Ask the Experts: What is OPWDD and Why is it Important for My Child?

Leah Siuta, Family Service Department Head, Home and Community Based Program Coordinator

 

The New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities is often referred to as OPWDD. The goal of OPWDD is to provide a wide variety of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities, enabling them to live richer lives.

 

These services and supports are for the home and/or community and are in addition to the educational programs and services your child already receives. These OPWDD services will also change and develop as your child grows and their needs change. Some examples of services may include having a Care Manager, in-home respite care, parent workshops and trainings, community programs and habilitation, home modifications, adaptive technologies, employment supports, housing supports, Self-Direction, etc.

 

OPWDD services are initially accessed by “going through” the Front Door process. This will guide you through the steps involved in finding out if your child is eligible for services offered by OPWDD, identify service needs, and help you work on a plan for getting those services. The goal of the Front Door process is to provide supports and services that help individuals and family members understand the services that OPWDD offers and how they might fit into your life. We will host a workshop about OPWDD services in January, but for now, Click Here for more information about OPWDD’s Front Door.

 

The first step is to determine eligibility. This is done with a simple form and by submitting records needed for an OPWDD eligibility review. I strongly recommend that parents apply when children are young and their evaluations are quite current. However, it is never too late to apply because services can last for your child’s life time. The OPWDD staff can answer questions, explain the record requirements in more detail, and advise parents about giving permission and requesting copies of evaluations and other records.

 

The Primary contacts for OPWDD are:  1-844-880-2151 (Columbia, Dutchess, Green, Putnam and Ulster) or 1-845-695-7330 (Orange and Sullivan) or at www.OPWDD.NY.gov.

 

There are also Care Coordination Organizations that can help you with the application process as well as guide you through the many levels of OPWDD supports and services. You can reach out to these organizations as well, just let them know that you are looking for support in obtaining OPWDD eligibility.

Please keep your Family Service Coordinator at the Center for Spectrum Services informed of your intent to seek OPWDD services as they can help collect school records for you. Also, please let us know when your child has obtained eligibility and provide us with their TABS identification number. We believe that OPWDD services and supports are a valuable resource for your child.