[nagdu] a blind consumer's Right toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)

[David Andrews]

RJ:

If the unemployment rate for blind persons is 74 percent and you say 
it is rehab's fault, then I say to you that it is in large part the 
fault of individuals for letting it be rehab's fault.  First, I don't 
think it is rehab's fault.  Certainly there are problems with the 
rehab system in this country, but it isn't all bad, as some of you 
say or imply.  Secondly, many blind persons get jobs with little or 
no help from rehab.  If someone waits for rehab to get him a job, he 
will probably wait forever.  You are your best representative, your 
best advocate etc., not a government employee.

Dave

p.s.  As an example, I decided I needed to go to graduate school.  I 
went and talked to my Counselor -- and he said he sure wasn't going 
to pay for it, as the agency wouldn't pay for his.  So, I regrouped, 
got scholarships, a teaching assistantship, and job in dorm, and 
actually made money going to school.  Then, once I got out, I found a 
job before rehab could do all the paperwork, but I am sure they took the 26.


DA


  At 06:18 PM 11/11/2011, you wrote:
>See that's how it is here in Florida. The councilor's dictate 
>instead of allowing you to make an informed choice. Why is their a 
>74 percent unemployment rate among the blind? because all the 
>working aged blind are working in a vending stand because councilor 
>knows best! The NFB has been around for almost 75 or more years, but 
>when you really get down to it, what have the blind really 
>accomplished? Not much of anything. Jerigan said its a cycle The 
>agencies for the blind give bad teaching skills, which leads to 
>wrong misconceptions of the blind person to the general public. We 
>have three blindness training centers, but these are not schools. 
>Alot of times, kids are sent to a blindness school, from the time 
>they're five years old, until they graduate, and then when they get 
>out into the world, they don't know how to adjust. So, what should 
>we the blind do? Get them when they're young, so that when they 
>graduate from high school, they won't need to go to the NFB center, 
>because they already have the training. RJ
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 6:47 PM
>Subject: Re: [nagdu] a blind consumer'sRight 
>toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)
>
>
>>Hey Tami
>>
>>that is what happens in my state.  Once they had a Consumer 
>>Advisory Counsel that said some true, uncomplimentary stuff about 
>>the counselors. The counselors were insulted because the counselors 
>>had Masters degrees and who were these ungrateful consumers.  I 
>>read the minutes and heard the counselors angry comments because I 
>>worked for the Agency.
>>
>>Then as a consumer after I was forced out of the agency due to an 
>>office move, I had a whole slew of problems getting what I knew I 
>>needed.  I found out a rehab tech had told the counselor the exact 
>>opposite about what he and I discussed.  I protested and had my 
>>case closed in frustration.
>>
>>Instead of learning our rights etc., I would just like to know the 
>>States where rehab professionals really help the most consumers and 
>>work with them as a team instead of dictating what the client needs 
>>and giving anyone who asks for choices etc. a hard time.
>>
>>When I had my issues, I didn't know of anyone to help me.  Even if 
>>I did, it is an exhausting process and i want to enjoy life and not 
>>spend all my time fighting with people.  If I had things to do 
>>over, and had access to the internet, I would have moved to the 
>>State where the rehab people are known to be more helpful.
>>Brenda
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>>On 11/11/2011 6:22 PM, Tami Kinney wrote:
>>>So what do you do, then, when you do your homework before you make 
>>>your first call and know what your needs are and formulate your 
>>>requests according to that in line with what the law and the 
>>>policies and procedures are and..And get nowhere. For years.
>>>
>>>What if you keep hearing that this is what happens to virtually 
>>>everyone you talk to.
>>>
>>>What if you learn that there is no recorse, that the agency is not 
>>>following the laws or the rules and regs because they don't 
>>>actually have to? Because there is no one to make them?
>>>
>>>Then where are you?And where are all your friends and 
>>>acquaintances and what do you tell them when they ask you what do do?
>>>
>>>Tami.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>On 11/11/2011 12:40 PM, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
>>>>You don't march in, you ease in and tell your counsellor what you'd like
>>>>to do and ask them how it can be accomplished.
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "RJ Sandefur"
>>>><joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
>>>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 2:49 PM
>>>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] a blind consumer's Right
>>>>toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>How is a blind consumer suposed to just march into their councilors
>>>>>office, and tell him or her I want this or that? The councilor's know
>>>>>these regulations back and forwards... They have excuses for
>>>>>everything. Really this should be for the rehab councilor list. RJ
>>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Criminal Justice Major
>>>>>Extraordinaire" <orleans24 at comcast.net>
>>>>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 2:39 PM
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] a blind consumer's Right to
>>>>>Chooserehabtraining(federalregs)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi, larry,
>>>>>>I'll agree with you on this one and leave it alone too.
>>>>>>Since I don't know that much about those individuals, will leave it
>>>>>>as that.
>>>>>>*Smiles*
>>>>>>Bibi and Odie
>>>>>>the happy spirited bounty labra wolf