THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXV December 1996 No. 5 Published By The American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Paul Edwards, President Oral O. Miller, J.D., Executive Director Nolan Crabb, Editor Sharon Lovering, Editorial Assistant National Office: 1155 15th St. N.W. Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Electronic bulletin board: (202) 331-1058 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large print, half- speed four-track cassette tape and MS-DOS computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Patricia Beattie, treasurer, at the above address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the council's continuing work, the national office has printed cards available to acknowledge contributions made by loved ones in memory of deceased people. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 6 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only call 331-2876. Copyright 1996 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Gifts, by Paul Edwards Report of the Executive Director, by Oral O. Miller Looking Ahead To The 105th Congress: Prepare Now To Participate, by Julie H. Carroll Come To Texas In '97 Legal Access: Holiday Cheer: Calm Before The Storms, by Charles D. Goldman Dog Guide Users Win Important Disability Rights Victory In Federal Appellate Court, by Charles S.P. Hodge Choice: Not Just For The Chosen Few, by Donald Moore Book Review: "Friendships In The Dark" And "Dammi La Mano:" Two Books Worth Reading, by Sharon Lovering I Saw It Without Vision, by Rebecca Shields Letter To The Editor Affiliate News An Unforgettable Trip, by Larry Johnson Here And There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon High Tech Swap Shop CORRECTIONS Due to an editing error, Joel Pincus' telephone number was incorrectly listed in the October "High Tech Swap Shop." The correct number is (941) 656-1511. Due to an editing error, the Kurzweil Omni 1000 system was listed as costing $995 ("Here and There," November). The actual price of the system is $4,000; the software, which can be used with existing computers, costs $995. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: GIFTS by Paul Edwards This is the season for giving and receiving gifts. Perhaps this column could be considered a kind of catalog of gifts that I have received since becoming president and, in some cases, a long time before that. Gifts are funny things. When they are given, you often don't appreciate them and after you have had them for a while, you take them for granted. I know that is true for me. Perhaps the most wonderful gift I have these days is my friend Gayle. She always manages to make sure that things are together on the home front, has sage advice to offer when I'm prepared to take it and, in so many other ways, is responsible for making sure I do the right thing at the right time. It is extremely easy to take this kind of gift for granted and I think I am guilty of often thanking everybody else and not expressing just how grateful I am to have her. Of course there are lots of other gifts I receive as well. Every time I attend a state affiliate convention I receive gifts from the people who are there. They share their stories with me and provide me with a reason to spend the long hours on the plane that I do. The people at the local level of ACB are its heart and soul. What you do is what makes our organization great! Your gifts to me are hard to count. There is the lady at one convention who told me how much ACB had meant to her and that she might have committed suicide had she not found us. There is the young man who told me that until he found ACB, he was isolated and saw no purpose to his life. There was the lady who took the time to write me and tell me that my parliamentarian skills had been good at the convention. I was afraid that, at any moment, I would lose control so hearing from a registered parliamentarian that I had done OK really made me feel good. Then there are the gifts that are less tangible. When we can make a change that makes a difference whether through the courts or through advocacy, it's a gift. We get to see the difference that we have made by what we have done. There are also the intangible gifts we get from each other when we share conversation and can sense an acceptance of who we are and what we do. There are also the gifts of criticism that help to make us more conscious of the times we have not paid attention or have acted too quickly. I know that spending a little time in this column reflecting on all the gifts I have is good for me. It helps me know just how much harder my job would be without the help of others. Maybe my gift to all of you this holiday season will be to persuade you to look at just how good you have it. We spend so much time trying to make things better that we sometimes lose sight of how far we have come and how much we have accomplished. So, right now, as you read this, unwrap my gift to you and savor its texture and feel how heavy it is. Each of you has done a lot and has earned a lot! Be glad! I also have a final gift to give. This is a very specific one and one I am sure will be appreciated! I hereby turn in this column of "The Braille Forum" a month early to Nolan Crabb. Happy holidays, Nolan, and to everyone else too! CAPTION Paul Edwards enthusiastically welcomes ACB members to Tulsa. (All photos copyright 1996 by Jon B. Petersen.) REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR by Oral O. Miller In recent weeks, various ACB staff members, board members, and committee personnel have had opportunities to assist affiliates by speaking on their state convention programs. For example, ACB President Paul Edwards hardly had time to rest as he spoke at the conventions of the Illinois Council of the Blind, the Nevada Council of the Blind, and the Michigan Council of the Blind. During the same period, ACB board member Sue Ammeter spoke at the convention of the Oregon Council of the Blind; Library Users of America President John Taylor spoke at the North Carolina Council convention; Aging & Blindness Committee Chairperson Teddie Remhild spoke at the convention of the Aloha Council of the Blind; ACB Second Vice President Stephen Speicher spoke at the Missouri Council convention, and ACB Coordinator of Affiliate and Membership Services Jessica Beach spoke at the Connecticut Council convention. Such presentations serve the double purpose of allowing the membership to become better acquainted with the ACB leadership and at the same time allowing the leaders to observe the innovative practices of affiliates and become better acquainted with affiliate leaders and members. In order to enable the national office to keep track for budgetary reasons of the interest of affiliates in inviting either specific speakers or designated speakers to their conventions, we request that affiliates either extend the invitation through this office or inform us immediately of any arrangements made directly with officers or board members. Many people think of the beauty connected with the changing of colors of leaves in the fall when the picturesque state of Vermont is mentioned. This year, that beautiful season also served as the climate for a statewide conference focusing on employment and independent living opportunities for blind and visually impaired people, sponsored by the Vermont Association for the Blind. ACB Director of Governmental Affairs Julie Carroll presented the keynote address for the conference and later conducted a workshop dealing with employment issues. During that workshop she focused on, among other things, the impact of recent court decisions and the implications of recent and proposed changes in regulations issued pursuant to Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. How often have you, while attempting to catch a transit bus at a crowded bus stop, found it very difficult to identify the correct bus; and, once aboard, been frustrated if not inconvenienced greatly by the refusal of the bus driver to let you know when you've reached your stop? At one time or another that has happened to most blind riders who have boarded under such conditions and traveled to either unfamiliar destinations or over unfamiliar routes. The regulations issued pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act prescribe, in substance, that bus drivers are to identify their buses and verbally call out the primary stops. Nevertheless, these things are not being done consistently, and in some communities the resistance of bus drivers to these requirements has resulted in embarrassing and demeaning conduct toward blind passengers, such as the conduct of one driver who loudly and insultingly shouted "this is California Street for the benefit of the blind." On other occasions, buses have stopped hundreds of feet away from prescribed stops, thereby leaving blind passengers in unfamiliar and dangerous areas such as construction sites. These examples and others were compiled recently in a grant proposal prepared by the American Council of the Blind in requesting funding from Project Action of the Easter Seals Society to develop, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs for transit drivers in targeted communities. We were informed recently that the American Council of the Blind will receive a grant of $50,000 to be used for the above- summarized purposes as well as the preparation of a user-friendly training manual that can be used in other communities. Work on these projects has already begun in the targeted cities, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, with the assistance of the consulting firm JDF and Associates of Silver Spring, Md. ACB members in the targeted communities will be asked to take part in various phases þ such as pre-training evaluation, monitoring of training, and monitoring of post-training conduct. It may come as a surprise to many that these difficulties even exist because they should not exist. Unfortunately, however, the situation is not as simple as it seems; in many communities, there are serious objections by collective bargaining organizations to the addition of these duties to the existing duties of bus drivers. In many communities, language and other difficulties are a factor. The training module that is to be developed by this project should be very useful in other communities and perhaps ACB in conjunction with its affiliates will be able to refine the program further. Many of the ongoing governmental and non-governmental advocacy activities of the American Council of the Blind are similar to the movement of an iceberg in that only a small part of the activity is generally visible. Within recent weeks, ACB Director of Governmental Affairs Julie Carroll spent dozens of hours taking part in the deliberations of the Disability Committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). At those meetings, the committee considered the content that will go into proposed ANSI standards regarding detectable warnings (such as the type that are to go along subway platform edges) and automatic teller machines and fare vending machines. Both sets of standards were seriously challenged but preserved for recommendation to ANSI for publication prior to public comment. Those proposed standards will be the same as those of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines of the Access Board. The proposed standards for automatic teller machines would require audible verification of input transactions, all transaction prompts and receipts. Very recently, I returned from leading a 19-member People To People Citizen Ambassador Program delegation consisting of educators, administrators, program specialists, and consumer advocates to the People's Republic of China for the exchange of information with our counterparts there regarding the education of the blind and visually impaired. Although a summary of the trip and my observations thereon will appear in a future issue or issues of "The Braille Forum," I believe that a few observations are in order now. First, it was indeed a pleasure and honor to lead the delegation consisting of such outstanding, dedicated, and capable people; as a nation, we may be proud of them. During its two weeks in the People's Republic of China, the delegation visited schools, printing facilities, universities, and other facilities in four cities þ Beijing, Nanjing, Xuzhou, and Shanghai. Although the schedule of professional activities was extremely demanding, it was interwoven with cultural activities that enabled the delegation to visit world-famous and interesting sites such as Tiananmen Square, the mausoleum of Mao Tse-Tung, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, a soap factory, and a pearl farm. The braille readers (including this one) and the teachers in the delegation were especially interested in the publication of material in braille in the Chinese language inasmuch as ancient Chinese consisted of literally thousands of graphic characters, most of which were to be read as words. For purposes of modern communication in braille, the language has been reduced to 52 letters which is the six-dot format with which we are familiar. However, since the tone or inflection of the voice determines the meaning of a word in Chinese and since some words have as many as four different tones or intonations, which have not traditionally been indicated in the braille code used in a nation which estimates that it has more than 11 million blind citizens, a commission of experts is now working on revising the braille code to make it more consistent with the modern Chinese language, which also has several vastly different dialects. And in the English-speaking world, we think that confusion is created by the fact that we in North America use the braille dot six to signify capitalization and the British do not? At this time, the members of the board of directors and the staff of the American Council of the Blind wish all of the readers of "The Braille Forum" a joyous holiday season and happy new year! LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 105TH CONGRESS: PREPARE NOW TO PARTICIPATE by Julie H. Carroll, Director of Governmental Affairs ACB is gearing up for the 105th Congress. While there were some changes as a result of the November elections, the overall political landscape in Washington does not appear to be much different from that of the last two years. We regret losing friends such as Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), Sen. Paul Simon (D- Ill.), and Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Ala.). ACB members should be taking this time to introduce themselves to any new representatives. Informing them about the issues that affect blind people before the legislative session gets under way will help us down the road when their schedules are full and they may not have as much time to give to visits from constituents. We expect to be dealing with many of the same issues in the new Congress, particularly in the areas of employment and rehabilitation programs, special education, and Social Security reform. The Rehabilitation Act is due to be reauthorized in 1997. The 104th Congress failed to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as it was scheduled to do during its last session; therefore, IDEA reauthorization is expected to be one of the first things on the agenda in the education and disability subcommittees. We can also expect to see efforts early in the 105th Congress to reform the federal Social Security disability insurance program. These are likely to be some of the important issues covered at our annual legislative workshop this spring. ACB's 1997 legislative workshop will be held in conjunction with the American Foundation for the Blind's Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (JLTLI). Plans are well under way to bring together blind and visually impaired consumers and parents and professionals in the blindness field for three days of informative presentations and discussions, as well as working groups to implement what we learn. The theme will be "Documenting the Value of Specialized Services: Arming Ourselves, Influencing Decisionmakers." Mark your calendars now. The sessions will begin on the afternoon of Saturday, March 8 and conclude with visits to Capitol Hill on March 11. The site for the 1997 JLTLI and legislative workshop will be the Washington Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C. ($89 single, $99 double). We will also be using the Embassy Square Hotel, 2000 N St. NW, which is approximately two blocks from the Marriott. The Embassy Square Hotel offers efficiency suites and one- to two-bedroom apartment-style suites with cooking facilities, refrigerators, dining areas, and sleeper sofas ($89, $99, $119 or $129, depending on the number of occupants). These rooms are recommended for those who wish to share rooms with others to minimize expenses. Although the Embassy Square does not have a full-service restaurant on the premises, it offers a free continental breakfast and free delivery service from a local supermarket. More details will follow. Stay tuned to the Washington Connection for complete registration information. You can reach the Washington Connection at (800) 424-8666 from 6 p.m. to midnight Eastern time weekdays and all day on weekends. COME TO TEXAS IN '97 Houston is a city that offers a large variety of things to enjoy from Houston's past as part of the Old West to the city's modern-day importance as headquarters to Space Center Houston and the Modern Museum and art district, and let's not forget the eighth wonder of the world, the Astrodome. We Texans in the ACB of Texas are planning a convention with the help of the national convention committee and the local Convention and Visitors' Bureau to make the 1997 national convention memorable indeed. Let me point out that the Adam's Mark Hotel is arranged in a very organized, accessible manner and its staff has pledged to make this convention enjoyable and successful. If eating is your thing, (and who doesn't like to eat?) next door to the hotel is a collection of eating establishments that serve many things, including sandwiches, steaks, fine dining and desserts. This center is a three-minute walk from the front door of the hotel. The center with its variety of dining choices should enhance the convention immensely. So ... come to Texas and enjoy some Texas hospitality! CAPTIONS Paul Edwards gives Bettye and David Krause their life membership certificates. Judy Pool Hansen, former president of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind, welcomes members to Tulsa. Dr. Tuck Tinsley of the American Printing House for the Blind gives his report to the convention. Pat Beattie listens as Dr. Phil Hatlen talks about the philosophy of the Texas School for the Blind. LEGAL ACCESS: HOLIDAY CHEER: CALM BEFORE THE STORMS by Charles D. Goldman (Reprinted with permission from "Horizons," December 1996.) This month we celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. December is a month filled with holiday cheer in a multitude of denominational and non-denominational ways. December is also the month in which very little seems to get done in Washington. The president has been re-elected. The congress is out of session, literally gone, with a new Senate and a new House of Representatives to be sworn in in January. The bureaucrats at the federal agencies are busy attempting to use up their "use or lose" leave. But don't let the appearance of a semi-malaise fool you. This is really a time when quite a bit could and should be done. This is really an illusory period of harmony, the absence of outward confrontation, a false sense of a deeper commitment to commonly agreed-upon actions in the future. The president is now in the process of reshuffling the cabinet. What will be important for people with disabilities is not necessarily who is the top person. It is more important that Judy Heumann, Assistant Secretary of Education for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, serve in the second Clinton administration than Richard Riley, who has done quite well as Secretary of Education. Judy Heumann has been a strong voice for people with disabilities for many years (including the last four) þ even if I don't always agree with her. The administration is now quietly formulating its budget for fiscal year 1998 (which begins October 1, 1997) which it will present to Congress in late January or early February. Washington is a city where there is much policy work decided by budget. What resources will the administration be seeking for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Justice efforts for the Americans with Disabilities Act, or to fund special education? The answers to these questions are being formulated and justified inside the agencies, Office of Management and Budget, and the White House this month. The administration is now also contemplating its added plans to reinvent government. This could also have a profound impact if the disability-related agencies which went unscathed in the first administration are put under a microscope which shows truthfully which do serve people and which are truly duplicative, institutionally obsolete or ineffective. In Congress, the Republicans have retained control. This means Sen. Frist (Republican) of Tennessee and Sen. Harkin (Democrat) of Iowa should retain their chairmanship and ranking minority member status on the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy. That is the Senate subcommittee which must address and exercise congressional leadership on critical issues in 1997, such as reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act and extending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Bear in mind that Congress for the past two years has been unable to agree on a longer, e.g. five-year or permanent, reauthorization of IDEA. Issues such as discipline for students receiving special education services but who act inappropriately for reasons unrelated to their disabilities have precluded re- enactment of IDEA. The shadow of Whitewater or other ethical issue-based hearings could grow and preempt senators' time. It could get very partisan, though some new senators, such as Sen. Collins (R-Maine) could be breaths of fresh air. This is the time for the community of people with disabilities to be working with the administration, to be learning about and educating the new Congress. It is a time to formulate the positions on the Rehabilitation Act and IDEA. It is time to make the administration aware of the quality work done by people like Judy Heumann, to help her be retained. It is a time for keeping an eye on budgets and helping the bureaucrats formulate them in ways most favorable to people with disabilities. History indicates that a re-elected president may have a brief second honeymoon with a new Congress. After that respite, the president will be a lame duck. Or in Bill Clinton's case, with Whitewater etc. percolating, a sitting duck. So enjoy the holidays and hope for a good, healthy new year. Enjoy the break. But realize there's really a lot happening and to do. And much of what follows the holidays will not embody the spirit of this month. May your 1997 be great! DOG GUIDE USERS WIN IMPORTANT DISABILITY RIGHTS VICTORY IN FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT by Charles S.P. Hodge One of the legal restrictions imposed upon blind people which has been most galling to guide dog users has been the Hawaii state law which imposes a 120-day quarantine period upon any animal (including guide dogs) entering the state of Hawaii. Hawaii happens to be free from rabies, and the quarantine law has been justified as Hawaii's chosen way of preserving its rabies- free status. The quarantine law has erected a virtually impregnable barrier for guide dog users wishing to visit or vacation in the state. This remains so even though in its more than 75-year history the quarantine has failed to discover or intercept even a single case of rabies in dogs. Some supporters of the quarantine law point to such factual evidence as demonstrating the effectiveness of the quarantine law. The law does not only adversely impact upon the travel, recreational, business and professional opportunities of blind dog guide-using non-Hawaiians, but it ironically adversely impacts upon the dog guide-using Hawaii residents as well. If a blind guide dog-using Hawaiian travels to the mainland or any other geographic area of the world which is considered by Hawaiian officials not to be rabies-free, then the dog must still go through the 120-day quarantine period upon its return to Hawaii. Thus, the civil rights of blind Hawaiians and non- Hawaiians who choose to use guide dogs were being impinged upon and adversely impacted by the provisions of the Hawaii quarantine law and implementing regulations administered and enforced by the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. In the late 1970s, a guide dog user brought litigation supported and funded by the National Federation of the Blind which challenged the validity of the Hawaii quarantine law as being in violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, alleging that the law arbitrarily and capriciously discriminates against the blind owners of trained guide dogs. Despite the laudable objectives of that litigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii ruled that the quarantine law was valid as a reasonable effort by the state under its health, safety and police powers to protect its citizens against the threat of rabies and that any classification in the law which worked to the disadvantage of blind guide dog users could be justified under the rational basis test. The plaintiff unsuccessfully appealed, and the district court's ruling was affirmed by an unpublished order of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This earlier misguided litigation left a legacy of outstanding adverse judicial precedent against which any subsequent blind litigant would have to contend. In the 15 years since the earlier federal constitutional challenge to the Hawaii quarantine law, the legal landscape had improved somewhat. Many states including Hawaii had enacted statutory provisions explicitly protecting many of the civil rights of disabled people. The civil rights section, Title V of the Rehabilitation Act, had been slightly strengthened via Congressional amendments; and the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 had become law. In light of these hopeful changes, an expert disability rights attorney and resident of the state was recruited and representative guide dog- using plaintiffs from California and Hawaii were found who were interested in mounting a test case challenging the Hawaii quarantine law. Guide Dog Users Inc., an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, the California Council of the Blind, and other organizations contributed financial support to the litigation. A lawsuit was then filed challenging the validity of the law under several provisions of the ADA and federal and state constitutions. The court complaint reiterated the contentions that the quarantine law unfairly limited the rights of and discriminated against guide dog users on the basis of their disability. The U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, primarily relying upon its earlier decision as binding precedent, had little trouble disposing of the case as it granted summary judgment for the Hawaii Board of Agriculture in late 1994. The plaintiffs were, however, undaunted, having anticipated such a result in the trial court. They pressed on with their appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit at San Francisco. On April 30, 1996, that court rendered its decision in the landmark opinion Crowder et al v. Kitagawa et al, 81 F. 3d 1480 (9th Cir. 1996). Circuit Judge David R. Thompson wrote the majority opinion for a divided court in which Chief Judge Procter Hug Jr. joined. The majority opinion states that the impact of the Hawaii quarantine law and its implementing regulations limits the mobility and accessibility options of guide dog users to many public facilities and functions because of their disability. The court stresses that while the courts have only rarely recognized a disability discrimination claim under a disparate impact theory of discrimination, the Supreme Court has held out the possibility of asserting and proving such a claim and that this claim was the exception to the normal theories, which proves the wisdom of the Supreme Court's ruling. While acknowledging that the quarantine law is neutral on its face and treats the owners of all animals imported into the state of Hawaii equally disadvantageously, the majority holds that the effect of the law with respect to guide dog users is to virtually deny them access to public transportation, court houses and other public buildings, and to the services and programs funded with taxpayer money which are offered in such public facilities, on the basis of their dependence on trained guide dogs. The court of appeals reverses the judgment of the district court and holds that the quarantine law's policy constitutes a violation of Title II of the ADA which forbids disability discrimination in state or local government programs and services. The majority remanded the case to the district court for the limited purpose of addressing and making findings as to whether the modification to the current quarantine policy suggested by the plaintiffs, namely reliance on rabies inoculations and testing and monitoring of inoculated dogs, constitutes a reasonable modification of the policy which the district court would be entitled to order as a reasonable accommodation remedy for the established ADA violation, or whether the suggested modification would constitute a basic alteration of the state's program which the district court may not impose on the state of Hawaii under the Supreme Court's decision in Southeastern Community College v. Davis. It is interesting to note that the state of Hawaii did not seek review of the Ninth Circuit's decision in the U.S. Supreme Court, apparently deciding to stand its ground on the remedy and reasonable accommodation issues left to further proceedings in the trial court. The dissent by Circuit Judge Daramuid O'Scannlain basically argued that the quarantine law was neutral on its face and if it discriminates at all, such discrimination is on the basis of the plaintiffs' dependence on their chosen mobility aids. Such a discrimination, if it is present at all, the dissent argues, is not on a basis prohibited under the ADA. In other words, the dissent simply rejects even the possibility of proving a Title II ADA violation under a disparate impact theory, and simply refuses to understand that the plaintiffs' dependence upon their guide dogs is directly attributable to their visual impairment. The landmark disability rights victory thus far achieved in this case is remarkable, somewhat surprising given the context presented to the issue by the earlier litigation. Those members of Guide Dog Users Inc. who for many years have believed in and supported this cause should be commended for their prescient and steadfast advocacy commitment. They have truly won a great disability rights victory for all blind people which will serve us well as a positive weapon and judicial precedent in many further disability rights battles under the ADA. CHOICE: NOT JUST FOR THE CHOSEN FEW by Donald Moore (Editor's Note: The author is a former president of the American Council of the Blind of New York. He currently serves as vice chairman of the board of Industries for the Blind in New York state.) There is a controversy raging inside agencies serving the blind regarding the merits of operating "facility-based employment" for blind people. While the goal of integrating blind workers into the mainstream sounds good, the reality can be much different, and should raise serious questions among those concerned with the continued employment and independence of blind workers. With 70 percent of all blind working-age people unemployed, mainstreaming today is more of a wish than a viable option, especially for those without a college education. As you'll see, it all comes down to the question, "Who should choose what's right for blind workers, the workers themselves or the people holding executive positions at blindness agencies?" Having just passed the anniversary after The Lighthouse, Inc. in New York City chose to close its workshop, thus displacing 55 blind workers, it seems fitting to look at what "choice" really can mean. The Lighthouse decided that its workshop facility should close so that workers could be retrained and integrated into the mainstream job market. That was the reasoning of its leaders. The workers had virtually no say in the decision. The Lighthouse was also facing a need to quickly raise cash because of additional expenses incurred in paying for what some considered unnecessary and extravagant expenditures on The Lighthouse headquarters building on East 59th Street in Manhattan. The Lighthouse's answer to its cash flow concerns? Firing the blind people and selling the land and building in Long Island City in which they worked. The employees were given notice and told it was for their good. This despite the fact that they clearly wanted to work and those who had been in charge of the former Lighthouse facility wanted to continue working as well. Furthermore, the operation had been generally operating at break-even or profitable levels. This was a clear example of how a blindness agency's pursuit of theoretical ideals can run roughshod over a blind individual's right to choose what is best for him or her. Being blind or becoming blind does not þ and should not þ rob a human being of the ability to determine where, how and if one will work to support oneself. The Lighthouse workers were very concerned about their loss of employment and ultimately contacted Jean Mann, president of the American Council of the Blind of New York, with their concerns. Jean contacted The Lighthouse, asking that it reconsider its decision to shut down the manufacturing operation, but to no avail. Jean then spoke with Steven Ennis, the president of Industries for the Blind of New York State, and with me in my capacity as the vice chairman of the Board of Industries for the Blind, and þ together with National Industries for the Blind þ helped to form a new organization to employ these displaced blind workers. The first meeting with the former Lighthouse employees was held last fall after work, in a modest diner in Queens, N.Y., where several of us involved with the new enterprise tried to give them some hope. We told them of our plan to start a new shop þ from scratch, if necessary þ and told them what we'd done so far to get the shop off the ground. After listening to different employees tell their stories, I felt really good knowing that we were trying to offer them the option of employment rather than unproductivity and unemployment. I feel good knowing we were working to give them what they wanted þ jobs. Dr. Barbara Silverstone, CEO of The Lighthouse, Inc., promised her board of directors that she would find competitive employment for all the former Lighthouse employees. However, employment never materialized for most of them. Several received training but that was for jobs that would have paid them less than they could earn at the former workshop, and with worse hours. The negotiations with The Lighthouse were really difficult. Dr. Silverstone apparently felt that her reputation would be tarnished if a new blind workshop þ which the former Lighthouse employees wanted þ were to open and operate in New York City. Rather than allowing for a smooth transition of The Lighthouse's former blind employees to a new workshop employer, The Lighthouse created one obstacle after another to try to prevent the new workshop from functioning. Even though The Lighthouse was shutting down its workshop, and selling the property, it determined not to sell some essential equipment to New York City Industries for the Blind that the facility would need to function appropriately. NYCIB has since purchased some of that equipment from those to whom the Lighthouse sold it. New York City Industries for the Blind, Inc., is open and has already been able to re-hire all the former Lighthouse employees who wanted employment, plus some additional people. Last June, Jean Mann and I visited the workshop and were flattered to receive plaques from the employees thanking us for ACB of New York's help in getting the workshop off the ground. Today, New York City Industries for the Blind is celebrating its successful progress as a new employer of blind people under the dynamic leadership of Rick Bland, the former Lighthouse workshop director. The moral is that blind people are no different from anyone else when it comes to their right to choose how they will live their lives, and that they are willing to fight to be able to make their own choices. The Lighthouse said that the only choice these workers had was to give up their jobs and collect a benefit check þ or to accept work in substandard conditions. If blind social workers and blind agency executives have the right to choose where and how they work, why not blind workers? As one NYCIB employee put it, "Not every blind person can go to college, but that doesn't mean we should be told we're not entitled to work." New York City Industries for the Blind is living proof that choice is important for every blind person, not just the chosen few. BOOK REVIEW: "FRIENDSHIPS IN THE DARK" AND "DAMMI LA MANO:" TWO BOOKS WORTH READING by Sharon Lovering If you've ever been a student at a blind school, check out "Friendships in the Dark" and "Dammi La Mano" and see if their authors' experiences remind you of your own. "Friendships in the Dark," written by Phyllis Campbell, examines her life and the pets and friends who have shared it. Bambi Venetucci's "Dammi La Mano" talks more about her friends and experiences. Both books give the reader a candid view of the authors' wonderful memories and a clear picture of the not-so-pleasant ones. Venetucci, born Bambina Marcantonio, explains that three months after her birth, "My parents sensed that there was something wrong. My eyes appeared not to focus in a normal manner. ..." Her parents experienced the shock common to all parents upon learning their child has a disability. "Years later, as Papa put it, 'We cried. We didn't know for sure what to do except to love you.'" Campbell, of rural Virginia, tells of the special bond she and her sister Nez share: "Both of us were born blind, and although seven years separate us, we are almost like twins." She also shares an incident in which a neighbor asked her mother if she had ever wondered "why God gave you the burden of two blind children." Both women had role models who taught them to use their hands to do things, and both say this helped them when it came time to go to school. "Friendships in the Dark" focuses more on Campbell's friends and animals than on her school experiences. It does share her school recollections in which animals were involved; she recalls Robin, the superintendent's dog: "No White House pet ever attended more functions than Robin. ... Everything from wrestling matches to the Christmas concert was held with Robin looking on, adding his stamp of approval." Sometimes at concerts, when the "Dishpan Symphony" clattered, squeaked or squawked, Robin would get up, leave the chapel, stand outside the door, fling back his head and howl. "Dammi La Mano" spotlights people she knew and school experiences. As Venetucci put it, "Once I was back at school and into the routine of daily living, and being reunited with my schoolmates, my life fell into place again. ... I was learning to sort out my reactions to the behavior of others toward me. By suppressing my feelings, I was better coping with our housemother." Campbell, born Phyllis Staton, writes of going to the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton after a special visit from Santa Claus, and how the days between Christmas and the "longed-for, and feared, day" alternately dragged and ran. Venetucci writes of going to the local school at the age of six, only to come home at the end of the day with the superintendent saying "the teacher did not know how to teach a child who could not see. Other arrangements would have to be made." One of her father's co-workers tells him about the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs. Several months later, a field representative from the school visits the Marcantonios and answers their questions about the school. Arrangements were made to enroll her in the school, starting September 8, 1936. Both women remember the long time it took to get to school, and the length of time they had to stay there. Venetucci's mother tells her that she would come home for Christmas; Campbell tells of how long her sister would be gone (from September until Christmas). They also reminisce about the school food. Venetucci gags on the oatmeal the first morning, and disliked the macaroni and cheese on Friday nights. Campbell noticed the smell of cabbage coming from the dining hall, and imagined what her mother would be taking out of the oven. Campbell and Venetucci also mention their feelings upon arriving at school, hearing so many new voices, and doing so many new things. Both were homesick. Venetucci states, "That parting scene on the steps in front of my dormitory has remained a vivid memory for these more than fifty years. As my parents knelt and held me in their embrace, they wept. I had never seen Mama and Papa cry and so I, too, wept. Then they were gone and for the first time in my seven years I stood alone, truly alone." But Campbell had her sisters Fay, who took a job operating the school switchboard, and Nez, and she "wouldn't be alone." In-school experiences are among the highlights of these books. Both authors remember learning braille; Campbell's sister Nez taught her, while Venetucci's first teacher, Miss Lemons, taught her a few letters at a time on the pegboard. Campbell mentions the school infirmary and the time she spent in it; the building was "one of the original school buildings" and it "was definitely not happy." She was not sad when that building was demolished in the late 1960s. One experience both authors mention is the telephone. Venetucci mentions going to the nurse's office to use the phone; her friend Betty let her give the operator the phone number. Campbell's sister Fay bought her a toy telephone and taught her how to dial on it. They also mention slippers for use in the dorm. Of all the things that happen at school, both find Christmas the most exciting. At the Virginia school, Campbell shares "the usual excitement of name drawing and gift exchange," along with parties and the Christmas program. But the Christmas that stands out in her memory was the Christmas she was 11 and her family lived on the grounds of Western State Hospital. That's the year her brother Lively brought home a black cocker spaniel named Buttons, who later brought much fun to the patients in the hospital as well as his family. Venetucci tells of the countdown to Christmas, and how she and her classmates saved their spending money to go shopping. After she picked her family's presents, Vera, an older girl given charge of her, showed her the china dolls; Venetucci wished for one. At the dorm party a few nights later, her wish came true. But the thing both authors enjoyed most was going home to their families. When Venetucci went home, her older brother Lindy showed her the new radio in the living room, which is just like the one at school. He teaches her how to turn it on and tune it; she listens to it often during her two-week vacation. Campbell also mentions the radio, located in the music teacher's room, where they listen to such shows as "When a Girl Marries," "Portia Faces Life," and "Backstage Wife." Both women recall the importance of music. They learned how to play the piano and took part in numerous recitals. Campbell played for her senior dance; Venetucci played at her graduation. Both also remember learning to cook. Both books focus on the problems the authors had finding jobs. Campbell took a business course at a local school because, as she explains, "I hadn't been able to find a job, and my rehab counselor from the Commission for the Blind and I both hoped I would have better luck if I took this course." Venetucci says rehabilitation services in Colorado were just getting started when she was job-hunting; at the center in Denver, "I was given aptitude tests, IQ tests, and interest tests that the counselors might best determine which line of work I should pursue. In the initial interview I expressed the desire to teach young children, but for monetary reasons this was put aside." She ran a vending stand in Denver for a year, then went to college to become a teacher of young blind children. (After her graduation, she found a job as a teacher at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind; in 1983 she was selected as the Colorado Teacher of the Year.) Each author deals with dating in her own way. Campbell met her future husband through her