[Ct-nfb] FW: ACB Resolution on H.R. 3086

Fri Nov 9 19:05:29 UTC 2012

BESB lined me up for a job in New Haven a little more then a year  ago.  I 
had a 6 month training and I was paid $11.50 per hour during the  training 
period,.  BESB was supposely getting Federal Funding to pay for  this.  I was 
paid by Amaricach[not sure how to spell it].  Americash  was being given 
money to cover my wages, paid additional for their handling the  paperwork and 
pay allowance for my trainer, who basically gave me a brief one to  one and 
watched over the other 7 people working there.

I in turn paid $12 per day in transportation getting back and forth from  
New Haven to Stratford , as my mobility instructor would not give me the OK 
to  travel by train up there due to the train station in New Haven did not 
have a  conductor on the train only the engineer at the station I was getting  
on.    It was not a busy station as I was usually alone waiting  for the 
train.

After the 6 month training was over, I continued to work and went on a  
piece work rate.  [no choice on that]  My first pay check was for one  day that 
I worked 5 hours and got paid $6.  So that is $1.20 per hour and I  paid 
$12 for transpertation.  Basically, I did not go back as I could not  afford 
to work there.

I totally do not understand why BESB  lined me up with this job. They  went 
thru the mobility training  that didn't work out and then I went thru  
getting Bridgeport Transit and New Haven Transit to agree to exchange me at  
Milford Hospital as Bridgeport Transit only goes to WalMart and New Haven  
transit only goes to CT Post Shopping Center, both in Milford.  BESB paid  me an 
hourly wage of $11.50 per hour while in training.  I went thru bad  weather 
and snow to get there and wated for buses and sat on buses  for up  to 3 
hours to get from Stratford to New Haven, but I didn't give up.  BESB  guided 
me right over to the top of the clif and while the wind was blowing my  hair 
and I was feeling great for working and making some income, they patted me  
on the back while I took that last step off the clif.  

If you want a job don't look to BESB or whatever they call themselves at  
this point.  Go out and do it yourself.

Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com   

In a message dated 11/9/2012 8:35:31 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
ckuell at comcast.net writes:

I know  many ACB members who are capable, competent blind people. They 
believe in  independence, Braille, and the right of all blind people to 
become active  members in the workplace and society. Marcia dresser, who 
used 
to live in  Connecticut and was the first VP of the ACB here, worked with 
us 
to help  pass a Braille bill back in 1999. I was on several BESB committees 
with  her, and I admire Marcia and her husband Steve, also blind and an 
active  ACB member, very much. I've met people at national convention who 
are  
members of both NFB and ACB--although Dr. Maurer would certainly  
excommunicate them if he found out. Again, these are capable, competent,  
admirable blind people, who are networking and not judging people by  
affiliation, but rather by character.

I see the ACB and NFB as  completely analogous to republicans and 
democrats. 
Both groups have a  vision for our country, but they have different ideas 
on 
how to get there.  Neither side is evil, although I have my doubts about 
the 
folks at Fox  news, but for some reason, people get fired up when they feel 
they have an  enemy, which is how far too many NFBers and ACBers react. 
I've 
studied  both organizations, and choose to be an NFB member because I think 
our  philosophy best matches my own personality. But I don't think the ACB 
is  
wrong, just different. I would summarize this way: The NFB wants training  
and opportunities for blind people, while the ACB wants understanding and  
accommodations.

I listened to the ACB audio clip, twice, and I find  it fascinating how 
different people react to the same stimuli. I didn't  hear any slamming of 
the NFB, I just heard a single sentence saying 'it's  an NFB bill'. The 
sentence wasn't said with love or enthusiasm, and in  fact probably held a 
little disdain, but I certainly wouldn't call it  slamming.

ACB's decision not to support HR 3086 is hardly comparable to  Hitler 
gassing 
the Jews or the English exterminating Native Americans.  It's a decision 
based on facts, math, and mission. NIB doesn't pay blind  workers below 
minimum wage. Good will does, but by my calculation,it's  very few blind 
people. The large majority of the few hundred disabled  workers who receive 
below minimum wage are multi-disabled, almost all with  severe cognitive 
disabilities. And the small percentage of blind people  who are included in 
this class are also multi-disabled, with blindness the  least of their 
troubles. Traditionally, the NFB has not fought on behalf  of other 
disabilities, and DR. Maurer himself told me personally that 'it  dilutes 
our 
message'. The NFB has decided to fight on behalf of people  with other 
disabilities in taking on HR 3086, while the ACB has decided  that they 
won't. It's not evil, it's simply a different  viewpoint.

Deb, are you sorry you asked?  Smile.

chris

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