DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE Office of Social Programs, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services; Meetings [28 Pa.B. 433] The Department of Public Welfare (Department), Office of Social Programs, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BVS), under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.A. § 101 et seq.) announces a series of public meetings throughout this Commonwealth. The purpose of these meetings is to allow interested groups, organizations and all segments of the public an opportunity to share their input and suggestions regarding the development of the Bureau's State and Strategic Plans for Federal Fiscal Years 1999-2000.
These plans provide for the expenditure of State and Federal funds which may be used to provide goods and services reasonably expected to lead to the Vocational Rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
These plans are the compliance documents which are filed with the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, United States Department of Education.
The Bureau is interested in hearing from persons with disabilities, advocates and the interested public regarding: (1) views on BVS policies related to the administration of these plans; (2) plans, policies and procedures regarding the transition to Vocational Rehabilitation services of students with disabilities; (3) procedures and activities regarding the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive system of personnel development; (4) methods to expand and improve services to individuals with the most severe disabilities; (5) due process procedures; (6) rehabilitation technology services; (7) personal assistance services; (8) policies and procedures relating to consumer choice; (9) utilization of community rehabilitation programs; (10) quality, scope and extent of Supported Employment services; and (11) outreach procedures and practices for identifying and serving individuals with the most severe disabilities who are minorities.
Persons having any special needs in regard to their participation at these public meetings should contact the Manager of the BVS District Office serving the county in which they live. Persons unable to attend these meetings may submit written comments to the appropriate Manager no later than 5 p.m., Friday, April 3, 1998. The schedule of public meetings on these plans is listed as follows.
Pittsburgh
(Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene,
Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland Counties)
Tuesday, February 3, 1998
4 p.m.--6 p.m.
Blindness and Visual Services
Room G-10 Kossman Building
400 Stanwix Streets
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 565-5240 (Voice)
(412) 565-5509 (TDD)Philadelphia
(Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties)
Wednesday, February 11, 1998
10 a.m.--1 p.m.
Room 101A Philadelphia State Office Building
1400 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130-4064
(215) 560-5700 (Voice)
(215) 560-5725 (TDD)Harrisburg
(Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster,
Lebanon, Perry and York Counties)
Friday, February 13, 1998
11 a.m.--2 p.m.
Conference Room
Blindness and Visual Services
2923 North 7th Street, Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 787-7500 (Voice)
(717) 787-1733 (TDD)Erie
(Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie,
Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer,
Potter, Venango and Warren Counties)
Wednesday, February 18, 1998
11 a.m.--2 p.m.
Conference Room
Blindness and Visual Services
448 West 11th Street
Erie, PA 16501
(814) 871-4401 (Voice)
(814) 871-4599 (TDD)Altoona
(Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin,
Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Somerset
and Union Counties)
Tuesday, February 24, 1998
1 p.m.--3 p.m.
Conference Room
Blindness and Visual Services
Executive House #1
615 Howard Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601
(814) 946-7330 (Voice)
(814) 949-7955 (TDD)Wilkes-Barre
(Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne,
Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan,
Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming Counties)
Thursday, March 5, 1998
1 p.m.--3 p.m.
Conference Room
Blindness and Visual Services
Third Floor
111 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-3602
(717) 826-2361 (Voice and TDD)FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-138. Filed for public inspection January 23, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
