What is OPWDD?

stock photo of a group of students with Down Syndrome celebrating

The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is a New York State government agency that is in charge of getting people with developmental disabilities the care and services they need.

About OPWDD

OPWDD is led by a commissioner. The commissioner and the leadership team oversee the Developmental Disability Regional Offices (DDROs) and the Developmental Disabilities State Operations Offices (DDSOs).

There are five DDROs. The job of the DDROs are to:

  • Review Eligibility Applications and manage the “Front Door” process;
  • Decide OPWDD Medicaid Waiver eligibility; and
  • Oversee Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) and Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs).

There are six DDSOs. The job of the DDSO is to oversee state-operated residential, day programs, clinics and other related services.

To learn more about these offices, visit OPWDD’s website: OPWDD “About Us”

Who OPWDD serves

OPWDD provides services to New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.

Developmental disability includes many different conditions that can impact a person physically or intellectually or both.

Examples of developmental disabilities include:

  • Intellectual disability
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Epilepsy
  • Neurological impairment
  • Autism
  • Familial Dysautonomia
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome

To receive services from OPWDD you need to apply and meet certain requirements. For more information please see our article “Who can get services from OPWDD?”

Overview of OPWDD services

The OPWDD services you are able to receive depends on whether or not you qualify for the Medicaid waiver.

OPWDD eligibility only

If you are eligible for OPWDD and live at home with a family member or caregiver who is not paid to take care of you, then you and your family may be able to receive Family Support Services (FSS).

Examples of Family Support Services:

  • Respite
  • Reimbursement for goods and services
  • Training in how to manage challenging behaviors
  • Information and referral
  • Sibling and parent support groups
  • After school programs
  • Recreation
  • Camp

For more information, you can check out our article on “Family Support Services”.

OPWDD Medicaid Waiver eligibility

There are some OPWDD services that you can only receive if you are eligible for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver.

Examples of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver services:

  • Care coordination
  • Community Habilitation
  • Day Habilitation
  • Pre-vocational training, employment training, and supported employment
  • Self-Direction

For more information on the types of services that are available please see our articles about “Services”.

History of OPWDD

OPWDD was started in 1978. It was created after a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of residents of Willowbrook State School.

In 1975, the Governor signed an agreement called the Willowbrook Consent Decree that ended the lawsuit and made New York State take steps to protect the rights of the people with disabilities who lived there. A goal of the agreement was for residents to be moved out of Willowbrook so that they could live in the community with supports.

New York State created OPWDD out of a need for there to be a government agency to help these residents get the services and care they needed to be able to live successfully in the community.

For more information on Willowbrook please visit OPWDD’s website Willowbrook.