[nfbmi-talk] Fw: MPAS Releases Voting report

[joe harcz Comcast]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: "TOM MASSEAU" <TMASSEA at mpas.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: MPAS Releases Voting report


> Dear Mr. Masseau,
>
> How many polling sites are even in compliance with the basic "program 
> access" requirements of the ADA, title II in Michigan including those in 
> Flint and in other entities of Geneses County> How many as documented not 
> only have access to the "automark" but other access to information related 
> to the election process including sample ballots, forms related to 
> becoming say a blind polling place worker (volunteer or otherwise), etc., 
> etc.?
>
> This is all something I warned MPAS about and goes to program access 
> issues documented to this very day that if it didn't sue institutions 
> systemically then basic ADA/504 violations would continue ad infinitum.
>
> Again that which is self evident need not be explained. On the issue of 
> the requirements of ADAAG sections 4.30.1, 4, 5, and 6 (requirements for 
> raised character and Braille signage alone) most entities including those 
> in the state of Michigan as documented in multiple studies exist to this 
> very day. And these are program access issues sir! (Re: Title II program 
> access.)
>
> Goes to polling places to be sure and moreover how many of this states 
> polling places, most often title II entities even meet the accessible 
> parking requirements of the ADA let alone the inimical standards of your 
> HAVA surveys.
>
> In other words how many barriers identified have been removed and how many 
> exist to this very day?
>
> If I see another checklist where barriers are identified and not removed 
> so many years after fundamental requirements I swear I'll puke sir.
>
> And I'm not sanguine about anything as MRS and MCB haven't met program 
> access requirements as documented and they are supposedly VR entities with 
> a higher standard required under Title I of the Rehab Act as wwell as 
> title V (504). and of course the often abused Title II of the Americans 
> with Disabilities Act of 1990.
>
> I defy you for example to put your behind in a wheelchair and to try to 
> get access to say the Ottawa Building, parking and ramp. Or I defy you or 
> Mr. Cerano or anyone else to try to get accessible information in a timely 
> manner from the Michigan Commission for the Blind...Or to get that from 
> any local entity of government related to the election process for that 
> matter.
>
> I'm sick to death of form over substance. I'm sick to death of seeing 
> brothers and sisters who have physical and sensory disabilities abused in 
> such ways over decades and I'm sick to death of the goal posts for 
> compliance being moved about for generations.
>
> It is again, time for compliance and for performance.
>
> time for surveys and rubber stamps and shams of compliance while the 
> obvious conditions exist to this very day again almost twenty one years 
> after the passage of the ADA alone are inexcusable.
>
> Oh and yes, before I fail to denote something let me object to the cc here 
> of Mr. Patrick D. Cannon on this issue who is the biggest perpetrator and 
> biggest "uncle om" sell out of all PWD including us who are blind.
>
> I'm going to request one thing in that regards, or maybe a couple...I'm 
> going to request that Mr. Cannon be set loose in a variety of state and 
> local government buildings without any sighted guide and I'm going to ask 
> for him to find this or that room including a room for voting.
>
> Let him do it!
>
> Oh and I wish for LARA to video record this hilarious even and to post it 
> to U-tube and with closed or open captions and with description and 
> without a surcharge to those of us with physical or sensory disabilities 
> too.
>
> For that matter, Tom I'd like to see how you manage the electoral process 
> both the physical environment and the communications environment with a 
> blind fold?
>
> sincerely,
>
> Paul Joseph harcz, Jr.
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "TOM MASSEAU" <TMASSEA at mpas.org>
> To: "Joe Harcz" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 3:27 PM
> Subject: Fwd: MPAS Releases Voting report
>
>
>> Joe:
>>
>> Attached is an email that I sent out earlier today, but had your wrong
>> email address.
>>
>> Sorry.
>>
>> Tom Masseau
>> Director of Government & Media Relations
>> Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc.
>> Lansing MI  48911-4263
>> 517.487.1755
>> 800.288.5923
>> 517.487.0827 - fax
>>
>> Facebook:  Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service
>>
>> THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL
>> INFORMATION INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE RECIPIENT NAMED ABOVE.  IF
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>> (1-800-288-5923) OR E-MAIL.       THANK YOU.
>>
>