[nfbmi-talk] Current MCB College Policy

Elizabeth lizmohnke at hotmail.com
Fri Jun 11 03:41:35 UTC 2010


During tonight's conference call, someone requested that I post a copy of the college policy that is currently being used by the Michigan Commission for the Blind. For those of you who wish to read it, you will find a copy of it posted below as well as in an attachment. I know that some people like attachments while others do not like attachments, so I am simply posting this stuff both ways as a way to please everyone who subscribeds to the email list. I will also post the current college policy being used by Michigan Rehabilitation Services in another email as there appears to be some common themes between the two policies, or current practices that are not specifically addressed in this document.
 
Elizabeth
 
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COLLEGE PARTICIPATION
 
The purpose of the Michigan Commission for the Blind participation in college programs is to help the individual to become competitively employed. Clients of the Michigan Commission for the Blind are encouraged to select a vocational goal that will be pursued throughout their rehabilitation program, and until they have found employment in the competitive labor market.
 
Michigan Commission for the Blind participation for a college program will only be available after the individual has demonstrated his or her knowledge about the demands of the job market and the jobs available locally as well as nationally, and presented a program to complete the college degree within the time required by the Michigan Commission for the Blind policy. A counselor will be available to assist the individual in acquiring the needed information and in the development of the plan. The vocational objective selected must be consistent with the individual's aptitude and abilities, and the individual will be encouraged to select a goal that will be pursued until his or her rehabilitation program is completed leading to placement in the competitive labor market.
 
Students in programs leading to a bachelor's degree must complete their studies within a period of five academic years, while those working toward associate's degrees must complete requirements in three academic years. In cases in which the bachelor's degree requires five academic years for all students in such programs, eligible individuals must complete course work in six as three trimesters, four quarters or two semesters and a summer session per year, depending upon the designated unit of study utilized by the college or university being attended.
 
The Michigan Commission for the Blind advocates attendance at community colleges until the junior year. The Michigan Commission for the Blind participation will be limited to one associate degree. Individuals completing an associate degree may if it is in keeping with the vocational objective continue to completion of a bachelor's degree program. The Michigan Commission for the Blind financial participation will be limited to one bachelor's degree. An exception may be made if it can be shown that there are circumstances, which prevent the individual from accepting, or continuing employment in his/her chosen occupation.
 
The Michigan Commission for the Blind financial support for the procurement of advanced degrees will be limited to specific situations in which employment cannot be obtained with a bachelor's degree, or when such degree programs are included as vocational objectives within the student's Individual Plan for Employment prior to completing the undergraduate program. The inability of the student to procure employment with a bachelor's degree relates primarily to two situations. The first is the case in which the individual is a newly blinded person, who presently holds an undergraduate degree, but requires further formal education to become potentially employable. The second is the case in which an individual has completed an undergraduate degree, but is unable to find a position relating to the field in which he/she was trained. In the latter case, a period of one year must elapse following graduation, and the student must furnish written documentation, which demonstrates a significant effort to procure employment.
 
Individuals completing their college studies are to be encouraged to seek employment wherever there are job opportunities within their chosen field. Individuals receiving Michigan Commission for the Blind participation in their program of higher education shall complete all courses taken with acceptable grades.
 
Eligible individuals desiring the Michigan Commission for the Blind participation in their program of higher education shall apply for financial aid prior to the deadline for applications for federal student aid and deadline dates established by the student's college or university. All financial aid received by a student administered through the student's college or university, employer benefits, workers compensation, and similar benefits shall be applied to tuition, books, supplies, and maintenance. All financial aid received by the individual is to be used to reduce the Michigan Commission for the Blind participation with the following exceptions:
 
A. Individuals attending an out-of-state or private college may use the financial aid to reduce their financial participation.
 
B. Grants and scholarships received from sources other than those identified above are not to be incorporated into the Individual Plan for Employment.
 
In no instance shall the Michigan Commission for the Blind contribute to the payment of tuition for a comparable program, in an amount greater than the highest tuition rate for Michigan residents attending a state supported college or the University in Michigan.
 
Eligible individuals in need of maintenance to attend college shall apply for social security benefits, and use these benefits for maintenance. The Michigan Commission for the Blind may supplement the maintenance if the maintenance at college is greater than the assistance received by the individual. The Michigan Commission for the Blind will not participate in a plan to provide maintenance where the budget includes more than one household.
 
The Michigan Commission for the Blind encourages students to participate in work-study programs, co-op programs, and full or part time employment. Where the student does participate in these programs, exceptions may be justified to lengthen the Michigan Commission for the Blind participation to more than five years for a bachelor's degree program. The Director of Client Services must approve all exceptions to the time limit policy of the Michigan Commission for the Blind.
 
Financial support provided by the Michigan Commission for the Blind is intended for eligible individuals who are enrolled in full-time college or university programs. However, in cases in which the individual is physically or mentally unable to carry such an academic load or the individual is experiencing temporary circumstances preventing full-time attendance funding of programs may be granted. In either case the individual must demonstrate the potential to assume full time enrollment. The individual and his/her counselor/teacher must meet all the prerequisite requirements listed. Also, the time period in which the degree program must be completed shall not be waived or extended.
 
Before an Individual Plan for Employment is developed for Michigan Commission for the Blind participation in a program of higher learning, the individual must demonstrate his or her ability to function in the academic environment. The individual shall demonstrate his or her ability in the areas of communication skills, written note taking, travel, activities of daily living, and other areas which may be deemed necessary by the individual's counselor/teacher.
 
Where specialized equipment is needed, the counselor/teacher will work with the university to develop facilities grants for the purchase of needed equipment to be used by all students who are blind at the institution. Where individualized equipment is needed such as a computer and high tech equipment may be provided to a student if it is included in the IPE justifying the need, and providing evidence that the student is capable of using the equipment.
 
The Michigan Commission for the Blind advocates the use of volunteer readers, and recording services to meet the reading needs of college students. Paid reader service should only be used when these services are not available.
 
All students planning to enroll or enrolled in institutions of higher education must be informed of this policy as a part of the Individual Plan for Employment development process.
 
This policy continues to be in effect with the changes taking immediate effect. The Michigan Commission for the Blind Board adopted this policy at its December 12, 1986. This policy was amended at their June 20, 1994 meeting to allow the purchase of computers and high tech equipment for college students.
 
The following is information related to college students that is not included in the college policy as stated above. However, I am not sure how well these policies actually follow the guidelines as set forth in the federal Rehabilitation Act. None the less, they are included in the Michigan Commission for the Blind Policy Manual. If you wish to read the Policy Manual in full, you can find it at http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313_33130-15015--,00.html. 
 
IX. SCOPE OF SERVICES 
 
F. Vocational and other training:
 
Vocational and other training services, including personal and vocational adjustment training, books, tools, and other training materials, except that no training or training services in an institution of higher education (universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes or hospital schools of nursing) shall be paid unless maximum efforts have been made by the counselor/teacher and the individual to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to pay for the training
 
G. Maintenance in connection with the rendering of any vocational rehabilitation service
 
Maintenance is a supportive service of the agency that may be provided to cover the food, shelter or other subsistence expenses for an eligible individual or an individual undergoing a Trial Work Experience. It may be provided only to enable an individual to participate in specific rehabilitation services. Maintenance payments may not exceed the amount of increased expenses necessitated by participating in the services. It may not be provided to raise an individual’s standard of living. Only the following expenses will be considered when determining maintenance needs:
 
1. Rent/mortgage/dormitory fees (based on double occupancy)
 
2. Food (college plan or, if not appropriate, state rate)
 
3. Basic telephone charges
 
4. Utilities, not including cable or satellite television
 
5. Medical expenses not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance
 
6. Expenses related to guide dogs not covered by other organizations
 
7. Incidental expenses of $100 per month
 
If a student elects to live in a residence other than a dormitory, the maximum rate will be that of the room and board based on double occupancy in the dormitory at the specific school. The agency will not support the costs associated with maintaining two households for an Individual Plan for Employment where training lasts more than one year.
 
Through the Individual Plan for Employment, the counselor/teacher and the individual must develop a budget based on a list of actual expenses compared to income. It is important to consider all resources including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) benefits when determining income.
 
Every student must participate financially in his or her education. College students are required to apply for SSI/SSDI or contribute the maximum amount according to the Social Security Administration Red Book for the current year. If the Social Security application is denied or awarded at less than the maximum level because of individual or family income and assets, the student will contribute the difference to the maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) allowable amount for each semester or term attended.
 
The financial aid award letter must be submitted to MCB a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of any term or semester for which the student is seeking financial assistance. Failure to submit the award letter will result in non-sponsorship for that semester or term. However, letters received after this deadline may be considered for determining sponsorship for the following semester or term.
 
This policy was approved by the Michigan Commission for the Blind Board at its June 24, 2005, meeting.
 
  		 	   		  
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