<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Good afternoon,<div>FYI, Below is a letter I just sent to the commission board outlining our concerns.</div><div>Helen</div><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Dear Commissioners,</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I am writing this letter on behalf of the national Federation of the Blind of Iowa. As a movement of blind people committed to high expectations, our organization has been a strong voice for consumer involvement as well as a partner in promoting excellency at the Iowa Department for the Blind. Thus, my writing to you is not done lightly. This letter is to raise our concerns about the actions being taken by the leadership at the department which are inconsistent with the successful past work to fully involve the blind of Iowa in significant reforms to programs affecting the blind. As commissioners you play a critical role in preserving and upholding that value and we write today to ask you to fulfill that role and restore focus on the blind of Iowa.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">As you are already aware, Director Cervenka began her tenure at IDB on July 7. Rather than taking time to get to know the staff and clients of the department, she began making significant changes to IDB programming, including the Center, almost immediately. Multiple employees have stated that they were told about the specific change regarding sleepshades during the dates July 9-11. Center students were on break that week, and returned to training July 14; employees reported being told that this change would be taking place July 14. It appears as though Director Cervenka prepared to implement the policy change prior to becoming aware that such changes required the approval of the commission board. The fact that she appears to have not yet learned the role of the commission as it relates to IDB serves as one of many examples of the uninformed haste surrounding Director Cervenka\u2019s actions. When Director Cervenka learned that commission board approval was required, instead of waiting for the September commission meeting, or calling a special board meeting if the need was urgent, Director Cervenka usurped the authority of the commission by announcing that she could just use the exception to policy process to effectively implement the change immediately.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">When asked about the steps she took prior to proposing this change, the only one initially mentioned by Director Cervenka related to a meeting she held with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors where the counselors stated that the sleepshade requirement was their biggest barrier to getting more students into the center. She stated that she did not consider other options because of what the counselors said. The perspective of just one group seems like a weak reason for changing something that has been in place for more than sixty years. Historical precedent is not by itself a good reason to keep doing something, but it ought to cause one to think seriously before changing it. When asked about whether she had talked with Center staff about barriers they observed, or observed any classes, she did not report having done so. Making such an abrupt change without taking the time to learn about IDB first is disrespectful to IDB\u2019s clients who deserve more informed policies, and to IDB\u2019s staff who have done many things well.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">To be an effective leader, it is vital that one start off by being an effective listener. Director Cervenka is not from Iowa and cannot be very familiar with the specific circumstances of IDB yet. It takes time for any new person, including a new leader, to learn about the organization one is leading. It is not too late to start over. As the commission board, you have the power to make policy. You can choose to forego approving policy changes at this time, and direct Director Cervenka to take the time to genuinely get to know the employees across IDB and the services they provide. For example, what is already working well at IDB? </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Steps that Director Cervenka now presents as part of the process for developing the updated center handbook took place after the changes had already been presented as the plan, making it significantly more difficult for us to trust Director Cervenka and the process she has used. For example, clients report having received the survey link around July 25. While the use of client surveys is a valuable tool, the survey presented to clients missed an opportunity to really explore why clients are not choosing to come to the center. If you have not seen the text of the survey, I encourage you to request it. What answers might clients have given to the second question if it had not been preceded by the introduction and question that focused only on sleepshades? </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In the meantime, the commissioners have the authority to speak with employees and gather information about their perspectives and concerns. Because some employees, whether rightly or through a misguided understanding, are afraid of losing their jobs if they speak their minds, phone conversations might yield more meaningful results than a request for emails, or a combination of a survey and phone calls. While the fact that there are only two commissioners makes this more awkward, commissioners can individually speak with employees to gather information just like they can talk with anyone else for information gathering.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">On a personal note, my own experience shows the harm that could have occurred had I been given a choice that was not truly informed. I received my training in Minesota as an 18-year-old. I found it surprising at the time how many instructors and others I met had received their training in Iowa, though I understand why now. My program required sleepshades in all classes. I believe that, had I been given a choice, I would have at most worn them for travel class. Shades are uncomfortable, and I did not see how they made a difference sitting in braille class, or in other situations where I did not think I was relying on my vision. Surprisingly to me, those small situations made a significant difference in what I gained from my time in training, for example developing my detailed spatial awareness and listening skills that I use every day now, such as when I am helping someone else learn to travel or monitoring the actions of a toddler. Even more importantly, I gained the confidence that I truly could function as a blind person no matter what; I cannot imagine pushing through hiring discrimination and surviving the daily encounters with misconceptions and low expectations faced by blind people without that confidence. Looking at specific skills I needed for employment, I did not realize how poor my computer skills were. I had after all gotten by well enough with Windows Magnifier and a little JAWS to get good grades in high school and be admitted to Harvard University for my undergraduate studies. What I gained from my computer class was not really any of the specific skills my instructor taught me, it was the time it made me spend using a computer without looking at the screen that got me to use JAWS long enough to reach the point that I was more efficient using a computer with JAWS than I was with magnification. It is only at that point that my choice whether to use JAWS or magnification in a specific situation was truly an informed choice. I remember sitting in class working on something on my personal laptop, getting frustrated, and asking my instructor if I could just look at the screen to help us figure it out more easily. He said no, and we eventually figured it out. My instructor did not argue with me about the shades; rather, he talked through my thoughts and feelings and got me to continue to buy-in to keeping the shades on. It helped immensely that wearing the shades was the cultural norm. At that time, I did not have enough experience to understand making my own choice in each moment about the shades. I would not have done well in college, studied abroad, obtained a master\u2019s degree, and held several jobs without the technology skills I have. My job today is entirely computer-based.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Change can be a good thing when given proper consideration. Even the best center in the world has room for improvement, and it is important to consider how a program can most effectively meet the needs of the current day. Along these lines, taking time to figure out what can be done to encourage more students to attend the Center is a worthwhile endeavor. That being said, the manner in which changes are made matters, and it is important that all effort be made to ensure that changes do more good than harm.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa specifically calls on you as commissioners to do the following:</p>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Do not approve any changes to the Center handbook at this time.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Establish a safeguard policy requiring commission approval before any exceptions can be made to Center policies for the time being.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Regain Iowans trust that IDB\u2019s priority is serving the specific needs of blind Iowans by ensuring that thorough input from clients, employees and stakeholders is gathered and considered before any programmatic changes are made to the Center.</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">We are prepared to work closely with you in reviewing and giving substantive feedback on proposed changes at the department. We ask that this continue to be done in the collaborative manner it has been in the past <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>and that the commissioners uphold this important aspect of our successful programming in the state of Iowa. I remain available to you to answer questions. Thank you for your consideration.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 14px;"><br></p><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Helen Mejia, President</div>National Federation of the Blind<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Iowa<br>hmejia@nfbi.org<br>(570) 983-7867</div>
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