[Nfbmt] Fwd: Public Hearing Announcement - Order of Selection

[David Andrews]

Well, the notice says "this message may be confidential."  And ... 
how could a notice of a public hearing be confidential.  It is a 
stock footer they put on all their messages, and isn't worth much in 
my opinion.

Dave

At 09:01 AM 12/20/2013, you wrote:
>Just out of curiosity, Jim, where did you get this message, and did 
>you not read the confidentiality notice at the bottom?
>
>I don't know what the hubbub is all about.  We all heard about this 
>at the state convention.  Blindness is a low incidence disability, 
>but it is also considered to be one that most significantly impacts 
>a person's life, so we would be among the ones at the head of the 
>line.  With its relatively low population and reputation for 
>spending money wisely, Montana is probably one of the states that 
>will be least likely to be affected by this order of selection.  Not 
>that it won't have an effect, because it will.  But I still think it 
>will not impact the blind of Montana      as much as it might other 
>disability groups or the elderly.  From what I have read about this, 
>I have concluded that those of us who are receiving services should 
>continue to receive them, and those who will need them in the future 
>will not be at the end of the waiting list or excluded altogether.  Joy
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Aldrich
>Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 7:28 PM
>To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
>Subject: [Nfbmt] Fwd: Public Hearing Announcement - Order of Selection
>
>Hello all,
>
>I just received this  post and I hope all attachments come through.
>
>Jim Aldrich
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: "Anderson, Sue (VR Helena)" <suea at mt.gov>
> > Date: December 17, 2013 at 2:09:35 PM MST
> > To: Undisclosed recipients:;
> > Subject: Public Hearing Announcement - Order of Selection
> >
> > Subject:  Notice of Public Hearing on  Order of Selection  Dear
> > Colleagues, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services (VRB)
> > will host a public hearing in Helena and invites you to share 
> your perspectives and ideas regarding the proposed waiting list 
> that will be implemented under an  Order of Selection.   VRB also 
> wishes to make the public aware of an associated policy change 
> affecting individuals who may be placed on the proposed waiting 
> list. The draft policy is attached.  Draft Order of Selection state 
> plan amendments for 4.11(b)-Annual Estimates and 4.11(c)(3)-Order 
> of Selection are also attached.
> > Federal regulations describe Order of Selection (OOS) as a 
> mechanism to continue to operate a vocational rehabilitation 
> program when there are not sufficient resources to serve everyone 
> who requires services. When a vocational rehabilitation program 
> determines that there are not enough resources, it must establish a 
> waiting list by priority category.   Those with the most 
> significant disabilities will be served first.  When sufficient 
> resources are available, individuals on the waiting list will be 
> contacted and served in chronological order based on their application date.
> > It is important to note that individuals found eligible before 
> the Order is implemented will continue to receive services; VRB 
> will not place them on the waiting list.
> > VRB anticipates that we will not have enough resources to serve 
> all individuals in federal fiscal year 2014, and anticipates that 
> OOS will be implemented the first quarter of calendar year 2014.
> > VRB regrets the disruption that the proposed waiting list may 
> cause Montanans with disabilities and will continue to closely 
> monitor the situation regarding the associated resources for the VRB program.
> >                         Date:           Thursday, January 9, 2014
> >                         Time:           1:30pm to 3:00pm
> >                         Location:       DPHHS auditorium (111 N 
> Sanders, Helena)
> >
> > If you are unable to attend the public hearing in person, you may 
> submit your comments to our website 
> (http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/detd/index.shtml) or in writing (ATTN: 
> Barbara Varnum, PO Box 4210, Helena, MT  59601).  Please submit any 
> comments you have by January 31, 2014.
> > Barbara
> >
> >
> > Barbara  Varnum, MS, CRC
> > Chief of Field Services
> > Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services PO Box 4210 Helena, MT
> > 59604
> >
> > This message and any attached documents may be confidential and/or
> > privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient, you may not read,
> > copy, distribute or use the information.  If you have received this
> > transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by
> > replying to this e-mail and then delete this message.  Thank you
> >