THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVI September 2007 No. 2 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. Mitch Pomerantz, 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: 11155. 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 DEDICATION This edition of "The Braille Forum" is dedicated to the people of vision, upon whose shoulders we stand, in whose arms we rest, and in whose footsteps we follow. TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Expectations, by Mitch Pomerantz Board Implements One-Day Pass for Convention, Changes to Standing Rules, by Charles S.P. Hodge Discipline and Disability: Determining When a Child's Misbehavior in School Is Related to His Disability, by Randy Chapman ACB Benefit Auction Is a Huge Success!, by Brenda Dillon And the Winner Is ..., by Ronald E. Milliman "Please, Do Touch the Art," by Amy Monthei From the Twin Cities to the Derby City, by Carla Ruschival Elizabeth Lennon: Farewell to a Good Friend, by Susan Ponchillia and Sherry Gordon A Tribute to Ralph Sanders, by Bob Humphreys In Memoriam: Phyllis Herrington, by Kathleen Prime Affiliate News Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels Notice of Class Determinations, Proposed Settlement and Hearing to Be Held on December 4, 2007 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: EXPECTATIONS by Mitch Pomerantz At this writing, it has been exactly 30 days since I was elected as the 10th president of the American Council of the Blind. As I said at the time, being elected ACB president is both one of the greatest honors and one of the most humbling experiences of my life. ACB is the greatest organization of blind and visually impaired people anywhere, and I take my responsibility to lead this council very, very seriously. Since Donna and I returned from Minneapolis, I have spent the bulk of my time finding and appointing qualified and committed members to sit on the well over 20 ACB committees. During the campaign, I said that ACB must become more inclusive and actively seek more members to serve in positions of leadership. The response to my e-mail and telephonic recruitment efforts has been gratifying. I have heard from upwards of 75 ACB members interested in participating on our various committees. Many are relatively new to the organization, and this interest and commitment, coming from such relative newcomers, is even more gratifying to me. That's a quick glance over my shoulder at the first month; now, let me talk a bit about the future. It is my intention to see that each board member and every committee chairperson be accountable and responsible to the membership. What does this mean, you ask. First, here is what I expect from the elected members of the ACB board of directors. In early August, we held a teleconference board meeting to address several important issues which I felt could not wait until our fall meeting. While there was certainly much spirited discussion, it lacked rancor and contentiousness. The discussion was objective and professional, which is what I expect from our officers and board members, and is what you should expect as well. I also expect board members to be responsive to and communicate with the membership. Invite members of the ACB board to your conventions; ask them (and me) tough questions about ACB's future direction. By the time you read this, we will have conducted the initial post-convention "office hours" conference call. This will be the first of numerous regular opportunities you will have to ask the tough questions. Here is what I expect from those appointed to chair ACB committees. I'd like each chairperson to establish goals and objectives for his/her committee (what will the committee accomplish?). There should be a regular meeting schedule in order to facilitate accomplishment of those goals and objectives. And finally, every effort should be made to involve all committee members in the activities of those committees. In short, my expectation is that people chairing ACB committees will oversee active, functioning, and goal-oriented committees. To do less would be to let down you, our members. In my 20-plus years in ACB, I've learned that this organization is nothing without our grass-roots members. However, you, too, have a responsibility. You are responsible for ensuring that we in the leadership carry out your wishes and communicate honestly and openly with you. That's a big responsibility, but one which is crucial to maintaining ACB as the most democratic organization of blind and visually impaired people. I have been tremendously encouraged by the outpouring of support I've received to date. The American Council of the Blind stands on the threshold of real greatness as the pre-eminent consumer voice of blind and visually impaired people. In the next "President's Message" I will outline my vision regarding ACB's position and role in the broader blindness community. That vision is based upon our abiding belief in the individual abilities and capabilities of blind people. ACB's influence continues to grow throughout the community with publication and dissemination of our Rehabilitation White Paper. ACB will develop and distribute position papers on other issues of importance to us (more on this next time). Until then, take care and spread ACB's positive message about blindness and blind people. ***** BOARD IMPLEMENTS ONE-DAY PASS FOR CONVENTION, CHANGES TO STANDING RULES by Charles S.P. Hodge (Editor's Note: The American Council of the Blind constitution and bylaws require that a narrative summary of every board of directors meeting be prepared by the board of publications' ex officio representative to the board of directors. Upon approval of the minutes of this meeting by the board of directors, the minutes will be made available to the membership on the web site. Members who cannot access the minutes in that way may request assistance from the national office.) President Chris Gray convened the ACB board of directors' meeting at 9:07 p.m. Eastern on May 23, 2007. Secretary Donna Seliger called the roll; all board members were present except for Ray Campbell, who joined later. Brenda Dillon inquired about which functions at the upcoming convention board members should plan to attend. The answer was that board members should plan to attend all evening receptions if at all possible, and Carla Ruschival volunteered to send a list of all such receptions along with their dates and times to the board list. Paul Edwards moved to approve the minutes of the mid-year meeting. On a voice vote, the motion carried. The board then turned its attention to the vehicle donation project, and David Trott, chairman of the resource development committee (RDC), reported that he believes ACB is in compliance with the standards used by the Vehicle Donation Processing Center (VDPC). Edwards moved that the board instruct appropriate staff to reconnect the ACB page on the VDPC's web site, that this reactivation should include the recommendation made to this board by the RDC, and that the Internet arrangement between the VDPC and ACB will be re-evaluated as part of the 2008 budget cycle in order to determine exactly how many transactions involving ACB have actually occurred. The motion carried on a voice vote. Trott concluded his report by informing the board that the RDC is working on a set of guidelines for ACB fundraising projects. The board next turned its attention to Melanie Brunson's report. She informed the board that a new support staff person has been hired to work in the D.C. office. Natasha Janifer will commence her employment with ACB on May 29. Brunson also indicated that a replacement person for the position of legislative and governmental affairs director -- previously held by Day Al-Mohamed -- was close to being finalized, and she was hopeful that the new legislative and governmental affairs director would have started his/her employment with ACB prior to the convention. Next on the agenda was a financial report from ACB's comptroller, Lane Waters. He indicated that he had sent by e-mail to board members the first quarter report on ACB's budget situation. On the income side, ACB had received more revenue than projected in the 2007 budget. On the expenditure side, Waters was pleased to report that ACB had spent less than had been anticipated in the 2007 budget. Then Gray presented proposed changes to ACB's standing convention rules. The first change was in Standing Rule Five: "5. A person nominated more than one time shall be limited to two minutes." Ed Bradley moved to approve the wording change to Standing Rule Five. Edwards then moved to amend the proposed wording in Standing Rule Five, and to add an additional sentence, to read as follows: "... limited to one minute. It has been customary at ACB for individuals not to speak after their first nomination." The motion to amend the proposed wording of Standing Rule Five carried on a voice vote. Gray then read the proposed wording for Standing Rule Two: "2. Convention program changes may be made as deemed necessary by the Chair or the Chair's appointee unless objected to by a member. (An objection by twenty-five (25) or more members would require debate and a majority vote to change the convention program.)" Edwards moved that changes to the Standing Rules for the convention be prepared by Gray in accordance with the discussion and suggestions made during this meeting. On a voice vote, the motion carried. Carla Ruschival then discussed the possibility of instituting on an experimental basis the concept of a one-day pass whereby an individual could visit the exhibit hall. She suggested that such a one-day pass could be obtained at the registration desk for a fee of $5, and if the individual wanted a convention program, the fee would be $10. Edwards moved to approve the one-day pass concept for the upcoming convention, and that the convention coordinating committee report back to the board after the convention regarding the success of the one-day pass experiment. The motion carried on a voice vote. Campbell then moved that the board go into executive session to discuss litigation matters. On a voice vote, the motion carried. After the executive session, Gray reported for the record that during the executive session, one motion had been made and passed by the board. That motion requested that the president and the executive director keep the board fully informed on a priority basis regarding any further developments in the litigation matter. Brunson informed the board that the RDC was going to be holding a raffle to benefit "The Braille Forum" during the convention. First prize is $5,000 in cash, and the tickets will be sold for $50 apiece. The drawing will be held during the banquet. With no further business, the meeting ended at 11:10 p.m. Eastern. ***** DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY: DETERMINING WHEN A CHILD'S MISBEHAVIOR IN SCHOOL IS RELATED TO HIS DISABILITY by Randy Chapman As a parent, Maria had a long rope, but she was quickly nearing the end of it. The principal had just called and asked her to come to school and pick up her son, Jeremy, because the teacher said he was "out of control." Jeremy hadn't finished his work during class time, and when the teacher told him he had to stay in during recess he had thrown his book at the chalkboard. Maria knew Jeremy could sometimes be a handful. He was in special education and had some emotional/behavioral issues, but this was the fourth time this fall that she'd been called and Jeremy had now missed 10 days of school. This time the principal said he was suspended for another 10 days and might be expelled or moved to a different school because his behavior was so disruptive. While Maria knew that Jeremy's behavior was not acceptable, she believed it was related to his disability, and that there might be better ways to deal with it than withholding recess. Jeremy struggled to sit still through class, and recess was a much-needed break. It didn't seem fair that he might be expelled for "misbehavior" that was not Jeremy's fault. Hadn't she heard that students with disabilities could not be punished for behavior that was a manifestation of their disability? Didn't the law require that, as a child with a disability, Jeremy was entitled to appropriate educational services? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides that all children with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education, including children who are suspended or expelled. The act has specific procedures for school administrators to follow when disciplining children with disabilities. These procedures balance the need to keep schools safe with the right of children with disabilities to receive a free appropriate public education. There is a process to determine if a student's misconduct is a manifestation of the student's disability, and prevents children from being punished for "misbehavior" that is related to the child's disability. Unfortunately, the IDEA's procedures can be confusing. Here are some questions and answers regarding the manifestation determination process that should make the process clearer. 1. Who makes the manifestation determination? The manifestation determination is made by a group that includes the child's parent(s) and the relevant members of the child's Individualized Educational Program (IEP) team. The parent and school administrators decide which IEP team members will be included in the meeting. 2. When must a manifestation determination be made? Whenever the school decides to remove or suspend a student with a disability from the student's educational placement for more than 10 school days. 3. How does the group decide if the student's misconduct is a manifestation of the student's disability? First, the group will review all of the relevant information in the student's file, including any information included from the IEP, teacher observations, and information provided by the student's parents. Based on that review, the group will determine whether: (1) The student's misconduct was caused by or was directly or substantially related to the student's disability; or (2) The misconduct was the direct result of the school district not implementing the student's IEP. If the group determines that the misconduct was related to the student's disability or was the direct result of the IEP not being implemented, then the team will determine that the misconduct was a manifestation of the student's disability. 4. If the student knows right from wrong and understands it is wrong to violate the student code of conduct, doesn't that mean his misconduct was not a manifestation of his disability? No, the student may know his/her behavior is wrong but the misconduct might still be directly related to his/her disability. For example, the student's disability may limit his ability to control the behavior. Or, perhaps IEP services, such as counseling, were never provided, causing the student's behavior to escalate beyond the student's control. 5. What happens if the student's misconduct is determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability? The student's IEP team will meet and unless there are special circumstances or the IEP team changes the student's educational placement, the student will return to the school program he was in before the suspension. The IEP team will also conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment and will implement a behavior intervention plan for the student. A Functional Behavior Assessment gathers information about the student's behavior to determine what function the student's behavior serves for the student. The behavior intervention plan is the plan to provide support to the student to intervene with the behavior. 6. What are special circumstances? In disciplinary situations involving possession of weapons, illegal drugs, or the student has caused a serious injury, the school may remove the student for up to 45 school days, even if the misconduct is a manifestation of the student's disability. The student must receive appropriate educational services after the first 10 school days that the student is removed. 7. What if the group determines that the misconduct is NOT a manifestation of the student's disability? If the student's misconduct is not a manifestation of the student's disability, then the student may be disciplined the same as a student without a disability. But if expelled, the student is still entitled to receive a free appropriate public education. In many cases the student's behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability. But parents have the right to appeal a decision that their child's behavior is not related to their child's disability. Hearings to resolve disagreements in the disciplinary process are expedited. That means the hearing must be held within 20 school days after it is requested and the decision must be made within 10 school days after the hearing is completed. As much of an educating and exciting time school is for children, it can be a tough period for children with disabilities. Behavioral and emotional misbehavior in these children can be confused for traditional childhood mischief. Being aware and making sure your child's school is aware of the discipline procedures under the IDEA will ensure your child's success and happiness in their education. About the Author Randy Chapman is the Director of Legal Services at The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, Colorado's Protection and Advocacy System. He is the author of three books, including "The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law" (The Legal Center, 2005). "The Everyday Guide" is also available in the Spanish/English version, "Guia de la Ley de Educacion Especial," all available on Amazon.com. For 29 years, he has been promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. He can be reached at www.thelegalcenter.org or 1-800-288-1376. ***** ACB BENEFIT AUCTION IS A HUGE SUCCESS! by Brenda Dillon As chair of the ACB auction committee, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated individuals who served on this committee. They are Ray Campbell, Patti Cox, Carol Edwards, Dena Shumila, Jeff Thom and Cindy Van Winkle. It was indeed my pleasure to work with such a fun and faithful group! I also offer genuine appreciation to the numerous volunteers, and to the three fabulous auctioneers who kept the auction running smoothly. A very special "thank you" goes to Lane Waters for the many hours he spent entering items and other details into the computer! Without the extreme generosity of donated items from the countless individuals, state and special-interest affiliates, businesses and vendors, the event could not have even happened! We are truly grateful to each of you! And finally, a sincere appreciation goes to each person who attended and supported the ACB auction with your bids. We appreciate your patience for our first efforts and humbly acknowledge that there were moments of confusion. We will strive to iron out wrinkles so that any future auction will be conducted with fewer frustrations. You raised $18,884! Thanks for supporting ACB! ***** AND THE WINNER IS... by Ronald E. Milliman Last fall the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Program Committee announced a new campaign to promote the MMS Program among our ACB membership. The names of all new contributors, and all those existing participants who increased their contributions by at least $5 per month, were placed in a pot for a drawing to win a new Hamilton Beach iTalk Talking Microwave. The promotion ran through the end of the 2007 national convention. After the convention, the winner was selected, using a random number program, to ensure total fairness and objectivity. Each eligible contributor was assigned a number, and the computer program selected the number 30. And the winner is Linda Watgen of North Aurora, Ill.! Congratulations to Linda, and we certainly hope she gets lots of use out of her new talking microwave. The campaign was very successful, bringing lots of new participants into the MMS Program. We greatly appreciate everyone who contributes to the program, no matter what the size of the contribution is. All contributions are important and they all add up to helping ACB and its affiliates. I want to recognize the efforts of Ray Campbell and the entire Illinois Council of the Blind. They brought 14 new contributors into the MMS Program during their state convention last fall, and Linda Watgen was one of them. Thanks, too, to the people who either became MMS program contributors for the first time or increased the amount of their contributions during our national convention in Minneapolis. These people are: Hattie Bond, Adrian Taylor, Sue Ammeter, Catherine Schmitt Whitaker, Norman Ota, Sandra K. Edwards, Rochelle L. Hart, Morry La Tour, Robert Jones, Ninetta Garner, Linda M. Porelle, Conception Hollis, Warren Toyama, Richard Rueda, Jean Mann, Lisa Drzewucki, Ron Smith, Karen Crowder, Caroline Congdon, Nona Graves, Dennis Ameden, Larry Wanger, Teddie-Joy Remhild, Ann Brash, Mary Hiland, Terrie Arnold, Donna Brown, Margarine G. Beaman, David Franklin, Karen Eisenstadt, and Ronald E. Milliman. The total annualized amount of the contributions during our 2007 convention was $7,850. Where do we go from here? The next phase of our campaign is called the "Reaching Out Partnership Program." Up to this point, we have relied entirely on our own members to contribute to and develop the MMS program, but now it is time for us to reach outside of our membership and begin to tap that vast market of non-members. We all have friends, relatives, doctors, fellow church parishioners, and others who would be delighted to become MMS program contributors, if they were just asked. So, the MMS Program Committee will be working hard over the next few weeks to develop support or collateral materials that you can use to recruit non-ACB members into the MMS program. We will provide you with new forms for this purpose as soon as they are available. We are working on some really terrific rewards for those ACB members who bring the most non-ACB member participants into the MMS program and something really special for that ACB member who raises the most amount of money from the MMS program from non-ACB member participants. Stay tuned as this new phase of our MMS program campaign unfolds!! ***** "PLEASE, DO TOUCH THE ART" by Amy Monthei I have been an active member in FIA for a few years and have had the wonderful opportunity to work with the other talented artists within this affiliate. When Minneapolis was selected as the site for the 2007 ACB convention, the planning for FIA events began. Janiece Kent and Elsie Monthei from FIA asked if the art consulting firm that I work for, Art Holdings, would host some kind of a tour. My wheels started turning and after a lot of brainstorming, came up with a sensory tour that was later called "Please, Do Touch The Art." A few years ago I started to create art that was not only visually pleasing but also had highly textured surfaces and pieces that contain braille words. I wanted to make pieces that could be enjoyed, in very different ways, by the blind as well as the sighted. It is a goal of mine as a legally blind artist and an advocate, to create art that is more accessible, to help others understand the importance of experiencing art and the role it can play in the lives of every person. I talked with Greg Hennes, our CEO, and Leslie Palmer-Ross, the director of retail operations at Art Holdings, about hosting the tour with FIA. Both of them thought the tour was a great idea. They understood how it might be intimidating for a blind person to come into a museum or gallery in the first place and then ask to touch the art. We wanted to help ease that feeling of apprehensiveness. Even though some museums do have programs in place, there is usually very little art that can actually be touched in their collections due to the age and condition of the artwork. Most museums are not accessible and don't have programs set up specifically for the blind. Hennes and Palmer-Ross also felt that the staff at Art Holdings would greatly benefit from such a unique opportunity. In the few weeks before the tour, we started gathering our most interesting art objects, the majority of which were created by local artists and are handmade from a large variety of media. We had so much fun picking out the pieces and choosing the objects that had the most interesting tactile surfaces within our collection. My sister Paulette Bartelt, executive director of The Center For Deaf Blind Persons in Milwaukee, volunteered her expertise in talking with our staff so they felt prepared for the tour. She described the most common types of blindness people experience that we were most likely to encounter in those taking the tour. She had us look through goggles that simulated these different types of blindness, trained us on how to be sighted guides, talked about etiquette and answered many questions from our staff. "This wasn't just training for today -- this was training for life," said Melissa Mullins, art consultant. We set up our front showroom tables with a large variety of objects: brightly colored glass vases and bowls in many shapes and sizes, wood mosaic sculpture, inlaid stone sculpture, birds carved from marble, textiles, bronze figures, raku (which smells like smoke) and assorted glazed pottery. On our front wall we hung pieces made of metal that had many tactile elements made by Kim Grant, one of my paintings (a tactile river), and an authentic Japanese handmade kimono embroidered with peacocks and cherry blossoms. The kimono was the only piece that thin gloves had to be worn to touch because the silk is very delicate and it would absorb oils from the hands. All of the objects were handmade and for sale, everything from a $75 small bronze sculpture to a $16,000 six-foot totem representing the tree and river of life made of glass and wood mosaic by Paul Olson. When everyone arrived, the staff assisted people into the showroom. After everyone had cleaned the surface oils off their hands we were good to go -- the excitement spread like wildfire! Our staff was there to assist in describing the art and answering questions about the artists and the artwork. Everyone got to see everything and each person had his or her favorite piece. "The tour participants had infectious energy and enthusiasm," Palmer-Ross said. "It was a great exercise for me to think of art from a totally different perspective. 'How does it feel?' instead of 'How does it look?' What are different ways to describe things to people who may not have the visual references that I do? I was excited by the things that the individuals with vision loss taught me and I enjoyed sharing my love of art with them." Our event was covered by local NBC affiliate KARE-11 and a short clip aired at the end of the six o'clock news that same day. Upon her return to work after the event, Paulette stated, "I shared the experience with my clients at our Monday lunch hour; they were really excited that Art Holdings had taken the initiative to do such a neat endeavor. I had so many questions about what Art Holdings had available for show and touch. They all wished that they had the opportunity to see everything also." Art has the power to bring people together in a significantly profound way. "There is nothing more important to our society than strengthening bonds between and within our communities," Palmer-Ross said. Would we host a sensory tour again? In a brushstroke! ***** FROM THE TWIN CITIES TO THE DERBY CITY by Carla Ruschival Before one convention draws to a close, ACB members begin looking forward to next year. Everyone wants to know "What are the dates?" and "How do I make reservations?" and "What are the room rates?" But before we move on to 2008, let's take a quick look back at Minneapolis and recognize the ACB of Minnesota, ACBM president Janet Dickelman and local host committee chair Ken Rodgers, and the entire local host committee for a job well done. Thanks to every member of ACBM for extending to us such a warm welcome. This committee was exceptional; its members were truly outstanding in their hard work, their warmth and hospitality. You were wonderful, Minnesota, and you have given us so many great memories that can never be duplicated. The huge jigsaw puzzle we call an ACB convention served up its usual diet of informative speakers, educational workshops and seminars, and fun-filled socials and tours. The exhibit area was brimming with new technology, services and products; the Youth Activity Center brought new surprises each day for the under-18s; and an expanded Recreation Zone filled the early evening hours with activities for all ages. Planning all of these activities and attending to the details and preparations is a year-round job. A huge thanks to the members of the ACB Convention Committee: Jerry Annunzio, facilities and audiovisual; Margarine Beaman, volunteers; Berl Colley, tours; Patti Cox, Youth Activity Center; Brenda Dillon, sponsorships; Sharon Lovering, Communications Center; Pam Shaw, Information Desk; Mike Smitherman, exhibits; and Lane Waters, registration. Thanks also to Chrissie Cochrane and Marlaina Lieberg for coordinating ACB Radio; to Mike Duke and Jay Doudna for their untiring assistance with audiovisual; and to the ACB Minneapolis office staff (Quan Cu, Le Chi Tran, and Elaine Vining) for their untiring assistance at registration. Thanks to Anna Olsen, June Horst, Bruce Radtke, Alison Smitherman and the many, many other volunteers, without whom the convention week could not have been a success. Finally, in my capacity as events coordinator, I want to let all of the special-interest groups, ACB committees, and others who sponsored events and held meetings during the 2007 convention know how much I appreciate their hard work, advance planning, and attention to detail. And now we turn our attention to Louisville, home of world-famous Churchill Downs and the American Printing House for the Blind. Convention dates are July 5-12, with the first tours being on Friday, July 4. We are returning to the Galt House, located on the banks of the Ohio River and site of the 1980 and 2000 ACB conventions. Rates are $85 single/double for rooms on the west side, and $105 single/double for suites (one bedroom with a small parlor) on the east side. Add $10 for each additional person in a room (limit four people to a room); rates do not include tax. You may now make individual reservations, but we ask that you only reserve a room IF you truly have plans to attend. The practice of reserving rooms just in case you decide to spend a week with ACB causes problems such as those experienced by many of you in obtaining rooms in Jacksonville and Minneapolis, and can result in unnecessary costs to both you and ACB. To make individual reservations at the Galt House, call (502) 589-5200. To begin planning for convention events or reserve meeting rooms, please contact Carla Ruschival by phone at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net. ***** ELIZABETH LENNON: FAREWELL TO A GOOD FRIEND by Susan Ponchillia and Sherry Gordon Elizabeth "Libby" Lennon, longtime resident of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a member of the Kalamazoo Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, passed away at Bronson Methodist Hospital on May 11, 2007. Libby was 97 years young! Born in Chicago on April 29, 1910, Libby lost sight in one eye around the age of eight due to an accident. Her determination to become an educator for people who are blind eventually led her to Western Michigan University in 1967, after previously having an impressive teaching and administrative career in programs for blind people in Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Montana. She also reached beyond U.S. borders and traveled and taught in England and Australia. Libby retired from WMU in 1978 as an assistant professor in the blind rehabilitation program. Aside from her teaching and being a life-long learner, Libby was an active member of the American Council of the Blind for many years, being a contributing editor to "The Braille Forum," as well as the writer for the "Here and There" column. She enjoyed attending many national ACB conventions and traveling around the world. Libby was also an active member of the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Libby was active in many organizations, boards and committees, including being a founding member of the Kalamazoo Disability Resource Center and co-founder of the Shepherd's Center of Greater Kalamazoo, which offered ecumenical programs for homebound seniors. Libby served on the board of the Voluntary Action Center of Greater Kalamazoo, was an advisory member of the City of Kalamazoo's Advisory Committee for the Coover Recreational Center and had a longtime involvement with the Michigan Commission for the Blind. Libby was a member and former secretary for the Michigan Blind Athletic Association, always advocating that blind and visually impaired people be involved in sports and recreational activities. In recognition of her work in her community, Libby was named the Handicapped Professional Woman of the Year in 1971, and in 2002 she received the prestigious Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award. We dearly miss our friend, Libby. She was a very intelligent lady who had boundless energy and great ideas for making things happen. Libby's inspiration has influenced so many, many people who are blind or visually impaired over the years that we are not able to name every achievement Libby accomplished -- only to say her thoughts and dreams will live with us for a very long time! ***** A TRIBUTE TO RALPH SANDERS by Bob Humphreys Although I'm usually pretty good at putting words on paper, I have struggled to find the right words to describe Ralph's contributions to people who are blind, and to the programs that serve them. Nonetheless, I'll try to convey my thoughts and feelings as precisely and as well as I can. Ralph Sanders was a man of great talent and great complexity. In exhibiting that talent, and in dealing with his own complexities, Ralph often rubbed people the wrong way. He could be quite charming, but often was the bull in the china shop, pressing his thoughts and ideas without consideration of the opinions of others. He always was convinced he was right in his positions on matters. Underlying this trait, I think, was an unshakable desire to advance the cause of blindness, both collectively and individually. He worked tirelessly, often taking on more than one person should have to handle at one time. Sometimes it was not so much that he was so confident in his own abilities as it was the recognition that if he didn't undertake a task, it wouldn't get done. So, he volunteered to edit "The Vendorscope," the quarterly publication of Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, and to chair the RSVA legislation committee, and to work on ACB publications, resolutions, and countless other activities. I am sure his ability to make a living suffered because he tried so hard to do so many things for which he was not compensated. At the same time, he managed to juggle some 30 Social Security cases and several evidentiary hearings and arbitrations. Not too many people have had the opportunity to observe repeatedly Ralph's advocacy on a personal level. I've sat on numerous arbitration panels convened under the Randolph-Sheppard Act in which Ralph served as the representative of a blind vendor who had been wronged by the actions or omissions of a state licensing agency. Although Ralph was trained as a journalist, and not as a lawyer, I often marveled at his ability to conduct and manage a case, including his mastery of the documents and evidence. Many times he equaled or surpassed in presentation and ability the courtroom style and knowledge of his legally trained adversaries. At one point he considered going to law school, but the frantically busy nature of his life prevented it. I considered Ralph a friend, but not a close one. I think he had the same impression. Ralph was a person of many layers and levels. I'm not sure how deeply I was able to penetrate those layers. He rarely confided in me as to his feelings, beliefs, and frustrations. He probably had a closer relationship with a number of other people. Yet, I feel a deep and lasting loss. I will miss him. ACB will miss him. RSVA will miss him. It is only after he has been gone for awhile that we will be able to perceive how much he contributed and how valuable his counsel, how important his very considerable mind. ***** IN MEMORIAM: PHYLLIS HERRINGTON by Kathleen Prime Have you ever had the privilege of knowing a respected colleague or a trusted friend who is forthright, honest and articulate, yet selfless and sensitive enough to put others first? If you have had the honor of knowing Phyllis Herrington, then your life has indeed been touched by someone who was all these things! Phyllis, who was born and raised in Mississippi, came into the world somewhat prematurely and, as a result, became totally blind. She attended the school for the blind in her home state. She also attended a local community college and then went on to receive her master's degree in history from the University of Southern Mississippi. After working for a short time as a teacher's aide in her home town, she decided it was time to venture out in order to discover what the world had to offer and what she could give back to the blind and sighted communities. And when Phyllis set out to accomplish something, she invariably put her whole self into the task at hand. Phyllis confidently stepped forward into the unknown, did her best not to look back, and always counseled others to do the same no matter what obstacles they might be facing. Her journey took her to states such as Kentucky and Wisconsin, where she spent several years working for the American Printing House for the Blind and Raised Dot Computing, respectively. Phyllis was, by all accounts, a woman who combined graciousness, professionalism, and dedication in all that she sought to accomplish in the workplace. Not content to remain a cane traveler all her life, Phyllis eventually applied to the Guide Dog Foundation and was accepted. She soon received her first guide dog, who would become one of four dogs. She subsequently applied for the position of outreach coordinator for the Guide Dog Foundation and was pleasantly surprised to be offered the job in 1996. From that time until just a few months before her death, Phyllis Herrington worked tirelessly, in her quiet but self-assured way, to promote greater independence and a fuller, more meaningful life for her blind and visually impaired peers. At the same time, she always viewed her visual limitation as secondary and took seriously her goal of remaining true to herself and others. She accepted what life offered her but was never content to do any less than her very best. Phyllis had hoped to be married at some point in her life, and although she did not have the opportunity to realize that particular dream, with her usual fortitude, she ultimately came to appreciate her solitude as a source of renewed strength. Although she did not consider herself an activist, Phyllis was a vibrant example of what it means to be open-minded and non-judgmental, yet also fair and a believer in standing up for what is right. She avoided politics at all costs but was more than willing to take a strong stance when an individual's identity or a group's basic human rights were being compromised. Additionally, she was a woman of great faith who readily admitted to her own weaknesses and, in so doing, showed more courage and inner strength than the average person. Those commendable qualities, as well as her wry but memorable sense of humor (which often manifested itself in some of the funniest one-liners I've ever heard), would take Phyllis a very long way in overcoming the ordeal that assailed her toward the end of her life. In the summer of 2005, Phyllis was diagnosed with breast cancer in an advanced stage. What's more, the cancer had already spread to several other places, and surgery was simply not an option. Phyllis subsequently endured several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, which proved effective for a time. Phyllis met this pain and uncertainty with courage, selflessness, and a faith in God that never seemed to waver. When those of us who knew her would call to check in with her, more often than not, she would sound cheerful and would inspire the rest of us with her perseverance and positive outlook. Rather than dwelling on her own long struggle with a devastating illness, Phyllis preferred to ask what was new in our lives, how our various plans were going, etc. Instead of allowing us to be listeners for her and to share more of her painful journey (which we would quite willingly have done), she proceeded to tell us of the many blessings in her life and occasionally recounted stories of her most recent guide dog, Fordham, and his never-ending adventures! I had the pleasure of working with this energetic and caring lady at the Guide Dog Foundation from 2001 to 2003. Since that time, Phyllis has become a true friend, always there with the right words when I was most in need of support, whether personally or professionally. While she would never accept credit for being someone I looked up to and cared about very much, the truth of the matter is that Phyllis was, and will always be, someone close to my heart. Her many affirming words and her unobtrusive way of showing support will not be forgotten, and the deep faith and lively sense of humor that she so often shared with those around her will live on in our hearts. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Fun, Education, and A Great Time Await You at the Illinois Convention! Would you like to see and buy the latest and greatest products for people who are blind or visually impaired? How about visiting old friends and making new ones? Or do you just want to spend a beautiful fall weekend with some fun-loving people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the place you just have to be is at the 2007 Illinois Council of the Blind state convention. The convention takes place from Oct. 5-7 at the Holiday Inn City Centre, 500 Hamilton Avenue, Peoria, Ill. Room rates are $69 plus 12 percent tax per night. You can make your hotel reservations by calling (309) 674-2500 before Sept. 18, 2007. Get those reservations in early and watch for convention registration forms. If you are not sure you are in our database, contact the Illinois office at 1-866-850-1336 or icb@icbonline.org. You don't want to miss what promises to be a fun and educational weekend. How have we come to travel as we do today with white cane, dog guide and other mobility devices? Come learn about the history of mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired in the very city where the white cane with red tip was invented. Take a chance and you just might win a wad of cash with the ICB 50/50 raffle. Is disability viewed differently in other parts of the world and how? ICB's own Christie Gilson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will tell us. But wait, there's more! Enjoy great food, entertainment and company as our three-person DJ team spins your favorite music. Learn what's happening with library services for people who are blind. Make those plans now to attend the 2007 ICB convention. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office either by phone at 1-866-850- 1336 or via e-mail at icb@icbonline.org. Watch our web site, www.icbonline.org, for further information as well. South Dakota Convention in Brookings The South Dakota Association of the Blind will hold its convention Oct. 12-13, 2007 at the Staurolite Inn in Brookings. Room rates are $58 per night plus tax for up to four people per room. Call the inn at (605) 692- 3111 to reserve a room. The theme is: "Where Are We Going?" Activities include a Friday night banquet and auction; the program will include a look at SDAB's past, present and future. If you have any suggestions or ideas for activities, contact Linda Biffert at (605) 627-5608 or lbiffert@msn.com. ***** 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. ** EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES This September, in conjunction with National Preparedness Month, Bridge Multimedia will be offering a free online series entitled 30 Days, 30 Resources. This program will feature articles, guides, lists, and links to timely facts regarding disaster readiness for homes, schools, businesses, and communities. All articles in the program are available for publication and distribution free of charge with attribution to Bridge Multimedia. These resources will be posted online at www.EmergencyInfoOnline.org. ** TOUCHABLE ART EXHIBIT For the 16th year, the USArtists: American Fine Art Show will offer a free program for the visually impaired. The show's 55 art dealers bring touchable art to the event, including sculptures. This exhibit runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 at the 33rd Street Armory, located on 33rd St. between Market and Arch streets in Philadelphia. ** CTEVH CONFERENCE SEEKS PRESENTERS The workshop committee for the 49th annual California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped Conference is seeking potential presenters to share research, offer practical solutions or demonstrate interactive activities and usable tips for the enrichment of conference participants. Poster sessions are also available to share more limited information. The conference will be held Feb. 28 to March 2, 2008 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Applications for workshop and poster session proposals are due immediately. For additional information, or to view and download the proposal form, visit the conference web site at www.ctevh.org/conference.htm, or call Adama Dyoniziak, conference co-chair, at (323) 906-3130. ** TOUCH OF GENIUS NOMINATIONS National Braille Press is pleased to announce the Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is now open for applications. The Gibney Family Foundation initiated the Touch of Genius prize as a tie-in to NBP's recently published biography of Louis Braille to stimulate new thinking in the area of tactile literacy. The Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation will be granted to an individual or group of individuals who advances the cause of tactile literacy for blind and deaf-blind people worldwide. Louis Braille was an innovator, and this $20,000 award seeks to identify a similar pacesetter and inspire future innovators. For more details and an application, visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/braille/louisbrailleprize.html. ** STUDY SEEKS PARTICIPANTS Dr. Rami Burstein at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School is conducting a study on migraine headaches and photophobia. He would like to interview individuals who are between 18 and 65, and who meet one of the following criteria: have albinism, who ARE and ARE NOT migraine patients; are blind and photophobic, who ARE and ARE NOT migraine patients; or are blind migraine patients, and ARE NOT photophobic. After the 30- to 60-minute phone interview, individuals may be invited to meet in person in the Boston area, if possible, for further study. If you are interested in participating, contact Dr. Burstein at (617) 667-0806, or e-mail rburstei@caregroup.harvard.edu. ** APH ASSESSMENT CATALOG AVAILABLE The American Printing House for the Blind is proud to debut its first-ever Assessment Catalog 2007-2008. The catalog features standardized accessible tests, tools and manipulatives that can be used in assessment situations, as well as information about APH's custom production of assessment materials. The accessible materials advertised not only allow students who are blind or visually impaired to undergo the same assessment evaluations as their sighted counterparts, but also provide them with specific tools and materials to support their individual learning experience. The Assessment Catalog is available in regular print, on CD-ROM, and online. To request a free copy, visit www.aph.org, e-mail catalogs@aph.org, or call 1-800-223-1839. ** UTAH SCHOOL ALUMNI Alumni of the Utah School of the Blind are looking to contact people who have been students at the Utah School for the Blind. If you are such a person, or if you know of someone who was a student at USDB, please contact David Arellano at 1-800-366-4447 or e-mail david@david-arellano.com. You can also contact Terri Lynne Pomeroy at (801) 299-8522 or e-mail terri_lynne@mailbolt.com. ** SLEEP STUDY NEEDS PARTICIPANTS Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston is currently evaluating how light and behavior influence sleep and wakefulness under real-world and laboratory conditions in people who are totally blind. The study consists of living in the sleep lab for 21 or 34 days across two separate visits. You will also be asked to collect information while living at home. The results may help to develop therapies to treat sleep-wake disturbances related to jet lag, shift work and visual impairment. Eligible candidates are totally blind, between the ages of 18 and 70, have no light perception, and take no prescription medications. The study covers travel expenses and could earn you up to $9,300. For more information, contact Joe or Lisa at 1-888-828-4294 or e-mail Joe, jhull@partners.org. ** NEW MUSEUM TOUCH TOUR The Rubin Museum of Art, a cultural and educational institution dedicated to the art of the Himalayas, is now offering Verbal Imaging and Touch tours for partially sighted and blind audiences. Touch tours are free with museum admission; the tours are one hour in length and take visitors through the culture, history, religion, and arts of the Himalayas. Group and individual tours offered. Please book two weeks in advance by calling Emilie Dufour for reservations at (212) 620-5000 ext. 345 or e-mail at reservations@rmanyc.org. The Rubin Museum is located at 150 W. 17th St., New York, NY. ** OPPORTUNITY FOR BLIND VETERANS Elroy Day, a former Navy man who was blinded in a home invasion, recently completed the Purple Heart Service Foundations job training program to become an at-home call center agent. He wants other blind veterans to come and join him. He has a dream of opening a blinded veterans call center that would be staffed by former members of the U.S. military who are now blind. You can help with his dream by spreading the word to veterans who are visually impaired and looking for work. Contact Elroy Day via e-mail at eday@carolina.rr.com or call Ms. Thompson at (703) 835-3531. ***** UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS CIVIL ACTION NO. 03-11206-MEL COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. E*TRADE ACCESS, INC., et al., Defendants NOTICE OF CLASS DETERMINATIONS, PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND HEARING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 4, 2007 TO ALL BLIND PATRONS OF AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES ("ATMs") OWNED OR OPERATED BY EITHER CARDTRONICS, INC., OR CARDTRONICS, LP (collectively, "Cardtronics") The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Federation of the Blind ("NFB"), and several individual blind persons have brought claims against Cardtronics in the class action lawsuit Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. E*TRADE Access, Inc., et al., No. CV-03-11206 (the "Lawsuit"), pending before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the "Court"). The Lawsuit concerns, among other things, the accessibility of ATMs owned or operated by Cardtronics to blind patrons under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and Massachusetts state laws. The Court has certified a nationwide class in this Lawsuit that consists of patrons of ATMs owned or operated by Cardtronics who have total blindness or central vision acuity not to exceed 20/200 in the better eye, with corrective lenses, as measured by the Snellen test, or visual acuity greater than 20/200, but with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of not greater than 20 degrees (the "Class Members"). CARDTRONICS HAS AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE BENEFITS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SETTLING CLASS DESCRIBED BELOW, IF THE SETTLEMENT IS APPROVED BY THE COURT. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WILL ALSO RELEASE ALL CLASS MEMBERS' CLAIMS FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF RELATING TO THE ACCESSIBILITY OF CARDTRONICS' ATMS TO BLIND PEOPLE AS WELL AS ALL CLASS MEMBER CLAIMS AGAINST E*TRADE BANK FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. Cardtronics, without admitting any liability, has agreed to settle the Lawsuit by, among other actions, ensuring that most ATMs owned by Cardtronics will offer voice guidance through a standard headphone jack located on the face of the ATM by no later than December 31, 2007. Cardtronics will also sell or otherwise make available to merchants or other third-parties who own ATMs currently serviced by Cardtronics ATMs that are voice-guided and provide audible instructions to ATM patrons through a standard headphone jack located on the face of the ATM. Finally, Cardtronics has committed that, by July 1, 2010, at least ninety percent (90%) of all transactions at covered ATMs shall occur on ATMs that are voice-guided or otherwise accessible to blind people. A full copy of the settlement agreement is available on Cardtronics' website: www.cardtronics.net/news/nfb_settlement.asp. The locations of the existing ATMs covered by the settlement agreement can be obtained through Cardtronics' ATM locator feature, available at www.cardtronics.net/about/atmlocator.asp. Cardtronics has agreed to make a contribution of $100,000 to the Attorney General's local consumer aid fund of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, subject to Court approval, to pay the amount of $900,000 in attorneys' fees to the attorneys representing the class. These amounts will not detract from Cardtronics' duties to provide accessible ATMs to the class. The Court will conduct a hearing on the motion of class counsel for their attorneys' fees at the date and time set forth in the following paragraph. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the Court dated July 27, 2007, and as thereafter amended, that a Final Approval Hearing will be held on December 4, 2007, at 11:00 a.m., before that Court in the United States Courthouse, One Courthouse Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. The purpose of this Final Approval Hearing is to determine whether the proposed settlement of the Lawsuit should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate, whether the application for awards of attorneys' fees, contribution to the Massachusetts Attorney General's local consumer aid fund, and reimbursement for expenses should be approved, and whether this action should be dismissed on the merits and with prejudice. Class Members who wish to object to the proposed settlement must provide notice of and explanation of their objection in writing to the Court at the address above, with copies to Counsel at the addresses provided below, no later than October 31, 2007. Only Class Members filing timely objections may request to present their objections at the Final Approval Hearing. Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Attn: Patricia Correa Assistant Attorney General 100 Cambridge Street, 11th floor Boston, MA 02108 Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP Attn: Daniel F. Goldstein, Esq. 120 E. Baltimore Street Suite 1700 Baltimore, MD 21202 Douglas P. Lobel Cooley Godward Kronish LLP One Freedom Square 1 Reston Town Center 11951 Freedom Drive Reston, VA 20190 For further information, visit www.cardtronics.net/news/nfb_settlement.asp. Or contact counsel for the plaintiffs: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Attorney General, Disability Rights Project, (617) 727-2200, www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1195 or Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, (410) 962-1030, www.browngold.com Except as instructed in the notice, please do not contact the court. Dated: July 26, 2007 By Order of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: VideoEye Millennium Power Magnification System (model MVE- 5N) in perfect condition. A self-focusing viewing head mounted on a precision flexible arm moves over anything you want to see. Magnification adjusts to normal (25X) and high power (50X) on a 27" screen in color. Asking $2,000 or best offer. Please e-mail weezee8@google.com or call (510) 847-8108 if you are interested. FOR SALE: VoiceNote mPOWER QT in good condition with latest Keysoft upgrade and all accessories. Asking $1,000; will ship via UPS within the United States. Contact Stacey Robinson via e-mail at staceyr75@bellsouth.net, or phone (615) 274-2916 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Central time. FOR SALE: Braille Lite M20. Comes with carrying case and adapter. Rarely used. In good condition. Asking $1,600. Only form of payment accepted is PayPal. For more information, e-mail snw1379@hotmail.com. FOR SALE: Optelec CCTV in good condition. Black-and-white and reverse, zoom. Asking $895. Contact Joe Morgan at (719) 495-4335, or via e-mail, joe.morgan@pcisys.net. FOR SALE: Braille Sense, 32-cell display. Two years old, in great condition. Comes with all necessary cords, earphones and battery. Asking $4,200. Call (612) 822-6991, or send an e-mail to cjdavid40@msn.com. FOR SALE: APH Handi-Cassette 2. In good condition. Asking $100. Will accept checks or money orders. Contact Tonya Smith at (734) 586-8713. FOR SALE: JAWS for Windows 8.0. Asking $745. Will accept PayPal, money order, or check. Checks are held 10 days before shipping. Includes license transfer fee. Contact Michael Baldwin via e-mail, mbaldwin@gpcom.net, or by phone, (308) 286-3592. FOR SALE: Standard Perkins brailler, used, in very good condition, with dust cover. Asking $150; will accept payment through PayPal or money order by mail. Will be glad to ship brailler free matter. Contact Tracy Cushman via e-mail, tbcushman@cableone.net, or by telephone at (208) 278- 3935. FOR SALE: Classic Optacon, refurbished, with new battery and fully functioning tactile array. Asking $400 (negotiable). Call (978) 452-3292 or e-mail suzannewilson@verizon.net. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL 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 Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officio: Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO