[Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21

Tue Aug 16 14:38:02 UTC 2011

Dear Kirk,

I agree with Gloria that this may not be the best time to bring this item up 
with Congress as they can not get their act together and have lost sight of 
what is the best for the People and the Country and are too hung up on their 
own politica agendas.
I am just asking where is the equality in treatment.  I was not saying that 
Medicare should be buying wheelchairs for the Blind.  I was pointing out 
that Medicare will spend up to $30,000 for a motorized wheelchair for 
someone who can not walk, but only $150 on a person that is Blind.
I know that all of the accessible technology I own, doesn't add up to that 
much, $30,000 that is,  and I bought most of it myself.  It would have sure 
helped if there had been a program that would have helped me get it and not 
wipe out my bank account.
I think that we may need to put this one on the back burner, but we should 
not forget it is there and needs our attention at some point.
Besides, this is a federal issue and not a Florida only issue.  We need to 
do something about the funding of Newsline, the White Cane Laws awareness 
and Web site accessibility and compliance with section 508 standards for the 
Florida State agencies, just for examples.

I will write up my thoughts and send them to everyone before the conference 
call.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gloria Hicks" <glorianfb at irescue-tax.com>
To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 10:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21

> Hello all,
>
> While a discussion on appliances for the blind would make an interesting
> topic and certainly worthy of being distributed by Medicare. I feel we
> should stick to the topics that the national office wants us to discuss 
> with
> Congress. Anyway the Congress is not in a mood to spend more but to save
> money.
> Also, the legislature will be in session as early as January 2012 not 
> March.
> What are the topics we need to discuss with them? For example, money to 
> keep
> Newsline as a viable program.
>
> Gloria Mills Hicks TR
> National Federation of the Blind of Florida
> 3708 W. Bay To Bay Blvd.
> Tampa Florida 33629
> 813 837-1100  Cell: 813 340-9754
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Kirk
> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 2:58 PM
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21
>
> David, I so agree with you on this topic for sure! i knew that for 
> Medicare
> to provide a power chair for someone they stipulate that it is to be used 
> in
>
> the home  only in any event and  many legally blind individuals can see 
> well
>
> enough at home to do such  a thing. KH
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 2:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21
>
>
>
> Dear Denise,
>
> I have another item for discussion for the legislative Committee meeting.
> It has to do with getting the Congress to approve durable medical devices
> for the Blind under Medicair.
>  Medicair will purchase a wheelchair or scooter for someone who can not
> walk, and walkers too, but will purchase nothing to assist those who can 
> not
> see.
> Why can they not purchase, or at least help purchase such devices as 
> CCTV's,
> talking blood glucose meters, blood pressure cups or hand held magnifiers 
> or
> software for your computer the can help a person read?
> The federal government already recognizes Blindness as a more severe
> disability than just the inability to walk.  Most disabilities effect one 
> or
> more of Life's daily activities, but Blindness effects all of life's
> activities,I.E. walking, writing, reading, cooking cleaning, personal 
> record
> keeping, dealing with financial matters and transporting oneself.
>  Why do they spend so little on us, a Medicair benefit of $150.00 max, but
> will spend up to $ 30,000 for a motorized wheelchair?
>
> Why can they not have a program that helps you purchase such devices, even
> if they will not cover the entire cost?
> As 74.3% of all Blind People are over the age of 65 and the number of 
> Blind
> seniors is growing faster than any other group, It would make sense to 
> help
> these seniors stay as independent as possible and keep them out of the
> costly nursing homes.  The government would save money and the people 
> would
> be much happier.
> The government could mandate that the seniors go through a good rehab
> program as part of the benefit.
> The old adage that says you can not teach an old dog new tricks is only 
> true
> if the old dog don't want to learn.    It is allot easier if there are are
> other old dogs learning and doing the new tricks  too.
> Seniors listen to and learn from other seniors quicker and easier than 
> they
> do from younger people.
> One knowledgeable senior, in a adult community, is worth 4 younger rehab
> instructors in a rehab facility.
> This is just my thoughts on the matter and something we should discuss and
> pass on.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Denise Valkema" <valkemadenise at aol.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 10:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21
>
>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Denise's Palm Pre On Aug 13, 2011 8:55 PM, Judith Hamilton
>> <jrhamilton51 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Denise,
>>
>>
>>
>> Carrie Zubillaga, Gainesville Chapter President, will be representing our
>>
>> chapter.  She has no Email access.  Contact her with call in instructions
>>
>> and an overview of the Legislative committee.  The number is (904)
>> 964-7679.
>>
>>
>>
>> Judy Hamilton
>>
>> Gainesville Chapter Secretary
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > [Original Message]
>>
>> > From: Denise Valkema <valkemadenise at aol.com>
>>
>> > To: Nfbf <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>>
>> > Date: 8/10/2011 2:43:51 PM
>>
>> > Subject: [Nfbf-l] Legislative committee meeting 8/21
>>
>> >
>>
>> > The legislative committee will meet by teleconference Sunday, 8/21, 
>> @
>> 8pm.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > We would like one person from each chapter to be on this committee.
>>
>> Chapter presidents should let me know the contact information for the
>>
>> member that has agreed to be on this committee and it can be you.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > The call in information will be sent later. Let me know your what 
>> you
>>
>> would like placed on the agenda. Please let me who will call in.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Thanks,&nbsp;
>>
>> > Denise Valkema, NFBF legislative chair
>>
>> > 305-972-8529
>>
>> > Valkemadenise at aol.com
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Sent from Denise's Palm Pre&nbsp;
>>
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>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
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