[nfbmi-talk] Fw: RSA Response to Primary Concerns

Sat Apr 4 15:54:55 UTC 2015

Example of RSA and what staff there may be up against.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: Christine Boone 
Cc: David Robinson NFB MI 
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2015 5:41 PM
Subject: Fw: RSA Response to Primary Concerns

See where RSA is in the bag. She got gone after by her superiors and I think one is McManus.

The idiocy of it is I have my so-called file already! Moreover implementing regulations under Title I alone equire that all information is made available to clients including complete consumer records in "appropriate modes of communication" with no charge.

Ditto for the ADA and 504.

These are my records and I don't have to pay for them. Even the idiots at BSBP know that. Or knew it until RSA contervened this stuff (re: last response from Haynes) which is tantamount to charging me for my own records and information related to my administrative review.

Of course one of the things implicit in my request for information related to the administrative review are correspondences and advice etc. from RSA itself.

There is a huge cover up going on and I'm hanging out there in the wind.

But, I'm going to bust this creepy thing wide open and trust I have your help.

This is very much like the V A scandel, and very much like the test "cheating scandel" in Georgia.

This goes beyond, well beyond, differances and philosophies about rehab, etc. It goes well beyond even basic ADA/504 violations. This whole thing from top to bottom goes to criminal activity and outright fraud in the millions against the government (which is supposed to be we the people).

And in this case I think personnell at RSA are complicate. I actually think, not with Cavatio, but with others that it goes beyond not caring. I think there are kick backs involved.

We certainly know of millions stolen from VR funds in plain sight through the BEP and we know the whole 2012 state plan was rubber stamped by RSA in spite of major violations of the Rehab Act right in the state plan.

So who is in the bag at RSA?

I think it is McManus.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Cavataio, Christyne 
To: joeharcz at comcast.net 
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2015 10:27 AM
Subject: RSA Response to Primary Concerns

Dear Mr. Harcz:

This message is in follow-up to our conversations on March 10 and 11, 2015, regarding your vocational rehabilitation (VR) case with the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP).  In addition, you expressed concerns related to the accessibility of your BSBP case records, as well as possible conflicts of interest within the agency.  We address each of these concerns below.

Current VR Case Status - You stated during our conversations that BSBP closed your case on January 3, 2015.  You also indicated that you filed a complaint with BSBP because you believe that this action was premature, and that the agency is in the process of acting on your complaint.

As you are aware, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) does not have the authority to intervene in the resolution of individual disputes.  Therefore, we encourage you to contact the Client Assistance Program in Michigan (CAP), if you are not satisfied with the agency's response to your complaint.  The CAP is established under Section 112 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), to assist individuals to resolve their concerns about the services they are or are not receiving through programs established under the Act, including the VR program.  You can contact the CAP at: Michigan Protection & Advocacy Agency Service, Inc., 4095 Legacy Parkway, Suite 500, Lansing, MI  48911-4264; or by telephone at (800) 288-5923.

Case File Accessibility - You stated that you received an email from BSBP itemizing its estimated costs for providing you your entire case file, dating back many years in fully accessible formats.  Federal regulations covering the protection, use and release of personal information permit a designated state unit to "...establish reasonable fees to cover extraordinary costs of duplicating records or making extensive searches." (34 CFR 361.38(A)(2)).  Therefore, Michigan has the authority to charge individuals for the production of VR case records pursuant to federal regulations and has established State regulations for this purpose in accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.235, Section 5(2)(A).  Because the actual fees charged for the production of State records and their reasonableness are matters within the State's jurisdiction, and not within RSA's purview, you must address your concerns regarding this issue to the attention of the Central FOIA Coordinator in Michigan at:  Melvin Farmer, Jr., State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Box 3004, Lansing, MI  48909; or by telephone at (517) 373-0194.

Conflict of Interest - We understand the Michigan State Board of Ethics explored your concerns regarding conflicts of interest within BSBP in 2012, and that the Board found the agency was acting within the bounds of State requirements.  Since the ethics of BSBP staff is a matter of State law and regulation, and is not under the purview of RSA, you should direct any future concerns in this area to the State Board of Ethics, Michigan Department of Civil Service, P.O. Box 30002, Lansing, MI  48909.

We trust you find this information helpful.  This response addresses the primary issues that you have brought to the attention of RSA at this time and represents our final communication on these matters.  In the future, if you have questions on other topics related to the provision of services to you by BSBP, you may contact me at Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov or 202-245-6123.  Please discontinue correspondence with all other officials and personnel within the Department of Education and RSA on the matters addressed in this message, as well as any future inquiries to ensure a timely response.

Sincerely,

Christy Cavataio, Vocational Program Specialist