4196 lines
223 KiB
Plaintext
4196 lines
223 KiB
Plaintext
|
THE BRAILLE MONITOR
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Barbara Pierce, Editor
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Published in inkprint, Braille, on talking-book disc,
|
|||
|
|
and cassette by
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
|
|||
|
|
MARC MAURER, PRESIDENT
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
National Office
|
|||
|
|
1800 Johnson Street
|
|||
|
|
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Letters to the President, address changes,
|
|||
|
|
subscription requests, orders for NFB literature,
|
|||
|
|
articles for the Monitor, and letters to the Editor
|
|||
|
|
should be sent to the National Office.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about twenty-five
|
|||
|
|
dollars per year. Members are invited, and non-members are
|
|||
|
|
requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
|
|||
|
|
made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind
|
|||
|
|
1800 Johnson Street
|
|||
|
|
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION
|
|||
|
|
SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ISSN 0006-8829 THE BRAILLE MONITOR
|
|||
|
|
A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CONTENTS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
APRIL, 1994
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WORLD BLIND UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN AUSTRALIA
|
|||
|
|
by Kenneth Jernigan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TALK POOR BY DAY; LIVE RICH BY NIGHT
|
|||
|
|
by Kenneth Jernigan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VICTORY IN THE CONNIE LEBLOND CASE
|
|||
|
|
by Barbara Pierce
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ANOTHER DISCOURAGING YEAR-END REPORT FOR NAC
|
|||
|
|
by Peggy Elliott
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
READING THE NEWS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
|
|||
|
|
by David Andrews
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT BLINDNESS: REMARKS DELIVERED TO A GROUP
|
|||
|
|
OF CALIFORNIA NURSES
|
|||
|
|
by Sharon Gold
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE REAL SCOOP ON RADIO WORK
|
|||
|
|
by Brian Johnson
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
EMPOWERING THE BLIND STUDENT
|
|||
|
|
by James H. Omvig
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BLINDNESS IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM: MY RETURN VISIT TO CHINA
|
|||
|
|
by Thomas Bickford
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE ROAR OF '94--WHAT TO DO IN DETROIT
|
|||
|
|
by Sue and Don Drapinski
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1994 CONVENTION ATTRACTIONS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
RECIPES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
MONITOR MINIATURES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Copyright <20> 1994 National Federation of the Blind 2 LEAD PHOTOS: 1) A kangaroo lying on the ground. 2) A koala bear
|
|||
|
|
in a partially enclosed eucalyptus tree. CAPTION: April is an
|
|||
|
|
autumn month in Australia, but it was high summer when Dr. and
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Jernigan left last January for a meeting of the Executive
|
|||
|
|
Committee of the World Blind Union. The koala (above) and the
|
|||
|
|
kangaroo (below) are both residents of a wildlife sanctuary that
|
|||
|
|
the Jernigans visited while they were in the country. It is
|
|||
|
|
abundantly clear from these pictures that both animals recognize
|
|||
|
|
and enjoy a comfortable living arrangement when they find it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--WBU North America/Caribbean delegates seated at a table in a
|
|||
|
|
meeting room. CAPTION--From left to right are Euclid Herie, President and
|
|||
|
|
Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; Gary
|
|||
|
|
Magarrell, Executive Director of the Ontario Division of the Canadian National
|
|||
|
|
Institute for the Blind; Susan Spungin, Associate Executive Director for
|
|||
|
|
Program Services of the American Foundation for the Blind; and Kenneth
|
|||
|
|
Jernigan, President of the WBU North America/Caribbean Region, attending the
|
|||
|
|
meeting of the World Blind Union Executive Committee in Melbourne.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Kenneth Jernigan stands with members of the WBU Executive
|
|||
|
|
Committee. CAPTION--Shown left to right at the WBU Executive Committee meeting
|
|||
|
|
in Melbourne are Shahid Memon of Pakistan, President of the Asian Blind Union;
|
|||
|
|
Imed-Eddine Chaker of Tunisia, President of the African Blind Union; and
|
|||
|
|
Kenneth Jernigan.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--David Blyth stands at the head table where the WBU Executive
|
|||
|
|
Committee meets. CAPTION--David Blyth presides at the meeting of the Executive
|
|||
|
|
Committee of the World Blind Union in Melbourne.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO/CAPTION: The main entrance of the Royal Victorian Institute for
|
|||
|
|
the Blind in Melbourne, Australia.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Entrance of Association for the Blind's library, taken from the
|
|||
|
|
street. CAPTION--The library of the Association for the Blind in Melbourne,
|
|||
|
|
Australia.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Dr. Jernigan bends and pets a wombat, which is lying in a
|
|||
|
|
wheelbarrow. CAPTION--Kenneth Jernigan pets a wombat at a wildlife preserve in
|
|||
|
|
Australia.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO/CAPTION--Kenneth Jernigan feeds a courteous kangaroo.]
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Kenneth and Mary Ellen Jernigan standing at an outside
|
|||
|
|
marketplace, with shoppers around. CAPTION--Kenneth and Mary Ellen Jernigan at
|
|||
|
|
the Victoria Market in Melbourne.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WORLD BLIND UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS
|
|||
|
|
IN AUSTRALIA
|
|||
|
|
by Kenneth Jernigan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
As President of the North America/Caribbean Region, I am one
|
|||
|
|
of the officers of the World Blind Union and a member of its
|
|||
|
|
executive committee. The officers usually meet twice a year, and
|
|||
|
|
the executive committee meets at least once in the interim
|
|||
|
|
between the quadrennial conventions. Such a meeting of officers
|
|||
|
|
and executive committee occurred in Melbourne, Australia, in late
|
|||
|
|
January of this year, and Mrs. Jernigan and I attended.
|
|||
|
|
We left Dulles Airport on the evening of January 20, and I
|
|||
|
|
approached the flight with my usual misgivings. As most of those
|
|||
|
|
who have even a casual acquaintance with me know, I have a real
|
|||
|
|
fear of flying. It wasn't always like that. In the 1950's I flew
|
|||
|
|
more than a million miles and enjoyed every minute of it. I did,
|
|||
|
|
that is, until the day I had the misfortune of being on a plane
|
|||
|
|
that caught fire on takeoff. We made it back to the airport
|
|||
|
|
without mishap, but just a few days later, I was coming out of
|
|||
|
|
Reno when one of the two engines on the plane didn't develop
|
|||
|
|
power, and we almost crashed. That did it. I felt like a gun-shy
|
|||
|
|
dog, and I haven't changed since. But there are times when I
|
|||
|
|
simply have to fly--so I do it.
|
|||
|
|
But back to the Melbourne trip. Because of the price of
|
|||
|
|
tickets, we went the long way 'round. We flew from Dulles seven
|
|||
|
|
hours nonstop to Frankfurt, Germany--and then after a two-hour
|
|||
|
|
wait, twelve more hours nonstop to Singapore. There was another
|
|||
|
|
two-hour wait, and then eight more hours nonstop to Melbourne.
|
|||
|
|
When you consider that Melbourne is sixteen hours ahead of
|
|||
|
|
Baltimore and that the trip took more than thirty hours, you can
|
|||
|
|
see why we had to unscramble our days and nights once we got
|
|||
|
|
there. Actually we weren't as tired as we had expected to be.
|
|||
|
|
I think I can best summarize the Melbourne experience by
|
|||
|
|
dividing it into four categories: the meeting of the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union officers and executive committee, my visits to agencies
|
|||
|
|
doing work with the blind, my contacts with local blind people,
|
|||
|
|
and what you might call extracurricular activities. Let's take
|
|||
|
|
first things first and deal with the WBU.
|
|||
|
|
The meetings were held at the facilities of the RVIB (Royal
|
|||
|
|
Victorian Institute for the Blind), one of the two principal
|
|||
|
|
agencies doing work with the blind in the State of Victoria. WBU
|
|||
|
|
president David Blyth is an employee of RVIB, heading up its
|
|||
|
|
division of employment services, and he and the rest of the RVIB
|
|||
|
|
staff exerted themselves mightily to see that all of us were
|
|||
|
|
comfortable and well-treated.
|
|||
|
|
The meetings were about as inspiring as such things usually
|
|||
|
|
are, but there were ebbs and flows. As far as I am concerned, two
|
|||
|
|
events stand out. At the beginning I should say that I am
|
|||
|
|
probably in the minority in putting these two items at the top of
|
|||
|
|
the list. The first dealt with some of the countries which were
|
|||
|
|
formerly part of the Soviet Union, and the second had to do with
|
|||
|
|
the relations between the WBU and the International Disability
|
|||
|
|
Foundation.
|
|||
|
|
Several of the former Soviet Republics (those located in
|
|||
|
|
Central Asia) had applied for membership in the WBU, and the
|
|||
|
|
question of what region they should join was being considered.
|
|||
|
|
The World Blind Union is divided into seven regions: Africa,
|
|||
|
|
Asia, East Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and
|
|||
|
|
North America/Caribbean. Since the former Soviet Republics under
|
|||
|
|
discussion are clearly in Asia, I wondered what we were talking
|
|||
|
|
about. I was quickly enlightened.
|
|||
|
|
I was told that since they had formerly been part of the
|
|||
|
|
Soviet Union, and since the Soviet Union had been part of Europe,
|
|||
|
|
the Republics in question might feel more comfortable being part
|
|||
|
|
of the European Blind Union. When I got the drift of the argument
|
|||
|
|
and recovered from the shock, I suggested that perhaps the United
|
|||
|
|
States should also be part of the European Blind Union. After
|
|||
|
|
all, we were formerly colonies of England. And maybe we could
|
|||
|
|
also add Canada, Australia, and a sizable portion of Asia--not to
|
|||
|
|
mention most of Africa and the Middle East. Of course, we mustn't
|
|||
|
|
forget Latin America, which belonged to Spain--except for Brazil,
|
|||
|
|
which belonged to Portugal. My humor was not appreciated, nor was
|
|||
|
|
the logic lurking beneath it.
|
|||
|
|
After some discussion the question was postponed for later
|
|||
|
|
decision, but the matter points up a problem which bedevils the
|
|||
|
|
World Blind Union and which will not go away. There is a serious
|
|||
|
|
imbalance in WBU representation. Of the somewhat more than 300
|
|||
|
|
votes, Europe has 120. North America/Caribbean has 12, and Asia
|
|||
|
|
(with its billions of people) has fewer than 100. The other
|
|||
|
|
regions are similarly under-represented. When I called attention
|
|||
|
|
to these statistics, I was told that I should not be concerned
|
|||
|
|
since Europe does not vote as a block. Perhaps--but I was neither
|
|||
|
|
comforted nor convinced. The fact that the European leaders
|
|||
|
|
apparently see no problem or injustice in this situation does not
|
|||
|
|
bode well for the future. In Cairo the WBU president (a European)
|
|||
|
|
demonstrated that Europe has enough votes to prevent any change
|
|||
|
|
in the constitution regarding ratio of delegates. Even so, the
|
|||
|
|
WBU is a voluntary organization, and it is questionable whether
|
|||
|
|
the rest of the world will forever tolerate the current skewed
|
|||
|
|
voting pattern. There are twelve officers of the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union. Four of these (one-third) are European. No, Europe does
|
|||
|
|
not always vote as a block. It would be surprising if it did--but
|
|||
|
|
it manages.
|
|||
|
|
The issue concerning the International Disability Foundation
|
|||
|
|
was more immediate and equally basic. From what I can gather, the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation (IDF) is the brainchild of a
|
|||
|
|
former U.N. employee named Hans Hoegh. The IDF is raising money
|
|||
|
|
throughout the world (including the United States) in the name of
|
|||
|
|
people with disabilities as a group. Arne Husveg, president of
|
|||
|
|
the European Blind Union and a fellow countryman of Mr. Hoegh,
|
|||
|
|
proposed that the WBU accept financial help from the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation and free office space in the
|
|||
|
|
center it plans to establish at The Hague in the Netherlands. I
|
|||
|
|
contended that if the WBU accepts such help from the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation, it will be violating its
|
|||
|
|
announced policy of supporting specialized services and
|
|||
|
|
organizations of and for the blind. Mr. Husveg, with his usual
|
|||
|
|
penchant for avoiding personal attacks and dealing with issues,
|
|||
|
|
said that my logic was shallow and my outlook one of calamity and
|
|||
|
|
pessimism. He went on to say that it would be all right to accept
|
|||
|
|
money and office space from the IDF if the WBU were assured that
|
|||
|
|
it would have a substantial voice in IDF's policies and decision
|
|||
|
|
making.
|
|||
|
|
I argued that it didn't matter how much voice the WBU had if
|
|||
|
|
it accepted IDF office space and money. Hoegh's International
|
|||
|
|
Disability Foundation could and would correctly say that it was
|
|||
|
|
raising money for the World Blind Union, and the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union would find it increasingly difficult to raise money on its
|
|||
|
|
own and separately. Mr. Husveg argued that the United Nations
|
|||
|
|
wants all disability groups to work together and that, therefore,
|
|||
|
|
the WBU must either engage in such joint action or not have U.N.
|
|||
|
|
recognition. I told him that legislative and executive bodies
|
|||
|
|
consistently pressure all disability groups to merge and speak
|
|||
|
|
with a common voice. This means spending less money for the needs
|
|||
|
|
of the blind and other groups, and it makes it easier for the
|
|||
|
|
disabled to be lumped into an amorphous, colorless mass and
|
|||
|
|
ignored. These pressures to merge are not a new problem, but we
|
|||
|
|
gain nothing by meekly submitting to them. The United Nations and
|
|||
|
|
the rest of the world will recognize and deal with organizations
|
|||
|
|
and specialized programs for the blind if we reasonably and
|
|||
|
|
vigorously insist on it, but they certainly will not if we
|
|||
|
|
quietly lie down and die.
|
|||
|
|
Ultimately the lure of the money carried the day. I asked
|
|||
|
|
for a roll call vote, and when the tally was taken, the North
|
|||
|
|
America/Caribbean votes were unanimously against the proposal. We
|
|||
|
|
were the only ones who voted against it, however. A few other
|
|||
|
|
delegates abstained, but nobody else stood to be counted. The
|
|||
|
|
decision was that Mr. Husveg (representing the WBU) will
|
|||
|
|
negotiate with Mr. Hoegh and that if he is satisfied that the WBU
|
|||
|
|
will have sufficient voice in IDF decisions, the WBU will locate
|
|||
|
|
its principal office in the disability center at The Hague with
|
|||
|
|
the other disability groups and that the WBU will accept IDF
|
|||
|
|
financial support. In my opinion this was the most critical vote
|
|||
|
|
taken at the meeting, and also in my opinion it has within it the
|
|||
|
|
seeds of the possible destruction of the World Blind Union.
|
|||
|
|
There are many more things that I could say about the
|
|||
|
|
meetings, but I will leave them for another time. For now let it
|
|||
|
|
suffice that the organization seems to have stabilized its
|
|||
|
|
finances and got itself on an even keel. Its budget is skimpy
|
|||
|
|
when compared with the urgent needs that exist throughout the
|
|||
|
|
world but impressive when compared with the problems that have
|
|||
|
|
been faced and solved. There can be no question that Dr. Euclid
|
|||
|
|
Herie has done a competent job of fiscal management and
|
|||
|
|
stewardship. An effort is being made to establish a separate
|
|||
|
|
foundation to fund the WBU, but the project is still in the
|
|||
|
|
formative stages.
|
|||
|
|
In view of commitments I made concerning money, I should
|
|||
|
|
mention at least one other matter. It involves the Louis Braille
|
|||
|
|
birthplace and museum at Coupvray, France. Every blind person in
|
|||
|
|
the world owes a debt to Louis Braille. He gave us the means of
|
|||
|
|
literacy, and ultimately of freedom and equal participation in
|
|||
|
|
society. The home where he was born has been operated for many
|
|||
|
|
years as a museum. It is now in such bad repair that it is in
|
|||
|
|
danger of total destruction. It has been closed to the public for
|
|||
|
|
safety reasons, and its future is in doubt.
|
|||
|
|
When the World Blind Union was established in 1984, it
|
|||
|
|
assumed responsibility for the upkeep and operation of the Louis
|
|||
|
|
Braille Museum, but there has never been enough money. We of the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind have made contributions from
|
|||
|
|
time to time, and so have a few others from here and there
|
|||
|
|
throughout the world. Mostly, however, people have simply debated
|
|||
|
|
and tried to assess blame.
|
|||
|
|
At the Melbourne meeting we were told that the Louis Braille
|
|||
|
|
Committee of the World Blind Union and the French organizations
|
|||
|
|
of the blind had recently held discussions with the mayor of
|
|||
|
|
Coupvray and that an architect had been employed to make plans
|
|||
|
|
and get cost estimates. We were further told that approximately
|
|||
|
|
$110,000 is needed to make permanent repairs to the Louis Braille
|
|||
|
|
home. This would not be simply a patch job but a thorough
|
|||
|
|
renovation. We were told that the mayor of Coupvray has said that
|
|||
|
|
he will find $55,000 if somebody else will provide the other
|
|||
|
|
$55,000.
|
|||
|
|
At the conclusion of the report, the usual debating and
|
|||
|
|
finger-pointing began. It seemed clear that no conclusive action
|
|||
|
|
would be taken and that the Louis Braille home would likely be
|
|||
|
|
allowed to continue to deteriorate. Feeling that we not only had
|
|||
|
|
an obligation to the memory of Louis Braille but also to the
|
|||
|
|
blind of future generations, I could not remain silent. Trusting
|
|||
|
|
that the blind of the United States would back me, I said that if
|
|||
|
|
the facts were as reported, I would go home and try to raise the
|
|||
|
|
$55,000 to match the pledge of the mayor of Coupvray. In fact, I
|
|||
|
|
said I would try to find somewhat more than $55,000 if the
|
|||
|
|
estimates proved low. Although there was general approval, even
|
|||
|
|
this proposal brought a certain amount of wrangling.
|
|||
|
|
Nevertheless, it was agreed (with one negative vote being cast)
|
|||
|
|
that I should make the effort.
|
|||
|
|
I am now in the process of finalizing the matter, and I hope
|
|||
|
|
that the blind and our friends throughout the United States will
|
|||
|
|
rise to the challenge. I invite local and state affiliates of the
|
|||
|
|
Federation, individual blind persons, and friends of blind
|
|||
|
|
persons to make contributions to this cause if they wish.
|
|||
|
|
Donations should be sent to the National Federation of the Blind,
|
|||
|
|
1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. Checks should be
|
|||
|
|
made payable to the National Federation of the Blind, and an
|
|||
|
|
accompanying letter should indicate the purpose of the
|
|||
|
|
contribution. Donations may also be made by credit card by
|
|||
|
|
calling (410) 659-9314. Obviously such contributions should be in
|
|||
|
|
addition to what individuals and affiliates already intend to
|
|||
|
|
give.
|
|||
|
|
Before talking about the agencies doing work with the blind
|
|||
|
|
in Australia, I should probably give a few background facts to
|
|||
|
|
put matters in perspective. Australia has about 17,000,000
|
|||
|
|
people. Most of them live in cities along the southern and
|
|||
|
|
eastern coasts. Some live in cities along the northern coast, and
|
|||
|
|
a few live along the western coast. Only a scattering live
|
|||
|
|
inland. The country is divided into six states, the most populous
|
|||
|
|
being New South Wales, with Sydney as its capital. Victoria (with
|
|||
|
|
Melbourne as its capital) is the second most populous state,
|
|||
|
|
having something over 4,000,000.
|
|||
|
|
Australia's monetary unit is the dollar. One American dollar
|
|||
|
|
is worth about a dollar and thirty-two cents in Australian money.
|
|||
|
|
They have less paper and more coins than we do. There are both
|
|||
|
|
one-dollar and two-dollar coins, and no paper until you get to a
|
|||
|
|
five-dollar bill.
|
|||
|
|
Two major agencies for the blind headquarter in Melbourne.
|
|||
|
|
They are the Association for the Blind and the Royal Victorian
|
|||
|
|
Institute for the Blind (RVIB).
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Jernigan and I met with John Cook, the executive
|
|||
|
|
director of the Association for the Blind, and we visited the
|
|||
|
|
Association's library. A number of blind people told us that the
|
|||
|
|
Association regards itself as somewhat of a rival of RVIB and
|
|||
|
|
that it tends to cater to blind persons who are perhaps a little
|
|||
|
|
less in the mainstream than those who deal with RVIB. Be this as
|
|||
|
|
it may, Mr. Cook told us that his budget is about 15,000,000 U.S.
|
|||
|
|
dollars per year. The Association has a Braille library and a
|
|||
|
|
library of two-track regular speed cassette recordings. It does
|
|||
|
|
not provide tape players to the borrowers.
|
|||
|
|
The Association has one service both worthwhile and unique
|
|||
|
|
which I had occasion to use. It operates a radio station (call
|
|||
|
|
letters 3RPH) on the regular AM band. This station operates
|
|||
|
|
twenty-four hours a day seven days a week and has good
|
|||
|
|
programming: newspapers, books, special features, and some of the
|
|||
|
|
broadcasts from the BBC. The reading is done by volunteers, and
|
|||
|
|
they are well-trained and do a good job.
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Cook said that there was originally an FM station
|
|||
|
|
devoted to programming for the blind and that a number of AM
|
|||
|
|
broadcasters thought it would have more commercial value than the
|
|||
|
|
stations they owned. Therefore, a deal was worked out. AM station
|
|||
|
|
operators were permitted to bid for the FM channel used by the
|
|||
|
|
blind, and the successful bidder was given the FM license. In
|
|||
|
|
turn, the blind were given an AM frequency and certain operating
|
|||
|
|
funds. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but that's what Mr. Cook
|
|||
|
|
told me--and I am certainly glad the station was there.
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Cook told me that the Association also operates a dial-
|
|||
|
|
up newspaper for the blind. He said that it started in September
|
|||
|
|
of 1993, that annual subscriptions cost about $100, and that
|
|||
|
|
there are about 100 blind subscribers. I used a regular touch
|
|||
|
|
tone phone and called the newsline. The volunteer readers seemed
|
|||
|
|
to be doing a good job. By pressing different numbers I could
|
|||
|
|
select what part of the newspaper I wanted to read and could scan
|
|||
|
|
forward and backward. The volunteers put the newspaper on tape,
|
|||
|
|
which is then handled by a computer to interact with the
|
|||
|
|
telephone calls--much in the same way, I believe, that New Mexico
|
|||
|
|
and the NFB of California are doing.
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Cook further told me that the association operates
|
|||
|
|
nursing homes, day centers, low-vision centers, and telephone
|
|||
|
|
peer-group conversations and counseling. I did not see any of
|
|||
|
|
these programs in action, so I have only a general notion of
|
|||
|
|
their functioning and effectiveness.
|
|||
|
|
Since the WBU officers and executive committee meetings were
|
|||
|
|
held at the RVIB facilities, I met quite a number of the staff,
|
|||
|
|
including Peter Evans, the executive director. Mr. Evans was
|
|||
|
|
cordial and responsive. RVIB also has a library, but unlike the
|
|||
|
|
one operated by the Association for the Blind, it distributes
|
|||
|
|
four-track slow-speed cassettes and provides cassette players.
|
|||
|
|
RVIB has a Braille library, but it is quite limited. New South
|
|||
|
|
Wales and RVIB plan to join together to create a national library
|
|||
|
|
for Australia, which would apparently distribute both Braille and
|
|||
|
|
recorded material throughout the continent. RVIB has a newspaper
|
|||
|
|
service for the blind, too. It is distributed on cassette and
|
|||
|
|
consists of regional or suburban newspapers. I gather that for
|
|||
|
|
the most part these are weeklies, thus making time not such a
|
|||
|
|
critical factor.
|
|||
|
|
As head of employment services for RVIB, David Blyth holds
|
|||
|
|
the highest position of any blind person employed by the agency.
|
|||
|
|
He is in charge of two workshops, one for persons whose primary
|
|||
|
|
problem is blindness, and one for persons with additional
|
|||
|
|
problems. He told me that some eighty people work in the shops. I
|
|||
|
|
was told that wages for the shop workers range from $160 per week
|
|||
|
|
for the slowest to $250 per week for the best.
|
|||
|
|
These wages should be viewed in the context of the pay
|
|||
|
|
received by other Australian workers. There is a governmentally
|
|||
|
|
created industrial commission, which establishes minimum wages
|
|||
|
|
for all Australian workers who are paid wages or salaries. The
|
|||
|
|
minimum (called an "award wage") varies with the classification
|
|||
|
|
of the employee. The lowest award wage is $280 per week. Thus, as
|
|||
|
|
in the United States, shop workers do not get the minimum wage.
|
|||
|
|
However, Australia does have a universal "pension" for the
|
|||
|
|
blind, which is not subject to a means test. The pension has been
|
|||
|
|
in existence since early in the century but was only freed from
|
|||
|
|
the means test in 1975. No other disability group has this
|
|||
|
|
benefit. I was told that the pension for the blind is $160 per
|
|||
|
|
week for a single person and $120 per week for a married person.
|
|||
|
|
If two blind people marry, each receives $120 per week.
|
|||
|
|
Presumably if they live together unmarried, each will continue to
|
|||
|
|
receive $160 per week, which leads to the conclusion that living
|
|||
|
|
in sin is rewarded and marriage discouraged. This is no
|
|||
|
|
different, however, from some of the Social Security programs in
|
|||
|
|
the U.S.
|
|||
|
|
Let me be sure I am making my meaning clear about the nature
|
|||
|
|
of the pension. Whether rich or poor, young or old, employed or
|
|||
|
|
unemployed, retired or otherwise, each and every blind person in
|
|||
|
|
Australia is entitled to a pension regardless of any other income
|
|||
|
|
or circumstance. If shop workers complain (as many doubtless do)
|
|||
|
|
that they are not being paid the minimum wage, the government can
|
|||
|
|
(and doubtless does) reply that when the wages of a shop worker
|
|||
|
|
are added to his or her pension, more than the minimum award wage
|
|||
|
|
is being received.
|
|||
|
|
As part of RVIB's employment services, David Blyth does more
|
|||
|
|
than supervise the workshops. He has programs for both industrial
|
|||
|
|
and professional training and placement. The training programs
|
|||
|
|
are coordinated with the activities of the workshops.
|
|||
|
|
Incidentally, a brochure published by RVIB says that the shops do
|
|||
|
|
packaging, mop manufacturing, and production of wood products.
|
|||
|
|
RVIB runs a school for the blind. Formerly it was for
|
|||
|
|
residential students, whose primary problem was blindness. Now,
|
|||
|
|
students are mainly housed in foster homes and mostly have
|
|||
|
|
multiple handicaps.
|
|||
|
|
The RVIB gets its money from the sale of workshop products,
|
|||
|
|
from private fund-raising, and from the government--with the
|
|||
|
|
largest part coming from the government. Apparently these
|
|||
|
|
government funds are not direct appropriations but grants and
|
|||
|
|
contracts. The total budget is about 13,000,000 Australian
|
|||
|
|
dollars per year. As I review my summary of the activities of the
|
|||
|
|
RVIB, I see that I have failed to mention that the organization
|
|||
|
|
sells and distributes aids and appliances for the blind.
|
|||
|
|
As to contacts with individual blind persons, I should begin
|
|||
|
|
by saying that the National Federation of Blind Citizens of
|
|||
|
|
Australia is the largest and most active consumer group in the
|
|||
|
|
country. When I worked in California in the 1950's, Hugh Jeffreys
|
|||
|
|
visited Dr. tenBroek in Berkeley to talk about establishing an
|
|||
|
|
organization of the blind. I worked with Hugh on organizational
|
|||
|
|
details such as what kind of constitution and by-laws should be
|
|||
|
|
written and the qualifications of members. I was pleased to see
|
|||
|
|
Hugh again when I was in Melbourne. I met him and a number of
|
|||
|
|
other Federation members and leaders one night at a barbecue held
|
|||
|
|
at RVIB for the WBU visitors.
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Jernigan and I had dinner one evening at the home of
|
|||
|
|
Martin and Helen Stewart. Martin works in the shop and is head of
|
|||
|
|
the union. The shop workers' union is part of the trade union
|
|||
|
|
system in the country. I urged Martin to become more active in
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia, pointing
|
|||
|
|
out to him that the shop workers union can never be as strong as
|
|||
|
|
the total body of the Federation and that the trade union
|
|||
|
|
movement will never make the problems of the blind a prime focus.
|
|||
|
|
The exchange was spirited and friendly, but I am not sure how far
|
|||
|
|
I got. Incidentally, Helen (who is sighted) drives a street car,
|
|||
|
|
which is called a tram. The Stewarts have an adorable, active
|
|||
|
|
baby and seem to be a happy, productive working couple. They were
|
|||
|
|
excellent hosts, and we became friends.
|
|||
|
|
Also under the heading of contacts with blind persons, I
|
|||
|
|
should mention that Mrs. Jernigan and I had dinner and spent an
|
|||
|
|
evening at the home of David Blyth, where we not only enjoyed the
|
|||
|
|
company of David but also that of his wife Jessie and their son,
|
|||
|
|
David, Jr. The Blyths went out of their way to make our stay in
|
|||
|
|
Australia comfortable and pleasant. We had become acquainted with
|
|||
|
|
David, Jr., earlier when he came to the United States to attend a
|
|||
|
|
Federation convention with his father. At the Blyths' home we sat
|
|||
|
|
in the back yard in summer weather, admired the lemon tree, and
|
|||
|
|
picked plums.
|
|||
|
|
Let me move now to miscellaneous activities, which might be
|
|||
|
|
called extracurricular. As I have already said, it was summer, a
|
|||
|
|
sharp contrast with the sub-zero temperatures we had left in
|
|||
|
|
Baltimore. One afternoon it got to 105 degrees.
|
|||
|
|
We took a day before the formal meetings began and drove out
|
|||
|
|
into the country, with Jessie Blyth and David, Jr., serving as
|
|||
|
|
our guides and companions. First we went to a wildlife preserve,
|
|||
|
|
and I was able to touch the animals. As we went in, we were given
|
|||
|
|
bread to feed the kangaroos, and they were eager to have it. The
|
|||
|
|
kangaroo with whom I became most intimately acquainted was a
|
|||
|
|
little more than waist high. It was a very courteous kangaroo.
|
|||
|
|
While it was eating bread from my hand, one of its teeth touched
|
|||
|
|
me. But the kangaroo didn't bite. It simply shifted a little and
|
|||
|
|
kept coming after the bread. When it thought the pieces of bread
|
|||
|
|
were too large, it took them in its front feet (which look like
|
|||
|
|
little hands), broke them into smaller bits, and then ate them.
|
|||
|
|
Just before we met the kangaroo, we saw a man hauling a
|
|||
|
|
wombat in a wheelbarrow. Mrs. Jernigan asked if the animal was
|
|||
|
|
sick, but the man said that he was simply transporting it to a
|
|||
|
|
new location, which led me to observe that the wombat has it
|
|||
|
|
made. Humans work to feed it, and they haul it around when it
|
|||
|
|
needs to go somewhere. All it has to do is relax and take it
|
|||
|
|
easy. I petted the wombat, and it felt somewhat like the pigs we
|
|||
|
|
used to have on the farm. I didn't think the wombat would bite
|
|||
|
|
me, but I kept my hand just at the back of its head so that I
|
|||
|
|
could turn with it when it moved. Now and again it raised up,
|
|||
|
|
looked around, stretched luxuriously, and settled down again. It
|
|||
|
|
seemed to have a pretty good life.
|
|||
|
|
I was also able to examine and pet a koala bear. It was
|
|||
|
|
being held by one of the game preserve employees, and it seemed
|
|||
|
|
to enjoy being petted. Just as a precaution, I kept my hand at
|
|||
|
|
the back of its head, too.
|
|||
|
|
We were told some interesting things about the animals. The
|
|||
|
|
koala is very picky about its eating. The game preserve employees
|
|||
|
|
go out and cut the tenderest branches from the eucalyptus trees
|
|||
|
|
and bring them to the koala. They say that it rejects about
|
|||
|
|
ninety-five percent of what they bring and eats only part of the
|
|||
|
|
rest. It sleeps nine or ten hours a day, eats for about four
|
|||
|
|
hours, and rests most of the remainder of the time. It, too, has
|
|||
|
|
a pretty good life. As one of the employees said, "I have to work
|
|||
|
|
hard to feed that bear."
|
|||
|
|
We learned that the koala and the wombat originally came
|
|||
|
|
from the same stock. The koala took to the trees, and the wombat
|
|||
|
|
moved into burroughs under ground. There were also ostriches and
|
|||
|
|
emus. I certainly didn't pet (or try to pet) either of them. The
|
|||
|
|
emu has a long sharp beak and kept sneaking up behind me and
|
|||
|
|
trying to get the kangaroo's bread. I also had the chance to hear
|
|||
|
|
magpies, and I now know what it means when somebody is accused of
|
|||
|
|
chattering like a magpie.
|
|||
|
|
When we left the game preserve, we went to the Seppelt
|
|||
|
|
Winery at Great Western, almost a hundred miles northwest of
|
|||
|
|
Melbourne. They took us twenty-five feet underground to a network
|
|||
|
|
of tunnels cut into granite. These tunnels, which are said to be
|
|||
|
|
the most extensive network of underground wine cellars in the
|
|||
|
|
southern hemisphere, were dug (probably with convict labor)
|
|||
|
|
during the middle of the last century. They contain millions of
|
|||
|
|
bottles of wine. It was quite an experience. The main tunnels are
|
|||
|
|
fairly wide, with branching corridors of ten or twelve feet in
|
|||
|
|
width running for miles in all directions. We walked down the
|
|||
|
|
center, and on both sides were endless stacks of bottles in
|
|||
|
|
layers on top of each other four to six feet high. The guide said
|
|||
|
|
we should not touch anything, but I interpreted his injunction
|
|||
|
|
liberally. Mrs. Jernigan and I drifted toward the back of the
|
|||
|
|
group and let everybody get around a corner. Then I made an
|
|||
|
|
examination, which I felt sure the management would have wanted
|
|||
|
|
me to do if the question had arisen.
|
|||
|
|
The temperature in the tunnels is constant year-round, about
|
|||
|
|
fifty-five degrees. At the end of one of the side tunnels there
|
|||
|
|
is a good sized room, which would hold thirty people or so. It is
|
|||
|
|
the place where the winery formerly stored its most valuable
|
|||
|
|
brandy, but it has now been converted into an ultra swank private
|
|||
|
|
restaurant, where occasional VIP dinners are served. It is called
|
|||
|
|
the Brandy-Nook. Mrs. Jernigan, who thinks about such things,
|
|||
|
|
wondered whether the women in their fancy dresses would get cold.
|
|||
|
|
When we came upstairs to the winery showroom, we were
|
|||
|
|
offered tastings and examined various sale items. Among other
|
|||
|
|
things, we found some exquisite hand-blown wine glasses. I had
|
|||
|
|
never seen anything like them. They were called port pipes
|
|||
|
|
because of the little stem on the side through which the wine is
|
|||
|
|
to be sipped. Needless to say, we bought some of them and now
|
|||
|
|
proudly display them.
|
|||
|
|
While we were in Melbourne, we found time to visit grocery
|
|||
|
|
and department stores to compare prices and merchandise. On one
|
|||
|
|
such occasion in a large department store, the salesperson was
|
|||
|
|
especially polite and helpful. She walked all the way across the
|
|||
|
|
store with us to more than one location to try to help us find a
|
|||
|
|
given item. Mrs. Jernigan said that we would not find a
|
|||
|
|
salesperson in the U.S. who would be so accommodating, but I
|
|||
|
|
suggested to her that human nature being what it is, you probably
|
|||
|
|
would. The salesperson would not likely help a native but might
|
|||
|
|
very well bend over backward to accommodate a foreigner. Our
|
|||
|
|
Australian hosts confirmed this by saying that they rarely get
|
|||
|
|
such service.
|
|||
|
|
We went to a music store and found what we were told were
|
|||
|
|
typical Australian songs. Many of you doubtless heard one of them
|
|||
|
|
on a recent presidential release, "Fry Me Kangaroo Brown." There
|
|||
|
|
may be other selections that are more typical (and we bought some
|
|||
|
|
of them), but I doubt that any of them are more fun than "Fry Me
|
|||
|
|
Kangaroo Brown."
|
|||
|
|
Apropos of nothing I learned a new expression while I was in
|
|||
|
|
Australia. I have often heard people advised to put their "best
|
|||
|
|
foot forward," but I have never heard the expression, "He has
|
|||
|
|
been on his back foot lately."
|
|||
|
|
Prince Charles was visiting Melbourne while we were there,
|
|||
|
|
and he was taking quite a beating from some of the newspapers.
|
|||
|
|
One of them said, "He's been on his back foot lately." It wasn't
|
|||
|
|
meant to be complimentary.
|
|||
|
|
Australia was an unforgettable experience. We left on
|
|||
|
|
February 2 and came back through Hawaii, where we attended the
|
|||
|
|
state convention. Enroute from Melbourne to Hawaii we crossed the
|
|||
|
|
international date line, which meant that we arrived in Hawaii
|
|||
|
|
before we left Melbourne. So with jet lag and scrambled days, we
|
|||
|
|
flew home and stepped back into the snow and cold.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Arne Husveg seated at table wearing earphone for interpreting device.
|
|||
|
|
CAPTION--Arne Husveg, President of the European Region of the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TALK POOR BY DAY; LIVE RICH BY NIGHT
|
|||
|
|
by Kenneth Jernigan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
One of the headlines of the London Times for Sunday, August
|
|||
|
|
15, 1993, reads as follows: "Talk Poor by Day; Live Rich by
|
|||
|
|
Night: The Corrupt Heart of the UN Bureaucracy." Developments at
|
|||
|
|
the meeting of the World Blind Union Executive Committee in
|
|||
|
|
Melbourne in late January of this year make the London Times
|
|||
|
|
headline and accompanying article of interest to Monitor readers.
|
|||
|
|
The web of events is complicated and thought-provoking.
|
|||
|
|
A number of years ago (I think it may have been in London in
|
|||
|
|
1989) Arne Husveg, president of the European region of the World
|
|||
|
|
Blind Union, talked to the WBU officers about a new way to raise
|
|||
|
|
money for the organization. He brought with him to the meeting
|
|||
|
|
one Hans Hoegh, his fellow countryman from Norway. Mr. Hoegh was
|
|||
|
|
billed as a UN functionary of some importance. He was to be
|
|||
|
|
instrumental in establishing an organization called the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation (IDF), which would raise
|
|||
|
|
money and do other good things for people with disabilities,
|
|||
|
|
including the blind. Mr. Hoegh assured us that his IDF would have
|
|||
|
|
strong support from the UN and would be backed by UN Secretary
|
|||
|
|
General Javier P<>rez de Cu<43>llar. He also implied that the World
|
|||
|
|
Blind Union had better get with it and get on board. Otherwise,
|
|||
|
|
it would have a hard time raising money and would get short
|
|||
|
|
shrift from the UN.
|
|||
|
|
Some of us said that we were concerned about having the WBU
|
|||
|
|
submerge itself in the general melting pot of the generic
|
|||
|
|
disability movement, but we were silenced by promises of money
|
|||
|
|
and threats of not being recognized by the UN. We left that
|
|||
|
|
London meeting with visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads
|
|||
|
|
and with glowing assurances that the ties between the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union and the proposed IDF would constantly strengthen and result
|
|||
|
|
in fame and fortune.
|
|||
|
|
In Melbourne this January the drumfire continued. With the
|
|||
|
|
North America/Caribbean delegates standing alone and voting no,
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Husveg carried the day and held high the banner of Hans Hoegh
|
|||
|
|
and his International Disability Foundation. As reported in the
|
|||
|
|
previous article, the WBU Executive Committee decided (with
|
|||
|
|
certain reservations) to move its headquarters into Mr. Hoegh's
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Center in The Hague and to accept money
|
|||
|
|
from the International Disability Foundation. Apparently Mr.
|
|||
|
|
Hoegh, who is now secretary general of the IDF, is still
|
|||
|
|
headquartering in Geneva, Switzerland, until a place is prepared
|
|||
|
|
for him at The Hague in the Netherlands.
|
|||
|
|
So why do I bring all of this up since much of it was
|
|||
|
|
mentioned in the preceding article? Well, there have been
|
|||
|
|
subsequent developments. To begin with, I have now read the
|
|||
|
|
article which appeared in the London Times for August 15 of last
|
|||
|
|
year, the headline of which I quoted earlier. Here is part of
|
|||
|
|
that article:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Neelam Merani is living high off the hog. The 52-
|
|||
|
|
year-old United Nations official spends his days
|
|||
|
|
relaxing on the sun-drenched terrace of his luxury
|
|||
|
|
apartment in Geneva, overlooking the city's lake. At
|
|||
|
|
night he and his Swiss wife, Esther, do the round of
|
|||
|
|
elegant parties on the UN's international cocktail
|
|||
|
|
circuit.
|
|||
|
|
The hundred thousand pound (at least 150,000 U.S.
|
|||
|
|
dollar) salary that supports the Meranis' comfortable
|
|||
|
|
lifestyle includes a special allowance to cover the
|
|||
|
|
high cost of living in the Swiss city. Merani no longer
|
|||
|
|
works, but his salary continues to be paid out of UN
|
|||
|
|
funds.
|
|||
|
|
Two years ago Merani (an Indian-born UN career
|
|||
|
|
official, who joined the organization in London in
|
|||
|
|
1964) was moved from his position as head of a UN
|
|||
|
|
campaign to raise global awareness of natural
|
|||
|
|
disasters. Grandly titled the International Decade for
|
|||
|
|
Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), the project was
|
|||
|
|
part of the UN's refugee programme.
|
|||
|
|
But a year after its launch in 1990, the IDNDR was
|
|||
|
|
dubbed the "disaster decade" by critics, who accused
|
|||
|
|
its secretariat of waste, mismanagement, and
|
|||
|
|
inefficiency. In one year alone the campaign spent half
|
|||
|
|
its 1 million pound income on salaries and staff
|
|||
|
|
travel.
|
|||
|
|
Merani was blamed, he says unfairly, for the
|
|||
|
|
failure. Some in the UN unkindly nicknamed him the
|
|||
|
|
"master of disaster." He was moved sideways to the
|
|||
|
|
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which studies
|
|||
|
|
weather patterns. Later he was told to go home on
|
|||
|
|
"special leave" and wait further orders. Although he
|
|||
|
|
still lists his occupation in the Geneva directory as
|
|||
|
|
"UN functionnaire," he has not been asked to lift a
|
|||
|
|
finger for the UN since.
|
|||
|
|
Merani's bosses at UN headquarters in Geneva
|
|||
|
|
decline to discuss his case. They have drawn a veil
|
|||
|
|
over his existence. They say he has "left" the UN and
|
|||
|
|
is no longer on its payroll. But Merani insists he is
|
|||
|
|
still being paid.
|
|||
|
|
Merani is one of at least 39 UN staff--15
|
|||
|
|
professionals and 24 general service employees--who are
|
|||
|
|
retained on full salary without having a real job.
|
|||
|
|
Officially known as supernumeraries, they cost the
|
|||
|
|
taxpayers and donors who fund the UN an estimated 2
|
|||
|
|
million pounds a year.
|
|||
|
|
Critics say Merani's position and that of other
|
|||
|
|
supernumeraries, nicknamed "desk warmers," demonstrate
|
|||
|
|
how millions of pounds that should be earmarked for
|
|||
|
|
relief supplies and peacekeeping efforts are spent
|
|||
|
|
instead supporting a vast and uncontrolled bureaucracy.
|
|||
|
|
Dick Thornburgh, a former American attorney-
|
|||
|
|
general, appointed last year to root out waste in the
|
|||
|
|
UN, said: "There are a number of senior people who have
|
|||
|
|
high positions and no assignment and yet there is no
|
|||
|
|
capability to terminate these people's jobs."
|
|||
|
|
Internal audit reports reveal an alarming pattern
|
|||
|
|
of abuse, mismanagement, and greed, which has become
|
|||
|
|
endemic in the organization. In the last two-year
|
|||
|
|
period alone, 540 million pounds have been squandered,
|
|||
|
|
one former senior UN official said.
|
|||
|
|
Money which the public might assume was destined
|
|||
|
|
for the needy in drought-stricken or war-torn areas has
|
|||
|
|
instead been spent on projects that have nothing to do
|
|||
|
|
with aid or peacekeeping.
|
|||
|
|
At a time when the organization is appealing to
|
|||
|
|
member countries and the public for tens of millions of
|
|||
|
|
pounds in voluntary donations, senior UN officials
|
|||
|
|
continue to enjoy generous benefits, perks, and job-
|
|||
|
|
for-life expectations that would never be tolerated
|
|||
|
|
outside.
|
|||
|
|
The hub of the UN's international operations, and
|
|||
|
|
the root of most of its problems, is a monolithic 38-
|
|||
|
|
story office complex overlooking the East River in
|
|||
|
|
Manhattan, New York.
|
|||
|
|
Here, 14,000 permanent staff are attached to the
|
|||
|
|
UN Secretariat and its dependencies. Their job is to
|
|||
|
|
service the principal UN organs--the general assembly,
|
|||
|
|
the security council secretariat, and the economic and
|
|||
|
|
social council--which shape UN policies and administer
|
|||
|
|
its programmes.
|
|||
|
|
When it was founded in 1945 to promote a new world
|
|||
|
|
order after the second world war, the UN employed just
|
|||
|
|
1,500 people.
|
|||
|
|
Yet, 48 years later it has become a bureaucracy
|
|||
|
|
run wild, employing more than 51,600 people
|
|||
|
|
internationally with a further 9,600 consultants
|
|||
|
|
employed by its agencies. Total spending by the UN for
|
|||
|
|
the two years ending in 1991 has mushroomed to nearly
|
|||
|
|
10 billion pounds.
|
|||
|
|
Facilities at the UN's headquarters reflect the
|
|||
|
|
lavish lifestyles of many of its senior officials. They
|
|||
|
|
include a gourmet restaurant, an expensively furnished
|
|||
|
|
bar, and a lounge exclusively reserved for UN
|
|||
|
|
delegates. There is even a meditation room.
|
|||
|
|
Alan Keyes, a UN assistant secretary until 1987,
|
|||
|
|
was overruled in his objections to the installation of
|
|||
|
|
expensive heating equipment in the underground garage.
|
|||
|
|
"I thought it was a waste of money to worry about
|
|||
|
|
keeping cars warm when the people we are meant to be
|
|||
|
|
looking after could not even afford cars."
|
|||
|
|
Some of the worst losses, according to the UN's
|
|||
|
|
own audit reports, are in programmes designed to help
|
|||
|
|
the most disadvantaged people....
|
|||
|
|
One of the worst examples of abuse followed the
|
|||
|
|
decision by P<>rez de Cu<43>llar in April 1988 to appoint
|
|||
|
|
Hans Hoegh, a one-time Norwegian florist, as his
|
|||
|
|
special representative to raise funds for the promotion
|
|||
|
|
of the UN Decade of Disabled Persons. Hoegh's office
|
|||
|
|
spent 1 million pounds in two and a half years on
|
|||
|
|
"running expenses." The UN's own board of auditors
|
|||
|
|
stated: "No substantial funds have been raised for
|
|||
|
|
projects under the auspices of the United Nations. The
|
|||
|
|
objective ... was not met."...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is what the London Times reported last August, and I
|
|||
|
|
want to make perfectly clear what I am saying and what I am not
|
|||
|
|
saying. Although I have felt uneasy about Hans Hoegh and his
|
|||
|
|
operation from the beginning, I cannot prove that there is
|
|||
|
|
anything wrong with what he is doing or the way he is conducting
|
|||
|
|
himself. During the Melbourne discussions I asked Mr. Husveg
|
|||
|
|
whether Mr. Hoegh was being paid (or would be paid) for his work
|
|||
|
|
as secretary general of the International Disability Foundation--
|
|||
|
|
and Mr. Husveg said no. The reason I asked the question was
|
|||
|
|
because I had been informed that Mr. Hoegh was trying to get a
|
|||
|
|
high salary (probably $100,000 a year) to do similar work for
|
|||
|
|
another disability organization and that he had been rebuffed by
|
|||
|
|
that organization. I do not know whether this is true, but I was
|
|||
|
|
given the information by a person whose integrity and
|
|||
|
|
truthfulness I respect.
|
|||
|
|
I have no evidence that would contradict Mr. Husveg's
|
|||
|
|
statement that Mr. Hoegh is receiving no salary. I am simply
|
|||
|
|
uneasy about the entire relationship between the World Blind
|
|||
|
|
Union and the IDF, especially the danger that the interests of
|
|||
|
|
the blind will be lost in the giant melting pot of the overall
|
|||
|
|
disability stew. Moreover, I am skeptical about Mr. Hoegh's
|
|||
|
|
ability to raise funds and about his standing in the
|
|||
|
|
international community. I am also troubled by the fact that Mr.
|
|||
|
|
P<EFBFBD>rez de Cu<43>llar as Secretary General of the United Nations
|
|||
|
|
appointed Mr. Hoegh to a UN PR and fundraising position that was
|
|||
|
|
not successful--and then, after leaving his UN post as Secretary
|
|||
|
|
General, accepted the presidency of Mr. Hoegh's International
|
|||
|
|
Disability Foundation, Mr. Hoegh having also by that time been
|
|||
|
|
separated from UN service. Both Mr. P<>rez de Cu<43>llar and Mr.
|
|||
|
|
Hoegh were high-paid officials of the UN. Both are now out. Who
|
|||
|
|
in reality set up the IDF deal, and for what purpose? Who brought
|
|||
|
|
the other on board--and why? For that matter, how many other
|
|||
|
|
former UN employees are looking for refuge in the International
|
|||
|
|
Disability Foundation? You will meet one of them (Mr. John
|
|||
|
|
Strome) later in this article. Is either Mr. P<>rez de Cu<43>llar or
|
|||
|
|
Mr. Hoegh, or both of them, being paid? Probably not. Mr.
|
|||
|
|
Husveg says Mr. Hoegh is not. Nevertheless, I am still troubled.
|
|||
|
|
Apparently there are others who are also troubled. Early in
|
|||
|
|
January of this year Mr. Hoegh sent what seems to be a form
|
|||
|
|
letter, with appropriate variations, to a number of governments.
|
|||
|
|
The one which was sent to Canada reads as follows:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Geneva, Switzerland
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dear Minister:
|
|||
|
|
On behalf of our President, Mr. Javier P<>rez de
|
|||
|
|
Cu<43>llar, we ask your consideration of the Government of
|
|||
|
|
Canada's assistance in a most important and
|
|||
|
|
constructive international initiative.
|
|||
|
|
Having reached a vital stage in our development
|
|||
|
|
progress, we request a Grant from the Government of
|
|||
|
|
Canada in the amount of
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
90,000 Dutch Guilders ($60,700 Cdn Approx)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
to be applied toward the salary and relocation costs of
|
|||
|
|
a Canadian citizen, Mr. J. A. John Strome. As you may
|
|||
|
|
know, Mr. Strome, after finishing his appointment with
|
|||
|
|
the United Nations Office in Vienna, has worked with us
|
|||
|
|
as a Consultant and has extensive knowledge of this
|
|||
|
|
initiative from its earliest conception. Mr. Strome
|
|||
|
|
would be available to take up this very important
|
|||
|
|
position of Centre Coordinator as of 1 February 1994.
|
|||
|
|
Enclosed is a letter of support from the City of
|
|||
|
|
The Hague regarding the nomination of Mr. Strome for
|
|||
|
|
the position of Centre Coordinator.
|
|||
|
|
Also enclosed, as background information, are
|
|||
|
|
materials pertinent to the development, activities, and
|
|||
|
|
progress of the International Disability Foundation.
|
|||
|
|
Your very earliest response indication would be
|
|||
|
|
greatly appreciated.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Yours sincerely,
|
|||
|
|
Hans Hoegh
|
|||
|
|
Secretary General
|
|||
|
|
The International Disability Foundation
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The response of the Canadian government (sent by fax) is
|
|||
|
|
instructive. Here it is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ontario, Canada
|
|||
|
|
January 28, 1994
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dear Hans:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Thank you for your letter of January 7, 1994,
|
|||
|
|
regarding the establishment of an International
|
|||
|
|
Disability Centre in the City of The Hague.
|
|||
|
|
As you know, Canada has a long history of support
|
|||
|
|
and involvement in issues of concern to people with
|
|||
|
|
disabilities. We have participated in a number of
|
|||
|
|
international initiatives and continue to encourage
|
|||
|
|
attention to disability questions through many
|
|||
|
|
international forums.
|
|||
|
|
Canada wants to meet contemporary economic and
|
|||
|
|
social challenges in a responsive yet proactive manner.
|
|||
|
|
One exemplary initiative is our national comprehensive
|
|||
|
|
review of social policies and programs. This is a major
|
|||
|
|
undertaking which includes income support systems,
|
|||
|
|
training, and employment programs. Services which
|
|||
|
|
impact people with disabilities are an important part
|
|||
|
|
of this review, and they are a special consideration
|
|||
|
|
for our attention.
|
|||
|
|
With this in mind, I must advise that it is
|
|||
|
|
premature and probably pre-emptive to identify the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Centre as a priority project
|
|||
|
|
for us. Of course, we are concerned about partnerships
|
|||
|
|
and international cooperation on disability questions,
|
|||
|
|
but we are in no position to make any commitments
|
|||
|
|
beyond initiatives already underway.
|
|||
|
|
Now more than ever, our government must identify
|
|||
|
|
cost-effective ways and means of developing its
|
|||
|
|
international disability agenda. We realize the
|
|||
|
|
importance of sharing experience and expertise over the
|
|||
|
|
coming year, and wish you well in the work of the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Centre, as well as the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation.
|
|||
|
|
The employment status of John Strome, as raised in
|
|||
|
|
your note, is of concern to us. Certainly, John's
|
|||
|
|
contribution and dedication to persons with
|
|||
|
|
disabilities, in Canada and abroad, is well recognized
|
|||
|
|
and we do appreciate your collaboration in this regard.
|
|||
|
|
Your consideration in ensuring John's continued
|
|||
|
|
contribution to the work of the IDF will be
|
|||
|
|
appreciated.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Yours sincerely,
|
|||
|
|
Nancy Lawand
|
|||
|
|
Executive Director
|
|||
|
|
Status of Disabled Persons Section
|
|||
|
|
Government of Canada
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is what the Canadian government said, and apparently
|
|||
|
|
John Strome immediately felt the bite. He complained that his
|
|||
|
|
repatriation expenses (presumably the UN money earmarked to bring
|
|||
|
|
him home after his tour of UN duty) was no longer available since
|
|||
|
|
it had been used by Hoegh's IDF to bring him to Switzerland for
|
|||
|
|
IDF employment, for which Canada was expected to foot the bill.
|
|||
|
|
He spoke of what he called "late-arising internal circumstances,"
|
|||
|
|
which probably meant Canada's unwillingness to pay the tab and
|
|||
|
|
Hoegh's resulting embarassment and pique. Under date of January
|
|||
|
|
28, 1994, (the very date of Ms. Lawand's faxed letter to Hans
|
|||
|
|
Hoegh) Mr. Strome sent the following telefax:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
URGENT
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TO: Skip Brooks
|
|||
|
|
Status of Disabled Persons Secretariat
|
|||
|
|
Hull Quebec, Canada
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Urgent I speak with you later today (after 13:30
|
|||
|
|
hours your time). I can be reached at home (+41 22 788-
|
|||
|
|
6600). Due to late-arising internal circumstances,
|
|||
|
|
employer not reimbursing my monies for January nor
|
|||
|
|
considering my repatriation expenses which they used
|
|||
|
|
from UN to bring me here. Now stuck in Geneva--broke,
|
|||
|
|
hungry, and needing advice.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Kindest regards,
|
|||
|
|
John Strome
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Hot on the heels of the Strome communication came a fax
|
|||
|
|
(curt and brief) from Hans Hoegh. Here it is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Geneva, Switzerland
|
|||
|
|
February 1, 1994
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
To: Mrs. Nancy Lawand
|
|||
|
|
From: Hans Hoegh (International Disability Centre, The
|
|||
|
|
Hague)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dear Nancy:
|
|||
|
|
Many thanks for your fax of 28 January 1994.
|
|||
|
|
As you know, John Strome's contract with the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation expired 31 December
|
|||
|
|
1993. We prolonged it for one month waiting for your
|
|||
|
|
answer.
|
|||
|
|
As it was made clear right from the beginning, the
|
|||
|
|
International Disability Foundation has no financial
|
|||
|
|
resources to ensure John's employment in The Hague.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Yours sincerely,
|
|||
|
|
Hans Hoegh
|
|||
|
|
Secretary General
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What is one to make of all these charges, communications,
|
|||
|
|
maneuverings, and pleadings? I don't know--but I do know this: I
|
|||
|
|
for one hope that the World Blind Union will rethink its
|
|||
|
|
contemplated involvement with Hans Hoegh and his International
|
|||
|
|
Disability Foundation. His behavior and record speak for
|
|||
|
|
themselves. There are troubles enough in the world without going
|
|||
|
|
out and trying to find more.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Connie Leblond standing at a microphone. CAPTION: Connie Leblond.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VICTORY IN THE CONNIE LEBLOND CASE
|
|||
|
|
by Barbara Pierce
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Four years ago Connie Leblond, President of the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind of Maine, decided that, with both her
|
|||
|
|
children well settled in school, it was time to look for a job.
|
|||
|
|
She turned to the Maine Employment Security Commission for leads,
|
|||
|
|
but Maine is not a state renowned for its enlightened attitudes
|
|||
|
|
about the abilities of its blind citizens, so she was first told
|
|||
|
|
that as a blind person she could not expect to hold down a job.
|
|||
|
|
In fact, it took her three months to pry out the name of even one
|
|||
|
|
employer with a job opening for which Mrs. Leblond knew without
|
|||
|
|
question that she was qualified.
|
|||
|
|
In March of 1990 she went to the office of the Sentinel
|
|||
|
|
Telephone Answering Service to fill out an application. Her
|
|||
|
|
husband Bob drove her to the appointment and came in with her to
|
|||
|
|
fill out the form at her dictation. Bob Leblond uses a support
|
|||
|
|
cane, and Connie uses a white cane. Observing Connie's cane, the
|
|||
|
|
woman at the desk asked if she had a vision problem, and Connie
|
|||
|
|
told her directly that she was blind. When she went on to say
|
|||
|
|
that she wished to apply for a job, Connie was told firmly that a
|
|||
|
|
blind person could not do the work. It took her a few minutes to
|
|||
|
|
realize that she was in fact talking with the owner of the
|
|||
|
|
business, Theresa Milliken, and not a receptionist. She asked
|
|||
|
|
repeatedly for an application and was told that there were
|
|||
|
|
already too many applicants for the position for her form ever to
|
|||
|
|
be considered. Connie explained that she had previously worked as
|
|||
|
|
a switchboard operator, and she asked to examine the equipment
|
|||
|
|
being used in this business. The request was denied. Mrs.
|
|||
|
|
Milliken explained that Connie could not read the business
|
|||
|
|
Rolodex, and Connie said that she could Braille the information
|
|||
|
|
for herself in the office so that the cards could continue to be
|
|||
|
|
used even while she was working with them. By the close of the
|
|||
|
|
discussion it was clear that there was no way Connie Leblond was
|
|||
|
|
going to be allowed to compete for this job. As the couple left
|
|||
|
|
Bob remarked in sorrow that he hoped Mrs. Milliken never lost her
|
|||
|
|
sight, for if she did, her life would be as good as over.
|
|||
|
|
The following day Connie reported her experience to the
|
|||
|
|
Employment Security Commission, which advertises that it works
|
|||
|
|
with Equal Employment Opportunity businesses. She was told there
|
|||
|
|
was nothing to be done. This was not a message that Connie
|
|||
|
|
Leblond was happy to hear. She had been shaken by her encounter
|
|||
|
|
with Mrs. Milliken, and she wondered fleetingly whether it might
|
|||
|
|
be true that she could not do the job. Then she gave herself a
|
|||
|
|
mental shake and a lecture. This was the state of Maine, where
|
|||
|
|
the public's attitudes about blindness have been shaped for
|
|||
|
|
decades by repressive agencies and institutions. She was the
|
|||
|
|
President of the Maine affiliate of the National Federation of
|
|||
|
|
the Blind, and unless she and the Federation stood to fight,
|
|||
|
|
nothing in Maine was ever going to change. Connie contacted
|
|||
|
|
President Maurer, who assured her that the NFB would stand behind
|
|||
|
|
her and suggested that the next day she call her lawyer.
|
|||
|
|
The first step was to contact the Maine Human Rights
|
|||
|
|
Commission. A hearing officer was assigned to the case. She
|
|||
|
|
investigated the situation and then conducted a hearing to which
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Milliken never bothered to come. Eventually the hearing
|
|||
|
|
officer recommended to the entire Human Rights Commission that it
|
|||
|
|
find in Connie Leblond's favor. In the fall of 1992 the Human
|
|||
|
|
Rights Commission conducted its own hearing, absent Mrs.
|
|||
|
|
Milliken, and unanimously found in favor of Mrs. Leblond, fining
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel Service, Inc., $5,000. Astonishing as it may seem, Mrs.
|
|||
|
|
Milliken simply ignored the decision and the fine.
|
|||
|
|
Even when Connie Leblond's attorney threatened that the next
|
|||
|
|
step was court, she continued to refuse to pay the amount she
|
|||
|
|
owed Connie. According to the Leblonds, she had apparently
|
|||
|
|
decided that, if she simply ignored the entire situation, it
|
|||
|
|
would eventually go away. But in the summer of 1992 the case went
|
|||
|
|
to Maine Superior Court. Connie Leblond was given only twenty-
|
|||
|
|
four hours' notice of the hearing, but she and her attorney were
|
|||
|
|
there, which is more than could be said for Mrs. Milliken. Mrs.
