[NFBMI-Talk] information concerning Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind demonstration

[mpowell7583 at yahoo.com]

Greetings to all Michigan federation members and friends on this list.

Below is a flyer that was sent to me by Richard Clay who chairs our Detroit
Chapter community outreach committee.  Blind people who live in the greater
Detroit Metro area are very upset with the efforts to close the Greater
Detroit Agency for the Blind, which you will see from the flyer, lists
itself as providing  services to eight counties in Michigan.   

Since requests to meet  with the agency board of directors, and particularly
those who are involved with this process have been unsuccessful, this
informational demonstration has been scheduled for two days this week to
bring this matter to light.  While this is not an event organized by the NFB
of Michigan or our Detroit Chapter, interested leaders and members will be
standing  in solidarity with those who have organized this demonstration.
Other interested groups and individuals are also being invited to
participate.   

If you have any questions concerning our involvement you can contact me.
Any other questions  should be directed to Richard Clay as the flyer states.

Thank you.

Michael Powell, President

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

(586)754-1325

Mpowell7583 at yahoo.com <mailto:Mpowell7583 at yahoo.com> 

 

Confronting The Crisis 

At The Greater Detroit Agency For The Blind And Visually Impaired

Press Conference And Protest March August 5th-6th

 

 

*         Opened in 1961, the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and
Visually Impaired (GDABVI), is a nonprofit agency that provides vision
rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired clients across 7
counties in Southeast Michigan including: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe,
Washtenaw, Livingston, and St. Clair. GDABVI specializes in teaching
Braille, mobility/independent travel, cooking, and essential independent
living skills to blind senior citizens. It also serves as the only place for
the Greater Detroit Blind Community to meet regularly for social,
recreational, and educational events. 

 

*         Using the global pandemic and the need for cosmetic building
upgrades as excuses for his hidden personal agenda to get rid of the GDABVI,
GDABVI's Board Chairman Frederick Simpson has kept the building closed since
March of 2020. Refusing to meet with or give the blind public a timeline for
the reopening of the building, while offering GDABVI clients who are
desperately waiting in limbo no reasonable alternatives for rehabilitation
services, Simpson is arrogantly and disrespectfully point-blank denying life
changing services to scores of blind people who are more isolated and in
greater need now than ever before. 

 

*         Frederick Simpson and his Board of Trustees' reckless disrespect
and neglect of the entire blind community will no longer be tolerated.

*         We invite all of our community partners, supporters, family
members and friends to join the Greater Detroit Blind Community as we unite
to address this crisis that has been created unnecessarily at GDABVI. 

*         Learn more by attending our press conference Thursday August 5th
at 11:00 AM outside the GDABVI Building located at 16625 Grand River in
Detroit.

*         Express your outrage at our two-day protest march Thursday August
5th from 11:45 AM-3:00 PM and Friday August 6th from 11 AM-3 PM at the same
location.

*         Participants must wear a mask.

*         Spread the word, tell everybody.

*         Help us fight back and save the GDABVI for a successful reopening
soon.

 

 

*         For more information, call 313-247-3301.