Alasksa Approved Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) Forms
“Overview
Most SDS Approved Forms (except for those noted with asterisks *) are fillable PDFs. Forms marked with an asterisk are Word or Excel documents.
To reduce the chance of forms not working correctly, we recommend that all forms be downloaded and saved before being filled out for printing or electronic submission.
For assistance with reading or completing any of these forms, please contact the Policy Unit at HSS.DSDS.Policy@alaska.gov.
Specific programmatic questions about a particular form should be addressed to staff in the relevant SDS program.
Reminder: Please check the SDS Approved Forms webpage frequently for the most current versions of forms, as SDS makes improvements to its program forms continuously.”
Alaska DOH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Unit
“What we do
The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Unit in Alaska oversees services for people with IDD provided through the programs above. This includes making eligibility determinations, reviewing and approving application documents, managing the DD Registry, reviewing and approving service requests, and managing programs. IDD Unit staff also provide technical assistance and targeted training to IDD service providers as needed. Additionally, the team supports the Developmental Disabilities Resource Connection centers (linked, below) to guide people through the application process and make sure they receive the services they need.”
“This unique program provides real-life work experience to help youth, with significant disabilities, make successful transitions from school to adult life. Meant to serve as a student’s last year in high school.
Project SEARCH is an international trademarked and copyrighted program model, which focuses solely on employment for Project SEARCH interns. Successful outcomes for this project include:
Employment in an integrated setting (working alongside people without disabilities)
Alaska: Minimum wage exemption for persons with disabilities eliminated
“JUNEAU, Alaska— Following a regulatory change that goes into effect today, Alaska employers are no longer allowed to pay less than minimum wage to workers who experience disabilities. In repealing 8 AAC 15.120, Alaska joins New Hampshire and Maryland as the first states in the nation to eliminate payment of subminimum wages for persons with disabilities.
An exemption from paying minimum wage to persons with disabilities has existed for many years, beginning at the federal level with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and in Alaska regulations since 1978. Historically, minimum wage exemptions were considered necessary to help people with disabilities gain employment. Experience over the past two decades has shown that workers with disabilities can succeed in jobs earning minimum wage or more.
“Workers who experience disabilities are valued members of Alaska’s workforce,” said Department of Labor and Workforce Development Acting Commissioner Greg Cashen. “They deserve minimum wage protections as much as any other Alaskan worker.”
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development received written comments expressing support for repealing the regulation that allowed the minimum wage exemption from the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Alaska Workforce Investment Board.
The elimination of the minimum wage exemption brings employment practices into alignment with Alaska Employment First Act of 2014, which requires vocational services help people with disabilities to become gainfully employed at or above the minimum wage.”
Alaska Minimum wage exemption for persons with disabilities eliminated (2018)
“JUNEAU, Alaska— Following a regulatory change that goes into effect today, Alaska employers are no longer allowed to pay less than minimum wage to workers who experience disabilities. In repealing 8 AAC 15.120, Alaska joins New Hampshire and Maryland as the first states in the nation to eliminate payment of subminimum wages for persons with disabilities.
An exemption from paying minimum wage to persons with disabilities has existed for many years, beginning at the federal level with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and in Alaska regulations since 1978. Historically, minimum wage exemptions were considered necessary to help people with disabilities gain employment. Experience over the past two decades has shown that workers with disabilities can succeed in jobs earning minimum wage or more.
“Workers who experience disabilities are valued members of Alaska’s workforce,” said Department of Labor and Workforce Development Acting Commissioner Greg Cashen. “They deserve minimum wage protections as much as any other Alaskan worker.”
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development received written comments expressing support for repealing the regulation that allowed the minimum wage exemption from the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Alaska Workforce Investment Board.
The elimination of the minimum wage exemption brings employment practices into alignment with Alaska Employment First Act of 2014, which requires vocational services help people with disabilities to become gainfully employed at or above the minimum wage.”
Alaska DVR Guidelines for the Operation of the Employment Program and Disability Preferences (rev. March 2018)
Alaska Stat. §36.30.321 State Procurement Code subsections b and d
This document gives a summary of Alaska’s employment program and disability preferences. It includes amount requirements, bidder requirements, and qualification notes.
Alaska Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined Plan 2018 Update
Alaska’s “Employment First” legislation calls for “competitive integrated employment” as the preferred outcome for those with disabilities. DOLWD has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Health and Social Services; and is obtaining MOU signature with Education and Early Development to ensure progress towards that goal. The MOU includes commitments for active participation on the Interagency Council on Employment First, under the auspices of the Employment First State Coordinator.
Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency
~~DEED’s Special Education Unit and DVR have an interagency agreement that is designed to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from receipt of educational services in school to the receipt of vocational rehabilitation services.
The agreement includes:
• DVR’s assurance of the development and implementation of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) for each student determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services before the student leaves school;
• Designation of a regional DVR contact who is responsible for clarifying questions and concerns relating to the implementation of the agreements with local school districts; and
• DVR’s assurance that the core tenets, principles, and career goals stated in each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) will be incorporated into the development of their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). EED’s Special Education Unit also provides funding for members of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee to travel to events related to transition students such as the annual Statewide Special Education Conference.
~~Community First Choice Personal Care Service (CFC-PCS) – the number of hours of personal care service per week are determined by an assessment conducted by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services. Supervision and reminders – Additional CFC-PCS time may be available to recipients shown to have cognitive impairment or behavior issues. Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) – Recipients may be eligible to receive a personal emergency response system or medical alert system that calls for help at the push of a button in the event of an emergency. Skills training – Recipients may be eligible to receive skills training from a personal care assistant (PCA), so that the recipient can learn to do activities more independently. Worker supervision – Recipients can receive training to help manage their PCAs.
Alaska DOH Announcing Community First Choice Program (CFC)
~~This is a “new program that is part of the Medicaid reform initiative also known as 1915(k).Provides Personal Care Services and other supports in the recipient’s home as an alternative to institutional care.
All recipients who currently meet an institutional level of care and receive both Home and Community Based Waiver Services and Personal Care Services have predetermined eligibility; these recipients have received a letter of notification* (see link to letter below).
What Services are Available from the CFC Program?….Skills training – Recipients may be eligible to receive skills training from a personal care assistant (PCA), so that the recipient can learn to do activities more independently.
Worker supervision – Recipients can receive training to help manage their PCAs.