<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br><br>Jim Y. McCollum<div>President </div><div>Shoreline Chapter </div><div>National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Connecticut </div><div>Legislative Co-ordinator, NFB of CT </div><div><a href="mailto:j.mccollum64@comcast.net">j.mccollum64@comcast.net</a> </div><div>860-581-0430 (mobile) </div><div>203-535-1620 (home) </div><div><br><div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><br><b>Date:</b> March 1, 2017 at 3:28:45 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> DORS-DL BESB <<a href="mailto:DORS-DLBESB@ct.gov">DORS-DLBESB@ct.gov</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Reminder -- Notice of Intent to Update Vocational Rehabilitation Policies for the CT Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind</b><br><br></div></blockquote><div><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Good afternoon,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I am sending out a reminder of the Notice of Intent to update the Vocational Rehabilitation Policies for the CT Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind.
The original announcement distributed in December is below and there are two documents attached as summarized in the announcement below.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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""> Sigman, Brian
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Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 1:52 PM<br>
To: DORS-DL BESB<br>
Subject: Notice of Intent to Update Vocational Rehabilitation Policies for the CT Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">ANNOUNCEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The State of Connecticut, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) will be conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, March
21, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 184 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, CT and simultaneously by teleconference. The purpose of the hearing is to offer the public, consumers, advocates, agencies and organizations the opportunity to provide comments pertaining
to proposed changes to the policies that govern the administration of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. These proposed changes incorporate new requirements p<span style="color:black">ursuant to the issuance of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 34
CFR Parts 361, 363, and 397 for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In addition to incorporating these federal changes, the Bureau is also proposing to streamline the length of the current manual and to modify formatting for consistency. Proposed
modifications to existing policy language in certain areas are also included in this draft
</span>policy manual revision that is attached to this email. A Preamble, that is available for review as an attachment to this email and also at
<a href="http://www.ct.gov/besb">www.ct.gov/besb</a>, in the “Upcoming Events and Announcements” Section and in the “Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation” Section provides an overview of the proposed changes to each Section. Large print and Braille versions
of all materials will be provided at the public hearing. For any other accommodations, including sign language interpreters, please email
<a href="mailto:Brenda.lamarre@ct.gov">Brenda.lamarre@ct.gov</a> by no later than March 1, 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Comments may be submitted in person or through teleconference at the public hearing, or may be submitted at any time during this public comment period via email to:
<a href="mailto:brian.sigman@ct.gov">brian.sigman@ct.gov</a>; mailed to Brian Sigman, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind, 184 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, CT, 06095, or recorded onto voice mail at (860) 602-4008. To participate in the public hearing
through teleconference, please call (860) 602-4008 at least one business day prior to the public hearing to obtain the call-in phone number and access code. All comments received prior to the close of business on Friday, March 31, 2017 will be fully considered.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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