The Braille Spectator Spring 1993 The Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland OCEAN CITY 1993 Start thinking now about Ocean City in the FALL! The 27th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be held at the fabulous Princess Royale, 91st Street and the Ocean, Friday October 29 through Sunday October 31. Excellent room rates and luxurious accommodations! Swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and fine dining! Action-packed convention program! Friday night Halloween partyþbring costumes! See the next Braille Spectator for room reservation forms. Please start collecting door prizes (cash or merchandise) for this convention. Call (410) 992-9608 for copies of our door prize request letter. You must be registered and present when your name is called to win a door prize. See you in Ocean City! BISM NAMES REHAB DIRECTOR: LERDAHL HAS 21 YEARS IN WORK WITH BLIND by Al Maneki After its managerial retreat last November, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) announced the selection of a new director for its rehabilitation program. Rosemary Lerdahl, the assistant director of the National Federation of the Blind's Job Opportunities for the Blind Program and a 21-year veteran in the field of work with the blind, assumed the duties as director of BISM's rehabilitation program on January 4, 1993. Ms. Lerdahl fills the position that had been left vacant for over six months. Her qualifications for this position are impressive. Her strong commitment to promoting independence and competence for blind persons will be an asset to both BISM and its students. Ms. Lerdahl brings a unique perspective to her new positionþone that many other sighted professionals lack. Legally blind during her childhood, she was a consumer of services for blind and visually impaired persons throughout high school and college, giving her first hand experience of receiving services from a state rehabilitation agency. Normal vision was restored by surgery after she completed her university studies. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and social work in 1970, Ms. Lerdahl began her career in work with the blind as a part time typing teacher at the Nebraska Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 1972. After several months, she was assigned to the mobile rehabilitation team which traveled across Nebraska to attempt to rehabilitate blind persons in their local communities. As a team member, she taught travel, typing, and homemaking skills. The Nebraska agency soon realized that this type of training was inadequate, and replaced it with a residential orientation center which could provide clients with more intensive training. Ms. Lerdahl taught travel and typing at the new orientation center, and served as its assistant director during 1975-76. From 1977 to 1984, she was the supervisor for the Nebraska Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired's district office in Lincoln. In this position, she not only supervised the rehabilitation teachers and counselors, but also carried her own case load of as many as 100 clients. In 1984, she returned to the Nebraska Orientation Center as its director, a position which she would hold for the next five years. Her duties included: managing the apartment complex in which the students lived during their training, supervising the center's staff, and developing a rehabilitation program which taught relevant skills and promoted positive attitudes about blindness. In 1989, Ms. Lerdahl moved to Baltimore, Maryland to become the assistant director of the Job Opportunities for the Blind program. As the assistant director, she provided information and guidance to blind job seekers, assisted employers with providing reasonable accommodations, and educated employers on the abilities of blind persons. "Moving to Baltimore was the biggest risk I ever took in my life, leaving my family and friends in Nebraska," Ms. Lerdahl said. "But the NFB provides a very loving and caring environment to work in, and this gave me the chance to grow in my understanding of blindness and to learn many new skills." Ms. Lerdahl is enthusiastic about building a strong rehabilitation program at BISM. "The key ingredient to a successful rehabilitation program for blind persons is having a staff that really believes in the capabilities of the blind," she said. Ms. Lerdahl has already initiated a discussion group on blindness for students and staff which meets twice a week, and has taken the students and staff on exciting field trips. Concerning her own attitude toward blindness, one of the most meaningful experiences for her was her first National Federation of the Blind conventionþChicago, 1975. She remembers a blind rehabilitation counselor inviting her and her roommate to join him for dinner. They walked through the busy and unfamiliar streets of Chicago, over a draw bridge to reach their destination. "I knew nothing about the place, so I had to trust my blind colleague. After this experience, I thought seriously about my own attitudes toward blindness," she said. Ms. Lerdahl looks forward to the challenge of helping the students and the staff at BISM to explore their own attitudes and to develop a positive view of the inconvenience of blindness. She truly believes in the capabilities of blind persons. SHOULD YOUR CHILD LEARN BRAILLE? ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS From the Editor: As a result of the passage of the Maryland Literacy Rights and Education Act in 1992, the Maryland State Department of Education published a resource document entitled SELECTION OF READING AND WRITING MEDIA FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS: BRAILLE, PRINT, OR BOTH. This document provides guidance and assistance to the ARD/IEP Committees when making decisions about a student's reading and writing needs. The law mandates that, annually, the ARD/IEP Committees discuss the question of the appropriateness of teaching Braille to a visually impaired student. Since parents are important members of the ARD/IEP Committees, and since the National Federation of the Blind frequently assists parents in advocating for their children, we are reprinting Appendix B, Assessment Questions for Families and Students, from this resource document. Anyone wishing a copy of the entire document should call Sharon Maneki (410-992-9608). Appendix B is as follows: The questions listed below are samples to help the family/student contribute valuable information. Not all questions are appropriate for each student. Some questions address all students, some preschoolers or prereaders, and some address older students. They have been written for the parents/guardians; however, the wording can be easily changed to be used with students. It is important to remember that each student is unique, with different perceptions, strengths, and needs. The teacher must be sensitive and aware of these so that families and students will feel comfortable giving their impressions and information. Medical Factors - What do you know about the diagnosis and prognosis