The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), through its Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices (DDROs), determines whether a person has a developmental disability, as defined by New York State Mental Hygiene Law, Section 1.03(22), and whether such person is eligible for OPWDD-funded services pursuant to 14 NYCRR §§ 629.1, 629.2.
The purpose of this ADM and its embedded document titled OPWDD Advisory Guidelines Determining Eligibility for Services: Substantial Handicap and Developmental Disability (hereinafter “Eligibility Guidelines”) is to establish eligibility procedures for people seeking OPWDD services. The Eligibility Guidelines have been updated to incorporate eligibility-related information previously issued by OPWDD into one document. It also includes updated diagnostic terminology to reflect current diagnostic practices.
The Eligibility Guidelines supersede any contradictory guidance issued in previous OPWDD guidance documents.