THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR SUMMER 1993 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND ATTENTION PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN! 1994 BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS CONTEST. Call Loretta White (410) 360-5108 for Details LAYOFFS AT BISM by Sharon Maneki We reported rather favorably, but with reservations, on initiatives at BISM in the last issue of this newsletter. Unfortunately, our concerns were justified. A BISM spokesperson announced that in May, the subassembly operation at Baltimore was eliminated, and 28 employees were laid off. The Salisbury work force was also decreased by 19. In June another 22 employees were laid off in Salisbury. The spokesperson stated that the closing of the subassembly operation and the reductions at Salisbury were caused by a severe reduction in the sweatshirt allocation from NIB, and went on to announce that 12 employees would be called back to work in Salisbury in the middle of August. We have also learned that employees in Cumberland would be furloughed for a week in August. To the best of our knowledge, BISM has made no reductions in its management and administrative staff. NFB STRENGTHENS MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES From the editor: Two of the tenets of Federation philosophyþspeaking for and representing ourselves, and achieving first-class statusþcaused us to mount a campaign to strengthen the bill creating the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities, which was introduced to the Baltimore City Council last spring. As the Commission was originally proposed, only the consumer representatives of persons with disabilities, not the agency representatives, were required to be residents of Baltimore City. As originally proposed, the Commission would be dominated by agency representatives rather than persons with disabilities. As originally proposed, there was no assurance that the chairman of the Commission would be a person with a disability. The members of our Baltimore City Chapter worked diligently to convince the members of the Baltimore City Council that amendments to this bill were needed. The Baltimore City Council understood our concerns and made the appropriate amendments to the bill, which was signed into law on July 6. The chambers of the City Council were filled with Federationists on the afternoon of June 15 when public hearings for City Council Bill 543 were held. Here is the written testimony that Eileen Rivera Forman, President, Baltimore City Chapter, National Federation of the Blind, presented at this hearing: INTRODUCTION My name is Eileen Rivera Forman, I am a member of the Mayor's ADA Advisory Committee. I am also president of the National Federation of the Blind of Baltimore. With more than 250 active members, the Federation is Baltimore's largest disability advocacy group. WHAT IS THE NFB The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the nation's largest and most active membership organization of blind and visually impaired persons. Our mission is to achieve security, equality and opportunities for all blind Americans. Our dream is that one day blind persons will be truly integrated into society on the basis of equality. The creation of this Commission can play a role in this dream. For more than 50 years, we in the Federation have held that the NFB is not an organization speaking for blind persons, rather we are blind persons speaking for ourselves. It is this essential ingredient which has enabled us to achieve unprecedented success in the area of innovative and progressive legislationþ legislation which empowers persons who are disabled. SUPPORT FOR THE COMMISSION Regarding the Commission on Disabilities, let me begin by saying that the Federation is generally supportive of the concept. We congratulate Mayor Schmoke and the City Council for responding to Phil Holmes, and his colleagues at the League, by introducing the legislation. We believe that much good can be accomplished through a carefully designed and appointed Commission. Nevertheless, there is widespread concern among citizens with disabilities about the Commission structure, as currently proposed. The current design will not effectively represent the very persons it is designed to assist. If only nine of 35 members are persons with disabilities, the Commission will be markedly regressive for disabled citizens. In prior decades non-disabled individuals have been relied upon to represent the disabled. However, times have changed. Today, the most progressive programs and services are emerging because persons with disabilities are being allowed to represent ourselves. To secure this reasonable representation, the Federation has proposed three revisions to the bill. BROAD-BASED SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENTS We are pleased to say that there is broad-based support for these changes as evidenced by the resolution passed by the Governor's Advisory Council Representing Persons with Disabilities. The Council unanimously voted to endorse the revisions proposed by the Federation. REVISION OF MEMBERSHIP PROVISIONS As I indicated, we have proposed significant enhancements in three specific areas of the membership provisions: 1) representation of persons with disabilities, 2) city residency requirement, and 3) appointment of the Commission chair. Let me explain each one of these separately. REPRESENTATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES We believe that a majority of the members on the Commission should be persons with disabilities. OTHER COMMISSIONS You would never dream of creating a commission on women which included only a minority of women. Nor would you think it reasonable to establish a commission on Hispanic affairs and include only a smattering of Hispanics. SELF EXPRESSION AND REPRESENTATION The disabled are a minority just the same. Our voice needs to be heard and no one is better qualified to represent our need and interests. Disabled individuals should have a dominant role in shaping the policies and programs which directly affect our lives. Family members and professionals serving individuals who are disabled have important perspectives which can enhance the Commission, nevertheless disabled citizens of Baltimore will be better off if we have the opportunity to represent ourselves. NATIONAL PRECEDENT The principle of majority representation is not new. It has come to be the norm in the field. For example, the re- authorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 calls for the creation of advisory bodies which have a majority of disabled members. CITY RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: All Commission members need to be held to the same standard. Either everyone must be a city resident or no one must be a city resident. AN UNFAIR STANDARD Presently, the bill requires that only the disabled members and their families need to be city residents. We believe that this is blatantly unfair. In the interest of true equality, we believe that all members should be held to the same standard. EITHER WAY IS FINE Personally, I think that we have plenty of talented and committed Baltimore City residents to appoint a perfectly able commission. Nevertheless, we are deferring to the wisdom of the City Council on this matter. All we ask is that it be all or none. Do not hold disabled individuals and their families to a harsher standard than you are holding other commission members. CHAIRMANSHIP: Our final recommendation for strengthening the Commission is to ensure that the Chairperson be appointed from among those members who have disabilities. EMPOWERED DISABLED LEADERSHIP This provision would send a clear message that the Mayor and City Council believe in the abilities of persons who are disabled and trust us to take charge of our own policies and programs. CLOSING REMARKS Members of the City Council, we in the Federation applaud your interest in creating a Commission on Disabilities to address the needs and concerns of our disabled citizens. We urge you to create a productive and representative Commission. We don't need a commission to speak for disabled citizens. We do need a Commission which allows disabled citizens to speak for ourselves. Thank You. For more information, contact: Ms. Eileen Rivera Forman, 726 E. Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21212, (410)433-5176. NO NEW STAFF POSITIONS FOR LBPH: 1993 LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP by Sharon Maneki The 1993 session of the Maryland General Assembly was not one of the more significant sessions for blind persons. A major disappointment was Governor Schaefer's failure to include additional staff positions for the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in his budget request to the General Assembly. Prior to our Day In Annapolis on January 21, we received assurances from State Department of Education personnel on several occasions that the Governor's budget would include funding for two professional librarians and a secretary. The legislators with whom we met on January 21 expressed considerable support for funding these positions. When the budget was released to the General Assembly and the public, we discovered that these positions were not included in the budget, as we attempted to identify the line item authorizing these positions. Upon our questioning, these same personnel from the State Department of Education were surprised by our discovery and could not explain the omissions. To concentrate its efforts on funding for the library and on the implementation of the Maryland Literacy Rights and Education Act, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland did not initiate any legislation this year. However, other bills of concern to blind persons were introduced. Here is a summary of the disposition of these bills. The Maryland General Assembly approved landmark legislation, HB 1359, the Health Care and Insurance Reform Act. This legislation will make medical care more affordable and accessible to many of the 600,000 uninsured Maryland residents, including those with pre-existing conditions, while containing certain health and physician costs. Insurers will no longer be able to engage in such practices, such as requiring small businesses to pay higher premiums. The bill also creates a Health Care Access and Cost Commission to regulate health care rates. We will not see the implementation of these changes until 1995. On January 1, 1994, the implementation date for HB 45, pedestrians will have to be alert to a new traffic pattern. Because of the passage of HB 45, vehicles may make left turns on a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street. The General Assembly viewed this legislation as a natural extension of the "right turn on red" legislation which it adopted a few years ago. Both of these measures were adopted primarily as energy-saving measures. One piece of legislation of immediate concern to programs for the blind was SB 823, initiated by Ralph Sanders, which attempted to extend the priority for the Maryland Vending Program for the Blind to the operation of cafeterias and other snack facilities in state buildings. Under the current law, the Maryland Vending Program for the Blind has the priority only in state buildings that are controlled by the Department of General Services. We took no action on this legislation because it would not strengthen the vending program. Too many state facilities, such as parks, colleges and universities, the Department of Juvenile Services, the Corrections Department, state transportation facilities, and hospitals, were exempted from this bill, and the number of additional state facilities actually covered by this bill was unclear. The bill also did not adequately address the vending machine income issue. The bill passed the Senate, but died in the House Appropriations Committee. Once again, the General Assembly decided not to strengthen Maryland's civil rights law. HB 903, which would have strengthened the law prohibiting employment discrimination, was defeated by the House Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee also defeated HB 1246. This bill would have brought due process hearings for students in special education under the jurisdiction of the Office of Administrative Hearings, which already handles most types of state administrative complaints. Perhaps these bills will enjoy a better fate in the 1994 session of the Maryland General Assembly. WHO SHOULD LEARN BRAILLE? FOOD FOR THOUGHT From the editor: The following excerpt, "Guiding Principles," is taken from "Selection of Reading and Writing Media for Students With Visual Impairments: Braille, Print or Both?" We are reprinting various sections of this document because it is an excellent resource and we should be thoroughly familiar with its contents. These Guiding Principles provide "food for thought" for parents and teachers who are deciding if a blind or visually impaired student should learn braille, or for blind or visually impaired adults who are deciding if they should learn Braille themselves. GUIDING PRINCIPLES Every student receiving vision services should be assessed in reading and writing media at least annually to ensure that present and future needs are being met. Professionals, families, and students must work together to assess, evaluate, and determine the most appropriate reading and writing methods and media. In this process, the ARD/IEP Committee must carefully consider future visual changes as well as future educational and vocational needs, especially during times of transition. All committee members must be well informed about the value of Braille, especially for students with partial vision. To help ensure the availability of accurate information, a professional experienced in the teaching of Braille shall serve on the committee. When Braille is selected, it may also be necessary to identify strategies which will assist the student in developing a positive attitude toward Braille in order to ensure success as a Braille user. It is important that students feel proud about their Braille reading ability. One possible strategy to consider is the use of peer support and role models which can occur through the introduction of the student to other students or adults who use or are learning to use Braille. The assessment and decision-making process will vary somewhat according to the age of the student and whether the student is a pre-reader or reader. Ideally, programming for the preschool student shall emphasize visual, auditory, and tactile skills so that observations and understanding of the student's learning style can be evaluated. The ARD/IEP Committee should keep in mind the following principles when collecting and interpreting the data from assessments: - Students with visual impairments often profit from knowing both Braille and print. - The reading and writing media should allow students to participate independently and fully in community activities of their choice. It should also permit a smooth transition to employment and/or post secondary education. - The more adaptation and modifications a student needs in order to use print, the greater the need for Braille instruction. - Print sizes diminish and reading demands increase as students advance in grade. - Braille should be taught as early as possible. - Students learning Braille should learn to write with a slate and stylus in addition to the Braillewriter. - A student who seems to be a visual learner can gain advantage from learning Braille. - The use of vision for travel is not an indicator of the appropriate reading or writing medium. - Academic achievement is not necessarily an indicator that appropriate reading and writing media are being used. Likewise, not all academic problems may be solved by the selection of appropriate reading and writing media. - Decisions about teaching reading and writing must be in line with a student's cognitive ability to learn reading and writing. - Students with additional disabilities should be afforded equal opportunity for Braille instruction. - Some students who are both visually and cognitively impaired may have limited potential for learning to read and write. Nevertheless, even the ability to read and write some Braille (Grades I and II) enhances opportunities for independent living. - Reliance on auditory input is an indicator of the need for Braille. - Additional disabilities may affect teaching strategies. - A hearing loss in addition to vision loss, compromises an individual's potential for information gathering. - Technology and readers may be beneficial to a student's education, but should not preclude reading in either Braille or print. - No one component of the assessment can stand alone as the sole determiner of reading and writing media. ANNA CABLE AT 100 by Al Maneki "I always have to explain that my birth date is 6/29/1893, not 6/29/93." "Each day I rate how well I feel on a scale from 1 to 10. Some days I'm a 10. Some days I am a 5. I'm always a 10 when I go to visit my doctor." "I had a transfusion a few years ago because of internal bleeding. I felt much better after that. It set my age back at least ten years. I'd like to do that more often, but they can't give you blood that you don't need." This was some of the lively chatter from Anna Cable at her home in Columbia where 20 Federationists gathered on Sunday, June 27, to celebrate Anna's 100th birthday two days early. As we entered her home, Anna stood up to greet each of us and she apologized graciously for not being able to show us to the comfortable chairs scattered about her living room. More than just pleasant chatter about her age, Anna has vivid memories of her rewarding life in the century that has brought about the greatest changes to mankind. She is never at a loss for a good story, as her letter in the last issue of this newsletter demonstrates. She even spoke a few phrases of German to Tom Bickford when he told her that his daughter was studying German and spending the summer in Germany. Besides the decorated birthday cake, soft drinks, and other snacks, besides the joyous renderings of "Amazing Grace" and "Happy Birthday," and the dispatch of a telegraph messenger attired in roaring twenties garb who delivered a singing telegram and balloons, and the reading of greeting cards, President Sharon Maneki announced that the NFB of Maryland's Board of Directors voted to establish the Anna Freysz Cable Award which will be presented at our annual state conventions to the blind adult who best exemplifies Anna's zest for life and who has mastered Braille and the other alternative techniques for maintaining productive and independent lives. Sharon Maneki presented the certificate proclaiming the award to Anna at the community birthday celebration on June 29. Other fellow charter members of the Sligo Creek Chapter, Rosa Hines, Clara Sisselman, and Alan and Billie Ruth Schlank also attended this gathering. Anna remembers many of the charter members and regrets that they cannot meet more often. As we were about to leave, Anna said that she enjoyed this party so much that she would like to another hundred years to have a party just like this one. We wouldn't put it past this remarkable woman to do just that. Happy Birthday, Anna, and many more just like this one! NEW REHABILITATION PROGRAM AT BISM by Rosemary Lerdahl The last six months have been a time of change, growth, and expansion for the BISM Rehabilitation Program. I began my employment as Director of the Rehabilitation Program on January 4, 1993. My first duties were to evaluate the existing program and then initiate change and expansion. One of the most important functions of a good rehabilitation program for the blind is to challenge students to explore their beliefs and attitudes about blindness. Therefore, one of the first changes was to incorporate into the schedule two group discussion sessions per week where all staff and students meet to discuss blindness related issues. Over the last six months, the guest speakers at these sessions have included Joanne Wilson and eleven staff and students from the Louisiana Center for the Blind; Debbie Koester, a rehabilitation counselor from DORS; Bob Esposito from AFB; Al Pietrolungo who works for the National Labor Relations Board; Dale Otto, the Director of Development and Public Affairs at BISM; Raymond Lowder, a vendor at SSA; Marsha Levi, a former student at the Louisiana Center who talked about incorporating vision with alternative techniques; Naomi Walpert, a diabetic educator from Sinai Hospital; Susan Turley from Health Professions Institute who talked with us about medical transcription and a new training opportunity which will soon be available; and several managers from BISM to share information about their departments. The class schedule was redesigned so that it was consistent from day to day for each student. Most of the classes were extended to one and one-half hour time slots. This allows more time for completion of projects, especially in Independent Living and Cane Travel. Another very important consideration is having high expectations of students. We began talking about expecting students to learn to travel to and from BISM by city bus. The expectation is that as soon as the student is able to do so he or she will take the bus to and from BISM, unless there are other complicating factors such as health considerations. Rehab staff and students have started giving presentations to local community groups which request that someone speak about blindness. These speaking engagements are an excellent way to get the word out about our Rehab Program, and provide a great opportunity for students to practice bus travel skills and to do public speaking. Outside activities are an integral part of a good rehabilitation program. These diverse activities are very beneficial because they involve planning, organizing, working closely together, and utilizing skills which are being taught in the rehab program. All of these activities are designed to provide confidence building experiences, and some of them are specifically designed to encourage students to look outside of themselves to provide a service to others. These varied off site training activities also provide an excellent opportunity to assist students in learning how to most effectively deal with the attitudes of the general public about blindness. Our activities have included bowling, movies, shopping at nearby shopping malls, boat trips, a walking tour of the Naval Academy, picnics, hiking, strawberry picking, planting a flower garden, and more. Much activity and class time was used in March planning for a larger field trip to Atlantic City which was all planned and organized by the students. It was an evening trip which involved renting buses and selling tickets to family, friends, and other BISM employees. This activity incorporated computer skills to make flyers and tickets, Braille skills to number the tickets and make lists, travel skills to check out the buses and run errands related to the trip, and homemaking skills to prepare food. The event was a huge success and the students gained a great deal of confidence and skill by participating in this event. The enthusiasm and energy was so great after the first trip that we planned and organized another Atlantic City trip in June. We have also had other fund-raising events including a Bake Sale and a Hot Dog Sale. Some students extended their training time by a month or two in order to incorporate some of the newer expectations into their training, such as preparing and serving a commencement meal for at least eight people as a graduation project for Independent Living. All class areas will now have more consistent expectations and graduation projects for each student. We have started having what we call "staffings" with each student. These will be held at periodic intervals to review and discuss the students' progress, to make changes in the Rehab program and/or to set graduation dates with students. The BISM Rehab Program has several other goals which have not yet been met. These include: establishing a physical fitness program, establishing a residential living component, and establishing a Home Maintenance and Woodshop Program. In building and expanding our Rehabilitation Program, it is essential that we build a team of dedicated instructors who believe very strongly in the abilities of blind people so that they will be able to encourage, challenge, and empower the students to become truly independent and to regain control over their own lives. We are still searching for appropriate Rehabilitation Instructors to be permanent members of our team. In hiring instructors we will be looking for versatility and flexibility to teach in more than one program area. Joyce Hall joined our teaching team in February as our Braille instructor. Since then, she has begun teaching cane travel on a full time basis. Kathy Burnside has been temporarily teaching Braille to assist us until we hire a full time instructor. Overall, there is a lot more student initiated activity and independence on the part of the students. There is a new sense of energy and enthusiasm. Students are being challenged to expect more activity and productivity of themselves. They are also being asked to question their beliefs about their own ability as blind adults to function independently and productively in the world. About half of the students are now walking or taking the city bus to and from training. On several occasions we have taken the city bus to and from activities. We have re-initiated the teaching of typing, some students are using sleepshades for training, all students are learning to use the slate and stylus now, problem-solving skills are being taught, experiential learning is happening, and we are beginning to talk more about career and life planning and will continue to incorporate this more and more into the training. The students and other staff have weathered the staff and administrative changes very well. The students are eager to learn and have great potential. The staff is dedicated and genuinely cares about the students. There have been some ups and downs because of all the changes, but things are leveling out now, and I believe that the program will be much stronger and much more beneficial to blind Marylanders because of the changes. There has been a lot of energy and activity of late in the BISM Rehab Program which generates more activity, enthusiasm, and productivity. I very much appreciate the support, encouragement, and referrals that we have received from the NFB. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, or you want further information about the BISM Rehab Program, please feel free to call me at (410) 233-4567. GOING BLIND ON THE JOB: THE CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT From the Editor: We are reprinting this edited transcript of the panel discussion presented at the 1992 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland because of the significance of its content and because it vividly demonstrates the high quality of our convention program. Sharon Maneki: When a person goes blind during his working years, all too often his employer wants to retire him on disability. But is this really the only course of action for persons who become blind on the job? For those persons who are fortunate enough to find us at the right time there are alternatives to a long retirement on disability income. This panel of speakers demonstrates the intricacies and the promise of maintaining gainful employment after blindness. First, here is the director of governmental affairs, Mr. Jim Gashel, to talk about the role of the organized blind and the law in discrimination against the blind on the job. Mr. Gashel. Jim Gashel: Thanks a lot, Madame President. So that is a very good thing. We've come a long, long way in the past year and I think it just shows, as this next panel will, that we really truly have come a long way, because only a year or so ago we could not have had this panel, the one we're about to have, in the way that we can here today. We have a couple of people on this panel who have really been out there on the firing line and learned what happens when you become blind on a job. Sharon will be introducing those people in a moment. But let me just say this. Probably, in a legal respect, it is one of the most difficult positions to be in when, in the full bloom of life, working and bringing home a paycheck, and if you think about all the demands on that paycheck to buy a home and raise a family and meet all the expenses and feed the kids and keep everybody happy and functioning, and then all of a sudden to be facing a situation where you become blind on the job and the employer says, "Buddy, you're out of here! We're signing you up for disability today." You don't know what else to do. You don't really--who are you going to go talk to, DVR? You talk to DVR, Buddy, you're out of here! You might just as well sign the disability paper if you talk to DVR. But then yet, you come to the National Federation of the Blind and we tell you, well, you've got a certain amount of adjustment to make, but you're certainly not out of here. You can make that adjustment and you can continue in this employment, go back to this employment in many instances. Well that's the kind of thing we're talking about here today. For a long time the laws have not really necessarily supported that position, but more and more they do. I think that we as an organization need to know that when someone comes to us, and they doþpeople come to our chapters and our individual members throughout the year and say, "I'm becoming blind, I'm faced with layoff or termination from employment, what should I do?" I think we can say in those situations that in many instances the law assures those people of the right to continuing employment as long as, and there is a proviso in all of this, of course, as long as they can continue to perform the essential functions of a job. The law certainly does not provide the opportunity for continuing employment if the guy is just going to sit. We don't have the right to insist upon drawing a paycheck just waiting around on the employer's doorstep. But as long as a person is prepared to go to work, to perform the essential functions of a job, to do a meaningful day's work, a person is entitled to a meaningful day's pay from that employer. That's what the law says. The people who will follow me will demonstrate that that is so. I know John Jones' case the best, but here's an example of where we were able to help a person in using Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 was adopted in 1973 and its regulations became effective in 1977. It's a very general law but it generally says that a person may not be discriminated against, on grounds of disability, in a federally-assisted program or in a federal program. The regulations go on to specify lots of details about that. But the regulations are issued by each federal government agency department and instrumentality that distributes any form of federal financial assistance. If a problem arises for someone who works for a transportation agency, let's say, then there are regulations of the federal department of transportation pertaining to implementing Section 504. Or if the person works for a school district, there are regulations of the U.S. Department of Education that implement Section 504. Or if a person works for a hospital there are regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services. So it tracks the particular federal department that would distribute federal financial assistance. But it's also possible to go directly into the federal courts using Section 504, and that's what we had to do in John Jones' case. In John's case, he'll be telling you about the details of what he does, but the point is that here's a guy who was working for the fire department. He was a fireman in Baltimore City, and along comes blindness in his life and all of a sudden, of course he can't fight fires anymore and as far as the fire department is concerned he's no good to them anymore. Never mind the fact that there are certainly jobs to be done at the fire department, it isn't as though they weren't hiring anybody else. But they weren't willing to retain a person that they had on the job. Section 504 applies to retention on the job just as much as it to applies to initial employment. So as long as we could establish in that case that John Jones was available for work, was fit for duty, and prepared to fulfill and perform the essential functions of a job, then of course we could win that lawsuit. Now in the wisdom of Baltimore City, rather than making us do it in a full-blown court hearing, the mayor and the city council of Baltimore saw fit to settle that case at expense to the mayor and the city council of Baltimore, and to the everlasting benefit of John Jones. But at the same time it was to the everlasting benefit of the mayor and the city council of Baltimore because they have a first-class and first-rate employee who happens to be blind and is able to perform the essential functions of a job. The same kind of thing can happen more and more in another type of employment. That happens to be public employment and our other panelist will also discuss public employment with the Police Department. But it need not necessarily be just public employment. With the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this type of theory extends as well to private employment because basically Title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act transfers or extends the prohibition of employment discrimination principles over to private employment. So any employer that has 25 or more employees, effective July 26, 1992, comes under the general guidelines that I've just described about Section 504. The regulations that apply to this kind of situation are specific to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They