's Ridge Ski Area in Biwabik, Minnesota, February 21-26. According to Indian legend, the terrain of Giant's Ridge was formed by a giant who is supposedly sleeping there. The Giant's Ridge Ski Area is an official training site of the U.S. Ski Team. This is the first time the national Alpine and Nordic championships will be conducted at different sites. The separation will allow athletes to concentrate more on fewer events and to benefit from the outstanding conditions available at each site. Requests for further information should be directed to Mr. David Bergesen, USABA Winter Sports Coordinator, 6 Simpson Road, Marlborough, MA 01752. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * FOR SALE: Two speech modules manufactured by the American Printing House for the Blind. In perfect working condition. Helps speed up Library of Congress and Recording for the Blind cassette tapes for speed listening. Price: $25.00 each. R. Singha, Box 55344, Birmingham, AL 35255; (205) 933-2924. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From Focus (ACB of Indiana): In an effort to sensitize public awareness as to the accomplishments of visually impaired persons, Mary Solbrig, legally blind painter of South Bend, Indiana, and a member of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana, has organized a slide show on Art and Visual Impairment, which she presents twice a month. This show includes works from four well-known artists who are also visually impaired -- Cassatt, Van Gogh, Degas, and Monet. Also included is a fifth artist who is not famous, and who is still alive -- Mary Solbrig herself. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout the country, including Philadelphia's Woodmere Museum of Art, where she won a painting award. She has developed ways of working around her disability. Her palette is organized so that she knows without looking where each color is. She uses magnifying lenses to aid her in her work and also has learned to paint scenes without seeing detail. The sixth annual National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) art show honoring artists with disabilities will be held in conjunction with NRA's national conference, November 6-9, at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana. The show is open to painters, sculptors, ceramic workers, weavers, woodcrafters, and the like. Interested artists should contact Art Show, NRA, 633 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. From Prevent Blindness (Greater Detroit Society for the Blind): Dogs can wear contact lenses, but the lenses are most often used as bandages rather than as a means to correct visual problems. Extended-care, soft contact lenses are useful for treating corneal ulcers in dogs, and occasionally cats, according to Dr. Gary Blanchard, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Michigan State University. Glaucoma and cataracts are other eye problems that can affect pets. Surgery can correct these problems, but continuing medical therapy may be needed. *** Daniel Irvine, age 69, who is legally blind, used a 6-iron to shoot a hole­in-one on the 109-yard fourth hole at the Laguna Hills Golf Club in California. Two product evaluations are now available from the National Technology Center, American Foundation for the Blind. Copies of the evaluations on screen-access programs for IBM and compatible computers, and on braille printers priced under $5,500 can be requested free of charge from the National Technology Center, AFB, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. Indicate which evaluation you wish and whether you would like it in large-print or braille. Nel Carney, a member of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision's National Capital Area Chapter, has recently been named Executive Assistant to Commissioner John McCann of the Virginia Department for the Visually Impaired. One of the big issues confronting visually impaired consumers and professionals working in the field is that of how to finance the purchase of new sensory aids technology. A recently released book marshalls and explains in clear terms all the major resources that are available. Written by Steven Mendelsohn, an attorney and rehabilitation practitioner, Financing Adaptive Technology -- Guide to Sources and Strategies for Blind and Visually Impaired Users, provides professionals and would-be equipment purchasers with practical insight and background information needed to effectively utilize the important equipment funding resources available. The book is available for $20.00 from the publisher, Smiling Interface, P.O. Box 2792, Church Street Station, New York, NY 10008. From VTEK News and Views: The Association for Macular Diseases is a support group for families and individuals. Its newsletter counsels those with macular degeneration, reports medical advances, and keeps the membership informed on new developments in low-vision aids. Information about the organization and membership applications are available from: Association for Macular Diseases, Inc., 610 E. 64th Street, New York, NY 10021. A Voice Dialer telephone and an electromagnetic stove are among some 400 household, business, recreational, and health-care products offered in the American Foundation for the Blind's 1987-88 edition of "Products for People with Vision Problems." The catalog, available free in print or braille, features talking clocks and calculators, braille and large-print versions of popular games, canes, a variety of braille and low-vision watches, and more. Write Consumer Products, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. *** No-spill ice trays, microwave cookware, computer cookbooks, cassette cabinets, large-digit items, and a gift-wrapping service are just a few of the many