[Tn-talk] the register for the blind

[Dwight Johnson]

I don't know where VR got their information about me but I was contacted
many times beginning when I was a senior in high school.  Each time they
asked if I needed help with my job or finding another one.  I never used
their services until 1980.  It was always a comfort to me to know I had an
alternative if my eyesight deteriorated, which it finally did.  I never
thought they were infringing upon my privacy.

Dwight Johnson


-----Original Message-----
From: Tn-talk [mailto:tn-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Brown
via Tn-talk
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2016 10:03 AM
To: Tennessee Talk (NFB of Tennessee Discussion)
Cc: James Brown; Dewey Bradley
Subject: Re: [Tn-talk] the register for the blind

Dear Friends,
I have been in contact with the legislative coordinator for the  Department
of Human Services who oversees the list of blind Tennesseans afore mentioned
on this list.  VR claims it mandates eye doctors to report those who are
blind in order to offer them career services although I question how many
people are actually contacted for this purpose.  
I researched online this past weekend and found that around half the states
have a comparable law, some of which even fine doctors who do not comply
with the law.  HIPAA privacy laws do not give any protection against these
lists according to the research.  I think our best option is to ask the
state legislature to amend the law to make it optional for the blind person
to give their information to VR for vocational and IL services.  I actually
think this protects our privacy as well as informing us about the VR
services available to us.  There is a very good chance that VR is getting
the information but not really notifying blind people about services.  What
do you all think?
Sincerely,
JB

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 2, 2016, at 4:34 PM, Dewey Bradley via Tn-talk <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> 
> I was looking at the services the state has for the blind, I was looking
at
> moving to Nashville.
> 
> My question for you folks is what is the register for the blind?
> 
> It doesn't say what the purpose of the law is, just by looking at it, I
> don't see how that is even legal, does the state treat blind people like
sex
> offenders or something, or do they require us to live in the area they
tell
> us?
> 
> Just by looking at it, and the fact they don't explain why they have it,
> that has to be invasion of privacy and unconstitutional, that is like
being
> required to be reported if you have red hair, or are black or gay.
> 
> So what is this law? And why is it there?
> 
> If they would explain what the point of it is, maybe it wouldn't come
across
> the way that I take it, how else am I supposed to take it, they require
> people to report you to the state, I have never heard of anything like
this.
> 
> I googled it, and all it pulled up is what is on the state website.
> 
> So if someone could explain this to me, I would appreciate it!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Tn-talk mailing list
> Tn-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tn-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Tn-talk:
>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/tn-talk_nfbnet.org/president%40nfb-tn.org

_______________________________________________
Tn-talk mailing list
Tn-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tn-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Tn-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/tn-talk_nfbnet.org/dwightej7%40comcast.net