Overview
To deliver a more consistent and sustainable self-direction service model, OPWDD used a portion of its enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds to examine how its current self-direction model compares with those used by other states and countries, with the goal of improving the program.
After a competitive process, OPWDD selected a consulting firm, Guidehouse, to evaluate the program by analyzing self-direction models from other states, evaluating OPWDD’s practices, and addressing program inefficiencies and inconsistencies, particularly in Fiscal Intermediary operations and geographic regions. The project also explored ways to improve access for underrepresented populations, to support people navigating self-direction independently, and to assist people in self-directing their services when their parents can no longer help them navigate the program model.
After stakeholders provided feedback in various ways, a final report was issued in October 2025.
Read the Commissioner’s Message announcing the report’s issuance .
Learn About the Evaluation Process
Guidehouse examined the Self-Direction Program by gathering extensive input from the full range of Self-Direction stakeholders, reviewing current data on the Program, and studying other states' self-direction models. Specifically, Guidehouse spoke with self-advocates, their families, and government leaders about the current Self-Direction model, as well as with Care Coordination Organizations, Support Brokers, Fiscal Intermediary agencies and their staff, and national and state experts. All parties had opportunities to share feedback through surveys, town halls, focus groups, and interviews. Guidehouse also worked with the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council’s Self-Direction Committee to ensure the program evaluation appropriately examined the service model and engaged the right community partners.
Guidehouse’s Program Evaluation provided:
- Initial Report- outlined initial findings on the existing Self-Direction model
- Self-Direction Manual - a “how-to” guide for people with developmental disabilities and their families
- Gap analysis, described how OPWDD’s Self-Direction program compares to similar programs in other states
- Spring 2025 - Final Report with recommendations on how to improve OPWDD’s Self-Direction model
Feedback Provided
Guidehouse collected feedback from community partners in the following ways:
- Web-based surveys collected written information.
- Survey for People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
- Surveys for Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs), Support Brokers, Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs)
Town halls offered community partners the chance to review preliminary survey results and share additional feedback in a collaborative setting. Town halls offered included:
- Self-Direction Town Halls for People and Families
- Self-Direction Town Halls for Care Coordination Organizations and Staff
- Self-Direction Town Halls for Fiscal Intermediaries
- Self-Direction Town Halls for Support Brokers
Focus groups provided smaller, targeted discussions during each Town Hall. This will allow community partners to provide additional in-depth feedback. Select focus groups will focus on hearing input directly from self-advocates.
Ongoing engagement with the Developmental Disability Advisory Committee’s (DDAC) Self-Direction Committee, including the following sub-committees:
- Sustainability and Equity Sub-Committee
- Self-Direction Manual for People and Families Sub-Committee
Guidehouse and OPWDD met with groups of diverse community members, including people unfamiliar with Self-Direction or people who could benefit from learning more about it.
How Feedback Collected Was Used
The data collected through engagement activities assisted with the following:
- Providing insight into promising practices as well as challenges shared by community partners in the existing OPWDD Self-Direction model. Examples include:
- Needs for children in the self-direction model and other resources available to children with developmental disabilities
- Needs for adults to live independently when self-directing, with additional focus on supporting those people with developmental disabilities who do not have natural supports
- Supports diverse communities to access self-direction
- Resources available to stakeholders in self-direction
- Roles of all stakeholders in self-direction
- Practices that support the long-term financial sustainability of the self-direction program
- Identifying best practices in other states and comparisons to OPWDD’s self-direction model
- Offering recommendations in a final report on how to improve OPWDD’s self-direction model