NFB Says Governor Sacrifices The Blind For Short Term Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Art Stevenson, President
National Federation of the Blind of Oregon
Tel: 503-585-4318
Email: president@nfb-oregon.org

Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term
Politics

May 16, 2009

Salem, Oregon – In a swift, one-two-three punch,
Governor Ted Kulongoski proposes to eliminate
services and support to Oregon’s blind whether
they're born blind, become blind, or lose their
vision late in life.

The first punch was delivered by House Bill
2834, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Gelser (D-Corvallis),
with support of the Governor. The bill would close
and sell off the Oregon School for the Blind to
private land developers. Their argument is that
the school’s services should be provided by
local Educational Service Districts.

The second punch came when the Oregon Senate
Education Committee reorganized the Educational
Service Districts, reducing the number from 22
to 13. These agencies employ itinerant teachers
whose case loads are already so large that they
spend nearly as much time driving between schools
as they do teaching students.

The final blow was delivered Friday, May 15th,
when Governor Kulongoski proposed total
abolition of the Oregon Commission for the Blind,
which currently provides job training and
rehabilitation to blind adults and seniors. In
his attempt to cover up his own lack of
oversight of administrative misjudgments by his
appointees who run the Commission, the Governor
sacrifices the quality of life and future
potential of the blind of Oregon.

Without a competitive education and training in
the skills of blindness, Oregon's blind face the
kind of life they lived in the 19th century. "It's
like they want us out there with tin cups and
pencils, begging for money," said Art Stevenson,
president of the Oregon Federation.

Oregon’s blind face an approximate 70% unemployment
rate. Under the current plan to reduce services and
education, that number is likely to increase. The
result will be greater dependence on welfare and
social security by people who want nothing more
than a chance to work and live a normal life.