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<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Greetings to all!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">I have provided my thoughts to Daniel Frye,
Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission For The Blind And Visually
Impaired, highlighting the January issue of the Commission Edition.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Dan!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">My comments follow.</FONT></DIV><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
<DIV><BR>Thanks again for an outstanding issue of the Commission
Edition.<BR>Each month I look forward to read the fine work being
administered by you <BR>and the dedicated staff of our state agency.<BR>I
forward your Commission Edition to all members on the National Federation <BR>of
the Blind of New Jersey's distribution list.<BR>As I have stated previously,
Let's work together to make a difference to <BR>raise the expectations of blind
people to live the life we want and to <BR>transform our dreams into
reality.<BR>Looking forward to another outstanding year.</FONT><BR><BR>We care.
We share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President <BR>National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your
unwanted vehicle to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call
855 659 9314<BR></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>***</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><FONT size=3
face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="HEIGHT: 26px; WIDTH: 21px; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-LEFT: 42px; LEFT: 0px; Z-INDEX: 251657216; MARGIN-TOP: 4px; mso-ignore: vglayout"><IMG
src="cid:F20F13A74D0D4A619E7E64FA6C15D9F2@JoeHP" width=21 height=26
v:shapes="_x0034_-Point_x0020_Star_x0020_10"></SPAN><IMG hspace=12
alt=MC900030199[1] src="cid:D3248E7F8F4641A6A0230DE1B04EDADF@JoeHP" width=70
align=left height=65 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9"><SPAN
style="HEIGHT: 26px; WIDTH: 21px; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-LEFT: 428px; LEFT: 0px; Z-INDEX: 251658240; MARGIN-TOP: 4px; mso-ignore: vglayout"><IMG
src="cid:F20F13A74D0D4A619E7E64FA6C15D9F2@JoeHP" width=21 height=26
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align=left height=65 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7"><IMG hspace=12
alt=MC900030199[1] src="cid:D3248E7F8F4641A6A0230DE1B04EDADF@JoeHP" width=70
align=left height=65 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6"><IMG hspace=12
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align=left height=65 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5"><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Bodoni MT Black",serif'>C</SPAN></I><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 20pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Bodoni MT Black",serif'>ommission
</SPAN></I><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Bodoni MT Black",serif'>E</SPAN></I><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 20pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Bodoni MT Black",serif'>dition<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Bodoni MT Black",serif'>The Monthly
Newsletter of the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>January 2017 – Volume
5, No. 1</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Monotype Corsiva"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Daniel B. Frye,
J.D.
Pamela Gaston<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Executive
Director
Editor<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">From the Director’s Desk
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>My single work-related
resolution for 2017 is to preside over the continued successful operation of the
New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI or Commission),
concentrating primarily on adhering to our agency’s core mission of providing
high-quality education, training, and employment to our consumers; adjusting to
the evolving Federal environment in which Vocational Rehabilitation agencies
must operate as a result of the new requirements of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act of 2014; refreshing our division’s regulations and internal
policies so that they are current and provide transparency and clarity about our
processes and practices to our staff, consumers, and members of the general
public; and facilitating the development of new, imaginative, and innovative
programs in all areas of our multiple program disciplines that set a national
standard of excellence for service provided to blind, vision-impaired, and
deaf-blind consumers in New Jersey. The terms of this humble resolution are all
that I want to see accomplished this year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Toward this end,
January sees us well on our way to achieving many of these goals. After
considerable work among our staff, and with our valued stakeholders, CBVI will
publish two administrative code chapters (N.J.A.C. 10:92 and N.J.A.C. 10:97)
governing our Blindness Education and Business Enterprises New Jersey (BENJ)
programs respectively in the <I>New Jersey Register</I> on Tuesday, January
17, 2017. Both of these proposed rules outline significant reforms in our
Blindness Education and BENJ programs that will enhance services for
constituents of these services. The Commission looks forward to receiving public
comments that may be considered in refining the re-adoption of these new rules,
but we are optimistic that our inclusive practices used to fashion these rules
reflect a progressive set of policy values that will benefit our consumers for
years to come. While final work remains to be undertaken before these rules are
fully adopted, I think that those involved in helping to develop these two
administrative chapters deserve our collective congratulations. The publication
of these chapters represents months of interactive deliberation and hard work;
and the publication of these two rules during the first month of 2017 provides
the Commission with a true sense of forward-moving
momentum.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Closely connected,
CBVI’s senior leadership is spending some of this first month of the year
reviewing and updating our agency circulars, the documents that outline
division-specific policies on a variety of issues. We expect to consider revised
first drafts of all of our circulars on Friday, February 3, 2017. Look forward,
within the next several months, to an announcement that introduces revised and
updated internal policies. These will be shared widely on our agency’s intranet
and through other avenues of internal communications. I am optimistic that
re-issuing these will go a long way to providing needed clarity and uniformity
for our statewide staff.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Similarly, members of
the agency’s Executive Leadership will be meeting with representatives of Libera
and Alliance from January 25-27 to begin the preliminary conversation about our
migration from System Seven to Aware, a new case management system that we hope
to implement within the next twelve to fifteen months. Libera, the owners of
System Seven (known to us as FACTS), have announced that they will be exiting
the vocational rehabilitation space, as it relates to providing a case
management solution, so it is critical that the Commission move deliberately but
as soon as possible to the other case management system that we know to be
effective for handling the diverse program services that the Commission
administers. This beginning groundwork promises to set the stage for a smooth
and efficient transition for the case management system that will serve CBVI’s
staff and consumers into the future.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>In addition to these
three systemic efforts, I have been working closely with Commission leaders on a
variety of matters, including the move of our Hammonton Service Center to
offices in Atlantic City, preparing for our 2017 summer season of transition
programs, gathering on Thursday, January 19 with our friends from the Institute
on Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston to work
on the further development of our Business Relations Unit, and devoting
strategic energy in working with CBVI’s Human Resources staff to fill critical
mid-level supervisory roles in our Independent Living and Blindness Education
units. We are also currently recruiting qualified Orientation and Mobility
instructors to help strengthen our already talented cadre of travel teachers. In
general, staff can always help the Commission maintain a high caliber of
professional and paraprofessional staff by referring potential candidates that
you may know who possess appropriate credentials, to our Human Resources office.
