FLORIDA REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND

PUBLIC FORUM
July 19, 2007

Hilton Garden Inn
3333 Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, FL  32312

Jesus Garcia, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM.

Council members present:   Jesus Garcia, Dawn Saunders, Terry King, Denise Marshall, Paul Kurtz, Marilyn Palmer, Ted Hull, Doug Hall, Mike Taylor, and Ann Robinson.

DBS staff: Phyllis Dill, Stephanie Wilson, Michael Elliott

Fourteen consumers attended the meeting.

Public Comments:

First consumer’s comments:

  1. Has had Multiple Sclerosis for 35 years.
  2. Contracted partial vision in both eyes resulting from a stroke 1 ½ years ago.
  3. Ana Saint-Fort with DBS was willing to do anything to help.
  4. She gives total praise to the local DBS office.
  5. DBS has been expedient in helping her out.
  6. DBS is now assisting with her education
  7. Has changed her major to be a VR Specialist with the Visually Impaired.
  8. DBS is the only agency that has assisted her.

RESPONSE

Jesus informed everyone of a meeting he attended lead by the Mississippi State University conducting a Client Satisfaction Survey where there was nothing but praise for DBS.

Stephanie Wilson thanked the consumer for taking the time to attend the forum and giving her praise and appreciation for the agency.

Second consumer’s comments:

  1. Been served by DBS since the age of 14.
  2. Was blessed with good Counselors.
  3. Also worked as a receptionist to learn job skills.
  4. Glad to see changes for the better.
  5. Impressed with the current staff.
  6. Calls to her Counselor are returned quickly.
  7. She feels the Good out weighs the Bad.
  8. DBS has helped with transportation in getting to and from classes.

RESPONSE

Jesus stated that the consumer has contributed a lot over the years to help make DBS a great agency and need to stay involved

Third consumer’s comments:

  1. Praises for Ana Saint-Fort and the local DBS office.
  2. Without DBS’ help could not have done what they did in assisting her niece.
  3. They lived in a rural area where public transportation and job availability was not available.
  4. After contacting the Client Advocate in the State Office wonderful things started happening.
  5. Moved her niece to Tallahassee where she now has a job and assistance with transportation.

Niece’s comments:

  1. Moved from Broward this past April.
  2. The DBS staff here is doing something.
  3. Has a job and DBS assist with transportation.

Mike asked the consumer’s if DBS helped address their transportation problems.

Consumer’s response:

  1. DBS refers client to FIRE and they assist with transportation
  2. DBS has assisted with transportation to and from classes as well as other places when needing transportation. e.g., public forum

Jesus stated that FCB, ACB, NFB and others are lobbying the state and federal government for a transportation system that will cover the whole state.  For those who can drive the interstate system is in place. 

Fourth consumer’s comments:

  1. DBS has done a great job in the four years she has been in the area.

Michael informed the Council that three DBS students have completed a year long project of identifying all the buildings and points of interest at FSU to assist blind students with Braille notebooks to get around campus.  DBS is planning to do the same at all the other universities throughout the state. 

Fifth consumer’s comments:

  1. Recently diagnosed with end state Glaucoma.
  2. Trying to come to grips and deal with.
  3. Would like assistance from DBS.

RESPONSE

Michael Elliott asked the consumer to get with him after the meeting and give him contact information and he would give it to other visually impaired individuals going through the same thing as well as the local DBS office.

Jesus urged the consumer to contact the local consumer organizations AFB and NFB.

Sixth consumer’s comments:

  1. DBS helped with education, equipment, transportation etc. but where is the help after DBS.
  2. How do I deal with the depression?

RESPONSE

Barbara Ross informed the consumers that FIRE has a number of support groups in the area and also counseling.  FIRE’s website is:  FIRESIGHT.ORG

Ann gave options available by contacting the DBS Ombudsmen or CAP to have an outside entity to look at situations involving services.

Ann informed consumer’s that for those with computers the DBS Counselor Manual was on its website and would be a good resource on finding out about eligibility, rights, services, etc.

Seventh consumer’s comment:

  1. How does a person recently diagnosed blind find out about DBS?

RESPONSE

Jesus stated that one of the biggest questions has been how to get doctors to inform people of DBS.

Michael stated there has been an increase in referrals from local doctors because the local district office visits the doctors and informs them of DBS and the services they provide in addition to medical.

Doug stated that all the TV ads in the world wouldn’t do any good if people didn’t pay attention.  He said that he’s discovered over the years that personal contact seems to be the best way to get out information.  He informed everyone that 6 months after the Library sent information packets to every ophthalmologist and optometrist in the state 90% had been thrown away.  It seemed that the doctors were interested in dealing with the disease and not the rehabilitation that followed it.  He believes that education plays a very important part.

Eighth consumer’s comment:

  1. How does someone get in the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind without a Counselor?

RESPONSE

Michael stated that a person does not have to be a client of DBS to attend FSDB.

Dawn informed her that by law the school districts are supposed to tell parents of children with visual disabilities about FSDB as a public school option.

Ninth consumer’s comments:

  1. Make sure DBS and Council meetings are posted on the website’s calendar.
  2. Has offered to volunteer but no one ever calls.

RESPONSE

Doug agreed to the importance of volunteering and stated that it was best way to get your foot in the door.

Other comments concerning the awareness of DBS:

  1. Service organizations and clubs should contact DBS about attending a meeting to give more information on what the agency has to offer.
  2. The working relationship between state agencies could be better.
  3. Referrals from other state agencies to DBS are not being given.
  4. DBS now has two public relations positions working out of the Daytona Beach office.
  5. Radio and TV public service ads are now in place.

Barbara Ross shared the following information from a poster in England.

“You have just spent longer looking at this poster than most employers ever spend with a blind person”

Stephanie announced that Commissioner Bloomberg would attend the Council’s business meeting the next morning to announce who would serve as the interim director for DBS.

When asked where DBS ranked nationally, Michael informed everyone that DBS was in the top three in most categories and ranked one and two in the career and salary categories.  He also mentioned that DBS was the only government agency to win the Sterling Award this year.

One consumer stated that “DBS is a partnership and the client has to do their part too”.

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 PM.