[Nebraska-senior-blind] The Braille Monitor - November 2014
clivingston4 at neb.rr.com
clivingston4 at neb.rr.com
Mon Nov 24 20:26:57 UTC 2014
Yes, Robert I am getting the Braille Monitor.
Cheryl
---- Robert Leslie Newman via Nebraska-senior-blind <nebraska-senior-blind at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi you all!
>
> RE: Are you getting the Braille Monitor? I need to know this. Pleas!!!
> (Write me back and tell me)
>
>
>
> Below this section is a copy of this month's Braille Monitor. For those of
> you who are newish to our division, and to the NFB, this is our monthly news
> magazine. It is one of the best ways to learn of news about blind people, or
> products that are blindness related, and/or what issues the NFB is involved
> in. If you are not signed up for it, please do so!!! If you need help
> getting signed up, write or call me and I'll help you. Note: signing up
> means that you start getting it, automatically each month; choices are
> either by email, hard-copy large print or by audio that comes on a USB thumb
> drive. There are other NFB publications that you can also sign up for. To
> learn more, or to sign up, go to the following link:
>
>
>
> https://nfb.org/publications
>
>
>
> **Here is this month's Braille Monitor:
>
> BRAILLE MONITOR
>
> Vol. 57, No. 10 November 2014
>
> Gary Wunder, Editor
>
>
>
>
>
> Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive
>
> (see reverse side) by the
>
>
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
>
>
> Mark Riccobono, President
>
>
>
>
>
> telephone: (410) 659-9314
>
> email address: nfb at nfb.org <mailto:nfb at nfb.org>
>
> website address: http://www.nfb.org
>
> NFBnet.org: http://www.nfbnet.org
>
> NFB-NEWSLINE. information: (866) 504-7300
>
> Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind
>
> Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice
>
> Watch and share our videos: YouTube.com/NationsBlind
>
>
>
>
>
> Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and
>
> orders for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles
>
> for the Monitor and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national
>
> office or may be emailed to gwunder at nfb.org <mailto:gwunder at nfb.org> .
>
>
>
>
>
> Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year.
>
> Members are invited, and nonmembers are requested, to cover the
>
> subscription cost. Donations should be made payable to National Federation
>
> of the Blind and sent to:
>
>
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
>
> Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998
>
>
>
> THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE
>
> CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE
>
> EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES
>
> BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT;
>
> BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
> IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND-IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR
>
> OURSELVES.
>
>
>
> ISSN 0006-8829
>
> ) 2014 by the National Federation of the Blind
>
> Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick
>
> or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a
>
> National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots-the
>
> familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and
>
> a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This
>
> smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad
>
> covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one
>
> position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again.
>
> (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive,
>
> the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is
>
> inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital
>
> materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges,
>
> when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.
>
> You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to
>
> your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb
>
> drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in
>
> order to stretch our funding. Please use the return label enclosed with the
>
> drive when you return the device.
>
>
>
>
>
> Vol. 57, No. 10 November 2014
>
>
>
> Contents
>
>
>
> Illustration: Pre-K at Play
>
>
>
> Heritage for the Blind Ads for Car Donations Raise BBB Concerns
>
>
>
> The Blind Gun Designer: The Genius of Mikhail Margolin
>
> by Greg Trapp
>
>
>
> Fred Gissoni Dies
>
> by Gary Wunder
>
>
>
> Fred Gissoni: A Man of Change
>
> by Larry Skutchan
>
>
>
> What is the Cost of a Free Product?
>
> by Tim Connell
>
>
>
> Improving Disability Employment: A Pathway to Success for Employers and
>
> Workers
>
> by Patricia Shiu
>
>
>
> Reflections of a White Cane Guy
>
> by David Cohen
>
>
>
> Bringing Our Animals to the Zoo
>
> by Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> NFB's iOS Resolution: Some Perspective and Context
>
> by Jonathan Mosen
>
>
>
> Advice to the Rookies from a Rookie
>
> by Jamie Allison
>
>
>
> Normal
>
> by Daniel B. Frye
>
>
>
> Coming to See the Unfairness of Paying Less than the Minimum Wage
>
> by Cindy Bennett
>
>
>
> Blindness Cured? And Thank You for It
>
> by Eric Woods
>
>
>
> Recipes
>
>
>
> Monitor Miniatures
>
>
>
>
>
> Pre-K at Play
>
>
>
> Each year schools in Baltimore take one day from their busy school year and
>
> send their youngest children out on the town to observe organizations doing
>
> good work in the community. Oriana Riccobono's teacher asked if the
>
> National Federation of the Blind would be willing to host her class. Of
>
> course the answer was yes and the children spent more than two hours
>
> learning about how blind people do things that the children are accustomed
>
> to doing with vision.
>
>
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: There are hula hoops on the ground in patterns that
>
> represent the shapes of Braille cells, and the Pre-K children are standing
>
> in the hoops to match the print letters shown on the papers inside them.
>
>
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Children have their hands and arms stuck through two holes
>
> cut in the middle of a presentation board, attempting to fill a cup with
>
> beans nonvisually.
>
>
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: A group of children "fishing" for paper fish in a kiddie
>
> pool.]
>
>
>
>
>
> Heritage for the Blind Ads for Car Donations Raise BBB Concerns
>
> BBB advises donors to consider alternatives to Heritage for the Blind for
>
> car donations
>
>
>
> From the Editor: For several years now members of the National Federation
>
> of the Blind have been hearing advertisements about Heritage for the Blind.
>
> Being familiar with most service providers and charities in work with the
>
> blind, many of us have called this organization, only to find those
>
> answering our calls to be quite vague about program offerings. Generally we
>
> are asked to leave a number and promised a callback. If we get one, we find
>
> that we are offered no specific services but instead are referred to other
>
> organizations, foremost among them the National Federation of the Blind.
>
> Our research suggests that Heritage for the Blind provides little if
>
> anything in the way of direct services, and it appears others share our
>
> concern about a charity that has so much money that it can afford to
>
> purchase commercial rates on the major radio networks, offer free vacations
>
> to its donors, and still purport to have money left over to provide
>
> services to blind people. Here is what the Better Business Bureau had to
>
> say about them on September 11, 2014, in a press release that ran on their
>
> website and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch <STLtoday.com>:
>
>
>
> Better Business Bureau (BBB) is advising motorists who are planning
>
> to donate vehicles to charity to consider alternatives to Heritage for the
>
> Blind, a national charity that has been soliciting car donations in the St.
>
> Louis area.
>
> The charity recently sent mailers to area residents asking for
>
> vehicle donations. The mailers urge recipients to "provide help for the
>
> visually impaired" by calling a toll-free number and arranging to donate
>
> their vehicles to the organization. The ads show a Heritage for the Blind
>
> truck towing a car and suggest that potential donors ask about a free three-
>
> day vacation voucher. BBB believes the ads have the capacity to mislead
>
> consumers. In addition, BBB also warns that the charity omits important
>
> information on its website and fails to adequately explain how it is
>
> spending its money.
>
> Charity officials have declined to respond to BBB requests for
>
> information. "BBB has tried to get Heritage for the Blind to open up about
>
> where its money is going without success," said Michelle Corey, BBB
>
> president and CEO. "This organization has said, basically, that it is too
>
> much trouble to respond. When a tax-exempt charity that solicits the public
>
> takes that position, it is a cause for concern."
>
> The nineteen-year-old, Brooklyn, New York-based charity raised $14
>
> million in the five years prior to January 2013, according to Form 990
>
> reports to the Internal Revenue Service. From January 1 to December 31,
>
> 2012, the most recent information available, the charity reported nearly
>
> $4.2 million in contributions. Almost all of the money came from its
>
> vehicle donation program. The IRS records show brothers Shrage and Steven
>
> Toiv, the charity's top-paid employees, received salaries of $135,000 each
>
> that year.
>
> Heritage for the Blind has not responded to requests for information
>
> from BBB's Wise Giving Alliance. As a result BBB has been unable to
>
> determine whether the charity meets BBB's Standards for Charity
>
> Accountability. Charity participation in a review is voluntary, but BBB
>
> encourages participation to demonstrate transparency and strengthen public
>
> trust. The charity also declined to discuss its operations in an email to
>
> St. Louis BBB, saying, in part: "Heritage for the Blind is in full
>
> compliance with all statutes and regulations of every state in the nation,
>
> as well as those of the Internal Revenue Service, and is current with all
>
> required filings. However, as much as we may like to, Heritage for the
>
> Blind simply does not have the resources to respond to every detailed
>
> request we may receive from non-governmental groups and organizations."
>
> In its 990 IRS report and information on its website, Heritage for
>
> the Blind says it produces and distributes large-print and Braille
>
> religious and non-religious publications, operates a phone referral and
>
> support program, offers educational information to consumers, and provides
>
> a medical alert service called "Freedom Carephone." However, it has
>
> declined to release any details on how much money is going to each program
>
> and who it is serving. Specific BBB concerns include:
>
>
>
> . Potentially misleading advertising. The charity's mailers and
>
> other promotional literature asking for car donations refer to a "free
>
> three-day vacation voucher," "free vacation vouchers," and a "free
>
> vacation" for those donating vehicles. However, the company that is
>
> partnering with Heritage for the Blind to provide the vouchers says,
>
> "there are fees associated with this offer, so obviously this is not a
>
> 'free' trip. Our offers generally are 70 to 90 percent off the going
>
> retail rate."
>
> . Omission of important information on the charity's website.
>
> Based on reports to the IRS, one of the charity's programs involves
>
> the production of large-print publications. It appears that most of
>
> those publications are religious materials distributed to the Jewish
>
> nonprofit group, Jewish Heritage for the Blind. That information is
>
> not included on the charity's website.
>
> . Donations to a family member's nonprofit organization. In its
>
> most recent 990 report, Heritage for the Blind reports that it donated
>
> $110,000 in large-type religious publications to Jewish Heritage for
>
> the Blind. The disclosure notes a family relationship between the two
>
> groups, but does not detail the relationship. Rabbi David Toiv is
>
> listed as director of Jewish Heritage for the Blind. Neither Jewish
>
> Heritage for the Blind nor Heritage for the Blind has responded to BBB
>
> requests for information.
>
> . Heritage for the Blind's business relationship with the
>
> medical alert company Freedom Phone, a business owned by Shrage Toiv.
>
> While the exact nature of the relationship is unclear, Heritage for
>
> the Blind notes that it provides "Freedom Carephone services for those
>
> in need." Freedom Phone is owned by Shrage Toiv, and it is unclear
>
> whether Freedom Phone donates the medical devices or sells them to the
>
> charity.
>
>
>
> Heritage for the Blind's IRS 990 report for 2012 says that the
>
> charity spent nearly $3.9 million that year, with $1.8 million allocated to
>
> fundraising, and $1.7 million allocated to program services. But BBB says
>
> Heritage for the Blind has repeatedly declined to detail its program
>
> service expenditures. Carole Bellman, St. Louis BBB's director of charity
>
> review, said the charity's refusal to break down where its money is going
>
> means that donors are left to wonder how the money is being spent. "For
>
> people to be able to trust a charity, they have to know how their money is
>
> being used," she said. "Any charity that keeps that information secret is
>
> doing a disservice to itself and donors."
>
> A BBB employee phoned the charity requesting assistance for a sight-
>
> impaired relative. A charity representative told her that it could help her
>
> access a variety of services, including books for the sight-impaired, help
>
> with technology, monetary grants, and a folding white cane. The charity
>
> then sent a packet of information that included two "talking alarm" key
>
> chains (wholesale cost $2 to $6), a plastic "vision simulator card"
>
> (distributed by the Ohio Optometric Association), a Braille alphabet card
>
> (produced by American Foundation for the Blind), and a listing of St. Louis
>
> area organizations that assist the blind and visually impaired.
>
> In June 2010 New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced that
>
> Heritage for the Blind was among sixteen charities, fundraisers, and
>
> individuals subpoenaed as part of what he called a wide-ranging
>
> investigation of the charitable car donation industry. An official with the
>
> attorney general's office said last week that he is "not aware of anything
>
> current in regards to Heritage for the Blind."
>
> National Federation of the Blind is a seventy-three-year-old national
>
> nonprofit that works as an advocate for the blind. Its past president, Marc
>
> Maurer, said he had worked with several staff members of his organization
>
> trying to research Heritage for the Blind. "We have been trying to track
>
> down what they do, with no success," he said. He said researchers who
>
> called the organization for help often were referred to the National
>
> Federation of the Blind.
>
> In October 2012 the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota
>
> asked that Heritage for the Blind stop fundraising in that state until it
>
> registers with the Minnesota attorney general's office and "demonstrates .
>
> . . that it actually provides useful services to blind Minnesotans." It
>
> also called on media outlets to cease carrying the charity's advertisements
>
> until it met those conditions.
>
> BBB has these tips to consumers considering donating a vehicle to
>
> charity:
>
> . Research the charity, making sure it is tax-exempt and asking what
>
> programs will be supported by your donation. The charity should be able to
>
> provide detailed information about the charity's operations. Tax-exempt
>
> charities have an ethical obligation to be transparent with the public.
>
> . Find out how the charity benefits financially from the resale of the
>
> car.
>
> . For tax records take a photo of the car and keep copies of current
>
> classified ads or guide value estimates for similar vehicles. (For more
>
> deductibility information, get a copy of IRS Publication 561, "Determining
>
> the Value of Donated Property.")
>
> . Understand deductibility details. Most cars donated to charity are
>
> sold at auction, and the donor's tax deduction is limited to the gross
>
> proceeds from the sale. The charity must provide that amount to the donor
>
> in writing. Donors can claim the car's full fair market value only in
>
> certain conditions, such as when a charity uses a car in its program or
>
> gives it to needy individuals.
>
> . Check IRS guidelines in A Donor's Guide to Car Donations
>
> (Publication 4303), at <www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4303.pdf
> <http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4303.pdf> >. If you are
>
> claiming a car donation of over $500, you will need to complete and attach
>
> IRS Form 8283 to your tax return. If the car is worth more than $5,000, you
>
> will need a written professional appraisal.
>
> . Transfer the car's title to the charity's name and keep a copy of
>
> this record. The title change will help you avoid potential problems if the
>
> car is somehow parked illegally by the organization or is involved in an
>
> accident or other mishap before the charity sells it.
>
> . Check out a charity by going to <www.bbb.org <http://www.bbb.org> >
> or call (314) 645-
>
> 3300.
>
>
>
> The BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and
>
> upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. All BBB
>
> services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice,
>
> free BBB business reviews on more than four million businesses, 11,000
>
> charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational
>
> information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit
>
> <www.bbb.org <http://www.bbb.org> > for more information.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Greg Trapp fires a C96 Mauser Broomhandle.]
>
> The Blind Gun Designer: The Genius of Mikhail Margolin
>
> by Greg Trapp
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Greg Trapp is the executive director of the New Mexico
>
> Commission for the Blind, a position he has held since 1999. Prior to
>
> becoming commission director, he was a senior staff attorney with
>
> Disability Rights New Mexico. He has taught disability law as an adjunct
>
> professor, and he is a past president of the National Council of State
>
> Agencies for the Blind. He is also a longtime member of the National
>
> Federation of the Blind. Here is what he has to say about a blind person
>
> who succeeded in a field many would consider unlikely-he found success as a
>
> gun designer.
>
>
>
> The question of blind people and guns continues to be hotly debated.
>
> On August 4, 2014, a video commentary was posted on NRA News in which the
>
> commentator said, "Every law-abiding, blind individual should be able to
>
> have whatever guns they want." The commentator was Dom Raso, a defense
>
> instructor and former Navy Seal. The video was ridiculed by Shannon Watts,
>
> the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. Apparently unfamiliar with
>
> the NFB's Blind Driver Challenge, not to mention bioptic driving, she
>
> sarcastically asked, "Should we let blind people drive, too?"
>
> The attitude of the general public toward the blind was further
>
> demonstrated when the Huffington Post responded to the commentary by
>
> conducting a survey asking if it "should be legal for the blind to own
>
> guns." Only 23 percent of respondents said it should be legal for the blind
>
> to own a gun, while 51 percent said it should be illegal, while the rest
>
> were not sure. The results of the survey may have been different if the
>
> people surveyed had been told about and shown the alternative techniques
>
> used by blind shooters or about blind people who successfully engage in
>
> activities related to firearms. They could have been told about Carey
>
> McWilliams, a blind hunter and author of Guide Dogs and Guns. They could
>
> also have been told about Jim Miekka, a blind stock trader and inventor,
>
> who can accurately fire a rifle with a photodiode scope he invented. Had
>
> they Googled "world's best target shooter," the first result they would
>
> have found was for Miekka, and they would have learned that he can hit a
>
> 4mm target at 100 yards. They could also have been told about Mikhail
>
> Margolin, the remarkable blind Russian gun designer who successfully worked
>
> during a career that started in the reign of Joseph Stalin and continued
>
> into the rule of Leonid Brezhnev. This article examines the life and
>
> contributions of this brilliant Soviet gun designer.
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: The Margolin MCM target pistol]
>
> [PHOTO/DESCRIPTION: The semi-automatic handgun has a long and thin barrel,
>
> with a high front sight at the end of the barrel. The equally high rear
>
> sight is mounted on a stationary bridge through which the slide passes as
>
> it ejects the fired cartridge case. Though strange in appearance, the high
>
> sights were largely responsible for the accuracy of the pistol.]
>
> Mikhail Vladimirovich Margolin designed several successful firearms,
>
> but he is today best remembered for the revolutionary MCM .22 caliber
>
> target pistol. The pistol was first made in 1948, and variations of it are
>
> still being made today. It was called the Margolina tselevoy, or the target
>
> pistol by Margolin. The pistol was designed for use in the highly
>
> competitive field of twenty-five meter target shooting. A modified version
>
> of the pistol was also used as a prop in one of the most memorable scenes
>
> in the original Star Wars movie. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the
>
> rebel star ship carrying Princess Leia had just been captured and boarded
>
> by Darth Vader. The beautiful Princess Leia is shown hiding the plans of
>
> the Death Star in R2-D2. Afterwards she is in action, and in her hand is a
>
> blaster that she uses to down one of the storm troopers. The blaster was
>
> actually a modified version of the unusually-shaped Margolin MCM target
>
> pistol. The Margolin thus joined the famous C96 Mauser Broomhandle, which
>
> was the basis of Han Solo's blaster, as a prop in one of the most famous
>
> movies of all time.
>
> Margolin was born in the early 1900s, a time of rapid progress in
>
> science and technology. Many revolutionary new firearms were being
>
> designed, primarily in the United States and Germany. These revolutionary
>
> designs were made possible by advances in metallurgy and the perfection of
>
> smokeless powder. Smokeless powder burned cleaner and was more powerful
>
> than black powder, making it possible to design reliable semi-automatic and
>
> fully automatic firearms. The preeminent gun designer of the age was the
>
> American John M. Browning, who designed firearms that were so advanced that
>
> some of his designs are still used by the United States military. Unlike
>
> the United States, Imperial Russia had long struggled to expand the
>
> capacity of its domestic small arms industry, and its arms designs had
>
> lagged behind those of its foes. After the start of the First World War,
>
> Russia found itself short of its 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles, forcing Tsar
>
> Nicholas II to order 2.3 million rifles from the United States. The
>
> shortage was so critical that many Russian soldiers were sent to the front
>
> with orders to get their rifles from fallen soldiers. Desperate for arms,
>
> Russia pulled its obsolete single-shot 1870 Berdan rifles from storage and
>
> issued them to soldiers headed to the front. In addition to the ancient
>
> Berdan rifle, Russian soldiers were issued a bewildering variety of modern
>
> and obsolete firearms. These firearms continued to be used in the Russian
>
> Civil War, which took place from 1917 to 1922. The C96 Mauser Broomhandle
>
> was one of the firearms used during the Russian Civil War. Called the
>
> Broomhandle because of its unusual grip, it was the favorite gun of the
>
> Bolshevik Commissars. Margolin was a soldier during the Civil War, and it
>
> was as a result of this military service that he gained a familiarity with
>
> this vast variety of weapons. It was also during the Russian Civil War that
>
> Margolin sustained a head wound and lost his vision.
>
> Margolin's response to becoming blind was described by Victor
>
> Maryanovsky in a 1958 issue of GUNS Magazine: "First came the study of
>
> Braille. Friends helped him to study mathematics, mechanics, and strength
>
> of materials, all essential subjects for the arms designer. His wife read
>
> aloud to him from textbooks and books on the history of firearms. He
>
> collected guns and enlarged his knowledge of various weapons systems. Most
>
> important was his splendid memory: within a few years he was a match for
>
> any engineer. As for firearms, there was no disputing his superior
>
> knowledge. He got acquainted with the latest models of weapons and took
>
> them apart dozens of times in order to let his sense of touch give rise in
>
> his mind to a mental picture."
