THE BRAILLE MONITOR
PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

                            CONTENTS

                                                   DECEMBER, 1990

CONVENTION 1991

NEW ORLEANS--CITY OF DESIRES
by Jerry Whittle

REFLECTIONS ON THE 
CALIFORNIA ORIENTATION CENTER FOR THE BLIND
by Tom Bickford

BOOK REVIEW: SNAKEWALK

SNAKEWALK
by Kenneth Jernigan

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS:
WHAT BLIND WORKERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS

CHICAGO LEARNS ABOUT NFB IN SUN TIMES TRIATHLON

A SEASON FOR GRATITUDE
by Barbara Pierce

BRAILLE BILL MEETS BIG ED
by William D. Meeker

IS THERE SHAME? AND IS IT MINE?
by Jan Kafton

DON'T COUNT DIALOGUE OUT YET
by Barbara Pierce

SOCIAL SECURITY AND TRIAL WORK: FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
by James Gashel

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S CLIPBOARD

EXPANDING OUR FEDERATION FAMILY
by Barbara Pierce

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR OF BLIND CHILDREN AWARD FOR 1991
by Sharon Maneki

BLIND EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 1991
by Steve Benson

RECIPES
by Tom Bickford

MONITOR MINIATURES

     Copyright, National Federation of the Blind, Inc., 1990[3 LEAD PHOTOS/CAPTIONS: New Orleans, Louisiana, site of the 1991
National Federation of the Blind convention, June 30 through July
7, is a city of enchantment. There are tours and activities for
every taste. Make your plans now to be a part of the largest
group of blind people to gather anywhere in 1991. Pictured here
are three of the landmarks you won't want to miss: the St. Louis
Cathedral (above); the world famous Cafe Du Monde (below, left);
and the stern wheeler Natchez (below, right), which plys the
Mississippi. Come join us.


                         CONVENTION 1991

     The time has come to plan for the 1991 convention of the
National Federation of the Blind. Denver in 1989 was
breathtaking; the fiftieth anniversary in 1990 was unbeatable;
New Orleans in '91 will be a combination of both. We have not
held a national convention in New Orleans since 1977, and those
who were there will remember what a tremendous experience it was.
This one will be better. Reservations should be made directly
with the Hyatt, and as soon as possible. As always, our room
rates are the envy of all who know about them. Details about the
rates, the hotel, and the city of New Orleans will be given in
the following article by Jerry Whittle. This convention will be
vintage Federation--interesting program items, exciting tours,
plentiful door prizes, vital issues to be decided, and
friendships to be made and renewed. Remember that door prizes
should be contributed by individual Federationists and by state
and local affiliates throughout the country. No prize should be
worth less than $25.00 (cash is always acceptable). Either bring
your prizes to convention or send them to: Mr. Nick Danos, Route
1, Box 237, Lockport, Louisiana 70374, phone (504) 532-2785. It
will be helpful if door prizes are labeled both in print and
Braille, giving the estimated value of the prize and listing the
donor.
     As you plan for the 1991 convention, do not forget that it
is to be held in the wonderful city of New Orleans, rich in the
lore of history and permeated by the atmosphere of the French
Quarter. This will be a convention to enjoy and remember.


                  NEW ORLEANS--CITY OF DESIRES
                        by Jerry Whittle

     Some people call New Orleans the "Big Easy." To others, New
Orleans symbolizes the best of American art forms--music,
architecture, and art. To many more, the city at the mouth of the
mighty Mississippi fulfills a yearning for leisure and good
times. For all these reasons, New Orleans draws millions of
people each year, and all of them catch at least a touch of the
spirit of the city--sometimes sublime, sometimes raucous, and
sometimes a little of both. No other region of the city provides
this curious mixture of beauty and carefree living as the French
Quarter does.

The Sublime

     Perhaps the most beautiful section of the French Quarter is
the area known as Jackson Square. As the visitor strolls past the
St. Louis Cathedral, he or she will soon discover that the little
park nearby is a mecca for artists. Men and women display their
watercolors and oils along the walls of the park. An old man sits
with a dog in his lap; his beard is long and gray, his eyes sharp
and full of mischief. Nearby, three men sit on a park bench
singing "When Those Saints Go Marchin' In." Farther down the
street a small boy tap dances on the pavement, circled by a ring
of clapping, smiling spectators. People of every description and
nationality stroll leisurely by, looking down the streets and
studying the beautiful architecture of the cathedral or the
picturesque charm of Chartres Street.
     On Decatur near the Mississippi one is overwhelmed by the
diversity of sounds and smells and sights. The Cafe du Monde has
always been a focal point of this section, and people from all
over the world sit outside and drink rich dark roast coffee and
eat sugar-coated beignets. The conversation seems to come in
waves. Across the street from Cafe du Monde a Dixieland band
suddenly strikes up in an outdoor cafe called the Gallery. A
crowd soon gathers and watches as an aged woman, bent and stiff,
dances with an equally superannuated partner. Strolling past the
Cafe du Monde, one can see a unicyclist or a one-man band or a
sidewalk philosopher expounding upon the virtues of river life or
politics. I can remember once walking to the banks of the
Mississippi directly behind the Cafe du Monde. As I approached
the river, I heard a man playing a trumpet for all he was worth.
The Chamber of Commerce could not have planned it any better. The
river is full of barges and tugboats, and periodically the
mournful blast of the foghorn is easily discerned from any point
in the Quarter. One of the most common sounds along the river is
a calliope piping on board a steamboat like the Delta Queen as it
anchors in the harbor.
     Part of the great attraction of New Orleans is the food, the
fine cafes and restaurants that dot the cobblestone streets.
Breakfast or brunch at Brennan's; the haute cuisine and
traditional setting of Antoine's; the noisy food stalls in Jax
Brewery; the elegance of Mr. B's on Royal; the sumptuous lunches
at Commander's Palace--all of these add to the charm of the great
city. I can remember attending an early mass at the St. Louis
Cathedral one Sunday morning. As I left the cathedral, I decided
to walk down my favorite street in the French Quarter, Chartres.
As I walked along the quiet street, I could smell the redolent
aroma of dark roast coffee, bacon, and fresh-baked bread
emanating from a little cafe. I suddenly desired a breakfast, and
I entered one of the most wonderful breakfast experiences of my
life, and it was most reasonable in price. Every time I return to
New Orleans I plan to go there. It was my discovery, my own
special place. New Orleans is filled with these kinds of special
spots. To me, New Orleans means a quiet Sunday morning, full of
grace and beauty, and a lovely breakfast nook, but to many others
it means night life and good times and jazz.

The Raucous

     The sensual blare of a saxophone, the blaze of multi-colored
lights, the wild and boisterous guffaws of tourists, the press of
crowds--these are the sights and sounds of the most famous street
in the world--Bourbon. People stand in line for hours outside
O'Brien's to buy a hurricane. As you stand in line some Saturday
night, you might hear a group of college students suddenly break
out in a loud chant. Tulane has won its football game, and the
young people are filled with exuberance. Down the street, four
couples wind through the crowd, arms linked together in a train
so that they will not be separated from each other in the press.
A man walks by wearing a purple wig; his girlfriend carries a
golden wand and wears sequins in her hair. Inside Ryan's an Irish
band sings and plays loudly above the din of happy customers. A
glimpse of a woman stretched out on a table catches the eye
momentarily in a place called Baby Doll's. She has mirrors all
around her. People are lined up waiting to get into Preservation
Hall to hear some of the older jazz musicians. The aromas of
shrimp etouffee, fresh bread, beer, hot dogs, and crabmeat au
gratin hover over the street. A huge man, dressed in cutoffs and
a tee-shirt and sandals leans against the wall watching the crowd
enter and exit a voodoo shop. Inside one can buy love potions,
tarot cards, knives, and alligator feet. A skull stares through
the dusty window of the shop. "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him
well." Near the voodoo shop Tony's Spaghetti House--where Thomas
Wolfe used to dine--is filled with customers enjoying the pasta
and the hundreds of autographed pictures of famous people that
line the walls. A wax museum, a souvenir shop, a tattoo parlor, a
street vendor selling hats that glow in the dark, more jazz, more
Dixieland, Cajun music, the Neville Brothers, Pete Fountain, Al
Hirt. The senses are overwhelmed, and the excitement is
infectious. And just when you think there is no quiet place in
the French Quarter on Saturday night, you turn down a side street
and there it is like an oasis--Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Parlor--with
a quiet courtyard area. A couple of scoops of Rocky Road, and the
weary tourist is ready to return to the procreant urge of Bourbon
and Royal.
     These are only some of the contrasts of the "Big Easy." The
city offers so much more--book stalls, antique stores,
streetcars, the River Walk, the Hard Rock Cafe, the Audubon Zoo,
and hundreds of quaint shops and cafes. It is truly a city of
desires; nothing is censored there, but it is also a city of
tranquility and infinite charm. The joy of it all is discovering
it for yourself. Come to the 1991 National Convention in New
Orleans and find your own special place.
     The elegant Hyatt Regency Hotel, located just eight blocks
from the French Quarter, will be the site of the 1991 convention
of the National Federation of the Blind. It features two towers--
Poydras, with twenty-seven floors; and Lenai, with eleven floors.
The 1991 national convention should be the largest ever, and over
1,100 rooms have been set aside for accommodations. In addition
to a swimming pool on the seventh floor, the Hyatt also features
several restaurants, cocktail lounges, and a large shopping mall.
This shopping mall includes a Walden Book Store, jewelry store,
souvenir shop, a Cafe du Monde, Frank and Stein--hot dogs and
beer--and many other fast food stalls. In addition, Macy's
Department store is adjacent to the Hyatt and is easily
accessible to any hotel guest. Passing through Macy's will lead
to the Superdome, a colossal structure that is home to the New
Orleans Saints, as well as many other gala festivities. A shuttle
service to and from the French Quarter will be provided to hotel
guests during the national convention.
     The huge rooms on the third floor of the Poydras Tower will
easily accommodate both the exhibit room and the general
sessions, as well as the banquet.
     The 1991 convention of the National Federation of the Blind
should offer enough variety and enough space to make this annual
event the best ever. As in the past, hotel room rates for the
convention are phenomenally low: singles, $28; doubles and twins,
$35; triples, $38; and quads, $40. An additional occupancy tax of
$2 per night will be added to the room rates, plus sales tax of
eleven percent. There will be no charge for children under twelve
in a room with their parents. Room reservations should be made by
writing to: Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 500 Poydras Plaza, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70140; phone: (504) 561-1234. Do not call the
Hyatt toll-free 800 number.
     It should be noted that the 1991 convention will be one day
forward from our usual schedule. Preconvention activities begin
at the Hyatt Regency on Sunday, June 30, with the Parents of
Blind Children Division Seminar, followed by the Job
Opportunities for the Blind seminar; registration begins
Monday, July 1; Board of Directors meeting, Tuesday, July 2;
first general session, Wednesday, July 3; elections and tour day,
Thursday, July 4; banquet, Friday, July 5; and adjournment, 5:00
p.m. Saturday, July 6. Convention rates will be honored by the
hotel for a reasonable time before and after the convention.
     Even though the New Orleans Hyatt Regency is a big hotel,
our attendance is likely to be such that rooms may be hard to
come by if reservations are made late. So contact the hotel
today, and let's make New Orleans in '91 the biggest and best we
have ever had, topping even the fiftieth anniversary.


                       REFLECTIONS ON THE
           CALIFORNIA ORIENTATION CENTER FOR THE BLIND
                         by Tom Bickford

     From the Editor: As will be apparent from what he writes,
Tom Bickford is a former student of the California Orientation
Center for the Blind. When he and I first met there in the mid-
fifties, both of us were younger, and the California Orientation
Center was a different place from what it apparently is today.
The director, Allen Jenkins, demonstrated some of the tendencies
described in the lead article of the August, 1990, Braille
Monitor--but his accomplishments were solid, and his overall
philosophy and level of performance, by and large, positive.
     When I left the California center in 1957, it was an active,
going concern. Since that time I have had occasion to meet and
talk with Allen Jenkins periodically through the years, and these
meetings have been increasingly disappointing. My observations
have seemed to confirm the commonly held belief among the blind
of California that Jenkins spends less and less time at the
center--coming later in the mornings, taking longer lunch breaks,
going home earlier in the afternoons, and having progressively
less involvement with the students and program during his time on
the premises.
     Despite his protestations to the contrary, Jenkins's
Federationism was always a doubtful quantity at best, and he
dropped out entirely in the late seventies. In view of his
present membership on the NAC board and in the American Council
of the Blind, this is not surprising. It is clear that his
Federation philosophy was never more than a matter of cosmetics
and surface tension. Certainly it was not based on understanding
and belief. The repressive and custodial character of the NAC
approach is the exact opposite of what an orientation center for
the blind must be if it is to be successful.
     The Federation approach, on the other hand, is a natural for
a constructive training center. It minimizes red tape and
promotes comradeship between staff and students, being the very
essence of teaching by example instead of preachment. Above all,
there must be love, generosity, a real belief in the innate
normality of the blind, and long hours spent with the students.
Whether he called it an orientation and adjustment center or not,
that is exactly what Dr. Newel Perry conducted for his students
at the California School for the Blind during the first part of
this century, and the result was the generation of leaders
typified by Dr. tenBroek.
     Dr. tenBroek, in turn, conducted a training center of his
own, though it was never called that. I know, for I was one of
his students--working within the Federation and learning more
than I knew I was learning by the association.
     There is nothing mysterious about teaching a blind person to
come from dependence and second-class status to first-class
citizenship and full participation in society. It takes love and
belief and a tremendous amount of hard work--what somebody has
described as a mixture of sweat and the Holy Ghost. It means
stimulating the student to work hard, believe in himself or
herself, and become absorbed in a cause. The Federation is ideal
since it concentrates on doing things for others but incidentally
benefits the individual at the same time, but it could be another
cause as well. The important thing is that the student stop
dwelling on self-pity and introspection and move out to the
broader perspective of doing something for somebody else, thereby
achieving self-help without perhaps ever even thinking about it
as such.
     This is what a training center for the blind should be. If
it is truly to meet the needs of its students, it cannot be just
a purveyor of skills. It must be something much broader--
something hard to learn from textbooks and often chilled by what
some call "professionalism." Whatever it is and whatever it
takes, the California Center once had it and now obviously
doesn't. For an explanation, read the lead article in the August,
1990, Braille Monitor or the book Snakewalk. This brings me back
to Tom Bickford's observations. Here is what he has to say:

     I had arrived at the California Center fresh from college
and was used to applying myself, and, for the most part, I did.
The atmosphere at the center was informal, but the program was
formal and structured. I was not the fastest learner, but I
learned. I learned the skills and discussed the ideas. I
participated in classroom studies and overnight camping trips. It
finally occurred to this "bright college boy" that while I was
learning the skills and techniques, I was also learning the
philosophy straight from the NFB. The skills and techniques are
necessary, but the true stock in trade of an orientation center
is philosophy. And to the extent that Federation philosophy is
taught by the staff and learned by the students, both will be
successful. Over the years of bouncing around and finally landing
on my feet, my Federation philosophy of blindness has never let
me down.
     Over the decades there have been many changes at the
California rehabilitation center. It moved a few miles to a new
location with new buildings, including a dormitory, no longer the
single rooms I had known. There were outside pressures as to who
should be on the staff. In recent years there has been a more
obvious separation from the NFB.
     In 1990, within two months, I read first a book and then a
magazine article about the California orientation center. The
book was Snakewalk by Charles Wheeler, copyrighted 1989,
published by Harmony books. It is available from your regional
library for the blind in the Library of Congress system as
RC30292. The magazine article was the lead article in the August,
1990, Braille Monitor. They both tell the same story, but it is
not one that I recognize.
     When I find a book or a magazine article about a place I
know, I take an interest in it. And that is why I read a book in
which the story is set at the California Orientation Center for
the Blind. In the mid-1950s I was a student at that center. That
is where I met the National Federation of the Blind, and it
became the third major influence in my life, along with my church
and my family. The director of the center was Allen Jenkins, and
in those days he made himself available to the students. He
surrounded himself with a very good rehabilitation staff, and the
outstanding staff member was Kenneth Jernigan. Let me tell you a
little about my first counseling session with him.
     Mobility is a dramatic point to make with a new student, and
Jernigan told me he would be willing to take his cane and go
anywhere. I asked if he would be willing to fly to Japan, and he
said, "yes." I did not believe him, but I did not say so. Yet, I
am sure he heard the disbelief in my voice.
     Larry Lewis, a saint of the cause, was my cane teacher. In
1957 I went by Trailways, alone, to the NFB convention in New
Orleans. In 1966 I toured Western and Eastern Europe, partly with
friends and partly alone. I am not claiming credit but rejoicing
in the freedom I gained. The credit is due to those who taught
me, for thousands of other Federationists have done as much and
more. At the center I learned cooking from Sally Jones, the
loving mother superior of the kitchen. Later, as a bachelor, I
cooked for myself or traded cooking duties with roommates, when I
had them. Now, as a married man, I sometimes cook for my family.
Again, the credit is due to the teachers and the Federation
philosophy that made us believe in ourselves.
     When telling a true story, one of the ways to make your
point is to tell it in the form of fiction. Snakewalk is a semi-
autobiographic novel about an ex-biker, who is blinded in an
accident. Most of the book is about his five months at the
California Orientation Center. The book, and in it the center, is
full of drugs, alcohol, and sex. The atmosphere is not only
informal. It is almost formless. Students may or may not attend
classes. The director never appears in the book. There is no
mention of an organized body of thought, a philosophy of
blindness. There is no mention of any organization of the blind,
much less the NFB. There is no expectation of levels of
achievement by the students. If you look hard at the book, you
can tell that some rehabilitation is going on, but how much? When
I compared the book to the Monitor article, I said to myself, "I
could have taken the article, fleshed it out a bit, and used it
as an outline for the book." They are that close.
     When I was a student, there were no drugs, and that was more
than just a sign of the times. There was a moderate amount of
drinking, but all off campus. I remember one student advising a
newcomer to bring back all you want--in your belly. There were
some romances among the students, but anything improper was at
the level of infrequent rumor, not blatant common practice.
     My experience at the orientation center in the 1950s was
dynamic and positive. Most of my fellow students and I learned
what to do, how to do it, and (most importantly) why. I recognize
the thought in the phrase "boot camp for the blind" now current
in the Federation, because that was my experience. It appears
that the California Orientation Center no longer offers that
experience.


                     BOOK REVIEW: SNAKEWALK

     From the Editors: In the August, 1990, Braille Monitor we
carried an item about the California Orientation Center for the
Blind. Shortly afterward, we received two separate offerings on
the same theme from different parts of the country--one, the
preceding article by Tom Bickford, and the other, the following 
book review by Deborah Kent Stein, the well-known author who is a
member of our Chicago Chapter. Both articles seemed worthwhile,
and each seemed to reinforce the other. Here is the book review:

SNAKEWALK, by Charles Wheeler.
New York: Harmony House, 1990.
(Available from Recording for the Blind and the National Library
Service.)
Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein.

     Back when I was a college English major I took a course
called "The Novel of Education," which dealt with the theme of
growing up as it appeared in nineteenth-century literature. In
these novels the main character proves his manhood through a
series of adventures, often spurred by the need to rebel against
a domineering father who represents social conventions.
Eventually, he learns life's tough lessons and settles down to be
a solid citizen.
     In contemporary fiction, when the protagonist is blind, the
novel of education often becomes the novel of adjustment. In Gary
Adelman's Honey Out of Stone, Jonathan Penner's Going Blind,
Michael Stewart's Blindsight, and James Dickey's Alnilam, the
main character (male in each case) loses his sight early in the
story. As he struggles to master new skills and techniques, he
proves to himself and to the rest of the world that he is still a
real man.
     Snakewalk, by Charles Wheeler, is the latest addition to the
novel of adjustment genre. According to the dust jacket, the book
is based upon the author's own experiences as a client at a
rehabilitation center for the blind in California. Again we have
the story of a blind man learning new skills and proving his
manhood. But Wheeler's protagonist never quite manages to grow
up.
     Patrick Todd is a brawler, womanizer, and all-around hell-
raiser, whose driving force is his contempt for virtually
everyone and everything around him. When he loses his sight in a
boating accident, he has few regrets, reflecting that there isn't
much worth looking at anyway. Surfacing to consciousness in the
hospital and realizing that he will never see again, he wonders
"how to mow the goddamn lawn and avoid stepping in dog shit."
     Though Patrick doesn't miss sunsets and murals, he fiercely
resents the loss of his independence. In the first weeks he feels
like a captive, utterly at the mercy of other people. In horror
he reflects that "they" have him now, that "they" will shape him
into the meek, obedient member of society he has always refused
to become. With pity and disdain he discovers that the rehab
center's switchboard operator, with her bright smiling voice and
her cheerful efficiency, is blind. Will he end up like that--a
happy blind person, tethered to a dull, respectable job, banished
from the fast lane forever?
     But soon after he arrives at the center (the California
Institute for the Blind (CIB) in Brookings) Patrick sheds his
stereotyped notions about bland, docile blind people. He decides
that "blinks were no different than any flock of regulars out
there on the avenue. We had quarterbacks and wide receivers dying
for the flash and instant heroism. Others were down in the
trenches, waiting for some regular to get the ball and call their
slot. We had spectators and waterboys, commentators,
cheerleaders, dissenters." It's a wonderful metaphor, but
unfortunately the people Pat meets at the center are a
discouraging collection--alcoholics, drug addicts, wall-climbers,
social isolates, and pathetic whiners. If the blind folks he
knows are a good cross-section of humanity, then the world is in
deeper trouble than I ever even suspected.
     His months at the center give Pat tremendous confidence in
mobility. He quickly finds that blindness will not hinder him
from performing any task he sets his mind to. But Wheeler makes
it clear that Patrick is one of the exceptions. Early in the
book, a counselor tells him that he is among the three clients at
the center who have a hopeful future.
     In one scene Gretchen, a lovely, intelligent young woman
from an abusive family, is forcibly dragged from her room and
sent home because her allotted six months at the center have run
out. The counselor explains that there is simply no choice. There
just aren't jobs out there for blind women of limited education.
No one ever suggests that Gretchen could get an education and
become qualified for a job, or even that some alternative living
arrangements might exist for her. She, like most of the center's
clients, is simply doomed to unhappiness.
     Actually, nobody at the center seems to have any goals
beyond the next party or the next jaunt to the corner bar. Job
training, computer technology, and interviewing strategies are
never mentioned. One of the center's clients, Geri Ciccone, holds
a master's degree and has worked as an interpreter. But even she
never speaks of future plans. At CIB the philosophy seems to be,
"Live it up while you've got the chance, because the rest of your
life won't be much fun."
     After the first half dozen chapters I thought I had a pretty
good idea where the author was heading. Blindness would teach
Patrick Todd those tough lessons of life. He would emerge from
the adjustment process a changed man--kinder, gentler, wiser,
ready to put his wit and energy to some constructive use. After
all, writers have long equated blindness with goodness.
Considering Pat's temperament, improvement under any guise would
be worth shooting for.
     There were certainly early signs that I had guessed right.
In one scene, sitting at a bar with a female counselor from the
Center, Pat comments that he has never done this before--has
never sat and talked with a woman, getting to know her as a human
being instead of plotting how to lure her into bed. Elsewhere he
reflects that he has grown less judgmental, more aware of his own
failings, and concludes, "Maybe that's one of the advantages of
going blind. They ought to make it mandatory. Take everybody for
six months so they can get a good look at themselves." The
snakewalk of the title--a winding, wooded path on the Center's
grounds, is a symbol of Pat's new introspection. Sometimes he
sits on a bench there for hours as he battles his inner demons
and tries to sort himself out.
     For a time, Pat seems to be aiming straight for the
conventional life he has always despised. He falls in love with
Geri and asks her to marry him. With only a few twinges he
contemplates a future of diaper bags, trips to the supermarket,
and family vacations on the Greyhound. He will go to college, get
a job, and settle down.
     Yet settling down is not in his make-up. When he and Geri
attend a neighborhood barbecue, Pat gets drunk and picks a fight
with one of the other guests. He even carries the hostilities
into the car on the homeward journey, leaning over the seat-back
to throw punches at the driver. Geri has the good sense to return
his ring and disappears from his life without a trace.
     Not even the loss of Geri is enough to jolt Pat into mending
his ways. He makes no attempt to win her back. He goes right on
brawling and carousing and, with his inimitable style, thumbing
his nose at the world. In the book's closing scene two policemen
approach as he sits drinking in an open field. When they try to
talk to him, he pretends that he is deaf and answers them in
Sign.
     Snakewalk is not a book for everyone. Wheeler's language is
rough and raunchy, and scene after scene merits the National
Library Service's designation, "explicit descriptions of sex."
Yet far more disturbing is Wheeler's view, not only of people who
are blind, but of humanity in general. He fails to create a
single truly sympathetic character. Though Geri is lively and
adventurous, she is drawn too superficially to engage the reader
on a deep level. The rehab counselor Weeds (so nicknamed because
she used to be a flower child) is supposed to be caring and
willing to buck the system. Yet she uses her position of power to
taunt new clients publicly with embarrassing bits of information
from their case files. Pat Todd does have his moments of
compassion but remains self-involved and self-indulgent to the
last page.
     It is never the author's claim that blind people can enter
the careers of their choosing and participate as full-fledged
members of the community. (If, however, the blind reader aspires
to become a bar-fly with a short fuse and hard fists, he offers
endless words of encouragement.) Yet Wheeler does have something
important to say. I think that the best, truest message in
Snakewalk, buried beneath layers of invective, is that blindness
does not really change underlying character. Techniques may
differ, a few new insights may be gained, but one emerges from
the adjustment process with basic personality intact. Whether
Patrick Todd is blind or sighted, "they" will never reshape him
against his will.
     Perhaps Wheeler has one other bit of wisdom to impart as
well. There are bound to be some readers, totally unfamiliar with
blindness, who have always harbored a certain prurient interest
in the sexuality of blind people. They have always wondered, but
been afraid to ask, whether blind people can really "do it." A
few random pages of Snakewalk will erase forever any last,
lingering doubts.



                            SNAKEWALK
                       by Kenneth Jernigan

     As will be apparent from the two preceding articles in this
issue of the Monitor, Snakewalk is a book that has received a
good deal of attention in certain parts of the blindness
community in recent months. After reading Tom Bickford's comments
and the review by Deborah Kent Stein, I decided to get Snakewalk
and read it for myself. As a former teacher at the California
Center for the Blind (one who had something to do with shaping
its policies in its formative years), I wanted to know what the
book had to say. 
     I have not visited the California Center during the past ten
or fifteen years, so I am unable to say from firsthand knowledge
what the Center is like today. However, I have no doubt that
present-day life at the California Center is pretty much the way
Snakewalk depicts it, and a sad commentary it is. Regardless of
that, the book Snakewalk is negative; pseudointellectual; and,
above all, thoroughly phony. Moreover, it is dreary and tiresome.
It takes more than a stringing together of incidents to make a
readable book, and the fact that some things the author says are
true doesn't mean that his overall product has merit. The
phoniness comes through on every page. 
     The author tells us, for instance, that in Braille the
letter "w" stands for world, and he then makes a preachy little
speech about the world and his relation to it. The only trouble
is that in Braille the letter "w" does not stand for world but
for will. I will make no comment upon the irony of the
misstatement but simply note it in passing.
     Then there is the matter of how a blind person gets an
impression of what other people look like. The hero of Snakewalk
feels the faces of his associates--and usually other parts of
their bodies as well. This is pure melodramatic soap opera
nonsense. I have known several thousand blind people in my life,
and I cannot think of a single one of them that I have ever seen
feel of somebody else's face to determine what he or she looked
like, nor have I ever heard one of them claim to have done it. I
have read tear-jerking accounts of such events in newspapers and
magazines, but I have never seen it happen in real life. Yet, the
author makes a great production of it, one that supposedly leaves
us touched emotionally and deeply impressed. The only thing that
touched me about it was its phoniness. Let me hasten to add that
I was not disgusted, outraged, or repelled. It was too crudely
phony for that. The episode simply came off as tired and dreary--
no style, no class, no anything. 
     The author tells us that blind people refer to each other as
"blinks" and to sighted people as "regulars." He acts as if this
were commonplace and the terminology that is generally used--
which, of course, is not the truth. Phony. Also there is the
overemphasis on a constant stream of swear words from anybody and
everybody. Yes, swear words are used, but not in the manner and
proportion depicted in Snakewalk.
     And there are the descriptions of alcohol, drugs, and sex.
The author may have been describing with great accuracy the
physical events which occurred, but he did a poor job of it.
Surely it is no great trick to work up interest in accounts of
hell-raising and confrontation, not to mention sex and its
ramifications--but even here the author fails. He just doesn't
bring it off. You just can't lose yourself in the story. When you
read what he has to say, you don't believe it; you know it isn't
true; and beyond that, you just don't care.
     I could go into detail and give illustrations, but why
bother! It isn't worth it. Some books make you angry. This one
doesn't. Some books stimulate thought or give you information.
This one doesn't do that either. Mostly it doesn't do anything.
Then why, you may ask, did I read it? A good question. My only
answer is that I did it as a duty--and a tiresome duty at that.
My advice, for anybody who cares to have it, is to ignore
Snakewalk. The only value it has is boredom, and if that is what
you want, you can get the product with better quality in almost
any other activity you can think of.


