Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)



Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB)Advisory Board Meeting Minutes DRAFTDecember 14, 2017Members PresentAlan Sylvestre, Chairman, Eileen Akers, Andrea Giudice, Katherine Guzman, Darcy Jones, Terri-Lynn Johnston (representing DSS Commissioner Bremby), Mary Silverberg, Stephen Thal, Randa UtterMembers AbsentDavid Gregoire and Beth Rival Others PresentBrian Sigman, BESB Director, Chris Lassen, Adult Services Supervisor, Andrew Norton, Legislative and Administrative Advisor, Catherine Summ, Education Supervisor, Edward Owens, Business Enterprise Program Supervisor, Mary Burgard, Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor, Lisa Tanguay, Office Supervisor, Lori St. Amand, Volunteer Program Coordinator.?Old BusinessMOTION:? A motion was made by Ms. Akers, seconded by Mr. Thal, to adopt the minutes from the September 14, 2017 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.Funding for Self Employment Guide for ActionMr. Sigman reported that he has not yet heard back from Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) regarding questions raised by some of the Advisory Board members as to whether criminal background checks can be required of clients seeking funding for self-employment. Mr. Sigman stated that since the existing policies regarding funding for self-employment impose no such requirement, the business plan guide and template should only reflect what is currently in policy. Ms. Akers requested that the Business Plan template add a section for “Related Volunteer Service.” She also requested that in the guide, under the section titled “Equipment Ownership” that the word “However” be added to the beginning of the sentence describing that BESB can provide reimbursement for repairs.MOTION: On a motion was made by Ms. Giudice, seconded by Ms. Silverberg, it was unanimously passed to approve the business plan policy guide and template with the additions as recommended by Ms. Akers. New BusinessOrder of Selection Workgroup UpdateMr. Sigman reported on the recommendations of the workgroup that was comprised of members from Advisory Board and State Rehabilitation Council. After providing an update on the latest budget projections that indicate the need for an Order of Selection by FFY 2021, Mr. Sigman detailed activities that have already been taken to reduce the cost of payroll and the associated fringe benefit costs. One Orientation and Mobility Instructor and one Special Assistant have been reassigned to Adult Services. Two Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors have submitted their retirements effective April 1, 2018. Only one of these positions will be requested for a refill.The Order of Selection Workgroup deliberated on the costs associated with purchased services and based upon this review, have put forth the following concepts for the Advisory Board to consider:Independent Living Residential Programs:The workgroup recommends that the policy be considered for revision requiring that a mobility assessment by a BESB staff person be added as an additional requirement to the rehabilitation teacher assessment as to whether an in-state training option would enable the client to achieve the skills that are being sought. Skills that could be reasonably taught in-state by a mobility instructor or a rehabilitation teacher would not be funded in an out-of-state residential independent living program. The initial approval to attend a residential independent living program would be for 12 weeks in total (including the assessment period). Extensions beyond 12 weeks would require the preapproval of the Bureau Director. In requesting an extension of the Director, the vendor would need to include the following:The list of skills that were not mastered during the 12 weeks of attendance;The reason(s) the skills were not mastered;The basis for concluding that the skills could be mastered with additional training;The anticipated length of time required for the client to master these additional skills; andThe measure that will be used as the benchmark to demonstrate the skill was mastered. Higher Education:It is recommended that the Vocational Rehabilitation Program at BESB align with the policy in place at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and use the community college rate if the program of study is offered at the community college level or the credits acquired from the courses at the community college could be applied towards a bachelor’s degree at another school after the two years of community college training is completed. The residential portion of the policy (referred to as maintenance) would remain as presently written. Adaptive EquipmentIt is recommended that the policy add a statement that the Bureau will not pay for service plans or data plans.MOTION: On a motion by Ms. Giudice, seconded by Ms. Silverberg, the recommendations as put forth by the Order of Selection Workgroup were unanimously endorsed.Mr. Sigman indicated that the State Rehabilitation Council would take up these same recommendations at their December meeting. If they concur with these recommendations, then draft policies would need to be approved by the Advisory Board and the State Rehabilitation Council to be put forth in a public comment period. Revised policies could not be adopted until that process concluded and the State Rehabilitation Council and Advisory Board gave full consideration to the public comments received. Budget UpdateMr. Norton reported to the Advisory Board on the Governor’s budgetary holdbacks that were announced last month. Mr. Norton also announced that the Governor recently sent the legislature a list of $300 million in possible funding reductions and tax increases that they may wish to consider in their deliberations to close a $200 million deficit in the current fiscal year. ?He said that none of the suggested reductions in that list included DORS.? ?Mr. Norton also told the group that the legislature will convene its next regular session in February and that the session is scheduled to adjourn in May. The legislature will likely consider budgetary revisions to the second year (FY19) of the biennial budget during that session.Legislative UpdateMr. Norton reported that DORS had been exploring whether a need existed to request a change in statutory language regarding pension contributions for Business Enterprise Program (BEP) vending facility operators.? The law, dating from 1971, states that vending facility operators should pay 5 percent of their earnings as an annual pension contribution, mirroring the percentage that state employees were contributing at the time that the law was enacted.?However, as the amount of pension contribution for state employees has changed over the years, BEP has mirrored those changes for the collection of pension contributions from the vending facility operators. Mr. Norton noted that the agency has learned from the Governor’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office that the methodology used by the agency is correct, notwithstanding the wording of the statute. The state had made an administrative adjustment some years ago to account for changes in the pension contribution requirements. Therefore, DORS will not need to propose a bill to change the law since current practice comports with administrative guidelines. Mr. Norton also reported that the former Connecticut Department on Aging is no longer a stand-alone department and is now being housed in DORS. There is a forthcoming proposed bill that will confirm this transition in statute. ?Lastly, Mr. Norton reported that the Governor’s Office is in the process of making appointments to the newly reconstituted Advisory Commission for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The DORS Commissioner will serve as one of three co-chairs of the group. Program Updates Ms. Burgard reported on the Vocational Rehabilitation Program.? Ms. Yesenia Rodriguez is leaving BESB, effective December 21, 2017. Mr. Mark Ward will be assuming the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Counselor caseload for half of the state, with some adjustments in territory.? Two Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors have announced their retirements effective April 1, 2018 and one of those Counselor positions will be requested for a refill.? Mr. Jonathan Richmond will assume that portion of the college counselor’s caseload that are full time college students who receive BESB funding, with the remaining clients being redistributed to regional and Pre-ETS Counselors. A vacancy created by the retirement of Ms. Marion Lynch, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, was filled by Ms. Mychelle Carter who was recently hired.? The?Vocational Rehabilitation Program was part of the Job Driven Technical Assistant grant and has a new focus of using labor market information in the development of Individualized Plans for Employment.? The Vocational Rehabilitation Program began using a new program, the Career Index Plus, to help clients identify viable career goals.? Ms. Julie McLean has been assigned as the single point of contact to train clients in the use of this tool. Mr. Richmond, Ms. Burgard and Ms. McLean will be presenting at a national webinar on December 21st to outline the progress with using Career Index Plus. Mr. Owens reported that the Business Enterprise Program completed the federal RSA 15 report for FFY 17. Aggregate gross sales from the 35 locations were $5.25 million. The average income for BEP vending facility operators was $37,621. There was a carry-over into FFY 18 of approximately $1 million.?One field representative will be retiring effective January 1, 2018. A request will be made to refill this position.?Mr. Owens also reported on recent changes to vending facility operators at several locations.MOTION: On a motion made by Ms. Akers, seconded by Ms. Silverberg, the meeting adjourned at 12:03 p.m.Next meeting – March 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. - BESB ................
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