The Braille Forum Vol. XXVI November-December 1987 No. 3 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 Otis Stephens People's Court Comes to Washington, D.C., by Kathleen Megivern News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Summary, 1987 Resolutions ACB Scholarship Applications Available Arkansas and ACB -- A Golden Opportunity, by Carla Franklin Highlights of Pre- and Post-Convention ACB Board Meetings, July 1987 Announcing the Ned Freeman Award for 1988, by Christopher Gray Greater Voting Accessibility Encouraged by ACB in Congressional Testimony Are You Missing Something?, by Juliet Esterly The Challenges That Are Helping ACB, by Oral O. Miller Further Thoughts on Piano Tuning as a Career, by Paul Van Dyck Improved Transit Service for the Blind -- A Real Possibility, by Oral O. Miller AFB Sponsors Essay Contest Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers and Directors ACB Board of Publications ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens I am pleased to report that many ACB members, state affiliates, and local chapters have responded generously to our annual fund-raising appeal. Because of setbacks in our Thrift Store program, it is critically important that this year's fund-raising effort be successful. Although at this writing (November 18) the final results are incomplete, we are greatly encouraged by the positive response. A report on this fund-raising effort will be published in the next issue of The Braille Forum. In the meantime, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who have made financial contributions to the ongoing work of our national organization. With your support, and with continuing efforts to develop additional sources of income, I am confident that we will be able to expand services to ACB members in the near future. The fall meeting of the ACB Board of Directors was held in Columbus, Ohio, during the weekend of September 25-27. The meeting was well attended, and the quality of participation by Board members, staff, and guests was excellent. Weekend activities began with a meeting of the ACB Enterprises and Services Board on Friday afternoon, followed by meetings of the professional staff and the Budget Committee on Friday evening. The ACB Board was in session all day Saturday and most of Sunday morning. Highlights of the meeting included reports by: National Representative Oral Miller; Braille Forum Editor, Mary Ballard; ACBEs Chief Executive, James Olsen; Treasurer, LeRoy Saunders; and Board members Durward McDaniel and M.J. Schmitt, who chair our Membership and Scholarship committees, respectively. Board member Carla Franklin presented a report on the 1987 national convention in Los Angeles. Robert Acosta, ACB's newly appointed National Convention Coordinator, gave a progress report on plans for the 1988 convention, to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 2-9, and on the 1989 convention, to be held in Richmond, Virginia. At the 1987 convention, ACB adopted a total of 39 resolutions, many of them requiring specific action by the Board of Directors. At the September meeting, these resolutions were carefully reviewed, and steps were taken to ensure their implementation. The ACB of Ohio hosted a reception for the Board and staff on Saturday evening. We very much appreciate the warm hospitality extended to us by this outstanding state affiliate. Speaking of outstanding affiliates, my wife Linda and I had the pleasure of attending the fall convention of the California Council of the Blind, held in Los Angeles November 5-8. I was impressed not only by the large turnout and active participation of CCB members, but also by the wide range of state and local projects initiated and advanced by this affiliate and its numerous local chapters. As in other state meetings that I have attended during the past several months, a spirit of friendliness and strong commitment to the American Council of the Blind was clearly evident. Our national organization and many state affiliates (including the California Council of the Blind) award scholarships on an annual basis to deserving blind and visually impaired students. This tangible recognition of achievement underscores our goal of "Promoting Independence and Effective Participation in Society." Again this year, ACB is inviting scholarship applications from students at all levels of postsecondary education. State affiliates will also be screening applicants for their scholarship awards. At a time when the cost of a college education is increasing much faster than the rate of inflation, our national and state programs of scholarship support take on more importance than ever. In closing, I want to wish all of you a happy New Year. The year 1987 was one of challenge and opportunity for ACB. We have a full agenda for 1988, and I am optimistic about the future of this organization. ***** ** People's Court Comes to Washington, D.C. By Kathleen Megivern On a recent October morning, in a jam-packed hearing room on Capitol Hill, you might have thought you had stumbled upon the filming of an episode of "The People's Court. " Senator Tom Harkin (D.-IA), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Handicapped, seemed to be playing the role of Judge Wapner as he tried to coax the recalcitrant parties into some kind of compromise. But it wasn't "The People's Court": it was another kind of real­life drama -- a Senate oversight hearing, supposedly to look at the implementation of the new amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the new attorney's fees bill. The first panel of witnesses included Madeleine Will, Assistant Secretary, Office of Education and Rehabilitative Services, and Justin Dart, Jr., Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Despite all of the recent bitterness between these two (including an effort to fire Commissioner Dart), they seemed to present a relatively united front, with Mrs. Will claiming that she remains mystified as to what the problem can be with the state directors of vocational rehabilitation. (You may remember from the last issue of The Braille Forum that the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation had notified Secretary of Education William Bennett that they will not deal with Mrs. Will at all.) Mrs. Will's position in the matter became crystal clear when she stated that in her mind the dispute was "not about management," but, rather, about serving people with severe disabilities. In her view, traditional rehabilitation, with its emphasis upon competitive employment, simply has not been all that successful or all that willing when it comes to serving the severely mentally retarded, developmentally disabled population, which is her sole concern. Mrs. Will indicated that she is working with the Council of Chief State School Officers to consider a restructuring for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. What seems most likely to come from such a study is a proposal for one unified system where rehabilitation would be merely an extension of special education. At any rate, Senator Harkin was very interested in when such a study might have results or recommendations available, and he urged Mrs. Will to proceed swiftly. For the most part, the Senators were gentle when questioning Mrs. Will. Even the fiery Lowell Weicker (R.-CT) prefaced his questions with praise for both Mrs. Will and Justin Dart as great advocates for people with disabilities. Of major concern to both Senators Weicker and Harkin seemed to be the long time-lag in getting regulations completed for the new rehabilitation and special education laws which were passed last year. They also seemed unhappy about the slowness in filling vacancies within OSERS. But the tough questions about Mrs. Will's management problems and the issue of usurping Commissioner Dart's authority simply were not raised by any of the Senators. Senator Brock Adams (D.