Executive Director of Board of Education and Services for the Blind (CGS §§ 10-294 and 10-298)

The director must maintain the state's confidential registry of blind residents. The director also oversees the agency's provision of low vision services, specialized education services, life skills training, case management, and vocational rehabilitation to individuals of all ages who are legally blind and to children who are visually impaired.

1. The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and governing statute (CGS § 10-303), which gives BESB the right of first refusal to provide food service in government buildings, have come under scrutiny over the last several years. In 2005, the attorney general opined that the law was not clear as to whether it allows BESB to subcontract with a private entity to contract with a commercial entity to provide food services. He recommended legislative clarification. Likewise, the Coke contract has been criticized for its duration and, with the exception of schools, its impact on local fundraising. While the BEP program ultimately benefits from both of these ventures, do you think the statute should be updated to reflect these types of activities?

2. The BEP program and other BESB programs were reviewed by the BESB Monitoring Council, which recommended numerous benchmarks before it terminated last year. How has your agency done in terms of meeting the council's benchmarks?

3. In 2003, the legislature revamped BESB's educational services based on a Program Review study. This included a priority system for BESB to use when providing services to school districts. Has this new system worked well? Do you have sufficient funding or have you had to charge some districts for these services?

4. In 2005, the legislature removed the cap on payments for adaptive equipment your agency offers. Could you describe this equipment and tell us how much you currently spend on it each year?

5. How many blind individuals live in Connecticut presently? Has that number increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the last 10 years? With an aging population, are more elderly residents seeking services from BESB and have you had to divert agency resources to meet this need?

6. Before you took on the executive director's job you were in charge of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for BESB. What VR practices BESB does employ and have they enabled more blind residents to find meaningful jobs?

7. When the Blind Industries program closed in 2003 assurances were made (PA 05-6) that former employees would get health care coverage and help with supported employment. Can you tell us how these clients are doing, both in terms of employment and health care benefits?

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