[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
Lauren Merryfield
lauren1 at catliness.com
Tue Mar 3 05:11:46 UTC 2009
Hi,
It does seem odd that some of us didn't know about it. Something that big
could have been shared with us members.
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nightingale, Noel" <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
>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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