Glossary
A
Adult Day Supports
This service helps people connect with their community. It teaches them how to meet and talk to new people, learn about activities available in the area, navigate places more independently, and discover job opportunities.
Adult Day Supports/Vocational Habilitation Combo
This refers to a program that contains both work and non-work services.
Adult Services
This refers to the services that a person can access after finishing school, whether they graduate at 18 or 22 years old. Public schools must provide free and proper education until the age of 22.
Advocacy
People with developmental disabilities can speak or act for themselves. They can also join together to represent issues that affect people with disabilities.
Agency Provider
This is an organization that offers services to people with developmental disabilities. The agency is called the provider of record, and any member of their team can give direct services.
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology, or AT, is any electronic device that helps people be more independent, improve their skills, and engage with their community. AT can be used in various ways, such as completing work tasks, talking with friends, or reminding you to take your medicine.
B
Behavioral Support Strategies
Strategies in person-centered plans that improve people’s lives by lowering the risk of harm to themselves or others.
C
Caregiver
A person who helps someone with a developmental disability by providing basic care. This could be a parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, or anyone who helps with tasks like bathing, feeding, dressing, shopping, and paying bills.
COEDI
Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument – This is an Ohio-required tool used to determine eligibility through age 15. (Completion of this tool is just a part of the eligibility process.)
Community Integration
The full participation and inclusion of all people in community life.
Cuyahoga DD
The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, or Cuyahoga DD for short, is the county agency that serves eligible residents of Cuyahoga County.
D
Developmental Delays
Delays in child development can significantly slow down progress. These delays can affect areas like thinking, movement, communication, social skills, and daily life. Without help, these delays may hurt the child's long-term learning and success in school.
Developmental Disabilities
Conditions that can affect a person's physical abilities, thinking skills, or behavior can arise before they turn 22 years old.
Developmental Specialist
A Developmental Specialist (DS) helps children from birth to age 5 who may be struggling in areas like learning, movement, communication, vision, hearing, or health. A DS is usually called in when a child has delays in more than one of these areas.
DODD
Acronym used for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Dual Diagnosis
This term is usually used to reference someone who has both a mental illness and a developmental disability (MI/DD).
Due Process
This is a formal way to settle disagreements. The process starts with a complaint and ends with a solution. Many issues can be handled by talking with Cuyahoga DD staff.
E
Eligibility
This refers to the process of determining whether someone is eligible for services through the Cuyahoga DD.
Employment First
An Ohio executive order that states community employment should be the preferred outcome for working-age adults with developmental disabilities.
Evaluation & Assessment (E&A)
Evaluation and Assessment (E&A) is how the Early Intervention team helps families understand their child's strengths, needs, and concerns. This process then helps decide if the child is eligible for services and what kind of Early Intervention support would be beneficial.
Evidence-Based Early Intervention (EBEI)
Evidence-based practice in early childhood involves using the best research available, expert knowledge, and input from children and their caregivers. This process helps identify and deliver services proven to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
F
Family Supports Program
Cuyahoga DD’s locally-funded program that helps pay for some services and resources for people with developmental disabilities who live at home with their families or on their own.
Free Choice of Provider
You can choose any provider for your Medicaid services based on your state’s rules. The providers you choose must be willing to bill Medicaid at the current rates. Not all providers participate in Medicaid. Your Support Administrator can help you find a provider who accepts Medicaid funding.
H
HCB Services
Home and Community-Based Services (HCB) allow people who receive Medicaid to get care in their own homes or in their communities, rather than in a hospital or institution.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The HIPAA Privacy Rule creates national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other Protected Health Information (PHI).
I
IEP
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a tool that schools use to outline the support a child receives. It provides customized special education services to meet the unique needs of each student.
IFSP
An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a process and a document used in Early Intervention services to support your child's development. It acts as a roadmap for the services and tools that will help your child thrive. The plan outlines the services and support your baby or toddler will receive and sets the goals you and your team want to achieve for your child.
Independent Provider
This term refers to a provider who is considered independently employed. They cannot subcontract or send someone else to provide service in their place.
IO Waiver
Individual Options, or IO Waiver, is a comprehensive waiver that is often a good fit for people who need a lot of help in their homes or who need many different kinds of services.
ISP
Individual Service Plan – this is the document written by the Support Administrator that is the contract between the person and their provider and assures the health, safety, and welfare of the individual. This document is to be completed annually and updated as often as needed.
L
Least Restrictive Environment
This is the best environment for a person with a developmental disability. It gives them the best chance for personal growth and to be included with their peers as much as possible.
Level One Waiver
The Level One Waiver (L1) is for people who do not need a lot of paid support. This Waiver depends on natural supports, which are services provided by family, friends, coworkers, and others in the community without payment.
M
Medicaid
Medicaid helps people with low income pay for health care services. It uses both state and federal money. To qualify for Medicaid, individuals must have limited income and assets. Medicaid covers things like medical appointments, durable medical equipment, and home health care services.
MUI
A Major Unusual Incident is a reporting system required by Ohio law. It outlines how to review and report claims of abuse, neglect, and other serious incidents in the Developmental Disabilities system.
Multi-Factored Evaluation (MFE)
The Multi-Factored Evaluation (MFE) is a process required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA). This evaluation determines if a child qualifies for special education services. The MFE looks at whether the child has a disability and helps identify their specific educational needs.
N
Natural Supports
Relationships in the community can improve people's quality of life. Natural supports include family members, friends, neighbors, and others in the community or organizations that help the public. These people provide voluntary support to assist individuals with developmental disabilities.
NEON
North East Ohio Network, or NEON, is a partner agency that helps Cuyahoga DD administer its Family Supports Program.
NMT (Non-Medical Transportation)
Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) is the service that takes people to and from their day programs or jobs in the community. In Cuyahoga County, there are many certified NMT providers available to offer this service.
O
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists (OT) are experts in fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, sensory processing, lip and tongue ties, and feeding issues.
OEDI
Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument—This is an Ohio—required tool used to determine eligibility for people age 16 and older. (Completion of this tool is just a part of the eligibility process.)
Ohio Department of Development Disabilities (DODD)
The Ohio agency oversees a statewide system of supportive services that ensures health and safety, supports access to community participation, and increases opportunities for meaningful employment.
Ohio Early Intervention
Ohio Early Intervention helps families with young children. It is a state program for children from birth to age two who may have developmental delays or medical conditions that could lead to delays. Early Intervention is the first step for families to find the support and resources they need for their child's learning and growth. In Cuyahoga County, the Early Intervention Program is a partnership between Cuyahoga DD and Bright Beginnings.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)
This state agency helps people with disabilities find good jobs, gain independence, and determine their eligibility for support. OOD works with local agencies, like Cuyahoga DD and schools, to create job opportunities and support independent living for Ohioans with disabilities.
P
Payee
A representative payee is a person or organization who receives Social Security or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage their own benefits. This payee can be a friend, family member, or an organization.
Person-Centered Planning
An individual-focused approach to planning that empowers individuals with developmental disabilities to make choices about their lives.
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapists (PT) are experts in gross motor skills; focusing on mobility such as rolling, crawling, walking and climbing.
Primary Service Provider
A Primary Service Provider (PSP) is a member of the Early Intervention (EI) Services team who is the main contact for a family receiving EI Services. This person visits the family most often, even if there are other services involved. The team chooses the PSP based on the needs of the child. The PSP works with the team to provide services outlined in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
Provider Guide Plus
This online tool allows individuals and families to rate an agency provider or read reviews about other agency providers. It was created to assist with the provider selection process.
R
Remote Monitoring (also called Remote Monitoring Services or Remote Support Services)
Assistive technology that helps people maintain their privacy and independence while staying safe. It is managed through a service provider hub. Remote monitoring services include tools like sensors, intercoms, alarms, call pendants, cameras, alerts, and safety features for faucets and stoves.
S
SA
Support Administrator – this is a Cuyahoga DD “case manager” who works with individuals and providers of services to coordinate services as well as monitor the progress of those services. SAs typically work with individuals 18 years and older who require Medicaid waiver funding for their service needs.
SELF Waiver
The Self Empowered Life Funding waiver is Ohio's first waiver that lets participants manage their own services. This waiver is ideal for people who want control over their care. With a SELF Waiver, you can hire and train the individuals who provide your services.
Self-Determination
Self-Determination focuses on freedom, authority, support, responsibility, and confirmation for people with disabilities. It means they choose how they want to live, work, and be part of their community. They decide how to use the funds they receive. They also get the support they need to live the life they want. Ensuring the money is spent wisely is their responsibility. They are included in making decisions about their lives and in designing the support systems that assist them.
Service Coordinator
A Service Coordinator (SC) is the first contact for Early Intervention services. The SC visits the family to gather information, schedules a developmental evaluation, and writes the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). They also refer the family to necessary services and check to make sure that EI services are provided according to the plan.
Speech Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologists are experts in expressive and receptive communication, what people say or sign, and what they understand.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays monthly benefits to disabled workers and their dependents. The plan is funded by Social Security. Participants must have worked enough quarter-years of employment and paid into the system to qualify for benefits.
Social Security Income
Social Security Income (SSI) is federal government funding that provides income support to people 65 and over and adults and children with blindness or other disabilities who have few or no financial resources.
Supported Living
A service model based on principles that emphasize a person's choice, self-determination, and community integration.
V
Vocational Habilitation
These services help people learn important work skills. They focus on responsibility, attendance, completing tasks, solving problems, social skills, motor skills, and safety. Participants earn a paycheck for the work they complete and receive support to help them move toward competitive jobs if they wish to do so.
W
Waiver
A Home and Community-Based Services Waiver is a program approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These waivers help individuals who want to receive services in their community rather than in an institution. They pay for services that help people with developmental disabilities in living their lives. There are three types of waivers: Individual Options (IO), Level 1, and SELF.
Additional terms and acronyms are available from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.