The Braille Forum Vol. XXVI May-June 1988 No. 6 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 Americans with Disabilities Act -- Equal Opportunity for the Handicapped on the Horizon, by Oral O. Miller Civil Rights Bill Enacted Despite Veto 1988 ACB Convention, A Spectacle to Behold!, by Robert J. Acosta News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Highlights of ACB Winter Board Meeting Chandler Receives Distinguished Francis Joseph Campbell Citation and Medal, by Pat Price Modernizing Braille, by Dana Walker United Jersey Bank Offers Special Investment Services for Blind Optacon II Reading Device for the Blind Descriptive Video Service -- Television for the Blind Justin Dart, Jr., Named "Handicapped American of the Year," by Kathleen Megivern Formal Air Carrier Regulatory Negotiations End, But Interest Continues Paralyzed Veterans of America to Sponsor Fifth Access to the Skies Conference U.S. Department of Education Job Information Available 24 Hours a Day High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens One of the most important objectives of the American Council of the Bind is to advance the employment opportunities of blind and visually impaired persons. Over the years we have pursued this objective through membership resolutions, support of legislation, litigation, and direct advocacy. Special-interest affiliates seek to expand and facilitate participation in a growing number of occupational fields. These include, but are by no means limited to: data processing, business and industry, government service, law, and education. Our state affiliates are also addressing issues of unemployment and under-employment with increasing effectiveness. The comprehensive employment seminar conducted by the ACB of Ohio at its 1987 state convention, and reported recently in The Braille Forum, represents one of the most innovative approaches to the employment issue. The Ohio seminar should serve as a model for other programs, both state and national, and merits strong commendation. Today blind people are working in a wider variety of jobs than ever before, and opportunities for advancement are increasing. This is not to minimize the problems of unemployment and under-employment still facing many blind persons throughout the United States. Negative attitudes and discriminatory practices persist. Nevertheless, in spite of the disturbing statistics often cited, blind persons are entering the work force in increasing numbers. Accurate statistics in this area are hard to find. To my knowledge, no comprehensive, up-to-date, nationwide survey has been conducted focusing on the employment status of blind and visually impaired persons. From the fragmentary information available, however, we may challenge some of the sweeping generalizations widely published in recent years. For example, while it may be true that as many as two-thirds of all blind adults between the ages of 18 and 65 do not hold jobs, it is misleading to compare this percentage with the official unemployment rate, which is limited to those who indicate that they are actively seeking work. When we consider only those persons who are included in the work force, the figure (based on the rough estimates currently available to us) is in the neighborhood of 15 percent, not 65 to 70 percent. Obviously, even 15 percent is far too high, when compared to the official unemployment rate for the entire work force, which was recently reported to be 5.4 percent. However, the problem is not as overwhelming as an unexplained reference to the two-thirds figure would indicate. In addressing the problems of unemployment and under-employment, we need more detailed and accurate information. How many blind persons who are not actively seeking work would be in the work force if they were sighted? I am sure that the number is substantial, but in what ways does it differ from the comparable percentage in the entire population? How many blind persons have dropped out of the labor force because of discouragement, discrimination, or disincentives to employment? A more accurate profile of this population group should enable us to address the problem more effectively. We also need more specific and comprehensive information on the growing number and variety of jobs currently held by blind persons. We need to publicize examples of successful job performance far more widely than we have done in the past. This information should be shared not only within the blindness field, but with employers, labor unions, college placement offices, and employment agencies. With our continuing commitment to the advancement of employment opportunities, the American Council of the Blind can play an important part in addressing such practical problems in this critically important area. In recent weeks, I have had an opportunity to observe first-hand ACB's impressive growth at local and state levels. On May 3, I met with the recently organized Morristown chapter of the Tennessee Council of the Blind. With more than 100 members, this chapter is actively engaged in a number of community service and recreational projects. On May 13 I participated in an imaginative consumer-oriented seminar on blindness and visual impairment sponsored by the Chattahoochee Valley Chapter of the Alabama Council of the Blind. Funded in part by a mini-grant from Columbus College, this seminar was well attended by blind persons in the local community. On May 14-15, it was my pleasure to attend the annual convention of the Louisiana Council of the Blind held this year in Lafayette. More than 140 persons attended this well-planned meeting. The Louisiana Council has an active legislative agenda and is taking important initiatives on such issues as employment, library services, and braille instruction in the classroom. The 1988 national convention promises to be one of our largest and most interesting. I look forward to visiting with many of our members and friends during convention week, July 2-9. ***** ** Americans with Disabilities Act -- Equal Opportunity for the Handicapped on the Horizon By Oral O. Miller National Representative The hearing room in the Russell Senate Office Building was jammed with people that Friday afternoon of April 29, 1988, when Senator Lowell Weicker (R. - CT) announced to the crowd -- which by that time had overflowed into the corridor -- that the Americans with Disabilities Act had been introduced that day in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This bill (registered in the Senate as S. 2345 and in the House of Representatives as H.R. 4498) is the most comprehensive and ambitious legislative effort ever made to eliminate discrimination against handicapped people in the areas of accessibility, employment, housing, public accommodations, travel, communications, and activities of state and local governments. Unlike previous anti­discrimination efforts, this bill, generally speaking, does not apply just to recipients of federal funds; rather, it relies on most of the jurisdictional requirements of established civil rights statutes. For example, in the area of employment, it would cover the activities of employers engaged in commerce who have fifteen or more employees. In the area of housing, it would cover housing providers covered by existing Federal fair housing laws. It specifically defines discrimination, including various types of intentional and unintentional exclusion, segregation; inferior or less effective services, benefits or activities; failing to make reasonable accommodations; and discriminatory qualification and performance standards. It also specifies various actions that do not constitute discrimination. These include unequal treatment wholly unrelated to a disability, or that which is the result of legitimate application of qualifications and performance standards, necessarily and substantially related to the ability to perform or participate in the essential components of a job or activity. Implementation of the Act would be accomplished through regulations issued by the appropriate Federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of Justice, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, etc. It will not repeal Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all regulations issued thereunder. Enforcement procedures include administrative remedies, a private right of action in Federal Court, monetary damages, injunctive relief, and the cut-off of Federal funds. In the past, Congress (which employs approximately 14,000 people) has exempted itself from the coverage of many non-discrimination laws. Accordingly, there was an enthusiastic reaction at the press conference surrounding the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act when Senator Weicker announced that he intends to introduce an amendment which would subject Congress also to the coverage of the Act. He then expressed the hope that the bill would be passed into law within one year. Congressman Tony Coelho (D.