Respect is common courtesy, but value is a must.

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Name: James Palmer
Email: jrpalmer@mindspring.com
Date: 27 Feb 1999
Time: 22:19:53
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Story

Too many people with LDs work-dead end blue-collar and unskilled labor jobs Sure, there are exceptions, but the majority of the population that have LDs, that work in these kinds of service jobs have little chance of upward mobility. Their hidden disabilities affect their academic performance, thus binding them to an inescapable world of drudgery. They are literally, illiterately damned. Most of them don't really believe that there is a way out of their quiet desperation. The majority of them are too busy earning a meager wage to really contemplate how they fit into this undeveloped, potentially utopian, society.

Most students with LDs who are my age, 39, didn't read in their primary school years. This affects such an LD student adversely. Consider the bulk of background information that they have missed. Especially in the science and math arena which was poorly administered in public schools in the southeastern USA during the '70s.

Ideally, what an adult student with an LD needs is to have a comprehensive 1-12 remediation with collage prep and remedial exposure to make up for what they have missed scholastically. I believe that the skills most LD students miss/lack are due to no fault of their own. It is nearly impossible for an adult with such a background to work and attend collage simultaneously. But, the puritan work ethic prevails, particularly in the South. There has also been a move to over-tighten government purse strings due to welfare reform. I understand this kind of thing, but, given my circumstances, assistance is just and proper.

The working poor who also have LDs don't have much of a chance to attain the "American Dream." The only dream that they fulfill is working to pay for low rent housing. Around 1993 was the first time that I approached Rehab/DHR in Augusta, GA. I was determined to be a medical doctor and had learned that DHR was the appropriate source to get educational assistance so that I could fulfill my goal. I had been exposed to a computer at Augusta College and knew that was exactly what I needed. I dreamed of having a talking computer so that I could see and hear the words and pronounce them. Rehab gets part of its funds through the Tech act (see paragraphs at the end of this writing under Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services). Quite sincerely, in 1993, I announced to the lady at the front desk of Augusta Rehab that I needed help with my learning problem.

"I want to go to medical school," I said, and she had a strange look on her face and said,"We do not train anyone for work so that they can earn more money than their last employment." Money had not even entered my mind until that moment. At that time in my life, I did not have an accurate concept of numeration. I really was an adult babe in the woods. But I persisted and she made me an appointment with the "counselor", whom I will call Boss Hog because he reminded me of the TV sitcom character. When I told him of my aspirations, this GA state Rehab counselor said, "No one is gonna hold you by the hand and walk you through college Buba," and that "You ought to be thankful that you got your health," as if I wasn't.

Then, he asked me what I did for a living and, I told him I do hair. He asked, "Where do you fix hair?"

And he said, "You bring women in your living room?" After a slight pause, he became bug-eyed. With his head held high and his fat jaws gesticulating, he exclaimed, "Moral impropriety!"

The replay of that episode that I have in my mind of that "counselor" is like seeing a cloned hybrid between Jessie Helms and Jerry Falwell, raging on anabolic steroids. All he lacked, was a jeep, and binoculars hanging on his neck and wearing a uniform with the words GA BAPTIST SODOMY PATROL embroidered on it. At the tinder age of 33, I was overwhelmed and left his office. I was numb, powerless, before this "authority figure."

Later, anger took the place of my numbness -- justifiable anger! That was a defining moment in my life. I was changed forever in many ways by that experience. Let's just say that I have been very, very assertive the last five years and I have followed somewhat Machiavellian principles.

My parents are survivors of the Great Depression who worked in the cotton mills in Augusta, GA. They tolerated local political corruption in order to survive. I shall not. They did not have any exposure to algebra or any science. Although they did manage to escape emersion into religious fundamentalism, which has a dulling, spaced-out effect on the cognitive development of many folks with LDs who I personally have known. Perhaps, it is the early exposure to the fear-based religion which causes a flood of cortical to their brains, lessening the potential for cognitive development.

Many LDs are inherited. Consequently, this sets the stage for cultural stagnation. It is estimated that greater than 35 % of the inmates in Georgia have LD's. Canada, Northern Europe and the rest of the USA have similar trends. This is alarming, considering that the total number of persons with LDs is far less than 35% in the general population. Does this mean that people with LDs are predisposed to crime? Should we be tattooed for a high propensity for crime at birth? Does it cost more to house a prisoner for a year or to circumvent the incarceration with progressive education? Maybe, education wouldn't matter. Maybe, the high numbers of people who have LDs that are jailed are inherently no good trash. Although, I think not.

The state employees at Vocational Rehabilitation in Augusta have put me through undue grief and wasted my time; all at the taxpayer's expense. This might sound a bit critical, but let my provide you with a little background.

In 1994 when I first approached voc rehab counselor, Oscar Kemsey, who accused me of "moral impropriety" and that "No one was going to hold my hand walk me through Augusta College." He also looked at me and said, "Your health is the most important thing," in his boss-hog-like manner.

I was denied assistance and applied for what was called a "fair hearing," which at the time consisted of peer rehab officers driving across the state to turn me down. All at the taxpayer's expense.

Convinced that Voc Rehab was the appropriate and ONLY federally funded state agency that a 37 year old with learning disabilities could get help, I returned and re-applied to Voc rehab around Nov. 1997. I was given a big run around then, too but decided that I would camp out, if necessary, at Voc rehab, until I got the respect and service that I am entitled. Finally, Terri Bartles of DHR told me that the POLICY would change the first of the year and I could get assistance. The middle of January Ms. Bartles told me that I need to take a MPI from a psychologist.

ONE MONTH after I took the MPI, the test indicated, indeed, I had learning problems and I should be given help. The psychologist also said that the prognosis looked good for me. Terri Bartles said that the reason the results took so long is because the psychologist had lost the test results. Later, Ms Bartles revealed that the reason that I was tested was because I was exhibiting ANGER and DHR wanted to make sure that I was stable! Finally, Ms Bartles called me and gave me an appointment to see her.

Upon my arrival, Ms Bartles presented me with a CONTRACT, which I have in my possession. The contract essentially says that Voc rehab will pay for two years of allied health school, which was recommended by the psychologist who did the MMPI.

Ms Bartles also indicated that this could not be a long-range project (my educational process). And that DHR could loose funding at any time that I was in the "program." Boy, was I eager to get to work. Never had I dreamed that the state would provide me with a two-year scholarship. However, the agency had been slow and negligent and so, graciously, I accepted the scholarship as restitution. Keep in mind the above mentioned time-constraint mentioned by Ms. Bartles for fulfilling my end of the contract, which is staying in school, giving my grades to the counselor etc.

The pressure was on. I had pre-enrolled in a physical science class at ASU while taking ceramics and knew that I needed intense remediation, tutoring and tutorial software. Each day I would set in the ceramics class and work through my feelings with modeling clay. All that I had gone through in the dark ages in earlier schooling was being resolved. I was optimistic that I could find the support and educational environment that would enable me to learn at a faster rate. Earlier that year, I had requested ELS software from ASU, but my request was denied. My request was not viewed as giving me access to material. A woman named Mrs. Darris, who sees to student accommodations at ASU, told me, "You should have had basic skills before you were accepted here."

I bit my tongue, hard. Later, Darris would be called in to the Vocational "team" meeting along with me and the staff of Vocational rehab. Mrs. Darris would be asked what tutoring resources were available at ASU. I had talked to ED Myers beforehand and told him that I had exhausted my resources at ASU; otherwise, I would not have requested help from him at DHR. The whole farce was bureaucratic confusion. I was watching adult children, acting out what was modeled for them during their adolescence. Mrs. Darris could have been asked such a simple question via phone or E-mail and remained in her office where she was needed by the other students with disabilities. This bothered me. I still question her ability and her motives.

My request to Ms. Bartles at Rehab for to remedial physics software was seen as a problem. Any SANE request for SPECIALIZED educational assistance was and is seen as UNIQUE. I spoke to Ms. Bartles and she said that Ms. Prozonic, the Augusta DHR policy examiner, would have to determine weather I could get the software and tutoring. I then approached Ms. Prozonic and she said that I would have to "appeal" for tutoring but to give Ms. Bartles the information on the software and she would "look into it." I must add that this "appeal" sounds like the "fair hearing" that Mr. Myers, Augusta DHR director, was party to three years ago. The appeal process is asinine. There is obviously a conflict of interest on the part of DHR.

