The Braille Forum Vol. XXVI March-April 1988 No. 5 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Mary T. Ballard, Editor ***** Promoting Independence and Effective Participation in Society * National Office: Oral O. Miller 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 1-800-424-8666 * Editorial Office The Braille Forum: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 442-3131 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large-type, and cassette tape (15/16 ips). Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: THE BRAILLE FORUM, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to LeRoy Saunders, Treasurer, American Council of the Blind, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACB National Office has available special printed cards to acknowledge to loved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may wish to contact the ACB National Office. For the latest legislative and governmental news, call the Washington Connection at (202) 393-3664. Available 24 hours a day. Copyright 1987 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents President's Message, by Otis Stephens News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Washington Connection Returns to WATS Line on Limited Basis Countdown to Opportunity -- 1988 ACB National Convention, by Robert J. Acosta Award Nominations Requested More Time for Convention Business, by James D. Faimon Grove City Bill Heads for the White House, by Kathleen Megivern Library Users of America, ACB's Newest Affiliate ACB Teens, by Carla Franklin Blind Tuners Form International Organization, by Stanley Oliver Another Dollar Coin on the Horizon?, by Oral O. Miller Highlights of Fall 1987 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Implementation of ACB Membership Resolutions, by Paul Edwards You Deserve a Break Today, But You Won't Get It from the "Department of Delay," by Kathleen Megivern ACB of Ohio Takes a Serious Approach to Employment, by Deborah Kendrick Tandem Cycling in Holland, by Jodi Myers High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens Shortly after completing the "President's Message" for our January-February issue, I was saddened to learn of the death of Delbert Aman. Del was a good friend whose passing is a great loss to us. It was my privilege to work with him for a number of years on the ACB and ABCES Boards. As Durward McDaniel, M.J. Schmitt, and Phyllis Stern emphasized in their eloquent tributes to him, Delbert Aman played an important part in the American Council of the Blind from the early 1960s forward. Many of our younger members also have first-hand knowledge of his contribution as an adviser to the National Alliance of Blind Students. For several years, beginning in the late 1970s, he spearheaded the planning of student seminars held in conjunction with national conventions. Delbert Aman served our organization ably, with integrity and deep commitment. In addition to his leadership within ACB, Delbert Aman participated actively in the work of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). For several years he served on NAC's Commission on Accreditation and was later a member of the Executive Committee. I am sure that Del would be pleased by the current decisive reaffirmation of support for accreditation from all responsible segments of the blindness field. As ACB has long recognized, consumers can benefit significantly from the systematic agency accountability mechanism that NAC provides. Over the years, many of our members have taken part in various aspects of NAC's work and have helped to strengthen consumer influence in shaping and implementing agency policies. We need even more participation by our members, not only on NAC commissions and committees, but also as members of on-site review teams. At last year's convention, NAC conducted training sessions for prospective team members. I hope that effort will be continued and expanded at this year's convention and that even more of our members will participate. I am pleased to report that at our January meeting in Little Rock, the ACB Board took the first steps toward restoration of services cut in 1986. Of most direct interest to our members and friends is resumption during designated hours of the Washington Connection on our toll-free WATS line (1-800-424-8666). In closing, I want to express deep appreciation to the many friends who have expressed concern and encouragement during my wife's serious illness. Linda is in excellent spirits and sends her regards to everyone. During the past several months, we have learned first-hand about some of the remarkable advances now being made in the treatment of cancer. New approaches are finally beginning to yield some significant results, although the key to conquering this complex disease continues to elude researchers. Through our recent experiences in several hospitals, we have also gained much more awareness of the importance of asserting the rights of the patient. Hospitals, unfortunately but not surprisingly, have the same tendencies toward mindless bureaucratic behavior that characterize other large organizations, both public and private. I will have more to say about patients' rights in a future "President's Message." ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative It is not quite accurate to say there is ever a real lull in activity in the ACB National Office. Rather, it is more accurate to say that during some periods (such as around Christmas), it is possible to devote a little time and attention to matters which were set aside earlier. One of the major activities which greeted the new year, for example, was the submission of ACB's own comments, together with those of dozens of members and affiliates, regarding the proposed regulations by the Department of Transportation concerning ways to improve accessibility of mainline bus transportation. Even the comments that arrived after the technical deadline around the first of the new year were sent on to the Department of Transportation, and we have been advised that they will also be considered as the proposed regulations are being drafted. The Washington Connection and The Braille Forum will publicize the comment period concerning those regulations. Many of the prospective vendors or manufacturers who contact the ACB National Office about the importance of their products to blind and visually impaired persons are often unrealistic concerning that importance and the market for the products. It is encouraging, therefore, to make that occasional contact concerning a worthwhile product or service. Such was the case when we were contacted recently by a representative of Life Safety International. The initial purpose of the contact was to discuss the value of incorporating very sophisticated light-reflecting chemicals into garments or equipment likely to be worn or used at night, hence dramatically increasing visibility to motorists. The discussion eventually went far into other areas, however, including driver education regarding blind and visually impaired pedestrians. We were perhaps most impressed by the interest of the firm in services and products designed for the benefit of the general public, but which might also be of special importance to blind people. It has been my pleasure in recent weeks to serve on the steering committee planning the 1988 "Access to the Skies" conference to be held in Washington, D.C., September 8-10. That conference is being hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans Association. It will bring together representatives of the air transportation industry, the travel industry, the public, government, and handicapped consumers to advance "ccess to the Skies" by disabled people and to share information regarding the latest developments in such areas as technology, training, design, and non-discrimination. Future issues of The Braille Forum will include further information on this important conference. One of the truly exciting functions which I attended recently was the demonstration in Washington, D.C., of "descriptive video services" (DVS), a process by which descriptive verbal information is given concerning visual matters appearing on television and movies. This concept, developed by public TV station WGBH Boston and the Washington Ear, uses a generally unutilized audio channel of stereo TV to provide information which cannot be otherwise obtained by blind people independently -- gestures, actions which cannot be detected audibly, credits, etc. Those who do not have stereo television sets can access this additional audio channel by a separate, free-standing converter sold for less than $100 by a number of major electronics firms. I am pleased to report that the developers of this process will describe and demonstrate it on the program of the 1988 ACB national convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, this