I APPEAL# PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the ministry) reconsideration decision dated September 3, 2014 which found that the appellant did not meet three 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 his impairment 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 physical or 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
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 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 i s t a n c e A c t . T h e e v i d e n c e 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 D i s a b i l i t i e s ( P W D ) A p p l i c a t i o n c o m p r i s e d o f t h e a p p p h y s i c i a n r e p o r t ( P R ) d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 a k n o w n t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r o n e y e a r a n d h a s s e e n h i m d a t e d M a r c h 5 , 2 0 1 4 a n d c o m p l e t e d b y a r e g i s t e r e y e a r s a s a f r i e n d . T h e e v i d e n c e a l s o i n c l u d e d t h e R a t t a c h i n g a h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m D i a g n o s e s I n t h e P R , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s d i a g n o s e d b y t h e g e n e p r e v i o u s l e f t a n k l e f r a c t u r e w i t h d a t e o f o n s e t i n J u n c o n d i t i o n . 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 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 : • I n t e r m s o f h e a l t h h i s t o r y , t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s i n j u r y 2 0 1 1 . H a d o p e r a t i o n a n d h a r d w a r e p l h i s t o r y o f p o s s i b l e s e i z u r e d i s o r d e r h a s n o t • T h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t r e q u i r e a n a i d f o r h i s u s e a c a n e i n t e r m i t t e n t l y . " • I n t e r m s o f f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s , t h e a p p e l l a n t c a n m o r e s t e p s u n a i d e d , c a n l i f t 7 t o 1 6 k g ( 1 5 t o s e a t e d . • I n t h e a d d i t i o n a l c o m m e n t s , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c d i s c o m f o rt w i t h 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 I n t h e A R t h e n u r s e i n d i c a t e d t h a t : • T h e r e i s n o a s s e s s m e n t w i t h h i s a b i l i t y t o w a w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s . T h e n u r s e n o t e d : " h a s l o s f r a c t u r e o f c a l c a n e u s f o o t b o n e . " • T h e a p p e l l a n t t a k e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t h a n n u r s e t h a t h e i s " m e d i c a l l y r e s t r i c t e d f r o m s t a s t a n d i n g , w i t h a n o t e b y t h a t n u r s e t h a t h e i s • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e f r p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h c a r r y i n g a n d h o l d i n g I n 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s • T h e a p p e l l a n t n e e d s t i m e t o c o n n e c t w i t h a n p r o p e r m e d i c a l r e c o r d s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y i s c o n c e r n e d a n d w o r r • H e h a s h a d t w o f a l l s o f f r o o f s w h i l e h e w a s s a n d a n k l e i n t w o p l a c e s a n d c r u s h e d h i s h e e c o m p e n s a t i o n .I A P P E A L # o 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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i n c l u d e d t h e P e r s o n W i t h l i c a n t ' s i n f o r m a t i o n d a t e d M a r c h 5 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d c o m p l e t e d b y a g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w h o h a s o n c e i n t h a t t i m e , a n d a n a s s e s s o r r e p o r t ( A R ) d n u r s e w h o h a s k n o w n t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r 1 9 t o 2 0 e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d A u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 4 o t h e r . r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r w i t h c h r o n i c p a i n r e l a t e d t o e 2 0 1 1 . T h e r e i s n o d i a g n o s i s o f a m e n t a l h e a l t h a " c a l c a r c a l f r a c t u r e l e f t f o o t r e l a t e d t o w o r k p l a c e a c e d . C o n t i n u e s t o h a v e c h r o n i c p a i n . P r e v i o u s b e e n y e t d i a g n o s e d . " i m p a i r m e n t . T h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r n o t e d : " d o e s w a l k 4 o r m o r e b l o c k s u n a i d e d a n d c l i m b 5 o r 3 5 l b s . ) a n d h a s n o l i m i t a t i o n w i t h r e m a i n i n g t i t i o n e r w r o t e : " c h r o n i c p a i n o f l e f t a n k l e c a u s e s g . " l k i n d o o r s , a n d h e u s e s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e f o r s o f m o b i l i t y t o l e f t f o o t d u e t o 3 2 f o o t f a l l a n d t y p i c a l w i t h c l i m b i n g s t a i r s , w i t h a n o t e b y t h e i r s a n d l a d d e r s . " H e i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h u n a b l e t o s t a n d f o r m o r e t h a n o n e h o u r . o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n w i t h l i f t i n g a n d h e r e q u i r e s , w i t h n o e x p l a n a t i o n p r o v i d e d b y t h e n u r s e . m o t h e r w r o t e t h a t : a d v o c a t e r e g a r d i n g f i l l i n g f o r m s a n d t o g a t h e r i e d a b o u t h i m . t i l l a b l e t o w o r k . T h e l a s t t i m e , h e b r o k e h i s a r m l a n d i s o n p e r m a n e n t d i s a b i l i t y w i t h w o r k e r s '
o H e c a n n o t w a l k 2 b l o c k s w i t h o u t i t s w e l l i n g r s u r g e r y . o T h e a p p e l l a n t i s o f t e n i n t e r r i b l e p a i n . H e h a w o r s e . S h e v i s i t s h i m o n e t o t w o t i m e s a m o • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s u n a b l e t o f u n c t i o n e n t i r e l y b M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t 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 r e p o r t e d : • I n t e r m s o f h e a l t h h i s t o r y , t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s h a s n o t b e e n y e t d i a g n o s e d . " • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o d i f f i c u l t y w i t h c o m m u n e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n , w i t h n o c o m m e n t s p r o v i d I n t h e A R , t h e n u r s e i n d i c a t e d t h a t : • R e g a r d i n g h i s a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e , t h e a p t i m e s h a s d i f f i c u l t y b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d " ) a n d r ( n o t e : " s o m e t i m e s g e t s c o n f u s e d a b o u t w h a • T h e r e a r e m a j o r i m p a c t s t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s ( a l s o a m o d e r a t e i m p a c t i n d a r e m o d e r a t e i m p a c t s i n m a n y a r e a s o f f u n c i m p u l s e c o n t r o l ( a l s o m i n i m a l a n d n o i m p a c m o t i v a t i o n , m o t o r a c t i v i t y , p s y c h o t i c s y m p t o e m o t i o n a l o r m e n t a l p r o b l e m s . T h e r e a r e m • T h e a p p e l l a n t " w a s d i a g n o s e d w i t h a n x i e t y a p s y c h o s o c i a l e v a l u a t i o n / a s s e s s m e n t d o n e a w e l l g o i n g b a c k t o s c h o o l . D i d q u i t e a f e w W • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s c o n t i n u o u s s u p p o r t / s u f u n c t i o n i n g , n a m e l y w i t h : m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t 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 h i p s ( n w i t h u n e x p e c t e d d e m a n d s ( n o t e : " r e q u i r e s c a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r s ( n o t e : " d e n i e s n e e d • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c s u p p o r t / s u p e d e s c r i b e d b y t h e n u r s e a s " l i t t l e i n t e r a c t i o n . " • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s m a r g i n a l f u n c t i o n i n g i n h i s a n s w e r t h e d o o r w h e n c l o s e f r i e n d s s t o p b y • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s v e r y d i s r u p t e d f u n c t i o n i n g " i s o l a t e s s e l f m a j o r s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n , o f t e n w • A s k e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e s u p p o rt / s u p e r v i s i o n r e t h e n u r s e w r o t e : " t r a i l e r c o u r t o w n e r c h e c k s h e i s o k a y a n d m a k e s u r e h e h a s a p r o p e r m • I n t h e a d d i t i o n a l c o m m e n t s , t h e n u r s e w r o t e : h e a d , w o k e u p , n o m e m o r y o f w h a t h a p p e n e r e c e n t l y . W a s h o s p i t a l i z e d o n c e . " I n 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u e s t s t i m e t o h a v e h i s s e i z u m e d i c a t i o n s b y a s p e c i a l i s t .A P P E A L # I i g h t u p . H e m a y i n t h e f u t u r e r e q u i r e m o r e s a c u r v a t u r e i n t h e s p i n e f r o m b i r t h t h a t i s g r o w i n g n t h a n d h e i s n o t d o i n g w e l l . y h i m s e l f . a " p r e v i o u s h i s t o r y o f p o s s i b l e s e i z u r e d i s o r d e r i c a t i o n a n d n o s i g n i f i c a n t d e f i c i t s w i t h c o g n i t i v e a n d e d . p e l l a n t h a s a g o o d a b i l i t y w i t h s p e a k i n g ( n o t e : " a t e a d i n g a n d s a t i s f a c t o r y w i t h w r i t i n g a n d h e a r i n g t i s s a i d " ) . 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 s o f i c a t e d ) , e m o t i o n a n d i n s i g h t a n d j u d g m e n t . T h e r e t i o n i n g , n a m e l y : b o d i l y f u n c t i o n s , c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t s i n d i c a t e d ) , a t t e n t i o n / c o n c e n t r a t i o n , e x e c u t i v e , m s , o t h e r n e u r o p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r o b l e m s , a n d o t h e r i n i m a l i m p a c t s t o m e m o r y a n d l a n g u a g e . n d s e i z u r e d i s o r d e r . S a y s h e d i d v e r y p o o r l y o n a t a m e m o r y c l i n i c , s o w a s t o l d h e w o u l d n o t d o C B a s s e s s m e n t s . " p e r v i s i o n i n 4 o u t o f 5 a s p e c t s o f s o c i a l e s o c i a l d e c i s i o n s ( n o t e : " o f t e n i s o l a t e s s e l f " ) , o t e : " o f t e n i s o l a t e s s e l f " ) , d e a l i n g a p p r o p r i a t e l y o n t r o l l e d e n v i r o n m e n t t o f u n c t i o n " ) , a n d s e c u r i n g f o r s u p p o r t " ) . r v i s i o n w i t h 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 , i m m e d i a t e s o c i a l n e t w o r k s a s h e " o f t e n d o e s n o t . " i n h i s e x t e n d e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k s , d e s c r i b e d a s o n ' t o p e n d o o r . " q u i r e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e a p p e l l a n t i n t h e c o m m u n i t y , u p o n h i m f r e q u e n t l y ( d a i l y t o w e e k l y ) t o e n s u r e e a l . " " h a d a s e i z u r e l a s t w e e k . N o o n e a r o u n d . B a s h e d d . K n o w s h e ' s h a d s e i z u r e s 4 o t h e r t i m e s m o t h e r w r o t e t h a t : r e s d i a g n o s e d a n d t o b e g i v e n p r o p e r
o U n t i l 4 y e a r s a g o , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a f u l l y f o T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a r t e d t o d i s p l a y s y m p t o m s o t i m e s . H e w a s o n a n t i p s y c h o t i c d r u g s a n d p r e s c r i b e d o r h e d i d n o t t a k e t h e m a t a l l , e x c • T h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t , c a n n o t , o r w i l l n o t a s e e k m e d i c a l h e l p i s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e , a l t h g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t o g e t h e l p a n d d i a g n o s e • H e h a s b e e n h a v i n g s e i z u r e s , w i t h t h e l a s t o h o s p i t a l . T h e y w e r e v e r y c o n c e r n e d a n d w a h i m h i d i n g o ff t h e h i g h w a y a t n i g h t a n d h e w • T h e n u r s e w h o c o m p l e t e d t h e A R h a s k n o w n v e r y c o n c e r n e d . • I n M a y 2 0 1 1 , a p s y c h i a t r i s t a t t h e h o s p i t a l t o t h e a p p e l l a n t w i l l n o t a c k n o w l e d g e i t . 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 e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o t b e e n p r e s c r i b e d a n y m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s . • I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e a p p a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A , t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n I n t h e A R , t h e n u r s e r e p o r t 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 w i t h m o b i l i t y t o l e f t f o o t d u e t o 3 2 f o o t f a l l a n d f r a • F o r p e r s o n a l c a r e , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d b u t h y g i e n e v e r y p o o r " ) , b a t h i n g , t o i l e t i n g , f e t r a n s f e r s o n a n d o ff a c h a i r . H e r e q u i r e s p e r n u r s e n o t e d t h a t h i s " c l o t h i n g , p e r s o n a l c a r e • F o r b a s i c h o u s e k e e p i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d h o u s e k e e p i n g . T h e n u r s e a l s o w r o t e t h a t h e h o u s e k e e p 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 w 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 r p e r s o n w c h o i c e s a n d c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e . H e r p u r c h a s e s , w i t h n o c o m m e n t s a d d e d . • T h e a p p e l l a n t t a k e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t h a n m e a l s , n a m e l y w i t h m e a l p l a n n i n g ( n o t e : " w r i m e a l s " ) , c o o k i n g ( " d o e s n ' t c o o k m e a l s " ) , a n d • F o r p a y i n g r e n t a n d b i l l s , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d a s s i s t a n c e w i t h b u d g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g r e n t a n w i t h b u d g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g b i l l s . " • R e g a r d i n g m e d i c a t i o n s , t h e a p p e l l a n t t a k e s s p r e s c r i p t i o n s ( " r a r e l y w o u l d f i l l p r e s c r i p t i o n " ) m e d i c a t i o n " ) , w i t h n o a s s e s s m e n t r e p o r t e d f o • R e g a r d i n g 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 t h e n u r s e h a s n o t e d t h a t p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n A P P E A L # I u n c t i o n i n g , p r o d u c t i v e p e r s o n . f s c h i z o p h r e n i a a n d h e w a s h o s p i t a l i z e d m a n y a n t i s e i z u r e m e d s . H e n e v e r t o o k t h e m a s e p t i n h o s p i t a l . c k n o w l e d g e h i s m e n t a l p r o b l e m s . G e t t i n g h i m t o o u g h h e h a s m a d e a n a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h t h e h i s p r o b l e m s . n e b e i n g o n M a y 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 a n d h e w a s t a k e n t o n t t o k e e p h i m i n h o s p i t a l b u t h e l e f t a n d s h e f o u n d a s t e r r i f i e d . t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r y e a r s a n d l o o k s i n o n h i m a n d i s l d t h e a p p e l l a n t h e i s a p a r a n o i d s c h i z o p h r e n i c b u t e d i c a t i o n 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 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 r e s t r i c t s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s e r i n d i c a t e d " n o . " m o v i n g a b o u t o u t d o o r s , d e s c r i b e d a s " h a s l o s s o f c t u r e o f c a l c a n e u s f o o t b o n e . " e n t w i t h d r e s s i n g , g r o o m i n g ( n o t e : " s t a t e d b y c l i e n t e d i n g s e l f a n d w i t h t r a n s f e r s i n a n d o u t o f b e d a n d i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h r e g u l a t i n g h i s d i e t . T h e , d e f i c i e n t . " e p e n d e n t w i t h d o i n g h i s l a u n d r y a n d b a s i c " h a s s o m e d i f f i c u l t y m a i n t a i n i n g b a s i c i t h r e a d i n g p r i c e s a n d l a b e l s a n d r e q u i r e s i t h g o i n g t o a n d f r o m s t o r e s , m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h p a y i n g f o r t y p i c a l w i t h a l l t a s k s o f t h e D L A o f m a n a g i n g h i s t e s o u t a l i s t " ) , f o o d p r e p a r a t i o n ( " d o e s n ' t p r e p a r e s a f e s t o r a g e o f f o o d ( " f o o d o f t e n g o e s b a d " ) . e p e n d e n t w i t h b a n k i n g a n d h e r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c d b i l l s . T h e n u r s e w r o t e t h a t h i s " m o t h e r h e l p s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t h a n t y p i c a l w i t h f i l l i n g / r e f i l l i n g a n d t a k i n g a s d i r e c t e d ( " n o t t a k i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n r s a f e h a n d l i n g a n d s t o r a g e . 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 i s n o t a v a i l a b l e t o h i m .
o T h e a p p e l l a n t i s " t a k i n g T y l e n o l w i t h c o d e i n e K n o w s 1 2 i s m a x i m u m t o t a k e p e r d a y b u t d s e i z u r e a n d a n t i p s y c h o t i c m e d i c a t i o n s p r e s I n 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 , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a r e t e r r i b l e . v e r y s a d s i t u a t i o n . • H e h a s m a j o r t r o u b l e j u s t f i l l i n g o u t t h e s t u b t h i n g s a r e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t f o r h i m . • H e d o e s n o t e a t , h e d o e s n o t d o a n y t h i n g . H s t a r v i n g a l l a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . • H e w i l l n o t o p e n m a i l o r r e s p o n d t o b i l l s . N e e d fo r H e l p T h e n u r s e i n d i c a t e d i n t h e A R t h a t , w i t h r e s p e c t t o t a p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y , f r i e n d s a n d w o r k e r s ' c o m p e n s a t i r e q u i r e d b u t n o t a v a i l a b l e , t h e n u r s e w r o t e t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e w i t h s h o p p i n g , m e a l p r e p , c a r e o f l i v i n g o f t e n d o e s n o t a n s w e r d o o r . " T h e a p p e l l a n t r o u t i n e t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l , d e s c r i b e d a I n h i s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 , 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 h s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t a n d n o t a b l e t o w o r k a t p r e s e n t T h e m i n i s t r y 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 .I A P P E A L # a n d c a f f e i n e 1 5 t o 2 0 p e r d a y f o r b a c k p a i n , o e s n o t w a n t t o t a k e o t h e r p a i n m e d i c a t i o n s a n d c r i b e d b y d o c t o r . " m o t h e r w r o t e t h a t : H e d o e s n o t w e a r c l e a n c l o t h e s o r b a t h e . I t i s a t h e m i n i s t r y r e q u i r e s e a c h m o n t h . T h e s i m p l e s t e s a i d t h a t h e d o e s n o t e a t b e c a u s e p e o p l e a r e h e a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d b y o t h e r p e o p l e , t h e o n p r o v i d e h i m w i t h t h i s h e l p . W i t h r e s p e c t t o h e l p a p p e l l a n t " w o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m c o u n s e l i n g , s p a c e , b u t v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o p r o v i d e a s s i s t a n c e a s l y u s e s a c a n e a n d t h e n u r s e a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t s : " c a t ' s c o m p a n i o n s h i p . " t h e a p p e l l a n t e x p r e s s e d h i s d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e e h a s n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t d i s a b i l i t y . H e h a s a t i m e .
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 o n t h e 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 ' s r e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t 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 , w a s r r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t m i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t h a v e a s i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d a n d t h a t h i s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i p r o f e s s i o n a l , 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 e d e i t h p e r i o d s . A l s o , 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 , i t c o 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 a n o t h e r p e r s o n a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l t o p e r f o r m D L A . T h e c r i t e r i a f o r b e i n g d e s i g n a t e d a s a P W D a r e s e t P e r s o n s w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s 2 ( 1 ) I n t h i s s e c t i o n : " a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e " m e a n s a d e v i c e d e s i g n e d t o e n a b l e 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 , t h e p e r s o n i s u n " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t y " h a s t h e p r e s c r i b e d m e a n i n g ; " p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l " h a s t h e p r e s c r i b e d m e a n i n g ( 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 r e a c h e d 1 o f t h i s A c t i f t h e m i n i s t e 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 ) 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 c o n ( 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 i l i t ( 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 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 , t h e p e r s o n r e q u i r e ( 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 c l u d ( 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 a c t i ( 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 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 ( 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 . ( 4 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y r e s c i n d a d e s i g n a t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o S e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) ( a ) o f t h e E A P W D R d e f i n e s D L A f o r a p e r s o f o l l o w s : D e f i n i t i o n s f o r A c t 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 , " d a i l y l i v ( 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 l i m p 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 s ; ( i i i ) s h o p f o r p e r s o n a l n e e d s ;A P P E A L # I 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 f o u n d t h a t t h e 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 c e o r w a s a i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . T h e 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 b a s e d o n t h e e s ( D L A ) a r e n o 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 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 e x t e n d e d u l d n o t b e 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 , t h e u s e o f a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , o r t h e s e r v i c e s o f o u t i n S e c t i o n 2 o f t h e E A P W D A a s f o l l o w s : a p e r s o n t o p e r f o r m a d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t y t h a t , b e c a u s e o f a a b l e t o p e r f o r m ; . 8 y e a r s o f a g e a s a p e r s o n w i t h 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 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 t h a t t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 y e a r s , a n d 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 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 . 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 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 r e q u i r e s n , o r n ( 2 ) . n w h o h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t a s i n g a c t i v i t i e s " , 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 , m e a n s t h e f o l l o w i n g
