August 8, 2007
Harrisburg, PA
Mr. Micki Greenstein called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. and read the mission statement. Mr. Greenstein stated that Ms. Jill Kovalcik-Weaver would be taking pictures during the meeting for the annual report. Mr. Greenstein stated this will be his last meeting as chair; he thanked all members for their support. Mr. Greenstein also thanked Ms. Jamie Ray and Mr. Matthew Seeley for their service as vice-chair and member at large. Mr. Greenstein then asked members present, and all guests to introduce themselves.
There were no additions or changes to the agenda.
Ms. Leslie Kelly reported the last conference call was held on July 18th. The goals and budget for FY 2008 were discussed and approved. Ms. Kelly stated the committee will again attend the public hearings and educate the public about the role of the PaRC and hand out the customer satisfaction survey. The next conference call is scheduled for August 15th. Ms. Kelly stated there were still concerns with the relocation of the Pittsburgh OVR office. Mr. Thomas Washic, OVR stated the concern was with the width of the door opening. The ADA requires door openings to be 36 inches and that is what the door presently is. There are no plans to widen the door to 42 inches. If a consumer would have a problem entering the door, an alternate meeting site would be recommended. Ms. Ray asked if there was a policy or numbered memorandum in place for this situation. Mr. Washic stated he did not know and would follow up and give the Council an update.
Ms. Roni Hamiel, Secretary Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Social Services Union stated there are issues for wheelchair users and the size of door ways. Ms. Hamiel also stated there are issues with the fire escape that leads to the alley way. Their union has asked management for an update and has not received one.
Mr. Greenstein reported for Ms. Lucinda Crissman who could not be at the meeting. The committee is working on the annual report. Ms. Weaver will be taking pictures that will be used for the cover of the report. The last conference call was on July 31st. At that time, the committee approved their 2008 goals and budget. Several changes were made to the PaRC website. The next conference call is scheduled for September 7th.
Mr. Michael Adamus stated the committee held a conference call on May 21st and approved the goals and budget for FY 2008. The State Plan/CACs held their quarterly conference call on July 24th. The committee members requested staff to compose a letter to OVR asking which CACs are not active. The committee would also like OVR to send a memo to the district administrators asking them to have the counselors better inform consumers of the role of the CACs. Lastly, the committee would like to ask OVR if the district offices would be able to set up conference calls for the CACs and pay for them out of their budget, hoping to get more participation. Staff informed the Council that a link was added to the PaRC website where CACs can contact the office.
Mr. Adamus reported for Ms. Passle Helminski who could not be present at the meeting. Mr. Adamus stated that the last conference call was held on April 2nd. A recap of the NRA trip was given. The goals and budget were approved for FY 2008. A conference call will be scheduled after the Full Council to elect a new chairperson.
Mr. Micki Greenstein stated the last conference call was held on July 20th. The committee goals and budget were approved. The slate of nominees for chair, vice chair and member at large were reviewed and approved. The Disability Agenda Committee requested to have the chart of representation posted on the website.
Mr. Joseph Kraher read the voting procedures. Ms. Carolyn Vidt ran unopposed for chairperson and Mr. Michael Adamus ran unopposed for vice-chairperson. The Council voted for member at large that was between Mr. Micki Greenstein and Mr. Donald Zeigler. The results were reported after lunch.
Mr. Matthew Seeley reported the Council started the year with $112,500.00 Total year to date expenses as of the end of May were $37,189.38, leaving a balance of $75,310.62 in the Council budget. In the month of June, the Council spent $709.00.
Ms. Carolyn Vidt stated the committee met twice since the last Council meeting. The goals and budget for FY 2008 were approved. On the June 5th conference call, the committee had asked Ms. Pam Shaw, of Workforce Development, for more information on the navigator program. At that time, Ms. Shaw told the committee that the navigators will be looking at the entire work force development system to make sure it is accessible to people with disabilities. She further stated that this would be a collaborative process with business service teams that are already set up. These teams will work with employers and already include people from OVR.
The committee asked Ms. Shaw if groups like the Governors Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the Statewide Independent Living Council would be included in the teams. Ms. Shaw stated the navigator program is still in the formative stages. The program should be up and running by mid to late July.
Ms. Vidt stated Ms. Shaw would not be at today's meeting to give her report, but would send her report to the office to be emailed to the Council members. Ms. Vidt stated that Mr. Robert Garrity, State Workforce Investment Board, has accepted an invitation to present at one of our meetings and give some background as to how the Workforce Investment Boards and the Council can work together.
Ms. Lisa Case stated packets with new member applications were sent to members of the Council. This committee is seeking Full Council approval for Mr. Seeley to move from the SILC representative to current/former OVR customer. The SILC will recommend another person to replace Mr. Seeley on the Council. Mr. Kraher is moving from the community rehabilitation provider to the rehabilitation counselor category. Mr. Adamus will be moving from general advocacy to the business/industry and labor category. The names and category of the people that will be approved today and forwarded to OVR are: Mr. Larry Kauffman, community rehabilitation provider, Ms. Emily Salkever-Scott, Mental Health, Ms. Sharon Ferry, Intellectual Disabilities and Mr. Anthony Williams for General Advocacy.
Mr. Adamus stated that in Erie, the Mayor's round table on disabilities has been reactivated. An initial organizational meeting was held the end of June. The committee will be looking at transportation, housing and emergency preparedness issues. The county is also interested in setting up a similar committee to advise the county executives on disability issues.
Mr. Kraher stated he has been in constant contact with Congressman Patrick Murphy from Bucks County, keeping him up to date on the bills the Council is supporting. Mr. Kraher also volunteered his services as a conduit on disability issues in the state and national levels.
Mr. Greenstein reviewed the items on the consent agenda and asked for a motion to approve.
Ms. Kate Seelman made a motion to accept the consent agenda. Ms. Carolyn Vidt seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion carried.
Mr. William Gannon, OVR Executive Director stated there is nothing new to report on the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. The state budget passed and OVR is still at the level that it has been for the last four years. The federal budget is operating on a continuing resolution.
The Commonwealth Workforce Development System is in the process of going live. OVR will have training in October with the focus of going live in November.
Mr. David De Notaris has been selected as the new director of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and will start at OVR next week. OVR is in the process of filling many vacancies that resulted from the incentives for retirement last year.
Mr. Gannon stated that CAC input to OVR is extremely valuable as to what needs to be done in various regions. The State Plan Committee made a request for a delineation of all the CACs that exist. Ms. Marji Beyer, Executive Assistant, OVR will be working on this list and should have it available by the November Council meeting. Mr. Gannon stated that it was an excellent suggestion to have CAC meetings by teleconference. Mr. Gannon reported OVR will move ahead to have the district offices facilitate the calls.
There were several questions regarding the revised college policy that was presented to the Council at the last meeting. The OVR Board also had questions regarding that policy change. As a result, the policy has been taken off the table for the next board meeting, so there is time to answer all the questions brought up. Ms. Jamie Ray read a letter she received from Ms. Catherine Wojciechowski the Deputy Chief Counsel for the Department of Labor and Industry. The letter stated the College Policy will not be on the agenda for the September 20th board meeting. OVR will reevaluate the proposed amendment before presenting it to the Council and board for action, giving adequate review time.
Mr. Thomas Washic, OVR reported that the Commonwealth Workforce Development System is moving along. This was a five year project and is expected to go live on September 4, 2007 in the CareerLinks. One big challenge for OVR is the training of all of their people. This will take place over a five week period in October and November. The system will be accessible and usable by people with disabilities. OVR should be live by November 19th.
Ms. Hamiel, with the PA Social Services Union, requested an update from Mr. Gannon on the progress of the Pittsburgh OVR office. Mr. Gannon pointed out that OVR is not the occupant of the building at this point in time. He advised that any concerns with the building should be directed to the Department of General Services.
Ms. Pam Shaw, of Workforce Development, was not present and will send her report to the office to be forwarded to the Council members.
Ms. Judy Jobes reported the Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) had a conference on veteran affairs in August. Mr. Stephen Pennington, Client Assistant Program asked what OVR's participation was in the conference and if there were advocates present. Mr. Gannon stated the conference was not a product of VR, but OVR offered positive participation because there is a lack of services for the returning veterans. Mr. Gannon stated the HGA center has a 40 bed high tech medical rehabilitation unit available that is sitting empty. OVR has been hoping the federal government would use the high-level head injury community reintegration program that could be a model for the nation. But as of this date, the center has not been utilized. Mr. Pennington also noted that Congressman Murtha is not a cosponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act of 2007. Mr. Pennington stated that the PaRC has never been able to have a meeting with Congressman Murtha and feels that someone must visit him and let him know the issues that are important to people with disabilities.
Mr. Kraher reported that for 2008, Ms. Carolyn Vidt will serve as chairperson. Mr. Michael Adamus will serve as vice chair and Mr. Micki Greenstein will serve as member at large.
Mr. Kenn Tuckey reported the SWIB had a meeting on June 27th and did some restructuring of the committees. Mr. Tuckey stated the board will be looking at ways the PaRC can get involved in the new committees and continue the positive relationship between the SWIB and the Council.
Mr. Kevin Hensel, Director of Communication for the SILC was present to give a report to the Council, since Mr. Seeley is no longer with the SILC. Mr. Hensel stated the SILC recently finished work on their state plan. Mr. Hensel stated one of the goals in the state plan is to "Partner with OVR and the PaRC to educate policymakers on the benefits and need for people with disabilities to be gainfully employed". The current budget is preventing that from happening. The SILC would like to partner with the Council so both can work together to make our goals a reality. Mr. Hensel reported that transportation funding included $3 million to expand the shared ride program to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
Ms. Jamie Ray stated that CAP is invited to attend a meeting on August 21st in Washington D.C. CAP will be making comments and suggestions regarding the proposed changes to the rehabilitation act. Mr. Pennington stated it would be a good idea to resend the Council's recommendations on the rehabilitation act to Mr. Aaron Bishop of the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee and Ms. Connie Gardner. Ms. Ray stated she could wear two hats at the meeting by also representing the Council. Mr. Pennington reiterated the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act and asked members of the Council to visit their legislators while they are home in August. The Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act of 2007 changes the definition of disability. By shifting away from looking at functional limitations, it simply focuses on the fact that if you have a certain kind of disability and fall into one of the listings, you will be considered disabled.
Mr. Pennington stated that CAP had two work study students from the University of Pennsylvania this summer that worked on veteran's issues and researching demographics for each county. Mr. Pennington also reported that there is a Governor's Cabinet on Persons with Disabilities. This cabinet is made up of the heads of departments. Most of the people on these cabinets don't understand the concept of people with disabilities being employed. CAP has applied to this advisory council hoping to get involved. It is important for the Council to write a letter to Secretary Estelle Richman and let her know that employment is a very important issue and that there needs to be people with disabilities on the cabinet, as well as people who are familiar with Labor and Industry.
Ms. Ray made a motion to write a letter to the secretaries on the Governor's Cabinet on Persons with Disabilities regarding the importance of employment of people with disabilities. The responsibility of this letter should be going to the Executive Committee. Mr. Adamus seconded the motion. All were in favor.
Ms. Lisa Case stated just as important as employment for returning veterans is housing. A strategic plan must be put in place to house veterans, not just transitional housing but permanent housing.
Mr. Donald Zeigler shared with the Council a letter from Mr. John Hager, of the Department of Education, to the Berks County CAC on the recruiting of qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors with a master's degree.
The next Full Council meeting will be November 14, 2007 at the Hilton Towers in Harrisburg, PA.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council
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