[Colorado-talk] Fwd: FREE Training, 12/18/13 - "Funding of Assistive Technology Through State VRAgencies"

[Everett Gavel]

----- original message ----- 
Begin forwarded message:

From: "Sadler, Charles" <Charles.Sadler at ed.gov
Subject: FREE Training, 12/18/13 - "Funding of 
Assistive Technology Through State VR Agencies"
Date: December 4, 2013 7:54:34 AM EST
To: "NCSRC listserv (ncsrc at mcrs13.org)" 
<ncsrc at mcrs13.org

FYI. You may be interested in the following 
training on funding AT. Session is free, but 
registration is required. Registration info is at 
the bottom of the email message.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Invitation to Attend Free Teleconference Training, 
12/18/13 at 2:00 to 3:45 EST

This is the third in our three-part "Funding of 
Assistive Technology Series."  Below you will find 
information describing the training, the available 
CLE credits, and the form for registration. You 
can either use "reply" and fill out the 
registration form below OR print it, then scan and 
email, or fax it to us following the instructions 
below.

The flyer is also now available on our website at:
http://www.nls.org/files/Disability%20Law%20Hotlines/National%20AT%20Advocacy/TeleconferenceFlyerFundingATthruStateVRAgencies12-18-13.pdf
<http://www.nls.org/files/Disability%20Law%20Hotlines/National%20AT%20Advocacy/TeleconferenceFlyerFundingATthruStateVRAgencies12-18-13.pdf>.

As noted below, if you have any questions about 
this contact Lynn Urquhart (lurquhart at nls.org 
<mailto:lurquhart at nls.org>
or 716-847-0650 ext. 271).


James R. Sheldon, Jr.
Supervising Attorney
National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
237 Main Street, Suite 400
Buffalo, NY  14203
716-847-0650  ext. 262


Funding of Assistive Technology through State 
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
December 18, 2013
2:00 - 3:45 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) (See 
registration form below)

This Free 105-Minute Teleconference is for 
attorneys, advocates, assistive technology (AT) 
specialists, and others.
The presenters will provide a general overview of 
the federal criteria that governs the delivery of 
services by state vocational rehabilitation (VR) 
agencies to individuals with disabilities. The 
presenters will then explore the specific 
provisions in the federal Rehabilitation Act and 
the implementing regulations that describe when AT 
devices and services are available to allow an 
individual to participate in a VR program or allow 
an individual to achieve an employment outcome.
Finally, the presenters will describe the appeals 
system that is available to challenge any denial 
of services, including the right to pursue a case 
in court following an adverse hearing decision. 
Trainees will be offered the opportunity to ask 
questions during the presentation at specific 
times. Both presenters have extensive expertise 
related to this topic and have written and 
lectured on the topic extensively to audiences 
throughout the country.

SPONSORED BY:
The National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project
  A Project of Neighborhood Legal Services, 
Buffalo, NY
The Advocacy Center
  New Orleans, Louisiana


Funding of Assistive Technology through State 
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

Presenters:
Ronald M. Hager, Senior Staff Attorney
  National Disability Rights Network
  Washington, D.C.

James R. Sheldon, Jr., Supervising Attorney
  National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project
  Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
  Buffalo, NY

The presenters each have more than 20 years 
experience on issues related to funding of a range 
of services, including assistive technology (AT), 
through state vocational rehabilitation (VR) 
agencies. Both have lectured extensively on this 
and related topics at events throughout New York 
State and at national conferences.

Attendance Is Free, But Pre-Registration Is 
Required.
There will be no registration fee. However, since 
we are charged for each open phone line, we ask 
that two or more individuals attending from the 
same location listen from the same phone line, if 
possible.

Phone Connection, Handouts:
Handouts and a telephone call-in number will be 
emailed to participants one day before the event.

CLE Credits:
This event is approved for 1.5 hours (90 minutes 
instructional time) in Continuing Legal Education 
(CLE) credits by the Louisiana MCLE Committee. 
Check your state CLE rules to determine if they 
will recognize these credits (e.g., the NY bar 
recognizes Louisiana CLE credits; see
www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/approvedjurisdictions.shtml
<http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/approvedjurisdictions.shtml> 
for details).

=======================================================

Funding of Assistive Technology through State 
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

Program Objective:
Trainees will learn about the federal law, 
regulations, and policy that govern the delivery 
of services by state VR agencies. Trainees will 
then be introduced to the specific provisions of 
law, regulation and policy that govern the 
approval of AT devices and services to allow an 
individual with a disability to pursue a 
vocational goal. Trainees will thereby be better 
equipped to:  counsel clients with disabilities 
about the AT devices and services that may be 
available to them from a state VR agency; and 
represent clients at administrative hearings and 
in litigation if a request for an AT device or 
service is denied.

Agenda:
(A brief period for participant questions, 
submitted to a designated email address, will be 
provided at least twice during the presentation.)

Introduction
  The presenter(s) will explain the federal law 
criteria, for funding AT, under Title I of the 
Rehabilitation Act and its implementing 
regulations.

Available VR Agency Services, the Individualized 
Plan of Employment (IPE)
  The presenter(s) will review the services, 
including AT, available through state VR agencies. 
They will explain how AT devices and services are 
defined and the criteria for approving them and 
making them a part of an individual's IPE. They 
will explain federal policy that would support a 
"maximization of employment" standard for approval 
of services and the limited success maximization 
has had in the courts.

Financial Need Criteria and the Comparable 
Services Requirement
  The presenter(s) will review the core VR 
services that may not be subject to financial need 
and then discuss the wide range of services that 
most state VR agencies can be expected to limit to 
individuals who meet financial need criteria. The 
presenter(s) will explain the special rules that 
apply when an individual receives Social Security 
or SSI disability benefits. They will also explain 
the requirement that individuals seek out 
"comparable services" or other payment sources for 
the items they want funded.

Hearing and Appeal Rights
  The presenter(s) will explain the rights of an 
individual who is dissatisfied with a VR agency 
decision, including the right to mediation, an 
administrative hearing, and court review. They 
will explain the obligations of the agency to 
explain these rights in a written notice and the 
right to seek assistance through the Client 
Assistance Program in your state.

Time for Participant Questions
  We will pause at least twice during the 
presentation to take audience questions which have 
been sent in through email. If time permits, we 
will continue to take questions at the end of the 
presentation.


Registration Form
"Funding of Assistive Technology through State 
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies"
  A Live Teleconference * December 18, 2013 * 
2:00 - 3:45 Eastern Standard Time


Name:............................................................
Agency:..........................................................

Address:.........................................................

City/State/Zip:..................................................

Phone:..............................
Fax:................................ 
Email:......................

Session is Free, But Registration is Required:
Continuing legal education (CLE) credits are also 
free, but attorneys must be registered to obtain 
CLE credits.


Please Email/Fax Registration (by 12/10/13 at 5:00 
p.m. Eastern Time) to:
  Lynn Urquhart  *  Neighborhood Legal Services, 
Inc.
  Phone: (716) 847-0650 ext. 271 *
  Fax: (716) 847-0227  *
  lurquhart at nls.org <mailto:lurquhart at nls.org

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: (DEADLINE: 
12/10/13)
  Reasonable Accommodation 
Requested:...........................


Please list any attorneys who will need CLE 
certificates (include e-mail addresses):

NOTE:  Members of the Louisiana Bar are limited to 
one CLE certificate per phone line unless an 
attorney from the Advocacy Center is present.

Other Continuing Education Credits:
We will not have any additional accreditation but 
can provide certificates of attendance if that 
will help.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation 
Services Administration Disclaimer:
  The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 
provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 
stakeholders with a wide variety of information 
from numerous public, private, and non-profit 
sources in order to share emerging practices and 
to promote the achievement of competitive 
employment of individuals with disabilities. The 
information and web sites originating from outside 
of RSA are not subject to federal clearance, and 
the contents do not necessarily represent the 
policy of RSA. Endorsement by the federal 
government should not be assumed.
http://rsa.ed.gov


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