                          BLIND WASHINGTONIAN



SUMMER 1995

   

                                   
The Voice of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington



   THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING
FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES!
   
   Blind Washingtonian subscriptions cost the Federation about 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 of Washington and sent to:  National
Federation of the Blind of Washington Post Office Box 2516 Seattle,
Washington 98111






Gary Mackenstadt, President
Post Office Box 2516
Seattle,  Washington 98111
(206) 823-6380                        

Albert Sanchez, Editor
East 707 Garland
Spokane, Washington 99207
(509) 487-8959
   
   The Blind Washingtonian is available in print and braille.  Address
changes, requests for additional copies of this newsletter, and
articles should be sent to the Editor.

                                   
EDITOR'S CORNER

By Albert Sanchez

   Robert Riddle was a Braille Readers are Leaders winner in the fifth
through eighth grade category.  He placed second by reading 10,853
pages during the contest period.  Congratulations to Robert Riddle.
   We are sorry to report the death on July 11th of John Croy's sister
Sharon.  She passed away due to complications related to cancer.
   Dan Frye, who was first Vice President of our Seattle chapter and a
member of our state Board moved to North Dakota.  On May 13, he was
elected President of the NFB of North Dakota.  Good luck and
congratulations Dan!
   As many of you know, Kaye Kipp is self-employed as a piano teacher. 
An active member of our Clark County chapter, she currently serves as
second Vice President of the NFB of Washington. Several years ago she
started taking violin lessons.  On May 22nd she took an examination
with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, from London
England.  She passed the third level with merrit.  She is possably the
first blind  person to take this exam outside of the United Kingdom. 
Kaye will be receiving both a print and braille certificate. 
Congratulations Kaye!

                                   
CONVENTION ANNOUNCEMENT

By Gary Mackenstadt

   Come one, come all!  to the 1995 state convention of the National
Federation of the Blind of Washington.  This years convention will
take place during the weekend of September 15, 16, and 17 at the
Holiday Inn at Boeing Field, located at  11244 Pacific Hwy S.
   A Parents of Blind Children Seminar is scheduled from 9:00am until
noon on Friday, September 15.  Also on Friday, there will be an
exhibit of technology for the blind.  A number of vendors have already
made committments to being there.  These exhibits will also be open on
Saturday, September 16 during lunch, and after the adjournment of the
afternoon session.
   On Friday evening, the Board of Directors for the NFB of Washington
will meet.  Mr. Gary Wunder, a member of our National Board of
Directors and President of our Missouri Affiliate, will represent our
National Office throughout the weekend.  With Mr. Wunder's knowledge
concerning technology and the organized blind movement, he will be an
invaluable asset throughout the weekend.
   The general session will commence at 9:00am on Saturday, September
16.  The agenda promises to be exciting.  Technology will be the
central theme of this years convention.
   On Saturday evening, we will hold our banquet which promises to be a
highlight.  Mr. Wunder will make the keynote speech and we will
present our annual Beverly Prows Memorial Scholarship to a blind
student attending school in Washington State.
   Our business session will be held on Sunday morning, September 17. 
Registration is $21.00, which includes the banquet.  However,
interested persons may pre-register for $18 by September 8, 1995. Room
rates at the Holiday Inn are $50 for singles, doubles, triples or
quads.  For further information regarding the NFB of Washington State
Convention, please call 206-823-6380.

                                   
REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Gary Mackenstadt

   The first half of 1995 has been busy for the members of the NFB of
Washington.
   January 26 was Braille Literacy Day in Olympia, and what a success
it was.  (See next article.)  Although the Braille Bill failed in the
Senate,  our efforts to educate the State Legislature and general
public about blindness and the importance of braille did have an
effect.  The reception sponsored by the NFB of Washington, held in the
Governor's Mansion was an overwelming success. We wish to thank the
Governor and Mrs. Lowry,  for their hospitality.
   Noel Nightingale, Mike Freeman and Bennett Prows represented the NFB
of Washington during the annual Washington Seminar, which took place
on January 31, February 1 and 2 in Washington, D.C. They had the
opportunity to meet with the members of the Washington State
Congressional Delegation.  Of course, their work was cut out for them,
given the fact that we have six new members in our delegation.
   Our mini convention took place on March 17 and 18.  James Gashel,
Director of Governmental Affairs for the NFB represented our National
Office and what a great job he did.  The agenda was devoted to
legislation  being under consideration by the U.S. Congress and the
Washington State Legislature, as well as Social Security.  During
Saturday afternoon, we viewed films from the NFB video library.  The
films gave us perspective on the history of the organized blind
movement.  Mr. Gashel delivered an outstanding keynote address on
Saturday evening at our banquet.
   Rita Szantay, Secretary of the NFB of Washington, is doing an
outstanding job as chairperson of our Scholarship Committee.  Some
revisions to the application have been made.  Rita has distributed the
application far and wide throughout the state of Washington.
   Throughout the first half of 1995, we have witnessed growth in
membership and committment to the organized blind movement.  We are
pleased with our successes and in our representation at our National
Convention; but we look forward to more growth and to many more
successes during the second half of 1995 and beyond.

