Diagnosis and Support

Diagnosis and identification of supports for people with Intellectual Disabilities occur in three steps. The first step is diagnosis. To make the diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities a qualified person gives one or more standardized, individual intelligence tests and a standardized, individual adaptive skills test. The second step is to describe the person’s strengths and weaknesses across four dimensions. The four dimensions are:

1. Intellectual and adaptive behavior skills
2. Psychological/emotional considerations
3. Physical health/etiological considerations
4. Environmental considerations

Strengths and weaknesses may be determined by formal testing, observations, interviewing key people in the individual’s life, interviewing the individual, interacting with the person in his or her daily life or a combination of these approaches. The third step requires an interdisciplinary team to determine needed supports across the four dimensions. Each support identified is assigned one of four levels of intensity – intermittent, limited, extensive, pervasive.

• Intermittent support refers to support on an "as needed basis." An example would be support that is needed in order for a person to find a new job in the event of a job loss. Intermittent support may be needed occasionally by an individual over the life span, but not on a continuous daily basis.
• Limited support may occur over a limited time span such as during transition from school to work or in time-limited job training. This type of support has a limit on the time that it is needed to provide appropriate support for an individual.
• Extensive support in a life area is assistance that an individual needs on a daily basis that is not limited by time. This may involve support in the home and/or support in work. Intermittent, limited and extensive supports may not be needed in all life areas for an individual.
• Pervasive support refers to constant support across all environments and life areas and may include life-sustaining measures. A person requiring pervasive support will need assistance on a daily basis across all life areas.

Who Can I Contact for Help?

Intellectual Disability Services are administered through County Mental Health and Developmental Services MHDS. The county MHDS offices serve as a referral source. Most Intellectual Disability services are delivered by local provider agencies who receive their funding through the Office of Developmental Programs. The county MHDS office determines a person's eligibility for service funding and if found eligible a person will receive a Supports Coordinator. The Supports Coordinator will:

• Talk with you about what kinds of supports and services would be helpful to you.
• Offer you an opportunity to complete an application for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Program.
• Enroll you in services which require completing applications.
• Help you develop your individual plan.
• Help you talk with individuals or agencies in the community that could support you.
• Coordinate and monitor supports and services.