[nfbwatlk] Funding of blindness skills training center

Nightingale, Noel Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov
Tue Mar 3 17:38:37 UTC 2009


Jeddi and others:

There has always been a disincentive for DSB to fund out-of-state training, but it is a little different than you described.

Both the OTC and the costs for individuals to receive out-of-state blindness skills training are funded by the vocational rehabilitation program, about 80 percent of which dollars are federal and 20 percent of which are state.  The difference in the funding is that the OTC is a fixed cost that DSB incurs whether or not an individual attends the OTC while the out-of-state training is an expense that DSB would not incur if the individual had chosen to attend the OTC.  Nevertheless, while the numbers are not easy to nail down, many of us believe that the per student cost for in-state training at the OTC or out-of-state training at one of the NFB-affiliated training centers are about the same.

It appears that the OTC is or will also be serving independent living clients, which is funded about 90 percent by federal dollars and 10 percent by state dollars, if the state legislature is not providing "over match."

Noel


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jedi
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:30 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

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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