Category: Let's talk
I recently met with a voc rehab person to discuss what services are available. I attend an online university, and they told me they don't support those due to blind people wanting to sit in their houses and not do anything. Have any of you guys experienced this?
I have, but I was given the statement, that if the college isn't physically in the state and that I couldn't actually go for classes if needed. Then there would be no way they could help. So I found a online school that had a campus near me, and they had no problems helping me pay for things.
Ya know what? Voc Rehab gave both of you a bunch of bullshit. They'll never tell you this, but the distance of a university's got fuck all to do with it; what matters to their cheap asses is how much money they've got to cough up. I'm currently in a battle for funding for the Colorado Center for the Blind, which Memphis Rehab hasn't funded in 10 years. The woman who's taken over for my regular counselor during her maternity leave told me that funding for the CCB usually doesn't get approved because we have rehab centers here in the state. That's bullshit. It doesn't get approved because of how much it costs. Sallright, though, because they've got a fight on their hands this time.
By law, Rehab can't deny funding, nor can they force you into going to a rehab center of their choice. The client has the right to make an informed choice. And I'd be willing to bet that the same deal applies to university. Starfish, that bit about them not wanting to fund the online university because they don't want blind people sitting at home is crap. Don't let them feed you that. I'm not sure what state you live in (I know Rehab is better in some states than it is in others), but I'd be fighting them tooth and nail on this. It might help to get some of your state NFB reps involved. And I'd also find that part of the Rehab Act that prohibits them from being cheap. If I find it before you do, I'll get it to you.
Namaste,
Becky
Oh well, I'm not signed up for rehab anymore. They all suck!
I don't know about other states' vocational rehab services, but I can honestly say that my experience with them here in Tennessee, has been terrible. The last counselor I had just never really seemed to help me. The one thing that I did get from them, though, was the help paying for my massage therapy school. Of course they didn't help me get things that I would need, such as JAWS, a computer, a program such as Kurzweil or OpenBook, but they did pay for the school itself, and I am grateful for that. They told me that they would help me get those other things, but it never happened.
Anyway, I cannot do massage therap as a career right now, due to some dermatitis issues, so it's on hold for now. So, I was thinking of getting an associate's degree in medical transcription, but it seems that I'm getting nowhere with that. I was recently assigned a new counselor because my previous counselor retired. Well, about four weeks ago, I contacted the said counselor, and she sounded as if she had no clue what she's supposed to be doing. She told me that although she has worked in vocational rehabilitation before, she has never worked with the blind/vision impaired. That, for one thing, makes me uncomfortable with having her as my counselor. She seems like a very nice lady, and she has a likeable personality, but I just dont' feel comfortable with knowing that she has not worked with the blind before. When I told her my plans of possibly getting the associate's degree, she didn't really say much. She just sat there, as if she had no idea what she was to do. She told me that she was going to put it through to her supervisor, but I have still yet to hear from her. I have called over these past few weeks, but I always have to leave a message, and I do not get a phone call back.
Now, I have heard that there are some people who have had great luck with vocational rehab in other states. I wish that I could say that I have.
Yep, I'm in Tennessee as well, and my Rehab service has been crap. I've only heard of a few people within my friends from around the country being really satisfied with Rehab. But if you need something that they're legally obligated to give you, make them do their jobs. Fight like hell, and don't give in.
Namaste,
Becky
Not to minimize your situation in the least, but my rehab counselor will not support my career choice, and it's not even an on line university. Here's the ironic part of all this. I move to a town where I could receive the best blindness training this country has to offer. I did as such, and was fully supported, until, i expressed a passion for massage therapy. My counselor bluntly stated my skill level was to high, I was too bright, and he would not pay for the equipment I needed. So, I am forced to move and make a fresh start elsewhere as a result. Go figure. I don't mind though. I've found a true passion for my work, and will do what it takes to make it happen.
Teardrop, your counselor has absolutely no legal ground to stand on, refusing your career choice. That is clearly against the law. I'd be taking that up the chain, if I were you, if you dont' want to move.
And yes, Becky is right, the distance of a college as compared to rehab doesn't matter. Iowa rehab paid for me to go to school in Illinois. Nebraska rehab paid for a friend of mine to go to school out of her state as well. Now, the agency can get away with only paying what a state school would cost, but they can't refuse assistance altogether.
It is beyond me why so many blind people just accept what their rehab counselor tells them as gospel. Most counselors don't know their head from their behind anyway. Rehab agencies will jerk you around until you know the laws, and fight for what is your right, and they are legally required to give you.
Okay, let me give you all my personal experience with these counselors.
Basically, they seem to not know there asses from a hole in the ground and that's a damn shame. they're nothing more than a bunch of frustrated social workers.
They claim to be on our side but it sure doesn't seem like it to me.
I've been in three different states and have or have tried to work with a few different voke rehab people. I will say that quite a few of them do not know their job very well how ever if you can bring up these things to them in a polight mannor with good reasoning in some cases they will work to help.
In New york state I'jve gotten most of my services and on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give them a fair enough 7.5 they came through most times when I needed them. Yes some prodding was needed, but it is part of state government, and if you don't know about working with the government... well you will if you keep trying. I have had issues I brought to higher offices but I find if I stay generally in contact with my voc rehab councelar that means emails and phone calls that what I need done will happen.
How I've never seen a voc rehab center as unresponsive as Michigan's. They bluntly told me that they did not want my case when i was there, and after being there for a year... They refused to return emails and phone calls even after speaking with supervizors... Florda on the other hand was more than willing to get right on the ball. I'm sure they work with quite a few disabled people in general though. I guess what I'm saying is it will depend on the state, the case load and who is there. You need to know your rights. This may mean asking some others in the blindness community, or asking a blindness agency or a school for the blind, hell even putting a board topic up here on the zone where you have people going in to this line of work you're likely to get answers. A friend of mine is going for a dubble dagree and one of them being rc, and I think and he can correct me if this is wrong that he would truely rezent putting under the heading of useless and with his head up his ass. Many of them are like this, but generalizations like my government one... can be bad and generally harmful of an outlook to take with you when asking for help.
social work is but a bandaid on the festering asshole of america. I once had a professor tell me this.
I know this was years ago for me, but the new york commission made me change my degree in order to get assistance for college. I always had trouble getting my bills paid from them. I was even turned down for mobility training here in michigan because I am employed by a place where blind people work. Know one should ever be turned down for that. In carolina, they couldn't wait to come and help me learn my complex and whatever else I needed.
Where can we find a list or some type of collection of our rights? I am having to make a career move and I might want to go back to college. they always say we as blind people don't try, but how can we, when everyone throws road blocks up, especially the ones that are suppose to assist us??
I cannot tell you how many times I have had people tell me that vocational rehab put down their choice of career. We have the right to do what we want, just like everyone else does. Who are they to tell us what we can and can't do? It's utterly ridiculous to me.
Another problem that I am facing with vocational rehab, and have been for almost four years now, is finding a job. They act as if there is nothing out there for me to do, and it really pisses me off. I do my part in searching for jobs, but it would be nice if they would get their asses in gear and help me out, like they're supposed to. I have been told so many times that a lady who helps with the job placement will be giving me a call, but as the same with my counselor, I have yet to hear from her, no matter how many times I call and ask about it.
I think you should report to the state, where possible send e-mails asking for call backs provve you made the calls. So many don't want to work, but the ones that do get nothing. I don't get it. I hate to think what face me, if I decide to take my life down a different road. Sometimes I wonder if its worth the fighting, the endless waiting.
Oh god tear drop that post made me laugh out loud!
rofl...that made my day.
Most states have Client Assistance Programs when rehab is not providing the services they should be. I've never had to use CAP before, but I certainly wouldn't be above it if need be.
Wow, "we won't pay for your college expenses because we don't approve of your career choice"? Who the fuck do they think they're kidding? Just saying "We're cheap" would be more honest and save them some breath.
It really is a hit-or-miss deal, though, as to whether you get good services, and that's not how it should be. Every Rehab office should do their fuckin' jobs the way they're supposed to.
Tell ya what, when I find the part of the Rehab Act that will help us, I'll just put a link for it out here, as there are multiple people who need it.
And again, if Rehab is giving you shit, fight them like hell. They're supposed to be there to do their jobs. I know it's exhausting and that it would be much easier to give in, but that's not the right thing to do. If the Rehab system is ever gonna change, it's gonna take work. It's gonna take us showing them that we will stand up for our rights and not let them push us around!
Namaste,
Becky
Your right on the mark Becky!!
All right, peeps. I think I've found what we need.
[http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:FdDNeFrQu6UJ:www.vopa.virginia.gov/Publications/Voc%2520Rehab%2520Publications/Informed%2520Choice%2520Text%252009-02.doc+Rehab+Act+informed+choice&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us]
Hope this helps all of us!
Namaste,
Becky
Hi. I've also had the experience with voc rehab not helping with an online university. There is a campus right down the street from me, but they also let you do classes online. I was hoping to do this because my daughter is 11 months old and I don't feel that she is safe in day care, especially since I would have to put her in free day care through state programs. Well I tried asking them, and they absolutely refused to help because it was a private university and they only said they help with public. So I finally had to withdraw from the online university because I didn't have any money to pay for it and go to the public community college. They do have some online classes, but not very many.
Hey again everyone.
I'm resurrecting this topic because I have something else that might help. A friend of mine e-mailed me all the informed choice info. So, if you want an alternative to the above link, hit me up with your e-mail address and I'll be happy to send it to you.
Namaste,
Becky