of your child's eye condition? - What was the age of onset? - Are there any other family members with the same condition? - Have you observed any changes in the visual functioning of your child? - Have there been any changes in the visual acuity or visual field? FUNCTIONAL VISION INFORMATION Physical Factors - How close does your child hold a book or picture to his/her face? - How long can your child read at one sitting without fatigue or pain? - Does your child squint, tilt the head, or get into other unusual positions while reading, writing, looking at a book, or picture on television? - Does your child complain of headaches, eye fatigue, or other physical discomforts? What seems to bring on these complaints? Environmental Factors - Does your child take a book to a special place in the home to look at or read it? - Does your child show a difference in visual functioning according to the time of day, seasonal changes, environmental changes (rainy day versus sunny day, going from a dark room to the outdoors, etc.), lighting conditions, etc. Print Reading Factors - Does your child read regularly? - Does your child pretend to read? - Is your child interested in books, in pictures? - Does your child avoid reading for school or pleasure? - After school hours, does someone read school work to your child? Recopy handouts or texts? How much time is spent on these tasks in an average day or week? Handwriting Factors - Is your child interested in using crayons or pencils? - Can your child read his/her own handwriting, especially after a few days or weeks have passed? Low Vision Technological Factors - Does your child use any low vision devices at home? PROJECTED READING AND WRITING NEEDS - What are your future expectations for your child? EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION Cognitive Development - Does your child examine objects visually and/or tactually? - Does your child appear to see some colors more easily than others? - Does your child have a preference for certain colors, color combinations? - Does your child have difficulty identifying any colors? - How does your child select books? - How well does your child interpret pictures, maps, graphs, etc.? Does he/she ignore them, enjoy them, ask for help in interpreting them, find them frustrating, etc.? - Does your child have trouble with spelling and/or punctuation? Affective Development - Does your child pretend to "see" in order to please others? - Is your child interested in television? How close does he/she sit? - Does he/she seem to listen to it more than look at it? - What are your concerns/priorities for your child? - What resources have you used? JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SATISFACTION: TWO CHALLENGES FOR BISM by Sharon Maneki In their presentation at our 1992 state convention, Fred Puente (Board Chairman), Richard Brueckner (President), and David Reed (Director of Sales and Marketing) reported that, despite the Department of Education's law suit, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) was able to offer new opportunities for blind persons in its industries division. The establishment of a new department for assembly contracts at the Baltimore plant generated additional revenues and resulted in the hiring of an additional 50 blind persons in 1992. I toured this department on January 30, 1993. I want to share some of my thoughts about BISM with readers of the Braille Spectator. Unlike the traditional sheltered workshop contracts which come from the National Industries for the Blind, David Reed explained that most of BISM's new business in assembly work comes from the private sector. One exception, the calendar project from the state of Maryland, was nevertheless a new contract for BISM. Employees in both the assembly and paper departments were needed to produce 12,000 wall calendars and 25,000 desk calendars. I was impressed with the volume and variety of work that was in progress during my visit. Employees were hard at work repackaging Glad Wrap for display pallets for First Brands Corp. They were assembling shipping containers for Stephen Gold Corp., an intermediary which supplies containers for companies throughout the nation. They were also assembling special promotion packages for McCormick Schilling, the famous Baltimore spice company. BISM started to look for business in the private sector in 1990. Its first success, manufacturing reusable tote bags for Giant Foods, remains a lucrative operation. Shortly after the assembly department was started, BISM set up a telemarketing operation to seek out other assembly contracts. Contracts are developed by calling corporations listed in the Dun & Bradstreet and Harris directories which are available in electronic media. The electronic media facilitates the transcription of telephone numbers into Braille or large print for the four blind persons currently employed in telemarketing. Thus far, the telemarketers' efforts have resulted in large contracts with A&A Plastics for the assembly and packaging of toys for vending machines, and with Nation Ruskin for the promotion packaging of sponges and a variety of other cleaning products. It is also worth noting that there are three blind lead employees in the assembly department who have some supervisory responsibilities. BISM's success in developing private sector business in a period of economic recession is impressive. During my tour, David Reed told me that BISM is anticipating even further expansion, with plans for the assembly of automatic pencils used by draftsmen and accountants, packaging fax paper, and processing overhead transparency products for plain paper copy machines. For all of its success, I believe that BISM is suffering from growing pains. To maintain a competitive position, BISM has had to streamline its operations and adopt new procedures to manage its industrial employees. I believe that the management has not adequately explained the need for these changes to the employees, has not sufficiently involved them in the decision-making process which led to these changes, and has failed to demonstrate to them that these changes are also in their interest. Certain management practices, such as keeping some employees on temporary status for extended periods to avoid the payment of benefits, also seem to have eroded employee morale. (The problem of keeping employees on temporary status has recently been resolved.) Under these circumstances, it is not surprising for the industrial employees to be somewhat skeptical and resentful. I question whether BISM's management fully appreciates the fact that blind employees are no different from sighted employeesþgive them the motivation and the tools, and they will get the job done. The challenge for BISM is not only to land new contracts but also to win the loyalty of its employees, to shorten its supervisory chain of command, and to empower its industrial employees with real decision-making responsibilities. The decline in federal contracts has been steep. With even larger cuts in government spending on the way, it is unclear