D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 29, r. 29-118
The Rehabilitation Services Administration shall keep records to document information about applicants and eligible persons.
All information regarding an applicant or eligible person provided to or created by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, its representatives, or its employees, in the course of the administration of the vocational rehabilitation services division shall be confidential.
The applicant or eligible person has a right to privacy and shall be informed through appropriate modes of communication about the confidential nature of information acquired and the conditions governing inspection of records.
All consumer records shall be maintained in a confidential manner, and released only as consistent with applicable federal and District laws and regulations..
The information shall be considered confidential and the case record or information shall not be released in judicial or administrative proceedings, either voluntarily or as a result of any subpoena or judicial process, including requests from a government authority, the courts, law enforcement officials, or from any other outside source, with the following exceptions:
Confidential records shall be open to inspection in the Rehabilitation Services Administration's office only under the following conditions:
The use or disclosure of information concerning applicants and eligible persons shall be limited to purposes directly connected with the following:
The Rehabilitation Services Administration shall secure the written and informed consent of the applicant or eligible person or legal guardian or person's representative as authorization for requesting information about the applicant or eligible person from other agencies or individuals. Copies of signed consent forms shall be maintained in the record of services.
When requested in writing by the applicant or eligible person, their legal guardian or representative, the Rehabilitation Services Administration shall make all information in the case record accessible to them in a timely manner.
If the Rehabilitation Services Administration believes that medical, psychological, or other information that may be harmful to the person, the information may not be released directly to the person, but must be provided to the person through a third party of the person's choice, which may include, among others, an advocate, a family member, or a qualified mental health professional, unless a representative has been appointed by a court to represent the person (such as a guardian), in which case the information must be released to the court-appointed representative.
An applicant or eligible person who believes that information in the person's record of services is inaccurate or misleading may request that the Rehabilitation Services Administration amend the information. If the information is not amended, the request for an amendment shall be documented in the record of services.
The Rehabilitation Services must release personal information when required to do so by federal law or regulation, including for purposes of complying with the performance accountability requirements under Section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and such disclosure may not require prior written consent of applicants, recipients of services, or their representatives.
Personal information may be released to an organization, agency, or individual engaged in audit, evaluation, or research only for purposes directly connected with the administration of the vocational rehabilitation program or for purposes that would significantly improve the quality of life for applicants and recipients of services and only if, in accordance with a written agreement, the organization, agency, or individual assures that:
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 29, r. 29-118