Statement 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…)
May 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…)
May 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 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 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,
On Monday, a major battle was waged in Albany and because of the efforts of all who called, wrote and called again – our bill was not one of the casualties of the seemingly endless war against any and all licensure bills. The bill to license vision rehabilitation therapists and orientation and mobility specialists (A5581-B) will live to see another day on an Assembly Higher Education Committee agenda this session.
This was a huge win today and it is all due to the actions of support the bill received. Here is how it went down. A5581-B was on the Assembly Higher Education Committee agenda today because our Sponsor, Assembly Member Jonathan Bing ”99ed” the bill. To ”99″ a bill means that at some point during this session the Committee Chair has to put that bill on an agenda unless the sponsor removes the “99.”
Assembly Member Glick, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, did not want A5581-B to be on her agenda this session just as she did not want the bill to be on the agenda last session. She has yet to give a reason except that she is said to have the same policy for all of the licensure bills before her committee.
Glick’s strategy today was to put the bill on the agenda and have the committee agree to put a “hold” on the bill. By placing the bill on hold it satisfies Bing’s ”99″ and, if the committee agreed, it would have effectively stopped all progress on the bill this session in the Assembly.
Yesterday’s Assembly Higher Ed Committee saw more than 5 licensure bills held. Those bills will likely have to wait until next year to be considered again. Our huge show of support this weekend - thanks to your efforts- many committee members were prepared to vote against the hold. The Chair decided to take the bill off the agenda for now. Had the Chair’s motion to hold been defeated, there could have then been a motion to report the bill out of committee.
So, rather than risk having the committee go against her, the Chair pulled A5581-B off the agenda and chose to wait for another day when perhaps the winds will have weakened. But, I’m here to say that our gale force winds will only get stronger. We now know that we are being heard and we are so close – the next round will be met with hurricane force winds! Winds of Change!
Thanks everyone for their support! Look for updates on www.nyvra.org and send comments on the blog if there is any question or issue you would like addressed.
Grace Ambrose-Zaken I am aware that our bill battle seems small compared to the size of the oil spill, the price of gasoline, and the overall state of global affairs, but I can’t help it - we are closer than ever and the impact of this bill is major. There is opposition and they are calling. Please go to www.NYVRA.org and help move this bill!
Only seems small to those of us that have not benefited from the personalized individual specialized service of vision rehab and orientation and mobilty training! (more…)
Please vote to put A05581 on the Higher Education committee Agenda and move this bill to license vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility(O&M) specialists forward this session.I am an O&M specialist, and one of the people I am now working with has been unable to move her wrist without pain for almost a year because she was taught to use the cane incorrectly by a well-meaning (more…)
Dear Assembly Member:
On Monday you will be participating in a debate, the outcome of which will affect the safety of over 1 million New Yorkers with visual impairments. I know you support this bill and I want to thank you for that support and urge you to vote to put A05581 on Higher Education committee Agenda and move this bill to license vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility specialists forward this session.
Individuals with visual impairments are one of the most vulnerable groups in
What is worse than no cane and no instruction in how to use it? Having the wrong cane and misusing it and having misinformation about how to orient to the environment. When a cane is used incorrectly it provides no protection to its user. When someone doesn’t’ know how to reorient non-visually, they get lost and scared.
If you are too scared to travel and you think you have “received O&M services” you think you did something wrong or are unable to learn how to regain independence – so, you sit home and become dependent on others and stop living a full life.
Don’t let this continue to happen – Vote to put 05581 on the agenda.
If you have time, please watch the short video from
The time is NOW the Debate is On! Be a part of the DEBATE to put the Bill to license VRTs and O&Ms on the Assembly Higher Education Committee Agenda.
The Debate is whether Assembly Higher Ed. Chair Deborah Glick will put the bill to License VRTs and O&Ms on the next agenda. There are 25 members on the Higher Ed Committee. After last Lobby Day, we have 17 of them on our bill!
The Meeting is off the floor Monday. NYVRA Government Relations Expert, Steve Malito and his team are preparing a support packet with all memos for delivery first thing Monday morning.
Glick looks like she plans to try to Hold the bill. It won’t be easy to get members to buck her, but we are working on it.IT IS TIME for everyone to call all 17 sponsors that are on the bill and H.Ed. Committee and tell them to support the bill A05581B to License VRT and O&M professionals – the safety of over 1 million New Yorkers is at Stake.And, anyone and everyone should be contacting Glick. Attached is contact info for our 17 Bill Supporters..
Call today.
Email this weekend.
Call and email on Monday