BLIND WASHINGTONIAN The Voice of the National Federation of the Blind of WA The NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES! Blind Washingtonian subscriptions cost the Federation about five dollars per year. Members are invited, and non-members are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be made payable to: National Federation of the Blind of Washington and sent to National Federation of the Blind of Washington, Post Office Box 2516, Seattle, Washington 98111 Gary Mackenstadt, President Post Office Box 2516 Seattle, Washington 98111 (206) 823-6380 Albert Sanchez, Editor East 707 Garland Spokane, Washington 99207 (509) 487-8959 Spring 1996 The Blind Washingtonian is available in print, braille and cassette. Address changes, requests for additional copies of this newsletter, and articles for publication should be sent to the Editor. A FEDERATION WEEKEND TO REMEMBER Federationists were joined in Olympia on Friday afternoon, March 22 by other supporters of Braille literacy to witness the signing of the Braille Bill by Governor Mike Lowry. This ended a seven year struggle by the NFB of Washington on behalf of this legislation. We certainly appreciate the strong support that braille literacy has received from the governor, as well as our friends in the Washington State legislature. On Friday evening, the NFB of WA hosted a reception at the Tacoma Inn to celebrate this important legislative victory. Legislators as well as state officials were in attendance. Senator jeannine Long and Representative Val Ogden, who were the primary sponsors of the Braille Bill, were recognized with certificates of appreciation for their work on behalf of braille literacy. Unfortunately, Senator Long could not be with us. However, Representative Ogden was present to accept her certificate. In addition, Dr. Dean Stenehjem, Superintendent of the Washington State School for the Blind, and Pat Dunn of the Law Firm of Heller, Erman, White and McAuliffe were also presented with certificates of appreciation for their hard work on behalf of braille literacy. A special plaque was presented to Mike Freeman, First Vice-president of the NFB of WA and the longtime chair of our legislative committee, for his hard work on behalf of Blind Washingtonians. Jim Omvig of Arizona represented our National Office at both the signing ceremony and reception. On Saturday, Mr. Omvig conducted a day long membership seminar, attended by Federationists from throughout the state. During the seminar, we focused on the mission and goals of the Federation with everyone having an opportunity to participate. In the exchange of ideas. Following the conclusion of the seminar, a read-a-thon, sponsored by the Washington State Parents of Blind Children was held to raise money to assist families with blind children to attend this years National Convention in California. Children from 18 months of age to thirteen years of age participated with blind adults as well as their families to read braille material of their choice for two hours. The very small youngsters were part of a reading circle. In excess of $2,100 was raised. Mr. Omvig's keynote address during the banquet on Saturday evening was a grand finale to a wonderful day. On Sunday morning, the Board of Directors of the NFB of WA met. The meeting was well attended by the general membership. The morning was filled with discussion regarding the Newsline for the Blind, the Blind Washingtonian, braille literacy, fundraising, the scholarship program and plans to attend our National Convention in Anaheim. This year, the NFB of WA is proud to have a new scholarship in the amount of $1,000 entitled the Hazel tenBroek Merit Scholarship. As readers may know Mrs. tenBroek is the widow of the founder of the NFB, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek. She was also a resident of the State of Washington during most of the 1980's and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the NFB of WA. In addition, she served as editor of this newsletter. EDITOR'S CORNER By Albert Sanchez Appointed As many of you know I served three three-year terms on the Advisory Council of the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind representing this organization. Since I was not eligible for another term I have been replaced. In December Governor Mike Lowry appointed Mark Noble to that position. Congratulations Mark! We are pleased to report that Susan Davidson has recently been appointed to a position on the Board of Trustees of the Washington State School for the Blind. She represents the 9th Congressional District. She and her husband Mark are active in our Tacoma chapter and also in the Parents of Blind Children Division. Congratulations to Susie! Moved Moe and Bill Pierce have been active members of the NFB of Washington for a number of years. Moe served a time as president of our Seattle chapter and also on the Board of Directors. Bill was an active member of our Seattle chapter. He also ran a computer bulletine-board that helped spread the Federation's message. They have recently relocated to Colorado Springs. Good luck and keep in touch! BRAILLE AWARENESS DAY IN WASHINGTON STATE BRINGS