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<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009><FONT face=Arial size=2>List
Colleagues:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009><FONT face=Arial size=2>As part of my
work on the Maryland State Rehabilitation Council, I am a member of a
committee charged with pulling together the triennial statewide needs
assessment, a document that identifies priorities and strategies for serving
consumers of rehabilitation and which gets forwarded, as part of our state plan,
to the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration for its review.
Specifically, I'm working with OBVS personnel to target the needs of our
community for this report. IN an effort to get direct feedback on what services
would be useful to list in this written compilation of needs, DORS has asked the
affiliate to let it sponsor an informal focus group at state convention
this year. I'll be there along with other OBVS staff to receive community
feedback. To help you prepare, DORS staff has asked that I circulate the
following document so that people can begin thinking about the kind of
information that is needed for this report. Fortunately, the questions are broad
enough that they will lend themselves to virtually anything we want to discuss
as a community. I have no expectation that people will be limited to the three
minute timeframe that is referenced in this document; instead I envision that
we'll hold a free-flowing dialogue, governed in terms of format more by
numbers attending and the variety of ideas to be shared. Since I'll be
present, be sure that I will advocate for adequate time to be made for
thoroughly explaining any positions that individuals, or our organization as an
entity, may wish to convey. I hope that many will be able to attend the focus
group on Friday afternoon from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in the Pennsylvania Room. Here is
the document, both pasted below in this message and attached as a Word
document, for your attention:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=885561617-02112009>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p> </o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Statewide Needs Assessment
Focus Group<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Carousel
Hotel<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">November 13,
2009<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">1:00 – 2:30 pm (<st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:State>
Room)<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p> </o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p> </o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">DORS Triennial Statewide
Needs Assessment<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p> </o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Purpose:<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">ü<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>Help DORS identify the unmet rehabilitation and employment
needs of individuals with blindness or low-vision</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">ü<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>Help <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State> plan for meeting the rehabilitation
and employment needs of unserved and underserved populations</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p> </o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Below are questions to be posed to the
group with each person being granted three minutes to voice their concerns
and/or suggestions. <o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in">1.
<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>What are the unmet rehabilitation and employment needs of individuals who
are blind or visually impaired?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=2>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">What
can be done to meet the unmet needs of individuals who are blind or visually
impaired?</LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=3>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">More
specifically, what are the unmet rehabilitation and employment needs of blind
or visually impaired individuals who are considered unserved or
underserved?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Unserved and underserved populations
=</B> racial and ethnic minorities; rural and urban populations; and other
disability and economic sub-groups.</LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<OL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=1 start=4>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">What
suggestions do you have to meet those unmet needs?</LI></OL>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in"><o:p> </o:p></P> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>***</FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>********************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Daniel B. Frye, J.D.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Associate Editor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Braille Monitor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>National Federation of the
Blind</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Office of the President</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan
Place</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Baltimore, Maryland 21230</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Telephone: (410) 659-9314 Ext.
2208</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mobile: (410) 241-7006</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax: (410) 685-5653</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Email: <A
href="mailto:DFrye@nfb.org">DFrye@nfb.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Web Address: <A
href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Voice of the Nation's
Blind"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Braille literacy crisis in America
jeopardizes opportunities for blind people throughout the country.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="https://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=4000">You
can be part of the solution. </A></FONT></DIV>
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