coming July. What a truly enjoyable experience the ACB National Office staff had the day we were visited by Mr. Takayoshi Wanami, a blind classical violinist from Japan who performs professionally in Japan and Europe! While we enjoyed discussing the programs of the American Council of the Blind and learning of the truly impressive career of Mr. Wanami, who is a world-class violinist, we were also very impressed by one of his reasons for revisiting the United States: to improve his own independent orientation and mobility, with minimum assistance from other people. Would that circumstances would permit the American Council of the Blind to sponsor a recital by Mr. Wanami in conjunction with one of the major symphony orchestras in this country! Receptions on Capitol Hill are important and are often a necessary part of the governmental process in the national capital. Occasionally something is added to make such receptions more meaningful to us personally. That was the case in late February when it was our pleasure to introduce to many of the attendees Mrs. Margarine G. Beaman of Austin, Texas, recipient of one of the 1988 National Community Service Awards presented by the National Organization on Disability, in conjunction with the J.C. Penney Company. Mrs. Beaman is known to many ACB members and friends as the indefatigable "Texas whirlwind" who is dedicated to improving the well-being of blind and visually impaired people by promoting greater accessibility of the banking system, public buildings, hotels, restaurants, and so on. We want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Beaman on the receipt of this prestigious award. It is but the latest among several national awards she has received in recognition of her tireless and imaginative efforts. ***** ** Washington Connection Returns to WATS Line on Limited Basis Beginning April 1, 1988, the educational and information service of the American Council of the Blind known as the "Washington Connection" may be called on ACB's toll-free telephone line: 1-800-424-8666, on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. Eastern time. This service will continue to be available 24 hours a day on a customer-paying toll or local call basis on 1-202-393-3664. On a toll-free line, the call is free to the caller; the charges are paid by the individual or organization being called. The "Washington Connection" was removed from the toll-free line last year for economic reasons. Watch future issues of The Braille Forum for announcements concerning further expansion of hours during which the "Washington Connection" can be called toll-free. ***** ** Countdown to Opportunity -- 1988 ACB National Convention By Robert J. Acosta ACB Convention Coordinator Plans are well under way for the 27th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, to be held July 1-9 in Little Rock, Arkansas. With the convention only a few months away, may we urge those of you who have not already done so to make plans now to attend. As noted in previous Braille Forum articles, ACB's official travel agency for 1988 is Northridge Travel Service of California. We encourage everyone to book airline reservations through Northridge Travel. This will make it possible for ACB to receive credit toward complimentary airline tickets which can be used for staff and other personnel. The official airline for the convention is American Airlines, and Northridge Travel can get you a 5 percent discount below the lowest fare to Little Rock on American. You may, of course, make your own reservations directly with any airline, or Northridge will be happy to make a reservation for you on the airline of your choice. However, we would appreciate your asking Northridge to do the actual ticketing so that ACB can receive the credit. When you call Northridge Travel, please ask for Helen or Joan. From outside California, call 1-800-842-8880; inside California, call 1-800-523-4396. The great majority of convention activities will be held in the Excelsior Hotel and in the Statehouse Convention Center, just one story below the Excelsior. Daily room rates for the four hotels being used by the conven­tion are as follows: the Excelsior (headquarters hotel), $40.00; the Camelot (one and a half blocks away), $35.00; the Riverfront Hilton (across the Arkansas River from the Excelsior -- an easy walk via a pedestrian bridge), $33.00; the Capital (just across the street from the Excelsior), $49.00. Make all hotel reservations directly with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. Call (501) 376-4781, extension 1139 (during normal business hours), or you may write for reservations as follows: ACB Convention, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 3232, Little Rock, AR 72203. Important: Reservations cannot be made directly with any of the four hotels, since rooms have been blocked for ACB in advance by the Convention Bureau. Should you wish a free tactile map of the convention facilities, please contact Multi Services Media Technology, 1186 Yulupa Avenue, No. 349, Santa Rosa, CA 95405; (707) 586-1999. If you would like an itinerary of the Eureka Springs tour, scheduled for July 1-2, or the post­convention tour to Hot Springs, July 10-11, please send your request, along with a pre-addressed envelope, to: ACB Convention, 8915 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91324. The 1988 Convention Supplement (included as a part of the braille and cassette editions of this issue of The Braille Forum) contains much of the schedule and cost information which will appear in the large-print pre­registration form. Print copies of the Convention Supplement are available upon request from the ACB National Office. Your pre-registration form will be sent out in early May. Please return the completed form no later than June 20. For your convenience, a pre-addressed envelope will be included with the pre-registration materials. Please note that you must fill out separate form for each person to be registered. If you need special medical assistance, a first-aid station will be located in the Convention Center with a trained nurse on duty each day. Arrangements for wheelchairs should be made when you make your hotel reservation. A list of veterinarians will be available from the Volunteer Room in the Conven Center. A Catholic Mass will be conducted at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 2. A non-denominational religious service will be held on Sunday morning, July 3, at 9:00 A.M. Convention week will witness twenty separate conferences seminars sponsored by ACB special-interest affiliates and other organizations, in addition to the general sessions of the American Council of Blind. Although space does not permit listing all of those functions here, some should be mentioned. If this is your first ACB convention, you will want to attend one of the First Timers Seminars, to be held Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, at 4:00 P.M. On Sunday, July 3, conventioners are invited to attend the wine and cheese party hosted by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCLV) from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. Later that evening you will want to attend a concert in the Excelsior Hotel Ballroom where Mr. Dick Johnson will lead the legendary Artie Shaw Orchestra. The American Council of the Blind Parents (ACBP) and the National Association of Blind Teachers (NABT) are co-sponsoring a melon party on Monday, July 4, at 5:00 P.M. Later you will want to take time for a short walk to Riverfront Park for the Fourth of July band concert and fireworks display -- or you can have a front-row seat from the terrace of the Excelsior. The National Alliance of Blind Students cordially invites all NABS alumni to a party sponsored by the current NABS Board of Directors from 9:00 P.M. till midnight. Come join the party and reminisce and reunite with old friends. Also at 9:00 P.M. everyone is invited to partake of the fine hospitality at the annual dance sponsored by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. Be sure to save time on Tuesday evening, July 5, for the Friends-in-Art Showcase. This outstanding program each year features the incredible range of professional-level talent to be found from among ACB members. On Thursday evening, July 7, the National Alliance of Blind Students will sponsor Mardi Gras Night -- with a Cajun style dinner and Dixieland music. How's your bowling score? Or perhaps your memory? Test your computer games skills (without having to be a computer expert) against others in ACB's first-ever computer games room. Thanks to Ron Morford of Automated Functions, Inc. of Arlington, Virginia, conventioners of all ages will have an opportunity to try their hand at a number of fully accessible computer games. As you can see, we in ACB know how to have fun -- but we also know how and are willing and anxious to work hard for the blind and visually impaired of America. Included among the informational and educational seminars and workshops scheduled throughout convention week are a microcomputer seminar conducted by the Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI), a diabetes seminar, a legislative seminar, and more ... Be sure to check the pre­registration form for other stimulating and educational activities. This year the National Convention Committee has developed an exciting program for pre-teens -- that is, ages 4-12. Purchase of an activity pass entitles your child to participate in daily programs at the Camelot. There are also several exciting tours planned especially for pre-teens. On Wednesday, July 6, your child can visit the Little Rock Zoo, with a nearby children's amusement park. While visiting the Log House at the Territorial Restoration on Thursday, July 7, children can make their own candles, light a fire with a flint, and bake their own gingerbread. A tour to a radio station just for kids has been scheduled on Friday, July 8, and a party for children is being planned for Friday evening, while the rest of us attend the annual ACB banquet. Nursery service for infants and toddlers will be provided by the Arkansas Council of the Blind. ACB Teens, a new organization for blind and visually impaired youth in grades 7-12, will meet for the first time this year. A full week of seminars, workshops, tours, and social events is planned. Activities include a career exploration seminar, a technology workshop, crafts and recreational activities, and more. General sessions of the American Council of the Blind will take place each morning, Monday through Saturday, July 4-9. A program of outstanding speakers and stimulating panel discussions has been arranged. Interspersed among these formal presentations will, of course, be the all-important ACB business sessions. At each national convention, the ACB membership sets the course for the coming year. It is very important, therefore, that each member attending the convention exercise his/her right and responsibility by being present at each general session. There will be consideration of important resolutions as well as Constitution and By-Law amendments, reports of ACB staff and officers, selection of the 1990 convention site, and election of directors to the ACB Board and of representatives to the ACB Board of Publications. To be a part of the American Council of the Blind and to voice your ideas and opinions, you must be present at these important business sessions. This year, the Resolutions Committee will be chaired by Mr. Allen Jenkins, 1104 Spruce Street, Berkeley, CA 94707. He will appreciate receiving as many of your draft resolutions as possible prior to the convention. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee will be chaired this year by Mrs. Karen Perzentka, 6913 Colony Drive, Madison, WI 53717. She, too, will appreciate receiving proposed amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws in advance of the convention. As you can readily see, the National Convention Committee realizes that an ACB convention is a combination of business and pleasure. Make plans now to attend this fabulous week. The 27th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind will be an event to remember! ***** ** Award Nominations Requested Presentation of a number of prestigious awards has become an important tradition at each ACB national convention. Nominations for the following awards are now being sought and should be sent directly to the chairman of the Awards Committee, Mr. James E. Cashin, 3680 Lindley Circle, Powder Springs, GA 30073. The Robert S. Bray Award was established in memory of the late Chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress (now the National Library Service). It is presented from time to time (but not necessarily annually) in recognition of outstanding work in extending library services or access to published materials, or improving communications devices or techniques. The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award recipient is selected each year from among candidates who are blind and who, by their lives, associations and activities, have demonstrated their integration into and their interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member of or active in any organization of the blind, or that he/she be engaged in work for the blind. The George Card Award is presented periodically to an outstanding blind person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. This award is not limited by locality or by nature of the contribution, and it is not necessarily given each year. Nominations should be postmarked no later than June 1, 1988. ***** ** More Time for Convention Business By James D. Faimon As many of us start making plans to attend the annual ACB convention, we need to remind ourselves that the convention is not only an opportunity to obtain information, sharpen skills, see old friends and make new ones, and do a little partying, but also it is for most of us our only opportunity to have input into the policies and operation of the American Council of the Blind. We have that input by virtue of election of officers and directors who we hope will reflect our particular philosophy and will prove to be capable and dedicated leaders. We also adopt resolutions, statements which help form the basis of ACB's policies and programs. We adopt amendments to the ACB Constitution and By-Laws that may shape the effectiveness and representative nature of our organization. We all agree, I believe, that these are very important matters and are the real "meat" and purpose of the convention. Therefore, it is imperative that more time be allotted on the convention program to accomplish these objectives. While speakers and entertainment help to broaden and brighten the convention agenda, it is respectfully submitted that more time should be allotted for convention business. We members will need to support such planning by our attendance and cooperation. While it is difficult, but not impossible, to estimate how long debate on resolutions might take, how hotly contested elections might be, we need to err on the side of too much time for business rather than too little. Members should keep in mind, based upon past conventions, that a marathon session on Saturday is a strong possibility, and that deliberation may go well into the afternoon. That should be kept in mind by all so that plane schedules and departure times can be adjusted. ***** ** Grove City Bill Heads for the White House By Kathleen Megivern The Civil Rights Restoration Act, a bill to overturn the 1984 Supreme Court decision in the infamous Grove City case, has finally been passed by both the House and the Senate. Grove City, you may remember, was the Supreme Court decision which held that if one department of a college receives Federal financial assistance, only that department -- not the entire college -- is considered a recipient of Federal financial assistance. Since the major civil rights laws apply only to recipients of Federal financial assistance, this ruling means that other departments within the same college would be free to discriminate. While the Supreme Court's decision dealt specifically with Title IX (sex discrimination), the Justice Department quickly ruled that the same limitations would apply to discrimination based on race, age, and handicap. Despite bipartisan support from the beginning, the Civil Rights Restoration Act became bogged down by the threat of anti-abortion amendments. Finally, more than two years into the process, a compromise was reached in the Senate which both "pro-right-to-life" and "pro-choice" could (grudgingly) accept, and the bill began to move. Civil rights is always a popular topic in an election year, and the votes in both the Senate and the House of Representatives were lopsided. The wide margins of victory may prove to be necessary, because President Reagan has vowed to veto the bill. With a 75 to 14 vote in the Senate and a 315 to 98 vote in the House, it would appear that civil rights supporters have the two-thirds necessary to override such veto. In this Presidential election year, Republicans are nervous about a Presidential veto of what is being called the most important civil rights legislation in twenty years. They angrily accused Democrats of purposefully sending this bill "in a form" which Mr. Reagan cannot accept (the Administration has opposed the bill from its inception, and nothing but the most watered-down of versions would have been acceptable). The principle behind tying anti­discrimination laws to receipt of Federal money was perhaps best summarized by Congressman Augustus Hawkins (D. - CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, when he said, "Anyone who dips their hand in the public till should not mind if a little democracy sticks to their fingers." ***** ** Library Users of America, ACB's Newest Affiliate Library Users of America (LUA) is a national organization designed to provide a forum and mechanism through which visually impaired readers can participate effectively in library, broadcast, reading, and other services. LUA is the only special-interest organization of its kind through which visually impaired citizen consumers can represent their interests and act collectively to protect, advance, improve, and support such services according to their needs. LUA's structure provides for chapters composed of 25 or more of its members in a state. LUA invites all interested persons to join now and to participate in its conference, which will occur on July 7-8 in Little Rock during ACB convention week. Voting members must be at least 18 years of age. A majority of members must be blind or visually impaired. Annual dues are $7.00 and may be sent to the Treasurer, Patricia Price, Tower 2, Apartment 2101, 600 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. A portion of your dues will be shared with your LUA chapter when it is formed. The purposes of this national representative organization are: (1) To promote the availability and use of libraries, radio reading services, and other special information media and entities which affect the availability of services providing cultural, social, occupational, recreational, or informational reading needs of blind and visually impaired individuals. (2) To encourage the development, acquisition, and use of technology which would enable blind and visually impaired persons to use printed material independently, both in a library setting and elsewhere. (3) To seek solutions to service inequities arising from geographic, technological, or informational barriers which have the effect of limiting acquisition to libraries, radio reading services, or other media and related entities by visually impaired persons. (4) To do any lawful thing which may facilitate the accomplishment of the purposes contained herein. The officers and directors are: President, Jimmy Gibson of Alabama; Vice President, Gerard Rossi of California; Secretary, Jo Ann Slayton of Iowa; Treasurer, Patricia Price of Indiana; Jim Cashin of Georgia; Chester Holden of Arkansas; Don Jacobs of Michigan; Alan Jenkins of California; and Durward McDaniel of Texas. ***** ** ACB Teens By Carla Franklin ACB Teens is a new organization for blind and visually impaired youth in grades 7-12 and for sighted teens who have visually impaired relatives or who are interested in the blind. At the 1988 annual convention of the American Council of the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas, ACB Teens plans a full week of seminars, workshops, tours, and social events. Programs will include a career exploration seminar, a technology workshop, and an information seminar on postsecondary training choices. Crafts and recreational activities, educational trips, and a "Look Your Best for Success" workshop will round out the week's activities. But ACB Teens shouldn’t be just a once-a-year "happening," available only to those who can attend the national convention. A newsletter would let teens stay in contact with each other throughout the year. It should contain articles written by teens, and sections on opportunities and resources important to high-school students. The newsletter would have to be short at first, but could expand as support for and membership in ACB Teens increase. Almost any blind or visually impaired teenager would enjoy and benefit from membership in ACB Teens. Sighted siblings and friends of blind youth will also want to join. Membership is only $1.00 per year. Teens can join by sending name, address, age, and amount of vision, along with $1.00 membership dues to: ACB Teens, 148 North Vernon Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. Also please include information where you heard about the organization. A registration form for the teen activities in Little Rock is also available upon request from the above address. ACB Teens needs your help. If you are an adult who enjoys working with the 12-18 age group and if you would be willing to volunteer some time in Little Rock to assist with ACB Teen activities, or if you have comments or suggestions concerning the formation and future programs of this new group, please contact me, Carla Franklin, at the address above. ***** ** Blind Tuners Form International Organization By Stanley Oliver On December 9, 1987, the Visually Impaired Piano Tuners International (VIPTI) was formed. Provisional officers and others chosen on the national steering committee were: Stanley Oliver, Detroit, Michigan, Chairman; Roland Stiefel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vice Chairman; Durward K. McDaniel, Austin, Texas, Secretary; Kenneth Serviss, Vancouver, Washington, Treasurer; Rex Austin, Chicago, Illinois; Emil Fries, Vancouver, Washington; Martin Nemecek, Oregon City, Oregon; Don Stephens, Norman, Oklahoma; Howard Traxler, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Calvin Wooten, Anniston, Alabama. VIPTI is actively recruiting members, and we invite all tuners to join now by sending annual dues of $20.00 to Treasurer Kenneth Serviss, 2510 E. Evergreen Boulevard, Vancouver, WA 98661; (206) 693-1511. VIPTI will hold its first conference on July 3, 1988, at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the convention week of the American Council of the Blind. VIPTI intends to qualify to become a special-interest affiliate of ACB. We invite all visually impaired tuners to attend and to join. We will devote some time to inquiries by persons considering training to become tuners. We hope to have visiting tuners from Canada, and perhaps others with whom we have contact. Our current roster consists primarily of blind craftsmen within the Piano Technicians Guild, which has well over one hundred visually impaired craftsmen. The chief goal of VIPTI is the preservation, advancement, and enrichment of the tuning profession for well-trained, competent visually impaired persons. Available training facilities and funding for training are high on our agenda. We will solicit and welcome the advocacy of other affiliated organizations in support of our goals and objectives. VIPTI will in no way compete with the Piano Technicians Guild, and as a matter of policy, we encourage our members to qualify for and to join PTG. We plan a quarterly bulletin news and work opportunities. Within the PTG and VIPTI we are preparing several score of brief profiles, such as that of Mark Haas of Detroit, to depict the real and potential successes in this skilled employment. They will be distributed part of our promotion and advocacy. Tuning is a great calling. But it is not for everyone. We are reminded of the Aesop fable of the fox and grapes. After jumping to reach the grapes unsuccessfully a few times, the fox hoisted his tail and flounced off. "Well, they're probably sour anyway," he muttered. Many hundreds of us have found the vineyard very worthwhile. You may as well. (For further information regarding the Visually Impaired Piano Tuners International, contact Stanley Oliver,1965 East Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48234; (313) 891-9226.) ***** ** Another Dollar Coin on the Horizon? By Oral O. Miller National Representative Undoubtedly most of us remember the ill-fated and (in the opinion of most people) poorly planned action by the U.S. Treasury Department that became the fiasco known as Susan B. Anthony dollar coin -- which even many sighted people confused with the quarter or $.25 coin. (I think I may still have a few of those "Tony dollars" as mementos of that project.) Well, there's new interest in a dollar coin as well as other changes in our coinage. The Coin Coalition is advocating a new $1 coin to replace the $1 bill. Although the exact specifications have not been settled upon yet, that coin would be gold in color, would be the size of a quarter, and would have a smooth, but very pronounced edge so as to minimize confusion with the quarter. An organization representing some visually impaired people has supported the coin in the belief that phasing out the $1 bill would reduce the chances of accidentally giving a large denomination bill when making small purchases. On the other hand, the American Council of the Blind has pointed out that it is easy for most blind and visually impaired people to identify their bills, both large and small denominations, by non-visual means such as folding bills in different ways or placing different denominations in different parts of a billfold. ACB has pointed out, also, that the chances of accidentally giving out a large denomination bill would not be reduced significantly