whether BISM will be able to generate enough private sector contracts to maintain its present level of employment. Layoffs have already occurred this year. While I commend BISM for its successful efforts to expand its operations, I encourage BISM to do a better job of managing its industrial employees. I congratulate both the telemarketing and production employees for proving once again that given training and opportunity, blind persons are as productive and competent as sighted persons. READING MEDIUM OF YOUR CHOICE, DORS PROMISES From the Editor: The following letter was written by James Jeffers, Assistant State Superintendent In Rehabilitation Services, in response to Resolution 92-05, adopted at our 1992 convention, in which the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) is taken to task for its failure to provide materials to blind and visually impaired clients in accessible media. Mr. Jeffers assures us that DORS will provide all of its materials in Braille, in large print, or on audio cassette. We strongly urge all blind and visually impaired clients of DORS to take full advantage of this offer. You should request that DORS provide you with copies of your IWRP, and information about DORS programs and servicesþthe client assistance program, the vending program for the blind, the Maryland Rehabilitation Center, the financial needs test, client rights and responsibilities, appeals procedures, etc. in the reading medium of your choice. If you encounter difficulties obtaining these materials in a timely manner, please call the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (410) 992-9608. December 9, 1992 Dear Ms. Maneki: Thank you for your letter of November 1, 1992, and the copy of resolution 92-05 by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland concerning the lack of accessible materials for blind clients. I can assure you that every effort is made by the Division's staff to communicate with blind and visually impaired clients about the rehabilitation services that are available under the Rehabilitation Act and of their rights and responsibilities and the services available under the Maryland Client Assistance Program (CAP). The Division is also making every effort to provide this information in an accessible format for blind and visually impaired clients. The Client Assistance Program (CAP) does provide blind clients with braille copies of its brochure entitled "Clients Rights and Responsibilities." Braille copies were initially made available to the specialized counselors serving blind individuals and will be available for use by all counselors in the near future. The program of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals is producing these braille copies and will also have audio tape copies of the CAP brochure for distribution to all field counselors for their blind clients who may prefer this mode of communication. Large print copies of this brochure are produced as needed. Although I am confident that no blind client has ever been denied a copy of the IWRP by their counselor in accessible format, I am taking immediate action through the Office of Client Services to ensure that blind clients are informed of this option and that they will be provided a copy of their IWRP in braille, audiotape, or large print, as needed. The Division's goal is to provide accessible information and materials to its clients who are blind or visually impaired. We are developing the capacity to respond to this need in a more timely fashion and welcome positive suggestions by you on any materials/information we may have overlooked that would be helpful for our clients. Contrary to the statement contained in resolution 92-05, the Division is committed to providing timely and quality services to all its clients, including those who are blind or visually impaired. We will continue to make every effort to inform clients of the resources available to them and how they can maximize their access to rehabilitation programs. Sincerely, James S. Jeffers MONTGOMERY COUNTY GETS A BRAILLIST by Barbara Cheadle Reprinted from Horizon, the Family Newsletter of the Parents of Blind Children Division of the National Federation of the Blind, Winter '92/Spring '93. We live in a world of paper. Even kindergartens are inundated with paperwork. And more and more of the paperwork assignments given to today's students are taken from non-textbook sources. The days when a student had one textbook in each class, and all classroom and homework assignments consisted of, "Do questions 1 through 15 on page 54 of your book" are no more. Outside reading sources and teacher-made materials account for more and more of the students' required workload. What this means for the blind Braille student is that, more than ever, he or she needs the services of a Braillist. In this day and age of technology, let me hasten to explain that a Braillist is not a machine, it is a person; a trained and certified Braille transcriber knowledgeable in the Braille code and skilled in transcribing all manner of material for the elementary through high school student. As great as computers and Braille printers are, they do not replace skilled Braillists. They are truly the unsung heroes in the education of the blind Braille students. The presence or absence of a Braillist can literally determine whether or not a blind student has the opportunity to do all the same work and participate in all the same academic and extracurricular activities as her or his sighted classmates. Needless to say, when the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and the Parents' Division was informed this fall that Montgomery County school district could be in danger of losing a Braillist position, we went into action. It turned out that the Braillist position was unfilled, and no action was being taken to announce the vacancy and get it filled. What was especially puzzling about this situation was that a secretary within the Montgomery county vision program had, on her own initiative, taken the Library for the Blind correspondence course and received her certification as a Braille transcriber. It is the responsibility of the supervisor of the vision program to advertise and fill the Braillist position. Money wasn't a problem. The position was already in the budget. The need was there, the position existed, a qualified person was available to fill it. So, why wasn't something being done? With school districts cutting budgets all over the start, it was clear that unless action was promptly taken to fill the Braillist position, it was in danger of being lost altogether. To make sure this did not happen, representatives of the NFB of Maryland and the NFB of Maryland Parents' Division went straight to the Montgomery County School Board. For two consecutive meetings in November we appeared before the Board during the public comment period and testified to the Board about the need for this position to be advertised and filled. Not long afterward, we were advised by letter that the Braillist position had been filled! In a time of budget cutting and belt tightening, the blind and the parents of blind children must be ever alert to the danger of losing vital services. We must be prepared to stand up and speak out for what our children need. By joining together and doing this as an organizationþnot as isolated individualsþwe have greater clout and more impact. Without the intervention of the NFB of Maryland and our Parents' Division, Montgomery county Braille students might still be without a Braillist today. SAUCE FOR THE GANDER by Tom Bickford From the Editor: Tom Bickford was a subject in a test administered by Donna Sauerberger. We will have more to say about this testþits assumptions, methodology, and conclusionsþin a future editorial. When I am a participant in a test group, and I know that someone will write me up and make comments on my performance in the test, it seems fair to me that I should be allowed to make comments on the test and the test givers. This test will make news soon because it is on the subject of warning strips for the blind at street crossings. Excuse me, I am taking things out of order. The test was given under similar circumstances in several cities in 1992 and 1993. My test administrator guided me to an unfamiliar area in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. I was asked to approach ten pre-selected intersections starting anywhere from fifteen to one hundred feet back from the intersection, cautioned that I might pass driveways and parking lots, and instructed to stop when I was within one step of the street; that is, when the next step would be into the street. When I stopped more than one step back from the curb, I was told I was not close enough. When I arrived at each curb, I was asked what clues had shown me that I was there. Each intersection was unique. There was a variety of driveways, rounded corners, sign posts, intersecting sidewalks, shallow curbs and wheelchair rampsþmany of which were useful landmarks. At the first intersection the sidewalk was absolutely flush with the street. The tenth was the only one with a traditionally-sized step down to the street. It was a quiet time in the afternoon with almost no traffic. I failed to identify one narrow street which had no traffic and almost no curb because I thought it was another driveway. I missed another street when I heard a car waiting to cross the area of the sidewalk in front of me. I stopped fifteen feet back to let the car proceed. After half a minute or so I decided that the car must be waiting to come out of a parking lot and, since there was no other traffic anywhere, I stepped out, passing a one-inch curb which I identified later. After two steps my test administrator took my arm and told me that it was a street and that the car had been waiting for a light. At the very end of the test the final question was, "Would it have been easier if there had been tactile warning strips at the curb?" My answer was, "Not necessarily." Now it all comes out. It was a set up. This was a study to promote the installation of tactile warning strips at intersections and other drop-offs such as subway platforms. The only criterion on which I and the other test subjects were tested was, could we stop within one step of the curb. We were not tested on comparable curbs with and without truncated domes which would have made the final question relevant. Well, friends, I say it this way. When I am in an unfamiliar area, I use my cane, my feet, my ears, my nose, my sense of time and distance, and all the common sense I can muster. When I think I am approaching a street, I am sometimes cautious enough to stop before I get "within one step of the curb." I think the way to make travel safe for blind people is not to install truncated domes at every intersection in these fifty states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. If the professionals want to ensure safe travel for blind people, they need to believe in the capability of blind people to travel safely. Then they need to join those of us who can and do travel in spreading the word to the rest of us who are doubtful about our abilities. That way we will not need a bumpy strip for the blind at every intersection in the nation. First, you must believe that safe cane travel by the blind is achievable. The next three steps are these: (1) Get a cane that is long enough. I suggest one that reaches two steps in front of you. (2) Swing and tap the cane wide enough to find the obstacles and landmarks in front of you. I suggest a little wider than your shoulders. (3) Feel, smell, listen to, and think about everything around you. Of course, there are more details than that, but with some practice you will be able to travel, and you won't need special "bumpy strips for the blind." MEMORIES From the Editor: As readers of the Braille Spectator are well aware, Anna Cable, a long time member of the National Federation of the Blind, will celebrate her 100th birthday on June 29. We are pleased to print a letter which she has written to a group of students. Although the events which she describes in this letter precede her blindness, her recollections reveal the strength of her character which has enabled her to live independently as a blind person for over thirty years. Anna Cable is an inspiration to all of us. My Dear Young Student Friend: I have been greatly interested in your letters and especially your questions about the war. Of course, I understand that you mean World War II, you cannot believe that anyone can be living today that had a part in the First World War. Your questions have stirred up memories, memories that go back a very long way and I have decided that I shall round them all up, and with the help of a capable young friend, put them into writing, as I saw them, from this side of the world....... When I went to school, our history books at that time, told us about two principal wars in which our country was involved. There was the revolutionary war, way back in George Washington's time, a very long war, but probably our most important, since it made us a nation. Then in the next century, we had the Civil War. (I grew up in Ohio and we never heard it referred to as the "War Between the States".) It was a very sad war. History tells us that there was a greater loss of life in that war than in any other in which our country participated. More men died of disease than on the battle front. When I was in Ohio, in the 2nd and 3rd grade, we still had some of the veterans of the Civil War, once a year on Decoration Day they would don their old army uniforms and make the rounds of our school rooms and delight us with stories of their army days. At that time we took it for granted that war was a thing of the past, that this country would never see war again. Then in 1914 our newspapers blazed with big headlines telling of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Serajevo. It meant war. Marconi's transAtlantic cable furnished us with all the news. Day and night out newspapers were carrying EXTRAS, newsboys were on the streets shouting "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" Our