[nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal

Thu Apr 18 19:11:12 UTC 2013

I have the contact info for NFB AZ state president and will be emailing or
calling him.

On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 12:05 PM, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com
> wrote:

> Absolutely, go all the way to the director of the entire rehab
> services for your state if the vision director won't listen, and if
> the overall director doesn't listen then you honestly might have
> grounds for a lawsuit.
>
> I'd really get in contact with your NFB state affiliate about this.
> They would know the system much better than any of us and would be
> able to stand behind you with this.  At this point, just do what you
> have to do to make sure your needs are met.
>
> On 4/17/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Go as high as you have to go.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne
> > Germano
> > Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 2:41 PM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal
> >
> > I have emailed requesting a face to face to make sure they have a clear
> > understanding of my request even though I sent a 2 page appeal with 12
> > supporting documents. Not to mention my initial request and follow up
> > letter
> > were very clear on what I needed and why.
> >
> > The supervisor thinks all i want is a regular low vision exam. I already
> > paid for one of those out of pocket in November. I paid for red contacts
> > ($400) out of pocket in Dec as I needed them before school started. I
> tried
> > going with 30% lighter than I was wearing for outdoors but they are still
> > not right for indoors and reading. I could not wait for the approval
> > process. I paid $600 out of pocket for glasses that I only need because
> of
> > returning to school. I paid $200 out of pocket for a monocular. I bought
> > all
> > this because I knew rehab would take forever and I was not going to start
> > the semester in a position to fail.
> >
> > What does not make sense is that they will pay for the contacts if
> ordered
> > form an AZ Dr that is one of their vendors but not if form the Dr in
> > Indiana. The contacts will cost the same. the difference would be the
> > Indiana Dr would be able to find the right color and the AZ doctors will
> > not. They also said they will pay for a low vision exam here in AZ above
> > what Medicare covers. So why they will nto pay for a doctor who
> specializes
> > in determining the right contacts for an achromat is beyond me..
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 11:15 AM, Kaiti Shelton
> > <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com
> >> wrote:
> >
> >> And if that doesn't work, go to the superviser's boss and speak
> >> directly to them.  This run around game sounds ridiculous.
> >>
> >> On 4/17/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > I would try to talk to the supervisor one more time by phone if I
> >> > could.
> >> > If
> >> > you explain your situation, and that you have filed an appeal, you
> >> > may be able to speed things up.
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> >> Shelton
> >> > Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 1:36 PM
> >> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> >> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Voc Rehab Appeal
> >> >
> >> > Hi,
> >> >
> >> > Suzanne, I totally sympathize.  I know when people don't read what
> >> > you send them it could be quite frustrating, and I'm not going to
> >> > even bring up the consumer choice stuff that they're not paying
> >> > attention to.
> >> >
> >> > I'd speak directly to the person at the top by phone.  It looks to
> >> > me like you have tried the councelor, tried the superviser, so the
> >> > next person up is probably the one you have to go to.
> >> >
> >> > On 4/17/13, 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...
> >> >>>> ______________________________**_________________
> >> >>>> nabs-l mailing list
> >> >>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> >>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org<
> http://nfbnet.
> >> >>>> org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org>
> >> >>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> >>>> for
> >> >>>> nabs-l:
> >> >>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/**
> >> >>>> tyler%40tysdomain.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nf
> >> >>>> bnet
> >> >>>> .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.
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> ______________________________**_________________
> >> >>> nabs-l mailing list
> >> >>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org<http://nfbn
> >> >>> et.o rg/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org>
> >> >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> >>> for
> >> >>> nabs-l:
> >> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/**sgermano%4
> >> >>> 0asu
> >> >>> .edu<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sgermano%
> >> >>> 40as
> >> >>> u.edu>
> >> >>>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> >> for
> >> >> nabs-l:
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/justin.williams2%4
> >> 0gmail
> >> >> .com
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> >> for
> >> >> nabs-l:
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%
> >> 40gmai
> >> > l.com
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Kaiti
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > nabs-l mailing list
> >> > nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> > for
> >> > nabs-l:
> >> >
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/justin.williams2%4
> >> 0gmail
> >> > .com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > nabs-l mailing list
> >> > nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> >> > for
> >> > nabs-l:
> >> >
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%
> >> 40gmail.com
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Kaiti
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> nabs-l:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sgermano%40asu.edu
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > nabs-l mailing list
> > nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > nabs-l:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/justin.williams2%40gmail
> > .com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > nabs-l mailing list
> > nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > nabs-l:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%40gmail.com
> >
>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sgermano%40asu.edu
>