While we may not be looking for a given position at any particular time,
building a bank of qualified and interested people who want to join our
community of qualified team members is vitally important so that we can quickly
have candidates on hand to fill any vacancies, expected or
otherwise.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>As I conclude my
January 2017 column, allow me to circle back to my humble resolution offered at
the beginning of this piece, and urge all of you to remember that the delivery
of high-quality, consumer-focused services is and must always be the hallmark of
CBVI’s performance objective. Remember, in engaging with our consumers, to say
“yes” when you are able and “no” only when you must. This spirit of supportive
consumer service delivery should infuse all that we do at the Commission; such a
spirit will ultimately be the professional force that creates hope and
opportunity, the two intangible ingredients in the success of any Vocational
Rehabilitation agency. Thank you for all that you do.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Daniel B.
Frye<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Executive
Director<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoSubtitle><B><U><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; COLOR: windowtext'>Learning Lunch
Reminder: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>As previously noted,
these monthly sessions will see me meeting with five CBVI staff and a member of
our Executive Management Team to receive feedback or suggestions on what the
Commission might do that is new and exciting. Please indicate your
interest in being part of such an up and coming forum by sending an email with
the subject line “Learning Lunch” to my assistant, Melissa Brown, at </SPAN><A
href="mailto:Melissa.Brown2@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Melissa.Brown2@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>***************************************************************************************************************************************************************<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Program
Administration – John C. Walsh, Chief<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"
align=center><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Reading List for
2017:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Customized Approaches,
Decision Making Processes, and Creating a Learning
Organization<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>I am using this month’s
Commission Edition article to share my reading list of non-fiction books for
this year. I hope that some of the topical areas may be of interest to you
as well and may also enrich your desire for life-long learning. You
will notice a common theme in my choices for this year that focus on the
processes in decision making, applying customized approaches to how we deal with
our challenges and opportunities, and developing an organizational culture that
is conducive to continuous learning and improvement.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“Designing Your
Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave
Evans<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>I find myself in
greater alignment with searching for new beginnings at the start of a new
calendar year. The cycle of the end of one year and the birth of a new
year puts me in a reflective mood and I have a greater openness for exploring
new ways to interact with the world. On New Year’s Day I came across an
interesting article in the New York Times by Kevin Granville, entitled “The Best
Time to Retune Your Career? It’s Probably Right Now”. The author
highlighted several topical areas around careers including “Finding a New Job”
and “Finding Happiness at Work”. Several new books were recommended
on these topics, including the book I noted above by Bill Burnett and Dave
Evans. I have just begun reading this first book on my list.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The authors are both
professors in the Design Program at Stanford University and have a background in
engineering and product design. The duo created a very popular
undergraduate course at Stanford by the same title and the concepts and
practices are now available in book form. The authors use general
principles of design, and an experiential process of discovery to explore the
potential paths to take in building our own unique life. There is no
one right way, and the journey may be quite circuitous. From a
cursory reading of the review and the beginning text, I believe there are
interesting concepts which can be applied to our work in helping consumers
discover their own paths. Their process encourages curiosity, taking
risks, being willing to fail multiple times, continuing to explore new ways to
solve life’s problems and to seize opportunities to promote human
flourishing. The authors have also set up a web page that offers many of
their work sheets, as the process is very action driven. We learn by doing
and engaging. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Their web site is
designingyour.life (the web page listed is not a typo, it is “designingyour”
“dot” “life”) <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“The Fifth
Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization” by Peter M.
