                           Winter 1993

                        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





FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

NO SPECIAL TREATMENT...by Holly Goodman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

BRAILLE LITERACY CONTEST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

BLIND PATRONS AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
by Eric Duffy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

1993 AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION
OF THE BLIND OF OHIO by Tom Anderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

BUILDING THE FUTURE: THE 1993 NFB OF OHIO 
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM by Eric Duffy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

NFB OF OHIO 1993 RESOLUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

WHY I AM A FEDERATIONIST by Tracy Masincupp . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

REACTIONS TO A FIRST CONVENTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

FIVE YEARS AT IUSB: A TIME OF FIRSTS FOR PROFESSOR
by Chris Bowman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS: THIS YEAR'S JOB SEMINAR 
MADE THEM THINK by David Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

COMMENT TO THE ATBCB by Robert Eschbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

THE WASHINGTON SEMINAR IS COMING by Tracy Masincupp . . . . . . . . 25

NAPUB PLANS NATIONAL BRAILLE-A-THON FOR DETROIT
by Jerry Whittle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

CHAPTER NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

PERSONAL NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

CALENDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
                           by Barbara Pierce

     The 1993 state convention is now history, and it will be
remembered as one of our very best!  Many of the articles in this
issue of the newsletter report on things that happened.  If you
weren't there, reading the following pages will give you a small idea
of the excitement and energy of the event.  
     We all owe a special debt of thanks to Pat Eschbach, Chair of the
Convention Committee, who was the chief trouble-shooter and miracle-
worker.  Thanks to her hard work and endless ability to anticipate the
problems with a hotel staff that had apparently given up communicating
with each other for the weekend, the convention ran smoothly and
efficiently. 
     Gary Wunder was a delightful National Representative. He is
knowledgeable and articulate about many subjects, and he was
generosity itself in sharing his expertise with parents, job-seekers,
and any other Federationist who stopped to talk.  
     At our Sunday morning elections Bob Eschbach was chosen to finish
serving Eric Duffy's unexpired term as First Vice President.  Annette
Anderson, Mary Pool, David Robinson, Colleen Roth, and Ken Velkovich
were all returned to the board for two-year terms.  Helen Johnson had
announced that she would not be a candidate for re-election, and
Billie Graham, President of the Cleveland Chapter, was elected to fill
Helen's seat.  Because Bob had become First Vice President, his seat,
with one year to run, was vacant, and Dr. John Smith, Assistant
Professor of Speech Communication at Ohio University in Athens, was
elected to complete the term.  John is relatively new to Ohio since he
and his wife Regina and their daughter Ebony moved here from Indiana
in August.  An interesting newspaper article about John is reprinted
elsewhere in this issue.  It gives an idea of John's many interests
and abilities.  John and Regina are expecting their second child in
late January, and at the moment John is working to form a chapter in
the Athens area.  
     Shifting gears, you will notice from looking at the front cover
of this issue of the Buckeye Bulletin that Eric Duffy, who is now NFB-
O Director of Field Services, is the new editor of the newsletter. 
From now on, please send Eric articles and information for this
publication.  
     You will also notice that we have a new 800 number.  It is 1-800-
396-6326.  If you are one of those people who like to remember phone
numbers by what they spell, you will be happy to learn that the last
four digits of our number also spell NFBO.  This listing rings into
Eric's home and office.  Please help us to spread the word that people
can now reach the NFB of Ohio for help, advice, or information by
using this listing.  
     It is time again to be thinking of the Washington Seminar, which
takes place this year beginning Sunday, January 30, and ends on
Wednesday, February 2.  The mid-winter seminar for blind students will
take place on Saturday, January 29, and a seminar for parents of blind
children will take place Sunday afternoon.  We need as broad a
representation this year as possible.  We usually have several
districts very well represented, but it is clear that we must try to
include constituents from as many districts as possible in our
delegation.  If you are interested in attending this year's gathering,
please contact Eric or me immediately.  There are no guarantees of
inclusion, but we will take as large a delegation as we can cram into
our transportation and hotel rooms.  Of course, if you are in a
position to pay your own way entirely, that is great.  Just let us
know so that we can include you in the room count, which must be in to
Diane McGeorge by a few days after the first of the year.  
     Please consider volunteering for this important activity.  To be
a good candidate, you must be interested in the political process and
legislation.  You must also be capable of walking long distances and
working hard, sometimes without food for considerable periods.  You
must also be prepared to room with more than one other person if
necessary.  It is not for the faint-hearted, but it is great fun. 
Just ask anyone who has been to Washington in the past.  There is
nothing like this activity to give one a new appreciation of the NFB
and our commitment to helping blind people.  
     I will close this column with my warmest personal wishes to you
and yours for a joyous holiday season and a very happy new year.








             NO SPECIAL TREATMENT, ADVOCATE FOR BLIND SAYS
                           by Holly Goodman

     Editor's note: The following article appeared in the Columbus Dispatch of
Saturday, November 6, 1993.  The interview on which it was based took place during
the Job Opportunities for the Blind Seminar on Friday morning.  Here it is:In the workplace, blind people must be given an equal opportunity to fail,
the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio said in Columbus
yesterday.
     "There is no such thing as a free lunch, and anyone who tries to give a free
lunch does (blind people) no good and themselves no good," Barbara Pierce said at
the Hilton Inn North, 7007 N. High St.  The group is holding a three-day
conference there, and it began yesterday.
     As editor of the Braille Monitor, a national monthly publication, Pierce is in
the minority among blind adults.  She is employed.  About 70 percent of the blind
population is not, she said.
     Pierce, who was born with poor vision that worsened as she got older, spoke
during a morning conference to an audience that included several students from
the Ohio State School for the Blind.  To them, Pierce said, she expressed the
importance of making sure they have the skills to be competent and to compete in
the workplace.
     "You are responsible for developing the skills you need," she said.  "There
have to be more of us in the workplace."
     Part of what that requires is being assertive, she said, and it takes the
ability to show sighted people the job can be done just as well by people without
sight.
     "We must take the future into our own hands," she said.
     Pierce, who graduated second in her high school class in suburban
Pittsburgh, was the first blind student to attend Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.
     Education is important, not only for blind people, but also for sighted
people, to end prejudice fueled by ignorance, she said.  She still lives in Oberlin
with her husband, Bob Pierce, but commutes about once a week to Maryland, where
the magazine is published.
     During her trips from Cleveland, Pierce said, she makes a point of telling
the person sitting next to her on the plane that she is a magazine editor on her
way to work.
     Oberlin College was Pierce's choice because there were no blind students. 
She wanted an environment where every class was as challenging for her as for
sighted students.
     "It is important that blind people be held to the same standard of
excellence that everyone else has," Pierce said.  "Give us a chance to fail, and
mostly we will succeed."
     The conference, which is free and open to the public, will run all day today. 
Meetings will deal with education and employment for the blind.
     On Sunday, the group will hold committee and business meetings.BRAILLE LITERACY CONTEST

     Have you ever lamented because the Perkins Brailler and the Braille 'n
Speak are so expensive?  This may be your chance to win one.  Even if you don't
need such equipment yourself, there are lots of blind people in your community
who do and who will want to know about the contest that the NFB of Ohio will be
sponsoring beginning during Braille Literacy Week in 1994. So take note and
spread the word. 
     There will be two categories of contestants--those in middle or high school
and those who are beyond high school.  You need not be a student to win. All
contestants must submit an essay of not fewer than 500 words written using a
slate and stylus.  The topic is "Braille Is an Essential Part of My Life Because...." 
The essay must come attached to a completed contest form or a sheet of paper
that includes complete personal contact information and your grade if still
enrolled in secondary school.  You must also include a signed statement that the
composition and Braille of the entry are your own.  
     Contestant entries will be assigned numbers and sent to out-of-state
consultants for judging.  The contest will begin the first week in January, and the
deadline for submitting essays will be March 1.  The winners will be notified during
the month of March, and the prize in each division will be a Braille 'n Speak 640,
complete with carrying case, or, if the winner prefers, a Perkins Brailler and
carrying case.  
     Current plans are for the awards to be made during the spring meeting of
the NFB-O Board of Directors, date to be announced.  Members of the Board of
Directors and their immediate families may not enter this contest.  The contest
is limited to Ohio residents who are legally blind.  
     For more information about the contest or for entry forms, contact Eric
Duffy at 1-800-396-6326.  


