NH FEDERATIONIST, vol 7 #1 (whole number 15), Spring 1995 
The NH FEDERATIONIST is published semi-annually by the NFBNH. All
items not credited otherwise are written by the editor, Ed
Meskys. {usual boxes containing colophon, officers, chapters,
and/or calendar} 

Long Live the President!
At our convention last October we elected a new slate of
officers, as follows: President, John Parker. FVP, Ed Meskys.
2VP, Eddie Vachon. Secy, Helen Hutchins. Treasurer, Bruce Gillis.
Financial Manager, Lucille Lynch. The three directors remain Dave
Brownell, Mildred Dickey, & Carol Holmes. 
As Terry Herron said when she turned the reins over to me six
years ago, we each have our own strengths and weaknesses, and our
own styles. She said that the affiliate would be different, but
not better or worse, under me, and that was the case. She was
very knowledgeable of politics and politicians, which I am not.
She had very good relations with our state legislature and our
Congressional delegation. I had patience and calmness, and under
my leadership we developed very good relations with the NHAB and
the governmental agency. John is good at politics and at detail
work. I often lost important papers and got us into trouble
because of that, and I was often late with things I had to do. He
was an independent businessman and has already saved us a
considerable amount in our outreach program to find blind people
who need help and our telemarketing. I eagerly await the results
of his labors in the years to come! 

Franklin Van Vliet
Past National Treasurer and State President Franklin Van Vliet
passed away on March 26. This is the obituary as published in the
Manchester Union Leader for March 31. 
"PAWTUCKET, R.I._ Franklin Van Vliet, 92, of Pawtucket, formerly
of Bow, N.H., died March 26, 1995, in his home. He was born in
New Hampshire and lived many years in Penacook, N.H., and Bow
before moving to Rhode Island five years ago. 
"Mr. Van Vliet was totally blind since age 13, when he was
injured. He worked a few years for the state highway department
and then went to a radio school in Nebraska to learn radio and
electronics. Mr. Van Vliet was self-employed for many years. He
did radio repairs and installing master antenna systems. He also
did consulting work on micro-waves. Later, he worked 12 years
with the state's blind service vending program, operating stands
at the federal building in Concord and Lake Sunapee State Park. 
"Mr. Van Vliet served 16 years as president of the National
Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire and six years as
treasurer of the national organization. 
"His father, Henry J. Van Vliet, also blind, served six
consecutive terms in the state Legislature. The family includes
his wife, Lilian Van Vliet of Pawtucket, and a brother, Harold
Van Vliet." 
It was Franklin who first contacted me when I inquired about the
NFB in 1975 and he persistently kept after me for a year to come
to meetings and conventions until I became committed. Without his
nagging I might have never become really involved. 
Franklin was an astute businessman and did very well with the
vending stand at Sunapee, together with an associated restaurant
and catering service in W. Lebanon, until the state decided to
terminate the Vending Stand Program at major resort areas. After
that he was involved with a system of franchised craft shops
selling products made by handicapped persons and a system for
desalinization sea water and using hydrogen as an energy source. 

Scholarships
The NFB of NH offers two scholarships a year. The Theresa Herron
Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 is open to any
visually impaired high school student in NH to help her or him
buy some aid not covered by VR, to buy extra reading time, to
take part n some summer educational or recreational program, or
to save for college. The student can be an older person returning
to complete her or his high school education or to attend a
secondary vocational school. 
The Floyd Callward Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000
is for any post-secondary visually impaired student, whether in
college straight from HS or returning at a later date, in
graduate or professional school, or in post- secondary career
training. 
For applications write Louis Gosselin, c/o Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation, 361 Lincoln St., Manchester 03103, phone
669-8733. 
Our national organization offers 26 scholarships ranging from
$3000 to 10,000. Winners also travel all-expenses paid to our
national convention where they learn much that will help in their
education. Note that the minimum scholarship was increased from
$2000 to 3000! Three students from NH have received these
scholarships ranging from $2000 to $4000. For information write
NFB Scholarships, 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore MD 21230. 
Past scholarship winners include_
Callward Scholarship
1990, Kirstyn Cassavechia, Cornell U, NY
1991, Tom E. Lynch, Keene State College
1992, Daniel Boisvert, UNH
1993, Judyth Ann Leavitt, Keene State College
1994, Kenneth Dunnington, UNH.
Herron Scholarship
1992, Carolyn Corrigan, Winchester.
1993, Gavin Sawyer, Charlestown.
1994, Paul Joe Harcz, Notre Dame College (we had no suitable high
school applicants this year)
National scholarships
1983, Clyde Terry, Franklin Pierce Law School.
1987, Mark Baxter, Dartmouth College.
1991, Kirstyn Cassavechia, Cornell U.

