[nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal

Thu Apr 18 18:42:27 UTC 2013

Looks like you'll need to go beyond the supervisor. In government,
every supervisor has someone who supervises him/her. So, I would go as
far up the ladder as you need to go until you get the services you
need.

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 18, 2013, at 1:36 PM, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:

> 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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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 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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