The Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
CALENDAR
June 30 - July 7, 1990 — Seminar for parents of blind children, call Barbara Cheadle at (301)659-9314 days or (301)747-3472 evenings for details.
Saturday, July 28, 1990 — 10:00 AM. NFB of Maryland Board meeting and Central Maryland Chapter picnic, Centennial Park, Columbia, MD, call Sharon Maneki (301)992-9608 to make reservations, $5.00 per person.
Wednesday, August 1, 1990 — Deadline for submitting articles for the next issue of the Braille Spectator.
Monday, October 15, 1990 — National White Cane Safety Day: local and county ceremonies.
November 9 - 11, 1990 — NFB of Maryland Convention, Annapolis, Maryland.
Thursday, January 17, 1991 — Day in Annapolis.
LEGISLATURE FUNDS NEW LIBRARY:
1990 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
By Sharon Maneki
Years of hard work by the organized blind of Maryland have resulted in sweet victory as the Maryland General Assembly has finally appropriated $6 million for construction of a new building for the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Because of our efforts, members of the General Assembly and Governor Schaefer, who had to include the expenditure in his budget, understood the necessity for an improved library for the blind. Without the hours of meetings, telephone calls, and letter writing spent by our members with their elected representatives, any appropriation for the library would have been defeated during these times of extremely tight fiscal conditions.
Since the new building will be located next to the Enoch Pratt Library, construction of the library for the blind building was linked closely to the possible expansion of the Pratt Library. The original $7.4 million appropriation included facilities which would be shared by both libraries. Since the General Assembly remained uncertain about the Pratt expansion, the appropriation was reduced to $6 million. The General Assembly further required as a condition for the appropriation that "(i) The budget committees have received and approved a definitive program plan, preliminary design, and detailed cost estimate for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, as well as the results of test borings and the preliminary design and cost estimate for the expansion of the State Library Resource Center located at the Pratt Library, and (ii) The Maryland Historical Trust and the Commission on Historic Architectural Preservation have reviewed and approved the design for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, as well as the design for the expansion of the State Library Resource Center located at the Pratt Central Library. Reductions in floor space and facilities are not anticipated for the new building because of the reduced appropriation.
As sweet as this victory is, the issues of additional staff positions for the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and improved library services remain unsettled. We will not rest on our laurels now!
Other legislative actions: the General Assembly amended the White Cane Law to extend coverage to mobility impaired persons using service dogs. Although coverage for the mobility impaired differs slightly from that for blind persons with dog guides, the rights accorded blind persons under the White Cane Law have not been diminished by the new amendments. The constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities was passed by the Senate, but was not reported out of the House Constitutional Administrative Law Committee. The General Assembly approved the creation of a State debt of $500,000 for asbestos removal and air conditioning at the Maryland School for the Blind.
GREATER BALTIMORE CHAPTER CELEBRATES WHITE CANE WEEK
by Eileen Rivera
The Greater Baltimore Chapter's white cane committee, ably chaired by Ms. Shirley Trexler, has conceived a number of exciting ideas to celebrate National White Cane Week (May 15-21). The goals of this committee were to raise the awareness of (1) the White Cane Laws relating to pedestrian safety, (2) careers and opportunities for the blind, and (3) the Fiftieth Anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind.
Mayor Schmoke issued a proclamation commemorating the National Federation of the Blind on its Fiftieth Anniversary and urging Baltimore citizens to observe National White Cane Week.
Since National White Cane Week coincides with many Preakness Week celebrations, the committee capitalized upon already planned Preakness activities. A number of the Chapter's activities were included in "The Preakness Calendar of Events." Accompanying the list of activities was a reminder to drivers that they should always give blind pedestrians the right of way at crosswalks.
The chapter marched in the Preakness Parade on Friday evening May 11th. The theme of the brigade was: "NFB--Improving the Odds for the Blind, since 1940." The NFB float featured two giant dice, and was adorned by balloons and streamers. Tina Blatter coordinated the float design. Marchers either wore NFB T-shirts and hats, or costumes depicting the types of careers which blind people have. Federationists were on hand to root for Lily Walden and her entry, Louis Braille, in the Preakness Frog Jumping Contest. A suitable candidate was located in and imported from North Carolina especially for this contest. We also distributed our literature at this event.
The Enoch Pratt Central Library designed a special window display commemorating National White Cane Week. In fact, the educational display is expected to remain at the Library through mid- June. Mary Ellen Thompson and Betsy Furman developed the concept for the display. Mrs. Thompson created two little children manikins, and dressed them in clothing that once belonged to Brent Kelly. One of the figures sports an NFB kiddy cane, and his companion is reading a twin vision book. Both children are wearing birthday party hats, in recognition of the Fiftieth Anniversary. Also in the display is a birthday cake, an NFB flag, and copies of the Braille Monitor, Future Reflections, Voice of the Diabetic, and our new handbook for teachers of the blind and visually impaired.
The chapter invited the Maryland Library for the Blind to have an adjoining display at the Enoch Pratt Library in commemoration of National White Cane Week. Their window focused on the library services available for the blind.
The North Carolina National Bank assisted the chapter in the "Run for the Chocolate Roses Sale" from May 9-11th. NFB members also had the opportunity to distribute NFB literature to bank patrons and employees that week. Sarah Edwards organized the rose sale. A concurrent display at the bank portrayed blind persons whose careers relate to horses. A blind horse trader, rider, and innkeeper will be featured. Rosemary Lerdahl and Lorraine Rovig coordinated this display.
In addition, the chapter distributed an informative letter to "Friends of the National Federation of the Blind" which encourages community organizations and churches to learn more about blindness and to help us identify blind persons in need of assistance. (This letter is not dated and can easily be adapted for use by any NFB chapter in Maryland.)
A most exciting development arose from the work of Miss Doris Johnson and Mr. Arthur Segal, members of the White Cane Committee. The Baltimore Chapter has now initiated a new cooperative educational program with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The MTA has agreed to print and distribute "An Open Letter to MTA Bus Drivers," which gives drivers Pointers on how to be most helpful to blind passengers. In addition, MTA is now printing "car cards," 12-by-24-inch advertising posters placed on board every bus, featuring our logo and the white cane pedestrian safety message. Representatives of the Federation will meet with bus drivers in person during the second week in May to distribute literature and answer their questions. Finally, in conjunction with White Cane Safety Day next October, MTA drivers and staff have agreed to take a bus ride with our chapter members in order to learn firsthand about our needs as MTA passengers. The MTA and NFB will issue a joint press release about the October event inviting the media to ride along.
EDUCATING THE EDUCATORS: SPECIAL ED, TEXT REVISED
by Sharon Maneki
The majority of students view their textbooks as authoritative sources on any given subject and will rarely question the assumptions or facts asserted by its authors. Many myths about Braille and blindness are perpetuated in textbooks on special education.
Linda Davis, a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a recipient of a National Federation of the Blind of Maryland scholarship in 1988, was appalled by the presentation on blindness and Braille in the textbook, Human Exceptionality by Michael L. Hardman, Clifford J. Drew, M. Winston Eagan and Barbara Wolf, used for an introductory course on special education in which she was enrolled in the spring semester of 1988. This text is used frequently for the "introduction to special education" course, required for every prospective teacher in Maryland. Linda objected to the authors' claims against the utility of Braille and their negative attitudes toward blindness. She pointed out the harmful influence of such a text on teachers and urged us to take action to remedy this deplorable state of affairs.
At our 1988 State Convention in Towson, we adopted Resolution 88-08, taking the authors to task for falsely claiming that diabetics and the elderly cannot read Braille, that the use of slate and stylus is too slow, etc., and urging them to present an accurate account of the utility of Braille in the next edition of their text. Professor Hardman responded to my letter explaining our resolution by asking for additional information. Federation experts Barbara Cheadle, Doris Wiloughby, Karen Mayry, and others provided information to support our arguments. The third edition of Human Exceptionality, released in 1990, was sent to me by the publishers for review shortly after publication.
Although we do not agree completely with their treatment of Braille in the new edition, the authors did take our material into their consideration and present a more objective account of blindness and Braille. For example, on p334, the authors state: "Braille is still considered by a significant number of people who are blind to be an efficient means for teaching reading and writing. Critics of the system note that braille readers are estimated to be two or three times slower then print readers, and that braille materials are somewhat bulky and tedious. It can be argued, however, that without braille the person who is blind would be much less independent. The individual who is unable to read braille is more dependent on sight readers or recordings. Simple tasks, such as labeling cans, boxes, cartons in the bathroom or kitchen, become nearly impossible to complete."
The authors quote from Dr. Jernigan's article, "Braille: An Overview: History, Problems, Technology, and Future Prospects" (1982). The authors also ask their readers to reflect on the article (which they reprint in its entirety), "Why Not Braille", by Anne Hollowell (National Association to Promote the Use of Braille Newsletter, Spring, 1987), describing her struggle to have the local school system teach Braille to her blind son.
Getting authors to include accurate information in a textbook for prospective teachers is an important accomplishment in our battle to improve the quality of education for our blind children. I believe that this is the first instance in which Federation literature has been extensively included in a widely used Introductory level text on special education. We should see to it that more authors use the Federation's professional literature in their writings.
JOURNEY TURNED INTO ADVENTURE
by Kay Monville
With the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, Jim Story and Kay Monville are receiving adjustment to blindness training, out of state. The Maryland Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is funding this training. Kay Monville tells us that in order to complete the home economics course at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, she must successfully prepare and serve a meal for forty persons. Although she might never have to prepare and serve such a large meal again, there is something to be said for asking blind persons to perform beyond their expectations as part of their rehabilitation. The Maryland Division of Vocational Rehabilitation would do well to follow the example of the Louisiana Center for the Blind.
As I embarked on my journey to the Louisiana Center for the Blind, fear crept in as I realized that I was starting an adventure that I knew was to help me, but I knew only the barest facts about. While we were fighting the Maryland Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for my right to choose and attend the training center that would best meet my needs, I really did not realize that I would be away from family and friends for six to nine long months and would be living with strangers. Thoughts and fears housed themselves in my mind as the airplane carried me from Maryland into Louisiana.
All my fears were put to rest as I entered the doors of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and was greeted by the staff and students. I soon found out that the Louisiana Center for the Blind opened its doors for the first time to blind adults who were seeking training in the skills of blindness in October 1985. The staff takes each student under their wing until the student feels comfortable within their new surroundings and is ready to take on each challenge of each day. Within these walls each student attends a schedule of classes consisting of Braille, cane travel, typing, home economics, abacus, job related skills, and independent study.
The most important class is the weekly seminar in which attitudes and self concepts of blind persons are discussed. It stresses heavy doses of positive attitude adjustment. The center stands firm on the right philosophy, including stressing the fact that blind people can perform the average job as well as the average sighted person can. All a blind person needs is the proper attitude and the best possible skills.
Joanne Fernandes, the director, and her staff believe the keys to success are sound training for six to nine months. More importantly, they want to bring all students to the realization that we are just normal people and we can do anything we set our sights on. We can be productive members of society and be successful in our careers.
Students who have some vision are expected to wear sleep shades while we are in the center or on designated outside activities such as grocery shopping. The staff feel that when the students realize that we can perform competently under sleep shades, then we begin to cast off our own misconceptions about blindness and replace them with positive self concepts. The most outstanding bond between Joanne Fernandes and her staff is the dedication in which they teach the skills of blindness. They all share a common bond in their beliefs in the abilities and potentials of all blind people. The staff functions as a team of one, teaching and living the alternative techniques of blindness and projecting their positive attitude towards blindness. They impress on us the feeling that it is respectable to be blind.
My fears have faded and I have come face to face with my own inner confidence and I do believe in my own ability to succeed as a competent blind person. The quickest way to come face to face with oneself is to be in New Orleans spending Mardi Gras blindfolded. As all the students prepared for our trip to New Orleans, we could feel the excitement growing, with our dreams of dancing in the streets and running in and out of the jazz clubs. We thought we were on our way to one big party. To our surprise, this trip was to build our confidence and to show us the importance of our cane travel skills and hopefully the kindness of a stranger if we strayed. Eighteen students and the staff embarked on this journey into the screaming pushing crowds of Mardi Gras. This was our first attempt to face a challenge that will hopefully ease our fears of traveling into such a strange large area with wall to wall people, speeding cars and sign posts. The students faced many problem solving situations during our three day stay. We came across some kind individuals, some who thought we were helpless, some who thought we were pretending to be blind, and some who yelled nasty comments as we passed. Through it all, the students made their way through the crowds to where we were all to meet.
As for myself, my skills were tested and proven as I made my way through the crowd on Bourbon Street, through the French Quarter, and maneuvering through the parade crowds. Without our positive attitudes, self confidence, cane travel classes, and our needed friend Mr. White Cane, I'm sure most of us would not have been able to find all of the streets that lead us to the interesting stores. Most of all, we might not have found each other.
Joanne Fernandes stated to a reporter, "besides encouraging independence the Louisiana Center is out to demonstrate that the blind can lead the blind." It proves our philosophy that a blind person can be safe with another blind person. Joanne Fernandes statement rings true, as I am safely back in Ruston looking forward to continuing my training and maybe another trip into the unknown.
I GUESS ALL I NEEDED WAS A LITTLE PUSH
by Sandeep Kishan
The following article is based on an address given at the Student Seminar of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Student Division, February 24, 1990.
We are all competing for jobs; we are each attending school so that we may increase our chances of obtaining a good, well-paying job in the future. However, in today's world, mere education is not enough. How many times have you heard the cliche: "I need experience to get a job, but I need a job to get experience"? The fact is that in the face of discrimination, we, as blind students, are under greater pressure to demonstrate our ability to perform the job. None of us can settle for being another mediocre job applicant, but instead, each one must attempt to be the most qualified for the job.
As students, we have many opportunities to get valuable work experience. One example is an internship in which you work for a company or agency for a period of time and perform various tasks. Internships can be either paid or unpaid, and you can often receive college credit for your work. You are treated like a full-time employee, but you have the flexibility of attending classes and pursuing other activities too. Over time, you are charged with greater responsibility, and you develop not only experience but also self-confidence.
This semester, I am interning at the Baltimore Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO). This City agency is responsible for attracting businesses to invest in Baltimore; its goals are two-fold: create jobs and increase the tax base. I work downtown between twelve and fifteen hours per week. While everyone else finishes class, I go to work.
What does someone do at an internship? Interns do a wide variety of things, and you can tailor your internship to your particular interests. I was responsible for writing the Agency's 1989 Corporate Report. This job entailed researching the activities of the Agency during the past year, coordinating information between various sections of the Agency, accumulating data, and writing about the Agency's accomplishments. The report will be distributed to businesses considering relocation to Baltimore, to various departments of City government, and to the Mayor. After completing the report, I have begun a study of industrial park space in the City. I am comparing space availability with investment needs of businesses. The report will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the industrial parks in Baltimore.
You are probably wondering how to get an internship. It is very easy. All companies are looking for people who are willing to work hard and are not particularly looking for a great deal of money. Since you are looking for work experience, business and government will be more than willing to take you as an intern. You must first choose where you would like to work, and then simply give them a call. They will want to meet you in an interview, and they will ask how you are doing in school. If you present yourself with a positive attitude and are genuinely interested in working, then you will not have a problem.
What has my internship taught me this semester? Obviously, I have learned a great deal about City development and investment programs. I am learning about how cities compete to businesses. However, my internship has taught me much more than that. It has forced me to work efficiently and with a positive attitude. I have ridden on public transportation for the first time--and now I ride the buses six or seven times a week. In fact, because of the newly found self confidence, I am going all over the City meeting people and discovering what has been hiding off campus; I have found new places and new opportunities because of this new-found freedom. I know that each of these skills will be valuable when I search for a job: They will help my resume stand out above the rest. All that it really took was a little push in the right direction.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR THE DISABLED
by Ron Metenyi
To: Members of the Senate and the House
Re: Support of SB 475 and HB 879
This is an excellent bill. It is time we, the people declare that there are no second-class citizens in Maryland. It is time we, the people commit ourselves to equality and opportunity for all.
It's time we, the people, start placing value on people based on proven ability. We must stop writing people off based on their disabilities.
Jim Abbott is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. As it happens, he has only one hand. Recently he was asked how he could pitch in the major leagues with only one hand. His answer was instructive. He said, "I make use of what I have. I don't worry about what I don't have." This is the attitude each of us should adopt towards himself and others.
Recently, I attended hearings on the Americans With Disabilities Act. It was most interesting! It seems that someone has figured out that there are 900,000 disabilities. A member of the committee stated that there are probably two million or two and a half million disabilities. Someone sagely observed that, if we could define normal, then we could define disabled. Thus, if you are less than perfect physically, less than perfect mentally, and less then entirely adjusted, you have some degree of disability. Of course, some disabilities are especially apparent and disturbing to others.
Sadly, blindness is a disability which is disturbing to others. This gives rise to the great anomaly of blindness.
It is a fact that, with proper training in alternative techniques, blindness can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance. Yet, the blind experience pervasive discrimination springing from non-information, misinformation, and stereotyping.
In his speech to the 1988 Democratic Convention, the Reverend Jesse Jackson referred to the "Damned, despised, and disrespected". If you were to become noticeably disabled, you would learn the true meaning of Reverend Jackson's words. You would learn when you walked down the street, disturbing no one and no thing, that young children giggle and call you a freak or a weirdo. You would learn that teenagers and the occasional disgruntled adult call you things no human should ever be called. But you learn to a far greater effect when you venture forth seeking employment for which you are objectively qualified that you will be told that you are not qualified.
As an applicant for employment I have been told that I'm under-qualified. I've been told that I am overqualified. I have been told that I am qualified, but not to work "here". I have been told: "We'd love to hire you, but we can't because if we hired you, our insurance would go through the roof." It's not true, but they said it anyway.
Let me give you another example of what has happened to blind people in the job market. There is the old disappearing vacancy trick. The employer will say, "Sorry, the vacancy has been filled." Sometimes it has; but upon checking, it is obvious that it has not. My favorite gambit is the union-management routine. A union man will tell you that they would love to have you, but management will never hire you. A manager will tell you that they would love to hire you, but the union will never let you join, and it's a union shop. There may be fifty ways to say "We won't hire you," but the bottom line is always the same. The blind will not get the job.
Despite the difficulties I have faced with perseverance, I have always managed to live on meager earnings, or lean savings and a little unemployment insurance. I was told by a couple of irate individuals who don't know me that I'm one of "those people on welfare". It came as news to me that people would think such a thing of me when I work hard to earn my living and I am proud of it.
The time must come when we respond to people as individuals rather than on the basis of conditioned reactions.
Thomas Jefferson said: "We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among them are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Now, Jefferson certainly did not mean that we are all the same size, or that we are all equally smart or equally good looking. Surely he did mean that we are all, equally individuals. That we all deserve equal protection under the law. That we all deserve equal access to opportunity. That we are all equally precious in the sight of Almighty God.
Dr. Martin Luther King used to say: "We must care about our brothers; for either we will all go up together, or else we will all go down together." He also said: "No black man can be truly free so long as one white man remains unfree and no white man can be truly free so long as one black man remains unfree." It is also true that each of us is diminished as long as some of us are damned, despised, and disrespected.
Some may say that it defies common sense to expect people to accept the disabled on the basis of equality. I ask, "What is common sense?" Dr. Albert Einstein defined common sense as "The sum of prejudices we accumulate by the age of eighteen." In formulating his revolutionary theory, he abandoned established patterns of thought and conventional wisdom. When he worked within common sense, he did fine mathematics. When he went beyond it, he achieved greatness.
It is time to exchange "common sense" notions about the disabled for a common sense of humanity. Passing this bill will not make that happen over night. It will help. I respectfully urge that you pass it.
SPECKS
We congratulate the Maryland students who participated in the 1990 Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest of the National Federation of the Blind Parents' Division: Jennifer Baker, Rockville, MD, third place nationally, category grades 5-8; Soramindy Cook, Baltimore, MD, first place nationally, category most improved; Olivia Norman, Takoma Park, MD; Charles Cheadle, Baltimore, MD; Christina Shorten, Gaithersburg, MD; Tomeka White, Ft. Meade, MD. These participants will be recognized locally for their achievements in Braille reading by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Parents' Division.
I am sorry to report the death of Pat Capuano. Pat passed away after a long illness. May he rest in peace.
Congratulations to Mary Ellen and Paul Gabias. Their baby daughter, Joanne Kathleen, arrived on Wednesday, February 28. Mom Dad and baby Joanne are doing well, enjoying their lives in Fredericktown, New Brunswick, Canada.
Wedding bells: Marla Miller and Ray Sewell were married on Sunday, March 11. Marla is an active member of the Baltimore chapter who spends many hours as a volunteer in the Howard County Public Schools teaching children about blindness and the NFB's philosophy. Ray has been a vendor for many years. Patricia Woelfer and Joseph Miller were married on Sunday, April 22. Mrs. Miller is President Maurer's able assistant. Joseph Miller is an ace computer expert at the National Center for the Blind.
Terry Ryan and Joseph Powers were married on Saturday, May 5. Terry is an active member of the Sligo Creek chapter. Congratulations and best wishes to all of the newly weds.
Kent Keene, active member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter, celebrated his eighty-eighth birthday on Wednesday, March 21. To the best of our knowledge, Kent is the oldest member of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Congratulations Kent Keene. Your good health and longevity is envied by all of us.
We are pleased to report births, marriages, deaths, and significant achievements of our members in this newsletter. If we failed to announce these items in the past, it is because no one communicated the information to us. Please report these items to President Sharon Maneki promptly for inclusion in these pages.
As of January, 1990, the following changes occurred on the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland's Board of Trustees: Tom Saquella resigned from his position as chairman and is no longer a member of the Board. The new chairman is Fred Puente, and the new vice chairman is Lorraine Raffle. The vacancy left open by Tom Saquella's departure has not yet been filled.
The following announcements are taken from MAINSTREAMER, publication of the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities: The U. S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Job Information, has a computerized telephone system which provides recorded announcements on employment opportunities for interested persons. By dialing 202-653-8468, and following the instructions, concerned parties may obtain details on vacancy announcements, test schedules, test results pending and other applicable information. The Maryland State Department of Economic and Employment Development (DEED) has a "Job Line" which can be reached in the Baltimore/Annapolis area at 301-841-6281. For those persons in other parts of Maryland, 301-261-8304 must be used, but for these individuals living outside the Baltimore/Annapolis area, 1-800-645-6245 is also available. If you have a rotary dial telephone there is a voice operator to assist you from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Individuals with push button telephones may use these numbers on a 24-hour basis.
Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB), will hold its free National Seminar on Saturday, July 7, 1990, from 9 AM to noon in the Dallas-Fort Worth Hyatt Regency Hotel. Several program items are already lined up: "Explaining Reasonable Accommodation To The Employer"; "Blind Secretary or Medical Transcriptionist -- From Worthwhile Training To Decent Job"; "My Uncle Sam Wants Me: Federal Agency Employees"; "A Survival Guide for a Public School Music Teacher"; "City Recreation Planner: From Part-time Job to Full-time Professional"; and, "Hosting JOB Seminars Kansas City Style." Other program items are being worked on. Job Opportunities for the Blind, a joint program of the NFB and the U.S. Department of Labor, is available free to anyone who is legally blind and looking for work in the United States. Some services are available for employers, service providers, parents, and other interested parties. For further information or to become a JOB Applicant, call 1-800-638-7518 (in Maryland, call 301-659-9314).
Wanted: Qualified self-employed persons to sell quality-formulated herbal and nutritional products from Herbalife International, Inc. using voice mail and other procedures from your home. For more information call Al Desmarais at (301)937-6025.
Georgia Myers reports that TV Channel 9 Cumberland showed Sharon and Al Maneki in the crowd crossing the finish line in its coverage of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk, Sunday, May 6, 1990.
Copies of the program for this year's Baltimore City Artscape festival, July 13-15, are available on cassette from the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Call the library now to order your copy of this cassette.
THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR
Al Maneki, Editor
Summer 1990
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, is a non-profit organization of blind people whose purpose is to promote equal opportunities for the blind. We provide advocacy services for the blind, special training programs for parents of blind children, job referrals and placements for the blind, public education programs, scholarships to blind students, and help the newly blinded to acquire special techniques for maintaining productive lives.
The Braille Spectator is published quarterly for members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and others who share an interest in the work of this organization. The recorded edition, available on cassette, can be obtained from the editor upon request. Cassettes may be returned to the National Center for the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Changes of address and additions to the circulation list should be sent to the editor. Address all news items, articles and letters to the editor.
Al Maneki, Editor
The Braille Spectator
9736 Basket Ring Road
Officers:
Sharon Maneki, President, Columbia, Maryland
Eileen Rivera, First Vice President, Baltimore, Maryland
Barry Hond, Second Vice President, Baltimore, Maryland
Debbie Brown, Secretary, Rockville, Maryland
Judy Rasmussen, Treasurer, Kensington, Maryland
Members of the Board of Directors:
Leroy Bagwell, Salisbury, Maryland
Fred Flowers, Baltimore, Maryland
Al Carter, Annapolis, Maryland
Carleen McKenzie, Frostburg, Maryland
Pat Winebrenner, Frostburg, Maryland
Brenda Williams, Baltimore, Maryland