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  Issue # 10 | January 2024
Pre-ETS Corner: Welcome to 2024! May your New Year be Filled with Pre-Employment Transition Services
The new year is an excellent time to start focusing on you, your professional growth and zoning in on where you want to be once you’ve accomplished your educational goals.
Participating in BSBP’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) is a great way to start gaining exposure and information about opportunities beyond high school so you can start making solid progress towards accomplishing your professional goals.
Consider discussing the following options with your assigned Rehabilitation Professional today and inquire about the availability of Pre-Employment Transition Services in your community!
Job Exploration Counseling Services
- Learn and explore career pathways that interest you using Pathfinder, Michigan’s free online career exploration tool!
- Explore jobs and skills needed for a specific job of interest.
- Learn more about Labor Market Information in your community.
Work Based Learning
- Gain real life paid work experience by completing a Work Based Learning experience.
- Develop skills in a competitive integrated setting.
- Network and begin building your skills in a job aligned with your career interests.
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Counseling on Opportunities for Enrollment in Post-Secondary Education
- Explore the various training opportunities beyond high school.
- Learn more about post-secondary accommodations available to students with a disability.
- Learn about information regarding college/training applications and the admission processes.
- Access help with completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).
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Workplace Readiness Training
- Learn more about what is needed to be successful in future employment.
- Access financial literacy training.
- Learn orientation and mobility skills.
- Learn how to find a job, complete an application, and how to keep a job by fine-tuning your soft skills.
Instruction in Self-Advocacy
- Access support with developing skills to assist with communication, leadership, and self-awareness.
- Learn about your rights and responsibilities.
Have an idea of a specific Pre-ETS service or program you’d like to explore? BSBP is happy to hear those ideas. Please email ideas to shackleym@michigan.gov.
Don't forget to check out the Pre-ETS/Transition Services page on the BSBP website to see what new and exciting programs are planned! Explore, sign up and connect with your counselor today regarding any questions.
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Join the American Printing House Student Advisory Committee!
High school and college students, develop valuable leadership and teamwork abilities by joining the APH CareerConnect Student Advisory Committee in 2024! Take an active role in guiding and empowering blind and low vision peers.
Contribute through writing blogs and leading webinars covering topics like preparing for college, exploring career options, and beyond.
Learn more and apply!
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Lean In! Prep – First virtual session
January 27, 2024
High school is the first important step toward a college education, a fulfilling career—the list goes on. The better your grades, the more you’ll get out of the experience. But what if you could learn and get paid to do it?
Business concepts like working as a team and gaining new technology skills go hand in hand with English and Math. Your first job will require these and more. If you’re unsure about your career path, now’s the time to explore.
The Lean In! Prep program was designed for you to do just that. This fun, online program will introduce you to different occupations, computer applications used in the employment sector, and mentors who are blind or low vision that we call exploration partners. You’ll also work to develop an online store, so the skills you gain will be used in a real-life environment.
Want to know more? Register by January 19 on the Lean In! Prep page.
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Our goal is to help students aged 14 to 26 to successfully make the transition from high school to postsecondary education or employment. We offer a ton of exciting camps and weekend trips to help you learn while having some fun and meeting other students who are blind and visually impaired from across the state!
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Sun. June 23 – Sat. June 29, 2024
This free program combines fun activities with exploring mobility options like guide dog travel, discovering leadership skills, and building friendships with peers facing similar challenges.
Campers receive a free HumanWare GPS to help increase their travel independence. They also are given the opportunity to learn about living and working with a guide dog.
Must be 16 or 17 years old. Apply by Friday, April 5, 2024.
For more information, please visit the Leader Dogs for the Blind Teen Summer Camp page.
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Multiple options to participate!
Michigan’s Regional challenges are hosted by MDE-LIO in collaboration with KENT ISD and Macomb ISD. Braille Challenge is an academic competition consisting of two-stages intended to motivate BVI students to use their braille skills to compete with peers. For BVI students in Michigan, grades 1-12, who can read braille.
MDE-LIO asks for students to only sign-up for one of the remaining options:
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First virtual session: February 1, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Ready to give back and learn valuable life skills? Join the Michigan Department of Education – Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO) and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) for a series of workshops focused on financial literacy and volunteering. Over the course of four virtual sessions, you’ll dive into budgeting, creating spending plans, gathering information, event planning, and providing a service.
The group will select a volunteer project, like making cozy blankets for a shelter or creating care packages for a children’s hospital to work on together in-person. Adult family members can also attend for a special program at the in-person session. Make a positive impact in your community and learn some essential life skills!
Interested in joining? Sign up at by January 18 at https://bit.ly/BeyondtheMoney2024.
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 February 21, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
BSBP is excited to partner with Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO) to present our third Annual program Growing Through Career Conversations! Through this workshop, students will have the opportunity to engage with a panel of employed adults who are blind or visually impaired to learn how to navigate disclosing a disability and accommodations in the workplace.
This is a two-part series, with a virtual session to prep students and the main event at Zehnder’s in Frankenmuth on March 7.
Register by February 7 at https://bit.ly/BVICareer.
Do you have an awesome BSBP counselor who goes above and beyond to help you (or your child) achieve your goals? Well now you can tell the world about them😊!
We would love to feature your counselor in one of our upcoming monthly newsletters! Complete your quick and easy nomination at https://forms.gle/i2EkPg72Z6927xEd8.
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Not a student currently working with BSBP and want to get in on the action?
BSBP has offices across the state and can meet you in the comfort of your own home and/or school. Contact our BSBP mainline at 1-800-292-4200 to get started or visit this link for office locations.
Questions for the Pre-ETS Team? Reach out to shackleym@michigan.gov.
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