The Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and the Vermont Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON THE
PROPOSED STATE PLAN AMENDMENT TO INTEGRATE DVR AND DBVI

Thank you for taking the time to review the Proposed State Plan Amendment to Integrate DVR and DBVI effective January 1, 2010. The state is required to submit a state plan amendment to the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration to merge the two divisions.

This is a very long and complex document, because the federal statute requires we address a number of programmatic and technical areas. We recommend you review the following sections (highlighted in yellow in the document) to understand the initiatives the new divisions will be undertaking after July 1 2010.

• Section 4.2 (C) Summary of Input and Activities: Cooperation and Coordination with the State Rehabilitation Council
• 4.11 (c) Goals and Priorities: (1) State’s Goals and Priorities for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment Programs
• 4.11 (d) Strategies to Achieve the Goals and Priorities

DVR and DBVI will be holding a series of public hearings on the proposed State Plan Amendment on the following dates:

November 30, 2009: 9:00 am to 10:30 am, DVR Office, 100 Mineral St., 1^st Floor Conference Room, Springfield, Vermont 05156

November 30, 2009: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, DVR Office, 190 Asa Bloomer Building, Conference Room, Rutland, Vermont 05701

December 1, 2009: 9:30 am to 11:00 am, Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 10 Main Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602

December 1, 2009: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, DVR Office, Conference Room 2A, 108 Cherry St., Burlington, Vermont 04501

ASL interpreters will be available at all sites.

The State Plan Amendment is also available in hard copy, in Braille or via alternative format by calling 1-866-879-6757 or 802-241-1455 (TTY only) or by e-mailing james.smith@ahs.state.vt.us. If you would like to provide written comments on the state plan amendment, they must be submitted by December 1, 2009 to James Smith the Budget and Policy Manager at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 103 South Main Street, Weeks 1A, Waterbury, VT 05671-2303 or by e-mail to james.smith@ahs.state.vt.us or to Fred Jones, the Director at the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 103 South Main Street, Weeks 1C, Waterbury, VT 05671-2304 or by e-mail to fred.jones@ahs.state.vt.us.