                       THE BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 42, No. 2                                        March, 1999

                     Barbara Pierce, Editor


      Published in inkprint, in Braille, and on cassette by

              THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

                     MARC MAURER, PRESIDENT


                         National Office
                       1800 Johnson Street
                   Baltimore, Maryland  21230
                   NFB Net BBS: (651) 696-1975
              Web Page address: http://www.nfb.org



           Letters to the President, address changes,
        subscription requests, orders for NFB literature,
       articles for the Monitor, and letters to the Editor
             should be sent to the National Office.




Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about twenty-five
dollars per year. Members are invited, and non-members are
requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:


                National Federation of the Blind
                       1800 Johnson Street
                    Baltimore, Maryland 21230





   THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION
 SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES





ISSN 0006-8829



Vol. 42, No. 2                                        March, 1999
                            Contents

Special Announcement

Great Things to See and Do in Atlanta:
1999 Convention Tours
     by Al Falligan

Convention Transit Information:
MARTA to the Marriott Marquis

The Sheila Johnson Case: University Prevented
from Pulling a Fast One
     by Mary Willows

Forever Climbing:
An Extraordinary Federationist Still Rises
     by John W. Smith, Ph.D.

Why Should I Use a Cane?
     by Jeff Altman

A Federationist Works Wonders

101 Ways to Use Braille
     by Ellen Waechtler

The Vitality of Braille
     by Jerry Whittle

The Value of Greeting Cards
     by Donald C. Capps

Blind Girl Fills Life with Art, Song, and Books
     by Russell Dean Newman

Inhaled Insulin
     by Peter J. Nebergall, Ph.D.

Self-Employed and Loving It
     by Konnie Hoffman-Ellis

You've Got Mail
     by David Andrews

A Special Memorial
     by Doris M. Willoughby

NFB Honored at Technology Showcase

A New Service for Hearing-Impaired Conventioneers
     by Curtis Willoughby

Dialysis at National Convention
     by Ed Bryant

Recipes

Monitor Miniatures

       Copyright (C) 1999 National Federation of the Blind



[LEAD PHOTO/CAPTION: Holly Mooney has been a National Center
staff member for nine years. Anyone who called the NFB
switchboard during the past five and a half years has undoubtedly
heard her cheerful voice answering the phone. On January 3, 1999,
she gave birth to her third daughter, Rebekah Noelle. Pictured
here, Mrs. Mooney stands beside President Maurer, who smiles at
Rebekah in his arms. Mrs. Mooney has decided that, with three
little girls to take care of, it's time for her to stay home. We
will miss her efficiency and pleasant voice, and we wish her and
her family all the best.]

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Dr. Raymond Kurzweil]
                      Special Announcement

     The National Federation of the Blind is delighted to
announce an enhancement of its already-extensive scholarship
program. Although the occasion is joyful, we must acknowledge
sadness as well because the enhancement honors our long-time
leader, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, who recently died. Those who knew
Dr. Jernigan know he would have been the first to rejoice in this
gift from generous donor Dr. Ray Kurzweil, who says:

     "Dr. Jernigan was many things to many people, but perhaps
most of all he was a teacher. One thing we can do to follow his
inspiring lead is to help provide for the education of our
talented young people. I know that Dr. Jernigan was personally
very proud of the NFB's scholarship program. I am very happy that
we are able to participate in the NFB's own scholarship program
by providing these additional scholarships."

     The Kurzweil Foundation, headed by Dr. Kurzweil, will add a
cash scholarship of $1,000 to each of the twenty-six NFB
scholarships in both 1999 and 2000. Kurzweil Education Group of
Lernout & Hauspie (formerly Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.)
will also give a Kurzweil 1000 Reading System with scanner
(valued at $1,500) to each of the twenty-six winners in both 1999
and 2000.

     The National Federation of the Blind thanks the Kurzweil
Foundation, Kurzweil Educational Group, and Dr. Ray Kurzweil
personally for their generosity and for their quick action in
fashioning this living monument to Dr. Jernigan's well-known
commitment to excellence and education. NFB scholarship winners
are always unusual and special--among the best we have. Winners
for 1999 and 2000 will have the added distinction of being
recipients of scholarships in Dr. Jernigan's memory.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: The figures of Confederate leaders carved into
Stone Mountain]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: The Plantation House at Stone Mountain]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: A night view of the Coca-Cola Museum]
             Great Things to See and Do in Atlanta:
                      1999 Convention Tours
                         by Al Falligan
                           **********
     From the Editor: The clock is running on preparations for
the 1999 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind
Wednesday, June 30, through Tuesday, July 6. If you have not yet
made your hotel reservation, you had better get to it
immediately. We will meet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in
downtown Atlanta, a truly beautiful and spacious world-class
hotel. Rooms have been reserved for us at both the Marquis and
the Atlanta Hilton and Towers, a short walk away. Our hotel rates
at the Marquis are excellent. For the 1999 convention they are
singles, $57; doubles and twins, $59; triples, $61; and quads,
$63. A tax of 14 percent will be charged, but there will be no
charge for children rooming with parents as long as no extra bed
is requested.

     For room reservations write directly to Atlanta Marriott
Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, or
call (404) 521-0000. Marriott has a national toll-free number,
but do not (we emphasize not) use it. Reservations made through
this national number will not be valid. They must be made
directly with the hotel. The hotel will want a deposit of $60 or
a credit card number. If a credit card is used, the deposit will
be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the
case with a $60 check. If a reservation is canceled prior to June
4, 1999, $30 of the $60 deposit will be returned. Otherwise
refunds will not be made.

     But before you pick up the phone to make your travel and
hotel reservations, read the following article and make sure that
your arrival and departure times will allow you to take advantage
of the wonderful tours the Georgia affiliate has arranged for our
enjoyment. Here is what Al Falligan has to say:
                           **********
     On behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of
Georgia, thank you for coming to explore Atlanta, host city of
the National Convention in 1999 and 2000. With its southern charm
and warm weather, Atlanta has always been a great place to visit.

     Visitors to Atlanta can enjoy world-class museums; great
restaurants; memorable shopping; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Center; Zoo Atlanta; the World of Coca-Cola; and Stone Mountain.

     We are offering nine tour packages and one Atlanta Braves
baseball game for your enjoyment. Sign up early. Please note that
the deadline for reservations and cancellations is June 18, 1999.
Also keep in mind that the prices quoted are dependent on
guaranteed minimum sign-ups, so decide now to take a tour or two
and invite your friends to join you. See y'all!
                           **********
     The prices for tours listed below include buses, experienced
guides, and sales tax and admissions where applicable. Tours
leave from the Courtland Street entrance of the Marriott Marquis,
which is just across the street from the Hilton.
                           **********
Tour 1: Wednesday, June 30, 1999, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
     City Tour: a tour of Atlanta landmarks, with a visit to the
     Martin Luther King Center, driving past Turner Field, the
     state capitol, underground Atlanta, to CNN Center, and a
     walk through the brand new Olympic Centennial Park. You will
     find plenty of places for a snack and souvenir shopping.
     Price: $18, adult; $14, children (3 to 12).
                           **********
Tour 2: Wednesday, June 30, 1999, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
     Atlanta, Yesterday and Today: Also a drive through downtown
     Atlanta with a stop at the Martin Luther King Center
     (visiting Ebenezer Church, the Visitors' Center, Dr. King's
     grave, and the gift shop). This tour includes time for lunch
     on your own at Atlanta's beautiful shopping complex,
     Underground Atlanta; a drive through Buckhead, a northside
     residential neighborhood of beautiful homes; and a visit to
     the Atlanta History Center Museum. Price: $30, adult; $26,
     children.
                           **********
Tour 3: Wednesday, June 30, 1999, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
     Stone Mountain Park: Georgia's number one attraction, 3,200
     acres of greenery surrounding the gigantic granite mountain
     is the setting for our third tour. Time to visit Memorial
     Hall with its many exhibits and tapes of the history of the
     mountain and a choice of one of the following attractions:
     tour of the famous nineteen-building plantation, ride on the
     skylift to the top of the mountain, or a riverboat cruise.
     Enjoy lunch on your own and browsing in the many shops
     located throughout the park. Price: $28,  adult; $23,
     children. 
                           **********
Tour 4: Sunday, July 4, 1999, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
     Black Heritage: Spend two hours browsing in the Martin
     Luther King Center, Ebenezer Church, Visitors Center, and
     the Crypt. Reboard the bus for a drive through downtown
     Atlanta with your knowledgeable guide pointing out historic
     landmarks. Tour the Atlanta University Centers (six
     campuses), disembarking at one of the schools before driving
     past the Shrine of the Black Madonna on the trip back to
     your hotel. Price: $20, adult; $15, children. 
                           **********
Tour 5: Sunday, July 4, 1999, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
     Coca-Cola Museum, Underground Atlanta: The Coca-Cola Museum
     has many exhibits, entertaining as well as informative. This
     self-guided tour, with time to browse in the gift shop, is
     followed by a stroll through Underground Atlanta, adjacent
     to the Coke Museum. There will be lots of entertainment on
     the 4th and many choices for food and shopping. Price: $25,
     adult; $23, children. 
                           **********
Tour 6: Sunday July 4, 1999, 6:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
     Ray's on the River Dinner: A beautiful contemporary
     restaurant, popular with Atlantans, nestled on the banks of
     the Chattahoochee River, provides the perfect setting for a
     Fourth of July celebration. After a stroll along the garden
     paths beside the river, enjoy a delicious dinner (choice of
     chicken, prime rib, or fish entrees; salad; rice; green
     vegetable; Ray's trademark key lime pie; and coffee or tea.)
     Entertainment will be provided during dinner. The restaurant
     is usually closed Sunday evenings, but is being opened
     especially for our enjoyment. Price: $56, per person (no
     children's rates).
                           **********
Tour 7: Wednesday, July 7, 1999, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
     City Tour and Atlanta History Center: Drive through downtown
     Atlanta, stopping at Olympic Centennial Park and CNN Center
     with lunch on your own before driving north on Peachtree
     Street for a tour of the Atlanta History Center Complex.
     First tour the many exhibits in the museum dating from pre-
     Civil War times to the present, followed by a walk through
     the gardens to the Tulle Smith Farm, a small, charming farm
     dating from the 1840's. The final stop is the famous Swan
     House Mansion, built in 1929 by the Inman Family, a
     prominent Atlanta family who made their money in the cotton
     industry. Price: $35, adult; $30, children.
                           **********
Tour 8: Wednesday, July 7, 1999, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
     Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Underground Atlanta, and Coca-
     Cola Museum: The Botanical Gardens, located in Piedmont
     Park, a short drive from our hotel, has a wonderful
     collection of plants (roses, herbs, summer bulbs, and a
     delightful fragrance garden). Tour the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua
     Conservatory with its collections of exotic tropical plants
     such as palms, cycads, ferns, orchids, and epiphyses.
     Reboard the bus and drive to Underground Atlanta for lunch
     on your own and shopping, topping off the day with a self-
     guided tour of the fabulous Coca-Cola Museum. Price: $33,
     adult; $29, children.
                           **********
Tour 9: Wednesday, July 7, 1999, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     Martin Luther King Center and Stone Mountain Park: First
     enjoy a leisurely visit to the Martin Luther King Center,
     visiting Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Crypt, the Visitors'
     Center, and gift shop. Next drive to Stone Mountain Park for
     lunch on your own and your choice of a tour of the nineteen-
     building Plantation, Riverboat Ride, or skylift to the top
     of the mountain. And finish with more browsing in the gift
     shops. Price: $25, adult; $21, children.
                           **********
     Consult later issues of the Braille Monitor for details of
the July 6 Atlanta Braves--Florida Marlins baseball game. The
Georgia affiliate has arranged for tickets and will work out
details for reserving them. Transportation to the game will be by
MARTA train and Braves shuttle bus.
                           **********
     To place your tour reservations, designate the tour number
and title (listed above), indicate the number of adult and
children's tickets you are requesting, give your name, address,
phone, and send with a check for the total amount made payable to
Fran O'Reilly & Associates. Mail your order to Post Office Box
720336, Atlanta, Georgia 30358-2336. For more information call
(404) 255-3682.
                           **********
                           **********
                 Convention Transit Information:
                  MARTA to the Marriott Marquis
                           **********
     If you are planning to fly to Atlanta to attend the 1999
Convention and you have a manageable amount of baggage, the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) offers
convenient door-to-door service between Atlanta-Hartsfield
International Airport and the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Enter
MARTA'S Airport Rail Station on its North-South rail line, which
is located immediately outside airport baggage claim, purchase a
fare card, go up one level to the platform, and take any
northbound train to Peachtree Center. If you need further
directions or help purchasing a fare card, the station attendant
will be glad to assist you.

     The Airport and Peachtree Center stations both have
escalators, elevators, and stairs. Both stations have center
platforms between the northbound and southbound tracks. The ride
from the Airport to Peachtree Center takes seventeen minutes.

     Peachtree Center is the first station north of Five Points,
the downtown subway station at which the north-south line crosses
under the East-West line. When you get off at Peachtree Center,
go up one level to the mezzanine and exit through the turnstile.
Turn right (east), then right again (south). Go up the escalators
one more level directly into the food court, then pass through it
to the lobby of the Marriott Marquis.

     Built within the last twenty years, MARTA with its
accessible features also offers convenience to passengers
traveling with baggage. All stations have escalators, elevators,
and wide gates, as well as turnstiles. Cars have wide sliding
doors, affording easy entry and exit.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Mary Willows]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Sheila Johnson]
                    The Sheila Johnson Case:
          University Prevented from Pulling a Fast One
                         by Mary Willows
                           **********
     From the President: There are those who tell me that
discrimination against the blind is a thing of the past. The laws
are too strong, and public sentiment is too great to permit such
unreasonable behavior, they say. Blindness may have been the
basis for unjust actions in former times, but those who speak of
the need for equal treatment today are making a mountain out of a
molehill. Such notions I have sometimes heard, but the
individuals who say these things are often seeking a salve for
their consciences rather than speaking the truth.

     There are literally hundreds (perhaps thousands) of blind
teachers in the United States. These teachers work in elementary
classrooms, in high schools, and in the halls of higher
education. Nevertheless, discrimination sometimes still exists.
Consider the following account by Mary Willows, President of the
National Association of Blind Educators. Here is what she says:
                           **********
     I am sharing this information with all of you because it is
still another example of "Why the NFB?" Sheila Johnson was a
National Scholarship winner in Anaheim in 1996. She entered the
bilingual Education Credential Program in the fall of 1997. This
is supposed to be a two-semester program. She was scheduled to
complete the requirements for her credential in May of 1998. The
credential she sought would qualify her to teach in a bilingual
classroom. Teachers with these qualifications are in great demand
in the San Diego area.

     I will leave out the gory details of the numerous unanswered
e-mail messages Sheila endured before she finally turned to the
NFB for help.

     At the end of her first semester (December, 1997) Sheila was
told in a conversation with her university supervisor that she
had made satisfactory progress and would be getting credit for
her first semester of student teaching. However, when she called
the grade line the following week, she discovered that she had
been given a grade of no credit for her student teaching
experience. A series of phone calls and e-mail messages ensued.
She never received a satisfactory answer as to why she did not
get credit for class number 961.

     In the meantime she was allowed to begin her second semester
of student teaching, class number 962. She worked throughout
February and March. San Diego State does not hold classes in
April, so she resumed student teaching in May. At her final
meeting with her master teacher and university supervisor in mid-
May, she was informed that she would have to complete an
additional eight weeks of teaching. So she continued student
teaching with yet another unqualified mentor teacher. By the way,
throughout her student teaching Sheila was placed in classrooms
with teachers who had said that they would be willing to work
with her. However, these teachers were not veterans and would not
normally have been asked to mentor a student teacher. In fact,
one of them was just a first-year teacher. Also one of the goals
of student teaching is to expose the student to various grade
levels. But for some reason Sheila was placed with third-grade
teachers only.

     She completed her assigned placement on July 21, 1998. In
addition, she was told that she would have to register for the
fall, 1998, semester course 961, even though she would not be
attending any classes or doing any student teaching. Her
university supervisor (the placement coordinator) had not
instructed her to register for summer extension courses;
therefore, she could not receive credit until the fall. At this
point she called me to request my help in straightening out this
mess.

     In May she was told to submit her credential application and
$75 fee to the credentials office, which she did. A credential
application is normally held at the university credentials office
until completion of course requirements can be verified. But in
Sheila's case--she was informed--verification of completion could
not be made until at least December, 1998, and probably January,
1999. A credential application is good for only six months, which
meant, of course, that in October, 1998, (six months after her
original payment) Sheila's credential application and fees would
become null and void. She would have to start the application
process all over again. The student is held responsible for any
new laws, tests, or required courses which may be added to
credential requirements during the six-month period. As it
happens, a new Reading Instruction and Curriculum Assessment test
requirement has in fact been added, beginning in October of 1998.

     On Monday, August 3, 1998, I flew to San Diego to see what I
could do to assist Sheila to clear up this mess and make her job-
ready by September, which is when the teaching jobs open. I
worked with Colonel David Staley of our North San Diego County
Chapter as my reader. Sybil Irvin, also of North County, came to
observe this advocacy process.

     I would like to stop here and say that, although I had asked
Sheila to go to the office and read through her file, it really
does take a trained person to know what to look for. Thanks to
the advice of Allen Harris prior to my trip to San Diego and my
training in the NFB, I caught glaring paperwork errors and file
omissions. There was evidence that white-out had been used on her
first semester grade--the white-out credit grade had been
replaced with the no-credit grade. Her first semester university
supervisor documented that, in her opinion, Sheila had made
satisfactory progress. However, if the placement coordinator
would like her to edit, subtract, add, or change the report, he
should let her know. All of Sheila's February and March
observation evaluations had been removed from her file.
Fortunately, Sheila had kept copies of these observation
evaluations, complete with dates.

     The May through July observation evaluations were numbered
one through eight, with the mid-term evaluation at the beginning
of June. The final evaluation was dated in July, which made it
appear as though Sheila's second-semester student teaching had
taken place from May through July, when actually it had taken
place in February, March, and the beginning of May. There was a
handwritten note dated July 22, which said that she had completed
the work but must register for the fall, 1998, semester in order
to get credit. This was the only way the university supervisor
would get his $250 fee for supervising her.

