[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
Alco Canfield
amcanfield at comcast.net
Sat Mar 7 08:02:09 UTC 2009
Not to my knowledge, but you could write to Lou Oma with your comments:
ldurand at dsb.wa.gov.
Alco
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Sarah Baughn
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 3:42 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
Isw there a way that people ccan attend the conferencce online, for those of
us who can't get to Seattle?
Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:30 PM
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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>
>
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>
> --
> REspectfully,
> Jedi
>
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