                            Fall 1995

                        Buckeye Bulletin






                      a publication of the 
            National Federation of the Blind of Ohio


                       Eric Duffy, Editor
                         2405 Adams Ave.
                    Columbus, OH  43202-3053
                         1-800-396-NFBO

                Sylvia Cooley, Production Editor
                    Barbara Pierce, President
                         237 Oak Street
                     Oberlin, OH  44074-1517
                   Phone/Fax:  (216) 775-2216


he National Federation of
the Blind of Ohio is a 501
(c) 3 consumer organization
comprised of blind and
sighted people committed to
changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still all too often a tragedy
to those who face it, we know from our personal experience that with training and
opportunity it can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance. We work to see
that blind people receive the services and training to which they are entitled and
that parents of blind children receive the advice and support they need to help
their youngsters grow up to be happy, productive adults. We believe that first-class
citizenship means that people have both rights and responsibilities, and we are
determined to see that blind people become first-class citizens of these United
States, enjoying their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities. The most serious
problems we face have less to do with our lack of vision than with discrimination
based on the publics ignorance and misinformation about blindness. Join us in
educating Ohioans about the abilities and aspirations of Ohios blind citizens.
     The NFB of Ohio has eleven local chapters around the state, a chapter for
at-large members, and special divisions for students and parents of blind children.
This quarterly newsletter is produced in large print and on cassette. To receive
more information about the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, to make
address changes for the newsletter, or to be added to the mailing list, call 800-396-
6326.





CONTENTS





From the President's Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
The Question Box  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Preparing for the Future  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
     by Bob Eschbach
Make Your Plans for the 1995 NFB-O Convention . . . . . . . . . . . .9
     by Mary Pool
Why Won't Ohio Legal Rights Service Help You with Your VR Concern
     Much More about OLRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
     by Carolyn S. Knight
Meet a Federationist  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
     by John W. Smith
From the Book Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Braille Refresher Courses Rare, but Necessary . . . . . . . . . . . 17
     by Stacie Wood
Chapter News  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Personal Notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Calendar  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Registration Form





