Dan.Kysor@f998.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (06/25/91)
Index Number: 16434
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
well i really think here in california, rehab is totally useless.
i think if you had private rehab agencies bidding to serve the
blind client, said client would have more control over their
situation. state rehab, in my opinion, is the middle man and what
does the smart mbusisness person do, remove the middle. b e p
funds could be managed by the vendors comitee. funds for students
could be distributed to the colleges. funds for students equipment
could be handeled by private rehab. orthapedic equipment and the
like could be handeled by private rehab agencies or independent
living programs. in times of budget defficites, why do we need to
subsidize state workers? let's get rid of the middle man! dan,
out of sight, out of my mind!
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!998!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f998.n203.z1.fidonet.orgMargo.Downey@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Margo Downey) (06/25/91)
Index Number: 16441
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi again! There has been, off and on, a move to get a voucher program
instituted whereby one could choose where to go for services. Believe this
program would be done in such a way that SSI trust funds would be reimbursed
or whatever to the service providers. I think if we could choose where to go
to get services/training, agencies and individuals would be more accountable
and would maybe have to work harder to upgrade services and training. What do
you all think?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!382!60!Margo.Downey
Internet: Margo.Downey@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.orgDiana.Dawne@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Diana Dawne) (06/28/91)
Index Number: 16534
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
>well i really think here in california, rehab is totally useless. i
Dan, part of what you are saying is right. Part of it isn't. Let me
explain by telling another story.
Once upon a time ... when I was young, I went to college. My family had
money, and I was sent to an exclusive university. I did very well. I
got a B. A. and two M.S. degrees and I lack about a year of one P.H.D.
and maybe a year and a half of another. The future seemed bright. I
had some good job offers when I graduated. Everything was just great
until my cancer problem went completely out of control. For a year or
so, I ran up the most amazing medical bills. To be very honest, the
doctor said I was going to die anyway, and it would be a blessing to all
if ithappened sooner. However, quite obviously, I didn't die. However,
by the time I did recover, with the aid of physical therapy, speech
therapy, and a bunch of other stuff, my familyfelt they just didn't have
the money to spend to help me finish my education so I did what I
thought you should do when you had that kind of a problem I went to
Rehab.
Granted, I made a couple errors. I thought that since I had come so
far, he department would need to know why I was unable to finish so I
took my medical records. In these documents was a letter by my
physician stating he doubted I could live for more than two years.
Rehab refused to even let me open a case.
I was quite upset, so I went all the way to the director. It is a
wonder I didn't die from his letter. It said that because of the bad
prognosis, rehab would not help me. He really made me feel very sad by
going on to say that to help a person such as me would be very lacking
in responsibility because if tax payers helped me, and then I up and
die, I have wasted the department's money.
You have no idea what a state I was in. I had to be the most angery,
hurt, unhappy person there was. If anyone pointed out to me that I was
at least alive, there would come this stream of unpleasantness about
what point was there to it all.
In time, I got tired of feeling sorry for myself, because to tell you
the truth, I was being cut out of life and I couldn't stand that. No
one would hire me, so I got interested in community projects as a
volunteerOne of the places I worked for had an advocacy department and I
got to be good driends with the girl who ran it. She helped all kinds
of people-- people having problems with Medi-Care and Medi-Cal, Social
Security appeal problems-- anybody in trouble called her. When she
left, I was offered her job with the understandingI got a paralegal
certification. I did this and for quite a while I have done very well.
I have only lost one case with an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) and I
have done all kinds of other things. It has really been fun, but I
wonder if I would have done it, if Rehab had helped me. The fact they
turned me down made me search for another way, and I think I developed a
lot of character because of it. Today, I think rehab is a little more in
favor of the real underdog, and it is possible it wouldn't now happen
but who knows. Maybe it would.
Some time ago however, I stopped taking Rehab cases. here's why. There
are a great number of people out there who really have taken rehab for a
ride. example I know a young man who was able to get a Toshiba 1200
with speech card ETC. This guy takes the bus to school and other than
the bus, always has axcess to electricity. However, he talked an
organization into giving him the computer which I am not all that sure
he needs anyway. He talked Rehab into buying an additional power
supply, an external batterycharger, an adapter so he can run the
computer off the cigarette lighter of his car, (this is a blind guy who
takes the bus) and I believe fouror five extra sets of batteries plus
software which he has traded back for other things that he wants. Can
you sort of appreciate why there is a problem?
Another difficulty Counselors have is the approach clients make. It is
"You folks owe me this." More often then not, the things that are asked
for are so ungrounded in reality as to be laughable. The problem is
then, that when someonecomes in with a realistic program and reasonable
needs, the Counselor has built up such a thick shell they just don't
hear.
I think it was Susan Goldfield who said something like if people would
only take what they need, the government would be better off. I know
that is the way it is with Rehab, too. I know there are people who have
not been helped and they really deserved the chance and there can be no
excusing that. All I want to say is Rehab does have a side. Not all
Rehab people are the bad guys. They have helped a few people
* EZ 1.30 *
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!432!Diana.Dawne
Internet: Diana.Dawne@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.orgJeff.Dubois@p666.f207.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Jeff Dubois) (06/28/91)
Index Number: 16554
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
You're right in that not all rehab is not the bad "guy". Beth is gonna
be all over me for that cliche but you said it and I refuse to quote
messages. I've been blind two years and have been through three rehab
counsellors. It's sometimes pathetic in that you *see* things that an
agency will purchase because an individual can make a proposal. In this
region, the rehab person is responsible for not only blinkers, but a
wide variety of abled persons. Does the word problem come immediately
to mind? I will soon, two more years, for masters study be trying to
get assistance in purchasing a scanner. When I submit a request, I'll
get a phone call asking what a scanner is. The counsellor will assume
that a scanner is a radio device to intercept police and taxi
transmissions. I'm not saying I could do a better job, but someone else
could, and that person deserves the salary associated with the position.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!207.666!Jeff.Dubois
Internet: Jeff.Dubois@p666.f207.n163.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Tanner@f210.n273.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner) (06/28/91)
Index Number: 16562
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I won't try to quote your long message, but only respond to your
saying that you no longer take rehab cases to advocate for because some
people are ripping off rehab. Well, if that is really your attitude than
you are no better than the worst rehab counselor.
If I had a counselor tell me I could not get any service from them
because some guy several years ago ripped them off or lied to them then I
would do everything I could to get that person fired from their job. A
person with attitude has no business working in an agency which is suppose
to serve the needs of all blind clients whether they are ripping off the
agency or not is not for you to determine. If they have a good case and
you could help them and you don't then I say shame on you and I hope you
lose your job and someone gets it that is willing to do the job they are
being payed to do.
D. T.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!273!210!David.Tanner
Internet: David.Tanner@f210.n273.z1.fidonet.org