Family NET Works

Description

Whether you have just found out that a person in your family has a developmental disability ; you want information concerning your infant or toddler ; your family member is entering into a new phase of life such as: going to school , the teen years and young adulthood , adulthood, is thinking about retirement ; or you just need some general family resources or would like to join a support group , the right kind of encouragement or resource can help ease the transition or stress, and provide you with the tools you need. It's never too early to start Planning for the Future for your loved one. An excellent resource is Planning Now: A Guide for Parents of Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities which can be downloaded from the internet. All children and adults with disabilities, regardless of their perceived level of ability, should have the services and supports that they need to live at home with their families, or in the home of their choice. Services should be based on the principle "whatever it takes" and should be flexible, individualized, and recognize that families and individuals are diverse, and therefore have separate and unique needs. Supports may be "natural supports" meaning that they are provided by people who are not disability service providers, who provide assistance with daily living or employment responsibilities, feedback, contact, or companionship, to enable people labeled with severe disabilities to participate independently, or partially independently, in the community. Natural supports can be either paid or unpaid, depending on the situation. An example of natural supports would be a neighbor that cuts the grass or helps with laundry, or a co-worker who teaches an employee how to use the copier. Many of the state funded services in Maryland are provided through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration . Families in Maryland who have a child with a developmental disability who is living in the home, or individuals with disabilities may be eligible for services. Services are not an entitlement, which means that they may not be available to all eligible families or individuals because of limited funding, but they can help in very significant and important ways. DDA funds a full range of services or support services, which include Individual (ISS) and Family (FSS) Supports , Behavioral Support Services , Residential, Vocational/Day Services, Resource Coordination, or other programs. You or one of your family members may apply for one or more of these services. Once your application has been received, DDA will assign a representative to conduct a personal interview with you and ask questions about your application. This representative may be an employee of the Developmental Disabilities Administration, or a Resource Coordinator. Resource Coordinators do not work directly for DDA, but do work closely with DDA. Service or Resource Coordination is provided by agencies contracted by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to assist people who have applied for DDA funded services.

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