[blindlaw] social skills training and work concerns

[Beth Taurasi]

Check this out.  This is after a meeting and I'm filing a formal 
administrative appeal.
Any help with a letter I'm drafting would be necessarily a great 
thing.
Thanks, guys.
Beth Taurasi

 ---- Original Message ------
From: "Pennock - CDHS, Richele" <richele.pennock at state.co.us
Subject: Re: social skills training and work concerns
Date sent: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 17:53:10 -0600

Hello there Beth,
Thank you for your email.  As your DVR counselor, I have 
determined through
observations from a team (Lila Papadaki, Tracy Rushing, Kristy 
Penk, Kris
Graham and myself) that you presently do not have the social 
skills or
ability to interact with others to the degree necessary to 
succeed in an
employment setting.  We have recognized this as a barrier to 
employment.
 DVR counselors are trained to work with people with a wide range 
of
disabilities to help them return to work by identifying the 
barriers
presented by their disabilities and develop plans to help them 
overcome
those barriers.  By not addressing barriers we would be setting 
the client
up for failure.  In your situation, it has been determined that 
your social
interactions with others will be perceived as a problem for 
employment.  I
understand from our meeting yesterday and from this email that 
you are not
in agreement with this feedback.  I am glad to hear that you have 
had some
social skills training in the past and I would see that as 
helpful to help
you build upon those skills.  I do not discount the training 
offered by the
CCB but I do know time has past since then and we are evaluating 
your
present social skills and interactions with others and recognize 
a need for
additional training.  Again, we want to set you up to succeed.

You asked about Kris Graham.  Kris Graham presently has a 
master's degree
in rehabilitation.  As a DVR intern this summer she was finishing 
her final
hours and worked under the supervision of a DVR employee.  Again, 
as stated
in the meeting, the report she generated was a collaborative 
effort of the
team of individuals who participated in your trial work 
experience here.
 Please be clear about which decision you are appealing:  the 
requirement
of social skills training, trial work experience at Bayaud's GOST 
program
etc.  I will attach the appeal rights to this email for your 
convenience.
 You may contact my supervisor Sam Mankin to discuss your 
concerns at
303-866-3559.

Take Care,
Richele Pennock



On Wed, Aug 21, 2013 at 10:20 AM, Beth Taurasi 
<eataurasi at gmail.com> wrote:

 Dear Richele,
         I have concerns about the meeting yesterday.  I 
understand that
 you would like for me to take a social skills training whether 
one on one
 with Abbie Sjostrom or in a group, but I've already had some 
form of social
 skills training at CCB.  Why am I doing this again?  They would 
probably
 not have let me graduate had I not had real social skills as it 
were.  Why
 do you or anyone who submitted any reports/observations feel 
this is needed
 over again?
 Also, the report was drafted, written, and submitted by an 
intern who does
 not have real knowledge of dual disabled individuals.  I have no 
idea what
 the woman's credentials are and what she wants to do with her 
rehab
 counseling career.  She is also sighted, not blind, and has 
perceptions of
 blind people based on the same general state-run attitude that 
most
 epartments of vocational rehab have.
         I am unsatisfied therefore I wish to appeal any such 
decision made.
 Sincyerely,
 Beth Taurasi




--
Richele Pennock
Rehabilitation Counselor II
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Colorado Department of Human Services
2211 W. Evans Ave., Bldg B
Denver, CO 80223
T.  303-866-3168  F.  303-866-3491
Email:  Richele.Pennock at state.co.us
www.dvrcolorado.com

DVR: Bridging Business & Ability

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