APPEAL# I PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the ministry) reconsideration decision dated November 13, 2014 which found that the appellant did not meet two of the five statutory requirements of Section 2 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act for designation as a person with disabilities (PWD). The ministry found that the appellant met the age requirement and that she has a severe physical impairment that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, is likely to continue for at least two years. However, the ministry was not satisfied that the evidence establishes that: • the appellant has a severe mental impairment; • the appellant's daily living activities (DLA) are, in the opinion of a prescribed professional, directly and significantly restricted either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and, • as a result of these restrictions, the appellant requires the significant help or supervision of another person, the use of an assistive device, or the services of an assistance animal to perform DLA. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (EAPWDA), Section 2 Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation (EAPWDR), Section 2
APPEAL# I PART E-Summary of Facts The evidence before the ministry at the time of the reconsideration decision included the Person With Disabilities (PWD) Application comprised of the undated applicant information and self-report, a physician report (PR) and an assessor report (AR) both dated June 30, 2014 and completed by a general practitioner who had known the appellant for 1 ½ years. The evidence also included the following: 1) Consultation Report from a hospital dated September 14, 2009; 2) Oculo-Visual Examination Summary dated September 8, 2013; 3) Radiology Report dated September 16, 2013; 4) Bone Density Report dated January 7, 2014; 5) Summary Report from a health clinic dated January 10, 2014; 6) Letter dated February 14, 2014 from the appellant's general practitioner; 7) Radiology Report dated June 30, 2014; and, 8) Request for Reconsideration dated October 30, 2014. Diagnoses In the PR, the appellant was diagnosed by the general practitioner with knee pain, osteoporosis, gastric acid reflux, visual disturbance due to cataracts, and anxiety disorder. Mental Impairment In the PR, the appellant's general practitioner reported that: • The appellant does not have difficulties with communication and the general practitioner wrote that she speaks and understands well a language other than English, which she uses to communicate. • The appellant has a significant deficit in her cognitive and emotional functioning in the areas of emotional disturbance. The general practitioner wrote: "she has episodes of anxiety attack, and she takes sedation for insomnia off and on." In the AR, the general practitioner indicated that: • The appellant is unable to communicate in any area, namely: speaking, reading, writing and hearing. The general practitioner wrote that the appellant does not speak and understand English and she is a non-English speaking immigrant. She speaks and understands only a language other than English and she is able to communicate with people well with this dialogue. • There is a major impact in 1 of 14 listed areas of cognitive and emotional functioning, namely with language. There is a moderate impact in the area of bodily functions, including sleep disturbance. There are minimal impacts to emotion, attention/concentration and memory and no impacts in the remaining areas of functioning. The general practitioner wrote that the appellant "is a non-English speaking immigrant. She does not speak or understand English, so there is a difficulty for her to communicate with other people. Episodes of anxiety attack. Insomnia and takes sedation off and on." In her self-report, the appellant wrote that: • She suffers from frequent anxiety, depression and insomnia that she has to take sedation every night for sleep. • Frequent anxiety attacks, depression, insomnia and stomach upset, in addition to the
c o n t i n u o u s u n e m p l o y m e n t h a s m a d e h e r a n t n o t h a v e t h e m o t i v a t i o n t o i m p r o v e h e r l i f e q u I n h e r 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r • S h e h a s t o t a k e s e d a t i o n f o r i n s o m n i a o n a n d • S h e c a n o n l y c o m m u n i c a t e i n a l a n g u a g e o t h I n t h e C o n s u l t a t i o n R e p o r t f r o m a h o s p i t a l d a t e d S e p • T h e a p p e l l a n t w a s s e e n i n e m e r g e n c y f o r p s y p a i n m e d i c a t i o n . U p o n a d m i s s i o n s h e w a s c o m e d i c a t i o n l e v e l w a s n o t t o o e x c e s s i v e . • T h e o v e r d o s e a n d d e p r e s s i o n s e e m t o b e i n r q u i t e u p s e t a n d w o u l d p r o b a b l y r e s o r t t o a n i m s e t t l e d , s h e i s d e e m e d i n v o l u n t a r y a n d p u t o n D a i l y L i v i n g A c t i v i t i e s ( D L A ) I n t h e P R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t : • 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 m e d i c a t i o n T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w r o t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a m a k e h e r s t o m a c h u p s e t . T h e m e d i c a t i o n h e l S h e c o u l d n o t t o l e r a t e t h e s e m e d i c a t i o n s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s a n a i d f o r h e r i m p a i r m e s u p p o rt . " • T h e a p p e l l a n t c a n n o t w a l k a t a l l u n a i d e d o n a I n t h e A R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o rt e d t h a t : • T h e a p p e l l a n t u s e s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e f o r w a a n d w i t h w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s a s s h e u s e s a n u m • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t l y a b l e t o p e rf o r m d r e s s i n g , g r o o m i n g , b a t h i n g , t o i l e t i n g , f e e d i n g b e d a n d o n / o f f o f a c h a i r . • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h d o i n g h e r l a t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t h a t s h e i s n o t a b l e t o v a c u u m i n g . • F o r s h o p p i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t l y a t h e p r i c e o n l y " ) , m a k e a p p r o p r i a t e c h o i c e s a n a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n f o r g o i n g t o a s h o p p i n g " ) a n d f o r c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e h o m e " ) . • R e g a r d i n g t h e D L A o f p r e p a r i n g h e r o w n m e a o f t h e t a s k s , n a m e l y : m e a l p l a n n i n g , f o o d p r e • F o r m a n a g i n g h e r p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s , t h e a p p e h e r r e n t a n d b i l l s a n d r e q u i r e s c o n t i n u o u s a s s c o m m e n t b y t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t h a t s h e • T h e a p p e l l a n t i n d e p e n d e n t l y m a n a g e s a l l t a s k f i l l i n g / r e f i l l i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n s , t a k i n g a s d i r e c t e d • F o r u s e o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e A P P E A L # I i s o c i a l , i n t r o v e r t e d a n d s e l f a b a s e d . S h e d o e s a l i t y a n d s h e a l w a y s f e e l s a n x i o u s a n d h e l p l e s s . o t e t h a t : o f f b e c a u s e o f e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k . e r t h a n E n g l i s h . t e m b e r 1 4 , 2 0 0 9 , t h e p h y s i c i a n w r o t e t h a t : c h i a t r i c a s s e s s m e n t . S h e t o o k a n o v e r d o s e o f n s i d e r e d m e d i c a l l y c l e a r e d a s t h e p a i n e l a t i o n t o r e c e n t e v e n t s . B e c a u s e s h e w a s s t i l l p u l s i v e a c t i f s h e i s h o m e b e f o r e s h e h a s a w a i t i n g l i s t f o r a d m i s s 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 e r D L A . n t w a s g i v e n a n t i i n f l a m m a t o r y d r u g s w h i c h p s h e r t o a l l e v i a t e t h e k n e e p a i n t e m p o r a r i l y . n t a s s h e " w e a r s t h e k n e e b r a c e s t o g i v e t h e f l a t s u r f a c e . l k i n g i n d o o r s a s s h e h o l d s o n t o f u r n i t u r e t o a s s i s t b r e l l a t o a s s i s t . e v e r y t a s k o f t h e p e r s o n a l c a r e D L A , n a m e l y : s e l f a n d r e g u l a t i n g d i e t , a n d t r a n s f e r r i n g i n / o u t o f u n d r y a n d b a s i c h o u s e k e e p i n g , w i t h a n o t e b y w a s h h e r t o i l e t a n d s h e i s n o t a b l e t o d o b l e t o r e a d p r i c e s a n d l a b e l s ( n o t e : " a b l e t o r e a d d p a y f o r p u r c h a s e s w h i l e r e q u i r i n g c o n t i n u o u s n d f r o m s t o r e s ( n o t e : " h e r n i e c e t a k e s h e r t o ( n o t e : " h e r n i e c e h e l p s h e r t o c a r r y t h e g r o c e r y l s , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t i n p e r f o r m i n g a l l p a r a t i o n , c o o k i n g a n d s a f e s t o r a g e o f f o o d . l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h b u d g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n w i t h b a n k i n g , w i t h a r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e t o t a k e h e r t o t h e b a n k . s o f h e r p e r s o n a l m e d i c a t i o n s , n a m e l y : , a n d s a f e h a n d l i n g a n d s t o r a g e . p e n d e n t w i t h g e t t i n g i n a n d o u t o f a v e h i c l e a n d
s h e n e v e r u s e s t h e p u b l i c t r a n s i t s o i t i s u n k n t r a n s i t s c h e d u l e s a n d a r r a n g e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a l s o i n d e p e n d e n t i n a l l 5 a s p a p p r o p r i a t e s o c i a l d e c i s i o n s , d e v e l o p i n g a n d a p p r o p r i a t e l y w i t h o t h e r s , d e a l i n g a p p r o p r i a t e a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r s . I n h e r s e l f r e p o r t , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a t : • H e r k n e e p a i n h a s a s e r i o u s i m p a c t o n h e r d a • S h e r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e t o c a r r y g r o c e r i e s . • S h e c a n n o t v a c u u m h e r h o u s e a n d c l e a n t h e • S h e c a n n o t r e a d , l i s t e n a n d w r i t e E n g l i s h a t a • S h e r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e t o m a n a g e d o c u m e n t s I n h e r 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r • I t i s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e f o r h e r t o f i n d a j o b b e c • S h e r e a l l y n e e d s t h e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f o r h e r N e e d fo r H e l p I n t h e P R , w h e n a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e p r a c t i t i o n e r i n d i c a t e d ' y e s ' a n d w r o t e : " w e a r s t h e k n e T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d i n t h e A R t h a t t h e a a s s i s t a n c e r e q u i r e d f o r D L A i s p r o v i d e d b y f a m i l y , w s h o p p i n g o r g o i n g t o b a n k . " T h e a p p e l l a n t r o u t i n e l y n o t e t h a t " s h e u s e s t h e u m b r e l l a t o a s s i s t h e r w a l k i n g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r n o t e d : " i t i s b e t t e r t o u s e a c a n e I n h e r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d N o v e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 4 , t h 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 a n d w r o t e t h a t , a f b e l i e v e s t h a t m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t h e r m e n t a l s t a t A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a d v o c a t e , w h o i s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s n • A l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t w h e e l c h a i r b o u n r i g h t k n e e . W i t h o u t h e r c a n e a n d b r a c e , i t i s i s t a n d i n g o r s i t t i n g f o r l o n g . • T h e a p p e l l a n t c a n n o t s p e a k E n g l i s h a n d s h e h b u t t h e l a n g u a g e b a r r i e r p o s e s t o o m a n y d i f f i c • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a l s o s u ff e r i n g f r o m d e p r e s s i o r e l i e s o n s l e e p m e d i c a t i o n . • D u e t o t h e s e p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l p r o b l e m s , s i n c a p a b l e o f w o r k i n g o u t s i d e t h e h o m e . • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s s l o w r e s p o n s e s t o t h e e n v i r n a t i v e l a n g u a g e c a n b e a c h a l l e n g e f o r h e r . T • T h e a p p e l l a n t s u f f e r s c o n s t a n t p a i n i n h e r r i g h h a v e b e e n r e c o m m e n d e d a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e , t h h a v e .A P P E A L # I o w n i f s h e c a n u s e p u b l i c t r a n s i t o r u s e t h e . e c t s o f s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , i n c l u d i n g m a k i n g m a i n t a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s , i n t e r a c t i n g l y w i t h u n e x p e c t e d d e m a n d s , a n d s e c u r i n g i l y l i f e . w a s h r o o m . l l . f r o m t h e b a n k a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t . o t e t h a t : a u s e o f b o t h t h e p h y s i c a l a n d l a n g u a g e b a r r i e r s . l i v i n g e x p e n s e s a n d h e r m e d i c a t i o n f e e s . s a n a i d f o r h e r i m p a i r m e n t , t h e g e n e r a l e b r a c e s t o g i v e t h e s u p p o r t . " p p e l l a n t l i v e s w i t h h e r a d u l t s o n a n d t h e i t h a c o m m e n t t h a t " h e r n i e c e h e l p s h e r t o u s e s a n u m b r e l l a a s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , w i t h a g . S h e f e e l s a w k w a r d t o u s e a c a n e . " T h e t o a s s i s t h e r w a l k i n g w h e n e v e r s h e n e e d s . " e a p p e l l a n t e x p r e s s e d h e r d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e t e r r e v i e w i n g 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 , s h e u s s h o u l d b e i n d i c a t e d i n h e r m e d i c a l r e p o r t s . i e c e , s t a t e d : d , s h e r e l i e s o n h e r c a n e a n d a l s o a b r a c e o n h e r m p o s s i b l e f o r h e r t o d o p r o l o n g e d w a l k i n g o r a s b e e n t o l d m a n y t i m e s t o s e e k e m p l o y m e n t u l t i e s . n a n d c a n n o t s l e e p f o r p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d s a n d h e i s n o t c a p a b l e o f s e e k i n g e m p l o y m e n t . S h e i s o n m e n t a r o u n d h e r . E v e n c o m m u n i c a t i n g i n h e r h i s a f f e c t s h e r a b i l i t y t o p e rf o r m h e r D L A . t k n e e a n d a l t h o u g h a c u p u n c t u r e t r e a t m e n t s e s e t r e a t m e n t s r e q u i r e f u n d s t h a t s h e d o e s n o t
• F o r s h o p p i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e c a r r y g r o c e r i e s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t c a n n o t h a n d l e h e a v y h o u s e w o r • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e c e i v e s h e l p t h r o u g h t h e u s e o r e q u i r e s h e l p w i t h d o c u m e n t s , l i k e b a n k s t a t e • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s n i e c e c a n n o t h e l p h e r f o r t h e e m p l o y m e n t . • T h e 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 a s c o m p l e b y t h e a p p e l l a n t . 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 : • W h e n t h e P R a n d t h e A R w e r e c o m p l e t e d , t h n a t i v e l a n g u a g e a n d c o m p l e t e d t h e r e p o r t s . N • S h e u s e s b r a c e s o n b o t h k n e e s a l l t h e t i m e . T • S h e " b u r n s h e r p o t s a l o t " b e c a u s e o f h e r p o o A d m i s s i b i li ty o f N e w I n fo r m a t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y d i d n o t r a i s e a n o b j e c t i o n t o t h e a d m i s s a p p e l l a n t . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s t e s t i m o n y r e g a r d i n g h e r m i m p a c t h e r a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a n d t 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 r e f o r e , t h e p a n e b e i n g i n s u p p o rt o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c o r d s t h a t w e r e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o f T h e m i n i s t ry r e l i e d o 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 , a m i n i s t r y c l a r i f i e d t h a t t h e a b i l i t y t o w o r k a n d / o r l o o k fo d e s i g n a t i o n .A P P E A L # I t o a c c o m p a n y h e r b e c a u s e s h e c a n n o t l i f t o r k s u c h a s v a c u u m i n g . f h e r c a n e a n d k n e e b r a c e . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o m e n t s . l o n g t e r m a s h e r n i e c e i s s e e k i n g f u l l t i m e t e d b y h e r n i e c e , i n h e r h a n d w r i t i n g , a n d s i g n e d e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i n t e r v i e w e d h e r i n h e r o o n e e l s e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e i n t e rv i e w . h e l e f t k n e e h a s t h e m o r e s e v e r e p a i n . r m e m o r y . i b i l i t y o f t h e o r a l t e s t i m o n y o n b e h a l f o f t h e e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t s a n d h o w t h e y n d s t o c o r r o b o r a t e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e l h a s a d m i t t e d t h i s a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a s b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e 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 A c t . s s u m m a r i z e d a t t h e h e a r i n g . A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e r w o r k i s n o t o n e o f t h e c r i t e r i a f o r P W D
APP EA L # I PA RT F Reasons for Panel Decision The issue o n the appeal is whether the minis t ry's reconsideration decision, which found that the app e l lant is not eli gible fo r P WD d esig nation, wa s reas onably suppo rted by the evidence or wa s a reasonable application of the applicable enactment in the circumstances of t h e appellant. The m in istr y found t ha t the ap pell ant does not have a severe mental impairment and that her DLA are not , in the opini on of a prescri b ed professional, directly and significantly re strict e d eithe r co ntinuously or periodically for extended per io d s and that, as a result of those restrictio ns, i t co uld no t be determined that the app e l lan t requires the signif ica n t help or supervisio n of anothe r person, the use of an assi stiv e device, or t he services of an assistance animal to perform DLA . The criteria for being design a ted as a PWD a re set out in Se c tion 2 of t he EA PWDA as follo w s : Persons with disabilities 2 (1) In thi s section: "assistive device" mea n s a device designed to enable a person to perform a daily living a ctivity tha t, because o f a se v ere mental or physical impairment, t he pe rson is unable to perform; "dail y livin g ac tiv it y " has th e prescr ib e d meaning; "prescribed pr o fes sio nal" h as t h e p resc ribed m ea n ing. (2) The m iniste r may d esi gnate a p erson w h o has r eached 18 years of ag e as a person w ith di sabi l itie s for t he pur poses o f this Act if t h e ministe r is sa tisf i e d that t he person has a se v e re m e n ta l or p h y sical impa i r ment that (a) i n the opini o n of a med ica l p r a c ti tioner is likely to c ontinue fo r at least 2 year s, and (b) in the opin ion o f a pr escri bed p rofe s siona l (i) direc tly and s i gnifica ntly restricts the p erson' s a bili t y t o perfor m dai l y livi ng acti v iti es e i t her (A) con ti nuo us ly , o r ( B ) pe rio d i c all y for e x ten d e d period s , a nd (ii) as a r esu lt of t ho s e restri ctions, the pe rso n r equire s he lp to pe r form thos e act ivit ies. ( 3) F or t he p u rp oses of su bsection (2), (a) a p ers o n who h a s a severe mental imp air ment i nc l ud es a pe rson with a ment al d iso rde r, and (b) a per son req uires help in relation to a dai l y l i v ing activ i ty if, in ord er to perform it, the p erson r e qu i res (i) an as sist i ve devic e, (ii) the significant help or supervision of another person, or (iii) the services of an assi sta nce anim al. (4) The minister may resc ind a designation u nder subsec t ion (2 ). Section 2(1)(a) of the EAPWDR defines DLA for a person who has a severe physical or mental impairment as follows: Def in i t i o ns for Act 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 ) p e r f o r m h o u s e w 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 ( v i ) m o v e a b o u t i n d o o 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 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 d ( 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 p a ( 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 f i n ( 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 w i t h o t h e r s e f f e c A t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , t h e m i n i s t ry w a s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t , b u t w a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . S e v e r e M e n t 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 p o s i t i o n i s t h a t a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i m p a c t s f r o m h e r d i a g n o s e d a n x i e t y d i s o r d e r . A t t h e o f d i s a b i l i t y i s t o o n a r r o w a n d s t r i n g e n t a n d t h a t t h e a 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a o f f b e c a u s e o f e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k s . T h e a p p l a n g u a g e o t h e r t h a n E n g l i s h . 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 t h e r e i s i n s u ffi c i e n t e v i s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t a p p e l l a n t h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t d e f i c i t i n h e r c o g n i t i v e a n d d i s t u r b a n c e , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r c o m m e n t e d t h a n o f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e f r e q u e n c y o r d u r t h a t t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r a s s e s s e d a m a j o r i m p a c h o w e v e r , t h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e a p p e l l a n t i s a " n o n E n g a m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t o r a b r a i n i n j u r y . P a n e l D e c i s i o n I n t h e P R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r d i a g n o s e d t h e a p p a p p e l l a n t h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t d e f i c i t i n h e r c o g n i t i v e a n d d i s t u r b a n c e . T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w r o t e : " s h e h a s e d a t i o n f o r i n s o m n i a o f f a n d o n . " I n h e r s e l f r e p o rt , f r e q u e n t a n x i e t y , d e p r e s s i o n a n d i n s o m n i a t h a t s h e h p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e f r e q u e n c y o f t h e t h e a p p e l l a n t w r o t e i n h e r 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 o f f ' b e c a u s e o f e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k . T t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s s e e n i n e m e r g e n c y f o r p s y c h i n o o t h e r i n fo r m a t i o n o f m o r e r e c e n t h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n d r e p o r t , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a t h e r a n x i e t y , i n a d d i t i o h e r a n t i s o c i a l , i n t r o v e r t e d a n d s e l f a b a s e d . S h e d o e q u a l i t y a n d s h e a l w a y s f e e l s a n x i o u s a n d h e l p l e s s . I n t h e A R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r e 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 i n g i n t h e a r e a o f l a n a e l l a n t " i s a n o n E n l i s h s e a k i n i m m i r a n t , " s h e A P P E A L # I o f r e s i d e n c e i n 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 ; 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 : a n c e s ; t i v e l y . i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i s s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i s e v i d e n c e o f a i r m e n t i s e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a d v o c a t e a r g u e d t h a t t h e d e f i n i t i o n p p e l l a n t ' s s i t u a t i o n s a t i s f i e s t h e c r i t e r i a . I n h e r t s h e h a s t o t a k e s e d a t i o n f o r i n s o m n i a o n a n d e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t s h e c a n o n l y c o m m u n i c a t e i n a d e n c e t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a w h i l e t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n i n g i n t h e a r e a o f e m o t i o n a l t t h i s r e l a t e s t o e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k s w i t h a t i o n o f t h e a n x i e t y a t t a c k s . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t t o d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g i n t h e a r e a · o f l a n g u a g e ; l i s h s p e a k i n g i m m i g r a n t " a n d i s n o t a s a r e s u l t o f e l l a n t w i t h a n x i e t y d i s o r d e r a n d r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n i n g i n t h e a r e a s o f e m o t i o n a l s e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k , a n d s h e t a k e s t h e a p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a t s h e s u ff e r s f r o m a s t o t a k e s e d a t i o n e v e r y n i g h t f o r s l e e p . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a n x i e t y a t t a c k s i s n o t c o n s i s t e n t a s o n , t h a t s h e h a s t o t a k e s e d a t i o n f o r i n s o m n i a h e C o n s u l t a t i o n R e p o r t f r o m a h o s p i t a l i n d i c a t e d a t r i c a s s e s s m e n t o v e r 5 y e a r s a g o a n d t h e r e w a s u e t o a m e n t a l h e a l t h c o n d i .t i o n . I n h e r s e l f n t o t h e c o n t i n u o u s u n e m p l o y m e n t , h a s m a d e s n o t h a v e t h e m o t i v a t i o n t o i m p r o v e h e r l i fe i s a m a j o r i m p a c t i n 1 o f 1 4 l i s t e d a r e a s o f g u a g e . T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w r o t e t h a t t h e d o e s n o t s e a k o r u n d e r s t a n d E n l i s h a n d s h e
h a s d i f f i c u l t y c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e . A t t h h a s s l o w r e s p o n s e s t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a r o u n d h e r a c a n b e a c h a l l e n g e f o r h e r . I n t h e P R , h o w e v e r , t h e d o e s n o t h a v e d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d s h t h a n E n g l i s h , w h i c h s h e u s e s t o c o m m u n i c a t e . T h e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e i m p a c t t o l a n g u a g e i s l i n k e d t o a a p p e l l a n t ' s c o g n i t i v e o r e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e g m o d e r a t e i m p a c t i n t h e a r e a o f b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s , i n c l u a p p e l l a n t h a s " e p i s o d e s o f a n x i e t y a t t a c k ; i n s o m n i a a W i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e t w o D LA t h a t a r e s p e c i f i c t o m e n a c t i v i t i e s , c a r e o r f i n a n c e s ( d e c i s i o n m a k i n g ) , a n d r e e f f e c t i v e l y ( s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g ) , t h e e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e i n e i t h e r . W i t h r e s p e c t t o d e c i s i o n m a k i n g , t h e g e n e a p p e l l a n t i n d e p e n d e n t l y m a n a g e s h e r f i n a n c e s ( b u d m e d i c a t i o n s ( t a k i n g a s d i r e c t e d a n d s a f e h a n d l i n g ) . d e c i s i o n m a k i n g c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e D LA o f d a i l y s h o p r e p a r a t i o n ( m e a l p l a n n i n g a n d f o o d s t o r a g e ) , a n d w h e r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g . R e g a r d i n g t h e D L A o f s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , t h e a p p e l l a i n d e p e n d e n t i n d e v e l o p i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s s e c u r i n g a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r s . T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a l i n h e r n a t i v e l a n g u a g e , a s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e . G i v e n t a p p e l l a n t ' s m e n t a l o r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , t h e p a n e l f i n s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t w a s n o t e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e R e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a b i l i ty t o p e rf o r m D L A T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t h e r s e v e r e p h y s i c a l a r e s t r i c t h e r a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A o n a n o n g o i n g b a s a s s i s t a n c e o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n , n a m e l y h e r n i e c e , a n d a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s . T h e a d v o c a t e a r g u e d t h a t t h e d o c h a v e 1 0 0 % u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h e r s i t u a t i 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 t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h 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 L A e i t h e r c o n t i n u o m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d p e r f o r m e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y o r r e q u i r e l i t t l e h e l p f r o m o t P a n e l D e c i s i o n 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 c 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 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 g e n e r a l p r a c t i d e f i n e d i n 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 t h e A R . T h e r e f o r e , 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 m p l e w h i c h , i f a n y , D L A a r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d b y t h e a 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 P P E A L # I e h e a r i n g , t h e a d v o c a t e s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t n d e v e n c o m m u n i c a t i n g i n h e r n a t i v e l a n g u a g e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t e s p e a k s a n d u n d e r s t a n d s w e l l a l a n g u a g e o t h e r 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 l a n g u a g e b a r r i e r r a t h e r t h a n t o a d e f i c i t i n t h e e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e i s a d i n g s l e e p d i s t u r b a n c e , a n d w r o t e t h a t t h e n d t a k e s s e d a t i o n o f f a n d o n . " t a l i m p a i r m e n t 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 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 w i t h o t h e r s s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d i n t h e A R t h a t t h e g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g r e n t a n d b i l l s ) a n d h e r S h e i s a l s o r e p o r t e d a s i n d e p e n d e n t i n t h e p p i n g ( m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e c h o i c e s ) , m e a l i t h m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e s o c i a l d e c i s i o n s a s p a r t o f n t i s a s s e s s e d b y t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r a s h i p s , i n t e r a c t i n g a p p r o p r i a t e l y w i t h o t h e r s , a n d s o a s s e s s e d w i t h a g o o d a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e h e a b s e n c e o f r e p o r t e d i m p a c t s t o t h e 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 d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a r S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W D A . n d m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t s d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y i s t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t s h e r e q u i r e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t a l s o t h e u s e o f a c a n e a n d k n e e b r a c e s a s t o r d o e s n o t l i v e w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d c a n n o t e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l d o e s n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t u s l y 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 . T h e t h a t a m a j o r i t y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s D LA a r e h e r s . 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 e r D L A , 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 t i o n e r i s 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 . D L A a r e l i s t e d i n t h e P R a n d , w i t h a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s , i n t i n g t h e s e f o r m s h a s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n d i c a t e p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s c o n t i n u o u s l y o r
I n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i b e e n p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c a t i o n s t h a t i n t e r f e r e w i t h h e r D a p p e l l a n t w a s g i v e n a n t i i n f l a m m a t o r y d r u g s w h i c h m h e r t o a l l e v i a t e t h e k n e e p a i n t e m p o r a r i l y b u t s h e c o I n t h e A R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r a s s e s s e d t h e a p p i n d o o r s a s s h e h o l d s o n t o f u r n i t u r e t o a s s i s t a n d a s s h e u s e s a n u m b r e l l a t o a s s i s t . A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a h e r c a n e a n d a l s o a b r a c e o n h e r r i g h t k n e e a n d , w i t t h e a p p e l l a n t t o d o p r o l o n g e d w a l k i n g o r s t a n d i n g . A u s e s b r a c e s o n b o t h k n e e s a l l t h e t i m e . I n t h e P R , t c a n n o t w a l k a t a l l u n a i d e d o n a f l a t s u r f a c e . H e i n d i c i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h a t s h e w e a r s k n e e b r a c e f o r s u p p o I n t h e A R , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e t a s k o f t h e D L A p e r s o n a l c a r e , b a s i c h o u s e k e e p i n g , m e d i c a t i o n s . F o r s h o p p i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s c g o i n g t o a n d f r o m s t o r e s ( n o t e : " h e r n i e c e t a k e s h e r ( n o t e : " h e r n i e c e h e l p s h e r t o c a r r y t h e g r o c e r y h o m e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s a s s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e s h e c m a n a g i n g h e r p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d b i l l s a n d r e q u i r e s c o n t i n u o u s a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t h a t s h e r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e t o t a k a p p e l l a n t w r o t e t h a t s h e r e q u i r e s h e r n i e c e t o m a n a g F o r u s e o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n e v e r u s e s p u b l i c t r a n s i t s o i t i s u n k n o w n i f s h e c a n a n d a r r a n g e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . I n h e r 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w r j o b b e c a u s e o f b o t h t h e p h y s i c a l a n d l a n g u a g e b a r r i e t h a t d u e t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l p r o b l a n d s h e i s i n c a p a b l e o f w o r k i n g o u t s i d e t h e h o m e . T p a i d e m p l o y m e n t i s n o t a s t a t u t o ry c r i t e r i o n f o r d e s i g E A P W D A , n o r i s i t l i s t e d i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f " d a i l y l i v i n R a t h e r , t h e f o c u s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i s w h e t h e r a s e v e f r o m m a n a g i n g h e r D LA i n d e p e n d e n t l y . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t m o b i l i t y a n d i n t h o s e t a s k s o f t h e s h o p p i n g a n d m a n a o r p r o f i c i e n c y w i t h t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e . H o w e v e r , t a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h m o s t o t h e r D L A , i n c l u d h o u s e k e e p i n g / l a u n d r y a n d f o o d p r e p a r a t i o n / c o o k i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e n t a l o r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , a s d i s c u 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 c o n c l u d e d t h p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n m a n a g e h e r D L A 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 l e g i s l a t i v e c r i t e r i o n o f S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i ) o f t h e E A P W A P P E A L # I o n e r r e p o r t e d i n t h e P R t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s L A . T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w r o t e t h a t t h e a k e h e r s t o m a c h u p s e t . T h e m e d i c a t i o n h e l p s u l d n o t t o l e r a t e t h e s e m e d i c a t i o n s . e l l a n t a s u s i n g a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e f o r w a l k i n g u s i n g a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e f o r w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s a s p p e l l a n t ' s n i e c e s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e l i e s o n h o u t t h e s e a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a r i f i e d t h a t s h e h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s a n a i d f o r h e r r t . a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t l y a b l e t o p e r f o r m e v e r y p r e p a r i n g m e a l s , a n d m a n a g i n g p e r s o n a l o n t i n u o u s a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n f o r t o s h o p p i n g " ) a n d f o r c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e " ) . 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 n i e c e s t a t e d a n n o t d o l i f t i n g o r c a r r y i n g o f g r o c e r i e s . F o r e p e n d e n t w i t h b u d g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g h e r r e n t a n d r p e r s o n w i t h b a n k i n g , w i t h a c o m m e n t b y t h e e h e r t o t h e b a n k . I n h e r s e l f r e p o r t , t h e e d o c u m e n t s f r o m t h e b a n k a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t . n t w i t h g e t t i n g i n a n d o u t o f a v e h i c l e a n d s h e u s e p u b l i c t r a n s i t o r u s e t h e t r a n s i t s c h e d u l e s o t e t h a t i t i s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e f o r h e r t o f i n d a r 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 ' s n i e c e s t a t e d e m s , s h e i s n o t c a p a b l e o f s e e k i n g e m p l o y m e n t h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t o n e ' s a b i l i t y t o p a rt i c i p a t e i n n a t i o n a s a P W D i n S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e g a c t i v i t i e s " i n S e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e E A P W D R . r e 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 a p e r s o n t h e a p p e l l a n t e x p e r i e n c e s r e s t r i c t i o n s w i t h h e r g i n g p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s D L A t h a t r e l a t e t o l i ft i n g h e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l r e p o r t e d t h e i n g t h o s e t a s k s t h a t r e q u i r e l i f t i n g s u c h a s a n d , g i v e n t h e a b s e n c e o f i m p a c t s r e p o r t e d t o s s e d u n d e r " s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , " t h e a t t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h e v i d e n c e f r o m t h e 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 h e r a b i l i t y t o o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s , t h e r e b y n o t s a t i s f y i n g t h e D A .
H e l p t o p e rf o r m D L A T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t s h e r e q u i r e s t h e s i g n o f a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s t o p e r f o m , D L A . 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 i t h a s n o t b e e r e s t r i c t e d , i t c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t h e P a n e l D e c i s i o n S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i i ) o f t h e E A P W D A r e q u i r e s t h a t , a s a a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A , a p e r s o n r e q u i r e s h e l p t o p e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) a s t h e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a n a s s i s t i v e d e a n o t h e r p e r s o n , o r 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 T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d i n t h e A R t h a t t h e a w i t h a c o m m e n t t h a t " h e r n i e c e h e l p s h e r t o s h o p p i n p r a c t i t i o n e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s a n a k n e e b r a c e s t o g i v e t h e s u p p o r t . " T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t r o u t i n e l y u s e s a n u m b r e l l a a s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , w h e r w a l k i n g . S h e f e e l s a w k w a r d t o u s e a c a n e . " T h e c a n e t o a s s i s t h e r w a l k i n g w h e n e v e r s h e n e e d s " a n d s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t n o w u s e s a c a n e a n d b r a c e m i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a s d i r e c t a n d s i g p e r f o r m D L A h a v e n o t b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , i t c a n n o t b e p e r f o r m D L A 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 , a s d e f i 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 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 m i n e d d e s i g n a t i o n w a s r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n A P P E A L # I i f i c a n t a s s i s t a n c e o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n a n d t h e u s e n e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t D L A a r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y 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 . r e s u l t 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 t h e f o r m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . H e l p i s d e f i n e d i n v i c e , t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h e l p o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f m a l i n o r d e r t o p e r f o r m a D L A . s s i s t a n c e r e q u i r e d f o r D L A i s p r o v i d e d b y f a m i l y , g o r g o i n g t o b a n k . " I n t h e P R , t h e g e n e r a l i d f o r h e r i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h a t s h e " w e a r s t h e i t i o n e r r e p o r t e d i n t h e A R t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i t h a n o t e t h a t " s h e u s e s t h e u m b r e l l a t o a s s i s t g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r n o t e d : " i t i s b e t t e r t o u s e a , a t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h e r n i e c e s o n b o t h k n e e s . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e n i f i c a n t r e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o 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 r e q u i r e s h e l p t o n e d b y S e c t i o n 2 ( 3 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A P W D A . a n d 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 t h e 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 fo r P W D c e , a n d t h e r e f o r e c o n f i r m s t h e 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.