13.3 Evaluation Services When Utilizing Personal Adjustment Training

Comprehensive evaluations shall recommend potential training services. PAT evaluations may include one or more of the following components:

1. Orientation and Mobility

a. Travel skills in familiar areas, including familiar indoor environments, residential and business environments, and use of public transportation.

b. Travel skills in unfamiliar areas including unfamiliar indoor environments, residential and business environments, and use of public transportation.

2. Adaptive Communication

a. Including knowledge and use of audio services, Braille, filing/labeling, handwriting, self-note-taking, keyboarding, and use of telephone.

3. Assistive Technology

a. Including accessibility, knowledge of computer basics, knowledge and use of assistive technology, and basic ability to use operating systems and standard software.

b. If applicable, including other electronic devices and their usage (i.e., Braille note-takers, smart phones, etc.).

4. Daily Living Skills

a. Home management skills, including financial management, home maintenance and safety, housecleaning, meal preparation, care of family members, and time management.

b. Personal management skills, including medical management, grooming, hygiene, and care of clothing, eating skills, and coping with vision loss.

5. Low Vision

a. The ability to effectively use residual vision and/or magnification devices.

Typically, individuals who are seeking evaluation in three or more areas and who are available to come to the Center shall be referred for a Center-based evaluation. Individuals shall be available to attend the Center four to five days per week from the hours of 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Individuals shall be able to perform activities of daily living (with or without the use of personal assistant services) to include: ability to feed oneself, administer medication, use the restroom, and move between training areas independently. Following the evaluation, a staffing shall be held to include the DVR Counselor, individual, PAT Supervisor or designee, and appropriate teachers. Within one week of the evaluation staffing, the DVR Counselor shall receive reports from all evaluated PAT areas, including a Summary Case Management report, which shall provide timelines to complete the recommended training.

Itinerant evaluations can occur in an individual’s home and/or worksite; typically training is not done in assisted living facilities. Individual self-care criteria (with or without the use of personal assistant services) is: ability to feed oneself, administer medication, and use the restroom. Within two weeks of the completion of the evaluation, the DVR Counselor shall receive reports from the itinerant VRT/O&MS including all evaluated PAT areas with timelines to complete the recommended training.