>
> Despite his great knowledge and enthusiasm, Margolin did not meet
>
> with initial success as a gun designer. He had difficulty communicating his
>
> designs, which he tried to do by hand motions. Ironically, it was this
>
> failure that led to his success. According to Maryanovsky, "Unable to draw
>
> the gun parts on paper, he had to explain his ideas by gestures. A solution
>
> to Margolin's deep personal problem of communicating by his hands was found
>
> unexpectedly, at a sanatorium where the striving inventor had gone,
>
> depressed, to rest. He was bored by idleness. 'Suppose you try clay
>
> modeling, that may be interesting,' suggested his roommate." That simple
>
> suggestion transformed Margolin from a depressed patient into a successful
>
> gun designer.
>
> Margolin went on to use more durable and harder forms of clay as well
>
> as aluminum and wood to create models of the guns that he had envisioned in
>
> his head. This led to his first successful designs in the 1930s, a semi-
>
> automatic sporting rifle and a fully automatic .22 machine gun for use in
>
> military training. Maryanovsky describes it as follows: "As a result a day
>
> came to Margolin of great honor, one which the most highly skilled gunsmith
>
> could be proud of. The blind man was invited to work at designing offices
>
> in the big government small arms factory at Tula."
>
> At Tula Margolin studied with some of Russia's greatest gun
>
> designers. One of those was Fedor Tokarev, the designer of the Tokarev TT-
>
> 33 pistol. The TT-33 was intended to replace the aging 1895 Nagant
>
> revolver. Margolin designed a modified version of Tokarev's TT-33 pistol
>
> that enabled it to fire lower power cartridges and be used as a training
>
> pistol. Margolin also worked on a .22 sport pistol that was based on the TT-
>
> 33 frame. The pistol was approved for production on June 21, 1941. However,
>
> the pistol was never produced. On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded Russia,
>
> bringing the Soviet Union into the Second World War.
>
> During the war Margolin worked as an ordinance engineer and served as
>
> an air raid warden. Describing a German bombing raid on Moscow, Maryanovsky
>
> wrote that, while on duty on the roof of one of Moscow's big buildings,
>
> Margolin picked up a fallen German incendiary bomb and threw it from the
>
> roof to the street, where it burned harmlessly. Writing of another incident
>
> during the war, Maryanovsky wrote Margolin went "in the ruins of a lodging
>
> house demolished by bombs" and "lead 120 old people, women, and children to
>
> safety."
>
> When the war was over, Margolin abandoned the pistol design he had
>
> worked on before the war and instead designed what would become the
>
> Margolin MCM. The gun was designed between 1946 and 1948, and the first
>
> pistols were built in 1948.
>
> The new Margolin MCM gained international attention in 1954, when it
>
> was used at the 36th World Championship shooting competition in Caracas,
>
> Venezuela. Describing the Russian team as they were about to compete,
>
> Maryanovsky wrote, "They could not boast of great achievements in pistol
>
> competition; they had nothing to match the German Walther or the American
>
> Colt for rapid-fire shooting. Then Nikolai Kalinichenko took his place at
>
> the firing line. The first shot scored, and the next . . . In two days of
>
> shooting, sixty shots, Kalinichenko scored 584 points, beating the world
>
> record set by Benner, the American. The team record was carried off by
>
> Soviet marksmen, who scored 2,317 using the new pistol of Mikhail
>
> Margolin."
>
> The world record success of Margolin's pistol was due to the use of
>
> several revolutionary design features. The gun was designed so that balance
>
> weights could be attached to steady the pistol during firing. The pistol
>
> could also be equipped with a muzzle brake to reduce the tendency of the
>
> gun barrel to rise during shooting, a movement called muzzle climb. The
>
> muzzle brake is at the end of the barrel, and it directs some of the
>
> expanding gas upward and to the rear, which helps counteract the muzzle
>
> climb. Margolin also designed a version of his MCM with an aluminum slide.
>
> The slide is the part of a semi-automatic pistol that moves backward and
>
> forward with each shot, ejecting the empty bullet case as it goes backward,
>
> and chambering the new bullet as it travels forward. The lighter slide
>
> helped the shooter hold the gun steady during firing.
>
> Margolin also designed the sights to improve accuracy. He placed the
>
> rear sight on the frame, creating a bridge through which the slide passed.
>
> Margolin's design was very different from traditional pistols in which the
>
> sights were mounted on the slide. Mounting the sights on the slide reduces
>
> accuracy, since the slide is a moving part that could be slightly out of
>
> alignment with the barrel. By placing the rear sight on a stationary bridge
>
> above the slide, Margolin greatly improved the accuracy of his pistol.
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: The 1895 Nagant revolver]
>
> [PHOTO/DESCRIPTION: This unusual handgun was used extensively by the
>
> Russian military during World Wars I and II. The revolver's most
>
> distinctive feature is the seven-shot cylinder. The flutes between each
>
> chamber do not extend to the end of the cylinder, but are instead hollowed
>
> out depressions in the middle of the cylinder. The cylinder also moves
>
> forward when the gun is cocked, sealing the gap between the cylinder and
>
> the barrel. This keeps high-pressure gases from escaping, and increases the
>
> velocity of the fired bullet. The unique design of the cylinder contributes
>
> to the strange overall appearance of the revolver.]
>
> The innovative design features of the Margolin created a very
>
> unusually-shaped pistol, including the abnormally high sights. This unusual
>
> shape is likely responsible for some of the comments that attribute the
>
> appearance to the designer being blind. However, Margolin's design should
>
> be judged in the light of its Russian contemporaries, and most Russian guns
>
> of the time tended to be unattractive and even strange looking by American
>
> standards. For instance, the Margolin would look right at home if it was
>
> placed next to the 1895 Nagant revolver or the PPS-43 submachine gun or the
>
> 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle. One of the comments that attributes a design
>
> feature to Margolin's blindness can be found on the Wikipedia page that
>
> describes the Margolin MCM, which states:
>
> "The designer himself was blind. The most critisized [sic]
>
> characteristic-the elevation of the plane of sight-so also [sic] be
>
> explained: the designer could not aim his pistol."
>
> Besides being a poor speller and not including a citation, the person
>
> who made this entry is not recognizing that the criticized "plane of sight"
>
> is actually a deliberate design feature that contributed to the success of
>
> the pistol. In addition to the bridge that made the rear sight stationary,
>
> the unusually high sights enabled the shooter to hold the pistol a little
>
> lower and bring the barrel more in line with the shoulder. This gave the
>
> shooter a slightly improved ability to control the pistol in rapid fire
>
> competition. The high line of sight is a design feature that the Margolin
>
> had in common with the AK-47, the famous assault rifle designed by Mikhail
>
> Kalashnikov. The AK-47 was designed between 1946 and 1948, the same time as
>
> the Margolin MCM. Just like the Margolin, the high sights of the AK-47
>
> lowered the barrel and put it more in line with the shoulder, helping to
>
> reduce muzzle climb.
>
> Margolin's willingness to alter the barrel height to compensate for
>
> the problems of muzzle climb was further demonstrated in the design of his
>
> next pistol, the even more revolutionary "upside-down" pistol. According to
>
> Maryanovsky, "The pistol which emerged was radically different from any
>
> firearm ever before designed in the world. Called the MTsZ-1, the five-shot
>
> competition 3.1 is built with the slide and barrel below the hand, the
>
> magazine feeding inverted from above. This caused the 'kick' of the gun to
>
> strike downward, aiding rapid fire control." The pistol was used by Soviet
>
> shooters at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. After the Olympics,
>
> rules were issued that banned the MTsZ-1 pistol. There were only about 125
>
> upside-down pistols made, and it remains one of the most fascinating and
>
> unusual guns ever designed.
>
> Mikhail Margolin was a brilliant gun designer who just happened to be
>
> blind. It is ironic that Margolin was able to achieve such great success as
>
> a blind gun designer in the Soviet Union, and yet today many voices are
>
> being raised in the United States that question the ability and right of
>
> blind persons to handle and even own guns. The remarkable career of Mikhail
>
> Margolin illustrates the point that blind people can successfully work in a
>
> wide range of professions that many might not think possible, including as
>
> scientists, medical doctors, nurses, chiropractors, mechanics, and yes,
>
> even as gun designers.
>
>
>
> References
>
> Cherry, P. (2011, February 3). MC-3: The first upside down gun, American
>
> Rifleman, <http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/mc-3-first-upside-down-
>
> gun>
>
>
>
> Maryanovsky, V. (1958, September). The man to beat in Moscow, Guns
>
> Magazine, <http://toyfj40.freeshell.org/GunPix/Margolin.html>
>
>
>
> MCM pistol. (2014, January 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
>
> Retrieved 03:57, September 2, 2014, from
>
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MCM_pistol
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MCM_pistol&oldid=591688449>
> &oldid=591688449>
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Fred Gissoni]
>
> Fred Gissoni Dies
>
> by Gary Wunder
>
>
>
> Before the time of Braille and speech notetakers, blind people who
>
> used Braille wrote their first draft on a Perkins Brailler, their second
>
> draft on the same machine, and then, when they had the document as perfect
>
> as they could envision it, they set themselves to typing that Brailled
>
> document in print so their sighted instructor could read it. If the phone
>
> rang while you were typing and you stopped to answer it, you had to
>
> remember where you stopped typing: was it before or after the comma, did
>
> you space after it, and how could you know for sure without asking Mom,
>
> Dad, Sister, or Brother for help-help you would sometimes have to pay for
>
> from siblings intent on supplementing their spending money.
>
> When people of that day thought of science fiction and how there
>
> could be a useful invention for the blind, we envisioned a machine that
>
> would let us type a document in Braille and have it magically turned into
>
> print. Never in our wildest imaginings did we think this might somehow
>
> involve a computer, and the concept of a word processor had no meaning for
>
> us.
>
> Sometime during the early 1980s we began hearing about devices that
>
> had Perkins-style keyboards and could produce refreshable Braille (a new
>
> concept at the time), and the buzz was that these machines could be plugged
>
> into computer printers to generate printed documents from works created in
>
> grade two Braille. Prototypes were being built by the Kentucky Department
>
> for the Blind, and the word on the street was that two blind men were at
>
> the center of these inventions-Tim Cranmer and Fred Gissoni.
>
> Deane Blazie, the inventor of the spectacularly popular Braille 'n
>
> Speak, recalls visiting with Fred and Tim to examine a machine they had
>
> constructed using a VHS cartridge for its case. He recalls that the machine
>
> was called a PortaBraille and that it could keep a document in memory only
>
> as long as it remained turned on. Their meeting was to discuss how to use
>
> this Perkins-style Braille keyboard to do document navigation, and the
>
> design that evolved out of their two-hour meeting is so much a part of
>
> every Braille notetaker that we take it for granted in the same way we
>
> expect the arrow keys on the keyboard to react in moving a cursor on a
>
> computer screen.
>
> In writing this tribute, it occurred to me that what was missing was
>
> personal knowledge of Fred. A recurrent theme in interviews I did spoke to
>
> Fred's sense of humor and his friendship with Tim Cranmer. I was told that
>
> one evening Fred and Tim were at a banquet together and that Fred
>
> unexpectedly rose, struck his cup with a spoon until the room was silent,
>
> and then said that he would like to introduce an unscheduled presentation.
>
> The story is that he announced the topic, specified its length in the
>
> evening's agenda, and then, without warning, introduced Tim Cranmer as the
>
> presenter. I was led to believe that Tim took the podium and delivered his
>
> speech. The audience was never aware of the joke Fred had played on them
>
> and on his friend Tim.
>
> My interview with Deane Blazie was immensely helpful, but he
>
> suggested I talk with others who also had a warm friendship with Fred.
>
> Knowing and admiring Larry Skutchan, I called to interview him, but he gave
>
> me much more than an interview. He said that, if I could give him a couple
>
> of weeks, he'd be delighted to write a tribute. I argued that I needed
>
> something in four days. He gave me a draft in two, sent a revised draft in
>
> two more with a request that I give him another day or so, and sent his
>
> final revision one week to the day after we talked. I hope you will agree
>
> it was worth the wait, and I want to thank Larry publicly for an
>
> outstanding piece. It is a wonderful tribute to Fred, an interesting
>
> insight into the work that goes on at the American Printing House for the
>
> Blind, a tremendous review of some of the history surrounding problem-
>
> solving strategies for the blind, and a moving glimpse into the heart and
>
> mind of a really good man who took the time to put down the words that
>
> appear in the following article.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Larry Skutchan]
>
> Fred Gissoni: A Man of Change
>
> by Larry Skutchan
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Larry Skutchan graduated from the University of Arkansas
>
> at Little Rock and holds the position of product manager for the Technology
>
> Product Research Department at the American Printing House for the Blind
>
> (APH). There he manages a team of engineers devoted to accessible
>
> technology. He is well-known in technology circles for creating the
>
> Automatic Screen Access Program (ASAP) screen reader and for initiating one
>
> of the first podcasts devoted to issues of interest to the blind--the Blind
>
> Cool Tech podcast. Here is what he has to say about his mentor, his friend,
>
> and one of the most inspiring people to have touched his life:
>
>
>
> There are very few times in a person's life when another person can
>
> change it profoundly in a positive way. Fred Gissoni affected the lives of
>
> countless people, but his pioneering work is appreciated most by people who
>
> are blind. As a young, inquisitive man who had been blind for only a few
>
> years, I benefited immensely from his innovations, just as the thousands of
>
> other individuals with vision impairment did; but Fred affected my life in
>
> a much more personal way.
>
> After graduating from college in the early 80s, I began exploring the
>
> capabilities of the personal computer (PC)-called a microcomputer back in
>
> those days. I had a degree in English and planned to attend law school, so
>
> you can imagine the pure excitement I experienced at using a tool that
>
> allowed me to read and edit papers on my own. Believe it or not, a blind
>
> student either paid someone to type or got very good at it. There was no
>
> room for mistakes. On the typewriter there was a backspace, but it did not
>
> erase what you had wrongly typed, and the concept of inserting a paragraph
>
> in the middle of a document was a dream, not a function. The efficiency of
>
> a PC seems so simple and expected today, but in the early 80s it was a
>
> liberating, exciting, and enlightening sensation to be able to organize and
>
> manipulate thoughts and ideas so simply.
>
> As I explored the landscape of accessible computers, I realized I had
>
> accidentally made some pretty cool tools that others could use and began
>
> looking for ways to spread the word. Back in Kentucky, Fred, Wayne
>
> Thompson, and Tim Cranmer (and Tim's assistant, Deane Blazie) were already
>
> applying simple, practical solutions to obstacles for people who were
>
> blind. These guys comprised the technical unit at the Kentucky Office for
>
> the Blind (OFB). Tim had adapted the ancient and effective abacus for
>
> efficient use by those without sight, and Fred spread the word. It was a
>
> simple solution to a real problem, and one wonders why someone did not
>
> think of it before. That could be said about nearly everything Fred and his
>
> team invented, innovated, or adapted. Fred's wife Betty was teaching living
>
> skills and wanted a way to pour a liquid into a cup with precision. So the
>
> technical unit invented the Say When. The device beeped when the liquid
>
> level reached the sensor. Even the name evokes a smile and fond memory of
>
> his humor and wit.
>
> Later, Fred, Wayne, and Tim put together commercial parts to make
>
> something called the Kentucky Light Sensor, a device that blind people have
>
> used for everything from determining a burning light in their house to
>
> identifying an incoming call on a switchboard. I have and use one to this
>
> day, and it is still sold in the NFB Independence Market. None of these
>
> innovations seem very dramatic, but they all exemplify the ability to match
>
> ideas with components to create logical, sometimes technological solutions
>
> to real problems.
>
> I really don't remember in which magazine I first advertised the
>
> Words program, but, regardless of which it was, Fred ordered the very first
>
> one. The technical unit at OFB also used technology to find jobs for
>
> Kentucky citizens who were blind or visually impaired. Their purchase of
>
> Words was a solution to a problem, and, along with an Apple computer and a
>
> speech synthesizer, it made an excellent tool for medical transcribers
>
> throughout the state. Fred and Wayne conveyed the transcriber needs to me,
>
> and I would bang them into the software with ease. Most memorable were the
>
> phone conversations about interfaces and ideas on effectively applying this
>
> new microcomputer technology. It was very exciting stuff. We were crazy
>
> with ideas. Before we knew it, the word processing software navigated and
>
> spoke by sentences rather than the arbitrary and useless restriction of
>
> screen lines. I still look forward to the day when all screen readers
>
> support that feature.
>
> These are the kinds of conversations Fred and I had. We calculated
>
> and laughed at the number of minutes in a day, or hours in a month, or
>
> years in a life that got wasted by redundant and inefficient user
>
> interfaces, especially on things like email, where you might have to listen
>
> to the word "subject" before every subject line. Our conversations led to
>
> features in the ASAP that analyzed the context of the active screen area
>
> and spoke only the differences. It was an amazing experience that made
>
> interaction with the PC dynamic and productive. Discussions in later years
>
> focused on how to cut through the web clutter and get the right information
>
> delivered in the right order and at the right time. We have no illusion
>
> that we have accomplished that one yet.
>
> Meanwhile, the APH also saw the possibilities of this revolution in
>
> technology and began looking for someone to guide it in software design.
>
> Naturally, as the best source for information, they consulted Fred, and he
>
> recommended me. I was still interested in law, but programming seemed much
>
> more fun and practical. I fell in love with the idea of what APH was about,
>
> and they seemed interested in what I could do. Thanks to Fred, I accepted a
>
> job offer as a systems programmer in 1985 at APH and began working on
>
> educational software for the Apple.
>
> Perhaps one of the more complex of Fred and Wayne's projects was the
>
> design of a talking tablet (called a personal data assistant back in the
>
> day). The Kentucky PocketBraille had a Perkins-style Braille keyboard and a
>
> speech synthesizer. It also had the audio, electronics, and software to
>
> allow one to type in Braille and use synthesized speech for navigation
>
> through the document and user interface. They paired the concept with a
>
> refreshable Braille display-the Tiflatel from Italy-to make what was
>
> possibly the very first Braille notetaker. Since these designs were all
>
> conceived as part of their work at OFB, they made the designs public
>
> property, making this one of the earlier examples of open-source software.
>
> Every note-taking device available today borrows elements from the Kentucky
>
> PocketBraille.
>
> I accepted the position at APH and moved my family to the Silicon
>
> Valley of universal design, right in the middle of a beautiful city on its
>
> rise to a metropolis. As an acquaintance from Houston described it,
>
> Louisville is the smallest big city. At the same time it is the biggest
>
> small town. I believe its diversity may have played a hand in how APH came
>
> to be established, serving the regional needs of blind students even before
>
> the federal government recognized it as a national institution in 1879.
>
> That is probably how Tim Cranmer and Fred Gissoni began directing technical
>
> developments at the Department for the Blind.
>
> Fred and Betty welcomed us as family. We spent more than a few nights
>
> in front of the computer, playing Eamon on the Apple II. It was quite
>
> interesting. Fred and Betty were the kind of people who helped everyone.
>
> Betty's guide dog Ozzie had a built-in tiled water bowl in the kitchen:
>
> just another example of their kindness and tendency to adopt unique
>
> solutions to solve problems.
>
> Pamela Rader, an APH customer support representative, told me she
>
> first met Fred on the sidewalk outside APH when she began attending the
>
> Kentucky School for the Blind. He coaxed out her interest in broadcasting
>
> and audio engineering.
>
> I never appreciated the depth of Fred's personality and talent until
>
> he came to work at APH as a customer service representative after retiring
>
> from OFB. He loved talking people through the technical problems they
>
> encountered in trying to unleash the magic of their technology. He was not
>
> afraid to talk you down when you got too emotional, and he told us
>
> programmers what he thought, too; it was usually right on target. If he
>
> didn't know something, he knew how to find the answer. Fred's genius
>
> extended beyond the innovation phase of an idea; he knew how to explain new
>
> concepts that made it easy to understand, and his generosity extended to
>
> spending his time to help.
>
> If you perform a search of his name online, you will see countless
>
> examples of innovations and solutions he provided. Thousands of teachers
>
> and students still appreciate his every word, through clearly written or
>
> recorded instructions on dozens of processes and products. I do not think
>
> anyone can know the extent of Fred's influence in the advancement of both
>
> simple and technical solutions to meet the needs of blind people. I loved
>
> to solve problems with him. The solutions were always so simple. For
>
> example, we both delighted in the technique of knowing when to empty the
>
> dishwasher; always put a new tablet in the dishwasher after you've put the
>
> clean dishes away. If the tablet is gone, the dishes are clean; it's that
>
> simple. It was the simple, elemental ideas-the "that is so obvious" ideas-
>
> that pay tribute to innovators like Fred; and he had thousands of them.
>
> Perhaps the most endearing characteristic of his personality was the
>
> enthusiasm and enjoyment Fred brought to every aspect of his life. I am
>
> sure it is online somewhere, but Fred and Wayne wrote a whimsical article
>
> that described an innovation that let the user shake Braille dots onto a
>
> page from a salt shaker. Of course it was fanciful, but it displays the
>
> kind of spirit, fun, and extraordinary thinking that led to many
>
> innovations. More important, it exemplifies the character and attitude of a
>
> man who recognized that blindness was nothing more than an inconvenience: a
>
> man with a knack for finding ways to eliminate those inconveniences one
>
> step at a time.
>
> As I reviewed background for this piece, I ran across an article
>
> written by Deborah Kendrick. In it Fred said that he considered introducing
>
> me to APH to be one of his most important accomplishments. What an honor
>
> that is coming from a man with so many! Fred, I commit to carry on your
>
> fortitude, devotion to service, and practical innovation, as long as it
>
> meets the criteria you outline in Deborah's article.
>
> Today at APH a dedicated group of engineers share his vision and
>
> continue to apply technology to evermore interesting problems. "Pass it
>
> along" was Fred's motto. We can all honor his memory with similar gestures
>
> of generosity and compassion. Thank you, Fred. Your life has influenced and
>
> changed our lives forever.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Tim Connell]
>
> What is the Cost of a Free Product?
>
> by Tim Connell
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: A longstanding debate has flourished among blind people
>
> about the technology we use. One objection is its cost and, closely related
>
> to that, its difference from what people who are not blind are purchasing
>
> and using. All of us are looking for bargains, and it is never easy to
>
> ignore a sentence in which the word "free" figures prominently. Also
>
> attractive is using the same technology that sighted people use, because it
>
> is usually less expensive, readily available, and easier to replace if it
>
> fails.
>
> About a year ago we ran an article reflecting the opinion that screen
>
> readers cost too much and that there were alternatives. In that piece we
>
> mistakenly said that the price of one of the more popular screen readers
>
> was several hundred dollars more than it actually was. In making apologies
>
> to the screen reader developers, we asked if their company might like to
>
> make a case for the for-profit companies that have traditionally brought
>
> screen-reading solutions to the blind. They said they would think about it,
>
> but no article ever came.
>
> Just last month we published an article featuring the presentation
>
> made by NV Access at the 2014 NFB Convention. Again a good case was made
>
> for blind people having a low-cost or free screen-reading solution, and the
>
> National Federation of the Blind was recognized and thanked for our support
>
> of the project. But a lack of thought-provoking material supporting the
>
> concept of a for-profit company engaging to meet the special needs of the
>
> blind has meant that the Braille Monitor has been uncomfortably silent
>
> about the tradeoffs there might be if we embrace these free or low-cost
>
> solutions at the expense of those we have traditionally relied on. The one
>
> exception is Resolution 2014-03, "Regarding Principles That Should Govern
>
> the Purchase of Screen-Access Technology for Vocational Rehabilitation
>
> Clients," reprinted in the August-September 2014 issue. What appears below
>
> is a piece that attempts to look at all of the funding models for
>
> developing and purchasing screen readers around the world. It forces the
>
> reader to examine more closely the proposition that the lowest price is
>
> always better and that free unquestionably wins the day. It also suggests
>
> that we closely examine the concept that, because specialized technology is
>
> more expensive and necessarily different from what the sighted use, it
>
> should be avoided, especially if the cost of that decision is reflected in
>
> lower productivity.
>
> Tim Connell is the founder and managing director of Quantum Technology
>
> and has been an active contributor to the field of assistive technology for
>
> thirty years. Quantum developed the first talking typewriter, called
>
> SpeakWriter, the Braille-n-Print, the Mountbatten Brailler, Jot-a-Dot, and
>
> Pictures in a Flash (PIAF). He is also a director of the Centre for
>
> Disability Studies at the University of Sydney and lives with his wife and
>
> two adult children. Here is what he has to say about special devices used
>
> by the blind, the various ways their development and distribution can be
>
> funded, and the benefits and perhaps unforeseen pitfalls that might be
>
> inherent in those now gaining in popularity:
>
>
>
> Recently I moved back into the suburb in which I grew up. It has been
>
> astounding to witness the changes that have occurred in the last fifty
>
> years. I remember a shopping center that consisted of a large number of
>
> small family-run businesses, but, as has happened in most Western
>
> countries, there is now just a single large supermarket, and the small
>
> shops have disappeared. Supermarkets have brought many improvements to the
>
> retail arena: lower costs, longer opening hours, and online shopping, to
>
> name a few. The downside is a loss of customer service and the personal
>
> relationships you had with your vendors. I mention this because what really
>
> interests me is the process of change-how change can involve many small
>
> incremental steps, none of which by themselves seem all that important.
>
> I think there is a direct analogy with the world of assistive
>
> technology (AT). Until recently all AT has been developed and provided by
>
> small specialty companies. With greater frequency we are starting to see
>
> large corporations becoming involved and an increasing number of so-called
>
> free AT options. Perhaps it is timely that we examine what that means for
>
> our field. What are the implications for individuals with a print
>
> disability (low vision, blindness, dyslexia) of being able to access free
>
> AT?
>
> I was drawn to this topic by the recent announcement from GW Micro
>
> that its screen reader, Window-Eyes, would now be available to download at
>
> no cost if you owned a copy of MS Office. While this is technically not a
>
> free product, it has created a great deal of discussion and debate, with
>
> many calling it a game-changer and a new era for assistive technology. I
>
> don't happen to think that is the case, and I will discuss why later. There
>
> are also other ways that free options are also starting to appear.
>
>
>
> . The App Model: The meteoric rise of the iPad has been discussed at
>
> some length, and the number of free or very low-cost apps is
>
> increasing daily. New Android and Windows platforms are adding
>
> hundreds of thousands more.
>
> . The Philanthropic Model: The screen reader NVDA is an excellent
>
> example of this, in which philanthropic spending from large
>
> corporations such as Mozilla and Microsoft has supported the
>
> development of a competitor to commercial screen readers.
>
> . The Health Insurance Model: In some European countries access to
>
> vision aids is largely provided through health insurance companies,
>
> using a levy paid by all taxpayers.
>
> . The Universal Design Model: This is where products are designed from
>
> the beginning with the intention of being accessible to all. The
>
> screen reader VoiceOver on Apple products is an example of this.
>
> . Various Models of Direct Government Funding of AT: Pretty much
>
> everyone has welcomed the advent of these free options and believes
>
> they are giving rise to more options and greater choice for
>
> individuals with a print disability. What hasn't been discussed is the
>
> possibility that these free options may ultimately have unintended
>
> consequences and that there may actually be a high cost for a free
>
> product. That cost may involve the loss of specialty providers and an
>
> increased dependence on large corporations-what I would call a
>
> supermarket model for AT delivery.
>
> Over the thirty years I have been involved in AT, we have travelled
>
> an enormous distance from a time when access to information was limited or
>
> non-existent, to a world where limitless amounts of information are
>
> available. Thirty years ago a person who used Braille needed a large garage
>
> or warehouse to store a modest library. Today all of us can access huge
>
> libraries just using the phone in our pockets and a refreshable Braille
>
> display. It is easy to forget just how far we have come in such a short
>
> period and to overlook the incredible changes in opportunities and
>
> expectations that people with a print disability now have, all thanks to
>
> the small specialty providers that make up the AT industry.
>
> I am confident that history will record this period of technological
>
> development and the rise of AT as one of the key factors in the
>
> emancipation of people with disabilities worldwide. So, if we are going to
>
> move to the supermarket model for AT, we need to be really sure what it is
>
> we are leaving behind. Let's start by looking at access to the personal
>
> computer (PC), a foundational part of almost every blind person's technical
>
> life. The PC market has been dominated by Microsoft, both in the operating
>
> systems used and by the suite of programs that turn our PCs into
>
> productivity tools. Approximately 90 percent of desktop computers around
>
> the world use a Windows operating system (compared to Apple's iOS operating
>
> system with around 7.5 percent. Microsoft has a range of productivity tools
>
> known as MS Office, which has a market dominance of approximately 85
>
> percent. MS Office accounts for 29 percent of Microsoft's overall revenue
>
> and approximately 60 percent of its profit. These are staggering numbers
>
> and explain why so many corporations are keen to knock Microsoft off its
>
> perch.
>
> There have been many attempts to do just that by developing
>
> alternative products to MS Office. For a little over twenty years we have
>
> had access to a free alternative, now known as OpenOffice Apache.
>
> OpenOffice has direct product alternatives, such as Writer for Word, Calc
>
> for Excel, and Impress for PowerPoint. However, in twenty years a
>
> completely free alternative to MS Office has been able to attract only a 3
>
> percent market share. Other free alternatives such as LibreOffice,
>
> NeoOffice, and KOffice have been even less successful than OpenOffice,
>
> garnering a combined market share of 5 percent.
>
> More recently GoogleDocs has started to pose more of a challenge, and
>
> the whole move to cloud-based computing is throwing up lots of competition
>
> for Microsoft. However, it is also throwing up many challenges for screen
>
> readers and is a far more complex environment than desktop computing. We
>
> are not assured at this stage that we will be able to maintain the same
>
> level of accessibility in the cloud as we have at the desktop.
>
> The bottom line is that until now Microsoft has been able to achieve
>
> such market dominance while there has been a fully featured free
>
> alternative. We (the 85 percent of us) have chosen an expensive tool like
>
> MS Office over a free tool that is nearly as good. If you Google OpenOffice
>
> and read the multitude of reviews and comparisons, you will find this
>
> phrase repeated often: "nearly as good." However, you won't find a review
>
> that claims OpenOffice is the "best."
>
> To me this highlights a key problem in our understanding of the role
>
> of AT. Up to this point I believe we have always been guided by what is
>
> best. We have seen the development of solutions that may not be affordable
>
> to individuals, like the early refreshable Braille displays. However, they
>
> opened the door to innovation pathways that have resulted in lower prices
>
> and vastly improved products. The very first video magnifiers were
>
> commercialized by Bernd Reinecker in Germany in the late 1960s. His first
>
> system cost twenty thousand marks (approximately ten thousand euro), which
>
> was the equivalent of an above average annual salary. That is not a tenable
>
> proposition for a large multi-national company today.
>
> Our current specialist solutions have all been created by small teams
>
> of highly innovative technologists who have applied themselves to solving
>
> access issues for a very small population. Low volumes have meant high
>
> costs, and those costs have become the focus of our attention.
>
> Very few people argue that the free products are better than the
>
> commercial products; the argument is nearly always about the cost. So, if
>
> we accept that we always want to maintain the best options as one of the
>
> choices people have, shouldn't our focus now be on the core issue of
>
> funding? When we make that our focus, it is pretty clear that we have
>
> failed to make funding the paramount issue of accessibility. Far too many
>
> organizations and agencies have embraced the attitude of scarcity, and,
>
> rather than take a rights-based approach and demand more funding, they now
>
> promote a free and low-cost approach as the best way to represent the
>
> rights of their members. However, those rights are enshrined in law, and we
>
> need to base our claims for increased funding on the clear economic
>
> benefits of having a more able and productive community. Lack of funding of
>
> the best technology solutions is the true barrier to equality of access.
>
> At the beginning of this article I described various models of
>
> delivering free products. I'd like to take a look at each of them in more
>
> detail. While the benefits may be obvious, the potential pitfalls may not.
>
>
>
> The App Model
>
> Technology and apps have and will continue to have an enormous impact
>
> on the way we access information. They are rightfully being called
>
> transformational technology. Many apps are free or cost just under a dollar
>
> and are therefore available to all. However, apps, by their very nature,
>
> have limited functionality, and a suite of apps is needed to replicate the
>
> functionality of many existing AT products (it is estimated you would need
>
> fourteen apps to get close to the functionality of WYNN, for example).
>
> [WYNN is software developed by Freedom Scientific to assist people who have
>
> learning disabilities that affect reading.] Individual apps may be
>
> brilliant, but collectively they don't offer anywhere near the same level
>
> of functionality, due to factors such as a lack of uniform design standards
>
> (in menus, gestures, orientation, etc.) and a lack of support and training.
>
>
>
> One area that apps have made an enormous impact on is in augmentative
>
> and alternative communication (AAC), particularly communication tools. An
>
> iPad with various apps is providing an alternative for a fraction of the
>
> price of traditional communication tablets. As a result we have seen the
>
> decimation of the traditional AAC business model, with estimates that there
>
> are now fewer than a third of the AAC companies that existed ten years ago.
>
> For the wider print disability field small touchscreen computers and
>
> apps may one day provide an equivalent level of access, but they are
>
> currently not a solution that will provide true equality of access in
>
> education or employment. Anyone claiming otherwise is doing a great
>
> disservice to the people he or she is professing to serve. These may serve
>
> well as a great personal device, but they are not computers.
>
> A recent report on the effectiveness of federal government funding,
>
> as featured in the Department of Education's evaluation of the MSSAID
>
> Program, November 2013, described the increased use of iPads in classrooms
>
> as follows:
>
>
>
> Mainstream technologies with applications that match specific needs
>
> are replacing the former specialized, clunky equipment that was provided
>
> for the individual student according to their disability. The subtle but
>
> critical shift to the technologies enabling learning as opposed to
>
> addressing the "deficit" of a disability is no longer highlighting the
>
> student as being different.
>
>
>
> Are we to interpret this report and others like it to say that it is
>
> more important for students with disabilities to look normal than to have
>
> the best tools to address their specific disability? Is this progress?
>
> There are many other examples that could be provided in which devices like
>
> iPads are being promoted as a generic fix for inclusivity and
>
> accessibility.
>
>
>
> The Philanthropic Model
>
> The work that the developers of NVDA have done is exceptional. On a
>
> small budget they have developed a really good product and have provided a
>
> free screen reader to many thousands of people around the world who
>
> couldn't previously afford one, especially in developing countries. Their
>
> technical skills and dedication are to be applauded; however, I have a
>
> problem with the funding model they have chosen. Philanthropic funding is
>
> at best a fragile beast, and it often doesn't extend to covering services
>
> like training and support, which can be the most important components of
>
> accessibility (especially in education). The bigger issue of equity and why
>
> we accept such a fundamental right as access to a computer to be at the
>
> whim of philanthropic generosity should be of tremendous concern. Do we
>
> welcome it simply because the recipients are people with a disability? Why
>
> is this particular group of people not worthy of a business model that
>
> guarantees standards of support, service, and viability? The developers of
>
> NVDA need investors, not handouts.
>
>
>
> The Health Insurance Model
>
> For people in markets that are largely unfunded (such as Australia,
>
> USA, UK, and Canada), the idea that you can get the equipment you need
>
> through your health insurer seems very attractive. In these countries the
>
> health insurance companies call for tenders for commonly used items such as
>
> video magnifiers and Braille displays and are able to negotiate incredibly
>
> low prices through bulk national purchasing. On the face of it this seems
>
> like a win-win situation-universal access to AT at the lowest possible
>
> prices. However, what has happened under the insurance model is that the
>
> choice of options for individuals is greatly restricted; in fact, it is
>
> only the products that the insurers support that are viable. There are very
>
> limited opportunities for innovative products to enter the market, since
>
> they are often more expensive and not supported by the insurers. And one of
>
> the most damaging features is that the role of assessment has been pretty
>
> well bypassed. The role of specialists is marginal when they can recommend
>
> only those options that are supported by the insurers.
>
> In most unfunded markets the European insurance model seems
>
> attractive. Yet it is achieving much poorer outcomes for individuals and is
>
> putting a brake on innovation, affecting long-term prospects. The European
>
> insurance model is very much a case of "be careful what you wish for, lest
>
> it come true."
>
> In Australia we are starting to see health insurance companies
>
> provide rebates on classes of products rather than individual items, though
>
> at this stage they are only small. This is a far better design, since it
>
> leaves the choice of device up to the user, supports normal commercial
>
> competitiveness, and ensures that assessments are based on individual needs
>
> and a wide choice of products.
>
>
>
> The Universal Design Model
>
> Universal design began as a concept in architecture-that buildings
>
> should be inherently accessible by all-but has evolved now to mean access
>
> to all products, to learning, and to information. In 1963 Selwyn Goldsmith
>
> wrote a book called Designing for the Disabled, one of the earliest
>
> treatises on universal design. Goldsmith is remembered for the creation of
>
> the curb ramp-now a standard feature of the built environment. Curb ramps,
>
> ramps to buildings, ramps on buses that kneel for wheelchairs-all are good
>
> examples of universal design that are part of our standard expectations for
>
> how the world should work.
>
> Typically any discussion of universal design considers both the
>
> specialist tool and the wider environment in which it has to work. So with
>
> the wheelchair we looked at how to change the environment so that a
>
> wheelchair can more easily access it. For the hearing aid we looked at how
>
> we could change the environment by putting hearing loops in schools,
>
> buildings, and cinemas. Universal design has been all about designing the
>
> world so that it includes the specialist device.
>
> However, the argument that is emerging within the print-disability
>
> field is that we should get rid of the specialist tool altogether so that
>
> the environment is accessible to all. At the heart of this argument is the
>
> proposition that the differences of being blind, for example, are small
>
> enough that they can be catered to in a one-size-fits-all product. This
>
> idea seems reckless. The discussion of universal design has moved away from
>
> the myriad of other access issues that still exist-things like accessible
>
> white goods [home appliances], accessible transportation, accessible
>
> signage and public information, or even accessible education and the design
>
> of curricula. Instead we have various prophets going around deliberately
>
> promoting the end of specialist AT products and providers and talking about
>
> liberating people from the high cost of specialist tools.
>
> The cost of screen readers has become a bigger issue than all the
>
> other accessibility challenges facing every person with a print disability.
>
> What happens if universal design ends up giving us less functionality or
>
> features than the specialist products? To what extent can we sacrifice
>
> efficiency in order to minimize our appearance of difference by using
>
> technology different from that used by sighted peers?
>
> It all comes down to whether we can trust the likes of Apple,
>
> Microsoft, Google, and the new players that will arrive in the next decade.
>
> Over the long term how important is the 1 percent of the population who are
>
> visually impaired, or a subset of that being people who depend on Braille,
>
> or a subset of that again, people who are deaf-blind or have multiple
>
> disabilities? Should we start trying to assess what level of specialist
>
> support to those groups will be lost? There is a clear-cut economic
>
> argument called majority rules that will eventually win the day, and a
>
> large multinational corporation is never going to provide the same level of
>
> nuanced accommodations that a specialist provider will.
>
> Proponents of the universal design model argue that they are not
>
> promoting the end of specialist tools; they want a world where people can
>
> have both. Whether that is possible remains to be seen, but I suspect we
>
> will continue to see the incremental loss of small specialist providers,
>
> just as we have seen in the AAC sphere. The recent fate of GW Micro offers
>
> clear evidence of this. People too often conclude that the high price of
>
> specialist AT products springs from extortionist pricing policies, instead
>
> of the real costs of providing the best specialist solutions to a very
>
> small population. Shrinking what is already a very small commercial market
>
> will simply make it unviable for many more companies.
>
> In the absence of funding, however, a free product like Apple's
>
> VoiceOver is attractive, and there are many people extolling its virtues
>
> without asking how free it is given how much you pay for the Mac versus an
>
> equivalent PC. It is a very good accessibility solution straight out of the
>
> box, but it is not without problems. VoiceOver is not a separate program
>
> but an integral part of the operating system, which means that bugs and
>
> fixes occur only when the operating system is upgraded. There was a
>
> significant bug in the way VoiceOver handled Braille translation that took
>
> nearly three years to fix. It took over a year for a bug that moved you
>
> backwards on a webpage when you chose to go forward. Plenty of other
>
> examples provide a sharp point of differentiation between VoiceOver and the
>
> products produced by the developers of JAWS and NVDA, for example, who
>
> provide regular updates and fixes. Even the most ardent supporters of
>
> VoiceOver admit that sometimes the little things seem to get overlooked, or
>
> features that seem obvious never arrive. (For example, see the article
>
> written on the AppleVis website by the editorial team in April 2014.) While
>
> Apple is riding the crest of an economic wave, these little things may be
>
> just annoyances. It is yet to be seen how many of these little things would
>
> exist if they were struggling financially and if they would again abandon
>
> accessibility as they did in the 1990s.
>
> VoiceOver may be a good product for the person who wants to use email
>
> and browse the web. But it is not a solution for anyone who works with
>
> complex Excel files, writes in various programming languages, manages
>
> networks, or plays any number of other real-life employment roles. It would
>
> be devastating if it was the only screen reader around.
>
> Microsoft has chosen to go down a different path altogether, with the
>
> arrangement mentioned previously to provide Window-Eyes to anyone who has
>
> purchased MS Office. Many commentators are calling this a universal design
>
> solution, but that is the case only if Microsoft is going to incorporate
>
> Window-Eyes code into its own operating system, and at this stage there is
>
> no evidence of that happening. A more cynical suggestion has been that the
>
> deal came about as a means of complying with legislative and consumer
>
> pressure on Microsoft to do more about accessibility. A possible outcome of
>
> this deal is that philanthropic funding will be harder to secure because an
>
> equivalent free product exists, putting a great deal of pressure on NVDA.
