T H E O B S E R V E R The Montana Association for the Blind Winter 1996 an affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind Montana Association For The Blind Box 352, Butte MT 59703 (406) 723-3383 The Montana Association For The Blind is a 501(c)3 consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still too often a tragedy to those who face it, we know from personal experience that with training and opportunity it can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance. The Montana Association For The Blind has eleven local chapters around the state. The organization sponsors an annual training program, the Summer Orientation Program for the Blind and Partially Sighted. The Montana Association For The Blind is a chartered affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. This quarterly newsletter, The Observer is produced in large print, Braille, and on cassette. To receive more information about the Montana Association For The Blind, to make address changes for the newsletter, or to be added to the mailing list, call (406) 723-3383. Mail items for consideration to the Editor, Rik James at 716 North Montana Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715-2921 or telephone him at 406 / 586-4123. CONTENTS From the President .................................... From the Office .................................... Montana Yankee ... in Louis Brialle's Court ........................... State Convention May 17-19, Billings ................ Hey Kids! Your Chance for Chuckie Cheeze! ...... Focus on Literacy for Blind Children ................. Uphill to Capitol Hill ........................... Reflections on Washington ........................... Memorial Inspiration ........................... S.O.P. - Positions Available .......................... How I Went Blind, and Then What .................. NPR Hears Us ........................... Chapter Roundup ............................ Inside the MAB / Personals ............................ Announcements ........................... Poems ........................... * * T H E O B S E R V E R * * Newsletter of The Montana Association For The Blind (an affiliate of The National Federation Of The Blind) P.O. Box 352, Butte, MT 59703 (406) 723-3383 Rik James, Editor Vol. 47 Winter, 1996 No. 1 So, you have survived the deep freeze of 1996. I knew you would, you're such a hardy bunch. Now all we have to do is survive the political primary season, and we'll be well on our way to a great year! You made it to your mailbox today, and look what you have found, the latest edition of your favorite link with the blind of Montana, The Observer newsletter. Why not break a hole in the ice, get some water heated for tea, and let's read together what there is to read. A Message from the President : As the Montana Association for the Blind works on their next 50 years I see many favorable projects and programs which your board members are exploring. The ones that come to mind include a Braille mentoring program, a Braille literacy bill for the 1997 legislature, the Newsline (local and national newspapers available over your phone line), and expanding job opportunities for the blind in the state. All of these exciting concepts need your help and input to come to realization. Speaking of your Board of Directors, this is the year we elect our District Representatives from the 5 districts. Since this is a majority of the board you should play an active role in electing these leaders, or run yourself for the district seat in your area. Letters of nomination for District Offices should be submitted by April 1, 1996 with a brief biographical sketch of the candidate to the MAB office. According to our Constitution and By Laws only members from the particular district can run for that position. And remember that dues must be paid before April 1, 1996 to qualify to vote in the election. Take note and determine your interest and level of commitment and do your best to serve, by either running for District Office or by voting for your candidate. Conventions are in the air. You should be receiving a registration form for the 51st annual MAB convention to be held in Billings, May 17 - 19. And let's not forget the NFB annual convention being held in Anaheim, California June 30 through July 7. There is information on this convention in The Braille Monitor. Make plans now to attend one or both of these fine conventions. I plan on traveling through the state late winter or early spring this year. I look forward to seeing you at your chapter meetings and hearing your ideas. Pat Domme, President. From The MAB Office: It is MAB dues collecting time. Your $5.00 annual dues must be paid by April 1, 1996 in order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. The election this year will be for the District Representatives. Soon you will be getting ballots in the mail. Read the following carefully. The return envelope that you put your sealed BALLOT envelope in must have your return address printed on it by the Secretary as stated in our By-laws. Do not cross this out. All envelopes are opened and the ballot envelope removed before the ballots are counted. No one will be able to tell how you voted. The information on the stamped return envelope is necessary in order to sort the envelopes by District. Your ballot will be invalid if this return address is crossed out. The District Representatives to be elected this year are as follows: District 1 (Western Montana), District 2 (South Central Montana), District 3 (North Central Montana), District 4 (East Central Montana), and District 5 (Eastern Montana). If you wish to run for one of these positions, you must live in that District and be a member in good standing (dues paid). If you are considering running and are not sure which is your district, please call me at the office (406) 723-3383, and I will tell you which district you live in. A biographical sketch or statement must accompany your letter of nomination. Letters of nomination and/or bio sketches may be sent to MAB, P.O. Box 352, Butte, MT 59703-0352. Or send them to Linda Hurlock, Nominations Committee Chairman, 3116 8th Ave. North, Billings, MT 59101. And finally, you computer users, please send any correspondence to me if possible on a computer disk, either in WordPerfect 5.1 or in ASCII. This would help me tremendously and save me a lot of time. Thanks. Betty Lou Berg, Secretary. MAB Summer Orientation Program (S.O.P.B) at MSU - Bozeman June 25 through July 21, 1996 Telephone: 406-723-3383 A Montana Yankee in Louis Braille's Court By Carolyn Brock Blind or sighted, most people have heard of Louis Braille. They generally know that he was French, lived over a hundred years ago, lost his sight as a child, and grew up to develop the system of raised dots which has become the written language of blind people all over the world. But there is much more to the story. I had read Kenneth Jernigan's article, published in the July, 1994, issue of the Braille Monitor, discussing the NFB's financial contribution to the restoration of the Braille home in Coupvray, France, just east of Paris. The article also included a detailed description of the homesite itself. While planning a two-month stay in France last summer, my husband and I decided that a visit to the Braille home would be a worthwhile excursion. On a previous trip to France in 1991, I had visited several centers for the blind, both in Paris and in Burgundy. Everywhere I was impressed with the pride that blind French people feel in the work of Louis Braille; at each center I was repeatedly reminded that Braille was originally a French system. This summer I learned that sighted French people share that same pride. Several days before the planned trip to Coupvray, we visited the Panth‚on, the huge domed memorial to great French citizens in all fields of endeavor. Almost as soon as we walked in the door (I carrying my white cane), we were approached by a museum administrator, who explained again to me how proud the French are of Louis Braille, and directed us to his memorial site. I was given the English language version of a small book about Louis Braille and the Coupvray village. The visit to Coupvray lived up to our expectations. The village is only a mile or two from Euro-Disney, and has only recently been surrounded by the sprawling metropolitan suburbs. But Coupvray itself