[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Tue Mar 3 00:35:15 UTC 2009

I disagree with that statement, Dean.  The only individuals who ever go out of state for their blindness skills training only did so because they were informed of that option or choice by individuals not employment by the state vocational rehabilitation agency.  Despite the requirement to provide informed choice, I have never known any client of the Washington Dept. of Services for the Blind to have been informed about options for intensive blindness skills training other than the OTC.

I believe that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington should advocate for the importance of a residential training center for the blind here in the state of Washington for two reasons:  the first reason is that many people have reasons why they will not leave the state for their training, and I remain optimistic that the training center will someday meet our expectations, and second that the actual provision of specialized services is the primary justification for maintaining a separate agency for the blind.

Finally, I don't think that the debate around the closure of the OTC issue should be used as an excuse for people who are not part of the organized blind to take potshots at one organization or the other.

Noel

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dean Martineau
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 1:28 PM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

My guess here is that the NFB won't view this development as too much of a negative, because it means that they will be able to leverage more people being sent to the Colorado Center because, after all, comparable services aren't provided in Washington.

Dean

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 12:17 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Hello: 
Due  to the economy and State budget cuts DSB is considering closing the OTC

Residency program. Please read the info posted below. I was part of the program  for a short time but I had to return for personal reasons including health  concerns. I was considering returnin gto the program at a later date, but being  separated from my Spouse Ron was very hard to deal with and thus caused a great  deal of stress. However, the program can help and should not be cut.
I
don't  know what our position in this matter is, but I am interested in finding out. I  got the info from the WCBL list. I am very concerned about how this is going to  impact services in the State and also how far the budget cutting will go. What  other programs will be effected. 
I  have to admit during my short time in the program I never heard anyone mention  stopping the program for the residents; the hours at the center were changed but  nothing beyond that. However, I did sense a great deal of tension and stress; I  had a feeling that something was going to happen.  
The  program is a good one to have. We should not allow it to be lost. Even in favor  of other programs in other states. I hope that everyone will support the program  staying open. Also, I hope that everyone will encourage DSB to cut carefully  when it comes to services.  
Lisa  A. Owen
Secretary  Officer
NFB  of WA Student Division
360-920-0405 
_nfbnorthwest at aol.com_ (mailto:nfbnorthwest at aol.com)    
PS:  Mike I would like to hear your views on this issue please and thanks.

-----  Original Message -----
From: "Denise Colley"  <dmc0124 at comcast.net>
To: "wcb list" <wcb-l at wcbinfo.org>
Cc:  "WCB Presidents List" <presidents at wcbinfo.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 01,  2009 6:15 PM
Subject: [Wcb-l] proposed closure of the DSB OTC  apartments

As your president I am posting the following information,  as we understand 
it, so that all of you will know where WCB stands and the  actions we have 
taken.

Last Wednesday representatives from both WCB  and NFBW had a conference call

with Department of Services for the Blind  Director, Lou Oma duirand, to
talk 
about the Department, and how they were  being impacted budgetarily and 
programmatically with the current economic  climate in Washington State. 
These were conversations we had been having  with DSB since October.  Up 
until this most recent call, we had been  led to believe that, while budget 
cuts were inevitable, DSB was going to be  able to withstand them with some 
creative budgeting.

The call began  with Lou Oma sharing that there were three goals driving all

of their budget  decisions, to include:
1)  making cuts that would have the least impact  possible on services to 
their customers;
2)  protecting as much of  their federal funding as they could and not 
jeopardizing it;
3)   preserving their ability to be a specialized agency offering
specialized 

services and specialized expertise, regardless of the customer's age or  
circumstances.

What she then shared is of great concern to the board  of WCB, and I'm sure 
to all of you, the membership.  One of the  proposed budget cuts is to close

the residential program (apartments) of the  orientation and training
center. 
The training program would remain in tact,  but, essentially would become a 
day training program.  This would mean  that they would really only be able 
to provide their in-depth skills of  blindness training to individuals
living 
in King County and the surrounding  area.  They would no longer have the 
supervised training component that  took place in the apartments in the 
evening and on weekends.  When  asked how those customers living outside the

immediate area would receive  this same level of training, we were told that

this would free up resources  to expand rehab teaching and orientation and 
mobility instruction in these  residential areas.  Depending on the 
circumstances, they could send  customers out of state for more intensive 
training.  They are also  considering bringing itinerant intensive trainign 
workshops into different  parts of the state.

The WCB Board met that same evening to discuss the  situation and began 
formulating our position.  We were all in agreement  that full and complete 
vocational rehabilitation cannot be done in the home  on a once a week or 
once a month basis, and that it is a twenty-four hour a  day process.  After

much discussion I was asked to submit to Lou Oma  our position, and I'm 
pasting it here for your review.

"The  Washington Council of the Blind is categorically opposed to cutting
the 

residential function of the orientation and training program, and we charge

DSB with examining other programmatic/administrative functions that could be

cut."

Please be assured that we will continue following this  situation diligently

and developing an action plan/strategy, and as it  unfolds, I pledge to keep

you all informed.
Some of you may be asking  what you can do.  Here is my first appeal to you.

Next Saturday, March  7, the State Rehabilitation Council will be holding 
their quarterly meeting  in Seattle at the DSB office, beginning at 9am.
Not 
only is there a  time on each agenda for public comment, but the meeting is
a 
public meeting  and all topics discussed are open for comments and questions

from the  audience.  We need to pack that room and make our concerns and 
position  clear.  We especially need members there who have attended the OTC

and  can talk about what the residential part of that training meant to you.

The  State Rehabilitation Council and DSB staff need to hear from all of us.

I  would be happy to try to answer any questions any of you might have.  You

can contact me by phone at (360) 438-0072 or e-mail me at  
dmc0124 at comcast.net.

Denise

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