Page 23

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES INTRODUCTION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART I, PAGE 4

Key Principles Compliance with these laws assures that equal opportunity exists for persons with disabilities to benefit from all aspects of public assistance programs, including access to the proper support services to enable such individuals to work and to keep their families healthy, safe and intact. “Individualized treatment” and “effective and meaningful opportunity” are two key principles that underlie the bar on discrimination against people with disabilities.

Individualized Treatment

“Individualized treatment” requires that individuals with disabilities be treated on a case-by-case basis consistent with facts and objective evidence. Individuals with disabilities must not be treated based on generalizations and stereotypes.

Effective and Meaningful Opportunity

“Effective and meaningful opportunity” means that individuals must be afforded meaningful access to SNAP so that individuals with disabilities benefit from and have meaningful access to SNAP to the same extent as individuals who do not have disabilities.

Legal Requirements

To implement these two principles, the following legal requirements must be met:

• Ensure equal access through the provision of appropriate services to people with disabilities;

• Modify policies, practices and procedures to provide such equal access; and

• Adopt nondiscriminatory methods of administration in the program.

Applicability to All Staff, Contractors, Vendors at the State and Local Levels

In compliance with the federal laws, Virginia does not discriminate against people with disabilities in SNAP. This policy applies to all Department of Social Services state and local staff. The policy also applies to agencies and entities contracted with for services. State and local agencies must ensure that contractors and vendors do not subject recipients to discrimination.

Definition of a Person with a Disability

Federal law protects individuals with a “disability.” This term means a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that individual, a person who has a record of such impairment, or a person who is being regarded as having such impairment. See Definitions for a detailed definition for SNAP applicability.

1. Discrimination Complaints - People who believe that they were subject to discrimination may file a complaint by calling (866) 632-9992 (voice). (800) 877-8339 (Federal Relay Service), or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish), or by writing:

TRANSMITTAL #35