-WA) questioned Mrs. Will about some allegedly threatening phone calls she made to the Governor and others in the State of Washington after she received the CSAVR letter (the letter was signed by the President of CSAVR, who is Paul Dziedzic, Director of the Department of Services for the Blind in Washington). Mrs. Will, of course, denied that the calls were threatening in nature. The next panel included a witness from the Association for Retarded Citizens, which has publicly supported Mrs. Will in this battle over the authority of the Commissioner of RSA. Also on that second panel was Paul Dziedzic, representing the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Mr. Dziedzic was an articulate defender of CSAVR's position, although he was not offered much opportunity to elaborate on the real issues. The panel which focused on special education-related issues was far more harmonious. The witness for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education admitted that many problems had existed over the summer with Mrs. Will, but indicated that things seemed to be improving. At least on the education side there seemed to be a bit more communication. The witnesses who testified about the new infant, toddler, and pre-school programs were extremely positive and hopeful. Anyone who had hoped that this particular hearing would expose some of the more serious problems within OSERS would certainly have gone home disappointed -- although one message from the Senators who were present came through loud and clear: "Stop this bickering among yourselves and present a united front for the good of these programs." ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative To different people, the coming of fall means many different things -- the beginning of football season, the conclusion of baseball pennant races, the World's Series, or the harvesting of crops. For the ACB National Office, however, it means opportunities to meet more ACB members during the busiest of the state convention seasons. Since it had been necessary for me to literally rush away from the 1986 state convention of the Washington Council of the Blind in order to meet another commitment last year, I was especially pleased to be able to take part in this year's state convention in Seattle -- from which I did not have to rush off so quickly. The program underscored the interest and effectiveness of the Washington Council in such areas as state/federal legislation, rehabilitation services, job-enhancing technology, and organizational growth. I was pleased, also, to see many non-member visitors from the community as well as visitors from as far away as California. The North Carolina Council convention in Raleigh featured a strong program focusing on rehabilitation and employment opportunities within the state. However, after the program and business sessions concluded, attention turned to lots of friendly southern hospitality and conversation about college basketball -- both of which are outstanding in North Carolina. The 1987 Alabama Council convention in Montgomery introduced a new twist into its program by inserting a truly educational and interesting tour of the first White House of the South (the official residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis) and the very impressive and modern Alabama State Library for the Blind. Some of the other activities of this convention weekend included meetings of state chapters of special-interest affiliates (such as the Braille Revival League) and a dance featuring a number of songs by the Alabama Council's singing president. Since I had not taken part in the ACB of New York State convention for several years, it was a genuine pleasure to meet with that affiliate in Albany and to renew old friendships, meet many new friends, and enjoy the fantastic musical talent of several of its members. The program illustrated the organization's legislative activity and credibility with the New York State Commission for the Blind and the New York State Advocate for the Handicapped. Although there was an appropriately cooperative spirit of respect for the State Commission for the Blind, that spirit did not prevent the banquet attendees from enjoying a well-performed novelty song to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," featuring such lyrics as: "On the fourth day of Christmas, the Commission gave to me four cassette machines, three braille slates, two talking books, and one guide dog 'cause I can't see." On a serious note, however, I recommend that you read the separate article in this issue of The Braille Forum regarding the steps taken by the affiliates in New York, North Carolina, Alabama, and other states to help pay the cost of the services provided by the American Council of the Blind. International and other dignitaries or celebrities frequently visit the ACB National Office to learn more about the services and programs of the American Council of the Blind as well as to discuss other programs in this country and abroad. For example, during September it was the pleasure of the ACB National Office staff and ACB President Otis Stephens to greet Mr. Chuji Sashida and Mrs. Virginia Okamura of Japan. Mr. Sashida, who was touring Europe and America as a reporter for a Japanese magazine for the blind, is now working to gain admission to the Bar of Japan as only the second totally blind lawyer in that country. Mr. Sashida's interview with ACB President Stephens is to be published in the near future in Japan. Another distinguished visitor in the National Office was Mr. Fred Kamara, Principal Social Development Officer, Ministry of Rural Development, Social Services, Women and Youth, for the nation of Sierra Leone. In addition, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars included a visit to the ACB National Office on the schedules of Dr. Helwig Boerger and Mr. Wolfgang Angermann, both of West Germany. Dr. Boerger is the Director of the Central Office for Academic Counseling for the Handicapped at the University of Tubingen. Mr. Angermann is the Managing Director and Staff Attorney at the German Association for the Education and Employment of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Marburg, West Germany. The program under which they were visiting America is administered by the Fulbright Commission. Finally, a few days after returning from his hair-raising adventure to Bermuda, blind sailor Jim Dickson came by to discuss, among other things, ways in which employment of the handicapped could benefit from the enormous publicity generated by his effort to sail across the Atlantic alone and his stormy detour to Bermuda. (For an interesting and entertaining perspective on Jim Dickson's trip, I suggest that you read or re­read the article, "Blindness Is in the Mind of the Beholder," by Kathleen Megivern, in the September-October issue of The Braille Forum.) ***** ** Summary, 1987 Resolutions The Resolutions Committee (Paul Edwards, Florida Council of the Blind, Chairman) presented 39 resolutions for consideration by the 26th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, held July 11-18 in Los Angeles, California. Those resolutions are summarized below. Further information or the complete text of specific resolutions may be obtained from the ACB National Office. 87-01. Recognizes the importance of braille as the medium of literacy available to blind people, and calls on ACB to take all appropriate action to assure that the teaching of braille is mandatory as applied to all residential and public-school students for whom it is appropriate. 87-02. Urges publication of a specific type of periodical by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), and was defeated. 87-03. Urges ACB, the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, the Braille Revival League, and the National Association of Blind Teachers to establish a committee to collaborate with the American Printing House for the Blind, the National Braille Association, and other appropriate groups to assure that needed teacher-oriented materials in appropriate media are made available at low cost. 87-04. Calls upon the American Printing House for the Blind to broaden the availability of appropriate supplemental materials such as workbooks, tests, etc., needed by students to achieve goals such as those set forth in the Individualized Educational Programs (IEP's). 87-05. Urges NLS to enforce the existing quality standards for cassette tape used for books sponsored by the NLS program, and that the quality of tape used by the producers of such books be checked annually to assure that it meets these standards. 87-06. Directs ACB, in cooperation with the president of Guide Dog Users, Inc., to prepare and adopt a policy which will require that all ACB activities, be they business or social, are open to all members of the American Council of the Blind, without regard to use of guide dogs. 87-07. This resolution dealt with Social Security subsidies and vending facilities and was tabled until the 1988 convention. 87-08. Encourages state, local, and special-interest affiliates needing legal services to consider utilizing the services of available and interested American Blind Lawyers Association attorneys. 87-09. Commends Senator Allen Cranston for, and affirms ACB's complete support of, Senate Bill 1077, designed, among other things, to restore full and active use of specialized transportation to blind persons, and directs ACB officers, directors, and staff to work for adoption of this legislation. 87-10. Points out the relative lack of periodicals to meet the reading needs of visually impaired elementary- and junior-high-school students, particularly in recorded format, and urges NLS to produce additional magazines to meet the reading needs of this population. 87-11. This resolution dealt with the parliamentarian at ACB conventions and was defeated. 87-12. Directs ACB to work for restoration of the special income tax exemption for legally blind persons. 87-13. Calls on ACB to work for reinstatement of subminimum wage floors of at least 75 percent for blind and other handicapped sheltered workshop employees, and to communicate the substance of this resolution to all appropriate organizations and persons. 87-14. Restates the resolution passed in 1986 requiring meetings of the convention to be open, with the exception of the Nominating Committee; directs the President to assure that all committee chairpersons are conscious of their obligation to allow anyone desiring to attend any committee meetings to be present at all stages of those deliberations. 87-15. Instructs the ACB President to place resolution follow-up on the agenda of each Board meeting; directs that actions taken pursuant to resolutions be reported by the ACB staff or officers in The Braille Forum. 87-16. Urges ACB to seek legislative and/or regulatory relief for blind and visually impaired persons who have been denied access to consumer products and services because they do not possess both a valid driver's license and a credit card; and urges all affiliates to seek the introduction of state laws prohibiting such arbitrary and discriminatory denial because of the absence of a valid driver's license. 87-17. Directs ACB to work in collaboration with the Braille Revival League to have the week of January 4 (the week of Louis Braille's birth) declared Braille Recognition Week by the Congress of the United States, and to establish such commemoration as an annual event. 87-18. Reaffirms ACB's support for the broader definitions inherent in legislation contained in Senate Bill 557 and House Bill 1214, known as the "Civil Rights Restoration Act," and urges A CB to make every effort to attain passage of this vital legislation. 87-19. Directed that specific allocation of staff time and funding be made for public relations purposes and was defeated. 87-20. Recites recent action allowing the sale of braille books produced for the National Library Service to consumers at a cost which includes only the reprinting, and not such up­front costs as plates, etc.; commends the National Braille Press for exercising its option to sell books under this agreement; strongly urges all braille producers to immediately begin to make their braille titles available for purchase by consumers, and to advertise their availability in The Braille Forum; and directs that copies of the resolution be sent to the major braille publishing houses. 87-21. Directs ACB to communicate to designated organizations this organization's position strongly encouraging vocational rehabilitation counselors to support career choices in the arts by blind persons. 87-22. Strongly encourages the Veterans Administration to search diligently for qualified blinded veterans to fill positions as chiefs of the V.A. centers and clinics which provide rehabilitation training for blinded veterans as positions become available. 87-23. Directs that ACB officers, directors, and staff consider, and that they be authorized to act with other organizations, to seek the relocation of the Rehabilitation Services Administration either as an independent agency or in a department more oriented to the employment of blind and handicapped persons. This action is not to be construed, however, as a lack of interest in or support for non­vocational rehabilitation programs and services, or the education of handicapped children, even though jurisdiction over such services will still remain within the Department of Education. 87-24. This resolution dealt with Nominating Committee reform and was referred to the Constitution and By-Laws Committee of the 1988 convention in Little Rock, Arkansas. 87-25. Directs that certification of delegates be carried out by the registration committee as part of the pre-registration process. 87-26. Commends Newspapers for the Blind, Inc., of Flint, Michigan, which has adapted technology to make possible 24-hour access to daily newspapers in spoken form, on demand, and urges all individuals and organizations in a position to do so to support Newspapers for the Blind in its efforts to extend on-demand access to newspapers to all blind and visually impaired people in the United States. 87-27. Urges ACB to prepare a letter to be sent to the American Hotel Association and similar organizations, seeking to ascertain which hotel chains use audible message-retrieval technology. 87-28. Directs ACB, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, the Television Broadcasters Association, and major networks to seek to develop appropriate means of ensuring that blind persons have access to information of an emergency nature that is now only displayed graphically. 87-29. Directs the American Council to work with the ACB Federal Employees and the Visually Impaired Data Processors, Inc., to assist the Federal Government in the assessment of computer equipment accessibility for persons with disabilities. 87-30. Expresses deep concern over the seemingly capricious denial of the civil rights of disabled persons by the United States Congress in exempting itself from coverage under Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, thereby placing a serious limitation on employment of disabled persons; and urges that this decision be reconsidered. 87-31. Points out that many of those who acquire AIDS suffer visual impairment, with the prognosis being such that it is not usually deemed appropriate to provide such persons with vocational rehabilitation services; calls upon ACB and other appropriate organizations to set up a task force to develop a national plan for service delivery to this deserving visually impaired population. 87-32. Directs ACB to engage in efforts designed to bring about the creation and funding of specific budget line items which will be excluded from full-time equivalency ceilings, to cover reasonable accommodation needs of blind and visually impaired Federal employees. 87-33. Directs the ACB President to appoint a Special Projects Committee to review, in coordination with the American Foundation for the Blind, the results of AFB's recently concluded Transition into Employment project; directs this Special Projects Committee to develop a seminar concerning supported employment models relevant to the blind, visually impaired, and multi­handicapped blind, to be scheduled as a part of the 1988 ACB convention. 87-34. Directs ACB Board and staff to communicate to elected and appropriate administrative officials this organization's strong support of the continuance of the existing Title VII(c) programming, as well as additional funding sufficient to provide Title VII(c) independent living services to older blind Americans in every state. 87-35. Directs that ACB request a cooperative effort by sensory aids manufacturers, institutes of handicapped research, and other appropriate organizations to develop, as a matter of priority, a portable, lightweight, electronic, closed-circuit magnifier which would be battery­powered, affordable, and capable of operating in read/write modes. 87-36. Calls upon ACB to develop guidelines, with the assistance of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision, the Braille Revival League, and the Board of Publications, designed to improve the readability and organization of convention pre-registration and registration materials. 87-37. Urges that sight-restoring surgical procedures not be included among those medical services requiring pre-approval by any government agency, since, in particular, those who are economically disadvantaged rely upon financial assistance from the Federal Government's Medicare program to pay for cataract removal surgery. 87-38. Expresses deep appreciation to the California Council of the Blind, to all of its affiliate chapters, and to the many volunteers whose superb efforts made the 1987 ACB convention a success. 87-39. Expresses deep appreciation to the staff of the Airport Hilton Hotel. ***** ** ACB Scholarship Applications Available All legally blind persons admitted to or under consideration for acceptance into academic, vocational, technical, and professional training programs at the postsecondary level for the 1988-89 school year are encouraged to apply for an ACB scholarship. Eight scholarships will be awarded in 1988. The American Council of the Blind will award a $1500 Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship to a top student in each of the following categories: entering freshmen in academic programs, undergraduates (sophomores, juniors, seniors) in academic programs, graduate students in academic programs, and vocational/professional school students. Applicants will be compared with other applicants in the same category. This means for example that entering freshmen in academic programs will be competing for funds with other first-year students. A $1500 Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Tarver Foundation, will be granted to an outstanding student at the undergraduate level. The $1,000 VTEK scholarship, provided by VTEK Corp., Santa Monica, California, will be awarded to an outstanding student in the entering freshman category. Beginning in 1988, because of a generous gift from the late William Corey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two scholarships -- one for $1500 and one for $1,000 -- will be made available to Pennsylvania residents. All qualified Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to apply. Applications are available from the ACB National Office, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 393-3666. All completed applications and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than April 1, 1988. Leading scholarship candidates will.be interviewed by telephone in May and early June. The ACB scholars will be notified no later than June 15, 1988. The scholarships will be announced at the 27th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, to be held July 2-9 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Efforts will be made to enable many of the winning scholars to be present at the ceremony. Among the criteria to be considered in selecting the scholars will be demonstrated academic record, involvement in extracurricular/civic activities, and academic objectives. The severity of the applicant's visual impairment and his/her study methods will also be taken into account in the selection process. ***** ** Arkansas and ACB -- A Golden Opportunity By Carla S. Franklin You and your friends gather at the table to play "Careers" -- a game of strategy where participants win stars (fame), hearts (happiness), and cash. You open the box and start setting up the pieces -- the board, the dice, the markers, the opportunity cards. And then you see it: "What's wrong with this game?" you exclaim. "It looks like 'Careers,' but it's not." There's no expedition to the moon, no prospecting trip to the Andes, no hailstorms and bumper crops on the farm. "You're right," agrees one of your friends as he picks up the box top. "This isn't 'Careers.' The box says '1988 ACB Convention,' and the board is filled with all kinds of interesting places to go and things to do." "The rules are the same," you say as you scan the instructions. "Let's play. It looks like great fun." With the first roll of the dice, you move to the entrance of Arkansas Memory Lane. There you will find that Hernando De Soto was the first white man to cross into Arkansas Territory in 1541; that Henry de Tonti founded Arkansas Post, the oldest settlement west of the Mississippi, in 1686. You learn that a Frenchman named La Harpe explored the Arkansas River in a canoe in 1722, and that he, upon seeing the first rock outcropping since leaving the Mississippi, named that site Little Rock. Arkansas got its name from the Quapaw Indians, who were known as the Akansea by other tribes. In addition to the Quapaw, Osage, Caddo, and Seminoles lived in Arkansas, and after 1790, Cherokee, Choctaw, and some Shawnee and Delaware moved into the Territory. The famous Trail of Tears, over which the eastern Cherokee moved into Oklahoma in 1838-39, crosses the northern part of the state. Arkansas belonged first to France, then to Spain, then to France again. Finally it became a part of the United States when Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803. When Louisiana became a state in 1812, Arkansas became part of the Missouri Territory. In 1819 Missouri achieved statehood and Arkansas Territory was created. Borders on the east, north, and south were the same as today, but the western border included part of Oklahoma. In 1836 the Union was 50 percent complete when Arkansas became our 25th state. Congratulations! You've won much fame and happiness for your knowledge of Arkansas history. Now draw an opportunity card to see where we go next. "Opportunity knocks," it says. "Go to the Entertainment Extravaganza." You'll want to come early to Little Rock and stay late so you'll be there for all the fabulous activities that can happen only at an ACB convention in Arkansas. During convention week, July 2-9, and before and after, there will be tours, events, and entertainment designed with you in mind. On Saturday, July 2, there will be a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, to visit Graceland, the famous home of Elvis Presley. You'll take a walk down Lonely Street to the Heartbreak Hotel, where you'll have lunch. Then you'll spend three hours at the home of the King of Rock 'n Roll and be treated to a very special hands-on tour. On the evening of Saturday, July 9, there will be a relaxing outing to a dinner theater in Little Rock; the performance will be Carousel. Then it's on the next day to Hot Springs, a national park located just 50 miles from Little Rock, for a post-convention tour. You'll enjoy the shops, the mineral baths, and days packed with fun and relaxation. Between these before-and-after events are scheduled many activities -- some traditions, some brand new. There's a catfish fry on Wednesday, sponsored by International Guiding Eyes; a big-name concert on Thursday; the CCLV wine-and-cheese party on Sunday; a dinner cruise on Tuesday; a "Taste of Arkansas" and "Welcome to Arkansas" the first Saturday evening; and, of course, the annual ACB banquet on Friday. And this is only a beginning! You've won much happiness at the Entertainment Extravaganza. Now it's time to take another opportunity card in our Convention game and move on to the Special-Interest Smorgasbord. And that's just what it is — an unprecedented array of workshops, seminars, and outstanding discussions and panels. At least nineteen special­interest groups will sponsor programs, most of which are open to all conventioners. The game isn't over yet. There are still other opportunities, and with another roll of the dice you proceed into the Exhibit Hall. As with past ACB conventions, the 1988 exhibition will be brimming with information, new technology, and new ideas. Agencies and companies from throughout the United States will display products of interest to blind and visually impaired persons from all walks of life. ACB affiliates and local chapters will offer for sale convention souvenirs and useful items. Since you may be a first-time convention-goer, you'll want to use an opportunity card to go around the game board to the Information Service. There are many ways to find out what's going on and to get help at ACB conventions. First, be sure to read the articles that will appear in each issue of The Braille Forum. Browse through the convention insert that will accompany the March­April issue, and watch your mailbox in May for your pre-registration form. If you need further information, you may call the ACB National Office at (202) 393-3666. When you get to Little Rock, you will receive a braille, large-print, or cassette convention program. To assist you further, there will be an information desk, a 24-hour information line, and a daily newspaper in large-print and braille. Convention attendees at the 1988 ACB convention will be housed in four hotels. However, all meetings and activities will take place at the headquarters, the Excelsior Hotel, and in the Statehouse Convention Center located one level below the Excelsior. Shuttles will connect all facilities. The Excelsior is an ultramodern facility with an 18-story atrium and outstanding guest rooms. Rate: $40.00 per night. The Camelot Hotel is located about one and a half blocks away. It is an older, but very well­kept and refurbished facility, with a pool and deck for the enjoyment of its guests and those of the Excelsior. Rate: $35.00 per night. The Hilton is located just across