-CA), one of the principal sponsors in the House of Representatives, said: "We are trying to do something for the largest minority group in the United States of America. There are 36 million of us who are disabled, who feel that we should have our rights protected, also. We are basically the only minority group that doesn't have the basic civil rights, and we feel that Americans who are disabled can be as productive, and are as productive, as any other American, if given our full opportunities. As one who has epilepsy, and as one who has suffered discrimination in the past, I know what it is when people try to tell you that you can't do something instead of giving you the opportunity to see if you can do something." Senator Tom Harkin (D.-IA), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Handicapped, and a principal sponsor of the bill in the Senate, commended the National Council of the Handicapped for drafting the bill and then said: "In the past, we took a giant stride attempting to end all discrimination against persons on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin, but that's where it ended." Senator John Chaffee (R.-RI) said: "This isn't very complicated. It is a declaration of independence for those with disabilities, to the effect that every single person with a disability should have the opportunity to achieve his or her fullest potential." Finally, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy (D.-MA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Labor and Human Resources Committee, said, in part: "I have learned in the last few years, if I didn't know it before from my own son, that being disabled doesn't mean being unable, and that there is no goal or no rainbow that cannot or should not be reached, or which those who are physically or mentally challenged should be excluded from having an opportunity to reach, every possible way." Mrs. Sandra Swift Parrino, Chairperson of the National Council on the Handicapped, said, in part: "This is the beginning of the end of discrimination for people with disabilities. ... This is a movement whose time has come, and we are pleased that it has been introduced into this Congress, because we perceive your willingness to look with favor on opening the doors of opportunity to all people with disabilities." Senator Harkin closed the press conference with an announcement that he will begin conducting hearings on this bill this summer and thereafter move it as rapidly as possible. While we may not be optimistic enough to believe that the Americans with Disabilities Act will be adopted into law in its present form within the next year, it is, nevertheless, the most comprehensive effort ever made to eliminate most types of discrimination against handicapped people. This issue, which will be discussed further in future articles in The Braille Forum, will be the principal Federal legislative issue covered at the 1988 ACB National Convention Legislative Workshop. The American Council of the Blind has agreed to serve as a member of the recently established Task Force on the Rights and Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities, being chaired by Justin Dart, Jr., former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. This task force was set up at the request of Representative Major R. Owens (D.-NY), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Select Education, for the purpose of gathering evidence of broad-based discrimination against handicapped people. Such evidence will be used in connection with efforts to obtain passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as other appropriate legislation. During the summer and fall of 1988, Mr. Dart, as Chairman of the Task Force, plans to visit every state to meet with disabled people. In order to assure that the concerns of blind people are considered, the ACB National Office will communicate with all ACB affiliates regarding Mr. Dart's schedule and itinerary. All affiliates will be urged to cooperate with him. In view of the complexity of this bill and the opposition it is expected to receive, this is going to be a difficult and long-term effort. As old-time radio announcers were fond of saying, "Stay tuned for further developments." ***** ** Civil Rights Bill Enacted Despite Veto (Reprinted from AER Report, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, April 1988) It was a long and difficult struggle, but civil rights advocates have finally succeeded in passing the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the legislation which had come to be known as the "Grove City" bill, because it was intended to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Grove City College v. Bell. You may remember that we have reported on this bill many times, because, despite early bipartisan support, it got tangled up with "pro-choice" and the "right-to-life" movements, the kiss of death for any legislation. Finally, this year, compromise language was worked out and the bill began to move. It was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate with large majorities. (See The Braille Forum, March-April, 1988.) Yet, despite the lopsided votes, President Reagan decided to veto the bill. What happened next may be the classic case of "over-reaching," a valuable lesson for any group that tries to affect decision-makers in Washington. The moral majority and other right-wing religious groups put out the word to lobby Congress and the Senate to sustain the President's veto. Congressional offices reported being flooded with telephone calls, Capitol switchboards were jammed. The message was the same in nearly every instance: "This bill would require religious schools to hire homosexual drug addicts with AIDS." Their efforts to use these highly emotional issues seem to have backfired. Republican Senators who might have considered voting with the President were angered and alienated by this vicious campaign of obvious lies (the bill makes no mention of sexual preferences, nor is it any different in its language than the President's version on the issue of contagious diseases). An so, despite an early filibuster by Senators Orrin Hatch (R.-UT) and Jessie Helms (R.-NC), and despite a four-day recess full of high-pressure lobbying efforts, both houses had the two-thirds necessary to override the President's veto. This is undoubtedly not the last we will hear about the Grove City bill, because Vice President Bush, after being hounded by reporters for days to announce a position, finally announced his support for the President's veto. Since this was considered by advocates to be the most important civil rights legislation in twenty years, the Vice President's support of the veto could well become a campaign issue in the coming weeks and months. It now becomes the law of the land that if one department of a university or agency accepts Federal dollars, the entire institution is considered a recipient of Federal financial aid and therefore becomes subject to anti-discrimination laws such as Section 504, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap. ***** ** 1988 ACB Convention, A Spectacle to Behold! By Robert J. Acosta ACB Convention Coordinator It was once said, "All roads lead to Rome." Today, in work for the blind, all roads will lead to Little Rock, Arkansas, site of the 27th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, July 1-9. We hope that by the time you read this article, you will have completed your plans to attend this week-long spectacular. May we remind any of you, however, who have decided at the last minute to come to Little Rock that Northridge Travel Service is ACB' s official travel agency for 1988, and American Airlines is the official air carrier. We will appreciate your asking Northridge Travel to make your airline reservations for the convention, since this makes it possible for ACB to receive complimentary airline tickets. You may contact Northridge Travel Service as follows: outside California, call 1-800-842-8880; inside California, call 1-800-523-4396. Please ask for Helen or Joan. Room rates per night at the four convention hotels (for singles, doubles, triples, or quads) are as follows: the Excelsior (the headquarters hotel), $40.00; the Camelot, $35.00; the Riverfront Hilton, $33.00; the Capital, $49.00. Shuttle service will be provided. Make hotel reservations directly with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau by calling (501) 376-4781, Extension 1139, during normal business hours. IMPORTANT: Reservations cannot be made directly with any of the four hotels, since rooms have been blocked in