Optical Dimensions is a Newsletter which has been designed to provide travel information and resources for blind people and individuals who are visually impaired. Information on books, travel opportunities, national and local opportunities, and materials which are readily accessible.

Important Information: Please note that the URL address for our Website has been changed to http://www.campanian.org. The old URL address http://w3.one.net/~campania/ is now outdated but should you load this old URL address you will receive a notice that the site has been moved. The new URL is listed on this page. All you need to do is click on the new URL address to go to our Website. Sorry for the inconvenience but our new URL address gives us our own domain site, will be less cumbersome and will make for easier access to our Website.

1999 Campanian Enterprises Travel Programs for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
There are still places available on all the following programs. Please contact us for Registration Packets and full details about the programs. Our programs are all carefully crafted to meet the special needs of our travelers and to provide a rich educational experience unavailable on regularly scheduled sighted trips. Our programs offer unique opportunities for relaxation and socialization. Sighted guides will accompany all programs. Please contact us by phone, fax or e-mail.

Dates for 1999 Programs.
(1) Washington DC: Cherry Blossoms and Presidents. Dates: April 5-12, 1999. This program includes Washington, Mt. Vernon and Monticello. Sites visited will include: the grand homes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, National Gallery of Art, US Capitol, Mannassas Battlefields, Arlington Cemetery and the national monuments on The Mall. There are still spaces available on this program; registrations must be received by March 1st (but space may still be available after this date). If you are interested in this program, please contact us as soon as possible.

(2) Little Italy and Gourmet Dining New York. Dates: May 20-25, 1999.
Participants on this program will stay at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Special dining at selected gourmet restaurants will be a unique feature of this New York program. Site visits include: 5th Avenue, Old and New St. Patricks, Museum of Modern Art, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Little Italy. Evening dining at the following restaurants in New York: Le Perigord, Delmonicos, La Mela, Sardi's and Da Nico.

(3) California Dreamin': The Enchanted Island. Dates: June 23-July 3, 1999.
This trip will begin in San Diego and end in Los Angeles. Sites included are: Cabrillo National Park, Point Loma, Coronado, Old Town in San Diego, Torrey National Pines Preserve, Point Dana, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Skirball Museum, Hollywood Boulevard, Graumann's Chinese Theater, Larry Smith Art Gallery, Stone Works and the new Getty Museum. This trip also includes 2 nights on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

(4) The Gold Coast of Historic Long Island. Dates: September 8-14, 1999.
A tour of the historic homes and sites on the Gold Coast of Long Island. Playground of rich and famous families such as the Astors, Vanderbilts and Guggenheims, the many mansions and public grounds along Long Island's coast will provide a splendid and enriching experience. Amongst the mansions will be: Castle Gould, Chelsea, Falaise, Old Westbury House and Sagamore Hill. Dinners will be in a variety of local restaurants.

(5) Branson: Music and Songs in the Ozarks. Dates: September 22-28, 1999.
This trip to Branson will include 6 shows and touring in the Ozarks. Among the shows will be the following: The Andy Williams Show, The Shoji Tabuchi Show, The Presley Jubilee Show, The Osmond Family Show, The Lawrence Welk Show, The Bobby Vinton Show. Also included are: Bonniebrook Park (Museum and Home of Rosie O'Neill, creator of the Kewpie Doll) and a variety of city tours of historic Branson.

(6) Treasures of Hawaii: Paradise Island of the Pacific. Dates: October 11-18, 1999.
This program includes Oahu and Maui: sites visited include Hana Highway, La-haina, Haleakala, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor. A special feature will be a
Luau on Maui - the best in Hawaii.

Millennium Trip to Key West (Florida) in late January 2000.
We are planning a trip for blind persons and individuals with limited vision to Key West in late January 2000 which will include a wide variety of activities: parasailing, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and jet skiing. We are interested in determining what interest there might be in such a trip. The trip will also include visits (including tactile experiences) to a variety of sites in Key West itself (Audubon House, Hemingway House, Truman White House and time at the beach). If you are interested in participating in a program of this nature, please let us know. I am looking forward to hearing from you. If there are any other activities in which you would be interested I would be delighted to hear from you.

Highlights on our forthcoming program in New York City in May:
Little Italy and Gourmet Dining in New York City. Dates: May 20-25, 1999.
During our exploration of Little Italy and the contributions of  Italians to the life and vitality of New York City, we will dine at variety of Italian restaurants. The delights of Italian cuisine will be enjoyed in various restaurants on Mulberry Street and selected restaurants throughout New York - this will be a culinary extravagance to please and delight the palate. An evening at the theatre (optional) is planned for those who may wish to attend a Broadway play. In New York we will be dining at the following restaurants: Delmonico's Restaurant - One of Wall Street area's oldest restaurants, established in 1838; La Mela Ristorante - Authentic Neapolitan cuisine is served family style on checkered red and white plastic table cloths. Dining here, one would think that one had died and gone to Naples where food is lovingly prepared and enjoyed; Sardi's - One of famous restaurants in the Broadway theater
dis-trict, frequented by theater-goers; Le Perigord - This family owned restaurant serves authentic French cuisine in a romantic setting, and restaurant guides describe the cuisine as "superb"; Da Nico Ristorante Italiano - Enjoy traditional Northern and Southern Italian cuisine at Da Nico. The beautiful indoor dining room is a favorite among movie stars, New York Yankees and Mayor Giuliani himself!

California Dreamin' - The Enchanted Island.
Our trip begins in San Diego and ends in Los Angeles. The dreams of the early explorers brought men
like Cabrillo to weigh anchor in the harbor of San Diego which he described as "a very good place." Nineteenth century dreamers planned Balboa Park and enthusiasts built a marvelous organ at its center. The Spanish dreamed of empire and founded Old Town and Franciscan missionaries dreamed of a Christian empire and founded 21 missions to pave the way. Entrepreneurial magnates constructed a world-class hotel on Coronado Island from where an aviator set out on his dream to fly across the Atlantic. All along the coast, surfers dream of catching the big wave - none better then at Huntington Beach where the waves fulfilled the dreams of a now legendary Hawaiian.  Who would have dreamed that the Queen Mary (Britain's most elegant ocean liner) would take up residence in the harbor at Long Beach where Venetian gondolas ply the waters of near-by Naples. In the Spulveda Pass (in Los Angeles) stands a museum highlighting the dreams of travelers from ancient Jerusalem while the footprints and signatures of stage and movie dreamers grace the pavement on a boulevard in Hollywood in front of a theater where dreams appear on film. And, on the top of a high hill over looking the City of Angeles, magnificent, gleaming white structures, the legacy of a man who made dreams happen, offer a joyous respite to those who project on California all their dreams and expectations for material well-being and personal liberty. There is no ending to the myth of California as an enchanted isle. We invite you to participate on this trip to see the unseen, to catch the wave of excitement that this dream island inspires in all who stand on her shores. Please contact us for Registration Forms for this program.

"Tactile Paintings" of the Great Masters on the California Program.
Among the many unique experiences on this trip will be a visit to the Larry Smith Art Gallery. Here we will enjoy a special exhibit titled "Seeing the Unseen: Art for the Blind." Artist Larry Volk, (recently featured in the Los Angeles Times and ABC News) will be with us to explicate his large-scale tactile renderings of works by Matisse, Picasso, Leger, Calder. Inspired by his grandfather, who was born blind, Volk has created a unique art form that is visual, tactile, educational and interactive. Robert S. Ralls, President for the Foundation for the Junior Blind critiqued the exhibit as follows: "This is a phenomenal
breakthrough for blind and visually impaired individuals in enabling them to appreciate the art of our contemporary era. It provides the capability of experiencing in a tactile way what the sighted world is able to experience visually." The Larry Smith Art Gallery will be hanging this exhibit especially for our visit to the Gallery.

Special Information and Resources:
Maps of Subway System in Washington, DC: Travelers in Washington, DC area can now obtain Braille and large print maps of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority subway system, along with a pocket-size listing of all the stations and where they have side or central platforms or are above or below ground. These resources can be obtained by calling: (202) 962-2811.

Tactile Maps:
Very useful tactile maps of Individual U.S. States are available from Princeton Braillists. The following are available: Florida, 12 full-page maps with keys; New York, 13 full-page maps with keys; Pennsylvania, 9 full-page maps with keys; Vermont, 9 full-page maps with keys. Cost of each booklet is $6.00 including shipping by free-mail. Send check or money order to: Princeton Braillist, 28-B Portsmouth Street, Whiting, New Jersey 08759-2049. Telephone: (732) 350-3708 or (609) 924-5207.

Museum Tours at the Jewish Museum.
A wide variety of Touch Tours are available at the Jewish Museum (New York). Braille and large print text labels provide readily accessible information. The tours are developed around various themes: (1) The Torah (2) Shabbot (3) Chanukah and Purim. For information about the programs, contact Touch Tour at: (212) 423-3318.

Website opens new vistas for Blind Students.
(Reprinted with permission from Purdue News: February, 1999). Blind students throughout the country now have access to inexpensive instructional tactile materials thanks to a new Purdue University Web site. TAEVIS Online is an electronic library containing more than 2,500 tactile diagrams used by students at Purdue. The diagrams, redrawn to tactile and low-vision specifications, are created from college-level course material such as graphs, chemical structures and biological drawings. "For the first time, individual schools can afford to provide their own learning materials for blind students," says Sue Wilder, Purdue's director of Tactile Access to Education for Visually Impaired Students. "The drawings already on the Web site are among the first instructional materials using a new technology that is less expensive and easier to use than older tactile diagrams." Within the past year, a new medium, capsule paper, has made it possible to create tactile graphics from a computer file. The images are stored as Adobe Acrobat documents that can be transmitted over computer networks and printed on laser printers. After an image is copied onto it, the capsule paper is heated. That makes the areas covered with copier toner expand and rise. The special paper costs a little less than $1 per sheet. The heating unit costs less than $1,500. Subscriptions to the Purdue files start at less than $100, and computer
files can cost as little as $2 per download. The Web site has three sample illustrations: a chicken egg, a mathematical line graph and the chemical structure of a carbon compound. The sample illustrations are copyrighted by the university, but are free distributed. The service evolved from a project initially funded three years ago to help two blind students take chemistry classes. Wilder worked in the chemistry department when the tactile project began. "Fred Lytle, a professor of chemistry, worked out a way to automate the transcription of mathematical and scientific formulas during his spare time," Wilder says. "Someone told him that because of the complexity of Braille code in math and science, it couldn't be automated. He took that as a personal challenge. "About the same time, Dave Schleppenbach, a chemistry student, was trying to find out if Braille texts for math and science could be produced in-house for a lower cost than the $5,000 to $10,000 per book that major publishers said they would charge. "They were successful in using personal computers to automate a lot of the transcription. The work we do here is the applied result of that research." Last January, the Office of the Dean of Students created TAEVIS as a new division to provide alternatives to the traditional print formats for students with visual impairments.  The staff takes illustrations, graphs and charts from textbooks or instructor materials and reduces the information to the essential elements. Staff members use computer programs to create new graphics and translate text to Braille. These new learning materials eventually are shared over the Web. The technology allows visually impaired students to have most of the same
written materials their sighted peers have. Purdue staff members from TAEVIS and other departments built the on-line library of more than 2,500 tactile diagrams and models for the sciences over the past four years. Source: Sue Wilder, (765) 496-2856; e-mail, sawilder@purdue.edu Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@uns.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@uns.purdue.edu.

Computerized Retinal Chip Might Restore Vision  (Reprint from Vision
Enhancement Vol. 3 No. 4).
The retinal chip is a high-tech visual aid intended to restore rudimentary levels of vision through the use of a computer chip designed to mimic basic photoreceptor cell function. Hopefully, such a device would allow people with end stage retinal degenerations to regain ambulatory vision. To become a reality, researchers must develop a powerful and reliable computer chip that can safely transmit meaningful signals to the brain via the neural network of the retina. Scientists from Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, the University of Donn and The Max Planck Institute in Germany and private industry are working to develop this high-tech visual aid. Currently, most of these research groups have developed a prototype and are testing the long-term safety of this device in animal models. This work must be done before the Food and Drug Administration will grant approval to begin clinical trials. Some researchers estimate that clinical trials could happen in the next few years.  The Foundation Fighting Blindness has played a key role in retinal chip research. In fact, the very scientific rationale for this device is predicated on Dr. Ann Milam's studies of donor eyes from The Foundation's Retina Donor Program. In these studies, Dr. Milam, Director of The Foundation's Histopathology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, found that ganglion and other nerve cells, which relay electrical light impulses to the brain via the optic nerve, seem to survive even after photo-receptor cells have degenerated. If surviving nerve cells are functional, a sophisticated computer chip might be able to transmit meaningful images to the brain. On December 11, 1998, "CBS News This Morning" featured an interview with Dr. Mark Humayun of Johns Hopkins University about his efforts to develop a computerized retinal chip capable of restoring usable vision. Although further work is needed, scientists are encouraged by the progress that has been made in this research area. The Foundation is also a supported of Dr. Humayun's retinal chip project through a Career Development Award.

Guide Dog Information for Hawaii by Patricia Blum (Honolulu, Hawaii).
I will try to explain the new Hawaii laws for guide dogs. Any guide dog handlers may obtain the vet information from GUDI (Guide Dog Users, Inc. which is part of the American Council of the Blind); individuals wishing to bring a guide dog to Hawaii should contact their vet to set up a blood test and complete the paperwork to be sent to the approved laboratory at Kansas State University. The cost of the test will vary with different vets. Then, you will need a microchip identification which is easily implanted by any vet; the AVID chip is the chip which the Hawaii state vets prefer. The cost of the chip is waived as is the chip registration for individuals with service animals. (Although the term "service animal" is interchangeable with "guide dog," only a dog trained at a certified guide dog school is permitted entry into Hawaii at this time). Next your itinerary: once you have decided on your hotel and airlines (or get this information from the travel agency or tour arranging your trip), you must send a copy of this information (including all addresses at which you plan to reside, flight information and any private residences you plan to visit) to the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture. No less than 30 days before arrival, you will have your dog's blood drawn again and sent to the lab for another Titer test (a test for rabies). The first test is for the life of the dog; the second test is good for two years and the third test is done in Hawaii for the time that you are here. So, it would be a good idea to start at least 60 days before planning your trip to Hawaii. The second test is no less than 30 days before arrival. No more than 14 days before your arrival you will get a health certificate from the vet. who will perform a heartworm test. The dog will also be treated for external parasites by having a flea dip or any other which your vet wants to use (e.g. front-line top spot or spray) and a deworming medication. If you use the same vet all the time, they can decide if the heartworm test and/or the deworming must be done. In any case they will have to sign the health certificate stating that they know that the dog does not have a problem. At least 24 hours prior to arrival, you must call or fax the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and provide your airline, flight number and the time of arrival and the intended place(s) of your stay. When you arrive in Honolulu, your airline is required to meet you and take you to the airport quarantine office. A Department of Agriculture Certified vet will conduct a physical exam and drawn blood at the state's expense. Once this examination is finished, you are free to go to your hotel and will not be further restricted in travel unless the test comes back as unacceptable, which should be highly unlikely. If the vet is late or cannot come, as in the case of a night arrival, you and your dog will be released to the hotel and the vet will arrive for the checkup within 24 hours. I have traveled with my dog from Hawaii to California three times since the rules have been put into place. I have used my at-home vet two times as I was only going to be away for two weeks. The first time I had to go to the mainland a San Francisco vet and did have to pay more. Hawaii has a lot of places and wonderful sites to visit; you and your dog will be welcome in most places. I have had my guide dog for 7 years and have only had a couple of problems with taxis.

The Poetry and Book Corner
A Request: In our next issue of Optical Dimensions we would like to include a selection of original poetry contributions and/or short stories which any of our readers would like to submit for publication. This will be an opportunity for you to share your gifts with our readers. Please send us your contributions. We would also welcome suggestions for reading, books or articles which you think would be interesting for others to read. We hope that the following items will be of interest to you.

Sun and Shadow (ISBN 0-689-106-661) by Rose Resnick (Atheneum, New York, 1975).
This wonderful book is filled with insights and experiences that provide a unique view of "how a blind child acquires her impressions of the objective world, and how attitudes, rather than the lack of sight, are the real agony of blindness. As with all minorities, the deepest desire of those who cannot see is for equal opportunity and to be treated as human beings, capable of participating with their fellow men in recreation, education and employment, rather than as "blind" people. From agencies, they want only a voice in the policies that shape their destinies, the tools of independence, then to be set free." (Reprint
from the Preface).

What Blind People Wish Sighted People Knew About Blindness (ISBN: 0-9652205-0-8) by Harry Martin.
Blind people find many unique ways to do things sighted people take for granted. Every year thousands more people go blind or become visually impaired as the result of disease or injury. Many sighted people want to know about what it is like to be blind, or to go blind, but have never had a resource like this book where they could find the answers to these questions. "What Blind People Wish Sighted People Knew About Blindness" is an informative and educational new book written to help build a bridge of understanding between the blind and the sighted communities. It also serves as an important resource guide to the relatives, co-workers, and friends of blind and visually impaired people. You learn what it is like to be blind, why some blind people can see, why God is not the cause of blindness, how blind people get around, the right way to offer assistance to a blind person you encounter in public, and more. You find out how you can experience what it is like to be blind for a few minutes or hours. Most importantly, every sighted person gains a better understanding of how to relate to the blind and blindness. Finally, every reader will gain a new respect for the blind as they learn how blind people struggle to lead normal, productive lives in a sighted world. (Information printed from Authors Showcase). How to order this book: What Blind People Wish Sighted People Knew About Blindness. Print Version: $14.95 (plus $3 shipping and handling). Audio version (four one hour cassettes). Send your check or money order to: Harry Martin, 2314 River Park Circle, #2111, Orlando, FL 32817-4828. Fax: 407-207-3185

The Country of the Blind by H.G. Wells.
This tale is a fantasy in which a mountain climber falls into a strange and isolated society of non-seeing persons--claimed to have been in existence for fifteen generations and cut off from the rest of the world by an earthquake. The interloper decides quickly that "In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." However, incident after incident proves him wrong in a society that no longer knows the word "see" and operates perfectly effectively and happily with the other finely tuned senses. Virtually imprisoned, and relegated to serfdom, the visitor begins the acculturation process of learning to live with his own disability - vision. Eventually he falls in love and gains permission to marry if he will agree to have his eyes, which have been deemed the cause of his irrational outburst, removed. His decision and its outcome make up the climax of the story. Despite its fantastic quality, this archetypal myth of falling into a hidden utopia has some peculiar twists that make it appropriate for the medical humanities. It is a reversal of the idea of disability, in which the circumstances alone define disability. The experience of being an "other," in this instance a seeing man in a world of blind persons, is the major thrust of this piece. This short story can be found in: The Famous Short Stories of H. G. Wells (Garden City, NY. 1938).

On our recent travel program for the Blind and Visually Impaired to Key West (first week of February), we visited the "winter retreat" of Robert Frost. A local Key West saying is that Key West has never known frost except for Robert Frost. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Key West has been 42 degrees; any low temperature, even in the 60s, will find locals wearing hats and scarves, even gloves. At Heritage House, where Frost spent his winters, we listened to the poet reading his own poetry and at our final dinner at La Trattoria (a wonderful Italian Restaurant on Duval Street) the following poem provided an appropriate and fitting end to a wonderful week in the sun and at the beach. The sentiments and theme were entirely fitting to our adventures and time together on this wonderful paradise island. Furthermore, Frost's poem highlights the enthusiasm for exploring new worlds and the endless possibilities of new experiences that set us free. If you haven't read any of Frost's poetry, make this one of your next reading experiences. You will not be disappointed. You will be glad that you did.

The Road Not Taken (by Robert Frost - 1916)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

A Brief History Lesson:
In the early Roman calendar, March was the beginning month of the year until the time of Julius Caesar. The month of March was sacred to the Roman god Mars, who was, according to tradition, born and worshipped on the first day of the month. Mars is usually regarded as a war-god; he has similarities with Ares, the Greek god of war. In Roman legend, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus; the wolf and the woodpecker were sacred to Mars. The Ides of March (the 15th day of the month) is probably one of the most well-known days of the month because on this day in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated by the Liberators of Rome. On the way to the Senate House (according to Shakespeare), Caesar was warned "To Beware of the Ides." The conspirators collected around Caesar in the Senate House and stabbed him to death (with some 22 wounds). As he died, Caesar uttered his dying words which everyone school boy and girl has heard to this day: "Et Tu, Brute."

A Blind Ancient Roman.
Appius Claudius Pulcher was Roman censor in 312 BCE, consul in 307 and 296 and praetor in 295. Claudius is one of the most interesting personalities in Roman history. When he was Censor, he undertook the building of the Via Appia from Rome to Capua and the first aqueduct (called the Aqua Appia) which brought water to Rome. Typically a Roman had three names: praenomen, nomen and cognomen. "Appius" is the praenomen; "Claudius" is the nomen (i.e. the family name); "Caecus" is the cognomen - which generally referred to something specific or unique about the individual. "Caecu"€ is the Latin word of "blind." Indeed in his later years, Claudius lost his sight; nevertheless, he continued to wield a tremendous influence in the political world and had a wide personal following of clients and influential friends. He was one of the greatest leaders of Rome during its formative years of political expansion.

Blindness in a Culture of Light [by Eleftheria A. Bernidaki-Aldous] (Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York, 1990) ISBN 0820410241.
In this very interesting book (one well worth reading), Bernidaki-Aldous examines the meaning of blindness in ancient Greek culture and literature with special attention to Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus. In the prologue she states: "The founder of Greek culture (both of the literary tradition and of religious beliefs and social values), the great Homer, was believed to have been blind. Even Thucydides (who puts other dubious matter right in the "Archaeology" of his "scientific" history) accepts Homer's blindness as a fact. Greeks were, it must be conceded, shocked by the tragedy of Oedipus' self-blinding and touched by the pathos of the old blind beggar Oedipus becomes at the end of his life. Every Greek was acquainted with the figure of the old blind seer Teiresias, from the eleventh book of the Odyssey, or from productions of Sophocles and Euripides in the theatre of Dionysus, or from the recitation of Callimachus' Hymn to Athena. So long as there is a work of Greek literature left, from Homer to the Hellenistic times and beyond, blindness remains an enduring topos: there will always be some blind character for us to see, hear, or hear about and perhaps, to tempt us to fathom the role which his blindness played in his culture€this culture of light. In every genre of Greek literature, from epic and lyric, through drama to philosophy and history, the blind and blindness are persistent presences and themes: the paradox always provokes us. Blindness has been viewed as one of the worst of human sufferings and, as such, it has been inflicted as the worst punishment for a great variety of crimes; it has been feared as a possible fate, and has been cast as a curse on one's worst enemies. At the same time this ultimate form of human suffering has been regarded as the clearest paradigm of the human condition and as a means of wisdom, insight, and power. Moreover it has given rise to the deepest feelings of compassion and understanding." (pp. 3-4).

Helen Keller (1880-1968)  and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Helen Keller published and lectured widely to raise funds for the Blind and other social causes. Keller was intensely interested in art. Following her visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she wrote the following about this visit to the Museum; her comments are provocative, insightful and inspirational: "I have often thought that it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight: silence would teach him the joys of sound . . .
    Perhaps I can best illustrate by imagining what I should most like to see if I were given the use of my eyes, say, for just three days. And while I am imagining, suppose you too set your mind to work on the problem of how you would use your own eyes if you had only three more days to see. If, with the oncoming darkness of the third night you knew that the sun would never rise for you again, how would you spend those three precious intervening days? What would you most want to let your gaze rest on?
    On the first day, I would want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living. . .
    The next day . . . . I would arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracles by which night is transformed into day. . . .
    My next stop would be the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for just as the Museum of Natural History reveals the material aspects of the world, so does the Metropolitan show the myriad facets of the human spirit. Throughout the history of humanity the urge to artistic expression has been almost as powerful as the urge for food, shelter and procreation. And here in the vast chambers of the Metropolitan Museum, is unfolded before me the spirit of Egypt, Greece and Rome, as expressed in their art. I know well through my hands the sculptured gods and goddesses of the ancient Nile-land. I have felt copies of Parthenon friezes and I have sensed the rhythmic beauty of charging Athenian warriors. Apollos and Venuses and the Winged Victory of Samothrace are friends of my fingertips. The gnarled bearded features of Homer are dear to me, for he too knew blindness.
    My hands have lingered upon the living marble of Roman sculpture as well as that of later generations. I have passed my hands over a plaster cast of Michelangelo's inspiring and heroic Moses; I have senses the power of Rodin; I have been awed by the devoted spirit of Gothic wood carving. These arts which can be touched have meaning for me, but even they were meant to be seen rather than felt, and I can only guess at the beauty which remains hidden from me. I can admire the simple lines of a Greek vase, but its figured decorations are lost to me.  So on this, my second day of sight, I should try to probe into the soul
of man through his art. The things I knew through touch I should now see. More splendid still, the whole magnificent world of painting would be opened to me, from Italian Primitives, with their serene religious devotion, to the moderns with their feverish visions. I should look deep into the canvases of Raphael, Leonard da Vinci, Titian, Rembrandt. I would want to feast my eyes upon the warm colors of Veronese, study the mysteries of El Greco, catch a new vision of Nature from Corot. Oh there is so much rich meaning and beauty in the art of ages for your eyes to see!
    Upon my short visit to this temple [i.e. Metropolitan Museum of Art] I should not be able to review a fraction of that great world of art which is open to you. I would be able to get only a superficial impression. Artists tell me that for a deep and true appreciation of art one must educate the eye. One must learn through experience to weigh the merits of line, of composition, of form and color. If I had eyes, how happily I would embark upon so fascinating a study! Yet I am told that, to many of you who have eyes to see, the world of art is a dark night, unexplored and unilliminated.
    It would be with extreme reluctance that I would leave the Metropolitan Museum, which contains the key to beauty - a beauty so neglected. Seeing persons, however, do not need a Metropolitan to find this key to beauty. The same key lies waiting in smaller museums, and in books on the shelves of even small libraries. But naturally, in my limited time of imaginary sight, I should choose the place where the key
unlocks the greatest treasures in the shortest time."

Travel Agencies.
To assist and support your travel arrangements (land, air, train and travel programs), the following travel agents will be able to assist you with efficiency and special attention to your needs.

Accessible Adventures.
This unique travel company is designed to level the playing field for tourists, sightseers and travelers with a wider variety of physical challenges. Contact: Bill Elliot, Accessible Adventures, PO Box 888, Waitsfield, VT 05673. Telephone: (802) 496-2252, (888) 880-0222); Fax: (802) 496-4381. E-mail: belliott@madriver.com  Web Site: http://www.accessibleadventures.com

Travel Four, 482 Notch Rd., West Paterson, NJ 07424 Contact person: Toni Villano. Telephone: 1-877 812-4949. Fax: 1-973-812-4940.

Access Aloha, 414 Kiuwili St., Suite 101, Honolulu, HI 96817. Contact person: Judy Heller. Telephone 1-800-480-1143. Fax: 1808-545-7657. TTY/TTD: 521-4400.

Mid-Atlantic Receptive Services. PO Box 4530, Arlington, VA 22204. Contact person: Kate Scopetti. Telephone: (800) 893-5806. Fax: (703) 271-4436.

Customized Programs.
If you are interested in a special program for a small group (4-6 persons) or for larger groups interested in travel, please contact Campanian Enterprises, Inc. Box 167, Oxford, Ohio 45056. Telephone: (513) 524-4846; Fax: (513) 523-0276; E-mail: campania@one.net We are able to provide you with all services to make your travel as easy and pleasurable as possible.

Self Defense.
Have you ever wonder what you would do if you were mugged or assaulted? Is a blind person at greater risk? Explore these issue and more in National Braille Press's Safe Without Sight: Crime Prevention
and Self-Defense Strategies for People Who are Blind. This book teaches you how to stay safe or, if necessary, to defend yourself. All of the self-defense moves are described by and for blind people. The cost for Braille, tape or disk is $14; print $17 (includes shipping). Order from National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115. May be ordered by phone and charged to a credit card: (800) 548-7323

The Impact of Technology on Braille Literacy.
Catherine Mack, "The impact of technology on braille literacy." Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (1989) 83, 314.
When chosen carefully and used appropriately, technology can be used to support, enhance and promote braille literacy. The author discusses how technology can be a major force in increasing braille literacy. Considerations include increasing the amount and variety of braille reading material available, providing for more immediate access to braille reading materials, and facilitating braille notetaking.  Telecommunications in conjunction with local braille production opens up a world of current information that is readily accessed, translated, printed in braille or saved to be retrieved at a more convenient time. Braille notetaking, traditionally done with a slate and stylus or braillewriter, can now be accomplished more readily with an electronic braille notetaker. Weighing as little as 13 ounces and with completely silent braille keys, they allow the user to store dozens of pages of information. At the user's convenience, this data can be listened to with a built-in speech synthesizer, printed out on a braille printer or sent to a computer. The author concludes that, with careful selection, appropriate application and sufficient training, technology can be used as a powerful tool for fostering braille literacy. For additional information contact: Catherine Mack, M.A., Statewide Computer Resource Specialist for Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Computer Resource Center, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, 207 N. San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084. (Reprinted from National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Grant #H180N20013, and was downloaded from NCIP's WWW site - http://www.edc.org/FSC/NCIP/.)

Some Quotable Quotes (from J. Porter, Key West and Conch Stories.
Heritage House Publishers: Key West, 1998):
- This is happiness. Not what we see, but what we choose . . . Not what we have, but what we use.
- You don't have to be a beauty. All you need to do is create the reputation for being a beauty. If you must do something that you don't really want to do but should do or have to do, do it with grace. Some unexpected bounty will always come from doing it that way.
- Good manners get you further and cost less than anything else in the world.
- Service is the rent you pay for being on the planet.
- Willful waste makes woeful want.
- Make the most of what you have before you ask for anything more.
- A sense of humor is a saving grace - to spend lavishly.
- Like leaves on a tree, we all need to know when to let go.
- Courtesy is kindness in dress clothing.
- Pain hollows out the heart for joy.
- There are those who don't know and there are those who don't know they don't know.
- Everybody is born in a box - a box of wealth or a box of poverty; a box of physical or mental limitation; a box of family problems or neglect. The fascinating thing to watch is to see how people manage to escape their boxes; some do it by clawing their way out, others by building ladders to climb out and others still by breaking down the walls to escape. A few, not many, simply stand up and walk out. But there are those who are content to remain in the boxes all their lives.

If your have any questions or comments, please contact us at:

Campanian Enterprises, Inc.
Box 167
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Telephone: (513) 524-4846
Fax: (513) 523-0276
E-mail: campania@one.net
Website: http://www.campanian.org