THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLV March 2007 No. 7 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Christopher Gray, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2007 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: A New Kind of Petition, by Christopher Gray A Successful Sendoff to 2006, by Melanie Brunson Local Advocacy at Its Best: Community Advocates from Baltimore's Ronald McDonald House, ACB Representatives Learn from One Another, by Gary Norman Summary of the Board of Directors Conference Call November 6, 2006, by Charles S.P. Hodge New Year's Resolutions for People with Disabilities, by Joyce Bender Minneapolis Magic, by Carla Ruschival Would You Like to Be a First-Timer?, by Catherine Skivers Some Gentle Persuasion from the Awards Committee, by Nola McKinney Board of Publications Seeks Nominees for Awards Bid Your Way to Some Great Stuff and Help ACB, by Ray Campbell Affiliate News Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: A NEW KIND OF PETITION by Christopher Gray The year 2006 will go down in the historic archives of blind Americans as a landmark year after the ruling in federal district court that the nation's currency needs to accommodate visually impaired and blind people. Advances in technology, general public expectations, and the fact that every other country manufacturing paper currency in the world has made such accommodations helped bring about this ruling. The vision of ACB in championing this case will be a major part of this historic event as well as will that of the forward-thinking attorney who has shepherded this case through the judicial process. The year 2006 will also be remembered as the first year in which the online petition was used by blind and visually impaired people to effect change. First, a petition was launched to get the attention of a major corporation regarding practices it used that created inaccessibility for computer users. Next, an online petition was mounted to protest actions taken in the providing of braille materials by the Library of Congress. Each of these petitions was signed by thousands of blind Americans, their friends, and their supporters. Both petitions were created and made available by blind ACB members and/or blind people very active with ACB Radio. Today, a petition is available through which ACB members, Braille Forum readers, and supporters of ACB can make their feelings publicly known regarding the need for accessible currency. As before, this petition has been created and made available by an ACB member, Michael Malver of Minnesota. His work and dedication in this project demonstrate once again the democratic values and traditions exemplified by ACB and its membership. The right to vote, the right to petition lawmakers and public servants, and the right to have our voices heard is an American and a truly democratic tradition. It is exemplified once again in the Currency for All petition. If you are a computer user, you can sign this petition in a matter of minutes. Go to http://www.money4all.info and follow the instructions there. You can also read the full text of the petition on the web site. Countless people have asked me, both blind and sighted, how they might help ACB in its quest for a more accessible currency. Their desire seems completely genuine, and many have told me how much they or a family member can benefit from such a change. I always tell them about the petition, but it has often seemed as if we need to do more to help people remember the petition address. Recently, ACB's hard-working secretary, Donna Seliger, created a card that can be handed out to interested people. Copies were made available at the presidents' meeting and legislative seminar. More will be made available for general use shortly. The card says: MONEY THAT CAN BE READ BY ALL If you agree, please sign the petition at: http://www.money4all.info If you are not a computer user, the American Council of the Blind wishes to provide you with an opportunity to sign this petition as well. On Monday through Thursday, March 27-30, you can call a toll-free number between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. Pacific time and a volunteer will assist you in the online signing process. The number to call is (866) 633-8638. Press 1 to be connected with a conference. When asked for the ID of the conference, enter PETITION or 73848466. I urge all non-computer users to take advantage of this service, and if it is popular enough, we may repeat the program in April. The American Council of the Blind strives not only to create and promote innovative, positive and necessary change for the blind of America, but to find equally innovative ways of getting our message where it needs to go. So far, over 5,000 individuals have used this new petition mechanism to record their opinions. By the 2007 convention in Minneapolis, let's make that 50,000 participants. Please join us if you have not already done so and help secure a better future for us all. ***** A SUCCESSFUL SENDOFF TO 2006 by Melanie Brunson Last month, I told you about one of our most exciting and successful advocacy efforts of 2006, the victory in ACB's suit against the United States Treasury. However, while that was certainly a highlight of 2006, it was not the entire story of ACB's advocacy and legislative efforts. We experienced a number of successes during the year. In January, Day Al-Mohamed compiled a list of some of these successes. Some of you have seen it on ACB listservs and it is now on the ACB web site. But I thought that it contained so much good information that everyone who cares about ACB should get a chance to read it. Therefore, I'm including it in this article. I've also added a couple of items that we thought of since the list was compiled. I hope you will enjoy reading this list as much as I did. Voting As a result of ACB's leadership in the voting arena, we were part of a successful grant ($5,000) partnered with the National Disability Rights Network to increase education and training for poll workers regarding people who are blind or visually impaired. Social Security 1. The President's budget called for a plan to divert 1/3 of workers' payroll contributions into private accounts and impose steep cuts to traditional Social Security benefits. ACB worked in coalition with other organizations in successfully preventing funding cuts to Social Security and changes toward any privatization that would risk disability benefits to people who are blind or visually impaired. 2. ACB joined with DREDF in a lawsuit filed against the Social Security Administration for failure to provide correspondence to people who are blind or visually impaired in accessible formats. 3. ACB has submitted comments on six separate notices of proposed rules from Social Security and met with Commissioner Barnhart personally to discuss access issues and the new Social Security Disability Determination Process. The result is that the new process should be friendlier and faster for people who are blind or visually impaired. Emergency Preparedness 1. ACB created the first-ever brochure specifically aimed at Emergency Preparedness for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and followed this success with "Emergency Preparedness for your Service Animal or Pet," copies of which have been requested by individuals and agencies across the country. Special thanks to GDUI for helping with the final language and The Seeing Eye for providing funding for the production of the brochure. 2. ACB acts as a leader in the disability community on the issue of communications as related to emergency preparedness, which culminated recently in a presentation for Homeland Defense Journal on Emergency Communications -- Can You Hear Me Now? 3. One of ACB's legislative imperatives for last year involved emergency preparedness and called for the inclusion of people with disabilities in every phase of emergency management activities at all levels of government, post-disaster case management services, the requirements for accessible temporary and replacement housing, non-discrimination in services on the basis of disability and a national disability coordinator in FEMA. That effort was an unqualified success with the passage of HR 5441. The legislation included those very points and its passage can be directly traced to advocacy efforts by ACB members. Pedestrian Safety 1. Pedestrian safety is still one of ACB's strongest arenas of advocacy. The Interagency Committee on Disability Research hosted a public meeting and requested written comments with respect to the federal disability and rehabilitation research agenda. ACB reserved time on the agenda to present its concerns with regard to the policy implications of moving from the larger Rehabilitation and Research Training Centers to the smaller Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects. But perhaps more importantly, ACB encouraged more research and funding into the issue of pedestrian safety, and raised the question of the impact of quiet cars on the independent and safe travel of individuals with visual impairments. 2. H. Con. Res. 235 states that "each state should require any candidate for a driver's license ... to demonstrate, as a condition of obtaining a driver's license, an ability to associate the use of the white cane and guide dog with visually impaired individuals and to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in proximity to a potentially visually impaired individual." Long known as one of ACB's pedestrian safety efforts, H. Con. Res 235 was passed by Congress last October -- a powerful message to states. Transportation ACB provided comments to the Department of Transportation on the Air Carrier Access Act proposed guidelines and spoke out in support of the rights of individuals with both severe hearing and severe vision loss to be able to travel independently. Medicaid And Medicare 1. ACB successfully lobbied for a Medicaid Commission to prevent arbitrary cuts in Medicaid funding. In addition, ACB helped to prevent the conversion of Medicaid to a block grant program. 2. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) formally announced their intention to bar, without exception, Medicare coverage for any device such as closed-circuit television systems (CCTVs), magnifiers, and any other low vision aids or technologies. ACB submitted comments opposing this change and almost exactly one week ago met with CMS personally to discuss the issue. Telecommunications 1. ACB has supported video description for many years. Two bills were forwarded in Congress last year on the issue and video description was successfully added on to the large telecommunications bill S. 2686. Although the final legislation did not move, ACB was successful in having video description included in the committee report, and several legislators have expressed interest in supporting similar access language in the upcoming year. In addition to that, ACB was asked to present on the topic in an international forum in Japan. 2. When the FCC passed regulations that seemed to indicate that people with sensory disabilities need not have full access to programming, and that it was acceptable not to provide emergency information to people with sensory disabilities in a manner they can access, ACB, working with the National Association of the Deaf, was successful in forcing them to change it back to require access. 3. Recently, AT&T Inc. and Bell South Corporation made the declaration of their intent to merge. ACB filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission in response to this proposal. Although it sounds as if a company merger is not an ACB issue, it is important to remember that the AT&T Inc./Bell South merger is perhaps one of the largest telecommunications mergers in history. This convergence would create a company that would have tremendous influence in all arenas of wireline, wireless and broadband communications and is likely to result in the convergence of technologies that result in new and improved features and functions across various services. ACB urged that the Commission impose some disability-specific requirements on the merged entity. We recently discovered from an FCC announcement that there was definitely a disability concession in the merger document. ACB may just have helped create something unprecedented in a merger -- to have a disability consumer condition. The final order will not be out for a couple of weeks yet, but what we have seen so far in the Appendix to AT&T's letter of Dec. 28, 2006 to the FCC listing all their "Merger Commitments" it says: "Services to Customers with Disabilities: AT&T/Bell South has a long and distinguished history of serving customers with disabilities. AT&T/Bell South commits to provide the Commission, within 12 months of the Merger Closing Date, a report describing its efforts to provide high quality service to customers with disabilities." National 411 ACB has always been a supporter of the power of partnering. This was never so true as with ACB's latest partnership with the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI). PSI is a national non-profit membership-based organization that works with state and local government agencies to partner with manufacturers, retailers, environmental groups, federal agencies, and other key stakeholders to reduce the health and environmental impacts of consumer products. One of their projects is to develop a national solution to the problem of unwanted phone books. Among the proposals is one to create a national 411 directory. The advantage of such a system to our community had not been something considered by this environmental group, so now we hope to work together to make this a viable option of the future. Access to Point-of-Sale Machines Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian, two California attorneys who have worked with ACB for a number of years now to make banking and other business transactions more accessible to blind and visually impaired people, successfully negotiated agreements this past year that will make point-of-sale machines in Safeway and Trader Joe's stores more accessible to blind shoppers. Customers will be able to enter their own PIN numbers when making credit card purchases in those stores. More details about what to look for if you shop at either of these stores will be provided in a future issue of "The Braille Forum." Randolph-Sheppard Efforts to alter, or even undermine, the Randolph-Sheppard program continue. ACB has joined with its affiliate Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, as well as the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, the National Association of Blind Merchants, and others with an interest in preserving this program, to form the Blind Entrepreneurial Alliance. This group will engage the services of a lobbyist to help coordinate and implement a comprehensive legislative effort to preserve the Randolph-Sheppard program. ACB has not just been an active participant, but a leader, in 2006. This can be illustrated by the following new appointments of ACB staff to boards, committees and task forces, shown below. Day Al-Mohamed: Committee Member - National Telecommunications and Electronic Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC) Co-Chair - Documentation and Technical Support Subcommittee for TEITAC Board of Directors - Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Co-Chair - CCD Civil Rights Task Force Member (Communications lead) - CCD Emergency Preparedness Task Force Co-Chair - CCD Telecommunications and Technology Committee Melanie Brunson: Member - Pennsylvania College of Optometry Public Advisors Council Member - National Council on Accessible Media (NCAM) Access Alerts Advisory Board Steering Committee member, Blind Entrepreneurial Alliance Phil Strong: Member - American Public Transportation Association - Accessibility Standards Policy and Planning Committee Member - Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee (PROWAAC) and Federal Advisory Committee Member - Technical Assistance Subcommittee Primary Reviewer - Easter Seals Project ACTION, External Review Panel Steering Committee Member - The National Complete Streets Coalition Member - National Capitol Region Transportation Planning Board Member - District Department of Transportation Bus Shelter Technical Advisory Committee Access for All Advisory Committee - National Capitol Region Transportation Planning Board What is not mentioned above, but should be acknowledged and applauded, is the many leadership roles that individual ACB members are taking in their communities, and their active participation in advocating for the equal rights of people who are blind and visually impaired. The impact of those efforts can be seen at the local, state and federal levels. Let's keep up the great work in 2007! ***** LOCAL ADVOCACY AT ITS BEST: COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FROM BALTIMORE'S RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, ACB REPRESENTATIVES LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER by Gary Norman If it's true that all politics is local, then it may be equally true that the most effective advocacy occurs at the local level, and further, that advocacy that leads two disparate community groups to learn and care about one another may be the most satisfying advocacy experience of all. The ACB of Maryland (ACBM) and Maryland Area Guide Dog Users (MAGDU) recently engaged in some local advocacy with staff members from Baltimore's Ronald McDonald House. We found the experience a rewarding one from the perspective of everyone involved, and we came away reaffirming our belief that advocacy is best suited to developing local partnerships within our communities. Pat Sheehan, president of the ACB of Maryland, and Gary C. Norman, Esq., president of Maryland Area Guide Dog Users, met on Aug. 11, 2006 with Marianne Rowan-Braun, the executive director of the Ronald McDonald House of Baltimore. While we met to introduce our non-profit organizations to her and her staff and to engage in follow-up relative to an alleged access denial to a guide dog team which later turned out not to have occurred, we left with a greater understanding of the constituencies which Ronald McDonald House serves and the processes through which a family gains admittance to its array of social services. Rowan-Braun emerged from our meeting with a "hands-on" understanding of our guide dogs and the ways in which they help us negotiate our world, and a commitment to help us educate the public and share information about our concerns. We decided to write this article to share with members of ACB our newfound knowledge about Ronald McDonald House and the important services the organization provides to families. Ronald McDonald House is located in what is known as Lexington Market, which comprised the shopping district in Baltimore during the 1940s and 1950s. The land on which the house is located was once owned by the University of Maryland and was purchased 24 years ago for the purpose of constructing a house for Ronald McDonald Foundation. Because the facility is a non-profit with limited resources, there is a referral process in place to screen and accept families to the house. We learned that as a non-profit dedicated to public service and compassion, Ronald McDonald House welcomes all families, including those who utilize assistance dogs. When we arrived at the house, Rowan-Braun gave us a tour of the facilities, which include 30 or more apartments, a library, an accessible playground and a number of rooms where children of all ages can play videos and games. We had an opportunity to meet the staff, which includes dedicated and talented professionals such as a licensed graduate social worker who lives in an apartment located onsite and serves as 24-hour counselor to the families whose children are facing serious and life-threatening illnesses in local hospitals and medical facilities. We met several family members who were coming or going from the facility and taking advantage of the services available at the house. It was all one parent could do to contain her enthusiasm while she talked to us about how important Ronald McDonald House is to the community of Baltimore. She managed to restrain her impulse to hug everyone in sight while she was telling us about the invaluable services the facility provides to families in crisis, instead transferring her exuberance to the enthusiastic pets she gave to Langer, my yellow Labrador guide dog. We learned that the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore needs to raise $1 million each year just to keep the lights on and ensure that the doors of the house are open to the public. After having the chance to meet the dynamic and energetic Rowan-Braun, we could understand why Ronald McDonald House's board appointed her as the full-time executive director back in the early 1990s. She calls herself the facilitator of community partnerships and compassion. As representatives of ACB and Guide Dog Users, Inc., we were very favorably impressed by the staff's compassion and their eagerness to reach out into the community and embrace opportunities to assist children in medical crisis and their families. As a result of our meeting and our mutual desire to know more about one another and to share information about our divergent needs and goals, ACB of Maryland and MAGDU agreed to host a guide dog partnership evening at Ronald McDonald House. MAGDU representatives, including Gary Norman and Jane and Patrick Sheehan, plan to talk about the American Council of the Blind and the guide dog movement with 34 families, including their children, and to answer questions about how guide dogs can assist people who are blind to navigate their surroundings. Rowan-Braun has agreed to give the event the kind of attention and publicity that will highlight the work of the American Council of the Blind of Maryland and the principles of MAGDU and GDUI. ACBM has agreed to participate in several additional Ronald McDonald House programs throughout the coming year and considers it an honor and a privilege to meet and interact with such courageous children and their families. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about the important work Ronald McDonald House is doing for sick children and their families and pleased to have had a chance to educate such a receptive and welcoming audience about the issues that are important to people who are blind, and the work of our two organizations. We encourage other ACB affiliates to reach out to the non-profit groups in your communities, where local advocacy can lead to mutual understanding and a shared commitment to educate, inform, work together, and engage in activities that may lead to improved understanding and shared goals that can make the world a better place for all of us. ***** SUMMARY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONFERENCE CALL NOVEMBER 6, 2006 by Charles S.P. Hodge President Chris Gray called the meeting to order at 9:15 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 6, 2006. All members were present except for Naomi Soule, who was attending to the illness of her guide dog. Mike Duke, the board of publications chairman, was also in attendance. Gray then reviewed the draft meeting agenda, and as board members suggested amendments or corrections, he amended the agenda. Ray Campbell moved to adopt the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried. Each board member present introduced himself/herself to Lane Waters, ACB's new comptroller. Mitch Pomerantz moved to approve the draft minutes of the fall meeting; the board agreed. Mike Duke reviewed with the board the nominations and judging criteria developed by and recommended by the BOP for a proposed new award intended to promote excellence and the best journalistic practices in state and special- interest affiliate publications. Charlie Hodge added that, if and when the proposed new award is established, the BOP recommends that the new award be named the Hollis K. Liggett Braille Free Press Award. Oral Miller moved that this matter be referred back to the BOP for further study and the gathering of meaningful, quantitative and factual data regarding the length, formats, number of writers and copies actually distributed of affiliate publications within ACB in order that the board may have a more realistic discussion regarding the establishment of the proposed new award. All board members approved. Paul Edwards moved that the board suggest to the BOP that it seriously consider having the proposed new award be presented to a deserving editor of an affiliate publication rather than to the affiliate publication itself as a way of garnering the necessary support among board members toward having the proposed new award established. On a voice vote, the motion carried, but not unanimously. Mike Godino reviewed ACB's financial statements. He then moved that the board direct that a fundraising appeal letter be sent to the entire ACB membership as soon as possible. The motion carried. Melanie Brunson discussed some recent developments regarding the lobbying efforts concerning the Randolph-Sheppard program which had been spearheaded by the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. She related that on a recent conference call, Terry Smith of NCSAB indicated that his organization could no longer afford to fund the Randolph-Sheppard program lobbying effort, and he asked for organizations in the coalition to step forward to fund this lobbying effort. Jim Gashel of the National Federation of the Blind said that his organization would contribute $40,000 toward the Randolph-Sheppard program lobbying effort. Gray asked Ed Bradley to chair the vehicle donation committee that was created at the fall board; Bradley agreed to serve. Carla Ruschival moved to recess the board meeting and to convene a corporate membership meeting of the American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services (ACBES). When the ACB board meeting reconvened, Gray reported for the record that during the ACBES meeting, Jeff Thom had moved, and the members agreed, that elections for the ACBES board be postponed to a later meeting to be held before the end of 2006. Paul Edwards then moved to adjourn the ACBES meeting and reconvene the ACB board meeting. Billie Jean Keith stated that she had not yet had the opportunity to put her committee to work on the rehabilitation task force issue. The board then discussed the direct mail program. Staff indicated that the "thank you" letter authorized at the fall board of directors meeting had not yet been sent out, but that accomplishing this task would be a top priority item. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:21 p.m. Eastern. ***** NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES by Joyce Bender (Editor's Note: Joyce Bender is President and CEO of Bender Consulting Services. Please direct questions for Joyce to info@disability- marketing.com.) We spend so much of our time wondering when we are going to change the attitudinal barriers that exist in the minds of employers who still resist employing Americans with disabilities. This is only normal, as it is so hard to understand why employers do not recognize the great value of employing people with great abilities. We, people with significant disabilities, are the largest group unemployed in the United States today. It is frustrating and hard to understand. In addition, we wonder when school systems will stop labeling children with disabilities and telling parents "don't expect too much from Sam." I have met so many young adults in my life who were told they could not and would not even be able to work, but are working today in competitive areas, and yet that negative labeling continues on. We wonder why some parents themselves lower the bar of expectations and dreams of their own child. There are times when the real limits imposed on a young child or even a young adult with a disability come from the parents. I wish I could say all of this will stop soon, but it will take time. After all, the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and yet we face racism today in America, in the workplace. Ignorance and fear are deeply entrenched and it takes time to dig it out. I think this year for our new year's resolutions, we should start by agreeing that we cannot wait for the world to change for us -- we must change for the world. I believe we, people with disabilities, can no longer wait for change -- we are the change the world needs today. One by one, we have the power to create change and for far too long we have waited for the cloaks of discrimination to fall off first. They won't. I am going to focus on five ways we can begin to work on becoming the change. This year, I hope you will make it your year. Don't