     In an appointment with the chairman of the department I laid
out all the evidence I have presented here. Initially he did not
want to take any action. I told him that on behalf of Sheila I
was requesting that she be granted a grade change for the fall,
1997, student-teaching class, 961. This would give her credit for
all the work she had done; free up her credential application to
be sent to Sacramento for processing; and enable her to begin
applying for jobs immediately.

     Finally he agreed to a grade change. I told him that I
wanted something in writing before we left. He squirmed again, so
I kept bringing out more papers that he certainly would not want
to have to explain in a grievance hearing. The problem was
resolved before the grievance process was discussed. He agreed
and went off to get the grade-change form. I offered to wait and
deliver it. So we hand-carried the paper to the credentials
office and picked up the paperwork from the university saying
that Sheila's credential application was in process.

     Blind students everywhere need to learn and remember how
crucial it is to read every word on important documents. Do not
assume anything without reading it. Keep copies of everything,
and make sure that your records match those of the university. I
hope Sheila's experience will teach others to minimize the
chances of having an experience like hers. I am confident that
she at least will be more assertive in future if she notices that
policies are being altered to her detriment.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Ever Lee Hairston]
                        Forever Climbing:
           An Extraordinary Federationist Still Rises
                     by John W. Smith, Ph.D.
                           **********
     From the Editor: John Smith is First Vice President of the
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, and Ever Lee Hairston
is First Vice President of the NFB of New Jersey. John wrote the
following profile because he decided that Ever Lee's story has
much to inspire all of us. Here it is:
                           **********
     You may write me down in history
     With your bitter, twisted lies,
     You may trod me in the very dirt
     But still like dust, I'll rise.
                           **********
     Does my sassiness upset you?
     Why are you beset with gloom?
     'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
     Pumping in my living room.
                           **********
     Just like moons and like suns,
     With the certainty of tides,
     Just like hopes springing high,
     Still I'll rise...
          Maya Angelou
                           **********
     The first time I heard Ever Lee Hairston speak, I was
immediately reminded of Maya Angelou's powerful words. Her voice
had that same ability to convey strength and excitement, yet also
revealed warmth and a true sense of commitment to self. I was
fascinated by her assertiveness as a black woman. In Ms.
Hairston's voice I heard a woman who was confident, sure of
herself, poised, and independent.

     I first met Ms. Hairston when we were both members of the
National Federation of the Blind scholarship committee. Having
previously known her only by name, I heard that full and
captivating voice for the first time on the first evening of a
scholarship committee meeting. Both of us having arrived late for
the meeting, we shared the last of the supper and the first of
many stories she would tell me over the next two years.

     I was immediately impressed with her voice and her diction.
I am a professor of speech communication, so these stood out to
me. Upon further investigation I found that Ms. Hairston had a
life story that should be told. We all have stories, of course,
but during those two years I discovered that I wanted to be the
one to tell hers.

     Ever Lee grew up in a family of sharecroppers in North
Carolina. Her grandfather had been a house slave. Among his
responsibilities in the household he waited on tables and shined
shoes. He and his wife Charmin brought fourteen children into the
world of plantation life. Although all the brothers and sisters
later migrated to the great promised land of the North, Ever
Lee's father decided to stay on the plantation with his parents
and become a sharecropper. He and his wife raised seven children.
Ever Lee, the third oldest child, had what she learned to
describe as "eye problems."

     Many of her responsibilities at the house where the
plantation owners lived included sweeping the porch and cleaning
the silver. Among other domestic duties she became a key
caretaker of many of the children on the plantation. One of her
sisters who was diagnosed with a kidney disease also became her
sole responsibility. Adding to her eye problems, Ever Lee grew up
with a severe speech impediment. Paralleling the life of Maya
Angelou, who was also affected by a speech impediment, she clung
to her burning desire to learn.

     Ever Lee began school in a two-room school house, but
eventually she was bused ten miles to school. In retrospect she
recognizes that she was the teacher's pet and recalls that at an
early age she learned she was attractive because her tall, light-
skinned frame was complemented by her long hair. Not only was she
attractive by traditional feminine standards, but in the black
community there is a saying, "If you are black stay back; if you
are brown stick around; but if you are light, you're all right."
However, despite her zest for education, she still had a secret.
Her so-called eye problems were persistent, but she did not want
anybody to know because she might be treated the same way her
sister Rosie was.

     Rosie was blind, and, to make matters worse, she wore a
patch over one eye. This stigmatic symbol represented pity,
inferiority, and ridicule for her and her family. Ever Lee
frequently did Rosie's chores because almost everyone felt sorry
for her. Because of this Ever Lee often felt resentment for her
sister. Those who did not feel sorry for Rosie still did not
think highly of her or her place in the social order. The result
was that Ever Lee hid her eye problems because to her at this
time admitting her blindness would have meant the end of the
world as she knew it.

     Although burdened with overwhelming responsibilities, Ever
Lee graduated from high school with honors. Unfortunately there
wasn't enough money for college because care of her terminally
ill sister absorbed much of the family's resources. As one might
expect, this inquisitive and vivacious young woman wanted to
attend college, but another driving force drove her as well.
Unlike her father before her, who remained on the plantation, she
had a burning desire to get away.

     She never liked being taken out of school to work, but it
was on one of these occasions that she had an encounter that made
her resolve to do whatever was necessary to get away. She was
picking cotton along with several members of her family and some
hired hands when she encountered a big, black snake. She was
petrified. She screamed for one of her brothers. When he came to
see what was wrong, they discovered many more snakes. If you
picture workers running in one direction and snakes slithering
everywhere, the scene may appear comic, but it was extremely
frightening and left a lasting impression on Ever Lee. As she sat
on a pile of cotton bags crying uncontrollably, she reflected: "I
hate being taken out of school for two weeks at a time; it's so
hard to catch up when I return; I am tired of running from the
black cows and bulls just to get to the outhouse!" Ever Lee
vowed, "Oh God, Oh God, there must be a better way of life for
me."

     That better way came one day when she saw an advertisement
in a magazine for live-in maids in New York City. Somehow she
gathered enough money to purchase a Greyhound bus ticket to New
York, and with her three pieces of luggage she arrived at the
agency. This was an agency serving wealthy Jewish families who
came to interview and select Negro girls to be live-in maids.
Ever Lee noticed that the lighter-skinned girls were going first
and fast. Immediately Ever Lee herself was chosen. The man of the
family picked her from the group of applicants and talked with
her briefly. He decided that he would take her to his home to
meet the rest of his family. They decided she would do, so he
drove her back to the agency to pick up her luggage and complete
the paperwork.

     As they drove, it became clear to Ever Lee that the man was
interested in more than her domestic capabilities. He eased his
hand onto her leg and began to tell her just how wonderful he
would make her life if she was willing to satisfy him in other
ways. Each time he put his hand on her leg she managed to move or
push his hand away, but she soon recognized that she was not in a
position to control the situation. When she told him she wanted
to attend college, his response was, "You don't want to do that."
She quickly concluded that it was not in her best interests to
argue with him, so she began concentrating all her efforts on
getting back to the agency.

     When they finally did arrive at the agency, she excused
herself to go find a bathroom. This man had promised her a better
life, but it was one she could see only as sexual enslavement. To
a young, black, naive, southern woman who had come to New York
with high expectations, this opportunity might have seemed as
realistic as the limited number of other options facing her. With
integrity and an unwillingness to compromise herself for anyone,
she hid in a bathroom stall for hours. But something else was
going on. In what would become an overriding theme in her life,
she was also hiding from herself, her eye problems, and even her
very existence.

     When she was certain the man had gone home, Ever Lee emerged
from the bathroom to join the women at the agency who had not
been chosen. The agency took them to another location, and, as
fate would have it, she was hired by a wonderful family with a
terminally ill four-year-old. This was a suitable situation for
Ever Lee because of her caretaking experience with her terminally
ill sister.
                           **********
     ...Did you want to see me broken?
     Bowed head and lowered eyes?
     Shoulders falling down like teardrops
     Weakened by my soulful cries.
                           **********
     Does my haughtiness offend you?
     Don't you take it awful hard
     'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
     Diggin' in my own back yard.
                           **********
     You may shoot me with your words,
     You may cut me with your eyes,
     You may kill me with your hatefulness,
     But still, like air, I'll rise...
                           **********
     And rise she did. Ever Lee was hired for the summer by this
family, but down deep inside she yearned to be free, to attend
college. The child passed away the following summer, and she told
her benefactors of her dreams. Grateful for her service to their
family, they provided her first year's tuition to North
Carolina's Central College.

     Immediately fitting in at college, Ever Lee was voted Miss
Freshman. Although exhilarated, she was fearful that people might
find out she could not see very well. As Miss Freshman she would
be expected to do many things: speak in assembly, march in the
homecoming parade, and meet and greet students around the college
campus. She did not want their image of her as a confident,
attractive young lady to become tarnished. She could not see at
night, and she still had her speech problem. God forbid, she
might trip on the stage or stumble over her words. So for four-
and-a-half years she lived in denial and in fear.

     In many ways she felt as if she were living a lie. She had
escaped the plantation and a possible life of misery as a
domestic in the home of a lecherous man, but still she was not
free. She was afraid to set high expectations for herself because
her experience had taught her that no one who was blind could
live a full, rich, and productive life. The memory of blind
Rosie's experience prevailed.

     After graduation Ever Lee moved to New Jersey, where she
began to look for a career. She thought that, since she was
bright, young, and attractive and since she had heard about all
the wonderful job opportunities in the North, she could find a
job with very little effort. She was devastated at her first job
interview when the interviewer said, "I like the way you speak
and dress, but we just haven't begun to hire Negroes here." As
she left the interview, she thought to herself, "I marched with
Dr. King; I've gone to college; I'm attractive; yet in many
people's eyes I am still just a Negro."

     After the interview she found herself walking down the
street in a depressed state with tears rolling down her cheeks. A
car pulled up beside her, and a man introducing himself as a
detective asked her if he could be of any assistance. Immediately
the advice from home--"Don't get in the car with a stranger"--
flooded her mind, but for some reason, perhaps her need to
confide in someone, she decided to talk to the detective. She
needed to pour out her soul to someone, and with this man she
felt she could. She told him about her fears. She even told him
about her eye problems, and it was this honesty that prompted him
to help her get the eye exam she needed. It led to a diagnosis of
retinitis pigmentosa.

     Ultimately Ever Lee married the detective, and they had a
son, but their marriage fell apart in the year that followed.
Ever Lee believes that her husband wanted to save her. Perhaps he
saw her as beautiful and helpless. He wanted to help her, but he
was interested only in having a trophy--a nice arm piece. When it
became clear that she was going to lose the rest of her sight, it
also became painfully obvious that he could never accept a blind
trophy, no matter how beautiful and poised she was.
                           **********
     ...Does my sexiness upset you?
     Does it come as a surprise
     That I dance like I've got diamonds
     At the meeting of my thighs?...
                           **********
     Ever Lee acquired a teaching position at a high school, a
dream come true! A short four years later, her teaching career
ended due to the progression of her eye disease. Ever Lee says,
"Perhaps it would have been easier to sit home and collect Social
Security checks and feel as if I had no self-worth, but instead I
continued to seek other employment." After being turned down
several times by employers as a result of her blindness, finally
she was hired in an entry-level counselor's position with the
Health and Human Services Department. She continued her education
and later became a supervising alcoholism counselor in the State
of New Jersey.

     It became obvious to Ever Lee that she needed some blindness
skills in order to meet the demands of this challenging position.
She also knew the importance of competing with her sighted
colleagues who were fighting for Civil Service status.

     The National Federation of the Blind is not for everyone.
Some people are never ready to accept the independence and
challenge offered by the NFB, but many people who have come to
this movement have had the experience of meeting it at the exact
time when they were ready to take full advantage of it. As a
direct result of recruiting efforts organized by the
organization, Ever Lee met the NFB head-on in 1987. She attended
her first National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, where she
slept on a cot, carried a short cane, and even felt isolated from
her own affiliate. Regardless of that experience, in 1988 she
decided to attend the convention in Chicago.

     There Ever Lee discovered how illiterate she was. She
couldn't read Braille or print, and she was still trying to find
her way around in a new environment. It took her about three
years to find out that the Federation was where she needed to be.
There is an old Nigerian proverb that says, "It takes about three
years to see the earth move." During this period Ever Lee
admitted to herself that she needed to develop her blindness
skills in order to compete with her sighted colleagues at work.

     Therefore she decided to attend one of the National
Federation of the Blind's adult training centers. It was a
decision that would change her life. At the Louisiana Center for
the Blind, where she enrolled, she learned for the first time
that it was respectable to be blind. Despite her loss of vision
she was the same vivacious, attractive, and eloquent woman. She
recalls, "It was the most exhilarating, unique, unusual, bizarre,
and profound experience of my life."

     In 1991 Ever Lee attended a leadership seminar, after which
she began to ask questions. According to Ever Lee, "I didn't hear
a lot of black people at the meetings--certainly not black women.
And this bothered me. I began to investigate how I could get more
black people involved in this wonderful organization. Although
there was some talk about organizing a black caucus, I did not
want that. I wanted to make the opportunities I had found in this
organization available to other people, especially black women. I
know and believe that it is important that we reach out for
ourselves and that we fight our own battles, but I think that,
because of the attitude and the thinking ingrained in some of us
as black people that we are inferior, second-class citizens, we
have to unlearn old patterns and relearn what is reality."

     One way to do this, Ever Lee believes, is to have effective
leaders and positive black role models to assist this process. "I
don't want this point to be a big part of this story," Ever Lee
says, "but I do want to do whatever it takes to encourage blind,
black females to join the National Federation of the Blind and to
become leaders in this organization."

     It should now be obvious why I had to tell this
extraordinary Federationist's story. Despite this little peek
into her life, there are still more stories just as exhilarating,
just as profound that have yet to be explored. She is not
extraordinary because she is a black woman or because she rose
from plantation poverty to become successful and confident. She
is extraordinary because she fought every step of the way and
allowed herself to be vulnerable and humble enough to look inside
herself to face her blindness and to maintain her integrity in
the face of overwhelming odds.
                           **********
     ...Out of the huts of history's sham
     I rise
     Up from a past that's rooted in pain
     I rise
     I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
     Welling and swelling I bear in the tide
     Leaving behind the nights of terror and fear
     I rise
     Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
     I rise
     Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
     I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
     I rise
     I rise
     I rise.
                           **********
     In many ways the black community has been chauvinistic, and
black women have not been allowed to be assertive--certainly not
publicly--or to assume leadership roles in our community. In Ever
Lee I see a woman who is confident, sure of herself, poised, and
independent. A blind black woman, carrying thereby triple
minority status: she has decided to make these three
characteristics strengths rather than weaknesses.

     We all have our stories, and this is Ever Lee's. It seems
only fitting that she have the final word. "I worked my way
through college. I earned that degree because hard work always
pays off, as do dedication, commitment, honesty, and
spirituality. These are the keys to success and the ones that
have unlocked my life for me."
                           **********
                           **********
                    Why Should I Use a Cane?
                         by Jeff Altman
                           **********
     From the Editor: Jeff Altman is a member of the National
Federation of the Blind of Nebraska. In his job he teaches cane
travel. This is what he says about the importance of learning to
use a cane confidently.
                           **********
     "Why should I use a cane?" is a rather common question among
people new to blindness and, for that matter, to some folks who
have been living with blindness for many years. One is tempted to
respond with a matter-of-fact answer such as "Because you are
blind, and the white cane is an appropriate tool for a blind
person to use when traveling." However, upon reflection, one must
recognize that in reality this is not a simple question to answer
since the white cane does not have the same social significance
to the blind person as say the hammer does to a carpenter or the
stethoscope does to a doctor. Occupational tools are socially
acceptable, and some, such as a judge's gavel, even become
symbols of high social status.

     Some frequently used tools have little to do with
occupations but are widely accepted because they improve the
quality of our lives or are more convenient than other methods of
getting things done. I will state with some certainty that most
Americans prefer to cook their meals using the kitchen stove
rather than building a fire in the back yard each evening.
Certainly most people choose to drive or use some other form of
mechanized transportation rather than walking when embarking upon
a long trip.

     These everyday devices seem so ordinary that we hardly think
of them as alternatives to more basic methods of cooking or
traveling. Yet these very devices were nearly unheard of only a
few generations ago. In fact, in the beginning neither the modern
stove nor the automobile was immediately accepted; people
distrusted the new technology, and only when they began to
understand how the stove and car worked and discovered that they
were in fact safe and dependable devices did they stop chopping
stove wood or retire their horses.

     The long white cane is an alternative device and involves
mastering some alternative techniques for efficient travel. It
need not be any less effective than the more commonplace method
of travel using vision. Somehow, though, our society has not come
to terms with this device. Often it is perceived as inferior.
More important, society remains somewhat uncomfortable with the
people who use the white cane. Unlike many new devices which are
resisted by society because the technology or operation is poorly
understood or perceived as unsafe, the long cane and its use are
quite simple to understand: the cane tip moves in a body-width
arc, checking for obstacles and changes in terrain. The white
cane has been in common use for many years and certainly does not
represent a serious safety threat to the user or to others
exposed to it. Isn't it odd that a device in common use for more
than fifty years and absolutely straightforward in function
continues to be resisted both by society in general and by the
people who could benefit most from using it?

     We must understand that, in spite of our society's apparent
fascination with logical thinking, the majority of the decisions
people make are based on emotion. Those who make important life
decisions without carefully considering the facts and possible
consequences are labeled impulsive and irresponsible. But in
reality we often make choices based upon our emotional reactions
and then assemble logical reasons and confirming opinions to
justify our actions. This behavior is a significant part of what
makes us human. Still it is careful gathering and examination of
available information and thorough consideration of the results
of our actions that serve as a gauge of our maturity and wisdom.

