You asked about services, particularly educational opportunities available to a 21-year old man with a medical disability who lives at home with his mother, receives Social Security, and works two days a week. You want to know (1) if there are any state, federal, or private grants available for a high school graduate in this situation to attend a community college; (2) about available transportation; and (3) whether benefits, such as college scholarship money, would be more available to him if he were in a group home rather than in his own home.

SUMMARY

The best way to find out about financial aid is to contact the financial aid office of the college the young person is considering attending. We have enclosed a general listing and an article specifically aimed at people with disabilities that may be helpful.

Other services for people with various types of disabilities (you do not specify the nature of the disability) are available at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (which can sometimes contribute to college expenses), Department of Social Services, Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Mental Retardation, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Various dial-a-ride programs transport the handicapped located in their towns. Disabled people who can ride a bus (buses are now lift-equipped) receive a half-fare discount.

Whether college scholarship money would be more available if the young man were in a group home instead of living with his mother is a difficult question to answer. Scholarships can be based on academic performance as well as financial need, so a college would likely also want to look at his mother's financial situation, unless he can show that he is not her dependant. Both the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Mental Retardation have group homes. There are no group homes for physically disabled people. Only DCF pays college expenses for young adults who were in DCF custody at age 18 (whether in a foster home, group home, or other setting) and it pays potentially up to age 23.

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

We have enclosed:

1. a general fact sheet from Connecticut's Board of Governors for Higher Education containing a summary of state and federal student aid programs, which can also be accessed at: http: //www. ctdhe. org/SFA/sfa. htm

2. "Creating Options: A Resource on Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities" available at: http: //www. heath. gwu. edu/PDFs/financialaid. pdf

More information is available from the Department of Higher Education's Education and Employment Information Center at 1-800-842-0229 or in Hartford (860) 947-1810. Their website is www. ctdhe. commnet. edu

SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED

Since you do not specify the nature of the young man's medical disability, we have included resources below that variously serve people with physical or mental disabilities.

The Department of Social Services' Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) provides vocational rehabilitation, which helps people with physical or mental disabilities prepare for, obtain, and keep employment. Sometimes this can include attending college or some other post-secondary school if it furthers the goal of becoming employed. Depending on the situation, BRS may pay expenses that are not covered by the college's financial aid package, including possible transportation if needed to further the goal of becoming employed.

While most vocational rehabilitation services are free, clients may be asked to share in the cost of some services. Information on BRS services is available by contacting local BRS offices or by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-537-2549.

BRS also offers benefits counseling at its Connect to Work Center, which can help people determine if they are eligible for BRS services. We recommend, as a first stop, calling their senior benefits counselor Joyce Armstrong (860) 424-4849 and discussing the specific situaton with her. Or the young man or his family could call their local BRS district office. We have enclosed a statewide listing of district office phone numbers.

More information is also available at the Bureau's website: http: //www. brs. state. ct. us/

A description from the Office of Protection and Advocacy of services available from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and clients' rights, is enclosed and also available at: http: //www. state. ct. us/opapd/publication/your_rights_to_vocational_rehabi. htm

A general resource for different types of services is "Programs that Help People in Connecticut", compiled every year by the Connecticut Association for Human Services and Northeast Utilities. Copies can be obtained from the association at (860) 951-2212 or from Northeast Utilities at (860) 665-2761.

Another good resource for information on different programs is the state's Infoline phone number (211).

TRANSPORTATION

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) subsidizes fixed-route bus services that provide half-fares to people with disabilities (about 50 cents to 65 cents one-way. All buses are lift-equipped. DOT is also testing low-floor vehicles for more accessibility for all riders.

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires providers of fixed-route service to also provide demand responsive service (in other words, dial-a-ride) to qualifying individuals who cannot use the fixed-route system. This service goes to origins and destinations within three-quarters of a mile of the fixed-route system on the same days and hours as the fixed-route service.

Many towns also have dial-a-ride services that serve disabled people as well as senior citizens.

GROUP HOMES AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

DCF has group homes for children who have been placed in the custody of the DCF commissioner. If they are under DCF guardianship when they turn age 18, the department will pay college expenses, sometimes up to age 23, for full-time students in good academic standing who have completed at least one full year of college by the time they reach 21. Children can be committed to DCF custody if the children have been abused or neglected or have mental illness. The education provision applies to any child under DCF guardianship, whether they are in foster care, a group home, or an institution.

The Department of Mental Retardation sponsors small group homes for its clients. Many of these clients are involved in day programs and the home provides transportation for that. DMR does not pay for college, but might refer clients to BRS under some circumstances.

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