DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES  
GENERAL RULES  
(By authority conferred on the department of social services by section 6 of Act No. 280  
of the Public Acts of 1939, as amended, being S400.6 of the Michigan Compiled Laws)  
PART 4. DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND  
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION  
R 400.251 Application.  
Rule 251. An application shall be considered a right of any individual who considers  
himself eligible for vocational rehabilitation through the division of services for the blind.  
History: 1954 AC; 1979 AC.  
R 400.252 Special eligibility requirements.  
Rule 252. (1) Any individual in Michigan shall be considered eligible for vocational  
rehabilitation through the division of services for the blind if he is otherwise eligible.  
(2) Any individual who is otherwise eligible and is found through an examination by an  
ophthalmologist or a physician approved by the state supervising ophthalmologist to have  
a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with proper corrections or a limitation of  
the visual field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle  
distance no greater than 20 degrees, shall be considered eligible for service on the basis of  
lack or defectiveness of vision.  
(3) Vocational rehabilitation services shall be available only to those individuals whose  
vocational capacity may be increased through such services and when a study of the age,  
physical and mental capacity, aptitudes, and employment history indicate the probability  
that a placement may be made after such services have been given; provided, however, that  
the division of services for the blind may extend rehabilitation services to blind persons  
whenever it appears feasible without regard to employability.  
(4) No person shall be denied rehabilitation or other services on the basis of race, creed,  
or color. The same facilities will be available to any eligible person.  
(5) Vocational rehabilitation services other than maintenance shall be available to any  
civil employee of the United States disabled while in the performance of his duties and to  
any war disabled civilian as defined in U.S. Public Law 113-78th Congress (first session)  
who may be certified to the division of services for the blind by the administrator of the  
federal security agency without regard to economic circumstances of the individual.  
Maintenance may be paid only after a study of the economic circumstances of the  
individual indicates that he is unable to pay for this service.  
History: 1954 AC; 1979 AC.  
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R 400.253 Need and amount of services.  
Rule 253. (1) Rehabilitation services for the blind shall be available to an individual  
otherwise eligible who is financially unable to pay for the services. Cost of services other  
than diagnostic evaluations, counseling, training, training materials, reader service,  
interpretive service for the deaf, placement, and follow-up shall be available on the basis  
of a study of the economic circumstances of the individual and may be made available in  
whole or in part when the study indicates that an individual is unable to pay for such  
services. (2) Cost of diagnostic evaluations, counseling, training, training materials, reader  
service, interpretive service for the deaf, placement, and follow-up shall be considered  
allowable and may be given without regard to economic circumstances.  
History: 1954 AC; 1979 AC.  
R 400.254 Confidential nature of records.  
Rule 254. (1) The following information concerning applicants and recipients of  
rehabilitation services shall be considered as confidential in nature:  
(a) Names and addresses of applicants and recipients, as well as lists of the names and  
addresses of applicants and recipients.  
(b) Data contained in applications, reports of investigations, reports of medical  
examinations, cancelled assistance warrants, correspondence, and records concerning the  
condition or circumstances of any person from or about whom information is obtained, and  
including all such information regardless of whether it is recorded.  
(c) Records of agency evaluations of such information.  
(2) Information of a confidential nature may be released to agencies and persons if such  
information is necessary to secure or provide services for clients. This will be done only  
after such agencies or persons have been informed that:  
(a) The confidential nature of the information furnished must be preserved.  
(b) The information furnished must be used only for the purpose for which it is made  
available, and after assurance has been given that proper steps will be taken to safeguard  
the confidential nature of the information furnished.  
History: 1954 AC.  
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