Vocational Rehabilitation Services Manual C-1500: Business Enterprises of Texas

The Business Enterprises of Texas (BET) program provides opportunities for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) customers who are legally blind to manage food service and vending facilities on public and private properties throughout Texas. BET is federally sponsored and state-administered. BET supports the Texas Workforce Commission's (TWC) VR goals of independent living and employment.

The VR counselor and BET staff must verify that a customer is qualified to operate a vending facility.

To fulfill the mandatory prerequisites for BET certification, a customer must:

• be legally blind (that is, "having not more than 20/200 visual acuity in the better eye with correcting lenses or visual acuity greater than 20/200 but with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees," as stated in Texas Labor Code §355.001(1));
• be at least 18 years old;
• be a Texas resident and a US citizen; and
• successfully complete all BET assessment and training requirements to become a licensed BET manager.

BET training for VR customers is provided by a BET training specialist at a training site in Austin.

C-1506-1: Determining Appropriate Candidates for BET

The food service and vending industry is a challenging environment. It is not a fitting occupation for every VR customer. Successful BET candidates will operate their own businesses, which can be much more challenging than other forms of employment.

BET candidates must demonstrate that they are:

• self-starters;
• self-disciplined;
• willing and capable of working at least 60 hours per week;
• organized;
• confident in their basic skills, as related to their blindness;
• emotionally adjusted to blindness; and
• able to be flexible and adapt to change, as needed.

BET candidates also must have:

• excellent problem-solving skills;
• independent orientation and mobility skills;
• demonstrated independent living skills;
• high school-level math and accounting skills (completed coursework);
• effective money management skills;
• demonstrated use of adaptive technology;
• good oral communication skills;
• good print or braille communication skills; and
• a general knowledge of customer service techniques.

C-1506-2: Diagnostics

The VR counselor obtains comprehensive diagnostics before referring a customer to the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center's (CCRC) general training program with a BET focus. All diagnostic findings must indicate that the customer is capable of participating in the BET program.

The required diagnostics are as follows:

• A consultation with an employment assistance specialist
• An assessment made by the Vocational Diagnostic Unit (VDU). (VDU staff members understand BET requirements better than psychologists, who are not BET staff.)
• A minimum of two informational interviews with successful, licensed BET managers. (The VR counselor contacts the BET Training Specialist in Austin for a list of BET managers available for interviewing in the VR counselor's area).
• An orientation and mobility assessment

All VDU recommendations must be addressed before BET training begins.

In addition to the comprehensive diagnostics listed above, the following assessments are recommended:

• An assessment by the Assistive Technology Unit
• An assessment by a VR teacher
• A low-vision evaluation, if applicable
• An assessment of the customer's health maintenance skills

If these assessments cannot be completed in the field, the VR counselor makes appropriate arrangements to have the assessments completed at CCRC.

C-1506-3: Referring the Customer to CCRC

If the VR counselor and the customer agree that the individual has the potential to be an appropriate BET candidate, but the customer requires comprehensive blindness training, the VR counselor refers the customer to CCRC for evaluation and training through CCRC's Basic Blindness Skills program, a general training program with a BET focus. For more information on referring customers to CCRC, see C-503-2: Referrals to the Training Program.

The determination to allow a customer to apply for the BET program is based on:

• the customer's successful completion of BET-focused training at CCRC;
• the customer's evaluation score, earned over the course of the BET-facility evaluation (a score of three or better on a scale of five is required); and
• the recommendation of the CCRC VR counselor for BET training.

The CCRC VR counselor helps qualified candidates who are participating in BET-focused training complete a VR2201, Business Enterprises of Texas Application for Training.

The following must be attached to each customer's application:

• The results of an ophthalmologic exam (Interagency Eye Examination Report), completed by a medical doctor no later than 12 months before the application deadline
• The results of a physical exam (General Physical Examination Report), completed by a medical doctor no later than 12 months before the application deadline
• The results of a facility BET assessment
• Proof of successful completion of BET skills training at CCRC
• A birth certificate or other appropriate proof of US citizenship
• Information on the customer's work experience and goals
• A high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) credential, or college transcript
• The results of a VDU evaluation, completed no later than 12 months before the application deadline

The CCRC VR counselor delivers the customer's application packet to the BET training specialist in Austin.

Based on the customer's individualized needs, required equipment is listed below. The CCRC VR counselor should note that some customers will already have some of the listed items. The CCRC VR counselor carefully reviews the following list with each BET candidate to be sure that the customer has the equipment and supplies needed to successfully complete the BET training:

• A VR standard computer with adaptive software and a removable USB drive, as recommended based on the customer's evaluation by the Assistive Technology Unit
• Closed-circuit television, if applicable
• Low-vision devices appropriate to the customer's needs, such as reading glasses, low-vision aids, and magnifiers
• An accessible calculator (large-print display or talking), with an ear piece
• An accessible thermometer
• Note-taking equipment and supplies appropriate to the customer's needs, such as a Perkins brailler, a slate and stylus, electronic notetaking device, paper for a Perkins brailler or large-line paper, and 20/20 bold-writing pens
• Appropriate training attire (the required uniform for the customer's on-site training is black pants, a white shirt, and black nonslip shoes)
• Other items needed by the customer for training, mobility, or health maintenance while participating in BET training, such as a bill reader, a white cane, or talking scales

Upon receiving a complete application packet and proof of completed CCRC training, a BET staff member schedules and conducts an assessment to determine the skill level of the applicant.

The assessment may include computer navigation, math proficiency, note-taking, reading and comprehension, and/or assessments of other skills necessary for successful participation in the BET program.

All skills assessments are timed.

Candidates must score 70 percent or higher on each assessment to proceed.

If the customer successfully completes the skills assessment, the VR counselor schedules a panel interview to assess the customer's personal interview skills, appearance, interests, and applicable business knowledge.

The CCRC VR counselor arranges the customer's round-trip transportation to panel interview.

After a customer completes BET training, the CCRC VR counselor will assist the customer with transportation arrangements back to the customer's region.

A customer's participation in BET training may be terminated because of the following:

• Medical reasons, after confirmation of the medical condition, if terminating participation is deemed to be in the best interest of the trainee's safety
• Inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to, belligerent behavior, shouting, use of foul language, or fighting
• Inability to remain actively involved either in the classroom or in the BET facility during on-the-job training for example, but are not limited to, sleeping in class or not being able to work a full day's schedule
• Inability to comprehend materials and/or show proficiency at the pace required by the curriculum
• Refusal to cooperate or refusal and/or inability to complete assignments
• Missing five or more days of class or BET on-site training
• Consuming alcohol, consuming illegal or controlled substances, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal or controlled substances on state property, during class, or while attending BET on-site training
• Any other behavior considered harmful or potentially harmful, either physically or otherwise, to the trainee, other trainees, the instructor, a licensed BET manager, BET staff, VR staff, or the program in general
• Failure to adhere to the CCRC Standards of Conduct published in the CCRC handbook
• Refusal to sign the On-Site Training evaluation form