[nfbwatlk] Thousands of kids in Washington waiting for new eyeglasses, Associated Press, December 8, 2008

[Kay Burrows]

That does explain the delays, but it does not excuse it.  It appears to be a
difficult situation to resolve, with the economic issues of using convict
labor, that teaches inmates a skill that translate into jobs outside and
providing eye care and safety to a vulnerable population.  One would think
that children would win, but bureaucratic wheels grind very finely and
slowly.  Public outcry especially from teachers and care givers would help.

KB

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9:24 AM
To: 'nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org'
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Thousands of kids in Washington waiting for new
eyeglasses, Associated Press, December 8, 2008

Thought many on this list might find this disturbing.

Link:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/latestheadlines/story/707127.html

Text:
Thousands of kids in Washington waiting for new eyeglasses
The Associated Press

Thousands of children who are enrolled in the state's Medicaid program have
waited months for new eyeglasses.

Some children have been without glasses since the start of the school year,
prompting doctors and educators to worry about vision problems and obstacles
to learning.

The mother of a 9-year-old girl who is a fourth grader in Spokane, Lori
Williams, says, "This entire thing is outrageous."

Her daughter, Kiera, tells The Spokesman-Review, "Sometimes, during recess,
I can't really play because I don't feel well."

The backlog can be traced to new security protocols and computer software at
the Airway Heights Corrections Center, where inmates work in a state-run
optical lab to make every lens and frame for poor people served by the
state's subsidized insurance program.


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