MINNESOTA BULLETIN Quarterly Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, Inc. 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 (612) 872-9363 Volume LXI, Number 2, Fall 1996 WE ARE CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND Table of Contents Les Affaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 75 Years: Promoting Independence with the White Cane. . . . . 3 After BLIND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mother Knows Best. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Cooperating Fund Drive Means Money . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The NFB Makes a Difference!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The NFB Pledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A Girl's Best Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 New Licensure Requirements Drafted for Teachers of the Blind . 16 White Cane Safety Day in Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 A Time for Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Resolutions Adopted at the 1996 Annual Convention. . . . . . . 24 Convention Alert!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Send articles and comments to: Tom Scanlan, Editor Minnesota Bulletin National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 Les Affaires By Joyce Scanlan, President Today is November 5, 1996, Election Day in the United States of America. This is a day to consider the meaning of such terms as win and lose, good and bad, right and wrong, success and failure. Everyone whose name is on the ballot today, from the local school board election to the National Presidency, has great reason to be interested in these important words. In Minnesota there are two blind people running for office as members of the State Legislature. Both are candidates whose campaigns have captured the attention of the media. Both expect to win in today's election. Winning and losing, succeeding and failing, are also words with great relevance to all of us as members of the National Federation of the Blind. We have all fought for the right to compete for jobs, as well as for political office. The meaning of the word success is something we must all consider. What does it mean to us? As I think back on my life, I realize that my definition of success has changed over the years. I grew up in North Dakota where conditions for blind people were especially bleak. Educational opportunities for children who were blind were limited to a residential school far away from home. Attitudes toward blindness at the school were such that no one would ever believe it was respectable to be blind. The best anyone with a little eyesight could do was to pretend to be sighted. It was a natural game of life to do whatever one could to avoid being identified as blind. Despite all the negativity, I grew up with the expectation that I would receive a good education, and I would eventually be employed. I would be successful. As high-school graduation approached, I put my plan together: I would go to college and become an English teacher; I would begin by teaching at the secondary level and then eventually teach college English. I had no idea what it would take to carry out my plan, but that was my plan. I would certainly be successful. Then I met Kermit Piltingsrud, my first rehabilitation counselor. He first asked what I wanted to do. With no fanfare or fuss I stated that I intended to go to the University and become a teacher of English. Then I learned that Mr. Piltingsrud also had a plan for me. As we sat together in Aunt Margaret's living room, he revealed to me his plan for my life. "You did very well on the IQ and interest tests we did last spring. You would be a good dictaphone operator. You should go to Minneapolis and be trained as a dictaphone operator." I was shocked into silence. Receiving no response, Mr. Piltingsrud went on to make his case. "As a blind person, you would have good possibilities for employment. We know many people who are successful as dictaphone operators." Again I was silent. I didn't want to be a dictaphone operator. What was a dictaphone anyway; I had never seen one. I knew what teachers did. I liked English. Why shouldn't I be an English teacher? But I kept these thoughts to myself and didn't argue. Mr. Piltingsrud tried without success to persuade me that his plan was right for me. Every comment he made was followed by the inevitable silence. Finally, he said, "All right, I guess you will go to the University and major in English." He had been worn down by the silence and agreed to my plan. Mr. Piltingsrud offered me nothing to help with my real problem at the time. I was blind, but I would do anything to deny that I couldn't see. He was a rehab counselor and had come to see me because as a blind person I qualified for some kind of service. Yet he never pressed me on the matter of blindness. Obviously I was resistant to the idea. He could easily see that. But he gave up without putting much effort into it. I had been successful again avoiding the issue of blindness aided and abetted by my rehabilitation counselor. He gave me what I wanted at the time. He paid the bills for me to attend college. I went off to college and succeeded in earning a B.A. degree and a teaching position. But as a blind person I struggled, never feeling equal, always feeling pressured to do better than everyone else to prove I could do it. Then when glaucoma hit in the sixth year of my teaching career, I was faced with the big question: How would I be able to teach if I lost the sight I prized so much? It was a difficult question for one who was so heavily invested in passing herself off as one who was sighted. A very dramatic event brought the matter of blindness to the conscious level and forced me to deal with it. My Latin II class had gathered, and I had taken attendance and was on my way to the door with the attendance slip when I ran right into someone. It was another teacher who was coming to talk to me. I hadn't seen her and she was wearing a bright red dress. This had happened in front of the entire Latin II class. After this how could I deny that I was blind? It was the moment of absolute realization. I was in fact blind. Then came a very low time in my life. Next came my second encounter with the rehabilitation system. This time the counselor did address the business of blindness with me. He said I would need to go to an "adjustment" center. He gave me one choice and that was all. "We will help you find a job," he said, "but first you must go to our adjustment program." I refused until I became tired of being unemployed and agreed to attend his "adjustment center." The training experience was not a pleasant or productive one. In fact, I was thrown out after just one month because I was "so hostile." I now believe that being thrown out after only a short time was good fortune for me. While the counselor deserves credit for his efforts, he, too, failed to force me to face my blindness and deal with it. The problem was that both Mr. Piltingsrud and my second counselor had about as many fears and doubts about blindness as I did. They had nothing to offer me. I was skilled at avoiding blindness, and they weren't equipped to deal with me. It was about that time that I learned of the National Federation of the Blind. This was my first encounter with a positive attitude toward blindness. The Federation taught me that it is respectable to be blind. I learned that there were thousands of blind people working together to create better understanding of blindness and more opportunity for all blind people. After the Federation became a part of my life, my concept of success was forever changed. My whole life was suddenly expanded. I would have never dreamed of all that has happened in my life since that first National Convention in 1970. I have traveled throughout the country and the world. Before 1970 I had been in three states, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. That was it. Now I can say I have covered all fifty states and the District of Columbia, except three. I have traveled to Canada, to Poland, and to Ireland. I have attended state conventions and worked with other blind people on changing what it means to be blind. We have all been involved with public officials at the local, state, and national levels. Together, we have fought for improvements in education for blind children, making instruction in braille available to them. We have established training centers to help people learn good skills and build confidence related to blindness. The Copyright legislation recently passed will provide braille and recorded material to all of us in a more timely manner. We have Newsline so that we can have access to national newspapers. We have a series of Kernel Books to help educate the public about blindness. All of these have happened, and each event has brought blind people closer to first-class status. So, what is the difference brought about by the National Federation of the Blind? As I reflect on the first part of my life, it is clear that the focal point of concern was myself. What did I think? What was my career goal? How should I handle each situation? How could I be successful? As I came to know more about the National Federation of the Blind, I began to realize that there was a "we" in my life. The power I received from the organized blind movement came from that one small word--we. Success in each of our lives involves all blind people. The Federation offers us something very important outside ourselves. There are still many blind people who suffer, blind parents threatened by social workers that their children will be taken from them and placed in foster homes, blind people who are unemployed, blind people who do not realize they have rights. We must help all of them. We are a family, and we can accomplish together far more than any one of us can alone. 