if the smallest bill were then the $2 bill. One of the stated reasons in support of producing a coin the same size as the Susan B. Anthony dollar is that it would not be necessary to conduct an international inventory of all foreign coins to make sure that no foreign coin of inferior value would accidentally prove to be interchangeable. Another reason is that coin machines already designed to accept the Anthony dollar could accept the new coin without extensive and expensive modification. Currently, Senate and House bills (S. 1742 and H.R. 3348, respectively) are pending before Congress to authorize production of the new dollar coin and to request a study of the advisability of phasing out production of the penny coin and the 50-cent coin. Recently the Coin Coalition asked the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America to circulate a survey to obtain reactions concerning these proposals. We are not yet aware of the responses received. Because of the "flap" surrounding the Susan B. Anthony dollar, ACB would like to obtain input from Braille Forum readers regarding the proposals as summarized in this article. Accordingly, anyone who would like to provide input should request a copy of the survey form prepared by the Coin Coalition from the ACB National Office. If additional information is desired, readers may communicate directly with the Coin Coalition, 1000 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 304, Washington, DC 20036. ***** ** Highlights of Fall 1987 ACB Board of Directors Meeting The fall 1987 meeting of the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors was held in Columbus, Ohio, the weekend of September 26-27, with all members present. In his report to the Board, President Otis Stephens commended the staff and voiced optimism that ACB. is overcoming its financial problems and that services curtailed as a result of necessary budget cuts in 1986 can gradually be restored. National Representative Oral Miller reviewed his work with the committee established to negotiate regulations under the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986, and Board members suggested areas which might be addressed by that committee. He reviewed National Office involvement in a number of other areas, including the oversight hearings on the Voter Accessibility Act for the Elderly and Handicapped, the suit filed in late September by ACB and others against the Department of the Navy on behalf of blind vendors challenging the legality of contracts entered into with McDonald's and Burger King, a number of fund-raising projects which are being explored, several fund-raising letters, including the fall membership mailing, and life memberships in ACB. Braille Forum Editor Mary Ballard reported that subscriptions (particularly for the cassette edition, continue to increase significantly. The Rochester Office staff is progressing nicely with refining and updating the master mailing list, which now numbers in excess of 36,000 names. Assistant Treasurer James Olsen outlined the auditors' suggestions concerning renewal of ACB notes, and a motion was passed establishing criteria by which interest on those notes will fluctuate to reflect changing conditions in the financial market. M.J. Schmitt described her successful litigation against the limousine company serving the St. Louis, Missouri, airport for refusing limousine service to her and her guide dog. Treasurer LeRoy Saunders reviewed income and expenses and, although expenses to date are over-budget, projected only a small deficit by year's end. The Board voted to extend the rescission of staff furloughs until the January 1988 meeting. Membership Chairman Durward McDaniel reported that Grant Mack has been added to the committee, with major responsibility for the northwest sector of the country. The California Council of the Blind has approved a grant to ACB for membership development particularly for bringing "dropouts" back into the organization. Members of the Piano Technicians Guild are considering forming an ACB affiliate, a major goal being to support the establishment of training centers for that occupation. Library Users of America was accepted as an ACB affiliate. Scholarship Committee Chairperson M.J. Schmitt reported that again in 1988 four Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships will be awarded, each in the amount of $1500, in the same four categories as in previous years. The $1,000 Vtek scholarship will be awarded on a rotating basis using the same four categories as the Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships -- namely, entering freshmen, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate. Again in 1988 the Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Tarver Foundation, will be awarded at the undergraduate level. Two Corey Memorial Scholarships, in the amount of $1500 and $1000, respectively, were established for blind and visually impaired residents of Pennsylvania. Carla Franklin, 1987 Convention Coordinator, reported that while the Los Angeles convention was not the largest with respect to utilization of hotel rooms — 775 were occupied on the peak night -- it was the largest from the standpoint of registration. Well over 1600 people registered, as compared with some 1400 in Las Vegas. The 1988 Convention Committee consists of: Robert Acosta, Chairman; John Horst, Vice Chairman; Margarine Beaman, Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator; Carla Franklin, Pre-Convention and Convention Publicity; Elizabeth Lennon, Advertising; Jo Ann Slayton, Tours, Special Events, Entertainment, and Hospitality; James Olsen, Registration; Denise Weddle, Exhibits; Amy Pais (representing Arkansas on the committee), Information Desk. Northridge Travel Service of California has been selected as the official travel agency for the convention; American Airlines will be the official carrier. By consensus, it was agreed that the Convention Coordinator should be included as an ex-officio member of the Program Committee. By unanimous vote, the Board directed the ACB President and/or National Representative to communicate to the President of the United States ACB's support for Justin Dart, Jr., as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Much of the Sunday morning meeting was chaired by First Vice President Paul Edwards and dealt with implementation of 1987 resolutions. Reports on implementation of these resolutions will appear from time to time in The Braille Forum. Paul Edwards, Brian Charlson, and Dick Seifert were appointed as a committee to develop necessary changes in procedure for handling resolutions and will report back to the Board. The Board directed the National Representative, with the approval of the President, to implement the non-voting life membership motion passed by the 1986 convention. A by-law amendment will be developed to address the voting status of such members. The next board meeting was scheduled to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, in late January 1988. ***** ** Implementation of ACB Membership Resolutions By Paul Edwards For the past five years, I have spent most of each ACB convention working on the preparation of resolutions. Each year I have had a committee to work with me, and each year the membership has passed over thirty resolutions. Resolutions are among the most important aspects of convention business, because they instruct the Board and staff of the American Council of the Blind about how the membership feels concerning those vital issues which confront visually impaired people today. With this in mind, certain questions have occurred to many ACB members over the years: What happens to resolutions once they are passed? Are they acted upon? How is this done? How can we, as members, be certain that this is really happening? In response to such questions, Membership Resolution 87-15 was adopted at last year's convention in Los Angeles. Essentially, this resolution did two things. First, it directed that resolution follow-up be placed on the agenda of each ACB board meeting. Second, it required that information on resolution follow up be reported in The Braille Forum. I have been delegated, therefore, to tell you something about what the Board and staff are doing with the 39 resolutions passed last year in Los Angeles. You will be glad to know, I am sure, that I do not intend to discuss each resolution in turn. In part that is because I believe the Board and staff are doing a good job of "riding herd" on the majority of those resolutions. Instead, I want to clarify one resolution whose summary lost something in the translation in the November-December 1987 Braille Forum; to share with you a letter received by ACB National Representative Oral Miller in response to two resolutions; and to share with you an exciting resolutions-related project on which I am