(1) Reimbursement for necessary reader
services will be provided to a consumer receiving college training services
under an approved IWRP without regard to financial need.
(2) The
Commission may reimburse a
consumer
for necessary reader services at an hourly rate as established by the
Commissioner, or his/her designee, on an annual basis the date to be determined
by Common wealth Fiscal Year budget requirements. Rates of reimbursement are
applied universally and may not be adjusted for individuals. A maximum of 60
hours of service per calendar month may be reimbursed, provided said services
are associated with the
consumer's status as a registered college student, and
provided further that said reader services and student status are incorporated
in an individualized written rehabilitation plan approved by the
Commission.
The 60 hour limitation of 111 CMR 6.07 may be waived by the
Commissioner or his/her designee, upon a showing of extraordinary
circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances do not include situations where the
normal course of study is one that requires a heavy reading schedule.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances:
A consumer, in consultation with his/her counselor, decides to
pursue an accelerated program which results in an earlier graduation.
A consumer normally depends on a CCTV for reading and the
equipment becomes unavailable and cannot be promptly replaced.
(3) When a consumer receiving
college training services has possession of or reasonable access to a CCTV,
scanner, or other devise that can facilitate reading, the maximum amount the
Commission may authorize for reimbursement for necessary reader services will
be for 15 hours at the hourly rate established above.
(4) If reader services are authorized, a
report in the form of properly completed and signed certificates for
reimbursement, on a form provided by the
Commission, must be submitted in a
timely manner. Failure to do so could result in the
consumer not receiving
reimbursement for that period. Consumers may need to provide other documents in
a timely manner in order to receive payment.
(Note: Reader fee reimbursement is
reimbursement to the consumer, not the reader. Payment to the reader is the
consumer's responsibility, not the Commission's. Rate of payment to the reader,
number of hours for which service is contracted, etc. is not
determined by or limited by the Commission.
Reimbursement by the Commission to the consumer may not meet
the full need a consumer may have for reader services.)