      All this said, I believe that society finds the long white
cane unacceptable because blindness is surrounded by myths,
misconceptions, and fear. Unfortunately, as members of society we
who are blind inevitably share the negative responses to
blindness that permeate society. A very fine line separates
social, scientific, or universal truth, on one hand, and
unsubstantiated opinion on the other. It is troubling that even
the people who hold themselves up as experts in the blindness
field and in the use of the white cane often express by word and
action the opinion that the white cane should be used only as a
last-ditch method of travel. Blind travel students are often
instructed to use a human guide in unfamiliar or noisy areas, to
keep the long cane as short as possible in crowds to avoid
tripping others, and when possible to hold the cane vertical and
depend on residual vision in familiar areas. These
recommendations represent and reinforce a damagingly negative
view of blindness and blind people. After all, if all your
experience indicates that a particular set of concepts and
practices is obviously true--especially when this misinformation
is presented by supposed experts--it becomes difficult to
consider any other possibility, even when you hold the key to
true independence in your hand.

     The best person to answer the question posed at the
beginning of this article is the person who asks it. It can be
argued (and I would do so) that only an expert in the use of the
white cane can answer the question wisely, but I also stand by my
previous statement that only the blind individual can and should
make the decision whether to use a cane. Therefore making a wise
decision involved becoming an expert in the use of the cane. With
all non-visual techniques, one cannot fully appreciate the
benefits without first having learned to use them efficiently, to
trust them fully, and to believe in their effectiveness. For the
individual with some functional vision, this goal can be achieved
only by using sleepshades since people have such a strong
tendency to use vision when possible rather than depending upon
the feedback available through other senses.

     I can respect the decision of any blind person who has made
a sincere effort to learn to use the white cane and then chooses
to travel without it. Those who refuse to learn the techniques
for good cane travel are also entitled to make that choice, but I
hope that they will also accept the responsibility for the
consequences of their decisions. It may be a fine choice for
them, or it may prove to be a very poor one. Unfortunately many
blind people who have refused to learn to use the long white cane
have clearly made the wrong choice, and sadly many of them do not
recognize that it is this error that seriously limits the quality
of their lives.

     If you choose not to master cane travel, please be careful,
and please do not then blame your blindness for what does not go
well in your life. Those of us who choose to use the long white
cane would prefer that society hear and learn the truth about
cane travel and not self-serving excuses from people with little
or no actual firsthand experience.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO DESCRIPTION: A man wearing a shop apron uses a circular
saw in a workshop. CAPTION: George Wurtzel.]
                  A Federationist Works Wonders
                           **********
     From the Editor: George Wurtzel, brother of NFB of Michigan
President Fred Wurtzel, has always had a genius for working with
his hands. Blindness has determined some of his methods, but his
gifts and skill have always been apparent to him and to those
around him. On June 15, 1998, the Lansing State Journal carried a
story by Teri Banas about Mr. Wurtzel and his partners in a new
business venture. People frequently assume that blindness
prevents a person from working with power equipment or sharp
tools of any kind. Those who are tempted to write off their own
dreams of craftsmanship or those of their blind acquaintances had
better take the time to meet George Wurtzel. Here he is:
                           **********
                       Old Town, New Work
            Crafter, Friends Refurbishing Estes Store
                          by Teri Banas
                           **********
     With hands large and steady, craftsman George Wurtzel looks
like an old-time lumberjack as he works to transform one of Old
Town's most historic commercial buildings. An imposing man of six
foot four inches, he measures wall studs with precision, saws
boards, and drives nails, meanwhile creating new spaces from old.
His mission is to put life in the former Estes furniture store
and convert it into a custom kitchen and bath cabinetry shop.

     Did we mention George Wurtzel is blind?

     It really is an inspiration to see him at work," says
partner Kathy Weldon, fifty-one, interior designer. "Once you see
what he can do, no one has an excuse not to achieve a goal. He's
remarkable."

     With partner Mary Fauty, the business administrator, they
plan to open their Kitchen Encounter shop in July.

     "There's only two things we don't let him do," Weldon says
repeating an oft-told joke among them. "We don't let him pick out
colors, and we don't let him drive."

     Wurtzel, forty-four, a Traverse City native who was educated
at the Michigan School for the Blind, a short distance from Old
Town, has spent his adult life plying trades that require
handiwork artistry.

     "I consider what I do to be a highly honed skill," Wurtzel
says. "I'm not a very syrupy person. I don't consider it
remarkable.

     "The skills and abilities, the talents I have, I've acquired
over a lifetime."

     Weldon, who met Wurtzel only recently, said he's made a
strong impression on her. "I went from shock to curiosity to
admiration," she said. "These days I completely forget sometimes
that he's blind. I'll hand over a wallpaper sample and say,
`George, take a look at this.'"

     As a youngster, Wurtzel says, he wasn't inspired by any
particular role model. But his grandfather, who died when he was
a young boy, was a cabinetmaker, and his mother was so handy she
once built some children's stools from a magazine picture.

     "I took every shop course available when I went to school,"
Wurtzel said. "I've always been a tinkering person, always wanted
to know how things worked." As a kid he "played with lawn mowers
and cars" and even worked as a Volkswagen mechanic.

     Wurtzel's natural talents are aided by an innate sense of
spacial reasoning and creativity, he said. His ability to picture
in his mind's eye how he will build something is no different
from any "engineer-type" thinking person, he says. Sometimes he
builds scale models to test his plans.

     What is different is one essential tool. An eighteen-inch
ruler designed with a threaded rod and ball-bearing drop allows
him to measure within 1/16th of an inch accuracy. He uses a
Braille 'n Speak to store data and for word processing.

     For nine years Wurtzel ran a woodworking shop in Traverse
City, taking part in redevelopment projects including the
Cherryland Mall. But when the ailing economy brought construction
work to a near standstill in 1982, he went back to school. He
eventually earned a degree in furniture production management and
spent fifteen years working in North Carolina, the nation's
furniture-making capital.

     Wurtzel, who developed retinitis pigmentosa as a child,
said, "I've never had any significant vision at all during my
life." At ages ten to twelve he could still read newspaper
headlines, but later his vision worsened so that he eventually
boarded at the Michigan School for the Blind.

     Recently he attended a seminar in Minnesota for creating
specialty designs in solid surfaces in the myriad of Corian-style
counter tops that make new-kitchen-lusting homeowners go gaga.
Because Wurtzel is, well, casual about his blindness, he
registered for the seminar without mentioning he can't see. He
turned a few heads when he arrived with walking stick in hand.

     Then last summer Wurtzel returned to Michigan and joined his
brother Fred, who is also blind, and his family in Lansing. He
spent the summer working at a camp for blind children in
Greenville, Michigan, that has become the brothers' personal
cause.

     And he looked up Fauty--an old friend who taught at the
school when he was a teenager--because he needed a technical
reader. By January they were good friends with Weldon, an
independent design consultant, at a CAD (Computer Aided Design)
kitchen class at Lansing Community College.

     Weldon had run her own retail business, a frame shop in
Mason, for eight years.

     "I was ready to do something again," said Weldon. "We were
all three coming to the same point, deciding what we were going
to do next."

     Fauty, a twenty-eight-year teacher at the school, followed
along when it moved to Flint. But she was eager to retire from
the commute to help her ailing mother, who lives in Lansing.

     "We all just happened to come together at the right time. We
were all looking for something to put our time and energies
into," said Fauty. Besides running the office, she will help
handle retail sales with Weldon.

     Weldon said the three easily assumed clear roles in the
partnership. "George is in charge of wood. Mary is in charge of
paper. And I'm in charge of pretty. That's it."

     All, coincidentally, have ties to the redeveloping Old Town.
Weldon because she grew up nearby. Wurtzel because he attended
the residential school for the blind as a teen and "ran all over
town" in off hours. And Fauty, who still lives nearby.

     "It's a wonderful, friendly community," Fauty says. "It's
fun to be back in Old Town. The atmosphere here. . . . The people
out on the street talk to each other. There's a feeling there's
something special here."

     The partners say their specialty business will serve as a
destination store for the area and a business for the future.
Industry trends suggest a robust market for kitchen renovations
as interest rates remain low and as baby boomers spend their
discretionary dollars on nesting pursuits.

     Fauty adds that today's kitchens are getting larger and more
lavish, reverting to an era when homeowners spent more time in
them, entertaining and preparing meals. The bursting selection of
materials in solid counter-top surfaces that are so nonporous
they don't stain or burn makes this an exciting time.

     The business will carry three distinct lines of kitchen
cabinets from high-end-custom to a builder-quality selection.
Brands include Shiloh, Crystal, and Welborn Forest.

     "We're going to be very custom-oriented, very design-
conscious," Wurtzel says.
                           **********
            Remodeling, Like Charity, Begins at Home
                          by Teri Banas
                           **********
     Over four months George Wurtzel, Kathy Weldon, and Mary
Fauty have developed a love-hate relationship with the Old Town
storefront that will house their Kitchen Creation shop.

     When they walked into the early-1900's storefront at
Washington and Grand River Avenues, they fell in love with the
space--its hardwood floors, original Mission-style mezzanine
banisters. They knew it had features they wanted for their retail
showroom of kitchen and bath cabinetry.

     So they dropped plans to move elsewhere and accepted the
fact it was three times the size they wanted. "We've started to
treat this building like another entity. We appreciate its style,
attention to detail," said Weldon.

     But it's been a lot of work, coupled with patience for a
long-haul renovation. "We're trying to make improvements for a
Year 2000 business in a 1915 building," Fauty said.

     The partners are doing much of the interior work themselves,
to the tune of $150,000. Building owner Tom Arnold is stripping
and refinishing the original hardwood floors. The partners said
doing the work themselves has contained costs that could have
soared.

     Craftsman Wurtzel has begun installing a handicap-access
bathroom on the main floor and has built wall partitions and done
repairs. Arnold is slowly replacing wornout windows. Wurtzel is
converting a furniture clearance center out back for his workshop
and for storage.

     Already there are payoffs for the hard work. Pulling up
carpeting, they discovered a mosaic ceramic tile entryway
spelling out the names of the original occupant, the Jarvis-Estes
Furniture Company. A solid wood Mission-style banister will
remain in their showroom when the shop opens.

     Fauty, an Old Town history buff, said the interior will
house small alcoves with designer kitchens, though the partners
will customize homeowners' particular wants. One of the hottest
trends will be there--a mission-style kitchen. Prices will range
from $5,000 for some complete remodels (appliances extra), to the
tens of thousands.

     Someday they would like to convert a room in the center into
a test kitchen for education. That's a few years off, Fauty said.
Kitchen Encounter will be the first new use for the building
since it shut down three years ago as a furniture store just
before Estes filed for bankruptcy.

     "Here at the Mainstreet Project we're always thrilled that
people can take the time and energy to renovate storefronts and
interiors," said Lisa Carey, its director. "We're very excited to
have them move into the corner spot there."
                           **********
                           **********
*****************************************************************
     Did you know that you can make a gift to the National
Federation of the Blind and save taxes three ways? Well, you can!
With a gift of appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. For
more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind,
Special Gifts, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-
4998, phone (410) 659-9314, fax (410) 685-5653.
*****************************************************************
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Ellen Waechtler reading Braille]
                     101 Ways to Use Braille
                       by Ellen Waechtler
                           **********
     From the Editor: The following article first appeared in the
Summer, 1998, issue of the Braille Spectator, a publication of
the NFB of Maryland. Ellen Waechtler is the Braille instructor in
the rehabilitation program at Blind Industries and Services of
Maryland. Here is her thoughtful article on the many practical
uses of Braille, even for the novice.
                           **********
     Have you ever opened a can, hoping to add tomatoes to your
spaghetti sauce, and then been faced with the dilemma of figuring
out how to incorporate green beans into the menu? Have you spent
hours searching for a particular CD or tape, becoming
increasingly frustrated with each incorrect CD you briefly
sampled? Or have you ever been worried about losing your phone
service because you mislaid the bill and are unable to find it in
your mile-high stack of mysterious print papers? In all these
cases Braille could simplify your life.

     It is surprising how many blind people who know some Braille
do not take full advantage of what this powerful tool can offer.
Louis Braille's invention was revolutionary because for the first
time blind people had the ability not only to read but also to
write. Herein lies Braille's power: it enables you to communicate
with yourself. Braille serves the same function for the blind as
print does for the sighted, and with a little creative thinking
it can be just as versatile. The use of Braille extends beyond
reading books and magazines from the library for the blind; it
can also be employed to take notes, keep records, and label
everything under the sun. Once you start thinking creatively
about how your Braille skills can serve you better, you will be
amazed at how versatile Louis Braille's little invention actually
can be. Here are some tips for getting started. Soon you will
wonder how you ever functioned without Braille. Your only
boundaries will be imposed by the limits of your imagination.
                           **********
                       A Few Simple Tools
     Using Braille as an organizational tool most often requires
labeling or writing down a few simple directions. Either a slate
and stylus (a metal guide and a punching device equivalent to the
pencil or pen) or a Braille writer (comparable to a typewriter)
can be used. Labels are perhaps most commonly made with Dymo
Transparent Labeling Tape, made by 3M. This vinyl tape, with a
self-adhesive back protected with an easily removable strip,
comes in a twelve-foot roll. The half-inch width accommodates
both standard and jumbo Braille. The Braille labeling gun, as
well as the Dymo tape attachment for the Perkins Braille writer,
are designed for this width. Moreover, many slates on the market
today now have a half-inch Dymo-tape slot. However, the
experienced Braillist can easily center the narrower 3/8th inch
width in this slot and produce labels in standard sized Braille.
For cosmetic reasons and for the convenience of any sighted
members of your household, you may prefer the almost transparent
tape, which does not obscure what is underneath the Braille
label. Since transparent Dymo tape is often not readily available
commercially, you may have to purchase it from a supplier
specializing in products for the blind.

     These labels can be directly affixed to the desired object
after the backing is peeled off, or they can be attached with a
rubber band threaded through a hold punched with a one-hole
punch. The latter type has the advantage of being reusable. You
can take them with you to the grocery store and immediately mark
the can of green beans or chocolate pudding mix you are
purchasing. Labels can also be written on index cards or other
pieces of Braille paper (usually three to five times heavier than
typing paper) and attached with Scotch or masking tape or even a
rubber band. Paper clips and a stapler also come in handy when
labeling print documents. If you have most of the above basic
tools, then you are ready to put Braille to work for you.
                           **********
                         In the Kitchen
     Braille labels are especially useful in the kitchen.
Attaching paper or Dymo tape labels to canned goods, jars, and
other packaged foods helps to take some of the uncertainty out of
cooking. You no longer have to shake a can to try to guess at its
contents; your label will positively identify the green beans.
Sticking a Dymo tape label directly on small spice containers is
most effective since you can read it more easily this way. Since
you will be using your cinnamon or coriander jar over a period of
time, you won't feel that you are wasting expensive Dymo tape.

     In preparing foods it is crucial not only to identify the
correct ingredients but also to follow the indicated procedure.
For storage keep them in a three-ring binder; you can Braille
your own recipes on regular Braille paper or on plastic sheets
(which can be wiped off should you spill flour, tomato sauce, or
baby food on them). You can also make note of directions for
preparing such packaged foods as Stove Top stuffing or chocolate
pound cake and either keep them in your folder or attach them
directly to the package itself.
                           **********
                      Other Household Uses
     The same techniques which proved valuable in the kitchen are
just as useful in other household areas. Labeling your cleaning
supplies with Dymo tape, for example, eliminates the possibility
of confusing your oven cleaner with your furniture polish. You
can also label such items as shampoo and conditioner bottles,
which often feel the same, so that you can differentiate between
them before you pour the contents into your hand or onto your
hair. Dymo tape also works for labeling different colored spools
of thread. Place the tape on the flat side of the spool. Now you
can choose the appropriate color thread for mending or sewing on
buttons.

     You can also identify different colored yarns for knitting
and crocheting by storing them in separate Ziploc bags with index
cards noting their colors. This method also works for keeping
various shades of pantyhose separated. Other clothes can be
marked by sewing in Braille labels. Again several options are
available. These include Brailling on garment labeling tape,
which is similar to Dymo tape but without the adhesive backing,
and making use of prefabricated metal labels.
                           **********
                           Appliances
     Labeling the controls on some household appliances may also
prove helpful. Many modern microwaves have no tactilely
detectable buttons. Here Braille labels can serve a dual purpose:
not only do they help to locate the function keys, they also
identify them. Even if appliances have tactile controls, it may
still prove useful to label some of them, especially if you do
not want to make the effort to remember many different settings.
Thus you may wish to attach Dymo tape labels to your dishwasher,
your washing machine, and your dryer. These labels are especially
helpful with the type of washing machines which use a dial to
select different wash cycles. You can use little triangle-shaped
Dymo tape arrows to point to the beginnings of various stages and
place some identifying letters or words nearby.

     You will probably not need or want to label every single
appliance in your home, especially those that you are already
familiar with or others which are simple to use. But, on the
other hand, do not be shy about labeling anything; after all, the
manufacturers always include print labels for sighted consumers.

     Some complex appliances such as video cassette recorders may
require a different approach. In addition to labeling some
buttons, you may wish to make note of the layout of the control
panel since there may not be enough room to label all keys. You
may also want to write down the sequence of steps for operating
your machine. As you are programming the VCR, you can then refer
to your notes on the procedure. If you have a remote control
device with a complicated layout, you may again wish to take
notes on the function of each key. After all you will want to
take full advantage of the power of your remote control when you
are lounging in your recliner, zapping through TV channels.
                           **********
                      Enhancing Recreation
     Perhaps the most frequently labeled items are compact discs,
audio and video cassettes, and records. In this information age
you will also need to label your computer disks. Again you will
probably want to choose Dymo tape for your labeling medium. While
you can record the artist's name and album title and perhaps some
other limited information of your choice on the compact disk box,
you should not place a label on the compact disk itself. With
audio and video cassettes you can label both the cassette and its
container. The record cover can also be easily labeled, as can
the record itself, as long as you confine yourself to the center,
which also holds the print label. You may wish to follow a
consistent format in labeling the covers of the above items,
e.g., placing the artist's name on the spine of the audio tape so
that you can arrange the tapes alphabetically and easily retrieve
a specific tape later. Your favorite Mozart sonata or Beatles
album will then be at your fingertips in moments.

