MCB REPORT

August 4, 2005

CELEBRATING THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

The enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 26, 1990, signaled a transformation in the nation's public policies toward people with disabilities. Because of the enactment of the ADA 15 years ago, Michigan, and the country as a whole, is now a better place for people with disabilities to live, learn, work and raise a family. 

In the last 15 years, people with disabilities, advocates, employers and the general public have worked hard to eliminate harmful stereotypes and have grown to understand disability as a natural part of the human experience. Michigan and the nation are taking steps to ensure that people with disabilities are fully integrated into communities and workplaces. And have come to appreciate that people with disabilities are a key element and an untapped resource in sustaining the nation's historic economic growth.

The promise of the ADA is to protect people with disabilities against discrimination for purposes of employment, services of state and local government, places of public accommodation, transportation and telecommunications. While many among the nation's 54 million people with disabilities, including nearly two million in Michigan, have benefited from these protections, there's still a great deal to accomplish.

"In Michigan, consistent with the values of Integrity, Excellence, Inclusion and Teamwork, we have worked hard to achieve the ADA's core goals of equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, who issued a special certificate of tribute in honor of the ADA's 15th anniversary.

"The barriers still facing people with disabilities today took generations to develop, and breaking them down will require continued vigilance and our consistent, coordinated, and farsighted effort," she stated. "We must continue to work aggressively to increase the employment rates of people with disabilities by assailing a range of work disincentives, including barriers to education, health care, technology, housing and transportation. We must provide real choices for people with disabilities to live and work in their communities with the necessary services and supports. And we must be vigilant in protecting the rights we have secured.

"The first 15 years of the ADA's life have provided us with a solid foundation for meeting these challenges and many achievements that we celebrate today," the Governor said. Hundreds of communities and organizations throughout Michigan and the nation hosted events as part of this national celebration to encourage individuals, organizations and government entities to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the ADA.

"I am proud to join in the celebration and to renew my own pledge to help advance the cause of disability rights," said Governor Granholm. "Promoting disability rights not only improves the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities - it improves all of our lives."

RSA RESTRUCTURING GOING FORWARD

The U. S. Department of Education's plan to close all regional offices of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) by September 30, 2005, appears to be going forward despite enormous opposition by supporters of public rehabilitation. Voices of opposition have been raised by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA), the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and many others, through rallies, correspondence and other advocacy efforts.

Further, the Senate Appropriations Committee has raised concerns in their Appropriations Report, stating "The Committee is concerned about the impact that this proposal will have on regional office staff, as well as the ability of the Department to effectively administer RSA programs." Additional opposition came in a letter, July 19, sent by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (and co-signed by several other Senators) to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The letter stated, in part, "We are writing to urge you to reject the Administration's proposal to reorganize the Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) by closing RSA's 10 Regional Offices and transferring all Regional Office functions to the Central Office in Washington, D.C. The proposal will negatively impact the high-quality services that RSA provides to individuals with disabilities in their communities."

In response to many inquiries about the reorganization of RSA, the Department of Education has issued a statement which summarizes the intent of the new plan: "The new RSA organizational structure will improve the administration of RSA programs through greater program efficiencies, unified and consistent program and policy implementation, and integrated program planning. In anticipation of the implementation of the new organizational structure effective October 1, 2005, RSA has been working with state directors and stakeholders on the development of a new monitoring process. The new monitoring process will result in more effective monitoring, greater accountability, improved technical assistance to state agencies, and increased collaboration with RSA's stakeholders."

A two-day conference is being hosted by RSA, August 24-25, in Washington, D.C., with more than 120 stakeholders being invited to the table. Attendees will include representatives from public vocational rehabilitation programs, consumers, disability advocacy organizations, other community partners and stakeholders as well as the general public. RSA says the purpose of the meetings is to solicit input to their proposed Monitoring Re-design Initiative (MRI). After the conference RSA will complete its development work and will begin to implement the new monitoring process.

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED

MCB and Michigan Rehabilitation Services, both of the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, will again present the annual Small Business Recognition Awards to celebrate the achievements of small business owners with disabilities and the services provided by human service professionals who support their endeavors. This is the second year that MCB and MRS are collaborating to select the award winners and host the awards banquet.

