August 15, 1999

MEMORANDUM TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

FROM: Sally Howard, Deputy Director, DFS

SUBJECT: Readers for the Blind Program

Attached is a packet of forms and instructions for the Readers for the Blind Program (RBP).

Please retain this set of forms which can be reproduced as needed for anyone wishing to apply for

readers service under this program.

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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Division of Family Services

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

Policies and Procedures

READERS FOR THE BLIND PROGRAM

The Missouri Rehabilitation Service for the Blind, Division of Family Services, Department

of Social Services, is responsible for administering the Readers for the Blind Program (RBP)

(RSMo 178.160‑178, 180). As of August 28, 1994, this program shall be administered

according to the following policies and procedures.

I. Student Eligibility: Any legally blind citizen of Missouri who regularly attends a local

school district program, a special school district program, a Missouri college,

university, technical or professional school that is legally authorized to grant degrees,

other than an institution established for the regular instruction of the blind, may

apply to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind for RBP services.

II. Certification of Student Eligibility: Student eligibility must be certified each year.

A. Rehabilitation Services for the Blind Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) consumers

Prior to the beginning of the first term of the school year in which the student attends

one of the above institutions , those individuals who are Rehabilitation Services for the

Blind VR consumers must submit a request for RBP services to their Rehabilitation

Services for the Blind VR counselor.

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind will submit a Form RBP‑l, Certification of

Eligibility, to the institution the student is attending. If possible, Form RBP‑1 will be

submitted to the institution prior to the beginning of the school term so RPB funds will

be available to the student from the beginning of the term.

The institution will submit Form RBP‑2, Institutional Accounting and Certification of

Student Eligibility to Rehabilitation Service for the Blind.

Form RBP‑2 will be prepared and signed by the treasurer of the institution and must

show the name of each student who has matriculated, is attending the institution and

has requested readers services. This form must also be signed by the chief executive

official of the institution to verify the account.

Form RBP‑2 should be submitted to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind no later than

October 1 of each school year. For those students who matriculate and first attend the

institution during a term other than the beginning of the school year, these forms

should be submitted to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind no later than one month

following the beginning of the term. If it is not possible to compile all the forms within this time-

frame, supplemental certification forms may be submitted.

Student eligibility must be certified each year, following the beginning of the fall term.

A student, for whom a Form RBP‑I has been filed previously, and who has attended

the same institution continuously except for summer terms, may file with the,

institution a Form RBP‑IA, Certification of Continued Eligibility. The institution,

however, must submit Form RBP‑2 to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind at the

beginning of each fall term.

A student who is certified as eligible may become ineligible due to a number of factors,

including voluntary withdrawal from the Program, moving from the State of Missouri,

withdrawing from school or improvement in‑vision. The student, parent, or guardian is

responsible for reporting ineligibility to the institution which will then submit Form

RBP‑3 Notification of Ineligibility of Blind Student, to Rehabilitation Services for the

Blind.

Change of institution attended by the student during a given school year does not

necessarily result in ineligibility for that year. The original institution should submit a

Form RBP‑3 to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. The student can be recertified by

submittal of Form RBP‑2 by the institution currently attended by the blind individual

to Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

B. Individuals who are not Rehabilitation Services for the Blind consumers must

submit Form RBP‑1B to their local school district or to:

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

Readers for the Blind Program

P. O. Box 88

Jefferson City, MO 65103‑0088

The first time this form is submitted for a particular student it must have a copy of a

current eye report, not more than one year old, attached. In subsequent years the eye

report need only be available upon request from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

For students of local or special school districts, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

will return From RBP‑1 to the Department of Education certifying eligibility or

ineligibility. The Department of Education will be responsible for notifying the local of

special school district of eligibility. The Department of Education will also be

responsible for funding and payments for Readers for the Blind Program related to

students of local and special school districts.

For those individuals who are not Rehabilitation Services for the Blind VR consumers

and are attending a Missouri college, university, technical or professional school,

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind will return a Form RBP‑1 to the appropriate

educational institution.

III. Determination of Institutional Eligibility: An eligible institution is one located

in the state of Missouri and legally authorized to grant degrees. Claims from

any institution not located in the state of Missouri or located in Missouri but

not authorized by Missouri Department of Education to grant degrees will be rejected.

Institutions are no longer required to submit a form for institutional eligibility.

IV Procedures for Payment: Payment for Readers for the Blind Program services

is contingent upon appropriation and availability of funds.

A. Post‑Secondary Institutions: Each month, the institution shall submit Form

RBP‑4, Institutional Billing for Readers Service, to Rehabilitation Services for

the Blind. If preferred, an institutional invoice form may be used; however,

this form must contain all the information requested on Form RBP‑4. Rehabilitation Services for the Blind will return any incomplete or inaccurate billing form to the institution. Form RBP‑4, or invoice, must be accompanied by time cards signed by the student for whom the services were provided.

In the cases of readers services provided to Rehabilitation Services for the

Blind VR consumers, a Rehabilitation Services for the Blind Contract for

Services (R‑4) authorizing readers services must have been issued by the

consumer’s VR counselor before any invoice can be processed for payment.

Each institution is responsible for maintaining records that show the cumulative

amount of payment received from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind for each

eligible student.

Billings for readers services provided during the last month of any given fiscal year

must be submitted no later than June 15°'. Bills received after that date are not

guaranteed for payment by the Division of Family Services.