[blindlaw] social skills training and work concerns

Thu Aug 22 22:28:17 UTC 2013

On 8/22/2013 4:24 PM, Dittman, Robert wrote:
> Good evening Beth, why don't you call my office tomorrow at 210-299-7658. I am an attorney, but I cannot and will not represent you regarding this matter first because I am not licensed in Colorado, and second because I am not comfortable in that capacity. That being said, my title is Atty. and Counselor at Law. I believe my fellow attorney colleagues on this list would agree that part of our calling in the profession of law is to attempt to educate persons on their rights, responsibilities, as it relates to the law, and society in general. Although I cannot assist you directly perhaps I can put you in a better place by listening to the rough draft of your letter and offering general suggestions so that you communicatez The clearest message you possibly can before you submit your letter. I hope that this helps, sincerely I would further suggest that although I am willing to make general suggestions on the clarity of your letter, this will not constitute legal advice on how to proceed with your claim. For that type of representation, you must contact an attorney who is licensed in Colorado and that individual would be able to evaluate and decide the best course of action for you to take.
>
> Robert D. Dittman, ESQ.
> Attorney and Counselor at Law
>   Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 22, 2013, at 17:13, "Beth Taurasi" <denverqueen1107 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> On 8/22/2013 2:21 PM, Rod Alcidonis, Esquire wrote:
>>> 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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>> Holy ... ok, sorry about that.  I know the stuff is confidential, but I need help with drafting a letter for the appeal.  I went over and over it with RJ and we tweaked the darn thing over and over. But here's the thing: I want to know how I can easily do this in an accessible way, and how I can get this thing over with.
>> Beth
>>
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Oh no prob, Robert.  I would love to hear your advice on the letter.
Thanks.
Beth