WSR 99-01-022
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
[Filed December 7, 1998, 3:44 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-22-004.
Title of Rule: Child and family services WACs and independent living services WACs.
Purpose: Clarify language.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 74.18 RCW.
Summary: Clarify language.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Howard Kovarsky, Spokane, (509) 456-3165; Implementation and Enforcement: Bonnie Jindra, Olympia, (360) 586-0275.
Name of Proponent: Department of Services for the Blind, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Child and family services, WAC 67-55-040 Eligibility criteria, identifies the ages of children eligible for services and 67-55-060 Termination, identifies the ages of children who shall be terminated from services.
Independent living services--Clarify language, WAC 67-75-010 Purpose and definitions, 67-75-020 Referral for services, 67-75-030 Initial interview, 67-75-040 Eligibility for services--Criteria, 67-75-042 Certification for discussion of eligibility or ineligibility, 67-75-044 Notice to applicant, and 67-75-050 Independent living services--Services provided.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Clarify language.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Department of Services for the Blind, 1400 South Evergreen Park Drive, Suite 100, Olympia, WA 98504, on January 26, 1999, at 10:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Bonnie Jindra by January 20, 1999, TDD (360) 586-6437, or (360) 586-0275.
Submit Written Comments to: Bonnie Jindra, fax (360) 586-6437, by January 25, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: January 27, 1999.
January [December] 7, 1998
Bonnie Jindra
Assistant Director
OTS-2658.1
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-10, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-55-040 Eligibility criteria. (1) To be eligible for
child and family services an individual must be between the ages
of birth ((and)) through six years of age or fourteen through
twenty-one years of age.
(2) Any child below the age of twenty-one years who has completed high school or has discontinued his/her formal education shall not be eligible for child and family services. Such children shall be referred for vocational rehabilitation or other appropriate resources.
(3) Eligibility for child and family services shall be dependent on documentation of a visual impairment including one or more of the following conditions:
(a) Legal blindness or visual handicap as they are customarily defined, either in terms of qualifying reduction in visual acuity and/or a qualifying reduction in visual fields.
(b) A visual impairment which is progressive in nature and can be expected to lead to blindness within a reasonable period of time.
(c) Reductions in both visual acuity and visual fields such that the effect is substantially that of legal blindness, or visual efficiency is so reduced as to have substantially the same effect as legal blindness.
(d) A visual impairment which makes it impossible for a child to compete successfully in school and other childhood endeavors.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-044 (Order 83-10), § 67-55-040, filed 12/15/83. Formerly WAC 67-50-040.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-10, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-55-060 Termination. A child shall be terminated from child and family services for the following reasons:
(1) The child has completed high school;
(2) The child has withdrawn from school prior to his/her senior year and does not intend to return;
(3) The child has reached the age of twenty-one years, or is between the ages of seven and fourteen years;
(4) The child's vision improves to a degree which no longer meets the criteria for eligibility;
(5) The child moves from the state of Washington; or
(6) The child and/or his/her family requests termination.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-044 (Order 83-10), § 67-55-060, filed 12/15/83. Formerly WAC 67-50-060.]
OTS-2659.1
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-11, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-75-010 Purpose and definition. The authority for independent living services is established in section 18, chapter 194, Laws of 1983. The purpose of this program is to provide independent living services designed to meet the current and future needs of blind/visually impaired individuals who currently are not feasible for vocational rehabilitation and who need services in order to function more independently in their living environment.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-045 (Order 83-11), § 67-75-010, filed 12/15/83.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-11, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-75-020 Referral for services. (1) Referrals of
((elderly blind individuals, blind individuals with significant
other medical problems, and blind multiply handicapped))
blind/visually impaired individuals, blind/visually impaired
individuals with significant other medical problems, and
blind/visually impaired multiply disabled individuals shall be
accepted from all sources.
(2) All referrals to the independent living program ((shall
be made)) may be made either through the department of services
for the blind or directly to one of the department's independent
living contract providers.
(3) Department personnel may refer individuals to the independent living program as a result of reviewing current and past cases which have been found to be ineligible for vocational rehabilitation services.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-045 (Order 83-11), § 67-75-020, filed 12/15/83.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-11, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-75-030 Initial interview. (1) ((The department
shall interview)) All new referrals to the independent living
program shall be interviewed as soon as possible following
referral((s)).
(2) At the initial interview the interviewer shall:
(a) Explain to the individual the nature and scope of available services as they relate to the individual's need;
(b) Inform the individual of the right to confidentiality of information possessed by the department;
(c) Obtain any information necessary in determining eligibility for independent living services.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-045 (Order 83-11), § 67-75-030, filed 12/15/83.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-09-090, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92)
WAC 67-75-040 Eligibility for services--Criteria. (1) Eligibility requirements are applied without regard to sex, race, creed, color, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, or natural origin of the individual applying for service. No group of individuals is excluded from service solely on the basis of the type of disability or on the basis of age.
(2) No residence requirement is imposed which excludes from services any individual who is present in the state.
(3) Eligibility is based only upon:
(a) The presence of a severe physical or mental disability, which shall include a visual disability defined as follows:
(i) Legal blindness or ((visually handicapped)) visual
impairment as they are customarily defined either in terms of a
qualifying reduction in visual acuity and/or a qualifying
reduction in visual field.
(ii) A visual impairment which is progressive in nature and can be expected to lead to blindness within a reasonable period of time.
(iii) Reduction in both visual acuity and visual fields is such that the effect is substantially that of legal blindness, or visual efficiency is reduced so as to have substantially the same effect as legal blindness.
(iv) A visual impairment which makes it impossible for the individual to perform successfully in one or more of life's functions;
(b) The presence of a severe limitation in ability to function independently in family or community or to engage or continue in employment; and
(c) A reasonable expectation that independent living rehabilitation services will significantly assist the individual to improve his or her ability to function independently in family or community or to engage or continue employment.
For purposes of determining an individual's eligibility for
independent living services, improvement in ability to function
independently in family or community refers to a demonstration in
functional and behavioral terms of an individual's greater
independence or maintenance of independence in such areas as
self-care, activities of daily living, ((driving,)) using public
transportation, shopping, housekeeping, communicating, or living
more independently.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 92-09-090, § 67-75-040, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92. Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-045 (Order 83-11), § 67-75-040, filed 12/15/83.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-09-090, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92)
WAC 67-75-042 Certification for decision of eligibility or
ineligibility. (1) There will be a certification that the
individual has met the basic eligibility criteria. The statement
of eligibility will be dated and signed by the ((vocational
rehabilitation counselor or rehabilitation teacher)) independent
living service provider or the department's independent living
program staff.
(2) Whenever it has been determined on the basis of clear
evidence that an individual is ineligible for independent living
services, there shall be a certification, dated and signed by the
((vocational rehabilitation counselor or rehabilitation teacher))
independent living service provider agency or the department's
independent living program. Certifications of ineligibility
shall indicate the reasons for the ineligibility determination
and shall be made only after full consultation with the
individual or, as appropriate, his or her parent, guardian, or
other representative, or after giving a clear opportunity for
this consultation.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 92-09-090, § 67-75-042, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 92-09-090, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92)
WAC 67-75-044 Notice to applicant. (1) The individual
shall be notified in writing of the action taken on ((eligibility
or)) a determination of ineligibility.
(2) The individual shall be informed of the department's procedure for administrative review and fair hearings and the services available through the client assistance program if he or she is dissatisfied with the department's decision.
(3) If the applicant was determined to be ineligible for independent living services, the certification shall clearly specify how he or she failed to meet the criteria of eligibility. The individual shall be notified in writing of the determination of ineligibility and of his or her rights and the means by which he or she may express and seek remedy for any dissatisfactions, including the department's procedures for administrative review and fair hearings and the services available through the client assistance program.
(4) ((If the applicant was determined to be eligible for
independent living services, the notice shall clearly specify the
date of certification of eligibility.
(5))) If an applicant was determined ineligible, he or she
shall be given a full opportunity to participate in the review
and reconsideration of eligibility no later than twelve months
after the determination was made. The review need not be
conducted in situations where the individual refuses the review,
the individual is no longer present in the state, or the
individual's whereabouts is unknown.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 92-09-090, § 67-75-044, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 83-11, filed 12/15/83)
WAC 67-75-050 Independent living services--Services provided. Services provided by the independent living program shall include:
(1) ((Internal services provided through the rehabilitation
teaching staff such as:
(a))) Intake interview and counseling;
(((b))) (2) Needs assessment;
(((c))) (3) Specific skills teaching;
(((d))) (4) Referral to other resources for blind/visually
impaired individuals;
(((2) External services purchased by the department from
community based service delivery systems such as:
(a) Intake interview and counseling;
(b) Needs assessment;
(c) Specific skills teaching;
(d) Medical consultation;
(e) Occupational therapy/physical therapy;
(f))) (5) Information and referral;
(((g))) (6) Advocacy in all sectors of society to maximize
opportunities for access in social, recreational, medical/health
care facilities.
[Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-045 (Order 83-11), § 67-75-050, filed 12/15/83.]