[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information on BSBP/DHS Collaborative Agreement

Mon Jul 7 15:52:12 UTC 2014

This says noting. Absolutely nothing of meaning.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
To: joe harcz Comcast 
Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Jones, Leamon (LARA) ; Gaston, Diamalyn (LARA) 
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 11:48 AM
Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on BSBP/DHS Collaborative Agreement

July 7, 2014

Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on BSBP/Department of Human Services (DHS) Collaborative Agreement

Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

This letter is in response to your June 12, 2014, email request for information, received by this office on June 13, 2014 of which an extension was taken to July 2, 2014.  Please be advised that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) is processing this request under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

You have requested information that you describe as per your email (which is attached).

"Now for one I am requesting a copy of this ccolloborative agreement in accessible format pursuant to known obligations under the ADA and Section 504."

Your request is granted as to existing, nonexempt information in the possession of the Department.  Please find attached to this correspondence a copy of the agreement and a list of acronyms that DHS uses.

The FOIA cost to produce this report is $23.53 (calculated by using $31.37 which is the hourly wage plus fringe benefits of the Department's lowest paid employee capable of processing this request multiplied by the amount of time to process this request which is 3/4 of an hour = $23.53).  As this 

FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

July 7, 2014

Page 2 of 2

amount is below the Department threshold of $25.00 for charging costs involved in complying with a FOIA request, this FOIA fee is being waived.

Please note that nothing within the federal American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA), as amended, or the state's FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.) requires a public body to process FOIA requests free of charge.  Further, while the ADA and Section 504 of 

the RA may mandate that, upon request, material be produced in an accessible format without charge, neither the ADA or Section 504 of the RA preclude a public body from charging costs under the state's FOIA. Thusly, please note that no labor fee charges have been, or will be, assessed to convert existing, nonexempt public records responsive to your requests into an accessible format to forward to you.

Sincerely,

Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Attachments -2 - Email Request for Information & BSBP Five Year Plan - DHS Annex & Acronyms List from DHS

cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

          Sue Luzenski

          Mike Pemble

          Katie Belknap

          Jones, Leamon

          Diamalyn Gaston

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net]  

Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2014 3:36 PM 

To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 

Cc: Marlene Malloy MCRS Dir.; Michael Poyma VA MCRS; BRIAN SABOURIN; Luzenski, Sue (LARA); Sally 

Conway USDOJ; Levy, Daniel (MDCR); Elmer Cerano MPAS; MARK CODY; MARK MCWILLIAMS MPAS 

Subject: bsbp dhs colloboration etc

June 11 2014 DHS Collaborative Agreement

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

joeharcz at comcast.net

810-516-5262

To: Edward Rodgers, Director

Mich. Bureau Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

I am writing today to point out the following section of the BSBP Draft State Plan:

"The BSBP collaborative agreement with the Department of Human Services (DHS) provides services to that enable families and individuals to move toward independence.  The BSBP may refer consumers to the MDHS for determination of eligibility for a variety of services including the Family Independence Program (FIP-cash assistance); Food Assistance Program (FAP); Child Day Care (CDC); Medical Assistance (MA); State Emergency Relief (SER); Adult Services which includes - Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services and Adult Community Placement Services. BSBP and DHS has collaborated and developed an amendment to the agreement to provide services to individuals that are in need of state disability services prior to becoming eligible for SSI or SSDI. These individuals will work with BSBP and DHS in the development of an individualized plan for employment (IPE) in order to be a recipient of State Disability Assistance (SDA).  BSBP and DHS will collaborate to reduce the dependency on permanent disability benefits and promote opportunities for disabled citizens to actively participate in their communities and workforce by maximization/coordination of government, private agency and business resources to assist individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce; improving the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities by promoting work participation; de-emphasizing disability as a de facto public assistance program; and refocusing efforts on assisting as many individuals with disabilities, as well as transitioning youth  to enter or return to the workforce."

Now for one I am requesting a copy of this ccolloborative agreement in 

accessible format pursuant to known obligations under the ADA and Section 504.

Moreover, I wish to point out that DHS has persistently violated my rights and those of countless blind applicants for services in that it does not have a fully accessible web site, facilities and does not provide applicants with accessible information in a timely manner and does not provide other reasonable accommodations even after written requests.

As one who does have a common relationship it is incumbent upon BSBP to ensure full compliance of this entity. Besides you are the acknowledged experts on these matters right?

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: MCRS

Cc: Sharon Alston Ellis, MI ADA Compliance

Cc:  BSBP Commissioners

Cc: MPAS

Cc: US DOJ Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section

Cc: Dan Levy Mich. Civil Rights Commission

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: several

BSBP FIVE YEAR PLAN - DHS ANNEX

BSBP works in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Human Services to: 

1)      Improve the quality of life in Michigan by providing services to vulnerable children and adults that enable families and individuals to move toward independence.  The BSBP may refer consumers to the MDHS for determination of eligibility for a variety of services including

> the Family Independence Program (FIP-cash assistance); Food Assistance Program (FAP); Child Day Care (CDC); Medical Assistance (MA); State Emergency Relief (SER); Adult Services which includes - Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services and Adult Community Placement Services

2)      Reduce the dependency on permanent disability benefits and promote opportunities for disabled citizens to actively participate in their communities and workforce by 

>maximization/coordination of government, private agency and business resources to assist individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce

>improving the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities by promoting work participation

>de-emphasizing disability as a de facto public assistance program, refocusing efforts on assisting as many individuals with disabilities as possible to enter or return to the workforce

Specific areas of collaboration will include:  developing incentives for individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce, encourage and assist individuals with disabilities to enter or re-enter the workforce and provide needed support systems for youth with disabilities to transition into the workforce 

Carla Miller Haynes

LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

P.O. Box 30652

Lansing, MI  48909

Telephone:  517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200

Fax:  517-335-5140

www.michigan.gov/bsbp

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