[nfbmi-talk] this is interesting philly gets it

Tue Nov 12 12:44:14 UTC 2013

Imagine that, local governments can get it with respect to requirements of
accessibility and reasonable accommodations under the law, yet, a state
agency charged with serving blind citizens, and state officials sworn to
uphold the Constitution and laws of the land, cannot get it, and even go out
of their way to violate and avoid the law, further preventing citizens from
holding those state officials accountable, since they also don't get that
part of their duty to the citizens they are to serve.  Do they get anything,
other than a fat paycheck and bloated retirement benefits by their own
design?

The interesting part of the local government policies on accessible
material, is the acknowledgement that the cost of providing alternate format
materials is NOMINAL  cost to the government.

Yet, here at BS4BP millions of dollars to serve the blind and deaf-blind
citizens, are unspent nearly each fiscal year. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary
Ann Robinson
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 7:51 PM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] this is interesting philly gets it

The work has already been done and this policy could be used as a model to 
follow.

Mary Ann
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 6:29 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] this is interesting philly gets it

So why doesn't LARA/BSBP get it?

Joe
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

BRAILLE AND ALTERNATE FORMAT REQUEST POLICY

POLICY SUMMARY:

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil 
rights law, the City of Philadelphia must furnish auxiliary aids and 
services to individuals with disabilities when necessary to ensure effective

communication. All City documents available to the public must be made 
available in an alternate, accessible format to people who are blind or 
visually impaired upon request.  Types of alternate format include large 
print, audio-cassette, computer disc, Braille and readers.

The City may not place an extra charge on a person with a disability to 
cover the costs of auxiliary aids and services or other modifications 
designed to provide effective communication.  For example, if members of the

public are typically charged for photocopy costs, an individual who needs a 
document in Braille may only be charged for the equivalent photocopy cost, 
not for the greater cost of transferring the document to Braille.

All City departments, agencies, boards, etc. must undertake their own 
arrangements to contact qualified outside agencies when necessary, and must 
pay for these services directly.  Insufficient funding is not a valid reason

for refusing to provide material in alternate format when requested; 
departments must ensure that sufficient funding is available when needed 
(note that the costs associated with alternate format services are nominal, 
and in some cases, free of charge).

All City of Philadelphia employees who have direct contact with the public 
should be made aware of the City's obligation to provide material in 
alternate format upon request and should become familiar with the 
"DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM" available from the Departmental ADA 
Coordinator or the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities.

In many cases, people who are blind or visually impaired may simply require 
assistance to read or fill out a form or document.  Such assistance should 
be provided by a City employee upon request.  If the document is lengthy or 
of a personal nature, providing the form or document in an alternate format 
may be more appropriate.  People with low vision may require materials in 
large print, which is defined as 18 point font size or larger.  It may be 
possible to accommodate such requests by enlarging a document on a 
photocopier, or reprinting materials from a computer in the larger font 
size.

For enlarging print on lengthier documents, or for transferring materials to

Braille or audio-cassette, it will be necessary to contact an outside 
agency.  The following resources are provided for your information and 
should be contacted after filling out a "Disability Accommodation Request 
Form" and submitting it to your Departmental ADA Coordinator.

RESOURCES:

LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND

919 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Tel:  215-683-3213

Service:  Short Braille Transcription

Contact:  Susan Horvath

Service:  Audio-Cassette Recording

Rates:  Call for rates

ASSOCIATED SERVICES FOR THE BLIND

919 Walnut Street

ASB Braille Department

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Tel:  215-627-0600

Service:  Long Braille Transcription

Rates:  Call for rates

LIBERTY RESOURCES, INC.

714 Market Street

Suite 105

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2337

Tel:  215-634-2000 ext. 227

Service:  Braille Transcription

Rates:  Call for rates

** Please note that with Braille transcription, one print page equals 
approximately two Braille pages.

Additional Questions or Concerns May be Directed to the Mayor's Commission 
on People with Disabilities at:

1401 JFK Blvd.

Municipal Services Building

Room 1430

Philadelphia, PA 19102-

Tel:  215-686-2798
_______________________________________________
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/brightsmile1953%40co
mcast.net

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.3426 / Virus Database: 3222/6827 - Release Date: 11/11/13

_______________________________________________
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/terrydeagle%40yahoo.
com