[Nfbmt] Our Statement to Voc Rehab hearing tomorrow

Fri Mar 28 17:00:57 UTC 2014

thanks for the information. I tend to not always remember how many 
programs and features are involved in the agency.
On 3/27/2014 4:22 PM, Jim Marks wrote:
> 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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