Section 553.140  Criteria for Most Significant Disability and Very Significant Disability and Significant Disability

Documentation of the determination that an individual has a most significant disability, a very significant disability, or a significant disability must be in the individual's VR case file, as well as documentation concerning the evaluation of his or her rehabilitation potential.

a)         Prior to determining the significance of an individual's disability, it must be determined that he or she:

1)         has a disability, or a combination of disabilities, that causes a substantial physical or mental impairment that is similar, but not limited to, the following list of disabilities:

A)        amputation,

B)        arthritis,

C)        autism,

D)        blindness,

E)        burn injury,

F)         cancer,

G)        cerebral palsy,

H)        cystic fibrosis,

I)         deafness,

J)         head injury,

K)        heart disease,

L)        hemiplegia,

M)       hemophilia,

N)        respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction,

O)        mental retardation,

P)         mental illness,

Q)        multiple sclerosis,

R)        muscular dystrophy,

S)         musculo-skeletal disorders,

T)         neurological disorders (including stroke and epilepsy),

U)        paraplegia,

V)        quadriplegia (and other spinal cord conditions),

W)       sickle cell anemia,

X)        specific learning disabilities, or

Y)        end stage renal failure disease;

2)         has a disability, or a combination of disabilities, that seriously limits his or her functional capacities, as listed in Section 553.150; and

3)         requires VR services over an extended period of time at least six months or longer.

b)         If an individual meets the requirements of subsection (a), then the following criteria must be met to determine the significance of his or her disability:

1)         To be considered an individual with a most significant disability, he or she must be an individual who has a disability that seriously limits three or more of his or her functional capacities and who requires two or more substantial VR services, in addition to the routine services of counseling and guidance and information and referral to ensure a successful employment outcome.

2)         To be considered an individual with a very significant disability, he or she must have a disability that seriously limits two of his or her functional capacities, and must require one or more substantial VR services, in addition to the routine services of counseling and guidance and information and referral to ensure a successful employment outcome.

3)         To be considered an individual with a significant disability, he or she must have a disability that seriously limits one of his or her functional capacities and must require one or more substantial VR services, in addition to the routine services of counseling and guidance and information and referral to ensure a successful employment outcome.

c)         An individual who has been determined eligible for disability benefits pursuant to Title II (SSDI) or Title XVI (SSI) of the Social Security Act is considered to be an individual with at least a significant disability.  An assessment of the functional limitations and service needs, as described in subsection (b), may place the individual into a higher category of the order of selection.

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 19013, effective November 22, 2010)