Now 17 years old, Devontae is similar to his peers in many ways and just as dissimilar in just as many ways. Devontae has continued to struggle to communicate his basic needs, but he has developed a fairly large vocabulary with the assistance of some sign. He occasionally uses visual means of communication, and he is able to use these strategies to do relatively well academically. He is weak in all areas of verbal language, but his math is exceptional. In the 10th grade, Devontae was ready for Calculus. His reading and verbal reasoning, however, are on a 5th grade level.
Plans for transition are complicated by Devontae's limitations in the verbal realm, and Devontae's parents and teachers know that he will not be able to attend a traditional college or even a community college. The IEP team has decided that it would be best for Devontae to continue at his high school for the next few years and to enroll in advanced math courses through an agreement with a local university which sends professors into the surrounding high schools.
Sasha and Julius have continued to provide for Devontae. They had to cut back on many of his additional services; Devontae was also more able to manage without those. They also applied for an EDCD waiver and a DD waiver. Devontae received the EDCD waiver within 6 months, but the family is still waiting for approval of the DD waiver. This opened up some additional possibilities for the family with regard to care for Devontae.
It is only a few months until Devontae turns 18, and his parents look toward his birthday with a mix of anticipation and concern.
1) What is an EDCD waiver? What is a DD waiver? What services become possible with these waivers?
2) Research specific services available through the Medicaid system for children with autism. Which agencies in Virginia provide these services?
3) Provide statistics for people with autism spectrum disorder with regard to employment.
The EDCD, the Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction Waiver, was first started in 2005 in Virginia. The waiver is in place to prevent the placement into nursing homes by assisting and providing substantial care in the home. A screening is need where a Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) will be completed to determine eligibility. “The DD, Developmental Disability Waiver, provides funding for home and community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities or related conditions.” The DD Waiver has a much longer and in depth process to be accepted than the EDCD Waiver where you request a screening for individuals 6 years of age and older who have a diagnosis of a developmental disability but do not have a diagnosis of mental retardation. There are many services that are obtainable through these waivers including assistive technology, case management, crisis services, 24-hour emergency assistance, live-in personal caregiver expenses, specialist services and transportation services. The DD waiver includes: day support, companion services (agency or consumer directed), supported employment, in-home residential support, therapeutic consultation, personal care services (agency or consumer directed), respite care (agency or consumer directed), supported employment, skilled nursing services, attendant services, family and caregiver training, crisis supervision, environmental modifications, assistive technology, personal emergency response system (PERS), and prevocational services along with support coordination. The EDCD which is available for the elderly and persons with disabilities includes the following services: personal care aide services (agency or consumer directed), adult day health care, respite care (agency or consumer directed), skilled respite care, personal emergency response system (PERS), and medication monitoring.
ReplyDeleteThe Title XIX of the Social Security Act finances the Medicaid Program by the state and federal government in which the states administer it. Virginia Medicaid provides a wide array of services including: inpatient and outpatient hospital services, emergency hospital services, physician and nurse midwife services, federally qualified health centers and rural health, clinic services, laboratories and x-ray services, transportation services, family planning services and supplies, nursing facility services, home health services (nurse, aide), and early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program for children (“EPSDT”). The EPSDT services provide financial services along with detecting physical and mental condition with implanting treatments. Virginia Medicaid also covers several optional services including: certified pediatric nurse and family nurse, practitioner services, routine dental care for persons under age 21, prescription drugs, rehabilitation services such as physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech language pathology (SLP) services, home health services (PT, OT, SLP), hospice, home mental health services, and intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities and related conditions. Physical therapy and occupation therapy will help with his fine and gross motor skills along with speech language pathology that help him communicate better. To receive these services, Sasha and Julius must apply though the Department of Social Services in the city or county they live in. The Department of Medical Assistant Services provides these services that are very important along with State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Virginia. The CHIP program in Virginia is called Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS). CHIP and FAMIS help children get the health services they need by making sure they receive high quality insurance.
State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies are one of the most important sources of employment services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities in which they help people with autism find appropriate jobs after graduating high school.
ReplyDeletePeople with a disability have a very low employment rate, but people with autism have even a lower autism employment rate.
• In 2009, young adults with disabilities had an employment rate of 59% compared to you adults with autism being at 33%. Only one group with disabilities has an employment rate lower than autism.
• Almost half of adults with autism earned less than $7.25 an hour compared to adults with disabilities.
• Young adults with autism worked about 23.2 hours compared to 35.8 hours worked by people with disabilities.
Data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2, a 10-year study of youth who received special education services, suggests that young adults with autism spectrum disorders are less likely to work than most other disability groups:
• 47.7% of youth with autism spectrum disorders worked for pay in the past two years versus an average of 78.4% for all participants.
• 29.0% of young adults with autism spectrum disorders were looking for work if they were unemployed compared to 47.7% for all participants.
References:
Developmental Disability Waiver. Minnesota Department Human Services. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_003900
EDCD Waiver. The Arc of Northern Virginia. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.thearcofnova.org/programs/waivers/edcd/
Employment Research and Reports | Autism NOW Center. (n.d.). Autism NOW Center | Autism Resource for parents, teachers, employers and individuals | National initiative of The Arc. Retrieved June 17, 2012, from http://autismnow.org/on-the-job/employment-research-and-reports/
Fact Sheet on Autism Employment. (n.d.). Autism Works. Retrieved June 16, 2012, from dps.missouri.edu/Autism/AutismFactSheet20
FUNDING OPTIONS IN VIRGINIA. (n.d.). Autism in Virginia. Retrieved June 17, 2012, from www.autismva.org/sites/default/files/9-1-11fundingoptions.pdf
Virginia's Medicaid Program. (n.d.). Department of Medical Assistance Services. Retrieved June 16, 2012, from http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/
Great Post
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