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The New York Vision Rehabilitation Association has posted its Newsletter. Please click on the links below to view our newsletter.

• 2008 NYVRA Gazzette Issue 1 – PDF Version | Word Version

Volume 1, Issue 1
November 10, 2008
NYVRA News Gazette

Senate Celebration Success!

BINGHAMTON – Over 50 gathered to celebrate the NYS Senate 62-0 passage of the bill to license vision rehabilitation professionals (VRPs) and discuss the plan for achieving NYS licensure for VRPs in 2009.

Hon. Joseph A. Griffo (R Oneida, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties) was presented with a plaque thanking him for his support of licensure in the Senate. Sen. Griffo said, “I am going to talk with Assemblyman Bing and find out how we can get this bill passed in both houses and signed by Governor Paterson”.

Another highlight of the evening was when Mrs. Stephen Ambrose presented a donation of $15,000 to Robert Hanye representing NYVRA.

Bob Hanye spoke on the Strategic Plan to coordinate grassroots efforts. Specific dates for when and how to contact state representatives.

Please see Celebration Page 2

Ambrose Donates $15,000 to NYVRA

BINGHAMTON – In a tremendous show of support for the licensure effort, Moira Buckley Ambrose donated 15,000 dollars, her third donation in 3 years.

Mrs. Ambrose said she was thrilled by the progress that had been made, crediting “Nancy Miller, President of NYVRA and the entire NYVRA Board, its supporters and especially Steve Malito our lobbyist for all their hard work it took to get this legislation to the floor of the senate and get it passed by a vote of 62-0”.

“I know together we will succeed – LOMS and LVRT Licensure in 2009!”, Ambrose said.

Page 2 - The NYVRA News Gazette

Celebration about licensure in 2009 were given.

John Kelly, President of AER, spoke on AER’s commitment to NYS Licensure effort. “AER’s presence will be at Lobby Day again this year.” “The AER resolution passed in Chicago puts VRP licensure on AER ‘s Strategic Plan”

Garett Holm, President of ACVREP, was unable to attend due to a death in the family. Mr. Holm’s remarks were read aloud, “ACVREP supports licensure in New York and is pleased to hear that the ACVREP exam has been included in the licensure bills to be reintroduced in Albany this December.”

Photo: Sen. Griffo holding plaque presented along with T-shirt by Bob Hayne, NYVRA Board Member

NYSAER Goers Donate $1,147-5 Join NYVRA!

BINGHAMTON –NYVRA collected 39 separate donations along with 5 new members during the NYSAER conference October 26-28, 2008. New NYVRA member Suzanne Mullen held up her LOMS Ribbon and said “this is the year!”.

As NYSAER President (2006-2008), Sue distinguished herself as a champion of licensure. Her board voted to both join NYVRA as a Statewide Association member and in addition to donate $1100 to NYVRA.

Sue attended Lobby Day 2008 along with her daughter Megan. Among other events, Sue represented NYSAER at the Assemblyman Bing licensure roundtable and Director Harder’s Q and A.

John Kelly and Maureen Moscato also joined as individual members. Both have been long-time supporters of licensure; as President of AER John will bring an important voice to NYVRA. Maureen, officer of NYC ACB, will further unite the strong bond between ACB and NYVRA.

Grace Ambrose-Zaken and her mom also joined, “we’ve always done a lot for NYVRA; I’m not sure why we never just filled out the form and sent the $100 before this.”

See NYSAER Donate Page 3

Lobby Day in Albany February 24, 2009

Licensure Lobby Day is set for February 24, 2009. When she learned the news Hunter College instructor, Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, said “my mom can’t believe Lobby Day is on Mardi Gras Day– I grew up in New Orleans so that day has always been a holiday. I think it is a good omen – we’ll make it fun and the State Senate and Assembly will hear our happy message as we march down the capital halls to our appointments”.

Many feel Lobby Day 2008 is an important reason the State Senate passed licensure last session.

The plan is to have over 200 supporters with appointments in Albany wearing the same black and yellow t-shirts this year.

Transportation to Albany will be available.
See Lobby Day 2009 Page 3

- PICTURE

“My mom can’t believe Lobby Day is on Mardie Gras!”

Page 3 - The NYVRA News Gazette

“This is the Year!.” Sue Mullen hold’s up her LOMS Ribbon - PICTURE

Lobby Day 2009

There will be Buses leaving from Manhattan, Binghamton and Syracuse areas. Becky Barnes, Manager Consumer Outreach and Graduate Support at Guiding Eyes and ardent licensure supporter, is encouraging groups of supporters to stay in Albany the night before.

To get up to date announcements about Lobby Day 2009 and to have an appointment made for your visit on Lobby Day email your phone and email contact information to Grace Ambrose-Zaken. gambrose@hunter.cuny.edu

NYSAER Members Donate to NYVRA

Ambrose-Zaken said. 39 NYSAER conference attendees donated to NYVRA bringing the total dollar amount raised during the NYSAER conference to $16,147.

Ribbons for Success raised 1,147 in individual donations. That’s the largest number of people to donate and join NYVRA at one time since its inception. This shows the kind of grass roots support that is out there for this issue.

In these tough economic times, it is doubly hard for people to reach into their wallets and give 20 dollars. “Ribbons for Success” was a success.

Grace Ambrose-Zaken hand made the ribbons in order to give them to those who donated to NYVRA. MaryAnn Oyer helped to generate donations during the Senate Celebration event.

The ribbons read LOMS, which stands for Licensed Orientation and Mobility Specialist, LVRT which stands for Licensed Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, and Friend of LVRPs.

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Ribbons for Success campaign!

NYVRA Meeting with Governor Paterson Representative Harder

Albany – Nancy Miller, Carl Augusto, President AFB, Don LoGuidice, Bob Hayne, Suzanne Mullen, Mike Godino, President ACB NYS, Grace Ambrose-Zaken, & Steve Malito met with Lola Brabham Harder, Director of Human Services for Governor Paterson on October 15, 2008.

Director Harder met with the group for over an hour to learn of the issues facing New Yorkers who are Blind and Visually Impaired. Director Harder revealed that this issue hit close to home as her father had recently been diagnosed with a vision impairment.

Governor Paterson, who is visually impaired and was once a Board Member of the American Foundation of the Blind, advocates for greater employment among customers who are blind/visually impaired.

The NYVRA group believe the meeting with Governor Paterson’s office sufficiently presented the breadth of the problem and its solution – that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers go without vision rehabilitation services and that licensure of VRPs would benefit all New Yorkers.

Page 4 - The NYVRA News Gazette

Hunter Students Present Posters via Webcam

Binghamton – Five Hunter students and one student from Dominican College presented posters at the NYSAER conference poster session on Tuesday, October 28, 2008. Four of the 6 posters presented at the NYSAER conference were done so via web cam.

“The 4 students attend Hunter’s O&M Advanced Certificate program via distance learning. The webcam presenters broadcasted their posters and themselves from Hawaii, Oregon and New York”, Ambrose-Zaken said.

This high-tech poster session was designed to showcase the ease of communication via webcam and the Adobe Acrobat Connect Software used for advisement and to conduct classes at Hunter.

Betsy Armstrong, Robin Illers, Hope Yaushara and Rae Loui all presented their posters LIVE VIA WEBCAM. To do so, they turned on Skype, uploaded their presentations to Power Point and spoke with the conference goers who stopped by the tables to take a look.

The computers were stacked on chairs on top of the display tables to allow face-to-face conversation.

“We couldn’t have done it without Craig Eckhardt, a Hunter RT/O&M student and Michelle Rubble, NYSAER conference staffer”, Ambrose-Zaken said. Craig attended the conference and presented his poster on Orientation for students who are blind or visually impaired.

The students and conference goers really enjoyed the NYSAER conference posters - “a lot of people asked about the weather in Hawaii”, Hope said.

Beyond the weather, most saw that all of the presenters were equal in the task of presenting the latest research on accessible pedestrian signals, electronic orientation devices, O&M for persons with RP, and accessing mass transit by young children. The posters have been uploaded onto the NYSAER chapter page on http://www.aerbvi.org.

For more information on Hunter’s Programs in Blindness and Visual Impairment email Dr. Rosanne K. Silberman at rsilberm@hunter.cuny.edu or Call 212-772-4740

The New York Vision Rehabilitation Association (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.

Strategic Plan Calendar

December 12 – write a holiday card to your representative.

January 26-31 - Send a Letter of Support to Your (*New) Representatives
Help Organize and Recruit Supporters to Attend Lobby Day 2009

February 24 - Lobby Day 2009 - 200 Supporters of Licensure visit their representatives in Albany

March 12 Send Follow-Up Thank Yous to the Representatives You Visited on Lobby Day

April 13 Fax or Call Urging the Bill to License Vision Rehab Professionals be passed!!
27-30 Visit Your Representative in Home Office        

May 13 Fax or Call Urging the Bill to License Vision Rehab Professionals be passed!!
25-29 Visit Your Representative in Home Office        

June 11 Fax or Call Urging the Bill to License Vision Rehab Professionals be passed!!
22-26 Visit Your Representative in Home Office        

July                  
  Bill Passes the Senate            
  Bill Passes the Assembly            
  Gov. Paterson Signs Bill to License Vision Rehabilitation Professionals into law!

Licensure Lobby Day is set for February 24, 2009. When she learned the news Hunter College instructor, Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, said “my mom can’t believe Lobby Day is on Mardi Gras Day– I grew up in New Orleans so that day has always been a holiday. I think it

“I know together we will succeed – LOMS and LVRT Licensure in 2009!”, Ambrose said.

NYVRA
Nancy D. Miller, President,
500 Greenwich Street
Suite 302 NY, NY 10013
Phone 212-625-1616, ext. 117,
Fax: 212-219-4078
nmiller@visionsvcb.org
We’re on the Web!
See us at: http://www.nyvra.org

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