Michigan: Why No Jobs For the blind While Blindness Agency Illegally Hires Sighted Persons

- On Tuesday, May 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 P.m., The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan will picket the Governor's office and the House Office Building in downtown Lansing to protest the State's breach of a recent settlement agreement to comply with state law, to license and place a qualified blind independent business person to operate the cafeteria in  the state House of Representatives Anderson office Building, as required by state and federal law. Additionally, Federation members will be protesting the virtual elimination of training services for blind persons, in order to assist and prepare individuals for jobs in the Michigan workforce, as provided under the federal Rehabilitation Act, The Randolph-Sheppard Act and Michigan Public Act 260 of 1978.

"We want jobs, not welfare", repeated Larry Posont, President of the Michigan affiliate of the nation's oldest and largest advocacy organization of blind persons in Michigan.  

"The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BS FOR BP) has created a work to welfare pipeline in our state. I receive calls weekly asking for help from blind persons who are waiting for years, not months – years, for service which doesn't come. We expect more from this administration than to put more blind people on welfare, rather than provide training and placement for good jobs, as the law advocates."

About the National Federation of the Blind:

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.

SOURCE National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

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