October 6, 2006

"WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/DISABILITY" LEADING THE NATION

On September 18, Robert W. Swanson, Director of the Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG), and Teri Takai, Director of the Department of Information Technology (DIT), announced a new State of Michigan website devoted solely to the interests and concerns of people with disabilities. The State of Michigan has received national recognition for its exemplary work in information technology and the new one-stop, customer friendly site on disability resources, services and programs is the first of its kind in the nation. The site is located at www.michigan.gov/disabilityresources, or as a shortcut, at www.michigan.gov/disability.

DLEG initiated the website to encourage easier access to the department's three disability-related agencies: the Michigan Commission for the Blind, the Commission on Disability Concerns, and Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and all three agencies were actively involved in the development of the site. In addition to information specific to these agencies, the site includes information from additional state, federal, and other sources.

In the September 18 DLEG press release, DIT Director Takai said, "It's important to reach Michigan citizens with disabilities and provide them with easy access to the information and services that they need." DLEG Director Swanson said, "We anticipate the website will be very useful not only for individuals with disabilities, but also for family members and those in the medical, vocational rehabilitation, education, social work, and other human service professions."

Anyone with suggestions for making the site more helpful and user friendly is encouraged to contact the site manager at disabilityresources@michigan.gov.

NOW, BLIND PERSONS CAN VOTE PRIVATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY

During the August 8 Michigan primary election, for the first time in Michigan history, voters with disabilities could vote at the polls without assistance and in private, thanks to the new AutoMARK ballot-marking equipment. The AutoMARK equipment was in place at more than 4,200 polling places for the primary, which means that Michigan's polling places are ready and accessible to all voters for the November 7 election. One of the greatest benefits of the AutoMARK system is the freedom it provides to voters with disabilities in the voting booth. Ballots are cast with the help of a Braille keypad, foot pedal, magnification and contrast features on the screen, headphones with an audio function and a wand or personal sip/puff tube. Completed ballots were scanned and stored with all other ballots. The day after the primary election, Pat Cannon received a voicemail message from Karla Hudson, a former MCB counselor, who said, "I just wanted to let you know how excited I was on Tuesday when I was able to go and vote, independently, a secret ballot for the first time in my life. I can't tell you how often I have been annoyed that I have not been able to vote by myself, and I have always felt like I've lived in a third-world country, and always griped about it that we weren't able to do that independently, and I have to tell you that that system was awesome."

For more information about voting in Michigan and the November 7 election, see www.michigan.gov/vote.

COUNCIL FOR LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG) held its quarterly meeting in Traverse City, September 12, adjacent to the Annual Michigan Works Conference, September 9-12, at the Grand Traverse Resort. CLEG is a 73-member ongoing strategic advising body that encourages and stimulates innovative public and private responses to workforce challenges. Robert Swanson, Director of DLEG, addressed both the Michigan Works Conference and CLEG members, speaking on state, national and global economic issues and DLEG's commitment to work collaboratively with public and private sector partners to move Michigan's economy forward.

CLEG members work to develop policies and help implement programs that shape a flexible 21st century workforce that meets the needs of Michigan's businesses, allowing them to successfully compete in the global marketplace today and in the future. The council is an action-oriented board with the ability to not only recommend changes but to ensure their implementation. The council also serves as the state workforce investment board required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced, September 29, the appointment and reappointment of 16 individuals to the Council, including Jaye Shamsiddeen, the Director of Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), and Pat Cannon, MCB Director.

DLEG ANNOUNCES NAVIGATOR GRANTS

The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) has announced the award of $700,000 in Workforce Incentive Grants to the 25 Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs). The grants will fund a Disability Program Navigator initiative to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing employment and training through workforce system services.

Nine disability program "navigators" will be hired to help people with disabilities navigate through the challenges of seeking work at one-stop centers. Navigators will inform people with disabilities about the work support programs available at one-stop centers, which provide information, training, and other employment related services at a single customer friendly location.

DLEG Director Robert W. Swanson said, "This initiative is an effective way of fostering successful engagement between one-stop career centers and individuals with disabilities, thereby providing them the services needed to help overcome barriers to employment."

Nine MWAs have been allocated $60,000 to employ "navigators" at local one-stop centers with high concentrations of job seekers with disabilities. The purpose of the grants is to help increase employment and self-sufficiency opportunities by developing new and ongoing partnerships to achieve seamless, comprehensive, and integrated access to services, creating systemic change, and expanding the workforce development system's capacity to serve.

Sixteen additional MWAs will receive $10,000 in support of local "capacity building" training for one-stop center staff and Workforce Investment Boards. The training will include, but is not limited to, reasonable accommodation resources and strategies; disability etiquette; Workforce Investment Act Section 188 Non-Discrimination Regulations; Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act; and, the Americans with Disabilities Act provisions.

SUCCESSFUL MINI-ADJUSTMENT WORKSHOP IN LANSING

The Michigan Commission for the Blind conducted its fourth Mini-adjustment Program of the year, August 27 through September 1, in Lansing, with 28 individuals attending. MCB clients attending the Mini-Adjustment Program workshops are 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 four, week-long Mini-Adjustment Programs in 2007, serving approximately 140 persons who are new to sight loss. Plans are being finalized to conduct next year's workshops in Sterling Heights, Big Rapids, Escanaba and Ann Arbor.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

The Consumer Services Division has completed another successful year in all of its programs. The Vocation Rehabilitation, Independent Living, Deaf/Blind and Youth Low Vision and Transition programs were instrumental in providing services to more than 3,500 individuals during the Fiscal Year 2006. Final statistics will be provided following completion of the reports required by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) via the MCB systems data.

Five mini adjustment programs were conducted during the year where both the vocational rehabilitation and independent living staff provided the referrals with an average attendance of 34 consumers that participated throughout the year. In conjunction with the mini programs, the Employment Readiness Seminars (ERS) elevated its approach to include employers as an intricate part of the program. A number of other staff conducted additional mini employment readiness programs throughout the year. Excellent results came from these activities, resulting in employment for some consumers and job leads for many others.

The vocational rehabilitation staff continues to look for ways to increase employment outcomes through the use of short term vocational training programs, such as the guaranteed federal jobs through Lions World and other allied health occupations and entrepreneur opportunities through various community colleges and partners. These initiatives are positioning the staff to be able to produce positive results, thereby opening up more employment opportunities.

The Independent Living staff continues to work cooperatively with their community partners to provide more services to the consumers. Through their outreach activities they have been able to connect seniors with information and resources that will enhance their quality of life. Some of these enhancements include: Hadley School for the Blind services that provides a variety of educational and leisure activities, the Library for the Blind services, local advisory councils to assist seniors with transportation needs, the Area Agency on Aging as well as Volunteer Action Coordination Council that provides a variety of benefits for the senior population.

The Youth Low Vision and Transition program was very active during the fiscal year providing expanded opportunities for students. The five summer activities enabled a number of students to participate in pre-employment, employment, social and daily living skills, as well as recreational activities. During the school year, the cash match agreements with the intermediate school districts continue to expand opportunities for students 14 and above to participate in programs that will equip them with job readiness skills. MCB is working with the Michigan School for the Blind and Low Incident Outreach to assist in expanding transition activities throughout the state. Collaborative efforts continue with Centers for Independent Living and other community agencies to assist in providing transition opportunities for transition age students. The Youth Low Vision staff is working collaboratively with various community partners to expand low vision evaluations to students in areas where limited access is available.

MCB will begin the fiscal year with two new initiatives: (1) expanding collaborative efforts with the Supplier Diversity program, and (2) a joint managers meeting with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS). The Supplier Diversity program is anticipated to play an important role in expanding opportunities for consumers that are interested in establishing small businesses and those that are already in business by registering them as disabled business owners so that they can access information regarding state contracts that are open for bid. The second initiative is the joint meeting with MCB and MRS managers in October. The topic for discussion will include business services, transition and MI Connections. The first meeting will focus on general information regarding agency programs and emphasizing the importance of partnering.

MCB managers met with all rehabilitation teachers to explore ways to increase timeliness of services and to minimize travel distances in providing services to the consumers. The All Teachers meeting resulted in combining teacher services. This approach will allow for teachers to provide rehabilitation services to all consumers within the counties that they are covering. The teachers will provide services for seniors as well as individuals under 55 years of age. This approach is anticipated to prepare MCB staff to meet the increasing demand for services resulting from the aging population. Appropriate training will be provided to the staff to equip them with the necessary information and techniques to work with VR and IL consumers.

The East and West Regions will conduct staff meetings during the month of October. These meetings will provide staff with updated information regarding timeliness of services as well as standards and indicators for providing services to MCB consumers. The consumer services staff participated in a number of outreach activities as well as job fairs.

The Futuristic Ad Hoc Committee was convened to look at changing service needs and demands for MCB consumers. The committee consisted of field staff and managers to discuss the futuristic needs of the agency in order to meet the changing service demands. The committee has met three times and preliminary data indicates that the commission must be in a position to meet the following four priorities:

- First, the aging population, in particular the baby boomers who will impact MCB services and resources. The committee recommended several approaches to meet the needs of this population. One strategy to assist MCB is to partner with the Area Agency on Aging to facilitate more services to this population.

- The second priority is job placement to develop a business services staff to assist counselors in placing job ready consumers; to partner with other community rehabilitation organizations to provide more job placement assistance for blind and visually impaired consumers; to monitor the labor market trends to determine the types of current and future job trends; to provide a statewide list of job ready consumers and to participate in the National Business Job Network.

- The third priority is system change that reflects the need for rehabilitation counseling curriculum to be expanded to include other types of human services as well as job placement skills; emphasis on recruitment at an early age in order to develop career tracks for individuals entering into rehabilitation counseling careers; establishing specialties to meet the need of various populations, such as prison re-entry, adjudicated youths, and the urban drop-out rates among minorities. This will require working with the universities that provide rehabilitation counseling programs.

- The fourth priority is technology and to develop cash match agreements with intermediate school districts to emphasize the need for blind and visually impaired students to be equipped to meet the technical demands for futuristic employment; involve parent groups so they will be instrumental in advocating for math, science and technology for students. MCB needs to send representatives to participate in Closing the Gap, which is a technology conference that introduces new devices to assist individuals with disabilities and C-Sun, a technology conference that specifically focuses on technology that helps to level the playing field for those are blind and visually impaired. The Assisted Technology Industry Association is also another conference that provides new technology to assist persons with blindness and other disabilities. These conferences are valuable in providing information to the disabled population to enable them to participate in employment and daily living activities. Emphasis should be concentrated on working with the technology developers so that they can integrate software that would allow for individuals with disabilities to access the new systems independently.

Staff will be assigned to work on priorities identified by the Futuristic Ad Hoc Committee as they relate to MCB's future service needs and demands.

TRAINING CENTER REPORT

The Dance of Change: On August 24, 2006, Melody Lindsey so gracefully danced through goodbyes with mixed emotions. The MCBTC staff and students gathered together wishing her well with a big beautiful cake, a poem of farewell and reminiscing her past 7 years as Director of the MCBTC.

On October 9, 2006 the MCBTC will be welcoming the new director, Christine Boone. Her credentials as well as past experience have prepared her well for the role she will be assuming. A reception at the MCBTC for all staff, consumers, and community partners will be held on October 26th.

In addition to the usual personal adjustment training programs and College and Vending Stand Training assessments, the following notable activities took place:

- MCBTC sent a teacher to Bay City to deal with a Job in Jeopardy. The instructor worked with the client and his employer at the place of employment in order to recommend job modifications and to provide orientation and mobility training at the job site.

- MCBTC sent an Occupational Therapist to the home of a special needs student with advanced MS. The OT assessed the student's living environment, made recommendations for adaptations, and transported the student to Kalamazoo for further evaluation and training. At the completion of training, the same OT transported this student back to her home and helped make sure the training and adaptations could be implemented. This case was a beautiful example of the Center's commitment to the Governor's four core values of Excellence; Inclusion; Integrity; and Teamwork.

- MCBTC sent an instructor to Flint to evaluate a client referred to the Center who uses a wheelchair. While at the client's home, the instructor assessed the living environment inside the client's residence and was able to make useful recommendations to the teaching staff regarding skill training and environmental adaptations that would and would not transfer to the client's actual living situation. The instructor also assessed the surrounding neighborhood in order to obtain a realistic perception of opportunities for independent travel for this consumer.

- Students at MCBTC helped to make recognition award plaques for the DLEG semi-annual awards ceremony.

- Seven students at MCBTC enrolled in the newly offered Business Math class being conducted at the Center under the auspices of Goodwill.

- The Eschenbach Company, innovators in the area of Low Vision devices, put on a presentation about hand held low vision aids for staff and students.

- The Training Center has a brand new walking track, with improved grading and landscaping, thanks to the tireless efforts of Dan Grover, the new Maintenance Supervisor.

- Chelsea White, a field representative from the Seeing Eye, and her Seeing Eye Dog, Pippin, held an open informational meeting with interested students and staff dealing with dog-guides in general and the Seeing Eye in particular.

- Mike Ellis, of MEE Inc., did a presentation on some of the latest developments in adapted communications equipment for interested students and staff.

- New counter tops were installed in the Student Training Kitchen. These counters were necessary in order to correct and prevent a problem with mold that was caused by the design of the old counter tops.

- MCBTC has scheduled an instructor to meet with Oakland County school teachers who have expressed an interest in learning more about what the Center does, especially in the area of Orientation and Mobility. In addition to addressing teachers' questions, the instructor will use this meeting to present information to the school personnel about the recently updated College Assessments and Vending Stand Training Evaluations. The goal is to help teachers, parents, and students obtain an early understanding of the expectations in these areas so that prospective students will be properly prepared.

- MCBTC has scheduled an instructor to go to Detroit to work with a new employment placement. This client will be starting the full time job in mid October.

- And finally, John Boes, a teacher and counselor who served the people of the State Of Michigan for thirty-three years, retired on September 25. A wonderful banquet was held in his honor on September 20 and many friends and colleagues from throughout the state attended this event. MCB has been able to contract with Faith Meadows, a former MCB counselor, and has also temporarily engaged Bruce Schultz, who has a background in counseling, to act as interim counselors, in order to provide continuous counseling services to students.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

As of September 25, the budget was right on target at 97 percent of the FY06 funding expended. Next year's anticipated overall budget increase should be approximately one million dollars. However, increases in wages and retirement could result in those expenditures costing more than sixty percent of the FY 07 budget increase. At least thirty percent would be from current state employees and BEP retirement with the additional thirty percent being accounted for if the department requires that MCB move current contractual employees to State of Michigan positions.

The move to the web based client tracking system is in its final stages. Training is expected to be completed by October 31. The systems will be shut down from November 3 through November 7 for the database move. Beginning November 8 the Vocational Rehabilitation tracking system will be accessed via the internet through a secured site. The BEP food service system will be accessed from the same site using remote access until the entire system is moved to the new web based front engine. That is expected to happen by January 1, 2007.

Gwen McNeal and Sherri Heibeck had the privilege of attending the first of four sessions of the Executive Leadership Program through the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute through George Washington University and San Diego State University. This first seminar focused on Public Policy and Constituency Building in Rehabilitation. This session was held in Washington D.C. with a very full agenda that included: Contemporary Issues in Vocational Rehabilitation; Executive Coaching; an overview of State Councils and Consumer Participation; Effective Mentoring Presentation; a trip to Capitol Hill to review Legislative Processes and meet with Congressional staff and members of the current administration; Ethics in Leadership; Trends in Rehabilitation; Assessing Disability Policy; Constituency Building with RSA Staff; and Visionary Leadership. This was a great learning opportunity for both staff, and they are anticipating the next 3 seminars which will focus on: Leadership and Organizational Issues in a Cross-Cultural Environment; Fiscal and Legal Systems; and Integration of Strategic Systems. One exceptional feature of this leadership training is the individualized executive coaching provided to each participant by university staff for a two and one-half year period. Again this is an exceptional opportunity.

MCB has had a presence at some recent major Lansing-area events focusing on employment, Hispanic heritage, and eye care. On September 26, MCB staff greeted nearly 60 employers and more than 2,000 job seekers at the 2006 Fall Job Expo at the Lansing Center, providing information on MCB's services and answering questions about the agency. For the third time, MCB was a sponsor of this semi-annual event, held each spring and fall. Other sponsors included Capital Area Michigan Works!, the Lansing State Journal, Lansing Community College, and Fox 47. On September 28, MCB hosted a booth at the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on the Capitol lawn. On October 4-5, MCB was invited to host a booth at the Michigan Optometric Association fall seminar held at the Lansing Center. On October 11, the Southeast Employment job fair will be held at the State Fair ground in Detroit.

The MCB general brochure, also known as the welcome brochure, has been distributed to all MCB offices. This brochure is MCB's main printed publication, with information on all MCB programs and services as well as contact information for each office. The publication is available on the MCB website in the What's New section on the front page and on the Resources, Publications.

Outreach to Michigan eye care professionals continues with MCB's fall 2006 mailing of the MCB welcome brochure to optometrists and ophthalmologists statewide.

At the suggestion of the Consumer Involvement Council, MCB Information packets have been developed and are now being distributed to all potential and new MCB consumers. The packets include the Welcome to MCB brochure, Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired brochure, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan brochure, Newsline brochure, Talking Books brochure (from the Library of Michigan, Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped), American Printing House for the Blind Products Catalog, and the U.S. Postal Service publication titled Mailing Free Matter for Blind and Visually Handicapped Persons. The following additional items have been ordered and will be included in the packets as soon as supplies arrive: Directory of Visually Impaired Services, Parents of Blind Children in Michigan brochure, and Michigan Parents of Children With Visual Impairments brochure.

Planning has begun for a new MCB Training Center video, with shooting to begin during the fall color season.

Regarding Human Resources, applications for the rehabilitation counselor position in Lansing have been received from approximately 20 people and after conferring with DLEG Human Resources staff, six people who are the most qualified will be invited to interview on October 20.

The maintenance mechanic position at the Training Center made vacant by the promotion of Dan Grover will be posted shortly.

Work continues with Civil Service and DLEG HR to get approval to fill the BEP manager vacancy. It is hoped to have that resolved by the end of October, at which time it can be posted on the Civil Service website.

The Michigan Rehab Conference is set for November 15-17, with approximately 20 staff attending this annual premier event for rehabilitation professionals, educators, and consumers. It is being held at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme.

The technology in-service training at the Center is scheduled for the Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. More details regarding the agenda will be distributed by the Technology Focus Design Team over the next several weeks.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REPORT

The classroom portion of the Vending Stand Training Program concluded on September 13. Graduation was held for Hazel Brooks, Gregg Keasley, Robert Bradley and Rutherford Beard who successfully completed all of the required classes and passed all the necessary tests. They are now in the process of completing their on the job training and should be potential operators by the end of October. Congratulations to the graduates! Commendations are due to the BEP staff who worked very hard and put in long hours to make this training a success.

The quarterly Elected Operator Committee (EOC) meeting was held on September 15-16 in Battle Creek. Tom Kent brought in representatives from Aflac Insurance Company to present available insurances that operators can provide to their employees. There was much discussion regarding the food service management contract that is being utilized at several locations. It was determined that the contract needed further discussion and research. BEP management and the EOC subcommittees will be meeting to discuss the contract. BEP will also be meeting with the EOC finance subcommittee to go over priority setting for equipment purchases and budget for FY'07.