01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION1 WELCOME to the NEW JERSEY STATE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (CBVI) NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

01/08/07 CBVI PRESENTATION 1

WELCOME WELCOME to theto the

NEW JERSEY STATE

COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED(CBVI)

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES


This Presentation Will:This Presentation Will:

• Familiarize You With CBVI - Its Mission, Vision And Values

• Provide You With A “Global Picture” of The Services the Commission Offers to New Jersey Residents

• To Familiarize You With the Many Facets of Our Agency


You Will LearnYou Will Learn

• What the Commission Does

• How the Mission, Vision and Values Drive Our Work

• Where Our Consumers Fit In

• How Important Our Mission Is to New Jersey Residents


OUR MOTTO AT CBVIOUR MOTTO AT CBVI

INDEPENDENCE

BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE!


MissionMission

“The mission of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is to promote and provide services in the areas of education, employment, independence and eye health through informed choice and partnership with persons who are blind or visually impaired, their families and the community.”


New Jersey FactsNew Jersey FactsStatistics based on 2000 CensusStatistics based on 2000 Census

290,000 NJ Residents Are Blind and Or Visually Impaired

• 8,000 NJ Residents are Totally Blind• 39,000 NJ Residents are Legally Blind• 243,000 NJ Residents Have Severe Visual

Impairments

Currently 9,571 New Jersey Residents Are Actively Being Served By NJ CBVI


GoalsGoals

• Provide timely, effective, high-quality services

• Increase competitive employment• Work toward excellence in the education

of students who are blind or visually impaired

• Work to decrease the incidence of blindness or significant vision loss through eye health programs

• Actively promote equality and full inclusion into society


GOALSGOALS

• Work in partnership with consumers• Encourage positive attitudes toward

blindness and visually impairments by consumers and their families

• Expand service delivery to historically underserved populations

• Evaluate the effectiveness of assistive technology in the school and work environment


EligibilityEligibility

A New Jersey resident is eligible for services if he/she is visually impaired or legally blind with best correction, and is experiencing problems in his/her life as a result of vision loss.


Visually ImpairedVisually Impaired

• Vision is 20/70 or less in the better eye (with best correction) (the person sees at 20 feet what a sighted person sees at 70 feet)

• Field restriction of 40 degrees


Legally BlindLegally Blind

• One’s vision is 20/200 or less in the better eye (with best correction)

• If there is a restricted vision field limited to 20 degrees or less


ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICEOFFICE

Vito DeSantis Executive Director

Lori GhioExecutive Secretary

153 HALSEY STREET6th FLOORPO BOX 47017Newark, New Jersey 07101973-648-3333


Management Team Management Team 20072007

• Vito DeSantis: Executive Director• Dr. Bernice Davis: Executive Assistant• Frank Scheick: Manager: Fiscal• Marc Stabile: Manager: Human Resource • Ines Matos: Manager: MIS• David DeNotaris: Manager: Statewide• Jose Morales: Manager: NRO• Pat Davis: Manager: SRO• John Reiff: Manager: CRO• Donald Potenski: Manager: JKRC


Management TeamManagement Team 2007 2007

COORDINATORS• Amelia Ricciardi: Education• Lorraine Clark: Allied Services• Gregory Patty: Vocational Rehabilitation• Bruce Kastner,OD: Blindness Prevention, Low

Vision Services

• Pamela Gaston: Executive Assistant• Michael Kosec: Quality Assurance• Hugo Ruiz: Employee Relations Officer• Sandra Deitel: Staff Development


REGIONAL OFFICESREGIONAL OFFICES

• Northern (Newark):Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren

• Central (Toms River):Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth and

Ocean

• Southern (Camden):Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester

and Salem


Regional ServicesRegional Services

ClientIndependent

Living Services

VocationalRehabilitation

Education

Eye Health


EDUCATIONEDUCATION

CBVI provides education servicesfrom birth through age twenty-one to eligible children and their families. These services are designed to allow students who are visually impaired to

participate equally with other students in regular classroom activities.


Education ServicesEducation Services

• Comprehensive itinerant services

• Inclusion, integration, mainstreaming

• Collaboration with school districts

• Partnership with the Office and Departments of Education

• Legislative Law, Funding, Reimbursement


Vocational Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation ServicesServices

The goal of this program is to assist persons who are blind and visually impaired develop, acquire, or update skills that will help in securing and maintaining suitable employment. This may include working in the competitive labor force, operating their own business, supportive employment, or managing their own home.


Vocational Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)Services (VR)

• Evaluation• Counseling and

Guidance• Training• Job Placement• Post-Employment• College

Counseling/Support• High School

Transition

• Business Enterprise Program

• Entrepreneurial Programs• Special Services for

persons who are Multi-disabled

• Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center

Programs• Special services for

persons who are Multi-disabled

• Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center


Employer Services UnitEmployer Services UnitProvides the following services at no cost Provides the following services at no cost

to employers:to employers:

• Job retention services for staff with vision loss• Technical Support on ADA issues• Work-site analysis and modification• Agency Resources: Linkages to the

information you need• Achieve diversity and inclusion goals in

strategic plans• Financial incentives and tax credits• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)


Employer Services Unit Employer Services Unit Provides:Provides:

• Opportunities for partnering• Website Accessibility• Assistive Technology Consults• Pre-Screened Labor Pool• Diversity and Inclusion• Long-term follow-up• Internships• Career Development Activities• Employer Advisory Council


Independent Living Services (Allied Independent Living Services (Allied Services)Services)

• Social Casework• In home instruction

in daily living skills• Instruction for

independent travel and orientation to the home, community, work or school environment

• Child care skills• Instruction in

communication methods

• Referral to community resources


Independent Living Independent Living SkillsSkills

The goal of this program is to enable persons who are blind or visually impaired to lead a full and productive life and to assist them in adjusting to their vision loss


Orientation and MobilityOrientation and MobilityInstruction (O&M)Instruction (O&M)

• Safe Independent Travel Training

(Home, School, Work, Community)

• Emphasizing Awareness of Surrounding Environments

• Use of Remaining Senses

(Hearing and Vision)


Eye Health NurseEye Health Nurse

• Case-Management• Diabetes Education• Instruction on

Adaptive Equipment/Devices (insulin syringes, talking glucose monitors)

• Monitoring Health Care


Home InstructionHome Instruction

Home Management SkillsKitchen Safety, Meal Preparation, Laundry Skills, Clothing Identification

Adaptive EquipmentTalking Watches, Timers, Calculators

Communication SkillsBraille, Keyboarding, Check writing, Telephone Dialing, Handwriting

Adjustment to Vision Loss


Statewide OperationsStatewide Operations

Statewide Services• Prevention • Early Intervention• Education • Deaf-Blind • Transition• /College Services• Camp Marcella • Drew University


Prevention Prevention Services/Eye HealthServices/Eye Health

The goal of this program is to save sight and restore vision whenever it is medically possible. Statistics show that 50% of all blindness and vision loss could be prevented with proper medical eye care. CBVI conducts and sponsors a variety of educational programs and eye health screening throughout the state to detect vision problems.


Prevention ServicesPrevention Services

• Mobile Eye Exams• Vision Screening for

preschool and school age children

• Eye health nursing• On site screening at

institutions and in the community on invitation

• Special diabetic outreach program

• Other specialized eye screening programs which target minorities, the elderly and migrant farm workers


Early InterventionEarly Intervention

Provides statewide itinerant education for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3), who are blind or visually impaired, multi-handicapped visually impaired, or deaf-blind and their families. Disability-specific services are provided in the child’s natural environment.


Early Intervention Early Intervention ServicesServices

• Eligibility Determination Education Services• Assessment and Evaluation of Visual

Impairment• Collaboration With Families• Technical Assistance to Families and Providers• Specialized Instruction i.e. Transition to Pre-

School Services• Availability of Additional Commission Services


Deaf-Blind UnitDeaf-Blind Unit

Assists Individuals who are Deaf-Blind, their parents, counselors, educators, employers and consumers through various services:

• Determine Eligibility• Counseling• Participate in Educational

Planning• Provide Functional Vision

Assessments

• In-Service Presentations• Recommend and Provide

Specialized Adaptive Equipment

• Locate training programs for employment needs

• Assist with job placement and maintaining current employment


Transition UnitTransition Unit

• Serves high school students

• Career assessment, planning and training

• Coordinate two summer career exploration opportunities


College UnitCollege Unit

Assists college students with:

• Funding• Counseling• Guidance• Advocacy• Job Placement


Drew ProgramDrew Program

• Simulated Residential College experience on the Campus of Drew University in Madison

• 10th through 12th graders are eligible

• 4 weeks duration• Academic Classes• Orientation/Mobility• Daily Living Skills• Leisure Activities on

Weekends and Evenings


The College of New JerseyThe College of New JerseyWork Skills PrepWork Skills Prep

• Residential work experience program on the campus of TCNJ in Ewing, NJ

• 10th through 12th graders are eligible

• 3 weeks duration• Career exploration• Orientation/Mobility• Daily Living Skills• Leisure Activities on

Weekends and Evenings


JKRC Transition JKRC Transition Summer ProgramSummer Program

• Open to ninth graders who are blind and or visually impaired

• Two Week Residential Session at JKRC

• Career Exploration• Visits to Businesses• O&M instruction• Daily Living Skills• Computer Skills• Peer Sharing


Camp Marcella: Sleep-Away Camp in Camp Marcella: Sleep-Away Camp in Rockaway NJRockaway NJ

In Partnership With the Lions ClubIn Partnership With the Lions Club

• 200 blind and visually impaired children between ages 5 and 16 attend camp each summer

• Camp offers a chance to participate in swimming, boating, hiking, music, arts/crafts, sports/games

• Computer Lab and Library• Camp fosters a child’s sense

of independence and self confidence and helps develop social skills


Other Statewide Other Statewide Services Services

• George F. Meyer Instructional Resource Center (Newark)

• Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center (New Brunswick)

(Norma K. Krajczar Technology Resource and Development Center, Bridge Program)

• Business Enterprise Program (BEP)(Quakerbridge Plaza, Mercerville)


George F. Meyer George F. Meyer Instructional Resource Instructional Resource

CenterCenterThis center provides materials to enable children to function on an equal footing with their sighted classmates.

• Provides Adaptive Aids• Adaptive textbooks

(large print or Braille), materials , and technical equipment

• Enriching toys and materials

• Assistive Technology


Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation CenterJoseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center (JKRC)(JKRC)

JKRC offers blind and visually impaired adults an opportunity to learn skills that enable independence. It is an intensive program to develop vocational skills.

• 16 week residential program

• Career Assessment• Vocational Counseling• Communication Skills• Braille

• Orientation and Mobility• Activities of Daily Living

Skills• Kitchen Skills• Assistive Technology

Skills• Adjustment to Vision

Loss• Psychological Services• Social Services


Norma F. Krajczar Technology Resource Norma F. Krajczar Technology Resource and Development Centerand Development Center

• Located Within JKRC• Open to the public for

hands on experience with the latest technology products

• Demonstrations of state of the art products for people who are blind and visually impaired

• DeWitt Contract


BEP AND NEW JERSEYBEP AND NEW JERSEYPERFECT TOGETHER!PERFECT TOGETHER!

Since the passage of the 1937 Randolph-Sheppard Act, NJ CBVI BEP has worked to help NJ residents who are blind or visually impaired become independent business operators and entrepreneurs!

Currently NJ has 60 active operators owning:

• SNACK BARS• VENDING MACHINES • CAFES/CAFETERIAS

• The average operator income is $54,000

• $18,544,163 gross sales as of 6/30/06


Types of Contracted ServicesTypes of Contracted Services

• Independent Living for elderly or deaf/blind• Prevention of Blindness• Volunteers• Training and employment/supported

employment• Psychological Services• Advocacy/Legal• Recorded Books• Recreation• Assistive Technology


To Contract or Not to To Contract or Not to Contract ServicesContract Services

• Can we provide service ourselves?• Can we provide services efficiently

ourselves?• Can we provide services effectively

ourselves?


Contract FactsContract Facts

• 15 Contracts• 4.5 Million in

Value• Smallest

Contract-Cumberland County at $20,868.00

• Largest contract DeWitt & Associates at $1.3 Million

• 12 different funding sources


Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology

• Any piece of equipment that will give independence to someone who is blind or visually impaired

• These tools may assist consumers in gaining access to information both print and electronic and facilitates written communication

• Indispensable service provided by the Commission

• Maintaining current relevant resources to ensure our consumers and staff are literate and competent is critical in the fast changing world of assistive technology


RTACRTAC(REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT CENTER)(REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT CENTER)

• Located in each regional office

• Provides training, demonstrations, and evaluations of assistive technology to our consumers, educators and or other interested parties


Independence Believe and Independence Believe and AchieveAchieve

• 11% of the Commission’s Workforce is blind and or visually impaired

• Approximately 103 NJ Citizens go through programming at the Kohn Center Each Year

• We rank third in the United States for Assistive Technology Use

• In 2006, 303 NJ VR clients became gainfully employed through the Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program

• CBVI provides assistive technology devices to our consumers such as computers, notetakers, Braille displays, Braille embossers (printer), scanners, CCTV (Closed Circuit TV)


Independence, Believe and Independence, Believe and AchieveAchieve

• We partner with 402 school districts• We serve 2300 children ages birth to 21• CBVI supplies school districts with Braille production

systems to assist the child enabling children to compete with their sighted peers in a classroom environment

• CBVI staff have the ability to Braille documents and information for staff and consumers

• We facilitate an annual two day workshop for educators throughout the state to become more familiar with instruction to students who are blind or visually impaired


INDEPENDENCE BELIEVE AND INDEPENDENCE BELIEVE AND ACHIEVEACHIEVE

• We provide staff with the latest assistive technology training so they can better serve our consumers

• 45,862 eye screenings were done in Fiscal Year 06

• 25,539 of the above were pre-school screenings

• 870 Consumers were referred to the Commission in Fiscal year 06


Regional OfficesRegional Offices

Northern Regional Office153 Halsey Street 5th fl.Newark, NJ 07101973-648-2111Fax: 973-648-7674

Central Regional Office1510 Hooper AvenueToms River, NJ 08753732-255-0723Fax: 732-255-0949

Southern Regional Office101 Haddon AvenueCamden, NJ. 08103856-614-3000Fax: 856-614-3075

Toll Free: 1-877-685-8878

WWW.CBVI.NJ.GOV

Documents

01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION1 WELCOME to the NEW JERSEY STATE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (CBVI) NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES