Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. In order to develop a transition plan that
is tailored to the individual, and in order to help achieve successful
placement of the individual in the community, the IDT shall expand to include a
number of non-professionals, managers and prospective community service
providers, as well as the IDT's professionals. There is no universal
combination of persons necessary for the TIDT meeting. The individual's
participation at the TIDT meeting is necessary unless the individual objects.
The participation of the parent/guardian at the meeting is usually required
unless the absence is by choice or by necessity. The persons who comprise the
TIDT shall normally be present at the TIDT meeting, but in the absence of any
person, the team members may proceed with the individual planning process if
those present determine it to be appropriate under the circumstances.
B. The TIDT shall usually include the
following persons:
(1) The Individual: The
individual with a developmental disability must participate to the greatest
extent possible. There must be a serious effort to ensure that the individual
is present and that he or she, even when lacking verbal skills, is given the
opportunity to express their interests, choices and strengths. However, no
individual shall be compelled to participate in the planning process. The
individual's normal daily routine and schedule should be followed as much as
possible on days when meetings occur; special accommodations for the individual
should be identified prior to each meeting and appropriate adjustments and
modifications in the meeting should be planned to enable them to participate as
fully as possible. An individual may choose someone to represent them
consistent with their wishes in the TIDT meetings. If such a representative is
chosen, that person shall receive all notices and other documents sent to TIDT
participants.
(2) The parent/
guardian:
(a) The division shall attempt to
inform and involve the parent/guardian in the transition planning process,
including making reasonable scheduling accommodations and providing
interpreters as necessary.
(b) If
by 30 days prior to the transition interdisciplinary team (TIDT) meeting
described in Activity 11 a parent/ guardian has advised the division that the
guardian is unwilling or unable to be an active participant during the
transition planning process, the division shall seek prompt modification of the
guardianship and, if needed, appointment of a coguardian or a successor
guardian to ensure that the individual's guardian, if any, is an informed and
active participant in the planning process. A parent/guardian may choose
someone to represent him/her consistent with his/her wishes in TIDT meetings.
If such a representative is chosen, that person shall receive all notices and
other documents sent to TIDT participants.
(3) The helper:
(a) The role of the helper is to assist the
individual in participating in the transition planning process by helping the
individual to communicate his or her interests, likes and dislikes to other
TIDT members. The same helper should be available throughout the transition
process. Whenever the helper is a facility employee, accommodation should be
made to facilitate his/her availability for all meetings.
(b) The individual can select their helper.
For those individuals who do not select a helper, but do not object to the
assistance of a helper, the facility's director of social work shall identify a
qualified helper. If necessary, the division shall reimburse the helper for
reasonable travel expenses incurred solely to visit the individual at least
once before the TIDT meeting and to attend TIDT meeting(s) described in
Activity 11.
(4) The
social worker:
(a) The social worker should be
the social worker at the facility i.e., either Los Lunas or Fort Stanton, who
has worked with the individual or, if unavailable, the social worker who has
been assigned.
(b) The social
worker shall work with the case manager on behalf of the facility to assist
with the proposed transition and any follow-up support as required.
(5) The case manager:
(a) The case manager should be the individual
selected or assigned pursuant to activity 2.
(b) The case manager shall have a good
working knowledge of the available generic and specialized services in the
geographic area to which the individual will be moving. The case manager, in
addition to the duties described herein and in the Jackson
management manual, shall review the bi-weekly reports of the
Jackson office on the status of preplacement activities and
monitor ITP implementation at the facility and in the community and shall
review the ITP and the community programs identified for the individual
immediately prior to the move to ensure the necessary supports and services are
in place.
(6) Facility
interdisciplinary team (IDT) members: Facility interdisciplinary team members,
designated pursuant to division Jackson office policy
memoranda, who have been trained to participate in the transition process and
who have knowledge of the individual shall assist with ITP planning,
implementation and follow-up, as required.
(7)
Jackson transition
representative (JTR): The Jackson transition representative
(JTR) is the division's representative at transition meetings and activities.
This individual's primary purpose shall be to assist in identifying community
service providers and facilitating and documenting the transition planning
process.
(8) Key community service
providers: Key community service providers are selected prior to the TIDT
meeting pursuant to Activity 7. The term key community service providers means
the community residential provider and other providers of significant services
for the individual, including but not limited to, the competitive and
supportive employment provider, medical professional(s) if the individual's
medical condition so requires, and other support service providers identified
by the expanded IDT as key community service providers. When the individual is
of school age, a representative of the local education agency is a key
community service provider, and should be present at transition planning
meetings.
C. The
individual and or the parent/guardian may invite other individuals to attend
TIDT meetings. Parents or family members who are not guardians of an adult
individual may be invited, unless the adult individual objects. Voting
privileges are limited to TIDT core group members, pursuant to DDD
Jackson office policy memoranda. Scheduling of the TIDT
meeting(s) shall not be delayed for the convenience of these "other
individuals" who have been invited to attend, nor rescheduled if such "other
individuals" fail to attend.