Seng<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Although I read the
first edition of this book from 1990, which has become a must read in the field
of Organizational Development, the author released a revised version of his
treatise in 2006, which adds a new section entitled “Reflections from
Practice”. This updated version shares information on how the concepts
from his original book are being implemented in organizations throughout the
world to create learning organizations. The author defines a learning
organization as, “Organizations where people continually expand their capacity
to create the results they truly desire, where new expansive patterns of
thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people
are continually seeking how to learn together.” A key component of the
book centers on team learning. The author asserts that teams, and not
individuals, are the fundamental learning unit in modern
organizations. As our organization continues to develop strategic
teams to deal with world that is continually increasing in complexities and
uncertainties, I am hopeful that Peter Senge’s applied wisdom may assist me in
fostering these transformational concepts at our
organization.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“The Undoing Project: A
Friendship that Changed our Minds” by Michael
Lewis<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The author who wrote
“Moneyball” and “The Big Short” explores in his latest book the relationship
between two Israeli psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, who
performed seminal research on how humans form judgments and make
decisions. In particular, Lewis was interested in exploring how
experts in any field can misjudge situations, warped by the experts own
mind. This book was on my Christmas wish list as a present and I am happy
to report that my youngest daughter, an English major, had it under the tree for
me on Christmas morning! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>A large part of our
work at CBVI is to assist our consumers with making major life decisions about
their education and career. I am interested in learning more about
what research tells us about the decision making process, so I have a better
understanding of how I make decisions and this may also be of assistance
to those around me. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“Workforce of
One: Revolutionizing Talent Management Through
Customization”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>by Susan M. Cantrell
and David Smith<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Abbey Cooper, the
trainer from Marc Gold and Associates, mentioned in one of the training sessions
on Customized Employment, that the book by Cantrell and Smith formed the basis
of many of the concepts and techniques utilized in the Customized Employment
approach. I am eager to delve deeper into these concepts as I
believe that customized approaches offer promise of enhancing our ability to
better serve the full diversity of our consumers who are seeking meaningful
employment.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>I hope that you also
find these books of interest as well, and I wish you a healthy, productive, and
learning-filled 2017!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Organizational
Logistics – Ines Matos, Chief</SPAN></U><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=Default style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"
align=center><B><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Email
Encryption<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Every DHS employee is
responsible for guarding against the unauthorized use or disclosure of Protected
Health Information (PHI). </SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Please adhere to the
following requirements issued by the Department of Human Service’s Office of
Legal Affairs</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“Whenever an employee sends an email
containing Protected Health Information (PHI) to a destination outside of the
DHS Network, the <B>email must be encrypted. </B>All emails needing encryption
should be marked “confidential” through your Microsoft Outlook email
application. To do this, select the Options tab and select more
options. A properties box will be displayed. Select confidential
from the sensitivity drop down box. Additionally, you can encrypt message
contents and attachments by checking off that box under security settings in the
properties box.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=Default><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Please contact
the CBVI help desk (973-648-4971), if you have any
questions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=Default><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Fiscal Services –
Edward Szajdecki, Chief <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>As the New Year gets
underway, the Fiscal Team would like to advise you all of the
following:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Fiscal has begun the
semi-annual process of certifying all employee cost centers for cost allocation
purposes. The process will be led by Jim Kopcho and will cover the periods
ending December 31<SUP>st</SUP> and June 30<SUP>th</SUP> every year as we go
forward. This effort is necessary to ensure that all employees’ salaries are
assigned to the proper unit in accordance with the Commission’s Cost Allocation
Plan. The plan maximizes the use of VR grant funds through the proper
certification of all staff that are in any way involved with VR related
functions. Although the majority of the process will be handled by the
Coordinators, Managers and Supervisors, individual employees may be contacted by
Fiscal staff who will ask for their work location, supervisor and brief job
description. If this occurs, please do not be alarmed. The respective Fiscal
staff member should identify themselves and notify you that the contact is part
of the cost allocation verification process. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Effective immediately,
all staff who create authorizations that involve requests for “Rapid Payment” or
“Client Assistance” funds must attach all supporting documentation to both the
consumer ECF and the authorization (or CA request form). The client ECF is a
protected and secure HIPAA file with limited staff access. Not all Fiscal staff
members have access to the client ECF. If the documentation is not attached to
the authorization, it may not be available to the Fiscal staff processing the
authorization. This will delay the processing time and possibly impact CBVI’s
ability to address the consumer’s needs on a timely basis.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Also effective
immediately, we request that all staff use the </SPAN><A
href="mailto:CBVI-Fiscal@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>CBVI-Fiscal@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> group email
address, instead of directing general inquiries and requests to individual
Fiscal team members. This again is another modification being implemented with
the goal of enhancing our ability to expediently and effectively respond and
provide necessary support to all staff. Of course, if you have already been
working on a matter with a specific member of the Fiscal team, it is okay to
continue that email exchange directly. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>As always, feel free to
contact me or any member of the Fiscal team with your related questions or
concerns and thank you for your anticipated cooperation.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Vocational Rehabilitation and Transition
Services – Amanda Gerson, Coordinator <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Career Exploration
Center Pilot in the Newark Service Center – Submitted by </SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Amanda Gerson; Fanny
