A community access service:

  • Shall be provided by a community access specialist
  • Shall be designed to support a participant to participate in meaningful routines, events, and activities through various community organizations
  • Shall be designed to empower a participant in developing natural supports;
  • May be participant directed
  • If participant directed, may be provided by an immediate family member, guardian, or legally responsible individual of the participant in accordance with Section 10 of this administrative regulation
  • Shall stress training that empowers a participant in acquiring, practicing, utilizing, and improving skills related to:
    1. Connecting with others
    2. Independent functioning
    3. Self-advocacy
    4. Socialization
    5. Community participation
    6. Personal responsibility
    7. Financial responsibility
    8. Other skills related to optimal well-being as defined in the participant’s person-centered service plan
  • Shall be designed to result in an increased ability to develop natural supports and access community resources including educational, recreational, religious, civic, or volunteer opportunities with an outcome of:
    1. Less reliance on formal supports
    2. Greater reliance on natural or unpaid supports as established in the participant’s person-centered service plan
  • Shall have an emphasis on the development of personal social networks, membership opportunities, friendships, and relationships for the participant as established in the participant’s person-centered service plan
  • Shall be provided outside the participant’s home or residential setting and occur during the day, in the evening, or on weekends
  • Shall not duplicate residential support or day training services, or authorized therapies
  • Shall be provided to a participant with a:
    1. One (1) to one (1) staff to participant ratio; or
    2. Ratio of one (1) staff to no more than two (2) participants according to the participant’s person-centered service plan, if the participant invites a friend
  • Shall occur in an integrated community setting
  • Shall be an impact service and the participant’s person-centered service plan shall define steps to decrease the provision of the service as the participant becomes more independent in accessing and becoming part of the community
502-650-1172
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