1. Steps to Living a Self Determined Life Barbara McNamara Broker, Staff Trainer, PCP Professional

2. Self Direction What is Self Direction? Self Direction (Determination) means that all people have the right to direct their futures; have control over how they live their lives, where, and with whom; and have authority over the resources that support them (The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, 2001). Five Main Principles of Self Determination Freedom Authority Support Responsibility Self-Advocacy K.Warga, ISS

3. When do I launch????? Let’s begin at the beginning…. Have you been through the front door? ◦ Contact the DDRO, they will support you in the eligibility process. ◦ Front door number for LIDDRO, 631-434-6000 or 6100 Do you have an MSC? ◦ You can obtain a vendor list during the front door process Do you have HCBS Waiver service? ◦ Your MSC will begin this process

4. What age should my child be when I start the process? Is there an age when it is to late for Self Direction? Can we switch from traditional services to SD? Can we combine traditional services with SD?

5. Please Welcome Helene Fallon Project Director Long Island Parent Center 516 589-4562 Funded by NYSED Long Island Advocacy Center PTIC 516 248-2222 Funded by US DOE hafallon@optonline.net

6. v Parent and Student Notification and Participation v Participating Agencies & Responsibilities v Vocational Assessments v Age 15 IEP in NYS: Needed Transition Services in v (a) Instruction v (b) Related Services v (c) Community Experiences v (d) Development of Employment/Other Post-school Adult Living vwhen appropriate (e) Daily Living Skills and (f) Functional Vocational Evaluation v Based on Student Needs, Preferences and Interests v Student Exit Summary, New York State Education Department, Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, 2004

7. Lets begin the process… Transition Services are mandated in IDEA Regulation; they must be in place by age 15 but the conversation must begin much earlier. Level 1… ◦ What can I do?  Access your school transition team  Fill out eligibility forms for OPWDD  Develop my child’s Person Centered Plan  Access Medicaid  Take steps to go through the Front Door  Find an MSC  Interview Brokers Transition begins about age 15 ◦ What will the LIDDRO do?  Assist you in the Front Door process  Facilitate the FD phone interview  Provide a list of MSC vendors  Approve your child for HCBS Waiver services through OPWDD  Provide the most updated Broker list IT IS A PROCESS! ONE STEP AT A TIME…

8. FUNDAMENTAL VALUE… NOTHING ABOUT ME WITHOUT ME!! The Student must be involved in any plan that is discussed and developed!! WHO’S MEETING IS IT ANYWAY???

9. Break down the process Start Up Interview and choose your broker Sign an agreement and have it approved by the DDRO Plan and host the event of your person centered plan Broker will write the profile Broker will develop valued outcomes and determine supports and services, as well as addressing safeguards (Hab Plan) Broker will develop a budget Broker will submit to the DDRO for approval. Individual and family should be included in each step of the process

10. Break down the process Support Attend the launch of the approved plan, broker and MSC will attend Broker may support individual in hiring and training staff and professionals (this can begin while waiting for the plan to be approved) Broker may support the individual in accessing community activities Broker will monitor the budget and make necessary changes though out the year Broker will update the hab plan as needed The individual and family will approve time sheets and complete monthly summary notes (staff can support with this)

11. The Person Centered Plan Discover the important people in the individual’s life Discover what is working and WHAT DOESN’T Discover the community of today and the visions for tomorrow bethmount.org

12. Who do we invite? Yea Sayers ! Family and Friends SIBLINGS!! COUSINS!! Evolved school staff Interested Community members Co workers Leave the Nay Sayers Home! Cynics Closed minded folks Remember: Nothing about us without us !

13. Living A Self- Determined Life Discover Valued Outcomes from the PCP process o Being a valued member of my family what supports and services will I need? o Being a valued member of MY community what supports and services will I need? o Obtaining paid employment and volunteer work what supports and services will I need? o Maintaining a healthy physical and social life what supports and services will I need?

14. What am I getting into? I will have the choice to use my SD plan to attend traditional programs I will have the choice to pick my own staff and have an agency hire and train them. I will have the choice to live a self- determined life, being responsible for hiring and training my staff creating my own path while partnering with an FI.

15. Who is in charge? Self Directing your own HCBS Waiver Services allows you to have: 1. Employer Authority -hiring, firing, managing, and supervising your own staff 2. Budget Authority –an individual and their support network having control of one’s Medicaid budget and choosing to purchase services that will allow the person to grow and lead a more independent life. The individualized budgets (guided by Personal Resource Accounts-PRAs allocations) are managed through an agency known as a FISCAL INTERMEDIARY (FI) An FI is the employer of record and pays the bills in the plan

16. I have a plan… Is that my plan forever? A Self Direction Plan Grows and Changes As The Individual Grows and Changes

17. A day in the life of a Self Determined person  Start your day with a healthy breakfast and making sure you household obligations are complete  Go out to your paid employment  Attend a lunch date with some friends at Panera  Being a volunteer in an area of your interest, somewhere that makes you feel good  Do some grocery shopping  Come home and prepare dinner for the family  Go to Paint Night or a baseball game  Meet with a potential room mate to discuss a future apartment