[nfbmi-talk] first 2 tweets

[Christine Boone]

Congratulations. I have a slightly different emphasis on this one. I think that our first priority needs to be asking them Not to transfer Rehabilitation out o the Department of Education. We have a great deal to lose. One of our primary obstacles here in Michigan lies in the fact that our rehabilitation agency is in a department that is part of the labor system. Sadly they have no understanding of vocational rehabilitation programs and worse yet, they do not desire to have any. This is what we learned across the Nation when the Rehabilitation Act was joined with WIA in 1998. We may not have a whole lot now, but we will have less if Senator Harkin's amendment transfering RSA to Labor goes through. That same amendment strips away all of the professional requirements for direct program staff. In other words, any DOL staff person could work in delivery of vocational rehabilitation services. 
As for 511, you all should know that vocational rehabilitation counselors place customers in non-integrated employment every day as it is. They just cannot take a successful closure for it. Here in Michigan, there are 66 places where those employers pay less than minimum wage. If we pass 831, and a Senate conference equivolent, then section 511 loses its sting. Many of you will disagree with me I know, but my years in the field of vocational rehabilitation have taught me that non-integrated employment truly is a better fit, and creates a better life for some folks with significant cognitive disabilities.  No one deserves to earn less than Minimum wage. So for my money, it's 831 forever, and keep rehab in Education. 

Boone Christine Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 5, 2014, at 3:43 PM, Lydia Anne Schuck <lydia.a.schuck at wmich.edu> wrote:
> 
> OK, sent the first two tweets ever for me....to our Senators in Michigan to Fix WIA.
> 
> Lydia Schuck
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/christineboone2%40gmail.com