75 Years: Promoting Independence with the White Cane By Peggy Chong The long white cane, as we know it today, really did not begin to gain respectability until the blind themselves actively promoted its use. The notion of using a branch or stick as an aid to independent travel is not all that novel. Even during the middle ages, one can find accounts of blind people using branches or sticks to get around. But throughout history the cane has been regarded as a symbol of helplessness and dependence. Only recently have the blind been able to turn this around. We do not know how many early leaders of the Minnesota State Organization of the Blind (now called the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota) used the white cane or any variation of it. However, they did not let the absence of a cane prevent them from getting where they wanted to go. Although it is clear that many of them traveled with the assistance of a sighted guide, we also have reports of how individual leaders secured rides and traveled unescorted when the need arose. This took great confidence and determination. Was it safe? Perhaps not. However, in those days, cane travel training was not available. At a meeting of the Board of Directors, the issue of traveling in the cities was discussed. On December 28, 1920, the organization adopted a policy supporting the idea of using whistles as a travel aid. The idea was that the blind traveler would stand at a street corner and blow the whistle, thereby letting passersby know that he or she needed assistance to cross the street. The organization helped to purchase and distribute whistles for many blind people traveling in St. Paul. In 1926, the Board of Directors heard about blind people in other states traveling with reed canes. The board members thought that these canes might prove of help to blind people in Minnesota, and so started a search for these canes. Due to the efforts of the membership White Cane ordinances were passed in Minneapolis and St. Paul in the fall of 1933. In March of 1945, a White Cane ordinance was passed by the state Legislature. A White Cane committee was established in 1934 to secure donations for white canes to be distributed to blind people. The committee set standards for the canes to be three feet long and white. If the white cane was to be a symbol to the sighted community that the person carrying the cane was blind, education of the public needed to be done. So the committee got on many talk shows and news broadcasts to spread the message. Leaflets were printed and distributed to the public. Efforts were made to interest the press in the whole white cane issue. Blind people from other states were asked to speak at conventions about how the white cane was used and accepted in their communities. In 1933, a Mrs. Gilbert from Peoria Ill. spoke to the semiannual convention on the use of the white cane in her state and in Paris. Torger Lien, a longtime member of the organization and a travel teacher at the Braille and Sight Saving School in Faribault, worked with many blind people, teaching them how to travel independently using all of the tools and sensory cues available to them. On December 30, 1948, at the semiannual convention, he made a presentation to the convention on the proper way to hold the cane when crossing the street. It was his contention that the cane should be held vertically instead of horizontally, as many people had been taught. The convention passed a motion in support of this notion. At the September 11, 1948 board meeting the purchase of hickory canes that the organization would sell to blind people was approved. In 1952 the cost of a cane was $.65. In 1946, plastic canes had been purchased. They sold for $.90 but did not seem to sell well after the first few months. With all of the enthusiasm shown by the blind community for the cane, one wonders why there was so much shame and stigma attached to it. One reason may be the attitude of the sighted professionals in the field of work with the blind who are supposed to teach the skills and alternative techniques required to travel independently without sight. In 1975, the NFB of Minnesota fought for the right of a student at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind to carry her cane in the building. Instructors at the Society felt that the cane should not be used for indoor travel. The very people who were supposed to be promoting the cane as a tool for independent travel to be carried with pride were ashamed for it to be used indoors. The American Foundation for the Blind was often doing studies about how blind people traveled. Of course, since the Foundation really didn't believe in the ability of the average blind person to travel with competence and independence, it tended to involve as research subjects blind people who fit this stereotype. So when, in 1975, the Foundation convened a conference on winter travel and the blind in Minneapolis, leaders of the NFB of Minnesota felt that this was a wonderful opportunity to provide a positive focus to the research. Without the influence of the organized blind, it was felt that the Foundation would continue to produce findings that perpetuated age-old stereotypes about the helpless, hopeless blind. Many Federationists participated in the conference and repeatedly confirmed the ability of blind people to travel with competence and safety--even during winter weather conditions. Nevertheless, the Foundation's final report was as negative as ever. In early 1976, a study was done by the Council for the Handicapped and the Division of Special Education. Apparently, the study had to do with the education of blind children in Minnesota. One conclusion reached in the report produced was that blind children in Minnesota should be taught Braille and cane travel while in elementary school. Very little was ever done with this report. Still today in too many cases, if parents want cane travel or Braille for a partially blind child, they still need to fight for it. The history of cane travel in Minnesota would not be complete without a few words about the hard fought battle to keep our long white canes on airplanes. From the very beginning, blind Minnesotans were in the thick of the battle. On December 5, 1975, James Gashel was on his way to Minnesota for our semiannual convention when he was kicked off a Northwest airplane because he would not give up his white cane. It took him another five hours to get to our convention in Minneapolis by another airline. Resolution SA-75-01, deploring Northwest Airlines for their actions and policies, was quickly passed by the convention and circulated widely throughout the community. Many radio stations and newspapers covered the story, supporting Jim. On the way to the national convention in Baltimore on July 2, 1978, 12 Federationists boarded a United Airlines plane. When they reached Cleveland, where they would need to change planes, an airline representative escorted the group to the next gate where everyone's tickets were confiscated by a "Mr. Kane." Mr. Kane demanded that they all surrender their canes or they would not be permitted back on any United flight. Six of them had collapsible canes or dogs and were allowed back on the flight. However, Jim Schleppegrell, Stewart Prost, Mary Hartle, Brad Hodges, Tom Scanlan and Joyce Scanlan all held straight canes and were not permitted to board. They tried for a long time to reason with Mr. Kane. He refused to give them a copy of the regulations they supposedly were violating, refused to give them any kind of statement, refused to allow them on any United flight out of Cleveland (the only airline serving Baltimore from that city), but worst of all he refused to listen to reason. The six ended up on a Greyhound bus the rest of the way to the convention in Baltimore. Later that week they and more than 1,000 other Federationists participated in a demonstration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters against such treatment of blind people. Their trip back was not much better. The blind passengers were herded like cattle by United Airlines personnel. When they refused to give up their canes after the plane landed in Chicago, they were berated by the pilot over the plane's PA system. The pilot accused the blind persons of delaying the flight. After this treatment, the Minnesota federationists passed out Federation literature and talked with passengers about the nonexistent FAA rules that were in dispute on that plane. By the end of the flight from Chicago to Minneapolis, the passengers understood the problems blind people face at the hands of the airlines. On her way home from a NAC demonstration on November 11, 1984, Judy Sanders found herself in an exit-row seat on a People Express flight. Judy was told to move from the seat, but she declined. Conversations with a variety of airline and airport officials took place when Judy tried to explain her position without success. Finally the police were called in and she was arrested and charged with disorderly person. On June 27, 1985, Judy was acquitted of all charges in a Boston court. Less than two weeks later two other Minnesotans were arrested on United Airlines for sitting in an exit row. Steve and Nadine Jacobson were on their way home from the National Convention in Louisville, KY. They boarded the plane and quickly discovered they were in an exit row. They were asked to move and refused. A parade of airline personnel came to get them to move. One person tried jerking Nadine out of her seat without letting her remove her seatbelt. They were abused physically and verbally by airline officials and the Louisville police. The police searched, arrested, fingerprinted, and threw them in jail. Their canes were taken away, and items confiscated by the police were not returned. In short, they were treated like common criminals. Again, the only charge that could be thought up was disorderly conduct. Steve and Nadine were subjected to a three-day trial in the Jefferson County Civil Court. On November 3, 1985, after deliberating for only two and one half hours, a jury found them not guilty of all charges. The Jacobson trial was the turning point in the "airline wars." Northwest had learned its lesson. People Express had learned its lesson. And now United Airlines, the largest airline in the world, had learned that blind people would fight to keep our white canes and the public would support us. The evidence was clear to anyone flying after that trial that the word had spread throughout the airline industry. Treatment of blind people improved markedly. Today more parents are asking for cane travel for their blind children at an early age. Blind adults proudly carry their canes throughout our communities. There are more blind travel instructors teaching other blind persons the skills to make them a better and confident traveler. Soon, the shame of carrying a cane may be only a lesson read in a history book on the blind. After BLIND By Mike Klimisch (Editor's Note: Mike graduated from our training program at Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND) in 1989. He got a job as a customer representative, then returned to school and is now employed as a medical transcriber.) One of the things that I have noticed about the aftereffects of BLIND is the confidence I have in trying new things. When I flew to Washington, D.C., I went alone. Granted it is more fun to have someone else along for the company, but it can also be said there is satisfaction in knowing that one can handle a major trip alone without the assistance of another person -- particularly someone sighted. I have gone on trips in the past, but these were usually with someone, and independence was not really tested unless I wanted to wander off by myself. I can tell you that my training also has helped in public speaking, because I can now use Braille notes. I can relax a little bit and not have to memorize speeches or "fake-it." It is also nice to have the choice on a long trip of reading Braille magazines or writing letters to other blind persons. In my job I have confidence and experience to start up new jobs if I should choose to do so in the future. I now have an employment history that future employers can look at and see a competent blind person who knows what he wants and is willing to go after things himself, independently. I think one of the hardest things for those of us with partial vision is that we are often caught between being blind and being "sighted." To me, if a person cannot function fully visually and perform with the same proficiency as a sighted person, that person can be considered blind. This individual will have to learn alternative techniques to do everyday things -- like travel to work or new places where they have never been without the assistance of a sighted person. Even people like me, who have enough vision to ride a bike or walk around without a cane, will have to decide if they are blind or not. In my case, I use my cane for several reasons when I walk the streets and travel. The big reason is that if I quit using my cane, I will forget what I have learned at BLIND and there would have been no point of my training there. Another reason is related to the above; if I should lose the rest of my sight, I will have used my cane enough and the technique will stay with me so I won't have to be retrained. The cane is an identifier. If people see a blind person walking around a lot, they will then get the picture that blind people can travel independently and get where they need to go without the help of a sighted person. In many ways, I actually like to travel alone. If I go alone, I can navigate where I must be and will remember what is going on better than if I had a sighted person directing me. With a sighted guide (whether human or canine), the tendency is not to keep track of things and space them off. If I travel alone and get lost I can always figure my way back on course in some way or another. I can learn new things I didn't know before -- through the experience of being lost. I can then remember where I am in relationship to other things. I still use my vision to locate places, and to go by the scenery like I have in the past. No one would want to take that away from anybody, but I have found it more efficient to locate places by understanding the addressing system, I can locate things faster and get to the general area much quicker and with more proficiency, and then pinpoint the details when I get there. Another thing that I believe to be true about most people with limited vision is that they never know how good life can be and how much freedom they can have after completing a training program like BLIND. It is like a child that has never tasted spinach, and then tries it once and finds that he likes it. However, it is much more so with a person who has completed a program like the one I did; it becomes a way of life forever changed. If only those people with partial vision could understand and experience the training that I had, they could be so much more free to find employment and experience all of life to its fullest. When I talk about this sort of thing, I can't help but think of my trip to Washington and the fact that I made it alone. When my parents and other family members found out that I would be going alone, they were afraid that I couldn't handle it or they hoped that I would meet up with someone that I knew. I guess they were being overprotective again. I told them that with the kind of training I've had, I could fly to New York City by myself and get where I need to be without any difficulty. When I came back in one piece and told them all that had happened and that I managed by myself they were, I suppose, amazed and best of all they were relieved. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I had not gotten training at BLIND. Would I have a job? Would I travel alone much? How successful would I be? Would I have the confidence I possess now? Would I have made it to the Washington Seminar? I don't think that I would have the confidence that a blind person can be as successful, and I think life would be a lot more difficult and much less fulfilling. Maybe I would not have gone to Washington, or maybe I would have asked for much more assistance than I really needed and would have portrayed an incompetent sighted person, rather than a competent blind person. Now if I am traveling with my cane, if I have to ask someone where something is located I can portray a blind person asking a question rather than a sighted person asking a stupid question. I think that once a person has completed a program like BLIND, they can try new things without the fear of losing themselves. It is OK to get lost -- but know that you can find your way back on course, or that you can deliver a good speech with Braille notes, and the list could go on. After a person leaves a program though, they must make one of two choices: they can either continue to use the techniques that they have learned, or can choose not to use them. We encourage them to use their skills, but in the end it is up to the individual to first get the training and then to continue using everything he or she has learned. Only after receiving this sort of training should a person make intelligent decisions about when to use Braille or a cane. Then you can experience what I experienced, but don't forget to get that training first so you can be all that you can be with confidence! Mother Knows Best By Peggy Chong A few years ago Darlene Holm adopted a little girl she called Bethany. Bethany suffers from shaken-baby syndrome. Among other disabilities, Bethany is blind. Darlene's other children who are all adults now, welcomed Bethany warmly into their family as well. Darlene knew nothing about the disabilities that Bethany had. As any responsible parent would do, Darlene turned to the professionals for advice in bringing up Bethany. She now is grateful that she didn't just stop there. The professionals told Darlene that it would be highly unlikely that her little girl would ever recognize her as Mommy or bond with the family. She would never walk. Sending her to kindergarten would be good for her socialization, but not to expect her to learn much. But Darlene did not accept those limitations. She worked with Bethany in all areas of learning as she too continued to learn. One day Darlene came across the National Federation of the Blind. She was encouraged by the upbeat, can-do philosophy of the Federation. Darlene began to learn Braille herself. She saw the importance that Braille could play in her daughter's life. Things were looking up. In the fall of 1994, she enrolled Bethany in kindergarten in the Montecello public school system. It turned out to be a great experience for both of them. Darlene took an active part in Bethany's classes. At home, she would reinforce what was being taught at school. Bethany was learning! What's more, Bethany was learning to walk, something the professionals said Beth would never do. But things were not all a bed of roses. When Bethany had been placed in Darlene's home, before the adoption was final, Darlene called her new daughter by her new name. But the professionals refused to use the name that she would legally have after the adoption. They said that their policy was to call the children by their legal name. Darlene tried in vain to explain how, being a special-needs child, this was causing unnecessary confusion for her daughter. Then the 1995-96 school year began. Darlene wanted Braille for Bethany. After learning much about the IEP (Individual Education Plan) process, Darlene got Braille into the IEP for that year. Braille was not taught until January of the school year and then minimally at best. Bethany's regular classroom teacher this year did not like Darlene coming into the classroom as it was a "distraction." The teacher sent notes home reporting that Bethany was not interested in school work and was having tantrums. Darlene tried to make suggestions to the teacher and her aids. She asked for more specific information on class work so she could introduce it to Beth at home, thinking that this may ease Bethany's anxiety in class. But again, nothing came home. To Darlene's dismay, she discovered that the teacher was unaware of how to work with a blind child in her classroom. On pajama day the teacher asked the children "What do I have on my feet?" It was fuzzy bunny slippers, but the teacher did not offer to let Bethany touch the teacher's feet, to see what they were. Afterwards, the teacher reported in the notes sent home that Bethany was not interested in class. Many other examples were given of the teacher's lack of understanding. The last straw came on a Friday night while preparing for Bethany's bath. Darlene noticed bruises in the shapes of fingers, on both of Bethany's arms. She was justifiably upset. The note from school that day just said that Bethany had a "bad day." There was nothing that explained the bruises on her little girl. Monday morning Darlene called the principal who knew nothing of the incident. Darlene later learned that Beth had thrown a tantrum and had to be removed from the classroom by three adults. Darlene called for a mediation hearing to resolve the many issues regarding her daughter and the unfulfilled IEP. Janiece Betker and I, representing the Federation, attended the three mediation meetings that took place last winter. The issues on the table included: 1. Darlene must see the video of her daughter made by the school. The school said that she could only see the portion of the tape where Bethany was eating. 2. Darlene must be allowed to come into the school and observe her daughter's class. On two of the five times that school year when Darlene had visited the class, she found her daughter just sitting, doing nothing. Darlene was convinced that this inactivity was the cause of Bethany's inattentiveness in class. All of us on Darlene's team found it odd that an elementary school should discourage parental involvement or decide that five visits in four months are abnormally high. 3. The teachers and school officials must have some blindness training. 4. Bethany must be given more than just 1/2 hour of Braille a week. (Braille lessons finally began in January of 1996.) 5. Bethany must be kept in Kindergarten for one more year. 6. Better communication between home and school must be developed to inform Darlene of the things going on at school. 7. New assessments must be done to determine Bethany's abilities. 8. Better reporting methods must be designed by the school when a student is injured in any way. 9. Qualified substitute staff must be found when Bethany's regular para-professional calls in sick. (Darlene had refused to send Bethany to school three days because the substitute had no experience with Bethany's disabilities and would just let her sit by herself, without anything to do. The school called it a major truancy concern.) It was clear from the beginning of the mediation meetings that the school officials and special education representatives did not want Bethany in their school. More important, they did not want Bethany's mom butting into their business. After several minutes of discussion, it came out that Darlene could not see the video because it was a tape of all the special-ed students. Bethany was only taped during the eating portion, the only part she was told she could see. When we discovered that the tape was not all of Bethany, we asked the school personnel why they did not tell Darlene this months ago. All she wanted to see was the footage of Bethany. There was no reply. This was typical of the arrogant attitude with all of Darlene's concerns and the refusal to discuss effectively by school officials. All issues were resolved in the first two meetings except grade placement for the next school year, staff training and the amount of Braille hours per week. Between the second and third mediation meetings, Darlene thought long and hard about keeping her daughter in a school system that clearly did not want her there. The Academy for the Blind in Faribault was out of the question for Darlene. Bethany was finally calling her mommy and bonding to the family, something Darlene was told would never happen. She did not want to disrupt Bethany's life or shatter her trust for what might be forever. Many members of her extended family had begun teaching their children at home. She also learned of other parents with children like Bethany who were turning to home teaching because the public schools were not welcoming their children. At the third meeting, Darlene announced her intentions to home-school Bethany for the 1996-97 school year. The relief on the faces, in the body language, and in the voices of the school district representatives could not be mistaken. They agreed to five hours of Braille and travel a week, Braille instruction for the summer months, OT, PT, Speech and Language support services. In other words, anything you want as long as you take your kid out of our school. They even had the nerve to ask if Darlene would start home schooling the next day. For Bethany, hopefully, things are going to work out for the best. But what about the next blind child that comes along. The issue of training was side stepped by the school officials. However I did leave them with a complete set of our Kernel books and several copies of Future Reflections. I wonder if anyone will ever read them. I fear that the next family in Montecello who tries to enroll their disabled child in the local schools will find that attitudes have not changed much. Beth is enjoying her home schooling and is a much happier child. The Cooperating Fund Drive Means Money By Peggy Chong Fall is here. Yes, I know we don't want to hear that, but there are good things that happen in the fall that we need to start thinking about. Many of you Minnesota Bulletin readers know that the NFB of Minnesota is a member of the Cooperating Fund Drive (CFD). During the Fall, CFD has its annual payroll deduction campaign. We all need to look for opportunities to promote the giving campaign. For those who may not know, the Cooperating Fund Drive was created in 1979 to raise funds through payroll deduction for small, grassroots community-based organizations that work on social change and advocacy programs or groups that delivered services to communities that could not raise funds through traditional sources. Those 15 original organizations, (NFB was one of them) worked hard to create a funding mechanism that in 1995 raised over $850,000 for its membership organizations. Until CFD became a successful fundraising source in the work place, no other payroll deduction campaign allowed the contributor to designate where their money should go. The Fund Drive has always allowed the donor to choose where their contribution was to go, even if the charity was not a member of the Fund Drive. Employees have begun to demand the right to decide where their money will be spent. In the fall, several NFB members take part in work place fairs, speak to potential givers to payroll deduction and stuff envelopes for CFD. The more we directly participate in these activities, the higher our designated gifts through CFD. This year, it is very important to talk to our friends and promote the Cooperating Fund Drive. If we know people who work for state or local government or any business that has CFD's Gift of Choice program, encourage them to give through the Cooperating Fund Drive. Encourage them to designate NFB as the organization who should receive their contributions. CFD continues to be a significant funding source for the NFB of Minnesota. Since we have started providing Newsline for the Blind, our need for funds has become more intense. By helping to increase contributions to CFD or finding employers that would like to make the Gift of Choice option a benefit for their employees, we also are helping to fund the NFB. The NFB Makes a Difference! By Curtis Chong I joined the National Federation of the Blind when I was fifteen years old, growing up in the state of Hawaii. Were it not for the Federation and its dynamic and uplifting philosophy of blindness, I would not be where I am today. Simply put, the Federation has given me the philosophy, the energy, and the confidence to get out into the world and compete with other members of our society for the "good things in life." When I first became acquainted with the Federation, I had just begun to understand that people who were viewed as "professionals" in work for the blind weren't necessarily as positively motivated as I was. I remember talking to my rehabilitation counselor about the possibility of entering the accounting profession. He told me, with all sincerity, that accounting was not a field I should consider. After all, he said, an accountant must see to do the work. I had this vague suspicion that the counselor might be wrong, but at the time, I couldn't prove it. So, I agreed to do something else with my life. There was nothing else to do. I needed the agency's help to go to college, and so I gave in. My first acquaintance with the National Federation of the Blind came when I attended a convention of the Hawaii state affiliate in the spring of 1969. From that convention, I learned two things. First, I found out that there was at least one organization for the blind which really believed in the ability of blind people to compete with the sighted on a basis of equality. Second (and more important), I found that I was not alone; there were other blind people who would work with me to change the system. Armed with this newfound realization, I proceeded, in my junior year of high school, to find work. I had read in the newspaper that a company had job opportunities for people who were handicapped. A friend and I, both newly-inspired members of the Federation, decided to go in for an interview. That was when I received my first exposure to employment discrimination. When we met with the head man, we were told that the job required us to sell light bulbs over the telephone. We said that this would not be a problem since we, like all other teenagers, spent a considerable portion of our lives on the phone. We were told that we would have to read printed lists so that we would know whom we were supposed to call. "No problem," we said. "We'll have somebody put the names onto tape." By this time, it became clear that the manager did not want to offer us the job. To clinch his assertion that the job just "wouldn't work out," he said, "Blind people can't dial the telephone." This left us with nothing more to say. Clearly, we were not going to get any job from this company. However, because we were learning from the Federation about the power of collective action, we discussed the incident with some of our Federation friends. Everybody agreed that we were not likely to get any work from this company that claimed to have jobs for the handicapped. However, we thought that we could do some good by publicly exposing the company's shabby attitude toward blind people. So, we wrote a letter-to-the-editor describing our experiences trying to get a job from a company claiming to provide employment opportunities for the handicapped. The newspaper took our letter, conducted some interviews, and published a pretty good story. What did this accomplish, you might ask. Sure, we didn't get a job from this experience. But with the help of the Federation, we learned that a blind person does not have to feel powerless when confronting discrimination and adversity. That story in the newspaper--a story which was the very first for which I was partly responsible--made me feel pretty good. The fact that I could help to generate such a story in the press bolstered my belief in the value of associating with the Federation. Over the years, I have learned much from the National Federation of the Blind. The Federation taught me how to go to bat for other blind people who wanted nothing more than a fair shake from the rehabilitation system. It taught me how to battle college programs for the disabled which were nothing more than glorified baby sitting services for blind students. It taught me how to use my expertise in computer technology to influence the development of systems that enable blind people to use the same computer programs as their sighted peers. Through the Federation, I learned how to influence legislation--at the state and national level. The Federation taught me how to have expectations--for myself and for other blind people. Finally, the Federation gave me the tools to fight and really win against discrimination. When, in 1989, the ValleyFair amusement park refused to allow me to ride the roller coaster without my sighted twelve-year-old daughter (whom they classified as a "responsible adult)," I got together with fellow Federationists to work on the problem. Ultimately, after five years, with a lot of work and help from many people, we forced ValleyFair to adopt more realistic and positive policies regarding its blind guests. The National Federation of the Blind has made a tremendous difference in my life. It has provided me with the tools, the philosophy and the experiences necessary to hold down a job, support a family, and confront life's problems head on. I may not have all of the answers when it comes to dealing with problems related to blindness, but I know that I can always come to the Federation for help. The NFB Pledge The Metro Chapter of the NFB of Minnesota has started the practice of saying the NFB Pledge at the beginning of each chapter meeting. However, many of our members are not familiar with the pledge. Below, you will find the NFB pledge that appears on the back of the NFB membership card. As we here in Minnesota do not issue a card automatically, many of us do not have a copy of it. So here it is. I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; To support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution. A Girl's Best Friend By Peggy Chong This past summer at our national convention in California, I purchased a book at a booth in the Exhibit Hall about a blind girl. It was a paperback meant for sighted children in about third or fourth grade. The book is entitled A Girl's Best Friend, by Harriet May Savitz. There is so little for blind or sighted children to read that presents blindness in a positive form I was not sure if this book would be much better than anything else. Since it was only $2 at the convention, I decided to purchase it and read it for myself. The story centers on Laurie, a 12-year-old blind girl and her dog. No, not her guide dog: the family dog who is getting old and may have to be put to sleep. Laurie is a normal 12-year-old, with all the problems, hopes and dreams of any child that age. Laurie needs to find a way to earn a little extra money to help pay for the extra vet bills if she wants to save her dog. She gets a job at a bike store. Laurie wonders why the owner did not say anything to her about her blindness. She then finds out that he is blind also. Laurie uses a white cane, writes letters to her grandmother with her slate and stylus, roller skates, and walks her dog just like all the other kids in her neighborhood. She also has problems in her new school with her teachers who do not understand the new blind child. The book shows how one's attitudes about blindness play an important part in the success of everything in life. Laurie has to work through her own attitudes about herself when others treat her differently because she is blind. This book has a lot packed into its 105 pages. I plan to give each of my nieces a copy of the book for Christmas. It will help the younger members of our family to grow up with a better philosophy about blind people. Laurie has some uncommon ideas for solving her problems with her teachers. She reigns in the school bully, makes new friends and--about the dog--, well, you'll have to read the book to find out. If you are wondering how such a good book could be written, well the book is dedicated in part to Barbara Cheadle. You can have a copy of the book too. Just ask your local bookstore to order it from Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, or write them yourself. By the way, the book costs $3.95 in the bookstore. National Convention always has some great bargains, doesn't it. New Licensure Requirements Drafted for Teachers of the Blind By Curtis Chong For many years, we in the National Federation of the Blind have been working hard to improve the quality of education for blind children. At every opportunity, we have stressed the importance of having competent, well-trained teachers of the blind--teachers with a positive belief in the ability of blind children to grow up to be responsible, competitive, and productive adults. More recently, our efforts have focused on ensuring that all teachers of blind children can read and write Braille. During the 1996 Legislative session, we were successful in having passed a Braille Competency law. This new law requires teachers licensed in the education of blind and visually impaired students to prove competence in reading and writing braille. Last fall, partly in response to our efforts, the Minnesota Board of Teaching organized several task forces to examine licensure requirements for all special-education teachers in Minnesota. One task force dealt with licensure requirements for teachers of the blind. The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota secured a spot on that task force and appointed Curtis Chong as its representative. The task force was composed of the following individuals: * Two "vision" teachers (one of them representing the Minnesota Academy for the Blind), * One representative from a teacher's union, * The head of the blind teacher training program at the University of Minnesota, * One representative of blind people (the NFB of Minnesota), and * A representative of the Board of Teaching, who chaired the task force. The task force held some meetings between January and April of this year. We were constantly reminded by the functioning chair that the work we were doing was critical and long-term. It would, he said, establish the minimum requirements that beginning teachers of the blind would have to meet to obtain a teaching license in Minnesota. Moreover, he said, licensure requirements were not likely to be changed for many years to come. We were therefore encouraged to think very carefully about our recommendations since, if they were accepted, they would likely remain in force for the next thirty years. The task force began by reviewing current Minnesota law regarding the licensing of teachers of the blind. That law, which was developed more than twenty years ago, reflects a view of blindness that places more weight on medical as opposed to educational issues. I felt that it was important to change this focus. Interestingly enough, most of the other task force members seemed to feel the same way, too. Task force members were aware of the Federation's long-standing position that teachers of the blind should be able to read and write Braille. No one objected to a requirement for competence in reading and writing Braille. In fact, this requirement is the first requirement specified in the "Skills" section of the draft language ultimately resulting from our work. The Scope of Practice that introduces the Draft Standards prepared by the task force pretty well summarizes the work that was done. It reads as follows: Scope of Practice Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired provide service to children and youth with a broad range of medically diagnosed visual conditions including blindness, acuity or field losses, cortical visual impairment, degenerating vision, and genetic visual conditions. These services may include disability specific assessment, consultation, inservice, and direct and indirect instruction across the continuum of service delivery. Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired assess and analyze the learning and physical environment in order to design a specialized instructional program to meet the unique needs related to blindness and visual impairments. Services provided may include: instruction; acquisition and production of specialized materials; liaison among home, school, medical and community resources; coordination of related services; and coaching to encourage independence and self advocacy. Extensive preparation includes foundation knowledge of special education assessment and evaluation; academic skill development; low vision and optical aids; teaching, reading, and writing Braille; accommodation and modification techniques; organizational strategies and techniques; adaptive, augmentative and assistive technologies; alternative techniques of blindness; anatomy, physiology, and neurology of the eye and the visual tract; and interpretation of medical data. So where do we go from here? We are still waiting for the Board of Teaching to publish a notice of rule making--that is, to begin the process of turning draft language into state regulations. My information is that this process will begin some time in 1997. Meanwhile, we have done what we can to inculcate a more positive philosophy of blindness into the education system by influencing the development of draft language governing the licensing of teachers of the blind and visually impaired. We will now see what can be done to have the more positive language turned into reality. White Cane Safety Day in Minneapolis By Peggy Chong St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson declared October 15, 1996 to be White Cane Safety Day in their respective jurisdictions. Federationists from the Metro area were on hand to celebrate in fine style. The weather was perfect, especially for October in Minnesota, with a temperature of almost 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We gathered on the corner of 8th Street and Nicollet in Minneapolis at 11:45 a.m., right in front of the Barnes and Nobel Bookstore. Over 20 members picked up flyers and NFB brochures and spread out down the Mall to inform the Minneapolis lunch-hour crowd of the abilities of blind persons and to encourage them to pick up more information about the Federation at the Barnes and Nobel book store. Meanwhile, two Federationists went inside the Barnes and Nobel store to set up for the book fair fundraiser for White Cane Day. The downtown Minneapolis Barnes and Nobel Bookstore had agreed to give 20% of the proceeds that day from two of their cash registers from 12:00-2:00 p.m. to benefit the Federation. Everyone in Minneapolis was in a very receptive mood to learn about blind people. Maybe the good weather had something to do with it. In less than one hour, we handed out over 1,000 pieces of literature. Then our folks came into the bookstore to look around and do a bit of shopping. As of yet, we do not know the contribution that will be made to the Federation because of this book fair, but it was a wonderful opportunity again to show the public just how normal blind people are and spread the word about the Federation A Time for Renewal By Jan Bailey Conventions of the National Federation of the Blind, whether at the state or national level, have often been called "the gathering of the clan." At such gatherings, we, the Federation family, come together to renew old acquaintances, share sorrows and triumphs, engage in serious business, and (for part of the convention) simply to have fun. Meetings of the Federation are a time for growth and renewal, a time to reaffirm our belief in ourselves as blind people, and a time to plan our collective course for the future. The 1996 annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota was just such a convention: packed with energy, filled with the give and take of ideas being argued and discussed, and permeated with pride in our accomplishments and hope for the future. The convention was held over the weekend of October 11-13 in Rochester, Minnesota, at the Downtown Holiday Inn. Clearly our Rochester chapter (Jan Bailey, President) spent many hours coming up with new ideas to ensure that Federationists from around the state really enjoyed themselves. This combined with the many door prizes and our now-traditional baked goods auction, added fun to the convention and funds to our treasury. Our national representative was Ramona Walhof, secretary of the National Federation of the Blind and president of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho. Friday afternoon and evening were full of activity. There was a seminar on travel techniques and another dealing with issues important to blind students. The National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) of Minnesota met, made plans for promoting Braille during the coming year, and elected a new president, Judy Sanders. The Resolutions Committee, chaired by Curtis Chong, considered two very thought-provoking resolutions (reprinted at the end of this article). Early Saturday morning (at 7:00 a.m. to be exact), Federationists gathered to attend the Consumer Forum, a breakfast meeting of the Board of Directors of Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc. We were glad to hear about the progress and growth of the programs at BLIND, proving the rightness of our efforts to have our very own training program for blind people in Minnesota. The first general business session of the convention began at 9:00 a.m., Saturday morning. We were welcomed to Rochester by the Honorable Chuck Canfield, Mayor of Rochester. President Joyce Scanlan then asked everyone to participate in a moment of silence for those long-time Federationists who had passed away during the past year. These included Joe DeBeer, Rosemary Varey, and Lucy Lindgren. President Scanlan then reported on Federation progress and projects in 1996. The Federation, she said, has always been there whenever needed by blind people. For example, in Duluth we are helping a blind mother keep her children. A social worker does not think she is fit to raise them because of her blindness. We were involved recently with the Barnes and Nobel Bookstore chain. During a campaign promoting literacy, the bookstore circulated posters proclaiming "Censorship causes blindness." President Scanlan entered discussions with Barnes and Nobel's vice president of corporate communication. We believe that the offensive slogan will not be used again. President Scanlan recounted the efforts by the Friends of the Communication Center to privatize the Radio Talking Book. Although the issue is not completely resolved at this point, we have been successful in keeping the Radio Talking Book in the Communication Center of State Services for the Blind, where everyone (except the Friends) agrees it should remain. We have had to fend off repeated attempts by the Department of Economic Security to whittle away at State Services for the Blind (SSB). Last fall, the agency was in danger of being combined with the general rehabilitation agency into a single branch. More recently, there has been talk of moving SSB counselors into Workforce Centers in the metro area. The thought is that blind people will come into the Workforce Centers off the street. President Scanlan said that this was a great waste of time for SSB counselors. All of this has forced us to consider again the desirability of setting SSB up as a separate department within state government, reporting directly to the governor and the state legislature. Our headquarters has undergone extensive remodeling and renovation, President Scanlan said. The Federation now has a new office in the basement that also houses Newsline for the Blind, inaugurated in late March of this year. Newsline for the Blind has attracted many subscribers, she said. We need to raise the funds to keep this worthwhile program going. President Scanlan then went on to discuss the industrial-arts program established by BLIND, Inc. This program was officially dedicated on June 20 and adds a significant new dimension to the program's ability to develop self-confidence in blind people. President Scanlan said that our challenge for the coming year is to increase and strengthen our membership. The Federation is only as strong as its membership. We can always use new people who understand the value of the Federation and are willing to help it to grow stronger. The next item on the program was a report from the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, presented by Nancy Walton, the head of the library. Ms. Walton began by offering to promote Newsline for the Blind by helping us to mail material to more than ten-thousand people on the library's mailing list. She then proceeded to update the convention concerning staff changes at the library and within the Department of Children, Families, and Learning. She thanked the Federation for its work to pass the new copyright law. The library is soon to receive a new computer and its own VersaPoint Braille embosser. Ms. Walton showed a willingness to have the library's newsletter put on Newsline for the Blind. When asked if she would consider having the library administratively located in another part of state government, she said that the library is only