Quarterly Meeting Minutes (Thursday, July 25, 2013)

Hilton Garden Inn
1144 Airport Blvd.
Pensacola, FL

Bruce Miles, Chair called the meeting to order at 8:35 AM with the pledge of allegiance following roll call.

Council Members Present:  Bruce Miles, Paul Edwards, Paul Kaminsky, Andrew Raines, Dwight Sayer, Donté Mickens, Sandra Martin, Lenora Marten, Leanne Grillot, Gloria Mills, Dan O’Connor, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, Ben Grzesik, Christopher White and  Robert Doyle, Director. 
Patricia Lipovsky attended as the representative of the Independent Living Council.

Sheryl Brown and Ted Hull joined via teleconference at 8:30 AM for the Director’s Report.

Council Members Absent:  Sheryl Brown, Ted Hull, Vicky Magliocchino, Joe Minichiello

Council Staff: Phyllis Dill

DBS Staff:  Beth Crain, Wayne Jennings, Tony Pileggi, Lynn Ritter, Whitney Paine

Attendees:  Mary Stutzman, Brian Wall, Dick Melville, Patty Sayer, Laura Guthrie, Gail Croom, Howard Angelo, Karen Somerset, Becky Kirsch

A motion to adopt the Agenda with the addition of discussing the job search for Ms. Dill’s position and the Cooperative Agreement on Friday received a second and passed.

Director’s Report

Robert Doyle voiced his appreciation for Aleisa McKinlay’s excellent job as interim director and that he is looking forward to ways to collaborate with DVR.  He gave the Council a brief background of his experience and personal information.

Some of his goals are:

• Strengthen teams at DBS
• Making sure staff have the tools and training needed
• Quality Assurance
• Contract Monitoring
• ITN – moving forward to assure contract accountability
• Rehab Engineers – ITN
• Of the 21 bid responses there was only one new company.
• Background checks for vendors – proposals
• Notifications to parents by the medical community of DBS. (possibly initiating a registry)

National level information:

• The Senate Health Committee has introduced legislation related to the VR program.
• Chairman Sen. Harkin and Sen. Alexander created a bill that proposes changes to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act within the Workforce Investment Act which includes moving RSA from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.
• The Bill also proposed to move the Independent Living Program to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

DBS information

• There’s a potential Maintenance of Effort penalty against DBS up to $1 million.
• DBS is looking at the expenditures to see what can be used as Match.
• RSA has given DBS until August 2nd to revise the fiscal form.
• DVR has offered to provide some funding.

 Gifts and Donations

• Mr. Doyle will share more information with the Council once he has reviewed it.

Paul Edwards and Dwight Sayer discussed 14c.

14c is a Department of Labor regulation.  It allows for workshops (Goodwill, etc.) to pay individual who are unable to produce less than minimum wage. 

FCB wants 14c to be strengthened and monitored and not abolished.
NFB believes minimum the minimum wage act was applied to all individuals and 14c should be abolished.

On behalf of the Blind Services Foundation, Ted Hull, Chairman, via teleconference, explained the reason behind a check for $4,343.27 to DBS for Gifts and Donations.  Mr. Miles presented the check to Mr. Doyle.

Mr. Miles presented Ted Hull a Certificate of Appreciation for his service as a Business and Industry representative on the Council for two terms.

District Administrator’s Report

Tony Pileggi gave a brief description of each staff and their duties plus an overview of District One as follows:

• District one has two offices serving 10 counties.
• Pensacola Office serves: Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton
• Panama City serves: Gulf, Jackson, Holmes, Washington, Bay and Calhoun
• Pensacola has eight staff: District Administrator, 1 supervisor, 1 staff assistant, 1 rehab tech, 1 word processor, 1 employment placement specialist  and 2 VR counselors
• Panama City has 4 staff: 1 VR counselor, 1, IL/CP/BB counselor and1 rehab tech
• The total population for the district is around 1 million.
• Pensacola serves 700,000 clients.
• Plans to move the Panama City Office to be housed with DVR will take place the first of the year.
• For the first time in two years District One did not meet its goal (goal 61, actual closed 34).
•  The goal for this year is 43.
• Total number of blind closures this past year is 3.
• The current case loads: VR is 180 (129 in Pensacola and 51 in Panama City), IL is 70, children 40, blind babies 13 for a total of 303.
• Last year served:  26 in the Transition Program, 283 in VR Program and 128 IL Program.
• Last year closures: 155 VR, 81 IL, 3 children, 5 blind babies.
• Last year’s referrals were down to 109.
• Continue setting up booths at fairs and getting referrals.
• Attends Exceptional Student Days that are put on by the school district.  This year got 3 VR referrals, 2 blind babies and 3 children.
• Attends the Transportation Disadvantage meeting every quarter when possible.
• Relationship with the local CRP is outstanding.

