[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
Mon Mar 2 20:16:35 UTC 2009
Hello:
Due to the economy and State budget cuts DSB is considering closing the OTC
Residency program. Please read the info posted below. I was part of the
program for a short time but I had to return for personal reasons including health
concerns. I was considering returnin gto the program at a later date, but
being separated from my Spouse Ron was very hard to deal with and thus caused a
great deal of stress. However, the program can help and should not be cut. I
don't know what our position in this matter is, but I am interested in
finding out. I got the info from the WCBL list. I am very concerned about how this
is going to impact services in the State and also how far the budget cutting
will go. What other programs will be effected.
I have to admit during my short time in the program I never heard anyone
mention stopping the program for the residents; the hours at the center were
changed but nothing beyond that. However, I did sense a great deal of tension
and stress; I had a feeling that something was going to happen.
The program is a good one to have. We should not allow it to be lost. Even
in favor of other programs in other states. I hope that everyone will support
the program staying open. Also, I hope that everyone will encourage DSB to
cut carefully when it comes to services.
Lisa A. Owen
Secretary Officer
NFB of WA Student Division
360-920-0405
_nfbnorthwest at aol.com_ (mailto:nfbnorthwest at aol.com)
PS: Mike I would like to hear your views on this issue please and thanks.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Denise Colley" <dmc0124 at comcast.net>
To: "wcb list" <wcb-l at wcbinfo.org>
Cc: "WCB Presidents List" <presidents at wcbinfo.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 6:15 PM
Subject: [Wcb-l] proposed closure of the DSB OTC apartments
As your president I am posting the following information, as we understand
it, so that all of you will know where WCB stands and the actions we have
taken.
Last Wednesday representatives from both WCB and NFBW had a conference call
with Department of Services for the Blind Director, Lou Oma duirand, to talk
about the Department, and how they were being impacted budgetarily and
programmatically with the current economic climate in Washington State.
These were conversations we had been having with DSB since October. Up
until this most recent call, we had been led to believe that, while budget
cuts were inevitable, DSB was going to be able to withstand them with some
creative budgeting.
The call began with Lou Oma sharing that there were three goals driving all
of their budget decisions, to include:
1) making cuts that would have the least impact possible on services to
their customers;
2) protecting as much of their federal funding as they could and not
jeopardizing it;
3) preserving their ability to be a specialized agency offering specialized
services and specialized expertise, regardless of the customer's age or
circumstances.
What she then shared is of great concern to the board of WCB, and I'm sure
to all of you, the membership. One of the proposed budget cuts is to close
the residential program (apartments) of the orientation and training center.
The training program would remain in tact, but, essentially would become a
day training program. This would mean that they would really only be able
to provide their in-depth skills of blindness training to individuals living
in King County and the surrounding area. They would no longer have the
supervised training component that took place in the apartments in the
evening and on weekends. When asked how those customers living outside the
immediate area would receive this same level of training, we were told that
this would free up resources to expand rehab teaching and orientation and
mobility instruction in these residential areas. Depending on the
circumstances, they could send customers out of state for more intensive
training. They are also considering bringing itinerant intensive trainign
workshops into different parts of the state.
The WCB Board met that same evening to discuss the situation and began
formulating our position. We were all in agreement that full and complete
vocational rehabilitation cannot be done in the home on a once a week or
once a month basis, and that it is a twenty-four hour a day process. After
much discussion I was asked to submit to Lou Oma our position, and I'm
pasting it here for your review.
"The Washington Council of the Blind is categorically opposed to cutting the
residential function of the orientation and training program, and we charge
DSB with examining other programmatic/administrative functions that could be
cut."
Please be assured that we will continue following this situation diligently
and developing an action plan/strategy, and as it unfolds, I pledge to keep
you all informed.
Some of you may be asking what you can do. Here is my first appeal to you.
Next Saturday, March 7, the State Rehabilitation Council will be holding
their quarterly meeting in Seattle at the DSB office, beginning at 9am. Not
only is there a time on each agenda for public comment, but the meeting is a
public meeting and all topics discussed are open for comments and questions
from the audience. We need to pack that room and make our concerns and
position clear. We especially need members there who have attended the OTC
and can talk about what the residential part of that training meant to you.
The State Rehabilitation Council and DSB staff need to hear from all of us.
I would be happy to try to answer any questions any of you might have. You
can contact me by phone at (360) 438-0072 or e-mail me at
dmc0124 at comcast.net.
Denise
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
_______________________________________________
Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org
_______________________________________________
Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org
_______________________________________________
Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org
**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy
steps!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219957551x1201325337/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID
%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)
More information about the NFBWATlk
mailing list