RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #54

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. CAP was contacted to assist a client in re-establishing communication with her Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and obtaining blindness-related training, including Orientation & Mobility, Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, and Technology Access Training. CAP facilitated
renewed communication and helped update the client’s Individualized Plan for Employment to include itinerant blindness services with the client’s selected providers.
CAP was contacted by the client’s mother/authorized representative for assistance in appealing the agency’s decision regarding Personal Care Attendant Services. CAP provided guidance on the appeals process and how to request a policy exception. Subsequently, GVRA agreed to authorize payment for PCA services at a higher nursing level rate for the client’s case, leading to the withdrawal of the appeal.
The client contacted CAP for assistance with reimbursement for his GRE and Fall 2024 textbooks, as well as for a pending Fall 2024 maintenance payment. CAP communicated the client’s concerns to GVRA and discovered that the client’s vendor profile needed to be
reactivated with the State Accounting Office before payments could be processed. The payments were issued on November 8, 2024, and the client confirmed receipt on November 21, 2024.
CAP was contacted to provide advocacy services after the client expressed dissatisfaction with her work readiness training provider and requested an amendment to her Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to receive future services through MyLife at Emory Autism Center. A staffing meeting was held with the client and her Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to discuss her concerns, and a justification was documented to support the IPE amendment. The amended IPE and authorization for Spring 2025 work readiness training services have been completed.
In July 2024, the client contacted CAP for assistance in obtaining recovery residence services through GVRA to address his substance dependency disorder. CAP provided guidance to the client and his authorized representative on how to submit the service request, including relevant policy citations to support the justification. GVRA did not have a vendor for this service in District 1, so CAP assisted the client in completing the necessary paperwork to become a vendor, enabling reimbursement for maintenance costs associated with his participation in recovery residence treatment from October 2024 to January 2025, as this was not covered by his comparable benefit (e.g., Pathways to Coverage). The client’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) was amended to include recovery residence services and maintenance; the client was approved as a vendor, and reimbursement was received in February 2025.
CAP was contacted for legal assistance related to a custody case and for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other protections for Georgians who are blind. Referrals were provided to relevant advocacy organizations, including the National Federation of the Blind Georgia and the Georgia Council of the Blind, as well as to the State Bar of Georgia and Parent to Parent of Georgia. Additionally, CAP supplied links to the applicable Georgia Code (O.C.G.A. § 30-4-5) and the resource Access to Justice for People with Disabilities: A Guide for Georgia Courts.
In January 2025, the client contacted CAP for assistance with reimbursement for his Fall 2024 maintenance payment. CAP collaborated with GVRA’s Policy Unit to ensure that a policy override and exception were properly completed and approved for the client’s case. A payment consideration form was then submitted to Fiscal Services, and the client has confirmed receipt of the reimbursement.
CAP was contacted to assist in re-establishing communication between the client and his counselor to advance his case, as he required vision and supported employment services. Communication was successfully restored, and the client’s Individualized Plan for Employment was updated to include the requested services. Since then, the client has completed a low vision evaluation and the Supported Employment initiation meeting at the Frazer Center.
The client contacted CAP for assistance with her GVRA application after submitting an online referral on September 24, 2024, but had not been contacted to schedule an intake appointment. CAP helped the client establish communication with GVRA’s Intake Unit, navigate the intake
process, and submit the necessary documentation to determine her eligibility. The client’s eligibility for services was established on January 14, 2025.
CAP was contacted for assistance regarding ADA compliance and building accessibility in the City of Perry, GA. A referral was made to Lee Gilmour, the City of Perry’s Non-Discrimination Coordinator, and the client was provided with his telephone number, email address, and physical office address.
In February 2025, the client contacted CAP for assistance in appealing GVRA’s denial of her chosen vocational goal. CAP provided guidance on due process procedures and assisted the client in gathering and submitting additional documentation to support her vocational goal. After reviewing the new information, GVRA agreed to amend the client’s vocational goal to “lawyer.” CAP also helped the client request reimbursement for ancillary services—including LSAT registration, Kaplan LSAT tutoring, and Law Hub—that the client had initiated in March 2025 prior to the development of her updated Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), due to time constraints and counselor delays. Necessary policy exceptions and overrides were obtained, and the client was reimbursed $4,263.
Client called CAP after the GA Advocacy Office assisted with the AWT needed for the Self-Employment case. CAP was called because there was a dispute between GVRA and the client. The compromise was the client providing her income for three months and her case would be closed and she would keep her AWT device. The case was closed successfully.
CAP was called because the client needed a job save. Client has been working for three years and new job duties were going to be added to his position. He needed GVRA intervention with a job coach. He was able to get assistance to retain his employment.
Client needed assistance with GVRA not being able to find her in their case management database. The client was using a different name than she started with because they identify as a transgender woman. Once CAP figured that out by speaking to the client’s mother, GVRA was able to assist the client with the current information and make the name change.
Client called CAP to advocate with GVRA finding him employment. CAP was able to look into the case and speak with the policy manager. The client has been asked to attend mental health therapy sessions before GVRA can move forward with the case. GVRA and CAP have given the
client free resources. The agency has paid several times for his treatment. Client stated he understands that he must complete therapy before his case can move forward.
The client moved to Georgia and wanted GVRA to pay for an appraisal class. The client let her realtor license expire in the state she moved from. In order to get a license in GA, the client would have to enroll in a program. The client’s physical limitations would not allow the client to be in attics or crawl spaces. The client’s solution was to acquire a drone for hard to reach places or get a helper. GVRA stated the client will need to become a vendor before a real estate or appraiser class could be taken.
Client called CAP about his BEP case and his inability to find a new location. The committee that listens to business plan proposals made recommendations the client did not agree with and wanted CAP to intervene. The CAP attorney was contacted for guidance and counseling and he advised that the clients business plan was out of date because it had been fifteen years and gave the contact in D.C. who handles established vendors in the BEP program. The client did not agree he needed a new plan, but stated he would call the D.C. contact for further assistance.
CAP was contacted because the client had lost contact with her counselor and needed to know who could be contacted to assist. CAP has a release on this client, so Policy was able to assist with the counselor name and contact. The client would like more hours on her job, but they do
not have more to offer at this time. The client wants to be in the degreed field of graphic design. This field has computer programs employers use such as Canva, A.I., so hiring a person to do this job is more difficult per the client. The counselor will work with the client on employment.
The client’s mother called CAP because of her concern with the driving instructor went out for back surgery. Her concern was her child not remembering what was learned prior to the instructor going on medical leave. CAP informed the mother that the current driving instructor would be able to make the assessment when they return if the client declined in driving skills. She did not necessarily want a new instructor to come in, so she stated she would wait for the regular instructor to come back.
Client and family were concerned when they found out the GVRA counselor had retired. They had a good working relationship with this individual and had not been contacted by the new counselor. CAP was able to get the new counselor’s information and they reached out for the next steps. The client had been set up for an appointment to move the case forward.
Client called CAP for resources after being incarcerated. The client is looking for grants or programs that could get housing and employment. CAP had a resource for housing and one for recently released prisoners. Client called back appreciative of the resources offered by CAP.
CAP was contacted by the client for assistance with the PST being paid within two days. The client had not turned in the transcripts and had changed the major without discussing it with the counselor. CAP checked with GVRA to see what documentation the client was missing to move the case forward. The client sent all of the documentation to CAP and GVRA. The client’s PELL covered everything except the books and GVRA reimbursed the client for those after receiving the receipt.
The mother of the clients called because the tuition from Spring 2025 had not been paid by GVRA. The client was made a vendor because the school attended was in another state. The Fall 2025 was paid by GVRA. The client did not inform CAP that the Spring semester had been denied based on the timing of the client being determined eligible for services. A letter explaining this had been sent to the client in July 2025, but there were life circumstances that prevented the mother from submitting an appeal. CAP was contacted in September to appeal, but not informed of the denial letter and no appeal had been completed. GVRA stated things should move forward without issue.