THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR 1969

 

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This issue of the Braille Spectator is the first issue of what will be a quarterly publication of the Free State Affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind. 

 

As you have noticed, the issue is in print, and this first issue is in print alone. But, because we want to justify the second word in our name (Braille) and because we wish to better serve many of our readers, the second or summer issue and all future issues of this magazine will appear in both Braille and print. 

 

Why has the Executive Board of the Free State Affiliate unanimously and whole heartedly endorsed this venture into journalism? First, they and we believe that this magazine will foster and facilitate the exchange of information, opinion and ideas among the members of our Maryland affiliate, among all blind people throughout the State, and between ourselves and our fellow Federationists in other states, the other state affiliates in the National Federation of the Blind. Second, our magazine will be sent to individuals, schools, libraries, government agencies, businesses and corporations, who are now, or ought to be aware of and concerned with our existence, activities and our problems. 

 

John McCraw, the President of the Free State affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, was to my knowledge, the first man in our organization to say out loud "let there be a Free State publication". When a six foot-four, two hundred- and fifty-pounds man gives an order in a bass voice, things happen. John has been the prime mover in this venture, but he has had the assistance of such second causes as:  Correspondents from each of our five chapters who have submitted reports; Ned Graham of the National Executive Committee, who has contributed an urgent word concerning the Disability Insurance Bill; Roger Petersen, President of the 

Middle Atlantic Student Division of the N.F.B., who tells us about the Patuxent Institute book taping project; John McCraw himself, who has offered his reflections on the prospects of Federationists in Maryland, as well as the present condition of the Federation; Doris Samuels and Paul Flynn who have edited and proof read all contributions to the publication.  Doris Samuels is also responsible for the layout and format of the magazine. Finally, Philip Samuels, the husband of Doris and a professional artist, has designed what appears on the cover page of the print edition. 

 

We welcome all comment, criticism, news or feature items from anyone, whether he is a member of our Free State affiliate or not, whether he is a blind or sighted person. 

 

We will, at our discretion, and reserving our right to edit, publish any written comment, criticism or news item which we believe merits publication. 

 

So, this is how we conceive of our publication now. But because this publication is a novel adventure for us, I am sure that the form and scope of "THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR” will change under the influences of time and our ongoing journalistic experiences. 

 

Address all correspondence to this magazine, in care of: 

 

PAUL FLYNN EDITOR 

4625 Old Frederick Road 

Baltimore, Maryland, 21229 

 

A LETTER FROM OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

 

The following letter is from KENNETH JERNIGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND: 

 

This letter is Kenneth Jernigan’s generous, well expressed, timely and appropriate response to our request that he contribute the lead editorial to our first issue. 

 

It was John Nagle who suggested that I write to Kenneth Jernigan, and all has worked out even as John had predicted. 

 

I have an editorial and President Jernigan did the work. In about another three months, our second edition will appear. I wonder if John Nagle will be able to come up with the writer of my second editorial.

 

 

Dear Mr. Flynn: 

 

I have your letter and am pleased that the FREESTATE FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, is launching its own publication. This is organizational progress. It is one more means of bringing the blind of Maryland closer to. each other and to the rest of us throughout the country in the organized blind movement. 

 

The message of our movement is simple. Yet it never seems to be repeated often enough and is most difficult for people to grasp emotionally. It is simply this:  The average blind man can do the average job in the average place of business and do it as well as his sighted neighbor. Blindness is not a psychological handicap but only a physical condition. In fact, if the blind person has proper training and if he has opportunity, blindness is merely a physical nuisance--literally that, nothing more. 

 

The real problem of blindness is to get that training and to get that opportunity. In other words, the real problem of blindness is the public misunderstanding which exists. Since we as blind persons are part of the overall society, we tend to see ourselves as others see us and often sell ourselves short, thus doing much to make the public notions of our limitations a reality. 

 

Our organization engages in many activities, social and otherwise. Its real purpose, however, is to provide a collective voice for the blind, to offer a facility whereby we as blind persons can exchange ideas and improve ourselves and whereby we can influence and change public attitudes toward us. This is our purpose. If we accomplish it, nothing else which we do or fail to do is likely seriously to detract from our movement. If we fail to accomplish it, it matters not what else we do. We have failed. 

 

This is what I would stress to you upon the occasion of the launching of your publication. May it prosper and grow, and may the Free state Federation do likewise. 

 

Cordially, 

KENNETH JERNIGAN, PRESIDENT 

National Federation of the Blind 

 

THE PATUXENT PROJECT

By Paul Flynn 

 

Since January, inmates at Patuxent, a maximum-security prison for men in Jessup, Maryland, have been taping books and other printed matter for blind readers upon request and without charge. 

 

Joe Whitehill, Lecturer in Fiction, Writing Seminars, Johns Hopkins University, has, for several years, been conducting a Great Books seminar among a few of the inmates at Patuxent. During the course of these Great Books dialogues, Mr. Whitehill was struck by the idea that these largely self-educated, eager and intelligent students of great literature might profit from a sustained and well guided program in oral reading. So Joe Whitehill, with some support and encouragement from MENSA, with the hearty support and technical assistance from the Patuxent seminar group and other inmates, and finally, with the approval and assistance of the Patuxent Administrators, was able to design and then set up sound taping equipment and a sound studio within the prison itself. 

 

But before Joe Whitehill's scheme became a reality, Roger Petersen, a friend and Chester, Maryland, neighbor of Mr. Whitehill, became aware of the Patuxent oral reading project. Roger Petersen professes psychology at Washington College, but he is also a blind man and President of the Chester River Chapter of the Free State Affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and, simultaneously, President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Student Division of the N.F.B. 

 

When Roger heard about the Whitehill plan, he suggested that the Patuxent inmates tape books and other matter for the blind. Joe Whitehill was very interested. During the late summer and fall of 1968, several meetings took place at Patuxent. Roger Petersen, Joe Whitehill, some inmates (the potential readers), and several administration people participated in discussions of the taping program. In the end, everyone accepted Roger's suggestion, and it was adopted with enthusiasm. The directors of the prison said they were willing to cooperate--willing to give Whitehill and Petersen's taping project a chance to work. 

 

Sometime during these early stages of talking, planning, hammering and wiring, Frank Lavine, Supervisor of Library Services for the Physically Handicapped, came into the mix. In fact, Frank Lavine quickly became involved and even necessary to the very operation of the inmate-handicapped reader program. 

 

So Frank Lavine, with his official status as Supervisor of the Maryland State 

Library for the Physically Handicapped was the sort of middleman that the Patuxent project needed if it was to become operative. Mr. Lavine did agree to receive all books or other reading material and tapes and reels, and to get them into the right hands at Patuxent. 

 

This Patuxent book taping service began to function in January of this year. One consequence of the newness of this operation is obscurity. Most of the blind and otherwise handicapped people in Maryland who could use this service know nothing about the work the Patuxent inmates are doing. I understand that Frank Lavine is using every means open to him to make blind people and other handicapped persons who live within the reach of his responsibilities aware of this unique and useful Patuxent taping service. 

 

Blind or handicapped persons who qualify for this taping service must make use of it solely through Mr. Frank Lavine. As the program is set up now, the person who wants a book or anything else taped must send Mr. Lavine two copies of that book; he must also send the necessary number of reels and sufficient tape along with the two copies of the material he wishes taped. Mr. Lavine will forward all this material to Patuxent, and when the taping people have completed that job, they will send the taped material and the two copies of whatever was sent to them to the patron. 

 

It is interesting to hear that the Patuxent readers will make master tapes or copies of each thing they record. These master tapes will be cataloged and stored at the institution ready for future use. 

 

The service is new; so far about a dozen books have been taped and put into the hands of readers---the program works. Other things are being recorded now. Frank Lavine and Roger Petersen, who has had a book taped and returned to him, say that both the physical quality of the taping job and the quality of the reading itself are very good. 

 

This Patuxent taping service is a useful and excellent thing; those who are able to appreciate what it means will use it. These men at Patuxent are equipped and willing to record that book or pamphlet or single article which may not be available anywhere else in braille, on record or tape.

 

For additional information concerning the Patuxent taping program, contact Frank Lavine by phone or letter: 1715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, Phone:  752-2277.

 

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AFFILIATE AFFAIRS

By John McCraw 

 

John Guttenberg and William Caxton mechanically manipulated the alphabet, facilitating the printing of material of many and diverse descriptions; Louis Braille created an alphabetical system which made it possible for a person without sight to perceive the written word tactile; and I, along with the editorial staff and utilizing neo-Guttenberg-Caxton and neo-Braille contrivances, initiate AFFILIATE AFFAIRS. 

 

In compiling this quarterly column I shall attempt the co-mingling of an appropriate seriousness and "humor", some, but perhaps not enough, humility, probably too much pride, dubious courage and an evanescent apprehension. 

 

Now, let us get to the matter at hand. Since the news of the chapters will deal with the implementing of policies filtering down from the Executive Board, the presentation of the following list of news items and comments will be approached from a panoramic point of view: 

 

Legislation

If perchance there is anyone among you who is not conversant with the Federal Disability Insurance Act, HR 3782, introduced during the 91st Congress by James Burke of Massachusetts, I feel that the Jernigan article in January's issue of Braille Monitor significantly reveals the necessity of this bill becoming the law of the realm. Since the introduction of HR 3782, and as of now, April 14th, an additional ninety representatives have placed into the hopper of the House, bills similar to that of Congressman Burke's; and, it is my opinion that continuing in concert the letter writing campaign by even more of the members of the F.S.S.B., constructively pressuring their Congressmen, the Federal Disability Insurance Act will inexorably advance.  Keep up the good work!!!  See "On the National Front" appearing later in this issue. 

 

Under the aegis of Alan Schlank, Legislative Chairman, and his committee, the two hundred or more Legislators representing all divisions and subdivisions of the governmental structure of the State, have been made aware of not only our existence, but also of the existence of our hopes and policies. Of course, the foremost hope embodied in a policy which becomes our all-encompassing goal is the eventual establishment of a Commission for the Blind, and getting to know your Legislators and having them become acquainted with you is a tried and true method of getting things done; consequently, in this direction we will persevere. 

 

Membership:

We are growing!!! Conducted by the indefatigable Maestro, Ned Graham, the symphony of growth develops--namely:  the organization of the Associated Blind of Greater Cumberland last November, the shoring up and expanding of the Chester River Federation of the Blind during March, and the happy prospects of establishment of a Gung-ho chapter in Anne Arundel County on May 24, 1969. Carol Kiseleski, Juanita and Joseph Hoffman, Eileen and Ted Simendinger, Ethel Graham, Charles Winn and Mary McNew are a few of the Federationist type nuggets uncovered during our first sortee into Anne Arundel County. 

 

Education:

Along with the information that you have undoubtedly gleaned from the feature article "The Patuxent Project", you should be aware that the Education Committee, Roger Petersen, Chairman, has been and is actively seeking to tumble barriers hindering the qualified blind from teaching; and arduously working at making the Mid-Atlantic Student Division a viable adjunct to the Free State Federation of the Blind. 

 

Convention:

Ned Graham, the ubiquitous Chairman of the Convention Committee, is sowing the seeds which will blossom into a bountiful convention on October 10, 11, 12, 1969, at the Statler Hilton Hotel in downtown Baltimore.  More detailed information will be forthcoming in the July issue of the Braille Spectator. 

 

Ways and Means:

Sharon Bailey, with her "Appeal Letter" mailing campaign, the annual disbursement of canisters in the "White Cane Drive" and the formulation of plans for defraying the expense of the up-coming convention, is contriving to make and to keep the State Organization financially solvent. 

 

During what I am sure will be an active future for the F.S.F.B., I am certain that you, the rank and file membership of the F.S.F.B. will continue the meaningfully necessary struggle to overcome the discrimination, both governmental and communal, weighing heavily on a very large segment of the more than six thousand blind citizens of Maryland. The struggle, having been joined, news (hopefully victorious) will issue forth; direct said news to Paul Flynn, our erstwhile Editor of this aborning publication. 

 

CHAPTER REPORTS

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

By Louse Snyder 

 

For many years, the Maryland Council of the Blind, Inc., was the only organized blind group in Maryland. However, the past few years have seen other chapters added and programs for the blind are on the move. On October 28, 1968, the Maryland Council celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Eichenkranz Hall in East 

Baltimore, and we are proud to say that the Council still has one charter member, Mr. C. Emory Hill, who is still quite faithful in his attendance. At the present time, we carry a membership of forty-seven, and during the year we have a busy and productive schedule. 

 

This year, the Maryland Council is represented by the following officers: 

President: Albert Balducci; Vice-President: Winifred Bond; Secretary: Louise Snyder; Treasurer: William Appel; Sgt.-at-Arms: Ella Owens. For the year 1969, the Council has assumed as one of its projects, financial assistance to the Margaret Newcomer Home, 218 S. Augusta Avenue. For public information, the Margaret Newcomer Home is a home for the working blind girls of our state and city. It is not state subsidized and like all homes, it is expensive to keep up, and with the small salaries received by the girls, repairs such as a new roof and a burst water tank seem like a catastrophe to them. The Council has tried to lighten this load by donations from time to time. 

 

At graduation time each year, the Maryland Council presents the "Faber Awards" to the Maryland School for the Blind, in honor of Mr. Ferd (Gus) Faber, who, although not a charter member, is one of the older members. These awards must be earned by the students.         The school is divided into three groups:  the kindergarten class students of the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, and the last group for the seventh and eighth graders, who must compete within their individual groups by taking the Stanford Achievement test.   The student in each group with the highest mark receives a bond, presented each year at special exercises by Mr. Faber himself.  This year the bonds will be presented on Friday, June 6th, at two p.m., in the Knefely Gymnasium, Maryland School for the Blind. 

 

The White Cane Campaign under the direction of Mrs. Rose Gregg is under way. This year, Mrs. Gregg is using only the mailing campaign and she hopes it will be quite successful, as it has been in the past, so that the Council may have a good report for the State. 

 

Funds have been appropriated for the President and Vice-President as partial payment for expenses incurred at the National Federation of the Blind Convention to be held in Columbia, South Carolina.  Although representation will be there from the State Organization, the Maryland Council would like to be an active part of this great convention. 

 

Since the Council is financed exclusively by social functions, the CCA, and other activities, I would like to stress that we sponsor a St. Patrick's Day Dance on March 17th, a Moonlight Cruise in August and A Bingo in December. These functions are under the efficient guidance of Mr. "Gus" Faber, our Social Chairman. Tickets are sold and the revenue from these events is used to promote the work of the blind. 

 

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GREATER BALTIMORE CHAPTER OF THE BLIND

By Doris Samuels 

 

In 1965, Ned Graham arrived in Baltimore, and instantly - Veni! Vidi! Vici!!!  He came! He saw! - He did a double-take and still couldn't believe it, and so; forthwith, proceeded to conquer and spread the word and change things. But not even Ceaser could do it alone-----nine people of strong and similar determination joined him, and in August, 1965, the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Blind was born, wiggled once or twice, proclaimed its birth with a lusty cry and began to sit up and take notice. The organized blind movement in Baltimore took notice too-some of the unaffiliated blind people of our community joined us, and in this, our third year, the chapter is almost four times as large as it was at its inception---35 members strong. 

 

So we are growing and spreading out and working---in Baltimore---in Maryland--nationally, and this year we've gone abroad. 

 

The Greater Baltimore Chapter is proud of its members---four serve on the state board---John McCraw, who wields the imperial gavel as State Board President, Will Thompson, Paul Flynn and Ned Graham, three stalwarts who contribute much in the way of ideas and support to the affiliate.  Nationally, one of our Greater 

Baltimore members has received singular honor and no one deserves it more than Ned Graham--the only National Committeeman from Maryland and the first Negro in the history of the N.F.B. to be elected to the National Board. 

 

The leaders of the Greater Baltimore Chapter wear their laurels well but not constantly--they change hats and join with the rank and file of the chapter to build a better world for the blind.  We're interested in education for young blind students so it is natural that most of our fund raising efforts be directed to providing scholarships to recognized institutions of learning. One of the means employed by the Chapter to reach this end is the sale of candy and the neat little profit we realized this year swells the coffers of the MILTON E. BRANCH, SR. SCHOLARSHIP FUND. (Mr. Branch, incidentally, is the chapter president, a retired educator himself.)  The scholarship was established at Morgan State College in 1967, but transferal may be made to any college preferred by the student selected.  On May 31, we're raffling prizes--television, tape recorder---AM-FM radio and four more to be announced--all this takes place in the most convivial atmosphere--the Gayets Charity Club Cabaret held at the Ship Builders Union Hall, 112 Cherry Hill Road. (You can join us for a wonderful evening---call Azalee Thompson--Wi7-3882 for tickets).  Proceeds of the drawing are all designated for our scholarship fund. 

 

Of course, we're joining with our sister chapters in the State Affiliate--four thousand Appeal Letters were mailed this month--- we’re writing our Congressmen to help promote the passage of HR 3782, and we’re traveling- postally, if not personally. 

 

Last fall we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Tai who lives and works in Vietnam and is the guiding force of the only school for blind girls in her country.  Mrs. Tai spoke to us about the almost insurmountable obstacles involved in the running of her school- and we listened-and acted. Pocket guides, styluses and Braille paper have been sent to the school, hopefully, the beginning of a long stream of supplies to Saigon. 

 

The Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Blind is growing - join us - we'd like to welcome you on the third Saturday of any month - the time is 1 p.m.--the place, 120 Mosher Street. 

 

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TWIN COUNTIES CHAPTER

By Alan Schlank 

The Twin Counties Federation of the Blind is a relatively new organization of blind people in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties. 

It was formed less than two years ago by blind men and women who realized the pressing need for such an organization in the suburban Washington, D. C. area. 

Throughout our short existence, one of our major goals has been growth in membership so that we might bet er represent the blind of this area and have the necessary manpower to inaugurate and carry forward projects designed to aid 

the blind to live normal productive lives and to educate the general public to the capabilities of blind people. In furtherance of this goal of growth, The Twin County Federation of the· Blind held a dinner meeting on Monday, March 17th. The dinner was held as a climax to our raffle, but its real purpose was to gain us new members. Letters were sent out too many blind people residing in this area, while announcements appeared in the newspapers and on the radio. The results were gratifying; some thirty-five members and other interested blind people gathered to enjoy a chicken dinner at the Jessup Blair Community Center in Silver Springs, Maryland. Most of the food was prepared by members and every- body commented most favorably upon the quantity, and especially the quality 

of the food. After dinner, all presents were treated to a stirring speech given by 

John Nagle, who is the Washington representative of the National Federation of the Blind. Mr. Nagle made it clear that both local organization of the blind and affiliation with the National Federation of the Blind are sources of strength for the blind individual. We feel that many of the guests at this meeting will soon join with us as members of our organization. 

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CHESTER RIVER CHAPTER

by Roger Petersen 

The ma.in project of our chapter is the enlargement of membership. Having determined that the Kent and Queen Anne's County area does not have a large enough blind population to sup- port a viable chapter, we have begun to contact people in other parts of the Eastern Shore. The plan is to make the Chester River Chapter of the Free State Affiliate the nucleus of a greater chapter which will cover the whole Eastern Shore. Financial assistance for this project has come from a grant from the N.F.B., through the Free State Affiliate to our Eastern Shore Chapter development. We have also received moral support from Free State Officers who have come to work with us on three different occasions. 

 

ASSOCIATED BLIND OF GREATER CUMBERLAND CHAPTER

by Joyce Ellis 

As the sixth month of the Federations newest affiliate closes, we would like you to know we have not been asleep. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we held our first project, which was the sale of candy. This was so successful that it will become an annual fund raising project for the ABGC. 

For owing the holidays, we began in earnest to get into the swing of things.          Acting upon a request from Dr. Isabelle Grant in 

Collaboration with Dr. Mae David- ow of the Pennsylvania Federation we initiated a successful campaign collecting eye-glasses which will be distributed for purposes of sight conservation in other lands. 

 

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

by Ned Graham 

ACT NOW! WRITE TO CONGRESSMEN IN YOUR DISTRICT!EVERYONE 

SHOULD WRITE TO CONGRESSMA.L ROGER MORTON CALLING FOR 

HIS SUPPORT OF THE DISABILITY INSUR- ANCE BILL, H.R. 3782.                                                                                                            THIS

PERVASIVE 

TTER WRITING CAMPAIGN IS THE SINGLE- MINDED PURPOSE IN 

WHICH THE LEADERS QF THE N.F.B. FERVENTLY SEEK YOUR 

SUPPORT!! FOLLOWING ARE TWO SAMPLE LETTERS YOU MAY USE TO STIMULATE YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO DEFINITIVE ACTION. 

 

Dear Congressman 

I respectfully urge you to support 

the Disability Insurance for the Blind Bill, H.R. 3782. As you probably know, the ultimate effect of this bill will be the freeing of a great number of blind citizens from public assistance roles; hence, in the long term, the so-called average tax payer will be the beneficiary of such a far sighted bill passing into law. 

I will be sincerely appreciative of your thoughtful consideration. 

Very truly yours, (Sample Letter #2 appears on page 10 of the BRAILLE 

SPECTATOR) 

 

SAMPLE LETTER #2:

Honorable (Write in the name of your Congressman) House Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 

Dear Congressman: 

 

Your expressed interest and probable support of the Disability Insurance Act H.R 3782, introduced by Congressman James Burke of Massachusetts, is indeed quite gratifying to the more than six thousand legally blind citizens of Maryland.      However, we urgently request that you implement your interest and support by introducing a Bill the same as or similar to Congressman Burke's Bill. We feel that this legislative procedure, the multiple introductions of the same bill, will greatly facilitate the passage of H.R 3782 into a legal reality. 

The importance--nay -the necessity of this legislation to the half mil- lion legally blind citizens of the nation, their families and their tax paying neighbors we know is irrefutable. 

If needed, Congressman Burke of Massachusetts, Congressman Friedel of 

Maryland, who has introduced a similar bill, and/or Mr. John Nagel, Chief of the Washington, D. C. office of the National Federation of the Blind, will brief you on the substance of the Disability Insurance Act. 

Your cooperation will be infinitely appreciated. 

 

Very truly yours, 

 

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TOWARD MORE INDEPENDENCE

by Alan Schlank 

 

 

The Twin County Federation of the Blind is carrying out a project unique in the 

State of Maryland; we are sponsoring a group of blind high-school students, many of whom express individually, a desire for a student group where they can share their experiences and acquire certain skills and techniques which are often not available to the blind student as an individual. Our role is purely advisory; we wish the students independently to provide the leadership and direction in which their organization is to move. The students now conduct their own meetings and elect their own officers. They all participate in choosing their activities and projects--an example is a planned barbecue for this spring. At this barbecue each student will assume an active role; they will make the fire, prepare the food and clean up afterwards. Their activities are leading them to a realization that blindness is not really a handicap but only a nuisance which can be overcome through the use 

of alternate techniques of doing things, Two handicapping features of blindness are the attitudes of the public toward blindness, and too often, the attitude of the blind themselves toward their blindness. As these students participate in more activities of this type, they gain belief in themselves and in their abilities to perform as every- one else can. 

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