[Cabs] Fw: [Colorado-talk] Important Message regarding 2 DVR Processes - Chapter & Division Presidents - please forward on to your email lists

Wed Aug 5 18:02:24 UTC 2015

Please see the below message regarding DVR.

From: colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎August‎ ‎5‎, ‎2015 ‎11‎:‎38‎ ‎AM
To: colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Lisa Bonderson

Greetings,
There are two important processes in motion regarding Colorado's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and they present significant opportunities for the blind of the state to receive improved services from that agency.  These things don't just happen, of course, but require our input and vigilance.
Both processes came out of the 2015 Colorado legislative session.  The first of these processes is the transfer of DVR from its long-time home in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to the Department of Labor and Employment (DLE).  This process was initiated by the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee.  The NFB of Colorado didn't ask for this transfer, but we supported it.  DLE went into motion early to make sure that the transition is a smooth one, meeting with disability advocates, including leaders of the NFB of Colorado, as early as February.  To that end, they are about to launch on a series of public stakeholder meetings across the state in order to gather input from Coloradans with disabilities.  We have continued to engage DLE officials on a number of levels and urge local leaders and members to participate in the stakeholder meetings.  The DLE has posted the schedule of meetings at
https://docs.google.com/a/state.co.us/forms/d/1Gz1v4TH04FBvUV3dcSum9GzqvGUIN8c7Vd0AdRtjKGw/viewform
The second process is the legislature's Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind Interim Study Committee.  This process was initiated by the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado following passage of Resolution 2014-7 at our convention last October and carried through the 2015 Legislature by our friend and colleague Rep. Pete Lee of Colorado Springs.  The committee's charge is to study the current effectiveness of services to the blind in Colorado's DVR and to make any recommendations for changes to the 2016 Legislature.
What we know for certain at this writing is that the committee has been appointed and its first meeting will be Wednesday, August 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. in House Committee Room 0112 at the Capitol.  What we must do is provide evidence that the current lack of structure for services to the blind in DVR aren't working and that a better model can be established in order to provide the services that blind people in Colorado need and deserve in order to become self-sufficient, contributing citizens of our state.
We are gathering documents and expert witnesses that can assist us in this effort, but we also need blind people who can share their stories, either written or oral, that will demonstrate the need for a more coordinated, identifiable service-delivery model.  Again, we need our local leaders and members to help in this initiative.  Contact Dan Burke by e-mail burke.dall at gmail.com or by phone at 406.546.8546 if you know someone or are personally interested in sharing your experiences with DVR.
At this time, we do not have any information about further meetings of the Interim Study Committee or the steps they will choose for fulfilling their charge, but will share these as they become available.
Here is our opportunity, now is the time to create a more effective service-delivery for Vocational Rehabilitation for the blind of Colorado!
Let's seize the day!
Scott C. LaBarre

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