News.

Disability Management Conference Scheduled

The Thirteenth Annual National Disability Conference & Exhibit, "Rehearsing Your Future: Healthy People, Healthy Companies," will be held October 27-29, 1999, at JW Marriott in Washington, DC. Presented by The Washington Business Group on Health, the conference will be sponsored by the UNUM Life Insurance Company of America. For more information contact Ann Makowski, WBGH, 777 N. Capitol St., NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002. Telephone: [phone] (voice), [phone] (Fax). E-Mail: <[e-mail]>.

1998-1999 Guide to Toys for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Toy Manufacturers of America (TMA) have released the latest edition of the highly successful Guide to Toys for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.

The guide is a one-of-a-kind resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers that contains commercially available toys and games appropriate for children of all ages who are blind, have low vision, or have multiple impairments that include visual impairment. It is also useful for adults with visual impairments who wish to participate in play with sighted children. It features 100 new toys--with an emphasis on multimedia and interactive toys--in a wide price range. Of note is an introductory section that makes it easier for adults choosing toys to understand the selection criteria used and shows readers how to apply these criteria beyond the products appearing in the guide.

Single copies and supplies of the guide are available in full-color print or on audio cassette free of charge by contacting the American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001. Telephone: [phone]; or Toy Manufacturers of America, 200 Fifth Avenue, Room 740, New York, NY 10010. Fax: [phone].

"There are nearly 10 million people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired in the U.S. today," said Elga Joffee, Director, AFB Information Center, "and thus there is a tremendous need for the information and guidance provided by the guide. It educates families, friends, and teachers that visually impaired children enjoy a wide variety of toys."

Ms. Joffee added that the many new multimedia toys on the market means that there are more choices for visually impaired children and their parents, and the guide can be invaluable in helping to select toys that offer both strong play value and developmental and educational benefits.

Children from New York metropolitan-area summer programs for blind students participated in the toy evaluation sessions, and AFB Talking Books donated the recording and production of the guide on audio cassette so that it is accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

The American Foundation for the Blind--the organization to which Helen Keller devoted more than 40 years of her life--is a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable people who are blind or visually impaired to achieve equality of access and opportunity that will ensure freedom of choice in their lives. AFB is headquartered in New York City and maintains offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco, and a governmental relations office in Washington, DC.

Second International Social Role Valorization Conference to be Held in Boston

"Creating Possibilities: The Difference SRV Makes" is the theme of the second international conference on Social Role Valorization, to be held June 1-4, 1999, at Boston University. Social Role Valorization, a concept that supersedes the principle of normalization, is defined as "the application of what science can tell us about the enablement, establishment, enhancement, maintenance, and/or defense of valued social roles for people." Speakers and participants will travel from places as far as Australia, New Zealand, England, and Norway as well as from many states and provinces in North America.

The conference emphasizes the impact and practical application of Social Role Valorization in the fields of mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental health, aging, and physical disabilities. The event offers an invitation to explore SRV fully, including the viewpoints of serious dissenters. Family members, persons with disabilities, service providers, educators, journalists, and policy makers will be represented at the event. Speakers include Wolf Wolfensberger, John O'Brien, Gunnar Dybwad, along with many other well-known figures in the disability field. It will be hosted by the North American Social Role Valorization Council.

Over 60 plenary and concurrent sessions will be held. In addition, opportunities exist for poster sessions as well as informal discussion during evening receptions.

Conference flyers are available from Jack Yates, 68 N. Main St., Carver, MA, 02330. Telephone: [phone], Ext.347. Information can also be accessed on the SRV web page: <http://www.SRV.21century.com.au>.