CCB OUTLOOK Spring/Summer, 2000 Steve Dresser, Editor Published by The Connecticut Council of the Blind Alice Jackson, President Toll-free: (800) 231-3349 Eastern Connecticut: (860) 859-2335 On the World Wide Web: http://members.tripod.com/~dmclean/ccb.html Together, we can make a difference. This newsletter is published four times a year, and is available in braille, print, large print, on cassette, via E-mail, and on the CCB Web site. If you'd like to contribute to the next issue, please have your article ready by Friday, November 1. You may submit your article in braille, on cassette or computer disk, via e-mail, or over the phone. If you want to dictate your article, please call me at (860) 521-8903, and I'll return your call. Remember, this newsletter is nothing without your help, so please keep those articles coming! TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE AFFILIATION BASED ON LIFESTYLE: CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION OR MORAL DILEMMA by Steve Dresser SPRING 2000 CCB CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS by Cheree Heppe MEMBERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS by Marcia Dresser CCB'S FIRST BENEFIT DANCE: A HUGE SUCCESS by Kim Soucy WE DID IT! by Marcia Dresser CCB VOICE MAIL UPDATE by Steve Dresser MEET OUR NEW OUTREACH COORDINATOR ACB NATIONAL CONVENTION 2000 DELEGATE REPORT NARRATORS DENIED VOICE AT APH: HOW YOU CAN HELP by Marcia Dresser FROM BESB'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADVISORY GROUP UPDATE by Marcia Dresser FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE: DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by Kim Soucy CCB NEWSMAKERS CCB STANDING COMMITTEES CCB BOARD OF DIRECTORS =========================================================================== FROM THE EDITOR If you've been waiting with baited breath for your spring issue of the _Outlook, please accept my sincere apology. Unfortunately, the compilation of the membership survey took longer than anticipated, and I didn't want to send the newsletter to press without including it. Then, with the ACB national convention about to happen in Louisville, it seemed like a good idea to see what might develop there. So here, at long last, is the spring/summer issue, which I hope you'll find both entertaining and interesting. It seems that the year 2000 has gotten off to a great start for blind people in Connecticut. Thanks to the cooperative efforts of CCB and NFB, Connecticut now has a braille bill which was passed by the Senate on April 28. On April 8, CCB held a dance which brought in over $1000 and turned out to be one of our most successful fund raisers. Not only did we give our treasury a much needed boost, but we had fun in the process. It took the combined talents and skills of several people to make our dance a success, but talent alone would not have been enough. We've been talking about this dance since Kim Soucy suggested it in 1996, and without the hard work and dedication of Dave and Carla Baldwin and everyone on the dance committee, we'd probably _still be talking. Next April will be here before we know it. Let's make the CCB dance an annual event! Larry Alibozek, BESB's recently appointed Executive Director, likes to remind us that this is "a new day" at the agency, and urges us to bury the past and concentrate on the present and future. I was prepared to embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly, especially after hearing about the new atmosphere of cooperation developing between BESB, CCB, and NFB of Connecticut. Then, two things happened which gave me pause. After accepting an invitation to speak at our spring convention, Mr. Alibozek cancelled at the last minute, sending Donna Balaski, Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach, to speak in his place. She informed us that Mr. Alibozek had an urgent meeting with the governor--on Saturday morning? Well--maybe--but given the rather precarious state of relations between BESB and Connecticut's blind community, isn't a meeting with one of the state's two consumer organizations _also pretty important? Six weeks later, we find that Ms. Balaski, in the grand tradition of upward mobility in America, has been promoted to BESB's Deputy Director! Granted, she's smart, hard-working, enthusiastic, and empathetic, but how did she learn enough administrative and management skills to take on this daunting task in such a short time? And what about other potential candidates? Surely there must have been a few worthy of consideration for this important job, especially since Mr. Alibozek is placing his new Deputy Director in charge of all dealings with consumers while he concentrates on internal administrative matters. Does this mean that the Deputy Director has the power to make any changes deemed necessary for the benefit of consumers? Or, is the Deputy Director nothing more than a shield between the Executive Director and the consumer? I truly don't know, but I think we need to find out. Let's not ignore the history of the past several years-- or, like those who have, we'll be doomed to relive it. --Steve Dresser PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE We are finally catching our breaths after a successful dance that raised about one thousand dollars for CCB! Many sincere thanks go to Dave Baldwin, his wife Carla, and the members of his committee, who obviously worked very hard to make the dance a success. Think of what we might have raised if everyone in CCB had sold tickets! Our success with the dance shows what can happen when people work together. We have had two successful fund raisers within one year: the venison dinner and raffle near the end of 1999, and the dance in early 2000. All of us will have to work hard to continue this successful trend. I am grateful to everyone who has put his or her efforts into making CCB a viable organization, and saddened by those who do not choose to participate, but want to ride along on the coat tails of the workers. Those who have chosen to resign with no explanation other than that they are disgruntled also sadden me. I, as your President, can do nothing to facilitate positive changes without constructive dialogue. There are many ways to reach me: by phone, by voice mail at BESB, through the CCB toll-free number, or by e-mail. If that isn't enough, you can contact me by E-voice at 1-800-222-6000. You will be instructed to punch in my E-voice mailbox number, 281-0676 (my phone number minus the area code). So, please, let's talk! Let's engage in constructive dialogue to keep CCB the high quality organization that it is. Finally, I feel it necessary to say a few words about a recent decision made by ACB's Board of Directors. The ACB Board has accepted a new affiliate, Blind Friends of Lesbians and Gays (BFLAG). This has caused a lot of unrest among ACB members who feel that acceptance of this affiliate supports a life style which they cannot condone. We must continue to engage in dialogue with the national organization, and oppose this newest affiliate not on moral grounds, but on the grounds that sexual orientation is not a blindness issue. We must consider what effect affiliation based on lifestyle will have on ACB as a whole. We cannot and should not try to legislate morality. Certainly we should object to what is unacceptable to us in a constructive way--not by simply resigning. We may not be able to turn this one around, but we can stay and work to keep CCB and ACB from becoming further fragmented. --Alice Jackson AFFILIATION BASED ON LIFESTYLE: CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION OR MORAL DILEMMA by Steve Dresser In February of this year, the ACB Board of Directors, in an unprecedented move that sent shock waves through the entire organization, created a new ACB affiliate, Blind Friends of Lesbians and Gays (BFLAG). To my knowledge, this is the first ACB affiliate based primarily on life style. Although there are certainly blindness-related concerns here, as there are in every aspect of life for blind people, I think the majority of BFLAG's concerns have to do with lifestyle and sexual orientation, with blindness taking a distant second place. Creation of this affiliate has, in my opinion, set a dangerous precedent for ACB, and one that will cause deep and lasting rifts within the organization. It has been argued that by creating this affiliate, the Board, and therefore the American Council of the Blind, has given tacit approval to homosexuality. Although it is tempting to make this kind of logical leap, especially if you oppose the creation of this affiliate either on moral or religious grounds, you should understand that the Board's decision was based on ACB's constitution, and had nothing to do with morality. The requirements for becoming an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind are spelled out in Article III of ACB's Constitution, "Membership, Voting and Dues" as follows: "Any organization having at least twenty-five (25) voting members, the majority of whom are blind, may apply for affiliation with this organization [ACB]. Such application must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. To remain in good standing an affiliate shall maintain a membership of at least fifteen (15), a majority of whom are blind." Section B of Bylaw 10, "Application for Affiliation," states the information that must be included in an application for affiliation: "Such an application shall contain the following information: a cover letter stating the reasons for the application, a current membership list indicating those members who are legally blind, those who are voting members, and a copy of the applicant's governing documents including, as applicable, its constitution, bylaws, and articles of incorporation. An application shall be accompanied by a tender of one year's affiliate dues computed under ACB's Bylaws and based on the membership list submitted with the application." It's not hard to understand why the Board granted BFLAG's request for affiliation. BFLAG met all the constitutional requirements, and the Board wanted to uphold ACB's policy of including any organization of blind people. Unfortunately, in its haste to be counted on the side of political correctness, the Board overlooked two very important things. First, BFLAG's concerns have more to do with lifestyle than with blindness. Secondly, many ACB members see sexual orientation as both a moral and a religious issue. They feel that the Board's decision forces them to choose between their religion and an organization which they regard as a vital part of their lives. It's an impossible choice, and one that no one should have to make. If these issues are important to you, I hope you'll join us for a special meeting on Saturday, August 19 at CIB/Oak Hill, 120 Holcomb Street in Hartford from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. We will discuss the issues surrounding BFLAG's affiliation, and draft a letter to the ACB Board stating our concerns. CIB/Oak Hill has limited transportation, so please let me know by August 11th if you need a ride. If you can't be there, but still want to be heard, please call me at (860) 521-8903, or send me your ideas in braille or on tape at 142 Webster Hill Boulevard, West Hartford, CT 06107. SPRING, 2000 CCB CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS by Cheree Heppe The Connecticut Council of the Blind's annual spring convention met on Saturday, April 29 in the auditorium building at the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, 120 Holcomb Street in Hartford. Highlights included the following: Throughout the meeting, Shirley Phelon drew for and gave away a wide range of door prizes. As well as the door prizes, an auction netted a tidy sum of $70 for CCB. A third of CCB's members attended this convention. The membership survey conducted by the CCB Membership Committee showed several directions CCB should take, and pointed out ways for the Board to assist and serve the membership. CCB business, old and new, took some of the morning and we learned that we raised over $1,000.00 at our spring dance. CCB plans to have a "live" person answer its 800 line beginning soon. The calls will be better addressed, and mailboxes will be set up for CCB officers and committee chairs. BESB will have its own mailbox. Donna Balaski, BESB's Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach, spoke to us in the morning. In the afternoon, Paul Carver, a representative from the DPUC, explained the upcoming changes to energy provision, and how consumers could best prepare to take advantage of the new deregulation. The Guide Dog Users of Connecticut ceased to be a viable CCB affiliate. The official reason for disbanding was a lack of interest. Thanks to everyone who worked to make this convention a success. MEMBERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS by Marcia Dresser, Chair, Membership Committee I'm sure you recall that, sometime within the last several months, someone from the Membership Committee called you and asked you some questions about CCB. Here, at long last, is what you told us. Of the 60 people contacted (1999 members), 50 completed the survey. This is a response rate of 83%, which in itself is excellent. Now, let's look at the questions individually. 1. What do you like about CCB? What don't you like? Most people gave CCB high marks in general. CCB is perceived as a unified, well-respected organization with great potential, and we present a positive image in the community. 20 respondents (40%) appreciate the camaraderie they get from CCB, and 20 (40%) value its purpose (for example, advocacy, outreach, making life better for blind people). 9 (18%) cited the newsletter as enjoyable and very important. Other Comments: "I like the fact that we have an organization like CCB that represents blind people in Connecticut without demanding that they sacrifice their individuality." "I like the fact that CCB is not pushy and does not try to force anyone to become a member of the organization." "CCB does not deny the impact of blindness by brainwashing or pressuring people to think and act as though they can do every activity." Fifteen members (30%) think overall communication is poor between members and between members and the Board of Directors. Twelve (24%) are unhappy with the lack of commitment and/or participation on the part of some members. Too much politics and not enough structure were also cited as problems. Fourteen (28%) had no complaints. 2. What would you like to see changed, added, or dropped? Four members (8%) suggested reinstating the telephone tree. Nine (18%) would like to see local chapters throughout the state, especially in Hartford and New Haven. Three (6%) asked that GDUCT be revitalized, and three (6%) would like to see a special-interest chapter for computer users. Four (8%) feel that inactive members should be contacted once a month. The following are suggestions made by one person: Eliminate one secretary and one member at large position on the Board. The Board should receive training in grant writing, lobbying legislators, etc. Make the dance an annual event. There is too much emphasis on computers. There is not enough emphasis on computers. There should be new blood on the Board. Create a support committee to contact members who are ill or need assistance or moral support. The minutes should be mailed in advance so that at the convention all we have to do is make the corrections and vote on them, which will save a lot of time. Have a retreat by a facilitator, someone outside the organization, who can help formulate a mission statement and develop a purpose. 3. What issues should we as an organization focus on? Twenty-nine members (58%) said our number one priority should be (surprise!) transportation. Eighteen (36%) cited employment issues (e.g. networking, a mentor program, job search, accessibility in the workplace). Other areas mentioned are: Outreach--to parents, blind children, newly blind, elderly, and people with emotional and financial needs: 10 members (20%). Education/braille literacy: 9 (18%). Advocacy/legislation: 8 (16%). Fund raising: 6 (12%). Work with BESB and CIB to see that their resources are put to best possible use for blind people: 5 (10%). Increase membership: 4 (8%). Communication (accessible Web sites, DVS, media, public service announcements, telecommunications): 4 (8%). Computer workshops: 3 (6%). Parental concerns: 3 (6%). Develop a volunteer network to assist with shopping, reading, transportation, etc.: 3 (6%). Reinstate scholarship: 2 (4%). Pursue grants: 2 (4%). Accessible signage in public buildings: 1 (2%). Work with BESB to ensure equal treatment of blind staff: 1 (2%). Take the initiative to create a rehabilitation center in Connecticut: 1 (2%). 4. Do you attend CCB conventions? If not, why not? What can we do to see you there? Thirty-five people (70%) have attended at least one CCB convention; 15 (30%) have not. Reasons for not attending include family responsibilities, lack of transportation, convention sites hard to find, unwillingness to give up an entire Saturday, and uninteresting topics. Three members said we should have just one convention a year, and three others said we should meet more often. Two members are hard of hearing and are concerned about missing important information. Several suggestions regarding conventions were made: CCB should provide day care. There should be better directions to conventions. Conventions should be held in hotels with good restaurants. There should be less business and more social time (music, poetry, outdoor activities). Follow up with a phone call after the convention notice is sent out. 5. Should we continue to have an overnight convention in the fall? Have you attended one? Would you consider attending? Thirty-two people (64%) said we should continue with overnight conventions, sixteen (32%) said no, and two (4%) were not sure. Of those opposed to overnights, six have attended them. Cost, distance, and lack of interest were given as deterrents. Of the thirty-two in favor, one person would attend if child care were available, and another would attend if it were free. Five members, although they voted in favor of overnights, said they would not attend themselves because of cost, work schedule, or a desire not to be away from home overnight. Nine respondents expressed interest in attending if the program was appealing and if schedule permitted. It was suggested that we obtain a grant to subsidize overnight