Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services Mission & Vision

Mission: To improve public vocational rehabilitation (VR) services delivered by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).

Vision: BSBP and MRS will provide VR services utilizing service delivery models that are respectful, equitable and effective in achieving meaningful employment outcomes for people with disabilities

 Additional details can be found at www.michigan.gov/mcrs.

 Michigan Executive Order (EO) 2019-13
 

As required under 2 CFR 361.16, Executive Order (EO) 2019-13 established the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS or Council) as the single State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) for the State’s two designated State units (DSUs), Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS). MCRS partners with both DSUs to meet SRC requirements and functions under 34 CFR 361.17.

EO 2019-13 also created the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (DLEO) and transferred the DSUs to the Department to serve as the designated state agency (DSA) as defined under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Act), Public Law 93-112, as amended, 29 USC 701 et seq.

MCRS’s expectation is E.O. 2019-13 will better enable the Council to advise the DSUs in the development of State goals and priorities specific to serving individuals with disabilities. This includes addressing the governor’s goal of 60% of Michigan citizens achieving post-secondary credential attainment by 2030.

Required Functions and Performance

 The following lists SRC functions and the Council’s performance through fiscal year (FY) 2019:

1. Review, analyze, and advise the DSU regarding the performance of the State unit's responsibilities related to eligibility, including order of selection; the extent, scope, and effectiveness of services provided; and functions performed by State agencies that affect or potentially affect the ability of individuals with disabilities in achieving employment outcomes.

• To review analyze and advise BSBP on performance, Council members participated in the following: (1) Appeals Hearings Redacted Reports; (2) Consultations with the Hearings Manager; (3) Consultation with the Client Assistance Program; (4) Customer Input at 2019 re:con Conference MCRS booth; (5)  Review of the 2017 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment Report; (6) Annual Achievement Honor Roll Awards event; (7) Presentations of various BSBP data reports at MCRS Quarterly Business Meetings; and (8) Discussions with BSBP Staff at MCRS quarterly Business Meetings.

• BSBP reviews, updates and creates policy on a regular basis at specific meetings scheduled for that purpose. MCRS members are invited to participate at each level of policy consideration. Input is also solicited from members at Quarterly Business Meetings.

• MRS and BSBP state directors serve as ex-officio Council members and participate in quarterly business meetings to update, engage and respond to the full membership. 
• Each DSU director has designated a state level administrator to serve as liaison to the MCRS. As requested by the Council or the DSU, these individuals provide information/updates/reports, respond to ad hoc inquiries, and participate in workgroups.
• Staff from both DSUs provided training and technical assistance at the Council’s request, e.g., policy updates, WIOA performance accountability, VR processes, and pre-employment transition services. 

 2.  In partnership with the DSU, develop, agree to, and review State goals and priorities; and evaluate the effectiveness of the     vocational rehabilitation program and submit reports of progress to the Secretary.

• To assist in the development, review and agreement of the State goals and priorities the Council received a draft of the VR program specific section of the Unified State Plan (USP) and an invitation to contribute. Due to the transfer resulting from EO 2019-13 and new Council member appointments, full participation was only recently possible. In February, the eleven newly appointed members were provided an overview of USP process, (including goals and priorities), relevant regulatory requirements, and operational information about BSBP.
• Two MCRS members participated in BSBP’s “Annual Stakeholder Meeting” in Lansing on May 17, 2019.

 3. Advise the DSA and the DSU regarding activities carried out under the Act and assist in the preparation of the vocational rehabilitation services portion of the USP and amendments to the plan, applications, reports, needs assessments, and evaluations.

• See previous section #2.
• The DSUs have provided multiple opportunities for the Council to learn about WIOA through trainings and consultations.
• As required under 34 CFR 361.29, the Council and DSUs are engaged in finalizing the 2020 CSA. This initiative is in partnership with Project Excellence at MSU (PE-MSU) and has included the following:
  • Designed with input from an interagency committee of public and non-profit stakeholders.
  • Council member (2) participation on the interagency committee and participation (3 members) in key informant interviews.
  • Data collection and analysis from:
    • Michigan disability statistics (e.g., American Community Survey, Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey, Current Population Survey) and other state level agency data (e.g., Social Security Administration, Special Education, Workforce Development);
    • Extant VR and Independent Living (IL) data (i.e., RSA-911, RSA-704);
    • Surveys conducted with service agency staff (e.g., MRS, BSBP, CIL, CMH, WDA, Incompass - formerly MARO);
    • Surveys conducted with individuals with disabilities and their family and friends; and
    • Semi-structured key informant telephone interviews.
       
• MCRS hosted a vendor booth at the 2019 annual state re:con conference. The Council used the opportunity to disseminate and collect information from a variety of disability stakeholders. The results were shared in a report to the DSUs.
• Two Council members attended the “Family Engagement Training on Employment First” in Marquette. This training allowed for interaction between students with disabilities, parents, teachers, MRS/BSBP Counselors, and staff from service provider agencies. Discussion centered around the need for collaborative transition and employment programming for students with disabilities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

 4. To the extent feasible, conduct a review and analysis of the effectiveness and consumer satisfaction with VR services and employment outcomes, including employment benefits.

• BSBP Customer Satisfaction information was provided to MCRS though a variety of sources including: (1) Consultation with both the Client Assistance Program (CAP) and the Hearings Manager; (2) BSBP Data review; (3) Public Comment; (4) Informal interactions with current and past Customers; (5) Reports provided during regular Council meetings; (6) Quarterly discussions with BSBP managers and staff regarding customer satisfaction and related issues; and (7) the experiences of some MCRS members.
• BSBP does not have a comprehensive Customer Satisfaction Survey process. However, BSBP uses a variety of methods to capture Customer Satisfaction throughout their service delivery system. BSBP staff is interested in working with MCRS in exploring innovative, accessible and engaging ways of capturing satisfaction data. MCRS members will be forming an ad hoc work group to explore options in FY2020. Options will include methods other than the more traditional mail in survey instrument.
• MCRS members participated in BSBP’s "Achievement Honor Roll Awards” event, which empowered customers through “recognition of their exemplary goal achievements in employment and/or independent living after vision loss”. Honorees were nominated by BSBP staff, for attaining independence through the diverse set of quality services offered by BSBP. Talking with Honorees about their struggles and successes created a most memorable day.
• MCRS Business Meetings offer the opportunity for all members to access information, participate in open Q&A interactions with BSBP staff, and offer their personal perspectives and those of the constituent groups they represent.  All requested information has been provided by BSBP in user friendly formats and in a timely manner.
• Customer satisfaction and continuous improvement are ongoing goals for BSBP and the Council. To that end, the Council suggests collecting segmented satisfaction data from students with disabilities, parents of minors receiving VR services, and the business customer. 

 5. Prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Secretary no later than 90 days after the end of the Federal fiscal year an annual report on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs operated within the State and make the report available to the public through appropriate modes of communication.

• MCRS creates an Annual Report each fiscal year. The report presents a summary of the Council’s activities and outcomes and provides a summary of BSBP program data and outcomes. The FY 2019 MCRS Annual Report was submitted to RSA in December. It was subsequently submitted to Michigan’s Governor, MRS and BSBP, various VR partners, and posted on the Council’s website.
   

 6. To avoid duplication of efforts and enhance the number of individuals served, coordinate activities with the activities of other councils within the State, including Statewide Independent Living Council, the Special Education Advisory Council established under the Individualswith Disabilities Education Act, the Developmental Disabilities Council, the State Mental Health Planning Council, the State Workforce Development Board, and with the activities of entities carrying out programs under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

• The Council’s coordinating activities with Michigan’s Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) include: (1) the Chair of the SILC is an appointed MCRS member; (2) the Executive Director of MiSILC and the Chair of MCRS consult frequently with one another; (3) the MCRS is holding a New Member Orientation at the offices of the Lansing CIL; (4) the MiSILC Director and the SILC Chair are presenting at the Council’s New Member Orientation; (5) The MCRS Chair and/or Vice Chair participate in SILC’s Business Meetings. 

• A priority for MCRS in FY 2020 is to expand engagement with all councils as identified in SRC regulatory functions.
• MCRS members attended the fall re:con, Michigan’s premier statewide VR conference and the spring VR Leadership Conference. Both conferences were opportunities to learn from local, state, and national VR stakeholders.

 7. Provide for coordination and the establishment of working relationships between the designated State agency and the Statewide Independent Living Council and centers for independent living within the State.