wait any longer for others to change. Our first resolution for the new year must be that we will work on changing ourselves by improving our self-esteem. We can do so much if we do not listen to others, but instead focus on our own strengths and dreams. For too long, people with disabilities have been made to feel inferior and have been pitied. Pity, like racism, is the kiss of death for people with disabilities. When you pity someone, you are saying, "I feel sorry for you." We are not inferior in any way; we are just people with disabilities. We must stop listening to the outside world. I do not care if that negative information comes from parents, teachers, friends, or counselors. We must start believing in our own skills and abilities. We must work on resisting pity and building strong self-worth everyday. Remind yourself every day of the great potential you have. Second, we must work to improve our skills. We must find out what employers are seeking, and if there are skills we do not have, get them. If you do not have the right skill set, you will never be employed competitively. For example, I heard the former chair of the Federal Reserve Bank, Alan Greenspan, say, "There will be the world of the have's and the have not's, and the have not's will not be computer literate." Today, whether you are a computer programmer or an automotive mechanic or work as an executive assistant, you must be computer literate and at least know the Microsoft Office suite of applications. In addition, you need good English skills, as you will be asked to write, and will use e-mail. You should take classes or go to the library and study to improve your basic skills to be employed. Third, you must learn to network more. We need to get out and meet people if we want to be known or be part of the community. When you are in college, you should participate in all types of events to meet people in the business world and in your community. If you are in high school, there are many opportunities, such as Disability Mentoring Day, that allow high school students on the third Wednesday of every October to job-shadow at a company and meet business people or people working in federal agencies. You need to get out and meet people to be known. This brings me to my fourth point, and that is volunteerism. To build character, you must volunteer and give back to the community. This will also help you meet many wonderful people. When you get involved and do volunteer work in your community, you will meet executives and CEOs of major corporations in the United States. It is a great opportunity to build your skills for your resume, meet great contacts, and build character. I must quote the Honorable Tony Coelho, who so eloquently says, "Whenever you get the chance, take the podium." Congressman Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a man with epilepsy, has never stopped speaking up and speaking out for equality for all Americans with disabilities. His life is a ministry of passion and advocacy for Americans with disabilities. He is my mentor and he should be your role model. This, the final New Year's resolution, is advocacy. We cannot wait for change; we must create change. To create change, you must become an advocate for equality for Americans with disabilities in the areas of employment, education, transportation, and housing. Take the opportunity this year to volunteer to speak at your school, college, church, synagogue, or mosque. Take the opportunity to volunteer with non-profit organizations in your community such as the Epilepsy Foundation or United Cerebral Palsy. Do not sit back -- speak up! Remember, you are the change. ***** MINNEAPOLIS MAGIC by Carla Ruschival It's snowing outside as I write this article, but can summer be far away? And with summer comes the ACB convention. Official dates are June 30 to July 7; the place, Minneapolis, Minn. You know that you can explore Minneapolis with ACB tours. You know that you will meet old friends and make new ones at the many mixers and socials. You know about the dances, the karaoke, the comedy night, and the free described movies. This month I want to tell you about the serious side of convention. Often people ask if there are activities that can be helpful to them in their careers. They want to know about the information available on important issues, and if they can learn more about new adaptive technology. Here is a sampling of these outstanding opportunities. Exhibits: What a fabulous chance to contrast and compare the latest products for blind and visually impaired people! Discover which video magnifier, braille device or speech program best meets your needs. Examine tutorials, print/braille books, canes, watches, and an endless variety of products for work, school and daily living. Collect materials to take home to others in your office or organization. The ACB exhibit area is literally a blind person's mall, and you will want to spend hours and hours browsing the aisles. Exhibits open on Saturday, June 30, at 1 p.m.; they are available eight hours each day, Sunday through Wednesday, and they close Thursday at 1 p.m. Workshops and Focus Groups: Every convention features unique opportunities to learn new skills, tips and techniques on a wide range of topics. Seminars on diabetes, employment issues, and access to off-the-shelf technology we use every day are some examples. Focus groups offer instruction on high-tech products such as screen readers, braille notetakers, low-vision products, and much more. Programs and Discussions: ACB general sessions (Sunday evening, Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-noon, and all day Friday) address major issues such as education, rehabilitation, employment, Social Security, voter access, health-related issues and much more. The presentation by a talking book narrator and an update on library services are always popular. While the 2007 program is not complete at this time, you can be assured that it will be exciting and information-packed. ACB committees, special-interest affiliates and others sponsor a seemingly endless variety of break-out sessions and small-group discussions. Look for informative programming for teachers, government employees, blind vendors and private entrepreneurs, attorneys, and information technology specialists. Students can explore careers and perhaps network with others working in their area of interest. Special programming targets individuals with low vision, guide dog users, deaf-blind issues, braille readers, etc. Networking: It is often said that networking with others with similar interests is as important as education and training, and that it greatly enhances the job-seeking process. Whether you are a teacher or student, rehabilitation counselor or administrator, parent or caregiver, employer or job-seeker, you will be able to network with others in your field. Details, Details! Exhibit, advertising and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information, visit our web site at www.acb.org. For exhibit questions, call Michael Smitherman at (601) 968-4164; for advertising and sponsorship questions, contact Brenda Dillon at (615) 874-1223. Special-interest groups, ACB committees, and others wishing to sponsor