                                   
A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN LITERACY

By Bennett Prows

   (From the Editor: Bennett Prows is one of the leaders of the
National Federation of the Blind of Washington state. He recently sent
us the following report on affiliate efforts to pass a bill protecting
the right of the state's blind children to learn Braille. Here it is.)
   January 26, 1995, marked a turning point for Braille literacy in
Washington State and was a watershed for the National Federation of
the Blind of Washington. The State Capitol in Olympia will never be
the same, and from now on the blind will be recognized as a force to
be reckoned with in the state legislature.
   This year efforts to secure the passage of the Braille bill in
Washington State were punctuated by the activities surrounding a day
that has become known here as Braille Literacy Day. But this year's
day was different. The NFB was joined in Olympia by virtually every
statewide organization of and for the blind on January 26, 1995, to
promote Braille and Braille literacy. Tables were set up between the
House and Senate Galleries to exhibit the various agencies' and
organizations' support of the use of Braille. The NFB organized the
exhibits and invited the Washington State School for the Blind, the
Department of Services for the Blind, the Braille Access Center for
the Blind, the Washington Council of the Blind, and the Washington
Talking Book and Braille Library to join our effort to educate the
public about the need for Braille literacy. Federationists and other
blind persons from throughout the State of Washington fanned out over
the capitol grounds to give virtually every legislator and legislative
office the message that Braille is important for blind students in
Washington State. Packets of material about the NFB and about the 1995
version of our Braille bill were distributed, and key legislators in
Senate and House Education committees were personally contacted.
   We emphasized the unanimity this year on the need for the Braille
bill and urged the representatives and senators to act quickly to give
Washington's blind children the right to learn and use Braille.
   A press release issued by the NFB was distributed to all of the
major newspapers and radio and television stations in the State. The
release explained that there is a crisis in effective teaching of
Braille to blind citizens and told the media about the educational
efforts being conducted at the State Capitol. The blind came from
every part of the state, and this year more than ever, the prospects
for passage of a meaningful Braille bill look bright.
   The highlight of the day came when the National Federation of the
Blind of Washington hosted a legislative reception for more than one
hundred guests at the Governor's Mansion on the capitol grounds.
Thanks to  the hard work of Denise Mackenstadt, Barbara Freeman, and
other Federationists throughout the state, nearly twenty-five
legislators attended the festive reception. Governor Mike Lowry and
his wife Mary attended for more than an hour. We greeted the guests at
the door and introduced the many guests to one another. The food
prepared by the Governor's staff was excellent and, of course, was a
big draw for hungry legislative aides and other capitol staff members.
This event gave us the chance we needed to push for our vital
legislation and to show the legislators that the blind are first-class
citizens in every way when given the training in the alternative
techniques and skills of blindness, such as Braille.
   Few groups or organizations are invited to hold receptions in the
Governor's Mansion, and the NFB was put on an exclusive list. From now
on there is no question about who leads the blind in Washington State.
The power and influence of the organized blind movement will be felt.
Whether we win the fight for a Braille literacy bill this year or next
or the year after that, let there be no mistake--we will not quit
until the blind have the same right to read and write with confidence
and competency as our sighted peers.
   This year's Braille Literacy Day was a giant step forward in the
affairs of the blind in Washington. Judging by the reaction of the
lawmakers and staff attending the reception, we will be heard.
President Gary Mackenstadt and all other Federationists here will not
rest until blind children and their parents no longer have to fight to
receive instruction in reading and writing Braille.

                                   
CONVENTION 1995

By Maria Bradford

   (From the Editor:  Maria Bradford is the recently elected President
of the Spokane County chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. 
She submitted this article following our national convention in
Chicago, Illinois.)
   This year, thirty-three Washingtonians attended our national
convention held in Chicago, Illinois, many for the first time,
representing  every chapter.  All agree that it was a tremendous week
and are looking forward to next year in Anaheim, California.
   Several members of our delegation served on such committees as
Research and Development, Correspondence, and Resolutions.
   Barbara Freeman conducted a pannel during the meeting of the Parents
of Blind Children's division.  During that seminar many young
federationists spoke about what it meant to them to be sighted, and to
be able to learn through life-long participation in the Organized
Blind Movement.  I found that seminar, as well as the meeting of the
National Association of Blind Students devision to be particularly
uplifting.
   There were three children attending NFB Camp, Tim Day, Shanthi
Freeman and Hailee Linhart.  On Wednesday evening, July 5th we gave a
party to celebrate Hailee's tenth birthday, in cluding a brailled
birthday card, presents, and of course cake.    (Hailee was featured
in a picture, standing with one of our State Senators as we campaigned
for the passage of the Braille bill in January.)
   On Thursday afternoon the convention was treated to a presentation
by Noel Nightingale, as part of a panel--PRODUCTIVITY AND
INDEPENDENCE:  THE BLIND GET IT DONE.  In her speech Noel discussed
how she got her current job with the Seattle law firm of Heller Ehrman
White and McAuliffe.  Noel described a gruling retreat in which she
had to compete with the rest of the group in attempting riggorous
exercises, to complete the course, and to prove to her colleagues that
she can hold a job and accept the responsibilities of her position, 
far exceeding their expectations. Noel  was able to conquer her fear
and use ulternative techniques, difficult to describe to the group.
Noel's thought-provoking presentation will surely contain enough
information for a Kernel book. (For information on our Kernel book
publications call 206-823-6380.)
   Some of our videos were shown twenty-four hours a day on one of the
hotel's cable channels.  (This was unofficially dubbed as NFB-TV.)  It
was a "first" and very impressive. Much of the material was new to me
and others.  Our past accomplishments were set before us for all to
see.
   The Spokane delegation had so many new experiences that it is hard
to decide which to mention here.  Gloria Whipple suggested that we
meet Dr.  Jernigan so I made an appointment.  He visited us as we sat
beside our state banner.  We also met briefly with President and Mrs.
Maurer in the Hospitality suite.  Paul Whipple earned a weeks paycheck
by assisting with an exhibit. John and Judy Croy took time to
experience the public transportation trains.  On a personal note, I
was pleased to meet Doug Trimble and his wife Laura. They now live in
Denver and Doug is employed at the Colorado Center.
   President Maurer's banquet address is a stark reminder that
stereotypes continue in  so-called professional literature perporting
to be useful for independent living needs of the newly blind.

                                   
LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT:

Reflections on the Family

By Noel Nightingale

   (From the Editor:  Ms. Nightingale graduated one year ago from the
University of Washington School of Law.  Upon successfully passing the
State of Washington Bar exam she took time off prior to taking up the
tasks of her current job to go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind
to learn "blindness skills."  She originally delivered the following
remarks during the Washington Seminar in January as part of the
National Association of Blind Students meeting.) 
   I have a personal story of being empowered in my own life as a blind
person.
   My father is blind and has been since he was 26 years old when he
lost his eyesight in a work accident (long before I was born).  After
he was blinded, my dad laid on a couch in his parents' home for about
a year.  Then he got off the couch, learned the alternative techniques
of blindness, and got a guide dog.  He went back to the college he had
graduated from years earlier and took classes using Braille note
taking and his other new-found blindness skills.
   When he determined that he could indeed successfully compete in an
academic environment as a blind person he applied to the University of
Chicago Law School and was admitted.  During the time that he was
attending college classes he met my mother and they were married.
   My father ultimately, after encountering many difficulties in
securing a job as a lawyer, became  an Administrative Law Judge for
the State of Washington.
   As a child, I never knew my dad to miss out on anything he wanted to
do because of blindness.  He is an avid (some say rabid) fisherman and
has flown as far as New Zealand to catch the big one.
   He travelled all over the state to conduct hearings as the state's
only judge hearing administrative cases involving state liquor license
violations.  He read voraciously.  He socialized as much as my
friends' parents.  All my life, people have told me how amazing my dad
is because of all he does as a blind person.
   So when I was 20 and found out that I have Retinitis Pigmentosa, a
degenerative eye disorder, I knew from dad's example that blindness
could  not prevent me from living out my dreams and enjoying life. 
And although having merely known my father has been the most powerful
influence in molding my attitude about blindness, ever since learning
that I have RP my dad has continually encouraged me to obtain the
alternative techniques of blindness. He has particularly harped at me
to learn Braille; I have never met such an enthusiastic promoter of
Braille.
   Although he does not know it and probably did not intend it, I am
immensely thankful for having had my dad to look to for all the
possibilities still available in life as a blind person. Although I
certainly procrastinated in obtaining the skills of blindness until it
became glaringly clear that I was not operating at maximum efficiency,
I think I started ahead in the game as far as my attitudes about
blindness because of my dad's model.
   While I have known for a while that my father's travel skills are
not ideal, to say the least--a few years ago I was horrified to learn
that he had flown to Alaska to go fishing, by himself, without a cane
or a guide dog, relying solely on the arms of strangers--I have never
known him to not get wherever he wanted to go.  However, I have always
assumed that my dad's Braille skills are excellent.  When I recently
completed learning Grade 2 Braille, I wrote my dad a letter and was
quite emotionally overcome when I got a letter in return.  I had never
in my life communicated with my dad in writing.  Yet, when I opened
the letter I could not read it.  It was a jumble of signs and who
knows what, but it was not the Braille I knew.  I think that he has
come to invent his own shorthand over the many years and since he was
communicating only with himself, it didn't matter that it did not
conform to the Code.
   My mother, on the other hand, while having a relatively good
attitude about the abilities of blind people, has focused on utilizing
my remaining vision.  She is always on the lookout for the newest
enlarging technology.  She wants to buy me those close circuit
television goggles that recently came on the market.  (I have a hard
time imagining myself walking around a professional office with those
things on.)  I'm afraid that if I had only had my mother to guide me,
I would still not know Braille, not use a cane, and would have a very
poor self-image because of it.
   The point is that although my father's blindness skills could be
characterized as poor, he has empowered me to become as skilled in the
alternative techniques of blindness as I can possibly be and has given
me a powerful example of a blind person who does not let blindness
prevent him from working and enjoying life.  Many of us in this room
may believe that we do not have all of the blindness skills we would
like--that we are not Super Blind.  Nevertheless, we  can empower
other blind people to become as independent and skilled as possible,
and we can win our families' confidence in us by having a positive
attitude about the role blindness plays in our lives and lead as
independent a life as possible, even if we are not perfectly skilled
in all of the techniques of blindness. And, that is what we in the
National Association of Blind Students can do every day of our lives
on a grander scale.
   To be leaders--to empower fellow blind people to take control of
their lives and strive for true independence--we need not see
ourselves as perfectly skilled in the alternative techniques of
blindness.  We must, however, tackle life with an enthusiasm and
energy that reflects our inner confidence and peace with our
blindness.
   What really counts is what is in our hearts and minds; not what is
happening with our fingers and feet.

                                   
HOMESCHOOLERS NETWORK

By Denise Mackenstadt

   At the 1995 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind 
parents and interested persons worked on putting together a working
Network for Families Homeschooling Blind Children.  Homeschooling is a
growing option which families are choosing as an educational
alternative.  Most states have regulations governing schooling
students at home.  Parents choose to homeschool for many reasons. The
special education regulations require that the local school district
still be responsible for providing appropriate services for disabled
students.  Homeschooling parents of non-disabled children have formed
many units of networking and resources.  There are organizations who
provide the same help for parents of disabled children.  The National
Organization of Parents of Blind Children, through the efforts of
Sunny Emerson and Debbie Day, have been trying to assist homeschooling
families with blind children. At this years convention we were able to
put together a core of interested people who are available to provide
support and assistance to families who are homeschooling blind
students.  If you or someone who you know is interested in contacting
the Network for Homeschooling of Blind Students they can contact the
network by calling 206-488-0628.

                                   
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THE ANSWER

By Bennett Prows

   (From the Editor:  This next article is an example of the saying;
"Don't leave home without it!"  Of course we mean your slate and
stylus.)
   There are those who say that listening to recordings, speech
synthesizers and live readers obviate the need for Braille.  They say
Braille is slower, less efficient, and soon will be totally outdated. 
Of course we know that if this were the case, print would also be
obsolete, and the sighted could listen to synthesizers too.  This
would be true only if people didn't have to write down what they say
at all.  I read an article recently in which the author emphatically
argued that technology will soon mean the end of the need for teaching
Braille to blind persons.  My personal experience shows why this is
not the case.   I think the following account should reveal another
reason why the use of Braille is very necessary even today.
   My job is to investigate discrimination cases in hospitals, health
centers, departments of social and health services, etc.
   Sometimes, I am required to travel great distances to interview
witnesses and to review medical records. On one occasion, I traveled
to a neighboring state for a week of witness interviews. I had lined
up about seventy-five people to interview during the course of this
investigation.  I was planning to take notes on a lap-top computer
that could operate on either A.C. or by batteries. I also took a
Braille 'n Speak, which would allow me to take notes in Braille for
later conversion into print text. (This presupposes a knowledge of
Braille.)
   The first day of interviews began smoothly.  I began the task of
questioning the first witness. I had plugged in the lap top, since I
was able to set up in a conference room for the week.
   Soon however, the lap-top started beeping, and the "low battery
indicator" came on.  I ascertained that the plug I was using, which
was permanently connected to the battery charger, had shorted, and I
could not get either A.C electricity nor was the battery charging
properly.  Thus, the lap-top computer was quickly rendered completely
useless.  I determined that a new charger would cost over $100.00, so
I would have to wait until I got back to the office to get a new one.
   Not to worry though, I had my Braille 'n Speak.  I pulled it out,
turned it on, and immediately I was told "battery low."  I looked in
my briefcase, and discovered that my power supply/battery charger for
that device had been left in Seattle.  The auxiliary battery and plug
was not in my briefcase either.
   Two down!  Neither electronic note taking device was working, and I
had seventy-four interviews to go. Luckily for me, I thought, I have
my Braille slate and stylus.  Wrong!  It was not in my briefcase,
because with all the technology I had brought, I had decided I didn't
need it.  What a dilemma.  I had no way to complete my interviews. 
Sure, I had a reader with me.  But she was scheduled to working on
taking written notes on records I had to review.  If I packed up and
went back to Seattle, I would have to reschedule the entire review.  I
would cost my employer a considerable amount of money and time, and
could have risked losing my job.  After all, it wasn't the employer's
fault.  I had been provided with reasonable accommodation.  What could
I do?
   I found a local NFB office in the area, and bought a new slate and
stylus.  I came back to the rest of the interviews, and took notes all
week in Braille.  In short, I was able to "handwrite" my notes, just
as a sighted person would have done in my situation, and then
transposed the notes back at the office.  I could do this of course,
because I was taught Braille, and used it.  If I had subscribed to the
theory that Braille was worthless, or that the computer would solve my
problems, I would have been at a distinct disadvantage.
   This is what we mean in the NFB when we say, that given training in
the alternative techniques of blindness, i.e. Braille, we can compete
on an equal basis with our sighted peers.  If I had not been able to
buy the equivalent of a pen or pencil at the local Nfb Office, I would
have been unable to perform the job tasks in a timely manner.  I would
have had to make excuses, and sell myself and other blind people
short.  This is why it is important for blind people to learn and use
Braille.  This is why we have the National Federation of the Blind. 
This is just one reason why technology is not the answer for the
blind.

                                   
REPORT FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

By Denise Mackenstadt

   (From the Editor:  Denise Mackenstadt serves on the Board of
Trustees of the Washington State School for the Blind.)
   The school year at WSSB ended on many notes of progress and hope. 
It was an amazing year in the way we of the National Federation of the
Blind have been able to develop a working relationship with the school
administration, most notably Dean Stenehjem, Superintendent.  Dr.
Stenehjem was a tremendous ally in our fight this year for the Braille
Bill.  He has shown leadership in the State of Washington as well as
the nation on behalf of blind students.  The school has been in an
upgrading program in the past year which greatly improved the
facilities.  While maintaining the historical integrity of WSSB the
school has improved the cottages, built an operations building,
modernized some aspects of Old Main, and is continuing to look at
improving the Irwin Building this coming year.  The students at the
school participated in a power lifting competition in Colorado,
attended a conference for high school students in Washington D.C.,
worked with an artist in residence and participated with the NFB of
Washington on our Braille Literacy Day in Olympia.  Much work still
needs to be done but the future looks hopeful with the vision and hard
work which the staff and Administration bringdd
NFB of Washington
East 707 Garland
Spokane, WA 99207-3027


PRESIDENT: GARY MACKENSTADT 16224 122nd AVENUE N.E. BOTHELL, WASHINGTON
   98011 206-488-0628
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: MICHAEL FREEMAN 301 N.E. 107th STREET VANCOUVER, 
   WASHINGTON 98685 360-574-8221
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: KAYE KIPP 5101 N.E. 121 AVENUE, SPACE 7
   VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98682 360-256-8572
SECRETARY: RITA SZANTAY 1000 8th AVENUE, A-610 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
   98104 206-622-8843
TREASURER: BENNETT PROWS 14272 120th PLACE N.E. KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON
   98034 206-821-7619


ADDRESS CORRECTION  REQUESTED
