I. The department of education shall establish a program for the education, training, and vocational rehabilitation for the blind of all ages, whether or not they are eligible for aid to the needy blind under the department of health and human services.
II. The department of education shall develop or cooperate with other agencies in providing services to the blind, including the locating of blind persons, vocational guidance and training of the blind, placement of blind persons in employment, instruction of the adult blind in their homes and other services to blind persons. In connection with assistance to needy blind persons the board of education shall give due consideration to the special needs associated with the condition of blindness and, in cooperation with the department of health and human services, shall: (a) adopt rules stating in terms of ophthalmic measurements the amount of visual acuity which an applicant may have and be eligible for assistance and providing for an examination by an ophthalmologist or physician skilled in diseases of the eye or by an optometrist, whichever the individual may select, in making the determination whether the individual is eligible and fixing the fee for such examination; (b) establish the procedure for securing competent medical examination; (c) designate or approve a suitable number of ophthalmologists or physicians skilled in diseases of the eye, and optometrists, who must be duly licensed or registered under the laws of this state and actively engaged in the practice of their professions, to examine applicants and recipients of aid to determine their eligibility for assistance; (d) fix the fees to be paid for medical examination from funds available to the department of health and human services.