THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLIV April 2006 No. 7 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Christopher Gray, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large print, half-speed four- track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2006 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Moving the Randolph-Sheppard Program Into the Future, by Christopher Gray Accessing a Lifestyle, Part II, by Melanie Brunson A Tribute to Bonnie Byington, by Michael Byington New Beginnings This Spring, by Carol Ann Ewing McDaniel Committee on the Hunt, by Carl McCoy Incredible Jacksonville, by Carla Ruschival Get on the Bus, by Berl Colley Board of Publications Hosts Internet Candidates' Page Affiliate News Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download the program from the Braille Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-l-subscribe@acb.org. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-l-unsubscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: MOVING THE RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE by Christopher Gray (Editor's Note: The following is the text of a speech delivered by President Chris Gray on Feb. 11, 2006 to the National Training Conference for Blind Vendors in Las Vegas, Nev.) Greetings from the American Council of the Blind board of directors and staff. It's been some time since my last presentation to this group. During that time, we have found a greater measure of stability within the American Council of the Blind, and we have come to have a smaller measure of stability for blind vendors in this country. Much time has been spent in these meetings talking and thinking about what the future may hold for participants in the Randolph-Sheppard program, and I have no doubt that this is a time of great anxiety and concern to many of you. It is at times like this that one must harken back to some core ideas, and keep firmly in mind a couple of key strategies. One idea I urge each of you to keep uppermost in your mind is the intrinsic value that this program holds for blind Americans, and of this program's effectiveness in providing significant employment across our country. In part, the value and effectiveness comes from the fact that this is a reasonably well-formulated program. Mostly, though, this program works because it attracts competent, capable, hard-working people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a great will to succeed. Don't allow that great will to falter in what I know is a tough time for many of you. Don't let your effectiveness be dulled as we fashion together an approach that works for this program. One of the core values I see come into play over and over again within the community of blind vendors is your pragmatic and reasonably flexible approach to whatever situation is thrown at you. You have to be pragmatic to succeed in business! Otherwise, how could you cope, day by day, with the issues that your businesses, not to mention so many state agencies, throw your way. [laughter] This pragmatism helps you not to get lost in the trees, but rather to keep track of the whole forest. It helps you take a realistic approach, even when it may not be the ideal one. You have a wonderful sense of bottom lines when it comes to this program: your bottom line, profitability; and programmatic bottom lines, the context in which you function. As much as I personally value idealism, sometimes it is pragmatism that carries the day when fashioning strategies of significant change. So don't lose that practical business streak that may well be one of the reasons you're in this program. As you work through these issues, please know that the American Council of the Blind is behind your efforts, beside your workers, and together we will be in the forefront of major programmatic changes throughout 2006 and onward. Time and time again, it has been ACB, and also our sister organization, the National Education and Legal Defense Service for the Blind, who have been willing to take up the banner on behalf of organized vendor groups in this country. From the Jeana Martin case of the 1990s, to the vending machine set-aside struggles in New Hampshire, to the Fort Lee case in Georgia, ACB has actively supported your cause. And we will continue to do so. In your turn through RSVA, blind vendors have provided significant and meaningful support to our governmental affairs department through your support of part of Krista Merritt's position. Krista's efforts, and the complimentary work those efforts have garnered from Day and Melanie, have played a critical role in the formulation of the current innovative strategy with which you are approaching Congress now. On many occasions, and through the leadership of President Richard Bird, RSVA has stepped forward where others did not in support of ACB as their national organization. This support has been very much appreciated. Something that ACB and all of you in this audience share is a degree of entrepreneurship. While you work in vending facilities, ACB engages in the business of operating and managing thrift stores throughout the south and the midwest. As with any business, our stores have their high and low moments. In the late summer of 2005, it became apparent that our Enterprises and Services business was not performing at its peak potential. Clearly, some minor, and perhaps major, tweaking was in order. Through hard work and with a lot of volunteer hours from ACBES staff, I am pleased to say that in six months, what was shaping up to be a financial disaster for 2005 was turned around into a relatively profitable year. The work in the latter half of 2006 will definitely pave the way for a healthier and calmer 2007 within the national organization. We need that calm and stability as a base from which to promote new initiatives and approaches to legislation and administrative changes that bring effective change for blind Americans. One of these key initiatives is the core idea of suggesting to the Congress that the Randolph-Sheppard program be moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the Department of Commerce. Whether Congress will view this as a bold initiative, a crazy idea, or something in between, we cannot yet know. However, it is a credit and a tribute to those who have met and worked together throughout the fall of 2005 to have created this initiative. Not only does it look forward rather than back, not only does it focus on creating opportunity for the future rather than entrenchment in the past, it represents a reasonably unified approach throughout the vending community. Rather than pushing back against what may well be inexorable change, this initiative creates meaningful pathways to change. It is also true that many of the ideas embodied thus far in what has been proposed are incomplete. While a large (macro) solution is now proposed, there are many smaller matters still up in the air. A skeptic might well remind us that "the devil is in the details." And there may well be truth in that. But there is perhaps greater truth in observing that there are bigger and stronger devils resting in the stagnant pools of the past. Let us move forward together into a new era of great business opportunity, business growth, and significant increases of income across the board for blind vendors. Let us move forward in unity and with resolve of purpose. Working in unity throughout the blind community, we have created the seeds not only of salvation for this program, but for the rejuvenation of the program and of guidance for other key programs and services for blind Americans. Thank you, and know that ACB will continue working with you as this story continues to unfold. ***** ACCESSING A LIFESTYLE, PART II by Melanie Brunson Since my last article appeared in "The Braille Forum," I have received numerous e-mail and telephone messages containing everything from stories about the failings of consumer products to suggestions for how to make those products more accessible to offers to participate in focus groups this summer. I have enjoyed the interchange with many of you and as I thought about what to say this month, it occurred to me that, since there was apparently a lot of interest in the subject of access to home appliances and consumer products, a bit more discussion might be warranted. Let me begin with a few developments that have occurred since our last discussion. By the time you read this article, the Cellular Telephone Industry Association will have had its annual convention. This convention will feature a workshop on access issues for people with disabilities. One of the speakers at that workshop will be ACB's executive director. The personal stories and comments I have received from many of you will serve to enhance both my formal remarks to the conference and the informal networking with industry representatives that I hope to have the opportunity to do while at their convention. This is only one of the venues where we will be discussing cell phone access issues during the next few months. Our intent is to use every opportunity that comes our way to spread the word that we need to keep the momentum toward greater accessibility going. Fortunately, people throughout the industry are listening, and that's great. Now our task is to urge more of them to act on what they are hearing. There are also many more industry groups who still need to hear from us: web site designers, software developers, radio and TV manufacturers, a variety of companies from which we purchase insurance and other services that require the purchaser to review large amounts of printed information, and manufacturers of cars that are so quiet that they interfere with the ability of a blind pedestrian to practice good, safe mobility skills. Getting our priorities and approaches to all of these issues organized is a challenge for ACB, but it is definitely one we can handle. I know that because of the level of interest and the caliber of the comments I have seen among our members since I raised some of these issues last month. Getting you involved, so that we can all work together, will enable us to pool our resources, identify solutions and make significant progress toward greater accessibility to all aspects of our marketplace and society. As I said last month, we are hoping to do some very practical work on these issues during ACB's convention in Jacksonville, Fla. Some of you have already contacted me to indicate that you would be interested in participating in focus groups. We have not yet worked out the details for these groups, but we are beginning to gather lists of potential participants. If you'd like to be added to that list, please contact me either by phone at the office, or by e-mail at mbrunson@acb.org. Additional information will be forthcoming as we get closer to convention time. We will also keep you apprised of developments on the accessibility front as they occur, and, from time to time, other things you can do to help make those advances a reality. In the meantime, don't forget to support those who have gotten the message and tried to do the right thing. When Wal-Mart puts accessible point-of-sale machines in their stores, let's shop there and ask to use one. If store personnel don't know about it, let us know so that we can help Wal- Mart identify where they need to focus their training efforts. Let's make use of the talking ATM at the bank and request those statements in alternate formats. By doing so, we not only increase our own independence, but we encourage business people to tell others why it is worth their while to invest in accessibility. It helps to make the case that investment in accessibility is a "win-win" proposition. ***** A TRIBUTE TO BONNIE BYINGTON by Michael Byington My mother, Bonnie Byington, was a charter member of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). She died on Feb. 11, 2006 at the age of 83. Over the years, Bonnie did not remain consistently involved at national levels of ACB. She was, however, always deeply involved at the level of the Kansas affiliate. In writing a tribute about Bonnie that will be relevant to ACB at a national level, I am therefore not going to inventory her many organizational accomplishments. Suffice it to say that there were a few for ACB at the national level, and many at the state level. What I want to do instead is write about Bonnie's place in history, a place shared by a number of other blind and low-vision pioneers, but not shared by very many of us. It comes down to a willingness to take risks, and to confront challenges head on, to create one's own opportunities despite overwhelming odds against success. I will share two incidents in Bonnie's life as examples. Both of these occurred before I was born. They are told from my recollection of her sharing the stories many times. I must first of all put the challenges she faced in perspective by providing a little background. Bonnie was born on a farm in a profoundly rural part of Kansas in 1923. She had very low vision from birth and was unable to use any type of printed materials. Her parents found out about the Kansas State School for the Blind, and sent her there in 1931. She graduated in 1943. Bonnie then attended Kansas State University, graduating with a B.A. in journalism in 1946. Figures are probably not very accurate concerning unemployment of working-age blind at that time, but I have seen some estimates that around 92 percent of all working-age blind citizens were unemployed. We think we are not doing very well now with the estimated 70 percent unemployment figure, but we have made some progress. There were no civil rights protections of any type back then, and employment opportunities for blind and low-vision people were quite limited. It was, however, the end of World War II. Many seasoned human service professionals were turning their efforts toward working with disabled veterans, and there was thus a shortage in many states of social workers to handle what were considered difficult and undesirable caseloads. The state of North Carolina dealt with this by offering a guarantee of employment to any college graduate who would do some work toward a master's in social work at the University of North Carolina, and then be willing to accept employment working with a difficult, rural North Carolina caseload. People accepted into this program were not encouraged to complete the master's; they instead had to take a few prescribed courses, and then start working. Bonnie was accepted into the program, completed the academic requirements, and started working a mountain caseload. She did this for a couple of years, and had many interesting stories of being run off mountaintops at gunpoint by families who would rather see their blind or severely disabled child be uneducated, or perhaps die, than deal with some social worker from the state. Being the investigative reporter type, however, Bonnie happened to stumble onto the fact that one of her bosses was embezzling state funding which was supposed to be going to the blind and other disability groups. She documented her information and took it to prosecuting authorities. An investigation ensued, and prosecutors eventually told her that the investigation was getting to some high levels, and that for her safety, she had better quit her job and leave the state. She left North Carolina on a bus in the middle of the night and returned to rural Kansas. She had been told that she would be subpoenaed and brought back to the state when her testimony was needed, and was surprised that the subpoena never came. In 1965 Bonnie was at the ACB national convention in Louisville, and she happened to meet an old friend who had been at the University of North Carolina with her. He was quite surprised to see her. He did not have enough information to allow her ever to find the article, but he said he remembered hearing of an article about a fiery automobile crash, and someone having been burned beyond recognition; the article said that the victim was thought to be Bonnie. When Bonnie returned to Kansas, she found some part-time work writing for a rural newspaper. It was not a very good job, but it gave her a forum and got her some literary notice. She was able to use this to get a trial working for "The Wichita Eagle," at that time the largest newspaper in Kansas. When the personnel folks at the Eagle learned that she was blind, however, the trial they offered was one which certainly would be illegal today. They said that they really did not know, despite her writing skill, whether there was anything a blind person could do on a major newspaper, so they would give her a three-month trial to see if she was worth having on staff. Thus from the mountains of North Carolina, and from a farm in rural Kansas, she moved to Wichita knowing only that she had employment for three months. At the end of the trial period, she was called into the managing editor's office. She was told that they were surprised about how well she had done. Her work on the city desk was excellent; she wrote a great obituary. They said, however, that all of their full-time reporters had a regular beat, and that they just could not bring themselves to give a blind person a beat. She might miss too much. They therefore wished to offer her permanent part-time employment as a fill-in and office reporter. She asked if she could have until the next day to consider the offer, and was granted this time. She then left the office and took a long walk. She had a lot to think about. Could she afford to live on a half-time salary? There was no Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or substantial gainful activity rules at that time. A blind person had to make it professionally, depend on the charity of family, work in a sheltered shop if they could get on at one, or accept county welfare. As she walked and thought, she realized that she was lost. She had wandered into a neighborhood with which she was not familiar. She was not particularly worried about this; she knew she could retrace her steps and return to familiar areas, so she kept walking. Eventually, she smelled a newspaper! Newspapers of the late 1940s had quite an odor due to the printer's ink, and they could be smelled from two or three blocks away. Bonnie thus walked, and sniffed, and sniffed and walked and finally came to the building that she thought must be the newspaper. She could not, of course, see well enough to read the large sign saying what newspaper it was, so she did not know where she was or what publication she had accidentally found. She discovered, however, that there was an alcove by the front door, so she stood in it and mimed reading something until the door opened at the same time the receptionist answered the telephone. She heard the receptionist say, "Labor Union Press." Armed only with the information that the publication had something to do with labor unions, she went in, asked for the managing editor, and inquired as to whether he had any part-time work. She explained her situation with the Eagle. It was such a unique story, the guy must have decided that anybody with the chutzpah to be standing before him under such unique circumstances was worth a shot. He hired her on the spot for the half of her day that the Eagle would not be using her services. He said that the only proviso was that whatever information she got on the Eagle's time was theirs, and whatever she got on his time belonged to the Labor Union Press. He also said that she did not need to worry about her lack of a regular beat for the Eagle. For the Labor Union Press she would have a whole slew of beats because they were a much smaller operation and everybody did everything. Bonnie reported to the Eagle the next morning and told the management there that she would accept their offer of part-time employment. She also told them what she would be doing with the other half of her time. She said that the management folks in the office, I believe she said there were two or three of them, nearly fell off their chairs. They, however, accepted the same proviso. What she got on the Eagle's time belonged to the Eagle, and what she got on the Labor Union Press time belonged to that publication. That is how Bonnie came to be employed at two competing, fairly major newspapers for a period of about three years. Eventually, she scooped the Eagle on enough stories that they offered her full-time employment. By that time, her boss at the Labor Union Press was contemplating retirement and shutting the paper down, so her resignation was accepted from that paper with regret and thanks, and she worked for the Eagle full-time for a few more years until she quit because she was pregnant with me. Bonnie continued throughout my childhood and adulthood to work off and on in a number of different professions and endeavors. I have worked throughout most of my adult life on issues related to civil rights, appropriate benefits, and equal treatment for people who are blind and low vision. Given my parents' backgrounds (my father was also low vision, and was oriented to advocacy), these interests on my part are not surprising. I am glad that we have made progress over the years, but as I look at the occasional advantages we have realized through affirmative action, civil rights protections, the work incentives we have built into the benefits system, the rehabilitation and special education systems, etc., I realize that we have developed a level of dependency that did not used to be there. In the 1940s and 1950s, there were no job coaches, no reasonable accommodations, and no safety net. Anything attempted by a blind or low- vision person in the professional world was dependent only on the individual's willingness to take risks and to be creative in facing a myriad of problem-solving challenges. Yet a few blind and low-vision pioneers faced the odds and found sufficient success to allow them to blaze the trails for the rest of us. Bonnie Byington was one of those rare people. ***** NEW BEGINNINGS THIS SPRING by Carol Ann Ewing Oh me, oh my, already spring 2006 is here. The spring indicates a new beginning as we see the trees leaf, smell the flowers bloom and hear the birds sing. It is a season of activity for everything, including you and me, as we shed the dormant winter coat of rest with energy and excitement, ready to spring forward. May I encourage you to be active, exceptionally active, in anything and everything you deem important. Remember, family is first. Then look to the community, county, state and/or national level to place your efforts. Let everyone around you know life is exciting and you are a participant in making things happen. You are valuable and everyone who sees you needs to know it. So, make your plans to spring forward with giant steps as you give others courage and excitement about the different experiences or seasons life offers. They may not have your visual problem, but your being out and about will give them courage to lengthen their stride just as you are doing. Probably, the thought will be "if that blind person can do it, so can I." Along your path, try the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" philosophy packaged with an infectious smile as you stroll through this gorgeous season. I trust you can tell I am a bit excited about this season and the many new beginnings it brings. This spring offers me a new beginning, too, as I was elected to fill the vacant ACB board slot. It is my pleasure to be of service. Top of the day, or better yet, top of the season to you and yours. ***** McDANIEL COMMITTEE ON THE HUNT by Carl McCoy The McDaniel Fund Committee is searching for two leaders who would like an all-expense-paid trip to the ACB convention in Jacksonville in July. It's not a raffle or a lottery, and there are no coupons to send in. So what's the deal? Well, back in the beginning of ACB, there was Durward McDaniel, who more than anyone else led the formation and growth of ACB. Durward understood the life of any organization was membership, and much of his energy went into building membership. He also understood that leadership was key to building membership. The committee raises the funds and selects two members with leadership ability to bring to the national convention each year, one from each side of the Mississippi. So think of it: do you have leadership ability? Have you ever been to a national convention? Think about what you have done to help your chapter or affiliate, and write it up. Get your affiliate president to write you a letter of recommendation, too, and send it to the committee before April 15, 2006. (Mail it to: McDaniel First-Timers, c/o American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005.) You will be considered for that trip, and a great time and wonderful educational experience in Jacksonville this year. ***** INCREDIBLE JACKSONVILLE by Carla Ruschival The Hyatt Regency Riverfront is the home of ACB's 45th annual convention, to be held July 8 through 15 in Jacksonville, Fla. When you arrive at the hotel, the first thing you notice is how easy it is to get around. Convention registration and general sessions are on the second floor, exhibits and afternoon meetings are on 3, and many mixers are on 4. The exit to the main guide dog relief area is just steps from the elevator bank on the lobby level. The Hyatt has three food outlets, all off the lobby. The River Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sandwiches and pizza are available at the bar, and Plaza III is open for lunch and dinner. M.J. Schmitt discovered Plaza III's great meatloaf and mashed potatoes (available for lunch), and I can tell you that their chicken-fried chicken (similar to a country-fried steak) is yummy, too. But the convenience inside the hotel doesn't begin to compare to the unique beauty of this convention site. Step outside and discover that the Hyatt is located on the banks of the St. John's River. Cross the street (there's not much traffic) and stroll along the brick river walk to The Landing with its many indoor and outdoor entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities; there's no streets to cross along the way. When I was at the midyear meeting, I enjoyed swordfish at a steak and seafood restaurant, veal at an Italian restaurant, and the most delicious (and messy) ribs at the American Cafe -- all at the Landing. Margarine Beaman told me about the delicious (and inexpensive) Thai chicken and vegetables she found at the food court for lunch; she said there was a non-spicy option, so I will probably try it out. Take a break from all the convention bustle. There's always a breeze along the river, and the beautiful sunsets, light displays along the bridges, and peaceful river combine to provide a relaxing place to sit and talk after a busy day. You'll find convenient benches along the river walk between the hotel and the Landing. Not enough to do yet? Take the water taxi to the other side of the St. John's, where there are more restaurants and fun things to do. Every ACB convention is packed to overflowing with exhibits, workshops, seminars, tours and socials. It's your chance to feast on new ideas and new information. Learn about the latest adaptive technology; get career tips and network with others in your chosen field; gain useful tips and techniques for home, work and play. Every ACB convention is also unique. In Jacksonville, we are only 20 minutes from the ocean. Visit beautiful historic St. Augustine for the pre-convention tour (Friday, July 7); go on a deep-sea fishing expedition (Sunday, July 9); and set sail for great food, entertainment and gambling fun on either Saturday (the 8th or the 15th). See "Get on the Bus" by Berl Colley, our tour coordinator extraordinaire, in this issue for more details. ACB conventions are family-friendly, too. Kids love our Youth Activity Center. YAC coordinator Patti Cox has a week full of fun planned, and she's just waiting for the kids to show up. In addition to the usual swimming, crafts and games, kids 6 and up will spend Tuesday at Adventure Landing featuring a water park, miniature golf, laser tag, go-carts, and an arcade. On Wednesday they'll ride a water taxi to the science museum, and on Thursday the YAC is going bowling. They'll end their week of fun with a grand finale on Friday evening while the grown-ups attend the ACB banquet. Make plans right now to join ACB in Jacksonville for an incredible convention! Hotel rates are $79 per night plus tax (single, double, triple or quad). Make reservations by calling 1-800-233-1234 or (904) 588-1234. Convention Reminders All groups, organizations and companies planning to exhibit, advertise or host an event at the 2006 ACB convention should be in touch with the convention committee. To reserve exhibit space, contact Michael Smitherman at (601) 366-5523 or by e-mail at amduo@netdoor.com. To learn more about ACB's new and exciting advertising and sponsorship opportunities, contact Brenda Dillon at (615) 874-1223 or by e-mail at brendan0@bellsouth.net. To plan events, contact Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net. If you have problems with hotel reservations or have other special convention needs, contact Carla Ruschival (phone number and e-mail above). While we cannot promise that we can solve every problem, we can promise that we will make every attempt to help you have a fantastic convention experience. ***** GET ON THE BUS by Berl Colley It's time to climb on the ACB tour bus once again for more convention fun! We've already told you about the pre-convention tour to St. Augustine, about the baseball game, city tour and deep-sea fishing. Now let's explore tours during the rest of the week. Monday: Coffee and Beer Enjoy a small group tour through the Martin Coffee Company on Monday afternoon. Martin is a regional coffee producer that is highly thought of by Jacksonville residents. Learn about the plant, observe some of the processing and, of course, purchase some coffee if you wish. Limited to 20 people; repeated on Wednesday. Also visit the Anheuser-Busch plant in north Jacksonville on Monday. Explore the brewing of beer in one of the company's largest breweries with a knowledgeable docent. Sample the products at the end of the tour; there's a two-beer limit. Buy reminders of your great day at the