>
> So the first consequence of Microsoft's move could be the demise of a
>
> product that many argue is better than Window-Eyes. Once again we have a
>
> short-term gain, with some people able to access a free screen reader, but
>
> at a longer-term cost of having less diversity and product choices and less
>
> competition driving innovation.
>
>
>
> The Government Funding Model
>
> Many models for government funding exist, some good and some bad. The
>
> best ones are based on outcomes and not on upfront costs. The best ones
>
> value the long-term social and economic benefits of enabling all people to
>
> participate in employment and education.
>
> In March of 2014 a program of support for people who are blind was
>
> announced by the government of Colombia. The local blindness consumer group
>
> made a convincing argument that many blind people in Colombia could not
>
> afford accessibility tools needed for education and employment. They argued
>
> that, by empowering them with the right tools, together with training and
>
> support, the government could save money by helping people move off social
>
> welfare. The Colombian government agreed and provided US$3 million for a
>
> package of support that includes a copy of either JAWS or MAGic, training
>
> centers in fifteen cities around Colombia, and hotline phone support for
>
> all users. In the first few weeks of being implemented, over thirty
>
> thousand people in Colombia had downloaded a copy of JAWS or MAGic. The
>
> bulk of the cost for this effort was in training and support and not in the
>
> purchase of the software. The government could have chosen a free solution
>
> but realized that the success of the program depended on having a business
>
> model that focused on outcomes and which guaranteed training and support.
>
> This initiative by the Colombian government shows us another way for
>
> consumers to have a free product.
>
>
>
> Summary
>
> A growing number of people in the print-disability field are not happy
>
> with the status quo and with the fact that specialist products are
>
> expensive and not available to all. The prospect of cheap or free products
>
> has become the goal that many individuals as well as some agencies are now
>
> supporting. When I started to think about this subject, my first question
>
> was, "Who is going to support an argument against free products?" "Not many
>
> people" is the answer. So perhaps the days of specialist developers and
>
> vendors really are numbered. In a world where many problems still exist,
>
> particularly in employment, some people need to assign blame and prefer to
>
> view the specialist providers as the problem. The cost of a commercial
>
> screen reader is viewed as the problem, and getting something free would
>
> help solve that problem. However, I keep returning to the supermarket
>
> analogy and have come to the conclusion that those small steps of change
>
> that occur incrementally mean we may not know what has been lost till it is
>
> too late. We may not really be aware of the change that is currently
>
> underway in the AT market. The point that is being missed is that it is not
>
> the cost of the product that should be our focus, but the ability of the
>
> product to fully meet the needs of each individual. Does a keen fisherman
>
> get all of his fishing gear at Kmart, or does he go to a fishing gear
>
> specialist? Do elite athletes buy all their sporting gear from Target, or
>
> do they go to specialist suppliers? Is price going to be the driver to make
>
> people successful, or is it getting the best possible solutions that will
>
> determine whether people can achieve their potential?
>
> I would like to see a robust and informed debate on this issue,
>
> focusing on achieving the best possible outcomes for people with a print
>
> disability. At the heart of that debate are funding and finding business
>
> models that support choice, training, and ongoing support, as well as
>
> nurturing innovation. Agencies in particular should be at the vanguard of
>
> this debate, ensuring the best long-term outcomes for their members.
>
> Championing something that is "almost as good" is actually a major
>
> step backwards; if it wasn't, we would all be using OpenOffice. Product
>
> cost is not the issue that should define this debate; it is real life
>
> outcomes.
>
> Generally our attitudes about technology are that we feel comfortable
>
> with what we know. However, what we don't know is just around the corner,
>
> and in ten years we may find we have completely new ways to interface with
>
> technology, like holographic displays or other systems that rely more on
>
> vision or cognitive ability. If it comes to a choice between large multi-
>
> national corporations or small teams of dedicated and innovative
>
> technologists to ensure true accessibility, I know whom I would rather have
>
> in my corner.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Patricia Shiu]
>
> Improving Disability Employment: A Pathway to Success for Employers and
>
> Workers
>
> by Patricia Shiu
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: One of the most moving presentations at the 2014 National
>
> Convention to come from a governmental official was presented by the head
>
> of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, part of the United States
>
> Department of Labor. The crowd was quite moved by what she said, but she
>
> wanted more than emotion-she clearly came to urge that we stimulate
>
> America's economy by going out and getting jobs, that we take advantage of
>
> the new hiring goals promoted by the administration, and that we use her
>
> office to see that blind people are given a fair chance at good jobs. Here
>
> are her remarks as they were heard on July 4, 2014:
>
>
>
> Thank you very much, Marc, and happy Independence Day, everyone. Today
>
> we don't just remember a revolution. Today we issue our own call to action.
>
> My name is Pat Shiu, and I am here to recruit you!
>
> Yesterday the Department of Labor announced that 288,000 jobs were
>
> added to the US economy in June. That's the fifth straight month in which
>
> we have added more than 200,000 net jobs. Ladies and gentlemen, that's the
>
> best stretch of job creation since the Clinton administration.
>
> So I am here to recruit you because our economy is growing. Jobs are
>
> coming back, and I want all qualified workers to compete for those jobs-
>
> including people who are blind, people who are deaf, people who run on
>
> prosthetics or roll in wheelchairs, and especially people who have been
>
> discouraged from applying for far too long. To them and to you I say, "The
>
> water is warm. Come on in."
>
> For the past four years my colleagues and I have been making the case
>
> to lawmakers and employers that we have a serious problem in America: that
>
> the laws designed to ensure equal opportunity for workers with disabilities
>
> aren't working; that a nation in which four out of five workers with
>
> disabilities are so discouraged by their employment prospects that they've
>
> given up on even looking is a nation in crisis. We made our case
>
> effectively and, thanks to the leadership of President Obama-who campaigned
>
> on a promise to address this crisis-we did something about it. On March 24
>
> a new rule went into effect that calls on companies with federal contracts
>
> to achieve a 7 percent employment goal for qualified workers with
>
> disabilities in every job category and across their workforces. Now we can
>
> start counting and measuring and really checking to see which employers are
>
> taking their affirmative action obligations seriously and which ones are
>
> not.
>
> So I've come here to Orlando to recruit you-and the communities you
>
> represent-to the American labor force. We need you. We need the skills, the
>
> talents, the ingenuity, and the hard work of millions of qualified
>
> individuals with disabilities who want a chance to succeed, an opportunity
>
> to contribute, and a means to sustain themselves and their families.
>
> Today we celebrate our Economic Independence Day. I am honored to have
>
> this opportunity to speak with all of you. On behalf of President Obama and
>
> Secretary Perez, I congratulate you on this convention, and I thank you for
>
> your advocacy on behalf of the blind. I especially want to thank National
>
> Federation of the Blind President Marc Maurer and your executive director
>
> and advocate-in-chief John Pari for inviting me and for their leadership of
>
> this organization. Marc and John and the entire NFB team are champions for
>
> the more than fifty thousand members of this organization. I am grateful
>
> for their support-and your support-of our work at the Labor Department.
>
> We are the department of good jobs for everyone. We are the department
>
> of opportunity for all. For more than a century we have held firm to our
>
> mission of preparing the workforce of tomorrow while ensuring that today's
>
> workplaces are safe, healthy, fair, and accessible. And key to that mission
>
> is economic independence. Economic independence doesn't mean that we don't
>
> rely on each other. It doesn't mean we don't help each other or that we
>
> don't build structures, both public and private, to support our mutual
>
> aspirations. Government is not irrelevant to the process. But nor are we
>
> the only player. The very best solutions to our common challenges require
>
> partnership among government agencies, private employers, community
>
> advocates, academic institutions, and working families.
>
> I believe economic independence is ultimately about freedom: freedom
>
> from artificial barriers that impede our ability to live and work; freedom
>
> from prejudice and discrimination that diminish us as people; and freedom
>
> to pursue happiness, and to do so on our own terms.
>
> These are freedoms I have worked to advance for my entire career.
>
> Before I joined the Obama administration, I spent twenty-six years as a
>
> civil rights lawyer, advocating on behalf of students and workers who
>
> simply wanted a way in the door and a chance to succeed. My clients with
>
> disabilities wanted the ability to go to school, to get a job, to know the
>
> dignity and self-worth that come from doing meaningful work. Understanding
>
> those aspirations was a perfect precursor to my current job.
>
> In 1965, a year after the Civil Rights Act became law, President
>
> Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order requiring companies with
>
> government contracts to build workforces that reflect the diversity of the
>
> taxpayers funding those contracts. Almost a decade later Congress and
>
> President Nixon expanded that mandate to include people with disabilities
>
> and specific groups of veterans. Enforcing those laws is our job at the
>
> Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Yes, it is a long and
>
> cumbersome name, but it's also a pretty apt descriptor of what we do.
>
> The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is a civil
>
> rights agency in the Labor Department tasked with protecting workers,
>
> promoting diversity, and enforcing the laws which require companies that
>
> profit from taxpayer dollars to prohibit discrimination and to take
>
> affirmative action so that all workers get a fair shot and a fair shake in
>
> the workplace. We enforce those laws for the benefit of the nearly one
>
> quarter of American workers who are employed by or seek jobs with companies
>
> that receive about $500 billion in federal contracts and subcontracts.
>
> My position is pretty simple: being a federal contractor is a
>
> privilege, not a right. The price of that contract is compliance with our
>
> civil rights laws. In other words, diversity and inclusion programs are not
>
> optional. They are required. And OFCCP exists to enforce those
>
> requirements.
>
> Strong, effective enforcement begins with good policy. And when I
>
> arrived at OFCCP, I found that many of our regulations were sorely outdated
>
> and in need of updates. That was especially true when it came to the
>
> regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the
>
> Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, known as VEVRAA.
>
> As I mentioned earlier, our updates to the Section 503 and VEVRAA
>
> regulations became effective on March 24, after an extensive and highly
>
> inclusive rulemaking process that took almost four years. We developed two
>
> rules with a specific set of interests in mind: first and foremost, to
>
> improve employment opportunities for qualified workers with disabilities
>
> and protected groups of veterans, including veterans with service-related
>
> disabilities; second, to update antiquated provisions in the existing
>
> regulations, including aligning them with the ADA Amendments Act of 2008
>
> and its revised, much broader definition of disability; third, to provide
>
> businesses with real metrics by which to measure their affirmative action
>
> efforts; fourth, to give my investigators a tangible way to evaluate
>
> compliance with the law when they review contractor establishments; and
>
> fifth, to facilitate the success of both workers and businesses by
>
> increasing the access employers have to a large, diverse pool of qualified
>
> workers whose talents may have been overlooked or left untapped for too
>
> long.
>
> I want to spend a few minutes talking about two key aspects of the
>
> rules.
>
>
>
> Real Metrics
>
> First, you should know that these rules are historic because they set-
>
> for the first time ever-targeted goals for the employment of veterans and
>
> individuals with disabilities in the contracting workforce. These goals are
>
> similar to the metrics that have long been used to measure progress in
>
> hiring women and minorities.
>
> I believe that what gets measured gets done. To that end, the Section
>
> 503 rule establishes an aspirational, 7 percent utilization goal for the
>
> employment of qualified individuals with disabilities in each job category
>
> of a contractor's workforce.
>
> The VEVRAA rule establishes a national hiring benchmark-currently 7.2
>
> percent-or a more flexible option employers can develop using parameters we
>
> have laid out. If every contractor subject to these rules were to achieve
>
> the metrics we established, nearly 600,000 people with disabilities and
>
> 200,000 veterans-including 84,000 veterans with disabilities-would be added
>
> to or identified in the American workforce. And that's just in the first
>
> year. Consider what a remarkable achievement that would be. And just so we
>
> are clear-and because words matter-both the disability goal and the veteran
>
> benchmark are aspirational. Contrary to what some observers have said, they
>
> are absolutely not mandatory quotas. Rather they are management tools for
>
> employers and a way for the rest of us to hold business leaders accountable
>
> to doing what they commit to do when they agree to do business with our
>
> government.
>
> A goal is a means to an end. It is not an end in and of itself. If
>
> the metrics are not achieved, contractors will be expected to examine their
>
> employment policies and practices to figure out why. Then they have to come
>
> up with specific plans to address any barriers to equal opportunity.
>
> Failure of a company to achieve a goal is not a violation in and of itself.
>
> But failure to try is.
>
>
>
> Voluntary Self-Identification
>
> Another major provision of the new Section 503 rule is the
>
> requirement that contractors invite job applicants voluntarily to self-
>
> identify as individuals with a disability when they apply for a job. This
>
> is in addition to the long-standing requirement that contractors invite new
>
> hires voluntarily to self-identify after they receive a job offer. Under
>
> the new rule contractors must on a regular basis invite their employees to
>
> self-identify voluntarily. After all, disabilities are not static, and a
>
> person's status may change over time. I believe that providing workers with
>
> multiple opportunities to self-identify voluntarily is a good thing.
>
> When we first proposed these self-identification provisions, I
>
> overheard a business consultant speaking to a group of contractors about
>
> this issue: "Is OFCCP obsessed?" he asked. "They want us to ask our
>
> employees if they have a disability when they apply for the job, after they
>
> get the job, and again and again while they are on the job. Workers are
>
> going to think we care!"
>
> I felt like yelling out, "Bingo!"
>
> This is how things change. This is how workplaces become more
>
> welcoming. You and I know that workers are safer in the workplace when they
>
> understand their rights under the law and feel confident that those rights
>
> will be protected. In time these invitations to disclose demographic
>
> information or to self-identify voluntarily will be seen as inclusive, not
>
> intrusive-as a means to promote, not to pry.
>
> And, since it's come up again and again, let me make two points here:
>
> The invitation to self-identify is 100 percent voluntary. We have made that
>
> explicit on the self-ID form and encouraged employers to make it clear in
>
> the context they provide when disseminating the form; and the self-ID form
>
> does not ask any worker to disclose what disability he or she may have.
>
> There are three options for the worker to check: Yes, I have a disability;
>
> No, I don't have a disability; and I don't wish to answer.
>
> This is going to be tough for some employers and for some workers. I
>
> get that. And I have always said that operationalizing the Section 503 rule
>
> will be a process, not a switch. Some employers will be uncomfortable
>
> asking the question. Some workers may be uncomfortable answering it. With
>
> time that will change, just as it is changing for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
>
> and transgender individuals. But it won't change on its own. It requires a
>
> cultural change that has to be led by the community, embraced by employers,
>
> and mandated by the government.
>
> That is why we need to start a revolution. In order for our new rules
>
> to have the desired impact, employers have to make a serious effort to
>
> achieve the goal. But workers also need to meet them halfway. That's why I
>
> need your help to spread the word among your colleagues and across your
>
> communities that the voluntary self-ID form is a lever of power. It's a way
>
> to gather critically important data and to ensure that every worker is
>
> counted. It is a way to show employers that, if they build it, you will
>
> come.
>
> Two days ago we marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Civil Rights
>
> Act. The activists and visionaries who fought for that law were willing to
>
> sacrifice their very lives in the pursuit of justice. Their sacrifices made
>
> us a stronger, more just nation and paved the way for the Rehab Act, the
>
> ADA, and many advances in the rights of women, immigrants, the elderly,
>
> LGBT Americans, and so many others.
>
> The anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said that we should "never
>
> doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change
>
> the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Of course she was
>
> right, except that it doesn't have to be a small group. It could be a big
>
> group. It could be this group. It could be the three thousand people at
>
> this convention. It could be the fifty thousand members of the NFB. It
>
> could be the fifty-seven million Americans with disabilities.
>
> Progress doesn't happen in a moment. It happens in a movement. Our
>
> country needs you to build that movement, to lead that revolution. We need
>
> you to be the heroes and she-roes who will get us to the other side. All it
>
> takes is for you to bring your whole selves to work, to demand access, and
>
> to be counted. I am asking you to show by your example that people with
>
> disabilities-obvious or hidden-can ignite this revolution and help us
>
> change the culture of our workplaces.
>
> I will promise you this: at OFCCP we will have your backs and stand
>
> with you every step of the way. When you check that box and allow
>
> yourselves to be counted, you will serve notice that you are a part of our
>
> economic growth, that you will share in our collective prosperity, and that
>
> you are committed to our common destiny.
>
> Thank you for your time. Thank you for your leadership. Have a safe
>
> and happy Economic Independence Day!
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: David Cohen]
>
> Reflections of a White Cane Guy
>
> by David Cohen
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: This article is reprinted from the Fall 2014 issue of the
>
> Buckeye Bulletin, the newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of
>
> Ohio. I enjoy and can relate to the humorous dialogue that plays in David's
>
> head, while admiring and always trying to follow his prescription for
>
> reacting kindly to those whose only motive is to act kindly to me. The only
>
> growl in my own internal dialogue while reading what follows is the
>
> allusion to Braille on ATMs-something that seems every bit as logical to me
>
> as print on those same keys, and the only question in my mind is why we
>
> have had to fight so hard to make them speak what is so clearly placed on
>
> the screen. Here is how this humorous piece was introduced by the Buckeye's
>
> editor, Barbara Pierce:
>
> Editor's note: David Cohen is a longtime Federationist. When he was
>
> young, we helped him get to BLIND Incorporated in Minneapolis for blindness
>
> training, and he has been putting that training to good use ever since. He
>
> now lives in the greater Dayton area again. He recently sent a very funny
>
> post to the Ohio listserv. We asked him to expand a bit on that reflection
>
> for the newsletter. His thoughts are amusing, but they also provide an
>
> insight into the reflections and reactions of a competent blind person with
>
> an irreverent sense of humor. This is what he wrote:
>
>
>
> Yesterday afternoon I walked to a shopping center/mall near my home
>
> in Kettering to buy some bed sheets. After making my purchase, I decided to
>
> check for a DVD title at another store inside the mall called Second &
>
> Charles, a used book, music, and movie place. I turned into the store and
>
> heard a woman's voice saying hello to me.
>
> "Hi, Second & Charles?" I asked, raising my eyebrows to her for
>
> confirmation.
>
> "Yes," she said; "You've got it."
>
> "Do you work here?" I asked.
>
> She said, "No," so I continued in the direction of the main customer
>
> service counter, not breaking stride. From behind me the woman who'd
>
> greeted me was giving me the standard audible play-by-play, less the crowd
>
> noise, "Right, now left," etc.
>
> I turned to face her and smiled, mouthing the words "I'm okay,
>
> thanks." You got to handle the public sometimes with kid gloves, as y'all
>
> probably know.
>
> I continued on my way. From behind me this woman called to me, "I
>
> gotcha. My ex-husband is a white cane guy."
>
> I laughed aloud, and without turning held my left arm up with a
>
> thumb's up sign for her to see. I can do without all the euphemisms spoken
>
> to avoid saying "blind." Still, if the word "blind" was good enough for the
>
> Bible, the Quran, the Hindu Vedas, etcetera, shouldn't it be good enough
>
> for speakers today? But this white cane guy label-I can really get used to
>
> this. I like it. I can see it working for me.
>
> "What's your sign? You act like a Virgo."
>
> "Nope, nope. I'm a WCG [white cane guy]."
>
> "Single WCG seeking SWF (single white female). Must like dogs, fish
>
> fries, college football, and Braille literacy."
>
> "Oh there's a white cane guy at our office. I know exactly what
>
> you're talking about."
>
> Text message: LOL! [laughing out loud] BTW [by the way] the WCG
>
> [white cane guy] called, LVM [leave a voicemail]. RE: Friday BYOB [bring
>
> your own bottle].
>
> So White Cane Guy leaves the mall with a sack containing bed sheets
>
> and a DVD purchase of Sean Penn's All the King's Men in hand. This mini-
>
> mall has a sidewalk extending the entire width of the front of the
>
> building, but the sidewalk is not even close to being a straight shot. The
>
> pathway is also cluttered with anything the designers salvaged after the
>
> project's completion. This sidewalk also has more curves than a full
>
> Braille cell, so I walk in the frontage road along the curb, shorelining
>
> the outer edge of the sidewalk.
>
> I am several shop door entrances along my shorelining route and have
>
> just passed another because I hear the squeaking hinges of one of these
>
> glass doors opening behind me, and a man's voice calls to me, "You're in
>
> the street, you know that, right?" he says, stating the obvious. I know
>
> that as a blind person I am a living message board for postings of the
>
> obvious and have learned to handle this maturely 90 percent of the time.
>
> "The sun is out; that's my foot you're standing on; the bus is here; I'm
>
> standing in front of you now; it's raining; you're breathing and standing
>
> upright. . . . that's Braille; you have a pulse."
>
> Again I raise my left arm, plastic sack in hand. I turn my head
>
> slightly and, again smiling, tell the fella, who is watching me as if I'm
>
> the end of a parade route, "There are fewer obstacles out here."
>
> "No kidding," the fella cries out with surprise, and the sound of his
>
> voice is delighted with this insight on my behalf. "Oh yeah? You're right
>
> ha ha ha ha," and again White Cane Guy has brought a bit of pleasure into
>
> the life of Joe Citizen, and maybe, just maybe I'll meet him again someday.