MCB has just selected two winners, and these individuals will be honored at the fourth annual awards banquet on August 11, 2005, at Lansing Community College in Lansing. The MCB Consumer Entrepreneur of the Year is Michael La Hote, who owns and operates MFP Motorport, a business which refurbishes classic cars including Corvettes and other luxury autos. He has had up to 12 autos "in bay" at one time. The MCB Employee of the Year is Raymond Kirklin, a rehab counselor at the Saginaw office. Ray has assisted many consumers in starting their own small business entrepreneurships, and he has worked diligently with these consumers.

MICHIGAN WORKS CONFERENCE & CLEG

The 20th Annual Michigan Works! For People Conference will be held at the Soaring Eagle Resort in Mt. Pleasant, September 11-13. For two decades, the Michigan Works! system has worked hard to continually adapt to the changing shape of Michigan's workforce.

The goals for this year's conference are to strengthen partnerships, honor innovators and develop strategies to successfully navigate the ever-changing workforce development scene. This year's conference topics will include the latest news on federal and state legislative and budget issues, Workforce Investment Act reauthorization, promising practices from around the state, outreach to employers, common performance measures and creating better partnerships with communication organizations and businesses. Michigan Works! is focusing greater educational efforts in the legislative arena to ensure that, despite term limits, the legislators are informed about Michigan Works!

Following the conclusion of the conference on September 13, Director Cannon will attend the third meeting of the Governor's Council of Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG). Director Cannon is also on the CLEG entrepreneurism subcommittee, whose goal to define the specific vision, goals and measurement of progress for the Governor's initiatives to support entrepreneurism in the state.

MINI-ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM SLATED FOR JACKSON

The Michigan Commission for the Blind will hold its fourth Mini-adjustment Program of the year, August 28 through September 2, at the Holiday Inn in Jackson. It's estimated that 21 MCB clients will participate in the workshop and will be introduced to a variety of skills of blindness, such as cane travel, Braille, managing time and money, adaptive kitchen skills and other skills to enhance independence. MCB will conduct five Mini-Adjustment Programs in 2005, with the final, week-long workshop being conducted October 16-21 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bay City.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

During the summer months, the consumer services staff participated in Resilience training provided by Region V, Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP). The training emphasized techniques and procedures in working effectively with stress and job demands. The training provided staff with different approaches to assess themselves and their job demands in order to eliminate stress. Several staff stated that it was beneficial.

Several MCB staff attended a conference on Cultural Competence provided by Region V RCEP. This workshop provided the staff an opportunity to study the cultures of various ethnic groups and how to utilize the understanding of cultures in the rehabilitation process. This program was very effective in helping individuals analyze their ideas and pre-conceived thoughts regarding the cultures of Latinos, African Americans and Asians. This is a workshop that benefits all MCB staff in providing rehabilitation services to these populations.

Region V RCEP also provided training to assist rehabilitation staff in developing working relationships with Native Americans and Alaskans in urban areas. This training provided staff with approaches that have been utilized to assist in the improvement of this population in receiving services from rehabilitation agencies. MCB staff was eager to learn these techniques, in that these populations are a major area of focus for outreach activities.

The 107 Monitoring Review for the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation program usually occurs during the month of August. This review focuses on the standards and indicators set by the Rehabilitation Service Administration for all rehabilitation agencies. The monitoring will not occur this August because RSA will be closing all of the regional offices by the end of the fiscal year. The monitoring will be initiated by the State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division. This division will include a variety of stakeholders, such as community rehabilitation organizations, rehabilitation councils, Statewide Independent Living Council, consumers and state rehabilitation agency personnel.

The West Region staff anticipate an increase in outcomes in most programs including competitive employment, homemakers and IL. Staff are planning a town hall meeting in the fall in Oceana County. They are collaborating with stakeholders to develop this meeting which will provide the community with opportunities to understand more about MCB services and other community agencies.

The West Region manager met with Joyce Jensen from Experience Works, an agency that works with individuals over the age of 55 in providing employment opportunities. Ms. Jensen will be meeting with the staff to provide further details about the program and how MCB can work collaboratively with the agency. The West Region staff is working collaboratively with the Sault Ste Marie Indian Tribes to develop a cash-match agreement for the purpose of expanding vocational opportunities for Native Americans.

