THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large type, half-speedfour-track cassette tape and MS-DOS computer disk. Subscriptionrequests, address changes, and items intended for publicationshould be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15thSt., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005.

Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions, which aretax deductible, may be sent to Brian Charlson, Treasurer, 115515th St., N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005.

You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in thecontinuing work of the American Council of the Blind. The ACBNational Office has available printed cards to acknowledge toloved ones contributions made in memory of deceased persons.

Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind inhis/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a specialparagraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you maycontact 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.

This has been a busy fall for me. I have done a lot of traveling in order to attend many of our state affiliate conventions and a host of other meetings. It is always a pleasure for me to attend state conventions since I meet many people who don't make it to the national convention.

By the time you read this, I will have taken three more trips, and then I will be home until January. It will be good to be at home for a while and get some work done here. There's much to be done in preparation for the holidays.

This past weekend I attended the Joint Organizational Effort Meeting held in suburban Washington, D.C. This is a meeting of the four major national organizations of and for the blind in this country plus two organizations of and for the blind of Canada.

Those in attendance sought to determine problems facing all of us where we could work together to achieve joint solutions. I am pleased to inform you that we have agreed to meet and work toward a unified stance on three issues that we must address in the new Congress next year.

It will be beneficial to all of us if we approach Congress in unity. We will start our meetings soon. The four organizations involved in these meetings are ACB, the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the American Foundation for the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind.

I started this article before the elections but am finishing it after the results are in. We will have many new representatives and senators with whom we must get acquainted. It's essential that people attend our legislative seminar this coming spring. It will be vital that we visit our new senators and representatives and establish connections with them.

It seems to me that we really have our work cut out for us in the coming year. I hope all of you have a most happy holiday season.

CAPTION:

LeRoy Saunders awards a life membership plaque. All photos copyright 1994 by Natalie Sigler-Westbury.

The departure of Paul Schroeder as ACB's director of governmental affairs became a reality recently as dozens of well- wishers and fellow advocates dropped by the ACB National Office to say good-bye to him and wish him well in his new position. However, later in the month, Paul filled his earlier commitment to speak on the program of the ACB of Minnesota and he was one of the presenters at the ACB Northwestern Leadership Training Seminar which occurred in Seattle between November 18 and 20.

The process of providing input to American Airlines regarding service to blind passengers continued recently with my attendance in a productive advisory meeting sponsored by American at its headquarters in Texas. We are hopeful that the difficulty encountered by Denise Decker and discussed in the November 1994 issue of "The Braille Forum" was an isolated incident and that continued and repeated training will eliminate such incidents. Jennifer Sutton of the ACB National Office staff is scheduled to speak at an American Airlines forum in the near future and at that time will have an opportunity to speak directly to a number of travel agents.

Inasmuch as the fall is a very popular time for ACB state affiliate conventions, we were pleased that it was possible for us to assist as Glenn Plunkett spoke at the Bay State convention and Nolan Crabb spoke at the South Dakota convention.

One of the increasingly interesting and important annual meetings in the field of blindness in the USA is that of the American Printing House in Louisville, Ky., each fall. Some of the many highlights of this year's meeting included the presentation of an award to Terry Hayes Sales, a popular talking book narrator for many years, a presentation by Assistant Secretary of Education Judy Heumann, an outstanding discussion by leading educators regarding the use of braille and the long- awaited opening of the APH museum. Since I had only a short time to visit the museum, which is filled with fascinating exhibits relating to the history of the education of blind people, I can hardly wait to get back to Louisville to spend many more hours in the museum.

Although the main purpose of the working vacation trip which I recently made to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was to take part in the meetings of the executive committee of the International Blind Sports Association, that trip also gave me an outstanding opportunity to meet with several of the leaders in the field of blindness in that country and to learn more about services for blind people there. For example, it was my pleasure to spend one delightful evening at the headquarters of the Malaysia Association of the Blind dining with members of that and other organizations and answering countless questions about the American Council of the Blind's history, advocacy positions, national convention and relations with other organizations. Later during the visit, it was my pleasure to travel by train from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown, Penang, a beautiful island a few miles off the west coast of Malaysia in the straights of Malacca. While there, I visited the St. Nicholas School and Home for the Blind the last day of the current school session, and I hope to devote a separate article to that visit in the near future. Although Malaysia is an "on the move" developing nation with outstanding industrial and technological facilities (such as countless high-tech manufacturing plants in Penang), it was good also to see some more traditional tropical sights such as dozens of small monkeys swinging from the trees near the botanical gardens to beg nuts and other edible things from passersby. I also saw water buffalo being pastured at the edge of the road.

In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to wish all the readers of "The Braille Forum" a happy holiday season and a joyous new year!

CAPTION: Oral Miller and Jessica Beach take a break from the convention to smile for the camera.

The 1995 convention of the American Council of the Blind will be held at the Holiday Inn Four Seasons in Greensboro, N.C. To quote ACB President LeRoy Saunders, "This is not a typical Holiday Inn and probably should be renamed." The hotel along with the convention center, which is part of the same building, forms one of the largest non-metropolitan meeting complexes in the United States. It is a spacious conference facility that is beautifully decorated, tastefully furnished, generously equipped, and professionally staffed. You will experience genuine southern hospitality that is sure to please.

The hotel and conference center has everything necessary to make the ACB convention a great success. The Guilford Ballroom seats 5,400 people in theater style. The Imperial Ballroom seats 2,000. Seventy-two breakout rooms, four restaurants, and five lounges can also be found. The hotel also offers an indoor- outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped health club, voice mail telephone messaging service, free local telephone calling, and free parking. The hotel is providing free transportation to and from the airport and free shuttle service from nearby hotels used for overflow rooms. The Triad Airport is located only eight miles from the Holiday Inn Four Seasons and is serviced by most major airlines.

In 1995, you can be a part of a great convention, see a beautiful part of our country, and not have to worry about the cost concerns of a major metropolitan area. The Four Seasons Town Center, a huge three-level mall with a large food court and a number of restaurants, is located just across the parking lot from the convention center. You will find very reasonable prices in Greensboro compared to Chicago or San Francisco.

The 1995 ACB convention will take place July 1 to 8. Rates are $47 per night for single through quad. The Holiday Inn Four Seasons is handling all reservations including those for overflow hotels. The toll-free number is (800) 242-6556.

The mid-year meetings of the ACB board of directors, the boards of some special-interest groups and the affiliate presidents meeting will occur February 4 through 6, 1995 at the Holiday Inn Four Seasons. Convention rates will apply, but reservations must be made by January 3, 1995. The information desk, under the supervision of Connie Weadon, will again be open during the mid-year meetings.

Remember to use International Tours of Muskogee, Okla., (800) 259-9299 for all your ACB-related travel arrangements. Don't miss out on a great convention in 1995.

WASHINGTON--Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, founder and director of the Metropolitan Washington Ear, championed the cause of audio description in movies and television before the media here, firing the first volley in what could become a protracted battle over language in upcoming telecommunications legislation. In a press conference here in mid-November, Pfanstiehl called for definitive language in upcoming telecommunications legislation that would provide for an 18-month study on audio description to be implemented six months after passage of the bill. Audio description of movies and other forms of entertainment would begin six months after the conclusion of the study.

Previous telecommunications-related legislation, which died before it could be acted upon this year, has included language mandating a study, but Pfanstiehl, widely recognized as the developer of the concept of audio description, said that language didn't go far enough. "We want language included ... that would mandate phased-in described TV," she told the small group of press representatives and leaders in the blindness field. "The language in the previous bill gave us a study that could start five years from now and end after some indeterminate amount of time. There's nothing about implementation of increased audio description following the study. Unless this language is changed, our legislators will be discriminating against blind people."

In calling for stronger language in upcoming telecommunications law for described television, Pfanstiehl faces formidable challenges from the movie and television industry. While not available for comment at press time, the Motion Picture Association of America reportedly favors audio description on a strictly voluntary basis. Pfanstiehl alleges that won't work. "Five years from now," she said, "we won't have much more described television than we now see on screen. There are currently only four shows described by WGBH-TV in Boston and only sixty-some movies available on video cassette. About 36 of these are actual movies; the remaining titles are TV programs which have been previously aired."

When Congress gets serious about telecommunications legislation, and if that legislation includes the kind of language Pfanstiehl wants, other challengers may join the Motion Picture Association. In a hearing last spring, the American Civil Liberties Union said while it was not opposed to the idea of audio described television, it felt audio description was unconstitutional. At that time, ACLU officials felt that audio description altered the content of the film and thereby altered the producer's first amendment rights regarding freedom of speech.

It should be pointed out that both the MPAA and the ACLU are not opposed to described television. Such opposition would be tantamount to opposing information provision or education. Nonetheless, both groups will be formidable opponents Pfanstiehl and her supporters say they're ready to deal with.

"We're going to do everything we can to see that this succeeds," she said. "We look forward to meeting with the officials from the Motion Picture Association of America."

One of those in attendance at the press conference was retiring congressman Rep. Don Edwards (D-Calif.). Edwards is coping with macular degeneration, and he praised the concept of described television and urged Pfanstiehl to get acquainted with the new subcommittee chairs that will deal with the telecommunications issue. He said his own vision loss had made him increasingly aware of the necessity of such services as described movies and television and dial-in newspapers.

(Editor's Note: Mr. Smith goes down in "Braille Forum" history as the first freelance writer to send his contribution to us via the Internet. So much for the argument that those readers who do not have computers are not affected by the information revolution. Mr. Smith is a member of the ACB of Indiana.)

For two days in early August nearly 50 people met in Tempe, Ariz., for a conference titled, "The Art, Implementation, and Future of Audio Description," sponsored by the Association for Theatre and Disability, Access Theatre, and Phonic Ear, Inc. Whether for television, movies or live theater, audio description provides people who are blind and visually impaired with information about key visual elements such as action, costumes and settings without interfering with dialogue or important sound effects.

Audio description was developed and pioneered more than 10 years ago in the Washington, D.C., area by Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl and her husband Cody. Descriptive Video Service has been providing audio description for selected public television stations since 1990. DVS in Boston and the Narrative Television Network in Tulsa, Okla., among others, have been describing movies for several years.

Audio description for live theater and other events is the newest form of the art. "We brought people together to talk about such issues as fees versus volunteer service, audience development, promotion, and how to expand audio description," says Rod Lathim, artistic director of Access Theatre and president of the Association for Theatre and Disability, organizer and host of the August conference. "We also talked about such practical matters as preparation, describing style and equipment," adds Pat Smith, a describer from Bloomington, Ind. "It was a wonderful opportunity to get together and compare notes on lots of audio description topics," says professor Alan Woods of the Ohio Theatre Alliance.

Before adjourning, the group named a planning committee which will meet to lay the groundwork for a national organization of audio describers and another national conference on audio description.

Anyone interested in receiving more information about the different forms of audio description or learning how to bring the newest accessibility service for the blind and visually impaired to their community is urged to write Byron K. Smith, 4300 Morningside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47408-3149. Or, if you are interested in receiving copies of cassette tapes of conference sessions and copies of the resource book of individuals, organizations and theaters implementing audio description nationally and internationally, write to the Association for Theatre and Disability (ATD) c/o Access Theatre, 527 Garden St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 or call (805) 546-2063 ext. 11.

Imagine waking up one Election Day morning to find a foot and a half of snow on the ground and the street blocked off by snow. You can't get to the polls. How are you going to cast your ballot?

That's exactly the situation Canadian voters faced a few years ago. But thanks to MT&T's Teledemocracy system, people were able to cast their ballots by using a simple piece of technology -- the telephone.

The first time MT&T ran Teledemocracy, said Dean Smith, general manager for MT&T technologies, was June 1992 for the Nova Scotia liberal party elections. The system was controlled from Ottawa, and ran through the Canadian telephone system. When the system overloaded, it failed. Smith and his team rebuilt it and re-ran the election two weeks later. After this inauspicious start, he was afraid people would have doubts about its abilities. But reactions were positive. People saw its potential in the first attempt, he said, and thought "'we ought to try it again.'" "There was a groundswell of public support [for voting by phone]," he said. Voting by telephone means "re-enfranchising these people who we assume can get to the polls."

Telephone voting involves several things. First, the voter must send in a certain amount of money to receive a personal identification number that will allow him/her to vote. And the voter must have access to a touch-tone telephone. On the election day, Canadians keep their eyes and ears pinned to the TV to find out the telephone number to call and what times to call. The voter then dials the 1-800 or 1-900 number, then enters the personal ID number. The system then plays it back to the voter, who is prompted to make sure it's correct. If it isn't, the person has a chance to correct it.

After entering the number, voters select their candidates. If the person does not know the three-digit number for the candidate he wants to vote for, the system will read off the different numbers and prompt the voter to enter the number. Once that's done, the person will hear the candidate's voice greeting him. Once again, voters have a chance to correct any mistakes. After selecting the candidate, the voter pushes the pound key to make his vote final. The system then plays the candidate's voice thanking the voter for his vote, and prompts the caller to hang up.

The concept of voting by phone has been around for quite some time, he stated. It's user-friendly, and increases access for blind people. "You don't have to be able to see to vote," Smith said. The few blind people that have used the system to vote have been as comfortable with it as the sighted callers. He referred to himself and his team as the major architects of teledemocracy. Taking into account people's needs, they've tried to blend them into their system.

And it seems to be working. Smith said this service is bringing more people to the polls. Canadian elections average 75 percent voter participation, he noted. But in Canada as well as in the United States, "People vote on a lot of other things besides who's going to lead them." Televoting can also encompass opinion polls, such as the one done by a Bangor (Maine) High School senior seminar class. The class used it to conduct a survey on the Clinton health care bill. The survey went well, and got significant coverage from the local media, he added, surprised at the coverage.

The cost of the system depends on the number of voters, length of time people have to call in, and other things that may need to be done to set up the system, Smith said. For each system put into use, Smith and his team have to design and configure the system for each vote load, inform the voters how much time they have to vote, what the hold time will be, and the average length of the call. And the current system has another useful feature: if the voter gets disconnected for any reason, when that person calls back, the system will put him back in to vote in the races he hasn't filled in yet.

Smith and his team are currently working on finding partners in the United States to implement the vote-by-phone system. They would like to do a vote in a small- to medium-sized county. The team also has several elections on tap for next year. "1995 looks like a real banner year for us," he said. One election may involve more than 100,000 voters.

But Smith dreams of far more than that. "We'd like this to become an acceptable means of voting," he said. It's cost-effective and secure, and uses much less paper than absentee ballots. The only problem: 1-900 numbers can't be used internationally.

For more information on the Teledemocracy system, contact MT&T at P.O. Box 880, Stn. Central RPO, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2W3.

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

Holiday time is a time of gift giving. You make a list and try and find that special something in a special place -- and somehow, despite all the catalogs, invariably wind up at Toys R Us anyway. But let me suggest a very special "toy store" for persons with disabilities.

It's not listed in the Yellow Pages. It does not put advertising circulars in the Sunday paper. Nor do you see commercials for it on television. But for persons with disabilities the center for assistive technology serving your area is perhaps the most important "toy store."

"Toy store" is my term. It is meant only in the most positive sense, transcending facilities where basic playthings are available, to encompass the loci of information on the technical aids and devices which we all need to work and live.

"Toy store" is a compliment, denoting the place where information about devices, equipment and services is available. The "toys" are the practical accommodations persons with disabilities may need or be entitled to, to be effectively accommodated in the workplace or in the school system. A "toy" may be a prosthesis, a computer program or redesigned chair. You don't have to be disabled to enjoy a "toy." How many people, including a technopeasant such as me, are intrigued by the latest electronic devices -- such as talking to the VCR? It is true that you can tell the age of the boy by the price of the toy.

Recently, I had the good fortune of working with the D.C. Partnership on Assistive Technology, housed at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, on a project funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. NIDRR funds projects in every state. These are first-rate places which should get both more use and support in the community.

These are places where persons with disabilities and service providers can get good information about what is available where. As a focal point in the community, the D.C. Partnership on Assistive Technology and other projects like Maryland Technology Assistance Program at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore, can play a vital role.

There are requirements in federal and local laws that assistive technology be available to children with special needs as part of their education. Persons eligible for worker compensation can obtain and utilize assistive technology in returning to the workplace. Assistive technology is a part of the rehabilitation program. There are also pockets of funding available in the private sector to help persons financially if they cannot afford a device, such as a talking computer.

If you call the District of Columbia government (OK, turn down the theme from "Mission Impossible") looking for a central source of information on assistive technology, the response is initially silence, followed by an inquiry as to what is assistive technology, which after an explanation, is followed by, "No, we don't do that. Call the National Rehabilitation Hospital."

In addition to being repositories of information, assistive technology centers are also disseminators of information, through conferences, newsletters, and through plain old-fashioned answering your questions. And unlike the Department of Justice, which took an average of 49 days (seven weeks) to answer an ADA question in 1993, the assistive technology centers can be responsive in a more timely fashion.

These "toy stores" are one good government program. If you want to find the one nearest you, call the Department of Education, (202) 205-5666, or RESNA, (703) 524-6686. These are centers which deserve financial support because they provide services and access to information which actually benefits people -- people with disabilities, not the bureaucrats. And especially at holiday times, let us appreciate our fellow human beings who try to make the world a little better place.

My best to all. May your fondest wishes be the least of your accomplishments in 1995.

The president signed into law legislation making the Social Security Administration an independent agency as of March 31, 1995 -- Public Law 103-296 -- on August 15. SSA will be removed from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the commissioner of SSA and the deputy commissioner will be appointed by the president for six-year terms of office, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

A bipartisan seven-member part-time advisory board will be established with the independent SSA. The board will meet at least four times a year and provide advice on SSA policy. Members of the board will be appointed to staggered six-year terms as follows: three members will be appointed by the president (no more than two from the same political party with the advice and consent of the Senate); two members (no more than one from the same political party) will be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means; and two members (no more than one from the same political party) will be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation with the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Finance. Ostensibly, the SSA was made an independent agency to "depolitize" it so that it can move forward in serving the public for which it was established.

It appears to me that SSA may very well be more politized in the future with the various political parties having a say in the appointment of an advisory board. Be that as it may, there was no additional staff provided to carry out the programs that are so far behind in processing that the lack is actually preventing people from obtaining the benefits to which they are entitled -- some people are dying before a final decision is reached on their applications, and others are going into debt awaiting a decision.

As you know, a decision as to whether a person is blind for purposes of the Social Security Act does not require a long drawn- out review of various disability factors since the definition of blindness is set out by law and a report by an ophthalmologist or optometrist can show whether a person meets those criteria. However, once a person who is blind files a claim for benefits or a request for appeal, he or she must get in line behind previous filers for the claim or request to be reviewed. SSA says all of the backlogs and processing problems can be overcome with "automation" and that the SSA computer systems will be updated and expanded to overcome the situation. Unfortunately, the computer system has not yet been invented that can view all the data concerning the various medical and functional factors used in making a decision of disability and make a decision as to whether a person is able to "perform substantial gainful activity."

SSA recently stated that it would take as many as 11,000 new people to carry out the congressionally mandated program of providing everyone who has a work record with SSA of the amount of benefits he or she might be entitled to at retirement age. However, the staff also indicated that since no new staff was being authorized and that staffs would probably be reduced further in 1995, that the workload would be taken care of through an updated automation system. It is too bad that SSA cannot apply the cost of an updated new system to hiring additional staff and training to overcome the large backlogs of applications awaiting a determination of disability -- currently more than 700,000 claims and more than 400,000 requests for administrative hearings. The claims are requiring almost a year to result in a decision and the hearings almost nine months. It takes almost two years to obtain a final decision from SSA in cases where the individual is not satisfied with the original decision of eligibility.

It appears that some political pressure will be needed to get Congress to recognize that a program for which people have paid into all their lives as required by law, which law said that they would receive benefits when they retired or their dependents in case of death, are being denied because Congress will not remove the restrictions on staffing and administrative expenses that are being paid out of trust fund monies.

In addition to making SSA an independent agency, the new law imposes a new set of rules for up to 250,000 people who are alcoholics or drug addicts to encourage them to seek rehabilitation, and removed from the rolls after 36 months. Restrictions will be placed on disability insurance and SSI disability payments to individuals in cases where drug addiction or alcoholism is material to the finding that the individual is disabled, and safeguards will be established to ensure that benefits, when paid, are not used to support an addiction. Specifically: disability benefits to substance abusers will be paid to a representative payee, as is presently required in the SSI program. Organizations, rather than family members or friends, will be designated to serve as representative payees for DI and SSI substance abusers, unless SSA determines that a family member would be appropriate; substance abusers' eligibility for DI benefits will be conditioned on participation in treatment, if available, as is currently the case in the SSI program. Mandatory, progressive sanctions will be established for non-compliance with treatment for both DI and SSI substance abusers. SSI recipients will be terminated from the rolls after receiving 36 months of benefits, unless they are disabled for some other reason; the 36 months of benefits limits would be applied to DI substance abusers beginning when treatment becomes available. Further, any retroactive benefits to substance abusers will not be paid in a lump sum but paid gradually over a period of months. Also, SSA will have to look at illegal activities of a beneficiary as well as legal in determining whether a beneficiary is engaging in substantial gainful activity.

ACB and other advocacy groups had advocated for other changes in the law, such as giving SSI recipients with a plan for achieving self-support a longer period of time to accomplish their plan, and also allowing them to set aside funds for housing. However, Congress did not see fit to pass any of the suggested changes that would help individuals become more independent.

The Social Security Administration has announced the availability of informational material in alternative formats for people who are visually impaired. The materials listed below are available in large print, in braille, on cassette and floppy disks. If what you want is not listed, it may be available as SSA will continue to add to the list. Ask for the items you want. The materials may be obtained by calling SSA's toll-free number, (800) 772-1213, or the local district office. The toll-free number is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every business day; you may be able to access the number much faster by calling early in the day.

Please advise me if you are unable to obtain the type of information you need in the format you want.

SSA 05-10024, Understanding Social Security

SSA 05-10029, Disability

SSA 05-10035, Retirement

SSA 05-10043, Medicare

SSA 05-10076, A Guide for Representative Payees -- Social Security and SSI (available in braille and disk only)

SSA 05-10084, Survivors (available in print, braille and disk only)

SSA 05-11000, Supplemental Security Income

SSA 05-10002, A Desktop Guide to Social Security and SSI Work Incentives (available in print, braille and disk only)

SSA 05-10052, If you are Blind -- How Social Security and SSI Can Help

SSA 05-10153, When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits -- What You Need to Know (available in print, braille and disk only)

SSA 05-10095, Working While Disabled -- How Social Security Can Help

SSA 05-11017, Working While Disabled -- A Plan for Achieving Self-Support While Receiving Supplemental Security Income (available in print, braille and floppy disk only)

SSA 64-030, Redbook on Work Incentives -- A Summary Guide to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income -- Work Incentives for People with Disabilities

SSI Spotlight on Plans to Achieve Self-Support (available in print, braille and floppy disk only)

HCFA 10050, The Medicare Handbook (available on cassette only)

HCFA 10128, Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services -- A Supplement to the Medicare Handbook (available on cassette only)

NEVADA CONVENTION HELD

The Nevada Council of the Blind held its convention Saturday, Oct. 8 in Las Vegas. This was the group's 22nd annual convention. Included in the agenda were elections and several speakers, including ACB President LeRoy Saunders.

NEWS FROM OKLAHOMA

Tulsa, Okla.-- Members of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind gathered here September 30 through October 2 for the group's annual state convention.

The convention offered a variety of exhibits, and OCB members didn't lack for opportunities to socialize; they could mingle at the banquet and dance. While there were opportunities to socialize, there were an equally large number of opportunities to roll up the sleeves and work. The convention began with a moving tribute to former Oklahoman Durward McDaniel. The group heard a telecommunications update from "Braille Forum" Editor Nolan Crabb; he addressed the banquet later that evening.

The affiliate hosted a new members luncheon which was well- attended. Meetings were also held to form a state chapter for the National Alliance of Blind Students and a local chapter of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Diane Bowers faced Joe Fallon in a hotly contested race for president of OCB. Bowers was declared the victor in a Sunday morning session. She replaces Judy Pool, who was not eligible to seek another term.

WALKATHON, NEW PRESIDENT AT SOUTH DAKOTA CONVENTION

RAPID CITY, S.D.--You may associate South Dakota with the Black Hills or Mount Rushmore. Those who attend the convention of the South Dakota Association of the Blind associate the state with more than tourist attractions. The SDAB is a vibrantly enthusiastic affiliate whose members have managed to capture the ability to involve one another in the affiliate's operation and direction. Attend these meetings, and you won't see the battle- scarred, tired few trying to motivate the masses. Virtually everyone who attended this year's SDAB convention had something to do; it was a remarkable experience watching each member count on the other. The affiliate appeared devoid of the in-fighting and faction building that can plague any group of enthusiastic people.

SDAB members gathered in Rapid City October 21 and 22 for their annual convention. After brief speeches from various agency and organization leaders throughout the state, SDAB members held a fund-raising walkathon, walking the three-mile distance between the hotel and Rapid City's eye institute. Eye institute officials treated weary walkers to a tour of the facility and a pizza supper.

One of the highlights of the Saturday session was a legislators' luncheon in which SDAB members and state agency officials briefed legislators who attended the luncheon on issues of interest to blind South Dakotans.

While some of the elected positions were filled without opposition, there was no shortage of candidates willing to step forward to fill many of the board and other leadership positions available. Virginia Miller of Sioux Falls was elected president. She replaces Rochelle Foley, who was not eligible to seek another term.

(Editor's Note: As the new year approaches, many of us look to it as a time to resolve to achieve new personal heights. Teacher and freelance writer Kathy Nimmer demonstrates her tremendous ability to freeze frame a scene in her life and thereby focus more clearly on the big picture, giving the rest of us something to think about in the process.) I took a deep breath as I once more rechecked the ropes which encircled my waist. The dry California wind whipped around me, seeming to whisper to me to give up before I'd even started. Ignoring the wind, I focused on the Eagle, the 120-foot rock face in front of me. It was the first full day of my hiking trip in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California. Yesterday, we'd survived a relatively short hike to our first campsite. After a night of sleeping beneath the stars, we were ready for the vigorous challenge of mountain climbing. "Belay on?" I shouted to Kirk, one of our trained guides. "On belay!" his distant voice answered. I closed my eyes in a silent prayer, adrenalin pumping through my tense body. The traditional climbing exchange of "belay" checks meant that Kirk was ready with the safety rope, the only thing which could keep me from falling off the steep incline. Confirming that I was beginning to climb, I reached forward. The multi-colored, weathered rock my hands sought showed none of its beauty to me. I had lost almost all of my vision and could not appreciate the visual splendor of the rock face in front of me. As my hands found some initial cracks to grasp and I started up the Eagle, I became completely absorbed in searching for the next handhold, the next foothold. The incline was sharp, and soon I was nearly perpendicular to the ground, clinging to the warm granite. It struck me that this rock face was probably called the Eagle because only birds could make this kind of ascent, not human beings at all -- especially not this blind woman. I'd really struggled with this latest loss of vision, not knowing how to accept the ever-darkening world which was becoming my reality. This trip was a testing ground for me, a chance for me to rediscover the courage and inner strength which I'd felt slip away in the last months. Yet, even as I boarded the plane to fly to California, I wondered how a blind person could hike, rappel, and climb. "Good job, Kath!" Kristen, another guide, shouted from below. Her voice seemed so distant. Kirk echoed her encouragement from above. His voice seemed unreachable. I was somewhere in the middle of my climb, separate from everyone it seemed. That is how I'd felt so often with my vision. That is how I'd felt when I was a little girl with the first signs of retinal deterioration. I was the only child who had to wheel around a print-enlarging machine from class to class, the only sixth grader who had to leave home for a special blind school, the only one in my class who had to learn braille in high school, the only blind student at my tiny private college, and later the only blind high school teacher in my public school corporation. When the remainder of my vision had started disappearing in December of 1993, I felt incredibly isolated, as if the world couldn't exist around me because I couldn't see it. My mind snapped back to the present. Suddenly, I froze. I was 70 feet above the ground, clinging to the side of the Eagle, and I couldn't move. It wasn't terror that made me instantly motionless; it was an overwhelming sense that it was absolutely impossible for me to go on. I was too far away from everyone, my hands gripping a thin crack, my right toes balancing me on a one- inch protrusion of rock. Tears of hopelessness filled my eyes. As I clung motionless to the granite, I knew I could never continue. My foot began to slip. I clawed wildly with one hand and one foot, searching for some ledge or outcropping which could hold me up. Nothing! My toes ached after balancing my entire weight for so many moments of immovability. I could not sustain my balance anymore. I screamed as I fell, imagining the pain of crashing down the dozens of feet of unyielding rock I'd already climbed. I didn't have eagle's wings to keep me from falling, and I could find no hope. I should have listened to the whispers telling me not to try. Silence. I lay against the rock, wondering how such a long fall could have ended so quickly. Then, I felt the one-inch rock protrusion I'd been standing on now pressing against my ankle. I was only an inch or two below my previous precarious resting point. Instead of plunging down 70 feet of stone, I had been caught by the safety rope. It had not allowed me to fall. And at the top, working that safety rope -- Kirk, a human being who wasn't going to let anything happen to me. "Great job, Kath!" Kirk shouted in full voice from above. I wondered how he could say I was doing a great job when I had fallen. I felt like such a failure. But, maybe, were falls OK? Was it not a bad thing to lose a foothold? Was it really OK to stumble and struggle and search -- and slip? I ran my left hand along the granite, almost immediately finding a three-inch crack which would serve as a wonderful handhold and after that a foothold. Because of the slightly altered position resulting from my slip, I'd located a new ledge, a different and promising route up the Eagle. The support was there; taking hold of it was up to me. Later, sitting at the top of the Eagle next to Kirk, I again felt the dry wind tugging at me. This time, though, it seemed to be saying, "Great job, Kath!" Maybe too it was saying, "You did this, so you can do anything." I realized I"d never been alone on the climb; the safety rope was my connection to the world. I didn't need to fear falling either, for the rope would always catch me. And even if I did fall, new supports were waiting to be discovered with the simple stretching out of my hand. At that moment, my lack of vision mattered not a bit. I could see again the unfailing safety rope of courage and inner strength. I soared -- without wings but with renewed hope -- high up on the Eagle.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." -- Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities"

In the morning it was the Quaker Oats capital of Iowa. In the evening it was L'Enfant's city of straight streets and diagonal avenues. In the morning I handed my ticket across the chest-high TWA counter in Cedar Rapids. A young man said with a smile in his voice, "Well Walt, you going to Washington, D.C., to straighten them out?" "Yep, the way things are going in Haiti, somebody needs to set them straight." "Fine. I've arranged for someone to help you through the terminal at St. Louis. Have a good flight." I was already floating because he had not turned to my wife and said, "Does he have luggage? Can he walk up stairs?" It was the best of mornings. As the attendant seated me in 7D she said, "I can tell you have traveled a lot." I thought, "Flattering comment number 7 from the flight attendant's manual," but it felt great.

It was evening, 5:05 when the doorman took my bag from the cab driver, gave me his arm, and led me to the front desk of the hotel five blocks from the White House. I extracted and waved my magic plastic card and was assigned to room 603. The bellman picked up my overnighter with the bright yellow handle and we stepped into the elevator. I said, "I'd like to learn how the control panel is set up." "No problem," said he, pushing number 6, "just call me whenever you want to go somewhere." No time to argue now. He gave me a quick tour of the room. I didn't know there was a remote control for the TV and didn't ask about it, and it took two days to figure it out.

Half an hour later I went back to the lobby. Somebody else in the Otis machine pushed the lobby button for me. I took the two steps to the desk and said, "I want somebody to show me how to operate the elevator." Omar, or Mohammed, or whoever, said, "Sure." We stepped into the elevator. I said, "I want to push the hold button so I can figure out the panel." "No problem," he said. "Here's door open, here's alarm, here's basement, here is lobby, here is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, there you are." Up I went, he had stepped out.

I came back down. Back to the desk with the same request. Helpful whoever was at my elbow. "Of course." "I want to know where the hold button is so I can hold the moving monster until I locate the button I want, OK?" "OK, sure." He pointed to them all in quick succession, hit 6, and stepped out, and I was up and away again. When I stepped out I realized I was in a strange place. It was 8, the top floor. No up button on the center panel.

I pushed the down button hoping somebody else would get on to locate the lobby. They did. I strode the two steps to the desk. I slammed my fist on the counter. It was solid marble. No reverberating crash of splintering wood, just a pain in my fist. I swore and I yelled. Because this is a family magazine I will not repeat my words, but the bellman got the message. He was immediately at my side, speaking soothingly like a practiced lion tamer. "Now we're not getting anywhere that way. Just calm down. Take it easy. Let me explain everything. Now this is the button for down and this one is for up." "I already know that." "Fine, now let's step into the elevator. Here, I will put your finger on the open door button. Got it? Now here are the others. Is that clear?" "Fine." "Now let's go to elevator number one and I'll explain it."

Unfortunately number one had a different pattern so I said, "To heck with it, I'll just use number two." I punched my way back up to six.

An hour later my friend and her guide dog came in. We were both in town as part of the National Library Service advisory panel meeting. She told me at supper that the bellman had been so patient about explaining the whole elevator panel to her. Which proves that bellmen can be educated but first you must get their attention.

After three days in that metropolitan inn I had the feeling that Omar and Mohammed were relaxed and quietly pleased to see us manage the elevators on our own and to go down the stairs to the restaurant without a staff of paramedics to carry us.

Two cities. Two stories. 'Tis a far, far better thing to travel and to be flattered and frustrated than to sit safely at home and have never a yarn to spin.

What is rehabilitation's role, to help or to harass? I have worked as a medical transcriptionist for 42 years, both in hospitals and in clinics, and have never been fired by either. My last position was in a seven-doctor clinic for 23 years.

In 1988 our clinic went computer -- all except for me. My salary was frozen at a typist's level. I asked if I also could go with the computer program and was informed by the office manager that the doctors would not get me a computer. I then asked if I could take the money from my retirement fund and get one. (Many employees had taken money from this fund to buy cars or make down payments on houses.) The office manager reported that the answer from the doctors was no. (I learned later she never even asked.)

I appealed to Georgia Rehabilitation for help and never received a reply.

I resigned my position in April 1990. Before that date I talked to a dictation service doing government work and was promised employment. The owner of the business asked if I would work at home which was agreeable to me since my Leader Dog was stricken with arthritis, 13 years old and had limited eyesight. The owner also asked me to obtain a computer, synthesizer and printer and some computer training from rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation counselor gave me a training course of 10 days, leaving me to pay all expenses except the school's daily fee. I took what little retirement I had and bought a computer and printer but left the counselor to furnish the software.

I was approached at school by another counselor who informed me that he did not reply to my request when I was working because "my doctors could afford the equipment." I was aware of this but as an employee I could do nothing about it.

