The Braille Forum Vol. XXVII May-June 1989 No. 6 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 At Last It's True: There Really Is an Americans with Disabilities Act, by Kathleen Megivern News Briefs from the ACB National Office, by Oral O. Miller 1989 ACB Convention: Last-Minute Update Exercise: Are You Kidding?, by Christine M. Cook Government Publications That Blind People Can Read? -- Not Yet, But a Start!, by Oral O. Miller Artic Sets a Fast Pace in New Speech Technology for PC Users, by Marvin Brotman ACB National Staff Member Honored Talking Book Survives Ocean Tragedy Sighted Physicist Creates Career in Art for the Blind, by Sue Tullos Blinded American Vet Sets New Record in World Disabled Water Ski Competition Pan-Am Games for Disabled Youth High Tech Swap Shop Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ACB Officers ***** ** President's Message By Otis Stephens For the past several days, I have been buried under an avalanche of student term papers and final examinations. Since the term papers are typed or word-processed, they are fairly easy to read, correct, and grade. In the near future, I hope to make this job even simpler through the use of equipment that will virtually eliminate the need to rely on sighted assistants. But the handwritten exams pose a far tougher problem. The most capable readers I can find always have trouble deciphering these hastily scribbled words of wisdom. Any reading machine that could make sense out of the hieroglyphics I have been plowing through this week would, indeed, represent a world-class technological breakthrough! I could, of course, give multiple-choice or true/false exams. Usually, in fact, I do include such questions on mid-terms and finals. But in Constitutional Law and related courses that I teach to graduate and undergraduate students, there is simply no adequate substitute for essay questions. I have found no better or more efficient way to evaluate handwritten exams than to have them read aloud by a competent student assistant -- always, of course, one who is not enrolled in the class being tested. If anyone has come across a better method, please let me know. In any event, the task is finally over for this semester! In spite of the occasional drudgery of exam grading, I still regard teaching as a great profession and recommend it highly. Today thousands of blind and visually impaired people are successful teachers, working effectively at every level of education and in virtually every subject field. While entry into the teaching profession is not easy (an observation that applies to all competitive occupations), teaching represents a practical and sound career choice for many people, blind or sighted. It is a field in which most individuals will be judged ultimately on the basis of ability, not disability. Anyone interested in learning more about the teaching profession and the opportunities it offers blind and visually impaired people is encouraged to contact our special-interest affiliate, the National Association of Blind Teachers, Dana Walker, President, 341 Eagerton Road, Montgomery, AL 36116. This organization, along with other outstanding special-interest affiliates, will be holding meetings in conjunction with our national convention in Richmond during the first week in July. Those who regularly attend our national conventions are well aware of the fine programs offered by these affiliates. Members who are attending for the first time should be sure not to miss this important part of convention week. In late April, I had the pleasure of representing the American Council of the Blind at a training seminar for workshop directors, held in Jackson, Mississippi under the sponsorship of National Industries for the Blind. Participants were given highly informative guided tours of two of the nation's largest workshops employing blind persons, Royal Maid Association for the Blind, in Hazlehurst, and Mississippi Industries for the Blind in Jackson. This occasion not only provided me with the opportunity of sharing information about ACB with a number of workshop administrators, but also made it possible for me to visit with several friends in the Mississippi Council of the Blind. I was privileged to take part in the annual convention of the Arizona Council of the Blind, held in Phoenix during the weekend of April 28-30. The Arizona Council is to be commended for a well-planned, interesting, and informative convention program. I want to take this opportunity to thank Edwin and Ruth Druding, Tom and Patsy Stout, outgoing president Maxine Schramm, newly elected President Robert Williams, and other members of this excellent state affiliate for their generous hospitality during my visit to Arizona. On Wednesday, May 3, Oral Miller, Charles Hodge, and I met with NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke and three members of his staff in our Washington office. We had a wide-ranging and constructive discussion of library services, and the meeting provided a good opportunity for dialogue. This issue of The Braille Forum should reach you shortly before the beginning of our national convention in Richmond. I hope to visit with many of you there. ACB is on the move, and your active participation is needed now as never before. ***** ** At Last It's True: There Really Is an Americans with Disabilities Act! By Kathleen Megivern The theme song around Washington this week has been "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," and it has been advocates of disability rights who were singing the blues. The problem arose when the Bush Administration cancelled a press conference which had been previously agreed to, where the President was going to endorse the "principles" of an Americans with Disabilities Act. The word is that the last-minute cancellation came at the request of Senator Robert Dole (R., KS). At any rate, supporters of the ADA recovered quickly from the disappointment and decided to proceed with their own press conference to announce the formal introduction of the legislation. So, on Tuesday morning, May 10, in a packed hearing room of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, six U.S. Senators and two Congressmen gathered to announce their sponsorship of this historic civil rights legislation. Senator Tom Harkin (D., IA) called the press conference to order and then invited statements from his Senate colleagues, Edward M. Kennedy (D., MA), Paul Simon (D., IL), John Chafee (R., RI), James Jeffords (R., VT), and Dave Durenberger (R., MN). The two House members present were Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D., CA) and Hamilton Fish (R., NY). Senator Kennedy in his statement noted the fact that 1989 marks the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and in recalling the events of those days, he noted that if Rosa Parks had been in a wheelchair, she would never even have gotten on the bus, and all those sit-ins at lunch counters in the south would have been impossible in our movement because people who use wheelchairs would have been unable to get into the restaurants. The most passionate statement, however, came from Representative Tony Coelho in response to a reporter's question. He traced some of his personal history when, as an extremely successful college student, he learned for the first time that he had epilepsy, and his life was forever changed. For Congressman Coelho, the ADA is a very personal crusade, and his passion and commitment were extremely moving. After the press conference, the first hearing on ADA began. In addition to another eloquent statement from Representative Coelho, the hearing's agenda included I. King Jordan, the President of Gallaudet University, and Justin Dart, Jr., who noted that he is a "fiscal conservative" and "an active Republican" in favor of this bill. On the issue of cost, Mr. Dart noted that "not since the abolition of slavery has the principle of equality been negotiable for money." By the time Mr. Dart was finished, there was not a dry eye in the House, and the Senators were literally speechless. (This was, of course, a temporary phenomenon.) The hearing also included a panel of persons with disabilities, who discussed the problems they have faced in the area of employment discrimination. Last, but definitely not least, there were witnesses representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Society of Personnel Administrators. Both of those organizations are opposed to the legislation. Also opposed to the bill "in its current form" is Senator Orrin Hatch (R., UT). Senator Hatch was visibly uncomfortable in opposing the bill, especially because he feels close to Justin Dart, Jr. He noted in his remarks that Justin Dart, Sr., had been a very good friend. Nonetheless, Senator Hatch said he "continues to have serious concerns" about the bill. In the House, the number of the bill is H.R. 2273, and the Senate bill is S. 933. Senator Kennedy made it clear that he is committed to the passage of this legislation and indicated that he hopes the bill will be ready to go to the floor of the Senate by late June or early July. When asked about the position of the Administration, several of the Senators reminded everyone of the repeated public statements which President Bush has made in support of ADA. This may, however, be a case of the reality not matching the rhetoric, since there now appears to be some serious "foot-dragging" on the part of the White House. The leaders in Congress, however, seem determined to proceed — with or without the President. How are H.R. 2273 and S. 933 different from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1988? The answers are many, but basically it is fair to say that this version of the bill is more refined and contains many compromises from the previous version. Whereas last year's bill required businesses to accommodate unless doing so would basically cause bankruptcy, this version has an "undue burden" standard. Likewise, the new bill does not require the expensive retrofitting of public transportation systems, but looks more toward the future, requiring, for instance, that all new buses which are purchased must be accessible. This bill does not include housing discrimination, since that was covered last year in the Fair Housing Act Amendments. But even with the compromises, passage of this bill is still expected to be a struggle. As we go to press, S. 933 has 35 co-sponsors. We encourage each and every one of you to be in contact with your Senators to urge their support for this vitally important legislation. Copies of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 are available on cassette from the ACB National Office. ***** ** News Briefs from the ACB National Office By Oral O. Miller National Representative Although the 101st Congress spent much time during its first two months in session debating such matters as a possible Congressional pay increase, the savings and loan crisis, and the approval of President Bush's nomination for the position of Secretary of Defense, the issue of particular importance to disabled people which came to the forefront very early was the 1989 version of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Within the past several weeks, I have examined and analyzed at least two drafts and attended innumerable meetings to discuss the implications of the bill for blind and visually impaired people. It was apparent from the beginning that the expected Congressional sponsors of the bill wanted to obtain the widest possible agreement about the bill within the disabled community before actually introducing it and exposing it to the opposition which any comprehensive civil rights bill would undoubtedly receive. Generally speaking, the American Council of the Blind has continued to strongly support the bill. We have been concerned, however, by the tendency of its prospective sponsors to couch most examples in terms of mobility to the exclusion of sensory disabilities. This extremely important legislation is scheduled to be introduced into Congress on May 9. Every affiliate convention which I am privileged to attend has its own beauty and personality. Those words take on extra meaning when the convention takes place in Hawaii, and that certainly was the case as I traveled to Honolulu to take part in the 1989 convention of the Hawaii Association of the Blind. I had never taken part in a Hawaii Association convention before, and I had not been in Hawaii for several years. It was especially enjoyable meeting the members of the Hawaii Association, learning more about their advocacy and service programs, and enjoying the warm, generous, and gentle hospitality for which Hawaii is world-famous. Though the Hawaii Association is relatively young as an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, it is a well-established organization with a proud and effective history of advocacy concerning a number of very controversial subjects. During recent weeks, ACB's scholarship coordinator, Stephanie Cooper, and many volunteers have spent countless hours screening the hundreds of scholarship applications that arrived around April 1. We want to take this opportunity to thank the ACB members in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area who have assisted in this process. In view of the outstanding records of these scholarship applicants, we know that the members of the ACB Scholarship Committee who are now considering the applications further will have many very difficult decisions to make. During my childhood in eastern Kentucky, it was often jokingly commented by adults that a person should go the other way if he should hear that the sheriff (or a Federal revenue agent) was looking for him. Contrary to what the members of the Arkansas Council of the Blind might have thought, that humorous stricture was not really the reason why I left the Little Rock Airport by myself for the Arkansas Council convention hotel. Due in part to the very late arrival of my flight, I did not know that Deputy Sheriff Leroy Johnson of Arkansas Council was on his way to "pick me up." That lighthearted exchange with Deputy Sheriff Johnson (who is also the hard-working Treasurer of the Arkansas Council of the Blind) kicked off an outstanding convention which featured on its program a reception to thank the hundreds of volunteers who assisted Arkansas Council as official host of the 1988 ACB national convention. The program also included presentations on topics of continuing importance to blind people -- rehabilitation services, library services, employment, and transportation -- and concluded with the most hilarious banquet address I have heard in many years. Finally, to prove that a person can always learn a lot about a previously unknown subject, my participation in the Arkansas Council convention was capped off by a fascinating discussion between Tom Stout, President of the Council of Rehabilitation Specialists, and Albert Pais concerning homing and racing pigeons. Seldom do we have an opportunity to attend meetings at which we learn almost face-to-face that our efforts have been successful. Such a meeting took place recently when, under the auspices of the Save Our Security Coalition, we received word from Congressional sources that our objections to House Bill H.R. 8 concerning work disincentives had been taken into consideration to the extent that H.R. 8 was to be amended so as to remove the provisions that would be harmful to blind recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance. As publicized via the Washington Connection, the American Council of the Blind and other organizations in the blindness field objected strenuously to H.R. 8 because a well-meaning provision in it would have basically abolished the substantial gainful activity level now set by the Social Security law for blind people. Further developments on this subject will be reported via the Washington Connection, which may be called toll-free at 1-800-424-8666 each weekday evening between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. At the time I met Queen Sylvia of Sweden in 1988, I had no idea I would be seeing her again a year later at a White House reception sponsored by Mrs. George Bush. The reception was conducted to announce publication of a book, Go for It, by Queen Sylvia. The book emphasizes the capabilities and success of disabled people throughout the world in a variety of sports, recreational, and other leisure activities. It is being published in this country by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. An ill-conceived decision is often described as "throwing the baby out with the wash." A recent decision by the Michigan Commission for the Blind could be characterized in that way. Specifically, the Commission, by a majority vote, adopted a resolution to the effect that it would not enter into contracts with, or refer clients to, agencies accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. The decision was based on a resolution adopted by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. The decision has been appealed to the Michigan Attorney General, and the members of the Michigan Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired are now mounting a campaign to reverse the decision. It did not occur to the supporters of the resolution that its adoption would preclude the Michigan Commission from entering into contracts for the purchase of such items as Perkins Braillers or for such important services as orientation and mobility, computer programming, and small motor repair, IRS, and other training programs from some of the leading training centers in the country. Such are the ways of senseless vendettas! ***** ** 1989 ACB Convention: Last-Minute Update This article will bring together some last-minute items of information not finalized in time for the March-April issue of The Braille Forum and will go over some of the basics you'll want to have handy if you have decided only at the last minute to attend the 28th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. Place: Richmond, Virginia. Dates: June 30-July 8, 1989. Hotels: The convention will be housed in four hotels, with daily shuttle service from 6:30 A.M. till midnight. Lead hotel is the Richmond Marriott. Exhibits will be housed in the Convention Centre, accessed from the Marriott by an overhead walkway or by shuttle. Daily room rates at the four convention hotels are: Richmond Marriott, $45.00; Omni Richmond, $45.00; Radisson, $40.00; Days In Marketplace, $38.00. Although the deadline for making hotel reservations will have passed by the time you read this article, it may be possible to make last-minute arrangements, on an "as available" basis. Please call the Convention Coordinator's Office at 1-818-349-2636 between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Pacific time. Travel: Northridge Travel Service is the official travel agency for the 1989 ACB convention, and Delta Airlines is the official air-carrier. You may contact Northridge Travel Service as follows: outside California, 1-800-842-8880; inside California, 1-800-523-4396. Ask for Patty or Tensie. You may find lower air fares by flying into Washington National port and then taking ground transportation to Richmond. Groom Transportation offers limousine service from Washington National to either the Richmond Airport or the Holiday Inn Crossroads, which is close to the Marriott. Cost is $24.00 per person. For schedule information, you may call Groom Transportation at 1-804-222-7222. Groom Transportation also maintains service between the Richmond Airport and the convention hotels. Fares are as follows: one person, $10.75; two persons, $15.00; three persons, $18.75; four persons, $22.00. Volunteers will be on hand at the airport to assist as needed. The week will kick off with a "Welcome to Richmond" party on Saturday evening, July 1. Hosted by the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, ACB's Virginia affiliate, the evening will feature the finest in southern hospitality, an outstanding Dixieland band, and an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. Don't miss it! "An intellectual feast, and more!" That's the only way to describe the schedule of speakers lined up by this year's Program Committee for the plenary sessions of the American Council of the Blind, to be held each morning during convention week. This year's program will include such topics as the electronic "talking" newspaper for the blind in Michigan, by its founder, Jim Doherty; sailing to Bermuda in a one-man sailboat, by Jim Dickson; updated role of the World Blind Union, by Duncan Watson, WBU President; the changing role and policies of the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped, by the new chairperson of the Committee, Beverly Milkman; future of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, by Ms. Nell Carney, recently appointed Commissioner; latest developments regarding library services for blind people, by Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; and the real position of the U.S. Postal Service concerning the "Free Matter" mailing privilege. Observations concerning the changing nature of the American educational system will be made by Dr. James McComes, President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, prior to his presentation of the 1989 ACB scholarships. Whenever the term "consumer" has been mentioned over the past 25 years, one name comes to mind because of his tireless efforts in such diverse areas as automobile safety, banking practices, Congressional salaries, and savings and loan misdeeds. That name is Ralph Nader. Negotiations are now under way to arrange for Mr. Nader to address the convention. "Going, going, gone!" That's what you'll hear when you attend the ACB auction. Mark your calendar for Thursday evening, July 6 ... We promise lots of fun and laughs. If you've never seen or heard a "cosmic cube" or the "Chimes of Lun," you're in for a treat. An incredible array of items awaits your bidding. Who will take home a Paul Simon autographed bow tie? Or a fantastic coffee-maker or food processor? Don't miss this opportunity to support ACB and have a great time doing it. Bidding begins at 8:30 P.M. See you there. Back by POPULAR DEMAND ... the ACB Computer Game Room, brought to the convention by Automated Functions of Arlington, Virginia. Sign up for the high tech bowling tournament. You may go home a winner. Test your memory playing Concentration, or go all out and try Air-Sea Battle. Gamblers will love Casino. Also test your skill at Wheel of Fortune. Here's another chance to support ACB and have fun at the same time. Look for the free game ticket in your convention registration packet. The place to be on Friday evening, July 7, is the ACB Annual Banquet. Good food, good company, southern hospitality, and an outstanding program are being planned. So be sure to include the ACB Banquet you’re your convention week schedule. To wind down the week, you are invited to attend the Theater 4 Community Players production of "Is There Life After High School?" This "night out" will include hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar before the performance, and the opportunity to go backstage to meet and talk with the players afterward. The National Convention Coordinator is currently developing proposals for possible convention sites for 1991. These proposals will be presented first to the ACB Board of Directors at its preconvention meeting, and then to the membership, to be voted on from the convention floor. Be sure to watch for bid parties during convention week. If you have questions, please call the Convention Coordinator's Office at 1-818-349-2636 between 9 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Pacific time. See you in Richmond! ***** ** Exercise: Are You Kidding? By Christine M. Cook In a society so fitness- and weight-conscious, why are so many Americans overweight and dying from cardiac arrest? Have you noted among your friends who are disabled that a steady pace through the baseball stadium in search of seats will leave them breathless? Will two laps around the pool result in total exhaustion for the rest of the day? How many visually impaired people have been refused entrance into or have failed to obtain a dog from a dog guide school because of physical unpreparedness? Sedentary pursuits such listening to music, reading, or watching television too often seduce us into neglecting our physical well-being. "Moderation" in all things is a good idea. For those strong of will and body, vigorous sports activities are welcomed. But what about those of us who find weight-lifting mentally fatiguing, running suicidal, and floor exercises boring, boring, boring? Organized sports are often unavailable. Health spas may be inaccessible or simply unappealing. Individual initiative may be absent, and the confidence to venture into an unfamiliar environment may also be lacking. What to do? How to do it? Anyone who wants to be in better physical shape, yet avoid strenuous, short-lived activity might well consider a common-sense walking program. Living in a rural state such as West Virginia, the exercise dilemma takes on special aspects. I live in the country, about four miles from town, where there are erratic traffic patterns, hilly terrain, crazy back-road drivers, and no sidewalks. When my three sons were small, I found myself restricted only too often to the home environment. True, chasing three small boys will keep you loose and moving, but my endurance level for extended exertion was low. What began as a treat for the boys and an opportunity for me to get outside developed into an exercise program. I began walking slowly for short distances with the boys and my cane. Now that the boys are older, I usually walk alone (especially when I won't let them bring their bikes). In the following paragraphs, I shall briefly outline my observations and describe some of the techniques I have developed to make this exercise program safe and beneficial. My primary emphasis is rural cane travel. However, dog guide users should pay attention, too. If you have medical considerations, consult your doctor before beginning any program. Forget all you know about the standard cane procedures developed for urban mobility. A five-mile hike swinging that cane back and forth will break your arm. I found that modifying the swing of the cane to first touch the edge of the pavement and then touch about ten inches further to the left on the berm or shoulder works quite well. You do not wander into the middle of the road, and this cane technique keeps you out of harm's way. Since no cars should be parked on the highway and no giant holes in the road should lie in wait for you, you do not need full­body coverage. Before hitting the road, let's review landmarks. Compared with city landmarks, country landmarks may appear quaint at first glance. Many markers are permanent, while others are temporary because of changing seasons. Observe your surroundings: identify those landmarks which best serve you. Take a sighted friend along the first time out to help find landmarks and to help sort out difficult crossroads. Within a three­mile radius of my home I have found the following landmarks to be useful: paved and graveled driveways; telephone poles; honeysuckle patch crossroads; barking dogs (hopefully chained); the sound of tractors working nearby fields; uncleared stretches along the berm; and greetings from the neighbors, after they have decided you are not attempting suicide. Seasonal fragrances and scents -- roses, hayfields, and the farmers' barnyards -- can assist you. There "ain't nothing wrong with our olfactory equipment!" Caution: Traffic patterns are quite different in rural areas. Always walk facing the traffic. Always listen for the traffic ahead of you. Cars approaching from the rear will be the opposite side of the road, but coming cars will pass next to you. If an automobile is heading your way, step off the pavement. If the berm is cleared, keep walking. If not, do not hesitate too long before removing your body from the road, because obstructions ahead may prevent you from hearing the approaching traffic until it is upon you. After a car passes, delay a few more seconds before stepping back on the road, because obstructions may prevent your hearing oncoming cars until they are upon you. Prematurely regaining the pavement can land you in the hospital. How much walking should you do? At first it will come slowly. A quarter of a mile will seem endless. But if you walk a little more each time and do it regularly at least three times a week, your endurance will increase rapidly; your breathing will improve dramatically; your stress level will drop; your mileage will multiply. And best of all, you need not depend upon a group or an expensive spa membership to benefit from walking. If the "want-to" is present, areas in which to walk can be found. A year-round program is best if you can abide the cold weather. What do you have to lose? Answer: pounds! What do you gain? Answer: a healthier body and a greater sense of independence. One more warning: In West Virginia, cane users have been known to pick up poisonous snakes on cane tips. Therefore, when in doubt, flick the end of your cane hard into the bushes! (Note: Christine Cook is president of the Mountain State Council of the Blind, the West Virginia affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.) ***** ** Government Publications That Blind People Can Read? -- Not Yet, But A Start! By Oral O. Miller National Representative One of the busiest printing plants in the world is the enormous Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. This modern printing factory, which operates 24 hours a day over much of each year, produces millions of pages of material annually -- and, yes, almost all is in the proverbial "fine print." With the exception of materials produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, plus a few tax, Social Security, and safety-related items, virtually none of this material can be read by blind or visually impaired people. No, we are not suggesting that the Federal Government should produce braille or tape-recorded editions of everything it produces in ink-print, but we have been concerned for some time about the inability or unwillingness of the Federal Government to develop the capability of producing important materials in an accessible form when needed. For more than a year, representatives of the American Council of the Blind have been communicating with key Federal officials on this subject. Last summer, for example, ACB representatives met with Mr. Clarence Thomas, Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees, to explore such procedures as producing braille, when needed, from the computer disks used by the Government Printing Office as a way of developing institutional capability to produce a reasonable amount of material upon request. This matter is still being pursued, but any thoughts of a quick solution should be viewed in light of the adage as to how slowly the wheels of government grind. Although it may be a while yet before government publications can be made available in accessible form on any reasonable basis, a worthwhile "chink in the armor" has already been found. Specifically, each fall, the Federal Government establishes an open season during which Federal employees can switch health insurance plans or opt to stay with existing plans. This process involves the distribution of dozens of brochures, comparative charts, and other documents -- all in "fine print," of course. Since this information has never been provided in accessible form for blind employees, and since no arrangements have been made generally for them to receive assistance in examining the voluminous materials, it has been effectively impossible for them to make well-informed decisions on this important matter. In an effort to remedy this situation, the American Council of the Blind and its special-interest affiliate, the ACB Federal Employees, petitioned the Office of Personnel Management to take remedial action. By memorandum to all Federal department and agency heads, dated December 21, 1988, Ms. Constance Horner, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, directed that assistance be given to blind employees, and that the enrollment period should be extended appropriately to allow them to make informed decisions. Enough such memoranda and directives should get the attention of more Federal departments and agencies when we next talk to them about developing the capability of producing materials in accessible form. As a follow-up to the Constance Horner memorandum of December 21, 1988, the ACB Federal Employees distributed a questionnaire regarding the nature and extent of assistance given as directed in Horner memorandum. Although the deadline for the return of this questionnaire may have passed by the time this article is published, any Federal employee who did not have an opportunity to complete it may still do so by obtaining a copy from the ACB National Office (toll-free, 1-800-424-8666). Excerpts from the memorandum of December 21, 1988, from Constance Horner of the Office of Personnel Management follow: "During the last days of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) open season, the Office of Personnel Management received a complaint from an organization representing blind and visually impaired employees regarding the accessibility of open season materials. The organization alleged that blind and visually impaired employees were unable to make an informed decision because open season materials were not available in tape, large-print, or braille. "Each Federal department and agency has an affirmative obligation to ensure that its blind and visually impaired employees are able to make an informed election respecting FEHB coverage. We believe that given the nature of FEHB enrollment materials, the most effective assistance is one-on-one counseling, preferably by an agency benefits specialist ... (Please note that the specialist's role is to provide factual information, not to provide subjective advice on which plan is the "best.") In addition, it may be appropriate for agencies to provide readers to assist the blind and visually impaired in reviewing, FEHB literature ... "Any blind or visually impaired employee who was not able to make an informed election because of the lack of agency assistance must be given a belated opportunity to make an election and to receive one-on-one counseling ..." ***** ** Artic Sets a Fast Pace in New Speech Technology for PC Users By Marvin Brotman It only looks like a sewing machine pedal you pump with your foot. What it really does is make it far easier for blind and partially sighted personal computer users to scan even the most complicated information at speeds ranging from slow to break­neck, according to users of the new Turbo-Pedal System developed by Artic Technologies Intl. Inc., a Troy, Michigan, company. "You can skim, and it gives you some of the same capability a sighted person has in doing a quick scan with their eyes," said Joseph Roeder, a blind businessman from Baltimore, Maryland. "When I am reviewing -- even looking for a particular sentence or paragraph -- I can easily shift up and find what I want, using the pedal system. It's easier than using the old keyboard review mode ... and faster, too." The Turbo-Pedal System is optional equipment that works with any of the PC-access "packages" offered by Artic Technologies, a leader in development of speech synthesizers and supporting software for the visually impaired and fully sighted market. Here's how the Turbo-Pedal System works: The system has three pedals, one on either side of a centerplate. By holding down the centerplate, you remain in the review mode. Pressing the left rewind pedal will send you backward up the PC screen, while foot pressure on the right pedal sends you speeding forward. Speed is controlled easily by a shift key, since your hands remain on the keyboard. The pedal system is just one of the improvements and innovations that have made Artic a pacesetter in development of speech products for personal computer access -- from desktops to laptops. Artic was started five years ago by Tim Gargagliano (the company's current president), Kathryn Fons, Dale McDaniel, and Arthur Velthoven. All four were research and development specialists from Votrax, another Troy, Michigan, company. Votrax, which was under new ownership, had shifted interest from phonetic synthesis products to products for the large computer market. At that time, the four company principals had just developed a new chip for phonetic speech synthesis, which held great potential for "PC's that could talk." Known as the Artic 263, the chip enabled the fledgling company to quickly develop its Syn-Phonix speech synthesizers, a group of products which many visually impaired and fully sighted users consider the best phonetic speech synthesizer, in addition to being in a lower price range -- $800 to $1,000 (this includes the speech synthesizer card, speech software, speaker, and phone). "We were the first company have truly interactive speech software which enabled the visually impaired to use Lotus 1-2-3 and other pop off-the-shelf programs for doing spreadsheets and calculator chores," said Dale McDaniel, Artic Vice President for Marketing. This package, called Artic Business Vision, also makes it easier for blind and partially sighted people to use word processing software. Business Vision grew out of Artic Vision, a software package for general PC use, developed shortly after the company's inception. Both products translate keyboard input and screen output for speech synthesizers. Artic speech products have literally "turned lives around," particularly for people who have lost all or most of their sight in mid-career -- people like Larry Powell of Lansing, Michigan, a former phys. ed. instructor whose worsening retina problems left him with only a little peripheral vision. Thanks to new advances in computer access, Powell was able to get special training and re-direct his career. He now is a data systems analyst in the Department of Social Services for the State of Michigan. Artic Business Vision is helping Powell perform tough assignments in the Social Service Department's Medical Division. He does much programming and preparation of reports, besides analysis of different data systems. Powell explained that Artic Business Vision helps him in three major areas of his work: "It helps me use the stand-alone capability of the IBM AT personal computer; it helps me make use of an important tie-in to a local computer network; and I soon will be using it for tying in to a Honeywell mainframe system. What Artic came out with happened at the right time for me." Powell's words were echoed by Cynthia Ice, a product support specialist for Lotus Development Corp. -- the Boston-area company that developed Lotus 1-2-3 and other software packages. Ice, who is totally blind, handles a wide range of inquiries from people needing help in effectively using Lotus products. "We are the people you call when you're having trouble," she explains. Ice is a former college administrator who lose her sight gradually because of diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness. To help compensate for her sight loss, Ice took a special computer training course at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts. Ice works with two IBM XT personal computers, each equipped with Artic Business Vision. She actually simulates some customer problems on one of her PC's in order to provide a workable solution. This often involves "reaching" into a large database which she can access in spoken form. Tom Owens, a customer relations specialist in Laurel, Maryland, also relies on Artic Business Vision regularly during his 60-hour work week for a car dealership. Owens, who has no usable vision, works under considerable pressure fielding customer complaints, making certain that customers having autos repaired get temporary replacements ... and letting people know when their vehicles have been fixed. "If Artic was not available, my job would be a lot harder than it is now," Owens said. Although it has been around only five years, Artic was among the first to open the world of laptop computers for easy access by the blind and partially sighted. In 1987 Artic announced its speech package for use with the Toshiba T-1100 laptop computer. Now the company has come out with its latest in laptop access that works with the Toshiba T-1000. It's called Artic D'Light because it weighs only six pounds -- and that includes the SynPhonix synthesizer. Recently released is Artic Crystal. Those who have tested it say it provides DECTalk voice quality without sacrificing fast speech and instantaneous control. Crystal is priced considerably lower than DECTalk. It works with PC's, XT's and AT's, plus the new 386 generation of computers. Artic has a nationwide network of distributors who handle sales and service and also makes its products available through its home office. For further information, contact Artic Technologies at 55 Park Street, Suite 2, Troy, MI 48083; (313) 588-7370. ***** ** ACB National Staff Member Honored (The following Service A ward presentation was made at the 1988 state convention of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota.) Now we come to one of the high spots of our 1988 State Convention. At this time we wish to honor an individual who is well-known to almost all of us, but whose quiet and unassuming but effective work we tend to take for granted ... His wide­ranging abilities, his high level of competence in all that he does, the balance of his many interests and activities have made many useful things happen. His efforts have extended the way from his own neighborhood and community to state and national levels of service. James Rebney Olsen was born December 1, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and spent most of his early life in South Minneapolis. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1960 and from the University of Minnesota in 1965, where he earned a degree in Business Administration. He then went on to become a Certified Public Accountant. On October 8, 1965, he married Anna Felscher. He and Ann have two lovely daughters, Sarah, 19, and Martha, 15. Jim developed diabetes at the age of 12 and became legally blind in 1976. ... At the local level, Jim has served as President of the Gopher State Blind Associates, which was the forerunner of ACBM. He is a long-standing Board of Directors member of the Minneapolis Society for the Blind, serving on its Rehabilitation Committee. At present he holds the office of Assistant Treasurer of MSB. While involved with MSB, Jim has volunteered to teach braille, has assisted in the woodworking shop, and has become a certified Optacon instructor. He has served on the United Way Speakers Bureau, has addressed all school grade levels on the subject of blindness, has spoken to numerous church and Sunday-school groups, and has held many positions on the Council of the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Minneapolis. Reaching beyond his local community, Jim has assisted State Services for the Blind by providing counseling services to newly blind individuals interested in accounting. He was appointed Governor Quie to the State Council for the Handicapped, which has since been renamed the State Council on Disabilities. As if this were not enough, Jim served on the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, organized diabetes workshops at ACB national conventions, and was elected to the office of Treasurer of ACB. Having completed his full allowable term in that office, he now works as assistant to the new treasurer. Most importantly, since 1978 Jim has held the full-time position of Executive Director of ACB Enterprises and Services, which, through its chain of Thrift Stores, provides much of the funding for ACB. Despite all of these activities, Jim still manages to lead a balanced life and to have time for his home and family, his church and community obligations, as well as personal hobbies and interests. Among other things, he has enjoyed stamp collecting, reading mystery stories, and working on home construction projects. He built doll houses for each of his daughters, for instance, and won ribbons for them at the State Fair ... Unusual? Not for Jim Olsen, winner of the ACBM 1988 Service Award. ***** ** Talking Book Survives Ocean Tragedy A talking book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, spent more than a week submerged in the briny saltwater of the North Atlantic Ocean, but continues to play beautifully, according to an NLS patron. "Talking books are designed to take rough handling, but this is most unusual," said NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke. The harsh treatment of the discs containing Remains to Be Seen, a romance by Elizabeth Cadell, came after a recent shipment of mail was damaged due to a collision at sea off the coast of Ireland. A U.S. Postal Service mail container was part of the accident's wreckage, and packages were unrecoverable for nearly a week. After the water-damaged items were drained and dried, they were sent on their way by An Post, the Irish postal agency, along with a letter explaining what had transpired. The recipient, a U.S. citizen currently living in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland, was "happy to say ... (the discs) were not a bit hurt by their adventurous voyage!" In fact, the reader says she will return the book to the library so that other patrons can enjoy reading it. NLS provides books and magazines in recorded and braille format for blind and physically handicapped persons in the U.S. and to Americans living abroad. Last year more than 20 million recorded and braille books and magazines were circulated to a readership of more than 691,000. ***** ** Sighted Physicist Creates Career in Art for the Blind By Sue Tullos "I never did study art formally," says Paul Re, whose tactile exhibits have appeared all over the United States, and whose essays on tactile art have appeared in numerous scientific journals. His background in physics, though seemingly contradictory and possibly even alien to the artistic personality, is a definite plus in his case, for Re sees no difference between a physicist and a sculptor. Paul Re's training in physics, later to be the foundation for his tactile art, began during high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he grew up "on the edge of the city and could walk in nature." Two his physics projects, wind tunnels, won first prize in the international science fair, and Paul considers these among his first sculptures. In his second project, a supersonic wind tunnel, Paul had to design, shape, and smooth Laval nozzles as precisely as possible. Paul learned much from "that necessity for perfection," and says it's still important in his art. Paul studied physics at Cal. Tech and graduated in 1972 at the top of his class. Despite the academic honors, he was dissatisfied and wondered what to do with his life, although he knew he wanted to be an artist. "I did not feel that the normal way of presenting physics as a theoretical or experimental physicist was for me," he explains. "I felt that there was great beauty in physics, and I wanted to present it in a more direct way through art." Physics, for Paul, was too automated, and he missed working with his hands as he did at home in his father's carpenter shop. Finally, he took a summer off and spent it doing sculpture. His first pieces were "abstract forms carved from an old stump." Paul got the idea for his tactile art when in 1979 or 1980 he agreed to write an article for Leonardo, a journal devoted to bridging the gap between science and art. "The article was about the mathematical basis for my drawings and paintings," Paul recalls. "And an important part of that article was drawing what I call the basic shapes or contours of those works, which are then shaded or colored delicately in the drawings and paintings." It was while working on this article that Paul decided to translate these shapes into raised-line embossings. "I had a hunch that the blind would appreciate them," he says. But it was a long way from a hunch to the real thing, and Paul's next step was to prepare his embossings and have them tested. He sent out samples all over the country, but received no response. Finally, he met a blind woman in Albuquerque, Barbara Ennis, who agreed to test his embossings, and this gave him the feedback he needed. Paul has been pursuing a career in tactile art since 1981. Paul Re has prepared one complete exhibit and is at work on another. Touchable Art: An Exhibit for the Blind and Sighted, has appeared in thirteen showings across the United States, most recently at the Fine Arts Museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Paul states that his exhibit is primarily available to museums, since they have the staff to guarantee security. The exhibit contains "19 raised-line embossings used in the paintings and drawings of Paul Re," and these embossings depict "natural forms, such as Blossom, Swan, Whale, or qualities such as Hope and Serenity." It is Paul's wish that both the blind and the sighted will experience ''the intrinsic balance and harmony of these shapes," and he encourages blind and sighted participants to move about as much as possible during the exhibit. The introduction to and labels for the exhibit are in braille and print, to further encourage Paul's aim for communication. The exhibit is not only tactile, but visual as well, and the visual portion consists of "19 photographs of the ten paintings (color prints), and nine drawings (black­and-white prints)." To stimulate the auditory as well as the visual and tactile senses, a tape with introductory comments and Paul's original guitar music accompanies the exhibit. Paul emphasizes that his music deepens the audience's understanding of the art forms they are seeing or touching, thus making them more accessible. Though Paul's exhibit has received high praise, he's quick to insist that an artist's day consists of more than just creative rapture. His day begins and ends with a period of exercise and meditation, and he spends the time in between taking care of administrative tasks, in addition to working on his creative projects. He would like some day to get a grant for his art, since it is a lifetime commitment. Paul believes that his work is unique, and he has made by hand an art book of his traveling exhibit, which he has distributed in limited quantities to museums and institutions. One copy is in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Edmonton, Alberta, and one he sent to a center in West Germany, but communication about the project broke down. Paul appreciates the good response to his art book, but admits that preparing it is expensive and time-consuming, and he has made only 20 copies. He feels that the revolutionary qualities of his art would gain wider acceptance if he could distribute the book in rural areas and in other countries. He feels that the world has become a bit more accepting of blind people's right to enjoy and appreciate art, and insists that, while discovering a form by touch may take longer than discovering it by the eye, touch is still a viable and valuable medium. Does Paul Re feel he has abandoned a career in physics for a career in art? "I haven't abandoned physics," he asserts with decision. "I am simply doing research into form and shape, and I present these in my art. On the outside I live as an artist, but on the inside I live as a physicist." For Paul, being creative is being close to the source of life, and he unabashedly views his pursuit of art as communion with that source. He believes that all people everywhere, sighted or blind, can learn to appreciate beauty, and he helps foster this concept in his capacity as a member of the advisory board of Access to Art, designed to teach appreciation of art to people in all disability groups. Paul Re is a shaper not only of form and design, but of dreams, and he hopes that his art will help to create a more harmonious and less hostile world. ***** ** Blinded American Vet Sets New Record In World Disabled Water Ski Competition In October 1988, Dr. Dennis R. Wyant, National Secretary of the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, won first place in slalom-wake crossings and trick skiing events at the National Blind Water Ski Competition in Orlando, Florida. The two first-place finishes qualified him as a member of the Disabled Water Ski Team to represent the United States at the World Disabled Water Ski Competition in Perth, Australia, in 1989. The second World Disabled Water Ski Competition was held in Perth in mid-March. Dr. Wyant brought home one gold and three silver medals. He averaged 26.5 wake crossings per 20 seconds in the wake slalom event, beating the old record held by Chris Mairs of Great Britain. He won second place in the trick and jump categories to win silver medals, and another silver when he placed second in the best all-around athlete in the partially sighted division. A resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Wyant said in an interview: "The World Water Ski Competition attracted disabled people from ten countries. While their disabilities were of all types (arm and leg amputees, paraplegics, etc.), these fine competitors astounded the crowds. It was exciting watching a leg-amputee on one ski or a paraplegic on a sit-ski going over the jump or through the slalom course." While the third World Disabled Water Ski Competition has yet to be scheduled, he hopes to have it in this country in 1991. He is also working to have these events for disabled individuals added to the Post Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, in 1992. In a recent note to The Braille Forum, Dr. Wyant wrote: "I found out about this competition by reading The Braille Forum four years ago. Perhaps this article will bring more new blind skiers to enjoy fun and excitement." Blind water skiers -- beginners or experienced -- are encouraged to participate in the National Blind Ski Clinic and Competition held at Splash and Ski in Orlando, Florida, each October. For further information, contact Ed Kanan, President, American Blind Skiers, Inc., 2325 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403; (213) 828-5514. ***** ** Pan-Am Games for Disabled Youth The 1989 Pan-Am Games for Physically Disabled Youth will be held at the University of South Florida, August 1-8. Approximately 1,500 physically disabled youths ages 8-18, accompanied by coaches/escorts, are expected from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Age-appropriate competition will be offered to blind and visually impaired participants in track and field, swimming, and weight-lifting. A series of clinics for participants will be offered in the competition sports plus cycling, gymnastics, and goal ball. Also a series of seminars will be offered for all interested parties. Seminar topics will include sport techniques, age and sport, disability and sport, program administration, and medical concerns. Entry fee for the week of $175.00 per person covers room and board, competitions, clinics, seminars, and ground transportation. Additionally, membership in the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes ($5.00) and insurance fees ($12.00) will be required. All participants will be responsible for their transportation from home to the site and return. Further information and entry forms are available by contacting Ms. Gay Clement, 3032 Lindsay Street, Columbia, SC 29201. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: DECTalk, in excellent condition. $1,000.00. Frank Bonfiglio, Archdiocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities, 305 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226; (313) 237-5910. * For Salel: Optacon. Excellent condition. Includes carrying case, $1,500.00. Please contact Pauline Brandenburger, 14192 Fairway Street, Livonia, MI 48154; (313) 591-6432. * Wanted: News Director at WDOH Radio in Delphos, Ohio, is looking for any pieces or parts of the Triformation Systems LED-1 braille embosser. He is in special need of the service manual and line-feed drive motor and its assembly, in working condition. Robert J. Ulm, 719 W. 2nd Street, Delphos, OH 45833; (419) 692-6282 (after 1:00 P.M.). * For Sale: Versabraille, complete with master overlay, computer overlays, two head cleaners, sample materials tape, data tapes, recharger and power supply, and print and braille manuals. Also Apple IIc, printer cables, Cricket voice synthesizer, WordTalk program, and ten data disks. All in good working condition. Cost for the complete package, $1,500.00. However, price is negotiable, and items may be sold separately. Write Raquel Gomez, 2403 Central Avenue, N.E., Apt. 2, Minneapolis, MN 55418; or you may call (612) 781-7474, daytime or evening (calls left on answering machine will be returned). * For Sale: VTEK Voyager with tilting screen. Used less than twelve hours. Three years transferable warranty remaining. Selling price, $1500.00 or best offer. Contact Eugene or Lorene Saumier, 323 North Walnut Street, Apt. 504, Lansing, MI 48933; (517) 548-3176. ***** ** Here & There By Elizabeth M. Lennon From AER Report (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired): Laserlight, Inc., has announced the production of an electronic touch book intended primarily for children with learning, visual, or hearing impairments. This light-up book is electronically moving and sound- and voice-producing. The light, movement, and sound are produced from high-intensity diodes, electromagnetics, printed circuitry, sub-mini speakers, microchips, and a replaceable long-life film battery. All of the elements are concealed within the hard cover of the book. The aids may be integrated separately or in unison. Initial distribution will be at no cost to those groups, schools, centers, and individuals associated with learning, visual, and hearing impaired children. Additional information may be obtained from Laserlight, Inc., 6 Delta Court, Allendale, NJ 07401. A cure for blindness through the use of an artificial eye is possible by early in the next century, says Dr. John Caulfield of the University of Alabama at Huntsville, according to the Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette News Service. "Enough tantalizing research is there to prove that it is possible," the optics expert says. Caufield predicts that in 20 to 30 years, an artificial eye could be transplanted to a sightless person and the fiberoptics connected neurologically with the brain. After the transplant, the person would then learn to see. Transplant could be successful for anyone, partially or totally blind, as long as the visual center of the brain is not damaged. The third annual Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award of the American Foundation for the Blind was presented to actress Suzanne Toren, who has narrated 346 books at AFB. Four narrators were also inducted into the Talking Book Hall of Fame: the late House Jameson, film and television actor, with more than 200 books narrated at AFB; George C. Patterson, who has recorded more than 200 books since 1939 at the American Printing House for the Blind; Terry Hayes Sales, singer and actress, who has recorded more than 400 books at APH since 1941; and the late Alexander Scourby, stage, film and television actor, who narrated nearly 500 books from 1936 to 1985. In early February, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $1,000 fine levied against a St. Louis Airport limousine service owned by State Senator J.E. "Jet" Banks, for refusing a ride to ACB Board member M.J. Schmitt of Chicago and her dog guide in 1985. Ms. Schmitt said that in April of 1985, she was denied access to a van at the St. Louis airport. When referred to the dispatcher, she was told she would have to ride in a separate van at a cost of $15.00. Normal fare at that time was $5.90. The limousine service was convicted in September 1987 in St. Louis County Circuit Court of the misdemeanor offense of discrimination against a handicapped person. The $1,000.00 fine is the maximum possible. From AER Report: Blind and sighted tandem cyclists from the U.S. are inviting cyclists around the world to participate in a Tour for Peace. The 500-mile, two-week tandem tour along the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco is planned for August 5-19. Interested cyclists may contact Rhonda Tichman immediately for tour information at P.O. Box 46069, San Francisco, CA 94146-0697; (415) 387-5973. PC Dictionary-10 is a program for the IBM PC and compatibles. The database contains 10,000 most frequently used words, with concise definitions, and is designed to help the reader in the same way a spell-checker helps the writer. It is considered to be the equivalent of a 14,000-word dictionary, since it does not include 4,000 basic words. The program is menu-driven, with on-line instruction. Cost: $49.95. For further information, contact Jim Chung, Edicom Systems, 19827 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076; (313) 541-8889. The American Library Association has announced that Dr. Carson Y. Nolan, recently retired President of American Printing House for the Blind, is the 1989 recipient of the Francis Joseph Campbell Citation and Award. The 24th annual Campbell Award is presented to Dr. Nolan in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of library services and literacy for blind persons. Over the course of his career with APH, Dr. Nolan has made important nationally recognized contributions in the areas of braille research, teaching, and materials development and dissemination. The ceremony will take place June 26 during the annual conference of the American Library Association in Dallas, Texas. From AFB News: A special provision in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, P.L. 100-203, requires the Social Security Adminis­tration to give blind supplemental security income (SSI) applicants and recipients an option on how notices and decisions regarding their rights under SSI are provided to them. The law states that blind individuals are entitled to choose to receive notice of any decision, determination, or action by telephone within five working days after the initial notice is mailed by certified letter, or by an alternative procedure agreed upon by the Agency and the blind recipient. The Social Security Administration is to provide every person receiving SSI benefits on the basis of blindness an opportunity to make a decision not later than one year after the effective date of the amendment (July 1, 1988). Blind SSI recipients who want to take advantage of the new law should contact their Social Security office to request delivery of notices in the form most helpful to them. "Workers Who Are Deaf-Blind Are Competent and Reliable!" This is the theme of the sixth annual Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, to be observed June 25-July 1. Purpose of the week is to promote awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and abilities of deaf-blind and vision/hearing impaired Americans. For promotional materials or for information regarding deaf-blindness, contact Community Education Department, Helen Keller National Center, 111 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY 11050; (516) 944-8900. The 1989 NCAA college football schedule is being compiled and brailled by the Braille Revival League of Alabama. This year's schedule will include 100 teams, covering major conferences plus major independents. To order, send $5.00 to: Alan H. Gillis, Route 12, Box 2985, Cullman, AL 35055. The 1989 meeting of the National Church Conference of the Blind will be held at the Ramada Inn, Grand Junction, Colorado, July 23-27. Conference theme is: "The Well-Dressed Christian." In addition to morning and evening worship services and daily Bible study, this year's conference will include seminars on communication, the cults, how to deal with loss, and more. For further information, contact Rev. Frank Finkenbinder, Membership Secretary, National Church Conference of the Blind, P.O. Box 163, Denver, CO 80201; (303) 455-3430. Merrill Maynard, an active member of the American Council of the Blind and of its special-interest affiliate, Friends-in-Art of ACB, died earlier this year of a massive heart attack. Aged 70, he was a person of many talents -- author, poet, artist -- and for many years operated the Maynard Listener Library of Taunton, Mass. Evelyn Meyer, Executive Director of Services to the Blind, Visually and Hearing Impaired, of Marion, Indiana, and a past president of the ACB of Indiana, was presented with the "Sagamore of the Wabash" Award by Governor Robert Orr. This title is conferred on people who have distinguished themselves by service to the State of Indiana. Ms. Meyer presently serves on the Board of the Indiana Rehabilitation Services on the Human Services Commission. A-Talk (formerly Apple Talk) is a quarterly magazine for Apple Computer users with speech synthesizers. The more modern and faster pro-DOS disk format is now being utilized. Included are articles about programming your Apple, notices about computer products and software, games and utilities. Each issue also contains several ready-to-run programs. A-Talk also maintains a disk library of public-domain programs available to subscribers for a $5.00 copying fee. Subscription for 1989 is $20.00. Send prepaid orders to Jeff Weiss, A-Talk, 3015 S. Tyler Street, Little Rock, AR 72204. Instructional Aids, Tools, and Supplies for People Who Are Visually Handicapped, 1989 Recorded Edition, is a cassette catalog which lists a wide variety of aids, tools, and supplies for use in education and in daily living, available from the American Printing House for the Blind. Products range from traditional items such as slates and styluses to tech items such as speech output hardware and software. The four-track, 15/16 ips cassette is available free of charge from American Printing House for the Blind, Consumer Information Services, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085; (502) 895-2405. The second in a projected series of leisure activity booklets, Fishing: Introduction to Fishing for Fun and Food for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals, has been published by the National Library Service. Fishing includes the experiences of a blind fisherman, explains how a licensed guide assists young people in learning the techniques of fishing, and lists recorded and braille books and magazines about the sport available through the NLS regional libraries. Free copies in large print are available from Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC 20542. The booklet will be offered in braille and on tape later this year. Also available at the above address is the first booklet in the series, Birding: An Introduction to Ornithological Delights for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals. ***** ** 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 ###