Education first

This letter is in response to the March 4 Oped column concerning errors in an article about the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, by John Hale.

While (Connie) Leblond is allowed her opinion as much as anyone else, it sounds as though she and her associates have some kind of personal vendetta against the DBVI. Whether this is personal or professional, the way she comes across is less than appropriate. As the president of an organization, which relies on its members, attacking the division that is there to help those with visual impairments, is not a way to attract new members.

I am an employee of a blind business owner whose location is owned by DBVI. I also have a family member who is partially sighted. Through these aspects I get to see first hand what DBVI does, and from what I’ve experienced, they are doing a wonderful job and are a great service to the blind community right where they are. To move the division would not only upset the people who are actively involved with it, but would leave a huge gap in what is done with the many children in Maine with visual impairments, and after all, aren’t the children our future? Futhermore, education is what all good things stem from.

For these people to get a job, like you claim they so desperately need, wouldn’t they need education first? Moving the DBVI from Education to the Department of Labor would not provide that, and I know I certainly wouldn’t hire an uneducated person, blind or not.

The thing I would really like to know is, if you are disassociated with the DBVI how can you judge how it contributes to the welfare of the blind community when the people who are involved say it is doing an excellent job just where it is?

From being around people with visual impairments, if I was to lose my vision I would definitely desire education before employment. Hense, my feeling is that the division is where it belongs right now, and my advice to Mrs. LeBlond is to open her eyes and take a closer look, and try to understand. Amanda Banister Hallowell