advance for ACB by the Convention Bureau. Some subjects are always important; some subjects vary in importance, depending on circumstances; and some subjects need to be revisited and updated from time to time. A brief listing of just a few of the subjects and presenters to be included in the formal program at the general session of the ACB convention each morning will reinforce these truths and whet the appetite for even more: "Blindness, Blackness, the Struggle for Human Dignity and the Pursuit of the American Dream," by Dr. H. Gregory Davis, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; "Latest Developments Regarding Library Services for the Blind," by Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; "Election Campaigns with a Twist - What Works and What Doesn't," by Jerry Russell, President, Campaign Consultants, Inc.; "Fifty Years - Landmark for the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program," by John L. Granger, Executive Vice President, Royal Maid Association for the Blind, Inc.; "American Printing House for the Blind: A Unique and Historic Business," by Dr. Carson E. Nolan, Director, American Printing House for the Blind; "Access to Air Travel by the Blind," by Matthew Scocozza, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International of Affairs, U.S. Department Transportation; "Am I an Editor, a Teacher, a Musician, or a Businessman?", by Edward L. Potter, Editor, Playback magazine; "TV for the Blind — Descriptive Video Service," by Cody E. and Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl, The Washington Ear, and Dr. Barry Cronin, Director of Communications, WGBH TV, Boston; "Government Contracts Should Mean More Employment for Blind People," by Jerry Blakemore, Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program, U.S. Department of Labor; and "Future Communication: More Than Talking on the Telephone," by Tom Barry, Vice President for Revenue and Public Affairs, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. If his schedule will permit it, the convention will also be addressed by United States Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas. In addition to the impressive range of exhibits which have become a highlight and drawing card at each ACB convention, over twenty special-interest organizations will be holding conferences and seminars. Without question, there will be something of interest for everyone. Over the years, more and more agencies and companies involved in work for the blind are making generous contributions to ACB's national convention effort. Once again is year, VTEK is sponsoring the hospitality room. A representative of The Seeing Eye, Inc., has given invaluable assistance in developing the dog guide exercise areas at the four convention hotels. And, as you already know from Braille Forum articles and from pre-registration, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, of Sylmar, California, is underwriting the catfish fry and barbecue scheduled on Wednesday evening, July 6. Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind is also assisting with needed equipment and personnel. We wish to thank all concerned for their generosity and assistance in ensuring the success of this year's convention. The thing to do and the place to be on Friday night, July 8, is the ACB Annual Banquet. Featured speaker will be Mr. Jim Bohannon, host of Mutual Broadcasting System's "Jim Bohannon Show" and "America in the Morning," heard coast to coast. Braille Forum readers will remember the competent manner in which Mr. Bohannon interviewed ACB's National Representative, Oral Miller, a couple of years ago. So be sure to include the ACB Banquet when making your plans for Convention Week and hear Mr. Bohannon's stimulating, thought-provoking address. At present, the National Convention Committee is in the process of developing proposals for possible con­vention sites for 1990. The Convention Coordinator must present from two to four proposals to the ACB Board of Directors at the pre-convention Board meeting. Then, on July 7, these proposals will be presented to the membership from the floor of the convention. Be sure to watch for bid parties throughout Convention Week. In conclusion, I wish personally to thank each member of the National Convention Committee and everyone connected with the planning of this year's convention for their hours of dedication and hard work. Also, along with the numerous activities of Convention Week, we must all remember not to lose sight of the major purpose which is central to our work on behalf of blind people. Critical decisions will be made on the convention floor which may affect our lives for years to come. Let us all come together in Little Rock, therefore, and help lay plans for a brighter future for all blind and visually impaired persons. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative The traditional gold watch or similar memento is intended to remind a retiree of his years of service with an employer -- if such a reminder is, in fact, necessary. However, it is deeds and actions by which people are best remembered. And how are those deeds best symbolized when they are far, far too numerous to be written down? One appropriate way is to remember that person by naming an important place in his honor. It was the distinct pleasure of all members of the ACB National Office staff to attend such an event recently when the American Foundation for the Blind honored its long-time Director of Governmental Affairs, Irvin P. Schloss, by dedicating its beautiful Washington office conference room in his honor and unveiling an impressive portrait of him on the occasion. It has been my personal pleasure, and that of many other members of American Council of the Blind, as well as staff and Board members, to work closely with Irv Schloss and consult with him on many issues over the years. Indeed, there were few others on Capitol Hill with Irv and me during the fall of 1986 as we fought to retain the additional income tax exemption available to blind people until the end of that year. The blindness field is fortunate that the young man to whom Irv will be passing the torch of dedication upon retirement later this year is quite known to most ACB members -- Jon Scott Marshall, Esq. Do you believe it is possible check one index or computerized database to determine whether a particular book has ever been recorded or transcribed into braille in the United States? If so, you are wrong! Indeed, it is possible for a group to devote countless hours to producing a book and then to discover that the book has already been transcribed or recorded. No, not even by checking the impressive and growing records of organizations such as the American Printing House for the Blind or the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped can you be sure that work is not being duplicated. Why? Because there is currently no system available anywhere that registers every book that is transcribed into braille or recorded by all of the organizations and individuals doing such work. These facts and many others were brought home to me during my participation in a recent and very intensive workshop put together by a task force made up of representatives from such organizations as the American Printing House for the Blind, the National Braille Association, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, American Foundation for the Blind, Recording for the Blind, and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. One of the actions taken by the ad hoc committee to improve this situation was the establishment of a more formal and ongoing coordinating vehicle to be identified as the Coalition for Information Access for Print Handicapped Readers, of which the American Council of the Blind is a member. A working meeting of the full coalition, which is made up of ten member organizations, is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., June 16-17, 1988. ACB is scheduled to be represented at that meeting by Jim Doherty of Washington, D.C. What recent addition to the English language describes a very serious medical condition and frequently strikes fear whenever it is heard? It is the acronym for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome," or AIDS. Why do I mention this? Because a very high percentage of people who acquire AIDS have serious visual problems or become blind during the course of the illness and, therefore, need services designed for blind people. This means that many service providers, especially private ones, must have realistic policies for dealing with such requests and providing such services. One of the most interesting and educational workshops attended by ACB National Office staff in recent years dealt with the unique problems connected