 Dan O’Connor acknowledged Mr. Pileggi serving as the Acting District Administrator in the Jacksonville district in addition to his position as the DA in district one.

Employer Recognition

Cedric Haynes announced the Compass Group of Sacred Heart Hospital as the recipient of the Employer’s Award.  Mr. Haynes accepted the award on behalf of Mr. William Mitchell, Operations Manager who was unable to attend the meeting.

A group photo was taken of Bruce Miles, Robert Doyle, Tony Pileggi, Cedric Haynes and Whitney Paine.

Before break, Mr. Miles read an article about a 20 year old legally blind artist raising $1 million for charity.

Morning Break

Independence of the Blind of West Florida (IB)

Becky Kirsch, Executive Director of IB West presented the Council with the following:
 

• Independence for the Blind of West Florida is the only nonprofit entirely devoted to educating the blind and visually impaired in West Florida.
• IB teaches independent living skills, computer and adaptive technology and vocational training, and employment-related services to people who are blind or visually impaired.
•  IB Services include but are not limited to the following:
• Assessments and Counseling
• Orientation and Mobility
• Adult Daily Living (ADL)
• Communications
•  Assistive Devices
• Adaptive Computer training
• Leisure activities Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Information and Referral of Complementary/Collateral Services
• Transition Activities for Teens
• 7,506 square miles encompass the ten counties of DBS district one and IB serves between 200 and 250 clients throughout the 10 counties.
• IB has 15 full and part-time staff, 4 of whom are blind or visually impaired.
• An IB staff member has been working with IB for over 30 years, another for 20 years with the majority of instructors have been with IB for 5 years or more.
• IB’s Board of Directors is very active in fund raising each year.  The signature event the “Eye Ball” was this year’s most successful ever.
• IB currently holds contracts with the Division of Blind Services for the Independent Living Older Blind Program, the Independent Living Adult Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Transition Program.
• IB’s client satisfaction survey’s find a high degree of satisfaction among its client regarding its services.
• IB has an excellent assistive technology program.
• IB is the first in the state to begin providing overnight “camps” for Transition Services Program students.
• IB does not currently have a Blind Babies Program but hopes to in the future.
• IB has a good working relationship with the DBS district office.
• IB meets quarterly with the DBS staff to discuss issues and how they can help the clients be more successful.
• Ms. Kirsch tries to meet monthly with the DBS District Administrator to keep him abreast of IBs progress and to discuss how they can work together for the benefit of the clients they serve.
• The biggest challenge IB faces is the physical size of the service area.  Serving almost 1 million clients makes the population density around 130 persons per square mile.
• The availability of public transportation is extremely limited so the vast majority of IBs training is done individually on an itinerant basis. 
• Outreach is very difficult in so large an area and there is concern that there are people in the district who do not know about the available services.
• IBW funds encompass 80% from state and 20% through fund raising, etc.

Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged

Karen Somerset, Assistant Director in Program Administration presented the following:

• The Commission is a state agency housed in the Department of Transportation.

• The Annual Report is available on the web page.  www.dot.state.fl.us/ctd
• Created in 1979 as a Coordinating Council then upgraded to a Commission.
• The TD Trust Fund is funded by $1.50 per license plate issued in Florida.
• TD is a seven member commission appointed by the Governor.

