DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Division of Developmental Disabilities
PROPOSED
PUBLIC NOTICE
Disabilities Services Eligibility Criteria
2100 Eligibility Criteria
In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures Act (APA - Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code) and under the authority of Title 31 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 5, Section 512, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) / Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) is proposing to amend the eligibility criteria related to DDDS services.
Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, written testimony, written briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed new regulations must submit same to Joseph B. Keyes, Ph.D., Applicant Services Unit; Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, 1052 S. Governor's Avenue, Suite 101, Dover, Delaware 19904 or by fax to (302) 744-9711 by November 2, 2007.
The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulation will be based upon the results of Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments at the Public Hearing and written materials filed by other interested persons.
Summary of Proposed Changes
Statutory Authority
Summary of Proposed Changes
1) The definition/diagnosis of mental retardation has been modified to correspond with the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Classification Manual definition of 2002. The proposed criteria, therefore, is consistent with the most current diagnostic nomenclature in the field of developmental disabilities.
2) Asperger's Disorder has been added to the eligibility criteria. Currently, DDDS includes Autism in the eligibility criteria. Recently, there has been a national effort at viewing autism as a spectrum of disorders of which both Autism and Asperger's are considered core disorders. From a programmatic and service delivery standpoint, Asperger's fits in the DDDS service system model. The addition of Asperger's Disorder to the Division's eligibility criteria is also consistent with what some other states are doing and with what the Department of Education did in adding Asperger's Disorder to its Autism special education classification.
3) Addition of two legal requirement statements: a) "citizen or a lawful alien of the United States"; b) "resident of the State of Delaware". This is consistent with Delaware Code regarding eligibility for state services and consistent with Department policy.
2100 Eligibility Criteria
The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services provides services to those individuals who meets all of the following conditions:
(A) (i) is attributable to mental retardation (1992 AAMR definition)
and/or
(ii) Autism (DSM IV) and/or
(iii) Prader Willi (documented medical diagnosis) and/or
(iv) brain injury (individual meets all criteria of the 1992 AAMR definition including age manifestation) and/or
(v) is attributable to a neurological condition closely related to mental retardation because such condition results in an impairment of general intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior similar to persons with mental retardation and requires treatment and services similar to those required for persons with impairments of general intellectual functioning:
(B) is manifested before age 22
(C) is expected to continue indefinitely;
(D) results in substantial functional limitations in 2 or more of the following adaptive skill areas
1) communication;
2) self-care;
3) home living;
4) social skills;
5) community use;
6) self-direction;
7) health and safety;
8) functional academics;
9) leisure;
10) work; and
(E) reflects the need for lifelong and individually planned services.
Intellectual functioning, and adaptive behavior is determined by using tests approved by the Division.
4 DE Reg. 228 (7/1/00)
1.0 The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services provides services to those individuals with a developmental disability who meets all of the following criteria:
1.1 citizen or a lawful alien of the United States
1.2 a resident of the State of Delaware
1.3 a disability/disorder attributed to one or more of the following:
1.3.1 Mental Retardation; defined as a significant generalized limitation in intellectual functioning. Significant generalized limitation in intellectual functioning is defined as IQ scores approximately two standard deviations below the mean. (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Classification Manual, 2002); and/or
1.3.2 Autistic Disorder (299.00; American Psychiatric Association; Diagnostic & Statistical Manual - IV, 1994); and/or
1.3.3 Asperger's Disorder (299.80; American Psychiatric Association; Diagnostic & Statistical Manual - IV, 1994); and/or
1.3.4 Prader-Willi Syndrome (documented medical diagnosis; World Health Organization; International Classification of Diseases - 9)
1.3.5 Brain injury or neurological condition related to mental retardation that meets: a) a significant generalized impairment in intellectual functioning (defined in 1.3.1); b) significant limitations in adaptive behavior functioning (defined in 1.4); and c) originates before age 22 (defined in 1.5)
1.4 significant limitations in adaptive behavior functioning
1.4.1 Significant limitations in adaptive behavior functioning is defined as performance that is at least two standard deviations below the mean of either:
1.4.1.1 Score on a standardized measure of conceptual, social, or practical skills; or
1.4.1.2 Overall score on a standardized measure of conceptual, social and practical skills
1.5 the disability originates before age 22
1.6 The requirements of 1.3 through 1.5 of this section shall not apply to any client who is receiving services on the effective date of these regulations and who meets the requirements of 1.1 and 1.2 of this section and the requirements of the regulations under which the client initially established eligibility.
2.0 Intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior functioning, Autistic Disorder, and Asperger's Disorder shall be established and based on the use of standardized assessment instruments accepted by the Division.
