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<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: Update- name change for the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services<BR>and the BESB Program<BR>From: "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><BR>Date: Mon, July 16, 2012 5:12 pm<BR>
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<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Dear staff and community partners,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">On July 1, 2012, with the passage of Public Act 12-1, the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services became the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). Within the Department are three interim organizational units; the administrative unit; the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (that includes the programs formerly administered by the Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired; and BESB (which includes the Workers’ Rehabilitation program). In keeping with the organizational structure, BESB will no longer be referred to as the “BESB Program” but will instead be a Bureau on the same level as the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the Vocational and Independent Living unit formerly at DSS that serves all disabilities other than blindness. The new name for BESB is the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind. This name will enable us to keep the acronym of BESB. Other than the change in name, BESB will continue to function as it has in the past year. The board will remain an active advisory body, and will not be affected by the change in name.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Over the course of this fiscal year, Commissioner Porter will be convening functional teams, comprised of staff and community partners. These teams will focus on the identification of efficiencies and priorities that will help to shape the long-term structure of DORS. Information regarding the functional teams will be distributed in the near future. Over the coming weeks, the BESB website will be updated to reflect the name change and it will be moved under the DORS agency website. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><FONT size=5 face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></div></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></span></body></html>