Community and Business Partners Highly Commended at Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Honor Roll Awards

Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-373-9280
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov

December 26, 2018 - The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) recently presented its annual Achievement Honor Roll Awards to several business, community, and pre-employment transition service (Pre-ETS) partners for their exemplary dedication and contribution toward the training and employment of blind or visually impaired individuals served by BSBP.

“This year’s BSBP partner honorees without hesitation, have opened doors through their advocacy, created customized work experiences through their innovation, and recognized the true potential of our BSBP clients for what they can do,” said BSBP Director William Robinson. “I am grateful to each of our partners who have worked tirelessly alongside our BSBP team members to maximize BSBP services and help ensure meaningful, integrated and competitive employment of our clients for greater independence and self-sufficiency.”

Click here for the list of Business, Employer and Pre-ETS Partners Achievement Honor Roll Recipients

BSBP provides training and other services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve employment and/or independence in the careers of their choice.

The BSBP programs and services include:

• The BSBP Business Enterprise Program (BEP) that provides blind individuals with opportunities for employment. The BEP operates vending routes on State of Michigan highways, and cafeteria facilities in state and federal government facilities as well as in a limited number of private sector buildings. The role of the BEP is to guide and assist the operator in achieving upward mobility.
• The BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation Program helps blind citizens become employed in a career that suits their current abilities. The program provides vocational counseling and training in skills of blindness to eligible consumers.
• The BSBP Independent Living Older Blind Program provides skills of blindness training to individuals who are 55 years and older to maintain their independence in their home and community.
• The BSBP Transition Program helps students age 14 – 26 to successfully transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment based on the student’s goal.
• The BSBP Training Center is a residential facility providing comprehensive instruction, personal adjustment training in skills of blindness and vocational exploration to blind and visually impaired BSBP consumers so they can become independent at home and in the community. 
• The BSBP Braille and Talking Book Library serves people with visual impairments and offers a diverse set of materials.
• The BSBP Youth Low Vision Program provides headborne devices to school age children who are blind or visually impaired through the intermediate school district where the child is registered to attend school.

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living programs described in this press release are funded 78.7 percent through a VR grant from the U.S. Department of Education and 21.3 percent through state funding. Total federal funding for federal fiscal year 2018 was approximately $19,409,613. The pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) provided under the Vocational Rehabilitation program are funded 100 percent through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For federal fiscal year 2018, the total amount of grant funds used for Pre-ETS services is expected to approximate or exceed $2 million.

For more information about BSBP visit www.michigan.gov/bsbp or call toll-free: 
800-292-4200, TTY 888-864-1212. BSBP is a part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 

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