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From: Eric.Bohlman@p1.f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Bohlman)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Why Things Are The Way They ARe
Message-ID: <18873@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 19 Apr 91 20:18:28 GMT
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[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 GP>      You left out the important reason why TSI gets away with murder.
 GP> It
 GP> does so, because it's largest customer, the state couldn't care less
 GP> what
 GP> happens once the case is closed.  Further, the state doesn't have to

Definitely true.

 GP> economize the way a person, most persons, would.  The state can
 GP> actually
 GP> waste the money on Vert, Optacons, and whatever else TSI puts out.

Not quite.  Most state agencies have rather limited budgets for adaptive
equipment.  However, they do (irrationally) prefer spending a certain
amount of money to buy expensive equipment for a few people than spending the
same amount on less expensive equipment for more people.

I think part of the problem is that the state rehab bureaucracy, like most
bureaucracies, attracts the type of person who greatly values predictability
and consistency rather than the type who wants to try new things.  Once such a
person establishes a relationship with a vendor like TSI, their main goal is
to avoid rocking the boat rather than looking for something better.  Big
vendors know how to exploit this attitude.

--
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