BASIC (02-01)

A. Policy – general

We will look at the information we have in your case record about how your functioning is affected during all of your activities when we decide whether your impairment or combination of impairments functionally equals the listings. Your activities are everything you do at home, at school, and in your community. We will look at how appropriately, effectively, and independently you perform your activities compared to the performance of other children your age who do not have impairments.

B. Policy – six domains

We will consider how you function in your activities in terms of six domains. These domains are broad areas of functioning intended to capture all of what a child can or cannot do. In DI 25225.030 through DI 25225.055, we describe each domain in general terms. For most of the domains, we also provide examples of activities that illustrate the typical functioning of children in different age groups. For all of the domains, we also provide examples of limitations within the domains. However, we recognize that there is a range of development and functioning, and that not all children within an age category are expected to be able to do all of the activities in the examples of typical functioning. We also recognize that limitations of any of the activities in the examples do not necessarily mean that a child has a "marked" or "extreme" limitation, as defined in DI 25225.020. The domains we use are:

1. Acquiring and using information;

2. Attending and completing tasks;

3. Interacting and relating with others;

4. Moving about and manipulating objects;

5. Caring for yourself; and,

6. Health and physical well-being.

C. Policy - questions about child's activities

When we evaluate your ability to function in each domain, we will ask for and consider information that will help us answer the following questions about whether your impairment(s) affects your functioning and whether your activities are typical of other children your age who do not have impairments.

1. What activities are you able to perform?

2. What activities are you not able to perform?

3. Which of your activities are limited or restricted compared to other children your age who do not have impairments?

4. Where do you have difficulty with your activities—at home, in childcare, at school, or in the community?

5. Do you have difficulty independently initiating, sustaining, or completing activities?

6. What kind of help do you need to do your activities, how much help do you need, and how often do you need it?

D. Policy – sources of information about your functioning

We will try to get information from sources who can tell us about the effects of your impairment(s) and how you function. We will ask for information from your treating and other medical sources who have seen you and can give us their medical findings and opinions about your limitations and restrictions. We will also ask for information from your parents and teachers, and may ask for information from others who see you often and can describe your functioning at home, in childcare, at school, and in your community. We may also ask you to go to a consultative examination(s) at our expense. (See DI 22505.003 regarding medical evidence and DI 22510.005 when we will purchase a consultative examination.)