[nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal

Wed Apr 17 17:31:47 UTC 2013

Try to talk to the supervisor if the counselor proves unresponsive.  Failing
that, Cap is your next attempt.  Try not to do this; try to work it out with
the counselor and the supervisor. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Germano
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 12:25 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal

Basically advice on appeals. Anyone's experience with getting services out
of state when a similar service is available in state but the instate
service clearly would not meet the needs. Best way to deal with people who
are clearly not even reading what you send them.

On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 9:18 AM, Littlefield, Tyler
<tyler at tysdomain.com>wrote:

> Suzanne:
> While I sympathize with your issues (I've had to deal with a really 
> lovely dvr system),  I"m kind of confused as to what you want out of this
message.
> Are you asking for advice? Just complaining?
>
> DVR's goal is to help get you employed. While they don't always do the 
> best job, they do help some. As part of that though, they tend to be 
> part of the government; the government isn't exactly known for speedy 
> resolution of problems.
> if you've tried to appeal to the supervisor, there is usually a state 
> office (or a main coordenating supervisor). I recommend you take that 
> route and explain the situation and the due date to them.
>
> Ultimately, you need to be nice. I understand your frustration, but 
> going higher up you'll get a lot more help if you're easier to work with.
> HTH,
> On 4/18/2013 9:59 AM, Suzanne Germano wrote:
>
>> I appealed a decision on March 15th and requested mediation. On April 
>> 11th I emailed my counselor to in quire if she and her supervisor had 
>> agreed to mediation. On April 12th her supervisor sends me a letter 
>> which clearly shows he never read the appeal documentation and asked 
>> if I was agreeable to the conditions of the letter or if I wanted ot
continue with mediation.
>> Seeing that they are still denying the request and he clearly does 
>> not even understand the request I had to fax him today saying No I do 
>> not agree and still want mediation. I think it was a delay technique 
>> since I need the approval by May 14th.
>>
>> I simply do not understand why if their goal is to help us become 
>> employed why everything is such a battle and nothing they do makes sense.
>>
>> It was all I could to to keep form saying "clearly you did not read 
>> my original request or my appeal with supporting documentation or you 
>> would have never sent the letter you did"
>>
>> This is part of what I wrote in the appeal
>>
>>   "I am appealing the denial of services dated Feb 28, 2013 based on 
>> the fact that the three contracted vendors in AZ cannot provide the 
>> service I requested.
>>
>> I have complete achromatopsia which part is severe light sensitivity. 
>> I have been wearing red contacts since 1995 when I had them prescribed by
Dr
>> Hagerston-Portnoy at UC Berkley who studies Achromatopsia.   Until
January
>> 2013 my vision requirements for the red contacts were for mainly outside
>> and very bright places (i.e. grocery stores).   However, since I decided
>> to
>> fulfill a lifetime goal of completing my degree and returning to 
>> work; my requirements have changed.  The current contacts are too 
>> dark and very likely the wrong color for 8-10 hours a day of 
>> classroom and homework. The classrooms are not extremely bright as 
>> many dim the lights somewhat for power point presentations. It is 
>> still much to bright for no filter but too dark for the reds I have. 
>> I have also noticed that the red makes reading difficult. After much 
>> research I have found many achromats go with a lighter filter or even 
>> a different color browns, magentas etc. I already tried reducing the 
>> color by 30%, from my original red from 1995, through my low vision 
>> specialist who provides the contacts. I paid $400 for the contacts in 
>> addition to the exam just to find out that even this level is not 
>> right for reading.
>>
>> I requested for RSA to cover the cost of a very specialized low 
>> vision contact lens exam and the contacts through Eye Associates in
Indianapolis.
>> Dr Windsor and Associates work primarily with acromats and specialize 
>> in being able determine the right color and percent color of the 
>> lenses. It is an extensive 4 hours appointment in which I try on 
>> contact lenses of several colors and darkness and see how they work 
>> for reading , and how they work outside with my script sunglasses. 
>> What will be the best for the average lighting I will be in during 
>> class and in study areas of campus."
>>
>> I included documentation about each of their contracted vendors and 
>> how they determine color. None of them did anything similar to Eye
Associates.
>> They only use very limited color choices. The low vision clinic in 
>> Indiana has several contacts to try. They spend 4-5 hours just
determining color.
>> Some achomats even use one color in one eye and one in the other. The 
>> Drs jsut use "the most popular colors"
>>
>>
>> So frustrating...
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>>
>
>
> --
> Take care,
> Ty
> http://tds-solutions.net
> The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
> http://code.google.com/p/**aspenmud 
> <http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud>
> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; 
> he that dares not reason is a slave.
>
>
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