South Carolina law, section
44-20-20, recognizes that people with mental retardation, related disabilities
and head and spinal cord injuries, are people who benefit from the same
experiences as non-disabled people. Family education, employment and
community inclusion are vital to the happiness and success of all people.
It should be noted herein, that
the single point of entry into the South Carolina Disabilities and Special Needs
(SCDDSN) service delivery system is through
Service Coordination. Service Coordinators initiate a process referred to
as "intake," and begin to gather information from consumers, family members,
current and former service providers, etc., that may support SCDDSN eligibility.
Once the intake packet is completed, it is sent to the Consumer Assessment Team
at the SCDDSN for eligibility determination. The entire process of intake
and eligibility should be completed within three months, unless there are
extenuating circumstances. It is important to remember that if eligibility
for services is determined, waiting lists for most services exist.
However, consumers may receive service coordination, if this is needed and
desired.
Next, the following section will
review the definition of mental retardation and other related disabilities and
discuss the process by which individuals are deemed eligible for services.
Mental Retardation
The definition of mental retardation that is widely accepted as the best
definition by professional today is as follows:
"Mental Retardation refers to
significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning, resulting in or
associated with concurrent impairments in adaptive behavior and manifested
during the developmental period."
To explain the definition
further, significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning refers to a
valid intelligence quotient of approximately 70 or below, as determined by IQ
tests for children and adults, and clinical judgment for infants.
Concurrent impairments in
adaptive behavior/functioning, refers to how well one copes with common life
demands for his/her age and cultural group. Impairments must be present in
at least two of the following areas: communication, self care, home
living, social/interpersonal skills, use of community resources or
self-direction.
Lastly, the onset of these
conditions must have occurred before 18 years of age or the developmental
period.
Information needed to
determine eligibility: Current and previous psychological information,
adaptive measures, social information, medical reports, and school records.
Return to
Top
Related Disabilities
A related disability is a severe, chronic condition found
to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to
that required for persons with mental retardation.
All four of the following
conditions must be met:
Diagnosed
learning disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in the absence of other qualifying
criteria, do not constitute eligibility as "related disabilities" for South
Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs eligibility. Your
service coordinator can provide information on agencies that may offer services
for these disabilities.
Information needed to
determine eligibility: Current and previous psychological information,
adaptive measures, social information, medical reports, and school records.
Return to
Top
Autism
Autism is defined as abnormal or
impaired development in social interaction and communication, as well as
markedly restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests
and activities manifested prior to three years of age. Problems that are
experienced must fit a specific pattern of disturbance as outlined in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Information needed to
determine eligibility: Social information relevant to developmental
history and eligibility determination is needed. Any other information
such as medical and psychological records that are available would be helpful.
Return to
Top
Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal
Cord Injury and Similar Disorders
State law defines a traumatic
brain injury as an injury to the skull or brain caused by an external physical
force. The injury may produce a diminished or altered state of
consciousness resulting in impairment in cognitive abilities or physical
functioning, as well as behavioral and or emotional functioning.
A spinal cord injury is an acute
traumatic lesion of neural elements in the spinal canal, resulting in any degree
of deficit in sensory, motor and life functions. The deficit may be
temporary or permanent.
All four of the following
requirements must be met at the same time of applying for eligibility:
