Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is the term to describe conditions that occur before age 18, the symptoms of which result in a person’s daily living skills being significantly below average. People with IDD often have difficulty living, working and playing in the community.

Using tests that measure intelligence and daily living skills, psychologists or specially trained physicians can diagnose IDD. Although IDD occurs before age 18, diagnostic testing can be performed at any age.

There are a variety of services and supports available to people with IDD:

• Community centers such as Andrews Center
• State and federal agencies
• Private providers
• Public school districts

SERVICE COORDINATION

Andrews Center provides service coordination to support people living with IDD in achieving personal goals. An Andrews Center staff member – a Service Coordinator – assists the client in accessing medical, social, educational, and other services and supports. These different services are meant to help the client achieve quality of life and community participation.

THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE:

Assessment: The Service Coordinator ask questions to understand what a client’s specific wants, needs and goals are.

Service planning and coordination: The Service Coordinator helps develop a plan to meet those needs and helps the client access the services.

Monitoring: The Service Coordinator checks in with the client on a predetermined schedule to make sure the plan is working, and to see if the person has any new needs or desires.

Crisis prevention and management: The Service Coordinator is available to help with any emergency that arises.

Service Coordinators will search for and provide information about services and supports on a local, state and federal level.

Service Coordinators do not provide direct services, such as therapy or training. Rather, they connect clients with services and supports that can meet their needs.

Most clients and their families benefit from the professional relationship with the Service Coordinator. The Coordinator is an ally there to help them work through the red tape and bureaucracy involved in receiving services.

Community First Choice

What is Community First Choice?

Senate Bill 7 from the 2013 Texas Legislature requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to put in place a cost-effective option for attendant and habilitation services for people with disabilities who have STAR+PLUS Medicaid coverage. A federal option, called Com-munity First Choice, allows states to provide home and community-based attendant services and supports to Medicaid recipients with disabilities.

Who can get the services?
Individuals who…

• Are Eligible for Medicaid. *
• Need help with activities of daily living, such as dress-ing, bathing and eating.
• Need an institutional level of care.

Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)

The Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/IID) program is a community-based residential service option provided in homes with six or fewer individuals. This ICF/IID program provides similar services provided in an HCS residential home. The services include staff available to assist individuals with identified needs, access to medical care, the opportunity to attend Day Habilitation or similar programs, and participation in community activities.

If you choose to access the ICF/IID residential option, you are able to keep your current placement on interest lists for home and community-based waiver services, such as HCS, Texas Home Living, Community Living Assistance and Support Services, and Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities programs.

For information about the ICF/IID program, please visit Texas.gov. Information at LTC Search allows you to search ICFs/IID homes with vacancies by county, city or zip code. It also lists any special services or areas of expertise.

If you are interested in this residential option, contact us at (903)597-5067. We will assist you in applying for the service. The application process for admission to an ICF/IID involves sharing an individual’s diagnosis and medical and support needs with ICF/IID providers to ensure they have the appropriate services and resources to best meet an individual’s needs.

IDD Forms

IDD Crisis Referral