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MARIA HRUSHKEWYCH TALKING BOOKS FOR THE BLIND We are aware that since its inception the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America has devoted a lot of attention to charitable causes. We, as immigrants, recall with gratitude the all encompassing welfare activi ties of the organization after World War II; today we are witnesses to the growth of the scholarship program, to aid being sent to Brazil, Poland, to Ukraine, if we are able to, and anywhere where a Ukrainian hand is extended for help. We wish to direct your attention Honorable Ladies toward one more opportunity to help a fellow human being, but in a way that is different from others, yet quite necessary and timely. This is to help a Ukrainian individual who has visual problems or experiences diffi culty in reading. Due to the growth of the number of elderly persons, coupled with a rise of visual problems, the need to help these people becomes very acute. It is fortunate that our Convention is being held in Cleveland, in a city where five years ago the Ukrainian Chapter of Talking Books was created within the Cleve land Society for the Blind, which is an 80-year old organization of great achievements and well-earned fame. The Society offers numerous programs and servi ces, provides special instruments and sophisticated electronic machines to help an unfortunate person lead a normal, independent life. How does the Ukrainian Chapter of this organiza tion operate? The initiator and prime mover of the group is Mrs. Myroslava Oryshkevych, a long time employee of the Cleveland Society for the Blind. She is assisted by volunteers, who with the aid of taperecorders read a book unto a tape. These tapes, chronologically numbered, with a filled out attached information sheet and enclosed in special cushioned envelopes, are sent by the volunteer readers to the Ukrainian Branch of the Society for the Blind. The originals of these tapes are stored in the library, while copies are sent to the needy individuals. Initially, a blind person needs the help of family or friends before he or she can learn how to operate a taperecorder. It seems that blind people learn how to handle the machine very quickly as well as the storing of the cassettes in their proper order for their return. It must be stated again, that in the beginning blind people need help. Being able to “hear” a book brings life to a blind person. The wealth of Ukrainian literature and other translated works become available to such an individ ual. His or her life becomes interesting and gains sub stance. That individual gains independence. The suffer ing associated with blindness is lessened. Such a person eagerly awaits each new shipment of the talking books. The Ukrainian library of such books numbers about 500 works. This is an impressive number. From time to time a catalogue is printed and sent to all participants in the program. The selections available are varied and interesting. There are books to please every taste. It must also be underlined that the Cleveland Chap ter of the Society for the Blind covers all the shipping and mailing costs associated with the program. How ever, funds are needed to purchase the cassettes. The recording of an average book takes about 7 cassettes, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. The first copy also uses 7 cassettes, hence we already have 14. The Branch does receive annual donations from Ukrainian National Association and the Workingmen’s Association as well as other random donations. Canadian libraries cover the costs of their orders. This program encompasses the entire Ukrainian community almost everywhere in the free world. The program has members in U.S., Europe and Australia. We still do not have members in South America. We know that Ukraine has a similar program, but short of promises nothing has been received from there. It is best to largely develop this program in Canada because government funds are available for such projects. The Welfare Committee of UNWLA can be very helpful in this program in the following ways: 1. Find individuals who could make use of this program and introduce their names to our center. 2. Teach a blind person to work a taperecorder and help that person when necessary. We are aware that there are many needy individuals who would like to be a part of our program. We have a well developed network in Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and Washington. There is little contact with New York and none with Ukrainian communities in smaller cities. In 1986 Alice Miller wrote about the Ukrainian Chapter in the Society publication: “ Do you know our Ukrainian Taping Service is the largest foreign language taping service in the world. We currently have 446 recordings in our cassette library. This represents a remarkable amount of reading by small group of dedi cated volunteers. The largest request we have dupli cated was for 1,296 cassettes for a regional library in Canada.” We are confident, dear ladies, that with your help we will be able to reach as many needy Ukrainian peo ple as possible and with this realize the Commandment — Love Thy Neighbor. (From the XXI Convention of the UNWLA, May 1987, delivered at the Social Services Workshop.) (translated from Ukrainian) 28 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 1987 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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