Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Transition-Aged Youth
August 7, 2009
Midnight Sun Assistive
Technology Conference
Anchorage, Alaska
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Presenter….
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Purpose of Session
• Look at transition
– From high school to college
– From college to work
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The Case of Sharon
• Age 17, cerebral palsy
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AAC Device Needed
• Speech not easily understood
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Laptop Computer Needed
• Difficulty writing
• Recommended
– voice input software
-- dual-purpose laptop/AAC device
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Ceiling Track Lift Needed
• Has traditional hydraulic lift
– Transfers from bed
– Transfers in bathroom
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Wheelchair Van Needed
• Evaluation – Sharon can drive
• Key questions
– Needed for educational progress
– To remain in least restrictive setting
– Prepare for adult life
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Special Education – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• AAC Device – can be funded
– To communicate with teachers, peers
– Software, training can be funded
– Home use allowed to ensure benefit from AT
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Special Education – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• Ceiling track lift, access ramp, modified van
– Special education not responsible
– No direct connection to education
– Not needed to “prepare for” college
• Power wheelchair
– Can pay for mobility equipment in some cases
– Can meet needs in school with current wheelchair
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Vocational Rehabilitation Agency–
Eligibility for Services
• Disability interferes with ability to work
• VR services needed to:
– Prepare for,
– Secure,
– Retain, or regain employment
• All services must be connected to work
goal
• Must help “maximize” employability
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VR Agency – Eligibility for AT
• AT must be necessary to achieve work
goal or benefit from other VR service
• Broad range of AT devices available
– Prosthetic devices
– Specialized transportation
– Vehicle modifications
– Adapted computer equipment
– Home modifications if necessary to benefit
from VR program
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Vocational Rehabilitation –
Financial Need Criteria
• State option to have needs test
• Most services subject to financial need
• Exempt from financial need criteria:
– Diagnostic services
– Counseling, job placement
– Personal assistance, interpreter, reader
services
• SSDI, SSI recipient automatically meets
financial need criteria
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VR Agency – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• Financial Needs Test
– Sharon eligible for SSDI and SSI at age 18
– Will then be exempt from financial needs test
• No federal definition
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Medicaid – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
Medicaid eligibility
• At age 18, Sharon will be eligible for SSI
• In 39 states and D.C., Medicaid will be
automatic
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Medicaid – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• Laptop computer
– Hard to get funded
– Useful in absence of illness or injury
– “Dual purpose” AAC device/laptop may be
solution
• Van, van modifications
– Challenge similar to laptop
– Less expensive than van transport?
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Medicaid Waiver Can Fund AT
• All states will have HCBS waivers
• Limited enrollment
• See www.nls.org/av/fall07.pdf
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Medicare – Eligibility for Program
• Persons age 65 or older
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Medicare – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• Power wheelchair
– Covered, but “in the home” criteria
– Sharon’s only need outside the home?
• AAC device
– Covered as “speech generating device”
• Ceiling track lift
– Covered under new Local Coverage
Determination
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Medicare – Sharon’s
Eligibility for AT
• Laptop
– Not “primarily and customarily” used for
medical purpose
– Dual purpose device?
• Van, van modifications
– Not for use “in the home”
• Access ramp
– Is it for use “in the home”?
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SSI’s Plan for Achieving Self
Support - Eligibility
General criteria for PASS:
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Sharon’s SSI Budget with PASS
Currently receives SSI of $274 ($674 – 400
SSDI counted).
New budget: $420 SSDI
- 20 Disregard
- 400 PASS exclusion
$ 0 Counted
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