DVR and Employees

Park Jong Yi,

In my opinion, discussing the lousy experiences we had with DVR is fair game on this board but political name calling is not. Incompetence comes in all shapes and forms and is not limited to one political philosophy. As I previously mentioned, I live in a state that has gone from a Republican Governor to a Democratic one and personally, I have seen no difference in services. I leave a message for a callback and it continues to go into a black hole.

Anyway, it sounds like your experiences have been alot worse than mine. Not to excuse DVR but I think in today’s work world, customer service is at an all time low. Not only are people not helpful and incompetent but I have lost count of how many times at various companies, I have had folks actually start picking fights when I did nothing to make them mad.

Back to the issue of DVR. I think we need to start demanding accountability and I am not sure how to go about that. It is exhausting because there is so much beauracracy involved. I never understood why people hated the government so much until I started dealing with these folks. Then I had that aha moment where it made sense.

PT

PT:

The reason I use the term leftists is because, it was the Liberals in the Democratic Party who thought they were giving a great answer to helping the disabled by starting all these social services in the 1930’s. It was good intention: but it has not worked out because once you start something in government, you find it hard to get rid of the agencies. That is why the stuff doesn’t change from Republican or Democrat govenors. The constituencies who depend on that stuff and the money that can be made go to war to protect the cash cow… Period ! However, I do not know of too many instances where LD folks have really benefited from the services that are suppose to help them. Sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way, but no offense was intended. There really is not much diffrence between a conservative or liberal, but I like to think of myself as someone who does not want all these government agencies created, because I do not feel the LD folks will get served by the social services very much the Liberals seem to want to create bigger government, but no real means of tracking performance.

Hi Park,

No offense taken. This has nothing to do with the issue of disabilities but the agency that the Bush Administration has just created, The Homeland Security Agency, is extremely bureaucratic and bloated. By the way, that isn’t just my opinion as I know some folks who are diehard Republicans who feel that way.

So in my opinion, it isn’t just the liberals who create big government. Personally, I think because the Republicans don’t focus on social issues, people think they don’t cause big government but that’s just not the case in my opinion.

I do agree with you about the efficiency of these agencies though. Gosh, we have the state voc rehab agencies and now, the one stop centers, who are also suppose to be helping people with disabilties. By the way, I haven’t heard good things about these folks either. You’re right, there is no tracking as all these agencies are supposedly being created to help us and they just don’t seem to be doing that.

I did want to end with a positive experience I did have with the state voc rehab agency yesterday. The counselor returned my phone call at 4:45pm on a Friday and the director of the office responded immediately to an email I sent yesterday regarding an issue with the receptionist. So if I report the bad things, I also have to tell you the good things.

Hopefully, this counselor who is temporally handling my case will be helpful as she made a few good suggestions yesterday. However, she seemed reluctant to do anything that would go against the wishes of my regular counselor and finally, I gently prodded her into saying something.

I don’t have any proof of anything so please understand what I am stating is not fact and is only speculation by me. But I sense that these folks are so worried about rules and regulations and not stepping on their co-workers toes, that they forget about their main priority, which is to help the client. She had already gotten a report on my situation and because she mentioned wanting to consult my regular counselor again, that is why I am writing these speculations.

To be honest, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes for a million years as she probably already has a million cases and now gets additional ones. But the situation I spoke of in my opinion is a perfect example of why folks like us are so frustrated with these agencies.

At this point, I need a job folks so I am willing to bang my head against the wall to try once again to get state voc rehab services. Hopefully, this person will be helpful and I will become the exception to the rule of extremely dissatisfaction with these folks. But I will explore other avenues of assistance so I don’t put my eggs in one basket and therefore, be extremely disappointed if it doesn’t work out.

Anyway, I did want to share my experiences in getting service from these folks on a Friday afternoon since it is only fair that I report the good experiences as well as the bad.

PT

PT:

Good for you… I too wish to report good as well as negative experiences. The good thing that came out of the Homeland Security Agency is that the employees will not be regular civil service; but will be able to be transfered as needs dictate. Also, if they do not do their job of protecting us, they can be terminated. If DVR operated on an accountability system like that, I think LD folks would be a priority among the employees. There are some wonderful souls who do work for us and I hope more will follow their example. Merry Christmas or New Year to you.

Hi Park,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too. Good points about Homeland Security.

Perhaps if DVR Counselors were judged on other factors instead of just how quickly they close a case, then perhaps service would improve. Who knows?

PT

DVR came about in the 70s when the federal government told the states this, “You do not have to have Voc Rehab in your state but if you do we will give your state the money to do it. We will provide you with the statutes and you can put the statutes into your own policy” All the ststes elected to get into the VR business for all the free money. This was endorsed by conservatives and liberals alike. The states have managed to turn it into a cash cow.

The mental health proffession is a sham and is full of drug pushers and money grubbers who are times more immoral than a crack dealer.

Hold on. Don’t bash the republicans because you had a negative experience. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience a few years ago. I asked for assistance from the DVR, but they said that they couldn’t help me because my handicap wasn’t severe enough. A couple of years later I went back and they gave me some assistance I needed. But I still don’t think the department is knowledgeable enough to help people with LD. Although they gave me some assistance, I didn’t think it was enough to help me in the work place. Hopefully it’s gotten better.

Steven,

OVR will not ever get any better until they are held to some standard of acountability. Who are they accountable to now? Is there any oversight? Not in New York State. Ask your OVR what their success rate is with all disabilities. They will tell you thay they don’t know. The reality is they are succesful less than 20% of the time. Is that anyway to run a railroad.

Steven there are two parties in the USA and they are not the Democrats and the Republicans. The two parties are the haves and the have nots.

Eventhough it may be a fight to get the services at-times. I’m glad that some people are geting the services. I’ve went through some testing with them, and they even provided a hearing aid for me at one time.

I agree with you on the accountability part, and the services need to be greatly enhanced. Hopefully there will be a change with our new president. But any services available are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, there are very few services offered for adults with LD and ADD.

I guess we can only pray that things get better.

For the history buffs:

June 2, 1920 - President Woodrow Wilson created this country’s vocational rehabilitation program as he signed into law PL 236.

Happy New Year,

John

Oh.. Great ! Woodrow did not have a great many accomplishments. Opression of women was one: I guess we add this one to the list. Happy 2003 !

Steven,

I’m curious. How long did it take them to get you a hearing aid? In NY it would take forever.

Also why did you need to go through OVR to get a hearing aid?