PEP Eligibility Process

In order to be considered for admission to Programs for Exceptional People (PEP), an individual must be 21 years of age or older and must be eligible for services from the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Following are the specific steps that a prospective member must take to determine if they are eligible for PEP services:

Step 1. Initial contact with PEP:
At the time of the initial contact, either by means of a telephone conversation, inquiry by email, or a visit to the program, a PEP staff member will document the inquiry. A member of the senior management team will complete the preliminary demographic inquiry form and explain the eligibility process and needed actions.

Once a prospective member has shown interest in attending PEP, a meeting with the Executive Director will be arranged. The Director will gather current information and refer the applicant to SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SC DDSN) if contact with the department has not yet occurred. During this initial visit, the Director will gather information such as but not limited to:

• When would the member like to begin attending PEP?
• What is the ideal schedule for the member?
• For example, would they benefit from full-time
  attendance Monday through Friday or part-time
  participation when specific activities are available?
• What are some of the goals that the applicant would like
  to achieve?
• Is the applicant interested in employment (Work Activity
  Center, enclave, or competitive/independent
  employment)?
• Does the applicant exhibit any disruptive behavior that
  would compromise the program or the safety of others?
• Does the applicant need assistance with activities of daily
  living?
  • Transferring (mobility)
  • Toileting
  • Eating
• Is the applicant capable of evacuating the building without physical assistance in the case of an emergency?

Step 2. Referral to the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SC DDSN):
Admittance to Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) requires that an individual is at least 21 years of age and is eligible for services through SC DDSN. The eligibility process through SC DDSN is a standard process and usually takes between 1 and 3 months. An individual is likely to be found eligible to receive support services if they have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or less that has been documented prior to the age of 18; have assessed deficits in adaptive functioning, or if they have or are found to have a related disability such as, but not limited to autism. PEP is not involved in the eligibility process and has no influence on the process or the outcome.
Admission to PEP is not guaranteed solely based on age and SC DDSN eligibility.

SC DDSN and PEP collaborate to offer comprehensive supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, there are times when PEP may not have program availability and therefore, an individual will be placed on a waiting list and in the interim, every attempt will be made to extend supports at some level.

Step 3. The SCDDSN mandated eligibility process:
All prospective PEP participants who are not already eligible for services through SC DDSN will be advised to contact the Beaufort Department of Disabilities and Special Needs by phone: 843-255-6300. Individuals and/or their caregiver or family member will state the purpose of their call by indicating that they need to be contacted with a Service Coordinator or the Family Supports Director to begin the “intake and eligibility process”. The call will be forwarded accordingly and a service coordinator will begin the process. The Service Coordinator will perform an initial and standardized screening and request background and demographic information as well as information and documentation regarding current and historical psychological evaluations and medical records.

The intake/eligibility process will be expedited if the interested party can obtain and collect all medical, psychological, and other relevant historical documentation prior to the first home visit, which the intake service coordinator will arrange. Relevant documents may include, but are not limited to: psychological, medical, and therapeutic screenings, evaluations and summaries; Individual Educational Plans, and other professional reports, as requested. Medicaid and/or Medicare information should be available, as the screening service coordinator will need these numbers/eligibility information as well as information pertaining to disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. The caller, either during the screening, phone interview, or home visit, will be expected to supply certain anecdotal information such as social history, family history, needs, and current situation.

Step 4. PEP Application:
If the PEP Executive Director feels that PEP has the ability to provide an effective program for the applicant, the family will be asked to complete a formal application. PEP cannot offer guarantees of program placement as long as there is a waiting list. Again, PEP will make every effort to accommodate a person awaiting services and the management team with the family will discuss options.

Step 5. Meeting the PEP Team:
If approved for admission to PEP, the member and their family will meet with the Director of Programs and other Program Staff. It is at this time that the new PEP member and their family can gather specific information about activity schedules and policies.