[blindlaw] social skills training and work concerns

Rod Alcidonis, Esquire Attorney at alcidonislaw.com
Thu Aug 22 20:21:35 UTC 2013


Beth:

This is printed in the bottom of the counselor's e-mail:
"CONFIDENTIALITY  STATEMENT
This email and any attachments from the Colorado Department of Human 
Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, are confidential and 
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is 
addressed.  The information contained herein may include protected or 
otherwise privileged information.  Unauthorized review, forwarding, 
printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly 
prohibited and may be unlawful.  If you have received this message in error, 
please notify the sender by replying to this message and by deleting the 
email without further disclosure."

-----Original Message----- 
From: Beth Taurasi
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 12:47 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] social skills training and work concerns

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

CONFIDENTIALITY  STATEMENT
This email and any attachments from the Colorado Department of
Human
Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, are confidential
and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which
it is
addressed.  The information contained herein may include
protected or
otherwise privileged information.  Unauthorized review,
forwarding,
printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is
strictly
prohibited and may be unlawful.  If you have received this
message in
error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and
by deleting
the email without further disclosure.







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