Michigan Rehabilitation AssociationPublic Policy Committee
Michigan Rehabilitation Association
Policy Committee
Chairperson: Stacey Locke
The MRA Policy Committee is organized in effort to achieve specific goals as well as general informational, educational, and advocacy services for the individuals and professionals that we serve. Below we have our organized sub-committees and the specific areas covered by each. As a committee we encourage participation and the sharing of information. If there is an area of interest that you think applies to us, or needs to be explored please feel free to contact Stacey at: slocke@peckham.org
OVERALL MESSAGE:
v VR SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FOR CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE!
v HELP US MAINTAIN OUR HISTORY OF HELPING, HEALING, AND PROVIDING HOPE TO ALL WHO WALK OR WHEEL THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE STATE VR AGENCIES.
v VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IS A PARTNER OF BUSINESS!
- President’s Budget: We are very concerned about the proposed elimination of so many performing programs under Rehab Act.
- Vote No on resolution that eliminates funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service & AmeriCorps.
- Keep Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the U.S. Department of Education, not Dept. of Labor. DOE more comprehensive and individualized, focusing on College, Careers, and Community Living.
- Remove or restructure the efficiency measure in WIA’s Common Performance Measures to be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
- Oppose any waiver by the Governors, or anyone else, of any provision of the Rehab Act of 1973 that would subvert the guarantee of the Act maintaining a separate distinct funding stream.
- US Dept. of Labor identifies Vocational Rehabilitation as one of the 10 fastest growing industries, with a 49% increase in employment projected by 2012.
Ø Significant and positive relationship between the level of education of the rehab counselor and the quality of consumer outcomes.
Ø No increase in federal funds to support education and training of Master’s Degree Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Programs.
- Leave the $4.5 million rehabilitation counselor training money as part of Title III of the Act. Respectfully request a $50,000,000 increase in support of the education and training authorities of The Rehab Act of 1973, as amended, Title III, Sec. 302.
- If $4.5 million of VR training funds are ultimately consolidated into Title I of the Act, please include in the statute legislative language designating this money for the continued training of rehab counselors and qualified rehab personnel.
- Request that the US Dept. of Labor make every effort to assure that all one-stops are fully accessible to ALL individuals with disabilities.
- Support a fully-funded line item for infrastructure at the one-stops which could be realized through the billions of dollars received this year with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
- Support having both the State VR Director and the State Director of the Commission for the Blind on both the State and Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIB’s).
- Strongly opposed to Order of Selection, or any method of placing a category of disability over other categories which meet the Rehabilitation Act’s eligibility requirements.
- Support additional funding for enhanced transition outcomes and recommend that an appropriate portion of the $12.2 billion that was approved for IDEA and ARRA be targeted to enhance the numbers of eligible young adults with disabilities transitioning from school to work.
- Strongly opposed to any downgrading of the Office of the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA); This position should be a Presidentially appointed individual with full U.S. Senate Confirmation. The office of the Commissioner of RSA respects and represents many individuals with disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities.
- Respectfully request that Congress always maintain mandatory funding for Title I of the Rehab Act. Also request Congress to maintain discrete funding in Titles III and VI of the Act for Supported Employment, Projects With Industry, and Migrants and Seasonal Farmworkers, and Recreation.
Ø Can expand our partnership with the VA to help serve returning veterans.
Ø VR program return on investment: for every $1 spent serving SSI/SSDI recipients, $6 of taxpayer dollars is returned to the treasury.
- Title I, Section 109 of the Act is too narrow and out of date. Currently only covers funding for “Training employers with respect to ADA.” VR’s role with business is much broader now.
Ø New language should be included in the Act promoting a national support system, such as The NET (National Employment Team).
Ø Focus on providing business customers with qualified candidates, technical assistance, retention supports, and disability management techniques.
Ø VR assists with Pre-employment; Recruitment; Staff training; Retention; Disability Management consulting; Employee assistance services.
- Call upon Congress to introduce the Community Choice Act., which should reflect the goals and ideal of the ADA, that individuals should have equal opportunity and the right to participate in their communities.
Ø Why? Medicaid home and community-based services is still considered an optional service under state plans. Also vulnerable to budget reductions.
