Monitor Miniatures

Monitor Miniatures

Braille MonitorApril 1986
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Monitor Miniatures
**Career Fair:
The state of Washington, Department of
Social and Health Services, issued a
release concerning Job Opportunities for
the Blind and a career fair. The release
reported in part as follows:

In celebration of its 100th anniversary,
the Washington State School for
the Blind presented the Second Bi-Annual
Career Fiar for the Visually Impaired.
This two-day event in conjunction with
Job Opportunities for the Blind, was
held March 21-22, 1986, at the Washington
State School for the Blind campus in
Vancouver, Washington. Featured keynote
speaker was former student Michael
Mandel, who is a successful composer,
arranger, and professional musician living
in New York City. Mr. Mandel composes
music for portions of NBC's
"Another World." Twenty-five additionally
successfully employed former students
of WSSB were also on hand to discuss
their careers with visually impaired
junior high and senior high
school students from Washington, Oregon,
and British Columbia. The careers represented
were: computer systems programmer,
social worker, mechanic, teacher,
medical transcriber, businessman and
entrepreneur, electrical engineer, attorney,
teacher aide, piano technician,
machine shop worker, beautician, physical
therapist, editor, airport pager,
public relations worker, masseuse, tax
service representative, darkroom technician,
drug and alcohol counselor, waitress,
radio station owner, announcer,
and engineer. On Saturday Job Opportunities
for the Blind seminar presented a
panel of employed visually impaired
adults who discussed their successful
job techniques.
** Alumni:
We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:

The Illinois School for the Visually
Impaired in Jacksonville, Illinois, is
holding its biannual reunion/meeting
from May 29 through June 1, 1986. All
graduates and past students are invited
and encouraged to attend. For further
information contact: Le Anne Mayne, 312764-1767;
or Carmen (Sepeda) Dennis,
4701 North Springfield, Chicago, Illinois
60625, 312-583-9144.
**Kimbrough Moves:
In a recent news release Associated
Services for the Blind of Philadelphia
announced that B.T. Kimbrough joined
their staff December 1, 1985, as Director
of Services. They state that, "In
addition to directing the establishment
of several new programs, he is responsible for supervising the activities of
ASB's radio reading, recording, rehabilitation,
and social services." As Federationists
know, Kimbrough has for many
years been, in one way or another, associated
with Dialogue Magazine--shaping
its editorial views, writing articles,
and providing other assistance. More
recently he was associated with Triformation
Braille Services.
**Radio Reading:
In late fall of 1985 Alaska had another
first. The Alaska Information
Radio Reading and Education Services was
established. This radio reading service
is operated by the National Federation
of the Blind of Alaska and is another
evidence of the dynamic programs which
are being built in the state.
**To Open The Door:
As Federationists know, Gertrude Van
Tassel Ward is a woman of firm convictions.
She says what she thinks, and
she usually thinks clearly. Here are
her comments about the airline controversy:

"When
I read that the emergency exit
door on a plane must be unfastened and
thrown out of the way, I was surprised
and a bit shocked. You realize that
only with a demonstration and practice
would anybody be able efficiently to
open doors like that in an emergency.
No wonder the airline personnel are
worried about it. They can worry a
damned lot more and insist on a safer
designed door. Yes, the blind would be
in danger, but so would the sighted, who
would be in the same boat and just as
unable to open the door fast enough.
Next I suppose they will tell us that
everyone should carry a personal fire
extinguisher aboard: 'just for your own
safety!'"
** Equality:
The National Federation of the Blind
says that it seeks security, equality,
and opportunity for the blind. Commenting
on equality, Jamal Mazrui says:

"'Equality' means social equality. It
means being accepted as equals by the
sighted--neither pitied as victims nor
applauded as heroes simply because we
are living with blindness. It means
being regarded as normal people, having
as just one of many characteristics the
fact that we cannot see."
** Elected:
Shelly Bruns writes:

The NFB chapter of Lincoln, Nebraska,
would like to announce its new Board
Members just elected January 18. President,
Michael Floyd; First Vice President,
Gary Doty; Second Vice President,
Brad Loos; Secretary, Shelly Bruns;
Treasurer, Aloma Bouma; and Board positions
to be held by Barbara Walker and
Cheryl Slobaszewski.
**Museum Contemplated:
Diane McGeorge submits the following:

A new project is now in progress,
which is being handled by the NFB of
Colorado. It grew out of a conversation
between Ray McGeorge and President
Jernigan last November at the National
Board Meeting. While we were talking
about the teaching of math to blind
students, it became apparent that many
at the meeting had no idea what a Taylor
slate was or how it had been used. Then
followed a discussion of other lost
forms of teaching the blind such as Moon
Type, New York Point, and the like. Ray decided we needed to establish some type
of museum which would contain samples of
reading and writing materials, as well
as other bygone tools and outdated technology.
It will take time, and your
help will be needed. For example, are
there any Federationists who might still
have an old Taylor slate, a cube slate,
or how about one of the old Lavender
Braillers once used and no longer in
circulation? When Ray first started
thinking about it, his initial reaction
was somber. After all, he learned math
on the Taylor slate, and Fred Schroeder
had never seen one. But if you stop to
think, the original talking calculator
produced by Sharp is a fine example of a
teaching tool no longer available for
use. How many of you have ever seen
one? So search your basements and attics,
and help us build a worthwhile
museum. Maybe it can earn a place of distinction at the National Center for
the Blind in Baltimore. Send items to:
Ray McGeorge, National Federation of the
Blind of Colorado, 2232 South Broadway,
Denver, Colorado 80210.

**Country Cassettes:
We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
"A country music cassette tape is
available. Introducing Ray Stoer. This
tape features thirteen country songs.
The price is $8.50, prepaid orders only.
Make checks payable to: Raymond Rokita,
308 VanBuren, #192-E, Jackson, Michigan
49201."
**Braille Book Project:
Diane McGeorge writes:
"Many Federationists know about the
project operated by the NFB of Colorado
in conjunction with the Telephone Pioneers and Federationists from across the
country in which discarded Braille and
large print textbooks are collected and
then repackaged for mailing to libraries
and schools throughout the world. While
talking recently with Lou Parker, the
chairman of the Telephone Pioneers committee
which handles the bulk of the
mailing of the materials, it was brought
to my attention that we could use donations
of styluses and slates if people
have extra ones they do not need or
perhaps no longer use. We have received
a number of requests for those, as well
as old reel to reel tape players. The
tape players should be sent in good
condition if possible, since we have no
way to repair them. And while you are
gathering up those types of things, if
you have Braille editions of the Monitor, please do send those. We want
to spread our philosophy throughout the
world, and how better to do it than to
mail the Monitor to schools and libraries?
Please send your materials to NFB
of Denver Braille Book Project, 2232
South Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80210.
**Dies:
We have received the following letter
in the National Office from Michael and
Gloria Taylor of Utah:
Dear Federation Friends:
We are writing this note to inform by
way of Braille Monitor that our daughter
Aleesha Taylor, born on July 24, 1985,
returned to live with her Heavenly
Father on February 6, 1986, due to complications
resulting from a liver disease.
During her 6-1/2 months on earth
she brought much happiness to all who
knew her. Parents are Michael and
Gloria Taylor from Salt Lake City, Utah.
We'll see you all in Kansas City for the
1986 convention.
The Taylors

**Braille Business Cards:
Marilyn Baldwin, Secretary of the
Central Florida Chapter, sends us the
following item:

King Travel Services, located in Orlando,
Florida, is looking for an individual
or business that would be able to
produce Braille business cards. Interested
parties please contact Leni King,
President, King Travel Services, 4126
John Young Parkway, Orlando, Florida
32804; 305-297-1125.
**Posters:
Insight is the newsletter of the
National Federation of the Blind of
South Dakota. The following item appears
in the January, 1986, edition:

White Cane Day was celebrated in a new
way by the Black Hills Chapter of Rapid
City, South Dakota. They sponsored a
White Cane day poster contest in the
Rapid City elementary schools. Over 200
students participated. Cash prizes were
offered for first-place winners. Second
and third place winners received a
McDonald's coupon book for free ice
cream plus a certificate of participation
for entering the contest. In fact,
all students received certificates of
participation. Information was provided
to the teachers regarding the contest
plus data obtained from Questions Kids
Ask About Blindness. The contest was a
great success. Parents and students
were presented the ribbons, cash, and
coupon books, plus information about the
NFB of South Dakota, at an awards ceremony
held in the Rapid City Library. Following the awards posters were on
display in the Rapid City Library children's
section, andin store windows
around Rapid City.
**Merge:
Betty Kendall writes:

"On August 16, 1985, Omega Federation
and Mutual Federation of the Blind, the
two Cleveland Chapters of the NFB, had
their first meeting as the NFB of Cleveland.
The officers elected at that time
are as follows: Charles Davis, President;
Annette Anderson, Vice President;
Betty Kendall, Recording Secretary; Dock
King, Corresponding Secretary; Edna
Hood, Treasurer; Board Members Margaret
Knall, Vivien Simpkins, John Black, and
Knovilla Dews. The officers were installed
by our state president, Barbara
Pierce. At the state convention in
Springfield, Ohio, in October, 1985, we
received our charter for the NFB of
Cleveland."
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