The Braille Forum Vol. XXVII March-April 1989 No. 5 Published 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 (202) 393-3666 * 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 Eastern time, 24 hours a day; or toll-free, (800) 424-8666, 9:00 P.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copyright 1989 American Council of the Blind ***** ** Contents President's Message, by Otis Stephens On the Road to Richmond -- 1989 ACB National Convention, by Robert J. Acosta News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller Americans with Disabilities Act to Be Reintroduced, by Kathleen Megivern Who Is Really Making the Friendly Skies Unfriendly?, by Oral O. Miller Award Nominations Requested Two ACB Affiliates Award Scholarships American Printing House for the Blind -- A Monopoly? Legislative Activity Heats Up in the 101st Congress, by Kathleen Megivern Computerized Books for the Blind and Print Handicapped Accessible "Tall Ship" Adventure Offered to Sailors with Disabilities Observations on World Blind Union First Full International Assembly, by Oral O. Miller Occupational Education Library for the Blind Seeking New Look High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens Part of my daily routine at the University of Tennessee (weather permitting) is a long walk with my Seeing Eye dog Amory. Our large, hilly campus, with its numerous sidewalks, crosswalks, and heavily traveled streets, provides a great opportunity for challenging guide dog work and vigorous exercise. I find that a couple of miles of steady walking at the rapid pace that Amory sets is a way to unwind after a long morning of work and to sustain my energy level for the rest of the afternoon. Whenever possible on weekends, I go on long walks on the quiet streets of my neighborhood or on hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, less than an hour's drive from Knoxville. Trails in the park pose no serious problems for guide dog users or cane travelers. As a general rule, you need automobile transportation to an access point on one of the many trails open to the public, and a description of the route you wish to take. But with a minimum of assistance, a blind person can participate in this form of recreational activity fully and successfully. I mention walking as a form of regular exercise because over the years it has been an important part of my daily routine, and because it affords an easy and enjoyable way to promote a healthy lifestyle. Many of our members are hikers, mountain climbers, skiers (cross-country, downhill and water), swimmers, bowlers, and golfers, to name some of the leading recreational pastimes. Recently I visited my sister, Ann Sims, in Atlanta. Ann is a regular hiker with her Seeing Eye dog Oboe. On the first morning of the visit, Ann and I went for a two-mile walk, accompanied by Ann's sister-in-law (and my long-time friend), Margaret Hendrix, who, at the age of 82, takes at least one (and on warm, sunny days two) two-mile walks with her Seeing Eye dog Koren every day. On rainy days, she rides her stationary bicycle instead. Margaret firmly believes that this daily routine not only keeps her in good general physical condition, but helps greatly in controlling the diabetes with which she has been coping for many years. In our busy, stressful lives too many of us tend to overlook the importance of basic physical conditioning. Now that spring is here, I am looking forward to more of this kind of activity. Even for those who don't go in for the rigors of exercise, there's a lot to be said for just relaxing outside in the sunshine that, I am told, even reaches places like Chicago and Boston this time of year. According to our friends from the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, we can expect plenty of sunshine in Richmond during the first week in July. From all indications, we should have a very well-attended ACB national convention this year. An informative program is being planned, and as always, a tremendous variety of activities will be available to conventioners throughout the week. Remember that in addition to the national convention itself, we will have the annual meetings of some twenty special­interest organizations affiliated with ACB. All of this, plus exhibits featuring the latest in technological advances available to blind and visually impaired people, tours of historic sites such as Williamsburg and Monticello, and great entertainment throughout the week should make for a truly memorable experience for all who attend. I hope that you are making your plans to be there in July. We will be addressing a number of critically important issues in employment, education, civil rights, rehabilitation services, and related areas. This year we plan to allocate more time to debate these issues on the convention floor. We also recognize the need that many of you have pointed out to devote more convention time to the internal business of the organization. This, too, will be done at this year's convention. Your attendance and active participation will contribute significantly to the success of our joint effort. So it's on to Richmond in '89! ***** ** On the Road to Richmond 1989 ACB National Convention By Robert J. Acosta National Convention Coordinator Just as in days of old it was said that all roads pointed to Rome, in work for the blind in 1989 it can truly be said that all roads will point to Richmond in early July. Richmond, Virginia, is the site of the 28th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, to be held June 30-July 8, and it promises to be a week to remember. With only a few short months to go, if you have not already made plans to attend, we urge you to do so immediately. All meetings and general sessions are to be held in the Richmond Marriott, this year's lead hotel. Exhibits will be housed in the Convention Centre located a short distance from the Marriott and accessed by an overhead walkway or by ACB's shuttle service. Daily room rates for singles, doubles, triples or quads at the four convention hotels are as follows: the Richmond Marriott, $45.00; the Omni Richmond, $45.00; the Radisson, $40.00; and the Days Inn Marketplace, $38.00. Plans are to provide shuttle service to the four convention hotels 18 hours a day throughout convention week, from 6:00 A.M. to midnight. IMPORTANT: All hotel reservations must be made directly through the ACB Convention Coordinator's Office: telephone, 1-818-349-2636, between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Pacific time; address, 8915 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91324. This year the Richmond Convention Bureau requires a $50.00 deposit for each room when making a reservation, to be applied toward lodging and taxes at your hotel. If you write for reservations, please include your credit card number and expiration date or a check for $50.00 made payable to MRCVB. Also include your address and telephone number, should it be necessary to contact you further. Deadline for making hotel reservations is May 30. Please keep in mind that reservations cannot be made directly with any of the four convention hotels, and that only those persons who make reservations through ACB can be assured of a room. The 1989 Convention Supplement (included in the braille and cassette editions of this issue of The Braille Forum and available in large print upon request from the ACB National Office) contains much of the schedule and cost information which will appear on your large-print pre-registration schedule. Pre-registration packets will be sent out in mid-May. Please return the completed registration form, to arrive by June 20. For your convenience, a pre-addressed envelope is included with the pre-registration materials. Please remember that you must fill out a separate form for each person to be registered. Please continue to purchase your airline tickets through Northridge Travel Service, ACB's official travel agency for the 1989 convention. This makes it possible for the American Council of the Blind to earn complimentary airline tickets which can be used for staff, speakers, and other personnel. To contact Northridge Travel Service, outside California call 1-800-842-8880; inside California call 1-800-523-4396. Ask for Patty or Tensie. The finalized schedule of tours (see the January-February issue of The Braille Forum and the pre-registration mailing for details) is as follows: Colonial Williamsburg (overnight tour) - Friday and Saturday, June 30-July 1; Colonial Fredericksburg - Saturday, July 1; Richmond City Tour - Sunday, July 2; Virginia Beach Fishing Trip-Monday, July 3; Busch Gardens - Tuesday, July 4; Civil War Battlegrounds (Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania Courthouse) - Wednesday, July 5; Washington, D.C. - Thursday, July 6; Monticello - Friday, July 7; An Evening at the Theater (dinner and a popular musical at Theater 4) - Saturday, July 8. You especially won't want to miss the pre-convention tour to Colonial Williamsburg. Space is limited on most tours. Over the years, conventioners have had problems with airline and hotel reservations because a pre- or post-convention tour they had booked was either sold out or for some reason cancelled. To avoid such problems, arrangements have been made for interested persons to book the Colonial Williamsburg tour immediately, without waiting for the pre-registration forms. To book this tour, please call convention Registration Chairman James Olsen at 1-612-332-3242. Cost is $130.00 per person. By following this procedure, you can know before making payment and travel plans if the tour is still open. Colonial Williamsburg is truly an exciting tour. Your air-conditioned bus will leave from the Marriott on Friday, June 30, at 8:00 A.M. You will stop at Jamestown, the first English settlement in America; then on to Yorktown, where General Cornwallis surrendered the British Army to the American Colonies in 1781 to end the Revolutionary War. You will spend the night in the hotel on the grounds at Williamsburg and will have dinner at a famous Colonial tavern. Saturday will feature a day-long narrated tour of Williamsburg, with time for the hands-on exhibits at various museums and to visit the many quaint shops in the area. The Williamsburg Foundation welcomes disabled visitors, and ACB has been assured a unique and memorable experience. So sign up early: this tour could sell out fast! Another highlight of the week scheduled for Wednesday, July 5, is the Annabelle Lee Dinner Cruise. Enjoy dinner and dancing to live music as you cruise down the James River aboard an authentic paddlewheeler. Although ACB has chartered an entire deck, this should be a sell-out. Get your registration forms in early so you won't miss out. What do "Chiefs of Staff," "Stardust," sound sculptures, a genuine smoked Virginia ham, Chimes of Lun (windchimes), a microwave oven, a Cassio electronic keyboard, a complete Alexander Scourby recorded Bible, and a high-tech radio/recorder have in common? These and many, many other unusual, unique, and useful items will go on the auction block at the exciting and unforgettable ACB Fund-Raising Auction on Wednesday night, July 5. All items will be on display in the exhibit hall during convention week prior to the auction. Don't miss this fun-packed evening and a chance to support ACB while winning the bid on items of your choice. Janiece Petersen and her committee have lined up outstanding hospitality and entertainment throughout the week. There will be a hospitality room beginning Friday, June 30. The Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired invites everyone to its "Welcome to Richmond" party, with live Dixieland music, on Saturday, July 1. On Sunday, July 2, enjoy barbershop harmony and patriotic songs as performed by the Tobaccoland and Sweet Adelines choruses. Following convention week tradition, a dance sponsored by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA) will take place Monday evening, July 3. Save time on Tuesday evening, July 4, for the Friends-in-Art Showcase, featuring outstanding ACB talent. And, of course, there is the ACB Annual Banquet, which will take place Friday evening, July 7. Again this year, an exciting program has been developed for children ages 4-12. Purchase of a children's activities pass will entitle your child to participate in daily programs at the Marriott. There are also several tours planned especially for children. See the pre-registration schedule for details. Along with the fun, ACB members come to conventions to work and to learn. Included among the educational seminars and workshops this year are the annual microcomputer workshop sponsored by the Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI), two first-timers seminars, a seminar on the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board regulations and guidelines as they apply to blind and visually impaired persons, a membership development seminar, a legislative seminar, and a diabetes seminar. In addition, some 20 separate conferences and seminars have been scheduled by ACB's special-interest affiliates and other organizations. General sessions of the American Council of the Blind will take place each morning, Monday through Saturday, July 3-8. A program of outstanding speakers and panel discussions is being arranged. Interspersed among these formal presentations will, of course, be the all-important ACB business sessions. Each national convention sets the course for ACB to follow during the coming year. It is 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, officers, and committees; selection of the 1991 convention site; and election of officers. Again this year the Resolutions Committee will be chaired by 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 Jean Mann, 422 Sand Creek Road, Apt. 230, Albany, NY 12205. 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! ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative During the national Presidential election campaign last fall, all of us listened to the candidates carefully for any comments concerning their support for service programs of importance to blind and visually impaired people, and at various times we heard a few such statements. When in mid­January I attended the pre-inaugural "Access to Opportunity" reception at the Department of Health and Human Services, I expected to hear pledges of support, in appropriately vague political terms, from several high Government officials and prospective members of the new Administration. Despite promises that President-Elect Bush would be there, we were not really expecting to see him. We first listened to a short prepared speech by then Vice President-Elect Quayle and then continued greeting and being greeted by Government officials and enjoying hors d'oeuvres -- until, that is, the Navy Band struck up "Hail to the Chief." Indeed, Mr. Bush entered the Great Hall, relaxed everyone by humorously referring to the difficulties of packing and moving again, made a number of comments concerning the importance of disabled people to American society, and then pledged outright to work for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those of us who are familiar with the Washington scene realized, of course, that a new version of the Americans with Disabilities Act would have to be introduced in the 101st Congress, and that the support it would receive would depend upon the wording of the new bill. However, the statement of then President-Elect, now President Bush, must be viewed as a source for limited optimism. While the Americans with Disabilities Act as introduced last year is not a perfect bill, it is the most important legislative effort made to date to bar discrimination on the Federal level against people on the basis of a handicapping condition. "What goes around comes around!" That expression might be used to describe the efforts now going on at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland to re-establish a rehabilitation program. The rehabilitation program was terminated there a few years ago after the new director at that time discovered it was essentially a membership recruitment and political training program for a national organization of blind people. As part of the plans to re-establish the program, the current management conducted a public forum to obtain input as to how the new program should be conducted. And what came back around? During the evening-long public forum, approximately half of the time was dedicated to the well­rehearsed statements of people from that same national organization urging that the new program should concentrate primarily on teaching attitudes rather than skills. Perhaps the folly of returning to the school of thought that says, "Be proud that you are a blind person and you can do whatever you need to do," was underscored best by an excited, unscheduled final speaker who forced the panel to listen to her when she said that she needed to be taught some specific skills so she could return to work to support herself and her family. In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has drawn fire from a number of sources, including the American Council of the Blind, following a change in its regulations that now precludes totally blind applicants from taking the examination to obtain a position as foreign service officer. Until last fall totally blind applicants were allowed to take the examination with the assistance of a sighted reader or using braille, and, of course, partially sighted applicants could, and still can, use visual aids. In spite of the former practice, blind applicants who successfully passed the examination were not employed as foreign service officers because of separate medical requirements. These medical requirements generally include vision and other physical capabilities. When we questioned the State Department about the reasons for the change in policy, a spokesman insisted at great length that the change was recommended by a task force containing a legally blind official, and that many visual functions were inherent and integral duties of a young foreign service officer. In short, it was insisted that applicants should be tested not only on their knowledge, but also on their ability to work with primary sources such as documents, photographs, etc. The State Department spokesman insisted that although the Department recognizes its obligation to make reasonable accommodation under various Federal laws, such accommodations could not be made for totally blind employees for security reasons in relatively unfriendly and undeveloped countries; that it would not be equitable to assign blind employees to only the secure and well-developed countries; that in many countries, it is necessary for security reasons for embassy employees to be able to travel fully independently and over different routes; and that many of the visual functions required of young foreign service officers include such tasks as making judgments concerning the authenticity of documents, comparing signatures, making physical identifications from photographs, and identifying corpses. While we may believe there may be some valid points on the side of the State Department, it appears, also, from the reasonable accommodation and affirmative action standpoints, that the Department has "jumped from the frying pan into the fire" by adopting a policy that on its face excludes totally blind applicants. Further developments on this issue will be reported in future articles in The Braille Forum. I want to take this opportunity to commend the ACB members who took part in the legislative workshop sponsored by the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America (ALL) in Washington, D.C., in late February. It was clear that the members who had participated in previous ACB legislative workshops had learned their lessons well and were anxious to work on the issues being focused upon the current workshop -- re-authorization of the Education of the Handicapped Act, appropriations concerning services and programs of importance to blind people, and well-intended but inappropriate bills that were designed to eliminate work disincentives for people receiving Social Security disability insurance. I would also like to congratulate Mr. LeRoy Hill of Wichita, Kansas, winner of the ACB's "Wonderful Weekend in Washington." ***** ** Americans with Disabilities Act to Be Re-Introduced By Kathleen Megivern Hopefully by the time you receive this issue of The Braille Forum a 1989 version of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will have been introduced into the House and Senate. As you may remember, this comprehensive civil rights legislation for people with disabilities was first introduced last year. Since that time, advocates have been hard at work refining the legislation and trying to arrive at a final version which would be as strong as possible, while still having a chance of passage. We have an unparalleled opportunity at this time because President Bush has publicly endorsed the Act on at least four occasions. Of course, endorsing it in principle is very different from support for the detailed version of the legislation. Because of the passage of the Fair Housing Act Amendments last year, the new version of AD A will not have to cover discrimination in housing. It will cover the following major areas: employment, public accommodation (including transportation), and communications. The transportation area has been the source of some controversy within the disability community, with supporters of accessible mass transit finding themselves pitted against other disabled persons who fear for the future of paratransit systems. It seems clear that the final version of the bill will try to address both sides, providing for the purchase of accessible "main line" buses and trains, while at the same time guaranteeing the continuation of paratransit systems for those persons who are unable to use the "main line" systems. We have seen our fair share of in-fighting and bickering over what the final version should look like, and we haven't even heard from our "enemies" yet. Nonetheless, as we go to press, calls for unity are being heard, and it seems likely that the disability community will unite behind this historic legislation. Despite Presidential endorsement, passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act is going to take a tremendous amount of effort by all of us. Once the bill is introduced, versions will be made available in braille and on tape, and we will be asking each and every one of you to be in contact with your Congressional delegation urging support -- even co-sponsorship -- of this most important legislation. ***** ** Who Is Really Making the Friendly Skies Unfriendly? By Oral O. Miller National Representative Over the past two years, the question of whether the airlines should be allowed to prevent blind people (as well as people in several other categories) from being seated next to over-wing emergency window exits has been, in the opinion of most blind travelers, over-publicized and exaggerated in the extreme, when compared with other issues faced by blind and visually impaired people. The proposed regulations issued in 1988 under the Air Carriers Access Act of 1986 stated that air carriers could not restrict the seating of disabled passengers unless in compliance with a safety regulation issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), whose legal mandate includes the promulgation of safety regulations. The comment period on the Air Carriers Access Act regulations ended in late December 1988. On March 13, 1989, the long-awaited proposed FAA regulations were published. The proposed regulations, a recorded copy of which may be obtained from the ACB National Office, spell out a number of tasks which must be performed by passengers sitting in seats next to over-wing emergency exits. Many of those tasks clearly require vision. It should be pointed out, however, that many of those tasks also require other capabilities which would probably exclude from those seats people who are elderly, very young, pregnant, very obese or impaired by alcohol or drugs. On March 14 -- one day after publication of the above proposed FAA regulations -- the Senate conducted public hearings on Senate Bill 341, which says in substance that airlines may not mandate or prohibit the seating of passengers based on visual acuity or the use of a white cane or dog guide. Although this article will not attempt to summarize all of the testimony given, it should be pointed out that the only consumers who were asked to testify supported the bill strongly and, in the process, repeated many of the "horror stories" that have been published by the National Federation of the Blind over the last couple of years. Some of the astonishing assertions made by the Executive Director and another member of the National Federation of the Blind were that many of the blind people who took part in tests conducted by the FAA in the late 1970s in Oklahoma were basically selected for poor performance; that approximately one-third of the blind people who travel by air do so in fear of harassment and abuse by airline personnel; that travel agents find it almost impossible to make reservations for blind people because of current airline policies; that the proposed FAA regulation is similar to the former policy of airlines to the effect that they would not seat black people next to over-wing exits because they considered them to be slow and lazy; and that most blind people who travel agree that there is significant discrimination against them by the airlines. Spokespersons for the Federal Aviation Administration, the Association of Flight Attendants, and the Air Transport Association pointed out that the most critical time in the evacuation of an airplane following a survivable emergency is the time that elapses before the evacuation flow begins; that in order to avoid the danger of a flash fire, it is necessary for passengers to evacuate at the rate of more than one per second; that the responsibilities of the person seated next to the emergency exit include much more than merely opening the exit; that the policies of American air carriers regarding exit-row seating are very inconsistent, hence the need for standard regulations; that it would be possible to evacuate an airplane even faster if there were no seats next to over-wing emergency exits; that there have been cases where opening an exit actually accelerated a fire inside the cabin; and that they could not cite cases where blind people have impeded cabin evacuation. The purpose of this article is to bring to light some of the surprising positions taken and arguments used in connection with this issue. ***** ** Award Nominations Requested Presentation of a number of awards has become an important part of each ACB national convention. Nominations for the following awards are now being sought and should be sent directly to the Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Shirley Brokaw, 8015 Campbell St., Apt. 101, Kansas City, MO 64131. 