NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE
AGENCIES
FOR THE BLIND
Fall Meeting
Seattle, Washington
November 21, 2002
I. Call to Order: Pearl Van Zandt, President
The meeting was called to order by Pearl Van Zandt at 3:20 p.m.
A. Roll Call: 24 members of 56 present (no quorum).
B. In accordance with the By-Laws, a motion was made,
seconded, and approved to set aside the rules requiring a
quorum to vote on issues.
II. Committee Reports:
A. Alternative Techniques Committee – Mike Gandy, Chair
1. Minutes of the Alternative Techniques Committee were submitted. (See attachment A.)
2. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the Alternative Techniques Committee report.
B. Employment Committee – Linda Mock, Chair
1. Minutes of the Employment Committee were submitted. (See attachment B.)
2. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the AFB Employment Survey for distribution to NCSAB members.
3. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the Employment Committee Report.
C. Independent Living Committee – Kay McGill, Chair
1. Minutes of the Independent Living Committee were submitted. (See attachment C.)
2. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously, as follows:
NCSAB will send a formal letter of endorsement to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) reiterating NCSAB’s support for the adjustment to inflation language to increase funds to the minimally funded states and for the evaluation, training and technical assistance as currently authorized under Section 721 (Program Authorization) of Title VII – Part C (Centers for Independent Living).
3. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the Independent Living Committee Report.
D. Randolph-Sheppard Committee – Terry Smith, Chair
1. Minutes of the Randolph-Sheppard Committee were submitted. (See attachment D.)
2. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to send a letter to the RSA Commissioner asking that she appoint a work group to look at the RSA-15 and to consider possible changes before it is presented to OMB for approval in 2005.
3. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the Randolph-Sheppard Committee Report.
III. Minutes - Denise Placido, Secretary
A. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to dispense with the reading of the minutes.
B. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the minutes of the April 25, 2002 NCSAB Business Meeting.
IV. Treasurer’s Report – Bill Gibson, Treasurer:
A. Budget and Dues Proposal:
1. Bill Gibson reported that the checking account balance is $11,226.73.
2. Dues notice will be sent out in a couple of weeks to NCSAB member agencies.
3. Please ensure that dues and conference fees are paid promptly. A new dues structure proposal was presented. (See attachment E.)
A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept this proposal. A request was made to include this handout with the dues invoice and it was agreed that this would be done.
4. NCSAB currently has two CD’s, one for $35,304.35, and one for $54,324.19. At the NCSAB Spring 2002 meeting members voted to fund $30,000 for Chapter 2 lobbying out of one Certificate of Deposit.
5.
NCSAB annual expenses
are approximately $74,000, while revenues are $47,000 annually.
B. Audit:
1. An Internal audit is to be conducted by a designated state agency financial specialist, on a voluntary basis, to be rotated annually.
2. Grant-Thornton, a National accounting firm, did an audit at no cost in May, 2002. A letter of a satisfactory audit is on file.
V. Resolution concerning National Blindness and Professional Certification Board.
A. Pearl Van Zandt read the proposed resolution aloud. (See Attachment F.)
B. A motion was made and seconded to approve the
resolution. During discussion, a question was asked if this is an endorsement of certification. It was explained that the resolution does not endorse certification or a particular type of certification. It is a State’s decision. A voice vote was taken, with 22 yes and two no votes. Motion passed.
VI. Updates on Homemaker and Chapter 2:
A. Homemaker: The RSA Commissioner reported at the NCSAB Executive Luncheon that RSA will retain the homemaker closure but clarify the definition.
VII. Elections: Terry Murphy, Past-President
A. Terry Murphy presented the slate as follows:
President Elect: Linda Mock
Secretary: Kay McGill
Treasurer: Chris Boone
Board: Brian Sigman
Board: Allen Harris
Board: Bill Palmer
Board: Pat Cannon
Board: Greg Trapp
B. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept
the Nomination Committees report.
C. A call for nominations for each position from the floor
was made three times. A motion was made, seconded,
and approved to elect each officer and Board member
on the slate by acclamation.
VIII. New Business:
A. Thanks to outgoing officers and board members (Mike
Gandy, Bill Gibson, Denise Placido), Terry Murphy for
continued assistance, and to Pearl Van Zandt for
assuming office early.
B. Elton Moore stated that George Arsenow is scheduled to
retire on January 3, 2003. He suggested NCSAB consider
recognition of George’s career and contributions.
IX. Motion to Adjourn at 4:25 p.m.
ATTACHMENT A: Alternative Techniques Committee Minutes
Submitted by Committee Chair: Michael Gandy
NCSAB
Technology and Alternative Techniques Committee Minutes
November 20, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Michael Gandy at 3:15 pm.
Attending were Ram Aditya (Florida), Michael Barber (Project ASSIST, Iowa), Dale Barnham (Kansas), Tony Candela (AFB), David Eveland (Hawaii), Michael Gandy (Mississippi), Michael Graham (Idaho), Arlene Itou (Washington), Laurie Merryman (Project ASSIST, IOWA), Keiko Namekata (Washington), Vito De Santis (New Jersey), and Don Sims (Alabama).
The first item of business was distribution of procedures approved by the New Hampshire State Rehabilitation Council concerning Accessibility of Records (attached). This had been provided by William Finn, who was unable to attend, and, due to time restrictions, were provided for informational purposes only at this session, though discussion in subsequent committee meetings is encouraged.
Next, Mr. Candela provided information concerning the activities of the American Foundation for the Blind Assistive Technologies Competencies Task Force. This began with a 1999 survey of agencies, which identified four areas of concentration: (a) Assessment Competencies; (b) Equipment Installation, Configuration, and Customization Competencies; (c) Professional Competencies; and (d) Training Competencies.
This led to the convening of focus groups including consumers, AT specialists, and others. A major area of concern was recidivism due to lack of time to perform sufficient training. Another key area investigated was certification, though no one agenda was pushed by AFB. Mr. Candela stated that his dream (not that of AFB) was for a professional organization of AT specialists that might meet virtually rather than face-to-face. The role of AFB in all this was also discussed.
Mr. Candela asked for feedback on this to be e-mailed to him at tcandela@afb.net.
Finally, Laurie Merryman and Michael Barber provided information on Project ASSIST, a program in its second five-year cycle that provides training/tutorial materials to help individuals learn such software programs as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Windows using such adaptive software as JAWS, Win-Vision, and Window-Eyes. At present, 45 tutorials have been developed, helping people to gain and retain employment. Also, a train-the-trainer approach instructs VR personnel in provision of such training.
The second five-year cycle is entitled ASSIST Online. Thirteen courses will be developed for online training. The first year will provide training to six Iowa residents. Each of the next four years will train up to 36 individuals throughout the country at no cost to their parent agency.
Another project in development is a Deaf-Blind Training Grant, a
NIDRR-sponsored grant to provide computer training materials for deaf-blind individuals nationwide. This will be disseminated to agencies serving these persons. Applications will include Windows XP, Word, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, and NXI's Nextalk using Alva Braille Display, powerBraille, JAWS, Window-Eyes, and other accessibility software.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.
ATTACHMENT B: Employment Committee Minutes
Submitted by Committee Chair: Linda Mock
NCSAB
Employment Committee Minutes
November 20, 2002
Mississippi State University Announcements
Mississippi State University is sponsoring a Conference called Uniting for Employment, April 14-16, 2003 in Mesa Arizona. The conference will be co-sponsored by AFB and Arizona RSA. This Conference focus is to bring together blindness professionals and employers who would not otherwise have opportunities to share their philosophies or strategies, develop effective mechanisms to publicize successful employment strategies for others to emulate, to improve employer attitudes toward hiring blind and visually impaired people, and alleviate inequities that cause widespread unemployment among blind and visually impaired people. There is a March 10th deadline for registration. Target audience is VRC’s, Supervisors, and Administrators.
AFB Employment Survey
AFB is working on evaluating their initiative to increase the hiring of older workers who are blind and visually impaired. They are seeking responses to a survey targeting blind VR agencies that would identify employment outcomes for workers over the age of 55 to identify whether nation wide there has been an increase of older workers who are blind and visually impaired placed into jobs. They asked the Employment Committee to bring forward the survey to NCSAB Executive Committee for approval. AFB also shared that Older Workers is also covered in the Journal of Visual Impairment September 2002 issue. There was consensus that the survey be approved and moved to Executive committee for their approval.
Developing Business Relationships Panel – A panel discussing business employment needs and need for technical support and effect strategies for VR agencies.
Vicki Winn – Western Wireless/Cellular One finds hiring people with disabilities is good business for her company. There is a significant return on investment, as the retention of people with disabilities is very high. Vicki recently chaired a subcommittee of Employers that focused on how to increase the employment of individuals with disabilities in Washington. The consensus among the Employers and included in their recommendations to Governor Gary Locke is: It needs to be made easier for employers to communicate with VR professionals regarding potential hires, need a single point of contact for employers to find good people, and there needs to be a single resource for employers for technical assistance regarding software compatibility issues with Jaws. Jaws is a big issue for her company when proprietary software is changed, and Jaws technology is no longer compatible, it is difficult to get assistance with how to update the adaptive technology in order for that employee to be productive.
Donna Egeland, Alaska Airlines –Alaska Airlines began to hire people with disabilities because the CEO felt it was the right thing to do, not out of a return on investment. Her company is currently ready to hire for reservation agents, would like to hire blind and visually impaired individuals, yet the technology issues have been significant. They are constantly changing their software, getting updates and changes, which jaws cannot keep up with. She feels that they need local jaws expertise and resources. They have jobs in Seattle, Arizona and Boise and are really looking for help from VR agencies to provide support in terms of technology. They have hired scriptwriter from San Francisco to come to Seattle only to have the problem remain unresolved. Have someone waiting for almost a year that could be hired as a reservation agent who is unable to start employment because they have not identified a technology solution to make the job accessible, also have issues with individuals who want to advance into other jobs who are faced with technology access issues.
Vicki Winn – wants to let VR agencies know that they need to be realistic about the position a customer would start out in, since in their company for example all individuals begin at the entry level position, which quickly increases to $14 per hour, and have significant opportunities for advancement from there.
Mark Adreon – Washington Services for the Blind
WSB has been working with businesses to identify what their needs are, and working on keeping disability on the forefront of diversity issues. The challenge is to keep up with the pace of business needs, as a VR agency serving many customers.
Discussion centered on the systems issues that VR agencies face in providing the quick response and technical assistance that businesses require keeping adaptive equipment working on their jobs. Because VR uses a time limited model we close a case after someone is successfully employed and is doing well on their job initially, and then move on to other cases. VR agencies need to develop a better way to respond to employer needs in critical situations where the individual’s job is at risk. Systems issues include creating experts who can address employers access needs, creating a clearinghouse for information and improving response time.
The employers on the panel emphasized the need for us to make it easy for them and to improve communication. The suggested regular follow up with employers and a single liaison be established so they know who to go to when issues arise.
Gil Johnson, AFB, Communication with Business
AFB is working on initiatives to try to communicate with consumers, employers, and VR agencies and get an increased awareness of all of the stakeholder’s needs. Have developed through a grant to develop a National Employment Center, working on ways to improve understanding of employers for VR agencies and understanding of VR agencies for employers. Jackie Watkins of AFB shared the challenge from her perspective that VR needs to change the way we do business, need to cultivate new relationships with employers at the same time we maintain the relationships with employers we have partnerships with. In this effort have developed an Employment Strategic Council, to come up with a tool kit for employers, so that they have some basic information for what to do when hiring people who are blind and visually impaired. There is an article featured in Employment Relations Today that focuses on employment issues. They highlighted Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration who has a single point of contact for business. Also, California Agency is focusing on a single point of contact for business.
In Minnesota there has been success in analyzing the needs of the type of people hired, including identifying more businesses oriented employer relations’ specialists. They are tracking data regarding the type of calls they receive from employers and the time it takes them to respond to their needs to identify how they are doing to meet employer needs.
