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Michigan PYs 2020-2023

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Blind)

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:

    __________

    [13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • o. State's Strategies

      Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):

o. 1. The methods to be used to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities

Current Narrative:

Goal 1:  BSBP will utilize the expertise of technology service providers including the group services of the Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) to ensure that staff and consumers are familiar with emerging adaptive technologies and their applications.

Strategy:  Bureau of Services for Blind Persons' Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) will continue providing group services, including but not limited to book clubs and technology training workshops and seminars. Sponsor technology clubs as well as outreach to patrons and BSBP consumers including Pre-ETS eligible and potentially eligible students via social media.

Goal 2:  BSBP will review and analyze data that will inspire mission driven projects and service delivery strategies dedicated to successful competitive integrated employment outcomes.

Strategy:  BSBP will utilize the data elements collected via the 911 federal report to determine the baselines for performance and respond to those baselines to establish measurable goals that can provide information that will speak to BSBP’s return on investment. 

Goal 3:  Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) including Supported Employment (SE) programs and services will focus on promoting demand-driven occupations that result in competitive integrated employment including measurable skill gains and credential attainment for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

Strategy:

  • BSBP will utilize Career Index Plus to provide career exploration and labor market analysis that will direct consumers to career goals that are an appropriate fit incorporating skills, abilities, and interests along with demand driven industries that will lead to measurable skill gain and credential attainment. Progress can be measured by data captured regarding measurable skill gain, credential attainment and successful obtainment and retention of employment.  
  • BSBP will utilize technical assistance to implement customized employment techniques to assist consumers in obtaining the appropriate career goal fit. BSBP counselors and regional managers will participate in customized employment ACRE training and actively enter customized employment pilots within the state.
  • BSBP has and will continue to have a presence on Employment First workgroups and are actively engaging with the technical assistance provider engaged by Employment First.  BSBP will utilize the technology assistance and information to continue promoting and cultivating supported employment practices that will result in competitive, integrated outcomes. 

Goal 4:  Advance the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to students and youth who are blind or visually impaired and other disabilities.

Strategy:  BSBP has designed policy, procedure, toolkits, and fiscal forecasting with technical assistance that includes the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC) and the (RSA).  BSBP is engaging the Michigan Department of Education in developing a Memorandum of Understanding that clearly defines the role of VR and that of the Local Education Agencies (LEAs).  BSBP will continue to actively partner with stakeholders and providers in the delivery of Pre-ETS.  BSBP will continue to utilize technical assistance as needed to assist in defining programs and services to potentially eligible and eligible students.

Goal 5:  BSBP will collaborate and align with the WIOA core partners.

Strategy:

  • Collaborate with core partners resulting in seamless service delivery.
  • Reduce duplication of effort and maximize resources
  • Maximize the opportunity for persons who are blind to participate in and benefit from core services

Goal 6:  BSBP will utilize business engagement strategies to embrace the dual customer service delivery model that will promote competitive integrated employment outcomes.

Strategy:

  • BSBP will use the collaborative relationships with core partners, community partners, and the Business Network Division of the general agency as opportunities for business engagement relationships that can result in changes for successful competitive integrated employment for individuals who are blind.
  • Staff training experiences in Windmills training dedicated to business engagement
  • Statewide initiatives dedicated to connecting business and consumers with disabilities.
  • Application of customized employment job development strategies