The Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services in NYS for people with developmental disabilities. They provide direct services through a network of approximately 500 nonprofit organizations.

They provide services such as:

Community habilitation programs, which help with socialization and buiding life and work skills

Help for your family to support you in the family home with respite and family support services

Help to live independently in the community with rent subsidies, community habilitation and other services

Help with employment training and support, volunteer opportunities and other types of community activities you choose, and

Intensive residential and day services, if needed

When working with OPWDD you also work with a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). There are two in Monroe County: Prime Care and Person Centered Services. They both provide the same services and access to the same organizations.

The CCO is your link to OPWDD and to using their services. Your student is assigned a care manager who will meet with your student at least twice a year, but hopefully you will utilize them more. They create a life plan with your student and you about what your student wants out of life. This helps them determine available services to connect your student with.

Eligibility Determination

To become eligible with OPWDD, one of the following qualifying diagnoses with substantial handicap (Typically determined by adaptive scores under 70), prior to the age of 22, must be met:

Intellectual Disability – they look for IQ scores consistently under 70.

Autism

Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder

Cerebral Palsy

Other Neurological Condition (Traumatic Brain Injury, Prader-Willi syndrome, etc)

*A mental health diagnosis alone is not a qualifying diagnosis. (ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Learning Disability, etc.)*

Application Process

You will need to make two phone calls:

OPWDD at 1-716-608-2077 to let them know you have a student you would like to have considered for services through OPWDD. You will most likely need to leave a voicemail.

One of the Care Coordination Organizations (call only 1)

Prime Care: 1-844-394-4945, press 1. You will most likely need to leave a voicemail.

Person Centered Services: 1-888-977-7030. You may need to leave a voicemail.

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To submit an eligibility packet to OPWDD, the following documentation will be needed:

Updated physical- must be within one year

IEP

Psychological evaluation - testing requirements for OPWDD are

Cognitive

Adaptive

Neurological

Most documents can be obtained through your student's school district. If the student has an IEP, updated cognitive and adaptive testing is done every three years. The Care Coordination Organization you call will help with gathering documents and submitting them to OPWDD.

You need to contact the Front Door.

Click HERE to contact the Front Door

Call 1-716-608-2077

You will need to get a TAB # from OPWDD for your

Care Coordination Organization