[nfbmi-talk] Getting Closer!

Mary Ann Rojek brightsmile1953 at comcast.net
Mon Jun 28 23:25:40 UTC 2010


Nice job Elizabeth.  I'd like to suggest that if other documents are cited, 
that this be done perhaps with a number in parenthesis in the document 
itself like a footnote.  Then have a section at the end of the policy 
entitled references.

Mary Ann

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 12:06 AM
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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