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d. 2. C. Roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, of each agency, including provisions for determining State lead agencies and qualified personnel responsible for transition services;

Current Narrative:

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) works with the Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach ( MDE-LIO)as well as the Intermediate School Districts ( ISDs) to identify students who are blind and visually impaired that would benefit from transition services.  MDE-LIO is especially dedicated to working with students with sensory impairments including those that are blind, deaf, hearing impaired and deaf-blind. MDE-LIO provides specific services to these students that were previously provided at the Michigan School for the Blind and the Michigan School for the Deaf. BSBP counselors and school personnel utilize the Individual Education Plan (IEP), and other assessment tools to determine the specific transition needs of the students who are blind or visually impaired. BSBP professionals’ partner with the education team and the student’s families to identify the services necessary to effectively serve the student, including Pre-Employment Transition Services. The responsibility to provide and/or allow for financial support of a service is determined by ensuring that services mandated to be provided under IDEA are provided by the LEA, and those services allowable to be provided by VR per the Pre-ETS service delivery model as defined by  WIOA and the federal regulations.  The LEA has the responsibility to provide assistive technology necessary to complete required course work to complete secondary education while VR may provide support for work based learning experiences and other activities supported by the five required Pre-ETS categories. Joint planning and coordination are on-going throughout the transition process. 

Students may participate in Community Based Instruction through the LEA or ISD in accordance with educational standards.  These experiences are typically unpaid and are provided as part of the student’s IEP.  BSBP will work with the student to determine Pre-ETS Work-Based Learning opportunities and experiences to enhance the student’s employment skills and assist in determining a career path. BSBP will provide the coordination necessary to satisfy documentation requirements set forth in 34 CFR part 397 with regard to students and youth with disabilities who are seeking subminimum wage employment; and assure that neither the State educational agency nor the local educational agency will enter into a contract or other arrangement with an entity, as defined in 34 CFR 397.5(d), for the purpose of operating a program under which a youth with a disability is engaged in work compensated at a subminimum wage.