[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Tue Mar 3 04:44:38 UTC 2009


Hi, all.

Ben's statement is, in fact, the position I've indicated that the 
National Federation of the Blind of Washington will take in regard to 
this situation.

On the one hand, from the perspective of the NFB of Washington, it would 
be nice were more DSB participants to get training at NFB centers if 
they wish it so.

On the other hand, it is unrealistic to expect that many blind 
Washingtonians will immediately see the value of the sort of full 
immersion in blindness training that our centers offer (yes, I know that 
the OTC purports to offer this but some of us wonder if such assertions 
are honored more in the breech than in fact). Do we leave those who 
cannot or will not go to NFB centers without even a semblance of good 
training? If the OTC were truly horrible, an affirmative answer might be 
in order. But it is not truly horrible and one can get decent blindness 
skills training there if one cares to take advantage of it. So it seems 
unrealistic to believe that an OTC without a residential component would 
be able to fulfill its mission.

Moreover, once the residential component is gone, it is unlikely that 
the legislature will again fund it and I personally think that it would 
bawk at even a Puget Sound regional center. And intensive short-term 
workshops across the state would be no substitute.

So in the end, NFBW thinks that closing of the residential program is 
unwise, if only for political reasons.

But all this may be jumping the gun and possibly panicking 
unnecessarily. For one thing, the legislature hasn't had a crack at 
budget negotiations with the Governor and it is far from clear how much 
of this is mandated by boiler-plate requests for agency budget-cutting 
ideas and how much will actually come to pass. For another thing, the 
recently-passed Economic Stimulus Package will result in a one-time 
windfall for all VR agencies of something on the order of 20% of their 
normal Federal match. I just learned about this this past weekend at the 
Affiliate Presidents' Seminar in Baltimore. So there may be funds that 
could be dedicated to keeping open the residential component. I would 
hope that some of this money also could be used to fund NFB Newsline® so 
that vendors' money would not be used as the Newsline® legislation 
mandated.

I intend to let LouOma know of this windfall. let's see how that affects 
this situation.

Mike Freeman, President
NNFB of Washington

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency 
Program


My opinion is partly what Dean says, but we have to be realistic.  While
it is great to be able to help advocate for having those in need get to
good blindness skills training centers in Louisiana, Minnesota and
Colorado, (as we've done", there are folks who can't, or won't leave the
state for numerous, and very important and personal reasons.  I'm not
sure what the alternative is to a residential program in this state to
really learn skills, even if it isn't the best in the world.  What of
rehab in the state for those people outside of a few western Washington
counties.

I think we have to think this through and come up with financially
responsible solutions, otherwise we run a risk of more drastic and
intolerable measures.

/s/

Bennett Prows

-----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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