currently working. First, let me talk about ACB Resolution 87-13. In the opinion of its sponsor, the Braille Forum summary did not do it justice and was, in fact, misleading. Summarizing resolutions is by no means an easy task and unless a person has been involved in the entire resolutions process, it is sometimes hard to know which parts of an involved resolution need to be included and which can be omitted. It is, in fact, much harder to summarize than it is to write a resolution. Resolution 87-13 deals with one of the most difficult and esoteric topics our organization confronts: sheltered workshops. Therefore, let me provide a little background and then sum up what this important resolution attempts to do. Three years ago, ACB passed a resolution in support of the payment of minimum wages to all sheltered workshop employees whose only disability is blindness. ACB's resolutions indicated that, where there is an additional disability which is properly documented and which affects an employee's productivity, that employee should receive no less than 75 percent of the statutory minimum wage. In the fall of 1986, Congress passed legislation which became Public Law 99-486, which completely did away with the subminimum wage floors. That meant that workshops could pay anyone who qualified for subminimum wage certification under the Department of Labor whatever they chose. Resolution 87-13 stated emphatically, therefore, that ACB deplores the action taken by Congress; reiterated its contention that subminimum wage floors should be set no lower than 75 percent of the statutory minimum wage; and directed the ACB Board and staff to seek the reinstatement of such subminimum wage rate floors as soon as possible. Resolutions 87-05 and 87-10 were, as directed, communicated to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The following letter to ACB National Representative Oral Miller from Frank Kurt Cylke, Chief of NLS, is self-explanatory: ... In response to Resolution 87-05, we are distressed to learn that ACB members feel that the quality of cassette tape used for our books has become steadily inferior over the past five years. Great care and attention are continually paid to assuring that our contractors use the best quality cassette tape. We have strict specifications for the tape used in producing our books, and stringent tests which allow us to quality-assure any new tape our contractors might wish to use. In fact, we do not allow contractors to change, substitute, or alter tape without receiving written permission. Our cassette books are under warranty for a period of one year, during which time the regional and subregional libraries return any defective books to the producers. No expense is incurred by the libraries. After one or more years in circulation, some cassettes in some titles may need to be replaced. This is done by the libraries, using tape purchased by them, which may or may not meet NLS specifications, depending on their funding, as quality tape is expensive. If examples of inferior tape found by ACB members could be sent to NLS, we could investigate the problem and report the results. ... In response to Resolution 87-10, the mission of NLS is to provide recreational reading material such as might be found in a small public library. Therefore, we do not produce textbooks or textbook-related books and magazines, as such, for our patrons. Currently NLS provides seven magazines for youth and children, four in braille and three recorded; and eleven magazines for young people aged 13 and older, five in braille and six recorded. These 18 periodicals represent 25 percent of our periodical collection devoted to serving 4 percent of our patrons who are children. ... The American Council of the Blind has been in the resolution-writing business since its first convention in 1962. Some four years ago, Scott Marshall began the overwhelming task of developing an indexed list of all of the over 500 resolutions adopted over the years. This project was undertaken as the result of a Board initiative urged by Durward McDaniel. Eventually it will lead to the development of a series of policy papers outlining ACB's position on a variety of issues. Last fall I began working in close cooperation with Chris Gray, Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications, to expand this index into a useable computerized database that would allow us to sort out the resolutions into various categories. This is an exciting new development, and over the next couple of years it is hoped that all significant resolutions will find their way into position papers that will allow members and affiliates to have a clear idea of where ACB stands on such issues as Social Security reform, employment of disabled people, accessibility, and many other subjects. WHEREAS, this article has gone on long enough, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the writer and readers, in communion assembled, that it is ended! ***** ** You Deserve A Break Today, But You Won't Get It from the "Department of Delay" It has been quite a while since we've reported anything about the lawsuit which was filed against the Department of Defense over their national contracts with McDonald's and Burger King. You may remember that a suit was filed in October of 1984, shortly after we learned of the contracts. The Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, the Blinded Veterans Association, American Council of the Blind, Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Handicapped, and other named individuals (including Senator Jennings Randolph), all joined together in a suit to stop the Department of Defense from any further construction of McDonald's or Burger King facilities on Federal property because plaintiffs argued that they were in direct violation of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The District Court opinion didn't really satisfy anyone, since it seemed to have some serious internal inconsistencies, as you will see from the final paragraph: "On the merits, the Court concludes that although the McDonald's and Burger King contracts deprive blind vendors of increased employment opportunities, the contracts do not fail to provide a priority for blind vendors ..." Appeals were filed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the case should have gone through the arbitration procedure provided for in the law. Plaintiffs had argued that arbitration was an ineffective way to deal with the problem because such procedures can take years to complete, and in the meantime DOD would be putting up "Golden Arches" around the country. Here we are three years later, and we've now filed yet another lawsuit -- in the same court, before the same judge, asking for similar relief (that is, a preliminary injunction pending arbitration). Why? Because the Department of Defense (affectionately known now as the "Department of Delay") has created one obstruction after another and still has yet to cooperate with plaintiffs in naming a third person to chair the arbitration panel. In the meantime, DOD has tried a "divide and conquer" strategy of contacting the state agencies involved, trying to "settle" the case. While one state has pulled out, the major agencies -- Florida, Massachusetts, and Virginia -- have found DOD settlement offers to be entirely unsatisfactory. And so the battle continues, DOD gets more and more McDonald’s and Burger King facilities up and running while they find one excuse after another to prevent arbitration from proceeding. As we go to press, they continue to refuse to participate in naming a chairman. The Randolph-Sheppard Act provides that the Department of Education can step in and name a chairman when one of the parties refuses to do so, and the plaintiffs have formally requested the Department of Education to take such action. As is often the case, there is little comfort in being able to say that we knew arbitration with DOD would be difficult, but it's hard to resist one good "We told you so!" ***** ** ACB of Ohio Takes a Serious Approach to Employment By Deborah Kendrick "Unemployment" and "underemployment" are only words in the news unless you share the experience. For blind and visually impaired people, there is probably no greater common denominator. If you aren't looking for a job or working below your qualifications, you probably have blind friends who fall into one of those categories. When we began brainstorming the program for the 1987 American Council of the Blind of Ohio convention, all ideas pointed us so much in the direction of that "common denominator" that we broke tradition: rather than our usual annual convention comprised of interesting programs and speakers and an opportunity for members to gather, we decided to use the October weekend for a combined convention and full-blown employment conference open to all. The