Date: 08/12/2015
Final
Stakeholder Remarks on Vocational Rehabilitation Services
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
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01:11 PM -- Stakeholder Remarks on Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Mr. Scott LaBarre, representing the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (NFB), came to the table. Mr. LaBarre declared that the NFB views this committee as a historic opportunity to address vocational rehabilitation services for the blind in Colorado. He noted that vocational rehabilitation is an important part of giving blind individuals the skills, tools, and resources needed to live the life they want.
01:16 PM
Mr. LaBarre discussed the upcoming transition of vocational rehabilitation services from the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS) to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). He informed the committee that the federal government, through the United States Department of Education, provides 78.7 percent of the funding for vocational rehabilitation services in Colorado. He stated that the goal of the committee should be to maximize federal funds for vocational rehabilitation programs. He stated that blind/visually impaired persons in Colorado used to have a specific, separate offices and an identifiable line of funding. He addressed the 2014 National Federation of the Blind of Colorado resolution that called the for the creation of this committee. He hopes the blind community and stakeholders can provide additional advice and better guidance to the agencies involved during the transition.
01:22 PM
Mr. LaBarre continued by noting that his primary hope for this committee is to help connect blind/visually impaired persons with competitive employment. He discussed his personal experience as a blind person and discussed barriers facing blind persons in Colorado. He highlighted lack of access to education, to technology (specifically software-related issues), and, most importantly, to employment for persons who are blind. He stated that persons who are blind face a 63 to 75 percent unemployment rate, depending on the study referenced.
01:29 PM
Mr. LaBarre requested that the committee consider creating a completely separate state agency for the blind or consider a combined agency, such as a separate division or office dedicated to vocational rehabilitation for the blind within the appropriate state agency.
01:37 PM
In response to committee questions, Mr. LaBarre noted that training centers for the blind exist in Colorado, but that there is a lack of services outside of the Front Range. Mr. Labarre also discussed why some programs are moving to CDLE and others are staying with DHS.
01:46 PM
The committee discussed veterans that become blind because of their service and what services exist for those persons. Mr. Labarre noted that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has a number of programs for blind veterans and discussed several federal contractor employment programs and opportunities. He noted the need to expand the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) beyond food service. In response to committee questions, he addressed school to work transitions for blind youth in Colorado.