Albany, NY Assembly Woman Donna Lupardo (D, 126^th District), lead sponsor of A. 8576 An Act to License vision rehabilitation therapists (VRT) and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists said it best when she asked, “Why are you still holding lobby days? With more than half of the Assembly signed on in support of this bill, we shouldn’t need another lobby day.” Steve Malito, NYVRA Government Relations Advisor vowed, “We will keep working until we get every Assembly Member signed on in support and until the Assembly Higher Education Committee votes on the issue. We are here to get this bill passed and to get vision rehabilitation professionals licensed”.

            More than 50 supporters came together to deliver our message once again. Nancy Miller, President of NYVRA remarked, “We have such a diversity of supporters.” Licensure supporters came from the far reaches of New York and some, like Dona Sauerburger and Melanie O’Mea, come from nearby states. The chapters of the American Council of the Blind were well represented by Mike Godino, Cliff Perez, Becky Barnes and many others. NYS AER was represented by Dan McLaughlin, Sharon Schwalm, Amy Lindsey and others. Hunter College VRT and O&M graduate students were there in force along with first-timers like Michael Levy.

Once again many of the New York vision rehabilitation agencies and schools for blind children sent staff. The Association for the Visually Impaired, VISIONS, The Lighthouse, Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, ABVI – Goodwill, Aurora of Central New York all sent multiple representatives as did the New York Institute for Special Education. Blind and sighted O&M Specialists and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists who work in schools and agencies across New York State, such as John Kelly, were also there.

            Assembly Member Donna Lupardo held a press conference where she, and our Sponsor in the NYS senate, Senator Joseph Griffo (R, 47th district), spoke on behalf of this bill. Other speakers included Nancy D. Miller, Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Robert Hanye, Erin Kavanagh, and Stephen Comency.

John Kelly posted the entire press conference on his you tube channel.  To view it go to www.jjkvc.org. Print and video coverage can be found Lupardo: License Vision Rehab Specialists and Lupardo & Griffo Promote Vision Rehabilitation Bill.

  The Start of 2012 Campaign

  Lobby Day is the kick off to our push for 2012. Please write a letter to Assembly Member Lupardo and State Senator Griffo telling them why you support licensure. To Senator Griffo and Senator Lavelle we want to thank them for moving the bill out of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

  Join NYVRA and together we’ll achieve licensure in 2012.

Most of you know firsthand how much your services are in demand, this demand will only grow stronger in the next 20 years. OTs are paid to provide vision rehabilitation therapy- but most are not schooled in VRT/O&M. If you agree that university preparation is necessary and only those who hold VRT and O&M certification should provide these services – then you need to be in Albany on April 17, 2012.

Licensure can benefit all. Licensure benefits the consumers- by empowering them to expect high quality vision rehabilitation services. Licensure empowers the general public that understands and uses state licensure as a measure of quality services. When a field obtains licensure – more people see the field as a career choice. Licensure empowers the vision rehabilitation professionals allowing them to provide services in greater numbers and for better pay.

If you are a VRT, OMS or someone who benefited from vision rehabilitation services - Go to NYVRA and sign up – This is a Historic occasion you don’t want to miss.

We have an online petition started at the link below. It take less than 10 seconds to sign. If you are able to ask your contacts to sign also, that would be great. You could also put the link on your facebook, twitter, LinkedIn or others. Thanks in advance for your help.

Copy and paste address below! Thanks!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/licensure-of-vrt-and-om-specialists-in-ny-state/

Think about it - OTs do not teach people how to cross streets safely, but Medicare does reimburse them for meeting vision rehabilitation therapy goals.

OTs DO NOT and CANNOT teach people who are visually impaired to cross streets or other activities taught by O&Mers, but they do get reimbursed by Medicare to meet vision rehabilitation goals of newly visually impaired people and “close cases successfully”, even though this important aspect of safety has been left unaddressed!!! This craziness MUST BE STOPPED!!! LICENSURE NOW!

Yea !! We have an Assembly bill number A8576 for the Lupardo licensure
bill.

From: LRS ALERT

Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 4:45 PM

To: Licensure Supporters!

Subject: S03880A

Same as alert

A8576  - Lupardo

Provides for the licensing of licensed orientation and mobility specialists and vision rehabilitation therapists

09/13/11 referred to higher education

It took some time to make it official- but now it is! Welcome Donna Lupardo as the new Key Sponsor for VRT OMS Licensure! This is our year!!