THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR December 1983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cc: Nettie Taylor Jim Murray Mary Levering

The Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540

December 1, 1983

Mr. James Murray

 

Sincerely yours,

Frank Kurt Cylke Director

 

Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

1716 North Charles Stret Baltimore, Maryland 21201

DearJim:

I have just received a copy of the file regarding your relationship with the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland--specifically referencing the situation regarding their recent conference.

As you know we consider it vital that blind and physically handicapped individual users of the program be fully informed and involved, when possible, in all matters relating to service. Further, we believe that respect is due every person with whom we come in contact.

I have asked Mary Levering to contact you and Nettie Taylor to the point of determining the facts and to developing an appropriate response to James Omvig.

Sincerely yours,

Frank Kurt Cylke Director

cc: James Omvig

Nettie Taylor Mary Levering

 

THE 1983 STATE CONVENTION

The 1983 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland--our 17th--was held in Gaithersburg at the Marriott Hotel on the weekend of October 14 through 16, and what a Convention it was. Approximately 150 enthusiastic Federationists were on hand to participate in planning sessions, general business sessions, special meetings, and, of course, hospitality.

Serious Convention activities got under way on Friday evening with registration,the meeting of the State Board of Directors, and the Resolutions Committee. (The Resolutions adopted by the Convention are reprinted elsewhere in this issue of the Spectator.)

The Saturday morning session opened with a bang. Montgomery County Executive, Charles Gilchrist welcomed us to Gaithersburg. Mr. Gilchrist read a proclamation which he had issued designating the month of October as National Federation of the Blind month in Montgomery County. He concluded by reading a proclamation from Governor Harry Hughes setting aside October as "National Federation of the Blind Month" in Maryland. (Governor Hughes, who was unable to be present, requested that Mr. Gilchrist present this proclamation.) The Mayor of Gaithersburg also joined us to extend his greeting.

Highlights of the morning session included discussions on the Bill Morgan walk, the Maryland Vending Program, and the Governor's Office for Coordination of Services to the Handicapped. Chris Harvey, a blind stock broker, presented an excellent presentation. He described how he does his job using a "talking terminal." He also told us yet another chapter in the deplorable old story of Maryland rehabilitation for the blind. He pointed out that he is successfulnot because of but in spite of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. As usual, they tried to discourage him from doing what he wanted to do.

Lunch time brought two important meetings--the students and the vendors. Betty Couch clearly has the vendors on the move-­ seventy-five persons attended the vendors luncheon. (See the Vendors Chapter article printedelsewhere in this issue.)

Peggy Pinder, our national representative, kicked off the

afternoon session with her national report. She brought us up to date on the tremendous progress that the organized blind movement is making throughoutthe country.

Other importantitems included an update of the Paul Flynn case by Paul Flynn and Marc Maurer, and a great presentationby Virginia Glynn, another blind person employed in a non­ traditional occupation. Virginia is a physical therapist at Deershead State Hospital in Salisbury. Both Virginia and Chris Harvey are clear evidence of the fact that we are breaking down the ancientbarriers of myth and prejudice. ·

Our convention banquets are always high points, and this year was no exception. Marc Maurer served well as Master of Ceremonies, and Peggy Pinder's address was outstanding. In addition, Margaret Thompson of Baltimore presented the "Barbara Johnson Award" to Audrey Hedrick of Cumberland. Dr. Jernigan and Jim Omvig received the prizes as top associate getters in the state.

Several state legislators joined us for the banquet. We were delighted to have the opportunity to present our "Legislative Service Award" to Delegate Elijah Cummings for the work hedid insponsoring our1983 amendment to the ModelWhite Cane Law.

While our Sunday morning session dealt largely with internal organizational matters and resolutions,this session, too, had a tremendous highpoint: we increased our Maryland PAC contribution by almost two hundred dollars ($200.00) per month. Of equal significance is the fact that nine new members were signed up. Although we still have some distance to go before our goal is met, it is clear that more and more of our members are recognizing our responsibilities to make this commitment and that we are truly on the move.

Three Board positions were up for election. They were filled by Al Saile of Gaithersburg, Dick McBee of Hagerstown, and Pat Winebrenner of Frostburg.

The enthusiasmand renewed spirit gained at the Convention will sustain us for the new year. We are ready for the work on state and national legislation, our "Day in Annapolis," the March on Washington,· fundraising events, civil rights cases, and the strengthening of our affiliate. Truly, WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WE WILL NEVER GO BACK

 

I CAN'T, YOU CAN'T--TOGETHER WE CAN!

by Betty Couch

Editor's Note: Betty Couch is the newly elected President of the Vendor's Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. She began to lead this chapter in October and her leadership has brought immediate and far-reaching results. At this writing the Vendor's Chapter already has more that fifty members. The activities of the chapter are represented in the article below.

Radical changes are being proposed in the Maryland Vending Program which will affect the lives, and transform the opportunities available to all blind people in this state. Furthermore, these proposals of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) would alter the financial picture not merely for those who may become vendors,but for those who presently participate in the program. DVR has proposed to make sweeping changes in the vending programbecause it claims that there are major financial deficits. It is important for blind vendors to understand these proposed changes and to take concerted action to prevent any loss of opportunity.

Over the recent severalmonths a group of vendors have been working very hard to reorganize and strengthen the Vendors Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

Our hard work, phone calls to each vendor in Maryland, and many visits to individual stands, have really paid off. We had sixty-five people attend the Vendors Luncheon held in conjunction with the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Gaithersburg. But that's not all! State Convention was just the beginning. We have continued our efforts on a daily basis. We are diligently trying to get vendors in this state to be involved in this program.

I am happy to report several achievements. We now have fifty-five members, thirty-six are vendors.

We have had several meetings recently, and with the help and guidance of Mr. Jim Gashel we have drafted what we call the Vendors' Alternative. This proposal will be the Vendors Chapter's reply to DVR's proposals.

We had a very encouraging meeting with Mr. George Abbott,

Chairman of the Committee of Blind Vendors. At that time he gave his input and comments to the proposals. After Mr. Abbott made his changes to the proposal, the Vendors' Alternative was distributed to every vendor in Maryland.

Our Vendors' Alternative was distributed in print and on tape by the office of our state President, Jim Omvig. We received a five hundred dollar contribution from one of our members to meet the cost of production and distribution. We have been receiving very favorable comments on our proposal from all over the state.

I am so grateful to our state President James Omvig, to Mr. Jim Gashel, and to all the vendors who have given so much of their time, efforts and money to help make the Maryland Vending Programmove towards a brighter future.

The workhas justbegun. Iam veryoptimistic. I knowthat success will be realized if we combine our efforts and remain steadfast. No single individual can do it all, but together we can be victorious. Together the Vendors' Alternative (the rules written by and for blind vendors) will be adopted. Together we will run our own lives. No longer willDVR runthem forus.

WHY ORGANIZE?

by John Couch

If you will look at history, you will realize that human beings even at the beginning, found it necessaryto organize. Only as an organized group were we able to secure food and provide protection. Men and women of like interests have always banded together to promote their ideals, philosophies, and self­ improvement. Poets, artists, and blind people formed guilds for their self-betterment.

