[Ohio-talk] Opportunity For Input

[Everett Gavel]

Hi JW, and All,

What to ask BSVI?

How about the fact -- the fact -- that they are telling 
clients that they are no longer sending people 
out-of-state for training, despite in some instances it 
being a clear and well-thought-out choice, informed 
choice to do so by the client?

Meaning, me for example, had to give up on their 
'service,' move away from my kids whom I have not now 
seen since January, and won't see them until my 
Louisiana program ends in 2 months and I'll move back 
to simply sign up with the Ohio Rehab Services again?

It was an informed choice.  I submitted more than once 
in my 5+ years of fighting to get here, a 21-page 
report detailing all the reasons why the LCB was the 
better training option for long-term success, over any 
option in Ohio.  They appear to have ignored it, both 
times.

Apparently there is once again no real backbone with 
this organization, as with so many others.  Nothing of 
substance beyond the words they spout to sound 
politically correct -- like so many organizations these 
days.

Lord knows we sometimes choose centers outside Ohio --  
as many states do -- over their own localized training 
options.  Because if we're being honest about the 'big 
picture,' a majority of localized training is too often 
mediocre at best -- and bordering on incompetence when 
it comes to truly believing in the abilities and 
possibilities of someone who is blind.

Budget concerns should not (legally can not if someone 
pursued it I'd think) overrule their own laws and 
rules.  Ignoring the Informed Choice part of their 
service is ludicrous, not to mention a piss-poor job of 
justice or being helpful and truly useful.  And that 
surely is not simply this one man's opinion and we all 
know it.

Ask them that, perhaps?  Hopefully you'll be better at 
it than me, JW.  I usually choose to purposely bypass 
the supposed etiquette of politically-correct-speak. 
I'm not a good politician.  I want to be told things in 
a straightforward manner even when they seem blunt, and 
that's how I choose to share information most times, 
too.  Tell 'em how it is, JW.  They're screwing with 
people's lives, and not for the betterment of them, but 
merely for budgeting concerns -- and it's only been 
getting worse for years.

I haven't seen my kids in 8 months! And I won't see 
them for at least 10 total, just to get decent training 
and a better chance at achieving my dreams, achieving 
success.  If the RSC had done the right thing, I 
would've still been a resident of Ohio, had a place to 
come back to while the LCB training center is closed at 
various times, and gotten to see my kiddos now and 
then.  But maybe family matters as much as clients' 
futures to the ORSC, when the budget is brought up?

So, JW, ask them about the legality and honest-to-God 
concerns if they have any, about choosing again and 
again to ignore the Informed Choice stipulation of 
their creed?

Thanks, JW.  See you in a few months, Sir.


Strive On,
Everett
everett at everettgavel.com
(330) 604-5750


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. JW Smith" <jwsmithnfb at frontier.com>
To: "NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" 
<ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Connors, Daniel" 
<Daniel.Connors at rsc.state.oh.us>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:15 PM
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Opportuity For Input


>I will be meeting with the BSVI director, Dan Connors 
>on this Thursday and I was wondering if anyone had a 
>particular issue or topic that you might want me to 
>discuss with him?
>
> He will be coming to Athens and I'll be taking him to 
> lunch so let me know if their is something that you 
> might want me to just happen to bring up as we talk 
> ok?
>
> jw
>
> Dr. J. Webster Smith
> President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> P.O.BOX 458 Athens, Ohio, 45701-0458
> Phone Number - 740-592-6326
> "Changing What it Means to be Blind"
> _______________________________________________
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