[nfbmi-talk] bsbp 2014 honor role

[Terry D. Eagle]

Congratulations to those blind persons who attained their goals.  Certainly
without diminishing the attainment of any blind persons' goal, it sees to me
that to parade and praise these persons  as extraordinary examples of
achievers of that which a blind individual can do, only reinforces the
public perception that blind and persons with disabilities are somehow
extraordinary for attaining training and employment goals.  Is that not the
goal of the vast majority of we the blind, just like every responsible adult
citizen,  to attain training employability skills and employment as a
taxpaying self-supporting citizen?

To me, it simply demonstrates how the expectation bar is set so low for
blind individuals.  If the BS4BP wanted to best utilize the success of these
blind persons, they would establish a mentor program; encourage these
persons to participate in such a program, to encourage and inspire persons
facing blindness, that there is a wonderful future notwithstanding
blindness.

What do you believe?

Sounds like a mentor program would fit nicely in the NFB philosophy, eh?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
harcz Comcast via nfbmi-talk
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:46 AM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: bsbpcommissioners at michigan.gov; commissioner-hudson at outlook.com; Gary
Gaynor
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] bsbp 2014 honor role

This is interesting. I'll sure have some comments on this later for sure....
But no mention of BADP here. Also dig the I can connect reference which
Marcus Simmons and others will be interested in and in which BSBP has opted
out of and mismanaged.

Also note the ref to Disability Advocates of Kent County and Rodgers doesn't
release info about those documented expenditures or answers with FOIA
extortion and abuse.

Joe


Joe
Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Presents Achievement Honor Roll Awards

 

 

    Source:

http://michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-10573_11472-339782--,00.html

LARA  Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Presents Achievement Honor Roll
Awards

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Presents Achievement Honor Roll Awards

Contact: Jason Moon 517-373-9280

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

 

October 21, 2014 - The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) recently
presented its Achievement Honor Roll Awards in Lansing. The awards are
presented

annually to BSBP consumers who are exemplary in achieving their goals for
employment and/or independent living after vision loss; employers who have
shown

leadership in hiring people who are blind or visually impaired based on
their abilities; and community partners recognized for their collaboration
with

the BSBP in increasing opportunities for people who are blind or visually
impaired to achieve independence and/or employment.

 

"Our Achievement Honor Roll winners have made a wide variety of
contributions that have had a tremendous impact on our state's blind
community," said BSBP

Director Ed Rodgers. "The BSBP will continue to work with consumers and our
partners to provide a diverse set of quality services to ensure that blind

individuals have the opportunities they need to achieve active employability
and independence."

 

Achievement Honor Roll Award Winners

 

CONSUMERS

 

Gwendolyn Womack - Southfield

 

Gwendolyn is a perfect example of how gaining independent living skills can
be completely empowering.  Although she was initially hesitant about
independent

living training, Gwendolyn spent four weeks at the BSBP Training Center
where she gained confidence in herself and obtained new skills that will
help her

to continue to live independently. With her newly acquired independence, she
has resumed hobbies that she thought she could no longer participate in.

 

Isabell Florence - Mount Morris

 

Isabell "Izzy, is someone who has faced and overcome many challenges in her
life.  Many of her teachers, advisors and even family members discouraged
her

independence because she is visually and hearing impaired. She received
training at the BSBP Training Center in Kalamazoo and continued her
education into

college, eventually graduating with honors.  Isabell earned her master's in
Blind Rehabilitation from Western Michigan University, and now teaches sign

language at Mott Community College.  She recently became a trainer/assessor
for the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program.

 

Marsha Katona - Oxford

 

Marsha has had visual difficulties her entire life. She started at the BSBP
Training Center after leaving her job as a teacher's assistant following a
parent's

complaint about a blind person working around their small children.  At the
Training Center, Marsha learned a variety of skills including a diverse set

of computer skills. After returning home from the Training Center, she
received extensive one-on-one technology training in JAWS (Job access With
Speech)

Victor Reader Stream and IPad. Marsha was then hired for an assistive
technology position with the Rochester Hills Public Library.

 

Kia Collier - Detroit

 

Kia started with the bureau more than nine years ago determined to learn how
to be an independent mother, wife and student. In 2010, with BSBP's
assistance,

Kia graduated from Marygrove College with honors.  After graduation, she
obtained a special education position at a small charter school on Detroit's
east

side. Kia has worked hard over the past several years and she recently
accepted a new position as a special education teacher.

 

Sara Purvayn - Menominee

 

Sara was struggling with her vision loss when she contacted the BSBP.  With
training provided by the BSBP, she learned how to use household appliances
with

better efficiency by labeling the dials and buttons. Sara began enjoying
talking books and writing letters using writing guides, and utilized
magnifiers

to aid her in reading printed information.  Through the Dazor 5D Magnifier,
Sara is now able to see her piano music so that she can play again.

 

Sarah Kruger - Ypsilanti

 

Sarah graduated from the accelerated Social Work program at the University
of Michigan.  She has shown tremendous determination and hard work to obtain

her degree.  After graduation Sarah was hired at a non-profit organization,
providing professional mental health services to the community as a
behavioral

health therapist.

 

George Johnson - East Jordan

 

George has been working with wood since he was a child. As a person who lost
his vision gradually, he has been able to develop accommodations for his low

vision. To assist George in becoming self-employed in a career in wood
working, the BSBP provided him with services including, a teacher
assessment, skills

of blindness training, low vision devices, mobility training, vocational
training, adaptive technology training, and instruction in small business
development.

 George has successfully demonstrated his ability to overcome barriers
relating to his blindness and is now gainfully self-employed.

 

Dolores Smith - Detroit

 

Dolores is a perfect example of how independent living can empower an
individual. Throughout her skills of blindness training, Dolores maintained
a positive

attitude and was energetic and eager to learn.  The training has enhanced
her independence in the home as well as in the community and she continues
to

apply her new skills in order to maintain a high level of independence.

 

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

 

Dr. Paul Gayeff - Escanaba

Dr. Gayeff is the Upper Peninsula's only low vision specialist and has
served in that capacity for decades.  His dedication to his patients and his
willingness

to collaborate with the BSBP have made it possible for literally generations
of consumers - school children, working adults, and senior citizens to
receive

specialized eye care close to home.  Without his career-long contribution,
countless Michigan citizens would have gone without a critical element of
their

successful vision rehabilitation.  Now, after long service to his community,
Dr. Gayeff is in the process of retiring.  Even at this juncture, he still

honors his commitment to persons with visual impairments by working one day
per week to provide low vision evaluations.

 

Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) - Grand Rapids

The BSBP has collaborated with DAKC on a number of initiatives including job
readiness, employment workshops, common disability agenda, assisting
consumers

seeking determinations from the Social Security Administration (SSA), and
peer mentoring. DAKC has augmented their services to meet the needs of BSBP
consumers.

BSBP consumers may receive services associated with transportation advocacy
through Concerned Citizen's for Improved Transportation. DAKC also helped
BSBP

consumers find affordable housing.

 

Braille, English, Acculturation and Mobility (BEAM) Program - Troy

As a result of a successful collaboration with the Chaldean Community
Foundation and the BSBP, a mini-skills of blindness training program was
established

for persons within the Arabic-speaking community who need vocational
rehabilitation. The Braille, English, Acculturation and Mobility (BEAM)
program provides

an opportunity for small groups of students to rotate one hour classes of
Braille, English, mobility and computers. The major focus of acculturation
has

been on the Americans with Disability Act and resources for persons with
disabilities.

 

The Chaldean Community Foundation, Macomb Literacy Partners and Women In
God's Services - Macomb, Oakland Counties

 

The Chaldean Community Foundation, Macomb Literacy Partner and Women In
God's Services (W.I.N.G.S) have been key community partners in providing 11
individuals

in Macomb and Oakland counties who are blind or visually impaired an
opportunity to gain independence. The Chaldean Community Foundation arranged
for a

training site at St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in Troy. The church
provided transportation for those students and found a resource for donated
desktop

computers. Macomb Literacy Partners facilitated a group of English as a
Second Language (ESL) tutors, and W.I.N.G.S. provided additional
interpreting support.

A significant amount of successful organization, planning, communication and
teamwork between volunteers and the BSBP has made this endeavor a success.

 

EMPLOYERS

 

Natasha Maxwell, Owner, Make Your Dreams Come True, Inc. - St. Clair Shores

 

Ms. Natasha Maxwell trains and provides opportunities for people to work at
home.  Make Your Dreams Come True, Inc. contracts with various companies
around

the country to provide customer services workers to trouble shoot issues
from the general public as well as sales. Make Your Dreams Come True has
given

BSBP consumers who have families and transportation issues, the opportunity
to work from home. By offering online training and job placement assistance,

and with the BSBP providing computer equipment,  Make Your Dreams Come True
has given blind individuals employment opportunities with such companies as

Itrum, Inc., Sears, Apple, and others.

 

Tom Werkema,  Owner, Werkema Machine Shop - Grand Rapids

 

Mr. Tom Werkema, hired a BSBP consumer as a computer numerical
control/machine operator. In order to meet the needs of the consumer, Tom
used devices provided

by BSBP such as a White Cane, Talking Tape Measure, and Talking Caliper.
Tom, who is also a pilot, also gives rides to children and transition
students

at camps for the visually impaired all over the Midwest.

 

Catholic Social Services - Ann Arbor

 

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSWC) in Ann Arbor, made it
possible for BSBP consumer Steve Sheldon to gain full-time employment.  By
combining

duties from various positions, Steve is now successfully employed at CSSWC.

 

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons provides training and other
services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve
employment and/or

independence in the careers of their choice.

 

The BSBP programs and services include:

List of 3 items

. The BSBP Business Enterprise Program (BEP) that provides blind individuals
with opportunities for employment.  The BEP operates vending routes and
cafeteria

facilities in state and federal government facilities as well as in a
limited number of private sector buildings. The role of the BEP is to guide
and assist

the operator in achieving upward mobility.

. The BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation Program helps blind citizens become
employed in a career that suits their current or abilities. The program
provides

diagnostic evaluations and vocational counseling at no cost.

. The BSBP Braille and Talking Book Library serves people with visual
impairments and offers a diverse set of materials.

list end

 

The BSBP also has services that can help the blind and visually impaired
access cutting-edge technology and provides training on the accessibility of
the

iPhone, iPad and Android operating system, and the capabilities of many
screen reader programs.

 

For more information about BSBP visit

www.michigan.gov/bsbp

or call toll-free: 1-800-292-4200, TTY 888-864-1212

 

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons is a part of the Michigan
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

For information about the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons go to:

www.michigan.gov/bsbp

For more information about LARA, please visit

www.michigan.gov/lara

Follow us on Twitter

www.twitter.com/michiganLARA
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