Video Footage Description: 2:26 video showing two individuals signing to camera. Background is a dark blue wall. On the left is Jelica Nuccio. She is wearing a dark suit jacket that is buttoned up. On the right is Stephanie Johnson. The is wearing a cream colored long sleeved top and dangly earrings. They are using Pro-Tactile techniques in the video.  Link: http://youtu.be/WunHHGRvkLM

Transcript:

Jelica: Hi! My name is Jelica Nuccio, name sign Y handshape moving from upper left shoulder to lower left hip.  I want to share my deep appreciation for those who have made donations to the DeafBlind Coalition, please continue to donate – we still need funds! Thumbs up! So now, we (points at herself and Stephanie) did travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Mark Snyderman (Rehabilitation Services Administration). I’d like to invite Stephanie to share her views of the meeting.

Stephanie: My name is Stephanie Johnson, I’m DeafBlind and I also represent my organization, Take a Stand (sign: take up, go ahead).  I felt today’s meeting was, hmmm, O-K. It wasn’t perfect. I feel we did ingite, start something. Understand, folks, that there were two people in the meeting on their side. One was a blind woman and I really felt she was attentive, empathic and hope she will apply some pressure to Mark. Mark, on the other hand, seemed a bit detached, not quite completely present, somewhat disorganized. I feel Jelica will probably have more to share—what did you think of the meeting?

Jelica: We requested interpreters for two hours; they were not provided. I don’t fully understand where the ball was dropped. Anyway, as you might imagine, this gave us some insight into the lack of organization within that office. Finally after scrambling for an hour, a staff interpreter was brought into the meeting- just that one interpreter for three individuals (one Deaf, two DeafBlind).  Most of the meeting focused on accountability within Rehabilitation Services Administration. We wanted Mark to be more aware of the need to do his job efficiently. Mark tentatively agreed—he said—he would follow up with HKNC (and by the way I am making a eye-roll face), but he said he would ask them for a progress report. Additionally, he is going to collect more feedback from more DeafBlind people. And then he plans to do a site visit at HKNC in the Fall of 2014. That’s his word. Again, please continue to share your stories. We need more. Thank you!

(turns to Stephanie- want to add anything?)

Stephanie: It’s all good. I’m looking forward to what may come.

Jelica: Thumb up!  

Email from Jelica Nuccio, DeafBlind Coalition Leadership to Mark Snyderman, Rehabilitation Services Administration:

Dear Mr. Snyderman,

I appreciate your willingness to meet with us today, it feels like a door was opened.

Before I go further, I would like to reiterate that we were disappointed that no interpreters were available during the first hour of our scheduled meeting.  We feel that a lot of money ($1,450.00) was put into this trip specifically for our meeting and you agreed to look into the possibly of helping alleviate some of those costs. Though we appreciate your bringing in a staff interpreter from your building for the second hour, she was not qualified or prepared to interpret for that meeting and as a result there may have been some miscommunications. Please allow this summary to serve as an opportunity for both of us to clarify points.

To recap, we discussed:

·      You acknowledged that you received the 22-page document we sent you awhile back and noted that you checked in with Joe McNaulty and Tom Edwards.

·      You noted that you were not able to monitor HKNC as closely as you would like to in part because your office is understaffed and you were unable to go to HKNC for a visit. You also shared that you could not share further information with us about what you have done to follow up on concerns related to HKNC because you work for a federal office.

·      You noted that RSA had some concerns about the search process for the Executive Director position and encouraged HKNC administration to ensure that there was DeafBlind representation on the committee.

·      We were able to discuss ways that HKNC does not provide equal and optimal services to ALL DeafBlind individuals and that there is a significant group of underprivileged DeafBlind individuals who are neither receiving adequate services nor equipped to advocate for themselves and give feedback about their experiences. You recognized that there may be some things that are being overlooked and invited us to share potential questions framed in specific way to assist you and others in your office with the investigation process.

·      You discussed doing a site visit and suggested that you would like to plan for a visit in Fall 2014. We expressed concern about your waiting this long in part because of concerns about the multiple ongoing problems with the Executive Director Search Process. You again stated that you felt it would be better to wait until the new person is hired but added that you would be willing to “gather information” now in the meantime. We did not agree on this point but acknowledged that you would be waiting until “late summer or early Fall.”

·      We expressed concern that having sighted and/or hearing federal workers go into HKNC to conduct an investigation/visit would not be as beneficial without a group of DeafBlind individuals included who can share information that would otherwise be overlooked by hearing/sighted individuals. You agreed to follow up and see if this could be a part of the process (third party).

·      We asked whether you would be able to influence HKNC (the executive director search process). You initially said no, but then conceded that your office does have the ability to withhold (temporary) funds and that this is something you would prefer not to do. You then explained that HKNC funding is a line item budgeted thing (money goes directly to HKSB, who then allocates the funds to HKNC) and it is written in as an act of congress.

·      We discussed concerns about HKNC not having competition or there being funding for alternative options. This means DeafBlind people do not have enough choices for services.

·      We asked that you also send us a list of options for how we can best support you in taking steps to resolve concerns about HKNC and you agreed to this.

·      You also mentioned it would be helpful to learn stories from people who have been at HKNC. We noted that the lack of follow up from his office has not inspired trust among community members and this may be creating barriers to them sending their stories in.

We look forward to learning more about what information you receive after you are able to get a progress report from HKNC and any plans you have in place to do a site visit. Please keep us posted as to whether or not you are able to make arrangements for a third party of DeafBlind individuals to participate in the site visit process.

Since we were unable to meet for the full, agreed-upon period with complete access, I would like for us to discuss a possible follow up meeting.

Thank you again for your time today-

Respectfully,

Jelica

Meeting in attendance: Jelica Nuccio (DeafBlind Coalition), Stephanie Johnson (Take a Stand Organization), Alison Aubrecht (Facundo Element) Rayni Plaster (DeafBlind Interpreter)

Mark Snyderman (Rehabilitation Services Administration), Deanna (?), Megan Stegemiller (staff interpreter brought in last minute)