In order to be eligible for Michigan Commission for the Blind rehabilitation services:

A. An individual must have a visual impairment as defined by Public Act 260.

DEFINITION OF LEGAL BLINDNESS: THE INDIVIDUAL’S VISUAL ACUITY WITH BEST CORRECTION MUST BE 20/200 OR WORSE IN THE BETTER EYE OR HIS/HER VISUAL FIELDS MUST SUBTEND AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IN EACH EYE.

or

THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE A VISUAL ACUITY WITH BEST CORRECTION 20/100 OR WORSE IN THE BETTER EYE WITH A PROGNOSIS OF RAPID DETERIORATION.

B. The impairment must constitute or result in a substantial impediment to employment and/or independent living for the individual.

C. It is presumed that the individual can benefit in terms of an employment and/or independent living outcome.

D. In the case of vocational rehabilitation consumers, a determination is made that the individual requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, enter into, engage in, or retain gainful employment.

Individuals who are allowed Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries or are Social Security Supplemental Income recipients and meet the Michigan Commission for the Blind definition of visual impairment are automatically eligible for vocational rehabilitation services without additional tests or procedures to assess "intent" of applicants that would hinder speedy access to vocational rehabilitation services. These individuals are considered to be an "individual with a significant disability and should be presumed eligible for services." This information must be documented in the Certification of Eligibility.

There is no state residency requirement for the provision of rehabilitation services. Aliens may be eligible for services if they have the appropriate work permit; non-immigrant aliens may work if they have certain permits and may therefore be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. The Director of Client Services must be consulted in any matters relating to eligibility of Michigan Commission for the Blind staff or their families, to ensure appropriate handling and confidentiality.

Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services is based on an assessment of an individual’s functional limitations as they relate to impediments to employment. Functional limitations in the following areas should be considered when determining the impediments to employment:

A. Mobility – the physical and psychological ability to travel to and from destinations in the community. This includes orientation – the ability of the individual to know where he/she is, where he/she wants to go and how to get there, as well as the ability to adapt and adjust to new environments;

B. Communication – the ability to effectively exchange information through spoken or written words, sign, Braille concepts, gestures or any other means. This includes language – the ability to place labels and meaning to objects, actions and concepts such as who, what, where, when, and how. This also includes Braille literacy – the ability for an individual to read and write Braille or written words at a level appropriate for his/her age;

C. Self-care – the ability to manage one's own living situation, thereby allowing participation in training or work activities. This includes management of special health and safety needs;

D. Self-direction – the ability to plan, initiate, problem-solve and carry out goal-directed activities;

E. Interpersonal skills – the ability to make and maintain personal, family and community relationships;

F. Work tolerance – the capacity to effectively perform job requirements with or without accommodations; and

G. Work skills – the ability to do specific tasks required for a particular job.

Where possible, it is absolutely necessary to use pre-existing information and thorough counseling interviews to determine the individual's functional limitations. Regardless of the age of the information, it must reflect the current functioning of the individual. To document a substantial impediment to employment, the counselor/teacher may obtain information from a variety of sources, such as direct observation; statements from the individual, the individual's family or others involved in the individual's activities; medical, psychological and other diagnostic reports; and/or records from the Social Security Administration, Veteran's Administration and educational institutions. Assistive technology and services must be used to the extent possible in gathering additional assessment information. To the extent possible, additional assessment should be obtained in realistic, integrated employment settings.

In the special case of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, it is important to obtain visual acuities where there is a question regarding the individual's legal blindness. If this information is not available from currently existing sources, an optometric or ophthalmological exam must be obtained. In the case of an obvious visual disability such as a person who has two enucleated eyes or a person who has been known to the Michigan Commission for the Blind in the past, it is not necessary to obtain these reports for determining eligibility.

If an individual is determined eligible, a Certificate of Eligibility must be completed and signed by the appropriate counselor. If the counselor believes the individual is not eligible due to the severity of the impairment such that the individual cannot benefit from services, the procedures for a trial work experience must be followed. If the individual's visual impairment does not meet the criteria for eligibility stated above, the individual must be referred to the appropriate office of Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Only individuals who are considered most severely impaired, i.e., who have three or more functional limitations based on the list above, are eligible for supported employment service. If appropriate, this must be documented in the Certification of Eligibility.