Welcome Participants!Welcome Participants!

•AudioAudio is through telephone. is through telephone. Call 1- 877-226-9790, access code Call 1- 877-226-9790, access code

3799711#3799711#

•CaptioningCaptioning will be provided on the screen. will be provided on the screen. If you prefer to control the captioning If you prefer to control the captioning window yourself, you may click this link: window yourself, you may click this link: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=DARSDHHS

Your hosts will be with you soon!Your hosts will be with you soon!Any problems, call/text Melissa Bell at 903-245-Any problems, call/text Melissa Bell at 903-245-

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Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver (CODTW) WEBINARWaiver (CODTW) WEBINAR

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Certificate of Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Deafness for Tuition Waiver (CODTW)Waiver (CODTW)

Melissa BellMelissa Bell

Rose MinetteRose Minette

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

For questions, compliments, or complaints, call 1-800-628-5115.www.dars.state.tx.us

Review applications to determine if the Review applications to determine if the applicant meets the criteriaapplicant meets the criteria

• Grant Certificates of Deafness for Tuition Grant Certificates of Deafness for Tuition WaiverWaiver

DARS DHHS RoleDARS DHHS Role

** Issuance of a Certificate is necessary ** Issuance of a Certificate is necessary for an individual to qualify for the waiver, for an individual to qualify for the waiver, but having a Certificate does not ensure but having a Certificate does not ensure that an institution of higher education will that an institution of higher education will grant the waiver. grant the waiver.

CODTW is legislatively mandated:

‘Deaf persons’ who qualify can go to any publicly-funded post secondary school tuition free (includes tuition-based fees also).

2) A deaf or blind person who is a resident is entitled to exemption from the payment of tuition fees at any institution of higher education utilizing public funds if the person presents:

1) certification that the person is a "blind person" or a "deaf person" as defined in Subsection (a) by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services in a written statement, which certification is considered conclusive;

2) a written statement of purpose from the person that indicates the certificate or degree program to be pursued or the professional enhancement from the course of study for that certificate or degree program;

3) a high school diploma or its equivalent;

2) a letter of recommendation from the principal of the high school attended by the deaf or blind individual, a public official, or some other responsible person who knows the deaf or blind individual and is willing to serve as a reference; and

1) proof that the person meets all other entrance requirements of the institution.

Texas Education Code 54.364Texas Education Code 54.364

Tuition and tuition-based fees at state-supported Tuition and tuition-based fees at state-supported institutions of higher education in Texasinstitutions of higher education in Texas

What is covered by the waiver? What is covered by the waiver?

Education CodeSec. 54.364(a)(4)"Tuition fees" includes all dues, fees, and enrollment charges whatsoever for which exemptions may be lawfully made, including fees for correspondence courses, general deposit fees, and student services fees, but does not include fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing.

Pop Quiz!Pop Quiz!

What are the basic eligibility criteria?

Income?

Age?

Major?

Degree of Hearing Loss?

None of the above?

ANSWER

Eligibility is based strictly on degree of hearing loss:

“functionally deaf for hearing normal conversation in the classroom”

CODTW may be used for PhD or other advanced degree courses.

True or False

TrueCODTW can be used for ANY degree level.

This distinction important because for students who have open cases with the DARS VR program, advanced degrees are not always needed for gaining employment, therefore VR may not support students obtaining advanced degrees.

If a deaf person from out of state qualifies for CODTW, they just need to

wait 6 months to become a Texas resident to be able to use the waiver.

True, False, or Depends

It dependsSome schools require 6 months, others 1 year.

Others NEVER consider you a resident if you move here with intent to attend school.

The CODTW covers continuing education courses.

True, False, or Depends

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It depends…It depends…

First-- it needs to be a publicly funded post secondary First-- it needs to be a publicly funded post secondary school… then, it depends on how the course is funded.school… then, it depends on how the course is funded.