|
|||
|
|
Leblond was a little disturbed to overhear Mr. Milliken, an
|
|||
|
|
attorney in the city, walk straight into the judge's chambers
|
|||
|
|
(where Connie was not allowed to set foot), call the judge by his
|
|||
|
|
first name, and announce that he could find neither his wife nor
|
|||
|
|
her attorney. The judge decided to postpone the hearing for a day
|
|||
|
|
in the hope that Mrs. Milliken and her attorney would turn up,
|
|||
|
|
which in fact they did.
|
|||
|
|
Not surprisingly, given this interchange, Connie was
|
|||
|
|
inclined to wonder how impartial the judge was likely to be. When
|
|||
|
|
the hearing began, it was clear that the defense attorney had
|
|||
|
|
decided to use two strategies. The first was to suggest that all
|
|||
|
|
blind people were unable, by virtue of blindness, to do the job
|
|||
|
|
at Sentinel. But since Mrs. Milliken had made no effort to
|
|||
|
|
determine whether Connie Leblond could do the job, this effort
|
|||
|
|
did not amount to much.
|
|||
|
|
He then tried to paint Connie as a person who was spoiling
|
|||
|
|
for a fight. Displaying a very aggressive attitude, he first
|
|||
|
|
accused Connie of being the President of the National Federation
|
|||
|
|
of the Blind of Maine and her husband of being a member of the
|
|||
|
|
organization. Much to the judge's amusement, Connie agreed to the
|
|||
|
|
truth of both these statements, pointing out that the NFB of
|
|||
|
|
Maine does not discriminate against sighted people. The attorney
|
|||
|
|
went on to ask whether it wasn't true that Mr. Leblond had been
|
|||
|
|
using a white cane on the day he accompanied Mrs. Leblond to
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel, and hadn't she tried to confuse Mrs. Milliken about how
|
|||
|
|
much she could see. Connie set him straight by pointing out that
|
|||
|
|
her husband used a support cane and by reporting her statement
|
|||
|
|
that she was blind at the beginning of the interview.
|
|||
|
|
Finally the question arose of whether and how Connie could
|
|||
|
|
actually do the work required by an answering service. She talked
|
|||
|
|
about her Braille and typing skills, but it wasn't until she
|
|||
|
|
mentioned her closed-circuit television system that the judge
|
|||
|
|
perked up. Suddenly he could understand that Connie really did
|
|||
|
|
have a way of writing and reading. Her statements to the effect
|
|||
|
|
that she might well not use such a device in a work setting were
|
|||
|
|
ignored.
|
|||
|
|
The hearing was over in less than a day, but it took the
|
|||
|
|
judge a year to render his opinion. In the summer of 1993 he
|
|||
|
|
announced that Connie Leblond had indeed been denied an
|
|||
|
|
opportunity to compete for the job at Sentinel and awarded her
|
|||
|
|
$20,700 in back pay and attorney's fees. Sentinel immediately
|
|||
|
|
appealed the decision to the Maine Supreme Court. The case was
|
|||
|
|
heard on November 5, 1993, and the court rendered its opinion on
|
|||
|
|
December 22. Here it is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Maine Supreme Judicial Court upholding verdict by the Superior
|
|||
|
|
Court Judge.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CONNIE LEBLOND
|
|||
|
|
v.
|
|||
|
|
SENTINEL SERVICE, INC.
|
|||
|
|
Submitted on briefs November 5, 1993
|
|||
|
|
Decided on December 22, 1993
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Before Roberts, Glassman, Clifford, Collins, Rudman, and
|
|||
|
|
Dana, JJ. Collins, J.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel Service, Inc. appeals from a judgment entered in
|
|||
|
|
the Superior Court (Cumberland County, Perkins, J.) in favor of
|
|||
|
|
Connie LeBlond in an employment discrimination action brought
|
|||
|
|
pursuant to the Maine Human Rights Act, 5 M.R.S.A. 4551-4632
|
|||
|
|
(1989), wherein the court awarded $20,700 back pay. We affirm the
|
|||
|
|
judgment.
|
|||
|
|
Connie LeBlond, a legally blind woman, went to Sentinel, a
|
|||
|
|
company that provides answering services to doctors and
|
|||
|
|
businesses in the Portland area, to apply for the position of
|
|||
|
|
switchboard operator. Theresa Milliken, president of Sentinel,
|
|||
|
|
was the first person that LeBlond encountered. When LeBlond
|
|||
|
|
explained that she had come to apply for the job, Milliken asked
|
|||
|
|
her if she had a vision problem. LeBlond replied that she was a
|
|||
|
|
blind person, whereupon Milliken told her that a blind person
|
|||
|
|
could not do the job. LeBlond's subsequent attempts to explain
|
|||
|
|
her switchboard experience and her ability to use her own
|
|||
|
|
adaptation equipment were rebuffed by Milliken, who simply
|
|||
|
|
restated her opinion that a blind person could not perform as a
|
|||
|
|
switchboard operator for her company.
|
|||
|
|
Six days after this incident, LeBlond filed a complaint with
|
|||
|
|
the Maine Human Rights Commission alleging that Sentinel had
|
|||
|
|
unlawfully discriminated against her on the basis of her
|
|||
|
|
blindness. After an investigation the Commission concluded that
|
|||
|
|
there were reasonable grounds to support the discrimination
|
|||
|
|
claim. Sentinel refused to participate in the informal
|
|||
|
|
conciliation process. See 5 M.R.S.A. 4612(3). LeBlond filed a
|
|||
|
|
civil action. After a non-jury trial the court found that
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel had unlawfully discriminated against LeBlond and ordered
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel to cease and desist such practices. See id.
|
|||
|
|
4613(2)(B)(1). The court also awarded LeBlond civil damages of
|
|||
|
|
$1,000, id. 4613(2)(B)(7); attorney fees, id. 4622; and back
|
|||
|
|
pay in the amount of $20,700. Id. 4613(2)(B)(2). Sentinel
|
|||
|
|
appealed from the judgment entered on the court's order.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Under the Maine Human Rights Act it is unlawful for an
|
|||
|
|
employer to "discriminate against any applicant for employment
|
|||
|
|
because of race or color, sex, physical or mental handicap,
|
|||
|
|
religion, ancestry or national origin, or age." Id. 4572. One
|
|||
|
|
of the defenses available to employers is the "bona fide
|
|||
|
|
occupational qualification" (BFOQ) defense, wherein an employer
|
|||
|
|
is allowed to discriminate against an entire class of persons
|
|||
|
|
protected under the Act, on the ground that the class of
|
|||
|
|
applicants, by its very nature, is not able to perform the job.
|
|||
|
|
Id; see Percy v. Allen, 449 A.2d 337, 343 (Me. 1982). Because the
|
|||
|
|
BFOQ defense runs contrary to the non-discriminatory intent of
|
|||
|
|
the Act, however, we have held that it must be construed very
|
|||
|
|
narrowly, using a two-prong test whereby the employer must show:
|
|||
|
|
(1) that the essence of the business operation requires the
|
|||
|
|
discriminatory practice and (2) that there was a factual basis
|
|||
|
|
for the belief that all or substantially all persons in the
|
|||
|
|
excluded category would be unable to perform the job in a safe or
|
|||
|
|
efficient manner. Rozanski v. A-P-A Transp., Inc., 512 A.2d
|
|||
|
|
335.341 (Me. 1986); see also Maine Human Rights Comm'n v.
|
|||
|
|
Canadian Pac., 458 A2d 1225, 1232 (Me. 1983). The court found
|
|||
|
|
that Sentinel failed to meet the requirements for a BFOQ defense.
|
|||
|
|
Because the employer has the burden of proof on a BFOQ defense,
|
|||
|
|
we will uphold the findings of the trial court unless the
|
|||
|
|
evidence compels a contrary finding. Plourde v. Scott Paper Co.,
|
|||
|
|
552 A.2d 1257, 1260 (Me. 1989). Sentinel did not prove it had an
|
|||
|
|
established and justified policy for excluding blind applicants,
|
|||
|
|
nor did it show that the "essence" of its business operations
|
|||
|
|
required the exclusion of such applicants. The BFOQ defense does
|
|||
|
|
not, in this instance, excuse discriminatory conduct in the
|
|||
|
|
hiring process.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
II.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sentinel also contends that the court's award of back pay
|
|||
|
|
was excessive in that it was not reduced by an amount LeBlond
|
|||
|
|
could have earned through "reasonable diligence." Maine Human
|
|||
|
|
Rights Comm'n v. City of Auburn, 425 A.2d 990,998 (Me. 1981). We
|
|||
|
|
reject this contention for two reasons. First, Sentinel did not
|
|||
|
|
carry its burden to prove that the employee could have mitigated
|
|||
|
|
her damages by finding other employment. Id. at 999. Second, we
|
|||
|
|
will uphold an award of back pay absent clear error by the grant
|
|||
|
|
of the award or an abuse of discretion in the amount awarded.
|
|||
|
|
Here the record reflects LeBlond's compliance with section 4622,
|
|||
|
|
which is a prerequisite to the court's authorization for the
|
|||
|
|
grant of the award. We have previously stated that it is not an
|
|||
|
|
abuse of discretion when the court awards back pay in amounts
|
|||
|
|
"designed to make the employee whole and not to penalize the
|
|||
|
|
employer unless that penalty is authorized by statute." Rozanski
|
|||
|
|
v. A-P-A Transp., Inc., 512 A.2d at 342. This award, which
|
|||
|
|
properly reflected the amount LeBlond would have earned if she
|
|||
|
|
had been hired by Sentinel minus the small sum she earned in
|
|||
|
|
another job, was designed to make LeBlond whole and did not
|
|||
|
|
inappropriately penalize Sentinel.
|
|||
|
|
The entry is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Judgment affirmed.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
All concurring:
|
|||
|
|
Attorney for Plaintiff: Alan J. Levenson, Esq., Portland, Maine
|
|||
|
|
Attorney for Defendant: Seth Berner, Esq., Portland, Maine
|
|||
|
|
____________________
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There you have the words of the Maine Supreme Court
|
|||
|
|
decision. At the time this article is being written (late
|
|||
|
|
February) the Leblonds have yet to see a penny of the cash
|
|||
|
|
settlement or the reimbursement for attorney's fees owed to the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind. Recently, when Connie called
|
|||
|
|
her lawyer to inquire what was happening, she was told that Mr.
|
|||
|
|
Milliken was now ill and Mrs. Milliken had decided to sell her
|
|||
|
|
business and retire. Because Sentinel Services, Inc., owns the
|
|||
|
|
couple's home, the Leblonds have instructed their attorney to
|
|||
|
|
place a lien on the house so that, when it is sold, the Leblonds
|
|||
|
|
and the Federation will be certain of getting their court-
|
|||
|
|
determined settlement. Such cases are seldom neat and clear-cut.
|
|||
|
|
This one will dribble to a close months or years from now. One
|
|||
|
|
could wish that the defendant had come away from this experience
|
|||
|
|
with a clear understanding that blindness is not a definitive
|
|||
|
|
indication of incapacity and that the judges had understood the
|
|||
|
|
efficiency and effectiveness of Braille as an alternative
|
|||
|
|
technique. These things did not happen, but a blind woman has
|
|||
|
|
stood up for her rights and won, and the organized blind have
|
|||
|
|
stood together to support her. We can take pride in our
|
|||
|
|
accomplishment. The first step is always to win justice;
|
|||
|
|
afterward we can take the time to educate people about what the
|
|||
|
|
victory means. There is still plenty of opportunity for education
|
|||
|
|
in the state of Maine.
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Peggy Elliott sits at a table microphone, reading Braille notes.
|
|||
|
|
CAPTION: Peggy Elliott.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ANOTHER DISCOURAGING YEAR-END REPORT FOR NAC
|
|||
|
|
by Peggy Elliott
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Peggy Elliott is the Second Vice President of the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind. She is also an attentive and interested
|
|||
|
|
observer of the goings-on at the National Accreditation Council
|
|||
|
|
for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC).
|
|||
|
|
Here is her most recent report.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And what do we hear from NAC these days? Well, NAC began in
|
|||
|
|
1993 with eighty accredited agencies in the U.S. Eight agencies
|
|||
|
|
left; and two joined, leaving NAC with seventy-four at the end of
|
|||
|
|
the year. One wonders what on earth those two joiners were
|
|||
|
|
thinking of, wasting their funds by associating with a dying
|
|||
|
|
accrediter.
|
|||
|
|
NAC's lack of finances continues to affect its operations.
|
|||
|
|
Some of the time telephone callers now reach NAC's answering
|
|||
|
|
machine. Apparently there is insufficient cash to staff the
|
|||
|
|
office full-time.
|
|||
|
|
Then there is the extension game. NAC clearly has
|
|||
|
|
insufficient funds and staff to handle routine accreditations. In
|
|||
|
|
addition, more and more agencies are hesitating to begin the
|
|||
|
|
lengthy and expensive re-accreditation process with NAC. Why pay
|
|||
|
|
for something that may not exist in a year or two? Of course, for
|
|||
|
|
those who are interested, NAC offers accreditation on the cheap--
|
|||
|
|
an on-site team from your own area to keep travel and lodging
|
|||
|
|
costs down. In other words, your local pals can accredit you. And
|
|||
|
|
even when the team comes from further afield, you can count on
|
|||
|
|
having it drawn from the ever-shrinking club of NAC supporters.
|
|||
|
|
For example, AER President Michael Bina told the 1993 Convention
|
|||
|
|
of the National Federation of the Blind that the Indiana School
|
|||
|
|
was accredited with an on-site team consisting of a fellow NAC-
|
|||
|
|
accredited school superintendent from Arkansas and NAC's paid
|
|||
|
|
staff director from New York. Well, you get what you pay for, and
|
|||
|
|
it is convenient to be able to pay for such a small accreditation
|
|||
|
|
team which is obviously predisposed to accredit.
|
|||
|
|
But back to the extension game. In 1993 fourteen agencies
|
|||
|
|
whose accreditation was scheduled to expire in that year saw
|
|||
|
|
their expiration dates extended into 1994. Some of these may have
|
|||
|
|
been requested by the agency; some may have been the agency's
|
|||
|
|
polite way of putting off the decision to reaccredit; some
|
|||
|
|
undoubtedly arose when the agency declined re-accreditation and
|
|||
|
|
NAC awarded an extension anyway, while it tried to find a way of
|
|||
|
|
re-enlisting the agency. Of the fourteen whose terms were
|
|||
|
|
extended, one has now dropped accreditation anyway, and others
|
|||
|
|
are sure to follow.
|
|||
|
|
Twenty-six of the seventy-four accredited agencies, or
|
|||
|
|
thirty-five percent of all accreditees, have accreditation terms
|
|||
|
|
now expiring in 1994. How many of these will still be associated
|
|||
|
|
with NAC in another year? And, while we're on the subject, will
|
|||
|
|
there be a NAC with which to associate?
|
|||
|
|
Here are the names of the eight agencies that dropped
|
|||
|
|
accreditation in 1993:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
California
|
|||
|
|
Lions Blind Center, Oakland
|
|||
|
|
Georgia
|
|||
|
|
Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge
|
|||
|
|
Mississippi
|
|||
|
|
School for the Blind
|
|||
|
|
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind
|
|||
|
|
New York
|
|||
|
|
Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany
|
|||
|
|
Jewish Guild for the Blind, New York
|
|||
|
|
Texas
|
|||
|
|
School for the Blind, Austin
|
|||
|
|
Washington
|
|||
|
|
Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted,
|
|||
|
|
Seattle
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The two misguided agencies that joined NAC for the first
|
|||
|
|
time in 1993 are:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Center for the Visually Impaired, Daytona Beach, Florida
|
|||
|
|
Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Here is a list, using common names, of the agencies whose
|
|||
|
|
accreditation is scheduled to expire in 1994. The list is
|
|||
|
|
arranged by state, and those thirteen agencies on extensions from
|
|||
|
|
1993 are marked with an asterisk:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Arizona
|
|||
|
|
*Foundation for Blind Children, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Arkansas
|
|||
|
|
Lions World Services, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
California
|
|||
|
|
*Santa Monica Center for the Blind, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Florida
|
|||
|
|
*Independence for the Blind, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
VR Agency, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Ft. Lauderdale Lighthouse, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Georgia
|
|||
|
|
*Savannah Association for the Blind, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Blind and Low Vision Services of North Georgia, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Illinois
|
|||
|
|
Philip Rock School, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
*VR Agency, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Michigan
|
|||
|
|
Grand Rapids Center, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Minnesota
|
|||
|
|
*Duluth Lighthouse, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
New Jersey
|
|||
|
|
*St Joseph's School, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
New Mexico
|
|||
|
|
School for the Blind, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
New York
|
|||
|
|
*Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Bronx School
|
|||
|
|
Ohio
|
|||
|
|
*Toledo Sight Center, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Columbus Vision Center, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Oklahoma
|
|||
|
|
*Oklahoma League for the Blind, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
*VR Agency, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
|||
|
|
York County Association, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
Feinbloom Center, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Puerto Rico
|
|||
|
|
School for the Blind, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
South Dakota
|
|||
|
|
School for the Blind, 12/94
|
|||
|
|
Wisconsin
|
|||
|
|
*Industries, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
*School for the Blind, 6/94
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--David Andrews seated at a table microphone, using a computer keyboard.
|
|||
|
|
CAPTION--David Andrews.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Man with headphones sits in a sound booth reading the business section
|
|||
|
|
of a newspaper. CAPTION: Glenn McConnell is one of the many volunteers who
|
|||
|
|
spend time reading newspapers to the blind at NEWSLINE for the Blind,
|
|||
|
|
headquartered in Sacramento and operated by the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind of California.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
READING THE NEWS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
|
|||
|
|
by David Andrews
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: One of the small frustrations most blind
|
|||
|
|
people live with is their inability to glance through a newspaper
|
|||
|
|
at will, reading a story here and skimming through a feature
|
|||
|
|
there. For most of us this limitation is nothing more than an
|
|||
|
|
annoyance, but we would be pleased to have an easy way to gather
|
|||
|
|
the information our sighted colleagues in the office or civic
|
|||
|
|
organization take for granted in their conversation.
|
|||
|
|
The technology revolution is beginning to alter this
|
|||
|
|
situation for many blind Americans, and it is clear that we are
|
|||
|
|
only at the start of the changes. They are exciting and a little
|
|||
|
|
unnerving. David Andrews, Director of the International Braille
|
|||
|
|
and Technology Center for the Blind, knows more than most of us
|
|||
|
|
about the technology that will soon bring us all the daily news
|
|||
|
|
in accessible formats. In the following article he summarizes the
|
|||
|
|
past and present in news delivery to the blind and looks into the
|
|||
|
|
future of this exciting new technology. This is what he has to
|
|||
|
|
say:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In a January 16, 1787, letter to Colonel Edward Carrington,
|
|||
|
|
Thomas Jefferson said, "The basis of our government being the
|
|||
|
|
opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep
|
|||
|
|
that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should
|
|||
|
|
have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a
|
|||
|
|
government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
|
|||
|
|
Most of us have heard part, if not all, of this quotation before.
|
|||
|
|
It shows how important the existence of newspapers was to Thomas
|
|||
|
|
Jefferson. If we who are blind are to take our place in society
|
|||
|
|
as equals, as we in the National Federation of the Blind know
|
|||
|
|
that we can and will, we must have access to the information and
|
|||
|
|
ideas presented in newspapers. Without access to current in-depth
|
|||
|
|
information, information which is necessary to formulate opinions
|
|||
|
|
and participate in community life, we are likely to be observers
|
|||
|
|
of our society rather than participants. This article explores
|
|||
|
|
the ways in which blind people have read newspapers in the past
|
|||
|
|
and present and speculates about how we are likely to do so in
|
|||
|
|
the future.
|
|||
|
|
Traditionally, if blind and visually impaired people wanted
|
|||
|
|
to read a newspaper, they had to have a sighted person read it to
|
|||
|
|
them. This could be a friend, family member, employee, or other
|
|||
|
|
paid or volunteer reader. In one sense this system is ideal
|
|||
|
|
because it gives the blind person maximum control over the
|
|||
|
|
procedure. However, it has two major drawbacks. First, a human
|
|||
|
|
reader may not always be available or willing. Second, most blind
|
|||
|
|
people are unable to find as many volunteer or paid readers as it
|
|||
|
|
would take to read a daily newspaper regularly. This is why
|
|||
|
|
technology-based solutions are so attractive and have received
|
|||
|
|
such attention lately.
|
|||
|
|
In the past twenty-five years a variety of technology-based
|
|||
|
|
methods for reading the printed word have been developed. While
|
|||
|
|
none of these has been a complete solution, they have all
|
|||
|
|
increased the options available to blind and visually impaired
|
|||
|
|
persons.
|
|||
|
|
There have been a number of attempts to produce personal
|
|||
|
|
reading machines for blind people, such as the Optacon and the
|
|||
|
|
Stereotoner. Developed in the early 1970's, the Optacon from
|
|||
|
|
TeleSensory, Inc. of Mountain View, California, does allow some
|
|||
|
|
people to read the newspaper and other printed material. It has a
|
|||
|
|
small camera--about the size of a package of chewing gum--which
|
|||
|
|
is manually passed across a printed page a line at a time. The
|
|||
|
|
camera picks up the images of the letters and transfers them to
|
|||
|
|
the main unit about the size of a desktop cassette recorder. A
|
|||
|
|
set of small pins vibrates, reproducing the actual shapes of the
|
|||
|
|
images on the print page. The pins are felt with the flat surface
|
|||
|
|
of the index finger. The Optacon is still produced and is used by
|
|||
|
|
a few persons but certainly is not a practical or widely used
|
|||
|
|
solution. The device is expensive ($3,695), somewhat fragile, and
|
|||
|
|
quite difficult to use. It requires a lot of training and
|
|||
|
|
practice, and few people have been able to achieve a reasonable
|
|||
|
|
reading speed with it. The average Optacon user probably reads
|
|||
|
|
twenty to thirty words a minute,and a very few say they can read
|
|||
|
|
at eighty to a hundred words per minute. While the latter speed
|
|||
|
|
is a noteworthy achievement for an Optacon user, it isn't
|
|||
|
|
sufficient for long-term, regular reading. TeleSensory attempted
|
|||
|
|
to add speech output to the Optacon in the early 1980's, but
|
|||
|
|
these efforts were unsuccessful.
|
|||
|
|
Another attempt at a reading machine was the Stereotoner.
|
|||
|
|
This was a device that transformed the images of print letters
|
|||
|
|
into musical tones. While an interesting idea, the machine proved
|
|||
|
|
to be very difficult for most people to use. One user told me
|
|||
|
|
that "You could kind of read with it."
|
|||
|
|
Late in the 1970's the first so-called reading machine came
|
|||
|
|
on the market. It was developed by Dr. Raymond Kurzweil of
|
|||
|
|
Kurzweil Computer Products, which is now a division of Xerox
|
|||
|
|
Imaging Systems. Kurzweil's machine, which cost over $50,000 at
|
|||
|
|
the time, was large and didn't work very well. Incidentally, it
|
|||
|
|
was developed in part with the financial assistance and advice of
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of the blind. To this day Kurzweil
|
|||
|
|
credits the NFB with providing the consumer input necessary to
|
|||
|
|
design the machine's keypad, a modified version of which is still
|
|||
|
|
in use.
|
|||
|
|
Twenty-five years later, reading machines are much smaller
|
|||
|
|
and more reliable. They read a wide variety of printed material
|
|||
|
|
and cost from $5,000 to $6,000. PC-based reading systems are even
|
|||
|
|
less expensive. (See The Braille Monitor, August, 1993, for a
|
|||
|
|
complete review of stand-alone reading machines.) While these
|
|||
|
|
machines are used by a number of blind people and are also
|
|||
|
|
available in some colleges and universities, as well as in public
|
|||
|
|
libraries and libraries for the blind, they are still not
|
|||
|
|
satisfactory for reading newspapers for two reasons. First, the
|
|||
|
|
poor print quality of most newspapers presents difficulties.
|
|||
|
|
Second, with the prevalence of continued articles, it can be
|
|||
|
|
difficult, if not impossible, to follow a story.
|
|||
|
|
There have been a few attempts around the country to record
|
|||
|
|
newspapers or portions thereof onto cassette tapes and to send
|
|||
|
|
them to blind people. I was able to use such a service in high
|
|||
|
|
school in northern New Jersey. I also understand that such
|
|||
|
|
services are quite common in Great Britain and Australia.
|
|||
|
|
However, this method is labor-intensive and not very timely for
|
|||
|
|
daily papers.
|
|||
|
|
I have also heard of at least two Braille daily newspapers,
|
|||
|
|
one in Hong Kong and one in France. Both are produced from files
|
|||
|
|
obtained directly from the publisher. These Braille editions
|
|||
|
|
provide only some of the news stories and none of the
|
|||
|
|
advertising, classifieds, or other material carried by the print
|
|||
|
|
versions. While this is an interesting possibility, it is
|
|||
|
|
unrealistic to expect a mass-produced Braille daily newspaper in
|
|||
|
|
the foreseeable future. Logistical difficulties and expense make
|
|||
|
|
it impossible. As Braille embossing technology and refreshable
|
|||
|
|
Braille displays become more available and drop in price, we will
|
|||
|
|
see more individuals using them in conjunction with on-line
|
|||
|
|
services to produce personal Braille copies of newspapers. It
|
|||
|
|
would, for example, be quite feasible to download news articles
|
|||
|
|
from CompuServe or another on-line service, transfer them into a
|
|||
|
|
laptop computer with refreshable Braille display, and read them
|
|||
|
|
in Braille while commuting to work.
|
|||
|
|
Because of the difficulty with recording, Brailling, and
|
|||
|
|
personal or machine reading, different methods of reading
|
|||
|
|
newspapers to blind and visually impaired people have been
|
|||
|
|
developed and pursued. The first and still most common uses a
|
|||
|
|
closed-circuit radio frequency or sub-carrier signal of an
|
|||
|
|
existing FM radio station to broadcast to blind listeners. This
|
|||
|
|
service is most often called a radio reading service. Each FM
|
|||
|
|
station has a sub-carrier signal--a portion of its signal that
|
|||
|
|
isn't normally used. Blind people are loaned special pre-tuned
|
|||
|
|
receivers which pick up only that station's sub-carrier signal or
|
|||
|
|
Subsidiary Communications Authorization (SCA). This ensures that
|
|||
|
|
the general public won't hear the broadcast, which guarantees the
|
|||
|
|
copyright protection of the newspapers being read. Community-
|
|||
|
|
minded volunteers usually do most of the reading on these sub-
|
|||
|
|
carrier services. In addition to SCA's, some reading services use
|
|||
|
|
open channel broadcasting, cable, or television Separate Audio
|
|||
|
|
Programming (SAP) frequencies to distribute their programming.
|
|||
|
|
The first Radio Reading Service went on the air in
|
|||
|
|
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 1, 1969. Very shortly
|
|||
|
|
thereafter, the second one, which was established and run by the
|
|||
|
|
Iowa Commission for the Blind, began broadcasting using an open
|
|||
|
|
channel. According to the 1993 directory of the National
|
|||
|
|
Association of Radio Reading Services, there are now 124 such
|
|||
|
|
services around the country.
|
|||
|
|
The most recent method for conveying newspapers to blind
|
|||
|
|
people involves the use of a touch tone telephone. The blind
|
|||
|
|
person uses the telephone to call a service by which he or she
|
|||
|
|
can listen to a daily newspaper. The tones on the touch tone
|
|||
|
|
phone are used to choose the newspaper (if there is more than one
|
|||
|
|
available), pick the section of the paper to be read, listen to
|
|||
|
|
or skip the current story, speed up or slow down the reading,
|
|||
|
|
etc. By using the push buttons on the telephone, the listener has
|
|||
|
|
complete control over what is read and when. This type of service
|
|||
|
|
has variously been called a "Newspaper for the Blind," "Talking
|
|||
|
|
Newspaper," "Dial-Up" or "Dial-In" newspaper, or "NEWSLINE for
|
|||
|
|
the Blind" or "NEWSLINE." NEWSLINE for the Blind is a registered
|
|||
|
|
trademark of the National Federation of the Blind.
|
|||
|
|
The NEWSLINE concept was pioneered by James Doherty of
|
|||
|
|
Flint, Michigan, with his Newspapers for the Blind or Talking
|
|||
|
|
Newspaper early in 1987. There are now six NEWSLINE services in
|
|||
|
|
the United States and two overseas. They serve the following
|
|||
|
|
areas: Flint/Detroit, Michigan; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota;
|
|||
|
|
New Mexico; Washington, D.C.; California; and northern New
|
|||
|
|
Jersey. Overseas they are located in Switzerland and Melbourne,
|
|||
|
|
Australia. In addition, a service is expected in the relatively
|
|||
|
|
near future in Lawrence, Kansas. The New Mexico and California
|
|||
|
|
operations are the only services to offer statewide toll-free
|
|||
|
|
service. They are also the two services that have had close and
|
|||
|
|
continuous NFB involvement from the beginning. The New Mexico
|
|||
|
|
service, which I helped establish and managed during its
|
|||
|
|
formative years, is run by the New Mexico Commission for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind, directed by NFB Board of Directors member Fred Schroeder.
|
|||
|
|
The California service, which is the largest in the country, is a
|
|||
|
|
program of the NFB of California and directed by NFB Board member
|
|||
|
|
Sharon Gold.
|
|||
|
|
As mentioned above, there are currently six NEWSLINE
|
|||
|
|
services on-line in the United States, with a seventh likely some
|
|||
|
|
time in early or mid-1994. The first one was Newspapers for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind in Flint, Michigan. It went on-line in early 1987 and
|
|||
|
|
currently has about 1000 users. The system reads one paper each
|
|||
|
|
in Detroit, Flint, and Kalamazoo and offers local access in a
|
|||
|
|
number of other Michigan towns. In addition, it records six
|
|||
|
|
magazines, including Time, People, Sports Illustrated, McCalls,
|
|||
|
|
Prevention, and Accent. The service, which must raise all its own
|
|||
|
|
money, has struggled financially; and monetary restrictions have
|
|||
|
|
placed some limitations on the services offered.
|
|||
|
|
The next service to go on-line was Dial-In News and
|
|||
|
|
Information in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. It went on-line
|
|||
|
|
in March of 1990. This is the only NEWSLINE service to charge a
|
|||
|
|
monthly subscription fee, $6.00 per month. The service currently
|
|||
|
|
has 200 users. Dick Davis, Director of Minnesota State Services
|
|||
|
|
for the Blind, says that this low number is due in large part to
|
|||
|
|
the fact that his agency has not tried to market the service.
|
|||
|
|
According to Davis, the state agency is now in the process of
|
|||
|
|
adding part-time staff assistance and mounting a marketing
|
|||
|
|
campaign. By contrast, the state agency also runs a traditional
|
|||
|
|
radio reading service, the first in the U.S. Davis says that they
|
|||
|
|
have over 15,000 listeners statewide with approximately half in
|
|||
|
|
the Twin Cities area.
|
|||
|
|
In June of 1990 NEWSLINE for the Blind was put on-line by
|
|||
|
|
the New Mexico Commission for the Blind. The service is located
|
|||
|
|
in Albuquerque and currently has approximately 1000 users. It
|
|||
|
|
offers toll-free service to other parts of New Mexico, and
|
|||
|
|
approximately one third of its users are from outside
|
|||
|
|
Albuquerque.
|
|||
|
|
Other services include those run by the Washington Ear, a
|
|||
|
|
radio reading service in the Washington, D.C. area; NEWSLINE for
|
|||
|
|
the Blind, run by the National Federation of the Blind of
|
|||
|
|
California; and EIES of New Jersey, a radio reading service
|
|||
|
|
located in South Orange, a town outside of Newark, in northern
|
|||
|
|
New Jersey. The Washington NEWSLINE has approximately 800 users.
|
|||
|
|
By contrast, its parent radio reading service has over 2,000
|
|||
|
|
listeners. The California NEWSLINE has approximately 2,000 users
|
|||
|
|
as of early 1994. It offers toll-free service at night and on
|
|||
|
|
weekends, and most users access the service in this way. Finally
|
|||
|
|
EIES of New Jersey, an SCA radio reading service, has just
|
|||
|
|
started a NEWSLINE system called TeleReader. The service is only
|
|||
|
|
a few weeks old at the time of this writing and not fully
|
|||
|
|
operational, so user numbers are still small.
|
|||
|
|
The University of Kansas Audio-Reader Network, a state-run,
|
|||
|
|
statewide radio reading service network, has received a grant
|
|||
|
|
from Lions International to establish a NEWSLINE in Kansas. The
|
|||
|
|
grant pays for fifty percent of the costs, and Audio-Reader had
|
|||
|
|
to raise the other fifty percent, which it has done. As of late
|
|||
|
|
January, 1994, it is raising additional funds to pay for toll-
|
|||
|
|
free telephone lines. It expects to go on-line some time in 1994.
|
|||
|
|
A number of newspapers themselves have embarked on audio
|
|||
|
|
projects. This kind of service from a newspaper is generally
|
|||
|
|
called Audiotext. These services have for the most part offered
|
|||
|
|
stock quotes and business information, sports and weather, soap
|
|||
|
|
opera summaries, and perhaps a little news. Commercials may also
|
|||
|
|
be embedded in the messages. Stock quotes seem to be the most
|
|||
|
|
popular offering on Audiotext services.
|
|||
|
|
While there may be some useful information on Audiotext
|
|||
|
|
services for blind people, they have not proved to be a
|
|||
|
|
substitute for NEWSLINE or other programs specifically designed
|
|||
|
|
for blind people. Though very useful for some purposes, Audiotext
|
|||
|
|
has proved glitzy and shallow, not in-depth. While it would be
|
|||
|
|
nice to get our information directly from the newspaper itself,
|
|||
|
|
this does not seem likely in the foreseeable future.
|
|||
|
|
Both radio reading services and NEWSLINE services have their
|
|||
|
|
advantages and disadvantages. Radio reading services offer a
|
|||
|
|
method for conveying relatively large amounts of information to a
|
|||
|
|
large audience. By using volunteers, they save some money and are
|
|||
|
|
easy to use. The listener has only to turn on the receiver. They
|
|||
|
|
offer companionship to people, particularly the elderly, who
|
|||
|
|
generally have lots of time and stable schedules.
|
|||
|
|
On the negative side, costs per listener are relatively
|
|||
|
|
high. Staff, studios, and special pre-tuned closed-circuit radio
|
|||
|
|
receivers must all be paid for. In some instances air time must
|
|||
|
|
also be purchased. In particular, receiver costs are a real
|
|||
|
|
problem for many services. These units are currently selling in
|
|||
|
|
the $100 range, and no change is likely because of the low
|
|||
|
|
numbers involved. According to recent information obtained from
|
|||
|
|
the Illinois State Library, the current per-listener cost in that
|
|||
|
|
state is $41 per year. These figures are typical of those in
|
|||
|
|
other parts of the country.
|
|||
|
|
Another major disadvantage is that radio reading services
|
|||
|
|
operate on a fixed schedule, and the individual listener has no
|
|||
|
|
control over what is read or when. If reading service X reads the
|
|||
|
|
Chicago Tribune at 8:00 a.m. and you can't listen at that time,
|
|||
|
|
there is little you can do. While it is possible to set up a tape
|
|||
|
|
recorder on a timer, realistically few listeners do so. Listeners
|
|||
|
|
are also unable to control the pace or speed of the reading,
|
|||
|
|
cannot archive or store materials easily, and cannot skim or
|
|||
|
|
control the reading in any other way. Further, SCA signal and
|
|||
|
|
audio quality are often poor, and reception problems plague many
|
|||
|
|
listeners, particularly those living in outlying areas. SCA
|
|||
|
|
reception can also be a problem for people living in large cities
|
|||
|
|
because of interference from buildings and other obstacles.
|
|||
|
|
The main advantage of a NEWSLINE service is that it gives
|
|||
|
|
the user complete control over what he or she reads and when.
|
|||
|
|
Anything on the system can be read whenever the listener chooses.
|
|||
|
|
It is also easy for a user to scan a newspaper, skipping from
|
|||
|
|
story to story and from section to section, reading what catches
|
|||
|
|
his or her interest, in the same way a sighted person reads the
|
|||
|
|
paper. This is impossible with radio reading services. The
|
|||
|
|
NEWSLINE service director also knows exactly what is being read
|
|||
|
|
and what is not. This information is useful in fine-tuning the
|
|||
|
|
service and is tangible information which can be used to
|
|||
|
|
demonstrate the value of the program. Conversely, if people
|
|||
|
|
aren't using the service, that will be known too. In general the
|
|||
|
|
per listener cost for NEWSLINE services seems to be lower than
|
|||
|
|
that for closed-circuit, radio reading services. Further, the
|
|||
|
|
initial investment isn't as great because studios can be smaller
|
|||
|
|
or nonexistent. Moreover, receivers do not have to be purchased.
|
|||
|
|
It is also possible to run a top-quality NEWSLINE service with a
|
|||
|
|
smaller staff than a comparable radio reading service would
|
|||
|
|
require.
|
|||
|
|
On the negative side, NEWSLINE services tie listeners to
|
|||
|
|
their telephones, although a speaker phone reduces the
|
|||
|
|
inconvenience of having to hold the handset. It will not,
|
|||
|
|
however, reduce the need for using the instrument and telephone
|
|||
|
|
line for reading. It is difficult to move around or do other
|
|||
|
|
things while reading. It is also necessary to have a touch tone
|
|||
|
|
telephone. Like radio reading services, NEWSLINEs also use
|
|||
|
|
volunteer readers and are fairly labor-intensive. Finally, some
|
|||
|
|
seniors may not wish to use a NEWSLINE-type service because of
|
|||
|
|
the active initiation and participation involved.
|
|||
|
|
It is difficult to predict what the future holds, although
|
|||
|
|
some speculation is in order. Newspapers are increasingly coming
|
|||
|
|
to regard themselves, not as disseminaters of information printed
|
|||
|
|
on paper, but as organizations that collect and package news in a
|
|||
|
|
variety of formats, including electronic publishing. Currently
|
|||
|
|
dozens of newspapers are available through on-line services like
|
|||
|
|
CompuServe, Dialog, and the Dow Jones News/Retrieval Service.
|
|||
|
|
CompuServe, for one, has the texts of over fifty-five newspapers
|
|||
|
|
available on-line. In general, though, these publications are
|
|||
|
|
expensive to access and do not allow for on-line browsing. They
|
|||
|
|
are primarily intended for searching and are laid out as
|
|||
|
|
databases. They are mostly used by corporations, professional
|
|||
|
|
researchers, and well-heeled news junkies.
|
|||
|
|
As newspapers become more committed to electronic
|
|||
|
|
publishing, it is difficult to predict or measure the impact this
|
|||
|
|
trend will have on blind people. A number of newspapers are
|
|||
|
|
increasingly offering their information through on-line services.
|
|||
|
|
However, the tendency is to use graphically based services such
|
|||
|
|
as Prodigy or America On-Line--services that are not accessible
|
|||
|
|
to blind persons.
|
|||
|
|
The National Federation of the Blind is currently
|
|||
|
|
negotiating with two newspapers, one local and one national, to
|
|||
|
|
offer some kind of dial-up, computer-accessible newspaper. The
|
|||
|
|
dial-up version would employ speech synthesis, not human readers
|
|||
|
|
as previous NEWSLINE services have done. If this project goes
|
|||
|
|
forward, we will conduct a pilot project to demonstrate the
|
|||
|
|
feasibility of providing a dial-up newspaper using speech
|
|||
|
|
synthesis as well as a computer-accessible paper, one that is
|
|||
|
|
downloadable to and readable on a blind person's computer. The
|
|||
|
|
project will allow us to develop all necessary software for
|
|||
|
|
processing and presenting a data feed from a newspaper to blind
|
|||
|
|
people in a usable format. It will also gather information on
|
|||
|
|
whether people prefer listening to synthesized speech or human
|
|||
|
|
readers over the telephone on a regular basis. Such a system
|
|||
|
|
would offer large savings of time and human effort in presenting
|
|||
|
|
a complete newspaper. With such a system everything could be done
|
|||
|
|
quickly and efficiently. We estimate that a complete newspaper
|
|||
|
|
could be on-line within two hours of receiving the raw data feed
|
|||
|
|
from the newspaper.
|
|||
|
|
There are a number of projects in Sweden, England, Germany,
|
|||
|
|
and the Netherlands designed to give blind people access to
|
|||
|
|
newspapers by computer. The oldest of these is in Sweden, where
|
|||
|
|
the text of a newspaper is automatically transmitted to the end-
|
|||
|
|
user's computer in the middle of the night through an FM sub-
|
|||
|
|
carrier signal. The user can read the paper in the morning, using
|
|||
|
|
the special software provided by the service. At this point such
|
|||
|
|
services are still relatively small and expensive but warrant
|
|||
|
|
watching.
|
|||
|
|
In ten to twenty-five years I believe most people will get
|
|||
|
|
their newspapers, books, and periodicals electronically. This
|
|||
|
|
could be by computer from an on-line service, such as CompuServe,
|
|||
|
|
from a network like Internet, or from some derivative of the so-
|
|||
|
|
called information superhighway. It could also be from a service
|
|||
|
|
provided by your telephone company, cable company, or newspaper.
|
|||
|
|
We are seeing computers, CD-ROM, television, radio, electronic
|
|||
|
|
games, and other forms of entertainment and video come closer and
|
|||
|
|
closer to each other. It is likely that they will all meet in
|
|||
|
|
some sort of information/entertainment appliance. As long as the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind is diligent in ensuring that
|
|||
|
|
blind people have access to new hardware and software as they are
|
|||
|
|
developed, we have much to gain from the electronic age. Further,
|
|||
|
|
the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the growing
|
|||
|
|
public awareness of the needs of disabled people, and the
|
|||
|
|
increased availability of information in digital format should
|
|||
|
|
ensure our access to information in the future--if, as I say, we
|
|||
|
|
are diligent.
|
|||
|
|
Another possible scenario for information access involves
|
|||
|
|
the use of a small, portable information reader. This could be a
|
|||
|
|
device, about the size of a book, which displays information on a
|
|||
|
|
small screen. The information could be a book, which is read from
|
|||
|
|
some sort of memory chip, or it could be current information such
|
|||
|
|
as a newspaper which is available through some sort of
|
|||
|
|
broadcasting mechanism or by plugging the device into a phone
|
|||
|
|
line, cable system, or other network. The danger with this kind
|
|||
|
|
of device is that it will be a closed system, one that doesn't
|
|||
|
|
give us a means of inserting access hardware or software such as
|
|||
|
|
a speech synthesizer or Braille display.
|
|||
|
|
It is likely that the way in which blind people access
|
|||
|
|
information will change in the near and long-term future. More
|
|||
|
|
and more people will get reading machines and PC-based scanning
|
|||
|
|
systems, and these products will continue to improve, although I
|
|||
|
|
am not sure that they will ever be used extensively for reading
|
|||
|
|
newspapers. There will still be a role for human readers because
|
|||
|
|
of the degree of control this method allows. The National Library
|
|||
|
|
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is currently
|
|||
|
|
doing research on the talking book machine of the future. This
|
|||
|
|
device will almost certainly employ some sort of digital medium,
|
|||
|
|
such as a CD-ROM disk. Whether or not it will also be used to
|
|||
|
|
access commercially available data, only time will tell. Further,
|
|||
|
|
more and more blind and visually impaired people are using
|
|||
|
|
computers regularly and will explore computer-based methods for
|
|||
|
|
obtaining news. Recording for the Blind reports that
|
|||
|
|
approximately two thirds of its patrons have and use computers.
|
|||
|
|
Further, the impact of the much ballyhooed information
|
|||
|
|
superhighway is unknown at this time, but there will be an
|
|||
|
|
impact. It is likely that the quantity of digital access as well
|
|||
|
|
as its availability will increase. This can only promise much for
|
|||
|
|
blind people. Nevertheless, we in the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind must remain diligent to ensure that blind people have full
|
|||
|
|
access to future information retrieval technologies, whether they
|
|||
|
|
be hardware- or software-based.
|
|||
|
|
Much effort has gone into developing the current radio
|
|||
|
|
reading service systems. On paper at least, such services are a
|
|||
|
|
good idea, but the reality is somewhat less positive. While these
|
|||
|
|
services will deny it, most past studies have indicated that they
|
|||
|
|
have few regular listeners. Most of the success stories are
|
|||
|
|
anecdotal in nature. While it is difficult to contemplate the
|
|||
|
|
shutdown of existing services, it is increasingly difficult to
|
|||
|
|
defend programs that are disproportionately expensive, reach few
|
|||
|
|
people, and offer little impact and user control. Technology is
|
|||
|
|
changing, and once users have seen the power of user control (the
|
|||
|
|
ability to read what you want when you wish) there will be no
|
|||
|
|
going back. On the other hand, it is unlikely that the current
|
|||
|
|
NEWSLINE services will be a permanent solution for blind people
|
|||
|
|
either. Presumably, as newspapers, books, magazines, and other
|
|||
|
|
information become available and widely distributed in digital
|
|||
|
|
form, the need for dial-up services intended specifically for
|
|||
|
|
blind people will be obviated.
|
|||
|
|
I believe that in the interim a hybrid NEWSLINE service may
|
|||
|
|
be developed. It could use a combination of human readers and
|
|||
|
|
synthesized speech to present an entire newspaper.
|
|||
|
|
At this time there may be no ideal way to deliver newspapers
|
|||
|
|
in their entirety to blind people. Times, technology, and
|
|||
|
|
expectations are changing. Technology will play an increasing
|
|||
|
|
role in the years to come. With the development of the
|
|||
|
|
information superhighway and the increased availability of
|
|||
|
|
newspapers, books, periodicals, and other information, it will
|
|||
|
|
become easier for us as blind people to stay informed about the
|
|||
|
|
world around us. We must be willing and able to experiment with
|
|||
|
|
and use the new technologies and services as they become
|
|||
|
|
available. We live in truly exciting times!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Portrait. CAPTION--Sharon Gold.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT BLINDNESS:
|
|||
|
|
REMARKS DELIVERED TO A GROUP OF CALIFORNIA NURSES
|
|||
|
|
by Sharon Gold
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: Recently Sharon Gold, President of the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind of California and a member of
|
|||
|
|
the NFB Board of Directors, was asked to speak at three
|
|||
|
|
continuing-education classes for Southern California nurses
|
|||
|
|
wishing to renew their state nursing licenses. She was asked to
|
|||
|
|
address two topics: growing up as a blind child and blindness and
|
|||
|
|
the responsibilities of the medical profession. This is what she
|
|||
|
|
had to say:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Love is a four-letter word with a big meaning. If each of us
|
|||
|
|
in this room shared our thoughts right now about love, we would
|
|||
|
|
probably all say something about the great need for more love in
|
|||
|
|
the world. Indeed we would do well to nurture the growth of love
|
|||
|
|
among us. However, while we all need to increase our sensitivity
|
|||
|
|
or love for one another, it is important to recognize that we can
|
|||
|
|
be cruel to one another even in our loving. Yes, to speak
|
|||
|
|
directly to the point of our discussion today, love can be a form
|
|||
|
|
of child abuse, giving rise to the need to defend the child.
|
|||
|
|
My parents were devastated when they learned that their
|
|||
|
|
first-born child was blind. Neither my mother nor my father knew
|
|||
|
|
a blind person, But what was even more devastating than the
|
|||
|
|
blindness was the way the doctors handled the situation. They
|
|||
|
|
were kind men who didn't wish to upset my parents by telling them
|
|||
|
|
their baby couldn't see. You may be thinking that perhaps the
|
|||
|
|
doctors did not know that I was blind; and, of course, you may be
|
|||
|
|
right. However, my eyes were cloudy because I had congenital
|
|||
|
|
cataracts. My mother noticed the cloudiness immediately and
|
|||
|
|
inquired about it. The doctors said that they would put drops in
|
|||
|
|
my eyes, and the cloudiness would go away. In those days mother
|
|||
|
|
and child stayed in the hospital for several days, and each day
|
|||
|
|
the doctors put drops in my eyes and tried to avoid discussing my
|
|||
|
|
ophthalmological condition with my mother.
|
|||
|
|
As I have already said, these doctors were kind and loving
|
|||
|
|
men. They meant only good for my parents, and they certainly
|
|||
|
|
meant no harm to this new-born baby. But however shocking and
|
|||
|
|
cruel it may have seemed to the doctors, it would have been more
|
|||
|
|
loving and kind to have openly discussed the actual condition of
|
|||
|
|
my eyes and my blindness with my parents.
|
|||
|
|
You are all probably observing my gray hair and are thinking
|
|||
|
|
that this happened a long time ago and that surely it would not
|
|||
|
|
happen today. You are right about the long-time-ago part. This
|
|||
|
|
event took place fifty years ago, and I wish it were different
|
|||
|
|
today. Sometimes it is. However, there is still real reluctance
|
|||
|
|
to discuss blindness when it strikes a family. The tendency is
|
|||
|
|
still to bypass the subject or to minimize the situation.
|
|||
|
|
My mother concluded that it would do little good to cry over
|
|||
|
|
the fact that I was blind. She decided the sooner she and Daddy
|
|||
|
|
began to deal with the situation, the better it would be for all
|
|||
|
|
of us. Therefore, my parents made a conscious decision to raise
|
|||
|
|
me as they would have any other child. Children need to be
|
|||
|
|
encouraged, have their behavior molded, and be disciplined. I was
|
|||
|
|
no different.
|
|||
|
|
But disciplining a blind child can often be a problem if
|
|||
|
|
there are visitors in the house or if the family is away from
|
|||
|
|
home and in the company of others. Sending a child to his or her
|
|||
|
|
room until the identified bad behavior is over may be acceptable
|
|||
|
|
discipline for a naughty sighted child, but it may strike
|
|||
|
|
visitors differently when the child being punished is blind.
|
|||
|
|
Indeed, any disciplinary measures at all may raise severe
|
|||
|
|
criticism from third parties.
|
|||
|
|
One evening, when I was very young, my parents had dinner
|
|||
|
|
guests. It was their custom with me (and later with my sister) to
|
|||
|
|
include me at the dinner table rather than feeding me beforehand
|
|||
|
|
and excluding me from eating with the family and the guests.
|
|||
|
|
Mother always set a beautiful table, and this evening was no
|
|||
|
|
exception. I had my place setting, complete with a glass of milk.
|
|||
|
|
However, I wanted something in the middle of the table. Instead
|
|||
|
|
of asking for what I wanted, I took the child's shortcut.
|
|||
|
|
Standing up on my chair, I leaned over the table to reach what I
|
|||
|
|
wished to have. In the process I knocked over my milk, spilling
|
|||
|
|
it all over the table and the floor. My mother picked me up with
|
|||
|
|
one hand (as only a mother can do) and swatted me on the behind
|
|||
|
|
with the other while firmly sitting me back down on the chair. As
|
|||
|
|
she began cleaning up the mess, she noticed that the guests were
|
|||
|
|
very quiet. It became evident that they were upset when they
|
|||
|
|
voiced their intent to leave because my mother had punished me
|
|||
|
|
for spilling my milk. They reasoned that, because I could not see
|
|||
|
|
the milk, I should not have been punished for spilling it. Mother
|
|||
|
|
explained that I had not spilled the milk because I had not seen
|
|||
|
|
it but because I had been doing something I should not have done-
|
|||
|
|
-standing on a chair and leaning over the table to get what I
|
|||
|
|
should have asked to have passed. Mother told her guests that, if
|
|||
|
|
I had been sitting properly at the table and had knocked over the
|
|||
|
|
milk because I did not see it, nothing would have been said. The
|
|||
|
|
milk would simply have been cleaned up.
|
|||
|
|
Many parents have difficulty raising their blind children
|
|||
|
|
because of the attitudes of others. Peer pressure is powerful at
|
|||
|
|
all ages, and it doesn't cease to exert that power at adulthood
|
|||
|
|
or parenthood. Good parents demonstrate their love by teaching
|
|||
|
|
their children self-discipline and by expecting and praising good
|
|||
|
|
behavior. Withstanding the criticism of well-meaning friends and
|
|||
|
|
relations can be very hard for parents, especially parents of
|
|||
|
|
blind children. Yet, like sighted children, blind youngsters need
|
|||
|
|
standards for self-discipline and good conduct, and bad behavior
|
|||
|
|
should not be excused away by blindness.
|
|||
|
|
Through the National Organization of Parents of Blind
|
|||
|
|
Children, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, and
|
|||
|
|
its magazine Future Reflections, parents of blind children
|
|||
|
|
receive support from each other. This network promotes the notion
|
|||
|
|
that it is important to set standards for blind children similar
|
|||
|
|
to those set for sighted ones. Through sharing ideas and
|
|||
|
|
experiences, these parents hope to raise normal, well-mannered
|
|||
|
|
children who will grow into successful blind adults.
|
|||
|
|
Through its library of Twin Vision<6F> Books, the American
|
|||
|
|
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults provides a great
|
|||
|
|
service to parents of blind children as well as to blind parents
|
|||
|
|
raising sighted children. Twin Vision books are children's story
|
|||
|
|
books which have been disassembled, interleaved with Braille
|
|||
|
|
transcriptions of the printed text, and reassembled into a book.
|
|||
|
|
The facing page to each print page contains the Braille text.
|
|||
|
|
Parents of blind children can subscribe to this library service
|
|||
|
|
and read the Twin Vision books to their preschool children who
|
|||
|
|
can then touch the Braille while the parent reads. School-aged
|
|||
|
|
blind children can read along with the parent. The Twin Vision
|
|||
|
|
books are also wonderful for blind parents who can read the
|
|||
|
|
Braille to their sighted children while they follow along,
|
|||
|
|
looking at the pictures and reading the print text.
|
|||
|
|
Today we are very aware of child abuse. Doctors, nurses, and
|
|||
|
|
teachers look for the physical signs and report such symptoms to
|
|||
|
|
the authorities. It is customary to look for bruises or other
|
|||
|
|
signs of physical abuse, but there are other kinds of child
|
|||
|
|
abuse, as well, and we are coming to recognize forms that do not
|
|||
|
|
come from a physical beating. The mother who was still feeding
|
|||
|
|
her blind child baby food when he was ten years old was abusing
|
|||
|
|
him as surely as if she had beaten him. He was thin and
|
|||
|
|
underdeveloped. His facial muscles were atrophied. Her excuse for
|
|||
|
|
feeding him baby food was that, since the child was blind, he
|
|||
|
|
could not learn to chew. This parent thought that she was
|
|||
|
|
providing tender, loving care to her son when in fact this was a
|
|||
|
|
blatant form of child abuse.
|
|||
|
|
Similarly, parents who require fewer household chores from
|
|||
|
|
their blind children than from their other youngsters are also
|
|||
|
|
abusing the child. These lowered expectations damage the blind
|
|||
|
|
child's relationship with siblings and diminish his or her self-
|
|||
|
|
esteem. Further the child's development is delayed because he or
|
|||
|
|
she does not learn tasks that are age-appropriate--picking up her
|
|||
|
|
toys or clothes, making his bed, setting and clearing the table,
|
|||
|
|
helping to wash the dishes, carrying out the garbage, helping
|
|||
|
|
with the laundry, caring for the family pet, and assisting with
|
|||
|
|
the countless other chores that a well-adjusted child learns to
|
|||
|
|
do growing up.
|
|||
|
|
Verbal abuse is another type of mistreatment that can be as
|
|||
|
|
debilitating to a child as a physical beating. Reminding a child
|
|||
|
|
of his or her shortcomings often increases the tendency to make
|
|||
|
|
mistakes, eliciting further parental criticism. Constant exposure
|
|||
|
|
to the preconceived and inaccurate notions of others about his or
|
|||
|
|
her perceived limitations can be very harmful to a blind child's
|
|||
|
|
appropriate psychological development. We all thrive on
|
|||
|
|
encouragement, and discouragement stunts our growth.
|
|||
|
|
All children have dreams. Some are realistic and some are
|
|||
|
|
pure fantasy. Almost every child has dreamed of being a fireman
|
|||
|
|
or nurse or doctor. Scurrying about the floor, racing to an
|
|||
|
|
imaginary fire, gathering up the hooks and ladders, and putting
|
|||
|
|
out a raging fire are all part of a child's play, and that play
|
|||
|
|
translates into growth and development. Similarly, children play
|
|||
|
|
nurse or doctor and cure the worst ailments with the magic
|
|||
|
|
resident in the doctor or nurse's kit. This type of play is
|
|||
|
|
expected of sighted children, but as soon as the blind child
|
|||
|
|
starts down the hallway with a toy fire truck, some adult is
|
|||
|
|
likely to squash the fantasy by the not very subtle reminder
|
|||
|
|
that, since he or she is blind, putting out fires would be an
|
|||
|
|
impossibility.
|
|||
|
|
By the way, I am not at all certain that helping to put out
|
|||
|
|
fires is an impossibility for a blind person. Certainly there are
|
|||
|
|
blind doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others in the medical
|
|||
|
|
professions. Every time I decide that a blind person cannot do a
|
|||
|
|
particular task or job, I soon learn that there is a blind person
|
|||
|
|
somewhere performing that task and doing it as well as, or better
|
|||
|
|
than, his or her sighted colleagues. The National Federation of
|
|||
|
|
the Blind has taught us that with proper training and opportunity
|
|||
|
|
we can compete on terms of equality with our sighted neighbors.
|
|||
|
|
Toys are a very important part of all children's growing and
|
|||
|
|
developing. There is a tendency to think that blind children need
|
|||
|
|
special toys. Although I am not suggesting that blindness should
|
|||
|
|
never be considered when selecting toys, I am suggesting that
|
|||
|
|
many perfectly fine toys are sometimes eliminated from the blind
|
|||
|
|
child's collection because some adult has decided that, under the
|
|||
|
|
circumstances, they are unsuitable. My mother thought that
|
|||
|
|
choosing a toy was an important part of every child's education
|
|||
|
|
and development. When I was still too small to reach the counter,
|
|||
|
|
mother would put each toy in my hand for me to see so that I
|
|||
|
|
could choose the one for us to buy. When I grew large enough to
|
|||
|
|
reach the counter, I independently walked up and down the aisles
|
|||
|
|
in the dime store and carefully inspected each toy so that I
|
|||
|
|
could make my choice.
|
|||
|
|
Many times children find their own toys. One day, when I was
|
|||
|
|
about eighteen months old, I found a ladder that a painter had
|
|||
|
|
left leaning against the side of the duplex in which we lived.
|
|||
|
|
Being a curious child, I climbed straight up it. When my mother
|
|||
|
|
discovered where I was, she was fearful that, if she called, she
|
|||
|
|
would startle me. Ultimately she decided to take off her shoes
|
|||
|
|
and socks so that she could quietly climb the ladder and carry me
|
|||
|
|
down to safety without frightening me.
|
|||
|
|
Another day I found an open gate and rode my tricycle out of
|
|||
|
|
the yard and into the big world. I was found blocks from home,
|
|||
|
|
having a wonderful time exploring on my own. As you can see, my
|
|||
|
|
childhood was not much different from that of other curious
|
|||
|
|
children. Mother and Daddy never believed in "can't." Mother was
|
|||
|
|
fond of saying that "I can't" never did anything, but "I'll try"
|
|||
|
|
can do many things.
|
|||
|
|
Mud is always a fine and inexpensive toy. How many mud pies
|
|||
|
|
do we all recall making as children and eating, too, for that
|
|||
|
|
matter? When I was a child, all milk bottles were glass, and the
|
|||
|
|
empty bottles lined the back steps waiting for the milkman. I
|
|||
|
|
added to the fun of making mud pies by taking the bottles from
|
|||
|
|
the step and carrying them to my outdoor kitchen. I thought it
|
|||
|
|
great fun to fill one bottle with water and pour it from one
|
|||
|
|
bottle to the next. However, when a neighbor happened to observe
|
|||
|
|
this activity while visiting my mother one day, she admonished
|
|||
|
|
mother for allowing me to play with the glass milk bottles.
|
|||
|
|
Mother's response to her criticism was that, if I were to drop
|
|||
|
|
one of the bottles and cut myself, I would heal. In the meantime
|
|||
|
|
I was learning valuable lessons, including how to pour water from
|
|||
|
|
one bottle to another without spilling it.
|
|||
|
|
In the early 1940's children were more likely to go out and
|
|||
|
|
find their own toys. When we didn't have anything to do, we
|
|||
|
|
climbed trees or walked along walls. There were no televisions or
|
|||
|
|
electronic games. Today toy manufacturers look for ways to build
|
|||
|
|
what they call educational toys that will take the place of the
|
|||
|
|
coordination we developed from wall walking, tree climbing, and
|
|||
|
|
the countless other things we found to do when we were children.
|
|||
|
|
Visual toys are also an important part of a blind child's
|
|||
|
|
growing up. We live in a world in which most people see, and it
|
|||
|
|
is important for blind children to learn that fact at an early
|
|||
|
|
age. One time someone sent me a machine that showed pictures
|
|||
|
|
which were in a roll inside the machine. There was a crank on the
|
|||
|
|
top which, when turned, changed the picture. Since I could not
|
|||
|
|
see the pictures, an adult described them to me. I made up a
|
|||
|
|
story about each one and set about presenting picture shows to
|
|||
|
|
the smaller neighborhood children. This was excellent stimulation
|
|||
|
|
to my imagination, which needed little encouragement, and it also
|
|||
|
|
taught me much about pictures. However, it also taught the
|
|||
|
|
neighborhood children that blindness made no difference to the
|
|||
|
|
quality of the picture show and the stories that went with it.
|
|||
|
|
The discussion this afternoon would not be complete if I did
|
|||
|
|
not talk a little about being a blind adult. Opinion polls have
|
|||
|
|
shown us that blindness is feared second only to cancer. The
|
|||
|
|
average person equates blindness with inferiority and even
|
|||
|
|
stupidity. At the office of the National Federation of the Blind
|
|||
|
|
of California we spend much time talking to the adult sons and
|
|||
|
|
daughters of older people about blindness. We emphasize that
|
|||
|
|
Mother or Dad is the same person she or he was before becoming
|
|||
|
|
blind. These people have the same need to do for their children
|
|||
|
|
as they did before losing their sight. They are often eager to
|
|||
|
|
pour coffee, cook dinner, and do the countless other little
|
|||
|
|
things that show their love, and they are still perfectly capable
|
|||
|
|
of doing them. We stress that these parents should be encouraged
|
|||
|
|
to do for themselves and others. Even if you simply want to help,
|
|||
|
|
jumping up and grabbing the coffee pot only makes the older
|
|||
|
|
parent feel inadequate. Remember that the person without a reason
|
|||
|
|
to get up in the morning has very likely lost the reason to live.
