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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: MCBVI blog. Another point is that MCB under
PA 260 is not "advisory", but rather a policy making board with quasi-judicial
powers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyone who advocates for a simple seat at the table
of an advisory board with no teeth and who thinks that state and federal laws
and intent are still maintained is delusional.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MCBVI Position statement regarding executive order
2012-2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Governor Snyder's executive order 2012—2 signed on
February 24, 2012 has been put on hold for necessary changes. MCBVI is working
in cooperation with officials<BR>to ensure that quality services for blind and
visually impaired citizens remain available. Here is the position statement
released by our board of directors<BR>in response to the original executive
order:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>POSITION STATEMENT REGARDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.
2012-2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Contact: Joe Sibley, president</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>616-724-1650</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:Joe.sibley@comcast.net">Joe.sibley@comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>March 11, 2012</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are the Michigan Council of the Blind and
Visually Impaired (MCBVI), the Michigan affiliate of the American Council of the
Blind (ACB). After careful<BR>review we wish to make the following statements in
response to Governor Rick Snyder's executive order No. 2012-2 which was issued
on Friday, February 24,<BR>2012.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While historically it has been demonstrated that
vision rehabilitation programs are most successful when operated as stand-alone
agencies separate from<BR>the general rehabilitation agency, we recognize that
there are times when adjustments have to be made to the structure to make the
department more efficient.<BR>This is acceptable provided that there is no
violation of any state and federal laws, PA 260 and the Randolph Shepard Act,
and there is no reduction in<BR>the scope and quality of services.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michigan Rehabilitation Services is transferred to
the Department of Human Services (DHS) with its mission essentially intact. On
the other hand, the blindness<BR>agency is not well defined in terms of roles,
functions, and accountability. This could mean that services for blind people
will be absorbed into either<BR>the general rehabilitation agency or somewhere
else in DHS. We are concerned that services to people who are blind will be
adversely affected. The two<BR>agencies differ significantly in the scope of
support and sponsorship offered to clients. It has been proven that the training
needs of people who are<BR>blind are unique. In order to achieve success, people
who are blind require intensive support during rehabilitation that general
rehabilitation counselors<BR>are not trained to provide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While it appears to make sense to move the Business
Enterprise Program (BEP) to the Department of Technology Management and Budget
(DTMB), the order does<BR>not clarify who will be the licensing agency as
directed by the Randolph Shepard Act. It also must be clarified just how the
Business Enterprise Program<BR>will coordinate efforts with the agency serving
the blind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The executive order does not clarify the rights and
responsibilities of the five- member Advisory Board as it does the Michigan
Rehabilitation Council.<BR>This Advisory Board must have MCBVI membership
representation, and have a direct impact on the quality of services to blind and
visually impaired consumers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As Governor Snyder has always promoted open
accountability and results oriented execution of programs, we trust that this
will continue in reporting the<BR>successes and shortfalls of this new
restructured vision rehabilitation program, and any problems in the quality
execution of these programs will be corrected.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While we are disappointed that we did not have any
warning or involvement in the design of this reorganization, we do maintain that
a successful program<BR>must include direct involvement by consumers who are
living daily with the challenges that the new vision rehabilitation program must
help citizens to<BR>overcome.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In summary, while we have many serious concerns as
expressed above about executive order 2012-2, MCBVI stands ready to collaborate
to insure that people<BR>who are blind continue to receive quality services. We
are taking Governor Snyder at his word and trust that quality services will
continue, and trust<BR>that he will be accountable for the results of this
reorganization.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MCBVI Executive Committee<BR>Joe Sibley,
President<BR>John Jarzyna, First Vice President<BR>Pamela Berryman, Second Vice
President<BR>Deb Wild, Secretary<BR>Charis Austin, Treasurer<BR>Michael Geno,
Immediate Past President<BR>Mary Sibley, Assistant Secretary<BR>Wayne Lepiors,
Assistant Treasurer<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MCBVI Position statement regarding executive order
2012-2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Governor Snyder's executive order 2012—2 signed on
February 24, 2012 has been put on hold for necessary changes. MCBVI is working
in cooperation with officials<BR>to ensure that quality services for blind and
visually impaired citizens remain available. Here is the position statement
released by our board of directors<BR>in response to the original executive
order:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>POSITION STATEMENT REGARDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.
2012-2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Contact: Joe Sibley, president</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>616-724-1650</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:Joe.sibley@comcast.net">Joe.sibley@comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>March 11, 2012</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are the Michigan Council of the Blind and
Visually Impaired (MCBVI), the Michigan affiliate of the American Council of the
Blind (ACB). After careful<BR>review we wish to make the following statements in
response to Governor Rick Snyder's executive order No. 2012-2 which was issued
on Friday, February 24,<BR>2012.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While historically it has been demonstrated that
vision rehabilitation programs are most successful when operated as stand-alone
agencies separate from<BR>the general rehabilitation agency, we recognize that
there are times when adjustments have to be made to the structure to make the
department more efficient.<BR>This is acceptable provided that there is no
violation of any state and federal laws, PA 260 and the Randolph Shepard Act,
and there is no reduction in<BR>the scope and quality of services.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michigan Rehabilitation Services is transferred to
the Department of Human Services (DHS) with its mission essentially intact. On
the other hand, the blindness<BR>agency is not well defined in terms of roles,
functions, and accountability. This could mean that services for blind people
will be absorbed into either<BR>the general rehabilitation agency or somewhere
else in DHS. We are concerned that services to people who are blind will be
adversely affected. The two<BR>agencies differ significantly in the scope of
support and sponsorship offered to clients. It has been proven that the training
needs of people who are<BR>blind are unique. In order to achieve success, people
who are blind require intensive support during rehabilitation that general
rehabilitation counselors<BR>are not trained to provide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While it appears to make sense to move the Business
Enterprise Program (BEP) to the Department of Technology Management and Budget
(DTMB), the order does<BR>not clarify who will be the licensing agency as
directed by the Randolph Shepard Act. It also must be clarified just how the
Business Enterprise Program<BR>will coordinate efforts with the agency serving
the blind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The executive order does not clarify the rights and
responsibilities of the five- member Advisory Board as it does the Michigan
Rehabilitation Council.<BR>This Advisory Board must have MCBVI membership
representation, and have a direct impact on the quality of services to blind and
visually impaired consumers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As Governor Snyder has always promoted open
accountability and results oriented execution of programs, we trust that this
will continue in reporting the<BR>successes and shortfalls of this new
restructured vision rehabilitation program, and any problems in the quality
execution of these programs will be corrected.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While we are disappointed that we did not have any
warning or involvement in the design of this reorganization, we do maintain that
a successful program<BR>must include direct involvement by consumers who are
living daily with the challenges that the new vision rehabilitation program must
help citizens to<BR>overcome.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In summary, while we have many serious concerns as
expressed above about executive order 2012-2, MCBVI stands ready to collaborate
to insure that people<BR>who are blind continue to receive quality services. We
are taking Governor Snyder at his word and trust that quality services will
continue, and trust<BR>that he will be accountable for the results of this
reorganization.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MCBVI Executive Committee<BR>Joe Sibley,
President<BR>John Jarzyna, First Vice President<BR>Pamela Berryman, Second Vice
President<BR>Deb Wild, Secretary<BR>Charis Austin, Treasurer<BR>Michael Geno,
Immediate Past President<BR>Mary Sibley, Assistant Secretary<BR>Wayne Lepiors,
Assistant Treasurer<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>