[rehab] Systemic questions WAS Re: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II - September 15 2011.docx

Wed Sep 28 22:58:28 UTC 2011

Dick,

This is excellent. While I have tried a few of the things you mention,
some more than once, it will be worth trying again, from a different
approach. You gave me some good ideas for how to approach others.

The great part is, I was talking to my partner about it, and he is
interested in being part of going to board meetings and all that... This
will be great because he can bring a number of things with him that
complement what I bring to the table in problem solving in those sorts
of milieu. And he understands the key: Just go to the first 3 meetings
planning to keep your mouth shut and observe... Then ask questions. 

Well, as we move towards getting out into the resource community
hereabouts more to feel things out and find a niche to contribute, we
will know more where to focus and have a wider network. As you say, it's
about people coming together and working towards a goal. For now, I am
loving the great information I am getting about the history and current
operations of working systems, as well as a better communications
framework to use within the context of the blindness community within
the larger resource community... Effective communication of thoughts and
ideas is key, after all. /smile/

Thank you so much for taking the time to give such a great answer to my
questions.

Tami

On Thu, 2011-09-22 at 11:49 -0500, Dick Davis wrote: 
> Tami,
> None of it happened accidentally.  People had to get together and work at
> it.  If services in your state are bad and the administrator is the
> problem, you need to work with the other blind people in the state - NFB
> if you are a member - to effect a change.  Things you can do that will
> actually work:
> 
> 1. Attend board and/or rehabilitation council meetings and express your
> concerns.
> 2. Contact your state senator and representative to see what they can do
> to help.
> 3. Contact the Governor's office and see what they are willing to do.
> 4. If your agency is part of a larger agency, go talk to the head of that
> agency.
> 5. Attend state budget hearings in the house and senate, and talk about
> your concerns, and ask them to require the agency to implement a
> corrective action plan in order to get continued funding (this is
> particularly terrifying to agency heads).
> 6. Call the Rehabilitation Services Administration in Washington, D.C. and
> share your concerns with the specialist who handles your particular state.
> They do periodic reviews of states and could address your issues at that
> time.  It's a slow process, so be patient but persistent.
> 
> In all of the above, make sure you have good documentation, and share it
> freely with the people you talk to. Stay focused on your goal, which is to
> solve the problem, and accept the solutions, even if they aren't exactly
> what you wanted a the beginning. Always be polite, and never say or do
> anything that will allow them to write you off as a crank or a vindictive
> troublemaker. Think of yourself as a surgeon who cuts someone with a
> knife, not to hurt them, but only to remove something that would kill them
> otherwise.
> 
> And finally, don't ever think of yourself as powerless.  You have plenty
> of power.  The question is, are you ready and willing to use it?
> 
> Hope this helps.
> Dick Davis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Tami Kinney
> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:02 AM
> To: rehab at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [rehab] Systemic questions WAS Re: Vocational Rehabilitation
> Counselor II - September 15 2011.docx
> 
> Wow! That is fascinating. Also, quite wonderful. /smile/ So, then, it
> starts with leadership and is supported by some really great teamwork..
> I had not realized that history or how much that original strong
> leadership and teamwork then spread to influence all of us in one way or
> another for the better.
> 
> This example, then, does support the basic conclusions I have come to
> about the reverse effect in my state... As I see it, in my opinion, which
> may or may not be as accurate as I like to assume. /smile/ Top down
> problem, now endemic and pervasive. Based on clear negative attitudes
> toward blindness of the administrator who has been there since the
> beginning, having worked for the precursor agency. Sorry, I'm being vague
> and trying to leave out names, since I'm not communicating in order to
> bash. Just to try to figure some things out and gain greater
> understanding. And test my own conclusions.
> 
> Now the mystery to me is why certain things have been allowed to go on for
> so long. By the board of commissioners -- in that time span, it has to
> have been a variety of people doing the same thing over and over.
> which is to ignore the clear and documented problems by leaving the same
> administrator in charge. Sorry, 35 (plus, now) years of audits failed,
> each and every one, for the same reasons, with the same tone in the
> response by the same administrator is beyond me to grasp. In the present,
> I do see a lot of protectionism of that leadership and the underlying
> layers of management and staff that appears to me to be strongly
> counterproductive. If not destructive. So that's what I don't get at this
> point.
> 
> Then the naturally following question for me would be "What can I as an
> individual do to effect change" here in my own little corner of the Right
> now, within the context of my own life and circumstances, nil to nothing.
> Except to take opportunities to communicate and educate. /smile
> 
> So I thank you for your time and attention in answering my questions so
> openly and informatively. Any fool can run off at the mouth about what
> they think and feel, but ... Knowing and understanding is what makes
> communicating worthwhile and beneficial to all parties. Knowledge is
> power! Knowing how to use that knowledge is just plain tricky. /grin/
> 
> Tami
> 
> 
> On Thu, 2011-09-22 at 08:47 -0500, Dick Davis wrote:
> > Dave,
> >
> > That's the truth.  Jim Nyman, who is a Federationist, started as
> > director of the Nebraska agency in the mid-1970's.  He had a good
> > philosophy about blindness and a solid belief in blind people.  He
> > encouraged the growth of independent, self-sufficient, politically
> > astute blind people, and as a result, the NFB of Nebraska flourished.
> > They didn't always see eye to eye with him, but they knew a good thing
> > and supported it.  Fred Schroeder had his first job teaching
> > orientation and mobility there.  Carlos Servan became one of its
> > deputy directors, and still is. John Cheadle, who manages the
> > facilities at the National Center for the Blind and the Jernigan
> > Institute, was a supervisor in the Omaha office. Rose Lerdahl, who ran
> > its Lincoln office (and I think also their orientation center) became
> > director of the training center at Blind Industries and Services of
> Maryland.
> >
> > Nebraska introduced the concept of all day sleepshades, not Dr.
> > Jernigan, as many people believe.  Carl Olson worked to develop the
> > concept of structured discovery learning that was adopted by the NFB
> > training centers and others, and forms the basis for the professional
> > training programs at Louisiana Tech.  There's Pearl Van Zandt, Fatos
> > and Michael Floyd, Duncan Larson, who now works in the Colorado
> > Center, Dave Dawson, who runs the radio reading service in Colorado,
> > and many other good people whose names I would remember if I took more
> > time to think about them.  After many years of work, they were able to
> > convert the Nebraska agency, which had been in a larger umbrella
> > agency, into a freestanding commission for the blind.  The ACB, which
> > thought it was a good idea, pitched in to make it happen.  It took the
> > work of many people, blind and sighted, over a span of 35-plus years to
> make Nebraska what it is today.
> >
> > Dick Davis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> > Behalf Of David Andrews
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 5:51 PM
> > To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [rehab] Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II -
> > September 15 2011.docx
> >
> > It starts with leadership that "gets it," without that nothing will be
> > agency-wide.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> > At 03:03 PM 9/21/2011, you wrote:
> > >Yeah, I've heard really excellent things about Nebraska's agency..
> > >Despite the general devolution of the VR agencies in so many states
> > >over the last decade or so... No insult to any particular agency or
> > >any individual rehab counselor for working in one of the states that
> > >has lost ground. It does seem to have been an unfortunate trend...
> > >
> > >I know some of the eastern states are still on the list of those with
> > >working, effective agencies, some easier to get services from than
> > >others, but it seems people get those services in the end. But I
> > >notice Nebraska because It's just kinda out there all by itself being
> > >really great that way.
> > >
> > >So here's what I wonder... What is different about their state agency
> > >that makes it stand out in terms of providing those services and
> > >tools for their blind consumers efficiently and in a way that leaves
> > >the consumer felling happy for having such a great experience?
> > >
> > >I apologize if the question is beyond the scope of the list. I've
> > >been looking at the overall system to better understand my own state
> > >system from the point of view of a consumer, trying to figure out
> > >what the secret key is that makes the difference between a great
> > >state agency and a dysfunctional one. I mean, all the states operate
> > >under the same general set of laws and rules and requirements...
> > >They're all facing economic difficulties that are very similar in
> > >nature. So what is it that makes the difference and why are the
> differences often so profound?
> > >
> > >Just curious as heck. /smile/
> > >
> > >Tami
> > >
> > >On Mon, 2011-09-19 at 08:48 -0500, Dick Davis wrote:
> > > > From our state president in Nebraska. Excellent agency!
> > > > Dick Davis
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor II
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Closing Date: 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2011
> > > >
> > > > Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Description:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Under general supervision, performs complex, specialized
> > > > vocational counseling, guidance and placement for individuals with
> > > > visual impairments and/or other disabilities.
> > > >
> > > > Hours: 8-5, Monday - Friday.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Examples of Work:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Performs interviews, diagnostic services, testing, job training
> > > > and job placement of eligible clients; confers with clients to
> > > > discuss options and goals. Provides follow-up services for clients
> > > > in all aspects of vocational adjustment; monitors and records
> clients'
> > > > progress and ensures goals and objectives are met. Assists in
> > > > coordinating training, re-socialization, remedial education and
> > > > overall client programming. Arranges for intelligence,
> > > > psychological, vocational interest, aptitude
> > > testing and other
> > > > tests and evaluations to obtain information in regards to
> > > assessing clients'
> > > > needs and developing rehabilitation plans. Assists district or
> > > > unit supervisors with program needs and evaluation and may be
> > > > involved in corollary administrative functions. Serves as a
> > > > resource person to the professional staff in vocational
> rehabilitation related matters.
> > > > Prepares and maintains required reports, correspondence, case
> > > > files
> > and records.
> > > > Develops and maintains relationships with originating agencies,
> > > > schools, community organizations and public employers.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Qualifications/Requirements:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > REQUIREMENTS: Bachelors degree in social science, behavioral
> > > science, social
> > > > work, counseling/guidance, vocational rehabilitation, psychology,
> > > sociology,
> > > > human development, education or related and two years experience
> > > > OR Masters degree in any of the above mentioned fields or related
> area.
> > > > Candidates who possess the required degree, but do not meet the
> > > > experience requirements, may be hired as a Rehabilitation
> > > > Counselor I ($14.896/hour) until such experience qualifications are
> met.
> > > >
> > > > OTHER: Successful candidates for employment must be able to
> > > > satisfactorily pass an extensive criminal background check. All
> > > > new hires will
> > > complete 600
> > > > hours of immersion training in Lincoln, at NCBVI expense, at the
> > > > Nebraska Center for the Blind to learn the alternative skills of
> > > > blindness (cane travel, Braille, assistive technology, activities
> > > > of daily living, etc.); those completing the training will be
> > > > certified as Vocational
> > > Rehabilitation
> > > > Counselors for the blind. Work is performed under the direct
> > > > supervision of a district or unit supervisor. Field assignments
> > > > and travel are involved in varying degrees. State agencies are
> > > > responsible to evaluate each of their positions to determine their
> > > > individual overtime eligibility status as required by the Fair
> > > > Labor
> > Standards Act (FLSA).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Knowledge of: vocational rehabilitation counseling methods and
> > > > techniques; human behavior and performance; medical and mental
> > > > disabilities and their effects on the rehabilitation process;
> > > > adaptive equipment available for clients served; principles and
> > > > procedures for training development and instruction; group
> > > > behavior
> > and dynamics; basic sign language. Skill in:
> > > > interviewing others to collect essential information;
> > > > communicating to convey information; monitoring and assessing
> > > > performance and implementing actions; reviewing information to
> > > > develop options and
> > implement solutions.
> > > > Ability to: learn, interpret and apply provisions of the
> > > Rehabilitation Act;
> > > > collect, analyze and evaluate data to apply to the development and
> > > > implementation of a rehabilitation plan; maintain accurate
> > > > records; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > rehab mailing list
> > rehab at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > rehab:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/ddavis%40blindinc.o
> > rg
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > rehab mailing list
> > rehab at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> rehab:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comca
> > st.net
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> rehab mailing list
> rehab at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> rehab:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/ddavis%40blindinc.org
> 
> _______________________________________________
> rehab mailing list
> rehab at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for rehab:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comcast.net