with this terrible illness. What is the value of national political platforms? People differ on this subject. Almost everyone agrees, however, that every opportunity should be taken to influence the wording of national platforms in the most favorable way. Accordingly, the American Council of the Blind was pleased recently to accept an invitation from the Republican National Committee to attend a non-partisan meeting of disability rights organization representatives for the purpose of providing input to be considered by the party in the drafting of its official platform for 1988. Although the discussions were kept on a general level, the issue emphasized most specifically by the ACB National Representative was the employment and upward mobility difficulties encountered by many blind and visually impaired people. We hope the Democratic National Committee will follow a similar course and devote similar attention to the concerns of handicapped people. No, we are not naive enough to believe that such meetings will automatically and immediately cause all politicians to remember and implement their campaign platforms following election to office, but perhaps they will help a little. International guests frequently the ACB National Office. Seldom are they as interested and motivated Mr. Leonard Nolte, President of Swedish Federation of the Blind, and the other nine members of his staff or board who visited the National Office in early April. They were here as part of a three-week tour in this country, during which they met with and observed many organizations, firms, governmental agencies, and educational institutions providing services to blind and visually impaired people. Interest in services in Sweden and meeting our international guests was underscored by the large number people from the Washington, D.C., area who attended a reception in the National Office. Indeed, at times there were people "wall to wall." Many vocational and rehabilitation services provided in this country by state agencies, or by private agencies receiving state funding, are provided in other countries by national consumer organizations receiving large amounts of government funding. That is one of the reasons why many consumer organizations in other countries are comparable in some ways to American agencies providing services to blind and visually impaired people. Radio reading service listeners will have an opportunity to hear the interview which Laura Oftedahl did with Leonard Nolte for an upcoming program of "ACB Reports," which is aired on approximately 100 radio reading services throughout the country. When was the last time you met a real, live, reigning queen? For me it happened on April 12, 1988, when I met Queen Sylvia of Sweden. She and the King were in the United States in connection with celebration of the 350-year anniversary of the landing of the first Swedes in the New World. The Queen was the honored guest at a Capitol Hill luncheon hosted by the National Council on the Handicapped and attended by members of the diplomatic corps, plus representatives of disability organizations in the Washington area. Queen Sylvia -- a tall, pretty lady of German birth -- is very supportive of services and programs for the benefit of handicapped people and is one of the important reasons why Sweden plays a major role in international programs impacting on handicapped people. At various times over the years, Swedish disability organization staff members, such as the late Anders Arnour, the former Secretary-General of the World Blind Union, have volunteered, with the strong support and cooperation of their employers, to administer the programs of international organizations that could not otherwise afford to pay for such services. At the same luncheon, it was my pleasure also to meet the new President of Gallaudet University, which had just received an enormous amount of media attention a few days earlier. Among other recent international visitors to the ACB National Office were Mr. David Akunji, a blind post­graduate student from Nigeria, and Mr. Goran Samuelson and Ms. Katrina Hallingberg, Swedish magazine reporters seeking information concerning services for the blind and the activities of membership organizations in the United States. Meeting with a state affiliate during its annual convention is similar in some ways to getting a battery charged! I received such a welcome "charge" during the convention of the Arizona Council of the Blind in Tucson. The well-rounded program included a tour of the Arizona School for the Blind, a tour of the Tucson Association for the Blind, and a number of timely presentations -- including one by a staff member of the State Attorney-General outlining why the solution to many discrimination cases is available on the state rather than the Federal level. I want to commend the Arizona Council for its determination to establish a viable chapter in Tucson. ***** ** Highlights of ACB Winter Board Meeting The Winter 1988 Board meeting of the American Council of the Blind was held on Saturday, January 23, at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas. All officers and nine of the ten directors were present. In his President's report, Otis Stephens emphasized the importance of developing innovative ideas for serving ACB members more effectively. He noted that ACB's financial position is gradually improving, but pointed out that we must continue to diversify sources of financial support and to recognize, in addition to Thrift Store income, the importance of individual and affiliate contributions as well as the Combined Federal Campaign. He commented on the growing support for the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped within the blindness field, and on ACB's important role in mobilizing consumer support of, and participation in, the accreditation process. A motion was unanimously passed authorizing the President to appoint a committee to explore additional ways in which ACB may advance the objectives of accreditation. The Convention Coordinator, Robert Acosta, gave a detailed report on plans for the 1988 convention in Little Rock and the 1989 convention to be held in Richmond, Virginia. Convention Guidelines were amended to include the Convention Coordinator as a member of the Convention Program Committee and to strengthen ACB's commitment to ensure that convention facilities are fully accessible to our members. It was noted that space is provided on the convention registration form to indicate special needs, and the importance of communicating such needs was stressed. By unanimous motion, it decided that a $5.00 convention administration fee would be charged each person attending the 1988 convention. National Representative Oral Miller reported on the uncertain status of regulatory negotiations aimed at implementing the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986. He also updated the Board on ACB's participation in the ongoing effort to prevent the Defense Department from eroding the Randolph-Sheppard program by entering into retail food contracts with McDonald's and Burger King. Mr. Miller also indicated progress in the implementation of resolutions adopted by the 1987 convention. In his report, Chris Gray, Chairman of the Board of Publications, included a recommendation that a special post-convention issue of The Braille Forum be added as soon as funds permit. He reported progress on the preparation of a series of position papers reflecting ACB policy on various issues. Mary Ballard, Editor of The Braille Forum, reported on efforts to update the convention master mailing list. A printout containing a list of all members certified in 1987 is being mailed to each affiliate, along with a memorandum of instructions over the signature of the National Representative. It is essential that each affiliate check this list carefully, note all deletions, changes and corrections, append an additions list of new members, and return it promptly. Only in this way can ACB's master mailing list be conformed to individual affiliate membership lists and duplications and other errors eliminated. Roberta Douglas, Director of Development, reported significant growth in ACB's income through the Combined Federal Campaign. Although individual contributions have increased substantially, she noted that the percentage of contributors among members remains comparatively small. Several grant proposals have been submitted and are currently pending. The possibility of an ACB credit card is being explored. Treasurer LeRoy Saunders reported that ACB maintained a balanced budget in 1987, retired $29,000 of outstanding debt, and did not borrow additional money. Charles Hodge, Chairman of the Budget Committee, reviewed revenue and expenditures for 1987 and proposed a budget for 1988, consistent with these figures. With minor modification, the budget was adopted. It contains provisions for debt retirement, for the partial restoration of cuts in ACB staff salaries, and partial restoration of the Washington Connection through ACB's toll-free 800 number. Grant Mack reported that the Membership Committee has been working to establish a new special­interest organization of piano technicians. Organization of state affiliates is under way in Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Carla Franklin reported on plans to establish a Junior Division of ACB. Some programming for young people, both visually impaired and sighted children of blind members, should be available at the 1988 convention. Assistance and suggestions are welcome. M.J. Schmitt presented the report of the Scholarship Committee. Seven scholarships will be awarded in 1988. Four of these are Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships. In addition, the Melva T. Owen, VTEK, and two Corey scholarships will be awarded. Additional convention business included the election of Calvin Wooten to replace Delbert Aman on the Board of ACB Enterprises and Services. The pre-convention Board meeting was scheduled for Saturday, July 2, at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. ***** ** Chandler Receives Distinguished Francis Joseph Campbell Citation & Medal By Pat Price Just as the Biblical John the Baptist cried in the wilderness, so James G. Chandler, of College Park, Maryland, has for some twenty years enthusiastically and aggressively voiced his belief that every human being, regardless of visual limitation, deserves the God-given right to have easy access to basic educational tools, including the use of reference materials, skimming printed publications, and studying from key words. His total commitment to this goal led him to the development of Voice-Indexing, a unique and innovative procedure which makes it possible for visually impaired and blind students, professionals in many fields, and individuals in all walks of life to achieve personal and vocational goals otherwise unattainable. Mr. Chandler's persuasive persistence, more than any other factor, made possible not only the development of recording equipment by several leading manufacturers, but also the voice-indexed edition of the Concise Heritage Dictionary that has been prepared by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This publication, as well as those Mr. Chandler has produced himself and assisted other individuals in the United States and throughout the world to produce, has opened the door to a multitude of vocational opportunities in numerous areas of endeavor. Voice-Indexing is truly a tool for independence. It benefits blind and low vision college, university, and secondary school students, adults who never stop learning, and rehabilitation clients seeking meaningful employment. James G. Chandler is undoubtedly a living example of a dedicated man who has given extensively of himself -- his personal resources, energies, and finances -- to assure visually impaired persons have complete access to the printed page. He has significantly sensitized the world to the importance of this type of accessibility. It, therefore, did not surprise this writer or his myriad of friends to learn that Jim Chandler has been chosen the 1988 recipient of the distinguished Francis Joseph Campbell Citation and Medal given by the American Library Association to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for the blind. We extend our congratulations to this marvelously caring gentleman as he joins the illustrious ranks of previous recipients, including Robert S. Bray (1968), Alexander Scourby (1970), Senator Jennings Randolph (1974), Richard Kinney (1978), Frank Kurt Cylke & NLS/BPH Staff (1982), Raymond C. Kurzweil (1983), and Maxine B. Dorf (1984). ***** ** Modernizing Braille By Dana Walker Should the braille code be revised? Braille had been revised periodically since its adoption as the standard written communication form for blind persons. The last major revisions were a few decades ago. Minor revisions to American braille were adopted a few years ago. This fall the braille authorities of English-speaking countries will meet in London to consider revising the code again. They will try to standardize English braille and make it meet the needs of today's readers. How many times, after all, do you need to write "rjc" for "rejoice"? And how many times have you found yourself laboriously writing out a common word like "exceptionalities" -- taking an extraordinary fourteen cells? Just as braille had to be changed to meet the needs of the computer age, literary braille has to be brought up-to-date. One of the proposed systems for modernizing braille is the Braille User-Oriented Code (BUOC), developed by Australian linguist Rebecca Maxwell. BUOC is an amazingly simple code based on mnemonic devices that make it easy to learn. ACB’s National Representative Oral Miller says of the code: "It is similar in many ways to the type of personal shorthand or abbreviations which most braille users develop over the years in the interest of speed and space." BUOC, being a system, is easier to read back than ad hoc abbreviations. BUOC builds on the Grade 2 braille with which we are already familiar. To the code are added three prefixes, twenty suffixes, 82 contractions like "mb" for "maybe" and "achv" for "achieve." In addition, there are eleven dot 4 contractions, like dot-4-ar for "arrange"; nine dots 4-5 contractions, like dots 4-5-ch for "change"; seven dot 5 contractions, like dot 5-8 for "important"; and fifteen dots 4-5-6 contractions, like dots 4-5-6-t for "travel." This adds up to many fewer items to be memorized than are required by Grade 3 braille. In addition, BUOC makes some braille rules more flexible. Negation of common verbs is one example. In Grade 2, to write "haven't" requires six cells. In BUOC, it can be written in two -- h followed by an apostrophe, to indicate negation. Since the contractions are for the commonest words, prefixes and suffixes, a long word like "personality" can be written in four cells, as can its plural. This simple, easy-to-learn code has the potential for increasing production of braille books. Since BUOC provides more information per fingerful, it also has the potential to increase braille readership by making reading braille more like reading print. At the American Council of the Blind convention in Little Rock, Rebecca Maxwell will conduct workshops in BUOC every afternoon in the Vinson Room. She will have volumes of short stories in BUOC for you to read. If you are a good braille reader, you will want to try your skills at picking up this mnemonic code. If you aren’t a good braille reader, come by anyway. BUOC makes braille so easy that you may surprise yourself. ***** ** United Jersey Bank Offers Specialized Investment Services for Blind United Jersey Bank's Investment Management Division now offers a variety of options to help meet the needs of its blind and visually impaired customers. The project was conceived and initiated by Steven Stern, Vice President and Portfolio Manager. "A few months ago," he relates, "I was preparing a statement for a visually impaired client. This involved the use of large-type face and is generally a nuisance. Worse than the nuisance was the fact that my client would still have trouble reading the statement. Worse still was the fact that I was unable to use this method for sending notes, letters, and journal articles that I also usually send UJB's clients; that for my blind clients, even this, the large type, was useless, and that they would have to seek outside assistance in monitoring their own accounts. "I decided rather than dictate letters for my secretary to type, I would simply 'talk' my letters directly to the client. This was the beginning of our 'Investment Management Services for the Blind' program. The program now also includes taped seminars on financial topics as well as other amenities." Unique to UJB's specially tailored program is the use of “talking letters” — audio cassettes prepared by the Bank’s investment and administrative officers. At the request of the client, all Investment Management Division correspondence (including a monthly account summary) is recorded and sent on cassette tapes. A typed transcript is sent along with the tapes for the client’s attorney, accountant, or family. This service and attendant equipment are available to all clients at no additional cost. Financial services offered by UJB's Investment Management Division include estate planning and complete investment management. The Division also provides bill-paying services and assistance in the preparation of tax returns and estimated tax payments