[il-talk] Fw: great news

[Robert Gardner]

-----Original Message----- 
From: Abrahamson, Matt
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 9:09 AM

Subject: FW: great news

Forwarding information regarding confirmation of new RSA Commissioner.

-----Original Message-----
From: Beatty, Timothy [mailto:Timothy.Beatty at ED.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 6:56 AM
To: RSA_SILC_STATE_AGENCY_LIAISON at LISTSERV.ED.GOV
Subject: [RSA_SILC_STATE_AGENCY_LIAISON] FW: great news

Good morning,



Please see below for an announcement from Michael Yudin, Acting Assistant 
Secretary for OSERS about the confirmation of the new RSA Commissioner.



Tim



Timothy Beatty, Chief

Independent Living Unit
Rehabilitation Services Administration
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

US Department of Education

(202)245-6156

timothy.beatty at ed.gov



From: Yudin, Michael
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2013 12:09 PM
To: OSERS All HQ Users
Subject: great news



Hey team, I have great and exciting news to share with you regarding the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).



Yesterday, the Senate confirmed President Obama's nominee, Janet LaBreck, to 
be the Commissioner of RSA at the U.S. Department of Education.  As the RSA 
Commissioner in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
(OSERS), Janet will provide key leadership to States and other critical 
stakeholders in ensuring individuals with disabilities have access to 
high-quality services and supports in order to obtain meaningful, 
competitive employment and live independently in their communities.  Through 
programs such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Assistive Technology, Protection 
and Advocacy, and Independent Living, as well as others, RSA provides 
comprehensive and coordinated services to maximize employability, economic 
opportunities, and independent living.  As Commissioner, Janet will work 
with other Federal agencies, state agencies, professional organizations, 
service providers, and with other organizations of persons with disabilities 
to ensure RSA's continued leadership in improving outcomes and results for 
individuals with disabilities.



Janet's nomination comes at a critical time.  While the economy recovers, 
the unemployment rate for people with disabilities remains approximately 
twice as high as the rate for people without disabilities.  And the 
employment challenges for youth with disabilities are particularly daunting. 
Our economy demands a talented and diverse workforce.  President Obama has 
called on the Federal Government to hire an additional 100,000 workers with 
disabilities by 2015.  Senator Harkin joined with the U.S. Chamber of 
Commerce in setting a goal to increase the size of the disability workforce 
from under five million to six million by 2015.  Janet brings the type of 
skills, experience, and leadership necessary to help make the goals a 
reality.  I look forward to Janet's partnership in helping OSERS implement 
programs in a way that truly reflects our commitment to inclusion, equity, 
and opportunity for children and adults with disabilities.



Janet's experience and knowledge will strengthen the role of RSA 
Commissioner.  Currently, Janet is the Commissioner of the Massachusetts 
Commission for the Blind (MCB), a position she has held since 2007.  Janet 
joined the MCB in 1985 as Consumer Advocate.  She has served in a number of 
positions at the MCB since then, including Independent Living Coordinator, 
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Regional Director of Central 
Massachusetts.  Since 2005, she has worked as an Adjunct Professor at 
Assumption College, where she teaches courses in rehabilitation of the blind 
and case management in rehabilitation.  She was awarded an honorary 
Doctorate of Humane Letters from the New England College of Optometry.  She 
received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.Ed. from 
Springfield College.



Congratulations Janet!  Commissioner LaBreck will begin her duties in 
Washington, DC on August 26, 2013.  Please join Arne and me in welcoming 
Janet to the ED team!





Michael K. Yudin

Acting Assistant Secretary

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

U.S. Department of Education