Date: 10/28/2015

Final
Presentation by CDLE

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE BLIND

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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01:07 PM -- Presentation by CDLE

Ms. Ellen Golombek, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), came to the table to discuss the transition of vocational rehabilitation services from the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) to CDLE. She described the stakeholder outreach conducted by DHS and CDLE. She noted that the two things CDLE heard throughout the stakeholder process were issues related to services offered for persons who are blind/visually impaired and youth transition services. She provided the committee with the a stakeholder process report prepared by CDLE (Attachment A). She stated that the new director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) within CDLE will report directly to CDLE's executive director starting July 1, 2016. She discussed the how the services for persons who are blind and visually impaired will be delivered under CDLE. She answered a committee question regarding mental health community representation at stakeholder outreach meetings. She thanked the committee and the stakeholders for their participation.

15Voc1028AttachA.pdf15Voc1028AttachA.pdf

Ms. Golombek continued by discussing the draft bills in front of the committee for approval. She noted that CDLE has no concerns or positions on Bill 2 and 3. Regarding Bill 1, she stated that CDLE would prefer to go through the transition process completely before statutory requirements are changed. She noted that CDLE believes that Bill 1 is not necessary and it sets a precedent for populations to request separate services. She responded to committee questions regarding the proposed technical resource center in Bill 1 and stated that CDLE will make every attempt to create a technical resource center for the blind within DVR. She noted that the stakeholders representing persons who are blind and visually impaired will keep CDLE accountable and that CDLE is required to report the Joint Budget Committee quarterly on the transition.