[nfbmi-talk] State Mourns Death of Blind Vendor of Lansing

[David Robinson]

Christine,

   Very good observation.  It has been to long in Michigan that state
officials have taken the rehabilitation of blind citizens lightly.  They
view it just as a way to capture more federal dollars and do not have to be
accountable for the consequences resulting from bad rehabilitation
practices.  The fact is that no one wants anything like this to happen, but
it did, and that ones who told this man that he was rehabilatated and could
go into the world of work, needs to be accountable.  Not only to the man's
family but to the blind of Michigan.

Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Boone via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List"
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 9:50 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] State Mourns Death of Blind Vendor of Lansing


> The estate of Charles Glime may wish to file suit against the State of
> Michigan for Gross Negligence for its failure to provide Charles with
> appropriate instruction in cane travel, also known as "orientation &
> mobility", which could very likely have enabled him to avoid this tragic
> accident.  Training is available in other states both in the field and in
> long-term training facilities, that equips blind individuals with
> techniques that enable them to travel city streets as safely as do sighted
> persons.  Current cane travel training methods also equip blind persons to
> travel safely in rural settings, as well as nationally and
> internationally.  The Michigan Training Center for blind persons in
> Kalamazoo had begun to provide this kind of travel instruction to
> customers several years ago.  In order for this training to be effective,
> customers need to remain at the Training Center for a minimum of 4 months.
> Sadly, under the administration of current BS for BP director Edward F.
> Rodgers and Training Center director Lisa Kissiel, most customers remain
> at the center for only 9 weeks, the length of each training session now
> offered at the facility. Those who sign up for a second training session
> must return to their homes for a 3-week time period during which the
> Center provides alternative no blindness skills training.  After just 9
> weeks of training, a trainees momentum is at a critical point.  They begin
> the second 9-week course needing to re-learn a portion of the skills
> provided during the initial training session and are simply not able to
> gain the same level of skill as blind persons living in states where the
> most current training techniques are available.  Ed Rodgers forced the
> former Center director out by refusing to approve essential expenditures
> at the Center and subjecting her to disparate and harrassingtreatment.
> Rodgers took this action, at least in part, because he wanted to institute
> the current staggered training system at the Center despite overwhelming
> evidence that it would dramatically and negatively impact the Center
> staff's ability to prepare most customers effectively for full
> participation in employment and community life.
>
> Those are my thoughts.  This is precisely the kind of tragedy that happens
> when an agency is entirely administered by unqualified personnel who are
> absolutely and completely ignorant of even the most basic operations of a
> legally compliant vocational rehabilitation agency.
> Christine
>
>     .  Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 19, 2015, at 2:00 PM, Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk
> <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Note: Charles Glime was struck and killed by a Jeep driven by a woman as
> he
> walked to his apartment following attending a St. Patrick's Day party.  He
> was struck near Walnut and Ionia streets.
>
> State employees mourn blind Lansing man's death LANSING A 31-year-old
> blind
> Lansing resident died Wednesday, but the impact he made at the State of
> Michigan's Lewis Cass Building won't be forgotten. Charles Walter Glime
> managed three employees at Cass' full-service cafeteria and was called
> "Charles of the Cass" because of his drive to give patrons quality food
> and
> service, said Sharon Ellis, the state's Americans with Disabilities Act
> compliance director. "Everything he did was great; he was just exemplary,"
> Ellis said. "Not just an outstanding example as an employee, but as a
> person
> because he had the attitude 'So what I have a disability? I'm going to
> accomplish my goals.' The Lansing Police Department wrote in a press
> release
> Thursday that Glime died early Wednesday afternoon from injuries he
> suffered
> when he was struck by a vehicle while walking in the area of Walnut and
> Ionia streets on Tuesday night. Police said the incident took place at
> approximately 8:30 p.m. and is under investigation. Ellis said Glime lived
> in an apartment near where he was struck. She said he was a driven
> entrepreneur who also took business and culinary classes at Lansing
> Community College. "People are just devastated," said Ellis, who had known
> Glime about four years. "Everybody in the building ate at the cafeteria
> all
> the time because he was open all day and did all he could to make it
> better
> and better.
>
>
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