Comments for National Federation of the Blind of Michigan http://nfbmi.org Changing what it means to be blind in Michigan Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:40:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Calls for Reversal ?of Executive Order on Commission for the Blind by Herbb Grassow http://nfbmi.org/archives/196#comment-522 Herbb Grassow Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:40:18 +0000 http://nfbmi.org/?p=196#comment-522 This order is rediculis. Like the article says, it under minds the reason for the commission for the blind, which is to REHABILITATE the blind, so that we can be trained to reenter the work force. This in turn would be a positive thing to the economy of the state of Michigan. We blind and visually impaired citizens of Michigan DO NOT want a hand out from the state we want to work and contribute to the states economy, NOT to be part of it's problem. This order is rediculis. Like the article says, it under minds the reason for the commission for the blind, which is to REHABILITATE the blind, so that we can be trained to reenter the work force. This in turn would be a positive thing to the economy of the state of Michigan.
We blind and visually impaired citizens of Michigan DO NOT want a hand out from the state we want to work and contribute to the states economy, NOT to be part of it’s problem.

]]> Comment on National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Calls for Reversal ?of Executive Order on Commission for the Blind by Michael Kitchens http://nfbmi.org/archives/196#comment-415 Michael Kitchens Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:54:50 +0000 http://nfbmi.org/?p=196#comment-415 Hello, I'm Michael Kitchens. I am a member of the NFB at-large, a member of the NFB-VA state affiliate, and the secretary of the Tidewater Chapter which is located in Norfolk, VA (I reside in Portsmouth). We are facing a similar situation in Virginia, where the legislature is considering consolidating the Department for the Blind and Vision-Impaired (DBVI) into the agency for other disability services. By and large, the blind and vision impaired of VA are opposed to this consolidation. Therefore, as a fellow member of the NFB, I support the blind of Michigan in opposing the dissolution of the Michigan Commission of the Blind. In my opinion, it is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We as blind and vision-impaired people have unique needs and my concern is that we would fall through the cracks with consolidated agencies. I'm all for spending money wisely and running government agencies efficiently, but I also believe it is possible and practical to keep a separate agency/commission for the blind and vision-impaired. And so I stand with you all. Sincerely, Michael D. Kitchens, II National Federation of the Blind of Virginia Secretary, Tidewater Chapter Portsmouth, VA Hello, I’m Michael Kitchens. I am a member of the NFB at-large, a member of the NFB-VA state affiliate, and the secretary of the Tidewater Chapter which is located in Norfolk, VA (I reside in Portsmouth).

We are facing a similar situation in Virginia, where the legislature is considering consolidating the Department for the Blind and Vision-Impaired (DBVI) into the agency for other disability services. By and large, the blind and vision impaired of VA are opposed to this consolidation. Therefore, as a fellow member of the NFB, I support the blind of Michigan in opposing the dissolution of the Michigan Commission of the Blind. In my opinion, it is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

We as blind and vision-impaired people have unique needs and my concern is that we would fall through the cracks with consolidated agencies. I’m all for spending money wisely and running government agencies efficiently, but I also believe it is possible and practical to keep a separate agency/commission for the blind and vision-impaired.

And so I stand with you all.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Kitchens, II
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
Secretary, Tidewater Chapter
Portsmouth, VA

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