[nabs-l] Voc Rehab request denied

Thu Apr 11 03:20:02 UTC 2013

Hi,

What also might be beneficial is if you can get someone from the
company in Indiana to substantiate your claims.  I've run into issues
like what Sophie described where my Rehab councelor originally planned
to purchase something that was less expensive but not as practical for
me.  While my email justifying my request for the specific thing I
needed was not paid particular attention, testimonials on the web
about the low quality of the product they were going to buy me really
helped seal my case.  Granted, other factors played into it as well
like since a lot of schools buy these cheaper, less sturdy models the
ones I didn't want were out of stock and all that was left was what I
consider the good kind, but the reviews did play a role I think.  It
may be worth a shot, especially if you can speak with someone who has
done an exam for you from there in the past.

On 4/10/13, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:
> Thank you I will contact Bob.
>
> I submitted a 15 page document with my appeal. I explained how each of
> their doctors would try to fit me with colored lenses. I contacted each of
> them and included the actual emails from them. The eye doctor in Indiana
> sent them a 4-5 page document on what they do which I included again in my
> appeal.
>
> I will be submitted a request for ZoomText with speech for both the mac and
> Windows next week. I am a Software Engineering major so on the computer all
> the time. Before school mac zoom was enough but it does not follow the
> insertion point just the mouse pointer. I will also be doing an internship
> this summer and need to have the right technology. The more successful my
> internships the better chance I have of finding employment upon graduation.
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:17 PM, Arielle Silverman <
> Arielle.Silverman at asu.edu> wrote:
>
>> VR will pay for an out-of-state vendor if you can prove to them that
>> the vendor is better than what you can get in-state. If you haven't
>> already, you should write a letter describing why this vendor is
>> superior, and send it to your counselor and to his supervisor. You
>> should also contact Bob Kresmer in AZ to see if he can help you with
>> your appeal. His phone number is:
>> 520-733-5894
>> or
>> krezguy at cox.net
>> He is the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
>> and he knows who is at the top in Arizona VR. If you think getting a
>> prescription from this place will make a difference in your education,
>> you should pursue it.
>> As I mentioned in a previous email, I also think that learning the
>> basics of JAWS, or another screen reader, would benefit you a lot in
>> your studies and your everyday life. Have you talked with VR at all
>> about getting screen reading software?
>> Best of luck,
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 4/10/13, Robert William Kingett <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > I'm sorry to say that there isn't much that you can do. For contact
>> > lenses you'll have to pursue that avenue yourself. Even though a
>> > rehabilitation agency for the blind is supposed to provide you with
>> > tools, or resources that you'll be able to do your work successfully in
>> > school or elsewhere, most agencies will only either a, go with what
>> > they
>> > frequently do, like for example getting clients jaws for windows even
>> > if
>> > they prefer window eyes. Why? Because that agency is used to getting
>> > JAWS and the like. Or, B, go with a cheap solution. Understandable, but
>> > unacceptable. Also, from my personal experience. Counselors seem to
>> > like
>> > newly blind people because they haven’t yet formed educated opinions
>> > about what's better, for them, in the adaptive technology market. Those
>> > kind of blind people are much easier to serve because they will take
>> > anything without question and don’t need anything anymore complex.
>> > Also,
>> > even though this is going on a tangent, they tend to lean just a bit
>> > more appreciatively to simple outcomes. What I mean by this is they
>> > like
>> > the clients with simple needs that can be resolved once and that's it
>> > and don't need ongoing service, upgrades, etc. these are just my
>> > personal opinions and don't reflect the agencies as a whole because
>> > there's some people who work in the field who are real gems, and they
>> > understand the client, not just understand their immediate needs and
>> > treat them with a pacifier until later when the client realizes a
>> > permanent, yet very expensive solution, or the like. Every person is
>> > different. As I have said, these are just some of the things that I,
>> > myself, personally, have noticed and they don't reflect every agency or
>> > every social worker. I’d quietly remind your counselor, not to mention
>> > her entire staff that this is a facility, a dedicated team, that
>> > provides vocational rehabilitation. VR accomplishes this by providing
>> > support and services to promote the acquisition of skills and
>> > experiential learning that will support the consumer in meeting his/her
>> > independent living and vocational goals as well as the technology to
>> > achieve and acquire such learning, or accommodations, not technology,
>> > sorry. I didn't have my coffee yet. Remember, they are there to
>> > provide,
>> > you, as a client, specific barrier removal including assistive
>> > technology or computer training, as well as Braille, use of low-vision
>> > devises for job related functions, and/or other blindness related skill
>> > training as well as employment, etc., any kind of training or the
>> > tools/technology to acquire the training or job. Provision of
>> > rehabilitation counseling, as well as access to services and resources
>> > to support adjustment to blindness to achieve independence is given:
>> > This refers to the intellectual, emotional, and social adjustment to
>> > blindness and visual impairment as well as the provision of techniques,
>> > tools, and equipment which will enable the consumer to achieve
>> > independent living and travel functioning. You need those lenses to be
>> > able to do what you need to do and to function independently, use that
>> > word. Independently. That word will make a lot of people listen. Apart
>> > from that, I’d say tell their board staff. Provide a logical case with
>> > fact sheets and all this to present your case saying why you need these
>> > lenses. Make a clear case, not an emotion filled one. That isn't what
>> > you need and that won’t get you heard at all. present your case, first,
>> > to your counselor, and if she says no again, tell her, in plain
>> > English,
>> > no metaphors, no if’s, ands, or buts, tell her that you’re going to go
>> > up the chain of command because you were denied technology to allow you
>> > to function independently. Do this with her supervisor. Tell her the
>> > same thing. Tell her word for word. Don't change anything. Don't add
>> > anything or remove anything. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Yes, if you have
>> > to, contact the president. I hope that this helps you.
>> >
>> >
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-- 
Kaiti