Michigan’s Bureau of Services for Blind Persons hosts annual Excellence Awards to celebrate customers’ commitment to employment and independence

LANSING, Mich. — Thirteen individuals who achieved their goals for employment or independent living after vision loss, as well as five organizations that represent the values of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, were honored by the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) during its annual Excellence Awards ceremony on Friday.

BSBP, housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, recognized customers of vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, students receiving Pre-Employment Transition Services, and business and community partners during the virtual event.

“The individuals and business partners recognized demonstrate their commitment to helping Michigan be an inclusive state for all,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “By working with both Michigan businesses and individuals with visual impairments, the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons supports our work to ensure all Michiganders have the opportunity to gain the skills needed to be successful.”

The BSBP Excellence Awards ceremony is held annually during October’s observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month which is intended to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

This year community partners, customers and team members had the opportunity to watch the virtual event from the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Training Center in Kalamazoo. In-person attendees were able to participate in an open house to learn more about the 24/7 residential facility dedicated to assisting BSBP customers in adjusting to their disability and learning skills of blindness to prepare for employment and independence.

“Thanks to the dedication of these customers, businesses and BSBP staff, we are able to ensure all Michiganders have access to the skills and education needed to be competitive in today’s economy,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “The accomplishments of these award recipients exemplify the benefit of working together to develop creative solutions to meet today’s workforce needs.”

Nominations for Excellence Award candidates came from BSBP staff throughout the state. Recipients benefitted from the many quality services provided by BSBP staff and opportunities offered by business and community partners.

This year’s recipients included:

• Vocational Rehabilitation Customers
• Nancy Holbrook – Clinton Township
• Julian Williams – Kentwood
• Michael Sincic – Williamsburg
• Kendra Rodgers – Howard City
• Pre-Employment Transition Services Customers
• Grace Reaume – South Rockwood
• Olivia Reaume – South Rockwood
• Logan Vicory – Grass Lake
• Morgan Hotchkiss – Westland
• Rebecca Musa – Kentwood
• BSBP Training Center Customer
• Marcus Townsend – Muskegon
• Independent Living Customers
• Joyce Rice – Westland
• Marianne Hunt – Big Rapids
• Dennis Mclamore – Southfield
• Business Partners
• Chartwells / Tri-County ISD Food Services – Howard
• Mass Transportation Authority – Flint
• Sam’s Club – Kentwood
• Community Partners
• Ronald Seaberry, Macomb Correctional Facility – Lenox Township
• Matthew Bryant, Men Overcoming Situations Through Enriched Sources (MOSES) – Detroit

“We are tremendously proud of the achievements demonstrated by the BSBP customers who were honored,” said BSBP Acting Director Mike Pemble. “Through hard work and perseverance, they serve as admirable examples of what can be accomplished by individuals who are visually impaired and the businesses that share our core value of inclusion.”

“This recognition is truly humbling, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to BSBP and its members who made this possible,” said Matthew Bryant, Counselor Evaluator with Men Overcoming Situations Through Enriched Sources (MOSES) in Detroit. “Without your unwavering support, we could not provide opportunities to empower your customers to gain real life work experience in their envisioned careers.”

BSBP is Michigan’s vocational rehabilitation agency for blind, deafblind and significantly visually impaired individuals. Providing workplace readiness training and other vocational rehabilitation services through seven field offices, BSBP empowers people who have vision loss to achieve their employment goals. The agency works with the business customer to provide access to individuals who are blind, deafblind and significantly visually impaired, opening the doors to career pathways.  

BSBP provides valuable independent living and workplace readiness skills through its Training Center in Kalamazoo. The agency also supports blind entrepreneurs offering food services in 201 state and federal buildings in fiscal year 2024. The Braille and Talking Book Library, located in Lansing, ensures print material is available to all Michiganders unable to use standard print materials. In fiscal year 2023, the library served more than 8,700 patrons, disseminating nearly 680,000 audio and braille books.  

For more information on the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, visit Michigan.gov/BSBP.

###

The programs described in this press release are funded as follows: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) funded 78.7% through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and 21.3% through State funding; Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) funded 90% through a grant from the USDOE and 10% through State funding; Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) funded 100 percent through the USDOE VR grant. For the federal fiscal year 2024, federal grant funds were as follows: VR $19,146,385; Pre-ETS reserve included in VR $2,871,958; ILOB $977,729.