North Carolina should not dilute services for the disabled by merging agencies serving persons with special needs; it would neither be efficient nor effective for the blind.. 

 

As we all know the legislature is faced with challenges that have no simple or easy solutions. We further understand that the state budget must be reduced. As the legislature considers its course of action, we call on our leaders and decision-makers not to act hastily and dismantled proven programs that have served the blind well.

To change the basic structure or the service delivery network would cause serious loss to those served.

It is critical that certain components be maintained. 

1. Management of Services for the Blind should be preserved in its current form. An understanding of the special needs exists between consumers and agency.  

2. An effective method to deliver specially designed services has been developed through training and experience. Without a doubt generic services could never effectively or efficiently meet the special needs of the blind population.

3. The Division of Services for the Blind is one of the smallest agencies in state government. To bury it further in the bureaucracy certainly would not be conducive to streamlining services. To the contrary it would inhibit the ability of consumers to express their needs.

4. There is a flawed belief that there are efficiencies in combining and merging services for the disabled who are as diverse in their needs as the rest of the population.

To the uninformed merger might seem like a way to save money and increase efficiency. It would not be. The true loss would be realized after a destructive dismantling should it occur. This would be detrimental experimentation. We call on our General Assembly not to take what might seem to be an expedient way now at great peril in the future. Let us not forget our ultimate goal to enable those served to give back to the state their share of taxes and services.

This is a time to be farsighted and not to fall victim to shortsightedness.

Merger of disability divisions would neither be efficient nor would it save money. It would surely dilute and reduce meaningful services to the blind of North Carolina,  a price far, far too high to pay.

 
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