1. (a) Supportive services.

   1. (1) Supportive services are services provided to consumers so that they can access other program services.
   2. (2) They are designed to assist the consumer to actively participate in the program and attain their independent living goals.

2. (b) Reader services.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Reader service is oral reading or taped recording provided by a vendor to a blind consumer.
      2. (B) The material read is that which is otherwise inaccessible to the consumer.
   2. (2) The VR counselor and consumer should negotiate the number of hours of reader service needed.
   3. (3) This is a limited service, and the consumer should understand this at the onset of this service.
   4. (4) The VR counselor and the consumer should work to locate alternate access to the inaccessible material to reduce the continued need for reader services.

   5. (5)

      1. (A) The fee for this service should be:

3. (i) Negotiated between the VR counselor and the reader; and

   1. (ii) Reported on a Division of State Services for the Blind statement of reader service form.

      1. (B) The statement of reader service form should be submitted to the VR counselor by the consumer at the end of each calendar month for payment.

   2. (6) The VR counselor will pay the vendor directly for this service.

      1. (c) Transportation.

   3. (1)

      1. (A) Transportation is defined as necessary travel and related expenses in connection with transporting a consumer who is disabled for the purpose of providing OIB services.
      2. (B) It is considered a supportive service that contributes to the consumer’s ability to benefit from other OIB services.
      3. (C) Transportation services may be furnished in connection with other rehabilitation services at any time during the rehabilitation process to allow the consumer to participate in that service.

   4. (2)

      1. (A) When transportation is being paid to the consumer it shall be at the state mileage rate.

      2. (B) For official transportation vendors, the division will pay their standard rate for service.

         1. (d) Personal attendant services. Personal attendant services are those personal services that an attendant performs for an individual with a disability such as bathing, feeding, dressing, providing mobility and transportation, etc.

4. (e) Interpreter services.

   1. (1) Interpreter services are:

      1. (A) Sign language or oral interpretation services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; and
      2. (B) Tactile interpretation services for individuals who are deaf-blind.
   2. (2) Specially trained individuals perform sign language or oral interpretation.
   3. (3) Also include here real-time captioning services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
   4. (4) Do not include language interpretation in this category, but in "other services".

5. (f) Other support services.

   1. (1) Other services frequently involve coordination with:

      1. (A) Associate agencies;
      2. (B) Volunteers; and
      3. (C) Community organizations.
   2. (2) The VR counselor will enlist the support of all appropriate resources that will provide the opportunity for each consumer to achieve his or her maximum potential.

Codification Notes: “OIB” means older individuals who are blind. "VR" means vocational rehabilitation.