[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
Jedi
loneblindjedi at samobile.net
Tue Mar 3 04:30:08 UTC 2009
Lisa and List:
I want to start by clearing up one misconception The money that goes
into the training center and the money that sends rehab customers out
of state does not come out of the same pocket so to speak. Out-of-state
training money comes from actual rehab dollars, and OTC money comes
from a different part of the budget which is funded by state dollars. I
found this out while lobbying to go to Louisiana.
Informed choice is all about allowing customers to really look at their
options and see what's best for them. What I understand to be true of
NFB philosophy and policy is that we're in support of informed choice.
Yes, we believe our training centers provide the best in blindness
training. We also believe that those who wish for quality training in
state should have it. Where the NFB gets frustrated with in-state
services is that many counselors behave as though out-of-state training
isn't an option when the law clearly states it is, or where a person
feels that their needs would be best met by attending an out-of-state
center yet they have to go through so many hoops that it becomes
utterly rediculous. Lisa's absolutely right that some people, for
whatever reason, may find it difficult, if not altogether impossible,
to go out of state. the point to having a state center is not to keep
people in state as a default, but to offer a local option. If the
residential portion of the in-state training center closes, the program
is pretty well ineffective.
I invite as many people as are able and willing to attend the public
comment at 9:00 a.m. at DSB's Seattle office on Saturday to show
support for in-state training as a viable option and to keep it
available to customers in the rehab system. I am currently working on
arrangements for those in the Bellingham area who wish to attend. I am
also willing to make arrangements for those in Whatcom, Island, and
Skagit Counties as they'll literally be on our way down. Please contact
me off list at loneblindjedi at samobile.net if you are are in my area and
are interested in coming. I already know that Lisa is interested.
For me, I think it's necessary for NFB members to go to the public
comment to show our support for the OTC's program as a continuous and
viable training option. Nothing budgetary is set in stone right now,
but DSB needs to know that we as a blind community care about the
services we're receiving and that these services matter to us and have
impact on our lives.
Original message:
> Hello Dean:
> We need to improve the services in our state. We have a direct
> responsibility to the blind citizens in WA. I agree the programs in CO
> and LA are better
> but that does not justify allowing the OTC Residency program to be cut.
> I have to admit that being apart from Ron for 8-10 weeks at a time is hard
> enough but I would not go to another state for services I can get in Seattle
> or locally. If DSB is forced to close the program; there will be much fewer
> options open for those who cannot travel long distances or out of the state.
> They should not forced to do so due to a lack of choices.
> Realisticallyis using
> leverage in order to send students to CO or LA being fair? What if the
> student can’t leave his family? Or other personal reasons prevent him from
> traveling such a great distance? Being separated from your family or
> Spouse may not
> work for the student and may caurse further stress.
> The blind community in WA needs this program to remain open. Sending
> students to other state programs is both unrealistic and cuts into a
> very stressful
> state and federal budget. We all must be realistic and try and find a
> solution that will benefit the blind community of WA on a local level.
> As the President stated this country is in a depression in many states
> including ours; we need to be practical and flexible. services need to
> be better
> in the state and for all of us to still have the choice of attending our local
> training center if the need ever arises. Let leaving the state remain a
> choice if needed. The recession is worsening and we need to remember this.
> It is also my hope that we in the NFB will not take a passive role in this
> issue. I think keeping all programs at DSB open is a benefit to all blind
> people in WA. It is worth fighting for.
> Lisa Owen
> In a message dated 3/2/2009 3:53:29 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> dean at topdotenterprises.com writes:
> 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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--
REspectfully,
Jedi
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