Moving the needle…
June 30th marks the halfway point of the calendar year, the end of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program Year (PY) 2021, and completion of the third quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. I do not know how many calendars you keep track of, however, as Director I am maxed out!
The PY is important because that is how BSBP is evaluated by our federal funder – the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) after the enactment of WIOA. The PY also aligns with our Workforce partners’ program year and the Unified State Plan (USP) which lays out strategies and plans for meeting the demands of the 21st century labor market as well as alignment of BSBP services to meet those needs.
The FY is important because we report to our State Rehabilitation Council on a FY basis, we budget and account for our grant reporting on a FY basis and we track and report independent living goals and outcomes on a FY basis.
The calendar year is important because June 30th marks the end of our education partners’ year. June 30th also marks the deadline for the FY23 State Budget to be negotiated and signed by our governor. The calendar year is the basis for which BSBP sets certain objectives and priorities. The calendar year represents the basis for planning our personal lives.
On that note, I hope you are enjoying the summer and have been able to take some time to celebrate warm, sunny skies including our own Michigan summer destinations. Personally, I took time over the July 4th holiday week and enjoyed my favorite northern Michigan locations. For those that know me well, I did cast a fishing line and caught several nice smallmouth bass!
If you would like to ask a specific question about our progress or suggest a topic for a future newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact BSBP at LEO-BSBP-Executiveoffice@michigan.gov
My very best,
Bill Robinson
BSBP Director
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Gary Horton, a successful Detroit business owner, knew at an early age that something was wrong with his vision however that never deterred him from pursuing excellence in life and ultimately in business. At some point, he knew he would lose most if not all his vision due to his medical diagnosis. When Gary’s vision did change substantially, he reached out to BSBP in 2017. Motivated by his commitment to excellence and “can do” attitude, Gary completed his training, and his case was successfully closed in late 2020. However, Gary had a new vision that brought him back to BSBP. Recognizing how a positive mental attitude, a commitment to excellence, mentorship, and work experience contributed to his own success, Gary set out on a mission to develop a program to inspire, motivate, mentor, and arrange internships with high profile companies for blind and visually impaired youth. He formed Vanward Consulting and began working with several blind and low vision partners to facilitate this program – Lean-In. BSBP has collaborated with Vanward Consulting to offer the Lean-In program as a statewide Pre-ETS program. Over nine months, students participate in a self-assessment and hone and develop workplace readiness skills. One of the benefits of the Lean-In program has been opening a door to employment at Pfizer. Mr. Horton is an enthusiastic mentor for the students and if you are around him enough you will eventually hear him say, “We all have bias. Sometimes this bias works in your favor and sometimes it works against you…but one thing is universally true…Excellence trumps bias! So, be excellent!”
Job Fair
State of Michigan is constantly hiring to backfill openings. Recognizing an opportunity for the employment of people with disabilities, Central Region Assistant Manager, Sue Root began to rally state hiring managers for a virtual job fair focused on job exploration for students with a disability and job seekers served by BSBP. The event occurred May 25th utilizing an event platform designed for virtual career fairs. A total of eight State Departments hosted virtual booths including key participation by Civil Service. Both BSBP and MRS referred students and job seekers to the event. BSBP had 15 high school students participate in job exploration and 11 job candidates seeking employment.
Financial Literacy
BSBP MDE-LIO followed up its Money, Money, Money Pre-ETS collaborative Zoom series with an in-person financial literacy event for students that also offered parents the opportunity to learn more about the intricacies of SSI/SSDI and maximizing work and benefits for their blind/visually impaired students. This event was held April 30th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lansing. Presenting tips on how to handle money and budget were Meagan Daniels from the BSBP Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) and Shawnese Laury from the BSBP Detroit Office. Tim Vallier, BSBP Counselor Upper Peninsula, presented the ins and outs of the MiABLE accounts to the parents and did a great job without preparation when a scheduled speaker failed to show up. Planning for the event included Shannon McVoy, Emily Noe, and Tim Vallier from BSBP and Amanda English, Pat Love, and Brenda Mahoney from MDE-LIO. Additional BSBP and MDE-LIO team members staffed the event to make it a huge success. One student stated, “This program will affect my future. It will help me to make wise choices.” BSBP and MDE-LIO will be planning a new series of financial literacy and career events for the upcoming school year.
Career Exploration
The student career opportunities three-day workshop exploring careers in the hospitality industry took place in person at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. This was a welcome return to one of BSBP’s most popular student events and was something to howl about! BSBP received an overwhelming response from across the State with 24 students and their family members attending. Students received services related to the following required pre-employment transition services categories – Counseling on Post-Secondary Education, Job exploration, Workplace Readiness Training, Work-based Learning, and Self-advocacy Training. Disability Network Northern Michigan was a key community partner and helped facilitate the program along with many BSBP team members from across the state. In addition to the student track, the parents and guardians that brought their students to the event participated in a parent engagement track facilitated by Sean Roy of Transcend. Many of the parents were truly impacted. One parent commented that this weekend “…makes me realize my student can live independently.” Another parent stated, “Sean’s session(s) made me realize that I need to let my student be his own advocate instead of letting me (dad) be his voice.”
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 BSBP continues to set goals and objectives by programmatic area. BSBP’s goals and objectives must be framed within the following guiding principles:
- Financial Accountability and Responsibility
- Transformational Services and Processes
- Modernization
- Next Generation Leadership
 BSBP’s budget continues to be on plan. BSBP will be adequately matched with State funding to allow it to fully access its FY22 federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) grant award and Independent Living (IL) grants. Those grants are as follows:
VR $17,993,738
ILOB $ 998,139
IL Part B $ 188,539
BSBP continues to invest in modernization of legacy systems and processes.
 Customer Focused
Field Services continues to collaborate with our partners to offer customized employment opportunities to the most significantly disabled. As stated in the prior newsletter, BSBP has experienced success with this transformational service model and is committed to its sustainability.
Student Ambassadors for Pre-ETS is a new year-round work-based learning program that focuses on enhancing and polishing leadership skills. The Student Ambassadors have successfully participated in prior BSBP programs and act as mentors and student advocates. They participate in assisting with transition programs from conception to completion. In addition to work-based learning, Student Ambassadors also receive ongoing pre-employment transition services such as Workplace Readiness Skills and Self-Advocacy.
Benefits planning and counseling continues to be offered to BSBP customers transforming the way benefit recipients think about employment. Job candidates are often hesitant to work due to fear of losing their benefits (SSDI/SSI/Medicare/Medicaid/Housing assistance, SNAP, etc.). Field Services utilization of benefits planning and counseling addresses these fears and educates job candidates.
During the pandemic, the BSBP Training Center (BSBPTC) continued to engage with the participants virtually. As mentioned in the prior newsletter, the BSBPTC developed virtual curricula and reopened to in-person services March 2021.
Census data continues to indicate a strong increase in participants enrolled when compared to pandemic periods of FY 20 & 21.
BSBP Training Center 3-year enrollment overview
FY 20 Total Served: 156
FY 21 Total Served: 145
FY 22 Total Served: 125 from 10/2/21 thru 6/30/22
Referrals
During the slow months of the pandemic, a workgroup consisting of both field and training center personnel finalized a comprehensive referral form that will save significant time in the referral process, aid in the tracking of data elements, and send automatic reminders post-exit for timely follow-up. The form was digitized and is live in the electronic case management system for the counselors to utilize. Another training center and field collaboration was the employment readiness checklist which will be launched this month (August). Juan Ortiz, Training Center Director, stated, “This form will facilitate communication between the Training Center and Field Services Division by clearly tracking participant progress. At the Training Center, we continue to innovate and work towards making participants successful after they depart the center.”
Business Enterprise Program
The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) successfully reopened all Vending Facilities that had been closed due to the pandemic. Transformational thinking identified 15 micro market self-checkout kiosk sites providing improved customer service and improving efficiency as well as decreasing labor costs.
Also, while other states struggle to find BEP candidates, Michigan BEP will be commencing a new licensed operator training class on August 15, 2022. There are 3 candidates who will participate in this training. Transforming the training process during the pandemic, training now includes 7 weeks of virtual training utilizing the online Randolph-Sheppard Training Program developed by the National Association of Blind Merchants, 2 weeks of hands-on training at the Training Center, and two 5-week on the job experiences. Candidates will be eligible to bid on available facilities early in calendar year 2023.
Summer Reading Program
The Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) is hosting another summer reading program, an annual event for libraries across the country. This year’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities.” Readers from preschool to 18 years are encouraged to read about the ocean, its animal life, oceanography and more. Prizes are given for the most books read, submitting an essay about this summer’s theme, or creating a sea creature from the supplies provided in each summer “Reading Kit.” The summer reading program runs from June 26 to August 8. Currently, 32 individual patrons are signed up, along with two summer camps with fourteen participants.
 Business Enterprise Program
BEP worked with its case management system vendor to facilitate improvements for its licensed operators. The new BEP Operator Portal will allow licensed operators to input their monthly vending facility reports directly into the BEP case management system. In addition, the system will automatically calculate and create an invoice for set-aside fees. Licensees will be able to access prior reports and set-aside fee invoices by simply logging into the portal. Additional improvements are planned for the future as the system is slated to move from a desktop/laptop internet explorer platform to a fully enabled mobile platform accessible across many search engine platforms – Google, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox.
YesLMS
BSBP acquired licenses for a learning management system dedicated to vocational rehabilitation hosted in the cloud known as YesLMS. The targeted training that is common for all vocational rehabilitation agencies and counselors allows for efficient and effective onboarding of new BSBP team members as well as customized trainings developed by BSBP. The BSBP Training Innovation Policy Procedure (TIPP) Unit has been instrumental in rolling out existing and customized courses.
Dashboards
BSBP Field Services continues to emphasize and utilize counselor dashboards. The dashboards provide counselors and management with real time feedback on counselor caseloads and the movement of cases within the RSA regulatory framework. The dashboards are also used as an onboarding, training, and coaching tool. TIPP Unit worked closely with FSD and the vendor to develop meaningful dashboards.
Citrix ShareFile
BSBP continues to move towards electronic document management. Utilizing a cloud-based system known as Citrix ShareFile, all divisions are discovering more effective and efficient ways to share documents within BSBP and externally with customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. The Citrix ShareFile system allows for upload and download of documents in the native format of the document – accessible stays accessible versus a fax which converts documents to an image. There is also an E-Signature feature that allows for signatures on almost any document as well as ordering the sequence of signatures. Managing by email is always challenging, however, Citrix ShareFile is migrating many tasks that were managed by email to a more efficient cloud-based system.
PowerDMS
PowerDMS was introduced to BSBP last calendar year and is a workflow-based policy and procedure platform with the ability to add quizzes to measure policy and procedure comprehension. The cloud-based platform ensures uniformity of policy and procedure across BSBP with accountability provided by required signature signoff by each BSBP team member. The TIPP Unit focuses intentionally on updating and improving BSBP policies and procedures.
 Training Center:
Melissa Miller, Blind Rehab Instructor, New Hire May 1, 2022
Braille and Talking Book Library:
Stephanie Wambaugh was promoted to Librarian 12, May 1, 2022
Business Enterprise Program:
Nicolas Rose – promoted to Assistant Manager, May 15, 2022
New Student Assistants:
Lauren Marshall, West Region, May 1, 2022
 BSBP on the Move
Post-pandemic, BSBP is examining its office footprints and space. BSBP moved out of the Victor Building during the pandemic. The Executive Office, Central Services, BEP, Lansing field services office and the library staff will move into newly renovated space at the Michigan History and Library Center sometime at the beginning of the next calendar year. Utilizing the warehouse space that the Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) freed up in its shift to new talking book platforms will provide ongoing savings to BSBP. The new address for the Executive Office, Central Services, BEP, and Lansing Field Services is 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48915.
The Flint field services office is also moving to a new location within the Flint Michigan Works! office providing ongoing savings as well. The effective date of the move is August 15th. The new address is: 711 W. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48503
BSBP Excellence Awards
Each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), BSBP hosts its Excellence Awards. The BSBP Excellence Awards will occur the morning of October 14, 2022. The award ceremony recognizes customer successes, employers, and community partners.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA turns 32 this year. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Independence, Civil Rights, Inclusion, Access, Justice, Advocacy, Integration, Empowerment” See www.adagreatlakes.org
BSBP presents “Get to Know the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons,” Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM as part of The ADA Public Awareness Web Series hosted by Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
Mental Health
Michiganders in mental health crisis now have a short-cut for help: calling or texting 988. Advocates say the 988 program is a solid advancement in providing a hotline number that is easy to remember while making mental-health care more immediately accessible. And with at least $3 million in state funding set aside for more staffing and infrastructure, Michigan is the “best poised state in the nation” to build out its existing network, said State Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, near Saugatuck. Whiteford spent roughly three years on a bill, signed into law last year by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, establishing a statewide mental health crisis line system through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The 988 initiative connects to that still-expanding system.
Google
Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced a partnership with Google to connect 500 local job seekers with no-cost access to Google Career Certificates training to help Michiganders land good-paying, high-demand jobs in growing fields. According to the news release, participants can complete the online program in three to six months of part-time study. There is no degree or experience required. The really cool part is that after completing the training, participants are connected with an employer. Contact your local Michigan Works! Service Center or click on this link to learn more. LEO - Governor Whitmer Announces Partnership with Google to Offer Free Job Training for Michiganders
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Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Office of Employment and Training
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
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