CHESTER, MONT., February 17, 1972. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, House Office Building, DEAR SIR: As the deaf citizen, I wish to ask your support and consideration on H.R. 8395. Thank you for your attention to this statement. GREGORY LAKEY. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., February 12, 1972. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: As Grandparent-Guardians of a dead child we ask your support of Bill H.R. 8395. Thank you. MR. AND MRS. LOUIS HUTCHINSON. EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, Greenville, N.C., February 14, 1972. Congressman JOHN BRADEMAS, DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I am writing you in support of Bill H.R. 8395 to amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. It is my feeling that the deaf and hard of hearing population of this country have been slighted in terms of monies to provide total rehabilitation. After reviewing this bill I feel that it possesses many of the needed entities to produce a comprehensive rehabilitation program for the deaf population. I hope you will take this into consideration when quoting hearings on the above mentioned bill. Thank you very much for your consideration. W. GARRETT HUME, D.ED., Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Select Education Subcommittee, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: Our organization has followed the progress of your Subcommittee's hearings on vocational rehabilitation legislation and wish to express our appreciation for the very careful attention this legislation has received. In contrast to your Subcommittee's activities, the continued inaction and lack of public accountability of the Office of Management and Budget is a source of growing concern. OMB's record suggests either a remarkable insensitvity to the needs of the disabled or a gross inability to accomplish its objectives responsibly. We strongly support the provisions of HR 8395 as the most comprehensive consideration presented of the vocational rehabilitation needs of all disabled persons. Of particular interest to our organization is the provision for advance funding, specific authorization amounts and the increase of the minimum allotment to $2 million. These are all particularly important provisions in relation to Delaware's attempts to provide the most efficient and responsible planning and administration of our vocational rehabilitation programs. Sincerely yours, J. F. JASTAK, Ph. D., President. CRYSTAL LAKE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, DEAR SIR: We of the Physically Handicapped class of Crystal Lake Community High School would like you to support House Bill HR 9847 which is pending in The House Education and Labor Committee chaired by Rep. Carl D. Perkins (Kentucky). Your support of this bill (HR 9847) reroute the funds of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to those who are in need of the funds especially the blind, deaf, etc. Thank you for your consideration of this letter. Congressman CARL PERKINS, TONY POTYEN. DONALD MILBRAT. DOUY FEMMEL. PHILIP POTYEN. ROBERT E. TRANSON. ILLINOIS COUNCIL OF C.O.P.H., Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: We urge you to support HR 9847, a bill to amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act in order to extend and improve rehabilitation services for severely handicapped individuals. We have been advised that some of the provisions of HR 9847 will be incorporated into HR 8395 and that HR 8395 will be the vehicle used to consider legislation on vocational rehabilitation. Illinois Council of Congress of Organizations of the Physically Handicapped along with the American Association of Workers for the Blind, the Joint Handicapped Council, The American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation of the Blind, the National Congress of Organizations of the Physically Handicapped and the National Federation of the Blind, endorsed HR 9847, the Brademas Bill. Our reason for endorsing HR 9847 was that it gave priority in vocational rehabilitation services to the severely physically and mentally handicapped over those who are "disadvantaged". The term "disadvantaged" has been broadened to the point where almost anyone can qualify. HR 8395 does not provide for this priority. HR 8395 broadens the definition of a handicapped individual to include “a behavioral disorder" (ex-convicts). It further expands the programs to serve groups of "handicapped" people with unusual difficulties such as alcoholics, drug addicts and others with personality disorders. We wish to point out that "behavioral disorders" have recourse to the Department of Corrections, those with personality disorders can call upon the Department of Mental Health, but the physically handicapped have access only to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Yet, when DVR had to practice selective curtailment, it was the severely physically handicapped who were curtailed. If you will note, the Brademas Bill-HR 9847-carries the endorsement of the people who are actually affected, the handicapped themselves, whereas HR 8395 is supported by the people who deal in services to the "handicapped". Under 8395 we cannot help but foresee another huge bureacracy emerging and large sums of money going in for studies, evaluations, statistics, but very few benefits trickling down to the people for whose welfare the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation was originally established--the physically handicapped. If we seem skeptical concerning the effectiveness of studies, analysis, commissions, etc., it is because it has been our experience that the only ones who usually benefit from them are the ones who are paid to conduct them. As an example the analysis and breakdown sheet of HR 8395 which gives a Section by Section explanation of that Bill, cites the tremendous impact the National Commission on Architectural Barriers has made in that field and indicates that the Commission on Transportation and Housing for the Handicapped will be modeled to a considerable extent after that Commission. If an impact has been made in the field of architectural barriers, it will certainly come as a great surprise to the handicapped who continue to encounter these barriers every day. We respectfully request that any amendment to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act include the establishment of priorities for the severely handicapped as opposed to those who are disadvantaged but not severely disabled. We ask that this letter be made an official part of the legislation pertaining to the Amendment of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. We would appreciate it if you would respond in writing to this letter. We will distribute your written response to our member organizations. DEAR SIR: As a deaf citizen I wish to ask your support and consideration on H.R. 8395. Thank you for you attention to this statement. Sincerely, CATHY MORGAN. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, Chairman, Select Subcommittee on Education, Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE BRADEMAS: While I was unable to attend your hearing in Washington on HR7949, a bill to amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act in order to assure rehabilitaion services to older blind persons. I would like to request that you record the Executive Office of Elder Affairs as being in complete and total support of this legislation. As you and your committee are aware, to be old can be a severe hardship if adequate services are not available to allow the individual to live independently. To be old and blind can be an even greater hardship if adequate social services and rehabilitative services are not available. Today in Massachusetts over 70% of the blind known to the State Commission for the Blind are elders. The major focus of this Office is toward keeping elders out of institutions and living independently for as long as possible. To this end, this Office is in the process of developing state-wide a network of non-profit private and municipal agencies to provide Home Care services for the elderly. To do this, we are utilizing federal funds provided under the Older Americans Act of 1965, as well as other federal, state and local funds. However, the need of the blind elderly can be only minimally met with the limited resources available presently. And indeed, before many of the blind elderly can utilize the existing Home Care services, rehabilitative services are required. It is our hope and intent to eventually build these rehabilitative services into all Home Care Programs in the state. To make this plan a reality, however, will require substantial amounts of federal and state money. The passage and funding of HR7949 would be a significant step toward this goal. I, therefore, strongly urge that you support enactment of this bill. Sincerely, JACK LEFF, Secretary of Elder Affairs. Representative JOHN BRADEMAS, WILMINGTON, DEL., February 22, 1972. Chairman, Select Education, Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and Labor, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE BRADEMAS: I wish to express my appreciation for the in depth hearing which you held on Vocational Rehabilitation legislation. I also wish to voice my support of HR 8395. I believe it sets forth a sound approach to improving and expanding Vocational Rehabilitation programs. I am especially interested that a broad definition be given of handicapped individuals to include those who suffer from behavioral disorders. This will enable Vocational Rehabilitation agencies to render valuable services to many citizens who are vocationally handicapped because of personality patterns, racial discrimination, the effects of living in deprived neighborhoods, and previous criminal behavior. One of the most valuable programs which the Federal and State Government support is a program of Vocational Rehabilitation. It is a program that deserves to be strentghened in every way. Sincerely, Mr. JOHN BRADEMAS, RICHARD C. STAZESKY. MINNESOTA REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Subcommittee on Education and Labor, Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: AS President of the Minnesota Rehabilitation Association, I would like to offer my thanks for your help in initiating action on the Vocational Rehabilitation legislation. We in Minnesota strongly support the legislation that is being proposed and are hopeful that the full committee can act promptly. Many of us feel quite strongly that Vocational Rehabilitation has a role to play in working with those handicapped individuals defined as the "behavioral disordered". In our state, we have found that Vocational Rehabilitation has been of benefit to this population and we feel that services in this area should be expanded. On the other hand, we also feel that comprehensive and continuing services must be provided to the severely physically handicapped, the mentally retarded, and the emotionally disturbed as well. Vocational Rehabilitation is a postive and goal oriented program which must be expanded if we are going to emphasize independence instead of dependence. Again--thank you for your support and efforts on behalf of the Vocational Rehabilitation legislation. Sincerely, VERN A. SCHULTZ, President. GRAND ISLAND, N. Y., February 22, 1927. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS, On behalf of our deaf child and her education, we're asking you for your support to House Bill H.R. 8395. Thank you most kindly. Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE E. BOWMAN. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, DELAWARE CHAPTER, NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION, Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on Education, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: From the reports we have received to date on the work of your committee in drafting a new Vocational Rehabilitation Act, we would like to commend you and your committee members for the conduct of hearings and expeditious draft of a bill which is commendable. We strongly endorse this legislation and trust that the full committee will be able to act promptly on it. Sincerely yours, F. ARTHUR BRILL, Director. DODGE CITY MEDICAL CENTER, Dodge City, Kans., February 22, 1972. Senator BOB DOLE, U.S. Senate, New Senate Office Building, DEAR SENATOR DOLE: I thank you very much for your letter and for copies of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, H.R. 8395. It took me several days to read and understand the bill, and I must honestly say that the only sensible thing in the bill is what you have proposed-namely the National Information and Resource Center for the handicapped. This is definitely something which has been needed. The way I interpret the bill, it is of a very generous nature, and I would say too generous. Because of it's extreme generosity, the funds will be inadequate. I believe that a National Information and Resource Center for the handicapped might be the starting point of an institution or organization which might sometime in the future be able to encompass all efforts which this nation is putting out to rehabilitate the handicapped. I am indeed very much interested in vocational rehabilitation. My biggest problem with patients here in our area is that we neither have the facilities nor the resources to train people with a handicap so that they might become self sustaining, and thus regain self respect. In my opinion, the establishment of a National Information and Resource Center for the handicapped should come first. It is because "H.R. 8395" includes a provision for the establishment of a National Information and Resource Center for the handicapped that I support bill "H.R. 8395." Sincerely yours, CARL K. ZACHARIAS, M.D. ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF. INC., Representative JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on Education, DEAR MR. BRADEMAS: I am writing concerning H.R. 8395 on which hearings will start next week before the House Subcommittee on Education of which you are Chairman. I am especially interested in this important piece of legislation, since for the first time it will give specific reference to the deaf as has been traditionally been provided the blind. It will provide a number of badly needed rehabilitation services for the deaf and will also include provisions for centers to help low achievers. I respectfully urge that you lend your support to this bill adn the section related to the deaf which will fulfill a genuine need among my people. Sincerely, ROBERT CUNNINGHAM, President. DALLAS, TEX., February 26, 1972. Hon. JOHN BRADEMAS, Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on Education, DEAR SIR: As a long time leader of the Texas deaf, and as a member of the Texas Commission for the Deaf, I strongly endorse HR No. 8395. As I understand it this proposal seeks to improve all Vocational Rehabilitation services and will especially include funds and services to a long neglected group, the deaf. This kind of service has traditionally been provided for the blind and it is time for some recognition be given to the acoustically handicapped. I hope to see this Bill adopted. Sincerely yours, LOUIS B. ORRILL, Sr., Member, State of Texas Commission for the Deaf. |