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THE STUDENT ADVOCATE
VOLUME XIV NUMBER II
WINTER 1996

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

President's Message
Equal Access is a Civil Right. Not a Favor
The Triumph of the Human Spirit: 1996 Paralympic Games
When My Back-up Eyes Went Bad
NABS Chapter Updates
From the Editor's Desk

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Velanche Stewart

WELCOME TO 1996 -- not only a brand new year, but also a brand new term for many of us. I hope that your last term was a successful one. Congratulations to those who have finally reached the pinnacle of their education with their respective degrees. For m ost of us, however, we keep moving forward until the day when we will reach our own pinnacle.
As I look back on the last five months of our term, I can honestly say that we can do much better. If there's anything that stands out amongst allot her things in this organization that needs to change, it is communication. Yes, we can do much better. Yes , we all hear it over and over again, how important it is to communicate effectively, clearly and concisely. Yet how many of us take the time to practice what we preach?

When I took the position of president, I, along with the board members, went in with the best intentions. As the months went by, it became clear to me that something was amiss. We have our disagreements and tense moments, but we're able to solve some things and resolve others. Yet, there are things that were left unfinished. We, as a board, cannot possibly achieve all of the objectives which we feel would substantially benefit all blind students in a year's time--and that's one criticism of NABS that I've heard from several active members.

If NABS is going to be moving forward into the next century, then it's time that we start practicing whatwe preach. We need, more than ever, to be in a position where we can to do more of what we "say" we'll do and be consistent about it. We need to use t he existing tools which are available to us--from the hard-working folks at the ACB national office, to the various ACB services offered over the internet, to the members of Congress, we need to start charting a path for the long term to ensure that NABS will make anew for itself.

We intend to lay the foundation for the future of NABS.... a NABS home page will soon be available, a NABS history is in the works, long range planning will also become a focus. Of course, we'll be working to prepare an outstanding and interesting program for NABS members at the ACB national convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma in July.

For all the communication we'll be working on, we need to hear from you--the membership. This is your organization, and if your needs aren't heard we cannot do our best to meet them. I know that you're out there, and I can't pretend that we can ever pleas e all of the people, but I can say that we'll fry our best to assist you in whatever way we can. The first step, though, has to come from you. You can reach me by telephone, e-mail or snail-mail -it's up to you.

As the year marches forward. don't forget to take care of your financial aid needs for the coming school year. Also, be sure to pay your annual dues for this year in order to continue as an active NABS member. Feel free to submit any articles that you wis h to be considered for the spring issue of The Student Advocate. There has been a shortage of articles from NABS members; it's YOUR newsletter, and we know that there are plenty of you who have something to say. What better way to do so!

On behalf of the NABS Executive Board, all the best to you this semester.

EOUAL ACCESS IS A CIVIL RIGHT. NOT A FAVOR
By Patricia Ann Bromberger

What would you do if you were on a college campus where you went to a movie with a friend who uses a wheelchair and your friend was told to "move that chair" and go sit in the back of the theater alone? What would you do if you had to take a required clas s in computer literacy but the computers in the labs weren't accessible! What would you do if the services for students with disabilities were cut by several hours a week but that office was the only place on campus that had the accessible equipment you n eeded? What would you do if that equipment was constantly being broken by able-bodied staff members because the office extended privileges" of private space to friends and because of this "privilege" and their negligence, you no longer have access to any computer equipment on campus!
What would you do if professors told you not to pursue the career of your choice because you couldn't possibly succeed due to being blindl What would you do if you had requested accommodations for your classes and, over six months later, you still hadn't heard whether you would be accom modated ? What would you do if you heard students, faculty, staff, and administrators saying, "We have got to get those crips, blind people, retards, etc. off our campus. They don't belong here." What would you do?

These and other violations of the law have happened, and continue to happen, at the CUNY's (City University of New York) Brooklyn College campus. What have the disabled students of Brooklyn College done? Some have gotten a lawyer and filed complaints with the Department of Education/Office of Civil Rights (DOE/OCR) . Twenty-five years ago some students formed an organization called the Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress (S.O.F.E.D.U.P.).

Student members of the organization have attempted to work with Brooklyn College administrators to resolve the issues mentioned above by attending meetings. joining task forces, participating in committees,and writing handbooks and guidelines. However, th e administration, until recently, has been less than receptive to change. For example, in the three years that one Vice President of Student Life chaired the ADA 504 Committee, only five meetings were held. Last semester, the present chairperson ignored a request from the members of S.O.F.E.D.U.P. to notice and hold an ADAi504 Committee meeting. Not only have they made it difficult for students who have pursued equal access to remain in school several have been forced to quit. Administrators have also mad e it difficult for the few advocates among the Brooklyn College staff to remain employed. Some staff members were asked to resign and others were made to feel so uncomfortable that they requested transfers before the question came up.

After attempting to work cooperatively with an administration that refused to cooperate, students pleaded with New York Lawyers forthe Public interest (NYLPI) to represent them. After waiting three months for an answer, the students were refused represent ation even though NYLPI often represents Disabled In Action. The six student members of S.O.F.E.D.U.P. asked attorney Alan Fuchsberg at the Jacob D. Fuchsberg law firm in New York City to represent them. Mr. Fuchsberg and his staff interviewed all the stu dents together and individually and agreed to help them file their complaints with DOE/OCR. Mr. Fuchsberg asked that all the complaints be crossreferenced when they were filed so that the students would be treated as a group/class. Dick Oliver of "Good Da y New York" interviewed the students for his television news show the day after attorney Alan Fuchsberg filed their complaint with DOE/OCR. It was also the day their story appeared on page 4 of New York's Newsday in Ellis Henican's column titled, "Extra B arriers -- Disabled Students to Sue Brooklyn College Over Access" (Newsday. Wednedsay, May 19, 1995). Brooklyn College officials refused to comment or be interviewed.

The following week, New York One (TV) News' Andrew Schmertz interviewed S.O.F.E.D.U.P.'s president, Julio Perez, who said, "What this is really about is attitude. The technical things are relatively easy. But the college has to want this to work. I'm not sure they do. Even if CUNY budget cuts limit departments to one class, the class must still be accessible to everyone. Schmertz then interviewed Brooklyn College's Public Relations Representative Richard Coniglione, who said, "every building has a ramp" a nd then went on to comment on Hillary Clinton's consent to appear at commencement ceremonies -ceremonies that were not completely accessible to all persons with disabilities.

DOC/OCR's Regional Attorney Steven Perreira and Staff Attorney Jonathon Rosenberg found that this complaint had merit after meeting with the students and their attorney, Alan Fuchsberg, in July of 1995. S.O.F.E.D.U.P. and the students who filed the compla ints have been accused of acting prematurely by some because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is only five years old. However, long before the ADA which provides equal access for all, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandated reasona ble accommodations in all institutions that receive federal funding. S. O.F.E.D. U.P.'s student members are not the only ones who have filed complaints against Brooklyn College. Five years ago, the Eastern Paralyred Veterans Association (EPVA) filed a com plaint with DOE/OCR. DOC/OCR was monitoring Brooklyn College for five years because of EPVA's complaint with respect to barrier removal and architectural renovations and Letters of Finding were issued. However, the six student members of S.O.F.E.D.U.P. we re the first to file complaints with DOC/OCR about the lack of program access at CUNY's Brooklyn College campus and further asked for the results of the five year monitoring for failure to remove barriers. Brooklyn College's standard answers were "no fund s, no money, we're working on it, these things take time.

The Chronicle of Higher Education pointed out in June 1995 what penalties might be imposed on public and private facilities which are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It is not that Brooklyn College has only had 5 years to comply with the law but rather that no administrators on any CUNY campus ever did the selfevaluation survey required and still have no transition plan in effect. Yet, the City University of New York has been awarded a five year grant by the US Departme nt of Education to lead a consortium of universities and other agencies in a 13-state area to help integrate educational technologies to support learning in kindergarten through high school classrooms, libraries, and other educational settings. First year funding for the Northeast Regional Technology Consortium iNetTech) from the Department of Education is approximately $1.7 million, with equal funding anticipated in subsequent years. As the lead institution, CUNY will contribute $171.000 per year of the total cost of the project in matching funds. NetTech is one of six newly created regional consortia throughout the country dealing with the integration of educational technologies.

"Educators are being challenged to prepare students for the increasingly sophisticated skills that will be needed in the 21st century's information-driven technological society," said CUNY Chancellor W. Ann Reynolds. "Although we have made great strides, we need to realize the full potential of technology in supporting new visions of education. NetTech is designed to address the critical gaps in educational technology policy and infrastructure, while pooling the knowledge of the very accomplished particip ants. Equally important, it will foster full access to an expanded range of opportunities and greater success for all students." The students of S.O.F.E.D.U.P. anxiously anticipating the fulfillment of Chancellor Reynolds' fostering of "full access...for all students.

Surprisingly or perhaps not, a little over two weeks before Brooklyn College was to submit answers to DOC/OCR on the complaint filed by the students of S.O.F.E.D.U.P. the CUNY Board of Trustees decided to authorize $2.4 million to make the Brooklyn Colleg e campus more accessible. Some of the things that will be introduced to the Brooklyn College campus are electrically motorized doors, braille and large print signs, hearing assistance in the theaters, lower handrails on the stairs, talking elevators, and door knobs will be changed to levers. The students always said "this complaint is not about sinks and toilets" but Brooklyn College will also install lower water fountains and make bathrooms accessible in some campus buildings where none exist at the pres ent time.

Although these changes should be applauded if and when they happen, they are over twenty years late and they really do not address many of the basic problems that persist on the Brooklyn College campus. The Board of Trustees' decision to provide funds for only one campus out of the 27 schools in the City University of New York system also suggests that, at the least, they have not embraced the idea of meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities. In other words, after the $2.4 million is spent, Brookl yn College still will not be accessible. Hopefully, the Board of Trustees' attempt to throw money at the visible problem of ramps and signage in an effort to hide the true lack of program access for students with disabilities will not fool or dissuade DOC /OCR from following through with the total investigation demanded by students complaints. Equal access is a civil right, not a favor.

Patricia Ann Bromberger is a freelance writerin New York City. She is a history and journalism student at Brooklyn College of the City of New York and president of the Student Organization for Every Disability United for Progress.

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THE TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT: THE 1996 ATLANTA PARALYMPIC GAMES
By Paul Meznarich

When Marla Runyon bolted from her starting block in the 100-meter high hurdles, she moved off of pure instincts. Nine steps to the first hurdle, three steps between the other nine. One, two,three.jump. One,two, three, jump. As she neared the bar in th e high jump, she again had her steps and approach calculated to a science. Floating gently over the 5-foot, 10 3/4-inch barrier, she thrusted her fist triumphantly into the air. And as she made the final turn in the 800-meter run, Marla knew victory was h ers as her time of 2 minutes, 12 seconds easily outdistanced the field.
And as she stood upon the winner's platform at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival, tears streamed from the 26-year-old's clear blue eyes. With head raised, she couldn't see the stadium crowd giving her a standing ovation, but she could hear their applause. An d although she could barely make out the faint image of Olympic Executive Dick Schultz approaching her, she knew in his hands he carried her prize.

You see, Marla Runyon is legally blind. Diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, Marla has a hole in the center of her vision. But that never stopped her from graduating cum laude at San Diego State University, returning a year later to earn a master's degree in education of the handicapped, or from remaining faithful to the sport she loved.

For anyone to complete the grueling, seven-stage event standing would be an athletic milestone, but Marla accomplished something even more spectacular that warm July evening in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She became the first disabled athlete in history t o medal at an Olympic Festival against sighted competition when she won the bronze medal in the heptathlon. It just went to show something Marla had known all along: you don't need sight to have vision.

An organization that shares Marla's vision and the vision of thousands just like her is the US Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). The non-profit branch of the US Olympic Committee has been supporting the efforts of blind and partially-sighted athletes since its inception in 1976. Now boasting membership of more than 3.000, USABA looks for its finest season yet to come at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Paralympic Games originated in 1948 when Sir Ludwig Guttman, an English neurosurgeon in Aylesbury, England. organized the International Wheelchair Games to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. The first attempt to connect The Olympics and the Paral ympics was not made again until 1960. when the first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, just a few weeks after the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the first year, only wheelchair athletes competed.

The Xth Paralympic Games, held August 16-25, 1996 in Atlanta, hosts 4,000 athletes from more than 119 countries; it's the second largest sporting event in the world, behind only the Olympics. Unlike the Olympics. competition is divided into disability cla ssifications such as cerebral palsy, amputees and visual impairments. Competition is further broken down by the severity of the disability. For example, a runner with a visual acuity of 20/600 would not race against a runner with 201200 vision. Such is th e case with the five disability groups represented in the Paralympics: cerebral palsy, wheelchair, amputees, visually- impaired and dwarfs.

With USABA, its athletes are classified into three subdivisions: B1 (total blindness). B2 (20/600 best corrective vision), and B3 120/200 best corrective vision). At the Paralympics, USABA athletes can compete in judo, tandem cycling, swimming, athletics (track and field) and goalball, a sport specifically designed for blind athletes.

For the first time in Paralympic history, athletes must meet qualification criteria to compete In the Games. The International Paralympic Committee II PCI decided a qualification procedure that limited athlete attendance would result in a more competitive Paralympics. Together with the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee (APOC), various Disabled Sports Organirations IDSOs) and the US Olympic Committee, a qualification system has been established, again varying among disability classifications.

In an attempt to prepare its athletes for the qualifying standards and Paralympic Trials, USABA offers regional, national, and international outlets for its member athletes to compete. USABA provides 50 percent of the funding for its athletes to attend th ese events.

"Our mission (at USABA) is to challenge society's misperception of people with disabilities as helpless and to provide our athletes with the same athletic opportunities as their sighted peers," said USABA Executive Director Charlie Huebner.

Huebner is better able to serve USABA's members through an increased interest on the part of corporate sponsors. ITT Hartford, a life insurance firm in Connecticut, AT&T, and even the U.S. Olympic Committee have been major contributors, Huebner said. Priv ate donations also account for a large portion of the nonprofit's budget.

"(USABA) is unique in that 83 percent of our budget goes directly back to our athletes, Huebner said. Most of the nonprofits only devote 55 percent of its budget to member services, he said.

Thanks to the efforts of USABA. corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the Paralympic movement, Marla can keep running, jumping, throwing and winning.Because even in the world of shadows and haze, the medal of a champion carries the same weight and sh ines as brightly for all to see.

Paul Mernarich is an intern at the United States Association of Blind Athletes in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
If you would like more information on the United States Association of Blind Athletes, please write or call:
United States Association of Blind Athletes
33 N. Institute
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-630-0422

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MY BACK-UP EYES WENT BAD...
By Mike Gravitt, NABS Secretary

I'II never forget the first day I used a closed-circuit television. I couldn't begin to tell you how much my life has changed since this machinery was introduced to me. I used to have to put my face right down in the paper or book to read, straining m y eyes and having to read very slowly. I did this until eleventh grade!
I never had a vision teacher in the area competent enough to realize the benefits I would get from a CCTV until early 1992. That's when I started receiving services from a new vision teacher in the area. He had an old one that was a little worn, big, and ugly and decided to bring it to my house to show me the concept. He didn't take it home with him! At least, not until I got my new Vantage CCD from Telesensory. It's a nice compact model that has done the job since I got it--until now!

I went to do a little reading and when I turned it on something popped. To make a long story short, the fuse blew. Luckily, an extra fuse came with it. So, I gave it to my dad to put in but he said that it wasn't the right sire. The spare fuse was about t wice as big as the one that blew and it wouldn't fit. Anyway, I'm without a CCTV until I get a replacement fuse. Hopefully, Radio Shack will have one. If not, I'm SOL (out of luck) and will have to wait until one comes in from Telesensory. I'm not going t o be a happy camper until then.

I don't think a day has gone by without using my CCTV. I think I appreciate that damn thing, and spend more time with it than my bestfriends! We've bonded. He's been with me through letters to my friends, all my homework assignments, tests, quizzes, paper s, book reports, and has never minded it. He's been with me through a lot, helped me through a lot, and now I feel lost without him. What am I gonna do? Sniff Sniff.

I have learned to appreciate my CCTV, and never thought about what I would do without it. Now that the time has come, I think I am addicted. Is there a CCTV-anonymous group anywhere! "Hi, my name is Mike Gravitt, and I'm a CCTVoholic." Man, I could use a drink!

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NABS CHAPTER UPDATES

The National Alliance of Blind Students has five state affiliated chapters. Each of these chapters has a mission and programs similar to the national organization, yet work directly for the students in it's state. if you are interested in becoming a membe r of one of the state chapters, contact the state president. If you are interested in starting a chapter in your state, contact Jessica Beach in the ACE national office at 800-424-8666.

ALASKA
The Alaska chapter was approved as an official chapter of NABS at the ACE national convention in Greensboro, North Carolina last summer. During its first convention held in conjunction with the Alaska Independent Blind's convention, the constitution was a dopted and officers were elected. Currently, the chapter has 21 members. The issues the Alaska chapter is working on include contacting DSS offices throughout the state to inform them of NABS and their chapter and providing scholarship information. For mo re information on the Alaska chapter contact:
Richie Gardenhire, President
3200 Turnagin Street. #5
Anchorage, AK 99504

CALIFORNIA
During its convention held in November in conjunction with the California Council of the Blind, Blind Students of California elected new officers. BSC is planning an aggressive outreach plan by visiting college campuses, and networking with blind students. For more information on BSC contact:
Warren Cushman, President
1035 Fulton Ave. Unit 373
Sacramento, CA 95825
916-482-2183

ILLINOIS
The illinois chapter has increased its membership to 12 members. Some of the activities the chapter has planned include a PSA to be aired by college radio stations, a 50-50 raffle at its state convention and a one day summer workshop open to all students in illinois regarding access technology in DOS.Windows and Unix. For more information on the illinois chapter contact:
Keith Wessel, President
902 E. Shurts St
Urbana. IL 61801
217-344-5604

TEXAS
The Texas chapter has designed ,logo and will have brochures and stationary printed for distribution throughout the state. Their convention will be held in August in San Antonio in conjunction with the ACE of Texas convention. A new president will be elec ted during the convention. Membership keeps growing! For more information on the Texas chapter contact:
Melissa Mann. President
625 Braden Street
Mesquite. TX 75149
214-285-6477

VIRGINIA
The Old Dominion Alliance of Blind Students is in the process of applying for official status as a chapter of NABS this summer. The group metin November during the Old Dominion Council of the Blind's convention and wrote their constitution and elected off icers. Currently, the group is reaching out to students throughout the state to let them know what they are about and what they plan to do. For more information on the Virginia chapter contact:
Mike Gravitt, President
108 Ratliff Drive
South Boston, VA 24592

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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
by Carolyn Tyjewski

Ralph Ellison wrote, in The Invisible Man, "I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." When I read this statement, made by the main character in the book. I think, "How true. How profound. How well this one statement e xplains my life, my experience, as a blind woman in America." As blind students, we are both highly visible and completely translucent. We are seen and yet, at the same time, ignored, treated as if we are apparitions or, perhaps, a trick of the light, an illusion. Not real.
Although this society is suffering from an obvious visual impairment, I think, to some extent, the blind community share the responsibility for their lack of vision. Audre Lorde once wrote. "What are the words you do not yet have?" What do you need to say ? What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day and attempt to make your own, until you will sicken and die with them, still in silence," The blind community cannot force society to look but we have a responsibility to speak our own truths.

Two of the articles in this issue are attempting to transform the silence, to make visible what has been rendered invisible by virtue of silence and the unwillingness to see. Mike Gravitt writes of his attachment to what he calls his "back-up eyes." Part Bromberger speaks of the unspeakables and their ongoing attempts at transforming them through language and action. Both essays are an attemptto make visible what has been invisible, to speak the unspoken.

In the spring issue, The Student Advocate will continue to transform the silence, talking about relationships, passing for sighted and other issues that blind students deal with. If you wish to submit an essay, article, etc. on the above topics or any oth er for the spring issue, the deadline for submission is April 15. Please send them in regular print, large print, or on tape to:

Carolyn Tyjewski
The Student Advocate
196 West Ilth Avenue
Apt. #1027
Columbus, OH 43210
Or E-mail to: ctyjewsk@magnus.acs.ohio state.edu.

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