Opinion
No. CV 98 0492634S
June 22, 1999
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
The plaintiff brings this appeal from a final decision of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services ("BRS") of the State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services ("DSS") adopting the recommended decision of a fair hearing officer issued April 30, 1998. This appeal is brought under the authority of the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act ("UAPA"), General Statutes §§ 4-166 et seq., 4-183.
The plaintiff suffers from depression, alcoholism and back problems. In March of 1986, he requested services from the BRS and by letter dated May 13, 1996, he was determined to be eligible for services. A dispute developed between the plaintiff and BRS over tuition assistance to attend the University of Hartford for a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering. BRS held a fair hearing on November 14, 1997, December 5, 1997 and January 20, 1998. The plaintiff appeared at the hearing, was represented by legal counsel and was afforded an opportunity to present evidence and argue his claims. The hearing officer determined that Mr. Vail was presently employable and was not entitled to services beyond assistance with job seeking skills. (Return of Record ("ROR"), Volume 1, pp. 2-11.) On May 1, 1998, the hearing officer's decision was adopted and accepted as the final decision of DSS.
The plaintiff filed a timely appeal on June 15, 1998. The DSS filed the answer and record on August 14, 1998. The plaintiff filed his brief on November 3, 1998 and the DSS brief was filed on January 19, 1999. Parties were heard in oral argument on May 19, 1999.
This case involves the application of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. This act establishes a program that authorizes the federal government to provide grants of assistance to states that choose to participate. Connecticut has chosen to participate and the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Social Services as a state agency empowered to provide assistance under this program. See General Statutes § 17b-651 and 17b-658. The purpose of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is "to develop and implement comprehensive and coordinate programs of vocational rehabilitation and independent living, for individuals with handicaps in order to maximize their employability, independence, and integration into the workplace and community." A mandatory provision of the Rehabilitation Act is that once an eligibility determination is made that for each eligible applicant an individual written rehabilitation program ("IWRP") be "jointly developed, agreed upon, and signed by . . . such eligible individual., and the vocational rehabilitation counselor or coordinator. . . ." Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 722 (b)(1)(A)(i) The federal regulations limit financial services including financial assistance sought by the plaintiff to cases in which an IWRP has been properly completed. 34 C.F.R. § 361.44; see also Regs., Conn. State Agencies § 10-102-15; Appeal of Wenger, 504 N.W.2d 794 (Minn.App. 1993).
General Statutes § 17b-651 provides: "The Department of Social Services shall maintain a Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and shall disburse all funds provided for such rehabilitation, except for services to the blind. The Commissioner of Social Services shall appoint and, subject to the provisions of section 440, the Commissioner of Administrative Services, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, shall fix the compensation of such persons as may be necessary to administer the provisions of sections 17b-650 to 17b-663, inclusive, and may, within said bureau, create such sections as will facilitate such administration, including a disability determinations section for which one hunched per cent federal funds may be accepted for the operation of such section in conformity with applicable state and federal regulations."
General Statutes § 17b-658 provides: "The Department of Social Services is authorized to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of any federal statutes pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, to adopt such methods of administration as it finds necessary for the proper and efficient operation of agreements or plans for vocational rehabilitation and to comply with such conditions as may be necessary to secure the full benefits of such federal statutes to this state."
The Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701, has since been amended and now provides as follows:
(b) Purpose
The purposes of this chapter [ 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.] are —
(1) to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize employment, economic self-sufficient, independence, and inclusion and integration into society, through —
(A) statewide workforce investment systems implemented in accordance with title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [ 29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.] that include, as integral components, comprehensive and coordinated state-of-the-art programs of vocational rehabilitation;
(B) independent living centers and services;
(C) research;
(D) training;
(E) demonstration projects; and
(F) the guarantee of equal opportunity; and
(2) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a leadership role in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with significant disabilities, and in assisting States and providers of services in fulfilling the aspirations of such individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and independent living.
(b) Development of an individualized plan for employment
105-220105-220112 Stat. 113829 U.S.C. § 702
(1) Options for developing an individualized plan for employment
If an individual is determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services as described in subsection (a), the designated State unit shall complete the assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs, as appropriate, and shall provide the eligible individual or the individual's representative, in writing and in an appropriate mode of communication, with information on the individual's options for developing an individualized plan for employment, including —
(A) information on the availability of assistance, to the extent determined to be appropriate by the eligible individual, from a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor in developing all or part of the individualized plan for employment for the individual, and the availability of technical assistance in developing all or part of the individualized plan for employment for the individual;
(B) a description of the full range of components that shall be included in an individualized plan of employment; CT Page 6653
(i) an explanation of agency guidelines and criteria associated with financial commitments concerning an individualized plan for employment;
(ii) additional information the eligible individual requests or the designated State unit determines to be necessary; and
(iii) information on the availability of assistance in completing designated State agency forms required in developing an individualized plan for employment; and
(D)(i) a description of the rights and remedies available to such an individual including, if appropriate, recourse to the processes set forth in subsection (c); and
(ii) a description of the availability of a client assistance program established pursuant to section 732 of this title and information about how to contact the client assistance program.(2) Mandatory procedures (A) Written document
An individualized plan for employment shall be a written document prepared on forms provided by the designated State unit.(B) Informed choice
An individual plan for employment shall be developed and implemented in a manner that affords eligible individuals the opportunity to exercise informed choices in selecting an employment outcome, the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under the plan, the entity that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure the services, consistent with subsection (d).(C) Signatories
(i) agreed to, and signed by, such eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative; and
(ii) approved and signed by a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the designated State unit.(D) Copy
A copy of the individualized plan for employment for an eligible individual shall be provided to the individual or, as appropriate, to the individual's representative, in writing and, if appropriate, in the native language or mode of communication of the individual or, as appropriate, of the individual's representative.(E) Review and amendment
The individualized plan for employment shall be (i) reviewed at least annually by —
(I) a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor; and
(II) the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative; and
(ii) amended, as necessary, by the individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative, in collaboration with a representative of the designated State agency or a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor (to the extent determined to be appropriate by the individual), if there are substantive changes in the employment outcome, the vocational rehabilitation services to be provided, or the service providers of the service (which amendments shall not take effect until agreed to and signed by the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative, and by a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the designated State unit.) CT Page 6655
(3) Mandatory components of an individualized plan for employment
Regardless of the approach selected by an eligible individual to develop an individualized plan for employment, an individualized plan for employment shall, at a minimum, contain mandatory components consisting of —
(A) a description of the specific employment outcome that is chosen by the eligible individual, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the eligible individual, and, to the maximum extent appropriate, results in employment in an integrated setting;
(B)(i) a description of the specific vocational rehabilitation services that are —
(I) needed to achieve the employment outcome, including, as appropriate, the provision of assistive technology devises and assistive technology services, and personal assistance services, including training in the management of such services; and
(II) provided in the most integrated setting that is appropriate for the services involved and is consistent with the informed choice of the eligible individual; and
(ii) timeliness for the achievement of the employment outcome and for the initiation of the services;
(C) a description of the entity chosen by the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative, that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure such services;
(D) a description of criteria to evaluate progress toward achievement of the employment outcome;
(E) the terms and conditions of the individualized plan for employment, including, as appropriate, information describing —
(i) the responsibilities of the designated State unit;
(ii) the responsibilities of the eligible individual, including —
(I) the responsibilities the eligible individual will assume in relation to the employment outcome of the individual;
(II) if applicable, the participation of the eligible individual in paying for the costs of the plan; and
(III) the responsibility of the eligible individual with regard to applying for and securing comparable benefits as described in section 724(a)(8) of this title; and
(iii) the responsibilities of other entities as the result of arrangements made pursuant to comparable services or benefits requirements as described in section 724(a)(8) of this title;
(F) for an eligible individual with the most significant disabilities for whom an employment outcome in a supported employment setting has been determined to be appropriate, information identifying —
(i) the extended services needed by the eligible individual; and
(ii) the source of extended services or, to the extent that the source of the extended services cannot be identified at the time of the development of the individualized plan for employment, a description of the basis for concluding that there is a reasonable expectation that such source will become available; and
(G) as determined to be necessary, a statement of projected need for post-employment services.
In Appeal of Wenger, the applicant, as in this case, was a disabled person for purposes of the act, but failed to obtain an IWRP. The court held: "Wenger, however, is not entitled to rehabilitation services in the absence of an IWRP jointly adopted by Wenger and the DRS [Department of Rehabilitation Services]."Appeal of Wenger, supra, 504 N.W.2d 799 The Wenger court relied on the federal district court decision Buchanan v. Ives, 793 F. Sup. 361 (D. Maine 1991) in which the joint development feature of the IWRP was affirmed. In that case, the court held: "The Plaintiff contends the Act should be interpreted to provide a client with the final right to choose his vocational rehabilitation goal, so long as it is within his capabilities. . . . However, "joint' participation does not mean giving a client the final or exclusive decision making authority to determine his own goal. The plain meaning of the word "jointly' indicates that the decision be made by at least two persons acting in concert. Although the client must be given every opportunity to participate in the decision-making, the rehabilitation counselor must make the final decision on eligibility and the scope of services provided." Buchanan v. Ives, supra, 793 F. Sup. 366. This case is undisputed in that there Was no individual written rehabilitation program or IWRP.
In the instant case, the plaintiff also failed to take advantage of a review process provided by General Statutes § 17b-654. See also Regs., Conn. State Agencies § 10-102-20. In addition to an informal administrative review of IWRPs provided in General Statutes § 17b-654 (a), the plaintiff could have requested a formal hearing pursuant to § 17b-654 (b). See also Regs., Conn. State Agencies § 10-102-21. This the plaintiff failed to do. The regulations specifically prohibit financial assistance in the absence of an IWRP.
Section 10-102-15 (b) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies provides: "Financial participation by the Bureau in providing training in institutions of higher education or vocational training facilities shall be made only in accordance with an appropriately completed Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program."
The hearing officer also found that the plaintiff was employable without the educational program which he sought at the University of Hartford. "The thrust of the Rehabilitation Act is to assist disabled individuals to become employed." Appeal of Wenger, supra, 504 N.W.2d 798. "Vocational rehabilitation services provided under the Act are any goods or services necessary to render an individual with handicaps employable." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Zingher v. Department of Aging Disabilities, 664 A.2d 256, 259 (Vt. 1995). In theZingher case, the plaintiff sought assistance under the Rehabilitation Act with respect to the purchase of computers which he would use in an accounting job. In upholding the denial of such assistance, the Vermont Supreme Court concluded: "Although the computer system requested may enhance petitioner's employability, petitioner has not shown that such a system is necessary for him to be employed." (Emphasis in original.) Id., 259-60. In the present case, the hearing officer determined that Mr. Vail is employable with his present skills, an Associate's Degree in Engineering, and therefore, it is not necessary for Mr. Vail to obtain the desired Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. The plaintiffs claims under the Rehabilitation Act fail.
The plaintiff also claims in his brief that the BRS decision was arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion. At the outset, the court notes the "standard of review for all of the plaintiff's claims on appeal. Because [the court is] reviewing the decision of an administrative agency, [the court's] review is highly deferential. . . . Ordinarily, this court affords deference to the construction of a statute applied by the administrative agency empowered by law to carry out the statute's purposes. . . . [A]n agency's factual and discretionary determinations are to be accorded considerable weight by the courts. . . . Cases that present pure questions of law, however, invoke a broader standard of review than is ordinarily involved in deciding whether, in light of the evidence, the agency has acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, illegally or in abuse of its discretion. . . . Furthermore, when a state agency's determination of a question of law has not previously been subject to judicial scrutiny., the agency is not entitled to special deference . . . [I]t is for the courts, and not administrative agencies, to expound and apply governing principles of law. . . ." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Bezzini v. Dett, of Social Services. 49 Conn. App. 432, 436 (1998).
The court's "review of an agency's factual determination is constrained by General Statutes § 4-183(j), which mandates that a court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court shall affirm the decision of the agency unless the court finds that substantial rights of the person appealing have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are . . . (5) clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probate, and substantial evidence on the whole record. . . . This limited standard of review dictates that, with regard to questions of fact, it is neither the function of the trial court., to retry the case or to substitute its judgment for that of the administrative agency. . . . An agency's factual determination must be sustained if it is reasonably supported by substantial evidence in the record taken as a whole . . . Substantial evidence exists if the administrative record affords a substantial basis of fact from which the fact in issue can be reasonably inferred. . . . This substantial evidence standard is highly deferential and permits less judicial scrutiny than a clearly erroneous or weight of the evidence standard of review. . . . The burden is on the plaintiffs to demonstrate that the [agency's] factual conclusions were not supported by the weight of substantial evidence on the whole record. . . ." (Brackets omitted; citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) New England Cable Television Assn., Inc. v. DPUC, 247 Conn. 95, 117-18 (1998).
The following findings of fact, which are supported by substantial evidence, are more than sufficient to support the reasonableness of the BRS decision:
(8) At the January 21, 1997 meeting Mr. Vail further stated that he came to BRS seeking employment and continuing education, and admitted he was not sure of his goals. He also expressed reservations about his academic abilities, particular in the area of math, including calculus. . . . CT Page 6650
(10) In late January 1997 Mr. Vail expressed concern about trouble he was having in school, both with reading and with math, arising, he believed, from his head injury. He agreed to have a neuropsychological evaluation.
(13) Dr. Cassens report revealed that Mr. Vail had an I.Q. in the average range, significant difficulty concentrating and retaining written/verbal material, and his arithmetic abilities were in the low average range, or eighth grade equivalent. Noting that Mr. Vail had spoken to her about taking Law School Aptitude Test, Dr. Cassens commented that "[i]t is unclear at this time whether attending law school is realistic given his neuro psychological profile . . .
(20) Mr. Vail also presented to BRS a transcript of work he had taken at the University of Hartford, together with 21.66 credits granted by the University for his work at Hartford State Technical College. The course work taken at the University of Hartford over eight semesters and two summer terms yielded a total of 58 course hours and a cumulative grade point average of 1.75. . . .
(25) Patricia Malloy, a BRS Human Resources Specialist and Rehabilitation Counselor with 27 years of experience, discussed Mr. Vail's search for employment with him. She stated that he was interested in "anything related to construction technology." She also conducted a limited job survey in Connecticut, and concluded that there are a number of jobs available for which Mr. Vail is presently qualified.
(ROR, Volume I, pp. 4-5.)
The court finds that substantial evidence in the record supports the BRS decision that the BA Engineering Degree from the University of Hartford was not an appropriate vocational goal for Mr. Vail. Accordingly, the decision of the BRS is affirmed and the appeal is dismissed.
Robert F. McWeeny, J.