Ask school if the course receives ‘formula funding’ or Ask school if the course receives ‘formula funding’ or ‘‘contact hour funding’contact hour funding’

Note:Note:The institution is not required to accept the waiver for courses taken The institution is not required to accept the waiver for courses taken that are not for professional enhancement, per TEC 54.205.that are not for professional enhancement, per TEC 54.205.

The CODTW covers online courses.

True, False, or Depends

It Depends…..

The CODTW covers online courses if the course is offered by a state-supported institution of higher education in Texas.

(and that class is funded by ‘formula funding’ or ‘contact hour funding’)

If a student qualifies after they’ve already paid their tuition, can they

be reimbursed?

Yes or No

{{There is no money paid!There is no money paid!

No !

If a person has an old audiogram, If a person has an old audiogram, they must go back to their they must go back to their

audiologist or Hearing Instrument audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS) to get tested again.Specialist (HIS) to get tested again.

True or False

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FalseFalse

Old hearing documentation may be Old hearing documentation may be used for this program.used for this program.

If there’s no hearing test If there’s no hearing test documentation available, a student documentation available, a student

can also qualify by receiving a can also qualify by receiving a signature from a physician.signature from a physician.

True or False

Physicians must describe any disabling conditions Physicians must describe any disabling conditions (with or without hearing loss) that result in the (with or without hearing loss) that result in the applicant’s sense of hearing being nonfunctional for applicant’s sense of hearing being nonfunctional for understanding normal conversation in the understanding normal conversation in the classroom. The physician must explain the severity classroom. The physician must explain the severity and frequency of the disabling conditions and their and frequency of the disabling conditions and their impact on the applicant’s classroom impact on the applicant’s classroom comprehension.comprehension.

FalseFalse

Audiogram

Senate Bill 1210 Senate Bill 1210

Three relevant impactsThree relevant impacts::

  - GPA requirement- GPA requirement

- - except for “showing of hardship or other except for “showing of hardship or other good good cause”cause”

  - Excessive hours - Excessive hours

- - unless permitted by the institution “on a unless permitted by the institution “on a showing showing of good cause”of good cause”  - Formula funding- Formula funding

http://www.txhighereddata.org/Interactive/Institutions.cfm Students can search for “public institutions”

RESOURCES

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/trnganded.shtml#Certification

DHHS frequently asked questions - CODTW

Located state-wide, contracted by DARS Located state-wide, contracted by DARS Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing ServicesOffice for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Resource SpecialistsResource Specialists

Deafness Resource Specialists Deafness Resource Specialists •self-advocacy trainingself-advocacy training•communication access rights informationcommunication access rights information

Hearing Loss Resource Specialists Hearing Loss Resource Specialists •assistive technology demonstrationsassistive technology demonstrations•managing hearing lossmanaging hearing loss

**Resource Specialists can be the liaison between the **Resource Specialists can be the liaison between the DARS VR program and D/HH students who are not yet DARS VR program and D/HH students who are not yet connected and receiving services.connected and receiving services.

Services to individuals who are Services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, focusing deaf and hard of hearing, focusing on age 16+on age 16+

• federally-mandated changesfederally-mandated changes

• focus on transition from school to post-focus on transition from school to post-secondary life, providing Pre-secondary life, providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)ETS)

• Resource Specialists partnering with VRResource Specialists partnering with VR

WIOAWIOAWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ActAct

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ResourcesResources

Melissa Bell – program specialistMelissa Bell – program specialist

melissa.bell@dars.state.tx.usmelissa.bell@dars.state.tx.us

Rose Minette- audiology questionsRose Minette- audiology questions

rose.minette@dars.state.tx.us rose.minette@dars.state.tx.us

512-407-3250 main512-407-3250 main

Department of Assistive and Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Rehabilitative Services Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing ServicesServices

To locate the Resource Specialists in your area, go To locate the Resource Specialists in your area, go to:to:

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/specialistpgm.shtml specialistpgm.shtml

CODTW online brochure:CODTW online brochure:

http://www.dars.state.tx.us/publications/pdf/http://www.dars.state.tx.us/publications/pdf/01350.pdf 01350.pdf