Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 05/06/2002

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
In 1994, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12 Director Dr. Joan Cummings stated that the VA Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) would not be habitable by the year 2000; this not withstanding, she persists in her opposition to replace the crumbling 74 year old blind rehab facility. This gross neglect occurred when the BRC could least afford it; when there was a long list of veterans awaiting seven to eight months until being accepted into the program, compounded by reports projecting the increasing number of aging veterans requiring blind rehabilitation.

In the early 1990s, when Dr. Cummings became the Director of the Chicago VA Network, she unilaterally developed a plan to relocate the BRC to a most inappropriate Chicago land area. In addition, it was to be under the auspices of Optometry, which would have flagrantly stifled the blind program.

A subcommittee was formed in 1995 to assess future space needs of the special programs of Spinal Cord Injury and Blind Rehab programs at Hines Hospital. Meetings were chaired by the Hines assistant chief of staff, who favored a joint facility for political reasons. The meetings were intractably in favor of a joint facility. This point of view was vociferously opposed by the veterans but was completely ignored. These meetings were disbanded by Dr. Cummings.

In 1998, former BRC Chief James Whitehead, with the support of the newly appointed visionary Hines Director John DeNardo, planned for the BRC replacement facility. The Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA) architectural firm was hired to evaluate the Hines space utilization, including the BRC. The architects recommended a stand-alone BRC facility that would cost $15,000,000.00 to build. Director DeNardo gave support to the proposal and forwarded it to VISN 12. Despite the deteriorating condition of the BRC facility, Dr. Cummings refused to submit the proposals to Washington, stating that there was no money for construction.

We believe Dr. Cummings did not deem it important enough to put blinded veterans high on her list of priorities. Instead of resolving BRC concerns, she gave higher priority to projects such as the Ronald McDonald facility constructed on VA property for the purpose of serving the Loyola Medical Center’s patients and families. Her priority was also to demolish the Hines 1950’s buildings adjacent to the Loyola Medical Center.

By late 2000, Dr. Cummings informed us that all new constructions in VISN areas throughout the country must undergo the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service (CARES) process, prior to VA submitting it for Congressional funding. Since the VISN 12 area manifested the most neglect, it was selected to be the first to undergo the CARES study. A VISN staffer informed us that Dr. Cummings would not be able to alter or overturn the CARES recommendations. However, prior to submission of the stand-alone BRC replacement facility by the CARES team, VISN 12 submitted its own proposal, pushing for a multiple facility.

Dr. Cummings has consistently pursued a model unsuitable for blind rehabilitation. She attempted to influence Congress by explaining that she would like to model the BRC after the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). The RIC does not have a Blind Rehabilitation program and would not be a viable solution to blind rehabilitation. The concept of sharing and intermingling services plus combining diverse disability groups has been discredited by professionals years ago.

We feel VISN 12 management has not been forthright with the blinded veterans, nor has acted in good faith. For these reasons, we have grown weary of Dr. Cummings 12 years of surreptitious maneuvers and arrogant use of power. She persistently obstructs our efforts and never listens to blind rehabilitation professionals or blinded veteran consumers. We hold trust and confidence in the current VA administration and are asking the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretaries to do the right thing. With VA’s help, the BRC could go on serving our blinded veterans with superior training for which the Hines BRC has been known to provide throughout its 54 years of excellence.

Respectfully yours,
Tom Gearhart, Hines Blind Rehab Alumni Association (HBCA) President
Melody Angelini, HBCA Executive Secretary
Daniel G. Sisler, Professor Emeritus & Ny Helen Keller Board Member
James Whitehead, HBCA Consultant
Paul Mons, Military Order of the Purple Heart
Stephen H. Miyagawa, Blinded WWI Vet

Dear Hines VA blind rehab center advocates:
Simply, the forked-tongued Cummings must go. I have continuously shared your concerns with the powers that be at the VA top head shed. I have told them that the BRC must have a free-standing facility and be self-contained, that co-mingling services and program resources should not exist. Lessons in long cane foot travel are arduous and require many hours of skilled professional supervision in space that is unencumbered with extraneous distractions. Blind rehab programs are conducted in a contracted period, making it necessary for a more intense rehabilitation schedule in a shorter period of time. I have heard that past efforts to combine facilities for various disabled groups have resulted in failure and have been discredited. It is essential to follow the recommendations of the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) submitted in its May 2001 report. As a result of the aging veteran population and the current involvement against terrorists, it is anticipated that there will be casualties affecting our military personnel, which will also affect BRC's. 

Many years ago, VA Secretary Principi dedicated the Hines BRC to John Malamazian, honoring John's 34 years of hard work as a staff member and chief of this program. This dedication commits those who follow to carry on John’s ideas of truth, honesty, charity, and compassion. His every act of professional life honored the Blind Center and Hines. The Sarge urges Secretary Principi to again honor John Malamazian by ensuring the new construction of this very vital blind rehabilitation center.

And, Secretary Principi, rid FVISN 12 of the callous Cummings because a blinded veteran is a terrible thing to waste.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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