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As I write this article, it is early June. ACB President LeRoy Saunders is abroad in Germany leading an ACB delegation which is visiting that country at the invitation of the German Association of Blind Students and Professionals. President Saunders has asked me to pinch hit for him in writing this month's message, and I thank him for the opportunity he has afforded me to share some views with you.

As a preliminary matter, President Saunders has asked that I announce in this article his intention to appoint shortly after the ACB national convention a committee which will address the special issues and needs of a major segment of our constituency, the aging or elderly blind. This committee will join the Women's Concerns, Minority Concerns and Deaf-Blind committees as ACB entities striving to resolve at least some of the issues and concerns confronting distinct segments of the blind community. Interested parties who wish either to serve on the envisioned Elderly Blind Committee themselves or who wish to recommend others who are qualified to serve on the committee should contact President Saunders directly at the address listed on the back cover of this magazine.

As you read this, at least some of you will be just returning to your homes after attending our national convention in Chicago, Ill. Many of you, I trust, are returning to your homes filled with renewed enthusiasm to meet the challenges confronting all of us as blind people. This provides your local chapters, state affiliates and ACB on the national level with an excellent opportunity to focus and channel the renewed spirit many of you are bringing home from convention.

One area which I believe cries out for our immediate attention and toward which we can channel our renewed vitality and spirit is the continuing threats which our community is now facing in virtually every state: the continued existence of services for the blind that are provided by separate and independent state agencies for the blind. In 1990, the ACB board of directors endorsed a set of 10 priorities for the '90s, and priority number three was our commitment to advocate for separate state agencies for the blind to deliver services for our community. We are now almost halfway through the '90s, and even more so than at the beginning of the decade, we find separate state agencies for the blind under political attack where they now exist and very little effective political action occurring to gain separate state agencies for the blind in states where they do not presently exist. Primarily because of budget concerns and the trend toward greater government efficiency through consolidation and streamlining, we as blind people are back on our heels and not making progress, possibly even losing ground, in achieving the priority for the '90s of having a separate state agency for the blind in all states.

We know from experience in far too many instances that services for the blind are delivered more effectively and with more informed sensitivity through specialized state agencies for the blind. We know this empirically as blind people served by generic umbrella (one size fits all) agencies for the disabled almost always are the last to be served because our rehabilitation and service needs are more complex and more expensive in terms of resources for the service-providing agency to absorb. Yet politicians and even our friends and allies in the disabled rights movement ask us to prove what we empirically and intuitively know to be true through experience, by means of statistical or other types of research. While efforts are being made through the American Foundation for the Blind and other organizations and research institutions to obtain the hard proof that is demanded of us, in the meantime, we as blind people are slowly losing the political battle on this issue.

The situation has now reached a crisis point, and out of the survival instinct to preserve and protect those programs which serve us best, we must use our renewed enthusiasm and act now in each of our respective states and communities. Let us resolve to marshall the human and monetary resources and assets within our organization to speak out forcefully and effectively for what we know is right. Yet even if we do everything within our organization's power and resources, we cannot win this battle by ourselves. I believe we must reach out to, educate and sensitize, and work with other disabled individuals and groups in the independent living and disability rights movements. Yes, we may even have to seek the assistance of our traditional nemesis in the other major national organization of blind people. Since that organization, similar to ours, is on record as strongly supporting separate agencies serving blind people, we may find in our states and localities a rare ally in this particular cause. It is my view that we should not allow real or perceived differences on other issues between the organizations of the blind to stand in our way. If we are to achieve this most important and vital priority for the '90s, we must cooperate with a broad array of people, organizations and forces, even some which we have shunned in the past. Let us keep our eyes on the prize: delivery of specially tailored services for blind people through separate and independent agencies for the blind. Let's not let old grudges or differences on other issues interfere with our savvy efforts to forge the broadest-based alliance of people, organizations and forces supporting us in achieving our objective. In the afterglow of our national convention, let's rededicate ourselves to fighting with renewed vigor and spirit to achieve this vital priority for the '90s.

A survey commissioned by the public interest community shows that American citizens would support having the government play a substantial role in ensuring that the emerging National Information Infrastructure is accessible to all and is available at an affordable cost.

The survey, which will be widely distributed to policymakers and academics, also suggests that Americans want the government to play an active role in the provision of educational and health care services over the information superhighway.

The results, released recently at a press briefing in Washington, D.C., raise issues about government involvement in the NII that could conflict with concerns by the private sector that the government's role in the information infrastructure should be substantially limited.

The findings also counter the notion that the American public is only interested in an NII that features 500-channel cable systems and home shopping networks, which are so frequently hailed as the backbone of the emerging data superhighway.

The survey was commissioned by the Benton Foundation, an organization that promotes the use of communications technologies to advance the democratic process. It featured the participation of 1,000 male and female voters who were chosen at random to represent the American electorate.

The Benton Foundation contends that the survey demonstrates that the public wants the government involved in the data highway as a regulator of the public interest. In the public's mind, the NII will be an extension of the public infrastructure, which currently includes such resources as public libraries and public television, a spokesman for the foundation said.

Key findings of the survey include:

* Grants: About three-quarters of the respondents indicated that the government should provide grants to assist communities and non-profit groups with making new technologies available to schools, libraries and hospitals.

* Community support: Three-quarters of those polled said that companies profiting from new communications technologies should be required to dedicate part of their resources to community uses.

* Education: Seventy percent said the government should support education programs that adults and children could utilize from their homes.

* Universal service: Having the government ensure that information is accessible to everyone in the nation was supported by 64 percent of the pool.

* Subscriber rates: Prohibiting communications firms from raising rates so they can fund new investments was supported by 58 percent of the survey participants. Another 56 percent said the government should establish NII costs that are low enough so they are affordable to all.

The survey was a precursor to a public interest community summit, held in late March in Washington, D.C., that developed a public interest agenda for the information superhighway. Non-profit groups must realize that they have a stake in the growing debate over the shape of the NII, said Larry Kirkman, executive director of the Benton Foundation.

Other issues of concern to the public interest sector are the implications of the data superhighway for job growth and privacy, explained Andrew Blau, who heads up the Communications Policy Project for the foundation.

He added that there are several key questions that remain unanswered about the NII, such as whether it will reach all Americans. There is also the issue of how to ensure that the promised benefits in education, health care and other areas will be delivered once the NII is in place.

Blau was asked whether, given the private sector's concerns that government will play too large a role in the NII, the public interest community has a threshold in mind for government involvement.

He responded that when it comes to areas that are of direct concern to the public interest, such as education and health care, there is a strong justification for the government to be involved. He added that when it comes to issues of concern to the private sector, such as entertainment and home shopping, it is up to the industry to decide how limited the involvement of government should be.

One of the most commonly touted promises of the pending information superhighway is that it will give us information that will make us more productive and enhance what free time we have. While such a promise is attractive, many of us no doubt secretly worry that rather than freeing us, the information revolution may actually tether us to computers more tightly than ever. But one Washington, D.C., company wants to do whatever it can to help people stay in touch with their computer-generated mail even if they're hundreds of miles from their terminal -- and they plan to do it using the good, old-fashioned telephone.

Sam Schley, vice president for marketing at Captech Corporation, says while his company's product, Fox Mail, which allows you to hear your computer mail, wasn't originally designed for blind and visually impaired customers, it offers the kind of ease of use and understandable speech via the telephone that blind and visually impaired users need.

"Our product works like this," Schley explains. "Let's assume that you receive electronic mail on a computer. Rather than being forced to read your mail directly from the screen, you can call a central number, enter an identification code, and have your mail spoken to you via synthetic speech. Before you actually hear your message, you'll be told how long it takes to transmit it over the phone. You'll also be told whether there are files attached to the message."

