Commissioner Wall, at right, along with Richard Healey, President and CEO of IBNYS, discuss the new ARS Call Center with center worker Terry Tracy.For information contact: Marc Carey 518-457-9375
New York State Civil Service Commissioner Daniel E. Wall today announced an agreement with Industries for the Blind of New York State Inc. (IBNYS) in Albany and its affiliate, The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) in Rochester, to operate the Department’s toll-free hotline for the New York State Accident Reporting System.
The hotline, located in the ABVI call center in Rochester, is expected to handle about 35,000 calls annually and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The call center utilizes advanced, adaptive technologies to enable workers who are sight impaired to use on-line tools and communications software to effectively respond to telephone inquiries.
“We are pleased to enter into this contract with Industries for the Blind of New York, which will provide skilled service for our accident hotline callers and also offer increased employment opportunities for the blind and visually impaired,” said Commissioner Wall.
| “The Department of Civil Service has presented us with a wonderful opportunity to provide meaningful employment to people who are blind,” said Richard M. Healey, President and CEO of IBNYS. “We want to thank them for their confidence in our ability to serve their call center needs and are committed to providing service levels that will exceed their expectations.” | Commissioner Wall, at right, along with Richard Healey, President and CEO of IBNYS, discuss the new ARS Call Center with center worker Terry Tracy. |
Jeffrey Lutzker, Commissioner Wall and Stephanie Zoufaly, chat with IBNYS representatives after being presented wth plaques noting the opening of the new ARS Call Center. |
The contract is for a five-year period, with an annual value of about $275,000, said Commissioner Wall. Call center representatives will electronically record telephone calls made by State employees when reporting work-related accidents via the Accident Reporting System toll-free telephone number (1-888-800-0029), Representatives will also obtain information concerning each incident along with any injury information and assign the caller an ARS incident number. |
The call center currently also provides services to the State Department of Labor and the State Insurance Department’s Healthy New York program. The call center is staffed by blind and visually impaired workers. Seven new workers will be added to the call center as a result of the Civil Service contract.
