This article outlines the first steps you need to take to apply and get services through OPWDD.
Not sure where to start? Contact IDDO for help. You can reach our helpline at 1-800-762-9290 or visit our Get Help page.
To be approved, you must have a developmental disability that meets New York State’s requirements. For more information on these requirements please check out the article “Who can get Services through OPWDD?”
Step 1
Watch the OPWDD Front Door information videos. Link to the OPWDD website: https://opwdd.ny.gov/access-supports/front-door-videos
Step 2
Contact one of the Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) or Service Access Agencies in your area.
A full list of Care Coordination Organizations is available online at: https://opwdd.ny.gov/find-care-manager
For information on Service Access Agencies in your area contact us by calling 1-800-762-9290 or by visiting our Get Help page.
If you are only interested in Family Support Services, then Service Access Agencies can help you apply.
Step 3
Gather documents. In order to complete these assessments, you may need to make appointments with licensed professionals. If you are a parent or guardian of a child who is still in school you may be able to get some of these assessments through the
Required documents:
- Psychological assessment must include cognitive functioning (usually includes an IQ test) and adaptive behavior testing as well as an explanation of the results. The assessment must be less than 3 years old.
- Social history or psychosocial that discusses the individual’s developmental and social history. The report should show that the individual’s disability occurred before age 22. The psychological report might include this, or it might be part of the individual’s school evaluations or early intervention. This report must be less than 1 year old.
- You may submit an Early Intervention Multidisciplinary Core Evaluation for young children if it includes an assessment of the child’s cognitive, language and communicative, adaptive, social, and motor functioning.
- Physical Exam within the last 12 months.
May be required in certain cases
- Medical specialty report is required for individuals with a condition other than intellectual disability.
- Interpretive report of adaptive behavioral assessment results are required if the individual has an IQ over 60. This includes summary, composite, scale, and domain scores.
- Comprehensive autism evaluation is required for those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
How do I get these documents?
If the individual is in school and receives special education services, the local school district may have many or all of the reports they need to apply for OPWDD. Parents or guardians can request a child’s school records by contacting the school.
If you need help finding a specialist to do these assessments you can visit OPWDD’s website at “Find Eligibility Assessment Provider” to search for an eligibility assessment provider in your county or region.
Step 4
Complete and submit the application to the Developmental Disability Regional Office (DDRO) in your area.
Work with the Care Coordination Organization (CCO) or Service Access Agency to make sure your application is complete and submitted. Submit the application electronically through the OPWDD system called CHOICES.
Step 5
Get a decision from the Developmental Disability Regional Office (DDRO).
DDRO reviews the application to make sure it’s complete and to decide whether the individual meets New York State’s Requirements. This is a First Step Review.
The DDRO then sends a letter or Notice of Decision.
There are 3 potential outcomes:
- You are eligible.
- The application is not complete.
- The application needs more review. DDRO will send it to a group of healthcare professionals. This is a Second Step Review.
Step 6
If you are eligible and you only need Family Support Services, then you have finished the application process.
To apply for the Medicaid Waiver, check out the How do I apply for the OPWDD waiver? article.
If your eligibility application has been sent for more review, and you need help knowing what to do next, you can check out our Know Your Rights articles.