Meetings, Conventions, and Seminars
Keep in mind our annual state convention. It will be at the
Howard Johnson Motor Lodge in Manchester the weekend of October
27-29 and will feature many interesting speakers. (We had hoped
to go to the seacoast this year but could not get suitable hotel
arrangements.) We will follow our usual format of the past few
years: Friday evening we socialize informally and get to know
each other. This is an excellent opportunity to network and get
ideas from others on how to solve problems of every day living or
at work. We also offer beginning lessons in Braille and travel
with the long white (Hoover) cane and have some committee
meetings. Saturday morning we explore in depth some single topic,
diabetes this year. Saturday afternoon we have a number of short
talks and reports on various topics. In the evening we have our
gala banquet with an exciting talk by our representative from the
National organization and the presentation of our scholarships
and awards. After the banquet we have hospitality with more
networking. Finally Sunday morning we have our business meeting
with elections, chapter and committee reports, and a last session
of sharing of information. Saturday we have some exhibits of high
tech for the blind, like talking computers and closed circuit
reading machines, in the hospitality suite during the noon break
and before the banquet. 
And plan for our national conventions. The convention represents
seven full days and evenings of lectures, seminars, workshops,
and discussions on every topic of interest to a blind or visually
impaired person or family member. Dozens of specialized groups
have their own meetings, including blind parents, parents of
blind children, educators, writers, musicians, farmers, horse
trainers & riders, computer workers, businessmen, and persons who
are deaf-blind. No matter what your interest or profession you
will find an appropriate division or committee. One afternoon and
evening is left open for touring, exploring the dozens of
displays of tools and technology, or seeing a movie with
Descriptive Video Service. On the convention ends exactly at 5 PM
so as not to interfere with travel plans. Usually the convention
runs from Saturday to Friday. The next four National Conventions
are scheduled as follows: 
1995, Chicago, Hilton And Towers, July 1-7. 1996, Anaheim
California (Disneyland), Hilton. 1997, New Orleans, Hyatt Hotel.
1998, Dallas Texas, Airport Hyatt Hotel.
We get fabulously low special hotel room rates, always under $50
a night and usually in the low 40s. Plan now to attend one or
more of these meetings! 
The New England organization of parents and educators of blind
children has an annual meeting with workshop. This is often in
conjunction with the NFB of Massachusetts state convention in
early April, but sometimes takes place in the Fall. Write Bob
Lablonde, 130 Riverton Dr., Portland ME 04103, 207-772- 7305.
While you are at it, ask his wife Connie about the NFB of Maine
state convention, usually held in August or September. 
The other New England state conventions are usually as follows:
Vermont, early to mid May. Rhode Island, middle to late October.
Connecticut early November. Mass, early April. 

HELP!
Since the late Frank Snee initiated it some 15 years ago, ads in
our program book have paid most of our expenses in putting on our
annual state convention. We ask members and friends to take
booster adds and to sell ads to businesses they deal with. Unlike
straight donations, the full value of the ad may be deducted as a
business expense. For your information we include a sample add
form as part of this issue. The form itself need not be used but
can be shown to a potential advertiser, or you can get more forms
by writing me (Ed Meskys) or the state office. But please...at
least take a $5 booster yourself! We need it to meet our
convention expenses! 

Braille Readers are Leaders
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children and the
National Association to Promote the Use of Braille continue to
sponsor an annual "Braille Readers Are Leaders" contest. There
are various categories by grade. There are also categories for
persons who just recently switched to the use of Braille and for
greatest improvement over last year. For info write "Braille
Readers Are Leaders" at 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore MD 21230. 

Expo Tech Reprise
Granite State Independent Living Foundation will hold its third
annual "Access Technology Expo" on September 8. For info on the
expo and the "adaption contraption" contest contact GSILF at 172
Pembroke Rd., Concord 03301, 800-826-3700. 

Receiving Described Television and Radio Reading
For some time now Channel 2 in Boston has been originating
programming with voice-over description of the action. I find
this wonderful in as it allows me to follow the action of a story
without me constantly bugging family members with questions like
"What is happening now?" Thanks to the Lions Clubs of NH Channel
11 is equipped to transmit this description. Channel 10 in Maine
and 2 and 25 in Mass. also broadcast this or related services.
Unfortunately it IS difficult to receive this service unless you
have a modern stereo television or VCR. 
The description is carried on the "second audio program" or "SAP"
subcarrier which accompanies every channel. (Most broadcasters do
not make use of this.) Easiest way to get it is to buy a modern
stereo TV or VCR which has a "SAP" button to bring it in.
Unfortunately most new TVs have on-screen menus and it takes a
sighted person to tune the SAP subcarrier. Only two TVs are
accessible to blind users. Best is a 13 inch Bell & Howell
(manufactured in Malasia) b&w set which has a physical "SAP"
button right on the set. It is being phased out but while sets
remain they can be purchased at Montgomery Ward for about $200.
For more details call Bob McGuiness at the Bedford store,
668-8750, ext 5262. Next best is the LX-1, a 19 inch set sold at
Sears in the $250-275 price range. You have to use the remote,
but the top left button turns the set on, the channel keyboard is
right under the on-off switch, and the top right button turns on
and off the SAP. Jill Healey recommends that if you are using the
SAP for radio reading and you have a little sight or there is a
sighted person in the room you turn the contrast all the way down
to avoid confusion by the picture not agreeing with the sound. 
(I just heard that Panasonic announced that the remotes on all
future TVs and VCRs will have a separate SAP button.)
Next choice is the "Fred 3" decoder which is sold to blind
persons at the special price of about $50. In NH local Lions
Clubs help blind individuals acquire the decoder and install it.
For more information about this Lions service call Bill Enders at
293-4545. The decoder, with cheap external speakers available
from Radio Shack, will put out the SAP programming. Unfortunately
this device does not have a tuner and will simultaneously provide
the SAP programming from all channels using it, usually two or
three different programs. Something has to select the one channel
you want to hear. The Fred has a probe which can be placed inside
the TV near the tuner, or under the TV. Dave Brownell uses this
method very successfully. However it would not work with my TV.
My VCR, seven years old, strips out the SAP subcarrier so it
cannot be used to purify the signal. I am on cable but only take
the bare-bones service (10 VHF channels plus 4 UHF or satellite
channels) which does not come with a cable channel selector. Jill
Healey of the Veterans Hospital said she got a "slider" or
selector from her cable company for use in the hospital for a
one-shot nominal charge of $7, so I called my company. They are
now renting me a selector for $1.40 a month, which is well worth
it! I put a signal splitter on the cable outlet and ran one wire
to the VCR-TV and the other to the selector-Fred. That way I can
listen (with headphones) to one program while my family watches
something else. If we are watching the same program we tune in
both units and turn down the voice on the TV. 
Whenever channel 2 or 11 are not broadcasting described programs
they use the SAP to carry other information. Channel 11 provides
the Mass. radio reading service, which also comes on Channel 25.
Channel 2 provides British Broadcasting Corp. programming.
(Channel 4 never has described programming but always carries WBZ
radio on its SAP.) 
I was skeptical of the value of Radio Reading until I tried it,
and now I am an enthusiastic listener! It is not only reading the
Boston Globe from cover to cover, giving no opportunity to select
what you hear. Many different items are broadcast, and several
times a day they give a listing for the rest of the day. I find
especially interesting the excerpts from various science
magazines (High Frontier, Discover, etc.) broadcase Wednesdays
from 4:30 to 5:30, and the TV listings for the evening broadcast
daily at 5:45. (Since it originates in MA it lists only Mass. and
R.I. channels, no NH or Maine ones, but you can usually figure
out relevant channels from network affiliations.) 
Since October Joe Harcz has been broadcasting a local radio
reading of the Manchester Union Leader and other local news from
7 to 9 AM weekdays on a low-power station at Notre Dame College
which is also carried by a few cable companies in the area on the
public access channels. He is working on getting a link to Durham
so that Channel 11 can carry this on its SAP. 
Since writing the above I learned that Jill Healey, on behalf of
the VA Hospital, has been negotiating with PDI Communications
Systems, a provider of hospital supplies. They had in their line
of products a TV set on an arm that could be placed above a
hospital bed and moved as needed. She worked with their engineer,
Bill Dick, and got them to install an headphone jack and a SAP
decoder which could be turned on and off with a simple
pushbutton. She is trying to get them to agree to install these
on all future hospital units and do so on request on home units,
which are 19" sets. Right now Bill Dick will hand-install the
jack and SAP button on one set at a time on request. For more
information contact Bill Dick at 810-478-9886 or PDI
Communication Systems division of Precision Industries, Inc., 40
Greenwood Ln., Sprintboro OH 45066, 800-628-9870, fax
513-743-5664. 
You can reach Jill Healey at 624-4366, ex 6475. 

Radio Reading Schedule on Tape
Jill Healey (see item above) has recorded onto talking book
format cassette the weekly schedule for the Mass. radio reading
service carried by Channel 11 and satellites. We have copies,
available free, at our state headquarters, John Parker's home. To
get a copy write our PO Box (1696, Laconia 03247)or leave a
message on our answering machine(524-1945). 

Blind Children, Mainstreaming, & Braille
"Another exciting addition to the collection of truly useful
materials designed to assist school personnel to prepare for
welcoming a blind child into the regular classroom is, "Here I
Come, Ready or Not." This 30 minute videotape was made by Myra
Lesser who lives in northwestern Pennsylvania and is a member of
the board of directors of The National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children," a division of the National Federation of the
Blind. The camera follows Myra's son, Alex, through his day
showing him taking part in the life of the school. The voice-over
consists of teachers, administrators, and parents talking about
their fears, their strategies, and their ultimate delight at
having Alex part of the school family. It was produced to
reassure teachers who are about to have a blind child join their
classes. Anyone interested in ordering this video (cost is $25)
should write to Myra Adler Lesser at 137 Lesser Ln., Chicora PA
16025. Checks should be made payable to Lancaster-Lebanon
Intermediate Unit 13. [NOTE: This is the correct spelling for the
town, very different from the spelling of the NH town with the
same name!]
"As long as I am talking about materials that are now available
for your use, you should know that the NFB of Ohio has just
compiled a booklet of articles about Braille. The new Braille
literacy law requires that families be given information about
Braille before they make their decision whether or not to ask
that their children be taught the code. The problem has been
where to get such information. At the moment it is not clear what
the final format of this little booklet will be but if you or
someone you know needs such information contact me and we can get
a copy to you. It is a combination of first-person narratives
about learning or not learning Braille as a child and the impact
that the decision has had on the individual's life together with
informational discussions about Braille and when it should be
taught. But mostly it is light reading about the value of Braille
to busy, confident adults." [Barbara Pierce, in Buckeye Bulletin
237 Oak St., Oberlin OH 44074-1517]

Granite State Empower & Light
...is the name of the handicapped affairs bulletin board run by
Granite State Independent Living Foundation. It can be reached by
modem at 1800-618-5638. The sysop, Andy Washburn, and the
assistant, Gil Vickery in charge of the blindness forum, can be
reached at 800-826-3700. 

Journey for Sight
Every spring the Lions Clubs of NH hold a "Journey for Sight"
travelthon to raise funds for the NH Sight and Hearing Foundation
or another vision related project. This year they are trying to
involve blind consumer and service organizations in a walkathon
to be held in Concord. For information call Jill Healey,
624-4366, ex 6475.

Stories on Tape
Sighted people are now making extensive use of recorded books on
tape, while driving or doing other tasks that leave one's mind
free. These "spoken word" books can be purchased or rented and
are fairly expensive. Some are unabridged but many sold in chain
bookstores are cut to about a third of their original lengths.
Most local public libraries also have a good selection of these
which anyone can borrow and you can find titles not available
from NLS or one of the other blind agencies. 
Dick Estell reads books aloud on some National Public Radio
stations including WMEA in Portland, ME (12:30 PM weekdays, 90.1
FM). A company, "Books on Tape, Inc.," has issued about 50 titles
narrated by him and is either selling or renting them. They have
an introductory offer of $5 for one book from their list. For
further information call them at 800-626-3333, or write Box 7900,
Newport Beach, CA 92658. [Thanks to John Parker]
Various dramatized stories are also available on tape. I have
received three examples for review purposes. 
Simon & Schuster Audio is issuing on cassette and CD a series of
original stories acted out by several persons. They all take
place after the end of the classic Trek (ie, with Kirk, Spock,
McCoy, etc.) and are about Sulu when he is captain of his own
ship. The lead actor is, of course, George Takei. The two stories
I have seen, "Transformations" (70 min, $16 on CD) and
"Cacophony" (60 min, on cassette), are both quite good and I
highly recommend this series to all trekkers. 
Triad Software, a division of Triad Pictures Corp., (P.O. Box
1299, Sequim WA 98382) has issued "Timewarp, The First Adventure"
(67 min. cassette, $12.95 from bookstores or direct). The wrapper
promised this to be the first of a series of sexually explicit
adventure stories. The sex is close to non-existent but the
story, while flawed, is quite good. Halfway through the story the
line switches abruptly from a satire about sexually liberated
aliens trying to understand human sexual repression to a straight
forward time-travel shoot-them-up adventure. 
"Audio Comix (Flamco, Box 20334, New York, NY 10001-9992, $12.20)
tries to capture on audio tape the feel of an adventure comic
book. Their blurb says that they try to replace the artwork with
music and sound effects, and dramatic reading. They have issued
several dozen installments, two to a cassette, 30 minutes each.
Each installment is part of an on-going story though it is easy
to pick up the thread with a late installment. Each installment
ends with a cliffhanger, making you want to go on to the next
one. I got installments #29 and #30. The stories are fun and told
tongue-in-cheek, and overdramatized to achieve the feel of a
comic book. The hero's spaceship is called the "Flying Sponge."
He is captured by a giant flying saucer while all earth is
watching on TV a boxing match between two robots. This happens in
the first two minutes and many exciting things happen before the
tape is over. 
Finally, many readers will remember Galaxy Magazine, a leading
print science fiction magazine founded in 1950. For years NLS did
it in Braille and first the Cleveland Society did it on open reel
tape and later NLS did it on talking book records. Some time ago
the magazine fell on hard times and its publishing schedule
became quite erratic. Finally the title was sold to another
company which put out one more issue before it, too, went belly
up. All but this last issue were recorded by NLS, which gave up
on the title and switched to recording Analog and Brailling Isaac
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Anyhow, the first editor, H.L.
Gold, and his son, both of whom are now legally blind, revived
the print magazine in January, 1994, and it is coming out on a
regular bi-monthly schedule. They had a display at the 1994 World
Science Fiction Convention where I subscribed to the magazine.
They have issued selections from the magazine on audio tape and
the person behind the table gave me a sample, "Galaxy Audio
Project #6," but he did not know the price of the tapes. The tape
was about one hour and had about four stories. They are
professionally narrated and well done. Unlike the above items,
they are not dramatized. For more information write Galaxy at P.
O. Box 370, Nevada City CA 95959. 

Low Vision ID
The March issue of Xavier Review mentions that Ruth McGuire (600
Lawson Ave., Haverstown PA 19083) is distributing large buttons
saying "I have low vision." I have often read reminiscences by
low vision persons who were ashamed to admit they have a problem
seeing, or recognizing people at a distance, who were considered
"stuck up" by acquaintances because they never acknowledged
friendly waves. This button might be a good start for those who
are timid about "coming out of the closet" and admitting their
blindness, but the best solution of all is to carry and use a
white cane. They are less likely to stumble when the light
suddenly changes, and the white cane is a universally recognized
symbol of visual difficulty. 

Dancing in the Dark
We recently received a flyer for Dancing in the Dark, a book by
Frances Lief Neer ($10.95+3.00 shipping from Wildstar Publishing,
1550 California St., suite 330, San Francisco CA 94109) which
says in part: 
"Each person with failing eyesight is surrounded by friends and
family who are also affected by this change. They are the
potential caregivers [my italics!-ERM] of people with eye
disorders. Dancing in the Dark is a direct, good humored,
non-threatening reference guide for living in a frightening
situation. It is for individuals as well as professionals.
Dancing in the Dark includes a Resource Directory and a Primer of
Common Eye Disorders to understand the language of visual
impairment." [Thanks to John Parker]
This sounds a lot like the NFB's own reference book for persons
new to blindness, If Blindness Comes edited by Dr. Jernigan. It
might be good but I am VERY bothered by the word "caretakers" in
the flyer. That one word implies a very negative attitude about
the abilities of blind persons to take care of themselves!

Families of Developmentally Disabled
"Region 10 Community Support Services" is holding a two day
workshop for families with developmentally disabled members at
the North Conway Sheraton May 20-21. For more information contact
them at 893-1299 or write them at 8 Commerce Dr., Atkinson NH
03811.

Ocular Prosthetics
Dr. David P. van Sleet asked us to announced the availability of
his service at Upper Pasture Rd., P O Box 686, Norwich VT 05055.

Member Notes
Donna Maglin of the Capital City Chapter is quite weak as the
result of her chemotherapy, but still plans to make our national
convention in Chicago the first week of July. She discovered in
December that she had matastised cancer but is doing reasonably
well and is making plans for a possible career change when she is
better. 
My mother, Susan Meskys, known to some Lakes Region Chapter and
State Board Members, passed away on February 9 at home from
general failure due to old age. She was one month short of 97. I
have written a two page biography which I am circulating to
interested persons and which I will publish in my personal
science fiction magazine, Niekas. 
Also, I lost my guide dog, Gerry, to spinal arthritis in early
November. I am going back to Seeing Eye for a third dog on
September 2nd. 
Louis Gosselin of the Merrimack Valley Chapter received special
commendation from the state for having completed 30 years of
service. 

Zines
Many interesting magazines are produced and this is an attempt to
call your attention to some of them. I do not attempt to cover
the entire contents but only mention the items I found especially
interesting. Unless a price is mentioned they are probably free.
Some of these notes are also printed in The Associate Raiser and
Granite Bits.
Access New England, conventional print, tape, and floppy from New
England Disability & Business Technical Center, 145 Newbury St.,
Portland ME 04101. News, meetings, and laws regarding access to
facilities and the ADA. Many cases of compliance and of violation
of ADA titles 1,2, & 3. Sharing of resources. Though most items
are of interest to physically disabled persons, a few were
relevant to blind persons. 
Anthology Magazines
These magazines take short pieces from many different print
magazines, something like Readers' Digest. 
ù Catholic Review, brl, commercial cassette, & LP, bi-monthly
from Xavier Society for the Blind, 154 E 23 St., NY NY 10010. 
ù Choice Magazine Listening, 85 Channel Dr., Port Washington NY
11050, bimonthly, TB cassette.
ù Computers, Recorded Periodicals, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia
PA 19107, TB cassette, monthly, $36/year. Excerpts from Byte, PC
World and occasionally other magazines. 
ù Hadley Focus, Hadley School, discontinued with #114, mid-1994. 
ù JBI Voice, Jewish Braille Institute, 110 E. 30 St., NY NY
10016, 
bimonthly, TB cassette. Even though I am not Jewish I enjoy these
articles about politics and the Jewish faith and the fiction
about Jewish life vary much. Sources vary from The New Yorker to
The Jerusalem Post, from Harpers to The New Republic. Each issue
ends with a listing of some of the new titles in their cassette
circulating library. Beginning with the March,1994, issue they
also include Braille acquisitions. 
The APH Slate, Braille, American Printing House for the Blind, P
O Box 6085Louisville KY 40206-0085. Stories about new products
from APH, the people working at APH, and other news of interest
to blind persons. 
The Associate Raiser, free from Tom Stevens, 1203 Fairview Rd.,
Columbia MO 65203, 3-4/year, print & conventional cassette.
Standings by state and individual in competition to get Associate
Members for the NFB and interesting articles reprinted from a
number of sources by and about people who have coped with
blindness under varying conditions. 
Blazie Engineering Newsletter, commercial cassette from Blazie
Engineering, 105 E. Jarrettsville Rd., unit D, Forest Hill MD
21050. News and suggestions of interest to users of Braille &
Speak, Braille Light, etc. 
The Blue Sheet, irregular, conventional print & commercial
cassette, free but $20/year donation requested from Governor's
Commission on Disabilities, 57 Regional Dr., Concord 03301. News
of interest to the disabilities community. 
Blind Parents' Newsletter, Committee on Parental Concerns,
Temporarily suspended because of insufficient subscribers. 
Carroll Center Focus, Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre
St., Newton MA 02158. Conventional print only. News of the
Center, reminiscences about the founder, Fr. Carroll, successes
of graduates in finding meaningful jobs. 
Catalogs
These are catalogs of useful tools or other items of special
interest to blind persons.
ù Easier Way, formerly Aids Unlimited, Ind.,1101 N. Calvert St.,
Suite 405, Baltimore MD 21202, conventional cassette & print,
semiannual with supplements in between. Besides the usual aids
and appliances this company sells a number of toys and novelties.
They are generous in providing cassette instructions for tricky
to operate items. The company has a number of blind persons
acting as local representatives and they will show at local
meetings and state conventions. 
ù Flag House, Inc., 150 N. MacQuenten Pkwy., Mt. Vernon NY 10550,
conventional print only. A massive, almost 200 page, catalog of
aids primarily for physically disabled children and adults,
includes many recreational devices such as swings that take
wheelchairs, bowling balls with retracting handles, swimming pool
accessories, velcro checkers, etc. Many items are aimed at
institutions. Most fascinating is 25 items to equip a Snoedelen
Room, which would give the person inside a mind-bending
psychedelic experience of sights, sounds, and smells. 
ù Humanware, 6245 King Rd., Loomis CA 95650, commercial cassette,
print, LP, & Braille. Computer access, DOS & Windows, and CCTVs.
The cassette catalog gives no prices but describes all the
products in a very entertaining manner. It is VERY funny! 
ù Independent Living Aids, 27 East mall, Plainview NY 11803-4404.
This company is importing and marketing, in addition to its
regular line, most of the products of the RNIB (Royal National
Institute for the Blind) in England. More popular items are kept
in stock but any item from the RNIB catalog can be ordered
through ILA. The current ILA/RNIB joint catalog contains more
games and amusements than I have seen in any other catalog.
However many prices are very high...Brailled Monopoly is $49.95,
Scrabble is $87.75, and a chess set for $121.20, but Brailled
dice are only $1.80 a pair. They also have a number of products
for the deaf-blind. 
ù Kuschel Business Systems, P O Box 486, Park Forest IL 60466,
regular or LP, commercial cassette, Braille, or IBM or Apple II
disk. You buy a gift folio for $15 to $750, each containing 20 to
40 items. The recipient of the folio sends in the gift
certificate for any item in the folio. There are 21 different
folios available, some with special intended recipients such as
for wedding gifts or baby showers. Apparently this is a service
of Amway which Kuschel has made accessible. Accessible catalogs
of the folios are $3, and if needed the folios can be had for
blind recipients in accessible format for $2. 
ù Ann Morris Enterprises, 890 Fams Ct., East Meadow NY
11554-5101, print, cassette, & IBM disk (Braille for $15). The
company has local reps who will show at local meetings and state
conventions. A fairly large catalog with several custom produced
items like tactile food scales and outdoor thermometers. Newest
catalog features an automatic pie-crust form which wastes no
dough and ties to replace buttons without sewing. 

ù Sense-Sations, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19107. Unusually
large selections of magnifiers and of Braille watches. Also
includes list of magazines available from Recorded Periodicals. 
ù Visaids, P O Box 26, 102-09 Jamaica Ave., Richmond Hill NY
11418, conventional print. A large catalog featuring the usual
assortment of braille and talking aids and appliances such as
watches, recorders, magnifiers, kitchen tools, etc., but also
items for the elderly like walkers with folding seats for resting
and walker baskets. Of special interest is a talking kitchen
scale which goes up to 5 kg (11 LB) in 5 g and half oz
increments. Many of the items are household aids that can be
found in a variety store but here gathered in one place. The
reader might not realize that such tools are available until she
or he sees it in a catalog such as this. 
Computer Folks, monthly cassette, $24/year ($2 sample) from
Richard Ring, 269 Terhune Ave., Passaic NJ 07055-3326. A breezy
personal magazine about adaptive technology. Discusses and
demonstrates various products to make personal computers
accessible, and mentions various vendors and special items of
interest they might be carrying, such as remaindered copies of
the Grolier Encyclopedia on CD for only $65. Excellent except for
the tutorial on binary & hex notation which limped. Everything
except the tutorial was narrated by the editor who has an
excellent, brisk, speaking style. 
Dialogue, quarterly, Brl, TB cassette, & LP, $25/year from
Blindskills Inc., P O Box 5181, Salem OR 97304-0181. Good general
magazine by blind people for blind people. Some issues feature a
section on a special topic like "The Revival of Braille," talking
book resources including foreign language books, and education of
children and "total inclusion." Many useful how-to pieces for the
newly blinded or old hand, tips on cooking, guide dog management,
parenting, commercial writing, etc. Excellent resourse lists of
other magazines and books. Many magazines are reviewed which I do
not get and so do not cover in this section. The resource list at
the end of the Winter, 1994, issue is outstanding and it alone is
worth the price of the magazine! 
Duxbury Newsletter, braille, Duxbury Systems, Inc., P O Box 1504,
Littleton MA 01460. News of Braille and computerized Braille
translating. 
DVS Guide, WGBH, 125 Western Ave., Boston MA 02134, quarterly,
Brl, commercial cassette, & LP. The April, 1994, issue has news
about research being done on how to describe programs for
children, and how this has already improved their output. New
additions to the DVS video tape library include the 9 part PBS
special on the Civil War. Because their Dept. of Education grant
was greatly reduced they had to cut back on the number of
programs described and to stop publishing this magazine at the
end of 1994. write for catalogs of described movies and
information on how to get current schedules of described
programming. 
FSD Newsletter, Foundation for Science and the Disabled (formerly
Handicapped), c/o E.C. Keller Jr., 236 Grand St., Morgantown WV
26505-7509, $25/year, conventional print only. They lost the
agency which put this on tape so I no longer read it regularly. 
Future Reflections, quarterly, conventional print & commercial
cassette, $8/year from the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children (name change from Parents of Blind Children
Division), 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore MD 21230. Excellent
information for parents and educators of blind children. The
Winter 1994 issue has an excellent series of pieces on the
deaf-blind child, the four categories of deaf-blindness, and
autobiographies. A special introductory issue in the form of a LP
book and on commercial cassette has been prepared and is
available free. 
Granite Bits, free, NH Library Services for the Blind &
Handicapped, Dalliff Building, 117 Pleasant St., Concord 03301.
Starting with Summer, 1994, available in LP, Braille, commercial
cassette, and down-loadable by Modem. News of the Talking Book
program in NH and other news of interest. They are very generous
about publicizing consumer events in NH. 
Granite State Independent Living Foundation Newsletter,
conventional print only, GSILF, 172 Pembroke Rd., Concord 03301.
Mostly of interest to mobility impaired but occasional items of
interest to blind persons.
Harness Up!, semiannual, TB cassette, $10/year from National
Association of guide Dog Users, c/o treasurer Priscilla Ferris,
140 Wood St., Somerset MA 02726. Solving problems of dog users
including relief, ownership, health. Also personal experiences
and interesting articles about dogs from various magazines. The
Fall-Winter '92 issue features a visit to a new school in Kansas.

Independence News, IBN, discontinued after one issue.
JOB Bulletin, free, Job Opportunities for the Blind, 1800 Johnson
St., Baltimore MD 21230, commercial Cassette. Articles from many
sources on how to look for a job, write a resume, prepare for an
interview, and the problems of the blind job applicant. Also
sample classified adds from around the country to give an idea of
what kinds of jobs are available. J.O.B. maintains a file of
resumes of blind applicants and a computerized listing of
openings, and notifies applicants of appropriate openings. 
Lamplighter, LP and TB cassette from Volunteers of Vacaville, P O
Box 670, Vacaville CA 95696. Newsletter from the book taping and
Perkins Brailler repair project at Vacaville medical prison.
Moving personal pieces by the inmates and reviews of new books in
their catalog. 
Legislative Update, weekly when NH State Legislature is in
session, conventional print & commercial cassette, from
Governor's Commission on Disabilities, 57 Regional Dr., Concord
03301. Weekly reports on all pending legislation of interest to
the disabilities community, hearings being held, committee
reports, and action. 
The Lion, monthly, TB Cassette from Recording for the Blind MAGL,
205 Badger Rd., Oak Ridge TN 37830. This and another branch of
RFB alternate making The Lion available to blind members. This
newsletter contains news of the organization intended for its
members. They have also recorded other materials for members,
such as officer duty manuals. 
Merchant's Messenger, LP, Blind Merchants, c/o Kevan Worley, 4770
Rusina Rd., #308, Colorodo Springs CO 80907. News of insurance,
business computer software, and other items of interest to the
blind businessman. 
Micro Materials Update, semiannual, TB cassette from American
Printing House for the Blind, P O Box 6085, Louisville KY
40206-0085. The Fall-Winter 1993 issue starts a department on
funding technology for clients. News of educational products from
APH and other sources. Good survey listings by type of client. 
NHESSI News, conventional print only, NH Educational Services for
the Sensorily Impaired, Dolliff Building, 117 Pleasant St.,
Concord NH 03301. News of interest to educators and parents of
blind, deaf, and deaf-blind children. Includes calendar of
events. 
The Orbit, brl, LP, & TB cassette, student newspaper of the
Hadley School for the Blind, 700 Elm St., Wenesca IL 60093. News
of new corespondence courses, a free raffle to celebrate the
school's 75th anniversary, and a list of what students completed
which courses. 
Perspectives, conventional print, Associated Services for the
Blind, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19107. Some general news
of interest to blind persons but mostly doings in the
Philadelphia area. 
Relay Today, quarterly, braille, conventional print, and LP, from
Telephone Relay c/o Sprint, P, O Box 7971, Shawnee Mission KS
66207. News and information for deaf and deaf-blind users of the
Telephone Relay Service, where operators will translate
back-and-forth between voice and teletypewriter devices. 
Report on Assistive Technology, conventional print and commercial
cassette from NH Assistive Technology Partnership Project, UNH
Institute on Disabilities, with NHESSI, NH Assistive Tech'y &
Equipment Center, & MICE, The Concord Center, Unit #14, Suite
307, 10 Ferry St., Concord 03301-5019. News of the sponsoring
agencies and other news on the dissemination of technology and
information about it in NH, especially as applied to education.
Used aids and appliances for all disabilities are listed in the
"Recycled Equipment Marketplace" column. A place to sell that
item you no longer use! One item listed in the Winter '94 issue
is a "racing wheelchair!" 
Slate & Style, $6/year from the NFB Writers' Division, Lorraine
Stayer, 2704 Beach Dr., Merrick NY 11566, bimonthly, LP, standard
cassette, & Braille. News of writers' workshops, fiction and
poetry contests, resources, and other items of interest or help
to beginning and established writers. I have a piece on writers'
contests and other opportunities in science fiction fandom in the
Winter 1994 issue. Seminar and annual meeting (with interesting
guest speakers) tapes available at nominal cost. The division has
published an anthology of member writings in all three media and
is considering a second volume. 
State Newsletters
NFB affiliates in most states produce magazines similar to the NH
Federationist. Their format, regular or large print, tape,
computer disk, and/or Braille depend on what facilities are
available to the affiliate. Many can be downloaded from the NFB
computer bulletin board. Most of these newsletters contain
material specific to the state of origin but most also have
material of general interest. Some of the state-specific items
are valuable in that they give ideas for projects that can be
copied elsewhere. 
ù Braille Spectator, NFB of MD, 9736 Basket Ring Rd., Columbia MD
21045, TB cassette & LP.
ù Buckeye Bulletin, quarterly, LP & cassette, NFB of OH, 237 Oak
St., Oberlin OH 44047-1517. Many articles of interest to readers
outside of OH. 
ù Gem State Milestones, NFB of ID, 1301 S. Capitol Blvd., Suite
C, Boise ID 83706, LP, Braille, & conventional cassette. 
ù NFBF Outreach, Dan Hicks, 4608 W. Longfellow Ave., Tampa FL
3362 9, cassette. Not just a newsletter but a magazine of general
interest!
ù Oregon Outlook, conventional print, Braille, & cassette from
NFB OR, 3988 Main St., Springfield OR 97478. 
ù Voice of the Rocky Mountain Blind, 2232 S. Broadway, Denver CO
80210, very LP only. Type is extremely clear and my wife found
this magazine extremely interesting. A vender got an assignment
to an Air Force base but it was going to take 15 months to get a
security clearance so he could start his job. By writing our Jim
Gashel and his congressmen he got the clearance in 6 weeks! Other
articles featured the summer school at the Colorado Center for
the Blind, humorous verse about the experiences of a rehab
student, and profiles of several members of NFB CO. Wish it were
on tape or computer disk. 
Staying in Touch, quarterly, Brl, $1/year from National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille, C. Edgar M. McDonald,
P O Box 727, Keyser WV 26726. Interesting news of interest to
braille users. 
Talk of the Town, Educational Tape Recording for the Blind, 3915
W. 103 St., Chicago IL 60655. Conventional print only, mostly
news of fund raising and volunteer help. 
Technology Update, regular & LP, commercial cassette, and IBM
disk, $30/year, Sensory Access Foundation, 385 Sherman Ave., Palo
Alto CA 94306. News and reviews of new high tech devices for the
blind and deaf-blind. The editors take a very realistic view of
what technology can and cannot do. 
Technical Innovations Bulletin, $15/year, commercial cassette,
6/year, from IRTI, 1411 W. El Camino Real, mountain View, CA
94040. Interviews with developers and users of new technology and
with blind persons who have made major achievements. There are
also articles about and ads for new pieces of blind technology
and consumer electronics which IRTI markets, many at a discount
to subscribers. 
Update, "Committee on Blind the Multihandicapped Child" of the
"Parents of Blind Children" Division, Coleen Roth, 1912 Tracy
Rd., Northwood OH 43619, LP. 
Versa-News, 3/year on MS DOS disk, Versa-Brl II disk, and in
print, $25/year from David Goldstein, 87 Sanford Ln., Stamford CT
06905. "Topics covered in Versa-News include product reviews,
education, tips from readers, and how-to articles on using
Braille displays to access such commercially available tools as
dictionaries, check writing programs, and information services.
Versa-News is privately published and covers Braille products
from all American manufacturers and several imported devices.
Started 12 years ago for Versa-Braille users, Versa-News remains
one of the few sources of support for teachers and others who may
have acquired these machines second-hand." 
Voice of the Diabetic, quarterly, regular print & TB cassette,
free from Ed Bryant, 811 Cherry St., Suite 309 (note NEW number),
Columbia MO 65201. Valuable medical and self-management
information for the diabetic which I enjoy reading even though I
am not diabetic. 
Xavier Review, bimonthly from XSB, 154 E 23 St., NY NY 10010,
brl, commercial cassette, & LP. News of the programs of the
Xavier Society for the Blind. The November, 1993, issue carries
the news that the Book of the Month plan is being discontinued,
and that readers are instead encouraged to borrow books from the
circulating library. This issue starts a regular listing of some
new books added to the library. It also has a regular "sharing"
department where news of new services is taken from readers or
other publications, including The NH Federationist. 
I try to review all magazines sent me but sometimes I get behind
and miss one. Send magazines for review to Ed Meskys, RR #2 Box
63, Center Harbor NH 03226-9708.