• Specialized support services are services provided by health care and other professionals that enable individuals and families to increase or maintain their ability to perform activities of daily living.

• Examples of such services are physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, visual and mobility therapy, behavioral therapy and nursing services.

• Assistive technology that can be used to increase, maintain or improve functioning can also be funded including training and software. An evaluation and recommendation with a letter of medical necessity must be completed for eligibility.

• Specialized therapies may only be funded through Waiver with documentation of denial from MA State Plan, Medicare and/or private insurance.

Examples of Supported Employment Services are job finding and job support services.

1. Job finding services are services directed towards preparing individuals for and obtaining placement in competitive jobs of choice. Services include but are not limited to interview skill training, resume preparation, SSI and SSDI benefits counseling and job searching.

2. Job support service is a periodic follow-up with individuals and their employers to support them in maintaining competitive jobs in their community through continued training.

Supports coordination services are received by all individuals enrolled in the Intellectual Disability (ID) service system. Supports coordinators assist individuals in developing their individual support plans, choosing providers and informal supports, and locating, coordinating and monitoring the administration of services. Supports coordination services may be provided either by a county or by an outside agency that contracts with the county to provide these services.

• Transportation services are offered to enable individuals to gain access to their community including both services and informal supports. Transportation services include those delivered by providers, family or other licensed drivers on a mile by mile basis, public transportation to promote self- determination and transportation on a trip-basis. Transportation covers emergency transportation in certain circumstances. Please contact your supports coordinator for more information about these services.

• Respite is a service provided on a short-term basis to relieve those persons normally providing care and is provided in two categories: 24-hour respite and 15-minute respite. 24-hour respite is provided for periods over 16 hours as a daily unit with a 30 unit fiscal limit while 15-minute respite is provided for periods under 16 hours as a 15-minute unit with a 480 unit fiscal limit.

• Respite services may only be provided to those living in a private home.

• Respite services may also be provided by someone that the person and family already knows who is qualified and willing to provide assistance either in the person’s home, the home of a family member or a friend’s home.

• Home and vehicle adaptations can be completed to a private home or vehicle in order to ensure health, security and accessibility of the individual.

• Homemaker/Chore services enable an individual to remain in their private residence by providing physical assistance in areas including meal preparation, cleaning and household care and maintenance.

There are a number of services under this category. In recognition of the unique needs of individuals, including assuring each individual’s health and safety in the delivery of service, different intensities of these services are available. Please contact a supports coordinator to find out which intensity will best meet your needs.

• Home and Community Habilitation is designed to support participants in accessing and using community resources including transportation and activities of community life, developing and maintaining financial responsibility, and participating in community groups including volunteering. Habilitation also supports an individual in participating in visits with friends and family, advisory boards, exercising civic responsibilities, and ensuring overall health and safety. Services can be provided by a service agency that provides trained individuals to provide assistance or by someone the person and family already knows who is qualified and willing to provide assistance.

• Licensed Day Habilitation supports an individual with supervision, support and training in self-care, communication, and socialization. Areas of focus include mobility, relationship development, and community resources. This also includes Older Adult Day services. Services cannot be provided at the same time as Home and Community Habilitation, Companion Services, Supported Employment, Prevocational Services and Transitional Work Services.

• Prevocational services develop skills for placement in vocational programs and ultimately into competitive employment by focusing on competitive work traits and training. This service can be provided as occupational training which focuses on a specific job and includes personal and work adjustment training, and work-related evaluations which use activities, observations and testing to determine appropriate job placement. Transportation is an integral part of this service.

• Residential Habilitation protects the health and welfare of participants by acquiring and maintaining skills necessary to reside successfully in the community. Skills include self-care, communication, mobility, socialization and motor skills. Can be provided in Child Residential Services, CRRS, Family Living, Community Home or Unlicensed Residential setting.

• Transitional work services offer work experience in a real work environment that is integrated and supervised. These environments are often known as mobile work force, work station in industry, affirmative industry and enclave.

Financial Management Services (FMS) provide a service to help people hire, pay and manage their own individual providers of service. There are two models from which to choose:

1. Agency with Choice (AWC) financial management service provides administrative services and all identified participant directed waiver services.

2. Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agency (VF/EA) financial management service provides administrative service and pay for all identified participant directed services authorized for the participant.

Vendor services do not appear in the Services and Supports Directory.

• Vendor services are not specific to persons with an intellectual disability. They are typically available to the general public. In the ID system they are often paid for through an intermediate organization.

• Vendor services can include public transportation, environmental adaptations, adaptive appliances and equipment, and homemaker / chore services. An example of a vendor service is the building of a wheelchair ramp at your home. For more information about specific vendor services, please contact your supports coordinator.