Schley says the technology Captech uses was originally imported from Norway; it allows people to receive and send mail via the phone. "Most electronic mail is used to set up and confirm meetings and deal with schedules," he says. "Our system allows users to actually send e-mail via the phone. It offers 10 templates that the customer uses by filling in the blanks from a touchtone phone. You fill in those blanks by entering numbers when prompted to do so by the voice you hear when you call." The message the caller sends is converted to machine-readable format and stored in the recipient's electronic mailbox.

The technology has been deployed at the Social Security Administration office in Baltimore, according to Schley. "It was originally directed toward blind employees at SSA," Schley says, "but it was quickly expanded to SSA field agents. This system serves as a substitute for laptops for field service agents; it's been available since the spring of 1993."

Schley says his company's mail by phone system works with computer network mail programs like CC Mail, Microsoft Mail, and MHS 1.1. Before you can take advantage of Captech's hardware and software, you must have a local area network in your home or office. In addition, some additional components are needed to connect your network mail system to the telephone. For example, you'll need a telephone interface board which fits into your computer, and you'll need an internal DEC Talk synthesizer.

Finally, he says, once you've heard your mail, you can automatically send it to your office's fax machine, should you or anyone else require a printed copy. "We've never tried sending this through a braille printer," he says. "It's designed to work with a fax machine." In this case, the old cliche was never truer that says "freedom has its price." Once your local area network is in place, you'll pay an additional $7,000 for the various interface cards and licenses you'll need to operate.

For more information on Captech's telephone mail system, contact the company at 1225 I St., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005; phone (202) 508-3881. To hear a demonstration of the Fox Mail System, call (615) 889-5727. When the voice prompts you for your user identification number, use 1234#. You'll be presented with a menu from which you can choose various options including retrieving and sending messages.

(Editor's Note: The following testimony was presented by Justin Dart, a renowned disability advocate and former chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities. Dart testified before a Senate subcommittee on government affairs which was considering legislation that would restrict Congress from passing laws that affect state programs without providing federal funding to pay for those programs. Those who back such legislation refer to bills like the Americans with Disabilities Act as "unfunded mandates." Mr. Dart's impassioned and eloquent testimony warned Congress against weakening the ADA by officially recognizing it as an unfunded mandate. That legislation is still under consideration, and you will undoubtedly hear more about it in the near future. In the meantime, we thought you would enjoy Mr. Dart's thoughtful testimony.)

Mr. Chairman, it is an honor to appear before the Committee on Governmental Affairs. I am the former chair of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

On July 26, 1990, I had the privilege of witnessing the most important event in the history of people with disabilities. On that day, President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Senators, on that day, I cried. I cried tears of agony for the crushing burden of responsibility we were undertaking as we promised the world to put an end to thousands of years of oppression and exclusion.

Throughout all history people with disabilities have been regarded as subhumans. At worst, they have been killed or left to die as beggar-outcasts. At best they have been cared for through subsistence welfare, usually in the most isolated and demeaning circumstances.

I remembered when I was 24 years old and had worked hard to be at the top of my education class in my university, only to be refused by the state of Texas to be certified as a teacher because of my wheelchair.

I remembered my disabled mother and brother who took their own lives because they were unwilling to face this massive discrimination and prejudice.

I remembered the 1989 congressional testimony of Perry Tillman: "I went to Vietnam like a lot of other young men to fight for our country's ideals -- freedom and the ability to become whatever we dreamed of becoming. . . . When I came home as a wheelchair user, I found out that the rights I fought for applied to everyone except me."

But, I also cried tears of joy. The ADA is a landmark in the evolution of human beings, the first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities in the history of the world. It is the emancipation proclamation for 49 million Americans with disabilities, and the symbol of dignity, respect and hope for almost a billion persons with disabilities around the world.

There are no words to tell you how proud I am of America; there are no words to tell you what it means to me and to millions of Americans with disabilities to be legally recognized as human beings, to be declared full members of the human race. And so, Mr. Chairman, it would be impossible to convey to you the depth of the anger, the terror we feel when we read that our sacred, hard-won civil rights law has been trivialized as an "unfunded mandate" that is burdensome to the nation.

The ADA is not an unfunded mandate. The ADA is a civil rights law that implements the promises of the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution.

The Bill of Rights is not an unfunded mandate. The historic Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act are not unfunded mandates. The ADA is not an unfunded mandate.

The ADA is a brilliant blueprint for rational change. It is probably the most cost-effective civil rights law ever passed. According to President Bush, excluding millions of people with disabilities from the productive mainstream costs $200 billion cash annually in public and private funds. ADA will cost a tiny fraction of the amount it will save.

The ADA provides the proper balance between the civil rights of people with disabilities and the legitimate concerns of state and local governments, employers, and private businesses. It is flexible, allowing different solutions in different situations. It has numerous provisions designed to eliminate undue hardships and undue financial burdens frequently described by those concerned about unfunded mandates.

Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, in 1989 congressional testimony, stated it this way: "This bill is fair, balanced legislation. It builds on an extensive body of statutes, case law, and regulations to avoid unnecessary confusion; it allows maximum flexibility for compliance; and it does not place undue burdens on Americans who must comply."

Mr. Chairman, the section in the ADA applicable to state and local governments is basically one sentence long -- it specifies that state and local governments must comply with the very same standards set out in section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Most state and local governments, as recipients of federal financial assistance, have been subject to section 504 rules of non-discrimination for over 20 years.

In other words, those governments that have taken reasonable steps over the past 20 years to eliminate architectural and other artificial barriers in compliance with section 504, are most likely already in compliance with the ADA. It is those governments that have done the least over this period that are now complaining the loudest.

During the last two years I have personally held at least two forums in each of the 50 states to dialogue with leaders of state and local governments, business, and the disability community about full, harmonious, and cost-effective implementation of the ADA. I would like to share with you what I have found.

First, those communities which have developed formal communications among people with disabilities, government officials and private businesses have had the greatest success in implementing the ADA in a cost-effective manner. People with disabilities often know the cheapest way to ensure compliance.

Second, there is a lot of fear and misunderstanding out there about the costs of compliance with the ADA. This fear is being fueled by lawyers, architects, builders, and self-styled expert consultants whose only interest is to promote profits for themselves.

The fears being raised now about the impact of the ADA are similar to those misgivings that were raised in the first few years following the implementation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. There were predictions that those covered by the section 504 regulations would be bankrupted or forced to severely curtail or alter their services. These doomsday predictions were based on ignorance and myth and proved completely false.

Similar misgivings in the area of race discrimination surfaced in 1965 and proved to be equally unfounded. Doomsday predictions about the ADA have not come true; they will not come true.

I have included a list of typical misunderstandings in Appendix 1 of my written testimony. Let me give you some examples.

State and local officials have told me how burdensome it is to require that all public buses be retrofitted with lifts. I tell them that they are misinformed -- buses are not required to be retrofitted; only new buses require lifts. Further, the federal government pays a significant portion of the cost of the lift.

State and local officials have complained to me about how they have to make every existing building, every existing entrance way, and every existing bathroom accessible. A local official told me about the burden of installing an elevator in a small rural library.

I tell them someone is selling them a bill of goods.

With respect to existing facilities, the ADA regulation (section 35.150 of part 35 of the Code of Federal Regulations) includes a standard which is referred to as the "program accessibility" standard. What this means is that the program of services must be made accessible, but not necessarily every building or every floor of every building. In other words, a public entity is not required to make structural changes in existing facilities where other methods are effective in achieving compliance with this section.

For example, according to the regulations, a public entity can comply through such means as reassignment of services to accessible buildings, assignment of aides to beneficiaries, home visits, delivery of services at alternative accessible sites, or any other methods that result in making its services, programs or activities accessible.

The regulations also state that the ADA:

--does NOT necessarily require a public entity to make each of its existing facilities accessible;

--does NOT require a public entity to take any action that would threaten or destroy the historic significance of an historic property; and

-- does NOT require a public entity to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or in undue financial and administrative burdens.

In sum, I have found that the more people understand about what the ADA does and does not require, the more comfortable they feel about implementation.