In recent years unions have been formedgiving strength and power to workers. When a union speaks or presents an idea, it has the backing of thousands. Women dedicated to the principles of equality organized and secured the right to vote. As the old saw says, "early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and organize."

An effort is being made to organize the blind vendors of Maryland with a program that needs the backing and support of all the vendors. Alone or in splinter groups we can have no impact, but united with one voice, we can effect change. Our concern should not be for only ourselves or for today. Rather, we must consider the whole vending program and its direction and development in the future. Let us unite with unwavering determination, that we may attain our goals and achieve independencefor ourselves and for those who follow.

BLIND GROUP'S LEADER OBJECTS TO CODDLING

by Isaac Rebert (Sun Paper Reporter)

Editor's Note: This article appeared in the Sun Paper on October

6, 1983.

 

Kenneth Jernigan keeps a small table in his office closet that he made many years ago as a boy. When he has a visitor, he likes to take the table out and show it off as a symbol of his mission in life.

The table is of unpainted, unstained wood, varnished to a high luster. It stands on slender legs whose undulating design suggests they were turned on a lathe.

Since Mr. Jernigan has been blind since birth, it seems impossible that hecould have used such a machine to make the table. His face breaks into a smile as heexplains.

 

When he was growing up in Tennessee, he says, he attended the state school for the blind at Nashville. He returned to the family farm for summer vacations but was not allowed to work in the fields--his parents were afraid he might be hurt.

"But," he says, "I made up my mind many years before that I wasn't going tobe aprisoner inthe house just because I was blind. I was determined to live a normal life."

So when he wasn't allowed to make hay or help with the combining, he walked around in town to all the shops and houses where people sewed, and he collected wooden spools. He glued the spools together, end to end, making long attractive slender table legs with anundulating design. Then hefastened ona top, and sanded and varnished to complete an attractive piece of furniture. It took him a day to make a table, he says with a laugh, and he sold itfor $10. If hehad worked in thefield he would have been paid $1.25 a day.

"That was one of my earliest lessons that blindness isn't necessarily a handicap," he says, "In that case, it turned out to be motivation for me to earn eight times as much money as other boys."

Now, as president of the National Federation of the Blind, he has used that lesson as the basis for a general philosophy in dealing with blindness.

 

Blindness, he says is not a handicap. It is just a nuisance.

Blind people do notneed tobe coddled, pampered orgiven special privileges. In fact, coddling and pampering are hazardous to a blind person's health.

All blind people need is the equal chance to which they are legally entitled.

There are many jobs that blind people can do, and all they need is the training, and an opportunity to prove themselves.

The National Federation of the Blind whose central office is on Johnson street in South Baltimore, sponsors leadership training seminars, provides educational materials and runs a computerized job placement service for blind people all over the country.

It is also an advocacy organization, defending blind people against discrimination and testifying before legislative and

administrative bodies on policies affecting the blind.

But itsforemost mission, as Mr. Jernigan sees it,is to change the public's attitude toward blind people.

As he states it,"The real problem ofblindness isnot the loss of eyesight. The real problem isthe misunderstanding and lack ofinformation which exist. Ifa blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness is only a physical nuisance." Beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday, the NFB' Baltimore chapter is holding a money-raising Walk-a-Thon. The organization is supported entirely by donations. The Walk-a-Thon will begin at the Inner Harbor and cover 20 kilometers, or 12 miles. (For

information call 644-4445.)

From his large paneled office in a renovated factory building facing Riverside Park, Mr. Jernigan directs 18 employees, both blind and sighted, in running the national organization, which has chapters in every state.

Within the building, the employees all call one another Mr., Miss or Mrs., in amanner that seems rather formal. Thereason is that blind people, among the public, are often patronized, addressed inappropriately by their first names or simply as "Hon."

Sitting behind his desk, Mr. Jernigan, immaculately dressed, tells time by a talking clock, does arithmetic on a talking calculator (both are commercial items manufactured for the general public) and writes memos on a braille typewriter.

"It isn't eyesight that got manout ofthe jungle. It is his intelligence," he comments. "And yet, blind people, just because they can't see, are treated as if they're incompetent or diseased.

"In many states we're not allowed to serve on juries.

Baltimore's advanced. I served on one a few months ago.

"But in New York we've been fighting for that right. We've taken our case to the state supreme court. The law there says you can't serve if you don't have all of your faculties. That's an insult to blind people.

"We also have to battle with insurance companies, who lump us together with diabetics or people who have had heart attacks, in charging us special rates.

"Yet there isn't a shred of evidence that blind people have agreater accident rate oran earlier death rate than sighted people. In fact, because we're more careful, probably our rate is a little lower. But purely out ofprejudice, blind people's premiums arehigher.”

He says it isn't just thepublic that is prejudiced about blind people--blind people share the same prejudices as the people around them. They often feel handicapped and unable to compete. And when others feel sorry for them and give them special privileges, this reinforces the blind people's feeling of inferiority.

Mr. Jernigan has little patience with feeling sorry for oneself. "I get awfully tired of hearing blind people, or anybody else, talking about what a tough time they've had.

"I tell them, 'All right, soyou’ve hada tough time. So have I, and so has just about everybody else. What are you going todo about it now?"'

 

He tells the story that when the MTA was planning the new subway, he was asked to help with selection of a special buzzer on the doors to alert blind people to where the doors were.

"I told them blind people didn't need a buzzer. We'd find the doors, all right. The main effect of such a buzzer would be on possible employers.

"They would hear the buzzer and say to themselves, 'Isn't it nice that there's a buzzer for the blind?' But then they'd think, 'In our factory or office, we can't have a buzzer on the doors, so we'd better not hire any blind people."'

The buzzerswould reinforce the old prejudice about the helplessness ofblind people he says. He prevailed on the MTA not to install them.

He feels the time has come for the blind, like other minorities, to organize, not to plead for privilege, but to demand their rights. The NFB has that purpose. It is composed of blind people looking after their own affairs; and in doing so, he says,they often make enemies.

"Not all blind people are prepared to stand up for their rights. We have plenty of Uncle Toms among us, who would rather receive favors from the ruling group, than to stand up for what is coming to them."

He compares the blind, as a minority population, to black people and women. Such minorities, he says, are just becoming aware of their right to equal status. They have stopped asking for favors but rather now are making demands. Such a change often incurs hostility.

The Federationof the Blind, he says, is different from governmental or private charitableorganizations that provide service to the blind. It is an organization of the blind looking out for their own interests. He cites examples of the way it functions:

In acustody casein Florida,a social welfare agency made an issue of the fact that the mother was blind. The federation came to her defense. The agency backed down. Today, like thousands of other blind women, the mother is raising her own children.

Here in Baltimore, in a private school, a blindteacher with more than 20 years of experience was recently fired when a new principal decided that blind teachers cannot teach sighted children.

The federation is encouraging the teacher, and has provided him with a lawyer, who is blind. The organization has taken the story to the media, to the alumni and to the school board, and is preparedto take the case to court,if necessary.

In cooperation with the Department of Labor, the federation operates a computerized job service for the blind, matching applicants and their qualifications with jobs all over the country.