are 29CFR part 1630. These regulations specify that a person with a claim of employment discrimination needs to first take his or her complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You may be working for a federally assisted program and use this regulation, but not for the federal government. So in that case you really do have a choice. You could choose to go to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or you could choose the regulations under Section 504. If I had my choice, I'd probably take the EEOC. Or you might be able to go directly to court, as we did in John's case. But in any event, after you've had a case at the EEOC for I guess it's six months, Mildred Rivera knows, I don't necessarily know, you get a right to sue. That means that you can go right into the federal district court against the employer as well. But you first do have to exhaust that administrative remedy under Title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act. We also should mention in a footnote, because that's about all it's worth, the Maryland Human Rights Law, which you could use to file complaints with the Human Relations Commission. But I don't think that would be the preferred choice, unless there wasn't any other kind of coverage, such as if the employer had less than 25 employees and wasn't a federally assisted program or something like that. In any event, I would just underscore what I've tried to say here, that for people like the panelists who we will now hear from, when blindness occurs while on the job, and they come to us for help and say, "What can I do, what can I do, the employer's trying to force me out on disability," we can offer and extend the hand of the National Federation of the Blind to protect those people legally and we can prevail. Here's the evidence. Thanks very much. Sharon Maneki: And now I would like to introduce Duty Officer John Jones, Fire Prevention Bureau, Baltimore City, to tell us about his journey back to alternative employment. John Jones: Good afternoon. I don't really know exactly where to start other than to start off by saying, thanks to the National Federation of the Blind and their efforts in helping me understand the facts of blindness, Braille and the rights that blind people do have in society. We're just as normal as the rest of this world. I wanted to work. I never wanted to retire. I fought very hard. I tried to avoid the conflicts that came about, and I went forward and talked with everybody in the city agency to get a job. It was extremely hard--they wouldn't listen. The straw that broke the camel's back is when I went for an interview for a job for the city as a civilian and when I went for the job as a civilian working in communications, they said, "Off the record, we admire your skill and courage, being able to learn Braille and walk this world in a different way, but we'll never hire a blind person." Well, let it be known that they did hire a blind person. Thanks to the NFB and their guidance, they ate those words. Today, presently, I am employed as a duty officer. The first thing I was asked the day I went back: "How are you going to walk up the steps? How are you going to get to and from work?" I said, "It's none of your business. I'll get there." In 1987, when they called me back to a fake job that they lined up for me, it was the biggest snowfall to fall in Baltimore city and I walked. My family was from Florida; they were going to drive me. I said, "Nope, this is the test of the Lord for me to get there on time. I got there and no busses were running. I hitchhiked to work, and they said I shouldn't have come in. I said, "Oh, yes." Needless to say, I'm back. I love the work I'm doing because it's part of me. The Fire Department--I was commended a number of times in my profession, saving lives. I enjoyed it. I feel now, that what I'm doing as duty officer, answering phones, handling complaints, that I'm helping the citizens of Baltimore to alleviate problems that exist out there in the field of fire protection. We stop a fire today, it saves a life tomorrow. And it's very important. With the use of Braille, typing, dictaphone and some other adaptations that I've implemented by myself to help me perform the job, I've been told by my superiors that I'm doing the job that they need. And also with the books being on tape, that I've learned a great deal in the last months or so on the building codes and fire codes of the structures of the buildings throughout the city. It never felt so great to be able to be employed back with the Fire Department. The reception has been somewhat on the negative side, but very positive yet on the other side. What helped me, though, if anyone ever comes up to a problem like I did, is don't lay down and stop. Keep going forward. I kept going forward. I'm a state licensed vendor. I ran my own stand, as some of you know. It wasn't a profitable stand, but it was a very good learning experience. I worked for a company called the Alert Line monitoring phones out of my home, a 1-800 line, a policeman, so-called, by phone. So I kept working in other jobs. But those jobs were very beneficial, because they helped me to know what I would have to do when I took over this position. If it wasn't for the NFB, John Jones wouldn't be where he is today. So it's very important for all of us to try to help this organization to stay afloat, and my thanks to everyone here. Eileen Rivera Forman: It is my pleasure to introduce to you today Agent Gene Cassidy, an instructor at the Baltimore City Police Academy. I first met Gene last summer when I was called by the Police Department to give some advice on accommodations for blind employees as he began and re-entered the work force after his retraining. I find Gene to be an exceptional individual, a wonderful and very dynamic and energetic and enthusiastic person, a person who wasn't going to let blindness stop him, regardless of the tragic circumstances which caused his blindness. Gene is a great family man, a real good model citizen. He's got excellent gumption, and I know that after you hear from Gene you're going to like him. I am pleased to call him my colleague now and I hope that he'll be with us for a long time to come. Please help me welcome Agent Gene Cassidy. Gene Cassidy: Good afternoon everyone. Thank you very much. I'd like to thank the NFB for giving me the opportunity to speak before this assembly, and especially Sharon Maneki as well as Eileen Rivera. Hopefully when you hear this story, so to speak, it will encourage you to continue on and to set forth for your, shall we say, achievements and accomplishments and so forth within your goals. I was working as a patrolman in Baltimore City. It happened to be October 22, 1987. As I was driving down the street I observed an individual