                       From the President's Desk
                           by Barbara Pierce

The national convention has come and gone since I last sat down to write this column. As always the convention was
a wonderful experience, but certainly one of the most exciting aspects of it was the number of blind children and
their families who were an active part of everything that went on. With every passing year I grow increasingly aware
of the importance of our responsibility and commitment to the rising generation of blind children.
In many ways they are more fortunate than any generation of blind people before them. Technology gives them more
access to Braille and enables them to produce print more easily and quickly than my generation would have thought
possible as we struggled to learn to type accurately. Closed-circuit television systems enable students with some
useful vision to read print material that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Moreover, legislation now requires
that blind students receive a free appropriate education in the least restrictive settinga mandate that should make it
possible for blind students to take their rightful place in their academic and social world more fully and easily than
ever before. In addition, the involvement of specially trained education professionals in decision-making about and
instruction of blind children can be a gold mine of information and expertise for parents that previous generations
never had available at all.
At this point you are likely saying to yourself, What nonsense! Too often technology is misused to prevent
students from learning the skills they need. Laws are only as good as their enforcement. And we have all learned to
our cost that, though few things are more valuable to parents than wise professional counsel, all too often such
expertise is shaky at best and often misguided. But beyond the issue of the quality of the professional advice actually
available to parents is the temptation for them to abdicate their responsibility and discount the value of their
personal views about what their children need and how to achieve it.
An incident at the convention will illustrate my point. National Board of Directors member Gary Wunder and I led a
discussion on July 1 as part of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children's afternoon of concurrent
workshops. The topic of our discussion was ensuring that blind youngsters develop good social skills. The subject is
very important, and the room was filled by interested parents with lots of questions and problems to discuss. Not
surprisingly, perhaps the most distressing problem they raised was repetitive, socially unacceptable behaviorhead-
shaking, eye-pressing, body-rocking, and the like.
Afterwards I talked for quite a while with a father whose eight-year-old daughter presses her eyes with great
regularity. She maintains that it is a habit which she cannot and does not wish to break. He told me that he and his
wife, the child's teachers, and even her friends pester her about this behavior steadily. But to date they have had no
success in modifying the activity in any way. We talked about working to make her understand why stopping the eye-
pressing really is important to her, even if she doesn't think so now. I then suggested some methods of making it
both possible and attractive to her to change the habit using behavior modification methods and rewards. These
seemed to be things that the family had not tried, and I hope they may be helpful. 
The reason I bring the subject up at all is that I questioned this father about the role being played by his daughter's
friends. He explained that, when he used the word friends, he was thinking of a neighbor couple who care deeply
about the little girl and have joined the family in fussing at her about taking her fingers out of her eyes. I agreed that
it could be constructive to have other adults augment the parents' efforts but asked about her school friends and
what they thought of the eye-pressing. (She attends her local school and is part of a regular class in a local public
school.) The father paused to consider and then announced as though it had never occurred to him before that he
didn't know the names of her friends. I questioned him a little: did children come to their house to play? No. Was
she invited to birthday parties or other outings with classmates? No. Does his daughter mention the names of other
children when she talks about school? He thought he could remember a name or two, but nothing consistent.
I didn't say this to the father, and maybe the eye-pressing provides a partial explanation for the dearth of friends, but
I view the loneliness of this child as an even more serious problem than the eye-pressing.
In thinking over this conversation, I began to appreciate with new insight and gratitude the role my own mother
played in my social development as a child. We lived on a dead-end street with fewer than twenty-five houses.
Amazingly, eight of those families had daughters within two years of each other in age. Mostly we played in groups
of two to four, and I moved freely among the various combinations. Our house had a large side porch, and it became
a favorite gathering place on hot summer afternoons. We played house and office and later canasta and (after my
grandmother taught me the rudiments) bridge as well. In the early spring, before my father painted the porch and
put the furniture out for the season, we roller skated on it, and several times a summer we slept there all nightor
rather, tried to stay awake there.
But mostly what I remember is my mother coming out of the side door carefully carrying a tray. On it were balanced
tall glasses of something cold to drink and some home-baked treata plate of warm cookies, small pieces of cake,
popcorn. It didn't matter. The treats didn't appear every time we were on my porch, but they were frequent enough
to make playing at Barbara's an attractive notion.
Not long ago I thanked my mother for all those treats and glasses of lemonade and told her that I had appreciated
them then but that, having now done my share of providing snacks to neighborhood children as my own three were
growing up, I now understood better and admired the quality of her love through all those years.
She then told me something I had never known. There was a time when my parents decided to move to a larger
house in another suburb. Mother was never happy with the small living and dining rooms in our home, and she very
much wanted to live in another house. But it was she who decided that they would stay on Clark Avenue because she
recognized, even if I did not, how important it was for me to have those friends as the basis of my social group in
school. I know now what a sacrifice my mother made for me, but neither of us can ever know the full extent of the
gift to me that her sacrifice made possible. I was never the center of the socially elite group of girls in school. I was
too interested in good grades and not attractive enough to the boys. But I had friends, lots of them; and I knew how
to get along with different kinds of peopleboth products of early neighborhood experience.
My mother had no experts on blindness to advise her, but she knew that it would be harder than normal for a blind
child to make friends in a regular class and even more important that it be done. She couldn't do the job for me, but
she could help me get the practice I needed. She could make our home attractive for other children. She could bring
birthday treats to school and have parties for groups of my friends. After that I was on my own. It wasn't easy;
growing up is never carefree; and children who are obviously different have additional complications to negotiate.
But every parent is equipped to help with the process. Common sense is the guide, and love is the motivator. The
problem is that, when parents begin to depend on the views of the professionals only, they begin to doubt their own
ability to draw accurate conclusions and deny themselves the benefit of their own, more personal, detailed
observations.
Like all other children, blind kids need vast amounts of reassurance and help in order to make it through childhood
and adolescence. Let's be sure to give them all the help to which they are entitled. Technology, law, and professional
expertisevaluable as they can beare a poor substitute for parental wisdom and loving common sense. Blind
youngsters need all the support we can give them.THE QUESTION BOX



If you have a question that you would like answered, please write to the Question Box, National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio, 2405 Adams Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43202. We may not be able to answer every question in this
newsletter, but we will do our best to respond to all of the questions that we receive.

I have been blind since birth and have experienced a fair amount of discrimination over the years. The most
recent example of discrimination based on blindness occurred when I attempted to buy a life insurance
policy. The agent that I contacted informed me that I would have to pay double the normal premium because
I am blind. Is this correct?

Section 3901.21 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits life and health insurers from discriminating against
individuals solely upon the basis of blindness or partial blindness. This law came about through the efforts of
the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. In 1985 and 1986 we worked closely with members of the Ohio
General Assembly to pass House Bill 553. This law does not protect individuals who have pre-existing
conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, cerebral palsy, etc.


                       Preparing for the Future
                         by Robert M. Eschbach

Editor's Note: Bob Eschbach is well known by Federationists from across the nation. He currently serves as the Director
of Services for the Blind in the state of Pennsylvania. One of his last public duties before leaving the state of Ohio to
accept this position was to deliver the commencement address to the class of 1995 at the Ohio State School for the
Blind. His remarks are both inspiring and provocative. Here is what he had to say:

