OPWDD

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is a state agency that supports people with developmental disabilities, including:

• Intellectual disability 
• Cerebral palsy 
• Epilepsy 
• Neurological Impairment 
• Autism 
• Familial Dysautonomia
• Prader-Willi Syndrome

Services Available

Application Process

• Register for a Front Door information session online available in English, Spanish and Chinese. 
  • OPWDD will keep a running record of sessions you attend and will send an email confirming your participation.
• Enroll in one of the Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs)* to assist you with the OPWDD application process.
  • Advanced Care Alliance (ACA)
  • Care Design NY
  • Tri-County Care
• 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 now requires applications to be submitted by the Care Coordination Organization.

Documents Needed to Apply

• A psychological evaluation, within three years, that includes IQ testing and summary score from the assessment (i.g 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.
• Psycho-social and/or social history report, dated within the last 365 days.
• Medical physical (the same type of physical you would send to a school) dated within the last 365 days.

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) 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)