[Nfbk] Fw: The latest on Baby Micaela

Tue Aug 24 01:48:52 UTC 2010

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Buffa Hanse" <buffa2 at insightbb.com>
To: "NFB of Kentucky Internet Mailing List" <nfbk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbk] The latest on Baby Micaela


> Greetings,
> This is a perfect note for me to say, "and they ask why NFB?" Thanks for 
> posting this Nikki; I'm equally outraged. But I'm also grateful for 
> everyone in NFB. I know I would not have been able to do the small things 
> I have here in KY or elsewhere without all of us.
>
> I am sorry that being an observant Jew has kept me from Being much of an 
> outward member of NFB. But you must know I have tried to share our 
> philosophy with my students and the staff at the McDowell center for the 
> past ten years. As of July 30 or so, I will be leaving to go work in the 
> state training center in Richmond VA where Melody Lindsey Roane (the 
> president of the National Association of Blind Rehab Professionals is 
> leading a team made of some Federationists who are changing the model of 
> training from the traditional model as we use at McDowell to something 
> akin to structured discovery and the Centers in Nebraska, Iowa, and Texas, 
> as well as our flagship NFB Centers. I'm terrified and excited about the 
> challenge, but I will always have wonderful memories of the Federation 
> Family here in KY. I was in need of much healing when I came to KY and Tim 
> Cranmer handed me that drink on the Bell: and everyone has helped me heal. 
> Please keep in contact. It will be awhile before I have a computer at home 
> and I'm not taking this old warhorse. But you can always reach me at 
> 502-2963600 I'll never give up that number and always have KY in my heart. 
> I would not have left except that this is my dream! Please pray I can live 
> up to Betty Nicely, Tim Cranmer, Jerry Whittle and be a super teacher who 
> learns enough technology to do the job well!
>
> I'll be back in Louisville as
> I have ties here that will last a lifetime.
> So I hope I see you all. With love, gratitude, and the faith of 
> Federationism,
> Buffa Hanse
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nickie Pearl" <njp at insightbb.com>
> To: "NFBK List" <nfbk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 10:06 AM
> Subject: [Nfbk] The latest on Baby Micaela
>
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>>    A few weeks ago I caught wind of this story through the Chapter
>> Presidents list.  Blind parents had given birth to their first child. 
>> The
>> hospital was concerned since the couple was blind and decided to call 
>> CPS,
>> Child Protective Services.  The baby was taken away from the parents and
>> placed, I believe, in State custody.  The only reason for doing so was 
>> due
>> to the couple's blindness.
>>    The following is an update on this story.  I am outraged that in 2010
>> this idiotic behavior is still alive.  Just another example that we, 
>> NFB,.
>> can never rest!
>>
>> Thank You,
>> Nickie
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 12:45 AM
>> To: "'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'"
>> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: [Chapter-presidents] [blparent] The latest on Baby Micaela
>>
>> Here is another update.  Veronica
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Cervenka, Stacy (Brownback)
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 2:26 PM
>> To: Sean Whalen; 'Gregory DeWall'; 'Jason Ewell'; 'blparent at nfbnet.org'
>> Subject: [blparent] The latest on Baby Micaela
>>
>> Everyone,
>>
>>    I just spoke with NFB of Missouri President Gary Wunder. Here is the
>> latest:
>>
>>    The parents initially thought that if they played by the rules, surely
>> the judge would give them back their daughter at the first hearing. 
>> However,
>> this did not happen, so a second hearing was scheduled for June 16. At 
>> this
>> point, the parents realized that they needed an advocate and contacted 
>> the
>> NFB of Missouri. After visiting with the couple in their home and
>> determining that there were no extenuating circumstances and that 
>> blindness
>> was the only concern CPS had about these parents, the NFB hired an 
>> attorney
>> to assist them. The cost of this attorney is $250 an hour, and $85 for 
>> the
>> services of the attorney's assistant.
>>
>>    About two weeks ago, on June 16, the parents had their second hearing.
>> The judge seemed outraged that the hospital had taken the child from this
>> couple with so little cause and was further astounded that the hospital 
>> had
>> never dealt with blind parents before. Unfortunately, this was not an
>> evidentiary hearing, so no decisions were made and it was announced that
>> there would need to be a third hearing. The problem is that this judge is
>> going on vacation, so the earliest they could get a hearing with her was 
>> on
>> July 20. The parents could have chosen to get an earlier hearing date 
>> with a
>> different judge, but their attorney advised them to wait for this judge 
>> to
>> return from vacation, because she had seemed so sympathetic and on their
>> side at the second hearing.
>>
>>    So, the situation as it now stands is that the parents are awaiting
>> their third hearing on July 20, with this hopefully sympathetic judge.
>> Meanwhile, the NFB of Missouri is paying for the parents to receive voc
>> rehab training, to get letters from the state VR agency saying that these
>> parents can indeed perform the tasks that were of concern to CPS. The NFB
>> realizes that we shouldn't have to get a permission slip from the state 
>> VR
>> agency to have kids, but their main focus at this time is to address the
>> ridiculous "But, how does a blind person do that?" concerns of the 
>> hospital
>> and CPS and get baby Micaela back with her parents where she belongs. So,
>> the NFB of Missouri is incurring additional costs, as they are paying out 
>> of
>> pocket for these voc rehab services for the couple. Once Baby Micaela is
>> back home with her parents, the NFB of Missouri will likely pursue other
>> legal action against the hospital, so that this never happens to another
>> blind parent.
>>
>>    Gary asked me to pass along that the NFB of Missouri welcomes 
>> donations
>> to help defray the sky-rocketing legal expenses and the cost of getting
>> letters from VR professionals asserting that these parents have received
>> training in the skills of parenting and can perform the required tasks. 
>> They
>> are setting up a specific fund for these donations. You can make a
>> contribution at the NFB of Missouri's affiliate table in the Exhibit Hall 
>> or
>> by visiting Gary in the Missouri delegation during General Session.
>>
>>    If you can't make a monetary donation or if you'd like to help 
>> further,
>> I'm collecting names and contact info of Federationists who would be 
>> willing
>> to baby-sit during Convention for parents who want to get out for an 
>> evening
>> or even just attend a few Convention events without their children, and
>> donate the proceeds to the NFB of Missouri to help with the legal costs 
>> of
>> not only returning Micaela to her parents, but also pursuing legal action
>> against the hospital in the future.
>>
>>    If you'd like to volunteer your time, please contact me at
>> stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.gov<mailto:stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.g
>> ov> or on my cell at 708-359-3301. Please let me know the best way to
>> contact you at Convention, a little bit about your experience with kids
>> (this might include being a parent yourself, having worked as a counselor 
>> at
>> a summer program, etc.), and which times you would be available.
>>
>>    Furthermore, feel free to share my contact info with any parents who
>> might be interested in this service during Convention.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Stacy Leigh Cervenka
>> Legislative Assistant
>> Office of Senator Sam Brownback (KS)
>> 303 Hart Senate Office Building
>> Phone: (202) 224-6521
>> Email:
>> stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.gov<mailto:stacy_cervenka at brownback.senate.g
>> ov>
>>
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