Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
What are developmental disabilities?Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and other neurologically based impairments. In addition: the disability must have occurred prior to the person’s 22nd birthday; the disability must cause significant deficits in the individual’s adaptive functioning; the disability must be expected to continue indefinitely.
What is required for a person to be eligible for OPWDD services?
This is what the New York State Mental Hygiene Law requires in order to be eligible for OPWDD services:
1) The presence of a developmental disability that is described by certain qualifying diagnoses, or conditions
2) The disability has occurred before the person reached age twenty-two
3) The disability can be expected to continue indefinitely, or permanently
4) The disability causes a substantial handicap to a person’s ability to function normally in society
Here is a general way to start: I HAVE PRIORITIZED STUDENTS BY REEVAL DATE AND THOSE WHO ARE EXITING THIS YEAR – highlighted in yellow
Step 1-Students with TBI, Autism and MD, I would look at that their previous adaptive scores and see if they are 70 or below. If so, proceed to Step 2 (you are not making a determination based on IQ, only Adaptive)
-For your students with ID, if their adaptive is 70 or below, proceed to Step 2
orIf their IQ is below 60, proceed to Step 2 (assumed their adaptive would be below 70)
Step 2Speak with the parents to determine if they would like to pursue eligibility. If yes, proceed to Step 3
Step 3-Make sure testing is completed according to OPWDD requirements (types of tests and within 12 months)
Step 4-If new testing supports eligibility requirements, refer to ‘Ways to refer an individual to the DDRO’
OPWDD - exampleNAME GRADE Reeval Disability Vineland
Date-ScoreIQ
Date - ScoreTesting needed
Y/N
Jose 12 3/17 ID 2/10 – 69 Yes – exiting this year
Marielena 10 4/16 ID 5/07 – 58 5/07 - 69 Yes
Jose 8 1/16 Autism 4/12 – 79 4/12 - 66 No - adaptive too high
Carlos 10 5/17 ID 11/11 – 65 11/11 – 61 Yes in 2017
Ricardo 12 1/16 ID 11/12 - 57 11/12 - 68 Yes
Juan 8 1/17 TBI 1/11 – 64 1/11 – 61 Yes in 2017
Testing those students shaded in green for this school
Please keep me informed throughout the process regarding:• Students referred• Students found eligible• Students denied• Students not referred and brief reason why
(ie. parents refused; Adaptive score above 70)• Students who have been previously
determined eligible