[rehab] Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term Politics

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Gabe,

I do hear where you're coming from.  As a taxpayer in Oregon who has
attempted to get vocational services from the agency, I am furious that my
tax dollars have not been spent on keeping me working, and I have seen more
evidence of their incredible wastefulness during my time (10 years now) as a
legally blind Oregonian who simply wanted to continue in her career and keep
on paying taxes.

Still, it is individuals -- most of them, by my count; and I have counted --
that need to be cut, not the entire agency.  If it performed according to
the law and its own written mission statement and philosophy, the tax
dollars we all pay to fund it would result in more working blind Oregonians
-- thus more taxes, more contribution to the local economy, which leads to
more jobs, which leads to more taxes...  It's paying to fund the jobs of
negligent, unethical incompetents instead of the gear I need to continue my
career and my life that I object to.

Okay, that's a little strong, but I'm afraid I mean every word.  We here in
Oregon need the services, thus the agency.  The screw ups need to go,
though.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of The BlindTechs Network
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:48 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Cc: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [rehab] Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term Politics

This is great news!

I was sicken when I heard the wasteful unnecessary spending that the  
department did and how they tried to justify it.

You want to mess around and play with the thousands of dollars I pay  
in taxes then you will be held accountable.

and what the or government needs now is support from the blind about  
getting rid of this department.

I'll be glad to let them know how successful community based servicess  
can be for the blind.
Gabe Vega
CEO

The BlindTechs Network
www.theblindtechsnetwork.com
info at theblindtechsnetwork.com
623-565-9357 (voice)
(206) 203-4400 (Fax Phone)








On May 17, 2009, at 5:20 PM, T. Joseph Carter (by way of David Andrews  
<dandrews at visi.com>) wrote:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Art Stevenson,
president National Federation of the Blind of Oregon
Tel: 503-585-4318
Email: president at nfb-oregon.org

Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term Politics
May 16, 2009
Salem, Oregon
In a swift, one-two-three punch, Governor Ted Kulongoski proposes to  
eliminate services and support to Oregon’s blind whether they're  
born blind, become blind, or lose their vision late in life. The first  
punch was delivered by House Bill 2834, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Gelser  
(D-Corvallis), with support of the Governor.  The bill would close and  
sell off the Oregon School for the Blind to private land developers.   
Their argument is that the school’s services should be provided by  
local Educational Service Districts. The second punch came when the  
Oregon Senate Education Committee reorganized the Educational Service  
Districts, reducing the number from 22 to 13.  These agencies employ  
itinerant teachers whose case loads are already so large that they  
spend nearly as much time driving between schools as they do teaching  
students. The final blow was delivered Friday, May 15th, when Governor  
Kulongoski proposed total abolition of the Oregon Commission for the  
Blind, which currently provides job training and rehabilitation to  
blind adults and seniors.  In his attempt to cover up his own lack of  
oversight of administrative misjudgments by his appointees who run the  
Commission, the Governor sacrifices the quality of life and future  
potential of the blind of Oregon. Without a competitive education and  
training in the skills of blindness, Oregon's blind face the kind of  
life they lived in the 19th century.  "It's like they want us out  
there with tin cups and pencils, begging for money," said Art  
Stevenson, president of the Oregon Federation. Oregon’s blind face  
an approximate 70% unemployment rate.  Under the current plan to  
reduce services and education, that number is likely to increase.  The  
result will be greater dependence on welfare and social security by  
people who want nothing more than a chance to work and live a normal  
life.
###


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