The Braille Spectator: Winter 1991-1992

The Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, NFB OF MARYLAND

ORGANIZED BLIND TO FIGHT FOR LITERACY; HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION

Ocean City, Maryland, October 25-27, 1991. The twenty-fifth annual convention was this editor's sixteenth Maryland convention. This was a typical Ocean City convention--a large gathering (a record 219 persons registered), a fun-filled and inspiring banquet (190 persons in attendance), lively parties, scads of door prizes throughout, and an interesting and productive convention program. This was the first convention for many of the attendees.

National Representative Joanne Wilson challenged the quality of Maryland's rehabilitation services for the blind by reporting on the exciting achievements at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She inspired us by reminding us that we are not just doing an ordinary job, but that we are building a "cathedral."

Uppermost in the minds of convention attendees was what to do about the continuing decline in literacy among blind and visually impaired persons in Maryland. Too often, students are not taught to read and write Braille. When Braille is taught, students do not develop proficiency in its use. Many who are forced to rely on large print lack sufficient visual acuity to read large print efficiently. We suspect that officials from the State Department of Education and the vision teachers came to the convention not only to give their invited addresses, but also to find out what we were going to do about "the Braille Bill." In her annual report to the convention on Saturday morning, President Sharon Maneki argued that we have waited long enough for the vision teachers and administrators to improve literacy standards. She called upon the organized blind of Maryland to take our case for literacy to the General Assembly in 1992 by working for passage of the National Federation of the Blind's model literacy bill. The convention agreed unanimously.

The convention program also featured lively exchanges between Federationists and Superintendent Louis Tutt (Maryland School for the Blind), Lance Finney and Maurice Travillian (Library for the Blind), and Board Chairman Fred Puente and David Reed (Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.) See the resolutions, reprinted elsewhere in this issue, for statements of the positions taken by this convention.

The Friday afternoon seminar on the Americans with Disabilities Act, moderated by Eileen Rivera, featured presentations by Jim Gashel, Carol Dobalc, and Arthur Segal.

At its meeting on Friday afternoon, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to establish the Shirley Trexler Media Award, which will be given occasionally, as warranted, to anyone making substantial contributions to the public relations efforts of our movement.

The Friday night Beach Party and dance with DJ Fred Flowers was a huge success.

Awards and Prizes. At the banquet, Delegate Pauline Menes received the NFB of Maryland's Legislative Services Award for her work in securing the passage of the blind pedestrian’s right-of-way bill in the 1991 session of the General Assembly. Dr. Kenneth Jernigan personally presented the Kenneth Jernigan Award to Al Maneki for his many years of service. Mary Ellen Jernigan and Patricia Miller were the respective winners of $100 prizes for the PAC and Associates contests. The efforts of Maryland's 48 Associates' recruiters were rewarded by presenting each of them with a Friends of the LBPH coffee mug, purchased by the NFB of Maryland. Rekah Raichura, Gaithersburg, received a John T. McCraw Scholarship of $700. She is a native of India, majoring in education at Montgomery Community College.

Once again, the auction held after the banquet (Duane Gerstenberger, auctioneer) raised a substantial portion of this affiliate's annual pledge to the Jacobus ten Broek Memorial Fund.

Affiliate Elections. Since this is an odd numbered year, only the Board positions held by Benny Bagwell, Fred Flowers, and Pat Winebrenner were up for election. Ken Canterbery (Essex), Ronald Coleman (Adelphi}, and Fred Flowers (Baltimore) were elected to two-year terms on the Board of Directors. Congratulations, Ken, Ron, and Fred! We thank Benny Bagwell and Pat Winebrenner for their many years of service on the Board.

Before striking the gavel to adjourn the convention, Sharon Maneki thanked everyone for contributing to the success of this convention and announced the date and location for next year's convention--The Gaithersburg Marriott, September 18-20! We departed from the Dunes Manor Hotel on Sunday afternoon with a sense of accomplishment and felt privileged to have taken part in our twenty-fifth annual convention.

THE STATE OF THE AFFILIATE: 1991

by Sharon Maneki

From the Editor: Events occur very quickly in our movement. Parts of this presidential report, delivered at our convention, are already dated. On the Friday morning of our convention, we learned that ABC Television had just announced the cancellation of "Good and Evil." As- a result of this address, the vision teachers extended a belated invitation to their annual conference. Sharon Maneki addressed the conference on November 6. Barbara Cheadle also attended the conference. The organization of our chapter in southern Maryland has already taken place and Ken Canterbery 's case has been satisfactorily resolved (see related articles elsewhere in this issue.)

Fellow Federationists! As we celebrate our twenty-fifth annual convention, we may justly take pride in the distance we have traveled on the road to first-class citizenship. Let us remember our debts to those who have come before us. Let us especially recognize the past presidents of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland--Ned Graham, our first president; John McCraw, whose commitment and achievements continue to inspire us; Willie Thompson, who helped us to keep the faith after John McCraw's untimely death; Jim Omvig and Marc Maurer, for building us into an affiliate worthy of being the home to our national headquarters. Presidents alone are not responsible for our success. We salute our many long-time members who continue to remain active and give us the benefit of their wisdom and experience. Let us rejoice in welcoming our new members, those attending their first or second convention. Let us pledge to continue our work with the same enthusiasm and vitality by which we have distinguished ourselves for the past twenty-five years.

Dr. Thomas Dooley, the renowned humanitarian, stated that, "we are all here to help one another." We in the National Federation of the Blind live by this precept. How do we help one another? Our help is not like that offered by the condescending passer-by who sees us travelling on the street and asks, "do you know where you are going?" Our help is not like that offered by the custodial air lines agent who assumes that we must be pre-boarded, or the bus driver who forces us to sit in the designated front row of seats for the handicapped. How many of us have experienced the "helpful" counselor who says, "you can't be a mechanic," or "you can't be a mathematician." "Blind people can't do those jobs." In the National Federation of the Blind, we help one another by offering hope and encouragement which lead to independence and freedom. We present positive attitudes to blindness which lead to greater self-esteem and pride. We share our experiences because of our common bond of blindness. Because we are here to help one another, we recognize that our success depends on collective action. Collective action leads to power, and power leads to change.

We are frequently asked by our friends, relatives, colleagues, and even by strangers: "Exactly what does the National Federation of the Blind do?" How can we adequately describe the essence of the many activities that we undertake at all levels of society? The best short answer which I can give is that "We in the National Federation of the Blind are changing what it means to be blind." We are changing the very concept of blindness and the attitudes towards blind persons which are held by the sighted public and by the blind themselves. We are changing the laws which govern equal rights to which blind persons are entitled. We are changing the economic outlook for blind persons by improving the educational and employment opportunities which are available to us. Some of these changes are gradual or minor and take place without fanfare. Other changes are more dramatic and are the result of drastic actions or unavoidable confrontations. Sometimes, we bring about changes in the minds and hearts of individuals. At other times, we cause changes to be made in the practices of private corporations and government bureaucracies. All of these changes are equally important to us. During the past year, we have changed what it means to be blind in Maryland. We have also joined with our blind brothers and sisters everywhere to change what it means to be blind in America.

We in the National Federation of the Blind are unique in our understanding of blindness as a characteristic rather than a handicap. It has been argued persuasively by Dr. ten Broek, Dr. Jernigan, and now by President Maurer, and demonstrated repeatedly by blind persons themselves that the blind can compete on terms of equality, given proper training and reasonable opportunities. During the past year, we were actively involved in bringing our simple message of hope to the general public and to the blind community as well.

We are changing what it means to be blind by effectively spreading our message.

By conducting extensive membership campaigns, many of our local chapters were able to provide other blind persons with encouragement and valuable information. We met with, and provided information to, support groups for senior citizens. Our Diabetics Support Network continues to serve a useful role in assisting persons faced with diabetic complications. Speaking of membership activities, we kept the pledge that we made to ourselves at last year's convention to organize a new chapter in Baltimore County. This chapter was organized on November 29, 1990. In the near future, we will organize a Southern Maryland Chapter. Some of the charter members of this chapter are in our midst, attending their first National Federation of the Blind convention.

We commend the Frederick County, Sligo Creek, and Greater Baltimore chapters for conducting special programs to educate bus drivers in local transit systems about the capabilities of blind persons and the courtesy rules of blindness. The Greater Baltimore Chapter went so far as to honor its Bus Driver of the Year with a commendation and a host of prizes. In addition to the work of our local chapters, many individual members brought our message to high school and college classes, church youth groups, Cub Scout

dens, Lions clubs, and other civic groups. We can only hope that the insight on blindness we provide today will nurture the success stories for the blind of tomorrow.

For the first time, the Maryland School for the Blind invited the National Federation of the Blind to appear on its campus to take part in its summer program for blind students enrolled in public, middle and high schools. On July 31, Debbie Brown, Paul Flynn, Brenda Mueller, Blanche Payne, and Shirley Trexler participated in the information fair which was held for these students. Each student with whom we met at this fair was entered into a drawing for a talking calculator, which was conducted at the end of the fair. A good time was had by all.

National White Cane Week and National White Cane Safety Day continue to provide excellent opportunities to conduct public education. The Greater Baltimore Chapter's tradition of marching in the Preakness Parade as a part of National White Cane Week activities assumed added significance this year, with President Maurer and Mayor Schmoke leading the contingent of Federationists and members of the Baltimore City Council on the parade route. Again, this year, we obtained National White Cane Safety Day proclamations from mayors, county commissioners, and county executives throughout Maryland. We used White Cane Safety Day proclamation ceremonies to call attention to local problems confronting blind persons and to present civic officials with copies of our latest book, What Color is the Sun. By these activities, the National Federation of the Blind has established itself as a contributing force in the entire Maryland community.

Just when we were starting to believe that we were making progress in the entertainment media with Dana Elcar and MacGyver, in the new television season along comes the "mother" of television programs against the blind, "Good and Evil". We will not permit the portrayal of blind bumbling George, depicting us as incompetent and fools, to remain unanswered. We have joined with our colleagues across the nation in writing letters of complaint and making telephone calls to voice our objections. We have also joined our colleagues on the picket lines in New York City and Washington, DC. We will not cease our efforts until blind-bumbling George is taken off the television channels.

We are changing what it means to be blind by our ceaseless efforts in the Maryland General Assembly. The last session of the General Assembly was a productive one for the organized blind of Maryland.

In 1987, we were vividly reminded of just how precious life is when Richard and Lorraine Evensen were killed by a reckless automobile driver as they were crossing Georgia Avenue in Montgomery County. We were shocked to learn that despite the intent of the Maryland White Cane Law, blind persons have the right of way only when we are travelling within the painted boundaries of crosswalks. The worst that this driver could be charged was a forty-dollar fine. Although the Evensens were not members of this organization, we could not permit such a travesty of justice to occur again. In 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991, we argued strenuously before the General Assembly that blind persons are safe pedestrians, deserving of reasonable protection under the traffic laws of the state of Maryland. In 1991, the General Assemble finally saw the light. The Governor signed the bill, and as of July 1, 1991, blind pedestrians do have the right-of-way when crossing streets and highways. Over ten years ago, legislation which we had recommended, granting priority to the Maryland Vending Program for the Blind in all state, county, and municipal facilities, was defeated in the Maryland General Assembly. In 1991, when we recommended similar legislation, the Maryland General Assembly responded by granting priority only to buildings managed by the State Department of General Services. Although this law is not as strong as that which we proposed, it is a step in the right direction, and the National Federation of the Blind is responsible for its passage.

At our convention last year, we set as one of our goals the reform of the appeals procedure for clients who are dissatisfied with the services which they are receiving from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. At the time of our convention last year, the State Department of Education had already rejected our proposal.

The Department of Education changed its position when it learned that Delegate Thomas, Delegate Cummings, Senator Pica, and other members of the General Assembly agreed with us that the Division's practice of using former employees to hear appeals was biased against clients. What we did not know at last year's convention was that an office within state government has already been created to hear disputes between individuals and state agencies. Upon the recommendation of a number of legislators, we have agreed that, as of July 1, 1991, appeals of decisions of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation shall be heard by administrative law judges in the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

We have always maintained that the best rehabilitation services for the blind are provided by separate identifiable agencies for the blind. Since the blind are a minority in the disabled community, and since the training which we require is specialized and not generally understood, our needs are too often ignored by general rehabilitation agencies such as Mary land's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. More recently, we have also understood that rehabilitation clients are entitled to choose the agencies which are to provide these services, just as Medicare patients may choose their own doctors and students with guaranteed loans may choose their institutions of higher learning. The success in the enactment of legislation sometimes depends on waiting for the right opportunity. This year, an opportunity to reorganize rehabilitation services for the blind into a single state agency presented itself when Governor Schaefer proposed a massive plan to reorganize the social services which are provided by state government. The Governor's proposal would have simply transferred the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Since this move would do nothing to improve services to the blind, we recommended that services to the blind be transferred from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Although we are not always in agreement with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, its structure and functions are consistent with our position on separate agencies for the blind. Governor Schaefer's proposal and its many amendments failed to win passage. However, we succeeded in bringing the many shortcomings of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to the attention of the General Assembly.

We are changing what it means to be blind by helping blind persons to find escape routes to better rehabilitation services in other states, or when escape is not feasible, to make the most of what little Maryland has to offer.

After years of frustration with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tina Blatter left Maryland in October 1990, to attend the Colorado Center for the Blind. Tina made this difficult decision when she began to realize that the Division's practice of having blind persons relieve their limited vision was leading her to failure. Today, after completing the program in Colorado, Tina is not a failure because she has learned the alternative techniques for success. She is a well-adjusted blind person living in Colorado, employed as a teacher and counselor in the senior blind program at the Center for Independent Living in Boulder. In her spare time, she is pursuing her interests in art. She has exhibited several of her works in local art shows.

Although the Maryland Rehabilitation Center claims to serve the entire disabled population, Sarah Edwards' experience clearly proves that the Maryland Rehabilitation Center is ill-equipped to train blind persons. When Sarah enrolled in the training program for computer programmers, she discovered that the Center was not prepared to provide her with Braille or recorded textbooks and readers. The Maryland Rehabilitation Center provided recorded textbooks and readers only after complaints were lodged by Sarah and the National Federation of the Blind. Sarah had also arranged to reside at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center during the week to have more time to study. When she arrived at the Center, she found to her dismay that the computers were locked up in the evenings, since no "supervision" was available. While it is typical for students in mainstream educational facilities to encounter such difficulties, a program for the disabled should certainly be able to meet a student's basic needs and should encourage the student to spend as much time with her studies as possible. These difficulties notwithstanding, Sarah completed her training and is employed today at the Social Security Administration. Sarah succeeded because she is made of tougher metal than the

staff at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center thought she was, and because she had the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind.

Not coincidentally we believe, after the defeat of the Governor's proposal for reorganization, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation undertook its own reorganization, recreating the services for the blind branch and reshuffling personnel. The organized blind of Maryland are not fooled by these phony "improvements." Blind persons who need services from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will still be faced with the same inadequate services, regressive practices, and staff members who do not understand the capabilities of blind persons.

We are changing what it means to be blind by helping individual blind persons in their battles against discrimination and denied opportunities. During the past year, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has assisted blind persons in their battles against many institutions and organizations, including Towson State University, the Maryland School for the Blind, the taxi industry in Baltimore City, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Goodwill Industries, and Baltimore County government.

On the very next day, after the completion of our convention in Annapolis last year, I attended a meeting between Stephanie Brown and her faculty advisors in the Department of Elementary Education at Towson State University. The faculty advisors wanted Stephanie to withdraw from the program rather than attempt to complete the student teaching requirements. After lengthy discussions, the faculty advisors relented. Stephanie could remain in the program if the National Federation of the Blind would locate an acceptable school and cooperating teacher for her. We did this without any difficulty. Later, when an additional placement was needed for Stephanie, we were again successful. Why were we, the National Federation of the Blind, able to help Stephanie to enrich her educational experiences, while the learned professors of education at Towson State University could only think of limiting her options? The answers to this question are many and varied and well known to all of us. We need only point out that the next blind student teachers at Towson State University will fare much better because of Stephanie's experiences.

Loretta White is the mother of a blind daughter, Niki, and a leader of the Parents' Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Last spring, while enrolled at the Maryland School for the Blind, Niki was involved in an accident, having a finger crushed in a heavy door. When school officials called Mrs. White to inform her of her daughter's accident, they failed to tell her of the true extent of the injury. Niki's injured finger was saved not by the actions of the Maryland School for the Blind, but only by Mrs. White's prudent observation and immediate action. This incident will not be forgotten. With the help of the National Federation of the Blind, Mrs. White is taking legal action against the Maryland School for the Blind. The demands in this litigation are simple: safer doors should be installed; all of the school's facilities should be examined and subjected to higher safety standards; more efficient procedures should be adopted to permit the earlier notification of parents and guardians, timely emergency medical attention for students should be provided. Although Niki is no longer enrolled at the Maryland School for the Blind, all of its students will benefit from the actions of Loretta White and the National Federation of the Blind.

At our convention last year, Rick Page, the Public Service Commission's Director of Transportation, listened to our complaints about the poor quality of taxi service in Baltimore with interest and concern. When the industry appeared before the Commission to request a rate increase, Jim Gashel began to organize our opposition. The National Federation of the Blind became a party in the case. At the hearings in January, we repeated our many horror stories of cabs which never showed up at the appointed times and of the opportunities lost and times wasted. The Commission delayed the rate increase until the taxi industry agreed to negotiate a plan to improve its services. Today, we have such a plan. Riders are charged an extra fee of one dollar when their cabs show up within thirty minutes of their appointed times. Although it remains to be seen if this incentive is sufficient to improve taxi services in Baltimore, rate increases are no longer

automatic. If the taxi industry wants to charge higher fares, it will have to improve its services. Again, the blind and the general public benefit from our collective actions.

Helping blind persons to solve employment problems is an important and challenging part of our work. In March, Bryan Bayliss had completed training in the Maryland Vending Program for the Blind but could not receive his vending license because he was not yet a U. S. citizen. The Immigration and Naturalization Service told Bryan that it would be at least a year before he could take the citizenship test. Bryan needed to begin work immediately because he and his wife were expecting their first child. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation would not help Bryan in his appeal with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to have his test date moved up. But, the National Federation of the Blind did help. With Assistance of Congresswoman Helen Bentley, the date for Bryan's citizenship test was rescheduled. Today, Bryan operates a vending stand in Westminster, Maryland.

Who would expect to encounter discrimination when a blind person applies for employment at a sheltered workshop for the disabled? Helen Hayes applied for an assembly line position at Goodwill Industries in Baltimore. She was rejected with the tired old excuses. "The environment is too changeable for a totally blind person to negotiate." "We have to think of your safety." "We can and do employ the visually impaired, but not the totally blind." Good Will's personnel director would not answer my phone calls until I wrote to the president. Eventually I was able to speak with the personnel director. After some gentle persuading, and ironing out a few trivial details, Helen is employed at Good Will Industries.

Ken Canterbery is an excellent peddler of hot dogs on the streets of Baltimore County who happens to be blind. (I might also add that he is an excellent recruiter of associates.) Recently, county police were required to order Ken to stop peddling hot dogs when a competing merchant filed a complaint citing Ken Canterbery for violating the county law which requires peddlers to move their carts when not serving customers. For blind peddlers, the requirement to move their carts at unanticipated times is not reasonable. The National Federation of the Blind and, in particular our new Baltimore County Chapter, are working closely with Councilman Bill Howard to amend the county's law to exempt blind peddlers from the moving requirement. We will see to it that no blind person who wishes to work is denied the opportunity.

Let us consider our plans for the immediate future in the context of our recent accomplishments. On July 10, President Maurer, Mayor Schmoke, and Governor Schaefer participated jointly in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Library for the Blind. Because of our efforts, public officials have a better understanding of the importance of library services to the blind. We must use the excitement generated by this new building to pursue our goals of a larger book collection and better services to lend those books to borrowers. In 1991, for the first time ever, the National Federation of the Blind, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, the Maryland School for the Blind, and the Committee of Blind vendors were able to agree on a common course of action--the amendment to reorganize rehabilitation services for the blind. We have always attempted to seek the cooperation of others. Our efforts are beginning to bear fruit. We will continue in our efforts to provide blind Marylanders with better rehabilitation services, either by improving those services which are available in Maryland or by permitting blind Marylanders to receive training out-of-state. There have been small improvements at the Maryland School for the Blind. We took part in the information fair, as I have already reported. Not only did the students from the Maryland School for the Blind enter our Braille Readers Are Leaders contest this year, but they also were allowed to attend a party at our national headquarters to celebrate their accomplishments. We will continue to work to achieve other reforms at the Maryland School for the Blind.

The bureaucrats and teachers in the field of special education always ask us for more time to develop standards for teaching Braille. We have given them too much time already, and they have done nothing. In May, Barbara Cheadle and I attended a meeting of the Maryland State Steering Committee of Vision Teachers. As it turned out, we were permitted to attend only that part of the meeting at which we were to speak. We sat in the hall outside of the meeting room while the Committee discussed its plans for determining which students should be taught Braille. This is the Committee's idea of dialogue. The former chairman of the Steering Committee promised to invite us to address the conference on Braille standards for all vision teachers in Maryland. This conference will take place on November 6. We have not yet been invited. The time for us to act on the issue of Braille literacy for blind students in Maryland is close upon us. In a few weeks, we will conduct a meeting of consumers and professionals to develop a set of standards for Braille literacy and to agree on a plan to implement those standards. We will have legislation guaranteeing literacy rights to blind and visually impaired children introduced in the next session of the General Assembly. What does the National Federation of the Blind do? We are changing what it means to be blind!

When we consider the progress that we have made, we come to the inescapable conclusion that we will never go back to the time when the organized blind movement was more of a dream than a reality. We will never go back to the time when blind children had to wonder if they could ever be doctors, lawyers, teachers, and executives. We will never go back to the time when the best that parents could hope for was that their sighted children would grow up to take care of their blind sisters and brothers. We will never go back to the time, not that long ago, when a rehabilitation counselor could, with impunity, cast aside the late Ralph Thompson's request for rehabilitation services with the insulting remark that "your problem is that you have the three B's--you're broke, you're black, and you're blind!" Today, none of us need to find ourselves on the receiving end of such shabby treatment. For the blind of Maryland and the nation, life will continue to change for the better as long as we have a people's movement as vibrant, as dynamic, and as committed as the National Federation of the Blind.

On the rising tide of greater expectations, the cup of life for the blind today is indeed either half empty or half full. The cup is half full because we have filled it with our own efforts, and we will continue to fill it to the best of our abilities. It is half empty because we expect so much more from ourselves and from a society which has not always afforded us the best opportunities to live up to our potential. Today, in our drive for equality, we are not frightened by the difficult tasks ahead of us. We are strengthened by the confidence gained from our past victories. We are no longer bound by the tired old limitations which have been imposed upon us. We have come too far to turn back now. We have a history of accomplishments numbering thousands and thousands of pages. With a philosophy that declares our innate normality, we have no choice but to continue on the course that the founders of our movement have started for us. Let us never forget our roots. Let us remain loyal to our heritage. Let us never forget that we are here to help one another. Let us keep the faith of those who came before us, so that those who follow us may not suffer the deprivations that we have suffered. Together, we will change what it means to be blind. Together, we will achieve first class status in society. Together, we will find our place in the sun!

LITERACY: THE 1992 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

by Sharon Maneki

"I Would Have Liked To Have Been Given A Choice ... "

Until the age of 17 I was legally blind as a result of congenital cataracts. Both my primary and secondary education were provided in a public-school setting. All of my reading experiences were limited to the use of print. At that time, That had never been introduced to Braille, tape recordings, talking books, or any other specialized equipment or services available to the visually impaired student.

Although my visual acuity was low, I was able to Junction well visually. I felt as if the use of print met both my educational and personal needs. If I had been introduced to Braille, I would have resisted.

At the age of 17, I unexpectedly developed vision problems and lost the remainder of my sight. Upon the onset of total blindness, I was eager to add Braille to my repertoire of skills. After a few short lessons I quickly became a Braille enthusiast. Not only did I learn how Braille could assist me in the future, I also saw how the use of Braille could have assisted me in the past.

I am confident that the use of Braille would have enhanced my academic skills and would have made my educational experience more enjoyable. With the use of Braille, reading could have been a pleasure, not just a necessary task.

As I look in retrospect upon my educational career, I would have liked to have been given a choice. Although I would have selected print as my primary method of reading, I would have appreciated being made aware of all the educational options which are available. --Lenore Dillon, Indianapolis, Indiana.

(Reprinted from Print and Braille Literacy, Selecting Appropriate Learning Media by Hilda Caton, Ed.D., American Printing House for the Blind, 1991.)

Too many blind and visually impaired adults in Maryland tell a similar story. Many are still struggling to learn Braille. It is time to ensure that blind and visually impaired students are taught effective literacy skills. Therefore, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will ask the Maryland General Assembly to enact a literacy rights law for blind and visually impaired persons during its 1992 session.

Due to our national literacy campaign and our efforts to publicize the problems of literacy, educators are finally beginning to admit that blind and visually impaired students are not being taught to read and write effectively. The Maryland State Department of Education recently established an advisory panel of consumers and educators to develop guidelines for vision teachers to use when determining suitable reading media for their students. The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland's representatives on this panel are Eileen Rivera and Barbara Cheadle. Mere guidelines are not enough. Legislation must be enacted so that these guidelines will become regulations.

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and the American Council of the Blind of Maryland have agreed on the general requirements for a literacy bill. We will work together for its passage. This legislation will address three issues: (1) The IEP process will be strengthened to ensure that the question of whether a student should learn Braille is adequately addressed; (2) Certification requirements for vision teachers will be strengthened so that those who are expected to teach Braille will have adequate knowledge of the subject;

(3) Publishers will be required to furnish textbooks on computer disks to school districts so that Braille

textbooks can be easily produced by local authorities.

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has invited representatives from the Maryland School for the Blind, the Maryland State Department of Education, and local education agencies to meet at the National Center for the Blind on November 27, 1991, to discuss literacy legislation. At the time of this writing, we do not know what position the educators and administrators will take. However, we the consumers will proceed full speed ahead.

THE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION REORGANIZES

by Sharon Maneki

At our Ocean City Convention, Robert Burns reported that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has been re-organized, effective October 1, 1991. Does this mean that there will be changes or improved services for the blind from DVR? Not necessarily. As in the "bad old days," the Services for the Blind Branch, directed by Eugene Spurier until his retirement in 1989, has been re-established. Since this branch still lacks any authority within the DVR, and since we will be dealing with the same old personnel who have been re-shuffled and re-assigned, we have no evidence that the DVR's philosophy of rehabilitation or understanding of the abilities of blind persons will change. Most DVR clients will have the same counselor. However, each counselor will probably have a different supervisor or supervisors in the levels of DVR's administration. Under this re-organization, the blind client is still lost within the general rehabilitation system. The chances that DVR will meet its unique requirements for training remain slim.

Within DVR, directed by James Jeffers, there are three divisions: Disability Determination, Programs and Administrative Services, and Client Services. Patrick McKenna directs the Client Services Division which includes the Maryland Rehabilitation Center and the Services for the Blind branch. The director of the Services for the Blind Branch is Dr. Robert Dantona. The Services for the Blind branch include a technical assistance specialist for the blind, Mildred Campbell, the unit for the blind at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center, six counselors for the blind, and eight rehabilitation teachers for the blind. The Services for the Blind Branch is not a separate entity. Dr. Dantona and Ms. Campbell merely give advice; they are not authorized to supervise the counselors or teachers. The Vending Program for the Blind is not under the jurisdiction of the Services for the Blind Branch. Instead, it has been placed in the Programs and Administrative Services Division, directed by Robert Burns.

Since there are now four rather than six regional offices within DVR, clients who are dissatisfied with the decisions of their counselors will have to bring their complaints through a different chain of command. Region 1 includes western Maryland, and Carroll and Montgomery counties. Region 2 includes southern Maryland, and Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Region 3 includes Baltimore metropolitan counties and Baltimore city. Region 4 includes the eastern shore counties.

This most recent DVR reorganization represents nothing new or innovative. Services for the blind are still fragmented and ineffective.

I REMEMBER JOHN AND CONNIE MCCRAW

by Al Maneki

From the Editor: Like most people's movements, the written record of the early years of this affiliate is virtually non-existent. We hope that this article will encourage those who have memories of the early years of this affiliate's history to come forward with their recollections for an oral history, if not a written one. All such items should be submitted to the editor.

I met John and Connie McCraw in the fall of 1974, shortly after moving here from Fargo, North Dakota. I remember the enthusiasm in John's voice when I called him to introduce myself. He was so pleased that I had taken the time to get his name and phone number from our national headquarters, then located in Des Moines. He wanted to meet me. He wanted me to attend the upcoming meeting of the Baltimore Chapter

on Saturday. He and his driver would come to Laurel to pick me up at my apartment. Even though the meeting wouldn't start until 1 o'clock, would I mind being ready to go at 10:30 so that others could be picked up also. How could I refuse? I will be ready at 10:30. I remember little of my first meeting of the Greater Baltimore Chapter. I do not remember what was said or even what plans were made. I do remember learning the meanings of two words--"repast" and "cabaret." The Baltimore Chapter held repasts at thanksgiving and Christmas and at several other times during the year. As I recall, it was at this meeting that I learned that in Baltimore, if not in all of Maryland, roast turkey is always served with sauerkraut. I also learned that a cabaret can be a great way to raise money and have a good time as well. What I could not have known at that time was that my first meeting with this giant of a man and his remarkable wife would unalterably change the rest of my life.

We cannot celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland without paying tribute to our most cherished leaders, John and Connie McCraw. Of all of our leaders in Maryland, John McCraw was the most dynamic, and his guiding influence is still very much with us. Among his many contributions to our movement, he set the pattern for our legislative activities, and he let the battle for the minimum wage at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Our affiliate's newsletter, which he founded, still bears the name that he gave to it. John McCraw was helping blind persons to find jobs long before we had a Job Opportunities for the Blind Program. Regardless of our accomplishments today, those of us who knew John and Connie in the 60's and 70's will always remember the brief years of the McCraw presidency, from 1972 to 1978, as the glorious years.

John McCraw was an effective affiliate president even though he did not hold an advanced degree in the learned professions, and even though he might not have been skilled in the fine points of professional fund ra1smg. However, he knew firsthand the injustices wrought by discrimination against race as well discrimination against blindness. He survived the hardships imposed by poverty. Yet, despite his successful career as a professional musician, an administrator of programs for Baltimore City, our state affiliate president, and as a member on this Federations’ national board of directors, he never forgot his roots. He never forgot that his first responsibility as a blind person and a Federation leader was to the blind persons of Maryland and the nation.

John and Connie were successful because they were always close to the members of this organization. They had a remarkable ability to relate to all persons--rich or poor, professional or unskilled, persons of all races and dispositions. No matter who you were, "Big John" always had the time to speak with you. In the time before answering machines, cellular telephones, call waiting, and the other conveniences of modern telecommunications, "Big John" was accessible. If you have a problem, you could always go to John McCraw for help, and you could count on him to do whatever he said he would do to help you. There are many persons today who still have fond recollections of the help they received from John and Connie personally.

There was no Federation task too small, or too demeaning which John and Connie did not gladly perform themselves. They sold raffle tickets, stuffed envelopes, handed out literature, marched on the picket lines, and wrote letters. John spent the Friday evening before each monthly meeting of the Baltimore chapter single-handedly arranging transportation for chapter members who needed it. John and Connie never tired of travelling the length and width of Maryland month after month to attend meetings of local chapters just to remain in close contact with the membership. We should not forget, too, that John McCraw was busy with other civic activities, including his tenure as both member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.

When John asked any of us to assist with a Federation activity, he convinced us of the importance of the work that he was asking for us. We accepted gladly because we knew that he was not asking us to do something which he would not do himself. When he asked me to serve as the chairman of the legislative committee,

I at first refused his request, claiming that I knew nothing about legislation. He only replied gently and persuasively that he didn't know anything about legislation either, so we should learn together. Even when we failed to perform because we were tired or lazy, or when our efforts fell short of his expectations, John never spoke out in anger against us. He was quick to offer his praises and encouraged us to do an even better job the next time.

When John McCraw died in September 1978, our Johnson Street property had just been purchased, the renovation of its buildings was still in the planning stages, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan had just taken up residence in Baltimore, and we had just completed a very successful national convention in Baltimore. John McCraw died prematurely without completing his plans for building a larger and stronger state affiliate. While he used his powers of persuasion and his many contacts to lead us to impressive victories, he knew that a state affiliate's ultimate success depended more on the strength of its rank-and-file members than on the abilities of its president. I am certain that John would be pleased with the progress that this affiliate has made in his absence. He would be thrilled to see our national headquarters flourishing in his native state. He would be delighted with the scholarship program which bears his name. Both he and Connie would, I think, be humbled by the respect and love which we continue to have for them despite the intervening years since their passing.

Today, John and Connie would remind us that we must take the time to let our members argue about their personal points of view. They would also remind us that we must know when to set aside our differences and come to an agreement, so that we can get on with the business of doing battle with our true enemies. John and Connie would warn us against becoming so engrossed with tradition that we are unable to adapt to new circumstances. They would want us to use our skills and our advanced degrees. They would want us to use the new technology. They would want us to exert all of our energy to seize the opportunities which their generation never had, in order to change the world into a better place for blind persons. John and Connie were kind and gentle folk of good cheer and strong character. We should live Federationism as they lived it. May we never let them down!

MEET LORETTA WHITE

by Sharon Maneki

Loretta White is a concerned parent and an activist. At the annual meeting of the Parents of Blind Children Division, held on October 26th in conjunction with our annual convention, Loretta was elected president of the division. She is enthusiastic, energetic, and very well qualified for this position.

Loretta and her husband Joe have five children. They have adopted four of their children, of which three are disabled. One child has a speech disability, one child is deaf, and one child is blind.  Loretta learned the ins and outs of the ARD and IEP processes through her own experiences with her local school system. She is not only an excellent advocate for her own children but also has assisted many other parents in obtaining better educational programs for their children.

Loretta and Joe joined the National Federation of the Blind in 1989 to help their blind daughter, Ila Nicole Andrita (Niki). Niki came to the Whites from Calcutta, India when she was five months old. Although Niki has mild cerebral palsy, seizures and blindness, she attends a pre-school program in the Whites' local school district. She gets around by using a cane and is beginning to learn Braille.

Additional officers of the Parents Division for the coming year are Vice President, Barbara Cheadle; Secretary, Bernice Lowder; Treasurer, John Cheadle; Board Members, Debby Bunting and Jude Lincicome. For further information, call Loretta White at (410) 360-5108.

SHIRLEY A. TREXLER DIES

From the Editor: Tuesday, October 15, 1991, National White Cane Safety Day, started out as an ordinary day for Sharon and me. It turned out to be a day which we will never forget. In mid-afternoon, Arthur Segal called to tell us that Shirley was critically ill. That evening, Sharon attended the monthly meeting of the Fredrick County Chapter, and I attended the monthly meeting of the Central Maryland Chapter. When we returned home late in the evening, we received phone calls from Eileen Rivera and several others telling us that Shirley Trexler had passed away. Not only were we saddened by this news. We were totally surprised. Only a week earlier, we attended a large gathering to celebrate Shirley's sixtieth birthday. We will always remember her for her kindness and generosity, and for her years of devoted service to our movement. She was our friend. We will miss her. May she rest in peace. We are reprinting her obituary from the Baltimore Sun, 171Ursday, October 17, I 991.

A memorial service for Shirley Ann Trexler, who was active in organizations for the blind and in the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the church at 1316 Park Ave

Ms. Trexler, who was 60 and lived at the Horizon House, died Tuesday at Mercy Medical Center after a heart attack.

She was area director for Aids Unlimited, which distributes aids for the blind. She was also secretary and a board member of the group, with which she had been associated since it was started in Philadelphia in 1981.

Ms. Trexler was also secretary of the Baltimore Chapter of the National Federation for the Blind.

She was a native of Allentown, Pa., and a graduate of the Pennsylvania School for the Blind and of Temple University.

She and her husband came to Baltimore in 1983. Her husband, Arthur Segal, serves in the mayor's office as coordinator of services to the handicapped.

The family suggested that memorial contributions could be made to the National Federation of the Blind.

IN PROTEST OF "GOOD AND EVIL"

September 10, 1991

Mr. Robert Eiger, President, ABC Entertainment Los Angeles, CA

Dear Mr. Eiger,

I have looked at ABC for entertainment for as long as I can remember.                                                                                                                     Indeed, I have found it. Every season brings new shows that I consider very creative and worth watching. This season seems to be ending.

of that long and trusting friendship, though. I thought you ought to know about it. Maybe you are interested in continuing to serve me with good entertainment. You'll have to let me know.

The show that has drawn a screeching halt to any chance of my feeling good about ABC is Good and Evil. Good and Evil is not funny, it is not entertaining, and it is not true. I understand that not every sitcom is meant to be true. However, there must be a line drawn on character portrayal in the name of humor whether it is a true portrayal or not. There is no way the character named George that is written into this show can be counted as true or entertaining. His portrayal of blindness is an abomination. I was sickened by the thought of what this portrayal of blindness is going to do to the chances for the blind of this nation to go to school where they choose and get the Braille instruction that is necessary, get good jobs, and otherwise move past the ancient stereo types that live in the minds of the public in general.

The blind of today do not wander into science labs swinging their canes wildly in the air so as to bread every test tube in the place. Blind persons are not given to fondling coat racks and tripping downstairs. I find it amazing that I even have to explain this to you. Do television censors have no scruples at all? My employer is blind. He is a lawyer. He owned and operated his own law firm. He argued and won his cases. He has a wife and is the proud father of two children. He owns his home. He would not have had any of these accomplishments if Good and Evil had anything to do with it. He is now the President of the National Federation of the Blind which is the largest organization of blind consumers in this country. Together, fifty thousand blind people have worked for fifty-one years to change what it means to be blind. Because of the work of the National Federation of the Blind there are blind people in virtually every walk of life performing our jobs next to our sighted counterparts.

If you had -decided to portray a character who was clumsy, stupid and black, do you think for one minute that you would have gotten away with it? The NAACP and the black people of this nation would probably have you fired and everyone else that had anything to do with having this show broadcast put out of work, as well. They would of course be correct in their actions. I would certainly uphold them.

Imagine, if you are able, that you are a blind person who has completed four years of study in one of the nation’s top colleges, and you are looking for a job. What chance do you think you would have knowing that a show like Good and Evil was seen by your prospective employer. Or, on the other hand, imagine that you are an employee with a vacancy on your staff. The interviewees are waiting in the reception area to see you. One of them is a blind person. Is there anything about that show that would give you a positive attitude about interviewing that blind person and giving him or her consideration for the job? I hardly think so. So, there you are, in one short television show you have turned back fifty-one years of work and brightened the chance of equal opportunity in the employment market for all blind persons.

Good and Evil will air and the effort of the blind to gain equality and opportunity will be set back twenty years. I am sorry, ABC, but you have ruined the lives of the nation's blind. If you don't believe me, show me proof of you, or anyone who sees that show, hiring a blind person to work in your or their place of employment. When you pick up your paycheck, think of blind persons who will now not have that privilege. Please cancel Good and Evil.

Very sincerely,

Mary Ellen Thompson MARYLAND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Reprinted from "The Senior Connection", November 1991

Maryland Energy Assistance Programs help eligible families, renters, (roomers and boarders) and homeowners, with the cost of heating in the winter.

Three programs are available:

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) aids with home heating bills.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides home weatherization services such as weather stripping, caulking, plastic window covering, storm windows, storm doors, etc.; to help make your home or apartment more fuel efficient and comfortable at no cost for eligible families.

The Utility Service Protection Program (USPP)

The Utility Service Protection Program protects low-income families from utility cut-offs and allows MEAP eligible households to enter into a year-round even monthly payment program with their utility company. An equal monthly payment plan based on the estimated cost of the customer's average annual utility usage minus the MEAP benefit will be used to determine the even monthly payments for participation in the USPP.

What Information Will The Energy Assistance Office Need?

1. Proof of identity, citizenship and residency.
2. Social Security numbers for the entire household (including children).
3. You must provide proof of your total household income.

Documented proof includes;

• pay stubs
  • benefit letters from Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Unemployment Insurance program, or Social Services Administration, and
  • pension information

4. Provide the name of your heating energy supplier and your account number. Provide a copy of your gas and electricity bill.
5. Provide proof that you rent (lease or rent receipt).

Eligibility Standards

Household Size

Maximum Monthly

Income Standards

1

$ 828

2

1,110

3

1,393

4

1,675

5

1,958

6

2,240

If You Qualify For Assistance:

The exact amount of MEAP benefits you receive is based on three factors:

• area within the state where you live (some areas are colder than others).
• type of fuel used (some types are more costly than others), and
• household income (for lowest income households, the burden of high energy costs is greatest).

Your benefit is sent to your heating supplier 30 days from the date your local office receives your completed application. If you rent, you will receive a letter indicating that your benefit was sent to your landlord. That amount is deducted from rent payments during the following months.

Remember, the benefit only partially covers your heating costs. Please continue to make your regular payments for utilities and heating.

Energy assistance will not reduce the amount of any other public assistance benefits you receive, such as AFDC or Food Stamps. Nor will it reduce Social Security benefits.

If you qualify for and request WAP assistance you will be contacted by the WAP office prior to receiving benefits through this program.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 1991 CONVENTION

RESOLUTION 91-01

WHEREAS, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) was established to provide employment and training for blind adults in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, in September 1991, BISM 's Board of Trustees adopted a job classification and compensation schedule which establishes salary scales and merit pay raise incentives for every position in the company; and

WHEREAS, job classifications and pay incentives are constructive, but do not, in and of themselves, satisfy BISM's responsibilities and the rights of BISM's blind employees for job advancement and recruitment of the blind into management and supervisory positions; and

WHEREAS, BISM is a substantial Federal contractor and, as such, BISM is required to take affirmative action to hire and advance qualified blind people; and

WHEREAS, as evidenced by its employment practices in recent times, BISM is failing to meet these affirmative action obligations, and in fact there are now no blind supervisors in either the industries or sewing divisions; and

WHEREAS, although BISM 's management has been forward looking and has taken some positive steps in recent years, the failure to have qualified blind people as top-level and mid-level managers has not been addressed as a matter of policy or practice; now,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in convention assembled this 27th day of October, 1991, in Ocean City, Maryland, that this organization call upon BISM's President and Board of Trustees to establish and carry out recruitment, training, and career development policies, including lines of progression, career ladders and priority consideration for blind people to become managers and supervisors at BISM.

RESOLUTION 91-02

WHEREAS, the real problems of blindness are not caused by the physical loss of sight, but rather by the myths and misconceptions that are perpetuated about blindness; and

WHEREAS, students in adjustment to blindness training programs must learn to overcome these attitudinal barriers if they are to adjust to blindness successfully; and

WHEREAS, for quite some time, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) has been attempting to re-establish its rehabilitation program; and

WHEREAS, regularly scheduled discussions about the attitudes and issues relating to blindness between students and successful individuals from the blind community will greatly enhance the rehabilitation program at BISM; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is uniquely qualified to help blind persons with their adjustment to blindness, and has the resources and a large pool of successful blind members to maintain scheduled discussions with the students at BISM on a protracted basis; and

WHEREAS, by participating in these discussions, the students at BISM will have access to the NFB's broad range of information and services, including our nationwide network of successful blind persons, our Job Opportunities for the Blind program, support for diabetics and the senior blind, as well as specialized information on adaptive technology, reasonable accommodations, and Social Security benefits; NOW

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, in convention assembled this 27th day of October 1991, in Ocean City, that this organization support a program of bi-weekly discussions between its members and the rehabilitation students at BISM, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the NFB of Maryland appoint a BISM student liaison committee to conduct these bi-weekly discussions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of BISM instruct his Director of Rehabilitation to work cooperatively with this committee so that this program shall be in operation by December 1, 1991.

RESOLUTION 91-03

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, is the largest organization of blind persons in Maryland, and represents the mainstream of progressive thinking on blindness and,

WHEREAS, blind persons in Maryland have demonstrated the ability to travel the streets and byways both safely arid independently, and

WHEREAS, the experience of blind persons is that audible traffic signals are not helpful, but instead create safety hazards to blind travelers since the signals block the sound of approaching traffic, and

WHEREAS, audible traffic signals can create a false sense of security for inexperienced blind travelers, and

WHEREAS, these signals foster the false notion that blind persons require costly modifications in order to participate meaningfully in society, and

WHEREAS, a few misguided individuals, in response to the passage of the ADA, are contemplating spending scarce tax dollars to study the effectiveness of audible traffic signals, and

WHEREAS, the State Highway Administration has stated that its funds will no longer be used for the installation of audible traffic signals; NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, in convention assembled this 27th day of October, 1991, in Ocean City, that this organization energetically opposes waste of public funds in the study and/or installation of audible traffic signals, and that we circulate this position widely to state and county public officials in all counties and cities of the state.

RESOLUTION 91-04

WHEREAS, the Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) is not just another library, but is the primary source of reading materials for blind Marylanders, and

WHEREAS, in 1989 a committee was appointed to study enhanced services which should be offered by the LBPH, and to identify the unmet reading needs of Maryland's blind and physically handicapped population, and

WHEREAS, in 1991 this Services Enhancement Committee published its report, including nine recommendations covering the full range of library services, and

WHEREAS, in order to implement the recommendations of the Services Enhancement Committee, the LBPH staff should be expanded by seven professional and support persons, and

WHEREAS, LBPH should be endeavoring to expand its collections of braille and recorded materials by taking full advantage of the EXCESS program of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, thus bringing these books and magazines closer to those who use them, and

WHEREAS, the new LBPH building, now under construction, presents tremendous opportunities for expanded collections and services, NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in convention assembled this 27th day of October, 1991, in Ocean City, Maryland, that we recommend that the LBPH take all necessary steps to expand its braille and recorded collections, with the goal of obtaining all titles which have been produced by the National Library Service during at least the last five years, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this collection augmentation program is not delayed until the move to the new building, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland endorses all of the other recommendations of the Services Enhancement Committee, including increased staffing for all functions of LBPH.

RESOLUTION 91-05

WHEREAS, the Maryland School for the Blind has created an outreach department to inform parents, teachers and local education agencies of the advantages of a school for the blind experience for at least some period of time during a blind student's education, and

WHEREAS, insufficient training in attitudes and skills necessary for successful adjustment to blindness is a significant shortcoming in our state's educational program, and

WHEREAS, although the opportunity exists at the Maryland School for the Blind to address this weakness, the results show that the opposite is happening as parents report conditions such as the following:

1. Braille instruction, when given, does not correspond to normal educational developmental expectations. Braille reading readiness evaluations are out-moded, unprofessional, and biased against braille.
2. Blind multiply handicapped and/or developmentally delayed children are routinely denied the opportunity to learn braille.
3. The school refuses as a matter of standard practice to give white canes and lessons in their use to young blind children (preschool through elementary grades), or to blind multiply handicapped and/or developmentally delayed children.
4. Children are discouraged from using their canes in classrooms, buildings, and on the school grounds.
5. The school does not have a regular program to encourage parents and students to interact with competent blind role models in the community; and

WHEREAS, these conditions undermine the school's outreach efforts and call into question its very reason for existence, and

WHEREAS, it is the goal of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland to promote high quality educational programming for all blind students, which must include adjustment to blindness training for each student, NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in convention assembled this 27th day of October, 1991, in Ocean City, Maryland, that this organization deplores the outreach effort of the Maryland School for the Blind to justify its existence by the false pretense that high quality adjustment to blindness services are being provided at the school, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the Maryland School for the Blind to work with the Parents of Blind Children and with this Federation to put in place a high quality program of adjustment to blindness services that is truly responsive to the needs of blind students, and which can serve as a showcase for our state and the nation.

RESOLUTION 91-06

WHEREAS the Maryland White Cane Law establishes the right of the blind to travel independently, and

WHEREAS, the Uniform Vehicular Code spells out the rights of pedestrians crossing at all intersections, and

WHEREAS, language in the Transportation Article required strengthening and clarification to bring it into conformity with language in the Uniform Vehicular Code, and

WHEREAS, Delegate Pauline Menes sponsored a bill having this effect, and this bill was enacted into law during the 1991 Maryland General Assembly, NOW

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, in convention assembled this 27th day of October 1991, in Ocean City, Maryland, that we commend Delegate Menes for her tireless and effective work on behalf of blind pedestrians.

SPECKS

From The Editor: John McCraw 's original title for this column was "Spectator Specks. " We have shortened his title to its current form. We offer no apology for this change. John was fond of saying that, as a decent publisher that he was, he granted his editors the privilege of exercising their editorial prerogatives.

On Monday, November 18, the Baltimore County Council unanimously adopted Bill 190-91, exempting blind and handicapped peddlers from the requirement of moving their carts when not serving customers. As Sharon Maneki reported to the convention, the archaic language in the Baltimore County code denied Ken Canterbery the opportunity to remain gainfully employed. We congratulate the Baltimore County Chapter and Councilman Bill Howard for a job well done in securing the passage of Bill 190-91.

In her convention address, Sharon Maneki promised us that we would organize a chapter in southern Maryland. On Wednesday, November 20, the Southern Maryland Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland was organized. Twenty-nine persons attended the organizing dinner at Mama Stella's Restaurant in Clinton, Maryland. Of these, twenty joined the new chapter. The following officers were elected: president, Ken Silberman; vice president, Polly Johnson; secretary, Vanessa Traynham; treasurer, Andre Robinson; board members, Lillian Wright and Gerelene Womack. Welcome aboard, Southern Maryland Chapter!

Congratulations! Roni Smith received the Worker of the Year award from National Industries for the Blind for his outstanding performance as a production employee at the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland plant in Salisbury. Long time member Floyd Myers received the E.V. Coupler Memorial Helping Hands Award from the Governor's Committee for the Handicapped of Allegany County.

Deaths. Alfred Biebl, the father of Charles Biehl, died on Wednesday, September 11, 1991. Dixie Jarrett, a member of the Frederick County Chapter, died in August 1991. May they rest in peace.

From Pat Gormley: The National Federation of the Blind Amateur Radio Group, Curtis Willoughby, President, is compiling a directory of all blind hams in the United States. This directory will be published in January 1992. One of our members, Phil Oliver, is setting up the database. He can be contacted in print, Braille, by telephone (no collect calls please), and via electronic mail: 109 Nelson St., Leominster, MA 01453, phone 508-537-3099. Phil is also the "sysop" of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind BBS.

Senator George Della received the NFB of Maryland's Legislative Services Award on October 15 for his many years of service in our legislative efforts. He was instrumental in the passage of bills for the minimu

..

wage at BISM, including blind consumers on BISM's Board of Trustees, and strengthening the state priority in the vending program for the blind. He was unable to attend our convention because of his mother’s illness.

Two scholarships in the amounts of $1,400 and $800 will be awarded through the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program for the 1992-93 academic year. Scholarship application forms will be released soon.

Sharon Maneki has scheduled a meeting for the NFB of Maryland Board of Directors on Saturday, December 7, 1991, in Cumberland. Call her on 410-992-9608 for details. Everyone is invited to attend.

Twenty-Fifth Annual Convention Souvenirs. Print copies of the souvenir agenda for our twenty-fifth annual convention are still available. Anyone wishing to obtain copies of this agenda may do so upon request to the editor.

Publication Deadline. The deadline for submission of articles for inclusion in the next issue of the Braille Spectator is Sunday, March 1, 1992.

SEASON'S GREETINGS: This has been another successful year for the organized blind movement in Maryland. Many persons, both within our movement and outside of our movement, have contributed to our success. We take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to each and every one of you for the coming holiday season and the new year. May the coming year bring continued joy, success, and prosperity.

CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND

Baltimore County Chapter

Donald Combs, president (301)323-8572 Monthly meetings second Thursday

Greater Baltimore Chapter

Eileen Rivera, president (301)433-5176 Monthly meetings third Saturday

Central Maryland Chapter

Brenda Mueller, president (301)672-2598 Monthly meetings third Tuesday

Greater Cumberland Chapter

Pearl ·Conrad, president (301)759-2856 Monthly meetings first Tuesday

Frederick County Chapter

Trudy Morical, president (301)698-0623 Monthly meetings third 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

Parents of Blind Children Division

Barbara Cheadle, president (301) 747-3472

Merchants' Division

Joe Byard, president (301)284-1768

Diabetics Support Network

Donna Goodman, chairman (301)730-9430 Monthly meetings fourth Tuesday

THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR

Al Maneki, Editor Fall 1991

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.

Please address inquiries to:

NFB of Maryland

9736 Basket Ring Road Columbia, MD 21045

phone (301)992-9608

Please send donations to:

NFB of Maryland 11909 Coronada Place

Kensington, MD 20895

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 Columbia, MD 21045

1991 Affiliate Leadership

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:

Ken Canterbery Essex, Maryland

Ronald Coleman

Silver Spring, Maryland Jean Faulkner

Cumberland, Maryland Fred Flowers

Baltimore, Maryland Blanche Payne

Baltimore, Maryland Brenda Williams,

Baltimore, Maryland