[nfbmi-talk] this is interesting philly gets it

Tue Nov 12 13:17:33 UTC 2013

Yup on paper say in the State Plan it says BSBP is the lead organization for 
this stuff even using the Talking Book Library to make information 
accessible. And DTMB has BSBP as its lead agency for making information 
accessible. But, stop the presses!

They can't even make minutes already produced in digital format accessible 
to this one blind man without a charge of sixty dollars just for the search 
of them?

This is so transparent, well the obvious abuse that is. The only thing 
transparent about BSBP and LARA is the utter abuse of the rights of blind 
citizens, and for that matter all the citizens of Michigan in its abuse of 
its core mission.

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry D. Eagle" <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>
To: "'Mary Ann Robinson'" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>; "'NFB of Michigan 
Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:44 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] this is interesting philly gets it

> 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
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