- Specialized services for Blind Individuals:
Ø Maintain State’s option to have a separate agency for the blind.
Ø Expand funding for training programs in blindness rehabilitation and reinstitute an RRTC on blindness and low vision.
Ø Amend formula for distribution of funds under Title VII, Chapter 2.
- American Indian VR Services Program:
Ø Rehab Act include legislative language authorizing a 5-year funding plan enjoyed by the CIL’s.
Ø AIVRS Projects continue to be funded based on decisions from monitoring and technical assistance regarding demonstrated acceptable performance, rather than competing for continuance every 5 years.
- MICHIGAN ISSUES:
Ø Oppose Motorcycle Helmet Repeal Law
§ Support issues that decrease accidental disability
Ø Oppose caps on attendant care and other restrictions on health care in auto no-fault insurance
§ We are partners with CPAN (Coalition to Protect Auto No-Fault)
Ø Support Mental Health Parity Legislation in Michigan
Ø Support Common Disability Agenda (provide handout!)
MICHIGAN SENATORS AND REPS
Senator Carl Levin—Democrat; Russell Office Building
Senator Debbie Stabenow—Democrat; Hart Senate Office Building
Lynnae Ruttledge—Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
US Representative Mike Rogers (8th District; Clinton, Ingham, Livingston counties, and part of Oakland and Shiawassee counties) –Republican; Cannon Office Building
US Representative Candice Miller (10th District; Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, St.Clair, and Sanilac counties) –Republican (Kelly Loftis) --Longworth Office Building
US Representative Dale Kildee (5th District; Bay, Genesee, Tuscola, and Saginaw counties) –Democrat (Emily McElmurry)—Rayburn Office Building
US Representative Thaddeus McCotter (11th District; parts of Oakland and Wayne counties) –Republican (Renee Craig)—Rayburn Office Building
US Representative Fred Upton (6th District; Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St.Joseph, and Van Buren counties)—Republican (Jennipher Wiebold)—Rayburn Office Building
Rayburn, Longworth, Cannon Buildings are all right next to each other.
Russell and Hart are on the other side of the Capitol building and separated by one building.
2011 NRA DRAFT ISSUE STATEMENTS
Service Capacity Sub-Committee
- Support expansion of the Michigan Freedom To Work Medicaid buy-in program
- Work, in alliance with other disability advocacy organizations, to achieve the full inclusion of persons with disabilities
- Seek expansion of community based long-term care programs through DCH
- Support Mental Health Parity Legislation in Michigan
- Support Common Disability Agenda
Insurance Related Sub-Committee
- Support disability management, workers compensation and auto no-fault policies and practices that effectively assist workers with disabilities to return to work
- Oppose caps on attendant care and other restrictions on health care in auto no-fault insurance
- Work in C-PAN Coalition to halt no-fault rollbacks
- Oppose reductions in benefits and coverage in disability related insurance
- Support legislation that reduces the incidence of accidental disability
- Oppose repeal of Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Law. With Heads First Coalition
- Support implementation of meaningful ergonomic standards
Community Participation Sub-Committee
- Support efforts to expand electoral/political participation by persons with disabilities
- Seek appointment of qualified persons from the disability community to state boards, commissions, and councils
- Seek appointment of Rehab Counselor to Board of Counseling (BOC)
- Monitor BOC activities
- Develop MRA’s advocacy capacity
- List-serve
- Website
- Partnership with other organizations
- Support the disability caucus in the Michigan legislature
- Individual member advocacy
Advocacy for Workforce and Professional Issues Sub-Committee
- Achieve rehabilitation and workforce services for Michigan citizens with disabilities
- In concert with NRA, support reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act (Title IV of the Workforce Investment Act) and reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act
- Support adequate state GF/GP match for MRS and MCB to fully capture federal VR dollars
- Support fully accessible Michigan Works! Programs and facilities
- Promote the utilization of qualified rehabilitation professionals in vocational rehabilitation and educational transition, behavioral health, and Medicaid reimbursement settings
- Seek enactment of qualified transition provider standards in special education rule that include rehabilitation counselors
- Pursue restoration of licensed counselors to parity with social workers and limited license psychologists in pay and status under the child and adult Medicaid waiver