     In all the above instances Braille is employed to adapt
materials so that blind people can make more effective use of
them. Sometimes already labeled materials are available for
purchase. Popular choices include Monopoly and Scrabble. Although
you can also buy already labeled playing cards, it is easy to
make your own with a slate. Special slates have been designed for
this purpose; however, any slate will do.
                           **********
                   Organizing Print Materials
     Braille is a very effective organizing tool for identifying
and managing print materials. You can label your bills using a
slate or a Braille writer for easy reference, noting on the
envelope to whom the check must be issued, the amount due, and
the payment deadline--no more worries about that missing phone
bill. After writing out your checks, you can also label them in
Braille with the check number, the date, the amount, the name of
the recipient, and any additional information you need. When the
checks are returned in your bank statement, you can determine
which ones have cleared, even if you do not receive a Braille
statement. If you are using carbon checks, you can use the
Braille information on your carbon to draw up your Braille check
register.

     It is also helpful to label other important print documents
to which you may need to refer later. These Braille labels, which
can be written directly on the print item or noted on a separate
piece of paper and either paper-clipped or stapled to the item,
help to locate the document as well as to identify such important
information as the account number on an insurance policy. Of
course Braille is also invaluable in filing these documents. You
can either write directly on a file folder or attach a Dymo tape
label. The latter is easier to read and stands up to more wear
and tear.

     You can also create a Braille index card file using
commercially available materials for any names, addresses, and
telephone numbers. You can employ the same methods to label the
alphabetic dividers as you used to label file folders.

     But perhaps the most innovative labeling technique is the
use of Dymo tape to mark your credit, ATM, insurance, and airline
frequent flyer cards, etc. As long as you do not cover up the
magnetic strip and your signature on the card, you should not
experience any problems, even using an ATM machine. Never again
will you have to resort to asking a stranger to paw through your
wallet to select the card you need.

     Of course Braille is not the only method for keeping track
of information and for identifying and labeling items. You can
use tape recorders, electronic note-taking devices, and computers
to store and retrieve information, and other tactile identifiers
such as rubber bands, strips of tape, or raised symbols made with
glue or Hi-Marks(R) to mark items. However, none of these is as
flexible and versatile as Braille for managing personal and
household tasks. Far from becoming obsolete, Braille continues to
be a valuable self-management tool.

     Whether you are a whiz at Grade II Braille, just know Grade
I, or use jumbo Braille, you will discover that with a little
imagination Braille can serve you in countless ways. If you
follow some of these suggestions and are stimulated to implement
your own ideas, you will soon wonder how you ever managed without
Braille--no more spaghetti with green beans for dinner. You can
listen to the music of your choice and rest assured that you can
locate that phone bill to pay it on time. Perhaps even some of
you neophytes have had your appetites whetted and will be
inspired to take the plunge and start learning the alphabet.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Jerry Whittle reads Braille]
                     The Vitality of Braille
                        by Jerry Whittle
                           **********
     From the Editor: Jerry Whittle is the Braille instructor at
the Louisiana Center for the Blind, one of the NFB's adult
rehabilitation centers. We are often told that, unless a person
learns Braille as a young child, he or she will never find it a
useful tool because impressive speed and accuracy are impossible
to master. Certainly the speed one can achieve as an adult
learner depends on many things: the time devoted to practice, the
degree of sensation in one's fingers, and the determination one
brings to the task, among others. But whether or not one reads
quickly, Braille is an important skill to master. Here is Jerry
Whittle's article about the importance of Braille at the
Louisiana Center:
                           **********
     One afternoon Marilyn Whittle, an instructor at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind, happened to glance out the window
and saw Dr. and Mrs. Jernigan getting out of a van and
approaching the front door of the center. She quickly called
Center Director Joanne Wilson and excitedly told her that Dr.
Jernigan was in the parking lot. At first Joanne thought Marilyn
was teasing her but quickly realized that it was true. Dr. and
Mrs. Jernigan were on their way to Dallas that year to make hotel
arrangements for the forthcoming national convention and decided
to stop in Ruston to visit our students and staff. Joanne
informed the instructors what was happening, and much bustling
took place--loose papers snatched up and hidden away and last-
second cleaning done.

     Dr. Jernigan toured the center that day and conducted a
seminar with the students--one that none of us will ever forget.
During the tour of the library and the Braille room, one of the
staff members noticed that Dr. Jernigan had his hand behind him
reading titles as the tour proceeded. Later he told us, "You are
doing the right thing here at the center. You should surround
your students with Braille books. That's what we did in Iowa, and
I am glad to see that you are doing the same thing here. Every
time a student turns around, he or she should find books in
plentiful supply." Dr. Jernigan's belief in the importance of
Braille literacy and his supreme efforts to build and establish
libraries throughout the nation should be impetus enough for all
of us to follow his example and promote Braille among our blind
peers.

     When we first opened the Louisiana Center for the Blind in
1985, we had no Braille library, and we had a single, rough-hewn
bookshelf. We quickly acquired a Braille Bible and purchased a
Braille copy of Shakespeare's King Lear, a fine start to a good
library. We continued to add more books, particularly NFB
literature.

     We placed a wooden box in the Braille room, and many people
contributed quarters and dollars to the box for the purchase of
books, including a cash contribution by Dr. Jernigan on his visit
to the room. Many books have been purchased or contributed by
former students, and the library has steadily grown. Now we have
over 1,500 titles in the library on just about every subject
imaginable. These books have played a large role in the promotion
of Braille and its instruction and mastery.

     Our large collection of books helps the center in many ways.
For example, many students who come to the center are encouraged
to work harder to learn the Braille code so that they can begin
to read the books surrounding them. On more than one occasion we
have heard a student say, "When I finish the code I want to read
this book," or "I cannot wait to finish the code so I can begin
reading a book." Another important way the collection has helped
is the Braille instructor's ready access to many books, enabling
him to find interesting books for each student. Even though we
love our state library, it would be difficult to rely on it since
it takes a few days to receive a book. Moreover, suppose a
student does not like the book he or she has selected to read.
With a large, readily accessible Braille library at hand the
instructor can substitute other titles until the appropriate book
is found. As a result the student will read more because he or
she likes the book. It is also good to have two copies of some
titles so that an instructor can read along with a beginning
student until the student develops the competency to read without
assistance.

     Our center library adds a strong feeling of the importance
of Braille as a chief ingredient in the success of our students.
By surrounding them with Braille books, we convey our conviction
that Braille is an integral part of our teaching philosophy and
that Braille literacy truly plays an essential role in the
success of any blind student for future employment and for
personal enrichment and independence. In other words, by the very
presence of so many titles our library makes a statement and
serves as an incentive to strive harder to acquire a vitally
important skill.

     Dr. Jernigan built huge Braille libraries wherever he went,
and his love for books has been passed to all of us through his
words and actions. His energy and passion for literacy among the
nation's blind set in motion the individual Braille bills in more
than half the states and promoted the strong language in the
Braille amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act. Through his guidance all of us can look to the National
Center for the Blind as a Mecca for Braille literacy and
technology. By following his example in the promotion of Braille
libraries and literacy among the nation's blind, we can help
reach his dream of first-class citizenship for all blind people.
Without the ability to read and write, this goal will be
virtually impossible to attain.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Don Capps]
                   The Value of Greeting Cards
                       by Donald C. Capps
                           **********
     From President Maurer: In the Federation we do a good deal
of fund-raising. Part of our purpose is to collect the funds to
carry out our programs. Another part is to inform others about
the capacity of the blind. Here is an article by the senior
member of the NFB Board of Directors, Donald Capps. It provides
insight about the life and career of one of our leaders and also
illustrates the many benefits of sending literature and other
items to individuals through the mails. This is what Don says:
                           **********
     I grew up in rural northeastern South Carolina on a tobacco
farm during the Depression. I was the eleventh of eleven
children, and our wonderful Christian mother never passed up an
opportunity to tell everyone that I was her baby. She continued
to do so even four decades later. My siblings thought I was
spoiled, and perhaps they were right. I grew up in a large
antebellum house which did not have modern conveniences like
indoor plumbing and electricity, but it nevertheless had charm.
Put together with pegs, this old farm house featured high
ceilings and both front and back porches with high back rockers,
which we used a great deal during the summer.

     Just about every room in the house had a large fireplace.
Before the arrival of cold weather, the wood bin would be filled
with cut wood from the farm. To this day I can still hear the
crackling of the burning wood and an aroma different from any
other. In the large dining room there was a homemade table, which
was always covered by an oil cloth that could be easily cleaned.
Long, homemade benches flanked both sides of the table. These
accommodated my large family. Unlike today's hectic pace, with
family members eating at different times, we were always together
at meal time, which made it special. My mother, who was an
excellent cook, served hot biscuits with each meal, and they
always went fast.

     My blindness was due to congenital glaucoma. I cannot recall
ever having any sight in my left eye, and I had seriously
impaired vision in my right eye.

     Since my father died when I was six years old, I don't
remember a great deal about him. However, I was extremely
fortunate in having a wonderful mother, who wanted me to have the
very best in life. Recognizing my limited vision, she took me to
an optometrist who fitted me with eye glasses. In the mid-1930's,
it was not considered cool for a six-year-old to wear eye
glasses. No sooner had I entered the first grade than I began to
be taunted by my classmates. It was necessary for me to sit close
to the blackboard, which set me apart from the rest of the kids,
so the taunts increased. For four-and-a-half years I continued to
struggle in the public school system despite diminishing vision
and terrific headaches. This situation forced my mother to remove
me from public school in January, 1939. Traveling thirty miles
from my country home to Florence, then considered a railroad
center, I boarded the train for the South Carolina School for the
Blind in Spartanburg, more than 200 miles away. As I boarded the
train, my mother and I both cried. At age ten I had never been
more than a few miles from my home. Although I was treated well
at the School for the Blind, the adjustment was difficult, and I
experienced a lot of homesickness. The school served wholesome
food, but it was not much like the home-cooked food I had been
accustomed to on the farm. At home we raised most of our own
food, so it wasn't necessary to buy many items from the store.
For example, we did not eat cereal. The school served a lot of
cereal. To me the worst of these was All-Bran, which seemed to be
the meal planner's favorite. At times I rebelled, refusing to eat
the All-Bran, but I eventually had to give in since I was not
permitted to leave the table until my bowl was empty. I must
confess that, since leaving the school more than fifty years ago,
I've eaten very little cereal and no All-Bran at all.

     During the five-and-a-half years I attended the School for
the Blind, I profited immensely from the education, learning all
of the basics including English, algebra, Latin, history, and a
little music. Unquestionably, however, in later life I would come
to understand that the Braille instruction I received was
particularly important. In the 1940's blind students had no
option but to learn Braille, even though in my case it was
necessary to blindfold me to be sure that I used my fingers
rather than my limited vision.

     During my sophomore year I told my classmates and others
that I was not coming back the next year but would enter public
school in my hometown of Mullins for my junior and senior years.
No one believed me. During the five-and-a-half years I attended
the School for the Blind, I was always made to feel that with my
bit of sight I was superior to those who were totally blind.
Undoubtedly this false notion affected my thinking and decision
to leave the school for my final two years of high school.
Because of the excellent training and education I had received at
the School for the Blind, I did well during my junior and senior
years at Mullins High School, graduating in the top ten percent
of the class. I was able to take fewer courses because I had
already had many of them at the School for the Blind.

     Meanwhile, my older brothers had left the farm for greener
pastures, making it necessary for my mother to give up farming
and move to the town of Mullins. This occurred in 1940 when I was
twelve years of age. I soon learned that just three houses up the
street from my new home lived a beautiful ten-year-old blond-
haired girl, who would eventually become my wife. Her name was
Betty Rogers, and we got along fine. She would even let me ride
her bicycle since I never owned one of my own.

     In those days homes were not air conditioned. However, just
about every home had a front porch and a swing for summer
enjoyment. The house in which Betty lived was no different. That
particular swing stands out in my mind. When I was fourteen-and-
a-half and Betty was twelve, we were swinging together one summer
evening, and I managed to steal a kiss. Was it puppy love?--I
think not. Six years later Betty would become my beautiful
eighteen-year-old bride. On June 25, 1999, we will celebrate our
golden wedding anniversary with our two adult children, Craig and
Beth, and three grandchildren.

     In 1947 I was fortunate enough to acquire a junior claim
examiner trainee position with Colonial Life and Accident
Insurance Company. From the beginning it was difficult for me to
read the material that came across my desk. With my sight
gradually but steadily diminishing, it soon became necessary for
me to use the strongest magnification device available in those
days to read claim forms, hospital records, death certificates,
and other items including an occasional lawsuit. In early 1953 my
ophthalmologist and I concurred that the time had come when I
could no longer see well enough, even with magnification, to do
the necessary reading for my job. I returned to the office and
went straight to the rest room, where I wept.

     Unfortunately, in 1953 I did not have knowledge of or the
support of the National Federation of the Blind and its wholesome
philosophy concerning the respectability of blindness and the
capability of blind people. My only course of action seemed to be
to go to the president and co-founder of the company, who had
hired me, to explain that I could no longer read and therefore I
was submitting my resignation. I was fortunate in having a boss
who had observed my work for a half dozen years and believed in
my overall ability. He quickly responded, "Donald, I have known
for some time that you would not be able to read much longer. I
want you to know that we're not paying you just to read. We are
paying you for what you have learned during the past six years,
including your ability to interpret policies, evaluate claims,
dictate letters, and supervise others. We have invested six years
in your training, and we do not want to lose the benefit of your
knowledge and expertise. We'll get you a reader, and you will
continue to have a full-time secretary. I see no reason why your
blindness should in any way affect your continuing to do the
things for which you have been trained."

     In 1953 there was no Americans with Disabilities Act, but my
boss was ahead of the times. Furthermore, my boss's attitude was
far superior to any provision of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. As a result of his understanding and faith in me, for more
than thirty years I successfully functioned as a blind person in
claims administration, enjoying a thirty-eight-year career and
rising to middle management.

     I joined a local organization of the blind in August of
1953, but it was another year before I heard about the National
Federation of the Blind. That year my employer received a box of
greeting cards and some literature in the mail from the NFB. I
was immediately asked about this organization and given the
information to review. I agreed with every word in the literature
and suggested to my employer that he would do well to contribute
to the NFB. Additionally, I promptly wrote to NFB headquarters
and requested more information.

     The following year Kenneth Jernigan, then a member of the
NFB Board of Directors, made a trip to upstate South Carolina and
met with Dr. Sam Lawton, founder of the Aurora Club of the Blind.
Dr. Jernigan eased some concerns in the meeting with Dr. Lawton
and facilitated the affiliation of the Aurora Club with the NFB
one year later. In 1956 the three chapters of the Aurora Club
became a state organization and subsequently affiliated with the
National Federation of the Blind.

     I attended my first National Convention in July, 1956, in
San Francisco. There I met two giants in the National Federation
of the Blind. They were Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, the distinguished
founder of the NFB, and Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, who would serve the
NFB as President from 1968, the year of Dr. tenBroek's death,
until 1986 and as President Emeritus until his death in 1998. Dr.
Jernigan had a profound impact on my life and served as my mentor
from the earliest days of our friendship. The sound philosophy
and policies of the National Federation of the Blind have
improved the quality of my life. From the beginning I gave my
best efforts to my employer, attending to my assigned
responsibilities and then some. However, the wholesome philosophy
of the NFB taught me to compete successfully with my sighted co-
workers for recognition, promotions, and salary increases.

     The Capps' home and family life were typical of those of any
family of four during those years. Our two children recognized
that I went to work each day and was a normal dad despite
blindness. In fact my blindness was never an issue with them.
Beth, about five at the time, was playing with a neighborhood
friend one day who remarked, "Beth, your dad is blind."

     Beth responded matter-of-factly, "Yes, and he's smart too."

     Like other blind persons I've had a variety of experiences,
some of which were humorous and others not so pleasant. Some
years ago, in a small town about fifty miles south of Columbia,
where I now live, an old train depot was converted into a seafood
restaurant. It rapidly gained a reputation from Columbia to
Charleston as the best seafood restaurant in the state. During
our first visit the restaurant cashier observed my white cane and
realized that I was blind. She also recognized that we were from
out of town. Upon learning that we were from Columbia, she
commended Betty for being nice enough to drive me there. During
our next several visits the cashier thanked Betty each time for
being so nice to me. Finally, one Saturday afternoon, when my
favorite college football team had lost badly and I was therefore
not in a good frame of mind, we decided to visit this seafood
restaurant. As though she were programmed, the cashier once again
thanked Betty for driving me down. At this point I lost my cool.
I had had enough; I firmly told the cashier that I agreed with
her that it was nice of my wife to drive me down from Columbia,
but it was also nice of me to go to work everyday and make the
payments on the car. From that day on the cashier never thanked
Betty again.

     While the cashier had meant well, it was clear that it had
never crossed her mind that blind people could work, maintain a
home, raise a family, or meet normal obligations. What I have
learned through my years in the National Federation of the Blind
enables me to deal courteously but firmly with this subtle form
of discrimination. The National Federation of the Blind has also
taught me to accept other responsibilities within both my church
and my community. My fellow Rotarians elected me President of the
club in 1974. Other than relying upon a Braille agenda and a
Braille watch, I presided in the same way as any other Rotary
president.

     Always active in the church, I have served a number of terms
on the Board of Deacons and as Chairman of the important
Personnel Committee. One night after I had efficiently presided
at a meeting of the Personnel Committee, one member--a man with
complete confidence in my ability to do the church's business--
said he would be glad to drop me by my house if I could tell him
how to get there. I assured him that I could indeed give him
accurate directions to my house, for otherwise I might wind up in
trouble.

     What is the value of greeting cards? The National Federation
of the Blind greeting cards certainly changed my life for the
better. They brought me a message of hope, and indirectly they
taught me to love my fellow blind. Thus it is impossible for me
to place a true value on the National Federation of the Blind
greeting cards received by my employer some forty-five years ago.
The National Federation of the Blind way of life not only has
greatly enriched my life but has enabled me to work harmoniously
with thousands of blind Americans to improve their lives. For
this wonderful opportunity I am deeply grateful.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Amanda Jones reading Braille]
                      Blind Girl Fills Life
                    with Art, Song, and Books
                     by Russell Dean Newman
                           **********
     From the Editor: Amanda Jones and her twin April have
attended NFB conventions for half their lives. Their grandmother,
Pat Jones, is active in the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children, and the girls have clearly benefitted from their
exposure to NFB philosophy and from their friendships with many
competent blind adults. The following story appeared in the
November 22, 1998, edition of the Chattanooga Free Press. Here it
is:
     She likes to rollerblade and ride her eighteen-speed bike--
especially fast. She plays the clarinet. She sings in the
Chattanooga Girls Choir. She has a boyfriend she doesn't like to
talk about. Her favorite subject is reading. And she's been blind
since birth.

     Twelve-year-old Amanda Jones is in the seventh grade at
Ooltewah Middle School. She and her twin sister April moved to
Chattanooga to live with their grandparents six years ago.
Amanda recently won an award for her essay and artwork on the
subject of "My Family Is Great." She wrote the essay on her
Braille writer and used colored and flexible thin wax sticks for
her bas-relief artwork.

     Amanda relies on her imagination to form an image of what
she feels, hears, and creates, whether she's working with her wax
sticks or her messy pottery wheel. "I know what a person looks
like," she said, "but I don't try to imagine colors."

     Although she was excited about winning the contest, Amanda
thought it was just another language arts assignment.

     "I didn't even know it was a contest until I got a letter,"
she said. "I did my family roasting marshmallows at a campfire
and used the wax sticks because I could tell what I did." She
speaks with lucid and precise words through smiles that fill her
entire face. "[My family] roasts marshmallows up in Wisconsin,"
she said, "and I thought that would be a neat thing to [show]."

     Amanda has straight blonde hair which touches her shoulders.

     Her eyes roll involuntarily, revealing elusive blue irises.
Her winning artwork, which hangs in the Family and Children's
Services (FCS) building on Eighth Street, shows an alluring
arrangement of color. The center of the artwork shows a red and
yellow fire which roasts marshmallows stuck on bright blue
sticks. A green stick figure in each corner of the relief holds a
stick, and the two lower figures rest on blue chairs.

     She'll tell you there is nothing she's prevented from doing
because of her blindness. And it's not a special ability that
allows her to do everything. "It's because I want to," she said.

     She likes to read "any kind of book except biographies,
because they're boring." Amanda began learning Braille in the
first grade, and, like everything else, "it's easy when you get
used to it."

     A black and white Cocker Spaniel named Lady works her way
into Amanda's lap. The seeing fingers feel their way down the
dog's back. "I read R.L. Stine (Goosebumps) books and Grace
Livingston Hill," she said as she manipulated Lady's metallic
orange tag with the fingers of her right hand.

     The first time you see a Braille book can be an eye-opener.
The books are not books. They are extra-large three-ring binders
thick with taupe bump-filled sheets. Amanda needs both hands to
carry this version of an R.L. Stine book from the living room to
the dining room. She walks toward the eight-inch vertical
transition between the two rooms and steps up like she had the
benefit of sight.

     Ask her how she knows just when to step up, and she'll say:
"I'm not stupid."

     She drops the binder on the table and opens the large cover.

     "I just know where I am," she added. She turns several pages
and skims the bumps with both hands; her fingers flow up and down
softly like she's pressing piano keys without producing sound.
She reads aloud with eloquence. The more time spent with Amanda,
the less difference there seems between her and any other twelve-
year-old.

     "You have to order these or ask for them from a library in
Nashville," she said, after finishing a sentence. "There're not
enough books in Braille"--a dilemma when reading is your favorite
school subject and hobby.

     As for her future, Amanda looks forward to a London and
Paris trip with the Girls Choir and has "some things in mind" for
a career. She's considering teaching either home economics or
art. Then again, she might just be a lawyer.

     Amanda does have something to say about being blind.
"There's no difference in [being blind] and being sighted," she
said as she scratched the underside of the table, "except you
have to make some adaptations. And everything is easy once you
get used to it."

     Her persistent optimism remained even after more than an
hour of talking, and she offered some logical ideas about
editing. "Try to put [this story] on the front page," she said,
smiling, "unless the editors have something else important; then
tell them don't worry about it."

     The contest sponsored by FCS coincides with November's
National Family Week. Contestants range from grades one to seven.
At an awards ceremony held at the Read House recently, Amanda
received the winner's certificate, which had been overtyped in
Braille. Cornerstone Bank opened a savings account in her name
and donated her first deposit of $75. Cassy Sebastian, Amanda's
language arts teacher, received a $100 gift certificate donated
by Chattanooga Office Supply to be used for classroom supplies.
                           **********
                           **********
                         Inhaled Insulin
                  by Peter J. Nebergall, Ph.D.
                           **********
     From the Editor: The following article is reprinted from the
Fall, 1998, issue of the Voice of the Diabetic, a publication of
the Diabetes Action Network, a division of the National
Federation of the Blind. Everyone concerned about effective
management of diabetes will be interested in what Dr. Nebergall
has to say:
                           **********
     Ever since insulin was first isolated in 1921, folks have
dreamed of a more attractive way to take it than by parenteral
injection. Who likes needles? Many alternatives to the syringe
have been tried, but the successful ones (the insulin pen, the
insulin pump, needle-free air injection) still had to penetrate
below the skin to inject the dosage. Oral insulin (insulin pills)
was tried but found ineffective because the body's gastric juices
destroyed the medication long before it could be absorbed into
the blood. Early attempts to inhale dry, powdered insulin worked
but proved impossible to moderate; administration produced quick
absorption followed by rapid fall-off.

     The problem was to moderate the response of the inhaled
insulin, to make the dosage reproducible, so that adjustment of
dose would be possible. This has been accomplished. Not unlike
timed-release oral medications, inhaled insulins are encapsulated
in soluble microcapsules to slow their rate of release. The
nature of the human lung dictates rigid size requirements for
such "microcapsules," and the problem has been to achieve these
sizes reliably. Several firms have been working to perfect this
microencapsulation technology. Both Andaris (from Nottingham,
England) and Inhale Therapeutics (from California) have succeeded
in microencapsulating insulin.

     Andaris states: "Preclinical testing is currently underway."
Inhale Therapeutics, working with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer,
has just completed phase two clinicals. Seventy subjects with
type 1 diabetes and fifty-one with type 2 were randomized into
inhaled or conventional treatment regimes. A related study of the
reproducibility of inhaled dosage (through an inhaler device
developed by Inhale Therapeutics) was completely successful.
"Inhaled insulin administration was consistent from dose to dose,
even with inexperienced users...pulmonary dosing is as consistent
as injection."The results of these two three-month trials were
made public at the American Diabetes Association's fifty-eighth
annual scientific sessions in Chicago, Illinois, June 16, 1998.
Researchers reported that, when inhaled insulin was used as a
replacement for quick-acting, mealtime-injected insulin (with
longer-acting basal insulin still injected), the degree of
control was approximately equal, with the added benefit of
increased patient compliance.
Questions:
* Is inhaled insulin available now? No. Phase 3 clinicals are
scheduled to start in November. Estimates are that the new
insulin may be on the market in three to five years.
* Is it a total substitute for injected insulin? No, current
inhalable formulations are designed to cover mealtime needs;
basal insulin would still be injected. This may well change.
* Is it tight control? Not yet. At this time researchers compare
it favorably to one injection of long-acting insulin taken in the
morning. Expect this to improve.
* Is this the wave of the future? Very possibly. Both Inhale
Therapeutics and Andaris report progress on a dozen or more
different inhalable medications. With luck we may not need the
syringe too much longer.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Konnie Hoffman-Ellis]
                   Self-Employed and Loving It
                     by Konnie Hoffman-Ellis
                           **********
     From the Editor: Konnie Hoffman-Ellis was a 1989 NFB
scholarship winner. Can blind mothers juggle home, children, and
job? You bet they can. This is the way one woman has made it
work:
                           **********
     I've always known I wanted to be a teacher. This was made
even more clear to me, though, at the age of thirteen when my
sister and I began teaching our two younger brothers, who,
believe it or not, were fairly willing and receptive students,
even at the tender ages of two and four. Little did I know then
that twelve years later I would be doing something quite similar
in my own home and not in front of a classroom full of children.

     I decided to give tutoring a try after completing my student
teaching about six years ago. I had earned a master's degree in
learning disabilities in addition to my bachelor's in elementary
education, and I was anxious to put my skills to work.

     However, I had found my months of working in the public
school system to be a little disappointing. Because of my major
in special education I was placed in a classroom that served
children with developmental delays, attention deficit disorder,
and various other challenges to academic growth. I found it very
difficult, if not impossible, to help all these students
adequately when their needs were so varied and there were so many
children in the room at the same time. Also our main task seemed
to be to help them complete their daily assignments from their
regular classroom teachers. Unfortunately, our time was so
limited that this usually amounted to little more than giving
them the answers without their really understanding the material-
-a practice that left everyone feeling frustrated because no
long-term skills could be learned or applied.

     Since my student teaching ended in December, I knew it would
be hard to find a job for the remainder of the year. So I decided
to try my hand at tutoring until the next fall, when I already
had a pretty good job prospect arranged. As things turned out,
though, I liked tutoring so much that I decided to stick with the
tutoring business and now plan to do so for a long time to come.

     I love my job for many reasons. For one, I'm putting my
college degree in education to good use, and I'm doing what I
love best--working with children. Although I'm doing this using
somewhat unconventional methods, what I do is more rewarding for
me than teaching in the regular public school classroom. This is
true for several reasons, perhaps the most important of which is
that I'm my own boss and get to stay home full-time with my baby
daughter. I can set my own hours and take time off whenever I
wish to. I also like selecting the textbooks and worksheets from
which to teach and being able to work with the kids one on one
and at the best pace for each child. Perhaps the most rewarding
thing about my job is seeing my students come to the point where
they no longer need my services. In fact, the only disadvantage I
can see to being a tutor is that the income is somewhat unstable
due to the constantly fluctuating number of students.

     However, in my opinion this one drawback is far outweighed
by the many positives. I am always exposed to a variety of people
with a great many different interests and problem areas. At my
busiest time (before I became a mom, which now takes first
priority) I was teaching twenty students, most of whom came at
least two hours a week. The age span ranged from four to sixty-
six. In addition to teaching the basics such as reading, math,
and grammar, I've also taught things like algebra, computer, and
creative writing. I've done everything from helping a senior
citizen get her GED to working with gifted children--and
everything in between.

     How do I do my job? It's really quite simple. First I get
the word out by various means, such as advertising in local
newspapers and on radio stations. I also have brochures which I
pass out whenever I get the opportunity, and I've given some of
these to each of the schools in our area so that teachers can
pass them on to parents if they believe the children could
benefit from having a private tutor. As I become increasingly
well-known, word of mouth is now my best form of advertising as
my former clients give my name to others. I have also put signs
advertising my business at busy intersections and on bulletin
boards in public places. This has usually yielded good results.

     Obviously tutoring requires lots of effort beyond the direct
work with students. However, this is true for any teacher. At
first I was putting in two hours of preparation time for each
hour of tutoring. This time has been significantly reduced,
however, since I can use the materials over and over. To save
money, I did all the initial Braille transcription myself. I had
a reader come in once or twice a week to read the textbooks and
worksheets onto tape, which I later put into Braille. I purchased
a Xerox copier so that I could use the same materials for
different students.

     Most of the parents I have dealt with have been very
supportive and encouraging, even though some were a bit surprised
at first when they learned of my blindness. The topic usually
doesn't come up until they bring the child for the first
appointment, but I am very open about the subject and am more
than willing to explain that, though I sometimes do things
differently, I accomplish the same end results.

     When a student comes to me for help, the first thing I do is
test to determine the grade level at which he or she currently
performs. Then I assess the problem areas and find the
appropriate materials with which to begin teaching. Sometimes I
use the Optacon to correct papers, but I usually just have
students tell me what they're doing as they work, which helps
them as well as me. This method often enables them to catch and
correct their own mistakes, which greatly facilitates the
learning process.

     After the student leaves, I write up that day's performance
in a log on my computer. Every few weeks I give a copy of this
report to the parents so they can see exactly what we've been
doing and evaluate the progress made. I also keep track on my
computer of how much each family owes me and the dates of
previous payments. This makes it easy to print out bills or
receipts if requested. Since I constantly have cash and checks
coming in, it is necessary to keep pretty thorough records.

     My job is also made easier because I have my own office,
where I do my Braille transcription, computer work, and copying.
I have a separate room that I use just for teaching and storing
my materials. Lately I've been tutoring part-time in the evenings
when my husband Bob is home to take care of our daughter Karissa,
but when Dad can't be home, she loves to sit and watch me teach.
She is usually very good. We plan to home school her when she
gets a little older, so she'll probably have a good start on her
ABC's and 1, 2, 3's by then, just by observing me teach these
skills to others.

     In short, I love tutoring because my creativity is
continually challenged: I'm always trying to think of new and
interesting ways to make what I teach fun and motivating for my
students. I would recommend this job to anyone who thinks it
sounds appealing, and I would be happy to discuss it further with
those who have questions. Feel free to contact me at (605) 393-
9512.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: David Andrews]
                         You've Got Mail
                        by David Andrews
                           **********
     From the Editor: If you have dipped a toe into the ocean of
Internet access, you have probably met or conscientiously avoided
a listserv. Federationists frequently inquire about how to join
the various NFB Internet discussion groups. I recently asked
David Andrews, System Operator for the NFB's computer bulletin
board, to compile in one place all the information about our
various discussion lists. The following article is the result:
                           **********
     While the part of the Internet that gets the most attention
is the World Wide Web (www), the Internet service that people use
the most is electronic mail or e-mail. That is just as true for
members of the National Federation of the Blind as it is for our
sighted friends. One use of e-mail which has exploded over the
past several years is mailing lists, also called listservs.

     An Internet mailing list or listserv is a list of people who
use electronic mail to discuss a topic of mutual interest. In
general, when you decide to join a mailing list, you send an e-
mail message to a special address, with some specified words
either in the body of the message or in the To: line or the
Subject: line. Your name is then added to the list of subscribers
to that list, and you will automatically receive in your
electronic mailbox, a copy of every message sent to that list.

     This kind of communication has a number of advantages and a
few disadvantages. First, when properly used, mailing lists allow
for very focused topical and timely discussion. You can get
answers to specific questions quickly. You can also read and
answer mail at your convenience. Support and a real sense of
community can develop--something we know a lot about in the NFB.
On the downside, message threads sometimes wander, and lots of
off-topic messages get posted. Also, because of the impersonal
nature of the medium, people say things that they wouldn't say in
face-to-face conversations--personal attacks, so-called flames.
Nevertheless, inside and outside the NFB Internet mailing lists
are an increasingly popular mode of communication. In fact, over
one hundred lists cater to blind and visually impaired people,
and tens of thousands of lists exist overall.

     The NFB and many of its divisions now sponsor mailing lists.
The majority, but not all of them, are hosted by our computer
bulletin board service, NFB Net. In fact, NFB Net is the
grandfather of all of our discussion lists, having started NFB
Talk and Blind Talk back in 1991. NFB Net hosts eleven lists as
of January, 1999.

     To subscribe to a list on NFB Net, send a message to
<listserv@nfbnet.org>. Leave the subject line blank, and write
the word "subscribe" followed by the name of the list to which
you are subscribing in the body of the message.

     Please note that "listserv" has eight letters: listserv;
there is no e on the end. All the body of the message need
contain is the word "subscribe" plus the list name, which is a
word up to eight characters in length. While names here are shown
preceded by the < and followed by >, these punctuation marks are
the conventional indication of the beginning and end of an
address and should not be included in what you type when
subscribing. Also please note that some of the list names contain
hyphens, which must be used. Finally, each list is available in
two different formats, regular and digest. A regular list means
that you get a copy of each message as it is sent to the list,
and digest mode means that you get only one message every twenty-
four hours. This message contains all the individual messages for
the past 24-hour period. On NFB Net digests are composed and sent
each evening at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

     Below are information on each list and the list names needed
to subscribe. These list descriptions were taken from the
information automatically sent to you when you subscribe to the
list. If you have any problems, please contact David Andrews by
e-mail at either <dandrews@visi.com> or
<david.andrews@nfbnet.org>.

     The purpose of the NFB Talk list is to disseminate
information about the NFB and its activities. It is also intended
for the discussion of the NFB's philosophy of blindness and
topics of specific interest to members of the National Federation
of the Blind and our friends as they relate to the NFB, our
policies, activities, and philosophy. The list name is <nfb-
talk>, and the digest name is <nftalk-d>.

     The Blind Kid list is sponsored by the National Organization
of Parents of Blind Children. Started in mid-January of 1999,
this is our newest list. It shares information for people
interested in the welfare and development of blind children.
Second, it is a means of communication between the members and
supporters of the National Organization of Parents of Blind
Children to promote and discuss the activities of the Division,
such as the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, Future
Reflections, and the like. The list name is <blindkid>, and the
digest name is <kids-d>.

     The Blind Law mailing list is sponsored by the National
Association of Blind Lawyers. The purpose of Blind Law is to
discuss legal matters and topics directly related to blind people
and their blindness. If you have a blindness-related legal
question, post it to the list, and a member of the National
Association of Blind Lawyers will help you. The list is also
intended as a means for the members of the National Association
of Blind Lawyers to stay in contact with each other. The name of
the list is <blindlaw>, and the digest name is bllaw-d>.

     The purpose of the GUI Talk list is to discuss the use of
the Graphical User Interface (GUI) by blind and visually impaired
persons. The GUI includes, but is not limited to, Microsoft
Windows 3.X, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000,
X/Windows, and the Macintosh OS. The GUI can also include
graphical interfaces used on consumer electronic devices, office
equipment, bank machines, and the like. GUI Talk provides a forum
in which we can ask questions and get answers to those inquiries.
We can share tips and tricks, discuss software and hardware used
to access the GUI, and more. GUI Talk also provides access to the
resources and information provided by the International Braille
and Technology Center for the Blind, the world's largest
demonstration and evaluation center for computer technology used
by blind people. The list name is <gui-talk>, and the digest name
is <gtalk-d>.

     Also in the computer arena is the National Federation of the
Blind in Computer Science mailing list. The list is for
discussion of the business and operation of the NFB in Computer
Science. It is a way for our members to keep in contact with each
other, to discuss the business and operation of the division, and
to share information about the worlds of computer science and
technology with each other. The list often contains a variety of
technology-related announcements from both the general and
adaptive marketplaces. The list name is <nfbcs>, and the digest
name is <nfbcs-d>.

     The Human Services Division of the NFB started its own list
in the fall of 1998. The National Federation of the Blind Human
Services Division is an organization of professionals who are
blind and working or aspiring to work in the fields of social
work, psychology, rehabilitation, and counseling. We have
established our own mailing list to trade tips about our
professions and, more important, to trade information and
maintain a forum for discussion about serving and advancing in
our professions. Since our common ground is blindness and
professional status in one of the human service professions, we
will focus most closely on issues involving blindness. The list
name is <humanser>, and the digest name is <human-d>.

     The National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs also has its
own list. If you are a blind person running your own business,
this list is for you. This is the place to exchange ideas and
questions on such matters as speech-friendly bookkeeping
programs, where to get general information about the market and
pricing, how to design visually appealing business materials,
business transportation issues, etc. Let your experience teach
others. The sum of our knowledge is greater than our individual
experience. The list name is <nabentre>, and the digest name is
<entre-d>.

     The next mailing list is sponsored by the National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB). The purpose of
this list is twofold. First, it is a means of communication
between the members and supporters of NAPUB, promoting and
discussing the activities of the Division, such as the Braille
Readers Are Leaders contest and other topics. Second, the list is
intended to promote Braille, Braille literacy, and the use of
Braille generally. The list is an opportunity to share
information about sources of Braille materials, stories about
learning Braille, methods of teaching Braille to children and
adults, discussion of Braille-producing equipment and software,
and anything else Braille-related. There will also be occasional
posts concerning issues of major importance to the blind as well
as announcements concerning activities of NAPUB and the NFB. The
list name is <napub>, and the digest name is <napub-d>.

     Guide dog users also have their own list. The list is
sponsored by the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU),
an NFB Division. The purpose of this list is to provide guide dog
users and other interested people with an easy way to access
information about guide dogs and to assist people to deal with
issues related to working with a guide dog. Topics can include,
but are not limited to, the benefits and disadvantages of using a
guide dog, guide dog schools, training, care, equipment, puppy
raising, public access, legislation affecting guide dog users,
public attitudes about guide dogs and their use by blind people,
and NAGDU activities. The list name is <nagdu>, and the digest
name is <nagdu-d>.

     The National Association of Blind Students (NABS) moved its
list to NFB Net late in the summer of 1998. Here is what they
have to say about themselves and their list: The National
Association of Blind Students is an organization of students who
are blind. We have created our own mailing list, NABS-L, to
provide a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to blind
students in every major and grade. On NABS-L we can ask
questions, suggest solutions, and share experiences. Occasional
posts will also concern issues of major importance to the blind
as well as announcements concerning activities of NABS and the
NFB. The list name is <nabs-l>, and the digest name is <nabs-d>.

     The final list on NFB Net is called Blind Talk. The purpose
of Blind Talk is to discuss general topics of interest to blind
and visually impaired persons, our friends and relatives, and
anyone else who is interested. Possible topics include, but are
not limited to, computers and adaptive access technology, Braille
and Braille literacy, cane travel, guide dogs, alternative
techniques of blindness, and training centers. Blind Talk is
intended to promote the positive philosophy of blindness
developed and promoted by the National Federation of the Blind.
If you wish to subscribe to Blind Talk, send your name and e-mail
address to David Andrews at <dandrews@visi.com> or
<david.andrews@nfbnet.org>, and I will subscribe you. The list is
available in either regular or digest format. Please specify
which list you wish to join.

     All messages on listservs hosted on NFB Net are also stored
on the system for reference or later perusal. You can telnet to
NFB Net by pointing your telnet client to <nfbnet.org>. You can
also dial-in using a standard modem by calling (651) 696-1975. In
addition files, but not messages stored on NFB Net, are also
available via the World Wide Web and via FTP. You can go to
<http://www.nfbnet.org> or <ftp://ftp.nfbnet.org> to retrieve
files, including past issues of the Braille Monitor, Future
Reflections, and more.

     In addition to the lists on NFB Net, a few lists are hosted
by the NFB of California site, which is run by Brian Buhrow,
chairman of the NFB's Research and Development Committee.

     The most popular of these lists, <brl-monitor>, provides the
entire text of the month's Braille Monitor directly to your
electronic mailbox. Well over 400 readers from around the world
subscribe to this list. This is an efficient, timely, and
inexpensive way to receive the Monitor.

     To receive the Braille Monitor electronically, send a
message to <listserv@nfbcal.org>. Leave the subject line blank,
and in the body of the message write "subscribe brl-monitor"
followed by your full name. For example, if I wanted to
subscribe, I would put the following in the body of the message:
subscribe brl-monitor David Andrews. I would then send the
message to <listserv@nfbcal.org>.

     The NFBCAL site also hosts the Blind Professional
Journalists list. Here is part of the message sent to new
subscribers:

     "Welcome to the Blind Professional Journalists Listserv!
This list is an informal gathering place for people who want to
ask questions and exchange ideas on how blind people succeed in
journalism. We welcome working journalists or those who intend to
write for a living on deadline. We expect that our group will
include writers employed at newspapers, magazines, TV stations,
or public affairs departments. We also welcome students wanting
to pursue journalism careers or former journalists who, after
becoming blind, wish to acquire effective alternative techniques
for working in our highly competitive arena.

     "Among the topics we expect to discuss in the listserv are
technology that lets you manipulate information quickly and on
deadline; reportorial techniques specific to blindness, ranging
from managing the interview to managing visual aspects of the
story; nuts-and-bolts solutions concerning transportation; and
techniques for working with reader/driver/assistants, employment
issues specific to blind professionals--from how to get hired to
how to fund adaptive equipment--and ways of cracking
informational barriers in order to keep you informed so you can
do your job exceptionally well. To subscribe to this list, send a
message to <listserv@nfbcal.org> and put "subscribe nfb-bpj"
followed by your name in the body of the message."

     The NFBCAL site also hosts lists for the NFB's Research and
Development Committee and the Science and Engineering Division.
The NFB-RD list discusses matters of interest to the committee as
well as topics related to the development and use of technology
by and for blind persons. To join the list, you must contact
Brian Buhrow, chairman of the committee, at <buhrow@nfbcal.org>.
Tell him a little about yourself, who you are, and what interests
you about technology for the blind.

     Finally, there is the NFB Science and Engineering Division
List. It discusses topics of interest to division members as well
as subjects of interest and use to blind scientists and
engineers. To join the NFBSE list, contact the Division
President, John Miller, at <millerja@isl.stanford.edu>. Again,
tell him a little about yourself, who you are, and what interests
you about science and engineering. You need not be blind to be on
these last two lists; you just need to be interested in blindness
issues as they relate to these topics.

     If your NFB division or group wishes to start its own list,
please have the President or an authorized officer contact David
Andrews by telephone at (651) 696-1679 or by e-mail at
<dandrews@visi.com> or <david.andrews@nfbnet.org> to make the
arrangements. See you online.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Doris Willoughby]
                       A Special Memorial
                     by Doris M. Willoughby
                           **********
     From the Editor: Doris Willoughby is one of the finest
teachers of blind children in the country today. She is also a
longtime member of the National Federation of the Blind whose
teaching philosophy has been shaped by her experience as a
Federationist. In the following little article she pays tribute
to Dr. Jernigan and makes an announcement of interest to everyone
committed to effective instruction for blind children. This is
what she says:
                           **********
     Dr. Jernigan loved language. He taught grammar and made it
interesting. He enjoyed puns and other wordplay. His hundreds of
speeches and articles made him a truly great author and speaker.

     I have been privileged to write a few articles and books
(often together with Sharon Monthei), but we did not compose them
alone. The National Federation of the Blind, with Dr. Jernigan's
leadership, was always behind us. Dr. Jernigan arranged the
publication of the Handbook for Itinerant and Resource Teachers
of Blind and Visually Impaired Students. People constantly tell
us how helpful this book has been in a particular child's
education.

     For several years Sharon and I have been working--under Dr.
Jernigan's guidance--on another book that will fill a great need.
Modular Instruction for Independent Travel for Students Who Are
Blind or Visually Impaired: Preschool Through High School is
designed as a flexible, practical guide for teaching cane travel
to students of preschool age through high school.

     Why have we called it modular instruction? Curriculum guides
for various subjects often return to topics again and again.
These may be called cycles, threads, or strings. Each teacher
selects activities for instruction, as appropriate for various
circumstances. Modular Instruction is organized by topics such as
"Compass Directions," "Back Yard Boundaries," and "Alternate
Routes Within a Building." It offers specific suggestions for
activities and assumes that the teacher or parent will select
activities according to individual needs. Modular Instruction
went to press in late 1998. We hope that, by the time you read
this article, it will be available from the Materials Center,
National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21230. It will have a dedication page at the front
reading, "In loving memory of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, who inspired
this book and arranged its publication."
                           **********
                           **********
               NFB Honored at Technology Showcase
                           **********
     From the Editor: The following article appeared in the
December 10, 1998, edition of the Baltimore Sun.
                           **********
           Computers for Blind Open Eyes at Cyberfair
                         by Mark Ribbing
     Subtitle: A highlight of the opening of the state's
Technology Showcase was the exhibit of the computer software and
devices for the blind.
                           **********
     The hottest trends in high-technology are on display at the
Maryland Technology Showcase, which began its two-day run
yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center. Children line up
three deep to try Apple's new computer; TV monitors show off
crisp digital pictures; booth after booth heralds a better,
faster way of connecting to the Internet.

     Gaining access to such wonders, of course, requires a
certain amount of technical know-how and money, but it often
demands something even more basic: sight.

     For the blind and visually impaired the digital age poses
new difficulties as well as new opportunities, and society's
ever-increasing reliance on video and graphics for information is
not an entirely welcome trend.

     "The world is becoming seemingly more and more visual," said
Tom Ley, a product manager at Blazie Engineering in Forest Hill,
who develops computer technologies for the blind. "More things
are based on sight rather than on touch in a lot of ways. A lot
of things are given to you in pictures rather than in words
nowadays.

     "We as blind people have been striving for years to
incorporate ourselves into society. It's crucial for us to have
access to new technology."

     Toward that end, the National Federation of the Blind became
the featured nonprofit of the Technology Showcase. The Baltimore
organization, founded in 1940, is trying to make high technology
more accessible to the sightless.

     Ley manages a line of portable computers that the visually
impaired can use as a personal organizer, clock, word processor,
and phone directory.

     The computer, called "Braille 'n Speak," has a seven-button
Braille keyboard that is used to record words and data. To read
what is on the machine, the user listens to the device's
computerized voice. Much like a Palm Pilot or other hand-held
electronic organizer, Braille 'n Speak can transfer its
information to a regular personal computer.

     The Federation seeks to encourage computer makers, software
companies, and World Wide Web site developers to consider the
needs of the blind and visually impaired as they develop new
products, a campaign that the organization says has met with
mixed success.

     Curtis Chong, the Federation's director of technology, said
the difficulty in persuading companies to take the needs of the
blind into account stems largely from a lack of understanding.
"It's hard to understand a blind person's having trouble using
your Web site when you can't even imagine a blind person's
getting out of his house to go to work," he said.

     Blind and visually impaired people can gather information
from a personal computer in one of two main ways. The more common
method uses software that enables the computer to generate a
voice that reads onscreen text. One example of this software is
JAWS, which allows the sightless to use the Windows operating
system.

     Spoken-word systems can be pricey. Chong said JAWS and
similar programs can easily add $800 or more to the cost of a
computer.

     However, this is less expensive than the other method for
making computer screens legible to the blind, known as "paperless
Braille." This system, also known as "refreshable Braille," is a
line of small bumps at the bottom of a computer keyboard.

     As the computer scans a line of text, it commands some of
the bumps to rise and others to sink, creating a line of Braille
that conveys the text to the reader.

     After reading a line, a person presses a button, telling the
computer to set up the next line of Braille. Blazie Engineering
offers Braille Lite, a version of Braille 'n Speak that uses
paperless Braille.

     Betsy A. Zaborowski, the Federation's director of special
programs, said these methods have made it easier for the blind to
use computers and check out Web sites, but obstacles remain. "We
have made a lot of progress in that we have pretty good access to
text-based systems, but systems that have more graphics present
tremendous challenges to us."
                           **********
     That was the article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun. A
plaque was presented to the NFB at an afternoon reception during
the Technology Fair. Here is the text:
                           **********
                  Maryland Technology Showcase
                       December 9-10, 1998
                  with sincere appreciation to
                National Federation of the Blind
                     in recognition of your
                   outstanding contribution to
                  Maryland Technology Showcase
                      Parris N. Glendening
                            Governor
                    Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
                          Lt. Governor
                           **********
                           **********
        A New Service for Hearing-Impaired Conventioneers
                      by Curtis Willoughby
                           **********
     From the Editor: Curtis Willoughby is a member of the NFB's
Research and Development Committee and head of our Ham Radio
Interest Group. Here is his announcement:
                           **********
     This year at National Convention we will offer a new service
to severely hearing-impaired people attending convention sessions
and the banquet. Many of these folks already use hearing aids
that employ FM radio signals to carry the voice from a
transmitter held by the person speaking to a receiver in the
hearing aid. At state and local meetings hearing-impaired
Federationists often place their transmitters at the head table
to be used by the president and others addressing the group.

     This year at convention the Federation will provide a
transmitter for such systems. It will be connected to the PA
system; the signals from the head table and the aisle mikes will
be transmitted to all those who have their hearing aid receivers
tuned to the Federation's channel.

     To use this system, hearing-impaired delegates must tune
their receivers to channel 36 (74.775 MHz narrow band FM). They
must not have their own transmitters tuned to channel 36 since
that would interfere with reception by others. This means that
they need to have their personal receivers arranged so that they
can switch between their personal channels and channel 36. Some
people may need to purchase replacement or additional receivers.

     This announcement is printed now to allow as much time as
possible for those interested to make the necessary arrangements
before convention.

     The Federation is pleased to offer this new service to our
severely hearing-impaired colleagues, and we hope and believe
that it will significantly improve their convention experience.
                           **********
                           **********
                 Dialysis at National Convention
                          by Ed Bryant
                           **********
     From the Editor: Ed Bryant is President of the Diabetes
Action Network, a division of the National Federation of the
Blind. In the following little article he provides important
information for anyone on dialysis who is planning to attend the
1999 convention in Atlanta. This is what Ed says:
                           **********
     During this year's convention of the National Federation of
the Blind in Atlanta Wednesday, June 30, through Tuesday, July 6,
dialysis will be available. The convention will take place at the
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center in downtown
Atlanta. Those requiring dialysis must have a transient patient
packet and physician's statement filled out prior to treatment.
Conventioneers must have their unit contact the desired location
in the Atlanta area for instructions well in advance.

     Individuals will be responsible for, and prior to each
treatment must pay out of pocket, the approximately $30 not
covered by Medicare plus any additional physician's fees and any
charges for other medications.

     Dialysis centers should set up transient dialysis locations
at least three months in advance. This helps assure a location
for anyone wanting to dialyze. There are many centers in the
Atlanta area, but the city is large, so early reservation is
strongly recommended if you wish to avoid long taxi rides.

     Here are some dialysis locations:
                           **********
* Dialysis Clinic, Inc., Piedmont, 120 Piedmont Avenue NE,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303, telephone (404) 888-4510.
* Dialysis Clinic, Inc., West Peachtree, 820 West Peachtree
Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 888-4520.
* Gambro Healthcare (on Ralph McGill), 448 Ralph McGill
Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, telephone (404) 872-7211.
* Gambro Healthcare Atlanta, 400 Decatur Street, Atlanta, Georgia
30312, telephone (404) 577-9097.
* Gambro Healthcare Peachtree, 524 West Peachtree Street,
Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 249-1563.
                           **********
     Please remember to schedule dialysis treatments early, to
ensure space. If scheduling assistance is needed, have your
dialysis unit's social worker contact Diabetes Action Network
President Ed Bryant at (573) 875-8911. See you in Atlanta.
                           **********
                           **********
                             RECIPES
                           **********
     From the Editor: This month's recipes are offered by members
of the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille
(NAPUB).
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Ruth Sager]
                          Spinach Balls
                          by Ruth Sager
                           **********
     Ruth Sager is the Secretary of the National Association to
Promote the Use of Braille.
                           **********
Ingredients:
2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained
2 to 3 scallions, chopped fine
2 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Mix
6 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crumbled thyme
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
                           **********
     Method: Combine all ingredients and mix well. If necessary
for handling, chill thirty minutes. Form into one-inch balls and
place on baking sheets. Freeze until firm. Store in plastic bags
until ready to bake.

