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<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: FW: [NCSAB Exec] WIA Update<BR>From: "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="http://Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><BR>Date: Fri, July 15, 2011 2:01 pm<BR>To: "'<a href="mailto:llee@nfbct.org">llee@nfbct.org</a>'" <<a href="mailto:llee@nfbct.org">llee@nfbct.org</a>><BR><BR>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Hi Lucia,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Immediately below is an update on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act from the NCSAB policy advisor Dr. Fred Schroeder.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">MEMORANDUM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">To NCSAB Executive Committee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">From: Fred Schroeder<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Date: July 15, 2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Subject: WIA Update<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">As you know, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">released its draft of a bill to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">(WIA) in mid June. Committee staff allowed a very brief time for<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">organizations and individuals to review the draft and to submit comments.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">The WIA reauthorization was originally scheduled for full committee markup<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">on June 29 but was rescheduled for July 13. The date of the hearing was<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">again pushed back to July 27, and it has now been pushed back once again to<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">August 3.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">One concern on which we commented relates to the proposed new Section 511.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Section 511 would require VR agencies to take a number of affirmative steps<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">before placing an individual into sheltered (extended) employment at a<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">subminimum wage. Our concern is that the new Section 511 seems to be<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">reopening the door to sheltered workshop placements by VR agencies. We have<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">talked with Committee staff and they assure us that the intent is to<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">discourage sheltered subminimum wage employment. We support the Committee's<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">view that sheltered work should be minimized; however the new Section 511<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">seems to work in a way contrary to the Committee's goal.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Another of are concerns relates to the administration of the older blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">program. Language in the proposed bill for Title VII, Independent Living,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">establishes a new Independent Living Administration (ILA) with a director<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">appointed by the Secretary of Education. The ILA director will have<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">authority over the Independent Living parts B and C programs but not over<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">older blind services. The older blind program will continue to be<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration; however the name<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">of the program will be changed to remove the reference to independent living<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">services. The services and other program requirements are unchanged.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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<div class=MsoPlainText><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">As further information becomes available, I will pass it along.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
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