Old “Substantial Handicap” definition

54001. Substantial Handicap.

(a) "Substantial handicap" means a condition which results in major impairment of cognitive and/or social functioning. Moreover, a substantial handicap represents a condition of sufficient impairment to require interdisciplinary planning and coordination of special or generic services to assist the individual in achieving maximum potential.

(b) Since an individual's cognitive and/or social functioning are many-faceted, the existence of a major impairment shall be determined through an assessment which shall address aspects of functioning including, but not limited to:

(1) Communication skills;

(2) Learning;

(3) Self-care;

(4) Mobility;

(5) Self-direction;

(6) Capacity for independent living;

(7) Economic self-sufficiency.

(c) The assessment shall be made by a group of Regional Center professionals of differing disciplines and shall include consideration of similar qualification appraisals performed by other interdisciplinary bodies of the Department serving the potential client. The group shall include as a minimum a program coordinator, a physician, and a psychologist.

(d) The Regional Center professional group shall consult the potential client, parents, guardians/conservators, educators, advocates, and other client representatives to the extent that they are willing and available to participate in its deliberations and to the extent that the appropriate consent is obtained.

Note Authority cited: Section 4512, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 4500 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code.

54002. Cognitive.

"Cognitive" as used in this chapter means the ability of an individual to solve problems with insight, to adapt to new situations, to think abstractly and to profit from experience.

Note Authority cited: Section 4512, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 4500 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code.

Section 54001 - Substantial Disability Changes

(a)“Substantial disability” means:

(1) A condition which results in major impairment of cognitive and/or social functioning, representing sufficient impairment to require interdisciplinary planning and coordination of special or generic services to assist the individual in achieving maximum potential; and

(2) The existence of significant functional limitations, as determined by the regional center, in three or more of the following areas of major life activity, as appropriate to the person’s age:

(A) Receptive and expressive language;
(B) Learning;
(C) Self-care;
(D) Mobility;
(E) Self-direction;
(F) Capacity for independent living;
(G) Economic self-sufficiency.

(b) The assessment of substantial disability shall be made by a group of Regional Center professionals of differing disciplines and shall include consideration of similar qualification appraisals performed by other interdisciplinary bodies of the Department serving the potential client. The group shall include as a minimum a program coordinator, a physician, and a psychologist.

(c) The Regional Center professional group shall consult the potential client, parents, guardians/conservators, educators, advocates, and other client representatives to the extent that they are willing and available to participate in its deliberations and to the extent that the appropriate consent is obtained.

(d) Any reassessment of substantial disability for purposes of continuing eligibility shall utilize the same criteria under which the individual was originally made eligible.