Section 2: Scope, Extent and Arrangements of Services

2.1 Scope and Extent – 34 CFR 364.42(b)(2)(3); 34 CFR 364.43(b); 34 CFR 364.59(b)

2.1A Check the appropriate boxes in the SPIL Instrument table indicating the types of IL services to be provided to meet the objectives identified in section 1.2 of this SPIL, and whether the services will be provided by the CILs or by the DSU (directly and/or through contract or grant).

Table 2.1A(1): Independent living services	Provided by the DSU (directly)	Provided by the DSU (through contract and/or grant)	Provided by the CILs (Not through DSU contracts/ grants)
Core Independent Living Services, as follows:
- Information and referral	X	X	X
- IL skills training	X	X	X
- Peer counseling	X	X	X
- Individual and systems advocacy	X	X	X
Counseling services, including psychological, psychotherapeutic, and related services	X	X	X
Services related to securing housing or shelter, including services related to community group living, and supportive of the purposes of this Act and of the titles of this Act, and adaptive housing services (including appropriate accommodations to and modifications of any space used to serve, or occupied by, individuals with significant disabilities)	X	X	X
Rehabilitation technology		X
Mobility training	X	X	X
Services and training for individuals with cognitive and sensory disabilities, including life skills training, and interpreter and reader services		X	X
Personal assistance services, including attendant care and the training of personnel providing such services		X	X
Surveys, directories and other activities to identify appropriate housing, recreation, accessible transportation and other support services	X	X	X
Consumer information programs on rehabilitation and IL services available under this Act, especially for minorities and other individuals with disabilities who have traditionally been unserved or underserved by programs under this Act	X	X	X
Education and training necessary for living in the community and participating in community activities	X	X	X
Supported living
Transportation, including referral and assistance for such transportation	X	X	X
Physical rehabilitation		X
Therapeutic treatment		X
Provision of needed prostheses and other appliances and devices		X
Individual and group social and recreational services		X	X
Training to develop skills specifically designed for youths who are individuals with significant disabilities to promote self-awareness and esteem, develop advocacy and self-empowerment skills, and explore career options	X	X	X
Services for children with significant disabilities	X	X	X
Services under other Federal, State, or local programs designed to provide resources, training, counseling, or other assistance of substantial benefit in enhancing the independence, productivity, and quality of life of individuals with significant disabilities	X	X	X
Appropriate preventive services to decrease the need of individuals with significant disabilities for similar services in the future	X	X	X
Community awareness programs to enhance the understanding and integration into society of individuals with disabilities	X	X	X
Other necessary services not inconsistent with the Act	X	X	X

2.1B Describe any service provision priorities, including types of services or populations, established for meeting the SPIL objectives identified in section 1.2.

Texas plans to prioritize provision of services to the following unserved or underserved Texans:

• individuals who are deaf
• young adults with disabilities who have recently left the public school system
• persons in long-term care residential facilities who are seeking relocation into the community
• older individuals who have developed age-related disabilities.

To expand services to these individuals, the IL programs of the DSU's, as well as, the network of CILs have prioritized increased access to the following services:

• Services to individuals with hearing loss in areas of high concentration of ethnic groups
• Sign language interpreter services through certified sign language interpreters
• Peer support for deaf individuals
• Information & referral resources to individuals who are deaf to enable them to locate needed IL services
• Employment counselors assisting IL consumers to obtain suitable employment
• Independent Living skills training
• Availability and awareness of accessible housing
• Services for evacuees with significant disabilities in need of housing and mental health services
• Disaster preparedness across the state that expands availability and awareness of unserved and underserved Texans
• Wheelchair repair services
• Managed care services
• Transition services and summer programs for youth
• Comprehensive service coordination to facilitate deinstitutionalization
• Public transportation
• Continuing focus on transition services for youth through the DSU and the CILS: CILs and the DSU are participating in the RRCEP/CURRENTS grant initiative designed to strengthen capacity for transition services
• Submitting appropriation requests in efforts to expand CILs to currently unserved areas
• Public awareness of independent living through outreach and education activities to include development of a comprehensive marketing plan.

2.1C If the State allows service providers to charge consumers for the cost of services or to consider the ability of individual consumers to pay for the cost of IL services, specify the types of IL services for which costs may be charged and for which a financial need test may be applied, and describe how the State will ensure that:

• Any consideration of financial need is applied uniformly so that all individuals who are eligible for IL services are treated equally; and
• Written policies and consumer documentation required by 34 CFR 364.59(d) will be kept by the service provider.

Indicate N/A if not applicable.

Both DRS and DBS have established protocols regarding consumer participation in the cost of services.

To enable DRS to use its limited funds to serve the maximum number of eligible consumers, all consumers and their families are asked to participate in the
cost of services regardless of the consumer's financial resources.

Consumers whose net income or liquid assets exceed basic living requirements (BLR), are required to participate in the cost of services, unless the consumer is a recipient of Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI), or an area manager grants an exception, when consumer participation would keep the consumer from receiving a necessary service.

DRS Consumers are not required to participate in the cost of

• services paid or reimbursed by a source other than DRS;
• assessments for determining eligibility and determining vocational rehabilitation needs, including any associated maintenance and transportation;
• counseling, guidance, and referral provided by DRS staff;
• personal assistant services;
• auxiliary aids (except hearing aids) or services, e.g.,
  • interpreter services,
  • reader services, and
  • translator services.

All consumers of the Division for Blind Services, and their families, are asked to participate in the cost of services regardless of the consumer's financial resources in order to maximize use of limited program funds. Consumer participation in the cost of services is based on the economic resources of all persons in the individual's family who have a legal obligation of support for the applicant/consumer, compared to the maximum allowable amount of economic resources. Program manuals delineate service categories where participation is required when individuals exceed the maximum allowable amounts, as well as those categories of goods and services not subject to consumer participation.

DBS consumers exceeding the maximum allowable amounts are required to participate in cost of the following services:

• Prosthetic devices,
• Maintenance (excludes maintenance for diagnostic services),
• Transportation (excludes transportation for diagnostic services),
• Adaptive aids/appliances over $50, and
• Teacher supplies over $100.

Texas centers do not ask consumers to participle in cost of services based on financial resources.

2.2 Arrangements for State-Provided Services – 34 CFR 364.43(d) and (e)

2.2A If the DSU will provide any of these IL services through grants or contractual arrangements with third parties, describe such arrangements.

DARS Standards for providers (http://www.dars.state.tx.us/drs/ProviderManual/default.htm)
outlines the details, rules and guidance for all DRS providers. These are provided as part of the contracts.

2.2B If the State contracts with or awards a grant to a center for the general operation of the center, describe how the State will ensure that the determination of an individual's eligibility for services from that center shall be delegated to the center.

The DSU includes in the standards for providers of independent living services that a center staff person will document determination of eligibility. Routine on-site monitoring visits by the DSU assures center compliance with this requirement.

Next, Section 3: Design for the Statewide Network of Centers