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OPWDD (Office for People With Developmental Disabilities) is a New York State Program that provides services and supports children living with disabilities and their families.
Waiver services are a set of specialized supports and services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities in New York State. These services are designed to help individuals live more independently and participate in their communities
Yes. However, it’s important to note that, if your child qualifies for services, we will help you apply for waiver Medicaid. This means that your child will get Medicaid based on their disability, not on your family’s income.
If you have concerns about your child’s behavior, we recommend that you reach out to our intake department at 845-503-0200. One of our intake coordinators will help you determine whether your child’s behavior is something to be concerned about at this time and give you advice on how to address your concerns.
To qualify for OPWDD services , an individual must meet specific criteria related to their developmental disability which includes diagnosis such as Intellectual disability, Autism spectrum disorder, Cerebral palsy, Epilepsy, Neurological impairments or other conditions
No, OPWDD services are not exclusively for children with Down syndrome. These services are available to individuals of all ages who have various types of developmental disabilities
First, one of our intake coordinators will talk with you about the concerns you have about your child—and review any past reports you have on file. If they think that there is a chance that your child will qualify for services, they will set up an evaluation with one of our experienced psychologists for some tests. We will submit the results of these tests along with your eligibility application for OPWDD services.
The OPWDD eligibility process can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months. We are here to support you throughout the process
If a child is found eligible for OPWDD services, the duration of their eligibility depends on whether they have been granted full eligibility or provisional eligibility. If found fully eligible their eligibility is generally considered long-term and indefinite. They remain eligible for services throughout their life as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. However, if the eligibility is provisional the child will need to be re-evaluated at the age of 8 to determine full eligibility.
Once eligibility is determined, the individual will be enrolled by the first of the following month for care management. At this point, their care manager will apply for waiver services.
First, they will get a designated care manager. This person is responsible for applying on behalf of the child for any services they qualify for. Once those applications are complete, the child will be able to receive a variety of waiver services. See our Services pages for more information.