What is self-direction of OPWDD services in NYS?

Self-Direction is the opportunity to have partial or complete management and/or budget authority of your OPWDD funded supports. As a Start-Up Broker I provide a consulting service (paid by the state of NY) to help you develop a proposal based on your assessments of need, and your interests and preferences, then present that to OPWDD for funding.

We'll engage in a person-centered planning process and identify a circle of support for you (related and unrelated, paid and unpaid people who care about you and have insight about your support needs, safeguards, and things you want to do in life). With your Circle and your MSC, I'll help you or your family to develop that proposal, find staff, and get them on payroll with the Fiscal Agency who will pay approved payroll and expenses.

It's not simple (hence my role as consultant) and it does require a fair amount of work from you or your family and circle. And it doesn't free you entirely from following regulations. But self-direction offers you an alternative to traditional agency services with greater control and complete focus on you instead of a larger organization providing a service to you.


Friday, August 9, 2013

AGI Launches Daily Living/Residential Curriculum for Direct Support Providers

With partners Autism Speaks, Institute for Integrated Self Advocacy, and The Autism Research Institute, the Autism Global Institute is launching an online course for direct support for persons with ASD.

The course with online instruction and completion certificate is $300 per person.

Very encouraged to see this given the people involved -- looks like it will be a good supplement to NYS mandated training for direct support.

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