Tom, and others.
Guys, pardon if it sounds like I am venting, but below is an example of my
horror story.

Well, you are hearing from at least one. I have been trying to become
gainfully employed over the last year (so far, with no success). I am forced
to live on a paltry $520.00 per month (my rent takes $400.00 of that
immediately). After I get done paying the phone and utilities, I am in the
hole by $100.00 (in other words, I ahve to juggle bills every month).

I feel like people in general are not willing to take me seriously. I get the
attitude that things should be done for me (I have no say in the process), and
that I should just sit back and be the "good little blind guy". I DON'T THINK
SO!

My file with vocational rehabilitation has a number of notes in it indicating
the following (from several caseworkers over the years);
1. individual is "out of touch with reality, and may require psychological
counselling"
2. individual is uncooperative
3. individual has a poor attitude
4. individual has poor social skills
5. individual has shown a lack of responsibility for his actions

And here's the kicker!;
6 individual is a whistleblower (yes, my file actually had this in it!).

The basic impression I get from the Voc. Rehab system here in Arizona is that
I should do what they feel is best for me, not what I am already qualified
for! It was also noted in my file that I refused to learn braille (funny
that!). At the time, I was in classes to learn braille at the Az.Inductries
for the blind! It was discovered that I suffer additional sensory difficulties
(dyslexia) and am unable to learn Braille (they did not mention this anywhere
in my file, but I have the written opinion of 3 medical specialists in my
possession which indicates otherwise!

Basically, the State Voc Rehab Administration has been trying to make me look
like a mallingering, goldbricking client who wants nothing more than to sit
back and collect welfare. I wish that were so, then I'd make up excuses all
day long. Fact is, I want to work, in my trained field of expertice (computer
information systems and accounting).

I am sure there are quite a few blind (and V.I.) folks who don't have access
to the world wide web (or computer technology for that matter) and are going
through very similar problems. On top of everything else, they may have had
their rights violated in similar manners and don't even realize it.  This
along with the attitude from Voc rehab that one must first have a job before
being issued assistive devices (what a crock! most places will not hire unless
you already have equipment AND training in hand) make life extremely difficult
for us all.


Sure, some have had better luck than others, or have bowed to pressure to take
whatever is presented (though not necessarily what the person is skilled
for).  Frankly, the system is going to need a lot of changes. Until we, as a
community, are taken seriously, the above will be more commonplace than not.

Hawke

Tom Fowle wrote:

> I believe lots of blind and otherwise disabled folks in this country
> are in the same boat, but we just don't hear about em cause they'r ehidden
> away on reduced welfare in back rooms.
> Tom
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> To join or leave the list, send a message to
> [log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
> "subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
>  VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html