[Mn-at-large] FW: Important Information on Employment Services, SSB Open House, and a Great Minnesota Voice!

Tue Oct 6 16:34:31 UTC 2015

From: DEED Communications [mailto:MNDEED at public.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 11:26 AM
To: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Subject: Important Information on Employment Services, SSB Open House, and a Great Minnesota Voice!

[Image removed by sender. SSB Header]<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDA2LjQ5OTEyNzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAwNi40OTkxMjc5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDU5NzQwJmVtYWlsaWQ9ZGF2aWQuYi5hbmRyZXdzQHN0YXRlLm1uLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1kYXZpZC5iLmFuZHJld3NAc3RhdGUubW4udXMmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.google.com>

A Message from Director Carol Pankow
on cutbacks to Employment Services

[Image removed by sender. Image of Carol Pankow]

Dear Friends of SSB

It saddens me to announce that as of October 1, SSB has had to put limits on providing services to newly eligible customers seeking vocational rehabilitation (employment) services. Because of budget restrictions, we had to take the difficult step of implementing what is called "order of selection." Order of selection means that our workforce development team can only provide services to newly eligible customers who have the most significant barriers to employment as determined by a specific set of criteria. All other eligible customers will be put on a waiting list until a time when we have funding to serve more people. I, along with our Deputy Directors, and our whole SSB staff, are working hard to make sure that the day comes soon when we can get back to serving everyone who is eligible.

There are two important exceptions to our order of selection process:

  1.  Everyone who was in our program before September 30 will remain a customer and will continue to receive employment services. If you were determined to be eligible for our employment services on or before the end of September, the order of selection will not affect you.
  2.  The order of selection process does not apply to individuals who are in danger of losing their job and are seeking services to retain that position. There is no waiting list for these customers.

In addition, students ages 14 to 21 who are still in secondary school can continue to receive Pre-Employment Transition Services regardless of their status on the waiting list.

Our Communication Center and our Senior Services team continue to serve customers as usual. There is no waiting list for anyone seeking these services.

We're also looking to do whatever we can to help those customers who may end up on a waiting list. See below for info on our new resource guide and Open Lab ours at our Tech Resource Center.

I, along with other members of our staff, will be available that evening to answer any questions you have about order of selection and what we are doing to return to normal operations. I hope to see you then. In the meantime, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support of our agency as we work through these difficult issues.

Carol Pankow

Read our Order of Selection FAQ<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDA2LjQ5OTEyNzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAwNi40OTkxMjc5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDU5NzQwJmVtYWlsaWQ9ZGF2aWQuYi5hbmRyZXdzQHN0YXRlLm1uLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1kYXZpZC5iLmFuZHJld3NAc3RhdGUubW4udXMmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&http://mn.gov/deed/images/OOSFAQ.doc>

New Employment Resource Guide

We have put together a resource guide for navigating the world of job searching and employment as a person who is blind, DeafBlind or who has low vision. This guide can be found on our website<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDA2LjQ5OTEyNzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAwNi40OTkxMjc5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDU5NzQwJmVtYWlsaWQ9ZGF2aWQuYi5hbmRyZXdzQHN0YXRlLm1uLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1kYXZpZC5iLmFuZHJld3NAc3RhdGUubW4udXMmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/employment/index.jsp> and is provided to all new customers at intake and at the time they are put on the waiting list.

Open Lab Days at our St. Paul Office

Starting Tuesday, October 6th, 2015, the SSB Assistive Technology Resource Center will be offering staff-assisted "Open Lab" days every Tuesday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and every Thursday from 12:30 - 3:30 PM for individuals who are interested in using workstations setup with low vision, blindness and DeafBlind technology. Staff will be on hand to provide basic instruction for getting started using Resource Center workstations, basic troubleshooting and advice on using or purchasing assistive technology. The Assistive Technology Resource Center will accept walk-ins and / or reservations can be made by contacting our Assistive Technology Coordinator, Shawn Wallin, at (651) 539-2299 or via e-mail at shawn.wallin at state.mn.us<mailto:shawn.wallin at state.mn.us>.

Open Doors, Open Access
Open House at SSB

This is YOUR SSB, so please join us for a first-ever Open House on October 12, 2015 4:00 - 7:00 pm, at our St. Paul offices. Tours will showcase our Technology Resource Center, the inner-workings of the Communication Center, Employment and Senior Services, our Business Enterprise Program, the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, and the history of SSB in text and pictures. Hear from SSB leadership on new initiatives, from our State Council Chair on activities of the Council and enjoy some fall refreshments. Everyone is welcome. Please also see below for breakout sessions for teens and their families who are planning for college, and for DeafBlind Minnesotans. We'd love to know you are coming, so please RSVP to info.ssb at state.mn.us<mailto:info.ssb at state.mn.us>. We look forward to welcoming you on October 12!

Planning for College? Join us on October 12
Teens and their families are invited to join us on October 12 for a special information session on making the most of high school as you plan for college. You'll hear from blind and low vision Minnesotans who have successfully navigated the transition from high school to college. Learn from their tips and strategies about how to set a solid foundation for future independence while you are still in high school. This event is taking place during our 2015 SSB Open House. The Open House begins at 4, and the presentation on college prep will take place from 5:30 - 6:15 pm. If you plan to attend this portion of our open house, please let Sheila Koenig know by emailing Sheila.Koenig at state.mn.us<mailto:Sheila.Koenig at state.mn.us>.

SSB Welcomes the DeafBlind Community

Also in conjunction with our 2015 Open House, the DeafBlind Committee of the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (SRC-B) extends a warm welcome to all DeafBlind Minnesotans for a reception and presentation. The open house begins at 4 for the general public. At 5:00 there will be a special reception for the DeafBlind Community. The presentation portion of the event will begin at 5:30, and will feature an overview of the SRC-B from Chair Michael O'Day, remarks from representatives From the Helen Keller National Center, and greetings from the DeafBlind committee and SSB staff. If you haven't yet let us know you are coming, and you need ASL interpreting, please contact Linda Lingen or Katy Thorpe immediately.

Linda.Lingen at state.mn.us<mailto:Linda.Lingen at state.mn.us>

Katy.Thorpe at state.mn.us<mailto:Katy.Thorpe at state.mn.us>

Take a Listen to Joe Bommersbach

[Image removed by sender. Image of Joe on The Voice]

Joe Bommersbach of Grand Rapids MN turned all the judges heads at his audition on the hit TV show, The Voice. Bommersbach, who is an assistive technology specialist who contracts with SSB, goes by the stage name, Blind Joe. "I'm blind, and my name is Joe," he laughs, "and everyone has always called me Blind Joe."

Listen to an interview with Joe on the Blind Abilities podcast through Audioboom<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMDA2LjQ5OTEyNzkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTAwNi40OTkxMjc5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NDU5NzQwJmVtYWlsaWQ9ZGF2aWQuYi5hbmRyZXdzQHN0YXRlLm1uLnVzJnVzZXJpZD1kYXZpZC5iLmFuZHJld3NAc3RhdGUubW4udXMmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&https://audioboom.com/boos/3614701-blind-abilities-presents-blind-joe-his-journey-continues-on-the-voice-blindabilitieschannel>. You won't want to miss hearing his audition re-played at the end of this terrific interview.

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