Customer and Community Blind Services (BCCBS)

Customer and Community Blind Services (BCCBS)

The Bureau of Customer and Community Blind Services (BCCBS) oversees all Vocational Rehabilitation Services for individuals who are visually impaired, blind, and deafblind including the Business Enterprise Program and the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation & Education - Wood. Our Blind Services staff teams coordinate services from 25 local offices located in communities throughout the state. We offer programs for adults with visual impairments to enable them to work and participate fully in family and community life. Our goal is to help these people rediscover their independence and freedom.

FY23 Highlights

• ICRE Wood served 94 students in FY 23 with a total of 24 graduates.
• Customers receive vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation instructor, and orientation and mobility services. We are currently serving 1,398 customers. Year to date, we have placed 176 individuals in competitive employment earning an average wage of $20.81 working an average of 31 hours per week.
• The blind vending program is excited to expand our micromarkets and has purchased our first accessible kiosk.
• Three Wi-Fi hotspots have been provided at ICRE Wood for the training center, BEPB training unit, and classroom.
• The Older Individual Blind grant program is proud to have served 2,280 people in FY23 by its grantees providing assistive technology and support services to people over 55 years old in Illinois.

BCCBS Vision for 2024

• hiring within the different sections of the Bureau to fill positions.
• improving the accessibility of documents and forms
• develop best practices to increase the provision of pre-employment transition services to students who are blind, visually impaired and DeafBlind.