Consumer and Advocacy
Advisory
Committee for the Blind
Minutes of
Call to Order and Invocation
Chairman Tim Jones called the
meeting of the Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind to order
at
Members not present: Brian Lewis,
Representative Pete Cunningham, and David Alexander.
Others present: Debbie Jackson,
Mary Flanagan, Emily DuBois, Francine Martin, Tom Winton, John Miller, and Pat
Robbins.
Welcome and Remarks
Mr. Jones welcomed Debbie Jackson
and Mary Flanagan in their new roles as Director and Assistant Director,
respectively.
Ms. Flanagan stated that her door
is always open. She is a guide dog user. Her guide dog’s name is Tess. Ms.
Flanagan has been in
Approval of Minutes
Motion was made, seconded, and
carried to approve the minutes of
Report of Entities
Regional Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped – Francine Martin
New Online Public Access
Catalog (OPAC) is coming!
Braille Collection is Being
Moved
Staffed to Serve
NCLBPH currently has 29 positions
(including 2 half-time positions as one.) A couple of key retirements began a
chain of vacancies as several staff members were promoted. Ten staff members
are, or will be, in new positions within the 10-month period between July 2003
and April 2004. This means more than 1/3 of the staff are or will be in new
positions within a nine-month period and are learning their jobs. We are very
glad to have been able to fill these positions.
Governor Morehead School – Judy Plymale
Events/Accomplishments
Department
of Public Instruction –
Tom Winton
The
second annual North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairment and Blindness is
currently being held on the GMS campus for three days. This conference is sponsored
by DPI, GMS, DSB, and AER. Over 200 people are in attendance. Estelle Condra is
the keynote.
Mr.
Winton stated that Summer Institutes are in the works for teachers.
The
Annual Conference for Exceptional Children will be held November 1-3 in Greensboro
at the Koury Convention Center. Over 2700 individuals attended last year from
all over the State.
Mr.
Winton attended the Taylor Leadership Conference and learned a lot about IDEA.
The book
port study has continued. Mr. Winton has received 200 devices from American
Printing House for the Blind. Mr. Winton is distributing them to teachers
throughout the State.
DPI has
conducted the annual registration of legally blind students. The numbers are
probably going to 700-800 for public schools and 300 for private schools.
Division
of Services for the Blind – Debbie Jackson
New
Staff
Mary
Flanagan has been hired as Assistant Director. Vickie Garrett has been hired at
Human Resources Manager. Ms. Garrett is with DSB half time until April when she
will become full-time.
Budget
Expansion
and reduction budget requests have been completed. The plans are being reviewed
by DHHS.
In the
reduction area, DSB was required to submit 1%, 2%, and 3% reduction plans. In
the 1% category, the amount was $70,000; 2% $140,000; 3% $210,000. In all of
those categories, DSB proposed reducing case service funds reduction in Medical
Eye Care.
If we
actually have to implement would that at the 1% and 2% levels, DSB would no
longer be purchasing eye exams. At the 3% level, DSB would no longer be
purchasing eye exams or eyeglasses. The things that were left in are the more
expensive types services such as surgery, purchase of glaucoma medication, and
purchase of prosthesis.
DSB
presently has to add money to Medical Eye Center to get through this year.
In the
expansion budget area, DSB submitted two items. One was to build into DSB
budget, the NewsLine contract costs in the amount of $70,000. The second was
additional money for ILR Program in the VR Section in the amount of $800,000.
Dorm
Renovations
The first
round of work will begin before the end of March. An elevator will be installed
in Cox. Waterproofing will be completed in Cox and Milsap. Project should be
completed in 6 months. The second round of work will begin as soon as contracts
are in place.
State
Council of the North Carolina Lions – Diane Whitley
The Lions
of North Carolina had a very successful State Convention the first weekend of
March in Fayetteville. It was truly an International convention since the
featured speaker was Lions Club International President Tae-Sup Lee of Seoul,
South Korea.
The North
Carolina Liberty Day Program was held at the Airborne and Special Operations
Museum in conjunction with the convention. Although the Golden Knights
presented the colors (American Flag) by parachute, they were prohibited from
completing their show because of high winds.
North
Carolina Lions Foundation - Steve Walker
Contracts
have been signed for the renovation of a new 14-bedroom dormitory. The Belk
Dorm, the oldest dorm on campus, will be burned down tomorrow morning and the
new one built on the same location.
Over 550
applications have been received for the summer camp session. 350 of those have
been processed.
Screening
van continues to be successful. 150 screenings have been scheduled during the
current fiscal year. Of those 150 screenings, 20% are school and 80% public.
Referrals are 40%-42%.
Budget
requests are up from last year. The request for eyeglasses, eye exams, hearing
aids, and canes have all increased. Thus far, NCLF has been able to meet the
needs.