programs or activities at the convention should submit all information for the pre-registration form by April 1. Program details need to be submitted by May 1. Make all arrangements related to convention events (reserving space, ordering food or AV equipment, etc.) with Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472 or via e-mail, adamcarla@bellsouth.net. Get on the road to Minneapolis by making your hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency ($81 single/double, $91 triple/quad; 1-800-233-1234), or at the Millennium ($84 single/double, $94 triple/quad; 1-800-522-8856). Rates are quoted per night, and do not include tax. If you have convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival, ACB convention committee chair, at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net; or call the ACB national office at 1-800-424-8666. ***** WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A FIRST-TIMER? by Catherine Skivers The members of the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers Committee are looking forward to hearing from ACB members who would like to attend the convention to be held in Minneapolis, Minn. this year. Although many of us knew Durward, we have had so many new members who never had the opportunity to know him personally that we thought we should explain why the first- timers program carries his name. Durward was one of the founders of ACB, and one of his main concerns always was increasing membership in ACB. So when it was determined that a committee should be formed to select an ACB member from west of the Mississippi and one from east of the Mississippi to attend our annual convention, it was decided that this program would carry Durward's name. Even if you have applied before, please don't hesitate to do so again. The good thing about what our committee does is that we have a chance to hear about so many of our members who are doing so many great things in their chapters or affiliates. The hard thing for us to do is in making the selection of those who will attend because, unfortunately, we can't bring as many as we would like. All you need to do is address a letter to the DKM First-Timers Committee and send it to 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. You should tell us a bit about yourself; your name, address, phone number, age, and how you feel attending a national convention would be of value to you and the ACB affiliation you have. We also want a letter from the president of your affiliate. If for some reason you are a member at large and not in a position to know the president of your affiliate, send along a letter from someone who knows about your interest in ACB. The final date for receiving these requests is April 15, 2007. Don't be shy; we are looking forward to hearing from you. At each national convention we introduce those being brought to the convention and help them to take part in the many activities that can be found there. We have a special event to raise funds for our special fund and we hope when you make your reservations that you will plan to be with us. The chair of our committee is Carol Ewing, and she has us busy planning a fun event for that occasion. It is a great time to make new friends and visit with friends you have known for a long time. You will be hearing more about all this in future issues of the Forum. ***** SOME GENTLE PERSUASION FROM THE AWARDS COMMITTEE by Nola McKinney It's March. The flowers are starting to come up, the grass is beginning to green up, and our mailbox is still empty. So I take this opportunity as chairperson of the awards committee to remind you that the deadline for award nominations is May 1, 2007. It is such a thrill to sit out in the audience at convention on awards day and hear the person you nominated be surprised with an award. It doesn't have to be an outstanding letter or even a great one, just as long as you write it from your heart. Think about it. There has to be someone you truly admire and really would like to see receive that ACB award. I know when I received one from Ohio what it meant to me! It is still hanging up on my wall in my office to remind me of the wonderful feeling of pride and joy it gave me. So here is our gentle nudge to you. Feel it? Now read over the different awards and select the one that fits your special person. Send your nomination to the attention of the awards committee, care of the ACB national office, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. The Robert S. Bray Award is given to a person who has made a contribution for improving library technology or communication devices. It could also be given for expanding access for blind people, or making opportunities within the mainstream media. The George Card Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for blind people, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model. The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is one of our most popular awards. It is given in recognition of a blind person who may or may not be a member of a blindness organization but who has spent his or her life integrating with the community. The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is periodically given to individuals who have made important contributions which have advanced opportunities for the blind community. This award can be given to an individual or an organization. The Affiliate Growth Award is based on the greatest increase in membership, as determined by the 2006-2007 membership reports. The Affiliate Outreach Award is based on a recommendation by an affiliate president, which recognizes a local chapter for a new outreach program. This program must have a measurable outcome. See you in July! ***** BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS SEEKS NOMINEES FOR AWARDS Each year at the national convention of the American Council of the Blind, the board of publications (affectionately known as the BOP) presents awards. The first is the Ned E. Freeman Award, instituted in 1970 and named for the first president of the American Council of the Blind who, after completing his term of office, became editor of "The Braille Forum." The board of publications accepts submissions for the Freeman Award from any writer on a topic of interest to readers of "The Braille Forum." Submissions may be published in the magazine if space allows. Articles appearing in the "Forum" between April 2006 and March 2007 are automatically eligible. Materials published by an ACB affiliate are also welcome. Send a print, braille or electronic copy of the published article accompanied by a letter of nomination. Mastery of the craft of writing is a major consideration by BOP voters. Interesting subject matter, originality in recounting an experience, or novelty of approach are also considered. A Freeman Award winner will receive a plaque and $100. The Vernon Henley Media Award was established in 1988 to honor the man who created and first produced ACB Reports, a radio presentation distributed to radio reading services around the country. At the time of his death, he was chair of the board of publications, having assisted editors by conducting writing workshops and by recording for them on audiocassette materials