G'day Everyone.
First of all, I know I'm still in the whole Bailout madness stuff. But a lot of people will be tuned on Monday to the stock market and we'll see how the reaction goes. Just by the close of the day on Friday, it started falling. Thankfully, it closed. But that's just the *pause* in this financial mess.
Then, out of the blue, I get notified of a newspaper article that a state government was raiding a deaf relay fund. I was like: "WHAT THE HEY?" and I ran to the article. Have a look:
http://m.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/NEWS/810050343/1001&template=wapart
When you read it carefully, your jaw will drop like mine did. So how did this happen.? I quote from the article: "State Sen. Sandy Jerstad said she learned about the transfers after the Legislature voted on them. She said the transfers were buried in the appropriations bill, and most lawmakers probably knew nothing about them.". Which means, your very average elected officials are not reading those bills very carefully when they vote on them. By the time someone tells them: "Sir or madam, did you just know you just voted to transfer some money from.." and then they look and they're flustered.
It's all very legal. But will a state Gov't like South Dakota put it back into the deaf relay fund? Prolly not during this economic crisis that is hitting our nation.
Another person said it was necessary to do it. The reason? I quote: "Sen. Jerry Apa, a Lead Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee, said the fund accumulated an "excessive amount" of money.". In other words.. if it's not being used, the "poor state" can use it.
Well, there's a clear reason why this happens. While our deaf culture is starting to chuck the old TTYS left and right, it's starting to leaving the state relay services out in the cold while we go to video relay services.
That is , we're going to video relay services like Sorenson, Hamilton, and many other video relay service providers in various states. They're mostly free too. But we're using them not just for relay calls, but we're also using them to socially chat with each other too.
Isn't it time for State Vocational Services to start talking to State Relay Services that NOW it is imperative to UPGRADE their equipment and start providing Video Relay Services? After all, we're paying for in our land line phone lines and Cell phones. What happens to the point in life when we don't depend on the State Relay Services and we're so dependent on Video Relay Services by the other providers? Who gets the benefit of THAT money?
Hey come on! You know what it's time for us to do? Stand up. Take notice. We, the Deaf Community, MUST GET INVOLVED WITH OUR STATE RELAY SERVICES. Heck, WE MUST GET INVOLVED WITH OUR STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES AS WELL. Just don't be an advocate for ourselves, be an advocate for ALL DISABLED people. Even some disabled people depend on relay services as well!
This is important for all of us. And if your state is considering making "Funding" raids in other areas of the state government functions that serves disabled people, I say now is the time to get involved. We need to tell the State Government and assisting the State Vocational Rehabilitation and telling State lawmakers : "temping as it sounds to do in taking funds from one designated area to replenish other funds, they should consider replenishing those funds back to the designated area at a promised time".
The Economic Bail Bill will be hitting all of us. Even as you heard California's situation which is really bad a well. I know this is not going to be easy for all of us. Time to stand up. Get involved with our State. We need to be a concerned deaf community in ALL of our states of this nation.
It's time to Work Together with our State.
Semper FI.
4 comments:
This is outrageous. Not only will future relay expenses not be covered, this sets up a precedent that the funds can be raided again and again. The intended purpose of this tax becomes an emergency slush fund.
This tax could be used to expand relay services to include special needs such as children, aphasic, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing; to relieve the lower income Deaf of the high cable fees that are necessary for relay services, and to improve the portability of the relaly equipment so that all deaf people have the same ability to be reached as people with their cell phones.
Yes, we need to get involved. But we need to KNOW. Do we have state watchdog committees that focus on deaf issues? Are they doing their job of informing us?
Deaf Sherlock,
Many thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. I truly appreciate it very much.
My one question for you -
Is the Argulus.com an independent reporting website or affilated with any news reporting enterprise in any way?
Who is Jonathan Argulus? Is Jonathan deaf himself or what?
If not, we should appreciate his viligant news reportings to keep tabs on anyone hearing in authority what they are doing to our deaf community.
Thanks again, Steve!
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Raid the Relay Service money for other needs during the economy problem is sad. Like you said, if people aren't using it, why bother putting money there. Still no matter what their reason is, it is clearly an ADA violation for equal access for any deaf people who don't have Video relay and still needs relay service for any needs incliding emergency. It is tough time, I think the State should contact the deaf people and have them contact a video company to install the Video like Sorenson and so on. That way the deaf will have a way to communicate when needed.
RLM,
you got wrong url address.
it is argusleader.com and it is a leading newspaper in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Back to the issue,
Better still tell the state to restore the funds because the 911 centers will need the $$ for Videophone services plus training costs comes Dec 31.
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