                 BLIND PATRONS AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
                             by Eric Duffy

     The blind of Ohio are fortunate to have conscientious and capable
librarians at the helm of each of the Regional Libraries for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped and supervising the machine-lending program at the Ohio
State Library.  Barbara Mates, Donna Fouste, and Judy Bow have been a part of
NFB of Ohio Conventions for many years, and their presentations are always
lively and interesting.  At the NFB-O convention which recently occurred in
Columbus, Barbara Mates energetically spoke on a topic that I find very
attractive.  She urged blind people to make good use of their local libraries.  Ten
years ago this topic would never have arisen.  Now, however, technology has made
many services provided by local libraries accessible to the blind.  Here is a
summary of part of what Mrs. Mates had to say on the subject:  

     While the Regional Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped look
forward to serving you with recreational reading materials, do not overlook your
neighborhood public library as an additional source for personal enrichment.  You
will find that public libraries now offer a myriad of information and materials
that we simply cannot.  Many public libraries offer musical recordings on tape or
disc as well as offering commercially recorded books on cassette.  You will find
that in some instances abridged (edited) versions of best sellers arrive in your
library at about the same time as the print version.  Additionally, more and more
public libraries lend computer software and videotapes. A few have even
purchased all of the audio-described titles currently available from Descriptive
Video Services.
     Larger public library systems and networks offer their patrons so-called
dial-up computer access to a host of data banks.  Some of the databases are
highly specialized, such as the Bryn Mawr Medieval Review and the French Language
Press Review while others contain information such as daily updates on Somalia
(Somalia News Update) and the Serbian-Croatian conflict (Radio Free Europe). Still
others offer access to the Library of Congress, Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped database (LOCIS), which allows the user to see what titles
are available through the regional libraries as well as reading updates on
federal legislation and copyright information.  There are also libraries that
have purchased CCTV'S for patron use as well as Arkenstone or Xerox-Kurzweil
reading machines.  These machines are available for use by members of the public
who need assistance reading standard print.  By using your public library, you
encourage the staff to expand blind people's access to an almost infinite amount
of information.  

     Those are the comments of Barbara Mates regarding accessible library
services for the blind.  We must do what we can to encourage our local libraries
to make their programs and materials accessible to the blind, and we must also
encourage the blind to take advantage of the access we currently enjoy.


                      1993 AWARDS PRESENTED BY
             THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF OHIO
                            by Tom Anderson

     Editor's note: Tom Anderson chairs the NFB of Ohio's Awards Committee.  Here
is his report of the awards presented during the banquet at this year's convention:

     On a warm Friday afternoon in October Barbara Fohl of Ashtabula, Paul
Dressell of Cincinnati, and I traveled to Columbus to meet with Eric Duffy in his
home as the 1993 NFB of Ohio Awards Committee.  Our job was to select the
outstanding chapter for the year to be the recipient of the Gavel Award and to
decide whether to present any individual awards for outstanding service to the
blind of Ohio and the organized blind movement.  We thank Eric for his hospitality
to the committee Friday and Saturday. 
     NFB of Ohio chapters were very active in the 1992-93 season.  Here is a
quick survey of what they were doing:  Members of the NFB of Stark County spoke
about blindness and the National Federation of the Blind throughout their
community.  The NFB of Cleveland held a major fund-raising event to raise funds
for scholarships to local blind college students.  The NFB of Miami Valley
conducted a massive distribution-of-materials campaign about blindness and the
National Federation of the Blind throughout the community.  Members of the NFB
of Cincinnati participated in a role-playing presentation designed to raise
community awareness about disability.  The NFB of Mahoning Valley had massive
letter writing campaigns to members of the Ohio Legislature about our Braille
bill, cuts in funding to our two libraries for the blind, and increased funding for
the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and to their member of Congress
urging co-sponsorship of H.R. 794, the Americans with Disabilities Business
Development Act.  They also wrote to anyone else who needed to receive letters
in support of Federation initiatives.  The Capital Chapter was very active at the
Ohio Statehouse, providing testimony on important legislation such as our
Braille bill and organizing our legislative breakfast.  The members of the Members
at Large Chapter were busy in every part of Ohio distributing our literature,
accepting speaking engagements, and getting proclamations on issues related to
blindness such as Ohio Braille Literacy Week and White Cane Safety Day. 
     The actual winner of the 1993 NFB of Ohio Gavel Award was the NFB of Lorain
County.  Here is a list of some of the projects the chapter did:
  NFB philosophy and publications were discussed at chapter meetings.
  Members did a lot of public speaking about the NFB throughout the county.
  The chapter received proclamations from two cities in the county for Ohio
Braille Literacy Week.
  Members were involved in community groups and efforts representing blind
people such as being members of the board of trustees for the agency serving the
blind and the city ADA advisory committee in one community.  
  Members advise and assist parents with their individual education plan (IEP)
meetings.
  Members worked with one blind person who was having problems developing an
Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP).
  Members teach Braille on a volunteer basis.
  Well over half of all funds raised by the chapter go to support NFB programs at
the state and national levels.  
  Members participate in a wide variety of state and national NFB activities.
     There you have a sample of the programs and projects our chapters are
engaged in across the state.  All of us could do more to support the organized
blind movement and to represent it effectively in helping blind people and their
families every day.  The four of us who serve on the Awards Committee enjoy the
chance we have to learn from the annual reports submitted to us.  I hope that
everyone else will study these activities in order to strengthen all of our
chapters in the coming year.  
     In 1990 the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio established the Knall
Garwood Award to recognize individuals who have given distinguished service to
our movement for many years.  This year the Knall Garwood Award was presented
to Helen Johnson, who announced that she was retiring from the NFB of Ohio Board
of Directors.  Helen has been an active member of the NFB of Ohio for forty years
and has served on the Board for at least twenty-two years, including a stint as
affiliate president.  Helen will continue to be a devoted member of the
organization, but she announced that she thought it was time to pass on her
leadership responsibility to younger people.  Here is the letter of nomination
the Awards Committee received from Colleen Roth of the Toledo Federation of the
Blind: 

                                                       October 8, 1993
To the Awards Committee:
     The Toledo Federation of the Blind would like to nominate Helen Johnson for
the Knall Garwood Award.  Helen has been a Federationist since 1954.  She has
served on the NFB-O Board for more than twenty years, including a stint as NFB-O
president.  She is always at the forefront of new projects and wholeheartedly
endorses them.  She helped with and was the driving force behind our Pocket Pal
program to sell pocket calendars.  Helen supports the Pre-authorized Check Plan
(PAC), the Deferred Insurance Giving (DIG) Program, and the Associates Program. 
She also recruits other people to participate in these projects with her.  In the
seventies she mentored new Federationists, teaching us through example, and put
us to work.  Helen encouraged us to become independent, mothered us when
necessary, and helped us get started, even organizing house warmings when
needed.  She and her family helped many of us attend conventions and other NFB
meetings, providing transportation and financial assistance when necessary.  I
am sure that Mary Ellen Reihing, Linda Miller, Dewey Cummings, Jackie Cummings,
and Marc Maurer would all agree with me that Helen taught us much about being a
Federationist.
     We in the Toledo Chapter would like to nominate Helen Johnson for the Knall
Garwood Award in recognition of her years of dedicated service to the movement
and the Federation family.
                                                       Very Sincerely,
                                                     Mrs. Colleen Roth
                                        Toledo Federation of the Blind

     Two additional awards were presented at this year's convention.  They were
actually made by the Ohio division of the National Association to Promote the
Use of Braille (NAPUB), and they were given in recognition of commitment to
Braille or service in promoting its wider acceptance.  Named for Henrietta Clash,
a beloved and committed teacher of Braille for many years at the Ohio State
School for the Blind, award certificates were presented to Louise Anderson, who
has been teaching herself Braille and using it on her job, and to Jennica
Ferguson.  Jennica is eleven; and, using a Braille text, she testified before the
Ohio House of Representatives Education Committee on the usefulness of Braille
to those who learn it early.  We are very proud of both these members and their
recognition of the importance of Braille in the lives of blind Ohioans.  
     All in all, we can be proud of our award recipients for 1993.  The program is
a good one, and the members of the committee urge everyone to take it seriously
and compete actively in the coming year.  




