[nfbmi-talk] from mpas cap report 2009

[joe harcz Comcast]

I'm not sure right now. One of the problems though with Protection and 
Advocacy services over all including CAP is that they are underfunded 
generally.

Again both were established and required by the same rehab act that creates 
V.R.

And they are supposed to be the check on abuses in the system.

But, they are in my opinion both under funded and then like a lot of outfits 
co opted to one degree or another by their very funding sources which do 
include both state and federal dollars.

The establishment of Michigan Protection and Advocy Services as a non-profit 
was supposed to mitigate some of this internal tensions.

But, as stated elsewhere policies and practices don't always coincide.

It's kind of ironic but while I was at the MCB TC as a student working on my 
skills of blindness and after my return to Michigan from New Hampshire where 
I piled up a substantial record and advocate I actually applied for an 
advocate position with MPAS.

Oh you can bet that there wasn't any support for that from the field staff 
of MCB, but there was from some of the good counselors at the staff of MCB 
TC.

I remember chatting wwith Roger Yake at the time and going into abuses of 
counselors and such agagainst all sorts of consumers in New Hampshire and 
then again here in Michigan. He said, and was correct at the time; "I think 
the difference is in Michigan only half of our counselors are not so good, 
or anti-consumer." This was in 2001 and it was true.

Roger was himself one of the good guys and also one of the most adept with 
access technology in MCB. And that is something we need much more of over 
all.

Instead however Cannon and the state have forced the most competent out or 
they have left through attrition and/or early retirement.

If he can't get them out that way then he just fires them, especially if 
they don't kiss his ring at every turn or do his dirty work.

This isn't just against NFB either for as we all know long ago Cannon threw 
John McMahan under the bus. He was the best the U.P. ever had. He now heads 
the blind agency in Maine.

Oh, yes and Maine just widely announced through a variety of media their 
public hearings on their state plan.

Hmmm....For a guy who is so worried about RSA and compliance and openess 
then why in the heck haven't we had one required public hearing on our state 
plan in the nine years since I've been back in Michigan?

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] from mpas cap report 2009


> Hi,
>
> This proves my point about CAP.  From the situations we know about, it is
> clear they are just paying lipservice to advocacy and are cozying up to 
> the
> agency by playing nice on all their little committees, etc.  Joe, how much
> do they get a year for this non-services or disservice?
>
> 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: Saturday, June 26, 2010 8:43 AM
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] from mpas cap report 2009
>
>>From the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services Inc. 2009 Annual Report
> converted from .pdf:
>
>
>
>
>
> This year the CAP team resolved all issues
>
> with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and
>
> Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) at the
>
> counselor and site manager level without using
>
> informal reviews, alternative dispute resolutions
>
> and/or hearings. Resolving complaints at the most
>
> immediate and direct levels possible helps preserve
>
> a positive relationship between the counselor and
>
> customer.
>
> Participation on committees enhances
>
> communication and helps maintain good
>
> relationships as well. Through continued
>
> participation on the Rehabilitation Council (MRC),
>
> CAP staff shares information concerning customer
>
> complaints while working with MRC on solutions
>
> to systemic issues of concern. CAP is also a member
>
> of the Michigan Commission for the Blind Service
>
> Delivery and Design Team (SDDT), which reviews
>
> policies and procedures within MCB.
>
> Success Stories
>
> . A client contacted CAP because her case was
>
> being closed by VR. She had been receiving
>
> services since 2004 and VR was helping her get a
>
> college degree. Her counselor left the agency and
>
> the new counselor determined she was no longer
>
> eligible for services as she had no barriers. CAP
>
> contacted VR because there had been no change
>
> in the client's disability which would indicate
>
> that her eligibility status had changed. At that
>
> point, VR consulted with an internal expert
>
> on deafness and hard of hearing who provided
>
> enough information for the case to remain open.
>
> . CAP staff stepped in to protect consumers
>
> after receiving complaints of confidentiality
>
> and assault (both verbal and physical) from
>
> consumers of a Center for Independent Living.
>
> CAP completed an investigation and provided
>
> clients information about filing criminal charges.
>
> While investigating these concerns it became
>
> obvious that the checks and balances in place
>
> statewide were not working. We worked with
>
> several organizations to bring together a core
>
> group of partner agencies to review current
>
> practices in identifying issues that would
>
> prevent this sort of situation from happening
>
> in the future.
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