Prevent
Blindness North Carolina – Erin McKenzie for Jennifer Talbot
Prevent
Blindness (PB) pre-school is in 17 counties screening children from the ages of
2-5 in child care centers. This year, 17,000 children have been screened.
PB also
has a public school certification program that trains and certifies vision
screeners for public schools statewide. Over 3500 volunteers are trained
annually. PB provides vouchers and free eye exams for those who need follow-up
care but cannot afford it. This year, PB has provided $450,000 worth of donated
services to public school children. Over 500,000 public school children in
North Carolina received screenings in their schools this year.
The adult
screening program is also providing screening to some of the neediest people in
North Carolina. This program screens adults for signs of potential eye
diseases. Last year, 8,000 adults were screened statewide with a 20% referral
rate for follow-up care. PB does not provide follow-up services, but does refer
these adults to other programs for care. The number is anticipated to be closer
to 10,000 this year.
North
Carolina Council of the Blind – Ron Eller
Mr. Eller
reported that the legislative seminar was held in December. Some of the issues
that will be addressed are IDEA, Reauthorization of the Transportation Act,
Social Security Reform, and Civil Rights 2004, just to name a few. Mr. Eller
stated that he would send position papers to DSB.
Preparations
are in process for the National Convention that will be held in Birmingham.
Mr. Eller
will be attending NCSAB in Bethesda, Maryland the last part of April.
If anyone
knows of a child who is attending school and is visually impaired who would
like to apply for one of NCCB’s scholarships, they may call 1-800-344-7113. One
of the scholarships this year will be named in honor of Wayne Yelton who
recently passed away. The deadline is for applying is May 15.
National
Federation of the Blind of North Carolina – Hazel Staley
A new
chapter was welcomed on March 2 in Alamance County.
Perhaps
the most exciting event this quarter was the opening of the $19 million dollar
addition to the headquarters buildings in Baltimore. It is called the NFB
Jernigan Research and Training Institute. Six members from North Carolina
attended the opening celebration on Friday evening, January 30. Betsy
Zaborowski is Director of the Institute. There was a very impressive array of
speakers on the program, including the Governor of Maryland, the Mayor of Baltimore,
several Senators and Congressmen, and the Head of NASA.
Fifteen
members from North Carolina attended the Washington Seminar the first week in
February at which time the members talked with Senators and Congressmen
regarding matters of concern to the blind. Members asked for amendment of
Section 14C of the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit Directors of workshops
for the blind from paying blind workers less than minimum wage. Members also
asked for amendment of the Higher Education Act to allow blind college students
to have more input into the courses they could take and activities in which
they could participate. A third item that was requested was to eliminate the
earnings limit for blind employees. Currently, if a blind employee earns more than
$15,200 annually, that person loses disability insurance.
NFB asked
Congress to consider an appropriation of $3 million dollars to help complete
the development of a pocket size, reading machine. This little gadget would
enable blind persons to do a lot of shopping without sighted assistance.
NFB
National Convention is scheduled for June 29-July 5 in Atlanta at the Marriott.
NFB State
Convention will be held September 24-26 at the Holiday Inn in Charlotte.
North
Carolina Association of Workers for the Blind – Brian Lewis
No Report
North
Carolina Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired – Jim Baker
Mr. Baker
shared how the North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairment and Blindness got
started. This is the second year of this conference, and it has been a real
success.
The AER
National Conference will be held in Disney World July 13-19 at the Hilton.
Membership
of AER is currently at 75.
Elected
Committee of Vendors –
Tim Jones
The ECV
Annual Training Conference was held in Raleigh at the Holiday Inn.
Approximately 60 vendors were in attendance. The training was well attended. At
the Committee meeting that took place following the training conference, a
motion was made that would eliminate the 50% set-aside which a vendor will pay
once the vendor operation reaches a certain level of income. Mr. Miller asked
what set-aside dollars are used for. Mr. Jones stated the set-aside money is
used to buy equipment, repairs on equipment, and management services.
Mr.
Miller asked about the progress of a vending site in Dare County. Mr. Jones
stated the last time he spoke with Clay Pope, it was not thought that it would
support an operator. Mr. Jones will obtain more information for Mr. Miller.
Mr. Jones
stated that a vending location on Hwy 26 going into Tennessee would soon be
advertised.
Legislators – Representative W. Pete Cunningham
No Report
Old
Business
Ms.
Jackson shared that GACPD made contact with DSB to express an interest to
continue to pursue the pedestrian safety items in Left Turn on Red. Forthcoming
activity will be along that line.
Ms.
Jackson also shared that GACPD has an interest in working on a piece of
legislation that would impose some type of penalty if a service dog were
attacked by another animal.
Mr.
Miller stated that a meeting is to take place today regarding the Wharton
Trust. The purpose of the meeting is to determine what to do with $130,000
remaining in the Trust.
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 2:50 p.m. The next
meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Tim
Jones, Chairman
Consumer
and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind