[Tn-talk] Colorado Commission for the Blind Bill!

[H. Field]

Hi all,
The following is a press release from the Colorado affiliate 
celebrating the formation of a state commission for the blind in their 
state. All the research shows that those states which have a 
commission for the blind have better training and employment for a 
larger number and more diverse percentage of the blind population of 
their state. Many people do not realise that Tennessee had a 
Commission For The Blind at one time, but it was subsumed into the 
Department Of Human Services years ago. If Tennessee did not have such 
a strong and successful vending program, it would be much harder for 
voc. rehab. to hide the abysmal employment outcomes that we have in 
this state. I cannot tell you how many blind people I know who are 
working way below their potential in menial jobs because they have not 
received training in essential blindness skills like braille and cane 
travel. But worse than that statistic is the number of blind people 
who are not working at all. Without the positive philosophy of 
blindness which enables blind people to believe in their abilities, we 
will continue to see this situation in Tennessee. We need the NFB 
involved in structuring the provision of vocational and rehabilitation 
services if blind people are to truly reach their potential. This is 
what will be happening in Colorado and I commend them for doing all 
the work that this success must have taken. I hope that one day we 
will again have a commission for the blind here in Tennessee.

Regards,

Heather Field

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>


>CONTACT:
>
>Scott LaBarre, President                                   Joe Rice
>
>NFB of Colorado                                             Colorado 
>House
>of Representatives
>
>Work phone: (303) 504-5979                          Cell: (303) 
>667-5555
>
>Cell phone: (303) 520-3584 
>joerice at aol.com
>
>slabarre at labarrelaw.com
>
>
>
>
>
>GOVENOR RITTER SIGNS FIRST COLORADO
>
>
>COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND BILL!
>
>
>
>
>LITTLETON, CO, May 23, 2007:  Members of the National Federation of 
>the
>Blind of Colorado will join with other blind Coloradans tomorrow in
>celebration of Governor Bill Ritter's signing of House Bill 1274, 
>creating
>the first Colorado Commission for the Blind. The signing will take 
>place on
>Thursday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m. in the 1st floor West foyer of the 
>Capitol
>building.
>
>
>
>Scott LaBarre, president of the National Federation of the Blind of
>Colorado, states, "The creation of a Commission for the Blind will 
>study
>rehabilitation and other services for the blind and make appropriate
>recommendations to the Division of Rehabilitation, the Governor, and 
>the
>General Assembly.  Efforts to establish the Commission rose out of 
>the need
>to find methods of training to combat the staggering unemployment 
>rate
>(almost 80%) faced by the blind."
>
>
>
>He went on thank longtime supporter of the blind of Colorado, House
>Representative Joe Rice, a Democrat from Littleton, Colorado, and 
>Senator
>Suzanne Williams, a Democrat from Aurora, for their sponsorship of 
>the bill.
>
>
>
>
>Kevan Worley of Colorado Springs and president of the National 
>Association
>of Blind Merchants believes this Commission has the potential to 
>bring about
>some real reforms in training for the blind. "It's just common sense 
>to
>include blind people in the study of how training is provided, and 
>the
>Commission brings the consumer of services to the table," he said. 
>"For
>example, at one time sheltered workshops-places of low pay in a 
>custodial
>setting-were thought to be a good idea but few people believe that 
>today.
>Blind people in the twenty-first century need twenty-first century 
>training
>ideas," he stated.
>
>
>
>About the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
>
>The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is an affiliate of 
>the
>largest organization of the blind in America, the National Federation 
>of the
>Blind.  The NFB of Colorado was chartered in 1955.  The NFB believes 
>the
>real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight but rather the
>misunderstanding and lack of information which exist.  We believe 
>that with
>proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to the 
>level of a
>physical nuisance.
>
>
>
>For more information about the NFB of Colorado call 303-778-1130 or 
>go to
>www.nfbco.org <http://www.nfbco.org/> .
>
>
>
># # #
>
>
>
>
>
>Lorinda Ann Riddle
>National Federation of the Blind
> of Colorado (NFBCO)
>2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
>Littleton, CO 80120
>Cell phone: 720-384-5871
>Work phone: 303-778-1130 Ext. 236
>Email: lriddle at cocenter.org
>www.nfbco.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>_______________________________________________
>Colorado-talk mailing list
>Colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/colorado-talk

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