On 2/13/21, Carl Jarvis <carjar82@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Miriam,
I was well along in my reply to you when my message disappeared.
But I'll try one more time.
My age(85)was the deciding factor in my receiving the vaccine.
Cathy, at 69 was okay for driving me to both shots, and running into
stores with only a cheap mask on for protection. But she's on the
second list, the one that ran out of vaccine. So we continue to avoid
our family, our children, our grand children and our great grand
children. And we continue to hold our breath and hope all our loved
ones manage to avoid the virus. My sister(84)survived, and so did her
eldest son. But the doctor says that the pneumonia that he is now
fighting, was the result of COVID-19 infection. One of our older
couples in our Jefferson County Council of the Blind contracted COVID,
and both survived. But Bob tells me that his wife has shown dramatic
decline in memory loss, and he has breathing issues and also memory
loss that he did not have before. But they are counted as "cured".
But while I hold Donald Trump to blame for the poor response to the
Pandemic, the fact is that we have allowed a political/social system
to develop that favors the very wealthy, and makes its bottom line one
of profit. If profit is always the bottom line, then the American
People will be sacrificed. I believe that Donald Trump knows this,
since it has been his life. But he chose to lie to America, claiming
to be able to make changes that he had no intention nor ability to
carry out. I would at least hold Donald Trump responsible for a huge
portion of the nearly half million COVID deaths.
No, we did not bring about the Pandemic. But our attitude toward it
has been the cause of death and destruction of human lives.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/12/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
So how is it that you got the vaccine? Was it your age, or your
connections?
I know that we can blame Trump for a lot of this, but I have a suspicion
that he's being made to take the blame for a system which would have
failed,
regardless. Our government doesn't keep supplies on hand for a pandemic
like
it does for military excursions, no protective equipment or masks because
no
one makes a profit. That has nothing to do with Trump. I remember Debbie,
who always belives the hype, saying that of course there's no way it
would
have been possible for them to have been prepared. And then there's the
unwillingness to shut things down and to provide financial assistance to
people who can't pay rent or who have lost their incomes. No Democrat
would
have done that either except, perhaps, Bernie Sanders if there had been a
willing congress, which there wouldn't have been. In order not to look at
the reality of what Capitalism has become and of how the wealthy have
benefited from the pandemic and of all of the causes of the world's
difficulties, that British document which Frank made accessible for me,
made
ten points, and all of them basically say that China is to blame for the
pandemic and that China lied about the efficacy of its treatment, and
that
lockdowns are just a Chinese plot to ruin western economies, and that
everyone in the West who has reported positively about what China did or
about the success of keeping people at home or of wearing masks, is
actdually being paid in some way by China to misrepresent what is
happening.
Biden makes speeches about the terrible things that Trump did and he is
misrepresenting what his plans are. Yes, he sounds better. But he is
giving
minimal help to people. We hear about all the vaccine that he's making
available, but for most of us, it's a vague promise for the future.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2021 10:15 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: IL services through NY commission for the
blind
Miriam,
I have no helpful words.
But speaking of the vaccine, Cathy still has not been notified. She has
submitted a request with our Jefferson County Medical, and was assured
she
would be contacted with a date for the first shot. That was over ten
days
ago. She let them know that she is 69, and a cancer survivor, having
undergone major radiation treatment, and that she is the sole supporter
and
provider for an 85 year old totally blind husband.
We have heard nothing. Not because people don't care, but because we had
an
administration that only saw his own personal needs.
But the point is, we are only a bit more safe. If Cathy were to contact
the
virus, we could not survive in this remote home, even though it would be
the
best place to be.
In all our preparation for our old age, we did not even think of a
possible
pandemic. What other exciting events await us?
Carl Jarvis
On 2/11/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm jealous. No one is offering vaccinations to me. When I asked the
doctor who visits me at home, she said she hadn't received her
allotment of vaccine yet. And then she began telling me about how I
have natural immunity and probably wouldn't contract the disease. That
says something about the quality of physicians these days, or the
quality of care provided to homebound people. The only reason I
continue to use her is that she writes up new prescriptions when I
need them and I don't have to go through the very difficult process of
being transported to a doctor's office in order to be elligible to
receive this valuable service of getting new prescriptions written.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2021 12:06 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: IL services through NY commission for
the blind
It's another example of the deception of lies that our government uses
to cover the fact that we are serving Profit, not People.
Carl Jarvis, heading off to receive my second vaccine.
On 2/10/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The fact is, that it's all a pretense. That's true of services for
all disadvantaged groups in our society. Services exist on paper, in
the law, but they don't really exist. At one point, Debbie called up
Services for the Aged in our county or town because she felt that at
some point in the near future, I'd need them. She put me on a waiting
list and gave them my name and number. A woman called to tell me
about what services would be available when it was my turn on the
waiting list. I asked questions about the home health care and
discovered that all the service is, is a referral to these same
disgusting incompetent home health agencies which I'd have to pay for
unless I didn't have enough money in which case, I'd get community
Medicaid. We've had a few snowstorms here recently. I receive
automated phone calls about the closing of town services. One of the
services that shuts down during a snow storm is home delivered meals
for the elderly.
Another is meals for the elderly, available for pickup. So if an old
person lives alone and is unable to prepare his or her own meals and
there's a snowstorm, then, I guess, he or she is out of luck. If
that person depends on a home health aide, there's also a problem
because the aide won't be able to get to the person's home in a snow
storm.
That's why people end up in nursing homes, most of which are poorly
run and don't take adequate care of their patients here in New York
State. They are for profit institutions with a strong lobby so they
are poorly regulated.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 10:26 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: IL services through NY commission for
the blind
Frank,
Serving the older blind and non vocational blind has never been
pushed by state agencies. When I was working at the Department, we
operated on 80% Federal Money. The only funding for ILOB was grant
money, and not much of that.
At the time, I was young and interested in improving services to Voc
Rehab clients. When some funding did come along, it usually did not
cover FTE's, so agencies let out contracts to local private agencies.
There was little oversight. In my opinion, given the current COVID
Pandemic and the slukmping economy, we need to mount an offensive in
order to protect the little that we now have.
The five large counties that Cathy and I served are now being served
by 1 rehab teacher. He has a total of 8 counties. If his contract
is similar to the one we had, he cannot turn down any request for
survices without a complete assessment and a written justification
detailing the reason for withholding services. He has no travel
funding, no liability insurance, although he must carry it, no
retirement or sick leave or vacation coverage, There's much more, but
you get the picture.
We did manage to create some support in our service area. We set up
groups, several of which joined with the ACB or the NFB, and helped
bring pressure on the Department. Special interest groups do have
the ability to do local fund raising, and do outreach. But I am sure
that one rehab teacher serving
8 counties is not going to have the luxury of the time it takes to
establish such groups.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/9/21, sFrank Ventura <frank.ventura@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl, although NY does have IL and OIB services, sadly they areFrank,
sub-contracted so oversight is minimal.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 9:59 AM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] IL services through NY commission for the
blind
Miriam, have you checked out the IL services through the NY
Commission for the Blind?
Look closely at the Independent Living section. This service is
intended to assist people to live independently, and can provide
quite a range of services...if pushed.
Carl
New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB)
(Program)
Administers programs and services to enhance employability, maximize
independence, and assist in the development of the capacities and
strengths of people who are legally blind. Programs include:
Equipment Loan Fund, which allows individuals to borrow up to $4,000
to purchase adaptive equipment.
Children's services for children who are legally blind, including
early intervention rehabilitation, working with and empowering
parents, arranging services to supplement educational activities,
and ensuring a smooth transition to adult services.
Vocational rehabilitation programs for adults and youth ages 14
through 21 years, which provide a number of services, including
assessment, information and referral, casework services, job
coaching, orientation and mobility training, independent living
skills training, and assistive technology assistance.
Independent living services for individuals who are not eligible for
vocational rehabilitation services and who are not receiving
services through another NYSCB Program. These services are provided
based on individual need and may include orientation and mobility
services, rehabilitation teaching, low vision services and devices,
social casework, and adaptive equipment.
Eligibility: No restrictions
Application Process: Call or go online for information and services
Required Documentation: Varies; call for required documentation
Fees: None
Serving the older blind and non vocational blind has never been
pushed by state agencies. When I was working at the Department, we
operated on 80% Federal Money. The only funding for ILOB was grant
money, and not much of that.
At the time, I was young and interested in improving services to Voc
Rehab clients. When some funding did come along, it usually did not
cover FTE's, so agencies let out contracts to local private agencies.
There was little oversight. In my opinion, given the current COVID
Pandemic and the slukmping economy, we need to mount an offensive in
order to protect the little that we now have.
Carl Jarvis
