[nfb-talk] Florida's organized blind

[RJ Sandefur]

If you have a Separate comission for the blind, then the goals of the 
comission wold be more blindness orented. However, If you take the blind 
services program, and put it under an umbrella agency, then if the 
dectrocter wants funding for lets say vocation rehabiliation program, if his 
agency is under an umbrella agency, that agency could block funding. James 
omvig, has written on this subject. I would read the book, "Freedom of the 
blind: the secreet is empowerment. You can find this on the NFB websight, or 
you can google it. Hope this helps RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "richard payne" <rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 9:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Florida's organized blind


> What are the pros and cons for and against commissions are services for 
> the
> blind under the rehab services?
> ?
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RJ Sandefur" <rjs59 at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 7:33 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Florida's organized blind
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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