THE BRAILLE MONITOR September 1991
THE BRAILLE MONITOR
PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER, 1991
CONVENTION ROUNDUP
by Barbara Pierce
PRESIDENTIAL REPORT
by Marc Maurer
NAC IN THE DEATH THROES: THE PASSING OF AN ERA
by Kenneth Jernigan
REFLECTING THE FLAME
by Marc Maurer
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND AWARDS FOR 1991
THE CLASS OF 1991: NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND SCHOLARSHIP
WINNERS
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS
by Louis Sullivan, M.D.
ERASING OLD IMAGES WITH NEW RIGHTS: HOW PUBLIC PROGRAMS CAN HELP
by William Jefferson, Member of Congress
EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
by Justin Dart
NFB NET
by David Andrews
A NEW WAY OUT: IOWA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND DE-NACS
RESOLUTIONS, DEMOCRACY, AND THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
by Barbara Pierce
MONITOR MINIATURES
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
JULY, 1991
by Ramona Walhof
[LEAD PHOTOS: CAPTION 1) The 1991 NFB convention was filled with
program and business activities of far-reaching importance to the
lives of the blind--but there were also recreational activities,
including visits to historic places. Here is a plantation home
featured on one of the tours. CAPTION 2) At the 1991 convention
adult Federationists attended programs and debated policy issues-
-but the children were also busy. There was, for instance, the
petting zoo. Amber Jo Kineard is shown here examining a turtle.]
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[PHOTO: Long line outside NFB convention registration area at
Hyatt Regency. CAPTION: Convention registration occurred Monday,
July 1, and all records were broken. For several hours an average
of eight persons per minute were registered. Still the lines were
long.]
[PHOTO: New Orleans Mayor and company on stage at beginning of
convention session. CAPTION: At the 1991 NFB convention: From
left to right--Joanne Wilson, president of the National
Federation of the Blind of Louisiana; Kenneth Jernigan; Sidney
Barthelemy, Mayor of the City of New Orleans; and President
Maurer.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Clayton Yeutter, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee.]
[PHOTO: Convention attendees stand during session to sing.
CAPTION: The July 4 convention session began with the singing of
the National Anthem.]
[PHOTO: Kenneth Jernigan and Pete Fountain standing on stage
during reception and dance. CAPTION: Kenneth Jernigan introduces
Pete Fountain at the convention reception and dance.]
[PHOTO: Crowd on dance floor. CAPTION: Indeed, the celebration
was great, and good times did roll with Pete Fountain and his
orchestra.]
[PHOTO: Dana Elcar at podium microphone. CAPTION: Dana Elcar, one
of the stars of the MacGyver television show, speaks at the 1991
NFB convention.]
CONVENTION ROUNDUP
by Barbara Pierce
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll--that
was the siren song of the Louisianans throughout the spring as
they called us to the fifty-first annual convention of the
National Federation of the Blind, and it was the spirit we found
the moment we set foot in New Orleans. In a city that had had six
feet of rain since the first of the year, it was too much to
expect that the skies would be blue all week long, but the
Crescent City got much less rain during our stay than the natives
warned we would see.
The crowd that converged on the Hyatt Regency and Fairmont
Hotels for a week of hard work and memorable fun broke all
records for size and bonhomie. During free times the Hyatt
shuttle to the French Quarter did a rushing business, and white
canes were a commonplace sight throughout the Quarter, around the
Superdome, and all over the Central Business District.
On Monday, July 1, Kansans Lynn Webb and Stephen Bary even
seized the opportunity provided by the gathering of the
Federation clan to exchange their wedding vows on board the river
boat The Creole Queen. Long-time NFB leader Dick Edlund gave the
bride away; and family and Federation friends, including
President and Mrs. Maurer, then enjoyed a delightful reception on
board ship.
By Saturday, June 29, Federationists were already jamming
hotel facilities, and by Sunday front desk personnel were busy
with long lines. The reason for the early crowds became obvious
as soon as one glanced at the pre-convention agenda. A day-long
workshop for Braille 'n Speak Users (conducted by the NFB in
Computer Science), a seminar for would-be grant writers
(conducted by the Writers Division) and a seminar for business
people (conducted by the Merchants Division) began early Sunday
morning. The annual Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) seminar
was moved forward from the day following the convention to Sunday
afternoon, June 30, and the Public Relations Committee held an
afternoon workshop for those interested in improving their skills
in speaking and writing for the movement. That evening hundreds
of enthusiastic Federationists gathered to enjoy a true Cajun
dance, complete with band and professional Cajun dancers to
demonstrate how the thing is done.
Registration was scheduled to begin at 10:00 Monday morning;
but as usual, the team was ready ahead of time. So people in the
lines of eager conventioneers that had begun forming early got a
jump on the day. Our streamlined registration system is so speedy
that no one stayed in one place for long, and people were soon
free to visit the huge exhibit area, which was conveniently
located nearby. In addition to the NFB store, the tenBroek Fund's
Elegant Elephant table, and displays by Federation chapters and
affiliates, there were forty-four vendors and other organizations
staffing exhibits all week long.
On both Monday and Tuesday the afternoon and evening were
filled with committee and division meetings (twelve on Monday and
nineteen on Tuesday). In addition to everything else that was
crammed into Monday and Tuesday, Macy's Department Store and Mary
Kay Cosmetics joined together to present a fashion show between
5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Monday. A number of Federationists,
including two who have done professional modeling, agreed to
serve as models. A Macy's executive provided excellent commentary
on the clothing, and Federationists found the information and
views extremely helpful. Macy's also benefited from this
experiment. A management representative from Atlanta flew to New
Orleans to observe the event in the hope of reproducing it in
other stores later. In addition, the Mary Kay representatives,
organized and led by Marie Cobb of Maryland, provided
Federationists with valuable, ongoing grooming advice and
products.
Tuesday morning, July 2, opened with the annual public
meeting of the National Federation of the Blind Board of
Directors in the Regency Ballroom. Early in the proceedings
President Maurer asked Dr. Jernigan to describe the newest
educational publication to be produced by the Federation. It is
a standard-size paperback book of 128 pages, called What Color is
the Sun, and it is an easy-to-read compilation of true-life
stories of blind persons with a preface by Dr. Jernigan. It is
the first in a projected series to be called Kernel books, which
are intended to interest the general public and are designed to
show what it is really like to be blind. These little books are
ideal small gifts or effective promotional material for use in
intensive public education campaigns (with state legislatures,
for example). Well over 10,000 were purchased or ordered during
the convention at $1 a book. Now that the convention is over, the
cost for small orders is $4 each, but in multiples of fifty, the
cost is still $1 a book and $5 for handling: $55 for fifty, $110
for a hundred, etc. The book includes ten photographs, and the
text is lively and is printed in clear easy-to-read type. What
Color is the Sun may be ordered from the Materials Center of the
National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore,
Maryland 21230.
President Maurer next called Sharon Gold, President of the
National Federation of the Blind of California, to the platform
for a special presentation. Miss Gold explained that California
Federationists are deeply grateful for the support and assistance
they receive constantly from the rest of the organization. They
recognize that we must all do what we can to help one another,
and for this reason the National Federation of the Blind of
California, which recently received a sizable bequest, took
pleasure in presenting to the National Office of the Federation a
check in the amount of $25,000. President Maurer accepted this
gift from California with appropriate thanks.
President Maurer called Dr. Norman Gardner to the platform
to describe a new fund-raising project for the organization.
Richard Stark, President of Premier Technologies of Minneapolis,
Minnesota, has invented the Digital Floor Announcer. Using the
human voice recorded on electronic chips, this device announces
both the floor which an elevator has reached and the direction in
which the elevator is traveling. Installing this product in
building elevators will bring any structure into compliance with
federal codes for elevator accessibility under the Americans with
Disabilities Act. When Federationists persuade building managers
or owners to equip their elevators with this device, they will
receive a commission for each announcer sold, and the NFB will
receive a sizable donation. Those interested in working with this
program should check with their state presidents, each of whom
has named a state coordinator for the program, or with Dr. Norman
Gardner, 1743 East Evergreen, Mesa, Arizona 85203; phone (602)
962-5520.
NFB Second Vice President Peggy Pinder announced that
Insurance Associates of Des Moines, Iowa, is now prepared to sell
vendors liability and other business insurance at rates as good
as, or better than, those of any other insurance agent in the
country. As part of our agreement with this company, the National
Federation of the Blind will receive $10 a year for every vending
policy in effect. Interested vendors should contact Peggy Pinder,
(515) 236-3366.
President Maurer then described the Lifeline Routing System,
which allows interested people to sign up for a ninety-day trial
period of high-quality fiber optic long distance telephone
service at very competitive rates--the company says that these
are frequently lower than users' current rates. In addition to
this individual advantage, ten percent of a person's domestic net
paid long distance billing will be contributed monthly by the
company to the National Federation of the Blind. If people are
not satisfied with this program at the end of the trial period,
Lifeline Routing Systems will switch them back to their original
long distance carriers. Applications for this program were
circulated widely during the convention and are available from
the National Office and from state presidents. President Maurer
encouraged everyone to consider this painless way of assisting in
financing our organization.
The final business of the annual meeting of the Board of
Directors was to deal with the Associates Program. This is our
ongoing effort to recruit members-at-large who will become
Associates of the National Federation of the Blind. This year we
announced both the top ten member-recruiters and the top ten
money-raisers. President Maurer listed them as follows:
Top 10 in Number of Associates Recruited
10. Verla Kirsch (Iowa): 64
9. Vanessa Gleese (Mississippi): 70
8. Norman Gardner (Arizona): 71
7. Ollie Cantos (California): 82
6. Karen Mayry (South Dakota): 100
5. Fred Schroeder (New Mexico): 125
4. Kenneth Jernigan (Maryland): 153
3. Bill Isaacs (Illinois): 159
2. Tom Stevens (Missouri): 200
1. Arthur Schreiber (New Mexico): 324
Top 10 in Dollar Amount Raised
10. Duane Gerstenberger (Maryland): $1,560
9. James Omvig (Arizona): $1,594
8. Fred Schroeder (New Mexico): $2,127
7. Karen Mayry (South Dakota): $2,368
6. Tom Stevens (Missouri): $2,534
5. Bill Isaacs (Illinois): $2,596
4. Arthur Schreiber (New Mexico): $4,799
3. Marc Maurer (Maryland): $5,066
2. Mary Ellen Jernigan (Maryland): $5,067
1. Kenneth Jernigan (Maryland): $12,261
This year we broke all records for number of recruiters,
408; number of Associates, 3,764; and amount raised, $88,773. The
Associates Program continues to be an excellent way to raise
funds to assist our movement and simultaneously to educate
family, friends, and acquaintances about the NFB.
Tuesday evening, July 2, the students and staff of the
Louisiana Center for the Blind performed an original play,
written by Jerry Whittle, called Passing the Torch. It dealt with
the challenges faced by a new student working in a good
rehabilitation center. The demand for tickets was so great that
the cast performed the play twice that evening.
Promptly at 10:00 Wednesday morning, July 3, the gavel came
down, calling the 1991 convention to order. After a $100 door
prize, the first general session began with a welcome by Joanne
Wilson, President of the Louisiana affiliate. Next came greetings
from Sidney Barthelemy, Mayor of the city of New Orleans. The
mayor brought a proclamation passed by the City Council, which
read:
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is the world's
largest organization for the blind; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is now in its
fifty-first year of the blind proudly leading the blind and
vigorously speaking for themselves; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind's firm
commitment to civil rights for all, including persons who are
blind, is shared by the people of the City of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind's motto of
Security, Equality, and Opportunity encapsulates the ideas and
highest aspirations of the people of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the members of the National Federation of the Blind
walking alone and marching together are transforming the way
blind people think of themselves and the way sighted people think
of blind people by insisting that blind people behave and be
treated by others as ordinary fellow citizens with the
characteristics of blindness; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind meeting in New
Orleans from June 30 through July 6, 1991, is advancing the work
of the organized blind movement by changing what it means to be
blind in New Orleans and throughout the world. Therefore
BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Council of the City of New Orleans
that a warm welcome is extended to the fifty-first national
convention of the National Federation of the Blind, to President
Marc Maurer, to Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, and to all the
Federationists, together with the sincerest wishes of the Council
and the people of New Orleans that the convention will be
successful, that you will enjoy your stay, and that you will
return to visit our city again, both walking alone as tourists
and marching together in your convention.
The mayor's welcome was enthusiastically received, as was
the letter which President Maurer then read to the delegates.
Dear Friends,
It is a special pleasure to send greetings to all attending
the 1991 convention of the National Federation of the Blind. I so
regret I cannot be there in person to tell you of my great
admiration for your fine work on behalf of Americans who are
blind. I salute the NFB for striving to integrate blind people
into the larger society on a truly equal basis and for pursuing
this goal through over fifty years of supportive programs and
active advocacy. Through excellent efforts like your scholarship
program, your collaboration with the Department of Labor and Job
Opportunities for the Blind and the Braille Monitor you are
encouraging and enabling blind people to participate fully in all
aspects of our national life. Thank you for carrying on such a
proud tradition of independence and equality.
With all best wishes for a successful and enriching series of
meetings.
Warmly,
Barbara Bush
Have a wonderful convention.
The roll call of states occupied the remainder of the
morning, and the afternoon session began with President Maurer's
report of the past year's activities. It is clear that the
organizational progress chronicled at our fiftieth convention has
continued at an accelerating rate. Our determination to achieve
justice for blind people, to educate the public about our real
abilities, and to resolve the serious problems that still plague
all of us has continued to gain momentum and power in the
intervening year. The entire exciting report appears elsewhere in
this issue, but President Maurer summed up our present and our
future, our work today and our dreams for tomorrow, in the
concluding words of his report:
Within the past year I have traveled throughout the
Federation and worked and dreamed with thousands of you the
members. I have represented the blind of America in the White
House, and I have shared a victory celebration supper of fried
chicken and beans with you, my fellow Federationists in the
workshop in Buffalo, New York. As I have gone throughout the
movement, I have felt a sense of authentic inner security and
peace of mind. Of course there are troubles aplenty, but we can
solve them. There is a tacit understanding in the Federation. We
accept individual responsibility for our own freedom, and we
believe in our capacity to achieve it. The deep and abiding faith
that we have in the future stems from our willingness to assist
one another when the need is great and to join in the triumph of
success. Those who have not been a part of this movement, who
have not shared the commitment and the passion for bringing
genuine togetherness to the blind, cannot believe that the spirit
of our movement is real, but it is, and it makes us what we are.
With such belief, such dedication, such mutual love and trust,
and such determination we will make our future what we want it to
be. We are moving at an accelerating pace; the realization of our
dream for freedom and independence is within our reach. We the
blind, organized in our tens of thousands, will gain our
objectives through our own organization, the National Federation
of the Blind. Our past declares it; our present proclaims it; and
our future demands it. This is our pledge to each other, and this
is my report to you for 1991.
When the tumultuous applause had quieted, Dr. Jernigan took
the chair to introduce the next speaker, Dr. Clayton Yeutter,
Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Dr. Yeutter, who
replaced the late Lee Atwater as chairman on January 25 of this
year, has impressive credentials. He completed both a law degree
and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics, has operated and still
owns a twenty-five-hundred-acre farm; has served as President of
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the world's second-largest
futures market; was appointed as the U.S. Trade Representative
during the second term of the Reagan presidency; and served as
Secretary of Agriculture for two years in the Bush
administration. In concluding his introduction of Dr. Yeutter,
Dr. Jernigan said that the significance of the chairman's
convention appearance to the government of the United States, the
Republican Party, and the National Federation of the Blind is
this:
As you know, our organization is nonpartisan. As you also
know, at our Washington Seminar last winter the Vice Chairman of
the Democratic National Party came and spoke at our meeting. It
is altogether fitting that the Chairman of one of the major
parties come to this gathering, and it is fitting that we should
welcome him and want him to come. After all, the administration
that is now in power is the one that was in power when
substantial legislation affecting the disabled in this country,
the Americans with Disabilities Act, was adopted; and this
administration supported that legislation strongly. Beyond that,
both President and Mrs. Bush have indicated very direct and
personal interest in our work as blind people, and specifically
in the functioning of this organization.
We are [Dr. Jernigan continued] the largest gathering of the
disabled to be held anywhere in the world this year. And with the
emphasis that is now being given to people with disabilities in
this country, it is symbolic that the Chairman of the party that
now holds the White House should come and speak to our
convention. It is appropriate that he should want to do so. It
is, however, also significant that he did want to do so, that he
did come, and that he sat and listened. He did not simply come to
tell us what he wanted to tell us, but he listened during the
presidential report and heard what we have to say about what we
want.
As we have grown in stature and political power and
recognition in this country, and as the government has come more
and more to recognize the disabled as a force, it is well that we
consider partnership with government and with the political
parties in forging a new and a better life for blind people in
this nation. That is the significance of the presence on our
platform today of Chairman Clayton Yeutter of the Republican
Party.
So said Dr. Jernigan in introducing the Chairman of the
Republican National Committee, and Dr. Yeutter's speech was a
warm and personal tribute to the principles that undergird the
National Federation of the Blind and that have sustained this
country. Toward the close of his remarks he said:
The Declaration of Independence--and this is appropriate
with July 4th coming tomorrow--states that all men are created
equal. The signers, some of whom were disabled by disease or war,
saw no irony in that statement because each individual--
regardless of disability, race, creed, or gender--deserves an
equal chance to succeed in this country, to enjoy life and
liberty and to pursue happiness. But happiness is inherently
linked to pursuit, both in the Declaration and in our lives
today. Blind persons want to pursue their goals, not have them
handed over by government. They want the obstacles removed, the
structures and social stigmas set aside. That's what the ADA bill
will help to do. That's what America will have to do if it's to
reach its full potential.
The real problem of blindness is not blindness itself; it is
the mistaken attitudes of others. The ADA guarantees access to
public accommodations so you can shop in your favorite store, eat
in your favorite restaurant, go to a doctor's office without
hindrance or discrimination.
On this eve of Independence Day we have much to celebrate
and much yet to accomplish. But we can gain courage from the
words of one of the disabled Americans who more than two hundred
years ago made the rough journey to Philadelphia to take part in
the affirmation of our independence. It is said that Rhode Island
delegate Steven Hopkins, who had cerebral palsy, set his pen to
the parchment and stated, "My hand trembles, but my heart does
not." I say that with strong hearts the National Federation and
the Republican Party and, I hope, the Democratic Party, will
create a new alliance based upon common principles and mutual
respect.
Following Chairman Yeutter's presentation, Congressman
William Jefferson, representative from New Orleans, delivered a
rousing speech entitled, "Erasing Old Images with New Rights: How
Public Programs Can Help." Congressman Jefferson is a member of
the Subcommittee on Select Education, United States House of
Representatives; so his committee responsibilities place him in a
powerful position to assist blind people as we fight to win our
rights in education and rehabilitation. His enthusiastic
understanding of our point of view and his energetic support for
our legislative agenda earned him and his remarks a warm
reception.
Dr. Jernigan and Joseph Shapiro, Associate Editor for social
policy issues for the news magazine U.S. News and World Report,
then discussed the subject, "Creating a Mindset or Reflecting
Mythology: Journalists Talk About Blindness in the News." Mr.
Shapiro recognized that, as part of the larger society,
journalists have been slow to recognize both the real problems
and the capacities of disabled Americans. But pointing to the
front page article in the New York Times about Braille literacy,
he told his audience that things are now changing and that there
is hope for the future.
The afternoon session closed with an address by Dr. William
Wiener, President of the Association for the Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and Professor
and Chair of the Department of Blind Rehabilitation, Western
Michigan University. The title of his address was, "The Interface
Between AER and Consumer Organizations," and he urged that
organizations in the field of work with the blind cooperate
whenever possible to improve the lives of blind people.
Wednesday evening was a busy one with several committee
meetings and a reception and dance. Pete Fountain, the renowned
jazz saxophonist, provided the high point of the festivities with
a memorable concert of jazz. He was not, however, the only one to
make music. July 3 is his birthday, so Federationists sang "Happy
Birthday" to him.
The Music Division's annual Showcase of Talent also took
place that evening. This year there were prizes and winners in
three categories: First place winner in the children's division
was Silvia Rivera, Illinois, flute; first place winner in the
professional division was Frank Senior, New York, voice; and
first place winners in the amateur division were Steve Hastalis,
Illinois, flute and piccolo, and Rick Fox, Connecticut, piano.
Mr. Senior sang along with his own demo tape, which is currently
being considered by Warner Brothers. Steve Hastalis was assisting
in the recording of the Showcase when he decided to enter the
competition himself and asked Rick Fox to join him in a duet. The
resulting renditions of "Fly Me to the Moon" and "When the Saints
Go Marching In" provided toe-tapping magic for the audience.
The first item on the Thursday morning, July 4, agenda was
the annual election of the members to the Board of Directors. The
positions coming open this year, each for a two-year term, were
filled as follows: Don Capps, South Carolina; Priscilla Ferris,
Massachusetts; Betty Niceley, Kentucky; Fred Schroeder, New
Mexico; Joanne Wilson, Louisiana; and Gary Wunder, Missouri.
Dick Edlund, who served for many years as the President of
the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas and as Treasurer
of the national organization, came to the podium to tell the
convention about his election to the Kansas Legislature last
November and his experience now as a legislator. His title was,
"Democracy in Action--A Blind Legislator Speaks."
In an address titled "Changing Patterns of Service," Frank
Kurt Cylke, Director of the National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped, gave the delegates a report on
what is happening at NLS and what we can expect. Mr. Cylke began
his remarks by mentioning that he has been attending our
conventions for eighteen years. In the beginning he came alone;
this year he brought seven staff members with him.
Justin Dart, Chairman of the President's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities, then addressed the
convention on the subject, "Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities." Mr. Dart, who has become a true friend to the
organized blind, warned the group that passage of the Americans
with Disabilities Act is only the beginning. There is much hard
work ahead if we are to win the right of choice and equal
opportunity. But we must not become discouraged, he said, for in
the end we will prevail.
The morning closed with an event that Federationists have
waited years to hear. Printed elsewhere in this issue, it was an
address by Dr. Jernigan entitled, "NAC in the Death Throes: The
Passing of an Era." Its concluding portion encompassed far more
than the story of the demise of NAC. It summarized not only the
hopes and aspirations but also the determination of the blind to
achieve full lives and first-class status in society:
In considering NAC's nonperformance and the controversy
surrounding it during the past year, you have to wonder why any
self-respecting agency doing work with the blind would be willing
to continue to have its name associated with NAC, and I doubt
that many of them will--at least, not for much longer. For a
quarter of a century NAC and its supporters have bullied and
threatened, tried to force agencies to join them by implying that
those who would not would be branded as substandard, used
accreditation as a shield to protect the poorest agencies in the
field, and sought to build an empire of custody and control--but
they have failed, utterly failed. They are bankrupt, not only
financially but also morally and spiritually. They are a blight
upon the field of work with the blind, the largest remaining
controversial issue to cause strife and dissension.
As we approach the beginning of the twenty-first century,
the blind of this country confidently look forward to a day at
hand when we can truly have first-class citizenship and real
equality in society, just like the rest--when we can have a good-
paying job and the joys of a home and a family of our own, just
like the rest--when we can hold our heads high in self-respect
and the respect of others, just like the rest--when we can earn
our way and pay our dues and live our freedom, just like the
rest--when we can wake in the morning without fear or poverty,
just like the rest--when we can hope and believe and dream, just
like the rest--and especially when whatever we have is ours as a
matter of right, whether it be great or small, not a dole
portioned out to us by agencies like NAC, who mislead the public,
live at our expense, and act as if they are our superiors, which
they are certainly not. We look forward to that day, and we
intend to have it because we have found the power of collective
action. We have found, we have created, we have lived the
National Federation of the Blind. And one of the things we
absolutely will put behind us forever is the National
Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually
Handicapped. No more NAC. My brothers and my sisters, our future
is bright with promise. Let us go with joy to meet it.
With the close of the Thursday morning session,
Federationists scattered for an afternoon of tours; shopping;
and, in many cases, more committee meetings and seminars. The
Student Division's annual Monte Carlo Night brought many back to
the hotel in the early evening to indulge in UNO, poker, and
laughter.
The Friday, July 5, agenda was so full, several items from
the Thursday morning session having been rescheduled because of
the press of business, that the call to order was moved forward
by half an hour. The first item of business was a talk entitled
"Honey in the Horn," by Ehab Yamini, former president of the
Georgia affiliate. Mr. Yamini has opened a business raising bees
and selling their products. He is enthusiastic and eager to
provide information or advice to anyone else interested in the
same field.
Judy Jobes (President of the Erie County chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania and a long-
distance operator for GTE, Inc.) and Georgia Scaife (Director of
Equal Employment Opportunity for GTE) described the breakthroughs
now being made by their company and IBM in providing accessible
computer equipment so that blind employees can competitively do
an increasing number of jobs in telephone companies.
The next agenda item was one of the most enjoyable of the
entire convention. It was titled, "Blind and in Show Business?
The Actor Says Yes." Dana Elcar, costar of the MacGyver
television show, told the delegates about his struggle with
increasing blindness and about the ways in which the Federation
has helped him to carry on with his work. He also paid tribute to
his coworkers on the program and their unwillingness to let him
settle for anything less than his professional best.
Congressman Clyde Holloway, recently declared candidate for
governor of Louisiana, then spoke to the convention on the
subject, "The Lawmaker and his Blind Constituents: Partners for
Progress." Congressman Holloway was followed by Ritchie Geisel,
President of Recording for the Blind, who reported a number of
exciting new developments and changes in organizational attitude
within RFB. Louis Enoff, Deputy Commissioner for Programs of the
Social Security Administration, addressed the convention on "A
Broader Look at Social Security: New Initiatives, New Programs."
We need to hear each year from this very important agency, and it
was gratifying to hear Mr. Enoff underline the appropriateness of
our battle for freedom of choice for those seeking
rehabilitation.
The afternoon session began with a panel entitled, "The
Blind Achieving Success in the Work Place." Four Federationists
(Rich Crawford of Iowa; Rami Rabby, now of London, England;
Dorothy Cofone of New Jersey; and Chris Kuczynski of
Pennsylvania) discussed their jobs and the role the Federation
has played in shaping their success. Next Nell Carney,
Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration,
addressed the convention on the subject, "Current Trends in
Rehabilitation." Dr. Jernigan introduced Mrs. Carney to the
convention with great warmth and personal affection and pointed
out that unlike many who conveniently forget their roots when
they have achieved success, Mrs. Carney has continued to
acknowledge her ties with and debt to the National Federation of
the Blind. She responded by beginning her remarks with these
words:
President Maurer, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Dr. Jernigan,
I'd like to say to you, Sir, it would be difficult, indeed, to
forget where I came from because one of the highlights of my
life, and the activity in my life that has served as the
guidepost along the way as I have developed a career, was that
period when I had the good fortune to have you as a high school
teacher. Those of us who have been privileged to be taught by
you--and we probably number now in the tens of thousands,
recognizing all of those in the Federation who have benefited
from your teaching--are fortunate indeed. I think that Peggy
Pinder in 1976, when she was receiving the then one and only
scholarship that the National Federation of the Blind awarded,
gave you credit, Sir, for much of her accomplishment and ended
her comment by saying, "You taught me how to be." I would not
dilute what Peggy said by attempting to expand on that. You also,
Sir, taught me how to be, and I am very proud of that.
It is, indeed, an honor [Commissioner Carney continued] to
make a presentation to the largest gathering of disabled
individuals anywhere in the world. You aren't a gathering of
people who serve people with disabilities, and you aren't
necessarily a gathering of parents of people with disabilities.
You are the real thing--we are the real thing. It's a privilege
also to be here because, as Dr. Jernigan has indicated, I have
had a long association with this organization. I know of the
dedication that we have to the achievement of equality for all
people who are blind, and for those of us who are in the field of
rehabilitation that translates very well into the achievement of
equality for all people who are disabled. I'm also honored, as
the President's chosen administrator of the federal
rehabilitation programs and his pointperson on rehabilitation
policy, to bring you greetings this afternoon from President
George Bush, from Vice President Dan Quayle, and from the
Secretary of Education, Lamar Alexander.
Mrs. Carney was followed by United States Senator John
Breaux of Louisiana, who asked to address the convention and
assured delegates of his support for our programs and his pride
in the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Then Cari Dominguez
(Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs,
Employment Standards Administration, U. S. Department of Labor,
and newly appointed Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment
Standards) addressed the convention on the topic, "Affirmative
Action Beyond the ADA: Where is it Going, What Can the Blind
Expect?" She urged blind Americans to break stereotypes, assume
responsibilities, and demand the right to demonstrate our
abilities; and she assured her audience that the Department of
Labor will be working to assist our efforts.
Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services, was the next person to speak to the
convention. His title was "Addressing the Needs of the Blind:
Laying a Foundation for Independence and Success." Dr. Sullivan
spoke insightfully of the impact of the programs he administers
on the lives of blind people, and he recognized the importance of
enabling blind people to take responsibility and live with
dignity. This was the first time that a Cabinet Secretary has
appeared at our convention, and it was a memorable experience.
Dr. Jernigan then presented the National Federation of the
Blind's Distinguished Service Award to Justin Dart, Chairman of
the President's Committee on People with Disabilities, who
responded with great warmth. "Working Together for Full
Participation" was the title of an address delivered at the close
of the afternoon session by Dr. Geraldine Scholl, who is Vice
Chair of the American Foundation for the Blind's Board of
Trustees. She shared her hope that in years to come the goals of
the NFB can be so fully accomplished that there will no longer be
a need for advocacy organizations of disabled people.
The Friday evening banquet was what our annual banquets
always are: exciting, enthusiastic, and filled with laughter and
song. Dr. Jernigan served as the master of ceremonies and clearly
enjoyed orchestrating the lively and lengthy event. President
Maurer's address, "Reflecting the Flame," was both moving and
thought-provoking. It is printed in full elsewhere in this issue.
Once more President Maurer stirred his thousands of listeners and
called us to redoubled effort to seize this moment and become the
masters of our own destinies. Near the conclusion he said:
A powerful new spirit now moves in the blind of the nation
and also in growing numbers of the public. The vital elements for
an alteration in the pattern of our experience have come together
in an energetic and forceful mixture. We in this room tonight are
the force which will propel our movement through the last decade
of the twentieth century and into the one beyond. We are the
components, the leaders from throughout the country, the rank and
file members, the new inspiration. We will make the difference,
for we must. Our record of achievement during more than half a
century will be remembered with pride, but it is only the
prelude. Each generation must do for itself and build on the
past. We have learned that lesson well. We have learned it from
each other and from our own experiences. In our yearning for
freedom others can go with us, but we must lead the way. We have
not only reached but gone beyond the kindling point. We are the
blind who reflect the flame. No organization on Earth that deals
with blindness has the strength, the determination, or the spirit
of the National Federation of the Blind.
Several awards were presented during the banquet. Patricia
Harmon was named Blind Educator of the Year, Dr. Ralph Bartley
was named the 1991 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children, and
Commissioner Nell Carney received the Newel Perry Award. A full
description of these presentations appears elsewhere in this
issue.
The scholarship class of 1991 was also honored during the
banquet, and each member was presented with a certificate
commemorating the award he or she had received. Pam Dubel of
Buffalo, New York, was named Distinguished Scholar of 1991 and
was given a grant of $20,000.
Saturday morning the convention turned its attention again
to the serious business still needing to be transacted. In
addition to the annual financial report and the report from Jim
Gashel, our Director of Governmental Affairs, we still had two
program items which had been postponed from crowded convention
sessions earlier in the week. The first of these panels was
"Technology and the Twenty-first Century" presented by David
Andrews, Director of the National Braille and Technology Center
for the Blind, and Deane Blazie, President of Blazie Engineering.
They described new breakthroughs in technology of importance to
blind people and urged the increasing number of Federationists
using computers to become knowledgeable about it. The other panel
was titled "Reporting and Editing: Blind People Working in the
News" and was composed of Liz Campbell, feature writer and
reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Linda Goodspeed,
Assistant Editor, MGH News. They both described their careers as
working journalists and assured the audience that there is no
reason for blind people to be discouraged from journalism if they
have the skills and commitment for the job.
Twenty-one resolutions came before the convention for
consideration and debate Saturday afternoon. The texts of those
that were passed appear elsewhere in this issue. Jim Omvig,
Chairman of the Pre-Authorized Check Plan Committee, reported
that 104 new people signed up on PAC during the convention,
bringing the annualized PAC contribution to the organization to
$311,211. Chris Kuczynski, Chairman of the Deferred Insurance
Giving Committee, reported that fifty-four Federationists had
bought DIG policies during the convention. This brings total
gifts to the Federation attributable to the DIG Program to almost
$12,000,000.
The final convention registration figures indicated, to no
one's surprise, that this truly had been the biggest convention
ever: 2,760 registered conventioneers and many more who never
bothered to get themselves into the count. Twenty-seven foreign
visitors, as far as we could tell, took part in our convention.
They were from Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, Nigeria, and the
Philippines.
We can truly say that there has never been a convention like
this one. The power and influence wielded by the NFB are now
generally acknowledged. Among those attending our meetings were
Carl Augusto, newly named president of the American Foundation
for the Blind; Creig Slayton, President of the National Council
of State Agencies for the Blind; William Wiener, President of the
Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and
Visually Impaired; Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of the National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; and
Euclid Herie, President and Managing Director of the Canadian
National Institute for the Blind.
It is becoming clear to everyone in the field of work with
the blind that our opinions carry weight and our views are worth
listening to. In her acceptance remarks during the banquet, RSA
Commissioner Nell Carney commented that "After two years in
Washington it is my observation that no legislation that this
movement of the blind and for the blind opposes will ever pass."
And in the Washington Report on Saturday, James Gashel pointed
out the following:
"During our Washington Seminar we made the proposal that
Section 102 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 be amended to the
effect that in the selection of service-providing agencies under
an individualized rehabilitation program, the agency's role is to
provide options, to suggest possibilities; but the client's role
should be to make the final choice--that would be the client's
right. Since that time we have received a request from the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Education in the House of
Representatives that we draft that provision and propose specific
legislative language. That provision has been drafted, and it has
been submitted to the subcommittee; and when the subcommittee
considers its amendments of the Rehabilitation Act later this
year and early next year, the client's right of choice provision
will be part of that legislation.
"Now think about what you have heard this week," Mr. Gashel
continued. "The Chairman of the President's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities, the Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Deputy Commissioner
of the Social Security Administration, a United States Senator,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a member of the
responsible Subcommittee in the House of Representatives (the
Subcommittee on Select Education): every single one of them spoke
to the issue of the client's right of choice; and every single
one of them indicated that this is the coming direction in
rehabilitation."
This statement by James Gashel, our Director of Governmental
Affairs, is a fitting summary and commentary. Never in our
history have we held in our own hands the possibility of doing so
much to improve the lives of blind people. The responsibility is
great, but it is clear that our capacity and energy are growing
as well. Mrs. tenBroek reminded us of the principle that must
continue to inform all of our actions and our decisions if we are
to fulfill our heritage and keep faith with those who come after
us. Dr. Jernigan asked her to say a few words to the banquet
audience at the close of the evening, and she gathered Mary Ellen
Jernigan and Pat Maurer to stand with her as she said:
"I have beside me the other first ladies of this
organization, without whose help none of us would ever make it.
What a wonderful family you have been throughout the years. The
love that you give, like the love that you've received, is what
makes us strong. May we go on and light that flame that Marc has
been talking about."
Next year our convention will be in Charlotte, North
Carolina. At this moment it seems inconceivable that it can be as
moving or as thrilling as this one has been. But our Federation
family has nothing if not a capacity to surprise people and prove
the doubters wrong. Make plans now to be part of the most
important and exciting gathering of the blind to be held anywhere
in 1992.
[PHOTO: Marc Maurer standing at podium microphone. CAPTION:
President Maurer gives his annual report at the convention.]
PRESIDENTIAL REPORT
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
JULY 3, 1991
The past year has been a time of unprecedented activity for
the National Federation of the Blind--the largest, most dynamic
organization of blind people in the nation. Our aspirations have
always been high, and our single-minded dedication to the
achievement of full equality for the blind has always remained a
constant driving force of our movement--which accounts for much
of the progress we have made. The unity and harmony of the
Federation are as strong as they have ever been, but there is
also something else--we have expanded our horizons, diversified
our endeavors, and accelerated our pace.
One of the key components in creating a climate of
independence for the blind is education of the public to the
abilities of blind people. A necessary part of the proper
perception of blindness is the recognition that only those who
have been democratically elected by the blind can rightfully
speak for the blind. Because blind individuals have often been
regarded as incompetent, recognition that we can (and indeed
must) represent our own interests in the halls of Congress, in
the offices of the executive branch, and in the private sector
has been coming slowly; but in ever broadening arenas, it is
coming.
On January 9, 1991, Federation members traveled to the White
House at the invitation of America's First Lady, Barbara Bush. We
spoke of the needs, hopes, and dreams of the nation's blind. We
described our efforts in the Federation to achieve independence
and self-sufficiency. During the course of our interchange, we
presented to Mrs. Bush an autographed copy of the definitive
history of the blind of the United States, Walking Alone and
Marching Together. The White House is, of course, a symbol of
freedom and the nucleus of our democratic process. It is the
place where the chief executive of our nation lives and works--
the place where the wishes of Americans are given focus and
direction--the place where the actions are taken to generate a
better society. We the blind, organized in our Federation, the
largest and most vital movement of blind people in the nation,
are a part of this focal point--we in this room are a part of our
society and the America of the future--we of the National
Federation of the Blind.
November 16, 1990, was the fiftieth birthday of the National
Federation of the Blind. Shortly before this date Federation
members asked Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski to sponsor a
resolution recognizing the fifty years of progress we in the
National Federation of the Blind have made. Congressman Kanjorski
represents Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the
Federation. He is proud of what we have done, and he was not only
willing but pleased to sponsor such a resolution. However, he
pointed out that at least a majority of the members of the House
of Representatives and Senate must be listed as co-sponsors if
the resolution was to be adopted. The congressional session had
almost come to an end. There were those who felt that there was
not sufficient time to enlist the support of an adequate number
of senators and representatives. Within less than two weeks, a
majority of the members of the House and Senate had joined as co-
sponsors of Joint Resolution 667, to commemorate the fiftieth
anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind and to
designate November 16, 1990, as "National Federation of the Blind
Day." On November 15, 1990, the day before our birthday,
President Bush signed the proclamation commemorating the vital
work of the Federation and our fifty years of progress toward
independence for the blind. On the following day, Congressman
Kanjorski traveled to the National Center for the Blind in
Baltimore to present the Presidential Proclamation in a public
ceremony honoring the Federation (along with a United States flag
which had been flown over the Capitol that morning).
Our organization is a people's movement. While the
ceremonies were occurring at the National Center for the Blind,
similar celebrations of our fifty years of progress were being
conducted with appropriate public recognition by chapters and
affiliates of the Federation in every part of the nation. The
message of the proclamation of the President of the United States
is clear--the National Federation of the Blind deserves credit
not only for our fifty years of achievement but also for the
savvy we possess today--the ability to enlist support from the
public, the press, and the members of Congress. Federation
members know how to get things done. Our congressional resolution
was introduced, passed, and signed by the President in less than
six weeks.
One of the events occurring on November 16, 1990, was the
grand opening of the National Braille and Technology Center for
the Blind. In addition to the federal and state officials who
participated in the celebration of our fiftieth anniversary, one
Federationist who was present at our founding, and who has served
the Federation for over five decades, assisted in the ribbon
cutting. Hazel tenBroek, the first of our First Ladies, a
Federationist with the faith to believe that the blind can create
the destiny we want to achieve, remembered the days of our
beginnings. Dr. tenBroek, she told us, could not have imagined
that the Federation would have built so powerfully and well. But,
she added, we have remained true to the hopes and beliefs of the
founders of our movement, and although Dr. tenBroek might be
astonished by the extent of the progress we have made and by the
distance we have traveled toward our goal of first-class
citizenship for the blind, he would also be immeasurably pleased.
At the ceremonies inaugurating the National Braille and
Technology Center for the Blind, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan--who has
been the leader of our Federation for a quarter of a century, the
man with the imagination to create the National Center for the
Blind and the skill to build it, the innovator who established
the National Braille and Technology Center for the Blind--
introduced the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration, Nell Carney; the Director of the National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Frank Kurt
Cylke; the Attorney General of Maryland, Joseph Curran; and other
state and federal officials.
The National Braille and Technology Center for the Blind is
collecting in one place each commercially available computerized
Braille embossing device and each piece of equipment or computer
program to retrieve computerized information in speech which can
be had anywhere in the world. Nowhere else is it possible to
study all of these products at the same time and to compare their
characteristics. Already dozens of employers and hundreds of
other persons have visited the Center. We have answered volumes
of mail and hundreds of phone requests for information. The vast
majority of what we have done in the National Braille and
Technology Center for the Blind has been directed toward helping
blind people to know what equipment or piece of software can be
used most effectively so that the blind individual can perform at
a certain job, can study a given discipline, or can acquire the
skills necessary to advance in employment or enter a new career.
As Federationists know, we have been operating a low-
interest loan program for the last seven years. This program
provides resources to blind individuals who need them in order to
enter a job or enhance their present employment. This year we
have launched, in conjunction of the opening of the National
Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, an additional
effort--the Technology Assistance Loan Program. With the same low
interest rate--3%--we are providing the means for blind people to
obtain technology for work, for study, or for any other useful
purpose. Those who wish to examine technology and consider its
purchase can do so at the National Braille and Technology Center
for the Blind. It belongs to us--the National Federation of the
Blind.
At our fiftieth anniversary convention, held last year, Dr.
Kenneth Jernigan announced that we would be creating a time
capsule to be opened on the hundredth anniversary of the
Federation in the year 2040. One of the significant features of
our movement is the leadership seminars. We have been conducting
them for almost twenty years. Our movement has evolved and
developed through the seminars. Consequently, it is fitting that
the New Year's seminar for the end of 1990 (known as the "Now and
Then Seminar") packed and sealed the time capsule. Chapters and
affiliates from throughout the Federation sent material to be
placed in the capsule. Each member of the "Now and Then Seminar"
put several items inside, and all participated in bolting the
cover to the case.
As Federation members know, we have long been a strong
proponent of Braille literacy. We have distributed our magazine,
the Braille Monitor, in Braille from its beginning. We provide
slates and styluses at a lower cost than anybody else in the
country, and we are the largest publisher of Braille material
(other than the Library of Congress) in the nation. We have
established the National Association to Promote the Use of
Braille; we have supported research and development efforts to
encourage Braille teaching and reading. We sponsor the "Braille
Readers Are Leaders" contest each year. We encouraged the
appointment (and we participated in the work) of a committee to
study the establishment of a national certification for teachers
of the blind in the use of Braille, and we have recommended a set
of standards to be used in measuring the ability of such
educators to perform the functions of reading and writing
Braille.
A few months ago we initiated significant additional action
further to support and encourage literacy for the blind. In
response to widespread demand, we designed and distributed a
model bill entitled the "Blind Persons' Literacy Rights and
Education Act," to be recommended for adoption by state
legislatures. This proposal would amend the laws in each of the
states so that students who want to learn Braille or whose
parents want them to learn Braille will get the chance to do it.
Even though this new measure was circulated less than six months
ago, it has been adopted in a number of states, including South
Carolina and Kansas.
Perhaps our most innovative formulation of this legislation
is the act which was recently passed by the Texas legislature.
This measure not only directs that school districts make Braille
teaching available to blind students, but it goes further.
Textbook publishers who wish to sell material in Texas must also
publish it in Braille or provide information on computer disk so
that anybody with the proper computer and Braille printer can
produce a Braille copy. There are those who have said that this
landmark legislation was originated, developed, introduced, and
promoted by the agencies for the blind. It is ever thus. After
years of battling for the right to read (often against heavy
opposition from some of the professionals in the field), the
organized blind movement decided that something had to be done.
We formulated a plan and devised a strategy to solve an urgent
problem. Shortly after the conclusion of this convention, the
governor of Texas will sign our Braille literacy bill in a public
ceremony. Now that the work has been completed and the
legislation adopted, the agencies are trying to get the credit.
But it won't work. Let those who believe that Braille is outmoded
or anachronistic hear our voice. We shall not be denied Braille.
For the blind there shall be literacy. And we are not prepared to
wait interminably to get it. And when I say we, I mean the
National Federation of the Blind!
Our efforts regarding Braille literacy have attracted
national attention. This spring National Public Radio interviewed
me regarding the importance of Braille. The news item appeared on
the nationally broadcast program "Morning Edition." The position
of the National Federation of the Blind that Braille should be
available to all blind people who wish to learn it was opposed by
a representative of an agency for the blind. Braille, he
asserted, was not for everybody. It is (he said) a specialized
skill suitable only for a limited number of tasks to be performed
by a restricted group of individuals. Besides, he implied, it
doesn't contribute very much to an individual's ability to
perform, and modern technology has made it largely obsolete. To
which we answer, nonsense!
On Sunday, May 12, 1991, the New York Times carried a front-
page story entitled "How Best to Teach the Blind: A Growing
Battle Over Braille," which described the struggle of the blind
to achieve literacy. Sighted agency administrators, it said, are
not always highly supportive of Braille. The blind, it continued,
feel differently. And who do you suppose was featured prominently
as the most outspoken proponent of Braille? You know the answer
as well as I do. It is the National Federation of the Blind.
Immediately following the publication of the New York Times
article, the Scripps Howard News Service invited the Federation
to write one of the arguments for its weekly syndicated point-
counterpoint column, distributed to over 350 newspapers
throughout the United States. We said just what you would expect:
that Braille is valuable, that new technology is helpful but that
it is no replacement for Braille, that those who are partially
blind should use remaining vision but should also have Braille as
an option, that sighted children have eyes and ears to get
information and blind children should have ears and fingers to do
the same, that resistance to Braille is often the result of
prejudice against blindness and the techniques used by the blind,
and that Braille can be competently read at several hundred words
a minute. The other half of the argument, drafted by a
representative from an agency for the blind, was predictable.
Last April the National Federation of the Blind served as a
consultant to the "Sally Jessy Rapha‰l Show," a nationally
televised interview broadcast. The producer called to get
background information and material about blindness. An actor,
Dana Elcar, who is one of the star performers on the "MacGyver"
television show, is becoming blind. (He is, incidentally,
participating in this convention.) The "Sally Jessy Rapha‰l"
program was planning to feature his life along with other
examples of successful blind individuals, and we were asked to
supply information. What can a blind person expect to do?
Especially, what can a blind actor hope to accomplish? We
provided to the producer of the "Sally Jessy Rapha‰l" program
quantities of information about successful blind people
performing in a wide range of roles. As a result, a large segment
of the feature on blindness portrayed one of our Federation
leaders, Barbara Cheadle, president of the Parents of Blind
Children Division of the National Federation of the Blind, along
with her blind son Charles. When our telephone number was
displayed on the television screen and repeated on the air, the
switchboard at the National Center for the Blind was almost
immediately jammed with calls. We sent hundreds of packets of
information to interested viewers, and we responded to literally
thousands of questions.
One of the people who learned about the National Federation
of the Blind from this interview program was Dana Elcar. Within a
few days he visited the National Center for the Blind in
Baltimore, and we have worked closely together since that time.
You will be hearing from him later in the week. Whether it is the
teaching profession, the sales and marketing business, the
manufacturing occupation, the lawyering trade, or an acting
career, the blind can compete and do so successfully. We will
find a way: that is the promise and the reality of the National
Federation of the Blind.
For a quarter of a century blind people have sought
employment in the Foreign Service of the United States. The State
Department has steadfastly refused. At our convention in 1989
Congressman Gerry Sikorski of Minnesota came and shared the
enthusiasm of the Federation for fairness and equality for all
segments of society. He promised that he would lend his support
to assist Federation members to gain the opportunity to enter the
Foreign Service.
Last year I reported to you that the State Department had
made its commitment to consider the blind for employment in
Foreign Service jobs on equal terms with the sighted. No job had
been offered, but the commitment had been made. Today, the
circumstances are different. Rami Rabby, who is a long-time
Federation leader and who is familiar with five different
languages, is now a State Department Foreign Service employee.
His assignment is in London. As Federationists know, we sometimes
lose skirmishes; occasionally we lose battles. But we never lose
wars--for the war is never over until we win it.
The National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the
Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) came into being just about
twenty-five years ago. From its very beginning NAC was the center
of turmoil, political maneuvering, and discord. NAC's avowed
purpose was to set high standards for work with the blind, but
its real effort was directed at gaining control over blindness-
related programs and services. There will be a full report on the
status of NAC later during this convention. However, I am pleased
to be able to tell you that events this year have evolved in such
a way that the end of the NAC era appears to be close at hand.
We have continued to work toward solutions of the problems
faced by blind employees in sheltered workshops. Workers at the
Association for the Blind of Western New York, a sheltered shop
in Buffalo, were receiving $2.51 an hour--substantially less than
the minimum wage. We assisted with the formation of a labor
union. The union, Local 200-C of the Service Employees
International, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, and its local
president have become staunch allies in the struggle to obtain
adequate pay and decent working conditions for blind workers.
The workshop has continued to pay as little as $2.51 an hour
to the blind. In contract negotiations with the union, shop
management has refused to alter this policy. Because of the
refusal by management to bargain, a federal mediator has been
appointed. This is the first time that the Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service has ever been used in a sheltered workshop
pay dispute. Two dollars fifty-one cents an hour is not a fair
wage. It isn't legal for the sighted, and we intend to see that
it is no longer acceptable for the blind. The prevailing wage in
the area is higher than the federal minimum established by law,
and we intend to see that blind workers get their fair share. We
who are blind know that we must produce the goods, but when we
do, we must also be paid. And, incidentally, the Buffalo workshop
is one of those NAC-accredited agencies. NAC can no longer be
used as a shield for mismanagement or exploitation of the blind.
We don't need NAC. Especially when it supports the payment of
wages at the level of $2.51 an hour!
In August of last year I addressed the entire delegate
assembly of the New York State AFL-CIO. The invitation came at
the request of the Service Employees International Union--the
representative of the blind workers at the Buffalo workshop. From
the results of that meeting I can assure you that the commitment
of the New York State labor movement to join with us in
supporting blind workers is strong. The union officials are not
willing to accept management's claim that the blind are worth
less than the minimum wage. They have pledged to negotiate for a
favorable contract through the federal mediation process, and
they intend to work with us in the Congress to change the law so
that subminimum wages are completely eliminated.
James Grasso is employed by the Rehabilitation Institute in
Mineola, New York. He, a blind worker, is paid far below the
federal minimum wage. Most of the time he receives a little over
$1 an hour. Often, although he is required to be present at the
shop for a full forty-hour week, he is given a job to do only
part of the time, and he is paid only for the time that he works.
As a result, his paycheck for a full forty-hour week is sometimes
as little as $20.
Mr. Grasso does various hand-packing jobs, such as putting
plastic utensils into bags. Sighted workers in competitive
industry in the area are paid wages between $5.00 and $7.00 an
hour for comparable performance. We are helping Mr. Grasso
challenge the workshop's decision to pay him as little as $20 for
a forty-hour week.
On June 20, 1991, just a few days ago, a hearing was held
before an administrative law judge of the United States
Department of Labor. Mr. Grasso's representative is James Gashel,
our Director of Governmental Affairs and one of the most
knowledgeable individuals in the nation regarding labor statutes
applicable to the blind. We will know the results shortly. One
thing we know for certain. With only $20 a week Mr. Grasso is in
no position to contest the determination to pay such miserable
wages. An argument with management requires skill, guts, and
money. There must also be the backing of the law. Until only a
few years ago there was no right for a blind worker receiving
subminimum wages to petition the Labor Department for a wage
hearing. In 1986, at the request of the National Federation of
the Blind, the law was changed. In 1991 Jim Grasso is using this
law and being represented by the blind of the nation. We have
already changed the law. Now we must change the practice. This,
too, is why we have formed the National Federation of the Blind.
Last year I reported to you about the case involving the
unlawful payment of subminimum wages to workers at the Southwest
Lighthouse for the Blind in Lubbock, Texas. When the workers
filed a fair wage petition with the Department of Labor,
management declared bankruptcy. But the workshop was not really
broke. In a settlement involving the reorganization of the
Lighthouse, all of the workers who had received less than the
minimum wage were to be paid back wages totaling approximately
$30,000. This $30,000 settlement was intended to repay the blind
employees for management's violations of fair wage requirements
prior to October 15, 1989. Beginning on that date the Lighthouse
was required to pay every worker the proper wage as determined in
accordance with standards of the Department of Labor. Unless the
Lighthouse could show that a subminimum wage payment was
warranted, all workers would receive at least the federal minimum
wage. However, despite its agreement to do so, despite the order
of the bankruptcy court, despite the determination of the
Department of Labor, the Lighthouse is not paying. We are
pursuing the Southwest Lighthouse for the Blind once again under
the Fair Labor Standards Act. We are determined that management
shall pay fair wages, and we are prepared to settle for nothing
less. We are the National Federation of the Blind.
Programs of the Social Security Administration directly
affect a large number of blind persons in this country.
Consequently, we have sought improvements in Social Security such
as the opportunity to select the rehabilitation agency that will
provide the services purchased with Social Security dollars or
better work incentive provisions for those receiving benefits.
Not all of the suggestions we have made have been implemented,
but a number of them have.
Susan Parker, the Associate Commissioner for Disability at
the Social Security Administration, attended our 1990 convention.
At our urging she made a strong commitment to reform the
rehabilitation segment of Social Security. The first steps in
that effort are now being taken. The new program, called Project
Network, will be operated directly by the Social Security
Administration.
The opportunity for Social Security recipients to choose the
agencies, the programs, and the services which they receive will
be a significant part of Project Network. Not all of the elements
of this experimental program have been worked out. Even so, it is
clear that the goal we have set (to provide blind persons with
greater opportunities in the choice of rehabilitation and
employment assistance) is being achieved.
We are also involved in a substantial number of Social
Security appeals. Brian Conneely is a blind person living in
Connecticut. He runs a small vending facility that provides him
with an income of less than $10,000 annually. Three years ago the
Social Security Administration sent Brian a letter saying that he
had received disability insurance benefits for several years
during which he was not entitled to them. The overpayment, they
said, was more than $26,000. He made the proper appeal, but
nothing happened. Then he came to the National Federation of the
Blind.
Through our Connecticut affiliate, with backup assistance
from the National Office, we are helping. A hearing was held on
June 10, 1991. The conclusions we have reached are that Brian has
not been overpaid, that he does not owe the money, and that he
will not have to pay it back. We feel confident that the decision
of the Social Security Administration will affirm our
understanding. What would have happened to Brian Conneely, and
others like him, if there were no National Federation of the
Blind? The question is more than rhetorical. You know the
answer, and so do I. Those who are blind cannot afford to be
without the National Federation of the Blind.
When Russell Jeffreys, from Cincinnati, Ohio, received a
notice from the Social Security Administration telling him that
he owed the government almost $94,000, he hired a lawyer. But the
lawyer lost the case. Although it was late in the appeal process,
Russell Jeffreys called upon the Federation. Earlier this year a
hearing was held. The case has not been concluded, but the
initial results are recorded: The amount of the overpayment has
been reduced by over $90,000, and we hope to have the Social
Security benefits reinstated as well.
In another case involving an incorrectly calculated Social
Security payment, the Federation made the difference. Because of
the amount of the claim in this case, I will not indicate the
name. For several years the individual had not been receiving all
of the Social Security benefits to which she was entitled.
Because of our intervention on her behalf, this staunch
Federationist is now being paid the correct amount each month.
She has also received a check for the money that should have been
paid. The amount is over $91,000.
In a vending case dealing with Dennis Franklin of Kentucky,
we have been able to reinforce a vital principle for blind
vendors. In 1987, the day he was leaving to attend the convention
of the National Federation of the Blind, Dennis had been
summarily dismissed as the manager of a Postal Service cafeteria
which he had successfully operated for many years. He came to the
convention anyway. We encouraged him to appeal. It is not legal
for a state agency to remove a blind vendor without notice and
the opportunity for a hearing. As a result of our efforts, the
state agency has been ordered to pay Dennis Franklin $16,000, and
I am pleased to tell you that he has received the money.
Tom Linker and Frank Rompal have filed an arbitration
against the California Department of Rehabilitation. Both of them
were refused the opportunity for promotion within the vending
program. If the rules for advancement had been observed, at least
one of them would probably have been selected for a better
location. The arbitration is now over, and a settlement has been
reached. Both Linker and Rompal have obtained promotions, and the
California Department of Rehabilitation has learned of the
determination of the Federation to challenge arbitrary and
capricious decisions. It would not have happened without the
National Federation of the Blind.
Helen Eckman operates a vending facility in Alaska. She has
been a leader of the Federation for a number of years.
Consequently, she is knowledgeable about matters dealing with
blindness, and she is familiar with the methods to secure her
rights. When the rehabilitation agency circulated a contract with
a notice to all vendors that they must sign it or be expelled
from the vending program, Helen was suspicious. When she read the
document, her suspicion was confirmed. The state agency had
decided without consulting the vendors that it would charge a
set-aside fee of five percent of the proceeds from each vending
location. The decision had been made without following the
requirements of Alaska law or of federal rules. Any vendor who
did not sign immediately, agency officials said, would be
expelled from the program.
Helen Eckman called our National Office. Working with
vendors in Alaska, we prepared for legal action. But the
rehabilitation agency backed down. Vendors were not required to
sign the contract, and Helen Eckman did not lose her vending
location. We in the National Federation of the Blind can protect
ourselves, and when we must, we will.
In Tennessee we are helping Larry Reynolds to commence
litigation to alter court-imposed limitations placed upon him in
visiting his six-year-old daughter. He is presently required to
visit his daughter in the presence of her mother, who is sighted,
or in the presence of another sighted person acceptable to the
mother. Larry Reynolds is a responsible and caring father. If he
were sighted, the visitation rights would have been handled
differently. On the grounds of his blindness he is being denied
the right to visit his six-year-old daughter alone. This court-
adopted policy is demeaning to the blind--to all of us. It says
that the sighted are competent but that the blind are not. We
must (it says) be supervised when visiting our own children. Such
a pernicious belief about the blind cannot be left unchallenged.
We have as much right to be with our children as anybody else,
and we insist that we be accorded the same rights as others.
Family relationships are among the most fundamental in our
society. The blind will not be without them. This is another
reason for the National Federation of the Blind.
Last year I reported that we were assisting Dave Schuh with
an appeal of his dismissal as a supervisory accountant at a
Pillsbury plant in Denison, Texas. The Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in the United States Department of
Labor, has conducted an investigation of the matter. The OFCCP
findings support our conclusion that Dave Schuh was fired because
he is blind.
Pillsbury officials were asked to try to reach a
reconciliation. They offered Dave Schuh a job as a receptionist
in the accounting office. He refused. They offered to pay him
$11,000 if he would agree never again to seek employment with the
Pillsbury company. He refused once more. During all of his time
with Pillsbury Dave Schuh's work performance was among the best.
The case is now in the hands of the Department of Labor's
attorneys for enforcement. This means that, unless Pillsbury
reverses the position it has taken, the company could be
prohibited from receiving federal contracts for at least three
years. The formal action being taken against Pillsbury (known as
debarment proceedings) should begin within a few months. Dave
Schuh is at this convention. He has moved to Wausau, Wisconsin,
where he is president of our Central Wisconsin Chapter. His
experience with Pillsbury has taught him a valuable lesson. It is
necessary to have friends, and some of the toughest allies are
the members of the National Federation of the Blind.
Mary Jo Edwards is a blind nurse living in Illinois. She
studied hard to learn the skills of nursing, and she has
demonstrated competence to perform the tasks required.
Nevertheless, when she attempted to get her nursing license, she
was told that she could not have it because she is blind. Mary Jo
Edwards came to the National Federation of the Blind, and we
helped her find a lawyer, and we supplied background information
and materials. The case has now been settled, and Mary Jo Edwards
has entered the nursing profession. Blind people shall not be
prevented from working in the medical profession. This is true
because of the work of the National Federation of the Blind.
One of our most important objectives is to educate the
public about the abilities and capacities of the blind. In the
past year we have been at least as effective in disseminating a
positive image of blindness as we have ever been. We have
shipped from the National Center for the Blind almost one and
three-quarter million items. Our initiatives have attracted
visitors from locations all over the globe: Canada, Germany,
England, Pakistan, Denmark, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the
Caribbean. We have distributed our materials to countries all
over the world: Bermuda, the Philippines, Spain, Japan,
Australia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, countries in Africa, countries
in Asia, and elsewhere. Dr. Jernigan has continued to serve as
the president of the North America/Caribbean Region of the World
Blind Union. During the past year he has traveled to Jamaica,
Uruguay, Argentina, and Canada to represent our interests and
exchange information. Although it is vital for us to address the
problems of the blind in our own country, we must also work in
partnership with the blind of other lands. If we do not, we will
face mistaken attitudes about the blind as they are imported from
abroad. But our increasing influence in affairs of the blind
throughout the world has begun the process of initiating change.
Reaching more than 30,000 blind individuals in the United
States and forty-three foreign countries, our magazine, the
Braille Monitor, remains the most influential and widely
circulated publication in the field of work with the blind. We
have also continued the distribution of our other publications:
Future Reflections, our magazine for parents and educators of
blind children, now being circulated to more than 10,000 people;
the Voice of the Diabetic, our journal for blind diabetics, being
sent to more than 35,000 individuals and institutions; our Job
Opportunities for the Blind Bulletins and related materials, of
which we have distributed over 30,000; and the newsletters of our
chapters, affiliates, and divisions. With the cassettes that we
produce, the American Bar Association Journal, Presidential
Releases, and other specialized items--we have become a major
producer of recorded material. We have duplicated approximately
50,000 tape recordings since our last convention.
Our national headquarters, the National Center for the
Blind, continues to be one of the most functional and impressive
facilities of its kind in the world. We have placed approximately
three miles of additional shelving on the second floor, and we
are constructing additional office space and installing new
equipment. The front entrance of our building is being redesigned
to make it accessible for wheelchair users and to bring it in
line with the standards of the National Center for the Blind.
The majority of our work has always been accomplished by
volunteers. This is one of the elements that has made us the
unstoppable movement we are. Whenever we need additional hands,
we can call upon ourselves, the members. My wife Patricia is an
example of what I mean. She spends almost full time volunteering
her services at the National Center for the Blind. But of course,
there are tens of thousands of others: the newsletter editors,
the candy sellers, the JOB recruiters, the public relations
coordinators, the writers, the drivers, the telephone callers--
the people of the movement. We work together because we care for
one another and for the goal we are striving to achieve.
There are some in the blindness field--fortunately a
diminishing number--who still fail to comprehend what we are as a
movement. Our critics at one end of the spectrum say that we are
unthinking automatons and that we are radical and militant. Those
at the other end of the spectrum say that we are overly
conservative and reactionary--even, if you please, Neanderthal.
Superficially this hostility seems out of proportion to reality.
But of course, the reason is easy to understand. We in the
Federation have something they don't--something they can't
believe exists. We believe with all of our being that the blind
are capable of equality, and we are willing to give of ourselves
and our resources to make it come true. We are not only willing
but glad to accept self-discipline and sacrifice to achieve the
objective. Our cause is as noble as the will to be free. It is as
just as the demand for first-class citizenship--and nothing on
Earth can keep us from it. Let those who would stop us say what
they will and call us what they please. We will not falter or
turn back.
Within the past year I have traveled throughout the
Federation and worked and dreamed with thousands of you the
members. I have represented the blind of America in the White
House, and I have shared a victory celebration supper of fried
chicken and beans with you, my fellow Federationists, in the
workshop in Buffalo, New York. As I have gone throughout the
movement, I have felt a sense of authentic inner security and
peace of mind. Of course, there are troubles aplenty, but we can
solve them. There is a tacit understanding in the Federation. We
accept individual responsibility for our own freedom, and we
believe in our capacity to achieve it. The deep and abiding faith
that we have in the future stems from our willingness to assist
one another when the need is great and to join in the triumph of
success. Those who have not been a part of this movement, who
have not shared the commitment and the passion of bringing
genuine togetherness to the blind, cannot believe that the spirit
of our movement is real. But it is, and it makes us what we are.