Mendoza, VR Counselor, NSC; and Yesenia Carrasquillo, O&M Specialist, NSC:
</SPAN></B><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The
Development of Quality Career and Employment Program Strategic Planning
Initiative team, led by Fanny Mendoza, has been instrumental in developing a
Career Exploration Center pilot program in the Newark Service Center. This
center is located on the 5<SUP>th</SUP> floor at 153 Halsey Street, Newark, and
has four accessible computers and a small conference table to enable the
implementation of various vocational skills related activities for our
consumers. The computer stations will allow consumers, by appointment or during
pre-determined walk-in hours, to utilize a computer for job exploration, resume
development, use of the Talent Acquisition Portal, and job applications. The
meeting space will enable Business Relations Specialists (BRS) and Vocational
Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC) the opportunity to host regular small-group
vocational workshops to assist consumers in reaching their vocational goals.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The team worked
diligently to evaluate and create an in-depth seminar to target critical
employment and interviewing skills. They are in the final stages of
piloting the first Interview skills training seminar which will be launched
soon. Dates will be determined shortly for future consumer training seminars
being piloted in the Newark Service Center. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Final policies and
procedures are being created collaboratively by the staff involved and
additional groups and workshops will be developed by our BRS and VRC staff, as
the pilot is implemented. The plan is to replicate the model in each of the
regional service centers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>For further information
or to reserve the Career Exploration Center, please contact Amanda Gerson:
973-648-3660 / </SPAN><A href="mailto:Amanda.Gerson@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Amanda.Gerson@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Educational
Services – Eva Scott, Director of Blindness Education<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"
align=center><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“Be kind whenever
possible. It is always possible.”</SPAN></I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> - Dalai
Lama<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>It is hard to imagine,
but the middle part of the 2016-2017 academic year will be with us in a few
weeks. Our teachers are currently preparing their Mid-Year Progress
Summaries that will be sent to parents by the end of January. They are
also beginning to gather books and materials for hard copy Braille or large
print. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Blindness Education
Staff Changes: Farewell, Michael and Welcome, Patrick: </SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>On December 23, 2016,
our Education Supervisor in the Freehold Service Center, Dr. Michael Colucci
announced his resignation after 14 years with CBVI. I will miss his
wisdom, leadership, and good humor, and wish him much happiness, leisure, and
safe travels as he embarks upon his retirement. As Michael departs, I
would like to give a warm welcome to new teacher, Patrick Robinson, who works
from the Newark Service Center. Pat completed his Master’s Degree in
Teacher of the Vision Impaired at the University of Massachusetts and has worked
at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA and at the ECLC (Education,
Careers, & Lifelong Community) of New Jersey. He has experience in
working with blind students who have additional disabilities and recently became
a certified Unified English Braille transcriber.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>SHARP 2017:
</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Planning is underway
for SHARP 2017 which will occur again in two sessions this summer. Session
One will be held from July 11<SUP>th</SUP> through 27<SUP>th</SUP>, and Session
Two will be held from August 1<SUP>st</SUP> through 17<SUP>th</SUP>.
Invitations to participate will be sent to the parents of CBVI students in
grades 1 through 8 in early February. This year, there will be an emphasis
on providing students with fun and fulfilling opportunities to demonstrate their
literacy skills, especially Braille literacy skills as well as skills of
independence that were learned during the regular school year.
During the past two summers, SHARP students benefitted not only from the
program’s focus on practicing blindness skills but also the opportunity to make
friends with other students from across their region of the state. We are
looking forward to continuing this worthwhile program and build upon the
successes of the past two summers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Student Assessment:
</SPAN></B><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>In an
effort to make sure that our Blindness Education Unit is serving our students in
the best ways possible, I am forming a committee of teachers and education
supervisors to review our current assessment practices, especially as they
relate to functional vision assessments and learning media assessments.
There is a consensus that this is an area which we would like to strengthen.
With the current wonderful balance of seasoned teachers and novice teachers,
there is a rich base of knowledge upon which to draw for this
task.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>George F. Meyer
Instructional Resource Center - College Board Simplifies Request Process for
College Board Assessments and Receiving Accommodations – Submitted by Christine
Hinton: </SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Beginning January 1,
2017 students needing test accommodation(s) and who have current Individualized
Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan will have the same needed accommodations
listed in their plans provided to them when taking the SAT, PSAT, Subject Tests
and AP Exams. This streamlined process approved by the College Board in
August 2016 allows schools to directly approve a student’s needed accommodations
for College Board testing. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>High school based
testing coordinators are only required to answer two questions when submitting
requests for students to receive testing accommodations:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-add-space: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>“Is
the requested accommodation in the student’s plan?” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-add-space: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>“Has
the student used the accommodation(s) in school testing?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>If the student answers
yes to both of these questions, eligible students can be approved to receive
most accommodations on College Board Exams. Along with the process for
approval to receive accommodations the following test formats are now available
to students with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 7.5pt; BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt"><SPAN lang=EN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Beginning with the
October PSAT and March SAT, two new test formats will be available for students
with disabilities to allow students with disabilities to access these
tests:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN-LEFT: 30.35pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>MP3 audio test format:
Audio version of test, delivered on a flash drive. </SPAN><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN-LEFT: 30.35pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Assistive
technology-compatible test format: Digital test form, delivered on a flash
drive, for use with screen readers and other assistive technology.