Third, I have also learned that the ADA is frequently used as a scapegoat for local officials who want to renovate a building but cannot muster sufficient local support.

Last year I read in a weekly newspaper that a tiny, impoverished west Texas county was going to have a County Commissioners' meeting to vote for "renovations to the court house required by the ADA" -- an automatic elevator, new bathrooms, all kinds of expensive things I knew they couldn't afford and ADA did not require.

I called the county judge and offered to come to the meeting and explain that the ADA really didn't require them to spend all that money in a time of budget problems. He said, "Justin, come to the meeting if you want to, but keep your damn mouth shut. I finally got the votes to fix this run-down courthouse right and by God I'm going to do it."

Mr. Chairman, the ADA may be misunderstood, but it is not a burdensome, unfunded mandate. It's a well thought-out, well- written, cost-effective civil rights law. It declares me to be a human being and I thank God for it. What we need is not less civil rights, but more information, and more courage to use it.

I respectfully suggest a simple economical solution for the problems of misinformation about the ADA, and the resulting unnecessary expense and the denial of rights. Congress must appropriate a sufficient amount of money to allow the Department of Justice to provide accurate ADA information to state and local communities, to business, and to people with disabilities.

To address the legitimate concerns of state and local governments, I respectfully suggest that as you draft legislation to protect states and communities from unwarranted financial burdens, you protect also the expansion of free enterprise democracy. Some of the bills before you, had they been in force for the last 200 years, would have presented major barriers to the passage of our most significant social, economic, and civil rights legislation.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I believe there is an underlying conceptual problem with many of the bills you are considering. Our adversarial political system has sometimes created the impression that there is a fundamental conflict between civil rights and free enterprise; that civil rights is a kind of bothersome luxury that do-gooders impose on sound business and sound government.

This is a dangerous fallacy. Civil rights and free enterprise are two sides of the same solid gold cultural currency that has revolutionized the productivity and the quality of human life in this nation.

Our forefathers and mothers came to this country because we offered extraordinary legal guarantees of equal opportunity. They got rich and America got rich. Every time we expanded those civil rights guarantees to include another oppressed minority, Americans got richer. With the strongest civil rights guarantees in the world, we have one of the highest standards of living, and one of the lowest tax rates among industrial democracies.

America is rich not in spite of civil rights. America is rich because of civil rights.

The ADA is the most recent landmark in our magnificent march to the promised land of liberty and justice and prosperity for all. People with disabilities will rise from welfare poverty to be workers, customers, and taxpayers. Every county, city, and state will prosper. Every American will prosper.

(Reprinted with permission from "Horizons," July 1994.)

This July 26th marks the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq., landmark legislation for persons with disabilities. Brief looks forward and back through the legal time machine show just how significant this law has been not only for individuals with disabilities but for families in which there is a person with a disability.

It is important to read ADA, not in isolation, but in the context of what preceded it, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and what has come along subsequently, specifically the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.

ADA took civil rights protections to a new level with provisions related to individuals and their families, personal and business, soaring beyond the traditional methodology of covering only the individual, here an individual with a physical or mental disability. It is clear the net result has been major enhancements of the philosophical and legal fabrics embracing persons with disabilities.

ADA is a general non-discrimination law, which applies to various parts of society, even if the employer or service provider does not get federal financial assistance. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 banned discrimination by recipients of federal aid. The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 mandates unpaid leave from covered employers, again, even if there is no federal financial nexus. Take a closer look.

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act bans discrimination in employment. The statute and the implementing regulations of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity each make clear it is unlawful to exclude or deny equal jobs or benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against a qualified individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the qualified is known to have a family, business, social or other relationship or association. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12112 (b)(4), 29 CFR Sec. 1630.8.

Title III, related to public accommodations and commercial facilities, contains similar provisions in the statute and the rules of the Department of Justice. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12183 (b)(1)(E), 28 CFR Sec. 36.205.

The thrust of these protections is that if you are able-bodied and have a child who is visually impaired or spouse with cerebral palsy you cannot be denied a job or totally refused health insurance because of the spouse or child's disability. Nor can you be denied access to a store, restaurant or gym because you are with a person with a disability. In fact, alert advertisers have shown people with disabilities and their families shopping, working out, and eating in a restaurant.

These provisions are not limited to blood relatives, the strict genealogical family. The ADA embraces persons with whom there are business and social associations, persons who in the modern day are extended families. The conceptual merit and beauty of these provisions is the recognition that people with disabilities do not work, play, etc. alone. These provisions attest to the communal nature of people -- able-bodied and disabled.

ADA is quite a leap forward. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the key legal pillar for the ADA, did not contain any comparable provisions when it was adopted. It simply prohibited discrimination against the person with the disability (then handicap) where there were federal funds. But this leap to encompass families even where there is no federal financial support has been followed.

Under the Family Medical Leave Act, larger employers (50 or more employees) must allow employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per 12-month period to attend to a serious health condition of a spouse, child or parent. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 2612. Note: state laws may have comparable provisions for leave that are also in effect and cover employers with fewer employees. For example, in the District of Columbia, employers with 20 or more employees are now covered. D.C. Code 36-1300 et seq. (Supp. 1991). Under the federal law persons with "serious health conditions" are covered. Under family leave laws, health insurance benefits continue while the person is using unpaid leave. See e.g. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 2614.

Family medical leave as a concept was unheard of when the Rehabilitation Act was being weighed. The closest the debates came to this subject was in deciding that persons with a history of cancer (who might have to take leave again should the condition recur) were covered by the Rehabilitation Act. Leave to care for someone else was simply not a consideration.

The ADA and Family Medical Leave Act can and should be read together. Many of the serious health conditions under FMLA will also be impairments which substantially limit a major life activity of an otherwise qualified individual under the ADA. Many persons covered by ADA will thus also be covered by FMLA. The effect of the overlap means that following the use of unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, an employee may seek additional unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation. The reasonableness of this request would then have to be determined, mindful of the employer's operations and resources. See 29 CFR Secs. 1630.2 (o)(p) and 1630.9.

We recall the groundswell of pride when the ADA was enacted. Progress was at hand for individuals with disabilities. But look at the bigger picture. Grasp the fuller nature of the changes -- for families with individuals with disabilities as well as the individuals themselves. ADA articulates the societal integration of persons with disabilities. While it has been a quantum step forward, in reality civil rights laws are just catching up to the poet John Donne, who long ago recognized, "No man is an island."

Local chapters typically schedule two hours for regular monthly meetings. It allows time for a meal or refreshments, business, and a speaker or other activity. After you have read my ideas from A to Z, you will surely think of others to share with your group.

A. A diabetologist or other qualified professional may speak on understanding diabetes. For added interest, ask a blind diabetic to tell about techniques and adaptive equipment useful for independent control.

B. A rehabilitation teacher may show and tell about new equipment or technology for personal and/or home management.

C. A physical fitness consultant can do a presentation that includes anything from chair exercises to warming up for a walk - - using simple techniques without expensive equipment.

D. If there's a psychologist in your area with experience in counseling the blind and visually impaired, ask what he/she has learned about coping skills.

E. An ophthalmologist may discuss the treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Allow plenty of time for questions and answers.

F. A Lions Club will have a speaker available who can tell about the club's interest in sight conservation and other projects.

G. A member who has recently completed training at a rehabilitation facility may be willing to relate his or her experience and motivate another member of the group to enroll in such a program.

H. A firefighter can do a presentation on fire safety with a hands-on demonstration of the equipment that they use.

I. A pharmacist can describe the side effects and interactions of over-the-counter drugs.

J. There may be a member of your chapter or a person in the community who can lead problem-solving discussions on such topics as "asking for help," "self-reliance," or "coping with the attitudes of family and friends."

K. The local police force usually has a speaker available for a timely and informative discussion on how they operate and how to enhance your personal safety.

