1. Low Incidence Equipment
Process and Forms

2. Eligibility
Definition: Severe disabling condition with an expected incidence rate of less than 1% of the total statewide enrollment in K-12.
Eligible “disabling conditions:
Hearing impairments (Deaf-Blindness DB; Hard of Hearing HH; Deaf.)
Visually Impaired (VI) (excluding visual impairments resulting in visual perceptual or visual motor dysfunction)
Severe orthopedic impairments (OI) (requiring highly specialized services, equipment and materials)
Any combination of these disabilities
Does NOT have to be the Primary Disability
If a student is identified as Multiple Disabilities (MD), including a LI MUST document the LI disability on the IEP
Age Range
Eligibility from 0-21

3. Two Types of LI Costs
1. Specialized Books, Materials and equipment which relate to the UNIQUE educational needs of the LI student
E.G. low vision aids, digital media, large print or Braille books for VI student; specialized adaptive feeding and self care equipment for severe OI student
Currently LI funding may be used for repair and inventory maintenance
2. Specialized Services which relate to the unique needs of pupils with LI disabilities
Includes but NOT limited to note takers, readers, transcribers
See Handout for what is NOT eligible for LI funding

4. LI Funding Cannot be used to purchase or furnish: Staff development
Medical Therapy units for California Children Services
Medical equipment needed for providing specialized health needs for an individual student (e.g. not to be used for purchasing prescription reading glasses)
Construct or alter facilities (e.g. building ramps)
Supplant books, equipment that have been provided by other agencies e.g. textbooks, basic classroom computers

5. LI Funds Appropriation Process

6. IEP LI Funds Appropriation Process

7. Documenting LI on the IEP
Page 1 of the IEP: “Indicate Disabilities”. Remember must list an eligible LI disability as either primary or secondary even if child is MD
Present Levels and in IEP Notes: Specialists report can be referenced
Special Factors: Indicate AT needs and whether the student requires low incidence equipment/service to meet educational goals
Goals: At least ONE goal directly related to the LI equipment/service
Supplementary Aids, Service and Other Supports: document the equipment/service here
Notes: Document any LI discussion and outcome/agreement

8. LI Request Packet
Notice of Intent to Purchase Using Low Incidence Funds (see blank and sample)
Catalogue copies of each specific item(s) requested with estimates of cost (see sample)
Complete SIGNED IEP
Send complete packet to WESELPA
Logged and forwarded for review
Requests once officially received at WESELPA will be take no longer than 5 working days to approve and notify the district

9. LI Request Packet
If the packet is complete, it is reviewed and approved and sent back to the district to purchase the required equipment/services
The district then bills back the WESELPA for the expenditure amounts.

10. Other
If the student moves to any school district within the WESELPA, the equipment should follow the student
If student moves to a school outside the WESELPA, the equipment can be used by other LI students within the WESELPA
If the equipment is not able to be used by other students district should store the equipment and notify the WESELPA of its location and status