[nfbmi-talk] better off working?

Wed Oct 22 16:26:59 UTC 2014

Joe, Should a response even be forthcoming, any bets on the extortion cost
for receiving the non-existent, unaccountable information.  The BADP is
managed by a division director who does not even know the difference between
a program policy and a program procedure!  This fact was exposed by another
BS4BP manager in a meeting with a BS4BP client.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
harcz Comcast via nfbmi-talk
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 8:14 AM
To: Ed Rodgers BSBP Dir.
Cc: Mike Zelley TDN; Marlene Malloy MCRS Dir.; Sarah Gravetti silc mcrs
mcil; Sue Luzenski BSBP Adm. Ass.; Mike Pemble BSBP Dep. Dir.; Tracy Brown;
trina edmondson mcrs dac; Michael Poyma VA MCRS;
commissioner-hudson at outlook.com; katie belknap bsbp; Elmer Cerano MPAS;
Pemble,Mike (LARA); Gary Gaynor; BRIAN SABOURIN;
bsbpcommissioners at michigan.gov; Joe Sibley MCBVI Pres.; MARK MCWILLIAMS
MPAS; rob essenberg badp lara
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] better off working?

October 22, 2014 Better off Working BADP?

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI 48458

joeharcz at comcast.net

810-516-5262

Edward Rodgers, Director

Mich. Bureau Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

Mike Pemble, Deputy Director

Robert L. Essenberg, Director (BSBP/BADP)

(Via e-mail)

Sirs,

I point your attention to the following:

Quote from:

(Disability Reform Work Group
Strategic Plan

Developed by the Michigan Department of Human Services, Michigan
Rehabilitation Services, Disability Determination Service, the Disability
Network and Michigan Employers)

““BSBP also has programs that train blind individuals to become
entrepreneurs. These programs will continue to grow to help blind
individuals be successful in the workforce. The workgroup will review the
programs to see if there are ways to make them most effective. 

Business Assistance and Development Program 

The Business Assistance and Development Program (BADP) is a new division
within BSBP. Its mission and goal is to guide clients into areas of business
assistance and development, with a training process focused on blind
individuals learning business skills and developing knowledge of operating a
business. The BADP will offer consulting services, development services,
educational program, financial assistance and guidance for small and medium
size businesses operated, managed or owned by entrepreneurs who are legally
blind.  The Division will provide customer related services with various
stakeholders and associations to encourage the growth of legally blind
entrepreneurs in the private sector. Services may include training modules
for legally blind individuals operating in the food service industry. For
example, the latest Blind Enterprise Program facility in Lansing is also a
training center for BADP clients. BADP is currently developing a resource
guide to assist consumers in identifying external resources for potential
blind entrepreneurs. “”

(Note this is from August 2014.)

Now I’m requesting in accessible format the above mentioned training modules
and resource guide. They should be provided promptly to me as either Word or
plain text attachments to my e-mail address listed above. Mr. Essen berg has
had more than one year to develop these long promised instruments and a
salary of $104,000. He also has had highly paid sighted, non-disabled
administrators to assist him including Amanda Newman which is ironic as
we’re talking about employing people with disabilities, and in particular
those who are blind here and elsewhere.

In addition BADPP and “Cora’s Café” have been promoted here and elsewhere as
a training program in food services. Yet, the Business Enterprise Training
continues to fund a sighted trainer at more than $25,000 per session and
those trainings such as they are are conducted at the Michigan Commission
for the Blind Training Center, and will be so according to Ms. Lisa Kisial’s
public comments at the recent NFB convention.

In addition Cora’s Café is currently run not by a licensed blind operator
though it is a priority and mandated facility under PA 260 and is funded
with VR funds to the hilt which aren’t accounted for. And finally there
aren’t even any paid blind employees or others with other disabilities
there.

So how can BSBP argue or state as it does that this is an effective program
for establishing blind small business?

Regardless I wish to also request as a matter of accountability just how
much BSBP has plowed in to BADP including all salaries, training, and
expenses like on the Tim Hortons fiasco, capital equipment, rent, etc.

Since its inception.

This should not be difficult for a program promoting effective business
practices to produce, It is, after all a matter of simple accounting and
accountability.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: CAP/MPAS

Cc: MCRS

Cc: MI SILC

Cc: MZ, TDN

Cc: RSA

Cc: BSBP Commission

Cc: SM MI DN

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