conventions. Additional Comments: "In order to better determine people's wishes and feelings, this survey should have been longer and more specific (choices, agree-disagree questions, etc.). As it is, it's too open-ended." "Each member should ask a sighted person to please help for a day or part of a day." "I see the group floundering." "We have many good people and a great deal of talent in CCB." "Let's turn our talking into action!" "Focus our limited resources on the projects we decide to undertake." "Good leaders will help us focus our talents." "NFB takes care of the antagonism; we're the positive group." "We applaud our members' individuality and want them to succeed." "We have been able to help a lot of people through our outreach efforts, and our toll-free number. Even if people decide not to join, we have the reputation of helping rather than coercing." "Even though we have a long way to go, we have much to be proud of!" * * * Pretty comprehensive, don't you think? We are very grateful to those of you who volunteered to serve on committees. Your preferences have been forwarded to the committee chairs. Since tabulating these results, I've been doing a lot of soul- searching. I realize now that we have some members who want to become more involved but are uncertain as to how to go about it, and we have some members who, through this survey, have asked for assistance. We need to stay in much better contact with each other! Your survey responses will be extremely helpful to the Board as we continue to chart our course for CCB. Many thanks to all of you who participated! CCB'S FIRST BENEFIT DANCE: A HUGE SUCCESS by Kim Soucy A BIG THANK YOU to David and Carla Baldwin, and everyone else who helped organize our first annual benefit dance. You all did a wonderful job! The dance was held on April 8 at the VFW Hall in Manchester. The turnout was better than expected, with 50 to 60 people attending. Not too many were dancing, but the music was quiet enough so everyone could chat with friends. Sandwiches, chips, and peanuts were provided, and some people brought their own snacks. The club prices for drinks were quite reasonable. There was also a raffle with some very nice prizes. Okay, some of us got a little carried away and ran up to collect our prizes with the wrong ticket number--sorry about that. What can I say--I like to win and it doesn't happen all that often. Thanks to the good turnout, and a lot of hard work, CCB made a profit of over one thousand dollars! Excellent for our first annual benefit dance, I think. WE DID IT! by Marcia Dresser You may remember that I represented CCB on the Braille Literacy Task Force, which completed its work in December. (See the CCB OUTLOOK, Winter, 2000.) As a result of everyone working together for a common goal, the legislature passed Connecticut's braille bill late Friday night, April 28th. It will become effective when Governor Rowland signs it into law, hopefully by the end of May. While it's not as specific as the legislation passed in some states, I think it's a good start, because the advisory council established by the bill will address the relevant issues and make recommendations to the legislature. The entire text of the bill follows. * * * An Act Implementing The Recommendations Of The Braille Literacy Task Force. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. A. There is established a Braille Literacy Advisory Council which shall (1) review Braille literacy and assess the availability of services for visually impaired children of school age, (2) collect data on the frequency an individualized education plan contains a recommendation or determination that a visually impaired child should not be taught Braille and the reasons therefore, (3) evaluate the learning media assessments for visually impaired children and the need for a common standard for such assessments which shall be periodically reviewed, (4) develop a plan to attract qualified teachers for visually impaired children, (5) assess methods to improve coordination between the Board of Education and Services for the Blind and local education agencies which employ teachers of visually impaired children relative to Braille instruction and the teaching of such children and the expansion of professional development programs for teachers of visually impaired children employed by said board and such agencies, (6) encourage local school districts to require vendors of school textbooks to provide electronic or Braille versions of such books, or books in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange format in a timely fashion, and (7) review the caseloads and direct service time of teachers of visually impaired children employed by the Board of Education and Services for the Blind and teachers of such children employed by local education agencies, and assess the literacy of such children attending schools with such teachers. B. Said advisory council shall consist of the following members: (1) The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee; (2) the executive director of the Board of Education and Services for the Blind or said director's designee; (3) one representative of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (4) one teacher of visually impaired children employed by the Board of Education and Services for the Blind, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (5) one teacher of visually impaired children employed by a local education agency, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (6) one public school administrator, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (7) one visually impaired public high school student who reads and writes Braille, appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (8) one representative of the Connecticut Council of the Blind, appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives and (9) one parent of a visually impaired child of school age enrolled in a public school, appointed by the Governor. C. All appointments to the advisory council shall be made no later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. D. The advisory council shall elect a chairperson from among its members, except that the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons for the first meeting of the advisory council. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the advisory council, which shall be held no later than ninety days after the effective date of this section. E. Any member who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from office. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation. F. Not later than January 1, 2000, and annually thereafter, the advisory council shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Section 2. Not later than January 1, 2001, the Braille Literacy Advisory Council established under section 1 of this act shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters related to aging on the necessity of establishing a task force to evaluate the unmet needs of adults who have low vision. Section 3. A. Not later than January 1, 2002, the Board of Education and Services for the Blind and the Department of Education shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services and to the Braille Literacy Advisory Council established under section 1 of this act on their efforts concerning the certification of teachers of the visually impaired. B. Not later than January 1, 2002, the Board of Education and Services for the Blind shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services and to the Braille Literacy Advisory Council established under section 1 of this act (1) on the amount of reimbursement requested by local education agencies for each pupil entitled to receive special education instruction in accordance with the provisions of section 10-295 of the general statutes, and (2) concerning access to, and utilization of, uncharged support services, including professional development programs, by local education agencies on a per town basis. Section 4. This act shall take effect from its passage. Statement of Purpose: To implement the recommendations of the Braille Literacy Task Force. * * * Editor's note: Governor Rowland signed the Braille Bill into law on Friday, May 26, 2000. CCB VOICE MAIL UPDATE by Steve Dresser If you were at our spring convention this year, you know that we've made several changes to CCB voicemail. For those who couldn't attend, however, here's what's been happening. On April 18, CCB took what I hope will be an important step forward in our outreach program by giving BESB a mailbox on our system. Now, people who call our toll-free number to leave messages for the agency can do so by accessing BESB's mailbox. At the same time, the agency can use our system to publicize events and activities of interest to the blind community. Some of you will recall that this idea was suggested several years ago when Kenneth R. Tripp, BESB's former Executive Director, attended one of our conventions. Although it was not a high priority then, it appears that the agency's new administration now wants to pursue this form of outreach. Let's hope that this is the beginning of a new era of cooperation between BESB and CCB. On May 22, CCB's toll-free number was moved so that Tammy Robbins, our new outreach coordinator, could begin taking calls for CCB. For almost three years, Marcia and I have been handling calls as best we could, with the overflow going to a voice mail system running on our computer. While this arrangement has worked fairly well, we've noticed that most callers prefer to talk to a real person, and often just hang up when the voice mail system answers the phone. Since we both work, we're not here enough to handle outreach effectively, so when Tammy volunteered to take over this very important CCB function, it seemed like a perfect solution. If you didn't talk to Tammy and her husband Jim at our spring convention, you should read "Meet Our New Outreach Coordinator" immediately following this article. Voice mail will still be available for those who simply want to leave a message. Since we'll be using SNET Voicemail instead of a PC-_based system, we've had to change the way our mailboxes are set up. Since the SNET system provides only four mailboxes, we've organized them as follows: General Information: To reach this mailbox, simply stay on the line and begin speaking when you hear the tone. CCB Board of Directors: To reach this mailbox, press 1 and begin speaking at the sound of the tone. Since this mailbox is shared by all CCB board members, it is important to include the name of the person for whom the message is intended. Committees and special projects: Press 2 for this mailbox, and leave your message when you hear the tone. BESB: Press 3 to leave a message for anyone at the agency. Tammy will be glad to answer your questions, so call her at (860) 859-2330. MEET OUR NEW OUTREACH COORDINATOR Hello everyone! My name is Tammy Robbins, and I will be volunteering on a full-time basis as the new outreach coordinator for Ccb. Some of you will remember me from this year's spring convention and the membership survey, but for those of you who don't know me, I thought I'd take a few minutes to tell you a little about myself. I am a stay-at-home mom with a lot of free time during the day, so I decided that I would like to devote my time to a worthy cause while my seven-year-old son is in school. Having been blind since birth, I see a real need for organizations such as this one to participate actively in both the blind and sighted communities. For this reason, I have volunteered to answer phones, relay information, and refer individuals to the programs and services that will best help them. I hope that this type of outreach will promote more effective communication and exchange of information between CCB and the blind community at large. I really want this outreach effort to work, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please call me toll free at (800) 231-3349. For those of you with computers, my E-mail address is icon@99main.com I look forward to being CCB's outreach coordinator, and hope to see you all at our next convention. Sincerely yours, Tammy S. Robbins Outreach Coordinator ACB NATIONAL CONVENTION 2000 DELEGATE REPORT Thank you for allowing me to act as Connecticut's delegate to the ACB national convention in Louisville, Kentucky this year. As always, I came home feeling energized and excited about new products. I attended the business sessions and for the first time went to the Nominating Committee meeting, but I thought you might be more interested in hearing about some issues which directly impact your daily life. If any of you are so inclined, you may borrow the tapes of the general sessions, which I will be receiving shortly. All through the week, it was pointed out that blind people have not filed many complaints regarding access issues. Often, when companies are approached about making bills, computer software, or banking accessible, they respond that the market is too small. The proprietor of Home Readers, which supplies catalogs on tape, says that the catalog companies do not feel that they would get enough orders from blind people to make such a project worthwhile. Therefore, we have to let the powers that be know that we are a force to be reckoned with. Lots of good stuff was on display in the exhibit hall. Two companies were demonstrating audible traffic signals. I obtained literature from another company [Clever Devices] which markets a system for announcing bus stops. Still another man is working on a device which would audibly read what is on your prescription bottles. He, too, needs us to persuade drugstores to buy the machine. Also, how about vets! Kim Charlson had good news about banking. She reported that a settlement is being finalized with Fleet Bank. Within approximately a year, audible ATM's will be available throughout New England. One company was demonstrating one at the convention. The talking book narrators at APH are having a labor dispute with management. They do not receive the same pay as narrators with other organizations. In hopes that their pay will be raised before they find it necessary to stop reading, they asked readers to express support for the narrators' position. [See "Narrators Denied Voice At Aph: How You Can Help" following this article.] A record number of resolutions were submitted this year. One which would have revoked the charter of ACB's newest affiliate, Blind Friends of Lesbians and Gays (BFLAG), was declared out of order by President Paul Edwards so that a great deal of controversy was avoided. Five board members and three members of the Board of Publications were elected. [See "The Braille Forum" for details.] Respectfully submitted, Ellen M. Telker NARRATORS DENIED VOICE AT APH: HOW YOU CAN HELP by Marcia Dresser Did you know that Mitzi Friedlander has narrated about 1200 books for our talking book program? Mitzi is warm and gracious, and it was a great honor to meet her, Carol Jordan Stewart, Barry Bernson, Roy Avers, Gary Tipton, and John Polk, among others, at the ACB convention in Louisville this year. Despite their busy schedules, they made sure that conventioneers had several opportunities to chat with them. Barry Bernson explained, "We read in isolation, so it's wonderful for us to talk to so many of you who enjoy the end product." Now, the APH narrators need our help. They are, unfortunately, involved in a serious labor dispute with APH management. (When asked about this at the convention general session, APH President Tuck Tinsley would not comment except to say that negotiations are proceeding.) The narrators have outlined their concerns, as well as suggestions for action, on a tape, which is included with this newsletter. It is certainly to the narrators' credit that, despite their current difficulties, they remain dedicated to continuing their work for us. I hope you will help in any way you feel you can. If you think CCB should take a stand as an organization, please contact President Jackson or anyone on the Board. FROM BESB'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The following letter was sent to CCB President Alice Jackson by Larry Alibozek, Executive Director of the Board of Education and Services for the Blind. * * * May 1, 2000 Ms. Alice Jackson 191 Centerbrook Road Hamden, CT 06518 Dear Alice: I first want to apologize for missing the CCB meeting that was held on Saturday, April 29, 2000. My schedule absolutely precluded me from attending. Please be aware however, that because I an [sic] unable to attend a meeting, does not mean that I am not interested in addressing or learning of CCB's issues. I along with the leadership team here at BESB have been working long and arduous hours to get BESB back on the right track. In many respects we have been successful yet we understand we have much more work to do. Bottom-line, we need the support of CCB and you in particular. My first priority here at BESB is to resolve the many organizational and financial issues that BESB is facing today. Therefore, that is why I named a talented Public Relations/Outreach Director, Donna Balaski, to keep in constant touch with outside agencies on pertinent issues as well as to attend all meetings with me and/or by herself. She is empowered to speak for the Agency and report issues back to us. I was somewhat concerned in hearing from Donna on Monday, May 1, 2000 relative to issues that were raised and some incorrect data that is in the community. Of particular note was the incorrect data around BESB's involvement with the Braille Bill. We have been in favor of the bill from the beginning and did our job in insuring its passage. As a matter of fact Marina Eastham, NFB lobbyist, called me today to thank BESB for our support and to invite us to the Bill Signing Ceremony. Alice, when at BESB I would urge you to stop by for informal discussions. In that way, we do not have to wait for periodic CCB meetings to elaborate on issues. I would also invite other members of CCB. Remember, I as well as all the leadership at BESB have adopted an open door policy. Please feel free to share this letter with other CCB members. Sincerely, Larry Alibozek Executive Director ADVISORY GROUP UPDATE by Marcia Dresser As you know, Larry Alibozek began his tenure as BESB's Executive Director on January 3, 2000. Just two weeks later, in the interest of improving communication between BESB and the blind community, he suggested holding regular meetings with members of the major consumer groups. Cheree Heppe, Jan Frost and I represent CCB; the NFB participants are Betty Woodward, Maureen Carr, and Christopher Kuell. Members of the BESB management team attend the meetings. We submit agenda items to Larry's office one week prior to each meeting so that the meetings will be more productive and focused. I don't know what will transpire in the fall when meetings resume, but for now, I believe that Larry is committed to keeping us informed and listening to our suggestions. Things are still in flux at BESB, so time will tell. Lots of issues have been raised--some at length, some briefly. Since it would be impossible to summarize these proceedings without inadvertently leaving something out, I'm passing on my notes from the meetings. If you have questions or concerns you would like us to bring to the table, please contact Jan, Cheree, or me. * * * 1-10 Larry's background is in business. He was deputy commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, (the old Housing Department). After that Governor Rowland asked him to manage the Capitol staff. He oversaw (worked with the commissioners) DAS, DCF, DMR, and DMV. He worked at Cigna for 19 years before that. Larry praised the staff and is taking a careful, cautious approach. He says he must restore the confidence and trust of the staff. He recognizes that trust, respect and confidence must be earned. He opened the door to the executive wing. He's looking at the structure of the Board and ACAC and the long-range plan. Are the skill sets of the staff correct? He wants to increase communication with the blind constituency. Maureen asked Larry and Jack who is the first blind person they ever met; neither could give an answer. 13% of the staff is blind; in NJ it's 35%. Larry said that's a critical issue. He asked me to talk to him about Massachusetts services. Chris explained that the blind community is a microcosm of society. Betty mentioned us being united. Larry asked for suggestions for learning more about blindness (places and people) and we will provide documentation from other state agencies. Larry may make some changes in management staff responsibilities. We will meet 2-14 at 10:00 with BESB management. Larry and Jack are meeting with Public Works today about the building. He is changing people around "kindly." We will bring a short and long-term goal list. 2-14 This meeting is with BESB management. Larry established an advisory committee comprised of blind employees; Brian Sigman, head of VR, is chair. Larry says 85% of the staff is ready to move on. He wants to make the building more friendly. Camaraderie and training are being emphasized. Brian's committee is working on recruiting recommendations to hire qualified legally blind people in all areas and at all levels. Larrn is committed to this. Hire the qualified person and then the assistant as an ADA reasonable accommodation. Anyone with a computer problem should receive the same service instead of the two-tier system we have now. At ACAC, some people are taking a walking tour from the bus stop and through the building to make recommendations; Maureen suggested having someone go blindfolded. We said that anyone hired, blind or sighted, must be well-versed in blindness skills and passionately believe in blind people's abilities. I suggested a rehab teacher in children services. A full-time psychologist was also suggested. The client needs to have accountability. Internships and an employment seeking program are also in the works. Larry is still planning more organizational changes. Larry likes the job- sharing and/or intern idea. He will invite the commissioners of state agencies and the governor to showcase BESB. He is empowering the management staff. Larry is redesigning his job for more direct management. He is willing to change and adapt his role as necessary. They are setting up job shadowing for the summer. 4-17 This meeting is with management. Susan Lizee, personnel officer, is dealing with many legal and labor relations issues. Many people in Industries are very uohappy; Jack Whitham is focusing in on that. They have moved the business enterprises to Brian's jurisdiction. Lisa Backus is now head of adult services; Mike Cordero is VR supervisor. He said there are problems in children's services; Barbara Williams is not here to comment. Donna Balaski is in charge of pr. Carole Donagher has taken over the business office and industries; she wants to expand the product line and resolve the labor disputes. Right now there is no BESB budget! BESB has poor relations and credibility problems with OPM. They will be on the automated state accounting system on July 1. Textiles comprise 65% of Industries product; the federal government is cutting back on that type of contract. The Army T-shirt is the biggest contract--30,000 T-shirts a month. There are 87 Industries workers in Windsor and 35 in West Haven. Benefits and salary increases are at issue in Industries. 77% of Industries workers are blind; the federal quota is 75%. Oak Hill, ASD, and BESB all lost the IDEA grant. BESB used it for staff salary, the braille library, and social programs ($400,000). Cheryl Burns and Karen Sargent specialize in placement; VR will hire a new caseload-carrying regionalist [Mark Tardiff, hired in May]. Jessica Dapsis will work with the kids on a college track. They (Karen and Cheryl) meet with the Chamber of Commerce and individual employers; they will start going to job fairs. You have to market placement. They train in writing cover letters, resumes, clothes, interviews, etc. Carole Donagher would like us to work with the industries people who want to change jobs. Michelle Laramie is the rehab technology specialist for the western part of the state; Dave Bergman east. Michelle and education consultants Kathy Sudol and Nancy Moskowicz have developed a technology checklist regarding skills and needs of high school students. They got materials from AFB and Texas. Michelle has done training for the ed consultants on customizing Windows and Word. Maureen suggested that employers who have positive experiences with blind people meet with prospective employers. Note: One week prior to the June 12th meeting, we submitted guidelines for what elements should be included in an effective education program, as well as training needs and skills necessary for employment. The six of us worked on this document together via conference call and E-mail. This served as the springboard for discussion. 6-12 This meeting is with BESB management. You must provide assistance when needed but not coddle people. High school guidance counselors know the student best; BESB is ancillary at that point. Kids on a college track get a VR counselor generalist at first but get transferred to Jessica at the junior year PPT. She is working more closely with the ed consultants. Have a coalition with the Department of Labor. Find other ways of measurement besides closing cases. Use outside consultants to eliminate bias. Jack is responsible for an area called program review, which will at least begin the process. The leadership team will get objective levels of performance for staff for next year. Our goals are the same; we'd love to say BESB is the best blindness agency in the country. Job Line is funded by BRS, DOL, and BESB; national NFB helped to get it into CT. Five other states have it. The tech committee is making up a checklist of a person's tech ability and the student's future needs; also training ed consultants. Dave and Michelle are expanding the tech lab in Windsor, and there are now labs at Housatonic and Eastern CT. Training is geared to the specific vocational goal. Chris pointed out that once you learn Windows, you can teach yourself other programs that use Windows. Oak Hill just got a huge tech grant; BESB is looking at getting staff in there but it will be a year or two away. They have fee-for-service at Data Institute in Milford, and soon Waterbury and Hamden. This has strapped the budget beyond the limit. Are BESB customers aware of what's going on and what's out there? Larry feels that's really important. BESB is developing a Web site through DOIT. They are also putting together a resource booklet, a project begun by Donna Balaski before she started working at BESB. The resources have been checked out first. The BESB newsletter will be internal at first. Cheree asked about individual training not through BESB. Jessica said the mentoring program has been in place for a year but I've never heard of it. This will be the first summer of job shadowing. A person will be trained on a job for about sixty hours to see if they like it. Someone will shadow Maureen and she is on the mentor list. They send a list of mentors to every new VR client. The State Rehab Council requested an external measurement of customer satisfaction. CCB needs someone on that council. Maria Boscarino is now in the business office and Ryan Doyle does clerical work in VR. They are both legally blind. At a national conference, Mike heard that 70% of "just blind" people are employed. Brian and Betty are coordinating the Job Line. Industries must be totally revamped; nothing positive is going on there now. BESB now attends meetings as a team. The managers are empowered to speak for the organization. In many ways that's good but Larry needs to be there as well, at least initially. Larry asked that when BESB does something good that we spread the word. FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE: DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by Kim Soucy I would like to thank my sister Melanie Charette for helping me serve lunch and breakfast at our spring convention last April. I would also like to remind everyone that Melanie, who is not a member of CCB, volunteered her time to help. There were only two of us trying to prepare and serve lunch for 19 people. Lunch consisted of a sandwich, chips, a hard boiled egg which had to be cut, and a vegetable platter at each table. We also had to pass out napkins, forks, salt and pepper for those who wanted it, and drinks for everyone. I'm sorry to say that Melanie and I overheard some very unkind comments while we were serving lunch. Melanie was so upset by the criticism that she refuses to help at one of our conventions again. You should try doing the job yourself before you criticize other people's efforts. In the future, keep your comments to yourself! CCB NEWSMAKERS In September, Bryan McGucken will begin graduate work at Boston College, where he plans to continue studying philosophy. Boston College is reputed to have one of the best schools of philosophy in the country. Best of luck, Bryan. We'll miss you. CCB STANDING COMMITTEES Convention: Barbara Blejewski (co-chair), (860) 721-8601 Marcia Dresser (co-chair), (860) 521-8903 Legislative: No chair at present Membership: Marcia Dresser, (860) 521-8903 Newsletter: Steve Dresser, (860) 521-8903 Publicity: Camille Petrecca, (860) 563-2259 Transportation: Pam Garde, (860) 646-1271 Ways and Means (fund-raising): Carol Gillispie (203) 933-3929 You can leave messages for committee chairs and board members on our toll-free line (800) 231-3349. Select Mailbox 1 for Board members; Mailbox 2 for committee chairs. President Alice Jackson is an ex officio member of all committees. CCB BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Alice Jackson 191 Centerbrook Road Hamden 06518 (203) 281-0676 E-mail: alicej@concentric.net First Vice President: Carol Gillispie 68 West Spring Street West Haven 06516 (203) 933-3929 E-mail: ggillispie@snet.net Second Vice President: Dave Bates 44 Garden Street Wethersfield 06109 (860) 257-0602 Third Vice President: Camille Petrecca 2 Tabshey Court Wethersfield 06109 (860) 563-2259 Treasurer: Roland Soucy 15 Shawnee Road East Hartford 06118 (860) 895-8157 E-mail: Wtrskii@aol.com Recording Secretary: Cheree Heppe 68 Gilman Street Hartford 06114-2536 (860) 296-4922 E-mail: clheppe@ntplx.net Corresponding Secretary: Bryan McGucken 11 Hillside Lane Wallingford 06492 (203) 265-2452 Immediate Past President: Marcia Dresser 142 Webster Hill Boulevard West Hartford 06107 (860) 521-8903 Board Member at Large: Barbara Blejewski 4 Tabshey Court Wethersfield, CT 06109 (860) 721-8601 Board Member at Large: Tina Ciarciello 966 Silas Deane Highway Apartment A15 Wethersfield, 06109 (860) 529-8923 E-mail: dolly@ntplx.net