[il-talk] Please read, this could be interesting

[Kelly Pierce]

yes, this is indeed interesting for those of us concerned about the freedom
and independence of blind people.  Specifically, this AFB organized group
identified two topics which we and they are philosophically opposed:

*         Professional vision rehabilitation services reimbursement
under Medicare.



*         Opportunities to address profound personnel shortages.


The service reimbursement issue is a big one for us because in the
past the AFB and their partners recognized the Academy as the only 
blindness
accrediting agency.  The Academy will not accredit blind travel teachers
and everyone must have a master's Degree in blindness rehabilitation from a
place like Northern Illinois University or Western Michigan University. On
the other hand, the Blindness Board, originally organized by the NFB, has
no policies that exclude blind people from being travel teachers based on
their blindness.  Also, highly talented and qualified people in our 
movement like Nadine Jacobson, who was my Braille teacher and currently 
serves as the President of the National Association to Promote the Use of 
Braille, would be accredited to teach Braille by the Blindness Board and 
probably not accredited by the Academy.

One of the reasons we have a scarcity of personnel in the blindness field 
is because of the limiting and backward attitudes of sighted professionals 
that systematically exclude highly talented, qualified and capable  leaders 
to receive pay for professional services.

Kelly





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Wright" <gymnastdave at sbcglobal.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Illinois Association of Blind Students List" <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>;
"NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 4:03 PM
Subject: [il-talk] Please read, this could be interesting


> We encourage all recipients of this message to share this announcement
> widely with your networks.
>
>
>
> You are invited to join in a teleseminar co-hosted by the American
> Foundation for the Blind and the VisionServe Alliance entitled--
>
>
>
> Join May 18, 3:00 pm ET call: National Health Policy & Living with
> Vision Loss--Building a Consensus, Bringing About Change
>
>
>
> National Health Policy & Living with Vision Loss: Building a Consensus,
> Bringing About Change
>
>
>
> Monday, May 18, 2009, 3:00pm - 4:30pm Eastern
>
>
>
> As the national debate about reform of America's health care system
> engages in earnest, it is critical that policymakers hear a clear call
> to shape policy appropriately to account for the rights and unique needs
> of individuals living with vision loss. A consensus is emerging among
> consumer and service provider stakeholders in the vision loss community
> concerning the policies and approaches that must be part of any national
> health care initiatives to be acted upon, but are you a part of that
> process?
>
>
>
> To further develop consensus and craft a coordinated response from our
> community, you are invited to join moderators Roxann Mayros, President
> and CEO, VisionServe Alliance, and Mark Richert, Director, Public
> Policy, American Foundation for the Blind, and others in an interactive
> discussion concerning the particulars of a health policy agenda to
> promote in Washington, D.C. and around the country.
>
>
>
> All who have an interest in vision loss and who would also like to
> influence the direction of national health policy are welcome to join
> this free teleseminar, but your RSVP is required.
>
>
>
> Brief summary presentations and participant discussion will address--
>
>
>
> *         Reliable use of medication labeling by consumers with vision
> loss.
>
>
>
> *         Availability and affordability of low vision devices and other
> vital assistive technologies.
>
>
>
> *         Professional vision rehabilitation services reimbursement
> under Medicare.
>
>
>
> *         Opportunities to address profound personnel shortages.
>
>
>
> *         Fostering greater accessibility of mainstream health care
> technologies.
>
>
>
> *         And other critical issues identified by speakers and
> attendees.
>
>
>
> To participate, email Barbara LeMoine of the AFB staff (blemoine at afb.net
> <blocked::blocked::blocked::blocked::mailto:blemoine at afb.net> ) by
> Monday, May 11 with your RSVP and please indicate clearly in your
> message that you wish to join the May 18th health policy teleseminar.
> Dial-in instructions for the call and a final agenda will follow.
>
>
>
> Participants are welcome to join individually or as groups from your
> home, office or organization. However, if you expect to be joined by
> others at your location, please indicate the name of the group or
> organization on whose behalf you are providing an RSVP and a ballpark
> estimate of the number of participants you expect at your location.
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
>
>   Best Regards:
>   David Wright
> Email: dwrigh6 at gmail.com
> Mobile: (512)203-2474
> Webpage: http://www.knfbreader.com
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