THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE

ACB OF South Carolina

September 2000 Newsletter

OFFICERS

President: Patsy Jones: West Columbia

(803) 791-3368

First Vice President: Betty Jones: Ninety Six

(864) 543-2018

Second Vice President: Susan Jones: Charleston

(843) 577-6670

Secretary: Janice Harden: West Columbia

(803) 796-4887

Treasurer: Todd Turansky: Augusta, GA

(706) 868-5832

President's Report

By Patsy Jones

Hello, ACB Members and Friends,

Well, it is newsletter time again. I hope this one finds all of you well and happy. It is hot today very hot! But it is already football time and almost World Series time. Most importantly, it is almost time for our state convention.

Those of us who attended the national convention in Louisville had a wonderful time. I don't think that most of you know about our booth at the convention. The folks from the Greenwood chapter did a fantastic job of obtaining things for us to sell. We also sold raffle tickets for two prizes. The first place prize is a beautiful bedspread made by Betty Jones and Keith Moreland. The second prize is a pair of Indian dolls also made by Betty. I want to thank all of you who worked in the booth. Without your dedication to our state chapter, we couldn't have gotten it done. I believe almost everybody who attended the convention worked at least one time in the booth.

The convention program was very good. If you have a computer, be sure to log on to the ACB web site and hear some of the great speeches and other convention activities. For more information about the national convention, be sure to read the next few issues of the Braille Forum. If you aren't receiving the Braille Forum, please let us know as soon as possible so we can get you signed up.

As your president, there are two issues I wish to discuss that do not effect us in South Carolina at present, but may in the future. The first is the new rehabilitation regulation changes that have been proposed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. At present, if a blind person chooses to work in a sheltered workshop for the blind, the vocational rehabilitation counselor can close the case on the person as rehabilitated. While ACB as an organization, does not necessarily encourage blind people to go to work in a sheltered workshop, neither do we want to be a part of denying a blind person that choice. The proposed rehabilitation changes would not allow a counselor to place a visually impaired person in a workshop and get a closure. As you know, closures mean numbers to rehab counselors, and they are expected to get a certain number each year. In fact, if a person goes to work in a workshop under the proposed changes, he/she will not be eligible for future services from the rehabilitation agency such as mobility training, low vision services, etc. I know that most of you are not familiar with the workshops for the blind, but I am. In Alabama the Industries for the Blind provide jobs for over three hundred blind and visually impaired individuals. Most of these people make above the minimum wage and have some other benefits. Most of those people have chosen to work in a sheltered workshop. Many of those people would be unemployed if there were not a sheltered workshop. Do we really want to tell visually impaired people that they must work in a local factory or whatever the counselor can find? Don't blind people deserve to have the choice of deciding for themselves where they want to work? The ACB nationally is encouraging everyone to let their congressional representatives in Washington know that they oppose these changes. Congressman Lindsey Graham is the chairman of the committee that is considering this matter. If you would like to contact him, you can call (202) 225-5301. Please also read the article by Charlie Crawford in the August 2000 issue of the Braille Forum for more information.

The second issue I wish to discuss is potentially more serious. There seems to be a movement within the country for some agencies providing services to blind and visually impaired folks, to hire occupational therapists instead of trained mobility instructors and skilled rehabilitation teachers to provide mobility and living skills training. I believe this to be a very dangerous trend. We are seeing this especially with private agencies. It is my strong opinion, that we as blind and visually impaired people should not just stand by and let things like this become the norm. I know there is a shortage of blind rehabilitation professionals, but allowing untrained people to work with us is like saying that blind people do not deserve to have good quality services with well-trained professionals providing those services. I really believe this will become a major issue in the next few years.

Now for a personal note. I have retired from my position with the VA Hospital in Columbia. I want all of you to know that I am not old enough to retire, but had to because of some medical problems. (I hope you didn't take that sentence very seriously.) I just want you all to know that I now have more time to go around harassing people and generally causing trouble.

It has been suggested to me that I discuss the Consumer Advisory Committee of the SC Commission for the Blind with you. I really want to get the word out that several ACB members now serve on the Committee. We are all there to represent you, the consumer. We need your input. If you are experiencing problems getting services from the Commission, please let us know. The CAC is made up of consumers from each of the congressional districts, a representative from both the ACB and NFB and some other state agencies and organization who may have clients, etc. who require services from the Commission. After the October meeting of the CAC, I will try to supply you with a list of the members so you can know who to call in your area of the state. Of course, you can contact me also.

Once again I want to thank John Harden for all of his work with this newsletter. Please tell him if you like what he is doing.

I don't want to spend much time on our upcoming state convention. I know that John has already covered this elsewhere in this newsletter. Our Greenwood chapter is working hard to ensure that we have a great place to conduct our convention and to be sure we all enjoy the good food and fellowship that will be available. They always make us feel welcome with their great hospitality. The program committee has planned several interesting speakers for the Saturday morning general session. Paul Edwards, the national ACB president, will be the keynote speaker. Please make every effort to be there. You will certainly be missed if you are not there.

Finally, don't forget our annual auction. This has always been one of our biggest fundraisers. Please bring items for this event. New and used items will be accepted.

Goodbye for now. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in Greenwood.

ACB of SC raffle

By Malinda Goff

The first prize is a hand crocheted off-white bedspread. Each square has a star in the center outlined in popcorn stitch. The points are done in contrasting shades of lavender, rose, blue and green. It serves as a bedspread for a full size bed and functions as a quilt for a queen size bed.

Second prize is a pair of Native American dolls dressed as an Indian chief and princess. The chief is wearing a tan outfit trimmed in aqua, orange, and rust. e wears a necklace of aqua, blue and rust colored beads and a headdress of multi-colored feathers. The princess wears a dress in matching colors and carries a basket of corn. The chief stands 15 inches tall and the princess is 13 inches tall.

Please support your state organization by purchasing and/or selling raffle tickets, one for a dollar and six for five dollars. See your chapter's representative on the state board for your tickets. We would like to thank Betty Jones and Keith Moreland for all the time they put in to making these items.

How About This

Compiled by John Harden

In my wandering around the Internet I have come up with some really nice services that may be of interest to all of us. If you are interested I may try to put a couple new items in each newsletter. There are two new telephone services that I have found quite exciting and one would think they were designed for blind and visually impaired people but they were developed for people on the go whether, they be blind or sighted.

The first of these services is TELL ME. You tell it what you want and it tells you what you are looking for. It is a phone service that will give you information on the following topics: Stock Quotes, Weather, News, Sports, Traffic, Taxicabs, and airlines. If you need dinner reservations or information about a place to eat you can call Tellme and say Restaurants, then say connect me when you hear the one you want. You can even make a two-minute phone call absolutely free. The service is free and all you need to use it is a telephone. Give it a try. Call 1-800-555-8355.

The second free service is E-VOICE. Everyone has heard of e-mail but not everyone has a computer. E-Voice is e-mail on the telephone. Again all you need is a touch tone telephone. For more information, or to sign up call 1-800-438-3864. You will be asked for a mailbox number and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Many people use their 7 digit phone number as their mail box number. Since E-Voice is available to everyone and since it is possible to send one message to many people this would be a good way to get important ACB information to all members. Once you are signed up you can access the service by calling 1-800-222-6000. The service is free and so is the call.

Does Time Warner Cable provide your cable TV service? If so, you can get the channel guide in Braille. Just call your Time Warner Cable office and ask for it. They will mail it to you.

ACB of SC 2000 Convention

From the Editor

This year's state convention will be October 13-15 at the Ramada Inn Greenwood. The theme is Mobility issues.

It will be necessary for you to make your own hotel reservations. The rate for rooms is $55.00 plus 7% tax.

Hotel reservations must be made before September 30. And you will have to tell the reservationist that you are with the ACB of SC. Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or advance deposit. You can contact the hotel by calling (864) 223-4231. If you should have to cancel your reservation it must be done before October 10 to receive a full refund.

The morning session will feature President Paul Edwards from the National ACB Office, John Hofmeister from the Augusta Blind Rehab Center, Dr. Carney and Donald Bradley from the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and Guynell Williams from the SC State Library for the blind.

Afternoon breakout sessions will be conducted by Scott Brennan from the SC Commission's Technology unit. He will be talking on technology in every day life. Todd Turansky with the Augusta VA will meet with the veterans, and a puppy raiser will meat with the Guide Dog Users' group.

The banquet Saturday evening will consist of roast beef or chicken, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, tossed salad, fruit cocktail, bread or rolls, vanilla cake, sweet or unsweetened tea. The banquet speaker will be Paul Edwards.

Pre-registration price for banquet is $15.00. If you do not pre-register there may not be food for you.

Convention Pre-registration is $10.00 and must be postmarked by September 30.

Late registration will be $20.00

If you have not received a pre-registration form you may register on any piece of paper. Supply the following information: Name, Full Address, Phone number, E-Voice box number, and e-mail address. Also indicate whether you are fully sighted or blind, whether your reading preference is large print, cassette, or Braille, and we will need to know if you want the beef or chicken at the banquet. The hotel is providing a breakfast buffet Sunday morning. Please let us know if you will be eating it. The cost to you at the door will be $3.99. This information must be mailed no later than September 30 to:

Ann Smith

237 West Main Street

Ninety Six, SC 29666

Driving Directions to the Ramada Inn, 1014 Montague Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 are as follows:

From Clinton:

Hwy. 72 West to Greenwood. Turn right on Hwy. 72/221 Bypass (Bojangles/County Bank/CVS/Animal Hospital at corners).

Proceed through 4 red lights and get in left lane. Turn left at 5^th red light (Hwy. 25 Business). (Kmart on right hand side)

Ramada Inn is first building on left after the turn.

From Abbeville:

Hwy. 72 West to Greenwood. Turn right on Hwy. 25 Business. Ramada Inn is first building on left.

From Greenville:

Hwy. 25 South to Greenwood. Cross Hwy. 72/221 Bypass (CrossCreek Mall/Kmart on corners). Ramada Inn is the first building on the left after you proceed through the intersection.

From Augusta:

Hwy. 25 North to Greenwood. Proceed through the town of Greenwood remaining on Hwy. 25 North. Ramada Inn is on the right approximately 1 mile past town square. (Denny's Restaurant is approximately 1 block before hotel on right.)

From Newberry:

Hwy. 34 to Ninety Six/Greenwood. When you approach the city limits of Greenwood, Cross over to the left parallel road, which is Hwy. 25 North Business. Follow directions as listed from Augusta.

A New Affiliate Now in South Carolina

By Karen Bays

We are proud to announce The Dixieland Guide Dog Users is now an official affiliate of Guide Dog Users Inc. We met for the first time at last years state convention to begin forming our chapter with a follow up meeting in April. In July our bylaws and constitution were accepted at the national convention and we are now an official affiliate. We will be having our first annual meeting as an affiliate in October at the South Carolina State Convention.

The Dixieland Guide Dog Users promises to be an active group and is having several activities in mind for the future. If you know any guide dog users who would be interested in joining please have them contact Karen Bays at (843) 571-2778 or via e-voice box number 5712778. See the article elsewhere in this newsletter to learn more about this new free service.

I would also like to encourage all of the Dixie Land Guide Dog Users to become a part of E-voice so that we can easily get messages out to everyone. When you do join E-voice please send a message to my box number (5712778) to let me know your E-voice number. Thank you and I will see you at the convention in October.

Attention Diabetics

Members of the Charleston Chapter are interested in learning more about your experience in getting Medicare and other insurance companies to pay for talking glucose meters and the special strips needed for these machines. A few people in this area have run into some problems. We would like to hear your stories, both good and bad as we try to identify some of the specific problems. Please contact Karen Bays with your story at (843) 571-2778 or E-Voice Box 571-2778. You may also tell your story in a letter (print, Braille, or cassette) and mail it to Karen Bays at 2344 South England Street, Charleston, SC 29414

Boutique Shop

By Betty Jones

As our fundraiser for the state ACB, the people who went to the National convention worked in a boutique shop at the exhibits. We had snacks, drinks, and some novelties. We also sold tickets for the raffle of a bedspread and Indian dolls. The drawing will occur, at our state convention in October. It was a great pleasure to work in the exhibit hall because you get to meet so many people, and to make new friends. We think that we did a good job of raising money for the State ACB. I will report what we made in the next newsletter after all the figures are compiled.

Greetings from Charleston

By Karen Bays

We hope that the summer finds you all doing well and trying to stay cool in these high temperatures. We have had a good summer and have been active.

In May we held our first garage sale. We discovered first hand that the old saying is true; "One man's junk is another man's treasure." We are also starting to sell tickets for another Jim Booth painting. This is the third year that Mr. Booth has donated a painting to our chapter. We are deeply appreciative for his generosity. This year's painting is The Angel Oak. Be prepared to purchase tickets at the state convention where the drawing will be held.

In July our group had the opportunity to tour the air force base in Charleston. We were shown a C 17 cargo jet. We were allowed to get inside the plane and even crawl in to the cockpit. They gave us a description on how the plane is loaded and unloaded during wartime as well as during peacetime. The tour was most informative and we enjoyed the day tremendously.

In august we plan to participate in one of those famous summertime All-American sports; we are attending a baseball game. Yes, we are going to see the River Dogs versus the Columbia Bombers. We are also going to be watching our own Charleston Association for the Blind beep ball team play prior to the River dog's game. It promises to be a fun night and we are all getting hungry for popcorn and hotdogs.

We look forward to seeing you in October at the state convention. Enjoy the rest of your summer, take care, and God bless.

Let's Get out and Vote

Excerpted from an article by Charles Crawford

People with disabilities have fought to have a place at America's table-to be present when the big decisions that affect us all are made-but at election time our votes are conspicuously absent. In the 1996 Presidential Election, 11.6 million Americans with disabilities voted, but another 23.5 million did not. If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as the able-bodied - which is lousy to start with - there, would be five million more votes cast on November 7^th. With rights, come responsibilities. The ADA has had an extraordinary effect on many people's lives, but it is a mistake to think that the fight is over. Our march for human rights can be halted and pushed back at any time; and if we do not have allies in elected offices there is little we can do. If we put as much work into getting people out to vote as we have put into other undertakings, closing the voting gap between people with disabilities and the general public will seem effortless.

The National Organization on Disability's non-partisan VOTE! 2000 campaign has set the goal of increasing by 700,000 the number of voters with disabilities participating in the year 2000 elections. That amounts to about three percent, and it will take a concerted get-out-the-vote campaign to attain this considerable achievement.

For more detailed information please see the "How to turn Out Voters with Disabilities" guide at www.nod.org or call the National Organization on Disability at (202) 293-5960.

Editor's note: Let's do our part. I would like to remind you to get out And vote in November. If you are not registered, you can register at the public library, highway department and many other places.