[nfbmi-talk] FW: Time sensitive information regarding college funding - public comment:

[Fred wurtzel]

Hello,

Donna Posont asked me to forward the following to the MCB 2020 list.  I had
earlier forwarded Donna Posont's comments to this list.  I believed, prior
to the most recent Commission meeting that her problem had been resolved.
It, as of this morning, not been resolved.  I was Wrong.

As many of you know, the Board voted on Friday to no longer require students
to be involved in managing this form.  I have since been told, though I have
not verified it, myself, that the form  the Commission Board adopted last
year.   has been changed without the Commission's approval.   


I have personally witnessed Ms. posont teaching blind children about nature.
She is passionate, skilled and knowledgable with a natural love for children
and the subject matter.  It is difficult to believe that another blind
person, her counselor, is not doing all he can to assure her success.  What
is happening here?  Does her counselor believe a blind person can
successfully become a naturalist?  Does he believe a blind person can
navigat throughout the woods on trails or off trails independently?  Is this
a training issue in addition to a bureaucratic nightmare?  Again, I ask,
what is happening here? 

Best Regards,,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Donna Posont
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5:04 PM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List; cannonp at michigan.gov;
jonesl2 at michigan.gov; laury-johnsons at michigan.gov; f.wurtzel; nelsonk;
donnabutterfly50; laschuck
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Time sensitive information regarding college funding -
public comment:

Please read all attached emails.




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Donna Posont <donnabutterfly50 at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:57:06 -0400
Subject: college funding
To: mcbpubliccomments at gmail.com
Cc: f.wurtzel at att.net

Hello, My name is Donna Posont. Currently I am a client of MCB attending the
University of Michigan  Dearborn. I will be obtaining a degree in
Environmental Studies with a Naturalist focus. You may be familiar with my
trail of trials that I made public this summer. It consisted of back and
forth emails between my counselor King Nelson and myself. The bottom line
was that Mr. Nelson was once again refusing to fund my fall semester because
I had broken his rule of not getting my financial paper work to him by July
1. I met with him and Shawnice Laury-Johnson last Friday September 9. I
showed them paperwork from the University financial aid office showing that
indeed I had filed with appropriate timing. Mr. Nelson could not open the
secure part of the email so he said I could not go to school this fall with
funding from MCB. He did not wish for me to record the session so I did not,
but now I realize that was a mistake. He made condesending rmarks such as
refering to himself as Santa because I was asking for so much. I was told
that Leeman Jones would make a decision about the funding of the tuition and
I have not heard from him. The deadline for dropping classes without penalty
is September 20. I not only believe that my tuition and books and other
expenses should be payed, but I would like someone to have Mr. Nelson work
with my original IPE so I can be on track for graduation in 2013. I believe
and I told them both that they should be on my team to help me reach my
educational and employment goals. Instead Mr. Nelson has continually found
reasons not to help. I do not have enough time to give more details, but I
would be happy to elaborate at a later time. There is no reason why I have
been mistreated in the ways I have dealt with. During my college career I
have worked twice at Camp Tuhsmeheta and I also have been teaching a monthly
"Birding by Ear" class at the Environmental Interpretive Center in Dearborn
Ihave organized a trip for blind people to do an owl prowl, taken blind
children maple syruping and to a field birding day camp. I will continue to
use my love for sharing nature in combination with activities that build
confidence in and enrich the lives of blind people. I am a good investment
for the Michigan Comission for the Blind and I would like to be treated that
way. I do not wish to fight for my education, but if I must fight then I
will, mainly because I believe that I represent an entire group of people
that continually have frustrations with their counselors. It is time that
counselors view us clients as the people in progress that we are. With
opportunity and training and not resistance from the people that should be
promoting and believing in us we can reach our goals and go forth as
rehabilitated, educated, employed citizens. Our first boost of confidence
should come from the staff of the Michigan Comission for the Blind. Thank
you for your time and I will continue to be willing to talk further with
you. Let it be known that I am not going away until I get the education that
will take my life to a place where I can perform with confidence. Sincerely,
Donna Posont

_______________________________________________
nfbmi-talk mailing list
nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nfbmi-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcast.
net