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 in and their interaction with the life of the community. It is not necessary that the candidate be a member 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 every year. Nominations should be postmarked no later than June 1, 1989. ***** ** Two ACB Affiliates Award Scholarships VIDPI Announces Kelly Cannon Scholarship -- The Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI) is pleased to announce creation of the Kelly Cannon Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is now available to receive your tax-deductible contributions, to be used as the principal for a scholarship which will be awarded annually to a person who chooses the field of computer science or computer programming as his or her major course of academic study. This scholarship has been established as a memorial to Kelly Cannon, daughter of Richard and Pam Cannon. Kelly was a victim of retinoblastoma a year ago. Dick Cannon is a very active member of VIDPI as well as its current newsletter editor. The VIDPI Board and membership unanimously voted to establish this scholarship in memory of Kelly Cannon and as a means to promote particularly the field of computer science and programming. Despite its specialized focus, this scholarship will be awarded through the ACB Scholarship Committee in order to attract the widest range of potential applicants. It is VIDPI's hope to assist in the growth in the scholarship program of the American Council of the Blind, which is so vital to the next generation of working blind men and women. All contributions are now welcome for this new scholarship. Send checks to: James Olsen, American Council of the Blind, Summit Bank Building, Suite 822, 310 4th Avenue, S., Minneapolis, MN 55415. If you have questions, you may write to Visually Impaired Data Processors International, c/o ACB National Office, 1010 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. Georgia Council of the Blind Announces Linda Stephens Memorial Scholarship -- At its meeting in January, the Board of Directors of the Georgia Council of the Blind voted unanimously to award a one­time, $1,000 scholarship in memory of the late Linda Stephens, wife of ACB President Otis Stephens. The recipient will be selected by the ACB Scholarship Committee, based upon the same criteria established for other ACB scholarships. Applicants admitted to any field of study at the post-secondary level, and residing anywhere in the United States, will be considered. The Linda Stephens Memorial Scholarship will be presented at the 1989 national convention of the American Council of the Blind in Richmond, Virginia. ***** ** American Printing House for the Blind -- A Monopoly? As of approximately 25 years ago, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) was the braille production facility thought of most often as the primary source of braille textbooks in the United States. Over the years, however, other firms have entered the field or increased their production of textbooks, and the American Printing House itself has further diversified the services and products it provides. Nevertheless, APH has remained unique, in that it has annually received a Federal appropriation for the production of braille textbooks to be allocated to states based upon the number of blind children in each state. APH annually determines how many blind children each state has, but as that number has increased over the years, the amount of the appropriation has not increased proportionately. This has resulted in a sharp reduction in the amount of money available for materials per student. This year the amount available under this Federal quota system will be approximately $108.00 — only a small percentage of the average cost of educational materials per blind student. Although the amount available under the quota has dropped to its present level, and although APH now lists approximately 350 items in its catalog, within the last few years increasing demands have been heard to terminate the Federal appropriation to APH and giving the separate states the option to purchase educational materials elsewhere if they wish. This matter was broached during recent hearings before the Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee in Washington, D.C. Representatives of APH -- including its new president, Dr. Tuck Tinsley -- answered that the Federal appropriation constitutes approximately 40 percent of APH's budget; that during the coming year, APH is expected to serve almost 2,000 more blind children; that the activities of the Printing House, unlike those of many other suppliers, include research, design and development, manufacturing, inventorying and marketing of educational materials and devices; that in many instances, APH provides educational materials to states many weeks before they receive their quota funds; and that the "open market," contrary to many popular assertions, would not encourage other vendors to develop and produce many items because blind children make up only 4 percent of the "blindness market." APH representatives also discussed innovative programs which could enable APH to produce braille materials in the future from computer disks generated by the better volunte3er braille transcribing organizations throughout the country. Congressman William Natcher (D., KY), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee, again questioned APH about its mediocre record in the past in the employment of blind workers. He was informed that 6 percent of the workers are visually impaired -- no significant change from the prior year. It has become popular in this country to oppose "monopolies." It is tempting at first blush to describe the American Printing House for the Blind as a monopoly. While its status as the recipient of a Federal appropriation (for over 100 0years) makes it unique, the variety of services and products which it provides would appear to be extremely strong reasons for not changing its status in the near future. Contrary to the beliefs of many people, APH is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of Kentucky before the Civil War. During its approximately 130 years of operation, it has served as a model for many other countries to emulate. ***** ** Legislative Activity Heats Up in the 101st Congress By Kathleen Megivern Recent articles in the Washington Post have chronicled many problems within the Bush Administration, characterized in general as a "lack of direction" or "absence of any real agenda." There has been an unprecedented slowness in filling top administrative positions (including, as we go to press, the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services). But in spite of this growing sense of malaise in the Executive branch, Congress has been moving forward on several issues of importance to people with disabilities. First on the agenda appears to be the Education of the Handicapped Act. Every three years the discretionary programs under the Education of the Handicapped Act have to be re-authorized. These are programs such as Personnel Preparation (teacher training), Services for Deaf-Blind Children and Youth, and Educational Media and Materials. Work has begun (especially on the House side) on this year's re-authorization process. Many amendments are being promoted by various advocacy groups, including a set of proposals from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a broad-based coalition of advocacy groups. One of the amendments to be included in the CCD statement would add an emphasis in the Personnel Preparation sections to the importance of training personnel "to meet the unique academic and other needs of children with specific disabilities." Some amendments are also being promoted which would include descriptive video as an activity which could be funded under the "Technology, Educational Media and Materials" section of the Act. Perhaps of most importance