retains its country village flavor. The old part of the village is very much as it must have been in 1769, when Louis Braille's grandfather built the original house. Like most village houses of the time, it was a single room, with a niche for the parents' bed built into an outer wall. In the next generation, Louis Braille's father, a saddle-maker who also owned vineyards, was successful enough to build an adjoining workshop, accessed by leaving the living quarters and walking around the outside of the house to the workshop entrance. Over the years, the Brailles had the money to add an upstairs bedroom each time a child was born, with two different stairways leading up from the two sides of the house. To this day, the house is on the edge of the village, with a rutted road, navigable only to a 4x4 vehicle, leading off into the woods just behind the house. Into this family, very affluent for villagers of the time, Louis Braille was born in 1809, the last of four children. He was blinded at age three, in an accident with his father's work tools. When he was fifteen, his family sent him to the School for Young Blind in Paris, an expense which no ordinary village family would have been able to afford. At school in Paris, young Louis was an outstanding student. He was taught the system of tactile writing being used at the time, which used conventional letter shapes. This embossing system had been developed by Valentin Hay (who standardized the use of the white cane in Europe, and after whom the largest center for the blind in France is named.) The disadvantage of the system was that there was no way for an ordinary blind person to write it. Young Louis also saw an experimental system, using raised dots instead of letters, developed by a French army officer, to communicate with his men at night. Not only was the raised-dot system easier for a blind person to read; it could also be written with very little special equipment. Louis Braille went to work refining the system. The result was the French version of Grade 1 Braille, with a symbol for each letter of the alphabet, plus the basic punctuation marks. After becoming the first blind teacher at the school, Braille set to work teaching his pupils this new system of reading and writing. The result could have been predicted by anyone familiar with the story of Braille in modern times! The blind students loved the Braille system, and used it to take notes and to write to each other. The other teachers at the school, all of them sighted, were totally opposed, as they could not read it. But Louis Braille continued to teach the system, and by 1840, the French Ministry of Education had little choice but to accept it as the standard written language for the blind. It has since been modified for use in virtually all of the world's major languages, and contracted into Grade 2 versions to fit each language. The Braille house in Coupvray is a monument to this remarkable chain of events. The living room of the house is still sparsely furnished much as it was in the early nineteenth century. In the huge fireplace hang cooking pots used at the time. Next to the fireplace, in a child-sized chair, sits a life-sized doll of a little boy, Louis Braille at age four or five, dressed in the clothing of the period. Next door in Simon Braille's saddlemaking workshop is the crude wooden workbench, table, and chairs, much as they must have been during Louis Braille's childhood. Display cases contain collections of the saddlemaking craft. Climbing either set of stairs, one arrives at a landing where the wall has been knocked out, uniting the two staircases and thus the two halves of the house. On the landing stands a life-size girl doll, one of the Braille sisters, also dressed in authentic clothing. She indicates the way to Louis Braille's room, which now houses the rest of the museum. An attic room, still farther up, is yet to be completed. It is in Louis Braille's room that a visitor gets a sense of the magnitude of Braille's accomplishment. Here are displays of the early, equipment used to write Braille, primitive ancestors of our interpoint embossers and refreshable computer screens. But the most moving tribute to Louis Braille comes from the testimonials to him which are displayed throughout the room. There are cards and letters from all over the world, many of them bearing stamps commemorating the work of Louis Braille. Over and over, in many languages, they tell the stories of blind people whose lives were enriched and transformed by the work of this one person. It is a fitting monument to a man who, over a century ago, began "changing what it means to be blind." State Convention Time Is Approaching--Make Your Plans! The Yellowstone chapter is getting it together in a big way for our state convention this spring. We received a copy of a mailing sent to each chapter president from President Shelby Sullivan. Enclosed as a part of this Observer is the convention registration form. It is YELLOW. So don't lose it, use it! Fill it out and send it in to the Yellowston Chapter, Box 80068, Billings, MT 59108-0068. Reserve your rooms by contacting the War Bonnet Inn directly, and identify yourself as attending the MAB convention, so you will get the special rate: $32.00 plus tax for singles and doubles, but you must reserve them before May 1. We have reserved a block of 40 rooms that will be held until that time. Call the War Bonnet Inn at (406) 248-7761. The hotel is located at the 27th St. exit on I-90. The hotel provides a courtesy van for transportation from the airport or bus station. The convention registration and banquet combined cost is $20 per person, with checks payable to "MAB Convention," Send them along with your YELLOW registration form. An exciting agenda is being lined up with lots of entertainment, not to mention the opportunities for participating in the raffles and silent auction. So please register early. By pre-registering early, we can plan on how many will be here, to have the best time ever! Exhibitors are welcome again this year. Commercial exhibitors will be charged $25.00, and for those wishing to exhibit crafts, the charge will be $10.00, or you could donate a craft worth $10 or more to the silent auction. Hurry, as these spaces and tables are filling up fast! We're going to have another great convention this year. The theme is "Let a Little Magic Into Your Heart." For more information, contact: Shelby Sullivan, 652-4488; Jeff Haworth, 652-5638; or Millie, 656-7208. Hey Kids! Your Chance for Chuckie Cheese! By Karen Marks As a parent attending convention, I'm ready for a change, so I've decided to do something about it, before this year's state convention. I want to hear from you other parents out there who are coming to convention and would like to have child care. Along with my two kids, I am hoping your kids will enjoy a Saturday in Billings with some competent sitters. This includes a trip to Chuckie Cheese for dinner while we enjoy the banquet. If this sounds good to you, please call or leave a message on my answering machine: 406/549-7047. Or you can E-mail me at this Internet address: marks@selway.umt.edu . I need to know how many kids to expect and their ages. If only a few of you brave it this year, we should be able to share the duties. If more people bring children, some tentative plans include a church youth group who could sit the kids for a reasonable donation. Either way, please bring a few age-appropriate toys, marked for easy identification, to help with entertaining the troops. Maybe if we can get good enough at this, we can someday provide workshops for blind kids and for children of blind parents. For now, I'll settle for getting to attend the convention. Contact me by May 1. Focusing On Literacy for Blind Children By Martin Greiser As one of the four members of the Montana delegation to the NFB's Washington Seminar, I totally supported all three legislative issues on the 1996 agenda. Although my blind son, Cody, is only nine years old, some day all too soon he will be an adult. Realizing this, I feel that anything I can do on adult issues to help pave the way for him I would do willingly. But, as the saying goes, when you're up to your pockets in alligators it is hard to remember that you came to drain the swamp. For me, as Cody's father, I'd have to say in all honesty that the issue which advocates for strong Braille provisions put in the re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the one I tend to focus on the most. This proposed legislation, which may soon be considered by Congress, would ensure that all legally blind children in the United States would receive Braille instruction if requested by the parents or the teachers of the student. The only time that Braille instruction would not be provided is if all the members of the Individual Education Program (IEP) team agree that Braille is not necessary to meet the literacy needs of the child. Since Montana does not currently have a Braille literacy bill for blind children, and since there have been efforts in past Montana state legislatures to restrict the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) from exceeding any federal requirements, I feel it is vital that Montana contribute to the national effort of securing literacy rights for our blind children. In visiting with the staff of our Senators and Representative, we were told that our complete agenda would likely be supported by Senator Baucus and Rep. Williams. Senator Burns' office staff indicated strong support for the social security earnings limit issue, and considered the copyright amendments non-controversial. With regard to Braille literacy provision in the re-authorization of IDEA, Burns' office was conspicuously non- encouraging. Regardless of the verbal assurances we did or did not receive, we need to track the voting record of our Congressmen in the upcoming legislative sessions on these important issues. It is their voting record that should guide our voting at the ballot box. Since there is no evidence to suggest that the consequences of illiteracy correspondingly diminishes along with one's visual acuity, we must secure for our blind children the right to receive Braille instruction and define a minimum level of proficiency for the teachers of Braille as quickly as possible. We must do this because they are children, not because they are blind. If as parents and other responsible adults we can accomplish this, then they will have the skills to become competitive. And they will have the knowledge necessary to fight their own battles as adults. In other words, they will have true independence. According to the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), 46 percent of school-aged blind children read Braille in 1966. By 1994, only 9 percent were Braille readers. It is clear that the institutions, agencies, and professionals have failed our blind children. This situation must change. In Montana, I hear no voices for change from OPI or from the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB), and only a distant passing whisper from the Board of Public Instruction. (Do some of you MAB members remember the symposium held in Billings in 1991? I am wondering, now in 1996, what the blind children of Montana gained from the Montana Association For The Blind's sizable financial contribution to this effort?) I thank the MAB for helping me to travel to Washington to participate in this important Washington seminar, and I ask that all of you do what you can to help. The National Federation of the Blind is our national voice for change, the MAB is our state voice, and the parents in our school districts across Montana are the local voices. Together we can change what it means to be blind. Quote: "In this age of computers, there is a term called multi-taking, which means that many things are being done at the same time (by the computer). We of the National Federation of the Blind are also a multi- tasking unit. No one person can do it all, but we, together can get things done." Marc Mauer, President, National Federation of the Blind. It's Uphill to Capitol Hill By Rik James The last few days of January were cold here in Montana, as all of you know. The weather has been bitter everywhere this winter. But when Martin Greiser, Ted Robbins, Jim Marks and myself walked up the steps to Capitol Hill to talk with our members of Congress about issues of great concern to the blind in Montana, our hope was to put a little heat on our representatives. We wanted to let them know that there are people out here in the heartland of America who are watching them, whose opinions count just as much as any opinion poll. This was the Montana Association For The Blind's second year in participating in the Washington Seminar with other members from the other state affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind. And it was another rewarding experience and an education well worth repeating next year. Twice as many Montanans participated this year at the Washington Seminar, and I would like to believe it did twice as much good. Our group made a good cross section of our diverse membership. Marty is a parent of a blind child in public school, Ted works closely with the senior blind, Jim works with the Disability Services at the University of Montana, and I might be said to represent blind Montanans who are employed in the private sector. The weekend in Washington, D.C. was a busy one. There were a number of meetings and briefings concerning our legislative agenda for 1996. Also, the Student Division, Parents of Blind Children, and Job Opportunities for the Blind all held panel discussions and meetings. There was a Sunday morning bus trip to Baltimore, where around 100 of the attendees toured the National Center for the Blind. The center is still growing and getting better every year. The National Braille and Technology Center is incredible. The new director, Mr. Ring, is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions on all levels concerning the technologies. Newsline for the Blind is growing, with new local service centers coming online. They are now carrying three national newspapers, The USA Today, The York Times, and The Chicago Tribune, and the local papers in their areas by dialing up the service on the phone and choosing what they want to read from the voice menu. It is a revolutionary technology, and it will grow. It is a means for the blind to quickly and independently read the news at the same time as the sighted. The Montana delegation had appointments with Representative Pat Williams, and with Senators Baucus and Burns. We had appointments to see each, but for one reason or another, each had to be out of the office. But we did have a very attentive audience with each representative's legislative staff. We met with persons who are specifically assigned to keep up to date with issues such as the ones we discussed. We learned from them that they had been hearing a lot from the blind persons in Montana. They were very impressed that MAB had sent us all the way to Washington, as it showed we were serious with our concerns. About a week following our return, I got a personal call from Senator Baucus. He apologized for missing our appointment, and then he spoke to me about the social security earnings limit and the amendment we need to restore the link. He promised to support it. And just before this issue went to press, I learned that Marty Greiser spent time with Mr. Baucus in Dillon talking about our concerns with the need for strong Braille provisions in the re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). He even got his picture in the newspaper, talking with Max. Way to go, Marty! It was really gratifying to hear that our calls, yours and mine, had such an effect. So please keep it up. Finally, then our job, all of our jobs, is to continue to follow the legislation as it comes up, and contact our congressmen when needed. For any information or just to talk, feel free to contact me. 406 / 586-4123. Legislative Fact Sheet: Briefly, here are the legislative issues which we discussed with our Congressmen at the Washington Seminar, and that we must watch closely this year and be ready to communicate with members of the House and Senate, when needed. The complete text of the legislative fact sheet will be in a soon to be published issue of The Braille Monitor. If you would like more information sooner, or would be willing to have your name on a list of people to call when we need to call our representatives, contact Rik James at 406 / 586-4123. (1) Congress should enact exempt earnings provisions in the Social Security Act to promote greater work incentives and opportunities for persons who are blind or of retirement age. This