BIG DIVIDENDS By Bennett Prows The 1996 legislature saw the NFB at the forefront of the battle to bring Braille to blind students again. We have now enlisted the assistance of virtually every organization, group and individual in the educational field, and brought the Braille bill to the Washington House of Representatives and Senate one more time. On January 17, 1996, a large contingent of the blind of the State, their friends, and parents of blind children, along with teachers, agency administrators and the general public met at Olympia for our finest Braille Awareness day ever. Tables were set up in the capitol building between the House and Senate galleries, and legislators and staff could come and see any number of demonstrations of the benefits of learning Braille. While agencies and organizations of and for the blind showed the public that Braille is equally as effective for blind persons as print is for the sighted. A number of us spread out to meet with the key legislators who are going to pass the legislation to give legally blind students the opportunity to read Braille in the public school system in Washington State. And, our efforts paid off. At about 10:45 A.M., HB1078 was read for the final time on the floor of the House. While the blind of the State watched from the gallery, the Representatives passed the current version of the Braille bill unanimously after very little discussion. At noon, we lined the rotunda of the capitol, and held a ceremony to celebrate this victory. Bennett Prows was the master of ceremonies for the twenty minute program, during which Gary Mackenstadt, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington thanked the many officials who had a hand in passing the House version. He pledged to have the bill out of the Senate very soon. The ceremony was highlighted, when Governor Mike Lowry read his own proclamation declaring January 17th as Braille Awareness Day in Washington State, (see below.) The crowd roared, and the echo could be heard throughout the capitol, when the governor whole heartedly endorsed the Braille legislation this session. "As soon as it is passed," he told the audience, "I will sign this common sense bill to ensure literacy for blind children." The ceremony was followed by singing from a trio of blind children from the Washington State School for the Blind. We have worked hard since that red letter day in January, and at this writing, a version of the Braille Bill has passed both houses of the Washington Legislature. Now, we await final passage of either the House bill or the Senate bill in the other legislative body in the next two weeks. Because of the steadfast determination of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington over the past eight years, we will soon have a Braille bill in Washington State. (Editor's Note: We are delighted to report that House Bill HB1078 was passed by the Senate on February 28th and will be sent to Governor Lowry's office, where, it is hoped, he will sign it into law.) PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR WHEREAS Braille, the system of reading and writing for the blind invented by Louis Braille, has been recognized for over a century as the principal means of written communication used by the blind; and WHEREAS Braille not only conveys literary information efficiently and accurately, but also the symbols of mathematics and the sciences, music, computer science and foreign languages; and WHEREAS Braille affords the blind reader the ability to directly experience the written word in the same manner as does print for the sighted; and WHEREAS this experience promotes literacy; and WHEREAS literacy promotes democracy by increasing the ability of citizens to gain knowledge of public affairs through vehicles such as the Washington State Voters Pamphlet (which Washington pioneered in producing in Braille) and government documents produced by the Washington State Braille Access Center, and; WHEREAS literacy increases productivity and the ability to compete in the labor market. NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Lowry, Governor of the State of Washington, do hereby proclaim January 17, 1996 as Braille Literacy Day and call upon the citizens of Washington State to recognize the value of Braille in promoting literacy, civic awareness, participation in public affairs and productivity among the blind citizens of Washington State. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 1995 By Rita Szantay, Scholarship Chair The 1995 Scholarship program was a huge success. We had applicants from all over the state. This year's Beverly Prows Memorial Scholarship went to Juanita Garcia. Juanita is 19 years old and lives in Sequim. She is currently attending Junior College in the Port Angeles area. Her career goal is to become a special education teacher and minor in Spanish. Juanita is an avid braille reader and she enjoys a variety of activities including hiking, camping, snowshoeing, motorcycle riding and water skiing. She has been active in drama club, and throughout her education she has been on the honor role. Juanita and her mom attended our state convention last September and they both really liked meeting everyone in the Federation. We are all very proud of her. Next year we hope to strengthen and expand our scholarship program. SIGNALS FOR USE WITH DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE (Editor's Note: I found the following information last summer during our National convention in Chicago. I am including it in the hope that it will be of use whenever you encounter a deaf-blind person.) 