[NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

Sun Nov 19 18:25:25 UTC 2017

That sounds like it should be  right up our alley.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Marks via
NFBMT
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:04 AM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

The Independent Living for the Older Blind program has not been directly
impacted by the recent budget cuts.  It's primary problem is that it isn't
funded well enough in the first place, especially in a state with one of the
fastest growing population of senior citizens in the country.  The funding is
90% federal and 10% state.  The amount each state gets is determined on a
formula.  Montana is one of the states that gets the smallest amount of Older
Blind funding.  The Older Blind program assists those 55 and older with
services designed to promote independence in the community.
Essentially, it's about keeping people out of nursing homes due to blindness.
Older Blind is part of the Rehabilitation Act, yet is separate from the
vocational rehabilitation program of Blind and Low Vision Services (BLVS).
Older Blind provides short-term services.  It's designed to show people how
to apply non-visual techniques in their lives and does not provide long-term
supports.

The  budget cuts we've been discussing do affect Older Blind in that BLVS
staffing is shrinking.  Most of what Older Blind provides is the specialized
expertise from professionals who instruct their clients on how to be good at
being blind.  It's generally not a matter of getting things through the
program.  Rather, one mostly gets training.  Thus, when staffing goes down,
so does Older Blind Services.  It's an indirect impact of the budget cuts.

One interesting aspect of Older Blind is that family members of its blind
clients require a lot of attention.  That's because family members often
determine the fate of their senior relatives.  So, Older Blind has the chore
of convincing people who know nothing about blindness that their blind family
members can indeed live independently in their own homes.  Put another way,
)Older Blind serves entire families, not merely the older blind person.

Jim Marks
Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
(406) 438-1421

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina via NFBMT
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2017 12:24 PM
To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

It would be nice if we could hear from those who are waiting for jobs or
school help.
So many of us are seniors as I have felt only speaking for me, pushed under
the rug.
You do things on your own.
It would help if we could help those who are pushing for something is what I
am trying to say.
The only person I knew well is Cindy Dye.
Other staff changed often so I didn't know anyone.
The last time they came to the house was when I was asking help marking a
cooking device I wasn't sure would work for me.
We sent it back wen we learned it didn't.
I did some mobility with Cindy, not with this dog though.
I have no clue what is happening in Billings.

Original message:
> The special session refused to allow testimony on the impact of the
> cuts on people.  Legislative leaders said the testimony was previously
> heard in its interim committees before the special session started, so
> legislators were already informed on how devastating the cuts will be,
> especially cuts to the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
> Blind and Low Vision Services (BLVS) is a program in that Department.
> I believe this reasoning to deny testimony was disingenuous at best.
> I think the real motivation was to cut off the voices of the Montanans
> in order to advance the smaller government ideology and to shorten the
duration of the special session.
> After all, if one is bent on cutting, the quicker the cut, the better.
> It's pretty clear that the pain many Montanans are experiencing
> doesn't really matter.  In plain language, we saw the Legislature's
> leadership's lips moving, but it wasn't the truth that came out.  It's
> really hard not to be angry and frustrated.  Remember that we may have
> lost the battle, but we have not yet lost the war.  Your suggestion,
> Joy, to elect Legislators who are responsive to the NFB-MT is a very
> good one.  And there are other strategies we can employ as well, for
> we certainly need to pull as many tricks out of the bag as we can.
> Because our mission and values are so compelling, I'm confident the
> NFB-MT will build our great state through our sustained efforts.

> The cuts to Blind and Low Vision Services are going to hurt, so we all
> need to know exactly what's going to happen to our agency.  The
> biggest threat affects the staffing of the agency.  BLVS is under a
> hiring freeze, and staff who leave are not being replaced.  It's my
> understanding that the earliest replacements will be hired is in July
> 2019.  Moreover, since BLVS is combined with the general vocational
> rehabilitation program, BLVS staff will take on clients who are not
> blind.  This is already happening, and it's going to get worse very
> quickly.  None of this is intended to be permanent, but the temporary
> situation will last so long, it's going to affect BLVS for decades.
> The outcome is that BLVS is getting watered down to the point where
> services will be non-existent.  We cannot and should not let this
> happen.  Our voices have to be heard.  There are other factors at play
> as well.  Behind the scenes, BLVS staff are being told to be very
> fiscally conservative.  They are punished when they provide quality
> services and rewarded when they give budgets a higher priority than
> those served.  Staff can't buy the supplies they need to do their jobs
> well, and they work in an environment in which everything is
> scrutinized with a cold, heartless fiscal perspective.  We must
> advocate for quality services.  Look, we all know BLVS no longer has
> all the funding it requires.  The belt is tightening, but we still
> need BLVS to stick with the values of informed choice and competitive
integrated employment.  Hope you all agree and that you can commit to the
long-term fight we find ourselves stuck in for the next several years.

> Jim Marks
> Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
> (406) 438-1421

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bruce&Joy
> Breslauer via NFBMT
> Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2017 9:45 AM
> To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Bruce&Joy Breslauer <breslauerj at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

> I'm trying really hard to keep my personal opinions out of this, but I
> wasn't impressed with the special session at all.  Saying it could
> have been worse is not helpful to me.  I think we took a
> disproportionate hit, and I for one am not happy about that.  I don't
> understand why Governor bullock made his $76 million in cuts official
> Tuesday, just after the House convened.  I think this is a shell game
> and that they are playing games with our futures for their own
> political gain.  Want to run for the legislature, anyone?  The current
> majority seems to have lost their common sense.  I think only one side
compromised.

> I don't know how long the link to the Independent Record will be
> active, but there are some great comments afterwards that might
> interest
some of you.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina
> via NFBMT
> Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2017 9:24 AM
> To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
> Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

> Is this happening just in Montana or across the country?
> The way I read things yesterday folks seemed to be happy how all was
> turnin out.
> Even though Steve said he didn't like all of the changes he felt all
> was going well.
> Maybe I have two things mixed up.

> Original message:
>> It was a disappointing special session if one hoped for sustaining
>> Montana's human services.  If you believe in smaller government and
>> no new taxes, then the session was successful.  However, there is no
>> doubt that the shrinking of state government will hurt many Montanans.
>> Our future looks to be one of diminishing services.  There will be
>> cuts, and Blind and Low Vision Services will carry a substantial part
>> of the burden.  For sure, the NFB-MT must be relentless in our advocacy.
>> Please roll up your sleeves and let's sustain our clear message and
>> quest for the services on which we all depend.

>> Oh, one more thing.  The cuts proposed by the Governor favor
>> institutional-based rather than community-based services.  Tough
>> financial times seem to fund nursing homes and other large
>> institutions at the expense of services in our communities and homes.
>> This is a bit baffling from a fiscal point of view in that
>> institutional services are far more expensive than community services.
>> However, there is a strong lobby out there to fund those institutions
>> at the expense of the people who are forced to use them.  Advocates
>> for institutions are well-funded and eager to make their living on
>> the backs of the blind and other people with disabilities.  We must
>> resist.  We really need to hit the theme of informed choice and
>> careers in our communities with comparable wages and advancement
>> opportunities.  We've come too far to roll back the advances we've
>> won.  Again, we have to stick with it, tell our stories, and show up
>> time and time again.  We can do this, but we sure do have a fight on
>> our hands, folks.

>> Jim Marks
>> Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
>> (406) 438-1421

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bruce&Joy
>> Breslauer via NFBMT
>> Sent: Friday, November 17, 2017 3:53 AM
>> To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Bruce&Joy Breslauer <breslauerj at gmail.com>; marjorie
>> <dmgregg at 3rivers.net>
>> Subject: [NFBMT] A Reflection on the Special Session

>> Thought this might interest some of you.  Joy

>> From: Governor Bullock [mailto:governor at mt.gov]
>> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2017 2:19 PM
>> To: Joy Breslauer <breslauerj at gmail.com>
>> Subject: A Reflection on the Special Session

>> Dear Joy:

>> Yesterday, legislators and I reached a reasonable and responsible
>> compromise to balance our budget and pay for Montana's record fire
>> season. While I'm disappointed we were not able to reach a full
>> agreement, I would be remiss not to acknowledge all the progress we
>> made to minimize the impacts of severe budget cuts on the most
>> vulnerable among us.

>> Two months ago, Montana was facing $227 million in cuts to these
>> essential state services. It is because of your hard work contacting
>> legislators, sharing with them your story and ideas, and getting them
>> to understand the impact these cuts would have on our state, that
>> this compromise was successful and further cuts on our fellow
>> Montanans were prevented. I thank you for all your efforts and
>> engagement on this issue.

>> We've ensured most seniors will still be able to access the
>> prescription drugs they need. We've assured most young kids with
>> autism will continue to receive services helping them make
>> developmental gains. We've prevented steep tuition increases. We've
>> prevented many job losses. We've protected public safety and
>> prevented strains on local sheriffs' offices. We've prevented
>> financial duress on our rural hospitals.

>> These aren't just numbers on a balance sheet, these are real people.
>> These are our friends, our families and our neighbors - our children,
>> our grandchildren, our parents and grandparents. While we still have
>> work to do, Montanans can be pleased.

>> I will continue to govern responsibly on behalf of all Montanans as
>> we work together to keep this state moving forward.

>> Sincerely,

>> STEVE BULLOCK

>> Governor

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> --
> --Dar
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  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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