                        BUILDING THE FUTURE:
               THE 1993 NFB OF OHIO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
                             by Eric Duffy

     Not long ago I had occasion to listen to the recording by Dr. Jernigan entitled
"Why I am a Federationist."  In it he talks about many of the events which helped
to shape his life and to inspire his life-long dedication to the National
Federation of the Blind.  As he talked about how lonely it could sometimes be for
a blind child while growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee and his experiences as
a student at the Tennessee state school for the blind, I thought about the many
long summer days that I endured as a child and my own experiences at the Ohio
State School for the Blind.  The circumstances were quite different, but the
underlying attitudes about blindness were very much the same.  When it came time
for college, the same similarity was there.  
     While in high school, my friends and I rather boldly spoke of our plans for the
future.  Many of us talked about a college education and graduate work.  I
dreamed about law school.  Some of us wondered if our blindness would prevent us
from realizing our dreams.  I wondered if the attitudes of others regarding
blindness would end my hopes.  Despite our doubts and our fears, high school
graduation was not to be delayed.  When the day drew near, as Dr. Jernigan had
done, many years before me, I sat down to talk with a rehabilitation counselor
about my plans for the future.  As Dr. Jernigan had done I said that I wanted to be
an attorney.  The response of the rehab counselor was much the same as the one
he had received almost forty years earlier: being an attorney is not feasible; if
you want any help from rehab, you will decide to do something reasonable.  Due to
the lack of encouragement and absolutely no financial assistance from either my
parents or the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, I struggled through
a bachelors degree and put law school on the back burner on a very low flame for
now.  
     But elements that either did not exist or were not as strong when I entered
college must now be factored into the success equation for any blind college
student.  I refer to the scholarship programs of the National Federation of the
Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.  The national organization
awards twenty-six scholarships ranging in value from $2,000 to $10,000 in value
at its annual convention in July.  The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
awards two $1,000 scholarships at its annual fall convention.  These programs
offer much more than money to the blind; they offer the love, the strength, and
the support of the Federation to all who will accept the gift.  
     I have had the pleasure of chairing the Scholarship Committee of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio since the program began.  My colleagues on the
committee are Bob Pierce and Shirley Hammond.  Our work has become more
difficult as the competition has grown keener with each scholarship class.  Each
year I say with growing certainty that we have selected two of the finest blind
students in the state.  I am particularly proud of this year's scholarship
winners.  
     Tony Orlando is a first-year student at the University of Akron Law School. 
He plans to work as a Civil Rights Attorney and to be very active in the National
Federation of the Blind.  
     Angel Turner is a freshman at Oberlin College.  She is creating her own major. 
She plans to work in the field of education and fine arts for the disabled.  
     Both Tony and Angel attended their first National Convention this past
summer.  They have experienced a tremendous amount of personal growth as a
result of that experience.  Their commitment to the organization is strong, and
the future of the National Federation of the Blind is in good hands.  We have
invested our resources wisely, and Tony and Angel will help us change what it
means to be blind in Ohio and wherever else they go.  


               NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF OHIO
                           1993 RESOLUTIONS

     Editor's note:  The following are the resolutions debated and passed by the
1993 convention of the NFB of Ohio.  They will be sent with cover letters to the
appropriate people and institutions, but every member of the Federation should read
them carefully and remember them since they have now become the policy of the
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

                                 93-01
     WHEREAS, in a recent publication produced by Pilot Dogs, Inc., reference was
made to the trainees as "sightless" and "those without sight," and;
     WHEREAS, blind people discussed with the former Executive Director this
use of euphemism and the fact that it is very offensive to blind people, and;
     WHEREAS, since this recent publication was produced under the direction of
the current Executive Director, we presume that he has decided to continue the
practice of using offensive euphemisms to describe blind persons, and;
     WHEREAS, at its 1993 annual convention the National Federation of the Blind
passed a resolution (copy attached) decrying the use of words which suggest that
blindness is a degrading condition--words such as "sightless" and "those without
sight": Now, therefore
     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in
Convention assembled this sixth day of November, 1993, in the City of Columbus,
Ohio, that this organization condemn and deplore the euphemistic language used
by Pilot Dogs, Inc., in its publications describing blind persons
--words such as "sightless" and "those without sight"; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon Pilot Dogs, Inc., to use words
which unapologetically and accurately deal with guide dog users--words like
"blind"; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we offer our assistance in helping Pilot staff
members avoid those terms that effectively demean blind people and deny the
reality of blindness.  

                                 93-02
     WHEREAS, The Ohio House of Representatives has taken a positive step to
improve educational opportunities for blind children in Ohio by the passage of
H.B. 164 (the Braille literacy bill); and 
     WHEREAS, the opportunity to master effective reading and writing skills is
critical to a blind child's education and future employment success; and 
     WHEREAS, this legislation would provide the opportunity for blind children
who cannot use print effectively and efficiently to learn the valuable tool of
Braille and would assure that those who are charged with providing such
instruction are competent to teach it; and 
     WHEREAS, the Ohio Senate is to act on this legislation as S.B. 49, sponsored
by Senator Grace Drake; and 
     WHEREAS, Senate Bill 49 must be passed during the next legislative session:
Now, therefore 
       BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in
Convention assembled this seventh day of November, 1993, in the City of
Columbus, Ohio, that this organization take all necessary steps to insure action
on S.B. 49 during the next legislative term and that all Senators be urged to vote
in support of this legislation; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we commend the House of Representatives for
having passed the Braille Literacy Bill, and give special recognition to
Representative Ronald Gerberry, sponsor of H.B. 164, and his legislative
assistant Ms Susan Dean.

                                 93-03
     WHEREAS, throughout its history the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio has supported and promoted the development of a substantive educational
curriculum for blind children in Ohio; and
      WHEREAS, true access to such a curriculum must include the right to a free
and appropriate education for the blind child and proper notice to, and
consideration of input from, the parents, as provided by state and federal law;
and 
     WHEREAS, the Akron Public School District through its special education
staff has shown complete disregard for one functionally and legally blind child's
educational needs and her parent's rights by: 
1. refusing to offer Braille instruction to the student,
2. failing to give proper notice to the parent during the IEP process,
3. refusing to consider the parent's views during the IEP process; and
       WHEREAS, continued efforts to resolve differences by this organization
and others have met with steadfast staff belligerence and refusal to conduct
themselves according to the letter and spirit of the law: Now, therefore 
       BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in
Convention assembled this sixth day of November, 1993, in the City of Columbus,
Ohio, that this organization condemn and deplore the actions and attitudes of the
Akron Public School District; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the parties concerned to take all
necessary steps to secure the most appropriate education possible for this
blind child, as well as for all blind children in the Akron School District, and we
demand that this child's rights and those of her mother be protected; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we offer our assistance to the Department of
Education, Special Education Division, in its effort to resolve this case to the
benefit of both the school system and the family. 
                                 93-04
     WHEREAS, seventy to seventy-nine percent of all working-age blind people
are either unemployed or underemployed; and  
     WHEREAS, we know that blind people are willing and able to work and that the
reason for this devastating statistic is that they have been denied opportunity;
and 
     WHEREAS, an example of this lack of opportunity for employment can be found
in the failure of the state government to provide job vacancy notices in an
accessible format to blind people; and 
     WHEREAS, the State of Ohio is a large employer and is also a governmental
entity covered under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Now,
therefore 
     BE IT RESOLVED that this organization in Convention assembled this 6th day
of November, 1993, in Columbus, Ohio, call upon the Ohio Department of
Administrative Services (DAS) to make all job vacancy notices accessible to the
blind; and 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we offer our assistance to DAS in achieving
the goal of accessibility.


