[Home-on-the-range] Rehab and work - they should be a linked partnership

[Timothy Hornik]

Dian,

I do agree that implementing a blind skills program within the Voc Rehab IDP would probably show a positive trend with long term employability. The two stints I did within blind rehab provided the necessary tools and more importantly confidence to remain in the Army as a blind officer, and later for a Masters program.

I truly do see that the first step in this process develops with learning to trust the white cane. From there, the individual figures out how to develop trust with the other tools at our disposal, to include computers, iOS devices, and the lot. Each of these items takes time for the appropriate level of rapport and habit to form, where it becomes almost like muscle memory.

Unfortunately, the lack of schools for the blind here in Kansas places a significant amount of burden on other systems already strained to preform their primary functions. For University bound individuals, the various forms of disability services provide some excellent assistance and resources. Without a base level of skills, habits, and confidence, even these secondary entities offerings may overwhelm some.

Kind of on the same note, but not, the fact that Blind Rehab or Blind Rehab Services by a certified Blind Rehab Specialist is not covered under MEDICARE concerns me. Why is it that a Occupational Therapist has the ability to charge ones insurance for some of these services, yet a fully trained and recognized professional encounters much resistance even in attempts to obtain referrals. I will admit that I have not delved into KAN-CARE regulations to understand the offerings for the visually impaired, but I am assuming they probably have extreme limits, if it exists at all. I know when advocating for the Visual Impairment Services by the Eastern Kansas VA system, the key barrier to implementing what is Congressionally mandated fell on the lack of ICDM codes for these services.

I understand that much of what I am saying originates from those actions covered under the older blind persons act and funding mechanisms. However, these biases trickle down into those policies governing services for those between the ages of 18 to 55.

https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/law/medicare_facts.htm

So what is the next step? Our continuing advocating efforts as individuals towards the VR and Department of Aging and Disability Services. The concepts Dian brought up makes me wonder, what are the reported numbers of blind Kansans of working age who are unemployed? How many of them completed at  least a basic blind skills program covering orientation and ,mobility, Living Skills, Manual Skills, and Computer Access Training? What are some of the demographics like education level, annual income, family status, etc for those who either have and have not attended blind rehab?

Thank you for your assistance,
Timothy Hornik
timothy.hornik at gmail.com 
M: 785.330.3503 
LinkedIn Profile: http://tiny.cc/7bfa5 
Blog: http://www.samobile.net/users/timothy.hornik/ 

On Jun 28, 2013, at 7:51 AM, Dianne Hemphill <diannehemphill at cox.net> wrote:

Hello federationists- I have reviewed most of July's Braille Monitor's articles and wondered which I would note as "must reads"...looking at the convention announcements for seminars, etc, I would suggest that both number 9, 
"Rehabilitation - A Contract With America and Her  Blind Citizens" and number 11, "Hiring the Blind", coincide with July 1st seminar on employment followed by an opportunity to dazzle a pool of 14 employers with your resume and charming personality...

Often it is easy to "con dim  and deplore" rehabilitation for its poor employment outcomes, perhaps even yours and forget that they also may be the reason some of us find success. The ongoing challenge, how to make this positive outcome of high quality employment an outcome for every blind client. 

I wonder if we would have more successful employment outcomes if rehab was a "mandatory" part of the program for the blind VR client? Though my rather short and sorry rehab 10 week summer rehab center experience  was not anything to brag about, I none-the-less gained some useful skills and study ideas in order to do a better job in college and then my several work experiences... I know that both Susie and Donna participated in this rather poor experience as well but have none-the-less had excellent college and employment . Though the Center rehab training was on a trend of improvement prior to the state closing her down for so called financial short falls, the attendance was never mandatory. Unlike Kansas, Iowa and several other states did make the training and adjustment experience mandatory and have had much more success with their client's success in higher education and employment. Their Policy was based on the perspective that they wanted to facilitate as best they could, a clients" success, as viewed by Voc Rehab rather than assuming a client would go out there and "sink or swim" depending on their skills and competence... What is your perspective? Dianne (YOLO)
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