[nfbmi-talk] to rodgers about state plan update

[joe harcz Comcast]

August 30 2013 To Rodgers

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

joeharcz at comcast.net    

 

To: Ed Rodgers

Director, Michigan Bureau of Services to Blind Persons

 

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

Please denote the regulatory references after my signature line from the very Rehabilitation Act that creates and funds BSBP. The fact is this goes to the right of members of the public to receive your state plan (and indeed annual supplements). Moreover, this also goes to my request as a blind person to receive it in my appropriate mode of communication which you already know and is simple.

 

Moreover, you were supposed to send it to our SRC in a timely manner for review at a minimum and you were supposed to submit it in a timely manner to RSA a few months back.

 

Your stonewalling and diversions with the misapplication of FOIA, a state law over this federal law is aplain abuse of power. Moreover, this whole issue goes to the utter lack of transparency and even the appearance of same, let alone consumer input let alone even consumer knowledge about the workings (or lack thereof) of BSBP. And let us not  forget to mention the obvious civil rights violations from your person by violating my corrollary rights to timely and accessible information afforded by Section 504 and the ADA, both of which you’ve been notified of your obligations.

 

Regardless, you’ve been informed of your obligations as the Director of this DSU.

 

 

Now, stop stonewalling. And stop the petty “power play”, sir.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

Cc: RSA

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: MPAS

Cc: MI SILc

Cc: MCRC

Cc: several media outlets

 

 

(From Vocational Rehabilitation Act Regulations, Title IJ

    (a) Conduct of public meetings. The State plan must assure that 

prior to the adoption of any substantive policies or procedures 

governing the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under the 

State plan, including making any substantive amendments to the policies 

and procedures, the designated State agency conducts public meetings 

throughout the State to provide the public, including individuals with 

disabilities, an opportunity to comment on the policies or procedures.

    (b) Notice requirements. The State plan must assure that the 

designated State agency, prior to conducting the public meetings, 

provides appropriate and sufficient notice throughout the State of the 

meetings in accordance with--

    (1) State law governing public meetings; or

    (2) In the absence of State law governing public meetings, 

procedures developed by the designated State agency in consultation 

with the State Rehabilitation Council.

    (c) Summary of input of the State Rehabilitation Council. The State 

plan must provide a summary of the input of the State Rehabilitation 

Council, if the State agency has a Council, into the State plan and any 

amendment to the plan, in accordance with Sec. 361.16(a)(2)(v).

    (d) Special consultation requirements. The State plan must assure 

that the State agency actively consults with the director of the Client 

Assistance Program, the State Rehabilitation Council, if the State 

agency has a Council, and, as appropriate, Indian tribes, tribal 

organizations, and native Hawaiian organizations on its policies and 

procedures governing the provision of vocational rehabilitation 

services under the State plan.

    (e) Appropriate modes of communication. The State unit must provide 

to the public, through appropriate modes of communication, notices of 

the public meetings, any materials furnished prior to or during the 

public meetings, and the policies and procedures governing the 

provision of vocational rehabilitation services under the State plan.

 

(Authority: Sections 101(a)(16)(A) and 105(c)(3) of the Act; 29 

U.S.C. 721(a)(16)(A), and 725(c)(3))