February 3, 2010

CHILDREN’S CHOICE- (Birth through age 18)- offers supplemental support to children with developmental disabilities who currently live at home with their families, or who will leave an institution to return home.

NOW- (Age 3 and older)-offers an array of services to support individuals living and working in the community who would otherwise require ICF/DD services.

SUPPORTS WAIVER- (Age 18 and older)- offers supplemental support services to individuals with vocational needs

ROW- (Birth and older)-offers an array of services to support individuals living in the community who would otherwise require ICF/DD services.

Have a developmental disability which occurred before age 22

Meet the Louisiana definition for a developmental disability.

Meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.

Meet ICF/DD level of care

Developmental disability means either: A severe, chronic disability of a person that

o is attributable to an intellectual or physical impairment or combination of intellectual and physical impairments.

o is manifested before the person reaches age twenty-two.o is likely to continue indefinitely.o results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the

following areas of major life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency.

o is not attributed solely to mental illness.o reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of

special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated, or

• A substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition in a person from birth through age nine which, without services and support, has a high probability of resulting in those criteria (listed above) later in life that may be considered to be a developmental disability.

Residential Supports Supported Living services to assist adults who live in their own home with personal care

and support. Individual and Family Support services to assist people with personal care and support

during the day and/or at night. This service may be received in your home or community and may be shared by up to 3 participants.

Substitute Family Care to provide adults with a family living arrangement. Respite Center-Based Respite to provide family members with relief from caretaking. Community Integration and Development Community Integration and Development services to assist people with participating in

community activities and events. This service may be shared by up to 3 participants. Work-Related Supports Employment-Related Training to assist people in developing employment-related skills. Supported Employment to assist people with maintaining a job through training and

supervision provided by a job coach. Habilitation Day Habilitation to assist people with acquiring a variety of skills, including socialization

and adaptive skills. 

Modifications/Equipment Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies to enable people to increase

their performance of daily living activities, or to perceive control or communicate with the environment in which they live, through the use of specialized equipment and supplies.

Environmental Accessibility Adaptations to provide physical adaptations to a home or vehicle to ensure the health and safety of a person.

 Professional Professional Services to provide people with needed therapy, counseling,

and nutrition services. Skilled Nursing services to enable people to receive needed care by a

Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. This service may be shared by up to 3 participants.

 Other Services Personal Emergency Response System to enable people to secure help in

an emergency. One Time Transitional Expenses to enable people, who are moving from a

facility to their own home, to receive needed household items. 

Support Coordination – services that assist the families in life planning for the child including gaining access to needed waiver and State Plan services, as well as needed medical, social, educational, and other services, regardless of the funding source to which access is gained. Home visits are required.

Family Support – services provided directly to the child that enable a family to keep the child at home and that enhance family functioning.

Center-Based Respite – services provided on a short-term basis to children unable to care for themselves due to the absence or need for relief of the parents or to others who normally provide care and supervision.

Environmental Accessibility Adaptations – physical adaptations to the home or vehicle necessary to ensure health, welfare, and safety of the child, or which enable the child to function with greater independence in the home, and without which additional supports institutionalization would be required. Excluded are adaptations of general use or those that add to the total square footage of the home. Excluded are fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers.

Family Training – training and education services for the families of waiver recipients that is provided by professional organizations or practitioners appropriate to the needs of the child and approved by OCDD Regional Waiver office..

Supported Employment is intensive, ongoing supports and services necessary for a participant to achieve the desired outcome of employment in a community setting where the majority of the persons employed do not have disabilities.

Pre-vocational services are not job task oriented but instead are aimed at a generalized result and are directed to habilitative rather than explicit employment objectives.

Day Habilitation services to learn skills and practice activities to support daily living outside the home.

Habilitation services are provided in the home or community with the participant’s place of residence as the primary setting

Support Coordination coordinates all services Personal Emergency Response System is an electronic

device connected to the participant’s phone which enables a participant to secure help when necessary

Respite Care to help families take a break from daily routine and stress or emergency situations (Center- based, Consumer’s home, Provider’s home)

Professional ServicesIntensive community supportsPsychologistPhysical TherapyOccupational TherapyRegistered DieticianSocial WorkerSpeech TherapyNursing ServicesDental Services

Supportive ServicesCommunity Living SupportsDay HabilitationPrevocational ServicesSupported EmploymentRespite Care out of  homeSupport CoordinationTransportation-Community Access

Other ServicesAssistive Technology/Specialized Medical Equipment and SuppliesPersonal Emergency Responses SystemEnvironmental Accessibility AdaptationsOne-Time Transition Services

Regional offices and human services authorities/districts administer these programs through state general fund monies to provide support that is not available from any other source.

Individual and Family Support Program provides resources to people with developmental disabilities to allow them to live in their own homes or with their families in their own community. Individual and Family Support services include, but are not limited to: Respite care, personal assistance services specialized clothing dental and medical services not covered by other sources equipments and supplies communication services crisis intervention specialized nutrition family education

Cash Subsidy Program provides a monthly stipend to families of eligible children with severe disabilities, until the age of 18. Funds are intended to help families meet the extraordinary cost associated with maintaining their child in the home. Stipends are awarded on a first come, first serve basis to eligible children with exceptionalities identified through the Department of Education’s Pupil Appraisal Evaluation.

The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) within the Department of Health and Hospitals serves as the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) into the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Services System.

OCDD conducts an assessment of people who request services to determine the person’s eligibility for system entry. Eligibility is based on the definition of developmental disability contained in Louisiana R.S. 28:451.2.

In order to qualify for supports and services a person must have a developmental disability as defined by the Developmental Disability Law in Louisiana Revised Statute 28:451.2.

New Opportunities Waiver -06/05/2001

Children’s Choice Waiver-4/30/2002Supports Waiver- 9/30/2009

Early Steps is Louisiana's Early Intervention System under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C. Early Steps provides services to families with infants and toddlers from birth to three years (36 months) who have a medical condition likely to result in a developmental delay, or who have developmental delays.

Early Steps services are designed to improve the family's capacity to enhance their child's development. These services are provided in the child's natural environment, such as the child's home, place of daycare, or any other community setting typical for children aged birth to 3 years (36 months).

Services include:Assistive technologyAudiologyHealth Services (family education, assistance with otherEarlySteps services only)Medical Services (for evaluation only)Nutrition ServicesOccupational Therapy ServicesPhysical Therapy ServicesPsychological ServicesService CoordinationSocial Work ServicesSpecial InstructionSpeech Language PathologyTransportation (to and from an EarlySteps service only)Translation Interpreter Services  (foreign language and sign language)Vision Services

Region 1 (New Orleans) Region 6 (Alexandria)1-800-889-2975 1-800-640-7494 Region 2 (Baton Rouge) Region 7 (Bossier City)1-800-768-8824 1-800-862-1409

 Region 3 (Thibodaux) Region 8 (Monroe)1-800-861-0241 1-800-637-3113

 Region 4 (Lafayette) Region 9 (Mandeville)1-800-648-1484 1-800-866-0806

 Region 5 (Lake Charles) Region 10 (Marrero)1-800-631-8810 504-349-8708