[nfbmi-talk] we are not the enemy

[christywitte at sbcglobal.net]

  I know of a lot of blind people in my generation who don't understand what 
work entails.
This is a result of the faulty school systems who coddle blind people and do 
not provide work experiences. I know, I worked in one and I went to one. It 
is also the result of the programs of the philosophy of a lot of the rehab 
teaching and counseling programs as well as teachers of blind children. I 
think the job market would go much better if the commission counselors were 
partially paid on commission.
I say this "with malice toward none and charity for all." No pun intended. I 
know a lot of hard working counselors and teachers.

Christy----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "lydia schuck" <laschuck at juno.com>; "Jo Anne Pilarski MCB,Chair" 
<pilarskij at CHARTER.NET>; "John Scott MCB,Commissioner" 
<jcscot at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 7:02 AM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] we are not the enemy


We Are Not the Enemy



April 13, 2011



Colleagues,











Yesterday I was in on the Service Delivery and Design meeting of the 
Michigan Commission for the Blind via teleconference. Among other 
interesting items, of which there were many Leemon Jones brought up the 
difficulties with getting employment closures in this tough job market. 
There were several counselors who variously blamed this or that, some with 
merit and some not. But, Beth White who is a central Regional Supervisor 
pointed to the real problem. For she basically blamed blind customers. Yea, 
the comment is sarcastic. She basically said that people don’t want to work 
or a large amount don’t and only want MCB to get the person this or that. A 
few counselors sensing blood in the water like sharks started to pile on 
too. This goes to the anti-consumer mind set so prevalent in MCB.



Of course, I chimed in and re-directed the conversation. But, I should have 
said I know several blind people who are qualified to work and who wish to 
work. They are:



-Dave Robinson

-Fred Wertzel

-Christine Boone

-Terry Eagle

-John McMahan

-Ron Fellows

-Richard Kent

-Bob Arnold

- Hazell Brooks





And the countless others who have been employed either directly in the 
agency or through the agency in BEP, but who have been thrown under the bus. 
Now, we know of these folks within MCB itself. How, can we not see the gross 
incompetence and the petty and out of control anti-blind mind set that makes 
MCB a “closure” joke outside of the organization?



Oh, and where will the likes of Beth White be if all those dastardly blind 
folks, who are such nuisances went away?> Oh, my I hate the mind set of the 
custodians who think that these Vocational Rehabilitation programs are for 
their employment only.



I did bring up though that BEP is the state’s largest single employer of 
blind folks and we’ve had a lot of garbage in that program alone.



Anyway what is wrong with the picture of a blind VR program who is supposed 
to help blind folks garner meaningful employment and who, in documented 
fashion so abuses and by hook and crook fires so many qualified blind folks 
in documented fashion?



Sincerely,



Joe Harcz


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