L. Christian Record Services in Lincoln, Neb., employs field representatives all over the United States. The one serving your area can meet with your group. They provide many free services for the blind that include several publications and camping programs for both children and adults.

M. Rehabilitation agencies generally stock audiovisuals to publicize their services for the blind. They will be pleased to loan you one to show at a meeting along with a speaker if you wish.

N. Invite a public official to address proposed legislation, ordinances or other concerns of the community. Your Congressman may not be able to attend, but a local staff person may fill your need quite well.

O. Few of us are conversant with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you and your peers would like to know more, consult your library for the blind and physically handicapped for copies of the act and suggestions for a speaker.

P. You may enjoy having a special education teacher serving blind and visually impaired children in the local school system come for a meeting. From the teacher, you will be able to learn about methods and materials being used. You can also learn whether there is a void in the program that your organization can fill.

Q. Try your luck at writing a letter or calling a guide dog school to inquire if its field representative can arrange to speak to your group the next time he/she is in your area on or near your regular meeting time. Friends and family members will enjoy this presentation as much as blind and visually impaired people do.

R. For an unforgettable evening, invite the principal at a state school for the blind to speak and provide a concert by students. Invite as many guests from the community as you can seat and have plenty of refreshments for the occasion.

S. If there's a transportation program for the elderly and handicapped in your community, ask the director to supply your group with a speaker so that you can learn more about the service and how you can be a representative on the advisory body.

T. Not all people who are blind or visually impaired understand "free matter for the blind." Most people in the general population are unfamiliar with the many services of the U.S. Post Office. If they can't provide a speaker, ask an interested member to obtain sufficient information to give a report.

U. Because most of us lack as much information as we need about Social Security benefits, call the Social Security Administration for a speaker. They have staff designated for that purpose.

V. For information about low vision screening and optical aids, check first with a low vision clinic or a school of optometry for a speaker. If there are neither in your community, try for an optometrist or a sales representative from a company that markets low vision equipment.

W. Rehabilitation agencies and facilities addressing needs of the blind may have many services with which many of your members are not familiar. For that reason, you may wish to plan a series of meetings highlighting orientation and mobility, small business opportunities, high-tech access and support or competitive job placement. Blind people working in unusual occupations may also make great speakers or analysts.

X. If there's a bank in your area that offers banking by phone, ask a representative to speak to your group. Most patrons of the bank-by-phone service are enthusiastic because it's easier than banking by mail.

Y. Get to know the director or contact person in your area for the radio reading service. They have answers for any questions and can tell you about the exciting developments in telecommunications which will impact on our population.

Z. Once or twice a year, when a speaker fails to show, conduct a sharing session. Give each person three to five minutes for sharing anything from the past or present. It might be a new recipe, comment on a news topic, or a funny story. It might be associated with poor vision, a recent trip, or a new and better way of doing something.

Not every idea in this random list will be practical for your chapter, but most of them should.

(Editor's Note: Deborah Grubb currently serves as president of the American Council of the Blind of Maryland.)

In late March of last year as I was reveling in the joy of another brand new spring, I received an official-looking document from the Baltimore County Court House. I had been chosen for jury duty on April 19. My husband, Frela, laughed and said, "that's what we get for moving. They got you already." I had to call and change my date of service as there was a major meeting of the committee that was working with the Maryland State Department of Education to implement the Braille Bill. When I explained my dilemma to the clerk, she was very friendly. She said that I could indeed have another service date. I was gratified to see that after learning of my blindness, she did not jump at the chance to tell me that it was not necessary for me to serve at all. I returned the simple juror form, stating that there was no reason why I could not be a juror. Luckily for me, I have a very good friend who spends a great deal of time at the court house carrying out her job responsibilities. On the fateful day, May 26, 1993, she accompanied me and my guide dog, Libby, to the site and showed us around. That was extremely helpful as I was then able to travel both to and in the courthouse independently. I entered the jury waiting room and dutifully turned in my juror form and, taking my whopping $15 for my day's work, sat down with the other citizens of Baltimore County who, for the most part, were voicing their dismay at having been called in the first place and expressing their fervent hope that they would be out of there by lunch time. The next step on our agenda was to see a film that gave us a mini- course in American history, what to expect as a juror. It emphasized the honor and necessity for American citizens to serve on juries.

As soon as the last stirring chords of the movie soundtrack died away, the first list of prospective jurors, with my own name tucked neatly in its alphabetic slot, was called. The general outlines of the case were presented to us by the judge who explained that the case would take the better part of two weeks to hear. We were asked to stand up, give our names as our juror numbers were called, and state whether we could give that kind of time to the case. I must confess that my emotions were mixed. I was snowed under with things to do; but I knew that the folks at the ACB National Office would never forgive me if I turned down this opportunity.

Next came the sound of many feet as relieved individuals, who had said that they could not serve for two weeks, beat their retreat before the judge had a chance to change his mind. Juror numbers of the brave few who said they could serve on the case were then called. I was truly surprised when I heard my own number that was, by this time, indelibly etched upon my memory , called out. Fortunately, the woman who had been seated next to me had gone up already. As a result, when I heard those magic digits, Libby and I were able to proceed with confidence to the jury box. As we made our grand entrance into the box, there was a great deal of whispering from the tables of the attorneys for both sides. They asked for permission to approach the bench. I figured that I would be going back to the jury room immediately. However, due to the judge's fairness and objectivity, I was granted my position of alternate juror and the judge's instructions to us began.

We were told that it was permissible, and in this case, very necessary, to take notes. The case that we were to hear was a complicated one. A violent dispute had arisen between two individuals who worked in the esoteric scientific field of spin trapping free radicals. The trapping of these little rascals is essential in order to make drugs created for the cure and/or control of everything from the common headache to AIDS perform to their maximum potential. An angry, impassioned, idealistic and perhaps a bit naive postdoctoral student accused a well established professor/researcher of stealing her work and reusing old research evidence in applying for grants to fund his new research efforts concerning the trapping of free radicals. The postdoctoral student began the process of bringing her accusations against her mentor to the attention of the scientific community. However, the very next day after setting these wheels in motion, she began contacting all his co-workers in this very small community of scientists. The Baltimore Sun was also contacted and a long soap opera-like tale began to unfold for enthralled readers. The professor stated that she had done inestimable damage to him through these actions and was seeking financial retribution.

The visual evidence was almost as great a mystery to my fellow jurors as it was to me. We were presented with many graphs picturing free radicals. They had to be explained to all of us. Apparently, any free radical looks just the same when ever it is spin trapped and photographed. The only thing that differentiates between one graph and the other is the noise in the room that is captured on the graph as the photographing is being done. We were told that it was quite acceptable to use a really good artistic rendering of a particular free radical because funding was so hard to come by and money saving steps that did not harm the integrity of the experiment were acceptable. We were told that before computers, many of these graphs were touched up in order to make them clear enough for reproduction in the various scientific journals.

As the trial progress, we saw the playoff battle between a brilliant angry woman who felt that she had been misunderstood and undervalued and a proud, equally brilliant man of great ability, experience and the possessor of the gift of being able to remain calm under fire. Her attorney and witnesses laid out their building blocks in fantastic shapes and his attorney and witnesses sent them flying to the floor.

Everyone serving on the jury was caught up in the human drama unfolding before us. I must confess that many of my ideals about the pristine world of scientific research, the world of Madame Curie and Dr. Sulk, were shattered. Politics and mutual back scratching reign there just as they do in practically every other realm of life.

There is a very interesting process that takes place among total strangers as they are thrown together to do an important task for almost two weeks. Many little human dramas begin to unfold. One woman shared the poignant side splitting and down right adorable adventures of her recent marriage to a confirmed bachelor as he was learning to be a father and grandfather all at once with children and grandchildren living in the house. We breathlessly followed the saga as one of our jurors, an attorney herself, endeavored to adopt a kitten from a shelter for her children. One day she said in exasperation, "I think it would be easier just to go out and adopt a baby!" There was only one gentleman in our illustrious group, a librarian.

We formed temporary friendships and had fun times as a defense for what we knew we must do. The case was about far more than money. What we did would effect the lives of committed, capable people who had made and would continue to make a difference in the world. I was treated like one of the gang and everyone fell in love with Libby, who spent hours lying at my feet in the jury box. One morning, as we left the bus to make the short walk to the courthouse, Libby started out with her usual enthusiasm. When we were about to make the final turn, she slowed up like a snail as if to say, "Enough is enough!" I was beginning to feel that way myself. Each time we were called to enter the jury box, Libby never could understand why we had to wait, standing in our appropriate spot in the line. She always tried to go right in and was insulted that we had to follow others when she, herself, knew where we were to go.

The day finally came for us to begin our deliberations. The judge gave us instructions and a verdict sheet. As dinner was ordered for us later in the evening, he sent food from his own home for Libby. I didn't have the heart to tell him it wasn't necessary and let her have the special kibble treat.

Our mood changed and we polarized into two camps. Some felt that the mentor hadn't considered the needs of his pupil and had driven her to do what she had done. Others of us felt that she had not allowed sufficient time for the grievance process set up by the scientific community to work. It didn't take me long to discern what my role in the deliberation was to be. Most people were expressing their own opinions and dealing in generalities. I had studied all my notes the night before and began calling people back to the facts. Whenever anyone would make a vague statement, I would point him/her to something specific that was said by a witness. As we dealt with each item on the verdict sheet, thankfully, it was not a tug at someone's heartstrings or someone's opinion but the evidence that prevailed. We found for the professor.

As we left the jury room for the last time, several of the jurors thanked me for taking such good notes and for keeping them founded in the facts. I say this because at that point, having a clear head and the ability to take good notes was more important than being able to see anything. I would also like to point out that the deliberation process is a collaborative effort. Some of the people spoke about body language, facial expressions or the graphs that were presented while others of us emphasized what was said.

A few of my visually impaired friends feel that they should not serve because they cannot see the evidence. No juror is responsible for dealing with every aspect of the case; that is an impossibility. It is up to each one to pay attention and grasp as much as he/she can. That is what I tried to do and I don't think that the Baltimore County court system was poorly served for having me participate as a juror. As a matter of fact, as I entered the jury office one morning, one of the clerks said to me, "I'm so glad you got on that big case." All men and women who serve on juries are not committed to excellence of service. I know this because one day, as I was boarding the bus to go to the courthouse, the driver asked me where I was off to on such a beautiful morning. I told her and she replied, "Oh, I served on a jury once. It was about some boring insurance stuff. None of us really understood what was going on and we all started to fall asleep. The judge kept banging his gavel and you should have seen us jump. Finally, he made us all stand up in the jury box so we could stay awake."

The reporter who was covering the case for the Baltimore Sun, providing the nightly chapters in the unfolding drama, which, of course, the jurors were not allowed to read, asked the judge if he could interview me. He was given permission to do so at the conclusion of the case. I granted the interview to prove that blind people should be considered individually for jury duty as is the case with every prospective juror. The reporter informed me that the judge advised the attorneys to allow the alternate jurors to take part in the deliberation because he believed I had a true understanding of the case. I don't know how he could tell such a thing; but I was gratified to hear that a brilliant legal mind felt confident that a blind person could contribute to the deliberation process. Everyone was delighted with the article and said that it went far to show the abilities of the disabled except for my poor mom who was horrified that the reporter referred to my fleeting singing career in these words, "She was once a cabaret singer." No matter what you were or are, demand your right to serve as a juror. It's a sad comment about Americans that the ones who want most fervently to participate in the aspects of its democracy such as voting, contacting legislators or serving as jurors are those who, for one reason or another, are prevented from doing so. Let's exercise the rights that our government guarantees us.

Although movie theaters' popcorn is supposed to have as much fat as four McDonald's Big Macs, most people enjoy watching movies and eating popcorn. An Ohio group called Accessible Arts can't reduce the fat content of the popcorn, but it's working to enhance the experiences of blind and visually impaired movie goers.

Accessible Arts got a new start last year with help from the Columbus chapter of ACB of Ohio, the Ohio Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation. The group purchased its own equipment and made arrangements to describe first-run movies live. It formed out of the Columbus Community Film Association, and works with trained volunteer describers from the Ohio Theater Alliance. Its first solo accomplishment was to describe "The Crying Game" on one of the worst days of winter 1993. The group had arranged to describe it, and then the weather hit. So they decided, "Well, whoever comes, comes," said Ann Gazelle, part-time project coordinator of the group.

So far this year, the group has described four films live: "Schindler's List," "Shadowlands," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Household Saints." But before deciding to describe a film, Accessible Arts has a process. Its board of directors decides which films describers are going to describe; sighted people go see the movies, take notes and report back on what they saw and if the film's suitable for description, Gazelle said. To take notes, Nancy Vanvoorhis, one of the group's describers, said, "I used to bring a little flashlight." Now she has it down to the point where she can bring a big white notepad and write in the dark by feel and the occasional light off the screen. "It's messy, but no one else has to read it," she said of her notes. Gazelle previewed "The Piano," which was turned down because it was highly visual, without much dialogue. The characters that did speak had a heavy brogue, she added.

Aside from deciding which movies to describe, there are problems describing first-run movies, Gazelle said. "One of the things that's most difficult for us {is} . . . the movie theaters that carry the first-run films don't know" whether they'll be carrying the films over to the next week. This creates problems with arranging transportation for the usual group of people who come to watch, she said. When a describer audio-described "Schindler's List," 29 people came to watch and listen. "Mrs. Doubtfire" drew a crowd of 37 people, most of whom brought sighted guests, for a total of about 70 people, a record for the group. Plus, "Mrs. Doubtfire" was described in a new theater, with food available, she said.

Right now the group is in the process of deciding which movies to see this summer, Gazelle said. "Philadelphia" is a possibility for being described, according to Vanvoorhis. She is the one who described "Schindler's List." "It was a wonderful film to do," she said, since it was so well done. She previewed the film once, took notes, and read newspaper reviews to give her a little extra help. And since it was a black-and-white film, that "made it a little easier," she added. The biggest problem was the jump cuts, where the film would move rapidly from one scene to another. Trying to describe what's going on without interfering with the dialogue makes it more difficult. "There's only so much time in between," she said. "It's hard to get around."

The film itself was extremely emotional. "Some of the things were very painful to say what was happening on the screen," Vanvoorhis said. While she enjoyed the comedy of "Mrs. Doubtfire," she said, "I was hoping I could do justice to that film." The best part of "Schindler's List" for her was "being able to describe a film of such high quality.

"I find it tremendously fun," Vanvoorhis said. "I learn so much . . . by paying attention . . . I find it a wonderful experience." To hear people's reactions when she described a bit of visual comedy in "Mrs. Doubtfire" made her feel wonderful. That film was "delightful.

"I'm not a performer . . . but this lets me be part of that experience."

To be added to the calling list, contact Ann Gazelle in Columbus, Ohio at (614) 262-2670.

(Editor's note: Nancy Sherwood is a public relations intern at NIB headquarters in Wayne, N.J.)

After 66 employer rejections, Mike Harris had almost given up hope of finding a job. Like many college graduates who are blind, Mike needed work experience, but he couldn't find an employer willing to hire him. Then he heard about an internship position with National Industries for the Blind, which allocates federal government contracts to manufacturing industries employing people who are blind. Before losing his vision, Mike had worked in marketing, but was forced to quit because of his blindness. "NIB's internship program gave me an opportunity when I knew of none other," he said. Mike interned in marketing at The Lighthouse for the Blind in St. Louis where he is now the full-time director of marketing.

Since 1989, NIB has been offering internships to graduates like Mike with bachelor's degrees in business-related fields. Six-month internships are available year-round in one of NIB's offices or in one of its 111 associated agencies across the country. Interns receive wages, benefits, and use of adaptive equipment. Professional mentors interact closely wiht interns, providing training and assigning projects which will help them develop the skills they need to find and succeed in future jobs.

Angie Hudson, who is now Director of Human Resources at Lions Club Industries in Durham, N.C., interned in public relations at The Lighthouse for the Blind of Houston. She was hired in Durham as a result of the experience gained during her internship. "While receiving supervision from superiors, I learned about teamwork, solving complex problems and accepting criticism," she said.

Another intern, Richard Hill, wanted to work as a manufacturing plant manager after graduating from college. He interned at Industries of the Blind in Greensboro, N.C., where he explored every facet of production, from the asssembly line to supervision to quality control. "I got a broad perspective of the entire industry, which is what I wanted out of my internship," he said. After his six months, Richard was hired by Industries of the Blind as the training supervisor for workers with multiple disabilities in the work activity center.

Monica Jemio's mentor at NIB's Alexandria, Va. office has nothing but high praise for her former cost accounting intern. "She was an excellent employee. Her job required a lot of training, but she learned quickly and showed a lot of initiative." Monica now uses the skills she learned from her intern supervisor in her current job as an accountant at the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C.

NIB internships supplied Mike, Angie, Richard and Monica with experience, training and mentoring, and now they are filling the job market's demand for well-prepared workers. If you would like to know more about NIB's internship program, please write to National Industries for the Blind, 524 Hamburg Turnpike, CN969, Wayne, NJ 07474, or call (201) 595-9200.

Have you ever had a claim for Social Security benefits disallowed, or received a notice that you were no longer eligible, or a notice of overpayment? Did you appeal it, and how far did you go in the appeals process?

Every individual who makes a claim for Social Security benefits, or who is in receipt of benefits, has a right to appeal any decision that would affect his/her rights to, or receipt of benefits. If the right to appeal is not exercised, benefits may be lost entirely or in part when errors are made by SSA, the applicant/beneficiary, or others.

In these days of reduced staffing and increasing workloads in SSA it is not unusual to see an increase in problems and errors involving the rights and benefit amounts of individuals applying for or receiving benefits. Unless the individual detects an error or questions a decision through the appeals process, loss of benefits will continue. Unfortunately, some people do not pursue the rights to appeal, or in some cases do not go past the first step which is the "reconsideration."

The SSA appeals process consists of three steps within SSA, and a fourth step which is to a federal court if the final decision in SSA is negative. The steps are:

1. Reconsideration. This is a request that the original decision be reviewed (reconsidered) by someone other than the original decision-maker. The request must be filed within 60 days of the receipt of a notice from SSA that a decision has been made, unless there is good cause for not making the request timely. SSA assumes that a notice has been received five days after the date shown on the letter or notice unless it can be shown that it was not received or received later. (See my story in the June issue about methods for sending notices to people who are blind.) I have seen notices from SSA that were undated. Also, the mail system seems to have problems in delivery.

Each person should always make a record of any notice received from SSA, and should decide immediately what action should be taken. In some cases, an individual can request SSA to continue paying benefits while a decision is made on the appeal. Those situations are:

(A) An appeal from a decision that benefits are no longer payable because your condition has improved, or

(B) An appeal is made on a decision by SSA that SSI benefits are no longer payable or that SSI payments are to be reduced.

If you are asking that payments be continued, the request must be filed within 10 days of the date your letter or notice was received. If the appeal is turned down, you may have to pay back any money you were not eligible to receive.

A reconsideration is nothing more than a review of the record upon which the original decision was made, by an employee of SSA who is not the same person who made the original decision. It is not unusual that individuals do not appeal a negative decision at the reconsideration level.

2. Hearing. If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, the second step is to request a hearing by an administrative law judge. The hearing is usually held within 75 miles of your home. You, and your representative if any, may appear before the judge, review your record, and present new evidence and information that may be helpful to you. The judge will question you and any witnesses you bring. You and your representative may also question any witnesses.

You do not have to attend the hearing but you have to advise the judge, in writing, that you do not wish to attend the hearing. Unless the judge believes that your presence is necessary, he/she will decide the appeal on the material in the file, including that which you may have furnished.

The judge will send you a letter and a copy of the decision. You can then ask for a further review by the appeals council.

(3) Appeals council review. If you disagree with the judge's decision, you can ask that the decision be reviewed by the SSA Appeals Council. The appeals council may deny the request if it believes the judge's decision is correct. If the council decides to review it may decide the case, or it may return it to the judge for further review. The council will advise you of any action taken.

(4) Federal court. If the appeals council decides not to review your case, or makes a decision with which you disagree, you may file a law suit in a federal district court. Representation

Many people handle their own Social Security appeals (not appeals to the federal courts) with free help from SSA. However, you can choose a lawyer, friend, or someone else to help you. SSA will work with your representative as it works with you. The representative will receive a copy of any decision made on your claim.

The representative cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first obtaining written approval from Social Security. If the appeal is on retirement, survivors or disability claims the judge will decide the amount due the representative, which will be withheld from retroactive payments. If the claim and appeal is for SSI, no payments to a representative will be withheld from any retroactive payments due.

The SSA office that handles your claim will have a list of people who will become a representative for you in appeals cases.

The final word is -- if you disagree with a decision by SSA, do not delay in appealing that decision. It may take a long time, but if you don't appeal you lose anyway.

Have you as blind or partially sighted people ever wanted to experience the thrill of seeing such things as the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, the Kremlin, the Alhambra, the Statue of Liberty, or the pyramids in Egypt? Have you ever wanted to know what these really look like and felt like and did not have to rely on your sighted brother, sister, mother, father or friend?

Well, you're in luck, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, because this too can happen to you. You may ask where. The answer is: in Madrid, Spain, at the Museum for the Blind.

On a recent trip to Madrid, I had the opportunity to tour the Museum for the Blind. The museum is owned and operated by ONCE, the Spanish Association for the Blind, which incidentally, in my opinion, is the benchmark for all blind associations in the entire world, in view of the fact that they presently gross $9 billion per year and employ 48,000 people. Indeed, they are the second largest employer in the entire country.

One may ask how they are able to do these things. The answer is simple. They have the good fortune to own the rights to Spain's lottery. Would that it were so in the United States. Will it ever happen? I sincerely doubt it.

Returning to the Museum for the Blind, I was in Spain for a meeting of the International Blind Sports Association. I am a regional representative from North America, which includes the United States and Canada. Incidentally, the American Council of the Blind's national representative, Oral Miller, is the vice president of the association and is indeed a valued member of that organization, having served in this capacity for the past nine years.

While there, Lou Moneymaker, the assistant dean for the Indiana School for the Blind, Charles Huebner, Keshi Chisambi, the director of 17 handicapped sports organizations in Zambia, my wife and I were offered an opportunity to tour the Museum for the Blind. To say that this was an eye-opening experience is a massive understatement. It was truly one of the most breath-taking experiences I have ever had the opportunity to experience. I, like many of you, at one time had vision. In fact, I saw quite well until 1978 or 1979. I have retinitis pigmentosa. I know many of the members of ACB are the same.

I had the opportunity in my younger days to see some of these sights, but have often visualized in my mind what they were like and would have liked to have been able to touch them. At the Museum for the Blind, they have models built to scale. They are exact replicas of the monuments themselves and are built on a scale of 1 to 150 in many instances. Some of the things took as long as four and a half years to carve from wood and construct from other materials. The museum itself took more than two and a half years to build, and I believe it should be denoted as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

On almost every day since April 27, when I returned from Madrid, I have thought of this wonderful experience. I hope that all of you will have the opportunity to experience this in the future. I have had the opportunity in the past to experience the Museum for the Blind in Copenhagen at the Royal National Institute for the Blind in Hellerup, Denmark (a suburb of Copenhagen) and the Museum for the Blind at the National School for the Blind in Vienna, Austria. These museums, too, were of great interest to me and were indeed interesting, but paled by comparison to the museum in Madrid.

ACB ON TV

The Greater Omaha chapter of ACB of Nebraska was featured on Omaha's local cable TV in late April. It featured Jim Jirak and Lorraine Kral talking about ACB. The interview lasted longer than planned because the second guests did not arrive. Since the show aired, the chapter voted to disconnect its telephone due to depleting funds. The chapter is working on letting the public know who the contact person is and that person's phone number.

YES, YOU'RE STILL IN KANSAS

The 1994 Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired convention will be held at the Hays Inn-Country Kitchen Complex on Sept. 23, 24 and 25. The Northwest Kansas chapter has raised funds to subsidize room rates by about $10 per room per night. Room rates will be $40 per night for doubles and $37 per night for singles. For those staying both Friday and Saturday nights, total charge will be $75 for doubles, $70 for singles. Meal charges for all three convention meals will be $17. The deadline for reservations is Sept. 5.

COME BE A HOOSIER

ACB of Indiana's one-day convention will be held Sept. 17 at the Weston Plaza Hotel in Elkhart. Room rates will be $45. Call 800-521-8400 for reservations.

THEY'RE DOING THE HOEDOWN IN MISSOURI

The Missouri Council of the Blind's convention will be held Oct. 13-15 at the Ramada Inn, 4061 Frederick Blvd., St. Joseph; phone (816) 233-6192 or (800) 272-6232. Room rates are $42 a night for up to four people. Specify smoking or non-smoking, upstairs or downstairs, poolside or hallway rooms. Or, if you want a little more quiet, the Super-8 Motor Inn and the Drury Inn are just a little way from the front door; room rates will be about the same. Saturday night will feature a western hoedown after dinner, with a band called No Money Down that will play western music as well as '50s and '60s music. There will be a dance contest with prizes. So find yourself a western outfit and come on down to the hoedown! The hotel has promised breakfast and lunch buffets.

SHE WANTS TO START ACB FOR TEENS

Theresa Weaver of Deerborn Heights, Mich., a 14-year-old visually impaired eighth grader, is interested in starting a chapter of ACB specifically for teens ages 13 to 18. Why? She believes that peer support is essential, and a teens' chapter could provide that. She also wants teens to be able to explain what visual impairment is, what it means, and how they cope with it to students at various schools including their own. The chapter could earn money to help teens buy adaptive equipment and have a voice in state, local and national legislation. If you are interested in becoming a member of the teen chapter or in helping it develop, call Theresa at (313) 561-4887.

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.

KANSAN HONORED

The Wichita Association for the Visually Handicapped presented the first Margaret C. Champ Award to Von E. Eulert, a volunteer braille transcriber. The award established in memory of Mrs. Champ honors individuals and groups who keep her spirit of willingness alive by assisting visually impaired persons. For many years, prior to her death on August 25, 1993, Mrs. Champ worked tirelessly to coordinate an annual Christmas dinner for visually impaired Wichitans and to assist visually impaired persons wherever she could. Eulert, the first recipient of the award, is coordinator of the Midway Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross Braille Transcription service. Eleven certified braille transcribers volunteer their time under her direction to transcribe thousands of pages of printed material into braille each year. Eulert herself transcribes an average of 2,000 pages of braille annually. Steve Bauer, President of the Wichita Association for the Visually Handicapped, said, "Von provides an invaluable service for braille readers and we are especially proud to be able to call her one of us." Eulert has received national and international recognition for her contribution to the braille code by writing complicated chemistry and mathematical codes. Her more recent accomplishments include: training six inmates at the State Prison in El Dorado, Kan., to be braille transcribers, serving on a committee that is working to create an international unified braille code and as Chair of the Braille Authority of North America

Mathematics Committee.

The award was presented late last year at the 32nd annual WAVH Christmas dinner. Letters of nomination for the 1994 award are being sought by the WAVH Board of Directors.

BOEC ADVENTURES

The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center has courses for all ages. Unless otherwise stated, a 25 percent deposit is due 30 days before departure. There will be a canoe trip through Green River in Canyon Lands National Park Sept. 24-Oct. 2; it costs $865. A Baja Sea kayaking adventure is planned for Nov. 5-12; it costs $995, not counting airfare to La Paz, Baja. The deposit is due Sept. 10. There will be a whitewater rafting trip in spring 1995 on the Green and Yampa rivers; it costs $595. For a detailed fact sheet on these trips, or to customize a program for your group, call 1-800-383-2632.

NEW PROGRAM

A new student program has been added to the American Foundation for the Blind's Careers & Technology Bank. It offers visually impaired students a chance to get information about job experience and assistive technology from adults who are blind or visually impaired. To become a student member, or tap into CTIB's resources, write to Careers & Technology Information Bank, American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th St., New York, NY 10011; (212) 620-2080.

RESIGNATION, NEW STAFF

Genevieve Schreiner resigned from the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired News staff. Nancy Johnson of Topeka was named to fill that vacancy. Also, KABVI has a new coordinator, Mary E. Rowson, replacing Kathleen Koplik.

ENFORCEMENT HELP

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is increasing its efforts to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. The center seeks potentially precedent-setting cases involving discrimination against individuals with psychiatric or developmental disabilities in the areas of employment and service or benefits provision. The center is also interested in participating in advocacy efforts aimed at promoting public agencies' compliance with the act. The Bazelon Center is currently working on a project with the South Carolina Departments of Social Services and Mental Health to identify practices that tend to exclude people with psychiatric disabilities from participation in public benefit and social service programs and then to develop and implement a plan to alter these practices. For more information, call Mary Giliberti at (202) 467-5730.

ATHLETES, WINNERS

Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, actors Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks, and artist Sandra Boynton have signed on as members of Recording For the Blind's national council. Jenner, who is learning disabled, agreed to join after running with President Ritchie Geisel in American Airlines' "Miami Mile."

The 1993 winners of RFB's Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards are: Richard Allen Blakeney, a math major who graduated from Southwest Texas State University; Eugene R. Chelberg, a human relationships major who graduated from the University of Minnesota, and Robert Kennedy, who graduated from the University of South Carolina-Lancaster with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.

The three winners of RFB's Learning Through Listening Award are Eduard Ryan Neal, of Sumter, S.C.; Lisa Pollack, of Newton, Mass.; and Samuel Lee Taggard, of Brattleboro, Vt.

The winner of the Enabling America Award is Ralph S. Larsen, chairman of the board and CEO of Johnson & Johnson. POETIC THERAPY

"Knotholes are for 'Seeing': Therapy through Poetry," by Dorothy H. Stiefel, was set for release in February. It is 200 pages of large-print writings and poems from more than four decades, containing a blend of history, family dynamics, coping skills, cognitive awareness and spiritual growth. For more information, contact the author at P.O. Box 8388, Corpus Christi, TX 78468-8388.

SEEING EYE GETS TWO

The Seeing Eye, the world's oldest dog guide school, recently appointed two staff members to head newly created departments. Rosemary Carroll is the director of public affairs, and Judy Deuschle is the director of student services. Also, David Loux has been appointed manager of organizational relations. He has been with The Seeing Eye since 1971.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Martha Cassin, Assistant to the Director of the Cancer Center of Massachusetts General Hospital, was honored last year with the Thomas J. Carroll Award for Employment Excellence at a ceremony at the Bank of Boston.

QUORUM PAAL

The store at the Massachusetts Association for the Blind now carries a small, lightweight personal alarm called the Quorum Paal. It's the size of a beeper, and emits an ear-piercing 103 dB blast to deter crime. It costs $30 plus $1.50 for shipping and handling. Massachusetts residents should include 5 percent sales tax. Contact the store at (617) 738-5110, or write MAB, 200 Ivy St., Brookline, MA 02146.

NEW NEWSLETTER The premiere issue of the Americans with Disabilities Newsletter, published by Positive Workforce for America, was mailed in December 1993. It is available in regular and large print, braille and cassette, and the annual rate is $150. To order, contact the editorial office at P.O. Box 365, Hillsdale, NY 12529- 0365, or phone (518) 325-5360.

EMPLOYMENT LAG

Two-thirds of working-age Americans with disabilities are not working, according to a new nationwide Harris survey. The survey found that 59 percent of adults with disabilities with total incomes of less than $25,000, compared to only 37 percent of those without disabilities. The survey was conducted in February and March of this year.

GOURMET TEXTILES

National Industries for the Blind's gourmet line has taken on a new look. There is a larger assortment of kitchen towels and dish cloths in plaids, solids and patterns in hunter green, mist green, tea rose and wedgewood blue. Complementary oven mitts and potholders in solid colors will allow shoppers to mix and match. This line has created numerous jobs for blind people in Arizona Industries for the Blind; Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (D.C.); Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches (Fla.); Lighthouse for the Blind, New Orleans, and Pennsylvania Association for the Blind, Coatesville.

SKI FOR LIGHT

The 20th annual international Ski for Light week will be held Sunday, Feb. 5, 1995 through Sunday, Feb. 12, 1995 at The Inn at Silver Creek, Granby, Co. The total cost of the week, about $550, includes double-occupancy room, board, ground transportation to and from Denver International Airport and a small registration fee. Ski for Light provides use of cross-country skis, boots and poles to first-timers who do not have equipment. The application deadline is November 1. For more information, contact Larry Showalter, SFL Applications, 206 Vista Dr., Gahanna, OH 43230; phone (614) 478-7898.

LAVIN'S CHOICE

Actress Linda Lavin is the new spokesperson for Choice Magazine Listening. For information, write to Choice at Box LL, 85 Channel Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050, or phone (516) 883-8280.

NEW COMPUTER

The DAVID braille notebook computer, the first computer designed specifically for blind users, is an IBM-compatible computer with an Intel 386SL processor operating at 25 Mhz and running under an MS-DOS operating system. Data input is done on a standard nine-key braille keyboard. DAVID comes with two specialized software packages: VISION, a desktop application, and SWING, a bidirectional braille translator that converts text between grade 1 and grade 2 braille, preloaded on its hard drive. For more information, contact Baum USA, 17525 Ventura Blvd., Suite 303, Encino, CA 91316-3843; (818) 981-2253 or (800) 225-3150. A lease-purchase program is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Initial deposit and payments to start the lease are in the range of $6,750; monthly payments start as low as $275. Also from Baum USA are the DM80/FM Braille work station and the Porta-Thiel personal braille embosser. The DM80/FM has an 80+4 character braille display and optical sensor cursor routing, and is designed for integration with an IBM-compatible PC. The Porta- Thiel is a lightweight embosser which produces high quality braille print in six- or eight-dot mode. Jumbo braille may also be produced. For more information on either of these devices, contact Baum USA at the address or telephone number above.

OPENINGS AT BADGER HOME

The Badger Home for the Blind in Milwaukee, Wis., has a few openings for residency. The home offers food, fellowship and independent living to the blind and visually impaired. For more information, contact Patrick Brown, executive director, Badger Association of the Blind, 912 N. Hawley Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53213; phone (414) 258-9200.

BRISTO TO CHAIR NCOD

On May 12, the U.S. Senate confirmed Marca Bristo, president and CEO of Access Living of Chicago, to chair the National Council on Disability. She is the first disabled person to hold this position. She will remain in Chicago as president of Access Living while performing in her new role.

EMPOWER SOFTWARE

RPM Press has recently released the latest version of Empower Social Security Work Incentives Software. The software and its accompanying manual help rehabilitation professionals use SSA's work incentives program to obtain funding for provision of numerous services. For a free brochure on how to order the demonstration program, contact RPM Press, Inc., P.O. Box 31483, Tucson, AZ 85751; phone (602) 886-1990. The software requires an IBM PC or compatible, 1 megabyte of memory, a hard disk or high density floppy diskette, DOS 3.1 or higher, and a printer. State which size disk you prefer when ordering.

COOKING & KNITTING

The Lighthouse Inc. of New York City sells pamphlets of cookbooks, health related issues, some knitting instructions and other such things. A price list is available free in braille or large print. The Lighthouse will also have available a $1 calendar; a $6.50 1995 calendar is also available. To order, or for more information, write to The Lighthouse Inc., Braille Services, 111 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10022.

1-900-REHAB?

There is now a 900 number to call for rehabilitation information. The number is 1-900-255-3031. The call costs $1.95 per minute; the average call costs less than $10.

CHOCO-BRAILLE

The Chocolate Experience, Inc. is producing gift-packaged Choco-Braille, braille-embossed chocolate bars. The greetings say: "Love You," "Thank You," "Merry Christmas," "Happy Holiday," "Have a Nice Day" and "Happy Birthday." The bars are available in semi- sweet, milk and white chocolate, as well as sugar-free milk and white chocolate. A regular chocolate bar costs $2.50; sugar-free costs $3.50. To add nuts to your bar, add $1. To order, call The Chocolate Experience at (718) 461-1873.

BROADWAY DESCRIBED?

Narrative Television Network has expanded its work on making television and movies accessible to include live Broadway theater. On June 4 at 2 p.m., "The Will Rogers Follies" starring Larry Gatlin, blind and visually impaired theater patrons were able to hear audio description via a small radio receiver and earpiece. DECTALK HAS MORE Digital's DECtalk speech synthesis technology is now available as a highly responsive XT/AT-Compatible PC bus option. It includes nine pre-defined voices, speaking rates of 75 to 650 words per minute, pronounces letters, words and phrases, and much more. For more information, or to order, contact Digital at 800-722-9332.

KIDS' RESOURCES

There's a new book available called "Guide to Resources for Children and Youth with Vision Impairments." It offers a listing of products and organizations specifically geared to the needs of children with visual impairments, and costs $15 plus $2 shipping and handling. California residents must add 7.75 percent sales tax. To order, send your name, address, payment and request to Denise Ferrin, P.O. Box 11, Westminster, CA 92684.

ADA SOLUTIONS AT AFB

AFB's Americans with Disabilities Act Solution Center has been relocated to the AFB Information Center in New York City. The center provides information modules and telephone information about implementing ADA requirements for people who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, or to place an order, contact Elga Joffee at (212) 620-2047 or Regina Genwright at (212) 620-2165.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Terry Thomas, NIB's national blind employee of the year. She is an employee of the Oklahoma League for the Blind in Oklahoma City. Congratulations also to the runners up, who are: Harry Edmiston, Alabama Industries for the Blind; Joe Hotze, Wichita Industries for the Blind, and Pearl Wilson, Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired of Greater Rochester (N.Y.).

FOR SALE: Uni-manual Perkins braillewriter for use by person who uses only one hand. $150 or best offer. Get in touch with Paul and Joanne Martin, 1103 Fifth Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801; phone (316) 227-3726.

FOR SALE: One R1D Optacon, serviced annually, in mint condition, with braille and print manuals and some time left on service agreement. Includes power unit, soft pack with carrying straps, and a manual for reading print music tactually. Asking $800. One Magni-Cam, closed-circuit TV camera in excellent condition, to be used with an existing TV set. It enlarges the print to about 10 times. Instructions included. Asking $300. Contact Marcia Kogler about the Optacon, or John Kogler about the Magni-Cam, at (212) 662-3339, or write them at 120 W. 97th St., Apt. 7G, New York, NY 10025-6451. No collect calls.

FOR SALE: Perkins brailler in excellent condition. Price negotiable. Contact Judith Greaves, 71 Rosewood Ave., Washington, PA 15301; phone (412) 228-6456.

FOR SALE: Two IBM typewriter Optacon lenses. Will sell both as a package. Reconditioned by TSI. Asking $500 or best offer. IBM typewriter included. Will sell as package. Contact Karen Fetzer, 3360 Ivy St., Sacramento, CA 95838; phone (916) 649-2932.

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