[Tn-talk] the register for the blind

[James Brown]

Dear Friends,
I have been in contact with the legislative coordinator for the  Department of Human Services who oversees the list of blind Tennesseans afore mentioned on this list.  VR claims it mandates eye doctors to report those who are blind in order to offer them career services although I question how many people are actually contacted for this purpose.  
I researched online this past weekend and found that around half the states have a comparable law, some of which even fine doctors who do not comply with the law.  HIPAA privacy laws do not give any protection against these lists according to the research.  I think our best option is to ask the state legislature to amend the law to make it optional for the blind person to give their information to VR for vocational and IL services.  I actually think this protects our privacy as well as informing us about the VR services available to us.  There is a very good chance that VR is getting the information but not really notifying blind people about services.  What do you all think?
Sincerely,
JB

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 2, 2016, at 4:34 PM, Dewey Bradley via Tn-talk <tn-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I was looking at the services the state has for the blind, I was looking at
> moving to Nashville.
> 
> My question for you folks is what is the register for the blind?
> 
> It doesn't say what the purpose of the law is, just by looking at it, I
> don't see how that is even legal, does the state treat blind people like sex
> offenders or something, or do they require us to live in the area they tell
> us?
> 
> Just by looking at it, and the fact they don't explain why they have it,
> that has to be invasion of privacy and unconstitutional, that is like being
> required to be reported if you have red hair, or are black or gay.
> 
> So what is this law? And why is it there?
> 
> If they would explain what the point of it is, maybe it wouldn't come across
> the way that I take it, how else am I supposed to take it, they require
> people to report you to the state, I have never heard of anything like this.
> 
> I googled it, and all it pulled up is what is on the state website.
> 
> So if someone could explain this to me, I would appreciate it!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
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