1. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION1 WELCOME to the NEW JERSEY STATE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (CBVI) NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

2. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION2 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

3. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION3 You 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

4. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION4 OUR MOTTO AT CBVI INDEPENDENCE BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE!

5. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION5 Mission “ 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.”

6. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION6 New Jersey Facts Statistics 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

7. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION7 Goals 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

8. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION8 GOALS 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

9. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION9 Eligibility 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.

10. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION10 Visually 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

11. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION11 Legally 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

12. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION12 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE Vito DeSantis Executive Director Lori Ghio Executive Secretary 153 HALSEY STREET 6 th FLOOR PO BOX 47017 Newark, New Jersey 07101 973-648-3333

13. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION13 Management Team 2007 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

14. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION14 Management Team 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

15. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION15 REGIONAL 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

16. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION16 Regional Services Client Independent Living Services Vocational Rehabilitation Education Eye Health

17. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION17 EDUCATION CBVI provides education services from 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.

18. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION18 Education Services Comprehensive itinerant services Inclusion, integration, mainstreaming Collaboration with school districts Partnership with the Office and Departments of Education Legislative Law, Funding, Reimbursement

19. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION19 Vocational Rehabilitation Services 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.

20. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION20 Vocational Rehabilitation 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

21. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION21 Employer Services Unit Provides the following services at no cost 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)

22. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION22 Employer Services Unit 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

23. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION23 Independent Living Services (Allied 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

24. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION24 Independent Living Skills 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

25. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION25 Orientation and Mobility Instruction (O&M) Safe Independent Travel Training (Home, School, Work, Community) Emphasizing Awareness of Surrounding Environments Use of Remaining Senses (Hearing and Vision)

26. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION26 Eye Health Nurse Case-Management Diabetes Education Instruction on Adaptive Equipment/Devices (insulin syringes, talking glucose monitors) Monitoring Health Care

27. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION27 Home Instruction Home Management Skills Kitchen Safety, Meal Preparation, Laundry Skills, Clothing Identification Adaptive Equipment Talking Watches, Timers, Calculators Communication Skills Braille, Keyboarding, Check writing, Telephone Dialing, Handwriting Adjustment to Vision Loss

28. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION28 Statewide Operations Statewide Services Prevention Early Intervention Education Deaf-Blind Transition /College Services Camp Marcella Drew University

29. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION29 Prevention Services/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.

30. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION30 Prevention 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

31. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION31 Early 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.

32. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION32 Early Intervention Services 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

33. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION33 Deaf-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

34. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION34 Transition Unit Serves high school students Career assessment, planning and training Coordinate two summer career exploration opportunities

35. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION35 College Unit Assists college students with: Funding Counseling Guidance Advocacy Job Placement

36. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION36 Drew Program Simulated Residential College experience on the Campus of Drew University in Madison 10 th through 12 th graders are eligible 4 weeks duration Academic Classes Orientation/Mobility Daily Living Skills Leisure Activities on Weekends and Evenings

37. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION37 The College of New Jersey Work Skills Prep Residential work experience program on the campus of TCNJ in Ewing, NJ 10 th through 12 th graders are eligible 3 weeks duration Career exploration Orientation/Mobility Daily Living Skills Leisure Activities on Weekends and Evenings

38. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION38 JKRC Transition Summer 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

39. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION39 Camp Marcella: Sleep-Away Camp in Rockaway NJ In 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

40. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION40 Other Statewide 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)

41. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION41 George F. Meyer Instructional Resource Center This 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

42. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION42 Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center (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

43. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION43 Norma F. Krajczar Technology Resource and 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

44. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION44 BEP AND NEW JERSEY 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

45. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION45 Types 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

46. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION46 To Contract or Not to Contract Services Can we provide service ourselves? Can we provide services efficiently ourselves? Can we provide services effectively ourselves?

47. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION47 Contract 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

48. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION48 Assistive 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

49. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION49 RTAC (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

50. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION50 Independence Believe and Achieve 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)

51. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION51 Independence, Believe and Achieve 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

52. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION52 INDEPENDENCE BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE 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

53. 01/08/07CBVI PRESENTATION53 Regional Offices Northern Regional Office 153 Halsey Street 5 th fl. Newark, NJ 07101 973-648-2111 Fax: 973-648-7674 Central Regional Office 1510 Hooper Avenue Toms River, NJ 08753 732-255-0723 Fax: 732-255-0949 Southern Regional Office 101 Haddon Avenue Camden, NJ. 08103 856-614-3000 Fax: 856-614-3075 Toll Free: 1-877-685-8878 WWW.CBVI.NJ.GOV