Frequently Asked Questions

To find out if you or your family member can receive services, we need to determine if the person meets the eligibility requirements established by Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). 

Contact our office at (717)240-6325 and ask for IDD intake. They will assist you in determining eligibility for ID or Autism services. It is important to note that it is your responsibility to provide the necessary documentation for eligibility determination. The IDD Intake Specialist can assist you by completing releases to request information from other entities in order to confirm eligibility determination.

The Cumberland/Perry IDD program serves children and adults who have an eligible intellectual disability, developmental disability, Autism diagnosis or are a medically complex child and reside in Cumberland or Perry Counties.

An intellectual disability is when intellectual functioning (learning, problem solving and reasoning) and adaptive behavior (issues with everyday skills) are significantly limited. The intellectual disability occurs before the age of 22 and is a lifelong condition.

For Autism there needs to be an Autism diagnosis and testing showing that adaptive behavior (difficulties with everyday skills) is significantly limited, the disability occurs before the age of 22 and is a lifelong condition. An individual with Autism must be financially eligible for Medicaid services.

If you are eligible for IDD services, a Supports Coordinator will assist you in navigating the system. You will meet with your Supports Coordinator to develop an individualized plan, called an ISP (Individualized Service Plan). Funding is based upon availability.

The Individual Support Plan (ISP) process helps to identify your needs. Your Supports Coordinator will discuss the types of supports and services that may be available to help with those needs.

Supports and services can come from many sources:

• Family, friends, neighbors and other informal supports.
• Faith communities, community resources, non-profit organizations and other generic supports.
• Formal supports/services provided with funding through the Office of Developmental Programs.

Your Supports Coordinator will help to locate, coordinate and monitor the supports and services that you need.

There are times when your Supports Coordinator cannot arrange formal supports and services immediately due to the lack of available funding through the Office of Developmental Programs. When this happens, your Supports Coordinator will assist you to complete the PUNS (Priority of Urgency of Need for Services). This document records your unmet service need. It will help your Supports Coordinator and County ID Program understand and plan for your needs. The county and the state use the information to create their upcoming annual budgets and service plans. It also tells the Office of Developmental Programs the types of supports people are waiting for in each county and identifies gaps in services and supports in specific areas.

• Employment services can help a person find a job or learn skills right on the job.
• Community residential options include group homes, single apartments with a roommate, or a family living setting.
• People are provided supports in their family home or their own home.
• Day services and recreation are provided to people who live in residential settings and at home.
• A wide array of services and supports are also available to families caring for a child or adult sibling with an intellectual disability.