While the responsibility for hiring, training, supervising, paying, and replacing attendants belongs solely to the student receiving care, the Disabled Student Development (DSD) staff can assist you through the process. It is suggested that you read through this packet of information well before you enroll at Ball State. You must have your attendant care arranged prior to moving into university residence halls or apartments. A thorough reading of this information will help you understanding what level of care you will need and how the process of receiving attendant care works.
What is Attendant Care?
Attendant care can range from minor duties such as light cleaning or laundry needs to advance care such as bowel and bladder assistance. Attendants are usually arranged on a "drop-in" basis. An Individual may even choose to hire more than one person to be an attendant at the same time. Students typically use home health care agencies for higher level care needs. For lower level needs, students with disabilities often hire fellow students as attendants.
Who Pays for Attendant Care?
Responsibility for payment of attendant is left to the individual receiving the care; however, in most cases, payment is covered by either Medicaid of by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Medicaid often pays for nursing or higher level care needs, and VR can supplement this and pay for lower level needs. The hourly wage for attendant care through VR is $9.00 per hour. Your care level will be determined by you and your VR counselor. VR clients are responsible for all paperwork necessary to ensure his/her attendant gets paid. When you choose an attendant, the first thing that you need to do is submit an authorization form to VR for that attendant. This will authorize that attendant to get paid by VR. You may pick up a copy of this form in the office of Disabled Student Development (DSD). DSD also has copies of a billing form that the attendant can use for billing VR for services rendered. It is crucial that financial arrangements be understood both by the disabled student and the attendant before the attendant begins to assist the disabled student. For those who are not VR clients, you could pay an attendant more or less than the prevailing rate.
Who can serve as an attendant?
If you want to hire a Muncie area home health care agency, DSD can provide you with a list of local agencies. DSD does not endorse any agencies on this list nor does DSD know fees or schedules of these agencies.
If you are looking for a fellow student to provide care, the first option a student may choose when searching for an attendant is looking at your own or surrounding high schools. Attempt to find someone also attending Ball State. This option could save time.
Another option for finding attendants is the referral list provided by DSD. While the list is not extensive, it may provide possibilities. DSD recruits students who might be interested in providing attendant care. No attempt is made to screen or evaluate applicants. Basic information about these persons is given to the student with a disability in the form of a list. To obtain a copy of the list, call or stop by the DSD office. The student with the disability then makes his/her own interview appointments.
A third option is advertising. You might want to advertise in your hometown newspaper, in the Muncie newspaper (765-747-5777), or in the Ball State Daily News (765-285-8247).