results were fairly dramatic, and the format is one we are eager to share with others. As a prologue to the employment conference, the Columbus ACB chapter sponsored a luncheon for area employers. Forty area employers -- representing industry, retail, and service-oriented companies -- were our luncheon guests for a program showcasing the abilities of blind workers. With Chuck Adkins, ACB-Columbus chapter president, as master of ceremonies, the program featured remarks from Ken Morlock and Deborah Kendrick, ACB-O President and Vice President, respectively, Robert Rabe, Director of Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, and a videotape highlighting visually impaired workers in a variety of jobs. Scattered throughout the audience were active ACBers. Enthusiasm was high, and the number of employers energetically gathering information for contacting potential blind workers was more than rewarding. The official conference began Friday evening with a keynote address from Evan J. Kemp, Jr., an Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner, and closed Saturday evening with an upbeat collection of success tips from author-lecturer Phyllis Martin. The real "meat" of the conference, however, was all day Saturday, October 17, when the hotel was alive with mini-workshops and activities tailored to the needs of blind job­seekers. Whether we like it or not, "packaging," as Phyllis Martin put it, is an essential ingredient of career advancement. Much of that packaging is visual. Blind people can become competent packagers in the job market, but without firsthand observation of sighted peers, some skills are lacking. Our hands-on morning format included experts in all the packaging areas. A local wardrobe consultant offered one-on-one advice to participants on the style, color, and combinations of clothing to be worn to the interview, on the job, and elsewhere. A team of hair stylists and makeup artists offered similar advice and instruction. John Allen, a career placement professional, conducted 15-minute mock interviews, providing individuals with feedback on body language, verbal skills, and personal appearance. Workshops on resume writing and transition from school to work were also filled (two sessions each) with participants throughout the morning. All of our "packaging" experts received advance training from ACB members to ensure that appropriate and candid advice would be given. The wardrobe consultant, for instance, made comments like, "No, that's a good color combination, but you wouldn't want to wear it to an office." Makeup artists gave honest appraisals of whether eyes should be highlighted or not, and hair stylists did everything from teaching styling techniques and suggesting changes to offering basic grooming tips when necessary. Our "interviewer" passed along tips like: "Turn this way for better eye contact," or "Allow your interviewer the chance to speak," as well as offering individualized hints on hand, head, and feet positions for the "capable interviewee" look. The afternoon program brought everyone together to hear a panel of blind professionals representing various careers, and finished with an open discussion of "on-the-job secrets worth sharing." As facilitator, Carl Augusto, Executive Director of Cincinnati Association for the Blind aptly commented, many of us suffer from the "everybody's watching me syndrome." In this informal sharing of experiences, participants examined ways of easing tensions over such things as finding the rest room, the elevator, or the chair, and locating readers or asking for that sometimes needed assistance from colleagues. There were other treats packaged into the weekend. Robert Donley, for instance, the talking book narrator whose track record is second only to that of Alexander Scourby, was our guest speaker for Saturday lunch. Our small press conference Friday afternoon gained some media attention for both ACB and the issue of blind people as reliable employees. For the more than 100 blind participants, one thread connected the weekend's events: Blind and visually impaired people can compete with sighted peers for jobs and corporate success. If we learn to "look as capable as we are" and share techniques with one another, our abilities are indeed equal. (Editor's note: The ACB-O convention/conference planning committee of Deborah Kendrick, Mary Hiland, and Ken Morlock welcome questions from affiliates interested in duplicating this project. Contact ACB of Ohio, P.O. Box 21488, Columbus, Ohio 43221, (614) 221-6688.) ***** ** Tandem Cycling in Holland By Jodi Myers My name is Jodi. I am 28 years old. I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 21 years. Five years ago I lost my eyesight and kidney function due to complications of diabetes. I underwent a kidney transplant, my father being the donor. Last April I had the opportunity to go on a tandem cycling tour of Holland for visually impaired and sighted people. What a beautiful country! I was able to experience Holland through the eyes of my partner. She did a marvelous job of describing the sights to me as we traveled the countryside. Riding a tandem really gave those of us who were visually impaired the opportunity to "see" Holland with our other senses. We made frequent stops to touch and smell the flowers, taste the good food, and listen to the tour guide tell us about the different areas of the country. One day we stopped at a small dairy farm. The young Dutch couple who owned it made their own cheeses. They told us how the cheeses were made and we were treated to a taste of each kind. A young calf suckled my hand, and I was able to hold a black lamb. The country air smelled fresh and clean as we traveled along. Another day we went to a wooden shoe factory where the shoemaker let each of us feel exactly how he was making the shoe. We were able to understand how he made it from a raw piece of wood to the finished product. This was supposedly a one-time tour. When I returned to my home in Ohio, I wanted to provide the opportunity for this experience to other visually impaired people. I saw barriers and inhibitions broken down as visually impaired and sighted people traveled together. I am, therefore, helping the company which provided this tour to organize another one. Let's go on a tandem cycling tour of Holland for visually impaired and sighted people, under the auspices of International Bike Tours. The fantastic eight-day tour will take place August 6-14. Land cost for the tour is $900. This includes accommodations at fine hotels, daily breakfast, three dinners, use of tandems, sightseeing, our famous T-shirt, tips and taxes. Airfare varies depending upon the city of departure. IBT will make all arrangements. Reservations for this tour go quickly, so get in touch with me soon for more information. Call or write Jodi Myers, (419) 625-3758; 637 Cedar Point Road, Sandusky, OH 44870. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop FOR SALE: 300-baud Apple SmartModem (this is a direct-connect modem), with all original cables and manuals. Asking price, $200.00. Contact Isaac Obie, 55 Waverly Avenue, Apt. 210, Watertown, MA 02172; (617) 923-3050. FOR SALE: Apollo CCTV reading machine -- 19-inch diagonal screen; reversible and invertible format. Excellent condition. $900.00 firm. Contact S. Vanderlitz, 5449 Tunis A venue, Las Vegas, NV 89122; (702) 458-4007 (until 8:00 P.M., Pacific time). FOR SALE: VTEK camera and 19-inch monitor -- with table. Very good condition. Asking $600.00. Will negotiate. Call Phyllis at (818) 789-9656. WANTED: Used VTEK reading machine. Please call or write Rosie M. Jackson, 7895 Herrington Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514; (904) 477-1876 (after 3:00 P.M., Monday through Friday). WANTED: Model M8533 GE tape recorder. Contact Dr. Ray Penix, 1901 N. Glenoaks Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91504. FOR SALE: Standard VersaBraille, Model P2C, and Ampro computer — complete with cables, manuals, overlays, and some software. Price $2500.00. Also Optacon, Model R1D, in good working order. $1,200. Call Mary at (716) 244-2658. FOR SALE: Total Talk -- In mint condition. $2,000 or best offer. Price includes braille and print manuals and I/O cable. Contact Rob Mclninch, 16 Harrison Street, Calais, ME 04619; (207) 454-7066. FOR SALE: Votrax speech synthesizer, with serial cable. $375. Contact Rodney Patik, 2368 Tyler Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401; (801) 392-8892 (home), or (801) 626-6637 (work). FOR SALE: VersaBraille Model P2D (cassette-based), with I/O cable, master overlay cassette, and instruction manuals. $3,500, but will negotiate. Also Optacon, Model R1C -- Will require servicing and upgrading. As-is - $500. Kiren Williams, 2379 St. George Drive, Concord, CA 94520; (415) 687-2920 (home); (415) 646-4883 (work). FOR SALE (or possibly trade): Echo II Plus voice synthesizer for Apple computer; also Apple superserial card and parallel interface card; talking software (Documents, Word­Talk, Info, Talking Transcend). Half price or less on all items. Call or write Rod Moag, 1705 Broadway, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; (313) 668-6920. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon With only a short time left before the 50th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating passage of the Wagner O'Day Act in 1938, plans are moving in many directions. The official birthday party is set for June 25, at the Marriott Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia. Features of the celebration include a Congressional reception, development of a documentary film, and issuance of several publications, including a commemorative book. A resolution has been introduced into Congress asking President Ronald Reagan to issue a proclamation for the birthday celebration. From The White Cane Bulletin (Florida): Ted Endicott is legally blind, but that hasn't stopped him from selling more cars, trucks, and vans than any other salesman working for General Motors. Since going to work for Higginbotham Buick, near Casselberry, Florida, in January 1987, Endicott, 57, has set a blistering pace. In his first nine months on the job, he sold 367 vehicles, averaging more than forty a month. "Ten cars a month is the national average," said Higginbotham sales manager, Tom Blanco. "An outstanding salesperson might move twenty a month, but forty a month -- well, that's incredible." When it comes time to filling out paperwork, Endicott lets the customer fill in the blanks. When it comes time to go for a demonstration spin, he lets the customer drive. When it comes time to walk around the lot, he has every nook and cranny memorized. The Florida Division of Blind Services has attained a higher status in that it has recently been organized into three bureaus: the Bureau of Client Services and Program Support, headed by Carl McCoy (former ACB Board member); Bureau of Library Services, headed by Don Webber; and Bureau of Business Enterprises for the Blind, headed by Jack Bassett. By being granted these bureaus, the Division has attained greater status within the Government of the State of Florida. Quik-Scrybe is a rapid and convenient way to have your documents prepared in print, large-print, hard­copy braille, or thermoform braille. Binding is also available. For an informational brochure and price list, contact Ron and Sue Staley, Quik­Scrybe, 333 Berendo Street North, Los Angeles, CA 90004. The President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped will hold its annual meeting May 4-6 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. This annual event provides innovative ideas concerning programs to employ persons with disabilities. There is no registration fee. For information on the purchase of tickets for banquets and luncheons, or for other details, contact PCEH, Suite 636, 1111 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. *** The Helen Keller National Center and other national agencies and organizations have announced the 5th annual celebration of Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, June 26-July 2. The last week of June was first designated Deaf-Blind Awareness Week by Congressional resolution and Presidential signature in 1984, to promote an awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and abilities of deaf-blind Americans. *** The 11th annual conference of the Association on Handicapped Student Service Programs in Postsecondary Education (AHSSPPE) will take place at the Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, July 20-25. For information regarding the conference or AHSSPPE, contact Jane Jarrow, P.O Box 21192, Columbus, OH 43221; (614) 488-4972. The Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind is conducting two camp sessions for adult blind -- July 16-23 and August 20-27. Cost is $110 for seven days at a modern facility in a rural setting. For information, write OHFB Summer Camp, 12757 S.E. Bluff Road, Sandy, OR 97055; (503) 771-8786. *** Highbrook Lodge, the summer camp and outdoor educational facility operated by the Cleveland Society for the Blind in Chardon, Ohio, will open its 60th summer season on June 12. There are separate one- and two-week sessions for various age and ability groups -- visually impaired infants and their parents, elderly and multi-handicapped adults (including the deaf-blind), working-age adults, and teenagers. For applications and details, contact Mrs. Marcia R. Houston, Registrar, Highbrook Lodge, Sight Center, 1909 E. 101 Street, Cleveland, OH 44106; (216) 791-8118. *** Camp Tusmeheta, near Greenville, Michigan, is offering six camping sessions, starting June 26 and ending August 20, for visually impaired children. For more information, contact Fred McGrone, Director, Michigan School for the Blind, 715 W. Willow Street, Lansing, MI 48913. The South Dakota Association for the Blind is sponsoring a craft contest. Your craft idea could be worth a $100 first prize. SDAB is seeking crafts that blind and visually impaired people can do at home, that would be reasonable in cost and done with a minimum of help, with easily obtained materials, and with easily understood instructions. Pictures, if available, and instructions should be included with the entry. Ideas will be shared with all interested parties. Finalists will be asked to submit a completed project. All entries should be sent to: SDAB Gadgetry Committee, 2217 W. 18th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105; (605) 339-6581. Deadline for entries is June 1, 1988. The Capital City Council of the Blind (Baton Rouge, LA) is seeking information regarding states that may have in place a program whereby druggists will attach braille labels to prescription drug bottles. The name and address of a contact person in any state currently providing this service to blind persons, or in any state currently planning such a project, would be appreciated. Contact Mrs. Bonnie M. Giacone, Capital City Council of the Blind, 13040 Norma Court, Baton Rouge, LA 70815. Roy Kumpe, founder and for 31 years Executive Director of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, died September 13, 1987, at age 77. Mr. Kumpe had been active in work with and for blind people since 1939 when he established the Arkansas State Employment Service for the Blind, Inc., an agency which trained and placed blind vendors. This became a model for vending programs throughout the country and led to the establishment in 1947 of the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. Mr. Kumpe was the recipient of such prestigious awards as the Migel Medal and the Shotwell Award. The Alumni Association of the New York State School for the Blind will hold its annual reunion June 17-19 at the Treadway Inn in Batavia. Those who have not attended reunions regularly are particularly encouraged to attend, since this will be the 75th anniversary of the Association. For more information or to pay $3.00 dues and become a member, which will entitle you to receive the Bulletin this year, contact Betty Wiley, 20 Clare Avenue, Albany, NY 12202; (518) 449-7264. The Newsreel is a recorded magazine created entirely by and for visually impaired persons. Each month's issue contains three hours of articles and comments spoken by any of the magazine's 1,000 subscribers who wish to share their knowledge, experiences, or opinions. Topics range from legislation to homemaking, from technology to travel, from careers to guide dogs, and more. A one year's subscription beginning June 1988 costs $10.00. Make checks payable to: The Newsreel, Inc., and send to: The Newsreel Club, 5 East Long Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Specify half-or quarter-track cassette format. Talking book narrator Merwin Smith of Denver, Colorado, is the recipient of the second annual Narrator of the Year Award, established in 1986 by the American Foundation for the Blind to honor the late Alexander Scourby. A veteran television and radio announcer, Mr. Smith has recorded more than 200 books for Talking Books Publishing Company of Denver since 1977. Most often he has narrated mystery and suspense novels, as well as a variety of non-fiction titles. Patricia L. Price, President of the ACB of Indiana and a member of the ACB Board of Directors, was elected Third Vice President of the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) at the organization's annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 1987. Re-elected to the Board was ACB National Representative Oral Miller. A newly elected Board member is Thomas H. Stout of Tucson, Arizona, a member of the Arizona Council of the Blind. ***** ** 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 ###