for both Federal and state. Two trust officers are assigned to each account: an investment officer is responsible for the full portfolio management of the client's assets, while an administrative officer handles all bill-paying, tax work, standard disbursements, and other non-investment-oriented services. Trust officers meet with their clients in their homes at least semi-annually, and more often if requested. No additional charges are incurred by the client when utilizing the Bank's special services for the blind and visually impaired. United Jersey Banks is a Princeton, New Jersey-based multi-bank holding company with $8.2 million in assets and 195 branches located throughout the state. The Investment Management Division actively manages $1.0 billion of client assets throughout the United States and internationally. For further information concerning UJB's "Investment Management Services for the Blind” program, contact Steven D. Stern (609) 987-3688 or Len LoDico (609) 987-3685, United Jersey Bank, 90 Nassau Street, CN 5217, Princeton, NJ 08543-5217. ***** ** Optacon II Reading Device for the Blind Telesensory Systems, Inc. (TSI), of Mountain View, California, and Canon, Inc., of Tokyo, Japan, are pleased to announce the first American-Japanese cooperative development of a reading device for blind persons. The Optacon II is a major breakthrough over the original Optacon which was introduced 17 years ago. The Optacon is a small, portable reading device which converts printed information into a tactile image which can be read by the index finger of a blind person. Tactile reading for the blind was proved effective through research at Stanford University and Stanford Research Institute in the 1960's. TSI was formed in 1970 to manufacture and market the Optacon, and now there are over 11,000 original Optacons in use in more than 70 countries. Because of the unique reading method employed, the Optacon can be used with virtually any alphabet and language. The new Optacon II represents four years of research design and development by a team of Japanese and American engineers. A major improvement achieved in the Optacon II is that it can be connected directly to a personal computer, providing the reader access to vast amounts of electronic information. This feature permits computer-assisted training using special software. In addition, compared to its predecessor, Optacon II has roughly one-half the weight and volume, functionally and aesthetically improved packaging, newer electronic components, user-changeable batteries, improved serviceability, and reduced price. Like the original Optacon, it will be manufactured in the United States. The first public showing of Optacon II took place March 15-16 at Canon's 50th anniversary celebration, "Canon Expo '88," in New York City. Also at this event a special Optacon financing program was announced. This program will offer very low-interest loans to blind individuals in the United States purchasing the Optacon II. Canon USA is providing the total subsidy for this program. For further information, contact Anne Leahy or Paul Lewis, Telesensory Systems, Inc., 455 North Bernardo, Mountain View, CA 94043; (415) 960-0920. ***** ** Descriptive Video Service Television for the Blind On January 18, Public Television began a nine-market test of a new service designed to help 11.4 million blind and limited-vision Americans enjoy television more fully. The Descriptive Video Service (DVS) consists of narrated descriptions of a program’s key visual elements. DVS uses a special audio channel available on stereo TVs to deliver brief information about action, settings, body language, costumes, and lighting readily apparent to sighted viewers. DVS service began with the premier of the seventh season of AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE: a three-part presentation of Eugene O'Neill's "Strange Interlude." Initially DVS will be offered by Public Television stations in nine cities: Washington, D.C., Boston, Lewiston (ME), New York, Rochester (NY), Cleveland, Bowling Green (OH), Dallas, and Milwaukee. It is expected that DVS will be offered on additional Public TV stations in more cities by the end of 1988. DVS is a joint project of WGBH, AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE, PBS, and the Washington Ear, the Washington, D.C.-based radio reading service. "DVS reaches out to a community of viewers who until now have been kept from enjoying all that television has to offer," commented Bruce Christensen, President of the Public Broadcasting Service. "I am confident that DVS will be to the blind what the PBS-developed closed-captioning system is to the deaf -- a unique way for special viewers to share with others the excitement of the most powerful communications medium in the world." A 1976 study from the American Foundation for the Blind found that the blind and limited-vision community watches up to six hours of television every day, with average daily viewing of 2.5 hours. It is estimated that blind people can fully appreciate only 50 percent of most TV programs. Audio descriptions for TV programs were first conceived in the early 1980's by Cody and Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, herself blind, experimented with descriptions to accompany Public TV's NOVA and AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE. While the Pfanstiehls had been successful in bringing audio description techniques to theaters, museums, and exhibits (including Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty), the technology then available did not allow for the efficient and simultaneous broadcast of a program and DVS. Direct stereo TV broadcasting (first undertaken by Public TV Station WTTW Chicago in 1984) provided the technology that DYS demanded. Besides stereo, the new multi-channel sound (MTS) technology offered another audio stream called the second audio program (SAP) channel. It was with this SAP channel that WGBH in 1985 began to experiment with DVS. During June and July 1986, WGBH, with a. small grant from the Easter Seal's Research Foundation, tested five episodes of MYSTERY!: "Partners in Crime," with DVS. About forty blind volunteers gathered at three viewing sites in the Boston area to view the programs and to evaluate the descriptions. Among their suggestions was that blind viewers could benefit most if DVS was used with drama. DVS will be brought into the home via the SAP channel, which can be turned on with the flick of a switch on stereo TVs. There are already 9.2 million stereo TV sets in the country, and another 5.3 million are projected to be sold this year, according to the Electronic Industries Association. For TVs without stereo, adapters may be purchased for $100 to $200. If the SAP channel is turned off during a DVS program, the viewer will hear only the regular audio. If the SAP channel is on, the viewer will hear both the program audio and the DVS descriptions. Audio descriptions will be transmitted only during pauses in a program’s regular dialogue. This blending will have no effect on normal stereo and closed-caption reception. "The describer’s job is to be a color camera, not an interpreter of the action," Pfanstiehl said. It will take 30 to 40 hours to create an hour’s worth of DVS. The goal is to bring the hourly cost of DVS to well under $1,000 and to have three to five hours of DVS programming available each week by the end of the year. By contrast, closed captions for the hearing impaired cost about $2,700 per one-hour program. ***** ** Justin Dart, Jr., Named "Handicapped American of the Year" By Kathleen Megivern What strange times we live in, when one quasi-governmental agency chooses to give its highest award to a man who was not so long ago fired by another agency of the same government. Justin Dart, Jr., who was forced to resign last November as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, was recently honored as “Handicapped American of the Year” by the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. This formal recognition is just the latest indication of the tremendous respect and affection for Justin Dart across the entire disability community (with perhaps one obvious exception). A few months ago, as I sat at yet another Congressional hearing investigating management problems at the Office of Special Education and Rehahilitative Services (OSERS), I couldn't help but notice the genuine warmth which greeted Justin Dart as he entered the hearing room. Lobbyists, witnesses, Congressional staff — each was more eager than the other to convey their good wishes to this extraordinary man. And so, of course, the honor of Handicapped American of the Year seems most fitting. Meanwhile, what's happening at RSA? A new Commissioner has been selected: Susan Suter