[nfbmi-talk] Getting Closer!

Thu Jul 1 15:14:47 UTC 2010

thank you good job from larry posont
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Boone" <Christine_Boone at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Getting Closer!

Elizabeth:
I want to say thank you to you, for all of your hard work and thoughtful
consideration on issues surrounding the college policy.   

Your notes here are articulate and logical.  Your reasoning is sound and
your advocacy will benefit all blind persons who are now, or will ever be,
Commission customers attending college!

Here's wishing you a fantastic vacation.      
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 12:07 AM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Getting Closer!

Hello Geri,

It was a pleasure to speak with you this evening. I believe you did a good
job of summarizing the pain points of our conversation. However, I would
like to submit the following changes to what I stated during the
conversation. If my comments are simply going to be summarized in an email
after a verbal conversation in the future, then I would rather simply send
out an email with my written comments rather than defend what I said after
the fact. 

I apologize for being a bit more blunt than what I should have been during
our conversation. However, I keep receiving the impression that my thoughts
and experiences as a college student are not taken seriously because they do
not align with what the administration of the Michigan Commission for the
Blind wants the college policy to say. I refuse to back down from creating a
policy that allows college students to receive services from the Michigan
Commission for the Blind without being shortchanged by the agency. I hear
way too many horror stories about how students are fighting so much with
their counselor to receive services in a timely manner that it takes time
away for them to actually be students. If this agency would put as much time
and effort into actually providing services, and finding creative ways to
say yes instead of automatically saying no, then we would probably have one
of the best vocational rehabilitation agencies in the country.

However, it is now time for me to momentarily step aside from this issue as
I will be going out of town for the next two weeks on vacation. While I am
away on vacation, I will not be responding to any emails regarding the
college policy issue. If your email on this issue is urgent, and requires an
immediate response, I suggest that you contact Fred Wurtzel during my
absence. We have collectively been working on this issue for quite some
time, and I am confident that he can address your concerns while I am out of
town. However, this does not mean I am abandoning this issue, and will
resume any and all communications regarding this issue once I come back from
my vacation.

Warm Regards,
Elizabeth Mohnke

Notes from Conversation:

1.  College assessment should reflect the student's right to informed choice
based on their individualized needs as an individual. Not all students are
the same, and they may be able to demonstrate their ability to attend
college by other means besides attending the college assessment program at
the training center.

Example of modification to the draft.

Students shall participate in a college assessment to ensure that they have
the skills necessary for college participation. Students must demonstrate
competent skill levels in the areas of technology, communication, note
taking, traveling, and independent living. If students cannot successfully
demonstrate competent skill levels in these areas, they shall work with
their counselor to receive additional training at the Michigan Commission
for the Blind Training center or another qualified vocational training
center consistent with the individuals informed choice. 

2. Stronger language regarding the sponsorship of advanced degrees.

Example of modification to the draft.

Students who complete a bachelor's degree may continue to pursue an advanced
degree if their vocational goal commonly requires an advanced degree to
secure competitive employment.

The sponsorship of an advanced degree by the Michigan Commission for the
Blind shall be limited to students who cannot obtain competitive employment
with a bachelor's degree, or when they are included as a part of a student's
Individualized Plan for Employment.  

Does not support the use of the new DELEG financial needs form. Most of the
information included in this form can be obtained through the use of the
client counselor relationship that was identified as a key component by the
counselors during the meeting on Monday.

4. Relayed the fact that the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
does not support the use of a time limit, and after reviewing additional
documents that have been sent out regarding this issue, believes that the
time limit should be in line with what is set forth in the Rehabilitation
Act. If the Rehabilitation Act does not require a time limit, then it should
not be a part of the policy. I stated in the meeting that I would prefer no
time limit, but was willing to compromise. I do not recall any discussion on
the exact working and terms of this compromise during the meeting. I also do
not believe this vote was fair since half of the room was filled with agency
staff members who have considerably more resources which allow them the
opportunity to attend the meeting. 

5. Would like to see the use of the appeals process to the service director
be minimized if not eliminated all together. The key relationship should be
between the student and their counselor. Michigan Rehabilitation Services
does not include this as part of their college policy, so why should it be
included in the Michigan Commission for the Blind's college policy?

6. Would like to see the references to see other documents be eliminated.
They seem to break up the flow of the document and makes the policy more
confusing. Either put the referred policy in the document, or summery of it
with a citation to read more information about it.

7. Wording and grammar still need to be worked on a bit. The words "may" and
"will" should be changed to "shall" to give the policy its proper authority.

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