Blind Coloradoan Blog
March 22, 2022
Writer,
Aggregator: Kevan Worley.
Contributors: Dan Burke & Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson
National Federation Of The Blind Of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham.
Email, jbbeecham@gmail.com
Here is what you need to know-
(From the Facebook page of the president of The National Federation of the blind, Mark Riccobono)
Proud to have the National Federation of the Blind leading US efforts to support the World Blind Union's Ukrainian Unity Fund and the "We're With U" benefit concert for Ukraine. Jump in and perform or offer a thoughtful word of encouragement and donate to the effort when the concert happens. #StrongerTogether #BlindWithU
This month is women's history month. The National Federation Of The Blind enjoys a rich history of women who have made such a difference in building the NFB and moving our civil rights mission forward. When we think of women activists from Colorado. We naturally think of Diane McGeorge. Diane McGeorge has been a part of our affiliate since its inception in the mid-’50s. She and a small band of activists founded our Colorado center for the blind some 35 years ago. She remains active today. She is a living example of the impact women have had on the organized blind movement. During this special month of recognition and celebration, we suggest listening to the 2018 banquet address from NFB President Mark Riccobono.
Monday, March 7 was the annual shark dissection at the Colorado Center
for the Blind, led by Arapahoe
Community College’s Biology Professor Terry
Harrison. Teachers and parents brought students from CSDB and around the Denver
Metro area, who combined with a number of Independence Training Program
students for a total of about 30 people dissecting sharks.
It was a reunion of sorts, as we took last year off because of COVID
concerns. And let’s face it, some things (okay, lots of things) don’t transfer
well to Zoom for blind people. Shark Dissecting is way up on
that list!
Thanks once again to Professor Harrison! It was a great learning experience!
Calling all legally blind students! Student Network 22 is an event you do not want to miss!
We will hold this high-energy hybrid info and networking gathering both in person at the Colorado Center For The Blind, and over Zoom. We will be counting on you students to find other students and urge them to join you at Student Network 22 on Saturday, March 26 from 1 pm-3 pm. Register now! Call 303-778-1130 X219 or email assistance@nfbco.org. We will be talking about scholarships for blind students. We will be able to assist students who may have questions about scholarship process. Student Network 22 will be only 5 days prior to our NFB National Scholarship deadline. Student Network 22 will take place only 20 days prior to our NFBCO state scholarship deadline.
If you know of Colorado College students, high school college-bound students, teachers, counselors, or parents who you think should know about student network 22 Please invite them. We will make this student-led event informative, motivating and fun.
Blind Parents do it again!
From the aggregator: Getting out this blog late means that after you read this article you will need to act immediately. Join our blind parents and support their great work.
Join the Blind Parents Division on Wednesday, March 23!!! Let’s talk about after-school activities. Do you have a toddler that’s going to tumbling class? How about a high schooler that has early morning practices, a full day of school, and then an afterschool activity!!! How do we tackle this challenge as blind parents? Join us for this open discussion around extracurricular activities for our kids at any age.
The Blind Parents Division is excited to announce that we will be holding a monthly open conversation on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Parents throughout the state will be facilitating open discussions about a variety of topics pertaining to us as blind parents. The blind parents are committed to providing an open, safe, and inclusive space for all of us to grow, learn, and share together. Whether you’re a parent or thinking about being a parent, whether you are a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, or a trusted family friend, if you have kids in your life or want kids in your life we hope that you join us.
Our open discussions will be on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7 PM until 8 PM. Our Blind Parents Division board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to listen in. We look forward to you joining us.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83076599743?pwd=cmp6SnMzem9tVkNXNkh1a1puZjUvdz09
Mother’s Day Craft Fair
From the aggregator:
We were excited to receive this announcement from Diane Taylor, community relations specialist, Colorado School For The Deaf And The Blind. Do we have crafters in the federation who might be interested in supporting our state residential school? It seems like eons ago. But it was only 3 years, back in the before times, when I attended their last craft fair. I remember finding this really neat ID holder. It had an extra little piece of plastic at the top to make it very easy to find your ID in the wallet among all of the other cards. It was only 50 cents. Below find the announcement and consider exhibiting.
Dance! Dance! Dance!
As part of our sweet of youth activities our FAST, Fun activities,
and Skills Training. Provides monthly opportunities for youth and families to have fun and gain insight around blindness. Many times blind youngsters are left out of the usual social activities. Such as dancing, traveling independently, playing games that are not easily accessible, and the like. FAST provides opportunities to fill gaps in learning social development. On Saturday, February 12 FAST families gathered at the Colorado Center for the Blind where, appropriate to Valentine’s Day, blind youth learned some great dance moves. Meanwhile, parents of blind children got some quick cane travel instruction.
Resolution and concerted action. Colorado Business Enterprise program in disarray
From the aggregator:
The Blind Coloradan Blog has been relatively silent regarding the Colorado Business Enterprise Program over the past year. We have heard from operators and staff about challenges that are seemingly crippling the program from meeting both its statutory and human mission. As members of our Federation my recall. At the 2019 in-person convention this affiliate unanimously passed a resolution expressing our concerns about the lack of transparency, lack of progress, and lack of active participation in the Business Enterprise Program. At that time no progress had been made to meet the expectations of the general assembly that passed a sweeping piece of legislation in 2016 that should have dramatically expanded the program. (Note, after the passage of HB 16-1048 the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation under the stewardship of the then director of CDLE Ellen Golombek and the director of DVR Steve Anton a group of blind operators, staff, and other stakeholders were convened to develop the procedures and marketing efforts to expand the program consistent with the legislative mandate. However, changes in management and staff at the agency left that initiative moribund.) (HB 16-1048 Expand Scope Business Enterprise Program.
Concerning modifications to the Business Enterprise Program to be administered by the Department Of Labor And Employment under its authority to administer Vocational Rehabilitation programs. Governor Signed 5/4/16 Sponsors: Reps Primavera and Lundberg)
Following our 2019 resolution our then-president, Scott LaBarre had at least 2 meetings with the director of the Colorado Department Of Labor and Employment, Joe Barela to express the concerns of our organization. Those meetings extensively focused on the manner in which the elected committee of blind operators was being excluded from having a significant role in the hiring of management and staff. Judging from the motion and resolution passed by the elected operator's committee on March 18 of this year little has changed in the program. (Note, Joe Barela remains the director of The Colorado Department Of Labor and Employment, CDLE)
Resolution and Motion
Elected Committee of Blind Operators
Adopted on March 18, 2022
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blindness and Low Vision Services Unit, Business Enterprise Program (BLVS-BEP), also known as the State Licensing Agency (SLA), is subject to the Randolph-Sheppard Act (Act), 20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq; and
WHEREAS, the Act mandates that the SLA actively participate with the elected committee of blind operators in all “major administrative decisions and policy and program development” of the Program, 20 U.S.C. § 107b-1(3); and
WHEREAS, currently, the position of Lead Business Consultant is vacant and needs to be filled carefully for the health of the Program; and
WHEREAS, next to the BEP Manager, the Lead Business Consultant is absolutely critical to the effective management of the Program, making the hiring of the Lead Business Consultant a “major administrative decision” for which the Act mandates that the SLA actively participate with the Elected Operators; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief, there may be an effort by the SLA to fill this position internally and not go through a full employment search where the Elected Committee and operators would have input on such an important hiring decision which would be a violation of the Act: NOW, therefore
Be It Resolved by the Elected Committee of Blind Operators of Colorado that we urge the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment through BLVS-BEP to engage a full employment search and process to identify and hire the next Lead Business Consultant; and
Be It Further Resolved that pursuant to the Randolph-Sheppard Act’s mandate of active participation, we insist that the Department through BLVS-BEP fully engage the Elected Committee in the process to search for and hire the next Lead Business Consultant in compliance with the Randolph-Sheppard Act.
(Note, full disclosure your aggregator has been somewhat reluctant to write about the Business Enterprise Program for fear of reprisal. I am a licensed operator doing business under the program. Moreover, it must be said that in large part the program has met its responsibility to continue to pursue the military dining contracts at The Air Force Academy and Schriever Air Force Base. There have been no overt threats against me or other operators for our advocacy.)
As we go to post Krista Hedlund, manager of Blindness and Low Vision Services, BLVS has responded to the operator's resolution above. Although she was not willing to clearly and forthrightly discuss the hiring of a new lead business consultant with the operators on Thursday, March 17 sighting what she said was the necessity for her to get clearance to do so from State Human Resources. This posture seemed odd to committee participants and other long-time observers of state government. It seemed to lend credence to the federation’s assertion of a complete lack of transparency and lack of an inclusive welcoming culture in the program. From the perspective of leading operators, the formalized mechanism for the hiring of a lead business consultant. With a short turnaround time, from within state government was only one part of a larger and more insidious threat to the program. The current agency has been extremely effective and parsimonious in the way they have chosen to provide a “by the book” management of the program. While blind operators are engaged in the serious hard work of managing their businesses, working long hours under difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic. It is the contention of many including former staff that, rather than seeking a culture of inclusion, uplift, and success. This agency seems committed to a paternalistic approach that condescends and denigrates the humanity, compacity and former successes operators have brought to this program for decades. Operators and staff have commented that, “the current regime at the agency has acted as though the program was invented when they came to town. The real-life experiences of operators and recently departed staff have been treated with disrespect boarding on disdain”. The dust-up between operators and BEP management, see resolution above, is just the latest in a long string of disagreements between operators and the current administration.
Without significate change in the management of The Business Enterprise program of Colorado, a dysfunctional culture and denial of opportunity will become normalized. The National Federation Of The Blind Of Colorado will not allow the behavior of the current management to continue this is who we are, this is why we have The National Federation Of The Blind.
(note given the state of conflict within the program we feel it is important to point out that the above article is a statement of fact, reporting, and opinion. In no way should it be considered menacing or threatening. There is no place in our society for disrespectful behavior in the workplace)
Perspective on guide dog interaction. By Gail Hamilton
From the aggregator:
Gail Hamilton is a member of the Colorado Association of Guide Dog Users. She is also a frequent blogger. Most of us in the community of blind people know what she is talking about. But, there may be those who read this blog who are hearing this for the first time or need to be reminded of important guide dog protocol. Here is what Gail has to say.
I’m calling my new Seeing Eye dog Jessica for the public. I don’t usually give out her real name because people talk to her. It’s come to me that everyone knows not to pet a Seeing Eye dog; however, people don’t know not to talk to a Seeing Eye dog.
This is because not only does petting distract the dog, talking, winking, looking, waving fingers, all distract as well.
Why do I or you care?
Because when you do just one of these things, it decreases the training. When you decrease the training just by one pet, or one “Hi” or one look, you undermine our success and safety on the street!
I’m pleading with you to not pet, or distract my or anyone’s Seeing Eye dog, it’s a matter of safety and, besides this, it’s a Class 3 misdemeanor.
My new cute 45-pound-yellow lab is depending on you.
I’m sure you can imagine how important it is to get her off on the right foot/paws.
That’s It for This Edition of the Blind Coloradan
Forward, Always Forward!
