[Nfbsatx] Fwd: [nfb-texas members] Legislative Handouts

[Jose Martinez]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kimberly Aguillard Flores <kimberly.aguillard at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2011 22:27:58 -0500
Subject: [nfb-texas members] Legislative Handouts
To: members at nfb-texas.org

Hello all,

Thanks to those of you who were able to attend the Legislative 101
conference call this afternoon. I hope you found it informative.

Gabriel Cazares did a fantastic job leading the discussion, and he has
also provided two helpful handouts, which are attached to this
message. Additionally, the recorded presentation will be available
soon. I will send that information out shortly.

Finally, here again are some helpful talking points regarding HB 3629.
Following are individuals to make it a point to contact:

Members of the Human Services Committee:

      Chair: Rep. Richard Pena Raymond
      Vice Chair: Rep. Geanie Morrison
      Members: Rep. Naomi Gonzalez
     Rep. Chuck Hopson
     Rep. Bryan Hughes
     Rep. Todd Hunter
     Rep. Jodie Laubenberg
     Rep. Elliott Naishtat
     Rep. Van Taylor


Others to contact might include Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant
Governor David Dewhurst, and Health and Human Services Commissioner
Tom Suehs.





Talking Points for HB3629

The Issue: HB3629 aims to abolish DARS and consolidate programs into other
existing agencies. The impetus behind the consolidation is to save
administrative costs.  The justification for this consolidation is that
consumer services will not change and the only change will be that the
administration of the program will be streamlined.

Why is this a problem?
1. The experience in other states has been that in a larger agency, the
focus is not primarily on the vocational rehabilitation program as it is in
DARS.  The larger agency has many programs to administer, most larger than
the VR program.

2. The training department at the large agency has to focus on training
staff with varied job descriptions and duties. Currently, the DARS staff
responsible for providing training focus solely on training DBS staff on the
complex issues related to blindness. These staff are trained to be experts
in the blindness field which takes significant time and knowledge.

3. The purchasing department at the large agency will have no concept of the
nuances related to purchasing services for consumers; the DARS
purchasers understand consumers' needs and the importance of obtaining
services quickly and efficiently.

4. The Information Technology staff at a large agency will not think it
important for software applications to be accessible with the rationale that
the % of staff requiring accessibility is small; the DARS IT staff
understand the importance of accessibility (which is a legal requirement).

5. The Commissioner of a large agency has many areas of responsibility and
VR would be one of the smaller programs and likely one of the smaller
priorities as already indicated in the proposed bill. In the current
structure, the DARS Commissioner is focused only on rehabilitation programs
and primarily the vocational rehabilitation program.

6. In the interest of saving money, It is also likely that consideration
would be given to having only a single division to serve persons with all
types of disabilities rather than having a separate division for blind
services.  Statistics show that states with a separate agency or division
for the blind help significantly more blind people go to work each year than
states where the services are combined.  While there are some additional
administrative costs in having a separate department for rehabilitation
programs and a separate unit for blind services, the costs are worth it in
terms of the quality of services provided as a result and in the long run,
when vocational rehabilitation services are structured in such a way that
their services are a priority, the consumers receive the greatest benefit
and in the end, it is assisting more persons with disabilities to be
employed.

I have also attached a fact sheet to this email which expresses NFBT's
position on HB3629 and urges full funding of VR programs, as well as
DBS's children's program.

Please continue to apply pressure and make your voices heard. Also
engage your friends, families, and communities. There is still time,
but we must take action now.

Thanks so much for your work on behalf of blind Texans.

Best,
Kimberly Flores
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