There was a courtyard outside the inn. The ground was bare from many travelers and animals that passed that way,
and grass never had a chance to grow. In the corner of the courtyard by the wall near the gate was a large old
gnarled tree. In the summer, when it had all its leaves, its branches spread out in every direction and reflected the
sun so that the shade was cool, and those who rested there were refreshed. Under the tree was a low table, and next
to it a stone bench. The tree and the table and the bench could have told many stories about the men and women
and children who had come there to rest over the years. 
But at a certain time each day no one came to sit there except The Old Man, and no one could guess how old he
really was. Some believed him to be as old as the hills which surrounded the village because nobody could remember
a time when he had not been there. But every day he came and sat under the tree, on the stone bench, by the low
table. Each day, as the sun was beginning to descend toward the hills in the west, he came. The Innkeeper would
bring him a cup of wine, and the old man would wait. He knew and everyone else knew that someone would come to
ask for his help. Nobody knew what the old man said, except those to whom he said it. But people who watched
noticed how the young man or the mother or even the little girl seemed to walk taller and straighter, and there was a
look in their eyes and an expression on their faces which clearly showed that whatever was said had been important
and helpful. Furthermore, those who went to talk with the old man left him and went on to do great things that no
one thought they could do. The old man was certainly wise, and he must have been a good teacher, for look at what
those persons did who went to seek his counsel.
So the old man waited because he knew someone would come. He sipped his wine and closed his eyes and heard,
rather than saw, the young man standing at the gate trying to decide whether to come in. On a sudden impulse the
young man came in and knelt before the old man, and the old man opened his eyes and looked at the young man.
Teacher, the young man said, You are so wise, and I have heard of all the marvelous things which you have
shared with others. Can you help me, O master?
The old man smiled. What is it you want, my son? he asked.
O teacher, I am confused about what I should do. My father wishes me to be a farmer like him. He thinks that I
could do no better than to farm. It is all he knows, so he can think of nothing else. But my teacher believes that I
could be a teacher like him.
He tells me I am very smart and shouldn't waste my life as a farmer when I could do so much to help other children
grow up. I want to please my father, and I want to please my teacher, but I can't do both. What shall I do?
Many years ago, I sat where you are sitting and tried to think about the future. I was graduating from school, and I
was being pushed to make up my mind about what my future should be. It was a difficult time for me because
friends were telling me I should do this, and teachers were suggesting something else, and I knew my folks wanted
something special for me. What was I to do?
So many times it comes back to me that we are shaped by what others think of us and want of us. I know that you
want to please your friends, your family, your teachers. I know because I wanted to do that too. If you have begun to
work with a rehabilitation counselor, you want to please that person as well. After all, shouldn't they know what's
best for you?
I'd like to share what I have learned over the years, and I hope you will think about it from time to timeparticularly
when you aren't certain what is going to happen next. First of all, I want to assure you that you don't have to please
me. It is hard enough for me to please myself, so you certainly shouldn't have to. Second, remember that the
decisions you make today don't have to be the final decisions you make about your future.
I decided to go to college and major in music. I did that. But, when I finished college, things had changed for me,
and I chose to go on to graduate school and get a degree in ministry. Was my major in music wasted? I don't think
so. What I learned in college proved to be extremely helpful to me in many waysboth in seminary and later in my
ministry.
After serving churches for seven years, I decided to go back to graduate school again and get another degree, this
time in social work. Was all that training in the ministry and work in the churches wasted? I don't think so. In many
ways it prepared me for the work I did as a social worker.
After working in community mental health for a number of years and doing further ministry in the church, I had the
opportunity to work in rehabilitation, which is where I am now. Were my degree in social work and the years spent
in community mental health wasted? I don't think so.
Each of the decisions I have made has helped to lead me to where I am today. Interestingly enough, there were
other choices I might have made along the way which could have led to more money or famebut I chose what I
chose, and that's the way it is.
As I said, the decisions you are about to make don't have to be your final decisions. The kind of work you do may
lead to new experiences; the people you meet and learn from may give you insight into other opportunities; each
place you go, each job you do, each person you meet should be treasured as a learning experience. You will discover,
as I have, that you are not the same person that you started out to be. You will grow and change, and that is good.
But the most important part of all that can happen to you is to discover how important you are. None of us can
actually be certain about what the future holds, but we can believe in ourselves. We can declare for everyone to hear,
Whatever I want to do, I can do it! Can you or I do absolutely anything we want to do? Of course we all have
our limitations. But it is important that we discover and define our own limitations and not allow others to define
them for us.
I noticed, in looking over your names and the activities in which you participate, that some of you sing in the choir.
Now obviously not all of you sing equally well. But some of you like sports, and some are good in math. Others like
English. One of you is even interested in auto body mechanic work. Don't ask me to do anything like that. Because
each of us can define our own limitations, each of us is unique, different from everybody else.
Have the courage to try to understand that, even when you fail, you will learn a valuable lesson about yourself.
Just after I finished my seminary work, there was a period of time when I was not assigned to serve a church. The
opportunity came to sell customized Hi-Fi equipment. (This was before we really got into the stereo business.) I
thought I would do well. After all, I loved music, and I liked the product I was selling. Let me tell you that I failed
miserably as a salesman. When somebody would say No on a sale, I would say OK and leave them alone.
That's no way to make a sale. And if I could get a good deal for a friend, I would usually lose my commission. It was
a good thing that I was single. My wife would have been very unhappy if I had given away my money to help
somebody else.
One other thing: as blind and visually impaired persons it is very easy to sell ourselves short in what we can really do.
So much of our experience in growing up and learning has been shaped by and focused on the things we couldn't do.
I'm here to remind you that there are many more things that blind people can do. You need to stretch out your arms
and embrace what the future offers instead of holding tight to what you already have.
And once again the young man said, What shall I do? It is such a difficult decision.
And the old man smiled again and, looking at the young man, said, And what do you want to do?
The young mankneeling therethought about that and finally said, I know that my father means well for me, and I
know that my teacher wants what he considers is best for me. But I believe that I still have much to learn before I
can know what the future really holds for me. I want to meet new people and go new places and learn new skills
before I make that big decision.
Again the old man smiled and nodded his head. You have made a wise decision. I did not make it for you. You
thought about it; I listened; and you understood what had to be done. Go, my son, and dream the dream, challenge
the hope, and test your courage. Let life hone your skills to the sharpness of the knife blade, allowing you to cut
through the tangled vines of confusion. Let life temper your desire so that you can taste the wine of true friendship.
And, as you live, may you discover warmth with love, strength with judgment, peace with others, and peace with
yourself.
My friends, it's all out there before you. And what finally happens really does depend on you.
And may God's Peace go with you.


