All Council members are asked to serve on at least one committee and are encouraged to be the chair. It is helpful for Council members to serve on two committees during their appointment term. Committee membership applications must be submitted by July 15 to the appointed chair of the SRC-B. For all committees, not all committee members need to be members of the SRC-B.
Please include your first and second committee choice and if you are interested in being the committee chair. There are typically two SSB staff that serve on each of the committees as staff liaisons. Visit the SRC-B Committee page for a list of staff and committee members.
Members shall serve for a term of one year, commencing September 1 and ending August 31.
All meetings are open to the public. Members shall respect the rights of other members, and as appropriate the public, to be heard and to offer perspectives on issues germane to the committee. Recommendations will be made by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached by committee members, then all sides of the issue will be presented by the committee chairperson to the Council chairperson for guidance. Notice of committee meetings shall be posted on the SSB website. In addition, meeting notices shall be communicated by the chair of each committee to the chairperson of the Council and to the Council's staff support.
Meeting minutes and meeting notices shall be provided to any person upon request and in their preferred format. Each committee shall designate a secretary to take minutes during the meetings. The committee may ask a staff liaison to take minutes. The reports submitted by the committees to the full SRC-B meetings will be posted on the SSB website alongside the SRC-B meeting minutes. Minutes of committee meetings and recommendations to the full SRC-B shall be provided in a timely manner, allowing for deliberate consideration. Committees shall meet at least four times per committee term, or the committee chair shall provide to the Council chairperson a written description of the circumstances preventing this from occurring. Each year, each committee is responsible for reviewing its charge and submitting proposed updates to its charge to the SRC-B at the April meeting of the SRC-B. The Committee Structure Task Force will consider these proposed updates.
The committee is to work in cooperation with other SRC-B committees, members of the blind and DeafBlind communities, stakeholders, and the staff of SSB to realize its charge.
The committee makes recommendations to the SRC-B regarding issues consistent with its charge.
The committee shall request of the SRC-B those resources it feels are needed to accomplish its charge. The SRC-B shall incorporate in its budget sufficient support, in terms of both staff and other expenditures, for the committee to accomplish its charge. SSB shall ensure the provision of those resources determined necessary and appropriate by the SRC-B.
SRC-B Committees Page (link opens in new browser window)
Exists to help SSB improve and expand the services of the Communication Center for blind, low vision, and deafblind persons.
Exists to carry out specific duties contained in federal regulation for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program.
Exists to support and advise SSB regarding its services to individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision.
Exists to recommend specific strategies for increasing and improving services to individuals from minority backgrounds.
Exists to provide advice and propose strategies to increase the quantity and quality of employment outcomes for individuals served through the state vocational rehabilitation services for the blind system.
Exists to assist SSB to improve and expand services to blind, low vision, or deafblind Minnesotans who are not interested in employment.
Provides specific advice and counsel regarding services to transition-age youth (ages 14 – 21).
Exists to support and advise SSB regarding measuring the outcomes realized by the recipients of training in adjustment to blindness and technology.
