The Braille Spectator Spring 1993
                      The Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland



                                                OCEAN CITY 1993

    Start thinking now about Ocean City in the FALL! The 27th annual
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will
be held at the fabulous Princess Royale, 91st Street and the Ocean,
Friday October 29 through Sunday October 31. 
    Excellent room rates and luxurious accommodations! Swimming pool,
sauna, jacuzzi, and fine dining! Action-packed convention program!
Friday night Halloween partybring costumes! 
    See the next Braille Spectator for room reservation forms.
    Please start collecting door prizes (cash or merchandise) for
this convention. Call (410) 992-9608 for copies of our door prize
request letter. You must be registered and present when your name
is called to win a door prize. 
    See you in Ocean City!


BISM NAMES REHAB DIRECTOR:
LERDAHL HAS 21 YEARS IN WORK WITH BLIND

by Al Maneki

    After its managerial retreat last November, Blind Industries and
Services of Maryland (BISM) announced the selection of a new
director for its rehabilitation program. Rosemary Lerdahl, the
assistant director of the National Federation of the Blind's Job
Opportunities for the Blind Program and a 21-year veteran in the
field of work with the blind, assumed the duties as director of
BISM's rehabilitation program on January 4, 1993. Ms. Lerdahl fills
the position that had been left vacant for over six months. Her
qualifications for this position are impressive. Her strong
commitment to promoting independence and competence for blind
persons will be an asset to both BISM and its students. 
    Ms. Lerdahl brings a unique perspective to her new positionone
that many other sighted professionals lack. Legally blind during
her childhood, she was a consumer of services for blind and
visually impaired persons throughout high school and college,
giving her first hand experience of receiving services from a state
rehabilitation agency. Normal vision was restored by surgery after
she completed her university studies. 
    After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a
Bachelor's degree in psychology and social work in 1970, Ms.
Lerdahl began her career in work with the blind as a part time
typing teacher at the Nebraska Services for the Blind and Visually
Impaired in 1972. After several months, she was assigned to the
mobile rehabilitation team which traveled across Nebraska to
attempt to rehabilitate blind persons in their local communities.
As a team member, she taught travel, typing, and homemaking skills.
The Nebraska agency soon realized that this type of training was
inadequate, and replaced it with a residential orientation center
which could provide clients with more intensive training. Ms.
Lerdahl taught travel and typing at the new orientation center, and
served as its assistant director during 1975-76. 
    From 1977 to 1984, she was the supervisor for the Nebraska
Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired's district office in
Lincoln. In this position, she not only supervised the
rehabilitation teachers and counselors, but also carried her own
case load of as many as 100 clients. In 1984, she returned to the
Nebraska Orientation Center as its director, a position which she
would hold for the next five years.  Her duties included: managing
the apartment complex in which the students lived during their
training, supervising the center's staff, and developing a
rehabilitation program which taught relevant skills and promoted
positive attitudes about blindness. 
    In 1989, Ms. Lerdahl moved to Baltimore, Maryland to become the
assistant director of the Job Opportunities for the Blind program.
As the assistant director, she provided information and guidance to
blind job seekers, assisted employers with providing reasonable
accommodations, and educated employers on the abilities of blind
persons. "Moving to Baltimore was the biggest risk I ever took in
my life, leaving my family and friends in Nebraska," Ms. Lerdahl
said. "But the NFB provides a very loving and caring environment to
work in, and this gave me the chance to grow in my understanding of
blindness and to learn many new skills." 
    Ms. Lerdahl is enthusiastic about building a strong
rehabilitation program at BISM. "The key ingredient to a successful
rehabilitation program for blind persons is having a staff that
really believes in the capabilities of the blind," she said. Ms.
Lerdahl has already initiated a discussion group on blindness for
students and staff which meets twice a week, and has taken the
students and staff on exciting field trips. 
    Concerning her own attitude toward blindness, one of the most
meaningful experiences for her was her first National Federation of
the Blind conventionChicago, 1975. She remembers a blind
rehabilitation counselor inviting her and her roommate to join him
for dinner. They walked through the busy and unfamiliar streets of
Chicago, over a draw bridge to reach their destination. "I knew
nothing about the place, so I had to trust my blind colleague.
After this experience, I thought seriously about my own attitudes
toward blindness," she said. 
    Ms. Lerdahl looks forward to the challenge of helping the
students and the staff at BISM to explore their own attitudes and
to develop a positive view of the inconvenience of blindness. She
truly believes in the capabilities of blind persons. 




SHOULD YOUR CHILD
LEARN BRAILLE?
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS

    From the Editor: As a result of the passage of the Maryland
    Literacy Rights and Education Act in 1992, the Maryland State
    Department of Education published a resource document entitled
    SELECTION OF READING AND WRITING MEDIA FOR STUDENTS WITH
    VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS: BRAILLE, PRINT, OR BOTH. This document
    provides guidance and assistance to the ARD/IEP Committees
    when making decisions about a student's reading and writing
    needs. The law mandates that, annually, the ARD/IEP Committees
    discuss the question of the appropriateness of teaching
    Braille to a visually impaired student. Since parents are
    important members of the ARD/IEP Committees, and since the
    National Federation of the Blind frequently assists parents in
    advocating for their children, we are reprinting Appendix B,
    Assessment Questions for Families and Students, from this
    resource document. Anyone wishing a copy of the entire
    document should call Sharon Maneki (410-992-9608). Appendix B
    is as follows:    

    The questions listed below are samples to help the family/student
contribute valuable information. Not all questions are appropriate
for each student. Some questions address all students, some
preschoolers or prereaders, and some address older students. They
have been written for the parents/guardians; however, the wording
can be easily changed to be used with students. It is important to
remember that each student is unique, with different perceptions,
strengths, and needs. The teacher must be sensitive and aware of
these so that families and students will feel comfortable giving
their impressions and information.

