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Vocational
Rehabilitation
Council
Kathleen Olson, Chair
Denise
Phipps, Court Reporter
505 E. King Street, Room 502
Carson City, Nevada 89701-3705
775-684-4040 Voice
775-684-8400 TTY
775-684-4184 Fax
Vocational Rehabilitation Council
Meeting Minutes
State Legislature Hearing Room in Carson City and Las Vegas
February 25, 2000
Members Present: Staff
Bill Bauer Barbara Legier, Rehabilitation Division
Cruz Bonilla William Hamilton, Rehabilitation Division
Bill Boster
Toni Caruso Guests
Marsha Lakes Michael Becker, Bureau Chief, BSBVI
Florence La Roy Rick Schneckloth, Bureau Chief, BVR
Lorraine Marshall Howard Castle, District Manager, BVR
Karla McComb Libby Jones, Director’s Office
Kathleen Olson Paul Gowins, Office of Community Based Services
Maynard Yasmer Scott Youngs, ADA Nevada
Al Roybal, District Manager, BSBVI
Members Absent:
Ralph Baker
Marcia de Braga
EXHIBITS
1. Meeting agenda
2. Minutes of December 3, 1999 meeting
3. Executive Budget 2001-2003 memo from Carol A. Jackson, Director
4. Memo from Maynard Yasmer regarding in-service training invitation
5. Biographies of Council candidates Gillian Wells, Bob White, Linda Lueck and Michael Stubblefield
6.
State
Plan Draft
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Kathy Olson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:15 am.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Bill Bauer moved and Lorraine Marshall seconded approval of
minutes. They were approved
unanimously.
CHAIRPERSON REPORT
Ms. Olson reported that former Council member Ellie
O’Toole passed away in February. We
are all saddened by this loss. Maynard
Yasmer was featured in the current Nevada Silver & Blue magazine.
The article outlines his history from a VR client to Administrator of the
Rehabilitation Division. Ms. Olson
invited members of the Council to a BVR-BSBVI retreat at the Carson Valley Inn
March 16-17.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Marketing & Advocacy
1.
Nominations/Membership subcommittee. Marcia de Braga, Kathy Olson and Bill Hamilton met to discuss
four vacant and two vacating positions: three
in business, industry and labor and one community rehabilitation service
professional vacant; vocational
rehabilitation (VR) counselor and the parent training and information center
positions vacating. The
subcommittee recommended that Robert White and Linda Lueck be approved as
business, industry and labor representatives, Mike Stubblefield as a community
rehabilitation service professional representative, and Gillian Wells for the
parent training and information center position.
Mr. Yasmer concurred with recommendations.
There was discussion about whether an employer representative could be a
public employer. The answer is
“yes,” but in the future preference is for non-public sector employers.
Bill Bauer moved for approval of the recommendations.
It was seconded and approved unanimously.
The Council will submit these recommendations to Governor Guinn for
review and approval.
2.
Videotape. Marsha Lakes and
Karla McComb prepared a survey questionnaire for Council members and VR programs
personnel to answer. It asked for
opinions about what the VR programs should accomplish.
One person responded. Barbara
Legier will send three videos to help them review possible video content.
A report will be given in April.
3.
Council brochure. Bill Bauer
worked on, and sent to Marsha Lakes, brochure material regarding VR Council is
and what it does. They will resume
work on the brochure and make a presentation at the next Council meeting.
Toni Caruso asked for a copy of Council brochures Kathy Olson has from
other states.
4. Legislation.
A. Survey of legislators. Lorraine Marshall worked on questions to learn if legislators know about or are interested in disability issues. Can the survey be issued from Marcia de Braga’s office? Karla McComb suggested that questions allow open-ended responses and that, if the legislator or family member has a disability, an invitation be made to list the disability. Mr. Yasmer suggested that the housing question might ask if legislators understand the housing issues for people with disabilities in Nevada with “yes,” “unsure” or “no” answers. Lorraine Marshall will send all members a copy of the survey questionnaire with a two-week turnaround time for comments/revisions to Lorraine. Mr. Yasmer wants to review the survey after it is re-written by Lorraine.
B. Legislative issues.
1. Flo La Roy wants Council members to review and provide feedback on a two-page document on high school to work transitioning, so that she can make a report to the Council before her term is over in May. Bill Hamilton will oversee its circulation. Mr. Yasmer’s idea of prevocational programs for younger children might be incorporated. Flo received data showing 461 students in the transition to VR (north 120, rural 99, south 242).
2. Lorraine Marshall is interested in group homes for disabled non-mentally retarded individuals, such as those trying to find a job but concerned about where to live. The only current option is 48 units of Accessible Space Inc. housing in Las Vegas.
3.
Lorraine
Marshall and Flo La Roy are interested in equitable treatment by insurance
companies of the newly disabled, citing how from the time someone is injured
until short-term disability takes effect the injured individual may have no
income or resources. Is there a
legislative solution? Mr. Yasmer
said there could be a lot of opposition to such a change. If the Council pursues the issue two things should occur.
One is more education of people about what to do when life circumstances
change, such as maintaining coverage if the person already has it.
The second is pursuit of better statutes on equitable treatment.
Oversight
1.
Consumer/Client
Satisfaction. Bill Hamilton said
that the comprehensive statewide needs assessment simultaneously will accomplish
the 2000 consumer satisfaction survey, the latter being a Council responsibility
under the 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. The Bureau of Research and Analysis unit of the Department of
Employment, Training and Rehabilitation is finishing work on the client survey
(522 consumers who gave input), employer survey (68 employers interviewed or who
responded) and rehabilitation counselor/rehabilitation technician survey of 46
individuals. There will be a one-
or two-page summary for each of these surveys, pie charts and summaries of
open-ended answers to questions. The
data then will be turned over to the Rehabilitation Division.
Based on what the data say, consideration will be given to changes in or
improvements to the VR programs.
2. State Plan. Karla McComb wants at least a draft of VR’s new three-year State Plan for the State Workforce Investment Board meeting Monday. The plan is a joint effort by district managers, supervisors, bureau chiefs, administrative staff and others. District managers and supervisors speak to staff, review what is going on and ask for input on pertinent issues. A cooperative agreement with recipients of grants for services to American Indians is new. Ms. Legier, Mike Becker and Richard Nelson discussed attachments, notably those that are new or that make changes to last year’s State Plan. Preliminary statewide comprehensive needs assessment results are included as are VR program goals for improved earnings and health benefits for successfully placed consumers. An “order of selection” of VR consumers is not envisioned in the State Plan. Service for people of minority backgrounds is an emphasis. Other emphases include average wages over $8.00 an hour, and health insurance benefits.
Mr. Becker addressed mediation and impartial due process hearings. Lorraine Marshall asked if the $300,000 employment grant could be increased. Mr. Yasmer will inform her if more than $300,000 is forthcoming in the supported employment component of Nevada's Title I, Section 110 grant. Lorraine Marshall moved, and Bill Bauer seconded, approval of the plan. The motion passed unanimously but was rescinded on motion by Lorraine Marshall, seconded by Karla McComb, because public comments may be forthcoming. The motion passed unanimously. On a motion by Marsha Lakes, seconded by Lorraine Marshall, the Council then decided the following: The State Plan is approved contingent on any public comments that may cause alterations. An ad hoc committee of staff and Council members will meet to review and incorporate changes to the State Plan, if public comments lead to that necessity, and do an attachment incorporating public comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Ad hoc committee members include Toni Caruso, Marsha Lakes, Bill Bauer and
Kathy Olson. If the comments
require an answer, a bureau chief will respond to the person(s).
STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD (SWIB)
Karla McComb said the SWIB meeting will be Monday.
She congratulated those who assembled the VR State Plan so it could be
included with the SWIB plan to be submitted to the federal government by April
1st. The plan is scheduled for
implementation in July. SWIB is
still negotiating with the Department of Labor on certain issues.
She will provide updates.
COURT REPORTER CONTRACT
The Council
agreed to continue using a real-time court reporter to take verbatim discussion
for use as minutes of the VRC meetings. Bill
Bauer moved, and Toni Caruso seconded, continuation of the service through state
fiscal year 2001. The motion passed
unanimously.
NEXT MEETING
The Council tentatively scheduled the next meeting for
Carson City on Friday, April 14.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Yasmer said the Rehabilitation Division has been busy
with the Governor’s fundamental review of state government and a legislative
interim committee fundamental review of agency base budgets and the BVR program.
Preliminary budgets have been submitted to the Director of the Department
of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
Mr. Yasmer will provide information from this work to the Council after
completed and reviewed by the Director.
STATE OF NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORT
Marsha Lakes is waiting for feedback from BVR to finalize the collaborative agreement between the state Department of Education and BVR. Rick Schneckloth will work on that soon. She, and prospective member Gillian Wells, will attend a youth leadership forum program arranged by the President’s Committee on the Employment of Youth. Its purposes are to develop advocacy leaders regarding disability issues in local communities and to promote collaboration between different state programs and agencies. Council members are invited to a Nevada Department of Education conference at Lake Tahoe March 24-26. Public comments on the Department’s state plan are being taken until March 31.
OTHER COUNCILS/BUREAUS
A.
Developmental
Disabilities (DD). Paul
Gowins said the Home Of Your Own program has provided 43 people with
disabilities the opportunity to own their own home.
The DD Council has promoted dental care for children without service,
including a mobile dental unit. The
Council sent information to about 3,000 individuals regarding respite services
available through the DD program. Flo
La Roy is involved with the DD Council’s autism task force.
B.
State
Independent Living Council (SILC).
Paul Gowins reported that a public forum on the Work Incentives
Improvement Act will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 30.
The SILC has been involved with medical insurance issues--notably a
Medicaid buy-in program for Nevadans with disabilities wanting to work but not
lose insurance coverage—in front of about eleven legislative interim
committees. He also said Council
members may track agendas and medical issues being discussed in the committees
by going to the State of Nevada web site [added into the minutes as:
www.leg.state.nv Click
on interim information.
Click on view currently scheduled meetings of all committees. Or, scroll down to “interim committees” or statutory
committees].
C.
Mental
Health Planning Council. No
report
D. Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation.
1. Barbara Legier said the recent telecommuting grant study yielded no cottage industry work that enabled someone to be self supporting.
2. Rick Schneckloth said the Deputy Chief of BVR position has been filled, as have a rehabilitation technician position in Ely and a Rehabilitation Supervisor position in Las Vegas. Three counselor positions are vacant in Las Vegas and one in Reno. Two rehabilitation technician positions in Reno and one in Elko are vacant.
3.
Rick
Schneckloth said that Bob Himmelreich may request grant funding soon.
Mr. Yasmer said the rural employment project the Council discussed last
year should be in place soon, with $20,000 needed for the current year.
Lorraine Marshall was referred to Rod Jorgensen, University of Nevada
Reno, for no-cost assistance regarding the development of a business plan.
E.
Bureau
of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Mike Becker said a Rehabilitation Technician vacancy in Elko has been
filled and recruitment is ongoing for vacant positions in Reno and Las Vegas,
one in Las Vegas being bilingual in Spanish and English.
Flo La Roy and Karla McComb asked BSBVI and BVR to report at the April meeting about:
1. A breakdown of the disability populations successfully closed and unsuccessfully closed.
2. Of different disability populations, what is the percentage of each type for which VR programs provide employment, and how successfully are they being employed?
3. Discuss the concerns brought to fair hearings, and how were they resolved?
4.
What
is the thinking of the VR programs staff regarding the future once the Workforce
Investment Act is in place, such as collaboration with other partners.
How does staff see that collaboration as proceeding and working?
COUNCIL LOG
A. Request to Governor Guinn for Council authority to fill the unexpired terms of members who leave the Council. The Governor responded that he wanted to maintain that control.
B. Court reporter. The Council voted earlier in the meeting to continue this service at meetings.
C.
Submission
of annual report.
Bill Hamilton said the Council’s report was sent in December to the
Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Commissioner of the U.S. Department
of Education, the State of Nevada Library and Archives and to the Governor.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BVR/BSBVI WORK CANDIDATES
No such opportunities were brought up other than applications for taking the U.S. Census.
COUNSELOR ISSUES
Bill Boster said that line staff want an annual training of
the state agency and there will be one March 15-17 in Minden.
Staff is looking forward to it. Council
members are welcome to attend.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:55 am Bill Bauer moved, and Lorraine Marshall
seconded, adjournment. The Council
unanimously approved to adjourn.
Recorded by:
_____________________________________
Denise Phipps, Sierra Nevada Reporters
Edited by:
______________________________________
William Hamilton, Rehabilitation Division
Approved by:
_______________________________________
Kathleen Olson, Chair