                       WHY I AM A FEDERATIONIST
                          by Tracy Masincupp

     Editor's note:  At this year's convention we instituted a new feature, a
presentation from a member of the organization on the subject of why he or she is a
Federationist. When Barbara introduced this agenda item, she began by saying a few
words about what constitutes being a Federationist. It is more than simply believing
that blindness is not necessarily a catastrophe. It is more than holding that blind
people have a right to the full rights and responsibilities of first-class
citizenship, though it is certainly both these things.  In addition, it is the
recognition that one is part of a movement filled with committed people who share a
vision of the future and are prepared to love and sacrifice and serve in order to
make that vision a reality.  Being a Federationist is challenging, but the rewards
are almost infinite. 
     Tracy Masincupp of Columbus was the 1993 speaker in this new series of
speakers. Here is what she had to say: 

     I lost my vision when I was about two years old due to a type of cancer
known as retino blastoma. I don't remember being able to see, but I do remember
getting used to being blind. The novelty of using my hands to locate things in my
environment still stands out in my mind, and I clearly remember being anxious to
explore and get as much information about what was around me as I could.
     As I grew older, my parents did most of what the professionals advised them
to do. However, one thing my mother was told was that she should never rearrange
the furniture because this could be very frightening and frustrating to a blind
child. Her response was to say that this was a crazy notion. She had already come
to realize that, when she rearranged the furniture, I would come in, learn the new
arrangement, and simply go on about my business. It was certainly a good thing
that Mom didn't listen to that advice because the rest of the world never stays
exactly the same.
  Although I was unaware of it, one of the big topics of discussion for my parents
and the professionals was my education. I did attend kindergarten at the local
public school. I must admit that I really didn't think much about being blind then.
The other children and I got along well, and there were rarely things that I was
not allowed to do or couldn't do. The other children didn't seem to have a problem
with my blindness either. The one thing that I recall in retrospect is that, when
we kindergarteners would go somewhere outside of the classroom, I was never
allowed to be line leader. I suspect now that the teacher did not believe I could
find the way or that she feared that, if I had made a mistake, the other children
would either follow suit or begin to make fun of me.
  When first grade came, I had to be bussed to another public school which was a
considerable distance from home. This meant that I missed nearly half of each
school day because of the time I spent riding buses. I also found that the
children in this new class were not nearly as accepting of me. Suddenly it became
apparent that I was different from other children. I had to learn Braille--which, I
might add I was determined not to do. I had a Braille instructor as well as the
regular first grade teacher, who was every bit as prejudiced against me as the
children. She would allow them to tease and play tricks on me, and she would
become impatient when I could not find my place in the reading book.
  I continued to go to that school until late in my fifth grade year. Then my family
moved, and the transportation problem got worse. In fact, I missed quite a bit of
school that year because transportation between the two school districts could
not be worked out.  Toward the end of that year I was sent to the Ohio State
School for the Blind.
  It is not my purpose to promote one type of education over another. There were
many drawbacks for me at OSSB as well as benefits. One benefit was that after a
time, I was introduced to the white cane and began to learn to travel
independently. I also did things there that I had never done before such as run
track, participate in cheer leading, even play basketball. So, although I was not
as academically challenged there, I began to get a balance of other things I had
never experienced in life.
  As I grew older, I had dreams of being a housewife and mother. I sometimes
thought I might like to be a teacher. For a time I even thought I'd like to learn
about small engines and eventually move on to being an auto mechanic. Being a
teacher was the only one of these dreams that was encouraged. Who can say why
the other things were discouraged? I was forced to take training in secretarial
skills as well as my academic courses. I was told that this was appropriate for a
young lady. Of course no one could tell me how I would file print material or how I
would type up letters for my boss if they were not dictated either in person or
on to tape. I wasn't supposed to ask such questions.
  I graduated, and, much to the dismay of many of my teachers, I had no intention
of going on to college. I simply felt that I had never studied in high school and
that I was not prepared for the challenge that college would be. Mind you, I was a
straight-A student in high school; but, as I mentioned earlier, I  had not been
academically challenged. Those grades came easily, and I knew that I would be in
for a rude awakening in college. I simply was not ready to deal with that.
  So I did nothing for many years. I sat around and waited to get married and have
children. I was actually engaged once, for several years, and finally realized
that engaged was all I would ever be with that particular man. 
  I also spent a lot of time being depressed. I thought that I was reasonably
independent, yet I rarely went out alone, often felt sorry for myself because I
had no one to take me shopping or read my mail, and was terrified to travel to
places I hadn't been taught to go.  I had no confidence in my abilities whatsoever.
I was afraid of traffic and afraid of asking people for assistance; I was a basket
case!
  Finally, when I was in my mid twenties, I got involved with the National
Federation of the Blind. A couple of people I had known at OSSB were involved, and
little by little I found myself becoming interested. Less than a year after joining
the local chapter, I went to my first national convention. That was a real turning
point in my life.
     It was the summer of 1988, and the convention was to be held in Chicago. I
had agreed to go on the condition that my friends would be with me as much as
possible and take care of me. After all, even when I had gone on a trip to Florida
with some friends from church, I never left the motel room alone and would never
have dreamed of traveling in an unfamiliar place without a sighted person along
or, at the very least, another blind person that I felt was a competent traveler.
But, as things turned out, when I went to Chicago, the friends I had counted on
were detained for a few days, and I was forced to take care of myself.
     I was given a Braille list of the activities taking place before the actual
convention sessions started, shown to my room, introduced to a few people, and
given room numbers of people I could contact if necessary.  Everyone was very
busy, and I felt that, if I wanted to do anything, I'd have to do it on my own or sit
in my room alone.  Let me tell you, though, that my roommates were Barbara
Pierce's daughter and the daughter of her secretary. I knew that, if I just sat in
my room, someone important would come after me and get me moving. So I chose a
meeting that I wanted to attend, swallowed the heart that was rising into my
mouth, and set out to find the meeting place. 
     I remember that I was making a cassette tape for a friend in Scotland, and I
said, "Here I go! I'm about to go off in a strange place to meet with people I've
never met before." I went downstairs, asked for directions, found the meeting,
survived, and returned to report to my friend. I can't tell you how exciting it was
to know I had actually done this on my own. I simply would never have dreamed of
such a thing before. 
     During that convention I heard staff and students from the Louisiana
Center for the Blind talk about their experiences. This is an adult rehabilitation
center which is run by members of the Federation. I was so moved by the stories I
heard that I thought I'd like to work in a place like that one day. So I decided,
wonder of wonders, that I would actually go to college so that I might be able to
get such a job. I gathered together several people from my local chapter and told
them about my plan. I did this so that I could not easily back out of it. I still
thought that college would be quite a challenge and was not sure that I really
wanted to do it. I knew, though, that I'd like to be part of helping other blind
people to gain the kind of independence that I was feeling for the first time.
     I did go to college and have thus far completed three years toward a four-
year degree. I have changed my mind many times about my course of study, and I
have now, for personal reasons,  taken a break from school. I have, however,
grown a lot as a person, and I even did an internship at BLIND, Inc., which is a
Federation Rehabilitation center in Minnesota, similar to the one I heard about
at my first convention. 
     While doing my internship in Minnesota, I not only helped teach blind
students, but did some learning of my own. I learned to use WordPerfect, prepared
a six-course meal from scratch (serving and clearing it using formal etiquette),
traveled to places where I had never been in a strange city, even taught cane
travel to a fifteen-year-old student for a few days. It was quite an experience. I
also had a roommate who came from Japan and did not have very good English when
she arrived. She and I became good friends because I kept trying to communicate
with her and patiently teaching her the English that she needed to know.
     Being a part of the Federation has helped me to grow. I keep having new
experiences, and I find that I often have the opportunity to help others do the
same. Through being a part of this organization, I have learned the value of
taking a white cane or guide dog where ever I go, even if I am going with a sighted
person. The importance of being able to read Braille has been reenforced. It was
always important for me to know how to type, but now it has become important to
have computer skills and to be able to compete on an equal level with my sighted
peers. I can now travel confidently to places I have never been before. I am no
longer afraid to leave a hotel or motel room without a sighted person along. The
girl who had no intention of going to college has at least completed three years
toward a bachelor's degree. The list goes on and on, and these are only a few
examples of the kinds of things I want other blind people to be able to say they
have experienced, too. 
     Sure, it can be frustrating at times to be blind, and sometimes there are
things I can't do, but I have learned that blindness need not be anything more
than a physical nuisance. It's just a characteristic that is a part of me just like
my weight or my hair color. I have learned that there are usually answers to the
question of how to complete a given task as a blind person. For example, I have
now come to know blind people who work as secretaries, and I have learned that
they have devised ways of dealing with filing and letter writing. No, I don't always
know the answer to the question of how to do a given task.  I am not an electrical
engineer or a chemist, but I know that there are blind people who are and that
they compete on an equal level with their sighted peers.
     I am a Federationist because I have learned to be a normal, functioning,
contributing adult who can compete equally with sighted people. I no longer feel
as uncomfortable as I once did around people that I don't know. If someone asks me
how a blind person can do something and I don't have the answer, I now know that I
can get it by turning to other members of the Federation. Chances are that
there's someone in the group who has the answer or who can help us come up with
one. I want to continue to grow as a person, and I want to help others to grow as
well.
     If you wonder what the National Federation of the Blind has to offer you or
your blind children or other relatives, it is this: independence, self-respect,
self-esteem, support from others who understand, the chance to experience new
things and to keep growing as a person. In short, the Federation is actively
changing what it means to be blind, and each of us will benefit greatly by being a
part of it.


