Unlimited Care Providers

Autism Waiver

Who is eligible? Pennsylvania residents age 21 and older who meet the medical assistance program clinical and financial eligibility for Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Other Related Conditions (ICF/ORC) or Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Mental Retardation (ICF/MR) services. The disability must result in substantial functional limitation in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency.

The person must have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Autistic Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger and Rett Disorder as determined by a licensed psychologist or physician.

Counties Served: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fulton, Forest, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland.

Once you are enrolled in the program, you can move anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania and continue to be enrolled in the program.

Applicant must be 21 years or older to apply. To apply call 1-866-539-7689. Leave a message with your current contact information, and a Bureau of Autism Services Representative will return your phone call.

SERVICES AVAILABLE:

• Supports Coordination
  • Assist with the location, coordination, and monitoring of needed services and supports.

• Assistive Technology
  • This is any piece of equipment or product that is used to increase, maintain or improve a person’s communication. The amount of this service is limited to $10,000 for this person’s lifetime.

• Behavioral Specialist Services
  • Provides specialized behavioral support for individuals that may demonstrate behavioral challenges because of limited social skills, limited communication skills or impaired sensory systems.

• Community Inclusion
  • This is designed to assist people in acquiring, retaining and improving communication, socialization, self direction, self help and adaptive skills necessary to reside in the community.

• Community Transition
  • This is a one time expense for a person that is transitioning from an institution to a private residence where that person is directly responsible for his or her living expenses.

• Day Habilitation
  • Provides individualized assistance with acquiring, retaining and improving communication, socialization, self direction, self help and adaptive skills necessary to reside in the community.

• Residential Habilitation
  • Assists individuals for up to twenty-four hours a day in acquiring, retaining, and improving the communication, socialization, self direction, self help and adaptive skills necessary to reside in the community. (daily living activities)

• Environmental Modifications
  • Physical adaptations to the participant’s home which are necessary to ensure the health and welfare of the participant and/or to enable the participant to function with greater independence. The service limit is $20,000 for this person’s lifetime.

• Family Counseling
  • Provides caregiver counseling for the participant’s family and informal network to develop and maintain healthy, stable relationships among all caregivers, including family members for support of the participant.

• Family Training
  • A service available to develop expertise in the participant’s family and formal care network so that caregivers can help the participant acquire, retain, or improve skills that directly improve the individual’s ability to live independently.

• Job Assessment and Finding
  • Job Assessment and Finding provides support necessary to obtain paid or volunteer work in the community including job assessment and job development.

• Nutritional Consultation
  • Provides assistance to participants with an identified food allergy, food sensitivity or a serious nutritional deficiency.

• Respite
  • Provides for planned or emergency short term relief to a participant’s unpaid caregiver when the caregiver is temporarily unavailable to provide supports necessary. The total cost per fiscal year is limited to $6,240.

• Temporary Crisis Services
  • Temporary Crisis Services provides additional staff in the short term in a time of crisis for a participant when it has been determined that the participant’s health and welfare is in jeopardy.

• Supported Employment
  • Ongoing assistance in developing the communication, socialization, self direction, self help, adaptive skills necessary to maintain employment in a community setting.

• Therapies
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech/Language Therapy
  • Counseling

• Transitional Work Services
  • Provide community employment opportunities in which the participant is working alongside other people with disabilities.

This information was obtained from the Autism Waiver Draft Appendix’s A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I & J.