Updated

ANNUAL REPORT 2008

In 2008, NYVRA continues to be active in working on its organizational goals i.e.; New York State issues regarding services for people with vision loss in the legislative arena, on the VRT/OMS licensure efforts, and efforts regarding a state wide area of concern: increasing government reimbursements for vision rehabilitation services. 

NYVRA 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 in person and by conference call, as well as four in-person membership meetings:

March 10, 2008
June 23, 2008
September 24, 2008
December 1, 2008  

NYVRA continues to engage the services of a government representation firm, and, along with NYVRA members, has been actively educating members of the state legislature about the of New Yorkers who are blind and partially sighted, vision rehabilitation services, rate increases, the Senior Vision Services program and the licensure bill.  These efforts have been ongoing, multi year efforts and are a priority for NYVRA.

With regard to Licensure, the membership of NYVRA along with NYS AER and over 100 supporters convened together in Albany on February 26, 2008 and met with seventy-five legislators to advocate for licensure.   Many of the legislators were persuaded that day of the importance to support licensure.  This was the first organized lobby day for NYVRA.   By June, the Licensure bill passed in the NYS Senate with a vote of 62-0. Senator Griffo and Senator Marcellino were honored in October for their leadership and proactive efforts in the unanimous passage in the Senate.

Concurrently, Assemblyman Bing held an Assembly Round Table in Albany in May and as a result, Assemblyman Bing amended the bill to include more public members on the board.  Assemblyman Bing has been very active in providing important leadership in the Assembly this year, and NYVRA honored him in November in advancing issues of concern for New Yorkers who are visually impaired.

As a result of the tremendous strides made this year, NYVRA has begun planning its second legislative Lobby day for February 24, 2009.

In addition to the licensure effort, NYVRA has directed its attention regarding government rate increases:

-Senior Vision Services (A897/S522) is new legislation passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor last year, but NYSOFA was not given any funding by the Governor or the state legislature this year.  NYVRA met with various representatives last year and continues to advocate for funding.

-The NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped reports a planned increase in funding of 3% for 2009.

NYVRA has met with other consumer and government organizations in the state, including meetings with the NYS Office for the Aging, (NYSOFA) the NYS Department of Health, as well as ongoing updates and discussion with the CBVH Associate Commissioner Brian Daniels and his staff. NYVRA has also been interested in the development of the newly created Executive Board to the NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, and its role and influence over the direction of CBVH. NYVRA will continue to monitor this newly appointed body.

Members of NYVRA met with Governor Paterson’s representative Lola Braham Harder, Director of Human Services in October, educating her on the issues facing New Yorkers who are visually impaired, including employment, vision rehabilitation training, and licensure of vision rehabilitation professionals.

NYVRA is keeping informed of various vision rehabilitation trends in the nation and in the state and is looking for opportunities for collaborative efforts. NYVRA invited several agency representatives to the membership meetings during the year. Representatives and/or update reports included; NYSRA (New York State Rehabilitation Association), the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC,) NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Quality Care Commission, and regular in person meetings with the Associate Commissioner of NYS CBVH, who has kept the membership updated on new initiatives, as well reports from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).  NYVRA is particularly attuned to the recent growth in the VA Blind Rehabilitation system, drawing staff away from the nonprofit vision rehabilitation agencies in the state and across the nation.

NYSOFA reached out to NYVRA to partner on coordinating and providing scheduled trainings around the state on vision loss, which included several NYVRA member agencies.  In addition, the NYVRA President submitted an article on vision and seniors which was published in the NYSOFA newsletter, educating professionals in the aging field across the state.

Another important issue to NYVRA was the passage by the legislature of legislation effecting implementation by the Most Integrated Services Coordination Council. This legislation was vetoed by the Governor. While NYVRA strongly supports opportunities for people with disabilities to chose how and where to receive services and seek employment, as advocated by the Independent Living Centers (ILC), the legislation would potentially eliminate facilities based employment for blind workers. These programs provide minimum wage or higher, as well as health coverage and are different from sheltered workshops. The bill would have had further impact on specialized services for people with vision loss. NYVRA will work with legislature to prevent the elimination of jobs for blind workers and the choices for employment and services that have in New York State.

This year, NYVRA developed and published the first edition of NYVRA News Gazette, an online informational newsletter including NYVRA activities, which highlighted the first Lobby Day and the licensure efforts.

For the calendar year through December 2008, 9548 visits to the website have been tracked, a 43% increase over 2007 (6695).  The NYVRA Website has had informational updates and action items added to the site, and the interest in important issues in advocacy regarding the vision rehabilitation field in the state is notably growing.   It is an easily accessible portal for anyone interested in learning more about the work of NYVRA.  We encourage all to visit our website: www.nyvra.org.

NYVRA, Nancy D. Miller, President, nmiller@visionsvcb.org
c/o CCSNYS, Legal Assistance Center, 272 Broadway, Albany, New York, 12204
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.

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