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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Governor rescinds order that
would abolish Commission for the Blind</P>
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"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Published: Monday, April 23,
2012, 5:15 PM<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Updated: Monday, April 23, 2012, 6:50 PM</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sue Thoms | sthoms1@mlive.com</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">By</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Gov. Snyder.jpgAP PhotoGov. Rick
Snyder said he is still working on a reorganization plan for state services to
the blind.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Gov. Rick Snyder today rescinded
an executive order that would have</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>abolished the Commission for the
Blind.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">He is working with advocacy
groups on a new plan to reorganize state services for the blind and visually
impaired, officials said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The order, which was set to take
effect Tuesday, drew protests and rallies from advocates for the blind when it
was issued two months ago</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“I think it was the power of our
advocacy that made him change his mind,” said Elizabeth Kazmierski, a
16-year-old from East Grand Rapids. “I like how advocacy</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">can really make a
difference.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Elizabeth, went to Lansing with
her mother, Marianne Dunn; her twin brother, Michael, and representatives of
Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairment</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">and the National Federation of
the Blind of Michigan. Michael and Elizabeth, who are blind, advocated for the
job training and independent living services</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">provided by the commission.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The executive order would have
replaced the Commission for the Blind with an advisory board while transferring
its duties from the Department of Licensing</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">and Regulatory Affairs to the
Department of Human Services.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“We now have more time to work
collaboratively with advocates and our federal counterparts to ensure that
Michigan’s system is effective, efficient and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">accountable,” Snyder said in a
statement. “We are committed to meeting the needs of Michigan residents with
disabilities. I want to thank those who have</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">been willing to work in
partnership to improve Michigan’s program structure.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Under the new plan, the
commission will be part of the Department of Human Services, but will remain an
autonomous body and four of the seven members will</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">be blind, advocates said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The commission will report to the
governor and will have investigative powers, said Richard Bernstein, a blind
Detroit-area attorney who advocates for the</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">disabled.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“If you don’t have the oversight
of the commission and the advocacy component, those services (to the blind) will
disappear,” Bernstein said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Research has shown that when
services to the blind are merged with general rehabilitation services, fewer
blind people are employed and there is no cost</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">savings, Dunn said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“The needs of the blind community
are so unique,” she said. “A lot of people are well-meaning and want to do the
best they can in offering services to the</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">blind and, because they are
sighted and not trained specifically in the needs of blind individuals, they
often make decisions that are detrimental.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Dunn and Bernstein said they were
impressed by the willingness of state officials to work with advocacy
groups.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“We’re thankful they opened up
their office and spoke with us,” Dunn said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“They were genuinely committed to
find a way to make the situation better,” Bernstein said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The lawyer, who was considering a
lawsuit against the state, added the governor’s action “avoids four years of
federal litigation.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Email Sue Thoms at</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">sthoms1@mlive.com</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">and follow her on Twitter at</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">twitter.com/suethoms</P>
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style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>