[nfbmi-talk] this is but one lie

[joe harcz Comcast]

Cannon outright lied here as MCB has never held full public hearings related to its state plan in accordance with the Rehab Act since 1998 which is, by the way the last State Plan on MCB's web site. Now, the Rehab Act requires annual supplements to its state plan and folks have seen here on this very list issues with even getting that information let alone public hearings. Moreover, at a minimum the Rehab Act requires public hearings whenever there are substantial changes. At a minimum  Michigan is required to have public hearings every three years relative to its required comprehensive needs assessment. It is called Tri-ennial for a reason! Indeed those have been "blended into" those conducted for MRS by MSU. But, blind folks have not been notified of them and of the town halls used in about 2006. Or of the one conducted right now, except that Larry a known blind person got a print letter which was a violation of both title I and the ADA. And notifying one blind person in inaccessible form is not compliant. 

Moreover, Leemon Jones at public meeting said that no public hearings are required until the Rehab Act itself is amended. That is just plain wrong, and goes to the either plain ignorance of the law, like they display over duration of services, needs testing, and maintenance, or is a willful violation of it. Personally, I think it is a bit of both, but it doesn't matter for these are clearcut and pernicious violations of the Rehab Act ofor more than a decade.

And, to take six months to even answer this question, especially after the RSA monitoring report finally became final shows that MCB, under Cannon just can't follow any sort of deadlines or "black letter" and clear cut law.

Joe
Quote I'm referencing:
Question 13

Why does the MCB not fully comply with the Rehabilitation Act by holding hearings on the required Plan updates?

Pat's Response

We do hold hearings on the State Plan as called for under RSA guidelines.