             Make Your Plans for the 1995 NFB-O Convention
                             by Mary Pool

Editor's Note: Mary Pool is a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio and the President of the Stark County Chapter. She is also the newly appointed chairman of the Convention
Arrangements Committee. It is clear by what she has written that she is enthusiastic about this new responsibility. Here is
what she has to say:

Make plans now to come to Canton for our 1995 convention on the weekend of November 9, 10, 11, and 12. Whether
you are a parent, educator, or someone interested in adaptive technology or you just have in mind a Federation
convention without any of the extras, read on.
The convention will open with a Thursday night meeting of the Board of Directors. This is an open meeting that will
start promptly at 7:30 p.m. It will be our first opportunity to meet our national representative, Peggy Elliott, Second
Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind.
Do you want to learn more about the Braille 'n Speak? Is it really possible for blind people to use Windows 95?
What's the latest in adaptive technology for the blind? Where can it be bought, and how can I afford it? If one or all
of these questions are on your mind, you need to attend the technology workshop on Friday morning.
Friday afternoon promises to be exciting for parents of blind children. This year we are going to address many of the
issues surrounding effective travel skills. With the help of Doug Boone, nationally respected consultant in cane travel
for children, we will examine such questions as Does my child need a cane? When should travel instruction begin?
Who is responsible for providing the instruction? How can I play a constructive role in helping my child use the cane
effectively?
The Resolutions Committee, chaired by Bill Hafer, will meet on Friday evening. It will consider resolutions that, if
passed, will become the policy of the organization. This is an open meeting, and we encourage everyone to attend.
Resolutions should be sent to or resolution ideas discussed with Bill Hafer, 60 Broadmeadows Blvd., Apt. 332,
Columbus, Ohio, (614) 431-9021.
Friday night is also a time for hospitality. There is no better time to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit with all of you in the hospitality area.
Saturday morning will begin with a breakfast meeting for a variety of committees. The morning's agenda will include
a report from our national representative. Saturday will also bring a report from the Bureau of Services for the
Visually Impaired.
Peggy Elliott will deliver the key-note address at the Saturday evening banquet. As Federationists know, the banquet
address is always the high point of the convention, and Peggy is one of our most articulate and inspiring leaders.
Last year we conducted a continental breakfast meeting for chapter leaders early Sunday morning. The response was
so enthusiastic that we will probably do something similar again this year. The general session on Sunday is
traditionally the business meeting of the organization. A presentation entitled Why I am a Federationist is also
part of the program. Come to this session to discover who has been selected to make this presentation. Elections will
be conducted that morning. There are several at large board positions to be filled this year.
This is a convention you will not want to miss! We have reserved a block of rooms at the Sheraton Inn North in
Canton. The room rate is good again this year with a flat rate of $55 per room for up to 4 persons. Reservations can
be made anytime by calling the Sheraton Inn at 1-800-925-9441 or writing 4375 Metro Circle NW, Canton, OH 44720.
The cut-off date is Friday, October 13, to guarantee the special rate (after that you will still get the special rate if
there are rooms available). So make your reservations early.
I also urge you to take advantage of the convention reservation form at the end of the print edition of this newsletter.
Life is very much simpler for everybody when most of us preregister. And this year doing so will save you $5,
because convention registration is $5 when you preregister and $10 when you wait until the convention. If you read
the cassette version of the Buckeye Bulletin, you can provide the information requested on a piece of paper along
with your check to cover convention registration and the meals you wish to order. The deadline for preregistering is
November 1.
I cannot possibly end this article without discussing door prizes. Everyone looks forward to winning a door prize. In
order to be sure we have enough prizes, I am asking everyone to do their part and bring door prizes to this year's
convention. Prizes should have a value of at least ten dollars and be labeled in print and in Braille. If you wish to
send door prizes in advance, you may send them to Mary Pool, Box 20742, Canton, Ohio, 44702.
This is going to be one of our best conventions ever! Make your hotel reservations now, and bring plenty of door
prizes. See you in Canton.


