FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29, 2021
CONTACT: Stephanie Patrick, Executive Director
Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire
(603) 228-0432 or stephaniep@drcnh.org
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Eligible Students Can No Longer Be Barred From Home and Community-Based Services
CONCORD, N.H.— In a major win for students between the ages of 18 and 21 who have developmental disabilities, the New Hampshire Superior Court has found that individuals who are eligible for services through an Area Agency may receive those services regardless of whether they are enrolled in school or not. The order in Verrill v. Shibinette, et al, Docket No. 217-2020-CV-00382 (Oct. 28, 2021, N.H. Super. Ct) ends the unlawful practice by the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services of denying home and community-based services to individuals simply because they are still in school.
“We are pleased that the Court recognized the harm that this long-standing and unlawful practice was having on young adults with disabilities. We are hopeful that eligible individuals will no longer have their status as students used against them when trying to access the critical services that they are legally entitled to,” said Stephanie Patrick, DRC-NH Executive Director.
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Disability Rights Center-NH (DRC-NH) is New Hampshire’s designated Protection and Advocacy system and is dedicated to eliminating barriers existing in New Hampshire to the full and equal enjoyment of civil and other legal rights by people with disabilities. More information about DRC-NH can be found at www.drcnh.org.
