This is a bit of a rant, but at this point I’m absolutely fed up with my state’s low vision rehab “services.” I’ll begin with a bit of background. I’m attempting to become a clinical psychologist. I recently finished my MS and was accepted to a Doctor of Psychology program, which I need financial assistance if I want to be able to afford it.

This acceptance was back in February and my state’s rehab services refuse to approve the program. Their first reason was something to do with me getting accepted at the end of the fiscal year. After that, they tried telling me flat out that I don’t have the intelligence to succeed in a doctoral program and become a practicing psychologist. Now, their latest excuse is some policy that states that I have to apply to four open psychologist positions, be rejected four times, and obtain a letter from each place of employment explaining why I wasn’t hired.

They have a track record of these kinds of actions. One of my undergraduate psychology professors was a contracted psychologist with the state (i.e. he provided therapy to people that were going blind and/or adjustment to blindness). One day, he got an email from the state telling him that providing therapy to individuals going blind is not necessary, thus they weren’t going to pay him. He said it came very close to him suing for his money.

I apologize for the venting, but at this point, I’m at a loss as to what to do. I’ve gone up the chain of command and the higher ups refuse to speak to me and just email my counselor, who assures me that they are “following all procedures for my best interest as a blind person becoming a doctor, letting alone earning a doctorate, is a grandiose employment goal.”