the Arkansas River from the Excelsior; a pedestrian walkway connects the two. The Hilton has 220 rooms on only two stories. It is brand new, with swimming pool and putting green. Rate: $33.00 a night. Just across the street from the headquarters hotel is the Capital, a century-old, historic structure that is truly for those who desire to be pampered. Completely remodeled and refurnished, with a genuine southern balcony overlooking the front, this beautiful hotel is a real steal at $49.00 per day. Make all hotel reservations by calling the Little Rock Convention Bureau after January 1, 1988, at (501) 376-4781, Extension 1139. We suggest that airline reservations not be made for the convention until final plans are published for pre- and post-convention tours. While many good discount rates are available, they are often 30-day advance purchase, with 50 percent penalty if any changes are made to the travel schedule. There is also a wide variety of seven-day and 14-day advance purchases. Many of these are "use it or lose it" tickets, with no refund. Therefore, in this case, haste may very well make waste. Make sure you're in Little Rock for the ACB convention. That's the only way you can take advantage of this golden opportunity and be an ACB convention winner. ***** ** Highlights of Pre- and Post-Convention ACB Board Meetings, July 1987 The ACB Board of Directors met both preceding and immediately following the 26th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind in Los Angeles, California, July 11-18. Highlights of the two meetings follow: The Membership Committee reported that the ACB of New Jersey has joined the New Jersey Council of the Blind as a statewide chapter. The Board was advised, therefore, that the New Jersey Council of the Blind is now the single chartered A CB affiliate in that state. It was also reported that in May of this year, the Iowa Council of the Blind and the United Blind of Iowa merged into the Iowa Council of the United Blind. The Board therefore voted to charter this newly named, single Iowa affiliate. A membership application and dues were received from the Puerto Rico Association of the Blind. Although no delegate was able to be present at this year's convention, the Board voted to accept and to charter this new Puerto Rico affiliate. The Scholarship Committee reported that the VTEK Corp. had authorized ACB to administer a $1,000 scholarship in VTEK's name, to be presented at this year's convention. The corporate membership of ACB Enterprises and Services elected the following ACBES Board for 1987-88: Otis Stephens, Grant Mack, LeRoy Saunders, Durward McDaniel, and Delbert Aman. ACBES is the corporation formed by ACB in 1978 to oversee management and operation of the Thrift Stores. The corporate membership of ACBES consists of the ACB Board of Directors. Five persons -- only three of whom are required to be ACB Board members -- are elected annually to serve as the ACBES Board. The Board accepted the resignation of Laura Oftedahl, with thanks and deep appreciation to her for her outstanding work as ACB's Director of Public Affairs. She will continue, however, to produce the monthly ACB Reports for distribution to radio reading services throughout the country. The Board voted to continue staffing levels at the Washington, Minneapolis, and Rochester offices at current levels at least until the time of the January 1988 Board meeting. The Board approved mailing a letter in September seeking financial support of the membership for ACB programs and services. Approval was given the National Representative to list the American Council of the Blind as a plaintiff in a lawsuit soon to be filed against the Department of Defense in behalf of Randolph-Sheppard vendors. The Director of Development reported on various funding options currently being implemented and/or under study. She also reported that the last available space in the ACB National Office has been subleased to the Association of Radio Reading Services. President Stephens indicated that he and Resolutions Committee Chairman Paul Edwards will review 1986 and 1987 resolutions requiring Board action and that a report will be made at the September meeting. President Stephens announced his reappointment of Christopher Gray (Chairman) and Deborah Kendrick to the Board of Publications for a two­year term. Further, the Board of Publications has been charged with developing recommendations regarding ways to provide more information to the membership and to the general public, such as development of new informational brochures about ACB and its programs and services. The fall Board meeting has been scheduled for the last weekend in September. ***** ** Announcing the Ned Freeman Award tor 1988 By Christopher Gray, Chairman ACB Board of Publications Each year the ACB Board of Publications presents the Ned E. Freeman Award to an outstanding author and contributor to writing excellence within the American Council of the Blind. Various methods have been employed in the choosing of the award recipient. Some years, the BOP has sponsored a writing contest on a particular subject. In other years, an article has been selected from among those published during the past twelve months in The Braille Forum. At the recent Los Angeles convention, Harriet Fielding received the award in recognition of her contributions to The Braille Forum, her long-term commitment to the blind of California as editor of the ACBC Digest as well as her more recent service to The Blind Californian, and as past member and Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications. At this time, I want to explain the criteria by which next year's Ned E. Freeman Award will be granted. First, any article published in The Braille Forum between July 1987 and May 1988 will automatically be considered by the BOP as a possible award winner. The author is not required to designate the article as a Ned Freeman Award submission, although it is best to do so if that is your goal. Secondly, anyone may submit an original article specifically for consideration by the BOP. Articles should be sent directly to Braille Forum Editor Mary Ballard. The article should be clearly marked as a Ned Freeman Award submission. Because of present space limitations, such article may or may not be published in The Braille Forum. Thirdly, the Board of Publications will accept submission of any article that you, the reader, believes is of particular merit within the scope and activities of the American Council of the Blind or of its state or special­interest affiliates. Any article will be accepted for consideration, though the BOP would prefer that it come from an affiliate publication. If you submit such an article, you are nominating the article and its author for the award -- not yourself for having the good sense to recognize its merits or the conscientiousness to send it on to us. When sending such an article for consideration, the full text of the article and the source of its publication must be included. All submissions must be received by May 1, 1988. It is our hope that this method of article consideration for the Ned E. Freeman Award will not only help to encourage more and improved writing in The Braille Forum itself, but that it may strengthen affiliate publications as well. We will be pleased to hear your comments and to receive your submissions. Again, all submissions should be sent to Mary Ballard, Editor, The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. ***** ** Greater Voting Accessibility Encouraged by ACB in Congressional Testimony On October 6, 1987, ACB National Representative Oral Miller presented testimony before the Subcommittee on Elections of the House Committee on Administration, during oversight hearings concerning the implementation of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-435). The testimony pointed out that the Act had brought considerable progress toward the goal of equal access to registration and voting by the elderly and/or handicapped, but that certain areas could still be improved. It was pointed out that under the law now, there are no uniform standards defining the term "accessible," and that as a result, the states differ enormously in their determinations as to whether facilities and procedures are "accessible," as well as to what should be done to make them "accessible." The American Council of the Blind testimony recommended that Congress should clarify that the Act applies to people with communications impairments (such as blindness and deafness), and not exclusively to people with mobility impairment; that the term "handicapped," as