<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><div dir="ltr">Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "LI, OVR Stakeholder List" <<a href="mailto:RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@PA.GOV">RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@PA.GOV</a>><br><b>Date:</b> May 3, 2019 at 2:51:11 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> <<a href="mailto:RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@LISTSERV.PA.GOV">RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@LISTSERV.PA.GOV</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>L&I Seeks Public Input on Proposed Changes to Pennsylvania’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services Plan</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> "LI, OVR Stakeholder List" <<a href="mailto:RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@PA.GOV">RA-LIOVR-STAKEHOLDER@PA.GOV</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img width="290" height="58" style="width:3.0208in;height:.6041in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D501BF.A29E43C0" alt="Title: L&I's logo - Description: L&I's logo: a dark and light blue keystone with curved white stripes through it. To the right of the keystone is the text: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. "></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></strong><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">May 3, 2019
</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1><a name="_Hlk7598339"><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext">L&I Seeks Public Input on Proposed Changes to Pennsylvania’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services Plan</span></strong></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk7598339"></span><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext"> </span></strong><span style="color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Harrisburg, PA – </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today encouraged Pennsylvanians to provide comments on proposed
changes to the state’s vocational rehabilitation services plan. Pennsylvania expects less federal reallocation funds for the vocational rehabilitation program and must adjust the plan.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Our primary goal throughout this process is to ensure that services continue to be provided to as many people with disabilities as possible across the commonwealth,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “I urge interested
Pennsylvanians to provide us with their feedback.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a name="_Hlk7692067"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Due to the anticipated decline in federal reallocation funds, the independent Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation recently voted unanimously to begin the process to close
the Order of Selection, in essence creating a temporary waiting list for new OVR customers. Services would continue for current OVR customers with an Individualized Plan for Employment, as well as Pre-employment Transition Services for students with disabilities,
as required by federal law. </span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a name="_Hlk7701085"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The proposal is available in the
</span></a><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu7061146.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fwf%2Fclick%3Fupn%3D84Em28S1K9SvtzcUtu04EuCj8in0zBzuXMOHmNCQAhgXi-2FyNdI38-2FSOBcAhtrPvG_-2BA7IvuaRH7qNzcMU-2FZJF4KQdPWbrMj5flbCIW-2FU7Gev-2BaVSDqP04jGUc-2BJk3zbhS6a-2FWKmIfwfDV2cqzcXOgUfImiIdt7fxLAhjIjo-2B2dkdoli3b0ZhiQR2VVwYReBkhE4MdUpugq-2F0DNdSXJbSL5RhdaKpll7-2BNBox0BKV7AXgNJQn83zaSeaPzUOWPM9m6BuwiOOCUBRJekbHC46zBlGNEFh6jsYj5MFJVF3FfLsGSiiLqbROA2xrsA3nrkleuEiRt-2FL8xPqiokSYyd6FNk-2BNYatIWjYs9lrEEcVmU4T0NzDoCYXPGOme-2Fv-2BY7vRoLtZBzjcOMOScY7BVVQR8i7Q-3D-3D&data=02%7C01%7Cpickes%40pa.gov%7Cf33a7f1812ee4179252308d6cfc75858%7C418e284101284dd59b6c47fc5a9a1bde%7C0%7C0%7C636924852428182624&sdata=FUta5R4vw048QgkxEpibf7%2B%2B9LhT2Acv70Z9uBDGJD8%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Pennsylvania
Bulletin</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">. Comments will be accepted for 30 days, until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, and should be emailed to
</span><a href="mailto:OVRFeedback@pa.gov"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">OVRFeedback@pa.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">, with “OOS closing all categories” in the subject line. Written comments may also be mailed to
OVR Central Office, c/o Cindy Mundis, 1521 North 6</span><sup><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">th</span></sup><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Public meetings will be conducted in-person throughout the state in each
</span><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu7061146.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fwf%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DG62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB7pPQw8nOaAr0Vyjd4RPu-2FRnOMG99qDj40RcY5GIPO8zcpklhQQngl0Qv-2FgXraJGL6T3L0hCLrgmv7sSwgNeHuhRjJuuP8qXRvWisrDxEDGGIGCJPYeSxSeku44K3XiJ7A-3D-3D_-2BA7IvuaRH7qNzcMU-2FZJF4KQdPWbrMj5flbCIW-2FU7Gev-2BaVSDqP04jGUc-2BJk3zbhS6a-2FWKmIfwfDV2cqzcXOgUfImiIdt7fxLAhjIjo-2B2dkdoli3b0ZhiQR2VVwYReBkhE4MdUpugq-2F0DNdSXJbSL5RhdaKpll7-2BNBox0BKV7AXgNJQn83zaSeaPzUOWPM9m64g5rGh-2FRfblYjAfXgZUsU6GguNpamio9NegUYhnJxb-2FgE9bWU5G79wNgrmqLDVPBm-2FN63tHGcQK6XWUAPYFgfu-2BR5iXSytvIC9J8DH6rQFw8LCGoFB-2BO-2BP0gmGFgrx6ZChLEwHI19mubzgqQwI8Q4A-3D-3D&data=02%7C01%7Cpickes%40pa.gov%7Cf33a7f1812ee4179252308d6cfc75858%7C418e284101284dd59b6c47fc5a9a1bde%7C0%7C0%7C636924852428192629&sdata=54U%2B%2Fi94g5VB7ZpCUH%2BMuyMqi9S1mTUYgniVJoPQ3f4%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">OVR
district office</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Individuals who are unable to attend in person can participate via
</span><a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu7061146.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fwf%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DG62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB7pPQw8nOaAr0Vyjd4RPu-2FRnOMG99qDj40RcY5GIPO8zMteAOfvbIkiKk1UyX64Nn3H75QVqSZL4Z9n7W4byF8ZyqIyhpM4kvfDW7wkRbb0x_-2BA7IvuaRH7qNzcMU-2FZJF4KQdPWbrMj5flbCIW-2FU7Gev-2BaVSDqP04jGUc-2BJk3zbhS6a-2FWKmIfwfDV2cqzcXOgUfImiIdt7fxLAhjIjo-2B2dkdoli3b0ZhiQR2VVwYReBkhE4MdUpugq-2F0DNdSXJbSL5RhdaKpll7-2BNBox0BKV7AXgNJQn83zaSeaPzUOWPM9m6eUnfrjfFMru0vXCuI0Y6Y4QeKAw47SW-2Bao9GFMSL9ckOzeq38XZjl4by-2FqVGR8w0q8fRuBwx91Hrc4iFjIQJcS1FDZdmHpWuMKIj-2BYBQVyamkV6ihceveGlhNOUb3ksFUMbiutC9oPzteSfrYGrCcA-3D-3D&data=02%7C01%7Cpickes%40pa.gov%7Cf33a7f1812ee4179252308d6cfc75858%7C418e284101284dd59b6c47fc5a9a1bde%7C0%7C0%7C636924852428192629&sdata=lAzwACzbJd5peVZnzot%2BxViyly24dhgah9c1HBT2tSM%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">phone</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.
All meeting sites are accessible and interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be present at each public meeting.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Following the public comment period, the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) will review OVR’s request to temporarily close the order of selection. If approved, the waiting
list is expected to be implemented on July 1, 2019.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For more information, visit the </span>
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fu7061146.ct.sendgrid.net%2Fwf%2Fclick%3Fupn%3DG62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB7pPQw8nOaAr0Vyjd4RPu-2FRnOMG99qDj40RcY5GIPO8zMteAOfvbIkiKk1UyX64NnztDrFbcwX-2FFLx5qRQTNuiOH2mYWHRUld9dpicaDmsMo_-2BA7IvuaRH7qNzcMU-2FZJF4KQdPWbrMj5flbCIW-2FU7Gev-2BaVSDqP04jGUc-2BJk3zbhS6a-2FWKmIfwfDV2cqzcXOgUfImiIdt7fxLAhjIjo-2B2dkdoli3b0ZhiQR2VVwYReBkhE4MdUpugq-2F0DNdSXJbSL5RhdaKpll7-2BNBox0BKV7AXgNJQn83zaSeaPzUOWPM9m6mgeTuiM6V-2Bzrep9aFp-2BGRhInMdAbYDKkREbSoyFE8XG7dCe78dnYqIvS-2FXLmFuEcRAl1JIijRGLI63V7eR6aoeXxApo9-2FHWc5hcM5ffNjD9Kjat3-2FnsMNwZ6uvOShW3ILFyAIEtdSLJ-2BG8ibCzswIA-3D-3D&data=02%7C01%7Cpickes%40pa.gov%7Cf33a7f1812ee4179252308d6cfc75858%7C418e284101284dd59b6c47fc5a9a1bde%7C0%7C0%7C636924852428202634&sdata=2nYt%2Fe1gK7nX42ymbX5Ds9LPPpH4G1fWjGYk1w7usUc%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">OVR
page</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> on the Department of Labor & Industry’s website.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">MEDIA CONTACT:
</span></strong><a name="_Hlk5870526"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Penny Ickes,<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
</span></strong></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">717-787-7530 or
</span><a href="mailto:dlipress@pa.gov"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">dlipress@pa.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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