[nfbmi-talk] first 2 tweets

Wed Feb 5 22:22:10 UTC 2014

Hi Christine,

I agree with some of what you say here and disagree with other parts. As per 
the proposed move to DOL I am opposed as you know.

But I'm no friend of RSA as it is currently acting for they allowed the 
insane state plan that destroyed MCB to take place with all of its 
non-delagable authorities. They effectively have made the VR grant a "block 
grant" for we can see the scofflaws in the DSA spend the VR money as they 
will and not for VR purposes...You know things like plowing thousands in to 
BEP locations and then staffing them with non-disabled civil servants, 
spending money for administrative overhead like for all the non-blind 
student assistants: etc., etc. ad nauseum

Bottom line is this state and RSA don't follow the Rehab Act, or the 
regulations.

Thus I personally oppose the move to DOL, but again, RSA as currently 
constituted does us no favors.

As per the integrated setting issue folks know where I stand as well as most 
PWD organizations. But, that is neither here nor there on the sub-minimum 
wage issue.

On that we all agree in eliminating.

Moreover, it is interesting to me that Obama could if he wished effectively 
get rid of Section 14 c through executive order. And I'm hearing more and 
more clammering for just that (re: President Maurer's letter), and by all 
sorts of disability organizations.

Anyway I support as all know the actions called for today.

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Boone" <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] first 2 tweets

> 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
>>
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