</SPAN><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Students should contact
their local school guidance counselor or refer to the College Board website at
</SPAN></B><A href="http://www.collegeboard.org"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>www.collegeboard.org</SPAN></A><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> for more
information.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Independent
Living & Clinical Services – Elizabeth DeShields,
Coordinator<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 6.0pt"
align=center><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Independent Living
Older Blind (ILOB) Consumer Satisfaction Survey<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>At the close of each
year, the Rehabilitation Services Administration requires that 7OB report be
submitted with data and narratives regarding services delivered to our older
blind population. Below is an excerpt from the survey results
narrative:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“The New Jersey
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NJCBVI) contracts with the
National Research and Training Center (NRTC) on Blindness and Low Vision to
complete an external evaluation of their older blind services. NJCBVI provided
the NRTC a list of consumers whose services were concluded during federal fiscal
year 2016. All consumers were mailed surveys. Consumers were told that their
participation was voluntary and that their responses would be confidential.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Findings from analyses
of 116 completed surveys indicate that 95% of respondents agreed or strongly
agreed that services were provided in a timely manner. Further, 96% agreed or
strongly agreed that staff were attentive to their needs. Ninety-three percent
agreed that staff were familiar with aids and techniques used by individuals
with vision impairments. </SPAN></I><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Overall satisfaction
with services was reported by 95%.</SPAN></B><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> The majority of
respondents (73%) lived in private homes or residences. When asked to rate the
importance of the Commission’s services to help consumers remain independent in
their home, 88% rated services as somewhat important or very important.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Respondents were asked
to rate their agreement about positive outcomes for each service area and for
overall services. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Daily Living
Activities: Out of the 67 consumers who reported receiving instruction on
activities around their home, 90% agreed or strongly agreed that they were
better able to complete daily living tasks as a result of this service.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Low
Vision Exam: Out of the 78 consumers who reported they had a low vision exam,
88% agreed or strongly agreed that they were better informed about their vision
loss and how to use their low vision.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Orientation
and Mobility: Out of the 35 consumers who reported they received this service,
83% agreed or strongly agreed that they were more confident moving around their
community.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Eye
Health: Out of the 29 consumers who said they received services from an eye
health nurse, 76% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident about
managing their health.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Information
and Referral: Out of the 44 consumers who said they received information and
referral services, 80% agreed or strongly agreed that they were well informed
about services in their community.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Assistive
Technology: Out of the 19 consumers who said they received instruction to use
cell phones or computers, 74% agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to
complete tasks using technology.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 106%'>Sixty-three
percent of consumers agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident
performing activities they had given up as a result of their vision loss.
Nineteen percent reported they had not given up any
activities.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Overall, these results
demonstrate the impact of services and the substantial benefits consumers
received from participating in the services provided by the New Jersey
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. A copy of the complete program
evaluation report conducted by Mississippi State University’s National Research
and Training</SPAN></I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> Center <I>will be
available in 2017.”<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Thank you to all of the
Independent Living and Support staff that assist our consumers in achieving
their goals. Your hard work and dedication is
appreciated.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Joseph Kohn
Training Center – Del Basha, Manager<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 6.0pt"
align=center><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Happy 2017
Everyone<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 6.0pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>With the advent of a
new year, individuals may be likely to commit to certain action plans as well as
resolutions. At the Joseph Kohn Training Center, the action plan is to continue
to uphold CBVI’s mission – to enable consumers to achieve full inclusion and
integration in society through success in employment, independent living, and
social self-sufficiency. <BR><BR>Employment goals are addressed through
career counseling and the work experience program. Independent living skills are
taught through the ADL (Activities of Daily Living) classes, Braille and
mobility lessons, as well as through keyboarding and technology
instruction. Social self-sufficiency is promoted by the social worker, the
psychologist, supervisory staff, and visiting presenters. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><BR>As always, to
introduce potential students to the JKTC program before they start, tours of the
center are available. VRCs should make the appropriate referral in the FACTS
system for these tours. In addition, if VRCs or other CBVI staff visit JKTC,
they are welcome to use the workstations in the visitor cubicles housed in the
lower level. <BR><BR>Best wishes to all for a productive year!
