Section 10. Definitions

Part I. Introduction

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Blindness, legal blindness" means the condition as defined in §§ 63.1-142 and 63.1-166 of the Code of Virginia.

"Client" means any person receiving a service provided by Deaf-Blind Services of the Department for the Visually Handicapped.

"Deaf" means those individuals who cannot hear and understand speech through the ear alone under normal conditions, with or without amplification; a hearing loss greater than 70 decibels in the better ear without amplification; a speech discrimination score below 40%; or both.

"Deaf-Blind Services" means special services a client would need due to a combined loss of vision and hearing; i.e., interpreter for the deaf-blind; communication skills assessment and training; and assessment of special aids and devices such as tactile or visual signaling systems, telecommunication devices, and assistive listening devices.

"Hard of hearing" means those individuals whose hearing is impaired to an extent that makes hearing difficult but does not preclude the understanding of spoken communication through the ear alone, with or without amplification. Hearing loss is in the range of 30 decibels to 70 decibels, a speech discrimination score below 75%, or both.

"Severely visually impaired" means vision no better than 20/70 in the better eye with correction or a field of vision restricted to 70 degrees or less in the better eye.

"Speech discrimination" means the ability to hear and understand spoken communication.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR670-03-6 § 1.1, eff. August 3, 1988; amended, Volume 06, Issue 11, eff. March 28, 1990.

Statutory Authority

§ 51.5-65 of the Code of Virginia.