<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Jim Y. McCollum<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><div><div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</a>><br><b>Date:</b> October 3, 2018 at 12:17:26 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> DORS-DL BESB <<a href="mailto:DORS-DLBESB@ct.gov">DORS-DLBESB@ct.gov</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Notice of Public Hearing and Intent to Update the DORS-BESB Vocational Rehabilitation Policies</b><br><br></div></blockquote><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br>
The State of Connecticut, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) will be conducting a public hearing on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 184 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, CT and simultaneously
by teleconference. The purpose of the hearing is to offer the public, clients, advocates, agencies and organizations the opportunity to provide comments pertaining to proposed changes to the policies that govern the administration of the Vocational Rehabilitation
(VR) Program. The proposed changes to existing policy are in the category of Order of Selection. The p</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">roposed changes seek to (1) align BESB-VR policy language and terminology
with language utilized in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and accompanying federal regulations; (2) align BESB-VR policy language with VR policy language utilized by the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) within DORS to provide for
a uniform approach to Order of Selection policies in Connecticut; and (3) to remove language, statements and forms from BESB-VR policy that relate to procedure rather than policy.
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The proposed policy changes are available for review in the attached document and also at
</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="http://www.ct.gov/besb"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">www.ct.gov/besb</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, in the “Upcoming
Events and Announcements” Section and in the “Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation” 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 </span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="mailto:lisa.tanguay@ct.gov"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">lisa.tanguay@ct.gov</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> by no
later than October 18, 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<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:
</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="mailto:brian.sigman@ct.gov"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">brian.sigman@ct.gov</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">; 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, November 9, 2018 will be fully considered.
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