007.04 Scope
Scope and extent of home modifications are limited
to:
007.04A. Ramps. A single exterior
ramp may be provided to enable the recipient to enter and leave the home,
provided that the recipient will be engaging in services necessary to achieve
an employment outcome.
007.04B.
Stair Glides or Elevators. Exterior stair glides or elevators may be provided
instead of a ramp if there are circumstances such as small lot size, lot
grades, excessive comparative costs, etc., precluding the use of a
ramp.
007.04C. Exterior Doors. A
single exterior doorway may be widened and the outer doors replaced, if
necessary, to permit the recipient to enter and leave the home.
007.04D. Interior Doorway. An interior
doorway may be widened to permit the recipient to enter and leave a bathroom,
personal bedroom, eating area, or other rooms in the house when essential to
achieve the goals on the Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04E. Bathrooms. Modifications to the
bathroom may be provided, when necessary, to enable the recipient to function
more independently in self-care activities such as bathing and toileting. These
modifications are limited to:
007.04E1.
Widening the doorway and replacing the door, if necessary, to provide access to
the bathroom.
007.04E2. Providing
access to the sink, including specialized sink fixtures, if required by the
recipient's impairment.
007.04E3.
An extension seat to the commode, if necessary. The commode shall be replaced,
only if required, because of the recipient's impairment. Similarly, the commode
shall be relocated only if there is no other option available to permit
functional use of the bathroom.
007.04E4. The bathtub may be modified by the
use of grab bars, adapted seating, hydro guards, adapted fixtures, or other
modifications.
007.04E5. The
bathtub may be replaced by a roll-in shower if required by the
impairment.
007.04E6. The bathtub
or roll-in shower may be relocated only if there is no other option to permit
functional use of the bathroom.
007.04E7. Patching, priming, and painting the
wall or walls disturbed by the above modifications, with color matching to the
closest possible, using commonly available standard grade paint.
007.04E8. Bathroom modifications may include
reconnecting moved fixtures and equipment to existing plumbing and electrical
systems.
007.04E9. Bathroom
modifications may include recovering the floor with a standard grade vinyl
bathroom floor covering, unless carpeting is needed for mobility or safety
reasons.
007.04E10. Bathroom
modifications may include the provision of limited accessible storage space
required for functional use in accordance with the Individualized Plan for
Employment.
007.04F.
Kitchen. The kitchen may be modified, if necessary, to permit the recipient to
engage in self care, daily living, or housekeeping activities, such as eating,
cooking, and meal preparation. Kitchen modifications are strictly limited to:
007.04F1. Widening the doorway to permit
access to eating or cooking areas.
007.04F2. Lowering or raising a portion of
existing counters to provide a work surface for cooking or meal
preparation.
007.04F3. Opening
areas under a sink or counter to provide access.
007.04F4. Necessary framing and finishing to
install front controlled range top units or wall ovens, provided the recipient
cannot use conventional units.
007.04F5. Lowering existing above counter
storage units to provide access to stored food, kitchen, and household
supplies.
007.04F6. Patching,
priming, and repainting the wall or walls disturbed by the above modifications,
with color matching to the closest possible, using commonly available standard
grade paint.
007.04F7. Covering the
area of the floor exposed by opening access to the sink or counter areas, with
matching to the closest possible, using commonly available standard grade vinyl
floor covering.
007.04F8. Cupboards
or storage space lost by the conversion of storage space to work or access
space may be replaced, provided that the remaining cupboard or storage space is
inadequate. In this case, replacement is limited to the amount of storage space
required for functional use, in accordance with the rehabilitation
plan.
007.04F9. Kitchen
modifications may include the purchase of range tops, wall ovens, or microwave
ovens if the person will engage in cooking or meal preparation. Other
specialized equipment needed by the recipient for these purposes because of
impairment may also be purchased at the discretion of the program.
007.04G. Laundry Area. The laundry
area may be modified, if necessary, to permit the recipient to do the laundry.
Laundry area modifications are strictly limited to:
007.04G1. Widening the doorway to permit
access to the laundry area.
007.04G2. Providing access to the washer and
dryer, including the purchase of washer and dryer units whose design
characteristics permit functional use by the recipient.
007.04G3. Relocation of the laundry area,
provided that the existing laundry area is in an inaccessible location and
access cannot be created at a cost lower than that of relocation. Relocation
may include connecting the washer and dryer into existing plumbing and
electrical systems, venting the dryer, and covering the laundry area floor with
commonly available standard grade vinyl floor covering.
007.04H. Other Rooms. Modification of other
rooms of the house is strictly limited to those rooms which will be used for
purposes directly related to achieving the goals on the recipient's
Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04I. Doorways. Doorways may be widened to
provide access and trimmed to the standard of current new construction using
commonly available standard grade materials.
007.04J. Interior Doors. Interior doors may
not be replaced, with the exception of bathroom and personal bedroom doors,
essential to privacy.
007.04K.
Other Modifications. Other modifications are strictly limited to those
necessary for purposes directly related to achieving the goals on the
recipient's Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04L. Walls. Relocation of existing walls.
The size of existing bathroom, kitchen, or laundry space can be increased by
relocating an existing wall if this is the only option available to create an
accessible and functional bathroom, kitchen, or laundry for the recipient.
However, space taken for this purpose cannot be replaced.
007.04M. Building Materials. All
modifications must use commonly available standard grade building materials,
fixtures, floor covering, paint, and appliances. Commonly available standard
grade means that which is typically used in current new construction of medium
priced housing. The recipient may choose to upgrade material to match the
original construction or to coordinate style and color of new fixtures,
equipment, or appliances with that of other items. However, the recipient must
pay for any difference in cost between standard grade and desired materials.
This payment must be in addition to any other individual cost sharing in the
Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04N. Stair Glides, Lifts, and Elevators.
Home modifications involving interior stair glides, lifts, or elevators may be
provided only in situations where movement between floors in the structure is
directly related to achieving the goals on the Individualized Plan for
Employment and there are no other options for achieving these goals.
007.04O. Heating and Cooling. Home
modifications involving heating and cooling systems are strictly limited to
those specifically required by the recipient's impairment and may include an
air conditioner, air purifier, humidifier, and dehumidifier which attaches to
the primary system, or single room air conditioner, purifier, humidifier, or
dehumidifier units sufficient for the room in which the recipient will perform
most of the activities related to the Individualized Plan for
Employment.
007.04P. Plumbing and
Electrical Systems. Home modifications involving plumbing and electrical
systems are strictly limited to those required to connect impairment related
equipment and appliances, or relocated appliances and fixtures, into existing
systems within the existing structure.
007.05 Building Codes and Safety
All home modifications must conform to applicable local
building codes and generally recognized design standards. When suitable to the
needs of the individual and their residence, the design standards of the Fair
Housing Act Amendments and the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for
Accessibility will be considered in the design of modifications even when not
required. In-home safety is the responsibility of the recipient or his or her
family, not the program. The recipient is responsible for providing smoke
detectors, additional exits, and related personal safety features
007.06 New Home Construction
In situations where the recipient plans to, or is in the
process of, constructing a new home or is building an addition to an existing
home, assistance is strictly limited to the purchase of impairment related
equipment. The recipient is responsible for all installation costs.
007.07 Rental or Leased Property
Accommodations or modifications to individually occupied
rental or leased property may only be made if the owner refuses to make the
modifications him/herself; the owner has given all appropriate clearances and
approvals; building permits, and other pre-modification consents have been
obtained; and, the recipient has no plans to move or otherwise vacate the
premises.
007.10 Housing Quality Standards
Prior to resolving accessibility issues, the individual's
home shall be in such condition that the property does not present a health
and/or safety risk to the individual. Hazardous defects in the structure
(walls, floor, ceiling, foundation, roof), electrical, or plumbing
problems/codes violations need to be corrected before any modifications for
accessibility can be considered. The cost of correcting these deficiencies
shall be the individual's responsibility.
