[NFBV-Announce] Virginia Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired Updates

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

>From Tracy Soforenko, President, National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia

 

Hi NFB of Virginia Members and friends,

 

I wanted to provide some important updates about the Virginia Department for
the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) from the past few months.

A.	Increased Vocational Rehabilitation Funding from the General
Assembly
B.	Governor Youngkin appoints Dr. Rick Mitchell as DBVI Commissioner
C.	DBVI Selects Pam Cato as Deputy Commissioner for Services

 

A.	Vocational Rehabilitation Funding

Thanks to our advocacy, the General Assembly approved over $800,000 in
funding for vocational rehabilitation services. This dedicated funding for
vocational rehabilitation will better enable DBVI to meet Federal match
expectations, increase staffing, and continue to serve blind, low vision and
deafblind Virginians.

 

B.	  Dr. Rick Mitchell appointed DBVI Commissioner

 

Many of our members have worked with Dr. Rick Mitchell in his role as Deputy
Commissioner for Services at DBVI.  In May, he was appointed by Governor
Youngkin as the new DBVI Commissioner. The below text was included in the
DBVI June newsletter.

 

Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Dr. Rick Mitchell as the new Commissioner
at the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Commissioner Mitchell
is no stranger to DBVI as he has worked with the Agency for 36 years.  As a
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Roanoke Regional Office,
Commissioner Mitchell began his career with DBVI.  During his tenure he has
also served as the Regional Manager for the Bristol Regional Office and most
recently the Deputy Commissioner for Services.  

>From the first day of his appointment, Commissioner Mitchell stressed his
desire for DBVI to remain focused on its mission, vision and values.  His
desire is to continue providing the best services and resources to empower
Virginians who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind to achieve their
desired levels of employment, education and personal independence.  DBVI
will continue to look for opportunities on how to expand and enhance all
that the agency does within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

C.	Pam Cato Selected as DBVI Deputy Commissioner for Services

 

Commissioner Mitchell made the below announcement to DBVI staff on July 14.

 

Pam Cato will be the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
next Deputy Commissioner for Services.  For the last six years, she has done
an excellent job in being DBVI's Director of Vocational Rehabilitation and
Workforce Services.  Prior to joining DBVI in June of 2016, she was a
faculty member with Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research
and Training Center for six years.   She has extensive experience in policy
development, program evaluation and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Ms. Cato previously worked at the Florida Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation as a Program Administrator.  She established policies,
business procedures and provided program oversight for supported employment
services, transition services, mental health and self-employment services
and business engagement.  She served on the Florida Developmental
Disabilities Council, APSE Board, and The Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force
for Disabilities. Ms. Cato has also worked for several community
rehabilitation organizations providing business and employment services.  I
am looking forward to where she leads the Services Division to in the years
ahead.  Please join me in congratulating Pam as she steps into this
leadership role at DBVI. 

 

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> 

www.nfbv.org <http://www.nfbv.org> 

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

 

 

 

 

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