Section 17-401.1-25 - Reader, rehabilitation teaching, and orientation and mobility services(a) Reader, rehabilitation teaching, and orientation and mobility services shall be included as VR services in an assessment for determining eligibility for VR services of applicants who are blind, or in an IPE when necessary for the vocational rehabilitation of eligible individuals who are blind. (1) "Reader services" means any person's oral reading to an individual who is blind, of ink print material which is not available through any of the accepted special non-visual methods of reading used by individuals who are blind (braille, talking book, tape recording). Reader services may also be the oral reading of material which are available in those forms, when an individual who is blind or visually impaired has not yet acquired sufficient skill in using them to meet an immediate need in the rehabilitation process which, if unfulfilled at the stage of rehabilitation, would impede the person's rehabilitation process, or the person's attainment of or continuation in employment.(2) "Rehabilitation teaching services" include the teaching of techniques fundamental to developing personal independence by mastering common skills of daily living without eyesight or with impaired eyesight. They encompass specific and identifiable teaching methods to assist individuals who are blind and visually impaired in personal independence.(3) "Orientation and mobility services" refers to the teaching of methods of independent travel without sight or with partial sight. "Mobility" in this context is the act of moving, while "orientation" is awareness of pertinent factors in the environment which enable the person with partial or total impairment of sight to react, move, and travel in a safe, appropriate and purposeful manner.(b) Reader, rehabilitation teaching and orientation and mobility services shall be provided by trained personnel, as necessary to assist individuals who are blind and visually impaired in developing use of their remaining senses, especially hearing and touch, and an awareness of obstacles to be overcome, including the initial effect blindness can have on the individual's morale. In each instance, the purpose for the services shall be explained to the applicant or eligible individual who is blind. Such services shall be provided consistent with the needs of the individual and, as appropriate with the individual's informed choice in accordance with section 17-401.1-12. (1) Reader services shall be provided in accordance with the following: (A) When substantial amounts of reading are necessary for individuals who are blind during the assessment to determine eligibility and priority for services, or when entering employment, both for an individual working for an employer or an individual who is self-employed, especially in the beginning of employment.(B) Payment for reader services for an individual who is employed and before case closure is limited to an initial period of four months and shall not exceed one year.(2) Rehabilitation teaching services may include the following: (A) Instruction in skills related to personal management including but not limited to grooming, table etiquette, and personal hygiene.(B) Instruction in communication skills, including braille, tape recording, typing, and manual writing.(C) Instruction in home management including childcare and supervision, techniques of home maintenance, budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and dietary and menu planning.(D) Limited instruction in travel techniques.(E) Participation in group activities in the community with sighted as well as blind and visually impaired persons.(3) Orientation and mobility services shall be provided to enable an individual who is blind or visually impaired to move about at an optimum level of independence in immediate personal surroundings and ranges as far as required by the individual's activities and interests. Services may include but are not limited to: (B) Use of a sighted guide;(C) Use of hands, arms, and other body movements in a protective way;(D) Grip and use of a cane;(E) Principles of indoor and outdoor orientation to the environment, including how to obtain and use reference data through the remaining senses;(F) Use of common modes of transportation;(G) Travel in residential and business areas;(H) Travel with electronic mobility aids;(I) Travel with guide dog; and(J) Travel with low vision aids.(c) Reader, rehabilitation teaching, and orientation and mobility services are subject to the use of comparable services and benefits provisions of section 17-401.1-13, but are exempt from the use of personal resources (financial needs test) provisions of section 17-401.1-14.Haw. Code R. § 17-401.1-25
[Eff AUG 13 2007] (Auth: HRS §§ 347-4, 348-3, 348-6: 29 U.S.C. §§709, 723; 34 C.F.R. §361.50 ) (Imp: HRS §§ 347-4, 348-3, 348-6; 29 U.S.C. §§709, 723; 34 C.F.R. §361.50 )