>
> Personally I think it is very difficult to communicate with the many
>
> unknowns who enter my sphere of being. I alluded to this earlier when I
>
> said sometimes I've got to handle people with kid gloves. It is such a fine
>
> line to walk when so many situations like this one imply and assume minute
>
> examination, so routinely you know you're being watched with intrigue. I
>
> don't think folk realize that I know by their sound and movement that they
>
> are watching me and that such focused attention on me walking through a
>
> tile-floored mall or looking for a urinal in the men's room is like the
>
> pressure of shooting free throws in March during the NCAA college
>
> basketball tournament with twenty thousand voices screaming at you when
>
> your team is down two points and only seconds remain on the game clock.
>
> Seriously, I think blind people and disabled people in general should be
>
> highlighted on ESPN for all that we do so silently as such pertains to what
>
> the professional sporting experts call "being in the zone," not to mention
>
> handling your emotions in hostile environments as the sporting vernacular
>
> often states is necessary.
>
> The depth of the mall parking lot extends northwards to my right side
>
> and beyond its sparse occupancy I can hear the street I will eventually
>
> need to cross. This is my landmark, and, no matter how out of the zone I
>
> get, I can always reorient myself by listening for the ever-present sound
>
> of this heavily-traveled road in Kettering.
>
> But again allow me to digress for a personal reason and say that I do
>
> not-do not-like it when someone tells me or asks me if I am disoriented or
>
> lost. I'm not, although I may acquiesce and say "Yes ma'am," or "Yes, sir,
>
> I am," in order to keep the world moving, but what I am telling myself is
>
> that I am only temporarily misplaced like car keys or a smartphone.
>
> Blindness is, like our organization has said for many decades, a nuisance,
>
> and well you know this. Here's the deal: I'm shorelining the curb of the
>
> sidewalk at the front of the shopping mall. The incoming traffic from the
>
> main road and the exiting shoppers with their groceries from Trader Joe's
>
> and tennis shoes from New Balance are driving in both directions slowly to
>
> my immediate right side, and I need to get across this access frontage road
>
> and through the parking lot to the sidewalk along the main road.
>
> Unfortunately there is no pedestrian sidewalk extending through the parking
>
> lot, and my hot air balloon is at home in the garage-the cloth ripped by
>
> the clawed feet of a crow who perched atop me when I floated over the local
>
> amphitheater to listen to Jackson Browne perform several years ago. But
>
> this is no problem because at the end of this sidewalk curb there is a stop
>
> sign for the access frontage road. In fact there is a four-way stop here,
>
> so I can put it on cruise control and listen ahead for engines rolling to a
>
> stop and then moderately accelerating after the pause to know where I need
>
> to be. Voila! White Cane Guy is planning his work and working his plan.
>
> "Oh I am so fortunate to have received good training and to have
>
> experienced the know-how of others before me who were doing then what I
>
> wanted to do and am doing now," I think to myself. I'm not kidding. On my
>
> worst days I can, if I am able to muster the attitudinal strength,
>
> accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and latch onto the
>
> affirmative as Johnny Mercer sang. I cannot always find and do this, but at
>
> least I know it's possible, and I have my memories to serve in this
>
> capacity if I feed them properly.
>
> So I'm marveling in my aptitude for cane travel, and my cane tip is
>
> metronomically playing the soundtrack to my travels. I've found the four-
>
> way stop thanks to one automobile's exit route, and I've followed this
>
> vehicle's trajectory of departing sound all the way to the sidewalk along
>
> the busy road. I'm asking myself if I should wash these new sheets first or
>
> do the man thing and simply spread 'em and do laundry when absolutely
>
> necessary. The answer comes to me in 1.5 seconds.
>
> I arrive at my corner mentally ready to listen for and align myself
>
> to the passing traffic at this intersection of four lanes north and south
>
> and four lanes east and west each direction also engineered with a filter
>
> lane, so the width is actually five lanes. I stand and listen... listen...
>
> I am listening, yes listening, and a crow flies overhead and announces
>
> itself as Jimmy Cagney.
>
> "Huh," I thinks to myself, "This light sure is taking a long time
>
> today." I listen to one, two, three, six cars roll up, stop California
>
> style, and accelerate around the corner in front of me. "The traffic light
>
> must be out of order," I tell myself because White Cane Guy is not only
>
> omnipotent, he's a traffic engineer on his day off. A seventh car rolls up
>
> next to me and stops, then accelerates, and the cross traffic in front of
>
> me continues passing at forty miles per hour.
>
> "The sun! Where is my sun?" My internal problem-solving voice asks,
>
> and I turn around only to realize it's clouded over since I last knew where
>
> the heck I was and began daydreaming about my White-Cane-Guy aptitude.
>
> Another car rolls up next to me, and now White Cane Guy is going to
>
> interact with citizenry. I turn to my left to face the paused vehicle and
>
> make the universal hand-and-arm motion for someone to roll his or her
>
> window down, but I remember that I have been here forty-four winters and
>
> that this one-time universally recognized signal may be lost on someone of
>
> the everything-electronic world, or worse, the hand gesture may suggest
>
> something offensive to someone visiting the Kettering Towne & Country Mall
>
> from one of the other six continents. For all I know, I might be signaling
>
> like a prostitute does in Paraguay and end up with two halves of a broken
>
> cane and a blackened eye and still waiting to cross this street.
>
> Instead I lean into the space between myself and the idling car and
>
> mouth words silently in just the same way I did inside Second & Charles
>
> when the unknown woman declared me White Cane Guy. "Is the traffic light
>
> out of order?" I mouth, pointing my outstretched arm up into the air where
>
> my mind has told me most certainly the traffic light should be hanging. The
>
> car's tires squeal twice front to back and spit gravel, and I'm wondering
>
> how ridiculous I look to the passersby still moving at forty miles per hour
>
> on the other side of the street.
>
> "Something's wrong here," I finally admit. "Anything's possible.
>
> White Cane Guy has walked into the women's restroom before, and he's also
>
> walked past his own driveway," I remind myself.
>
> I gather my secret strength-my brain-and I really tune in to my
>
> surroundings. Wait a bloody second here. I've awakened. There's no
>
> persistent ringing of the superfluous street-crossing signal that White
>
> Cane Guy knows to be an invention of the same conspiracy that put Braille
>
> on drive-thru ATM machines, limited Braille on McDonald's drink lids, and
>
> probably funded the training of the rehab counselor who asked me, "What is
>
> that thing?," when I pulled my slate and stylus from my pocket to write
>
> down his office information twenty-five years ago.
>
> "I'm south of where I need to be," my brain and true Orient Express
>
> tells me. Oh joy, joy, joy, joy, and joy. I win again!-temporarily
>
> misplaced just like any sighted person who exits the mall and cannot
>
> remember where the car is parked. I must have been curving westward. "That
>
> crow was telling me this, and I did not listen. That crow has been watching
>
> me silently from above for years, observing me and learning how a blind
>
> person does what a blind person does and therefore has never needed to ask
>
> me questions for which answering the obvious makes no sense other than to
>
> communicate the simple truth that what White Cane Guy does is the only
>
> answer to all mysteries herein."
>
> I'm two blocks south of where I need to be, and I get on with it. I
>
> reach the corner where I believed I was, and on my approach I'm hearing the
>
> familiar traffic signal noise and send out apologies and gratitude to the
>
> conspirators who inadvertently gave a practical use for my ears after all.
>
> ----------
>
> Consider a Charitable Gift
>
>
>
> Making a charitable gift can be one of the most satisfying
>
> experiences in life. Each year millions of people contribute their time,
>
> talent, and treasure to charitable organizations. When you plan for a gift
>
> to the National Federation of the Blind, you are not just making a
>
> donation; you are leaving a legacy that ensures a future for blind people
>
> throughout the country. Special giving programs are available through the
>
> National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
>
>
>
>
>
> Points to Consider When Making a Gift to the National Federation of the
>
> Blind
>
>
>
> . Will my gift serve to advance the mission of the NFB?
>
> . Am I giving the most appropriate asset?
>
> . Have I selected the best way to make my gift?
>
> . Have I considered the tax consequences of my gift?
>
> . Have I sought counsel from a competent advisor?
>
> . Have I talked to the NFB planned giving officer about my gift?
>
>
>
> Benefits of Making a Gift to the NFB
>
> . Helping the NFB fulfill its mission
>
> . Receiving income tax savings through a charitable deduction
>
> . Making capital gain tax savings on contribution of some appreciated
>
> gifts
>
> . Providing retained payments for the life of a donor or other
>
> beneficiaries
>
> . Eliminating federal estate tax in certain situations
>
> . Reducing estate settlement cost
>
>
>
> Your Gift Will Help Us
>
> . Make the study of science and math a real possibility for blind
>
> children
>
> . Provide hope and training for seniors losing vision
>
> . Promote state and chapter programs and provide information that will
>
> educate blind people
>
> . Advance technology helpful to the blind
>
> . Create a state-of-the-art library on blindness
>
> . Train and inspire professionals working with the blind
>
> . Provide critical information to parents of blind children
>
> . Mentor blind people trying to find jobs
>
> Your gift makes you a part of the NFB dream!
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Marion Gwizdala]
>
> Bringing Our Animals to the Zoo
>
> by Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Marion Gwizdala is the president of the National
>
> Association of Guide Dog Users and has played a significant role in
>
> increasing the membership of the division and strengthening the ties
>
> between it and other work that occurs in the Federation. Here is what he
>
> has to say about recent negotiations on behalf of guide dog users who wish
>
> to visit zoos accompanied by their guide dogs:
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, Merry Schoch, vice president of the
>
> Florida Association of Guide Dog Users, and I met with the executive
>
> management team of the Lowry Park Zoological Garden, also known as Lowry
>
> Park Zoo. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss how Lowry Park Zoo and
>
> the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) can work with the National
>
> Association of Guide Dog Users to provide people with disabilities who use
>
> service animals an optimal experience when visiting US zoos. We have been
>
> interested in this project for quite some time, so I am pleased that all
>
> the necessary elements are in place to make this a reality.
>
> Due to the unique challenges of displaying live wild animals, the
>
> issue of access for those accompanied by service animals has been an area
>
> of concern for quite some time. Before the enactment of the Americans with
>
> Disabilities Act, there were no nationally recognized policies or practices
>
> concerning service animals in zoos, leaving each exhibit to develop its own
>
> policies for such access. Some states that have places that keep and
>
> display live animals for public enjoyment or education had provisions to
>
> deny service animals admission. The state of Florida had such a provision
>
> that we worked to have repealed following the enactment of the ADA, since
>
> the Florida act violated the ADA's implementing regulations. Since then
>
> there has been some litigation to clarify the rights of access to zoos by
>
> service animal users. Despite these cases many zoos continue to have
>
> policies, practices, and procedures that are not congruent with the ADA,
>
> ranging from restricted access to specific areas to a requirement for a
>
> chaperone while on the property.
>
> The impetus for this specific project and our collaboration with AZA
>
> came when Dr. Don Woodman, a veterinarian and zookeeper from St.
>
> Petersburg, Florida, visited the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New
>
> York, and was denied access. He was raising a guide dog puppy at the time,
>
> and New York statutes allowed service dog trainers the same access as
>
> disabled individuals accompanied by their trained service dogs. Dr. Woodman
>
> was told that even a fully trained service dog had limited access to the
>
> exhibits. He suggested we contact AZA, and the rest of the story unfolds
>
> from there.
>
> I want to acknowledge the support and encouragement of Steve Olson,
>
> vice president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Mark
>
> Trieglaff, president of ACTServices, an ADA consulting firm specializing in
>
> work with zoos. It is through Mr. Olson's suggestion after attending the
>
> 2013 annual meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog Users in
>
> Orlando that we are embarking upon this project. Mr. Trieglaff also
>
> attended this meeting, solidifying his commitment to ensuring the least
>
> restrictive access to zoo exhibits. I appreciate Mark's introduction to
>
> Craig Pugh, with whom he had worked while at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago,
>
> Illinois. I commend Mr. Pugh's energetic and enthusiastic support of our
>
> efforts, as demonstrated by his willingness to dedicate more than two hours
>
> of his time to meet with us. In addition, he encouraged the attendance of
>
> three of his executive management staff and affirmed his commitment to the
>
> long-term goals of this project in their presence. I was also very
>
> encouraged by Mr. Pugh's willingness to lead by example, allowing us the
>
> opportunity to take a critical look at Lowry Park Zoo's policies,
>
> practices, and procedures and then to follow through by making immediate
>
> changes based upon our input.
>
> It was very refreshing that the management team valued and respected
>
> our experience and suggestions. We were encouraged by the willingness of
>
> Dr. Larry Killmar, Lowry Park Zoo's vice president of Animal Science and
>
> Conservation, to think outside the box and even more to recognize the value
>
> of our expertise. We were especially impressed with Dr. Killmar's
>
> understanding that no simulation experience, such as blindfolding sighted
>
> people or putting ambulatory individuals in wheelchairs, can replicate the
>
> experience of the disabled person, underscoring the importance of our
>
> involvement in the creation and implementation of the project.
>
> We also want to give credit to Tony Moore who presented some issues
>
> from an operational perspective. As Lowry Park's chief operating officer he
>
> is acutely aware of the practical issues faced by the staff with direct
>
> visitor contact. We realize that, in order to shift the paradigm of what
>
> constitutes reasonable access to people accompanied by service animals, we
>
> need to address the real concerns that are unique to live wild animal
>
> exhibits by creating sound solutions to these issues and concerns. As we
>
> progress on this project, anticipating the objections will help us advance
>
> solutions.
>
> When we first conceived of this project, our vision was to create and
>
> market a video program for dissemination among AZA members. When we shared
>
> this vision with the team, Ruth Myers, the grants manager for Lowry Park
>
> Zoo, helped us expand our perspective by raising our sights from a stand-
>
> alone video program about the rights and responsibilities of service dog
>
> users to a more comprehensive curriculum of instruction for live animal
>
> exhibits on the importance of effective policies, practices, and
>
> procedures, of which the video would be one element. She suggested we
>
> increase the scope of the project as well as the budget. Since the
>
> Institute of Museum and Library Sciences is one of the most obvious funding
>
> sources for this project, and Ms. Myers is a former grant reviewer for
>
> IMLS, her expertise will help us create the best possible proposal for this
>
> project.
>
> As the team began to consider the expertise of each member at the
>
> table, the need for a comprehensive training program involving all
>
> stakeholders began to unfold. Many specimens in a wild animal exhibit may
>
> never have seen a dog or may view the dog as predator or prey. This could
>
> result in dire consequences. Therefore, one element of a comprehensive
>
> curriculum will involve systematically desensitizing exhibit animals until
>
> they no longer have negative reactions to the dog's presence. Such a
>
> desensitization program could also be a valuable training tool for those
>
> preparing puppies for guide dog work.
>
> Another element of the curriculum will obviously involve training of
>
> the staff responsible for direct guest relations. These employees will need
>
> to understand the rights and responsibilities of those who use service
>
> dogs, what is considered appropriate service dog behavior, and how to deal
>
> with those circumstances in which the right to be accompanied by the
>
> service dog is denied, either because of the service dog's behavior or the
>
> special circumstances of the exhibit.
>
> Those of us who use service dogs also need to understand the unique
>
> challenges of exhibiting live wild animals. Our goal is to afford service
>
> dog users an optimal experience while visiting a zoo; however, there is a
>
> need to responsibly balance our rights of access with the rights of others.
>
> The Americans with Disabilities Act requires places of public accommodation
>
> to modify their policies, practices, and procedures, unless doing so would
>
> create a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be
>
> eliminated. Our goal is to help zoos learn how to eliminate the threats by
>
> desensitizing their animals to the presence of a dog. At the same time we
>
> need to remember that we are dealing with wild animals, and this may not
>
> always be possible. In such cases we are offering alternatives in an effort
>
> to help all service dog users have the optimal experience they are seeking.
>
> Dr. Killmar said that the San Diego Zoo has a web-based instructional
>
> platform where this curriculum could be made easily accessible to all
>
> personnel whose agencies subscribe to this service. As a member of the
>
> board of directors for the Florida Association of Museums, Mr. Pugh also
>
> said that this project could be a springboard for training other museums in
>
> the way to make their collections more accessible to the blind and
>
> otherwise disabled.
>
> By the time you read this article, we will have already begun our
>
> pilot training program with Lowry Park Zoo. We are beginning the process of
>
> preparing the grant proposal and identifying the necessary resources to
>
> carry out this project. These resources include videography and editing
>
> technicians, other types of service animal users, volunteers to assist in
>
> desensitization programs, other marketing channels, curriculum development,
>
> grant research and writing, and additional funding streams. As we move
>
> forward on this initiative, we intend to keep everyone abreast of the
>
> developments. The success of this project will depend upon a team effort.
>
> This team will likely expand as more zoos embrace the concepts for which we
>
> are advocating. The team will include more people becoming involved in
>
> staff training, those willing to invest time in the process of systematic
>
> desensitization, input on how our efforts are making a difference and where
>
> they need improvement, and other needs we will identify as they arise.
>
> If you have suggestions for this initiative or have a talent or
>
> expertise you would like to offer to the project, please feel free to
>
> contact us. Our email address is <info at nagdu.org>. You can also call us
>
> through the NAGDU Information and Advocacy Hotline at (888) NAGDU411 or
>
> (888) 624-3841.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Jonathan Mosen]
>
> NFB's iOS App Resolution: Some Perspective and Context
>
> by Jonathan Mosen
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: The name Jonathan Mosen is probably familiar to any of you
>
> who have owned a HumanWare product or a product from Freedom Scientific or
>
> have read advertisements from National Braille Press that feature books
>
> Jonathan has written about using the iPhone without vision. He lives in New
>
> Zealand and is a keen follower of everything happening in matters regarding
>
> the blind around the world. In this article, taken from a blog entry he
>
> made some time ago, he discusses the art of advocacy, negotiation, and
>
> determining what blind people need and how we should go about asking for
>
> it. What prompted his reflections was NFB resolution 2014-12, which said,
>
> "that this organization call upon Apple Inc. to work with the National
>
> Federation of the Blind to create and enforce policies, standards, and
>
> procedures to ensure the accessibility of all apps, including core apps
>
> distributed by Apple in the base iOS distribution, and to ensure that
>
> accessibility is not lost when an app is updated." Its passage seemed right
>
> and proper to some, and downright ungrateful to those who tend to see Apple
>
> as the leader in accessibility and consider anything we say about them as
>
> singling them out for criticism. The resolution also sparked discussion
>
> about the role of the National Federation of the Blind in bringing lawsuits
>
> to promote accessibility, with some coming down on the side of the
>
> Federation's being too eager to sue and others concluding just as strongly
>
> that the organization is not aggressive enough. Jonathan does not attempt
>
> to deal with this latter controversy, but he does a splendid job in talking
>
> about advocacy, responsibility, and respecting oneself enough to know that
>
> at times there is no substitute for confrontation, albeit polite and
>
> respectful. Here is what he says:
>
>
>
> Being a member of a minority is exhausting at times. Ignorance,
>
> discrimination (both inadvertent and deliberate), and barriers preventing
>
> us from realizing our full potential are problems we encounter regularly.
>
> These issues aren't unique to blind people or even to disabled people. I'm
>
> mindful as I write this of the recent fiftieth anniversary of the Civil
>
> Rights Act in the United States. It's a significant piece of legislation.
>
> It required bravery on the part of the legislators who passed it. Its
>
> principles met with considerable resistance, some of it violent. This post
>
> is a long one, because I believe the issues of self-advocacy, collective
>
> advocacy, what is worth fighting for, and what is not are all important to
>
> our sense of self-perception and our expectations of what constitutes our
>
> rightful place in society.
>
> I'd like to illustrate both the challenges and potential of advocacy
>
> by recalling a few issues on which I've worked over the years, remind you
>
> of the advocacy of other minorities, then take a look at the National
>
> Federation of the Blind's resolution on the accessibility of iOS apps in
>
> that context.
>
> Maybe before you took time out to read this post, you spent some time
>
> today reading a book. Perhaps it came from Bookshare or a special format
>
> library. We now have access to eBooks, and it's worth noting that access to
>
> the Kindle app was achieved after considerable collective advocacy efforts.
>
> Nevertheless, special-format libraries and repositories continue to play an
>
> important part in blind people's exercising our right to read. It wasn't
>
> always this easy for special-format organizations to get their material to
>
> you.
>
> In 1994 as the manager of government relations for the organization
>
> then known as the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, I oversaw a
>
> campaign of advocacy that took advantage of New Zealand's Copyright Act
>
> being rewritten. We believed that if an author published a book, it was
>
> being published for all the people to access. The status quo at that time
>
> was that, if the special-format library in New Zealand, and for that matter
>
> most other countries, wanted to make a book available in Braille or on
>
> talking book, they had to write a letter to the copyright holder asking for
>
> his or her permission. Sometimes those letters would sit on someone's desk
>
> for months and months. Eventually the library would get a reply. Most of
>
> the time the reply said "yes;" sometimes the request was declined, meaning
>
> blind people were deprived of access to that book.
