[nfbmi-talk] Denial of Services from MRS

[Christine Boone]

I cannot disagree with anything that you say here Joe.  I will defind Marcus' right to be served by BS for BP.  I only wanted to suggest that he could appeal the MRS decision as this could result in faster action...though to be sure, MRS is no champion of persons with disabilities.  I had the pleasure of working with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Pennsylvania and, well you will probably find this shocking, but they actually worked for their customers...why they even liked their customers and respected them.  Of course nothing is perfect, but the whole atmosphere was so different than it is here.  But I digress.  

So I agree with you that Marcus deserves to be served by BS for BP, and I support him in any effort he makes to get the services to which he is entitled.  
 
On Oct 25, 2013, at 4:30 PM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi Chris and All,
> 
> Now normally I would agree with you on this, but the more I consider it I think we in the Federation should do all we can to not only support Marcus but all Deaf-Blind Michiganders in securing rightfully programs from BSBP. That is because they are the lead agency and recipient of funds especially for these programs which MRS is not.
> 
> Marcus has done great work in trying to get to the bottom line of making the "I Can Connect" program work here. Of course Rodgers did his usual dog and pony show song and dance on the issue at our convention.
> 
> And Rodgers blamed everyone from Perkins to the FCC without substantiation.
> 
> Bottom line is that there are federal bucks for this program nationally, but I don't know of even one deaf-blind person here who has even had an assessment.
> 
> And of course we don't even get simple answers to simple questions about money here and where it goes let alone substantiation of Rodgers shoot from the lip assertions. Now some would call Rodgers' public comments outright lies....Oh I guess that would be me who says that...
> 
> Anyway just as in supporting the general VR program and the BEP program, etc. I think that NFB MI should support openess, transparency and accountability from BSBP on behalf of our deaf-blind brothers and sisters.
> 
> Again I hear your point, Christine on the MRS issue but think we should make a stand.
> 
> Besides MRS is in order of selection.
> 
> Joe
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Boone" <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
> To: "Marcus Simmons" <president at map-n.org>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Joe Naulty" <jnaulty at cfl.rr.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 3:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Denial of Services from MRS
> 
> 
>> Marcus,
>> Well in Michigan it is supposed to work like this:
>> Anyone who is legally blind (visual acuity of 20/200 or worse) is supposed to receive all services from the BS for BP, including services for disabilities other than blindness.  Anyone who is visually impaired (visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/199) is supposed to get all of their services through MRS, including vision related services.
>> 
>> That is why she told uyou this.
>> 
>> Marcus, I think that you could appeal, based upon the agency's pattern or practice of failing to provide services to people in the past, yourself included among those people.
>> 
>> On Oct 24, 2013, at 5:15 PM, Marcus Simmons <president at map-n.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hello Family,
>>> 
>>> I just left the local MRS office. I went there to obtain hearing aids so I can function on my new job as an online automotive instructor. When they noticed I had a cane she said, "I see you have a walking cane, are you visually impaired?" I said, "Yes". She said, "We can't help you". She suggested I go to the DSBP Detroit office. She called it MCB.
>>> 
>>> I don't think she is right. Is this a case of discrimination?
>>> 
>>> Changing what it means to be blind,
>>> Marcus Simmons, President,
>>> Wayne County chapter NFBMI
>>> 28179 Brentwood
>>> Southfield, MI 48076-3069
>>> president at map-n.org
>>> (248) 552-8928
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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