COMMISSION ACTION PLAN REPORT GOES TO DIRECTOR HOLLISTER

At its January 10 meeting, the MCB Planning and Quality (PAQ) Team put the final touches on the MCB Action Plan (report for 2004) and developed additional objectives and action steps for the balance of 2005.  The first MCB Action Plan quarterly report was sent to David Hollister, Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, January 14, and will be a topic of discussion at the State Board meeting of the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI), April 16.

The MCB Action Plan (which is attached to this report) results from a collaborative effort of the PAQ Team, the nine MCB ambassadors, and other staff, commissioners and stakeholders who have been involved in the development of the plan as part of the Commission’s Vision 2020 Initiative, which began five years ago.

Almost all of the goals and objectives in the 2004 Action Plan met anticipated timelines or are in process.  The next PAQ team meeting will be on February 28 at Capital Area Michigan Works! in Lansing.

CONGRESS STEPS UP EFFORTS TO REAUTHORIZE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT – RSA COMMISSIONER STEPS DOWN

Congressman Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-CA) introduced, on January 4, H.R.27, legislation to amend the workforce investment system and reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act. During the 108th Congress no final action was taken on similar legislation and it died when the 108th Congress adjourned in December.

H.R. 27, as introduced, retains the original House language which downgrades the RSA Commissioner from a Presidential appointment with the advice and consent of the Senate to a Director appointed by the Secretary of Education.   Ms. Joanne Wilson, the current Commissioner of RSA, announced February 8 that she will be leaving her post, effective March 1.  Commissioner Wilson has served in the position for four years and has been an extremely strong advocate for clients receiving services from state rehabilitation agencies.

The bill also provides for expanded transition services with a reservation of funding for transition services to be calculated by formula from Section 110 funding under the Rehabilitation Act.

The Job Training Improvement Act is intended to build upon the significant reforms made in the bipartisan Workforce Investment Act (WIA) that was enacted in 1998. The National Rehabilitation Association reports that markup of the newly-introduced House WIA/VR bill is expected to be marked up at the Subcommittee level on February 9. The Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness is chaired by Representative McKeon. The full (or parent) Committee on the House Education and the Workforce will follow with a full Committee markup shortly thereafter.

CAMP TUHSMEHETA ADVOCATES MEET WITH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) hosted a meeting, January 19, with numerous stakeholders to further explore ways to more effectively utilize Camp Tuhsmeheta for the benefit of blind youth and adults.    MDE continues to work toward this goal in partnership with the Michigan Commission for the Blind, Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB), blind consumer organizations, and parents of blind children organizations, the Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns, Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) and other stakeholders.  Meeting participants agreed to work together to utilize the rich resources of the camp to give blind children the opportunity to acquire skills and gain confidence. 

The Department of Education is entering into a lease agreement with OUB to run environmental education programs at the camp through 2005, with the possibility of an extension of the agreement.  Camp Tuhsmeheta is a 297 acre camp facility located near Greenville, Michigan.  The OUB Executive Director, George Wurtzel, will report progress on Camp T at the February 25 Commission meeting.

WINDMILLS TRAINING FOR DLEG LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

MCB Director Pat Cannon, Duncan Wyeth, Director of the Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns, and Susan Turney, MCB’s Communications and Outreach Coordinator, conducted Windmills disability awareness training for DLEG's deputy directors, bureau directors and David Hollister, DLEG Director.  The workshop, Tilting at Windmills, is a nationally acclaimed, high-impact, attitudinal training program developed by the California Governor's Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons.  The curriculum consists of several components that use participation and discovery as learning vehicles.

Specific activities selected for this training included a disability awareness survey, a "pick a disability" exercise and a video titled The 10 Commandments.  Similar training has recently been provided for Governor Jennifer Granholm and her Executive Office staff as well as for the Department of Management and Budget leadership, managers and supervisors.  The popular training will also be offered to MCB commissioners and staff later this year.

IS IT OK TO BE BLIND?

Students at the MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo gather on Thursday evenings to meet with Melody Lindsey, Director of the Training Center, to discuss a variety of blindness issues and other center-related topics.  Pat Cannon, the Director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, often joins in on the Thursday evening chat sessions to encourage dialogue on a variety of topics surrounding blindness.