Medical Factors
-   What do you know about the diagnosis and prognosis of your
    child's eye condition?
-   What was the age of onset?
-   Are there any other family members with the same condition?
-   Have you observed any changes in the visual functioning of your
    child?
-   Have there been any changes in the visual acuity or visual
    field?

FUNCTIONAL VISION INFORMATION

Physical Factors
-   How close does your child hold a book or picture to his/her
    face?
-   How long can your child read at one sitting without fatigue or
    pain?
-   Does your child squint, tilt the head, or get into other unusual
    positions while reading, writing, looking at a book, or picture
    on television?
-   Does your child complain of headaches, eye fatigue, or other
    physical discomforts? What seems to bring on these complaints?
Environmental Factors
-   Does your child take a book to a special place in the home to
    look at or read it?
-   Does your child show a difference in visual functioning
    according to the time of day, seasonal changes, environmental
    changes (rainy day versus sunny day, going from a dark room to
    the outdoors, etc.), lighting conditions, etc.
Print Reading Factors
-   Does your child read regularly?
-   Does your child pretend to read?
-   Is your child interested in books, in pictures?
-   Does your child avoid reading for school or pleasure?
-   After school hours, does someone read school work to your child?
    Recopy handouts or texts? How much time is spent on these tasks
    in an average day or week?
Handwriting Factors
-   Is your child interested in using crayons or pencils?
-   Can your child read his/her own handwriting, especially after a
    few days or weeks have passed?
Low Vision Technological Factors
-   Does your child use any low vision devices at home?

PROJECTED READING AND WRITING NEEDS

-   What are your future expectations for your child?

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Cognitive Development
-   Does your child examine objects visually and/or tactually?
-   Does your child appear to see some colors more easily than
    others?
-   Does your child have a preference for certain colors, color
    combinations?
-   Does your child have difficulty identifying any colors?
-   How does your child select books?
-   How well does your child interpret pictures, maps, graphs, etc.?
    Does he/she ignore them, enjoy them, ask for help in
    interpreting them, find them frustrating, etc.?
-   Does your child have trouble with spelling and/or punctuation?
Affective Development
-   Does your child pretend to "see" in order to please others?
-   Is your child interested in television? How close does he/she
    sit?
-   Does he/she seem to listen to it more than look at it?
-   What are your concerns/priorities for your child?
-   What resources have you used?                           


JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SATISFACTION:
TWO CHALLENGES FOR BISM

by Sharon Maneki
    In their presentation at our 1992 state convention, Fred Puente
(Board Chairman), Richard Brueckner (President), and David Reed
(Director of Sales and Marketing) reported that, despite the
Department of Education's law suit, Blind Industries and Services
of Maryland (BISM) was able to offer new opportunities for blind
persons in its industries division. The establishment of a new
department for assembly contracts at the Baltimore plant generated
additional revenues and resulted in the hiring of an additional 50
blind persons in 1992. I toured this department on January 30,
1993. I want to share some of my thoughts about BISM with readers
of the Braille Spectator. 
    Unlike the traditional sheltered workshop contracts which come
from the National Industries for the Blind, David Reed explained
that most of BISM's new business in assembly work comes from the
private sector. One exception, the calendar project from the state
of Maryland, was nevertheless a new contract for BISM. Employees in
both the assembly and paper departments were needed to produce
12,000 wall calendars and 25,000 desk calendars. I was impressed
with the volume and variety of work that was in progress during my
visit. Employees were hard at work repackaging Glad Wrap for
display pallets for First Brands Corp. They were assembling
shipping containers for Stephen Gold Corp., an intermediary which
supplies containers for companies throughout the nation. They were
also assembling special promotion packages for McCormick Schilling,
the famous Baltimore spice company. 
    BISM started to look for business in the private sector in 1990.
Its first success, manufacturing reusable tote bags for Giant
Foods, remains a lucrative operation. Shortly after the assembly
department was started, BISM set up a telemarketing operation to
seek out other assembly contracts. Contracts are developed by
calling corporations listed in the Dun & Bradstreet and Harris
directories which are available in electronic media. The electronic
media facilitates the transcription of telephone numbers into
Braille or large print for the four blind persons currently
employed in telemarketing. Thus far, the telemarketers' efforts
have resulted in large contracts with A&A Plastics for the assembly
and packaging of toys for vending machines, and with Nation Ruskin
for the promotion packaging of sponges and a variety of other
cleaning products. It is also worth noting that there are three
blind lead employees in the assembly department who have some
supervisory responsibilities. 
    BISM's success in developing private sector business in a period
of economic recession is impressive. During my tour, David Reed
told me that BISM is anticipating even further expansion, with
plans for the assembly of automatic pencils used by draftsmen and
accountants, packaging fax paper, and processing overhead
transparency products for plain paper copy machines. 
    For all of its success, I believe that BISM is suffering from
growing pains. To maintain a competitive position, BISM has had to
streamline its operations and adopt new procedures to manage its
industrial employees. I believe that the management has not
adequately explained the need for these changes to the employees,
has not sufficiently involved them in the decision-making process
which led to these changes, and has failed to demonstrate to them
that these changes are also in their interest. Certain management
practices, such as keeping some employees on temporary status for
extended periods to avoid the payment of benefits, also seem to
have eroded employee morale. (The problem of keeping employees on
temporary status has recently been resolved.) Under these
circumstances, it is not surprising for the industrial employees to
be somewhat skeptical and resentful. I question whether BISM's
management fully appreciates the fact that blind employees are no
different from sighted employeesgive them the motivation and the
tools, and they will get the job done. The challenge for BISM is
not only to land new contracts but also to win the loyalty of its
employees, to shorten its supervisory chain of command, and to
empower its industrial employees with real decision-making
responsibilities. 
    The decline in federal contracts has been steep. With even larger
cuts in government spending on the way, it is unclear whether BISM
will be able to generate enough private sector contracts to
maintain its present level of employment. Layoffs have already
occurred this year. While I commend BISM for its successful efforts
to expand its operations, I encourage BISM to do a better job of
managing its industrial employees. I congratulate both the
telemarketing and production employees for proving once again that
given training and opportunity, blind persons are as productive and
competent as sighted persons. 


                                        READING MEDIUM OF YOUR CHOICE,
                                                 DORS PROMISES

    From the Editor: The following letter was written by James
    Jeffers, Assistant State Superintendent In Rehabilitation
    Services, in response to Resolution 92-05, adopted at our 1992
    convention, in which the Division of Rehabilitation Services
    (DORS) is taken to task for its failure to provide materials
    to blind and visually impaired clients in accessible media.
    Mr. Jeffers assures us that DORS will provide all of its
    materials in Braille, in large print, or on audio cassette. We
    strongly urge all blind and visually impaired clients of DORS
    to take full advantage of this offer. You should request that
    DORS provide you with copies of your IWRP, and information
    about DORS programs and servicesthe client assistance
    program, the vending program for the blind, the Maryland
    Rehabilitation Center, the financial needs test, client rights
    and responsibilities, appeals procedures, etc. in the reading
    medium of your choice. If you encounter difficulties obtaining
    these materials in a timely manner, please call the National
    Federation of the Blind of Maryland (410) 992-9608. 

December 9, 1992
Dear Ms. Maneki:

    Thank you for your letter of November 1, 1992, and the copy of
resolution 92-05 by the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland concerning the lack of accessible materials for blind
clients.
    I can assure you that every effort is made by the Division's
staff to communicate with blind and visually impaired clients about
the rehabilitation services that are available under the
Rehabilitation Act and of their rights and responsibilities and the
services available under the Maryland Client Assistance Program
(CAP). The Division is also making every effort to provide this
information in an accessible format for blind and visually impaired
clients.
    The Client Assistance Program (CAP) does provide blind clients
with braille copies of its brochure entitled "Clients Rights and
Responsibilities." Braille copies were initially made available to
the specialized counselors serving blind individuals and will be
available for use by all counselors in the near future.
    The program of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired
Individuals is producing these braille copies and will also have
audio tape copies of the CAP brochure for distribution to all field
counselors for their blind clients who may prefer this mode of
communication. Large print copies of this brochure are produced as
needed.
    Although I am confident that no blind client has ever been denied
a copy of the IWRP by their counselor in accessible format, I am
taking immediate action through the Office of Client Services to
ensure that blind clients are informed of this option and that they
will be provided a copy of their IWRP in braille, audiotape, or
large print, as needed.
    The Division's goal is to provide accessible information and
materials to its clients who are blind or visually impaired. We are
developing the capacity to respond to this need in a more timely
fashion and welcome positive suggestions by you on any
materials/information we may have overlooked that would be helpful
for our clients.
    Contrary to the statement contained in resolution 92-05, the
Division is committed to providing timely and quality services to
all its clients, including those who are blind or visually
impaired. We will continue to make every effort to inform clients
of the resources available to them and how they can maximize 
their access to rehabilitation programs.

Sincerely,
James S. Jeffers


MONTGOMERY COUNTY GETS A BRAILLIST

by Barbara Cheadle

    Reprinted from Horizon, the Family Newsletter of the Parents
    of Blind Children Division of the National Federation of the
    Blind, Winter '92/Spring '93.

    We live in a world of paper. Even kindergartens are inundated
with paperwork. And more and more of the paperwork assignments
given to today's students are taken from non-textbook sources. The
days when a student had one textbook in each class, and all
classroom and homework assignments consisted of, "Do questions 1
through 15 on page 54 of your book" are no more. Outside reading
sources and teacher-made materials account for more and more of the
students' required workload.
    What this means for the blind Braille student is that, more than
ever, he or she needs the services of a Braillist. In this day and
age of technology, let me hasten to explain that a Braillist is not
a machine, it is a person; a trained and certified Braille
transcriber knowledgeable in the Braille code and skilled in
transcribing all manner of material for the elementary through high
school student. As great as computers and Braille printers are,
they do not replace skilled Braillists. They are truly the unsung
heroes in the education of the blind Braille students. The presence
or absence of a Braillist can literally determine whether or not a
blind student has the opportunity to do all the same work and
participate in all the same academic and extracurricular activities
as her or his sighted classmates.
    Needless to say, when the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland and the Parents' Division was informed this fall that
Montgomery County school district could be in danger of losing a
Braillist position, we went into action.
    It turned out that the Braillist position was unfilled, and no
action was being taken to announce the vacancy and get it filled.
What was especially puzzling about this situation was that a
secretary within the Montgomery county vision program had, on her
own initiative, taken the Library for the Blind correspondence
course and received her certification as a Braille transcriber. It
is the responsibility of the supervisor of the vision program to
advertise and fill the Braillist position. Money wasn't a problem.
The position was already in the budget. The need was there, the
position existed, a qualified person was available to fill it. So,
why wasn't something being done? With school districts cutting
budgets all over the start, it was clear that unless action was
promptly taken to fill the Braillist position, it was in danger of
being lost altogether.
    To make sure this did not happen, representatives of the NFB of
Maryland and the NFB of Maryland Parents' Division went straight to
the Montgomery County School Board. For two consecutive meetings in
November we appeared before the Board during the public comment
period and testified to the Board about the need for this position
to be advertised and filled. Not long afterward, we were advised by
letter that the Braillist position had been filled!
    In a time of budget cutting and belt tightening, the blind and
the parents of blind children must be ever alert to the danger of
losing vital services. We must be prepared to stand up and speak
out for what our children need. By joining together and doing this
as an organizationnot as isolated individualswe have greater
clout and more impact. Without the intervention of the NFB of
Maryland and our Parents' Division, Montgomery county Braille
students might still be without a Braillist today.