now beginning to achieve visibility within the Department of Children, Families, and Learning. She spends a great deal of time in departmental management meetings to increase the visibility of the program, and she said that this is beginning to pay off. Ms. Walton was asked about the likelihood of having magazines converted from talking book disc to cassette. She said that the National Library Service is under some real funding pressure. Although she would like to have every magazine made available, the very real fact is that there simply isn't enough money to make this happen. Some tough choices will have to be made, she said. Tom Scanlan, NFB of Minnesota treasurer, next talked to the convention about the organization's financial status. Although we are in relatively good shape financially, he said that we urgently need to raise funds to keep Newsline for the Blind alive. We have been aggressively pursuing grant requests, but this may not be enough. He urged individual members to try to find contacts who could provide the funding needed for this valuable service. The status and future prospects for services to the blind in Minnesota were next discussed by Richard Davis, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Economic Security, State Services for the Blind (SSB). One of the neatest things going on at SSB, he said, is the work they are doing in staff development--specifically, in the area of adjustment to blindness training. Before new SSB staff members have any interaction with the people they serve, they will receive at least six weeks of training in the alternative techniques of blindness. The important thing is that agency staff come to regard blind customers as peers, he said. Mr. Davis discussed the current relationship between SSB and the Friends of the Communication Center. Last year, the Friends tried to privatize the Radio Talking Book despite the objection of practically everyone involved. Today, the Friends of the Communication Center have expressed a desire to support only the Radio Talking Book and to act as a grantor of funds for that program. The entire relationship is being examined, Mr. Davis said. It clearly cannot continue as it is now. Mr. Davis said that Commissioner R. Jane Brown suggested the possibility of housing SSB counselors in the metro area at Workforce Centers. A Relocation Task Force was convened to study the matter. Ultimately, the task force recommended that SSB counselors not be housed permanently at metro area Workforce Centers, using a "hoteling" concept instead. SSB may conduct a small pilot program to study the matter, he said. Mr. Davis spoke positively about the effect of Workforce Centers on SSB statewide. He said that they were not taking away money from SSB. The general rehabilitation agency, on the other hand, is looking at spending one to two million dollars to move its programs into Workforce Centers. Workforce Centers will be discussed by the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind at its meeting on October 26. Mr. Davis briefly discussed the Lighthouse for the Blind in Duluth. Last year, the Lighthouse declared bankruptcy. This has given SSB an opportunity to pressure the Lighthouse to move away from its traditional sheltered workshop program in favor of finding real jobs for blind people in the community. Also, with regard to its accreditation by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC), Mr. Davis said that the Lighthouse seemed willing to drop its accreditation once the bankruptcy problems were behind it. During the discussion following his formal presentation, Mr. Davis was asked why SSB's payments to individuals and vendors were consistently late. Mr. Davis said that the new statewide accounting system was a factor but that there were also internal procedures that needed to be improved. All in all, he said, it was a rather complex matter. Mr. Davis was asked how he felt about having SSB taken out of the Department of Economic Security. He responded by saying that he favored whatever would result in the best service to blind people. The Saturday afternoon session began with presentations from two congressional candidates for the first district: Gil Gutknecht (Republican) and Mary Rieder (DFL). Both candidates expressed support for the Federation's efforts to incorporate a Braille literacy provision into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and both candidates wished the Federation well. Ramona Walhof, our national representative, next brought the convention up to date concerning matters affecting the blind nationally and around the world. She reported that there are now six Newsline for the Blind installations in operation around the country. This valuable service will be what we make of it, she said. Everyone should use it. The Federation has enjoyed successes in the Congress, Ms. Walhof said. We were instrumental in the passage of the new Copyright Law, which makes it possible for us to have books converted into a usable form without having to wait for permission from publishers. We helped to protect the budget of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped so that it could not be tampered with by the Librarian of Congress. The Federation was also directly responsible for saving the rehabilitation system. At the recent General Assembly of the World Blind Union, the United States was given four additional votes. This is a significant accomplishment given the number of votes available to the European block. Ms. Walhof reported on follow-up to our national resolution condemning the poor behavior of the Seeing Eye toward the National Federation of the Blind. She said that President Maurer had met with the president of the Seeing Eye. Since we are not picketing the school, it would appear that some progress has been made on this front. We now have a total of eleven Kernel books. The latest is entitled Beginnings and Blueprints. Following Ms. Walhof's report, the convention discussed the topic Centers for Independent Living and Services to People Who Are Blind. This discussion of the cross-disability movement and its effect upon the blind was a panel chaired by Ramona Walhof. Participants included David Schwartzkopf, Director of the Center for Independent Living in Rochester; Judy Sanders, Coordinator, Older-Blind Project, Services for the Blind; and Richard Davis, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Economic Security, State Services for the Blind. There are those in the cross-disability movement who would prefer to eliminate categorical programs for the blind. The panel was in agreement that unique and identifiable services to the blind must continue if our specific needs are to be addressed. The organized blind movement does have some commonality with the independent-living movement--particularly in its support of the concept of consumer control. However, advocates for cross disability need to realize that some services can be provided to all people, whatever their disability, while others cannot. The next convention program item was a discussion of the new copyright law and its effect on the blind. This was presented by David Andrews, Director of the Communication Center, State Services for the Blind. The new law promises to make more books more readily available to blind people: in Braille, in audio form, and in electronic digital media. In the past, the Communication Center always transcribed books for individuals and only placed the finished product into its library when copyright permission was received. Now, every book produced by the Center can be placed immediately into its library and thus made available for general distribution. Mr. Andrews commented that the Friends of the Communication Center will probably try to introduce legislation to privatize the Radio Talking Book next year. He expressed the hope that the Federation would continue its support of the Radio Talking Book remaining within the Communication Center. Legislation and our plans for the 1997 legislative session was the topic of the next program item. It was presented by Judy Sanders. Although we do not know what the majority party will be in either State House, she urged Federationists to get out and vote. "Support the candidate of your choice," she said. She urged everyone to find out where political candidates stood regarding issues affecting the blind. She also encouraged people to inform candidates about the National Federation of the Blind. The final item of the afternoon session was a presentation by Tom Scanlan about Newsline for the Blind. We began operating this service in the Twin Cities near the end of March. It provides access to three national newspapers: U.S.A. Today, the New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune. While it is free to blind and print-handicapped individuals, it costs the NFB of Minnesota money to operate. Tom said that we would happily accept donations to support this important information service to the blind. The highlight of the convention was the banquet, which took place Saturday evening. Jan Bailey, president of our Rochester Chapter, served as mistress of ceremonies. Ramona Walhof gave the keynote address. An award was presented to Pat Barrett for writing an outstanding piece for the Metro Chapter essay contest. Following the banquet, Federationists socialized, listened to old rock 'n roll, and tried to outguess each other in a movie-trivia contest. The Sunday morning session began with reports from Federationists who represent us on various councils and committees. Curtis Chong represents the Federation on the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind. Peggy Chong maintains our relationship with the Cooperating Fund Drive and serves on the Site Council of the Minnesota Academy for the Blind. Chris Cuppett is a Board member of the Friends of the Communication Center. Eric Smith is our representative on the Communication Center Advisory Committee. Joyce and Tom Scanlan represented the Federation on an SSB Relocation Task Force, and Tom Scanlan represented us on a task force to examine the Radio Talking Book privatization issue. President Scanlan reported that the Federation is no longer represented on the U.S. West consumer advisory panel. There is little point for us to participate. The company has done nothing to address the issues we raised--particularly, the issue of employment of blind people. The convention then considered and passed two resolutions. Resolution A-96-01 seeks legislation to remove State Services for the Blind from the Department of Economic Security, moving the agency into its own department, reporting directly to the governor and the state legislature. Resolution A-96-02 declares that offices for students with disabilities must develop a positive attitude toward blindness and calls upon State Services for the Blind to adopt policies and procedures designed to ensure that its customers are proficient in the skills of blindness before receiving post secondary education or vocational training. During even-numbered years, the NFB of Minnesota elects a vice president, treasurer, and two Board members. Elections were held, and the following individuals elected: Vice President, Curtis Chong; Treasurer, Tom Scanlan; and Board members, Judy Sanders and Chris Cuppett. The offices of president and secretary are filled during odd numbered years. The convention heard reports from chapter presidents. Chris Cuppett, president of the Riverbend Chapter, reported that the chapter was pleased to have hosted the 1996 NFB of Minnesota Move-a-thon. Jan Bailey, president of our Rochester chapter, reported that the chapter membership is growing. Classes for the senior blind have attracted people to join the Federation, she said. Andy Virden, president of the Central Minnesota Chapter, reported that the chapter is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It is without doubt the oldest chapter in the NFB of Minnesota. He invited everyone to a 25th anniversary celebration to be held on Saturday, November 9. Peggy Chong, president of the Metro chapter, discussed the variety of issues that are being considered by the chapter. These include bus transportation, access to the public library, and fundraising. Jennifer Dunnam and Judy Sanders, reporting for NAPUB of Minnesota, announced that Judy Sanders has been elected president of that organization. NAPUB (National Association to Promote the Use of Braille) of Minnesota is planning to promote the Braille Readers are Leaders contest throughout the state of Minnesota. It plans to give awards to the highest achieving blind student in Minnesota for each category of the contest. Joyce Scanlan, Ramona Walhof, and Judy Sanders conducted the final item of the convention program: a discussion of membership recruitment. They talked about their personal experiences recruiting for the National Federation of the Blind. At one time, agencies for the blind actively discouraged blind people from joining the Federation. Today, the climate is different--even in the worst of states. No one publicly challenges the right of blind people to belong to the organization of their choice. Membership recruitment will be a central focus for the NFB of Minnesota during the coming year. Everyone agreed that this had been a splendid convention. After some closing remarks, we adjourned. Resolutions Adopted at the 1996 Annual Convention Resolution A-96-01 WHEREAS, based on many years of experience, the National Federation of the Blind has long believed that state funded programs for the blind are so unique that they are most effectively delivered through a single agency, with its own budget, reporting directly to the governor; and WHEREAS, in Minnesota, some of these programs are administered by State Services for the Blind (SSB), a branch within the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES); and WHEREAS, SSB is the vocational rehabilitation agency responsible for providing blind Minnesotans with the training, equipment, and services necessary to be competent, confident, independent citizens; and WHEREAS, services provided by SSB include: 1. training in the attitudes and alternative techniques--including reading and writing Braille and independent travel with the long white cane--necessary to function independently without sight; 2. transcription of textbooks and other material into Braille or audio tape; 3. aids and appliances designed specifically for use by the blind; 4. vocational placement and counseling services; 5. the Business Enterprise Program, which trains, licenses, and equips vending facility operators on government and private property in Minnesota; 6. consulting services related to assistive technology for the blind to be used in school or on the job; 7. counseling, referral, and advocacy services to assist blind children and their parents; and 8. information designed to improve public attitudes toward the blind; and WHEREAS, last year, under the guise of a "business realignment," an ill-conceived attempt was made to combine SSB with the then Division of Rehabilitation Services; and WHEREAS, SSB staff have had to spend an inordinate amount of time participating in MDES "horizontal function" teams, thereby having their attention diverted from direct service delivery to the blind; and WHEREAS, these and other attempts to physically and administratively consolidate SSB into other parts of MDES have blurred the agency's focus and diminished its ability to provide timely and quality service; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the National Federation note takersof the Blind of Minnesota, in convention assembled this 13th day of October, 1996, in the city of Rochester, Minnesota, that this organization seek legislation removing State Services for the Blind from the Minnesota Department of Economic Security and elevating the agency to its own department, reporting directly to the Governor and the State Legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization explore the inclusion of other state funded programs for the blind in this department. Resolution unanimously adopted. Resolution A-96-02 WHEREAS, with proper training and opportunity, students who are blind can compete with their sighted peers in programs of post-secondary education and vocational training (e.g., colleges, universities, and vocational schools); and WHEREAS, the ability to read, write, take notes, and travel independently is no less important for the blind than it is for the sighted; and WHEREAS, offices for students with disabilities have become commonplace at colleges and universities around the country; and WHEREAS, it is all too common for such offices to provide services such as notetakers, sighted guides, selection and ordering of textbooks, early registration, and test proctors; and WHEREAS, willingness to provide these services unconditionally to blind students demonstrates a fundamental lack of belief in the ability of the blind to compete on a basis of equality with the sighted, creates an artificial environment which allows poorly trained blind students to survive, and leaves the blind student ill prepared to compete in the real world where so-called special services are not available; and WHEREAS, there is an unfortunate tendency for offices for students with disabilities to be regarded by professors and other college officials as "the expert" on how to deal with students who are blind, thereby making it difficult if not impossible for blind students to make their own individual arrangements for testing and other classroom procedures; and WHEREAS, State Services for the Blind (SSB), through its vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs, is an important provider of valuable training in basic blindness skills; and WHEREAS, many SSB customers have been given financial support by the agency to receive post secondary education and vocational training before demonstrating proficiency in the alternative techniques necessary to function independently, competently, and efficiently without sight; and WHEREAS, this practice, combined with the artificial environment created by offices for students with disabilities results in poorly-trained and ill-equipped blind job applicants who cannot compete in the labor market; and WHEREAS, this is an unconscionable waste of limited tax dollars; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, in convention assembled this 13th day of October, 1996, in the city of Rochester, Minnesota, that this organization adopt the following position: 1. Offices for students with disabilities must develop a positive belief in the ability of the blind to compete on a basis of equality with the sighted; and 2. State Services for the Blind should develop policies and procedures designed to ensure that its customers are proficient in basic blindness skills before going on to receiving post secondary education or vocational training. Resolution adopted with only one dissenting vote. Convention Alert! Exciting times are coming in NFB conventions. Keep these in mind as you plan your activities throughout the coming year. The Semiannual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held in the Twin Cities in April. Members will receive a letter with details in early March. The National NFB Convention will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana during the first week of July 1997. This is a whole week of friends, fun (the French Quarter!), and serious business. It is a chance to be part of the largest gathering of blind people in the world. Full details will be in the December 1996 issue of the Braille Monitor. The Annual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held in October in the Twin Cities.