|
|||
|
|
As nurses and other medical professionals, you are a very
|
|||
|
|
important part of your patients' lives. Your attitude toward
|
|||
|
|
blindness and the blind person will help determine the quality of
|
|||
|
|
the life your patient is able to create. If you accept and
|
|||
|
|
promote a healthy parent-child relationship, your influence can
|
|||
|
|
reinforce the attitude that it's okay to be blind and to expect
|
|||
|
|
proficiency from a blind child. Similarly, you will make the
|
|||
|
|
difference with grown children as they deal with the onset of
|
|||
|
|
blindness in their elderly parents.
|
|||
|
|
Some of you deal directly with blind children and adults in
|
|||
|
|
hospital settings. We need and desire the same respect other
|
|||
|
|
patients receive and the flexibility and optimism that enable one
|
|||
|
|
to get well. If physical therapy is in order, the blind patient
|
|||
|
|
needs the full scope of physical therapy that the sighted patient
|
|||
|
|
would receive. If walking the halls will help a patient progress,
|
|||
|
|
then the blind patient needs to walk the halls too. You must set
|
|||
|
|
aside the presumption that a blind person cannot be expected to
|
|||
|
|
do such things. It will be helpful if you keep in mind the fact
|
|||
|
|
that fear often arises from accepting false evidence that appears
|
|||
|
|
to be real, and concluding that blindness necessarily prevents a
|
|||
|
|
person from doing a given task is almost always false.
|
|||
|
|
I appreciate this invitation to speak to you today, and I
|
|||
|
|
welcome the opportunity to discuss blindness. As professionals
|
|||
|
|
and as individuals you are important to blind people. Thank you
|
|||
|
|
for helping us teach the world that it is respectable to be
|
|||
|
|
blind.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Brian Johnson works with stereo equipment, and a young child stands
|
|||
|
|
by. CAPTION--Brian Johnson, pictured here with a young helper, acts as disc
|
|||
|
|
jockey at an NFB National Convention dance.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE REAL SCOOP ON RADIO WORK
|
|||
|
|
by Brian Johnson
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: The Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB)
|
|||
|
|
program is conducted by the National Federation of the Blind in
|
|||
|
|
partnership with the United States Department of Labor. Each year
|
|||
|
|
at our National Convention, there is an afternoon-long seminar
|
|||
|
|
filled with straight talk about finding and keeping jobs. Mostly
|
|||
|
|
the speakers are knowledgeable blind people who draw on their
|
|||
|
|
personal experience to assist those who are still dreaming of an
|
|||
|
|
interesting job at good pay. At the 1993 JOB seminar, Brian
|
|||
|
|
Johnson, one of the leaders of the NFB of Illinois and an
|
|||
|
|
experienced announcer in the Chicago radio market, told the
|
|||
|
|
audience the real story of making a living in radio work. This is
|
|||
|
|
what he said:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"This way, sir," she said, as I walked to the main part of
|
|||
|
|
the building, but she walked just far enough ahead of me so that
|
|||
|
|
I couldn't take her arm. "Why is she doing this?" I thought. I
|
|||
|
|
assumed every other agency for the blind in the country and, for
|
|||
|
|
that matter, staff members of agencies, had the courtesy to
|
|||
|
|
welcome me in the standard fashion I was used to. But there she
|
|||
|
|
was and there she went; and, if I didn't keep up with her, I'd be
|
|||
|
|
left in the dust.
|
|||
|
|
That was in 1978 after I had made the decision to leave the
|
|||
|
|
radio station I had worked for as program director to pursue a
|
|||
|
|
career as a rehabilitation counselor because at age twenty-three
|
|||
|
|
I thought I could change the world for blind people in my state.
|
|||
|
|
That, of course, was not to be the case. The more disturbing
|
|||
|
|
knowledge that underlay my decision to leave radio was that I
|
|||
|
|
knew I could not go from that radio station to a larger market
|
|||
|
|
because I was blind. So I used a career in rehabilitation as a
|
|||
|
|
cop-out.
|
|||
|
|
In 1972 I started working at my college radio station and
|
|||
|
|
moved on to the local station in town when it decided to offer an
|
|||
|
|
exchange. We students would do radio shows at no charge for the
|
|||
|
|
local station, WEIC, which was in financial trouble, in exchange
|
|||
|
|
for course credit in communications from the university. The free
|
|||
|
|
talent for the station materialized; The course credit never did.
|
|||
|
|
So I suppose you could say that I have worked for a sheltered
|
|||
|
|
workshop for DJ's. But I cannot stress enough how much fun I had
|
|||
|
|
on the radio while I was in college.
|
|||
|
|
That kind of high-level enjoyment is coming back now for me
|
|||
|
|
as a voice-over. A voice-over concentrates on reading script and
|
|||
|
|
commercial-narration copy. A DJ plays recordings on turntables,
|
|||
|
|
tape machines, and compact disk players in a radio station and
|
|||
|
|
does some announcing in between.
|
|||
|
|
One time I entered a radio station's talent show, held at
|
|||
|
|
Six Flags in St. Louis. The MC was none other than Wolf Man Jack.
|
|||
|
|
He welcomed all of us to the show and wished us good luck. So I
|
|||
|
|
stood up and yelled [imitating the Wolf Man's voice]: "Ah, bring
|
|||
|
|
on the wolf man!" He looked around, wondering where his double
|
|||
|
|
was.
|
|||
|
|
Now to get to reality. Being in radio was a lot of fun. I
|
|||
|
|
met girls in college who just liked hearing me on the air, so
|
|||
|
|
we'd get something going for a while, anyway. Lots of people
|
|||
|
|
cheered for us at public appearances, and the small town
|
|||
|
|
newspapers wrote about me as the "wonderful blind radio
|
|||
|
|
announcer." That was before I joined the National Federation of
|
|||
|
|
the Blind and came to know better.
|
|||
|
|
Now here is the money part. In 1977, after five years of
|
|||
|
|
working at that station, I worked as program director for $500 a
|
|||
|
|
month. The station owner bounced payroll checks, and we'd have to
|
|||
|
|
go to the bar he frequented to get our money to pay rent. When I
|
|||
|
|
was working as a rehabilitation counselor, I met a fellow named
|
|||
|
|
Pete with whom I worked part-time doing radio shows. I was scared
|
|||
|
|
down to my shoes when I heard him in Chicago on the country
|
|||
|
|
station. But two years ago I got up the nerve to call him, and he
|
|||
|
|
set me up with a contact he knew at a local TV station. That was
|
|||
|
|
June of 1991, and I've been doing voice-over in the Chicago
|
|||
|
|
market ever since.
|
|||
|
|
I have brought a demo tape and a copy of my latest
|
|||
|
|
commercial to read for you. This sponsor was a furniture store
|
|||
|
|
called Circle Furniture. I taped this commercial three or four
|
|||
|
|
days ago. It has what we in the business call a laundry list--a
|
|||
|
|
list of products or sale items. Remember, I'm supposed to do this
|
|||
|
|
in thirty seconds or less. [Mr. Johnson then read the commercial
|
|||
|
|
in a brisk, lively manner with one very small stumble.]
|
|||
|
|
Did I make any mistakes? Yes I did, very good. I made one.
|
|||
|
|
That would not have been a take. I would have had to do it over.
|
|||
|
|
I was invited to the Chicago market because I was reliable and
|
|||
|
|
responsible and would not damage my friend Pete's credibility.
|
|||
|
|
Most important, I knew someone who had made it to the Chicago
|
|||
|
|
market because I had paid my dues by working in a smaller market
|
|||
|
|
first.
|
|||
|
|
The demo tape I brought and am now sending around to ad
|
|||
|
|
agencies and radio stations was put together in the studio of a
|
|||
|
|
country station in Chicago by my friend Peter and me. Here is my
|
|||
|
|
demo.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[The tape that was then played included six very
|
|||
|
|
different spot announcements, several with music or
|
|||
|
|
other sound effects, and a brief message from him which
|
|||
|
|
included his telephone number.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If you are of a mind to go into the business, here are some
|
|||
|
|
rules-of-thumb that I've learned along the way:
|
|||
|
|
1. Be confident in yourself as a blind person. The person at
|
|||
|
|
the agency for the blind I mentioned at the beginning was not a
|
|||
|
|
staff member but a student. At the former Iowa Commission for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind students and staff were equals. When I was working for
|
|||
|
|
rehab and wishing that I wasn't, there was a glimmer, a spark of
|
|||
|
|
conviction in all that sea of fear in me that the best place to
|
|||
|
|
find out what blind people can really do was the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind. I went to Iowa at my own expense because
|
|||
|
|
I knew that they knew more about helping blind people than the
|
|||
|
|
rehab officials I worked for did. During that trip I learned more
|
|||
|
|
about real belief in blind people--in other words, in myself--
|
|||
|
|
than I had ever experienced before in my life. So work on
|
|||
|
|
improving your blindness skills: travel and Braille, including
|
|||
|
|
slate and stylus--I was reading that commercial in Braille. You
|
|||
|
|
have to go to radio and TV stations and ad agencies independently
|
|||
|
|
the first time. You can do it.
|
|||
|
|
2. If you think you're marketable, get a tape recorder and
|
|||
|
|
start reading ads on tape. Get them from magazines and newspapers
|
|||
|
|
or copy them down from radio commercials. If you've really got
|
|||
|
|
it, the sound and inflection of your voice will tell the tale.
|
|||
|
|
3. Don't be afraid to network. Call people whom you know in
|
|||
|
|
the business, people who can give you good advice. That also
|
|||
|
|
means staying in touch with Job Opportunities for the Blind and
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of the Blind. More and more blind people
|
|||
|
|
are exploring radio as a career. This is not a job for the thin-
|
|||
|
|
skinned. Be prepared to take criticism. Even if you think you
|
|||
|
|
sound wonderful, don't be crushed if somebody says, "That's
|
|||
|
|
terrible. Do it over and make me like that product. I don't know
|
|||
|
|
how you're going to change it so I'll like it, but just do it."
|
|||
|
|
Don't be intimidated. Also be ready and able to take direction.
|
|||
|
|
While you're reading that spot or while you're on the control
|
|||
|
|
board, the client or the producer or the station owner who may
|
|||
|
|
know far less than you do is the boss.
|
|||
|
|
4. Do not quit your full-time job! [laughter and applause]
|
|||
|
|
At this stage I'm not fully self-supporting as a voice-over. I
|
|||
|
|
have jointly, and I do mean jointly, set up a rehab program with
|
|||
|
|
my counselor for computer equipment and living and business
|
|||
|
|
expenses.
|
|||
|
|
The point that should be repeatedly hammered home is this:
|
|||
|
|
we as blind people ought to try doing what we want to do and
|
|||
|
|
being what we want to be. The jobs that most state agencies want
|
|||
|
|
us to do are usually not the jobs we dreamed about as children.
|
|||
|
|
Here's the most important message I'm learning as I'm starting to
|
|||
|
|
be a voice-over. We have the right to succeed or fail on our
|
|||
|
|
merit, just like everybody else. We have the right to good rehab
|
|||
|
|
services that will result in real jobs and not generic
|
|||
|
|
rehabilitation that holds us down and keeps us on the Social
|
|||
|
|
Security rolls. Don't let anyone take away your chance to try.
|
|||
|
|
And I will say to anyone who cares to listen, I absolutely could
|
|||
|
|
not do what I'm doing and be up here demonstrating it to you
|
|||
|
|
without the National Federation of the Blind. I would like to
|
|||
|
|
paraphrase what Dr. Jernigan and President Maurer have said and
|
|||
|
|
we have affirmed at the end of our banquet speeches for decades:
|
|||
|
|
my brothers and my sisters, the future is ours. Come join us on
|
|||
|
|
the air waves, and we'll make it come true!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Portrait. CAPTION--James Omvig.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
EMPOWERING THE BLIND STUDENT
|
|||
|
|
by James H. Omvig
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: For many years now Jim Omvig has been a
|
|||
|
|
leader at every level of the National Federation of the Blind.
|
|||
|
|
The following article is drawn from material prepared to assist
|
|||
|
|
faculty members at the University of Arizona as they searched for
|
|||
|
|
a professor to head the program to train teachers of blind and
|
|||
|
|
visually impaired students.
|
|||
|
|
Jim Omvig graduated from a residential school for the blind
|
|||
|
|
and attended college and law school using the skills and
|
|||
|
|
techniques commonly used by trained blind people. After working
|
|||
|
|
for several years in both Washington, D.C., and New York City as
|
|||
|
|
an attorney with the federal government, he changed careers and
|
|||
|
|
became professionally involved in work with the blind. He worked
|
|||
|
|
for nine years in Des Moines, Iowa, as Director of the
|
|||
|
|
Orientation and Adjustment Center of the Iowa Commission for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind, which was directed at the time by Dr. Jernigan. For the
|
|||
|
|
next six years he served in Baltimore, Maryland, as Director of
|
|||
|
|
the Social Security Administration's program to create greater
|
|||
|
|
employment opportunity for blind and disabled people. Finally, he
|
|||
|
|
moved to Anchorage, Alaska to direct the Alaska Center for Blind
|
|||
|
|
and Deaf Adults, where he worked for several years before
|
|||
|
|
retiring to Tucson, Arizona, because of ill health. Mr. Omvig is
|
|||
|
|
the recipient of numerous honors and awards and currently serves
|
|||
|
|
in a volunteer capacity as national Treasurer of the American
|
|||
|
|
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. Here is his article:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The buzzword for the nineties in education, rehabilitation,
|
|||
|
|
or even in certain parts of government itself is empowerment.
|
|||
|
|
While this is a word which is used frequently even though its
|
|||
|
|
meaning is vague and elusive, it is a good word and a valid
|
|||
|
|
concept when it is understood properly.
|
|||
|
|
Empowerment: just what does it mean, particularly in the
|
|||
|
|
context of providing a quality education for the blind student?
|
|||
|
|
Although I have not seen it stated like this before, I believe
|
|||
|
|
that the concept includes four elements--three which have a
|
|||
|
|
direct impact on the blind or visually impaired student and a
|
|||
|
|
fourth which has an indirect impact. Whatever empowerment means,
|
|||
|
|
it is clear that both the public and the residential school have
|
|||
|
|
the responsibility to provide it for their blind students and
|
|||
|
|
that doing so is much more complex than empowering the sighted
|
|||
|
|
student in the public school.
|
|||
|
|
I checked the dictionary for the meaning of empowerment, and
|
|||
|
|
I wasn't totally satisfied with what I found. It says, "to give
|
|||
|
|
power or authority to." This is all right as far as it goes, but
|
|||
|
|
I believe that, as this word is used today, the meaning is much
|
|||
|
|
broader and more comprehensive.
|
|||
|
|
I think that, for the students with whom we are concerned,
|
|||
|
|
the full and accurate meaning would go something like this: "A
|
|||
|
|
school may be said to empower the blind or visually impaired
|
|||
|
|
student to the extent that he or she is equipped with the tools--
|
|||
|
|
the knowledge, skills, motivation, and self-confidence--which are
|
|||
|
|
necessary to enable him or her to take charge and to make sound
|
|||
|
|
judgments and decisions based upon fact, skill, and ability so
|
|||
|
|
that the student can be the best adult which he or she is capable
|
|||
|
|
of becoming." This is quite a mouthful, but it works.
|
|||
|
|
The four essential ingredients involved in empowering the
|
|||
|
|
blind or visually impaired student are as follows:
|
|||
|
|
1. The school must provide the student with the same quality
|
|||
|
|
and level of education he or she would have received as a sighted
|
|||
|
|
student. In the past schools have often thought that less is all
|
|||
|
|
right for blind students; or, even worse, they have mistakenly
|
|||
|
|
believed that the blind were not capable of achieving what the
|
|||
|
|
sighted could achieve. When expectations are lowered, it
|
|||
|
|
necessarily follows that the educational outcome will be less
|
|||
|
|
than good enough. Empowerment means that an equal education,
|
|||
|
|
provided by the school, is a must.
|
|||
|
|
2. The school must teach the student the skills and
|
|||
|
|
techniques necessary in order to function efficiently and
|
|||
|
|
competitively as a blind or visually impaired person. These
|
|||
|
|
include Braille reading and writing, travel with the long white
|
|||
|
|
cane, use of adaptive technology, etc. Trying to do things in the
|
|||
|
|
same ways as a fully sighted person when you are not fully
|
|||
|
|
sighted simply does not work. Empowerment means that the school
|
|||
|
|
must equip the student with those alternative skills and
|
|||
|
|
techniques which are necessary for a blind or visually impaired
|
|||
|
|
person to function competently and to be competitive in a
|
|||
|
|
predominantly sighted world.
|
|||
|
|
3. The school must help the student adjust to his or her
|
|||
|
|
blindness and to accept it. Students initially dealing with
|
|||
|
|
blindness typically feel different, inadequate, frustrated. Such
|
|||
|
|
students do not know that having a serious eye condition is
|
|||
|
|
perfectly normal, and as a result they are bound to have an
|
|||
|
|
extremely limited and inaccurate view of what is possible for
|
|||
|
|
them in the future. Empowerment means that the school must help
|
|||
|
|
these students develop feelings of adequacy and self-confidence
|
|||
|
|
and must teach them that it is perfectly okay to be blind and
|
|||
|
|
that they can have a satisfying and fulfilling future.
|
|||
|
|
4. Finally, the school must help the student (indirectly) by
|
|||
|
|
helping the parent. Again, until something or someone intervenes,
|
|||
|
|
parents are almost certain to have the same negative feelings and
|
|||
|
|
ideas about blindness as their children, and this negativity rubs
|
|||
|
|
off. They are understandably disappointed, frightened, angry, and
|
|||
|
|
concerned about the future. They do not know that it is possible
|
|||
|
|
for their youngsters to have a normal, meaningful, successful,
|
|||
|
|
and happy life. Empowerment means that the school must help the
|
|||
|
|
parent to become a positive and constructive influence in the
|
|||
|
|
student's life--positiveness, too, rubs off.
|
|||
|
|
As one who has been blind for a long time and who has more
|
|||
|
|
than thirty years of experience in work with the blind, I can
|
|||
|
|
vouch for the fact that each of these four ingredients is
|
|||
|
|
essential if a truly quality education is to be provided. The
|
|||
|
|
school certainly does have the responsibility to empower the
|
|||
|
|
blind or visually impaired student, and the techniques for
|
|||
|
|
accomplishing it are proven and well known.
|
|||
|
|
Remember that the first and most important step in the
|
|||
|
|
process is to contact and work with experienced and qualified
|
|||
|
|
blind adults who can serve, not only as role models for the
|
|||
|
|
students and teachers, but also as valued advisors on what works
|
|||
|
|
and what doesn't. We have experienced it all, both the bad and
|
|||
|
|
the good, and our knowledge is essential to true empowerment.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO/CAPTION--Tom Bickford (center) and his brother-in-law speak with a
|
|||
|
|
blind man who lives in Shanghai.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BLINDNESS IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM:
|
|||
|
|
MY RETURN VISIT TO CHINA
|
|||
|
|
by Thomas Bickford
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: Travel anywhere in the United States or
|
|||
|
|
around the world; and, when you come across a blind American
|
|||
|
|
confidently swinging along and educating the public about
|
|||
|
|
blindness at the same time, you have probably found a member of
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of the Blind. Recently Tom Bickford
|
|||
|
|
(author of The Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane, a little
|
|||
|
|
book now available for purchase from the NFB Materials Center,
|
|||
|
|
and a long-time Federationist) visited China with members of his
|
|||
|
|
family. Here is an article he wrote about the experience:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It was our last morning in China. We were leaving the Temple
|
|||
|
|
of the Jade Buddhas in Shanghai when I heard a tapping on the
|
|||
|
|
walk behind us. I asked my brother-in-law, with whom I was
|
|||
|
|
walking, to look back and see what the source of the sound was.
|
|||
|
|
He said that it was a blind man and wanted to know how I had
|
|||
|
|
known to ask. I explained that I know how blind people tap even
|
|||
|
|
if they don't use the same technique I do. We hurried over to the
|
|||
|
|
tour bus and asked our local guide to act as interpreter.
|
|||
|
|
I introduced myself as a blind man from America. The Chinese
|
|||
|
|
man, perhaps a little shorter and younger than I, gave me a firm
|
|||
|
|
handshake and a big smile. He said he was just returning from
|
|||
|
|
getting his bean peeler repaired. He opened a cardboard box
|
|||
|
|
several inches long with something inside mounted in a plastic
|
|||
|
|
housing. I never did discover the function of a bean peeler, but
|
|||
|
|
it was important to my new friend. I asked about employment, and
|
|||
|
|
he said he worked in a factory in another part of the city. I
|
|||
|
|
told him I worked in Washington, D.C., making books for blind
|
|||
|
|
people. We shook hands again very cordially, and he went on his
|
|||
|
|
way, giving an occasional tap to the ground before him and the
|
|||
|
|
wall beside him.
|
|||
|
|
The cane, whose tapping had originally attracted my
|
|||
|
|
attention, was made of unpainted wood. It was only about waist
|
|||
|
|
high--short by my standards. But we had not had time for lengthy
|
|||
|
|
discussions, and he was making his own way in his own country.
|
|||
|
|
Earlier in the trip I asked another one of our tour guides what
|
|||
|
|
opportunities there were for blind people in China. She spoke of
|
|||
|
|
special schools and job training. The only employment mentioned
|
|||
|
|
was in massage work. I was left with an impression of segregated
|
|||
|
|
training and limited opportunities. There seemed to be very
|
|||
|
|
little, if any, expectation for blind people to take an ordinary
|
|||
|
|
place in society along with their sighted peers.
|
|||
|
|
In 1966 I visited the School for the Blind in Leningrad. I
|
|||
|
|
asked about employment for graduates of that school. Some
|
|||
|
|
graduates did go on to higher education, but the two kinds of
|
|||
|
|
employment mentioned were typists and, again, masseurs. This last
|
|||
|
|
is honorable and socially worthwhile work, but it is no more
|
|||
|
|
suited for all blind people than it is for all sighted ones.
|
|||
|
|
At another time in our China trip we visited a factory where
|
|||
|
|
jade was cut into decorative figures. Our guide took care to
|
|||
|
|
point out a married couple working there, both of whom were deaf.
|
|||
|
|
I gathered that in China, like America, deafness was less of a
|
|||
|
|
handicap in employment than blindness was.
|
|||
|
|
Because my parents were missionaries and my three sisters
|
|||
|
|
and I were all born there, a family reunion trip to China seemed
|
|||
|
|
to be just the thing, and 1993 was the year. There were sixteen
|
|||
|
|
of us, all related by blood or marriage. We had a private tour
|
|||
|
|
two weeks long, but two years in the planning. We visited seven
|
|||
|
|
cities, the first four of which had special memories for us. We
|
|||
|
|
saw places we had known as children and met people who had known
|
|||
|
|
our parents.
|
|||
|
|
In Beijing, (say bay-jing, as in jingle) we went to Tien An
|
|||
|
|
Men Square, (say tyen on mun) a truly large open area with
|
|||
|
|
memorial buildings around the edge and posted lists (in several
|
|||
|
|
languages) of the kinds of demonstrations not permitted without
|
|||
|
|
prior approval. Not far away was the first McDonald's in China.
|
|||
|
|
You would recognize the menu and the flavors. We toured the
|
|||
|
|
Forbidden City and the Imperial Palace of the Manchu Dynasty,
|
|||
|
|
prominently featured in the movie, The Last Emperor.
|
|||
|
|
On a day trip outside the city we stopped at the Ming tombs,
|
|||
|
|
only a few hundred years old--not much by Chinese standards. Then
|
|||
|
|
we climbed part of the Great Wall of China, and I do mean
|
|||
|
|
climbed. That part of the wall zigzags through the hills, and the
|
|||
|
|
steps along the top are from ancient times. Only the handrails
|
|||
|
|
along the sides are modern additions. The wall was originally a
|
|||
|
|
military defense with vertical stone sides ten meters high and
|
|||
|
|
five meters across the top. The part we saw was in its original
|
|||
|
|
condition. The "great" part comes from its length since it
|
|||
|
|
wanders for thousands of kilometers across northern China.
|
|||
|
|
Wherever there are tourists, there are tourist traps. My
|
|||
|
|
sister called them "Hello shops." "Hello, T-shirts?" I bought two
|
|||
|
|
for my daughters that said, "I climbed the Great Wall of China."
|
|||
|
|
A week later, while going up the Li River (say lee) on a tour
|
|||
|
|
boat, there was a knocking at the window, and we heard it again.
|
|||
|
|
"Hello, T-shirt?" This time the hopeful vendor was wearing high
|
|||
|
|
rubber boots and paddling his bamboo raft.
|
|||
|
|
"Hello, special price for you." With all of these people you
|
|||
|
|
can haggle for a price, but it is considered poor style to haggle
|
|||
|
|
if you do not intend to buy.
|
|||
|
|
Some Chinese say they will eat anything that moves except a
|
|||
|
|
car. Others say they will eat anything on four legs except the
|
|||
|
|
table. I tell you that if they catch it, they don't worry about
|
|||
|
|
the legs. I won't go into further detail because you may be
|
|||
|
|
reading this just before dinner.
|
|||
|
|
Lunch and dinner each day were Chinese food. I improved my
|
|||
|
|
skill with chopsticks and did not use the offered fork more than
|
|||
|
|
once. Dinner one day was Peking Duck, banquet fare even in China,
|
|||
|
|
and the duck was very fat. We had asked that one dinner be
|
|||
|
|
jiaotzes (say jyow-zuz). We would call them boiled wonton. I
|
|||
|
|
liked them the way our cook made them in my childhood home. But I
|
|||
|
|
never before had the variety of fillings that was served to us on
|
|||
|
|
this trip. I actually enjoyed some of them. Rice was always
|
|||
|
|
served and soup usually. The rest of the food was cut small and
|
|||
|
|
soaked in what I think was soy sauce and sesame oil, very strong.
|
|||
|
|
I lost eight pounds which I am starting to gain back.
|
|||
|
|
My favorite foods were the snacks as remembered from
|
|||
|
|
childhood. The honey malt taffy rolled in sesame seed was still
|
|||
|
|
very good. The best was still tonghula (tong-hula, as in the
|
|||
|
|
Hawaiian dance). The fruit is a haw from the hawthorn and looks
|
|||
|
|
like a crabapple. They stab about ten haws on a bamboo stick and
|
|||
|
|
dip it all in a sugar syrup to form a heavy glaze. The sharp tang
|
|||
|
|
of the fruit and the sweet glaze make a wonderful balance.
|
|||
|
|
A blind traveler from the West needs to know about
|
|||
|
|
doorsills. At main entrances to buildings that survive from
|
|||
|
|
before the twentieth century there is often a high doorsill.
|
|||
|
|
These barriers extend the full width of a wide double doorway.
|
|||
|
|
They may be only a narrow board set on edge, but most of the
|
|||
|
|
doorsills we found on this trip were heavy timbers, eight inches
|
|||
|
|
or more high, and thick. The proper form is to go all the way
|
|||
|
|
over in one step, not to step up onto then down off the doorsill.
|
|||
|
|
The three reasons that I know for doorsills come from ancient
|
|||
|
|
times. The first reason is practical--they keep some dirt out.
|
|||
|
|
The second reason is sociological--they keep women with bound
|
|||
|
|
feet in. The third reason is from demonology--demons have very
|
|||
|
|
short legs.
|
|||
|
|
Having blown my international travel budget on the trip to
|
|||
|
|
China, I won't be missing the 1994 Maryland convention because of
|
|||
|
|
being out of the country again, and I plan to be in Detroit as
|
|||
|
|
well. If you want to hear more about the trip, find me after
|
|||
|
|
meetings, and I will tell you about my souvenirs or the
|
|||
|
|
availability of Braille watches in China or why there is now a
|
|||
|
|
copy of The Freedom Bell in the library of a high school in the
|
|||
|
|
City of Tienjing (say tyen-jing, as in jingle).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
******************************
|
|||
|
|
If you or a friend would like to remember the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind in your will, you can do so by employing
|
|||
|
|
the following language:
|
|||
|
|
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto National Federation of
|
|||
|
|
the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, a
|
|||
|
|
District of Columbia nonprofit corporation, the sum of $_____ (or
|
|||
|
|
"_____ percent of my net estate" or "The following stocks and
|
|||
|
|
bonds: _____") to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of
|
|||
|
|
blind persons."
|
|||
|
|
******************************
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Main intersection in Greektown. CAPTION--Detroit's Greektown, location
|
|||
|
|
of many fine restaurants.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO/CAPTION--Entrance to the Henry Ford Museum.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE ROAR OF '94--WHAT TO DO IN DETROIT
|
|||
|
|
by Sue and Don Drapinski
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: By the time you read this article, the 1994
|
|||
|
|
Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will probably
|
|||
|
|
be less than ten weeks away. The June 5 deadline for tour
|
|||
|
|
reservations will be just around the corner, and the time will
|
|||
|
|
certainly be at hand for making transportation arrangements. If
|
|||
|
|
you have not yet made your convention reservation at the Westin
|
|||
|
|
Hotel, you must do so as soon as possible. Our block of rooms is
|
|||
|
|
limited, and this is one convention you don't want to miss. Our
|
|||
|
|
hotel rates (singles $38, doubles and twins $43, and quads $48,
|
|||
|
|
plus tax) are extraordinary. There will be no charge for children
|
|||
|
|
with parents if no extra bed is required. Make your reservations
|
|||
|
|
by writing Westin Hotel, Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan
|
|||
|
|
48243, Attention: Reservations; or call (313) 568-8000. Do not
|
|||
|
|
use the Westin toll-free number because such reservations will
|
|||
|
|
not be valid. The hotel will want a deposit of $45 or a credit
|
|||
|
|
card number. If a credit card is used, the deposit will be
|
|||
|
|
charged against your card immediately. Deposits for reservations
|
|||
|
|
cancelled before June 20, 1994, will be entirely returned to you
|
|||
|
|
by the hotel. Requests for refunds after this date will not be
|
|||
|
|
honored. Here is what the Drapinskis have to say about things to
|
|||
|
|
do in Detroit:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
We have been receiving increasing numbers of inquiries from
|
|||
|
|
people with all sorts of questions. Is there anywhere to go while
|
|||
|
|
I'm in Detroit? Are there any good places to eat near the hotel?
|
|||
|
|
Are cabs the only way to get around, and are they expensive? With
|
|||
|
|
this article we will try to give you specific answers to these
|
|||
|
|
questions as well as provide details that you may find
|
|||
|
|
interesting and informative about the Detroit area. What you
|
|||
|
|
should know without a doubt when you finish reading this article
|
|||
|
|
is that there are an infinite number of things to do and places
|
|||
|
|
to go in Detroit. If you choose, you can fill every spare moment
|
|||
|
|
with fun and excitement.
|
|||
|
|
It's difficult to determine what is most important to
|
|||
|
|
people, but everyone seems to have at least a moderate interest
|
|||
|
|
in eating. We believe that you will find a wider variety of food
|
|||
|
|
establishments this year than at any recent convention. Within
|
|||
|
|
the Renaissance Center itself there are over twenty restaurants--
|
|||
|
|
-including fast food at McDonald's and Burger King; coffee,
|
|||
|
|
cookie, and donut shops; sandwich stands; and ethnic fare at
|
|||
|
|
Italian, Greek, Tex-Mex, and Chinese restaurants. In the Westin
|
|||
|
|
Hotel is the Summit Steakhouse, which is a memorable experience
|
|||
|
|
in fine dining--a bucket of all-you-can-eat peel-and-eat shrimp
|
|||
|
|
is complimentary with each entree. But there is no need to stop
|
|||
|
|
with the establishments in the Renaissance Center (referred to by
|
|||
|
|
locals as the RenCen). The People Mover, an elevated train which
|
|||
|
|
can be boarded within the RenCen, will take you to any of
|
|||
|
|
thirteen stops along its route. The fare is fifty cents, and
|
|||
|
|
within walking distance of the stops are such places as Lindell
|
|||
|
|
AC Bar and Grill, famous for its collection of national sports
|
|||
|
|
memorabilia and its claim to fame--the best ground round in town.
|
|||
|
|
Cobo Hall and Joe Louis Arena, home of many concerts, specialty
|
|||
|
|
shows, and sporting events, are along the People Mover route, as
|
|||
|
|
well as the financial district, which is the place for
|
|||
|
|
architecture enthusiasts to stop. The Guardian, Buhl, Ford, and
|
|||
|
|
Penobscot buildings are each unique in design. Culinary delight
|
|||
|
|
can also be found here at the London Chophouse and the
|
|||
|
|
Pontchartrain Wine Cellars. Another stop is the Millender Center
|
|||
|
|
(also accessible by skywalk from the RenCen) which is home to
|
|||
|
|
more shops, including a pharmacy and 333 East Street Restaurant.
|
|||
|
|
For antique buffs the DuMouchelle Art Gallery is right next
|
|||
|
|
door. A stop at the Bricktown Station puts you in the midst of
|
|||
|
|
quaint pubs, jazz music, and more eateries. If you choose to
|
|||
|
|
experience Greektown, you will find many restaurants, bakeries,
|
|||
|
|
and pastry shops specializing in Greek cuisine. Greektown is also
|
|||
|
|
the home to Fishbones, a Cajun seafood restaurant as well as
|
|||
|
|
Trapper's Alley, which is an old fur and leather processing plant
|
|||
|
|
transformed into a mini-shopping mall with, you guessed it, more
|
|||
|
|
restaurants.
|
|||
|
|
In choosing Cadillac Center Station, you will find Henry the
|
|||
|
|
Hatter, who has been fitting famous heads since before the turn
|
|||
|
|
of the century, and a potpourri of fashion stores from designer
|
|||
|
|
shoes to fine Italian sportswear. Other stations will put you
|
|||
|
|
within walking distance of many more restaurants, art galleries,
|
|||
|
|
and the theater district, including the Fox Theater, the Gem
|
|||
|
|
Theater, and the Second City Comedy Club. Windsor, just across
|
|||
|
|
the Detroit River, is accessible by both the Windsor Tunnel Bus
|
|||
|
|
and the Ambassador Bridge. (Remember to bring proof of
|
|||
|
|
citizenship with you: U.S. birth certificate, voter's ID, alien
|
|||
|
|
registration card, or passport.) As you can see, fifty cents goes
|
|||
|
|
a long way on the People Mover. For those interested in art, each
|
|||
|
|
People Mover station houses a collection of public art. If you
|
|||
|
|
choose, you can exit the People Mover at each station to view the
|
|||
|
|
art; and, as long as you don't exit through the turnstile, you
|
|||
|
|
pay only one fare.
|
|||
|
|
If exploring the town is not what you had in mind, the
|
|||
|
|
following ideas provide a variety of things to do without ever
|
|||
|
|
leaving the Renaissance Center. Do a little shopping to get
|
|||
|
|
postcards and souvenirs for those at home, stop at the Post
|
|||
|
|
Office to mail the cards, and swing past Federal Express to mail
|
|||
|
|
the souvenirs. Now move on to Mrs. Field's for a bag of freshly
|
|||
|
|
baked cookies, stop at Videoville to rent a movie, and return to
|
|||
|
|
your room for a night in at the movies. For a little variety stop
|
|||
|
|
at one of the many restaurants for dinner and then on to the
|
|||
|
|
Renaissance Theaters to enjoy one of several first-run movies.
|
|||
|
|
Commuter Transportation Company, which has an office in the
|
|||
|
|
lobby area of the Westin hotel, is the best choice for
|
|||
|
|
transportation to and from Metro Airport. Reservations are not
|
|||
|
|
necessary, and van transportation is available at each terminal
|
|||
|
|
in the airport. One-way fare is $13; round-trip fare is $24.
|
|||
|
|
However, if you are traveling in groups of 1 to 4, you can call
|
|||
|
|
ahead and make a reservation for the Commuter Express. The cost
|
|||
|
|
is $28 one way for up to four. The toll-free reservation number
|
|||
|
|
is 1 (800) 488-7433. Another choice is Metro Car. Their charge is
|
|||
|
|
$35 one way for up to four people. They require twenty-four hours
|
|||
|
|
notice, and the toll-free number is 1 (800) 456-1701.
|
|||
|
|
For those people arriving early, the highlight of the
|
|||
|
|
International Freedom Festival is the world's largest fireworks
|
|||
|
|
display, which will occur on Wednesday evening, June 29.
|
|||
|
|
Fireworks can be viewed from the hotel; or, if you are interested
|
|||
|
|
in a spectacular evening, Detroit Upbeat, Inc., is offering on a
|
|||
|
|
limited basis an evening under the stars. The price of $65 per
|
|||
|
|
person includes a cruise on the Detroiter, a two-deck paddle
|
|||
|
|
wheel boat; hors d'oeuvres; cash bar; dinner including bread,
|
|||
|
|
salad, vegetable, potatoes, 5-ounce chicken breast, 5-ounce beef
|
|||
|
|
tenderloin, pastry, and coffee or tea; musical entertainment for
|
|||
|
|
listening and dancing; and popcorn during the fireworks. The tour
|
|||
|
|
begins at 6:45 p.m. near Stroh's River Place and will return to
|
|||
|
|
the same location at approximately 11:30 p.m. Space is very
|
|||
|
|
limited; so, if you are interested, please call Detroit Upbeat at
|
|||
|
|
(313) 341-6810 to make reservations. No refunds issued or
|
|||
|
|
cancellations accepted for this tour.
|
|||
|
|
In the March Monitor article we mentioned the Henry Ford
|
|||
|
|
Museum/Greenfield Village tour. Many of us who live in the area
|
|||
|
|
take the Village and Museum for granted; however, it is an
|
|||
|
|
experience of a lifetime that everyone should take the
|
|||
|
|
opportunity to enjoy. Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum is a
|
|||
|
|
ninety-three-acre collection of Americana. Some of the features
|
|||
|
|
include Thomas Edison's Menlo Park Laboratory, the Wright
|
|||
|
|
Brothers' home and bicycle shop, the car that President Kennedy
|
|||
|
|
was riding in when he was assassinated, and the actual chair that
|
|||
|
|
Abraham Lincoln sat in on that fateful evening at the Ford
|
|||
|
|
Theater. The Suwanee steamboat takes you for a summertime cruise
|
|||
|
|
around a picturesque lagoon. And, back to eating, the enchanting
|
|||
|
|
Eagle Tavern, known for its early American fare, is a popular
|
|||
|
|
spot.
|
|||
|
|
Hopefully, after reading this article, your new question is,
|
|||
|
|
"How can I do it all?" instead of "Is there anything to do?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And don't forget, door prizes should be sent to Don
|
|||
|
|
Drapinski, NFB of Michigan, 111 W. Woodward Hts., Hazel Park,
|
|||
|
|
Michigan 48030; or call (810) 546-6910.
|
|||
|
|
1994 CONVENTION ATTRACTIONS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
From the Editor: Every year's National Convention is an
|
|||
|
|
absolutely unique event. The agenda items, the exhibits, the new
|
|||
|
|
friends and business acquaintances: all these give each
|
|||
|
|
convention its own character and significance. Some activities
|
|||
|
|
lend a luster to the convention in part because they do take
|
|||
|
|
place every year and provide helpful fixed points in the whirl of
|
|||
|
|
events. In this category are the meetings of the Resolutions
|
|||
|
|
Committee and the Board of Directors, the annual banquet, and
|
|||
|
|
many seminars and workshops of the various divisions and
|
|||
|
|
committees. Here is a partial list of activities being planned by
|
|||
|
|
a number of Federation groups during the 1994 Convention, July 1
|
|||
|
|
through 7. Presidents of divisions and committee chairpeople have
|
|||
|
|
provided the information. The pre-convention agenda will list the
|
|||
|
|
locations of all events taking place before convention
|
|||
|
|
registration on Saturday, July 2. The convention agenda will
|
|||
|
|
contain listings of all events taking place after that time.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--2 women examine table top art displays. CAPTION--Federationists
|
|||
|
|
examine artwork displayed at the 1993 blind artists' exhibit.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Art Exhibit
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
On Tuesday, July 5, from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m., the second
|
|||
|
|
annual exhibit of work by blind artists will be held. Artists who
|
|||
|
|
displayed their work last year will be back, and we expect some
|
|||
|
|
new and interesting additions. If you enjoy art or think you
|
|||
|
|
might if you had enough experience with it, put the exhibit on
|
|||
|
|
your must list of things to do at the Convention.
|
|||
|
|
We welcome all artists to participate in the 1994 art
|
|||
|
|
exhibit. The only requirement concerning your work is that it be
|
|||
|
|
original. In addition, if you can't bring it yourself, you must
|
|||
|
|
send it with someone who will act as your representative. That
|
|||
|
|
person must spend at least part of his or her time at the
|
|||
|
|
exhibit, setting up and showing your work and is the one who will
|
|||
|
|
see that your work and any money owed you is returned to you
|
|||
|
|
after the convention. You may sell your work or not, as you
|
|||
|
|
choose. Remember that a fifteen percent commission on all works
|
|||
|
|
sold goes to the NFB.
|
|||
|
|
This year we would like to do a better job of labeling. If
|
|||
|
|
possible, please label your work in both Braille and print or get
|
|||
|
|
someone to help you. If you need help with one or the other type
|
|||
|
|
of labeling, please send me, Janet Bixby, the information you
|
|||
|
|
want on the labels and specify which type of labeling you need.
|
|||
|
|
This information must be in my hands no later than June 1, and
|
|||
|
|
the deadline for letting me know your display plans is June 15.
|
|||
|
|
Tell me what type of art you do, approximately how many pieces
|
|||
|
|
you hope to bring, and approximately how much space you will
|
|||
|
|
need. The sooner I hear from people, the better it will be.
|
|||
|
|
We will make arrangements for you to ship your work in
|
|||
|
|
advance if you wish. Details will be sent to you later. More
|
|||
|
|
information about this exhibit will be forthcoming, so be on the
|
|||
|
|
lookout for it. In the meantime, if you have questions or
|
|||
|
|
comments, call Janet Bixby (703) 722-4712; or write me at 208 W.
|
|||
|
|
Boscawen, Apartment 11, Winchester, Virginia 22601-4139.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Blind Educators to Meet
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Association of Blind Educators (NABE) will hold
|
|||
|
|
its annual meeting Sunday, July 3, at 1:00 p.m. at the 1994
|
|||
|
|
convention of the National Federation of the Blind. This year we
|
|||
|
|
will focus on the blind educator in the public school systems of
|
|||
|
|
the 1990's. What are our expectations for our careers, and what
|
|||
|
|
should we expect from administrators, parents, and students?
|
|||
|
|
The public schools today are much different from what they
|
|||
|
|
were some years ago when parents and students respected teachers
|
|||
|
|
and administrators did what they were paid to do. Now in too many
|
|||
|
|
schools the teacher is responsible for everything which occurs.
|
|||
|
|
In short, the teacher has been expected to cure the ills of
|
|||
|
|
society.
|
|||
|
|
Since teachers are paid to educate students in this new
|
|||
|
|
environment, it is up to us in NABE to find our rightful place in
|
|||
|
|
what has become a new profession. Blind educators with much
|
|||
|
|
experience at all levels of education from preschool to the
|
|||
|
|
university level will share experiences and techniques. We will
|
|||
|
|
also discuss how to deal with many negative factors in the
|
|||
|
|
educational work place. Good self-esteem is essential for long-
|
|||
|
|
term psychological well-being. As blind educators we must learn
|
|||
|
|
our rights as well as our responsibilities. The ADA may assist
|
|||
|
|
us, but all the skills and techniques needed by the blind
|
|||
|
|
educator are defined and explained at our meeting.
|
|||
|
|
Be in Detroit July 1 to 8, to learn from and join a very
|
|||
|
|
progressive group of blind educators.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Blind Industrial Workers of America
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Blind Industrial Workers of America (BIWA) plans to sell
|
|||
|
|
split cash drawing tickets at the convention for $1 apiece. The
|
|||
|
|
drawing will be held banquet night. Premo Foianini, BIWA
|
|||
|
|
President, says you must be present to win.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Braille-A-Thon
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
For the past five years the National Federation of the Blind
|
|||
|
|
of Louisiana has held a Braille-a-thon as a public-education and
|
|||
|
|
fund-raising event at its state convention to promote Braille
|
|||
|
|
literacy. This year the National Association to Promote the Use
|
|||
|
|
of Braille (NAPUB) has decided to conduct a similar fund-raiser
|
|||
|
|
at the National Convention with half the proceeds going to NAPUB
|
|||
|
|
and half to the national treasury.
|
|||
|
|
This is the way it works: Volunteer Braille readers will
|
|||
|
|
pledge to read a set number of Braille pages (the number to be
|
|||
|
|
chosen by them) sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on
|
|||
|
|
Friday, July 1. For several weeks prior to the convention these
|
|||
|
|
volunteer readers will work to procure sponsors. Then, at a time
|
|||
|
|
convenient to them during the hours of the Braille-a-thon, the
|
|||
|
|
volunteers will go to the room designated for the event in the
|
|||
|
|
Pre-convention Agenda to complete their page goals. Some read as
|
|||
|
|
many as three hundred pages, and others read only a few. We hope
|
|||
|
|
to attract both excellent Braille readers and brand-new ones.
|
|||
|
|
Everyone who reads Braille can help. You don't have to read lots
|
|||
|
|
of pages in order to raise an impressive amount of money; an
|
|||
|
|
alternative strategy is to find sponsors who will make
|
|||
|
|
appropriately large contributions for each page read.
|
|||
|
|
If you would like to participate and receive sponsor sheets
|
|||
|
|
for use in signing up your friends and business associates as
|
|||
|
|
backers during the coming weeks, contact either Betty Niceley,
|
|||
|
|
3618 Dayton Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 70402, (502) 897-2632;
|
|||
|
|
or Jerry Whittle, 101 South Trenton Street, Ruston, Louisiana
|
|||
|
|
71270, (800) 234-4166.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--2 blind girls play with popsicle sticks and paper at a table. CAPTION-
|
|||
|
|
-NFB Camp provides the opportunity for young Federationists to enjoy
|
|||
|
|
themselves during the annual convention.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
General Child Care Information
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
As usual, child care will be available during the 1994
|
|||
|
|
convention. Again this year the volunteer director of child-care
|
|||
|
|
services (christened last year and now known as NFB Camp) is Mary
|
|||
|
|
Willows. Mrs. Willows is an experienced educator, the mother of
|
|||
|
|
two children, and a long-time leader in the National Federation
|
|||
|
|
of the Blind of California. This volunteer job is a major
|
|||
|
|
undertaking. It takes a tremendous amount of time from many
|
|||
|
|
Federation parents who care deeply about making the NFB
|
|||
|
|
Convention an enjoyable and enriching experience for every member
|
|||
|
|
of the family who attends.
|
|||
|
|
Child care is provided not only during the parent seminar on
|
|||
|
|
Friday, July 1, 1994, but during the convention sessions, the
|
|||
|
|
banquet, and other special meeting times as resources allow.
|
|||
|
|
Parents are asked to make these donations for child care: $50 for
|
|||
|
|
the week (including the banquet) for the first child and $25 for
|
|||
|
|
each additional child; or, if you do not need the full week of
|
|||
|
|
NFB Camp, $10 per child per day, and $10 per child for the
|
|||
|
|
banquet night. Parents who cannot contribute the suggested
|
|||
|
|
donation should contact Mary Willows to discuss what donation
|
|||
|
|
they are able to make. Mary will be available in the NFB Camp
|
|||
|
|
room before and after sessions. Please contact Mary as soon as
|
|||
|
|
possible to indicate the number of youngsters in your family who
|
|||
|
|
will be participating in NFB Camp during the week. Be sure to
|
|||
|
|
tell her about each child's special needs if any. We also need to
|
|||
|
|
know the age of each youngster and whether each is blind or
|
|||
|
|
sighted. Checks for child care made payable to NOPBC and
|
|||
|
|
registration information should be sent to Mary Willows, 3934
|
|||
|
|
Kern Court, Pleasanton, California 94588; (510) 462-8557. Since
|
|||
|
|
the suggested donation does not cover all expenses, other
|
|||
|
|
donations from individuals and groups will be much appreciated.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Committee on Associates
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Associates Committee is dramatically expanded this year
|
|||
|
|
and has great potential for success during the 1994 calendar
|
|||
|
|
year. However, the results of the 1994 enrollment year will be
|
|||
|
|
available at the committee meeting at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 3.
|
|||
|
|
In addition several awards will be presented as well as remarks
|
|||
|
|
by an exceptional speaker. Registration will begin at 6:45 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
(essential for door prizes).
|
|||
|
|
On Monday at noon the committee will conduct a workshop for
|
|||
|
|
those who have questions about techniques for associate
|
|||
|
|
enrolling. The workshop will not exceed forty-five minutes. For
|
|||
|
|
details contact Chairman Tom Stevens, (314) 445-6091, evenings.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO---Deaf-Blind Committee members seated at head table w/microphone and
|
|||
|
|
Tellatouch. CAPTION--Members of the Committee on Concerns of the Deaf-Blind
|
|||
|
|
are pictured here taking part in a committee meeting. Committee Chairman Boyd
|
|||
|
|
Wolfe (at mic) works with Connie Ryan, using a Tellatouch.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Committee on the Concerns of the Deaf-Blind
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Federation of the Blind Committee on the
|
|||
|
|
Concerns of the Deaf-Blind is planning three meetings during
|
|||
|
|
Convention week in Detroit this year. All meetings will take
|
|||
|
|
place at the Westin Hotel and will begin at 8:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
On Friday, July 1, there will be a seminar on assistive
|
|||
|
|
listening devices, conducted by Kathleen Spear. Saturday evening,
|
|||
|
|
July 2, we will have an interpreters' workshop. All those
|
|||
|
|
interested in being interpreters for deaf-blind people attending
|
|||
|
|
the convention are urged to attend to learn methods of
|
|||
|
|
communicating with deaf-blind people and to get acquainted with
|
|||
|
|
each other.
|
|||
|
|
The Committee strongly urges that deaf-blind people
|
|||
|
|
attending the convention register immediately when they arrive or
|
|||
|
|
as soon as Convention registration begins on July 2. This will
|
|||
|
|
enable you to receive an agenda with which to choose the meetings
|
|||
|
|
you plan to attend and for which you will need an interpreter.
|
|||
|
|
Everyone who has served as an interpreter in the past or who is
|
|||
|
|
interested in trying this activity is warmly invited to attend
|
|||
|
|
the Saturday evening gathering to get acquainted.
|
|||
|
|
Tuesday evening, July 5, the committee will conduct its
|
|||
|
|
annual meeting. All committee members are urged to attend, as
|
|||
|
|
well as anyone else who is interested and able to attend. As
|
|||
|
|
committee chairman, I and all of the other members of the
|
|||
|
|
committee will be looking forward to seeing you at the greatest
|
|||
|
|
NFB Convention ever. Every year attendance at both the meetings
|
|||
|
|
of deaf-blind people and at general Convention activities has
|
|||
|
|
increased. We are looking forward to watching this trend
|
|||
|
|
continue.
|
|||
|
|
Any deaf-blind person who may need assistance when coming to
|
|||
|
|
the Convention is urged to contact Boyd C. Wolfe, Chairman, 944
|
|||
|
|
West Main St., Apt. 1010, Mesa, Arizona 85201. Please write in
|
|||
|
|
Braille or call me on your State Relay Service at (602) 890-8061.
|
|||
|
|
Anyone who may have suggestions or advice about matters
|
|||
|
|
concerning deaf-blind people is urged to do the same.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO/CAPTION--Diabetics Division leaders (left to right), Bill Parker, Ed
|
|||
|
|
Bryant, Karen Mayry, and Tom Ley, are pictured here at the head table of the
|
|||
|
|
1993 Diabetics Division meeting.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Diabetics Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ed Bryant, President of the Diabetics Division, reports that
|
|||
|
|
the Division will hold two seminars at this year's convention.
|
|||
|
|
The first will cover technology for diabetes self-management by
|
|||
|
|
the blind. Discussions will feature adaptive insulin measuring
|
|||
|
|
devices and blood glucose monitors with voice enunciation. The
|
|||
|
|
meeting will take place at the Westin Hotel, Saturday, July 2,
|
|||
|
|
from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
The second seminar is our yearly Diabetics Division
|
|||
|
|
seminar/business meeting. A keynote address is being arranged,
|
|||
|
|
probable subject to be organ transplantation. This meeting will
|
|||
|
|
take place on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Seminar
|
|||
|
|
locations will be listed in the Convention agenda, available upon
|
|||
|
|
registration. Plan, prepare, and be rewarded. This year's
|
|||
|
|
convention will be great.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dialysis
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
During this year's National Convention (Friday, July 1
|
|||
|
|
through Thursday, July 7) dialysis will be available. Individuals
|
|||
|
|
requiring dialysis must have a transient-patient packet and a
|
|||
|
|
physician's statement filled out prior to treatment. Patients
|
|||
|
|
should have their dialysis unit contact the desired location in
|
|||
|
|
the Detroit area for instruction on what must be done. A
|
|||
|
|
mandatory prepayment of twenty percent (approximately $26) must
|
|||
|
|
be made before each treatment. This amount is not covered by
|
|||
|
|
Medicare.
|
|||
|
|
Please schedule treatments early because space is limited.
|
|||
|
|
Most dialysis locations require at least a thirty-day advance
|
|||
|
|
notification, and service is provided on a first-come, first-
|
|||
|
|
served basis. For transportation to and from dialysis centers
|
|||
|
|
within the Detroit city limits, contact the Suburban Mobility
|
|||
|
|
Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART); telephone (313)
|
|||
|
|
961-6030. Fare from the Westin Hotel to and from dialysis
|
|||
|
|
locations is $1 each way. Call ten days ahead. Note: SMART serves
|
|||
|
|
only locations within the actual city of Detroit.
|
|||
|
|
Dialysis locations:
|
|||
|
|
1. BMA of Detroit, 4727 Saint Antoine, Suite 101, Detroit,
|
|||
|
|
Michigan 48202; telephone (313) 831-2510. Ask for Jackie. BMA has
|
|||
|
|
two units that are close to the Convention site, one about five
|
|||
|
|
minutes away, the other about fifteen.
|
|||
|
|
2. Greenfield Health Systems, 30100 Telegraph Road, Suite
|
|||
|
|
200, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025; telephone (810) 642-5038. Ask
|
|||
|
|
for Tiffany. This is the corporate office, which patients or
|
|||
|
|
social workers must contact in order to make arrangements. They
|
|||
|
|
have several units less than thirty minutes from the Westin
|
|||
|
|
Hotel.
|
|||
|
|
3. St. John Dialysis Center, 22151 Moross, Suite G3,
|
|||
|
|
Detroit, Michigan 48236; telephone (313) 343-3991. Ask for Cora
|
|||
|
|
Coleman. St. John has several units, the nearest fifteen to
|
|||
|
|
twenty minutes away from the Westin.
|
|||
|
|
Space is limited, so please schedule treatments early. If
|
|||
|
|
your dialysis unit cannot confirm a space for you, contact
|
|||
|
|
Diabetics Division President Ed Bryant for assistance at 811
|
|||
|
|
Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, Missouri 6201; or call (314)
|
|||
|
|
875-8911.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ham Radio Group
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The NFB Ham Radio Group, D. Curtis Willoughby, President,
|
|||
|
|
will conduct an Emergency Preparedness Seminar at 7:30 a.m.,
|
|||
|
|
Friday, July 1, location to be announced in the pre-convention
|
|||
|
|
Agenda. The group's annual meeting will convene immediately
|
|||
|
|
following the noon recess of the Wednesday Convention session.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Human Services Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Doug Elliott, President of the Human Services Division of
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of the Blind, reports that the Division
|
|||
|
|
will meet on Sunday, July 3, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Keynote
|
|||
|
|
speakers kicking off the session will be Commissioner Donald Gist
|
|||
|
|
of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and Mr. Fred
|
|||
|
|
Schroeder, Director of the New Mexico Commission for the Blind.
|
|||
|
|
Both men provide human services to a statewide population and
|
|||
|
|
supervise others who do so.
|
|||
|
|
Other topics for discussion will include blind human service
|
|||
|
|
professionals working in private practice and in hospital
|
|||
|
|
settings, confidentiality of records as a barrier, and work with
|
|||
|
|
violent patients. The effects of blindness on professional
|
|||
|
|
aspirants, job seekers, and potential employers will be
|
|||
|
|
emphasized.
|
|||
|
|
Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. Cost of registration
|
|||
|
|
is $10 for working professionals and $5 for students and those
|
|||
|
|
not yet employed in the field.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Lorraine Rovig seated at a table. CAPTION--Lorraine Rovig, Director of
|
|||
|
|
the Job Opportunities for the Blind program]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Job Opportunities for the Blind National Seminar
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The 1994 National JOB Seminar will take place in the Westin
|
|||
|
|
Hotel, Renaissance Center, Friday, July 1, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
Sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind and the U.S.
|
|||
|
|
Department of Labor, JOB (Job Opportunities for the Blind) offers
|
|||
|
|
a fast-moving three hours of blind Americans' sharing information
|
|||
|
|
on their jobs--how they got them, how they keep them, and what
|
|||
|
|
they recommend to others. Blind people and those helping them get
|
|||
|
|
jobs with decent pay will find a supportive, knowledgeable, and
|
|||
|
|
down-to-earth program with a positive attitude. This seminar is
|
|||
|
|
free.
|
|||
|
|
Any legally blind resident of the United States who is
|
|||
|
|
looking for work in the U.S. is eligible to become a JOB
|
|||
|
|
applicant. No need to wait till July--call (800) 638-7518 and ask
|
|||
|
|
for the free sample JOB Packet and JOB Application Form.
|
|||
|
|
Anyone who works with blind job seekers is also welcome.
|
|||
|
|
Come hear the real scoop on what works in job placement and what
|
|||
|
|
jobs blind people are doing. Any employer interested in hearing
|
|||
|
|
blind employees talk about their jobs will never have a better
|
|||
|
|
opportunity.
|
|||
|
|
Time at the seminar will be made available for those with a
|
|||
|
|
job opening. Any announcements produced as handouts will be made
|
|||
|
|
available throughout the week at the JOB table in the exhibit
|
|||
|
|
hall. Any personnel recruiters who would like free exhibit space
|
|||
|
|
in the hall, announcement of their availability at convention, a
|
|||
|
|
place for interviews, or a JOB liaison to assist in locating
|
|||
|
|
possible job applicants at convention are invited to call JOB to
|
|||
|
|
make these arrangements.
|
|||
|
|
Networking at Convention: While we are on the topic of
|
|||
|
|
employment, what job would you like to do? There may be another
|
|||
|
|
person at convention who is already doing what you dream of
|
|||
|
|
doing. Ask JOB to help you find people in your field of interest,
|
|||
|
|
and consider reserving a spot at a job networking breakfast.
|
|||
|
|
Write to JOB, NFB, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland
|
|||
|
|
21230; or call JOB at (800) 638-7518 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST)
|
|||
|
|
to talk with the director, Miss Rovig.
|
|||
|
|
JOB Networking Breakfasts: Convention week goes so fast and
|
|||
|
|
has so much packed into it that JOB had to cogitate hard on how
|
|||
|
|
to help people find each other and then sit still long enough to
|
|||
|
|
network to their mutual benefit. The breakfast meetings were born
|
|||
|
|
of necessity and continue through popularity. The breakfast
|
|||
|
|
coordinators are all blind people working in the particular
|
|||
|
|
field. Folks meet at the appointed restaurant, individuals order
|
|||
|
|
off the menu or graze the buffet, the coordinators help folks get
|
|||
|
|
acquainted, and whatever job-related topic folks want to talk
|
|||
|
|
about gets discussed.
|
|||
|
|
Because it is still April, we don't yet know where in the
|
|||
|
|
hotel we'll hold each networking event. Locations will be posted
|
|||
|
|
during convention week at the NFB hotel information tables and at
|
|||
|
|
the NFB Information Desk. Many good conversations and good
|
|||
|
|
contacts have grown out of serendipitous juxtapositions at job
|
|||
|
|
networking breakfasts. You want to come? Okay, see you in
|
|||
|
|
Detroit. It's as easy as that.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SATURDAY
|
|||
|
|
Brand new in '94--A JOB Breakfast for First-Timers--Do you want
|
|||
|
|
to meet new people fast, have a chance to network about jobs and
|
|||
|
|
job searches, and get your questions answered about how this
|
|||
|
|
week-long convention works? Beginning at 7:00 a.m., Saturday,
|
|||
|
|
July 2, join an old-timer at tables for four or six. We will have
|
|||
|
|
room for the first sixteen first-timers. The coordinator is
|
|||
|
|
Lorraine Rovig, JOB director: (800) 638-7518.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SUNDAY
|
|||
|
|
A JOB Networking Breakfast (7:00 a.m.) for anyone interested in
|
|||
|
|
sharing ideas for job hunting. Limit of five plus Miss Rovig.
|
|||
|
|
Contact her for reservations at (800) 638-7518.
|
|||
|
|
The Fifth Annual Blind Lawyers Breakfast, 7:00 a.m. Sunday,
|
|||
|
|
July 3. This year the attendees will break up into groups of four
|
|||
|
|
or six per table so that it is easier to talk. On this same day
|
|||
|
|
the National Association of Blind Lawyers will hold its yearly
|
|||
|
|
national seminar. No reservations needed for breakfast or
|
|||
|
|
seminar. For information contact NABL president and our breakfast
|
|||
|
|
coordinator, Bennett Prows from Washington state: (206) 823-6380.
|
|||
|
|
The Third Annual Science and Engineering Breakfast, Sunday,
|
|||
|
|
7:00 a.m., July 3. The one in Dallas was a great success, and you
|
|||
|
|
won't find better company than at this Sunday morning feast.
|
|||
|
|
Professionals in science and engineering and those interested in
|
|||
|
|
these fields are invited to join the fun.
|
|||
|
|
To make reservations, contact Chairman John Miller,
|
|||
|
|
California, by June 15. Call (619) 587-3975, or write to S & E
|
|||
|
|
Breakfast, c/o John Miller, 4178 Decoro Street, #39, San Diego,
|
|||
|
|
California 92122.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
MONDAY
|
|||
|
|
A 7:30 a.m. JOB Networking Breakfast for anyone interested in
|
|||
|
|
sharing ideas for job hunting. Limit of five plus Miss Rovig.
|
|||
|
|
Contact her for reservations at (800) 638-7518.
|
|||
|
|
The Second Annual Breakfast for Braille Proofreaders and
|
|||
|
|
Transcribers will be held at 8:00 a.m., Monday, July 4. Braille
|
|||
|
|
and Independence Day go well together! The breakfast coordinator,
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Mary Donahue, Texas, may be reached in the evenings at (210)
|
|||
|
|
826-9579. Reservations are helpful but not required.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TUESDAY
|
|||
|
|
The Second Annual Breakfast for Blind Employees in Medical
|
|||
|
|
Fields will meet at 7:00 a.m., July 5. The breakfast coordinator,
|
|||
|
|
Janet Lee from Minnesota, may be reached at BLIND, Inc., (612)
|
|||
|
|
339-8401 or evenings: (612) 434-7933.
|
|||
|
|
A 7:00 a.m. JOB Networking Breakfast for anyone interested in
|
|||
|
|
sharing ideas for job hunting. Limit of five plus Miss Rovig.
|
|||
|
|
Contact her for reservations at (800) 638-7518.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
WEDNESDAY
|
|||
|
|
The Third Annual Blind Artists and Crafts Persons Luncheon will
|
|||
|
|
take place on Wednesday, July 6, during the break while the 3,000
|
|||
|
|
conventioneers "in convention assembled" go to lunch. The
|
|||
|
|
artists' group has grown so large that breakfast has been changed
|
|||
|
|
to a lunch meeting. Come hear some good ideas for selling your
|
|||
|
|
product, and meet your fellow artists. Reservations would be
|
|||
|
|
helpful. Contact Janet Bixby, Virginia, at (703) 722-4712. Janet
|
|||
|
|
is also coordinating the second annual convention art gallery for
|
|||
|
|
exhibition and sales.
|
|||
|
|
Brand new in '94--A JOB Breakfast for Blind Machinists and
|
|||
|
|
Mechanics. Allen Lincoln from Connecticut and Alan Downing from
|
|||
|
|
Arizona will be coordinators for this one. Al Lincoln is a
|
|||
|
|
machinist and mechanic, while Alan is a mechanic and electrical
|
|||
|
|
engineer who specializes in classic Corvette restoration and Indy
|
|||
|
|
cars. We were thinking of calling this the "manly breakfast," but
|
|||
|
|
women in these fields will certainly be welcome. If smoothly
|
|||
|
|
purring motors and greasy hands interest you, join this group at
|
|||
|
|
7:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 6. Reservations helpful, not required.
|
|||
|
|
Alan Downing can be reached at (602) 531-6708.
|
|||
|
|
Brand new in '94--The Green Thumb Career Breakfast, a JOB
|
|||
|
|
breakfast for horticulturists and others interested in selling
|
|||
|
|
what they grow, will take place at 7:00 a.m., July 6. The
|
|||
|
|
coordinator, Pete Donahue from Texas, can be reached evenings at
|
|||
|
|
(210) 826-9579.
|
|||
|
|
The Last-Chance JOB Networking Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. for
|
|||
|
|
anyone interested in sharing ideas for job hunting. Limit of five
|
|||
|
|
plus Miss Rovig. Contact her for reservations at (800) 638-7518.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Woman (wearing an apron and curlers) sits at the bedside of an
|
|||
|
|
apparently ill spouse, reading him the Bible. CAPTION--Two of the Louisiana
|
|||
|
|
Center for the Blind Players are pictured here during one of their
|
|||
|
|
performances at the 1993 NFB convention.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Louisiana Center Players
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Louisiana Center for the Blind Players will present two
|
|||
|
|
performances of Time for Every Purpose, an original play by Jerry
|
|||
|
|
Whittle, a member of the Center staff. The performances will be
|
|||
|
|
presented at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Sunday, July 3, and tickets are
|
|||
|
|
$3.00 each. The play is about eight students at the Louisiana
|
|||
|
|
Center for the Blind and their experiences at their first
|
|||
|
|
national convention.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Merchants Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Merchants Division of the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind will conduct a seminar on Friday, July 1, on Tax Law and
|
|||
|
|
Financial Planning for Retirement. The session will run from 9:30
|
|||
|
|
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. The cost is $30.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Woman plays piano and sings into microphone. CAPTION--Julie Melton of
|
|||
|
|
Michigan is pictured here competing in the 1993 Musical Showcase of Talent.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Music Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
On Monday, July 4, the popular Musical Showcase will take
|
|||
|
|
place from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 or 11:00. Contestant registration
|
|||
|
|
will take place, preferably at the Music Division meeting
|
|||
|
|
Saturday evening, or from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 at the latest on the
|
|||
|
|
night of the Showcase.
|
|||
|
|
Sorry, but there will be no children's contest this year.
|
|||
|
|
However, the Music Division Board has decided to lower the age of
|
|||
|
|
contestants in the other categories to twelve.
|
|||
|
|
This year for the first time we plan to sponsor a contest
|
|||
|
|
for professional musicians. And of course our usual contests for
|
|||
|
|
original compositions and for performance will also take place
|
|||
|
|
again this year, but each contestant is limited to entering one
|
|||
|
|
competition only. Electronic accompaniment may be used, but
|
|||
|
|
unison singing with a recording will not be accepted. Also,
|
|||
|
|
please no long monologues before selections since each contestant
|
|||
|
|
has only five minutes in which to introduce his or her selection
|
|||
|
|
and perform it. There will be a $2 entry fee for Music Division
|
|||
|
|
members and a $3 fee for nonmembers. The first-place prize in
|
|||
|
|
each contest is $100, and the second-place prize in each is $50.
|
|||
|
|
The judges will evaluate contestant performances on musical
|
|||
|
|
interpretation; appearance; and, in the composition contest,
|
|||
|
|
originality. Those interested in serving as one of the three
|
|||
|
|
judges should contact Mary Brunoli with information about their
|
|||
|
|
qualifications. We hope to offer a small honorarium to each of
|
|||
|
|
the judges. Contact Mary Brunoli before June 25 at 31 Sherbrooke
|
|||
|
|
Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, (203) 522-0206, or look her
|
|||
|
|
up at the National Convention.
|
|||
|
|
On Saturday, July 2, after the 6:30 p.m. Division Board
|
|||
|
|
meeting, the Music Division will hold its annual meeting at 8:00
|
|||
|
|
p.m. We hope to have a representative from the Music Library of
|
|||
|
|
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
|
|||
|
|
Handicapped, but the program will be brief because of election of
|
|||
|
|
officers. Speaking of which, Mary Brunoli says she hopes to
|
|||
|
|
identify a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed someone who is interested
|
|||
|
|
in all kinds of music and who would like to be the next Music
|
|||
|
|
Division President. She would like, however, to remain on the
|
|||
|
|
Division board but lacks the campaign funds to say more.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
National Association of Blind Lawyers
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This year's annual meeting of the National Association of
|
|||
|
|
Blind Lawyers, consisting of a business session and seminar, will
|
|||
|
|
be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. Blind
|
|||
|
|
attorneys, law students, and anyone else interested in the
|
|||
|
|
practice of law should attend this year's meeting.
|
|||
|
|
Although the agenda is not finalized at this writing, the
|
|||
|
|
program promises to bring together interesting speakers on timely
|
|||
|
|
topics. We will discuss the latest in civil rights law and
|
|||
|
|
litigation concerning the blind; methods and techniques of law
|
|||
|
|
practice to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the blind
|
|||
|
|
lawyer; updates on technology, specifically in legal research;
|
|||
|
|
and much more.
|
|||
|
|
Membership in the National Association of Blind Lawyers is
|
|||
|
|
$10, and you can register at the door on the day of the meeting.
|
|||
|
|
By registering, you will be sure to be on our mailing list for
|
|||
|
|
the coming year to receive the ABA Journal and other publications
|
|||
|
|
we are planning to distribute. We are also working to make sure
|
|||
|
|
that the hours you spend being educated at the National
|
|||
|
|
Association of Blind Lawyers meeting can be used for your
|
|||
|
|
continuing legal education credit in any state in the Union. Join
|
|||
|
|
the attorneys of the National Federation of the Blind and make a
|
|||
|
|
difference.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Man and woman seated at table, with dealer picking up poker chips.
|
|||
|
|
CAPTION--Mary and Edwin Hurt prepare to enjoy Monte Carlo night at the 1993
|
|||
|
|
convention.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Association of Blind Students
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Association of Blind Students (NABS) is active
|
|||
|
|
and on the move, and this year's meeting promises to be more
|
|||
|
|
exciting than ever before. Energy will be high, and enthusiasm
|
|||
|
|
and fun will characterize the evening of Saturday, July 2, 1994.
|
|||
|
|
At 7:00 p.m. students from every part of the country will be
|
|||
|
|
present at the Convention meeting of the student division. We
|
|||
|
|
want you to be a part of the collective action and solidarity
|
|||
|
|
that characterize our movement. Each year more and more students
|
|||
|
|
make the conscious decision to take an active role in changing
|
|||
|
|
the lives of blind students for the better, and we expect to see
|
|||
|
|
the growth in momentum continue in 1994.
|
|||
|
|
But the excitement does not end at the conclusion of the
|
|||
|
|
Saturday night meeting. Come and enjoy a game of poker, UNO,
|
|||
|
|
blackjack, or other Monte Carlo Night favorite while having fun
|
|||
|
|
with fellow Federationists, raising money for the student
|
|||
|
|
division, and staying in the spirit of Monte Carlo by gambling
|
|||
|
|
for three cash prizes. Gaming action will start at 7:00 p.m. on
|
|||
|
|
Tuesday, July 5. Let's make 1994 a year to remember. Be a part of
|
|||
|
|
what's happening, and don't forget to encourage your friends to
|
|||
|
|
do the same.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Paul Gabias seated at table with Braille slate in his hand. CAPTION--
|
|||
|
|
Paul Gabias, President of the National Association of Guide Dog Users.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
National Association of Guide Dog Users
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The annual meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog
|
|||
|
|
Users will be held on Friday, July 1, from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin
|
|||
|
|
promptly at 1:15 p.m. This year's agenda is packed, innovative,
|
|||
|
|
and exciting. You won't want to miss it.
|
|||
|
|
The meeting will begin with elections and other business and
|
|||
|
|
will be followed by several interesting program items. We know
|
|||
|
|
that blind people are involved in many occupations which require
|
|||
|
|
the monitoring of the safety of other people. There are blind
|
|||
|
|
shop teachers, blind teachers of young children, blind day care
|
|||
|
|
workers, and blind teachers involved in physical education,
|
|||
|
|
including wrestling and the martial arts. There are also blind
|
|||
|
|
mobility instructors, including cane travel teachers and guide
|
|||
|
|
dog travel instructors. Yet for many people, blind and sighted
|
|||
|
|
alike, the fact that blind people can safely teach other blind
|
|||
|
|
people the techniques involved in using a guide dog or a cane is
|
|||
|
|
still very much an enigma.
|
|||
|
|
To help deal with this issue, two blind people who have
|
|||
|
|
successfully trained guide dogs, Cheri Heppe and Paul Gabias,
|
|||
|
|
will discuss their experience as trainers. At least two of the
|
|||
|
|
people they have trained (Bill Schiavo and Mary Ellen Gabias)
|
|||
|
|
will also share their experiences as students with blind
|
|||
|
|
instructors. In addition, Arlene Hill from the Louisiana Center
|
|||
|
|
for the Blind will discuss her vast experience as a blind cane
|
|||
|
|
travel teacher. A student from the Louisiana Center for the Blind
|
|||
|
|
will also speak.
|
|||
|
|
Several guide dog schools are expected to discuss the
|
|||
|
|
particular methods they use to teach their guide dogs subway
|
|||
|
|
platform safety. It is expected that they will also discuss
|
|||
|
|
methods which graduates should use to maximize platform safety.
|
|||
|
|
At the time of this writing the Guide Dog Foundation for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind in Smithtown, New York, has agreed to deal with this topic,
|
|||
|
|
but we are expecting confirmations from other schools shortly.
|
|||
|
|
Brad Scott, the director of training at Leader Dogs for the
|
|||
|
|
Blind in Rochester, Michigan, will talk to us about developments
|
|||
|
|
on the U.S. Council of Dog Guide Schools. The executive directors
|
|||
|
|
and directors of training meet separately, for the most part, and
|
|||
|
|
he is secretary for the meeting of the directors of training.
|
|||
|
|
However, he is in a position to comment on both meetings.
|
|||
|
|
A representative from the Office of Governmental Affairs of
|
|||
|
|
the National Federation of the Blind will also discuss with us
|
|||
|
|
measures we can take to solve the quarantine problem for people
|
|||
|
|
travelling with guide dogs to Hawaii. The meeting will end with a
|
|||
|
|
discussion about what is new at the guide dog schools.
|
|||
|
|
Representatives from each school will be given an opportunity to
|
|||
|
|
discuss developments at their training centers.
|
|||
|
|
Over the last few years our seminars entitled "A Guide Dog
|
|||
|
|
in Your Life" have been very popular. Last year we dealt with the
|
|||
|
|
retiring dog; this year we will deal with the new dog. We will
|
|||
|
|
discuss issues relevant to first-time guide dog handlers and
|
|||
|
|
problems related to switching from an old dog to a new one. We
|
|||
|
|
will deal with dog transfer problems from trainer to blind
|
|||
|
|
handler and the myriad of ways these control problems can be
|
|||
|
|
expressed in the working situation and beyond. We will also deal
|
|||
|
|
with issues related to integrating the new dog into one's life,
|
|||
|
|
including work, family, and other social situations.
|
|||
|
|
This seminar will be held on Saturday, July 2, from 7:00 to
|
|||
|
|
10:00 p.m. Come one, come all.
|
|||
|
|
The Guide Dog Foundation will have a demonstration dog
|
|||
|
|
available for test walks during the Convention. If they wish,
|
|||
|
|
other schools are invited to provide the same service.
|
|||
|
|
Again this year we are making special arrangements to insure
|
|||
|
|
that the hotel relief area for the dogs will be as convenient and
|
|||
|
|
clean as possible. Instead of relying on hotel personnel to
|
|||
|
|
maintain this space, we will hire outside workers to keep it
|
|||
|
|
clean. This should result in a more pleasant facility for owners
|
|||
|
|
and dogs alike; but, as you would expect, the new arrangement
|
|||
|
|
will cost a good deal. For this reason we voted at last year's
|
|||
|
|
business meeting to have each dog owner pay $25 for use of the
|
|||
|
|
relief area. This fee is payable at division activities early in
|
|||
|
|
the week. Those owners who cannot do so at that time can pay it
|
|||
|
|
to Priscilla Ferris, Division Treasurer, who is President of the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts, so she is easy
|
|||
|
|
to find on the convention floor. If you cannot pay the fee,
|
|||
|
|
please contact Paul Gabias as soon as possible to work out
|
|||
|
|
another arrangement. He can be reached at 475 Fleming Road,
|
|||
|
|
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1X 3Z4; phone (604) 862-2352.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
National Association to
|
|||
|
|
Promote the Use of Braille
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You are invited to help celebrate a most important birthday.
|
|||
|
|
The National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB)
|
|||
|
|
will be ten years old when we gather for the National Convention
|
|||
|
|
in Detroit this summer. Some very exciting events have been
|
|||
|
|
planned, and we need you to help celebrate as we review our
|
|||
|
|
accomplishments since 1984.
|
|||
|
|
Membership in NAPUB helps the Federation to identify the
|
|||
|
|
Braille users in our organization. If you use Braille for nothing
|
|||
|
|
more than labeling important papers and packaged foods, writing
|
|||
|
|
addresses and telephone numbers, or just making Braille cassette
|
|||
|
|
labels, you should invest one dollar in dues so you can be
|
|||
|
|
counted among those who are using Braille in a practical way.
|
|||
|
|
Otherwise we have no accurate way of knowing how many Braille
|
|||
|
|
users there are.
|
|||
|
|
So you all come and join in the fun while also joining a
|
|||
|
|
great NFB division.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The NFB in Computer Science Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The 1994 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind in
|
|||
|
|
Computer Science will take place during the NFB convention in
|
|||
|
|
Detroit, Michigan. The meeting will commence at 1:00 p.m. Sunday,
|
|||
|
|
July 3.
|
|||
|
|
We plan to split our program into two broad areas of
|
|||
|
|
interest:
|
|||
|
|
First, we will be discussing how blind people can have
|
|||
|
|
independent access to applications written for X Windows--that
|
|||
|
|
is, the graphical user interface for UNIX. Although we now have
|
|||
|
|
some access to applications written to run under Windows and
|
|||
|
|
OS/2, there is now no commercial offering for blind people who
|
|||
|
|
need access to graphical applications running under the UNIX
|
|||
|
|
operating system. Yet quite a bit of academic research and work
|
|||
|
|
is going on in this area, and we would like to hear about it at
|
|||
|
|
our meeting.
|
|||
|
|
Second, in view of the tremendous growth in the use of
|
|||
|
|
electronic computer networks by blind and sighted computer users
|
|||
|
|
alike, we will be putting together a presentation dealing with
|
|||
|
|
systems such as CompuServe, Genie, and the Internet.
|
|||
|
|
This being an even numbered year, we will also be electing
|
|||
|
|
officers and board members for the Computer Science division. We
|
|||
|
|
will also make available time for an exchange of technical views
|
|||
|
|
and information. Any one wishing to have additional agenda items
|
|||
|
|
added to the program should contact the President of the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind in Computer Science: Curtis Chong, 3530
|
|||
|
|
Dupont Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55412; or Internet,
|
|||
|
|
73443.1351@compuserve.com
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NFB NET Training Seminar
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard much
|
|||
|
|
talk lately about the so-called National Information
|
|||
|
|
Infrastructure or Information Superhighway. We in the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind have had our own Information Superhighway
|
|||
|
|
in the form of NFB NET, our computer bulletin board service, for
|
|||
|
|
the past three years.
|
|||
|
|
If you don't know how to use your modem, if you want to
|
|||
|
|
learn about off-line reading and QWK packets, or if you want to
|
|||
|
|
learn about uploading and downloading files from NFB NET, then
|
|||
|
|
you should attend the third annual NFB NET training seminar,
|
|||
|
|
which will be held as part of the 1994 NFB National Convention in
|
|||
|
|
Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, July 1. The seminar will take place
|
|||
|
|
from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The exact location will be announced in
|
|||
|
|
the pre-convention agenda, which will be available in Detroit.
|
|||
|
|
Topics to be covered will include the basics of
|
|||
|
|
telecommunications, calling NFB NET, registering as a user,
|
|||
|
|
navigating around the system, and leaving and receiving messages.
|
|||
|
|
Other topics to be covered will include uploading and downloading
|
|||
|
|
files, locating information, getting the Braille Monitor and
|
|||
|
|
other NFB publications, changing your parameters on NFB NET,
|
|||
|
|
using off-line readers, and more. There may also be time to
|
|||
|
|
discuss other on-line services and bulletin boards which feature
|
|||
|
|
things of interest to blind computer users.
|
|||
|
|
Attend the third annual NFB NET Training Seminar and learn
|
|||
|
|
how to be among the first to get the Braille Monitor each month
|
|||
|
|
and find out about all the late-breaking news that is regularly
|
|||
|
|
available on our Information Superhighway. The seminar will
|
|||
|
|
feature explanations and real live examples by NFB NET's Systems
|
|||
|
|
Operator, David Andrews. All you need to bring is something to
|
|||
|
|
take notes with and your questions. See you on the first of July.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--1880's farm shows man on horse and cart and sheep grazing. CAPTION--
|
|||
|
|
While parents are taking part in a day-long sseminar on Friday, July 1,
|
|||
|
|
children at this year's convention have an opportunity to tour the Henry Ford
|
|||
|
|
Museum and Greenfield Village. One ofthe exhibits they will explore is the
|
|||
|
|
1880's Firestone Farm, pictured here.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Organization of
|
|||
|
|
Parents of Blind Children
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
|
|||
|
|
(NOPBC), a Division of the National Federation of the Blind, is
|
|||
|
|
once more planning a daylong seminar for parents at the annual
|
|||
|
|
NFB Convention. The seminar agenda includes topics that are
|
|||
|
|
always appropriate--"Planning Your Child's Individualized
|
|||
|
|
Education Program (IEP)" and "How to Choose the Right Technology
|
|||
|
|
for Your Child"--as well as some topics never, or seldom,
|
|||
|
|
explored in previous national parent seminars--such as "Readers
|
|||
|
|
and Drivers: The Other Alternative Techniques" and "Learning
|
|||
|
|
Through Play: A Panel Discussion about Toys, Games, Hobbies,
|
|||
|
|
Recreation, and Sports." Other subjects on the agenda include
|
|||
|
|
"Parents: The Blind Child's First Mobility Teachers" and "From
|
|||
|
|
Taking Notes to Taking Out the Trash."
|
|||
|
|
Registration for the seminar will begin at 8:00 a.m. on
|
|||
|
|
Friday, July 1. The seminar will begin at 9:00 with the keynote
|
|||
|
|
address, "Cheap Mistakes: When Children Need to Fail." The
|
|||
|
|
registration fee for the seminar is $8.00 per family for those
|
|||
|
|
who wish to join or renew their membership in the NOPBC. The fee
|
|||
|
|
is $5.00 per person for those who do not wish to become members.
|
|||
|
|
The seminar will conclude at 5:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
As usual, a special day-long field trip has been planned for
|
|||
|
|
children ages five to twelve. Donna Posont of Michigan is
|
|||
|
|
organizing and supervising this year's trip to Greenfield
|
|||
|
|
Village. Mrs. Posont is a blind mother; an active member of her
|
|||
|
|
local chapter and state NFB affiliate; and an active member, as
|
|||
|
|
well, of the Parents of Blind Children Division of Michigan. She
|
|||
|
|
has conducted many local field trips and other activities for
|
|||
|
|
children for the Michigan parent division. Here is what she has
|
|||
|
|
to say about the July 1 field trip:
|
|||
|
|
On Friday, July 1, 1994, children between the ages of five
|
|||
|
|
and twelve are invited to take a field trip to Greenfield
|
|||
|
|
Village, which is one of the most extraordinary places you can
|
|||
|
|
visit. It provides unique educational experiences based on the
|
|||
|
|
authentic objects, stories, and lives of America's famous
|
|||
|
|
inventors. On this ninety-three-acre outdoor exhibit stand the
|
|||
|
|
Wright brothers' bicycle shop; Thomas Edison's Menlo Park
|
|||
|
|
laboratory; and the Logan County Courthouse, in which Abraham
|
|||
|
|
Lincoln worked as a lawyer. These are not replicas; they are the
|
|||
|
|
actual buildings. You will also find a working blacksmith's shop,
|
|||
|
|
an 1880's farm, and a 1913 carousel. These are one-of-a-kind
|
|||
|
|
exhibits you don't just look at--you experience them! And,
|
|||
|
|
because of a contact we have with a member of the Greenfield
|
|||
|
|
Village staff, we will have a special guide for our group who
|
|||
|
|
will be dressed in Colonial costume and who will explain the
|
|||
|
|
exhibits as we examine them. We will gather in the hotel near the
|
|||
|
|
parents' seminar room on Friday morning between 8:00 and 9:00
|
|||
|
|
a.m. The price for the trip is $20.00 per child. This includes
|
|||
|
|
the cost of transportation and lunch. We will return at 5:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
or before. Parents will be told Friday morning where to pick up
|
|||
|
|
their children in the afternoon.
|
|||
|
|
Since the number of children who can be accommodated for
|
|||
|
|
this trip is limited, we urge you to pre-register your children
|
|||
|
|
for the Greenfield Village daytrip. Children will be accepted on
|
|||
|
|
a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Donna Posont if
|
|||
|
|
you have any questions about the day-trip, if you want more
|
|||
|
|
information about pre-registration, or if you have a child with
|
|||
|
|
special needs. To pre-register your child or children, send your
|
|||
|
|
check for $20.00 per child and the names, ages, and indication of
|
|||
|
|
special needs of each youngster, including whether the child is
|
|||
|
|
blind or sighted, to Donna Posont. Her contact information is
|
|||
|
|
20812 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Heights, Michigan 48127; phone,
|
|||
|
|
(313) 271-3058.
|
|||
|
|
Two other very special workshops for qualified parents,
|
|||
|
|
teachers, and other members of the Federation will take place
|
|||
|
|
Friday concurrently with the afternoon session of the 1994
|
|||
|
|
National Parents of Blind Children Seminar. These workshops,
|
|||
|
|
"Braille Methods" and "The Nature and Nurture of Cane Travel and
|
|||
|
|
Independent Movement in the Early Years," will be conducted from
|
|||
|
|
1:00 to 5:00 p.m. These workshops are open to two groups of
|
|||
|
|
people: 1) blind adults and parents of blind children who are
|
|||
|
|
willing and able to work within their Federation affiliates to
|
|||
|
|
use and share their new knowledge for the benefit of others and
|
|||
|
|
2) teachers and others who work professionally with blind
|
|||
|
|
children.
|
|||
|
|
The Braille Methods workshop will be conducted by Claudell
|
|||
|
|
Stocker, a nationally known Braille expert. The NLS Literary
|
|||
|
|
Braille Competency Test was developed under her direction as the
|
|||
|
|
former head of the Braille Development Section of the National
|
|||
|
|
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).
|
|||
|
|
Mrs. Stocker also conducted the very popular "Beginning Braille
|
|||
|
|
for Parents" workshops at our last three national conventions.
|
|||
|
|
This workshop is an advanced course, however, and all
|
|||
|
|
participants must be able to read and write grade II Braille. A
|
|||
|
|
maximum of twenty people may register for this workshop.
|
|||
|
|
Joe Cutter, who is both an early childhood specialist and an
|
|||
|
|
orientation and mobility instructor, will be conducting the cane
|
|||
|
|
travel workshop with the help of Carol Castellano, President of
|
|||
|
|
the Parents of Blind Children Division of the NFB of New Jersey,
|
|||
|
|
and George Binder, a children's cane travel instructor in New
|
|||
|
|
Mexico. Mr. Cutter assisted Fred Schroeder with a cane travel
|
|||
|
|
workshop at National Convention a few years ago. He has been a
|
|||
|
|
proponent of giving canes to blind preschoolers and even toddlers
|
|||
|
|
for many years. The purpose of this workshop is to train
|
|||
|
|
participants in the concepts, philosophy, and strategies which
|
|||
|
|
undergird the successful nurture of independent movement,
|
|||
|
|
confident cane travel, and good orientation and mobility for
|
|||
|
|
young blind children. With this knowledge participants will be
|
|||
|
|
better able to advocate for quality cane travel and O&M programs
|
|||
|
|
for children; and teachers, O&M specialists, and other
|
|||
|
|
professionals who attend the workshop will be better prepared to
|
|||
|
|
provide these quality programs.
|
|||
|
|
The maximum number of participants in this workshop is
|
|||
|
|
fifty. We urge NFB parents divisions and state affiliates to
|
|||
|
|
consider sending a representative to this workshop.
|
|||
|
|
To preregister for either of these workshops, send your
|
|||
|
|
name, address (including city, state, and zip code), telephone
|
|||
|
|
number, and check in the amount of $10.00 made payable to
|
|||
|
|
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children to NOPBC
|
|||
|
|
Convention Workshops, National Federation of the Blind, 1800
|
|||
|
|
Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. Also please indicate
|
|||
|
|
if you are a parent, teacher, or other professional and whether
|
|||
|
|
you are blind or sighted. If you are registering for the Braille
|
|||
|
|
Workshop, please describe your level of Braille knowledge or
|
|||
|
|
experience.
|
|||
|
|
Other activities during the convention will include an
|
|||
|
|
opportunity for blind youth to get together for a discussion.
|
|||
|
|
This will also take place the afternoon of Friday, July 1. Friday
|
|||
|
|
evening NOPBC will sponsor a Parent Hospitality Room in the NFB
|
|||
|
|
Camp room from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. There will be food for everyone
|
|||
|
|
(specifics will be announced at the seminar) and plenty of toys
|
|||
|
|
and space for the kids to play. Susan Benbow of New Mexico and
|
|||
|
|
other teachers and blind adults will be on hand to talk to
|
|||
|
|
parents one on one about particular educational concerns. If you
|
|||
|
|
wish, they will also demonstrate the use of the slate and stylus
|
|||
|
|
or other simple activities to you and your child.
|
|||
|
|
As usual, the annual meeting of NOPBC will also take place
|
|||
|
|
during the convention. This year's meeting will be on Sunday
|
|||
|
|
afternoon, July 3, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. An IEP workshop will
|
|||
|
|
also be held for parents on the evening of Monday, July 4, from
|
|||
|
|
7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Public Employees Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
At 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 3, the Public Employees Division
|
|||
|
|
will meet. This year we will discuss implications of the
|
|||
|
|
Administration's National Program Review for blind federal
|
|||
|
|
employees.
|
|||
|
|
Specifically, what are the possible consequences for blind
|
|||
|
|
employees of down-sizing or, as this administration sometimes
|
|||
|
|
says, right-sizing? Will there be layoffs? What will happen to
|
|||
|
|
readers? Can we expect continued computer support? A
|
|||
|
|
representative from OPM is being invited to discuss this topic.
|
|||
|
|
Two public employees with unusual jobs will describe them.
|
|||
|
|
Finally, a representative from the Michigan Human Rights
|
|||
|
|
Commission will speak on the ADA and state and local employment.
|
|||
|
|
See you in Detroit.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Public Relations Workshop
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Could your chapter do more to educate the public about the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind and the abilities of blind
|
|||
|
|
people? Would you like some ideas about effective ways to
|
|||
|
|
publicize White Cane Safety Day, Braille Literacy Week, fund-
|
|||
|
|
raising activities, and NFB seminars and workshops? Have you ever
|
|||
|
|
wished that you knew how to begin doing these jobs right and
|
|||
|
|
where to look for help? The answer is the Public Relations
|
|||
|
|
Workshop at the 1994 Convention of the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 1. Members of
|
|||
|
|
the Public Relations Committee will explain how to do radio and
|
|||
|
|
television interviews and talk shows, write press materials, give
|
|||
|
|
lively and informative talks to civic groups and classes, and
|
|||
|
|
even take advantage of community access cable television
|
|||
|
|
programming. Don't miss it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Social Security Seminar
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
On Tuesday afternoon, July 5, there will be an outreach
|
|||
|
|
seminar on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income: What
|
|||
|
|
Applicants, Advocates, and Recipients Should Know. The purpose of
|
|||
|
|
this seminar, which will be conducted jointly by the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind and the Social Security Administration,
|
|||
|
|
is to provide information on Social Security and Supplemental
|
|||
|
|
Security Income benefits for the blind. Seminar presenters will
|
|||
|
|
be Sharon Gold, Member of the Board of Directors of the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind and President of the NFB of California,
|
|||
|
|
and J. Kenneth McGill, Special Assistant to the Associate
|
|||
|
|
Commissioner for Disability, Office of Disability, Social
|
|||
|
|
Security Administration.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Writers Division
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Organized in 1982, the Writers Division has as its goal the
|
|||
|
|
encouragement of persons who happen to be blind to write. Whether
|
|||
|
|
they write novels, short story fiction, letters to the editor, or
|
|||
|
|
poetry, the Division offers aspiring and experienced writers the
|
|||
|
|
opportunity to express themselves, to showcase their work, and to
|
|||
|
|
improve their writing skills.
|
|||
|
|
The Division will conduct a workshop on short story fiction
|
|||
|
|
writing and on poetry, concluding with readings of poetry. This
|
|||
|
|
workshop will be held on Friday afternoon, July 1. Registration
|
|||
|
|
will start at 1:15, the program at 1:30; cost will be $5 per
|
|||
|
|
person. Program details are incomplete, and people can call Tom
|
|||
|
|
Stevens at (314) 445-6091 evenings or Lori Stayer, (516) 878-
|
|||
|
|
8618, for further details. Pre-registration is available.
|
|||
|
|
In the past year, the Division has attracted two best-
|
|||
|
|
selling authors as speakers. Set your cap for a stimulating and
|
|||
|
|
rewarding afternoon in the relaxed, informal atmosphere of the
|
|||
|
|
Division.
|
|||
|
|
The Division meeting, including a lively agenda of both
|
|||
|
|
business and presentations on writing, will be on Sunday
|
|||
|
|
afternoon, with registration at 1:15 and starting at 1:30. Watch
|
|||
|
|
Slate and Style for further details, or contact the persons
|
|||
|
|
above.