                    REACTIONS TO A FIRST CONVENTION

     Editor's note: One delightful part of gathering material following a state
convention is listening to those who have just attended their first convention.  They
are so enthusiastic, and their perceptions bring a fresh perspective to
recollections of an event that we are sometimes tempted to take for granted. Below
are two comments on the 1993 convention.  The first is a letter that Connie Misch
wrote to Barbara Pierce following the convention.  During the buffet dinner for
parents of blind children and members of the Board of Directors on Friday evening,
Barbara undertook to teach Connie how to use a slate and stylus so that she could
teach her son, whose teacher is unwilling for him to learn to write by hand. 
Eventually Brandon joined the group, and Barbara gave him his first lesson herself.
Here is Connie's letter:

                                                        November, 1993

Dear Barbara,
     My name is Connie, and you showed me how to teach my son Brandon, who is
seven years old, how to use the slate and stylus.  You had a table full of parents
convinced that slate use can and must be taught to our children.  You are an
excellent teacher with much patience.  Brandon still wants your slate and stylus. 
Oh! and your gavel and strike plate, which he calls "that hammer and round thing."
Actually, he wants your job!  
     Barbara, thank you so much for showing me how simple it is to learn and
teach the slate and stylus.  I learned so much at this wonderful convention.  We
started putting independence to practice right away.  Brandon is capable of so
many things.  He's finally getting the encouragement and confidence he needs to
continue to full independence.
     I now have much much, more of a vision for him than I've ever had before.  I
love you and the Federation of the Blind's new vision for Brandon, and I look
forward to sharing his many successes, thanks to the great seeds you and many
at the National Federation of the Blind convention planted in both Tim's and my
hearts.  We love you.
                                                    Tim & Connie Misch

     There you have the view of a parent who has suddenly found new vistas of hope
and promise opening up for her child.  Now, demonstrating the range of positive
experience at a convention, here are the thoughts of one of our newest members of
the NFB of Ohio and a newly elected member of the Board of Directors.  Dr. John
Smith is a member of the Speech Communication Department at Ohio University.  He
joined the faculty there this fall, and we are delighted to have him as a member of
our affiliate.  Here are his reflections: 

     I moved to Ohio in August, and in November I attended my first NFB State
Convention.  I had heard of Barbara Pierce, but I had never met the other leaders
of the Ohio affiliate.  Upon doing so I was quite impressed with their leadership
capacity and genuine commitment to our movement.  From the time I arrived in
Columbus on November 5 until my departure on November 7, the leaders of the
affiliate continued to impress me in every way.  It was so encouraging to see
competent blind people at the state level working to further the goals of the
NFB.
     As a professor of speech communication, I could not write my thoughts
about my first state convention without some academic terminology.  In the field
of speech communication much is made of the "process of communication."  Every
textbook and each professor may explain the components of the process in their
own unique way, but all will agree that the following terms are crucial to an
understanding of how the process works.  Terms such as message, context,
channel, feedback, and noise are essential to the process. In reflecting on my
first state convention, there are three of these terms that I believe best
capture my impressions and observations of the 1993 NFB-O Convention.
     The communication context is vital to any successful and effective
communication exchange.  This is the physical and social setting in which
communication takes place.  It is vital because it determines our meanings,
expectations, and behavior.  The Hilton Inn North was the physical setting for our
convention.  It was reasonably priced, and the management seemed to be
reasonably accommodating.  The hotel contained a nice selection of meeting rooms
of all sizes, and we were made to feel reasonably comfortable and satisfied.
     The social context for our communication exchange was the business of
making life better for the blind of Ohio.  Everyone came with that purpose in mind,
and all our communication efforts were focused on that goal.
     If the context is the crucial place in which communication takes place, the
message is the essence of the communication exchange.  Communication might be
defined as "the transactional process of people sharing meaning through the
sending and receiving of messages."  The content of the transaction is the
message.  It is the NFB message that separates us from all other organizations
that purport to work to benefit blind people.  At this convention the NFB message
rang loud and clear.
     First, it was a message of balance.  The agenda was packed with items
ranging from "blind people and their jobs" to "the proper use and maintenance of
guide dogs."  The message was clear, i.e., we are concerned about all aspects of
life for the blind.
     Second, it was a message of business.  It was quite refreshing for me to see
competent blind people at work.  Making hard but good decisions about how to
spend the organization's funds and making other bold futuristic steps was the
goal of the board at its annual convention meeting.  It all culminated with a
thoroughly superb Treasurer's report by Pat Eschbach on Sunday, November 7. 
Again the message was clear:  blind people know how to take care of business.
     Finally, at the 1993 NFB-O banquet I heard a message of boldness.  As Gary
Wunder, our national representative, spoke, two things were clearly conveyed. 
Simply put they were: ask not what the organization can do for you; ask what we
can together do for the blind of the world, and what happens after we reach that
critical yes.
     At breakfast on Saturday morning I had a very revealing discussion with
First Vice President Bob Eschbach.  After discussing many of the glorious
moments of the movement and deliberating about its future, Bob made the
following comment: "The banquet is the essence of any NFB Convention.  If anyone
does not attend the banquet or does not try to understand its significance, I
know I can't count on him or her."  This year's banquet address was one of the
most powerful and profound speeches I have ever heard at the state level.
     Bob's statement also brings up the third and final aspect of communication
that I found to be prevalent at the 1993 NFB-O Convention.  Feedback is essential
to effective communication.  The opportunity to converse with the leaders of the
affiliate and with the various guest speakers during the convention was and is
the real reason these state conventions are so effective.  Regardless of
whether one is a first-time attendee or one who has attended the conventions
for twenty consecutive years, one has an equal opportunity for feedback.  All of
the meetings are conducted in an open manner, and everyone is welcome to engage
in constructive communication exchanges.  
     From my viewpoint as a first-time attendee of the NFB-O Convention, it was
wonderful.  We are poised for growth, and our convention revealed our strong
commitment to making life better for the blind of Ohio.  Let us unite to meet the
challenges and opportunities that await us as we approach the twenty-first
century.  Our convention was a success because we had fun, we made tough
decisions, and we inspired one another to return to our various chapters with
renewed vigor and vitality.  Let us not waste that energy, and let us not
squander those opportunities before us.  Let's make it clear to all of Ohio that
we are here, we are coming, and we will never go away.


                          FIVE YEARS AT IUSB
                    A TIME OF FIRSTS FOR PROFESSOR
                            by Chris Bowman

     South Bend Tribune, Sunday, August 1, 1993.  John W. Smith is saying goodbye
to South Bend and his first teaching job out of graduate school.
     Part minister, part gospel singer, part teacher, Smith is leaving his
position as a speech communications professor at Indiana University South Bend
to accept a faculty position at Ohio University.
     He's a native of Chicago and has lived in South Bend for only five years. 
But those were years of a lot of firsts for the thirty-four-year-old.
     It was here that he secured his first faculty position after earning his
doctoral degree from Wayne State University.  It was here that he and his wife,
Regina, had their first child, Ebony, now three and one-half years old.  And it was
here that a lifelong dream came true: to record a collection of gospel music.
     The title of his first album, completed in July 1992, was "One Day," which was
appropriate considering he told himself over and over for four years that "one
day I'll be finished with this recording," he said.
     It also was during his time at IUSB that he introduced a course called
"Communication in Black America," aimed at discussing the cultural, social, and
political aspects of interpersonal communication in the black community.
     In a way he wishes he were staying to teach the course again.
     "We had some interesting discussions that I never thought we would get
into," Smith said. He said he is not aware that the class is scheduled to be
offered again soon.
     "It became a family-type atmosphere.  I think at times that's what school
should be about," he said.
     For Smith his successes here are a hint of successes to come.
     His ambition is to become a millionaire by age forty-five, record more
albums, and eventually become a producer, promoting and developing new talent.
     He has managed to balance teaching and music so far.  "Those are my two
loves, teaching and music.  I've got to find a way to combine both of them, and I
will," he said.
     In Ohio, he'll teach political and interpersonal communication at the
masters and doctoral levels.
     Although he is not the only visually impaired professor at IUSB, Smith said
he has never felt the school's administration overemphasized his disability.
     "People treated me very naturally.  I'm sure there were people who had
their doubts, but they never let it show.  People treated me like a regular person
from the day I started here."
     And that's exactly one of the things that attracted him to IUSB, he said.
     "They never questioned my ability to get the job done, and that's what I
love about it," he said.
     He credits IUSB Chancellor Daniel Cohen and the school administration for
increasing minority representation on the IUSB faculty.  "He has said that was
one of their main goals, and they have really put their money where their mouth
is," he said.
     When Smith started teaching at IUSB five years ago, there were only four
full-time black faculty members.  Now there are nine, according to the school's
affirmative action office.


                       EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS: 
                THIS YEAR'S JOB SEMINAR MADE THEM THINK
                           by David Robinson

     David Robinson is the Job Opportunities for the Blind Coordinator for Ohio. 
He works closely with the JOB Program Director, Lorraine Rovig, in our national
office.  The Job Opportunities for the Blind Program is jointly sponsored by the
National Federation of the Blind and the U.S. Department of Labor, and seminars like
the one conducted at the 1993 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio are one way to share our knowledge and experience with blind people who are
struggling to find good jobs and to educate would-be employers about their
abilities.  Here is Dave's report on this exciting seminar:

     One of the very first activities held in conjunction with this year's annual
convention was a Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) seminar entitled,
"Expanding Your Horizons."  This three-and-a-half hour Friday morning session
was filled with information, presentations, and meaningful discussion.  Some
forty-two participants came together, including many of the juniors and seniors
at the Ohio State School for the Blind, to share ideas and take back hints that
would help them with their own job search or career decisions.
     The morning began with all the participants introducing themselves and
talking about their career choices.  It was fascinating to note the wide variety
of job interests and experiences, and it was exciting to hear many people hoping
to enter untraditional fields of work for blind people.  We heard from Barbara
Pierce, President of the NFB of Ohio, about networking and the importance of
having knowledgeable people to support you during your job search.  Gary Wunder,
President of the NFB of Missouri, provided insight on job interviewing and gave
direction to all participants on the issue of when and how the person's blindness
should be addressed.  Gary gave us a great deal of food for thought on this as
well as on many other barriers facing blind job-seekers.  
     Other presentations included an informative talk by Carl Sabo, counselor
for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI), on what the recently
passed Rehabilitation Act amendments mean to blind people looking for work and
what the state rehabilitation agency can do to help with pre- and post-
employment services.  
     The final presentation of the morning was a workshop on appropriate
expectations of and about blind employees and building healthy interactions with
co-workers and employers.  This lively and informative presentation was led by
Deborah Kendrick and Dr. Michael Lichstein of Cincinnati.  They encouraged much
audience participation and creatively introduced sensible and useful concepts
into the discussion.
     Time went very fast, and we hope everyone left with many new ideas to help
them in their job search and a great deal of food for thought.  Incorporating
these ideas and following the suggestions from those who have experience in
seeking and securing work will, we believe, lead to more success and greater
happiness for those who are now just beginning their career paths.  Many of us
expressed this sentiment during the sharing time and lunch, which followed the
seminar.  Many participants took time to talk about their ideas about the job
choices they were considering. They went away with an even stronger notion of
what they want to do and what is necessary to get good jobs.  It was indeed an
upbeat and exciting morning for all of us, and the NFB of Ohio is ready to help
these seminar participants and other blind Ohioans with their job search in an
effort to insure that their choices can some day be a reality.


                         COMMENT TO THE ATBCB
                          by Robert Eschbach

     Editor's note: Late this past summer interested citizens were invited to write
to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ATBCB) with
their comments about the proposed postponement of the ADA requirement that
detectible warnings, in the form of special surfaces composed of truncated domes,
be placed at street corners and on the edges of subway and train platforms.  Of
course, the National Federation of the Blind submitted an official comment for the
organization.  (See the December, 1993, issue of the Braille Monitor for the full
text.)  And a number of Federationists in Ohio wrote letters, as did NFB members
around the country.  One of those writing was Bob Eschbach.  
     This issue is important because it goes to the very heart of the question of
whether blind people have the right to be treated as competent, responsible adults
or whether society has the obligation to take care of us.  Here is what one
thoughtful blind adult had to say on the point: 

                                                        Columbus, Ohio
                                                     September 6, 1993

Office of the General Counsel
Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
Washington, D.C.  

     These comments are made in response to the notice of rule-making published
in the Federal Register, July 9, 1993, on the subject of detectible warnings,
Docket 93-3.  As a blind person who has traveled widely throughout the United
States and abroad and has used both the white cane and the guide dog, I believe
that I have some experience in traveling safely and efficiently.  While my views
are my own, they are consistent with the position of the National Federation of
the Blind, of which I am a member.
     The decision to postpone any action regarding possible installation of
detectible warnings until 1995 is commendable.  Moreover, it would be helpful if
future research centered on whether detectible warnings should be considered at
all, rather than which kind should be used.
     There are several issues involved in the decision to be made that affect me
personally and all blind persons throughout the nation.  Those issues are safety
and independence.  Let me talk about each of these in turn.
     There are those that declare that these detectible warnings are necessary
because without them blind people will not be safe.  This argument has a strong
appeal to the general public and to government officials, particularly in these
days of the ADA and all its implications.  But why have these concerns for the
safety of blind people never surfaced in the past?  After all, we have been going
about our business in safety for years without anyone intervening.  Apparently
everyone assumed without thinking about it that blind persons could go or not go
as they chose.  Now the safety issue has been raised, and no one seems to
remember that for years we have done and are continuing to do it safely.  The
truth is that safety has little to do with the detectible warnings matter.  
     I have talked to some blind persons who are concerned about safety in
travel and want the detectible warnings.  But quite honestly, such people have
never traveled independently.  They always use sighted guides.  I believe I can
guarantee they will continue to do the same, regardless of the safety devices
installed at street corners or platform edges.  Their problem is a lack of self-
confidence in traveling alone and in strange places.  Detectible warnings can do
nothing to help with this problem.  
     Now to independence.  Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite western authors. 
He writes with authenticity about the early West and its development and how it
was settled.  In a number of his books he tells the story in the first person. 
Often the character reflects a concern about traveling with a companion into
strange and hostile territory.  The protagonist concludes that it really is
better to travel alone.  When you travel with a companion, you tend to get
careless and not rely on yourself enough.  The result is that you can find
yourself scalped.  it is safer to travel alone where your own resourcefulness
and sense of responsibility are all you can depend upon.  When that happens, your
chances for survival are greatly increased.  
     This view is true for blind people today.  When we rely on others to provide
us with the means of getting somewhere and doing it safely, we get careless
about our travel responsibilities.  When a situation arises in which no one is
around to assist, we find it difficult to cope because we have allowed our own
resourcefulness to diminish; and therefore we cannot trust ourselves to solve
the problems.  Being able to travel anywhere and feel comfortable about our own
capabilities is the way to achieve real independence.  To install detectible
warnings is to place barriers in our path.  It may seem to benefit us because the
warnings are intended to assist, but too often such gestures prove to be the
very thing which prevents us from accomplishing the independence we truly
desire.  it is essential that blind people learn to rely primarily on our own
responsibility and resources to do whatever task is at hand, including traveling. 
Detectible warnings cannot encourage us towards that goal.  The blind people who
prefer to depend on others will continue to do so.  The general public will receive
a reinforced notion that the rest of us cannot survive without their generosity,
and our opportunity for independence is diminished.
     It is my opinion that the safety of blind people depends on our ability to be
independent, not on government intervention and rules.  It is not a dangerous
world out there if the blind person has been given the opportunity to learn to
travel effectively with a cane or guide dog; it is a world of challenge and
opportunity, but only if we make the decisions ourselves.
                                                            Sincerely,
                                                    Robert M. Eschbach