otherwise not available to them. The award is presented to a person, either sighted or blind, who has made a positive difference in the media -- whether in radio, TV, magazines, or daily newspapers -- which may change public attitudes to recognize the capabilities of people who are blind, rather than focusing on outdated stereotypes and misconceptions. Programs and/or articles written and produced specifically for a visually impaired audience, as well as those intended for the general public, are eligible. Multiple articles or programs submitted by one author or organization will be judged as separate entries. The Henley Award is intended to be a vehicle for publicizing ACB throughout the general media, and to encourage excellence and accuracy in electronic and print coverage of items relating to blindness. Recipients of these awards for the last five years are ineligible to enter the contests. Nor are those who are members of the ACB national office staff, members of the board of directors or board of publications during the awarding period eligible for the Freeman or the Henley awards. Freeman Award winners from 2002 through 2006 are: Barry Levine, Mike Godino, Rebecca Shields, Carl Jarvis, and Katie Sacca. Henley Award winners from 2002 to 2006 are: Carol Greenwald and Mathayu Lane; Pat Price; Mark Ashby and Potomac Talking Book Services; Lynn Manning, Ron Eldard, Steven Bochco Productions and GW Micro; and Michael Mellor. Submissions for both awards must be postmarked no later than April 2, 2007. All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter providing details about the submission, its origin, and any other pertinent information. Include your return address in the cover letter, and, if you want your manuscript returned, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Send submissions to ACB Board of Publications Awards, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. ***** BID YOUR WAY TO SOME GREAT STUFF AND HELP ACB by Ray Campbell I have $15, give me $20. Sounds like an auction, doesn't it? Well, it is! The first annual ACB auction will be held on Wednesday evening, July 4, during the ACB national convention in Minneapolis. There will be something for everyone, so bring your cash, checkbooks, credit cards and those loud bidding voices. What can I bid on, you ask? In large part, that's up to you. Talk to your state affiliates, local chapters, places you do business with, family and friends and see what you can get donated for the auction. All items should be worth a minimum of $25, but there is no upper limit to how much something can be worth. Some of the items we already will have up for bid include: a tin of homemade fudge from our executive director, Melanie Brunson; the ACB time share in Cancun; a luxurious week in a penthouse suite on St. Martin donated by Charlie Hodge; a 3-D portrait of Ray Charles; a music box from William Benjamin of the Piano Boutique; and a beautiful, jewelry-adorned purse. Again, we need you to help us get additional items. The more we have to auction off, the more money ACB will make and the more fun we will have. While you can bring your items to the ACB convention with you, we ask that you notify us by no later than June 15 of what you plan to bring. Please provide a description of each item, its value, and a name, phone number and e-mail address (if available) for a contact person we can reach. Contact Carol Edwards by telephone at (936) 445-3241, or by e-mail at cedwardsacbt@hotmail.com, with this information. The sooner you let us know about the items you'll be bringing, the more we can publicize in "The Braille Forum" to get everyone excited about the auction. Let's all make the first annual ACB auction a big success. I'm sold, aren't you? ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Come to Arizona in May! The Arizona Council of the Blind invites you to its 2007 state convention being held in Phoenix, May 3-5, 2007. The host hotel is the Phoenix Airport Hilton. The agenda includes presentations and seminars covering issues such as pedestrian safety, accessing rehabilitation services, creating affiliates and attracting members, and will offer many opportunities for networking and developing new friendships. Guest speakers will include Mitch Pomerantz and DeAnna Noriega. For more information, contact Larry Wanger at lsw999@cox.net or phone (602) 795-4275. Come join us in Phoenix this May! ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. CARNIVAL CRUISE THIS FALL Lisa Briones is organizing a cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines from Los Angeles to Mexico, to be held Sept. 17-21, 2007. The Carnival ship offers a spa, casino, ice cream parlor, heated pool, fitness center and much more. For detailed information on the cruise's itinerary, go to www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=LAX&itinCode=LA8&durDays=4&s. Contact Lisa Briones at (773) 572-3071 or send an e-mail to lpbriones@comcast.net for current pricing and additional details. STUDY FOR PARENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS The University of Arizona is seeking parents who have visual impairments to participate in a telephone interview study to learn about the strategies, concerns, and experiences these parents have as they raise their children. Parenting partners of participants who have them will also be invited to participate in the study. To learn more and complete an initial information form, visit www.ed.arizona.edu/rosenblum/recruit.htm. You can also request this information from Dr. Sunggye Hong at (319) 273-7954. Once they receive your information, a member of the research team will contact you to schedule a one-hour interview. Participation is voluntary, and there is no monetary compensation. SILOAM CAMP FOR THE BLIND The 2007 Siloam Camp for Blind Adults will be held May 12-19 at the Golden Cross Ranch in New Caney, Tex. Cost (including meals and lodging) is $200 per person; first-timers pay only the deposit. A $25 non-refundable camp registration fee is required of all campers. To receive the camp application and medical form, make your check payable to the Gospel Association for the Blind, and send it along with a 3 by 5 index card containing your name, address, phone number, cell phone number and e-mail if applicable to The Gospel Association for the Blind, PO Box 1162, Bunnell, FL 32110. All applications MUST be in the Florida office by April 12, 2007. For a voice mail message concerning Camp Siloam, call toll-free 1- 866-251-5165 , enter mailbox 7128 and then press the pound key. Visit www.circle-of-love.net for additional information. SUMMER BRAILLE MUSIC INSTITUTE The National Resource Center for Blind Musicians is accepting applications for its seminar for blind college-bound musicians, which will be held July 15-21 at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, Pa. The program tailors instruction to each person's need to develop braille music and theory skills, and to learn to use technology to submit music assignments in print notation. Applicants must have already studied some music theory, have had several years of music lessons, and be able to present a polished and pleasing performance. Deadline for requesting applications is April 13; all application materials due by May 9. Contact David Goldstein at (203) 366-3300, extension 229, or info@blindmusicstudent.org for application and scholarship information. Visit www.blindmusicstudent.org to learn more ways to get involved with the summer institute. BRAILLE CHOCOLATE BARS Sweet Tooth sells braille chocolate bars with a choice of various sayings, including Happy Birthday, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Love You, Have A Nice Day, and Thank You. The bars weigh 4 1/2 ounces and can be made in milk, dark or white chocolate. Additional choices are plain or with nuts, rice crisps or peppermint. The bars are $2.50 each for the plain ones and $2.75 each for those with nuts or rice crisps. They are bagged in cellophane and tied with ribbons. All orders are made fresh for each customer. Shipping is extra based on each order. To order, send check payable to Judy Davis to 32 Vinton Road, Rochester, NY 14622. Contact Sweet Tooth by calling (585) 544-1853 or e-mailing judydavis12@rochester.rr.com. Bars cannot be sent during the summer months. PRODUCTS FROM BUMPY PAGES Bumpy Pages offers all kinds of affordable braille and large print products. Items include greeting cards, restaurant menus, business cards, instruction manuals, cookbooks, clear labels, and much more. To learn more, visit www.bumpypages.com or send an e-mail to info@bumpypages.com. SPEECH ACCESS FOR VISTA Serotek Corporation has announced that its entire product line, including FreedomBox and Key to Freedom with System Access software, is now integrated with Microsoft Windows Vista and available for download. Any current FreedomBox user or anyone with Vista can download the software from www.freedombox.info. These Serotek products also work with Windows Vista Media Center and the new Aero Glass interface for electronic mail, right out of the box. BRAILLE BOOKS AVAILABLE The Assembly of God Center for the Blind offers a number of books in braille. These include: "The Very First Easter," "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God," "The Very First Christmas," "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," and "Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia." Books are available for borrowing or for ownership with a suggested donation. For additional details, visit www.blind.ag.org; e-mail blind@ag.org, or call (417) 831-1964. NEW DISCUSSION GROUP There is now an online reading/discussion group for the blind and visually impaired. Its purpose is to discuss reading experiences, both good and bad, and to direct others to new resources for materials that are accessible. To sign up, send an e-mail to EnjoyReading-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. HYBRID CAR PURCHASED A donation from a Chicago-area benefactor has enabled The Seeing Eye, Inc., to purchase a hybrid car. The 2007 Toyota Prius will join the school's fleet of vehicles used for traffic training of people with visual impairments teamed with specially trained canines. NEW BOOK BY BLIND TEENS The Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments has published "A Look Into Our 'I's." It's a compilation of writings by young authors with visual impairments. It discusses many of the challenges and triumphs that these 12 teenagers experience. The book is available at the DGCCVI at 5030 McRee, St. Louis, MO 63110 or online at www.dgckids.org. It costs $18 plus shipping. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Six standard Braille embossers. All in excellent working condition. Asking $300 each; sold as is. Please contact Amy at (574) 848- 7451 ext. 319 or e-mail her at schroppa@adecinc.com. FOR SALE: PAC Mate BX400. Has a Perkins-style keyboard, no braille display. In excellent condition, running firmware version 4.1. Comes with power charger, USB cable, carrying case, CD with user manual, and braille quick-start guide. Asking $900 plus shipping from Michigan; would be willing to meet anyone who lives close by to avoid shipping charges. If interested, contact Donna Goodin by e-mail, goodind@sbcglobal.net. FOR SALE: Maestro PDA, in excellent condition; used one year. Comes with AC adapter, two connector cables, leather carrying case, ear buds, and compact flash card. Latest upgrades installed. Asking $600. Send inquiries to morrowmediakc@yahoo.com; phone (816) 251-3588 (weekdays only). FOR SALE: Talking calculator, $250. Talking microwave, $250. Contact Rosemir Rodriguez at (714) 267-3399. FOR SALE: "The Purpose-Driven Life" in braille. $30 or best offer. "The Ultimate Talking Dictionary," best offer. Contact Adam Pobursky at (262) 728-6035. FOR SALE: HP Scanjet 5100 scanner, in excellent condition. Asking $60. HP Deskjet printer, in excellent condition. $50. Eureka A4 portable personal notetaker with braille keyboard and speech output. In excellent condition. Comes with braille and cassette user's manual. Asking $300. Perkins brailler in excellent condition. Asking $200. Contact Dennis Farro at (803) 979-2720 or via e-mail, dfarro@concentric.net. FOR SALE: Versapoint Duo interpoint braille printer for $975. Includes shipping and a box of 8 1/2 x 11 tractor-fed braille paper. Send e- mail inquiries to B.C. Starkson, asktiger@bellsouth.net. FOR SALE: Telesensory Aladdin Pro+ with 14-inch black-and-white monitor. Magnifies from 4.5x to 50x. Asking $1,000 or best offer, plus shipping. Contact Christopher Nolte at (301) 218-9210. FOR SALE: PAC Mate QX400. Comes with 56K compact flash card and compact flash wireless card, as well as a flash memory card. Asking $1,500 or best offer. Contact Maurice at (703) 517-9479 or by e-mail, m.reese4@cox.net. FOR SALE: Type 'n Speak, June 2003 revision. In good working condition. Comes with case, AC adapter, and tutorial on cassette. Asking $175, including shipping. Contact Hal at (727) 735-0797. Leave message and I will call you back. FOR SALE: Perkins Brailler with case for $250. The backspace key does not work. Vintage 1980 Braille Scrabble in good condition for $90. Alva 80- cell Braille display, $1,600. Serial and parallel ports only. Classco 500 talking caller ID for $13, 2 for $24. Classco 9900CW talking caller ID, $45. New Stackomatic Bandmaster 3-speed record player with changer, holds 10 stacked albums in wood case with CD player, AM/FM radio. $199. Franklin Electronic Dictionary, not accessible for a blind person, $65. Contact Lela at (325) 728-2229 or e-mail kc5mpu@sbcglobal.net. Or you may write, in braille or type, no longhand, to Lela Behee, 1220 Vine St., Colorado City, TX 79512. FOR SALE: Child's braille watch, $40. Color identifier, $100. External disk drive for Braille Lite and Braille 'n Speak, $100. Contact Roger at (510) 229-8035. FOR SALE: Small Talk. Comes with case, charger, CD player/burner, and keyboard. Asking $1,200. Contact Rob Lewis at (410) 653-2498. WANTED: Sharp Talking Time 1. Contact Robert Feinstein at (718) 627- 0713, e-mail him at harlynn@panix.com, or write to him at 1750 E. 14th St., Apt. #2E, Brooklyn, NY 11229. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 119 SHELL EDGE DR ROCHESTER, NY 14623 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Brenda Dillon, Hermitage, TN Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO