Description | Characteristics | General Eligibility | How to Apply
Services | Cost | Additional Help | Contact
Description
Services for adults and children with developmental disabilities have been developed to promote full consumer participation in the community. Service provision is intended to provide access to the same opportunities and responsibilities that other people the same age are experiencing. Needs and preferences about where to live and work are respected in the planning and provision of service.
Self-Directed Support
Dane County uses a model of service called Self-Directed Support (SDS). It is also known as self-determination. In this service model, the person receiving services and those who know the person well, such as the family, guardian, and friends along with a Support Broker decide how best to use the money allocated for needed service(s). A Support Broker provides the support and service coordination needed to ensure the person's support plan and coinciding budget for service provision are being followed.
The key elements of Self-Directed Support are:
- Consumer control over an individual budget.
- The county sets an annual budget for the individual. The budget is based on the cost of past supports and current circumstances.
- Individuals, and those who know them well, plan services within the amount of the budget. They have the opportunity to determine what to buy, who to buy it from and when to buy it.
- Use of a support broker.
- The support broker is responsible for assisting with the development and implementation of the person's plan.
- The consumer chooses the support broker.
- The support broker's responsibilities are:
- Helping identify the individual's goals.
- Developing individualized support plans. Plans include how the individual wants to live, and also those elements of an individual's life that are non-negotiable (those things that cannot be compromised).
- Identifying informal and generic supports as well as traditional human service agencies.
- Helping to choose supports that fulfill the goals of the individualized plan.
- Using the allocated budget creatively.
- Negotiating rates and contracting for services with the chosen providers.
- Monitoring the supports for quality on an ongoing basis.
- Assistance with managing budgets.
- Consumer control of funds does not require that the consumer have the skills or commitment to carry out money management.
- The broker can help arrange for a variety of methods of payment. Some, such as contracting, will look similar to today's system. Others, such as use of employment services to directly hire staff, will be quite different.
- A fiscal management agency makes sure that the money is spent as written in the individualized plan.
- Ensuring quality, health and safety.
- The support broker is responsible for making sure that plans protect consumer health and safety.
- The current protective systems for the prevention of abuse and neglect will remain in place.
- Additional evaluation tools will be used to measure consumer satisfaction, level of consumer control, and achievement of consumer goals.
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Information on Disability Characteristics and Conditions
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Information on how disability determinations are made for Wisconsin residents may be found on the State of Wisconsin's Disability Determination web site.
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General Eligibility
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- Age 18 or older
- Resident of Dane County - "physical presence with intent to remain."
- Documented Developmental Disability(s) which includes:
- Mental Retardation
- Cerebral Palsy
- Epilepsy
- Autism
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Other neurological condition "closely related to mental retardation or requiring treatment similar to that required for mental retardation."
- Disability is a "substantial handicap" to the person in his or her daily functioning. This is determined by an assessment of the person's functional abilities.
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How to Apply
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For general information and referral about services for adults with development disabilities, please contact the Human Services Developmental Disabilities Intake line at (608) 242-6440 or email DDInfo@co.dane.wi.us.
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Services
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Self-Directed Services may contain the following programs:
- Support and Service Coordination - Support Brokers and/or County case managers provide support services to and on behalf of, adults with developmental disabilities including assessment of the person's community support needs, developing individualized support plans, and more.
- A Place to Live (Supported Living Program) - This program is designed to enable adults with developmental disabilities to live in community residential settings.
- A Place to Work (Day Support Program) - The purpose of this program is to develop and support daytime activities that have meaning to the individual with a disability.
- Adult Protective Services - For adults who are found to be legally incompetent and are a danger to themselves and others, this program provides services that will result in a healthier and safer existence for the individual and other citizens.
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Cost
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The Dane County Department of Human Services - STEP Unit assists adults with developmental disabilities in applying for Medical Assistance and Food Stamps throughout Dane County. Income and assets are taken into account and co-pay may be required. Please call (608) 242-7400 for more information.
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Additional Help
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General Resources
The Yellow Book - Implementing Choice: Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Dane County
Finding Common Ground - What Providers Want Parents to Know, What Parents Want Providers to Know
The Source 2006 Directory - Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Getting There - A guide to Transportation services for adults with developmental disabilities.
Guidelines for Day Supports - A guide to Day Supports for adults with developmental disabilities.
Abuse and Neglect Policy - Guidelines for Abuse and Neglect of adults with developmental disabilities.
Self-Determination Resources
The Center for Self-Determination website is at www.self-determination.com.
The Community Outreach Wisconsin website is at cow.waisman.wisc.edu
Self-Determination Reports: These reports pertain to selection of services by and for people with developmental disabilities.
SDS Support Broker's Manual
Self-Directed Support Contract - The boilerplate contract for Self-Directed Support services.
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Contact
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For further information or to make a referral for self-directed support, please contact:
Eric Miller, SDS Services Coordinator
Dane County Department of Human Services
1202 Northport DR/3rd FL
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 242-6447
miller.eric@co.dane.wi.us
