BLIND WASHINGTONIAN VOICE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF WASHINGTON WINTER 1997 Volume 3 Issue 1 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, 1701 Broadway, Suite 269, Vancouver, Washington 98663-3436 Produced in Grade Two Braille for the National Federation of the Blind of Washington by AJS Braille Service, 707 East Garland, Spokane, WA 99207-3027, (509) 487-8959. Mike Freeman, President 1701 Broadway, Suite 269 Vancouver, Washington 98663-3436 (360) 571-7987 Albert Sanchez, Editor 707 East Garland Spokane, Washington 99207-3027 (509) 487-8959 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. EDITOR'S CORNER by Albert Sanchez In October of 1991 (near the end of that years NFB of Washington State convention), I became the editor of the Blind Washingtonian, temporarily (I thought) filling the position left when Zach Shore moved back to Pennsylvania. At that time I asked our readers for help because I had never considered myself to be much of an author, or, "word-smith". During the five years since, many of you have contacted me with useful and helpful suggestions for the improvement of this newsletter. As a result of many of your ideas we have a publication to be proud of, THANKS! CONGRATULATIONS Mark Noble, who is currently serving a term on the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind's Advisory Council representing the NFB of Washington writes that: During the Federation's mini-convention in March, Bonnie Jindra, representing the Department, presented a plaque to former Advisory Council member Albert Sanchez. The plaque reads: "The Department of Services for the Blind Acknowledges Albert Sanchez Advisory Council member from March 30, 1987 to September 13, 1995 for your leadership and commitment to blind persons in Washington State." APPOINTED We have recently been informed that Maria Bradford has been appointed by Governor Mike Lowry to a three-year term on the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind Advisory Council. Congratulations, Maria! NEWLY ELECTED During the 1996 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington the following officers were elected: Mike Freeman President; Noel Nightingale First Vice-President; Kaye Kipp Second Vice-President; Rita Szantay Secretary; Gary Mackenstadt Treasurer. Board positions were filled by Maria Bradford, Stephanie Yates and Bennett Prows. Mark Noble's position expires next year. We Have Been Asked To Include The Following Information The Washington-Northern Idaho Lions Sight Conservation Foundation actively seeks opportunities to participate in vision related projects. Foundation interest include blindness prevention, sight restoration through surgery, vision screening and eye care, as well as services to blind and visually impaired people. Any information about existing projects requiring funding support or of needs that might be met with new programs will be greatly appreciated. The Foundation will focus on collaboration with other agencies, organizations and individuals. Please contact Kirk Adams, philanthropy coordinator, at 1-800-847-5786 with any questions, comments or suggestions. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT by Michael Freeman It's been nearly five months since I was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington (this is being written in early March). How time flies! I think I'm beginning to adjust to the job. The adjustment hasn't been as difficult as one might imagine, however, because of the sterling efforts of my fellow officers and members of the Board of Directors. We are indeed fortunate to have such an outstanding group of individuals to assist me in running the affiliate; without their help, the job of President would be daunting! The NFB of Washington has achieved a number of successes during the past few months. The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) has graciously decided to contract with the NFB of Washington to operate a Newsline Network site in the state for one year. (The Newsline Network is a system enabling blind persons or persons prevented from reading by physical disability to have newspapers read to them over the telephone via synthesized speech.) This first site will be located in Seattle. It will have 24 access lines so, one hopes, users will not encounter a busy signal. Once operative, users will be able to read USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times. We also hope to provide the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The contract has been signed and we hope to have the site up and running by early summer. Once we have some experience operating this site, we will endeavor to set up other Newsline Network sites in the state presuming we can find the money. Priority will be given to other metropolitan areas such as Spokane, Clark County, Olympia, Tacoma, Yakima, the Tri Cities, etc. We are extremely greatful to the Department of Services for the Blind and its Director, Shirley Smith, for the help in bringing a new source of information to the blind of Washington state. Kudos are also in order for Stephanie Yates, a member of the Board of Directors of the NFB of Washington. Without her unstinting effort, a Newsline Network outlet in this state might well be little more than a dream. More details concerning this project will appear in the Blind Washingtonian when available. Each year, the National Federation of the Blind conducts the "Washington Seminar" wherein Federationists from around the country gather in Washington D.C. to bring matters of concern to the blind to the attention of Congress. This year, the NFB of Washington sent seven delegates to the Washington Seminar -- a record! For the first time, the delegation included the parent of a blind child, Carol Linhart. The delegation did an outstanding job and earned the respect of both congresspersons and their staff. Last summer, the State Board of Education adopted excellent regulations mandating competency in Braille for those teaching Braille (including not only certified teachers but also teachers' aides) to blind elementary and secondary school students. Last fall, an amendment to these regulations was proposed which would have allowed local school districts to petition the state Board of Education for a waiver of up to three years from the requirement that a certified teacher be competent in Braille as long as a certificated employee (i.e., a teacher's aide) was competent in Braille. The NFB of Washington, of course, wasn't going to let such an amendment go unchallenged. On November 22, 1996, I testified against the amendment at a hearing held by the state Board of Education in Spokane. Dr. James Bickford, the Principal of the Washington State School for the Blind, sent a letter opposing the amendment, maintaining that if waivers were to be granted, they should be for a much shorter period and should be a one-time option. No one testified in favor of the amendment. After discussion, the Board of Education decided not to adopt the amendment; the Braille competency regulations remain unchanged. They will go into effect this fall. Were it not for the effort of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington, I am certain that the braille competency regulations would have been weakened. Need anyone ask "why the National Federation of the Blind"? I urge everyone to attend our upcoming mini-convention to be held April 12-13 at the Holiday Inn Boeing Field in Seattle (see announcement). Joyce Scanlan will be our National Representative. An interesting time should be had by all. I conclude this ptome by thanking the members and friends of the NFB of Washington for the support rendered during my first months in office. Truly, the NFB of Washington is on the move and it is the membership, individually and collectively, that is making this possible. We are definitely changing what it means to be blind. The Miles To Anaheim by Stephanie Yates From The Editor: Stephanie Yates is a relatively new member of our Seattle chapter. She recently sent me the following article describing her thoughts surrounding this years National Federation of the Blind convention in Anaheim, CA. As my reader Terrie read me her article, I was taken back to my first convention in 1982. Many of her feelings were similar to those which I felt then; its good to be reminded of where we have been, why we are active in the National Federation of the Blind, and where we are going. No sooner had I agreed to write this article than I wished I had declined the request. I immediately worried that I would not be able to find the words to unravel the bundle of feelings and sensations that represented my experience at the 1996 convention of the National Federation of the Blind, my first NFB convention. When I returned from Anaheim, family and friends asked how I liked the convention. "Great," I replied each time, and each time I described an event or a speaker. But each time I wanted to say something more. I felt it, but I could not articulate it. I began to search for clues in the days and events of the convention. I thought about the many interesting, inspiring and often entertaining speakers. I thought about the purposeful and important words of Dr. Jernigan and President Maurer. Then my thoughts turned to the audience in that huge hall, the nearly 3,000 blind people attending the convention. The audience represented something to me. I knew that each individual at the convention had his or her own reasons for travelling the miles to Anaheim. I did not know then, however, that each individual was in attendance, in part, for the purpose of participating in the collective voice of the blind. The voice that supports, that provides camaraderie, that educates the blind and the sighted about blindness. The voice that works hard to make the world more receptive to blind people. The voice that gives each of us the strength and confidence to be in a world that often views us as other than we are. Although I am not a newly blind person, I had never participated in the collective voice of the blind. I know that to not participate is to risk living within the walls of fear and inferiority. Now I also know that to participate is to feel those walls slip away. The choice is obvious. I realize that the feeling I was unable to articulate was my purpose for travelling the miles to Anaheim. My purpose was to begin participating in the collective voice of the blind and to begin contributing to and sharing in the rewards of that voice. BRAILLE BILL GOES INTO EFFECT From the Editor: The year 1996 will go on record as the "year of the Braille Bill." As regular readers of this publication know, the long fight for passage of braille legislation in Washington State was successfully concluded earlier this year when Governor Mike Lowry signed Substitute House Bill 1078 into law (see Spring 1996 issue of the Blind Washingtonian.) This landmark legislation, which went into effect June 6, 1996, will ensure that blind children in Washington State will have a better opportunity to receive a quality education than in the past. For your information we are reprinting the text of SHB1078 here. If you have any questions, contact Mike Freeman, President, National Federation of the Blind of Washington. State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Ogden, Carlson, Casada, Cole, Quall, Benton, Pennington, Thibaudeau, Cooke, Boldt and Huff) Read first time 03/06/95. AN ACT Relating to the instruction in Braille reading and writing to blind students; adding new sections to chapter 28A.155 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.405 RCW; and creating a new section. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the goal of the legislature to encourage persons who are blind or visually impaired to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment. The legislature finds that literacy is essential to the achievement of this goal. Furthermore, the legislature finds that literacy for most persons who are blind or visually impaired means the ability to read and write Braille with proficiency. The legislature sets as a further goal that students who are legally blind or visually impaired shall be given the opportunity to learn Braille in order to communicate effectively and efficiently. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.155 RCW to read as follows: Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply in section 3 of this act. (1) "Student" means a student who: (a) Has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with conventional correction or having a limited field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than twenty degrees; (b) Is unable to read printed material at a competitive rate with facility due to functional visual impairment or lack of visual acuity; or (c) Has a physical condition with a medical prognosis of a significant visual deterioration to the extent that (a) or (b) of this subsection could apply. (2) "Braille" means the system of reading and writing through touch commonly known as standard English Braille. NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.155 RCW to read as follows: (1) Each student shall be assessed individually to determine the appropriate learning media for the student including but not limited to Braille. (2) No student may be denied the opportunity for instruction in Braille reading and writing solely because the student has some remaining vision. (3) This section does not require the exclusive use of Braille if there are other special education services to meet the student's educational needs. The provision of special education or other services does not preclude Braille use or instruction. (4) If a student's individualized learning media assessment indicates that Braille is an appropriate learning medium, instruction in Braille shall be provided as a part of such student's educational curriculum and if such student has an individualized education program, such instruction shall be provided as part of that program. (5) If Braille will not be provided to a student, the reason for not incorporating it in the student's individualized education program shall be documented in such plan. If no individualized education program exists, such documentation, signed by the parent or guardian, shall be placed in the student's file. NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.405 RCW to read as follows: Teachers of visually impaired students shall be qualified according to rules adopted by the state board of education. Passed the House January 17, 1996. Passed the Senate February 28, 1996. Approved by the Governor March 22, 1996. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 22, 1996. EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION: A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE by Albert Sanchez and Erica Hoerner From The Editor: As regular readers of the Blind Washingtonian know, I have served as its editor for a little more than five years. During that time it has been my tendency to write only introductory notes to the articles written by others, preferring to work quietly in the background. I have also shied away from including pieces about myself, believing that such material is not appropriate and somewhat self-serving in nature. Once in a while, however, even these self-imposed rules should be broken, as in this instance. The following article is such an occasion. I was lazying around my place one Sunday morning last June when my phone rang. The call was from my good friend Jim Kienbaum. He called to tell me that he and his sister Terrie were going to Costco, did I want to go? Are you kidding? I couldn't get my shoes on fast enough! Not long after the phone call they drove up and away we went. I have known Jim since middle 1988. I had met his sister once several years before when she came with him to a luncheon gathering of computer users who are also amateur radio enthusiasts in which he and I occasionally participate. As a result of the Costco trip and the conversation during and afterwards, it was decided that Terrie would try, (in addition to her full-time day job), doing some reading and other assorted tasks like light cleaning around my house a couple of evenings a week, to make a few extra dollars. If you had told me that the simple hiring of a reader would have such wide-ranging results I probably might have told you that you were nuts, but that's exactly what happened. On several occasions recently it has been necessary to combine my reading needs with Terrie's requirement to spend time with her children, thus giving me an opportunity to meet and spend time with Erica 13 and Jim 15. Since I am neither a parent nor an educator I was not prepared for the avalanche of questions (mostly from Erica) about my blindness. In an effort to give myself some time to recover I gave her a Kernel book to look at. Since then we have explored braille, mobility, grocery shopping, and much more. In mid October of last year I made a trip to Colorado on family business for about ten days. Upon my return I had a message from Erica. She wanted to know if I would let her interview me for a school assignment, (she is a 7th grader at Garry Middle School in Spokane, Washington.) I told her that if she really wanted to do so, I would be pleased to help her. Here is what she wrote: While climbing a tree in his open country backyard, a young boy feels around and above him to find another branch sturdy enough to hold him. Sap and pitch coats his hands, and they stick to the branches as he pulls himself up. Soon, the boy leaves his perch in the tree, and descends to the ground. He has just heard his mother call his name. He tries to hide the sap and pitch that covers him as he goes into the house, but his mother notices, and scolds him as he scampers to wash up for dinner. Washing for dinner might have been hard for some blind children during the time Albert J. Sanchez was young. But blind since birth, Albert thinks it's as easy as 1-2-3. Albert was a three month premature baby. For years after World War II, it was always thought that to keep a premature baby alive, they had to be put in an incubator. Along with that, the oxygen inside the incubator had to be increased. They did so with Albert, and the procedure damaged his eyes leaving him totally blind. Albert remembers that he was 4-1/2 years old when he became acquainted with a school for blind children in Vancouver, Washington. Albert wanted, and needed, an education, and this was the only place near enough his home that he would be able to get it. But when Albert's family took him there, he felt they had abandoned him. But Albert's family sent him birthday cards, long distance phone calls, and packages of homemade goodies to let him know they still cared. Albert likes to read, go for walks, or talk on his "Ham" radio (which is a radio that enables you to talk to people around the world.) He also enjoys collecting old radio programs. He remembers when TV wasn't as popular as it is now. Everyone listened to the radio instead. There were programs like "Gunsmoke", or "Johnny Dollar". Albert enjoyed listening to these programs just like everyone else. Sighted people had to use their imaginations just like Albert. It gave him a sense of equality. Albert is a member of the National Federation of the Blind. He has been a representative for the Washington State, and has been to conventions at the following places: Denver, CO, Dallas, TX, (twice), Chicago, IL, (twice), New Orleans, LA, Kansas City, MO, (twice), Detroit, MI, Anaheim, CA, Phoenix, AZ, (twice), Minneapolis, MN, Louisville, KY, and Charlotte, NC. He has also been to Baltimore, MD., Washington D.C., and Valley Forge, PA on separate occasions to visit family members. Albert's being a member of the Federation, provides him an advantage to get to know other blind people in the city. If a blind person just moved into Spokane, the Federation might let Albert know. Then, if he wanted to, he could show that person around the city. Albert's fine ability to read and write Braille also provides him an advantage. If a newly blinded person wished to learn to read and write Braille, the Federation might let Albert know, and he could teach them. Besides teaching people to read and write, Albert likes to do both these things himself. He remembers a time when he called an information line and asked them if they had a certain set of program booklets available in Braille. The lady on the other end snickered and asked rudely, "Whatever would you want them in Braille for?" Albert was shocked, so he said as calmly as he could, "Because blind people like to read too!" Just recently, Albert asked me if I liked the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I told him I did, and the next thing I knew, he had bought me the entire set. He told me that he was fascinated by how much I like to read, and that I was lucky to have so many sources with which to get books. He said he liked the "Little House" books when he was young, too, and that ever since he met up with the famous reading teachers "Dick and Jane" he had always loved to read. Albert is a good friend of mine and a good friend of my family. I expect he'll be my friend for years to come, and that I will be his friend too. Keep smiling, Al! As you can imagine I was delighted when Erica read me her paper, not because it was about me, but because this young, delightful little girl that I had known less than six months had absorbed so much important information about blindness and our organization, the National Federation of the Blind. She is learning firsthand that it is respectable to be blind and that blindness need not keep someone from doing things. I am honored to be able to call Erica and her entire family close and wonderful friends. I am also extremely pleased to have been given this opportunity to have made a difference in her life. Who knows, when she is a young adult, is it not possible to imagine Erica working right alongside someone like Hailee Linhart? With wonderful imaginings like that it's real easy for me to walk across the bridge to the future and to know that I have had a small part in educating the next generation. Yes, it's real easy to "keep smiling!!" KIDDY CANE BANK MAKES WHITE CANES AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO BLIND CHILDREN From The Editor: For the last eight or so years the National Federation of the Blind of Washington's Parent's of Blind Children division has been operating a "Kiddy Cane Bank". We are pleased to include the following information. The Northwest affiliate of Parents of Blind Children a division of the National Federation of the Blind, has established the Kiddy Cane Bank. The Kiddy Cane Bank will provide a white cane free of charge to any blind child living in Washington. To obtain a white cane from the Kiddy Cane Bank; a parent/guardian must contact the Kiddy Cane Bank and provide the following information: Name and age of child, length of white cane desired and the child's address. To contact the Kiddy Cane Bank call or write: Barbara Freeman 301 N.E. 107th Street, Vancouver, WA 98685 Phone: (360) 574-8221 RESOLUTIONS This year the NFB of Washington passed two resolutions during its state-wide convention, here they are. RESOLUTION 96-01 WHEREAS, the Washington Instructional Resource Center, the Washington State School for the Blind and the Washington Department of Services for the Blind, which are agencies of the state, and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired ("AER"), which is a professional organization, jointly sponsored a seminar for parents and teachers of the blind in the spring of 1996 ("seminar"); and WHEREAS, the keynote speech, many of the workshops and all of the Saturday workshops for parents of blind children were controlled by the President of the National Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired; and WHEREAS, monies for this seminar for parents and teachers of blind children came from both public funds and AER, and therefore involved the financial support by state agencies of a seminar controlled by a private parent of blind children's organization; and WHEREAS, the state agencies and the AER should be committed to strengthening organizations of parents of blind children within the state, and financial sponsorship of a seminar controlled by an organization of parents of blind children was appropriate; and WHEREAS, the other nationwide consumer group of parents of blind children is the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children; and WHEREAS, the state agencies and AER have been very careful for years to treat all private consumer groups alike; and WHEREAS, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children has organized seminars for parents of blind children in Washington State for over ten years without a penny of support from state agencies or the AER. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this 19th day of October 1996 that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington calls upon the state agencies involved in sponsoring this seminar as well as AER to invite a representative of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children to take the lead in organizing the 1997 seminar for parents and teachers of blind children with the same commitment in monies for mailings, parent participation and other expenses and commitments as were provided in 1996. RESOLUTION 96-03 WHEREAS, the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library ("WTBBL") has provided exemplary service to its patrons for many years; and WHEREAS, one of these services is a computerized book collection catalog which is accessible not only at WTBBL headquarters via adapted computer but also via local and 800-number dial-up line; and WHEREAS, recently, WTBBL has further expanded access to this catalog by making it available over the Internet; and WHEREAS, Internet access greatly facilitates use of the catalog by those who can connect to the Internet as they will no longer need to make a long-distance telephone call or use an 800-number which may often be busy in order to use the catalog; and WHEREAS, WTBBL's computerized catalog is now one of the most accessible Regional Library catalogs in the country. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Washington in Convention assembled this 19th day of October, 1996, in the city of Tacoma, Washington, that this organization heartily commends the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library and its Librarian, Jan Ames, for its efforts to make its computerized catalog accessible to its patrons. Blind Washingtonian 707 East Garland Spokane, Washington 99207-3027 PRESIDENT: MICHAEL FREEMAN 301 N.E. 107th STREET VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON 98685 360-574-8221 FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: NOEL NIGHTINGALE 2226 ELLIOTT AVE., #106 SEATTLE, Washington 98121 206-441-0984 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: GARY MACKENSTADT 12303 N.E. 165th STREET BOTHELL, Washington 98011 206-488-0628 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED