[Nfbk] The latest on Baby Micaela

Thu Jul 1 22:34:47 UTC 2010

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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