In Oregon, state disability services are provided through Department of Human Services' Division of Seniors and People with Disabilities. This division combines portions of the former Senior and Disabled Services Division, Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division and Vocational Rehabilitation Division. The field services staff from these divisions have been moved to the Community Human Services group.

Main program areas include licensing and quality of care, planning and program development, home and community supports, and employment and financial benefits.

Eligibility for programs is determined by category of disability: physical disability, developmental disability, mental health.  Marie Deatherage

Developmental

Employment and community inclusion supports are available for individuals receiving comprehensive or support services. The overall purpose is to provide services based upon individual need and choice that promote opportunities for productivity, integration and independence. The Employment Outcome System is used to measure achievement in these areas. Oregon Department of Human Services recognizes supported employment as the desired method for employment. Information and resources to help achieve supported employment are identified.

County services

• Seniors and People with Disabilities contracts with each County to provide a variety of services to individuals with developmental disabilities, through local Community Developmental Disabilities Programs (CDDP). Each CDDP is generally part of the larger county Community Mental Health Program (CMHP), and serves as the “gateway” to developmental disability services within the state of Oregon.
• All CDDPs are required to participate with the CMHP in planning and developing resources, coordinating services with state hospitals and the training center, negotiating and monitoring contracts and subcontracts with provider and service entities, and documenting all service delivery per state and federal requirements.
• The Developmental Disabilities County Relations Unit performs the general oversight of the delivery of services through CDDPs or their private subcontract agencies. Regional Coordinators from this unit are each assigned to specific counties, and must direct and coordinate SPD activities with and between each county and its subcontract providers.
  Community Developmental Disabilities Programs (CDDP) Developmental Disability services are operated primarily within local communities, under contact with state and county government. Each county in the state of Oregon operates, or is a participating member of a Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP). Each CDDP is responsible for the planning and implementation of developmental disability services within their county(s), coordinating with local and state human service agencies and other service providers to address the needs of individuals. Each CDDP must maintain compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations.

Family Support

Oregon’s Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities offers services ranging from respite care and technical consultation to intensive in-home assistance, crisis intervention and out-of-home placement. There is no separate, specific program for individuals with autism. Instead, services are provided through county and state programs that serve people with developmental disabilities, including children and adults with autism. If your child is under 18 years of age, it’s important to understand that there is no “entitlement” to services from the Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities. Unlike special education, where children with disabilities have a legal right to a public education, there is no law that requires services to young children with disabilities — even if they are eligible for them. Services are generally limited to available funds in crisis situations.

However, in the past few years, services for children with disabilities who are under 18 years old and their families have been expanded and improved. Now there is more help available for families caring for children with disabilities at home...and more dollars going to prevent crisis and “burnout” in families.  If your adult child is 18 years or older and meets the developmental disability eligibility requirements, he or she is entitled to support services in Oregon. This entitlement is the result of a recent lawsuit that requires “access to support services” for adults with developmental disabilities who are living at home. Counties are working now to enroll eligible people in the system and that could take some time.

By June 30, 2009, any person 18 years of older who is eligible is entitled to receive support services based on an individual plan. Services can include such things as respite care, in-home staffing, job coaching and employment supports, community inclusion activities or other supports that help a person to live and work in his or her community. The lawsuit also allows, under certain circumstances, eligible adults to receive foster home or similar 24-hour services. However, access to these types of services is limited. No matter what age your child is, the “doorway” to services is your local County Developmental Disabilities Program. It’s usually located in the County Mental Health Department (see State & Local Developmental Disability Services). Case managers (sometimes called Service Coordinators) in your County Developmental Disabilities Program will talk with you to see if your child is eligible for services.

• If your child is younger than 18 years, the case manager will help you figure out what kind of help you need and work with you to develop service options.
• If your child is 18 years or older, the county case manager will work with your son or daughter and you to identify the options and help you begin accessing available services.

Children under 18

Supports for Families Every county in Oregon has a program that can help families with respite, training opportunities and other basic assistance not provided by special education. This support is administered by your County Developmental Disabilities Program. Your child must meet Oregon’s definition of “developmentally disabled” to be eligible for help under this program. You’ll need school test results and/or doctor’s reports that show your child has autism. The program is open to families at all income levels. Case managers can help you think about the type of respite and training you need to care for your child at home. You will play a big part in this — you determine where and when you need help, and what kind. Case managers will coordinate and monitor the assistance you receive. Remember, the program is small and probably can’t meet all your needs. But it can get you started.

Intensive In-Home Services (for children under 18 years old)

If your child needs intense supervision or intervention because of dangerous behavior and/or medical problems, your county will probably refer you to a state program for intensive in- home services. This program is for children who can’t remain at home unless their family receives significant help with personal care, safety modifications, training, behavior consultation and similar child-related needs. A checklist that rates the severity of the child’s difficult behaviors and/or medical issues determines eligibility for the program. It’s not easy to get into this program and there is a limit to the number of children who can be served. But if you think you need it, ask your county developmental disabilities case manager to be considered.

Crisis/Out-of-Home Placement (for children under 18 years old)

If your child is in crisis and can’t live at home, county and regional/state placement specialists can work with you to find a temporary foster home or group home for your child. Some children are in a placement setting for a few weeks; others for a longer period of time, depending on the child and the family’s situation. There are a limited number of foster and group homes in the state that provides services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. (Oregon has no specific institution or residential public school for children with autism.) Your county may have some crisis foster homes but probably will refer you to the state program for children’s crisis services. Unfortunately, the specialized placements may not be close to the family home. A legal agreement with the State is required. It is called the Developmental Disabilities Child Placement Agreement. Also, a plan will be written to include ways that families can remain involved with their children during placement. Families are required to authorize the Oregon Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD) as payee for their children’s SSI benefits (see below). If the child does not currently receive SSI, the program will apply for these benefits in the child’s name. The cost of the placement is not charged to families; however, this could change in the future. Families are expected to provide clothing and retain health insurance for their child. SPD also will apply for a medical card to supplement the family’s health insurance.

Physical

In Oregon, handled by DHS's Seniors and people with physical disabilities: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/spwpd/index.shtml

Local offices: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/spwpd/offices.shtml

Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which took effect July 26, 1992, prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. An individual with a disability is a person who:

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; Has a record of such an impairment; or Is regarded as having such an impairment. A qualified employee or applicant with a disability is an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to:

Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position; Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, adjusting modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, and providing qualified readers or interpreters. An employer is required to make an accommodation to the known disability of a qualified applicant or employee if it would not impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business. Undue hardship is defined as an action requiring significant difficulty or expense when considered in light of factors such as an employer's size, financial resources and the nature and structure of its operation.

An employer is not required to lower quality or production standards to make an accommodation, nor is an employer obligated to provide personal use items such as glasses or hearing aids.