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New York Vision Rehabilitation Association

Updated

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

In 2006, NYVRA was active in working on its organizational goals through expansion of its state wide membership, in accomplishments in the state legislative arena, in the significant expansion of licensure endorsements, and through pro active efforts regarding a state wide area of concern: increasing government reimbursements for vision rehabilitation services. 

With regard to the organizational needs, and in consultation with the Council of Community Services of New York State, NYVRA submitted the application for incorporation as a non-profit organization, confirmed by letter in March 2006, and has an established address in the state capital area. Other financial needs were addressed as well, including the NYS CHAR, and the state lobbying and IRS filings. 

Board positions continue to include agency and consumer representation. Over the course of the year, meetings of the executive board and the board were held, as well as four membership meetings in January, April, July, and October.  

NYVRA continued to engage the services of a government representation firm, and, along with NYVRA members, has been actively educating members of the state legislature about vision rehabilitation and the licensure bill. A Senate Roundtable meeting was held in May, inviting various organizations for discussion of the bill, and suggested changes were made.    The bill moved out of the Senate Higher Education Committee for the first time this year.  In addition, a new draft of the bill was completed.   

Numerous organizations were contacted requesting endorsement of the licensure bill and eight new letters of endorsements were secured:

American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses- Hudson Valley Chapter
Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired-Goodwill Industries Of Greater Rochester, Inc.
Association For The Visually Impaired, Inc. (Serving Rockland and Orange counties)
Association For Vision Rehabilitation And Employment, Inc. (Serving 9 NY and 3 Pa. counties)
AURORA of Central New York, Inc.
Central Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired (Serving eight counties in central New York)
National Association of Social Workers- New York State Chapter (membership of over 12,500 social workers)
Pennsylvania College of Optometry

All endorsements were submitted to the state legislative file of the licensure bill for public access.

In addition to the strides made in the licensure effort and state legislature, NYVRA contracted with a web designer and launched the NYVRA Website.  From the fall through the end of December, 1624 visits have been tracked. It is an easily accessible portal for anyone in NYS or in the nation interested in learning more about NYVRA.  We encourage all to visit our new website: www.nyvra.org

NYVRA sponsored an informative and well-received educational workshop on advocacy skills and strategies for the members of the NYS Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. In addition, NYVRA and NYS Rehabilitation Association held a joint meeting and collaborated in educating each other on the work of each organization. Plans are also under way to actively participate in the Biennial NYS Low Vision Symposium again, to be held in Poughkeepsie in September 2007.

Other activities during the year included a NYVRA letter of support to CMC (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) opposing the Low Vision exclusion for reimbursement by Medicare, and approving and recommending a representative to the NYS CBVH Rehabilitation Council. With the formation of the newly elected state leadership this year, NYVRA has also been monitoring developments with regard to services to residents with vision impairments.

This year, efforts also focused on the need to actively support increases in funding for services to people with vision impairment, including advocating for increases in government reimbursement rates and securing funds for the growing visual impaired population.  NYVRA members participated in the OCFS five year strategic planning meeting and survey, educating OCFS staff regarding the needs of the burgeoning number of residents who are visually impaired and the need for increased funding.  A follow up letter was sent underscoring NYVRA concerns and a position paper was developed.  NYVRA also began meeting with other consumer and government organizations in the state, to assess the needs and develop a unified strategy on the issue.

NYVRA, Nancy D. Miller, President, nmiller@visionsvcb.org
500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor,
New York, NY 10013-1354
Phone 212-625-1616, ext. 117, Fax: 212-219-4078

NYVRA is a non-profit coalition comprised of members, organizations and agencies located across New York State, addressing issues that impact services for people who are blind or partially sighted.