The first step in the intake process is to make an appointment with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Front Door Team to discuss your needs and establish eligibility. Eligibility is important because to be eligible for services from The Arc Otsego, you must have an intellectual or other developmental disability (see below.). If you are eligible for services, you will be referred to a Care Manager who will work with you to develop a Life Plan for services and support that addresses your needs and dreams.
Who is Eligible for Services?
Individuals who have a developmental disability are eligible to receive services from The Arc Otsego. Eligibility is established for New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) funded services.
A developmental disability is:
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- attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological impairment or autism
- attributable to any other condition of a person found to be closely related to mental retardation because such condition results in similar impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior to that of mentally retarded persons or requires treatment and services similar to those required for such persons
- attributable to dyslexia resulting from a disability described above
The disability
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- originates before the age of twenty-two (22)
- has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely
- constitutes a substantial handicap to the person’s ability to function normally in society