• In Michigan, the Centers for Independent Living association, Disability Network/Michigan, and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) have a long-standing partnership with BSBP. The MCRS works to enhance this partnership by continually advocating on behalf of the independent living needs of customers of BSBP. As described in item 6 above, the Council is actively working to improve collaboration with the SILC.

• The Chairperson of the SILC was appointed to the MCRS in August 2019. Other disability agencies and organizations are represented by members including Special Education, the Parent Training Center, Centers for Independent Living, Community Rehabilitation Organizations, the Client Assistance Program, and Native American VR.

 8. Perform other functions consistent with the purpose of the Rehabilitation Act. Highlights of other Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services Functions include the following activities.

• MCRS conducts four required quarterly business meetings.
• MCRS complies with Michigan’s Open Meetings Act requirements.
• The MCRS Chairperson and Vice Chairperson represent Michigan in the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC). Council members regularly participate in national conference calls to learn and share practices with other SRCs. The NCSRC website is also a source for training and technical assistance information. The MCRS is utilizing NCSRC information to design an orientation for new members in FY 2020.
• Three MCRS members of the Executive Team participated in national conferences of the National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC), the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), and the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB), in Bethesda in April 2019.
• An example of the effectiveness of the MCRS/DSUs partnership, was the joint planning and preparation for visits to Capitol Hill during CSAVR in April 2019. Teams consisting of Michigan VR/SRC members successfully met with legislators in Washington to impress the relevance and positive impact which VR delivers for individuals with disabilities and business. 

MCRS Plans for FY2020

• FY2019 was a year of change and reorganization for MCRS. As of January 2020, eleven new members were appointed by Governor Whitmer with four continuing members. The Council is strengthened and renewed through the new membership. The Council will continue to work with Governor Whitmer’s Appointment Office to seek candidates for open positions, specifically Business, Industry and Labor.
• The MCRS Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, along with one member at large of the Executive Team (ET) continue in their appointments. MCRS will hold an election to fill vacated ET positions.
• Council members selected “learning more about transition services for youth with disabilities as they move from school to adult life” as a priority for FY2020.
• An additional goal for FY2020 is collaborating with other disability related groups to achieve common goals for Michigan’s citizens with disabilities.

MCRS Recommendations to BSBP for the 2020-23 Unified State Plan

Based on a review of the BSBP VR Section of Michigan’s USP, the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS) developed the following recommendations. MCRS members are interested in collaborating with BSBP to implement these recommendations in the years ahead.

1. MCRS acknowledges the need for utilizing a variety of methods to ensure valid and reliable Customer Satisfaction data. The Council recommends that BSBP explore innovative, accessible and engaging ways of capturing satisfaction data from their dual customers of businesses and individuals with disabilities. One additional focus is to create a method to capture meaningful responses from transition age students, youth, and young adults.
2. MCRS acknowledges the need for accurate information about the impact of disability on career development opportunities. The Council recommends that BSBP engage with the Michigan Workforce Development Board by encouraging a combined educational initiative for Board members and partners to learn about pertinent provisions of WIOA and how they impact persons with disabilities seeking education, training and employment. One focus is addressing employer’s perceptions of disability that may limit opportunities for training, employment and career development.
3. MCRS acknowledges the importance of collaborating with other agencies and organizations to achieve positive outcomes for people with disabilities. Some years ago, Michigan disability organizations worked together to create a “Common Disability Agenda”, a written document that guided multiple efforts toward achieving specific outcomes through the coordination of resources and efforts. The Council recommends that BSBP assume a leadership role in creating a collaborative with a new 2020 Agenda to achieve common goals benefitting people with disabilities across Michigan.
4. MCRS acknowledges the importance of continual outreach to offer vocational rehabilitation services to diverse and underserved groups of Michigan citizens.  When the results of the 2020 CSNA are available in March, the MCRS recommends that BSBP utilize results to implement strategies to address discrepancies in access to VR services among underserved groups across all geographic regions of Michigan.
5. MCRS acknowledges the importance of Michigan’s Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment. The Council recommends that BSBP partners with MRS, Special Education and others to conduct research similar to the CSNA focusing on the needs, services and outcomes for Michigan’s transition age youth and young adults.