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place balls on baking sheets
that have been lightly greased with cooking spray. Bake 20
minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot. Makes about three dozen
hors d'oeuvres.
                           **********
                           **********
                           Crab Cakes
                          by Ruth Sager
                           **********
Ingredients:
2 slices bread, crusts removed
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 pound crab meat or imitation crab meat
about 1/4 cup milk
                           **********
     Method: Break bread into small pieces and moisten with milk.
Add remaining ingredients and combine thoroughly. Shape into
patties about two inches in diameter and either fry in hot oil or
broil on lightly oiled broiler pan at 400 degrees for twelve
minutes. Turn cakes halfway through cooking time.
                           **********
                           **********
                     Pasta With Pesto Sauce
                          by Ruth Sager
                           **********
Ingredients for Pesto Sauce:
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 clove garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons Pecorino Romano cheese
                           **********
     Method: Combine basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, and
salt in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Add
the cheeses and process about ten seconds more.
                           **********
1 pound pasta (your choice)
2 tablespoons pine nuts
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium potato, boiled and sliced
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil for garnish
                           **********
     Method: Prepare pasta as directed on package label. Rinse
and thoroughly drain. Transfer pasta to a pre-heated serving
bowl. Add the pesto sauce, pine nuts, olive oil, potato, and salt
and pepper. Toss lightly to coat the pasta thoroughly. Sprinkle
with fresh basil.
                           **********
                       Dutch Apple Cobbler
                          by Ruth Sager
                           **********
Ingredients for Filling:
5 cups cored, peeled, sliced tart apples
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla mixed with 1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon margarine
                           **********
Ingredients for Batter:
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons margarine, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
                           **********
     Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch
square baking pan; set aside. Mix all filling ingredients in a
medium mixing bowl and arrange evenly in prepared baking pan. Mix
batter ingredients together in a separate bowl. Using a spoon,
place batter on top of apples in nine mounds. Batter will spread
during baking. Bake for thirty-five to forty minutes or until
apples are fork-tender and crust is firm and golden brown. Cool.
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Warren Figueiredo]
                          Bread Pudding
                      by Warren Figueiredo
     Warren Figueiredo serves as NAPUB Treasurer.
                           **********
Ingredients
1/2 stick butter or margarine
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
3 cups day-old bread, crumbled
2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 cup raisins
one half of a 20-ounce can crushed pineapple
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon nutmeg
                           **********
     Method: Butter a 13-by-9 casserole or baking dish. Melt
remaining margarine and add to beaten eggs, milk, bread, sugar,
fruits, nutmeg, and vanilla. Place pudding in dish and bake at
350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. Serve with hard sauce.
                           **********
                           **********
                           Hard Sauce
                      by Warren Figueiredo
                           **********
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2 to 3 tablespoons brandy
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
                           **********
     Method: Beat butter with electric mixer or rotary beater
until soft and fluffy. Add sugar, a little at a time, and
continue beating until thick and glossy. Stir in brandy. Serve
with warm bread pudding or apple pie.
                           **********
                           **********
                         Crabmeat Mornay
                      by Warren Figueiredo
                           **********
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 small bunch chopped green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons flour
1 pint half and half (breakfast cream)
1/2 pound grated Swiss cheese
1 tablespoon sherry
Cayenne pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 pound white crabmeat
                           **********
     Method: Melt butter in heavy pan and saute onions and
parsley. Blend in flour, cream, and cheese, stirring until
mixture thickens and cheese is melted. Add remaining ingredients
except crab meat and stir to blend flavors. Gently fold in
crabmeat. Heat thoroughly. Wonderful served over Melba toast or
Triscuits.
                           **********
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Nadine Jacobson]
                  Mandy's Marinated Fruit Bowl
                       by Nadine Jacobson
                           **********
     Nadine Jacobson is First Vice President of NAPUB and Vice
President of the Minnesota Parents of Blind Children.
                           **********
Ingredients for Dressing:
1/4 cup amaretto
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
                           **********
Fruit:
1 pint strawberries, quartered,
2 cups seedless grapes,
1 cup honeydew balls,
2 kiwis, sliced,
1 apple, cored, peeled, and sliced,
2 cups fresh pineapple, cubed
                           **********
     Method: In small bowl combine dressing ingredients and set
aside. In a large mixing bowl combine fruit. Pour dressing over
fruit and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Before serving,
garnish with mint leaves if desired.
                           **********
                           **********
                           Lemon Bars
                       by Nadine Jacobson
                           **********
Ingredients for Crust:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
                           **********
Ingredients for Filling:
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons flour
                           **********
     Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients for
crust and press into 8- by 8-inch pan. Bake twenty minutes.
Combine filling ingredients, pour over partially baked crust, and
return to oven for another twenty minutes. Cool pan on rack. If
desired, sprinkle powdered sugar over bars after they have
completed baking.
                           **********
                           **********
                           Greek Salad
                       by Nadine Jacobson
                           **********
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
2 cucumbers, peeled and diced
3 tablespoons onion, chopped
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
2/3 cup pitted black olives
1 cup mayonnaise
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
                           **********
     Method: Combine and mix all ingredients together. Serve over
lettuce leaves and garnish with tomato wedges.
                           **********
                           **********
                       Monitor Miniatures
                           **********
Notice:
     If you receive the print edition of the Braille Monitor,
please look carefully at the page numbering of the
January/February issue. We would appreciate your notifying the
National Center, (410) 659-9314, if you find missing pages or
duplicates. We will replace flawed issues to those who return
their copies. We very much regret any inconvenience you may have
experienced.
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Al Maneki]
Honored:
     Al Maneki is a leader in the NFB of Maryland. We recently
received the following information from the U.S. Department of
Defense:

     On October 19, 1998, during its eighteenth Annual Awards
Ceremony, the Department of Defense presented Al Maneki with the
Outstanding Employee with a Disability award.

     The field in which Dr. Maneki works, cryptographic
mathematics, requires a strong technical foundation in
theoretical mathematics. Analysts spend much of their time
reading, writing, and publishing. Due to his degenerative eye
disease, Dr. Maneki relies on computer-assisted tools to stay
current in his special area.

     Dr. Maneki received his doctorate from the Illinois
Institute of Technology. He has been the first co-worker with a
disability for many National Security Agency employees. His can-
do attitude puts people at ease and helps make him a welcome team
member. In his spare time he is active in the National Federation
of the Blind of Maryland.
                           **********
Marching Together in White Cane Week:
     On May 16, 1998, fifty Federationists and their friends
gathered to take part in a Walk for Independence in Philadelphia.
A representative from the city presented and read a proclamation
declaring May 16 to 22 as White Cane Week. Then the enthusiastic
walkers set off to educate the public and raise funds for the
affiliate. Here is the letter Jim Antonacci wrote about the event
to President Maurer:
                           **********
                                        July 27, 1998
Dear President Maurer:

     On Saturday, May 16, 1998, The National Federation of the
Blind of Pennsylvania held our first Walk For Independence. The
Walk was sponsored jointly by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter
and the Keystone Chapter. Our objectives were to increase the
awareness of city officials and the general public about the NFB
and to use the event as a vehicle through which both
Philadelphia-based chapters and members of the Parents of Blind
Children could work together cooperatively to raise funds for the
state affiliate by soliciting sponsors who contributed based on
the number of blocks walked.

     I am pleased to report that these objectives were achieved.
Participation in the planning and execution of the event went
smoothly. The fifty people who participated represented equally
the memberships of the chapters and division. We noted that
walking the entire distance with their canes were our oldest
Pennsylvania Federationist, who was eighty-eight years of age,
and our youngest Federationist, who was six. The proclamation
awarded by the City of Philadelphia is the first of its kind for
some years. We hope that the funds raised this year will be only
a start in our ability to fund the NFB of Pennsylvania.
                           **********
                                                       Sincerely,
                                         Jim Antonacci, Secretary
                                              NFB of Pennsylvania
                           **********
Elected:
     A number of affiliates have conducted elections during
recent months. Here are the results reported by several:

     The NFB of Rhode Island elected officers at its October 24
convention. They are Barry Humphries, President; Richard Gaffney,
Vice President; Mary Jane Fry, Recording Secretary; Kenneth
Bryant, Treasurer; and Angelina Tiexeira, George Harrington,
Adrina Baligian, and Catherine Gaffney, Board Members.

     On Sunday, November 8, 1998, the NFB of Connecticut elected
the following officers: Betty Woodward, President; Jeff Dittel,
First Vice President; Mark Tardif, Second Vice President; Frank
Holzli, Secretary; Bruce Woodward, Treasurer; and Carolyn Dodd,
Tom Barretta, John Padilla, and Louis Pape, Members of the Board
of Directors.

     At the twenty-second annual convention of the National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, the following officers and
board members were elected: Joseph Ruffalo, President; Ever Lee
Hairston, First Vice President; Tracey Hall, Second Vice
President; Jerilynn Higgins, Secretary; Gloria Lewis, Treasurer;
and Betty Hightower, Jerry Moreno, David Mostello, and Ryan
Stevens, Board Members.

     The NFB of California recently elected Jim Willows,
President; Nancy Burns, First Vice President; Maria Morais,
Second Vice President; Jana Littrell, Secretary; and Ellen Paxon,
Treasurer. Elected to the Board of Directors were Bryan Bashin,
Donovan Cooper, Geraldine Croom, and Paul Carver.
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Henry Manuel "Hank" LaBonne, March 26, 1932, to
December 27, 1998]
In Memoriam:
     Harold Snider reports the following sad news.

     Hank LaBonne was a Cajun born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He
was educated at the Louisiana School for the Blind in Baton Rouge
and was active in its alumni association. After graduation Hank
went into the music business, travelling the southeastern states
with bands from New Orleans. He played piano and sang. During the
early 1970's he entered the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program in
Louisiana, managing vending facilities in New Orleans and Baton
Rouge. He joined the National Federation of the Blind when its
Louisiana affiliate was re-organized in 1975 and helped host our
National Convention held in New Orleans in 1977. He moved to
Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the early 1980's after having served
as president of the Louisiana affiliate for several years. In
Chattanooga he became president of the Chattanooga Chapter and
served on the Board of the state affiliate until his death. He
received the distinguished Thomas Jefferson Award for Community
Service in 1997, which was presented in Washington, D.C. He was
quick to embrace the newest innovations to help blind people in
his community by initiating one of the first local NEWSLINE(R)
Centers through the service-delivery agency on whose board he
served for many years.

     Hank liked nothing better than to party with his friends.
Many Federationists will remember gatherings in his room during
Washington Seminars and National Conventions. Hank loved life and
loved people. He was well-known in the Chattanooga area for
teaching Braille and the alternative techniques of blindness to
many blind children. He clearly understood the value of literacy
for the blind. Hank's death was widely reported on radio and
television and in the newspapers in both Chattanooga and New
Orleans, where he is buried. We will deeply miss this wonderful
man who was our friend.
                           **********
Employed:
     At the time of this writing the Job Opportunities for the
Blind Targeted Jobs Initiative program has hit the ground
running. The JOB program is a little more than six months old.
Ten people successfully completed the technology training program
at the National Center for the Blind before year's end. Of those
ten, three began new jobs in late December and early January.

     Darlene Barker has taken a position with Blazie Engineering.
Maurice Peret of West Virginia has taken an instructor position
at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Joyce Porter from
Washington, D.C., has taken a position with our affiliate in
Texas to work on a JOB grant that the NFB of Texas has received
to do job development.

     Congratulations to all three!
                           **********
Audio Darts Tournament:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Audio Darts of Pittsburgh will hold its second Harold
Schlegel Darts Tournament during the weekend of March 26 to 28,
1999. This tournament will be held at the Best Western Motel,
3401 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For room
registrations call (412) 683-6100. The first event will be at
7:30 p.m. on Friday, and the tournament should conclude at 5:00
p.m. on Sunday. The cost of the entire tournament will be $65.
Please make all checks payable to Audio Darts of Pittsburgh and
mail to Louis Wassermann, 2503 Silver Oak Drive, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15220. For more information call Lois Briggs (412)
366-2630, Harold Schlegel (412) 921-0172, or Joe Wassermann (412)
687-5166.
                           **********
Braille Sterling Designs Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Kim Christiansen, the designer of the Braille jewelry many
of us have grown to love, has announced he is now out of
hibernation and ready to fill orders once again. The latest
addition to his line is an adorable miniature book pin cast in
pewter. Available in shiny pewter or 18K gold electroplate, it is
one by one-and-one-eighth by one-eighth. "Read for Fun" is on the
cover in Braille and on the spine in print. The pin sells for
$20. The combination signing and Braille "I Love You," hand pin,
and other pieces are available by calling Kim's new phone number,
(603) 643-4096, or mail to P.O. Box 583, Hanover, New Hampshire
03755.
                           **********
Correspondents Wanted:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     I want to correspond with those who share an interest in
old-time radio, playing Trivia, American pop culture, sitcoms and
comedy, spectator sports and wrestling, most kinds of pop music
from 1955 to the present, listening to BBC and American music
shows, and trading songs on tape. I also enjoy Tom Leykis,
bowling, fishing, miniature golfing, and playing sports like
those. Contact Joe M., 20401 Soledad Cyn. Rd., Sp. 522, Canyon
Country, California 91351-2556.
                           **********
Elected:
     At its November 19, 1998, meeting, the Cincinnati Chapter of
the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio elected the
following officers: Ken Velkovich, President; Bill Innis, Vice
President; Bernie Dressell, Secretary; Paul Dressell, Treasurer;
Judy Cook, three-year Trustee; Elias Coorey, two-year trustee;
and Margaret Stinnett, one-year Trustee.
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: From left to right are Mary Main, Bruce Woodward,
and NFB of Connecticut President Betty Woodward. The picture was
taken at the 1998 picnic of the Danbury Chapter.]
In Memoriam:
     Bruce Woodward, Treasurer of the NFB of Connecticut, writes
as follows in celebration of the life of a remarkable woman:

     Mary Main was a very special person to me and to many
others, both in Connecticut and across the country. She died
early on the morning of November 8, 1998, at the age of ninety-
five. She was surrounded by her loving family. Mary Main was a
wonderful friend and comrade in the organized blind movement. She
often chatted with Dr. Jernigan on the telephone, and these two
enjoyed a special friendship. Her delightful sense of humor, her
great instinct for what was right, her complete and intellectual
grasp of the philosophy of the Federation, and her ability to get
things done were her chief attributes. Business aside, she was a
fascinating friend to listen to and share experiences with.
Nothing could be finer than to share cocktails and stories with
Mary before an NFB banquet. Her life's experiences and her keen
observance of human nature were an inspiration.

     She was the founder of the Stamford Area Chapter of the NFB
of Connecticut. Joe Tolve, a longtime member of the Stamford
Chapter, wrote the following testimonial to Mary:

     "She taught us to respect ourselves and to contribute to
society. With her wise counsel all of us are living greatly
enhanced lives. She always recognized our strengths and
weaknesses, quickly advising us how to correct whatever
difficulty we might be facing. `Believe in yourself,' she told me
once, `and you will get that occupation you desire.' She was
instrumental in getting me to realize this truth. I got the job
that I wanted; I became an active member in our community, a
writer of short stories and books; and I learned about computer
technology, which I now freely share with newly blind adults--all
because of Mary Main's enriching philosophy."

     I have not mentioned her early life or her career as a
writer or the well-known books she wrote, including Evita. I have
spoken only of her as a dear friend devoted to all of us in the
National Federation of the Blind. We will miss her and cherish
our memories of her.
                           **********
Summer Music Institute for Young Musicians:
     The Summer Music Institute, National Resource Center for
Blind Musicians has asked us to carry the following announcement:

     The Music and Arts Center for the Handicapped is accepting
applications from motivated blind musicians throughout the United
States, tenth grade and up, to participate in its fourth Summer
Music Institute for blind college-bound musicians. The three-week
program, to be held in July at the University of Bridgeport, will
provide exposure to music Braille, music composition by computer,
keyboard, theory, ensemble, and strategies for independence in a
college setting. Enrollment is limited to ten students who will
be accepted based on their applications and telephone interviews.
Cost of the program (including tuition, room and board, and
materials) is $2,000. Partial scholarships are available.
Applications must be completed and returned by May 1. Students
under the age of fifteen or in need of significant financial help
should apply early.

     The National Resource Center for Blind Musicians provides
information to musicians, students, and teachers on music Braille
and accessible music technology. The Center can provide advice
about music systems or put people in touch with someone in its
national network of blind musicians with experience in a
particular aspect of the field.

     For an application to the Summer Music Institute or to reach
the National Resource Center, contact the Music and Arts Center
for the Handicapped, 600 University Avenue, Bridgeport,
Connecticut 06601, phone (203) 366-3300, e-mail
<102730.163@compuserve.com>.
                           **********
Tactile Drawings and Maps Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     The following maps and supporting information are available
from the Princeton Braillists:

     Maps of individual U.S. states: each booklet contains
introductory information and detailed maps showing cities, rivers
and lakes, major highways, physical features, county boundaries,
and agricultural and mineral resources. Included are
Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode
Island, Vermont, Maine, Florida, and New Jersey. Price per
booklet, $6 (shipping by free mail).

     Basic Human Anatomy: cross sections of the head and brain,
nose-mouth-throat, tooth, respiratory tract, heart, digestive
system, villus, urinary tract, kidney, nephron, nerve cell, eye,
ear, skin, male and female reproductive systems, and fetus in the
womb. Eighteen drawings with keys, thirty-one pages total. Price,
$15, including shipping.

     Atlas of North and South America: three units in four
volumes. Maps show boundaries, mountains, rivers and bodies of
water, elevation, major cities only, climate, land use, and
resources. Each unit is self-contained and can be used alone.
Unit 1, Northern North America (Canada and United States); Unit
2, the United States (two volumes); and Unit 3, Middle and South
America. Price of four-volume set, $56, including shipping.
Individual volumes cost $15, packing and shipping is $4 for one
or two volumes.

     Atlas of the Middle East: covers seventeen countries,
including a page of facts and a full page for each country,
twenty-five maps with keys, sixty-nine pages total, $20 including
shipping.

     Maps of Russia and Its Former Republics: shows boundaries,
rivers, and major cities as of 1997, six maps, sixteen pages
total, $4, free mail.

     Maps of Morocco: seven maps with keys, nineteen pages total,
$5, free mail.

     Each booklet is bound with cardboard covers and a multi-ring
binder. Send check or purchase order to the Princeton Braillists,
28-B Portsmouth Street, Whiting, New Jersey 08759, (732) 350-
3708. Credit card and fax service are not available. Please allow
four to six weeks for delivery. For further information call
(609) 924-5207.
                           **********
Jumbo Brailler For Sale:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     I purchased a Perkins large cell Braille writer last year. I
thought that it would help me to read Braille more easily.
Unfortunately, due to the loss of feeling in my fingers, it did
not work. I paid $850 from Howe Press and am asking $500. The
Braille writer comes with a dust cover and a wooden eraser. I
will ship it free matter for the blind. I will accept only money
orders, no checks please. I would appreciate all correspondence
in large print or on cassette tape with name and address spelled
out. Contact Melissa Zeoli, 211 Scituate Vista Drive, Cranston,
Rhode Island 02920.
                           **********
1999 Guide to Toys for Blind Children Now Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Toy
Manufacturers of America (TMA) have released the latest edition
of Guide to Toys for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The guide is a one-of-a-kind resource for parents, grandparents,
and teachers that contains commercially available toys and games
appropriate for children of all ages who are blind, have low
vision, or have multiple impairments that include visual
impairment. It features 100 new toys with an emphasis on
multimedia and interactive toys in a wide price range. An
introductory section makes it easier for adults choosing toys to
understand the selection criteria used and shows readers how to
apply these criteria beyond the products appearing in the guide.

     Single copies and supplies of the Guide to Toys for Children
Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired are available in full-color
print or on audio cassette free of charge by contacting American
Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, New
York 10001, phone (800) 232-5463; or Toy Manufacturers of
America, 200 Fifth Avenue, Room 740, New York, New York 10010,
fax (212) 633-1429.
                           **********
Correspondents Wanted:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Alexander Moskovskiy, a visually impaired Russian
veterinarian, seeks pen friends. Please e-mail to
<mag@gbs.spb.ru>.
                           **********
Managed Care Consumer Bill of Rights:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     The State of New York has recently published the Managed
Care Consumer Bill of Rights. It explains consumers' rights to
better health care and recent developments in the managed care
industry, including Medicare and Medicaid. It focuses on the
regulation, quality, benefits, and choices that the average
consumer has concerning managed care. The book is available on
audio tapes for $25. Contact Richard Kirsch, (518) 465-4600, e-
mail <PPEF@aol.com>.
                           **********
Celebrating Rehabilitation Teaching:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Division 11 (Rehabilitation Teaching Services) of the
Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and
Visually Impaired will sponsor "Rehabilitation Teaching: The Next
Century Conference 1999" July 23-27 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The
conference is planned as a two-day work session and a two-day
celebration of the 150th anniversary of rehabilitation teaching.
Designed as an opportunity to bring together leaders in the
field, the work groups will create documents addressing critical
issues in the field of rehabilitation teaching. A poster session
depicting the breadth of the profession and vendor exhibits will
be featured during the sessions. For more information contact
Lisa-Anne Soucy at (914) 831-7199 or <lasm@compuserve.com>.
                           **********
Phone Card Plus With Talking Yellow Pages Now Available:
     President Maurer reports that one long-distance telephone
service offers a talking yellow pages service. You can dial in to
the talking yellow pages service and specify the company you are
looking for. Listings in your area will be offered which can be
automatically dialed to ask for quotes or do other business. Dr.
Maurer dialed in "hot tub" and received twelve listings for local
services.

     The National Federation of the Blind receives a contribution
from Phone Card Plus for each person who signs up for service.
The number to use for requesting this service is (800) 365-5737.
                           **********
For Sale:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     I have the following for sale: Alva 20-cell unit, $2,100.
Braille 'n Speak 640 with carrying case, adapter, learning tapes,
$850. DECtalk Express with external speech synthesizer, $325.
Jumbo Brailler just refurbished at Howe Press, no case, $450.
Office 97 on CD-Rom, $125. All items listed are in excellent
condition, and the prices are negotiable. Contact Isaac Obie, 755
Tremont Street, Apartment 205, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; phone
(617) 247-0026, or e-mail to <Iobie@world.std.com>.
                           **********
New Chapter:
     Brian Miller, Secretary of the Old Capitol Chapter of the
NFB of Iowa, reports that in June of 1998 the Old Capitol Chapter
conducted its inaugural meeting as a newly chartered chapter in
the Greater Iowa City area. The following officers were elected:
Priscilla McKinley, President; Mickey Fixsen, Vice President;
Brian Miller, Secretary/Treasurer; Loren Schmitt and Paul Snow,
Board Members.
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Toni Eames]
Honored:
     On October 24, 1998, at a ceremony conducted in Columbus,
Ohio, Toni Eames was inducted into the National Hall of Fame
(NHF) for Persons with Disabilities. Founded in 1981 by John
Clark, Jr., who serves as Executive Director, NHF's goal is to
honor outstanding Americans with disabilities for their personal
achievements and contributions to humanity. Toni joins previously
inducted nationally renowned figures such as Judy Heumann, I.
King Jordan, Nell Carney, Ed Roberts, Bree Walker, and Tom
Sullivan. Posthumous inductees have been Helen Keller and
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

     Toni Eames was selected because of her outstanding career as
rehabilitation counselor, author, and lecturer. This career has
been supplemented by her advocacy work on behalf of all disabled
people, particularly those partnered with guide, hearing, and
service dogs. Her role in the creation and development of the
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) was
an important factor in receiving this honor. Currently she serves
as vice president of the Fresno Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of California and is a member of the
Fresno ADA Council and transportation committee.

     Along with husband Ed she has co-authored two books, A Guide
to Guide Dog Schools and Partners in Independence: a Success
Story of Dogs and the Disabled. She has published articles in
Mainstream, Ragged Edge, Disability Studies Quarterly, Braille
Monitor, Pawtracks, Harness Up, Dialogue, Cats, and Good Dog, as
well as writing a regular column for Dog World magazine.

     As a team Toni and Ed have lectured at twenty-three of the
twenty-seven veterinary schools in this country and will visit
the remaining four schools in 1999. Their goal is to educate
veterinary students about the needs of disabled clients,
particularly those partnered with guide, hearing, and service
dogs.
                           **********
Positions Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Clovernook Center in Cincinnati is recruiting for a variety
of positions in its production facility. Openings include
packers, material handlers, machine operators, and utility
personnel. Contact Mike Walsh, Clovernook Center for the Blind,
7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231, (513) 522-3860, an
equal opportunity employer.
                           **********
Elected:
     The Blueridge Chapter of the NFB of Virginia recently held
elections with the following results: Woodrow Berry, President;
Stewart Owen, First Vice President; Angela Matney, Second Vice
President; Melvin Montgomery, Treasurer; Cathy Owen, Recording
Secretary; Gwen Beavers, Corresponding Secretary; and Cleo Mauck,
Andrea Montgomery, and Charlie Morris, Board Members.
                           **********
Blazie Engineering Announces Improved Product Warranty and latest
catalogue:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Blazie Engineering announces a new one-year warranty,
effective November 1, 1998. Blazie's entire line of portable
talking notetakers, including the Braille 'n Speak 2000, Type 'n
Speak 2000, Braille Lite 2000, Braille Lite 40, and Type Lite,
will be covered under the policy. Also warrantied for one full
year are Blazie's disk drive accessory and the Braille Blazer
embosser.

     Owners of all devices sold after October 1, 1998, will
benefit from the improved guarantee against manufacturing
defects, which represents a more than 400 percent increase in
coverage from previous company policy. Those customers after
October 1, 1998, ordering an optional service agreement at the
time of purchase will receive an additional year of coverage, for
a total of two years.

     Blazie Engineering also announces publication of its 1999
catalog featuring more than sixty items. Included are the entire
family of Blazie's talking notetakers, notetaker software and
accessories, Braille embossers, screen-reading software, speech
synthesizers, Braille graphics software, Braille translation
software, computer accessories, and more. In addition to Blazie
Engineering's own products, manufacturers represented include
Duxbury Systems, Raised Dot Computing, Henter-Joyce, MicroTalk,
Syntha-Voice, Digital, and others.

     Blazie's newest products, including the PowerBraille
refreshable Braille displays, are this year's standout. An
expanded selection of application software written especially for
Blazie notetakers includes the new program Book `Em. Book `Em
compresses files to nearly half their original size without
encoding them, practically doubling available memory. Also new is
a spreadsheet program for notetakers called Braille Calc.

     Blazie Engineering's 1999 catalog is available free in large
print, in Braille, on audiocassette, or online by accessing
<blazie.com>.

     For more information about Blazie products or the new
warranty, contact Blazie Engineering, 105 East Jarrettsville
Road, Forest Hill, Maryland 21050. Telephone (410) 893-9333, or
visit its Web site at <www.blazie.com>.
                           **********
Focus Groups at National Convention on Barriers to Employment:
     We have been asked to announce the following:

     What rehabilitation techniques or reasonable accommodations
have been successful for NFB members in getting jobs? What do
exemplary service providers use to overcome barriers to
employment of the blind? Two focus groups will offer NFB members
attending the 1999 National Convention in Atlanta the opportunity
to provide answers to these and related questions. Each group, to
be conducted during the afternoon or evening of Thursday, July 1,
will include eight to ten members. After an introductory
explanation and summary of barriers to employment of the blind
identified by previous research, group members will brainstorm to
identify and develop new techniques for overcoming barriers to
employment of the blind. Those interested in participating should
contact Lynn W. McBroom, Ph.D., at the Rehabilitation Research
and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, P. O. Box 6189,
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, or call Dr. McBroom at
(601) 325-7828.
                           **********
Vacancy Announcement:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     The Michigan Family Independence Agency (FIA) is currently
accepting applications for the Director of the Michigan
Commission for the Blind Training Center (MCBTC), located in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. This position is classified as a State
Division Administrator 17. The salary will be based on pay for
performance. The minimum base rate will be $24.57 per hour and
the maximum base rate will be $37.70. The position receives
direction from the Michigan Commission for the Blind Director.

     Selection Criteria:
* Thorough knowledge and understanding of blindness and of the
issues facing blind persons in Michigan.
* Knowledge and experience administering a diversified service-
delivery program for blind persons, including independent living,
employment, and vocational rehabilitation.
* Knowledge and experience supervising administrative functions
such as personnel, budget, facility maintenance, clinical
services, or capital outlay projects.
* Demonstrated commitment to strategic planning and
implementation, as well as the ability to work with all levels of
management and lead and serve on management teams.
* Experience networking with community groups, statewide business
or governmental organizations, or political leaders to develop
mutually beneficial programs.
* Proven leadership qualities and excellent communication skills,
including public speaking.
Bachelor's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation is required as
well as two years of experience as a professional manager or
equivalent experience. Closing date for resumes to be received is
March 17, 1999. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for April 1
to 6, 1999.

     Michigan FIA is an equal opportunity employer. Interested,
eligible applicants should submit a resume to Personnel Services,
Attention Leila Frangie, Grand Tower, 235 South Grand Avenue,
Suite 710, P.O. Box 30037, Lansing, Michigan 48909.
                           **********
Elected:
     The Clark County Chapter of the NFB of Washington recently
elected new officers. They are Michael Freeman, President; Bob
Sellers, Vice President; Don Mitchell, Secretary; and Nancy
Martin, Treasurer.
                           **********
Diabetes Action Network Drawing:
     The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of
the Blind provides support and information to thousands of
people. Because operating this valuable network and publishing
the Voice of the Diabetic cost money, we must generate funds to
help cover these expenses. Our Diabetes Action Network will
conduct a raffle, which will be coordinated by division treasurer
Bruce Peters.  The grand prize will be $500! The winning ticket
will be drawn and the winner's name announced on July 5, 1999, at
the NFB Convention banquet.

     Raffle tickets cost $1 each, and a book of six may be
purchased for $5. Buy your tickets from state representatives of
our Diabetes Action Network or by contacting the Voice Editorial
Office, 811 Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, Missouri 65201,
telephone (573) 875-8911. Anyone interested in selling tickets
should also contact the Voice Editorial Office. Tickets are
available now. Names of those who sell fifty tickets or more will
be announced in the Voice.

     Please make checks payable to the National Federation of the
Blind. Money and sold ticket stubs must be mailed to the Voice
office no later than June 10, 1999, or delivered personally to
project chairman Bruce Peters at this year's NFB convention in
Atlanta, Georgia. This raffle is open to anyone age eighteen or
older, and the holder of the lucky raffle ticket need not be
present to win. Each ticket sold is a donation, helping keep our
Diabetes Action Network moving forward.
                           **********
Snail Mail by E-Mail:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     NetGram Incorporated of San Diego, California, announces its
patented e-mail to postal mail conversion system known as the E-
mail Bridge. The system allows Internet users to send postal
letters directly from their e-mail programs without purchasing
and installing additional software. The system also includes a
full-featured Address Book and Customer-Account pages accessible
from the NetGram Web site. Preparing and sending postal mail is
as easy as sending an e-mail message.

     The E-mail Bridge allows users to create e-mail inboxes on
the NetGram server, which represent actual hard-copy
destinations. Once a message is sent to the system, NetGram
validates the message and prepares it for printing at a NetGram
Print Center. The letters are then delivered to the U.S. Postal
Service. The cost of sending a single-page postal letter to any
recipient in the United States is 89 cents. NetGram sells postage
in amounts of $10, $20, and $30 and maintains the postage in the
customer's account.

     Privacy of the postal address information is guaranteed
because NetGram does not release the postal addresses of either
senders or recipients to third parties for any reason.

     The system is currently in use by international users
wishing to send letters to family and friends in the United
States and businesses wishing to outsource their document
production and delivery. The system is available to Internet
users directly from the NetGram Web Site
at<http://www.netgram.com>.

     Curtis Chong, Director of the NFB's Technology Department,
reports that the NetGram Web site requires users to have a Web
browser which supports secured sockets, something which Internet
Explorer Version 3.02 does not. However, the most current
versions of Explorer, Netscape, and Lynx for Unix do; so with
relative ease a blind person can do all that is necessary to
access the NetGram Web site.
                           **********
Elected:
     The Northern Hills Chapter of the NFB of South Dakota
elected the following new officers: Minni Erickson, President;
Louis Calesso, Vice President; Ariana Calesso, Secretary; and
Jessie Nelson, Treasurer.
                           **********
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Joe Shankle]
In Memoriam:
     Seville Allen, First Vice President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Virginia, writes with the following
deeply distressing news:

     Our Virginia affiliate has lost one of its principal
leaders. Federationist Joe Shankle died on January 18, 1999. He
was on his way to meet Federation friends for dinner three blocks
from his home when he was hit by a pickup truck as he crossed a
familiar street.

     Joe was a cornerstone of our affiliate. A member of our
Board of Directors, he generously opened his cafeteria and hosted
NFB-V Board meetings, played a key role in building our positive
relationship with the Virginia General Assembly, was mentor to
many of our successful blind business people, and was a highly
respected and familiar figure throughout the Richmond area.

     He will be remembered for his dedication and persistence in
his work with the Randolph-Sheppard program. He fought for the
independence of the facility operators under the program. He was
our chief watchdog over Randolph-Sheppard matters and authored
related convention resolutions. Joe's persistence resulted in
automating many business practices employed by facility
operators. His automated spreadsheets for tracking inventory and
making required reports are now well-known. Joe was a chief
organizer of our Virginia Blind Merchants Association and served
as its President throughout most of its fifteen-year history. At
the time of his death Joe was a member of the NFB Merchants
Division board of Directors. He was President of the Virginia
Vendors' Council for more than fifteen years, and after he had
completed his time on that Council, he was still sought out for
advice on vendor issues.

     When he wasn't doing direct Federation work, he was making
new plans for his customers at the federal cafeteria in downtown
Richmond. He was manager of one of the largest cafeterias in the
Randolph-Sheppard program. Joe's Cafeteria, its official name,
was designed by Joe. He served between twelve and thirteen
hundred lunches a day. He had just completed plans for expanded
hours to feed IRS employees as they worked into the evening.

     While Joe's talent and skills were well-known within our
Federation family, he also had an impact on the rest of his
community. An article appearing in the January 20, 1999, Richmond
Times Dispatch carried quotations from people whose lives he
touched: "...Richmond Circuit Judge Robert W. Duling said Shankle
"treated every one of his customers like they were the most
important people in the world."

     Roger Burgess, district director for the Virginia-West
Virginia district of the Internal Revenue Service, said Shankle
"positively touched the lives of all of us." "He was a leader for
his own staff and an inspiration for them. He stood as a positive
example of making the most of life's challenges," Burgess
said...."

     In addition to his dedication to the Federation and his
successful career, Joe was the husband of Federationist Roberta
Shankle (known to us as Bert) and father of three children:
Daughter Mitzi Shaw of Richmond and sons Army Specialist Jay
Shankle of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Jeffrey B. Shankle of
Lynchburg.

     On January 21, while almost a thousand Federationists,
family, and friends gathered at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church
to say goodbye to Joe, the Virginia General Assembly House of
Delegates passed our Access Technology bill, for which Joe had
worked tirelessly. The vote was ninety-seven to zero.

     Joe won't be with us as we walk the halls of the General
Assembly in the years to come; we will miss his hearty greetings
as we gather to do our Federation work. However, we will take his
memory along as we continue the work he loved.
                           **********
Braille and Cassette Books Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     I Can See Books is a Braille and cassette book store. With
1,000 books listed in our 1999 catalog, we can virtually
guarantee that any popular book you wish to read is available in
Braille or on audio cassette. Our books are high-quality, low-
cost books, many of which have never been produced in alternate
format before now.

     In addition to providing the books listed in our catalog, we
will perform very reasonable transcription services of any pocket
book onto audio cassette. We will also produce any article from
the World Book Encyclopedia in Braille or on tape, as well as
offering over fifteen speech-friendly computer games and
utilities, written by our expert computer programmer.

     Our catalog is available at our Web site at
<www.ncf.carleton.ca/~dr100> or by e-mail at
<dr100@ncf.carleton.ca>.

     If you wish to receive a free cassette or computer disk
catalog or wish to purchase a Braille or print price list for
$10, please contact us through e-mail or by writing to I Can See
Books, 88 Captain Morgans Boulevard, Nanaimo, British Columbia,
V9R 6R1 Canada, or call (250) 753-3096.
                           **********
Full-Time Braille Proofreader Needed:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     Braille International, one of the largest producers of
Braille in the United States, is seeking a full-time Braille
proofreader. He or she must re-locate to Stuart, Florida, for
which re-location expenses are negotiable. NLS certification is
desirable but not essential since on-the-job training is
available.

     The job offers good benefits (including medical), starting
salary in the range of $7.35 to $8.90 an hour, depending upon
certification and experience. Applications and resumes (in
Braille) and inquiries should be addressed to Mr. Geoffrey Bull,
Braille International, Inc., 3290 SE Slater Street, Stuart,
Florida 34997, telephone (800) 336-3142, 7:30 to 4:00 (EST).
                           **********
Tours Available:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

     The following tours planned and conducted to be enjoyable by
blind people are now available:

     (1) Washington, Mt. Vernon, and Monticello: Cherry Blossoms
and Presidents (April 5-12); (2) Little Italy and Gourmet Dining
in New York (May 20-25); (3) California, the Land of the Lotus
Eaters: San Diego to Los Angeles (June 24-July 3); (4) The Gold
Coast of Historic Long Island (early September); and (5)
Treasures of Hawaii: Paradise Islands (Mid-October).

     Contact Robert Wilhelm, The Campanian Society, Inc., Box
167, Oxford, Ohio 45056, phone (513) 524-4846, fax (513) 523-
0276, e-mail to <campania@one.net>, Web site
<http://www.one.net/~campania/>.
                           **********
                           **********
                           NFB PLEDGE
                           **********
     I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the
National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality,
opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies
and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its Constitution.