>
> It seemed wrong to me that the process of making the book available
>
> in a special format, which is time-consuming in itself, was delayed by the
>
> need to seek permission. It was absolutely abhorrent to me that publishers
>
> felt they had the right to say "no."
>
> We began an advocacy campaign asking for a clause to be added to the
>
> Copyright Act giving blanket permission for recognized organizations for
>
> people with print disabilities to make books available in special formats,
>
> without having to seek the permission of the copyright holder first. The
>
> response of the publishers was ferocious. They blasted me and the campaign
>
> for a culture of entitlement. Worse, they called me a thief. One day I got
>
> a call from the representative of publishers who said, "So tell me, do you
>
> steal from everyone, or just from publishers?"
>
> There's no doubt we had gotten the publishers angry. But we calmly
>
> made our case to the people who mattered-legislators. We pointed out that
>
> the publishers weren't being required to pay for their material to be made
>
> available in special formats, that access to the printed word was just as
>
> important as access to the built environment. The legislators agreed, and
>
> the law was passed. It was groundbreaking, and in subsequent years I was
>
> approached by a number of organizations in multiple countries, including
>
> the United States, about how we concluded that advocacy effort successfully
>
> and how they might go about doing something similar.
>
> Ultimately that concept has now been enshrined in an international
>
> treaty. Something considered by some to be radical, over-reaching, and
>
> exhibiting entitlement just twenty years ago is now considered sound public
>
> policy, even by the publishers.
>
> Not long after that campaign was concluded successfully, I was being
>
> asked to front up on a range of current affairs shows over my campaign to
>
> repeal the law that arguably prohibited any blind person from serving on
>
> any jury. I debated the issue on radio with our minister of justice, who
>
> was staunchly opposed to any change in the law. In the most exciting of
>
> these appearances, I was debating one of New Zealand's top criminal
>
> lawyers, who was both patronizing and adamant on the subject. Sight, he
>
> said, was essential to serve on any jury. I put my case politely but
>
> forcefully.
>
> Afterwards the talk shows were full of it. There were a good number
>
> of people who talked about political correctness gone mad, asking why the
>
> Foundation was paying big money for this clown to alienate people, saying
>
> they'd never donate to the Foundation again. No matter how psychologically
>
> prepared you are for the onslaught, it's not easy being in the center of
>
> that kind of firestorm.
>
> However, legislators were watching. Enough had been persuaded by the
>
> logic of my argument that the law was changed. Now it's totally a non-
>
> issue. I could fill screens and screens with examples like this--examples
>
> of taking advocacy stances that were right but unpopular.
>
> All the vitriol I went through is totally insignificant compared with
>
> what racial minorities, such as blacks in the US, went through to secure
>
> their right to equality. There was no shortage of people who said, "If we
>
> don't want to serve blacks, that's our right. If we don't want blacks at
>
> our school, that's our right." If brave, great civil rights leaders had
>
> listened to those who were worried about how many white people civil rights
>
> campaigns were offending, what a much less equal world we'd have. Sometimes
>
> you have to take a stand, knowing it will offend. That's not to say you
>
> deliberately seek to offend. One is better respected, and furthers one's
>
> cause, when one is resolute but courteous.
>
> In the context of the resolution passed by NFB over the weekend
>
> asking that Apple require all iOS apps to be accessible, it really saddens
>
> me to see the number of young people on social networks, enjoying
>
> entitlements very hard fought for, slamming what they perceive to be the
>
> culture of entitlement pervasive in the resolution. Ironic, and sad. People
>
> seem to forget that in 2008 we had access to iTunes, at least in Windows,
>
> only thanks to the diligence of one man, Brian Hartgen. I seem to recall a
>
> lot of people complaining extremely vociferously about the cost he was
>
> charging to get some recompense for the hours and hours it took to make
>
> that dog's breakfast of an app usable.
>
> When Apple embarked on iTunes U and educational institutions began
>
> adopting it, iTunes became subject to federal law. The NFB of Massachusetts
>
> sued Apple, and also put pressure on universities not to use iTunes U until
>
> iTunes was fully accessible. NFB won that suit. Now blind people with a
>
> range of screen readers benefit daily from that advocacy, which some people
>
> criticized at the time.
>
> Can we express gratitude and request change at the same time? Yes, of
>
> course we can. NFB gave Apple an award in 2010 for the remarkable, life-
>
> changing introduction of VoiceOver to iOS. But we are customers. The money
>
> we pay for an iPhone or iPad is no less of value than the money a sighted
>
> person pays. We're perfectly entitled to strive for access to as many apps
>
> as we can get. Since the resolution was published ahead of the debate, a
>
> move for which I thank NFB since the debate was interesting, people have
>
> asked why Apple is being singled out. I think the reasons for that are
>
> twofold.
>
> First, more blind smartphone users are using iOS than any other
>
> platform, by virtue of how well Apple has done. Apple can and should be
>
> proud of that. Second and most significantly, no other app repository
>
> imposes as many criteria on app developers. Apps are rejected from the App
>
> Store for a bunch of reasons. Apple can decide the app adds no particular
>
> value. It can reject it for security reasons. It can decide the app is in
>
> bad taste or not family-friendly enough. Those of us who've been around a
>
> while may remember all the hassles Google had getting the Google Voice app
>
> into the App Store.
>
> So then the question is, why shouldn't accessibility be of greater
>
> concern? Some have said that the resolution's scope is totally unrealistic.
>
> They say that calling for all apps to be accessible is just nonsense. It
>
> can't be done, and it would be hard to police even if it could.
>
> Let me take the first part first. It can't be done? Yes, I agree with
>
> that. It can't. There are some apps so visual in nature and purpose that
>
> you're never going to make them accessible. If that's the case, why do I
>
> support the resolution? I support it because it's important to understand
>
> how advocacy works. You go into a negotiation with your very best case
>
> scenario on display. In an ideal world we'd like all apps to be accessible.
>
> I have no inside information, but I have concluded many successful advocacy
>
> campaigns, and I have no doubt that NFB will already be clear about where
>
> they'd be prepared to give ground. If Apple comes to the table, its
>
> starting position is likely to be that whether a third-party app is
>
> accessible or not is a matter for the developer in question, not Apple.
>
> Apple may well also have a compromise position of some kind in mind. It's
>
> an absolutely standard negotiating position.
>
> Second, how practical is the resolution, given that there are
>
> approximately 1.5 million apps in the store? There are plenty of automated
>
> testing tools in use in IT companies. They can certainly test for textual
>
> labels on buttons, although I agree it would have to be a clever testing
>
> tool to try and ascertain whether the text was helpful. Tricky, but Apple
>
> has some of the best software engineers in the world.
>
> I can remember some years ago when web accessibility campaigns were
>
> in their infancy. Many people were complaining then about how unnecessary
>
> and politically correct web accessibility was because they just knew blind
>
> people would never go to their website anyway. Then Dreamweaver, a popular
>
> web authoring tool, added warnings when developers tried to save a page
>
> that contained links or graphics without ALT text. A warning would pop-up
>
> telling developers that it looked like they were about to create an
>
> inaccessible page, and did they really want to do that. Adding a similar
>
> warning to Apple's developer tools could make a huge difference.
>
> It's true that automated testing tools and warnings when developers
>
> create an app are not a panacea. Perhaps some additional blind people might
>
> be employed to further Apple's efforts here. And, if a few more of the
>
> capable, tech-savvy blind people I know who are struggling to find work
>
> could get those jobs, I'm all for that.
>
> Some people have said how sad it is that NFB is showing such
>
> ingratitude, that they're alienating developers, the very people we need to
>
> have on our side. As you may know, I set up a company earlier this year,
>
> Appcessible, where a bunch of blind people help app developers with
>
> accessibility. It's rewarding work, and I find it satisfying because, if I
>
> see a problem, I always try to find a constructive way of being part of the
>
> solution. But no matter how hard we at Appcessible try, how hard you try as
>
> an individual who contacts a developer, it's a humongous task. You'll have
>
> successes, and you'll have setbacks, but there's a wider principle to be
>
> defended here.
>
> The status quo is that app developers can say, "If we don't wish to
>
> accommodate blind people, that's our right." Sound familiar? It should.
>
> It's a similar argument to that which was used against blacks in 1964. Deaf
>
> people have been criticized for their efforts to have every single movie
>
> captioned on Netflix. Wheelchair users were criticized for getting
>
> legislation passed requiring all public buildings to be physically
>
> accessible. Building owners objected, saying no disabled people come here
>
> anyway, so why should I bother? The irony is, disabled people didn't go
>
> there because they couldn't.
>
> Many app developers either don't know blind people are using
>
> VoiceOver, think we only use special apps, or think that we don't want to
>
> use their particular app. We're a low-incidence population, so
>
> misconceptions are common. And that's yet another reason why this
>
> resolution has been a great move. I've read a number of tech publications
>
> this morning where a story about the resolution is running. I figured it
>
> would get out there eventually, which is why those who thought the
>
> resolution made no difference were naive and didn't understand the media
>
> clout of an organization like NFB.
>
> Of course there are those reacting badly. As I've sought to
>
> illustrate, nothing worth winning in this world was ever won without
>
> objection, so I'm relaxed about that. But you know what's good? People are
>
> talking about app accessibility in the mainstream. Some of the commenters
>
> are educating the ignorant about how powerful VoiceOver is, what blind
>
> people are doing with iPhones, and how relatively easy it is to make an app
>
> accessible. Sure, there'll be people who will never be persuaded, but today
>
> more people are a little more informed about accessibility than yesterday.
>
> Some have objected strongly to a quotation in the Reuters piece on
>
> NFB's resolution in which an affiliate board member mentioned the potential
>
> of a lawsuit on this issue. I listened to the debate carefully on Saturday,
>
> and the question of a lawsuit didn't come up. I also know from experience
>
> that, once a story gets into the wild, news agencies will contact people
>
> they have on file, who may not necessarily be an authorized spokesperson
>
> for the organization. That's just the nature of the media. Once the story
>
> gets out there, you can't control who they talk to.
>
> I realize I've written a bit of a novel here, but I really want to
>
> try the best I can to illustrate to younger people in particular why many
>
> of the accommodations they enjoy today, such as the course they're
>
> studying, the job they're doing, the vocational choices they have, were
>
> achieved over the opposition of some often powerful forces. We need to be
>
> far less worried about what others think and more concerned with a
>
> considered position on what we believe the place of blind people in society
>
> to be. Do we have sufficient self-worth that we're willing to do what it
>
> takes to achieve equality, even when it necessitates ruffling a few
>
> feathers, or are we content to languish in our mediocrity and accept being
>
> rebuffed?
>
> In this case I think NFB made the right call. Maybe Apple will come
>
> to the table, maybe it won't. But already more people are aware of
>
> accessibility than they were before this resolution. If Apple does engage,
>
> the outcome won't be that every single app will be accessible, but with
>
> good will on both sides, progress will be made. Then, in twenty years,
>
> people will be trying to remember why it was ever contentious.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Jamie Allison]
>
> Advice to the Rookies from a Rookie
>
> by Jamie Allison
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Jamie Allison is a member of the National Federation of
>
> the Blind of South Carolina, the president of the Cherokee County chapter,
>
> the coordinator of their recently concluded BELL program, and, from what I
>
> can tell, a delightfully well-organized human being who believes that good
>
> organization can maximize one's enjoyment of our convention and has taken
>
> the time to share some of her tips. Here is what she says:
>
>
>
> I was proud to represent my local chapter and my state at the 2014
>
> National Convention, celebrating the 74th anniversary of the Federation's
>
> founding, this year in Orlando, Florida. I was encouraged to submit a
>
> request for the Jernigan Scholarship and was honored to receive it. I also
>
> had the mentorship of several experienced Federationists who have attended
>
> national conventions in the past. I learned an immense amount of
>
> information during convention on a variety of subjects, but more
>
> importantly, I learned more about my own potential as a blind person. I
>
> often thought about and even dreamed of attending a national convention in
>
> the years prior to my attendance in 2014. Now that this dream has been
>
> realized, I want to share some of what I learned with the next class of
>
> rookies.
>
> First, accept from the beginning that you can't possibly do it all. I
>
> found that, even with meticulous preplanning and prioritizing, there is no
>
> way to do everything that is available. Begin studying the agenda once it
>
> has been released. It will take several readings in order to get a feel for
>
> the choices you will be making. I would also advise making an
>
> individualized itinerary. I did this with a simple Microsoft Word document
>
> containing the times and locations for the events that I felt were most
>
> important. Later I Brailled an abbreviated hard copy of this information to
>
> carry with me. This made things a bit simpler for me because I didn't have
>
> to consult the entire agenda to refresh my memory on when and where my
>
> priority events would be.
>
> Think of your itinerary as a fluid plan. Give yourself the
>
> flexibility to adjust it as needed. Items that don't seem interesting at
>
> first may become more inviting after hearing about someone else's
>
> experience with them once you're at the convention. You may also find that
>
> some of the ones you thought were good choices may not be as good after
>
> all. Look for the ones with repeat sessions and schedule them around the
>
> ones that don't repeat.
>
> Have a place to keep all of your materials for the convention within
>
> easy reach. I created a Dropbox folder for electronic files of agendas,
>
> itineraries, and other information. I also kept my Braille agenda and a
>
> folder with hard copies of such documents in one place in my hotel room. I
>
> did not have to take every document to every event, but having one place to
>
> store them made it much easier to put my hands on them when needed.
>
> You will definitely want some sort of bag to carry things from one
>
> event to another. Thankfully, tote bags were a frequent free item. Some of
>
> the state affiliates sold small drawstring backpacks in the exhibit hall. I
>
> bought one to use during the week and noticed a lot of other people doing
>
> the same thing.
>
> Plan ahead for what you need to pack. Casual clothing will get you
>
> through the better part of the week, but you do need to dress appropriately
>
> for the banquet. Don't forget to bring a swimsuit if you plan to go to the
>
> pool. Towels and linens are usually provided, so concentrate on the other
>
> things you will need. Remember to leave some room in your suitcase in case
>
> you do any shopping, either at the exhibit hall or away from the
>
> convention. UPS boxes were also sold in the exhibit hall. I found that to
>
> be very helpful because I sent some of the bulkier items home that way,
>
> rather than putting them into my luggage. However, I did have to remember
>
> to drop it off at a designated time and place before I left.
>
> You also need to consider the fatigue factor. The convention is more
>
> like a marathon than a sprint, especially if you plan to be there from
>
> seminar day through the banquet. Try to get extra rest in the week or two
>
> prior to the convention, and allow yourself a couple of recovery days
>
> afterward if you can. If you are not directly responsible for overseeing
>
> the travel, try to get some sleep while en route and as you go home. Don't
>
> forget to plan some blocks of time when you can relax during convention
>
> week. If you are the type of person who needs a break from the crowded
>
> meeting rooms, elevators, and restaurants, plan some times when you can be
>
> by yourself for a few minutes. Bring lunch up to your hotel room or better
>
> yet, make a trip to a nearby store and grab items you can use for impromptu
>
> meals once you're there. This is a much less expensive option than buying
>
> all your meals at the hotel, as well as providing an opportunity for a
>
> break for yourself. Make use of the pool area and exercise facilities in
>
> between or after meetings. This is very important to help balance the
>
> amount of time you spend sitting in one place. As contrary as this idea may
>
> seem, this will actually help keep you from feeling the fatigue as badly.
>
> I would also advise you to be mindful of your sleep schedule. It is
>
> hard to turn down the request for a late-night visit with a friend you just
>
> met or to cut the conversation short if you're doing some networking. If
>
> you are one of those fortunate souls with a high energy level and can
>
> function on a handful of hours sleep for a few consecutive nights, you'll
>
> most likely be fine-maybe a little frazzled by the last day or two. For
>
> those of us who have medical conditions that affect rate of fatigue, it is
>
> vitally important that we pay attention to what our body is telling us. You
>
> may have to pare down some of the items on your itinerary or leave the
>
> evening's activities before you're really ready, but it would be no fun to
>
> spend the last couple of days stuck in your room from being sick as a
>
> result of overdoing it. If you take medicine, be sure to bring enough with
>
> you for the entire trip and perhaps some extra in case there are unforeseen
>
> delays.
>
> Don't forget to stay hydrated. There is a lot of sitting, but you
>
> must sometimes walk a considerable distance between events. It might be
>
> helpful to bring bottled water with you for seminar day or evening
>
> activities. There were plenty of water stations just outside the convention
>
> hall during general sessions, so it isn't necessary to buy bottled water
>
> during those unless you really don't like moving from your seat during
>
> meetings. It's also perfectly fine to get up during meetings to stretch or
>
> use the restroom. Just be as discreet as you are able. I found it easier to
>
> do this if I chose a seat near the back of the room, at the end of a row,
>
> and preferably near a corner. This may not work if you wish to sit with
>
> your state's delegation. If you have a guide dog, I would also caution you
>
> not to position your dog directly next to a doorway, since there will be
>
> people needing to get in and out of the room. And, of course, be mindful of
>
> noise-emitting devices during sessions and meetings. It is wise to bring a
>
> set of headphones for your phone or notetaker. If you must take a call,
>
> please leave the room.
>
> A good piece of advice I give to families with more than one adult
>
> attending is that you have the advantage of doing some turn taking. If two
>
> items are happening simultaneously that are both important, families have
>
> the ability to "divide and conquer." It's also possible for one parent to
>
> stay in the room with a child that may be over-tired or fussy while the
>
> other attends meetings. Those roles can be swapped so that both spouses get
>
> a break and the chance to do things.
>
> I would also encourage first-time attendees to go to the Rookie
>
> Roundup. You will receive a warm welcome, lots of useful information, and a
>
> ribbon for your name tag that lets others know you are a first-timer. I
>
> also would encourage you not to overlook the other seminars held just
>
> before and during the general sessions. I attended many of the NOPBC
>
> (National Organization of Parents of Blind Children) and PIBE
>
> (Professionals in Blindness Education) sessions and found them very useful.
>
> The cane walk and the Braille book fair should definitely be on almost
>
> everyone's itinerary.
>
> Also know ahead of time that many state affiliates and divisions use
>
> the convention to fundraise. You will be asked many times if you would like
>
> to purchase an item, make a donation, or buy a raffle ticket. I was told to
>
> budget ahead for this, and that was extremely helpful. It's very hard to
>
> refuse, especially when it's a cute child making the request, and it often
>
> is. I kept a ziplock bag with my budgeted amount of money for this in one-
>
> and five-dollar bills. It went with me almost everywhere. Then, when I
>
> purchased tickets for a raffle, the tickets also went into this bag so that
>
> they didn't get lost in the shuffle. This was helpful in several ways, not
>
> only as an organizational tool, but as a way to gauge how much money I had
>
> spent for this type of thing. When I started to run low, I was more
>
> conservative in my purchasing. When I ran out, I didn't feel bad about
>
> declining a purchase, knowing that I had already used what had been
>
> budgeted for this. Once or twice I reached into my "miscellaneous" budgeted
>
> monies when motivated to help a certain division that I felt strongly
>
> about.
>
> This leads me to my next piece of advice. As soon as you know you are
>
> going, make a budget. Put it in writing in whatever format you're used to
>
> using and include everything-transportation, lodging, food, registration
>
> and banquet fees, donations and sales, miscellaneous spending, and
>
> admission costs for activities or meetings that require it. Ask veteran
>
> attendees how much one should budget for certain items. Increase that
>
> amount by a few dollars as a cushion. Have an emergency fund (or if you
>
> have the ability and don't mind doing so, assign a credit card to use) to
>
> cover anything that you may not have planned for. Once you decide how much
>
> you think you need to budget for each item, try not to exceed this amount
>
> significantly. Think about sharing the cost of the hotel room. This
>
> decreases the amount you pay for lodging significantly. Our state also
>
> rents a charter bus for its members who help fundraise to offset the cost
>
> during the year. Members can ride it to and from the convention at a
>
> reduced price.
>
> Be mindful of freebies. There will be many of these opportunities
>
> around, but you have to be observant to find them. I was able to RSVP for a
>
> free breakfast and information session put on by the American Foundation
>
> for the Blind. The food was delicious, and the information was interesting.
>
> There were also tote bags and other items at events or in the exhibit hall.
>
> Bookshare.org had freebies for its clients, which turned out to be
>
> extremely useful.
>
> I also encourage you to go to the banquet. If you plan to apply for
>
> the Jernigan Scholarship, this is a requirement. It is also one of the key
>
> portions of the convention, and you'll feel a stronger connection with the
>
> organization if you are able to attend. However, this is probably the most
>
> expensive item for the week other than lodging, transportation to and from
>
> the hotel, and food. It is worth the cost to attend, whether this is your
>
> first or your fiftieth convention.
