Rehab Act Finally on the Move!
Bipartisan Breakthrough is Mixed Bag of Status Quo and Incremental Change, but AFB Language Supporting Training of O&M, VRT, and LVT Professionals Poised to Become Law!
Advocates following the sad saga of Congress's nearly 12-years-long failure to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, are breathing a sigh of relief as news of a bipartisan agreement among law makers in both the US Senate and House of Representatives reached their disbelieving ears. As part of the so-called workforce investment system, the federal/state partnership to provide vocational and pre-vocational rehabilitative services to people with disabilities, which is funded and described in the Rehab Act, has been held hostage to a protracted legislative process which, until just recently, could not resolve differences both about the structure and function of the broader workforce system and the terms and conditions of VR services themselves.
While this massive legislative package requires further analysis, advocates will be most interested to learn that the bill will not—repeat: will not—move management of the VR system to the US Department of Labor as had been previously proposed, but will leave its management to the Department of Education. Likewise, management of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (Chapter 2/Older Blind) program remains at Education. However, to satisfy the demands of the independent living community, other independent living services, along with NIDRR (the rehab research agency) and Assistive Technology Act project management, will transfer to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The announced compromise does not eliminate the ability of certain employers to pay their employees with the most significant disabilities subminimum wages but nevertheless does try to somewhat delineate more precise conditions that must be met, such as the specific type of training and information that need to be offered to such employees, before wages below the federal minimum can be paid.
One relatively small yet very significant piece of the compromise has to do with supporting the preparation of professionals meeting the unique needs of VR clients who are blind or visually impaired. As early as 2002 when discussions about the Rehab Act's reauthorization by Congress officially began, AFB persuaded congressional champions at that time to include legislative language in Rehab reauthorization to raise the profile of, and thereby increase federal investment in, preparation of vision rehab professionals by the Education Department. This language was later updated by AFB in 2011 and again in 2013 to specifically increase the priority of and explicit support for professionals in the vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility, and low vision therapy disciplines per se. AFB is pleased to see that this important language has survived the Rehab reauthorization rollercoaster, and once the compromise legislation becomes law, we encourage our field to actively make the most of these new provisions to ensure that grater federal investment is made in the preparation of our professionals so that VR clients with vision loss receive more and better services.
One final note about the Chapter 2 program: the compromise legislation would direct a small but useful fraction of federal dollars appropriated to pay for independent living services offered to older individuals with vision loss to technical assistance and related initiatives for both public and private service providers. This is a new provision, though of course long advocated throughout the length of this Rehab reauthorization process, which will hopefully result in higher quality services and better preparedness on the part of professionals and agencies.
As of now, there is no action required or urged of advocates. Staff on Capitol Hill is asking that this newly-minted compromise be allowed to work its way through the remainder of this heretofore frustrating legislative labyrinth and to let the ink dry on this extensive piece of proposed legislation. Both policy makers and staff on the Hill are hoping for prompt action in both houses of Congress so that the President can sign this comprehensive bill this year. With luck and what remains of the disability community's patience, we may very well finally reach "case closure" on amendment and approval of the Rehabilitation Act!
For further information on this legislation, contact:
Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, Public Policy, American Foundation for the Blind
202-469-6833
MRichert@afb.net
American Foundation for the Blind to Hold Breakfasts at Summer Consumer Conferences
If you will be attending the National Federation of the Blind Conference in Orlando or the American Council of the Blind Conference in Las Vegas this year, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) cordially invites you to join us for breakfast. Along with updates about AFB, the breakfasts will feature presentations on the AFB CareerConnect program, AccessWorld, the AFB technology magazine, and the latest information on AccessNote, the AFB note-taking app. Space is limited so please check your particular conference agenda for breakfast dates, times, and registration procedures. We look forward to seeing you there!
Online Registration for ATIA 2015 Is Now Open
You can now secure your spot in Orlando, Florida, from January 28–31, 2015, for a leading education and networking event for professionals, parents, and students in the field of Assistive Technology. Online registration has opened earlier to help you plan ahead or for those who can take this opportunity to utilize training budgets from this school year.
ATIA 2014 was the most highly attended conference yet, so make sure you don't miss out on the excitement at ATIA 2015. There are several new programs planned for ATIA 2015, including more Pre-Conference Seminars, extra time in the Exhibit Hall and a new International Strand.
Register now to receive early registration savings of over $100 and lock in at the best price. Take advantage of the early, risk-free registration with the option to cancel by November 28, 2014, without penalty and free transfer to future events.
Talking GPS apps for North America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland
Sendero Group, a developer of accessible GPS and talking map software, this week launched a second fully accessible turn-by-turn GPS app for the iPhone on the tail of its release of one for North America. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Navigator, which offers way- finding information for the United Kingdom and Ireland, was released on May 4, 2014. The Seeing Eye GPS, which was described as the first fully accessible GPS product for the iPhone when it was released, offers navigation information for the United States and Canada and is in its fourth iteration (version 1.4 was released in March 2014). Both apps include all the typical features expected of GPS navigation products, plus features that meet the unique needs of individuals who are blind. For example, instead of multiple layers of menus, the three main navigation elements are situated in the lower portion of every screen; the cross street and its orientation are announced at intersections, and intersections are described according to the clock-face configuration of the streets; and directions are provided appropriately for pedestrian and vehicle routes, including heads-up announcements for approaching turns, turn now, continue straight, and points of interest. With the LookAround Wand feature, individuals can point their phones in any direction to hear about establishments that are nearby. The apps can be downloaded for free, but require monthly subscriptions to operate. RNIB Navigator and The Seeing Eye GPS are designed to be compatible with various iPhone devices—iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad WiFi 3G, iPad 2 WiFi 3G, iPad WiFi 4G, iPad mini Wi-Fi Cellular—running the operating system iOS 6.0 or later. The apps use the Apple VoiceOver feature for audio voice output and do not contain their own voice synthesizer. RNIB Navigator and The Seeing Eye GPS can be downloaded from the iTunes store, and the RNIB Navigator User Guide can be found online.
Contact: Sendero Group, 29 F Street, Suite 4, Davis, CA 95616, ict@rnib.org.uk
Perkins Products Honored as Business Innovator
Perkins Products received the 2014 New England Innovation Award from the Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE) on May 7. The honor recognized Perkins Products as a transformative leader in the field, producing innovative technology and accessible products for customers who are blind or visually impaired worldwide.
SBANE received more than 200 nominations for the prestigious awards, and judges selected Perkins Products as the winner in the not-for-profit category.
Perkins Products, a division of Perkins, provides access to assistive technology solutions and services that support literacy, employment, independence and equal access to information for people with vision loss. Marketing in 175 countries, Perkins Products offers the Perkins SMART Brailler, Philips' LightAide, and Zoom Capture, among hundreds of other items.
Perkins provides education, services and products to people who are blind, deaf-blind, or visually impaired with other disabilities, to build more productive and meaningful lives.