With such belief, such dedication, such mutual love and trust,
and such determination, we will make our future what we want it
to be. We are moving at an accelerating pace, and the realization
of our dream for freedom and independence is within our reach. We
the blind, organized in our tens of thousands, will gain our
objectives through our own organization, the National Federation
of the Blind. Our past declares it; our present proclaims it; and
our future demands it! This is our pledge to each other--and this
is my report to you for 1991.
[PHOTO: Kenneth Jernigan at podium microphone. CAPTION: Kenneth
Jernigan.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: NAC demonstration, New York City, July, 1973.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: NAC demonstration, Chicago, December, 1990.]
NAC IN THE DEATH THROES: THE PASSING OF AN ERA
An Address Delivered by Kenneth Jernigan
Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind
At the Annual Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana, July 4, 1991
When the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving
the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) came into being over a
quarter of a century ago, it was clear from the circumstances of
its creation, the nature of its operation, and the behavior of
the people who were running it, that we were either going to have
to reform it or kill it. It was also equally clear that reform
was extremely unlikely. I remember those days very vividly.
In 1965 Dr. tenBroek and I attended a national meeting of
home teachers in Denver, and a representative of the committee
which was forming NAC was chairing the session. The teachers
wanted to vote on an issue affecting them and were bluntly told
no. The NAC representative said that he would be glad to report
their views but that voting was not part of the process. Later in
1965 Dr. tenBroek and I attended a so-called consensus meeting in
New York and saw closed meetings, heads of agencies for the blind
turned away at the door, and such other arbitrary behavior that
the word "consensus" was a bad joke. Nevertheless, in 1966 when I
was asked to serve on the newly established NAC board, Dr.
tenBroek and I decided that I should do it, if for nothing else
to show that we were willing to go beyond the requirements of
reason to try to find harmony and understanding.
The period from then to now is well-known history. From the
very beginning NAC excluded the representatives of the blind from
its meetings even though our programs and our lives were being
discussed. We invited NAC's president to our 1971 convention at
Houston--and he came, the very personification of arrogance and
insensitivity. Nevertheless, we treated him with courtesy and
listened respectfully to what he had to say. When, later that
year, we asked that only two representatives of the blind be
permitted to attend a NAC board meeting as silent observers with
a pledge to say not a single word but just to listen, our request
was rejected with ridicule and scorn. Beyond that, when I tried
(in what had been an agreement of reciprocity for the
presentation made by NAC's president at Houston) to make a
statement to the NAC board, I was publicly attacked and abused,
as was the Federation as an organization. At this stage I
withdrew from the NAC board, and a new phase of our contact with
the organization began.
NAC's highpoint probably occurred in the early 1970s. It was
not only receiving money from the American Foundation for the
Blind but also from the federal Rehabilitation Services
Administration--but by mid-decade its federal funding had been
withdrawn. In the early seventies it claimed that it would soon
have most of the more than five hundred eligible agencies for the
blind in the country as accredited members, but ten years later
the momentum was gone. In the 1980s NAC was fighting a defensive
action, and by 1990 it was losing agencies.
Meanwhile throughout the seventies and eighties the blind of
the nation settled down for the long war. Wherever NAC went, we
went. We picketed, presented ourselves at NAC board meetings to
demand admittance, and relentlessly exposed the sham and
shoddiness of NAC's accreditation procedures and standards. From
the picket lines and demonstrations came spontaneous songs about
NAC. There was a confrontation at NAC headquarters in New York in
1973 with a coffin, the hanging of NAC in effigy, a symbolic
burial, and appropriate news coverage. Many of us in this
audience were there. We not only carried the message to NAC but
also to the public. With notable exceptions the NAC-accredited
agencies (far from being models of excellence) had the
reputation, as they still do, of being the worst in the nation.
There were the scandals at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind,
the Cleveland Society for the Blind, the Florida School for the
Deaf and the Blind, the Alabama School for the Deaf and the
Blind, and others. In the late 1980s the American Foundation for
the Blind, which had always provided around fifty percent of
NAC's budget, told NAC that it must either reform or be cut off
at the pockets. In a scramble for survival NAC (one of whose
long-time supporters, Grant Mack, was a member of the board of
National Industries for the Blind) got that organization to
pledge funds, but the show was coming to an end. Late last year,
in an act of desperation, NAC apparently decided that if it
couldn't get agencies for the blind to accredit voluntarily, it
would force them to do it. It hired a lobbyist and tried to get
Congress, when reauthorizing the federal Rehabilitation Act, to
require that an agency must be NAC-accredited in order to receive
federal funding.
This was finally too much. The sheltered shops rebelled; the
federal/state rehabilitation programs rebelled; and the blind had
already been rebelling. The end was clearly in sight. In
desperation Grant Mack (the chairman of NAC's Committee on the
Advancement of Accreditation) started to go state by state (in
what one official of the American Foundation for the Blind wryly
called "the Grant Mack road show") to drum up support. But it was
too late. NAC backed away from its attempt to tie the receipt of
federal funds to accreditation. It didn't matter.
What had been only a sham and a charade now became a trashy
melodrama. In December of last year at a Grant Mack road show in
Chicago, Mack tore a microphone from the hands of Steve Hastalis,
a reporter for the Braille Monitor, and threw it to the floor,
breaking it to pieces. When Mack was taken by the police in a
paddy wagon for questioning, he tried to bluff it out. Then came
the most bizarre behavior of all.
As reported in the May, 1991, Braille Monitor, Mack was
summoned to appear in the Chicago courts on the criminal charge
of battery. Mack didn't show but was represented by a lawyer,
George Weaver. Ever since, the story has circulated that Mack
says that the charges were dropped. This flies in the face of the
warrant which was issued by the judge on February 11, 1991, for
Grant Mack's arrest and which is still outstanding.
When contradictory claims are made, it is not always
possible to be sure who is telling the truth; but when the truth
can be determined beyond doubt, it is helpful in judging past and
future assertions. Here is a letter from Grant Mack's lawyer
printed in the May-June, 1991, Braille Forum as fact. It appears
in an article entitled "Chicago Charges Against Grant
Mack Gone With the Wind." This is a word-for-word quote of the
lawyer's letter:
Re: Proceedings in the Circuit
Court of Cook County
Dear Grant:
As I have previously advised you I appeared in court on your
behalf on January 3 and filed our motion to quash the summons
that had not been personally served upon you. The court granted
my motion to quash the summons and further gave the state until
February 11, 1991 to personally serve you with the summons. The
Court further ordered that if personal service was not so
obtained, that the action would be dismissed without the
necessity of our appearing in Court.
Since we understand that you have not been personally
served, there should be no further proceedings relative to this
matter. I might further add that it is my opinion that not only
are the allegations of the complainant ludicrous from a factual
standpoint, even if accepted as being true, that does not set
forth legal grounds for charging you with any criminal offense.
It has been my pleasure assisting you in this matter.
Very Truly Yours,
George Weaver, Esq.
Peggy Pinder, who is an attorney and also Second Vice
President of the National Federation of the Blind, was present in
the court on both January 3, 1991, and February 11, 1991. She
tells me that the court did not grant Mr. Weaver's motion to
quash the summons; that the judge did not say he would dismiss
the action if Mr. Mack or his lawyer did not appear on February
11; that Mr. Weaver, who had tried to "smart off" to the judge,
said he would not come back on February 11 and indeed did not do
so; and that the judge, who seemed less than pleased, issued a
warrant for Mack's arrest, which warrant is still outstanding.
What is the truth? Are we to believe a letter from an
unknown lawyer in Chicago, or are we to believe Peggy Pinder and
an official document of the court? Here is the exact language of
the arrest warrant, a warrant which is still in effect:
In The Circuit Court of
Cook County, Illinois
People of the State of Illinois
vs.
Mack
Case No. 90-122467
Arrest Warrant
People of the State of Illinois to all peace officers in the
state--Greetings:
We command you to arrest Grant Mack (Defendant) for the
offense of Chapter 38, Section 123 (Battery). Stated in a charge
now pending before this court and that you bring him before the
Circuit Court of Cook County at Branch 134, 155 West 51st Street,
or, if I am absent or unable to act, the nearest or most
accessible court in Cook County or, if this warrant is executed
in a county other than Cook, before the nearest or most
accessible judge in the county where the arrest is made.
Issued in Cook County
February 11, 1991
Bail Fixed at $3,000
Information and Description of Defendant
Name: Grant Mack; Alias: ---; Residence: 2224 Panorama Way,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84124; Sex: Male; Race: White; Weight: 170;
Height: 5 feet, 7 inches; Age: 58.
So reads the arrest warrant--and without belaboring the
matter further, let me just say that if Mr. Mack will let us know
when he plans next to be in Illinois, we will be glad to inform
the judge, who will probably be happy to give him a little time--
unless, of course, Mack wishes to spring for the $3,000 bail
which has been set.
NAC's luck seems to have run out in 1991. On February 21
National Industries for the Blind officially declared that it
would stop further funding of NAC after June of this year.
Shortly thereafter it was learned that the American Foundation
for the Blind had made the same decision. On April 7 NAC's board
met in what must have been the most distasteful gathering it had
ever held. First an attempt was made to reduce costs and
streamline NAC's operation. The motion lost by a vote of ten to
four. Then a motion was made "that the board of directors
recommend to the membership... that NAC dissolve no later than
May 31, 1991...." This motion carried by a vote of twelve to two.
A memorandum to NAC-accredited agencies and members from
Joseph E. Champagne dated April 12, 1991, said in part: "On April
7, 1991 the board of directors of the National Accreditation
Council met to discuss the future of NAC given the financial
exigencies that have developed as a result of the decision of the
National Industries for the Blind to discontinue financial
support beyond June 30, 1991. Similar action is expected from the
American Foundation for the Blind since the two support programs
were linked. Therefore NAC does not have the financial resources
to conduct business as usual beyond June 30, 1991. As a result,
and after many hours of deliberation, the NAC board adopted a
resolution to recommend to the membership that NAC be dissolved
as of May 31, 1991, its financial obligations met to the extent
feasible, and that every attempt be made to transfer its assets
and mission to another entity or coalition of entities so that
the valued and essential process of accreditation can be resumed
but under new and more financially stable auspices."
After explaining that the board did not have the legal power
to dissolve NAC, a decision which could only be made by the
membership, Champagne went on to say: "I am calling a special
meeting of the membership for Sunday, May 5, 1991 at 9:00 a.m. to
be held at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel at the La Guardia
Airport in New York. I anticipate the meeting to be over by 1:00
p.m.... I urge each of you to attend or vote by proxy."
A proxy was included with the Champagne memo, but in usual
NAC fashion it had been incorrectly drawn. So a new proxy had to
be sent. Also in traditional NAC style the May 5 meeting was held
in NAC's business-as-usual, high-handed manner. Melody Lindsey
is a member of the board of directors of the Florida School for
the Deaf and the Blind, a NAC-accredited agency, and Seville
Allen is the chairperson of the board of the Virginia Department
for the Visually Handicapped, also a NAC-accredited agency.
Both Ms. Allen and Ms. Lindsey went to New York on May 5 to
attend the NAC board meeting. They were told that they would not
be permitted to come into the meeting unless they signed a
statement that they were visitors. When they objected on the
grounds that they were board members of NAC-accredited agencies,
they were treated with rudeness and ordered to sit in the back of
the room. As best they could determine, only ten people were
present who voted. Voting was done by show of hands, and Seville
Allen and Melody Lindsey, being blind, could not tell who voted
for or against dissolving NAC. Joseph Champagne, who chaired the
meeting, said that (including the proxies) fifty-three votes were
cast in favor of continuing NAC and forty-eight votes were cast
in favor of dissolving NAC. The proxies were not publicly
counted, nor were Seville Allen or Melody Lindsey permitted to
examine them even though they asked to do so. There were four so-
called "visitors" in the back of the room, including the two
already mentioned. In view of NAC's often repeated claims of
professionalism and its constant self-praise about the quality of
its services to the blind and its ethics, it is instructive to
examine Seville Allen's sworn statement concerning the tone and
conduct of the May 5 meeting. Her affidavit says in part:
The meeting began at approximately 9:00 a.m., and the
spokesperson identified himself as Joe Champagne, the NAC board
chairman. He stated that the meeting was for one purpose and one
purpose only and that was to vote whether or not to dissolve the
NAC corporation.... He then called for the vote of the people in
the room by a showing of hands and counted those for and against
dissolving NAC. There was mumbling going on in the front of the
room, and I could not hear what they said. Then the vote was
announced, and Joe Champagne said there were fifty-three agencies
against dissolving NAC and forty-eight for. I did not see any
proxies, and I did not see them counted. I observed that ten
people voted in the room. He announced that the agency was not
dissolved, and the meeting was immediately adjourned. Then he
announced the executive committee would meet later in the
morning. Everyone left the room with the exception of the four of
us sitting in the designated visitor's space. Briefcases were
left in the front of the room, giving the impression that the
executive committee meeting would be held in that room.
Dennis Hartenstine walked over to where the four of us were
sitting and stated that the executive committee meeting would
start in approximately five minutes and that the four of us were
to leave the room. Two people left, and Melody Lindsey and I
remained in our seats. Dennis walked toward us and asked me if I
was leaving.
I said that I was not, that I was going to stay and observe
the meeting since I was the chairman of the board of an
accredited agency. He insisted that we had to leave. I remained
in my chair. He said that they had opened the membership meeting,
which they had not planned to do, but the executive committee was
closed to all but the executive committee. I stated that we were
interested persons from boards of accredited agencies and that we
planned to stay and observe the proceedings of the executive
committee meeting. Melody Lindsey said that she was from the
board of an accredited agency and that she was therefore
interested in seeing what NAC planned to do.
Dennis asked me if I intended to make an issue of attending.
I said that I did not plan to make an issue; I planned to sit
quietly in my chair and observe. He said that corporate members
are not invited to the executive committee meeting, and I said
that they could be.... He stated that he would not carry on a
conversation with me. I did not respond to that. He angrily
stated that since I would not listen to him, he would have the
hotel security come in and have a conversation with me and
perhaps I would listen to the hotel security. I did not respond.
I remained in my seat, and he left the room, yelling and closing
the door.
Melody Lindsey and I remained in the room an additional
forty minutes. No one from hotel security appeared. However,
during the forty minutes a woman entered, came to the back of the
room next to where I was sitting, told me that my cane was lying
on the floor, picked it up, and handed it to me.
I said, "thank you." The woman left. After she left, someone
else came in, walked around the front of the room, then left. I
walked around and checked, and the briefcases were gone. Several
times someone opened the doors and closed them again.
After the forty-minute wait we left the meeting room, and as
we walked toward the elevator, we observed that the NAC meeting
was being held in another meeting room. Apparently NAC officials
had slipped into the meeting room, quietly retrieved briefcases
and other belongings, and adjourned to other quarters--all
without saying a word to us. This deliberate deception practiced
against blind individuals who were not in a position to observe
the clandestine behavior is noteworthy from an agency which
purports to set standards to govern agencies for the blind. This
behavior is an example of the reason that Melody Lindsey and I
were concerned over the planned future actions of NAC.
That is the sworn statement of Seville Allen, and that is
also the shabby behavior of the organization which claims to set
standards and act as a role model for ethical behavior in the
blindness field.
It is clear that there were deep divisions in the NAC board-
-for the president, Joseph Champagne, and the vice president,
Evelyn Ullman, resigned at the closed executive committee meeting
from which Seville Allen and Melody Lindsey were excluded. It is
also obvious who the two people were who voted at the April 7,
1991, NAC board meeting to continue to fight on instead of
dissolving NAC, and who now control what is left of NAC. They can
be none other than Dr. N. Edd Miller (a total outsider, who is
probably well-intentioned but knows nothing whatever about
blindness and the problems in the blindness field) and Dr.
Richard Welch (a staunch advocate of custodialism, who has
repeatedly demonstrated that he is no friend of independent blind
persons, especially those who have the impertinence to organize
and speak for themselves).
All of this is shown in a memorandum sent on April 16, 1991,
from Dr. Welch to the NAC agencies and members. In that document
he said in part: "As a member of the board, I voted against this
resolution [the April 7 resolution to dissolve NAC] because I
think there is a way to keep accreditation by NAC available and
because I think we absolutely need to maintain a specialized
accreditation process in our field. I am sharing my thinking with
you in the hope that you might be persuaded to not dissolve the
National Accreditation Council and the important and effective
service it provides. I am joined in this appeal by Dr. N. Edd
Miller, an experienced accreditation professional from outside
our field who has served in recent years as the chairman of NAC's
Commission on Accreditation."
In his April 16 memo Dr. Welch went on to explain what he
thought could be done to keep NAC alive--and beyond that, make it
more to his liking. It could, in effect, flee from the city,
where it had lost the battle, and retreat into the hills to carry
on long-term guerilla warfare and continue to cause divisiveness
in the blindness field. The staff could be reduced to a skeletal
remainder, and a small group of "old boy," hand-picked volunteers
could carry on the bitterness, remember nonexistent pretended
glory, and hope for a miracle that would bring better days--in
short, live in a world of lost dreams and might-have-beens. It is
not difficult to read through the niceties of phraseology in the
Welch memo. Here is what he says:
In my view, the way for NAC to survive is for it to
streamline its accreditation process and its organizational
structure to the point where it can operate within the level of
revenues that can be generated by dues alone. If this can be
done, NAC would be removed from the situation in which it is
dependent on other organizations and other factors for its
funding, factors which have no direct relevance to accreditation.
For this to work, a dues increase of ten to twenty percent,
depending on the size of the agency's budget, would be necessary.
As the process is streamlined, the cost to the accredited
agencies of the self-study and the on-site review visit would be
reduced, softening the impact of increased dues. Similarly, the
review and decision-making process by the Commission on
Accreditation could also be reduced and made more affordable. The
Commission on Accreditation might also take on the policy-making
function for the organization, making a large board unnecessary.
Such a streamlined process [Dr. Welch continued] would
require less staff to manage it. One accreditation professional,
one secretary, and a part-time bookkeeper would be all that would
be necessary.... The growing cadre of experienced and
enthusiastic volunteers who have been doing on-site reviews for
NAC for many years could manage staffless on-site review teams
under most circumstances, could work with new agencies applying
for accreditation, and could participate in other special
projects such as promoting programmatic accreditation.
If its current lease could be re-negotiated, NAC's office
could move out of New York.... With a reduced staff, less
expensive space could be rented elsewhere, perhaps in-kind
services could be provided in the form of donated space in
another organization.
This is the Welch memo, and it is not hard to read between
the lines. NAC has always operated with as much secrecy as
possible. Its real landlord is not the owner of the New York
building in which it occupies space but another tenant. It
subleases from the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, and that
organization has expressed considerable concern that NAC might
simply pack up and skip town regardless of the thousands of
dollars remaining on its lease. Officials of the Trail Conference
indicated no knowledge of some of NAC's perturbations and showed
a good deal of unease at what might await them.
Officials of the Trail Conference said that Dennis
Hartenstine, who left NAC employment at the end of May, indicated
that he thought the rest of the NAC board (besides Miller and
Welch, of course) would probably resign during the summer and
that, as he put it, an "associated committee of supporters" would
be stepping in as the new board at a meeting in late July or
early August. A Trail Conference official also said that
Hartenstine indicated that NAC had been offered a small amount of
space at no cost in Washington, D.C., increasing the jumpiness of
the Trail Conference official.
Be this as it may, Dr. Miller (or, more probably, the real
boss, Dr. Welch, speaking in the name of Dr. Miller) lost no time
in contacting NAC's members, a number of whom are said to be
requesting a return of all or part of the money they have paid to
NAC for current dues. Under date of May 6, 1991, Miller (or Welch
speaking in the name of Miller) sent a memo to the shrinking NAC
flock to give courage and boost morale. Miller outlined his
version (or, perhaps more realistically, Dr. Welch's version) of
what had occurred at the meeting the day before. He then
concluded by saying:
"I am pleased to be able to communicate this information to
you. The threatened loss of NAC's specialized accreditation
process has created the opportunity for the development of an
accreditation program that will efficiently and effectively meet
the needs and requests of the accredited members, sponsors,
volunteers, and consumers of services for persons who are blind
and visually impaired. I look forward to being a part of this
worthwhile effort, and working with all of you as we achieve our
goals."
Meanwhile (just a day later) on May 7, 1991, the Advisory
Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility of the
federal Department of Education was scheduled to consider NAC's
petition to continue to be recognized by the Secretary of
Education as an accrediting agency, but in view of its chaotic
state and desperate situation NAC had petitioned the Committee to
postpone consideration of its status until a later time. I
appeared before the Committee on behalf of the National
Federation of the Blind to urge that NAC not be allowed to avoid
the inevitable by hiding behind delay--but NAC used the dodge of
not showing up at all, so consideration of its status was put
over until the fall meeting. However, I was permitted to talk
briefly with the Committee and to distribute literature to them,
which in the circumstances I believe they will read. I was also
assured that, regardless of the excuse, NAC would not be able to
get a delay beyond the fall meeting of the Committee. At that
time NAC must either stand and deliver or face the consequences--
and you may rest assured that we will be present to press our
case.
In the time I was allowed to speak I pointed out to the
Committee that NAC does not now meet, and probably never has met,
the requirements of the Department of Education to be recognized
as an accrediting agency. The criteria for recognition include
nine major points, and NAC fails to meet the standards in at
least three respects: Accreditation is not required for programs
or students to receive federal assistance in the blindness field;
NAC is not generally accepted in the blindness field; and NAC
does not have the resources to carry out its activities. Assuming
NAC's ghost is still alive in the fall, we will see how it
defends itself before the Committee.
In considering NAC's nonperformance and the controversy
surrounding it during the past year, you have to wonder why any
self-respecting agency doing work with the blind would be willing
to continue to have its name associated with NAC, and I doubt
that many of them will--at least, not for much longer. For a
quarter of a century NAC and its supporters have bullied and
threatened, tried to force agencies to join them by implying that
those who would not would be branded as substandard, used
accreditation as a shield to protect the poorest agencies in the
field, and sought to build an empire of custody and control--but
they have failed, utterly failed. They are bankrupt, not only
financially but also morally and spiritually. They are a blight
upon the field of work with the blind, the largest remaining
controversial issue to cause strife and dissension.
As we approach the beginning of the twenty-first century,
the blind of this country confidently look forward to a day at
hand when we can truly have first-class citizenship and real
equality in society, just like the rest--when we can have a good-
paying job and the joys of a home and a family of our own, just
like the rest--when we can hold our heads high in self-respect
and the respect of others, just like the rest--when we can earn
our way and pay our dues and live our freedom, just like the
rest--when we can wake in the morning without fear or poverty,
just like the rest--when we can hope and believe and dream, just
like the rest--and especially when whatever we have is ours as a
matter of right, whether it be great or small, not a dole
portioned out to us by agencies like NAC, who mislead the public,
live at our expense, and act as if they are our superiors, which
they are certainly not. We look forward to that day, and we
intend to have it because we have found the power of collective
action. We have found, we have created, we have lived the
National Federation of the Blind. And one of the things we
absolutely will put behind us forever is the National
Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually
Handicapped. No more NAC. My brothers and my sisters, our future
is bright with promise. Let us go with joy to meet it.
[PHOTO: Marc Maurer at podium microphone. CAPTION: President
Maurer speaks at the convention banquet.
[PHOTO: Banquet audience seated at tables. CAPTION: The banquet
was the highpoint of the convention.]
REFLECTING THE FLAME
An Address Delivered by
MARC MAURER
President, National Federation of the Blind
At the Banquet of the Annual Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana, July 5, 1991
"Human history," said H. G. Wells, "is in essence a history
of ideas."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., declared that "men may come to
believe that the best test of truth is the power of the thought
to get itself accepted in the competition of the market."
In 1644 John Milton wrote, "Let Truth and Falsehood
grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open
encounter?"
At the beginning of the sixteenth century Erasmus stated,
"Time reveals all things."
Such eminent scholars have believed that a new idea--one
which expresses perceived reality more exactly than its
predecessor--is, in and of itself, imbued with sufficient power
to banish error. According to these philosophers, the innovative
thought (once formulated) will inevitably, in the course of time,
replace the old. However, the record of events in our own century
fails to substantiate this hypothesis. We have seen the most
generous and benevolent of creeds and the most despicable and
tyrannical of practices exist in the same country at the same
time without any indication that either was unalterably fated to
triumph. The assertion of individual freedom and the toleration
of slavery have occurred side by side in modern civilization--and
racism (of both kinds, incidentally) is still with us.
If the objective in seeking the truth is to achieve fairness
and decency--and I believe it is--time and a new idea are not
enough. Within the framework of time there must be at least three
components that come together. First, an idea must be conceived
which contains an element of understanding that has not
previously been reached. Second, a proponent of that idea must
arise--a leader with the capacity to articulate the nuances in a
way that will compel recognition. And finally, there must be a
group of individuals prepared to defend what has been propounded.
Such concert of effort is essential not only to protect the new
thought but to give it body and substance, to explore its full
meaning and implications.
In a fireplace one log by itself, regardless of how big,
will almost certainly fail to burn. There must be at least two.
The flame from one is reflected by the other. The brightness and
heat come from the space between the logs, the reflection of the
flame.
As it is with flame, so it is with ideas. A new idea has
only a limited time to take fire, to catch the imagination of the
public and burn. And if the flame is to be reflected--the
kindling point sustained--more than a single person is required.
There must be two, five, ten--at least a handful--to build the
heat and speed the process. Regardless of its merit, if an idea
(once ignited) fails to reflect the flame of group interaction,
its time will soon pass, and it will disappear into
insignificance and be forgotten. Of course, an idea can be
revived (many times, in fact, if the need is sufficiently
urgent), but the process must always begin anew. And if the idea
is to live and prosper--if it is to make a meaningful difference
in the lives of people--all of the elements must be present: the
idea, a leader, and at least a handful to reflect the flame.
And what of the blind--what of us? Time and time again
throughout our history one or another of the elements has been
present: the idea of a better life for the blind; a leader, like
Zisca, the blind fifteenth-century general and statesman from
Bohemia; or a group of blind people, like the medieval guilds,
prepared to take collective action. But in each instance, there
was something lacking. However, in 1940, all of the elements came
together--a new idea; a vibrant, inspiring leader; and a
dedicated group of blind persons prepared to help each other in
shaping the future. In that year Dr. Jacobus tenBroek and a
handful of others from seven states gathered in Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania, to inaugurate our movement, which has changed
forever the expectations and aspirations of the blind.
When the National Federation of the Blind was founded, the
prospects for the blind of this country were utterly desolate.
There was little education, almost no hope of a job, and
virtually no chance for meaningful participation in other
activities of life. Books for the blind were few and very
difficult to get. Communication among blind people (at least on a
nationwide basis) was almost nonexistent. The guarantee (or, for
that matter, the recognition) of meaningful civil rights for the
blind was a matter for the distant future--if anybody thought
about it at all. Sometimes there were dreams of a home, a family,
and the duties and privileges of citizenship; but these dreams
rarely came to fruition. From such unpromising beginnings almost
no one (no one, that is, except the founders of the Federation)
believed that a dynamic national movement could arise. But look
about you! We are here in our thousands--we who embraced the new
idea, hoped and fought for a brighter tomorrow, and stayed to
become the most powerful force in the affairs of the blind in the
nation--the National Federation of the Blind.
Tonight (over fifty years after our founding) as we gather
from every corner of the country, our record of accomplishment
spans the years for all to read. Indeed, not all of our problems
have been solved--but many have. And those that remain appear
more glaring and unrelieved because of the distance we have come
from the beliefs and general climate of the 1940s. To confirm
this fact, compare the conditions of our first decade with our
situation today. How do the general public, the agencies for the
blind, and the media view us--and, for that matter, how do we
view ourselves? How have we fared in half a century?
Attitudes today are so much better and more realistic than
they were during the first years of the Federation that we tend
to react with outrage and resentment when we find instances of
what would have been commonplace in our first decade--especially
when the outmoded ideas come from supposedly enlightened
quarters.
Consider, for instance, one treatment of the blind by the
medical profession--generally regarded as among the most
scientific of the disciplines. Although these statements were
made only four years ago, they are reminiscent of the attitudes
which predominated when the Federation came into being. In an
article entitled "Identifying and Treating the Client with
Sensory Loss" (which appeared in the Summer, 1987, issue of
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics) the argument is
made that decreased visual function causes decreased cognitive
function. In other words, if you can't get information from your
eyes, your capacity to think diminishes. Perhaps it is obvious
that if there is no stimulation whatever from any sensory organ,
there will be no raw material to use in the thinking process. If
this were all that was meant, no one could quarrel with it.
However, the article demonstrates unmistakably that the claim
being made is much broader. As you ponder this so-called
scientific treatise, keep in mind that the grammatical
construction and usage are those of the author--not mine. And
also keep in mind that the author is talking about you and me.
Here are quotations from the article:
Impaired vision can result in a person behaving as though
they were demented. Low vision decreases an individual's social
interaction due to the inability to perceive non-verbal cues such
as smiles, frowns, gestures, and even recognition of faces.
Snyder, Pyrek, and Smith found a direct inverse relationship
between vision impairment and mental acuity.
I remind you that this is not a passage from an ancient,
hoary work of mysticism. It is less than five years old. And I
must say that this supposedly objective author packs a lot of
prejudice (and a good deal of ignorance) into a very few words.
In this one brief excerpt, she says that the blind may exhibit
the behavior of the demented, that we are unable to interact
socially, and that the less we can see the more we can't think.
And in case there is any doubt about the attitude of the writer
toward the blind, consider this recommendation from that portion
of the text containing so-called "strategies to help." Remember
that the person about whom this advice is being given is
blind--not emotionally traumatized, not mentally unhinged, not
psychologically deranged--just blind.
It is important [the author says] to avoid moving personal
belongings and furniture without the consent of the visually
impaired client, especially in the client's home.
A brief quotation, not dramatic--but examine the nuances. Do
the medical professionals you know come to your residence to
rearrange the furniture? Is it assumed that one of their
responsibilities is to decide what pattern should be established
in your home--presumably, of course, just for your own good? Or
is this simply another variation of the ancient myth not only
that we who are blind memorize the location and arrangement of
all items in our homes but also that movement of anything will
visit disorientation and danger upon the unfortunate automatons
who live there?
Such fables and stereotypes (even when surrounded with the
trappings of science) are still only fables and stereotypes.
Their placement in the literature of the medical profession does
not change their pseudoscientific nature. They are as ridiculous
and as devastating to the future of the blind as any of the
misbegotten, benighted theories of the Middle Ages--or the
1940s--or, for that matter, last week or yesterday. They are not
a description of reality but a reiteration of ignorance.
Blindness does not mean that we have lost our sanity, our ability
to think, or our interpersonal skills. Let those who doubt our
capacity come to this convention. We will interact socially with
the best of them; we will continue to think for ourselves; and we
will make the plans and take the actions to determine the shape
of our own tomorrow. We have the ideas; we have the leadership;
and we have the people. Nothing can prevent us from going the
rest of the way to freedom, for we will not let it happen. We
have reached the kindling point, and we absolutely intend to
reflect the flame.
As members of the National Federation of the Blind know, an
increasing number of our experiences with the scientific
community are not negative but positive. In fact, many of us work
as members of the scientific establishment. There are blind
physicists, blind chemists, blind electrical engineers, and blind
computer scientists. Then, too, there are the mathematicians.
The cover story of the May 13, 1989, edition of Science News
describes the work of Bernard Morin at Louis Pasteur University
in Strasbourg, France. One specialty of mathematics is topology,
the study of the relationship of shapes. A classic problem in
topology is how to reverse the surface of a sphere (turn it
inside out) without permitting it to crease. The solution to this
(and other abstruse conundrums) has helped resolve problems in
disciplines outside mathematics--such as molecular biology,
particle physics, and cosmology. Although it has been
theoretically possible to perform this sphere reversal (known as
an eversion), nobody has been able, until recently, to describe
the concept in three-dimensional terms. However, the problem has
now been solved. And how do you suppose the solution was reached?
Here are excerpts from the Science News article:
Morin [the article tells us] starts with a cuboctahedron,
which looks like a cube with its corners lopped off, [and]
transforms the cuboctahedron into a curiously shaped figure,
which he calls the "central model," with only twelve faces. A
sequence of six elementary moves carries the central model
through the tricky stages of the eversion. A final flurry of
moves produces an octahedron again, now turned inside out.
Quoting the scientist George K. Francis the article
continues:
Bernard Morin is not distracted, like the rest of us, by
pencil and paper and the business of drawing and looking at
pictures. He is blind. With superb spatial imagination, he
assembles complicated homotopies [transformations] of surfaces
directly in space. He keeps track of temporal changes in the
double curves and the surface patches spanning them. His
instructions to the artist consist of a vivid description of the
model in his mind.
This report in Science News illustrates the fundamental
proposition that understanding is not a matter of visual
acuity--but even in doing this, it shows the power of the
outmoded stereotype. Morin, we are told, is not distracted like
the rest of us by pencil and paper and the business of drawing
and looking at pictures. He is blind--and so, presumably, in a
rarefied inner world of his own, not troubled by the humdrum
images of everyday life. Nonsense! If he is intelligent, he is
intelligent. Blindness has nothing to do with it.
Most of us do not know and could not imagine why the
topological problem of the French mathematician is important. But
we can readily understand that the blind are as capable as others
of addressing and solving complex questions. The factor limiting
our progress is, as it has always been, the failure of society to
believe in our ability. It is not the absence of the visual image
that stifles growth, but the failure of imagination. Not all of
us are scientists, but some of us are. Not all of us aspire to
study mathematical relationships, but all of us insist that those
with the talent and desire to participate in this exacting
discipline should be able to do it. With such commitment we will
expand our horizons and create greater opportunity. With such
dedication we have built the National Federation of the Blind.
With such determination we reflect the flame.
A recently published collection of character sketches by Amy
Hempel entitled At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom contains a
one-sentence description of an encounter with a blind man.
Apparently without giving it a thought, the author reinforces the
belief that the blind are incompetent, that we are very often
lost, that we do not have the ability to perceive our
surroundings, that it is customary and decent to give preference
to the blind, that very often the primary interest of our lives
is food, and that we are pathetic. It is all accomplished in a
single sentence, done with fewer than twenty-five words. Here
they are: "Today, when a blind man walked into the bank, we
handed him along to the front of the line, where he ordered a
B.L.T."
Dramatic? No, of course not. In the story the incident is
unemphasized, routine, taken for granted. A blind man walks into
a bank, is automatically moved to the head of the line, and then
is so disoriented that he orders a sandwich instead of money. If
we aren't careful, the significance is so astonishing as to be
lost in the shuffle of the everyday. The author finds this
occurrence so commonplace that it is unemphasized, routine, taken
for granted. That is precisely the point. More often than not our
road to hell has been paved with things which have been
unemphasized, routine, and taken for granted. But no more! We
have the idea; we have the leaders; and we have the drive to work
together, to support each other, and to advance our movement. We
have reached the kindling point, and we intend to reflect the
flame.
In the spring of 1990 Newsweek magazine reported in an
article entitled "Making the Most of Sight" that, "After AIDS and
cancer, the medical crisis Americans fear most is blindness. Not
being able to see the stark outline of a winter tree," the
article tells us, "or the final scene of 'Casablanca'--the loss
is almost unimaginable." When I read this item from Newsweek, I
was struck by the contrast contained in those first few lines.
AIDS and cancer kill. Blindness does not. So what is the almost
unimaginable loss? Is it really so bad to be without the visual
impression of a tree in winter? Is it truly of vital importance
to observe visually the final scene in a movie? Does blindness
mean that we cannot enjoy art or appreciate the experience of
nature? Many (far too many) of the sighted would say yes, but we
who live with blindness every day emphatically say, no! After
all, we are the ones with the data to know. Speaking from
personal experience, I can tell you that there is (at least for
this blind person) much joy to be gained from a brisk walk in a
winter wood. Is the joy as much for me as for my sighted
neighbors? One is tempted to ask, "Who cares?" The experience is
exhilarating, fulfilling. That is sufficient. When our lives are
diminished, it is not our blindness that does it but the
misconceptions and oddball notions we face. It is not the failure
to see the stark outline of a winter tree that gives us trouble
but some of the stark attitudes we have to deal with.
Let me be clearly understood. I am not saying that sight is
not useful. Nor am I arguing that it is wrong to try to improve
one's ability to see--quite the contrary. However, I am saying
that sight is not a requirement for a good life--not the
beginning and the end of existence. We who are blind are not
automatically prevented from having joy, satisfaction, and
fulfillment; and those who believe otherwise are simply
misinformed.
An advertisement published in the Guy-Gannett newspapers in
Maine about a year ago says: "Illiteracy is a little bit like
blindness. Both are handicaps. And both mean you can't see
everything. A person who can't read can't really see the morning
paper or a child's report card, a street sign or a prescription.
Fortunately, illiteracy is a handicap one can overcome." Implied
in this advertisement is the notion that both blindness and
illiteracy make a person unable to function but that although
both of them are bad, at least illiteracy can be changed. For the
blind, apparently, there is not much hope.
What a distortion! To be blind is not to be ignorant, and
we are not prepared to permit such a portrayal of ourselves.
Federationists in Maine took the newspaper to task. Rank-and-file
members communicated their indignation to the newspaper's
management--and the combination worked. Within a few days a
retraction appeared. The blind are capable, and we intend that
the public shall recognize this fact. Newspapers, some of the
most powerful shapers of public opinion, often reflect the
misconceptions that are a part of the public image of blindness.
But when it comes to blindness, they are not the authorities.
They must learn from us. In half a century we have gained more
knowledge and experience about blindness than anybody else, and
we know how to apply the lessons we have learned. Regardless of
the source, we simply will not accept ignorance about blindness
without protest. We have a right to expect a public image that
will not stifle our hopes or limit our opportunities, and we have
formed the most powerful organization that the blind have ever
known to get the job done. You know the name of that organization
as well as I do--the National Federation of the Blind.
There are a number of university programs which attempt to
instruct teachers of the blind. Some of the most obnoxious
presentations about blindness may be gathered from the literature
being disseminated in these academic settings. Consider a
description of the blind contained in course materials currently
being distributed at San Francisco State University. An article
by Mary Morrison entitled "The Other 128 Hours a Week: Teaching
Personal Management to Blind Young Adults"1 asserts that many
blind adults do not know how to make a peanut butter sandwich,
have not learned to pour cereal into a bowl, have not been taught
to purchase items from the grocery store, are unable to handle
money, cannot boil water on the stove, are unfamiliar with the
location of the refrigerators in their own homes, and are so weak
that they cannot lift a pitcher to pour water. Unless you study
some of this material for yourself, you will have difficulty
believing that the prejudice can be as pervasive and deep-seated
as it really is. Perhaps the segment of this article which begins
with the caption "can openers" will illustrate the point. Notice
the folksy manner of speech used to help persuade the student
that the statements being made are accurate. Here is what the
author says:
Now, I believe, we are up to the can openers. Each can
opener seems to have a special trick to operating it. And, nearly
without exception, the blind young person is not even allowed to
try to use it. In any event we turn to the manual can opener that
mother finds in the back of some drawer, and then we run into the
"strength" problem. Opening a can requires strength.
I can immediately think [the author continues] of five young
people on our caseload who are not considered to be handicapped
other than by their blindness, who cannot lift a full two-quart
pitcher to pour from it. I first learned this when I naively
asked a 21-year-old college student to pour a cup of coffee from
a fresh pot on his stove. Not only did the heat terrify him, he
actually could not lift the coffee pot off the stove! Why? He
and the others never lift anything! They do not exercise. They
do nothing but go to school (which exempts them from physical
education), go to church, and watch television. Their arms are
limp. So we have to go back to the beginning with pitcher, partly
full, with cool water, and learn how to pour.
That is what the author says, and one is tempted to pass off
such drivel with the remark that no serious-minded human being
could be taken in by the idiocy. Of course, there are occasional
blind people who cannot find the stove or tie their shoes.
However, to generalize from these isolated cases that the blind
are incapable of a wide array of the simplest daily chores is, to
put it mildly, utter nonsense. But those who would dismiss these
course materials have not reckoned with the pedestrian nature of
certain professional educators who teach the teachers of the
blind. Along with the article I have quoted are included separate
evaluation sheets constructed so that the person teaching the
blind client can record the progress of the student. One of the
categories to be registered in these evaluations is--if you can
believe it--pouring. The evaluation sheet for Level I contains
the category "Pouring--Cold liquids." In Level III the student
has progressed to "Pours hot liquids." In Level IV the entry is
"Pours (advanced)." What, one wonders, is included in the arcane
science of "advanced pouring"?
The insufferable arrogance inherent in these writings is
epitomized in the explanation of the title, "The Other 128 Hours
a Week: Teaching Personal Management to Blind Young Adults." The
underlying premise of this outline of teaching techniques for
instructors of the blind is that almost all of the schooling for
blind recipients of rehabilitation has been directed toward the
skills needed for sedentary employment and that it is the job of
the rehabilitation counselors to teach them how to manage their
leisure and personal activities. In each week there are seven 24-
hour days. Forty hours are used for work. So what do the blind do
with the other 128 hours a week? The bombastic conclusion is
that without the ministrations of the so-called "professionals"
of rehabilitation, we might be faced with the prospect of sitting
around doing nothing. As the author says, we just mostly go to
school, go to church, and watch television. Don't you believe it!
Those who have been to this convention could tell her otherwise.
I have been reading documents from the "professional
literature" about blindness for more than twenty years, and I
cannot remember ever running across one which contained so little
discernment. Where do such people get these ideas? Think about
it. Do you have the strength to operate a can opener? Can you
make a sandwich or pour a cup of coffee? They are writing about
you and me. They tell us--and anybody else who will listen--that
they have come to help. But we don't want such assistance--and we
don't need it. Of course, like anybody else, we need education;
and we also need training in the skills of blindness--but in
matters such as those described, we can and we will do for
ourselves. The description of the blind by this author as little
more than basket cases is among the principal obstacles
preventing us from becoming successful, competent people. But we
are changing the image. We have reached the kindling point, and
we intend to reflect the flame.
One Friday evening a few months ago, I reached into my mail
basket and found a letter from a man from New Jersey. If his
story were unique, it would be poignant enough--but it is not
unique. It is an everyday occurrence in the lives of tens of
thousands of the blind of this country, underlining with grim
insistence the need (yes, the necessity) for the National
Federation of the Blind. The details, reported in an article
published in an Atlantic City newspaper, show once more why we
have organized and what we must do. Here, as told by the
reporter, is the saga of Bill, whose real name, for obvious
reasons, I have not used:
What happens to a man who suddenly loses the tools he used
to measure his worth in the world?
What happens to a man when he turns to those whose very job
it is to help him, and he is ignored?
This is what happened to one man.
On a Saturday morning in the summer of 1988, he woke up
blind.
At once, he denied what was obvious.
He washed and dressed and picked up the morning paper--a
habit as fixed as pulling on his pants. He couldn't read it. He
put it down, said nothing, and left the house.
He drove to the office, slowly, deliberately, guessing at
the traffic lights he could not see.
When he arrived at the office, he was alone. He sat down at
his computer terminal, and there confronted the cold fact that he
could not see the copy he was supposed to type.
Bill started to come undone.
He had no idea what would happen next. He had worked as a
typesetter and computer operator all of his adult life. What
could he do now?
Bill saw the publisher of the paper. When he explained to
her what had happened, she offered him a handshake and two words:
"Good luck."
The next day, Bill registered for state disability payments.
He would receive less than half of his old salary.
He doesn't sit still well. Retirement was never part of his
life's plan. Work was all. He needed to regain his workday world.
He needed a start.
It was October when he called and spoke with a receptionist
[at the New Jersey Commission for the Blind]. She said a
representative of the commission would get in touch. Soon
afterward a caseworker called to make an appointment.
He arrived full of assurances.
Bill told him what had happened. He spoke of his work as a
computer operator and supplied the caseworker with his medical
history. He also spoke of the long and lonely days he had been
living through.
"I told him I was going nuts. He asked me what I liked to
do, and I said, 'read--but I can't even do that.' I told him, 'I
need to find a job.'
"He said, 'You have been paying into the system all of your
life, now it is time to reap the benefits.'"
The caseworker was sympathetic. He said he would provide a
cassette player for Bill and arrange for him to receive books on
tape from the library.
Bill was led to believe that the commission would help him
return to work. He was told he would need a medical examination.
He was told the commission would pay the doctor's bill and
instructed to wait until the appropriate forms were assembled.
The caseworker said he would call when everything was in place to
make the appointment.
The commission appeared to be a godsend. Here, Bill thought,
was more than a promise to help; here was the way back into the
world.
During the weeks that followed that first meeting with the
caseworker, Bill grew anxious. He made several calls to the
commission's offices. None was returned.
November turned into December. Bill had been out of work for
more than three months, a fact made all the more harsh when he
realized that his [medical insurance] coverage had been cut off
on September 1.
It was early in December when the caseworker called again
with the go-ahead to schedule a medical exam. Bill was told to
call back with the date arranged so the forms for payment could
be forwarded to the doctor. He did, and on December 7, Bill saw
his doctor.
Bill left the doctor and stepped up to the receptionist's
desk. He asked her about the forms. She said they had received no
forms. He paid for his visit. A few days later, the caseworker
called to arrange another meeting.
"He was here for maybe ten minutes. I told him I went to the
doctor, but they didn't have any forms from the commission so I
had to pay for the visit. I showed him the receipt and he said
okay. I expected him to say that I would be reimbursed, but he
didn't. He said the commission's doctor would review the results
of my exam. I told him I never received the cassette player. He
said he would check on that when he got back to the office and
call me."
A few weeks later, Christmas arrived looking like just
another day. No word from the caseworker.
In January, 1989, the state disability payments stopped and
Bill became eligible for Social Security. His income dropped
again.
He made more phone calls to his caseworker. None was
returned.
The cold bound him to the house, and it was easy to ride out
the day on the endless stream of daytime TV. One day turned into
the next, each the same, as empty as the slate-gray winter sky.
January eventually became February.
By March, 1989, Bill had been unemployed for more than six
months. More than three months had passed since he had heard from
his caseworker.
Phone calls to his caseworker at the commission's office in
April were never returned.
This is a tiny part of what the extensive newspaper article
tells us about Bill's story. It goes on to say that a friendly
newspaper reporter called the Department of Human Services on
Bill's behalf to complain.
The next day [the paper continues] Bill got a call from his
caseworker.
When [the commission staff member] arrived at the house,
there was no mention of his nearly five-month absence, not a word
about all of the phone calls that were never returned. Instead,
he announced that the commission had reviewed the medical exam
performed in December, [remember that we are now in April] and
was now prepared to address the problem.
In August, Bill was given a series of oral and written
examinations by a psychologist at the commission's office. He was
told the tests were part of the process that would return him to
the workplace.
In September, he received the results of the exams. He was
weak in mechanical skills, but sharp in computer-oriented skills.
The psychologist noted that he was suffering a lack of
self-worth. He was depressed.
In October, his caseworker brought him a typewriter. He
should refresh his typing skills, he was told. The caseworker
said he had also arranged for an instructor to come out to the
house to help.
Bill thought it was an odd gesture. Had he been waiting a
year for a typewriter?
"I was desperate. I'm sure I sounded like I was begging. I
said to him, 'Listen, in the beginning I told you I wanted to
work to get out of the house, to have something to do. But now,'
I said, 'there isn't any money left. It's a necessity. I need
work. Any kind of work.'"
Before the month was out, Bill met the typing instructor, a
young woman, who is blind, who showed him how a blind person
becomes acclimated to a keyboard. But Bill knows the keyboard.
Bill thought the session pointless.
In November, his caseworker called him to the commission's
office. [By this time Bill had been blind and out of work for
well over a year.]
And that day, for the first time, there was talk of a job.
"The caseworker said, 'I'm going to Atlantic City tomorrow
to see about getting you an appointment at Bally's Grand.' I
said, 'great.' I was ecstatic. This was just before Thanksgiving.
After the holiday, he called to say we had a tentative meeting on
Friday. He would call back with a definite time."
The week faded into the next. The caseworker never called.
Bill felt conned.
[This is the story of Bill as reported in the press. Do you
know Bill? Do you recognize him? How many of us here in this
room find ourselves painfully reflected in the details?
The article goes on to describe a series of telephone calls
made by the reporter to state officials. Then it continues.]
It was now December, 1989. The client service
representative, who is blind, and his driver arrived at midday.
He sat down with his laptop computer in a chair near the
Christmas tree in the living room. His driver sat in the kitchen.
Bill spoke.
Why were his phone calls never returned? Why didn't his
caseworker ever call to say what happened to the interview? Why
didn't he get the cassette player? Why were his hospital bills
still not paid? What was he supposed to say to the collection
agencies that were now hounding him? Why, after a fifteen-month
relationship with the commission, was he no better off than the
first day he found himself out of work?
"I never asked you people for a handout," Bill said. "I
asked for help. I need help. I'm fifty-eight years old and I'm
not going to just sit around this house waiting to die."
The client service representative called Bill on December
20. It was a short one-sided conversation. "The deal with Bally's
fell through," he said. "Your caseworker will be in touch with
you soon."
Three weeks later, Bill received a letter from his
caseworker dated January 16, 1990. It read in part: "This is to
inform you that the paperwork is now being generated so the
[medical] bills you incurred can be paid. I will be contacting
you shortly to discuss your status with the commission and other
related items."
In February, Bill received notice that a registered letter
had arrived for him at the post office. It was from his
caseworker. The first sentence of the letter, dated February 6,
read: "On Wednesday, February 14, 1990, I will contact you via
telephone between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon."
Bill was dumbfounded.
"Who sends a registered letter to a blind man. I had to get
a neighbor to drive me down to the post office to get it. It cost
two dollars to send it. For what? To tell me he would call me?"
On February 14, the caseworker called at 1:45 p.m. to say he
would come out to see Bill on Wednesday the 21st. He would have
forms to fill out.
On February 21, the caseworker called to say his secretary
had not finished typing the forms. He said he would be out to see
Bill the first thing the next day.
On February 22, the caseworker did not show. He did not
call. Dumbfounded was no longer an adequate word to describe
Bill's state of mind.
On February 27, when the caseworker did call, a new date was
set for the appointment.
"In all of this time, they couldn't get me even an
interview?" [Bill questioned,] "Not one interview? Is there
nothing? Is this it? Look at me. I clean the house. I make
lunch at noon. I start dinner at five. This can't be it.
"And yet, here I sit. I'm no better off today than I was the
day I first called the commission."
That was eighteen months ago.
I got Bill's letter last year just after the occurrence of
the events I've been relating to you. I tried to call him, but I
couldn't find a number listed in his name. I telephoned the
reporter and eventually tracked down the information. I spoke
with Bill and invited him to join the Federation. We talked about
the work that blind people are doing all over America. I asked
Bill to believe that there is more for those who are blind than
the papershuffling and dreariness of some of the agencies for the
blind. There is the spirit of the National Federation of the
Blind--a spirit that springs from a joint effort to achieve fully
productive lives, the commitment of mutual support, and the
enthusiasm of the discovery that blindness need not mean
helplessness or hopelessness. All of this is a part of the
organized blind movement, our movement, the National Federation
of the Blind.
How long does it take to extinguish the spark of initiative--
to kill the spirit and crush the dream? For Bill it takes more
than eighteen months. He has joined our movement, and he is once
again employed as a computer operator. I suppose I need not tell
you that he found the job without the help of the New Jersey
Commission for the Blind.
Yet, there are those who tell us that we are harsh and
unreasonable in criticizing some of the governmental and private
agencies established to help the blind. Let them call us what
they will and say what they please. We have the idea of freedom;
we have the leaders; and we know how to work together and support
each other. We have reached the kindling point--and we intend to
reflect the flame.
There was a time when it was accepted that the blind would
be on the fringe of society--a burden to be carried--
unproductive, unwanted, shunned. There were occasional
individuals who fought this common perception, but they were
generally defeated by the force of so-called "common sense." But
then there came together the essential elements for change. It
cannot happen in a moment, but the process is thoroughly under
way. Much that is written and thought about blindness is as
fraught with misunderstanding as one could possibly imagine. The
experts in gerontology tell us that visual acuity and
intellectual capacity are linked. Newspaper editors declare that
blindness, like illiteracy, indicates ignorance and incapacity.
The weekly news magazines suggest that being blind is almost as
bad as suffering from AIDS or cancer. The educators in the
universities who are supposed to bring enlightenment to
instructors of the blind disseminate the view that we have
difficulty opening a can or pouring water. The agencies
established to provide service to the blind direct us to wait
patiently and reap the benefits of a welfare check.
Nevertheless, conditions for the blind in the 1990s are
dramatically and enormously different from those that prevailed
fifty years ago. Despite the litany of problems I have recited,
our prospects are better than they have ever been. Our present is
more fulfilling. Our future is more promising. Blind
mathematicians astonish their colleagues with their innovative
solutions to the most difficult problems. Despite the laziness
and befuddlement of certain segments of the agency establishment,
the tide is turning the other way. Increasingly the agencies are
working with us, and the momentum is building. New fields are
being entered, new employment and independence achieved. And of
course, a growing number of agencies are managed by
Federationists and operated with Federation philosophy--with
dramatic results. Although the literature often contains
references which belittle the capacity of the blind, there are
also (and ever more frequently) the positive images--and we are
not without our own capacity to write.
A powerful new spirit now moves in the blind of the nation--
and also in growing numbers of the public. The vital elements for
an alteration in the pattern of our experience have come together
in an energetic and forceful mixture. We in this room tonight are
the force which will propel our movement through the last decade
of the twentieth century and into the one beyond. We are the
components--the leaders from throughout the country, the
rank-and-file members, the new inspiration. We will make the
difference, for we must. Our record of achievement during more
than half a century will be remembered with pride, but it is only
the prelude. Each generation must do for itself and build on the
past. We have learned that lesson well. We have learned it from
each other and from our own experiences. In our yearning for
freedom, others can go with us, but we must lead the way. We have
not only reached but gone beyond the kindling point. We are the
blind who reflect the flame. No organization on earth that deals
with blindness has the strength, the determination, or the spirit
of the National Federation of the Blind. My brothers and my
sisters, come! Remember those who have shown the way, and those
who will come after. We will believe in each other--and with joy
in our hearts, we will go to meet the future!
FOOTNOTES
1 Although this article originally appeared in the December
1974 issue of The New Outlook for the Blind (a publication of the
American Foundation for the Blind), it is, at the time of this
writing, being distributed to students as part of the course
materials in the San Francisco State University program for
instructors of the blind and visually impaired.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Kenneth Jernigan presents to Justin Dart the
Distinguished Service Award of the NFB.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Peggy Pinder congratulates Patricia Harmon, who
has just received the Blind Educator of the Year Award.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Ralph Bartley, Superintendent of the Kansas State
School for the Visually Handicapped, receives the Distinguished
Educator of Blind Children Award.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Nell Carney, Commissioner of the federal
Rehabilitation Services Administration, receives the Newel Perry
Award.]
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND AWARDS FOR 1991
National Federation of the Blind awards are not bestowed
lightly. If an appropriate recipient does not emerge from the
pool of candidates for a particular award, it is simply not
presented. At this year's convention four presentations were
made. At the close of the Friday afternoon session the
Distinguished Service Award was presented as were three other
awards that evening at the annual banquet. Here's how it happened
July 5, 1991:
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Jernigan made the presentation of this award at the
close of the Friday afternoon general session. He said:
The next item on our program is one that I take a good deal
of pleasure in. We have a Distinguished Service Award to present.
We present awards rather sparingly as you know. If you had asked
me the first time the man who is going to receive this award came
to our convention if we would ever be presenting him an award, I
would have told you, "Under no circumstances." You will remember,
we were rather hard on him the first time. Who am I talking
about? I'm talking about Justin Dart. We were hard on him. We
asked him hard questions and sorta laid the lash to him. But he
didn't get mad about that. As a matter of fact, very shortly
after that, he was over at the National Center, talking with us.
He joined up as an associate, a member-at-large, and he worked
with us. We got to know him, and he got to know us. Then we got
to respect him, and he respects us. Justin Dart has worked with
us very closely in the last couple of years. He, of course,
chairs the President's Committee on People with Disabilities and
was instrumental in passing the Americans With Disabilities Act.
A lot of people worked on it, but you have to say that Justin
Dart was instrumental in providing the push for that. But he's
done a lot more things. He's shown courage. He's shown real
leadership in dealing with disability. Mr. Dart, we want to give
you our Distinguished Service Award. I want to read first what it
says:
Dintinguished Service Award
National Federation
of the Blind
Presented to
Honorable Justin Dart
For exceptional service to the blind of the nation
The banner you carry is courage
The venture you pursue is justice
The power you wield is friendship
July 5, 1991
Dr. Jernigan then walked to where Justin Dart was seated to
present the award. Mr. Dart said:
I am deeply honored to receive this award from one of my
heroes, a great American, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, and from each one
of you. I accept this award, not because I have any illusion of
superior virtue, but as a symbolic representative of each of you
and of all of us who have struggled together for the principles
of equality, independence, and productivity. I'm going to do my
very best to live up to your standards, and those are high
standards, and I love you.
Blind Educator of the Year Award
At the Friday evening banquet, Steve Benson, member of the
National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors and Chair of
the Selection Committee, made the Blind Educator of the Year
presentation. Here is what he said:
Henry Adams, the nineteenth-century scholar and writer,
said, "A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his
influence stops."
Throughout history teachers have shaped society, built its
great religions and philosophies, and given impetus to new ways
of life. The National Federation of the Blind has been fortunate
to have had outstanding teachers shape its course. No
organization could have asked for better teachers than Jacobus
tenBroek and Kenneth Jernigan. These two men and other teachers
in this room tonight will influence the lives of blind people for
generations to come.
Last year we presented the Blind Educator of the Year Award
to Dr. Abraham Nemeth. In prior years Pauline Gomez and Patricia
Munson were recognized for their outstanding efforts. This year
the Blind Educator of the Year Award Committee (Patricia Munson,
Homer Page, Judy Sanders, and Lev Williams) has selected a
candidate whose credentials are impeccable. This year's recipient
lives and teaches east of the Continental Divide. Tonight's
honoree has had tremendous impact upon her students, their
parents, and the community. She has taught at every level from
elementary school to two universities. She is highly regarded by
her peers and has earned our respect. The 1991 Blind Educator of
the Year Award recipient will receive an appropriately inscribed
plaque and a check in the amount of $500 from the National
Federation of the Blind. If she will come forward, I will present
this check and this plaque to Patricia Harmon of New Mexico. Mrs.
Harmon has a bachelor of arts degree in English from the College
of Notre Dame in Baltimore and a master's degree in special
education from Northern Colorado University. She teaches at the
New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped. She has taught at
the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. She
is a strong advocate for Braille. Mrs. Harmon has taught Braille
to numerous transcribers, and ten of her students have been
certified by the Library of Congress. She is a person indeed
deserving of this award, and this is the plaque, which reads:
Blind Educator of the Year Award
National Federation
of the Blind
Presented to
Patricia Harmon
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments
in the teaching profession
You enhance the present
You build the future
July 5, 1991
Mrs. Harmon then responded by saying:
Those who know me know that I am very rarely at a loss for
words. Fred Schroeder entered my name a couple of months ago, and
I am so pleased. Thank you very, very much. I'm attending my
first National Federation of the Blind convention, and I am so
pleased I chose this year to come. My husband was a teacher of
Peggy Pinder's many years ago. When we saw her name on the
convention agenda for the NFB of New Mexico in Albuquerque two
years ago, we said, "This is the year to go." So we went to
Albuquerque and met Peggy, who said, "You have to come to a
national convention." So we chose New Orleans, and I'm so
excited. Thank you very much.
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award
Sharon Maneki, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland and Chair of the Distinguished Educator of
Blind Children Selection Committee, presented that award. She
said:
Fellow Federationists, this evening it is my privilege to
introduce someone who needs no introduction--that is, the
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children. We in the National
Federation of the Blind started this award because we expect
excellence and we demand excellence. And when we find excellence,
we recognize it. It is always a difficult task for this committee
to find the right person. We on the committee try to adopt Robert
Frost's position on education. He said that there are two kinds
of teachers. There are the quail hunters, the ones that fill the
students up with so many facts and figures that they don't really
remember anything. Then there are the other kind who are more
like the pilot instructors who inspire and lead their students so
that they can soar to their own heights. The committee,
consisting of Allen Harris, Joyce Scanlan, Fred Schroeder, Jackie
Billey, and me, found a distinguished educator who has worked at
every level of various schools for the blind. He started in
college as a supervisor of the dormitory, was a classroom
teacher, was a principal, and now is superintendent of the Kansas
State School for the Visually Handicapped. Dr. Ralph Bartley is a
man who believes in education. His school promotes competitions
and events like Braille Student of the Year, Braille Math
Student, and White Cane and Braille Appreciation Days. When the
organized blind of Kansas said we need a Braille bill, he was
right there in the forefront, right with the blind. Dr. Bartley
receives a plaque and a $500 check, and I'm going to present the
plaque to him and read it to you now.
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children
The National Federation
of the Blind
honors
Dr. Ralph E. Bartley
Superintendent
Kansas State School for the Visually Handicapped
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children
For your outstanding efforts
to ensure that all blind children
in Kansas and throughout the nation
will continue to have the opportunity
to learn to read and write Braille.
For your leadership
in promoting greater educational opportunities
for blind children.
For working in partnership with the organized blind.
You are our colleague, our friend, our ally.
You champion our movement, you strengthen our hopes,
You share our dreams.
July 5, 1991
Dr. Bartley accepted the plaque and said:
Dr. Jernigan, President Maurer, Chairman Maneki, and members
of the Award Committee, with great feelings of honor and humility
I accept the National Federation of the Blind's Distinguished
Educator of Blind Children Award. You've not only recognized me,
but also many others who have made major contributions. In Kansas
we are fortunate to have many persons who have dedicated
themselves to the education of blind children. Some of these are
here with us today. Among them: President Susie Stanzel of the
NFB of Kansas, and many others, the Baleks, Steve and Lynn Barry,
Carol Clark, the Griggses, the Hallenbecks, Peg Halverson, the
Hemphills, the Kellys, Raymond Peed, Remlingers, the Thompsons,
and many others. I would also be remiss tonight if I did not
mention with a word of thanks my parents, Tommy and Barbara, of
Henderson, Kentucky, who are with our four children (Jennifer,
Ben, Jody, and Jessica). I would like to thank them for their
sacrifices so that I might be here tonight. I would also like to
recognize our Kansas Braille Readers are Leaders, Angela and
Jennifer, and their teachers, Virgine, Madeline, Jackie, and
Darlene. Finally, I want to tell you that in 1953 I started
school, and two very significant people in a particular reading
series got me started on the right road to my own education and
my own ability to read. Those two people were Dick and Jane,
along with Sally and Spot. Those people help me learn today. Well
today, I do not have a Spot and Sally in my life, but I still
have a Dick and Jane. To Jane, my wife, thank you. And to Kansas
State Representative Richard J. (Dick) Edlund, thank you for all
that you have done and especially thank you for the great legacy
you are building in Kansas. The cornerstone of that legacy is our
new Kansas Braille Bill. Without you the Kansas Braille Bill
would not be a reality, and Ralph Bartley would not be here
tonight. Thank you.
Newel Perry Award
John Halverson came to the podium following President
Maurer's banquet address to make the presentation of the 1991
Newel Perry Award. This is what he said:
The Newel Perry Award is the principal honor that the
National Federation of the Blind bestows upon those who (from
positions outside the structure of the Federation) do most to
advance the cause of the blind. Presented only as often as an
individual is identified as deserving special recognition, the
Newel Perry Award is conferred upon those rare individuals who
exhibit singular perception and exceptional stewardship.
In 1991 the National Federation of the Blind recognizes one
whose talents, energy, and acumen have been devoted to the
furtherance of independence for the disabled. Although her work
has technically been outside our organization, it is completely
understandable that her efforts should harmonize thoroughly with
those of the organized blind. She has been a part of the
Federation, and she received her early orientation to many of the
problems involving blindness from the thousands of Federation
members throughout the nation. As many in this audience know, she
was for several years a high school student of Dr. Kenneth
Jernigan. Later she was a state president and then a national
board member of this organization. Not only has she been willing
to address problems brought to her attention, but she has
anticipated potential difficulties before they have arisen and
she has given an emphasis to Federal policy which has inevitably
entailed greater opportunity for the blind as well as for all
other people with disabilities. Her work has not always been in
the Federation, but it has truly been in the spirit of the
Federation. She deserves the highest tribute and greatest respect
we can give.
This year's recipient of the Newel Perry Award, a blind
person (who, incidentally, is an administrator in the Federal
rehabilitation program) has been a client of a rehabilitation
agency. She knows from firsthand experience the frustrations that
sometimes are such an integral part of services for the blind.
Her experience in gaining an opportunity to employ her ability
provides a comprehension which would not be readily available in
any other way.
Her participation with her blind brothers and sisters
throughout the nation has given emphasis to the determination
that the blind shall be encouraged to achieve the highest
ambitions obtainable.
The lady we honor tonight is one who possesses boldness,
ingenuity, resolution, and courage. With us at this banquet is a
great American--but she is more: an ally, a colleague, a friend.
The person we honor tonight is the Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration, Nell Carney. Commissioner
Carney, the award that we present reads:
Newel Perry Award
National Federation of the Blind
In recognition of courageous leadership
and outstanding service,
the National Federation of the Blind
bestows its highest honor,
the Newel Perry Award
upon
Honorable Nell C. Carney
our colleague;
our friend;
our sister on the barricades.
she champions our progress;
she strengthens our hopes;
she shares our dreams.
July 5, 1991
Nell Carney accepted her award and then addressed the
audience:
If that noble gentleman Newel Perry, who fought for such a
long time to have a place in this universe and who at the
California School for the Blind led many to leadership positions
among the blind, were here at this convention this week, he would
be truly awed to see that the dream that he and Dr. tenBroek
shared has grown to such an extent and that the National
Federation of the Blind has grown to have the power and influence
that it has. Likewise, if Dr. tenBroek, who was, as I've already
said, Dr. Perry's student and the designated visionary leader who
was to establish the movement called the National Federation of
the Blind, were here, he too would stand in awe. He would also
along with Dr. Perry be very, very proud that you, Dr. Jernigan,
the young and energetic leader to whom he passed the torch of
leadership many years ago, have built the movement further and
have selected Marc Maurer as the next recipient of the torch of
leadership for this great movement. A few nights ago, in debating
a resolution and talking about a specific piece of legislation,
you, Dr. Jernigan, said that the legislation would not pass in
its present form because the National Federation of the Blind
would oppose it. After two years in Washington, it is my
observation that no legislation that this movement of the blind
and for the blind opposes will ever pass.
I am deeply honored and truly touched at being the recipient
of the Newel Perry Award. Today, Dr. Jernigan, you mentioned a
couple of items, and you said that if someone had told you they
would happen, you would never have believed it. When I was a
young woman struggling and growing up in Tennessee as a blind
person and admiring Dr. Jernigan and his leadership in the
Federation, I would never have believed that I would ever stand
at this podium and be the recipient of the Newel Perry Award. The
Federation is little Emily, the blind child that I spoke of
today, and it is Hazel tenBroek, who has devoted her life to this
movement. It is the widow who saves her SSI check all year long
so that she can come to this conference, and it is people like
Donald Capps who devote their full time and attention to the
movement, and it's all of you in between who spend your lives,
your time, and your energy working together. The movement for
many decades has been held together by love, faith, and hope. In
the last few years I have watched as you have turned that hope to
choice and empowerment. Again, I am deeply honored. I thank you,
and I thank God for you.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: NFB Scholarship winners, 1991. Front row (left to
right): Pam Dubel, Kirstyn Cassavechia, Richard Clay, Ollie
Cantos, Imke Durre, Aziza Baccouche, Christine McGroarty, Karen
Collister, Kim Driver. Center row (left to right): Elisha
Gilliland, Jamie LeJeune, Noel NightingaleAmanda Durik, Cheryl
Laninga, Deborah Byrne, Chris Danielsen, Valerie Stiteler, Behnaz
Soulati, Paige McLean, Jay Modi. Back row (left to right): Steve
Priddle, Jim Oliver, Max Isaacson, Mark Stracks, Rick Blakeney,
Duane Hudspath, Alex Barrasso.]
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Marc Maurer and Kenneth Jernigan congratulate Pam
Dubel as she is awarded a scholarship of $20,000 and the
Distinguished Scholar of 1991.]
THE CLASS OF 1991:
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
From the Associate Editor: This year the National Federation
of the Blind chose twenty-seven of the nation's most promising
blind post-secondary students to be the 1991 class of scholarship
winners. On Tuesday morning at the annual meeting of the National
Federation of the Blind Board of Directors, President Maurer
invited Peggy Pinder, Second Vice President of the Federation and
Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, to introduce each winner
to the audience. Miss Pinder began by saying:
Last year the National Federation of the Blind celebrated
its fiftieth anniversary. At this year's convention we're
beginning our second half-century of service to blind people and
our march towards equality. Part of that march has been the
scholarship program of the National Federation of the Blind. In
our organization we have a major commitment to achievement, to
success, and to equality for blind people. One of the ways that
we symbolize that, one of the ways we recognize it, and one of
the ways we honor our own is our scholarship program. This year
the Federation will be giving twenty-seven scholarships, and each
winner also receives a convention scholarship--an expense-paid
trip to our national convention. The two scholarships earned by
each of these twenty-seven people added together means a
commitment of over one hundred thousand dollars by our
organization.
In a minute I will introduce to you the men and women who
have been chosen as the 1991 winners. But I want to let you know
that twelve of these people will receive scholarships in the
amount of $2,000. Nine will win scholarships of $2,500. One
person will receive $3,000. Three will receive $4,000. One person
will receive $6,000; and one person will be chosen this year as
the National Federation of the Blind Distinguished Scholar of
1991, will win the opportunity to speak briefly at our banquet,
and will receive a scholarship in the amount of $20,000.
This year we received over five hundred applications for our
scholarships, and there were lots and lots of wonderful
applications. You'll see in a minute when I introduce these
people that we have a very strong group this year. You can
imagine the strength of the entire pool of applicants from the
twenty-seven people that we chose.
I want to read to you the names of the people who serve on
the scholarship committee, describe a couple of things that will
occur later this week, and then introduce the members of the
scholarship class of 1991. Serving on the Scholarship committee
are Adrienne Asch, Steven Benson, Jacquilyn Billey, Charlie
Brown, Sharon Buchan, Doug Elliott, Priscilla Ferris, Michael
Gosse, John Halverson, Allen Harris, Dave Hyde, Tami Dodd Jones,
Christopher Kucynski, Scott LaBarre, Melissa Lagroue, Melody
Lindsey, Sharon Maneki, Homer Page, Barbara Pierce, Ben Prows,
Eileen Rivera, Fred Schroeder, Heidi Sherman, Zack Shore, Ramona
Walhof, Jim Willows, Joanne Wilson, Gary Wunder, and Robin Zook.
That's a good group of people, and they will have the opportunity
on Thursday to meet and decide which of these scholarship winners
will receive which scholarships. We don't know yet. We won't know
until Thursday, and nobody else will know until Friday night. At
the banquet each one of these people I'm about to introduce will
be invited to the podium of the convention to receive his or her
scholarship and to be honored specially by the National
Federation of the Blind.
I'm about to begin the introductions of the scholarship
winners for 1991, and scholarship winners, please pay heed. I'm
going to hand each of you the microphone for you to give a
description of who you are to the assembled multitudes here. Over
2,000 people are interested in finding out who you are. Remember
friends, members of the Federation, each of these scholarship
winners wears a ribbon on his or her badge, identifying him or
her as a scholarship winner. We're proud of these people. We want
to tell them so. When you find somebody with one of these ribbons
this week, offer them your congratulations and say, "We're glad
to have you at the convention." Now I'm going to let each of them
tell you who they are. Scholarship winners, I'm going to give you
the microphone for 60 seconds or less. I want each of you to tell
the people here who you are, what you want to do, what you want
to be; and I will take the microphone back when I need to. I'll
hand the microphone to each of you, and I will give your name and
the state you live in now and the state you will be living in
next fall. You can describe yourself to over 2,000 people. Here
we go, ladies and gentlemen, with the 1991 scholarship class.
Aziza Baccouche, Virginia, Virginia: "Hello, it's good to be
here. My name is Aziza Baccouche, and I am from Fairfax,
Virginia. I am a recent graduate from J. W. Robinson secondary in
Fairfax, Virginia. I will be attending the College of William and
Mary in Virginia. I plan to study physics, and I wish to receive
a Ph.D. in astrophysics or astronomy."
Alex Barrasso, New York, Pennsylvania: "Hi, my name is Alex
Barrasso. I'll be attending the University of Pennsylvania as a
freshman beginning in September. I plan to be a language major
and would eventually like to go on either to the State Department
in the Foreign Service or into international law. In high school
I have been participating as an active member of the chess team
and a trumpet player. I also do volunteer work for the American
Red Cross. Thank you."
Rick Blakeney, Texas, Texas: "Hi ya'll. My name is Rick
Blakeney. I am a math major at the Southwest Texas State
University in San Marcos, Texas. I'm going to graduate in about a
year and plan to teach high school math. [scattered enthusiastic
applause] Thank you, that's the way I feel too. We definitely
need some good teachers out there, and I am going to do my best
to do my part. I've been tutoring the last couple of years, so
hopefully I will do a good job. Thank you very much."
Deborah Byrne, Oregon, Ohio: "Hello, my name is Deborah
Byrne, and I have the incredible opportunity of being able to
live my life's dream. I'm a senior at Oberlin College, and I am
majoring in history because I want to bring historical
perspective to the research that I'm planning on doing before and
after I receive a Ph.D. in sociology. I plan to teach college,
and in that line, I have recently been awarded an undergraduate
research grant in the field of sociology of religion under the
mentorship of Milton Yinger. I have also been accepted into the
Ronald Nair program, which was initiated by an act of Congress in
memory of Ronald Nair, the black astrophysicist who died in the
space shuttle craft accident, and I am president of the National
Association of Blind Students of Ohio and senior political
officer of the disabled students group at Oberlin College. Thank
you."
Ollie Cantos, California, California: "Good morning, fellow
Federationists. This is my second convention, and I am very
excited to be here. I am going to be entering my senior year at
Loyola Marymount University next year, majoring in political
science. I am executive vice president and chair of the student
senate at Loyola Marymount University, and I am president of the
California Association of Blind Students. Thank you."
Kirstyn Cassavechia, New Hampshire, New York: "Good morning,
everyone. I am originally from Rochester, New Hampshire. I am
currently a sophomore at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York,
where I am pursuing a BA in English, eventually hoping to get a
Ph.D. and teach at the college level. But my true dream is to be
a writer. I write for the Cornell Daily Sun, our newspaper, as
well as host incoming freshmen and prospective students. I'll be
an orientation counselor this fall for the incoming freshmen. I
am a peer counselor and a gymnast. I love children and animals,
and I'm very happy to be here. Thank you very much."
Richard Clay, Michigan, Michigan: "Good morning, everyone.
I'm Richard Clay, sophomore at the University of Michigan,
majoring in business administration, aspiring to be a personnel
manager of a large corporation. I'm proud to be here, and I
recently joined the NFB, hoping and confident that I'll be able
to enhance the lifestyles of blind people, including my own.
Thank you."
Karen Collister, California, California: "Hi, I'm Karen
Collister, and I just graduated from high school in San Diego and
left my home, so now I am living in Santa Cruz, working at a camp
as a waitress till I start my first year of college at UC
Berkeley this fall. I'm going to be majoring in political science
and hopefully going on to medical school and opening up a clinic
for the blind on the border of Mexico. I would just like to thank
you for all of your time and energy that went into making these
scholarships available. I really feel honored and very thankful."
Chris Danielsen, South Carolina, South Carolina: "Hi, I'm
Chris Danielson. I'm from Batesburg, South Carolina. I'm a junior
at Furman University, majoring in political science, and I plan
to become a lawyer. I'm involved in several extracurricular
activities at Furman, including the Furman Singers, the Furman
Chamber Singers, and Beta Epsilon, which is a service fraternity.
Last summer I had the opportunity to go on a concert tour of the
Soviet Union with the Furman Singers, and I am also the treasurer
of the South Carolina Student Division of the National Federation
of the Blind."
Kim Driver, California, California: "Good morning. I'm Kim
Driver. I'm currently attending the University of California at
Davis. I'm in my third year of my Ph.D. I'll be taking my
qualifying exams in the fall or winter of next year. I am
investigating a specialized field called bio-mechanics and marine
biology. I study sharks, and I'm talking about the kind with
fins, not the kind on two legs."
Pam Dubel, New York, Ohio: "Hi everyone. My name is Pam
Dubel, and I'm a senior at Denison University, where I am
majoring in psychology and minoring in women's studies. I am
planning to pursue a career in law, psychology, or elementary
education. This will be my second summer working for Joanne
Wilson at the Louisiana Center for the Blind with the Children's
Program. I am the vice president of the Ohio Association of Blind
Students, and last night I was elected as a new board member for
the National Association of Blind Students, so I am looking
forward to a long and productive career with the Federation."
Amanda Durik, Kentucky, Kentucky: "Hi. I will enter Center
College in Danville, Kentucky, this fall, and I plan to major in
elementary education and later continue my education and get my
master's degree in special education, perhaps specializing in low
vision. Thank you."
Imke Durre, Colorado, Connecticut: "I'm going to attend Yale
as a freshman this fall. I just graduated from Poudre High School
as valedictorian. I enjoy playing the piano. I received an
honorable mention from the USA All-American Academic team, and
I'm planning to major in mathematics and go on to graduate
studies in climatology and become a climatologist."
Elisha Gilliland, Alabama, Alabama: [applause for the state]
"It's great to know there are a lot of Alabama fans out there.
Hi, I'm Elisha Gilliland, and I am from Grove Oak, Alabama. I'm a
sophomore at Jacksonville State University, where I am seeking a
degree in elementary education, and I also plan to continue my
education and get a master's in visual impairment."
Duane Hudspath, Iowa, Iowa: "Hello. I am currently attending
Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, where I am
seeking a degree in doctor of chiropractic. We just started the
Bix Beiderbecke chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
Before that, I was an investment planner for six years, and I
originally earned my first business degree at California State
College in Western Pennsylvania. Thanks."
Max Isaacson, California, Connecticut: "Hi, my name is Max
Isaacson. I have just graduated from Alameda High, where I was
captain of the men's varsity swimming team, as well as captain of
the varsity debating team. I will be attending Yale University
next year, where I will probably be studying some sort of major
for law. I am looking to be a civil rights lawyer, and hopefully
I will get into Yale Law School."
Cheryl Laninga, Illinois, Missouri: "Hi everyone. My name is
Cheryl Laninga, and I am from Villa Park, Illinois. I am going to
be a sophomore at Northeast Missouri State University. Right now
I am majoring in sociology and eventually plan to teach in the
university setting, which means I'll be getting a Ph.D. in either
sociology or psychology. I love music. I play the violin and
country fiddle. I love to sing and play the guitar, and I am also
a member of Alpha Sigma Gamma, which is a service volunteer
sorority on our campus."
Jamie LeJeune, Louisiana, Mississippi: "Hi. I'd like to
welcome you all to Louisiana. I recently graduated from the
University of Southwestern Louisiana with a major in psychology
and a minor in biological sciences. In the fall I will be
attending the University of Southern Mississippi graduate
program, and I will be studying counseling psychology. My goal is
to become a counseling psychologist. Thank you."
Christine McGroarty, Massachusetts, Massachusetts : "Hello.
I am entering my sophomore year at Hampshire College, which is an
alternative educational school in Amherst, Massachusetts. I plan
to go on straight through to a Ph.D. program, where I hope to get
my Ph.D. in counseling psychology. I am planning on concentrating
in family counseling. Currently this summer, toward that, I am
working at a suicide hotline; and I am also volunteering at
Recording for the Blind."
Paige McLean, South Carolina, South Carolina: "Good morning.
My name is Paige McLean. I'm from a small town in South Carolina
known as Blythewood. I'm very excited to be here. I'm going to be
attending Furman University in the fall, where I will be a
freshman, pursuing a degree in pre-med and with definite plans to
attend medical school afterward. I'm still not sure exactly what
field I'd like to specialize in. I am very involved in athletics.
I've attended several national meets (I'm a track athlete), and
I've also attended some international meets and was fortunate
enough to participate in the games in Seoul, South Korea in 1988
and look forward to hopefully making it to Barcelona in '92. I'm
kind of new to the Federation, and I'm very excited about being
here and look forward to getting involved in making a
difference."
Jay Modi, Connecticut, Connecticut: "Hi. My name is Jay
Modi, and I just graduated from Bucknell University in
Pennsylvania, studying ocean physics and fluid mechanics. I'm in
grad school in a joint program between the University of
Connecticut and MIT, a Ph.D. program, and hopefully I will do
some oceanography in fluid mechanics studies in the future."
Noel Nightengale, Washington, Washington: "Hi. I graduated
from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, with a degree in
political science in 1986. I now work as a worker's compensation
claims manager for the state, and I will be entering the
University of Washington School of Law in the fall. With my extra
time, I'd like to hear if there is anybody from Washington State
here." [cheers from the audience]
Jim Oliver, Georgia, Georgia: "Good morning. I am originally
from Savannah, Georgia, and I am currently in Atlanta attending
Georgia Tech. I have a bachelor's degree in mechanical
engineering, and I am currently pursuing a master's in nuclear
engineering. I am involved in a number of campus and community
activities, the most significant of which would be the campus
chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which I founded and which will
build their first sponsored house this winter. Thank you all very
much; and I am glad to be here and glad to learn."
Steve Priddle, Alaska, Alaska: "Good morning. I am honored
to be here. I live and attend college in Sitka, Alaska. The
college I attend is Sheldon Jackson College. I was the vice
president of the associated student body last year. I am
presently the president of the student body. I am also co-founder
and president of the Learning Disabilities Support group at
Sheldon Jackson College. I am working for my bachelor of arts in
elementary education with emphasis on special education and
handicapped, and eventually for my degree in law. Thank you."
Behnaz Soulati, Iowa, Iowa: "Hi. My name is Behnaz Soulati.
I am originally from Iran, and my family moved to the United
States almost four years ago for more opportunities. I currently
live in Iowa City, and I'm a junior at the University of Iowa. I
am double majoring in computer science and French. I am planning
to get my Ph.D. in computer science and maybe French."
Valerie Stiteler, Massachusetts, Massachusetts: "Hello. I'm
Valerie Stiteler. I live in Boston, Massachusetts, and I am
founder and director of the chaplaincy programs for the
Protestant Guild for the Blind and the Boston Home, both in
Massachusetts. I'm currently attending the Boston University
School of Theology, where I am a doctor of theology candidate,
majoring in theology and worship. I hope to teach, to write, and
to serve my parishioners in any way I can. I also recently had
the great honor of representing the disabled religious community
at the first national disability pride day march and rally. Thank
you."
Mark Stracks, Connecticut, Connecticut: "Good morning. It's
both an honor and a privilege for me to stand here before you
this morning, one that I know I will never forget. I am currently
starting my second year at the University of Connecticut Medical
School, where I plan to pursue a degree in medicine and public
health. Afterwards I hope to specialize in some branch of
clinical medicine, augmented by either epidemiological research
or health management. I attended the Bowdoin College, where I
received a bachelor of arts in biochemistry with a minor in
studio art. I enjoy dressage under saddle, combined driving,
scuba diving, and amateur photography in my spare time. I hope to
meet as many of you as I can before I leave."
Peggy Pinder: And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the 1991
class of scholarship winners.
On Friday evening at the annual banquet, the scholarships
were presented as follows:
$2,000 NFB Merit Scholarships: Aziza Baccouche, Alex
Barrasso, Rick Blakeney, Imke Durre, Duane Hudspath, Max
Isaacson, Christine McGroarty, Jay Modi, Noel Nightengale, and
Steve Priddle.
$2,000 Hermione Grant Calhoun Scholarship: Paige McLean.
$2,000 Ellen Setterfield Memorial Scholarship: Valerie
Stiteler.
$2,500 NFB Scholarships: Karen Collister, Chris Danielsen,
Amanda Durik, and Jamie LeJeune.
$2,500 Howard Brown Rickard Scholarship: Mark Stracks.
$2,500 Frank Walton Horn Memorial Scholarship: Cheryl
Laninga.
$2,500 National Federation of the Blind Educator of Tomorrow
Award: Elisha Gilliland.
$2,500 National Federation of the Blind Humanities
Scholarship: Deborah Byrne.
$2,500 Oracle Corporation Scholarship: Kim Driver.
$3,000 Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship: Kirstyn
Cassavechia.
$4,000 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship: Richard
Clay, Jim Oliver, and Behnaz Soulati.
$6,000 Ezra Davis Memorial Scholarship: Ollie Cantos.
$20,000 National Federation of the Blind Distinguished
Scholar of 1991: Pam Dubel.
******************************
If you or a friend would like to remember the National
Federation of the Blind in your will, you can do so by employing
the following language:
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto National Federation of
the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, a
District of Columbia nonprofit corporation, the sum of $_____ (or
"_____ percent of my net estate" or "The following stocks and
bonds: _____") to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of
blind persons."
******************************
[PHOTO: Dr. Sullivan standing at podium microphone. CAPTION:
Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services, speaks at a general session of the 1991 NFB
convention.]
LAYING A FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS
by Louis Sullivan, M.D.
From the Associate Editor: On Friday afternoon, July 5,
1991, Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services, addressed the 1991 convention of the National
Federation of the Blind. Never before has a United States Cabinet
Secretary spoken to the organized blind movement. Here is the
text of his remarks:
It is a pleasure to be in New Orleans for the NFB
convention. I am especially pleased to be with Dr. Jernigan,
whose forty years of leadership in the NFB have provided the
steam to propel this organization to the forefront in America.
Kenneth Jernigan, Marc Maurer, and Jim Gashel are three strong,
effective voices for the blind. They, in combination with the
3,000 voices of active NFB representatives in this audience, have
ably seen to it that your messages are heard, respected, and
heeded all across the nation.
You are expanding choices, gaining equality, and assuring
integration for blind Americans. A rehabilitation teacher and
alcohol counselor who is blind said, "The NFB helps blind people
believe in themselves; it motivates us to go out and help the
other guy." Indeed, you are touching the lives of others. A
student at the Institute for Educational Leadership who is blind
said of the NFB, "Through their encouragement I returned to
school and am working on my doctorate."
You have successfully advanced your agenda over both
legislative and administrative hurdles. For instance, in regard
to your efforts with the Social Security Supplemental Security
Income and Disability Insurance Programs--you pointed out the
inherent disincentives to work, and they are being reduced!
The approach used to provide rehabilitation services which
are funded under the Social Security Act is changing because of
your leadership. Your call for blind people to have a choice in
selecting service providers in rehabilitation will not be lost as
new directions are developed. By your leadership through the
Federation, you have demonstrated that the blind do not need
someone else to speak for them. Whether in rehabilitation or in
life as a whole, we know that the blind can make decisions for
themselves, and government must not prevent that from happening.
I congratulate you on the opening of the National Braille
and Technology Center. And we all appreciate the impact of your
loan fund, which enables the blind to purchase equipment that is
cutting-edge in its technology. Your National Braille Literacy
Campaign is helping to build a better America and a better future
for the blind of today and tomorrow.
We have heard your message--every American, blind or
sighted, has the right to basic literacy training, including the
competent use of Braille for anyone who is blind.
Your spirit and your efforts are America at its very best!
The progress chronicled in the history of the NFB, Walking Alone
and Marching Together: A History of the Organized Blind Movement
in the United States, is inspiring. You have built a reservoir of
good will with the public, and you have my full support for your
goal--"complete integration into society on a basis of equality."
In the past, the phrase "the blind leading the blind" has
been used to indicate an impossibility. But today I want to look
at the new content and the change of meaning that NFB members
have brought to that phrase.
I commend your success at self-organization and your
perseverance as you have overcome legal, social, and economic
obstacles. You have heroically created a culture of self-
sufficiency and independence. You are establishing for the nation
the terms of interaction with the blind, and you are establishing
protection for your rights.
America has much to learn from the experience of the
organized blind--as a nation we are not seeing things very
clearly these days. We have lost sight of the importance of
values and the necessity to adhere to principles of behavior. We
have lost sight of the power of human potential. We have lost
sight of the necessity for helping each other and Marching
Together.
As our nation tries to peer dimly through our culture of
callousness, we need to follow your example and take
responsibility for ourselves. We have wandered away from the path
of principles and personal responsibility; our society needs to
follow your example of self-reliance and re-learn what it means
to challenge ourselves to excellence. All members of our society-
-our leaders and the public at large--can benefit from the
leadership and record of success achieved over the past fifty
years by the National Federation of the Blind.
A white cane has become a symbol--in our workplaces and
throughout society--of noble perseverance, determined
independence, and the satisfaction of self-reliance. Today, I
would like to challenge the members of the National Federation of
the Blind never to relinquish your position in the vanguard of
leadership. And I would like to challenge you to continue showing
the way through this territory that is so familiar to you.
First, NFB members can help America see the importance of
values and principled behavior. For the past two years, I have
been utilizing my "bully pulpit" as much as possible to call for
a transformation of our nation's social climate into a culture of
character. By character, I mean personal values and qualities
such as self-discipline, integrity, honor, taking responsibility
for one's acts, respect for others, perseverance, moderation, and
a commitment to serve others and the broader community.
By culture I mean the prevailing mores characteristic of our
society. We must reinvigorate those institutions that teach and
nurture values and principles of healthy behavior, especially the
institutions of family, school, church, and community. Frederick
Douglass put it clearly when he said, "With character we can be
powerful. Nothing can harm us so long as we have character."
Personal character, integrity, and a social climate which
engenders those values are essential for better lives for all
Americans and for empowerment of all Americans.
As an organization, the Federation has much to teach our
nation about the wisdom of building on a foundation of strong
values and unwavering principles. You have much to teach our
nation about persevering in the face of adversity to make dreams
become realities.
Second, NFB members can help America see the power of human
potential. Back in 1940 when the NFB was founded, there was
limited hope for the blind. Dr. Jernigan described the situation
for the blind in these stark terms--"custody, control,
condescension, inferiority, pity, and lack of opportunity."
Those conditions will not be permitted to exist ever again.
As Dr. Jernigan says, the NFB is "moving with accelerating motion
in a straight line toward the future." Those eloquent words
express the power of human potential. And, as he puts it, "the
average blind person (given reasonable opportunity and an even
break) can make the dollars and take the knocks with everybody
else."
The can-do spirit of the NFB is all the more remarkable when
put up against the survey findings that, next to death itself,
people's number one fear is going blind. You have faced that
specter, and it cannot hold you back. You have experienced
discrimination and lack of opportunity, yet you refer to your
blindness as a mere "physical nuisance."
Clearly you have generated the power to see your potential
fulfilled. Without strife or confrontation, you have exerted
positive pressure and the unified force of 50,000 members to
change perceptions and to make inroads on the pervasive
stereotypes of helplessness that people all too often have about
blindness. There is still a long way to go, but by taking
individual responsibility for making a difference, members of NFB
are role models for all Americans. Each of us can make a
difference, and each of us must make a difference.
Third, NFB members can help America see the necessity for
communities of friends and neighbors. Not only must our nation
have a renewed sense of personal responsibility, but of equal
importance is the necessity of our mutual support for one
another.
Last Sunday's Washington Post had a feature about new
neighborhood patrols guarding streets in the District of
Columbia. The gist of the article was that the police have not
succeeded in clearing out the drug dealers because look-outs warn
dealers when police are coming, and police must have warrants to
follow the dealers inside. With the assistance of neighborhood
patrols, dealers simply cannot make contact with customers--there
is nobody to sell to. This example of neighborhood cooperation
and unity in solving a major problem shows the power of unified
action.
The Post article went on to say that a surprising result of
the neighborhood patrols is that they are functioning in much the
same way as the old-fashioned front porch visits of yesteryear.
As neighbors get out of their houses to work together to rid the
streets of the drug dealers and protect their children, they
learn about each other's lives and communicate with each other.
Your unified efforts in the NFB have made you a powerful
force in changing attitudes toward blindness and in educating the
public about blindness. Your unified efforts have also created a
climate that is more receptive to individual blind persons'
achieving their full potential--both personally and
professionally.
In your efforts to empower the blind, you have worked on two
fronts. You have worked to change the external circumstances that
are unjust and hold back blind persons. But by fostering a sense
of community, you have also strengthened the blind and reinforced
the strength of character necessary to survive and prosper in
spite of adverse circumstances. Together, these efforts are
working to empower individuals and to motivate changes in
societal attitudes.
What you are doing for the blind needs to be done in our
broader society. The determination and hope for the future among
NFB members is a palpable force for change. Your shining example
can be a spark that can kindle a mighty fire of change--a fire
whose intense heat will enable us to forge a shining new culture
of character:
- That transformed culture can empower all our citizens so
that human potential will be realized, not wasted.
- That transformed culture can empower all our communities
in a unified effort to help each other be all we can be.
- That transformed culture can empower our nation to enlarge
its doors of opportunity, to offer independence, equality, and
fulfillment to all who are working to attain them.
Thank you for this opportunity to be with you. I look
forward to hearing future reports of your progress. I commend you
for your inspiring example, and I wish you Godspeed in all your
endeavors.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Congressman William Jefferson (left) shakes hands
with James Gashel, Director or Governmental Affairs of the
National Federation of the Blind.]
ERASING OLD IMAGES WITH NEW RIGHTS:
HOW PUBLIC PROGRAMS CAN HELP
by William Jefferson, Member of Congress
From the Associate Editor: On Wednesday afternoon, July 3,
1991, Congressman William Jefferson, Member of the Subcommittee
on Select Education, House of Representatives, came to New
Orleans to address some three thousand delegates to the National
Federation of the Blind convention. It would have been gratifying
to find that any Member of Congress who was invited to our
convention was impressed by what he found, but it was
particularly significant that Congressman Jefferson was moved by
what he heard and has been persuaded to work with us to achieve
our goals. Here is what he had to say:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to New Orleans. This is my
district in which you meet. I know our mayor earlier today had
the opportunity to give you greetings on behalf of the people of
our city, but I do not want to pass up the opportunity to do the
same. So please feel very welcome in our city, and whatever we
can do to be of support or help to bring about a successful
convention, we want to have a hand in making it happen for you
here in New Orleans. I will not speak very long, for which I am
sure you would want to applaud. But I am pleased to have been
invited by the National Federation of the Blind to make brief
remarks to you all, to Mr. Marc Maurer, Mr. James Gashel, who
works on your behalf and on our behalf in Washington and beyond.
I wish particularly to thank you for making me a part of
this program. I bring you all greetings, of course, on behalf of
our Education and Labor Committee and our Select Committee on
Education and from the Congress as well. The work that you are
doing here in this conference and the work that you do every day
benefit all of us whether we happen to directly deal with a
physical disability or not. Your association, the National
Federation of the Blind, has been the force of the nation's blind
for many years, and I am pleased to join you here today to add my
voice to yours and to help strengthen our plea to our Congress
and to our nation to help together to erase old images regarding
the blind with new rights, to discuss how we might fashion public
programs that can help the more than 500,000 people in our
country who are blind, their families and friends, acquaintances
and their co-workers to deal with the issues confronting blind
people that truly address all of our needs.
In the ten years that I served in the Louisiana State Senate
I authored and fought for legislation and funding to support
services for blind people and others of our citizens enduring
disabilities. Each year on the Senate Finance Committee I was
proud to offer amendment after amendment to assist in these most
important areas. Additionally, I authored as a state senator and
the legislature enacted two bills that I shall forever be pleased
and proud of to have been associated with. The first one was a
bill forbidding discrimination against the handicapped in our
state. The second expanded and strengthened the sheltered
workshops and statutes of our state.