On January 27, Pat participated in the group and asked the question, "Is it okay to be blind - why or why not?"     The ensuing dialogue was fascinating, interesting and provocative.  Many who participated in the conversation readily acknowledged that accepting blindness as part of who we are – just one of our many characteristics – is an important step toward achieving independence and success.    Many of the students said they could relate to the stories shared in the dialogue and left the meeting with a sense of hope for their own futures as productive and responsible citizens who happen to be blind.

MINI-ADJUSTMENT WORKSHOP IN GRAND RAPIDS

2005 COMMON DISABILITY AGENDA UNVEILED

The Common Disability Agenda (CDA), initially developed two years ago, has been revised and updated and presented to the Governor and Legislature.    The document is a product of 19 statewide public- and private-sector disability organizations committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities in Michigan.

The first CDA was released in January 2003 and promoted several agenda items which have been achieved, including the implementation of the "Freedom to Work" legislation, the establishment of the Michigan Mental Health Commission and its subsequent recommendations for policy change, and the creation of the Medicaid Long-Term Care Task Force, which is expected to issue its final report

and recommendations this spring.  The 19 participating organizations have been working to update the document for the new legislative session and officially released it at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on February 2.  Copies of the 2005 Common Disability Agenda can be obtained by contacting the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) in Lansing by calling 517-371-4872.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

The Consumer Services staff are very active in realigning some of its programs so that timely service delivery can be improved.   The staff have realigned some of the territories so that consumers will receive services in a more timely manner.  The realignment of territories was considered in both the Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living programs.  The objective is to make consumer services easier to obtain for individuals; it will also enable the staff to work in a more concise geographic area. 

The staff has continued to work to promote mentoring opportunities. In the last fiscal year, some mentoring activities took place that were very successful.  This year, the mentoring activities are already scheduled in the West Region and continuous planning is being discussed so that mentoring activities can continue throughout the year in as many locations as possible.  Through cash match agreements with the intermediate school districts, mentoring activities will be expanded for high school students.

The Consumer Services staff continue to support mini adjustment programs, which include Job Readiness seminars as an intrinsic component of the program.  This one-day program provides an opportunity for consumers who are job-ready to receive information regarding interviewing techniques, resume writing and how to conduct a job search.  They will also receive information regarding social security and how it can be utilized in obtaining employment.

The Detroit Public Schools Career Day will be held at its Breithaupt Career and Technical Center on February 16, 2005.  This career day program will focus on a variety of occupations, as well as emphasizing vocational occupations that are in demand for today’s labor market.  Many of MCB’s community partners will be in attendance so that the students will receive a comprehensive array of occupational and/or employment information.  These types of activities help to make transition meaningful.  The Macomb County Intermediate School District is developing a curriculum for its career day program to be held April 8, 2005.  Career Day programs continue to provide students with additional opportunities to connect with community partners, employers and mentors where transition will be emphasized.

The MI Connections program has continued to expand and is now under way in the Upper Peninsula and in the Southeast area, specifically, in the Detroit Public Schools.  As the program continues to grow, more high school students will have an opportunity to be involved in high tech vocational training which will help pave the way to high tech employment. 

The staff continue to work collaboratively with the Michigan Works! offices.  The Detroit office has co-located with another Michigan Works! office at its 707 West Milwaukee branch.  The co-location will help the staff to involve consumers who are job-ready to participate in many of their pre-employment and job preparation activities that assist job seekers in obtaining employment.  The Detroit office is involved in the Customized Employment Program, a partnership among Michigan Works!, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Detroit Public Schools.  This collaborative program will focus on students that are in need of additional employment preparation in order to obtain employment.  This is another example of Consumer Services staff partnering with the community to obtain and utilize community resources to assist MCB’s consumers in obtaining employment.

The Independent Living program completed another year with a modest increase in services provided to the older blind population.  The IL staff experienced some personnel shortages during the year, but they were able to achieve a modest increase.  There is an IL staff meeting scheduled for February 10, 2005 to review some procedures that will establish groundwork for improved data collection and recording practices.

