Category: Let's talk
Hello all.
The following is taken from an e-mail that I received from the Disabled Student Services office of Middle Tennessee State University:
ARE YOU A VR CLIENT?
ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT
EFFECTIVE FALL 2009
YOU MAY BE LOSING YOUR TUITION ASSISTANCE
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has proposed a policy change that would require you to pay for a portion of your tuition if your FAFSA form shows an “Expected Family Contribution”
What this means – you may be required to pay for your own tuition, although VR may continue to assist with the cost of books, transportation and certain other expenses related to your IPE.
What you can do about it – contact your VR Counselor for more information, contact your local state legislator, contact the Client Assistance Program at the number below, and attend a public hearing scheduled for Spring/Summer 2009
WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
How will this change affect you?
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Or to schedule a Focus Group on your campus, please call:
Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee
Client Assistance Program
1-800-342-1660
I've been in contact with a Tennessee NFB member, and she told me the first thing that needs to be done is to find out whether this is happening all across the country and if this proposal originates from Voc Rehab, the governor, or someone else.
So that's why I came here. I need to find out if anyone from a state other than Tennessee has heard of a similar proposal. Also, I tried to find information about this on the web but could find nothing. So if anyone has any thoughts on a possible origin for this proposal, I would appreciate that as well.
Thanks,
Becky
Um ... i don't think anything like that is happening here in Wisconsin, but I'll copy and paste this and bring it along to a an appointment with my vocational rehabilitation counsilor later on this month and ask.
I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sorry to say this, but I've had nothing but trouble with the MI VocRehab. To put it bluntly, but without cursing them out, THEY SUCK!!
I wish there was another way for people to get help besides going to them. They don't even cover transportation here, at all, ever!
Ok, done ranting. Sorry. Lol. I just hate them.
how are blind people meant to get anywhere if they have no rehab training or help with transport?
That's a darned good question! I wish voc rehab would answer.
Here in Ohio it has been all over the news lately that the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission is suffering heavy budget cuts. Unfortunately, this is probably the case all over the country. I don't think funding for education specifically is being targeted, at least not in Ohio, it's widespread cuts. So fewer disabled people will be getting fewer services of any type. But go ahead Mr. President, bail out the auto dealers and crooked CEO's of big companies, but cut funding for the disabled.
Ya the michigan commission really does suck quite badly. They're cutting everything here. I don't know I haven't heard what voc rehab is cutting, but I also have a voc rehab councelar who doesn't send out updates only will tell you after you ask for something and call him 10 times first. haha. At least he sometimes returns phone calls though which is better than I can say for say the NMichigan commission. No I'm not bitter about them not at all.
Lol. I'm more then bitter, I WANT REVENGE!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol.
Well, this pretty much confirms what a friend of mine from Massachusetts told me yesterday after I posted this. Funds are being cut there too, so it looks like similar situations are occurring all across the country. I wonder, though, if it's more of an issue in states that have crappy Rehab services. Tennessee certainly does, and it looks like Michigan and Massachusetts do too. I've also heard nothing but ill about Colorado's Rehab services. But I wonder about places like Iowa... and there was one other place I heard about with excellent Rehab. Hopefully Sister Dawn will see this topic; I think she could shed some light on this.
Becky
Ohio used to have good rehab. At least here in Columbus, but I've heard other cities were not as good. But now even Columbus sucks. But it's not the fault of the counselors. I mean sure, there are some who care more than others and who will bend over backwards to help clients, but once money starts getting severely cut, there's not much they can do when they have huge caseloads and no money.
Well, yeah, to be fair, there are some parts of Tennessee that have slightly better Rehab services than others.
As soon as we figure out the exact circumstances surrounding all this, we'll be able to decide what to do next. As badly as I hate to say it, if there's just no money, we can't make them pay. But in that case, we'll have to insist that they continue to help their clients by assisting them in finding scholarships and other alternative funding. That is their job, after all. It's just a question of getting some of them off their asses to do it.
And lol, I was actually just in Columbus a couple weeks ago for an anime convention.
No need to be fair. Lol. They aren't fair to us.
I did run into a few nice people at the actual center down there, but most everyone else sucks. You have to be on your knees begging before they'll even dane to throw you a bone. Talk about losing dignity.
I feel like my Father did as a Migrant farm worker. But that's another story. . .
Yes, on the whole, the system is crap and needs a makeover.