LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
2007-2008 Committee Goals
This Committee is charged with reviewing proposed legislation
and making recommendations in connection with the
reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the
Rehabilitation Act (Rehab Act) to positively impact the program
and responding to other federal and state legislative proposals
that have the ability to impact the capacity of State VR
agencies to deliver quality rehabilitation services and
outcomes.
Goal #1
To make recommendations and advocate for, in consultation with
CSAVR officers, members and staff, reauthorization of the WIA
and the Rehab Act and actively seek legislative opportunities
that strengthen the VR program.
Goal #2
To develop and assist in the implementation of strategies to
increase the federal funds appropriated to the Public VR
Program.
Goal #3
To make recommendations and actively support legislative changes
that facilitate and expand the role of public VR in serving the
employment needs of persons receiving SSDI and SSI benefits
(i.e., RED Paper).
Goal #4
To monitor and respond to federal legislative proposals (e.g.,
Randolph Sheppard, IDEA, TANF, the Assistive Technology Act,
etc.) that could impact the Public VR program’s ability to
assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining, retaining and
advancing in employment.
Goal #5
To identify and publicize to CSAVR members opportunities and
tools that can be used to market the public VR program to their
federal and state legislators.
Committee Members
Harold Lewis
Director
Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Augusta, Maine 04333-0150
2 Anthony Avenue, Station 150
207-624-5959
207-624-5980 FAX
Harold.J.Lewis@maine.gov
Tim Kolczynski
Idaho State Rehabilitation Council
650 W. State St., Room 150
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0096
208-287-6443
208-334-5305 FAX
tlk@cableone.net
Bettie Shaw Henderson
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
201 North Washington Square
Post Office Box 30010
Lansing, Michigan 48909
517-373–7457
517-335-7277 FAX
shaw-henderson@michigan.gov
Jaye Shamsiddeen
Director
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
201 North Washington Square
Post Office Box 30010
Lansing, Michigan 48909
517-373–7457
517-335-7277 FAX
TTY 888-605-6722
shamsiddeenj@michigan.gov
Milissa Gofourth
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078-2026
405-744-9863
405-744-2487 FAX
milissa.gofourth@okstate.edu
Chuk Hamilton
Director
State Services for the Blind
2200 University Avenue West, Suite 240
St. Paul, MN 55114-1840
651-649-5927 FAX
651-642-0500
chuk.hamilton@state.mn.us
Glenn Neal
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
4800 North Lamar, Suite 320
Austin, TX 78756
512-377-0692
512-377-0682 FAX
glenn.neal@dars.state.tx.us
Pat Beattie
State Rehabilitation Council
Department of Rehabilitative Services
8004 Franklin Farms Drive
Richmond, Virginia 23229
804-662-7010
804-662-7644 FAX
pbeattie@nib.org
Gregorio C. Sablan
P. O. Box 502924
Saipan MP 96950-2924
Tel: 670 287 9748 (Mobile)
670 664 VOTE (Office)
Email:executivedirector@votecnmi.gov.mp
Ralph Vigil
New Mexico General
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Education
435 St. Michael's Drive, Building D
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-954-8517
505-954-8562 FAX
ralph.vigil1@state.nm.us
H.S. "Butch" McMillan
Executive Director
Department of Rehabilitation Services
1281 Highway 51 (Madison, MS 39110)
Post Office Box 1698
Jackson, Mississippi 39215
601 - 853 - 5203
601 - 853 - 5205 FAX
bmcmillan@mdrs.state.ms.us
Rene Berthiaume
Hawaii State Rehabilitation Council
P.O. Box 1115
Haleiwa, HI 96712
808-637-2683
Berthiaut001@hawaii.rr
Deborah Lovely
Director
Division of Rehabilitation Services
State Capitol
Post Office Box 50890
Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0890
304-766-4601
304-766-4905 FAX
debbie.lovely@wvdrs.org
Nancy Smith
Director
Colorado Department of Human Services
Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Administration Office
1575 Sherman Street, 4th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80203
303-866-4150
303-866-4905 FAX
nancy.smith@state.co.us
Don Zeigler
Pennsylvania State Rehabilitation Council
1902 Market St.
Camp Hill, PA 17011
717-975-2004
888-524-9282 FAX
zeiglerdzeig@cs.com
Kent McGregor
Utah State Rehabilitation Council
P.O. Box 11774
Salt Lake City, UT 84147-9923
801-538-7593
wkentmcg@cs.com
Donald R. Uchida
Executive Director
Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
250 East 500 South
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200
801 538-7530
801 538-7522 FAX
duchida@utah.gov
Robert Trevino
Director
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Department of Education
1616 Brookwood Drive
Post Office Box 3781
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
501-296-1616
501-296-1141 FAX
rptrevino@ars.state.ar.us
Catriona Macdonald
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, Inc.
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 330, Bethesda, MD 20814
301.654.4885
301.654.5542 FAX
cmcdonald@linchpinstrategies.com
Elmer C. Bartels, Commissioner
Rehabilitation commission
Fort Point Place
27-43 Wormwood Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
617-204-3600
617-727-1354 FAX
Elmer.Bartels@mrc.state.ma.us
