[il-talk] Fwd: Merger

Sat Jan 12 06:07:10 UTC 2019

I also don't want to forget the efforts of the Blind Services Planning
Council and its chair, Andrew Webb. 

 Denise R. Avant, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
(773)-991-8050
Live the life you want.
For more information about NFBI,
go to www.nfbofillinois.org.

-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Deborah Kent Stein
via IL-Talk
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2019 5:58 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Deborah Kent Stein <dkent5817 at att.net>
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fwd: Merger

This is fantastic news! I can't help but think that the consistently strong
opposition to the merger expressed by the NFBI and ICB together may have
been a critical factor in this decision. 

Debbie

-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Denise R
Avant via IL-Talk
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2019 3:15 PM
To: NFB of Illinois Nfb-i conference call Number <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Denise R Avant <davant1958 at gmail.com>; Illinois Association of Blind
Students List <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [il-talk] Fwd: Merger

Denise R. Avant
President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois Live the life you want Sent
from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Gordon, John" <John.Gordon at illinois.gov>
> Date: January 11, 2019 at 3:11:17 PM CST
> To: "Webb, Andrew" <Andrew.Webb at illinois.gov>, "davant1958 at gmail.com" 
> <davant1958 at gmail.com>, Rachel Schroeder <rachelrenee70 at gmail.com>, 
> "Donnie Anderson" <icbvanderson at icloud.com>
> Cc: "Wade, Quinetta" <Quinetta.Wade at illinois.gov>, "Halvorsen, Ingrid" 
> <Ingrid.Halvorsen at illinois.gov>, "Hamer, Louis" 
> <Louis.Hamer at illinois.gov>, "Laird, Cassie" 
> <Cassie.Laird at illinois.gov>
> Subject: Merger
> 
> To all of our Community Partners,
>  
> We are writing to announce that as of today we are no longer 
> considering
the idea of folding services for persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
into the Bureau of Blind Services.  We began discussing this idea several
months ago to enhance and streamline training opportunities for staff and
customers within the Bureau of Blind Services as well as the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing units.  We believed that by combining these two groups of
specially trained staff we would see greater outcomes for our customers in
both programs. 
> Four local offices throughout the state were selected to participate 
> in a
pilot project for us to assess the positive and negative effects of the
proposed merger.  At the end of our pilot there was no conclusive evidence
that the proposed merger would positively enhance service delivery to either
set of customers.  It is our decision that we will continue to operate the
Bureau of Blind Services and Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing as
separate programs. 
> We continue to focus on our goal of empowering people who are deaf, 
> hard
of hearing, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind through employment and
independent living opportunities.   It is for this reason we are dedicating
a full-time position to serve as a statewide liaison for services to
individuals with sensory disabilities.  This position will oversee the
technical assistance and training of professional staff on rules, policies,
procedures, current service trends, communication, and on the rehabilitation
technology of equipment and devices for individuals with sensory
disabilities.  The objectives of this position will enhance the
rehabilitation, education, and general welfare of the services provided by
the Division.
> We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your sincere 
> interest
and partnership as we investigated this prospect.  Ability to learn and
change has become one of the most important predictors of success.  We look
forward to working  more closely with you in the future as we investigate
efficiencies. 
>  
> Very Sincerely,
>  
> John Gordon
> Bureau Chief, Bureau of Blind Services Illinois Department of Human 
> Services
> 100 West Randolph Street
> Suite 5-300, Chicago, IL 60601
> JRTC: 312-814-3323
> ICRE: 312-633-3596
>  
> 
> 
> State of Illinois - CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained 
> in
this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged or
attorney work product, may constitute inside information or internal
deliberative staff communication, and is intended only for the use of the
addressee. Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or
any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have
received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately
by return e-mail and destroy this communication and all copies thereof,
including all attachments. Receipt by an unintended recipient does not waive
attorney-client privilege, attorney work product privilege, or any other
exemption from disclosure. 
> 
_______________________________________________
IL-Talk mailing list
IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
IL-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/dkent5817%40att.net

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

_______________________________________________
IL-Talk mailing list
IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
IL-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/davant1958%40gmail.com