Just got them this morning so, haven't had time to digest them yet.  Maybe
that would be a good comment is to make them more accessible to the lay
person and ensure people truly understand what their benefits are?

Beth t.

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ken barber
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 9:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Comments on SSA disability listings

these are very technical in nature. i hope the ordinary person can make
sense of them and comment.


--- Elizabeth Thiers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> For your information, feel free to forward.
>
> Beth T. the OT
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-sis Listmanager
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 4:02 PM
> To: Recipients of 'phys-sis' suppressed
> Subject: Request for Comments on SSA Disability Listings
>
> From: "Leslie     Jackson                       "
> <[log in to unmask]   >
>
> To reply: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> To start a new topic:
> mailto:[log in to unmask] To (un)subscribe:
> mailto: [log in to unmask]
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I apologize for the last minute notice, but wanted to make sure you
> all knew about an effort by the Social Security Administration (SSA)
> to revise some of it's impairment listings for determining disability
> for Social Security and SSI. The Listing is a very important part of
> the disability determination process because if a person can establish
> that his/her condition meets the requirements of a listed impairment
> (and the person is not working and earning over $830 per month in
> 2005), SSA will find the person eligible for benefits.  Others whose
> conditions are found not to meet the listing are not denied at that
> stage but instead have to go on to prove that their condition is
> medically equivalent to the listed impairment or that, even though
> they don't meet or equal the listing, based on their age, education
> and work experience, their medical
> condition(s) makes it
> impossible for them to engage in substantial gainful activity.
>
> SSA is in the process of reviewing and updating the various listings.
> This process of issuing advanced notices of proposed rulemaking is
> relatively new to SSA - it gives the public a chance to weigh in about
> concerns with specific listings before SSA staff issue the notice of
> proposed rulemaking.
> It is important to take these notices seriously and to see them as an
> important opportunity to inform SSA about concerns with a particular
> listing and whether it currently works, where the problems are, and to
> answer other questions SSA asks in the notices.
>
> In each case, both ADULT and CHILD listings are under review.  Each
> notice is impairment-specific and comments from medical experts and
> consumers will be very important. The notices cover the following four
> areas:
>
> 1. Neurological impairments
>
(http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.go
> v/2005/pdf/05-7357.pdf) - Listing sections 11.00 and 111.00 (In
> addition to general questions, there is a specific question about
> criteria SSA should use to define disabling epilepsy at the listing
> level; there also is a question about whether the neurological
> listings "should continue to include functional criteria that consider
> all aspects of listed neurological impairments such as motor and
> sensory deficits, cognitive/behavioral abnormalities, speech/language
> limitations, and vision/hearing losses." And, there is specific
> reference to a publication on criteria for determining disability
> related to multiple sclerosis.)
>
> 2. Language and speech disorders
>
(http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.go
> v/2005/pdf/05-7356.pdf) - Here, SSA is asking whether they should
> create a new body system in the listings that covers language and
> speech disorders.
>
> 3. Respiratory impairments
>
(http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.go
> v/2005/pdf/05-7358.pdf) - Listing sections 3.00 and 103.00 (In
> addition to general questions, there are specific questions about
> criteria that SSA may want to incorporate to define disabling asthma
> at the listing level and also disabling bronchopulmonary dysplasia
> (BDP) at the listing level.)
>
> 4. Hearing impairments and disturbance of labyrinthine-vestibular
> function
>
(http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.go
> v/2005/pdf/05-7355.pdf)- Listing sections 2.00 and 102.00 (Here, SSA
> asks whether they should continue to have these listings and, if so,
> whether changes are needed. Also, are there criteria that are not
> included now but should be?  SSA asks whether there should be separate
> criteria for individuals who have had cochlear implants? Should there
> be a listing for disturbance of labyrinthine-vestibular function in
> children?)
>
>
> In addition, for each of these four notices there are questions
> related to how SSA could better help people with these specific
> impairments who want to return to work or remain working.
>
>
> What information is SSA looking for?
>
> In each of the advanced notice of proposed rule
> making (ANPRM), SSA is
> seeking views on how the current listing is working,
> whether changes are
> needed, and, if so, what changes are proposed and
> why. In addition to the
> focus on the specific listing in each of the
> advanced notices, SSA is for
> information that goes beyond the listing, seeking
> information and
> recommendations about how Social Security and SSI
> could be better designed
> to help people with the specific impairment who
> would like to return to work
> or remain in their jobs.  SSA asks how their
> regulations (and the statute,
> should the commenter want to suggest statutory
> changes) affect people with
> the impairment who would like to work, full-time or
> part-time, with
> supports.
>
> You can post your comment on SSA's website at
> http://policy.ssa.gov/pnpublic.nsf/LawsRegs. Click
> on the section on notices
> that are open for comment. The list of notices will
> come up. Click on the
> relevant notice. When you get to the page with the
> relevant notice, at the
> very bottom on the left, there is a little triangle
> - if you click on it, it
> will point down and you can then view below it any
> comments that have been
> filed.  On the same page, there is a place to click
> to submit your comment
> as well.
>
> Don't worry if you can not respond to this advanced
> notice - there will be
> another opportunity for comment when SSA issues its
> proposed rules.  AOTA
> will let you know when the proposed rules have been
> published.
> Leslie Jackson
>




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