Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 1. The designated State unit's plans, policies, and procedures for coordination with education officials to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to the receipt of VR services, including pre-employment transition services, as well as procedures for the timely development and approval of individualized plans for employment for the students
Current Narrative:
The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) (Pre-ETS) unit composed of a statewide manager, a statewide consultant and a data analyst supports the provision of Pre-ETS and transition services to students who are potentially eligible and those who are Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) consumers on a statewide basis. The BSBP Transition Services Manager functions as the statewide liaison to Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO), MDE Transition Coordinators, and Statewide Transition Teams. BSBP’s Pre-ETS unit provides training and technical assistance to regional BSBP, MDE staff, and families. BSBP’s Pre-ETS unit facilitates the coordination of local programming, outreach, and provision of Pre-ETS services through Interagency Cash Transfer Agreement’s (ICTA’s), year-round and summer programs. BSBP’s VR counselors and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists are assigned geographically to the 57 Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and Local Educational Authority (LEA). VR counselors work closely with teacher consultants for the visually impaired (TCVI) to identify students who would benefit from Pre-ETS and/or VR Services. The BSBP Youth Low Vision Program also serves as an outreach to those students who may not be aware of the Pre-ETS program or VR.
BSBP staff, when invited, participate in the (IEPs) of students with visual impairments who are fourteen years and older. Students and their families are provided with information on Pre-ETS as well as the VR Program. BSBP counselors work with each student to ensure that Pre-ETS services are provided or arranged. BSBP staff partners with the LEAs through the Transition Coordinators and TCVIs to determine what Pre-ETS services are currently being provided to the student via the LEA or ISD and the additional Pre-ETS services that will be provided through VR.
BSBP will provide Pre-ETS to students with disabilities who have applied for VR services and to potentially eligible students with visual impairments. If a student needs a service that goes beyond the scope of Pre-ETS, and the service is listed on the student’s approved IPE, BSBP will pay for those costs with non-reserved VR funds. The student must apply for a VR case and be determined eligible by the Counselor within 60 days of the VR application being signed. The VR Counselor will work with the student and parents or legal guardians to develop an IPE outlining the VR services necessary to assist the student in obtaining competitive integrated employment. The eligibility criteria for services must be met before plan development. The IEP, along with the IPE, are instruments that identify education, transition, and employment goals and objectives.
The Michigan Department of Education - Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO) provides technical assistance and resources to enable local school districts to serve and improve the quality of education for students with visual impairments. The Bureau has contributed to MDE-LIO’s quarterly newsletter providing valuable information on the BSBP’s transition activities and resources. BSBP partners with MDE-LIO and local districts to facilitate the coordination of the provision of Pre-ETS services and the coordination of academic, vocational, independent and community-based curricula. BSBP also provides technical assistance for the establishment of local partnerships designed to aid and empower students who are blind and visually impaired.