[PHOTO: James Gashel sitting at head table microphone during 1990
NFB national convention. CAPTION: James Gashel (Director of
Governmental Affairs of the National Federation of the Blind)
takes part in a panel discussion at the 1990 convention.]

[PHOTO: William Brooks standing at podium during 1990 NFB
national convention. CAPTION: William Brooks (Assistant
Secretary, Employment Standards Administration, United States
Department of Labor) addresses the delegates to the 1990
convention of the National Federation of the Blind.]

                      FAIR LABOR STANDARDS:
       WHAT BLIND WORKERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS

     One of the most important program items at the 1990
Convention of the National Federation of the Blind was the
Thursday morning panel discussion concerning the rights of blind
sheltered shop workers. This is the way it happened:

     President Maurer: From the organized blind we will begin
this panel with James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs
for the National Federation of the Blind. Jim Gashel, a number of
people have taken a lot of your time. You get twelve minutes. 
     Mr. Gashel: Mr. President, I can handle it in three words:
what blind workers need to know about their rights is the
National Federation of the Blind. I didn't count the "of the." 
     It would not be an exaggeration to say that employment for
blind persons had its earliest origin in sheltered settings,
where the blind could produce simple products with labor-
intensive methods and routine and repetitive tasks. These
sheltered work settings have been referred to by various names
and various euphemisms. In ancient times we read about the
medieval guilds and monastic societies. Well, today's guilds
would be called associations, societies, or lighthouses. In at
least one instance the sheltered work setting of which I speak
was officially known as the Delighted Industries. I don't know
whether that particular designation reflected the mood of the
workers or the fact that the blind and blindness were not held in
high regard by the managers. But I have my suspicions about what
it meant, and I bet you do too. 
     Whether we are talking about Delighted Industries, the
Lighthouse, or the Association, sheltered workshop is the generic
modern day classification for this particular type of industry.
The sheltered workshop is the place of employment for the largest
single segment of American workers who are blind. Twenty percent
of all working blind people are employees of sheltered workshops.
Their wages and working conditions have a substantial impact on
the economic and social well-being of the blind in this country.
Beyond its purely economic or productive activity, however, the
workshop is a social phenomenon of enormous significance in the
lives of each and every blind person in this convention hall and
this nation. In a very real sense the work history of all of us,
the work history of the blind, goes right back to our beginning
in the sheltered workshops, and we must never forget that fact.
     Examining the laws is one way to know about the status of
people, how they stack up in the larger society in which they
live. Two laws are particularly related to the discussion at
hand. They are the Wagner-O'Day Act of 1938 and the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938. Both of these acts, you will observe by
their titles, were passed by Congress and signed into law two
years before the founding of the National Federation of the
Blind. What a different future there would have been for every
blind person in this country if these laws had been passed after
the founding and growth of the National Federation of the Blind.
But that was not to be. For more than fifty years the Wagner-
O'Day Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act have substantially
prescribed the terms and conditions of employment for blind
people in sheltered workshops. They still stand as the
legislative underpinning for second-class employment, substandard
pay, and treatment of the blind which in many instances is
nothing more than exploitation--and brutal exploitation at that.
And it is all done in the name of providing us with
opportunities. 
     Now think about these laws one by one. Think about the
social policy they prescribe in defining the legal protection and
rights afforded to the blind. According to the Wagner-O'Day Act
known more popularly now as the Javits-Wagner O'Day Act,
sheltered workshops employing the blind can qualify for priority
federal contracts if at least 75% of their direct labor hours are
provided by blind persons. There is absolutely no requirement for
the workshops to have any hours in which blind people perform
supervision or management jobs. The philosophy for the 1938 act
still stands--blind people can make the brooms, but they cannot
manage or supervise the broom shops. That philosophy was false in
1938, and it is provably false today. Still, we have to live with
this fact; it is the law of the United States. Blind people can
make the brooms, but they cannot manage the broom shops. If
anybody wonders why we need the National Federation of the Blind,
just think about that philosophy. The place prescribed for the
blind by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act denies us our freedom, and
it burns in our souls. From the newest scholarship winner to the
most battle-hardened and seasoned veteran in our movement, all of
us are diminished by that philosophy. This is why we will resist
it. We will fight it. And we will change it.
     Now we turn to the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is the
second of the laws which prescribe our social status, especially
in sheltered workshops. The Fair Labor Standards Act is best
known for the fact that it guarantees all American industrial
workers at least the federal minimum wage. However, in one form
or another since 1938 there has been an exemption--they call it
an exemption--for blind people from the minimum wage. They call
it an exemption; I call it an exclusion--and a cruel exclusion at
that. I have chosen the term exclusion deliberately. The
exclusion from the federal minimum wage follows essentially the
same philosophy as that I have already described in the Javits-
Wagner-O'Day Act. We must prove individually that our
productivity merits being paid at least a minimum wage. In other
words, with all the legal niceties stripped away from it, there
is really no minimum wage for blind people in America, and, as
long as that is the case, we will face cruel discrimination.
Within the terms of the law it is legal to pay us what is known
as a commensurate wage, which is a percentage of the prevailing
wage in the community, for essentially the same type, quantity,
and quality of work that an experienced  sighted person would
perform. This commensurate pay is usually less than the minimum
wage.  Productivity, prevailing wages, and pay checks: all of
them are determined by whom? The employer, and the employer
exploits the blind. It is just like the fox watching the
chickens. The Congress and the Department of Labor have let it
happen. 
     The Southwest Lighthouse for the Blind in Lubbock, Texas, is
perhaps the most recent illustration of what I mean by the fox
watching the chickens. The Department of Labor did a Wage and
Hour investigation of the Southwest Lighthouse in 1987 and gave
the Lighthouse a clean bill of health. Most of the workers at the
Lighthouse were being paid $2.05 per hour regardless of their
productivity. The minimum wage was $3.35 per hour. Less than a
year later (the same conditions existed) ten of the blind workers
at the Southwest Lighthouse with our help filed to change their
subminimum wages. They appealed those wages to the U.S.
Department of Labor. That proceeding is now over. It ended late
last year. For reasons including the fact that the Workshop
attempted to claim bankruptcy, the Lubbock workers will never
recover all of the money which should have been paid to them for
several years. But, as we stand here today, it is a plain fact
that these workers collectively are being paid over $30,000,
which will partially recover the wages due them, and the reason
for it is the National Federation of the Blind. Bankruptcy does
not excuse a workshop from obeying the law. If the workshop
cannot pay the wages that the law requires, then it is the
managers of the workshop, not the workers, who should lose their
jobs. That is exactly what would happen with General Motors, and
it is exactly what should happen in sheltered workshops. It is
exactly what happened in this case to the President of the
Southwest Lighthouse for the Blind. He lost his job, and the
reason is the National Federation of the Blind. 
     I would just say this much in conclusion. We have told the
Congress a lot about this, Once we pointed out to Congress that
most of the pay and most of the jobs in sheltered workshops go to
sighted people and the lowest pay and the lowest jobs in
workshops go to blind people, the workshops stopped reporting the
facts that make that so. At the Connecticut workshop, run by the
Board of Education and Services for the Blind in Connecticut, the
highest pay is over $8.00 an hour. It goes to a sighted person.
The lowest pay is $2.04 an hour--it goes to a blind person. That
is wrong, and we must stop it. We have carried the banner of
freedom for all of the blind for fifty years. Our struggle for
equality in America's workforce has been one of the most
difficult struggles we have ever faced. Through it all, through
all of the fifty years, we have remembered the plight of the
blind in sheltered workshops in ways that are far more than just
symbolic. The workshops remain the modern day plantation, where
all of us to some degree live every day. There we have our roots;
there our struggle for freedom began. My brothers and my sisters,
one day our struggle for freedom will be over. The blind
everywhere, in sheltered workshops and throughout our nation's
workforce, will be free. President Maurer, with your leadership
and the devotion of this movement that day will come.  
     Mr. Maurer: The next person to speak on this topic is from
the United States Department of Labor. He is the Assistant
Secretary for the Employment Standards Administration. This
agency is the largest in the Department of Labor, comprising the
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Office of
Worker's Compensation programs and the Wage And Hour Division. He
is responsible for laws and regulations setting employment
standards for most United States workers, providing workers
compensation benefits to certain employees injured on the job,
and requiring nondiscrimination in affirmative action by federal
contractors and subcontractors to assure equal employment
opportunity. I therefore give you the Assistant Secretary of
Labor, Mr. William Brooks.
     Mr. Brooks: Thank you, Mr. Maurer. Good morning, ladies and
gentlemen. It is a pleasure to be with you this morning and a
special privilege to share the platform with Jim Gashel at the
NFB's fiftieth anniversary convention. When I accepted this
invitation, I had in mind to tell you about some of the
demographic and sociological changes that are taking place across
America and the effect they are having on our work force. I was
going to tell you about what the Department of Labor is doing to
build the work force we will need for the twenty-first century,
focusing on the Office for Federal Contract Compliance Programs,
which oversees equal employment opportunity and affirmative
action laws. Then I was going to tell you about some recent
activity on Capitol Hill regarding child labor law and other
enforcement issues, but Jim tells me that you are not interested
in all that. He tells me that you are a very tough audience that
wants to know only two things from me: what the Department of
Labor is doing to abolish the subminimum wage exception of the
Fair Labor Standards Act, and what we are doing to apply Section
503 of the Rehabilitation Act to sheltered workshops to make sure
that blind workers have access to supervisory and managerial
positions--not just entry level jobs or direct labor jobs.
     This could be a very, very short speech. Actually, I was
invited here today, I think, because of a recent talk I gave to
the Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Special Minimum
Wages, where I talked at some length about my belief in fully
utilizing people's abilities. You need to know that, in almost
every audience that I speak to, I speak and focus on one thing; 
that is the fact that, if we are going to be a competitive nation
in the year 2000, we are going to have to use the abilities of
everyone. And in those audiences I indicate that everyone in that
audience has some disabilities but that they have been able to
use their abilities to be successful and do the things that they
are doing. We cannot afford any longer not to use the abilities
of all of our people if we are going to be competitive in the
twenty-first century. At the outset I would like to thank David
Shapiro for his substantial contributions to the Advisory
Committee. Over the years he has had input, and he has been an
effective voice for you. Along with a philosophical belief that
utilizing people's abilities is the right thing to do, those
demographic and sociological trends that I will now be talking
about today point toward it's being smart business as well.
     Many of you know that there are different schools of thought
over sub-minimum wages. The prevailing thought is that minimum
wage exceptions are useful in facilities such as workshops to
induce entry level jobs and skills training.  Once basic job
skills are mastered, the hope is that workers will mainstream,
moving out of the workshops and out into the work force at large.
Consequently, minimum wage exceptions serve the social purpose of
providing a base of employment and incentive to move on. I have
also heard it said, by Chairman Kemp of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission among others, that, once a so-called
disabled worker is hired and the necessary accommodations have
been made, career progression is then up to individual skills,
talent, education, and ambition just as with anyone else in the
workplace. Evan Kemp and I have a fine relationship, and we are
working together to ensure that all the laws that affect
affirmative action in employment of everyone in this country are
fully, fairly, and firmly enforced. Whatever your feelings are
about this policy, I believe that abolishing the subminimum wage
exception to the Fair Labor Standards Act is a legislative
effort, as Marc Maurer, NFB President, and Jim Gashel know since
they have been gaining on it for years.
     They have made some powerful allies--most notably, Senator
Howard Metzenbaum, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor of the
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. And I understand
that Senator Metzenbaum told this very group last year about the
legislative process, as he put it, a process requiring "everyone
to get off their butts in order to participate and succeed." 
Commenting on such legislative efforts is not my purpose today.
     But I want to talk about something else which frankly
requires your participation, enforcement. At the Department of
Labor we enforce firmly and fairly existing laws through
regulations and policies and sometimes through special
initiatives. If you want to discuss our enforcement efforts,
start with me. I have an open door policy, and I will listen to
anyone. I have been known to get pretty hot under the collar when
things are not getting done in what I think is good time,  such
as the regulations regarding the Administrative hearing process
for subminimum complaints.
     One of the first things I did last year, when I was
appointed, was push those through to publication. It was brought
to my attention that they were still being debated. And I said,
"No way. Let's get them out."  And I am proud of that. What did I
mean when I said that enforcement requires your participation?
     It means, in the simplest possible terms, filing a
complaint. Only one has been filed, yet the process is easy, and
I commend it to you. The process is not difficult. All you have
to do is write down your name, address, and that of your employer
and ask for a review of the propriety of the subminimum wage you
are receiving. Sign it, put it in an envelope, and send it to the
Head of the Wage and Hour Division in Washington. The Secretary
of Labor is required to appoint an Administrative Law Judge
within ten days of receiving the complaint, and the hearing is to
be held within thirty days after the judge is appointed. Hearings
are held in the employment community. You have the right to
cross-examine and to make sure that any evidence is meritorious.
Anyone requesting a hearing can be represented by counsel,
although the procedure was designed to be so simple that you
don't necessarily need one. Most important, the burden of proof
regarding the propriety of the wage is on the employer, not on
you. In other words, the employer has to prove that he is
justified in paying you below the minimum wage. Any of the
several hundred Wage and Hour offices across the country can help
you file a complaint, and certainly no one can help you better
than your national office, which launched the one case Jim Gashel
talked about that has been filed against the Southwest Lighthouse
for the Blind in Lubbock. The eleven blind workers who filed the
complaint won thirty thousand dollars, as he indicated, in back
pay for all workers in the facility and a right for all to be
paid the Fair Labor Standards Act wage.
     Unfortunately, as he also indicated, the Lighthouse filed
for bankruptcy. Although the back wages that have been agreed to
have been contested, payment cannot be made until the bankruptcy
court approves. My message here is that, while you are working on
changing the Fair Labor Standards Act,use the hearing process to
challenge individual wage determination. Believe me, it works.
     And incidentally, the Southwest Lighthouse case was a
learning process for us at Labor, too. In January, we sent a memo
to our field offices to alert our investigators to the kinds of
things they need to find out about to insure that workshop
workers are being properly compensated. I have personally, as I
travel around the country, visited sheltered workshops to make
sure that the things that are happening there are happening in
the right way.
     Now for Section 503 enforcement. The Office for Federal
Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) insures that firms
contracting with the Federal government abide by laws and
regulations requiring equal employment opportunity and
affirmative action. Specifically, it makes sure that these
companies and their subcontractors comply with the two laws that
interest this audience most--Section 503 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended. This law prohibits discrimination and
requires affirmative action in all personnel practices for
individuals with disabilities. It applies to firms with federal
contracts of $2500 or more. The other is 38 USC 2012, the Vietnam
Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. This law prohibits
discrimination and requires affirmative action in all personnel
practices for special disabled veterans and Vietnam-era veterans.
It applies to firms with federal contracts of $10,000 or more.
And under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act sheltered workshops are
federal contractors, as well as Section-14C employers, for wage
and hour purposes. Thus, they are covered under Section 503.
     Again, knowing how to work the process is the best insurance
for getting what you want out of it. With that in mind, I am
going to describe briefly how OFCCP works and how to make it work
for you. The OFCCP carries out its responsibilities by conducting
compliance reviews of federal contractors' personnel policies and
practices, investigating complaints of current and prospective
employees of federal contractors, and providing technical
assistance to both groups to help them understand the regulatory
requirements and review process. Let me take those in order.
     A compliance review begins when the OFCCP chooses a federal
contractor to review, based on its employment profile in the
OFCCP data base. Sheltered workshops are included in the data
base. Conducted by a regional equal opportunity specialist, the
review determines whether the contractor's affirmative action
program complies with regulatory requirements, whether the
contractor has demonstrated good faith efforts to implement its
affirmative action program, whether the contractor's employment
policies and practices are free from discrimination, whether the
contractor needs technical assistance to understand the review
process or to insure that its affirmative action program is
complete and effective, and how best to remedy any discriminatory
practices or regulatory violations. As more women, minorities,
disabled, and veterans join the work force, the issues in reviews
are covering accommodation, distribution, and advancement.
Consequently, OFCCP has devoted attention to a broader
examination of how employees are faring during the course of
their employment, not just at the entry door. This obviously
includes how blind employees are faring while working for covered
contractors--whether they are getting promotions, pay, and
training commensurate with their skills and contributions. A
complaint investigation begins when OFCCP investigates employee
and job applicant complaints, alleging individual discrimination
under, for your purposes, the Rehabilitation Act or the Vietnam
Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act. I am assured by Carrie
Dominguez, director of OFCCP, that all complaints are
investigated and tracked to completion and that over 1300 in all
were completed last year alone.
     As for technical assistance, along with the initial notice
of the compliance review, the OFCCP advises contractors of the
requirements of the affirmative action program and provides them
with an overview of the procedures used in conducting that
review. We also provide guidance to prospective company employees
who believe they have suffered from discrimination to help them
understand the investigative process and formulate their
complaints. Incidentally, the regulations are in Braille and on
cassette tapes for blind workers, and there is a teletype in each
regional office. I want to be clear here. Complaint
investigations require a solid foundation, showing a documented
pattern of suspected discrimination. If you suspect that you are
being discriminated against, crystalize your thinking in terms of
how you are being treated, vis-a-vis others, in employability.
Document the facts. Then come to the OFCCP office for assistance
in making the case. It is only with a well-founded and documented
case that the OFCCP can move forward and investigate. Our offices
are all around the country.  You can get them through directory
assistance.
     Section 503 does work to protect the blind. In fact, a
Section 503 complaint involving discrimination against a blind
employee was recently assigned to the Boston District office. An
internal review process failed to resolve the matter. The case
was assigned to a newly-appointed Equal Opportunity Specialist,
Jay Gauthier, to investigate. When Jay appeared at the company's
office with his laptop computer in one hand and his seeing-eye
dog Promise's harness in the other, he established an OFCCP
record for the fastest complaint resolution ever. As he was
introduced to Jay, the contractor asked, "Where do I sign the
settlement agreement?"
     You know the best thing, in fact the most worthwhile thing
that I have done in my life, is what I am doing right now. I
believe that my agency can make a difference in people's lives,
and I have worked with people that believe the same thing.
Elizabeth Dole, the woman I work for, the Secretary of Labor, is
very interested in moving forward on issues important to the
so-called disabled population. She believes it so much that she
enacted a secretarial initiative in February to increase the
number of these workers within the Department of Labor. We
practice really what we preach; or, as I tell my people, I walk
the way I talk, which is why I can tell you that the Wage and
Hour Division investigates eight to ten per cent of the Section
14C certificates we get each year. Thinking that that was not
enough, as you do, according to my branch chief of special
employment, we are making what I will delicately refer to as a
special effort to investigate facilities qualifying for 14C
exemptions of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day. There will be a special
emphasis on these workshops and their wage scales.
     There is something else that I would like to say this
morning.  It is something you have heard on the news, talk shows,
and from the kids' teachers. That is that the push in the
American workplace is on productivity. To ensure a more
prosperous future, we must improve productivity; and therefore,
as I said earlier, we've got to use all of our people.
     The point I want to make in closing is that the first line
of offense in career development is yours. Make sure you have the
education and grab the skills to participate. It is your
abilities and their full development and use that make the
difference between failure and success, however you define it. 
You certainly have got what it takes to succeed. As Marc Maurer
said in his keynote address last year, you are organized,
confident, and prepared for what lies ahead, and no force on
earth can turn you back. Your future lies in the individual
determination of each of you and the unshakable power of your
vehicle for collective action, the National Federation of the
Blind. He's right: individual treatment and collective progress.
I'm glad to be here with you today. Thank you.
     Mr. Gashel: Mr. Secretary, I appreciate what you say about
Section 503 and the potential it has for sheltered workshops. We
found, over the years, that that potential has really not been
realized. One reason it hasn't been realized is the fact that, as
I was pointing out earlier, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act requires
that only 75 per cent of the direct labor hours be performed by
blind persons. There is no standard for management or supervisory
positions. It is our position that that criterion leads to a
systemic form of discrimination. It's no accident that the
sheltered workshops employing the blind have sighted managers and
blind laborers. You can trace it right back to the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. With that as background, what I'd really
like to ask you to consider doing is using Section 503 as the
authority and undertaking targeted reviews of Javits-Wagner-O'Day
workshops for the blind (I'm not talking about individual
complaints now but compliance reviews) where you examine to find
out if, in fact, what we say is true--that the workshops have
sighted management and blind labor. If you find what we have
found, will you take steps to order them to comply with Section
503?
     Mr. Brooks: I'm going to take a look at it. As I said
earlier, my job is enforcing the law, and while I am there I
don't make the laws and I am here to enforce them fully, fairly,
and firmly where I find them. I think, if you look at my record
the nine or ten months I have been in office, you find that is
exactly what I have been doing. If you look at what we have done
in child labor, what we are doing in sweat shops (we have been
focusing our efforts in those areas), I will be glad to move to
this area. Perhaps Carrie Domingez and others on my staff will
either come to Baltimore and talk with you,or you come to
Washington. Let's talk about it and find out how we can focus on
it.
     Mr. Gashel: All right Sir, you've got it.
     Mr. Brooks:  Let me say one other thing. I think we have to
use people's abilities, and we should not be able to put people
in sheltered workshops if they have the abilities to do other
jobs. One concern I've had as I've visited sheltered workshops is
that people are using them as an end in itself and not as a place
to graduate to someplace else.  I have a big concern about that.
     President Maurer:  Mr. Secretary, we find that either we
agree with you or you agree with us, and anybody who is as
sensible as that, we're mighty glad to have come to our
convention.
     Glenn Crosby: Yes, I would like to ask Mr. Brooks to think
about some of this complaint process. We're mighty glad to have
that process in place right now, but we all know that in
preparing the complaints, oftentimes our shop workers have to
have the aid of attorneys, and they incur attorneys' fees and
other professional fees. Although we are glad to have the
decision that we got in Lubbock, part of the decision was that
the workers could not recover any of those expenses that were
incurred. I wonder, sir, if you can help us change that around so
that people who incur these expenses can be reimbursed?
     Mr. Brooks: I'll look into that. I understand that what we
we have tried to do is develop a process that was as simple as
possible, that didn't really require a lot of technical
assistance. I can only take a look at that. We want a system that
is easy for the people and does not provide a chilling effect to
cause people not to complain.
     Fred Schroeder: We have heard, lo these many years, all the
reasons why the workshops say they can't pay the minimum wage to
blind people. They say that they are not in the business of
employment; they are in the business of rehabilitation. As a
result they take guys that aren't productive; and, no matter what
you do with them, they are not productive. If they had to pay
minimum wage, they would have to lay all these guys off. That's a
lie--it's a flat-out lie, and we know it and have proven it. In
1986, when the New Mexico Commission for the Blind was
established, we took a workshop that used to say that it couldn't
pay minimum wage, and on July 1, 1986, we changed our minds and
said that we would pay minimum wage. We didn't change any of the
workers; we didn't lay anybody off; we didn't fire anybody who
was currently there. We just paid them better. As a result, they
produced better, and the shop has never lost a dime. What we are
talking about is whether we really believe in blind people or
don't believe in blind people. The shop has been managed now for
four years by a blind person. We put into place what I regard as
an upward mobility program, where we've taken those same blind
workers that everybody said couldn't produce, and we have
promoted them to line supervisors--legitimate upward mobility. It
can be and is being done. We are tired of the shops' saying we
can't produce. The General Council of Workshops for the Blind,
two years ago, put out an upward mobility plan, which is designed
to pad their statistics. They say that, if you did not have a
rehab case open and then you open one, that is a promotion. If
you got moved from direct labor to nondirect labor with no change
in pay, that's a promotion. They made up all these little
categories so that now they can publish statistics and say "look
at our upward mobility." I guess the last thing I'd say is that
the workshops have been around long enough to show that they
can't learn how to do rehabilitation. If they've got a purpose,
maybe it ought to be employment.
     Mr. Brooks: I'm getting an education here today. Certainly
when I get back, I'll be looking more closely at those, and I'll
get with Mr. Gashel, and we're going to talk about them.
     President Maurer: It used to be that we got together with
the workshops, and we said, "You don't pay decent wages," and
they said, "But we got a lot of multi-handicapped people around
here." So they went to find out how many, and they made up
categories of multi-handicapped people. If you were twenty pounds
overweight, you had a handicap. If you were blind, you had
another handicap, and that made you multi-handicapped. If you
were albino, you were handicapped, and if you were blind you were
also handicapped, so you were.... They make up a lot of these
things,  and Fred says they lie. Maybe he's right.
     Mr. Brooks: If you know my reputation, I like to travel and
see for myself. So I'm going to be going into a few of those
sheltered workshops to find out.
     President Maurer: I want to thank you, Mr. Secretary, for
coming to be with us. I want to thank you for your open
mindedness, for your willingness to work with us, and for your
general good sense.


[PHOTO: Tony Burda standing with plaque in hand during NFB of
Illinois convention. CAPTION: Tony Burda received the Gwendolyn
Williams Award at the 1990 convention of the National Federation
of the Blind of Illinois.]


         CHICAGO LEARNS ABOUT NFB IN SUN TIMES TRIATHLON

     From the Associate Editor: Virtually everyone holds distinct
opinions about the merits of physical exercise. These range from
the proverbial "When I feel the impulse coming on, I lie down
until the impulse passes" to the exuberant "Tennis anyone?" But
even those of us who restrict our exertions to occasional bouts
of situps can admire the accomplishments of our friends who work
out and build themselves up to astonishing feats of physical
prowess. 
     Even more admirable are those who put their physical skill
at the disposal of the National Federation of the Blind to help
raise the much-needed funds that make our work possible. In
September of 1989, Mark Plantz of Maryland swam a mile in the
Baltimore harbor to raise more than $600 for our Maryland
affiliate. In addition to the money, the publicity was very
positive, and, first to last, the organized blind benefitted from
his impressive effort. 
     On August 19, 1990, Tony Burda, Finance Chairman for the
Chicago Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
Illinois, raised about $8,000 for the NFB by participating in the
Chicago Sun Times Triathlon, which includes a 1,500-meter  swim
in Lake Michigan, a 40-kilometer bicycle ride, and a 10-kilometer
run. He completed this test of endurance, not in the fortnight
that seems appropriate to such an undertaking, but in two hours
and fifty-five minutes. Along the way he collected a gratifying
amount of positive press for the Federation and our constructive
philosophy of blindness. Both major Chicago dailies did stories
before and after the race. An Associated Press story went out
over the wire the evening after the event, and several other area
papers sent reporters to interview Tony and do stories.
Television and radio were not behindhand. The powerful WGN did an
hour interview and telephone call-in program that gave Tony ample
elbow room for explaining why he had taken part in the triathlon
and what the NFB stands for. All in all, it was a valuable
opportunity to educate the public about blindness, the capacities
of blind people, and the work of the National Federation of the
Blind. Here are two stories that represent the kind of press
accounts of Tony Burda's feat of endurance that appeared in late
August. The first is the one run by the Sun Times on Thursday,
August 16. It was written by Len Ziehm. The other is the
Associated Press story that appeared in papers around the country
on Monday, August 20. Its writer was Michael Gougis. Here they
are:


         Blind Athlete on Mission in Sun-Times Triathlon
         Burda Eager to Demonstrate He's Not Handicapped

     At least one of the 3,500 athletes competing in Sunday's
Chicago Sun-Times Triathlon entered the race on a mission.
     Tony Burda, a pharmacist residing in Oak Park, will be the
first blind triathlete to compete in the Chicago event and one of
just a handful who have competed in triathlons nationally.
     The most notable blind endurance athlete is Harry Cordellos
of San Francisco, who has done several Hawaii Ironmans among his
feats. Roger Neppl, executive director of the U.S. Association of
Blind Athletes in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said Wednesday
several other blind athletes had completed triathlons but
emphasized that it was only a few.
     Burda feels blindness isn't the handicap some may feel it
is.
     "I want to show that blind people can compete on terms of
equality, not just in athletic events but in competitive jobs,"
said Burda, a technically certified poison information
specialist. He does not dispense medicine.
     Burda, 35, needed help from the National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois in a three-year legal battle to obtain his
pharmacist's license. He is a 1978 graduate of the University of
Illinois School of Pharmacy.
     Burda, who lost his sight in 1975 in an accident, was in the
top 10 percent of his class and finished in the top 10 percent on
the license exam. Still, he was denied his license until going to
court.
     The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 70 percent of
working age blind people are unemployed or underemployed.
     "There are a lot of blind people who are trained and ready
to work, but employers won't hire us because they believe
blindness prohibits an individual from performing a job or
because insurance rates will rise, or because hiring a blind
person will necessarily increase the cost of doing business,"
Burda said. "These are misconceptions."
     Burda, who had participated in several 100-mile cycling
events, has been training for the triathlon for several months.
Usually he works alone, running on a treadmill or a track and
using an exercise bicycle.
     In Sunday's race he will join forces with John Lager, a
fellow pharmacist at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, who
lives in Elmhurst. They will swim within shouting distance of
each other, ride an 18-speed tandem bicycle, and run tethered.
     "John and I have resolved to nail this thing in under three
hours," Burda said. "I just want to finish and not embarrass
myself or the organization."
     You'll be able to identify Burda and Lager. They'll have
special T-shirts on. The front will say `NFB--Philosophy of
Champions.' The back's message will be `NFB--50 Years of
Progress.'"
     They hope their effort will raise public awareness and funds
through pledges for the National Federation of the Blind's
programs. For more information on them call 312-267-1123.