defined in the Act, should be amended to conform to the generally accepted definition of that word, as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; that modest amounts should be appropriated to educate election officials concerning the Act and sources of expertise within the handicapped community; and that provision should be made for claimants to be reimbursed for reasonable attorney's fees when it is shown their rights have been abridged. The National Representative also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of attempting to use braille ballots in Presidential elections. His remarks were based on, among other things, the experience of a New Jersey county which conducted an experiment into the use of braille ballots during the fall of 1986. In that experiment, less than 2 percent of the known braille readers in the county asked for braille absentee ballots. It was not known, however, how many would have requested them if the project had been publicized much further in advance and on more than a county-wide basis. ***** ** Are You Missing Something? By Juliet Bindt Esterly This past August, I learned J have been missing a great experience. Maybe you have, too. I want to tell you about it. Frankly, it's really meant for people over age 60, but if some of the younger folks might want to get in on it, maybe it can be arranged. For years I have heard about the Elderhostel programs, but never thought much about it until this year. This summer I had my first experience at one and was delighted. There are over a thousand of these programs held all over the world and throughout the year. They last five or six nights, and in the United States the cost is around $200.00. This includes lodging, three wonderful meals, and some stimulating classes. You are required to take at least one class, because this non-profit organization isn't trying to offer cheap vacations in interesting places, but, rather, opportunities to meet interesting people and add to one's knowledge. Usually the Elder hostels are on college campuses. You stay in student dorms and walk a block or two for meals and classes. I got to one of the few that was held in a retreat center about 30 miles from Portland, Oregon. Each room had its own bath; meals, classes, and recreation rooms were all in the same building. Because it was not on a college campus, the director was not restricted to a certain group of professors, but could obtain teachers from anywhere. The three classes at my Elderhostel were music appreciation, the background for our experiences in Vietnam, and a theological course that discussed the history and customs in which Jesus conducted his life. I learned so many new facts and points of view, and there was time for discussion. In the evening, you could attend a movie, play bridge, or have entertainment provided by the students. Some people in the group had been to many other Elderhostels. Some of the programs concentrate on just one subject, such as marine biology; some teach how to do various things. They are all different. Early in the year, a catalog is sent out telling of the various offerings and describing the housing facilities. The applications ask you to make first, second, and third choices. On a pre-designated day, applications are drawn at random and assignments made. If the hostel of your first choice is full, then you may get your second choice, or you might get to go to only your third choice. If there are last-minute cancellations, you might get your first choice after all. Usually there are from 30 to 50 attendees. Fortunately, I got my first choice -- Alton Collins Retreat Center, which is just two miles from Sandy, Oregon, where the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind has developed some very good vacation facilities. Observing my enthusiasm, the vibrant and ever-attentive director suggested the idea of an Elderhostel for visually impaired persons -- perhaps twenty visually impaired and ten sighted attendees. Courses that would be of interest could be planned for both groups, but could include models, artifacts, and instructors good at verbalizing. The pilot project could be at this Oregon facility. If it proved meaningful, similar programs could be given in other regions. Here are some suggested courses I would enjoy: geography, especially of the Third World countries; art -- sculpture, architecture, and the chief characteristics of great painters -- so that I could have some knowledge about these matters when reading or in a conversation dealing with them; understanding the stock market: terms and some general principles about investing; music appreciation; comparative religions; precious stones: how to appreciate and buy them -- could have models of the various types of settings and rings, etc.; astronomy models to display the various constellations; public speaking and/ or parliamentary law; exposure to table games -- chess, poker, scrabble, etc. -- to see if you liked them; techniques for interpersonal communication; body language is important for sighted people, and it might help us to consciously send the message we wish by body language; past and present culture of American Indians ... If these or other topics would interest you and you think you might like an Elderhostel, do let me know so we can make plans to have one. Write me: Juliet Esterly, 2408 Ptarmigan Drive, No. 1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. I don't want you to miss any good thing! ***** ** The Challenges That Are Helping ACB By Oral O. Miller National Representative Within the past few weeks, ACB President Otis Stephens has written to each member, friend, and affiliate of the American Council of the Blind asking them to make meaningful contributions to help ACB overcome the financial setbacks of the last two years. In his letters, President Stephens pointed out that last year ACB received less than 10 percent of its income from its membership, and that ACB would be helped tremendously if each member would begin by contributing just the cost of one soft drink a week -- that is, approximately $25.00 a year. As we go to press, we have not yet received anything like the number of donations needed. However, a few individuals and affiliates have accepted the challenge! During its recent state convention, the ACB of New York State donated $2,000.00, and at their state conventions, the North Carolina Council and the Alabama Council donated $500.00 each. ACBNYS President David Schreibstein further agreed to encourage members to make individual donations and pledges. Since it is contributions from many different individuals that will run up the total very quickly, the new president of the North Carolina Council, David Alexander of Charlotte, issued a friendly challenge to the president of the Alabama Council, Norman Culver of Talladega to raise more money than the North Carolina Council plans to raise by next June. I communicated the challenge to Alabama Council President Culver, and on the urging of several of his members present at the convention, he accepted the challenge and immediately set to work getting personal pledges from his members. Making good use of his salesmanship ability, he obtained immediate pledges for more than $1,000.00, and he assured me that he plans to continue urging chapters and individual members to help. In order to "spice up" the challenge, the losing president has agreed to treat the winning president and his wife to dinner during the 1988 ACB national convention in Little Rock. David Alexander knew when he made the original challenge that Alabama has more members than does North Carolina, but he plans to try to offset that advantage by working extra hard throughout the year. A few days ago, a spokesperson for the Jackson chapter of the Mississippi Council of the Blind informed us that her chapter had just voted to donate $325.00 directly to ACB and was thereby challenging all other Mississippi chapters as well as other chapters throughout the country to match the Jackson contribution. I am asking the chapters accepting this challenge to let me know immediately! This article has not attempted to mention all the contributions and fund-raising plans of which we are aware. However, some of those will be mentioned in future issues of The Braille Forum as the projects develop (such as a very interesting and encouraging activity taking place in Florida). I am asking all ACB members, friends, and affiliates to step forward financially and be counted. "Your organization" needs your help if it is to continue offering the high level and quality of services which the blind people of America deserve. ***** ** Further Thoughts on Piano Tuning as a Career By Paul Van Dyck In his editorial in The Braille Forum (May-June 1987), Stanley Oliver, piano technician, lamented the fact that not many young people are entering piano tuning. He cited the absence of piano tuning classes at schools for the blind and the mainstreaming of children into public schools as reasons for this phenomenon. I would like to cite a few other reasons not mentioned by Mr. Oliver and to challenge some of his misleading statements for readers of this publication considering piano tuning as a career. I am a graduate of the tuning school in Vancouver, Washington, and was in business for almost fifteen years. My first-hand experience in the last several years was that colleges and universities no longer can afford to hire piano tuners on a fulltime, salaried basis. In the home, the piano is no longer the center of family entertainment. Business expenses such as transportation are high. Just as Western Union telegraphy has given way to high-speed computers, piano tuning is giving way to more viable types of jobs such as medical and legal transcription (in my case), computer programming, real estate, marketing, banking, teaching, law, medicine, science, etc. These are made possible through new technologies and changing attitudes about blindness. Many rehabilitation counselors advise clients against careers in tuning on the basis of the number of people who return to them for re-training. So, consider a career as a piano technician. Consider it carefully, though. ***** ** Improved Transit Service for the Blind -- A Real Possibility By Oral O. Miller National Representative Recently the U.S. Department of Transportation published a notice in the Federal Register to the effect that it is considering the advisability of amending its regulations regarding Federally assisted mass transit services. The proposed regulation would require the operators of such services to provide additional accommodations to, among other, visually impaired people as a part of service to the general public. The Department has requested views and input from interested parties, and those comments should be submitted to the Department by December 30, 1987. Let me emphasize that this request for input relates to accommodations on service that is available to the general public. It does not relate to the special service systems established to provide transportation to handicapped people who are physically incapable of using mainline services. This is an unparalleled opportunity to provide thoughtful suggestions as to accommodations that would truly by helpful. Possible accommodations mentioned by the notice include the verbal announcement of stops, the verbal identification of different buses (especially when several are in the same area at the same time), and communication as to which buses use specific stops. I am sure that Braille Forum readers can think of other possible accommodations -- such as better identification of bus stops, more specific information by telephone as to the exact location of stops or transfer points, greater availability of accessible information concerning routes and schedules, etc. Anyone who would like to have a print copy of the formal notice or a cassette copy thereof may obtain it by calling the ACB National Office at 1-800-424-8666 (3:00 to 5:30 P.M., Monday through Friday). Although comments may, of course, be submitted directly to the Department of Transportation, it would be preferable for them to be routed through the ACB National Office by December 15 so they can be submitted as part of a packet to the Department. Your comments and recommendations should refer to Notice 87-19 and may be submitted in letter form, inasmuch as form is not as important as content. Again, this is an opportunity to provide suggestions about possible ways to improve the public transportation service that impacts on the lives of thousands of blind and visually impaired people in this country every day. ***** ** AFB Sponsors Essay Contest The American Foundation for the Blind has announced it will award $1,000 to winners of an essay contest for blind and visually impaired people on "My Experiences at a Comprehensive Residential Rehabilitation Center." Top prize is $400; second prize is $250; third, $200; fourth, $100; fifth, $50. Entries will be judged by a panel of rehabilitation professionals and consumers. For purposes of the contest, a "comprehensive residential rehabilitation center" is defined as an agency that offers blind people a full range of services, including residential facilities. Contest applicants are asked to assess the value of their experiences, including the advantages of receiving services while in residence at the rehabilitation center. Suggestions for improvement may be noted, since the purpose of the contest is to help identify strengths and weaknesses in existing training services and to spark constructive suggestions for improving those services. Contest deadline is February 1, 1988, and winners will be announced in the spring. Essays should not exceed 1,000 words or four double­spaced typewritten pages. Entries or requests for more information should go to Gerald Miller, Director, National Services in Rehabilitation and Employment, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, NY 10011; (212) 620-2037. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From The Slate (Louisiana Council of the Blind): This past summer thirteen students and five staff members from the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired spent two weeks at the Blindinstitute in Wurzburg, Germany, as part of Operation Cross Sight. This student exchange program between LSVI and the Wurzburg school began about two years ago. During the spring of this year, a dozen students and staff members from Germany visited the Baton Rouge school for three weeks. Highlights experienced this summer by the LSVI group during its visit to Germany were classroom instruction, a four-day visit to Munich, with an additional school for the blind there; cultural exchanges and sight-seeing trips to Bavarian villages, museums, and castles. Also included was a trip to Austria, with a visit to the East German border. This project was privately funded by the Baton Rouge and New Orleans business communities. *** A joint Louisiana House and Senate Health and Welfare Committee recently rejected a proposed ban on cigarette sales in many government buildings and, along with it, the idea of setting aside designated smoking areas in certain state buildings. The lawmakers sided with blind businessmen who operate vending facilities. The vendors came to the Committee meeting to oppose the cigarette ban, contending that while it would cause them financial hardship, it would not deter smoking. The Governor still has the authority to override the decision, but that is rarely done. Myrtle Pain, an active member of the Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision, and President of the Florida Council of the Blind's Manatee chapter, has been named Outstanding Lioness of the Year for 1987 by the Bradenton Lioness Club. She has been credited with more than 100 hours of project work for the club. From Opportunity (National Industries for the Blind): Services and activities in the nation's capital which are of particular interest to blind people and those with severe visual impairment have been compiled into a handy booklet issued by the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. lncluded are restaurants that have menus in braille, churches offering tours in which guides describe special features, and department stores that provide shopping assistance. Among Federal Government buildings where tours may be arranged, or which feature hands-on displays, are the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Air and Space Agency, Supreme Court, White House, and the Capitol. Many monuments and museums are also included in the publication. For further information, contact Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, 1421 P Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. The Braille Shopping List, available from Bossert Specialties, Inc., P.O. Box 15441, Phoenix, AZ 85060, makes it easier for blind and visually impaired persons to label, store, and find grocery items when needed. The labels come in sheets of 100 pre­brailled/large-print items. A complete package of 14 sheets costs $12.95. Individual categories, available at $. 