Steve!

Thanks for the information and congratulations. I will try to “tune in”

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Jun 7, 2022, at 4:19 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:



For those with whom I have not been in contact lately, I want to let you know that my hearing dog Monterra passed away in January of this year. I am currently in Oceanside California for 10 days of training with my new hearing dog zoshi.

I would like to invite you to the podcast of our graduation ceremony which takes place this Friday June 10th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific daylight Time. This link will be available to you also anytime after the graduation ceremony takes place.

Please celebrate this event with me and pray for this new member of our family. Thank you.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Shelley Dickinson <sdickinson@...>
Date: Tue, Jun 7, 2022, 10:45 AM
Subject: Fw: Live Stream Link - Friday
To: Shelley Dickinson <sdickinson@...>
Cc: Mari Johnson <mjohnson@...>

Hi Jim, Karen, Steve, Amber, Elizabeth, Steve and Sydney!!

Here is the YouTube link for Friday if you would like to share i!

https://youtu.be/kMEFR_luu8Q

Southwest Region June 10, 2022 Hearing Dog Teams Graduation youtu.be

Shelley Dickinson​ | Program Director Canine Companions® | Southwest Region e: sdickinson@... |  ph: (760) 901-4330 | w: www.canine.org ​​​Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail and attachments may contain confidential information ​intended solely for the use of the addressee. ​​If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, ​please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete this message and any copies. ​Thank you.

I am not sure if VA will ever get its act together. I am looking at Section 508 signed into law almost 50 years ago and some of VA’s “systems” are still in progress on implementation. Some of the numbers are astounding. One system was 32% compliant. 

I have not used WebEx but they all should be using Zoom.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Apr 11, 2022, at 7:11 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:



I am not disagreeing with you or Mr. Black.  I am just suggesting a possible solution until the VA gets their act together.  I also suggested to him that he file a complaint with either the EEOC or even with his VA's local EE officer.  Several years ago, the Long Beach VA Dental Clinic was having problems with faux service dogs disrupting their exams and treatments.  It got so bad that a dentist was finally bitten by one of the fake service dogs.  So, they declared the exam rooms to be operatories and prohibited all dogs, even legitimate service dogs like mine.

I contacted the local EE Officer at Long Beach, and she agreed with me that there was no reason service dogs should be excluded from the examining and treatment rooms.  While she worked to have the new policy changed, she became the puppy sitter for my Canine Companion Hearing Dog, Montera, during my dental subsequent appointments.  Six months later, service dogs were welcome back into the dental exam and treatment rooms.

One unexpected result from this was that Voluntary Services constructed kennels for the use of veterans with pets.  However, despite the fact that the kennels were built, the pet care program was never approved.  

While I suggested to Mr. Black that he contact either the EEOC or his VA's EE Officer to file a complaint, he seems to feel that others should do that work for him.  And, as we both know, the VA does not always follow its own laws or policies.  And, sometimes it requires that we invest our own time and energy into changing things.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 3:45 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

Thanks! I didn’t know that but I agree with Mr. Black.

I recently had an Audiolgy appointment with my private audiologist. I was able to get my last exam directly from my VA Audiologist who is phenomenal.

Shouldn’t have to do that. We should be able to access it ourself.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Apr 11, 2022, at 6:38 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:



Ron:

The complaint that Mr. Black has is that he cannot get his audiograms on the VA Premium system files.  I checked my own audio appointments on  my VA Blue Ribbon Reports and found that, although the audiograms were not graphically reproduced, my own audiologists in Long Beach published the plot points so that any audiologist outside the VA could reconstruct my audiograms.  I emailed Mr. Black to let him know about this, but his response was that he should be able to get the audiograms themselves.  

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 1:14 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.

Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.

I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.

A few issues I plan on bringing up include:

Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)

Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it

I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.

Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.

For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.

Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.

See you all next week.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

Thanks! I didn’t know that but I agree with Mr. Black.

I recently had an Audiolgy appointment with my private audiologist. I was able to get my last exam directly from my VA Audiologist who is phenomenal.

Shouldn’t have to do that. We should be able to access it ourself.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Apr 11, 2022, at 6:38 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:



Ron:

The complaint that Mr. Black has is that he cannot get his audiograms on the VA Premium system files.  I checked my own audio appointments on  my VA Blue Ribbon Reports and found that, although the audiograms were not graphically reproduced, my own audiologists in Long Beach published the plot points so that any audiologist outside the VA could reconstruct my audiograms.  I emailed Mr. Black to let him know about this, but his response was that he should be able to get the audiograms themselves.  

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 1:14 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.

Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.

I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.

A few issues I plan on bringing up include:

Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)

Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it

I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.

Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.

For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.

Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.

See you all next week.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

I appealed it and won so I can secure message again. But I'm still on the disruptive Veteran list.

My records are flagged. The VSO has dropped the ball.

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 5:42 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

This is incredible. Have you taken any action through your VSO or anyone else? 

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Apr 11, 2022, at 6:06 PM, N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:



You're welcome..

   I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging.  Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging  for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.

 

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 4:43 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. 

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

On Apr 11, 2022, at 4:37 PM, N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:



LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".

There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.

 

https://beta.ada.gov/web-guidance/ 

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-issues-web-accessibility-guidance-under-americans-disabilities-act

There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.

 In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished . 

 I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.

 

 

 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Mon, Apr 11, 2022 at 3:14 PM Ronald Drach via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org <consultrwd=yahoo.com@...> wrote:

I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.

Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.

I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.

A few issues I plan on bringing up include:

Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)

Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it

I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.

Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.

For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.

Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.

See you all next week.

Ron

http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/

Virus-free. www.avast.com