                   THE WASHINGTON SEMINAR IS COMING
                          by Tracy Masincupp

     It's hard to believe that the annual Washington Seminar is almost upon us. 
For those who don't know, the Washington Seminar takes place each year at the
beginning of February.  Federationists from around the country travel to
Washington, D.C., to talk with the members of Congress about issues of importance
to blind people.  In the past these have included asking that blind people be
included among minorities who qualify for small business contracts and loans,
removing the work disincentives for blind people in the Social Security Disability
Insurance Program, and asking that the Free Matter for the Blind and nonprofit
bulk-rate mailing privileges be preserved.  Each January the national staff
chooses the issues, depending upon what is happening in Congress or on what the
most pressing needs of blind people happen to be at the time.
     Based on the two seminars which I have attended, I can assure you that
these events are both a lot of hard work and a great deal of fun.  We in the Ohio
delegation to the seminar are usually divided into two or three teams and then
assigned to appointments with particular members of Congress.  These meetings
have been scheduled beforehand, and we usually know whether we are to see the
actual member or a staffer.  We are always given the necessary background
information in order to present the issues effectively as well as folders of
information to take to each office.  After covering the appointments for our own
state, people are often invited to help cover appointments in states that were
not as well represented--Montana or Wyoming, for example.  All of this means
being well dressed, doing a lot of walking, and being as articulate as possible
when presenting information to legislators.  When the seminars I attended were
over, I felt that it had been the most invigorating and unifying experience I'd
ever had with the Federation.  Conventions and other Federation activities are
always wonderful, but this is the one in which each participant is actively
involved at all times.  It is quite a learning experience and is something you will
remember for the rest of your life.
     Federationists who are interested in being part of the 1994 Washington
Seminar should discuss this possibility with their chapter presidents.  You may
also call Eric Duffy at 1 800 396-6326.  We must take representatives from as
many Congressional districts as we can, so this may mean that not everyone who
expresses an interest in going will be chosen, due to balance and funding
constraints.  You will not want to miss this event, so please talk to your chapter
president or contact Eric Duffy as soon as possible.


            NAPUB PLANS NATIONAL BRAILLE-A-THON FOR DETROIT
                           by Jerry Whittle

     Editor's note: Jerry Whittle teaches Braille at the Louisiana Center for the
Blind.  We recently received this little article with the request that we print it in
the newsletter in preparation for the National Convention; we hope that Ohioans will
take part in this worthwhile fund-raiser.  Here is what Jerry has to say:

     For the past five years the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana
has held a Braille-A-Thon as a pre-convention event at its state convention
both to promote Braille literacy and to raise funds for the state affiliate. 
During the past five years the NFB-L has raised over five thousand dollars and
has received some excellent publicity about Braille literacy in almost every
major city in Louisiana.
     Volunteer Braille readers pledge to read a set number of Braille pages
sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before a state convention
begins.  For several weeks prior to the state convention, these volunteer
readers procure sponsors.  Then the volunteers gather in a large room in the
hotel where the state convention is held and complete their page goals.  Some
read as many as three hundred pages, and others read just a few pages.  For
example, Harold Wilson raised over $1300 on just ten pages the first year the
event was held.  Harold, who had just completed Grade II Braille at the Louisiana
Center for the Blind, pledged to read his ten hard-earned pages during the
Braille-A-Thon; and, using a sign-up sheet, he found persons in his home town who
were willing to pay him money to see him reach his page goal. "It was easy to find
sponsors. People seem to like the idea of helping us become better readers. 
There is still a mystique about Braille, and the more we promote and show people
that it is not so amazing, the better off we will be," Harold said.  During a
Braille-A-Thon in New Orleans in 1989, the New Orleans Times Picayune featured a
blind father and daughter, both reading Braille, and almost every major
television station in cities like Shreveport and Baton Rouge has covered this
event.
     Because the Braille-A-Thon has drawn many volunteer readers in Louisiana
and because it is an excellent way to promote Braille through the media in
different cities each year, the National Association to Promote the Use of
Braille (NAPUB) has decided to hold a similar event at next year's national
convention in Detroit, and, if successful, it will be continued at each national
convention in the future.  "We expect to have excellent Braille readers and
brand-new Braille readers participating on Friday, July 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. in Detroit," said Betty Nicely, President of NAPUB.  "We should have at least
two hundred people reading Braille in one room in Detroit, and we will try our
best to have every major television station and newspaper in the Detroit area
there to cover the event.  We will be calling on our membership in NAPUB to pledge
to read their pages and to find sponsors in their home states who would be willing
to pay them handsomely for their hard work.  Half of the money will go to NAPUB,
and half will go to the national organization.  If Louisiana can raise two thousand
for a state convention, there is no reason why we couldn't raise over one
hundred thousand for our national Braille-A-Thon," said Nicely, smiling.  "We want
to make this an annual event.  I bet it will be one of the quietest fund-raisers we
will ever have."
     If you would like to participate and receive some sponsor sheets, you may
contact either Betty Nicely, 3618 Dayton Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 70402;
(502) 897-2632 or Jerry Whittle, 101 South Trenton Street, Ruston, Louisiana
71270; (800) 234-4166.






                             Chapter News

                                 NAPUB
     The Ohio Division of the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille
(NAPUB) conducted its annual meeting at the NFB-O convention in November.  The
following officers were elected:  Annette Anderson, President; Bernie Dressell,
First Vice President; Karren Besly, Second Vice President, Barbara Fohl,
Secretary; and Paul Dressell, Treasurer.

                            Capital Chapter
     Dave Robinson, Vice President of the Capital Chapter, reports that the
chapter has been very busy the last several months preparing to host the annual
state convention.  He thanks everyone for coming and hopes that all had a great
weekend.  The chapter's Christmas party was December 4.  This year everyone
attending brought $5.00 worth of food, canned goods, and the like so that they
could be donated to the local food pantry.  At 7:00 p.m. on December 9 the chapter
held its annual pizza party for junior and senior high school students at the Ohio
State School for the Blind.  Each year we have a great crowd and a great time, so
join us if you can.  Elections for the coming year were held at our last meeting,
and Tracy Masincupp was elected President.  Other board members included Dave
Robinson, Vice President; Shelbi Johnson, Secretary; Pat Eschbach, Treasurer;
and Eric Duffy and Ron Ferguson, Board members.  Finally, we want to extend our
congratulations to Jennica Ferguson for her efforts on behalf of our Braille
Literacy Bill and for receiving the first annual Henrietta Clash Award, which was
presented at our state convention.

                        Mahoning Valley Chapter
     Tom Anderson, President of the Mahoning Valley Chapter, reports that on
Sunday, November 21, 1993, the chapter held its last business meeting of the
year.  Elections for three Board seats were held.  Elected for two-year terms
were Dolly Andervich, James Andervich, James Stowe, and Kay Klamer.  The annual
chapter Christmas party was held on Sunday, December 12, 1993, at the Wick Park
Pavilion. On Thursday, November 11, Louise Anderson (Vice President) spoke to a
group of fourth grade students at a Youngstown Catholic school.  She spoke
about blindness, guide dogs, and the NFB.  She passed out information about the
NFB.  On Tuesday, November 16, Tom Anderson participated in a panel concerning
anti-bias curriculum in pre-school programs.  He spoke to more then sixty pre-
school directors from three counties.  He passed out NFB brochures to everyone
there and asked to speak again in the near future.  Tom Anderson and chapter
member Judy Myers will participate in a story time at a Youngstown public library
on Thursday, January 6, 1994, in commemoration of Ohio Braille Literacy Week.  He
will also appear on the 30-minute public affairs program on radio station WBBW,
known as "The Electric Magazine."
     On Thursday, December 2, Kay Klamer participated in a disabilities
awareness panel at Youngstown State University.  She also distributed NFB
literature.  During this event Kay had a two-minute feature interview with WKBN
TV Station 27, which appeared on the 6:00 p.m. news.

                             Stark County
     The chapter held its annual election in November with the following results: 
Mary Pool, President; Miriam Leading Steiner, Vice President; Clarence Cordrey,
Secretary; Pauline Lotze, Treasurer; and Shirley Hammond and Fred Lotze, Board
members.  Shirley Hammond is still having health problems.  We ask for your
continued thoughts and prayers for her.  

                        The NFB of Cincinnati 
     At its meeting on November 19, the Cincinnati Chapter conducted its biennial
election of officers.  Elected were Ken Velkovich, President; Bernie Dressell,
Vice President; Karren Besly, Secretary; Paul Dressell, Treasurer; Bill Innis,
two-year Board member; and Margaret Stinnet, one-year Board member.  Starting
January 3, Bernie Dressell will teach Braille to three children attending
Washington Park School in Cincinnati.  This will be done voluntarily on a part-time
basis.  Bernie met with the principal of Washington Park School; Pat Tierney, the
teacher directly involved in teaching these children; and Connie Misch, mother of
a blind child, who recently attended our state convention.  On a more humorous
note, Jim Conner, one of our members from Northern Kentucky, has observed that
a short person is "vertically challenged."

                       The NFB of Lorain County
     The NFB of Lorain County is delighted to report that its September hike-a-
thon brought in well over $1,000.  We are now busy finding good things to do with
the funds.  The chapter Christmas party will be held on December 12 at 2:00 p.m. at
the Elyria Holiday Inn.  We had a great time toasting our winning of the Gavel
Award in non-alcoholic bubbly at our November meeting.  We look forward to doing
the same thing again next year, but we welcome competition from everyone. 

                         The Parents Division
     The Parents Division met for its annual business meeting during the state
convention.  Elected to serve for the coming year were the following:  Kathy
Arthurs, President; Colleen Roth, First Vice President; Tom Anderson, Second Vice
President; Carol Akers, Secretary; and Jan Ferguson, Treasurer.  The following
persons were elected to the Division's Board of Directors: David Robinson, Mark
McClain, and Mary Lou Anderverde.  The parent seminar, which took place on Friday
afternoon, November 5, was particularly interesting.  Gary Wunder talked
knowledgeably about the appropriate role of technology in the education of blind
children. Annie Tolle, an experienced phys ed teacher at the Ohio State School for
the Blind, spoke about sensible adaptive P.E. for blind youngsters.  Carol and
Susan Feazell described Susan's experience this past summer in the program
designed for younger students at BLIND, Inc., in Minneapolis. The information was
first rate, and the discussion was excellent.  

                           Student Division
     On Saturday, November 6, 1993, the Ohio Student Division met during lunch. 
We agreed to exchange addresses and phone numbers so that we might stay in
contact with one another throughout the coming year.  Tony Orlando volunteered
to put together a kind of informal news letter in which he would share any
articles or notes that were sent to him by other students.  We also agreed to
work closely with Eric Duffy during the coming year to encourage high school and
college students to join the Division.  The officers chosen to serve for the
1993-94 year are Angel Turner, President; Peggy Feazell, Vice President; Tracy
Masincupp, Secretary; and Kay Klamer, Treasurer. 


                            Personal Notes

     Chris and Shelbi Johnson, members of the Capital Chapter, became the proud
parents of Alexise Leighanne at 12:01 a.m., October 6, 1993.  She weighed seven
pounds, ten ounces at birth and was nineteen inches long.  Daughter and parents
are all doing just fine.  Chris and Shelbi have also just moved into a new home. 
They are first-time home buyers as well as first-time parents.  We can report
that Alexise has already attended her first NFB convention; she was the
youngest delegate to the state convention and was clearly the most popular one
there.  

     On November 26, Mary Pool's eighth grandchild was born.  Mary is the
President of the Stark County Chapter, and her grandson, Jared Douglas, weighed
in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces.  He gave his family and the doctors quite a scare at
first, but he is now doing splendidly and making a place for himself with big
sisters Katie, who has just come down with the chicken pox, and Rachel.  Merry
Christmas and congratulations to the whole family.

                           Long Career Ends
                   County Snack Bar Operator Retires
                          by Lisa A. Abraham
     Editor's note: this article appeared in the Warren, Ohio, Tribune Chronicle in
late August of 1993. Emogene Ritteger is a member of the Mahoning Valley Chapter.

     The year was 1950. At twenty-one, Emogene Ritteger was barely more than a
girl when she poured her first cup of coffee for a Trumbull County employee.
     On Monday, she poured her last.
     Ritteger retired after forty-three years of working the snack bar--first
in the county courthouse, and for the last twenty-seven years in the county
administration building.
     County employees gathered to give her a rousing send-off Monday.
     Ritteger, now white-haired and sixty-five, and her guide dog Quaid
nervously made their way up from the basement snack bar to the fourth-floor
hearing room shortly after noon.
     Waiting to surprise her were several hundred well-wishers armed with party
food, cake, presents, and a proclamation.
     Commissioner Arthur U. Magee proclaimed Monday "Emogene Ritteger Day" in
the county. Employees presented Ritteger with a gift of money, and her family
surprised her with the announcement they would be painting her house as a
retirement present.
     Auditor Edward Bush said he searched county records and could not find an
employee with more years of service than Ritteger.
     "Although sometimes you did holler at us, you've outlasted all of us," Bush
told her.
     Ironically, Ritteger is a state employee, working in the system of snack
bars in government buildings that are supported by the Ohio Bureau of Services
for the Visually Impaired. 
     Ritteger of Niles recalled she began her career in the courthouse, but
sixteen years later, when the administration building opened across the street,
she applied for the new job.
     "The building was new," she said.
     Ritteger said she has enjoyed her job. "It's been pretty easy, and I haven't
minded," she said.
     She says the number of people she has waited on through the years has been
too numerous to count.
     "I must be a monument by now," she joked.


                         New Award for Women 
     Editor's note: The following report appeared in the Catholic Exponent, the
biweekly publication of the Youngstown Roman Catholic Diocese.  Louise Anderson is
Vice President of the Mahoning Valley Chapter.  We add our congratulations to those
of Louise's work colleagues. Here it is:  

     Mrs. Louise Anderson, chancery switchboard operator/receptionist, and
Mrs. Nancy Yuhasz, assistant chancellor, were the first two recipients of a new
diocesan priests' award for women in the Church who have helped priests with
their ministry. Father Joseph Martin, pastor of Canton St. Paul and chair of the
committee, presented the awards. The new award, established by diocesan priests
at their recent convocation at Atwood Lodge, was presented "with our affection
and deep appreciation for your presence, kindness, professionalism, and help
throughout these many, many years." 

    We are grieved to report that Billie Graham's mother died early in December. 
She had been ill for some time.  Billie, who is Presdient of the Cleveland Chapter,
traveled to Denver to be with her family as soon as she received the news.  We
extend our consolation to Billie and her family at this painful time.  


                          Activities Calendar
     January 2-9:  Braille Literacy Week
     January 7 & 8:  CAC meeting
     January 15:  NFBO Board of Directors meeting
     January 29:  Mid-winter Conference, National Association of Blind
          Students
     January 30-February 2:  Annual Washington Seminar
     March 31:  Deadline, NFBO Scholarship Competition 


                                 NOTE
     Anyone wishing to receive this newsletter on cassette should contact the
Production Editor, Sylvia Cooley, at the state office with the request.  There is
no additional cost for the cassette version.
