The program does not prioritize incoming communication access services requests. However, in times of funding limitations, the program will resort to prioritizing requests for the most basic human needs, such as requests relating to medical/behavioral health, employment-related, and court/legal situations. This prioritization is applied as a last resort plan.
RCAS shall arrange and pay for communication access services in rural areas of Colorado as long as funding is available to do so. A deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind consumer must be present onsite or virtually for the proceeding, event, or circumstance. When scheduling services, the program will consider the nature, length, complexity, and context of the request and the frequency of the need for services.
RCAS will not arrange communication access services for federal or state agencies or entities; (pre) K to grade 12 student-related academics or activities except for Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings; post-secondary academics or environments; or personal events such as weddings, parties, or family gatherings.
Additionally, RCAS will not cover services requested by out-of-state entities.
1. RCAS Services are available in rural areas of the state. The request must involve providing communication access in a rural area to a deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind individual, regardless of whether that person resides in or is visiting that rural area.2. Communication access services may be provided in person, virtually, or a hybrid of in-person and virtual. RCAS staff shall make the final determination on whether communication access services will be provided in person and/or virtually.3. RCAS services may be suspended or terminated for repeated misuse or abuse of program resources, including but not limited to multiple no-shows or short-notice cancellations.4. During times of fiscal constraint, service requests will be prioritized with court and legal settings, health and wellness appointments, and employment-related events being of the highest priority. On a case-by-case basis, shorter requests will be prioritized over lengthier (e.g., half-day, full day, or multiple day) requests.5. The RCAS program is charged with increasing the number of qualified communication access services providers available in rural areas of the state. Thus, vendors on RCAS assignments may be accompanied by sign language interpreting students and apprentices. The program will inform consumers in advance whenever possible.47 CR 07, April 10, 2024, effective 5/31/2024