New Bill Number for Lupardo: A8576
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011From: Nancy Miller, President NYVRA
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Yea !! We have an Assembly bill number A8576 for the Lupardo licensure
bill.
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
STAY COOL
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011Assembly Woman Glick has written her reasons for not allowing our bill out of committee to many of those who wrote to her. Her email goes something like this: Thank you for your letter regarding A6179a/S3880a which would license vision rehabilitation therapists and orientation and mobility specialists.
At this point in time, concerns have been raised that licensing this profession could potentially cause the organizations that provide vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility services to be in violation of New York State’s corporate practice laws. Corporate practice laws prohibit business entities that are not directly owned by licensed professionals from providing services that fall under the scope of practice of licensed professions. Before this legislation can move forward, more research is needed to determine if licensing this profession will have the unintended consequence of negatively impacting the longstanding organizations that provide these services.
I thank you for your interest in this bill. I am as interested as you are in legislation that would protect consumers and assure New Yorkers access to needed social services.
Sincerely,
Deborah J. Glick
Assemblymember
DON’T BE ALARMED. BE EXCITED! WE ARE ON HER RADAR! THAT IS A GOOD THING.
More to Come!
S3880/A6179 Justification
Thursday, March 10th, 2011JUSTIFICATION:
Vision loss does not have to be devastating. Full independence can be
achieved when there is access to highly qualified vision rehabilitation
professionals (VRPs). A significant number of the more than one million
individuals with vision loss are empowered, self-sufficient and able to
navigate through their lives independently due in part to the special-
ized services they received when they needed them.
(more…)
NYVRA Lobby Day 2011
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Tuesday, April 5, 2011 - Lobby Day 2011!
I am glad so many have joined the blog - I appreciate your interest in our efforts in NY - you should know 3 things.
1) Professionals Standards are needed to ensure consumers with visual impairments the basic protections under NY Law.
2) NYVRA needs your membership
3) NYVRA needs you to get the word out!
Lobby Day is April 5, 2011!!
I met with 80 NYSAER conference attendees tonight- we are on fire - NFB has been against standards for agencies and professionals since it began in 1940 - As usual NFB is worried that blind people will lose jobs! that is untrue- Hunter has blind graduates, low vision graduates and current students who are blind/low vision - hard of hearing also!
Lobby Day is Tuesday April 5, 2010!
Come one come all!
Brief Update on Licensure
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010The NYS Senate HIgher Ed Committee voted our licensure bill out of committee and it is now in the Codes Committee in the Senate. This is the procedure for all licensure bills under the Democratic Senate leadership. Steve Malito will work with us and Senator Craig Johnson to get it out of Codes and onto the Senate floor for a vote. Please call or email and thank Senator Craig Johnson for getting the bill out of
the Senate HIgher Ed Committee. Please also ask Senator Johnson to pass S1262B and show he is a champion for blind consumers.
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/craig-m-johnson
The NYS Assembly HIgher Ed Committee unilaterally postponed all licensure bills until the next legislative session except ours. Assemblyman Bing agreed to remove the “99″ under pressure from Chair Assemblywoman Glick on the condition that she meet with us to discuss the future of the bill. Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Nancy D. Miller and Steve Malito, NYVRA’s lobbyist, met with Assemblywoman Glick on Wednesday June 9 in her
All your phone calls, petitions and meetings with the legislators has had a profound impact and we have gained incredibly strong positive legislative support.
The lack of a state budget since April 1 and the weekly budget extenders with severe budget cuts are clearly taking the attention of the legislature away from any other issues.
Certification Vs. Licensure Holm Weighs In
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Statement Regarding Certification and Licensure of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals Garett A. Holm
First, it is important to note that I write this statement not as the President of the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (herein ACVREP), or on behalf of said organization. Second, my comments are meant to be used in their entirety. (more…)
Hunter letter of Assembly Sponsor -Bing
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010May 24, 2010
Dear Assembly Member Bing:
I write this memorandum in support of licensure for vision rehabilitation therapists (VRTs) and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists and to thank you for your leadership on this bill to license VRT and O&M specialists (A.5581B). Your work has kept the bill active and I know because of you this bill will be on the Higher Education Committee agenda this session. (more…)
Letter of Support
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010May 24, 2010
Assemblywoman Deborah GlickLOB 717
Albany, NY 12248
Dear Assemblywoman Glick;
I have been legally blind since birth but until recently, my vision was sufficient for me to travel independently. I have lived a very productive life, raised a family, earned an MBA, worked in some very interesting jobs and even enjoyed several sports and hobbies.
When faced with finding a new job, I was nearly run down by vehicles I never saw coming. When that happened a few times, I soon became afraid to leave my home. Knowing that I had employable skills but unable to even look for work, I became discouraged and depressed.
I never thought I would need a guide dog or cane, but fortunately, Orientation & Mobility Services were available to me and I am back on track. I’m working, traveling independently and using the skills the O & M training provided me.
VISIONS Memorandum in Support of New York State Licensure
Friday, May 21st, 2010VISIONS Memorandum in Support of New York State Licensure of Vision Rehabilitation Professionals (S.1262B/A.5581B)VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a NYC based 84 year old nonprofit organization annually serving over 5000 participants of all ages who experience blindness or severe vision loss and their families and caregivers. (more…)
ABVI-Goodwill Memorandum in Support
Thursday, May 20th, 2010ABVI-Goodwill Memorandum in Support of New York State Licensure of Vision Rehabilitation Professionals (S.1262B/A.5581B)
On behalf of the 3000 people we serve who are blind or visually impaired, our Board of Directors and 400 employees, I urge the legislature to support licensure of Vision Rehabilitation Professionals. ABVI-Goodwill is a Rochester,