[Nyagdu] For all NFB members in NY I just received this on myGuideDog School List AER Chapters - Supportingvisionprofessionals in our community

Fri Apr 9 15:18:05 UTC 2010

MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION

The below support statement was taken from last years legislative session. 
It has come to our attention that Senator Craig Johnson and Assemblyman 
Jonathan  Bing are considering the same legislation for this session. 
Nothing has changed in a year and we must continue to find ourselves in 
opposition to these bills.  The very reasons, which the proponents give for 
licensing, are the very reasons why the bill should not be enacted. 
Specifically the proponents reference the professional training of those to 
be licensed.

Unfortunately, for all this time, blind people have had a 70% unemployment 
rate, Braille literacy is at an all time low and blind young people and 
those who are newly blind cannot travel safely and competently.  Even Mike 
Godino, president of the American Council of the Blind of New York which 
supports the proposed legislation, acknowledged when he testified before an 
Assembly hearing in August of 2007 that, under the current system, blind 
children were illiterate and that blind people were scared to leave their 
homes.

The same people whom he wishes to license provide the services to which Mr. 
Godino refers.  In addition, this legislation would create a board, which 
would monitor the persons entering the field.  Curiously, this board would 
be "stacked with" the same people who have been responsible for the low 
quality services of the past half-century.

 There is enough faulty reasoning contained within this proposal to call it 
into question.  We would be happy to discuss this with any member of the 
Legislature in order to find a way to improve services to blind New Yorkers. 
However, this bill is not the way.
The new Executive Board created by the Legislature and charged with 
reporting to the Assembly, Senate and Governor regarding programs for the 
blind (in New York State) has considered this matter and is offering a 
compromise solution.  We are attaching their recommendation and are in 
support of it.  They recommend a "certification" process which would contain 
the same high standards that the proponents of licensure want and at the 
same time keep the field open to new people whishing to enter and cost less 
to administer.

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to the
Licensing of orientation and mobility specialists and rehabilitation
Therapists

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  This bill would ensure the safety of
persons who are blind or partially sighted by licensing the trained
vision rehabilitation professionals who work with them to restore
their independent functioning within the home, the school, the
workplace and the wider community.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  Creates a new article 167.  S8801
sets out the definitions used in the article. S8802 outlines the use
of the titles "licensed orientation and mobility specialists and
vision rehabilitation therapists. S8803 outlines the State Board for
vision rehabilitation services. S8804 spells out the requirements for
a license. S8805 establishes limited permits. S8806 explains the
Exempt persons. S8807 outlines special provisions and S8808
reparability provisions.

JUSTIFICATION: According to the 1995 LIGHTHOUSE NATIONAL SURVEY ONVISION 
LOSS, conducted by Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., one in
six adults age 45 and older, representing 13.5 million Americans,
report some form of vision impairment even when wearing glasses.
Better than half of those report a severe impairment.  More than one
million New Yorkers are estimated to be included in this group, with
higher prevalence among women, minorities, and people with low income.
The percentage of the population that is visually impaired has grown
at disproportionate rates, due in large measure to the rapid increases
in the number of people who are living longer and thus experiencing
age related vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts and other conditions. The need for
vision rehabilitation services has burgeoned proportionately. With the
shrinking of government and private resources available for health
care and social services, time and money can be saved by providing
specially trained vision rehabilitation professionals to work with
persons who are visually impaired. This bill offers a viable strategy
for providing the greatest breadth of vision rehabilitation services
to thousands of people who are blind or partially sighted, with vastly
different levels of needs, in the most cost-effective fashion. It
ensures that the professionals who provide these services will possess
the highest level of specialized skills, expertise and experience.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 1998: A.10758/S.6822 - referred to Higher
Education Committee. 1999-00: A.5343-A/S.5307 - referred to Higher
Education Committee. 2001-02: A..2067-B/S.97-B - referred to Higher
Education Committee. 2003-04:S.787A - referred to Higher Education
Committee. 2005-06:S.889-A - referred to Higher Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect January 1, 2008, provided,
however, that the commissioner of education and the board of regents
are authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations and take any
other measures as may be necessary for the timely implementation of
this act on or before its effective date, including but not limited to
the appointment of the state board for vision rehabilitation services,
the acceptance and processing of applications for licensure, and the
issuance of licenses.
Let me see
Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
C10-10646

http://Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574

http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'New York Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Nyagdu] For all NFB members in NY I just received this on 
myGuideDog School List AER Chapters - Supportingvisionprofessionals in our 
community

> Why should we oppose licensure  for teachers of the blind and visually
> impaired?  With all the confusion and misdirection in o and m instruction
> explain why this is a bad idea?
>
>
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nyagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nyagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 10:42 AM
> To: Brad Greenspan
> Cc: pat logan; Charlie Richardson; carl jacobsen NFB of NY President; Mike
> Robinson; ray wayne; Dr. Mindy Joy Jacobsen; Elaine Rink; joyce Carrico; 
> Jim
> Bonerbo; Carl Jacobsen; Romeo NFB NY; Lucy Cox; New York Association of
> Guide Dog Users; Margo and Elmo NFB Buffalo; George and Pam Dominguez;
> loraine stayer; David R. Stayer; Mike Robinson; maria garcia; Glen Stewart
> Subject: [Nyagdu] For all NFB members in NY I just received this on my
> GuideDog School List AER Chapters - Supporting visionprofessionals in our
> community
>
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> C10-10646
>
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> CST-1018299-10
>
>
>
> I know all of you will be up in Albany either now or this weekend.
>
> Please read, and make sure that this is brought up when up in Albany, we
> cannot have this pass.  This is one of those issue we are working on that
> doesn't pass.
>
> Just giving a heads up.
> > For those of you who live in New York State...
> >
> > [http://templates.commpartners.com/AERBVI/division/images/header.gif]
> >
> > AER Chapters - Supporting vision professionals in our community
> >
> >
> >
> > NYS Lobby Day!
> >
> > April 27, 2010
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > AER New  York Chapter Communication
> >
> > New York Vision Rehabilitation Association
> > In association with New York State Association for the Education and
> > Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the
> > Long Island Council of the Blind
> > are sponsoring
> > Lobby Day
> > NYS Legislative Office Building (LOB)
> >  Albany, NY
> > Tuesday April 27, 2010
> >
> > Please come and speak your mind!
> >
> > When: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 9:45 AM
> > Where: We will meet in the NYS Legislative Office Building (LOB)
> >
> > How: Click here to complete the Lobby Day Registration form.
> >
> <http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170367&m=978241&u=AERBVI&s=h
> ttp://www.nyvra.org/lobby_day.php#SkipNavigation>
> >
> > Why:
> > To make a powerful statement that New Yorkers want O&M Specialists and
> > Vision Rehabilitation Therapists Licensed in New York come to Albany 
> > this
> > April 27, 2010. Come and personally tell your representatives in Albany
> > that licensure is important and we must pass this bill, this year.
> >
> > *        Meet the bill sponsors State Senator Craig Johnson and Assembly
> > Member Jonathan Bing before our appointments.
> > *        NYVRA will set the appointments so please sign up
> >
> www.nyvra.org<http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170368&m=978241
> &u=AERBVI&s=http://www.nyvra.org/>.
> > *        Ride together to/from Albany there is a bus from Bethpage, NY 
> > to
> > Albany stopping to pick up passengers at 23rd street Selis Manor sign up
> >
> www.nyvra.org<http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170369&m=978241
> &u=AERBVI&s=http://www.nyvra.org/>.
> > *        There will be a "lobbying basics" session just prior to going 
> > to
> > our appointments.
> > *        Wear your T-shirt from last year-there will be t-shirts 
> > available
>
> > for those who don't have one!!
> >
> > Appointments will start after remarks from the bill sponsors: State
> > Senator Craig Johnson (D-Nassau) and Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, (D)
> > Manhattan. The day ends at 3:00PM.
> > For more details about Lobby Day 2010 email Grace Ambrose-Zaken at
> > gambrose at hunter.cuny.edu<mailto:gambrose at hunter.cuny.edu> or leave a
> > message at 212-772-4741.
> >
> > For more information about VRT and O&M licensure and to sign up on-line 
> > go
>
> > to
> >
> www.nyvra.org<http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170370&m=978241
> &u=AERBVI&s=http://www.nyvra.org/>
> >
> >
> > [http://templates.commpartners.com/AERBVI/national/images/footer.gif]
> >
> > To ensure delivery of AER Communications, please add 'aer at aerbvi.org' to
> > your email address book. If you are still having problems receiving our
> > emails, see our whitelisting page for more details:
> >
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> /ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170371&m=978241&u=AERBVI&s=http://www.commpartners.
> com/website/white-listing.htm>
> >
> >
> >
> > 1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 440 | Alexandria, VA 22311 | 
> > 703-671-4500
>
> > | 877-492-2708 toll free | 703-671-6391 fax |
> > aer at aerbvi.org<mailto:aer at aerbvi.org>
> > Click here to
> >
> unsubscribe<http://www.mmsend2.com/ls.cfm?r=150258768&sid=9170372&m=978241&u
> =AERBVI&s=http://www.magnetmail.net/Actions/unsubscribe.cfm?message_id=97824
> 1&user_id=AERBVI&recipient_id=150258768&email=steve at guidedog.org&group_id=46
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
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