President, Woodrow Wilson, promised that we would not get into the war and we were perfectly willing to leave it in the hands of Kaiser Wilhelm. So we played our pianos and sang....... I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier. I brought him up to be my pride and joy. Not to put a gun upon his shoulder, To kill some other mother's darling boy. In 1915 the British passenger liner Lusitania, carrying British and American passengers was torpedoed in the war zone surrounding the British Isles and all aboard went down. The Germans were held accountable. President Wilson felt convinced that he had to retract his promise, which made him very unpopular. Many Congressman on the hill voted negative, but not enough. War was declared on Germany and we were in! Our boys went off to register for the draft, and wires went out from Washington to all parts of the country, urging our girls to come to the aid of their country. Good jobs were offered with excellent pay, up to $100 a month. That was wealth! I was interested. It opened the doors of the world to me. It was the realization of many of my dreams. A lifelong friend of my own ageþher name was Maryþwas of the same opinion, so we took the required Civil Service Examination, passed, and of course were accepted. Then wires came to our door almost daily. However, we could not accept an offer of any job until we knew where we were going to live when we got there. The newspapers were full of stories of girls arriving in Washington by the trainload, with no place to stay, sleeping on park benches and in the railroad stations. Fortunately, an aunt of mine had an acquaintance in Washington with whom she communicated, with the result that within a short time we were given a definite address on K street. Mary, having only her Mother, in excellent health, was able to go almost immediately. I had a family, my Mother and a younger sister and brother. And it was believed advisable to make some changes in our living conditions before I, the eldest, felt free to leave. This accomplished, my mother went out and bought me a trunk. Up to that time, I had needed nothing more than a suitcase. It did not take long to pack the trunk and buy my railway ticket. I said "Good-bye," to my family and was on my way. This of course changed my whole life. Mary met me at Union Station in Washington and as I left the building, the first thing I saw was the dome of the capitol. It was a short walk to our new home, a type of structure we had never seen in out part of the country. It was owned by a couple with a high- school aged son and they had been able to turn over to the war effort their third floor, two large bedrooms and a bath, and Mary had already settled in one, waiting for me. In a very few days, two other young women from other parts of the country arrived to occupy the second bedroom. We ranged in age from 23þ27. Mary and I were in the middle, we were both 25. We were made very welcome in our new home and treated like family. Our jobs were in all parts of the city. I was in an office of the Navy Department. Temporary buildings were being put up in all parts of Washington; I was directed to 2 or 3 different addresses in the downtown section, wherever there was space enough for a few desks and where the door could be opened enough to let us squeeze in and out. Then a few months later a permanent building, on what is now Constitution Avenue, at 17th Street west of the White House, was sufficiently completed to allow us to move in. A building similar to it, next to it, was marked as War Department. Our working hours were from 9 - 4:30, six days a week, making a 42 hour work week. We were given a months' annual vacation. I made it a point to save as much of my vacation as possible in order to spend December with my family. However, our first Christmas caught up with us when we were there only 6 months and 3 of us were unable to go home; we lived too far away and we couldn't afford it. But our good friends took care of us. We had a tree under which we could put our Christmas gifts and since we had no decorations for it we popped corn, opened a package of pins and put a white kernel of corn on the end of practically every twig of the tree. It was different and it pleased us. On Christmas Day we had a luscious Christmas dinner, we played the piano and sang, we played records on the Victrola that had to be wound by hand to keep it going and our Christmas was a nice success. Everything was new to us. We walked miles. We saw the public buildings, we visited as many as we could get into on our Sundays and holidays. The Lincoln memorial was under construction, the ground around it was like a plowed-up corn field. We learned our way around. We found good restaurants where the food was reasonable and good. We could get steak dinner with all the trimming for 50 cents. Life was going along very nicely when suddenly tragedy struck. We found ourselves in the midst of an epidemic for which medical science had no answer. In order to give it a name, they called it the "Spanish" influenza. Girls died like flies all over the city. Many were found dead in their beds after several days. I recall having to pass the funeral parlor where for days boxes were piled one on top of another from each side of the door out across a wide sidewalk to the curb. We had to walk out in the road to get around. From the appearance of them I assumed they were rough boxes, or caskets. Of us four girls, Mary was the one who was unable to get up one morning. We were frightened. But our good "housemother", less than 40 years of age, knew what to do. She took Mary in hand and in time had her out of danger. With summer coming to a close and the hot weather dying down, the epidemic died out. On November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed. We had a false armistice three days earlier, but we were assured that November 11th was the real one. Offices turned out into the street, auto horns blared, strangers grabbed each others hands and danced. Everybody sang and there was great joy. As the day grew to a close we all went home, The next morning we got up went to work the same as usual and life went on with no evident change. With the exception that in 1920 women finally got the vote. I lost no time in getting my signed ballot back to my home town in Ohio. Since we knew we were going to be in Washington only for the duration of the war we made up our minds we were going to see as much of history as possible. We enjoyed a boat trip down the Potomac to Mount Vernon. We spent the day visiting the slave quarters, the gardens and the mansion. We climbed to the 3rd floor, where from the windows, so we were told, Martha could see her husband's tomb. (Now known as the "Old Tomb".) Then there was Arlington National Cemetery, further up the Potomac, across from the Lincoln memorial, the beautiful old Robert E. Lee mansion, 100 years younger than Mount Vernon. The cemetery at the time had acres of unused ground. The largest part in use was occupied by veterans of the Civil War. Their