P A R T C D e c i s i o n u n d e r A p p e a l T h e d e c i s i o n b e i n g a p p e a l e d i s t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a " M i n i s t r y " ) J a n u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o A p p e l l a n t w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i . a l l t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n i n s e c t i o n P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t . B a s e d o n t h e i n f o r m a t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a l i m p a i p r o f e s s i o n a l ( i ) d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s h i s a b i l i t y t o p p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s ; a n d , ( i i ) a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s h e r e q u i r e s h e T h e M i n i s t r y w a s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s r e a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r h i s i m p a i r m e n t i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n P A R T D R e l e v a n t L e g i s l a t i o n E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 1 0 6 1 0 1 )l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e n i n w h i c h t h e M i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e e s ( " P W D " ) d e s i g n a t i o n b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t m e e t 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r t i o n p r o v i d e d , t h e M i n i s t r y w a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t r m e n t t h a t i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d e r f o r m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r l p t o p e r f o r m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . c h e d 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e a n d i n t h e o p, i n i o n o f a u e fo r a t l e a s t 2 y e a r s . i l i t i e s A c t ( " E A P W D A " ) S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) a n d 2 ( 3 ) . i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n ( " E A P W D R " ) S e c t i o n 2 .
P A R T E S u m m a r y o f F a c t s W i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f b o t h p a r t i e s , . t h e h e a r i n g w a s c o 2 2 ( 3 ) ( b ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s l s f a n c e A c t . F o r i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , t h e M i n i s t r y h a d t h e 1 . A p p e l l a n t ' s P W D a p p l i c a t i o n d a t e d s t a m p e d J u l y • A p h y s i c i a n ' s r e p o r t ( " P R " ) u n d a t e d a n d c o m A p p e l l a n t h a d b e e n a p a t i e n t a t t h e c l i n i c f o r t h e 1 2 m o n t h s p r e c e d i n g t h e r e p o r t . • A n a s s e s s o r ' s r e p o r t ( " A R " ) d a t e s t a m p e d J u c l i n i c , w h o i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e h a s k n o w n t h e b e t w e e n 2 -1 0 t i m e s i n t h e 1 2 m o n t h s p r e c e d B a s e d o n t h e d a t e o f t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n a f i n d s t h a t t h e d a t e o n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n a n d o n t b e c a u s e t h e d o c t o r w o r k s f o r t h e s a m e c l i n i c a s t h e a s h a v i n g b e e n c o m p l e t e d o n o r a b o u t J u l y 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 . A p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w i t h a w r i b y h i m a n d a s o c i a l w o r k e r w h o i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t p r a c t i t i o n e r n o t e d a b o v e . T h e s t a t e m e n t p r o v i d e d c c o n d i t i o n s , s e t o u t b e l o w , a s w e l l a s a r g u m e n t s s u p F o r t h i s a p p e a l , t h e A p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a l e t t e r d a t c o m p l e t e d t h e P R , t h e n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r w h o c o m p t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e q u e s t s t a t e m e n t . A l l a r e a s s o c l a r i f i c a t i o n a b o u t i n f o r m a t i o n a n d i s s u e s a d d r e s s e d d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d i t i o n s . T h e r e f o r e , A s s i s t a n c e A c t , t h e P a n e l a d m i t s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n w a s b e f o r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . D i a g n o s e s I n t h e P R , t h e d o c t o r d i a g n o s e d t h e A p p e l l a n t w i t h b r e d u c e d v i s i o n i n t h e l e f t e y e ( c o n g e n i t a l ) . B e c a u s e b l i n d , t h e d o c t o r w r o t e i n t h e J a n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 l e t t e f o l l o w s : r i g h t e y e b l i n d n e s s ( c o n g e n i t a l ) a n d l e f t e y e P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t I n t h e P R , t h e d o c t o r d e s c r i b e d t h e s e v e r i t y o f t h e A f o l l o w s : • R i g h t e y e b l i n d ; L e f t e y e s l i g h t v i s i o n i m p a r e a d i n g , a t t e n d i n g s c h o o l , s t u d y i n g o r s e e i n g • T h e A p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n p r e s c r i b e d n o m e d i c a a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s ; n o p r o • C a n w a l k u n a i d e d 4 + b l o c k s , c l i m b 5 + s t a i r s u r e m a i n i n g s e a t e d . I n t h e A R , t h e n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r d e s c r i b e d t h e A p p e p e r c e p t i o n , l e f t e y e n o v i s i o n , r i g h t e v e e a s i l y f a t i g u e E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )n d . u c . t e . d . a s a w r i t t e n h e a . r i n g . p u r . s u a n . t t o s e . c . t i o n f o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e : 2 4 , 2 0 1 1 c o n s i s t i n g o f : p l e t e d b y a d o c t o r w h o i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e 1 y e a r a n d h e ' d s e e n t h e A p p e l l a n t 2 -1 0 t i m e s i n l y 2 4 , 2 0 1 1 b y a n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r , w i t h t h e s a m e A p p e l l a n t f o r 1 y e a r a n d s h e ' d s e e n t h e A p p e l l a n t i n g t h e r e p o r t . n d o t h e r d o c u m e n t s r e f e r r e d t o b e l o w , t h e P a n e l h e A R s h o u l d h a v e b e e n J u l y 2 4 , 2 0 1 3 . A l s o , n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r t h e P a n e l w i l l c o n s i d e r t h e P R 3 . t t e n s t a t e m e n t d a t e d D e c e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 s i g n e d h e s a m e c l i n i c a s t h e d o c t o r a n d n u r s e l a r i f i c a t i o n a n d d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p o r t i n g t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s P W D a p p l i c a t i o n . e d J a n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 s i g n e d b y t h e d o c t o r w h o l e t e d t h e A R a n d t h e s o c i a l w o r k e r w h o s u b m i t t e d c i a t e d w i t h t h e s a m e c l i n i c . T h e l e t t e r p r o v i d e d i n t h e i r e a r l i e r r e p o r t s a s w e l l a s a d d i t i o n a l p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d t h e l e t t e r a s b e i n g i n s u p p o r t o f t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t l i n d n e s s i n t h e r i g h t e y e ( c o n g e n i t a l ) a n d s o m e o t h e r r e p o r t s m i x e d u p w h i c h e y e w a s r t h a t h e w a n t e d t o c l a r i f y t h e d i a g n o s e s a s r e d u c e d v i s i o n ( c o n g e n i t a l } . p p e l l a n t ' s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s a n d i m p a c t s a s i r m e n t w i t h a d e p t h p e r c e p t i o n . H a s d i f f i c u l t y a n y t h i n g f a r a w a y o r c l o s e u p . t i o n s a n d / o r t r e a t m e n t s t h a t i n t e r f e r e w i t h h i s s t h e s i s a v a i l a b l e . n a i d e d , h a s n o l i m i t a t i o n s w i t h l i f t i n g o r l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s a s d i f f i c u l t y w i t h d e p t h d , d i f f i c u l t v r e a d i n a , d i f f i c u l t v w i t h s c h o o l , c a n n o t
see chalkboard. She also reported that the Appellant's hearing is good, reading and writing are poor and he cannot speak English. In the January 2014 letter, the information about whi ch eye has no vls-ion was coriectecl. .. -· -· . ·---.. In the December 2013 letter, the f o llowing information was provided about the Appellant: • Has extremely difficult time seeing due to congenital eye problems; does not have depth perception; condition is irreversible and theref or e is not a surgical candidate. • Takes significantly longer walking, lifting, climbing and sitting due to his blindness. • Takes at least 3x longer than average person when walking due to depth perception issues and not being able to see most things in front of him; requires some guiding at times when walking in the community, either a friend or his father assists him. • · Can only walk up or down stairs when lit appropriately, with railing as assistance and another person to guide him due to depth perception problems. • Experi ences visual/spatial problems impacting his daily living in a moderate way (hard lime stepping up or down stairs); often avoids situations where required to use depth perception (drastically impaired). • Because he uses only one eye to see he regularly suffers from headaches and dizziness due to strain on functional eye, preventing him from leaving home at times, needs to sleep to rest his eye. In the January 2014 letter, the following i nformation was prov ided about the Appellant: • In terms of whether a corrective lens could support the Appellant's left eye, he is seeing an ophthalmologist regularly to determine what can be done. Al this time he is not a surgical candidate as this condition is irreversible. • H is left eye is continuously strained as it is the only working eye. It is unclear whether any corrective lens would ameliorate the strain on his left eye and this vision will remain impaired. • His vision is severely impaired; needs continuous support in reading and writ ing; is unable to read and write in any language and communicati on is impaired as a result. • Needs continuous support in reading and writing from family members or health care professionals; his communication impairment is a direct result of his visual impairment. • Vision impairment can cause headaches and further strain on his left eye. • Has significant visual impairment which significantly impairs all facets of his li fe. Mental Impairment In the PR, the doctor reported one significant deficit with cognitive and emotional function; that is, emotional disturbance, adding "depression, anger management issues" in that part of the report. However, there was no diagnosis of any mental health condition. In the AR, regarding cogniti ve and emotional functioning, the nurse practitioner indicated: • Major impact to other neuropsychological problems and minimal impact to emotion -"some depression/anxiety -causes anger". • Difficulty [with] visual/spatial problem; no impact to 12 other areas of such functioning. The following information was provided about the Appellant in the December 2013 letter: • Depressive symptoms and anger management issues cause minimal to moderate impacts on his life; struaales with sleep due to depressive symptoms; cannot concentrate well, becomes EAAT 003(10106101)
distracted and becomes angry -prevents him from sleeping well. _ e_ _ Experien�es significa_ nt anxie_ ty'Nh_ en needs to leave his home d -ue to - b -lindness and time it ---takes to walk anywhere or engage in any services: --• Often becomes angry because he needs assistance -can isolate in his home to avoid seeking assistance; anger due to time it takes to complete simple trips (3x as long and often with assistance). • Due to physical diagnoses, tends to isolate from others and stay home; stays with family for most part, not trying to meet others, goes to health care professionals when absolutely needed; struggles to engage with others due to impairment and mental health symptoms accompanying his impairment. In the January 2014 letter, the Appellant is described as struggling with anger management issues and depression and as a result his sleep is also impaired, impacting his ability to further manage his daily living tasks in a reasonable amount of time. Daily Living Activities The doctor crossed out the chart on page 11 of the PR for reporting restrictions to the daily living activities defined in Section 2(1) of the EAPWDR. However, in the January 2014 letter, the doctor wrote that was an oversight on his part and he reproduced the chart in this letter with the following information: • Continuous restrictions to meal preparation and daily shopping -requires continuous assistance due to his visual impairments; is unable to read labels or negotiate depth perception when cooking or preparing to cook; the Appellant's family provides this continuous assistance. • Periodic restrictions to mobility outside the home, to use of transportation and management of finances -requires periodic support from his family when walking outside or taking transit or paying bills as he is unable to read anything due to his visual impairment; as a result of his physical disability the Appellant often misses stops or cannot read street signs. • No restrictions to personal self care, management of medications, basic housework and mobility inside the home. The writers of that January 2014 letter stated that their clinic supports the Appellant's PWD application being approved and provided the following information about the Appellant: • He is severely impaired in his daily functioning. • Although he can complete some daily tasks unassisted it is quite evident that he requires continuous support with reading prices, labels, shopping and meal preparation. • He also often requires support in taking transit, walking outside to negotiate barriers and management of finances. • When he is able to complete tasks including self care, it can take significantly longer due to his visual impairment. • Has significant visual impairment which means he will be significantly impaired in all facets of his life. In the AR, the nurse practitioner reported the following impacts on the Appellant's daily living activities: • Independent walking indoors and outdoors, standing, lifting, carrying/holding; needs periodic assistance and takes significantly longer climbing stairs -"can only walk up/down stairs if well lit". EMT 003( 10/06/01)
• Independently manages all aspects of personal care, basic housekeeping, meals, social __ _ _ _ funQt_ io_11i_rig1 and_shopJ)ing ElXCeJ)t he needs continuous assistance reading prices/labels. • Needs continuous assistance with banking, budgeting, paying rent/bills -adding requires assistance reading paper/computer, but no cognitive difficulties. • Needs continuous assistance with filing/refilling prescriptions and safe handling/storage, but is independent taking medications as directed. • Is independent getting in and out of a vehicle, but needs continuous assistance using public transit (cannot read bus number) and with using transit schedules/arranging transportation. • Has good functioning with his immediate social network and marginal functioning with his extended social network-sometimes socially withdrawn, reclusive. The following inf o rmation about the Appellant was provided in the December 2013 statement: • Needs continuous support with reading, paying bills, writing and taking buses, not because of language difficulties, but because he cannot read schedules or bus numbers. • Can see only very little, thus requires continuous assistance reading in English and his native language -not due to a language barrier; has been enrolled in a special course to learn English for people who struggle in regular classroom settings due to physical or mental impairment. Help with Daily Living Activities In the AR, the nurse practitioner noted that the Appellant's family does most of the shopping and pays his bills, rent etc. No assistance is provided by assistive devices or assistance animals. In the December 2013 statement, there is information that the Appellant: • Requires some guiding at times when walking in the community -either a friend or his father assists him. • Can walk up or down stairs with railing as assistance and another person to guide him due to depth perception disability. • Because he can see only very little, his family has to help him every day navigate the bus system, go to the bank to pay his bills, read anything including school work. In the January 2014 letter, there is information about the type and extent of assistance that the Appellant requires. The Appellant's family or friends provide: • Continuous assistance with meal preparation and daily shopping because the Appellant requires such assistance due to his visual impairment; he is unable to read labels or negotiate depth perception when cooking or preparing to cook. • Periodic support from his family when walking outside, taking transit or paying bills -unable to read anything due to his visual impairment. Ministry's Position For this appeal, the Ministry relied on and reaffirmed its reconsideration decision. EAA T003(1 0/06101)
PART F Reasons for Panel Decision _J_he issu(3_j_n this appe_ al i_ s whether the Ministry reasonably determined that the Appellant was not eligible for PWD designation because he did not rneet all of the requirenientsin section 2(2)of the EAPWDA, and specifically, that the Appellant does not have a severe mental or physical impairment that in the opinion of a prescribed professional (i) directly and significantly restricts his ability to perform daily living activities either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and, (ii) as a result of those restrictions he requires help to perform those activities. The eligibility criteria for PWD designation are set out in the following sections of the EAPWDA: 2 (2) The minister may designate a person who has reached 18 years of age as a person with disabilities for the purposes of this Act if the minister is satisfied that the person has a severe mental or physical impairment that (a) in the opinion of a medical practitioner is likely to continue for at least 2 years, and (b) in the opinion of a prescribed professional (i) directly and significantly restricts the person's ability to perform daily living activities either (A) continuously, or (B) periodically for extended periods, and (ii) as a result of those restrictions, the person requires help to perform those activities. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), (a) a person who has a severe mental impairment includes a person with a mental disorder, and (b) a person requires help in relation to a daily living activity if, in order to perform it, the person requires (i) an assistive device, (ii) the significant help or supervision of another person, or (iii) the services of an assistance animal. The "daily living activities" referred to in EAPWDA section 2(2)(b) are defined in the EAPWDR as: 2 (1) For the purposes of the Act and this regulation, "daily living activities" , (a) in relation to a person who has a severe physical impairment or a severe mental impairment, means the following activities: (i) prepare own meals; (ii) manage personal finances; (iii) shop for personal needs; (iv) use public or personal transportation facilities; (v) perform housework to maintain the person's place of residence in acceptable sanitary condition; (vi) move about indoors and outdoors; (vii) perform personal hygiene and self-care; (viii) manage personal medication, and (b) in relation to a person who has a severe mental impairment, includes the following activities: (i) make decisions about personal activities, care or finances; (ii) relate to, communicate or interact with others effectively. Evidentiary Findings The Panel has admitted into evidence the letter dated January 28, 2014, which was submitted by the Appellant for this appeal. That letter was signed by the three prescribed professionals who completed the PR, the AR and the reconsideration request statement. It is clear to the Panel that the January 2014 letter is not a form letter or a checklist, but rather was written to specifically clarify information previously submitted for the PWD application and reconsideration, and to address issues raised by the Ministry in its reconsideration decision. For this reason and also because it provides the most recent and specific information about the Appellant's conditions, the Panel gives this letter more weight than the other reports and submissions in the record. The Panel will now consider each party's position regarding the reasonableness of the Ministry's decision under the aoolicable PWD criteria at issue in this appeal. EM T003(10/06/01)
Severe Physical Impairment The Appellant submitted that blindness in his right eye and reduced vision in his left eye significantly impairs his abilff{to functio1, -on his own.Three prescrioed professionals confirmed that his vts-ual impairment is a severe physical impairment, which significantly impairs his ability to manage daily tasks. The Ministry, in its reconsideration decision, considered the information in the PR, the AR and in the December 2013 letter. It determined that the Appellant is independently able to manage mobility and physical activities. It also concluded that the information provided did not demonstrate a severe impairment or significant restriction in the Appellant's ability to perform daily activities. The Panel's Findings The diagnosis of a medical condition is not in and of itself evidence of the severity of impairment. To satisfy the requirements in section 2(2) of the EAPWDA, evidence of how and the extent to which a medical condition restricts daily functioning must be considered. This includes the evidence from the Appellant and from a prescribed professional regarding the nature of the impairment and its impact on the Appellant's ability to manage the daily living activities listed in section 2(1) of the EAPWDR. In this case, information about the Appellant's circumstances was provided by a doctor, a nurse practitioner and a social worker who are all associated with the same clinic where the Appellant has been a patient for a year preceding the completion of the PR and AR. In the PR and the January 2014 letter, the doctor diagnosed the Appellant with blindness in the right eye and reduced vision in the left eye. In the letter, the doctor and other professionals noted that the Appellant needs continuous assistance in meal preparation due to his inability to read labels or negotiate depth perception. He also needs help when walking outside, taking transit or paying bills because he is unable to read anything due to his visual impairment. Other physical tasks, such as self care, can take significantly longer due to his visual impairment. In that letter, the Appellant's vision is described as severely impaired and his significant visual impairment significantly impacts all facets of his life. The Appellant is not a candidate for corrective surgery and, according to the professionals, it is unclear whether corrective lens can ameliorate the strain and impairment in his left eye. In addition, in the December 2013 letter, the Appellant is described as taking significantly longer walking, lifting, climbing and sitting due to his blindness and depth perception issues, and as needing some guiding when walking. Also, he can only walk up or down stairs when lit appropriately, with a railing for assistance and another person to guide him due to depth perception problems. The same restrictions were noted in the AR, as well as restrictions with other activities requiring vision such as using transit and paying bills. Therefore, when all of the professional assessments are considered and especially the most recent one in January 2014, the Panel finds that it was not reasonable for the Ministry to determine that the information provided did not establish a severe physical impairment. Severe Mental Impairment The Appellant submitted that he has deficits to his cognitive and emotional functioning; that is, depression and anger management issues which impact his sleep, his social functioning and his ability to function on a daily basis. The Ministry found that there was no information about impacts from depression/anxiety or anger on dail functionin . Therefore it was not satisfied that there was evidence of a severe mental EAAT 003( 10106101)
i m p a i r m e n t . T h e P a n e l ' s F [ n d i n g s · T h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e r e i s n o d i a g n o s e s o f a m e n P R o f o n e d e f i c i t t o c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n t h e D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 l e t t e r , s y m p t o m s o f d e p r e s s i o n c a u s i n g m i n i m a l t o m o d e r a t e i m p a c t s o n t h e A p p e l l i s s u e s a r e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s v i s u a l i m p a i r a n x i e t y w h e n h e n e e d s t o l e a v e h i s h o m e . I n t h e J a s t r u g g l i n g w i t h a n g e r m a n a g e m e n t i s s u e s a n d d e p r a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e h i s d a i l y l i v i n g t a s k s i n a r e a s o n a b i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s o n e s t a b l i s h a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . R e s t r i c t i o n s t o D a i l y L i v i n g A c t i v i t i e s T h e A p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d t h a t b e c a u s e h i s v i s i o n i s s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s i s a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d . T h e i s c o n t i n u o u s l y r e s t r i c t e d a n d n e e d s a s s i s t a n c e w m e a l p r e p a r a t i o n , d a i l y s h o p p i n g , p a y i n g r e n t a n d b a l s o r e s t r i c t e d i n w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s a n d u s i n g s t a i r s T h e M i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e d o c t o r a n d t h e n u r p e r f o r m e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y . T h e r e f o r e i t c o n c l u d e d t h A p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s d a i l y l i v e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s . T h e P a n e l ' s F i n d i n g s S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A P W D A r e q u i r e s t h a t a p r e s a p p l i c a n t ' s s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s . I n t h i s c a s e t h e w o r k e r a r e t h e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s . D a i l y l i v i n g E A P W D R a n d a r e a l s o l i s t e d i n t h e P R a n d i n t h e A I n t h e J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4 l e t t e r , t h e d o c t o r r e p r o d u c e d t h r e p o r t e d t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s i g n i f i c a n t v p r e p a r a t i o n a n d d a i l y s h o p p i n g a r e c o n t i n u o u s l y r e s d e p t h p e r c e p t i o n w h e n c o o k i n g o r p r e p a r i n g t o c o o k a n d m a n a g e f i n a n c e s h e o f t e n n e e d s h i s f a m i l y ' s s u r e s t r i c t e d . H i s f a m i l y h e l p s h i m w i t h a n y t a s k r e q u i r i s u p p o r t w i t h r e a d i n g p r i c e s / l a b e l s , w i t h s h o p p i n g , w i s c h e d u l e s / b u s s t o p n u m b e r s ) a n d m a n a g i n g f i n a n c e b e c a u s e o f h i s i m p a i r e d v i s i o n a n d d e p t h p e r c e p t i o n t h e s e c a n t a k e s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t o c o m p l e t e . A c c r e s t r i c t i o n s a r e d u e t o t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s e v e r e v i s u a l i T h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4 i n f o r m a t i o n i s D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 l e t t e r ; t h a t i s , t h a t t h e A n n e l l a n t n e e E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )---I --t a l h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n o n l y t h e d o c t o r ' s r e p o r t i n t h e i n g ; t h a t i s , d e p r e s s i o n / a n g e r m a n a g e m e n t . I n a n d a n g e r m a n a g e m e n t i s s u e s a r e d e s c r i b e d a s a n t ' s l i f e . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e c o g n i t i v e / e m o t i o n a l m e n t s ; f o r e x a m p l e , e x p e r i e n c i n g s i g n i f i c a n t n u a r y 2 0 1 4 l e t t e r , t h e A p p e l l a n t i s d e s c r i b e d a s e s s i o n w h i c h i m p a i r h i s s l e e p a n d i m p a c t h i s l e a m o u n t o f t i m e . B a s e d o n a l l o f t h e a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e d o e s n o t o s i g n i f i c a n t l y i m p a i r e d , h i s a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e h e t h r e e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s r e p o r t e d t h a t i t h a c t i v i t i e s r e q u i r i n g v i s u a l a b i l i t i e s s u c h a s i l l s , f i l l i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n s a n d u s i n g t r a n s i t . H e i s b e c a u s e o f h i s s i g n i f i c a n t v i s u a l i m p a i r m e n t . s e p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d t h a t m a n y a c t i v i t i e s a r e a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n d i d n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e i n g a c t i v i t i e s e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l p r o v i d e a n o p i n i o n t h a t a n t l y r e s t r i c t s h i s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s , c o n t i n u o u s l y d o c t o r , t h e n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d t h e s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s a r e d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e R . e d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t y i m p a c t c h a r t f r o m t h e P R a n d i s u a l i m p a i r m e n t h i s a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e m e a l t r i c t e d . H e i s u n a b l e t o r e a d l a b e l s o r n e g o t i a t e . T o w a l k o u t s i d e t h e h o m e , u s e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , p p o r t b e c a u s e t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s a r e p e r i o d i c a l l y n g r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g w h i c h m e a n s c o n t i n u o u s t h m e a l p r e p a r a t i o n , w i t h t a k i n g t r a n s i t ( t o r e a d s . H e a l s o o f t e n n e e d s s u p p o r t w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s r e s t r i c t i o n s . A s f o r p e r s o n a l s e l f c a r e t a s k s , o r d i n g t o t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s , a l l o f t h e s e m p a i r m e n t , a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . s i m i l a r t o t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e A R a n d i n t h e d s c o n t i n u o u s o r p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h a n v
t ask requ iring visi on. Whe n all o f the profess io n a l reports a specific commen t s d escr ibing the A ppellant 's si gnif icant all face ts of h i s fife ; t h e Panel f in d s that the Min istry A ppella nt ' s s evere imp a irment does not s ig n if ic antly res or pe riod i call y f o r e xt e nd ed periods. Hel p with Da ily Livin g Ac t ivi t ies The Appellant s ubmitted re po rts from p r escrib ed pro i m pai rmen t h e nee ds a nd rec eives conti n u o us h elp from hi period ic he lp w h en walki ng o u ts i de , t aki ng tra n sit, paying vi s io n. He also nee d s hel p w hen using stairs. The Minis try' s position is that bec ause t h e evidence does not es significantly restr icted , it cann o t be de termi ned th a t signi The Pa n e l 's Fi n ding s S e ction 2(2)(b )( ii) of t he EAPWD A also re qui re s t he t hat because o f restricti o ns in his abilit y to man age d wit h th o s e act i vities . In t h e Janua r y 201 4 lett er , th ere a s sistance t hat the Appell ant requ ir es, namel y t hat the cont inuo us assist a n ce w ith meal pre p aration a nd daily impairment . He a lso re ceives p e rio d i c sup por t fr o m paying bills. In the Dec emb e r 2 013 st a t emen t, th e re is assists him w h e n walking in the com muni ty. The A ppellan a n ass istive dev ice as defined i n this le g is la tion ) f or a ad di tion bec au s e h e can s ee on ly a very little, his family bus s y stem, g o to the ban k t o p a y h is bill s and r ead an a s sistance n eed ed wer e n oted in the A R. T he r e for e p r ofessio nals are c o ns ide red, t he Pan e l fi n ds th at t he no t dete rmine th a t the Appellant nee ds si g nif ica nt he act i vities or that t he App ellant does n o t ne ed significant activities. C onclusion Having reviewed and c onsidered all of th e evidence and the relevant legislation, the Panel finds that the Ministry's rec onsideration decisi o n , which determined that the Appellant was not eligible for PWD designation, was not reasonably supported by the evidence. Therefore the Panel rescinds that decision. EAAT 003( 10/06/01) re con side red toge t h er, espe ciall y th e visual impair m ent as s i g nifi c antl y im p airing was n ot reason abl e in deter mi ning thar t he tr ic t dail y liv i n g activiti e s eithe r c ontinuou s l y fe ss io n a ls that be cause of hi s sig nif icant vi sual s f ami ly with meals and sh o p pi ng, and bi lls and ot her task requ iring un impaired tablish that dai l y livin g ac t i v ities a re fi ca nt h e l p i s required from othe r pe rs o n s. opinion of a pr esc ribed profess i on al co n firmin g a ily living activi ties, t he Appell ant re qu ire s help is i nformation about th e type and exte nt of Appel lant's fam il y o r fr iends provide s hopp ing due t o h is s ig nific a nt v isual h is family when w alking o ut side, takin g transit or in f or mat i o n th a t e it her a friend or his fat her t wa lks up o r down stairs w i t h a railing (no t s sis t ance and an other person to guide him. In h as to help h i m ever y day to navig at e the y t hing inc l udin g sch ool w ork. Simil a r report s of , wh en all of the opini o ns of the pre scr ibe d Min is t r y un r easona bly concluded th at it could l p from othe r pe rsons to ma nage daily l ivi n g h elp from other p e rson s to mana ge th ose
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