• There is a local Coordinating Board in each county of the state and each Board meets quarterly, or more.
• TD has limited resources, funding, vehicles and drivers.
• TD has a contract with the Agency for Health Care.
• There are Community Transportation Coordinators in each county.
• The break-down by trip purpose is included in the annual operating report on a county by county and state basis.
• The priority for pick-up is: medical, education then employment.
• This last legislative session TD was authorized an additional $7 million.
• Currently the overall budget, including Medicaid transportation services, is about $350 million.
• The TD Trust Fund was increased by $10 million 4 years ago, but did not get the money because it went to Highway Safety.
• TD has received an additional $12 million in the past two years.
• The Medicaid contract with TD begins in 2004.  Twelve counties did not want to take the contract.
• The Medicaid contract is a fixed amount for the entire year.  It hasn’t been increased in the past 4 years.
• TD has a Statewide TD day at the Capitol.
• The local coordinating board does the annual evaluation.
• The Commission performs a compliance evaluation.

Howard Angelo informed the Council of a Grant being awarded to Escambia County 1 ½ years ago that will provide 15 additional vehicles.  The Board of County Commissioners recently approved receipt of the funds.   The vehicles can be purchased once the funds are received. 

Lunch Break

Meeting resumed at 1:20 PM.

State Plan Submission and Needs Assessment Update

Beth Crain, Program Administrator represented Antionette Williams, Bureau Chief and gave the following report:

State Plan

• The State Plan was submitted to the Commissioner for approval on May 31, 2013.
• The Commissioner approved the State Plan on June 4, 2013, with no suggestions or corrections.
• The State Plan was submitted to RSA through the on-line reporting system on June 6, 2013, twenty-six days before the deadline.
• Final approval and publication of the State Plan is normally completed between late August and early September.
• Next year the financial portion of the State Plan will be provided directly by the budget and fiscal units.

Needs Assessment

• The contract to conduct a Needs Assessment between DBS and FSU (Linda Schrader) was approved by DOE Contract Administration and DOE legal on June 9, 2013.
• The Needs Assessment will be guided by 8 goals.
• First – Identification of clients in most significant and significant disabilities for a six year period October 2008 through September 2014.
• Second – Identification and characteristics of minorities receiving VR services for a six year period October 2008 through September 2014.
• Third – Identification and characteristics of VR clients in unsuccessful closure status.  Data will be collected to identify the reasons for unsuccessful closure using the DBS Information Management System and the most recent Client Satisfaction survey.
• Fourth – Identification and characteristics of employed VR clients regarding technological preparedness.  This will be obtained through focus groups, interview sessions, public forums and other viable records.
• Fifth – Identification and characteristics of the underserved VR populations. Will include clients residing in rural areas and VR clients who possess a secondary disability.  
• Sixth – Identification and characteristics of underserved VR populations who could potentially benefit from VR services.  Data from the DBS data base, interviews with FRCB and DBS staff and other viable records will be used to understand the characteristics of underserved populations.
• Seventh – Establishment of community rehabilitation programs within Florida.  Client outcome data regarding the range of services provided to VR clients served by CRPs will be collected.
• Eighth – Identification of transportation challenges and potential solutions for employed VR clients.  Data will be collected from employed clients regarding the range of transportation challenges and its impact on employment options.  Data will be obtained from focus groups, public forums and other data sources.

• The Needs Assessment report will be completed and submitted to DBS in January 2014.  A presentation to the Council will be provided by Linda Schrader sometime thereafter.

The Council was concerned with the January 2014 date.  They understood it was in 2015. 

Action Items from previous meeting

Action: Provide the Council a copy of the definitions the VR counselors use related to disabilities.

Result:  The Management System does not provide definitions for each coded disability.

Action: Provide data on how many individuals with secondary disabilities under the age of 65 are on the Agency of Persons with Disabilities (ADP) rolls.

Result:  Currently DBS does not have a system in place that capture this.  There is a work group consisting of APD, DBS and DVR to see how a joint system can be created that captures services provided by all human services agencies so requested data can be obtained.

Mr. Miles informed DBS that before the State Plan is given to the Council the data and figures provided by fiscal and budget should be reviewed for errors and accuracy by DBS.

VR Goals Update

Wayne Jennings reported the following:

AWARE will be updated with the ICB9 codes which will provide a more clear understanding of the codes.
There is no true crosswalk between what’s in AWARE now and the ICB9 codes.
The new MIS manager is working on the AWARE update and should be able to report by the first of the year.
ICB9 codes are used by doctors and hospitals and can be found on the internet.
A list of codes used in AWARE should be available after they are incorporated.
District, 2, 5, 7, 9 & 10 met are exceeded their goals.

VR Report State Fiscal Year: 2012-2013

Number Served Q1 = 3580 Q2= 3615 Q3= 3651 Q4= 3644 Total= 5084
Total Number of Closed Cases Q1= 441 Q2= 475 Q3= 524 Q4= 558 Total= 1998
Number Unsuccessful Closures Q1= 314 Q2= 315 Q3= 371 Q4= 298 Total= 1298
Number Successful Closures Q1= 127 Q2= 160 Q3= 153 Q4= 260 Total= 700
Break-down of Successful Closures:
 Number Partially or Legally Blind Q1= 59 Q2= 81 Q3= 64 Q4= 96 Total= 300
 Number Other Visually Impaired Q1= 27 Q2= 41 Q3= 45 Q4= 85 Total= 198
 Number Totally Blind Q1= 13 Q2=18 Q3= 18 Q4= 27 Total= 76
 Number Closed as Restoration Q1= 28 Q2= 20 Q3= 26 Q4= 52 Total= 126
 
Rehabilitation Rate Percentages Q1= 29% Q2= 34% Q3= 29% Q4= 47% Total= 35%
Number Veteran Closures Q1= 2 Q2=7 Q3= 7 Q4= 4 Total= 20

Secondary Disability at Closure Q1= 33 Q2= 159 Q3= 152 Q4= 259 Total= 603
No Secondary Impairment Q1= 7 Q2= 85 Q3= 70 Q4=121 Total= 283
Diabetes Mellitus Q1= 5 Q2= 19 Q3= 20 Q4= 43 Total= 87
Cardiac Condition Q1= 1 Q2= 5 Q3= 13 Q4= 21 Total= 40
Other Physical Impairments Not Listed Q1= 1 Q2= 8 Q3= 13 Q4= 17 Total= 39
Cognitive Impairments Q1= 3 Q2= 4 Q3= 2 Q4= 10 Total= 19
Other Visual Impairment Q1= 2 Q2= 7 Q3= 3 Q4= 7 Total= 19   
Psychosocial Impairments Q1= 3 Q2= 2 Q3= 4 Q4= 7 Total= 16
Musculoskeletal Impairment Q1= 1 Q2= 3 Q3= 4 Q4= 6 Total= 14
Other Mental Impairments Q1= 1 Q2= 4 Q3= 2 Q4= 5 Total= 12
Mobility Orthopedic/Neurological Impairment Q1= 1 Q2= 3 Q3= 2 Q4= 4 Total= 10
Other Orthopedic Impairments Q1= 0 Q2= 3 Q3= 4 Q4= 2 Total= 9
Hearing loss, Primary Communication Auditory Q1= 1 Q2= 2 Q3= 4 Q4= 1 Total= 8
Respiratory Impairments Q1= 0 Q2= 2 Q3= 2 Q4= 3 Total= 7
General Physical Debilitation (fatigue, etc.) Q1= 1 Q2= 1 Q3= 2 Q4= 2 Total= 6
No impairment Q1= 0 Q2= 2 Q3= 1 Q4= 2 Total= 5
Other Visual Impairments Q1= 2 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 1 Total= 4
*Legally Blind (excluding totally blind) Q1= 1 Q2= 1 Q3= 1 Q4= 1 Total= 4
Communicative Impairments Q1= 1 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 1 Total= 3
*Totally Blind (LP only or NLP) Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 2 Total= 3
Hearing loss, Primary Communication Visual Q1= 1 Q2= 0 Q3= 2 Q4= 0 Total= 3
*Deaf-Blind Q1= 0 Q2= 0 Q3= 1 Q4= 1 Total= 2
Cancer Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 1 Q4= 0 Total= 2
Other Hearing Impairments (Tinnitus etc.) Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 1 Total= 2
Both Mobility and Manipulation Impairments Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 0 Total= 1
Deafness, Primary Communication Visual Q1= 0 Q2= 0 Q3= 0 Q4= 1 Total= 1
Deafness, Primary Communication Auditory Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 0 Total= 1
*Blindness Q1= 1 Q2= 0 Q3= 0 Q4= 0 Total= 1
End stage renal disease, genitourinary disorders Q1=0 Q2=0 Q3=1 Q4=0 Total= 1
*Legal Blindness Q1= 0 Q2= 1 Q3= 0 Q4= 0 Total= 1

Reason for Unsuccessful Closure Q1= 314 Q2= 315 Q3= 371 Q4= 298 Total= 1298
Refused Services or No Further Services Q1= 72 Q2= 80 Q3= 88 Q4= 85 Total= 325
Unable to Locate or Contact Q1= 46 Q2= 72 Q3= 88 Q4= 57 Total= 263
Other Reasons Q1= 66 Q2= 44 Q3= 72 Q4= 40 Total= 222
Failure to Cooperate Q1= 35 Q2= 22 2Q3= 7 Q4= 23 Total= 107
Does Not Require VR Services Q1= 18 Q2= 20 Q3= 20 Q4= 19 Total= 77
Moved out-of-state Q1= 24 Q2= 22 Q3= 16 Q4= 13 Total= 75
No Impediment to Employment Q1= 17 Q2= 22 Q3= 18 Q4= 15 Total= 72

No Disabling Condition Q1= 10 Q2= 16 Q3= 16 Q4= 15 Total= 57
Disability Too Severe/Unable to Benefit Q1= 16 Q2= 11 Q3= 13 Q4= 15 Total= 55
Transferred to another Agency Q1= 5 Q2= 2 Q3= 6 Q4= 8 Total= 21
Death Q1= 3 Q2= 3 Q3= 5 Q4= 2 Total= 13
Institutionalized Q1= 2 Q2= 1 Q3= 1 Q4= 2 Total= 6
Transportation Not Available Q1= 0 Q2= 0 Q3= 1 Q4= 3 Total= 4
Extended services not available Q1= 0 Q2= 0 Q3= 0 Q4= 1 Total= 1

Client Satisfaction Survey Review

Dr. Mary Stutzman explained what was involved in conducting the survey.  She introduced Brian Walsh, Operations Manager at the Research Lab. 

• There are five attempts made to reach individuals.
• This year 1531 individuals were contacted with a 35% response rate.
• Most areas have stayed the same as previous years and a few fell.
• Dr. Stutzman provided hard copies and a CD of the survey as well as an overview and open ended questions.
• There’s a 40% response rate for successful closures and 30% for unsuccessful.
• This year half of the clients were first time clients.
• Over half stated they came to obtain employment which was up from the previous year.
• This year the sample was almost evenly split between successful and unsuccessful.
• The VR counselors get mostly high ratings with easy to contact being the lowest rating.
• 40% of the clients stated they needed transportation and 82% of those felt DBS provided adequate transportation when needed.
• About two-thirds know about post-employment services.
• There were only very few not satisfied with services.
• 95 % say they would recommend DBS services to others.
• Most helpful services:  equipment, training and medical
• Least helpful: almost half say can’t think of anything.  Others listed training, counselor and employment related.
• The average time for an interview is 12 minutes.

Dr. Stutzman will retire from FSU in October.  She has conducted the Client Satisfaction Survey for the Council since 2002.   On behalf of the Council, Mr. Miles presented her with a plaque of appreciation for her hard work and commitment in providing a comprehensive survey each year.

Sylvia Stinson-Perez asked if there is going to be a process for prioritization of plan development for individuals who are employed or have a job offer.

Ms. Ritter informed Ms. Stinson-Perez that according to Quality Assurance case reviews plans are being developed and approved and services beginning very quickly statewide.

Mr. Raines introduced Warren Jernigan a leader in disability rights in the state and member of the legislature.
 
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.

FLORIDA REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND (FRCB)
QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES

Friday – July 26, 2013

Council Members Present:  Bruce Miles, Paul Edwards, Paul Kaminsky, Andrew Raines, Dwight Sayer, Donté Mickens, Sandra Martin, Lenora Marten, Leanne Grillot, Gloria Mills, Dan O’Connor, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, Ben Grzesik, Christopher White and  Robert Doyle, Director. 

Patricia Lipovsky attended as the representative of the Independent Living Council.

Council Members Absent:  Sheryl Brown, Ted Hull, Vicky Magliocchino, Joe Minichiello

Council Staff: Phyllis Dill

DBS Staff:  Beth Crain, Wayne Jennings,

Attendees:  Patty Sayer, Laura Guthrie

Council Business

A motion to accept minutes of the April meeting received a second and passed.

A motion to conduct the July 2014 meeting in Gainesville received a second and passed.

The date set for the meeting:  July 23, 24 & 25, 2014.

Agenda Items for October 2013.

• Needs Assessment
• Policies – Rehab Assistive Technology and Self-Employment
• Cooperative Agreement between FRCB and DBS
• ITN contract update
• Public Forum Procedures
• Gifts and Donations (part of Director’s report)
• Tours of VA and both Rehab Center (maybe Wed. afternoon and Fri. afternoon)

A motion to conduct the Public Forum one hour, and if necessary extend an additional 30 minutes received a second and passed.

Mr. White is concerned about the outreach being done on getting information out for the Public Forum.

Ms. Dill will check on having the comment card put on the web site with the notice.

A motion to conduct the Public Forum at 1:00 PM received a second.  After discussion motion was pulled.

A motion to conduct the Public Forum from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM received a second and passed.

Amendment to By-Laws – Crossover Representatives

A motion to approve the By-laws amendment received a second.  Motion passed with two opposed.

The amendment to the By-laws:

• The Council will coordinate a working relationship with other mandated Councils within the State as required under Sec 105 (c) (6) of the Act.

• *To strengthen its working relationship with the Florida Rehabilitation Council, the Council will receive a representative of the Florida Rehabilitation Council at Council meetings and will designate one of its members as its representative to be in attendance at meetings of the Florida Rehabilitation Council. Such representations will not constitute membership in the counterpart council.*   

Paul Edwards moved that Dwight Sayer serve as the primary representative on the FRC Council.  Motion received a second and passed.

Dwight Sayer moved that Paul Edwards serve as the alternate representative.  Motion received a second and passed.

Council approved a one year term and to be included on the July meeting agenda each year.

Staff Position Discussion

Council request that Ms. Dill’s position be upgraded and if possible the position could be located in another district if needed.  This would allow for a better selection of applicants. 

Mr. Doyle informed the Council that he would take a look at getting the position upgraded and advertised for the potential of having someone on board before the next meeting.

NCSRC Forum

Mr. Sayer provided material from his attendance at the NCSRC Forum to the Council earlier via e-mail. 

He mentioned that one area of concern and stressed, was the need for  the Rehab Council to maintain a strong relationship with the Division and receiving information, i.e. State Plan, as soon as January if possible.

Mr. Miles voiced his concern with reimbursements of meetings.  He stated that the Council can’t change legislation regarding reimbursements and asked if Gifts and Donations would be able to cover flight insurance.

Mr. Doyle stated that he would take a look at the possibility of Gifts and donations covering flight insurance for Council members attending meetings.

Mr. Edwards moved that the DSO Board look at the situation during its meeting in September.  Motion received a second and passed.

Mr. White moved that DBS send reports and data to the Council by the Bureau Chief and District Administrators in advance least 7 days before the meeting.  Motion received a second.

Mr. Edwards amended the motion to include the VR closure report and reports including data from the local CRPs.

Motion passed.

Previous/New Business/Open Discussion

Leanne Grillot informed the Council that she would not attend the October meeting.  She presented the Council with a brief rundown of the school year.

Three webinars are scheduled for Visual Impairments and the Impact on Learning.

• Session 1:  Common Eye Conditions and Appropriate Accommodations and Modifications – September 10, 2013
• Session 2:  Determining the Appropriate Media for Students with Low Vision and If Needed When, Where and How to Introduce Braille – October 1, 2013
• Session 3: Strategies for Students with progressive Eye Conditions or Diseases – November 13, 2013

The Florida State University Program of Visual Disabilities’ is celebrating 50 years in addition FAER’s 2013 Conference will take place September 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2013.

September 17 & 18 a pre-conference session with Dr. Jan van Dijk of the Netherlands.
October 3 & 4, 2013 – Dr. Joan Chase will train licensed psychologists in the Tactile Assessment of Performance in Tampa, Florida.

November 19 & 20, 2013 – Sensory Learning Kit from the American Printing House for the Blind in Daytona Beach, Florida.  There are no fees to attend the training and Sensory Learning Kits, will be provided free of charge for teachers that are working with students registered with FIMC-VI and eligible for APH materials.

FSU O&M Presentation

Mr. Edwards moved that Ms. Grillot present the plaque on the Council’s behalf during the FAER 2013 Conference in Tallahassee.  Motion received a second and passed.

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 AM.