markers row on row. There were a couple relics of the battleship Maine, one of them the mast of the vessel, a new outdoor auditorium was under construction, and the tomb of the unknown soldier was only a suggestion. Another time we went over to Baltimore where we found the old church yard with the tomb of Edgar Allen Poe. We made it a point to find the old cemetery where we were told the body of John Wilkes Booth had been laid. (I have read, not too many years ago, that initially the body of Booth was buried much further down the Potomac near where he was captured and later removed to the Baltimore cemetery, the name of which I have forgotten). There, behind the main big memorial in a spot unmarked and unknown, are the remains of John Wilkes Booth. On the trip over there, we visited the Bascillica of the Queen of the Assumption, an edifice that had as much history as the city. We had a delightful visit in the garden with Cardinal Gibbons. He let us take his picture. We climbed Baltimore's Washington monument, 200 steps, since there was no elevator. From the top we had a grand view of the city. The Washington monument in D.C., 555 feet necessarily had an elevator. On our first trip, we rode up and said we would walk down. We did. All 900 steps. My knees trembled for days and thereafter, I used the elevator. Then there was Annapolis, with its history back to the days of the colonies. There was, and still is, the little chapel where they hold the graduations of the cadets of the U. S. Navy. The historical old buildings in one of which there is the spot where Washington surrendered his commission. (A few years ago we took a young relative over there for a visit. When he saw the spot, he remarked, with a very puzzled expression, "I didn't think Washington ever surrendered to anybody.") Of course with all of this travelling it was necessary that it be done on foot or by trolley car. Automobiles were very few in those days. In fact I remember taking a picture down Pennsylvania Avenue to get the dome of the capitol in the distance. I stood in the middle of the avenue at 15th street to take the picture and I was in no danger. With so many girls pouring into the city at one time, it was necessary to find some means of wholesome recreation for their free time outside of working hours. Just 2 or 3 blocks of where we lived there was the old German Catholic Church which 3 of us attended. (Now known as old St. Mary's and very active.) We all became acquainted and joined in their activities. Two of us sang in the choir. The school building had a large auditorium which we made good use of. One of our CORPS members had been active in college in putting on some one-act plays which she brought with her and which we rehearsed and when ready, filled the auditorium with surrounding neighbors. Another church opened its auditorium to us and in time we had a pretty good number of would-be actors and actresses, with a good director, and enjoyed many an evening rehearsing our various plays. When they did not fill an evening, we pushed back the chairs, cleared the floor, and with a good pianist, finished the evening dancing. On couple occasions, we were loaded into a bus and taken to the Veterans Hospitals and camps where we entertained the boys. There were state societies and in the summer we went on picnics. One might ask where was the war? WELL, it was "over there". Our boys had shipped out, and we sang "and we won't come back, 'til it's over, over there". We sang a great deal through the inspiration of Irving Berlin. Songs that were very tuneful then and are heard today. If one had a friend or loved one on the other side the war was real. The day came when our boys were brought home, those that lived and many that didn't. There were many new graves in Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier awaited its first occupant. One of my attractive co-workers became engaged to 3 different uniforms as they shipped out, and her greatest concern was that they would all come back at the some time. Our hospitals were full of returned veterans. In the camps we saw many who were on crutches or walking with a cane. Planes flew over night and day. There were shortages, especially of food. Probably felt more by the housewife than by those of us who took our meals in restaurants. There were many parades. Dignitaries from foreign countries visited us, members of royalty, one of them, England's own Prince of Wales, and we were always given time off from our desks to go and see them. As time went on, we made our own diversions, we made our own friends. Washingtonians were awfully good to us, we were invited into many homes. It began to seem as if we had always lived in Washington. The time came however, when government office forces began to thin out, as girls were sent home, temporary building were no longer needed. Three of the four of us were wearing engagement rings and looking to the future. The day came when we said good-bye to our Washington friends, returned home, had lovely weddings, and in due time, started a new generation. But those of us who had met in the row house of K Street some years before remained friends as long as we lived. We kept in touch with one another, we visited and got together when we could. The high school aged boy married a neighbor girl with whom which he had grown up. Washington was no longer the quiet little village it had been when so many of us poured en a few years before. We had seen it stretch into the suburbs. We had seen Washington grow up... The Second World War, nearly 25 Years later, was very different from the first. It was a real war. We had lived through the Great Depression of the '30s, and the best I can say for that is that we survived, as millions of others and it did us no harm. Charles, my husband, and I had returned to Maryland, where his family still lived, in the forlorn hope of finding work of any kind. Almost immediately after arriving I had taken a second Civil Service examination, optimistically hoping that our government would be opening for business again. Finally, at long last, almost three years later, I received word from the Civil Service, the offer of a two month, temporary appointment. This was extended another two months and I was offered a position with the Immigration and Naturalization Service on permanent status which I gladly accepted and where I remained for twenty one years. At that time the pay was $100 a month and it seemed like wealthþit was! We heard rumblings of what was in Europe. Hitler marched into Poland and didn't stop there. On more than one occasion Churchill came to this country and met with president Roosevelt on unknown vessels far out to sea. Like a forest fire war spread across Europe, across the British channel, and in 1939 we declared war on Germany and joined the allies. England and France needed our help badly. In the days that followed our office in Washington was filled to overflowing with desperate people begging us to get their families out of Europe. We were sympathetic and did all the Immigration laws would allow. Then there was that day, December 7, 1941, "a day that will live in infamy" (President Roosevelt), when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. As we were drawn into it the government decided that all of its departments should be moved far out of D.C. The Immigration and Naturalization Service was sent to Philadelphia. At this date I cannot recall whether it was the excitement of getting into the war or moving to another city, but my memory of history had become a bit hazy. It took more than one trip up to Philadelphia to find the home we wanted. But eventually Charles and I found a very pleasant home on the west side of Philadelphia. When the move started we were told that for days the roads out of Washington, heading north, were lined solid with moving vans loaded with household possessions. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, 800 strong, was housed in a tall building on Chestnut Street at the corner of 15th. We immediately settled down to work. Our work day was extended by one hour, with no thought of extra pay. We had but one holiday a year, Christmas. We grew accustomed to seeing street cars operated by women and the uniforms of WAC (Women's Auxiliary Corp). Our street lights were dimmed as much as possible and in our homes our windows were covered with black shades at night. Air raid wardens policed the streets at night in designated blocks to be sure there wasn't the least crack of light from any window in any home. A light spanned our skies at night from horizon to horizon, it just swept across all night long. If you were out on the street at any time during the day or night and an alert sounded you immediately sought shelter. If you were driving you left your car standing where it was and got under cover, maybe somebody's private home until the "All Clear" sounded. There were shortages of many things. We had to have stamp books for food, for shoes, for gasoline. Very often we would see a long line of people, women mainly, lined up somewhere. Not knowing what it was we'd get in line, being sure at the end it would probably be something we could use. Our cars were used only when absolutely necessary. We used them mainly for shopping and going to church. Our cars were marked with big letters on the windows showing our classification, A,B, or C, according to the amount of gas we needed for our daily work. In many stores the meat counters were totally empty. We grew accustomed in the supermarkets to seeing the butcher disappear into the freezer and come out with a little wrapped package which went into the cart of a customer that he addressed by name. We soon realized it was best to deal with our neighborhood grocer and become a well known customer. We frequently would find a little package amongst our groceries when we got home for which we had paid and stamps deducted. At any time if there was a special shipment of anything, canned goods for instance, they were not put up for display, but when we unwrapped our groceries we would find a can amongst our goods. We were allowed a half pound of butter every other week and our grocer kept track of it on the wall behind the counter. That was when we learned to like margarine. It was white and came in a plastic bag with a yellow bean buried in it. At room temperature we worked it with our hands, breaking the bean and spreading an even yellow through the package. We learned to like it and had no idea what an important part of our diet it would become. We who ate in restaurants probably fared better as to variety. There were many good restaurants in the heart of the city and we favored a cafeteria near the office. The food was good and reasonable. Vegetables were 5 cents a serving, with the exception of creamed mushrooms, a favorite dish, which was 10 cents. All meats were 10 cents a serving, coffee was 10 cents a cup. And a customer could have no more than one cup at any one meal. We were allowed 2 teaspoons of sugar, which we could use in part, or all, and the waiter behind the counter spread it around according to the customer's directions. We were allowed 2 slices of bread and a pat of butter. For a while an effort was made to substitute cottage cheese for butter, but the idea didn't take. In Chinese restaurants a customer could have rice or bread, but not both. In looking back on these low prices, it must be remembered that we were slowly crawling out of the greatest depression this country has ever known. When the war started prices remained static. But when peace was declared, the cost of living began to rise. In real estate in particular, prices took a great jump practically over night. Most homes in those days were heated by coal. We could only get a ton at a time. When we began to get low we could order another ton, but before it was delivered, a representative of the coal company came to our basement to verify the fact that we had only one or two shovel fulls before another ton would be delivered. And there were times we went a little bit cold. In different parts of the city there were canteens for out uniformed young people to find home away from home; they would drop in for companionship, to take a shower, to write letters home. In the evening there were nicely dressed young girls for dancing. And to fall in love with, which they did. There was good recreation. The movies in those days were equal to any we have today, not like the first World War, which had everything in black and white, and no sound tracks. Movie stars came to Washington making a drive for war bonds. We were thrilled to see real life movie stars in color and with sound. We also had some good stage plays. We had department stores much bigger than anything we had in Washington. Also on Broad near Walnut, there was a very old building, that to me looked like an abandoned warehouse. But once inside you heard beautiful music. With its red velvet curtains and its red upholstered chairs you knew you were listening to music that had been played there for generations. I hope the old building still stands. During this time our boys overseas were marrying girls in every country, of every color, race and creed. They had to know that the marriage custom of the country did not make it a legal marriage for us. They had to go before the American Counsel. Babies born of such a marriage were, of course, American citizens at birth, no matter what country into which they were born. This marriage gave the foreign born girl legal admission to the United States, none quota for permanent residents. At the same time hundreds of our boys over there were fathering babies by the thousands, children who would grow up never knowing their American fathers. We learned to like Philadelphia. Many of the employees bought homes and remained up there. In order to keep families together the Service gave jobs to the spouses of employees "For the duration and six months". Before the six months expired Charles had taken the Civil Service examination and passed and then had permanent status in any government agency. In time we were returned to Maryland where Charles and I settled in Hyattsville and eventually spent our retirement years. We did some travelling, but did not get as far west as we had hoped. From his childhood Charles' life had been plagued with intermittent bouts of hay-fever and asthma which led to more serious illness and eventually brought to a close 49 years of hills and valleys, but always together. My years alone that followed were busy ones filled with activities that I thought were worthwhile and that enriched my life. For the past few years I have lived quite contentedly and comfortably in a pleasant retirement home in Columbia where I hope to remain until I reach 100. Anna Freyez Cable June 1992 SPECKS AWARDS. Ken Canterbery, the energetic president of the Baltimore County chapter, received a citation from Governor Schaefer on October 12, 1992 for rendering outstanding service to the citizens of the state of Maryland. Ken Robertson, one of our diabetic representatives and an active member of the Baltimore chapter, received the Champion of Courage Award from Fox 45 TV, Coca Cola, and Safeway on February 20 for his volunteer work with children in the Baltimore city schools. Congratulations Ken and Ken. GRADUATES. Robin Hauck, a recipient of our state and national scholarships, recently received her MSW degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Andre Robinson, the treasurer of the Southern Maryland chapter, completed training courses in office automation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital on February 5. Edith Robinson, Andre's wife, recently received her B.S. degree in health and human performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. Congratulations Robin, Andre, and Edith. MILE STONES. On March 1, T.C. Johnson, a charter member of the Salisbury Chapter, retired after working for 23 years at BISM's Salisbury plant. Floyd and Georgia Myers, active members of the Greater Cumberland Chapter, celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on April 15. Don and Shirley Morris, O'Leary's Emporium, Emmitsburg, celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on March 26. Congratulations T. C., Georgia and Floyd, Don and Shirley. BRAILLE READER IS LEADER. Ellen Nichols, an avid Braille reader and the daughter of Orlo and Mary Nichols, was elected as a student council representative for her seventh grade class at Arlington Baptist School. Congratulations Ellen. WRITER'S DIVISION. The Writer's Division has published its 1992 edition of Horizons, an anthology of fiction by blind writers. Copies in large print ($10), Braille and cassette ($12.50 each) may be purchased from Tom Stevens, president, NFB Writer's Division, National Federation of the Blind, 1203 Fairview Road, Columbia, Missouri 65203, (314) 445-6091. LBPH MOVE. The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has moved into its new quarters at 415 Park Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3603. Telephone numbers: Baltimore metropolitan area, (410) 333-2668; Mongtomery county, (301) 493- 2555; PG county, (301) 779-2570; elsewhere in Maryland, (800) 964- 9209. EQUIPMENT. Blazie Engineering announces the availability of Porta- Thiel, the newest Braille embosser from Thiel & Co. Porta-Thiel is the smallest, commercially produced portable Braille printer ever made. It measures just 15" x 10" x 4" and weighs less than 10 pounds. The Porta-Thiel prints on many sizes of paper including single sheets, continuous forms, plastic and magazine sheets. Braille quality is excellent on all paper types because the dots can be adjusted according to the paper thickness chosen. Like all Thiel embossers, the reliable Porta-Thiel is made to perform superbly. Porta-Thiel uses digitized speech to configure its menus and inform users when it is out of paper. Porta-Thiel will then wait for more paper to be insertedþno data is lost during this operation. The Porta-Thiel can create six and eight dot Braille, supports eight built-in Braille character sets and eight changeable parameter tables. The Porta-Thiel can be used with Braille 'n Speak or other PCs. With both a serial and parallel interface, it is compatible with most computers available today. Blazie Engineering features the Porta-Thiel lightweight embosser in its complete line of products for blind and visually impaired people. To receive more information call 410-893-9333. BRAILLE COURSE. Call the Hadley School for the Blind, (800) 323- 4238, from 8 AM to 4 PM week days for information on the free correspondence course, "Just Enough to Know Better," a beginner's course in Braille for sighted persons. Parents might want to take this course to help their blind children to learn Braille. CALENDAR Saturday, May 1, 1993 Parents of Blind Children Seminar, National Center for the Blind, Baltimore, 9:00 AMþ4:00 PM, Call Loretta White, (410) 360-5108 for information. Thursday, May 20, 1993 Braille Readers Are Leaders Party, National Center for the Blind, Baltimore, 1: 00 PM - 3:00 PM. Tuesday, June 1, 1993 Deadline for applications, McCraw Scholarships. Saturday, June 5, 1993 NFB of Maryland Board of Directors Meeting, Frederick, Call (410) 992-9608 for information. Thursday, June 24, 1993 2nd annual hotdog eating contest, see separate announcement in this newsletter. Saturday, July 3þSaturday, July 10, 1993 NFB 53rd annual convention, Dallas Texas. Saturday, July 31, 1993 NFB of Maryland Board of Directors meeting and picnic, 10:00þ, Waterloo Park, Columbia, lunch $6.00 per person, reservations required, call (410) 992-9608. Monday, August 2, 1993 Deadline for submitting articles for the next edition of The Braille Spectator. All Saturdays in August Children's story time, 10 AM to 11 AM, Maryland State Library for the Blind, call Barbara Cheadle (410) 747-3472 for information. Friday Sept. 10þSunday Sept. 12, 1993 National Conference for Blind Writers, National Center for the Blind, Baltimore, Call Jerry Whittle, (318) 251-2891 for more information. Friday October 29þSunday, October 31, 1993 NFB of Maryland 27th annual convention, Ocean City. CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND Baltimore County Chapter Ken Canterbery, president (410)866-6877 Monthly meetings second Thursday Greater Baltimore Chapter Eileen Rivera, president (410)433-5176 Monthly meetings third Saturday Central Maryland Chapter Brenda Mueller, president (301)551-7057 Monthly meetings third Tuesday Greater Cumberland Chapter Ron Burns, president (301)759-4673 Monthly meetings first Tuesday Frederick County Chapter Gerald Schultz, president (301)662-6803 Monthly meetings fourth Tuesday Sligo Creek Chapter Lloyd Rasmussen, president (301)946-8345 Monthly meetings second Saturday Mountain City Chapter Jean Faulkner, president (301)729-8942 Monthly meetings third Thursday Southern Maryland Chapter Ken Silberman, president (301)552-2839 Monthly meetings fourth Saturday Parents of Blind Children Division Loretta White, president (410)360-5108 Merchants' Division Joe Byard, president (410)284-1768 Diabetics Support Network Donna Goodman, chairman (410)730-9430 Monthly meetings fourth Tuesday