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 " M i n i s t r y " ) M a r c h 2 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 n 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 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 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 e r a b i l i t y t o 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 s h e r e q u i r e s h 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 m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r h e r 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 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 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A i it � a 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 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 i e s ( " P W D " ) d e s i g n a t i o n b e c a u s e s 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 i 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 p e rf 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 e 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 . a 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 n u e f o 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 v o f F a c t s A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e A p p e l l a n t g a v e h e r o r a l c o n s e n t s u b m i s s i o n s o n h e r b e h a l f a n d a l s o t o a c t a s h e r i n 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 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 c o n s i s t i n g o f : • H e r s e l f r e p o r t d a t e d O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 . • A p h y s i c i a n ' s r e p o r t ( " P R " ) c o m p l e t e d o n N o h e a d a n d n e c k s u r g e r y , a n d w h o i n d i c a t e d t h a n d s h e h a d s e e n t h e A p p e l l a n t o n c e . T h e d h e r r e g u l a r G P i s u n a v a i l a b l e " . • L e t t e r d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 3 b y t h e d o c t o d o c t o r r e g a r d i n g a h e a r i n g a s s e s s m e n t . • A n a s s e s s o r ' s r e p o r t ( " A R " ) c o m p l e t e d o n N o w h o i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e h a d s e e n t h e a p p e l l a n 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 a n d a l e t t I n h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t h e A p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a t s h e a c h i l d , w h i c h a f f e c t e d h e r h e a r i n g . L a t e r a c a r h i t h h e r w h o l e l i f e . S h e w r o t e t h a t m a n y t i m e s s h e t h o u g b u t s h e h a s a y o u n g s o n t o t a k e c a r e o f a n d s h e d e s h e h a s n o t r e q u i r e d a n o t h e r p e r s o n t o h e l p . A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e A p p e l l a n t s t a t e d , t h r o u g h t h e i n t e i n j u r i e s t o h e r h e a d a n d o n g o i n g d i s a b i l i t i e s . S h e s u S h e u s e d t o t a k e m e d i c a t i o n s f o r t h e h e a d a c h e s b u e f f e c t s . T h e A p p e l l a n t a l s o s a i d t h a t s h e c a n n o t g o n o r m a l p e r s o n . H e r s o n g o e s f o r h e r a n d h e i s a l s o s h o u l d h a v e h a d h e r o r i g i n a l f a m i l y d o c t o r f i l l o u t t h e a v a i l a b l e . T h e d o c t o r w h o f i l l e d o u t t h e f o r m s d i d n o w h y p a r t s o f t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s a r e b l a n k . 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 A s t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l a n d a l s o h e r o r a l t e t h e e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y h a d a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n T h e P a n e l h a s s u m m a r i z e d t h e e v i d e n c e f o r t h i s a p 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 s d i a g n o s e d n o m e n t a l h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s . P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t I n h e r s e l f r e p o r t a n d 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 f o l l o w s : • H e r d i s a b i l i t v i s m o d e r a t e t o s e v e r e h e a r i n a l o E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 ): A P P E A L # t o h a v e t h e t w o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s m a k e t e r p r e t e r s d u r i n g t h e h e a r i n g . e f o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e : v e m b e r 9 , 2 0 1 3 b y a d o c t o r w h o s p e c i a l i z e s i n a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d b e e n h e r p a t i e n t f o r 1 m o n t h o c t o r a d d e d " s h e a s k e d m e t o c o m p l e t e f o r m s a s r w h o c o m p l e t e d t h e P R t o t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s r e g u l a r v e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 b y a r e g i s t e r e d p s y c h o l o g i s t t o n c e f o r o n e f u l l d a y a s s e s s m e n t . e r f r o m h e r d a t e d M a r c h 2 , 2 0 1 4 . h a s b r a i n t r a u m a f r o m a n a c c i d e n t w h e n s h e w a s e r , f u r t h e r a f f e c t i n g h e r h e a r i n g a n d a l m o s t r u i n e d h t o f e n d i n g h e r s u f f e r i n g b y c o m m i t t i n g s u i c i d e , p e n d s o n h i m f o r h e r d a i l y a c t i v i t i e s . T h e r e f o r e , r p r e t e r t h a t s h e h a d 2 a c c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g i n f f e r s f r o m h e a d a c h e s , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n w a l k i n g . t s t o p p e d a c o u p l e o f y e a r s a g o b e c a u s e o f s i d e o u t s i d e i n a n o r m a l w a y a n d c a n n o t f u n c t i o n a s a h e r c a r e t a k e r . T h e A p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t s h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s , b u t t h a t d o c t o r w a s n o t t h a v e d i r e c t e v i d e n c e o f h e r c o n d i t i o n s . T h a t i 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 s t i m o n y a s b e i n g c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a n d i n s u p p o r t o f . p e a l a s f o l l o w s . e n s o r i e n e u r a l h e a r i n g l o s s b i l a t e r a l . T h e d o c t o r e n t , t h e A p p e l l a n t d e s c r i b e d h e r d i s a b i l i t y a s s s .
• I t is very di f f icu lt for he r to ma ke a livi n g b ec employment ; she rarely g ets c a ll ba c ks when ap • As a c hi ld, she w as hit o n th e hea d by cons most of h er hearin g . • She of ten get s hea dac h es after a c a r accident and her deafness grew worse; she of suff e r in g. • One time she walked on the str ee t and an soun d while wearing the heari ng aid , but she could n ped estrian pushed her out of the way. • It is a ni gh t mare for h er to walk o n t h e street; she nee ds help or she endures until her son comes back f • Her bilateral he ar ing loss has put her i n a serious conditio normal life. In th e PR, the doctor d e sc ribed t he App el lant's im • Ha s bilate ral broadband hearing loss which is • Wear s hear i ng aids, but ev en with them has diffi • For phy sica l functi o ni ng skill s, th e Ap pell an climb 5+ steps unaided, has no lim it a t io ns with l • Ha s d iffi cul t i es w ith comm unic a ti on d ue to s In th e S epte m ber 4, 2 013 l e tt er, the s a me doctor pr Appe llant: • The A p pell ant r eport ed sli g ht worsenin g of • The A p pell ant wea rs h ea r i ng aids t hat are 8 year she sh oul d h a v e·t he ai ds reass esse d to mak • Sh e has diffic u lties hear ing in a cr o wded env conduct io n is grea ter t han bone conduct io n • Ear c an a l s and eardru m s a pp ea r ed nor m al; • Sh e has mo de r at e to severe broa dband hea t hr es h old o f 66dB; discr im ination at 90dB was 100% bu In the AR, the psychologist wrote that the Appellant's mobility and physical abilities were not assessed. The App ellant's abili t y to commun i ca te reading and writing , wit h the f o llowing comm ent for all three "Du Language]"; for reading -"Assessed at gr [grade] 3-4 range"; for writing -"Spelling at gr [grade] 4 range"; and, poor for hearing with the comment "c at age 11". The Appellant's "r eading a nd wri ting (spelling) were assessed with selected tests" usin progra m. Men tal I mp air ment In her self-repor t, the Ap pell ant described her co nd • She always feels disappointed and de pressed about her inabilit because her hearing problems are a major reason for not getting In the PR, the doctor reoorted no sianificant deficits with coanit EAAT 003(10106/01) A PPEAL# I a u se it can be difficult for her to obt ain or k eep plyin g fo r work. t ruc ti on waste; she suffered a br a i n tra u ma and lost h a d mon ths amb ulanc e passed by; she c ou ld he a r th e lo ud ot f ind where th e amb ulance was and a therefore , she cannot go out eve n for shopping; rom school. n and prevents her from living a p a irment a s f o l low s: moder a te to sev ere since childhood. cult y comm u nic ating. t can walk unai de d on a fl a t s urface f o r 4+ block s , if tin g or wit h r emaining seated. ensory ca u ses . o v i de d th e fo llowing h ea r i ng ass ess ment of th e he r h ea r i ng over t ime and t here is bilater al tinnitus. s old and she is followed a t a hearing center ; e sure they a r e pow er ful e n ough. i r o nme nt; has difficulty h earing Weber; a ir b ilat er a l ly. rest of EN T exami n ation w as w ithin norma l lim its. r i ng loss b ilatera l ly with s pee c h reception t she found it u ncomfo rtable. was indicated as poo r in the are a s of sp ea king, e to ES L [English as a Second lient reports hearing impairme n t due to head i n jury g a ition s a s fol lows: y to communicate with people call-backs. ive and emotio nal function.
�APPEAL# In the AR, the psychologist wrote that the "client reports symptoms of depression and anxiety" to describe the impairment impacting the Appellant's ability to manage daily living activities. The psychologist reported the following impacts to cognitive and emotional functioning: • Moderate impact to emotion, insight and judgment, attention/concentration, motivation and other emotional or mental problems; and, no report for bodily functions and language. • Minimal impact consciousness and impulse control; and, no impact to motor activity and psychotic symptoms. • Adding these comments: "Presents with symptoms of depression and anxiety that moderately impacts her in the areas indicated above. She is also impacted significantly in her interpersonal functioning. I was not able to assess her functioning in all areas above so left those blank." Daily Living Activities In the PR, the doctor reported that the Appellant has not been prescribed any medication and/or treatments that interfere with her ability to perform daily living activities. In response to the question whether the Appellant's impairment directly restricts her ability to perform daily living activities, the doctor checked "unknown". In the AR, the psychologist did not complete the section regarding any assistance the Appellant requires with the listed daily living activities; that is, personal care, basic housekeeping, shopping, meals, paying rent and bills, medications and transportation, adding "not assessed". The psychologist also did not complete the section for social functioning, but did report the f o llowing for how the Appellant's mental impairment impacts her social networks: • Marginal functioning with her immediate social network -"client reports very little social contact". • Very disrupted functioning with her extended social network, but with no comments, In her reconsideration statement, the Appellant wrote that her hearing problem makes it almost impossible for her to socialize with people. She stated that as she gets older, that problem would always get in the way of any possible work she could get; no one would hire a deaf person because of difficulty communicating with a person who can't hear what people say. As for daily living activities, the Appellant stated they are restricted and noted that: • She can never do shopping without her son assisting her. • She can hardly hear her landlady when she tries to have a friendly chat. • She cannot answer important phone calls because a full volume ringer is still not loud enough fo r her. • Once she almost got into a car accident because she did not hear the siren and pull over. • Sometimes when she forgets to turn a tap off, she cannot hear it running. Help with Daily Living Activities In the PR, the doctor provided no information regarding any help the Appellant needs or receives, except that she requires hearing aids f o r her impairment. In the AR, the psychologist also provided no information regarding any help the Appellant needs or receives, except that she lives with her dependent son. The Appellant stated that her son is her caretaker, and helps her with shopping and with going out. EAAT003(10/06/01)
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e i n t h i s a p p e a l i s w h e t h e r t h e M i n i s t r y r e a e l i g i b l e f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n b e c a u s e s h e d i d n o t m E A P W D A , a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t d o e s 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 p r o f e s s i o n a l ( i ) d p e rf 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 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 s h e r e q u i r e s h e l p t o p e r f T h e e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n a r e s e t o 2 ( 2 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y d e s i g n a t e a p e r s o n w h o h a s d i s a b i l i t i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s A c t i f t h e m i n i s t e o r p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t t h a t ( a ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i s l i k e l y t o ( b ) 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 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 t h e p e r s o n ' s a b ( A ) c o n t i n u o u s l y , o r ( B ) 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 ( 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 , t h e p e r s o n r e q u i ( 3 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) , ( a ) a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t i n ( b ) a p e r s o n r e q u i r e s h e l p i n r e l a t i o n t o a d a i l y l i v i n g r e q u i r e s ( i ) a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , ( i i ) t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h e ( i i i ) t h e s e r v i c e s o f a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . T h e " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " r e f e r r e d t o i n E A P W D A s 2 ( 1 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e A c t a n d t h i s r e g u l a t i o n ( a ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a m e a n s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : ( i ) p r e p a r e o w n m e a l s ; ( i i ) m a n a g e p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e p e r s o n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s ; ( v ) p e r f o r m h o u s e w a c c e p t a b l e s a n i t a r y c o n d i t i o n ; ( v i ) m o v e a b o u t i n d o o a n d s e l f c a r e ; ( v i i i ) m a n a g e p e r s o n a l m e d i c a t i o n , a n ( b ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l ( i ) m a k e d e c i s i o n s a b o u t p e r s o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , c a r e o r w i t h o t h e r s e f f e c t i v e l y . T h e P a n e l w i l l c o n s i d e r e a c h p a r t y ' s p o s i t i o n r e g a r d u n d e r t h e a p p l i c a b l e P W D c r i t e r i a a t i s s u e i n t h i s a p S e v e r e P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t 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 t h e M i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d k n o w l e d g e a b o u t h o w s e v e r e h e r d i s a b i l i t y i s . H e r r e w h o c o m p l e t e d t h e P R d i d n o t h a v e a l l t h e e v i d e n c e l i m i t h e r a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e , g o o u t s a f e l y , a n s w e I n 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 n o t e d t h a t h e A n n e l l a n t , b v t h e d o c t o r w h o c o m p l e t e d t h e P R a E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s n o t e e t a l l o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e n o t h a v e 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 r m e n t 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 e r a b i l i t y t o 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 o r m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . u t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n s o f t h e E A P W D A : r e a c h e d 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e a s a p e r s o n w i t h r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e p e r s o n h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 y e a r s , a n d 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 e i t h e r r i o d s , a n d r e s h e 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 l u d e s a p e r s o n w i t h a m e n t a l d i s o r d e r , a n d a c t i v i t y i f , i n o r d e r t o p e r f o r m i t , t h e p e r s o n l p o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n , o r e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) a r e d e f i n e d i n t h e E A P W D R a s : , " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " l i m p a i r m e n t o r a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , s ; ( i i i ) s h o p f o r p e r s o n a l n e e d s ; ( i v ) u s e p u b l i c o r o r k t o m a i n t a i n t h e p e r s o n ' s p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e i n r s a n d o u t d o o r s ; ( v i i ) p e r f o r m p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e d i m p a i r m e n t , i n c l u d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : f i n a n c e s ; ( i i ) r e l a t e t o , c o m m u n i c a t e o r i n t e r a c t i n g t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e M i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n p e a l . e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n w a s n o t m a d e w i t h s u f f i c i e n t g u l a r d o c t o r w a s n o t a v a i l a b l e a n d t h e d o c t o r o f h o w h e r h e a r i n g i m p a i r m e n t a n d h e a d a c h e s r t h e p h o n e a n d l i v e h e r l i f e n o r m a l l y . t i t r e v i e w e d a l l o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d b y n d t h e h e a r i n � a s s e s s m e n t , a n d b v t h e
APPEAL# � psychologist. The Ministry noted that the Appellant's limitations are related to her significant hearing loss, but which does not -appear to affect her physical functioning. The Ministry found that the doctor and psychologist did not provide enough evidence to determine that the Appellant has a severe physical impairment. 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. As for finding work and/or working, the Panel notes that employability is not a criterion in section 2(2) of the EAPWDA nor is it listed among the prescribed daily living activities in section 2 of the EAPWDR. In this case, the Appellant was diagnosed with bilateral broadband hearing loss which according to the doctor who assessed her and completed the PR is moderate to severe. The evidence from the Appellant, the doctor and the psychologist is that even with hearing aids she has difficulty communicating. Thus, according to the Appellant and the psychologist, the Appellant's ability to socialize is restricted. However, the Panel finds that, in terms of physical functioning and mobility, there is no evidence of limitations. Also, the Appellant's evidence about how her impaired hearing and headaches impact her functioning outside her home, was not confirmed by the doctor or psychologist. Therefore, the Panel finds that the Ministry reasonably determined that there was not enough evidence to determine that the Appellant has a severe physical impairment. Mental Impairment The Appellant submitted that she feels depressed and disappointed about her inability to communicate with people because of her hearing problems. She has considered suicide. She also reported symptoms of depression and anxiety to the psychologist, who noted impacts on cognitive and emotional functioning. The Ministry noted that the doctor did not diagnose the Appellant with a mental impairment and the psychologist reported that the Appellant's impairments have a moderate, minimal or no impact on cognitive and emotional functioning. The Ministry determined that the doctor and psychologist did not provide enough information to determine that the Appellant has a severe mental impairment. The Panel's Findings The Appellant reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, and thoughts of suicide, but the Panel finds that the doctor did not diagnose the Appellant with any mental impairment or assess any impacts to daily functioning from a mental impairment. In addition, the psychologist's report of impacts on cognitive and emotional functioning range from moderate to no impact. The psychologist did report that the Appellant has marginal functioning with her immediate social network in that she has little social contact and that she has very disrupted functioning with her extended social networks. However, the Panel finds that this is the only information about any mental impairment impacts on the Appellant's daily functioning. There is nothing about restrictions to other daily activities, such as taking medications, paying bills, making shopping or food choices, which might be impacted by a mental impairment. Therefore, the Panel finds that the Ministrv reasonablv determined that there was EAA T003(10106/01)
n o t e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e t h a t t h e A p p e 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 h e r h e a r i n g i m p a i r m e S h e d o e s n o t g o o u t a l o n e . S h e r e l i e s o n h e r s o n t h e r c a r e t a k e r . T h e M i n i s t r y r e v i e w e d t h e P R a n d t h e A R , a n d d e t f r o m t h e d o c t o r a n d p s y c h o l o g i s t t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t t r e s t r i c t s h e r 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 o r p 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 A p p e l l 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 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 c o m p l e t e d t h e P R a n d t h e p s y c h o l o g i s t w h o c o m p s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e E A P W D R a n d a r e a l s o l i s t e d i n I n t h e P R , t h e d o c t o r w r o t e " u n k n o w n " r e g a r d i n g a m a n a g e d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s . T h e p s y c h o l o g i s t d i d t o d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s a n d w r o t e " n o t a s s e s s e d " . T A p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n h e r i m m e d i a t e a n d i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e t w o p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s , d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i t d i d n o t h a v e e n o u g h e v i d e n c e f r o t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s 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 t l y 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 . H e l p w i t h 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 s h e r e l i e s o n h e r s o n T h e M i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t b e c a u s e t h e e v i d e n c e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d , i t c a n n o t d e t e r m i n e t h a t s i g n 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 ) ( i i ) o f t h e E A P W D A a l s o r e q u i r e s t h e t h a t b e c a u s e o f d i r e c t a n d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s t r i c t i o n s i n A p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s h e l p w i t h t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . I n t h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l s a b o u t a n y h e l p t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t n e e T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t , b a s e d o n t h e l a c k o i t c o u l d n o t d e t e r m i n e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t n e e d s s i g n d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s . C o n c l u s i o n H a v i n g r e v i e w e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e t h e M i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , w h i c h d e t e r d e s i c m a t i o n , w a s r e a s o n a b l v s u n n o r t e d b v t h e e v i d E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # : l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . n t m a k e s i t d i f f i c u l t t o c o m m u n i c a t e a n d s o c i a l i z e . o h e l p w i t h s h o p p i n g a n d t o t a k e h e r o u t . H e i s a l s o e r m i n e d t h a t i t d o e s n o t h a v e e n o u g h e v i d e n c e h e A p p e l l a n t ' s 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 t l y 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 . s 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 t h e n t l y r e s t r i c t s h e r 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 e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s a r e t h e d o c t o r w h o l e t e d t h e A R . D a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s a r e d e f i n e d i n t h e P R a n d i n t h e A R . n y r e s t r i c t i o n s t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d i n h e r a b i l i t y t o n o t c o m p l e t e t h e s e c t i o n i n t h e A R f o r r e s t r i c t i o n s h e p s y c h o l o g i s t o n l y n o t e d r e s t r i c t i o n s t o t h e e x t e n d e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k s . B a s e d o n t h i s l a c k o f 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 a b l y m 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 t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t r e s t r i c t s h e r 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 o r t o h e l p w i t h d a i l y t a s k s a n d h e i s h e r c a r e t a k e r . d o e s n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s a r e i f i c a n t h e l p i s r e q u i r e d f r o m o t h e r p e r s o n s . o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l c o n f i r m i n g h e r a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s , t h e c a s e , t h e r e i s n o i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e p r e s c r i b e d d s o r r e c e i v e s , e x c e p t t h a t s h e u s e s h e a r i n g a i d s . f e v i d e n c e , t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t i f i c a n t h e l p f r o m o t h e r p e r s o n s t o m a n a g e h e r a n d t h e r e l e v a n t l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t m i n e d t h a t t h e 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 W D e n c e . T h e r e f o r e t h e P a n e l c o n f i r m s t h a t d e c i s i o n .
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.