The federation operates seminars, bringing in blind people from all over the country to change their attitudes toward blindness, to encourage them to feel, at the gut level, that they are as good as anybody else and are entitled to their legal rights.

Mr. Jernigan urges sighted people to walk Sunday with the blind.

"People are afraid of blindness," he says, "Yet, it's something that can happen to anyone. Every year 30,000 people in this country become blind.

"Walking together will take some of the mystery, some the strangeness, out of it. People will understand that except for the fact that they can't see, blind people are like everybody else."

PUBLICITY AND THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND CONVENTION

by Judy Rasmussen

Editor's note: Judy Rasmussen, the Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and a leader in our Sligo Creek Chapter, worked diligently with the press to spread the word about our 1983 Convention. Reporters for the Montgomery County Sentinel saw the true story that we in the Federation have to tell. It is a story of individual accomplishment and better lives through organized actions and collective self help. It is the story of better lives for blindpeople. The following article is reprinted from the October 14, 1983 issue of the Montgomery County Sentinel.

Blind Employee Asks No Favors by Judy Oppenheimer

Sentinel Staff Writer

Judy Rasmussen doesn't look as if she's mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

In fact, seated at her desk in a red blouse with ruffled collar, with her blonde hair, blue eyes, deep dimples and low, lilting voice, she looks the picture of demure, self-effacing womanhood.

Looks can be deceiving. This one can bite.

"Is this going to be one of those stories about how amazing it is that a blind person can do this and that? How absolutely incredible?" she jibes at a reporter.

If so, Rasmussen, blind since birth, wants to part of it.

Truth to tell, she'd rather beg off anyway,but agrees to the interview because it may mean publicity for her group, the National Federation of the Blind.

The group--whose local chapter is headedby Rasmussen's husband Lloyd, an electrical engineer--is an active one, its finger in many pies, from lobbying for better legislation to investigating job discrimination claims, to education.

It was also responsible, in many ways, for raising Rasmussen's consciousness.

"I thought I didn't need a group. I thought, I'm smart, I

can make it." And for many years--in college at Illinois State, working in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, she pretty much did. "But when I saw what a group of people working collectivelycan do together, I thought, maybe its really worthwhile.

 

"One blind person is not as effective as many."

The Federation, according to Rasmussen,is trying to "change the attitude of society." It has its work cut out for it. Although many of the more blatant acts of discrimination have dropped off since the coming of the Age of Acquarius, the subtler forms remain.

"When I was job-hunting,I'd have people ask things like, 'Are we going to have to have someone meet you and take you to your desk every day?' Now, you know someone who says something like that is not going to hire you. Or they ask, 'How are you going to get to work?"'

At present, Rasmussen works as an investigator for the county's Landlord and Tenant Office, handling complaints, and cases. So far as she knows, she's the only blind person employed bythecounty.

Blindpeople need to be educated as to their own potential as much as anything else, Rasmussen feels. "When you've been on a bus and a person pushes you into a seat,when you've gone to a restaurant with a sighted person and the waiter asks them what you want, when these things happen enough, you begin to think, well, maybe I'm not as good as John Q. Public. You begin to think, no one wants to marry me, no one wants to hire me, maybe I should just take my disability pension and leave it at that."

The federation, however, concerns itself just as much with the changing of attitudes within as without. "I always thought, growing up, that a cane was a bad thing. I thought, if I use it, then everyone will know. I wantedto bethe sameas everyone else. No one ever stressed to me that it was not a symbol of dependence--but of independence."

Rasmussen grew up on a farm in Illinois with two brothers

and one sister. Her family, she says, always encouraged her-­ "They never stopped me, they encouraged me to live on my own, to get a job"--but were not "as aware as they should have been" about the services available.Sheattended a school for the blind then a public high school.

"It was lonely," she says wistfully, of her high school years. "A new kid and blind to boot. People don't know what to do with you. Do I take her arm? She wouldn't want to see a movie...what do I do?"

In college she studied special education for the blind,but was discouraged by an advisor. "They gave me the feeling that no one wanted a blind teacher for blind kids, that it wouldn't be a good role model."

The anger is still there, but working with the federation has been a good release. Besides, that's where she met her husband.

"I thought about it before I got married--would I be better off marrying a sighted person? Can we get ourbills paid? Go to the store?" She decided to damn the torpedoes, however, and is glad she did. The Rasmussens live in Wheaton; when they food shop, they bring magnetic Braille labels to the store with them, whichthey affixto thecans theybuy.

The federation holds a statewide meeting this weekend at the Gaithersburg Marriott; regular meetings of the local chapter are held monthly, the second Saturday of each month. Anyone

interestedin attending should call Lloyd Rasmussen, 946-8345. "Its not that easy to flush people out," said Rasmussen.

"We recently found out about a group of parents of blind children. I hadn't even known it existed!" The federation would like to see all local service groups brought together under a single umbrella, so at least everyone would know where they stand. "The county is somewhat limited in services," she admits. Rasmussen is gracious, low-keyed, polite. But she has no trouble with confrontation. Asked why she seems to have none of the typical blindisms, she counters, instantly: "You mean, you

don't look blind?"

"That's one of those subtle comments; another one is 'you get around well for a blind person.' Or 'I forget you're blind.' I used to think is was a compliment.

"But what are they really saying? They're saying, 'I think of you as equal.' As if you aren't if you're blind."

"Now, I say, 'how is a blind person supposed to look?'" About the lack of blindisms, "When you're told often enough,

people won't hire you if you do that, people won't want to be with you if you do that, you stop," she said simply.

The bottom line, says Rasmussen, spreading her hands on the

desk, is that "we want to be free." Blind people want the same chance to live and work as anyone else in this society.

 

TEACHER DISCRIMINATION IN BALTIMORE: THE PAUL FLYNN CASE

Editor's Note: The Paul Flynn case, which started in May, grinds slowly through the appeal process. This case was reported in an earlier issue of the Spectator. (See Braille Spectator for August, 1983.) This case is presently before the Ecclesiastical Court of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Its outcome is not yet clear. However, the blind of Maryland have determined that this blatant discrimination will not go unanswered. There will be rectification. We shall continue to fight this discrimination. The statement of our President, Dr. Jernigan, will guide us in this case: "We sometimes lose skirmishes, we occasionally lose battles, but we never lose wars--because the war is never over until we've won it." The following article appeared in the Sun paper on November 14, 1983.

Blind ex-Curley teacher alleges bias in his firing by Ann Lolordo

For nearly half his life, Paul Flynn taught the epics of Homer, the tales of Chaucer, and the poetry of John Donne to his students at Archbishop Curley High School--and he said his blindness was never a handicap.

But Mr.Flynn, who was laid offafter 21years onthe job, believes his blindness is the reason he lost his teaching job at Curley.

Last May, citing declining revenues and enrollment, school officials issued layoff notices to the 51 year old Mr. Flynn, eight other teachers and a librarian;

However, Mr. Flynn, who says hehad more seniority than anyone else in the English Department, alleges his dismissal was

not simply because of the numbers; and, in claiming discrimination, points to statements by the school's new principal about the problems of a blind teacher.

In the past two weeks, two former police magistrates have gathered in an auditorium at the Catholic Center downtown to review Mr. Flynn's complaint. He is seeking about $13,000 in damages--$8,500 is to recover losses of salary, the remainder for attorney's fees and general damages.

The judges make up the Ecclesiastical Court in Equity, an arbitration panel formed by the archdiocese about five years ago to hear grievances.

This is the second case the court has heard.

Mr. Flynn's charge that he was dismissed because of his blindness is directed primarily at the school's principal, the Rev. Xavier Nawrocki, who came to the school last fall.

He alleges that the principal made several disparaging comments about his blindness and its effect on his teaching.

Ed Jones, the former chairman of the English department who also was laid off, testified at the first hearing that Father Nawrocki told him he didn't feel a blind teacher could teach sighted students. Mr. Jones subsequently wrote a memo for his own files stating that he was disturbed by the principal's comment.

Mr. Flynn also questions why the school had retained an English teacher who had less experience and seniority than he and why no effort was made to try to place him in another job.

A graduate of Loyola College, Mr. Flynn has a master's degree in liberal arts from the Johns Hopkins University and an advanced professional certificate. What he doesn't have is a certificate to teach remedial reading, a key issue in Archbishop Curley's defense of why it couldn't offer him another job.

The less experienced teacher who was retained had a state certificate in remedial reading, school officials said.

School officials insist the layoffs--including Mr. Flynn's-­ were necessary because of a steady drop in enrollment which resulted in too many teachers for too few students. According to their figures, in June of 1980, the student teacher ratio was 20-to-l; last spring it was 15.8-to-1. With the layoffs, it returned to 20-to-1.

Student tuition and fees account for the bulk of Curley's operatingbudget, school officials said.

In addition, because the school seeks to maintain "a religious aspect," the Franciscan priests who teach there were not included in the layoffs, school officials said.

At a second hearing on Friday, the court heard testimony about an evaluation of Mr. Flynn's teaching by the principal and alleged comments by Father Nawrocki regarding Mr. Flynn's use of a cane in the hallways.

In the written evaluation, Father Nawrocki described Mr. Flynn’s stance in the classroom as "unnatural" because he only lectured and it was the responsibility of his aide to keep tabs on a student's attention, said Marc Maurer, Mr. Flynn's attorney.

Quoting from the evaluation, Mr. Maurer noted that the principal felt that students were "left at a disadvantage because only one sense is used.

In addition, Father Nawrocki's evaluation suggested that to handle students "differently is sacrilegious to the education process," Mr. Maurer said.

However, Father Nawrocki testified that he felt it was a teacher's responsibility to "galvanize his class...to pretty much get his students involved" and that his use of the word "unnatural" referred to that. When he spoke about students being disadvantaged, Father Nawrocki said he meant the students "were not getting themselves motivated enough."

Mr. Jones, who was chairman of the English department at Curley for three years, said, "Paul was a good teacher. They're really not contesting his teaching ability, not that I could see. "Paul is extremely qualified to teach English. No parents

ever complained to me about Paul."

Mr. Flynn has said that the principal ordered him to arrive at school 15 minutes early and to leave 15 minutes late so that the halls would be clear when he walked with his cane.

The reason he was given, the teacher said, was because Father Nawrocki was wary of lawsuits and overly concerned that he would "jab" a student with his aluminum cane.

But Father Nawrocki testified Friday that he merely asked Mr. Flynn to avoid the traffic during the change of classes "for my own sanity."

Mr. Maurer also attempted to show that Father Nawrocki didn't treat Mr. Flynn in the same manner as he had another laid­ off teacher. That teacher was asked to take over the classes of a math teacher who had quit. The teacher, who had taught some math, declined the offer because he said he wasn't qualified to teach advanced math.

Mr. Maurer said the principal never gave his client a chance to try to teach remedial reading, the only course in the English department to be filled by a lay teacher after the lay-offs.

As far as Mr. Flynn remaining on the staff to teach remedial reading, Father Nawrocki said, "I needed a remedial reading teacher on the spot, then and there, and he didn't have the qualifications."

Much of the case appears to revolve around Father Nawrocki's use of words such as "jab," "unnatural" and "sacrilegious: in his comments about Mr. Flynn.

As Judge Avrum K. Rifman, one of the members of the archdiocese panel, said Friday: "That's my problem. Whether there is an animus or prejudice in your heart and soul and these words express the prejudice or whether or not it's a way of expressing yourself with confidence and certainty and

decisiveness."

Father Nawrocki himself admitted during Friday's hearing that he used "unusual" language "most of the time."

Clouding the issues in the case is the fact that the religious faculty members are not certified to teach by the state. The Franciscan order does not encourage its priests to seek certification. As Father Nawrocki explained, "Religious are one side. Lay teachers on another."

It will be at least another month before the case is decided and there is one more witness scheduled to testify. But while the church court tries to determine if Mr. Flynn's blindness was a factor in hisdismissal, Baltimore city school officials say his disability was never an issue when they hired him.

On November 1, Mr. Flynn began teaching English at Mergenthaler Vocational High School. The city school--with its emphasis on job training and its 2,000-member student body--is quite different from Curley, a college preparatory school where enrollment dropped from 940 in 1980 to 680 this fall.

"I realize I'm in a much bigger place. When I look at

Curley, I'm recalling a place that was so familiar to me. I knew the books through and through," said Mr. Flynn.

Now, he has different books, all of which are being brailled or taped. And his method of teaching, which he says was "thoroughly developed" at Curley, is being changed to fit the needs of his new students.

As wasthe case at Curley, Mr. Flynn, who lost most ofhis sight as a youngster and has been blind since college, is assisted by a teacher's aide.

But, despite the adjustment, Mr. Flynn said "I feel very good about getting the job. I want to get off to the right start."

 

"Paul seems to principal. "I don't comes well-qualified.

 

be doing well," said Jack Jordan, Mervo's have any reservations at all. I think he He has an excellent academic background."

 

While the court discussed the fine points of language Friday. Paul Flynn was busy giving his freshmen students a vocabulary drill. He explained that you can discover the meaning of a word without having to look it up in a dictionary.

You could do it, he said "just by examining the context" of the word in the sentence.

Reporter Milford Prewitt contributed tothis article.

 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN--NAC TRACKING TO DAYTONA BEACH

On Wednesday, November 2, 1983, we loaded a van and were off onthe road again--this time to Daytona Beach. Inspite ofthe long 24 hour ride, the Maryland crowd wasready togo when we reached Daytona. Our ranks were strengthened by other Marylanders who flew down on Thursday and Friday. Total number from throughout the country exceeded 250 at this demonstration.

We picketed �n Friday at the Rehabilitation Center in Daytona Beach and at the School for the Blind in St. Augustine. Saturday found us picketing in front of the hotel while NAC met inside. In time honored tradition, we marched and chanted. "NAC won't listen to the blind." "NAC ignores behind closed doors." "Bye bye Bleeker." "A change in Directors does not mean a change in direction." We carried our signs displaying similar slogans. Some of the NACsters even came out for a souvenir sign.