Presently, I happen to have the distinction of being the
only Democrat in the U.S. Congress who serves on all three
education committees, and I am most pleased to serve as a member
of the Select Education Committee by choice. This committee will
have the responsibility during this term of Congress to
authorize, to re-authorize, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as it
has been amended over the years. This Act has provided
substantial financial assistance to states and, through the
Social Security Act, pays for the cost of rehabilitation services
for disabled and blind people. Without denying that this Act has
been very beneficial, it is time that the Congress change an
important part of the Act's crucial focus. No longer should the
Congress assign blind people to receive state agency services
only from programs specified by the agency. In the past, client
preference has been of little or no consequence under the
provisions of the Rehabilitation Act.
In the Congress we have recently enacted the Americans With
Disabilities Act, which sets a major new impetus for growth and
change in programs, including rehabilitation programs, to assist
those under its coverage. We are embarking upon an era in which
our hope is to remove old images, misinformation, and
misconceptions about the capacities of persons with disabilities
to contribute to themselves, to their families, to their
communities, and to their nation. In this context it goes against
the grain of this clear thinking to continue to spoon feed and
mandate rehabilitation choices upon blind persons seeking rehab
services. As a matter of law, then, it is time that we gave to
the blind people of our country, in the provisions of the re-
authorized Rehabilitation Act, the right of choice in selecting
agencies to provide rehabilitation services. As we have
authorized students to receive federal aid to attend post-
secondary schools, to choose their own schools, and to select
their own courses of study; and as we have permitted elderly and
disabled recipients of health services paid for by Medicare to
choose the doctors they see, so must we permit blind people of
America to have client choices in their rehabilitation programs.
We must not continue to subordinate their choices to those of
counselor decisions and agency regulations. We cannot, on the one
hand, empower our blind citizens through a broad and sweeping
Americans with Disabilities Act and, on the other hand, deny them
the right to plan and choose and have a say in their
rehabilitation programs. In this context, empowerment necessarily
implies choice. You can count on me, as a member of the Select
Education Committee, to argue for this point and to do my best to
sell it to our committee so that, when our new rehabilitation act
is passed out of the committee in this session, it will include
client right of choice provisions.
Although choice and planning rehabilitation services may be
the premiere and cutting-edge issue facing the Congress in making
an enlightened break from the past, old issues that appeared
well-settled have been put on the front burner again. The
legislation that was established by Congresswoman Barbara
Kennelly, among others, upon the request and with the strong
support of the National Federation of the Blind, to establish and
promote a program of economic opportunities for blind persons is
now being severely challenged. Under this and other provisions,
agreements have been reached between state agencies and highway
departments to give priority to the state programs for blind
vendors in rest, recreation, and safety areas on the rights-of-
way in the national highway system.
But now the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) wants to commercialize services
at interstate rest stop and safety areas. AASHTO wants commercial
developers to be allowed to enter into agreements with states to
conduct travel service and rest area programs (including rest
area services, food service, and other services) traditionally
provided by blind vendors. Without the protection of Federal
legislation in this area, opportunities for blind Americans
sought by the Kennelly amendment would be overrun by commercial
interest. We must not let this happen.
In this regard I believe Congress should enact the necessary
legislation to ensure that the blind vendor priority granted by
existing provisions of law are strengthened and insulated against
attack by AASHTO. I will support legislation to permit the
commercialization of travel service and rest areas on rights-of-
way of interstate highway systems only if priority is given to
blind persons in the management and conduct of all of the
services provided there.
Furthermore, I agree with your position on the National
Accreditation Council. And I will not support, and I do not
believe our committee will support or our Congress will support,
proposals to make accreditation by NAC a pre-condition for the
receipt of Federal funds to agencies providing rehab, education,
and employment assistance for the blind.
I came here today under the mistaken impression that I was
to speak around 2:00 p.m., and I had to wait, of course, until
almost 4:00 p.m. before it came my turn. But in the middle of
that and because of that mistake, I was granted a great favor--I
was able to hear your President speak passionately and quite
vividly about the progress, fight, and struggle that has been
going on in the Federation over the past years; and I too, like
Chairman Yeutter, am impressed with what your report contains,
with the work you are doing, and with your leadership, Mr.
President. So I am happy to have been a part of it, and I look
forward to working with you and with this great Federation for
the years to come.
The issues I have discussed with you today are discrete and
important issues and ones I feel deeply about. They, however,
will come and go from year to year, and we may deal with them
more or less successfully as they are presented. Our job,
however, in the Congress (those of us who are concerned about the
future, about the future independence and prosperity of the blind
population of our country) is to keep moving the agenda in a
direction away from misconceptions about the capabilities,
desires, and aspirations of blind people. Public policies and
laws that derive from misconceptions and from a lack of
information will present more of a problem if left unchecked than
even the disability itself. The public perceptions about physical
disabilities in this country must be changed to the extent that
all of our people--those with disabilities and those without--are
seen as deserving of and desiring the same opportunity.
We must enlist, not only every member of Congress in this
endeavor, but every American to the goal of independent living
and dignified living of every person in our country, regardless
of his or her physical loss or physical limitation. And after we
have done this, we must then fashion programs and create new
rights that match up with this new realistic thinking so that all
of our people may be properly trained and properly educated to
reach their fullest potential.
In this endeavor, I submit to each and every one of you, to
your Federation, and to its leadership, my hand, my heart, and my
humble service. Thank you very much.
[PHOTO: Justin Dart seated at head table during NFB general
session. CAPTION: Justin Dart, Chairman of the President's
Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, speaks at a
general session of the 1991 NFB convention.]
EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
by Justin Dart
From the Associate Editor: Justin Dart is the Chairman of
the President's Committee on Employment of People with
Disabilities. He addressed the annual Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind on Thursday morning, July 4, 1991. Friday
afternoon, July 5, the organized blind presented Chairman Dart
with the National Federation of the Blind's Distinguished Service
Award. That presentation is described elsewhere in this issue.
Here is the text of his Thursday morning remarks as he delivered
them to the largest group of disabled people to gather in the
world in 1991:
On behalf of President George Bush I wish each one of you a
happy Independence Day, and I congratulate you on a record-
breaking annual convention. I am proud to be here on Independence
Day with the organization that stands for independence and the
people who live independence: Mr. Independence, Dr. Kenneth
Jernigan, Marc Maurer, Jim Gashel, Peggy Pinder, Fred Schroeder,
my beloved colleagues Harold Snider, John Lancaster, and many
more.
And what a special Independence Day this is! The Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) is law--a landmark in the evolution
of human beings, the world's first comprehensive civil rights law
for people with disabilities by any nation. ADA holds the
potential for the emancipation and productive independence of
every person with a disability on earth.
I am proud of America. I am proud of President Bush. I am
proud of our great Congress. Most of all I am proud of each one
of you who laid the foundations of ADA in years past and who
organized the meetings, wrote the letters, and made the calls and
the visits to Congress that resulted in the passage of ADA as a
real civil rights law. I am particularly proud of the NFB
Amendment that prevented the paternalists from forcing us to use
segregated facilities. You are the true patriots of the twentieth
century.
ADA is an absolutely essential tool to achieve equality, but
ADA is not equality. To the millions of Americans with
disabilities who are still imprisoned by prejudice and
paternalism, ADA is a promise to be kept. That promise is
empowerment. For whatever the words of the law say, the clearly-
implied promise of ADA is that all Americans with disabilities,
including persons with blindness, will be empowered to fulfill
their potential as equal, as prosperous, and as welcome members
of the mainstream.
America is watching. The world is watching. Because we are
America, our success or our failure to keep the promise of ADA
will impact the quality of the lives of several generations in
every nation. How can we move from ADA to empowerment in real
life? I suggest four focuses for action.
First, last, and always, vigorous and united advocacy. The
hard lesson of history is that government alone cannot enforce
equality. The hard lesson of history is that equality is often
promised and never voluntarily given. Real life equality is
always a continuing conquest by those who seek it.
We will be equal only as we maintain and expand our active
advocacy with the power to educate and to engage every community
in the legal and citizen enforcement of our ADA rights--and with
the power to shape attitudinal and physical environments in which
we can contribute our productive abilities. We must reach out to
the hundreds of thousands of people with blindness and their
advocates who have not been active members of our movement. We
must inform them of their ADA rights and their responsibilities,
and we must unite them in action for empowerment. The Bush
Administration will fulfill its absolute responsibility to
provide leadership for empowerment, but the final responsibility
for keeping the promise of ADA is ours as citizen advocates.
Second, we must celebrate and promote our ADA rights every
day in every possible place--in our homes, schools, offices,
churches, clubs, and through the public media.
Every celebration of ADA strengthens the unity of our
movement, chips away at negative attitudes, and provides the
strongest possible platform to explain and to promote our agenda
for full empowerment.
More than two hundred million average Americans, including
most leaders of government and business, will never know the
legal requirements of ADA or any other law; but they can know,
they must know and be proud that this nation has declared people
with disabilities to be equal. Mainstream Americans can decide to
welcome us into their offices, their public facilities, their
churches, their living rooms, their minds, and their hearts; and
until they do, we will not be truly free. We must educate and
motivate America to empower people with blindness in the
mainstream.
Third, we must reach out to employers, to operators of
public facilities, and to government at all levels. We must
inform them of their ADA responsibilities and especially their
ADA opportunities--opportunities to have more productive
employees, more customers, more profits, and less taxes. We must
embrace them in positive partnership for full and harmonious
compliance with ADA and other rights legislation, with minimal
expense, with minimal litigation, and with maximal profit for
business, for people with disabilities, and for all Americans.
You of the NFB have a special qualification to help us
relate positively to business because so many of you are employed
and leaders in competitive business. Of course there will be,
there must be lawsuits when our rights are blatantly infringed.
But equality has never been implemented by lawsuits alone. Strong
enforcement of ADA is absolutely essential; however, the purpose
of strong enforcement is not to produce lawsuits, but to
encourage voluntary compliance.
Fourth, empowerment is the missing clause in the social
contract. The reality of all nations--including the ghettos of
America--makes it painfully clear that civil rights laws and
aggressive job placement alone, however essential, do not
automatically enable people to achieve lives of quality in an
increasingly complex technological society. The substance of
equality and of quality of life is empowerment in the economic
and social mainstream.
The next task of Mr. Jefferson's great experiment in
democracy is to convert an opportunity society into an
empowerment society. For more than fifty years the NFB has been a
pioneer voice in the wilderness for empowerment to be self-
reliant and productive. We must build on the foundations which
you and the other pioneers of empowerment have begun and the
proven strengths of the free enterprise system.
We must use the bully pulpit of ADA to promote a
revolutionary change of America's attitudes and a revolutionary
reallocation of America's resources from dependence to
empowerment. We must make creative public and private investments
in dynamic new initiatives that will empower all twenty-first
century Americans to achieve their potential for employment and
quality of life in the mainstream.
Education for empowerment. Incentives for empowerment,
rather than disincentives. Technology and total community
environments that empower. Services and community supports for
empowerment that offer real choices: choices because we are adult
American citizens. We choose our own lawyers. We choose our own
husbands and wives, and we have a right to choose our services.
I have presented an ambitious agenda. Some will suggest that
it is politically impossible and unaffordably expensive,
especially in a time of budget crisis. Bullfeathers. Impossible?
Isn't that what they said about democracy in 1776, about bringing
down the Berlin Wall, about ADA?
The budget crisis? President Bush has estimated the economic
cost of excluding two thirds of Americans with disabilities from
the mainstream to be about $200 billion annually. Our
irresponsible status quo is the cause of the budget crisis. If we
can afford to spend $200 billion to keep American citizens with
blindness in rat-infested ghettos, don't tell me we can't afford
to invest a fraction of that amount in the empowerment of those
American citizens to be free and productive participants in
mainstream America.
Money is not the basic problem. What is required is moral
and political courage--courage to overcome politics, personality,
and turf and to unite and to act for what we know is right;
courage to change stereotyped attitudes and obsolete systems;
courage to increase power by sharing it. What is required is
courageous, unifying leadership for empowerment: leadership by
you, leadership by us together.
The revolution of empowerment begins at home. As long as I
am the chairman of your president's committee, I pledge you my
very best to empower you and all citizens in the decisions of
your government and in the implementation of those decisions.
America needs you to keep the promise of ADA.
Colleagues, the revolution of empowerment will not be quick
or easy. Many of us will not live to see the promised land. Many
of us are tired after long years of struggle. It is tempting to
become obsessed with the aura of political triumph--the
positions, the recognition, the prestige. I am tired. And to tell
you that I am never tempted to compromise principle for prestige
or for comfort would be dishonest, and it would be arrogant.
But I think of the people with disabilities sleeping in the
streets of Washington and Bombay. I think of the people with
blindness imprisoned in the back rooms and the institutions of
Houston and Beijing. I think of my daughter Betsy with MS. I
think of my brother Peter, who said, "I would rather be dead than
dependent." And he chose to be dead. I think of the children yet
unborn in every nation, who deserve a life of quality. And I know
that we have miles to go and promises to keep before we sleep.
We must join together in action. We must join together in love,
in mutual respect, and in that primal reverence for life which
transcends the transient trivialities that divide us. We cannot
afford to fail. If we are together, we will not fail. I believe
that because I believe in you. Colleagues, my association with
you in our struggle for rights and empowerment has been an
experience powerful and beautiful beyond expression. I thank you.
I love you. Together we have overcome; together we shall
overcome.
NFB NET
by David Andrews
From the Editors: As Federationists know, David Andrews is
the Director of the National Braille and Technology Center for
the Blind. He has been responsible for developing NFB NET. Here
is what he has to say about it:
With more and more Federationists using computers, speech
synthesizers, refreshable Braille displays, Braille 'n Speaks,
and modems, there has been increased interest in the National
Federation of the Blind's offering a bulletin board service. We
are now doing so with the opening of NFB NET.
At this point some of you are probably asking, "What is NFB
NET?" Well, it isn't a way to capture new members. It is the
official computerized bulletin board service of the National
Federation of the Blind. A bulletin board system (BBS) is a
computer system which contains files and messages on various
subjects. A person using his or her computer and modem can access
the bulletin board from home or work. (A modem is a device which
enables two computers to communicate with each other over a
standard telephone line.)
The bulletin board is another way in which our members and
friends can keep in touch with the National Center for the Blind.
Here is what the opening screen of NFB NET has to say:
Welcome to NFB NET. This bulletin board is a service of the
National Federation of the Blind and is intended for use by
Federationists and other interested persons.
NFB NET is the official BBS voice of the National Federation
of the Blind and exists to disseminate news and information of
interest to Federationists, other interested blind and sighted
persons, and persons working in the field of blindness. It is
also our goal to facilitate information and idea exchanges via
computers and modems.
If you have questions about NFB NET or the National
Federation of the Blind, please leave a message to the SysOp as
you sign off or write to us at: NFB NET, National Federation of
the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.
That is what the opening screen says, and as mentioned
earlier, NFB NET will mainly consist of files and messages. The
files include past and current issues of the Braille Monitor,
other NFB Literature, and state affiliate and local chapter
newsletters. The system also has files of interest to blind
computer users, such as demo copies of various speeches and
Braille translation programs. Further, there is a selection of
public domain and shareware software. Finally, there is a file
area for NFBTRANS-related files. (NFBTRANS is the Braille
translation program developed by the NFB.) Future plans call for
the release of the source code for NFBTRANS, so this area can
serve as a collection point for altered programs, etc.
Messages on NFB NET are categorized by topic. There is an
area called Blind Talk for the discussion of issues, both
computer-related and noncomputer-related, of interest to blind
persons. Another area, NFB Talk, is for the announcement of
timely information and discussion of matters concerning the NFB.
These two discussion areas will also be carried on the BBS run by
Federationist Tommy Craig in Austin, Texas, and we would be
interested in having other boards pick them up. There is also a
discussion area for NFBTRANS; and Charlie Cook, its author, has
agreed to call in periodically to answer questions and offer
advice.
NFB NET is a part of Fidonet, a worldwide network of
bulletin board systems that exchange electronic mail and
discussion areas or conferences called Echoes. NFB NET will carry
a variety of Echo Conferences on job hunting, employment
listings, home-based entrepreneurial opportunities, WordPerfect
questions and solutions, and more.
For those members who use bulletin boards in their local
areas and wish to send NFB NET electronic mail via Fidonet, our
address is 1:261/1125.
The parameters for NFB NET are 8 data bits, no parity, and
one stop bit. The system has a U.S. Robotics 9600 HST dual
standard modem and can handle baud rates of 300, 1200, 2400, and
9600. The modem can also handle V.32 and V.42 and MNP level 1-5
protocols. What all this means is that NFB NET should be able to
connect with almost anything around. The telephone number is
(301) 752-5011.
The success of NFB NET will ultimately be determined by your
participation. If you have a computer and modem, give us a call,
leave messages in the different message areas, and please
contribute files and upload your state or local newsletters, if
they are available on disk. We look forward to seeing you
on-line.
[PHOTO: Dennis Thurman sits with Verla Kirsch at a sewing
machine. CAPTION: Dennis Thurman, Superintendent of the Iowa
Braille and Sight Saving School, attended the Information Fair of
the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa in January of 1990.]
A NEW WAY OUT:
IOWA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND DE-NACS
From the Associate Editor: State governmental officials come
to NFB affiliate conventions prepared to face informed, concerned
consumers of services and expecting to answer tough questions. On
May 25, 1991, Dennis Thurman, Superintendent of the Iowa Braille
and Sight Saving School, came to speak to the convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa to talk with the
organized blind about the school. After he spoke, he answered a
number of questions.
Near the end of the question period, one member asked Mr.
Thurman if he was going to recommend that "a certain organization
that we spoke of earlier today" no longer be the school's
accreditor. He reminded Mr. Thurman that such a recommendation
would necessarily be made in a public meeting of the Board of
Regents, the powerful Governor-appointed body that administers
the state's universities and the schools for the blind and the
deaf. Thurman replied--and Monitor readers who receive the
recorded editions of this magazine can hear his actual response--
as follows:
Dennis Thurman: Are you talking about NAC? [asked with mild
but amused incredulity. The audience responded with friendly
laughter] The school's accreditation with NAC expires December
31, 1991. I have advised the Board of Regents, and they have
given me permission to go ahead and pursue another form of
accreditation. (prolonged applause and cheers)
Now, if I could explain just a little about that form of
accreditation. It is something that is new in the North Central
Association--and, please, understand that, when I say "NCA," I'm
not mixing up NAC or putting it backwards.
The North Central Association of Schools and Colleges is an
organization in about twenty-two states that accredits schools--
public schools and colleges--throughout its region. In Iowa they
accredit all the Regents institutions. They accredit most of the
public high schools and elementary schools, although there are
probably some, because of their size, that can't meet North
Central standards, but the rest of them do.
About three or four years ago or maybe even more, the North
Central Association started an accreditation process called OA
(Outcome Accreditation). Outcome accreditation is a new concept.
It does not examine standards. It bases its accreditation on
whether or not you make valid plans for students, analyze the
students' success, and then use that information to change your
instructional program. We're very interested in that concept of
accreditation. We're very interested in getting away from "You
need this, this, and this" to a system that says "Your students
learned this, and you change to provide this." We think that is
a better way to approach education.
Now please understand. This is a massive undertaking on our
part. It is going to call for a lot of concerted, directed effort
by everyone within the school, and we are going to be stumbling
our way through this thing for the next two or three years.
You have to apply for candidacy with the North Central
Association, and we are in the process of applying for that now.
I would anticipate that we will not get our North Central OA up
for at least three years. We are accredited by North Central now,
and that accreditation doesn't expire until '93 or '94, so we're
probably covered through to the expiration of our current
accreditation. We're really looking forward to making this
outcomes accreditation process work. I don't know any more about
it to tell you than that. The concept is really radically
different. It is not a book of standards like NAC has had and
CARF has and so forth. The actual book describing it is very
small, but the process it describes is complex within an
organization. And that's what's going to take a long time to
develop.
That is what Dennis Thurman had to say about Iowa plans, and
it is a solution that may well serve some other schools for the
blind in good stead. It is certainly appropriate for educational
institutions to seek accreditation from a body that works with
schools. Certainly many professionals have said that the only
useful part of any accreditation process is the self-study,
providing that it is undertaken with seriousness and a will to
profit from the exercise. We can hope that other residential
schools for the blind will look into the North Central
Association's Outcome Accreditation.
[PHOTO: Resolutions Committee in session, seated around tables.
CAPTION: The meeting of the Resolutions Committee of the National
Federation of the Blind at the 1991 convention.]
[PHOTO: Audience seated in room during meeting of Resolutions
Committee. CAPTION: There is broad membership participation in
the meeting of the Resolutions Committee of the National
Federation of the Blind.]
RESOLUTIONS, DEMOCRACY, AND
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
by Barbara Pierce
Anyone who has ever chaired a meeting (anyone, that is, who
has tried to do it fairly) has struggled to achieve the balance
between allowing everyone to have a say in the matter under
discussion and actually getting something accomplished. The chair
is responsible for seeing that decisions are made and necessary
actions taken, but unless there is sufficient discussion and
debate the members of the group will be dissatisfied even if the
choices made prove to be correct. This balance can be difficult
to maintain in a small committee; it becomes infinitely more
complex in a convention of 3,000.
Mechanisms must be found for organizing and coordinating
floor discussion and for encouraging as many people as possible
to think about the issues and draw their own conclusions before
any question is brought to the vote. In the National Federation
of the Blind, as in many other large organizations, the method
chosen has been to establish policies by adopting written
resolutions which are examined by a carefully-chosen resolutions
committee. In the Federation this committee meets on the
afternoon of the day on which convention registration begins. The
committee is large, about fifty people from all over the country,
and its members take their job seriously. All convention
delegates are encouraged to attend this meeting--this year no
other convention activities were scheduled in conflict with the
Resolutions Committee meeting. At this stage of the process the
discussion is principally among the members of the Committee and
the sponsors of the resolutions, with occasional comments and
questions from the audience. Of course everyone is expected to
spend time during the week discussing the issues with each other
and committee members.
All resolutions must be brought to Ramona Walhof, Chair of
the committee, no later than 2:00 on the afternoon of the meeting
by a sponsor who is prepared to speak for them. The Resolutions
Committee cannot bottle up a resolution that it has debated. It
can only recommend pass or do not pass to the convention at the
time of the actual discussion in a convention floor debate.
Frequently the committee works with a sponsor to rewrite
resolutions that have problems or to combine several resolutions
on the same subject that have been brought by different people.
The Resolutions Committee is large enough to make it possible for
the chair to appoint rewrite subcommittees having expertise of
use to the sponsor as efforts are made to construct a resolution
that both the sponsor and the committee can recommend to the
convention for passage. But the sponsor always has the option of
bringing a resolution to the floor regardless of the opinions of
the Resolutions Committee.
The ebb and flow of such discussion is fascinating, and one
can learn much about the Federation, democracy at work, and
effective political process by observing the give and take of
debate in an NFB Resolutions Committee meeting. Following are
several excerpts from the 1991 Monday afternoon meeting. You can
see what I mean. Early in the meeting Andy Fountain of Florida
brought a resolution, subsequently given the number 91-19, which
was very similar to one brought last year and withdrawn by its
sponsors after Resolutions Committee discussion. Here is the text
of Resolution 91-19 as Committee Secretary Sheryl Pickering read
it to the committee:
WHEREAS, seventy percent of working-age blind persons are
unemployed or severely underemployed; and
WHEREAS, this fact is not a temporary, passing phenomenon
but a steady, stubborn pattern that has existed for decades; and
WHEREAS, experience, research, and logic demonstrate that
joblessness among the blind is due, not to limitations of
blindness, but to mistaken attitudes and poor training; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has worked
hard to combat this problem in many ways, including the Job
Opportunities for the Blind Information and Referral Program,
legislative campaigns to achieve enactment of nondiscrimination
laws in various occupations, court battles to enforce such laws,
public education about the capacities of blind persons, and
numerous other activities on local, state, and national levels;
and
WHEREAS, we are justifiably proud of these efforts for the
positive impact they have had on the welfare of the blind; and
WHEREAS, this fifty-first anniversary convention is a time
both to celebrate our accomplishments and to plan strategically
for even greater success in the years ahead; and
WHEREAS, the unemployment problem persists in ugly
proportions, damaging the security and psyche often of thousands
of our blind brothers and sisters; and
WHEREAS, our society as a whole thereby also suffers in its
economic health and spiritual well-being: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind that
this Federation hereby reaffirms its long-term commitment to
combating unemployment of blind people and declares this matter
to be its top priority in our struggle for first-class
citizenship; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization orient and
coordinate its programs and activities in light of this priority.
Mrs. Walhof: All right, you have heard the resolution.
Committee members, we are ready for discussion. There was a
resolution brought last year, which was withdrawn, that had some
of the same things as this one. It was ultimately withdrawn. Does
anyone want to discuss this resolution? Dr. Jernigan and Mr.
Maurer are ex officio members of all committees, and Dr. Jernigan
would like to discuss it.
Dr. Jernigan: I want to say to you, Madam Chairman, that I
agree with every word in that resolution except one, and that is
"the" as opposed to "a," for I do not believe that employment is
the top priority in this movement, and I will tell you why I
don't. I believe that unemployment is a symptom and that we have
got to get at the cause. Let me tell you what I mean. Of course,
we work on employment--the resolution is absolutely correct. Much
of our effort has been toward that. Somebody raised the question
with me, "Why on earth when you went to the White House did you
ask the President, for goodness sake, about airline seating when
many blind people don't have the price of an airfare, let alone
worry about where they sit?" And furthermore, I was told: "Why
didn't you ask about all the other things that might have been
done? Were there no problems of Braille literacy? Were there no
problems of the elderly?"
"Yes," I said, "But consider why I asked the question." It
was not asked casually; it was not asked with the notion that the
President was then and there going to do anything. (The person,
by the way, said that the president has probably already
forgotten the question.) Well he certainly would have forgotten
the question if I had said, "Mr. President, there is a high
unemployment rate among the blind; can you do anything to help
us?"
"Absolutely," he would have said, "I will do whatever I
can." He would have then forthwith forgotten it. "Braille
literacy, why of course," he would have said, "of course, I think
that's a shame." Obviously, the airline issue is not just the
airline issue. It, too, is symptomatic. It is a rather dramatic
way of focusing something, but it is symptomatic. It is not the
cause. Most people don't care where they sit on an airplane.
Certainly, I don't. It's true that if you are sitting in the exit
row and there is a crash, you have a little better chance of
living. But there is not likely to be a crash.
Our top priority, as I see it, is to achieve equal status
and first-class membership in society. If we can do that, by
public education, by working to see that in ourselves we believe
we deserve to be first-class citizens, then, I think, lots of
things will follow. When we're really accepted as first-class
citizens, we won't have employment problems more than other
people, and we won't have problems on the airlines, and we won't
have some of the Braille literacy problems, and we won't have
some of the problems that some of the elderly blind now face. Not
every problem goes away with that generality. I understand that.
But it's not really a generality to say that we're seeking and we
have always sought as our real objective, to achieve first-class
status and equal membership in society.
One may say, "Okay, but what's the problem in passing a
resolution which says that the top priority is employment?" The
problem is this: Later on arguments can be made that this means
any effort we make that isn't directly related to employment in
somebody's opinion is a violation of the resolution passed. Now,
I'm not saying that is what is intended. I don't think it is, but
we take seriously the resolutions passed, and we try, I think, to
interpret them in the spirit in which they are sent.
I don't know how the maker of the resolution would feel, but
I could support each and every word of that resolution and
support it strongly if we said that the employment of the blind
is "a" top priority of this movement. But I cannot support saying
it is "the" top priority, because I don't think it comes ahead of
trying to achieve equal status and first-class membership in
society. At least that is what we have always said our top
priority was--that we really had as our principal aim full
integration into society on a basis of equality. For that reason,
Madam Chairwoman, I want to ask the presenter of the resolution a
question. Obviously, it is his resolution. He's got a right to
have it presented exactly as he brought it. I wonder if he would
be willing to change the "a" to a "the," or if he wants it left
"the." If he is willing to make that change, I for one, could
support it, and I would question whether anyone in this group
would oppose it. If he can't do that, then reluctantly I couldn't
support it.
Ramona Walhof: Andy Fountain is here and would like to
speak. Mr. Maurer wants to speak. Andy, we're going to put you
on, and then maybe Mr. Maurer wants to have a few words.
Andy Fountain: I would like to keep the wording the same:
"the top priority," instead of "a top priority," but my
interpretation is different from the way Dr. Jernigan interprets
it. If it said the only priority, then I would agree with his
interpretation. I don't think that because it says "the top
priority," that means the Federation cannot focus on other goals
and to achieve equal status and opportunity. That is a strategy,
and that is the ultimate goal of the organization. The tactics
for doing that, in my opinion, are what these resolutions are
about, and making unemployment as an issue the top priority is
one of those tactics that is used to achieve this strategy of
stopping the blind from being second-class citizens. Therefore, I
would like to leave it as is, but I appreciate the fact that he
supports every word except "the." I think that is good.
Mrs. Walhof: [in response to several efforts to move the
recommendation no pass] That motion is not in order. Mr. Maurer?
President Maurer: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Very often the
resolutions that come from this committee are statements of
direction for the organization to be used in dealing with
entities outside the organization. And we may very well want to
adopt for our purposes today one plan of attack. To get to the
same objective we may decide at another time, after discussion of
a great number of people, to adopt another plan of attack. It
seems to me that this is a resolution that directs the techniques
to be used, rather than establishing a policy to be followed, and
I think it would inhibit the organization from achieving its
goals by limiting its flexibility, and I think that's the problem
with the wording saying that it is the priority rather than it is
a priority, and I would agree that I must reluctantly oppose the
resolution.
Mrs. Walhof: [in response to voices seeking the floor] I
have heard Peggy Pinder and Rami Rabby.
Miss Pinder: Madam Chairman, I would like to make a brief
statement and then ask for a ruling from the chair. I listened
carefully to what both Dr. Jernigan and President Maurer said and
share their reluctance. I want to add a few things and then, as I
said, ask for a ruling from the chair. As Dr. Jernigan said, the
word "the" is the word in the way. A scholarship program doesn't
lead to employment, Parents of Blind Children doesn't lead to
employment, the cane travel seminars we had yesterday don't lead
to employment, Braille doesn't lead to employment. How many of
the things that we do ground us in equality? And the equality is
part of what employment partakes of. But it is not a "the," it is
an "a." Madam Chairman, it seems to me that the issue has been
framed quite clearly by Dr. Jernigan and Mr. Maurer, and it seems
to me that it would be appropriate to place before the convention
the clear choice. Is it the resolution with "a top priority," or
is it the resolution with "the top priority"?
I would like to suggest to you, Madam Chairman, that the
Resolutions Committee accept an offer from me of a resolution,
which is in the exact same words--every single word of the
resolution that has been read--with one exception, which would be
"a" instead of "the." The Resolutions Committee could then, Madam
Chairman, if you rule according to what I am suggesting, consider
both resolutions. We could call them the "the resolution" or the
"a resolution," and we could consider each offer to the
convention a recommendation on each. And if I have a chance, I
will argue that the "a" should be adopted, the "the" should be do
not pass. I think, Madam Chairman, and I am suggesting that you
make the ruling that this second resolution--in every way
identical except the one word--be permitted to be considered by
the Resolutions Committee as the next resolution after the one
that is currently on the table. Can I have a ruling on that
please?
Mrs. Walhof: All right, it's time for numbers. Let's number
the Andy Fountain resolution, 91-19, and the Pinder resolution,
91-20. So we have two resolutions. Rami, do you want to comment
on either of them?
Mr. Rabby: Yes, Madam Chairperson, I would, on the first
one. I agree one hundred percent with Dr. Jernigan's reasoning,
and that is all the more why I think it would be a pity if, just
because of one word, we had to oppose Andy Fountain's resolution.
So I'd like just one more go at trying to persuade Andy Fountain
to agree to change the "the" to an "a." Andy, I would say that
you sound like a young person to me from your voice--I don't know
how old you are. It is generally recognized that about two thirds
of blind people in this country are over the age of sixty-five.
And like sighted people over the age of sixty-five, blind people
over that age probably are not that interested in employment.
They have had their employment years. They've done what they can
in their lives as far as employment is concerned, and they are
concerned about other issues--whether it is Social Security, or
Medicare, or leisure-time activities and how blind people are
treated in leisure-time pursuits, transportation, housing, all
kinds of other issues. That being the case, Andy, don't you think
that it would be appropriate to change that word from "the" to an
"a," taking into account the predominant interests of the
majority of blind people in this country? That doesn't mean to
say that employment isn't a top priority; it certainly is, as Dr.
Jernigan has said. But saying that it is the top priority, it
seems to me, would take away from all the interests of two-thirds
of the blind population that happen to be over sixty-five and
may, in fact, tend to turn them away from considering the
National Federation of the Blind as the primary force fighting
for their interests.
Mrs. Walhof: Thank you Rami. Andy, are you still at a mike?
All right, do you want to respond to Rami?
Mr. Fountain: First of all, I regard with great respect and
honor the fact that Rami Rabby spoke on the subject of my
resolution, but I still disagree with him. I again do not believe
that "the top priority" means "only."
Even though I support the Federation's efforts on the
airlines issue, I think that there are many, many, many people
who do not and who would disagree with this. Therefore, I don't
know if percentages could be used as a basis for constructing
priorities. I do believe that this is a policy issue, and I don't
know that it is specifically internal. I recognize that the
elderly probably do not have as great an interest in employment,
but, on the other hand, younger people don't have as great an
interest in Social Security. I believe that, if more blind people
are employed, then the barriers will be broken down more quickly,
and they will play a greater role in society because of their
rising incomes. So that is some justification for making it the
top priority, but not the only priority. I would certainly oppose
that, if that were the only issue. [chorus of voices, seeking the
floor]
Mrs. Walhof: All right now, I have heard Karl Smith, Jan
Gawith, Jim Moynihan asking for the floor; I want to know whether
you plan to speak in favor of the Pinder resolution, the Fountain
resolution, or something else. Then we are going to decide how
many people to recognize. Karl Smith?
Mr. Smith: Pinder/something else.
Mrs. Walhof: Jim Moynihan?
Mr. Moynihan: With all due respect to Peggy, the Andy
Fountain resolution.
Mrs. Walhof: Jan Gawith?
Mrs. Gawith: Pinder.
Mrs. Walhof: All right, we'll take these three, and then
we're going to start to limit discussion so we can vote. Karl?
Mr. Smith: I just wanted to say two quick things. First of
all, the unemployment issue is very important and is a top
priority, as the Pinder resolution states. However, as Dr.
Jernigan states, this is definitely a symptom. We had a person in
Utah who had a VISTA volunteer job at the state agency for the
blind in the last year dealing with employment only. Her job was
to help people find jobs--to go out and hunt up employment and
get people employed. She did a survey, which we helped with by
sending out mailings and questionnaires, of who was looking for
work. And out of the thousand-odd that were sent out, three
people wanted to work. That to me is a symptom of something else.
I guess the question sometimes arises, why are seventy percent of
us unemployed? Part of it is certainly because of discrimination,
but how many of us really want to work sometimes? That is another
issue that needs to be dealt with.
The second part of my comment is this: from the comments
that Mr. Fountain has just made, I want to know, is this
resolution a resolution about employment, or is this a sideways
smack at the airlines issue? and if it is, then let's write a
resolution saying, "Let's get rid of the airlines issue and deal
with something else." Don't give us a resolution about
employment, and then get up and talk about the airlines issue.
Mrs. Walhof: The resolution doesn't talk about airlines;
that was the discussion.
Mr. Smith: That's right, but Mr. Fountain brought it up as
an issue, and I said, if that is what he is trying to do, then
let's talk airlines and not employment. Let's deal with it
straight on.
Mrs. Walhof: All right, but let's deal with the resolution
on what it says. Jim Moynihan?
Mr. Moynihan: I think that the other priorities are
important: parents of blind children, cane travel, the airlines.
None of these should be in any way shortchanged. But my feeling
is that jobs are probably the key factor that limits us. I know
that today, for example, I was able to purchase a Braille 'n
Speak. There is no way that I could do that if my wife and I
didn't work. My two children are in private schools. There is no
way that I would be able to get that done if I didn't work. In
other words, what I am saying is that from a job flow a lot of
other things. From a job flows a lot of equality. When somebody
sees you coming into a restaurant, and you have a credit card,
somehow--unless you have a dog guide--you're pretty much treated
like everybody else. And that goes if you want to purchase
something from a store. So I think that the goal of equality is,
of course, a primary goal, and that will happen, but that's an
eventuality that we're working toward. If we can get our
unemployment right down to twenty percent or ten percent, I think
that there is no telling what kind of progress we'd be making.
Thank you.
Mrs. Walhof: Jan Gawith?
Mrs. Gawith: Madam Chairman, I think, like everyone else,
that employment is incredibly important; but I also believe that
we cannot pass a resolution that would tie our president's hands
so drastically that should something that we don't know of today
come up and really be more of a priority--we don't know what it
is--but we can't tie his hands so that he can't make a decision
where he has to move first with the most. I think that with all
of us here, employment is extremely important, but I would have
to say that we have to go with the "a." It is a top priority, but
it is not the only one.
Mrs. Walhof: All right, are there other committee members
who want to speak or, if not... [chorus of voices, including
Brown, Omvig, Page, and Ethel Parker saying "Point of order"]
Ethel, you're after Jim Omvig. Page, and that's it. Charlie?
Mr. Brown: I think we need to talk about employment as a
sub-set of productive activity. I'd like to see the Federation
and society as a whole, for that matter, work a lot harder on
(certainly within the Federation) recognizing that jobs are not
the only way we make money in this world, and there are a lot of
people out there who are entrepreneurial. In fact, one of our
major legislative agendas this year has to do with that aspect.
Just getting a job isn't the only way to make a buck in this
world, and I would just like to respond to you on that one, Jim.
[Moynihan]
Mr. Walhof: Jim Omvig?
Mr. Omvig: I was just wondering, Madam Chairman, the issue
is really laid out before us now, and there'll be a lot of
discussion on the "a" or the "the" between now and Saturday
afternoon, so I would like--whenever we are ready for a motion--
to get a vote on this so we go with it and people can discuss it
until Saturday and go from there. So I'm ready to make a motion,
Madam Chairman, if you're ready to take one.
Mrs. Walhof: Well, we're not yet. When we vote, I think we
ought to vote on the two resolutions as two separate resolutions.
We will take first one and then the other. Ethel Parker?... You
need to get to a mike. Homer Page? Ethel, we'll come back to you.
Dr. Page: Well the significance of the resolution is the
"the," and if the "the" is there, it really does significantly
change policy and the understanding that this organization has
had of itself. I don't support that. I think that we should vote
not to recommend passage for this resolution. However, if we have
an alternative that says "a," I think that we would all be
willing to say that that resolution does not break new ground and
is, in fact, unnecessary. I believe that what we need to do is
vote not to recommend on "the," and simply leave "a" alone as an
unnecessary attempt at a compromise.
President Maurer: Madam Chairman, I observe that the
language of the resolution is that employment is to be "its" top
priority. In case the question of language should arise, I don't
think that there is a "the" in front of "top." [A rereading of
the relevant resolve demonstrated that President Maurer was
correct.]
Miss Pinder: So, Madam Chairman, my resolution would replace
the word "its" with "a."
Mrs. Walhof: Committee, are you ready to vote?
Mr. Parker: I had a point of order!
Mrs. Walhof: All right Ethel, you're at a mike now; go
ahead.
Mr. Parker: I don't think the chair ruled correctly when she
let Peggy's motion in. It was past the time; by any subterfuge,
you shouldn't change the rule of the committee, which you just
did.
Mrs. Walhof: Okay, I appreciate that, Ethel; however, we
have always rewritten resolutions, and this was proposed as a
rewrite or a variant of the resolution presented. We always do
that. We always have corrections and changes to make. Then we
deal with whether the presenter accepts them or not. The
presenter did not accept it. We don't want procedural problems to
interfere with the will of the committee or the organization.
Mr. Parker: I entered a point of order. I may be the only
one to vote the other way, and that's fine.
Mrs. Walhof: All right, we've heard it. But if there is an
option to accept a member of the committee's resolution which is
a variant or a rewrite of one that has been presented, then the
committee can vote it down or up. Are you ready to vote,
committee? All right. Mr. Omvig, you had a motion?
Mr. Omvig: On nineteen, I move do not pass. [chorus of
seconds]
Mrs. Walhof: I have a motion and second that we recommend do
not pass on resolution nineteen; that is the original resolution
as presented by Andy Fountain and read by Sheryl. Is there any
question? All in favor of the motion, please say "aye"; opposed?
[audible votes on both sides, but many more in support of the
motion] Okay, the recommendation on nineteen is do not pass.
[unidentified voices moving and seconding a motion to recommend
do pass on twenty] All right, we have a motion and a second that
resolution 91-20 be passed. Karl Smith?
Mr. Smith: If we are in fact rewriting this resolution, is
this not still nineteen?
Mrs. Walhof: Andy, let me ask you a question. If we number
this twenty as a separate resolution, whatever the committee
votes, are you going to want to bring the original resolution to
the floor? We don't want to preclude your opportunity to do that.
And Peggy, if we vote on your resolution, which we will do--
whether it passes or doesn't pass, are you going to want to bring
it to the floor? All right, if they both want to bring it to the
floor, then we need separate numbers. All right, the motion has
been made on twenty, which is "a top priority"; the motion is
that we accept this as a resolution, that we pass it through the
committee and take it to the convention as a do-pass
recommendation. All in favor say "aye," opposed.... I can't tell
if some of the "nos" were from the audience across the way. There
are a significant number on the committee voting "no"s; is that
correct? Okay, then we're going to have to take a roll-call vote.
[After the vote was taken, Mrs. Walhof said]: I'm going to give
the mike to Dr. Jernigan while we count.
Dr. Jernigan: I want to say something to the Resolutions
Committee, which I hope will be thought about and considered. My
notion is that it's always good policy to trust the convention. I
understand that the convention will vote, and you have to abide
by it, but trust the decision of the convention to make good
sense.
From time to time, I hear people talk--and I'm not referring
to this resolution--sometimes very loudly about the fact that the
real majority of the Federation don't want the emphasis given to
the airlines issue that we have given. I don't believe that, but
there's a good way to settle it. I want to make an offer to those
who do believe it. If there is any doubt about it, let's take it
to the convention and settle the question once and for all. [loud
applause and cheers]
Now, I want to tell you how I think we can do that. If
anybody will write a resolution opposing the emphasis we've had
on the airline issue and bring it to me, I will personally take
it to the Board of Directors--that's one way a resolution can
come to the floor--and ask the Board to bring it out to the
convention through its channel. I'll tell you now I'm going to
oppose it. I think we ought to give emphasis to the airline
issue; [prolonged applause] and I haven't gone into all the whys,
but I'll tell you what I believe, and then we can put it to the
test.
I believe you can't get twenty-five people or fifty people
in this whole convention to oppose the airline issue. I may be
dead wrong; perhaps I have lessons to learn, and I'm willing to
learn them. I don't believe you can get that kind of vote because
I believe too many people have been humiliated and mistreated on
airlines; I think we've had too many horror stories....[cheers
and applause] I believe it's the same thing--some people have
told me it's not the same, but I believe it's the same--as Rosa
Parks and the back of the bus.
I believe that tied up in that one issue is a lot of
symbolism--the right of blind people not to be bullied and
mistreated by airline officials. And I think, if you take it to
the convention, you won't get a handful of votes that will oppose
it. As a matter of fact, a lot of people want to see us put more
emphasis on it. I think we have put what we can, and I can tell
you this: We haven't won the war yet, but so help me God, we will
win the war. [The continuing applause drowned out his voice for a
moment at this point.] It may take us a generation, just as it
took us a generation to win the State Department war, and I may
never live to see it, but we will win the airline issue.
[tumultuous applause] And the Federation will be there in the
front line, making it happen.
If you don't believe it, those of you who think we've put
too much emphasis, if anybody does, on the airline issue, don't
let's just grumble about it in the back halls. Bring it to the
floor, and let's put it to the test by the thousands who are
here, and I think you'll find how people feel about this issue.
It runs deep; the symbolism is strong. We have been mistreated by
the airlines enough, and sure, it's not the top priority of the
movement any more than some other things are, but I can tell you
this: It symbolizes what we're talking about, and you won't get
the convention to pass anything to deemphasize it, I believe.
Mrs. Walhof: All right sir. Now, the resolution 91-20 dealt
with a variant of the one on employment, that the Federation
would make it a top priority. The vote on that was thirteen no,
and twenty-nine yes, so it will go to the floor with a do-pass
recommendation.
There you have the discussion on resolutions 91-19 and 91-
20. No one bothered to submit a resolution arguing that the
airline issue should be abandoned, but Peggy Pinder wrote one in
support of our continued fight to win equal treatment at the
hands of the airlines. It was considered by the Board of
Directors and sent to the convention floor with a recommendation
of do pass as Resolution 91-101.
Not all resolutions require as much debate as the foregoing,
but each one is carefully considered and debated. A good example
of the examination given to every issue is the discussion
surrounding Resolution 91-11. It was submitted in Braille at the
opening of the meeting, and Ramona Walhof asked Barbara Walker to
read it to the committee:
WHEREAS the Hadley School for the Blind is the sole provider
in the United States of correspondence courses in Braille in
dozens of subjects; and
WHEREAS Hadley has expressed the same concerns for declining
literacy among blind persons because they are not generally
taught Braille as a viable reading technique; and
WHEREAS Hadley recently made the decision to stop offering
courses in foreign languages and in English as a second language;
and
WHEREAS it is very important that blind persons be able to
read and spell as well as speak a foreign language; and
WHEREAS it does not appear that Hadley has considered the
consequences to blind persons of eliminating this resource of
providing literacy and the opportunity for literacy to blind
persons; and
WHEREAS, there is concern that Hadley will in the future
eliminate other courses which provide basic education to blind
persons who have not, for whatever reason, had access to regular
channels for obtaining such education: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind
strongly encourage Hadley to maintain and expand their basic
education courses, including foreign languages and English as a
second language.
Ramona Walhof: You've heard the resolution. Are there
questions, comments? I've got a motion and a second to adopt. Are
there questions or comments on the resolution? Kathy Hagin, are
you here? Do you want to comment on this resolution. This is your
resolution, isn't it, Kathy?
Ms. Hagin: Yes, basically I know that a lot of people use
Hadley courses as a hobby, and that's mostly what they've been
for me. But if you aren't in high school anymore or if you're not
in a college course or a structured course where you get books
Brailled (and it is my understanding that some people with regard
to English as a second language actually are referred even by the
rehab centers to Hadley for their Braille course in order to do
that), the fact of the matter is it's one of the few places where
we can easily get access to Braille literacy in foreign
languages, and I hate to see one of our few resources taken away.
We need to have resources added, rather than have them taken
away. So that's basically my intent with regard to that
resolution.
Mrs. Walhof: Are there other comments? Charlie Brown?
Mr. Brown: Yes, is it that they are dropping the courses, or
are they dropping the courses in Braille?
Ms. Hagin: The only course I know of for sure is Braille.
Mr. Brown: I see, that is not really what the resolution
says.
Mrs. Walhof: Hadley offers courses in recorded form and in
Braille. You say they are dropping the Braille version of the
courses.
Ms. Hagin: That's all I know for sure because that's what I
asked for.
Mr. Brown: We ought to make that clear then.
Mrs. Walhof: We ought to find out, shouldn't we?
Mr. Rabby: Yes, I've heard about this. I heard directly from
a person who should know inside Hadley School, and they are, in
fact, dropping foreign languages, which is what this individual
was concerned about mainly--the dropping of foreign languages as
a subject to be taught by Hadley. Frankly, I would add to the
resolve not just strongly to urge them to maintain, but to
condemn their intention to drop the courses and to be much more
forceful.
Mrs. Walhof: Rami, now this resolution talked about basic
education courses. Do you know whether anything besides foreign
languages....
Mr. Rabby: No, I really don't know anything other than the
foreign languages, Madam Chairman.
Mrs. Walhof: Kathy, was it your intent to deal with anything
other than the foreign languages?
Ms. Hagin: My only reason for adding that is (I don't know
anything about basic education courses; I didn't ask for them);
but my concern is, if they can unilaterally... I mean the only
reason that anybody even knows they are doing that is I just
happened to ask about a course. They are just taking away this
whole resource, so my only concern is, if they can do that today,
they can take away basic education courses tomorrow that other
people need. And that was the only reason I added it.
Mrs. Walhof: Let me suggest, and see if you are agreeable
and the committee is agreeable to this. Let me suggest that you
and Rami and maybe one or two other people check out the real
facts of what is happening at Hadley and bring this resolution
back to the committee tomorrow night for final consideration. Are
you agreeable to that?
Ms. Hagin: Sure.
Mrs. Walhof: Because we want to be sure that our resolutions
are factually accurate. Are there other people on the committee
who want to work on this resolution or who know some things about
Hadley? Allen Harris, will you work with this committee?
Mr. Harris: Yes.
Mrs. Walhof: Okay, Allen, Rami, and Kathy, let's work on
this resolution, and then we will look at it again tomorrow.
Let's go ahead and give it a number. It's 91-11.
There you have democracy at work in the National Federation
of the Blind: slow, careful, detailed. Passions can run high, and
emotions are frequently stirred. There is great personal respect
and from time to time much laughter. In short, it is the
Federation at work. Everyone who attends Federation conventions
should make a point of being a part of the Resolutions Committee
meeting.
* * MONITOR MINIATURES * *
**60th Anniversary:
Marilyn Guenther, vice president of the Central Minnesota
Chapter, writes to tell us of the sixtieth wedding anniversary of
Alfred and Lidwina Spanier, who have been members of the chapter
from its beginning. The Spaniers celebrated their anniversary at
a mass at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry,
Minnesota, June 23,1991.
**Far Horizons:
The Writers Division of the National Federation of the Blind
announces the publication of its book, Far Horizons, a collection
of short stories, articles, and poetry by its own members. If you
are interested in adventure, humor, romance, or simply good
writing, then Far Horizons is a must read! To order your
copy(ies) of Far Horizons, send your order (along with check or
money order) to: National Federation of the Blind Writers
Division, 2704 Beach Drive, Merrick, New York 11566. Indicate
whether you want Braille, $12.50; cassette, $12.50; or large
print, $10.00. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Bee Hodgkiss.]
**An Entrepreneurial Enterprise:
Many of us know Bee Hodgkiss, a member of our Minnesota
affiliate, as one of the regular volunteers who helps unload and
load the truck-full of materials which we take to our national
conventions each year. Bee has a business which produces engraved
tactile signs, awards, and maps on clear acrylic. With
sophisticated computer and related equipment, Bee can provide
made-to-order items, which can have Braille and/or print
lettering. The system Bee uses digitizes photographs, logos,
other graphics, and lettering and transfers the image onto either
1/8-inch thick or 1/4-inch thick acrylic. Items can be produced
on a piece as small as 2 x 2 inches and on up to 6 x 6 inches for
portraits and most graphics and 8-1/2 x 11 inches for some other
applications. Wedding invitations, marriage licenses, birth
certificates, graduation announcements, and certificates of
appreciation can be photographed by the system, digitized, and
reproduced in acrylic. Portrait style photographs can be
reproduced with this process. For further information you may
contact Bee at: Suite 2604, 1117 Marquette Avenue South,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403; phone (612) 333-3100.
**Sell:
We have been asked to print the following by Ron Kolesar,
who is a member of the Erie County Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania:
I have for sale a manually wound man's Braille wrist watch
with a Twista-flex band. It is in excellent condition and has a
three-o'clock opening--if one pushes in on the stem of the watch,
which is at three-o'clock, the crystal will open. It comes with
Braille instructions. I am asking $125 or best offer, which
includes shipping and handling. Contact me at (814) 774-5709 or
at P.O. Box 102, Girard, Pennsylvania 16417-0102.
**Elected:
At its April 10, 1991, meeting the Potomac Chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia elected the
following: Seville Allen, President; Jerry Yeager, First Vice
President; Billie Ruth Schlank, Second Vice President; Sue
Povinelli, Secretary; Patty Droppers, Corresponding Secretary;
Larry Povinelli, Treasurer; and Maria Avalos, Maxine Oats, and
Jeannie Wood, Board Members.
**Of Alligators, White Canes, and T-Shirts:
From the Editor: Deborah Strother is a Federationist who is
starting her own business. She is putting a great deal of effort
into making it succeed, but as she recently said: "I believe
strongly in the potential of my business to succeed, but I can't
do it alone. I need the help and support of the NFB." Here is a
miniature which she has asked us to carry:
"I have something for those of you who were unable to attend
the 1991 NFB convention in New Orleans this year. I have designed
a t-shirt just for you. The t-shirt has a picture of a blind guy
sitting on a fishing pier. He has a big string of fish and is
getting ready to leave. He reaches for his cane, but he finds
that an alligator has grabbed it and is crawling away with it.
The caption reads: `My travel instructor told me there would be
days like this.' The shirts are white, and the picture is very
colorful. They are 100 percent pre-shrunk cotton and come in
sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL. If you would like one, send a $14
check or money order payable to Lifelight, Post Office Box 1685,
Ruston, Louisiana 71273. This price includes your shipping and
handling charges. DO NOT send cash through the mail. Please allow
three to four weeks for delivery."
**Support for Braille:
From the Editor: The article on Braille which appeared in
the New York Times on May 12, 1991, created a ripple effect
throughout the community. A letter from Ed Eames, one of the
leaders of the National Federation of the Blind of California,
was published in the Fresno Bee May 22, 1991, as follows:
Braille Independence
On May 13, the Bee featured an article by Karen De Witt
describing the current controversy about Braille education for
legally blind children in the public schools. Kenneth Silberman,
an engineer, was described as bitter about the fact that he, as a
partially sighted student, did not receive Braille while
attending college. Many partially sighted school children in
California are in the same position today.
Denying instruction in Braille because alternative
technology exists is to condemn many to a life of illiteracy. The
slate and stylus, used to produce Braille, is the equivalent of a
pen or pencil.
Teachers and parents would not suggest sighted children do
not have to learn to write because typewriters and computers make
writing by hand obsolete. Why deny visually impaired and blind
students the equivalent opportunity? When high tech and low tech
are combined in a working partnership, the result is greater
independence. Let us take the stigma out of Braille and recognize
it as the symbol of blind liberation.
Senate Bill 701 has been sponsored by the National
Federation of the Blind of California to enable the parents of
visually impaired students to advocate for instruction in Braille
for their children. This bill, which is just beginning its
journey through the legislative process, should be supported by
the public and our state legislators. It establishes the basis
for the future education of many legally blind students who could
become productive citizens.
Ed Eames, Fresno
**Ten Years of Progress:
Frances Townsend, Secretary of the Grand Stand Chapter of
the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, writes as
follows:
Ten years of the Federation of the Blind in Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina, were celebrated by the Grand Stand Chapter on May
15, 1991, at a luncheon meeting. Donald Capps, President of the
NFB of South Carolina, and his wife Betty were present and
brought greetings and congratulations from the state
headquarters. Highlights of these ten years were read,
emphasizing the main project of this chapter--to assist the
visually handicapped children of Horry County. The Grand Stand
Chapter has provided a Christmas party each year and field trips
for the students. A scholarship was awarded to Miss Shauna Cooper
of Loris High School, who will enter college in the fall.
**Alaska Job Openings:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Program Coordinator of Vision Impaired Infant Program --
Agency: Special Education Service Agency. Qualifications: Alaska
Certifiable Master level specialist, minimum 2 years experience
with infants and families, certified O&M training preferred.
Duties: Provide assessment, direct instruction, consultation, and
teacher training to diverse rural families of children (birth to
three years) with blindness/visual impairment. Salary: Beginning
salary range $35,000-$40,000 (DHSS). Contact: Tanni Anthony,
Program Coordinator, Special Education Service Agency, 2217 East
Tudor Road, Suite 1, Anchorage, Alaska 99507; (907) 562-7372.
Education Specialist for Vision Impaired/O&M Specialist --
Agency: Special Education Service Agency. Qualifications: Alaska
certifiable master level itinerant specialist, minimum 2 years
classroom experience, certified O&M training. Duties: Provide
assessment, direct instruction, consultation, and teacher
training to diverse rural school-aged population. Road/air travel
required. Salary: Beginning salary range $35,000-$40,000 DOE).
Contact: Betty Barats, Program Supervisor, Special Education
Service Agency, 2217 East Tudor Road, Suite 1, Anchorage, Alaska
99507; phone (907) 562-7372.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Albert Wilson.]
**In Memoriam:
From the Editor: We recently received the following
communication from Norma Crosby:
"I am sorry to have to report to you the death of Albert
Wilson. Albert had been a part of the Federation since the early
1950s, and at the time of his death from cancer at approximately
4:30 this morning (June 25, 1991) he was serving as a member of
the board of directors of the NFB of Texas and as our local
chapter president in San Antonio. Albert did a lot to help build
this organization, and he helped to provide guidance and support
to many blind people in Texas. We will miss him."
This was what Norma Crosby said, and she was right. Many of
us grieve at Albert's passing. I received a letter from Martha
LaQue, which said in part:
"I miss him very deeply, and I am having some trouble
accepting his death.... I promised him that he would never go
unnoticed. We took care of all of the arrangements that he left
us in charge of. I am his vice president and will do my best."
In my response to Martha I said:
"Albert was a good man. He loved the Federation, and it is
clear from your letter that you were close to him. You are right.
He will not be forgotten. He will live on in the work you and
others do to strengthen the Federation and help other blind
people.
"I know that you and the others in San Antonio will see that
the chapter grows and becomes stronger. This should be done in
memory of Albert. It is what he would want."
**First Tape:
Under date of July 18, 1991, we received the following
letter:
Dear Dr. Jernigan:
This is just a little note to thank you for allowing me to
be on the convention agenda on the Fourth of July. I count it a
real privilege to have been given the opportunity to lead the
singing of the National Anthem and to sing the 27th Psalm.
I do not know whether this is worthy of being a Monitor
Miniature, but I will be making my first recording July 30 of
this year and will have the tapes sometime in October. I will
send them to anyone who would like one and who sends me a check
for $10. It will be a tape of sacred music.
Thanks again for letting me share. See you at next year's
convention.
Linda Mentink
1737 Tamarack Lane
Janesville, Wisconsin 53545
**D.C. Convention:
The annual convention of the National Federation of the
Blind of the District of Columbia was held May 4, 1991, and the
following people were elected to office: President, Holly Frisch;
First Vice President; Joie Stuart, Second Vice President, Charles
Fields; Secretary, Renee Donalvo; Treasurer, Shawn Jacobson; and
Mary Brunson, Betty Fields, Thelma Godwin, and Bernetha McLamore,
Board Members.
**Orthodox Christian Lectures on Tape:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Encouragement and instruction in the (Eastern) Orthodox
Christian faith. Lectures and homilies by Father Thomas Hopko and
others. Payment is on a donation basis. Address: Dana Walters,
Orthodox Christian Study Tapes, Post Office Box 25112, Overland
Park, Kansas 66225-0112.
**Sell:
We have been asked to print the following: VersaBraille
Model P2C with manuals and input/output connector, asking $1,800
or best offer; Smith Corona TP1 printer, $350. Both are in good
working order. Contact Carol Syslo, Route 1, Box 129, Fullerton,
Nebraska 68638; (308) 536-3167.
**Good News From Oklahoma:
Eva Chaney, the hard-working president of the National
Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma, writes as follows:
Dear President Maurer:
Here is the latest good news happening in Oklahoma. Joe
Triplet and I traveled to Oklahoma City on May 30, 1991, and
successfully sold our book to the Metro Library, and as well they
agreed to distribute our two brochures to all the branches in the
Metro area. As soon as we return from New Orleans, we will have a
stamping party to get 1,000 of each brochure ready for them.
During that trip Joe opened doors to our PSAs on both radio
and television and I opened up the communication of events with
the Daily Oklahoman. They will publish the OKC Metro Chapter
meetings in the Calendar of Events column, send a reporter and
photographer to our Parents of Blind Children Free Workshop on
October 19, and even publish events that happen outside of the
Oklahoma City area, such as the Tulsa Chapter's walk-a-thon on
October 13. Good things are happening in Oklahoma, and it's only
been three months since our state convention.
We have lots of work to do, and we're working on it every
day.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Catherine Randall takes the oath of office.]
** Sworn In:
On Monday, May 6, 1991, City Clerk Pauline Newport
administered the oath of office to sixth ward Alderman Cathy
Randall for her second four-year term. Mrs. Randall serves as the
chairman of the Engineering, Traffic, Planning, and Inspection
Committee for the Jacksonville, Illinois, City Council. She is
also the First Vice President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois. Congratulations to Cathy Randall and to the
voters of the Sixth Ward.
**Proclamation Made:
The Governor of Missouri declared July, 1991, to be National
Federation of the Blind Month in the state. Here is the
proclamation he signed:
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is a vital
advocacy group that represents the interests of thousands of
blind persons throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, the blind from Missouri and throughout the nation
are determined to improve conditions for the blind by changing
public attitudes about blindness and by changing the outlook of
persons who are blind regarding their own ability to make a
contribution to society; and
WHEREAS, the NFB is totally self-sufficient, receiving no
government funding, but relying instead on its blind and sighted
members and the general public for support; and
WHEREAS, efforts of the NFB were crucial in the passage of
the White Cane Law, providing basic civil rights for the blind,
and the Braille provisions in the Children-At-Risk Act, insuring
that blind children in Missouri be given the opportunity to learn
Braille; and
WHEREAS, the NFB is the oldest and largest organization of
blind persons in the country, with Missouri having been one of
the seven states that formed this organization in 1940; and
WHEREAS, the annual convention of the National Federation of
the Blind is held each year in July:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN ASHCROFT, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
MISSOURI, do hereby proclaim July 1991 as
National Federation of the Blind Month
in Missouri.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the
City of Jefferson, this 7th day of June, 1991.
**Fencing Anyone?:
I am a vision-impaired person and am interested in learning
the sport of fencing. I would like to hear from any blind or
vision-impaired fencers. In particular, I would like to know how
they convinced their instructors to teach a blind person and
what, if any, alternative techniques they have developed.
Correspondence can be sent in Braille, on cassette, in
print, or by either size of IBM compatible diskette (preferably
in WordPerfect 5.0 format).
Please write to Sean Madsen, Box #2236, Station "D", Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K1P 5W4.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Steve Machalow.]
**In Memoriam:
From the Editor: Shortly after noon on Friday, July 19, I
received a call telling me of the death of Steve Machalow. I knew
that Steve had been having health problems, but I did not know
that he was seriously ill or had been in the hospital. Therefore,
the news of his death came as a shock.
I first met Steve in the 1970s when I was director of the
Iowa Commission for the Blind and he was a student. As
Federationists know, he was one of the three principal
participants in the film We Know Who We Are. It took almost two
months to make that film, and Steve's part in it was genuine and
compelling. He was like that.
He was always prepared to give as well as take, and he put
his ideas and opinions forward whether they were popular or not.
Those who have attended the meetings of the Resolutions Committee
at NFB conventions can give testimony to that. But he didn't sulk
or quit when his ideas were on the losing end of the vote.
In 1978 and '79 when we were establishing the National
Center for the Blind in Baltimore and putting the Job
Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) program together, Steve gave
many volunteer hours. He helped write grant applications and did
anything else which was needed--and he often did it without
recognition or fanfare. Again, he was like that.
He was one of the first to sign up for the Deferred
Insurance Giving program, and he quietly paid premiums on his
policy year after year. He gave what he could when and where he
could, which is as much as any of us can do.
I had less contact with Steve during the last two or three
years of his life than during the late seventies and early
eighties, but our friendship and understanding remained
undiminished. Now, Steve is gone--and one more member of the
Federation family will be absent from future conventions. But the
contributions he made will not fade from memory or be forgotten.
In critical times and difficult circumstances he stood firm for
the movement and did what he could to advance its cause. He
cared. My life is richer for having known him, and the organized
blind movement has been strengthened by the work he did.
**Sell
We have been asked to print the following: These items are
for sale.
1. Complete 12-volume set in large print, Roget's Thesaurus
of English Words and Phrases, like new. Some volumes are still in
their wrapping, asking $75.
2. Complete 7-volume Braille set of The American Vest Pocket
Dictionary, Stein, editor, 1951. Excellent condition. Asking $30.
3. A complete 5-volume set in large print of the American
Heritage Dictionary, paperback edition, published by Dell, 1973.
Excellent condition. Asking $50.
4. The Holy Bible, Old Testament on long-playing 33 1/3
records. Brand new, still in their plastic wrapping. Asking $25.
5. A Type and Talk speech synthesizer with connecting cable.
Excellent condition, like new. Manuals and installation
instructions included. Asking $150.
6. Smith Corona large print manual typewriter with carrying
case. Very good condition. Needs new ribbon. Asking $25.
For more information, contact Celeste Lopes, evenings at
(516) 935-4670.
**Braille 'n Speak Information Available:
We have been asked to print the following:
New information for Braille 'n Speak users, Top Dot
Enterprises offers two recorded publications for this ever-
growing population. The first is a three-cassette tutorial, the
Complete Audio Guide to Braille 'n Speak. This tutorial guides
beginning and advanced users through the latest revision of BNS
and contains tips not found in the official manual, though it is
not a replacement for the manual. The basic text is on two
tracks, but a four-track player is needed since there are eleven
optional inserts interspersed throughout the course, on tracks
three and four. The tutorial costs $16 to members of the Braille
'n Speak Users Group and $19 to non-members. When ordering,
please specify your revision date, since there will be different
versions of the tutorial for the most recent BNS upgrades. The
other new recording is a full demonstration of the Braille 'n
Speakout bulletin board system, teaching both how to use Braille
'n Speak with a modem and how to navigate the useful Blazie
Engineering BBS. This tape is free to Users Group members, $5.00
to non-members. To order or for more information, contact Top Dot
Enterprises, 318 S. Judson St., Tacoma, Washington 98444; (206)
685-1818.
**Organized:
Deb Smith of Iowa reports the following: We are proud to
announce that we have organized a new chapter. It is located in
the Quad Cities area. We have members from both Iowa and
Illinois. We are known as the Bix Beiderbecke Chapter. The
following members were elected to office: Deb Smith, President;
Laurie Eaks, Vice President; Duane Hudspath, Secretary; Rocky
Smith, Treasurer; and Tom Tebockhorst, board member.
**Taped Books for Purchase:
We have been asked to print the following:
Give yourself or a friend a gift--the latest books on tape.
Catalog available with the following categories:
Action/Adventure, Business/Finance, Horror/Science Fiction,
Inspiration/Motivation, Literacy, Fiction/Non-fiction & Humor,
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, and Self-Help. The catalog is $1.50,
but the price will be deducted from your first purchase from
Audio Message Corporation: P.O. Box 1058, Marshfield,
Massachusetts 02050.
**New Baby:
Nancy and Jerry Yeager of Arlington, Virginia, announce the
birth of their daughter Tracy Jane on July 8, 1991. She weighed
five and a half pounds and was eighteen and a half inches long
when she was born. Both Nancy and Jerry have been leaders in the
NFB for a number of years, and Jerry is currently the first vice
president of the Potomac Chapter of the National Federation of
the Blind of Virginia. Congratulations to the entire Yeager
family.
**Federationist Honored:
Sharon Buchan, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Alaska, has notified us that Kay Porth, one of the
leaders of the NFB of Alaska, has been named Handicapped Employee
of the Year for all Army installations in Alaska. She is now
competing with other handicapped employees for the same honor in
all the northwestern states. Army officials at the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C., will announce their decision later this year.
Congratulations to Kay Porth.
**Sell:
Connie David of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has asked that we
print the following:
For sale: one thermoform machine, in barely used condition.
Original price, $1800, sale price, $1200. Price includes two
packages of thermoform paper.
Also for sale: a Cranmer Modified Perkins Braille Printer,
barely used. Original cost, $2795, sale price, $2000. Includes
manual. For further information, call Connie at (612) 871-3839.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
JULY, 1991
by Ramona Walhof
Resolutions of the National Federation of the Blind
constitute policy statements of the organization. Any member may
bring a proposed resolution to the Resolutions Committee, which
meets each year the day before the open board meeting at the
beginning of the convention. This year the Resolutions Committee
consisted of fifty members from all parts of the country. The
Committee hears and discusses resolutions and recommends changes
if it thinks appropriate. The bringer of the resolution may
accept or reject these changes. The Resolutions Committee may not
bottle up resolutions. It votes to recommend "do pass" or "do not
pass" and sends each resolution to the floor of the convention,
where it passes or fails. Only once in my memory of twenty-five
years has the convention ever deferred action on a resolution
until the following year. Part of the job of the NFB President is
to find the time on the convention agenda to discuss and vote on
resolutions.
At the 1991 convention in New Orleans delegates voted on
twenty-one resolutions. One (91-101) was brought to the
convention by the NFB Board of Directors. It reiterates NFB
policy regarding airline treatment of the blind and is the first
resolution we are printing. The other twenty resolutions were all
brought to the Resolutions Committee. Nineteen were passed by the
convention, and one was soundly defeated. The texts of those that
passed are printed at the end of this article.
Here is a brief statement describing each resolution and (in
some cases) giving some background information:
Resolution 91-101 reaffirms our long-standing commitment to
achieving equal treatment for blind citizens at the hands of
airline and FAA officials.
Resolution 91-01 urges Congress to continue to protect
informational mailings about blindness and the blind by
preserving adequate revenue forgone subsidy.
Resolution 91-02 seeks to establish a national policy on
Braille literacy for the blind.
Resolution 91-03 requests that clients have the right of
choice in rehabilitation.
Background: The Federation and the Social Security
Administration have discussed for several years the approach of
giving clients whose rehabilitation costs can be reimbursed by
the Social Security Administration a choice of facilities from
which the client wishes to receive training. This approach is
currently being tested by Social Security. The concept has been
discussed with members of Congress during our Washington Seminars
for the last three years and has become increasingly popular.
Other groups of the disabled have now espoused the concept of
freedom of choice. As often happens, the Federation has plowed
the ground and continues to lead the way.
Resolution 91-04 opposes continued recognition of NAC as an
accrediting body by the Department of Education.
Resolution 91-05 calls upon the Federal Communications
Commission to exclude blindness as a condition for waiver of the
Morse Code Proficiency Test.
Resolution 91-06 advocates that affirmative action standards
be applied to sheltered workshops for the blind.
Resolution 91-07 opposes the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) proposal for
highway rest stops.
Background: AASHTO has introduced in Congress a bill to
commercialize (open new businesses) at highway rest stops.
Approximately 200 blind vendors are now earning a living by
managing vending machine operations at highway rest stops, and a
number of state licensing agencies are receiving substantial
income as well. All of this would be jeopardized by the AASHTO
proposal. The resolution does not oppose all expanded business
activity at highway rest stops, only this AASHTO proposal. If
commercialization is to take place, agencies for the blind should
be permitted to maintain the priority established by the Kennelly
Amendment to the Surface Transportation Act of 1982--an amendment
which was introduced and passed at the request of the National
Federation of the Blind.
Resolution 91-08 requests the support of the Social Security
Administration and Congress in maintaining the relationship
between the earnings exemption of seniors and substantial gainful
activity for the blind.
Resolution 91-09 supports the Independent Older Blind
Individuals Amendments of 1991, HR 2437.
Resolution 91-10 advocates that the week of January 4, Louis
Braille's birthday, be proclaimed National Braille Literacy Week.
Resolution 91-11 calls upon the Hadley School for the Blind
to continue offering foreign language courses.
Resolution 91-12 calls upon all agencies that are NAC
accredited to withdraw from association with NAC.
Resolution 91-13 opposes the National Commission on
Blindness as sponsored by the Affiliated Leadership League of and
for the Blind of America and the Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Background: A majority of the Committee on Joint
Organizational Effort discussed and supported a different
proposal for a National Commission on Blindness, offering
appropriate representation to all groups concerned. ALL and AER
are supporting this alternative, minority proposal for their own
political purposes.
Resolution 91-14 reaffirms the NFB position that blind
individuals should be permitted to serve in the armed forces in
noncombat positions and further states that blind persons should
be able to serve in combat positions when qualified.
Resolution 91-15 commends the Social Security Administration
for recognizing the need to modernize the Supplemental Security
Income Program and recommends a speedy response to good
recommendations from the modernization team.
Resolution 91-16 supports ACCO7--Informational Barriers from
the White House Conference on Library Services and urges a policy
that library services in alternative media be on a par with
library services to the sighted.
Resolution 91-17 urges state legislatures not to create
boards to regulate dog guide schools.
Resolution 91-18 calls upon the U.S. Department of Justice
to adopt regulations pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities
Act requiring publishers to cooperate in making print materials
accessible to the blind.
Resolution 91-19, which was overwhelmingly voted down, would
have declared employment of the blind to be the Federation's top
priority. The convention reaffirmed the Federation's commitment
to employment as one of the top priorities of the Federation but
felt that it would send the wrong message to place it in a
category above all other issues--problems of the elderly,
literacy, changing public attitudes, and all of the other items
that constitute the agenda to move from second-class citizenship
to first-class status in society.
Resolution 91-20 reaffirms the Federation's commitment to
combat unemployment for the blind as a top priority.
Resolution 91-101
WHEREAS, the achievement of equality for blind persons is
the foundation stone of the National Federation of the Blind; and
WHEREAS, equality in seating on public conveyances is deeply
symbolic of equality in the broader society; and
WHEREAS, many blind people have suffered the humiliation of
public harassment and arrest, and all blind people have suffered
the indignity of being classified as incompetent and treated
differently by airline officials and the Federal Aviation
Administration; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has made equal
treatment of blind persons by the airlines a top priority because
achievement of this goal will bring blind people a long step
closer to the establishment of real and symbolic equality in our
society; Now, Therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the city of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that we, the members of the National
Federation of the Blind, do hereby reaffirm our continuing
commitment to winning the struggle for equality in the airline
battle; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this commitment shall constitute
an ongoing major priority of the organized blind movement.
Resolution 91-01
WHEREAS, public misunderstanding and lack of social
acceptance remain the principal obstacles to productive
independence and equality for the blind in the United States; and
WHEREAS, these conditions can best be addressed through
education and outreach activities, including the mass-
distribution of accurate information about blindness so that
sighted members of the general public can better understand the
needs of the blind and support efforts to meet those needs; and
WHEREAS, mass-communication by mail is an effective means of
outreach to improve opportunities for the blind, and use of the
mails for this purpose could not continue with further increases
in postal rates at this time; and
WHEREAS, Congress is considering ways to continue and fund
the preferred-rate mail service program (also known as the
revenue forgone payment to the Postal Service), which makes
mailings by and on behalf of the blind possible; and
WHEREAS, in the distribution of publications and information
by and on behalf of blind persons, access to the mails is the
only practical and cost-effective method available, and loss of
this access would have catastrophic consequences for blind people
throughout this country: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization support efforts
underway in Congress to assure that all informational and
educational materials sent by and on behalf of blind individuals
will continue to be eligible for mailing with the full benefit of
the revenue forgone postal subsidy and without further postal
rate increases at this time.
Resolution 91-02
WHEREAS, efficient reading and writing skills are the
essential tools of literacy, necessary for productive living--a
fact which applies to all persons whether sighted or blind; and
WHEREAS, literacy skills are the core of the basic
educational program provided to sighted students in elementary
and secondary education, but for blind students communications
skills become the subject of special education planning, where
virtually all presumed needs of a student can be sacrificed in
the name of individualized instruction; and
WHEREAS, literacy skills among the blind have fallen sharply
and are continuing to decline as a direct result of biases among
educators against the use of Braille by the blind and of the
widespread but utterly false notion that Braille should only be
taught as a last-resort measure; and
WHEREAS, receiving instruction in Braille and in other
skills essential to literacy should be recognized as a matter of
right for each blind student, and the denial of that right by
means of any practice or policy should be attacked as a form of
cruel discrimination against the blind; and
WHEREAS, the Bush Administration and the Congress are
considering legislation entitled the "America 2,000, Excellence
in Education Act," designed to help the nation achieve national
education goals by improving the nation's schools, including
improvements in literacy education for all students: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this Federation insist that literacy
education for blind individuals be recognized as a national
education goal to include Braille instruction for blind students
as a matter of right; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization take all
appropriate steps to secure both administrative and legislative
support for a national Braille literacy campaign at the state and
federal levels.
Resolution 91-03
WHEREAS, publicly funded rehabilitation programs are
provided to blind individuals in a manner which limits the
selection of service-providing agencies to those only
specifically approved by the state agency in question; and
WHEREAS, the choice of a service-providing agency is a
fundamental decision which will almost always be related to the
outcome of the services purchased; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation clients are now at the mercy of
state agency policies and counselors when the critical decision
is made as to the appropriate program to be used for personal
adjustment and training services; and
WHEREAS, the selection of any service-providing agency
should not be made as a matter of bureaucratic convenience or to
fill some quota established by the state for sending individuals
to certain preselected programs, regardless of their quality or
relevance; and
WHEREAS, the selection of a service-providing agency is
properly a matter of individual judgment, and the final choice to
be made does not require any form of specialized expertise or
training; therefore, the final choice should be made by the
individual and not by the agency or its counselors: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization urge the Congress
to adopt a "client's right of choice" provision to be observed by
all states as a condition for receiving federal funding for
vocational rehabilitation services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request that the Bush
Administration make the "client's right of choice" provision a
national policy goal in rehabilitation, just as parental choice
in education has been made a national policy objective, bearing
the personal support of the President.
Resolution 91-04
WHEREAS, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies
Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) has applied to
renew its status as an accrediting agency recognized by the
Secretary of Education; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary maintains a list of accrediting
agencies that are recognized in particular fields only if they
meet all of the criteria established for recognition; and
WHEREAS, NAC fails to meet several of the published criteria
in that (1) accreditation is not required for agencies serving
the blind to participate in any federal program; (2) NAC is not
generally supported by agencies and professionals in the field of
blindness, and NAC is certainly not supported by consumers; and
(3) NAC lacks the resources (both financial and personnel) to
carry out its mission; and
WHEREAS, in view of these failures the Secretary of
Education should reject NAC'S application, just as virtually the
entire blindness field (both agencies and consumers) has now
rejected NAC: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that we strongly oppose the petition
filed by NAC for continued recognition by the Secretary of
Education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the Secretary to reject
NAC'S petition on the basis of the evidence that NAC does not
meet the established criteria for recognition.
Resolution 91-05
WHEREAS, the blind participate in all facets of the hobby of
amateur radio on a basis of complete equality with their sighted
peers; and
WHEREAS, most classes of amateur radio licenses require the
demonstration of proficiency in receiving the International Morse
Code; and
WHEREAS, the Morse Code is primarily an aural mode of
communication, with no vision being required to utilize fully the
code, and with no need of adaptive equipment or techniques; and
WHEREAS, blindness is not an obstacle to Morse Code
proficiency; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
recently amended the regulations governing the Amateur Radio
Service to permit waiver of Morse Code proficiency tests for the
physically handicapped, including the blind; and
WHEREAS, waiver of code tests for amateur radio license
applicants who are blind perpetuates the notion that the blind
are inferior and are incapable of competing on terms of equality
with their sighted peers: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that the organization call upon the
Federal Communications Commission to amend the rules governing
the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97) specifically to exclude
blindness as a condition for waiver of Morse Code proficiency
tests for amateur radio license applicants.
Resolution 91-06
WHEREAS, most Federal contractors are required to take
affirmative action to employ and promote qualified individuals
with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, sheltered workshops which employ the blind receive
substantial federal contracts under priority arrangements
prescribed by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act; and
WHEREAS, at least seventy-five percent of the direct labor
hours of work under such contracts must be performed by blind or
other severely handicapped individuals, but hours of work in
management and supervision are not under a similar requirement;
and
WHEREAS, affirmative action principles have not been applied
to these workshops, resulting in a pattern of discrimination
whereby blind people are represented only as tokens in management
and supervision; and
WHEREAS, responsible officials of the United States
Department of Labor have adopted a hands-off posture and failed
to scrutinize employment practices affecting the blind in the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day program, thereby allowing the workshops to
evade their affirmative action obligation: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization request a
comprehensive compliance review of employment practices affecting
the blind by sheltered workshops in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day
program, such review to be made by the Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs of the United States Department of Labor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Labor, Office
of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is hereby urged to
identify any and all remedies (including the possible need for
legislative changes) which would improve affirmative action
opportunities for blind persons in sheltered workshops that
provide services or products to the government.
Resolution 91-07
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind was successful
in securing federal legislation (known as the Kennelly amendment)
allowing for the sale of products through vending machines to be
operated by or on behalf of blind persons at interstate highway
rest-stop areas; and
WHEREAS, the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has requested changes in the
law to permit a wide variety of products and services to be sold
by commercial firms at rest, recreation, and safety areas
throughout the national interstate highway system; and
WHEREAS, AASHTO has identified as many as fourteen hundred
sites which it says are appropriate for commercial development if
federal legislation is approved; and
WHEREAS, AASHTO'S proposal for commercialized development of
rest stop areas has been submitted to the Congress in the form of
the Bush Administration's bill for continuing and expanding the
nation's surface transportation and highway improvement programs;
and
WHEREAS, the AASHTO proposal would provide a priority for
blind persons only for the operation of vending machines and then
destroy the value of this priority by allowing merchandise and
services to be sold over the counter by commercial firms in
direct competition with blind vendors; and
WHEREAS, The United States Senate has rejected AASHTO'S
rest-stop commercialization proposal by failing to include it in
surface transportation amendments passed in June and sent to the
House: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that we call upon the House of
Representatives to concur with the Senate in turning thumbs down
on AASHTO'S commercialization proposal; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization support
efforts to expand the sale of merchandise and services at
interstate highway areas only if there is a clear mandate for
blind persons to have a priority in conducting such sales,
whether by way of vending machines or otherwise.
Resolution 91-08
WHEREAS, blind individuals eligible to receive disability
insurance benefits under Social Security are subject to an
earnings limitation, referred to as the "substantial gainful
activity test"; and
WHEREAS, the provision in law which governs the amount of
countable earnings allowed under the substantial gainful activity
test for working blind persons is the exempt earnings provision
applicable to retired persons, age 65 to 69; and
WHEREAS, several proposals are pending in the Congress to
alter the exempt earnings provision for retirees by removing the
earnings limitation altogether or by substantially raising the
current exemption; and
WHEREAS, the Social Security earnings limitation both for
senior citizens and for working-age blind persons is economically
unsound and socially harmful in that severe income penalties are
levied against persons who attempt to become or to remain
productive; and
WHEREAS, most of the pending proposals to raise or eliminate
the earnings limitation would repeal the statutory relationship
between substantial gainful activity for the blind and the exempt
earnings provision for senior citizens, providing a work
incentive for seniors while continuing to penalize blind persons
who work; and
WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration has voiced
support for raising the earnings exemption for seniors but has
taken no particular stand pertaining to what effect (if any) a
change in the law should have on allowed earnings for the blind:
Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization request the
support of the Social Security Administration for maintaining the
present statutory relationship between the earnings exemption for
seniors and substantial gainful activity for the blind, if the
earnings limitation is raised or removed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge all members and
responsible leaders in the Congress to reject proposals to raise
or remove the earnings limitation under Social Security unless
provisions are included to exempt the earnings of blind persons
to the same extent allowed for seniors.
Resolution 91-09
WHEREAS, Representative Edward Roybal has introduced H. R.
2437, a bill entitled the Independent Older Blind Individuals
Amendments of 1991; and
WHEREAS, this legislation would establish a formula grant
program and authorize an appropriation of $26 million in federal
funds for distribution among all states so that needed adjustment
and training services could be provided to older persons who
become blind; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Roybal's bill proposes a much-needed expansion
of the federal program of grants to independent living projects
for the older blind, started under legislation originally
developed by the National Federation of the Blind: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this Federation express strong
support for the Independent Older Blind Individuals Amendments of
1991, in the form of H. R. 2437; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the responsible members
and committees of the Congress to recognize the need for
expanding services to older blind Americans by enacting H. R.
2437 at the earliest opportunity during the 102nd Congress.
Resolution 91-10
WHEREAS, in recent years the instruction and use of Braille
have fallen to an appallingly low level; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind is striving to
reverse this trend; and
WHEREAS, it is essential that society recognize Braille as
the key to literacy for blind people; and
WHEREAS, the inventor of the Braille Code, Louis Braille,
was born on January 4, 1809: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization call upon the
Congress of the United States to proclaim the week of January 4
National Braille Literacy Week.
Resolution 91-11
WHEREAS, the Hadley School for the Blind has for many
decades offered foreign language correspondence courses in
Braille to the blind of the United States and other countries;
and
WHEREAS, the Hadley School for the Blind is the sole
provider in the world of such courses for blind students; and
WHEREAS, having foreign language courses in Braille offers
definite advantages to blind students who can thereby gain
reading and spelling proficiency as well as speaking proficiency
in the language; and
WHEREAS, proficiency in foreign languages is assuming ever
increasing importance in the world of work; and
WHEREAS, Hadley recently has made a policy decision to
discontinue all foreign language courses, claiming low enrollment
figures and difficulties in the process of teaching foreign
language by correspondence: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization condemn the Hadley
School for the Blind for cutting off such an important channel
for education and employment of blind persons and for doing so
without prior consultation with the organized blind movement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon the
Hadley School for the Blind to rescind this policy decision and
to continue its teaching of foreign languages while seeking ways
to raise its enrollment levels and improve its teaching
methodology.
Resolution 91-12
WHEREAS, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies
Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) is on the ropes
financially and exists in name only and as a shell of an
organization; and
WHEREAS, NAC is dying and cannot survive because it has
existed primarily as a source of friction and divisiveness in the
blindness field, pitting agency against agency and blind
consumers against agencies; and
WHEREAS, NAC'S failure to attain financial stability in
twenty-five years of trying amply demonstrates that NAC is merely
a political tool and not a legitimately constituted accreditation
agency; and
WHEREAS, even NAC'S staunchest supporters and its principal
financier, the American Foundation for the Blind, have wisely
recognized that continuing to keep NAC afloat financially is not
a constructive policy either for blind people or for the field of
blindness in general: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization applaud and
support the withdrawal of any agency from NAC because use of
agency resources for NAC'S face-saving survival campaign is a
harmful disservice to the blind; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon all agencies in the
blindness field (including NAC'S current and former members) to
put NAC in the past and to move more constructively toward a new
era of unity and common purpose on behalf of all blind people.
Resolution 91-13
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the
Blind of America (ALL) and the Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) are
seeking the introduction of a bill in Congress to appoint a
national commission for the stated purpose of studying the needs
of the blind and to recommend legislative and policy changes to
provide improvements in services to the blind; and
WHEREAS, the purposes and structure of such a commission
must be discussed extensively and agreed upon in advance by all
major interest groups affected and, in this case, the views of
the blind, themselves, must clearly have weight if such a
commission is to be developed at all; and
WHEREAS, the campaign by ALL and AER for a national
commission on blindness is more a matter of self-serving
organizational politics than it is the expression of a generally
felt consensus that such a commission is needed at this time; and
WHEREAS, ALL and AER do not represent the movement of the
organized blind and are not representative of the blind, a fact
which suggests that this agenda is not in harmony with the needs
of blind consumers: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization oppose the
proposal for a national commission on blindness as it is
presently constituted and sponsored by the Affiliated Leadership
League of and for the Blind of America and the Association for
Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization advise all
members of Congress that the national commission on blindness
proposal lacks the support of blind consumers and should not be
adopted unless changes in the proposal are made and the support
of the blind themselves obtained.
Resolution 91-14
WHEREAS, many blind persons wish to serve their country in
the armed forces just as do their sighted peers; and
WHEREAS, it is the firmly-established policy of the National
Federation of the Blind that the blind should be subject to the
military draft if it is reinstituted (Resolution 80-01) and that
the blind should be allowed to serve in the armed forces of the
United States in noncombat assignments (Resolutions 82-16, 85-16,
and 87-14); and
WHEREAS, there may be combat duty assignments or tasks
within a theater of combat which qualified blind individuals
could perform with skill, honor, and distinction; and
WHEREAS, failure to exploit fully the resource of qualified
blind persons in such situations would be a waste of talent and
would constitute discriminatory treatment and a denial of their
opportunity fully to exercise their rights and responsibilities
as first-class citizens: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that we reaffirm our demand that
qualified blind persons be allowed to serve in the armed forces
of the United States in noncombat assignments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such persons be allowed to
perform duty assignments within theaters of combat commensurate
with their skills, talents, and capacities.
Resolution 91-15
WHEREAS, in 1972, Title XVI was added to the Social Security
Act to establish the Supplemental Security Income benefit
payments program for needy aged, blind, and disabled persons; and
WHEREAS, Title XVI and the regulations promulgated therefrom
became effective in 1974; and
WHEREAS, over the past seventeen years, the SSI Program has
remained virtually unchanged and has failed to keep in step with
and has fallen far short of the economic and demographic changes
within our society; and
WHEREAS, Gwendolyn King, Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration, has appointed a Supplemental Security Income
Modernization Team of experts for the express purpose of
collecting and compiling data to formulate suggested changes to
update the SSI Program; and
WHEREAS, the Social Security Administration is to be
commended for its efforts to modernize the antiquated SSI
program; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind presented
testimony to the SSI Modernization Team suggesting that the
income and resource disregards be increased to a level
commensurate with current economic standards; and
WHEREAS, the SSI Modernization Team will soon issue its
findings and recommendations for changes in legislation; and
WHEREAS, it is expected that these findings and
recommendations will include the suggestions offered in testimony
by the National Federation of the Blind; and
WHEREAS, it is essential for the Department of Health and
Human Services and the United States Congress to recognize the
urgency for modernizing the SSI law: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization commend the Social
Security Administration for recognizing the serious and long
overdue need to evaluate and modernize the Supplemental Security
Income Program by the appointment of the SSI Modernization Team;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, to the extent that the soon-to-
be-released findings and recommendations of the SSI Modernization
Team support the suggestions of the National Federation of the
Blind, we call upon the Department of Health and Human Services
and the United States Congress to act expeditiously upon these
recommendations to reform the Supplemental Security Income
Program.
Resolution 91-16
WHEREAS, although sighted people may obtain written
information from book stores, news stands, retail stores,
schools, and countless other locations, including local public
libraries, blind people are systematically and routinely denied
ready access to the printed word; and
WHEREAS, the primary source of material in Braille, tape,
and disc for blind people is the National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress
(NLS); and
WHEREAS, with its current funding NLS can produce far less
than one percent of the material which is made available to the
sighted each year; and
WHEREAS, the lack of available materials and proper
instruction in Braille means that far too many blind people,
including the majority of today's blind children and youth, are
functionally illiterate; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the
nation's largest organization of blind people, has over the years
led the way and been committed to ensuring equitable print access
and Braille literacy services to blind people through, among
other things, its strong legislative advocacy in obtaining
funding for NLS programs; and
WHEREAS, the 1991 White House Conference on Library and
Information Services has as its themes Literacy, Democracy, and
Productivity--themes which are in harmony with the goals of the
NFB; and
WHEREAS, one set of recommendations to be considered by
delegates at the White House Conference is entitled
Recommendation ACCO7--Informational Barriers, which states:
"(1) The Federal Government should increase the 'fenced'
funding for the Library of Congress Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped in order to provide expanded production of
Braille, cassette, and disc books and magazines as well as the
necessary equipment for users;
"(2) If required, Congressional legislated funding should be
allocated to ensure the uninterrupted free postal transmission of
these materials;
"(3) There should be a program of research and development
enacted to examine new and promising technologies for achieving
the same goal in a more cost-effective manner;
"(4) Literacy in alternative media such as Braille should be
encouraged and affirmed": Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this Federation support ACCO7--
Informational Barriers from the White House Conference on Library
Services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the White House
Conference to adopt a policy that the National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provide blind people
with library and information technology services in an
alternative medium which is on a par with the library services
available to their sighted peers.
Resolution 91-17
WHEREAS, the beginning of a deleterious trend in guide dog
training and provision is observable in the State of California;
and
WHEREAS, this trend is based on detailed and erroneous state
legislation and regulation regarding guide dogs; and
WHEREAS, examples of this inappropriate state interference
include refusing to transfer ownership of the guide dog to the
blind person, refusing to recognize experienced guide dog users
if the experience was acquired out of state, refusing to permit
training of guide dogs in a home setting, and refusing to support
equal access for blind persons with guide dogs who were privately
trained; and
WHEREAS, the inappropriate state legislation and regulations
also stifle the creative and competitive forces that can yield
new techniques and approaches by prohibiting private guide dog
training and by constructing impossibly high barriers to the
establishment of new training facilities; and
WHEREAS, while protecting the employees of training
facilities from accountability to consumers and state
investigators, the Board in California has provided no protection
to blind consumers from poor training, custodialism, and
misrepresentation to the public by these same employees; and
WHEREAS, the Board's monopolistic approach is inconsistent
with the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state-centered
approach is inconsistent with the long established right to
travel freely throughout our nation; and
WHEREAS, several other states are considering adopting the
same wasteful and harmful legislative and regulatory framework as
the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of California
is vigorously and courageously opposing these trespasses on
dignity and common sense: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization urge state
legislatures to abandon consideration of legislation to establish
regulatory agencies similar to the California Board of Guide Dogs
for the Blind and urge the California legislature to abandon this
unfortunate and long-lasting experiment.
Resolution 91-18
WHEREAS, most published information is produced in a form
that is not directly accessible to the blind because the
publishers of such information have had no obligation to produce
it in a medium that blind people can read by themselves; and
WHEREAS, publishers are public accommodations as that term
is used in the Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore
now obliged to provide blind people with direct access to the
words they disseminate; and
WHEREAS, access is readily achievable with existing
technology and must be enforced through regulations to be
promulgated by the Department of Justice: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization urge the
Department of Justice to specify, in the regulations for the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the duty of publishers to take
positive steps to cooperate with all public and private entities
in making published material accessible to the blind; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the
Blind pledge to work with the Department of Justice to assure
that the Americans with Disabilities Act is interpreted and
implemented by the federal government and the publishing industry
in a way that augments and does not conflict with the important
work performed by the Library of Congress National Library
Service, Recording for the Blind, and others who produce
materials in media usable by the blind population.
Resolution 91-20
WHEREAS, seventy percent of working-age blind persons are
unemployed or severely underemployed; and
WHEREAS, this fact is not a temporary, passing phenomenon
but a steady, stubborn pattern that has existed for decades; and
WHEREAS, experience, research, and logic demonstrate that
joblessness among the blind is due, not to limitations of
blindness, but to mistaken attitudes and poor training; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has worked
hard to combat this problem in many ways, including the Job
Opportunities for the Blind Information and Referral Program,
legislative campaigns to achieve enactment of nondiscrimination
laws in various occupations, court battles to enforce such laws,
public education about the capacities of blind persons, and
numerous other activities on local, state, and national levels;
and
WHEREAS, we are justifiably proud of these efforts for the
positive impact they have had on the welfare of the blind; and
WHEREAS, this 51st anniversary convention is a time both to
celebrate our accomplishments and to plan strategically for even
greater success in the years ahead; and
WHEREAS, the unemployment problem persists in ugly
proportions, often damaging the security and psyches of thousands
of our blind brothers and sisters; and
WHEREAS, our society as a whole thereby also suffers in its
economic health and spiritual well-being: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this sixth day of July, 1991, in the City of
New Orleans, Louisiana, that this Federation hereby reaffirm its
long-term commitment to combating unemployment of blind people
and declare this matter to be a top priority in our struggle for
first-class citizenship; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization orient and
coordinate its programs and activities in light of this
priority.Copyright National Federation of the Blind, Inc., 1991
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