INTRODUCTION

The Michigan Commission for the Blind intends to evaluate all applicants without delay to determine eligibility for services (i.e., within 60 days) and to provide services to all eligible individuals until such time as a reduction in services must be imposed due to a shortage of funds, staff or other resources. In the event such a shortage should occur, the Michigan Commission for the Blind will implement an Order of Selection for services to assist individuals who are legally blind and who are found eligible on and after the implementation date. Services will be provided without restriction to all individuals who have completed an Individual Plan for Employment prior to the implementation date and to those in a Trial Work Experience in order to determine eligibility. There will be no restriction of services to individuals receiving post-employment services. A waiting list will be maintained by category and by application date of all those eligible individuals. Within categories, individuals will be served on a "first come, first served" basis. Individuals in Category A will be served first. Other categories will be served in ascending order based on the availability of funds. All principles will be applied uniformly throughout the state.

In the event the Michigan Commission for the Blind is under an Order of Selection, information about alternative services will be provided to individuals who are not in open categories. In addition, referrals will be made to other appropriate sources of services. A standard Michigan Commission for the Blind Referral Form will be used for this process.

CATEGORIES FOR THE ORDER OF SELECTION

It is understood that Public Safety Officers will receive priority for services within each category.

A. Individuals with the most significant disabilities

B. Individuals with significant disabilities

C. Individuals with less significant disabilities

D. Individuals with non-significant disabilities

DEFINITIONS

A. Eligible Individuals: Individuals with a disability and requiring vocational rehabilitation to prepare for, enter, engage in or retain employment and/or independent living will be considered eligible. In the specific case of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, the definition of disability only includes individuals with a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a limitation of the field of vision not greater than 20 degrees, or a visual acuity of 20/100 in the better eye with a deteriorating condition as a primary disability. Individuals may have other conditions (secondary disabilities), which will be taken into consideration when determining their eligibility for services. DeafBlind individuals and individuals who are blind as a result of traumatic brain injury are classified under federal guidelines as special categories. However, they are still considered blind by the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

B. Functional Limitations: Limitations in life skills as delineated by the following seven functional areas:

1. Mobility—the physical and psychological ability to travel safely to and from destinations in the community. This includes orientation: the ability of a 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.

2. 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 to his/her age.

3. 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.

4. Self-direction—the ability to plan, initiate, problem-solve, and carry out goal-directed activities.

5. Interpersonal skills—the ability to make and maintain personal, family, and community relationships.

6. Work tolerance—the ability to effectively perform job requirements with or without accommodations.

7. Work skills—the ability to do specific tasks required for a particular job.

C. Most Significantly Disabled Individuals: Eligible individuals who have limitations in three or more of the listed functional areas and will require multiple services over an extended period of time.

D. Significantly Disabled Individuals: Eligible individuals who have limitations in two of the listed functional areas and who will require multiple services over an extended period of time.

E. Less Significantly Disabled Individuals: Eligible individuals who have limitations in one of the listed functional areas and who will require multiple services over an extended period of time.

F. Non-significantly Disabled Individuals: Eligible individuals who have a limitation in one of the listed functional areas, but who will not need multiple services over an extended period of time.

G. Public safety officer: An individual serving the United States, a state, or a unit of government, with or without compensation, in any activity pertaining to:

1. The enforcement of the criminal laws, including highway patrol, or the maintenance of civil peace by the National Guard or the Armed Forces; or

2. A correctional program, facility, or institution where the activity is potentially dangerous because of contact with criminal suspects, defendants, prisoners, probationers, or parolees; or

3. A court having criminal or juvenile delinquent jurisdiction where the activity is potentially dangerous because of contact with criminal suspects, defendants, prisoners, probationers, or parolees; or

4. Firefighting, fire prevention, or emergency rescue missions.

IMPLEMENTATION DETERMINATION

The State Director and the Director of Client Services will continually monitor the budget, referrals, staffing levels and caseload size to determine the necessity of developing an amendment to the State Plan to implement the Order of Selection. If possible, the State Director will make this decision prior to the start of a fiscal year, and it will be incorporated into the State Plan. Upon approval of the Michigan Commission for the Blind Board and the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the plan will be implemented. Examples of reasons to invoke an Order of Selection are as follows:

A. When there is a 20 percent reduction of staff with no ability to fill vacancies, such as in the case of a "hiring freeze."

B. When 75 percent of case service funds are encumbered prior to April 1 in any given fiscal year.

C. When the average caseload size exceeds 100 individuals.

D. When severe budget limitations are placed on the Michigan Commission for the Blind due to limited funding authority or restrictions on obligating federal funds.

IMPLEMENTATION

A. At the time of application, the individual will be advised of the Michigan Commission for the Blind policy regarding Order of Selection for services. Definitions of priority categories and the criteria used in assigning individuals to these categories will be explained by the counselor/teacher.

B. At the time an applicant is determined eligible for services, the counselor will assign that individual to the highest priority category for which he/she is qualified. The category and the rationale for the decision must be documented in the case record. The counselor must clearly describe how the functional limitations restrict the individual's capacity to obtain, maintain or prepare for employment.

C. The individual will be advised, in writing, as to which category he/she has been assigned and which categories are currently being served. He/she must also be given the opportunity to appeal that decision and be given information about the Client Assistance Program to assist him/her in an appeal.

D. Once an individual is assigned to a specific category he/she cannot be moved from that category unless new circumstances occur that would put the individual in a higher category. If an individual is accidentally placed into a category higher than appropriate, the individual must be advised, in writing, of the error and the changes that will be made. He/she must also be given the opportunity to appeal that decision.

E. All individuals for which an Individual Plan for Employment has not been written on the date the Order of Selection is implemented will be advised, in writing, of the situation and advised of their classification. He/she must also be given notification of his/her right to appeal.

F. The State Director, Director of Client Services and supervisors will inform all staff, clients, referral resources and vendors that an Order of Selection is being implemented.

G. Supervisors will be responsible for monitoring the provision of services according to the Order of Selection. They will review assignments to categories and the provision of services to individuals based on the principles of the Order of Selection.

H. Categories will be opened on the basis of the availability of resources. Individuals within categories will be served on a "first come, first served" basis.

I. The Director of Client Services will monitor the activities of the Order of Selection to determine if any changes need to be made in terms of the number of individuals served by opening or closing additional Order of Selection priority categories.

 

SERVICE GOALS AND PROJECTED OUTCOMES

When preparing the Amendment to the State Plan regarding an Order of Selection for public review and comment, the Agency State Director and Director of Client Services will prepare a projection of the service goals and projected outcomes for each category based on the best current information regarding available resources for the projected time frame.