[nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal

Thu Apr 18 17:35:12 UTC 2013

The counselor says the supervisor denied it. The supervisor says the
counselor denied it. I have already filed an official appeal to do
mediation. Teh supervisor did not even want to provide me names of teh 4
vendors thy use for low vision exams so that I could ask them their
experience with achromats and selecting colored lenses.

On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 10:31 AM, justin williams <
justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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> >> .org/tyler%40tysdomain.com>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > 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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> >
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