( i v ) u s e p u b l i c o r 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 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 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 p o s i t i o n i s t h a t a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m c h r o n i c p a i n a n d r e s t r i c t e d m o b i l i t y d u e t o h i s p r e v 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 ' s m o t h e r w r o t e t h a a n k l e s w e l l i n g u p a n d h e i s o f t e n i n t e r r i b l e p a i n . T a c u r v a t u r e i n t h e s p i n e f r o m b i r t h t h a t i s g r o w i n g w h i m s e l f . 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 n o t e n o u g h c p r o f e s s i o n a l s f o r t h e m i n i s t ry t o b e s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h m i n i s t r y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e g r e g a r d i n g t h e a s s e s s m e n t s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r d i d n o t p r o v i d e e n o u g h m e d i c 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 w h i l e t h e n u r s e i n d i c a t s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r a n d r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c P a n e l D e c i s i o n A d i a g n o s i s o f a s e r i o u s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n d o e s n o s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t . A n " i m p a i r m e n t " i s a m e d i c a l c a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n d e p e n d e n t l y o r e f f e c t i v e l y . T o a s s e s s t h e s e v e r i t y o f a n i m p a i r m e n t o n e m u s t e x t e n t o f i t s i m p a c t o n d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g a s e v i d e n c e w h i c h p e r f o r m i n g D L A i s r e s t r i c t e d . I n m a k i n g i t s d r e l e v a n t e v i d e n c e , i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . f u n d a m e n t a l b a s i s f o r t h e a n a l y s i s i s t h e e v i d e n c e a p p e l l a n t ' s g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d a n u r s e . 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 e l l a n t w f r a c t u r 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 rt e d t h a t t h e t o w o r k p l a c e i n j u r y 2 0 1 1 , " t h a t h e h a d a n o p e r a t i o n c h r o n i c p a i n . W h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t h e r w r o t e i n a p p e l l a n t h a s a c u r v a t u r e i n t h e s p i n e f r o m b i r t h t h a " t a k i n g T y l e n o l w i t h c o d e i n e a n d c a f f e i n e 1 5 t o 2 0 p b y t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r . I n t h e R e q u e s t f o r R e c t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s h a d t w o f a l l s o f f r o o f s w h i l e h e w a a r m a n d a n k l e i n t w o p l a c e s a n d c r u s h e d h i s h e e l a A P P E A L # I e 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 ; 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 ; c t i v e l y . p 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 i o u s l e f t a n k l e f r a c t u r e . I n t h e R e q u e s t f o r t t h e a p p e l l a n t c a n n o t w a l k 2 b l o c k s w i t h o u t h i s h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s o r s e a n d h e i s u n a b l e t o f u n c t i o n e n t i r e l y b y o r r o b o r a t i n g e v i d e n c e f r o m t h e m e d i c a l e a p p e l l a n t h a s 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 . T h e e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d f r o m t h e n u r s e d i ff e r s c a l f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e l e v i d e n c e t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a e d t h a t h e r e q u i r e s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , t a k e s e t o m a n a g e h i s p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n s . t i n i t s e l f d e t e r m i n e P W D e l i g i b i l i t y o r e s t a b l i s h a o n d i t i o n t h a t r e s u l t s i n r e s t r i c t i o n s t o a p e r s o n ' s c o n s i d e r t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h e d b y f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l l i m i t a t i o n s a n d t h e d e g r e e t o e t e r m i n a t i o n t h e m i n i s t r y m u s t c o n s i d e r a l l t h e H o w e v e r , t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i s c l e a r t h a t t h e f r o m a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l i n t h i s c a s e , t h e i t h c h r o n i c p a i n r e l a t e d t o p r e v i o u s l e f t a n k l e a p p e l l a n t h a s a " c a l c a r c a l f r a c t u r e l e f t f o o t r e l a t e d a n d h a r d w a r e p l a c e d b u t h e c o n t i n u e s t o h a v e 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 t h a t t h e t i s g r o w i n g w o r s e , a n d t h e n u r s e r e p o r t e d h e i s e r d a y f o r b a c k p a i n , " t h i s h a s n o t b e e n r e p o r t e d o n s i d e r a t i o n , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t h e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t s s t i l l a b l e t o w o r k a n d , t h e l a s t t i m e , h e b r o k e h i s n d i s o n e r m a n e n t d i s a b i l i t w i t h w o r k e r s '
compensation. She wrote that the appellant c annot wal terms of functional skills, the gene ral practitioner reported that th blocks and climb 5 or more steps unaided, can lift 7 t remaining seated. The gener a l prac titioner wrote that "chronic pain of left ankl wit h prol onged walki n g or standing." Th e re is no assessment to walk indoors, but sh e in d i c ated that he u s e s an ass practitione r reported that the appell ant does not r equire an aid for his impai use a cane intermi t t ently." The nurse r e port e d in the AR that the appellant than typical with climbing stairs, wit h a note that he is "me He is independ ent with standing a n d r equi res periodic with c arrying an d ho lding, with n o e x planation p ro v ided periodic assistance requir ed for lifting and carr yi n g weights in e xcess of the range o f 1 5 to 35 lbs. as rep The panel finds tha t the evide nce demonstrates that while the appellant experiences some limitations t o hi s physic al ab ilit i e s relati ng to longer dis t ances o h is m obi lity. In th e absence o f furt he r de tail from the limitati ons to the ap pella n t' s f u nctioning, t he panel finds that the there is no t sufficient ev i den c e to esta bl i sh th a t t he appe section 2 (2 ) of th e EAPWDA. Sev ere Mental Impa i rmen t Al tho ugh th e ap pel l a n t did n ot dire ctly main t a in a positio h is mother ar gu ed o n h is behalf t hat a s eve r e imp air i m p acts fr om a nxiety and a s eizure d isor der. T he app R econsid e ration t hat i n May 2 011, a ps y c hiatri st at the ho schiz ophrenic but t he appe l lant w ill not ackno wledg and a n t i-se izu r e me dic at io ns but h e neve r t ook th em except i n hospital. Get ti n g the a ppe l la n t to see k medic recentl y made a n app o intment with t he ge nera l pra ctit Th e ap pell a n t's moth er wr o te that the nur s e who complete ch ecks in on him. T he nurse c onfirmed tha t th e a ppellant seizure disorder and that there are many major and moderate impacts to his cognit fu nctioning. The ministry's position is that there i s ins uf fici ent evidence to es severe mental impairment as the gener a l practitioner reported that there are no significant deficits with his cognitive and emotional functioning. The ministry stated that the general practitioner refe rred "not yet dia g nosed" and there is a wide disparity between the reports by the general practitioner and the nurse. Panel Dec ision In the PR, the general practitioner who had known the appellant for one year and had only seen him once, d id not diagno s e a m en t al health condition. The gene that the appellant has a "previous history of possible seizure disorder-has not been yet diagnosed." The appellant's mother wrote that the appellant has previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizo hrenia and the nurse who com leted the AR indicated a dia I APPEAL# k 2 blocks w i t h out his ankle sw elli n g up. In e appellant can walk 4 or more o 16 kg (15 to 35 lbs.) a n d has n o l imit a t i on with e causes discomfort by the nurse for the ap pe l l a nt's abil ity istive device fo r walking outdoors. The ge n e r a l r m ent althoug h he "does ta k es sig n i f i cantly lon ger dically restricted from stairs and ladders." ass ist a nce from another p er s on with lifting and b y the nurse. T he p ane l fi nds t ha t the and holding is mor e likely than not for th os e orted b y the general practi tioner. r h e a v ier weig h t s , he remains independen t wi t h medical profession a l s r egarding the extent o f mi ni s try reas onably dete r m i ned that l lant ha s a severe phys ical impairment un der n th at he has a s evere mental impa irment, m ent is estab li sh e d by t he evidence o f the e llant's m o ther wrote in the Requ e st for spi tal tol d the appell ant he is a paranoid e it. T he appellant wa s on anti -psy ch otic drugs as p re s cri be d or he did not t ake th e m at all, al h e l p i s almost im p o s sib l e , a lthough he ioner to get help and d ia g nose hi s p roble ms. d the AR h a s known him for ye a rs an d has bee n dia gn osed w ith anxiety a nd iv e and emotional tab lish that t he appellant has a did not diagnose a men t al impairment and to a previous history of possible seizure disorder ral practitioner wrote in the hea l th history nos is of anxiet and seizure
d isor d e r, and bo th the app ellant ' s mother and the nur ac kn o wledge hi s m en tal h ealt h conditi ons. In the AR, the nurse who has known the appel lant im pact s to the a p pell a n t ' s cogniti ve an d emo tional em otion a nd i n sight and ju dgment , as well as m oderate func tioni ng . The nurse als o rep ort ed t hat t he app ellant ou t o f 5 as p ect s of so c ial fun c tion in g , na me ly wi t h: mak isol a tes sel f ") , developing and maint ai n i n g rela t i on ships (note: appr opriat ely wit h u ne xp e ct e d de m ands ( n ote: " requir s e c uring ass istan ce fr om others (n o te: " den ies n eed s upp ort / s uperv isi on with i n teract i n g appr op riately with o i n teractio n." Th e n u rs e re por t e d some re strict ion s to t he DLA that decis i ons about per s onal a c tivit i e s, c are or fi nance interact w ith o t h e rs effect ively ( s o cial fu nctionin g). re p orte d that t he a p pella n t r e q u ir es per i odi c a ssi stance pa ying re nt and b i lls and t hat he does not fil l his pre The nurse noted t h at the ap pell ant doe s not w ant to t prescribed by d oc t or." She is al so r eported a n eed t h e dec is ion-makin g com ponents of t he DLA of daily sho pr epa ra ti o n (fo od stor age), and with ma k ing appropri f un ctioning. T h e a pp el la nt's m other w r o t e i n the Req major t r ouble j ust f i l l ing ou t the s tub the mi nistry requir ex treme ly d if ficult for him. He wi ll not ope n mail or resp H ow ev er , th e general practit io ner repor ted in t he PR that t com m unication , no s ignifica n t de fici t s w i th cognitive DLA inc l uding s oc ia l f unc tioni ng . Al t h oug h the appellant's mothe r wr ot e in t h e R equest t im e to have his sei z ur e s diag n osed and to be given a ppellan t wr ot e in h is No t ice of Appeal dated Se pte his disability, there was no additio nal evidence before the panel on this appea a definitive mental health diagnosis and the inconsistency in reported impacts to the appellant's mental and social functioning, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that a ment al impai rme n t wa s n ot establ ished u nder S e ction 2(2) o Restrictions in the abil i ty to perform DLA The appellant's position is that his physical impairment dire perform DLA on an ongoing basis to the point that he requires the significant assistance of another pers on or the u se of an a s sistive devi c e. T h e a ppellant's Reconsideration that the a ppell ant's l iv ing condi tions bathe, he has major trouble just filling out the stub the ministry requires each month, the simplest things are extreme l y difficult for him, he does not eat "because wo rl d", h e w ill not open m a i l o r respond to bills, and he "doesn't do anything." Th e minist 's osition is that there is not suffici ent APPEA L# I se indic ated that the appel lant is relucta nt to for 19 to 2 0 years wrote that t here are m a j or f u nctio nin g in the are a s o f bodily f unc tio n s , im pac ts in 9 of the remaini ng 11 areas of requires cont i nuous support/s upe rvision in 4 ing appropria t e s ocial de c i sions (no t e: "oft en "o f te n isola t es self ') , dealin g e s con tro ll ed e nvi ron ment to fu nction"), and for su ppo rt"). The ap pel lan t req ui res p eri odic th ers , d es cribed by the nur se as "lit tle are spe c ific to m en tal imp a i rmen t -mak e s (dec is ion making) and relate to, commu n i c a t e or With respect to d ec ision m a k i n g , t he n urse fro m hi s mot h e r to m anage bu dge t i n g and scriptions or t ake his p res criptio n m edi cati ons. ak e "s ei z ure a n d anti-psychoti c medications f o r continuous assi stance /sup e r v isi on in so me of pping (making ap pro pria te ch o ices) , m e a l at e s ocial dec isions as par t of his s o cial u e st for Reconside rat i on th at the appel l a n t h as e s e a c h m o nth and t he sim plest th ings are ond to bil l s an d it is " a very sad s i t uation." he appel lant has no difficulty with a nd emotio nal func ti on, and n o restrictions to for Re co nsi dera t ion tha t t he a pp ella n t nee ds p roper me dicat ion by a sp e cialist, a nd the mber 25, 2 0 1 4 that he h as new i nf o rmation abou t l. Given the absence of severe f t he EAPWDA. ctly and significantly restricts his ability to m other wrote i n t he Request fo r are terrible as he d oes not w ear c lean cl ot h es or people are starving all around the evidence from the rescribed rofessional to
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 ' s i m p a i r m e n t s i g n i f i c a n t 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 e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s o f p r o v i d 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 n d b y t h e n u r s 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 a p p e l l a n t ' s D L A , i n c l u d i n g s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , w h i l e t h e n u r s e r e t h e D L A m o v i n g a b o u t i n d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s , p e r s o s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g . 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 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 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 a n d t h e n u r s e w h o h a s k n o w n t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r 1 9 t 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 E A P W D R a n d a r e i n 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 i n d i c a t 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 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 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 n o t 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 d i r e c t l y r e s t r i c t h i s m o b i l i t y o r h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D 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 w i t h m o v i n g a b o l e f t f o o t d u e t o 3 2 f o o t f a l l a n d f r a c t u r e o f c a l c a n e u s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t u s e s a c a n e " i n t e r m i t t e n t l y . " F o r a l l t a s k s w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f r e g u l a t i n g h i s d i e t , f o e x p l a i n e d b y t h e n u r s e . T h e n u r s e n o t e d t h a t h i s " c a l t h o u g h h e i s i n d e p e n d e n t a s " s t a t e d b y c l i e n t " , h i s r e p o r t e d a s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h d o i n g h i s b a s i c h o u s e m a i n t a i n 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 w i t h r e a 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 w i t h g o i n g t o a n d f r c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e . A s t h e g e n e r a l p r a c t i t i o n b l o c k s u n a i d e d a n d l i f t 1 5 t o 3 5 l b s . , t h e a s s i s t a n c e h o m e w o u l d m o r e l i k e l y t h a n n o t b e r e q u i r e d f o r w a e x c e s s o f t h i s r a n g e . T h e n u r s e i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e a f o r p u r c h a s e s , b u t d i d n o t n o t e h o w o f t e n h e r e q u i r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t h a n t y p i c a l w i t h a l l t a s k s o f t h e D p l a n n i n g , f o o d p r e p a r a t i o n ( d e s c r i b e d a s : " d o e s n ' t p c o o k m e a l s " ) , a n d s a f e s t o r a g e o f f o o d ( n o t e : " f o o d a p p e l l a n t a c c o m p l i s h e s t h e s e t a s k s a n d h o w m u c h 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 b a n k i n g a n d h e r e q u i r r e n t a n d b i l l s , d e s c r i b e d a s : " m o t h e r h e l p s w i t h b u d g t h e a p p e l l a n t t a k e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o n g e r t h a n t y p i c a l w p r e s c r i p t i o n " ) a n d t a k i n g a s d i r e c t e d ( " n o t t a k i n g p r e r e p o r t e d f o r s a f e h a n d l i n g a n d s t o r a g e . R e g a r d i n g 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 p u b l i c t r a n s i t i s n I A P P E A L # l y r e s t r i c t s h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A e i t h e r t i m e . T h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e d t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n e i s n o t c o n s i s t e n t . T h e m i n i s t r y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t i m p a i r m e n t d o e s n o t r e s t r i c t h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m p o r t e d a n e e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e w i t h s o m e t a s k s o f n a l c a r e , s h o p p i n g , 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 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 n t l y r e s t r i c t s h i s 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 t i o n e r , w h o h a s k n o w n t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r o n e y e a r o 2 0 y e a r s , 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 L A a l s o 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 , p l e t i n g t h e s e f o r m s h a s t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o d b y t h e a 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 t i o n e r i n d i c a 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 h i s D L A , a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t d o e s n o t L A . I n t h e A R , t h e n u r s e r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e u t o u t d o o r s , d e s c r i b e d a s " h a s l o s s o f m o b i l i t y t o f o o t b o n e . " 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 p e r s o n a l c a r e , 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 r w h i c h h e r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e n o t l o t h i n g , p e r s o n a l c a r e , d e f i c i e n t " a n d t h a t h y g i e n e i s a c t u a l l y " v e r y p o o r . " T h e a p p e l l a n t i s k e e p i n g , a l t h o u g h h e h a s " s o m e d i f f i c u l t y d i n g p r i c e s a n d l a b e l s a n d r e q u i r e s c o n t i n u o u s o m s t o r e s , m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e c h o i c e s a n d 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 c a n w a l k 4 o r m o r e g o i n g t o a n d f r o m s t o r e s a n d c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s l k i n g l o n g e r d i s t a n c e s a n d c a r r y i n g w e i g h t s i n p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h p a y i n g s t h i s a s s i s t a n c e . T h e a p p e l l a n t t a k e s L A o f m a n a g i n g h i s m e a l s , n a m e l y w i t h m e a l r e p a r e m e a l s " ) , c o o k i n g ( d e s c r i b e d a s : " d o e s n ' t o f t e n g o e s b a d " ) , a n d i t i s n o t c l e a r h o w t h e l o n g e r i t t a k e s h i m . F o r p a y i n g r e n t a n d b i l l s , t h e e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h b u d g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g e t i n g a n d p a y i n g b i l l s . " R e g a r d i n g m e d i c a t i o n s , i t h 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 ( " r a r e l y w o u l d f i l l s c r i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n " ) , w i t h n o a s s e s s m e n t t r a n s p o rt 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 t w i t h o t a v a i l a b l e .
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 f r o m t h e g e n e r a l a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A a n d t h e e v i d e n c e t o t h o s e D L A t h a t a r e s p e c i f i c t o a m e n t a l i m p a i r m e a n d t h e s e a r e n o t c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e d . T h e a p p e t o a c k n o w l e d g e a m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h e n u r s e a n d j u d g m e n t , w h i c h m a y a c c o u n t f o r t h e i n c o n s i s t D L A a n d t h e l a c k o f d e t a i l . A s p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e p r e 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 d o n t h e a p p e a l . T h r e a s o n a b l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h e v i 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 t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a h i s 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 o r e x t e n 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 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 h i s p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n o u g h e x t e n t t h a t a s s i s t a n c e i s r e q u i r e d f r o m o t h e a n i m a l . 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 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 t h e a p p e l l a n t u s e s a c a n e a s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e b u a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . 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 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 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 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 T h e n u r s e i n d i c a t e d i n t h e A R t h a t , w i t h r e s p e c t t o t a p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y , f r i e n d s a n d w o r k e r s ' c o m p e n s a t i r e q u i r e d b u t n o t a v a i l a b l e , t h e n u r s e w r o t e t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e w i t h s h o p p i n g , m e a l p r e p , c a r e o f l i v i n g o f t e n d o e s n o t a n s w e r d o o r . " T h e a p p e l l a n t r o u t i n e t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l , d e s c r i b e d a a p p e l l a n t ' s c a t m a y p r o v i d e h i m w i t h c o m p a n i o n s h i t r a i n e d t o a s s i s t t h e a p p e l l a n t w i t h p e r f o r m i n g h i s D t h a t i t i s n o t i n c l u d e d a s a n " a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l " w a s 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 n i f i c a n 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 d e t e 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 n e d b y 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 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 I A P P E A L # p r a c t i t i o n e r i s t h a t t h e r e a r e n o r e s t r i c t i o n s t o t h e f r o m t h e n u r s e i s t h a t t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s a r e l a r g e l y n t , n a m e l y d e c i s i o n m a k i n g a n d s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g , l l a n t ' s m o t h e r w r o t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s r e l u c t a n t r e p o r t e d a m a j o r i m p a c t t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i n s i g h t e n t p i c t u r e o f t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s d , t h e r e w a s n o a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e f r o m a e r e f o r e , 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 e n c e c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e p r e s c r i b e d 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 i s a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e 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 l e g i s l a t i v e e n t a ff e c t s h i s d a i l y l i v i n g f u n c t i o n s t o a s e v e r e r p e r s o n s , a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e a n d a n a s s i s t a n c e 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 e l p i s r e q u i r e d . T h e m i n i s t r y a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t s t a t e d t h a t h e d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f a 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 r 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 e 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 i m a l i n o r d e r t o p e r f o r m a D L A . h e a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d b y o t h e r p e o p l e , t h e o n p r o v i d e h i m w i t h t h i s h e l p . W i t h r e s p e c t t o h e l p a p p e l l a n t " w o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m c o u n s e l i n g , s p a c e , b u t v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o p r o v i d e a s s i s t a n c e a s l y u s e s a c a n e a n d t h e n u r s e a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t s : " c a t ' s c o m p a n i o n s h i p . " A l t h o u g h t h e p , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e c a t i s n o t a n a n i m a l L A a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n r e a s o n a b l e . 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 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 p e r f o 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 p e r f o r m 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 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 n 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.