[Ohio-talk] help me help someone in need of answers

Mon Apr 25 15:21:40 UTC 2016

I sincerely appreciate the public and private responses given to my inquiry.
Navigating the system as a newly blind person is challenging so I wanted to
be careful in the advice I gave in order to avoid creating another hurdle
for her to climb. In my haste to draft my email I went with the first
department name that came to mind rather than checking my facts. Thanks for
correcting me. I would not want to be the source of further confusion. The
journey to gain independence can at times involve a need for an attorney's
help as well as direction on where to get equipment especially when OOD is
not meeting the need. That said, if anyone can offer a person to contact at
Disability Rights Ohio, I would be truly grateful. The person to which my
inquiries will benefit from has been bouncing around the government system
in the Columbus area for a couple of years now and is looking to us to
connect her to people that can help directly address her needs. She is
exhausted by the long wait for assistance and the incomplete agency help
provided by the state. 

I will be sure to share the details I have learned so far with our new
friend. Prior to this discussion, she was given the number to reach out to
the Capital chapter too. 

The fabulous answers I have been given reflect the power behind membership
in our organization. Each of you bring knowledge that when combined make for
a force not to be reckoned with. Thank you to all of you for keeping me
informed.

Warmly,

Rachel Kuntz
937 245-0547 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deborah
Kendrick via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 6:44 AM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Cc: Deborah Kendrick
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] help me help someone in need of answers

Rachel,
First, the name here is not correct.  
Disability Rights Ohio is not a Council.  
The person may have meant the Ohio Governor's Council on People with
Disabilities or some other Council (as there are plenty of them in Ohio
government.)

Disability Rights Ohio is staffed by attorneys who can advise in situations
where civil rights of Ohioans with disabilities have been violated, etc.  

If the whole focus is to obtain a Victor Reader Stream or similar device,
then the route to take is BSVI if the person is seeking employment, or the
ILOB program if the person is older and not seeking employment.  (For the
latter, assuming the person is within the Greater Cincinnati are, call CABVI
513.221.8558 and ask to talk to someone about the Independent Living for
Older Blind program.)  

If, by chance, the person has a hearling disability as well as blindness, he
or she may be eligible for iCanConnect.  (This is the program in which I am
an assessor/trainer.)  Begun as a pilot by the FCC in 2013, iCanConnect
provides equipment and training to people with combined vision and hearing
disabilities to facilitate long distance communication.
For info:
www.icanconnect.org

There are so many organizations with so many distinct functions that it can
be very hard for those new to this playground to keep the players sorted
out.
If you need more specific information for this or any other person, let me
know.

Best,
Deborah

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 4:09 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Cc: Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] help me help someone in need of answers

Rachel. I think your best option other than OOD / SVI would be the loan
program of Assistive Technology Ohio (AT Ohio). This is a low-interest,
guaranteed lending program for persons with disabilities for assistive
technologies such as the VR Stream. Another organization nationally is
Modest Needs, but I'm not very familiar with them or their eligibility
criteria.

Good Luck!

Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rachel
Kuntz via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 12:11 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Cc: Rachel Kuntz
Subject: [Ohio-talk] help me help someone in need of answers

Hello NFB Ohio Experts,

I need a little information so I can help someone else. Your input on the
following questions would be appreciated.

Is there a specific person at the Ohio Disability Rights Council that we
refer people to? If so, a name and some way to contact them would be
helpful. We are already aware of the general help line and website for the
council.

Do you know of a program that will help a person get a Victor Stream? Not
including OOD / BSVI.

You are welcome to contact me off list by using the contact options below.

Regards,

Rachel Kuntz

937 245-0547 

rachelrkuntz at gmail.com 

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