ENVISION ALTERS STRUCTURE OF ITS REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT

By Michael Byington

Envision, a Wichita based not-for-profit agency, with locations in Pittsburg and Kansas City, Kansas, has eliminated the position of Director of Rehabilitation. That position has been held for the past several years by Ralph Manganiello. Mr. Manganiello’s last day at Envision was July 16th, 2004.

Although we have not seen any press release to this effect, it is our understanding that Mr. Manganiello’s former position will not be filled because all of his responsibilities have been transferred under the control of Dr. Bruce Kater, a low vision optometrist affiliated with Envision.

Over the past several years, KABVI has had disagreements with Mr. Manganiello over certain Envision policies he has been required to uphold. We have never questioned, however, his dedication to the fields of blindness and low vision rehabilitation.

Mr. Manganiello’s severance from Envision follows severance of Shari Aston, an Orientation and Mobility instructor a few weeks ago. Ms. Aston was highly respected by many blind and low vision Kansans for her excellent skill and dedication.

It is this author’s personal view that Envision’s apparent restructuring of their rehabilitation services raises grave concerns. Instead of increasing capacity as a balanced program placing equal emphasis on blindness techniques and low vision services, it would appear that the new program will be vastly skewed toward low vision services over other rehabilitation options. Medicare reimbursement is increasing for low vision rehabilitation services, and this in and of itself is a change which the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (KABVI) has supported. It is extremely unfortunate, however, if these positive changes are used negatively to justify reduction in emphasis of blindness rehabilitation and blindness techniques in instances where these may be more effective and functional than low vision techniques for individual clients. The fact that Medicare money now follows low vision should never make it more difficult for people to receive a full range of blindness and low vision rehabilitation services.

KABVI NEWS cannot print advertising. This would violate the “free matter for the blind” postal regulations. If Envision wishes to explain how they feel their changed organizational structure will improve their abilities to provide comprehensive, consumer driven rehabilitation services, however, we will certainly offer them the opportunity to articulate their position. We also would reserve the right to evaluate and test the logic and factualness of their comments.