new offerings from Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc., 26 Horseshoe Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. Request a large-print or cassette catalog. *** The Boston Information and Technology Corp. (BIT) has issued a new catalog, "High Tech Products for Independence, 1987." For a free copy, write BIT Corp., P.O. Box 70, MIT Branch, Cambridge, MA 02139. Are you looking for a gift for a friend, relative, or co-worker? Handmade ceramic ornaments and small trinket boxes are made of quality materials by blind and visually impaired participants in a new arts and crafts cooperative project sponsored by the Kentucky Council of the Blind. Ornaments in bright Christmas colors (red, green, blue, yellow, white) are $15 a dozen; mother-of-pearl ornaments are $10 per set of four. Specify shape desired -- star, tree, bell, rocking horse, etc., or assorted set. Trinket boxes are available in various shapes -- star, heart, diamond, bell, Christmas tree. Colored and white boxes, $8; mother-of-pearl boxes, $10. Add $2 for postage and handling. Order from Kentucky Council of the Blind, 117 Coral Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. The Telstar Call Control System, with verbal feedback, has been developed by American Bell Consumer Products. It allows the user the convenience of a telephone answering system, with many other features, including talking clock and calendar, convenient dialing of emergency and frequently called numbers, last-call re-dial, call screening, call forwarding, long-distance restriction, and an in-home intercom system using your telephone extensions and a Hold feature. There is also the convenience of accessing the system while away from home. For further information, contact Peter Davis, "Food for Thought," 827 N. Charles Street, No. 2-R, Baltimore, MD 21202. Camp Wapanacki has announced its upcoming schedule of activities for blind and visually impaired individuals for 1987-88. This includes a series of ski weeks and ski weekends for blind adults and blind youth from December 1987 through March 1988. For further information, contact Camp Wapanacki, Rural Route 1, Box 1086, Hardwick, VT 05843; (802) 472-6612. Expectations, the annual braille anthology of current children's literature published by Braille Institute, is now available free of charge to all English-speaking blind children in grades 3-6. This 39th edition contains both fiction and non-fiction and includes stories about boys and girls, grandparents and parents, and animals. Four embossed picture pages illustrate four of the books. A new microfragrance page will delight youngsters. Schools, libraries, and organizations serving blind children who wish to receive this volume should write to: Jody Avery, Braille Institute, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Attention, social workers. During the annual ACB convention it became apparent that a number of members employed in various aspects of social work were interested in forming a social workers affiliate of ACB. It was felt that considerable benefit could be derived from the free exchange of ideas, information, and methods to broaden and enhance the capabilities of current and prospective social workers. Individuals interested in joining a social workers affiliate may contact Joyce Driben, 4628 Bayard Street, Apt. 209, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Please give your name, address, phone number, and current field of work or training. The group will distribute a newsletter on cassette to interested persons, so if you have material for such a newsletter, please send it along. The Microwave Times is now available in braille and on cassette. This is a bimonthly (six issues a year) cooking magazine featuring an average of 45 recipes per issue, tips and techniques of microwave cooking; also what's new in microwave accessories. Available in braille (approximately 88 pages per issue) for $34 yearly and on tone-indexed cassette, with a six-slot storage album included, for $31 yearly. Mail subscriptions to: CL Productions, 2905 Berkshire Drive, Mesquite, TX 75150; or phone (214) 681-2771. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Reduced prices for quantity orders upon request. David M. Szumowski, a 42-year­old Vietnam veteran and Deputy District Attorney for San Diego County (CA), was elected National President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) at its 42nd national convention recently in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Szumowski is a native of New York. He obtained his B.A. degree from the University of Richmond in Virginia in 1967, and after being permanently blinded in Vietnam in 1969 entered Denver University Law School. He is a member of the American Blind Lawyers Association. The new Second Edition of Resource Directory of Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities is now available. To order, send check or money order for $10, plus $3 for postage and handling, to: Project on Science, Technology and Disability; American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1333 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. ***** ** ACB Officers * President: Dr. Otis H. Stephens 2021 Kemper Lane, S.W. Knoxville, TN 37920 * First Vice President: Paul Edwards 170 N.E. 123 Street North Miami, FL 33161 * Second Vice President: Charles Hodge 1131 S. Forest Drive Arlington, VA 22204 * Secretary: Elizabeth M. Lennon 1400 N. Drake Road, Apt. 218 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 * Treasurer: LeRoy Saunders Box 24020 Oklahoma City, OK 73124 * Contributing Editors: Elizabeth Lennon 1400 N. Drake Road, Apt. 218 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Kathleen Megivern 7113 Fort Hunt Road Alexandria, VA 22307 ###