OPWDD

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What is OPWDD? 

OPWDD stands for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. This is a New York

State government office responsible for coordinating services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological impairment, autism, familial dysautonomia and Prader-Willi Syndrome. OPWDD provides services directly and through a network of not-for-profit provider agencies.

What services are offered by OPWDD?

• after-school programs
• respite care
• behavioral services
• family training
• recreational opportunities
• support groups
• financial reimbursement
• and more

Who is eligible for services with OPWDD? 

To qualify for services, a child must have a disability that can be expected to continue through their lives and the disability must cause a substantial effect on a person’s ability to function in society.

Who determines if my child qualifies for services? 

OPWDD staff will review your child’s application and evaluations to determine whether they qualify for services. You will receive a letter from OPWDD in the mail with their decision. Often, OPWDD will ask you for more information before they make a decision.

Once I finish the OPWDD application, how do I get services for my child? 

If OPWDD decides your child qualifies for services, a care manager will help you get the services and support you need for your child. A list of organizations with care managers is attached. You will need to contact one of these organizations to get a care manager assigned to you.

CHECKLIST for you to get started!

Gather your 

Psychological and Psychosocial Evaluations: Provide all psychological evaluations the child has ever

had. These can be obtained by the doctors offices or clinics that performed the evaluations. If it has

been more than a year since the last evaluation, or if you have never done one, then contact a clinic

(list below) and get new psychological and psychosocial evaluations.

Psychoeducational evaluations: some students may have a psychoeducational evaluation in their file at

school. Ask your child’s teacher or the unit coordinator at the school to check if there is a

psychoeducational evaluation in the students’ file, and to provide you with a copy.

IEP (Individualized Education Plan): Ask your child’s teacher for a copy

Medicaid or private health insurance card

Document with date of birth: birth certificate, passport, etc

• Contact one of the coordinator (CCO) from any of these agencies below to begin the process :

                             TRI COUNTY CARE : Jessica Williamston @ 844-504-8400 ext.9298

                             ACA/NY : Jenny Young  @  646-765-0668

                             ACA/NY : Frida Valdez  @  646-633-6842 (espanol)

                             CARE DESIGN :   Peter Coleman  @ 518-580-3642

• Attend one of the FRONT DOOR Webinars. This is mandatory to begin the process.   Click here for a Information Sessions Schedule or see our Calendar .   After attending the Front Door Webinar, you will receive an email showing proof of attendance.  You will need this to submit with your application. 

• Fill out an application called the Eligibility Transmittal Form  (Download Form below)

• School medical forms NYCDOE Health Examination Form.  From child's doctor (Download Form below)

• Individualized Education Program (IEP).  Request from your Unit Coordinator if you don't have a copy.   You can also request to be emailed so you can have a digital copy.

• Psycho-Social evaluation. Must be conducted by an evaluation clinic.   See List below.

• Psychological evaluation. Must be conducted by an evaluation clinic.   See List below.

Once you have all the documents ready, you can  mail to : 

                       Attention: Eligibility Unit

                       Bernard Fineson

                       PO Box 280507

                       Queens Village, NY 11428-0507

or email all your documents to   opwdd.sm.fin.eligibility@opwdd.ny.gov , which we HIGHLY recommend. 

This whole process will take about between 1 to 1-1/2 year.    There are many applications and limited resources to process everything on a timely manner, but it will happen.  Don't be  discouraged.    

If you need additional help with filling out the applications or any questions, your Parent Coordinator will be able to help guide you.  Please contact Rachel Beadle at 718.361.3567 or email her at   RBeadle@schools.nyc.gov . 

Click Here for more information on the OPWDD website.