>
> I hope the information that I have shared will make your first
>
> convention easier. I definitely encourage everyone to attend, especially if
>
> you have read about past conventions and thought it would be interesting or
>
> fun to go. Even if you already consider yourself an old pro at being blind,
>
> you will learn things that will challenge you to be more independent. There
>
> is something there for everyone, and I guarantee that by the end of the
>
> week you'll learn something new about yourself and your own abilities that
>
> will surprise you.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Daniel B. Frye]
>
> Normal
>
> by Daniel B. Frye
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Dan Frye is the executive director of the New Jersey
>
> Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI), the state agency
>
> responsible for providing vocational rehabilitation, independent living,
>
> education, and eye-health services to blind and vision-impaired residents
>
> of New Jersey. Prior to his role with CBVI, Dan served for three years as
>
> the national manager of the Randolph-Sheppard Program and grants officer
>
> for the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults at the
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration. An active Federationist at the
>
> local, state, and national levels since his childhood in South Carolina in
>
> 1982, Dan worked on the NFB's national staff from 2005 to 2010 in our
>
> Affiliate Action Department and as associate editor and editor of the
>
> Braille Monitor. Finally, from 2002 to 2005 Dan served as national advocate
>
> for the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand (ABC NZ), where he
>
> used his skill as a Federation-trained advocate and graduate of law school
>
> to promote the legislative and political agenda of the ABC NZ membership.
>
> Throughout his adulthood Dan has been involved with Democratic politics,
>
> the Unitarian-Universalist community, and Lionism. He and his wife Renee
>
> reside in Newark, New Jersey. Here is what he says about his college
>
> experience and learning to fit in:
>
>
>
> Soccer was the dominant sport played and appreciated at Erskine
>
> College, the small, four-year liberal arts institution where I earned my
>
> undergraduate degree. During freshman orientation it was made clear to
>
> everybody, sports enthusiast or not, that support of, if not involvement
>
> in, Erskine's extracurricular point of pride was important. Much of
>
> community life and campus spirit were influenced by the success or failure
>
> of our Single A, championship-caliber women's soccer team. As a matter of
>
> course then, we were all made familiar with the location of the soccer
>
> field in the sleepy little town of Due West, South Carolina, and it was
>
> there that we, as newly admitted students to Erskine College, pledged our
>
> allegiance to the Flying Fleet.
>
> Founded in 1840, Erskine enjoys the distinction of being the oldest
>
> private college in South Carolina. It was and remains a small school,
>
> enrolling approximately eight hundred students while I was there.
>
> Generations of families sent their offspring to Erskine to study but also,
>
> it seemed to me, to honor their heritage and institutional tradition. In
>
> such an intimate environment, situated in a small southern town
>
> characterized by charm and a unique regional culture, the arrival on the
>
> scene of a blind freshman with no identifiable ties to the community must
>
> have been jarring for campus residents so steeped in an ethos of custom and
>
> conformity.
>
> Motivated in part by an adolescent desire to fit in, but also by an
>
> interest in demonstrating that there was nothing inherently abnormal about
>
> being blind, I immediately immersed myself in the college life. I sought
>
> and secured election to the Student Senate as a freshman and then served
>
> during my last three years of college on the Student Judicial Council, the
>
> entity charged with hearing and resolving student infractions. Loving to
>
> sing, I auditioned and was accepted as a member of the Erskine College
>
> Choraleers, a show choir that annually toured and served as a musical
>
> ambassador for the school. Wanting to develop my skill as a writer further,
>
> I volunteered as a reporter for the Erskine College Mirror and was
>
> ultimately given the opportunity to write my own weekly column,
>
> "Spotlight," featuring accomplished members of the student body.
>
> In order to help pay my way through college, I worked as a tutor in
>
> the Office of Academic Counseling Services. Among all these obligations I
>
> worked in time to study so that I could actually earn the degree for which
>
> I came to college.
>
> Gradually I managed to integrate into the social microcosm of Erskine
>
> life with a measure of success. Along the way, though, I had to engage in a
>
> great deal of public education about blindness. I explained and
>
> demonstrated, for instance, that I could independently carry my own tray in
>
> the college cafeteria without problem or incident. Additionally, professors
>
> prompted by a misdirected sense of benevolence, would occasionally offer to
>
> exempt me from performing assignments which they believed to be beyond the
>
> ability of a blind student. I would explain that it was important for me to
>
> complete comparable tasks in order to receive credit for my coursework.
>
> These and other lessons helped to increase the respect for and expectations
>
> of blind people in the Erskine community.
>
> On a crisp fall Friday evening in my senior year of college, I was
>
> walking up Main Street in pursuit of a sub sandwich for supper at the
>
> Station, a refurbished gas station turned take-out deli. As I walked this
>
> familiar route, I could hear music wafting from the seminary as I passed
>
> and loud cheering from the soccer field about a half mile away. Otherwise
>
> the evening was quiet, and I was intent on grabbing a bite to eat and
>
> relaxing after an intense week of school. The streets and sidewalks were
>
> vacant except for an occasional passing car. My mind was far away in
>
> thought as I soaked up the familiar sounds and smells of my fourth autumn
>
> in Due West.
>
> Suddenly my attention was captured by a persistent honking horn and
>
> shouted inquiries from several rather intoxicated students visiting from a
>
> neighboring college. Out of the opened window of their noisy automobile,
>
> they asked, "Hey, where's the soccer field?" I stopped, gave them the
>
> driving directions, and they were off as abruptly as they had appeared.
>
> As I finished my walk and returned to my dorm room, I reflected on
>
> the simple but significant interaction that had occurred earlier. Sighted
>
> people, driving along, observed me comfortably engaging in my community and
>
> asked if I could be of assistance to them. I responded appropriately with
>
> the desired information, and we went our separate ways.
>
> Frequently as a blind person I have been subtly discouraged from
>
> contributing to the social intercourse of my world by those who harbor low
>
> expectations of blind people or who simply are unaware of our community's
>
> diverse aptitude. Often the reservation stems from a desire to make things
>
> as easy as possible for the blind person or from a general sense of
>
> discomfort caused by limited exposure to blind people. In short,
>
> misinformation, low expectations, and a genuine kindness are regularly the
>
> culprits for our restricted opportunity to contribute in an unobtrusive way
>
> to the normal course of affairs. The final factor in this diminishment, as
>
> I pondered this topic on that memorable Friday evening, has to be our own
>
> complacency resulting from teaching that encourages blind people to accept
>
> assistance more often than we are urged to give it. So I resolved that
>
> evening to carry my luggage, answer questions in a crowd, help others as it
>
> was needed, and generally not take for granted the importance to a blind
>
> person of acting normally. I recognized then and there the value of
>
> engaging in such simple but significant social interactions as a way to
>
> advance our integration as blind people into the larger world. The
>
> direction I offered to the soccer-seeking students, while not profound, may
>
> have helped them understand the innate normalcy of blind people. I was glad
>
> to have been there to answer their question.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Cindy Bennett]
>
> Coming to See the Unfairness of Paying Less than the Minimum Wage
>
> by Cindy Bennett
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: Cindy Bennett is the recently elected treasurer of the
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Washington, a winner of a 2014 National
>
> Federation of the Blind Scholarship, and a woman whose intention is to work
>
> in the field of adaptive technology for the blind. Every challenge she has
>
> in getting equal access to her coursework serves as one more affirmation
>
> that she has chosen the correct field and that the efforts of her labor and
>
> the intelligence she brings to the world are being properly focused.
>
> Because she is socially conscious enough to be concerned with more than her
>
> own narrow self-interest, Cindy shares her budding awareness about the
>
> unfairness of paying less than the minimum wage in an email post to the
>
> National Association of Blind Students (NABS) listserv. Here is what she
>
> says:
>
>
>
> The first I heard about the fair wages initiative was at the 2011
>
> National Convention. It was my first convention, and I was astonished that
>
> we cared about solving a problem experienced by those with disabilities who
>
> did not have hope of gaining anything better based on their lack of
>
> potential. I heard about the initiative again from our national
>
> representative at the NFB of Minnesota state convention and at the North
>
> Carolina state convention; I was attending BLIND Inc. and had the good
>
> fortune to attend both. Anil Lewis happened to be in Minneapolis for some
>
> reason and ran a seminar for the students at BLIND Inc. Surprise! It too
>
> was on the subminimum wage issue. I was annoyed at this point. I felt like
>
> people were yelling at me to just believe that it was wrong, and I didn't
>
> listen because my only experiences with people tagged as having multiple
>
> disabilities were at events where they were tokens for fundraising purposes
>
> or visiting a class or something.
>
> I was a National Association of Blind Students representative at the
>
> NFB of Michigan convention later that fall, and Anil Lewis was the national
>
> representative. I had finally had enough, so I cornered him and asked him
>
> why the NFB expected its members to take action based only on moral
>
> arguments, when no one had ever presented me with any facts on which to
>
> act.
>
> Since then I have seen numerous emails and stories filled with facts
>
> and figures that expose the fallacy that special wage certificates are in
>
> place for the good of those with disabilities. Not only did my
>
> confrontation help to change my mind about the rightness of pressing for
>
> the minimum wage for everyone, but it also convinced me that this is an
>
> organization in which what I say means something. I expressed a concern to
>
> a national leader, he listened and understood the value of what I and
>
> others were suggesting, and then he acted to address our concerns.
>
> If it isn't abundantly clear from what I've already said, I too, at
>
> first was very skeptical about the relevance of this issue in the National
>
> Federation of the-let's hear it-Blind-not Blind with other disabilities-and
>
> about whether it was actually unfair, discriminatory, and immoral.
>
> Many entities justify their special wage certificate because they
>
> claim they are a training center for people with disabilities. If that is
>
> so, then you would expect trained people to depart such a center or at
>
> least move up in the ranks. At our NFB training centers, our students don't
>
> stay forever. Although we don't train students for one specific job, we
>
> have success rates of over 90 percent of our graduates finding jobs or
>
> going to school within a year of graduating from a center. I will echo
>
> others in noting that several students at our training centers have
>
> disabilities in addition to blindness. In contrast, only 5 percent of
>
> workers at these so-called sheltered workshops/training centers with their
>
> special wage certificates ever seek other employment.
>
> Another argument is that passing legislation will mean that all
>
> people with disabilities working under the Section 14(c) provision of the
>
> Fair Labor Standards Act will lose their jobs. I agree with Arielle
>
> Silverman, the former president of the National Association of Blind
>
> Students, when she observes that, if employers do this, it is because they
>
> are prejudiced against workers with disabilities. It is obvious that these
>
> companies operate just fine, given they are able to pay exorbitant
>
> executive salaries.
>
> A great example of this phenomenon occurred at the state convention
>
> of the NFB of Washington in 2012. BISM in Maryland, the Chicago Lighthouse
>
> for the Blind, and the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind voluntarily
>
> forfeited their special wage certificates and committed to pay all workers
>
> at least the minimum wage. We thanked the CEO of the Seattle Lighthouse at
>
> our convention. He gave a report, as he does each year, and mentioned that
>
> the company was operating on a $54 million budget. He later mentioned that
>
> the transition would be difficult because it was costing the Lighthouse $60
>
> thousand a year to raise everyone's wage to at least the minimum. A little
>
> math easily shows that this is just over one-tenth of 1 percent of their
>
> $54 million operating budget.
>
> If a company is having difficulty making less than a one-tenth of 1
>
> percent increase in its cost, then they have bigger problems. I would
>
> contend that the real transition is in attitudes rather than finances.
>
> Paying people ethically does not cost these companies; these are not mom-
>
> and-pop shops employing people with disabilities at subminimum wage; these
>
> are often conglomerate workshops that take advantage of the provision to
>
> get nice perks like preferential contracts, which means they have to do
>
> less work to receive more business, and people with disabilities are an
>
> easy ticket to such a provision.
>
> For those that think this plight affects only those with multiple
>
> disabilities, you should be informed that our own NABS president, Sean
>
> Whalen, worked for subminimum wages at a sheltered workshop. He is now
>
> pursuing a master's in public policy from Harvard, but at the time his
>
> community believed that such a job was his only hope. He talked about this
>
> in his 2012 presidential report at the annual business meeting of NABS at
>
> the national convention. Similarly, there was a news special done months
>
> ago about a couple in Montana working for subminimum wages. If they have
>
> additional disabilities, they did not choose to disclose anything other
>
> than blindness in the news story.
>
> However, I think this is irrelevant. We just had a discussion on the
>
> listserv of the National Association of Blind Students about working harder
>
> to include people who have disabilities in addition to blindness in the
>
> NFB. This fight is a direct way we are doing this. We believe that people
>
> with all types of disabilities can achieve adequate productivity in society
>
> with the proper training and opportunity. We highlight this in many of our
>
> major speeches. In an article about Walgreens hiring people with
>
> disabilities, mention is made of using simple organization strategies like
>
> colors, food items, or animals to help people whose understanding is not
>
> adequately communicated through lettered signage. The Walgreens article
>
> also mentioned several times that hiring people with disabilities was an
>
> experiment, and, if the workers did not meet their standards, they would
>
> let them go. My favorite part of the article, the one that really resonates
>
> with me as an accessibility researcher, is that the methods used to assist
>
> those with disabilities actually helped everyone.
>
> Another thing I have wondered is whether some of these people with
>
> disabilities even understood what minimum wage is at the time they agreed
>
> to work for it. There is an inherent problem with this. We have legislation
>
> protecting those who cannot manage their own lives against abuse, and, if
>
> caregivers can be convicted for squandering their clients' money, how can a
>
> business be given the opportunity to take direct advantage of someone who
>
> doesn't know the system? What is more is that this idea is unrealistic.
>
> Many earners of subminimum wage know it and are brainwashed to believe they
>
> are not worth more. I heard these exact words said by a woman who attended
>
> the NFB of Oregon state convention. She interrupted Parnell Diggs's update
>
> about the fair wages initiative to say that she had other disabilities and
>
> mental health instability that prevent her from being productive enough to
>
> be worth paying the minimum wage. It sure seems like her employer does not
>
> fit the propaganda about the happy places that just love giving people with
>
> disabilities opportunity and increasing self-esteem. They have clearly
>
> exaggerated what society already tells her: as someone with a disability,
>
> she really isn't worth much, and she should be thankful for the charitable
>
> saviors who give her some way to spend her sad life. I don't see anyone
>
> going through tests to gauge whether they are worth anything.
>
> All workers except people with disabilities are entitled to the
>
> minimum wage if they get a job. So this is about equality. And, if there is
>
> someone who-after being put through appropriate training and after being
>
> given appropriate opportunity-does not perform to company standards or who
>
> chooses not to work, then, disability or not, I do not believe he or she
>
> should be working at that job. I think that this will constitute a small
>
> minority of people with disabilities.
>
> The essential question is whether it is okay to give someone
>
> something to do just to keep him or her occupied, when others doing that
>
> same something are given a proper wage. I have to wonder how unproductive
>
> these employees actually are. I wonder if the issue lies more with the
>
> inside-the-box training that is too often provided, in lieu of training
>
> that really meets the needs of the disabled people seeking work.
>
> It is true that some employers pay their workers without disabilities
>
> based on productivity; it's called commission. Right-to-work states also
>
> require service industry workers like restaurant servers to count tips as
>
> part of their wage. But this has nothing to do with Section 14(c), which
>
> discriminates against a select group of individuals simply because they
>
> have a disability-not because they are less productive, but because they
>
> are disabled; productivity tests are implemented as a mechanism to
>
> determine wages; the certificates are not made for "less productive
>
> people."
>
> It wasn't long ago that we treated other groups like this. I have
>
> watched several World War II videos about how to train a woman to work.
>
> They became popular when many women went to work to replace the men who had
>
> gone to fight. The videos were littered with misconceptions such as the
>
> need to be softer on a woman, the importance of not expecting as much out
>
> of her, and remembering not to expect her to understand higher level
>
> thinking. This sounds inane now, but we are still behind as a society when
>
> it comes to the perceptions of what people with disabilities can contribute
>
> to the workplace and society.
>
> Some think it is utopian to think that legislation will solve the
>
> problem, and in some ways it is. And that is why the NFB also does other
>
> things, such as creating quality training for blind people and working with
>
> other companies and organizations who exemplify similar ideals to prove
>
> that the legislation should create rather than stifle opportunities. Some
>
> companies will choose to continue their prejudiced behavior against people
>
> with disabilities, but I would like to learn more about how realistic this
>
> is. It sounds to me like preferential contracts are pretty desirable, and
>
> any reputable companies that laid off a ton of workers with disabilities
>
> would get deplorable publicity.
>
> If you think the NFB is crazy for believing in the capabilities of
>
> the disabled, then consider that President Obama included workers with
>
> disabilities in his recent executive order raising the minimum wage for all
>
> workers under federal contracts. Similarly, over fifty organizations made
>
> up of and for people with disabilities have joined the NFB in the effort to
>
> phase out Section 14(c).
>
> So I challenge anyone who justifies the subminimum wage to take a
>
> good hard look at the sheltered workshops which employ it-their tax-exempt
>
> status, their preference in getting government contracts, their charitable
>
> solicitations, and their inflated salaries, and then tell me with a
>
> straight face that you believe it would be a hardship to pay at least the
>
> minimum wage to the blind and the otherwise-disabled who live in our world,
>
> share our expenses, and have the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations as do
>
> the rest of us. We can do better; we will do better!
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO/CAPTION: Eric Woods]
>
> Blindness Cured?
>
> And Thank You for It
>
> by Eric Woods
>
>
>
> >From the Editor: This article is taken from the 2013 Holiday Issue of the
>
> Blind Coloradan. Included is the editor's note written by Kevan Worley.
>
> Here is Kevan's introduction:
>
>
>
>
>
> Eric Woods is a longtime Federationist and a member of the NFB of
>
> Colorado board of directors. As a blind adult he has been an
>
> industrial arts instructor. He has worked as a counselor and role
>
> model for hundreds of blind youth. Many of our readers know Eric as a
>
> guitar player, singer, and songwriter. Eric regularly performs in the
>
> Americana group Stray Dog. We are thankful for Eric's reflections
>
> during this time of celebration and Thanksgiving. Here is what he
>
> says:
>
>
>
> It being the holiday season, and especially Thanksgiving, I find
>
> myself, as many of us do around this time of year, putting the giving of
>
> thanks that is in my heart into words. I've had what most people around the
>
> world would consider to be a blessed existence, at least comparatively so-
>
> decent up-bringing, opportunities, plenty of good food and friends, and
>
> sometimes more than enough beer. For all these things I am quite thankful.
>
> But as I get older, not only in my overall years of life but also in the
>
> increasing number of years which I have been blind, I find that my hopes
>
> for the future and my thankfulness for all I've been lucky enough to
>
> receive have simplified some. I imagine that this is not altogether
>
> uncommon.
>
> When I was a little boy, I had such dreams: dreams that very few could
>
> ever obtain, but the stuff that makes youngsters bounce around and would
>
> likely lead to discouragement if I dreamt them at a later age. I wanted to
>
> win Wimbledon. I wanted to play second base for a World Series winning ball
>
> club. I wanted to be a rock star and have countless busty chicks trying to
>
> tackle me on the street. Nobody will be surprised to realize that not even
>
> a whiff of these or similar dreams came true, though I once was knocked
>
> over by two women coming out of a Walmart.
>
> Gradually we all realize the differences between dreams and reality. I
>
> had given up the pie-in-the-sky sort of dreams for a regular existence, and
>
> I was fine with that. I was about where I wanted to be at that stage in my
>
> life when I went blind. After going blind, I wanted to be cured, and, God
>
> knows I would have been thankful. Of course I was cured shortly thereafter-
>
> at least I began the curing process, though I didn't quite understand how
>
> all that was happening at the time.
>
> Initially I wanted my eyes back in good working order, but really that
>
> was just the physical cause of my problems, not the underlying
>
> manifestation of my situation. I wanted to feel normal again. It wasn't
>
> that I couldn't see a book or a newspaper; it's that I suddenly had no
>
> means of reading any longer. It wasn't that I couldn't see the grocery
>
> store; rather, it was that I had no way of getting there. I wanted to feel
>
> good about myself, and I didn't. I wanted to feel optimistic about the rest
>
> of my life, and I couldn't. I wanted to be a normal guy again, and I didn't
>
> know how.
>
> God never chose to give me my sight back. Doctors couldn't medicate or
>
> operate my eyes back into usefulness. Scientists and engineers had no
>
> solutions. After some time of feeling despair and desperation, I did find a
>
> cure of sorts. My eyes are not healed, but the hole I felt in my soul over
>
> the loss of sight I experienced as a young man has been filled with
>
> countless caring men and women. I have known them for many years now. I am
>
> thankful for them. I feel good about myself. I read books and newspapers
>
> again and feel optimistic about my remaining time. I am a normal guy. Thank
>
> you, National Federation of the Blind, with all your individual, local,
>
> state, and national components. You have done this for me. I will never be
>
> able to thank you enough.
>
> ----------
>
> Recipes
>
>
>
> This month's recipes are offered by members of the NFB of Pennsylvania.
