History of the DDSN Head and Spinal Cord Injury Division

In 1993, the South Carolina Legislature created the Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI) Division within the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SCDDSN). Section 44-38-370 of the South Carolina Code of Laws states:

“A person is eligible for case management services under this article when at the time of determining eligibility the person has a severe chronic limitation that:

1. is attributed to a physical impairment, including head injury,
2. spinal cord injury, or both, or a similar disability, regardless of
3. the age of onset but not associated with the process of a
4. progressive degenerative illness or disease, dementia, or a
5. neurological disorder related to aging;
6. is likely to continue indefinitely without intervention;
7. results in substantial functional limitations in at least two of
8. these life activities:
   • self-care;
   • receptive and expressive communication;
   • learning;
   • mobility;
   • self-direction;
   • capacity for independent living;
   • economic self-sufficiency; and
9. reflects the person’s need for a combination and sequence of
10. special interdisciplinary or generic care or treatment or other
11. services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are
12. individually planned and coordinated.”

At that time, only Case Management and Family Support Services were available. In 1994, DDSN began work on a Medicaid Home and Community-based (HCB) Waiver to serve individuals who are determined eligible for services through the HASCI Division. The first Waiver participants began receiving services in July of 1995.