NYVRA with Gov. Paterson VRT O&M Licensure Lobby Day 2010
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Pictured from left: Steve Malito, Chris Burke, Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Governor David Paterson, Nancy Miller, Mike Godino, Mark Ackerman, Joe Catavero.
Approximately 75 VRT and O&M licensure supporters came to Albany for Lobby Day 2010. Jonathon Bing (D) Manhattan, assembly sponsor and bill champion, addressed the crowd prior to the appointments. Bing said, that he knows how important it is for New Yorkers with visual impairments to be taught by licensed vision rehabilitation professionals.
VRT and O&M licensure supporters met with 63 State Senators and Assembly Members. The result of which, three additional Assembly Higher Education Committee members agreed to sign on in support of the bill.
Video of Assembly Member Bing on Lobby Day 2010
Members of the NYVRA board, Nancy Miller, President, Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Vice-President, Mike Godino, Treasurer, Mark Ackerman, Secretary, and Christopher Burke along with Joseph Catavero, Principal of the Schermerhorn Program at New York Institute for Special Education met with Governor Paterson. The meeting was brief but positive.
Nancy Miller asked if he would sign the bill when it comes before him this session now that there is no longer any opposition to it. Paterson said, “That will make it a lot easier” and then he chuckled. Vision rehabilitation professional licensure supporters represented agencies, consumer and professional groups from around New York including: The Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, ABVI-Goodwill, American Council of the Blind New York, Aurora of Central New York, Inc., Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Hunter College RT and O&M Programs, Long Island Council of the Blind, Lighthouse International, Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, New York State Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, The New York Institute for Special Education, VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Westchester Council of the Blind.
Thanks to individual donations and great support from the Long Island Council of the Blind and the New York State Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired a bus picked up supporters at a stop in Long Island and one in Manhattan on its way to Albany and a van was rented to bring supporters from Syracuse/Rochester area.