Rehabilitation services shall be provided, as necessary, to an individual to assess his/her eligibility for services, to more specifically determine what services are necessary to attain his/her vocational objective, and to help him/her achieve his/her vocational objective.

Prior to receiving these services, an individual shall have an introduction to the "Skills of Blindness" as defined by the Michigan Commission for the Blind: the concepts, attitudes and techniques necessary for a blind or visually impaired individual to maximize his/her potential according to his/her individual abilities, needs and aspirations.

These services shall be provided according to the following categories:

A. Assessment for determining eligibility and priority for services

B. Assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs

C. Vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance

Individuals shall receive extensive vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance, as necessary, to assist in establishing an appropriate vocational objective and in developing an Individual Plan for Employment. These services may also be ongoing to assist individuals in dealing with any impediments to success throughout the rehabilitation process.

D. Referral and other services

Referral and other services to help applicants and eligible individuals secure needed services from other agencies

Individuals shall be made aware of the services of the Client Assistance Program during the application process and throughout the vocational rehabilitation process, but especially when a conflict arises between the individual and his/her counselor/teacher.

E. Physical and mental restoration services:

1. Corrective surgery or therapeutic treatment that is likely, within a reasonable period of time, to correct or substantially modify a stable or slowly progressive physical or mental impairment that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment

2. Diagnosis of and treatment for mental or emotional disorders by qualified personnel in accordance with state licensure laws

3. Dentistry

4. Nursing services

5. Necessary hospitalization (either inpatient or outpatient care) in connection with surgery or treatment and clinic services

6. Drugs and supplies

7. Prosthetic, orthotic or other assistive devices, including hearing aids

8. Low-vision services:

Eyeglasses and visual services, including visual training, and the examination and services for the prescription and provision of eyeglasses, contact lenses, microscopic lenses, telescopic lenses and other special visual aids prescribed by personnel that are qualified in accordance with state licensure law and shall be provided by the Michigan Commission for the Blind

9. Podiatry

10. Physical therapy

11. Occupational therapy

12. Speech or hearing therapy

13. Treatment of either acute or chronic medical complications and emergencies that are associated with or arise out of the provision of physical and mental restoration services or that are inherent in the condition under treatment

14. Special services for the treatment of individuals with end-stage renal disease, including transplantation, dialysis, artificial kidneys and supplies

15. Other medical or medically related vocational rehabilitation services

F. Vocational and other training:

Vocational and other training services, including personal and vocational adjustment training, books, tools, and other training materials, except that no training or training services in an institution of higher education (universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes or hospital schools of nursing) shall be paid unless maximum efforts have been made by the counselor/teacher and the individual to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to pay for the training

G. Maintenance in connection with the rendering of any vocational rehabilitation service

Maintenance is a supportive service of the agency that may be provided to cover the food, shelter or other subsistence expenses for an eligible individual or an individual undergoing a Trial Work Experience. It may be provided only to enable an individual to participate in specific rehabilitation services. Maintenance payments may not exceed the amount of increased expenses necessitated by participating in the services. It may not be provided to raise an individual’s standard of living. Only the following expenses will be considered when determining maintenance needs:

1. Rent/mortgage/dormitory fees (based on double occupancy)

2. Food (college plan or, if not appropriate, state rate)

3. Basic telephone charges

4. Utilities, not including cable or satellite television

5. Medical expenses not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

6. Expenses related to guide dogs not covered by other organizations

7. Incidental expenses of $100 per month

If a student elects to live in a residence other than a dormitory, the maximum rate will be that of the room and board based on double occupancy in the dormitory at the specific school. The agency will not support the costs associated with maintaining two households for an Individual Plan for Employment where training lasts more than one year.

Through the Individual Plan for Employment, the counselor/teacher and the individual must develop a budget based on a list of actual expenses compared to income. It is important to consider all resources including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) benefits when determining income.

Every student must participate financially in his or her education. College students are required to apply for SSI/SSDI or contribute the maximum amount according to the Social Security Administration Red Book for the current year. If the Social Security application is denied or awarded at less than the maximum level because of individual or family income and assets, the student will contribute the difference to the maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) allowable amount for each semester or term attended.

The financial aid award letter must be submitted to MCB a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of any term or semester for which the student is seeking financial assistance. Failure to submit the award letter will result in non-sponsorship for that semester or term. However, letters received after this deadline may be considered for determining sponsorship for the following semester or term.

This policy was approved by the Michigan Commission for the Blind Board at its June 24, 2005, meeting.

H. Transportation in connection with the rendering of any vocational rehabilitation service

Every effort must be made to assist individuals in becoming totally independent in their travel. In those instances where financial assistance in connection with the rendering of vocational rehabilitation service is appropriate, individuals shall be reimbursed for the cost of their travel and related expenses at state rates. The most economical and practical mode of transportation must be used. The "state travel agent" must be utilized to make air travel arrangements unless, under unusual circumstances, an exemption is obtained from the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

I. Services to family members

Vocational rehabilitation services to family members of an applicant or eligible individual to enable the applicant or eligible individual to achieve an employment outcome

J. Interpreter, intervenor and reader service

Interpreter services for individuals who are deaf, tactile interpreter services for individuals who are DeafBlind, intervenor services for individuals who are DeafBlind, and reader services for individuals determined to be blind

K. "Skills of blindness" training

Among these personal adjustment skills are orientation and mobility, communications, Braille, cooking and related rehabilitation teaching.

L. Recruitment and training

Recruitment and training services to provide new employment opportunities in the fields of rehabilitation, health, welfare, public safety, law enforcement and other appropriate public service employment

M. Work-related placement services

Job search assistance, placement assistance and job retention services including job coaching and other supportive services to individuals to obtain or maintain suitable competitive employment in the community

N. Supported Employment Services

Supported Employment Services shall be provided to those individuals who, by the Michigan Commission for the Blind definition, have the most significant disabilities; for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred or for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a significant disability; and who, because of the nature and severity of their disabilities, need intensive Supported Employment Services from the Michigan Commission for the Blind and extended services after transition in order to perform this work. Among specific services funded under Title VI, Part C (Supported Employment) are:

1. A supplemental assessment to help develop, finalize or reassess an Individual Plan for Employment for Supported Employment

2. Job development and job placement

3. Provision of time-limited services needed to support an individual in employment as follows:

a. Intensive on-the-job skills training and other training and support services needed to achieve and maintain job stability;

b. Follow-up services with employers, the supported employee, parents and guardians, and others for the purpose of supporting and stabilizing the job placement;

c. Discrete post-employment services (following transition to extended services) that are not available from the extended service provider and are needed to maintain job placement; and

d. Other services listed in this section of the manual.

An Individual Plan for Employment for Supported Employment must state how follow-along contacts will be made twice a month once the vocational rehabilitation program obligations have been met. The individual's choice of a suitable employment outcome goal must be stated as well.

O. Personal assistance services

Personal assistance services are services designed to assist an individual with a disability to perform daily living activities on or off the job that the individual would typically perform without assistance if the individual did not have a disability. The services must be designed to increase the individual's control in life and ability to perform everyday activities on or off the job. The services must be necessary to the achievement of an employment outcome and may be provided only while the individual is receiving other vocational rehabilitation services. The services may include training in managing, supervising and directing personal assistance services.

P. Post-employment services

Post-employment services may be provided to ensure that the employment outcome remains consistent with the individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities and interests. These services are available to meet rehabilitation needs that do not require a complex and comprehensive provision of services and, thus, should be limited in scope and duration. If more comprehensive services are required, then a new rehabilitation effort should be considered. Post-employment services are to be provided under an amended Individual Plan for Employment, thus a re-determination of eligibility is not required. Post-employment services are available to assist an individual to maintain employment. Some examples are: the individual's employment is jeopardized because of conflicts with supervisors or co-workers and the individual needs mental health services and counseling to maintain the employment; services are needed to regain employment; the individual's job is eliminated through reorganization and new placement services are needed; services are needed to advance in employment; or the employment is no longer consistent with the individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities and interests.

Q. Occupational licenses, tools, equipment, initial stock and supplies

R. Rehabilitation technology

Rehabilitation technology including telecommunications, sensory, rehabilitation engineering, and other technological aids and devices are provided to meet the needs of and address the barriers confronted by individuals with disabilities in areas including education, rehabilitation, employment, transportation, independent living, integration into the community, and recreation. Rehabilitation engineering includes the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, apply and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision and cognition.

S. Youth Low Vision and Transition Services

Youth Low Vision Services and Transition Services include a coordinated set of activities designed within an outcome-oriented process that promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation. These activities must be based upon the individual student's needs, taking into account the student's preferences and interests, and must include other post-school adult living objectives and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational assessment. Transition services must promote or facilitate the accomplishment of long-term rehabilitation goals and intermediate rehabilitation objectives identified in the student's Individual Plan for Employment. Services must be coordinated with the goals, objectives and services identified in an individual's Individual Educational Plan. Transition services are not meant to remove the responsibilities of school systems under the special education laws. They are meant to augment and enhance those services already being provided. The services may start as soon as appropriate, but they should start no later than age 14. (See Youth Low Vision Policy and Procedures under "Other Michigan Commission for the Blind Programs.")

T. Other goods and services necessary for the individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome

SELF-EMPLOYMENT, TELECOMMUTING AND SMALL BUSINESS

A. Self-employment

Creating ones own earnings and opportunities in the form of a business, contract work or freelance activities, characterized by minimal costs and no employees

B. Telecommuting

Services provided by computer or telephone at home for an outside employer—not self-employment and not a small business

C. Small Business

An independently owned and operated company with one or more employees. The following conditions must be met before an Individual Plan for Employment will be written to establish a small business:

1. The individual must submit a letter of intent to his/her counselor or counselor/teacher.

2. The individual must demonstrate the financial skills to maintain a successful business or identify the appropriate outside financial resources he/she will use (i.e., an accountant) to meet his/her financial obligations.

3. This policy, the procedure and the resource packet must be reviewed with the individual.

4. The individual must prove, by financial and/or legal documents, that he/she will have controlling interest in the business.

5. The individual must submit a business plan completed in collaboration with a qualified business planner. This plan will outline the start-up costs and identify the required long-term supports necessary to successfully operate the business.

6. All financial resources must be explored before the agency will participate in the establishment of a small business and then only with the start-up costs outlined in the business plan.

7. A longer period than the required 90 days for follow-up will be established in a case where the employment objective reflects the establishment of a small business. The time period will be agreed upon between the counselor/teacher and the individual. During this time, monthly financial reports and progress reports regarding the goals outlined in the business plan will be provided to the agency by the individual.

8. The individual will demonstrate knowledge of laws regarding business ownership or obtain a resource that provides legal consulting for the business.

The individual’s counselor/teacher will assist in this process by helping the individual make informed choices by arranging for appropriate assessments, assisting in determining accommodations, and providing resource information.

See MCB’s Small Business Procedures for the establishment of small businesses (section XVII, "Procedures.")

Vocational rehabilitation services may also be provided to groups of individuals according to the following categories:

A. The establishment, development or improvement of a public or other nonprofit community rehabilitation program that is used to provide services that promotes integration and competitive employment;

B. Telecommunications systems that have the potential for substantially improving vocational rehabilitation service delivery methods and developing appropriate programming to meet the particular needs of individuals with disabilities, including telephone, television, video description services, satellite, tactile-vibratory devices and similar systems as appropriate;

C. Special services to provide recorded material or video description services for individuals who are blind, captioned television, films or video cassettes for individuals who are deaf, tactile materials for individuals who are deaf-blind and other special services that provide information through tactile, vibratory, auditory and visual media;

D. Technical assistance and support services, such as job site modification and other reasonable accommodations, to businesses that are not subject to Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and that are seeking to employ individuals with disabilities; and

E. Small business enterprises operated by groups of individuals with the most severe disabilities under the supervision of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, including enterprises established under the governing regulations of the Randolph-Sheppard Program, including management services and supervision, initial expenses, acquisition of equipment, initial stocks and supplies.

(See section XVII, "Procedures.")