SAUCE FOR THE GANDER

by Tom Bickford

    From the Editor: Tom Bickford was a subject in a test
    administered by Donna Sauerberger. We will have more to say
    about this testits assumptions, methodology, and
    conclusionsin a future editorial. 
    When I am a participant in a test group, and I know that someone
will write me up and make comments on my performance in the test,
it seems fair to me that I should be allowed to make comments on
the test and the test givers. This test will make news soon because
it is on the subject of warning strips for the blind at street
crossings. Excuse me, I am taking things out of order.
    The test was given under similar circumstances in several cities
in 1992 and 1993. My test administrator guided me to an unfamiliar
area in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. I was asked to approach
ten pre-selected intersections starting anywhere from fifteen to
one hundred feet back from the intersection, cautioned that I might
pass driveways and parking lots, and instructed to stop when I was
within one step of the street; that is, when the next step would be
into the street. When I stopped more than one step back from the
curb, I was told I was not close enough. When I arrived at each
curb, I was asked what clues had shown me that I was there.
    Each intersection was unique. There was a variety of driveways,
rounded corners, sign posts, intersecting sidewalks, shallow curbs
and wheelchair rampsmany of which were useful landmarks. At the
first intersection the sidewalk was absolutely flush with the
street. The tenth was the only one with a traditionally-sized step
down to the street. It was a quiet time in the afternoon with
almost no traffic.
    I failed to identify one narrow street which had no traffic and
almost no curb because I thought it was another driveway. I missed
another street when I heard a car waiting to cross the area of the
sidewalk in front of me. I stopped fifteen feet back to let the car
proceed. After half a minute or so I decided that the car must be
waiting to come out of a parking lot and, since there was no other
traffic anywhere, I stepped out, passing a one-inch curb which I
identified later. After two steps my test administrator took my arm
and told me that it was a street and that the car had been waiting
for a light.
    At the very end of the test the final question was, "Would it
have been easier if there had been tactile warning strips at the
curb?" My answer was, "Not necessarily."
    Now it all comes out. It was a set up. This was a study to
promote the installation of tactile warning strips at intersections
and other drop-offs such as subway platforms. The only criterion on
which I and the other test subjects were tested was, could we stop
within one step of the curb. We were not tested on comparable curbs
with and without truncated domes which would have made the final
question relevant.
    Well, friends, I say it this way. When I am in an unfamiliar
area, I use my cane, my feet, my ears, my nose, my sense of time
and distance, and all the common sense I can muster. When I think
I am approaching a street, I am sometimes cautious enough to stop
before I get "within one step of the curb."
    I think the way to make travel safe for blind people is not to
install truncated domes at every intersection in these fifty
states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. If the professionals want to ensure
safe travel for blind people, they need to believe in the
capability of blind people to travel safely. Then they need to join
those of us who can and do travel in spreading the word to the rest
of us who are doubtful about our abilities. That way we will not
need a bumpy strip for the blind at every intersection in the
nation.
    First, you must believe that safe cane travel by the blind is
achievable. The next three steps are these: (1) Get a cane that is
long enough. I suggest one that reaches two steps in front of you.
(2) Swing and tap the cane wide enough to find the obstacles and
landmarks in front of you. I suggest a little wider than your
shoulders. (3) Feel, smell, listen to, and think about everything
around you. Of course, there are more details than that, but with
some practice you will be able to travel, and you won't need
special "bumpy strips for the blind."


                                                   MEMORIES

    From the Editor: As readers of the Braille Spectator are well
    aware, Anna Cable, a long time member of the National
    Federation of the Blind, will celebrate her 100th birthday on
    June 29. We are pleased to print a letter which she has
    written to a group of students. Although the events which she
    describes in this letter precede her blindness, her
    recollections reveal the strength of her character which has
    enabled her to live independently as a blind person for over
    thirty years. Anna Cable is an inspiration to all of us. 

My Dear Young Student Friend: 

    I have been greatly interested in your letters and especially
your questions about the war. Of course, I understand that you mean
World War II, you cannot believe that anyone can be living today
that had a part in the First World War.
    Your questions have stirred up memories, memories that go back
a very long way and I have decided that I shall round them all up,
and with the help of a capable young friend, put them into writing,
as I saw them, from this side of the world.......
    When I went to school, our history books at that time, told us
about two principal wars in which our country was involved. There
was the revolutionary war, way back in George Washington's time, a
very long war, but probably our most important, since it made us a
nation.
    Then in the next century, we had the Civil War. (I grew up in
Ohio and we never heard it referred to as the "War Between the
States".) It was a very sad war. History tells us that there was a
greater loss of life in that war than in any other in which our
country participated. More men died of disease than on the battle
front.
    When I was in Ohio, in the 2nd and 3rd grade, we still had some
of the veterans of the Civil War, once a year on Decoration Day
they would don their old army uniforms and make the rounds of our
school rooms and delight us with stories of their army days.
    At that time we took it for granted that war was a thing of the
past, that this country would never see war again.
    Then in 1914 our newspapers blazed with big headlines telling of
the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Serajevo. It meant
war. Marconi's transAtlantic cable furnished us with all the news.
Day and night out newspapers were carrying EXTRAS, newsboys were on
the streets shouting "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"
    Our President, Woodrow Wilson, promised that we would not get
into the war and we were perfectly willing to leave it in the hands
of Kaiser Wilhelm. So we played our pianos and sang.......
I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier.
I brought him up to be my pride and joy.
Not to put a gun upon his shoulder,
To kill some other mother's darling boy.
    In 1915 the British passenger liner Lusitania, carrying British
and American passengers was torpedoed in the war zone surrounding
the British Isles and all aboard went down. The Germans were held
accountable. President Wilson felt convinced that he had to retract
his promise, which made him very unpopular. Many Congressman on the
hill voted negative, but not enough. War was declared on Germany
and we were in!
    Our boys went off to register for the draft, and wires went out
from Washington to all parts of the country, urging our girls to
come to the aid of their country. Good jobs were offered with
excellent pay, up to $100 a month. That was wealth!
    I was interested. It opened the doors of the world to me. It was
the realization of many of my dreams. A lifelong friend of my own
ageher name was Marywas of the same opinion, so we took the
required Civil Service Examination, passed, and of course were
accepted. Then wires came to our door almost daily. However, we
could not accept an offer of any job until we knew where we were
going to live when we got there. The newspapers were full of
stories of girls arriving in Washington by the trainload, with no
place to stay, sleeping on park benches and in the railroad
stations. Fortunately, an aunt of mine had an acquaintance in
Washington with whom she communicated, with the result that within
a short time we were given a definite address on K street.
    Mary, having only her Mother, in excellent health, was able to
go almost immediately. I had a family, my Mother and a younger
sister and brother. And it was believed advisable to make some
changes in our living conditions before I, the eldest, felt free to
leave.
    This accomplished, my mother went out and bought me a trunk. Up
to that time, I had needed nothing more than a suitcase. It did not
take long to pack the trunk and buy my railway ticket. I said
"Good-bye," to my family and was on my way.
    This of course changed my whole life.
    Mary met me at Union Station in Washington and as I left the
building, the first thing I saw was the dome of the capitol. It was
a short walk to our new home, a type of structure we had never seen
in out part of the country. It was owned by a couple with a high-
school aged son and they had been able to turn over to the war
effort their third floor, two large bedrooms and a bath, and Mary
had already settled in one, waiting for me. In a very few days, two
other young women from other parts of the country arrived to occupy
the second bedroom. We ranged in age from 2327. Mary and I were in
the middle, we were both 25. We were made very welcome in our new
home and treated like family.
    Our jobs were in all parts of the city. I was in an office of the
Navy Department. Temporary buildings were being put up in all parts
of Washington; I was directed to 2 or 3 different addresses in the
downtown section, wherever there was space enough for a few desks
and where the door could be opened enough to let us squeeze in and
out. Then a few months later a permanent building, on what is now
Constitution Avenue, at 17th Street west of the White House, was
sufficiently completed to allow us to move in. A building similar
to it, next to it, was marked as War Department. Our working hours
were from 9 - 4:30, six days a week, making a 42 hour work week. We
were given a months' annual vacation. I made it a point to save as
much of my vacation as possible in order to spend December with my
family.
    However, our first Christmas caught up with us when we were there
only 6 months and 3 of us were unable to go home; we lived too far
away and we couldn't afford it. But our good friends took care of
us. We had a tree under which we could put our Christmas gifts and
since we had no decorations for it we popped corn, opened a package
of pins and put a white kernel of corn on the end of practically
every twig of the tree. It was different and it pleased us. On
Christmas Day we had a luscious Christmas dinner, we played the
piano and sang, we played records on the Victrola that had to be
wound by hand to keep it going and our Christmas was a nice
success.
    Everything was new to us. We walked miles. We saw the public
buildings, we visited as many as we could get into on our Sundays
and holidays. The Lincoln memorial was under construction, the
ground around it was like a plowed-up corn field. We learned our
way around. We found good restaurants where the food was reasonable
and good. We could get steak dinner with all the trimming for 50
cents. Life was going along very nicely when suddenly tragedy
struck.
    We found ourselves in the midst of an epidemic for which medical
science had no answer. In order to give it a name, they called it
the "Spanish" influenza. Girls died like flies all over the city.
Many were found dead in their beds after several days. I recall
having to pass the funeral parlor where for days boxes were piled
one on top of another from each side of the door out across a wide
sidewalk to the curb. We had to walk out in the road to get around.
From the appearance of them I assumed they were rough boxes, or
caskets.
    Of us four girls, Mary was the one who was unable to get up one
morning. We were frightened. But our good "housemother", less than
40 years of age, knew what to do. She took Mary in hand and in time
had her out of danger.
    With summer coming to a close and the hot weather dying down, the
epidemic died out.
    On November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed. We had a false
armistice three days earlier, but we were assured that November
11th was the real one. Offices turned out into the street, auto
horns blared, strangers grabbed each others hands and danced.
Everybody sang and there was great joy. As the day grew to a close
