Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is a New York state agency that supports people with developmental disabilities, including but not limited to:
- Intellectual disability
- Cerebral palsy
- Epilepsy
- Neurological Impairment
- Autism
- Familial Dysautonomia
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
Services Available
| Family Support Services (FSS) Include: | Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver Include: |
| • Respite • Family member training • Training in how to manage challenging behaviors • Reimbursement • Information and referral • Sibling services • After school programs • Recreation/social activities For more information: Family Support Services Brochure & NY Family Support Services Directories | • Community habilitation • Day habilitation programs • Employment supports • Housing • Crisis services • Respite • Adaptive equipment • Environmental modification For more information: https://opwdd.ny.gov/getting-started/medicaid-and-opwdd-services |
Application Process
- Watch the OPWDD Front Door Information Videos to learn more about the eligibility process and services offered (available in English, Spanish, and Chinese).
- OPWDD will provide translation services for anyone who needs a different language. Contact language.access.requests@opwdd.ny.gov to submit a request.
- Enroll in one of the three Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs)* serving NYC residents to assist you with the OPWDD application process.
- Advanced Care Alliance (ACA)
- Care Design NY
- Tri-County Care
- See the full list of NYS CCOs: https://opwdd.ny.gov/find-care-manager
- Contact the local Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO) for your borough with any questions you may have.
- Gather all required documents. Save all copies of all documents submitted and received from OPWDD.
*Note: OPWDD requires applications to be submitted by the Care Coordination Organization (CCO).
Documents Needed to Apply
- A psychological evaluation, within three years, that includes IQ testing and summary score from the assessment (i.e. Vineland Adaptive scores).
- For IQ scores above 60, an additional interpretive report of adaptive behavior is required
- For IQ scores below 60, an adaptive assessment may be based on an interpretive report using information gathered from interviews with caregivers, records review and direct observations.
- For autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a report(s) constituting a comprehensive evaluation for the ASD diagnosis is required.
- A social history or psychosocial evaluation report that is less than 1 year old.
- A general medical report, such as the one from the annual physical conducted for your child’s school, that is less than 1 year old.
For more information about eligibility and required documentation: https://opwdd.ny.gov/eligibility
For more information on how to apply, speak with your Care Coordination Organization’s (CCOs) intake specialist or visit: https://includenyc.org/help-center/resources/application-process-for-opwdd-services
For an additional resource about eligibility, please refer to the Front Door: Access to Services Guide.
Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices (DDROs)
Bronx
2400 Halsey Street
Bronx, NY 10461
(718) 430-0757
Brooklyn
888 Fountain Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 642-8576
Manhattan
25 Beaver Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(646) 766-3220
Queens
80-45 Winchester Blvd.
Queens Village, NY 11427
(718) 217-6485
Staten Island
1150 Forest Hill Road
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 982-1913
The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ombudsprogram (IDDO)
IDDO is an independent program that can help answer your questions on services offered by OPWDD. It provides guidance to individuals, their caregivers and providers in New York State.
Free Hotline: 1-800-762-9290 (Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm)
Email: iddo@cssny.org
Website: iddony.org