Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Role
and Function. The commission serves as the statewide coordinator of the Support
Service Provider (SSP) Program to promote the availability of one-to-one
support for DeafBlind individuals to understand their environment, facilitate
communication, and promote autonomous living.
B. The eligibility requirements for the
support service provider program are as follows:
1. Louisiana resident with proof of
residency;
2. Social Security
number;
3. documentation of
combined hearing and vision-related diagnosis;
4. central visual acuity of 20/20 or less in
their better eye with corrected lenses or a visual field defect no greater than
20 degrees, or a progressive visual loss having a diagnosis leading to one or
both of these conditions;
5.
chronic or progressive hearing loss so severe that most speech cannot be
understood even with amplification; and
6. extreme difficulty in doing daily life
activities, participating in social activities, or gaining meaningful
employment.
7. If an individual
cannot have their hearing and vision properly measured, but they have severe
hearing and visual disabilities that make it extremely difficult to be
independent, they may still be eligible for the program.
C. Provider Requirements
1. Organization Requirements:
a. organization(s) engaged to provided SSP
services must have demonstrated the ability to effectively serve DeafBlind
individuals and their families; and
b. organization(s) engaged to provide the SSP
services must have the ability to train, supervise, and manage the SSP
workforce, including rigorous systems to monitor service quality and
integrity.
2. SSP
Requirements:
a. be at least 18 years of
age;
b. able to accommodate a
consumer's communication preference. This includes sign language, tactile
communication, speech, print, Braille, technology, etc.;
c. pass a background check (no criminal
record);
d. have a valid driver's
license; and
e. have current car
insurance that includes liability insurance (this only applies to those who
will drive consumers as part of their SSP role).
D. Accessing Services. Provision
of services requires a completed application with the commission's designated
SSP organization.
1. The application shall
require identifying information and information concerning the applicant's
diagnosis and evaluation of need.
E. Consultation. The commission shall consult
with the following entities for advisement with and assessment of this program;
1. the board of commissioners;
2. the DeafBlind Advisory Council;
and
3. the Helen Keller National
Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated pursuant to the authority in La.
R.S.
46:2353 and
R.S.
47:1061.