to advocates for blind and visually impaired people is a series of amendments to the section on Services for Deaf-Blind Children and Youth. In recent years, this section (which is Section 622 of the law) has been amended several times to dilute its categorical nature and allow money appropriated under this section to be used instead for projects for severely handicapped children. While the need is great for more funding for projects for severely handicapped children, the National Coalition on Deaf-Blindness has put together a document which establishes the continued need for categorical services and funding for children who are deaf-blind. This coalition has compiled a series of amendments which would re-focus Section 622 for the benefit of children who are deaf-blind. We can expect a major battle on these amendments, so you are encouraged to communicate with your Congressional representative in support of the amendments being proposed by the National Coalition on Deaf-Blindness. Least Restrictive Environment -- An issue which continues to surface in both the administrative and legislative arenas is the question of how to define "least restrictive environment" (LRE). As you may know, the Department of Education's Office of Special Education, under the leadership of Madeleine Will, has promoted a definition of LRE which would make it equivalent to the regular classroom (mainstreaming), no matter what the individual needs of the child may be. Advocates of "mandatory mainstreaming" have had some successes in recent years and have become more and more vocal in promoting their philosophy, which basically finds no justification for the existence of residential facilities, or even special resource rooms. The deafness community began to react last year, and the report from the Commission on Education of Deaf contained some strong language about the need for residential facilities as one of the options in the placement continuum. The House Subcommittee on Select Education held a hearing on March 2 which included a panel of opponents to the mandatory mainstreaming philosophy. In addition to representatives of the deafness community and the learning disabled population, testimony presented by Phil Hatlen, representing the Joint Action Committee, a coalition of California organizations, including the California chapters of the American Council of the Blind, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the National Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired, and others. Dr. Hatlen's statement -- a thorough and eloquent summary of the issue -- is reprinted here in its entirety. It is with pleasure that I join my colleagues who are concerned about the education of deaf children to express the position of the majority of parents, consumers, and professionals regarding the education of blind and visually impaired children. Testimony related to the definition of "least restrictive environment" presented today is not a minor issue which can be put aside while more important matters are considered. There is a crisis occurring throughout the United States, and blind and visually impaired children, who will not be given a second chance at an education, are suffering. I am here today to tell you that the motivation for redefining "least restrictive environment" is urgent and powerful. The "least restrictive environment" for blind and visually impaired pupils is the educational placement which best meets the needs of each individual child at the time of assessment. As assessment information is discussed at the individualized educational program (IEP) meeting, the educational needs of the individual blind or visually impaired child will become apparent. In order to meet these needs, it may be necessary to determine the frequency and duration of specialized assistance from a qualified teacher for the visually impaired. Attention must be given to the educational needs of the blind or visually impaired pupil which are not shared with sighted peers. If the result of a thorough assessment and a careful, thoughtful, and creative IEP meeting is a decision that the best educational placement for a particular child at a particular time in her/his life is not a regular classroom in the local school, then there must be options. Whatever placement option is selected, that becomes the least restrictive environment for that child at that time in her/his life. The concept of least restrictive environment (LRE) is one of the most controversial outgrowths of P.L. 94-142, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. A noble ideal has divided special education in a most confrontive manner, and issues revolving around LRE need to be resolved. The basic problem is that State and Federal definitions of LRE have been developed with little or no input from some disability groups. A large, but not representative group of professionals and parents are dictating implementation policy relating to LRE. These people are not professionals in education of blind and visually impaired children, nor are they parents of these children. Rather, they are individuals who have come to certain conclusions about appropriate education of some populations of disabled children, and they have unwisely generalized their position to all disabled children. I invite you to listen to the many voices who believe that LRE as currently defined is appropriate, and then I suggest you ask them how much time they have spent in educating blind and visually impaired children. Professionals in special education who have no knowledge concerning the needs of blind and visually impaired students are making decisions as to how LRE is to be implemented for this population. The profession of education of blind and visually impaired children has a long and fascinating history in "integrating" (or mainstreaming) pupils. Since the turn of the century, blind children have been placed in regular classrooms in order to benefit from the same academic curriculum as their sighted peers. In the 1950's this practice grew dramatically. Because of a considerable increase in blindness in infants, many local public school programs for blind and visually impaired children were begun between 1955 and 1965. It is appropriate to state that the profession of education for blind and visually impaired children pioneered mainstreaming long before the passage of P.L. 94-142. This fact is important to note because it means that we have more history, more experience and extensive knowledge concerning LRE for blind and visually impaired children. Blind and visually impaired children have two very different and distinct educational needs. The first need is to receive appropriate instruction in academic subjects, a need which can be met by "mainstreaming" the child in a regular classroom, providing the child has been prepared and an expert in education of the blind and visually impaired is available to the classroom teacher as a support person. A second educational need for blind and visually impaired children is a curriculum which is not shared with sighted classmates. These children have instructional needs which are uniquely related to fact and the results of vision loss. These needs cannot be met in regular classroom. Sighted classmates do not need the same instruction as blind and visually impaired children in such subjects as (a) orientation and mobility; (b) independent living skills; (c) social and recreational skills; (d) career education, etc. These needs of blind and visually impaired children are unique because of the effect of vision loss on learning requires a disability-specific teaching methodology. Thus, while other populations of disabled children may have similar needs, the means by which these needs must be met is unique to blind and visually impaired children and necessitate the assistance of a highly trained professional teacher of the visually impaired. Many blind and visually impaired pupils will need at least a short amount of time in a segregated setting in order to master both the skills necessary for accessing the regular curriculum and for specialized instruction in areas of the curriculum unique to them. What is desperately needed for blind and visually impaired children is a full array of placement options, ranging from total mainstreaming to total segregation. These options must be available throughout the child's educational experiences so that each pupil can move from one placement option to another as her/his needs change. Placement is determined by the individual needs of a particular child at a particular time in her/his life. The placement which is selected from the full array of options becomes the least restrictive environment for that child for that moment. It is morally wrong, educationally unsound, and delivers an erroneous message to parents and others to imply that the child in a placement other than the regular classroom in a neighborhood school is in a "more restrictive environment." If parents, professionals, and consumers are destined to live with the term "least restrictive environment" in the foreseeable future, then we must stop using the wrong definition for LRE as it applies to blind and visually impaired pupils. I urge Congress to take the lead in defining least restrictive environment as it applied to blind and visually impaired pupils as: "The least restrictive environment for blind and visually impaired pupils is individually determined and is the educational placement which best addresses each pupil's current assessed educational needs." ***** ** Computerized Books for the Blind and Print Handicapped (Reprinted from Visual Perceptions, publication of the Blindness/Visual Impairment Sig of the Association on Handicapped Student Services Programs in Postsecondary Education, Fall 1988) Now students and professionals have a resource for securing books in computer format. These books are distributed in standard ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) files. These files can be utilized by any number of adaptive devices (large-print displays, speech synthesizers, braille printers, VersaBraille machines, specialized display programs for the learning disabled) and are compatible with software and hardware for the orthopedically impaired. These books have the ability to be used by all computers and adaptive devices because ASCII is the most elementary common denominator between all computers. Individuals may read these files as they would any book or recorded book. They can further benefit by taking notes as they read by "cut and paste" techniques available in any word processor. Searching for key words and phrases is a snap with a computerized book. Important graphs, charts, and maps will also be made available in coming months. Registration for an individual or institution is $25.00. Thereafter individual books are free (donations will be solicited with each book shipped). A statement verifying that a disability exists must accompany the registration form. This portion must be signed by a doctor, counselor, or employer. It is critical to understand that these books must only be used by disabled individuals and that no copying of these diskettes for non-handicapped persons be allowed. Full cooperation of the publishers is at stake here. Books currently in stock can be shipped to registered members in a matter of days. Titles not in stock will take about a month to produce. For registration packets and a current list of books in ASCII, or more information, contact George Kerscher, Computerized Books for the Blind, 33 Corbin Hall, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, (406) 243-5481; or Christy Horn, University of Nebraska, 132 Administration Building, Lincoln, NE 68583-0437, (402) 472-3417. ***** ** Accessible "Tall Ship" Adventure Offered to Sailors with Disabilities (Reprinted from National Organization on Disability Newsletter, Winter 1989) Beginning December 10, Operation N.O.A.H. (Nautical Overseas Adventures for Handicapped Individuals) will be holding week-long sailing expeditions in the Bahamas on a custom-built "tall ship." Adaptations incorporated into the Lord Nelson's design allow up to half the crew to be people with disabilities, including those with mobility, vision, and hearing impairments. Although no sailing experience is necessary, the forty paying crew members are expected to assist in all aspects of operating the vessel, under the supervision of the ship's permanent professional crew. The ship, constructed to the highest "Lloyd's of London" safety standards in 1986 by the non-profit Jubilee Sailing Trust, is a fully rigged, three-masted "barque" of 141 feet in length and has been modified with wheelchair lifts and other technology to accommodate up to eight crew members using wheelchairs. Crew members must be between the ages of 16 and 70 years, must complete the required application and physical examination papers, and be accepted by the program. Operation N.O.A.H. stresses the integration of disabled and non-disabled people working together. The cost for a week-long sail is $950.00, excluding air and ground travel. Additional information and applications may be obtained from: Operation N.O.A.H., 365 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840; (401) 847-9599. ***** ** Observations on World Blind Union First Full International Assembly By Oral O. Miller The World Blind Union (WBU) was formed in 1984 following the merger of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and the International Federation of the Blind. The merger came about after approximately six years of negotiations by the two organizations. During the joint meetings of the two parent organizations, held in Saudi Arabia in 1984, much time and effort were necessarily devoted to agreeing upon the structure of the new organization and breathing life into it. According to its constitution, the primary purposes of the newly formed World Blind Union were: to work for the prevention of blindness; to advance the well-being of blind people, with the goal of equality of opportunity and full participation in society; to strengthen the self-esteem and sense of responsibility of blind people; and to provide an international forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of blindness. Sheik Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim of Saudi Arabia was elected the first president of the World Blind Union. Following the organizational meeting in Saudi Arabia, where the host country paid the hotel and meal expenses of all the delegates plus the transportation costs of delegates from some of the developing countries, many people were curious as to how the 1988 International Assembly would be financed. The question was soon answered by the National Organization of the Blind of Spain (Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos de Espana) -- ONCE, pronounced Own-say, which agreed to host the meeting in Madrid during the week of September 18-25, 1988. During the Assembly, 91 countries were represented by approximately 300 delegates and an almost equal number of associate members, observers, and exhibitors. The organizational members of the WBU in the United States are the American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Blinded Veterans Association, National Federation of the Blind, the National Library Service for Blind and Physically Handicapped. All of these members except the National Library Service were represented in person by delegates. National Library Service was represented by proxy given to the National Federation of the Blind. It was my privilege to represent the American Council of the Blind. Among familiar American exhibitors present were the American Printing House for Blind, Telesensory Systems, Inc., and Boston Information and Technology. Delegates were housed in several hotels and in apartment-type accommodations in the ONCE Educational Center, a large building enclosing a spacious courtyard. WBU business and professional sessions were held in a new auditorium building immediately adjacent to the Educational Center. The auditorium building been completed only the week before, and the host organization had not had time to finish and thoroughly test everything -- such as a temperamental public-address system and a few open stairwells. The opening ceremonies on Sunday evening, September 18, featured outstanding music and appropriate introductory remarks, including greetings by the blind sister of the King of Spain. Those ceremonies were followed by the first of several lavish receptions held during the week in the courtyard at the Educational Center, which was also the site of morning and afternoon coffee breaks. Lunch was served each day in the dining room of the Educational Center. Dinner was provided each evening, depending upon where one stayed, at either the Center, one of the hotels, or an outstanding local restaurant. For example, whenever we had dinner at the Miguel Angel Hotel, where I stayed, we were hosted lavishly in a private dining room. One evening I dined there with the multi-racial delegation from South Africa, and another evening I dined with many of the representatives from the United Kingdom. A typical day consisted of an 8:00 A.M. bus ride to the Center, approximately three hours of meetings in the morning, a leisurely lunch hour, several hours of meetings in the afternoon, ending at approximately 6:30 P.M., dinner at approximately 8:30 P.M., and returning to the hotel at about 10:30 P.M. The pace at which business is conducted at international meetings is generally slower than the pace with which we are familiar. One reason for this, of course, is the need to translate the proceedings into various languages. The host organization provided good quality, professional interpreting service, simultaneously translating proceedings into six languages — English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Arabic. The interpreters worked in sound-proof booths and transmitted each language throughout the auditorium on separate FM or infrared channels which could be picked up on tiny radio receivers provided to each delegate. Because of the inexact nature of language translation, it is sometimes difficult to communicate in very precise terms or to achieve desired linguistic effects. Each session was chaired by a different moderator. The host organization did an outstanding job in making material such as speeches, proposed resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments available very quickly in braille. The proceedings of the entire assembly were recorded on cassette and were made available to the delegates. Anyone wanting a copy of those tapes may obtain the set of fifteen by sending a request and $25.00 to the ACB National Office. In my opinion, the professional program was generally good, but entirely too long and ambitious. Because of time limitations, many presentations had to be rushed, shortened, or even eliminated. Topics covered by both lay and professional speakers from around the world included such familiar and unfamiliar subjects as the activities of the United Nations Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization's program for the prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the blind, UNESCO programs for blind persons, the International Labor Organization program for rehabilitation, the form and content of effective service programs for the blind in developing countries, fighting discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity, the situations of blind people in industrial and in developing countries, recent advances in the prevention and cure of blindness, the special problems of low vision, and the role of present and future technology in areas such as education, employment, daily living, and leisure activities. International resolutions tend to be much longer and more complex than those with which we are familiar. The most important resolution adopted originated in the North American and Caribbean Region. It urged members to oppose the worldwide trend of many governments to lump services for blind people together with services for all other handicapped people and to accept as meaningful input the recommendations of extremely broad-based "pan-disability" organizations containing only a few blind people. At the beginning of the Assembly it was rumored that many countries wanted to amend the WBU Constitution so as to allow President Abdullah Al-Ghanim to serve a sec consecutive term. However, early in the proceedings Sheik Al-Ghanim announced that he was not interested in a second term. In a spirited election during the final business session, Duncan Watson of England was elected President for the next quadrennium. Enrique Ellisalde of Uruguay was elected Vice President, Pedro Zurita of Spain was elected Secretary General, and Dr. Euclid Herie of Canada was elected Treasurer. No one in the United States knows how much it cost ONCE to host the WBU Assembly. It is clear, however, that the cost was extremely high. ONCE paid for, among other things, the room and board for all delegates, all domestic bus transportation (including sight-seeing tours one day to three historic sites), language translation services, several receptions, large quantities of braille and tape recorded materials, meaningful gifts and souvenirs for all delegates, and major staff support for the conference. In addition, toward the end of the Assembly, ONCE made a grant of $122,000 to the World Blind Union to be used for its organizational purposes. ONCE is a wealthy organization by most standards, receiving vast sums of money particularly from the sale of national lottery tickets throughout Spain. Some delegates and observers questioned the decision of ONCE to spend so much money to host the Assembly. Others pointed out, however, that if the money had not been spent in support of the Assembly, it would not necessarily have been spent for such purposes as improvement of services for blind people in developing countries. It is clear that few other organizations will be able to host future meetings on the scale set by ONCE, and that may affect the ability of some developing countries to send and support delegates. I am pleased to report that Mr. Duncan Watson, President of the World Blind Union, has accepted an invitation to address the 1989 national convention of the American Council of the Blind and the 1989 conference of the American Blind Lawyers Association in Richmond, Virginia, the week of July 1-8. ***** ** Occupational Education Library for the Blind Seeking New Look Times change! So do the kinds of work people do. The Occupational Information Library for the Blind (OILB) was created a number of years ago to describe the wide variety of jobs that blind and visually impaired persons hold. One of its main goals was to expand people's ideas of what a blind person can do by describing what accommodations are possible and what skills are important to success. Presently the OILB is a compendium of nearly 500 occupations, ranging from unskilled to skilled trades, business, science, and education. Each job description includes a basic introduction to the tasks, educational background required, special modifications, personal and psychological characteristics of importance, potential employers, and outlook. The library was created by Benjamin J. Pumo at the Greater Detroit Society for the Blind in 1973 and was first published in print. It was revised and distributed on cassette in 1977 and updated and entered on the 4-Sights Network, a national computer system, in 1985. Jobs in the late 1980's rely more heavily on technology and therefore are more likely to be accessible to a blind person using a computer and an access device. Technology has also replaced many agricultural and elemental jobs, while the growing service industries have created new job titles. The Greater Detroit Society for the Blind is seeking to identify blind individuals who are willing to be interviewed about their jobs. If you would like to participate in expanding the vocational information reference guide for the blind, please contact the Occupational Information and Children's Services Department, Greater Detroit Society for the Blind, 16625 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, MI 48227; (313) 272-3900. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * FOR SALE: Eureka A4. Very good condition - purchased in October 1988. Includes manuals on cassette and disk, plus over 200 games and utilities programs. $1,995.00, which includes UPS shipping to anywhere in the United States. Contact me in braille, by cassette, or phone: Keith Bucher, Box 130, Reader, WV 26167; (304) 386-4332. * FOR SALE: VersaBraille Classic, with two adapters, microphone, earphone, master overlay tape, interface cable, print and braille manuals, and the original shipping carton. Excellent condition. Asking price: $1,200.00, including shipping anywhere in the continental United States. Also for sale: braille writer and case — $250.00. Contact Isaac Obie, 55 Waverly Avenue, Apt. 210, Watertown, MA 02172; (617) 923-3050. * FOR SALE: Optacon Model R1D - Like new. Includes case, braille and print manuals, other accessories. $2,200.00 or make offer. Tony Keras, 1223 E. Hubbell Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006; (602) 257-1457. * WANTED: Used thermoform machine, reasonably priced. Mrs. Sara Holley, R.R. 7, Box 9, Apt. 3, Frankfort, IN 46041. * FOR SALE: Optacon, Model R1D - with IBM typewriter lens, magnification lens, calculator lens, three chargers, one soft-shell carrying pack, and two hard-shell shipping containers. $1,200.00 or best offer. Also one GE speech compressor. $30.00. Contact Richard A. Cannon, 7304 Cardigan Circle, Atlanta, GA 30328; (404) 669-6984 (work) or (404) 396-343 (home - after 6:00 P.M.). ***** ** Here and There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From AARP News Bulletin: Glaucoma sufferers are being sought for a nationwide study on how effective certain treatments are in preventing blindness. Persons aged 40-78, whose glaucoma cannot be controlled with medication and who are considering laser or other surgery to save their vision, are invited to participate in the ten-center study sponsored by the National Eye Institute. Ask your eye specialist if you qualify. Your area center has more on the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study. Phone numbers of participating centers are: Michigan (two centers) - (313) 936-7594 and (313) 353-1756; Georgia - (404) 321-0111, ext. 4134; Pennsylvania - (215) 928-3388; Ohio - (614) 293-8119; Connecticut - (203) 785-2741; Virginia - (804) 924-5651; Illinois - (312) 996-9214; Washington, D.C. (two centers) - (202) 687-4638 and (301) 654-5114. The Center for the Partially Sighted (Santa Monica, CA) has published Diabetes, Visual Impairment and Group Support, a Guidebook, written by Judith Caditz, Ph.D., a sociologist and coordinator of the Center's Diabetes Education/Support Group program. The Guidebook is helpful to visually impaired diabetics and their families, as well as to professionals desiring to begin or to expand a support group program, and to those advising visually impaired diabetics. The Guidebook is available in regular or large print for $10.95 plus $.50 for handling for visually impaired persons, or $2.50 postage and handling for others. Order from Center for the Partially Sighted, 720 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200, Santa Monica, CA 90401. From The Link (Kalamazoo, MI Center for Independent Living): Park House, on the grounds of the Sandringham Royal Estate in West Norfolk, 115 miles north of London, England, is a specially modified 19th-century manor house which has been completely renovated to accommodate handicapped travelers. Five years ago, Queen Elizabeth II presented the house to the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, which operates residence homes for persons with disabilities. Park House was built by Edward VII and more recently was the birthplace and childhood home of Diana Spencer, now the Princess of Wales. There are no steps at Park House, which was converted into a hotel last year. Doors open automatically; rooms and bathrooms have special fittings. There are also special accommodations for deaf, blind, and visually impaired guests. Rates range from $31.00 to $68.00, with full board. For additional information, write Park House, Sandringham, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE35EH, England. Options, a new magazine to be published four times a year on four­track cassette, made its debut this past February. In addition to offering new software and hardware for computer users, a special column of the magazine, called "Going, Going, Gone," highlights items which readers don't need or can't use any more, and which only another person who is blind or visually impaired might want. Subscription price (which includes two free ads) is $10.00. Order from: Life Options, P.O. Box 206, Wilmington, NC 28402. From the Newsletter of the Michigan Chapter, AERBVI: Recordings for Recovery is an organization which supplies, without charge, music of therapeutic value to assist persons in the recovery process, or persons who are homebound, blind, physically handicapped, elderly, and/or institutionalized, and who might benefit from the service. Library selections range from classical to country, from relaxation to exercise, and from children's songs to hymns. Programs on cassette are loaned for a limited period. Individuals can keep the tapes permanently if they provide high-quality blank replacement tapes. For information and/or an application, contact Recordings for Recovery, Michael Hoy, 423 Cherry Street, Midland, MI 48440. *** Travel Tales is a story book that centers around the adventures of Eliot, a little boy who is blind. Each of the 17 chapters teaches or reinforces a mobility skill or environmental concept. The book is designed to be read to visually impaired children, pre-school to grade 3, and was written by three mobility instructors. To order, send $20.00 plus $2.00 for postage and handling to Mostly Mobility, Route 1, Box 1448A, Bethel, PA 19507. A mini Tri-State Conference of Council of Citizens with Low Vision (to include Michigan, Indiana and Ohio) will be held at the Sight Center in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, May 13, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. For registration forms and further information, contact Elizabeth M. Lennon, Chapter Coordinator, CCLV, 1400 North Drake Road, No. 218, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Customers in selected communities within the five-state Southwestern Bell Telephone System are having an easier time this year picking out listings in their local White Pages directories. The reason: Southwestern Bell has made the type -- letters and numbers -- one-third larger than in the past. Directories will now use the same size type that regular newspapers use. This means there are about ten fewer lines per directory-page column, and the number of pages increases about 20%. Thanks to a collaborative effort between AT&T and National Braille Press, two new braille publications are now available: Area Code Handbook, which contains the most recent area codes, listed by city and state, and AT&T's Customer Resource Guide, which contains many useful tips such as the best time to call at the lowest rates, where to call for phone repairs, how to reach AT&T's National Special Needs Center, and other services offered by AT&T. Both free booklets are available from National Braille Press, Inc., 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115; (617) 266-6160. The Des Moines Chapter of the Iowa Council of the United Bind wishes to buy modified equipment to be made available to blind individuals wishing to participate in sports activities. Specifically, they are seeking used goal balls and used bowling rails. Contact Cheryl Parker, 2812 56th Street, Des Moines, IA 50310. Grassroots Computing sells documentation for all WordPerfect products on computer disk. The price of $40.00 per manual includes taped instructions and shipping. Cassette and large-print catalogs are available. Address requests for information to: Grassroots Computing, Box 460, Berkeley, CA 94701; (415) 644-1855. Wanted: Participants for Mobility International USA's International Youth Leadership Exchange Program, to be held in Eugene, Oregon, in July. This four-week international exchange program for persons with and without disabilities will focus on leadership skills in a cross-cultural setting. Includes community service projects, camping, leadership seminars, outdoor activities, and home stays with Eugene-area families. Persons between 20 and 25 years old are invited to apply, and qualified persons outside those age limits will be accepted as space permits. For full information, send a self­addressed, stamped, legal size envelope to: Leadership Program, MIUSA, P.O. Box 3551, Eugene, OR 97403; (503) 343-1284. The Oral Hull Foundation conducts summer camps at Oral Hull Park for adult blind persons. Two sessions are scheduled in 1989: July 15-22 and August 19-26. Cost is $150.00. For information, write Summer Camp, 2616 S.E. 59th, Portland, OR 97206; or call (503) 771-8786. If you have skills in any of the following areas and are interested in a summer job opportunity working with disabled children at a residential camp in the foothills of Vermont, please write or call the address below: swimming, rowing, board sailing, canoeing, performing arts (music, dance, drama), arts and crafts, camp­craft, hiking and back-packing, nature and environmental studies, athletics, computers, registered nurse, vocational training. Contact New York Institute for Special Education, 999 Pelham Parkway, Bronx, NY 10469; (212) 519-7000. The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is sponsoring the following continuing education seminars. For full information, you may contact Julia Richardson at AER's national office, 206 N. Washington Street, Suite 320, Alexandria, VA 22314: "Working with Over-Protected Families" -- April 28, Pittsburgh, PA; "Refining Social Skills of Visually Impaired Adolescents and Adults" -- May 5, Los Angeles, CA. The Association on Handicapped Student Services Programs in Postsecondary Education (AHSSPPE) will hold its 12th national conference in Seattle, Washington, August 9-12. The conference theme, "Reaching New Heights," will focus on the latest technology and techniques in the field. For additional information regarding the conference of AHSSPPE, contact Jane Jarrow, P.O. Box 21192, Columbus, OH 43221; (614) 488-4972. ***** ** ACB Officers * President: 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 Lennon 1400 N. Drake Road, Apt. 218 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 * Treasurer: LeRoy Saunders P.O. Box 24020 Oklahoma City, OK 73124 * Immediate Past President: Grant Mack 139 E. South Temple, Suite 5000 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 ###