[nfb-talk] Florida's organized blind

[RJ Sandefur]

Here is what Florida's former dector of the State agency said, concerning the blind of our state.

"
The following are my thoughts and comments on the current

 

situation.   I truly believe the situation is grave and, unless

 

the blind of Florida act quickly and in unison, we will only have ourselves

 

to blame when we find decisions about our lives made by well-meaning, but

 

misguided do-gooders or government burocrats..

 

1.  FAASB and their individual members must be made aware that the blind of

 

their communities will no longer support and assist their fundraising and

 

other activities unless the blind are admitted to their board meetings and

 

given meaningful participation.  Their attempts to privatize DBS must stop.

 

2.  The Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind should adopt a

 

resolution calling for an independent, consumer-driven commission for the

 

blind.  Under Federal guidelines such commissions must be headed by

 

commissioners, at least a majority of which must be blind, appointed by and

 

responsible to the

 

Governor.   I believe that actions over the last 2 years indicate

 

an intent to combine all state agencies, including DBS, into the Agency for

 

Persons with Disabilities.  Data and studies show such combined agencies to

 

be detrimental to services to the blind.

 

Under Federal RSA regs DBS must respond to such Rehab Council actions and,

 

if DBS disagrees, it must provide a written explanation to the Council and

 

RSA.

 

3.  The process for replacing me is intolerable.  I have known and worked

 

with Steve Ritacco for 12 years and have utmost confidence in him, but he

 

has only been given the working title of Acting Director and cannot be

 

considered for the permanent job.  How can he act and who will take him

 

seriously when it is known he will not be there long?  He should be placed

 

in the position of director while a process is undertaken to find a new

 

director-a process which must include meaningful input from the organized

 

blind.

 

4.   Delegations of the blind must meet with local legislators to

 

make their concerns known and a coalition of organized blind groups should

 

request a meeting with the Governor.

 

5.  Because of the size and stature of Florida, this is a national

 

emergency.  If Florida's blind services is privatized it may well start a

 

trend nationwide.

 

6.  FAASB's criticism of DBS winning the Governor's Sterling Award must

 

stop.  It undermines the ability of DBS to obtain funding and legislation it

 

needs.  Further, it is wrong.  Over the past 2 years, the RSA, the State

 

Auditor General, the DOE Inspector General and the organized blind of

 

Florida have all concluded that DBS is operating well and is on-track to

 

continue improving." Now if this type of thing were taking place in your states, wouldn't you be angry? RJ
-------------- next part --------------
Here is what Florida's former dector of the State agency said, concerning the blind of our state.
 
"
The following are my thoughts and comments on the current
 
situation.
  
I truly believe the situation is grave and, unless
 
the blind of Florida act quickly and in unison, we will only have ourselves
 
to blame when we find decisions about our lives made by well-meaning, but
 
misguided do-gooders or government burocrats..
 
1.
 
FAASB and their individual members must be made aware that the blind of
 
their communities will no longer support and assist their fundraising and
 
other activities unless the blind are admitted to their board meetings and
 
given meaningful participation.
 
Their attempts to privatize DBS must stop.
 
2.
 
The Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind should adopt a
 
resolution calling for an independent, consumer-driven commission for the
 
blind.
 
Under Federal guidelines such commissions must be headed by
 
commissioners, at least a majority of which must be blind, appointed by and
 
responsible to the
 
Governor.
  
I believe that actions over the last 2 years indicate
 
an intent to combine all state agencies, including DBS, into the Agency for
 
Persons with Disabilities.
 
Data and studies show such combined agencies to
 
be detrimental to services to the blind.
 
Under Federal RSA regs DBS must respond to such Rehab Council actions and,
 
if DBS disagrees, it must provide a written explanation to the Council and
 
RSA.
 
3.
 
The process for replacing me is intolerable.
 
I have known and worked
 
with Steve Ritacco for 12 years and have utmost confidence in him, but he
 
has only been given the working title of Acting Director and cannot be
 
considered for the permanent job.
 
How can he act and who will take him
 
seriously when it is known he will not be there long?
 
He should be placed
 
in the position of director while a process is undertaken to find a new
 
director-a process which must include meaningful input from the organized
 
blind.
 
4.
  
Delegations of the blind must meet with local legislators to
 
make their concerns known and a coalition of organized blind groups should
 
request a meeting with the Governor.
 
5.
 
Because of the size and stature of Florida, this is a national
 
emergency.
 
If Florida's blind services is privatized it may well start a
 
trend nationwide.
 
6.
 
FAASB's criticism of DBS winning the Governor's Sterling Award must
 
stop.
 
It undermines the ability of DBS to obtain funding and legislation it
 
needs.
 
Further, it is wrong.
 
Over the past 2 years, the RSA, the State
 
Auditor General, the DOE Inspector General and the organized blind of
 
Florida have all concluded that DBS is operating well and is on-track to
 
continue improving." Now if this type of thing were taking place in your states, wouldn't you be angry? RJ