                 Triathlete Has Winning Attitude
                        by Michael Gougis

     Triathlons are tough enough when you can see the finish
line.
     But Tony Burda didn't let his blindness stop him from
hitting Lake Michigan Sunday morning with about 4,000
competitors.
     "The swimming is pretty chaotic," said Burda, who completed
the 51.5-kilometer race in an unofficial 2 hours, 55 minutes,
five minutes under his goal for his first triathlon.
     "There's no way to train for kicking other swimmers and
swimming over people. There were times I just stopped (to tread)
water while other people got out of the way," Burda said.
     Mark Allen, the world's top triathlete, posted the
unofficial winning time of 1:45:55.7.
     Burda, 35, of Oak Park, entered the grueling competition to
raise funds for the National Federation of the Blind, a
Baltimore-based agency that helped him come to terms with the
accident that blinded him 15 years ago.
     "It's not so much what they did for me physically as getting
me to think positively," Burda said Saturday. "I went through a
period of worrying about what was going to happen about my life,
my career.
     "I needed to be around people who had been down that road--
not just people to tell me it could be done, but those who had
actually done it.
     "Blindness can be reduced to the level of a nuisance--I
believe that," Burda said.
     Physical challenges are nothing new to Burda, a poison
information specialist at Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's
Medical Center. He was blinded at a party in 1975 when his punch
was poisoned. He declined to provide details.
     In 1984 he rode 60 miles to raise funds for the federation.
     "I thought I'd never do it again," he said, but he has since
completed a number of long-distance rides on his 18-speed tandem
bicycle.
     He solicited pledges for each mile of the triathlon but said
Sunday he was not sure how much money he raised.
     John Lager, who guided Burda in Sunday's race, joked that he
completed three previous triathlons this summer just to get in
shape for guide duty.
     Lager swam alongside Burda and shouted directions during the
swimming competition. They shared the tandem bicycle during the
40-kilometer bike ride. Burda clutched a tether held by Lager
during the 10-kilometer run.
     "I had to make sure I was in good enough shape to tag along
with this mad friend of mine," said Lager, who works with Burda
in the medical center's pharmacy department. "I didn't want to be
a handicap to him."


                     A SEASON FOR GRATITUDE
                        by Barbara Pierce

     My parents always made a conscientious, though all too often
futile,  effort to teach my brother and me that the Christmas
season was a time for reflection, for reassessment, and for
gratitude, not only for the blessings we had received, but also
for the opportunities to give. We understood about joy, after
December 25, at least, but gratitude smacked unpleasantly of
thank-you notes and visits to old ladies, where lively children
were expected to sit still, answer silly questions, endure being
patted on the head, and refrain from swinging their legs or
squabbling. 
     My adult understanding of this holiday season is far nearer
to that of my parents than to my own youthful views. And, if I am
honest, I must admit that I have not been noticeably more
successful in conveying this more meditative approach to the
holidays to my children. I remember the year that each family
member drew the name of another every week leading up to
Christmas and then tried secretly to do kind things for that
person every day. We placed a cradle in front of the fireplace
and added one piece of hay for each good deed. The children loved
the idea and even tried to remember to be thoughtful, but I'm
afraid that the Christ Child did not have a luxuriously soft bed
of hay by Christmas Eve. 
     The fact remains that both the Jewish and Christian faiths
encourage us at this season of the year to reflect upon the
blessings we have been given and the uses we have chosen to make
of them. My trip to Jamaica this past fall and the deprivation I
saw there have been a poignant reminder to me of just how much
progress Americans in general and the blind in particular have
made. Despite the great distance we still have to travel to
achieve true equality, all of us have much for which to be
grateful. 
     But I have been thinking recently of how lucky we are to be
able to give. For much of the history of blind people, no one in
society was particularly interested in anything we had to offer.
Preoccupied with what we could not do--or what they thought we
could not do--members of the community taunted or ignored or
practiced charity upon us. Today, however, thanks to Braille,
good travel skills, and increased technology, but most of all,
thanks to the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind,
blind people in increasing numbers are demonstrating to society
that we do have many things of value to offer to our communities.
     All this is important, and it is necessary that we take
stock of such progress and be grateful for it. But we must also
recognize how lucky we are to be able to help other blind people.
How empty of satisfaction life would be, how distressing our
encounters with one another if we had no encouragement,
expertise, or support to offer to those who are coming to terms
with blindness for the first time. The fact that we do possess a
gift that is infinitely valuable to people who are desperate for
even a little hope, dignity, and self-respect is a great
blessing. Being a part of the National Federation of the Blind
enables each of us to help other people every day. Each time we
staff an information table in the rain, take part in a fund-
raising project, or work to get our literature placed in
libraries, we are offering the philosophy that rescues lives to
people who need to know about it. Somehow it is all too easy to
forget about this aspect of the work we do week in and week out. 
     These were the thoughts that ran through my mind as I read
the following letter. It just appeared in the mail at the
National Center for the Blind one day this fall. Each of us
stands a little taller because of it. Here it is. Happy holidays
to each of you. 

October, 1990

Dear Mr. Jernigan,
     I recently lost enough vision in my one remaining eye to be
considered legally blind.  This all started last December.  My
goal was to return to work this September.  I was, however,
worried about my ability and needed some advice.  The people at
the Lighthouse advised me to get "legal status" with the state. 
I set up an interview with one of their counselors.  To my
amazement the counselor told me to "quit work."  He told me "I
was a smart young man."  As a shop teacher I would be placing
myself in danger of losing the rest of my sight, going blind.  I
would be placing my students at risk.  I would be doing a
disservice to my family.
     I was bewildered.  I was forty years old and on my way to
applying for S.S.D.I.  At the Social Security office I was told
about social welfare.  That evening I came home and told my wife
the news.  I should quit work, retrain to become a counselor, go
back to school; she must find work, and keeping the house seemed
iffy.
     I called my uncle that night.  He went blind due to a
chemical accident when his kids were small.  He told me that
newly blinded people are likely to accept anything that people
tell them.  He said, don't believe any of that crap!  He got the
same treatment.  He told me to call the N.F.B.  He told me the
"OF" in National Federation of the Blind was very important. 
They are blind people helping each other.  There is a difference.

The woman I spoke to in the Baltimore office was great.  She told
me how to get in touch with a member of the Federation in my
state, and ten minutes later I was talking with him. In a few
minutes more we were on a conference telephone call with a
Federationist in another state who works in one of the Federation
centers and knows about what the blind can do with machinery and
shop work. We spoke about shop and my skills as a shop teacher.
It gave me a new perspective and showed me possibilities.
     Later that morning I called the state agency for the blind.
I asked my counselor if he could legally stop me from working. 
He said no.  I told him I would be returning to work.  He told me
again how foolish I was.  He told me I'd be back when I saw
things his way.
     I tell you, I pray to God each day to watch over me.  I also
pray to be smart.  I teach safety first.  I maintain discipline. 
I ask for help with heavy things which have to be moved.  In this
way I provide for my family.  I do the work I'm qualified for.  I
maintain my independence. 
     I know that I have a long way to go.  I'm joining the
N.F.B., and I am learning.

Sincerely,



[PHOTO: Portrait of Bill Meeker. CAPTION: Bill Meeker is the
newly elected President of the Milwaukee Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin.]

                    BRAILLE BILL MEETS BIG ED
                      by William D. Meeker

     As Monitor readers know, Bill Meeker is an active
Federationist. In writing to me about the following article, he
says: "It depicts my first encounter with the organized education
bureaucracy and my shock at realizing how little they were
concerned with learning. I was particularly surprised by the
shallowness of their response to what was, for them, a novel
issue. With people like this in charge there is little wonder
that our education system is deteriorating." Bill Meeker's
experience in Wisconsin is one more example of the encounters
blind people are having throughout the country in their attempts
to help blind children secure the right to be literate, a right
which sighted Americans take for granted. Here is Bill Meeker's
statement of what happened.

     The morning of March 16, 1990, dawned rosy with promise for
the passage of the NFBW legislation to provide blind Wisconsin
school children the opportunity to choose to be taught Braille.
The Federationists from around the state who gathered in Madison
to testify at the second annual final hearing before the House
Education Subcommittee were optimistic. But we had yet to meet
"Big Ed."
     There was reason to be optimistic that morning. We had
worked hard throughout the legislative process and had reaped
positive results. We caused the proposed bill to be introduced,
lobbied our respective representatives for co-sponsorship, worked
closely with their staffs, and wrote letters of support for the
Braille bill. In January we testified at the first subcommittee
hearing, and the feedback from the legislators was favorable. But
no one had reckoned on the intervention of "Big Ed."
     Even the ACB'S inevitably negative reaction to the bill was
unusually flaccid and tentative. But then, diligent work and weak
opposition are no guarantee of success in the legislative arena,
just ask "Big Ed."
     This second hearing began much like the first. Legislators
asked a wide range of questions, which Federationists fielded
with thorough, direct, and substantive answers. ACB testimony was
lackluster, vague, and, according to one legislator afterward,
unconvincing. William English (that's "English," as in "Old
English," the polish that camouflages marks and imperfections in
wood furniture), the wily and eternally affable Superintendent of
the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, spoke "for
information only," and refused to opine for or against the
passage of the bill, despite repeated questioning by
sub-committee members. Never mind that his "information"
consisted of a series of problems couched in rhetorical
questions, whose thrust was clearly to cast doubt upon the wisdom
and practicability of the legislation. Never mind that these
rhetorically couched potential problems were exactly the issues
that he and his staff of professional educators were charged with
solving. Never mind that several of his staff of professional
educators were, at this very hearing, voicing strong opposition
to the bill for fear that, if it passed, they would be forced to
learn Braille and adhere to a standard of proficiency that they
now were unable to meet. And never mind that these professional
educators were already responsible for teaching blind students to
read and write Braille!
     Legislators were understandably confused: professional
teachers of the blind, at the state school for the blind, opposed
to legislation that would give blind students the opportunity to
be instructed in the tools of literacy which would, in turn,
allow them to learn and function on equal terms with their
sighted peers in a sighted world? These same teachers not
proficient in the skills they were to impart? Their wily and
eternally affable superintendent vigorously waffling on the
issues of educational opportunity and minimum standards of
proficiency? What's going on here anyway?
     We had spent the first and the better part of this hearing
explaining "what's going on here"; but the fear of change, 
feeling threatened because of basic incompetence, and lack of
motivation to upgrade skills did not seem sufficiently complex.
Some complicated answers involving money and large bureaucracies
were in order. This job calls for an expert. Okay, call for the
testimony of "Big Ed!"
     "Big Ed", the 3-headed, 12-limbed, 500-pound juggernaut
would make H. P. Lovecraft run screaming, "Big Ed, eater of money
and people." "Big Ed," alias "Big Education," alias, in this
instance, the president of an association of school
superintendents, the president of an association of parents and
teachers associations, and the "Big Education" lobbyist, who
oozed familiarity with the sub-committee members.  Concerned
though they were with the administration and effectiveness of the
educational system, they were apparently unaware of the NFBW
effort to promote Braille literacy through this bill, until very
recently when the wily and eternally affable superintendent of
the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, Bill English,
brought it to their attention.
     Their presentations were muddled and lacking in cohesion,
but their tactics were simple and effective: Cast enough doubt in
the legislators' minds to keep them from voting the proposed bill
out of committee.  They used three strategies: (1) It will cost
too much; (2) this proposal is new and untested so let's study it
to death; and (3) let's make a deal.
     The Superintendent led off by saying that he had only
learned of this legislation recently and so was unfamiliar with
it, but nevertheless he was sure that it would financially and
logistically overload the system already unable to cope with
special needs programs such as those for the retarded and
otherwise disabled.  Never mind that we are not retarded, that we
can, and do, learn in mainstream settings.  And never mind that
there is already an administration (run by Mr. William English)
and staff of accredited teachers of the blind in place, and that
all that would be required would be remedial, in-service
training.  And never mind that my sister, a thirty-six year old
full-time interior designer, could in three months of evening
classes complete a Library of Congress Braille transcriber's
course and write an error free letter in grade two Braille to me.
     The Ph.D. Superintendent was sure that Braille was too
complicated to be grasped by trained and degreed professional
educators of the blind.  And besides, it would cost too much to
do all of this.
     The testimony of the Parents and Teachers Association was
difficult to follow through its rambling.  The gist of the
statement of the person giving the testimony was that since she
had just heard of this legislation she didn't know much about it,
so shouldn't it be studied?  And who knows, it's probably going
to cost lots to train all those people.
     Never mind that the Federation was intimately familiar with
the legislation and was participating in the most comprehensive
and long-term study of all: everyday life without adequate
Braille instruction.
     And never mind that Federationists had, before her ears,
discussed extensively the cost of implementation and concluded
that implementation costs would be only those of in-service
training of current Braille teachers.
     Never mind that none of them would ever seriously consider
the possibility of a print illiterate teacher's teaching their
children to read.
     Logic and rationality have their places, but not in the mind
of "Big Ed."
     The approach of the education lobbyist, while crass and
arrogant, was refreshing in its practical directness.  It went
something like, "Look, you legislators and I know each other; we
work together on a lot of things; I'm around here all the time. 
I don't know anything about this legislation, but I'm not opposed
to these people learning the Braille.  So let's delay this long
enough so you and I can talk this over and work something out."
     Never mind that it was not his right to intrude and make a
deal on legislation that he had neither introduced nor was
familiar with.  And never mind that this was the last chance to
vote the bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of
Delegates before the close of the legislative season.
     "Big Ed" may not know a lot about a thing, but he sure knows
how to kill it, his philosophy being to shoot first and ask
questions later.
     Hogs need slop and education bureaucrats need studies.
     It came as no surprise to those of us who were there that
twenty-four hours later the bill was recommended to be voted out
of committee but amended into such a weakened state that it would
have been of no use to blind people if it had been passed.  The
bill was killed in committee.
     It has been argued that the social welfare system
established to help the poor poses the greatest obstacle to those
without resources.  The same case may be made against the system
of teachers and administrators who have been hired and paid by
the citizens of this country to educate our blind children. 
Until educators move from a position which places self-interest
above the needs of our children, we in the organized blind
movement will continue to oppose their efforts, and they will in
turn continue to oppose ours.  The test of the current system
which they support is whether or not it produces blind men and
women capable of getting and keeping good jobs.  The results thus
far do not give the educational system a passing grade.
     As more and more blind people speak out for the need to be
literate, the confusion that was present in the halls of the
legislature this year will be converted into anger and action by
that body.  Together the blind men and women of Wisconsin will do
whatever it takes to make clear our need to have the skills to
read and write, and together we will see that instruction in the
reading and writing of Braille is the right of every blind
citizen in our state and nation.


                 IS THERE SHAME? AND IS IT MINE?
                          by Jan Kafton

     From the Editor: There are still those who tell me that, in
the sense in which we use the term, there is no such thing as
"the blind." These people also feel that there is no such thing
as "the organized blind movement." The National Federation of the
Blind, they say, is certainly an organization but not a movement.
Those who say this are usually the die-hard professionals in the
blindness field, and of course they have a vested interest in
their view of the world. But their view is not reality. For a
slice of that reality read what Jan Kafton, who is a
Federationist from central California, has to say. Here it is:

     There have been only a few events in my life which have had
a tremendous impact on me. The most recent of these events
occurred in March of 1988. This experience resulted in marriage.
However, even more importantly, I was forced to re-evaluate my
personal view of my own blindness. The circumstances and my
thought processes merit an explanation.
     For several months I had been using a dating service called
Selective Introductions. This service involves calling a pay
phone number which presents messages from men in a chosen age
group. Then one has the opportunity to record a message,
including the phone number. There were quite a few men I had met
who were indeed friendly, courteous, and fun. Yet, there were a
few of them who could not handle my blindness at all. In fact,
one or two of them actually left after they had arrived and met
me. In most cases I did not mention my blindness over the phone
when the initial contact was made. Not one of the men had dated
me more than twice, and my discouragement mounted a great deal. 
     On a Tuesday evening I received a call from an extremely
personable, friendly young man, and we talked for a few minutes.
I discovered that his background was very similar to mine. We
shared a lot of common interests, including music, literature,
and other recreational activities. Also, we are both musicians.
At any rate we decided to meet and have dinner together that same
night. Just before the end of the conversation I said to him that
I thought he should know one more important item regarding me. I
told him that I had a visual problem. He then asked me what that
meant. I said that I had no sight. In every other instance I have
always said that I was blind, without any hesitation. What caused
my unwillingness to say that I am blind? Lon's response to my
statement brought me up short. He simply said, "So what?"  I knew
very definitely he was right. That fact made absolutely no
difference to him whatsoever. My mind went to the knowledge that
I had a t-shirt which I purchased at a recent Federation national
convention. The t-shirt says "Blind Pride" and has the NFB logo
on it. Where was the pride? I really enjoyed wearing that t-
shirt, too. However, the blatant inconsistency did hit me quite
hard. The question kept on surfacing: How could I wear the t-
shirt and still remain unwilling to use the word "blind?"
     Yes, I did meet Lon that Tuesday night, and the rest is
history. He has continually confirmed what I already knew to be
true for me, that my blindness has been reduced to a physical
nuisance. He is entirely supportive of that viewpoint and of my
goal to be successful in life. As blind people, we do face
discrimination on the airlines and in employment. Yet, that is
why there is a National Federation of the Blind, which is always
available for encouragement and collective action if necessary.
After experiencing this inward perspective, I now can wear that
t-shirt and actually feel the pride that it represents. After
all, I do follow in the footsteps of a great heritage in the
Federation. Many have led the way for our present progress and
future first-class citizenship as blind persons. I not only owe a
great deal to each of them, but I do owe a lot to my husband, Lon
Kafton. He allowed me to look at my blindness and helped me to
know there is indeed no shame in being blind. I choose to go on
productively and proudly.






                 ******************************

     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."

                 ******************************
                  DON'T COUNT DIALOGUE OUT YET
                        by Barbara Pierce

     At about the time that the October edition of the Braille
Monitor was being printed, the Board of Trustees of Dialogue
Publications was gathering to give final approval to the
decisions made by its specially-named dissolution committee to
wind up the Berwyn operation. The date was October 4, 1990, and
the final decision was to hand the publication over to Blind
Skills, the entity that produces Lifeprints, a highly-respected
magazine for young adults edited by Carol McCarl. 
     Considering that she lives in Oregon, McCarl notified the
Braille Monitor of the decision very early Friday morning,
October 5. When asked how she expected to underwrite the
substantial costs that have always been associated with producing
Dialogue, she admitted that she didn't know. She went on to say
that she has never run a project that went into the red, and she
does not intend to begin now. She seems to think that Dialogue
can be made to pay for itself. She said that if it does not, she
will of necessity cease publication. 
     McCarl said that she believes that the newly blind, the
elderly blind, and some other blind people still need what
Dialogue offers. Whether or not they will be prepared to pay for
the privilege of receiving it remains to be seen. McCarl does not
sound like a woman with sufficient spare time to engage in
significant fund raising for a publication with Dialogue's
discouraging record of attractiveness to contributors. 
     On the morning after the Dialogue Board's decision McCarl
had not yet decided whether or not she would be able to pay
writers for articles, stories, and poetry in the months ahead.
She could not say when the next edition of the magazine is likely
to see the light of day. She presumes that there is some material
in the files, but she will not know what is possible until she
takes a good look. 
     So there is nothing to do now but wait and watch. McCarl's
track record is good. If she has the time and energy to breathe
into Dialogue some of her own commitment and purpose, it may yet
survive. One can only hope that, if the task proves too much for
even her efficiency and energy, she will have the sense to let it
quietly die.


     SOCIAL SECURITY AND TRIAL WORK: FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
                         by James Gashel

     As Monitor readers know, James Gashel is the Director of
Governmental Affairs for the National Federation of the Blind. He
is also one of the nation's leading experts on the Social
Security regulations that affect blind people.
 
     An inquiry from a woman in Rupert, Idaho, brought home to me
the need to explain the Social Security policy on trial work. She
said she was calling for her husband. He is blind and receives
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. She asked,
"Can he work?"
     The caller said she had asked someone at the Social Security
office the same question. Her husband had been offered a job as a
dispatcher. It would be part-time work during the holidays. He
expected to work three weeks, all in one month. For this he would
be paid $660. He had never worked before as an SSDI recipient.
"How," she asked, "would the temporary work affect his checks, or
would it?" That was the question the caller raised with the
Social Security office.
     But the answer she got there was troubling to her. She said
she was told that her husband definitely could not work. If he
did, his checks would stop, or so she had understood. She asked
me to comment on the answer and help her set the matter straight.
Could her husband work?
     In the circumstances I have just described, the caller from
Idaho and her husband would not need to worry. Working would not
stop the checks. The work in question, with earnings of $660 or
more, would only be counted as one month of trial work. That's
all.
     The rule is that a month of trial work is counted when
earnings from the work are $200.00 or more. The trial work months
need not be consecutive. Nine months of earnings over $200.00
will be evaluated to see whether a beneficiary is able to perform
"substantial gainful activity."
     Applying this rule, it is possible to use up an entire trial
work period even though earnings may be intermittent and
relatively low. Then, if a real job comes along, the beneficiary
may be surprised to learn that all of his or her trial work
months have been used. In the example from Idaho, that would be
the only disadvantage of accepting the dispatching job.
Otherwise, working would have no actual effect at all on the
continuation of the checks or on their amount.
     Something else you should know: After nine months of trial
work have been used, the beneficiary who continues to work is
still entitled to receive at least three more checks. These cover
the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months after work first begins.
Remember, the first nine months may be interrupted by short or
long gaps between periods of work.
     After the twelfth month of work, a thirty-three-month
"extended eligibility period" begins. During this period
entitlement to benefits is suspended if the work continues to
represent substantial gainful activity. In the case of anyone who
is blind, substantial gainful activity will not be found if
earnings are less than $780.00 per month during 1990. This
monthly amount increases each year, beginning in January, 1991.
Benefits will continue indefinitely after the twelfth month and
beyond for any blind beneficiary who is earning less than $780.00
per month of "countable income."
     Blind people who earn more than the monthly amount allowed
cannot receive checks after the twelfth month of trial work.
However, if work stops (or earnings fall below the monthly amount
allowed) any time during the thirty-three month extended
eligibility period (after the first twelve months of work),
benefit reinstatement is automatic.
     When someone at the Social Security office says that you
cannot work, it helps to understand the context of the answer. It
really means that you cannot continue to perform substantial
gainful activity after twelve months of trial work. Anyone who
can is working, according to Social Security. Anyone who cannot
do so is not working and is (according to Social Security rules)
unable to work. But if you consider the question of employment
apart from the very special rules and limitations established by
Social Security, you can work and have earnings of any amount
during a trial work period of twelve months and up to $780.00 per
month of countable income thereafter (at least in 1990). Higher
earnings will be allowed in 1991. Those are the facts.


[PHOTO: Sharon Gold standing at microphone. CAPTION: Sharon
Gold.]

                 FROM THE PRESIDENT'S CLIPBOARD

     From the Editor: One of the pluses of our movement is that
we share information with each other. Often a state affiliate,
local chapter, or individual will get an idea from another
affiliate or individual somewhere else in the country and then
seek to emulate or improve it. This process is exemplified by
what has recently happened in California.
     For more than four years Don Capps, President of the
National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, has been
issuing on a weekly basis a brief bulletin to inform and
stimulate the individual members and local chapters of the
Federation in South Carolina. Entitled "Positive Notes," this
presidential message serves to bind the members of the NFB of
South Carolina together and keep them informed about what is
happening. The activities of the organization come alive through
the weekly "Positive Notes."
     Sharon Gold, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of California, learned of the idea and thought it was a
good one. She didn't just think about it. She acted on it. On
August 9, 1990, she began her own weekly message to
Federationists in California. Called "From the President's
Clipboard," Sharon's publication is lively and informative. It
does for California what the "Positive Notes" do for South
Carolina. Unquestionably it is hard work to keep this stream of
information flowing, but the results will almost certainly be
dramatic. We thought that Federationists might like to share this
first "Clipboard," so here it is:

              From the President's Clipboard, No. 1
                         August 9, 1990

     This is the first of a series of notes I plan to write and
circulate to our leadership. Through the CLIPBOARD, we can
increase our communication and keep ourselves informed and
up-to-date on issues of importance to our growing movement. It is
my intent that, through these pages, information can be gathered
more efficiently by chapter presidents for inclusion in chapter
meeting agendas. You may summarize the information contained in
the CLIPBOARD for chapter meetings or you may read portions or
all of the CLIPBOARD at the meetings. Also, I intend to continue
recording an occasional AFFILIATE UPDATE, which should be played
at all chapter meetings along with President Maurer's
Presidential Release.
     The idea for this series of "clips" is an outgrowth of the
POSITIVE NOTES, which Don Capps, President of the NFB of South
Carolina, has been writing for the past four years. You will
remember that I concluded the July 20th AFFILIATE UPDATE with a
quote from President Capps. That quote came from a recent
POSITIVE NOTE.
     There is a wealth of knowledge to be shared, and I wish to
thank Mr. Capps for disseminating the POSITIVE NOTES so that we
in California might benefit from this worthwhile and successful
effort of our South Carolina affiliate president. I also want to
thank Dan Frye, the immediate past president of the NFB of South
Carolina Student Chapter who is working in our NFB of California
Office this summer, for sharing his copies of the POSITIVE NOTES
with me. It was through this sharing that I have come to write
this first memo to you, which I have entitled FROM THE
PRESIDENT'S CLIPBOARD. Your comments and suggestions concerning
the CLIPBOARD will be appreciated.
     You will note that you have received a copy of this memo in
large print and a copy in Braille and that the paper has been
punched for a three-ring binder for easy storage and reference.
In the future, I should like to send one copy to each of you. The
enclosed form and self-addressed envelope are provided for you to
conveniently advise me of your preference of medium.
     I am currently working on the agenda for our convention. I
would appreciate suggestions for items to include on our agenda.
Also, I am preparing committee assignments. If you have a
particular interest in serving on a committee or if you know of
others who have a particular interest to serve on one committee
or another, please communicate these desires to me as soon as
possible or request the individual to communicate directly with
me.
     Last Saturday our Tracy Chapter participated in the Tracy
Bean Festival. Under the direction of Matt Millspaugh, chapter
president, chapter members shared information about the NFB with
members of the public. In true Federation style, Mary Willows,
president of our Ala-Costa Chapter, and Ala-Costa Chapter board
members Anita March and Paul McIntyre traveled from the
Pleasanton area to Tracy to spend the day and help our Tracy
Chapter at the Bean Festival.
     Recently, our Shasta County Chapter, of which Jillian Brooks
is the president, set up a booth as a part of a fair that was
held on the campus of the Shasta Community College. Also, Sandy
Ritter, President of our Antelope Valley Chapter, reported great
success with a booth at the Littlerock Festival.
     Within a few days, you should receive NFB of California
scholarship application forms. An application is being sent to
each known student, to rehabilitation counselors for the blind,
and to all colleges and universities. However, we need to reach
out to those students who do not know about our scholarships and
see that they have an opportunity to apply. The application form
may be photocopied if needed.
     It is time to begin thinking about activities for White Cane
Safety Day, which is annually celebrated on October 15th. This
designated day gives us an opportunity to increase community
awareness of blindness and the successes of blind people.
     Shortly after our National Convention, Diane Starin,
president of the Glenn-Tehama Chapter, was interviewed by a
reporter from the SACRAMENTO BEE. The subsequent article
described Diane's activities in connection with her horse ranch.
     Recently, our Santa Barbara County Chapter (Joy Smith,
President) received a contribution from an estate. The Chapter
donated one-third of the contribution to the NFB of California
and one-third of the contribution to our NFB national treasury.
It is this kind of sharing that makes our movement what it is.
     Funding our movement is of major concern. Therefore, I trust
that everyone is making an all-out effort to gather donations for
chances on our Benefit Drawing. Also, we need to make an
increased effort to sell Associates. Associate forms are
available from our NFB of California Office or from our National
Office.
     As I write this, our treasurer, Donna Siebert, is recovering
from surgery on her big toe to repair a serious wound condition
caused by diabetes. Donna has been suffering with this wound for
fifteen months, and we wish her a speedy recovery.
     CLIPBOARD Clip: "Our daily objectives should include an
honest effort to improve on yesterday."


                 EXPANDING OUR FEDERATION FAMILY
                        by Barbara Pierce

     The Spring, 1990 edition of the Gem State Milestones, the
newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho,
carried an article by Patrick Barrett, which made me re-examine
what my local chapter does to welcome new members. The Barrett
family had occasion to move to another state for a few months,
and they returned to Idaho determined to benefit from the
experience of being a part, even temporarily, of another local
chapter and state affiliate. I, too, think that we can all
enhance the strength and warmth of our movement by remembering
and applying a few common-sense principles.
     New or prospective members need to feel welcome. This means
that we each should take seriously the responsibility to
introduce them to others in the group, particularly the leaders. 
It would also be helpful to introduce them to several members
with whom they have things in common. Job-seekers, young parents,
diabetics, etc.--all appreciate meeting someone else facing
similar challenges. Moreover, it is not enough to be friendly at
meetings; new members feel far more welcome when they receive
calls between meetings and are given the phone numbers of people
whom they can contact when they have questions or problems. Be
sure that they have NFB literature in the medium of their choice
and that their names, addresses, and format preferences are sent
to the Braille Monitor if they are not already receiving our
national publication. It is useful to keep a few extra copies of
the Monitor, Future Reflections, and The Voice of the Diabetic on
hand for the purpose of giving them to new members.
     There is an art to drawing newcomers into the life and work
of a local chapter. Some people prefer to slip in gradually, and
others don't really feel that they are a part of things until
they have been asked to roll up their sleeves and work. Making
sure that every new member has an opportunity to get as involved
as he or she is able to is very important. Every chapter has, or
should have, more work to do than there are hands to do it. New
members should be offered a choice of activities and committee
assignments without being made to feel that they must commit
hours and hours of time a month if they are to be accepted into
full membership.
     Transfer members offer a different set of opportunities and
challenges to a local chapter. It is always wonderful to greet a
new member who already knows about the Federation and believes in
what we are doing. Such folks don't usually need as much
education about the movement, but they certainly do need to know
about the state affiliate and local chapter of which they are now
a part. Federationists from other regions of the country will
appreciate learning about the structure and traditions of their
new NFB family. A real effort should be made to be positive in
explaining about the affiliate. All families have their
idiosyncrasies, but nothing is to be gained by grumbling about
other people or chapters to new members.
     The appearance of a transplanted Federationist in an
affiliate or chapter is a fine opportunity for healthy cross-
pollination of ideas and solutions to common problems. But
visitors from other affiliates and transferring Federationists
should remember that tact is essential when passing on ideas or
offering advice. After only a few suggestions prefaced by the
words "in my old affiliate we did it this way," people will begin
to feel that they are being implicitly or explicitly criticized--
a reaction practically guaranteed to insure that they will reject
the idea, be it ever so useful. New members would probably do
better to offer suggestions and ideas as their own. Questions
like "Have we ever tried it this way before?" Or "Would it work
if we did that?" are much less threatening.
     At the same time chapters lucky enough to have a seasoned
Federationist as a new member should lean over backwards to take
advantage of the different point of view and varied experience
that have arrived with the new member.
     Just because a newcomer is a veteran, that does not mean
that the principles laid out for other new members do not apply. 
Even if a person from another state already knows a few people in
the affiliate, introducing him or her to others and helping with
the process of making friends is a very welcoming gesture. 
Remember, too, that a new member of the community--no matter how
experienced a Federationist he or she may be--does not know about
services available in the area. Chapter members who know the
transportation system and geography of the city can be of
invaluable assistance.
     Even those of us who have not had the experience of moving
to another Federation chapter and affiliate, can do a better job
of welcoming new members. All it takes is the time and
imagination to put ourselves in the place of the new member and
then do something constructive that we would appreciate having
done for us. As with any healthy family, there is always room for
one more in the clan we call the National Federation of the
Blind.


[PHOTO: Sharon Maneki standing at podium during the banquet of
the 1990 NFB national convention. CAPTION: Sharon Maneki.]

                     DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR
                OF BLIND CHILDREN AWARD FOR 1991
                        by Sharon Maneki

     Sharon Maneki is president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland. She also chairs the committee to select the
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children for 1991.

     The National Federation of the Blind will recognize an
outstanding teacher of blind children at our 1991 convention June
30-July 7, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The winner of this award will receive an expense-paid trip to the
convention, a check for $500, an appropriate plaque at the
banquet, and an opportunity to make a presentation about the
education of blind children to the National Federation of the
Blind Parents of Blind Children Division early in the convention.
     Anyone who is currently teaching or counseling blind
children or administering a program for blind children is
eligible to receive this award. It is not necessary to be a
member of the National Federation of the Blind to apply. However,
the winner must attend the National Convention. Teachers may be
nominated by colleagues, supervisors, or friends. The letter of
nomination should explain why the teacher is being recommended
for this award.
     The nominee must meet two additional requirements: write a
one-page letter describing his or her beliefs and approach to
teaching, and answer the following ten questions:
     1. List your degrees, the institutions from which they were
received, and your major area or areas of study.
     2. How long and in what programs have you taught blind
children?
     3. In what setting do you teach? (Example: classroom in
school for the blind, special education classroom, itinerant
program, etc.)
     4. How many students do you teach regularly this year? What
subjects do you teach?
     5. How many of your students read and write primarily using:
a) Braille, b) large print, c) closed-circuit television, d)
recorded materials, e) small print?
     6. How many of your students use both print and Braille?
     7. At what age do you recommend that your students begin: a)
reading Braille, b) writing with a slate and stylus, c) writing
with a Braille writer?
     8. At what age do you recommend that your students begin to
learn independent cane travel?
     9. How do you determine which children should learn cane
travel and which should not?
     10. a) At what age do you recommend that students begin
typing? b) When do you expect them to be able to hand in typed
assignments?
     Send all material by April 15, 1991, to Sharon Maneki,
Chairman, Teacher Award Committee, 9736 Basket Ring Road,
Columbia, Maryland 21045; telephone: (301) 992-9608.
     The education of blind children is one of our most important
concerns. Attendance at a National Federation of the Blind
convention will enrich a teacher's experience by affording the
opportunity to meet other teachers who work with blind children,
to meet parents, and to meet blind adults who have had
experiences in a variety of educational programs. Help us
recognize a distinguished teacher by distributing this
announcement and encouraging teachers to submit their
applications. We are pleased to offer this award and look forward
to nominations from many well-qualified educators.




[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Steve Benson.]

          THE BLIND EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 1991

                         by Steve Benson

     Teaching is, perhaps, the most noble of all the professions.
"A teacher," said Henry Brooks Adams, "affects eternally; he can
never tell where his influence stops." The National Federation of
the Blind was founded by an outstanding scholar and teacher,
whose influence upon us as individuals and as an organization has
never stopped. Jacobus tenBroek took seriously his responsibility
as a teacher. He understood the impact of his actions and those
of the organized blind movement on future generations of
Americans, blind and sighted alike. 
     Dr. Jernigan, too, has always been acutely aware of the
consequences of his teachings and of the actions of The National
Federation of the Blind. No one else in work with the blind has
created a collection of writing that has had comparable influence
on thought and action in this field. 
     President Maurer, while not a credentialed educator himself,
has received his training as a teacher from Dr. Jernigan directly
and from studying the writings of Dr. tenBroek. He understands
and appreciates the heritage that has been passed, teacher to
student, down the generations to him and to all of us in the
Federation. 
     As an educational organization, the National Federation of
the Blind is dedicated to improving the lives of all blind
people. Among those who have been affected profoundly by the
thought and actions of the NFB are blind teachers. We have worked
hard to open this profession to able, qualified teachers who
happen to be blind. Many of these teachers have responded to the
challenge of the classroom with style and aplomb. 
     Several years ago the Blind Educator of the Year Award was
established by the National Association of Blind Educators (the
teachers division of the National Federation of the Blind) to pay
tribute to individual teachers whose outstanding classroom
performance, distinguished community service, and active
commitment to the NFB merited national recognition. Recipients of
this award to date have been Pauline Gomez, New Mexico; Patricia
Munson, California; and Dr. Abraham Nemeth, Michigan. Beginning
with the 1991 presentation, this award becomes an honor bestowed,
not by a single division of the organized blind movement, but an
honor presented by the entire national body. This change
indicates our recognition of the importance of good teaching on
all of us. 
     The Blind Educator of the Year Award is presented at the
annual banquet of the National Federation of the Blind. Honorees,
who must be present at the NFB's National Convention and at the
banquet, receive an appropriately inscribed plaque and a check
for $500. 
     The members of the committee which will select the 1991
Blind Educator of the Year are Steve Benson, chairman, Illinois;
Patricia Munson, California; Homer Page, Colorado; Judy Sanders,
Minnesota; and Lev Williams, Tennessee. Nominations should be
sent to Steve Benson, 3032 N. Albany Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 
60618. Letters of nomination must be accompanied by a current
resume and supporting documentation of community and Federation
activity. All nomination materials must be in the hands of the
committee chairman by April 30, 1991, to be considered for this
year's award.



                             RECIPES
                         by Tom Bickford

[PHOTO: Tom Bickford standing with plate of Kuchen, wearing
chef's hat and apron. CAPTION: Tom Bickford joined the Federation
in 1956 in California. He has lived in California, Iowa, the
District of Columbia, and now Maryland. Tom has filled a variety
of offices in the Federation wherever he has lived. In 1968-69 he
chaired the official NFB song selection committee. He now lives
in Maryland with his wife Virginia and their two daughters. Tom
works for the Library of Congress NLS/BPH, where he "reads books
for a living." That is, he is a quality assurance specialist for
recorded books.]


     Concerning his activities as a chef, Tom Bickford says: "The
second nicest thing my mother-in-law gave me was a set of recipes
for German coffee cake called Kuchen. My wife Virginia and her
entire family are of German origin, and they use the German
pronunciation: two `k' sounds, and the `u' sounds like the double
`o' in `food'. Also, whichever way the dough is topped off, it is
still called Kuchen. Virginia tells me that in her teen years she
baked Kuchen every Saturday morning, and by Sunday afternoon it
was gone! In recent years I have taken up the weekend baking and
often bake a double batch, twice the amount given here, just so I
can get more than two or three rolls for myself. I admit that
nothing smells or tastes as good as freshly baked bread. It is
very flattering to have my family utter that smiling `mmm' and
then help me eat up all my work. Just as I share the Kuchen with
my family, so I share the recipes with you. Much love and good
eating." --Tom Bickford, Sligo Creek Chapter, NFB of Maryland.

                             KUCHEN
                   (Main Recipe for the Dough)

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, scalded
6 tablespoons margarine
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 - 2 packages dry yeast
5 - 5-1/2 cups flour

     Scald the milk and set it aside to cool. In the meantime
cream together the margarine, sugar, and salt. Stir in the eggs.
Pour in the warm milk, and sprinkle the yeast over it. Stir to a
smooth mixture.
     Stir in 2 cups of flour. Stir in another 2-1/2 cups of
flour. Spread 1/2 cup of flour over the kneading board before
pouring out the dough.
     Knead the dough about 10 minutes to form a soft elastic
dough. Put the dough in a lightly-greased bowl, then turn the
dough to coat all sides. Cover the bowl with wax paper, then 
a dish towel, and put it in a warm place to rise. Let rise about
1-1/2 hours or until the dough is 3 to 4 times the original size.
Shape the dough as described in the following recipes into rolls,
buns, or fruit upside-down cake. Put the dough in greased baking
pans and let rise in a warm place about 45 minutes, or until it
is about double in size.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the
thickness of the shape. Makes about 3 dozen rolls.
     Your imagination is the only limitation for the shaping and
the topping of this good dough.

                         KUCHEN TOPPINGS

     In our kitchen when we divide the once risen dough into
thirds, we have suitable quantities for our cooking pans.
Therefore, most of the following recipes use one-third of the
dough.

          Fruit Upside-Down Coffee Cake (The Simplest)

     Into a greased 9-inch pan, square or round, pour one can of
fruit pie mix. My favorite is cherry. Roll or stretch one-third
of the once risen dough to the size and shape to reach all edges
of the pan. Let the dough rise again in a warm place about 45
minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Turn out into
a plate immediately after baking.

           Apple Upside Down Coffee Cake (Even Better)

     Grease a 9-inch pan, square or round. In a separate bowl
mix: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, and 1 teaspoon
cinnamon. Spread this mix over the bottom of the pan. For the
next layer use three cooking apples peeled, cored, and thinly
sliced. Roll or stretch one-third of the once risen dough to fill
the pan to the edges. Let the dough rise in a warm place about 45
minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Turn it out
into a plate immediately after baking.

                Caramel Pecan Rolls (My Favorite)

     First the gooey sauce. In a small saucepan simmer together
for five minutes: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons margarine, 1
tablespoon white corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon water. Chop 3/4 to
1 cup pecans and cover the bottom of a greased 9-inch pan, deep
dish if you have it, with the nuts. Pour the sauce over the nuts.
     Prepare a separate mixture of 2 tablespoons brown sugar and
1 teaspoon cinnamon. Melt 2 tablespoons margarine, and get out
the pastry brush.
     Now the rolls: With a rolling pin, roll out 1/3 of the once
risen dough to a rectangle about 6 by 12 inches. Brush on the
melted margarine, and spread on the mixed brown sugar and
cinnamon. Roll the dough into a long stick. At this stage I
stretch out the rolled dough to about 16 inches. With a sharp
knife cut off sections two fingers wide, and lay them (cut edge
down) in the pan. Leave space for the dough to rise. Let the
dough rise in a warm place about 45 minutes.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. You may want to
place a cookie sheet on the rack below to catch drips. Turn out
the rolls onto a plate immediately unless you like chipping out
the pan with a mallet and chisel. Makes one dozen rolls.

                        Half Cut Circles

     Roll out one-third of the once risen dough into a rectangle
6 by 12 inches. Brush about 2 tablespoons of melted margarine
over the dough. Spread on a mixture of 2 tablespoons brown sugar
and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. If you like, sprinkle with chopped nuts,
raisins, or the like. Roll the dough into a long stick. Place the
dough on a lightly greased baking sheet, and bend it into a
circle. With a sharp knife, cut most but not all the way through
the dough, making the sections two fingers wide. Bend alternate
sections in and out of the circle. Let rise in a warm place about
45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. To serve,
break off sections at the cuts.