of Illinois. Before she was even formally in the job, Mrs. Suter convened a meeting with representatives of over 30 disability-related organizations. She seems determined to repair some of the damage done over the last few months, and her first line of emphasis will be to keep all lines of communication as open as possible. In a recent speech to the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, Commissioner Suter said: "I am not Justin Dart, but I intend to pick up where he left off." At the moment, there is a tremendous amount of goodwill, with all sides seeming eager for a respite from the "civil wars" of recent times. Since Mrs. Suter comes to RSA from her position as Director of Office of Rehabilitation Services in Illinois, she starts out with the support of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. Of course, Justin Dart had their support, too, but it wasn't enough. Perhaps more significantly -- at the moment, anyways she seems to also have the support of Mrs. Madeleine Will. Rumors are abundant in this town, but in an administration where symbols have often been far more important than substance, it was undoubtedly significant that Mrs. Will cordially introduced Mrs. Suter at the recent meeting of disability advocates and then she left the room, leaving Mrs. Suter in charge of the meeting. That, of course, will be the pivotal question: Will Susan Suter be allowed to do her job -- allowed to run the Rehabilitation Services Administration -- as Justin Dart never was? In an extraordinary interview recently, Secretary of Education William Bennett admitted that the problems within OSERS have taken more of his time than "any other office in the Department." He acknowledged that while "there have been some difficulties ..., it has been because of a lack of attention" from the Office of the Secretary of Education. And perhaps that best explains the current lull in hostilities. It is a time when the Republicans do not need yet another political liability, and for a while, Mrs. Will clearly become just that. Will this new "honeymoon" last? Stay tuned, folks. Only time will tell! ***** ** Formal Air Carrier Regulatory Negotiations End, But Interest Continues In late December 1987, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service notified the Department of Transportation (DOT) that the formal activities of the regulatory negotiation (reg neg) committee appointed pursuant to the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 had officially concluded (see The Braille Forum, January- February 1988). At the time the negotiations were terminated, it was explained by DOT representatives that input provided by the committee members up to that point would be taken into consideration to the maximum possible extent in the drafting of the preliminary regulations required by the Air Carriers Access Act. Since the "reg neg" committee had not had an opportunity to discuss several important issues, and since there had not been a clear consensus on several of the issues before the negotiations were terminated, the American Council of the Blind was interested in meeting separately with DOT representatives to discuss these matters. Accordingly, we were pleasantly surprised in early January when DOT officials contacted us (without having to be prodded) about a meeting. In a meeting with DOT officials, the ACB National Representative restated ACB's interest in removing all unnecessary restrictions and framing any necessary restrictions in the narrowest possible way consistent with the rights and dignity of blind and visually impaired travelers and the safe transportation of all passengers. He emphasized again the need in many cases to distinguish between fully ambulatory and non-ambulatory travelers and to examine the generally safe travel record of most blind and visually impaired passengers. It is estimated that the preliminary regulations under the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 will be published for comment in May or June. Details will be publicized in The Braille Forum and via the Washington Connection. Inasmuch as the Federal Aviation Administration has indicated its intention to issue separate safety-based regulations concerning the transportation of disabled passengers, it is our intent to have a high-level official of the Federal Aviation Administration address the 1988 ACB national convention in Little Rock this coming July. Since the American Council of the Blind does not make up its mind about the facts before hearing them, we hope that the national convention presentation and subsequent discussions will provide good opportunities for a free exchange of all of the matters which should be taken into consideration before any FAA regulations are issued. ***** ** Paralyzed Veterans of America to Sponsor Fifth Access to the Skies Conference The Fifth Access to the Skies Conference will be held September 8-9 in Washington, D.C., and will bring together people from around the world who are interested in accessible air travel for disabled and elderly travelers and other special populations, stated R. Jack Powell, Executive Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Invited to attend the event, to be held at the Mayflower Hotel, will be representatives from commercial airlines and travel industries, disability groups, ground and in-flight crews, and airframe manufacturers, among others. "Of significant interest to these groups is the Department of Transportation's regulations to implement the 'Air Carrier Access Act of 1986,'" said Powell. "The conference will focus on how the regulations will affect the air travel industry, as well as travelers with special needs." In addition, workshops will be held on the specific needs of various disability groups, passenger coordination systems, emerging and existing technology, training of ground and in-flight personnel, airport facilities, and international air carriers. The Access to the Skies program, launched in 1978, works with representatives from the airline and travel industries, government agencies, consumer groups, rehabilitation specialists, and manufacturers to ensure safe, dignified, and comfortable air travel for individuals with a disability. For further information on the program, or to register for the conference, contact Access to the Skies, c/o Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 18th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006; (202) 872-1300. ***** ** U.S. Department of Education Job Information Available 24 Hours a Day Interested persons may obtain information about positions available in the U.S. Department of Education in the Washington, D.C., area by calling (202) 245-8404 any time, 24 hours a day. A recorded message, which is updated every week, lists jobs available by title, announcement number, series, grade (convertible into salary), and application closing date. Some of the jobs listed during the week of May 9 are: typist, clerk/steno, secretary/typist, auditor, research associate, supervisory education program specialist, budget analyst, grant specialist, management analyst, policy analyst, education operations specialist, and supervisory training specialist. The positions currently listed range in salary from approximately $12,000 to $50,000 annually. The current recorded message Iasts approximately five minutes. This is an outstanding employment resource. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * FOR SALE: Romeo RB20 Braille Embosser, with service agreement. $2,500. Call (212) 796-1409. * FOR SALE: Transcend Modem for Apple Ile, both hardware and software as a package. Parallel printer card with cables for Apple Ile. Also word processor and Echo II speech synthesizer. Call or write Mae Jones, 700 N. Denning Drive, Apt. 101, Winter Park, FL 32789; (305) 628-0484. * FOR SALE: Optacon, Model R1D, in good working order. $1,250. Contact Pat Rescorl, 268 Meigs Street, Rochester, NY 14607; (716) 244-9433. * FOR SALE: Apollo CC Reader; 19-inch diagonal screen. Excellent condition. $1,000. Call (5 585-5528. Ask for Dean or Barbara. * FOR SALE: Smith Corona 2 electric typewriter, with Optacon lens. $200. Call Richard Fiorello at (716) 873-4132. ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From The Vendorscope (Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America): In 1986 there were 3,252 vending facilities operated by blind vendors. Of these, 1,003 were on Federal property and 2,249 on non-Federal property. Employment was provided for 3,660 blind persons. Income from all facilities totaled $336.6 million, with total vendor earnings of $68.4 million. The national average annual income was $20,904. The General Services Administration had the largest number of vending facilities, with 547; the U.S. Postal Service was second with 224, and the U.S. Department of Defense was third with 76 operations. The Tennessee Council of the Blind has, indeed, shown impressive growth since the first of the year. Three new chapters have been added -- in Morristown, Jackson, and Murfreesboro. The Morristown chapter already has 104 members. Scientists have announced plans to develop eyeglasses with tiny color TV screens instead of lenses, which may help an estimated 2.5 million persons whose vision cannot be improved by conventional treatment, according to the Associated Press. The Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University and the National Space Technology Laboratories, a division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will spend $5 million over the next five years to develop and manufacture the system, said Robert Massol, a Hopkins ophthalmology professor working on the project. The device would resemble wrap-around sunglasses, with small lenses at the upper outer corners, connected by special fibers to a battery­operated computer at the waist, Massol said. The lenses would capture the field of vision and images would be conveyed to the solid-state TV cameras in the waist pack. The images would be processed by the computer and displayed on the tiny TV screen built into the glasses. Two employers in the private sector were honored on May 4 at the 1988 annual meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped by being named Employers of the Year. International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) of Armonk, New York, received the Large Employer Award, and Dennison Manufacturing Company of Bensenville, Illinois, received the Small Employer Award. For most people, technology makes things easier. For the estimated 36 million Americans with disabilities, technology makes things possible. That's the rationale behind IBM's National Support Center for Persons with Disabilities, located in Atlanta. Established in December of 1985, the Center is an all-out effort to let employers, educators, community agencies, rehabilitation and health­care professionals, and others interested in disabled persons know that help is available through technology. The most visible part of the facility is the Disabilities Resource Center, where visitors can see and try the latest technology in action. The Center offers a toll-free number -- 1-800-IBM-2133 -- available five days a week during normal business hours. Building on more than 20 years of research in the field of tactile cartography, the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Building Museum (NBM) are collaborating on a permanent traveling exhibition which will enable blind and visually impaired people to appreciate the design art of architecture for the first time, according to AFB News. The exhibition, entitled "Washington -- Site, Symbol and City," will explore the historical, political, and cultural forces which shaped the Federal city, and will feature tactile models of major Washington, D.C. buildings and monuments. The exhibit is scheduled to open in the spring of 1989. From Journal of Visual lmpairment and Blindness: Cactus, often used in Mexico as a food source and herbal medicine for non-insulin-dependent diabetics, has been successful in lowering blood glucose levels. Scientists gave cooked cactus stems to one group and water to a second, or control group. The group which ingested the cactus showed a decreased blood glucose and insulin levels, while the level for the control group did not change. Scientists do not know exactly how cactus renders these lower levels, but speculate it could improve the effectiveness of insulin. U.S. postage stamps can now be purchased by phone, 24 hours a day, and charged to MasterCard or Visa. Call 1-800-STAMP-24 (1-800-782-6724), or contact your local Post Office for details. Evergreen White Cane Tours is organizing a trip to the exotic Orient, October 15-29. Included will be Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, and Chiang (in the uplands of Thailand). For details, contact Evergreen White Cane Tours, 19505-L 44th Avenue W., Lynnwood, WA 98036-5699; (800) 435-2288. Sports for Health offers several programs for summer 1988. These include a canoe adventure (July 16-20) and a tandem cycle tour (August 6-14). Visually impaired and blind people with limited or no outdoor experience will find these programs of particular interest. The only prerequisite is that you be motivated to learn, share, and have fun. For details, contact Bemidji State University, Outdoor Program Center, Hobson Memorial Union, 1500 Birchmont Drive, Bemidji, MN 56601. San Francisco and the Bay Area will host the World Corporate Games, October 22 to November 5. Showcased will be 20 different sports for athletes from all parts of the world. A special event for blind and visually impaired athletes is included in the games -- tandem cycling. The races consist of a time trial (15k) and a road race (40k). The remaining sports are open to all athletes who feel comfortable competing in these events. The Games are open to all individuals representing or employed, sponsored, or accredited by any legally chartered organization or its approved equivalent. For more information, call or write World Corporate Games, Shaklee Terraces, 444 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 781-1988. C. Stanley Potter, 70, who pioneered the concept of radio reading services, died March 25 of a heart attack. From 1948 to 1985 he served as Director of Minnesota State Services for the Blind. He worked with the University of Minnesota to adapt the Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory test for use with blind people. In 1968 he was instrumental in establishing Minnesota Radio Talking Book, the nation's first radio reading service. This was the forerunner of what is today more than 100 such services throughout the country. From 1975 to 1982, he served as the first president of the National Association of Radio Reading Services. In recognition of his outstanding contribution in extending access to published materials and improving communications for blind and visually impaired persons, he was the recipient of the Robert S. Bray Award at the 1982 ACB national convention. The 1988 meeting of the National Church Conference of the Blind will be held July 24-25 at the Ramada Inn, Wichita, KS. Special events include Bible study, Christian concert artists, choir and talent time, and youth emphasis. For additional information, write NCCB, P.O. Box 163, Denver, CO 80201, or call Frank Finkenbinder at (303) 455-3430. Ray Erb, a vending facility operator in Orlando, Florida, organized a sailboat regatta and race for visually impaired boaters over the Labor Day weekend, 1987. The first day was dedicated to instruction in sailing and free sailing. A race was held the second day, with boats of two-man crews, one of whom might be sighted. The local chapter of the American Red Cross assisted with instruction and in supervising the race. The group is planning future instruction for the blind in swimming, boating, and canoeing. For further information, contact Ray Erb at (305) 894-8331 (home) or 648-9332 (work). From Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness: The Peace Corps and Partners of the Americas have established a joint initiative to attract special education and rehabilitation volunteers to work with disabled children, youth, and adults in developing countries. Partners of the Americas, a private volunteer organization working in Latin America and the Caribbean, sponsors training in disability-related fields. For further information, contact Katherine Davis, Assistant Director, PATH American Program, 1424 K Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, 20005. A special course, "Ballet for the Blind and Visually Impaired," is being sponsored by the University of New Hampshire's Department of Theater and Dance and Division of Continuing Education. Dates for the five-week course are July 5 to August 4.This non-credit program will teach students basic movement skills, ballet exercises, and ballet techniques. The program is designed for individuals whose only impairment is visual. For additional information, call the University of New Hampshire Theater and Dance Department at (603) 862-3032. Used Equipment Clearing House. If you want to buy or sell anything from a slate to an Optacon, contact Barbara Mattson, 134A Hall Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; (803) 585-7323. Please enclose a self­addressed envelope if you write. If you call and don't want to leave a message on the answering machine, hang up after the third ring. Otherwise, leave your name and number for a return collect call. ***** ** 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 ###