Section 590.620  Equipment Sets

a)         For the purposes of this Section, the provisions of Subpart A of this Part do not apply.

b)         DHS-DRS shall certify individuals as deaf, severely hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech impaired for the purpose of obtaining equipment sets (Telephone Devices for the Deaf (TTYs)), Large Visual Display (LVD) TTY, Amplified Telephone, or Telebraille Devices) without charge per the Public Utility Act [220 ILCS 5/13-703].

c)         DHS-DRS shall certify individuals seeking eligibility for a TTY, LVD TTY or Amplified Telephone who are deaf or severely hard of hearing and who are: present customers, past customers for whom DHS-DRS holds records, or individuals known to certifying staff through professional affiliation (e.g., past customers for whom DHS-DRS no longer has records or former student of the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt).

d)         DHS-DRS will certify individuals who are seeking eligibility for a Telebraille Device who are:

1)         deaf or severely hard of hearing;

2)         blind or severely visually impaired;

3)         capable of using Grade 1 Braille; and

4)         a present or past DHS-DRS customer. If the individual's Braille skills are unknown, a series of short questions in Grade 1 Braille will be given to the individual by DHS-DRS staff for the individual to respond to in Braille.

e)                  If the individual seeking certification from DHS-DRS is not known by DHS-DRS staff, as listed in subsections (c) and (d), DHS-DRS shall inform the individual of other certifying agents as listed at 83 Ill. Adm. Code 755.200.

(Source:  Amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 6598, effective April 13, 2012)