[blindkid] Fwd: Governor rescinds order that would abolish Commission for the Blind

[Carol Castellano]

Collective action in Michigan!
Carol

Carol Castellano
President, Parents of Blind Children-NJ
Director of Programs
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.blindchildren.org
www.nopbc.org

>Governor rescinds order that would abolish Commission for the Blind
>Published: Monday, April 23, 2012, 5:15 
>PM     Updated: Monday, April 23, 2012, 6:50 PM
>Description: Sue Thoms | sthoms1 at mlive.com
>By Sue Thoms | <mailto:sthoms1 at mlive.com>sthoms1 at mlive.com MLive.com
>Description: Gov. Snyder.jpg
>AP PhotoGov. Rick Snyder said he is still 
>working on a reorganization plan for state services to the blind.
>Gov. Rick Snyder today rescinded an executive 
>order that would haveabolished the Commission 
>for the Blind. He is working with advocacy 
>groups on a new plan to reorganize state 
>services for the blind and visually impaired, officials said.
>The order, which was set to take effect Tuesday, 
>drew protests and rallies from advocates for the 
>blind when it was issued two months ago
>“I think it was the power of our advocacy that 
>made him change his mind,” said Elizabeth 
>Kazmierski, a 16-year-old from East Grand 
>Rapids. “I like how advocacy can really make a difference.”
>Elizabeth, went to Lansing with her mother, 
>Marianne Dunn; her twin brother, Michael, and 
>representatives of Michigan Parents of Children 
>with Visual Impairment and the National 
>Federation of the Blind of Michigan. Michael and 
>Elizabeth, who are blind, advocated for the job 
>training and independent living services provided by the commission.
>The executive order would have replaced the 
>Commission for the Blind with an advisory board 
>while transferring its duties from the 
>Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 
>to the Department of Human Services.
>“We now have more time to work collaboratively 
>with advocates and our federal counterparts to 
>ensure that Michigan’s system is effective, 
>efficient and accountable,” Snyder said in a 
>statement. “We are committed to meeting the 
>needs of Michigan residents with disabilities. I 
>want to thank those who have been willing to 
>work in partnership to improve Michigan’s program structure.”
>Under the new plan, the commission will be part 
>of the Department of Human Services, but will 
>remain an autonomous body and four of the seven 
>members will be blind, advocates said.
>The commission will report to the governor and 
>will have investigative powers, said Richard 
>Bernstein, a blind Detroit-area attorney who advocates for the disabled.
>“If you don’t have the oversight of the 
>commission and the advocacy component, those 
>services (to the blind) will disappear,” Bernstein said.
>Research has shown that when services to the 
>blind are merged with general rehabilitation 
>services, fewer blind people are employed and 
>there is no cost savings, Dunn said.
>“The needs of the blind community are so 
>unique,” she said. “A lot of people are 
>well-meaning and want to do the best they can in 
>offering services to the blind and, because they 
>are sighted and not trained specifically in the 
>needs of blind individuals, they often make decisions that are detrimental.”
>Dunn and Bernstein said they were impressed by 
>the willingness of state officials to work with advocacy groups.
>“We’re thankful they opened up their office and spoke with us,” Dunn said.
>“They were genuinely committed to find a way to 
>make the situation better,” Bernstein said.
>The lawyer, who was considering a lawsuit 
>against the state, added the governor’s action 
>“avoids four years of federal litigation.”
>Email Sue Thoms at 
><mailto:sthoms1 at mlive.com>sthoms1 at mlive.com and 
>follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/suethoms
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