The Intellectual Disability division at Erie County Care Management (ECCM) strives to help individuals with an intellectual disability achieve a more meaningful and productive life. ECCM works closely with state and local government agencies as well as direct service providers as the “center of the system”.
Following the “Everyday Lives” approach, our supports coordinators will help individuals navigate their way through a system designed to meet their needs in a community setting, often in their own homes. Supports coordinators will work with individuals and families to identify desired life goals and work to find service providers to achieve these outcomes.
Services beyond supports coordination are usually paid through one of two Pennsylvania waivers for individuals with intellectual disabilities: the Consolidated Waiver or the Personal/Family Directed Supports Waiver. The availability of these two waivers is limited and capacity is set by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs. ECCM is charged with managing the available slots to maximize the overall number of people who can be served.
Each individual's needs are addressed and those needs are then prioritized, taking into consideration various factors about current service openings, allowing us to find the best fit for existing vacancies.
As per ODP Guidelines:
Eligibility for intellectual disability services requires a diagnosis of an intellectual disability based on the results of objective standardized testing. An intellectual disability is a permanent condition that affects a person's ability to learn and function in daily life that occurs in the developmental period. A diagnosis of an intellectual disability requires that both a person's general intelligence and ability to function in daily life are significantly below average. These two conditions may be present at birth or occur in the developmental period defined as prior to the person's 22nd birthday.
As the "center of the system", ECCM's intake department will initially meet with all individuals seeking intellectual disability services to begin the process of deciphering and navigating these guidelines and bettering their lives. Referrals can come from a number of sources, including the individual or their family. At the point of initial contact, our staff will explain the process, collect demographic data, and may request other documentation such as birth certificates and social security cards.
After the initial meeting, follow up activities include review and documentation of the individual’s educational, medical, social and psychiatric histories as well as a general review of the individual’s current supports and service needs. The intellectual disability intake staff will then follow up with a determination of eligibility and a right to appeal if the individual is deemed ineligible.
Autism Spectrum Disorder does not affect all individuals identically. Some may be able to live independently, while others may need significant support. It is because of “high-functioning” autism and comorbidities that some adults go undiagnosed.
There are many early intervention strategies that can be employed to ensure the best outcome in young children exhibiting signs of developmental delays. By uniting in their efforts, parents and professionals can make a greater difference.
Early intervention services such as those offered by ECCM help children with developmental delays catch up in key domains of early childhood development by pairing them with experts who deliver specialized instruction and care.