ATTACHMENT C: Independent Living Comittee Minutes
Submitted by Committee Chair: Kay McGill
NCSAB
Independent Living Committee Minutes
Seattle, Washington
November 20, 2002
In attendance: Kay McGill - chair, Bettye Odem-Davis, James Salas, Ram Aditya, Christine Boone, Judy Scott, Elton Moore, Lou Ann Qualls, Noel Nightingale, Ron Gardner, Bernie Kramer, Kevin Nathan, Jim Armstrong, Sheila Browning, Terry Murphy, Bill Gibson, Butch McMillan
1. Rehabilitation Services Administration
Kay described the collaborative mentorship program of NCSAB and RSA. Dr. Johnson is contacting the mentors now. The program will be underway after the NCSAB fall meeting. There are ten mentees and eleven mentors.
a. The Mentor Program
Mentorship Planning Team
Dr. Edna Johnson, Program Officer, U.S Dept. of Education
Kay McGill, NCSAB IL Chairperson (Georgia)
Jane Ward Solomon, Older Blind Program Director, Virginia
Rehabilitation Services Administration is working on a mentorship program in collaboration with NCSAB. Support and consultation will be offered to the new program directors of State Independent Living Programs for the Older Blind by matching the skills of seasoned program directors with the needs of new directors. We have developed some guidelines that we hope will make this a rewarding and beneficial process for all those involved. We welcome your feedback.
The Mentoring Process
1. Dr. Edna Johnson will contact the mentors to discuss the program.
2. The assigned mentor will contact and develop a relationship with the assigned mentee.
3. The mentor and mentee will discuss the goals of the mentee.
4. The mentor will contact the mentee at least monthly for a time period of six months to discuss the progress towards goals or any other issues of concern.
5. Edna, Kay and Jane will contact the various mentors at least twice in the six-month period in order to determine how the process is working and if any changes are needed.
6. At the end of six months, the mentor and the mentee will decide if they want to continue the contact or if the goals have been reached and no further formal contact is needed.
7. Each mentor and mentee will send Edna a simple evaluation at the end of the six-month period with regard to the mentoring process and answer the following questions:
a. What was most helpful about the process?
b. What changes would you make?
c. Were your goals obtained?
d. Other comments?
8. During this process, items of general interest/policy/procedure etc. will be sent to Edna so she can share them with all the program directors.
b. Amendments
1) The adjustment to inflation language to increase money to the minimally funded states and 2) the evaluation, training, and technical assistance proposed amendments cannot be technical amendments. They must be administratively changed. These amendments need to be dealt with during the reauthorization period. Advocates will work together to support the amendments.
NCSAB Business Meeting Discussion and Action:
A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously, as follows:
NCSAB will send a formal letter of endorsement to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) reiterating NCSAB’s support for the adjustment to inflation language to increase funds to the minimally funded states and for the evaluation, training and technical assistance as currently authorized under Section 721 (Program Authorization) of Title VII ‑ Part C (Centers for Independent Living).
2. Mississippi State University (MSU) – Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Visiona. Dr. Elton Moore - Update on Program Participant Survey
RSA gave $50,000 to ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization Center) to subcontract with MSU to conduct the Program Participant Survey. Funding was halted because it was learned that money from Title 7, Chapter 1 cannot be used to evaluate the Title 7, Chapter 2 program. This money must be switched to another source by March 31, 2003. If the switch cannot take place by that date, then the contract must be renegotiated.
Information on the survey
· At least 918 people nationwide will be surveyed (that is about 18 people per state).
· The results of the survey can be generalized at the National level, but cannot be generalized from state to state.
· The survey is very similar to the one MSU completed in the late ‘90’s.
· States want survey feedback on their respective states.
· Once funded, MSU will send a letter to the State Directors and the Older Blind Program Directors.
b. Dr. Brenda Cavenaugh
In Dr. Cavenaugh’s absence, Dr. Moore distributed Dr. Cavenaugh’s Medicare Study update.
· The project will be completed in January 2003.
· The project looks at 1) how many people could be served under the Frost and Capuano bills and 2) the potential cost under each bill.
· Dr. Cavenaugh plans to speak at the Spring Older Blind Project Director’s meeting.
Dr. Cavenaugh’s report:
Study Update: Impact of Providing Medicare Coverage for Blindness and Low Vision Rehabilitation Services under HR 2674 and HR 2484
MSU RRTC ON BLINDNESS AND LOW VISION
A preliminary draft of the literature review has been written. This document continues to be updated and edited; however, its main structure and content have been established. In addition, data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) were requested from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and acquired from the Research Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota. The request process required that a detailed proposal be submitted including information regarding the purpose of the study, research questions, methodology, and dissemination of results. The Proposal abstract is attached for your review.