proposal seeks to improve the work incentives provided to Social Security beneficiaries. The House bill, H.R. 2684, passed in December, 1995, and as it was passed, the linkage with the blind was broken. The current bill which may be about to be considered in the Senate is S. 1470, and the amendment which would restore the blind linkage is to be offered by Sen. Bingaman of New Mexico. The linkage with the blind must be restored. (2) Congress should amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to include provisions for strengthening programs of Braille literacy instruction. This can be done by enacting Braille literacy for blind persons provisions as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Braille is the reasonable course for achieving literacy for students who are blind. (3) Congress should amend the Copyright Act in order to permit non-commercial reproduction and distribution of published works in specialized media exclusively for use by blind or disabled persons. This proposal would establish an extremely narrow and targeted limitation on the exclusive rights of copyright holders. The provision would specify that it is not an infringement of copyright for a nonprofit or governmental entity to convert published works into formats appropriate for distribution exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities who cannot physically use standard print. Access to printed materials in a format we can use is vital, and reasonable. Contact Your Representatives: Senator Max Baucus - (staff: Joanne Cunningham / Scott Olson) Phone: (800) 332-6106 or (202) 224-2651 Senator Conrad Burns - (staff: Patty Deutche) Phone: (800) 344-1513 or (202) 224-2644 Representative Pat Williams - (staff: Alison Hogue) Phone: (800) 332-6177 or (202) 225-3211 Reflections of the Washington Seminar By Ted Robbins Three other members of our organization and myself represented the blind of Montana very recently at the National Federation of the Blind's Washington Seminar, and I was proud to have been a participant. In addition to excellent briefings from Mr. James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs, a variety of meetings also took place. One of the more interesting was a presentation sponsored by the Associates committee, organized by Tom Stevens, chairman. The featured speaker was retired Navy Captain Eugene "Red" McDaniel, a former Vietnam P.O.W., who told us of his experiences, and the non-profit organization he helped to create called "Pride in America," whose mission is to "inspire students to have pride in themselves, their schools, their communities and their country while empowering them to make a difference." As a result of having gone to Washington, and I am committed to continue to stay in touch on the legislative issues, and I would like hear from any of you as well. Being in our nation's capital has kindled a desire to return as a tourist with more time to take advantage of all that Washington D.C. has to offer. Besides, I want to pursue the friendship that began on a park bench in the Washington Mall, about halfway between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It was with a little gray squirrel which jumped up on my lap while we took a rest on our long walk. Memorial Inspiration By Jim Marks Standing on the walkway of the nearly brand new Korean War Memorial on the Washington, DC Capital Mall, a question came to mind. So I turned to my companions, the other three Montana delegates to the National Federation of the Blind Washington Seminar, and asked this question: "Why is it that the Korean Memorial was built so many years after the Vietnam Memorial when the Korean War came first?" Rik James, Marty Greiser, Ted Robbins, and I didn't take a microsecond to arrive at an answer. Advocacy. The Vietnam Memorial was built first because there was more critical mass in the advocacy for the project. The Korean Memorial was helped along by the success of the Vietnam Memorial. Both are important, but one had a more effective special interest group behind it. This effectiveness must have been enhanced by a focus on a single war. The Vietnam Memorial advocates didn't try to be all things to all people; they just did what they had to do to get their particular dream realized. And on the coat tails of that dream rode another. It occurs to me that advocacy for blind people is much like the memorial situation. We blind focus on our particular needs. For example, this year's Seminar agenda included three distinct issues: preserving the link between blind and senior citizen Social Security earnings limits, ensuring Braille literacy for children, and enacting blanket copyright permission to transfer books to tape cassette, Braille, e-text, and other formats readable by the blind. I believe it is best for we blind to stay focused on our needs. There are some who attack this focus as though it were harmful to others. We can't afford to buy into this guilt trip. If we don't advocate for ourselves, we deserve the raw deal we will surely get. It isn't a matter of selfishness or hostility; it is a matter of personal responsibility and survival. Blind people advocate well. We have been so good at it for so long that attention is drawn to our collective success. Like the Vietnam Memorial, this success could be used as a springboard for other disability groups. We want others to reach first class citizenship. What we don't want is to sacrifice our gains just because some think our success should be seized and redistributed in the name of a supposed "equality." We have got to resist the pressure and remain strong as a focused special interest group dedicated to changing what it means to be blind. That's why the National Federation of the Blind, the Montana Association for the Blind, and our local chapters are so vital. Here is where blind Montanans owe our first allegiance. Maybe, just maybe, we can build upon the successes of our predecessors. And maybe, just maybe, those who come after us, even those with other kinds of disabilities, can use us as the foundation for even better and bigger successes. Summer Orientation Program - 1996 The 1996 SOP Committee has begun their work for the 1996 program, and plans are being formulated for the program on the MSU- Bozeman campus from June 25 through July 21, 1996. Positions are open and the committee is accepting applications for shop, cooking, Braille, low vision, typing/handwriting, computers, exercise, crafts, sewing, activities of daily living, discussion leader, and orientation & mobility. These are all instructional positions. Openings for support positions include nurse, host and administrative assistant. Salaries are based on the position, amount of experience, and duties to be performed. Live-in staff are provided with a single room, meals, and travel assistance. Staff will report for work at the program on Friday, June 23 at 9:00 am and would be expected to work through July 22 when the program is packed up, and the dorm vacated. Interested persons or applicants should send inquiries or applications by March 15, 1996 to: SOP Staff Committee, c/o the Montana Association for the Blind, P. O. Box 352, Butte MT 59703-0352 or call the MAB office at 406/723-3383. All applications must be received by the SOP Staff committee by no later than March 11, 1996. The MAB Board of Directors selected Pat Domme as Program Director again this year. Applications for students will be available from the MAB office or through all Visual Service offices by March 1, 1996. Selections for students are expected to be announced the first part of May. If you know of anyone that can benefit from this one month long residential program, you should encourage them to apply and take some strong fundamental steps towards their independence. How I Went Blind ... and Then What By Ed Bryant (The following piece is reprinted from The Voice of the Diabetic, Fall, 1995. Ed is the editor of this fine publication, and I think that from this telling of his own story many of us may learn and understand much, whether or not we have diabetes.) Diabetes is a sneaky disease. It usually takes 15 to 20 years before chronic complications will be noticed. And, there are many complications that can stem from the disease. Today I will share with you my eye experiences and some observations about blindness. Thirty-six years ago, I was diagnosed with early onset