Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF › Title 92 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Chapter 72 - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES › Section 92-72-007 - Home Modifications

Current through June 17, 2024
007.01 Purpose
Home modifications are strictly limited to removal of
				  barriers to access and function within the home environment and other limited
				  modifications which are necessary to convert ordinary living space into space
				  essential to achieve the employment outcome of the recipient.
007.02 Cost estimates
Cost estimates are required for the purchase of home
				  modifications. Cost estimates may be obtained from catalogs, advertisements, by
				  telephone, or in writing from qualified vendors. Cost estimates shall be
				  obtained from a minimum of two (2) providers, unless there is only one (1)
				  qualified provider available.
007.03 Erection of Structures
Home modifications cannot constitute the erection of new
				  rooms, units, or structures.
007.04 Scope
Scope and extent of home modifications are limited
				  to:
007.04A. Ramps. A single exterior
				ramp may be provided to enable the recipient to enter and leave the home,
				provided that the recipient will be engaging in services necessary to achieve
				an employment outcome.
007.04B.
				Stair Glides or Elevators. Exterior stair glides or elevators may be provided
				instead of a ramp if there are circumstances such as small lot size, lot
				grades, excessive comparative costs, etc., precluding the use of a
				ramp.
007.04C. Exterior Doors. A
				single exterior doorway may be widened and the outer doors replaced, if
				necessary, to permit the recipient to enter and leave the home.
007.04D. Interior Doorway. An interior
				doorway may be widened to permit the recipient to enter and leave a bathroom,
				personal bedroom, eating area, or other rooms in the house when essential to
				achieve the goals on the Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04E. Bathrooms. Modifications to the
				bathroom may be provided, when necessary, to enable the recipient to function
				more independently in self-care activities such as bathing and toileting. These
				modifications are limited to:
007.04E1.
				Widening the doorway and replacing the door, if necessary, to provide access to
				the bathroom.
007.04E2. Providing
				access to the sink, including specialized sink fixtures, if required by the
				recipient's impairment.
007.04E3.
				An extension seat to the commode, if necessary. The commode shall be replaced,
				only if required, because of the recipient's impairment. Similarly, the commode
				shall be relocated only if there is no other option available to permit
				functional use of the bathroom.
007.04E4. The bathtub may be modified by the
				use of grab bars, adapted seating, hydro guards, adapted fixtures, or other
				modifications.
007.04E5. The
				bathtub may be replaced by a roll-in shower if required by the
				impairment.
007.04E6. The bathtub
				or roll-in shower may be relocated only if there is no other option to permit
				functional use of the bathroom.
007.04E7. Patching, priming, and painting the
				wall or walls disturbed by the above modifications, with color matching to the
				closest possible, using commonly available standard grade paint.
007.04E8. Bathroom modifications may include
				reconnecting moved fixtures and equipment to existing plumbing and electrical
				systems.
007.04E9. Bathroom
				modifications may include recovering the floor with a standard grade vinyl
				bathroom floor covering, unless carpeting is needed for mobility or safety
				reasons.
007.04E10. Bathroom
				modifications may include the provision of limited accessible storage space
				required for functional use in accordance with the Individualized Plan for
				Employment.
007.04F.
				Kitchen. The kitchen may be modified, if necessary, to permit the recipient to
				engage in self care, daily living, or housekeeping activities, such as eating,
				cooking, and meal preparation. Kitchen modifications are strictly limited to:
007.04F1. Widening the doorway to permit
				access to eating or cooking areas.
007.04F2. Lowering or raising a portion of
				existing counters to provide a work surface for cooking or meal
				preparation.
007.04F3. Opening
				areas under a sink or counter to provide access.
007.04F4. Necessary framing and finishing to
				install front controlled range top units or wall ovens, provided the recipient
				cannot use conventional units.
007.04F5. Lowering existing above counter
				storage units to provide access to stored food, kitchen, and household
				supplies.
007.04F6. Patching,
				priming, and repainting the wall or walls disturbed by the above modifications,
				with color matching to the closest possible, using commonly available standard
				grade paint.
007.04F7. Covering the
				area of the floor exposed by opening access to the sink or counter areas, with
				matching to the closest possible, using commonly available standard grade vinyl
				floor covering.
007.04F8. Cupboards
				or storage space lost by the conversion of storage space to work or access
				space may be replaced, provided that the remaining cupboard or storage space is
				inadequate. In this case, replacement is limited to the amount of storage space
				required for functional use, in accordance with the rehabilitation
				plan.
007.04F9. Kitchen
				modifications may include the purchase of range tops, wall ovens, or microwave
				ovens if the person will engage in cooking or meal preparation. Other
				specialized equipment needed by the recipient for these purposes because of
				impairment may also be purchased at the discretion of the program.
007.04G. Laundry Area. The laundry
				area may be modified, if necessary, to permit the recipient to do the laundry.
				Laundry area modifications are strictly limited to:
007.04G1. Widening the doorway to permit
				access to the laundry area.
007.04G2. Providing access to the washer and
				dryer, including the purchase of washer and dryer units whose design
				characteristics permit functional use by the recipient.
007.04G3. Relocation of the laundry area,
				provided that the existing laundry area is in an inaccessible location and
				access cannot be created at a cost lower than that of relocation. Relocation
				may include connecting the washer and dryer into existing plumbing and
				electrical systems, venting the dryer, and covering the laundry area floor with
				commonly available standard grade vinyl floor covering.
007.04H. Other Rooms. Modification of other
				rooms of the house is strictly limited to those rooms which will be used for
				purposes directly related to achieving the goals on the recipient's
				Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04I. Doorways. Doorways may be widened to
				provide access and trimmed to the standard of current new construction using
				commonly available standard grade materials.
007.04J. Interior Doors. Interior doors may
				not be replaced, with the exception of bathroom and personal bedroom doors,
				essential to privacy.
007.04K.
				Other Modifications. Other modifications are strictly limited to those
				necessary for purposes directly related to achieving the goals on the
				recipient's Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04L. Walls. Relocation of existing walls.
				The size of existing bathroom, kitchen, or laundry space can be increased by
				relocating an existing wall if this is the only option available to create an
				accessible and functional bathroom, kitchen, or laundry for the recipient.
				However, space taken for this purpose cannot be replaced.
007.04M. Building Materials. All
				modifications must use commonly available standard grade building materials,
				fixtures, floor covering, paint, and appliances. Commonly available standard
				grade means that which is typically used in current new construction of medium
				priced housing. The recipient may choose to upgrade material to match the
				original construction or to coordinate style and color of new fixtures,
				equipment, or appliances with that of other items. However, the recipient must
				pay for any difference in cost between standard grade and desired materials.
				This payment must be in addition to any other individual cost sharing in the
				Individualized Plan for Employment.
007.04N. Stair Glides, Lifts, and Elevators.
				Home modifications involving interior stair glides, lifts, or elevators may be
				provided only in situations where movement between floors in the structure is
				directly related to achieving the goals on the Individualized Plan for
				Employment and there are no other options for achieving these goals.
007.04O. Heating and Cooling. Home
				modifications involving heating and cooling systems are strictly limited to
				those specifically required by the recipient's impairment and may include an
				air conditioner, air purifier, humidifier, and dehumidifier which attaches to
				the primary system, or single room air conditioner, purifier, humidifier, or
				dehumidifier units sufficient for the room in which the recipient will perform
				most of the activities related to the Individualized Plan for
				Employment.
007.04P. Plumbing and
				Electrical Systems. Home modifications involving plumbing and electrical
				systems are strictly limited to those required to connect impairment related
				equipment and appliances, or relocated appliances and fixtures, into existing
				systems within the existing structure.