[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Alco Canfield amcanfield at comcast.net
Sat Mar 7 08:02:09 UTC 2009


Not to my knowledge, but you could write to Lou Oma with your comments:
ldurand at dsb.wa.gov.

Alco 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Sarah Baughn
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 3:42 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Isw there a way that people ccan attend the conferencce online, for those of
us who can't get to Seattle?
Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:30 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program


> Lisa and List:
>
> I want to start by clearing up one misconception The money that goes 
> into the training center and the money that sends rehab customers out 
> of state does not come out of the same pocket so to speak. 
> Out-of-state training money comes from actual rehab dollars, and OTC 
> money comes from a different part of the budget which is funded by 
> state dollars. I found this out while lobbying to go to Louisiana.
>
> Informed choice is all about allowing customers to really look at 
> their options and see what's best for them. What I understand to be 
> true of NFB philosophy and policy is that we're in support of informed 
> choice. Yes, we believe our training centers provide the best in 
> blindness training. We also believe that those who wish for quality 
> training in state should have it. Where the NFB gets frustrated with 
> in-state services is that many counselors behave as though 
> out-of-state training isn't an option when the law clearly states it 
> is, or where a person feels that their needs would be best met by 
> attending an out-of-state center yet they have to go through so many 
> hoops that it becomes utterly rediculous. Lisa's absolutely right that 
> some people, for whatever reason, may find it difficult, if not 
> altogether impossible, to go out of state. the point to having a state 
> center is not to keep people in state as a default, but to offer a 
> local option. If the residential portion of the in-state training center
closes, the program is pretty well ineffective.
>
> I invite as many people as are able and willing to attend the public 
> comment at 9:00 a.m. at DSB's Seattle office on Saturday to show 
> support for in-state training as a viable option and to keep it 
> available to customers in the rehab system. I am currently working on 
> arrangements for those in the Bellingham area who wish to attend. I am 
> also willing to make arrangements for those in Whatcom, Island, and 
> Skagit Counties as they'll literally be on our way down. Please 
> contact me off list at loneblindjedi at samobile.net if you are are in my 
> area and are interested in coming. I already know that Lisa is interested.
>
> For me, I think it's necessary for NFB members to go to the public 
> comment to show our support for the OTC's program as a continuous and 
> viable training option. Nothing budgetary is set in stone right now, 
> but DSB needs to know that we as a blind community care about the 
> services we're receiving and that these services matter to us and have 
> impact on our lives.
>
>
>
> Original message:
>
>> Hello  Dean:
>> We  need to improve the services in our state. We have a direct 
>> responsibility to  the blind citizens in WA. I agree the programs in 
>> CO and LA are better but that  does not justify allowing the OTC 
>> Residency program to be cut.
>> I  have to admit that being apart from Ron for 8-10 weeks at a time 
>> is hard enough  but I would not go to another state for services I 
>> can get in Seattle or  locally. If DSB is forced to close the 
>> program; there will be much fewer options  open for those who cannot 
>> travel long distances or out of the state.
>> They should  not forced to do so due to a lack of choices. 
>> Realisticallyis using
>> leverage in  order to send students to CO or LA being fair? What if 
>> the student can't leave  his family? Or other personal reasons 
>> prevent him from traveling such a great  distance? Being separated 
>> from your family or Spouse may not work for the  student and may 
>> caurse further stress.
>> The  blind community in WA needs this program to remain open. Sending 
>> students to  other state programs is both unrealistic and cuts into a 
>> very stressful state  and federal budget. We all must be realistic 
>> and try and find a solution that  will benefit the blind community of 
>> WA on a local level.
>> As  the President stated this country is in a depression in many 
>> states including  ours; we need to be practical and flexible. 
>> services need to be better in the  state and for all of us to still 
>> have the choice of attending our local training  center if the need 
>> ever arises. Let leaving the state remain a choice if needed.  The 
>> recession is worsening and we need to remember this.
>> It  is also my hope that we in the NFB will not take a passive role 
>> in this issue. I  think keeping all programs at DSB open is a benefit 
>> to all blind people in WA.  It is worth fighting for.
>> Lisa  Owen
>> In  a message dated 3/2/2009 3:53:29 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
>> dean at topdotenterprises.com writes:
>> My  guess here is that the NFB won't view this development as too 
>> much of a negative, because it means that they will be able to 
>> leverage more people being sent to the Colorado Center because, after 
>> all, comparable services aren't provided in Washington.
>
>> Dean
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org  
>> [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of  Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
>> Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 12:17 PM
>> To:  nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC  Residency 
>> Program
>
>
>> 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
>
>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -------
>> --
>> --
>
>
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>
>
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>
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>
> --
> REspectfully,
> Jedi
>
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