October 2025 - NOMC - lists.nbpcb.org

Help me build my ethics argument
by Jane Lansaw 31 Oct '25

31 Oct '25

Hi Listers, As many of you know, I work for Oklahoma Department of rehabilitation services, an agency not exactly known for supporting the structured discovery Learning philosophy. Fortunately, I’m itinerant and when I’m out in the field, there is nobody to criticize my use of structured discovery with my clients. Here’s my ethical problem. They want to send me out into the field to give sunglasses to people who are not legally blind. Yes I know our people don’t generally handle filters because we are trying to help people optimize vision instead of maximize vision but in my job I have to do filters. OK, I can do that. Problem is now they are giving me referrals for people who are not even legally blind. It started with people who just had cataracts removed and needed filters to deal with bright light and sunlight. I thought I had my managers persuaded that this is not a blindness issue and these people should go to vision clinics or even just to Walmart to pick up some filters on their own to satisfy their needs. After all, I’m a highly trained Blindness Professional. Later they started sending people who are not just post cataract, but have other pathologies which allow them to drive with the blessing of the doctor and vocational counselor and just want sunglasses for better contrast. My problem is I don’t want to help anybody drive better. I’m not teaching driver’s ed in high school. I also think it’s not ethical for a blindness specialist to help a sighted person drive better. My manager sent me the policy manual and said there was nothing in it to help me stop these referrals of people are not legally blind. Guys I need some ammunition. Is there anything I can use in our code of ethics to help me stop getting these “Junk referrals “? I’m really getting tired of this, and I also think somebody could get hurt by taking my word for a pair of sunglasses. They have some kind of pathology that makes them eligible to be a client at Services for the blind and visually impaired in the first place. My giving them sunglasses for better contrast could just get them into more trouble. Jane Lansaw NOMC Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 23, 2025, at 2:50 PM, NBPCB Office via NOMC <members(a)lists.nbpcb.org> wrote: > > National Blindness Professional Certification Board > > The Authority on Structured Discovery Instruction > > > > Over the past few months, the National Blindness Professional Certification > Board has received numerous inquiries on what the term Structured Discovery, > certified Structured Discovery Training Center, and Structured Discovery > Instructor/Professional mean. The NBPCB believes and advocates that > Structured Discovery is the best form of instruction and methodology to > empower blind people when learning non-visual skills for independence. In > celebration of blindness achievement month and white cane awareness day that > passed on October 15th, the NBPCB is publishing a white paper/position paper > on what defines Structured Discovery, which is attached here and can be > freely distributed. For individuals who have graduated from a certified > Structured Discovery Training Center or who have worked with a Structured > Discovery certified instructor, one can be confident that they have had the > best form of instruction possible and have achieved a significant > accomplishment; as Structured Discovery Training is both challenging and > rewarding due to the new pathways, expectations, skills, and philosophy on > blindness that they have developed throughout their training. > > > > At present, NBPCB oversees three certifications which are based on > Structured Discovery Training -- the National Orientation and Mobility > Certification (NOMC), National Certification in Rehabilitation Teaching for > the Blind (NCRTB), and the National Certification in Access Technology for > the Blind (NCATB). Additionally, the board oversees one credential that > measures braille proficiency -- the National Certification in Unified > English Braille (NCUEB). NBPCB also credentials Community-based > Rehabilitation training Programs which conduct immersion and training of > Structured Discovery Professionals and provide adjustment training for those > experiencing significant sight loss - Certified Structured Discovery > Training Centers (CSDTC) > > > > The National Blindness Professional Certification Board wants to thank all > the professionals, instructors, and educators who have obtained their NOMC, > NCRTB, NCATB, and NCUEB. These instructors have been certified to teach > using the Structured Discovery model and continue to uphold the high > expectations that the NBPCB expects out of their certified instructors. To > find out if someone is certified by the NBPCB, go to this link. > > https://nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php > > > > In addition, we want to thank our certified Structured Discovery Training > Centers for providing an environment and culture that embodies and > represents the teachings of Structured Discovery. Structured Discovery > Training Centers transform lives, redefines expectations for blind people, > and are the epitome of quality blindness training across the world. To see > the7 certified Structured Discovery Training Centers who have met the rigor, > quality, and standards set by the NBPCB, follow the below link. > > https://nbpcb.org/pages/NBPCBcenterapproval.php > > > > To learn more about what defines Structured Discovery, please read the > attached white paper/position statement or visit our website. > > https://nbpcb.org/ > > > > If you are looking for a career in changing the lives of blind people, > please reach out to the NBPCB as obtaining a certification is the first step > to a fulfilling career in blindness. > > > > > > Happy blindness achievement month and white cane awareness day, > > National Blindness Professional Certification Board > > > > NBPCB Office > > PO Box 2373 > > Ruston LA 71273 > > 318 299-7340 > > <mailto:admin@nbpcb.org> admin(a)nbpcb.org > > <http://www.nbpcb.org/> www.nbpcb.org > > <https://www.nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php> Click here to verify the status of > NBPCB certified professionals > > Sign up for the Structured Discovery Announcement mailing list > <https://lists.nbpcb.org/mailman3/lists/sdteaching.lists.nbpcb.org/> here. > > > > <2025 NBPCB Position Statement on Structured Discovery.pdf> > _______________________________________________ > NOMC mailing list -- members(a)lists.nbpcb.org > To unsubscribe send an email to members-leave(a)lists.nbpcb.org

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Re: Help me build my ethics argument
by Jane Lansaw 30 Oct '25

30 Oct '25

Hi Matt, Thank you for your lengthy response. I understood some of it and plan to sit down and parce it out later when it’s not getting close to bedtime. I have been out of Louisiana tech for 25 years and I’ve lost a lot of my ivory tower speak. I guess because I don’t have to write 25 page papers anymore. I Know there’s something valuable in all of this so when I have time, I’m going to sit down and take it apart and put it back together. No offense, but Metler’s cognitive learning theory isn’t as chewy as this email. Thanks for the attempt and I’m sure I’ll get a few good nuggets out of it. I’ll just keep trying. You have to remember that old timers think more slowly. Jane Lansaw NOMC Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 30, 2025, at 3:42 PM, matt.hackert(a)gmail.com wrote: > > I'm not sure if all of this is relevant or helpful, but just some thoughts. Take whatever you feel might be of use: > Short take: this is weird. It sounds like scope-creep from “blindness rehab” into “retail sunglasses concierge,” with a side order of liability (especially when driving is involved). I feel like you’ve got solid ethical ground to push back, even if the NBPCB manual doesn’t spell out “no sunglasses for sighted drivers.” > > Here’s a clean way to frame it. > > What’s off here (in plain English) > > Role confusion: A blindness rehab specialist being tasked to kit out non-legally blind folks with sunglasses—often for driving—is outside the core Structured Discovery remit (nonvisual skills, attitudes, expectations). > > Competence & safety: Recommending filters that may affect visual performance while driving is closer to optometry/low-vision clinical practice than to SD instruction. If something goes wrong, your name is in the record. > > Resource stewardship: Public VR resources intended for people with significant vision loss are being spent on post-cataract or otherwise sighted drivers who could buy sunglasses at Walmart. That’s inequitable and dilutes mission. > > Informed consent & risk: If a state employee hands someone “better contrast” lenses, a reasonable person might infer professional clearance for driving. That’s dangerous signaling. > > Ethical hooks you can cite (without needing chapter-and-verse) > > Even if the NBPCB code doesn’t have a line item for “filters for drivers,” these generic, cross-disciplinary principles are widely accepted in rehab/education codes and agency policies: > > Do no harm / Nonmaleficence: Don’t provide interventions likely to increase risk (e.g., emboldening a marginal driver). > > Competence: Operate within your training and role. You’re not practicing optometry, doing glare/contrast clinical assessments, or prescribing driving aids. > > Role fidelity / Scope of practice: SD pros teach nonvisual skills and adjustment to blindness—not performance aids for sighted drivers. > > Informed consent & accurate representation: Avoid implying that state-issued filters are evaluated or approved for driving safety. > > Justice / Resource allocation: Use limited public funds for those with qualifying, substantial impairments; avoid “junk referrals.” > > Documentation & accountability: If the policy is silent, that’s a risk—your agency should not be improvising clinical-ish services in that silence. > > What to ask for (concretely, with your manager) > > Make it procedural—not ideological. > > Written scope clarification: “Please provide written guidance clarifying whether Services for the Blind is authorized to provide filters to non-legally-blind individuals, and whether use for driving is contemplated.” > > Eligibility screen: Require documentation of significant visual impairment (not just recent cataract surgery) before any blindness-program service. > > Clinical sign-off: If the agency insists on filters for drivers, require a low-vision/optometry evaluation specifying tint, transmission %, use-case, and that it’s not a driving aid unless expressly cleared in writing by the clinician. > > Driving disclaimer: Standardize a written disclaimer: “This device has not been evaluated by this agency for driving. Consult your eye-care professional. Do not rely on this device to improve driving safety.” > > Referral pathway: Direct non-legally-blind, post-op glare cases to community optics/low-vision clinics (and provide a handout of options). > > Data & safety: Add a simple screening form (diagnosis, acuity, VF, photophobia complaint, current license status) and document refusal where outside scope. > > Escalation: Ask for an ethics or risk-management review. If none exists, request one specifically on “filter provision to non-legally-blind drivers.” > > If they force you to do some of it (minimize your exposure) > > Limit to non-driving use cases (outdoor glare for mobility, outdoor chores). > > Use neutral language (“general outdoor comfort”), never “better contrast for driving.” > > Provide off-the-shelf options and a referral list; avoid selecting specific driving tints. > > Always give the written disclaimer and document that you advised against using for driving without clinician guidance. > > A concise, professional reply you could post (or send to your manager) > > Feel free to copy/paste and tweak tone. > > Thanks for raising this—there are two issues here: eligibility and scope. Structured Discovery professionals teach nonvisual skills and adjustment to blindness; we are not clinicians and we don’t prescribe or evaluate devices for driving. > > Providing filters to individuals who are not legally blind—particularly when the stated goal is better driving contrast—creates (1) role-confusion with optometry/low-vision practice, (2) potential safety and liability if recipients infer state approval for driving, and (3) resource-allocation concerns within a blindness program. > > I’m requesting written guidance that: > > Clarifies eligibility (documentation of significant visual impairment), > > Requires a clinician’s specification if filters are considered for any task with safety implications (including driving), and > > Standardizes a written disclaimer that our agency does not evaluate or approve filters for driving. > > In the meantime, I will refer non-legally-blind, post-cataract glare cases to community optometry/low-vision clinics and provide general information about commercially available options, while avoiding recommendations framed around driving performance. > > This approach aligns with basic ethics—nonmaleficence, competence, role fidelity, informed consent, and just stewardship of limited blindness-program resources—without foreclosing access to appropriate clinical care for those individuals. > > Extra “ammunition” talking points (quick hits) > > Driving is a regulated activity. Any aid framed as improving driving should come with clinical assessment and, where appropriate, DMV/OT-driver-rehab context—not a field visit from a blindness instructor. > > Filters change luminance/contrast in non-linear ways. Wrong tint can reduce hazard detection. That’s a clinical call. > > Mission drift hurts your actual clientele. Every hour spent matching tints for sighted drivers is an hour not spent on cane travel, nonvisual problem-solving, braille, etc. > > Documentation protects everyone. If the policy is silent, you shouldn’t be improvising medical-ish recommendations. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jane Lansaw via NOMC <members(a)lists.nbpcb.org> > Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:32 PM > To: admin(a)nbpcb.org > Cc: members(a)lists.nbpcb.org > Subject: [NOMC] Help me build my ethics argument > > Hi Listers, > As many of you know, I work for Oklahoma Department of rehabilitation services, an agency not exactly known for supporting the structured discovery Learning philosophy. Fortunately, I’m itinerant and when I’m out in the field, there is nobody to criticize my use of structured discovery with my clients. > Here’s my ethical problem. They want to send me out into the field to give sunglasses to people who are not legally blind. Yes I know our people don’t generally handle filters because we are trying to help people optimize vision instead of maximize vision but in my job I have to do filters. OK, I can do that. > Problem is now they are giving me referrals for people who are not even legally blind. It started with people who just had cataracts removed and needed filters to deal with bright light and sunlight. I thought I had my managers persuaded that this is not a blindness issue and these people should go to vision clinics or even just to Walmart to pick up some filters on their own to satisfy their needs. After all, I’m a highly trained Blindness Professional. Later they started sending people who are not just post cataract, but have other pathologies which allow them to drive with the blessing of the doctor and vocational counselor and just want sunglasses for better contrast. My problem is I don’t want to help anybody drive better. I’m not teaching driver’s ed in high school. > I also think it’s not ethical for a blindness specialist to help a sighted person drive better. My manager sent me the policy manual and said there was nothing in it to help me stop these referrals of people are not legally blind. Guys I need some ammunition. > Is there anything I can use in our code of ethics to help me stop getting these “Junk referrals “? > I’m really getting tired of this, and I also think somebody could get hurt by taking my word for a pair of sunglasses. They have some kind of pathology that makes them eligible to be a client at Services for the blind and visually impaired in the first place. My giving them sunglasses for better contrast could just get them into more trouble. > > > Jane Lansaw NOMC > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Oct 23, 2025, at 2:50 PM, NBPCB Office via NOMC <members(a)lists.nbpcb.org> wrote: >> >> National Blindness Professional Certification Board >> >> The Authority on Structured Discovery Instruction >> >> >> >> Over the past few months, the National Blindness Professional >> Certification Board has received numerous inquiries on what the term >> Structured Discovery, certified Structured Discovery Training Center, >> and Structured Discovery Instructor/Professional mean. The NBPCB >> believes and advocates that Structured Discovery is the best form of >> instruction and methodology to empower blind people when learning >> non-visual skills for independence. In celebration of blindness >> achievement month and white cane awareness day that passed on October >> 15th, the NBPCB is publishing a white paper/position paper on what >> defines Structured Discovery, which is attached here and can be freely >> distributed. For individuals who have graduated from a certified >> Structured Discovery Training Center or who have worked with a >> Structured Discovery certified instructor, one can be confident that >> they have had the best form of instruction possible and have achieved >> a significant accomplishment; as Structured Discovery Training is both >> challenging and rewarding due to the new pathways, expectations, skills, and philosophy on blindness that they have developed throughout their training. >> >> >> >> At present, NBPCB oversees three certifications which are based on >> Structured Discovery Training -- the National Orientation and Mobility >> Certification (NOMC), National Certification in Rehabilitation >> Teaching for the Blind (NCRTB), and the National Certification in >> Access Technology for the Blind (NCATB). Additionally, the board >> oversees one credential that measures braille proficiency -- the >> National Certification in Unified English Braille (NCUEB). NBPCB also >> credentials Community-based Rehabilitation training Programs which >> conduct immersion and training of Structured Discovery Professionals >> and provide adjustment training for those experiencing significant >> sight loss - Certified Structured Discovery Training Centers (CSDTC) >> >> >> >> The National Blindness Professional Certification Board wants to thank >> all the professionals, instructors, and educators who have obtained >> their NOMC, NCRTB, NCATB, and NCUEB. These instructors have been >> certified to teach using the Structured Discovery model and continue >> to uphold the high expectations that the NBPCB expects out of their >> certified instructors. To find out if someone is certified by the NBPCB, go to this link. >> >> https://nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php >> >> >> >> In addition, we want to thank our certified Structured Discovery >> Training Centers for providing an environment and culture that >> embodies and represents the teachings of Structured Discovery. >> Structured Discovery Training Centers transform lives, redefines >> expectations for blind people, and are the epitome of quality >> blindness training across the world. To see >> the7 certified Structured Discovery Training Centers who have met the >> rigor, quality, and standards set by the NBPCB, follow the below link. >> >> https://nbpcb.org/pages/NBPCBcenterapproval.php >> >> >> >> To learn more about what defines Structured Discovery, please read the >> attached white paper/position statement or visit our website. >> >> https://nbpcb.org/ >> >> >> >> If you are looking for a career in changing the lives of blind people, >> please reach out to the NBPCB as obtaining a certification is the >> first step to a fulfilling career in blindness. >> >> >> >> >> >> Happy blindness achievement month and white cane awareness day, >> >> National Blindness Professional Certification Board >> >> >> >> NBPCB Office >> >> PO Box 2373 >> >> Ruston LA 71273 >> >> 318 299-7340 >> >> <mailto:admin@nbpcb.org> admin(a)nbpcb.org >> >> <http://www.nbpcb.org/> www.nbpcb.org >> >> <https://www.nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php> Click here to verify the >> status of NBPCB certified professionals >> >> Sign up for the Structured Discovery Announcement mailing list >> <https://lists.nbpcb.org/mailman3/lists/sdteaching.lists.nbpcb.org/> here. >> >> >> >> <2025 NBPCB Position Statement on Structured Discovery.pdf> >> _______________________________________________ >> NOMC mailing list -- members(a)lists.nbpcb.org To unsubscribe send an >> email to members-leave(a)lists.nbpcb.org > _______________________________________________ > NOMC mailing list -- members(a)lists.nbpcb.org To unsubscribe send an email to members-leave(a)lists.nbpcb.org >

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NBPCB: Policy Position on Structured Discovery Professionals and Certified Structured Discovery Training Centers
by admin＠nbpcb.org 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

National Blindness Professional Certification Board The Authority on Structured Discovery Instruction Over the past few months, the National Blindness Professional Certification Board has received numerous inquiries on what the term Structured Discovery, certified Structured Discovery Training Center, and Structured Discovery Instructor/Professional mean. The NBPCB believes and advocates that Structured Discovery is the best form of instruction and methodology to empower blind people when learning non-visual skills for independence. In celebration of blindness achievement month and white cane awareness day that passed on October 15th, the NBPCB is publishing a white paper/position paper on what defines Structured Discovery, which is attached here and can be freely distributed. For individuals who have graduated from a certified Structured Discovery Training Center or who have worked with a Structured Discovery certified instructor, one can be confident that they have had the best form of instruction possible and have achieved a significant accomplishment; as Structured Discovery Training is both challenging and rewarding due to the new pathways, expectations, skills, and philosophy on blindness that they have developed throughout their training. At present, NBPCB oversees three certifications which are based on Structured Discovery Training -- the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), National Certification in Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind (NCRTB), and the National Certification in Access Technology for the Blind (NCATB). Additionally, the board oversees one credential that measures braille proficiency -- the National Certification in Unified English Braille (NCUEB). NBPCB also credentials Community-based Rehabilitation training Programs which conduct immersion and training of Structured Discovery Professionals and provide adjustment training for those experiencing significant sight loss - Certified Structured Discovery Training Centers (CSDTC) The National Blindness Professional Certification Board wants to thank all the professionals, instructors, and educators who have obtained their NOMC, NCRTB, NCATB, and NCUEB. These instructors have been certified to teach using the Structured Discovery model and continue to uphold the high expectations that the NBPCB expects out of their certified instructors. To find out if someone is certified by the NBPCB, go to this link. https://nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php In addition, we want to thank our certified Structured Discovery Training Centers for providing an environment and culture that embodies and represents the teachings of Structured Discovery. Structured Discovery Training Centers transform lives, redefines expectations for blind people, and are the epitome of quality blindness training across the world. To see the7 certified Structured Discovery Training Centers who have met the rigor, quality, and standards set by the NBPCB, follow the below link. https://nbpcb.org/pages/NBPCBcenterapproval.php To learn more about what defines Structured Discovery, please read the attached white paper/position statement or visit our website. https://nbpcb.org/ If you are looking for a career in changing the lives of blind people, please reach out to the NBPCB as obtaining a certification is the first step to a fulfilling career in blindness. Happy blindness achievement month and white cane awareness day, National Blindness Professional Certification Board NBPCB Office PO Box 2373 Ruston LA 71273 318 299-7340 <mailto:admin@nbpcb.org> admin(a)nbpcb.org <http://www.nbpcb.org/> www.nbpcb.org <https://www.nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php> Click here to verify the status of NBPCB certified professionals Sign up for the Structured Discovery Announcement mailing list <https://lists.nbpcb.org/mailman3/lists/sdteaching.lists.nbpcb.org/> here.

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In Honor of White Cane Safety Day
by Peret, Maurice S 15 Oct '25