The NACsters were joined at their meeting this year by two other groups. They were the Sunshine Association of Workers for the Blind and the Florida Council of the Blind (an ACB chapter). Apparently, NAC needs both moral support and the numbers from these other groups to pad its dwindling attendance. Even with all these extra folks the NAC banquet served only 90 people.

We got excellent television and radio coverage. The newspapers in Daytona and St. Augustine both carried articles. We passed out leaflets to folks on the beach and on the streets. The NFB continues to spread the word about NAC.

Plans goforward forNAC tomeet inBoston next year. The NFB of Maryland will find itself joining the other affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind on its way to Boston next November. There we will be--on the road again.

 

 

AUDREY HEDRICK CITED BY STATE BLIND GROUP

Editor's Note: This article appeared in the Cumberland (Maryland) Times on November 5, 1983.

Mrs. Audrey Hedrick of Cumberland was honored recently at the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Gaithersburg. Mrs. Hedrick, a long-time federation member, and president of the Greater Cumberland Chapter, received the federation's Barbara Johnson Award.

Barbara Johnson was a blind woman who worked for many years at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. She worked hard to improve life for other blind persons, and displayed compassion and love for her fellow blind workers. Because of her many good qualities, the National Federation established the award in her name.

Mrs. Hedrick was cited at theconvention by Mrs. Margaret Thompson of Baltimore, who told her, "you were chosen forthe

award this year because you are a long time and loyal Blind Industries employee, because you have worked long and hard to improve life for other blind persons and because you care."

James Omvig, President of the National Federation said, "it isfitting that Audrey should be therecipient ofthe Johnson Award this year. Herdedication, commitment and sacrifice are exemplified by her hard work in the organized blind movement.

 

 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

by Al Maneki

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will award a $500 scholarship to a blind Marylander who is attending an institution of higher education during the 1984-85 school year. The Scholarship Committee is currently informing the 65 colleges throughout Maryland of this award. We are also contacting Vocational Rehabilitation counselors, teachers who know blind high school seniors who plan to continue their education, and others. In addition, we are also publicizing the 12 excellent scholarships that will be awarded at our National Convention in Phoenix. Our goal is to make sure that every blind Maryland student knows about these 13 excellent grants.

To reach this goal, the Scholarship Committee needs the assistance of every Federationist. Help us spread the word about all of our scholarships by getting articles in your local papers, telling community leaders, and informing others who might know of blind students. If you need NFB of Maryland scholarship applications or any other information on scholarships, call Al Maneki, Committee Chairman, at 992-9608.

 

 

ON THE MOVE IN CENTRAL MARYLAND: A CHAPTER IS BORN

by Sharon Maneki

Federationists do not need the familiar advice of the telephone company "reach out and touch someone." We have been practicing this philosophy for years. We reach out to other blind people. We reach out to our communities informing the public about the capabilities of blind people. The challenge for Federationists is constantly to seek new opportunities to spread our beliefs. One way to meet this challenge is by forming new chapters.

The National Federation of the Blind Central Maryland Chapter was born on November 8. We are spreading Federationism in Columbia, Laurel, and the Howard and Anne Arundel County areas through this chapter. For more information contact President Sharon Maneki or Al Maneki at 992-9608.

The following people were elected: Sharon Maneki, President; Dick McCloud, Vice President; Laura Havard, Secretary; Beth Schuster, Treasurer; Al Maneki, Board Member; Dorothea Turner, Board Member.

We look forward to following the tradition of vibrant active chapters as we continue to change what it means to be blind.

 

 

STUDENTS RECRUITING STUDENTS

byBrenda Williams

TheNational Federation of theBlind ofMaryland Student Chapter continues visiting schools and recruiting new students.

On Saturday, October 15,1983, we metduring theNational Federation of the Blind of Maryland Convention in Gaithersburg. We discussed problems that blind students face. We also saw a film called "A Role Model Seminar," that wasproduced by the National Federation ofthe Blind of Colorado Student Chapter. The film showed ways to build and strengthen chapters.After the film, Peggy Pinder, a blind lawyer andstate president of the National Federation ofthe Blind of Iowa told uswhy sheis a Federationist. She suggested ways to build and strengthen our chapter and to get positive responses from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Our officers for 1984 are: Brenda Williams, President;

Robin Hauck, Vice President; Jamal Mazrui, Secretary; and Marla Miller, Treasurer.

Remember Students! You are loved! You are wanted! And you are important! So, let's make life better for blind students in Maryland.

 

 

STEPPING OUT FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

by Mary Ellen Reihing

Some people climb mountains "just because they're there." Others drive race cars forthe thrill of it. Thebook ofworld records is full of stories of personal achievement. Some of the feats it records are inspiring; some are farcical; but most tell of individuals striving for recognition.

This fall a blind person, Bill Morgan, completed a walk across the country. Though his efforts will land him a place in the record books, the real meaning of his accomplishment is much deeper. It can be summed up in the theme of his walk, "Stepping out for the National Federation of the Blind."

Bill walked to prove to himself that blindness need not keep him down and out. He walked to give the public an opportunity to view blindness move positively. He also walked totell America about the work of the National Federation of the Blind; and Federationists throughout the country proved once again that we are a cohesive family who shares in the struggles and the triumphs of one of its own.

Marylanders had the privilege of participating in the last walk of Bill's journey. When Bill walked into Cumberland on Friday, September 23, he was greeted by members of our Greater Cumberland Chapter, the press, and the mayor. To everyone's surprise, city officials spent nearly an hour with Bill talking about his trip and the organized blind movement.

. Excitement built in Hagerstown as Bill approached. Ted McKean, a leader in our Hagerstown chapter put it this way: "Bill Morgan arrived in Hagerstown September 25, very tired and anxious to complete his trip. The next morning we attended a press conference in Mayor Donald Frush's office, at which the Mayor proclaimedthe week of September 25 as National Federation of the Blind Week in Hagerstown. The county commissioners had issued a similar proclamation on September 20. We received good t.v., radio, and newspaper coverage of both events.

Bill's walk proved anopportunity forthe Federation to strengthen contacts with community leaders. Leroy Metz, President of the local Lions Club, was proud to be associated with the Federation. Rob Bowers, President of the Board of County Commissioners, was also pleased to take part in the ceremonies, along with several members of our local chapter including the McBees and the McKeans. At 6 months of age Raven Baskewell was the youngest Federationist present and nearly stole the show.

As we left the Mayor's office and said good-bye to Bill we knew that the blind of Hagerstown had received much from his visit."

Then it was on to Baltimore and Bill's final destination-­ the National Center for the Blind.

On Friday, September 30, dozens of Federationists met Bill at the Baltimore Civic Center and proudly marched with him 2 miles tothe Center. The police escorted themarchers through steady rain which dampened everything except the crowd's enthusiasm. The Hall of Charters at the Center echoed to the tune of "Glory, Glory, Federation" as the parade swept into the Harbor Room to be greeted by Dr. Jernigan, Mayor Schaefer, and Bill's Congressman from Idaho.

Dr. Jernigan read a telegram from President Reagan congratulating Bill on his accomplishment and paying tribute to the work of the National Federation of the Blind. The Mayor and the Idaho Congressional Delegation also offered formal congratulations. With his voice breaking Bill spoke for all of us when he said this is the proudest day of his life and the National Federation of the Blind is the best thing that ever happened to blind people.

 

 

STEPPING OUT FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

by Mary Ellen Reihing

Some people climb mountains "just because they're there." Others drive race cars for the thrill of it. The book of world records is full of stories of personal achievement. Some of the feats it records are inspiring; some are farcical; but most tell of individuals striving for recognition.

This fall a blind person, Bill Morgan, completed awalk across the country. Though his efforts will land him a place in the record books, the real meaning of his accomplishment is much deeper. It can be summed up in the theme of his walk, "Stepping out for the National Federation of the Blind."

Bill walked to prove to himself that blindness need not keep him down and out. He walked to give the public an opportunity to view blindness move positively. Healso walked to tell America about the work of the National Federation of the Blind; and Federationists throughout the country proved once again that we are a cohesive family who shares in the-struggles and the triumphs of one of its own.

Marylanders had the privilege of participating in the last walk of Bill's journey. When Bill walked into Cumberland on Friday, September 23, he was greeted by members of ourGreater Cumberland Chapter, the press, and themayor. Toeveryone's surprise, city officials spent nearly an hour with Bill talking

about his trip and the organized blindmovement.

Excitement built in Hagerstown as Bill approached. Ted McKean, a leader in our Hagerstown chapter put it this way: "Bill Morgan arrived in Hagerstown September 25, very tired and anxious to complete his trip. The next morning we attended a press conference in Mayor Donald Frush's office, at which the Mayor proclaimed the week of September 25 as National Federation of the Blind Week in Hagerstown. The county commissioners had issued a similar proclamation on September 20. We received good T.V., radio, and newspaper coverage of both events.

Bill's walk proved anopportunity forthe Federation to strengthen contacts with community leaders. Leroy Metz, President of the local Lions Club, was proud to be associated with the Federation. Rob Bowers, President of the Board of County Commissioners, was also pleased to take part in the ceremonies, along with several members of our local chapter including the McBees and the McKeans. At 6 months ofage Raven Baskewell was the youngest Federationist present and nearly stole the show.

As weleft theMayor's office and said good-bye toBill we knew that the blind of Hagerstown had received much from his visit."

Then it was on to Baltimore and Bill's final destination-­ the National Center for the Blind.

On Friday, September 30, dozens of Federationists met Bill at the Baltimore Civic Center and proudly marched with him 2 miles tothe Center. The police escorted themarchers through steady rain which dampened everything except the crowd's enthusiasm. The Hall of Charters at the Center echoed to the tune of "Glory, Glory, Federation" as the parade swept into the Harbor Room tobe greeted by Dr.Jernigan, Mayor Schaefer, and Bill's Congressman from Idaho.

Dr. Jernigan read a telegram from President Reagan congratulating Bill on his accomplishment and paying tribute to the work of the National Federation of the Blind. The Mayor and the Idaho Congressional Delegation also offered formal congratulations. With his voice breaking Bill spoke for all of us when he said this is the proudest day of his life and the National Federation of the Blind is the best thing that ever happened to blind people.

 

A DAY AT THE CAPITAL

by Marc Maurer

The blind of Maryland will converge on our state Capital on Thursday, January 26, 1984. Again this year we will be bringing the concerns of the blind of Maryland to our legislators. The bills to be sponsored this year are: a state minimum wage for the blind bill to insure that blind workers in Maryland receive the applicable state minimum wage; a work incentive tax credit bill to provide a tax credit to those who hire readers for blind workers; and a bill to provide a fifty dollar ($50.00) supplemental grant to recipients of federal supplemental security income.

 

On Thursday morning, January 26, we will be meeting in Annapolis at the office building for the House of Delegates to plan the activities for the rest of the day. We will meet with all delegates and senators and urge support for these important bills. We will remind all delegates and senators that they are invited to our reception that evening.

After wehave been to visit with allof themembers ofour legislature, wewill host a reception for legislators at the Annapolis Hilton Hotel from 6 until 8 p.m. This reception will focus on the abilities of blind people. We will show the competence of the blind, and urge legislators to enact legislation which will make it possible for the blind citizens of Maryland to participate fully in our state--socially, politically, and economically on terms of full equality.

Each member of our organization should contact his senator and delegates for appointments prior to January 26. Plan to spend the day visiting Senators and Delegates. Come to the Hilton Hotel prepared to meet our legislators and show them that blind people are confident and competent. What we need is opportunity. Give us the chance and we will do the work.

 

 

THE NEWEST: THE MOUNTAIN CITY CHAPTER NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND

On December 9, 1983, our newest chapter, the Mountain City Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, came into being. Our state president, Jim Omvig, journeyed to Frostburg for the organizing meeting. We talked philosophy and planned chapter activities. We discussed projects of the Maryland affiliate. Ten enthusiastic members joined the chapter and a constitution was adopted.

When the elections were held Mrs. Patricia Winebrenner became the President. Other officers are Carlene McKenzie, Vice President, and Doris Kunkleman, Secretary-Treasurer. In closing our new president said, "We will work hard to raise funds for the Federation. We are dedicated to what the movement is doing." It is good to have one more chapter in the family of the Federation.

 

OUR EASTERN SHORE CHAPTER: ALIVE AND WELL

by Althea Pittman

On abrisk November morning 9Federationists left for the exciting meeting ofour Eastern Shore Chapter. Our group was lead by our state President, Jim Omvig, who discussed the history of the Federation and gave some personal views of the importance of the Federation.

The meeting was attended by approximately 40 persons. We distributed literature and held an open discussion about strengthening our Eastern Shore Chapter. Several persons joined the chapter and paid their dues for 1984.

The next meeting of our Eastern Shore Chapter will be held on January 14, 1984, at 1 p.m. Each member pledged to bring at least one new member to the next meeting. It's good to see our

Eastern Shore Chapter on the move.

 

SLIGO CREEK CHAPTER REPORT

by Judy Rasmussen

We in Sligo Creek are working hard to recruit newmembers.

We have almost 30 members, and we are climbing.

We've been very busy selling nuts. Anticipated profits this year are at least $1600.00. Several of our members were able to sell nuts in front of the Giant Supermarkets. It was a good opportunity to distribute NFB literature and to educate the public as well as raise funds. One customer said "Oh, you really are blind!" It is chilly work selling nuts in front of aGiant store, but we intend tosell nuts at thesupermarkets again on New Year's Eve.

We have recently become involved with the organization of parents ofblind children in the Prince George's County Public School System.We have met several parents and students. Issues of ourmagazine Future Reflections were distributed to these parents. One parent commented after ameeting that Lloyd and Judy Rasmussen were the first blind people who could serve as role models that they hadever met. This involvement with the parents of blind children has brought significant and positive results.

The Sligo Creek chapter will soon have its own Federation telephone. The telephone number is 946-0653.

We werepleased that we could host the 1983 Convention of

the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. The Marriott Hotel is already seeking our return for the 1984 Convention.

 

 

SPECTATOR SPECS

The March on Washington

The March on Washington will be held January 29, 30,31, and February 1. OnJanuary 28 beginning at1p.m. there will bea public relations seminar. We will be staying at the Capital Holiday Inn at 550 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. Forhotel reservations contact Patricia Maurer, 644-0179 or 233-4567. Each day we will be sending a van from Baltimore for those who are not able to stay at the hotel overnight. We must begin making appointments with the congressmen from our districts. Appointment times should be given to Mrs. Maurer.Let's have a huge delegation of the Maryland Affilitate at the March on Washington.

 

Congratulations! Mr. and Mrs. Maneki

The Editor of the Spectator takes this opportunity on behalf of herself andall ofthe members of theMaryland Affiliate to congratulate Mr.and Mrs. Al Maneki on their recent marriage. Sharon Maneki hasbeen anactive Federationist in NewJersey. She is already working hard in Maryland. Congratulations to Sharon Maneki and to our state treasurer, Al Maneki.

 

A little Lowder

On Thursday, December 8,1983, Raymond and Bernice Lowder announced the birth of their daughter, Rachel Melissa, weight 7 lbs. 8 ounces. Congratulations to Raymond, Bernice and Rachel.

Distinguished Service Award

At its December meeting the Greater Baltimore Chapter National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will join with the state affiliate in presenting the distinguished service award to Maryland Attorney General Steven Sachs. This award will be presented by our President,Mr. James Omvig. The award is given only when meritorious service justifies it. Mr. Steven Sachs served as the Chairman of the 1983 Walk-a-thon Advisory Committee in Baltimore.

 

New Radio Spots

On February 1, 1984 new radio spots will be circulated to every radio station in theUnited States. Each chapter should contact local radio stations and ask that these spots be played. If additional spots are needed,write to the National Center for the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 or call 659-9314.

Reminder

Here is a reminder from the Editor. Don't forget to add new members' names and addresses to the Spectator mailing list. Send address changes and the names and addresses for new subscribers to Althea Pittman, Editor, The Braille Spectator, Suite 100 Court Square Building, 200 East Lexington Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Indicate whether the Spectator should be sent in print or recorded form.

1983 Resolutions

 

RESOLUTION 83-01

Regarding sunset of the Governor's Office for the Coordination of Services to the Handicapped.

WHEREAS, the Governor's Office for the Coordination of Services to the Handicapped is scheduled for a sunset hearing before the 1984 Maryland Legislature;

AND WHEREAS, this office has been recognized by the blind of the State of Maryland and particularly by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland as more of a hindrance to new and progressive programs of services to the blind than a help in making those services available;

AND WHEREAS, this office has further sought to defeat legislation which would have consolidated services for the blind and has thereby insured that blind Marylanders are doomed for a time to live with services which at best are spotty and inadequate but are often positively detrimental;

AND WHEREAS, in the name of coordinating services to the handicapped, this office has created confusion and has actually distributed misleading information about those services which were available;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in Gaithersburg, Maryland that the organized blind of the State of Maryland call upon the Legislature of Maryland to scrutinize with thoroughness the work of the Governor's Office for Coordination of Services to the Handicapped and recognize that this office has been more of a hindrance to Maryland blind citizens than a help;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the Legislature of the State of Maryland to abolish the Office for the Coordination of Services to the Handicapped.

 

RESOLUTION 83-02

 

Regarding independent client assistance project.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, several states have established client assistance projects to serve as advocates for disabled clients who are having problems with their rehabilitation agencies;

AND, WHEREAS, under the existing arrangement most of these projects are totally ineffective since they are funded by the very agency against whom they would have to fight to protect the rights of the blind and disabled citizens;

AND, WHEREAS, to correct this fundamental flaw in the program, the Senate version of the new Rehabilitation Act (Sl340) contains a provision which would separate client assistance projects from rehabilitation agencies;

AND, WHEREAS, while the House version (HR352) does not include this provision, a Senate/House committee will be convened to resolve this and other differences;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that this organization urge all members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to support and work for adoption of the Senate version of the Rehabilitation Act pertaining to client assistance projects.

RESOLUTION 83-03

 

Regarding tax credit for readers.

WHEREAS,employers who hirewheelchairusers have

received a tax break for removing architectural barriers, while

at the same time there has not been a proper tax break for employers who remove information barriers by providing readers or reading devices to assist blind employees in obtaining access to the printed word;

AND, WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind has requested that Congress act to bring about a more equitable set of circumstances which would encourage the employment of blind persons by amending S120 so that it would contain a provision crediting a tax credit to employers of blind persons or to the self employed blind for the expenses incurred in hiring readers or purchasing devices to assist blind persons in gaining access to the printed word;

NOW, THEREFORE,BE ITRESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland that this organization urge all members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to support the reader tax credit amendments to S120 and work for the passage of this important legislation.

 

RESOLUTION 83-04

 

Regarding insurance discrimination legislation.

WHEREAS, there is massive and flagrant discrimination against the blind by the insurance industry;

AND, WHEREAS, even though twenty states prohibit such discrimination, more than half of the states do not;

AND, WHEREAS, even more states either add discrimination laws or regulations, many insurance departments have been co­ opted by the industry and, therefore, do little to enforce fair treatment of the blind;

AND, WHEREAS, to provide nationwide protection and uniformity, The National Federation of the Blind has urged the inclusion of language in HR 100 of the nondiscrimination insurance bill introduced by Congressman Bates of California, to protect the blind from unfair insurance practices;

 

NOW, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention this 15th day of October, 1983 in Gaithersburg, Maryland that this organization take all possible steps to convince the Maryland Delegation to support needed amendments to HR 100 which would protect the rights of the blind to fair treatment by the insurance industry.

 

RESOLUTION 83-05

 

 Regarding minimum wage for the blind.

 

WHEREAS, when the Fair Labor Standards Act was adopted in 1938, blind persons were not covered under the general minimum wage provisions under the theory that blind workers could not be as productive as sighted workers;

AND, WHEREAS, it has long since been proven that this original concept is totally false and is contrary to all the economical principals of dignity;

 

AND, WHEREAS, to remedy this gross injustice, two bills have been introduced in both Houses of Congress at the request of The National Federation of the Blind to require that blind persons be paid at least the Federal minimum wage - HR991 by Representative Clarence Long of Maryland and Sl608 by Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that this organization commends Representative Long for his willingness to listen, understand and act by proposing the bill;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization do all it can to convince other members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to cosponsor and support passage of this vital legislation.

 

RESOLUTION 83-06

Regarding employment discrimination.

WHEREAS, while Sections 501, 503, and 504 prohibit discrimination based on blindness by some employers in this country--the Federal Government, Federal Government Contractors and recipients of Federal funds--the majority of employers do not fall under the jurisdiction of the laws;

AND WHEREAS, inclusion of Title 7 of the 1964 Civil Rights Law of the Blind and Handicapped represents essential recognition of our dignity and worth as citizens;

AND WHEREAS, at the request of The National Federation of the Blind, a bill, HR 1200 has been introduced in Congress to amend Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include blind and disabled persons under it protection--introduced by Representative Joe Moakley of Massachusetts;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this organization urge all members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to cosponsor and support this critical equal opportunities legislation.

 

RESOLUTION 83-07

 

Regarding Disability Insurance Reform.

         WHEREAS, under current law a blind disability insurance

recipient will lose his/her benefits by going to work for only $550 per month;

AND, WHEREAS, this outdated law serves as an impedimentto employment, since many individuals will not risk losing disability insurance benefits if they return to work;

AND, WHEREAS, to create constructive reform at the request of The National Federation of the Blind, Congressman Leighman of Florida has introduced HR 1039 which would provide a positive incentive for blind persons to return to work since they would not lose their basic insurance protection;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in Gaithersburg, Maryland that this organization take all steps possible to secure the support of the Maryland Congressional Delegation for this vital legislation.

 

RESOLUTION 83-08

 

Regarding amendments to the State Minimum Wage Statute.

 

WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind vigorously and consistently opposes the practice of paying slave wages to blind employees;

AND, WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind actively supports proposed legislation designed to end this practice by amending the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act to include blind workers under the protection of the Federal Minimum Wage Statute;

AND, WHEREAS, Maryland has a Commissioner of Labor and a State Minimum Wage Statute protecting workers who may not be covered by Federal law - a statute which is seriously flawed in that it exempts blind workers employed in organizations such as Blind Industries and Services of Maryland;

AND, WEHEREAS, the management of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland currently pays all production workers minimum wage or more; nevertheless, until the law is changed, a new company leadership could obtain certificates of exemption authorizing it to pay production employees a fraction of .the minimum wage;

AND, WHEREAS, other Maryland organizations currently employ blind workers at less than minimum wage;

AND, WHEREAS, Maryland is far ahead of the Federal Government in the area of recognizing the civil rights of the blind and ought to show the way by recognizing our economic right to a day's pay for a day's work;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the members of the National Federation 9f the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will work with the Commissioner of Labor and members of the Maryland General Assembly to amend the State Minimum Wage Statute so that no blind person shall receive less than minimum wage.

 

 

RESOLUTION 83-09

Regarding United Way funding to sheltered workshops.

WHEREAS, the United Way holds itself out to the public as the impartial vehicle by which agencies are funded and held accountable for services;

AND, WHEREAS, many sheltered workshops which pay blind workers less than the minimum wage receive United Way funding;

AND, WHEREAS, the fact that United Way support lends credibility to the deplorable practice of paying the blind slave wages and thus increases the damage being done to the blind;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in Gaithersburg, Maryland that this organization calls upon all the United Ways of Maryland to reexamine its practices and cease funding agencies which pay blind workers less than the minimum wage.

 

 

RESOLUTION 83-10

Requiring the Department of Education to fulfill its responsibilities to the Maryland Vending Facilities Program for the Blind.

WHEREAS, the Maryland Vending Facilities Program for the Blind ranks among the best in the nation as measured by the incomes earned and the opportunities available to the blind men and women who run the Vending Facilities;

AND, WHEREAS, the blind men and women who serve as managers in the Maryland Vending Facilities Program constitute  a significant source of tax revenue for all levels of government (Federal, state, and local) generating far more tax revenues each year through the payment of personal income taxes, payroll taxes, the collection of sales taxes, and the generation of direct and indirect business taxes, than are spent by the government in support of the Program;

AND, WHEREAS, the Maryland State Department of Education has been the sole licensing agency for the Program since July 1, 1980, with full financial responsibility for the operation of the Program; 

AND, WHEREAS, the Maryland State Department of Education has shirked this financial responsibility by instead relying heavily on the resources of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland and on the use of unassigned vending machine income (which if not used by the Maryland State Department of Education to meet its responsibility could be distributed to blind managers in the program;

AND, WHEREAS, the failure of the Department of Education to fulfill its financial responsibilities has caused the accumulation of significant deficit levels in the Program, thus threatening the future viability of the program,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, in meeting assembled this 15th day of October, 1983, in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that we insist that the Department of Education fulfill its responsibilities to the Maryland Vending Facilities Program for the Blind, thus ensuring the future strength of the program to provide meaningful employment to blind men and women;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Maryland Department of Education restructure the funding for the Vending Facilities Program by a) allowing managers to assume financial responsibility for  their  assistants,  b) eliminating  Assistant  Business Counselors, c) reducing service fees by approximately 50%, d) funding outstanding deficits, and e) providing the necessary amounts of funding to ensure fiscally sound operations in the future.

 

RESOLUTION 83-11

Regarding job opportunities for the blind.

WHEREAS, the Job Opportunities for the Blind Program is the nation's foremost placement program for the blind;

AND, WHEREAS, this tremendously successful program has placed far and away more blind people than any other program which offers placement to the blind within the same period;

AND, WHEREAS, the services of this program are unique in our nation and are of vital importance to the blind inasmuch as the unemployment rate for blind people is always five to ten times greater than that of the general public;

AND, WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind operating the Job OpportunitiesfortheBlind Program in conjunction with the Department of Labor has offered the only bright spot in the employment future of the blind and has thereby provided not only direct job placement but stimulation and encouragement as well for thousands of unemployed blind people;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that we call on the Department of Labor to renew the contract of the Job Opportunities for the Blind Program and continue its vital and essential work;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the members of the Maryland CongressionalDelegation to provide adequate funding for continued support of the Job Opportunities for the Blind Program;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the members of the Maryland CongressionalDelegation to contact the Department of Labor and express their support for this most worthwhile program.

 

 

RESOLUTION 83-12

 

Regarding blind teachers in the teaching profession.

WHEREAS, through the work of the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the nation with over 50,000 members and chapters in most large cities, it has been long demonstrated that blind people can become competent and qualified teachers providing quality service in the teaching profession;

AND, WHEREAS, within the past few months the demonstrated ability of one blind teacher, Mr. Paul Flynn, has been ignored and demeaned by the Principal of the high school at which Mr. Flynn taught, Archbishop Curley High School;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in Gaithersburg, Maryland that this organization condemn and deplore the discrimination practiced by the Principal of Archbishop Curley High School against Mr. Flynn;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all necessary and appropriate steps be taken to bring this disgraceful and illegal behavior to the attention of the proper secular and ecclesiastic authorities.

 

RESOLUTION 83-13

 

Regarding Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

WHEREAS, accountability of State officials to the public they serve is a recognized principle of sound government;

AND, WHEREAS, Mr. James Murray is Director of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and therefore, he is directly responsible to blind consumers of library services;

AND, WHEREAS, Mr. Murray agreed in writing to be present at the 17th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland to inform the blind about available services and to become educated concerning our needs and wants;

AND, WHEREAS, in flagrant disregard of this commitment he failed to appear and failed to provide any explanation;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the membership of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland condemn and deplore the discourtesy and disregard of the commitment embodied in this irresponsible action;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization bring this irresponsible behavior to the attention of appropriate authorities.

 

 

The Braille Spectator Althea Pittman, Editor Maurer LawFirm, P.A.

Suite 100 Court Square Bldg.

200 East Lexington Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202

 

NONPROFIT ORG.

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Baltimore, Md.

Permit No. 7532

 

 

December, 1983

 

 

 

DR. ALFRED & MRS. SHARON MANEKI

9736 BASKET RING RD COLUMBIA MD 21045