1. When you approach a deaf-blind person, let the person know by a simple touch that you are near. A warm, friendly handshake will show your friendly interest. 2. Make positive but gentle use of any means of communication that you adopt. Abrupt or exaggerated gestures might be misunderstood. 3. Work out a simple but special signal for identifying yourself, or tell your name if the deaf-blind person prefers. 4. Learn and use whatever kind of communication the deaf-blind person knows. If you know another means of communication that might be valuable to the person, offer to help him/her learn it. 5. Be sure the deaf-blind person understands you, and be sure you understand him/her. 6. Encourage the deaf-blind person to use any speech that is possible, even if it is limited to only a few words. 7. If there are others present, let the deaf-blind person know when it is appropriate to talk. 8. Inform him/her of the whereabouts of others present. 9. Tell the deaf-blind person when you leave, even if it is only for a brief period. See that he/she is comfortable and safely situated. If the deaf-blind person is not sitting, provide something substantial for him/her to touch before you leave. Never abandon a deaf-blind person in unfamiliar surroundings. 10. In walking, let him/her take your arm. Never push a deaf-blind person ahead of you. 11. Make use of a simple set of signals to let him/her know when you are about to (a) ascend a flight of stairs, (b) descend a flight of stairs, (c) walk through a doorway, or (d) board a vehicle. A deaf-blind person holding your arm can usually sense any change in pace or direction. 12. Encourage deaf-blind persons to use their own initiative and abilities. Encourage them to express their own ideas. Encourage their interest in new experiences. 13. Rely on your natural courtesy, consideration, and common sense. Avoid getting flustered or irritated if misunderstandings arise. Occasional difficulties in communication are only to be expected with all people, not just the deaf-blind. WASHINGTON SEMINAR 1996 By Michael Freeman In late January or early February, shortly after Congress has reconvened following its holiday recess, members of the National Federation of the Blind from around the country gather in Washington, D.C. for what has come to be known as the "Washington Seminar". During this event, participants inform their Congressional delegations about matters of concern to the nation's blind. Forty-eight of the fifty-two NFB state affiliates were represented at this year's seminar including four persons from Washington state: Noel Nightingale and Renee West from Seattle and Heather Harmon and I from Vancouver. As in past years, several seminars took place prior to the initial Washington Seminar "gathering-in" briefing meeting which occurred on Sunday, January 28 at 5:00 p.m. A student seminar was held on Saturday, January 27 and two seminars -- one for parents of blind children and one for those interested in raising Associates -- were held on the afternoon of Sunday, the 28th. At the "gathering-in" meeting, many announcements of interest to Federationists were made (including the fact that our Braille Literacy Bill had passed the House of Representatives in Washington state). One of the most interesting announcements concerned a device NFB plans to market soon -- a transistor radio (a.m., f.m. and shortwave coverage) powered by a spring-driven generator (two minutes of winding provides for about forty-five minutes of listening). This radio is intended for use in the Third World but also has applications for emergency use here in the U.S. Also being investigated are the possibility of increasing the radio's runtime on a wind to three or four hours and the possibility of manufacturing a light driven by this spring-motor-generator system. It is expected that these devices will provide much-needed revenue for the Federation. At the initial briefing meeting on the 28th, the issues to be discussed with Congress were outlined. During the next three days, seminar participants informed their Senators and Representatives about these issues. The tapping of canes and jingling of guide dog harnesses demonstrated to all that the organized blind were at the Capitol in strength to make their views known. Two of the three issues presented to Congress had been discussed in previous Washington Seminars. First, NFB is still pushing for the retension of the currently-existing linkage between the amount of income a blind person receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) payments may earn before such payments are cut off and the amount of earnings retirees aged 65 to 70 may earn before their Social Security payments are reduced (a bill has passed the House which increases this latter amount but severs the aforementioned linkage). Second, NFB advocates language being added to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which would promote Braille literacy for blind children. The proposed language would insure that if anyone on the team constructing the individualized education program (IEP) for a blind student wanted that student to receive instruction in Braille, it would be provided and the only way that Braille could be explicitly omitted from the blind student's educational program would be if all members of the IEP team concurred that Braille is not needed. Third, NFB is seeking amendments to the copyright laws which would allow governmental or nonprofit organizations to produce material in alternative formats (including electronic form) solely for the use of the blind or others prevented from reading by reason of physical disability without prior permission of the publishers. Language to this effect is already in a draft bill but is unsatisfactory in that a waiting period of a year would be required before such copyrighted material could be published in alternative formats. NFB has reached agreement with the American Publishers Association on language which would not require this waiting period. We were warmly received by our Congressional delegation. We saw in person Congresswoman Smith, Congressmen White, Metcalf, Hastings, Nethercut, Dicks and Tate as well as Senator Murray. In marked contrast to last year, our Congressional delegation appeared familiar with the issues we discussed and although no commitments to sponsor legislative amendments implementing our proposals were made, nearly everyone appeared favorable to our point of view. No one expressed opposition to our proposals and several Congressmen offered to help us. Indeed, the legislative aide to Congressman Dicks was already familiar with our copyright issue. He also asked if we still thought that the blind should be allowed to sit in exit rows on airplanes. Senator Murray asked if audible traffic signals were worth their cost. Only time will tell if our labors were successful. However, we can be proud of the job our seminar delegation did. Yet this is not the end but the beginning. We must be ready to continue our advocacy work from Washington State. If we do our work well, we will prevail. CHAPTER ELECTIONS (Editor's Note: A number of elections have taken place throughout the NFB of Washington recently. Here they are, congratulations to all.) SEATTLE CHAPTER Noel Nightingale-President; Rita Szantay-1st Vice President; Mark Noble-2nd Vice President; Renee West-secretary; Gary Deeter-treasurer. Board Members--Ben Prows and Denise Mackenstadt. SPOKANE CHAPTER Maria Bradford-President; Larry Gasser-Vice President; Russell Smith-secretary; Paul Whipple-treasurer. Board members--Judy Croy and Monica Stugelmeyer. TACOMA CHAPTER Scott Carlisle-President; Chris Jones-Vice President; Carol Southworth-secretary; Jose Parez-treasurer. VANCOUVER CHAPTER Mike Freeman-President; Kaye Kipp-Vice President; Barbara Freeman-secretary; Nancy Martin-treasurer. GREAT EATING BECOMES A FUND RAISER By Rita Szantay and Gary Deeter The members of the Seattle Chapter are enjoying themselves, eating at restaurants in our area, and raising money at the same time. How you may ask? We are putting menus in braille for dining establishments throughout the greater Seattle area. We are charging for this service, and raising money for our chapter. This project has three objectives: one to heighten the awareness of restaurant personnel on the importance of having a braille menu in their establishment; two to provide braille menus for as many restaurants as possible; three to raise money for our chapter. The project has been going for a year. Lately, we have so much business it has been hard to keep up. Looking at this project from a business standpoint, the timing is good. Restaurants want to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and at the same time our price is reasonable. We charge $25 per restaurant. This price includes brailling, binding, covering, and sending each book back to the restaurant. This price remains the same even if the restaurant requests breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in the same book. The way we see it everyone wins. The restaurants gain a copy of their menu in braille and additional patronage. Blind people benefit by having more and more restaurants with a braille menu and our chapter benefits by raising some money. One of our major Northwest Italian establishments, Cucina Cucina, ordered 11 books and paid the chapter $275. This large order took this project beyond the Seattle area. We now have our menus in Tacoma, Spokane, and yes Portland, Oregon. This project is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work. It involves taking print menus, putting them into WordPerfect, translating these menus into braille, printing, binding, covering, and sending each book back to the restaurant all in a timely manner. The project needs continuous marketing, and solid customer service skills. We are gaining practice in running a small business. A project like this can be successful if you pay close attention to each customers service needs, deliver a quality product, and most important of all believe in what you are doing. 1996 NFB Of WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM By Rita Szantay Scholarship Chairman NFB of Washington The 1996 Scholarship program of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington will be more exciting than ever. In October at our Annual State Convention, we will be giving two scholarships. The scholarships will be "The Hazel tenBroek Merit Scholarship" and "The Beverly Prows Memorial Scholarship." The Hazel tenBroek Merit Scholarship will be in the amount of $1,000 and the Beverly Prows Memorial Scholarship will be for $2,000. We are very excited about strengthening our scholarship program. Application forms will go out early in April. They will be due back in our state office no later than August 31st. If you need further information you may call the NFB of Washington state office at 206-823-6380, or Rita Szantay at 206-224-7242. RESOLUTIONS The following five resolutions were passed during the National Federation of the Blind of Washington 1995 Annual Convention held in Seattle, September 15-17, 1995. (Editor's Note: House Bill HB2178 (see Resolution 95-01) was passed recently by both House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor's office for his signature.) Resolution 95-01 WHEREAS, the Office of Fiscal Management (O.F.M) in the Office of the Governor of Washington State there is a new policy allowing the state agency to allocate certain designated funds to be disbursed up to the amount of $5,000; and WHEREAS, at this time in order for the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) to allocate funds for equipment to participants in excess of $1,000 must be approved by O.F.M; and WHEREAS, this policy is due to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) concerning the operation of DSB; and WHEREAS, as Director of DSB Shirley Smith is submitting to the upcoming legislature a revised section of the RCW which will allow DSB to allocate funds for equipment for Rehabilitation Participants up to $5,000 without having to get permission from O.F.M. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington on this Sixteenth day of September, 1995, in the City of Seattle, go on record supporting this revision of the RCW in accord with the proposal being presented by DSB to the upcoming legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington send this resolution to DSB to be used as an indication of the support that the organized blind gives to this proposal. Resolution 95-02 WHEREAS, blind persons fought for the right to travel freely and successfully sought the enactment of "White Cane Laws" throughout the United States which guaranteed the free movement of blind persons; and WHEREAS, the case of Wright v. Engum was heard in King County Superior Court in which a jury found that the defendant was not liable for the death of a blind pedestrian because he asserted that he was unable to determine if she were really blind; and WHEREAS, the verdict in this case was appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court and on August 18, 1994 the verdict was affirmed; and WHEREAS, this judgement places in jeopardy all that blind persons have fought for in passing the "White Cane Law". NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this Sixteenth day of September, 1995 in the City of Seattle, that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington petition the Washington State Legislature to revise the statute generally known as the "White Cane Law" in order to provide clearer language concerning strict liability; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization send this resolution and any other supporting documentation to our national office in order to consult President Maurer and to inform our national officers of this decision. Resolution 95-03 WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind, through its various programs and activities, historically has advocated for security, equality, and opportunity for all blind persons; and WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind strongly believes that with the proper training and opportunity, blind persons can achieve first-class citizenship; and WHEREAS, disincentives to work (in which a blind person's earnings are counted to determine eligibility for a program) frequently result in an economic obstacle to employment; and WHEREAS, these disincentives to work are frequently included in the eligibility criteria for services from various Federal programs, including Section Eight Housing administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and WHEREAS, under Section Eight Housing, 30 percent of the gross earnings of the blind beneficiary are counted towards rent, which certainly serves as a disincentive to the beneficiary seeking part-time employment or even full-time employment that pays a low hourly rate. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Washington in Convention Assembled this Seventeenth day of September, 1995, in the City of Seattle, Washington, that this organization go on record supporting the concept that the first $150 per month of earned income be excluded in determining the rent to be paid by blind persons living in Section Eight Housing; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization provide each member of the Washington State Congressional Delegation with a copy of this resolution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington will bring this problem to the attention of our National Organization to determine what steps should be taken. Resolution 95-04 WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) is the vocational rehabilitation agency that serves blind Washingtonians; and WHEREAS, the Advisory Council for the Blind of DSB was created by state statute in 1983, and until recently the Advisory Council's membership has consisted of representatives of organized consumer groups of the blind, individual blind people, and parents of blind children; and WHEREAS, the 1992 and 1993 amendments to the federal Rehabilitation Act created a new federal mandate for state rehabilitation advisory councils whose membership consists of: at least one representative (1) of the pan disability statewide independent living council, (2) of the parent training and information center, (3) of the client assistance program, (4) who is a vocational rehabilitation counselor, (5) of community rehabilitation program service providers, (6) who is a parent of an individual who is blind and multiply disabled and who cannot represent him or herself, (7) from business, industry, and labor, and (8) who is a current or former client of the agency; and only one representative of a disability advocacy group representing the blind is required; and WHEREAS, the Rehabilitation Act amendments resulted in a change in the membership of DSB's Advisory Council that has profoundly diluted the voices of blind people and that has allowed others to speak for the blind; and WHEREAS, while the voices of representatives of the blind have effectively been squelched by the change in the Advisory Council's membership, state agency bureaucrats, private service providers, and the business community--all representing organizations that have many other means and opportunities to make their concerns heard--now dominate the advice and recommendations of the Advisory Council; and WHEREAS, although under state law the majority of the Advisory Council's members must still be blind people, those blind members can serve the interests of groups other than the blind, and the blind are no longer speaking for themselves but are being spoken for by the federally-mandated members who do not represent the blind. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington condemns and deplores the undermining of the voice of the blind in an agency for the blind; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this Sixteenth day of September, 1995, in the City of Seattle, that the NFB of Washington request and encourage the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration to advocate that Congress amend the provision of the Rehabilitation Act related to state rehabilitation advisory councils to ensure that representatives of organizations of the blind and blind individuals are the dominant voice on advisory councils of state rehabilitation agencies serving the blind. Resolution 95-05 WHEREAS, participants in the programs of the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) are assigned a rehabilitation counselor in order to receive services; and WHEREAS, many times when a participant is attempting to contact their counselor a prompt and timely response is needed; and WHEREAS, it has occurred that when the participant's counselor is unavailable due to a leave of absence or vacation the participant is not routinely referred to a staff person to determine if the participant's needs can be met while the counselor is unavailable. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Washington on this Sixteenth day of September, 1995, in the City of Seattle, that this organization bring to the attention of the Department of Services for the Blind this situation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington ask that the DSB develop a policy concerning referring participants to other personnel to meet any immediate needs they may have during the unavailability of their rehabilitation counselor. Blind Washingtonian East 707 Garland Spokane, WA 99207-3027 PRESIDENT: GARY MACKENSTADT 16224 122nd AVENUE N.E. BOTHELL, WASHINGTON 98011 206-488-0628 FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: MICHAEL FREEMAN 301 N.E. 107th STREET VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98685 360-574-8221 SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: KAYE KIPP 5101 N.E. 121 AVENUE, SPACE 7 VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98682 360-256-8572 SECRETARY: RITA SZANTAY 1000 8th AVENUE, A-610 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104 206-622-8843 TREASURER: BENNETT PROWS 14272 120th PLACE N.E. KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON 98034 206-821-7619 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED