NY State Office for People with Developmental

Transcript:NY State Office for People with Developmental:
NY State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Navigating Eligibility, Services & Supports Presented By: Matthew Faulkner Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Developmental Disabilities Unit Tuesday, January 21, 2025 HASTINGS SEPTA George Latimer County Executive Department of Community Mental Health Michael Orth, M.S.W., Commissioner What is the NYS-OPWDD? New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. OPWDD provides funding, supports and services for individuals with a developmental disability (according to Mental Hygiene Law) (MHL) 1.03 (22) and who have been determined eligible to apply for those services. Eligibility for New York State – Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Services Why is it important to apply for eligibility? So that individuals can access the services that they may need These services and supports provided by OPWDD can be life-long. What is the OPWDD eligibility criteria? 1).The applicant has a documented developmental disability, a qualifying diagnosis: 1). Intellectual Disability, 2). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 3). Cerebral Palsy, 4). Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder, 5). Neurological Impairments, 6). Familial Dysautonomia, and 7). Prader-Willi Syndrome. What is not a Developmental Disability? 1). Mental Illness by itself (i.e bi-polar, schizophrenia, severe depression, etc. 2). Learning Disability, ADHD by itself 3). Mild forms of epilepsy or brain injury and no evidence of a substantial handicap 4). Loss of motor skills or physical disabilities. 2) The qualifying diagnosis occurred prior to the age of 22. 3). The qualifying diagnosis is expected to continue indefinitely. 4). Prior to the age of 22, the qualifying diagnosis caused substantial deficits to the applicant’s adaptive functioning. ****An individual must meet all 4 of these criteria to be determined eligible for services. Is there an age limit to applying for OPWDD eligibility? There is no age limit to apply for OPWDD eligibility. Applicants from infancy through adulthood can apply. Provisional Eligiblity: Children from infancy to age 7 may be determined “provisionally eligible” which means that they are able to access services for a limited period of time. Before their 8th birthday, they must re-apply with all new documentation for what is called “regular eligibility.” Children during this developmental period may present with developmental delays as well as evidence of functional limitations but without specification of a named qualifying diagnosis. Eligibility Process: (see hand-outs) Applying for OPWDD eligibility is voluntary. Parents/Guardians must provide their consent to initiate the process as well as individuals who are 18 and older who can provide