                        Buns in Patterns

     For this recipe you may use more or less than an even third
of the once risen dough. Grab off lumps of dough the size of a
ping-pong ball and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet.
Arrange them in a pattern, perhaps a tree, and allow space for
the dough to rise. Let rise in a warm place about 45 minutes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. After the buns are
cool, frost them with a mixture of 1 cup powdered sugar and 2
tablespoons milk. You might include a drop or two of food
coloring. Exercise your imagination for designs and colors.


                   * * MONITOR MINIATURES * *

**New Chapter:
     Sam Gleese, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Mississippi, writes as follows:
     "I am pleased to inform you that on June 23, 1990, a new
chapter was organized and added to our state affiliate. The new
chapter was organized at Marks, Mississippi, hereafter known as
the Marks Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
Mississippi. The officers are: Mrs. Ruby Yarbrough, President;
Mr. Alfred Morgan, Vice President; Ms. Janice Bracter, Secretary;
Mr. Gay Turner, Treasurer; and Reverend Robert Yarbrough, Board
Member."

**Pen Pal:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement: "I
have been studying Braille for just a few months. I work for the
Wood County Department of Human Services in Bowling Green, Ohio.
I became interested in Braille because I have a blind friend. I
would be interested in corresponding in Braille with anyone who
is interested in writing to me at the following address: Jackie
Licata, 318 Colony Road, Rossford, Ohio 43460."

**Emergency Exit:
     Jim Sanders, National Director of Government Relations and
International Services of the Canadian National Institute for the
Blind, recently wrote to the Monitor Editor as follows: "I have
not attempted to verify the attached article which you may
already have seen about the blind person who made a safe
emergency landing of an airplane in the Philippines. Based upon
the source of the article, its validity is somewhat suspect but
it certainly, if true, places the emergency row exit issue in
perspective."

                        National Examiner
                          July 17, 1990
         Blind Man Pilots Plane in for Emergency Landing

     Honesto Balagog is blind--but that didn't stop him from
landing a twin-engine aircraft filled with handicapped passengers
after the pilot suffered a heart attack.
     Sightless since birth, the 34-year-old businessman took over
the controls of the plane after its pilot, Arnolfo Chez,
collapsed. "Fortunately, the pilot remained conscious long enough
to guide Honesto step by agonizing step to a perfect landing on a
remote jungle airstrip in the Philippines," passenger Silvia Gadi
told Western correspondents.
     When Arnolfo realized he was unable to handle the controls,
he tried to alert passengers to their predicament.
     "His voice was so weak we could hardly hear him," recalls
Honesto. "It took a while for me to realize I was the only one
who could help.
     "I swallowed hard and started to the cockpit."
     The pilot, his vision fading, struggled to give his new
partner a crash course in flying.
     "Every breath was a major effort," Arnolfo recalls.
     "But I knew if I didn't stay conscious we'd all die. So I
just focused on talking to Honesto."
     As Arnolfo's strength ebbed away to the point where he could
no longer speak, the two men worked out a signaling system based
on tapping Honesto's arm: Two taps meant move the control
forward, one tap to pull it back.
     Once Honesto had landed, the passengers sat in grateful
silence.
     "It's not something I'd want to try again," says Arnolfo
from his hospital bed. "But if I had to, I'd want Honesto as co-
pilot."

**Catalog of Braille Books:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
     "The Naperville, Illinois, Area Transcribing for the Blind
is pleased to announce that it has transcribed into Braille the
complete catalog of materials for its general interest registry.
The catalog contains over 2,000 listings of Braille materials
from 28 agencies and individuals on the following subjects:
career, children's literature, computer and electronics, fiction
and nonfiction, food and cooking, health, hobbies, music,
religion, and miscellaneous materials. The Braille edition is
available in two volumes from: Braille Book Bank, National
Braille Association, 1290 University Avenue, Rochester, New York
14607; (716) 473-0900. Contact the Braille Book Bank for costs of
the Braille edition. The print edition is available for $3.50
(prepaid orders only) from: Naperville Area Transcribing for the
Blind, 670 North Eagle Street, Naperville, Illinois 60563;
contact person: Gloria K. Buntrock (708) 420-1863."

**Elected:
     We are informed that the White Sands Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of New Mexico held elections on September
15, 1990, with the following results: Sharon Duffy, President;
David Armijo, Vice President; Mary Valverde, Secretary; and Dick
Davis, Treasurer.

**Sell:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement: "TSI
Navigator Braille System with a 40-character, 8-dot display;
complete with tutorial tape manual, program disk, mounting
brackets, and carrying case. In excellent condition. Price is
negotiable, and all inquiries may be made by contacting Milena at
either (212) 264-4164 or (718) 387-4860."

**Kentucky Convention:
     The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky held its
annual convention on the weekend of September 7-9, 1990, in
Louisville, and the following were elected: President, Betty
Niceley; First Vice President, T. V. Cranmer; Second Vice
President, Robert Page; Third Vice President, Mary Ruth Maggard;
Recording Secretary, Mary Beaven; Corresponding Secretary, Robbie
McClave; Treasurer, Dennis Franklin; and Chaplain, Bill
Deatherage.

**Braille Materials Needed:
     From the Associate Editor: During my recent trip to Jamaica
I inspected the library at the Jamaica Society for the Blind,
which serves blind people on the island of Jamaica as well as
doing what outreach work it can to people in nearby countries.
Two years ago Hurricane Gilbert badly damaged the Braille
collection as well as destroying much of the book storage space.
The Society has recently been given two storage cabins to augment
the single room in its building devoted to the library. The
librarian is engaged in the slow job of cataloging and shelving
the current collection, and he is very eager to obtain additional
materials in good condition, particularly copies of the Braille
editions of Readers Digest, Ladies Home Journal, and Playboy
magazines. Many, many people enjoy reading these publications, so
multiple copies would be put to good use. Braille materials
should be sent to the attention of Mr. Lawson, Jamaica Society
for the Blind, 111 1/2 Old Hope Rd., Kingston 6, Jamaica, West
Indies.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Portrait of Patti Gregory and Ponch Chang.
CAPTION: Patti Gregory and her husband Ponch Chang, proud new
parents.]

**New Baby:
     Steve Benson, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois, reports that on Saturday, September 14, 1990,
Pat Gregory, a 1985 NFB scholarship winner and now one of the
leaders of the Illinois affiliate, gave birth to a son, Jonathan
Chang, who weighed 4 pounds 13 ounces. Jonathan Gregory Chang
made his appearance several weeks early, but Pat and her husband,
Ponch Chang, were able to take him home a few days after his
birth. All three are doing well.  Congratulations to the whole
family.

**Planning Ahead:
     Peggy Pinder, president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Iowa, recently made the following report to the Braille
Monitor about this past summer's NFB of Iowa display at the State
Fair: The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa has for years
staffed a booth at the Iowa State Fair, developing displays and
techniques for interacting with the crowds that surge through the
fair's most popular display building, the Varied Industries
building. The Federation's booth includes a blindness quiz, the
obligatory sign-up for free prizes (some fairgoers carry rubber
address stamps to sign up for everything), and the ever-popular
offer to write names in Braille.
     This year, the Iowa affiliate seriously underestimated the
general public's interest in learning about blindness, or maybe
it was our new signs, used for the first time this year, which
explained the array of available literature better. Anyway,
having on hand roughly the supplies, which had proved adequate in
past years, blind Iowans ran out of every single item of
literature except for a mere handful of Braille cards. Fairgoers
scooped up the following: 10,000 copies of "What is the National
Federation of the Blind"; 10,000 copies of "Do You Know a Blind
Person"; 2,000 issues of Voice of the Diabetic; 1,000 fact sheets
about Job Opportunities for the Blind; 250 issues of Future
Reflections; and 250 issues of the Braille Monitor. In addition,
Federationists gave away almost 6,000 Braille cards, every single
one of which had the name of a fairgoer written in Braille by a
Federationist as the person watched. The total was nearly 30,000
individual pieces of literature, or about one piece of literature
for every ninety citizens of the state.
     This amazing number was achieved despite the bad luck that
plagued Federationists at the fair. Several members fell ill or
fell prey to minor mishaps. Next year we hope that state fair
volunteers remain whole and healthy, and we also hope that the
Iowa affiliate can order enough literature so that it doesn't run
out.

**Blind Poet In Trouble:
     We have been asked by Debbie Kent Stein, an active member of
the Chicago Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
Illinois, to print the following:
     As a member of PEN International, a worldwide organization
of writers, I have recently learned of the plight of Esber
Yagmurdereli, one of Turkey's leading poets. Blind since the age
of ten, Esber is a lawyer and a widely respected man of letters
in his homeland. In his legal practice during the 1970s he
defended many union leaders and political dissidents. In 1978 he
was arrested and charged with heading an organization which
advocated the violent overthrow of the Turkish government. For
the past 12 years, he has been serving a life sentence.
     After an exhaustive investigation, Amnesty International has
found no evidence whatsoever that Esber Yagmurdereli ever
belonged to an organization which advocated violence.
Furthermore, his trial was a travesty of Turkish law. In prison
Esber has been tortured, and he was kept in total isolation for
fourteen months. He has not been permitted to write in Braille
because it cannot be read by the censors, and officials have
forbidden him the use of his cane. This year he was offered a
full pardon on health grounds (including his blindness). He
refused to accept the pardon, asking instead for a fair trial and
demanding better treatment for other political prisoners.
     Esber Yagmurdereli may never have heard of the NFB, but he
is spiritually one of us in his determination to lead a full life
and his refusal to accept special treatment based on his
blindness. I invite my fellow Federationists to join in a massive
letter-writing campaign under the auspices of PEN. By deluging
the Turkish Minister of Justice with requests, we hope to secure
a fair trial and, ultimately, freedom for this deeply dedicated
man. By his example he is a much-needed role model for the blind
of Turkey and other developing countries.
     If you would like to help Esber Yagmurdereli, please contact
me for more information at 4666 N. Leclaire St., Chicago,
Illinois 60630, (312) 286-8560.

**Kid Magazine:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement: "A
magazine for children, recorded on cassette, is available from
Boomerang!, 123 Townsend, Suite 636, San Francisco, California
94107; (415) 882-7875. The cost for Boomerang! is $42 for a six-
month (twelve-issue) subscription. Articles from the point of
view of the young about turning points in history are included.
For more information call (800) 333-7875. To subscribe call (800)
333-7858."

**Cookbook:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement: "In
response to my own needs as a visually impaired person, I have
published a Large Print Cookbook, which not only contains a
collection of favorite recipes but also includes hints for the
visually impaired. The book is also an excellent gift for persons
who are not visually impaired because of the recipes, its
readability, and size. For further information contact: Ramona
Van Nortwick, 1106 East Rock Springs Road, Greenville, North
Carolina 27858; (919) 757-1006."

**New Chapter:
     Bonnie Peterson, President of the NFB of Wisconsin, writes
as follows: I am very pleased to tell you that the North Central
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin was
organized on September 15, 1990. At the meeting in Wausau the
following officers were elected: President, David Schuh; Vice
President, Connie Miller; Secretary, Rhonda Amundson; Treasurer,
Dennis Schuh; and Board Members: Margie Schuh and Terry Willis.
We welcome this chapter into our affiliate.

**Pen Pal Wanted:
     We have been asked to carry the following announcement: "My
name is Maria Elvslen. I am eighteen years old and from Sweden. I
would very much like to have a female pen-friend in the USA,
preferably from New York. My interests are classical music,
reading, languages, traveling, etc. Please send correspondence
to: Maria Elvslen, Varggardsvagen 33, 79174 Falun, SWEDEN."

**TACTIC Available in Large Print:
     We have been asked to print the following press release: 
     TACTIC, the popular Consumer Reports of access technology
for blind and visually impaired people, is now available in a
large-print edition. Begun six years ago as a Braille
publication, TACTIC is a strictly consumer-oriented magazine,
providing useful information to blind consumers, rehabilitation
counselors, educators, and other professionals about computer
hardware and software generating Braille, synthesized speech, or
enlarged-print output.
     Because TACTIC has no affiliation with any developer or
distributor of access technology, all reviews are without product
bias. The style of the magazine is concise, informative, and
unburdened in highly technical language. Its readership since
1985 has included everyone from the novice student just entering
the technological arena to many of the finest technical minds in
our field.
     Upcoming issues of the magazine are scheduled to carry
reviews of the leading optical character recognition systems, new
refreshable Braille displays, software packages for enlarged
characters and graphics, and new and upgraded synthesized speech
packages. Also frequently featured are little-known commercial
products discovered to have particular value for blind users,
reviews of related books in accessible formats, opinion pieces by
blind professionals, and step-by-step instructions for using
various on-line services.
     TACTIC is published quarterly. The new large print edition
runs approximately 28 8-1/2 by 11" pages, and is printed in an
eye-appealing 2-column, 15-point format. The Braille edition is
produced in standard NLS magazine format and runs approximately
60 pages per issue.
     To subscribe, send $16 for large print or $10 for Braille to
TACTIC, Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, 7000 Hamilton
Ave., Cincinnati, OH  45231.


[PHOTO: Crowd seated during NFB of Illinois convention. CAPTION:
Members attend a general session of the National Federation of
the Blind of Illinois 1990 convention.]

**Illinois Convention:
     Steve Benson, president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois, reports as follows:
     Nearly 140 Federationists and friends from across Illinois
and five other states gathered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Lisle, Illinois, Friday, September 28 to Sunday, September 30,
for the 1990 convention of the NFB of Illinois. Rami Rabby,
prize-winning author and management consultant in addition to
being the president of the NFB of New York City, presided over an
outstanding Job Opportunities for the Blind seminar Friday
afternoon. The remainder of the convention sustained the quality
and pace set by the JOB seminar.
     At the Saturday evening banquet Joyce Scanlan, secretary of
the National Federation of the Blind and president of the NFB of
Minnesota, delivered a stirring and thought-provoking address.
Tony Burda was presented with the Gwendolyn Williams Award for
his exemplary work in and on behalf of the Federation.
     On Sunday morning, September 30, the following officers and
board members were elected to serve two-year terms: Steve Benson,
President; Cathy Randall, First Vice President; Steve Hastalis,
Second Vice President; Ruth Isaacs, Secretary; Bill Hafer,
Treasurer; Rita Szantay, board member; and Tony Burda, board
member.

**Test Your Knowledge:
     In our continuing effort to provide new opportunities for
learning about the field of work with the blind, the Braille
Monitor offers this month a short quiz regarding rehabilitation
agencies for the blind. Listed here are ten states. The question
is: What do the rehabilitation agencies for the blind in these
states have in common? In fact, maybe they have two things in
common. See an upcoming issue of the Monitor for the answer.
Meanwhile, test your knowledge: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida,
Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and
Virginia.