                      THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN


                    Quarterly Magazine of the

                 CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND


Winter 1992               Volume XXXVI              Number 1

                          Published in
               Braille, Cassette, and Large Print

                   Robert J. Acosta, President
                         (818) 998-0044

                        EXECUTIVE OFFICES

                      8700 Reseda Boulevard
                            Suite 208
                      Northridge, CA 91324
                         (818) 349-2636
                         (800) 221-6359

                     SACRAMENTO AREA OFFICE 
                           Cid Urena 
                  1399 Sacramento Avenue Sp 25
                         Bryte, CA 95605
 
                         BAY AREA OFFICE
                          Donald Queen
                       648 Kearney Street
                      El Cerrito, CA 94530

                     EDITOR:  Maria E. Lopez
                     3925 East Sixth Street
                      Los Angeles, CA 90023
                         (213) 268-4526
  
     Please send all address changes to the Executive Offices in
Northridge. 
                   CCB PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE


     Sue Staley, Chairperson, 14144 Burbank Blvd. 4, Van Nuys, CA
91401 (818) 989-2137 

     David E. Weddle, 4058 Moore Street, Los Angeles, CA 90066

     Winifred Downing, 1587 38th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122

     Christopher Gray, 549 F Giuffrida Avenue, San Jose, CA 95123

     Cherrie Handy Pomerantz, 1344 North Martel Avenue, 102, Los
Angeles, CA 90046

     Cathy Schmitt, 167 Rockwood Street, Irvine, CA 92714

     Connie Skeen, 3250 Maple Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602


                            --------


Nonmembers are requested and members are invited to pay a yearly
subscription fee of $10 toward the printing of The Blind Californian.

If you or a friend would like to remember the California Council of the
Blind in your will, you can do so by employing the following language:

"I give, devise, and bequeath onto the California Council of the Blind, a
nonprofit charitable organization in California, the sum of $---- (or
----) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons."

If your wishes are more complex, you may have your attorney 
communicate with the Northridge office for other suggested forms. 
Thank you.
                        TABLE OF CONTENTS


Title                                                   Page


FROM THE EDITOR'S DISK By Maria E. Lopez . . . . . . . . . . . .1

REPORT FROM HEADQUARTERS
     By Robert J. Acosta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

CCB CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS  
     By Catherine Schmitt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE
     By Cherrie Handy Pomerantz  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

REPORT ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION
     By Winifred Downing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

THE STUDENTS' PERSPECTIVE--"The Blind Students of 
     California:  An Affiliate Moving Forward" 
     By Ron Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

TWO LETTERS CONCERNING PREJUDICE 
     TOWARD THE BLIND  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

BULLETIN BOARD By Winifred Downing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

SHOPPING FROM HOME A NEW WAY
     By Christopher Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

FROM THE WORKPLACE By Mitchell Pomerantz . . . . . . . . . . . 23

SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE CALIFORNIA
     COUNCIL OF THE BLIND--FALL 1991 
By Winifred Downing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

AROUND THE STATE AND NATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31



                     FROM THE EDITOR'S DISK 

                        By Maria E. Lopez


It is a real honor for me to be your new editor of The Blind Californian as
of this edition.  Although it is my first attempt at such a task, I am eager
to do my best.

In this edition, you will find an interesting new column written by the
Blind Students of California, the summarized version of the Fall
Convention resolutions, and of course, the traditional and informative
articles provided by the fine members of our organization.

My sincere thanks to Denise Weddle for her friendly assistance in my first
issue, to Winifred Downing for her genuine concern in summarizing the
resolutions, to Norma Schecter for her eagerness to help with the
proofreading work of the BC, to Cathy Schmitt for her willingness to
accept writing the Fall Convention report.  and to all persons who have
offered to help me in my new editing assignment.  Most likely I will be
taking advantage of your voluntary cooperation  to assist me in one way
or another.  
 
Please accept my apology for being a little late with my first issue of the
BC, but December has been a very busy month for me.  Keep in mind that
March 1, 1992, will be the deadline for sending articles to be published
in the  Spring edition of the BC.
  
In closing, I wish you a happy new year and offer you this thought: "It is
human to make mistakes, but when our eraser wears out before our
pencil, we are over-doing it."

                            --------


                    REPORT FROM HEADQUARTERS

                       By Robert J. Acosta


The Fall Convention of the California Council of the Blind was a great time
of celebration.  Due to our tireless efforts, we not only saved the
Orientation Center for the Blind in Albany from closure by the Department
of Rehabilitation, but we can also take most of the credit for saving a
great number of rehabilitation programs for the blind which are funded by
the Department.  

Congratulations to Coletta Davis and the great membership of the Orange
County Chapter for hosting a truly outstanding convention.  There will be
a full convention report to our readers later in this issue. 

To our East Los Angeles Chapter I sincerely thank for raising $1,300 at
its November 16 dance and party held for the CCB.  And surely, I also
thank very much our great San Francisco Chapter for its generous
donation of $11,000 to be used for our CCB projects.  The auction at the
end of the banquet was, of course, truly a success thanks to our
energetic, enthusiastic, and great auctioneer Obbie Schoeman.  

Let me take this opportunity to remind all chapter presidents to submit
names to the CCB office of members who have been in the organization
for over 25/50  years.  In this way, these members can receive a
recognition award for their long-time service to our worthwhile cause. It
is important that chapter presidents undertake this project to make sure
that no member is neglected and, as a result, deprived of this deserving
award.

It is my pleasure to announce the opening of the CCB store.  For many
years, the CCB has felt that we could provide products for the blind and
visually impaired in a more efficient and less expensive fashion.  Your
Master Card, Visa, Discover, and American Express will be accepted. 
Furthermore, the Council will be purchasing a talking terminal from the
Discover Card people which allows a blind person to verify credit cards. 
Should you wish more information about this equipment for your own
business, your own personal use, or about the store please call  our
offices in California at (800) 221-6359.  This number will be answered
daily between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.  In addition, the CCB office now has
voice mail on our regular number, (818) 349-2636, where you can reach
us on a 24-hour basis.  Our staff will respond by the next working day. 


At our Fall Convention the CCB passed many resolutions after learning of
the Stephen Hazzard story of which I will not go too deeply into details,
though I do firmly believe that Stephen deserves a due process hearing in
which he can confront his accusers.  As of this writing, November 29,
Stephen hasn't yet had such a hearing.  Sadly, this case has developed
based on the threats made by a State Humane Officer to go to press
falsely alleging mistreatment to guide dogs, and, consequently, Guide
Dogs for the Blind has taken Stephen's guide dog Starky and kept it away
from Stephen since September 6, 1991.  Certainly, it is unfortunate that
every blind person who uses a guide dog may fall prey to members of the
public who are willing to make wild allegations to the guide dog schools
regarding the treatment of guide dogs.  I sincerely hope the great
hesitation to assist Stephen made by Guide Dogs for the Blind is not an
example of what guide dog users can expect from their schools.

Before concluding my report, let me inform you of our Fall Convention
elections for Second Vice President, Secretary, and four members of the
Board of Directors:  Don Queen was re-elected Second Vice President,
Connie Schoeman was elected Secretary, Coletta Davis and Chris Gray
were re-elected to their board positions, Cathe Skivers from our Bay View
Chapter and Roger Petersen from our Silicon Valley Chapter were elected
to their first term. Congratulations to all candidates who participated in
the elections.

I sincerely hope that you and yours will enjoy a prosperous and happy
New Year.  This is a great time for rejoicing by the outstanding
membership of the California Council of the Blind.  We saw a problem and
we solved it.      

                            --------


                    CCB CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

                      by Catherine Schmitt


"A Tribute to the Orientation Center for the Blind" was the theme for CCB
Fall Convention held November 7-10, 1991 in Irvine, California.  Energy
was high as CCB members and visitors attended special interest meetings
and luncheons which were once again a success.  

Our President Bob Acosta opened the first session of the convention on
Friday afternoon by dedicating the convention as a "Tribute to the
Orientation Center for the Blind".  Councilwoman Paula Werner from the
City of Irvine welcomed the CCB to Irvine on behalf of the city.   Ms.
Werner surprised the CCB by proclaiming November 6-13, 1991 as
"California Council of the Blind Week."

Our next convention speaker was Cathleen Camacho, Assistant Secretary
of Program and Fiscal Affairs, Health and Welfare.  She spoke on the
program services for the blind and visually impaired provided by the state
and the goals of the Department of Rehabilitation.  She also said that it
is important to keep lines of communication open.  

The attention and concern of those attending the convention was aroused
by our President Bob Acosta as he reported on the Stephen Hazzard story. 
He questioned the amount of protection that a guide dog user has over his
dog and brought into light the dog ownership issue.  Bob then introduced
our next speaker Linda Gordon, a representative from the Animal
Regulations Department for the city of Los Angeles.  Ms. Gordon
promised to support any and all efforts to ensure that the sight impaired
with guide dogs aren't maligned in any manner through the misuse of
authority, and offered any assistance to the council in the above case
personally and professionally.  

The convention goers' attention was then changed to the saving of the
Orientation Center for the Blind as Allen Jenkins gave a history of the
programs and services for the blind up to the present with OCB.  He
stated that the purposes of OCB are to teach alternative methods other
than visual ones so that individuals can function in society and to develop
self respect and the knowledge that they can contribute to society.  He
said that he believes that the blind are gradually moving from the "age of
iquality" to the "age of opportunity."  

The evening session opened with a letter of appreciation for President Bob
Acosta and a gavel from the Orange County Chapter CCB.  Letters of
appreciation were also presented to Barbara Parker and Marni Alvino who
have devoted so much time and energy to our organization.  

The Credentials Committee then gave its report.  The last item Friday
evening was the elections for Second Vice President, Secretary, and four
members to the CCB Board of Directors.  

Saturday's session began with "ACB Around the Nation" presented by
Dick Seifert who encouraged CCB members to broaden their view with
the idea of "ACB Around the World."  He also gave a full annual report on
the ACB's involvement in international public relations, employment,
transportation programs, and services. 
 
John Lopez spoke on the increasing rate of older citizens who have low
vision which is expected to double by the end of the century.  He stated
that only the smallest efforts are being made to help these people.  He
proposed that CCB strike out with a new initiative, an idea of services for
the aging blind population of our state and nation.  

Discover Card Account Representative Susanna Swaydan presented the
package of values that Discover can offer the consumer.  She also said
that it is the third largest card in the nation today and has world-wide
acceptability.  Discover decided to further the cause of mainstreaming the
visually impaired into the workplace by a one-of-a-kind credit card
transaction terminal fitted with a voice synthesizer. 

The next speaker on the program was Wanda Marshall, Executive Director
of the Braille Institute in Orange County.  She reported on the programs
and services of Braille Institute and its role in assisting the student to
become job ready and how other programs in the community can assist
in the employment process.  Services are also brought to the community
to senior centers and aids are provided in the home in a child's early years
of development.  

David Loux, Field Representative from Seeing Eye Inc. addressed the
audience with the story of Seeing Eye Inc.'s founder Morris Frank and his
seeing eye dog Buddy.  Mr. Loux stated that the school is in the process
of expanding its services.  After he explained the school's work and goals
he ended with a quote from Morris Frank:  "My dog guides me only in part
because of the training, only in part because we both know the routine;
he guides me because of--step by step, day by day--the relationship that
we share one to another." 

The Department of Rehabilitation update was done by Manuel Urena,
Program Manager, Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted, who
reported that after a close call early this fall, all the programs for the blind
managed to remain intact for another year, with a few cuts in some
programs.  He also stated that the Department's Advisory Committee will
consist of nine members with two slots allocated to the CCB. Mr. Urena
also reported that the Department is now divided into the following four
divisions:  Field, Administrative, Independent Living Services, and
Habilitation.   

 The banquet had a joyous atmosphere and was very well attended by the
members and friends of the CCB.  Mr. Tom Mead, Legislative Aide to
Senator Ed Royce,  presented a proclamation to our President Bob Acosta
on behalf of the Senator and the California State Senate.  This
proclamation, adopted by the Senate October 7, 1991, commends the
Council for the vital role that it has played in improving the quality of life
of those blind and visually impaired individuals in California.  Highlights of
the banquet included the recognition of the 24 scholarship recipients, and
the recognition of the 25- and 50-year members of CCB.  After the
closing of the banquet, Obbie Schoeman chaired the final event of
Saturday's session with an auction to raise money for the California
Ccouncil of the Blind.

To begin Sunday's session, two new chapters of the CCB were formally
recognized at this convention, the High Desert Chapter and the Hemit
Chapter.

Sharlene Wills spoke on her trip to Israel where she received a guide dog
at Seeing Eye Inc. of Israel.  She also spoke of the pressure of being at a
guide dog school in a foreign country and of knowing of the little
assistance available to her from the school once she returned to the
States.  Although the public in Israel is a little hesitant with respect to
accepting dog guides, Seeing Eye Inc. of Israel has helped to increase
awareness and acceptance of the dog guides in public places, but they
still have a way to go in many parts of the country.  

The national legislation of concern to the blind was presented by Durward
McDaniel, member, Board of Directors of the American Council of the
Blind.  He spoke in regard to the authorization of Rehabilitation and
pointed out that a comparison study during 1978-1988 showed that the
appropriations allocated by the Congress doubled over for all
Rehabilitation services, while the number of those who had benefited from
those services had declined. In the area of employment, Mr. McDaniel
said that the Reauthorization of Service Transportation Systems Act,
which permits vending machines on federal property, is hung up in
committee; but the language of the bill is protected.  There were also
mentions of the SSI Gainful Employment Exemption.  

For an update on the resolutions passed during the convention, please see
that particular section in the BC.  

                            --------


                      OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE 

                   By Sherrie Handy Pomerantz


Welcome to 1992.  As I'm sure you've heard, GDUC had a lot going on
at CCB's Fall convention.  

All amendments submitted by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee
were accepted.  Elections were held, and the new additions to your GDUC
Board include: Dorris Fisher as Treasurer (replacing Margie
Donovan-Johnson), Brenda Osborne as a Director (replacing Joanne
Pomerantz), and Charleen Wills as a Director (replacing Stan Greenberg). 
Those re-elected include: Ruthann Acosta as First Vice President, Lee
Morton as Secretary. Leslie Thom as Second Vice President, and myself
as your President.  

Our guest speaker this fall was David Loux, Field Representative of Seeing
Eye.  We also heard from all three California's guide dog schools at our
luncheon.  GDUC sponsored five resolutions this fall, which you will find
reprinted elsewhere in this issue of the BC.  

Now we come to a very important item, the case of Mr. Steven Hazzard. 
Mr. Hazzard, a successful guide dog user for over 11 years, is currently
without his dog.  As a result of complaints from misinformed members of
the public, Guide Dogs for the Blind has deemed it necessary to take
away Mr. Hazzard's dog which has been in the school's possession since
September 6 of this year.  Thus, a hearing will be held in late December
by Guide Dogs for the Blind on this matter.  The California Council and
GDUC have worked very closely with Mr. Hazzard and assisted him in
obtaining the services of an attorney.  It is our belief that Mr. Hazzard's
situation is one that could happen to any guide dog user, and we believe
that it is our responsibility to support the rights of guide dog users to
move freely and interact appropriately without fear of harassment or
interference from the misinformed public.  During the convention Council
members heard from Mr. Hazzard's attorney and a representative of
Animal Control for the City of Los Angeles.  

Mr. Hazzard's situation has made many of us realize just how necessary
it is to be knowledgeable about the law pertaining to guide dog users.  It
has made us aware of the importance of ownership (Mr. Hazzard does not
own his dog), the need to establish a grievance and appeals procedure,
and the need to provide the general public with correct information to
prevent situations like Mr. Hazzard's from occurring in the future.

GDUC and the Council have been meeting with all three California schools
as well as the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind  throughout the
year.  Our first goal was to create a forum where issues could be freely
discussed and solutions developed which would be acceptable to
everyone at the table.  We are now working together to develop mutually
acceptable grievance and appeals procedures.  We are also discussing
more reasonable language for school contracts and ownership reflecting
respect and dignity for guide dog users as well as the school's faith in the
ability of its graduates to fulfill their roles as responsible guide dog users. 


I'd like to announce at this time that GDUC will be publishing a
newsletter!  We are planning on publishing it twice yearly on cassette,
due to the expense of braille.  In our first issue, we plan to address the
fact that many of you have not had the opportunity to read your school's
contract, so we will read all contracts on tape for your reference.  We will
also insert those sections of the law which may be of interest in
surrounding areas such as home training, the State Board of Guide Dogs,
and more.  I know this will be heavy going; but, thanks to Margie
Donovan-Johnson's generous donation of a Handi-Cassette, we can now
tone index and record on four tracks so that you can read the information
you need without reading the whole thing.  An editor will soon be
appointed and a format established for continuing issues of our 
newsletter.  

Guide Dog Users of California is very much alive and active in serving the
interests of its members.  This year, our membership has grown from 25
to well over 50 members and our treasury from $200 to $2000--thanks
to Ruthann Acosta for her efforts on our behalf with FAB and also to
Margie Donovan-Johnson for her sales. Margie has developed an on-going
fund-raiser, selling products such as folding water bowls, raincoats, beds,
and toys for our dogs.  Contact Margie at 415-961-1880 or write to her
at 37 B Annie Laurie, Mountainview, CA 94043.

I am looking forward to an active and productive year working in your
behalf and hoping to see many more of you in Sacramento this May.  

                            --------


                  REPORT ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION

                       By Winifred Downing


In the waning days of the 1991 Congressional session, the Targeted Jobs
Tax Credits were extended for six months--January through June, 1992. 
In January, however, hearings will be held concerning this and other
temporary and stop-gap measures.  The TJTC legislation permits income
tax credits to employers who extend jobs to the disabled.  The actual
benefits to specific disability groups are probably hard to establish, but
the program is a step in the right direction.

Though bills concerning Title VII, Part C, which would have provided
additional money to fund programs for training in skills of daily living for
older persons who experience sight loss, were introduced in both the
House and Senate, it is now clear that action on this matter will be
postponed for inclusion in the reauthorization of the rehabilitation act
which must occur in 1992.  Major Owens conducted hearings concerning
the rehabilitation act during the last several months.  

The passage of the Civil Rights Act has applications for the disabled since
they are now assured of jury trials and monetary damages if employers
are found to have practiced discrimination with "malice or reckless
indifference to the rights of the disabled."  The section of the Americans
with  Disabilities Act concerning employment goes into effect for
employers of more than 25 persons in July, 1992, and for employers of
15 or more in July, 1994.  

Along with these encouraging developments comes disappointment over
the failure to find enough sponsors for the Braille Literacy Week resolution
to accomplish its passage.  Elsewhere in this issue of the BC appears our
resolution on this subject.  Sorry as we are for our failure this time, we
know that the blind, and especially the advocates of braille, are stubborn
and will be back with another effort next year.

                            --------


                    THE STUDENTS' PERSPECTIVE

 "The Blind Students of California: An Affiliate Moving Forward"

                          by Ron Brooks


This is the inaugural article of a new feature, which will appear in every
issue of the BC.  Its purpose will be to explore various issues of
importance to blind and visually impaired students in the CCB.  All the
contributors to this feature will be blind or visually impaired students.  The
focus of this first article is to provide the reader a thumbnail sketch of the
development and activities of the Blind Students of California (BSC), a
special interest affiliate of the CCB, and to outline several future plans of
the BSC.

Following the 1982 CCB Fall Convention, several students voiced to the
CCB Board of Directors their desire to begin a student group.  These
students felt that their group would not only serve as a forum to address
students' concerns but would also give blind and visually impaired
students an opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills
which would be of benefit to the CCB as well as to the student group
itself.  The CCB Board agreed, and therefore the BSC was formed almost
immediately.

Over the past nine years, the BSC has worked primarily through the
drafting of resolutions at conventions to improve reader services and
accessibility of educational technology.  To date, the BSC's largest
victories have come with the 1991 passage of AB1021, the Reader
Services Bill.  This bill raised by 50 per cent the amount of reader services
available to each blind or visually impaired student attending California
universities.  It also provides blind students more flexibility to meet
readers at mutually beneficial times and at convenient locations.  In short,
this bill has given blind students a more "user-friendly" and "user-
controlled" reader service program.  In addition to this victory, the BSC
was very involved in the drafting and the support of AB1019 which calls
for tighter control on Disabled Student Services funds, moneys which
have, on occasion, been illegally diverted into programs for non-disabled
students.  This particular bill has not yet been passed, but its future is still
hopeful.

The victories named above along with the many young members of the
CCB who have had a positive impact through their participation in BSC are
note-worthy.  Yet, there is much more that the BSC can do to improve
itself organizationally and to better programs and services for blind
students.  Kenneth Frasse, the newly elected President of the BSC, has
identified several short- and long-term goals for the organization which are
summarized below.

Organizationally, Frasse would like to see the BSC continue recruiting new
members.  Because of the high turn-over in any student organization,
recruitment of new members is always important.  In addition to
recruitment, the BSC will be focusing on the development of new fund-
raising programs including the writing of grants, the development of
innovative convention-based fund-raising projects and one or two annual
non-convention-based fund-raising projects.  Finally, the BSC will be
developing, within the next year, promotional material to be distributed to
local affiliates, university campuses, and high schools, as well as a BSC
newsletter.

In terms of services and programs benefiting blind students, Frasse and
the new BSC Board are essentially working on three projects:  first, the
Board and members of the BSC will continue to draft resolutions on issues
of importance to blind students including technology and campus-based
support services; second, the BSC will continue to cultivate better
working relations with the CCB and its special interest affiliates.  These
relationships will make the BSC stronger and its work more successful;
third,  Frasse is attempting to develop a data base to track the educational
progress and the life outcome of blind and visually  impaired students
using services in California.  Frasse believes that the best way to measure
the success and equity of state programs is through the measurement of
their outcome.  In addition, a data base of this magnitude could serve as
a source of information for local, state, and federal agencies that serve
the blind--particularly blind students.  This last goal is by far the most
ambitious.  Frasse believes that it is potentially the most beneficial for the
blind of this state but believes it is attainable.  Most certainly, the former
two are reachable.  Frasse and his Board believe that the BSC will become
noticeably more influential and important to blind students very, very
soon.  

                            --------


        TWO LETTERS CONCERNING PREJUDICE TOWARD THE BLIND


The Blind Californian has received copies of two letters which are self-
explanatory.  The first letter is written by Russell Kirbey, Executive
Director of Braille Institute, to William Tainter, Director of the State
Department of Rehabilitation.  Mr. Kirbey not only attacks the Orientation
Center for the Blind, but he also questions the motives of the California
Council of the Blind for its support of AB550, which would place a
substantial number of blind persons on the Boards of Directors of those
private agencies for the blind that receive funding from the State
Department of Rehabilitation. 

The second letter is from Vincent Calderon, spokesperson for a number
of students at Braille Institute, questioning those practices by this agency
which seem to be patronizing and condescending to blind people. 
                              * * *

Braille Institute
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90029-3594

August 23, 1991

William Tainter, Director
California Department of Rehabilitation
Central Office
830 K Street Mall
Sacramento, California 95814


Dear Mr. Tainter:

Addressing the problem of reducing our state's level of rehabilitation and
social services poses a difficult challenge.  We sympathize with Governor
Wilson, our legislature, you and your staff, realizing that your required
actions will generate a great deal of negative pressure from many sources.

We have been advised that two organizations in our state, the National
Federation of the Blind of California (NFBC) and the California Council of
the Blind (CCB) are already mounting campaigns to fight the announced
closure of the state-run Orientation (rehabilitation) Center in Albany,
California.  Through Assembly Bill 550 authored by Sam Farr, these two
organizations are also attempting to control the privately managed
rehabilitation facilities in our state.

All too often far-reaching decisions that affect the total blind population
are based on quieting the militant voices of a few who claim to represent
the majority.

May I share with you the benefit of my nearly three decades of
professional experience in this field of human services.  I would hope that
the following questions could addressed in seeking solutions to our state's
funding reductions:  


     1.  How many of those trainees who completed readjustment
training at the Orientation Center are leading productive lives?
     2.  How many are receiving Supplemental Security Income?
     3.  How many are gainfully employed? 
     4.  How many have continued their readjustment training at other
private or state funded centers after completing training at the Orientation
Center?  
     5.  What is the cost per individual serviced at the Orientation
Center?   6.  Is it less expensive to provide this service through our
privately managed readjustment facilities throughout the state? 
     7.  Would it be more efficient to provide these services near the
home of the service recipient?  
     8.  Why would our state locate only one residential readjustment
center in the northern portion of the state when over sixty percent (60%)
of the service recipients reside in the ten (10) southern most counties?  
     9.  Are those organizations that solicit funds for service from either
our state or private sector publishing and distributing annual reports and
audited financial statements?  
     10.  Are these reports available to the general public upon request?


The two consumer organizations "of" the blind do not represent the
majority opinion.  Unfortunately the National Federation of the Blind is
usually out of phase with the entire network of organizations providing
services for those who have lost their sight.  Their leadership takes pride
in being militant in order to appeal to a small number of blind throughout
our nation who would enjoy their cause.  Fewer than ten percent (10%)
of our nation's blind population are members of these organizations.  Why
don't these organizations publish and distribute an annual report and
audited financial statements? 

I hope that these questions serve to help you and our state's leadership
in determining the best manner to direct our state's limited resources. 
You are forced into making difficult decisions that affect us all.  May I
extend my personal invitation to have you visit and tour Braille Institute
and see firsthand what is being accomplished for those who lose the gift
of sight.

Sincerely,
Russell W. Kirbey
Executive Director 
                              * * *

Vincent Calderon, Spokesperson
Concerned Students of Braille
462 North Rimhurst Avenue
Covina, CA 91724

October 28, 1991

Russell W. Kirbey, Executive Director
Braille Institute, Incorporated
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029


Dear Mr. Kirbey:

We appreciated the meetings you conducted in August to answer the
questions raised by our letter to Frank Mallory.  We sincerely believe that
Braille Institute offers many programs and activities that are beneficial to
blind individuals in Southern California.  You highlighted those positive
aspects of Braille Institute in an admirable fashion.  However, there were
many disturbing implications and outright contradictions in your
statements as well.  

At one of those meetings in August, for example, you stated, "Braille
Institute is first and foremost the Braille Press.  Secondly, we are a library. 
And thirdly, we are an educational service organization."  These priorities,
however, are just the opposite of those setforth in the Articles of
Incorporation of Braille Institute.  "The specific and primary purposes for
which this Corporation is formed are to operate and maintain an institution
for the education and training of the blind."

Perhaps it was your own confusion about those primary purposes that
created the alleged mis-information you accused us of.

It was indeed ironic of you to insist that the programs of Braille Institute
are aimed at preparing blind people for college and/or employment.  When
the average age of the student population at Los Angeles Braille Institute
is over 59 years, we have to question the advisability of training 59-year-
olds for college and employment at an age when most of them would be
contemplating retirement.  In light of your statements to us, then, we can
only speculate that either you are unaware of the age of the students at
Braille Institute or that you are mis-informed about what the real objective
of the programs of Braille Institute are. 

You were very quick to take credit for the fact that Braille Institute had
placed 95 people in gainful employment during the current year.  That's
less then two people per week--no major achievement by anyone's
standards.  In addition to that, most of those placements were in jobs that
paid far below average wages and then many were only part-time.  You
boasted that Braille Institute employs blind people at a rate 32 times
higher than the prevalent rate for blindness in the community.  And yet,
less than 10 per cent of the employees at Braille Institute of Los Angeles
are blind or visually impaired, and of those who have been hired, several
have worked for more than 15 years with absolutely no promotion or
advancement.  Many job descriptions have been written in a mean-spirited
way to deliberately exclude blind applicants:  requiring a driver's license,
for example.  That is deplorable.

According to you, "The ADA is just going to create a lot of problems for
us," but it is our belief that with the passage of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, a new era has begun for persons with disabilities.  It is
not an era, certainly, in which all of us will be guaranteed jobs.  But it is
an era in which persons with disabilities cannot be legally excluded from
jobs (for which they are otherwise qualified) simply because they have a
disabling condition.  It is also an era in which employers will be required
to make "reasonable accommodations" by modifying workstations to
match the skills of qualified disabled persons.

This new legislation will remove those invisible and arbitrary barriers to
employment for us and others with disabilities.  We can only wonder how
a man who has devoted 27 years of his life to working with blind people
could perceive such promising legislation as a problem.  We must wonder,
too, about your fitness to lead this agency into this era of equality and
opportunity for all persons with disabilities.

Many statements that you made during those meetings in August point
out the fact that you do not consider blind people to be members of a
larger minority that has been discriminated against throughout history. 
How strange that the Congress of the United States would recognize
something that seems to have escaped you in your 27 years in the field. 


The image that you projected during those meetings in August was that
of an administration that is both insensitive and autocratic.  It is an
administration that seeks to deny the basic constitutional rights of
freedom of speech and assembly.  It is an administration that generates
an atmosphere of dependency and paranoia that totally belies a
commitment to growth and independence for blind students.  It is an
atmosphere that encourages students to develop a childlike dependency
upon staff and others, where older blind adults are often spoken to with
an air of officious condescension as if they have no memory and no sense
of who they are or where they are going.  And little of the curriculum at
Braille Institute is designed for the young, the ambitious, the well-adjusted
blind.

We agree that you and your top administrators have all had experiences
that may give you a vicarious understanding of what it means to live with
blindness.  But it is obvious from statements you made at those meetings
in August that you consider blindness something to be pitied, and blind
people something less than adequate.  Our goal, however, is to live with
blindness with dignity, to be proud of what we are and to have faith in
our abilities.  In pursuit of that goal, Mr. Kirbey, we don't need your
sympathy; we simply need your respect.

Sincerely,
Vincent Calderon, Spokesperson

cc:  Frank Mallory, Les Stocker, James Chadbourne

                            --------


                         BULLETIN BOARD

                       By Winifred Downing


From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine, October, 1991: Enews U.S.A. sells
the Weather Message WF-2000, a unique device which forecasts weather
conditions within a 12-mile radius and an 8-hour time span.  Its clear
voice announces weather conditions according to changes in atmospheric
pressure.  It weighs 12 ounces, operates with two dry cell batteries, and
also tells the time.  Send  a check for $49.00 to Enews U.S.A., 41 E.
Hintz Road, Wheeling, IL  60090; 1-800-878-3639. 

A book is available containing the rules for all braille contractions along
with numerous examples.  The rules are in conformity with the Braille
Authority of North America and constitute a useful reference for teachers
and students.  Send $2.00 to the Massachusetts Association for the
Blind, 200 Ivy  Street, Brookline, MA  02146. 

A Resource Guide to Computer Access for Visually Impaired People is
available in large print or on 4-track, tone-indexed cassette.   The guide
lists information on more than 150 companies which sell specialized
devices for the blind or visually impaired.  Send a check for $15.00,
specifying desired format, to Tri Visual Services, P.O. Box 221310,
Sacramento, CA  95822. 

A 32-page, international cookbook featuring low-fat dishes is available in
braille or large print.  Send $3.95 to No Limits, Inc., 2915 W. Fitch,
Chicago, IL 60645; 312-465-8569. 

From Quikscrybe: The ABC's of Word Perfect 5.1 is available in six braille
volumes.  It presents in 70 lessons all aspects of the program including
preparing envelopes and labels and report writing.  Send a check for
$80.00  to QuikScrybe, 14144 Burbank Boulevard, No. 4, Van Nuys, CA 
91401; 818-989-2137.

From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine, November, 1991: the Al-Anon Family
Group has more than 70 books, booklets, and pamphlets  available in
braille, large print, or cassette.   (There is a charge for some items.) 
Contact your cooperating braille or talkingbook library or Al-Anon Family
Group Headquarters, P.O. Box 862, Midtown Station, New York, NY 
10018-0862; 212-302-7240. 
     A large print calendar for  1992 that comes with a bold-tip pen is
available for $12.50 from Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 E. 101st St., P.O.
Box 1988, Cleveland, OH  44106.  Free braille calendars are available
from the Braille Institute, Press Department c/o Noel Navarro, 741 N.
Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90029; and pocket braille calendars can be
obtained without charge from the American Brotherhood for the Blind,
18440 Oxnard St., Tarzana, CA  91356.
 
From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine, December, 1991: Recorded
Periodicals provides cassette editions of such popular magazines as
Computerworld, Family Circle, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, and Scientific
American.  Prices range from $18-35 a year, depending on the number of
issues.  For more information, write to Recorded Periodicals, Associated
Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut  St., Philadelphia, PA  19107; 215-
627-0600 Ext. 208.   

From Lifeprints, Fall, 1991: "The World at Large" is a large-type weekly
magazine which recently appeared on newsstands in New York and other
major cities.  It has 40 pages of news, special features, and crossword
puzzles.  The price is $2.65 per issue, $65 annual rate, or $37 semiannual
subscription.  Contact "The World at Large" at P.O. Box 190330,
Brooklyn, NY  11219.

Home Baked Dreams is a book about blind men and women in business
for themselves.  It contains 33 interviews with people who represent a
wide variety of business ventures and offers helpful suggestions and
resources.  It is available in regular print or 2 4-track cassettes in an
attractive album.  Send $22 to Janiece Betker, 1886 29th Ave., N.W.,
New Brighton, MN  55112; 612-631-2909.

Braille International, Inc., formerly Triformation Braille Services, has an 84-
page catalog listing fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children
which were originally produced in braille for the National Library Service
but which are also available for individuals to purchase.  Write for more
information to Braille International, Inc., 3142 S.E. Jay St., Stuart, FL
34997; 407-286-8366.  

From Dialogue, Fall, 1991: The National Rehabilitation Information Center
(NARIC) designs resource guides to introduce readers to organizations,
resources, books, and periodicals pertaining to a specific disability or
topic.  There is no charge for the materials.  Write to NARIC, 8455
Colesville Road, Suite 935, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319; 301-588-
9284. 

Resources for Rehabilitation announces a series of materials in 18-point
print.  Pamphlets are available dealing with hearing loss, arthritis, strokes,
diabetes, and low vision.  Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to
Resources in Rehabilitation, 33 Bedford St., Suite 19A, Lexington, MA 
02173. 

Send material for this column to Winifred Downing, 1587 38th Avenue,
San Francisco, CA  94122. 

                            --------


                  SHOPPING FROM HOME A NEW WAY

                       By Christopher Gray


Remember your last State convention?  Remember your last chapter
picnic, dinner, or major fund-raising activity?  Try to bring back that
feeling of irresistible, grinding fatigue you had as you walked through your
front door when it was all over.  Conjure up--and I'll bet it won't be hard--
the overwhelming feeling of relief you had just thinking of your sofa, or
maybe the idea of twelve to fifteen hours of uninterrupted, peaceful  sleep
in your bed.  Does any of this sound familiar?  

Would you believe me if I told you that after my last convention I came
crawling home, sat down for five or ten minutes, and then went on a
major shopping expedition?  It's true; I swear it on a 10-foot high stack
of Blind Californians!  Honest!  Well, OK; so maybe "expedition" is a bit
of an exaggeration.  

My shopping wasn't the typical "mall"ing experience that you may be
imagining: that body jarring, cacophonous, mind numbing experience at
the local shopping center filled with all the same stores as everywhere
else; smelling of rancid, greasy food; children clamoring for attention and
money; Hari Krishna impostors grasping for your wallet or selling dead
flowers as if they were 100-year papal indulgences from purgatory.  

Not a bit of it!  My shopping was done from one chair near an open
window with a quiet refreshing fan in the comfort and pleasant
surroundings of--thank all things blessed--my own home.  I shop with my
personal computer.  The selection is often more abundant and predictable
than in whole shopping malls.  My specific knowledge of what I'm buying
is almost always far superior from my online malls than the mysteriously
wrapped packages and inaccurate information from sales clerks.  And the
company?  Well, surely I need say no more!  

     In my electronic mall, everything is always well organized and in its
proper place.  I am known in many stores and my credit card is on file so
I don't have to supply numbers, dates, and other trivial information in
order to transact business.  There are many online stores, and the one
we're about to visit is similar to many others.  

Upon entering the store, one is greeted with a quote of the day.  Today
it reads:  "The most effective kind of education is that a child should play
amongst lovely things."--PLATO.  

Once in the mall, one can go many places.  For this trip, I thought I'd
show you the department store.  Other places we won't visit include the
bargain basement, customer service booth, product research center, or
catalog store.  

Once in the department store, there are still lots of choices to be made. 
Here is a list to give you an idea of what this particular store contains.

                        DEPARTMENT STORE

1) Major Appliances, 2) Small Kitchen Appliances, 3) Small Household
Appliances, 4) Personal Care & Health Items, 5) Tools & Hardware, 6)
Phones & Answering Machines, 7) Home & Office Products, 8)
Computers, 9) Software/Computer Peripherals, 10) Home Stereos, 11)
Portable & Personal Stereos, 12) Car Audio & Car Electronics, 13)
Televisions, 14) Video Equipment, 15) Video Add-Ons & Accessories, 16)
Photographic Equipment, 17) Optical Equipment, 18) Sporting & Camping
Equipment, 19) Exercise Equipment

Now granted, this is a computerized store.  You do have to select the
item you want by specifying its number.  But, just check out that list. 
Isn't it pretty straightforward?  The trick is to keep narrowing down the
list until you find what you're wishing to buy.  So, to carry on with the
example, imagine that you select "small kitchen appliances".  You would
see the following.

                    SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES

1) Bread Makers, 2) Blenders, 3) Coffee/Espresso Makers, 4) Coffee
Mills/Grinders, 5) Coffee Makers, 6) Can Openers, 7) Electric Deep Fryers,
8) Electric Frying Pans, 9) Electric Knives & Sharpeners, 10) Electric
Portable Cooktops, 11) Food Processors, 12) Food Slicers, 13) Ice Cream
Makers, 14) Juicers, 15) Microwave Accessories, 16) Microwaves, 17)
Mixers, 18) Popcorn Poppers, 19) Pasta Makers.

To further narrow the selections, imagine that you wish to purchase a
bread maker.  Selections of bread makers can be seen by choosing
Selection 1 from the previous menu.  At this point, the questions you are
asked can change depending on the type of product being purchased. 
You must always specify the state to which you want the merchandise
shipped, and you can specify manufacturer and price range.  Ultimately
though, you get down to the actual list of products.  In this case, I
requested shipment to California for all units at any price.  How many
bread makers can there be after all?  

Bread makers                     Page  1 of  1

          Model          List $  Your $  Size

Manufacturer: PANASONIC
  1 G-SDBT55P             open    212.95 1-1/2 LB
  2 SDBT55P               259.00  205.44 1-1/2 LB
  3 SDBT6P                429.95  322.06 1-1/2 LB
  4 HBB201                open    247.43 1-1/2 LB
  5 G-SDBT55P             open    212.95 1-1/2 LB
  6 SDBT55P               259.00  205.44 1-1/2 LB
  7 SDBT6P                429.95  322.06 1-1/2 LB
 
Manufacturer: REGAL
  8 K6772                 349.95  206.52 1 Pound
 
Manufacturer: SANYO
  9 SBM10                 349.95  207.16 1 Pound

Finally, a description for any or all of the models listed can be requested. 
Here are two sample descriptions.

--------------------------Bread makers  REGAL  K6772--------------------------
List$:  349.95  Our$:  197.02  SAVE:  152.93  W/S&H:  206.52
Color Sur:    .00 Colors:

Automatic Electric Breadmaker, hot, fresh bread for breakfast, lunch or
dinner. Makes bread in 3 easy steps 1-measure ingredients, 2-push button
& 3-remove bread. Electronic Microprocessor is pre-programmed to mix,
knead, allow dough to rise and bake at the precise time. Digital timer
automatically displays the time left in the cycle. Baking time 3 hours,
makes a variety of bread, including whole grain, raisin, fruit & nut, and
more all in the same pan. Also prepares various doughs****ONE year
limited warranty****
 
--------------------------Bread makers  SANYO  SBM10--------------------------
List$:  349.95  Our$:  195.66  SAVE:  154.29  W/S&H:  207.16
Color Sur:    .00 Colors:
Automatic Bread Maker. Features microcomputer controls for mixing,
kneading, rising and baking. Has timer function with delayed start and
see-through glass lid. Also features ventilation system to keep bread soft
and fresh and audible beep which sounds when it's time to add extra
ingredients. Has baking capacity of 1 loaf and baking time of 3 hours
(kneading - rising - baking)/dough making time of 1 hour/15 min. 1-yr
warranty. Dim: 11-5/8" x 9-5/8" x 14" 

For me, this is the way to shop!   It can save money, and I particularly
appreciate the descriptions and comparisons that I get when checking
each item.  It does use computers; and yes, it is based on new techy stuff
that is thought to be unfriendly and unhelpful by many people.  I hope you
have seen how easy it is though to use such a service.  

                            --------


                       FROM THE WORKPLACE

                 "CEA Employment Survey Results"

                      By Mitchell Pomerantz


This is the first of two columns dealing with the results of the
Employment Survey developed by the Committee on Employment
Assistance (CEA).  This column will provide information obtained from
most of the questions asked while the follow-up article will address many
of the comments offered and answer some of the issues raised by
respondents. 

Committee members want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
took the time and effort to participate in our survey. Although the number
of responses was less than expected, some very interesting and possibly
significant conclusions may be drawn from the information provided.  
 
The Employment Survey was initially published in the Spring 1991, issue
of The Blind Californian and subsequently sent in large print or cassette
to those on the BC mailing list.  Ninety-five surveys were ultimately
returned. 
 
The first four questions provided important demographic information. 
Responses by age group and sex were as follows:  17 and under, 2
(2.1%); 18-24, 6 (6.3%); 25-34, 7 (7.4%); 35-44, 30 (31.6%); 45-54,
20 (21.0%); 55-64, 12 (12.6%); 65 and over, 13 (13.7%); no indication,
5 (5.3%). A total of 37 (39.0%) were male, 54 (56.8%) were female, and
4 (4.2%) did not specify. 

Regarding visual acuity of respondents:  40 (41.7%) were totally blind,
46 (47.9%) were legally blind, 9 (9.4%) were visually impaired, and 1
(1.0%) did not indicate (one person checked both blind and legally blind
categories). 
 
Most respondents resided in either an urban, 41 (43.2%), or a suburban
area, 42 (44.2%). Only 11 (11.6%) lived in a rural area (one did not
specify). 

The cane was favored as the primary mobility aid by 56 respondents, a
guide dog by 21, "other" by 16, with 6 not stating  (four respondents
checked more than one category as a primary mobility aid).  Some 
examples:  another person 1; glasses 2; cane in unfamiliar areas or at
night 3; none needed 9. 

Regarding the means of travel between home and work/school:  52 took
the bus, 4 used the train, 13 were in car pools, 30 relied on some other
form of transport, and 2 did not respond.  Based on the number of
responses to this question, a substantial number of participants answered
regardless of whether work or school was a primary travel objective. 
Examples of "other" transportation alternatives:  14 used hired driver or
private car--not including those in car pools (typically driven by spouse or
other family member); 9 traveled on foot; and 1 drove his/her own car. 
Average length of commute (80 responses):  30 minutes or less, 36
(45.0%); 30 minutes to one hour, 29 (36.3%); and 15 (18.7%), more
than one hour (including three who commute in excess of two hours each
way).

Questions five through nine dealt with specific employment-related issues
including:  employment status, area of   employment (public/private
sector), income level, and type of work performed.  A total of 55
respondents (57.9%) were employed including nine who were self
employed (five respondents worked two jobs).  

Additionally, several persons in the unemployed category stated that they
previously worked but had now retired.  Thirty-two individuals were
employed in the public sector, 27 in the private sector (one did not
specify). 
 
Income level among respondents (excluding SSI or other   benefits): 
under $5,000/year, 8 (14.5%); $5,000-9,999/year, 8 (14.5%);
$10,000-14,999/year, 4 (7.3%); $15,000-19,999/year, 3 (5.4%);
$20,000-24,999/year, 5 (9.1%); $25,000-29,999/year, 1 (1.8%);
$30,000-34,999/year, 7 (12.7%); $35,000-39,999/year, 5 (9.1%);
$40,000 or over/year, 13 (23.6%; no response, 1 (1.8%).  It is
encouraging to note that a majority of blind and visually impaired persons
responding to our questionnaire (almost 58%) were employed and earning
in excess of $20,000 annually (over 56%). 

Average hours worked per week:  20 or fewer, 11 (20.0%); 21 to 40, 26
(47.3%); more than 40, 16 (29.1%); no response, 2 (3.6%).  

In terms of the types of jobs held by survey participants: professional,
technical and managerial 32; clerical and sales 12; service 7; processing
1; miscellaneous 7; no indication 1 (two persons checked two or more
employment categories). 
 
We were particularly interested in finding out how participants found
employment (No.15). Only nine of the employed respondents (16.4%)
specifically cited the Department of Rehabilitation as having provided
placement assistance.  The vast majority obtained employment through
typical means:  friends and family, newspaper ads, school, personal
contacts, etc. 
 
Two related issues:  use of assistive technology on the job (No.12), and
how technology was obtained (No.16), were also addressed.  Fifty-six of
68 participants indicated that they use some kind of equipment (many
respondents who were not employed  answered this question).  Of those
who use such equipment, rehab  assisted in 25 instances, the employer
in 23 cases, and equipment was acquired by the individual on 32
occasions.  Keep in mind that very often, participants utilized one or more
sources to obtain the necessary device(s).  Also, several respondents
included items such as tape recorders and braille writers in their responses
to both questions. 

Item 17 addressed the topic of employer-provided reasonable
accommodation.  Fifty-one persons responded, 45 indicating that their
employer has provided accommodation and six answering negatively. 
Some examples:  paid time off, equipment, flexible work hours, and
readers. 

The survey asked about the use of braille (No.10), and the ability to read
ink-print on-the-job (No.11).  Forty-three of 69 respondents (62.3%)
indicated that they can use braille while thirty-six of 75 (48.0%) are able
to use ink-print.  This is accomplished through a variety of means:  CCTV
or magnifier (7); good contrast or large print (6); Optacon (6); reading
machine (4); glasses (2); reader (1); no assistance necessary (4); and
unspecified (4). Again, many of those responding to both questions
clearly did so based on their ability to read braille and/or ink-print rather
than on where and/or how they use either medium. 
 
Item 18 dealt with whether respondents were promoted on their present
job and the length of time on that job.  Only 18 of 49 persons (36.7%)
were promoted while 31 (63.3%) had not been (six either did not respond
or stated that promotion was not applicable to their work situation). 
Concerning the length of time on present job:  5 persons less than one
year; 25 between one and five years; 6 between six and 10 years; 20
more than 10 years; 2 did not respond (one person answered based on
the job held prior to retiring).  

Item 19 concerned overall acceptance on-the-job by four groups: 
respondents' coworkers, immediate supervisor, other management, and
subordinates, rated on a 1-to-10 scale with 10 being highest.  Respective
ratings in these four categories were (numbers in parenthesis indicate how
many responded):  8.8 (51), 8.5 (51), 8.1 (42), and 8.8 (41).  

Question 14 was specifically directed to the 40 participants not currently
working.  A total of 25 indicated that they were preparing for employment
while 11 were not (four unemployed respondents did not answer).
Twenty-two of 37 participants (including some who were already
employed) were in school preparing for a wide variety of careers from
teaching to massage therapy. 
 
Again, a heart-felt thanks to everyone who filled out the Employment
Survey.  A great deal of time and effort went into developing the
questions and correlating the responses.  This project took somewhat
longer than first anticipated by the Committee; however, the results are
interesting, thought-provoking and enlightening.  See you next time! 
           
                            --------


              SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE 

           CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND--FALL 1991

                       By Winifred Downing


91-B-1: Thanks Senator Nicholas Petris for sponsoring Senate Concurrent
Resolution 57 and securing 70 coauthors opposing the closing of the
Orientation Center for the Blind in Albany. 

91-B-2: Commends Assemblyman Tom Bates for carrying Senate
Resolution 57 to the assembly and securing 55 signatures to join the
Senate in opposing the closing of the Orientation Center for the Blind. 

91-B-3: Directs the Board of Directors and the President of the CCB to
take all measures necessary to oppose the confirmation of William Tainter
as Director of the Department of Rehabilitation because he has made
strong statements before the CCB spring convention and in private and
public meetings that he opposes specialized services for the blind and
intends to limit them; because he attempted to close down the Orientation
Center for the Blind in Albany in spite of its 40 years of distinguished
accomplishments; because only programs for the blind were singled out
for devastating cutbacks, while other programs were only somewhat
limited; and because he has indicated in every possible way that his views
on rehabilitating blind persons is antagonistic to all the programs CCB
most firmly endorses. 

91-B-4: Requires the CCB president to work with the Board of Guide Dogs
to establish an appeals procedure with the guide dog schools to assure
that students can be rejected for training and that dogs can be taken
away only after a thorough investigation. 

91-B-5: Urges the Board of Guide Dogs to require that guide dog schools,
whose boards of directors have been composed mainly of sighted
persons, have a substantial number of guide dog users on their boards. 
 

91-b-6: Urges that, because a number of employees of animal control
agencies and/or the Humane Society have acted inappropriately to guide
dog users--even to removing a dog from its owner, all employees
associated with animal control and humane societies be given training by
a licensed guide dog instructor concerning the proper use and discipline
of such dogs. 

91-B-7: Not adopted by the convention.

91-B-8: Referred to the Committee on Access and Transportation. 

91-B-9: Directs the CCB president to write to the Department of
Transportation requesting that all blind persons be given the same fare
advantages as are extended to blind persons in each local area, where
proof of residence is now necessary in most jurisdictions.  Proof of
residence is not required for senior citizens.  

91-B-10: Expresses the appreciation of the CCB to Russell Gould,
Governor Wilson's Secretary of Health and Welfare, for meeting with this
organization's representatives concerning the proposed closing of the
Orientation Center; for his efforts to communicate with Governor Wilson
on this matter; and for sending his representative, Catherine Camacho, to
this convention--an evidence of his continued willingness to listen to the
concerns of the CCB. 

91-B-11: urges the California Department of Rehabilitation to clarify and
strengthen its policy regarding the purchase of necessary placement
equipment for blind clients seeking employment when employer
cooperation and similar benefits are not available, and to expand its
equipment loan program either by further funding of the current rental
agreement with Sensory Access Foundation or by other means.  The CCB
is directed to bring this resolution to the attention of the Blind Advisory
Committee because neither Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act nor the
ADA guards against having employers avoid hiring blind persons,
preferring instead disabled individuals who do not require expensive
equipment for a new, and therefore untried, employee.  

91-B-12: Urges the California Department of Rehabilitation to make
personal computers available to blind students so that they can compete
successfully with sighted colleagues who have access to such devices,
the benefit from spell checkers they provide, etc.   The Department is also
urged to provide the same computer equipment and appropriate access
devices to students in their internship programs as is provided during their
training. 

91-B-13: Urges the Clearinghouse for Specialized Media and Technology
to make every effort to disseminate information about its services so that
inquiries are made directly to that source; to assure that responsible
persons know the exact status of books requested so that correct
information is furnished; and to address, with the cooperation of the
California School for the Blind and the California Transcribers and
Educators of the Visually Handicapped, the need for additional
transcribers to take the places of many who have had to retire and for
persons skilled in the details of the various reading media required by blind
and visually handicapped students.  Copies of this resolution are to be
sent to officers of the Clearinghouse and the Department of Special
Schools and the Office of Civil Rights. 

91-B-14: Requests Assessment Systems, Inc., the testing service used by
the Behavioral Sciences Licensing Board, to permit applicants to provide
their own readers if they so desire, since assigned readers have often read
poorly, having had little experience reading aloud and no knowledge of the
pronunciation of terms and proper names involved in the test.  Other
testing services do permit applicants to choose their own reader while
they provide a proctor.

91-B-15: Requests Blue Cross of California to abide by the provision of
the Americans with Disabilities Act by making available in accessible
media the Companion Care Handbook and other materials needed by
clients of its services.  The resolution directs Blue Cross to discuss with
knowledgeable persons the manner of production of the materials in the
various media required. 

91-B-16: Urges the Social Security Administration to return to publishing
in braille and recorded form the handbooks for social security programs
and for Medicare, thus complying with the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. 

91-B-17: Was withdrawn by the author. 

91-B-18: Offers the services of the CCB to appropriate paratransit
authorities to assist them in meeting the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act for adequate, accessible, and convenient
transportation.  

91-B-19: Reiterates the support of the CCB for the July, 1990, report
entitled "Evaluation of Field Services to Blind and  Severely Vision
Impaired Clients" prepared by Bruce Brown, Program Evaluation Section,
and urges that the report be submitted to the newly appointed Blind
Advisory Committee for its immediate review.

If the Department does not release the original report, the resolution calls
upon the CCB to circulate it to the Blind Advisory Committee and to the
legislature.  

91-B-20: Urges the CCB, in conjunction with its local chapters, to take all
necessary steps to ensure that transit authorities install effective warning
strips to aid in edge detection for all fixed-rail systems. 

91-B-21: Instructs the Committee on Access and Transportation to report
at the spring convention on the operation of paratransit systems including
the feasibility of linkage between paratransit boundaries. 

91-B-22: Requests the Office of the Attorney General to investigate
Barbara Fabricante, licensed Humane Society officer, with respect to her
view that blind persons should not use guide dogs and to her action in
removing a dog from its owner because of her views.  The resolution asks
that the investigation show whether Ms. Fabricante has exceeded her
authority as a licensed Humane Officer to the extent that her license
should be revoked.  

91-B-23: Requests the state Director of Consumer Affairs to conduct a
full investigation of Guide Dogs for the Blind because of its inconclusive
review of the case of Steven Hazzard while continuing to retain his dog,
thus interfering with his mobility and destructively interrupting the
working relationship between Mr. Hazzard and his dog.  

91-B-24: Offers to Steven Hazzard the ongoing support of the CCB
toward the conclusion of the investigation by Guide Dogs for the Blind
and the return of his dog which has been removed from his possession on
two separate occasions though he has been a successful guide dog user
for 11 years.  

91-B-25: Urges the guide dog schools in California to submit to the CCB
policy statements concerning their response to anonymous complaints by
telephone or letter from the public about guide dog users.  The resolution
also calls upon the schools to set forth their policy on keeping users
informed concerning the health and general care of any guide dog
removed from its owner while investigations are taking place.  

91-B-26: Commends International Guiding Eyes for making a contribution
of $5,000 toward the struggle to have Hawaii abolish the quarantine of
dogs so that blind persons can have freedom of access to that state.

                            --------


                   AROUND THE STATE AND NATION


The California Council of the Blind proudly announces victory in the
Stephen Hazzard case.  As CCB members will remember, the school's
allegation was that Stephen abused his guide dog Starky; therefore, the
school claimed that it was being forced to take away Starky at the behest
of Captain Barbara Fabricant, a State Humane Officer.  Captain Fabricant
stated that if the school did not knuckle under, she would arrest Stephen
and go to the press with articles attacking Guide Dogs for the Blind.  As
of this writing, December 20, 1991, Stephen has not been arrested.

On December 19, Stephen and his counsel appeared before a judge
employed by the school for the sole purposes of determining whether
Stephen did indeed abuse his dog.  After listening to the testimony, the
judge found that Stephen did not abuse his dog.

The Board of Directors for Guide Dogs for the Blind can either accept his
findings or reject them and keep the dog away from Stephen.  We cannot
believe that the Board will not accede to the findings of the judge and
return the dog to Stephen.  Let us hope that Stephen will get Starky back
before Christmas. 

The CCB shall now turn to the actions of Captain Barbara Fabricant.  We
can assure our members and friends that she shall be held accountable for
her reckless actions which caused Stephen to be without his dog for
several months.  Guide Dogs for the Blind must also share a great deal of
the blame for its refusal to support its graduate who has used guide dogs
from that school for 11-1/2 years.

We conclude this article by asking a question:  "Where would Stephen
Hazzard get help, but for the California Council of the Blind?" 
                              * * *
The Cerritos Valley Chapter, CCB, is looking for new members.  If you
reside in the southeastern portion of Los Angeles County, including, but
not limited to, Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Paramount,
Lakewood, or Norwalk, please contact Doris Fisher, Membership
Chairperson, at (310) 866-2131 for meeting time and place.  Also, this
chapter is planning its first annual "All You Can Eat Chili-Fest" and dance,
to be held Saturday, March 21, 1992, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at
VFW Post 1746, 1032 South Street, North Long Beach.  Five dollars
donation, and children under six get in free.  There will be many door
prizes.  Be sure to mark your calendar and join us for lots of fun.  To order
tickets in advance, call Marion Fisher at the same number.
                              * * *

The California Council of the Blind  regretfully announces the passing of
Robert W. Campbell, Former President of the CCB, on December 24,
1991.  Mr. Campbell dedicated his life to the organized blind movement
and he was a true leader and always a friend.  There will be a memorial
service in his honor at the Spring convention.
                              * * *

The Frances Blend School sadly announces that on October 24, 1991, Mr.
Ralph Salaway, a retired Supervisor, passed away.  Those who knew him
will dearly miss him for his friendly disposition and his never ending
concern in assisting the blind.  
                              * * *

CTVEH (California Transcribers and Educators Visually Handicapped) will
hold its annual Conference on March 12, 13, and 14 at the Los Angeles
Airport Hilton Hotel.  Over 70 different workshops will be offered, as well
as one of the largest Exhibits in the state on new technology. Some of the
Exhibiters will also give special Product Presentation in detail.  There will
be two showings of the movie "Casablanca" in AudioVision, which gives
discriptive narrations of all scenes.  For further information, contact Jane
O'Connor, Conference Chairman, 1401 Valley View Road No. 309,
Glendale, CA 91202; phone 818-246-7898.  

The California Council of the Blind plans to have an exhibit booth at the
California Transcribers and Educators Visually Handicapped Conference.
                              * * *


The San Gabriel Chapter CCB currently meets the fourth Saturday of each
month at the Steer & Ale restaurant in Pasadena at 11:45 a.m.  For more
information call Marion Fisher at (213) 866-2131.
                              * * *

Braille copies of "Play it Safe" are available free of charge as a public
service from the Trial Lawyers of America.  This association offers this
informative booklet to educate the public on toy safety.  The publication
is loaded with practical advice on unsafe toys.  For your free braille copy,
contact the National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA
02115.  

Also, for blind parents "Baby and Child Care" by Dr. Spock is available
now in braille.  This book covers virtually every aspect of child
development and guides parents from the baby's birth all the way through
the physical and psychological changes of adolescence.  You can
purchase this 13 volume book in braille for $45 from NBP (above
address).
                              * * *

The National Association of Blind Teachers (NABT) is open to people in
the following categories:  active or retired blind teachers of all ages and
levels, blind college students who are preparing to be teachers, associate
non-voting membership for anyone who wishes to promote teaching as
a career for blind people, schools and other agencies wishing to promote
NABT goals.  NABT publishes a quarterly newsletter and meets annually
at ACB's conventions.  For more information contact John Buckley, NABT
President at 105 McClung Tower, Department of Speech Communication,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
                              * * *

While you may not want to become a professional speaker, you may want
to increase your self-confidence and sharpen your skills of
communication.  Contact Juan Battistoni, a specialist in teaching public
speaking, 555 Hawthorne Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066, or call him at
415-589-4872.  Mr. Battistoni is a member of the San Francisco Chapter
CCB and he can teach you to conquer your fears, job interviewing
techniques, etc.
                              * * *

Voicespondence is a nonprofit club serving people throughout the nation
as a means of communication via cassette recorder. If you are interested
in finding friends through tapes, this club offers you an open door for
fellowship and friendship with interesting and friendly people all over the
country. To join and get more information contact Voicespondent Club,
1711 Bellvue Avenue, D-1214 Richmond, VA 23227 
                              * * *

The Committee on the Senior Blind and Visually Impaired of CCB is a
newly appointed committee  to promote greater  accessibility to services
for the elderly blind.  This committee will be an outreach source to find
elderly people who are losing their sight and offer them assistance in
coping with their blindness.  It will be a resource and also be available on
lists of resources of agencies throughout the state.  Committee members
are already working on priorities, goals, and objectives and plan to have
a meeting in the CCB Spring convention. 
                              * * *

Durward K. McDaniel receives highest award from the American
Foundation for the Blind!  On October 31, 1991, Mr. McDaniel received
the "Migel Medal Award", AFB's highest recognition award to honor
volunteers and professionals whose dedication and hard work have made
a significant impact on the lives of blind and visually impaired people. 
Congratulations to our dear friend Durward!  You are a pillar and a true
example of endless voluntary service dedicated to improve the well-being
of blind people. 