diabetes. After the initial shock of discovering I had sugar diabetes, and after learning how to give myself insulin injections, my lifestyle returned to one of a very busy and active teenager. The only differences were that I had to give myself one shot a day and watch my diet. Eating a lot of sweets could cause problems. At first I did not adhere to good diabetes practices. I was not good watching what I ate and drank. I did what my peers did, and I felt just fine. I was not worried about my diabetes. Then, after I'd had the disease almost 16 years, I began to notice some blurred vision. It was like looking through a smoky haze. At first I didn't pay much attention. In St. Louis, where I was administrative manager for a corporation specializing in child photography, my job required a lot of paperwork. I assumed I needed to see an eye doctor and get glasses. But, I didn't get glasses, and my vision deteriorated with time. Finally, admitting I'd been foolish, I saw an ophthalmologist, who diagnosed proliferative diabetic retinopathy. I had no functional vision in one eye, and the prognosis for the other was not good. The doctor recommended I see a diabetes specialist and get my disease under good control. Then, if possible, he could give me laser treatments. I immediately saw a physician who specialized in diabetes. I worked to regulate my disease far more closely. In time, with my diabetes under good control, the vision in my one functional eye became substantially better. I was elated. I could see well enough to do almost anything. Working as a photographer, I had driven in every state in America, and of course I thought driving a car was essential to everyone's lifestyle. Now I could even drive my little blue sports car again! When I revisited my ophthalmologist, we decided to try vitrectomy surgery in my bad eye. With luck, it would restore some of my vision. The surgery failed, as did second vitrectomy on the same eye several months later. I knew that by law I was legally blind, but I didn't consider myself blind, since I had so little trouble getting around and doing what I wanted to do. During the daytime, my only troubles came while facing direct sunlight. My difficulties were at night. Unless an area was well lit, I had trouble seeing where I was going. Late one evening I started walking home. The area was well lit, but as I progressed, there were fewer and fewer street lights. Soon I could barely see my path. At a wide point in the sidewalk, landscapers had planted a preposterously huge tree, right in my way! I was walking at a pretty good clip--and I ran into the tree. After my very "close encounter," and a few frank words with that tree I walked the rest of the way home. As I look back, I can only laugh. If I'd had more wisdom, I'd have been using a long white cane. Then I could have avoided both possible injury and the tree. Several years later, my employment was phased out. I found myself out of work. I moved to Columbia, Missouri, home of the University of Missouri. I would work out my future from there. I had been offered upper middle management positions with several different companies, with very lucrative salaries. As soon as I told prospective employers I was legally blind, or that I had "a severe eye problem," their offers no longer stood. The jobs were either "no longer available," or offered to me at wages less than half their original offer. It didn't matter that I could do the work proficiently. My experience in business administration and public relations didn't count. When employers heard the words "blind" or "legally blind," they immediately assumed I was incapable of doing the job. Out one night in Columbia, a friend accidentally poked me in my good eye. I felt excruciating pain. My ophthalmologist recommended a retina surgeon in Memphis, Tennessee. The specialist told me the eye was in bad shape; however vitrectomy surgery might help. Once again, I underwent surgery. However, it only allowed me to see in a very limited way. In the following few months, I lost my vision completely. I was totally blind. I lived in an apartment, and I really had no way to get around. After managing my personal business matters, after being independent for years, I found it difficult to let another person become involved. My parents offered to build an extra room onto their home, so I could live there. Although the offer was loving and gracious, I would never consider such a thing. I'd always been an independent person, and if I'd moved into my parents' home, on a rural route, I would have been more or less trapped, as there was no bus service in the area, and the cost of a taxi to and from the country was very expensive. I couldn't expect my parents to provide my transportation everywhere. They had their own life! I was a very active person, used to travelling. I decided to keep my apartment. I had no wish or reason to become dependent on others. I knew I was perfectly capable of doing the things I'd always done! My biggest problem was not being able to draw up my own insulin. My mother drew up a seven-day supply, every week for three or four years, until I learned of devices that allowed blind persons to accurately draw up their own insulin. Such a device allowed me to self-manage my own disease. My blindness made me angry and frustrated. Like so many newly blind folks, I felt trapped and limited in what I could do. The fact was -- I was blind. But it seemed unreasonable to give up and abandon independence, simply because I couldn't see. I began to realize that in actuality, I wasn't limited. I could function very well in my apartment. I knew where everything was. And with a little ingenuity, I discovered I could cook and do anything in the kitchen. Every day I discovered alternative techniques that allowed me to do things just as well as I did when I was sighted. I was learning how to help myself. I telephoned Missouri's Bureau for the Blind, and asked for a white cane, and someone to show me how to use it. After waiting two or three weeks, I got angry. How could I be independent if I had to stay in my apartment? So one day, I took a hatchet and a kitchen broom, and went outside, using my broom as a cane. I headed for a spot where I knew a little tree was located, and I chopped and whittled until the branch developed into what I called a cane. I didn't know anything about cane dimensions, but I figured it should be about as tall as I was. I ended up with a makeshift cane about six feet long. I went for short walks. I chuckle about it now, but I was probably a danger to society with my tree branch cane. I was certainly a danger to myself. The end of the cane kept getting stuck in the ground, and I came close to rupturing my midsection on many occasions. Even though my cane was homemade, out of a tree branch, it helped me to get around the apartment complex and many nearby roads. I had all the confidence in the world. At last the man from Bureau for the Blind arrived, bringing me a better cane. After he left, I went for a walk. The top of my new cane reached somewhere between my navel and breastbone. I had to bend over as I walked with it, and it was obviously too short, but I could do a lot better with it than with my tree branch. I knew where the city bus stopped, so I took a bus downtown, and spent the afternoon exploring. I never had any formal mobility lessons, but I trained myself without great difficulty. I finally moved to the downtown area, primarily because there were sidewalks. I lived in a high-rise apartment close to the University. There were so many social activities, and something was always happening. There was plenty out there for a guy like me. At some point I found out about the National Federation of the Blind. After attending a few meetings, I was more impressed with it than any other organization I had ever been involved in. It was a united body of blind people, doing everything possible to serve all blind people, without regard to the cause of their blindness. Federation philosophy ran parallel to my own observations, made since I had gone blind, that much of the general public simply does not understand blindness. Many friends, neighbors, and family simply pity a blind person, thinking he or she is not capable of doing very much. Along with the pity and sympathy comes a great deal of discrimination, due to society's many myths and misconceptions about the blind. The situation is improving, but we in the National Federation of the Blind need to spread the word. The key word is education. We Federationists are aware that with proper training and use of alternative techniques, we can do just about anything we desire. The NFB knows that society's perception of "inabilities" can mislead blind people. If all they hear is how they're "helpless," how "they can't," they may become convinced, and think themselves into helplessness. Such holds true for the blind diabetic, told incorrectly by so many that he or she cannot draw insulin, test blood glucose, or perform the other tasks of diabetes self-management. "Limitations," for most blind persons, are self-imposed. The NFB strives to enlighten society about the capabilities of blind people, while it strives to improve the way many blind people think about themselves. We encourage them to think "I can" rather than "I can't." We are a self-help and advocacy organization. We show blind folks they are not alone, and that, whatever their situation, they have options. Our members are living proof that blindness is not synonymous with inability. (Note: To subscribe to the Voice of the Diabetic, write to 811 Cherry St., Suite 309, Columbia, MO 65201-4892.) NPR Hears From Montana's Blind (MAB Missoula chapter member Dan Burke heard something on National Public Radio's Morning Edition recently which prompted him to write them a letter. A few short weeks later a portion of his letter was read on the air.) To: National Public Radio, Bob Edwards, Morning Edition Re: Imprisoning the blind Dear Bob Edwards, Imprisoned by his blindness? Ah, the prisons of our minds; the shackles and chains we place on the souls of our fellows! As I sat this morning at my keyboard, working on an article about the ways language and attitudes still discriminate and limit people with disabilities, "Morning Edition" sent an almost textbook illustration into the sanctuary of my living room. It came in the form of your interview with the author (insert name, I thankfully forget) of a new James Thurber biography. In the interview you, Bob Edwards, referred to Thurber's "infirmities" and which we later learned meant his blindness and Thurber's anxiety about not being seen as blind. "Yes," said the biographer, "he was imprisoned by his blindness." Bob, blindness is not a prison. Yes, loss of sight is a loss. But what in life cannot be lost -- innocence, possessions, love, or breath itself? Neither is blindness black or white, as the author would suggest. The vast majority of blind people also have some vision. I am one of those. Having vision and being blind, therefore, are not mutually exclusive. Certainly, one might be tempted to wonder what Thurber might have accomplished with his cartoons had he not lost his sight, but the suggestion that he might have been diminished as a writer is laughable -- and lamentable. Imagine us saying "Gosh, Paradise Lost is a pretty swell book. It makes you wonder what old John Milton could have come up with if he hadn't been blind." One can easily understand, then, why Thurber would struggle with acknowledgement of blindness, and insist (as he apparently did) that he wasn't bothered by what "other writers" might be able to do. Thurber's only mistake, it would seem, was to reject the blindness he experienced as the cause of his shame. As Thurber's biographer amply demonstrates via his own language, prejudice and limiting attitudes toward blindness are the greatest barriers that Thurber confronted. The true prisons are the confines of our minds. I spent much of my life asking the jailor for the key -- as Thurber seems to have done -- and trying to trick my captors into letting me out on the premise of mistaken identity. It was not their mistake, but my own prison of attitudes about my blindness... The answer, I finally realized, was to get out yourself, to pick the lock or, even better, batter down the door. Sincerely, Dan Burke, Access Coordinator, University of Montana. Chapter Roundup (Here are some reports from your local chapters.) Bozeman: Newly elected President Lillian Todd presided at the November 10th meeting. The time was spent in informal discussions of what the members expected of the Bozeman Chapter and what they could contribute. It was a good get-acquainted session. On December 20 the Bozeman Lions Club hosted the Bozeman Chapter at a Christmas luncheon at the Elks Club. About 30 Chapter Members and 25 Lions were in attendance. Table favors were made by Della Koeber and Peggy Schultz. Two girls from Heritage Christian School sang during the program, then Jim Williams described some of his experiences at the convention of the Blind Veterans Association last fall in Washington, D.C. Following the luncheon the Lions presented fruit baskets to the blind and visually impaired who were present; other baskets were sent to those unable to attend. The Chapter met at the Darlinton Manor January 12 for its regular meeting with 32 members and guests present. Guests included Lucetta Skank of Bozeman plus Lois Haymond, Edna Maier, Marguerite Cummings and Mildred McMillion of Livingston. A special guest was Sharon Larson from Shawmut. The report on calendar sales was given by chairman Ken Harmon; all outstanding monies should be turned in to him as soon as possible. It was voted to give donations of $50 each to Galavan and Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service. Joyce Watters voiced a concern about raising the consciousness of motorists and pedestrians about courtesy toward people with white canes, wheel chairs and the elderly, some of whom may need a little more time to react. Several suggestions were made for possible action. Helen Cowles urged people to try to speak to school classes about blindness and visual aids. Sharon Larson, the District Four representative was the speaker for the meeting. She described her experiences at the summer program, first as student, then as a teacher (cooking for two years, then ADL last year). She also shared what it is like to be a board member. Bernice DeHaas, reporting. Butte: The Silver Bow chapter held its annual Christmas brunch on Dec. 10. A group of fifty attended. President Jim Harris was master of ceremonies. A good country western singer did some Christmas tunes. The tables were decorated with lovely poinsettias. Folks really seemed to enjoy themselves, the food, the door prizes, and each others company. Lana Nelson, reporting. Great Falls : The Great Falls chapter met on February 12. Entertainment, provided by Electric City Harmony, preceded the meeting. For the past month or so members have been collecting IGA receipts, which when turned back to the store, earn us a percentage for our chapter. It was reported that various stores in town have sold over 200 calendars for us, and 25 were sold during the Christmas Stroll. Our chapter sold 278 calendars this year, thanks to all who have helped. Since Brian Tocher has been recently named President of Ski for Light, our chapter is now shopping for a new calendar chairman for next year. Ted Robbins reported to the chapter about his recent trip to Washington, DC. We are all anxious to hear what the final vote will be on the earnings limit bill (S.1470). Dick Howse reported that there is still scholarships available, and the deadline for application is May 1. Regretfully, the 4-H chapter of MSDB has been disbanded for the time being. We are helping out again at the Health Fair on February 24th at the College of Great Falls campus. Volunteers include Dick Howse, Brian Tocher, Ted Robbins, and Ardeth Clinger. Our chapter resolved to help the Yellowstone chapter with the convention in May; we voted to send a general contribution, and in addition to send a good number of money door prizes. Ellen Lindstrom, reporting. Helena: The November meeting was replaced by the annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Zonta Club. The members enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner and had a real treat when Mike Logan, cowboy poet, entertained the guests with some of his poems. Calendar sales Chair Cindy Baril told the members she will contact members for any remaining calendars and money and report the final totals at the February meeting. In January, Al and Myrle Tompkins participated in Ski for Light, a program where sighted skiers teach people with visual problems to cross country ski. The program was held at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. A total of 25 people took part in the program, ranging in ages from 8 to 80 with various levels of vision and skiing skills. Myrle reminded people you don't have to be able to see to ski! Al and Myrle feel the people they meet and friendships they formed were as enjoyable as learning to ski. They encouraged people to participate in this fun and worthwhile program. Myrle Tompkins is interested in beginning a support group in the Helena area to share problems and lend support to people with vision loss and their families. This support group will serve a different function from the local MAB chapter. Those interested need to call Myrle at (406) 443- 4352. The Helena Chapter is glad to welcome back long-time member John Bird. John suffered a stroke, and was in a nursing home for 4 1/2 months. The members recognized Margaret Huelett who turned 83 in January. Happy Birthday, Margaret! Sandra Jarvie, reporting. Kalispell-Buffalo Hills: The Buffalo Hills Chapter met at the Terrace on Dec. 1 and after a short business meeting, we turned the rest of our time over to Merlin Anderson, for his talent show. It was a standing room only performance, with 79 in attendance. Merlin was dressed in top hat, striped coat and cane. He told funny stories and kept the crowd amused as emcee of the event. Margie Cook played several old favorites on the organ, and Grace Myers and her daughter danced a Hawaiian hula. Other performers included Ernest Boehme, Gladys Manning, Harry Gertsmyer, and Henry Byrne. Vi Middlesap tickled the ivories on a piano, as did Cleo Neifert. Jody Weidner, in costume, sang "All I Want For Christmas," and all joined in. Faye Couie played the clarinet, and then more laughs with jokes provided by Charles Freeon. Helen Hogan and Nina Anderson rounded off the day with a medley of Christmas songs. Harriet Fall had done a marvelous job decorating the room, which added much to our enjoyment. The food and friends reminded us of what a great time can be had, and was, at Christmas at Buffalo Hills. (Edit. Note: I'm ready to move in, aren't you? The above was sent to us from Beatrice Woessner, President of the chapter.) Kalispell-Northwest: The Northwest chapter's Christmas party was held at the Outlaw Inn on Dec 8. and everyone enjoyed themselves. The January 8 meeting had 8 members present, and Elaine Miller gave a report on the Ski for Light program at Grouse Mountain. Martha Rethmeier, reporting. Lewistown: The White Cane chapter met in December. The secretary read an article to the group that was written about Tim Hayward's recent trip to New Jersey where Tim got a new Seeing Eye dog, Nautic. Irish has retired now. Tim is also working in his woodshop on a cabinet with some occasional help by Ed Durbin. Also at the meeting, Bob Brassey told of a recent hunting trip in Texas on the 150-million acre King Ranch. The hunt was for Nell-gue, a type of antelope, which dressed out at over 300 pounds. Congratulations to Bob on his successful hunt, but also to Dorris and Bob on the December celebration of their 54th wedding anniversary. At the meeting, Ed told of his successful year at raising calves, some of which he has sold off this year. Katherine Kurns, reporting. Livingston: The Park County held its December meeting and Christmas dinner at Timothy's. Our president, Lois Haymond, led us in table prayer, then we all proceeded to enjoy a fine dinner. Although some of members were gone elsewhere for the holidays, and our group was small, our feeling of fellowship was large. On January 8, at our chapter meeting at the Wellness Center, Robin Neel from Visual Services spoke to our group. She demonstrated and discussed low vision aids that are currently available. At this meeting, Marguerite Commings resigned her position as chapter treasurer. Thanks, Marguerite, for your years of service. At the February meeting, Jane Williams volunteered to take over the duties of treasurer for us. Our program for the day was presented by Sharon Larson, District 4 Representative on the MAB board. She told the group that she is planning to run for re-election. Sharon also got to have a little catch-up time with Heidi McGuire, with whom she attended the summer orientation program. Also in February, chapter secretary Mildred McMillion drove President Lois Haymond, Marguerite Commings, and Edna Maier to Bozeman for their chapter meeting. Helen Cowles announced them as her guests. Eunice Nelson, reporting. Missoula: Attendance has been strong for chapter meeting, though January's meeting was relatively low turnout because the sorority which usually provides transportation was on holiday break. Carolyn Brock is heading up a "Community Awareness" committee, which is working through several sub-groups. Dan Burke is in charge of a survey, which will poll members about various special interest groups (or self-improvement groups, as Dan calls them). Suggested groups are: Braille mentoring, a support group, interests in cooking and crafts, technology, mobility, recreation (such as hiking, skiing, biking, bird-watching, self-defense), and social activities. The survey will also ask people to participate in community committees: transportation, access to businesses, membership and recruiting, outreach to the newly blind, advocacy in the schools, presentations to civic groups, political liaisons, and fund-raising. We are asking members to state anonymously what they feel are the greatest strengths and weaknesses of the local chapter, and what they would most like to see the chapter accomplish. Two of these committees are already functioning. Fran Beever is heading our outreach group to the newly blind. We have prepared an information sheet about this outreach program, which is being circulated to the local ophthalmologists. George Kerscher is heading up the fund-raising effort. After the initial contact with ophthalmologists about the outreach program, George's committee plans to put together a proposal of projected expenses, and solicit these doctors for an annual contribution. Ruby Huckaba, reporting, with additional notes supplied by Carolyn Brock. Inside the MAB / Personals In late December it was learned that Mike Maloney of Great Falls has an advanced cancer, and the prognosis is that we will soon lose yet another of our founding members of this organization. Card and letters are welcomed, and we wish for Mike to know how very much his years of dedication, his balanced wisdom, and unsinkable witticisms will be missed. Mike is known and loved all over the world, too, with his ham radio career. Mike told Kay the other day that he didn't realize how many good friends he had. Send a card, tape, or letter to Mike Maloney and his dear wife, Kay, at: 1404 4th Ave. North, Great Falls, MT 59401. Bozeman chapter member, Peggy Schultz, is recovering at home from a broken hip, the result of a fall about a week before Christmas. Margaret Bouma has been in the Gallatin County Rest Home, at 1221 W.Durston, Bozeman, MT 59715 following a knee replacement before Christmas. Her husband, John, died the last week in December. Thelma Hartley Cain, of Ennis, passed away on Jan. 13, 1996 in Apple Valley, California. She attended the MAB summer program in 1988, and continued to be a member and supporter of our programs. Born in Missouri in 1912, Thelma married Clyde Hartley in 1930 and moved to Rawlins, Wyoming. After his death in 1974 she continued to live there until 1985, when she moved to Ennis to be near her daughters and grandchildren. Thelma's warm words and spirit will be missed by her friends among the MAB. We were sorry to hear that another member had passed away recently-- Mr. Dwight Roberts, from the Park County chapter. On Jan. 2, 1996, George Kerscher, of the Missoula chapter of MAB, was featured in a radio news essay on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." The story highlighted George's relationship with a retired sports broadcaster who, for the past several years, has attended Hellgate High School's girls basketball games with George. He describes the games to George, and in particular, the play of George's daughter, Zoey. We have recently heard from David Bell, formerly of Missoula. David and his wife, Julia, who are expecting a child in August, have recently moved, and their new address