             Why Won't Ohio Legal Rights Service Help You
                   With Your Concerns and Much More
                              About OLRS
                         by Carolyn S. Knight

Editor's Note: Carolyn Knight is the Executive Director of the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS). I have gotten to know
her through my service on the Advisory Council for the PAIR Program. She is forthright and does not hesitate to speak
out when something is on her mind. She has been troubled by the bad publicity that her agency has received in the
disabled community over confusion about whether or not OLRS should be responding to individual vocational
rehabilitation concerns. I think it is important that Bulletin readers understand Carolyn's perspective on this issue and
learn more about the services her agency can offer. Here is what she has to say:

I am often asked why Ohio Legal Rights Service won't help resolve concerns related to the provision of vocational
rehabilitation services. The short answer is because we can't. Here's why. In 1984 the U.S. Congress established a
Client Assistance Program (CAP) to inform and advise all applicants and clients of all available benefits under the
law addressing Vocational Rehabilitation and other Rehabilitation Services, to help resolve problems that people with
disabilities had with projects, programs, and facilities, and to pursue legal, administrative, or other appropriate
remedies to ensure the protection of the rights of such individuals. The Governor of each state decides which
independent agency will administer the CAP. The Governor's Office of Advocacy for People with Disabilities, not
OLRS, operates Ohio's CAP. When people call the Ohio Legal Rights Service with a problem related to vocational
rehabilitation, we can't help them but must refer them to the CAP.
What is the Ohio CAP? CAP advocates for people applying to or receiving services through the Rehabilitation
Services Commission's Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) or Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired
(BSVI). CAP assists people who have run into obstacles or conflicts obtaining services needed to work or live
independently.
CAP informs people of their rights; consults on securing needed services; negotiates on behalf of clients who are
denied, delayed, or provided with inappropriate services; and can represent in appealing decisions regarding
vocational rehabilitation or independent living programs. CAP's toll-free number is 1-800-228-5405, or in Columbus
(614) 466-9956.
What can Legal Rights Service help you with? OLRS advocates for the rights of people with disabilities on a broad
range of issues with the notable exception of vocational rehabilitation. This agency has advocated for two decades for
people with developmental disabilities or those labeled mentally ill. In the last several years, with the advent of the
federally funded Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) and the Protection and Advocacy for
Assistive Technology (PAAT) programs, we expanded services to anyone with a significant disability. So people who
have become newly eligible for OLRS services may understandably be under the false expectation that this agency
can help resolve all their issues, including vocational rehabilitation.
The big (and sometimes confused) picture looks something like this. Callers often feel frustrated because OLRS can
not handle all of their issues. The frustration that callers feel when they contact OLRS and are then referred to the
CAP is shared by OLRS staff. This is more and more often the case because PAIR and AT cases routinely butt this
agency into vocational rehabilitation issues and CAP jurisdiction where lines become blurred. Increasingly we are in
the position of advocating for an assistive technology device for a student transitioning from school to work or for a
person who needs a power wheelchair or an augmentative communication device or a van modification for everyday
use but also for school or work. When OLRS staff have worked with clients on a multifaceted case, yet then need to
refer them to the CAP for resolution of a problem out of OLRS' purview, the situation can be frustrating and
burdensome for all involved; some clients view this as a turf issue between the P&A and the CAP and feel caught in
the middle. These cases also are administratively cumbersome with an expense of time and resources in case
coordination and untangling jurisdictional lines.
Because of the confusion over the two programs' roles, perceptions may have been created that OLRS is not doing
its job or that we are somehow less zealous in our advocacy efforts. In particular, people who have been turned down
for OLRS services because CAP has authority may believe this to be true.
A number of different outcomes have probably emerged from misunderstandings about what OLRS can and can't do.
At best, this agency may have no linkage with some disability groups; at worst, there may be rifts that have
inadvertently developed between this agency and other disability groups.
These are critical times. Legal remedies are less effective and courts less friendly in disability-related cases. We can
all expect decreased funding and increased scrutiny. Working toward changing policy appears to reap better
remedies than litigation, but positive policy change generally happens only when there is a strong, united disability
coalition to push for reform. Over the course of OLRS' two-decade history, this agency has established relationships
and supported coalitions that have moved disability issues to front and center and found positive solutions that have
changed systems. It seems more imperative than ever for groups to come together to meet the challenges that face us
all.
Despite the fact that OLRS and CAP are separate, we share many areas of mutual concern with the disability
community. When times get tough, people generally tend to respond in one of two ways--by fighting over the scraps
or by coalescing and finding strength and dignity in unity. I suggest that during these tough times we support each
other in a planned way. Together, with open discussion I believe we can move forward.
Here is some additional information about OLRS programs. This agency provides information and referral, technical
assistance, counseling, and representation on the broad spectrum of cases involving discrimination, abuse, neglect, or
rights violations. As well as individual casework, OLRS focuses on systemic advocacy to change laws, policies, or
conditions that adversely affect people with disabilities.
OLRS administers Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD). Congress, in
1975, enacted the DD Assistance and Bill of Rights Act to protect the human and civil rights of this vulnerable
population. Congress recognized that such a federally-directed system of legal advocacy is necessary to ensure the
humane care, treatment, habilitation, and protection of persons with developmental disabilities. The OLRS
Developmental Disabilities program serves people in Ohio communities and in developmental centers and students
receiving special education in private or public schools or other settings.
OLRS also administers a program to provide Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI.)
In 1986 Congress found that individuals with mental illness were and continue to be vulnerable to abuse; neglect;
serious injury; and lack of treatment, discharge-planning, and health care. State systems for monitoring compliance
with respect to the rights of individuals labeled mentally ill vary widely and are frequently inadequate. Through the
federal Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (PAIMI), the OLRS Mental Health program
serves adults, children, and youth in Ohio communities and in public or private psychiatric hospitals or units.
The PAIR (Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights) program serves individuals with any significant disability
other than the two groups OLRS has historically served. This includes, for example, people with chronic or serious
medical conditions, people with physical disabilities, and people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who received the
disabling injury after the age of 22. The PAIR program advocates for people who have been discriminated against or
those whose rights have been violated.
Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT): Congress expanded the Technology Related Assistance
for Individuals with Disabilities Act in 1994 to include funding for Protection and Advocacy systems to assist
individuals with disabilities and their family members in accessing assistive technology devices and services through
legal representation and self-advocacy.
Additionally, OLRS operates state-funded Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Ombuds programs,
non-legal components charged with receiving complaints and resolving them through informal techniques of
mediation, conciliation, or persuasion. The Ombuds section acts on complaints regarding health and safety, abuse
and neglect, and rights violations; monitors unusual incident reports from public and private facilities and community
providers; and recommends changes to policies and rules that affect people with disabilities.
OLRS operates a toll-free intake line, 1-800-292-9181, and Columbus telephone numbers, (614) 466-7264 and TTY
(614) 728-2553. Intake is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays. If you are having problems related to your
disability, please call.

                         Meet a Federationist
                           by John W. Smith

Editor's note: Dr. John Smith is First Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and President of
our Southeast Chapter. In this issue he introduces us to Roger Hawk, a leader in this newest chapter in our Federation
family.

Go ahead, caller! Yeah Dave, this is Roger; I'd like to speak with your guest. I kinda like what I'm hearing.
This was my introduction to Mr. Roger Hawk. I was appearing on a local radio talk show in Athens, Ohio, in August
of last year, and I don't remember everything that Roger said that day, but I do remember his closing comments:
Whenever you meet the next time, you've got yourself a new member. In the year since our initial meeting over
the airways, Roger has attended all but one chapter meeting, he has attended two state board meetings, and he's
been elected vice president of our local chapter. I'd say that's a pretty good year's work for a new Federationist.
Who is this man, and what is he all about?

Roger Hawk was born and raised in Athens, Ohio, and due to retinitis pigmentosa began losing his sight in his
middle thirties. Before losing his sight completely, Roger worked for fifteen years in the accounting department of
the Borden Company in Columbus. After losing his sight, Roger, his wife Ruth, and their four children built and
operated a campground facility in Hocking County, Ohio. In 1985 the Hawks returned to the homestead and have
lived in Athens ever since.
I knew when I first met Roger that he had the stuff of Federationism. He is actively engaged in running a farm. He
performs a variety of household chores, and in his spare time he enjoys hunting with his shotgun. When I met him,
Roger was ready for the Federation, and we were ready for him. He has not let his own or society's attitudes about
blindness keep him from pursuing his dreams. He now understands the value of collective action. As he told me in a
phone interview, I have found a local organization that can assist me in reaching my goals. I specifically asked
Roger in the phone interview what he thought of the Federation when he first joined it and what he thought of it
now. Well I wanted to be a part of something that I thought could help us down in Appalachia. We are so cut off
from everybody down here in the boonies, you know, and I thought this was a good thing. I'm so glad I joined. I see
people in the Federation with energy and get-up-and-go, and I want to be a part of that.
Roger and Ruth have been guests in our home for dinner, and we've had a wonderful time. I've also attended church
services at their local congregation. I must tell you that Roger plays a mean banjo as well as guitar and harmonica.
At present, Roger is gearing up to run for the Lodi Township Trustee vacancy in his county. I was honored when he
asked me to serve as his campaign manager, and I know that Southeast Ohio will never be the same. Win or lose,
this community will know that blind people can pursue their goals with confidence and competence. We're proud to
have Roger in our chapter, and we hope that you will take the opportunity to get to know him.





                          From the Book Shelf

The eighth book in the Federation's series of Kernel Books, Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks, was released at the 1995
convention in Chicago. As is the case with the other books in this paperback series, this book is filled with
interesting, informative stories about blindness. It is an excellent tool for educating the general public.
The book can be purchased for $1 from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time by contacting the Materials Center, National
Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230; phone, (410) 659-9314.

Here is the text of the new book's contents page:

Of Toothpaste and Shaving Cream
     by Kenneth Jernigan
Looking Back at Trains and Tracks
     by Maureen Pranghofer
The Axe and the Law Book
     by Marc Maurer
Learning to Read
     by Patricia Maurer
Keeping the Rent Current
     by Hazel Staley
Pioneering in the Courts
     by Sandy Halverson
We Don't Have North Here
     by Barbara Pierce
The Blind Beak of Bow Street
     by John Dashney
Marsha's Test
     by Barbara Walker

                   Braille Refresher Courses Rare,
                             but Necessary
                            by Stacie Wood

Editor's Note: Since December of 1994 I have served on what has come to be known as the Braille Bill Committee,
which was convened by the Ohio Department of Education, Division of Special Education. As we developed regulations
and materials for implementing Ohio's Braille Literacy Law, it became clear that we needed to provide teachers with the
opportunity to refresh their Braille skills. It was decided that this past summer Dr. Marge Ward of the Ohio State
University would teach a Braille refresher course at the Ohio State School for the Blind. The course was open to certified
teachers of the blind and visually impaired throughout the state. The NFB of Ohio contributed to the success of this
course in many ways. One of the most tangible was providing some financial assistance to teachers who might not
otherwise have been able to participate in the course. The following article was written for the College of Education
Alumni Magazine. Here it is:

Driving the vast, serene grounds of the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus during late June, one might
think the school empty for the summer. Actually, it was quite the opposite as twenty-three teachers refreshed their
knowledge of literary Braille in a course sponsored by the College of Education at the Ohio State University.
The course, held in the form of a one-week workshop, not only allowed inservice teachers to improve their skills in
reading, writing, and proofreading Grade II literary Braille, but assisted them to prepare for the National Library
Service (NLS) Braille Competency Test for Teachers that is currently being validated and will eventually be required
in the state of Ohio, says Marjorie Ward, instructor of the course and associate professor of educational services and
research at Ohio State.
It is important to keep up with your certification and to refresh your Braille skills, says Brenda Gladding, who
teaches at Union Elementary School in Cleveland. Courses like this allow you to do so, even if you teach it on a
daily basis like I do.
Pat Goller, a mobility instructor with Cincinnati Public Schools, who also is certified to teach the visually impaired,
says, With so much new technology in the field, there is more to certification than knowing Braille. With technology
like speech synthesizers and computers it is essential to keep yourself updated.
A problem in the field in recent years, according to Ward, is that some certified teachers have had little practice in
teaching school-aged children. Because there are many certified teachers in Ohio and in other states whose
caseloads, for a variety of reasons, have not included school-aged children who are Braille readers, an intensive
review course that provides practice along with study of the code and its revisions is essential.
Goller agrees. I do not teach Braille every day, so the new rules and revisions to the Braille codes are confusing.
Refresher courses are necessary for me to keep my skill up to date.
According to Ward, there are 1200 children in Ohio who are receiving special education services because their visual
impairment significantly affects their capability to participate in general education programs. Given the low
incidence of children, the number of teachers necessary in comparison to high-incidence areas is small. That is not
very appealing to most colleges and universities. Yet this does not lessen the need for well-prepared teachers to serve
these children, says Ward.
Gladding and Goller agreed and said that, because so few courses are offered already, it is difficult to keep up with
the Braille code if it is not used on a daily basis. In addition, they expressed concern that finding courses is a
challenge. The course held at Ohio State this summer is a rarity. The fact that there are so few courses is a
problem already. That is why there are so few teachers in this area of education, says Goller. According to Ward,
there are only about thirty teacher-preparation programs in the country, most at the graduate level. This means that
many teachers do not live close to courses directly related to the education of visually-impaired children.
I wish more institutions in the state would offer Braille refresher courses. I am always looking for classes like this,
even though I use Braille every day. Unfortunately, only the University of Toledo and the Ohio State University offer
them on a regular basis, says Robin Finley, an instructor of the visually impaired at Woodward Park Middle School
in Columbus.
Participants in the course are encouraged to express the need for more courses like this one, says Ward.
Ward also said that there is a growing interest in distance education through satellites and other technological means
as a way to rectify the lack of special education-visual impairment preparation courses available throughout the
United States, but sources of funding are difficult to find in order to start such programs.
Ward remarked that Ohio State should be commended for offering the course this summer. I realize that the
College's summer program was an attempt to increase enrollment and bring in students who might not otherwise
come to Ohio State. Yet the College was able to overlook the numbers and recognize the needs of a special group of
teachers and the children they serve and offer a course like this one. Ward also recognized the support of
individuals and organizations who made the course possible, including the Ohio Department of Education,
particularly Dr. John Saylor; Dennis Holmes, who is the Superintendent of the Ohio State School for the Blind
(OSSB), for arranging to pay the tuition of the eight OSSB teachers who attended the course and offering cottages to
out-of-town teachers; the Ohio Resource Center for Low Incidence and Severely Handicapped (ORCLISH); and the
Ohio Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
It is important for children to have access to well-prepared Braille teachers, notes Goller. More courses like this
one should be offered. I know that I would travel the distance to take them.


                             Chapter News

 Tracy Duffy, president of the Capital Chapter, writes: Our chapter is selling 1996 American Treasures calendars.
These calendars have authentic reproductions of original paintings from the Art Institute of Chicago. We are selling
the calendars for $3.00 each. If you wish to purchase calendars, which make wonderful holiday gifts, please contact
me at (614) 262-9378.

 Parents Division President Kathy Arthurs writes as follows: On Saturday, August 5, members of the Parents
Division met in Columbus to plan for the annual parents seminar that is held in conjunction with our state
convention. As has become the tradition with this August meeting, we combined food and work. I wish to thank Ron
and Jan Ferguson for hosting the picnic. This year's seminar will focus on cane travel and other issues related to
orientation and mobility. We will also conduct our Adapt-A-Toy contest during the seminar. This is a chance for
parents to show off their creativity by bringing toys and games that they have adapted for use by their blind children.
The contest winner will receive a cash prize of $50. Finally, I want to encourage everyone to participate in our Walk-
A-Thon. This event will take place in Columbus on Sunday, October 15. We will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Schiller Park.
You will receive additional information and pledge forms by mail.

 Speaking of raising money for the movement by using shoe leather, Sherry Ruth, President of the Lorain County
Chapter, tells us that the twentieth consecutive Lorain County Hike-a-Thon will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday,
September 23. You're invited to get in shape for the Parent fund-raiser by joining the NFB-LC in Elyria on the 23rd.

                            Personal Notes

 The dynamic duet of Anderson and Jeffries performed at the Case Western Radio Station WRUR on Saturday,
September 9, 1995. Those who attended the 1992 state convention in Cleveland will remember that Anderson and
Jeffries provided the musical entertainment for our hospitality night. They performed before a live audience for forty-
five minutes. Annette has promised to bring a recording of the performance to the convention.

 Eric and Tracy Duffy announce the birth of John Charles Duffy. John was born on Sunday, July 9, 1995, at 12:07
p.m. He weighed 8 pounds, 2.5 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

 Although it is difficult to prove, I feel confident when I say that Ohio leads the nation in the export of
Federationists. In fact, I will take it one step further and say that the Capital Chapter earns this dubious distinction.
In any case, it seems appropriate to provide a status report on our migrants.
The members of the Feazell family who were moving to Florida left the borders of Ohio on Friday, June 9. They are
now settled comfortably in their new home. Carol says that Jacksonville is cool.
Debbie, Danny, and Gena Robinson have now joined Dave in Tennessee. School has started, and the kids are
already planning a busy after-school schedule.
The Eschbachs have purchased a house in Pennsylvania. Pat has seen it, and she is quite pleased. She is not yet
certain when she will join Bob, but she is optimistic about the possibility of doing so by mid September.

 Second Vice President Tom Anderson and his wife Louise have just sold their home and moved to an apartment
in Youngstown. They assure us that they have no regrets at leaving behind them the responsibilities of home
ownership.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

September 16: Pre-convention Board meeting at the Sheraton Inn, Canton
October 9: Deadline for Gavel Award reports and award nominations
October 13: Release of our block of rooms for the convention at the Sheraton
November 1: Deadline for pre-convention registration
October 15: White Cane Safety Day, Parents Division Walk-a-Thon
Nov. 1, 1995 to Feb. 1, 1996: 1996 Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest
November 9-12: National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Convention at the Sheraton Inn, Canton
November 15: Deadline for submitting material for the Winter issue of the newsletter

If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in your will, you can do so
by employing the following language:

I give, devise, and bequeath unto the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, 237 Oak Street, Oberlin, Ohio
44074, an Ohio 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.
              National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
                 1995 Convention Preregistration Form

     Please complete and return this form by November 1, 1995, even if you do not plan to attend the 1995
convention or if someone else is reserving a room for you. Donations are appreciated. This is the only opportunity
that we have to ask for donations from most of you. Mail the completed form and check for registration and
reservations to Sylvia Cooley, 237 Oak St., Oberlin, OH  44074-1517.
     If you are preregistering other people, please attach an additional sheet with their names. Pre-convention
registration is $5 per person. Registration at the convention will be $10. Paid convention activities include the
banquet, $20; Parent Division and Student Division Saturday box lunch, $8.00. Number of reservations for each event:

     Banquet:        
     Student lunch:       
     Parent lunch:       


NAME:                                                                                              
ADDRESS:                                                              
CITY/STATE/ZIP:                                                       
TELEPHONE:                                                            


     I am not now receiving the Braille Monitor (monthly publication of the National Federation of the Blind) but
would like to begin receiving it in the following format:

           Braille           Cassette           Print


I wish to make a donation of $               to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.  My check is enclosed. 
(Make check payable to the NFB of Ohio.)

       I will        I will not attend the 1995 Convention to be held at the Sheraton Inn Canton, November 9-12, 1995.
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