[nfbmi-talk] College Policy

[Fred Wurtzel]

Hi Pat,

 

Before I get to the college policy, I want to express how impressed I am
with the intern program.  If the Commission can place 40 people and even 5
or 10 get permanent jobs from the effort it will be a smashing success.
Pat, I surly applaud this idea.

 

Regarding the college policy, I was disappointed that after the Commission
Board rejected the policy, you and leamon still defended it.  I truly wonder
how you and I can look at this awful piece of bureaucratic parsimoniousness
and see it so differently.  Where is the love?  This is a hateful piece of
work.  Why are you and I so far apart?  Below are some comments from a
successfully employed person.  This person was asking why the Commission is
trying to reduce the quality and quantity of services to blind students.
This is only 1 among many.

 

Fred the scary part is these staff people at the Commission are representing
blind people and they do not seem to have a clue at how difficult it is for
blind people to go to school, get a job, etc.  I know my vision is getting
worse and it scares me to death as the general public still does not seem to
understand blind people any better than they did 30 years ago.  You're
right, it is truly sad and frankly ticks me right off.  

 

>>> "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net> 09/21/2009 2:05 PM >>>

Hi,

 

They keep comparing their own kids to their clients.  They say that their
kids don't get their college paid for, why should blind kids.  I have
pointed out that there is a 70% unemployment rate among blind people,
college text materials are still, despite computers, difficult to get,
though it is much better than when we went to college and the government is
paying them to assist blind people to get good jobs.  Shouldn't that be
enough?  Sometimes I get a little crazy at their attitudes.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred

 

Subject: RE: Question

 

That is appalling Fred.  Why would anyone be envious of someone on SSI.  The
people are living at the poverty level.  I would much rather work and am so
grateful to have my job.  

 

>>> "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net> 09/21/2009 11:15 AM >>>

Hi,

 

It is good reasoning that the Commission may be reducing services due to
budget cuts.  The truth, however, is that the Commission has only received
budget increases, including $3 million in stimulus funds.  So, it is greed
envy and lack of training of staff that has created this ugly situation.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred

 

Subject: Question

 

I was talking with Mary Lou Phillips--I keep in touch with her more than
anyone else--couple of times per week--anyhow I mentioned to her what you
had said about Blind Commission staff wanting SSI clients to pay for
services and she speculated maybe it had to do with funding cuts.  I
wondering if this was the case.  Even if funding is cut, I cannot fathom how
a client would be able to afford to pay for services.  I've got a sneaky
feeling blind people are going to get screwed over in this bad economy, etc.

as if we don't get screwed over enough.  I did see an article in Braille
Forum magazine I got over the weekend where I think it was Oregon that was
cutting their services for blind people.