>
>
>
> Sugar Melts
>
> by Antoinette (Toni) Whaley
>
>
>
> Antoinette (Toni) Whaley is the current treasurer of the NFB of
>
> Pennsylvania. She is also the treasurer of NAGDU and the president of the
>
> Pennsylvania Association of Guide Dog Users. This recipe comes from her
>
> Aunt Babs.
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 1 cup butter
>
> 1 cup sugar
>
> 1 cup confectioner's sugar
>
> 1 cup oil
>
> 2 eggs
>
> 4 1/2 cups flour
>
> 1 teaspoon baking soda
>
> 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
>
> 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
>
> 1/2 cup almonds or walnuts, finely ground
>
>
>
> Method: Cream the butter, sugars, and oil. Beat until well blended.
>
> Add one egg at a time, blending well after each addition. In another bowl
>
> combine flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Add to butter mixture, and
>
> mix until blended. Add extract and nuts, and mix well. Cover and place into
>
> refrigerator for two hours or overnight. Form dough into one-inch balls.
>
> Roll in granulated sugar and place on lightly greased baking sheet. Using a
>
> glass with a decorative bottom dipped in water and sugar, press into
>
> cookies. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for twelve to fifteen minutes or
>
> until brown around the edges. Makes about 100 cookies.
>
> ----------
>
> Sour Cream Pound Cake
>
> by Antoinette (Toni) Whaley
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 1 cup butter
>
> 1 1/4 cups sugar
>
> 2 eggs
>
> 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
>
> 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
>
> 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
>
> 1 cup sour cream
>
> 2 cups sifted flour
>
>
>
> Filling Ingredients:
>
> 1/2 cup nuts, finely chopped
>
> 1 teaspoon cinnamon
>
> 2 tablespoons sugar
>
>
>
> Method: Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together. Add sour cream and
>
> beat on medium speed. Sift all dry ingredients together and add to egg
>
> mixture along with vanilla. Mix well. Pour half the batter into a greased
>
> and floured tube pan. Combine nuts, cinnamon, and sugar. Sprinkle the nut
>
> mixture on the batter. Pour remaining batter on top. Place in a cold oven
>
> and then set the oven to 350 degrees. Bake fifty-five minutes or until
>
> inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from pan immediately onto
>
> cooling rack.
>
> -----------
>
> Firecracker Casserole
>
> by Michelle McManus
>
>
>
> Michelle McManus is the president of the Happy Valley Chapter of the
>
> NFB of Pennsylvania and is an affiliate board member. She has also been one
>
> of the co-chairs of our BELL program in Pennsylvania for the past two
>
> years.
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 2 pounds ground beef
>
> 1 large onion, chopped
>
> 2 tablespoons chili powder
>
> 2 to 3 teaspoons ground cumin
>
> 1 teaspoon salt
>
> 1 15-ounce can ranch-style beans
>
> 6 corn tortillas
>
> 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
>
> 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
>
> 1 10-ounce can RoTel tomatoes
>
> 1 can condensed mushroom soup
>
>
>
> Method: Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Add chili
>
> powder, cumin, and salt; stir well. Spoon the meat mixture into a 9-by-13-
>
> inch baking dish. Layer beans, tortillas, and cheeses over the meat. Pour
>
> RoTel liquid over cheese. Chop RoTel tomatoes and spread over cheese.
>
> Spread soup over all. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered at
>
> 350 degrees for one hour.
>
>
>
> Note: I use refried beans. I'm not sure if these are "ranch-style
>
> beans" or not, but they taste great. This recipe takes awhile, but it's
>
> worth it.
>
> ----------
>
> Broccoli Salad
>
> by Eileen Hunger
>
>
>
> Eileen Hunger is the treasurer of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter
>
> of the NFB of Pennsylvania. Her husband Kirk is the president of this
>
> chapter and serves as a board member for the affiliate.
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 3 to 4 pounds of fresh broccoli broken into small florets-use only florets
>
> or use some stems too after peeling and dicing them
>
> 1 large onion, diced (a red onion adds color) or 8-10 scallions/green
>
> onions, diced
>
> 1 cup raisins (or more to taste)
>
> 1 pound bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
>
>
>
> Method: Rinse broccoli and drain thoroughly so that the dressing will
>
> adhere. In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients together.
>
>
>
> Dressing Ingredients:
>
> 1 to 2 cups of mayonnaise (to taste, how creamy do you want it?)
>
> 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (how sweet do you want it?)
>
> 2 tablespoons vinegar
>
>
>
> Method: Mix ingredients together in small bowl. Pour over and stir
>
> into the large bowl of prepared salad ingredients. Can be made one day
>
> ahead of time, but must be kept refrigerated.
>
> ----------
>
> Mama Eileen Rosa's Marinara Spaghetti Sauce
>
> by Eileen Hunger
>
>
>
> Eileen says about this recipe: "Growing up in Brooklyn and living
>
> next to an Italian restaurant was a very fragrant experience. This is one
>
> of the jewels I gleaned from the real thing."
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 4 sliced or pressed garlic cloves
>
> 2/3 cup olive oil
>
> 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
>
> 2 tablespoons dry parsley
>
> 1 teaspoon basil
>
> 1 tablespoon salt
>
> 1/2 teaspoon pepper
>
> 1 small can tomato paste
>
> 1/2 teaspoon oregano
>
>
>
> Method: In a large skillet (or Dutch oven if doubling recipe),
>
> lightly brown garlic in olive oil. Remove from heat to avoid splatter and
>
> add diced tomatoes. Return to low heat, add and stir in the remaining
>
> seasonings, except the tomato paste and oregano. Allow to simmer uncovered
>
> for twenty minutes. Then add the tomato paste and blend it into the sauce.
>
> Now add the oregano and simmer for the final ten minutes. If the oregano is
>
> added too early, it makes the sauce bitter. Recipe can easily be halved
>
> when feeding only two or three, or doubled for a gang.
>
> ----------
>
> Candied Sweet Potatoes
>
> by Eileen Hunger
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 6 sweet potatoes or yams
>
> 1 cup dark brown sugar
>
> 1/2 cup water
>
> 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
>
> 1 tablespoon lemon juice
>
> 1/2 teaspoon salt
>
>
>
> Method: Cook yams in their skins in boiling salted water until nearly
>
> tender. Prepare a shallow, well-greased baking dish while yams boil. When
>
> yams are nearly tender, drain, peel, and cut into one-inch slices and place
>
> in baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and set aside. Preheat oven to 375
>
> degrees.
>
> In a separate small saucepan, cook together brown sugar, water, and
>
> butter for several minutes until it slightly thickens and starts to coat a
>
> spoon. Stir in lemon juice. Pour over cut yams. Bake at 375 degrees for
>
> forty-five minutes to an hour, basting occasionally.
>
>
>
>
>
> Note: If you are making this recipe a day or two in advance, bake for
>
> only thirty minutes. Remove from oven and turn each slice over in the
>
> sauce, cover, and store in refrigerator. On serving day bake sweets at 375
>
> degrees for thirty minutes, basting occasionally.
>
> ----------
>
>
>
> Easy Chili Cheese Nacho Dip
>
> by Emily Angelcyk
>
>
>
> Emily Angelcyk is the president of the Pennsylvania Parents of Blind
>
> Children and also serves as a board member of the affiliate.
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 1 8-ounce package Philadelphia cream cheese
>
> 1 can of Hormel Chili No Beans (original or spicy)
>
> 1 bag of shredded Mexican or taco cheese
>
>
>
> Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread cream cheese in the
>
> bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Spread chili on top of the cream
>
> cheese, cover chili with shredded cheese-however much you desire. Heat
>
> thoroughly in oven approximately twenty to thirty minutes.
>
> ----------
>
> Cheesy Chocolate Chip Dip
>
> by Connie Schwartzfeld
>
>
>
> Connie Schwartzfeld is the second vice president of the NFB of
>
> Pennsylvania and the president of the Erie County Chapter.
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 8 ounces cream cheese
>
> 1 stick butter, softened and blended
>
> 3/4 cup powdered sugar
>
> 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
>
> 2 tablespoons brown sugar
>
> 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
>
>
>
> Method: Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for two hours.
>
> Then shape into a ball and roll in nuts if you wish. Chill at least one
>
> hour.
>
> ----------
>
> Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs
>
> by Joe Drenth
>
>
>
> Joe Drenth is the past treasurer of the NFB of Pennsylvania and,
>
> aside from being a former national scholarship winner, he serves as the
>
> webmaster for the NFB of Pennsylvania. Here's what he said about this
>
> recipe: "This recipe produces delicious roasted chicken thighs through a
>
> simple process of searing and baking. It works very well with the
>
> inexpensive thighs, often available for around a dollar per pound. The skin
>
> gets crusty while the meat is moist and flavorful."
>
>
>
> Ingredients:
>
> 4 to 7 chicken thighs (with bone and skin)
>
> Seasoned salt (like Lawry's)
>
> Large skillet, preferably oven-safe
>
> Broiler pan and aluminum foil if skillet is not oven-safe
>
> Heavy-duty oven mitts
>
>
>
> Method: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Arrange the shelves to
>
> provide ample height for the middle shelf. If the skillet is not oven-safe,
>
> line the drip-collecting tray of a broiler pan with aluminum foil, crimping
>
> it securely around the edges before setting the slotted rack on top of the
>
> tray. A brownie pan with edges also works, but do not use baking sheets
>
> because the juices from the chicken will run off the sheets into the oven.
>
> If the pan is heavy, preheat it in the oven so it will be hot when needed.
>
> Heat a lightly oiled skillet on medium-high until a drop of water
>
> sizzles and snaps on contact with the skillet (about ten minutes). Wash
>
> chicken thighs (with bone and skin) based on how many can easily fit in the
>
> skillet, then dry thoroughly with paper towels. Any water that contacts the
>
> hot skillet will pop and splatter hot liquids. Carefully place the thighs
>
> in the skillet with the prettier side down (for presentation purposes,
>
> since it will attain the best color). Wear long oven mitts and possibly eye
>
> protection, since there will be oil and water splatter. Let the thighs sear
>
> for five minutes without moving them, then carefully flip them over with
>
> tongs or a spatula and sear the other side for five minutes. Sprinkle
>
> seasoned salt over the thighs to taste.
>
> If the skillet is oven-safe, place it directly on the middle shelf of
>
> the oven; otherwise carefully transfer the thighs from the skillet onto the
>
> broiler pan and place on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for thirty to
>
> thirty-five minutes. Wearing thick oven mitts, carefully remove from the
>
> oven and let the meat rest for five minutes.
>
>
>
> Note: To use this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sear
>
> for only three minutes per side and bake for twenty to twenty-five minutes.
>
> ----------
>
> Monitor Miniatures
>
>
>
> News from the Federation Family
>
>
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Launches Innovative Mobile App:
>
> The National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc., a strong and proud
>
> division of the National Federation of the Blind and the nation's leading
>
> service animal advocacy organization, is excited to announce the release of
>
> the NAGDU Guide and Service Dog Advocacy and Information mobile app. This
>
> new iOS app provides comprehensive information about the rights and
>
> responsibilities of service animal users under state and federal law. This
>
> app contains the entire text of the implementing regulations of the
>
> Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerning service animals, along
>
> with the complete texts of every state law about the rights of access for
>
> the disabled. Also included in this app is specific guidance concerning
>
> service animals in settings in which those of us who use guide and service
>
> dogs experience the most challenges, such as airlines, restaurants, hotels,
>
> taxicabs, and health-care facilities. In addition, those who face
>
> discrimination because of their service dog can use the app to call a
>
> special advocate trained to resolve such issues. The app is provided for
>
> iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users free of charge as a public service by
>
> the National Association of Guide Dog Users. You can find the app by going
>
> to <https://appsto.re/us/F8jO2.i> or by simply searching for "NAGDU" in the
>
> Apple app store.
>
> This mobile app grew out of the NAGDU Information and Advocacy
>
> Hotline, which currently fields nearly 1,100 calls per year. We believe
>
> that having the information in text format in our pockets will help resolve
>
> access issues before they escalate to the level of needing intervention. If
>
> you do need help, the National Association of Guide Dog Users and the
>
> National Federation of the Blind are here to help.
>
> Future plans for the app include creating an Android version, adding
>
> more industry-specific guidance, including more information about the Air
>
> Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA), and adding a
>
> feature that will sort state laws based upon one's current location. We are
>
> also seeking input from users about other features that will enhance the
>
> app's function and effectiveness. You can offer your input by sending a
>
> message to <Info at NAGDU.org>.
>
>
>
> Newel Perry Inducted into APH Hall of Fame:
>
> In May of 2014, Dr. Newel Perry (1873-1961) was inducted into the
>
> American Printing House for the Blind's (APH) Hall of Fame. This high
>
> distinction is awarded to leaders and legends in the blindness field, and
>
> Dr. Perry's admittance to this elite group has been long overdue. Fans of
>
> the history of the National Federation of the Blind may know him as the
>
> mentor of our founder, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, but his impact on the American
>
> disability rights movement extends far beyond that.
>
> Among his many accomplishments, Perry was the first blind graduate of
>
> the University of California at Berkeley (1896), earned a doctorate in
>
> mathematics at the University of Munich (1902), and successfully lobbied
>
> the New York state legislature to sign into law the first bill
>
> appropriating reader funds for blind college students (1906). In his
>
> capacity as a teacher at the California School for the Blind (1912-1947),
>
> he tutored the best and brightest students and is credited with preparing
>
> seventy-eight graduates to find work in a variety of fields during a time
>
> period when most blind people were considered unemployable.
>
> Perhaps most importantly, however, Dr. Perry founded the California
>
> Council of the Blind in 1934 and encouraged the young tenBroek to found the
>
> first national organization of the blind in 1940, giving blind people
>
> everywhere the power of collective action to advocate for their rights.
>
> Established to honor his memory in 1955, the NFB bestows the Newel Perry
>
> Award on individuals, sighted or blind, who have demonstrated courageous
>
> leadership and outstanding service in the blindness field by working in
>
> partnership with the National Federation of the Blind.
>
> For more information on the life and work of Newel Perry, the APH has
>
> published an extensive biography at
>
> <http://www.aph.org/hall/bios/perry.html>. Also in 1961, tenBroek eulogized
>
> his mentor and life-long friend in a speech called "Newel Perry: Teacher of
>
> Youth and Leader of Men," which is available at
>
> <https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/speeches/NewellPerryTeacherOfYouthL
>
> eaderOfMen.html>.
>
>
>
> Elected:
>
> The National Association of Blind Office Professionals (NABOP) is
>
> pleased to announce the following officers for 2014-2016 term: president,
>
> Lisa Hall (OH); vice president, Nancy Coffman (NE); secretary: Joanne
>
> Jordan (VA); and treasurer, Debbie Brown (MD).
>
> Anyone wishing to learn more about our division can contact Lisa Hall
>
> at 7001 Hamilton Avenue, Unit 2, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231-5262; or call (513)
>
> 931-7070 or cell (513) 550-5155; or email at <lhall007 at cinci.rr.com>. To
>
> become a member send $5 to Debbie Brown, 11923 Parklawn Drive, Apartment
>
> 104, Rockville, MD 20852; or contact her by phone at (301) 881-1892; or by
>
> email at <dabro at loc.gov>.
>
> The last meeting we had at our 2014 convention was great. All
>
> participants at our meeting learned what was new in technology and training
>
> opportunities. We hope to see everyone next year in Orlando, Florida, in
>
> July 2015.
>
>
>
> In Brief
>
>
>
> Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor
>
> readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we
>
> have edited only for space and clarity.
>
>
>
> National Braille Press Invites You to Apply for the Opportunity to Win up
>
> to $20,000:
>
> Louis Braille was an innovator-and this award seeks to identify and
>
> inspire future innovation. Potentially the award process will inspire new
>
> strategic directions for National Braille Press. The project must
>
> demonstrate some aspect of tactile literacy for blind people and promote
>
> Braille literacy or access to information. The Louis Braille Touch of
>
> Genius Prize for Innovation was developed to inspire innovators to continue
>
> the promotion of Braille literacy for blind and deaf-blind people
>
> worldwide.
>
> The award is open to individuals, groups of individuals, or companies
>
> who have developed an innovative and accessible product in one of the
>
> following categories: professional software and apps, educational software
>
> and apps, gaming software or apps that promote tactile and Braille
>
> learning, and Braille or tactile-related hardware.
>
> Applications must be received by January 7, 2015. For more
>
> information and to download the application, please visit
>
> <www.touchofgeniusprize.org> or contact Ximena Ojopi at (617) 266-6160,
>
> extension 412.
>
> The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is provided through support
>
> from National Braille Press and The Gibney Family Foundation.
>
>
>
> Computers for the Blind Announces Twenty-Fifth Anniversary:
>
> Computers for the Blind (CFTB), which was formerly The Texas Center
>
> for the Visually Challenged, is a volunteer organization devoted to
>
> providing computers to persons who are blind or visually impaired. It is
>
> our hope that each person who is visually impaired may experience the
>
> information age in a positive and productive manner. We believe technology
>
> opens new worlds and creates opportunity for greater personal freedom.
>
> Computers for the Blind has partnered with Goodshop.com to help do
>
> more for our cause. Along with helping save you money with online deals to
>
> stores like Dell, HP, and Tech Armor, Goodshop will also make a donation
>
> for every purchase you make. It doesn't get much easier than that!
>
> A licensed copy of MAGic, which retails for $395, is now included in
>
> Computers for the Blind desktops and laptops. The desktops are available
>
> for $110 and the laptops are $160. The computers also include the
>
> following:
>
>
>
> Accessibility software:
>
> . JAWS for Windows demo version (screen reader)
>
> . NVDA (screen reader)
>
> . Licensed version of MAGic without speech (screen magnification)
>
> . Just Write Checks
>
> . TypeAbility typing tutorial (demo version)
>
>
>
> Additional software:
>
> . Windows 7
>
> . Windows Microsoft Security Essentials
>
> . Internet Explorer
>
> . Windows Live Mail 2012
>
> . 388 electronic books
>
> . Word processor and spreadsheet
>
> . Instruction tutorials and FAQ articles
>
>
>
> The minimum configuration for our Pentium 4 Dual Core 2GHz refurbished
>
> computers is:
>
> . 2GB of RAM and 80 GB Hard Drive
>
> . CD-R/RW and DVD-ROM
>
> . Sound card, speakers, broadband network card
>
> . Keyboard and mouse
>
> . 17- to 21-inch LCD monitors
>
>
>
> If consumers want to upgrade, they can obtain the following from
>
> Freedom Scientific after obtaining a computer: MAGic with Speech, MAGic
>
> keyboard and two SMA upgrades for $199 (which is about a 50 percent
>
> discount); or a licensed version of JAWS Home version for $716 (a 20
>
> percent discount). Please note that these discounts are only available to
>
> consumers and not to state agencies. We do, however, accept purchase orders
>
> for our computers.
>
> Finally, thank you for sharing the news about the computers for $20
>
> for SSI recipients. We received hundreds of calls, and these are no longer
>
> available. However, we intend to write a much larger grant next year and
>
> will let you know if it is approved.
>
>
>
> New Fiction by Blind Author:
>
> The Soul and the Seed is the first book in an intense new urban
>
> fantasy/contemporary dystopian series. The story centers around Aranka, a
>
> girl who describes herself as "relatively normal" until those who hold true
>
> power in today's society decide she is a threat. The United States and the
>
> rest of the modern world is dominated by a clandestine power that usurps
>
> the wills and emotions of individuals, but very few people know the truth.
>
> >From the outside Aranka's world appears to be today's world. And yet she is
>
> imprisoned and forced to watch as her friends are killed one by one, all
>
> because they are different in a small physical way and because they can't
>
> be easily controlled. It is only a matter of time before it is her turn to
>
> die.
>
> The Soul and the Seed, called "terrifyingly taut tension" by
>
> reviewers, can be found at: <http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Seed-Kyrennei-Book-
>
> One-ebook/dp/B00MQ99F0Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408634384&sr=1-
>
> 2&keywords=The+Soul+and+the+Seed>.
>
> The Soul and the Seed is a gripping tale for adventure, science
>
> fiction, and fantasy readers. It is also a story with high emotional impact
>
> and deep themes about physical differences and social exclusion. The
>
> author, Arie Farnam is a legally blind writer who grew up in eastern Oregon
>
> and moved to Europe "primarily for the public transportation." In 2000, she
>
> became the first successful international conflict correspondent with a
>
> significant physical disability. While reporting from Bosnia, Kosovo,
>
> Macedonia, and the Ukraine among other international crisis areas for The
>
> Christian Science Monitor and Business Week, Farnam also directed two
>
> documentary films The Eye of the Storm (in Kazakhstan) and Walls (in the
>
> Czech Republic). Along with writing and publishing The Soul and the Seed
>
> independently, she also photographed and designed the cover. She is a
>
> former NFB scholarship winner and her documentary films were assisted by an
>
> equipment grant from the Oregon Commission for the Blind.
>
> ----------
>
> NFB Pledge
>
> I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National
>
> Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for
>
> the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
>
> abide by its constitution.
>
>
>
>
>
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