----- Original Message -----
From: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
To: joe harcz Comcast
Cc: Zimmer, Mike (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; bsabour@xxxxxxxx ;
sara@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Kisiel, Lisa (LARA) ; White, Elizabeth (LARA) ; Luzenski,
Sue (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA)
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 9:04 AM
Subject: RE: bsbp and flint water crisis
Good morning Mr. Harcz,
Please be advised that staff from BSBP have been involved in the effort to
inform Flint residents of the information necessary to help in the Flint water
crises. The regional manager for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, which is
responsible for the Flint area, has been working diligently to contact current
blind clients to ensure they have received any available information. In
addition, members of the BSBP staff have been involved in the ongoing effort
which has gone door to door in the Flint area to inform citizens of the
information being disseminated by newspapers, television stations and radio.
BSBP has an annual grant that has been given to the National Federation of the
Blind to make newspapers accessible to Michigan's blind citizens through
Newsline.
Any specific questions you may have I can refer to the Vocational
Rehabilitation staff that has been involved in this effort.
Edward F. Rodgers II J.D.
Director
Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 7:55 AM
To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
Cc: Mike Pemble BSBP Dep. Dir.; Zimmer, Mike (LARA); Larry Posont NFBMI Pres.;
Mary Ann Robinson NFB MI; Georgia Kitchen FANFB; David Robinson NFB MI; terry
Eagle; Mark Eagle; Sarah Gravetti MISILC DNM; Marlene Malloy MCRS Dir.; Rodney
Craig MISILC; Christyne.Cavataio@xxxxxx; BRIAN SABOURIN; Elmer Cerano MPAS
Subject: bsbp and flint water crisis
February 8 2016 to Rodgers Flint Water Crisis Accommodations for Blind
Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.
Mt. Morris, MI 48458
joeharcz@xxxxxxxxxxx
810-516-5262
Re: What Are You Doing?
To: Ed Rodgers, Director
Mich. Bureau Services for Blind Persons
(Via e-mail)
Dear Mr. Rodgers,
As the Director of the lead agency for blind people in the State of Michigan I
have some questions related to BSBP's efforts to assist people who are blind in
Flint and indeed Genesee County.
For example, your agency has data and discrete information about blind citizens
of this count. So has BSBP acted affirmatively to send out any information in
accessible formats to even one person who is blind about resources, etc.?
Has BSBP done anything about ensuring ththat other agencies including DHHS
makes all of its information fully accessible to blind citizens including where
to get lead testing kits and how to make those materials concerning how to use
them accessible? Or has it done anything about making videos related to this
fully accessible? Has BSBP sent out any of its Vision Rehab Therapists to homes
to show people the alternate techniques of acquiring and installing filters,
lead testing, and even just how to get water?
Has BSBP done one thing to assist blind residents about anything including in
its own Flint Office building where now Lt. Gov. Calley is working?
Also, what proactive role has BSBP ever engaged in related to emergency
preparedness and people who are blind? Please give me even one example.
In that regards would you please remit to me any and all correspondences
between you, anyone within BSBP and anyone in state government concerning BSBP
and its efforts related to the Flint Water Crisis.
Oh, yes and please send those to me in a fully accessible format and without
delay or surcharge. You know the requirements under Section 504 and the ADA and
you know my most accessible format.
By the way I'm a blind resident of this county and deal in Flint all the time
and I live just three miles from the Flint City limits. I've received nothing.
Sincerely,
Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.
Cc: NFB MI
Cc: Mike Zimmer, LARA
Cc: RSA
Cc: MCRS
Cc: MPAS
Cc: MSILC
Cc: several