I took the position with the dictation service but the owner decided that I would have to come to the office rather than work at home, but by that time my dog had become too incapacitated to do four buses a day.

The rehabilitation counselor called me and her exact words were: "Find yourself a job or else." I asked what the "else" was and she said that she would take the software. She said the school had given me a very poor recommendation and I asked her to read me the report. She said, "Oh, it was so bad that I took it out of the files." I informed her that this was illegal. She said the coach that helped me also gave me a poor report and I asked that she read that and I found the report very much above the average and she laughed and said she was mistaken about it.

Some weeks later she wrote a letter demanding my computer and printer. After much wrangling, she paid for them.

I sold my house in Atlanta in November 1994 and returned to my native North Carolina. The rehabilitation there found me a dictation job that paid five cents a line, was 20 miles from my home with no public or private transportation between home and work. I was sent to Raleigh, N.C., for a brush-up computer course in the state school for the blind which the rehabilitation had taken over. Upon my arrival I was informed I could not brush my dog, take her on campus for relief purposes, could not feed her in my dormitory room nor would I get water for her from the bathroom, there being no other place to get it. Naturally, I did not stay.

In the meantime my computer here in Atlanta was given to a girl who has been training with rehabilitation bearing the cost for the past four years. It seems that thousands and thousands of dollars are spent on clients who are absolutely incapable of working, or at best after spending the thousands the client gets a three-dollar-an-hour job at some fast food place.

I once wrote a letter to the governor of Georgia who did nothing but refer the letter to an incompetent and near do-nothing rehabilitation.

Why are we wasting so much time and money on such agencies? Why are capable handicaps ignored for the ones that cannot and will not do?

Daisy M. Smith, Clarkston, Ga.

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.

GREETING CARDS

Tina Blatter has braille and large-print greeting cards, each with a unique raised design. She also has tactile collage paintings with braille and large-print descriptions available. For more information, call or write Tina Blatter, 100 W. Spaulding St., Lafayette, CO 80026, or phone (303) 665-5671.

JOB OPENING

NIB's Alexandria, Va. office has an opening for a cost accountant. Applicants must hold a B.S. in accounting, finance, business administration or industrial management, or equivalent, and specialize or have experience in accounting, cost accounting and/or finance. A working knowledge of federal government cost accounting, procurement and contract administration procedures and practices is helpful, as is a working knowledge of Javits-Wagner- O'Day Act policies, regulations and procedures on pricing. Experience in accounting, finance, engineering and/or other areas requiring analysis of cost and pricing data, federal government costing and pricing and price negotiation are strongly preferred. Resumes should be sent to National Industries for the Blind, 1901 N. Beauregard St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22311.

AFB WINNERS

The American Foundation for the Blind has announced its 1994 scholarship winners. Recipients of the Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship, a $2,500 grant to graduate students who are legally blind and studying rehabilitation and/or education of blind and visually impaired, are: Elizabeth Kong, San Jose, Calif.; Tracy Jane Nason, Bovey, Minn.; and James Sullivan of Chapel Hill, N.C. The winners of the R.L. Gillette Scholarship, a $1,000 grant to women who are legally blind and enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program in literature or music, are: Brooke Fox, Vacaville, Calif., and Carol L. Thomas, South Windsor, Conn. The winner of the Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 grant to legally blind women studying classical or religious music, is Vivian Conejero of Flushing, N.Y. The Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship winner is David Gerald Ondich of Richardson, Texas. The Telesensory Scholarship winner is Timothy Cordes of Cedar Falls, Iowa. And the Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship winner is Robert Chappell Jr. of Champaign, Ill.

OUTRAGEOUS RED

Outrageous Red Concepts, a greeting card and products line, has audio tapes of short stories and poetry available for $9.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling. Send check or money order to Larnette Phillips, 3619 De Loach St., Pensacola, FL 32514.

VOICE-IT NOTES

Voice-It is a credit-card-sized digital voice recorder. It holds about a minute and 20 seconds of recorded time, which can be separated into as many as 12 different messages. It's available from Sharper Image for $79.95; phone (800) 344-5555.

READING SERVICE

Teresa Simon's Reading Service will read almost anything in English onto tape, whether it's books, texts or manuals. It costs $6 an hour. For more information, write to Teresa Simon, 12400 Rojas, Space #80, El Paso, TX 79927; phone (915) 859-3562.

JOB OPENING

The Maine Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is searching for an executive director. Programs include rehabilitation center, residence, industries program, computer access and technology, and statewide community service/rehabilitation teaching program. Education required in social services, rehabilitation or related human service field with prior administrative experience. Knowledge of personnel administration, budgeting, fund raising and grantsmanship essential. Submit resume and salary requirements to Search Committee, Maine Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 189 Park Ave., Portland, ME 04102.

NEW AT ARKENSTONE

Michael May has been named vice president of sales at Arkenstone. May has been an Arkenstone dealer and has used adaptive technology for more than 15 years. He also skied in Sarajevo at the 1984 Olympics, and is a board member of the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes and a sports writer for "Lifeprints" magazine.

10,920,000 WORDS

After reading a combined total of 10,920,000 words, nine people are beginning their 21st year of reading local and national publications at the Metropolitan Washington Ear, a radio reading service in the Washington, D.C. area. These nine people are: Janice Bass, Shirley Hardis, Peggy Netzer, Vivian Schnebly, Rosario Scibilia, Raymond Stromberg, Anne Sustrick, Raymond Swan and Marjorie Wise. These nine volunteers were among the first readers for the service, which began in 1974.

FROM MT. LECONTE

On August 25, four blind people hiked up Mt. LeConte in Gatlinburg, Tenn. with the assistance of four sighted friends. The group reached the top at 6 p.m. The next date for a hike up Mt. LeConte is Aug. 24, 1995, for a group of 10 people. If you are interested, write to Joyce Rogers at 1121 Morado Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45238.

'THE LAST STRAW'

Donna Weiss-Hill, an ACB member from the Philadelphia area, has released her third album, titled "The Last Straw." The songs range in style from pop to light rock and country blues. She is offering ACB members an opportunity to get two recordings for the price of one. With any purchase of "The Last Straw" -- cassettes, $10, compact discs $14, postage included -- you will receive a complimentary cassette copy of her first album. Send checks to Donna Weiss-Hill, 2210 Oakdale Ave., Glenside, PA 19038.

AFB HONOREES

Natalie C. Barraga and Edward R. Roybal were selected by the AFB to receive the 1994 Migel Medals. The awards were presented at a ceremony and reception in their honor on November 18 at the Sheraton Manhattan Hotel in New York City.

Barraga received the professional award for her work in education of the blind and visually impaired. Roybal received the layman award for his work on services to older blind people.

AFB received a 1994 EDI Award for Media in the public service announcement category from the National Easter Seal Society on October 18. The EDI award recognizes and honors organizations whose efforts further public understanding of disability issues and actively promote the equality, dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

Also, AFB and Toy Manufacturers of America, Inc., have released the second edition of the "Guide to Toys for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired." To receive a copy, call AFB's information line at (800) 232-5463; in New York, call (212) 620- 2147.

RELAX AND LIVE

Larry Johnson offers a tape of progressive relaxation exercises with 20 tips on living with stress on the second side of the tape. The tips on stress section also includes a list of some of the early warning signs and causes of stress. He is offering the tape for $6.95. For more information, contact him at 10863 Lake Path Dr., San Antonio, TX 78217.

CHALLENGE MET

Recording for the Blind met and exceeded the amount of money it had to raise under the terms of a $400,000 challenge grant awarded to it by the Kresge Foundation of Troy, Mich. It raised more than $1,154,000 toward its $2.8 million project to expand its national headquarters.

AFB IS MOVING!

AFB's New York office is moving to 11 Penn Plaza. All AFB New York City offices and services will be located on one floor in this building located across from Pennsylvania Station and Madison Square Garden. The move is scheduled for early January 1995.

Out in the Midwest, Paul Schroeder and Karon E. Walker are national program associate and director, respectively, of AFB's Chicago office. Walker served as assistant executive director of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Washington, D.C. Schroeder is the former director of governmental affairs at the ACB national office.

RESOURCES UNLIMITED

Resources Unlimited will locate any major item for the blind for a $3 fee. For an extra $1 the company will order a specific item for an individual. Call (408) 296-8589 for more information.

PRESCRIPTION AUDIOS

There's a new product on the market from Healthy Innovations called Prescription Audios. It's a 30-minute audio tape exercise program for blind people, created by Joyce Forte. The tape costs $14.99 plus $3 shipping and handling. For more information call her at (800) 799-7436, or write to Healthy Innovations, P.O. Box 391090, Cleveland, OH 44139.

BRAVO AND INKA

BAUM USA's newest devices are the INKA -- integrated keyboard access -- and the BRAVO braille displays. The INKA features an MF 2, standard AT keyboard, 40 plus 4 character braille display, optical sensor pointer, and optional synthetic speech. The INKA is designed to plug into the computer's keyboard port. Serial interface is also available. For lease details, contact BAUM USA, 17525 Ventura Blvd., Suite 303, Encino, CA 91316-3843 or phone (818) 981-2253 or (800) 225-3150.

BRAVO is available in 20- and 40-cell models, with cursor routing technology and configuration software integrated into it. Its braille display contains eight-dot piezo electric cells that can display basic and extended ASCII character sets. Buttons above each cell allow cursor routing; they may also be used to route a mouse pointer to a desired location. An internal rechargeable battery gives users up to four hours of portable operation. The BRAVO 20 costs $4,275; BRAVO 40 costs $5,475. For more information, call or write BAUM USA at the address or phone number above.

LARGE PRINT DAYS

A large print daily appointment calendar is now available from Visually Unique, P.O. Box 2841, Dallas, TX 75221-2841. It is designed specifically for people who like to have large, easy-to- read dates and times, bold lines and lots of room to write. The calendar is 312 pages, and fits in a two-inch or three-inch standard three-ring binder. The company recommends using a locking ring binder to carry all or part of the calendar with you, or leave it on your desk to lie flat. Order by writing Visually Unique at the address above, or call (214) 416-5568.

POCKET MAGNIFIERS

Eschenbach Optik has expanded its line of folding pocket magnifiers with the new 1710 series. The magnifiers have hardcover cases, the same quality as the 1510 series, small size, and carrying cords. The 4x magnifier is white, the 7x red, and the 10x dark gray. To order, contact Eschenbach at (203) 438-7471.

RFB'S 'VISION' TRIPLES

Recording for the Blind's fund-raising campaign, called "A Vision for the Future," has exceeded its goal of $30 million by $409,000, tripling the organization's endowment, according to a recent press release. RFB now serves 50 percent more borrowers than it did when the campaign began in 1989. A portion of the funds was used to add 10,000 square feet to RFB's national headquarters building in Princeton, N.J.

NEW PUBLICATIONS

The National Rehabilitation Information Center recently released several publications that deal directly with the information needs and consumers and practitioners in the disability field. "Director of National Information Sources on Disabilities" is a two-volume resource describing more than 700 organizations. It costs $10. "Guide to Resources for the Americans with Disabilities Act" contains an annotated list of more than 100 directories, guides, periodicals and software programs pertaining to the ADA. It costs $5. "Guide to Disability and Rehabilitation Periodicals" is a directory of more than 400 newsletters, magazines and journals pertaining to disability and rehabilitation. It costs $15. For more information, or to order, call (800) 227-0216 or (301) 588-9284, or write NARIC, 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 935, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319. 4X'S MAXEYE

4x Products has signed an agreement with Reinecker Reha- Technik of Germany to distribute MaxEye, a portable electronic magnifier, in North America. It is the size of an index card, weighs less than 2 pounds, and clearly displays images at six and 13 times magnification levels. Its suggested retail price is $1,995. For more information, contact 4x Products at (914) 762- 3555.

MIDWEST PARROT CLUB

The Midwest Parrot Club, established eight years ago by six people who got together to learn about their birds, offers a monthly newsletter on NLS four-track cassette as well as cassettes on nutrition, care, breeding and feeding of several species. The newsletter costs $20 a year. Contact Judy Gitt, membership chairman, at P.O. Box 797, Fremont, NE 68025-0797.

ADA SOLUTIONS

The American Foundation for the Blind's ADA Consulting Group, created to assist businesses, government agencies and industry in implementing the requirements of the ADA, has developed a number of information packages on the law's provisions concerning blindness and visual impairment. Each package includes an access accommodation checklist, how-to fact sheets, information about blindness and visual impairment, and resource lists for accessible products and services. The sets are: Basic Information: Blindness & Visual Impairments (free with any set below); The ADA & Visual Impairments; Employment; Environmental Design; Health Care: Inpatient Services; Health Care: Outpatient Services; Hotel & Motel, and Retail Services. For more information, or to place an order, contact the consulting group at (212) 620-2047.

DISTANCE LEARNING

Increasing numbers of disabled adults are participating in distance learning programs, which offer regular campus classes in non-traditional settings. "Distance Learning and Adults With Disabilities," a publication compiled by the HEATH Resource Center, is now available. The paper is designed for students with disabilities who wish to enroll in or continue with post-secondary education using distance learning. To receive a free copy of this booklet, write to the HEATH Resource Center, 1 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-1193, or phone (202) 939-9320 or (800) 544-3284.

FLASH TRANS NEWS

Flash Trans Enterprises offers a catalog of items useful for blind and visually impaired people in daily living. It also offers a scanning service of print materials, a braille printing service, binding service and 2- and 4-track cassette duplication. Flash Trans also offers a monthly newsletter, titled "The Trading Post." For more information, or to obtain a catalog, write to Flash Trans Enterprises, 4536 Edison Ave., Sacramento, CA 95821; phone (916) 489-5860.

CHEAPER, CLEARER, BRIGHTER

There is now a CCTV magnifying system that is less expensive than other units. It provides a clearer, brighter picture, and produces less glare than other CCTVs. It is called the Cvml Tru- View 20-inch TV/monitor, and it sits on a rollaway table. Flipping the switch can change the screen from color to black and white positive or negatives. Desktop and 13-inch models are also available. For more information, contact Tek Vision Products, a division of Flash Trans Enterprises, at (916) 489-5860, or write 4536 Edison Ave., Sacramento, CA 95821.

TEN COMMANDMENTS

"The Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities" is a 26-minute video featuring people with all types of disabilities in a series of vignettes that happen on a daily basis. The show's host, Tim Harrington, is a nationally known speaker who has cerebral palsy; its creator, Irene Ward, was injured in a car accident several years ago. Some of the commandments are: speak directly to the individual; offer to shake hands when introduced; treat adults as adults; relax, and listen closely. The video is available in open- and closed-captioned format and with voice descripter. To order, call Program Development Associates at (800) 543-2119. Each video comes with training resources, and costs $195.

FM ATLAS PRODUCTS

FM Atlas has radios available that can receive transmissions from radio reading services, as well as many other broadcast services not generally available on main FM channels. The company wil sell radios which it has modified or can modify your existing equipment. If you travel and want to hear radio reading services in the cities you visit, one of FM Atlas's radios is probably what you're looking for. For more information, contact FM Atlas at Box 336, Esko, MN 55733-0336; phone (218) 879-7676.

WBU ESSAY CONTEST

Blind and visually impaired people are invited to help commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the World Blind Union by participating in an essay contest on the subject: "if I were the WBU president -- my expectations of the organization's role as the 21st century approaches." It is open to all blind and visually impaired people of any age and nationality. Each participant must: have an ophthalmologist's certification of his/her visual condition; write an essay 1,500 to 10,000 words long in English, French or Spanish, braille or print, and sign it; attach a sealed envelope with his/her name, address and certificate of blindness, and send the packet in no later than Dec. 31, 1995 to: World Blind Union, World Blind Union 10th Anniversary Contest, La Coruna, 18, 28020 Madrid, Spain. There will be three awards: first prize, $1,500 plus publication of the essay; second prize, $750 plus publication of the essay, and third prize, publication of the essay.

PIPELINE NEWS

"Pipeline" is an interactive newsletter on relationships offered on cassette. If you're interested in joining the newsletter action, send your name, address and phone number (if you wish to include it) in braille or cassette to Pipeline, c/o Janiece Betker, 1886 29th Ave. NW, New Brighton, MN 55112; phone (612) 631- 2909, leave your name and address.

NEW DIRECTORIES

"Deaf-Blindness: National Organizations and Resources," is a directory covering rehabilitation, education, information and referral, recreation, and sources for adaptive devices and products. The directory is available at no cost from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20542. The American Foundation for the Blind's 24th edition of "Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in the United States and Canada" is now available for $75, plus $5.50 postage and handling from the AFB, c/o American Book Center, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building No. 3, Brooklyn, NY 11205. It is also available in voice-accessible electronic format for $100 plus $6.50 postage and handling. The third edition of "Living with Low Vision; A Resource Guide for People with Sight Loss" is available in large-print paperback format for $35, plus $5 postage and handling from Resources for Rehabilitation, 33 Bedford St., Suite 19A, Lexington, MA 02173.

BOOKS IN PREPARATION

The China Braille Publishing House is preparing several braille books in English. These books will include traditional Chinese science and technology, literature, art, folk customs, biographies of famous people, traditional medicine and acupuncture, among other things. For a copy of the catalog, send $5 to Huang Qiusheng, No. 39 Cheng Nei Street, Lugouqiao, Beijing, China 100072.

DIRECTORY OF GRANTS

The eighth edition of "Directory of Grants for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities" is now available for $47.50 a copy, plus $4 for handling, from Research Grant Guides, Dept. 3A, P.O. Box 1214, Loxahatchee, FL 33470; phone (404) 794-6129.

GW MICRO VIDEO

GW Micro now offers a videotape demonstration of many of its products. It is available for teachers, counselors, disabled student service organizations or anyone else who needs to see how the products work in real-world applications. It illustrates how speech output can help the visually impaired, and how, with the help of visual tracking, it can help those with learning disabilities. To request a tape, or for further information, contact GW Micro at (219) 483-3625, or write to the company at 310 Racquet Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46825.

WRITING SUPPLIES

You can now buy back-and-forth "Mailereens" for braille, cassette or computer disk correspondence, as well as braille paper, envelopes and more. For a free braille catalog, contact Peggy Walsh, 200 Holmes Place, Apt. 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Braille preferred; cassette is OK; otherwise, phone (412) 683-6070.

NEW COMPUTER PLACE

D Tech is a new company that specializes in the sale of computer hardware and software to visually impaired and print handicapped people. The company will demonstrate its products at your home and at work with no obligation to purchase. Technical support is provided to customers who purchase the company's products. A full range of Henter-Joyce products, Arkenstone reading systems and Duxbury translation systems is available. The company also offers a full interpoint braille translation service. Additional products are being added to the company's supply and catalog. Catalogs and price lists covering the products will soon be released in print, braille and tape. For more information, contact Dave Durber at (718) 353-3024, or write to D Tech, 138-15 Franklin Ave., Apt. 525, Flushing, NY 11355.

METAVOICE

Terry Martin, a blind man, has built a system that allows blind people to use a voice-activated computer. The system is called MetaVOICE, and provides audible confirmation of what the computer heard, which makes it possible for blind and visually impaired people to access the computer via voice. This product is an add-on for Kurzweil VOICE that has been in development for more than 10 months. For more information, call Adaptek Systems at (716) 475-9770 or (800) 685-4566 and ask for Terry Martin or Dr. Robert Hill. Adaptek Systems is located at 2320 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Rd., Rochester, NY 14623.

WRITER'S GUIDELINES

A list of writer's guidelines from magazines that accept manuscripts for publication is now available on two standard-speed 90-minute cassettes. The list provides numerous addresses and information for submission of articles, poetry, and some short fiction, and covers such topics as plants and gardening, animals, homemaking and feminism. It costs $7 per copy and can be ordered from Nancy Scott, 1141 Washington St., Easton, PA 18042. Make all checks payable to Nancy Scott. Tapes will be shipped free matter.

GOOD BOOKS

The Louis Braille Center offers a small selection of books at low prices. Books available include "Random Acts of Kindness," in braille for $12; "The Reading Fingers: Life of Louis Braille," in braille or print for $10; "Quick Reference List of Braille Signs," in braille for $3, twin vision for $4. A free catalog is available in braille or print. Contact the Louis Braille Center, 11050 5th Ave. NE, Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98125; phone (206) 368-8288.

TALK SHOW

Talk Show is a VCR voice programmer that can save you time and trouble. To program your VCR with it, tell it the channel, day, start and end time of the show you want to record, and that's it. The programmer will replace your existing remote controls for the TV, VCR and cable box. For more information, contact Quorum at (202) 723-7955.

BOOKWISE

Xerox Imaging Systems has BookWise version 2.0 available. New features include Xerox's most advanced version of optical character recognition technology, editing capabilities from within the program, file management, and compatibility with Hewlett-Packard's family of scanners and automatic page orientation. The cost is $1,295. For $2,595, the BookWise 2.0 software, DECtalk 3.1 card, OCR software and flatbed scanner are available. Current users of the program will be able to upgrade. For more information, call Xerox's Technology Products Division at (800) 248-6550.

DRUG ABUSE VIDEO

The Resource Center on Substance Abuse Prevention and Disability has a new video, "Understanding a Need . . . Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention for People with Disabilities." The video provides first-person accounts of the factors placing a person at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse, and outlines prevention strategies that can become part of the rehabilitation process. The video costs $25, and can be ordered by writing to the Resource Center on Substance Abuse Prevention and Disability, 1331 F St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004.

CHOICE TAPES

Choice Magazine Listening is a free service for those who are unable to read standard print because of visual or physical impairment. Six times a year, CML brings eight hours of unabridged selections of articles, short stories and poetry from such publications as "The New Yorker," the New York Times magazine, "National Geographic," "Esquire," The New York Review of Books," "Sports Illustrated," and many more. It's all a service of the nonprofit Lucerna Fund. The special cassette player required to listen to the four-track tape is also free, on permanent loan, from the Library of Congress. If you're interested in receiving a free subscription, call (516) 883-8280 or write to Choice Magazine Listening, Dept. NL, 85 Channel Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050.

BRAILLE PRINTING

South Dakota Industries Braille Printing Service provides braille printing services. For more information, call Frank Green at the service, (605) 339-6581 or (800) 658-5441; SDIB BPS, 800 West Avenue North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.

NEW FROM NLS

Two special circulars are now available from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, according to the November-December issue of "Talking Book Topics." The first circular, "Assistive Devices for Reading," is now available in large print and soon will be produced on flexible disk. It lists devices designed to provide access to print information, including devices that hold a book or turn pages, that magnify print material either manually or electronically, and that convert print into braille or synthetic speech. The circular has three sections; section 1 lists available products, section 2 is a selective list of books and journal articles that evaluate specific devices, and section 3 gives the addresses and telephone numbers of the producers and vendors. To request a free copy of this circular, contact Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20542. Specify the format you want.

"Magazines in Special Media" is also available in large print and recorded disk. The directory lists periodicals available in braille, cassette, computer diskette, audio disc, large print and Moon Type formats and gives addresses of sources for ordering them. Materials are indexed by title, subject, and medium. Persons who wish copies may request them from their cooperating network library. Specify desired format.

ARTIST HONORED

"Bafin Hunter," an original carving by Dr. Paul Ponchillia, professor of blind rehabilitation, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, has been chosen by a juried art committee for reproduction by the American Printing House for the Blind as an art note card. Dr. Ponchillia, who is totally blind, is an active member of the Kalamazoo Council of the Blind and the Michigan Council of the Blind. He sculpts from soapstone, antler and wood. The sculpture was depicted on APH's 1993 annual report. The antler used in "Bafin Hunter" was purchased from Greenlander hunters, who normally sell the antlers to Koreans who grind the bone into powder for aphrodisiacs. The three-paneled card on which "Bafin Hunter" appears contains information about the artist in print and braille. Cards are available through APH.

LARGE PRINT PIANO

Two collections of large-note piano music are now available from CPPS Belwin Inc. "Through the Years Golden Standards" and "All-Time Christmas Favorites" each contain large print lyrics as well as "big-note music." "America's Favorite Songs," a community songbook, is also available. Each book costs $9.95 plus $2 shipping. Make checks payable to Music Ventures. Write to CPPS Belwin Inc., P.O. Box 4340, Hialeah, FL 33014-9969. Credit card orders may be placed by calling (800) 628-1528.

BIG ADDRESS BOOKS

Large print address books and check registers are available from Big Type Company, 4701 W. Mill Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53218, (800) 933-1711. The big print check register provides room for 350 transactions. It has bold column headings for easy reference and extra large entry boxes for calculations. Closed, it measures five inches by nine inches. For address books, send check or money order for $15.50 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling. For check registers, the cost is $6.50. Wisconsin residents add 5.5 percent sales tax.

The big print steno notebook has 60 pages with one-half inch lined spacing. The price is $2.95. A selection of all Big Type's products is packaged in the Big Type gift pack. It includes an address book, calendar, check register, two steno notebooks and six bold pens. The price is $38.95.

GREETING CARDS

People in Prague, the Czech republic, produce a series of tactile greeting cards in floral motifs. Easter and Christmas cards are available, according to the "Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind." The cards can be used for other occasions. On request, they will produce texts in braille or print to meet the buyer's specifications. The estimated price is $1 a card, $4.50 for a set of five, and $9 for a set of 10. Inquiries, orders and payment should be sent to Vera Honc, P.O. Box 30065, New Orleans, LA 70190.

FIRST STEPS

"First Steps, A Handbook for Teaching Young Children Who Are Visually Impaired," the first book published by the Blind Children's Center in Los Angeles, is a guide to help parents, students, and professionals involved with visually impaired young children. It is available for $19.95 plus shipping. To order, contact Blind Children's Center, 4120 Marathon St., Los Angeles, CA 90029.

BRAILLE DISPLAY

TeleSensory announces PowerBraille 40, a new slim-line braille display with several new features and a low price. PowerBraille 40, a 40-cell, 8-dot display, uses Screen Power (tm) software to give the braille user access to laptop or desktop computers. PowerBraille 40 works in a completely new way with your speech synthesizer. Screen Power software operates the braille display alone or combines powerful speech and braille functions in a single program. For more information, contact TeleSensory, P.O. Box 7455, Mountain View, CA 94039-7455.

CUSTOM CANE TIPS

Custom-made nylon cane tips are fashioned to order by William E. Sims, 863 Colonial Dr., Rock Hill, SC 29730. The tips can be made in various sizes up to 1 inch in diameter. Cost for each tip is $1.65.

STUDENT AID TAPES

Free student aid cassettes are available through the U.S. Department of Education by writing Student Aid Cassette, Federal Student Aid Information Center, P.O. Box 849, Washington, D.C. 20044-0084.

SUGAR-FREE SNACKS

The Diabetic Food Emporium offers a selection of more than 400 sugar-free snacks, cakes, preserves and other foods which might be difficult for diabetics to find in local grocery stores. Orders of more than $30 are sent without shipping charges. For more information, call the company at (800) 285-3210.

BRAILLE BOOK CLUB

Members of the Century Braille Book Club can now choose from more than 50 braille titles. Besides popular books, the American Printing House for the Blind is now making available many old favorites, like "Heidi," "Little Women," "A Tale of Two Cities," and "Charlotte's Web." One of the new titles exciting particular interest is "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies," available for $9.95. To order books, or to obtain up-to-date information, contact APH at 1839 Frankfurt Ave., Louisville, KY 40206.

UNESCO COURIER

The "UNESCO Braille Courier" is a quarterly magazine produced by the United Nations in English, French, Spanish and Korean. Its articles are taken from the "UNESCO Courier" and other United Nations publications. It is printed by the Scottish Braille Press and therefore uses the braille practices of the United Kingdom. For a free copy, write to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France.

TAPE DUPLICATION

If you need to have tapes duplicated (between one and 500 tapes), contact Harley Cannon, Cannon Recording Studios, Inc., 188 Woodland Ave., Lexington, KY 40502-1756, (800) 925-4037. The company does commercial tapes such as catalogs, music and general narration.

CHRISTIAN TAPES

Christian Tapes for the Disabled is a non-profit, interdenominational, volunteer organization that records Christian books onto audio cassettes. The tapes are then loaned free of charge to visually and physically impaired individuals. For a free catalog, write to Christian Tapes for the Disabled, P.O. Box 455, Buffalo, NY 14209.

DEAF-BLIND INFO

DB Link, the National Information Clearinghouse on Children who are Deaf-Blind, is a federally funded information and referral service that provides information related to children and youth with deaf-blindness. It uses the resources of the American Association of the Deaf-Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, Helen Keller National Center, Perkins School for the Blind, and Teaching Research, Western Oregon State College. DB Link is available to everyone. It responds to questions relating to early intervention, employment, and mobility, legal issues and communications. Call (800) 438-9376 voice, or (800) 854-7013 TDD between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time.

SINGER HONORED

Earlier this year, singer Ray Charles received the first inaugural Helen Keller Achievement Award, established to acknowledge Keller's extraordinary efforts and to promote the notable accomplishments of individuals and organizations who are role models or improve the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired. Charles received the personal achievement award for his extraordinary creative accomplishments as a blind person in the recording arts. Charles is celebrating more than 50 years in show biz. Since his first major recording hit, "I Got A Woman" (1958), it is generally conceded in the music world that he has left an indelible mark on almost every facet of popular music. As an internationally renowned entertainer, he has brought joy to millions of people through his music.

JUMP ROPE

Deutsch Technology Corp. is marketing the sensor rope, the first jump rope designed specifically to help visually impaired persons and those with poor coordination skills learn to jump rope. The sensor rope has a sensory indicator system built into each handle. During use, tiny retractable indicators gently thrust out to contact the user's hands, providing the visually impaired individual a non-visual means of detecting the rope's position. This design maximizes sensory feedback and makes jumping rope easier to learn and to enjoy. For more information, call the company at (800) 882-9757, or write Deutsch Technology Corp., P.O. Box 395381, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

NEW LASER CANE

Nurion Industries has redesigned its laser cane, making it less expensive, more durable and reliable, collapsible, smaller in diameter, and rechargeable. The price is $2,500. For more information, contact Nurion Industries, Station Square, Building 3, Paoli, PA 19301.

SELF-HELP GUIDE

There are many things that can be done to help a person who is losing vision to continue with normal activities. "Coping with Low Vision" by Marshall Flax, Don Golembiewski and Bette McCauley is a self-help guide and resource manual that will provide information on how to take care of one's self with dignity despite diminishing vision, how to get around safely, how to see well enough to manage finances, who can help you find extra assistance in your community, and much more. The cost is $16.95. Order from Singular Publishing Group, Inc., 4284 41st St., San Diego, CA 92105-1197.

DIABETES Q&A

The American Diabetes Association has established a hotline designed to answer questions individuals may have concerning nutrition. Call toll-free (800) 666-1655.

NEW MAGAZINE

Available on cassette tape and braille, a new magazine for blind people of color and others who wish to know more about the African-American culture is being established. Features will include interviews, real-life inspirational stories, and black history information. If you're interested, contact Taletha Crawley 3189 S. Waring St., Detroit, MI 48217 (braille or cassette only).

PEOPLE-NET

People-Net is an international personals newsletter for disabled people. In addition to carrying personal advertisements, the publication also includes informative articles on dating, friendship, and sexuality. The publication also includes short stories, book reviews, and poems. Subscription price is $25 annually, which also includes the privilege of running three 30- word personals. For more information, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to People-Net, P.O. Box 897, Levittown, NY 11756- 0911.

CHECK GUIDE

The Keitzer Check Writing Guide is a hard plastic template designed to be used with a standard check from any bank in the United States. It can also be used as a signature guide for endorsing checks and signing travelers' checks. For more information, contact Keitzer Check Writing Guide, P.O. Box 491440, Leesburg, FL 34749-1440.

ELDERLY DIRECTORY

The third edition of the "Self-Help Mutual Aid Support Groups for Visually Impaired Older People: A Guide and Directory," has recently been published. Originally published in 1991, this is a comprehensive directory of support groups for older people with impaired vision. The new edition of the directory includes state- by-state listings of more than 600 support groups plus self-help clearinghouses, vision rehabilitation agencies working with older adults, state commissions for the blind, and relevant national organizations. Copies of the directory are available for $10. For ordering information, contact NCVA at (800) 334-5497.

BRAILLE COMPARED

A comparison between the British and the American basic braille codes is currently available by writing to Dr. Hilda Caton BANA chair, c/o American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206. The comparison was prepared by Norma Schecter.

CONFERENCE

The 10th annual international conference on technology and persons with disabilities, sponsored by the Center on Disabilities- California State University at Northridge, will occur March 14-18, 1995 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Hilton hotels. This is a major conference with an anticipated attendance of more than 2,000. The conference will highlight "the electronic highway" or the coming together of telephone, cable, video and computer technologies. For more information, contact Dr. Harry J. Murphy, founder and director, Center on Disabilities, California State University, 18111 Nordhoof St., Northridge, CA 91330-8340.

BRAILLE ATLAS

The Princeton Braillists have available a braille atlas of North and South America based on and adapted from the Heath Social Studies Classroom Atlas, published by J.C. Heath and Company, according to the National Braille Association Bulletin. The atlas is in three units: unit 1, northern North America, one volume; unit 2, the United States, two volumes; and unit 3, middle and South America, one volume. The price of the four-volume atlas is $50. Individual volumes are $15 each. Packing and shipping for four volumes is an additional $6, and three or two volumes is an additional $4. Order from, and make checks payable to, Princeton Braillists, 28-B Portsmouth St., Whiting, NJ 08759.

FOR SALE: Master Touch 3.2. Asking $1,600, which includes Keynote Gold synthesizer, Speech Soft touch tablet with stylus, tape and print manuals, and a braille reference card. In excellent condition. Contact Denise Avant, 5300 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60640; phone (312) 878-9518 between 7 and 10 p.m. weekdays and weekends.

FOR SALE: Specwell Monocular 8 x 30 rubber coated. Regularly $160. Best offer. Also for sale, internal DECTalk PC, bought summer 1990. Best offer. Zoom external modem supports MNP level 5 data compression and .42 BIS standard, best offer. Contact Tony Santamaria in print at 1629 Nokomis Ave., Dallas, TX 75224, or phone him at (214) 331-5112 weekdays between 6 and 10 p.m. Central time, or on weekends mornings or evenings.

FOR SALE: TeleSensory Vantage CCD reading machine. Asking $2,995 freight prepaid by certified check or money order for this $4,000 value. Contact Mr. or Mrs. Wentland at (904) 265-3241; leave message on answering machine.

FOR SALE: Optacon R1D. Asking $1,500, which includes soft pack, rubber tracking pad, training binder, owner's manual, and AC adaptor/battery charger. Call or write to Michael Bayus 2627 Huntington Ave., Sarasota, FL 34232; phone (813) 921-6571.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ELIZABETH M. LENNON

Return to the Braille Forum Index