gift shop next to the sampling room. Repeated on Wednesday. Tuesday: Blind Services and Okefenokee Swamp Tours Our services tour is on Tuesday afternoon. Travel to St. Augustine and visit the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. This large, 75-acre campus houses both schools, but in separate locations. There will be a light snack, a brief tour of the west campus (the home of activities for the blind and visually impaired students), and informational presentations from other Florida service providers in the Ray Charles Auditorium. The school is proud to claim Ray Charles as its most famous graduate. Do you love nature's exotic beauty? Make plans to take our tour to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp. The sounds and sites of the swamp can be found in very few other locations in the United States. Board small boats with suntops and travel through several waterways of this world-famous swamp. See and hear a variety of birds, insects and water animals. When I visited this park there were two alligators sunning themselves outside the visitors' center. There is a small gift shop and food service above the dock area. Please keep in mind that in July the swamp will be hot and humid; dress appropriately. Wear a hat, long-sleeved light-colored shirt, long pants, socks, shoes that cover your feet (not sandals), and sunscreen. Dress inappropriately, and some of the residents of Okefenokee will really bug you. Wednesday: Arts, Sciences and the Beach Visit Jacksonville's Arts and Science Museum on Wednesday. There are some interactive exhibits as well as touchable art. The museum is within walking distance of the convention hotel; take a boat and shuttle across the St. John's River. There won't be a dinner cruise this year because we cannot find one that will accommodate ACB's needs. Never fear! Our local host committee in Jacksonville is helping us throw a good old Florida beach party. More details about this fun-filled oceanside experience coming next month. Thursday: Ghost Hunting & More Are you into ghosts, unknown spirits and hauntings? Thursday afternoon it's back to St. Augustine for a repeat of the spooky portion of the pre-convention all-day tour. There are rumored to be over 300 ghosts that haunt St. Augustine's dwellings. With nearly 450 years of history, the unknown spirits of the area have had lots of time to work out ways of catching you off guard. Visit the Florida Museum to learn about the lives of the people who have lived in our nation's oldest community. Then spend some time shopping on St. George Street, where there are restored buildings with shops offering lots of memorabilia. Do you like art? Especially art that can be felt as well as seen? Take the Cummer Museum tour. This internationally recognized museum is setting up a special tour for ACB so you can touch many of the pieces of art. There is also a botanical garden for you to enjoy. Saturday: Gambling and Dinner Theater Didn't get your gambling fix on the Saturday before convention? Or you couldn't make the tour because of meeting commitments or travel plans? ACB tours is working on a second gambling cruise on Saturday, July 15, which may include the second annual Texas Hold-'Em poker tournament for the visually impaired. Look for more information next month. Do you like classic plays? Wind up a great convention week on Saturday, July 15 at the Alhambra Dinner Theater. Enjoy the presentation of "Beauty and the Beast" and an all-you-can-eat buffet; there will be plenty of volunteers to help. Want to know more? See "Incredible Jacksonville" elsewhere in this issue for hotel and convention details. Check out next month's Forum for more information and be ready to fill out your pre-registration form when it arrives in May. ***** BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS HOSTS INTERNET CANDIDATES' PAGE It's back! The board of publications is again hosting an Internet candidates' page on www.acb.org. This page is a read-only web page where all individuals who wish to announce their candidacy will be asked to respond to the same set of questions. We envision the online candidates' page as a place where people who want to run for office can allow the ACB membership to get to know them. The page will also allow ACB chapters and affiliates to have more information at their disposal before they send delegates to the national convention. Over the past several years, a number of chapters have provided copies of the candidates' responses to their members in braille or had all the responses read aloud at membership meetings. Lively discussions ensued, and many members have told us how much they appreciated the opportunity to participate more actively in ACB's democracy because of the early dissemination of information which the online forum was able to facilitate. In a meeting in early March, the board of publications came up with sets of questions for candidates for the board of directors and the board of publications, as follows. Questions for Board of Directors Candidates 1. What special talents or expertise do you possess which you feel would make you a particularly effective member of the ACB board of directors? 2. In light of the combination of declining reserves, and the resulting pressure to increase income from our funding sources, what new or innovative income-generating ideas or proposals would you want to establish during your term of office? 3. What should ACB do in order to attract new student and young adult members? 4. As a member of the ACB board of directors, what would you do to strengthen the relationship between affiliates and the national organization? 5. In 300 words or less, please tell the membership anything you think they should know when considering your candidacy for the ACB board of directors. Questions for Board of Publications Candidates 1. What special talents and expertise would you utilize in working on the various communications formats within the jurisdiction of the board of publications? 2. What improvements would you like to implement to "The Braille Forum," and why? 3. What improvements would you like to implement to the Internet-based services of ACB, and why? 4. How can the board of publications improve its awards and recognitions for individuals who contribute material to the communications formats under its jurisdiction? 5. In 300 words or less, please tell the membership anything you think they should know when considering your candidacy for the ACB board of publications. Answer each question with a maximum of 300 words. Submit answers in any accessible, readable media, i.e., in print, or braille, on paper, computer disk (in ASCII text, WordPerfect 5.1, or Microsoft Word formats), or via e-mail. Pasting the text into an e-mail message is preferable to sending attachments, but attachments in ASCII text, Microsoft Word or WordPerfect 5.1 will be accepted. Submissions will not be accepted via telephone, voice mail, audiocassette, or in handwriting. Note that we will not edit submissions for spelling, grammar, or content. The only change which will occur to submissions is conversion to the HTML code to facilitate online posting. Note further that it is our webmaster's role to convert documents into HTML; we will not accept submissions which you have coded in this format yourself. When submitting your answers, please place your name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and employer and job title at the top of each page. Center each item. The top of your page should look like this: Jane Smith 1234 Main Street Anytown, AnyState 00000 (555) 222-3333 (home) (555) 000-4444 (work) E-mail: js@anyisp.net Writer/Editor at AnyJob, Inc. Write each question, and then place your corresponding answer underneath. Please number your pages. Send your completed submissions to the following address: American Council of the Blind Candidates' Page, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. Responses may be submitted by e-mail, according to the guidelines noted above, to slovering@acb.org. Time Lines Submissions should be mailed, either by postal delivery or electronic mail, so that they reach the ACB national office no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 31, 2006. When we receive a declared candidate's materials, we will check the membership database to ensure that he or she is a member in good standing. We hope to have the online candidates' page available at the ACB web site as soon after we have received all the submissions as possible, so that members will have access to the information in time for June membership meetings of local chapters. The pages will be available online no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, June 9, and will remain online at http://www.acb.org until the conclusion of convention. We encourage ACB members who have computer access to share the contents of the candidates' page with members who do not. We will notify members on the day that the page goes live online on all the ACB e-mailing lists. When official campaigns begin in earnest at the ACB national convention, declared candidates will present at formal and informal state and special-interest caucuses. In addition, the board of publications will sponsor a live question-and-answer Candidates' Forum, which will be held on Thursday of convention week. The board of publications encourages all ACB members to submit written questions to be considered for this forum to the convention communications center. More details about this and other aspects of communications center operations will be included in the June issue. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Rochester Chapter Sponsors Raffle The Rochester chapter of ACB of New York is sponsoring a 12 Days to Memorial Day raffle, similar to the one for St. Patrick's Day last year. Tickets are $5 each, and are good for all 12 days. The winner is based on the evening drawing of the New York state lottery. The first 11 days, it will pay $100; on Memorial Day, $1,000. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can send a check made out to Rochester Chapter ACB to M.J. Schmitt, 119 Shell Edge Dr., Rochester, NY 14623; phone (585) 334-4347. Iowa Convention in Des Moines The Iowa Council of the United Blind will hold its convention May 5-7 at the Des Moines Airport Four Points Sheraton, 1810 Army Post Road, phone (515) 287-6464. Room rates are $80 per night (plus tax). We have a full slate of activities, including a presentation by a blind foreign exchange student, exhibits, and a special recognition ceremony for the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service. To register, or for more information, contact Dick Natale at (515) 277-1167, or e-mail him, rnatale@earthlink.net. IVIE Celebrates 25! The Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. We are planning a special business card exchange party to celebrate on Tuesday afternoon of convention week. Of course, we will also have our annual breakfast meeting on Monday morning and programming Monday afternoon. We will soon launch a new web site highlighting all the businesses of our members that contains links to information of interest to business owners. Membership dues are only $15, which includes having your business listed on our web site. IVIE has members who either manage their own businesses or are interested in learning more about business ownership. To learn more, please contact Ardis Bazyn at (818) 238-9321 or abazyn@bazyncommunications.com. AAVL Making Convention Plans As president of the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, I hope you will allow me to do a bit of bragging. Although our affiliate is fairly new, it has grown rapidly, and it tries to attract individuals who are not only getting a bit older, but those who might be experiencing hearing loss, arthritis or age-related health problems. No, we don't sit around and talk about our ailments -- just the opposite. We are the most fun-loving affiliate in ACB, except perhaps for the youth activities center. On Monday, July 10 at noon, we are having our annual luncheon with plenty of food and a hilarious program that will put you in a great mood for the entire week. Our guest speaker is Michael Byington; he will be presenting a terrific concert of his funniest parodies and songs. If you have ever heard him at the Showcase, you know it will be a side-splitting afternoon. On Wednesday, July 12, AAVL will meet jointly with the ACB Diabetics in Action. The topic: recognizing the signs of diabetes. Then at 4 p.m., we will hold our annual wine and cheese musical mixer. Raffle tickets will be drawn at that time, and great cash and gift prizes will be given away. Oh, yes, and there will be wine, soft drinks and snacks, too, as well as a sing-along. Raffle tickets can be purchased from any member for $5 each, or buy three, get one free. On Thursday, there will be an audience participation round-table discussion and business meetings. Oh, I almost forgot to brag about our "Share the Vision" program! This is a program for new members, or for those who call ACB who are just beginning to lose their sight and are older, and sometimes frightened. When I receive those calls from the national office, I phone people and then assign some of our members who are nearby and ask that they call these new people and share some of their experiences with them. By calling new members, these newly visually impaired older folks don't feel so lonely or afraid. We hope you will consider joining us at convention! If you have any questions, contact me, Nola McKinney, at (870) 356-5344. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. TLG SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Through the Looking Glass has scholarships available for high school seniors who have parents with disabilities. Students must demonstrate academic and personal achievement; have at least one parent with a disability; graduate from high school in the summer of 2006; and be attending a college or university program in the U.S. Up to 10 separate $1,000 awards will be given out this summer. All application materials must be completed and postmarked by May 1, 2006. Obtain the application by visiting www.lookingglass.org or by calling 1-800-644-2666. DUAL CERTIFICATION TRAINING Missouri State University is offering training opportunities for qualified individuals wishing to become trained both as teachers of the visually impaired and orientation and mobility specialists. Over the next four years, they will be offering courses to eligible students through distance education and regional facilitation centers. Qualified candidates may receive scholarship assistance to cover a total of 33 credit hours of course work. For further information, contact: Dr. Chris Craig, Associate Dean, Missouri State University, Hill Hall 300, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897; phone (417) 836-8775; or e-mail cjc886f@smsu.edu. INSIGHTS ART COMPETITION The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) invites visually impaired and blind artists of all ages to submit artwork for its 15th annual international art competition, APH InSights 2006. There are two deadlines