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December 8, 2006
Call to Order
Chairman Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. Gary Ray offered the invocation. The following members were present: Tim Jones, Ron Eller, Gary Ray, and Linda Lewis.
Members not present: Jennifer Talbot, Martha Butler, Steve Walker, Jerry Garner, Kathy Davis, and Representative Linda Coleman.
Others Present: Debbie Jackson, Carla Parker, Tom Winton
Since there were so few members present, there was a question about what constitutes a quorum and if the committee could vote on approving the minutes from the September meeting today. Many of the members/offices are held by the same person.
The General Statute regarding the Consumer and Advocacy Committee for the Blind was read and discussed as it pertains to the members and who has voting privileges.
The Statute regarding the Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind is below:
§ 143B164. Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind – members; selection; quorum;
(a) The Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind of the Department of Health and Human Services shall consist of the following members:
(1) One member of the North Carolina Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(2) One member of the North Carolina House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(3) President and Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina ;
(4) President and Vice President of the North Carolina Council of the Blind;
(5) President and Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Workers for the Blind;
(6) President and Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Workers for the Blind;
(7) Chairman of the State Council of the North Carolina Lions and Executive Director of the North Carolina Lions Association for the Blind, Inc.;
(8) Chairman of the Concession Stand Committee of the Division of Services for the Blind of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
(9) Executive Director of the North Carolina Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Inc.
Tom Winton will contact the Ethics Board to get clarification.
Linda Lewis apologized to the committee for her lack of attendance at past meetings and will make every effort to attend future meetings.
Report of Entities:
North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped—Gary Ray reporting for Francine Martin
Digital Talking Books
. NLS Consultant Report and Recommendations
Staff News
Gary Ray reported there are approximately 750,000 cassette players in use.
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction—Tom Winton
Division of Services for the Blind—Debbie Jackson
Renovation Update—the renovations of Cox Dormitory are complete. Debbie Jackson welcomed anyone to take a tour—there is now an elevator and computer lab. Hopefully, renovations for the Milsap Dormitory will begin in February and completed by the end of September.
Services for the Blind submitted 3 expansion budget requests—1) additional funding and staff positions for the Independent Living Rehabilitation Program, 2) additional funding for the Medical Eye Care Program, and 3) additional funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. These requests have made it through the department level and now they are at State Budget.
Services for the Blind also submitted a request to change the language of the economic needs scale for the Vocational Rehabilitation, Medical Eye Care, and Independent Living Program.
The Counselor position associated with the new Transition program in the Wilmington area has been filled. DSB is currently advertising for the Community Employment position.
Question was asked about the implications of changing the economic needs test—DSB will be able to serve more people—more people will be eligible.
American Council of the Blind—Ron Eller
Their convention was held in September in Fayetteville . Attendance was down slightly this year. Most of the members are from the central part of the State so that may have impacted the attendance. Among some of the speakers were Gary Ray, Debbie Jackson, and Dr. Wormsley.
The Legislative Seminar is coming up in February. The Council is in the process of developing a resolution to have a “Braille Literacy” month declared by the Governor. Gary Ray will work with the Council on this resolution.
On the national level, discussion has been on the currency accessibility issue.
National Federation of the Blind—Gary Ray
The State Convention was held in Fayetteville during September. It was well attended. We hope the convention will be in Greensboro next year, but we have nothing definite yet.
Newsline service is doing well. Currently, there are about 2,000 subscribers. We now have about 240 newspapers. We are working on cleaning up our database and getting duplicate entries out of our files. We are now delivering DAISY files of newspapers to folks with email and software to read the files. We will again be asking the NC Legislature for money to continue Newsline in NC. We will try to get it added to the continuing budget for DSB. There is a bill going through the US Congress to pay for long distance charges for Newsline. We hope it will pass.
Our Washington Seminar is January 28 through February 1, 2007 . We will have about 12 folks go to DC to lobby our national legislators.
North Carolina Association of Workers for the Blind—Linda Lewis
NCAWB Alumni was held in July at the Brownstone Hotel in Raleigh . It was not held at the Governor Morehead School this year and attendance was down. The dates for the alumni next year is July 20-22, 2007 , and will be held at the Governor Morehead School .
Officers for the NCAWB are: Linda Lewis, President; Jerry Garner, Vice-President; Ann Vieregge, Secretary; Lee King, Treasurer.
The Garner Road alumnus is interested in learning more about the NCAWB alumni and they are invited to attend the next NCAWB Board meeting, March 24.
At the next Board meeting, there will be discussion on purchasing some type of plaque or memento to be given to students at GMS graduation for any outstanding accomplishments.
North Carolina Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)—Gary Ray
The Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons With Disabilities is heading up a committee to study the enforcement of Bill 866. This bill put into state law some years ago that all websites and technology used by the State of NC must be accessible to folks with disabilities. This bill made changes to General Statute, Chapter 168, which is titled “Persons With Disabilities.” The committee has determined that many websites and technologies are not in compliance with the law. We are currently studying how to increase compliance and enforcement of the law. It is expected that a bill to do this may be introduced in the next legislative session.
Our website, www.ncaer.net has a new look. Our goal is to make the website a resource for professionals in the state who work with folks who have vision issues. Visit the site and check it out.
We continue to work on the next Conference on Blindness and Visual Impairment, which we call the Super Conference. This conference brings together professionals in the field of blindness and visual impairment. The Conference dates are Thursday through Saturday, March 22, 23, and 24, 2007. The conference will be held on the Governor Morehead School campus. Visit the NC AER website at www.ncaer.net for more details.
Tom Winton added that DPI has a web accessibility committee that has been working on its web accessibility policy and it is now in place. Staff has been trained in this policy. If the website is not accessible, a plan must be in place to have it remedied within a certain timeframe.
Elected Committee of Vendors—Tim Jones
The BE Program is going well. In the upcoming session, we will be lobbying for the Randolph-Sheppard Act. HELP (Health, Education, Labor, Pension) will be doing a study on the Randolph Sheppard Act and the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program. HELP feels that all people with disabilities should be under one umbrella.
Legislation has been written to move the Program from Department of Education to the Department of Commerce. A lobbyist has been hired and in the beginning the main goal will be to educate people in Washington .
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Adjournment of Meeting
With no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2007 , at 1 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Tim Jones, Chairman
Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind
