[nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program

Lauren Merryfield lauren1 at catliness.com
Tue Mar 3 05:11:46 UTC 2009


Hi,
It does seem odd that some of us didn't know about it.  Something that big 
could have been shared with us members.
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nightingale, Noel" <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program


>I disagree with that statement, Dean.  The only individuals who ever go out 
>of state for their blindness skills training only did so because they were 
>informed of that option or choice by individuals not employment by the 
>state vocational rehabilitation agency.  Despite the requirement to provide 
>informed choice, I have never known any client of the Washington Dept. of 
>Services for the Blind to have been informed about options for intensive 
>blindness skills training other than the OTC.
>
> I believe that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington should 
> advocate for the importance of a residential training center for the blind 
> here in the state of Washington for two reasons:  the first reason is that 
> many people have reasons why they will not leave the state for their 
> training, and I remain optimistic that the training center will someday 
> meet our expectations, and second that the actual provision of specialized 
> services is the primary justification for maintaining a separate agency 
> for the blind.
>
> Finally, I don't think that the debate around the closure of the OTC issue 
> should be used as an excuse for people who are not part of the organized 
> blind to take potshots at one organization or the other.
>
> Noel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Dean Martineau
> Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 1:28 PM
> To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
>
> My guess here is that the NFB won't view this development as too much of a 
> negative, because it means that they will be able to leverage more people 
> being sent to the Colorado Center because, after all, comparable services 
> aren't provided in Washington.
>
> Dean
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Nfbnorthwest at aol.com
> Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 12:17 PM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Possible Closure of the DSB OTC Residency Program
>
>
> Hello:
> Due  to the economy and State budget cuts DSB is considering closing the 
> OTC
>
> Residency program. Please read the info posted below. I was part of the 
> program  for a short time but I had to return for personal reasons 
> including health  concerns. I was considering returnin gto the program at 
> a later date, but being  separated from my Spouse Ron was very hard to 
> deal with and thus caused a great  deal of stress. However, the program 
> can help and should not be cut.
> I
> don't  know what our position in this matter is, but I am interested in 
> finding out. I  got the info from the WCBL list. I am very concerned about 
> how this is going to  impact services in the State and also how far the 
> budget cutting will go. What  other programs will be effected.
> I  have to admit during my short time in the program I never heard anyone 
> mention  stopping the program for the residents; the hours at the center 
> were changed but  nothing beyond that. However, I did sense a great deal 
> of tension and stress; I  had a feeling that something was going to 
> happen.
> The  program is a good one to have. We should not allow it to be lost. 
> Even in favor  of other programs in other states. I hope that everyone 
> will support the program  staying open. Also, I hope that everyone will 
> encourage DSB to cut carefully  when it comes to services.
> Lisa  A. Owen
> Secretary  Officer
> NFB  of WA Student Division
> 360-920-0405
> _nfbnorthwest at aol.com_ (mailto:nfbnorthwest at aol.com)
> PS:  Mike I would like to hear your views on this issue please and thanks.
>
>
> -----  Original Message -----
> From: "Denise Colley"  <dmc0124 at comcast.net>
> To: "wcb list" <wcb-l at wcbinfo.org>
> Cc:  "WCB Presidents List" <presidents at wcbinfo.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 01,  2009 6:15 PM
> Subject: [Wcb-l] proposed closure of the DSB OTC  apartments
>
>
> As your president I am posting the following information,  as we 
> understand
> it, so that all of you will know where WCB stands and the  actions we have
> taken.
>
> Last Wednesday representatives from both WCB  and NFBW had a conference 
> call
>
> with Department of Services for the Blind  Director, Lou Oma duirand, to
> talk
> about the Department, and how they were  being impacted budgetarily and
> programmatically with the current economic  climate in Washington State.
> These were conversations we had been having  with DSB since October.  Up
> until this most recent call, we had been  led to believe that, while 
> budget
> cuts were inevitable, DSB was going to be  able to withstand them with 
> some
> creative budgeting.
>
> The call began  with Lou Oma sharing that there were three goals driving 
> all
>
> of their budget  decisions, to include:
> 1)  making cuts that would have the least impact  possible on services to
> their customers;
> 2)  protecting as much of  their federal funding as they could and not
> jeopardizing it;
> 3)   preserving their ability to be a specialized agency offering
> specialized
>
> services and specialized expertise, regardless of the customer's age or
> circumstances.
>
> What she then shared is of great concern to the board  of WCB, and I'm 
> sure
> to all of you, the membership.  One of the  proposed budget cuts is to 
> close
>
> the residential program (apartments) of the  orientation and training
> center.
> The training program would remain in tact,  but, essentially would become 
> a
> day training program.  This would mean  that they would really only be 
> able
> to provide their in-depth skills of  blindness training to individuals
> living
> in King County and the surrounding  area.  They would no longer have the
> supervised training component that  took place in the apartments in the
> evening and on weekends.  When  asked how those customers living outside 
> the
>
> immediate area would receive  this same level of training, we were told 
> that
>
> this would free up resources  to expand rehab teaching and orientation and
> mobility instruction in these  residential areas.  Depending on the
> circumstances, they could send  customers out of state for more intensive
> training.  They are also  considering bringing itinerant intensive 
> trainign
> workshops into different  parts of the state.
>
> The WCB Board met that same evening to discuss the  situation and began
> formulating our position.  We were all in agreement  that full and 
> complete
> vocational rehabilitation cannot be done in the home  on a once a week or
> once a month basis, and that it is a twenty-four hour a  day process. 
> After
>
> much discussion I was asked to submit to Lou Oma  our position, and I'm
> pasting it here for your review.
>
> "The  Washington Council of the Blind is categorically opposed to cutting
> the
>
> residential function of the orientation and training program, and we 
> charge
>
> DSB with examining other programmatic/administrative functions that could 
> be
>
> cut."
>
> Please be assured that we will continue following this  situation 
> diligently
>
> and developing an action plan/strategy, and as it  unfolds, I pledge to 
> keep
>
> you all informed.
> Some of you may be asking  what you can do.  Here is my first appeal to 
> you.
>
> Next Saturday, March  7, the State Rehabilitation Council will be holding
> their quarterly meeting  in Seattle at the DSB office, beginning at 9am.
> Not
> only is there a  time on each agenda for public comment, but the meeting 
> is
> a
> public meeting  and all topics discussed are open for comments and 
> questions
>
> from the  audience.  We need to pack that room and make our concerns and
> position  clear.  We especially need members there who have attended the 
> OTC
>
> and  can talk about what the residential part of that training meant to 
> you.
>
> The  State Rehabilitation Council and DSB staff need to hear from all of 
> us.
>
> I  would be happy to try to answer any questions any of you might have. 
> You
>
> can contact me by phone at (360) 438-0072 or e-mail me at
> dmc0124 at comcast.net.
>
> Denise
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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