this year: April 1, 2006 for entries from preschool through high school and April 15, 2006 for entries from adult artists. Artists may enter artwork created in any visual art medium, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, fiber, metal, or wood. Award winners receive a cash prize and a ribbon. They are invited to come to Louisville to receive their awards at the October meeting of APH trustees. Competition rules and entry forms are posted on the APH web site at www.aph.org. Artists may also contact APH at 1-800-223-1839, ext. 357 for more information. SUMMER BRAILLE MUSIC INSTITUTE The National Resource Center for Blind Musicians is accepting applications for its seminar for blind college-bound musicians, which will be held July 16-22 at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. The institute is designed for serious braille-reading music students preparing for or already in college, ages 17-21. The program tailors instruction to each person's need to develop braille music and theory skills, and to learn to use technology to submit written assignments. Applicants must have already studied some music theory and have the ability to present a polished and pleasing performance. Contact the Resource Center regarding tuition, scholarship criteria, the application, and audition procedure. The deadline for requesting applications is April 15; applications are due by May 10, 2006. Visit www.blindmusicstudent.org, or contact David Goldstein at (203) 366-3300, ext. 229, or e-mail info@blindmusicstudent.org. JEWISH GUILD OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS The Jewish Guild for the Blind has created an annual scholarship program for college-bound high-school students who are legally blind. Applications will be accepted from students at the start of their senior year (deadline Sept. 11, 2006), with recipients selected and scholarships awarded later in that academic year. The GuildScholar Program will award 12 to15 scholarships of up to $15,000 each. The next round of scholarships will be awarded for the academic year that starts in September 2007. The GuildScholar application is an online process. To obtain an application, visit www.jgb.org/candidate_add.asp, or call 1-800-284-4422. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ACE AWARDS The American Kennel Club ACE Award honors five dogs each year who have performed an exemplary act or series of acts, whether large or seemingly small, that have significantly benefitted a community or individual. One award is given in each of the following five categories: law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service and exemplary companion dog. Each honoree receives a cash award of $1,000, an engraved sterling silver collar medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Long Beach, Calif., to be honored at the sixth annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December 2006. Submissions are due by June 15 and should be sent to: Ronald N. Rella, ACE Awards 2006, The American Kennel Club, 260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Contact the AKC for application guidelines by phone, 1-800-533-8069, e-mail aaws@kable.com, or on the web at www.akc.org. OHIO ALUMNI REUNION Imagine paying $60 for two nights lodging, six delicious meals, and membership in an exclusive club! Well, you can do just that by attending the biennial reunion of the Ohio State School for the Blind Alumni Association June 16-18, 2006. Come and renew old friendships and form new ones. For more information, please contact Paul Dressell at (513) 481-7662 or pmd@pobox.com. WRITERS' WORKSHOP The National Writers Union At-Large Chapter is inviting aspiring writers to join in a telephone conference project workshop. Participants will be able to dial a telephone number at a pre-determined day and time for one hour on a weekly basis. A writer experienced in the field will mentor on writing and publishing. Contact Sanford Rosenthal at sanfordrosenthal@nwuatlarge.org or (954) 563-9449 to get on the roster. UPCOMING CRUISE OPPORTUNITIES Are you planning to attend the 2006 conference in Jacksonville? If so, you might just want to extend your stay. Damar Travel & Cruise is organizing a cruise immediately following the convention aboard the Carnival Celebration. From July 15 through 20, the ship will sail from Jacksonville to Key West and then on to Nassau, Bahamas. Prices start at $858 per person. A $100 deposit is required to hold the cabin. Damar will also organize a cruise through Europe with ports including: Rome and Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Sicily, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. The ship sails Sept. 28 and returns Oct. 10, 2006. Prices start at $1,725 per person. Contact Dave Kronk at Damar, 1- 800-999-6101, ext. 422 to learn more or to make reservations. AND SPEAKING OF CONVENTION ... Convention tapes from the 2005 Las Vegas convention are now available! A full set (21 tapes) consists of all the general sessions, the legislative workshop, the diabetes seminar, the breakout sessions, and the banquet. The set costs $35. Separate sessions are available for $6 each. To order, contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666. NLS MAGAZINES ON TAPE The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped offers a variety of popular magazines on cassette for people who are visually impaired. The NLS will even loan patrons cassette players. Current publications include: Money, People, National Geographic, Ebony, Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated, and more. To find out more, call 1-888- 657-7323. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Dialogue, an international news magazine about the blind, is seeking article submissions for 2006. Potential topics may include: overcoming obstacles, breaking down barriers and discovering how to live well with sight loss; helping people learn key lessons about vision impairment; the benefits of using special aids and devices; specific "how-to"s for accessing computers; strategies for adapting the home environment; finding reliable transportation options; developing educational plans; getting started in careers; launching business ventures; managing diabetes; and participating in sports, travel or leisure pursuits. Request the writer's guidelines, column descriptions and a sample issue of the magazine by contacting Dialogue at Blindskills, Inc., P.O. Box 5181, Salem, OR 97304-0181; phone 1- 800-860-4224; e-mail magazine@blindskills.com; or visit www.blindskills.com. SPECIAL ISSUE OF DISABILITY WORLD AVAILABLE The World Institute on Disability has recently released a special issue of its publication, "Disability World." The issue takes a closer look at policies and projects that provide assistance to disabled people through social and economic programs around the world. Read an on-line copy of this issue at www.disabilityworld.org. For more information, contact Kathy Martinez at Kathy@wid.org or call (510) 251-4326. BLOG KEEPS NBP'S BOOKS UP TO DATE National Braille Press author Anna Dresner has created a simple way to keep her books up-to-date despite software upgrades, fixes, and new versions. She's created a blog where she posts new information relevant to her books "Braille.com and Beyond," "Finding eBooks on the Internet," and "The iPod Experience." Visit www.nbpupdates.wordpress.com for the latest updates. NEW SPEAK TO ME CATALOG Speak to Me's spring catalog is now available on audio CD and in print. One of its featured items is the True Speech Talking Bible, a new handheld electronic