Happy August! This month, we will be focusing on our students who are starting college or post-secondary education in the fall by providing a list of things you can do this summer to be better equipped for your exciting new journey!

Plan out your college semester:

1. Meet with an advisor to outline classes and degree requirements.
2. Create a four-year budgeting spreadsheet or tracker (include financial aid, debt, tuition, housing, expenses, and potential scholarships you might apply for).
3. Find a way to schedule and track assignments that works for you (i.e., calendar, spreadsheet, to-do list, Chrome extension, etc.).
4. Make a list of activities or organizations you may want to take part in so you can reference it later!

Review BSBP Post-Secondary Training sponsorship requirements (if applicable) and send the following to your vocational rehabilitation counselor:

1. Copy of your Final High School transcripts and/or diploma.
2. Copy of your FAFSA Student Aid Report and Scholarship Award letters.
3. Copy of your personal statement and rationale for post-secondary program choice and budget.
4. Copy of your post-secondary curriculum outline and anticipated graduation date.
5. Copy of your registration and class schedule for the upcoming semester.

Handle school-specific logistics:

1. Register with the disability resource office for accommodations and support. This usually includes completing an online intake form, submitting medical documentation (such as IEP/504 plans or doctor reports), and attending an intake meeting with a counselor.
2. Review your assistive technology and how the college’s learning management system (like Canvas or Blackboard) interacts with it.
3. Schedule orientation and mobility lessons either with a cane or your guide dog to help you find your classes and navigate campus (even if you are commuting from home).

Finally, don’t forget to relax and reconnect with loved ones! Starting college is a huge accomplishment that you should be immensely proud of yourself for. We are so happy to congratulate you on taking this step to educate yourself, experience new things and open up doors in your future.

At Cass Technical High School, freshman Zaraiyah is redefining expectations through her extraordinary determination and love of learning. After finishing her first year with a perfect 4.0 GPA and ranking first out of more than 700 classmates, Zaraiyah continues to push boundaries not to prove she’s exceptional, but to challenge assumptions about her disability.

Blind since birth, she navigates one of Detroit’s largest and most competitive high schools with independence, resilience and a full slate of academic and creative pursuits, such as Honors and AP classes, choir, piano, baking, volunteering, and even exploring track and poetry!

Supported by educators and driven by her own curiosity, Zaraiyah’s story is a reminder that ability is measured by determination, not perception. Read more about Zaraiyah in her Detroit Public Schools feature.

Another way prepare for classes is to buy your textbooks – once the professor has confirmed that it is required and used often. Do not buy a textbook before the first day of class unless directly told to do so.

Below are some websites and online sources that offer E-textbooks (which are often accessible and easier to navigate):

1. Bookshare (free library of textbooks and popular books for students with dyslexia, blindness, physical disabilities, and other learning differences)
2. CampusBooks.com
3. VitalSource (in collaboration with Cengage)
4. Amazon
5. Chegg
6. Gutenberg
7. Barnes & Noble
8. RedShelf
9. APH/Louis Database

Note: If a textbook is not available through these sites, students can reach out directly to the publishing company and they may be able to assist directly.

The State of Michigan has made significant progress to make education more affordable for families, across the state.

Free College or Career Training at Your Local Community College

No other Great Lakes state offers what Michigan does: two years of free tuition at your local community college. It’s not too late to enroll in classes this fall!

• Recent high school grads attending full time can learn more and enroll in the Community College Guarantee.
• Adults 21 and older who haven’t completed a college degree, can learn more and enroll in Michigan Reconnect. The 2027 state budget expands eligibility to include adults 21-24 years old. Keep an eye on the Michigan Reconnect website for an updated application in time to enroll in classes this fall.

If you don’t live in a community college district, don’t worry! These scholarships offer significant savings for you, too.

Scholarships to Earn a Bachelor’s degree, Become a Teacher and More!

• Michigan Achievement Scholarship: Up to $27,500 for recent high school graduates while they earn a bachelor’s degree.
• MI Future Educator Fellowship: Up to $30,000 for future teachers while they train to be an educator.

Get started today by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 school year.

BSBP customers who are interested in learning about services and potentially pursuing additional training, join the BSBP Training Center in Traverse City for a Mini Adjustment Program! This program is intended to introduce adaptive techniques, build confidence and highlight the services provided by BSBP.

A variety of sessions include information regarding adaptive daily living skills, assistive technology and other blindness related services. This program also provides an atmosphere for customers to meet others with visual impairments.

Registration Criteria:

• Current BSBP customer
• New to services and/or blindness
• Have not attended a previous Mini Adjustment or received blind rehabilitation services from a training center or school for visually impaired
• Participant must be their own guardian or arrange for a personal care aide (PCA)

Dates: Sept. 13-17, 2026

Location: Park Place Hotel & Conference Center (300 E State Street, Traverse City, MI  49684)

Please note that participants staying overnight will be required to share a room. Meals will be provided!

Please reach out to your rehabilitation counselor by Friday, Aug. 28 to participate!

Bridge Brigade: Walk Across the Mackinac Bridge!

BSBP is excited to invite students and families to participate in the Bridge Brigade Program! This unique opportunity will bring blind and visually impaired students (ages 14+) together for a series of monthly workplace readiness training sessions leading up to the 2026 Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk (Sept. 6-7).

By participating, you will learn about mobility skills (human guide techniques, white cane education, foot health, etc.), independence, stamina, confidence, and strategies for mental health and wellbeing. Attending this program is a great way to build a community and make new friends, engage in physical activity and get outdoors and promote positive views of blind people by raising awareness of their capabilities. Anyone is welcome to attend, including students, families, service providers, community volunteers and education partners!

THE PLAN:

We will meet in Lansing once a month for group training walks and community building activities. On the big day, we'll shuttle to the bridge, tackle the Mighty Mac, and celebrate with a post-walk lunch. 

• Upcoming Training Date: Aug. 22
• Walk: Sept. 6-7
• Registration is required. Please register here by Aug. 4

Students who participate will be supported by BSBP staff and skilled Orientation & Mobility specialists throughout the program. Please reach out to Becca Flatt at flattr1@michigan.gov with questions!

En-Vision America is bringing together a panel of talented speakers for a Webinar to share their experience advocating for individuals who are blind and visually impaired on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m.

Join the free event to hone your own advocacy skills, ask questions and learn about new solutions that can help in your community! Speakers Include:

• Amanda Stolz, Chief Programs Officer of Adult Services for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired of South Carolina.
• Curtis Chong, accessible information technology expert with the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
• Loretta Roberts, Advocate Outreach Specialist for En-Vision America.
• Noel Guidry, Occupational Therapist with Insight OT Services and Consulting.
• Peggy Chong, the Blind History Lady for the Blind History Lady Project and an active member of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
• Connie Mendenhall, Chief Information Officer for the Iowa Department for the Blind.

Register for the Zoom webinar here, or learn more about En-Vision America here.

AmeriCorps College Completion Coach or AdviseMI Adviser

Serve with AmeriCorps through the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) and help students across Michigan access and succeed in college. Whether you’re supporting high school students through AdviseMI or coaching college students to completion through College Completion Corps, you’ll play a direct role in shaping brighter futures for Michigan students. Apply early—interviews are conducted on a rolling basis.

About the Role MCAN partners with schools and colleges statewide to expand college access and success:

• AdviseMI Advisor serve in high schools, helping students navigate college applications, financial aid and postsecondary planning—especially in communities with lower college-going rates.
• College Completion Coach serve on college campuses, supporting students facing barriers to persistence and graduation through one-on-one coaching and targeted interventions.
• No prior experience is required—just a passion for helping students.

Location: multiple locations across Michigan

Compensation: $28,560 living stipend + benefits

Term: Sept. 1, 2026 – June 11, 2027

Hours: 1,200 total (approximately 37.5–40 hours/week)

Learn more and apply here. 

Celebrate 20 Years of Vision, Community & Impact!

The 20th Annual Run for Sight 5K, presented by Shoreline Vision, will be held on Saturday, September 5, at the stunning Pere Marquette Park along Lake Michigan for a milestone event benefiting the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)!

For more than a century, ABVI has helped individuals with low vision or blindness thrive in a sighted world. Each year, they serve nearly 1,000 children and adults from across Michigan — empowering independence, confidence and community through vision rehabilitation and support services.

This year marks 20 years of Run for Sight, and they can’t wait to celebrate two decades of steps toward a brighter future. Whether you’re running, walking or cheering from the sidelines, your participation makes a difference!

PACKET PICKUP

• Friday: 3-6 p.m. — Shoreline Vision (1266 E. Sherman Blvd)
• Saturday: 7-8:15 a.m. — Parking lot between the Coast Guard Station and Margaret Drake Elliot Park

RACE START TIMES

• 8:28 a.m. – 5K Handcycle Start
• 8:30 a.m. – 5K Run/Walk Start
• 9:15 a.m. – 1K Deck Dash Kids Run
• 9:30 a.m. – Course Closes
• 10 a.m. (approx.) – Awards 

The 5K Run is competitive, while the 5K Walk is family- and dog-friendly (dogs must remain leashed and cleaned up after).

ENTRY FEES

• 5K – Early Bird: $30
• 5K – After August 1, 2026: $35
• 1K Deck Dash Kids Run – $10 (includes T-shirt & medal!)

To learn more, please visit the 2026 Run For Sight 5K website.

If you are interested in student affairs, a student with blindness/low vision or a parent of someone who is, the Michigan Association of Blind Students provides opportunities for growth! The organization allows participants to:

• Network with other blind students in Michigan and across the country
• Learn Advocacy Skills
• Add leadership skills to your resume
• Be mentored by other students who are blind/low vision

Membership is $5 per year. Support from BSBP can be provided to cover this fee, if needed.

To learn more about what they do and to join any of their zoom meetings as a guest to see if MIABS is a good fit for you contact:

• President Jeffery Crouch at miabs-president@outlook.com
• Membership Co-Ordinator Danielle Agajan at miabs-membership@outlook.com or 269-454-9095

Learn more about the Michigan Association of Blind Students here.  

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.