Additionally, West Region staff have had dialog with CILs in their area as well as the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to establish specific vocational and employment experiences and opportunities through a cash-match agreement. In August, the DeafBlind staff will participate in the DeafBlind Conference in Brooklyn, Michigan. This annual conference focuses on empowering persons that are deaf and blind to advocate for themselves.

The East Region manager is working closely with Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Detroit Public Schools to identify areas where cash-match programs can be initiated to improve vocational opportunities for blind and visually impaired students. The staff is working with Michigan Works! in the Customized Employment Program. Presently, there are four consumers participating in this program which provides specialized services to assist customers in eliminating behaviors that interfere with successful employment. The East Region staff participated in the Blue Water-Detroit-Wayne County CIL open house on July 12 located in the multi-service Samaritan Center. The director of the Blue Water CIL and the East Region manager will explore employment opportunities for persons that are blind and visually impaired.

The next Employment Readiness Seminar is scheduled for Thursday, September 1 at the Jackson Mini-Adjustment program. This program provides job-ready consumers with an opportunity to learn about conducting job searches as well as providing other resources that can assist them. The East Region staff will participate in a one-day low vision fair in Saginaw, which provides an opportunity for the community and the school districts to become familiar with the MCB Youth Low Vision Program and Independent Living services. A low vision doctor will be available to provide low vision screenings to interested participants. The East Region staff will also participate in the Abilities Expo in Novi in late August.

The Macomb Intermediate School District has collaborated with New Horizons and the Detroit Office to develop a case aide position through a cash-match agreement to assist with the development of employment opportunities for students in Macomb County. This effort was successful and it is anticipated the new aide will start August 1. Also, the Capital Area Center for Independent Living (CACIL) cash-match agreement has been finalized and a technology trainer was hired to provide blindness specific skills training in computers.

The Field and Center staff meeting is scheduled for September 16 t the Training Center at which the specific topics of field staff referrals to MCBTC and reports from MCBTC to field staff will be discussed.

MCB TRAINING CENTER REPORT

From July 17-22 the Michigan Commission for the Blind sponsored the Quest for Success program held at Camp Tuhsmeheta in Greenville. There were ten students who participated in the program. In addition to camp activities, such as swimming, the students were offered activities in the following areas: social awareness, employment, cooking and personal management. Sincere appreciation goes out to the four coordinators of these classes: Jim Baird, Betty Lujan-Roberts, Sue Fluri and Lisa Kisiel.

For the second consecutive summer, MCBTC has partnered with Western Michigan University's Department for Blindness and Low Vision Studies to provide beginning students in the rehabilitation teaching and/or counseling program with the opportunity to participate in two weeks of training using the occluders for the entire time they are at the Center. Thus far, one student has completed the experience, and it is anticipated that three more will take advantage of this program by the end of August.

At the request of MCB staff in the U.P., Jim Baird spent a week working with consumers who had participated in either the MCBTC program or the Mini Adjustment Program on orientation and mobility in their home environments.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

MCB's spending at of the end of June was well within the budget limits, having currently expended 67 percent of 2005 funds at 75 percent through the fiscal year. However, projections indicate that the gap will shrink as the end of the fiscal year approaches. MCB is near the top of its federal spending limit for this year and will request a supplemental for next fiscal year to compensate for the additional monies MCB expects to receive from the federal increase negotiated with MRS.

A new System6 test version has been received from the developer. It contains a module that incorporates the Social Security Reimbursements process from within the system. In addition, there is a cash match module that will assist MCB with monitoring and auditing local cash match agreements. Both should be very beneficial to MCB for automating processes, audit purposes and for on the spot reporting. Both features

will also be in System 7, the web based tracking system for which beta testing within the State of Michigan computing environment will begin within the next couple of months. Space has been requested on an application server from the Department of Information Technology to begin the process.