Under the Youth Low Vision program, as previously stated, some territories were reviewed for the purpose of improving services.  A task force has been established to review the Youth Low Vision program policies and procedures to determine the effectiveness of the program.  It will also review how the program can be improved in regard to efficiency and effectiveness.  The goal of the task force is to involve community partners, as well as parent groups, teacher consultants and low vision practitioners to obtain their input regarding the program which will assist in shaping Commission policy.

In personnel matters, the Consumer Services Division is attempting to fill two counselor positions, one in Detroit and one in Escanaba.  Two support staff positions will also be filled in the Lansing and Detroit offices.  Congratulations are in order to Beth White and Sherry Gordon who received a promotion to the Rehabilitation Manager 14 position.  They will work closely with MCB community partners and employers to increase awareness of the agency and provide greater opportunities for involvement in employment and employment activities.

Students will have another opportunity to experience what camping life is all about this summer.  The Quest for Success program is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 17, 2005 at Camp Tuhsmeheta.  The program is expected to serve fifteen students from ages 14-18 who will be introduced to a variety of camping activities.  

The Consumer Services staff are encouraged to participate in outreach activities, several of which are in the planning stages at this time.  One of the primary goals for the Consumer Services program this year will be to focus on outreach to Latino/Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans.  This outreach is an area in which MCB must increase rehabilitation services.   The staff will explore opportunities to become more involved in community activities within these populations in order to achieve greater diversity in service delivery.

TRAINING CENTER REPORT

After many months of collecting information and soliciting input from MCB staff and the Consumer Involvement Council (CIC), the Guidelines Review Team met to discuss proposed changes to the existing student guidelines.  One of the changes the team agreed to request was that the guidelines be changed to policies.  This change will require commissioner approval.  Melody Lindsey participated in the CIC meeting in January to talk about the proposed changes.  The next step will be to go to the Planning and Quality (PAQ) team to review the proposed new policies.  The goal is to present the proposed policies to the MCB Board in June for their approval.  

On January 21, Melody Lindsey participated in the Eastern Region staff meeting to continue a dialog with the staff to improve communication between Field staff and the Center.  The time spent at the meeting was very productive.  Gwen McNeal requested that, when the Center knows that a student will be going to the Lions World program in Arkansas, the student should be tested on the prerequisites of the program.  The staff also asked to be emailed when there is a problem with class absences.  These are just two examples of the issues discussed.   

The MI Connections High School/High Tech Project Staff visited the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center (MCBTC) on February 1, 2005.  Shannon Berkin, Lynn Boza, Rosanne Renauer, Marcie Alling and Melissa Emmer held their staff meeting in the conference room, followed by lunch and a tour of the facility.    After the tour, each of these individuals chose from a variety of activities offered by MCBTC staff.  The options they chose included: 1) Walking with a long cane or using a dog harness; 2) Cutting wood with a power saw; 3) Cooking on a stove; and, 4) Learning a few Braille letters, printing their names in Braille, playing Braille-marked cards with student Bobby Nelson, and gaining an understanding of why Braille is still important in this high tech world.  MCBTC staff were pleased to share the skills they teach to students each day with this  group. 

In the month of January, MCBTC provided assistance to Field staff in the following activities:

1.  Jim Baird went to Detroit to help acclimate a consumer who had received a job as a dishwasher at Henry Ford Community College.

2.  Jim Baird was contacted by a counselor who needed assistance in working with a blind graduate assistant in a chemistry lab at Central Michigan University.

3.  At the Grand Rapids Mini, Jim Baird and Michelle Visscher met with four blind high school students who will be going to college in the fall to discuss the college assessment process at MCBTC.  This information was also given to the teachers who escorted the students so they will know what skills are necessary to facilitate success in college classes.

Russ Sheehan, who has worked at MCBTC for the last two years as a rehabilitation services coordinator, has accepted a job at the Sacramento Society for the Blind.  His last day at MCBTC was January 28.  Russ's insights and positive attitudes about blindness will be greatly missed.  The staff and students at MCBTC wish Russ all the best in his new employment in California.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

The Administrative Services Section has been busy with working with the auditors.  The Office of the Auditor General is finishing up the FY2003-2004 Single Audit.  In addition, MCB is working with DLEG’s internal audit section to complete the controls that will be used in the department’s biennial assessment.  

MCB is also getting ready to move to the DLEG computing environment.  Beginning February 22^nd through the end of March DIT will be installing new equipment and upgrading all the machines at MCB.  This move will give all employees Windows XP and Outlook.  It is anticipated that the transition will go well.

The budget is in good shape.  As of January 31, thirty percent through the year, MCB has expended and/or encumbered twenty seven percent of the budgeted funds.  This includes purchases for new computer equipment.  Salaries and wages are expected to increase throughout the year as MCB attempts to fill positions.   There are enough resources to handle those hires considering salaries and wages are currently at twenty four percent of the funds budgeted for that category.  All categories appear to be within or below expected expenditures for the period.

Approximately 20 applications were received for the Detroit counselor position by the February 4 deadline, and it is hoped to set interviews very shortly.   The selection process is under way for the secretary position in Lansing.  Two proposed positions are still pending for a secretary in Detroit and a rehab counselor in Escanaba. Finally, approval is still pending to establish and fill two vacancies in the central office to manage the duties formerly carried out by Larry Best.

A training program to learn more about Personality Disorders is scheduled for two locations: one on March 14 in Lansing and the second on March 15 in Dearborn with simulcasts to various locations across the state. The presenter is Dr. Gregory Lester and the program is being sponsored by the Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) with arrangements by Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

It is planned to have two sessions of Outlook training scheduled for JAWS users in late February and mid-March. One will be in Lansing and the other in Kalamazoo. More details will be made available once they are determined.

Upcoming conferences include the 2005 MAER Spring Conference, April 21-22 in Livonia, and the Michigan Transition Services Association's Annual Spring Conference, March 16-18 in Frankenmuth.

MCB is working with Song Jae Jo, a blind doctoral student in MSU's Rehab Counselor Education Program to conduct a survey of individuals whose cases have been closed from MCB services. This study will look at customer satisfaction, acceptance of vision loss, employment history, and other factors.

The Image and Identity Team is seeking volunteers willing to assist in MCB’s efforts to participate in the 2005 Lansing Chili Cook-off scheduled in June. Proceeds from this annual event go to support a number of community projects. MCB plans to have a booth at the event. Volunteers are needed to plan and organize the making of the chili and to work at the booth during this event. If interested, contact Bob Robertson.

Business Enterprise Program

BEP has concluded the Federal arbitration action against the U.S. Postal Service regarding violations of agreements within the facility with the decision that it is not necessary to go to a federal hearing.   The Commission had requested that the cafeteria operator in the building, not a blind person, cease and desist from selling certain products that were the purview of the BEP operator. However, thanks to the efforts of BEP staff people Constance Zanger and Joe Pelle, and Operator Mary Ball, the situation was settled between the parties, thus saving time and expense for the Commission, while improving business for the BEP Operator.

BEP Trainer John McEntee and BEP Operator Carol Duff have successfully completed Pizza Hut operations training in Dallas, Texas.  They accounted for two of the three 100% scores out of a class of 12 on the final exam for the training, and their names have been placed on a wall plaque along with others who received perfect scores.   John and Carol continue a tradition of excellent performance by blind people associated with the Business Enterprise Program and are to be congratulated on their success.  BEP operators consistently outperform the national average on the ServSafe examination.  Carol will be assuming responsibility for Fountain View Cafe in Detroit approximately March 1, upon her completion of Subway operations training in Connecticut.

Business Enterprise Program staff are conducting another vending stand training class commencing March 28, 2005.   The class will be conducted under the direction of John McEntee, BEP's new trainer.  About six students are expected to participate in the class.  The classroom training portion of the training concludes with a graduation ceremony on June 3.  The subsequent on-the-job experience concludes on August 5.   

The annual Business Enterprise Program Workshop will be held April 8-10, 2005, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.  This annual event provides the operators of the Business Enterprise Program an opportunity to attend training sessions relevant to the operation of a small business.  The workshop will include training on the service and repair of vending machines; an opportunity for the operators to sample new products and meet food vendors and suppliers Saturday afternoon; and Elected Operator Committee elections.    Following a banquet and award ceremony Saturday evening, the Elected Operators Committee, a body of 11 representative operators, will hold their quarterly business meeting Sunday morning.