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Business
Enterprises of New Jersey – Deacon Truesdale, Manager
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The BENJ program
continues to seek opportunities to increase the number of operating locations
throughout the state. Recently the General Services Administration (GSA)
contacted the program about establishing an operation at the Peter Rodino
Federal Building in Downtown Newark. We are happy to report that BENJ will soon
be opening a “Grab and Go” at his location. A “Grab and Go” is
characterized by pre-packaged, ready-to-eat meal and refreshment options that
are either self-service heated or chilled merchandise that require little if any
customer preparation.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>BENJ Grab and Go
operation will offer the building occupants and visitors a fast and convenient
way to obtain some hot food items, coffee, and other convenience items. The
visibility and high traffic features of this location have the potential of
helping promote the positive aspects of BENJ which could result in additional
opportunities for our consumers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Anyone interested in
learning more about the program or visiting BENJ locations may contact the
office at 732-418-3270.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Staff Development
– Kenya Whitehurst-Percell<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Staff Development
includes formal staff orientation, maintenance of professional skills,
acquisition of new skills, coaching, as well as career and personal development.
Supporting staff requests for education, development and skill strengthening
translates to valuing employees and their contribution. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>CBVI’s leadership
continues to support and encourage professional improvement and learning for all
staff. Over 175 employees attended training classes, webinars, seminars,
in-services or conferences in calendar year 2016. This is a testament to CBVI
employees’ dedication and desire to provide quality services to our consumers.
Coordinators and supervisors have been working together to establish new
training opportunities that are both innovative and pertinent to the diverse
duties and responsibilities of CBVI staff agency-wide. Maintaining an
educational learning environment for all employees continues to be a
priority.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>If you become aware of
pertinent training and staff development opportunities please forward the
information to: </SPAN><A
href="mailto:cbvi.staffdevelopment@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>cbvi.staffdevelopment@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Personal requests for
training should be submitted to your supervisors for approval. All training
forms can be found on the CBVI intranet under “Staff Development –
Forms”.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>CBVI Training News and
Updates:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The Civil Service
Commission (CSC) has recently uploaded two online courses on the Learning
Management System (LMS):<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 6.0pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The New Jersey State
Employee Ethics Training 2016 is now available on LMS. This course, which was
previously found on the State Ethics Commission site, must now be taken annually
via the LMS. It is not necessary to forward your email confirmation of
completion to Staff Development. Your records will be updated immediately by the
LMS. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 6.0pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The second course now
available on LMS is the State of New Jersey Written Policy Prohibiting
Discrimination in the Workplace. Although the CSC is still working on
accessibility issues for the 3 mandatory online training courses, the policy is
available in an audio-version. Anyone having accessibility issues please contact
me. I can assist with administering the online courses. (Thanks to all staff
that have provided important feedback to CSC
representatives.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>I will soon be visiting
each of the three regional centers to assist staff with signing up for the
Learning Management System. In the interim, to log into the system, please log
in through the “My New Jersey” icon found on the DHS portal, to login or
register for the first time. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>It is important that
all staff adhere to the training standards set forth by the Department of Human
Services. The following are mandatory for all staff:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">1.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Securing the Human SANS
(Intro, Advanced and policy)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">2.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>NJ State policy
Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">3.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The State of NJ
Workplace Violence: Act or React <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">4.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The New Jersey State
Employee Ethics Training <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>We will continue to
partner with the Department of Human Services, Office of Workforce Development
and Training to offer New Hire Orientation. In addition to the one full day or
two half day sessions in Trenton, staff must also attend the two-day new hire
orientation provided by CBVI. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraph
style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">·<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Although information
has gone out regarding our one year eLearning contract with the American
Foundation for the Blind (AFB). There has been some confusion with the agency
code. <B>The agency code is</B> <B>NJCBVI717</B>. This one year agreement
expires on July 14, 2017. This convenient and valuable resource is available to
all CBVI employees. It provides information and tools that can enable staff to
better meet the needs of our consumers of all ages. On average, each eLearning
course offering is worth one hour of continuing education credit, some are worth
1.5 or 2 hours. You do not need to complete a training request form before
accessing these training materials.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; COLOR: #1f497d'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>For further information
or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at </SPAN><A
href="mailto:Kenya.whitehurst-percell@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Kenya.whitehurst-percell@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>.</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; COLOR: #1f497d'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Regional
Updates</SPAN></U><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">Northern Service
Region – John Reiff, Manager</SPAN></U><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The Northern Service
Region is thrilled to have two “new” Eye Health Nurses on staff; Leslie Martens
and Nancy Rodriguez. Leslie has worked in the Newark office for quite a while as
a contractual employee and is now employed by CBVI. In the past, Nancy worked
with Project Best and has returned to CBVI as a NSR employee.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Bill’s Journey to
Success - Submitted by Sumara Shakeel:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> Bill began
receiving services from CBVI in 2013, shortly after being hired as a Chaplain
for the Ocean County Correctional Center (OCCC). His employment history includes
many years of working in construction but seeking a career change, he returned
to college and trained as a drug and alcohol counselor. After the 9/11
World Trade Center tragedy, Bill began working as a grief counselor. He started
out as a victims’ chaplain through his church, but eventually gave up the work
due to his inability to drive after experiencing more vision loss.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>During the interview
with the OCCC, Bill chose to disclose his vision impairment to the interviewer
and was hired for the job. For some that might seem surprising but when you meet
him, the qualities one would seek in a chaplain for a correctional facility –
empathy, sincerity and toughness are immediately apparent.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Bill began receiving
services through our IL unit and was then transferred to the VR unit after his
counselor learned he was employed. I began providing instruction as a VR
rehab teacher and was excited to learn that a blind person was not only
successfully working in a jail, but also with a supportive employer. In
conversation, Bill mentioned that he does not think he will be able to continue
doing his job if he becomes totally blind, so I asked if he would consider
speaking with a blind person who has worked in a prison setting before he rules
this out. He was very open to this, and I put him in contact with Dave
Hyde (a blind man who worked in the prison system for a number of years) and Tom
Anderson (the president of the NFB’s Communities of Faith division). Bill
continued to work with CBVI through which he gained skills, confidence and some
access technology to help him get the job done. Meanwhile, he was invited
to talk about his work at the Communities of Faith division meeting at the NFB’s
national convention in Orlando, FL. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Bill told me he had
stopped going to conventions of the American Association of Christian Counselors
(something that was very important to him), but began attending again after he
started receiving training with our staff. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>In his work as a
Chaplain, Bill does individual religious counseling and conducts group religion
studies. He and his colleagues also integrate faith activities into
mentoring to minimize recidivism. Bill has also initiated a grief
counseling program for incarcerated individuals. When we first met he
described his plans to establish his own private practice in grief counseling
and I was impressed when he recently told me that he’d scheduled a meeting with
his first client.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>We can certainly credit
the good work we do to his return to a productive life, but it is Bill who
ultimately chose not to prevent blindness from allowing him to live the life he
wants. I do not know whether Bill will decide to stop working at the
prison if total blindness comes, but I can say with conviction that he is at
least a few steps closer to knowing, in both his heart and his mind, that it can
be done. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 12.0pt"><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext">Southern Region – Jack Thompson,
Manager</SPAN></U><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Federal Aviation
Administration Motivational Interviewing Event – Submitted by Heather
Candelaria, VR Supervisor:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> The Vocational
Rehabilitation Unit of the CHSC partnered with the Federal Aviation
Association (FAA) located in the William J. Hughes Technical Center at the
Atlantic City International Airport for an October’s Disability Awareness Month
activity. CBVI Business Relations Specialist, Andrea Askie-Rosario, took
the lead in executing this event, and worked with Cheryl L. Wilkes, the FAA
Director of Civil Rights and FAA Equal Employment Opportunities Specialist,
Stacie Graves to organize a motivational interviewing and resume critiquing
event.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The FAA reached out to
their in-house managers and supervisors from various STEM professions and
backgrounds including chemical engineers, scientists and mathematicians from
various departments to participate. Commission VRCs were responsible for
identifying a group of 9 job ready consumers who would benefit from constructive
feedback on interviewing. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>After the event was
finalized, the VRCs and CHSC support staff arranged for security clearance and
transportation to the Hughes Technical Center. On the day of the event the
consumers all came dressed in professional business attire with their resumes
and cover letters in hand. Ms. Wilkes opened the event with welcoming
remarks. Andrea and I then spoke about the potential and abilities of CBVI
consumers and encouraged employers to open their minds to the possibilities of
working with individuals with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>During the morning
breakout session each consumer was assigned to interview with a Manager and a
Supervisor who both asked interview questions and provided feedback on the
consumer’s performance. In each interview a VRC also sat in to take notes
and also provide feedback to the consumer. Following the interviews the
supervisors reviewed and critiqued the individual resumes. After lunch,
Kelley Copp, a Federal Human Resources Manager, gave a presentation on how to
complete a federal resume and how to navigate the “USA.Gov” jobs
website.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: "><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>FAA staff were very
impressed with the level of skill and professionalism demonstrated by CBVI
consumers. Some of the managers even provided their business cards and
encouraged the consumers to contact them if they had additional questions.
Overall, the Motivational Interviewing event was a success and very well
received by everyone who attended. We are already discussing plans for
October 2017, including a tour of the facility and extending this opportunity to
a larger number of consumers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The following 4 photos
from the event show CBVI staff and consumers during the individual interviews
and the group sessions with FAA staff.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><IMG id=Picture_x0020_4
border=0 src="cid:8AB43709F4084A1496E1D28322C2EA5E@JoeHP" width=346
height=258></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> <IMG
id=Picture_x0020_3 border=0 alt="CVBI Pictures1_Page_01 (2)"
src="cid:EE74170AE535424889CA4185C0D90636@JoeHP" width=348
height=258><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><IMG id=Picture_x0020_2
border=0 alt="CVBI Pictures1_Page_03 (2)"
src="cid:4BA930531C83451E81A9BBA276991F18@JoeHP" width=350
height=238></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> <IMG
id=Picture_x0020_1 border=0 alt="CVBI Pictures1_Page_11 (2)"
src="cid:E3E8AA3890BB430C84D2BA3D66DD9EEB@JoeHP" width=343
height=238><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><U><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; COLOR: windowtext; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>New
or Noteworthy<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Sierra House – Notes
from CBVI Season of Service Activity Recipients<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>In a further expression
of gratitude to CBVI staff, some of the residents of Sierra House sent personal
notes enclosed with a Thank You card. Along with holiday greetings they
wrote:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Your generosity is
appreciated. Thank you so much!”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Best wishes to you and
yours. My son and I appreciate everything you have done. Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“We all appreciate your
kindness and support. Thank you.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Your generous donation
is a wonderful blessing to my son and me. We really appreciate
it.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>With love in my heart,
I want to thank you for everything you have done for us.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>The world needs more
people like you – kind people who care!”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“I just want to say my
heart is overwhelmed and full of joy for what you have done for
us.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 18pt"
align=center><A
href="http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2016/06/nj_girl_to_compete_in_national_braille_competition.html#comments"><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: #0582ff; LETTER-SPACING: 0.15pt'>comments</SPAN></B></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: 0.15pt'>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.25in"><U><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">The Last
Words<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt"><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>“The reward for work
well done is the opportunity to do more.” </SPAN></I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>– Jonas
Salk<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 3pt dotted; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; mso-element: para-border-div">
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in"><I><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I> </P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Please send items or
suggestions for the next issue of the <I>Commission Edition</I> by or before 11
a.m., Monday, February 13, 2017:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><A
href="mailto:Pamela.Gaston@dhs.state.nj.us"><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Pamela.Gaston@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></B></A><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> and </SPAN></B><A
href="mailto:Melissa.Brown2@dhs.state.nj.us"><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'>Melissa.Brown2@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></B></A><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'> </SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: joe ruffalo
[mailto:nfbnj1@verizon.net] <BR>Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 8:09 PM<BR>To:
Brian Mackey <bmackey88@gmail.com>; joe ruffalo
<nfbnj1@verizon.net><BR>Subject: Paste in the Body Fw: January 2017
Commission Edition</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Brian, Paste in the body, thanks.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference Joe
Ruffalo, President National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>973 743 0075<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><A href="mailto:nfbnj1@verizon.net"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">nfbnj1@verizon.net</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the
blind.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking <A
href="http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">www.carshelpingtheblind.org</SPAN></A>
or call 855 659 9314 -----Original Message-----<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>From: <A href="mailto:Daniel.Frye@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Daniel.Frye@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 8:00 PM<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>To: <A href="mailto:CBVI.AllUsers@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">CBVI.AllUsers@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Cc: <A href="mailto:Doris.Windle@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Doris.Windle@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Jennifer.Bryan@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Jennifer.Bryan@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Elizabeth.Connolly@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Elizabeth.Connolly@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Christopher.Bailey@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Christopher.Bailey@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Nicole.Brossoie@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Nicole.Brossoie@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Ellen.Lovejoy@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Ellen.Lovejoy@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Bonny.Fraser@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Bonny.Fraser@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A>
; <A href="mailto:Christina.Mongon@dhs.state.nj.us"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; COLOR: windowtext">Christina.Mongon@dhs.state.nj.us</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Subject: January 2017 Commission Edition<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Please find attached the January 2017 issue of the
Commission Edition, our division's internal publication that details happenings
throughout the organization. As always, I owe gratitude to Pamela Gaston and
Melissa Brown, my new and incredibly valuable Executive Assistant, for their
part in editing, proofing, and formatting the attached. Staff are encouraged to
submit your own contributions for future issues of the Commission Edition; such
offerings, like the story about Bill, one of our consumers, in this month's
issue, demonstrates clearly how CBVI makes a meaningful difference to those who
acquire services from our agency.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>As you review the January issue, please take a moment to
reflect on all of the activity that we have already started in this first month
of the year, as outlined in my column. You'll also want to preserve this month's
Commission Edition as a year-long reading resource, after reviewing John Walsh's
list of recommended readings for 2017. To be sure, these books will add to our
organization's smart and thoughtful growth. Finally, I acknowledge with pride
the survey results noted in the Independent Living column, reflecting the level
of satisfaction that our agency's blind and vision-impaired senior consumers
reported receiving in 2016. These are only some of this month's highlights; I
encourage you all to read the Commission Edition from front to back to remain
fully aware of the overall work that is occurring within the
Commission.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Finally, within the next several weeks, I will be making
my regularly scheduled visits to our local Service Centers to interact in-person
with all of our agency's staff. Please check with your supervisor or Service
Center managers to guarantee that you will be at work on the day of my visit to
your assigned office location.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Until we next meet, keep in touch, be well, and do good
work.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>With Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Daniel B. Frye, JD.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>State of New Jersey<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Department of Human Services<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>153 Halsey Street, 6th Floor<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>PO Box 47017<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>Newark, NJ. 07101<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>(973) 648-2324 (Office)<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText>(973) 951-1156 (Work Mobile)</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><FONT
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