DA Warren:  Do you have any idea if many restaurants in new Orleans have 
Braill
DA menus, or menus in other accessible formats?  DDoes the
DA Guide indicate this in any way?
I'm not sure to be honest with you. I had brailled a few menus for the
1991 convention and made the offer to transcribe more for this one.
Committee members in New Orleans were to forward menus to me but I
haven't seen any and time is running short. Perhaps Julie Russell can
respond better than I can. I know that the main hotel has braille menus
but don't know about the other hotels.
Most of my time other than work has been spent at the Louisiana
legislature where I and others have been trying to obtain an increased
appropriation for braille textbooks for local school kids. The state
braille textbook depository had returned 70% of its purchase orders
unfilled to local schools. We only had $63,000 to spend on
braille--$20,000 from state funds and $43,000 from Part B federal funds.
This was supposed to purchase braille texts for 94 braille readers in
local schools.
This campaign really got started because the Baton Rouge chapter of the
NFB took an interst in it. About a year and half ago, we had invited
depository officials to speak at our meeting but they never came. When
the state senate education committee undertook a Look, Listen, and Learn
tour of Louisiana, I made sure that students, parents, resource teachers
and consumers knew about the hearings. They attended in droves. The
braille book issue was presented at almost ever hearing and the
testimony made an impression on the legislators.
After a few problems in the house of representatives, we were able to
obtain an amendment specifically for braille texts. Instead of $20,000,
we have an appropriation of $200,000 for the texts and I understand that
the Department of Education will retain its Part B funding for braille
as well. This means that we may have at least $243,000 if all goes well.
Minnesota watch out! We're trying to catch up with you.
However, this appropriation is nearing the end of its legislative trek.
The session enss early this week. Hopefully the appropriation will
remain intact when the house and senate appropriation bills go to
conference committee. One never knows in Louisiana politics.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Keep your fingers crossed for us.
Warren
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