[stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission for the Blind

[Judith Bron]

It sounds like a few things.  If the trip was paid for out of a bequest, the 
State has no right commenting on it.  Cologne?  If the Commission is helping 
people adjust to blindness they are ahead of other commissions.  State 
governments see no benefit in adjusting to anything unless it's their tax 
system.  For anyone to be helped in adjusting to their handicap, the 
commission is ahead of other government bodies who think that a  person has 
to adjust to a handicap like a child adjusting to a new toy.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: <nfbp-talk at yahoogroups.com>; "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" 
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Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 11:24 AM
Subject: [stylist] State Questions Spending by Oregon's Commission for the 
Blind


Hi Friends,
Just came across this article in the Argus Observer, Portland OR. The
comment form requires CAPTCHA solving and Web Visum got it wrong four
times. If you wish to comment, here is the e-mail address for the news
editor, Jessica K.
jessicak at argusobserver.com
The article is copied below my name after the link to it.
Donna Hill
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2009/05/10/news/doc4a0689c424288161521307.txt

Block quote
State questions Commission for the Blind spending

Sunday, May 10, 2009 1:23 AM PDT
PORTLAND (AP) — A state audit has found $61,000 in spending by the
Oregon Commission for the Blind went for items such as a leather jacket,
men’s cologne,
football jerseys, a bike trip to San Juan Islands and other expenditures.

Funding for the commission is meant to help Oregonians who are blind and
visually impaired live and work independently.

The report released Friday by the Oregon Secretary of State said the
football jerseys decorated a client’s coffee cart and the San Juan
Islands trip was
primarily for non-clients. A trip to Chicago was taken for nutrition
education.

Auditors also questioned whether an additional $1.4 million was spent
prudently.

‘‘The Commission has done some outstanding work over the years,’’
Secretary of State Kate Brown said in a statement. ‘‘It’s best work is
when it serves
the specific needs of the individual clients.’’
But some spending has not met those needs, she said, and her auditors
have listed a slew of recommendations for the commission, including
making sure funds
are clearly tied to business needs.

The audit began in March 2007 after the state received reports saying
the commission had mismanaged operations and misused funds meant to help
clients.
Linda Mock, administrator for the Commission for the Blind, said staff
has already begun to improve documentation of its spending.

‘‘We found the audit helpful in helping us strengthen documentation
around client services,’’ said Linda Mock, administrator for the
Commission for the
Blind. But she also defended the commission’s expenditures. In a written
response to the audit, Mock said much of the money went toward
recreational activities
meant to help client’s adjust to blindness.

‘‘We have seen a direct correlation over the years with an individual
being willing to believe in their own capabilities on the job or living
independently
with being able to successfully participate in recreational activities
such as tandem bike trips,’’ she said.

The commission organized a September 2006 trip to the San Juan Islands
with funds from a deceased staff member who donated money for
specifically for the
outing, she said, and half of the participants on the San Juan Island
trip were legally blind.

The audit said the commission spent $12,000 for the seven-day trip to
the San Juan Islands, and expenses included salary for four employees,
bicycle rentals,
camping fees, food and supplies and transportation. Two clients were on
the trip, the audit said, and their case files did not discuss how the
trip helped
them meet their goals. Also noted in the audit was $1,300 for home
Internet services for six employees who had no documented reason for
working from home,
and $1.3 million paid over a span of seven years to 14 vendors without
obtaining competitive pricing.
Block quote end

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