we all went home, The next morning we got up went to work the same
as usual and life went on with no evident change. With the
exception that in 1920 women finally got the vote. I lost no time
in getting my signed ballot back to my home town in Ohio.
    Since we knew we were going to be in Washington only for the
duration of the war we made up our minds we were going to see as
much of history as possible. We enjoyed a boat trip down the
Potomac to Mount Vernon. We spent the day visiting the slave
quarters, the gardens and the mansion. We climbed to the 3rd floor,
where from the windows, so we were told, Martha could see her
husband's tomb. (Now known as the "Old Tomb".)
    Then there was Arlington National Cemetery, further up the
Potomac, across from the Lincoln memorial, the beautiful old Robert
E. Lee mansion, 100 years younger than Mount Vernon. The cemetery
at the time had acres of unused ground. The largest part in use was
occupied by veterans of the Civil War. Their markers row on row.
There were a couple relics of the battleship Maine, one of them the
mast of the vessel, a new outdoor auditorium was under
construction, and the tomb of the unknown soldier was only a
suggestion.
    Another time we went over to Baltimore where we found the old
church yard with the tomb of Edgar Allen Poe. We made it a point to
find the old cemetery where we were told the body of John Wilkes
Booth had been laid. (I have read, not too many years ago, that
initially the body of Booth was buried much further down the
Potomac near where he was captured and later removed to the
Baltimore cemetery, the name of which I have forgotten). There,
behind the main big memorial in a spot unmarked and unknown, are
the remains of John Wilkes Booth. On the trip over there, we
visited the Bascillica of the Queen of the Assumption, an edifice
that had as much history as the city. We had a delightful visit in
the garden with Cardinal Gibbons. He let us take his picture. We
climbed Baltimore's Washington monument, 200 steps, since there was
no elevator. From the top we had a grand view of the city. The
Washington monument in D.C., 555 feet necessarily had an elevator.
On our first trip, we rode up and said we would walk down. We did.
All 900 steps. My knees trembled for days and thereafter, I used
the elevator.
    Then there was Annapolis, with its history back to the days of
the colonies. There was, and still is, the little chapel where they
hold the graduations of the cadets of the U. S. Navy. The
historical old buildings in one of which there is the spot where
Washington surrendered his commission. (A few years ago we took a
young relative over there for a visit. When he saw the spot, he
remarked, with a very puzzled expression, "I didn't think
Washington ever surrendered to anybody.") Of course with all of
this travelling it was necessary that it be done on foot or by
trolley car. Automobiles were very few in those days. In fact I
remember taking a picture down Pennsylvania Avenue to get the dome
of the capitol in the distance. I stood in the middle of the avenue
at 15th street to take the picture and I was in no danger.
    With so many girls pouring into the city at one time, it was
necessary to find some means of wholesome recreation for their free
time outside of working hours. Just 2 or 3 blocks of where we lived
there was the old German Catholic Church which 3 of us attended.
(Now known as old St. Mary's and very active.) We all became
acquainted and joined in their activities. Two of us sang in the
choir. The school building had a large auditorium which we made
good use of. One of our CORPS members had been active in college in
putting on some one-act plays which she brought with her and which
we rehearsed and when ready, filled the auditorium with surrounding
neighbors. Another church opened its auditorium to us and in time
we had a pretty good number of would-be actors and actresses, with
a good director, and enjoyed many an evening rehearsing our various
plays. When they did not fill an evening, we pushed back the
chairs, cleared the floor, and with a good pianist, finished the
evening dancing. On couple occasions, we were loaded into a bus and
taken to the Veterans Hospitals and camps where we entertained the
boys. There were state societies and in the summer we went on
picnics.
    One might ask where was the war? WELL, it was "over there". Our
boys had shipped out, and we sang "and we won't come back, 'til
it's over, over there". We sang a great deal through the
inspiration of Irving Berlin. Songs that were very tuneful then and
are heard today.
    If one had a friend or loved one on the other side the war was
real. The day came when our boys were brought home, those that
lived and many that didn't. There were many new graves in Arlington
National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier awaited its
first occupant. 
    One of my attractive co-workers became engaged to 3 different
uniforms as they shipped out, and her greatest concern was that
they would all come back at the some time. Our hospitals were full
of returned veterans. In the camps we saw many who were on crutches
or walking with a cane. Planes flew over night and day. There were
shortages, especially of food. Probably felt more by the housewife
than by those of us who took our meals in restaurants. There were
many parades. 
    Dignitaries from foreign countries visited us, members of
royalty, one of them, England's own Prince of Wales, and we were
always given time off from our desks to go and see them. As time
went on, we made our own diversions, we made our own friends.
Washingtonians were awfully good to us, we were invited into many
homes. It began to seem as if we had always lived in Washington.
The time came however, when government office forces began to thin
out, as girls were sent home, temporary building were no longer
needed. Three of the four of us were wearing engagement rings and
looking to the future. The day came when we said good-bye to our
Washington friends, returned home, had lovely weddings, and in due
time, started a new generation. But those of us who had met in the
row house of K Street some years before remained friends as long as
we lived. We kept in touch with one another, we visited and got
together when we could. The high school aged boy married a neighbor
girl with whom which he had grown up.
    Washington was no longer the quiet little village it had been
when so many of us poured en a few years before. We had seen it
stretch into the suburbs.
We had seen Washington grow up...
    The Second World War, nearly 25 Years later, was very different
from the first. It was a real war. We had lived through the Great
Depression of the '30s, and the best I can say for that is that we
survived, as millions of others and it did us no harm.
    Charles, my husband, and I had returned to Maryland, where his
family still lived, in the forlorn hope of finding work of any
kind. Almost immediately after arriving I had taken a second Civil
Service examination, optimistically hoping that our government
would be opening for business again.
    Finally, at long last, almost three years later, I received word
from the Civil Service, the offer of a two month, temporary
appointment. This was extended another two months and I was offered
a position with the Immigration and Naturalization Service on
permanent status which I gladly accepted and where I remained for
twenty one years. At that time the pay was $100 a month and it
seemed like wealthit was!
    We heard rumblings of what was in Europe. Hitler marched into
Poland and didn't stop there. On more than one occasion Churchill
came to this country and met with president Roosevelt on unknown
vessels far out to sea. Like a forest fire war spread across
Europe, across the British channel, and in 1939 we declared war on
Germany and joined the allies. England and France needed our help
