FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
COMMUNITY HABILITATION
What is Community Habilitation ?
Community Habilitation is a service designed to assist individuals with developmental disabilities in fostering skills that promote independence in the home and in the community. Supports include adaptive skill development, assistance with activities of daily living, community inclusion, and relationship building, training and support for independence in travel, adult educational supports, development of social skills, leisure skills, self-advocacy and informed choice skills, and appropriate behavior development to help the individual access their community. Individuals participating in this service will work one-on-one with a Community Habilitation Specialist either at home or in the community on developing skills needed to achieve individualized goalso to app settings and press "Manage Questions" button.
Who qualifies to receive Community Habilitation?
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Must be age 3 or up; not enrolled in Early Intervention services
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Must reside in New York City (Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens)
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Must be diagnosed with a developmental disability
How long will I have to wait before I/my child begins to receive service?
Can I choose the gender/ethnicity/language of my Community Habilitation Specialist?
Where will the service be provided?
HCBS WAIVER SERVICES
How do I apply for a Waiver Service?
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Approval Letter (Your Care Manager will need to request the approval letter from the borough DDRO by submitting the original justification letter and an Addendum for Service form)
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Initial Level of Care
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Annual ISP (needs to be up-to-date)
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Copy of the Addendum for Service form
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Waiver Packet
What are HCBS Waiver Services?
OPWDD administers this HCBS Waiver. It is OPWDD's primary funding mechanism for supporting individuals in the community by providing a variety of services and supports that are uniquely tailored and individualized to meet each person's needs. These services can include habilitation services, respite care, service coordination, and adaptive technologies. Services are provided either by OPWDD's Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) staff or through voluntary not-for-profit agencies who have been authorized to provide HCBS waiver services by OPWDD or the NYS Department of Health (DOH).
What Waiver Services Does CFSS provide?
- Community Habilitation
DAY HABILITATION
What is Day Habilitation Without Walls
OPWDD defines Day Habilitation Without Walls (W.O.W.) as “habilitation services that may be provided to an individual regardless of his or her living environment, and regularly takes place in a non-residential setting, separate from the individual’s private residence or other home. Day Habilitation services can assist individuals to acquire, retain or improve their self-help, socialization and adaptive skills, including communication, travel and other areas in adult education. Activities and environments are designed to foster the development of skills and appropriate behavior, greater independence, community inclusion, relationship building, self-advocacy and informed choice. Additionally, individuals accessing day habilitation often contribute to their communities through volunteer work”.
Who qualifies to receive DayHabilitation?
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Must be age 21+ and have graduated from the Department of Education;
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Must reside in New York City (Bronx or Manhattan)
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Must be diagnosed with a developmental disability
RESPITE
What is Respite
What is the difference between In-Home & Recreational Respites?
In-Home
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Takes place in Family Home. -
May include staff accompanying the individual into the community. -
Can occurs any day of the week.
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At this time, only occurs on Saturday - from 10am to 2:30pm. -
The program is offered to 5 to 17 year old individuals. -
Advocates drop-off and pick-up the participants at the Melrose campus. -
Participants are placed in small age appropriate groups and participate in a variety of structured activities such as relaxation, art, music, sports/games and community outings.
SPEECH THERAPY
Can my loved one receive speech therapy at CFSS?
CFSS provides speech therapy for students ages 3-21. Your family member or student must have an initial speech-language evaluation and an IEP in order to qualify for speech therapy at CFSS. School aged children (ages 5-21), must have an RSA letter to initiate services.