[nfbmi-talk] 2012

[Terry Eagle]

Hi Lydia,

Thank you for your dedicated work on the MCB Board, united with John and
Larry.  I am convinced some others in positions of power and authority just
could not accept and cope with the voice of the community of the blind
having been represented by such a strong group of advocates as you, John,
and Larry, for the rights, values and principles that we as Federationist
live our lives out in word and action.

I am so excited and pleased by your work in the youth transition to
adulthood field.  In my interview for the bureau director position, I
emphasized a dire need for greater resources being focused on youth and
young adult services, partnerships and linkage with Education, ISDs, and
parent from a young age.  I personally observed the valuable benefits of the
former Youth Low Vision program the MCB once had and run by Mike Ellis.  It,
in my opinion, in addition to glasses and the such, took the pulse of the
whereabouts and ongoing challenges and needs of blind and deaf-blind youth
in the public school district system, and positively contributed to shaping
and advancing transition services.  There is a wide gap that needs filling
between the age of youth entering school and the age of transition services.


Keep up the Excellent effort and dedication for the best interest of our
youth in particular, and all blind of Michigan.

Best regards,

Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lydia
Schuck
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 9:31 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] 2012

Hello Federation Friends,

This note is to thank many of you for the support and encouragement that
you gave to me and to Larry Posont and John Scott as we served on the
Michigan Commission for the Blind Board.  It was a challenging time, but
I learned so much about our community and about the world of rehab
services.  I am now back to my studies of the way that youth with
disabilities transition to satisfying adult lives.  By God's grace, I am
working at Western in Kalamazoo with a federally funded technical
assistance project that supports state departments of education as they
comply with federal special ed law for services to transitioning youth. 
As a researcher, I am amazed at how much more we need to have the
contributions of family and of disability communities as youth transition
to adulthood.  I am glad to be there, too, as a member of the blindness
community, since we are a small group in the special ed world.  You all
are great friends and I hope to make a difference for blind youth where I
am now, too!  

My daughter, Anna, is 20 now, and some of you are very important in her
life.  I thank you for that, too.  I hope to see you all soon.  Thanks
again for encouraging the 3 of us on the board the last year and a half. 
Lydia

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