98 per sheet, include: canned fruits; soups; cakes; frostings and baking items; spices; beverages; dinners; jams, jellies and gelatins; canned vegetables; baby foods; condiments and salad dressings; canned meats; cereals; and luncheon meats and cheeses. Douglas Lee, 1076 Ruge Street N.W., Salem, OR 97304, offers several items for sale, including braille calendars for 1988 with holidays and Scriptures, braille and print playing cards, and braille and print pinochle cards. Write him for details. American Thermoform Corporation has enhanced its CompuDot line of computer braille paper with the addition of an 8 1/2-by-11-inch size. This new size is ideal for use in three­hole binders and is generally a little less cumbersome to handle. For further information or for CompuDot samples, contact American Thermoform Corporation, 2311 Travers Avenue, City of Commerce, CA 90040. For a full description (braille or cassette) of the Reading Center cabinet, which holds your talking book machine and tape player at armchair or bed height, contact John Postma, Dept. B, 1466 W. Michigan, Battle Creek, MI 49017; (616) 962-0185. VITAL (Visually Impaired Talk About Life) is an anytime talk-line which provides a free service to the visually impaired community. VITAL was organized and is staffed by the visually impaired community and is offered as an opportunity for people to call and talk about what is going on in their lives. VITAL would enjoy meeting you! Call any day, any time: 1-800-323-8485; in California call 1-800-522-8485. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) has selected Dr. Roger Neppl of Evergreen, Colorado, to the position of Executive Director. Dr. Neppl, who has an extensive background in education and sports administration, will assume his duties on January 1, 1988, and will operate from the newly established USABA national office in Colorado Springs. The address of the office is: 33 North Institute Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Pacific Gas & Electric Company is installing special markings on ranges, ovens, and other appliances so that blind and sight-impaired customers in northern and central California can use their appliances more safely and effectively. Upon request, PG&E service personnel will install small metal pins on appliance dials so that people who can't see temperature settings can identify the settings by touch. "It usually takes only a few minutes to install these pins on appliance controls," said Bob Hudson, Gas Utilization Supervisor. "The settings can also be placed exactly where each individual wants them." Blind or sight-impaired PG&E customers may request the pin installation service by calling their nearest PG&E customer service office. Having her weaving currently on exhibit at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is just one of many honors that have come to Penelope Strousser, a 79-year-old St. Louis woman who has been blind for forty years. In the living room of her home are four looms, reports The Missouri Chronicle, each of which she has threaded herself with a different project -- from a fine white patterned Star of Bethlehem scarf to a sturdier, turquoise and purple drapery weave. She also passes along her skill to others, teaching weaving to both blind and sighted individuals at schools, at senior centers, and in her own home. LS&S Group, P.O. Box 673, Northbrook, IL 60065, is now the exclusive distributor for Silvana Quartz Braille and Low Vision Watches. The company will also service and repair all Silvana watches, warranted for one year. Call toll-free 1-800-468-4789 (or 1-800-INTGRTY). James G. Chandler and Voice Indexing for the Blind (College Park, MD) have made it possible for LS&S Group, Inc., to provide its 1987-88 catalog on voice-indexed cassettes -- as well as in large-print. Recorded on two C90 cassettes at 15/16 ips., the catalog is intended for use with a two-speed, four-track player and contains over 350 aids and devices of specific interest to people who are blind or visually impaired. Contact LS&S Group, Inc., P.O. Box 673, Northbrook, IL 60065; toll-free, 1-800-468-4789. The Jewish Braille Institute of America has recently published an English translation of the five books of Moses (Torah) in large-print for visually impaired readers. Published in five 9-by-12-inch spiral-bound volumes, this large-print Torah is now available free to individuals who are unable to read standard size type. Contact: Jewish Braille Institute of America, 110 E. 30th Street, New York, NY 10016; (212) 889-2525. In June 1986, the Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind produced Perkins Brailler No. 175,000. International Disabled Marketing Associates announces its Amway Products catalog collection for 1987-88 is now available. The literature and cassette portions can be purchased separately or together. The cassette portion is updated annually free of charge for both IDMA customers and distributors. With your purchase, you will receive a free subscription to the quarterly cassette newsletter. For further information, contact Jack H. Morgan, International Disabled Marketing Associates, 438 Cypress Street, Lehighton, PA 18235; (215) 377-4650. Blind people in developing countries need and want English braille and cassette reading matter. You can help at no cost to you, and with very little time involvement. If interested in helping or in receiving material, please write in braille or cassette: Janell Peterson, 303 Harvard Avenue, E., Apt. 302, Seattle, WA 98102. Presents To Go, P.O. Box 5034, Vancouver, WA 98668, offers a series of new educational, magnetic games specifically designed for the blind and visually impaired, yet equally playable with sighted friends. Games presently available are Tic Tac Toe, Tic Tac Plus, two styles of Solitaire, checkers, chess, with more to come. Write the company for complete information. Artists with a disability are invited to enter their artworks in the 25th Annual Sister Kenny Institute International Art Show by Disabled Artists. Artworks should be sent to the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis no later than February 28, 1988. The art show will be held from April 15 to May 13, 1988. Any artist with a physical or mental disability which limits one or more major life activities is eligible to enter up to two pieces of art. Cash prizes will be awarded to artworks judged best in their category. Artists interested in entry forms or further information may contact: Art Show, Public Relations Department, Sister Kenny Institute, 800 E. 28th Street at Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407; (612) 863-4482. Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind has three employment opportunities in its Rehabilitation Center. Persons with degrees in orientation and mobility or rehabilitation teaching/special education, with emphasis on blind and visually impaired individuals, are encouraged to apply. Salaries are commensurate with applicants' skills and experience. For further information, forward a resume or contact Mrs. Theresa N. Travis, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, 1421 P Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005; (202) 462-2900. ***** ** ACB Officers and Directors * 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 Michael Byington, 706 Buchanan, Topeka, KS 66606 Robert Campbell, 253 Stonewall Road, Berkeley, CA 94705 Brian Charlson, 12 Riverside Street, Apt. 1-2, Watertown, MA 02172 Adrian De Blaey, 3340 N. 57th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53216 Carla Franklin, 148 North Vernon Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 Grant Mack (Immediate Past President), 139 East South Temple, Suite 5000, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Durward K. McDaniel, 9468 Singing Quail Drive, Austin, TX 78758 Patricia Price, 600 N. Alabama Street, Tower 2, Apt. 2102, Indianapolis, IN 46204 M.J. Schmitt, 528 Des Plaines Avenue, Apt. 2A, Forest Park, IL 60130 Dick Seifert, 1023 Scott Street, No. F, Little Rock, AR 72202 Paul Verner, 7505 Robindale Road, Tampa, FL 33619 ** Contributing Editors -- The Braille Forum: Elizabeth M. Lennon, 1400 N. Drake Road, Apt. 218 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Kathleen Megivern, 7113 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22307 ** ACB Board of Publications Christopher Gray, Chairman, 914 Boranda, #4, Mountain View, CA 94040 Billie Jean Hill, 5837 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39217 Deborah Kendrick, 2819 Victoria Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208 Carol McCarl, 735 21st Place, N. W., Salem, OR 97304 Phyllis Stern, 1178 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park, IL 60304 ###