[nfbmi-talk] they don't put this in their press releases

[Mary Ann Rojek]

  Deplorable and unconscionable!  This is yet another example that points to 
the pervasiveness of the problems at the Commission for the Blind..  How 
many more clients have to be victimized by unqualified staff before 
something is done?

Mary Ann

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 6:19 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] they don't put this in their press releases


Letter: Commission for Blind not helping people it’s supposed to serve

http://www.dailypress.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=5226

EDITOR:



With the governor’s election less than a month away, I want to share my 
insights as a disabled American. I was born blind and I’ve never had the use 
of

my eyes. As you can imagine, graduating high school and going to college is 
very difficult with this disability. I’m not looking for anybody’s pity, 
just

a moment of time to express my feelings about a state agency that is 
supposed to help me as a blind American, but instead chooses to victimize 
the very

people it’s supposed to serve.



The Michigan Commission for the Blind is a state agency that is supposed to 
support blind and visually-impaired people. On paper, it would appear they’re

doing so, but in real life there’s another story to be told.



Just recently, my case worker, Miss Christine Pada, refused to pay for 
supplemental services related directly to my education. What I’m talking 
about is

a tactile map I need for one of my classes at Bay College. It appears more 
and more the Commission is hiring unqualified people without a background in

blindness studies. The commission is also banking on the fact that its 
clients are and will remain ignorant.



What really hurts my feelings and troubles me is the very organization that 
exists to help me become a self-sufficient independent member of the 
workforce

is now playing games and actually victimizing many of its clients. I am 
asking other disabled persons who feel that they may have not received 
adequate

services from the commission to step forward and make services to blind 
persons a political issue this campaign season.



It’s a shame that I would even have to bring this up, but people in this 
community should know that the MCB is treating its clients shamefully and 
with

disregard. Imagine being treated poorly by the people who are sworn to 
protect you; it doesn’t help one’s confidence one bit.



My question for Miss Pada and the Commission for the Blind is simple. Since 
the map I requested is desperately needed for one of my classes at Bay 
College,

and the fact that we are approaching mid-term, where is a blind student to 
turn for help, and why will you not authorize the funding for this map to be

created for me? (By the way, it would cost the Commission less than $50 to 
generate such a map.)



As a disabled American, the only thing I want is an even playing field. That 
means I have an opportunity to succeed. That doesn’t mean I want handouts or

things given to me. Imagine going through your day with no sight and then 
ask yourself how you would feel if the people you were supposed to trust 
were

unprofessional and treated you with disregard.



The number of the Michigan Commission for the Blind is 786-8602. You can ask 
for Miss Christine Pada. Please advise her you feel it is unfair and 
unprofessional

conduct for a blindness service professional not to give his or her clients 
the tools they need to succeed.



(By the way, you would be advised that Miss Pada’s background is not in 
blindness services; it’s in secondary education.) To me, this points to a 
much larger

problem that is taking place in Lansing, and an even greater level of 
disregard for the blind population by the administration of the Michigan 
Commission

for the Blind. Thank you very much.



Jacquelyn Elizabeth Parmentier, Escanaba



Copyright © 2006 – The Daily Press
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