[Trainer-talk] response to Fred Chang's inquiry

[Andrews, David B (DEED)]

Here in Minnesota we also have a pool of drivers that blind staff use.  One is part time, and others are intermittent, which means they are called when needed, and paid for those hours, no benefits etc. 

Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Coffman via Trainer-talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 7:13 AM
To: Annemarie; List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] response to Fred Chang's inquiry

The Nebraska commission for the blind also pays for drivers.that has not always been the case. Some states still don't. Unfortunately, it does still have to be negotiated.

Nancy Coffman
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 12, 2015, at 8:15 PM, Annemarie via Trainer-talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Regarding your question about transportation for BVI employees who need to visit clients.....I  worked for DeWitt & Associates and for the NJ Commission for the Blind and both believed thatuch transportation I part of the cost of providing accomodations for qualified blind staff members who do not drive.  The late John DeWitt, blind himself, held the stance thatblind professionals spent their time better actually doing the job than trying to connect on public transportation and wasting tremendous amounts of precious time.  Each of th e  blind staff had a  driver who was paid hourly as well as for mileage.
> 
> The state agency also maintains a pool of paid drivers to accommodate travel needs of blind staff.
> 
> Travel for blind staff needs to be built into the cost of   doing business.
> 
> Hope this helps!
> 
> 
> Annemarie Cooke
> North Brunswick, NJ