that I thought was wanted on a warrant. I turned up Appleton Street in order to surprise him. Well, unfortunately he surprised me. As he turned the corner he removed from his pocket, a 357 pistol. ... He fired three shots at me. The first shot missed me, the second one struck me in the left cheek and traversed through my brain and severed my right optic nerve, and I guess for icing on the cake he fired again at my temple and destroyed the back of my eyeball. Thankfully, there was a retired steelworker who happened to live across the street and he alerted the police as to my situation. Now what occurred after that was frantic, actually. I traveled 18 blocks, shall we say, down to shock trauma, where the doctors gave me a 4% chance of survival. All you need is one, though, right? Now I know that sounds somewhat cocky, but you see you've got to look toward the positive. That's the key. It's a very interesting story. But what occurred after that on my first year anniversary of being injured. I happened to be up in Morristown celebrating it, so to speak, getting a guide dog. After that I decided to return to college where I would shoot for an education degree. Obviously, with the encouragement and help from my wife, Patty, I was able to achieve the degree with a 3.54 grade point average. Just prior to my graduation, I guess they must have kept notes as to how I was doing, because one month before I was to graduate I was contacted by the personnel board, for the commission for the city police department actually, and they basically offered me a position as an instructor teaching within the Police Academy. I had actually gone to college beforehand for criminology. Then I went back to school again to become a teacher, so I think that they felt that they weren't just giving it to me because I happened to be a guy wounded in the line of duty in as much as I was quite the qualified individual. Plus I also had a couple of years of experience in the busiest, most violent district in the city of Baltimore, the western district. When I arrived at work, needless to say I was very very nervous, apprehensive. Talk about butterflies in my stomach--it was an entire flock of them. But I had to look at it in the right perspective. I felt that actually, for all intents and purposes the staff has been very very positive toward my so-called comeback. However, occasionally I get the line of, "I wonder if the blind guy can do it." Well, yes I can. I can do just about anything they want. I can even teach firearms, driving (obviously in a classroom). I'm not going to get behind a wheel. Now another point which is very important is the fact that I felt that I enjoyed police work, so what I'm really doing is going at a different angle now teaching the students or the cadets how to be good policemen. And that's very very important. As for my sergeant, who is needless to say very very intelligent and as much as his understanding of the situations that occur as you happen to be in a predicament that I'm in right now, to be blind, he's very very sensitive to that. And that helped me out quite a bit too. Now on the other hand, outside of work, I'm an avid, and I hate to even say this, New York Giants football fan. See I used to play football when I was younger in North Jersey, actually, and so that's why. It was either you become a Giants fan or you get beat up every day. So I thought well, it would be reasonable to become a Giants fan. What happened is this. Obviously the Giants are not doing too well, but they'll do fine on Monday night. What I do is I still continue to play football. Obviously I'm 100% blind. Needless to say the person who happens to be receiving the ball has to shout, and then I can throw the ball to him, right? There's ways of adapting, put it to you like that. Obviously I need a third person too to catch the ball because I don't want to be hit in the head. Actually that's probably the safest spot for me to be struck. I also run with my daughter Lauren, who is a precious little angel, and I also do acrobatics with her in the front yard. You can do many many things. See blindness is not the end all. Blindness is just something that I've read within the National Federation is a nuisance. That's all that blindness is. It's nothing totally out of control or anything along those lines. Sometimes people at work feel that I'm somewhat demanding. I do it for three reasons: number one, my wife Patty; number two, my daughter Lauren; and number three, my son Kevin. The individual who happened to have taken or stolen my eyesight will not steal my longterm visions. And more of that idea be taken from you guys. Thank you very much. CREDITS AVAILABLE TO RENTERS Do you know that if you rent an apartment, house, or other type of dwelling, you may be eligible for a tax credit from the State of Maryland? The Renters Tax Credit Program is a plan that provides property tax credits for renters who have reached age 60 or who are totally disabled. The plan was modeled after and designed to be similar in principle to the Homeowners Tax Credit Program, which is known to many as the Circuit Breaker Program. The concept rests on the reasoning that renters indirectly pay property taxes as part of their rental and thus should have some protection, as do homeowners. The plan is based upon the relationship between rent and income. If the portion of rent attributable to the assumed property taxes exceeds a fixed amount in relation to income, the renter can, under specified conditions, receive a credit of as much as $600. The credit is paid as a direct check from the State of Maryland. A renter, according to the plan, can be anyone who is at least 60 years of age or who is certified as totally and permanently disabled, and who, during the calendar year for which a credit is sought, resides in the dwelling being rented. A surviving spouse of one who otherwise would have been eligible also qualifies. If the dwelling that is rented is owned by a tax exempt, charitable organization, or is exempt in any way from property taxation, no tax credit would be authorized. The rented dwelling may be in an individual house, in any type of apartment building, a duplex, a co-op, a condominium, house trailer, or mobile home pad. The type of dwelling is not important and it can be of any size, but the dwelling must be the principal residence and the renter must live there at least six months of the year. The property tax relief a renter may receive is equal to the assumed real property tax less a percentage of the combined income of the renter. For example, if your income is $11,000, your tax limit is $265. If your rent is $300 per month, your yearly rent is $3,600. Fifteen percent of $3,600 is $540. Subtract your tax limit amount from the assumed property tax: $540 minus $265 equals $275, the