device that fits in your pocket. The complete Bible is read in a clear male voice. Both the King James and the New American Standard versions are available. Request a catalog at 1-800-248-9965 or visit www.speaktomecatalog.com. Speak to Me will sponsor its second annual Singing Contest for the Disabled. For details, call (641) 297-4900, ext. 1696. TOOL ORGANIZES HEALTH INFORMATION The surgeon general has developed "My Family Health Portrait," a computerized, information-organizing tool that makes creating a family health history easier and more efficient for both patients and health-care professionals. A new, free web-based version of the tool is now available in Spanish. It organizes a family's health history into a printout that people can then take to their health-care professional to help determine whether they are at higher risk for diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and common cancers. The tool allows users to go back and add more information as it becomes available. The Spanish version of the tool is available on the Internet at www.familyhistory.hhs.gov/spanish. ATLAS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA IN BRAILLE "Atlas of Southeast Asia" is a single volume of Braille and tactile maps covering 11 countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, East Timor and the Philippines. Each country has an introductory page of facts followed by one or more key pages and a full-page map. Maps show important cities, rivers, mountains and bodies of water. The atlas costs $18 through The Princeton Braillists, 76 Leabrook Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540. Allow four weeks for delivery. For more information, call Ruth Bogia at (215) 357-7715 or Nancy Amick at (609) 924-5207. RFB&D AWARD WINNERS HONORED The 2005 winners of the National Achievement Awards bestowed by Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic met with first lady Laura Bush as part of their honor. Winners of the Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards for college seniors who are blind or visually impaired are Kathleen Ernst, Athens, Ga.; Scott MacIntyre, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Jessica Smith, Dillon, S.C. BRAILLE & PRINT GREETING CARDS The Brennfoerders have Braille and large-print greeting cards available for Easter, birthday and miscellaneous (light bulb with "you light up my life", lighthouse with "darkness comes and goes, but the light in our heart always glows"). Cards cost $1.50 each or 10 for $13. They also have braille card games available: Rook, Uno, pinochle and others. The costs are $2 for a paper deck, $6 for a plastic deck. Game instructions are provided on tape. Call Terry Brennfoerder at (402) 477-5370, or write to him at 1431 Fairfield St., Lincoln, NE 68521. BRAILLE TRANSLATION FOR MAC iBraille, the newest braille editor from Index, makes it possible to format braille documents and do full-scale braille production for the first time on Mac OS X. For information on this technology, contact Sighted Electronics, 69 Woodland Ave., Westwood, NJ 07675, phone 1-800-666-4883. Download the Mac driver at www.indexbraille.com. SHADOWS IN THE DARK ANNIVERSARY SALE In honor of its 10th year in business, Shadows in the Dark will offer 10 percent off braille services and gift items for the entirety of 2006. Braille greeting cards are available for 18 occasions: anniversary, birthday, graduation, retirement, wedding, new baby, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, thinking of you, thank you, Father's Day, Mother's Day, New Year's, sympathy, get well, teachers, and friendship. The company also offers braille announcements, invitations, business cards, playing cards and product catalogs. For more information, contact Shadows in the Dark, 4600 Pine Hill Rd., Shreveport, LA 71107-2716, phone (318) 459-1256 or (318) 349-9539; visit www.shadowsinthedark.com, or e-mail info@shadowsinthedark.com. BRAILLE CHOCOLATE BARS Sweet Tooth has chocolate candy braille bars for sale. Each bar measures 4 by 6 1/2 by 1/4 inches and weighs 4 ounces. They come in 6 different sayings: Happy Birthday, Love You, Thank You, Have a Nice Day, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays. Each bar has a saying in braille and the greeting in cursive above it. Chocolate selection includes white, milk, and dark. Plain bars cost $2.25 each; bars with rice crisps or nuts cost $2.50 each. Contact Sweet Tooth, 32 Vinton Road, Rochester, NY 14622, phone (585) 544-1853. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: New and used cassette tapes in good condition. Includes boxes, labels and padded envelopes. Old-time radio programs from the 1930s through the late 1950s, including CBS Mystery Theater, Lone Ranger, Shadow, Life of Reilly, Jack Benny, Escape, Suspense and many others. Other items also available. Call Joseph Kelly at (903) 794-4852. FOR SALE: 1997 black-and-white Aladdin CCTV. In perfect condition. $1,000 or best offer. Contact Lisa Burkart at (757) 495-7179. FOR SALE: IBM ThinkPad T-30 wireless laptop with 512 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive, slim and lightweight rugged titanium case, CD-RW plus DVD, Windows XP, MS Office, newest JAWS 7.0 speech, newest Kurzweil 10.03 scanning/reading software, and thousands of songs already installed. Includes docking station and extra power adapter and battery. Asking $1,800 or best offer. Call Al at (571) 276-6085. FOR SALE: Perkins brailler, recently refurbished. Asking $400. Call Steve at (517) 347-7046. FOR SALE: Sounding Board 2.7 by GW Micro and the Vocal-Eyes that it came with. Comes with instruction tapes, software and manuals. Asking $150 (including shipping). Contact Dr. Lucy Torres at (812) 323-9230. FOR SALE: Spectrum color video magnification system by Optelec, plus table. Comes with 20-inch color monitor that gives you the choice of 18 foreground/background color combinations. Magnification: 4x-100x. Includes user's manual. Like-new condition. Asking $1,600 or best offer. Call (610) 647-5758 or e-mail dzblock@comcast.net. FOR SALE: Braille 'n Speak 2000. Asking $600. Contact Jason via e- mail, jstrdn@comcast.net. FOR SALE: An 18-volume King James braille Bible, maroon in color, hardback, in excellent shape. The braille dots are still very sharp. Asking $200, which includes insurance. Will be mailed to anywhere in the U.S. via free matter. I'll accept only a U.S. postal money order. Contact Johnny Blackwell at (803) 377-7913 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern. FOR SALE: Type 'n Speak and Basic braille printer. In great condition. Contact Carmen at (514) 380-0894 or e-mail csacco@sympatico.ca for more information. WANTED: From This Day Forward Ministries is looking for a Juliet Pro 60 braille embosser, JAWS screen reader software, and Open Book software. If you have any of the above listed equipment, please contact From This Day Forward Ministries at fromthisdayforwardministry@yahoo.com or (740) 666- 0930. WANTED: Donation of talking laptop with Internet capability, in good condition. Contact Tonya Smith at (734) 586-8713. WANTED: IBM talking typewriter with instructions. Call Walter at (661) 833-3663. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 119 SHELL EDGE DR ROCHESTER, NY 14623 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alan Beatty, Fort Collins, CO Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Carol Ewing, Las Vegas, NV Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Cindy Burgett, Bremerton, WA Rochelle Hart, Sioux Falls, SD Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO