[Nfbmt] Our Statement to Voc Rehab hearing tomorrow

[Jim Marks]

DET stands for the Disability Employment and Transitions Division of the 
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.  I serve as the 
administrator of DET.  It includes Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind 
Services, Independent Living Services, Disability Determination 
Services, the Montana Telecommunications Access Program, and the 
ASPIRE/PROMISE grant.  We also include the DPHHS public transportation 
specialist, the Extended Employment Program, MonTech, Montana Youth 
Transitions, Montana Youth Leadership Forum, and other federal and state 
programs that  operate under one of the services mentioned above.  The 
town hall meeting tomorrow is for our vocational rehabilitation and 
independent living state plans.

It may be helpful to know that BLVS is organized as a statewide region 
in Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services.  Montana operates a 
combined agency, which means Montana does not have a stand-alone 
blindness agency.  Beverly Berg is the Regional Administrator of BLVS. 
Her peers are the four Regional Administrators in the general VR regions 
in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula.  All five Regional 
Administrators are supervised by the Bureau Chief of Vocational 
Rehabilitation and Blind Services, Barbara Varnum.  As the Division 
Administrator, I supervise Barbara and the other DET bureau chiefs. 
Under Beverly are the four BLVS Regional Managers.  The Managers are in 
the same offices as the general VR program mentioned above.  In each 
office, we provide a VR Counselor, an Orientation and Mobility 
Instructor,  Rehab Instructor, and an Admin Assistant.  BLVS includes 
both vocational rehabilitation and independent living functions, which 
sets it apart from the general VR program.  For example, BLVS has the 
Independent Living for the Older Blind and Visual Services Medical 
programs, which are not vocational rehabilitation.

I know this is a long answer to a simple question, but I hope it's helpful!




Best!



Jim Marks
blind.grizzly at gmail.com

On 3/27/2014 11:31 AM, Edward Robbins wrote:
> Dan,
> 	Thanks,. but, what does <DET> stand for?  You know, like BLVS stands
> for Blind & Low Vision Services?
> Thanks again.
> Ted
>
> EDWARD C "TED" ROBBINS
> , CEO MBEI, Treasurer NFB of Montana & MANAGER MAB EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
> PHONE & FAX:  406 453 6678, CELL:  406 799 6268
> 104 RIVERVIEW 5 E
> GREAT FALLS  MT   59404
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke
> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 11:06 AM
> To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmt] Our Statement to Voc Rehab hearing tomorrow
>
> Great question ted!
>
> They've requested more money in the budget for the older blind programs.
> This program has been chronically under-funded. Some of that has to do with
> off-setting instructional staff costs with OB funding, but if the increase
> comes through, it would definitely benefit older blind Montanans.
>
> HTH
> Dan
>
> Dan Burke
> Sent from iPhone
> 406-546-8546
> @DallDonal
>
>
>
>> On Mar 27, 2014, at 10:48 AM, Edward Robbins <ecrobbins517 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Jim,
>>     What does > DET's < stand for, dealing with the Elder Blind?
>> Thanks.
>> Ted
>>
>> EDWARD C "TED" ROBBINS
>> , CEO MBEI, Treasurer NFB of Montana & MANAGER MAB EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
>> PHONE & FAX:  406 453 6678, CELL:  406 799 6268
>> 104 RIVERVIEW 5 E
>> GREAT FALLS  MT   59404
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James
>> Aldrich
>> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 10:28 AM
>> To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Nfbmt] Our Statement to Voc Rehab hearing tomorrow
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Here are five statements the NFB of Montana will present at the Voc
>> rehab hearing tomorrow.  There will be a more comprehensive statement
>> written up to expand on these five points but this short version
>> should come in handy at the hearing!  If you cannot attend the
>> hearing, feel free to submit these statements in writing.
>>
>> 1. Thank you for continued support of the blind vendor's program in
>> Montana
>>
>> 2. We request funding for NFB Newsline to enhance employability and to
>> provide easy access to Career Builder job listings
>>
>> 3. Work with us to develop more effective assistive technology
>> training and support for BLVS clients 4. The NFB of Montana applauds
>> DET's efforts to increase Extended Employment closures that are
>> integrated and pay at least minimum wage.
>> However, we renew our call to end contracts with entities holding
>> 14(c) Certificates 5. The NFB of Montana strongly supports DET's
>> request for an additional
>> $100,000 in funding for the Older Blind program
>>
>>
>> I'll see you at the hearing!
>>
>> James Aldrich
>> President
>> National Federation Of The Blind Of Montana
>> (406) 698-3729
>> jkaldrich at samobile.net
>>
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