badly. In the days that followed our office in Washington was
filled to overflowing with desperate people begging us to get their
families out of Europe. We were sympathetic and did all the
Immigration laws would allow.
    Then there was that day, December 7, 1941, "a day that will live
in infamy" (President Roosevelt), when the Japanese bombed Pearl
Harbor.
    As we were drawn into it the government decided that all of its
departments should be moved far out of D.C. The Immigration and
Naturalization Service was sent to Philadelphia. At this date I
cannot recall whether it was the excitement of getting into the war
or moving to another city, but my memory of history had become a
bit hazy. 
    It took more than one trip up to Philadelphia to find the home
we wanted. But eventually Charles and I found a very pleasant home
on the west side of Philadelphia. When the move started we were
told that for days the roads out of Washington, heading north, were
lined solid with moving vans loaded with household possessions. 
    The Immigration and Naturalization Service, 800 strong, was
housed in a tall building on Chestnut Street at the corner of 15th.
We immediately settled down to work. Our work day was extended by
one hour, with no thought of extra pay. We had but one holiday a
year, Christmas. We grew accustomed to seeing street cars operated
by women and the uniforms of WAC (Women's Auxiliary Corp). Our
street lights were dimmed as much as possible and in our homes our
windows were covered with black shades at night. Air raid wardens
policed the streets at night in designated blocks to be sure there
wasn't the least crack of light from any window in any home. A
light spanned our skies at night from horizon to horizon, it just
swept across all night long. If you were out on the street at any
time during the day or night and an alert sounded you immediately
sought shelter. If you were driving you left your car standing
where it was and got under cover, maybe somebody's private home
until the "All Clear" sounded.
    There were shortages of many things. We had to have stamp books
for food, for shoes, for gasoline. Very often we would see a long
line of people, women mainly, lined up somewhere. Not knowing what
it was we'd get in line, being sure at the end it would probably be
something we could use.
    Our cars were used only when absolutely necessary. We used them
mainly for shopping and going to church. Our cars were marked with
big letters on the windows showing our classification, A,B, or C,
according to the amount of gas we needed for our daily work. In
many stores the meat counters were totally empty. We grew
accustomed in the supermarkets to seeing the butcher disappear into
the freezer and come out with a little wrapped package which went
into the cart of a customer that he addressed by name. We soon
realized it was best to deal with our neighborhood grocer and
become a well known customer. We frequently would find a little
package amongst our groceries when we got home for which we had
paid and stamps deducted. At any time if there was a special
shipment of anything, canned goods for instance, they were not put
up for display, but when we unwrapped our groceries we would find
a can amongst our goods. We were allowed a half pound of butter
every other week and our grocer kept track of it on the wall behind
the counter. That was when we learned to like margarine. It was
white and came in a plastic bag with a yellow bean buried in it. At
room temperature we worked it with our hands, breaking the bean and
spreading an even yellow through the package. We learned to like it
and had no idea what an important part of our diet it would become.
We who ate in restaurants probably fared better as to variety.
There were many good restaurants in the heart of the city and we
favored a cafeteria near the office. The food was good and
reasonable. Vegetables were 5 cents a serving, with the exception
of creamed mushrooms, a favorite dish, which was 10 cents. All
meats were 10 cents a serving, coffee was 10 cents a cup. And a
customer could have no more than one cup at any one meal. We were
allowed 2 teaspoons of sugar, which we could use in part, or all,
and the waiter behind the counter spread it around according to the
customer's directions.
    We were allowed 2 slices of bread and a pat of butter. For a
while an effort was made to substitute cottage cheese for butter,
but the idea didn't take. In Chinese restaurants a customer could
have rice or bread, but not both. In looking back on these low
prices, it must be remembered that we were slowly crawling out of
the greatest depression this country has ever known. When the war
started prices remained static. But when peace was declared, the
cost of living began to rise. In real estate in particular, prices
took a great jump practically over night.
    Most homes in those days were heated by coal. We could only get
a ton at a time. When we began to get low we could order another
ton, but before it was delivered, a representative of the coal
company came to our basement to verify the fact that we had only
one or two shovel fulls before another ton would be delivered. And
there were times we went a little bit cold.
    In different parts of the city there were canteens for out
uniformed young people to find home away from home; they would drop
in for companionship, to take a shower, to write letters home. In
the evening there were nicely dressed young girls for dancing. And
to fall in love with, which they did.
    There was good recreation. The movies in those days were equal
to any we have today, not like the first World War, which had
everything in black and white, and no sound tracks. Movie stars
came to Washington making a drive for war bonds. We were thrilled
to see real life movie stars in color and with sound. We also had
some good stage plays. We had department stores much bigger than
anything we had in Washington. Also on Broad near Walnut, there was
a very old building, that to me looked like an abandoned warehouse.
But once inside you heard beautiful music. With its red velvet
curtains and its red upholstered chairs you knew you were listening
to music that had been played there for generations. I hope the old
building still stands.
    During this time our boys overseas were marrying girls in every
country, of every color, race and creed. They had to know that the
marriage custom of the country did not make it a legal marriage for
us. They had to go before the American Counsel. Babies born of such
a marriage were, of course, American citizens at birth, no matter
what country into which they were born. This marriage gave the
foreign born girl legal admission to the United States, none quota
for permanent residents.
    At the same time hundreds of our boys over there were fathering
babies by the thousands, children who would grow up never knowing
their American fathers.
    We learned to like Philadelphia. Many of the employees bought
homes and remained up there. In order to keep families together the
Service gave jobs to the spouses of employees "For the duration and
six months". Before the six months expired Charles had taken the
Civil Service examination and passed and then had permanent status
in any government agency.
    In time we were returned to Maryland where Charles and I settled
in Hyattsville and eventually spent our retirement years.
    We did some travelling, but did not get as far west as we had
hoped. From his childhood Charles' life had been plagued with
intermittent bouts of hay-fever and asthma which led to more
serious illness and eventually brought to a close 49 years of hills
and valleys, but always together.
    My years alone that followed were busy ones filled with
activities that I thought were worthwhile and that enriched my
life. For the past few years I have lived quite contentedly and
comfortably in a pleasant retirement home in Columbia where I hope
to remain until I reach 100.

Anna Freyez Cable
June 1992


                                                    SPECKS

AWARDS. Ken Canterbery, the energetic president of the Baltimore
County chapter, received a citation from Governor Schaefer on
October 12, 1992 for rendering outstanding service to the citizens
of the state of Maryland. Ken Robertson, one of our diabetic
representatives and an active member of the Baltimore chapter,
received the Champion of Courage Award from Fox 45 TV, Coca Cola,
and Safeway on February 20 for his volunteer work with children in
the Baltimore city schools. Congratulations Ken and Ken. 
GRADUATES. Robin Hauck, a recipient of our state and national
scholarships, recently received her MSW degree from the University
of Maryland at Baltimore.  Andre Robinson, the treasurer of the
Southern Maryland chapter, completed training courses in office
automation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital on February 5.
Edith Robinson, Andre's wife, recently received her B.S. degree in
health and human performance from the University of Maryland,
College Park. Congratulations Robin, Andre, and Edith. 
MILE STONES. On March 1, T.C. Johnson, a charter member of the
Salisbury Chapter, retired after working for 23 years at BISM's
Salisbury plant. Floyd and Georgia Myers, active members of the
Greater Cumberland Chapter, celebrated their 47th wedding
anniversary on April 15. Don and Shirley Morris, O'Leary's
Emporium, Emmitsburg, celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on
March 26. Congratulations T. C., Georgia and Floyd, Don and
Shirley. 
BRAILLE READER IS LEADER. Ellen Nichols, an avid Braille reader and
the daughter of Orlo and Mary Nichols, was elected as a student
council representative for her seventh grade class at Arlington
Baptist School. Congratulations Ellen. 
WRITER'S DIVISION. The Writer's Division has published its 1992
edition of Horizons, an anthology of fiction by blind writers.
Copies in large print ($10), Braille and cassette ($12.50 each) may
be purchased from Tom Stevens, president, NFB Writer's Division,
National Federation of the Blind, 1203 Fairview Road, Columbia,
Missouri 65203, (314) 445-6091. 
LBPH MOVE. The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped has moved into its new quarters at 415 Park Avenue,
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3603. Telephone numbers: Baltimore
metropolitan area, (410) 333-2668; Mongtomery county, (301) 493-
2555; PG county, (301) 779-2570; elsewhere in Maryland, (800) 964-
9209.
EQUIPMENT. Blazie Engineering announces the availability of Porta-
Thiel, the newest Braille embosser from Thiel & Co. Porta-Thiel is
the smallest, commercially produced portable Braille printer ever
made. It measures just 15" x 10" x 4" and weighs less than 10
pounds. The Porta-Thiel prints on many sizes of paper including
single sheets, continuous forms, plastic and magazine sheets.
Braille quality is excellent on all paper types because the dots
can be adjusted according to the paper thickness chosen. Like all
Thiel embossers, the reliable Porta-Thiel is made to perform
superbly. Porta-Thiel uses digitized speech to configure its menus
and inform users when it is out of paper. Porta-Thiel will then
wait for more paper to be insertedno data is lost during this
operation. The Porta-Thiel can create six and eight dot Braille,
supports eight built-in Braille character sets and eight changeable
parameter tables. The Porta-Thiel can be used with Braille 'n Speak
or other PCs. With both a serial and parallel interface, it is
compatible with most computers available today. Blazie Engineering
features the Porta-Thiel lightweight embosser in its complete line
of products for blind and visually impaired people. To receive more
information call 410-893-9333.
BRAILLE COURSE. Call the Hadley School for the Blind, (800) 323-
4238, from 8 AM to 4 PM week days for information on the free
correspondence course, "Just Enough to Know Better," a beginner's
course in Braille for sighted persons. Parents might want to take
this course to help their blind children to learn Braille. 

CALENDAR

Saturday, May 1, 1993
    Parents of Blind Children Seminar, National Center for the
    Blind, Baltimore, 9:00 AM4:00 PM, Call Loretta White, (410)
    360-5108 for information. 
Thursday, May 20, 1993
    Braille Readers Are Leaders Party, National Center for the
    Blind, Baltimore, 1: 00 PM - 3:00 PM. 
Tuesday, June 1, 1993
    Deadline for applications, McCraw Scholarships. 
Saturday, June 5, 1993
    NFB of Maryland Board of Directors Meeting, Frederick, Call
    (410) 992-9608 for information.
Thursday, June 24, 1993
    2nd annual hotdog eating contest, see separate announcement in
    this newsletter. 
Saturday, July 3Saturday, July 10, 1993
    NFB 53rd annual convention, Dallas Texas. 
Saturday, July 31, 1993
    NFB of Maryland Board of Directors meeting and picnic, 10:00,
    Waterloo Park, Columbia, lunch $6.00 per person, reservations
    required, call (410) 992-9608. 
Monday, August 2, 1993
    Deadline for submitting articles for the next edition of The
    Braille Spectator. 
All Saturdays in August
    Children's story time, 10 AM to 11 AM, Maryland State Library
    for the Blind, call Barbara Cheadle (410) 747-3472 for
    information. 
Friday Sept. 10Sunday Sept. 12, 1993
    National Conference for Blind Writers, National Center for the
    Blind, Baltimore, Call Jerry Whittle, (318) 251-2891 for more
    information. 
Friday October 29Sunday, October 31, 1993
    NFB of Maryland 27th annual convention, Ocean City.


                               CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION

                                           OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND



Baltimore County Chapter
Ken Canterbery, president (410)866-6877
Monthly meetings second Thursday

Greater Baltimore Chapter
Eileen Rivera, president (410)433-5176
Monthly meetings third Saturday

Central Maryland Chapter
Brenda Mueller, president (301)551-7057
Monthly meetings third Tuesday

Greater Cumberland Chapter
Ron Burns, president (301)759-4673
Monthly meetings first Tuesday

Frederick County Chapter
Gerald Schultz, president (301)662-6803
Monthly meetings fourth Tuesday

Sligo Creek Chapter
Lloyd Rasmussen, president (301)946-8345
Monthly meetings second Saturday

Mountain City Chapter
Jean Faulkner, president (301)729-8942
Monthly meetings third Thursday

Southern Maryland Chapter
Ken Silberman, president (301)552-2839
Monthly meetings fourth Saturday

Parents of Blind Children Division
Loretta White, president (410)360-5108

Merchants' Division
Joe Byard, president (410)284-1768

Diabetics Support Network
Donna Goodman, chairman (410)730-9430
Monthly meetings fourth Tuesday

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