MCB has been working on securing some additional cash match agreements with the Lansing CIL along with the Midland CIL and it is hoped to have those finalized soon. Initial plans are also expected from Paradigm Inc. for the redesign of the Training Center. The plan is to assist the Training Center with upgrading its space for a state of the art Technology Center. The plan will also include optimization for BEP training, increasing and maximizing the library area, and revamping the dorm area to include additional private rooms.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REPORT

MCB has recently made progress in realizing the promise of PA 260 to provide jobs and economic independence to blind people in the Business Enterprise Program (BEP). Recently, DLEG Director David Hollister sent a letter to his colleagues, other Department directors, informing them of changes in BEP promulgated rules which clarified the law to specifically call for the inclusion of catering and coffee services as meeting the definition of vending facility. This clarification will lead to improved sales for the BEP and will improve the image of BEP operators as foodservice professionals. Director Hollister also distributed the letter at the Governor's regular cabinet meeting. Commission Director Cannon attended this meeting and was available to answer questions from the Department Directors.

Marking other progress, BEP highway vending operators are having success co-existing with Operation Care participants. MDOT and State Police officials are working closely with the Elected Operators Committee, Constance Zanger and other BEP staff to educate various non-profit organizations regarding the provisions of Operation Care permits. Each year, during the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day weekends, nonprofit organizations are allowed to provide free coffee and snack items along with safety related information to the traveling public at highway rest areas and welcome centers, including those where blind people operate businesses. Operators and staff are proud and pleased to work together with others to contribute to highway safety and community support of non-profit causes.

The BEP is pleased with the results of the first attempt to provide summer jobs for blind youth in BEP facilities. Consumer Services and BEP have been successful in placing blind teens in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Employing the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) concept, the BEP will work with Consumer Services to create an even more successful program next summer.

The Promotion and Rules Subcommittee of the Elected Operators Committee is meeting to develop language to implement the demotion policy revisions adopted by the Commission Board at its June meeting. BEP staff are working with MCB Training Center staff to strengthen and refine the BEP training assessment. BEP continues to experience improvements in the quality of training and the preparedness of trainees.

The BEP is on course to provide jobs to approximately 7 blind persons this year. The BEP remains a reliable source of quality jobs for blind people. With the level of support and cooperation currently being experienced from other departments and within the Commission, BEP expects to continue to improve the quality and quantity of job opportunities.

PERSONNEL

A new employee began work August 1 as a Secretary 8 in the Detroit Regional Office. Ms. Rita Henderson comes to MCB from the Unemployment Insurance Agency, another bureau located within DLEG.

The open enrollment period for employee benefits for the next fiscal year will be August 15-31. For those who will not be adding and/or removing a dependent and wish to maintain their current benefits and coverage, no action is necessary. Information will be available on the Civil Service website.

The Employee Benefits section of Civil Service will be conducting a "dependent audit" within all state departments. DLEG will participate in this from September 12 to October 12. A letter will be going out to each employee explaining the specifics of the audit. Basically, employees will be required to provide documentation for each dependent in order to continue to include them for benefits. This may be a birth certificate, a marriage license, etc. depending on the situation. More information will be provided in the upcoming weeks.

TRAINING

Recent training programs provided for staff have included Empowerment, Resilience, Native American issues, and cultural diversity issues. A session on job placement strategies for clients with criminal records is scheduled for August 4 in Grand Rapids. The Michigan Rehabilitation Conference is scheduled for November 8-10 at the Amway in Grand Rapids. DLEG will be offering training for managers on a quarterly basis over the next year. Topics such as grievance procedures, union contracts, ADA, ergonomics, and performance management will be discussed. The next session is scheduled for November 29.

PAQ TEAM UPDATE

The most recent Planning and Quality (PAQ) Team meeting was held on June 27. Information for the quarterly Action Plan was discussed and organized under four main goals. MCB's goals were then aligned with the Four Roads put forth by the Governor's Office - Urban Revitalization, Entrepreneurship, Retain & Grow Business, and Workforce Development. This report was submitted to the Director's Office July 29. MCB will continue to keep track of all the items suggested and developed from the Focus Design Teams and other partners for its internal "work plan."

Also at this PAQ meeting, a conversation was held to examine the activities MCB has completed over the past 5 years, achievements to take pride in and what actions continue to require work. John Victory facilitated the discussion and began by presenting information about the concept of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) where basically the positives are identified and continued rather than focusing on the negatives. AI states that problems need to be "dealt" with but not "dwelled" on to the point where all the good things happening within the organization are forgotten. This conversation will continue over the coming months.