is: 2926 Loxley Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703. And finally, congratulations go to Jim Aldrich of the Yellowstone chapter; whose article, "Wherefore Art Thou, User-Friendly Microwave," from the last Observer was reprinted in the current issue of the Associate's Raiser, edited by Tom Stevens of Columbia, Missouri. Announcements At the February 17 board meeting, MAB President Pat Domme announced the following committee appointments: Scholarship Committee - Roberta Lemieux, Jim Marks, Nancy Holt, Jeff Haworth, Betty Lou Berg; Memorial Loan Committee - Bennie Longie, Kay Kjellstrom, Sharon Larson, Sarah Bradley, Teresa Lease; Awards Committee - Judy Longie, Evelyn Pool, Marguerite Boehler, Cindy Baril; Nominating Committee - Linda Hurlock, Rhonda Hook, Evelyn Poole, Dean Phillips By-Laws Committee - Ted Robbins, other positions open. The MAB Elder Blind Equipment Lease/Purchase Program still has funds available to seniors for the purchasing of adaptive equipment. Some equipment has come back into the program and is available for purchase outright or through our program to qualifying individuals: A 19 inch Voyager CCTV, and a 14-inch Vantage CC TV. For details, call Edward C. "Ted" Robbins, Program Manager, Phone: 406/453-6678. Read & Tell : A Reading / Talking Computer System Kirk Hill Computers is planning to distribute a reading-talking computer in the near future. It was developed for the low vision community so that it can stay up to date with the latest printed materials. A working model of READ & TELL has been used by 100 year old Herbert Kirk, a past president of the Bozeman Chapter of the MAB. From magazines to books, this system scans a page at a time and then verbally tells you what is on the entire page or a sentence at a time as fast as you can press a button. It can repeat a sentence or spell each word if you wish for better understanding. One of the unique features is that it uses an IBM compatible PC computer which can be used for many other purposes. Another special feature that distinguishes it from its main competitors (Arkenstone and Xerox) is its ability to display each sentence on the computer monitor in letters up to 1 1/4 inches high while it is speaking that sentence. The size of the letters, the speed of speaking and the volume can be changed at any time. When the system first goes into action it explains all available options under your control or you can skip the explanation. It then asks you to put your printed material in the flat bed scanner. The Optical Character Reader(OCR) software converts the text into computer language which is spoken by the Voice Synthesizer all under the control of an Executive Program. When it finishes, it asks you for the next page and you are off to a new world full of information. Future plans include the ability to transfer newspaper articles into your computer over the telephone lines. Then you can listen to the headlines to select the only those articles of interest. Another possible extension is the ability to send and receive e-mail over the Internet. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Charles Kirk at Kirk Hill Computers, 7960 S. 19th Road, Bozeman MT 59715 or call 406-586-3929 or toll free 800-240-3929. (Editor's Note: Mr. Kirk is hoping to find interested persons to participate in a marketing survey for his product. If you are at all interested, please contact him by phone (one was toll free), and you can answer the fifteen or so questions that are in the survey.) Video Description / Closed Captioning - Future Law? The FCC has issued an historic Notice of Inquiry regarding two services that benefit millions of Americans with disabilities: closed captioning and video description of television programming. The Commission seeks comment on the current availability, cost, and uses of these two services. It also requests the public's views on the appropriate means of promoting the wider use of closed captioning and video description in programming delivered by television broadcasters, cable operators, and other video program providers. Legislation currently pending in Congress would, for the first time, generally mandate the closed captioning of television video programming, and also would require the FCC to study the uses of video description. The record developed in this proceeding will enable the Commission to expedite the implementation of this legislation if enacted into law. The Notice of Inquiry was initiated by and coordinated with the Commission's Disabilities Issues Task Force and Mass Media Bureau. There are presently no Commission rules regarding video description, although they have adopted a number of rules to promote closed caption technology, dating back as far as 1976. Until Next Time: The deadline for the next issue of The Observer is April 30, 1996. Thanks to all of our contributors, proofreaders, label makers, and all the local chapter reporters. Send all submissions for consideration for possible publication to Rik James, Editor, 716 N. Montana Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715. Telephone: 406 / 586-4123. To finish up this issue here are two poems: Bozeman member, Helen Cowles, sent us this first poem, written by her good friend, Bobbie Russell Broumley, who is an accomplished and published poet. Bobbie has had work published by the Library of Congress, and worked for a number of years for the Governor of Arizona. Amidst Familiar Settings Suddenly I'm a stranger, in this world I call my home Amidst familiar settings I sometimes feel alone My eyesight's growing dimmer and the sounds of life grow faint I'm almost like the artist who's misplaced his tube of paint My friends all tend to holler, to grab my arm and shove To see I walk a straight line and I know it's done with love The family doesn't understand because I seem a little strange When I insist familiar's better that it's hard to deal with change Folks always seem to question when your eyesight's not so keen Sometimes they think you've snubbed them when in fact they were not seen To tell the truth it's easier to sit at home and mope But all the world is waiting for me to learn to cope I still retain my talents and with God's boundless grace I'll overcome life's challenges and meet them face to face I'm oft' in need of guidance and my foolish pride must start To realize, with clouded eyes I still see, with my heart When I tend to get discouraged and feel I'm not quite whole I place myself in Heaven's hands and listen, with my soul. - Bobbie Russell Broumley Forgetful Just a line to say I'm living, that I'm not among the dead I'm getting so forgetful, and so mixed up in my head Sometimes I can't remember, at the foot of my own stair If I must go up for something, or if I just came down from there And, before the fridge so often, my poor mind is filled with doubt I don't know if I've put food away, or have come to take it out There are times when it's so very dark, with my nightcap on my head I don't know if I'm retiring, or just getting out of bed So if it's my turn to write to you, there's no need in getting sore I may think that I have written, and don't want to be a bore Just remember that I do love you, and I wish that you were here But now it's nearly mail time, so I'll say goodbye, my dear Here I stand beside the mail box, with my face a blushing red Instead of mailing you my letter, I have opened it instead! Author Unknown (forgot to sign it) (Editor's Note: My mother sent in the second one--do you think she was trying to tell me something?!?) Montana Association For The Blind Board of Directors President : Pat Domme 2724 Amherst Ave. Butte MT, 59404 (406) 494-4571 1st Vice President : Rik James 716 North Montana Ave. Bozeman MT, 59715-2921 (406) 586-4123 E-mail: rikjames@dns.mcn.net 2nd Vice President : Virginia Sutich Box 27, Tracy Route Sand Coulee MT, 59472 (406) 736-5277 3rd Vice President : Nancy Holt 905 32nd St. South Great Falls MT, 59405 (406) 761-4348 District One : Jim Marks 540 E. Kent Missoula MT, 59801 (406) 549-7047 E-mail: marks@selway.umt.edu District Two : Bennie Longie 1160 E. Sebree Dillon MT, 59725 (406) 683-2826 District Three : Kay Kjellstrom 3222 Second Ave. North Great Falls MT, 59401 (406) 453-0452 District Four : Sharon Larson Box 81 Shawmut MT, 59078 (406) 632-4706 District Five : Sarah Bradley 1633 Lynne Ave. Billings MT, 59102 (406) 656-7162