[nfbwatlk] Impressions of SRC Meeting

[Jedi]

Listers,

Wow. That's intense. Thanks for posting this.

I was there for public comment and for some of the discussion 
afterward. I know that Kay B was also there for a while, but I don't 
know if anyone from the Federation arrived after we left, or if Alco 
stayed past noon. In any case, There was indeed an ton of positive 
support for the agency and the residential component of the OTC from 
community members of all types ranging from consumer group 
participants, past and present OTC students, and those blind people who 
are simply concerned for the wellfare of the blind community. Those 
representing consumer groups and current/past participants on the 
council were also in heavy support of the residential component.

During the short time I was present at the meeting, I got many of the 
same impressions that Marlaina got. There was heavy emphasis on the 
part of DSB staff regarding how many lives Direct service Delivery 
staff touch (the number I heard was 100), and we heard a ton about 
avoiding order of selection. On one hand, the DSB staff who spoke 
yesterday morning also spoke highly of their desire to keep OTC 
residences open. On the other hand, they seemed to have more defined 
answers about how the OTC's residential component affects their budget 
and the affects of residential closing than on any other suggestion 
that was thrown out there. As a result, I got the impression that OTC 
residential closure was very close to, if not entirely, a done deal.

>From my perspective, it seems a fantastic idea to integrate DSB 
programs more with child and family. I can't figure out though, just 
how effective moving residential OTC programs to WSSB for a few weeks 
would be. The whole program would have to migrate to WSSB for that time 
period in order for such a thing to work out. I'm guessing that's what 
they had in mind?

Just as marlaina said, I don't intend to put words in anyone's mouth at 
all. These are, however, the impressions I got. Thanks Mike for posting 
Marlaina's comments, and thanks to Marlaina for being an excellent advocate.

Also, I want to send a shout out to those on list who attended the 
meeting during public comment. Kay B, Alco, Kris, and Dan Frye all did 
an excellent job of sharing their perspectives and experiences with the group.
Original message:
> 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!

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-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

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