[nfbwatlk] Impressions of SRC Meeting

[Mike Freeman]

Fellow listers:

Technically, Marlaina Lieberg of WCB is the designated "consumer representative" on DSB's State Rehabilitation Council. Below are her impressions of yesterday's meeting.

Mike Freeman

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Marlaina Lieberg" <1guidedog at gmail.com>
To: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
Date: Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 12:14:57
Subject: please forward to nfbw

>
> Hello all.
> I decided to wait a few hours before posting or even much discussing my
> impressions of the SRC meeting yesterday.  So, here they are.
> during her report, Lou Oma Durand stressed repeatedly that she valued the
> residential aspect of the OTC.  She said that she has been running in the
> baseball field at midnight with students in the past, and she sees the
> change the residential program can make in lives it touches.  She indicated
> that she has had discussions with Dean Stenehjem at the School for the
> blind, and he has offered the possibility of using the school's cottages for
> 3 weeks or so in the summer as a residential training facility.  DSB is
> considering that.  Parenthetically, Cindy and I asked her during the days
> prior to the SRC meeting yesterday about partnering with the school to do
> child and family services work.  I never thought we got a clear response to
> that suggestion, just as many other suggestions we raised seemed not to have
> a clear response for me.
> It was wonderful to see so many people present in the room for testimony or
> simply to be a presence.  Many people, including OTC current students, gave
> great testimony regarding how impactful the OTC has been or is currently in
> their lives.  We had a number of people calling in, and the Council felt
> that while we had an issue with one person having an inordinate amount of
> background noise, the system worked perfectly and we will look into
> expanding its use for future meetings.
> The stories we heard were from blind people who had either worked with other
> blind people in the OTC, or who themselves were changed because of the
> impact of the residential portion of the OTC.  We heard from people who said
> they never would have made it with training in their home, or a 3-week
> training experience elsewhere.
> Throughout the day, we were reminded by DSB staff that if they could not
> find money to cut, DSB would go into order of selection to serve its
> customers.  Order of selection means that decisions regarding the importance
> of one customer's need versus another will have to be made, thereby creating
> waiting lists.
> Since most of you are most concerned about the OTC, let me stay focused on
> that issue.  Keiko Namekata, OTC Director, reported on average numbers of
> students the OTC has served for 4 years prior to apartment living, and the
> first 4 years after the apartments became a part of the residential
> experience.  Cindy asked Keiko for some annual statistics, a thing I might
> add we've been trying to get from other DSB staff all week, and Keiko said
> she'd be glad to provide them.  She shared that the OTC is open from 8 to 5,
> and students migrate in and out as they go for the various classes they
> need.  She mentioned keyboarding and computer skills as two separate
> classes.  I asked her why those were separated, and she said that in order
> for some students to really grasp the keyboard shortcuts necessary to be a
> successful computer user, plus the fact that it is not uncommon for students
> to have reach range issues, keyboarding really must be separate from
> computer skills training.
> We had a fair amount of discussion about the budget, and Jim Lochner, DSB's
> budget analyst, along with others in management positions, indicated that
> the senate budget could require even more cuts.  Nobody knows.
> Toward the end of the day, I initially attempted a motion requesting DSB to
> share with the Council the justification they use for retaining
> state-funded, non direct service delivery positions.  Throughout the day we
> heard that each staff person doing direct service touches the lives of an
> average of 100 persons.  It was a hard motion to make, but I did so to get
> discussion back to the issue about which the blind community is most
> concerned, preserving the residential portion of the OTC.  After the motion
> was seconded, Don Alveshere spoke up and said when the positions are
> transferred in July, there would be no state funded direct service
> positions.  At that point, I'm afraid I was tired and my head spinning, so I
> said, "Don, I've been trying to behave and be respectful all day.  Now I
> have to say this.  What you are essentially saying is that this is a done
> deal.  Let's just get it out on the table."  Debbie Cook then explained that
> the issue isn't about jobs, and she reiterated again that if something isn't
> done, DSB will go to order of selection, and as other DSB personnel said
> throughout the day, order of selection is the first step toward melding DSB
> into general VR.  Cindy responded that my motion, she believed, stemmed from
> frustration that the Council has no information, or very little information,
> yet DSB continues to say they are listening to our ideas.  I withdrew my
> motion after discussion, and simply requested information (again) to help
> the Council understand how DSB arrived at its current decision.
> So, my impression is that we might get to keep 2 apartments, since Lou Oma
> mentioned that as something they are considering.  However, I wouldn't take
> it to the bank.  As the consumer representative on the Council, I will share
> what I know as I learn it, and I know Cindy will do the same.  Frankly, I
> came away feeling that if we get 2 apartments, we'll be lucky.  The SRC
> members did agree that we needed conference calls between face-to-face
> meetings so that we can remain informed and in communication with the
> Agency.
> I think people can and should feel some comfort in the fact that without
> exception, each member of the SRC felt concerned that the Council was not
> involved in any way shape or form until after a decision had been made.  One
> member even came straight out and said that when it comes to an agency job
> or serving blind people in the most appropriate manner, he didn't care who
> had to go.
> Another thing we discussed is the possibility of streaming council meetings
> live on ACB Radio.  Stay tuned, we'll see what happens.
> Thank you for reading this; these are my personal observations, and should
> no way be misconstrued to be representative of actual approved minutes from
> yesterday's meeting.  This is simply how Marlaina Lieberg saw things, and
> how she reacted in the best way she knew how.
> Warmly,
> Marlaina
> I use to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!