Glossary

This is an alphabetical list of key terms used on this website. Navigate to a letter in the list below to jump to that section of the list, or scroll from top to bottom (A–Z).

ADLs: Also known as “Activities of Daily Living,” these are tasks we all do on a daily or regular basis to survive and promote well-being such as getting out of bed, getting dressed, bathing, brushing teeth, eating meals, etc.

ADM: Also known as “Administrative Directive Memorandum,” a document from a government agency that explains how to apply broader rules or laws to specific situations.

AROC: Also known as “Access to Residential Opportunities Committee,” a group that works in the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities that helps them find a place to live if they have been approved to live in an OPWDD certified housing.

Article 16 Clinic: These are OPWDD approved clinics where providers work with patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, psychological evaluations, and other services.

Article 17A: A type of guardianship in New York State.

Article 28 Clinic: Medical facilities that are approved by the New York State Department of Health.

AT: Also known as “Assistive Technology” or “Adaptive Device”. An item or piece of equipment, that is used to increase, maintain, or to improve the functional capabilities of the person, and/or enhance a person’s independence. Can include Communication devices.

Broker: A trained professional who helps an individual create a budget, plan and manage the money that has been set aside to pay for their services and supports through Self-Direction.

CANS: Also known as “Child and Adolescent Needs Assessment” tool that OPWDD uses for individuals under 18 to identify strengths and needed supports.

Care Manager: A trained professional who coordinates a variety of healthcare, wellness and services to meet a person’s needs.

CAS: Also known as “Coordinated Assessment System,” an assessment tool that OPWDD uses to identify the strengths and needs for adults over 18 years old.

CCO: Also known as “Care Coordination Organization,” these organizations were formed by developmental disability service providers and are staffed by Care Managers with training and experience in the field of developmental disabilities.

CHT: Also known as “Certified Housing Team.” CHTs review applications for OPWDD certified housing and decide whether someone needs this type of housing.

Comm Hab: Also known as “ComHab” or “Community Habilitation,” these are a suite of services that help a person with I/DD learn the skills they need to be healthy, live safely, and meet their personal goals. Examples include travel or transportation skills, social skills, or learning how to do activities of daily living like bathing, grooming, laundry and grocery shopping.

CQL: Also known as “Council on Quality Leadership,” an organization that works with service providers to define, measure and improve the quality of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

CRO: Also known as “Certified Residential Opportunities.” This term refers to how people apply and get into OPWDD certified housing.

CRP: Residential Schools

CSIDD: Also known as “Crisis Services for Severely Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled” offers crisis prevention and response services for individuals with developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral needs. Services are available 24/7. The work of CSIDD is based on the START model so these services may also be referred to as NYSTART.

Day Hab: Also known as “Day Habilitation,” these are services help people explore their interests, develop their talents, make and keep friends, learn basic life skills, and be a valued member of the community. Oftentimes people attend Day Habilitation programs instead of working or on days they are not working if they are working on a part-time basis.

DD: Also known as “Developmental Disability,” a broad group of conditions that impact a person’s physical and/or cognitive functioning. These disabilities are present at birth and typically diagnosed during childhood. Examples include: Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, and Cerebral Palsy.

DDP-2: Also known as “Developmental Disabilities Profile,” an assessment that was created before the CAS and CANS to record a person’s abilities and challenges to inform their service plan.

DDRO: See RFO.

DDSO: Also known as “Developmental Disability State Operations Offices.” These offices are spread over six regions that oversee state operated residential, day programs, clinics and other related services.

E-Mod: Also known as “Environmental Modification,” physical adaptations to the person’s home that are necessary to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the person or that enable the person to function with greater independence in their home. Examples include: Wheelchair Ramp and Roll-in shower.

Fair Hearing: Fair Hearings are a way an individual can challenge a decision that is made by a state or county government agency about their benefits and services.

Family Care: A type of OPWDD certified housing where an individual lives with a family they are not related to.

FI: Also known as “Fiscal Intermediary,” an agency that works with individuals who have Self-Direction to bill and pay of approved goods and services, and make sure that the individual and their broker is following New York State Medicaid rules.

FIDA-IDD: Also known as “Fully-Integrated Duals Advantage” or “PHP.” A type of health insurance plan for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities who have Medicare, Medicaid, OPWDD waiver and need home care. This plan is only available in certain counties.

Front Door: The Front Door is how individuals with IDD and their families connect and get started with OPWDD.

FSS: Also known as “Family Support Services”. FSS is a group of services that are paid for by OPWDD to help families care for their loved one with a developmental disability at home for as long as desired. For more information please see the article on “Non-Medicaid Services”.

Guardianship: A legal process that allows a family member, friend or agency to make everyday decisions when a person is not able to so on their own or cannot communicate their decisions. These can be financial, medical, or other health care decisions.

HCBS: Also known as “Home & Community Based Services,” these are a range of services that allow people with disabilities and older adults to live independently in their homes and participate in their communities.

HCP: Also known as “Health Care Proxy,” a person or “agent” who make decisions regarding medical treatment for someone else who is declared by a doctor unable to make their own health care decisions.

IADLs: Also known as “Instrumental Activities of Daily Living,” these are harder tasks that are needed to live independently that go beyond Activities of Daily Living. Examples include: grocery shopping, housekeeping, managing money and medications.

ICF/IID: Also known as “Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,” these are state-run facilities that provide 24 hour-supervision and care for individuals with high needs. Four or more residents may live in this type of residence.

ID: Also known as “IDD”, “I/DD”, or “Intellectual Disability.” A type of developmental disability that impacts both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. It does not include individuals with physical disabilities only. Examples include: Autism, Down Syndrome, and Fragile X.

IDGS: Individual Directed Goods and Services

IDT: Inter-district Transfers

IRA: Also known as “Individualized Residential Alternative,” these are a type of OPWDD certified facility that provide room, board and individualized services and supports in a home-like setting where individuals with developmental disabilities can gain the skills they need to live as independently as possible. Some people who live in IRAs need help 24/7 to meet their medical and behavioral needs. Other people who live in IRAs need less support.

IRMA: Incident Report and Management Application

ISS: Individual Supports and Services

LCED: Level of Care Eligibility Determination

Life Plan: A document that summarizes the person’s history, diagnoses, strengths, challenges, goals and service plan.

Medicaid: Health insurance that is typically for individuals with limited income (and/or assets). Please see the article “What is Medicaid?” for more information.

NOD: Also known as “Notice of Decision,” this is a letter that is sent to you or your representative when OPWDD has made a decision about your eligibility or about your care.

NYSTART: Also known as “New York Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment Resources and Treatment”. To learn more about the START model you can check out the National Center for START Services Website.

OPWDD: Also known as the “Office for People with Developmental Disabilities,” a New York state government agency that oversees services and supports for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

OTDA: Also known as “Office of Temporary Disability Assistance” or “NYS Office of Temporary Disability Assistance,” a New York State government agency that is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals including Fair Hearings.

OTPS: Other Than Personal Services

Parental Deeming: Allows children to be eligible for Medicaid by excluding parents’ and family’s income and resources from the child’s available resources

PC: Also known as “Person-Centered,” an approach to care and service planning that prioritizes the individual receiving services.

POMs: Personal Outcome Measures

PRA: Also known as “Personal Resource Amount,” the PRA is a budget amount based on a waiver participant’s assessed needs. The dollar amount varies for each person.

Representative Payee: A person, agency, or organization that helps a person with a disability manage funds received from public benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Respite: These are services help families who care for their loved ones get needed breaks or rest. The kinds and locations of respite service available include in-home, camp, recreational and site-based.

RFO: Also known as “Regional Field Offices” or “DDRO.” Each of the five regions in New York State has an office that reviews eligibility applications and oversees the Care Coordination Organizations for that region.

RSA: Also known as “Request for Service Authorization.” When a person is new to OPWDD services and wants waiver services, CM will submit a Request for Service Authorization (RSA) to the Front Door for Non-Medicaid Services or Home and Community Bases Services (HCBS) Waiver.

SART: Also known as “Service Amendment Request Tool.” This is a tool that a care manager uses if an individual needs to request a waiver service.

SD: Also known as “Self-Direction.” A way for OPWDD waiver participants to have more choice and control when receiving services and supports through OPWDD.

SEMP: Also known as “Supported Employment ” is a group of services that help individuals with IDD to get, keep or advance professional in the general workforce and help them make at or above the minimum wage.

V-Mods: Also known as “Vehicle Modifications,” these are physical adaptations to the person’s vehicle that are necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the person or that enable the person to function with greater independence. Examples include: Installing a ramp to enter/exit the vehicle; and wheelchair securements.

Waiver: Also known as “Medicaid Waiver,” allows states to set aside Medicaid dollars to people with specific needs and health conditions.