A Publication of
ACB of Indiana
ACBI State & Chapter News
From the President's Desk by Gerry Koors
Mike Bowman Joins ACBI Board of Directors
Donald Osburn Remembered
President Koors Announces 2004 Committee Appointments
ACBI Plans Fall Convention
Special Funds Available for First Timers At ACBI Annual Meeting
Lakota Chapter by Sue L'Esperance
South Central News by Ada Bailey
Our Vehicle Donation Project
Talk to ACBI Editor Online
Our Leadership - 2004-2005
New / Renewal Membership Application
Names in the News:
Bill Sparks Opens Old Time Radio CD Store
Pat Price Named to eBook Advisory Committee
Melanie Brunson Named ACB Executive Director
National ACB News
ACB's New Live Chat Rooms
History of ACB Available
"Future Place": An Idea, a Place, an Opportunity
2004 ACB Legislative Imperatives
General News:
Apply by June 4, 2004 for Disability Advocacy Training
Fact Sheet On Upcoming New Benefits in Medicare
Current Blindness Statistics
Active Involvement Can Improve Library Service
Reaching Out to Your Community by Cindy Burgett
My Trip To The Mountain Top by Dolly Sowder
Indiana University Shares Scanned Textbooks with Bookshare.org
Job Hunting Resources for VIPs
Online Interactive Book Discussions At Their Best!
GW Micro Announces Window-Eyes 4.5 SP3 & Staff Changes
Opera: New Voice Operated Internet Browser
Tactile & Braille Salt & Pepper Shakers
Talking Smoke Detectors
ACBI Website: http://www.acb.org/indiana/ or http://indianaacb.tripod.com
FOCUS is published three times a year: April, August & December. It is available via e-Mail, in large print, on cassette, and PC disk with special translated file for Braille output.
FOCUS Editor: Pat Price
From The President's
Desk
by Gerry Koors
"Life Goes On with New Vision" is the theme for this year's state convention. Perhaps this could be applied to the ACB Mid-Year meeting. I say that in hopes that in spite of the current problems on the national scene, people will let life go on now with a new vision for ACB.
The Mid-Year president's meeting which I attended, along with 4 others from Indiana, was full of discussions. Some were somewhat negative, others more positive with an attitude of moving on. Problems were addressed. But also there were discussions that focused on getting back to the work at hand which is finding ways to improve the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Income on the national level is down but fund raising initiatives are being discussed and tried to bring in much needed money. Income from the thrift stores is down also. But there are hopes of improvement there as well. It is important that consumer groups of and for the blind work together in various areas of legislation and rehabilitation. One of the ideas to conserve money was to combine the president's Mid-Year meeting and the legislative seminar in 2005. Most people were willing to try it one year. There are disadvantages to this and a final decision as to when and how will come later.
All in all I felt that the meetings were productive. There is much work to do so let us all work together to keep legislation and rehabilitation especially going in the right direction.
I leave you with this thought. "Each day is a gift. Open it and use it."
Mike Bowman Joins ACBI Board of Directors
To fill the unexpired director's term occasioned by the death of Don Osburn, Mike Bowman of Indianapolis was appointed by the ACBI Board to serve in that capacity. He brings to this position impressive knowledge, skills, and talents that will serve ACBI well. Biographical information about Mike will appear in the next issue of this newsletter.
ACBI Director Donald Osbrn died December 25, 2003 following a valiant struggle with cancer. After 30+ years as a Traffic Controller for Eli Lilly Industries, he retired in 1989 and spent the remainder of his life making the world a better place for the visually impaired. He accomplished this through his active leadership role in a number of service organizations: As Presidnet of the Eli Lilly Campus Club; Lions International; Local Lions groups including Southport Lions Club where he served as Vice President and President; American Council of Blind Lions; American Council of the Blind and its Indiana affiliate; Circle City Chapte where he served as President for several yearsr; The Boxma Rehabilitation Center; and the Circle City Resource Center.
Following services at Our Lady of Greenwood Catholic Church, he was interned in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. In addition to his many friends, colleagues, and members of ACB of Indiana, his survivors include two sisters, one brother, 8 nieces and 14 nephews.
Without pomp and circumstance, Don quietly but diligently served mankind. He will be greatly missed.
President Koors Announces 2004 Committee Appointments
Budget
Don Koors, Chair
Dolly Sowder
Mike Sowder
Opportunity Grant
Don Koors, Chair
Maurice Brockman
Jim Durst
Membership and Development
Earlene Hughes, Chair
Dolly Sowder
Edie Huffman
Jeff Busch
Constitution and By-Laws
Maurice Brockman, Chair
Earlene Hughes
Mike Sowder
John Huffman
Legislative
Don Koors, Chair
Earlene Hughes
Anne Elliott
Josephine Price
Fund Raising
Dolly Sowder, Chair
Anne Elliott
Josephine Price
Grant Writing
Edie Huffman
Vehicle Donations
Mike Sowder
Fund Raising Letter
Don Koors
Web Master and FOCUS Editor
Pat Price
Convention Committee
The Board of Directors
Nominating
Mike Sowder, Chair
John Huffman
Earlene Hughes
Anne Elliott
ACBI Plans Fall
Convention
by John Huffman
Mark your calendars and begin making plans now for ACBI'S annual convention. It will be held on Friday evening and Saturday, September 17 and 18, and will be our first ever held in Evansville.
The location will be the Executive Inn. Room rates are $72.00 per night plus tax, current rate is 12%. Room reservations must be made by August 17th. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel toll free) at 877-424-0888. Individual reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or advanced deposit received 30 days prior to arrival.
This year's theme is: "ACBI - Life Goes On With New Vision."
More details will be coming in the next Focus, on the ACBI Website at http://indianaacb.tripod.com and will also be posted for subscribers to ACBI's discussion list and the ACBI E-News List.
Hope you can join us for a fun and informative convention.
Special Funds Available for First Timers At ACBI Annual Meeting
The American Council of the Blind of Indiana at its recent Board meeting again decided that money from the Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant Fund could be used to assist individuals to attend the 2004 state meeting in Evansville, Indiana. To be eligible to submit an application, the individual must be a first time attendee at the state meeting. Individuals submitting an application should follow all the requirements outlined in the "Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant Fund" guidelines.
Winning recipients will receive one night's lodging plus the registration fee which includes the cost of the one planned meal. If you should have any questions, contact Don Koors, Chairperson, 5885 North Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Tel: 317.251.2562. E-Mail: donkoors@aol.com.
More About the Fund:
Each year the Fund has $1,000 available, in part or in whole, to aid any certified legally blind resident of Indiana. This Grant would partially or fully fund such activity, materials, and/or equipment as may enhance the educational, entrepreneurial or vocational aims of one who may be unable to obtain funding through other means. A secondary purpose of the Fund is to advise applicants of such other known means as may be available to meet their need.
Any one interested in applying may do so by addressing: The Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant Fund, James R. Durst, The Indiana School for the Blind, 7725 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
In addition to the five requirements for the First Timer Funds listed above, applicants should also include a letter of support (reference) from anyone other than personal friend or family member. Applications should be submitted at least ninety (90) days prior to the need. This will give the widely representative selection committee time to review and respond to the request.
Note: The Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant Fund is a project of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana with the support of the Circle City Chapter, the North Central Chapter, and the South Central Chapter of ACBI. The American Council of the Blind of Indiana invites anyone or any organization to contribute to The Hank Hofstetter Opportunity Grant Fund. Since no administrative or fund-raising expense is taken from the Fund, whatever is contributed goes entirely to carefully selected recipients. Alternatively, a sustaining gift may be given to an already established endowment for the Opportunity Grant Fund from which the annual interest goes to increase the yearly amount available.
For additional information, write or call Don Koors the Fund Chairman.
Lakota Chapter News
by Sue L'Esperance
Celebrate! Celebrate! Well, that's what we did in December at our Christmas party. It was our chapter's first social event and we really had lots of fun - good food, a gift exchange, vocal and instrumental entertainment, a sing-a-long and much laughter!
A "calendar of events" planning workshop in January had us getting excited about 2004. So many good ideas were offered that it was difficult to choose which to do. We did manage to pick a few for this year and tabled the rest for later discussion!
We will be giving a grant to the local YMCA for a blind child to attend summer day camp. We are in the process of determining our options for donating to the ACB Scholarship Fund also.
Three fundraising activities were selected. The first will be a bake sale at Wal-Mart on May 8 - they have a matching grant program. Second will be a booth at Farmer's Market in summer. A craft booth at the Purdue Extension Homemaker's Craft Bazaar will occur at end of October.
Increasing public awareness of blindness in general and of our chapter in particular is another area which requires attention. Plans are underway to participate through a booth at the Heartbeats Festival, a health fair sponsored by Parkview-Whitley Hospital, in May and also for a White Cane Safety Awareness Day activity on October 15.
Social activities planned are a picnic and penny auction in June for members and their families and a Christmas Party again in December.
In between these special events, we will have our monthly meetings, which include programs and/or speakers. In February, Mr. Fred Pizarek of FTP Associates in Kokomo, provided hands-on demonstrations on high technology assistive devices. Our March speaker was Jim Clifford, state president of Workers for the Blind (and a member of our chapter). Ray Ranier from Peabody Public Library provided information about library services for the blind and visually impaired at both the local and state levels in April.
We are looking forward to a wonderful 2004 and are wishing the same for all our ACBI friends! We plan to celebrate again in December and hope you will, too!
South Central News
by Ada Bailey, SCAVI President
The South Central Association of the Visually Impaired (SCAVI) has a new home. The Stone City Mall in Bedford has been bought by Lowe's, so we have been meeting at different places, once at an assisted living facility and a couple of times at City Hall. The Mall owner built a strip mall which will house Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living (SICIL) and we will be meeting there monthly. We will also operate our sales of products for those folks who are blind and with low vision. The address is 651 X Street, Bedford, Indiana.
Several of us plan to attend the ACB convention in Birmingham in July and the ACBI convention in Evansville. It will be good to see old friends and meet new ones.
Do you have vehicles, real estate, lots, boats, RV's, and more that you would like to donate to ACB of Indiana? In the case of vehicles, the company with whom ACBI has contracted has agreed to provide Free Pickup whether or not the item is running. ACBI derives a small commission from this program, so, if you have any of these items to donate, just call 800-929-8659.
Through the miracles of advanced technology, anyone with a computer, a sound card, speakers, and a microphone can talk online with Pat Price. No special software is needed. Just go to Pat's personal "room" at http://www.visionenhancement.org/chat.htm, enter your name and press ENTER. No password is required. If Pat is at her computer, she will say Hello and you can respond simply by holding down the CONTROL key and speaking. If she is not at her computer, you will hear a voice greeting indicating when she will be available.
Conversations can be private or public. When public, many people can be in the room and chat.
Pat is planning a number of events in the near future. If you'd like to know when these will occur, send an e-mail request to nfo@VisionEnhancement.org.
Bill Sparks Opens Old Time Radio CD Store
If you haven't visited http://www.billsparks.com lately, you are really in for a big treat. Bill Sparks has created a new and exciting CD store where you can buy from a list of more than one thousand quality recorded old time radio shows at significantly lower prices than you'll find anywhere else. The website is totally accessible so you can browse through the listings with your favorite screen reader. If you are sighted, you'll appreciate the attractive way the selections are presented.
The CD cases will be brailled at no extra charge for visually impaired customers.
Order online or by phone, toll-free from USA and Canada at 877-OTR-RADIO - (877-687-7234). If no answer, leave a message and you will receive a call back in the evening. Master Card, VISA, American Express, Money Orders and Personal Checks accepted.
Pat Price Named To eBook Advisory Committee
Tom Peters of TAP Information Services recently announced the appointment of Pat Price, President of Vision World Wide, to the 15-member Advisory Committee of the "E-Books Open Up the World of Print to Visually Impaired Readers" SIRSI Project. The project will begin July 2004 and conclude in June 2005. The committee will meet monthly online to discuss progress, policies, achievements, problems, and possibilities related to this project.
The goal of the project is to create a rich collection of multi-format e-books that have been optimized for use by print-impaired library patrons, including the blind, visually impaired, physically challenged, and dyslexic. The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center, a sub-regional library within the statewide and national network of talking book centers, will partner with OverDrive and other e-content distributors and publishers to select, organize, test, and evaluate a rich, robust e-book collection and supporting technologies. All technologies supporting accessible digital content will be included in the project, including software, systems, and hardware Pplayback devices. Digital talking books in various file formats, including recorded audio and text-to-speech technologies, will be included in the creation and use of the collection. Techniques and strategies for accelerating the adoption and diffusion of DAISY-enabled content will be explored. The Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) is a worldwide standard that is designed to make content accessible to all. The standard provides structure to the digital talking book that enables the user to move through the book in ways other than strictly linear listening. "E-Books Open Up the World of Print to Visually Impaired Readers" will serve as a replicable model for how talking book centers and libraries nationwide can mediate between content providers and end-users to improve the accessibility and usefulness of information for all. The result of this project will be a web-based self-service digital library for visually-impaired readers. It will contain a sophisticated digital rights management and circulation system developed by OverDrive.
The core Project Team consists of:
Lori Bell, project director (lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com)
Tom Peters, project coordinator (tpeters@tapinformation.com)
Lore Potash (lpotash@overdrive.com)
Laura Crowe (mailto:mailto:lcrowe@overdrive.com)
Editor's Note: The team was awarded the SIRSI Corporation's Leader in Library Technology by the American Library Association. The award will be formally presented at the ALA June 2004 meeting.
Melanie Brunson Named ACB Executive Director
Since she joined the ACB professional staff in August 1998, Melanie Brunson has served in a variety of managerial positions under two ACB Presidents and two past ACB Executive Directors. In addition to being an attorney, having first-hand knowledge of the many different approaches and points of view within ACB, plus the competency with which she has served in the dual role of Acting Executive Director and Governmental Affairs and Advocacy Director since the resignation of Charles Crawford, her official appointment as the new ACB Executive Director was eminent.
As a person who is blind and a guide dog user, she represents well the interests of ACB and demonstrates by example the best and most noteworthy values of ACB: responsibility, dignity, and professionalism.
If you are tired of reading e-mail on your computer and would prefer hearing real voices as you talk with other ACB members, you definitely will want to visit the ACB Chat Rooms. There are four from which you can choose:
Speak Easy Room: A friendly place to meet old friends, make new ones, and chat about anything and everything.
Music Room: Where you can chat about listening to and making music. Who knows, you may get to chat with some of the musicians on the ACB Radio Cafe and the personalities on ACB Radio Interactive!.
Politics Room: Each Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. Central (9:00 P.M. Eastern) Paul Edwards moderates discussions involving political, blindness or general issues. Here you can have robust debate, solve the problems of the world, and maybe even understand one another's position a little more.
Radio Room: Where you can chat about any aspect of radio. Ham radio, short wave listening, digital, Internet, your favourite programs and stations, old time radio...it's all on topic here.
To access the list of chat room, go to http://ourplace.acbradio.org/rooms.html. Enter your name and press ENTER. No Password is required.
Now, all versions of the ACB History, People of Vision, are available. You can request a braille and/or cassette copy from your NLS Regional Library. If you prefer, you can purchase the book by phoning 877-367-2224 or online at www.acb.org (and tabbing over to the ACB Store) link or by going directly to http://www.acb.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi.
Cost: The 6-cassette set and the paperback versions sell for $30; the 9-volume braille and the hard cover print versions for $43.50.
"Future Place": An Idea, A Place, An Opportunity
The ACB Future Place Planning Group - Marcia Dresser, Steve Dresser, Rebecca Hodson, Gayle Krause, Donna Smith, and Steve Speicher - invites 2004 ACB convention attendees to participate in tthe "Future Place Project.
Briefly, the purpose of the project is to brainstorm ways to develop a future for ACB and how to get there; help people interested in a topic affecting ACB's future to find each other and start discussion groups; establish informal or facilitated discussions concerning proposed amendments or resolutions to see whether agreement can be reached before taking the idea to the appropriate committee; provide a suggestion box for those with ideas but no time for discussion; create an ombudsman function allowing those with ideas to learn about existing ACB procedures for change and getting them in touch with the right committee or personnel.
Attendees interested in improving ACB even if they do not have specific ideas to share should just drop by the ACB Future Place to learn what others have proposed.
Extended discussions could be held in ACB Future Place across several days on topics such as developing a proactive, organization-wide advocacy strategy, or ways to implement sustainable, ongoing, low-cost leadership training and development.
Several scheduled events are already under consideration. One of these would review the processes we currently have for bringing change to ACB, the goal being to increase the chances that ideas will get heard and will get addressed in appropriate ways. Another event under consideration is an open forum on the topic of ACB's future, scheduled for Monday night from 8:00 to 10:00. Keynote speakers will be LeRoy Saunders, the inventor and architect of ACB's first effort at long-range planning, and Carl Augusto, President and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, who will share his own special perspective on ACB and its future. It is hope this forum will generate a number of good ideas which can be pursued throughout the rest of the week and beyond.
Future Place South (Room 419) has been designated as the project's center of activity. Go there to find what's going on in Future Place, to find others who are interested in shaping a future for ACB, or to meet up with others interested in discussing a particular Future Place topic. Another room (called "Future Place North") will be used for scheduled discussions and other activities requiring more space or more quiet than Future Place South can offer. We hope to make both of these spaces special environments in which the atmosphere is designed for the challenging and important work of preparing for ACB's future.
2004 ACB Legislative Imperatives
During the 2004 ACB Legislative Seminar, affiliate delegates were informed on five important issues. These included: reauthorization of funding for transportation and highways; restoration of video description to television; reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); protection of the accessible ballot; and restoration of civil rights.
If you believe these are the same issues the group has discussed for several years, you are absolutely correct. It just shows how slow our congressional representatives move forward in adopting legislation of interest to the disabled community.
Don Koors represented ACBI again this year at the seminar.
Apply by June 4, 2004 for Disability Advocacy Training
Are you a person with a disability or a parent with a child with a disability? Would you like to see a barrier free society where everyone is a valued member of his/her community? Are you interested in promoting change within your community and state? Are you willing to commit to eight sessions of training to develop leadership skills and to learn how to develop positive partnerships with your elected officials and other community partners?
If you answered YES to these questions, you might be interested in becoming part of the growing number of individuals who have graduated from Partners in Policymaking (PIP.)
At no cost to you, PIP offers eight weekends of training over a nine-month period featuring national level speakers as well as Indiana experts. This intensive training model, developed by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, was intended to teach participants to become active partners in their community with those who make and change public policy. The goal of the program is for graduates to become active in systems change within their community by utilizing the leadership and advocacy skills learned through Partners in Policymaking. Graduates are also prepared to use their knowledge of "best practices" - information covering a broad spectrum of disability-related issues and services - to improve the quality of those services in Indiana.
Currently more than 400 individuals have graduated from Partners in Policymaking. Many now are involved with organizations through which they are able to affect public policy about people with disabilities in Indiana. Some serve in state, local or county government; others serve on statewide or citywide councils or task forces. Graduate Partners correspond with legislators, community business partners and advocates to introduce and pass new state laws benefiting people with disabilities. They work closely with school boards, principals and teachers to ensure that children with disabilities have quality educational opportunities in the least restrictive environments. Known for their persistence, knowledge and enthusiasm, Partners have become an integral part of positive change within the disability service system in Indiana.
The training site is on the north side of Indianapolis. Where possible, free transportation will be provided for any qualifying disabled person.
If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity or know someone who would benefit from such a program, please call 800-821-6708 to receive an application and additional information. You can also download information and an application from: http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/projects/#policy
Remember, applications for membership in the Partners in Policymaking Class of 2005 must be postmarked on or before Friday, June 4, 2004.
Fact Sheet On Upcoming New Benefits in Medicare
MEDICARE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2003
MEDICARE is an essential health care program for people age 65 and older, people with certain disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Recently, President Bush and Congress worked together to pass a new law to bring people with Medicare more choices in health care coverage and better health care benefits.
This new law preserves and strengthens the current Medicare program, adds important new prescription drug and preventive benefits, and provides extra help to people with low incomes. You will still be able to choose doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.
If you are happy with the Medicare coverage you have, you can keep it. Or, you can choose to enroll in new options described below. No matter what you decide, you are still in the Medicare program.
DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS START IN 2004
Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards will be available in 2004 to help you save on prescription drugs. Medicare will contract with private companies to offer new drug discount cards until a Medicare prescription drug benefit starts in 2006. A discount card with Medicare's seal of approval can help you save 10-25% on prescription drugs.
You can enroll beginning as early as May 2004 and continuing through December 31, 2005. Enrolling is your choice. Medicare will send you information soon with details about how to enroll.
People in the greatest need will have the greatest help available to them. If your income is no more than $12,569 for a single person, or no more than $16,862 for a married couple, you might qualify for a $600 credit on your discount card to help pay for your prescription drugs. These income limits change every year. Different rules may apply if you live in Puerto Rico or a U.S. territory. (You can't qualify for the $600 if you already have drug coverage from Medicaid, TRICARE for Life or an employer group health plan.)
Also new in 2004, Medicare Advantage is the new name for Medicare + Choice plans.
Medicare Advantage rules and payments are improved to give you more health plan choices and better benefits. Plan choices might have improved already in your area. To find out more, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
NEW AND IMPROVED PREVENTIVE BENEFITS START IN 2005
New Preventive Benefits will be covered, including:
A one-time initial wellness physical exam within 6 months of the day you first enroll in Medicare Part B.
Screening blood tests for early detection of cardiovascular (heart) diseases.
Diabetes screening tests for people with Medicare at risk of getting diabetes.
These benefits add to the preventive services that Medicare already covers, such as cancer screenings, bone mass measurements and vaccinations.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS START IN 2006
Prescription Drug Benefits will be added to Medicare in 2006. All people with Medicare will be able to enroll in plans that cover prescription drugs. Plans might vary, but in general, this is how they will work:
You will choose a prescription drug plan and pay a premium of about $35 a month.
You will pay the first $250 (called a "deductible").
Medicare then will pay 75% of costs between $250 and $2,250 in drug spending.
You will pay only 25% of these costs.
You will pay 100% of the drug costs above $2,250 until you reach $3,600 in out-of-pocket spending.
Medicare will pay about 95% of the costs after you have spent $3,600.
Some prescription drug plans may have additional options to help you pay the out-of-pocket costs.
Extra Help Will Be Available for people with low incomes and limited assets. Most significantly, people with Medicare in the greatest need, who have incomes below a certain limit won't have to pay the premiums or deductible for prescription drugs. The income limits will be set in 2005. If you qualify, you will only pay a small co-payment for each prescription you need.
Other people with low incomes and limited assets will get help paying the premiums and deductible. The amount they pay for each prescription will be limited.
Medicare Advantage plan choices will be expanded to include regional preferred provider organization plans (PPOs). Regional PPOs will help more people with Medicare have multiple choices for Medicare health coverage, no matter where they live. PPOs can help you save money by choosing from doctors and providers on a plan's "preferred" list, but usually don't require you to get a referral. PPOs are among the most common and popular plans right now for working Americans.
All of these options are voluntary. You can choose to remain in the traditional Medicare plan you have today.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE?
For the latest information about Medicare, visit
http://www.medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users should call 877-486-2048.
To get a copy of this information in Spanish, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users should call 877-486-2048. Para una copia en espafiol, Name gratis al 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). Los usuarios de TTY deben llamar al 877-486-2048.
Blind Adults in America: Their Lives and Challenges
With funding from a variety of sources, current statistics on blindness are finally available in a report written this year by Diana M. Zuckerman, Ph.D., Blind Adults in America: Their Lives and Challenges. This report, published by the National Center for Policy Research (CPR) for Women & Families, a Washington-based nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, which uses research information to improve the health and safety of women, children, and families, will be especially useful to those writing grant proposals.
While the report is too lengthy for reprinting here, it is available on the Web at http://www.center4policy.org/blind0204.html and at http://www.visionenhancement.org. Briefly, however, the report provides the usual introduction, the scope of the study, justifications for the need of such a study, findings, demographics, household, health and economic characteristics, regional differences, causes of blindness and current health status, family income and education, work and other daily activities, programs and services, blind adults living in poverty, blind adults living alone, and policy issues.
Active Involvement Can
Improve Library Service
by Carole Rose, Librarian, Indiana Talking Book & Braille
Library
Library service to new Braille, large print, and talking book patrons of the Indiana Regional and Subregional libraries begins as soon as applications have been approved. Playback equipment is sent to cassette users. Everyone receives catalogs and three or four books, depending on the media requested. Book selection is based on preferences listed on the individual application.
Some patrons believe that once they start receiving books, they don't need to do anything but receive, read, and return them. Then one day they realize that they are getting too many at a time, too few, too many mysteries and not enough romance, or they may not like anything they have been getting.
No library is perfect, but using the library can be a rewarding experience if the reader becomes actively involved in determining the quality of his/her service. Readers are more satisfied and librarians or reader advisors become familiar with user needs and preferences.
Readers are encouraged to submit requests whenever possible. Titles may be selected by using bimonthly issues of Braille Book Review or Talking Book Topics, annual catalogs produced by NLS, by accessing the Indiana State Library web site, or by asking a librarian to look for specific titles. Specific titles aren't always necessary. Patrons may request material by favorite or recommended authors or those relating to specific areas of interest. Requests may be submitted by phone, mail, or email.
Many patrons prefer to allow the computer to select for them when all of their requested or reserved titles have been exhausted. This is a great way to explore the extensive collection of NLS-produced material, discovering unfamiliar titles and authors, new areas of interest, and perhaps a favorite book from long ago. There are also patrons who would prefer to let the computer select for them. This works especially well for the person who will read anything. It can also prove satisfactory for persons who select a wide variety of reading preferences. Readers of only biographies and mysteries will be without books once they have read all titles in those areas.
Email requests for the Indiana Regional Library should be sent to lbph@statelib.lib.in.us
Persons receiving cassette books from a subregional library should contact the specific library to obtain an email address.
Visit our web site at http://www.statelib.lib.in.us and click on Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library.
Editor's Note:
To better identify our NLS library, its name has been changed from
"Special Services Division" to "Indiana Talking Book & Braille
Library.
Reaching Out to Your
Community to Educate and Inform People About Blindness
by Cindy Burgett, President, Washington Council of the Blind -
cindybur@comcast.net
When we look at the opportunities for educating and informing our community about blindness, let's consider the six P's: Participating, Presenting, Publicizing, Promoting, Providing and Projecting.
1. PARTICIPATING! Chapter participation in community events: fairs, parades and service projects.
Many community fairs and events will allow you to set up an informational table for your chapter or affiliate for free or at a minimal cost. My local chapter has a table each year at Kid's Day, an event sponsored by our local Fire Department and held at the county fairgrounds. The cost is $20 and our main targets are children and their parents. We bring children's Braille books, have a couple of guide dog handlers with dogs at the booth, bring a Braille writer and some stickers to Braille kids names, and we have a stamp to put on their passport proving they came by our booth. Your display should depend on your audience. If you go out in the community promoting blindness issues, you need to be equipped with a list of resources: library services, rehab agency information, Guide Dog schools, local eye specialists, local transportation services, Lions Clubs, and, of course, your local chapter and state affiliate information.
Parades require a little coordinating, but what an awesome sight it is for people to see a group of blind people walking independently in a parade. One year that I can remember my chapter doing this, we had a Volkswagen convertible leading us with a couple of members riding in it holding up a banner. We followed with our canes and dogs, and some of us were even pulling along a stroller.
How about your chapter taking part in a community event such as making phone calls for a particular Initiative, wrapping presents for Toys For Tots, stuffing envelopes for the local Humane Society, standing with your local Lions handing out their little canes? The options are endless.
2. PRESENTING! Members making presentations to schools, clubs, churches and business organizations.
Individual members who are comfortable with public speaking will often find themselves sharing their personal experiences with blindness. Explaining Braille to young children or accessibility issues to business people are great ways to educate. Give the name of a contact person in your chapter to your local school districts and Chamber of Commerce, letting them know of the willingness of your members to do this, and you will be surprised!
You might consider helping your members interested in doing these types of presentations by connecting them with resources to get braille/print alphabet cards, posters creating illusions of different eye conditions, brochures about different eye conditions, your affiliate brochures or business cards, etc. Our state affiliate has purchased braille/print alphabet cards with our contact information on them for our members to use in these types of situations. The American Printing House for the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind and National Library Service are just a few of the places you might contact for some of these items.
3. PUBLICIZING! Publicize your organization through a web site, brochures, business cards, phone line/voice mail, newspaper coverage of an event and word of mouth. Most of these cost very little, but what a way to reach out to the community at hand.
There is free web hosting out there. Our local chapter uses www.free.webs.com. By utilizing your own members to keep your web site updated, you will save some money. However, if you decide to seek assistance elsewhere, you may be able to find a volunteer or hire a webmaster at a nominal fee.
Brochures can be done professionally or from a member's computer. As long as you get the information out that you want to share and make sure your material is in large print.
Business cards are another easy way to spread the name of your chapter or affiliate. WCB provides business cards with Braille on them for our members to take and share at their leisure. My local chapter has cards as well, but they do not have Braille; however, they do advertise our local information.
A phone line may be too costly for some affiliates, but having someone answer a phone in person, ready to answer questions is a real asset. I know many affiliates already have a toll-free number for this.
The next best thing to a phone line is having voice mail. Our chapter has a designated phone number that just provides an outgoing message and the ability to take messages. We pay about $13 a month for this service that is under one of our member's names. The bill actually comes to our chapter in care of that member.
Free advertising is a great thing to take advantage of. When you know an event is coming up where one of your members or your chapter or affiliate is playing a specific role, let the media know. Prepare your members to give contact info for your chapter or affiliate when being interviewed.
Then there's word of mouth. When you meet someone on the bus, at the doctor's office, at the grocery store, or in the workplace, you are given a unique opportunity. Use it to your advantage. Engage them in small talk if appropriate. Offer a business card or give them your phone number. Better yet, offer to take their phone number so that you can call them back with the answer to a question they may have or to give them details about an upcoming meeting or event with your local chapter.
4. PROMOTING! Promote blindness through a chapter/affiliate project or program.
Working with your city on Accessible Pedestrian Signals and seeing through such a project from beginning to end will give your chapter numerous opportunities for education.
Sharing in an awareness day for a company such as your local transit system is another opportunity. One of the chapters in our state affiliate did this last year. Their members provided canes for employees who rode the buses while under blindfold, to simulate being blind. Chapter members were also present to answer questions and make sure the participant's experience was as realistic as possible.
Participating in a job fair allows attendees and vendors to see what assistive technology is available for potential employees to use and to answer questions they may have. You may even partner with another vender in such a project.
Paying a visit to your legislators is a good way to let them know how a given initiative or bill will benefit blind people, or how it would harm us.
Putting on a program such as a convention or outreach day provides not only opportunities to reach out to other blind and visually impaired people in your community, but they are great opportunities for awareness of blindness issues and education to the general population as well.
5. PROVIDING! Provide support. This can be as easy as making a phone call or directing an individual to services they didn't know about, or a lot more of a commitment by your chapter to sponsor a support group for a Senior Center or living facility.
We all have special gifts or talents. So, whether yours is being a good listener, knowing how to fill out the different forms one needs to deal with to receive services, a natural gift of encouraging people, the time and know-how to teach computers or cooking, great organizational skills to help coordinate a program or service, the ability to facilitate a group, or something else all together, working with your fellow members to determine each of your individual strengths will assist you as a cohesive group to move forward in supporting one another and reaching out to your community to support others.
6. PROJECTING! Project a positive image about blindness! Each blind or visually impaired individual is a walking advertisement for what it means to be blind. Whether we like it or not, the image someone else paints of a blind person by their actions, appearance and attitude will make an impression on every person with whom he/she comes into contact. This also means that you are often that very person giving an education to someone who is creating an image of what it means to be blind.
Maybe it isn't fair that we, as blind people, should all be lumped into the experience of one person. But we all learn from experiences in every aspect of our lives. So why should this be any different?
How we talk to others, how we present our selves (our personal hygiene and what we wear), how we handle body language (looking at others when we speak to them, eye contact, and our awareness of personal space), how we solicit assistance and how we respond to offers of help, and how we travel from Point A to Point B, are just some of what others are using to establish their image of what it means to be blind.
It is true that most of us do not hold a degree in Blindness Education. But our own personal experiences as blind individuals place us in the position of educating the public about blindness whether we want to or not.
Each of us is a personal ambassador of blindness. Let's join together in recognition of our power as a collective body and individually, embrace the opportunities we have, to educate the many sighted people we encounter on our daily journey.
My Trip To The Mountain
Top
by Dolly Sowder
In the fall of 2003 our daughter Christina and son-in-law Jeff thought it would be fun if the four of us spent the day at Natural Bridge State Park in eastern Kentucky.
After a four-hour drive we ate a wonderful lunch at the lodge. Not really wanting to, but avoiding being called a chicken, I agreed to go to the top of the mountain in a ski lift. Michael, my sometimes called better half, told me it would be alright as my feet would almost touch the ground. That was true, just as we left the platform and before landing on the mountain top. What was in between was another story.
My knuckles were turning white holding on to a little bar going across our laps; the wind was blowing all around us. Mike turned to look at me and saw a big tear rolling down my cheek. I am sure it was because of the wind. I am not afraid of being on a ladder, at least I have some control there. I had no control traveling with the eagles.
We bought a round trip ticket and I was not looking forward to the ride back. Christina brought up the idea of following one of the trails down. I thought it was a great idea. Boy was I wrong. The trail was covered in leaves and very rugged especially for me who couldn't tell were she was going. There were tree roots embedded, which I tripped over several times and landed on my knees. We had to walk sideways about 20 feet between mountain walls. I held on to Mike's shoulders because in most spots the trail was about eighteen inches wide and I could not see the edge. I remember one time he said to keep to the right in case I started to slip. I asked why and he responded "You don't want to know". Some parts of the trail we had to sit down and slide down slick rocks. It was late in the day and I thought we would never get down before dark. We encountered a copperhead that decided to cross slowly in front of us with his tongue whipping in the air, probably because we were in his territory. At one point the trail broke off into two other directions.
An hour and a half later we made it to the bottom. I just wanted to go home. We stopped to eat half way home, then when we got back in the car, it wouldn't start. I won't go into all the details. We arrived home in the wee hours of the morning in a tow truck. I told the kids "Next time lets all go to a movie."
Indiana University Shares
Scanned Textbooks with Bookshare.org
Through a very meaningful partnership, Indiana University, one of
the nation's leading alternative text production facilities serving
students with disabilities, has partnered with Bookshare.org to make
college textbooks available to students with disabilities
nationwide.
Indiana University will contribute all textbooks scanned in its production facility to the growing Bookshare.org library, the largest contribution of education-specific materials to Bookshare.org to date. The arrangement also provides Indiana University students with qualifying disabilities access to the Bookshare.org collection (now numbering over 16,000).
Indiana joins a number of schools nationwide in the effort to maximize the educational impact of Bookshare.org by sharing the textbooks they have scanned for their students.
The scale and history of Indiana's book-scanning operation - which has produced more than 1,800 books to date - promises to make Bookshare.org a key resource for students at post-secondary institutions.
Because textbook scanning is such a labor-intensive process, sharing by Indiana and other institutions will help ease the burden on providers of services to students with disabilities.
"We've spent several years developing a book scanning operation that can effectively meet the alternative text needs of our students with disabilities," says Margaret
Londergan, Manager, Adaptive Technology Center at Indiana
University, "and we understand the effort and resources required to do so. So we're very excited about the opportunity to share books through Bookshare.org, and decrease the duplication of effort at universities nationwide. As more
institutions join us in partnering with Bookshare.org, the impact of our collective scanning efforts on educational opportunities for disabled students will only increase."
The first of the books provided through Indiana University are already available.
Job Hunting Resources For VIPs
In this world of fast-paced career changes and job insecurity, blind and visually impaired people need the latest tools and information to succeed in the job market. Job Hunting Resources for People with Vision Impairments is the definitive contemporary career guide for blind and visually impaired people because it focuses on topics other career books do not address. Not only does it include information on interviewing techniques in a post-ADA world and pointers on resume and cover letter writing, it also places emphasis on social and communications skills as they apply to visually impaired job hunters.
This dynamic new book includes the latest thinking on successful job-hunting strategies. You won't find a more comprehensive current career resource list anywhere. In addition to an excellent bibliography, the reader will find extensive online resources, which will continue to link him to future job opportunities.
The book is available for $10 per copy in large print, cassette, and computer diskette. The computer diskette edition includes braille ready files for those who wish to emboss all or part of the book on their braille embosser. The disk also includes an Internet directory that contains the entire book in HTML files. A braille resource list is available on request for those who purchase the book.
About the Author
Karen Lynn Thomas is a writer and editorial consultant specializing in employment, education, and disability awareness. For eight years before starting her own communications business, she worked in career education helping teens and adults prepare for college, create career plans, and conduct successful job searches. She has written and assisted in the development of training manuals, how-to guides, and related materials for blindness organizations such as The Hadley School for the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, and Blindskills, Inc. Since 1998 she has been a regular contributor to DIALOGUE magazine, published by Blindskills, Inc. She has a B.A. in English and Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional affiliations include the Association for Women in Communications and the International Association of Business Communicators.
To order, contact Blindskills, Inc., toll-free, 800-860-4224 or 503-581-4224; Fax, 503-581-0178. Make checks and money orders payable to Blindskills, Inc. and send to P.O. Box 5181, Salem, OR 97304-0181. Blindskills also accepts MasterCard and Visa credit cards.
Online, Interactive Book Discussions At Their Best!
Audio Avenue recently announced the next two months of online, interactive book discussion programs, sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center and TAP Information Services.
The group meets on the dates mentioned below in an iVocalize conference room from 7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. (Central). Everyone is welcome - both sighted and visually impaired. Tom Peters from TAP Information Services leads the discussions.
To enter the room, go to: http://www.talkingcommunities.com/entrance.pl?LIB-Auditorium&nopass_field=1. Then, type your name in the name box and click ENTER. A small software applet will automatically download on your computer as you enter the first time. To interact with audio, you need a PC, a microphone which you can get at Wal-Mart or other electronic suppliers for under $10, and speakers. If you do not have a microphone you can interact with text.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004: The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich (RC 53273) (Fiction). From 1912 to 1996 Agnes De Witt has presented herself to the Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota as a benevolent priest, Father Damien, all the while concealing her female identity. She recalls her life story while debating what to reveal to an envoy from the Vatican investigating a nun's alleged miracles.
Thursday, June 17, 2004: The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society, and Politics by Bruce J. Schulman (RC 54009) (Non-Fiction). Historian portrays life in the U.S. in the 1970s, and shows how the decade transformed American popular beliefs and cultural attitudes. Analyzes presidential politics, national policies, and the shift of economic power. Describes the many social changes, including racial integration, the graying of America, and the women's movement.
All participants are encouraged to suggest books for discussion. The group has already reviewed East of Eden, Handling Sin, Theodore Rex, The Great Gatsby, and Seabiscuit. Don't delay. Plan now to attend the next meeting on Audio Avenue.
If you have any questions, please contact Tom Peters at tapinformation@yahoo.com or Lori Bell at lbell927@yahoo.com
GW Micro Announces Window-Eyes 4.5 Service Pack 3 & Two Staff Changes
Stability, reliability, and performance are enhanced even more with this latest service pack for Window-Eyes.
Here are some of the items you can expect to see from Window-Eyes 4.5 SP3:
Complete information is also available at http://www.gwmicro.com/products/index.php?prod=wereadme
Service Pack3 is free to download if you already have version 4.5 or 4.5 SP1 and SP2. If you registered your copy of Window-Eyes, simply go to the help menu of Window-Eyes and choose the Window-Eyes Update option and follow the instructions, or download directly from:
http://www.gwmicro.com/products/index.php?prod=sp2download
If you are eligible to download but prefer a CD, please contact the GW Micro Order Department at 260-489-3671 about purchasing a new CD for $20 plus shipping. If your version is earlier than 4.5 please call about pricing.
GW Micro has also announced the addition of Erik Deckers, of Syracuse, Indiana, to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. He will oversee the domestic and international marketing of Window-Eyes screen reading software. He has been working as the Director of WE International and as a freelance marketing consultant. He brings to the position an extensive background in consumer retail marketing as well as business-to-business marketing.
Clarence Whaley, the previous Director of Sales and Marketing, has now assumed the duties of Training Division Manager. As many know, he led the way to creating the formal Window-Eyes Training classes that have steadily increased in popularity. He excels in one-on-one and small group teaching, and makes learning Window-Eyes fun and easy.
Opera: New Voice Operated
Internet Browser
(AP March 23, 2004 - Oslo, Norway)
Web surfers could be able to talk to their computers one day using a browser being developed by Opera Software. The new browser incorporates IBM's ViaVoice technology, enabling the computer to ask what the user wants and "listen" to the request.
"Hi. I am your browser. What can I do for you?" asked a laptop with the demonstration versions of the browser. The message can be personalized, such as greeting users by name.
The computer learns to recognize users' voices, accents and inflections by having them read a list of words into a microphone.
"Voice is the most natural and effective way we communicate," said Christen Krogh, head of Opera's software development. "In the years to come, it will greatly facilitate how we interact with technology."
Opera is the third-largest browser on the Web. Although tiny compared to Internet Explorer and Netscape, it has been gaining ground as the browser of choice for handheld devices because it is fast and needs little memory. The demonstration version, so far only in English, is still far from normal casual conversation. After listening to the computer's question, users have to wait for a tiny beep before stating their request. But the computer displayed an ability to pick out key words in one demonstration. Tell the computer "get pizza" and a window popped up with a pizza order form, as the machine asked to take the order. "I would like a medium pizza with extra cheese, mushrooms and salami," a tester told the machine. The machine checked off the appropriate boxes on the form, but interpreted "a pizza" as "eight pizzas." Then it asked for confirmation and corrected the number when told the order was for one. It responds to simple commands. For example, say "Get AP" and the browser brings up the Web page for The Associated Press. "The new offering will allow us to interact with the content on the Web in a more natural way, first on PCs and in the near future on devices such as cell phones and PDAs, (personal digital assistants)", said IBM's director of embedded speech, Igor Jablokov. Voice technology could open up the Internet to users who had been physically unable to use a keyboard.
Although the company declined to specify a launch date, it did indicate it plans to first launch an English version of the voice browser for computers running the Windows operating system. Versions for other systems, including handhelds, will follow.
To read more about this exciting new concept, visit http://www.opera.com/.
Tactile & Braille Salt & Pepper Shakers
While it is relatively easy to determine by weight which shaker contains the salt and which contains the pepper, some may prefer a set of Super Salt & Pepper Shakers. This set has braille and tactile marks below the ridge, which allows for precise condiment selection without having to pre-test the contents of shakers. For the partially sighted, these glass shakers also have distinguishable white colored sleeves for salt and black colored sleeves for pepper. The set consists of 1 Salt and 1 Pepper shaker 3" tall that holds approximately 1 ox each. The metal caps are threaded for easy filling and cleaning.
Cost: $8 - $10.
These are available from a variety of sources but two are listed here.
SightConnection
800-458-4888 or 206-525-5556
csbstore@csbps.com
http://www.sightconnection.com
Maxi-Aids:
800-522-6294
http://www.maxiaids.com/Scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=3038
Because of the fear and confusion often experienced when a fire alarm is sounded, the KidSmart™ Vocal Smoke Detector developed primarily for children can also provide an added safety for everyone regardless of age. Read on to see if you agree.
Traditional smoke detectors are incapable of awakening deep sleeping children, not because they are not loud enough, but rather it is a function of the way the brain recognizes sounds that are familiar to the child. This recently discovered problem has been detailed by media stations across the United States.
Studies conducted by researchers from around the globe, including the Victoria University Sleep Lab of Victoria, Australia, the world's foremost authority on sleeping and waking behaviors, indicate the best solution to this problem is to have such sound warnings accompanied by a personally recorded "familiar voice message". These studies revealed that 100% of all children tested with the "familiar voice message" awoke within seconds. Similar test results have been verified by studies conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, United States Naval Academy Fire Department and the University of Georgia.
The KidSmart detector makes it easy for parents or guardians to record directions for actions the child should take when he/she hears the alarm. Such messages are simply recorded by depressing the button on the back of the unit and following the verbal instructions.
Other features of the Vocal Smoke Detector include personalized instructions, a directional alarm system, fire drill functionality, integrated loud speaker, temporal tone siren, advanced photoelectric sensing technology, and long life battery design.
Availability: Because of the tremendous number of orders being processed, shipment of the detectors cannot be guaranteed until after June 15, 2004.
For more information on Smart Safety Systems, contact the KidSmart Corporation by e-mail at info@kidsmartcorp.com, on the Web at http://www.kidsmartcorp.com, by phone at 877-KIDSMART, or via standard mail at KidSmart Corporation, Inc., 8351 Roswell Road - Suite 382, Atlanta, Georgia 30350.
Officers
Gerry Koors: President
5885 No Central
Indianapolis, IN 46220
317-251-2562
gerrykoors@aol.com
John Huffman: Vice-President
Indianapolis, IN
317-228-0496
j.huffman@verizon.net
Edie Huffman: Secretary
Indianapolis, IN
317-228-0496
johnediehuffman@hotmail.com
Don Koors: Treasurer
Indianapolis, IN
317-251-2562
donkoors@aol.com
Dolly Sowder: Immediate Past President
Bedford, IN
812-279-1669
sowder@kiva.net
Board Members
Michael Bowman, Indianapolis - mikebowman@ameritech.net
Maurice Brockman, Bloomington - brockman@bloomington.in.us
Jeff Busch, Bloomington - jebusch@indiana.edu
Anne Elliott, Indianapolis - aelliott@ameritech.net
Rebecca Hodson, Greencastle - sightless17@hotmail.com
Earlene Hughes, Lafayette - earlene.hughes7@verizon.net
Sue L'Esperance, Columbia City - angel519@maplenet.net
Josephine Price, Indianapolis - 317-259-9778
Julie Wetzel, Bloomington - Julie.Wetzel@ssa.gov
:Chapter Representatives
Circle City: John Huffman
Lacota: :Sue L'Esperance
North Central: Sandy Lingofelter
South Central: Ada Bailey
Hate is like acid.
It can damage the vessel in which it is stored as well as destroy the
object on which it is poured.
--- Ann Landers
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200 and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?
---- Peg Bracken
Failures...But Not Quite
Afte Fred Astaire's first screen test, a 1933 memo from the MGM testing director said, "Can't act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little." Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.
A relatively unsuccessful marketer of restaurant equipment, he didn't
sell his first hamburger until age 52. At a time when many people
prepare for retirement, Ray Kroc built McDonald's from a handful of
hamburger stands into the world's largest food chain.
When his older brother was killed during WWII, he first withdrew into
a shell. Then he began to listen to the radio to ease his pain. Soon
he was dreaming about hosting his own radio show. That led Dick Clark
to start American Bandstand.
Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper for lacking ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
A Sense of Values
During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a pop quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one. "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name?
I handed in the paper leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade.
"Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
---Joann Jones
Guideposts
Persons interested in becoming a member of this forward-looking and democratic organization need only to send their check for $7, payable to ACBI, along with the following information:
Name _________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________
City/State/Zip: __________________________________________
Phone Number: (____)____________________________________
E-Mail Address: _________________________________________
Occupation: ____________________________________________
Newsletter Format Preference:
____ E-Mail ____ Audiocassette
____ Large Print, ____ Computer Disk
Mail To:
Donald Koors, 5885 North Central, Indianapolis, IN 46220
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