Because the data set was only available in an archaic tape format, which the Center was not equipped to access directly the data set was sent to an outside contractor where it was transferred onto compact disks, which could be read by PCs at the Center. Data files were provided in a statistical package format not used by the Center (SAS); before analysis could begin, it was necessary to convert syntax files into the SPSS format used by the Center. As with analysis of any secondary data set, our data analysis will be restricted by availability of relevant study variables in the MCBS. All project activities are tentatively scheduled for completion by January 1, 2003.
Request to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Data
Abstract
In the blindness and low vision rehabilitation field, services such as instruction in orientation and mobility, activities of daily living, and community reintegration have been traditionally provided by rehabilitation teachers, orientation and mobility instructors, and low vision specialists in non-medical rehabilitation and educational settings. Because of these specialized services, many blind and visually impaired persons have remained independent and contributing members of society. Recent advocacy efforts have resulted in the introduction of two bills in the U.S. House of Representatives that would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include Medicare coverage for blindness and low vision rehabilitation services. The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic impact of providing coverage for these services. We propose to do this, in part, by examining the health care experiences of current Medicare beneficiaries who report trouble seeing.
A number of research questions are proposed that will investigate (a) the frequency and percentage of individuals enrolled in Medicare by level of vision (no trouble seeing a little trouble seeing, a lot of trouble seeing) and by level of functional independence (independently performs IADLs and ADLs, lives in community but requires assistance with IADLs and ADLs, lives in nursing home), (b) differences in health services by level of visual impairment and level of independence, (c) differences in incidence of major health problems by level of vision and level of functional independence, (d) factors predicting decreased functional independence, and (e) cost of health care for individuals reporting a lot of trouble seeing and decreased levels of independence.
The 1998 and 1999 Cost and Use databases with matched claims are requested for data analysis. Research questions will be answered using descriptive statistics (e.g., cross tabulations of means, percentages), tests of group differences (e.g., ANOV A, MANOV A), and tests of relationships (e.g., logistic regression). Statistics will not be reported for small sample sizes (less than 25 in a group). We expect to have samples large enough to yield power of approximately .80, given a medium effect and alpha of .05 (adjusted for multiple tests). Findings of statistically significant differences and relationships will be accompanied by effect size indicators. Independent variables will include vision status (3 levels) and functional independence status (3 levels).
The database will be managed by the Primary Investigator (Cavenaugh) and the Research Associate (Steinman). All project researchers have undergone Institutional Review Board training c3t Mississippi State University. The research will be completed by January 2003. A description of tasks and a time schedule are included in the protocol.
Audiences for these research findings include administrators in the Rehabilitation Services Administration, administrators and service delivery staff of state vocational rehabilitation programs and other private and public organizations, and blindness consumer and professional groups. We expect that findings will be used in advocacy activities related to investigating and securing third-party funding of blindness and low vision services for consumers who are blind or severely visually impaired.
3. American Foundation for the Blind
Ms. Judy Scott – update
· AFB put together an 8-minute video on the National Agenda on Vision and Aging.
· The video is available free through AFB and will be shown at the general NCSAB meeting.
· One of the National agenda goals is to concentrate on piloting a program to increase referrals from eye care professionals to vision rehabilitation providers.
· Ten states are participating in the minimum data set. A comment from one of the committee members suggested the AFB look at existing data before publishing a final product.
· AFB is looking at personnel shortages.
· Ms. Scott liked the Older Blind Mentoring Program.
· VERY IMPORTANT – AFB needs key statements from older blind programs outlining details of cases, noting changing demographics and consumers with multiple disabilities and describing how these details and changes are IMPACTING people and service delivery. How are the services benefiting the consumers? These statements will be used to help educate members of Congress to help advocate for increased funding. The statements can be anecdotal or case stories. Email Judy at jscott@afb.net
· Judy will talk with Dr. Edna Johnson and ask to post on the Chapter 2 listserve details and guidance on the specifics of what AFB needs for this advocacy effort.
The committee had a discussion on removing Title 7, Chapter 2 out of the IL system and placing it in Title 1. From that lively discussion a task group will be formed to study increasing Title 7, Part B funds for the blind. This task group will have a proposal on its’ findings ready for the NCSAB executive committee to review by February 1, 2003. Sheila Browning from Mississippi agreed to chair the committee and Christine Boone and Kevin Nathan agreed to help. Other interested parties will be called upon to help.
AFB is willing to support whatever NCSAB recommends.
4. Frost and Capuano bills
Updates via correspondence from Jim Gashel and Lorraine Lidoff
Kay read the following statements by Dr. Lidoff and Mr. Gashel on the status of the Frost and Capuano bills. There is no activity on the bills at present. Both Dr. Lidoff and Mr. Gashel expressed thanks and appreciation for NCSAB’s involvement.
· From: Dr. Lorraine Lidoff
Director, National Vision Rehabilitation Cooperative
llidoff@att.net
508/240-6510
Here is a brief summary of the status of the Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act (S.1967/H.R.2484). I would be glad to answer any questions about this legislation.
The Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act (S.1967/H.R.2484) has garnered substantial bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. This bill would ensure access to vision rehabilitation services for older adults who are blind and partially sighted by making Medicare coverage for those services uniform across all of the states. It would establish high standards, congruent with the Medicare program, for the specialized vision rehabilitation professionals who provide the services. Congress may take up
Medicare legislation during the "lame duck" session after the November 5, 2002 elections. Advocates continue to work to have S.1967/H.R. 2484 included in the 107th Congress's Medicare package.
· From: Mr. Jim Gashel
Jgashel@nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind
410-685-5663
The Medicare Coverage Equity Act for the Blind, H.R.2674, is a rational, sensible, logical, and targeted approach for the provision of essential rehabilitation services to older blind Americans. It relies on the well-established delivery system overseen by the state agencies of the NCSAB mandated under Chapter II of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended). While NCSAB agencies have the expertise to oversee delivery of necessary rehabilitation services, funding to carry out these programs is sorely lacking.
The blind of the nation recognize that among our most pressing problems is the great number of our older members needing rehabilitation services to help them remain in their homes. The Framingham Eye Study attributes 18% of hip fractures to age-related vision loss, and the Alliance on Aging Research asserts that visual impairment is one of the top four reasons seniors lose their independence. Rehabilitation services are critical to address these problems, but funding under the Independent Living for Older Blind program is woefully inadequate to achieve this goal. Of those who would benefit from independent living services, only about 5% currently receive them.
To provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to older persons experiencing sight loss, organizations and agencies concerned about blindness must engage in a unified effort to enact legislation. The NCSAB in resolution 2001-1 supports the approach suggested by the Medicare Coverage Equity Act for the Blind. The blind of America thank you for this support. We must continue to work together to ensure that older blind Americans receive the services they need provided by the experienced agencies of the NCSAB.
5. Discussion
A lively discussion began on the standards/accreditation/ certification/ credentials of rehabilitation teachers and orientation & mobility instructors. States vary regarding their requirements for these staff. The comments will be continued at the general session on Thursday.
Submitted by:
Kay McGill
Independent Living Chair
December 2003
ATTACHMENT D: Randolph-Sheppard Committee Minutes
Submitted by Committee Chair: Terry Smith
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
Randolph Sheppard Committee Minutes
November 20, 2002
The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:00 P.M. There was no record of the state agencies that were represented although several directors were in attendance. Both the National Association of Blind Merchants and the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America were represented.
Joe Cordova of RSA was the first presenter and updated the members on activities on the national level. Most of his presentation centered around the proposed policy directive on active participation. Several agencies expressed concern about the PD as currently drafted. The central issues are there being no definitive statement on the SLA having final authority and the uncertainty about what happens if there is an impasse. Without giving any specifics, Mr. Cordova did commit to making some changes to address the issues that had been raised.
Terry Smith reviewed two letters (Copies attached) that he had received from Commissioner Joanne Wilson in response to the NCSAB letters he had sent. In the first, she supports a national conference on Randolph Sheppard in either 2003 or 2004 depending upon funding. In the second, she provides clarification on how states are to report income from troop dining facilities on military bases and the process required to make changes in the RSA-15. The Committee voted to send a letter to the Commissioner asking that she appoint a work group to look at the RSA-15 and to consider possible changes before it is presented to OMB for approval in 2005.
Greg Trapp of New Mexico gave an update on the NISH lawsuit. In the Spring, NCSAB had voted to file an amicus brief in that case, which has been done. Mr. Trapp reported that oral arguments have been scheduled in the case which is now in Federal Appeals Court and that he feels optimistic about the outcome.
There was a brief discussion about attempts in the state of Maine to weaken the Little Randolph Sheppard Act.
Dr. Elton Moore of Mississippi State University gave a short report on the surveys that had been sent to BEP staff and members of the elected committees of blind vendors. He also gave out information about the website that the R&T Center has on Randolph Sheppard.
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVIES
REHABILITATION SERVICESADMINISTRATION
October 29, 2002
Terry C. Smith, Chairperson
Randolph- Sheppard Committee
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind 400 Deaderick Street, 11th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37248-6200
Dear Mr. Smith:
This is to respond to your letter as Chair of the Randolph-Sheppard Committee, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) concerning two questions raised by the Committee related to the RSA-15 Reporting Form.
The first question is, how should a State report sales from troop dining facilities on the RSA- 15 Form when the licensed blind vendor is teaming with a private food service company to provide the services.
This question has been raised by some of the states that hold such contracts. In order to maintain the validity of some of the other figures on Part I of the Form, "Earnings and Employment," states must report only the funds received by the blind vendor. That total figure should be placed on Part I, line 6, "Vending Machine & Other Income." It would be incorrect to report the total revenue earned by the troop dining facility.
Your second question is, could the RSA-15 Form be revised to collect data on which states hold contracts for military troop dining facilities and how much revenue is generated by those contracts for the licensed vendors.
As you are aware, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) recently applied for and received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue to collect data using the Form RSA-15. The authority was granted for another three-year period, until July 31, 2005. However, if it is determined that there is a significant need and a number of states want a separate section to be added to the Form to collect the desired information, RSA can request ONIB for the authority. In regard to the second
part of this question, how much revenue is generated for blind vendors, RSA believes that since a state holds only one or perhaps two military food service contracts, to publish the amount of revenue that is generated to the licensed blind vendor would disclose his/her income and would breach required confidentiality.
400 MARYLAND AVE., S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202
Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.
Page 2 - Terry C. Smith
Thank you for the interest and support in the Randolph- Sheppard program. If you have further questions, please contact W Joe Cordova, Director, Blind and Visually Impaired Division, telephone number: (202) 205-9902 or Mr. George Arsnow, Randolph- Sheppard Program Specialist, telephone number: (202) 205-9317.
Sincerely,
Joanne Wilson Commissioner
ATTACHMENT E: Dues Proposal
Current formula: .000012 x award + $350
Proposed Increase: increase the .000012 amount two points each year for the next four years.
This would provide an increase of $4,720 a year. The base amount would remain the same, $350.
ATTACHMENT F: Resolution – National Blindness
Professional Certification Board
RESOLUTION
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BLIND
(The undersigned hereby recommend that NCSAB adopt the following resolution):
RE: Official Recognition of NBPCB and NOMC
WHEREAS, the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) is committed to and in support of excellence in both programs and personnel in the field of work with the blind; and
WHEREAS, the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) has been established to insure excellence among blindness professionals by offering non-discriminatory, performance-based certification processes; and
WHEREAS, the NBPCB now offers the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) through which candidates for Orientation and Mobility (O&M) certification demonstrate their abilities to teach through a “performance-based” certification process—that is, whether they be blind or sighted, they must show that they can actually travel competently themselves in both indoor and outdoor settings; and
WHEREAS, NOMC certification is not discriminatory—that is, it is open to qualified blind candidates, and it is also open to candidates who are agency-trained rather than university-trained, if they have at least two years of O&M teaching experience, and if they can produce the required supervisor’s recommendation:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind in regular meeting assembled this 21st day of November, 2002, in the city of Seattle, Washington that this Organization recognize the National Blindness Professional Certification Board officially; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NCSAB encourage the state VR agencies serving the blind to consider recognizing this alternative certification, so that NOMC certificants will be deemed qualified in those states which may require professional certification for O&M instructors.
