La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § VII-306

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-306 - Support Service Provider Program

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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § VII-306

Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 491396 (8/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated pursuant to the authority in La. R.S. 46:2353 and R.S. 47:1061.