[nfbmi-talk] simply insane and self contradictory on numerous levels

joe harcz Comcast joeharcz at comcast.net
Thu Mar 6 22:28:03 UTC 2014


Hi Margaret,

Didn't know you and Pat were still on the NFB list serve. So nice to see you 
all on board as you've always been so great to the rights, aspirations, and 
everything for we po' blind folks and all that.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MARGARET WOLFE" <margwolfe at usa.net>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 3:03 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] simply insane and self contradictory on numerous 
levels


Hi Pat,
FYI - thought you will find the item below interesting.

See you in 10 days.
Margaret

------ Original Message ------
Received: 12:25 PM EST, 03/06/2014
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>Cc: Steve Arwood LARA Dep <arwoods at michigan.gov>,
"Zimmer, Mike \(LARA\)" <zimmerm at michigan.gov>, "Ed Rodgers BSBP Dir."
<rodgerse at michigan.gov>
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] simply insane and self contradictory on numerous 
levels

> MCRS REQUEST FOR A RESPONSE FROM PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED IN DECEMBER 2013
AND/OR FEBRUARY 2014
>
>
>
> March 5, 2014
>
>
>
> RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM:
>
> BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR BLIND PERSONS (BSBP) WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
> LICENING
AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY (LARA)
>
> Edward Rodgers
>
>
>
> Please note that 3 blind employees of BSBP are working on an
inner-departmental taskforce with DTMB on providing accessible web pages for
Michigan’s blind citizens on the state webpages.  This cooperative committee
has already held several productive meetings and is creating a list of
priority projects to guarantee that Michigan’s blind community can access
all state webpages.
>
>
>
> From the December 2013 MCRS Business Meeting
>
> 1.   Practice of providing an accessible customer application for services
>
> Answer:  It is standard practice for BSBP to provide applications in
Braille, large print and electronically for clients who request this
accommodation.  It is my understanding that Mr. Harcz received both an
electronic copy of our application and a print copy.
>
>
>
> 2.   The Michigan Administrative Hearings System (MAHS) practice of
providing accessible materials
>
> Answer:  MAHS and BSBP in December formed a joint employee committee to
resolve the issues of accessible materials in MAHS hearings.  The committee 
is
finalizing a process whereby individuals who request MAHS hearing materials 
in
an alternative format from the original Notice of Hearing will be 
accommodated
with those materials in a format that is accessible to them.  This process
will require the individual to request the accommodation, due to the fact 
that
MAHS does not know which individuals are blind or low vision initially.  In
addition, MAHS’ Judges have a standard practice of guaranteeing that all
facets of the hearing process are accessible through the use of equipment,
readers and other necessary tools to make the hearing process accessible and
fair.  Individuals, for example, who wish a record of their hearing can
request a tape recording in most hearing settings rather than a traditional
transcript.
>
>
>
> 3.   Practice of providing materials in an accessible format
>
> Answer: It is standard practice for BSBP to provide materials in large 
> print
and/or Braille.  Further, materials are provided in electronic format for
individuals who use accessible equipment in reading electronic documents. 
The
comments made by members of the public during the recent MCRS meetings are
factually incorrect.  In particular, Mr. Joe Harcz complained about the FOIA
process.  Mr. Harcz is of the legal opinion that he is entitled to all 
public
records free of charge regardless of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
standards.
>
>
>
> Mr. Harcz has raised this issue on many occasions and he has been notified
of the following on many occasions, “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.”
>
>
>
> Since January, 2013 Mr. Harcz has written 98 emails requesting public
documents.  In addition he has formally filed 24 “official FOIA requests”.
 On several occasions due to the fact that the information he requested was
readily available we have waived fees under FOIA.  However, unfortunately 
most
of Mr. Harcz “information request” are not simple and are very time
consuming for staff.  For example he requested “copies of all position
descriptions of every employee in BSBP”.  Our FOIA coordinator estimated
this project would take a minimum of 20 work hours to complete.  Position
descriptions contain information that must be reviewed and, in some 
instances
redacted to remove information that compromises confidentiality.  With few
rare exceptions Mr. Harcz has been provided with an estimate of the cost of
receiving the public records he has requested.  To date, it is my
understanding Mr. Harcz has refused to pay any of the costs of searching, 
and
compiling the information he is requesting.  Naturally, putting the
information in an accessible format would be cost free.
>
>
>
> 4.   Customer Satisfaction Survey process, implementation and outcome
>
> Answer:  BSBP is in the process of completing our consumer satisfaction
survey.  The outcomes are being tabulated and a plan will be developed to
implement changes based on those outcomes.  Until this process is complete 
we
are unable to provide Mr. Harcz with a copy of that data.  The survey was
random in nature, and focused on recent clients of the agency.  It is my
understanding that Mr. Harcz is not a client of the agency.
>
>
>
> From the MCRS Meeting - February 2014
>
>  1.  Practice of providing materials in an accessible format
>
>  Answer:  Practice of providing materials in an accessible format – it is
standard
>
>  practice for BSBP to provide documents in Braille, large print or
electronic format
>
>  when consumers have requested that accommodation.
>
>
>
>  2.   Hiring Process for Student Interns
>
> Answer:  BSBP consistent with all Bureaus in state government follows 
> Civil
Service and departmental rules and guidelines concerning the hiring of 
student
assistants.  Student assistants are hired based on the fact that they are
currently enrolled in a college or university; are successful in the 
interview
process; and are capable of performing the various tasks of a student
assistant.
>
>
>
> MCRS FEBRUARY 2014 RESPONSE REQUESTED FROM:
>
> CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
>
> Brian Sabourin, Director, Employment Advocacy Services
>
>
>
> Thank you for your request of information regarding the Client Assistance
Program (CAP) and our intake process, determining legal representation, and
our tracking system.
>
>
>
> As you are aware, CAP is a federally mandated program that provides
information and assistance to individuals seeking or receiving vocational
rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act.  Individuals may call
our Information and Referral Service (I & R) when they have a rights or
advocacy questions related to their disability.  When appropriate, I & R
advocates will provide information, referrals, or short-term technical
assistance.
>
>
>
> Should additional assistance be needed, an individual may to be referred 
> to
a CAP advocate and/or a legal representative if the issue has sound legal
merit and is consistent with legal ethical standards.
>
>
>
> In regards to our tracking system for cases, all cases are kept 
> confidential
in a computer data system.  All case information is confidential and
permission must be provided by an individual to discuss any situation that 
may
pertain to the individual’s case.
> _______________________________________________
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