[nfbmi-talk] Fw: request for reasonable accommodations mcb meeting

Fred Wurtzel f.wurtzel at comcast.net
Thu Aug 26 01:17:19 UTC 2010


Hello Joe,

It appears that they sent you what you probably already have.  It does not
appear it includes the things you asked for.

Warm Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of joe harcz Comcast
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 5:25 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: request for reasonable accommodations mcb meeting


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Luzenski, Sue (DELEG) 
To: joe harcz Comcast 
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 10:36 AM
Subject: RE: request for reasonable accommodations mcb meeting


Hello Joe,

 

Per your request attached, in Word format, are the following documents for
the August 27 Commission meeting:

 

1.                  The agenda which, as always, will be available in
Braille and large print at the meeting

2.                  The MCB report, which is a compilation of the
administrative services, consumer services, training center, B E P and the
Director's reports.  

3.                  The latest draft of the College policy as submitted to
the Commissioners dated August 10, 2010.

 

These items will also be available to you in Braille at the meeting on
August 27th.

 

Thank you for your request.

 

Sue Luzenski

 

 

 


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 9:14 AM
To: Cannon, Patrick (DELEG)
Cc: Jo Anne Pilarski MCB, Chair; Margaret Wolfe MCB, Commissioner; John
Scott MCB, Commissioner; Geri. Taeckens MCB, Commissioner; Luzenski, Sue
(DELEG); president.nfb.mi at gmail.com; Joe Sibley MCBVI Pres.; John L Wodatch
USDOJ; TOM MASSEAU MPAS; Lynnae Ruttledge RSA Commissioner;
Craig.McManus at ed.gov; Richard Clay Advocates f/t Blind
Subject: request for reasonable accommodations mcb meeting

 

August 24, 2010

 

Re: Request for accommodations Michigan Commission for the Blind meeting

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

 

Patrick D. Cannon, Director Michigan Commission for the Blind

And State of Michigan ADA Coordinator

Via E-mail

 

Dear Mr. Cannon,

 

I am writing today as a blind person to make a request for reasonable
accommodations at the upcoming MCB quarterly meeting on Friday, August 27,
2010. Specifically I am requesting that all materials to be voted upon or
referenced by the MCB at these meetings are remitted in accessible formats
both at the meeting and prior to it. At a minimum I am requesting the
following in contracted Braille at the meeting:

 

-The agenda

-all written reports submitted to the commissioners including, but not
limited to, the Administrative report and any associated documents, the
Consumer services report, the written Training Center Report, and the
Director's Report

-the complete college policy as it will be presented and voted upon at the
meeting

 

In addition I am requesting these items prior to the meeting as simple
e-mail attachments sent to my e-mail address listed above. This should not
be difficult as you might simply send me those documents which have already
been furnished in that format to a number of commissioners already as
provided in their By Laws.

 

I make these requests pursuant to the effective communications requirements
of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (subpart e), and the
"auxiliary aids and services" requirements of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Moreover, I invoke the obligation to
be accessible in these regards pursuant to your obligations in both of these
laws vis a vis accessible meetings. And, of course MCB has obligations to
make its meetings (and information related to them) accessible under Title
II of the Rehabilitation Act which is the very act that created MCB and
requires at a minimum quarterly meetings in the first place.

 

I have omitted statutory and regulatory citations here as you are required
to  be intimate  with them by your very positions as State ADA coordinator
and Director of MCB -- or at least the knowledge of, and compliance with
these laws are part of your very job description and known obligations.

 

Regardless, as you know the Americans with Disabilities Act has just turned
twenty years old on July 26. As you, Mr. Cannon is fond of quoting former
President Bush who signed this civil rights law into being: "Let the
shameful walls of discrimination come tumbling down."

 

Regardless, a failure to comply, or to respond affirmatively will result in
either further complaints with appropriate entities of enforcement, or with
a civil action in United States District Court.

 

So I advise you to simply do the right thing here for once.

 

Respectfully,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: MCB Commissioners

Cc: President National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

Cc: President Michigan Council of the Blind of Michigan

Cc: Advocates for the Blind

Cc: Advocates for the Blind

Cc: United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability
Rights Section

Cc: Office of Civil Rights, United States Dept. of Ed.

Cc: Rehabilitation Services Administration

Cc: Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc. 

 





More information about the NFBMI-Talk mailing list