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Portrait. CAPTION--Allen Harris, President of the National Federation
|
|||
|
|
of the Blind of Michigan.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
RECIPES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This month's recipes are from the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind of Michigan, hosts of the 1994 National Convention.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SPINACH PIE
|
|||
|
|
by Sunny Emerson
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sunny Emerson is an active member of the Parents Division of
|
|||
|
|
the Michigan affiliate and the National Organization of Parents
|
|||
|
|
of Blind Children.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
5 boxes, frozen chopped spinach
|
|||
|
|
1 pound feta cheese, crumbled
|
|||
|
|
11/2 pound small curd cottage cheese
|
|||
|
|
12 eggs, well-beaten
|
|||
|
|
2 sticks butter, melted
|
|||
|
|
1 pound phylo Dough (strudel)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Thaw spinach, drain well, and squeeze out all
|
|||
|
|
moisture. Beat eggs, then add feta cheese, cottage cheese,
|
|||
|
|
spinach, pepper, and a little salt to taste. No salt may be
|
|||
|
|
needed since the cheeses are salty. Butter a 12-by-171/2-by-2-
|
|||
|
|
inch pan. Line with half of the sheets of dough, each brushed
|
|||
|
|
with melted butter before the next is laid on it. Spoon spinach
|
|||
|
|
mixture evenly into the dough. Fold overhanging edges onto
|
|||
|
|
spinach mixture. Layer the remaining sheets of dough brushed with
|
|||
|
|
melted butter to form top of pie. Tuck in the overhanging strips
|
|||
|
|
of top crust so that all sides are neat. Before baking, cut pie
|
|||
|
|
in diamond shapes. Bake in 350-degree oven one hour or until
|
|||
|
|
golden. Makes a lot, freezes well before or after baking.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
TURKEY OR CHICKEN DIVAN
|
|||
|
|
by Don Drapinski
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Don Drapinski has been a committed member of the National
|
|||
|
|
Federation of the Blind since 1982. He has served as President of
|
|||
|
|
the Detroit Chapter and is currently serving as First Vice
|
|||
|
|
President of that chapter.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
4 cups cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
|
|||
|
|
1 bag frozen broccoli cuts (20-ounce)
|
|||
|
|
1 can cream of chicken soup
|
|||
|
|
1/2 soup can of mayonnaise
|
|||
|
|
1/2 soup can of milk
|
|||
|
|
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
|
|||
|
|
Bread crumbs
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: In a 9-by-13-inch pan, layer the chicken and
|
|||
|
|
broccoli. Mix soup, milk, and mayonnaise and spread over
|
|||
|
|
broccoli, trying not to leave any exposed. (If you choose to use
|
|||
|
|
the cheddar cheese, it should also be mixed with the soup.)
|
|||
|
|
Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 45
|
|||
|
|
minutes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
LOW-FAT CHEESE AND PEPPER CALZONES
|
|||
|
|
by Fred and Mary Wurtzel
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Fred Wurtzel is the First Vice President of the Michigan
|
|||
|
|
affiliate, and Mary is the President of the Lansing Chapter.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
6 ounces tofu, well drained
|
|||
|
|
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
|
|||
|
|
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
|
|||
|
|
4 ounces part-skimmed mozzarella cheese, cubed
|
|||
|
|
1/2 each, red and green bell pepper
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Crust:
|
|||
|
|
11/2 cups flour
|
|||
|
|
2 ounces grated parmesan cheese
|
|||
|
|
2 teaspoons baking powder
|
|||
|
|
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
|
|||
|
|
1/3 cup margarine
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup plain yogurt
|
|||
|
|
2 teaspoons skim milk
|
|||
|
|
1/8 teaspoon paprika
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Blend tofu, thyme, and pepper. Stir in mozzarella
|
|||
|
|
and red and green peppers. For the crust, mix dry ingredients and
|
|||
|
|
cut in margarine. Add yogurt. Divide and make four 7-inch
|
|||
|
|
circles, Spread each with filling. Seal and brush tops with milk
|
|||
|
|
and paprika. Bake on cookie sheet. Poke tops with fork before
|
|||
|
|
baking to let steam escape. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
FRUIT AND CEREAL BRUNCH CAKE
|
|||
|
|
by Fred and Mary Wurtzel
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
1 cup Total cereal
|
|||
|
|
1 cup orange juice
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup oil
|
|||
|
|
1 egg
|
|||
|
|
2 small bananas, thinly sliced
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup flour
|
|||
|
|
3/4 cup sugar
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup raisins
|
|||
|
|
1 teaspoon baking soda
|
|||
|
|
1 teaspoon cinnamon
|
|||
|
|
1/2 teaspoon salt
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Mix cereal and juice. Let stand two minutes, stir in
|
|||
|
|
rest of wet ingredients, then add dry ones. Bake in 8 by 8 pan at
|
|||
|
|
350 degrees for 45 minutes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Topping:
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup chopped nuts
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup flour
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup oleo, softened
|
|||
|
|
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Mix all ingredients together and spoon over warm
|
|||
|
|
cake. Broil one minute.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CHICKEN AND STUFFING CASSEROLE
|
|||
|
|
by Allen Harris
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Allen Harris is Treasurer of the National Federation of the
|
|||
|
|
Blind and President of the Michigan affiliate. He and the rest of
|
|||
|
|
the affiliate are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to host this
|
|||
|
|
year's National Convention.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
1 package boneless chicken breasts, cooked & cubed (approximately
|
|||
|
|
21/2 cups)
|
|||
|
|
1 package Stovetop chicken stuffing mix with its seasoning
|
|||
|
|
package
|
|||
|
|
1 can cream of chicken soup
|
|||
|
|
1 soup can of water
|
|||
|
|
3 teaspoons butter or oleo
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: In a 9 by 13 pan, layer the chicken first, then the
|
|||
|
|
stuffing and seasoning mix. Spread surface with the undiluted
|
|||
|
|
soup. Add water. Cut the butter in thin slices and place on top.
|
|||
|
|
Cover tightly with foil or lid and bake 40 minutes at 300
|
|||
|
|
degrees.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PASTA SALAD
|
|||
|
|
by Joy Osmar
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Joy Osmar is past President of the Lansing Chapter, current
|
|||
|
|
Second Vice President of the Detroit Chapter, and chairperson of
|
|||
|
|
the National Convention planning committee.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
1 pound box rainbow pasta, cooked and drained
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
|
|||
|
|
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Original
|
|||
|
|
1 cup milk
|
|||
|
|
1 cup mayonnaise
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Mix pasta, green onion, cucumber, and celery. Then
|
|||
|
|
refrigerate for at least one hour. For dressing, mix Hidden
|
|||
|
|
Valley packet, milk, and mayonnaise and cover. Refrigerate for at
|
|||
|
|
least one hour. Combine mixtures and refrigerate for at least one
|
|||
|
|
more hour.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BROCCOLI SALAD
|
|||
|
|
by Donna Biro
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Donna Biro and her daughter Laura first found the Federation
|
|||
|
|
at the 1992 NFB of Michigan convention. Since that time the Biro
|
|||
|
|
family have all been active members of the affiliate. Laura was a
|
|||
|
|
1993 winner of both national and state NFB scholarships.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
1 bunch broccoli, chopped
|
|||
|
|
1 medium purple onion, chopped
|
|||
|
|
5 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup raisins
|
|||
|
|
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dressing:
|
|||
|
|
3/4 cup mayonnaise
|
|||
|
|
1/4 cup sugar
|
|||
|
|
2 tablespoons dark vinegar
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Toss all non-dressing ingredients. Mix dressing
|
|||
|
|
ingredients well and combine with broccoli mixture.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CHICKEN OR TURKEY KABOBS
|
|||
|
|
by Larry Posont
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Larry Posont is a long time Federationist and immediate Past
|
|||
|
|
President of the NFB Merchants Division.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
2 pounds skinless chicken or turkey breast
|
|||
|
|
1 bottle Italian dressing (regular size)
|
|||
|
|
1 large green pepper
|
|||
|
|
1 large onion
|
|||
|
|
8 ounces whole mushrooms
|
|||
|
|
10 kabob sticks
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Two days prior to cooking, pound meat approximately
|
|||
|
|
20 times on each side. Cut in bite size chunks and marinate in
|
|||
|
|
the dressing. Stir twice each day. Cut onion and green pepper in
|
|||
|
|
chunks. Thread chunks of chicken, pepper, onion, and mushrooms on
|
|||
|
|
the kabob sticks in any order. Depending on how much chicken you
|
|||
|
|
have, this recipe will make 8 to 12 kabobs. Preheat gas grill 10
|
|||
|
|
minutes. Cook on low, turn every 4 to 5 minutes. Takes 10 to 14
|
|||
|
|
minutes to cook to completion. Serve with rice. For variety,
|
|||
|
|
cherry tomatoes can also be used on the kabob sticks. Instead of
|
|||
|
|
Italian dressing, experiment with any of the variety of marinades
|
|||
|
|
and sauces found in fruit markets and specialty stores. Barbecue
|
|||
|
|
sauce can also be used.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
LOW-FAT PUMPKIN MUFFINS
|
|||
|
|
by Donna Posont
|
|||
|
|
Donna Posont is also a long-time Federationist, is very
|
|||
|
|
active in both the Merchants Division and the Parents Division,
|
|||
|
|
and is the resident child care expert for Michigan state
|
|||
|
|
conventions.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ingredients:
|
|||
|
|
1 large can pumpkin
|
|||
|
|
1 1/3 cups grated carrots
|
|||
|
|
6 eggs
|
|||
|
|
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons vanilla
|
|||
|
|
3/4 cup sugar
|
|||
|
|
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
|
|||
|
|
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
|
|||
|
|
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
|
|||
|
|
2 teaspoons baking powder
|
|||
|
|
2 teaspoons baking soda
|
|||
|
|
1 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
|
|||
|
|
1 cup nuts (optional)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Method: Mix pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Add carrots
|
|||
|
|
and milk and mix. Add dry ingredients and mix. Add raisins and
|
|||
|
|
nuts. Bake in muffin tins and paper cupcake liners for 30 minutes
|
|||
|
|
at 350 degrees. Makes approximately 3 dozen.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
**** MONITOR MINIATURES ****
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** For Sale:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
Swan 500C with matching power supply/speaker, RF filter,
|
|||
|
|
Turner hand-held microphone, approximately 50 feet of RG8U
|
|||
|
|
coaxial cable, and owner's manual; asking $300 or best offer,
|
|||
|
|
includes shipping and insurance.
|
|||
|
|
LP's and pre-recorded tapes from the '50's through the
|
|||
|
|
'80's, $3 each, includes shipping and insurance. I will negotiate
|
|||
|
|
price if the rest of my collection is being considered for
|
|||
|
|
purchase. For more information, contact (through Braille, print,
|
|||
|
|
or cassette) Barry Wood, 6904 Bergenwood Avenue, North Bergen,
|
|||
|
|
New Jersey 07047; or call (201) 868-3336, evenings and weekends.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Conundrum:
|
|||
|
|
We have received the following announcement from the Royal
|
|||
|
|
National Institute for the Blind. Here it is:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
RNIB will, from February, 1994, begin producing Conundrum, a
|
|||
|
|
monthly magazine containing a wide range of puzzles and brain
|
|||
|
|
teasers. The 48-page Braille magazine will also feature a prize
|
|||
|
|
competition in each month, with an occasional special prize of
|
|||
|
|
considerable value. The range of puzzles will include crosswords,
|
|||
|
|
anagrams, word searches, general knowledge, and logic puzzles.
|
|||
|
|
We hope that customers will suggest their favorite type of
|
|||
|
|
puzzle for inclusion in the magazine and that we will be able to
|
|||
|
|
offer topical crosswords chosen by customers from time to time.
|
|||
|
|
If you require further information or would like to order
|
|||
|
|
Conundrum, please contact RNIB's Customer Services Department at
|
|||
|
|
Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6WS in writing
|
|||
|
|
or by phone on: 07-3-337-0777 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Editor's Note: It should be remembered that British time is
|
|||
|
|
five hours ahead of eastern standard time.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** New Chapters:
|
|||
|
|
We are happy to report the creation of two new chapters in
|
|||
|
|
the Federation family. On Tuesday evening, February 15, 1994, the
|
|||
|
|
Greater Batesburg-Leesville Chapter became the forty-second
|
|||
|
|
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of South
|
|||
|
|
Carolina. Its newly elected officers are Cynthia Bass, President;
|
|||
|
|
Harvey Cockrell, Vice President; Angela Senn, Secretary; and
|
|||
|
|
Sylvester Holmes, Treasurer. Then on Saturday, February 19, the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind of Southeast Ohio was created by
|
|||
|
|
an enthusiastic group in Athens, Ohio. The officers are Dr. John
|
|||
|
|
Smith, President; Brenda Blake, Vice President; Helen Witherell,
|
|||
|
|
Secretary; Tom Sagar, Treasurer; and James Witherell, Board
|
|||
|
|
Member. Congratulations to the members of both these new
|
|||
|
|
chapters.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Study Buddy Needed:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
I am having trouble passing lesson fourteen of the National
|
|||
|
|
Library Service proofreading and Braille transcription course. I
|
|||
|
|
wonder if someone else who is taking the course would be
|
|||
|
|
interested in having a study buddy.
|
|||
|
|
I also have two items for sale. The first is a taped copy of
|
|||
|
|
the American Heritage Dictionary with recorded instructions and
|
|||
|
|
tape-storage binder. The set is in excellent condition. I am
|
|||
|
|
asking $150 or best offer. I also have a Dymo labeling tape
|
|||
|
|
adapter for use on the Perkins Brailler. There are no
|
|||
|
|
instructions with it, but it is easy to use. I can explain its
|
|||
|
|
operation over the telephone if necessary. I am asking $25.
|
|||
|
|
Contact Ronald C. Kolesar, 9910 East Peach Street, P.O. Box 102,
|
|||
|
|
Girard, Pennsylvania 16417-0102: Phone, (814) 774-5709.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> Arkenstone First Reader Program Available:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
Arkenstone, Inc., has announced the availability of a
|
|||
|
|
complete reading machine for under $1400. With the First Reader
|
|||
|
|
Program, blind people can obtain a complete reading system or can
|
|||
|
|
acquire components to add to their existing products.
|
|||
|
|
Through its upgrade programs Arkenstone has accumulated a
|
|||
|
|
limited number of previously used Arkenstone Reader systems.
|
|||
|
|
These systems have been reconditioned and are available for
|
|||
|
|
reuse. "Most reading systems cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Many
|
|||
|
|
people who never thought it possible to purchase a reading
|
|||
|
|
machine will now have the opportunity to read," said Jim
|
|||
|
|
Fruchterman, president. He continued, "Arkenstone's nonprofit
|
|||
|
|
goal is to spread reading technology to the people who need it.
|
|||
|
|
The First Reader Program makes systems available at low cost
|
|||
|
|
directly to people with disabilities who would otherwise not be
|
|||
|
|
able to afford this type of technology."
|
|||
|
|
The following products are available under the First Reader
|
|||
|
|
Program:
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> The Complete First Reader, including a PC, voice synthesizer,
|
|||
|
|
screen access program, and Arkenstone reader with reconditioned
|
|||
|
|
scanner and hardware - $1,375
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> The Complete First Reader with the above configuration and a
|
|||
|
|
new HP IIp scanner - $1,875
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> Arkenstone Reader with reconditioned scanner - $500
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> Arkenstone HOT Reader with reconditioned scanner - $700
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> Arkenstone Reader with new HP IIp scanner - $1,000
|
|||
|
|
<EFBFBD> Arkenstone HOT Reader with new HP IIp scanner - $1,200
|
|||
|
|
A limited number of systems are available, and the units are
|
|||
|
|
available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program limits
|
|||
|
|
purchases to one system per person or organization. Interested
|
|||
|
|
people should contact Arkenstone directly.
|
|||
|
|
Arkenstone provides a thirty-day, money-back guarantee and
|
|||
|
|
one-year warranty for units purchased. Support will be provided
|
|||
|
|
through Arkenstone's toll-free 800 number, regular phone lines,
|
|||
|
|
facsimile or electronic mail. Service replacements will be made
|
|||
|
|
by ground shipping at Arkenstone's expense.
|
|||
|
|
Arkenstone is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated
|
|||
|
|
to distributing reading technology to the people who need it.
|
|||
|
|
Products are distributed in the U.S. and abroad by a network of
|
|||
|
|
more than eighty dealers who are experienced in providing
|
|||
|
|
computers and adaptive equipment for the visually impaired.
|
|||
|
|
Arkenstone also provides information and technical support
|
|||
|
|
directly to people with disabilities through its 800 number,
|
|||
|
|
which supports all of the U.S. and Canada. Arkenstone, Inc., is
|
|||
|
|
located at 1390 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale, California 94089; (800)
|
|||
|
|
444-4443, (408) 752-2200; or FAX (408) 745-6739.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[PHOTO--Aerial view of meeting of Resolutions Committee and some of audience
|
|||
|
|
in attendance. CAPTION--The 1993 Resolutions Committee.]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Making Resolutions:
|
|||
|
|
President Maurer provides the following reminder to members
|
|||
|
|
of the National Federation of the Blind:
|
|||
|
|
The streamlined resolutions process adopted by the Board of
|
|||
|
|
Directors for managing resolutions at the 1993 convention will
|
|||
|
|
continue in effect for the 1994 convention. The basic nature of
|
|||
|
|
the resolutions process will not change, but the Board of
|
|||
|
|
Directors has taken steps to see that the process is streamlined.
|
|||
|
|
Any member may sponsor a resolution, but it must be in the
|
|||
|
|
hands of the President or the chairman of the Resolutions
|
|||
|
|
Committee at least two weeks prior to the convention. Resolutions
|
|||
|
|
which have not been given to either the President or the Chairman
|
|||
|
|
may come before the Resolutions Committee only if they have been
|
|||
|
|
signed by at least three members of the Resolutions Committee and
|
|||
|
|
have been placed in the hands of the Committee chairman or the
|
|||
|
|
President before noon of the day that the Resolutions Committee
|
|||
|
|
first meets. Resolutions which receive favorable consideration by
|
|||
|
|
the Committee will come to the convention for consideration and
|
|||
|
|
action. Those that do not will not come to the convention floor
|
|||
|
|
unless five of the voting delegates from the states indicate that
|
|||
|
|
those five states will sponsor the resolutions.
|
|||
|
|
In the past the resolutions presented to the Committee have
|
|||
|
|
sometimes been redrafted by Committee members. The Resolutions
|
|||
|
|
Committee will no longer be assisting in the drafting process.
|
|||
|
|
Resolutions must be presented to the Committee in final written
|
|||
|
|
form. The only changes which will be made after presentation to
|
|||
|
|
the Committee will be technical or grammatical.
|
|||
|
|
Ramona Walhof of Idaho Chairs this committee. Her address
|
|||
|
|
and phone number are: 1301 South Capitol Boulevard, Suite C,
|
|||
|
|
Boise, Idaho 83706-2926; phone (208) 343-1377. The first meeting
|
|||
|
|
of the Resolutions Committee will be held at the convention in
|
|||
|
|
Detroit at 1:30 Saturday afternoon, July 2, 1994. The meeting
|
|||
|
|
room will be listed in the program, which you will receive at
|
|||
|
|
registration. There will be other meetings of the committee
|
|||
|
|
throughout the convention as needed. This is one of the most
|
|||
|
|
important committees of the Federation. It considers and proposes
|
|||
|
|
the resolutions which set the policy of our organization.
|
|||
|
|
Although the agenda has not yet been finalized, most
|
|||
|
|
(perhaps all) of the Thursday general convention session will be
|
|||
|
|
taken up with discussion of resolutions and other internal
|
|||
|
|
business. We must allow opportunity for full and thorough
|
|||
|
|
deliberation, and this seems the best way to do it.
|
|||
|
|
Sometimes a resolution is given to the Chairman of the
|
|||
|
|
committee, and no one is present to explain why the resolution is
|
|||
|
|
needed. This leads to confusion and time wasting. Therefore, it
|
|||
|
|
is essential that someone be present who can speak on behalf of
|
|||
|
|
the resolution.
|
|||
|
|
The resolutions passed by the convention are the statements
|
|||
|
|
of policy which determine the actions and direction of the
|
|||
|
|
organization for the following year. This is why it is vitally
|
|||
|
|
important that the resolutions receive serious attention and that
|
|||
|
|
adequate time be allotted for their discussion and debate.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** For Sale:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
I have for sale a Compaq 286 IBM-compatible computer with
|
|||
|
|
Votalker internal synthesizer and PC Talk Enhanced speech
|
|||
|
|
software. The cost is $700. If interested, contact Donna Simms
|
|||
|
|
after 6:00 p.m. (Pacific time) at (818) 902-0223.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Home Study Course on the Catholic Faith Available:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
Would you like to know more about God and serving Him
|
|||
|
|
through the Catholic faith? A free home study course is available
|
|||
|
|
in ten cassette tapes. Please refer to it as "Our Second
|
|||
|
|
Edition." These lessons are taken from the Paulist Fathers home
|
|||
|
|
study course and have optional questions and answers for each
|
|||
|
|
lesson. We invite you to send for lesson one on cassette tape by
|
|||
|
|
contacting Catholic Inquiry for the Blind, 228 N. Walnut St.,
|
|||
|
|
Lansing, Michigan 48933; or call (517) 342-2500.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** National Church Conference of the Blind:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
The 1994 National Church Conference of the Blind will be
|
|||
|
|
held from July 24 to 29 at the Holiday Inn Airport in Birmingham,
|
|||
|
|
Alabama. In addition to Bible studies, enjoy talent time,
|
|||
|
|
singing, seminars, tours, exhibits, banquet, and a wonderful time
|
|||
|
|
of Christian fellowship. For further information contact Frank
|
|||
|
|
Finkenbinder, P.O. Box 163, Denver, Colorado 80201; or call (303)
|
|||
|
|
455-3430.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** French Braille Club Seeking Penpals:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
Twenty-five sighted boys and girls between twelve and
|
|||
|
|
fifteen years of age, members of the Braille Writing Club, would
|
|||
|
|
like to correspond in Braille with visually impaired children
|
|||
|
|
about their ideas, music, or other subjects and to establish
|
|||
|
|
amicable links. Subscription is free. Send only a letter to
|
|||
|
|
present oneself in print or Braille to Mrs. Bretelle, College Les
|
|||
|
|
Moli<EFBFBD>res, Club Braille, 78690 Les Essarts Le Roi, FRANCE.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Braille Materials Available:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
I have materials available in specific subject areas
|
|||
|
|
including training and development, course evaluation,
|
|||
|
|
organizational development, and team-leader training in
|
|||
|
|
industrial settings. These free materials are available in
|
|||
|
|
Braille and may be obtained by contacting Justin McDevitt at
|
|||
|
|
(612) 823-0405 after 5:00 p.m.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Into Every Life a Little R.A.I.N. Should Fall:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
The Radio Amateur Information Network, RAIN, is unique in
|
|||
|
|
the world of amateur radio. Its bimonthly publication, The RAIN
|
|||
|
|
Journal, is a tone-indexed, 90-minute cassette magazine
|
|||
|
|
containing actual interviews with the movers and shakers in ham
|
|||
|
|
radio, along with taped excerpts from information forums held
|
|||
|
|
each year during the Dayton Hamvention. In addition there are
|
|||
|
|
thought-provoking columns, written and read exclusively for RAIN,
|
|||
|
|
plus humorous, thoughtful anecdotes carefully selected from
|
|||
|
|
packet radio.
|
|||
|
|
The RAIN Journal is produced by Hap Holly/KC9RP, a blind ham
|
|||
|
|
known for his RAIN Dialup, which updates Fridays at (708) 827-
|
|||
|
|
RAIN (7246) and is heard weekly on repeaters nationwide via
|
|||
|
|
telephone and satellite. This publication will be of special
|
|||
|
|
interest to the blind ham radio enthusiast, whose access to print
|
|||
|
|
ham publications is often quite limited.
|
|||
|
|
A one-year subscription costs $12, $2 per issue. For an
|
|||
|
|
additional $5, subscribers will receive a Hansa Plastics Free
|
|||
|
|
Matter mailer, laminated address card, and one ninety-minute
|
|||
|
|
cassette. The subscriber can recycle that tape or send a
|
|||
|
|
replacement one if he or she wishes to build a permanent RAIN
|
|||
|
|
library. Checks or money orders should be made payable to RAIN
|
|||
|
|
and sent to RAIN, P.O. Box 2565, Des Plaines, Illinois 60017-
|
|||
|
|
2565. A demo tape is available on request by sending a free
|
|||
|
|
matter mailer with a note to the above address. In your note
|
|||
|
|
please let RAIN know that you read about it here.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** For Sale:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
For sale, Artic Business Vision speech package, asking $700;
|
|||
|
|
VersaBraille P2C classic, needs repair, $500 or best offer; man's
|
|||
|
|
Braille quartz wrist watch, needs repair, free. If interested,
|
|||
|
|
contact Doug Rose, 207 Dickenson Ave., Newbury Park, California
|
|||
|
|
91230; or call (805) 499-8377, Pacific time zone.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Representatives Needed:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
Raymond and Beth Graber, members of the NFB, are
|
|||
|
|
representatives for Seeing Technologies, Inc. Their products
|
|||
|
|
include CCTV's (both side-by-side and Inline), black and white
|
|||
|
|
with 12 to 27-inch monitors; custom-built height-adjustable table
|
|||
|
|
on wheels; See-PC-Vision, an add-on board for IBM and compatibles
|
|||
|
|
that enables PC owners to turn their computers into full-screen
|
|||
|
|
CCTV reading machines for the visually impaired by adding a video
|
|||
|
|
camera; and Magic computer-screen-enlarging software. They
|
|||
|
|
presently have twelve visually impaired representatives and are
|
|||
|
|
looking for more. Following are areas in which jobs would be
|
|||
|
|
open: Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area; upstate New York; South
|
|||
|
|
Carolina; Georgia; Washington; Oregon; Idaho; Indiana; and
|
|||
|
|
Michigan.
|
|||
|
|
To inquire call 1 (800) 462-3738 and ask for Gary Domstrand,
|
|||
|
|
President. All correspondence should be sent to Seeing
|
|||
|
|
Technologies, Inc., 7074 Brooklyn Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55429;
|
|||
|
|
or FAX (612) 560-0663.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Book Available:
|
|||
|
|
The following brief review appeared in the January 29, 1994
|
|||
|
|
issue of Science News. Dr. Geerat Vermeij is a distinguished
|
|||
|
|
marine biologist who addressed the 1988 convention of the
|
|||
|
|
National Federation of the Blind. He continues to build a
|
|||
|
|
remarkable career. Monitor readers will remember that he received
|
|||
|
|
the prestigious MacArthur prize in 1992. Here is the review:
|
|||
|
|
Rather than list types of shells, Geerat J. Vermeij
|
|||
|
|
investigates what shells can tell us about biology. In his book,
|
|||
|
|
A Natural History of Shells, he notes that shells are fossils
|
|||
|
|
inscribed with a detailed record of events that mark the lives of
|
|||
|
|
mollusks as they grow. The author examines the architecture,
|
|||
|
|
adaptation, distribution, and history of shells and shows how the
|
|||
|
|
natural environment alters their evolutionary course. Princeton
|
|||
|
|
University Press, 1993, 207 pp., hardcover, $29.95. To order by
|
|||
|
|
Visa or MasterCard, call 1 (800) 544-4565. In the D.C. area call
|
|||
|
|
(202) 331-6953.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Correspondents Wanted:
|
|||
|
|
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
|
|||
|
|
I would like to hear from people interested in starting a
|
|||
|
|
crocheters' corner. I would also be interested in personal pen
|
|||
|
|
pals. I am thirty-six years old and a Christian. My hobbies are
|
|||
|
|
crocheting, knitting, doll collecting, and cooking. I will accept
|
|||
|
|
letters only in Braille. Contact: Donna Jean Webb, 1106 North
|
|||
|
|
Olive Street, Gladewater, Texas 75647.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
** Experimental Procedures:
|
|||
|
|
President Maurer prepared the following announcement about
|
|||
|
|
experimental procedures which are being tested in the aids,
|
|||
|
|
appliances, and materials department of the National Federation
|
|||
|
|
of the Blind. Because of the volume of orders this department now
|
|||
|
|
receives, we are trying to organize the work of providing these
|
|||
|
|
items more efficiently. Calls will be taken for aids, appliances,
|
|||
|
|
and materials from 12:00 noon until the end of business. These
|
|||
|
|
calls will not be taken before noon unless there is an emergency.
|
|||
|
|
This will enable the staff to handle the mail orders, pack
|
|||
|
|
materials, and process the paperwork associated with them as well
|
|||
|
|
as perform other duties in the department during the morning
|
|||
|
|
hours. These procedures should speed the delivery process and
|
|||
|
|
make obtaining aids, appliances, and materials more efficient.
|
|||
|
|
This experiment is likely to save us money while it increases the
|
|||
|
|
speed and efficiency with which we fill and ship orders. So
|
|||
|
|
remember, those wishing to place telephone orders should contact
|
|||
|
|
the Aids, Appliances, and Materials Center between 12:00 noon and
|
|||
|
|
the end of business, eastern time.
|