Officials of the Public School System, the Workforce Investment Agency and other committees under OVR as well as a representative from the Roman Catholic Church were present during the meeting.
OVR Director Maggie Olopai Taitano said majority of the people helped by their office last year are people who needed eyeglasses.
“But our office is not an eyeglass shop,” she said.
She wants to make it clear to the public that OVR only serves people with significant disabilities.
But she said they will continue helping people who need eyeglasses as long as they are OVR qualified clients.
During the meeting, the marketing and employment committee of OVR said it is collaborating with WIA in providing jobs to clients.
The group plans to facilitate more job fairs for people with disabilities.
WIA noted that people with disabilities have limited training options on island.
Off-island training should be considered and OVR must partner with other islands with more training resources such as Hawaii and Guam, it added.
PSS said OVR must continue reaching out to children with disabilities.
OVR can visit children at schools to inform them about the office’s services, PSS said.
It noted the importance of hiring counselors, preferably work-behavior specialists, to talk to people with disabilities who are not performing well at work.
Also discussed was the need to provide public transportation to people with disabilities and federal grants that can be tapped for this purpose, as well as reasonable housing programs for people with disabilities.
Father Florentino “Nonoy” Recaido Jr., for his part, suggested hiring a sign language specialists for church-activities, including the Mass.
“It was a good meeting,” State Rehabilitation Council Chairman Jesus M. Elameto said.
He added it is good to hear comments and suggestions regarding programs for people with disabilities.