amount of your renters tax credit. The size of the renters tax credit will vary according to the relationship between the rent and income, with the maximum allowable credit being $600. Those found eligible for a credit as determined by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation will receive a check directly from the State Treasury. Anyone who is found ineligible will be so notified in writing and given the reason why. Renters have until September 1 of the year in which the credit is sought to apply, but it is advantageous to file as early as possible. For an application, call the Tax Credits Telephone Service at 225-5915 (Baltimore Metropolitan area) or 1-800-944-7403 (other areas), or write the Tax Credits Office, State Department of Assessments and Taxation, 301 W. Preston Street, 9th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MSB! Reprinted from The Window, the newsletter of the Maryland School for the Blind, Summer 1993. On May 19, 1853þ140 years agoþsix civic minded businessmen founded the Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. Chartered by the State of Maryland as a private school, it has always been privately endowed and State aided. Originally located in the Paca Mansion on West Saratoga Street downtown, the School's directors constructed a new building in 1868 on North Avenue, which later became Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. The School formally changed its name to "The Maryland School for the Blind" in 1886. MSB continued to grow, and in 1906, the directors purchased a 95-acre farm in Overlea. The first building constructed on the new campus was Newcomer Hall, named after Benjamin Franklin Newcomer, a founder of the School and its first Board President. The 95-acre, partially wooded and beautifully landscaped campus at 3501 Taylor Avenue opened to students in 1911. Today, about 195 students attend classes there, and nearly three-quarters call it home from Monday through Friday. In addition, more than 260 toddlers and students are served by statewide outreach programs administered from Baltimore. The Maryland School for the Blind is the sole institution within the state to offer a comprehensive primary and secondary education for young individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In the current movement to inclusive education of all students with disabilities, the Maryland School for the Blind remains a viable option in the full range of services for students who are blind or visually impaired, now and in the future. SPECKS DEATHS. We are saddened to report the death of Fred Maurer, 76, the father of president Marc Maurer on May 24th. We are also sorry to report the death of James King, 52, who died suddenly on July 30th. James was an employee at BISM for the past 31 years. For much of that time, he was the top producer in the paper department. May they rest in peace. BIRTH. Congratulations to Ken, Gloria and Adam Canterbery on the latest addition to their family. Tyler Canterbery was born on July 27. Weight: 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Length: 20 1/2 inches. Everyone is doing well. ANNIVERSARY. Congratulations to Marc and Patricia Maurer who celebrated their 20th anniversary on August 17. HOTDOG CONTEST WINNERS: Ken Canterbery reports that the second annual hotdog eating contest, held on June 24th was a great success. In the children category, first prize went to 8 year old Floyd Elswick for eating 6 hotdogs. In the adult female category, first prize went to Barbara Johnson for eating 7 hotdogs. In the adult male category, runner up was 11 year old Russell Blalock who ate 11 hotdogs, and the top prize winner was Ralph Wickes who ate 12 hotdogs. Many thanks to all of the participants. Kudos to the sponsor of the contest, radio station WPOC, and Ken Canterbery, the proprietor of Hot Diggity Dogs. DIABETICS SPEAKERS. Donna Goodman reports that she has scheduled speakers for the August, September, and November meetings of the Diabetics Committee. August: Dr. William Benedict, Johns Hopkins University, will speak on hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. September: Cindy Miller, a diabetic educator at Johns Hopkins University, will answer questions on diabetic complications. November: Dr. Maddoff, an endocrinologist at GBMC, will discuss the hypertension and cardiovascular effects of diabetes. For further information call Donna Goodman, 410-730-9430. ANNA CABLE AWARD. Nominations for the first annual Anna Cable award should be sent to Al Maneki, 9736 Basket Ring Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045 by October 1, 1993. Each nomination should be made in writing identifying the nominee and describing the nominee's accomplishments in adjusting to blindness. The award will be presented at the 1993 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Ocean City. The winner must attend the convention to receive the award. For further information call Al Maneki 410-992-9608. THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR Al Maneki, Editor Summer 1993 The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, is a non-profit organization of blind people whose purpose is to promote equal opportunities for the blind. We provide advocacy services for the blind, special training programs for parents of blind children, job referrals and placements for the blind, public education programs, scholarships to blind students, and help the newly blinded to acquire special techniques for maintaining productive lives. Please address inquiries to: Please send donations to: NFB of Maryland NFB of Maryland 9736 Basket Ring Road 11909 Coronada Place Columbia, MD 21045 Kensington, MD 20895 phone (410)992-9608 The Braille Spectator is published quarterly for members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and others who share an interest in the work of this organization. The recorded edition, available on cassette, can be obtained from the editor upon request. Cassettes may be returned to the National Center for the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Changes of address and additions to the circulation list should be sent to the editor. Address all news items, articles and letters to the editor. Al Maneki, Editor The Braille Spectator 9736 Basket Ring Road Columbia, MD 21045 Officers: Members of the Board of Directors: Sharon Maneki, President Columbia, Maryland Ken Canterbery Eileen Rivera, First Vice Essex, Maryland President Ronald Coleman Baltimore, Maryland Adelphi, Maryland Barry Hond, Second Vice Jean Faulkner President Cumberland, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Fred Flowers Debbie Brown, Secretary Baltimore, Maryland Rockville, Maryland Blanche Payne Judy Rasmussen, Treasurer Baltimore, Maryland Kensington, Maryland Brenda Williams, Baltimore, Maryland