I have also been excluded from all but one "team" meeting instigated by Bartles and Mayers on my behalf. Apparently, in the eyes of the "team" at DHR, I am not a viable player in my rehab process. Something is wrong with this picture. A week later, I called Ms. Bartles and asked about the software and she said that the technology person was looking into it. Then I talked to the technology person, Kim, and she said that she was going to have a local school teacher "review" the information that I had given to her about the software that I had requested. Quite frankly, she could have just as well spat in my face! Who beyond me would be able to tell if a tutorial software is "suitable" or not. I would be the one using it and certainly I would not dream of keeping it if it were not suitable (besides software comes with 30-day, money-back guarantee). I have seen enough money being thrown away via government transfer. My intentions are honorable.

A couple of weeks later Ms Bartles left a message on my answering machine which said that I could get the tutoring. She further stated I will be calling you in a day or two to come in. "Finally," I thought. About a week passed and I went by the Voc rehab office to see what the glitch was with my tutoring. She said, "Oh I am so sorry, that message was a mistake." Consequently, I "showed my ass", which is a regional colloquial slang expression meaning that I expressed rage. But, I did not make threats and/or violence.

About a week later, I was trying to decide whether or not to return to the Rehab office because my academic tension was mounting at school. I was signed up for a physics class and I knew that I needed intense remediation. I further felt that Rehab had the resources to provide me with the tutoring and tutorial software. It seems that nothing had really changed from the time that I was in elementary school, except my social consciousness.

It was my time to stand up for me, to claim that which I had been deprived. On route home from school I decided to stop by the Rehab office and ask about the software. I had been jerked around by the whole gang of complacent state employees at Rehab and I wanted a yea or nay for closure.

Mr.Myers told me in a patronizing voice "Now, James we cannot provide software to our clients if it is tutorial." This was another new and inconsistent line; it was different than anything that I had heard by Prozonic or anyone else at Rehab. Consequently, I blew my top. I told him to get his ass back in there and do his damn job. Later that day , I had a visit from the GBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agent told me that the counselors at Voc rehab were afraid of my ANGER. That I was threatening.

The GBI agent asked me not to exhibit anger in a state office. I said, "Well, I can promise that I am NOT a physical threat to myself or another person, but I am absolutely livid". I was instructed by the GBI agent not to go to or contact anyone at Rehab. Thus, an apology to Mr. Myers and Terri was made impossible by the GBI.

The same afternoon Ronnie Strength from the criminal investigation division of the sheriff's department phoned me and requested that I come to his office. Mr. Strength said that I was being watched by the State and his department. He also informed me not to contact Rehab. Two days later I got a letter form Ms. Bartles stating that my case was being closed because I had threatening behavior towards agency staff. I am being forced to appeal the anger episode in order to appeal for the software, but I think the software is a hot issue because I would set a precedence. Thus, my anger episode is being used by DHR to try to get rid of me.

In order for me to be able to appeal for tutoring or software I first have to go through an administrative hearing to show the judge that I am not a "threat" to staff employees. Indeed, I requested a hearing form an administrative law judge of the state of Georgia. My request for a hearing got a response about two months after I had requested it. Upon the urgency of my friends, I sought legal counsel through the Georgia Legal Aid Services, which is on a sliding scale. In my case there was no charge, although there was a month waiting list and the legal representative asked me to write the administrative law judge and postpone the hearing. I did as she requested.

The following month I got another hearing date from the administrative law judge. My legal aid representative was still booked with cases and again she asked me to postpone the trial, which I did. Then a third time she asked me to postpone the hearing which I did. After I mailed a request for postponement of the hearing, I got a letter form the administrative law judge who denied the third postponement. My hearing was set for October 15th and I told my Legal Aid representative, Wannata Kenner, that the judge would not postpone the hearing. At first she said that I should go to the hearing, which was the following day, and that I should ask the judge in person to please postpone the hearing again.

Eleven thirty that night my phone rang and to my surprise it was Ms Kenner. She said that she had looked into my case files at DHR earlier that evening and that she had found some alarming statements within my files. She went on to read the comments that the my counselor case worker had written in my files about me. Statements such as, "His eyes turned white. He was like the Exorcist and his muscles and veins popped out." Then she went on to say that I made threading statements to her as I put my hands out in front of me like I was going towards her throat as though I was going to choke her. I knew that things at this DHR office was not quite right, but never would I have dreamed the employees would have come up with such garbage. Either my outburst did scare her into hysterics or she was lying or someone within the ranks of DHR seized the opportunity to come up with such outlandish lies to get red of me.

It appears that a precedence would be set if I got tutoring and/or tutorial software. The following day October 15 at 10:00 a.m., the hearing started. I sat on one side of the large courtroom with Mr. Kenner, my paralegal representative from Georgia Legal Services. On the other side sat 5 employees from DHR and their state attorney. The hearing lasted five hours. The people from DHR presented a testimony to try to make me look like a dangerous, deranged criminal type. Never have I been in trouble with the law nor have I done bodily harm to anyone. Indeed, I raised hell those two times inside the DHR building, but I didn't think that what I had done had even phased them.

Prior to DHR staff calling the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, they had virtually ignored my attempts to communicate sensibly with them. And, as I told the judge, I would have apologized had it not been for the GBI agent and the Augusta chief of police, both of whom demanded me not to have any contact with anyone at DHR.

At another point during the hearing, the representative for DHR said, "We still might press criminal charges." The judge asked why they had not pressed criminal charges at the time of my outburst and the representative for DHR said, "We are concerned for out client's well being" or something like that. Later, the DHR representative said, "We still might press charges."

This statement seemed to rattle the judge and he displeasingly said, "You can't, that is too broad." I still don't know what he meant by "too broad," but, I hoped the statement was in my favor. At least it appeared to be in my favor at the time.

Shortly after the "it is too broad" statement, the hearing was over. The judge said that he would reach a decision by November 15th. The real kicker to this whole hearing is that I am the plaintiff! I am the one who requested that there be a hearing. I hope to the depths of my being that the administrative law Judge can see what is going on with the staff of DHR.. The judge did seem like a nice, sensible person. Although, in Georgia we have state elections the first part of November and this is basically the business of the State of Georgia.

People don't understand that special educational services are also important to adults who have LDs. The major reason that I am having problems getting help is that I am 6'3", 210-pounds, muscular, well spoken with a pleasing appearance. My disability is "HIDDEN." This really does make a difference. Also, I am white. White males in the US are the last to be provided assistance from the government. Minorities and women get consideration first. For some time now in the US white males have been viewed as "privileged"; hence, a white male with a "HIDDEN" disability is further shrouded here in the United States.

This issue is far more than my getting a tutoring service or the appropriate software. This is really is a serious human rights violation with trans- generational ramifications. I feel compelled to do what I am doing because there are people here who, unlike me, have been beaten down by the system. It is for these people who have LDs who are intimidated by this governmental bureaucracies , for whom I also plea. Many of them have children and that which happens in their lives shall affect their decendents.

Special education is the best investment that any government can provide for its citizens who have LDs. So much human suffering can be circumvented by the little things that we do today. Just the idea affects me like a religious zealot. It is hard for non LD people to realize how important the environment, the presentation and the quality of education process are for people who have LDs.

This is because most people do not have LDs. Many people who do have hidden disabilities are actually a potential political minority voting faction. But, the very nature of their LDs inhibits their political expression, thus depriving them of their full participation in the democratic process. The hidden aspect of LDs also sadly limits the attention that society should give to the special educational needs of people who have LDs.

This (below) is taken from the United Nations web site. http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/TestFrame/a2df4b91ea24b68c8025664a0034313f?Opendocument 4. At the national level, the Plan of Action provides for the establishment, on the initiative of Governments or other relevant institutions, of a national committee for human rights education. Those committees should include a broad coalition of governmental and non governmental actors with responsibility for developing and implementing a comprehensive (in terms of outreach), effective (interns of educational strategies) and long-term sustainable national plan of action for human rights education1, encompassing all levels of society, through the provision of formal and non-formal education, specialized educational and training programmes for vulnerable groups, professional and other groups most likely to affect human rights advocacy as well as those entrusted with upholding basic human rights.

Please help correct United States relations with the UNITED NATIONS by bringing attention to this horrible breach of treaty. Write the ambassadors listed below and alert them of the educational human rights violation that the DHR of Georgia is engaging in by having a policy prohibiting them from providing tutoring or tutorial software to adults who have LDs. Here is a list of emails for several United Nations member states: Denmark - dnkun@undp.org; Belgium UN - Ambassador André ADAM, belun@undp.org; Netherlands, ambassador Jaap Ramaker, zaagman@undp.org; Norway, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Ole Peter Kolby, norun@undp.org; Sweden Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Mr. Hans Dahlgren, sweun@undp.org; United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations, SIR JEREMY QUENTIN GREENSTOCK, KCMG gbrun@undp.org.

Apparently, Ga DHR is quiet unlike any other state DHR agency. I have spoken to dozens of other agencies around the country. Other state's DHR employees can't believe what happened to me in GA. Many educators in other states find the DHR policy "asinine" All has happened to me is discriminatory and against the ADA and the United Nations treaty with the developed countries of the world.

There is not a sizable population of persons with LDs who are currently seeking assistance from Augusta DHR. The one other person that I know who is getting service through DHR is doing so because she was in a car accident and has cognitive problems due to a head injury. DHR is sending her to a GED program at the tech school here in Augusta. In her words, she told me, "Them youngans, they ain't there to learn. I have a time trying to hear with them cuttin up; I wish that teacher would make them mind." This woman has a son under 21 who also has an LD. She is not being given a fair chance. In the likely event that she does not do well in that horrid GED environment, she might end up mentally worse for having gotten the schooling.

I visited the tech program. Most of the students are there to avoid incarceration. The court orders many youthful offenders to take the GED course as an alternative to jail. Most have drug and alcohol and disruptive behavior problems. Many have LDs. It would make better economic since to spend twice as much on this young woman and secure the chance for a better educational outcome.

She definitely needs a computer, tutoring and various software. She definitely would benefit from tutoring and software. She will surely not get tutoring and software until the current policy and administrative practice at Georgia Rehab changes. Here is the web site where this board of directors may be found: http://www2.state.ga.us/Departments/DMA/board.html.

The advocacy office funded under CAP or Client Assistance Program also falls under the umbrella of the DHR. Attorney, Charles L. Martin, who got the federal money to be an advocate for Rehab clients on ADA-related issues probably uses the federal money to pay the light bill in his plush suburban Atlanta, Georgia office. Attorney Martin will not address my e-mails nor will he return my calls. He only refers me to a kind spoken gentleman, who works in his posh office, Mr. Anil Lewis, who's title is Ombudsman. He is part of the federal package to call DHR for the clients when there is a problem or misunderstanding.

http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com/brochur1.htm The Attorney, Charles L. Martin, CAP program, is all lip service. But they have shop talk and it's a quiet and exclusive place. Here is the Internet address for it, but you won't get in without a password because a big sign reads, "MEMBERS ONLY." Please see it for yourself.

http://www.protectionandadvocacy.com/index.htm Charles L. Martin, CAP attorney, probably thinks that because I have some expressive language skills, that I really don't have a learning problem . And besides he probably has known many "good ole boys" during his college days that "didn't make the grade." He probably would say, "They didn't wine and look to the federal system for "special software." And he would be correct because that was a more primitive, less enlightened and less technologically advanced era. It was an economically poorer time in the history of the United States. There was not the vast affordable technology then nor was there the scientific knowledge about teaching people with LDs back then. Today more people than ever before in the history of the US can be taught successfully. The United States is in the largest economic expansion in its history. Given these facts, isn't it past time to ditch the currently, out- dated 19th century educational practices -- educational methods that simply do not work for those people who have LDs?

This is the communication age. People with learning disabilities really are worth the investment that it would take to educate them!

petr

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Date: 02 Apr 2008
Time: 14:05:34
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Story

ivan

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Date: 05 Apr 2008
Time: 13:06:15
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egor

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Date: 05 Apr 2008
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vasya

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Date: 07 Apr 2008
Time: 08:26:12
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slava

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Date: 07 Apr 2008
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ivan

Name: ivan
Email: alfa@gagmail.com
Date: 08 Apr 2008
Time: 22:14:33
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ivan

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Date: 09 Apr 2008
Time: 15:17:53
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Story

Re: Respect

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Date: 16 Feb 2008
Time: 02:16:28
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