WHEREAS: The Michigan Commission for the Blind has undertaken to formulate an updated policy on services to college students, and;
Whereas: The draft forwarded from the College Policy Committee was anti, blind, Anti-consumer, mean-spirited and paternalistic, and;
WHEREAS: To their credit, The Commission Board rejected the draft policy and undertook to redraft a improved proposed policy, and;
WHEREAS: The new committee is seeking input, ;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled, this 8th day of November,2009 in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, that this organization provides input and calls upon the Commission Board to assure that the policy that is adopted minimally include the following attributes:
In the Preamble, or some other suitable place, clearly state that the Commission’s goal is to assist blind clients to reach their “maximum” level of independence and self determination as called for in Michigan Public Act 260 of 1978 Sec. 4.(1).
Generally, all time limits should be replaced with language indicating the such arrangements be decided in consultation between the client and their counselor, including students who change majors.
All policies are to apply uniformly to undergrads and graduate students. Grad students need no separate policy. Services are to be negotiated with the counselor.
Any changes in program and policy agreed to between the college and the student are to be accepted by the Commission.
The Commission may pay for all tests such as GRE’s, LSAT’s, MCAT’s, etc.
The policy will allow for payment of application fees for application to colleges.
The policy must, minimally, allow for covering costs of out of state programs at full rate if the program is not offered in Michigan and at Michigan rates where similar programs are offered in-state.
Study-abroad programs are to be covered where they are a sanctioned part of an approved degree or certificate.
That the best technology available be provided. It is not acceptable to provide the bare minimum and hope the student can be successful.
The Commission must hold all students harmless in cases where the college is not complying with the MOU regarding the college’s
responsibility for reasonable accommodations.
WHEREAS: Blind people experience an estimated 70% unemployment rate, and;
WHEREAS: Work experience significantly increases any person’s ability to be hired, and;
WHEREAS The Michigan Commission for the Blind has received Federal Stimulus Funds to improve employment for persons with disabilities, and;
WHEREAS: The Michigan Commission for the Blind has worked to create up to 40 internship positions within state government for blind people, and;
WHEREAS: Such use of stimulus funds is a creative and bold action on the part of the Michigan commission for the blind which will create opportunities and at a minimum, provide valuable work experience for blind people
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled, this 8th day of November2009 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that this organization commend the Michigan Commission for the blind for using available funds to create opportunities that will significantly improve job prospects for blind people.
WHEREAS: Michigan State Promulgated rules and Michigan Public Act 260 clearly require that all catering on state property be provided by the Michigan Commission for the Blind Business Enterprise Program Operators, and;
WHEREAS: many state agencies and individuals flagrantly violate the spirit and letter of this law with impunity, including theOffice of Retirerment Services and the State Justice Department, , and;
WHEREAS: Operators who work to enforce the rules and law are ignored and are not supported by strong and affirmative action on the part of the Commission which is charged with “regulating food services on state property”, according to Public Act 260, and;
WHEREAS, such lack of support has resulted in the wrongful and unlawful removal of Hazell Brooks by THE DIRECT ACTION OF THE MCB Director, causing her to lose her income, seniority for bidding, and her job; and to experience indignities not appropriate to her actions, and;
WHEREAS: if the Commission had appropriately intervened in the conflict between the operator and the employees and agencies conducting illegal catering and other sales on state property, Hazell would still have her job, her income and be more self-reliant in conformance to Public Act 260 of 1978, and;
WHEREAS: Employees of the State Justice Department have prevented an operator from freely taking responsibility for her legitimately awarded vending facility in the Hall of Justice building and allowing a sighted person to continue to operate the facility for the foreseeable future, a situation which is an abomination to the future of the Business Enterprise Program in Michigan, all with the perceived willing cooperation of the Commission administration, again, in contradiction of rules and the law,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled this 8th day of November, 2009in Grand Rapids, Michigan: that
this organization call upon the Michigan Commission for the Blind Board to immediately reverse the immoral, illegal and undeserved removal of Hazell Brooks from her vending facility, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon the Commission Board to launch an immediate investigation into this matter and take necessary action to see to it that the Laws and rules pertaining to catering and foodservices on state property be strictly and fairly enforced.
WHEREAS: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is closing down certain rest areas including the Howell Westbound rest Area, and;
WHEREAS: Closing Rest Areas significantly and precipitously reduces the income of any operator who experiences such a closure, and;
WHEREAS: Commission Policy calls for the goal of at least $150,000 in sales for a Highway Vending facility, and;
WHEREAS: Such a closure is taking place while the Commission allows some facilities to be improved in terms of sales while allowing another to decrease, and;
WHEREAS: The Commission staff recommended a fair and reasonable solution that would not have hurt any facility while protecting the income of an operator who is experiencing losses of income due to the closing of a rest area by the MDOT AND THEN REVERSED ITSELF IN APPARENT VIOLATION OF POLICY,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled this 8th day of November, 2009 in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, that this organization call upon the Elected Operators Committee and the Michigan Commission for the Blind to reconfigure its highway vending assignments to mitigate or eliminate any losses incurred by operators due to MDOT closures of Rest Areas and restore them to their former sales and not make adverse changes until the facilities earn sales in conformance with Commission Policy.
WHEREAS: This organization has and continues to call on the Michigan Commission for the Blind to hire qualified blind persons and qualified sighted persons with formal training or experience in blindness rehabilitation, and;
WHEREAS: The Michigan Commission for the Blind recently hired Jim Unger, a counselor/teacher with strong credentials, including blindness training and experience to serve blind clients in the Upper Peninsula and;
WHEREAS, The Michigan Commission for the Blind recently hired Dan Furton, a counselor with strong credentials and excellent skills of blindness to serve blind clients in the Central Region;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDby the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled on this 8th day of November, 2009,in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
that this organization commend the Michigan Commission for the Blind for hiring qualified persons trained in blindness skills, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization call on the Commission Board to set policies that the Michigan Commission for the Blind hire people with strong skills and develop staff training programs to enable all staff to have such highly developed skills and a positive philosophy of blindness.
Whereas: the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund, a program that has produced Braille material for blind people throughout the world for nearly 50 years; and
Whereas: this program also provides a variety of financial assistance to individuals and organizations that promote Braille literacy and the use of Braille; and
Whereas: the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan has a vital interest in promoting Braille Literacy throughout Michigan; and
Whereas: the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund has demonstrated its commitment to Braille by donating $1809 in recognition of Louis Braille's birth as the grand prize at the 2009 national convention of the National Federation of the Blind held in Detroit Michigan and by supporting our organization's Braille Literacy campaign and the sale of the Louis Braille commemorative coin;
Therefore, be it resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan in convention assembled on the seventh day of November 2009 in the city of Grand Rapids Michigan that this organization commends the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund for its commitment to Braille Literacy and its ongoing dedication to enhancing the lives of blind people everywhere.