[nfbmi-talk] How to get to That Training Center!

Fri Apr 12 15:00:15 UTC 2013

If people think that things are better in Michigan. Than they should think 
again.

Check out the budget. Check out your pals on this account in the Tea Party!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "trising" <trising at sbcglobal.net>
To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 7:01 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] How to get to That Training Center!

> How to get to That Training Center!
>
>
>
> Disclaimer: These notes were compiled to assist prospective training 
> center students. However,
> they do not reflect any official policies or opinions of any of the 3 NFB 
> training centers, BLIND,
> Inc. The Colorado Center for the Blind, or The Louisiana Center for the 
> Blind. You are strongly
> encouraged to consult the professional staff at these training centers 
> before taking any action
> to receive training. They will provide the most up-to-date policy 
> information and they will be
> able to advise you on an individual basis.
>
>
>
> The process
>
>
>
> Figure out which training center you want to go to!
>
> . Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions Inc.: Minneapolis, MN
> . The Colorado Center for the Blind: Littleton, CO
> . The Louisiana Center for the Blind: Ruston, LA
>
>
> Contact the center. They each have a person employed to assist prospective 
> students during
> the process.
>
>
>
> The Conversation
>
> Have a conversation with your counselor and say that you would like to get 
> comprehensive
> Adjustment to Blindness Training and mention which training center you 
> want to go to. Having
> a verbal conversation first may be helpful to test the waters.
>
>
>
> Letter of Formal Request
>
> This is your letter formally requesting training at the center you wish to 
> go to.
>
> . Include a sentence like, "this is my formal request to receive 
> comprehensive Adjustment
> to Blindness Training at Training Center X."
> . Include a clause acknowledging your rights outlined in the RSA.
> o You have the right to choose who will deliver the services you need to 
> fulfill your IPE.
> This is called making an informed choice.
> . Justify how the NFB training center is different and a better fit for 
> delivering the services
> you need to fulfill your IPE
> o Blind instructors
> o Living in an off sight apartment
> o Training to use Apple products
> o The same expectations for blind and sighted people
>
>
>
> o Required sleep shades
> o Industrial Arts confidence building class
> o Seminar blindness philosophy discussion class
> o Comprehensive Training, you take all classes!
> o Immersion training
> o many, many more!
>
>
> Include that you expect a response in writing within 2 weeks of the date 
> in which the letter is
> sent.
>
>
>
> Release of Information
>
> . While you are writing your letter of formal request, ask your counselor 
> for a Release of
> Information form and release your information to the executive team of 
> Training Center
> X.
> . Send this form to your counselor, and ask the counselor to acknowledge 
> its receipt.
> . Give the Outreach Coordinator from Training Center X the contact 
> information for your
> counselor and their supervisor. Begin CCing this person on all 
> correspondence with your
> counselor and/or their supervisor.
> . If someone replies to you and not to the Outreach Coordinator, forward 
> the message. It
> is important that they are aware of all correspondence so they can better 
> assist you to
> craft effective responses.
>
>
>
>
> Response to formal request
>
> . They may say yes!
> . They may say no.
>
>
> It is recommended that you start over with a new formal request for 
> training that is more
> verbose and explanatory and see where that leads.
>
> . They may ask for more information.
> o This often means they want to see a cost comparison chart which training 
> center X will
> be prepared to provide. Most likely, training center X will be cheaper.
> o They may ask you to pay for any differences in cost. You can refute this 
> by either being a
> recipient of SSI and not legally allowed to financially contribute to your 
> training or refer
> to your formal request where you justified how training center X provides 
> different
> services that are a better fit for you to fulfill your IPE, so a cost 
> comparison is not
> necessary and irrelevant.
>
>
>
>
>
> Appealing for More Time
>
> . If your counselor will not approve more time for training, you can write 
> a formal
> letter of appeal.
> o Example quotes. "CFR 361.50 of the Rehabilitation Acts regulations 
> states that
> 'The State unit may not establish absolute time limits on the provision of 
> specific
> services or on the provision of services to an individual. The duration of 
> each
> service needed by an individual must be determined on an individual basis 
> and
> reflected in that individual's individualized plan for employment.'"
>
>
> o "Unless the individual with a disability so requests, or, in an 
> appropriate case, the
> individual's representative, so requests, pending a decision by a 
> mediator, hearing officer,
> or reviewing officer under this subsection, the designated State unit 
> shall not institute a
> suspension, reduction, or termination of services being provided for the 
> individual,
> including evaluation and assessment services and plan development, unless 
> such services
> have been obtained through misrepresentation, fraud, collusion, or 
> criminal conduct on
> the part of the individual, or the individual's representative."
> . While an appeal is in process, the service that you are receiving cannot 
> be stopped.
> . Typically, the counselor will negotiate with you and the appeal process 
> can be
> terminated, or you will be done with training by the time the appeals 
> process is
> complete.
>
>
>
>
> NOW, GET TO THAT TRAINING CENTER!
>
>
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