landlord one night when they shared dinner. "And so it had started, the friendship, the sharing, and the understanding that would blossom like his beautiful flowers þ and change our lives forever." Venetucci met her "first 'real normal date'" at the Newman Club on the University of Colorado campus. "My euphoria was short-lived, as I began to worry that I would do something dumb. [My friends] Viola, Jackie, and Adele shared my excitement and began to give me pointers. ... By the time Friday night rolled around, I was well-schooled, well-dressed, well-groomed, and very nervous." A few days later, the same boy called again, "so the evening was not a complete failure." But because Venetucci wanted to teach young blind children, she had to transfer to San Francisco State College to get the classes she needed for a degree in special education. In those classes, the trend discussed was mainstreaming. "State schools, such as the one I attended for thirteen years, were under criticism. Statements were being made and opinions expressed as to whether or not schools for the blind were adequately meeting the needs of visually impaired children." Other areas of discussion were the causes and effects of blindness, orientation and mobility, social skills, emotional needs, and how to be self- sufficient. Campbell mentions mainstreaming also; she believes it is the reason the student population at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind has dwindled. For Venetucci, the years she spent in San Francisco represent a high point of her life. For Campbell, one of those high points was getting a guide dog, a black Labrador named Lear; "... I was free. Free not only to walk in independence, but also free from that crushing and crippling thing called fear. Truly, I had crossed over Jordan." I don't want to give away all these books' secrets. But if you're looking for something new, something different, something enjoyable, check out these two. "Friendships in the Dark" is available from major bookstores; its ISBN number is 0-9636620-4- X, and costs $18.95. At press time, the book was being recorded by the Talking Book Center in Staunton, VA., and may be available through interlibrary loan in the future. "Dammi La Mano," ISBN number 1-884003-05-02, costs $14.95. It's available on tape through interlibrary loan; please state your preference for cassette tape when you make your request. I SAW IT WITHOUT VISION by Rebecca Shields (Editor's Note: This story was a 1996 Ned E Freeman Excellence in Writing award nominee.) It was a cold and rainy evening in late September. I reported to work at 4 p.m. as usual. My keys stuck to my hand with dampness as I unlocked the door to the house. Four young adults lived inside this simple but well-kept home managed by a community agency. Because the residents have trouble walking, talking, and seeing and are also non-verbal, the staff who works with them needs an understanding of someone who is totally dependent on others. Since I have been blind from birth, I readily found myself being sensitive to the feelings of the residents. My recognition of their equality and human rights was also intensified. I quickly read the staff log and evening schedule. I had to prepare dinner from the given menu, then clean up the kitchen and give baths. A fun activity before bed helped everyone unwind after being in the workshop all day. This schedule would be plenty. The sound of a horn caught my attention. The bus bringing everyone home was pulling up. I headed for the driveway to greet them. The rain poured as I reached for each one to assist them from the bus. As I took hold of each one individually, I called them by name and identified myself. To be touched by someone faceless and voiceless to you is scary. My hair and clothes were soaked by the time I lifted the last young man from the steps. I was about to wish the driver a wet but safe weekend when he quickly interrupted me. "You know, John seems irritable and restless. He's not really acting himself." I shared with the driver how last evening John seemed very insecure, trying to follow me throughout the house like he was trying hard to tell me something. I reassured the driver that I would log his concerns as I had logged mine the night before. People who have seizures, as John does, often give signals first so I wasn't overly alarmed. By 5:30 p.m. I had dinner prepared and everyone around the table. I assisted them with the food as they smelled and tasted each item I named. They laughed and made noises as I chatted. This indicated to me that they understood my part of the conversation. It wasn't long before I discovered John wasn't eating at all. I leaned over to help him with his spoon. He was making an unusual noise for him, and I noticed a strong odor. I talked to him gently and asked him about a drink or his food. Often if he wanted either he would reach out. He sat slumped in his chair. A lump formed in my throat as his thin arms reached out for me. I assisted him from the chair to the living room where I might get a better idea of what might be wrong. He leaned against me with little strength. When Kerri, the other evening staff member, arrived I explained the details. Together we continued our evening routine. I was busy in the kitchen when she came in with worry in her voice. "I'm getting John ready for his bath and I've discovered something else." I followed her down the hall. "His clothing is soiled and the stool is black þ I mean very black." Somewhere in the back of my mind I recalled knowing that a very black stool could mean blood. It was my suggestion that we go ahead with his bath. Meanwhile, I put in a call for the nurse. Any medical concerns or decisions must be made by her. When John had finished his bath, we carried him back to bed. He had very little strength. His pulse and breathing were rapid. The nurse called back. I explained each signal of trouble which I had detected. She seemed concerned, but more so that I was overreacting. I expressed to her that John should be seen immediately. I told her that I knew him well and that these signals are not normal for him. With hesitation she finally agreed to have a doctor call me. It took 15 minutes for me to insist that John be taken to the emergency room. Not only was I now telling the doctor the same information that I gave the nurse, but I was informing her that just because John is retarded doesn't mean he can't be sick. For every detail I gave the doctor, she had an excuse why he was acting like this. "He's probably tired from a long week. Perhaps the odor is only his soiled clothing and of course he makes this unusual noise because he can't speak to you. His stool is very black because he probably has too much iron in his blood. Therefore, it would be wise to stop his one-a-day vitamins with iron. Put him to bed and he will rest. Also, the stool may not be as black as Kerri thought. Since you can't see, you may be overly concerned about her observation. Therefore I'm sure it seems worse to you." I gritted my teeth and said, "No! Something is wrong. This isn't like John." Even though I was feeling indignant, I remained calm. I referred to my knowledge that a black stool could mean blood. "Oh no," she said. "There would be other problems besides a dark stool if there were blood." Her voice continued in a low tone. "You have to understand that with his low coverage, there has to be more cause than this for him to be seen." How much more could I have told her to give good cause? I spoke with confidence and professionalism. I kept in mind that I had a boss over me and until this moment I had followed all the rules. The words flowed from my mouth. "Perhaps if money is a concern in this matter I will take the responsibility to pay the cost of the ER for John if I'm wrong and he's just fine." My words came with determination. I could feel my soul overwhelmed with force. I knew John had done everything in his power to give us the message that he was hurting. The doctor's stern voice broke the silence following my words. "Well, I suppose that there's no harm in having him examined. Arrange to have him at ER immediately." My fingers gripped the receiver tighter. I took a deep breath before responding that I would have him there very soon. My hands trembled as I dressed John warmly. A tight knot formed in my throat as I talked to him to keep him from being frightened. I kept my voice calm as I told him about going to the doctor with Kerri. Being examined by a physician was nothing new to John, who had already had multiple medical problems. Each breath John exhaled was accompanied by distress sounds. I lifted John's thin, 88-pound body from the bed, blanket and all, and carried him to the van Kerri was warming outside. I handed his folder and bag to Kerri as I explained that the doctor wasn't sure what might be wrong. Kerri said, "I'm scared. I've never taken anyone to the emergency room before." I also felt scared, although I had been through the experience before. But since I could not drive, I needed to remain at the home and let Kerri take John to the hospital. It took both of us to safely buckle John in the seat. My mouth felt dry as I patted John's arm to reassure him that he would have help soon. After asking Kerri to call as soon as she heard anything, I waited by the front door until the sound of the van was gone, leaving me in the dark and the rain. By 10 p.m., the sleeping house was quiet while I waited for Kerri to call. I hadn't decided whether it was worse to wait here or at the ER. The phone startled me. Kerri's voice trembled with fear. "It's serious. He's in ICU. There's something wrong but it will be a while before they know what it is for sure." She told me that John's family and the agency director had been notified. I hung up the phone in slow motion. My heart pounded, my ears rang and my eyes stung. No one was around and I could be myself. My voice sounded just above a whisper as I asked God to protect John and to guide those caring for him. The feelings of a mother overwhelmed me. My own two children were tucked in their beds at home, but one mom would be anxiously waiting to hear what the future held. Suddenly I wished I could be there to comfort her. The sound of rain surrounded the house as I poured a cup of coffee. The floor creaked as I made bed checks. When I passed John's room there was only silence and a sense of true emptiness. At 2 a.m. a very tired Kerri called. Her concern about keeping me in suspense was sincere. John was critical. He was on a respirator and receiving blood transfusions. Since he had lost a great deal of blood, his blood pressure was not yet stable. He was not responding to anyone. Since there was nothing more for her to do, she would come back to the house and we would finish reports together. I returned to work early the next morning and arranged to go with another staff member to the hospital early the next day. There were several questions in my mind. Had I waited too long? Should I have called 9-1-1 immediately instead of following agency rules? One may think I was too personally involved, but being an advocate for people faced with the kind of problems our clients had was more than personal; it was essential. When we arrived at the hospital we waited patiently at the nurses' desk until a middle-aged lady finally noticed us. After explaining who we were and that we wanted to see John, there was silence broken only by the sound of a pencil. Finally she said, "He's a sick boy, but a little better than he was. Just this afternoon we moved him to a regular room. Come with me." We followed her into John's room and she pulled the curtain back from the bed. "He's not responding to us. Does he see or hear anything? I guess he really doesn't know much. It's so sad when people like this don't understand anything." I held my temper. "John both sees and hears some and does respond to requests centered around his needs." I wasn't about to let anyone believe John was an object rather than a person with feelings and some understanding. He certainly knew he wasn't at home. "Have they made a diagnosis yet?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. I gently reached for John's arm, being careful to avoid the needles puncturing his veins. "You've been through a lot, John-John boy," I said as Mark and I told him who we were. I again asked the nurse about the diagnosis. "We thought he might not live last night but because they found the bleeding ulcer in time, he'll be fine. He lost a lot of blood. That's why his stool was black. The dropping blood pressure and heart rate were a result of it also." "Not being able to tell anyone he was hurting must have been frustrating," I said, the words tumbling from my mouth. "Oh, yes," Mark said, and the nurse agreed. "His condition is proof that the pain was severe." At that moment I heard someone walk in. A deep voice filled the room, introducing himself as the doctor. After telling who we were we noticed John getting restless and making sounds that were normal for him. I talked to him. He tried to push his body forward. The doctor went to the other side of the bed. "You know, this young fellow almost didn't make it. It's a good thing he got here when he did because if he had gone to bed for the night, he probably wouldn't have made it. I applaud whoever understood John's behavior enough to push for him to come in." I bit my lip and said, "Well, we're grateful for his recovery." The doctor stood to leave and rubbed John's shoulder. "Well, son, it's uphill from here. As a person who loves life, I learned from this experience that it is one thing to understand someone, but it saved your life to be understood." I fidgeted with the zipper on my jacket as he walked out. Seconds later, the nurse said she would be going to see to other patients but we could stay as long as we wished. John's recovery was a success. I continue to try to explain to others that it is not what I see, but how I see it. LETTER TO THE EDITOR CONVENTION COMMENTS The 1996 convention at Tulsa was my first national convention experience, and I enjoyed it very much. The friends I made and the ideas presented and exchanged will long be remembered. I felt Dr. Susan Daniels, associate commissioner for disability, U.S. Social Security Administration, made a very mediocre presentation. Her concern seemed to be controlling costs of legitimate disabilities, and not even admitting the waste of funds given to drug and alcohol abusers. Should have been, and I am sure was, a wake-up call to us on the government's attitude about deserving recipients. All the other speakers were informative and many were entertaining as well. I was pleased with the variety of presentations. I felt the facilities were more than adequate, and the "bus service" was above and beyond the call of duty. All the drivers were extremely helpful and pleasant. All in all, a really good job was done by all, and your Houston challenge will be all the more demanding. Congratulations to a great team of hard-working members. þ GraceAnn Heiniger, president of the Northwest Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired, Hays, Kansas AFFILIATE NEWS INDIANA CONVENTION ACB of Indiana held its silver anniversary state convention Sept. 7th at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind. The south central chapter served as host and its members exhibited the kind of hospitality that resulted in fun for everyone who attended. ACB Second Vice President Stephen Speicher was the representative from the national organization. The highlight of the banquet was an award presented to Pat Price who completed her third term as secretary for ACB in 1995 for her many years of service to and for the blind and visually impaired. The late Marie Jeffries wanted to establish such an award to be given to a person who was blind or visually impaired. Pat was the first recipient of this award. Two of Marie's daughters were there for the presentation. On Sunday morning members were treated to a tour of the pioneer village in the park. AN UNFORGETTABLE TRIP by Larry Johnson Taking a trip to Japan was something I had always dreamed about doing but believed impossible. Isn't it wonderful that some dreams can come true? As the result of my participation in the 10th anniversary international essay competition sponsored by the "Japan Braille News," I won my dream trip to Japan last November and was invited to be a guest participant/panelist at a two-day international conference on blindness. The conference, held Nov. 18-19, 1995 in the city of Nagoya, about 200 miles south of Tokyo, was entitled "Asia Blindness Information Conference." More than 300 people from 10 countries attended the conference. I was honored to be the only attendee and panelist on the program from the United States. We enjoyed a wonderful exchange of ideas and information. It was interesting, for example, to learn that while acupuncture is one of the principal careers for blind people in Japan, blind people in Korea and China are prohibited by law from practicing acupuncture. Fellow participants were extremely interested in the Americans with Disabilities Act. They wanted to know how it is working and how much it costs to implement. The many excellent and informative articles about ADA published in "The Braille Forum" were very helpful to me in responding to these questions. I was also asked about the history, philosophy and practice of volunteerism in the United States. In fact, I was invited to speak to a gathering of over 70 volunteers at one of the three Lighthouses for the Blind in Nagoya who were would-be braille transcribers. I was able to share information and words of encouragement with them. (In general, volunteers in Japan are not treated with the same regard and value as they are in America.) In addition, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of students majoring in social welfare at a university in Kyoto. They, too, demonstrated a great interest in life in our country. Our host and the coordinator of the conference was Mr. Yuji Teranishi, who is also the founder and editor of the "Japan Braille News." This modest 20-page English braille publication is distributed free, 10 times a year, to any interested blind person anywhere in the world. Teranishi started the "Japan Braille News" for two reasons. "First," he explained, "learning English came rather late in my life. Once I had learned some English, I wanted something in braille in English to read, but nothing was being produced in English braille in Japan. Then, I discovered that there were other braille readers in Japan like myself who didn't have the chance to learn and practice current English. So I decided to create the JB News. At present, most of the articles are taken from English newspapers printed in Japan. But, one important section, we have features articles about the lives and experiences of people with visual disabilities. In the future, I hope to see this section expand. ... If possible I would like to have a dialogue, an information exchange, with readers contributing their ideas and experiences." At first Teranishi didn't think about having readers outside of Japan. "But later, I thought it would be good to have blind people abroad read something about Japan ... our culture, customs and important current events. Japan had nothing like that in English braille for them. So, I started to advertise JB News in magazines abroad. We now have readers in 49 countries, with about 40 of these subscribers in the U.S." One of the most difficult experiences facing blind people in Japan is employment. "Employment opportunities are quite limited," Teranishi explained. "The public does not understand how much blind people can do. The thing we want most, which is given us the least, is the opportunity to develop our abilities." The major organization of the blind in Japan is called Fumizukikai. Mr. Teranishi told me that this organization was started by blind university graduates and currently has about 350 members. It seeks to expand opportunities for university study and employment for visually impaired people in Japan. This summer the group held its 37th annual convention. I found mobility access for blind people in Japan to be quite good. I was amazed and pleased to find audible traffic signals at many busy street crossings, both in Nagoya and in Kyoto, braille markings on public pay phones, on elevators, on subway ticket boxes, turnstiles and railings, yellow detectable warning tiles at the edges of subway platforms, audible guides within the subway stations to guide one to the stairs, and, at the street level, "braille paths" to guide one to subway entrances and key buildings. The subway system in Japan is a marvel of efficiency, and the world-famous "bullet" train is, as advertised, fast (about 150 mph), quiet (you think you're going about 10 mph), comfortable and on time. I was impressed with the efficiency and timeliness of Japan's people and trains. I learned that it is considered to be almost just as rude to be too early as it is to be late. Eating is one of my favorite hobbies, and I loved the variety of foods presented to us in small dishes at Japanese meals. We enjoyed delicious cucumber salads, succulent "cochin" chicken, bowls of "kishenen" (noodles topped with juicy vegetables), tasty sushi rice, rich flavorful "miso" soups, marvelous "misokatsu" (breaded pork cutlet), and so many other delicious dishes that thinking about them now just makes my mouth water. We spent Thanksgiving in the home of a Japanese family enjoying platefuls of home-cooked lobster, crab and beef teriyaki. Amidst the warm and gracious hospitality of our new friends, we had much to be thankful for. During our stay, we enjoyed visits to a 400-year-old castle, a factory/exhibit hall of exquisitely beautiful chinaware, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess, and two Buddhist temples, one of them not generally open to the public, much less to foreigners, but thanks to our host we had a privately conducted two-hour fascinating tour. My wife Diana and I were treated like VIP's and were literally overwhelmed by the courtesy and gracious hospitality shown us everywhere we went. I asked Mr. Teranishi if he had any special message or request for readers of "The Braille Forum." He replied, "Yes. I want them to help us to educate the general public so that we can have a better chance to develop our abilities. I think that American blind people have been very successful in many different kinds of jobs. Information about their own experiences of how they have overcome difficulties would be a great help." Teranishi also said he would like more subscribers to the "Japan Braille News," "so that we can learn more about each other and exchange opinions and experiences." If you would like to get the Asian perspective on world affairs, learn something about the daily life, and culture of Japan, or read about the lives of outstanding Japanese blind people, subscribe to the "Japan Braille News." Write to: The Japan Braille News, Tempaku New Braille, 292-5 Kitayashiki, Ueda, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya 468, Japan. (Note: The embossing process in Japan places braille letters much closer together as compared with U.S. publications, while braille lines are spaced further apart. This may cause at first some difficulty for the reader. The magazine is also available on cassette.) HERE AND THERE by Elizabeth M. Lennon The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services 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 responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned. PARALYMPIC HIGHLIGHTS Athletes representing the United States Association for Blind Athletes won 55 medals at the Paralympics in Atlanta. 16-year-old swimmer Mandy Sommer of Omaha, Neb. won her first two medals in her first international competition. The judo team won four of the five medals in that event, a record for American teams. Tim Willis won four medals in track; relay teams including Andre Asbury, Marvin Campbell, Winford Haynes, Kelvin Hogans, Craig Mallinckrodt, Edward Munro and Arthur Lewis took bronze in the 4 x 400 meter and 4 x 100 meter relays. The women's goalball team took the bronze. The cycling team took six medals. Daniel Kelly of Golden Valley, Minn. took gold in the 200 meter individual medley and 100 meter backstroke; he took silver in 100 meter breaststroke competition and 100 meter freestyle, and bronze in 100 meter butterfly and 50 meter freestyle. Beth Scott of Rockville, Md. took gold in the 100 meter butterfly and bronze in the 100 meter backstroke, 200 meter individual medley, and 100 meter breaststroke. Marla Runyan of El Cajon, Calif. took gold in the pentathlon and silver in the shot put. Trischa Zorn of Indianapolis, Ind. took gold in the 200 meter individual medley and 100 meter backstroke; silver in the 400 meter freestyle and 50 meter freestyle; and bronze in the 100 meter breaststroke and 100 meter freestyle. Cara Dunne of Los Angeles, Calif. took silver in the mixed tandem cycling kilometer and bronze in the mixed tandem cycling sprint. Pam Fernandes of Brighton, Mass. took bronze in the tandem cycling kilometer race. Julie Haft of Kensington, Md. took silver in the 50/60 tandem road cycling race. Kevin Szott of State College, Pa. took silver in the over 95-kilogram judo competition. Marlon Lopez of Los Angeles, Calif. took bronze in the up to 65-kilogram judo event. Jim Mastro of Fridley, Minn. took bronze in the up to 95-kilogram judo competition. Scott Moore of Lafayette, La. also took bronze in the up to 71-kilogram judo event. Richard Ruffalo of Bloomfield, N.J. took bronze in the men's javelin. SIX NEW PRODUCTS TeleSensory recently released six new products. One, the Domino BoundLess Reading (TM) Reading Machine, will scan any flat surface and read the words aloud via an integrated speech system. The machine can scan a page all the way to the binding. It recognizes all major European languages and thousands of typefaces. The Marco Navigation System helps blind people find their way in unfamiliar places where the system is installed. It uses a hand-held receiver to locate exits, restrooms, airport gates, and whatever the facility has programmed into it. Pressing the receiver's button once will pick up the nearest transmitter's recorded message. The VersaPoint Duo braille embosser increases speed and prints on both sides. It can also print high resolution tactile graphics. ScreenPower for Windows 95 builds an information tree for the user to explore. On-screen elements are identified by function; related objects are grouped together. SPWin95 lets the user decide which information is shown in braille and which is spoken. Braille Explorer for OS/2 gives users braille access to the OS/2 system. Access to Unix also gives users braille access. For more information on any of these products, contact TeleSensory at (800) 286-8484, or browse the web site at http://www.telesensory.com. E-MAIL DIRECTORY National Braille Press has compiled a directory of 600 e-mail addresses of blind individuals and related organizations. The large print version costs $12; braille costs $9, and IBM or Macintosh disk costs $9. To order, send your name, address, and request to National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115, or phone (800) 548-7323. All orders must be prepaid. GO SKIING BOLD of Aspen, Colo., has skiing programs for blind skiers. It offers ski lessons, guides, lodging at reasonable rates, and companions for shopping, dining, etc. For more information, write to BOLD, c/o Francis Campion, 533 E. Main St., Aspen, CO 81611, or phone him at (970) 925-9511. WHAT LOVE SEES "What Love Sees" is a new book by Susan Vreeland about the Holly family; both parents are blind. It is available in large print, and costs $22.95. To order, call (800) 223-2336, or send orders to Thorndike Press, Large Print Books, 200 Old Tappan Rd., Old Tappan, N.J. 07675-9808. A movie version of this book debuted on CBS in September. The story includes that of ACB member Hap Holly, known to many as the editor of the Radio Amateur Information Network. NEW TEXTS FROM AFB The American Foundation for the Blind has recently published two new textbooks, one in the field of low vision rehabilitation and one on the profession of rehabilitation teaching. "Foundations of Low Vision: Clinical and Functional Perspectives" looks at how low vision affects people and tells how services can meet the person's needs. It is 496 pages, clothbound, (ISBN 0-89128-941-0) and costs $58.95 plus $4 postage and handling; the four-track cassette edition (ISBN 0-89128-292-0) costs the same. "Foundations of Rehabilitation Teaching with Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired" details the history and development of rehabilitation teaching as well as provides information and teaching strategies. It is 432 pages, clothbound, (ISBN 0-89128-939-9) and costs $54.95 plus $4 postage and handling; the four-track cassette edition (ISBN 0-89128-291-2) costs the same. And to commemorate its 75th anniversary, AFB Press has published a special edition of "Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy," by Joseph P. Lash. It is printed in a 6-inch by 9-inch format. For a short time each order will be accompanied by the Academy Award- winning documentary "Helen Keller in Her Story." It costs $55. For more information, or to order, call AFB Press at (800) 232- 3044. Mail orders must be accompanied by payment (for individuals) or institutional purchase orders. Send orders to AFB Press, Customer Service, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, N.Y. 10001. MEDICAL INFO MediVault is a medical information service providing immediate, up-to-date, confidential access to your medical records. The company acts as a perpetual digital record of a patient's health history and related information by storing point-of-care information through triage forms and connection into existing health information systems. It then delivers records with appropriate authorization to in- and out-of-network physicians or emergency room care providers by phone, fax or dial-up computer 24 hours a day. It integrates information from hospitals, labs and doctors' offices so that in certain instances your records are automatically updated. For more information, contact Gerri Davie or Helen Bennett at (201) 592-0800. TALKING THERMOMETER Maxi-Aids has a talking thermometer available. According to the company, it offers a fast response, speaking the temperature in a female voice. It recalls the last measured temperature, and it includes batteries. It is available in English and Spanish. To order, contact Maxi-Aids at (800) 522-6294. For more information, write the company at 42 Executive Blvd., P.O. Box 3209, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735. QUANTUM WEB SITE Quantum Technology of Australia now has a site on the World Wide Web. The address is http://www.peg.apc.org/~quant. It includes detailed information about products and services, such as the Mountbatten Brailler, Nomad, and information on tactile graphics. RRTC BOOKLET The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University recently published a new booklet called "Transition Activity Calendar for Students with Visual Impairments." It is available in regular print, large print, braille and computer disk (WordPerfect 5.1). If you order between one and 10 copies, the booklets cost $4.25 each; 11-20 copies, $4 each; 21-30 copies, $3.75 each; 31-40 copies, $3.50 per copy; 41-50 copies, $3.25 each, and more than 51 copies, $3 each. To order, write or call the RRTC, P.O. Drawer 6189, Mississippi State, MS 39762; phone (601) 325-2001. POWELL BOOK ON TAPE Retired Gen. Colin L. Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was recently presented with a recorded copy of his best-selling autobiography, "My American Journey." Powell said he was honored to have his book recorded by the Library of Congress. After listening to the tape, Powell presented the copy of his audio book to George Brummell, a field-service representative of the Blinded Veterans Association. RADIO SCHOOL The Gordon West Radio School teaches amateur radio courses and commercial radio curriculum. It now offers code cassettes to pass the commercial first class, second class and third class radiotelegraph licenses, as well as any level of amateur radio examination. "Learning the code" is course no. 1; it is six cassettes accelerating code character recognition with varying rates of speed. "CW speed-building, 5-16 wpm" is also six tapes in length; it's for anyone who knows the code but plans to build code speed up to 16 words per minute for either the commercial radiotelegraph random code group test or an amateur radio general class code test. "CW speed-building, 10-27 wpm" is course no. 3, and prepares applicants to pass the radiotelegraph second and first class exams, with plenty of room to spare for the amateur extra class exam. It, too, is six tapes in length. Each course is $29.95 plus $5 postage and handling; the courses are available through Gordon West Radio School, 2414 College Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or phone (800) 669-9594. LOUX HONORED David Loux, The Seeing Eye's manager of field services, received the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired's 25th annual Alfred Allen Award. The award honors those professionals whose character, talent and dedication epitomize a spirit and quality of direct service to blind and visually impaired people. Loux has worked for the school for 25 years; he maintains the student technology center, which allows students to learn or improve computer skills and keep in touch with friends, families and offices while training with their new guides. MORE THAN A MOUSE You can substitute keystrokes for mouse clicks in Windows and several Windows word-processing applications. "Windows Can Be More Than Pains" is an explanation of Windows and reference cards for Microsoft Word, Word Perfect for Windows, and Amipro. To purchase a copy of this book for $5, contact Lois Wencil in braille or typing at 19 Parkview Dr., Millburn, N.J. 07041 and request either braille or ASCII disk. AWARD WINNER Alabama Industries for the Blind recently received the Outstanding National Industries for the Blind Contractor Award from the Defense Personnel Support Center of the U.S. Department of Labor. AIB is the sole manufacturer of military neckties for American armed forces, and produces flyers' kit bags and nuclear/biological chemical bags. CONSUMER INFO Need to find information on how to deal with health problems that interfere with daily living? Call the Occupational Therapy Consumer Line at (800) 668-8255. Four topics are offered each month. Information is available via a recording, in print through fax service, and by mail. Callers may request information on other topics by speaking with the consumer operator between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern. BRAILLE CARDS AND MORE Deb Weiner offers a service whereby she will braille print playing cards ($2.50 per deck except in cases where the game requires more than one deck). She will also provide brailled labels for albums, CD's and the like. (You send her a printed or taped list of those items needing labels and the names of the songs.) She also does small transcription projects including brailled games. Print/braille calendars are also available, as are brailled greeting cards for $1 per card. For pricing and additional information, contact her at 4050 NE 12th Terr. #12, Oakland Park, FL 33334. NEW COURSES The Hadley School for the Blind has a new course catalog available in large print, braille, tape and computer disk. Students can select from more than 90 courses in six areas: academic and high school; braille and other communication skills; independent living and life adjustment; recreation and leisure time; technology, and parent/family programs. For more information about the Hadley School, or for a copy of the catalog, call (800) 323-4238. BUMPY CHOCOLATE Chocolates Unlimited has chocolate braille greeting cards saying "happy birthday," "thank you," "season's greetings," and more. Bars are $2.50 each; with nuts, $3.25. Call (718) 359-4466. USABA EVENTS The United States Association for Blind Athletes has released its tentative schedule for 1997 events. January 3-5: Huntsman Cup Alpine Ski Qualifying Race, Salt Lake City, Utah. January 9-12: Joint DSO Swimming Camp, Colorado Springs, Colo. January 20-26: European Alpine Skiing Championships for the Blind, Baqueira Beret, Spain (qualifying standard). February: 14th annual Midwest Regional Goalball Tournament, Kalamazoo, Mich. March 7-8: O'Leary Awards þ Disabled Sports Banquet, Colorado Springs, Colo. March 16: Vista's for Blind 10K Run, Torrance, Calif. March 21-23: Southeast Games for the Blind, Columbia, S.C. March 22-23: Hoops for the Blind 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, Colorado Springs, Colo. April: Doug Helmacy Memorial Goalball Tournament, DuBois, Pa. Disabled/USABA Alpine Ski Championships, site TBA (qualifying standard). May: 10th Annual Michigan Sports Education Camp, Kalamazoo, Mich. May 1-5: USA Rugby Championships, Fort Carson, Colo. May 17-18: Hitting for the Blind Softball Tournament, Colorado Springs, Colo. June 23-30: USABA Multi-Sport National Championship, Colorado Springs, Colo. Judo, wrestling, swimming, track and field, powerlifting and goalball. July 12-20: USABA Million Dollar Hole-in-One, Colorado Springs, Colo. September 25-29: World Powerlifting Invitational, Colorado Springs, Colo. (qualifying standard). October: USABA National Youth Goalball Championships. EDITORS GROUP If you're interested in joining with other newsletter editors in an information exchange, contact Bill Probst, Editor, White Cane Bulletin, Florida Council of the Blind, 11721 Dunes Way Dr. N, Jacksonville, FL 32225; phone (904) 641-0709; fax (904) 998-9012, or e-mail Wantom@aol.com or LPFX99a@prodigy.com. CALL ART GREETINGS Call Art Greetings is a new company that sells musical greeting telephone calls as a quick, easy alternative to traditional cards. The company has cards for most occasions: birthdays, party invitations, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, Valentine's Day, and more. To order a greeting, call (800) 932-2552, select the greeting of your choice, and follow the instructions to send it out. NOW AVAILABLE Jett Enterprises' "No Frills, Just Priced Right" catalog is now available on cassette or 3.5-inch diskette. It includes more than 300 products for daily living and a collection of gifts for all occasions. To request a catalog, or change your address, call (619) 778-8280; if you've ordered from the company before, you will automatically receive the new catalog. Please note that the company does not ship outside the United States. GOOD CITIZENS The Good Citizens Visa issued by Citizens Bank in Providence allows cardholders to contribute to as many as three non-profits. Each time you use the card, you get a 25-cent credit. At the end of the year, Citizens mails you a check made out to each non-profit you've designated. You sign the check, send it to the charity and claim a deduction on your taxes. Citizens' introductory interest rate is 7.9 percent, which jumps to around 16.15 percent after six months. For more information, call (800) 438-9222. HOUSTON STORE The Lighthouse of Houston Sales Store has discount prices on numerous items. Low-vision watches are $40; women's braille watches cost $50; a 20,000-word speller/divider (five braille volumes) costs $200, and a four-line interpoint slate kit costs $20. For more information, call the store at (713) 284-8466. AWARD WINNER The Arkenstone video "Shared Visions: Arkenstone's Family of Products" recently received the award for excellence from the International Technical Video Competition of the Society for Technical Communication. The society sponsors the competition to identify, recognize and encourage achievement in the production of videotapes in communicating technical concepts, and honors talent, creativity and scientific understanding which are unique to communicating technical material through video. Other winners include Time Life Medical, IBM, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, and NASA Langley and NASA LaRC. TALKING CALLER ID VoiceAnnounce is a talking caller ID. It works with cordless and regular phones. It allows you to record a message for specific incoming calls, i.e. leaving a message for your spouse or children. The box is 3 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches by 2 inches; it has a built-in speaker and liquid crystal display. The four keys on the box are record, mode, clear back, clear forward. On the back are RJ-11 jacks for line and phone, plus an input jack for the DC adapter. It can be found in stores under the Magnavox brand name, and in catalogs like Herringtons and Hammacher Schlemmer. Check for it in those places. NEW PUBLICATIONS Several new publications are now available. One is a newsletter entitled "Disability News You Can Use." It includes money-saving tips and hard-to-find resources. The subscription rate is $25 in the United States, $30 in Canada, $40 for all other countries. The newsletter is available on tape for the blind for the same rates plus $10 shipping. There are also two catalogs, the "Disability Bookshop Catalog" and the "Children's Disability Bookshop Catalog." Both include books about general medical topics. The children's catalog includes listings of books on financial aid, learning disabilities, resource directories, educational games, and more. The general catalog includes books, videos and audio tapes about travel, sports, computers, cooking, disability rights, exercise, arts and crafts, shop-by-mail sources, resource directories, and much more. The "Disability Bookshop Catalog" costs $4 for postage and handling ($5 if using a credit card), and is available on two tapes for $8.50 ($9.50 if using a credit card); the children's catalog costs $4 postage and handling, and is also available on tape for $5. "Computer Resources for the Disabled" is a book that lists sources that will help when acquiring, financing, and using computers. It costs $19.95 for print or tape, plus $3.50 shipping. "The Directory of Health, Medical and Disability Sites on the World Wide Web and the Internet" includes bulletin board systems, Internet and World Wide Web sites that cover health, disabilities, medicine, psychology, diseases, disorders, genetics, special education, death and dying, sexuality, financial aid, assistive technology, legal rights, medical research and more. It is available in print or on tape for $25 plus $3.50 shipping. Order any of the above items from Twin Peaks Press, P.O. Box 129, Vancouver, WA 98666-0129. For more information call (360) 694-2462. Credit card orders only call (800) 637-2256. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Reading/scanning system consisting of Arkenstone reader software version 2.22 and HP Scanjet Plus with Arkenstone scanner card and document feeder. Comes with braille, cassette and print manuals. Asking $700. Contact Jackie McCraw at (206) 367- 8200 evenings or weekends, or write to her at 633-B N. 138th St., Seattle, WA 98133. FOR SALE: VISTA magnification equipment. Includes Lynx daughterboard, software, manuals and cables, $700. Contact Steve Hopp at (615) 822-3465. FOR SALE: Toshiba T1000LE with built-in Artic synthesizer and Business Vision. Includes 2400-baud modem, 3 MB RAM, 20 MB hard drive and carrying case. Asking $750. Contact Michael Hudson at (517) 336-9830 after 6 p.m. Eastern or e-mail him at MJH@pilot.msu.edu. FOR SALE: One Poleron mobility aid, mint condition. It beeps or vibrates as you walk and approach objects; can be hand-held or strapped to your wrist. Asking $600. Contact Delores Mann at (405) 949-2236 after 6 p.m. Eastern; if you get an answering machine, leave a message and include your area code. WANTED TO BUY: Toshiba laptop model T1200HD, T1600 or T3100 in good working condition for $75 including shipping. Contact Jackie McCraw at (206) 367-8200 evenings or weekends, or write to her at 633-B N. 138th St., Seattle, WA 98133. ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sue Ammeter, Seattle, WA Ardis Bazyn, Cedar Rapids, IA John Buckley, Knoxville, TN Dawn Christensen, Holland, OH Christopher Gray, San Jose, CA John Horst, Wilkes-Barre, PA Kristal Platt, Omaha, NE M.J. Schmitt, Forest Park, IL Pamela Shaw, Philadelphia, PA Richard Villa, Irving, TX BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Carol McCarl, Chairperson, Salem, OR Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA Thomas Mitchell, North Salt Lake City, UT Mitch Pomerantz, Los Angeles, CA Jay Doudna, Lancaster, PA Ex Officio: Laura Oftedahl, Watertown, MA ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02172 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT STEPHEN SPEICHER 825 M ST., SUITE 216 LINCOLN, NE 68508 SECRETARY CYNTHIA TOWERS 556 N. 80TH ST. SEATTLE, WA 98103 TREASURER PATRICIA BEATTIE CRYSTAL TOWERS #206 NORTH 1600 S. EADS ST. ARLINGTON, VA 22202 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT LeRoy Saunders 2118 NW 21st St. Oklahoma City, OK 73107 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON, Kalamazoo, MI