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-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: FW: Agency Budget Updates [not-secure]<br>
From: "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><br>
Date: Thu, June 30, 2016 5:33 pm<br>
To: "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><br>
<br>
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</style> <div class="WordSection1"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Dear Members of the DORS-BESB Advisory Board, State Rehabilitation Council, Deafblind Advisory Board, Statewide Committee of Blind Vendors, Bureau Consumer Advisory Committee and community partners,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">As requested by Advisory Board Chair Alan Sylvestre, I am forwarding to you all the message that he received from DORS Commissioner Amy Porter that is immediately below. I am also attaching the budget document that was distributed today. The budget for DORS is on page 7.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Sylvestre, Alan <br> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 5:26 PM<br> To: Sigman, Brian<br> Cc: Porter, Amy L.<br> Subject: FW: Agency Budget Updates [not-secure]<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">Hello Brian. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">This is to request that you release, on my behalf, the message from Amy Porter shown below to the BESB Advisory Board and all members of the blindness community with whom we routinely share correspondence so they may be informed of the impact state budget reductions are having on services provided by DORS/BESB. Please let me know if I may be of further assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">I appreciate the dedicated efforts you, Amy and DORS/BESB staff put forth to minimize the impact of these substantial budget cuts and to keep the blindness community informed of their effect on services provided by the agency. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#17365D">Al<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#17365D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#17365D">Al Sylvestre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Chairman<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">BESB Advisory Board<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Porter, Amy L. <br> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 5:09 PM<br> To: Sylvestre, Alan; 'Luisa.Soboleski@asd-1817.org'<br> Cc: Sigman, Brian; Clay, Patti J.<br> Subject: FW: Agency Budget Updates [not-secure]<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Alan and Luisa,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">As the chairs of our two department level advisory boards, I wanted to share with you the email that I just sent to all DORS staff. We are clearly in challenging times, and the advisory boards will play an important role in helping us move forward. Please feel free to distribute to your board members. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I’m sure there will be questions, and I will be prepared to discuss these impacts at each of your respective board meetings if you think that would be helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Amy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> Porter, Amy L. <br> Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2016 4:08 PM<br> To: DORS-DL ALL USERS<br> Subject: Agency Budget Updates [not-secure]<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">To all DORS staff,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As you are all aware, we have been working in recent months to prioritize core services and conduct an intensive review of all programs and services against these priorities. For the Department of Rehabilitation Services, all of our services are consistent with our mission of helping people with disabilities to live, learn and work independently, so prioritizing meant looking at our programs and services through a different lens. This lens focused on questions such as: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Is this service being delivered elsewhere? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Can this service be provided in a different way? and <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If we were not able to provide the service, what would be the impact?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Taking all of these factors together, we needed to adjust to the budget that was presented and then make some incredibly difficult and painful decisions. Please understand that these decisions are in no way a reflection on the programs, the staff or the services that are impacted. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The programs affected by this careful analysis are below: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Interpreter Service Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Rehabilitation Services<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: Interpreting Services make it possible for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to obtain equal communication access within the community.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: The Department will be closing the DORS Interpreting Services program due to a change in the model we use to procure interpreting services. Effective July 15, 2016, the state will be shifting to a model that maximizes the use of other interpreting service providers, and the program will close. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Educational Aid<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: The Children’s Services Program provides specialized training, adaptive materials and services to students who have a visual disability to promote successful integration into educational settings. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: The budget reductions in this program necessitate a change in the department’s approach to purchase of services for students who are blind or have visual impairments. Effective with the start of the new school year, program staff will work to utilize the student’s Educational Plan to identify the need for adaptive equipment, aids, Braille and large print textbooks, and other related materials for students to access their educational curriculum. DORS funding will focus on the purchase of those items that fall within the parameters of the expanded core curriculum. We will also hold off on refilling vacant positions at this time. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Employment Opportunities<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: Employment Opportunities encompasses two separate programs designed to enable individuals with the most significant disabilities to engage in employment by funding long-term supports.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: The state is maximizing the use of the Affordable Care Act and other insurance coverage for individuals who were former BESB industries employees. Affected individuals have been notified and are in the process of transferring to private or federal insurance coverage. For both the BESB and BRS programs, the budget reductions may also necessitate changes in the number of individuals supported in employment, and/or the number of hours available for that support. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Vocational Rehabilitation </span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: The Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides and coordinates a broad scope of services to enable individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain integrated, competitive employment. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: The budget reduces the state funding for the two Vocational Rehabilitation programs. This reduction in state match could lead to a corresponding reduction in federal funding. Both programs will be closely monitoring their budgets to mitigate the impact and determine whether they need to introduce a service delivery Order of Selection, serving those with the most significant disabilities first. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Supplementary Relief and Services<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: Supplementary Relief and Services provides funding for adaptive devices and aids to enable individuals who are blind to remain independent in their homes and communities. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: Reductions in funding will result in a prioritization in the provision of adaptive devices and aids to those necessary for the health and safety of adults who are blind and wish to remain independent in their homes and communities. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Special Training for the Deaf Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: Special Training for the Deaf Blind provides for specialized community inclusion activities through third party vendors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: Reductions in funding in this program will result in a change in the provision of community inclusion services. The department will utilize community inclusion services available within existing institutions, group homes and cottage settings for residents who are deaf and blind. This will allow the department to prioritize funding for those living in the community who have few, if any, options for these services. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Connecticut Radio Information Service (CRIS)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: CRIS Radio is a private non-profit, 24-hour radio station that provides reading of local newspapers as well as news, talk shows, and other current events.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: Reductions in funding in this line item will result in an overall reduction in the funding available for CRIS radio. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Program: Independent Living Centers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Bureau: Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Purpose: The Independent Living Program provides comprehensive independent living services to persons with significant disabilities through contracts with Connecticut’s five community-based Centers for Independent Living. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Impact: Reductions in funding in this line item will result in an overall reduction in funding available for contracts with Connecticut’s five Centers for Independent Living Centers. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">These budget decisions have direct impact on our staff and on the individuals with disabilities that we support, and I would like to reiterate that they were not made lightly. They are necessary within the context of our new economic reality and do not reflect the value we place on the services, the staff or the customers who benefit from the services. Instead, they represent difficult choices based on the factors I outlined above. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:115%"> <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">We will continue to focus on our core services, and as we work to change our models, we will try to do so in ways that are least disruptive to our customers and which stay true to our mission. I truly appreciate your understanding and your professionalism as we work through this difficult time. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amy Porter, Commissioner<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Department of Rehabilitation Services<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">55 Farmington Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Hartford, CT 06105<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">(860) 424-4864<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#17365D"><img width="211" height="70" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D1D2E9.86EAC200" alt="Description: DORS_LOGO_639_LLW_TAGmed" wbeuser="llee@nfbct.org"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div> </div>
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