<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
code
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Courier New";}
pre
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
tt
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Courier New";}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;}
span.HTMLPreformattedChar
{mso-style-name:"HTML Preformatted Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted";
font-family:Consolas;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;}
p.attach, li.attach, div.attach
{mso-style-name:attach;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;}
p.bold, li.bold, div.bold
{mso-style-name:bold;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
font-weight:bold;}
p.green, li.green, div.green
{mso-style-name:green;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
color:#628C2A;}
p.replbq, li.replbq, div.replbq
{mso-style-name:replbq;
mso-style-priority:99;
margin:3.0pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.ad, li.ad, div.ad
{mso-style-name:ad;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.underline, li.underline, div.underline
{mso-style-name:underline;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.ad1, li.ad1, div.ad1
{mso-style-name:ad1;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.ad2, li.ad2, div.ad2
{mso-style-name:ad2;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:7.5pt;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.underline1, li.underline1, div.underline1
{mso-style-name:underline1;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.yshortcuts
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts;}
span.yshortcuts1
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts1;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;
font-weight:bold;}
span.yshortcuts2
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts2;
font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;
font-weight:normal;}
span.EmailStyle36
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle37
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold;}
span.EmailStyle38
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold;}
span.EmailStyle39
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Cornelius, Matt [mailto:Matt.Cornelius@ct.gov] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 09, 2017 8:35 AM<br><b>To:</b> dawgmawm@gmail.com; amb.burke@gmail.com; agorzelany@gmail.com; erival@comcast.net; lackerman01@snet.net; bwhorberg@snet.net; dhhorberg@snet.net; Brianna Bryant <girlygirl208956@yahoo.com>; 'Carolyn Kryzanski' <carol.kryzanski@sbcglobal.net>; Cooper Kendall <cooperkendall101@yahoo.com>; dburque@gmail.com; dspruill87@gmail.com; lonewolf06488@sbcglobal.net; dave@pressureseal.com; 'dgregoire@liberty-bank.com' <dgregoire@liberty-bank.com>; dean dickson <captiandickson@gmail.com>; Elizabeth Greenwood 2 (elizabethg70@hotmail.com) <elizabethg70@hotmail.com>; Gannon <gannonolson@yahoo.com>; Gianna.Ardito@anthem.com; vartaniangwen@gmail.com; HHamit Campos <hamitcampos@gmail.com>; Hamna Mahboob <hamna.m1997@yahoo.com>; 'djjavi527@gmail.com' <djjavi527@gmail.com>; hcarpio@optonline.net; Janice Vazquez <janicemvazquezt@gmail.com>; jw116yz@gmail.com; 'jeffry gianini' <jeffrygianini@att.net>; Jennifer Flèche <jenna686@aol.com>; Jennifer Polanco <jenpol20@hotmail.com>; spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net; jmcnickle@continentalit.com; jjmodi56@gmail.com; Jordan Klem <jklem244@gmail.com>; Kate Katulak <katekatulak@gmail.com>; galen6499@yahoo.com; Mary Silverberg <marysilverfox@gmail.com>; maurojr87@msn.com; marwindsor@comcast.net; 'mp2009.michael@gmail.com' <mp2009.michael@gmail.com>; Michelle Hackman <michelle.a.hackman@gmail.com>; mike rouillard <rouillardmike@gmail.com>; molly brainard <brainardmolly@gmail.com>; muhammad abubakar <abubakarmuhammad27@gmail.com>; 'nyemapinkney@comcast.net' <nyemapinkney@comcast.net>; caseypm101260@gmail.com; patheffernan43@gmail.com; pattyandjondavis@sbcglobal.net; Patrick Olsen (jannjenn@hotmail.com) <jannjenn@hotmail.com>; paul.benoit@pw.utc.com; Phillip A. Magalnick (philmagx3@yahoo.com) <philmagx3@yahoo.com>; Richard Cognata <richcognata@gmail.com>; PALASKI65@COMCAST.NET; rakar5@sbcglobal.net; r.a.raymond@worldnet.att.net; robin.woodbury@gmail.com; rongwei tan (rongweitan95@gmail.com) <rongweitan95@gmail.com>; sphrobson@gmail.com; Samantha Scarmella 2 <scarmsa@gmail.com>; Shannon Sady-Johnson (allybird27@mail.com) <allybird27@mail.com>; shonda.r.rosetta@gmail.com; s.marino2@snet.net; Potz, Stephen E PW <stephen.potz@pw.utc.com>; famigliettis@ciboakhill.org; Sunshine Lawson <alwaysladysunshine@hotmail.com>; Suzanne.palacios@uconn.edu; honorata1120@gmail.com; tammy chabotte <dreamchasers@metrocast.net>; Tammy Paradis <lollipopkid2@aol.com>; thomask21@gmail.com; 'tobalicious1@gmail.com' <tobalicious1@gmail.com>; 'cookety@gmail.com' <cookety@gmail.com>; VISHAL14@SNET.NET; wschiavo@snet.net; zuleika Martinez <zuleika_martinez@aol.com><br><b>Subject:</b> FW: May 10th National Town Hall: Hot Topics in VR plus Aging and Vision Loss, Janet LaBreck and Special Guests<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> Eukers, Jenifer <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 08, 2017 7:44 AM<br><b>To:</b> DORS-DL BESB Voc Rehab<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: May 10th National Town Hall: Hot Topics in VR plus Aging and Vision Loss, Janet LaBreck and Special Guests</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Forwarding…sounds interesting…</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Jenifer Eukers</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>DORS – BESB</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>184 Windsor Avenue</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Windsor, CT 06095</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Office: 860-602-4004</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Fax: 860-602-4030</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Email: <a href="mailto:jenifer.eukers@ct.gov">jenifer.eukers@ct.gov</a></span></b><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> Andrea Giudice [<a href="mailto:dawgmawm@gmail.com">mailto:dawgmawm@gmail.com</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, May 06, 2017 6:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> Andrea Giudice<br><b>Subject:</b> May 10th National Town Hall: Hot Topics in VR plus Aging and Vision Loss, Janet LaBreck and Special Guests</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Good morning,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>This seems like a good meeting to know about and or share.</span><o:p></o:p></p><div id=ygrp-mlmsg><div id=ygrp-msg><div id=ygrp-text><p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Andrea</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>View this email in your browser <br><br>Reminder: You're invited!<br><br>Join<br>former RSA Commissioner, Janet LaBreck, & Special Guests<br><br>for<br>A National Town Hall: Hot Topics in Voc Rehab and Aging Policy and Practice<br><br>Hosted by the<br>American Foundation for the Blind<br>and the<br>21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss<br><br>Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 3pm Eastern<br><br>To join the call:<br>Dial: 1-866-939-3921<br>Enter code: 44731081#<br><br>Advocates for quality vocational rehabilitation (VR) and independent living services for people who are blind or visually impaired continue to be concerned about the future of blindness-related VR service delivery and the funding and direction of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program. In addition to a growing population of potential OIB program clients and federal spending that currently only allows less than 2% of clients who could benefit from the OIB program to actually receive services, recent developments in VR policy and practice are raising troubling questions for many advocates. How will the U.S. Education Department's new VR regulations closing the door to so-called homemaker closures potentially hurt clients and further burden the OIB program? What intended and unintended consequences may be expected from Congress's requirement that 15% of VR agencies' federal resources be devoted to transition-related services? And how are these and other developments, such as the renewed rhetoric of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) against so-called non-integrated employment settings, particularly AbilityOne programs, likely to play out over time?<br><br>On Wednesday afternoon, May 10, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm Eastern, you are invited to engage with expert program administrators and professional Washington advocates with first-hand expertise in these critical questions. AFB and the 21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss are hosting a free teleseminar town hall for any and all who may be interested in the future of the VR and OIB programs, the scope and quality of services provided, and federal funding for their future success.<br><br>Join a lively and interactive discussion with former RSA Commissioner Janet LaBreck, under whose leadership the most recent VR regulations were developed. Ask your questions, raise your concerns, and learn from a national expert in VR service delivery about how to better distinguish fact from myth about the Education Department's stance on this array of critical issues. Then, we will turn with Ms. LaBreck to an extended conversation about the future of the OIB program and how advocates can work most effectively with policymakers to protect and enhance the program during these unpredictable times.<br><br>We will also be joined by Mike Hall and Alyson Lewis from Madison Associates, LLC, a government relations firm in Washington, D.C. that specializes in appropriations and budget issues. Mike and Alyson were retained by AFB more than fifteen years ago to assist us and our field with the successful national campaign to increase funding for the OIB program and to put it on the path that has led to the program's current funding level of more than $33 million. Mike and Alyson will provide all of us with an expert read on the appropriations process and how best to maneuver through the uncertain course ahead of us.<br><br>To join the call, no RSVP is required. Simply dial the teleconference number and participant code a few minutes prior to the 3pm Eastern start time. Our special guests will share their perspectives and take questions, including your questions and comments, and then we will be inviting brief update presentations summarizing work to date in each of the four goal areas of the 21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss: funding for services, quantity and quality of personnel, collaboration to maximize resources, and Medicare coverage of low vision devices. Read more about the Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss at the following link: <a href="http://www.afb.org/aging">www.afb.org/aging</a><br><br>Again, a few minutes prior to 3pm Eastern on Wednesday afternoon, May 10:<br><br>Dial: 1-866-939-3921<br>Enter code 44731081#<br><br>We look forward to your participation, and please share this announcement far and wide via your own networks. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>