[BlindTlk] Is blindness from birth considered a developmental disability under the definition

[Rene Harrell]

I can answer this question in respect to Massachusetts. My now 18 year old
daughter is both blind and has developmental disabilities— with diagnoses
of moderate Intellectual Disability (IQ of 45) and Autism. In order to
qualify for Mass Commission of the Blind services she needed to Blind. In
order to qualify for services from the Department of Developmental
Disability Services (DDS) as an adult, she needed to have a documented IQ
of below 70 that also causes a significant limitations in adaptive
functioning and had an age of onset before the age of 18, or Autism with
significant impatient in adaptive functioning.

While her blindness was certainly noted as an additional medical condition,
it was not considered as part of the eligibility process in qualifying for
DDS services— that was strictly based on an assessment of IQ and how her IQ
impacted her adaptive functioning, not how her blindness impacts her
adaptive functioning.

Hope that helps!
Rene

On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Kerry via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hi I have been on this list for sometime but have never really posted a
> topic but this is my question is blindness considered a developmental
> disability under the definition and in most or some states does it qualify
> for related services. I have been part of both systems for a few years now
> the vocational rehab system in the DDS system in my state i’ve had problems
> trying to work with both systems to develop plans and have really been
> stuck for quite a while now sure the goal always is to focus on what can I
> do independently into relying on natural supports as much as possible
> joining the DDS system was more of a social thing than it was to design a
> plan of services or community staff support and that is not to say that
> community staff is somehow wrong or wouldn’t help in some areas but I would
> like some guidance on this issue.
> Although Rhode Island really lacks in resources for the Blind anyway and
> have considered a lot moving out of Rhode Island eventually because I just
> don’t know if I can get successful here
> Kerry
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlindTlk mailing list
> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindTlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/
> rjharrell%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Sent from Mobile device