15 Oct '25

In Honor of White Cane Safety Day, Here’s where it all started: [Lyndon B. Johnson photo] Lyndon B. Johnson<https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/people/president/lyndon-b-johnson> 36th President of the United States: 1963 ‐ 1969 Proclamation 3622-White Cane Safety Day, 1964 October 06, 1964 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation A white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration for the blind on our streets and highways. To make our people more fully aware of the meaning of the white cane, and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for the blind persons who carry it, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved October 6, 1964, has authorized the President to proclaim October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day. Now, Therefore, I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 15, 1964, as White Cane Safety Day. I urge civic and service organizations, schools, public bodies, and the media of public information to join in this observance with appropriate activities designed to promote continuing awareness of the significance of the white cane to blind persons. I call upon all our citizens to make every effort to promote the safety and welfare of our blind persons on the streets and highways, and thereby to contribute to their independence of spirit and their capability for self-management. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-ninth. [Signature of Lyndon B. Johnson] Mahalo, Maurice Peret, NOMCT Orientation and Mobility Therapist III New Visions Program Ho’opono Services for the Blind 1901 Bachelot Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Mobile: 808-954-1921 mperet(a)dhs.hawaii.gov<mailto:mperet@dhs.hawaii.gov> ************************ In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life. ************************ Albert Bandura NOTICE: This information and attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and/or confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be punishable under state and federal law. If you have received this communication and/or attachments in error, please notify the sender via email immediately and destroy all electronic and paper copies.

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Re: [Rehab] Question about Policy Change re Work Authorizations for Immigrants Seeking Services from a State VR Agency
by Justin Salisbury 30 Sep '25

30 Sep '25

Hi Daphne, Thank you for your thoughtful response. I realize that I may have presented the policy as being narrower than what it actually was. I'm going to try to explain that further, but I also want to ask you, at the end of that explanation, to tell me please if New Mexico has a similar explicitly written policy or if it is functionally carried out through the system of practice. For me, this is not about the state agency director's character or style, but purely a question of policy. I want to stay focused on policy. In Minnesota, my understanding, as a member of the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, is that the agency has been directed by RSA to implement the language that I quoted to affect all service delivery, including VR, older blind services, and our Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) grant that specifically provides services for "New Americans," which is a term that includes immigrants and refugees. One of the easy solutions could have been to serve people under non-work types of cases, such as independent living cases, so that no employment goal would be necessary. This is completely off the table. This policy, as it has been explained to us, essentially mandates that any person who (a) is neither a permanent legal resident nor a US Citizen, and (b) does not hold federal work authorization, must be sent back out the door with no services of any kind. One of the Councilmembers asked a very interesting question. Since work authorizations expire or can be revoked, will we have a process by which we will need to keep re-verifying that people's work authorizations are neither expired nor revoked? To implement this policy, we would need to set up some kind of recurring re-verification process to ensure that anyone we are serving does not lose their work authorization. Here's an idea that came up for me from listening to public comment. How possible could it be for VR agencies and/or community partners to get involved in helping blind people apply for federal work authorization? I don't want this to go down the road of sheltered workshops, but what if we found some way that we could help people who need work authorization to find a sponsoring employer and help them apply? After that, they could become eligible for blindness-related services and keep moving forward. Now that I have explained this to be broader than even the subject that I used for the initial email, does this policy sound different than what you already thought was commonplace? Also, even if it were only about VR services, does New Mexico have an explicit policy, maybe with language you can share that we could consider copying or Minnesota-nizing, that says the same thing narrowly limited to VR? Does it include a policy for how often the work authorization needs to be re-verified? Thank you all, Justin Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB English Pronouns: He/Him/His Email: President(a)Alumni.ECU.edu ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1786-2786 “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” Chinua Achebe -----Original Message----- From: Rehab <rehab-bounces(a)nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daphne Mitchell via Rehab Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2025 1:49 PM To: blind rehabilitation professionals mailing list <rehab(a)nfbnet.org> Cc: Daphne Mitchell <dauroramitchell(a)gmail.com>; Edward Bell via NOMC <members(a)lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Rehab] Question about Policy Change re Work Authorizations for Immigrants Seeking VR Services Hi Justin, Since I entered my career in VR over 15 years ago, work authorization in the United States has been a requirement for individuals in the receipt of employment services. The passage of WIOA in 2014 further clarified the standard with the dissolution of the homemaker outcome and the inclusion of language that services provided must be in support of the participant’s employment outcome. It’s important to remember that although we (the blind community) think of any service being attained from the state services for the blind as VR, that’s simply not true. Each federal award has different criteria for who may access the programs being funded, and the state agency is responsible for enforcing the terms they agreed to when accepting the federal award. Failing to adhere to regulatory mandates would open the door to expenditures being deemed disallowable because services would be considered nonauthorized. The agency would then be forced to reimburse the US Treasury for expenditures found to fall in this category – potentially totaling Hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Generally, the receipt of Independent Living Services and Pre-ETS do not require work authorization. WIOA brought tremendous overhaul to the delivery of the public VR program. In my opinion, most state agencies were stymied by figuring out which regulation to tackle first. I venture most agencies landed on focusing on WIOA performance measures that would lead to financial sanctions if not met. Getting a handle on delivering Pre-ETS, tracking measurable skill gains, implementing Section 511, and properly tracking employment after exit were the initiatives occupying agency leadership. Right as agencies were getting the hang of their new reality, 2020 said hold my beer. Agencies had to pivot to the challenges of the simultaneous crises of implementing remote service delivery models; decline in participants engaging with VR; loss of agency and CRP employees; and ultimately finding solutions to legally obligate federal awards. Now that the overall public VR program has spent the federal grant, and state agencies can collectively breathe again, I am not surprised that Minnesota SSB is only now having an opportunity to discuss an official policy adoption for a matter that has been effectively addressed by practice. Although I do not have a personal relationship with the Minnesota SSB director, I have observed her professionally and believe she will work with the blind community to responsibly design a policy that meets mandatory regulations and best serves the blind of Minnesota. Daphne On Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM Blaine Deutscher via Rehab <rehab(a)nfbnet.org> wrote: > Good afternoon > This topic is very interesting to me as I'm looking at coming to the > US and becoming certified in SD training. I knew to work in the states > you need a work visa if your not a permanent resident or US citizen. > This also applies for people looking to do apprenticeship training. > Blaine > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Sep 25, 2025, at 1:28 PM, Justin Salisbury via Rehab < > rehab(a)nfbnet.org> wrote: > > > > Good afternoon, friends and colleagues! > > > > I currently live in Minnesota, where our state VR agency serving the > blind is considering some policy changes. One of them is a bit > confusing to me, so I'm reaching out to ask if people here have any > experience with this kind of policy change and if you have anything to > share. I think I've been told that this policy change has been > directly handed down to us from RSA, so, if that's the case, then I > think people all over the country should be in the same boat. I just > haven't heard any public discourse in NFB spaces about it and want to > be informed before I do or say anything on this proposed policy change. > > > > The proposal is to add this requirement: > > "If a person is not a legal permanent resident or U.S. Citizen, they > must provide evidence of work authorization (such as a nonimmigrant > work visa or Employment Authorization Document) before eligibility can > be determined. If no evidence can be provided, the case is closed from > application without an eligibility determination." > > > > I wonder what kinds of ethical dilemmas this will cause for anyone > holding a CRC or any certifications from the NBPCB or ACVREP. > > > > On the one hand, there may be people who come to the United States > looking for VR services so that they can become confident and skilled > enough to go out and get a work authorization. I think I've worked > with students who had some kind of medical visa which allowed them to > come to the US for healthcare, and then we gave them > adjustment-to-blindness training, which helped them to go apply for a > work visa. That wasn't in Minnesota, but it could be possible > anywhere, I would suppose. Such a policy change would seem to eliminate that phenomenon from happening again. > > > > On another hand, there could be people here on other kinds of visas, > like international students who are here on F-1 student visas, who > might benefit from receiving some access technology instruction. > > > > On another hand, we could have people who are here on still other > > kinds > of visas that do not allow them to work, who then become blind, who > could benefit from VR services. These folks may apply for work visas, > but do we want to make them wait until the work visa goes through > before we can start serving them? > > > > It also occurs to me that other federal policy changes could be > > under > consideration that might allow a person to get a work visa if they're > coming here for VR services, but I doubt that. > > > > What do folks here know about these kinds of policy changes? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Justin > > > > Justin MH Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB English Pronouns: He/Him/His > > Email: President(a)Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu> > > ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury< > https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Just > in_Salisbury&source=gmail-imap&ust=1727538746000000&usg=AOvVaw3uZJqqJk > T2wSVxJDa9dD7W > > > > LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury< > https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury&s… > > > > ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1786-2786 > > > > "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the > hunter." > > Chinua Achebe > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Rehab mailing list > > Rehab(a)nfbnet.org > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org > > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > Rehab: > > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/deutscherblaine%40gmail.… > > _______________________________________________ > Rehab mailing list > Rehab(a)nfbnet.org > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > Rehab: > > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/dauroramitchell%40gmail.… > _______________________________________________ Rehab mailing list Rehab(a)nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Rehab: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/president%40alumni.ecu.e…

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