Getting Started
Are these services for me?
NASP member organizations provide services for people who are eligible for developmental disabilities (DD) services in Nebraska. If you don’t know what this is, haven’t applied for, or been determined eligible for DD services, pause here. You can learn more by visiting the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHHS-DD) website or, call toll free at (877) 667-6266. The information outlined below and more can be found here: Resources for DDD
Who is eligible for services?
To be eligible for DD services, an applicant must: 1) Be a citizen of the United States of America or a qualified alien under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act and be lawfully present in the United States 2) Be a resident of the State of Nebraska 3) Have a developmental disability (DD).
What is a developmental disability?
As defined in Nebraska Revised Statute 83-1205: “Developmental disability shall mean a severe, chronic disability, including an intellectual disability, other than mental illness, which: (1) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment unless the impairment is solely attributable to a severe emotional disturbance or persistent mental illness; (2) Is manifested before the age of twenty-two years; (3) Is likely to continue indefinitely; (4) Results in substantial functional limitations in one of each of the following areas of adaptive functioning: (a) Conceptual skills, including language, literacy, money, time, number concepts, and self-direction; (b) Social skills, including interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, wariness, social problem solving, and the ability to follow laws and rules and to avoid being victimized; and (c) Practical skills, including activities of daily living, personal care, occupational skills, healthcare, mobility, and the capacity for independent living; and (5) Reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated. An individual from birth through the age of nine years inclusive who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting three or more of the major life activities described in subdivision (4) of this section if the individual, without services and support, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.”
I’m eligible! Now what?
Being eligible for services is the first step! Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean you will immediately receive services. Because there is only so much money to go around, services will be offered only when funding is available for you. In the meantime, you will be assigned a DD coordinator (either a Service Coordinator or Community Coordinator Specialist) to help you through the process.
What is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver?
A Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver allows states to use Medicaid funds to provide services to people with disabilities in their homes and community, who would otherwise be served in an institution. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves state waivers. Waiver services are funded by state appropriations and matching federal Medicaid funds from CMS.
The state of Nebraska has four Medicaid HCBS waivers administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). There are two waivers to serve people with disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care:
• Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver: Offers services and supports in the community, including respite, extraordinary childcare, and assistive technology and modifications for children living with their family.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver: Offers services and supports to people age 18 through 64 who want to live in assisted living.
The other two waivers serve people with developmental disabilities who have the same level of care needs as people living in an intermediate care facility for people with developmental disabilities (ICF-DD):
• Developmental Disabilities Adult Day (DDAD) Waiver: Offers services that focus on daytime community integration and inclusion, including employment and job support or teaching skills for future employment.
• Comprehensive Developmental Disabilities (CDD) Waiver: Offers the same services as the DDAD waiver, and includes residential support. The focus is on teaching independent living skills in a person’s home. Medicaid HCBS Developmental Disabilities Waiver services are person-centered and voluntary.
A couple things to note:
• All of the services outlined here may not be available to you. Your DD coordinator can tell you what services you may choose.
• The terms “habilitation” and “habilitative” refer to training or teaching skills to help you become more independent.
I’m approved! What’s next?
This is great news! You can now begin to think about what is possible for you to live out your dreams of living, working, and playing in your community. There are many choices, both in the type of services and in who can deliver the services. The first step is to know how much service funding you will receive. Your DD coordinator will tell you what this amount is per year. Then, you can begin to make your plan. Not to worry, it is your DD coordinator’s job to help you make these important decisions and put together the plan that is best for you.
So what types of services are provided by NASP member organizations?
NASP member organizations provide a wide variety of Day, Employment, Residential, and Respite services. Visit our Services page to learn more!