THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR - March 1977

THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND

PRESIDENT: 

JOHN MC CRAW

503 CHERRY HILL ROAD

BALTIMORE, MD 21215

355-6308

355-5122

EDITOR:

MARY HARTLE

1101 ST. PAUL ST.

APARTMENT 1811

BALTIMORE, MD 21202

547-1046

March 1977

ABOUT THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR…

This being the season for inaugurations, The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland inaugurates the large print edition of the Braille Spectator with this issue.  The Spectator will also be published in cassette tape and, if at all possible, as financial and other resources permit, the newsletter will also come out in Braille.

Enclosed as part of this issue is a questionnaire.  Please fill it out, indicating your first and second preferences for large print, cassette or Braille, and return it to the editor by April 1.

Over the next few months there will continue to be further experimentation with the content, form, and publication schedule of the Spectator.  Particularly during this period, but also at any time, we would like to have readers’ comments and suggestions for improving this newsletter.  We very much hope that readers will look forward to receiving the Spectator and will enjoy reading it each month.

Undoubtedly this publication is bound to be a great success because of the excellent team with which the editor has to work.  The associate editor is Shirley Morris whose primary work will be that of gathering news items, particularly from the chapters.  Denise Mackenstadt has volunteered to type the large print edition and Doris Samuels has agreed to record the taped form.  The entire editorial staff will pitch in when it comes to duplicating, collating, and mailing the newsletter.

News of chapter activities should be sent to Shirley Morris by the 20^th of the month, unless otherwise notified.  Her address is:  109 Enchanted Hill Road, Apartment 202, Owings Mills, MD 21117, 356-3332.  All other news items should be sent to the editor (see the cover for the address and telephone) by the 20^th of the month in order to be included in the next month’s issue.

Affiliate Affairs

By John T. McCraw, President

NFB of Maryland

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is moving ahead in a highly organized fashion.  The twelve resolutions spawned at the State Convention in Cumberland have been widely disseminated among those politicians and bureaucrats, and various and sundry agencies where they may have the most significant clout.  Legislation and other activities designed to elevate the lives of blind persons are in the works such as, 1. A Little Randolph-Sheppard Bill; 2.  A bill to house all of those services meaningful to blind people under one authority; 3. NAC tracking; 4. An effective public relations push; 5.  Interaction with Dr. Jernigan, the National Committee and Federationists in other affiliates in implementing the policies of the Los Angeles Convention and; 6.  Building the membership of our affiliate.

As you recall, we voted last fall to have an early spring convention in Annapolis.  Plans have been consummated to bring that decision to fruition.  The first annual Spring Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be held at the Annapolis Hilton Inn, on March 18^th and 19^th, 1977.  The principal thrust of this convention will be to inculcate our state legislators to our needs and our determination to have all elected and appointed public officials in the state of Maryland become fully aware of our indefatigable intentions to have these needs fulfilled.  You, every Federationist in this affiliate, must assume your individual and collective responsibility in bringing this vitally necessary effort to a successful reality.  The room rates at the Annapolis Hilton Inn are:  Singles - $26.00, Doubles - $30.00, Triples - $34.00 and Quads - $40.00.  Reserve your place on a mattress by contacting Nelson Garber, Chairman – 269-2131 or 269-1155, a toll free number, or Ralph Sanders, Co-Chairman – 944-8392 or 233-4567.  Let us crowd the barricades in Annapolis and sally forth seeking those rights, that legislation, those programs and that justice which are undeniable ours.

If there is any reason you may have for contacting me, call me at 355-6308 or 355-5122 at night, or 367-4900 during the day.

Federationists Participate in Governmental Process

We wrote another important chapter in legislative history February 7 and 8 when we went to our nation’s capital in a massive force of over 200 Federationists, 20 of whom were Marylanders.  Our purpose was two-fold:  to attend a hearing conducted by the Sub-Committee on the Handicapped of the Senate Committee on Labor and Welfare, and to visit our congresspersons to seek their support and assistance in four areas very critical to the lives of blind persons.  The hearing was held Monday morning to discuss the creation of a Federal Comprehensive Services for the Blind Act which would establish a Federal-State Comprehensive Services for the Blind Program patterned after the Federal-State Vocational Rehabilitation Program which was created by P.L. 93-112, as amended, and is administered by Dr. Adams in the Rehabilitation Services Administration.  If 20 persons show up to observe the Sub-Committee on the Handicapped meeting, it’s considered a big turnout; We had over 200 Federationists jam-packed into the hearing room, and spilling out into the hallway.

There were two panels of speakers, one for the consumers with Jim Gashel acting as the spokesman, and one for the providers with Dr. Jernigan as the principal witness.

If enacted, the Comprehensive Services Bill would do these four things:  1. Make Federal money available for such services as cane travel and Braille training, distribution of aids and appliance, and library and radio reading services;   2.  Encourage states to establish separate state agencies for the blind;   3.  Establish a division for the blind in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and 4.  Make an additional 15 million dollars available in fiscal year 1977 exclusively for services for the blind.

After the hearing concluded, Federationists went off in their state delegations to visit congresspeople about this bill and three other pressing issues; Dr. Adams’ re-appointment as commissioner, our Disability Insurance for the Blind bill, and the Office of Education, in HEW, recognition of NAC as a legitimate accrediting body for schools for the blind.

The retention of Dr. Adams is our most urgent priority, if we are to see a continuing improvement in rehabilitation programs for the blind.  Congresspersons were asked to write letters supporting Dr. Adams to HEW Secretary Joseph Califano and President Carter.

Our Disability Insurance for the Blind bill, H.R. 3049, which was introduced by Congressman James Burke, is our second priority. Briefly, this bill would provide blind persons a real insurance against the expenses incurred due to blindness by allowing blind persons with six quarters of social security covered employment to receive benefits for the rest of their lives.  Senators and representatives were asked to co-sponsor H.R. 3049.

The delegations on the Hill also asked their representatives to support our bill on comprehensive services for the blind, explained above.  This bill is expected to be introduced by Jennings Randolph of West Virginia, in the senate, who sponsored the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Act in 1936.

Regarding our last issue, congressional support sought in the form of letters to the Commissioner of education asking that NAC be removed from the list of recognized accrediting bodies.

We received positive responses from our Maryland congresspersons and expect favorable action on all four issues.  Our next newsletter will carry a report on the actions each congressperson has taken on each issue as well as any communications received from them.

Committee Day – January 15

Our affiliate started the new year off in high gear by sponsoring a day for all state-wide committees to meet in working sessions. On the morning of January 15, the Greater Baltimore Chapter held its regular monthly meeting and after the lunch break, the group broke into committee sessions.  At 3:30 the group re-assembled to hear reports from each committee.  We have summarized these reports below.  Enthusiasm ran high throughout the day as evidenced by the large turnout of 100 members and by the sense of purpose with which everyone worked.  It all can be summed up as a substantial quantity of creative and high-quality work accomplished.  All chapters were well represented.

The Finance Committee, under the direction of its excellent chairman, Don Morris, discussed possible future fundraising projects such as, an art show-auction, a benefit concert, a fashion show, and, of course, the annual cabaret.  Of course, the sale of NFB candy will continue to be our major fundraising project.  It is expected that candy sale profits will finance 50 per cent of our state organizational operation.  All of us – each and every single member – has a vital part to play in obtaining funding sufficient to enable us to meet our goals.

The Membership Committee, headed up by two highly capable Federationists, Judy Sanders and Ray Lowder, discussed its purpose as a committee.  The committee concluded it has two objectives – to increase membership in existing local chapters and to create new chapters.  Committee members mapped out plans for achieving their purpose over the coming months.

The March Convention Committee chaired by Nelson Garber, a burgeoning leader, and co-chaired by Ralph Sanders, an outstanding executor of any project he undertakes, planned arrangements for the March 18 – 20 convention in Annapolis.  The committee has negotiated hotel accommodations with the Annapolis Hilton – which will serve as headquarters hotel – and the Maryland Inn.

Under the leadership of a bright and hard-working chairman, Al Maneki, the Legislative Committee reviewed legislative issues and charted a course of action for the current legislative session.  The committee recommended that the affiliate support a bill to establish a $20-a-month state supplement to the federal SSI program.  It was also proposed that we back H.B. 326, a bill requiring all public buildings to be made accessible to the handicapped.  While this bill does not apply to the blind, the committee voted to support it since it would benefit the physically handicapped and would not hurt the blind.  While we are willing to support specific bills of special interest to the physically handicapped but not to the blind, we would also expect some reciprocity.

The Public Relations Committee chaired by Ray Lowder and co-chaired by Lloyd Rasmussen, tow very able spokesmen for the Federation, made arrangement for the distribution of our radio and T.V. PSA spots and for publicizing our upcoming convention.  The committee hopes to have the Kurzwiel reading machine on display in Annapolis in March.  The “Radio Talking Gazette” was also discussed.  Ray Lowder reports that T.V. Channel 13 is showing our spots.  We need to let the station know by letters and phone calls that we have seen the spots and that we thank them for airing them.

The Braille Spectator Committee talked about ways to get news of affiliate activities into the hands of members more expeditiously and consistently.  The work of preparing, producing and distributing the Spectator was divided up and deadlines were set.

The Scholarship Committee, convened by Chairman Gary Mackenstadt, a very intelligent, results-oriented committee head, discussed eligibility criteria for the scholarship and the revision of the application form.  Committee members will research the scholarship programs sponsored on the national level and in other states.  The Spectator will contain an article on the specifics of this year’s program in a coming issue.

Radio Talking Gazette

A new radio reading service was initiated in the Baltimore area during January.  Aired by radio station WEAA, this program is produced by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.  Reading material for the program is taken from local newspapers and magazines which are not circulated in recorded and Braille form.  News of special interest to blind persons is also broadcasted.  WEAA is an Open Channel Educational Station, thus, special receivers are not required to tune into the “Gazette”.  The program currently comes over the air every Thursday from 11:00 to Noon.  WEAA is a new station which began programming on January 11, 1977.  Originally, the Gazette was scheduled for a half an hour time slot five days a week, but due to format changes has been switched to the weekly schedule.  It is hoped that the “Gazette” can gain more time on the air in the near future.  If you have heard the program, it would help the station to know of your reaction.  If you have not had this opportunity, turn your dial to 89.9 FM.  Volunteer readers are needed.  Anyone willing to assist in this way – or knowing someone else who is – should contact Radio Talking Gazette coordinator, Gary Mackenstadt at BISM at 233-4567.

Human Relations Commission

The State Human Relations Commission held a hearing on February 1 to elicit commentary on its proposed guidelines relating to the enforcement of sections of the Human Relations Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of handicap.  Rom Metenyi, who ably represented the NFB gave an oral statement.  Subsequent to the hearing, he also submitted written testimony.  The Federation stand, supported by the vast majority of speakers, was that the regulations were strong and correctly interpreted the law.  On Wednesday, February 16, H.B. 458 will be heard before the House Judiciary Committee.  H.B. 458 will allow monetary damages to be awarded in employment discrimination actions and will permit the hiring of hearing examiners to speed up the complaint process.

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