Self Direction
Empowering people to design supports based on their own unique strengths and needs
What is Self Direction?
Unity House’s Self Direction Program partners with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to give them a choice of supports and services that best fit their needs. We provide personalized services, offering face to face contact for clients who desire a more individualized partnership.
The person hires, schedules and supervises the direct support staff who support them. Services are provided to the person by Unity House staff under a co-employment model.
With Self Direction’s flexibility, participants may pick and choose the services they want, the staff and the organizations that provide them, and a service schedule that is right for them. Enhancing community involvement and building positive relationships in the community is at the core of Self Direction.
Fiscal Intermediary and Other Services
Unity House offers fiscal intermediary services and has access to independent support broker services, self-hire community habilitation, and respite services. Unity House utilizes an electronic documentation system that assists the individuals served, their families, their staff and their brokers with efficiently and confidentially processing financial requests on behalf of the clients.
Eligibility Requirements
Anyone who is eligible for OPWDD services and enrolled in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver may choose to self-direct their services.
How to Get Started
First, individuals interested in receiving services can attend a Self-Direction information session at a nearby Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO). They will meet with a team of people they choose, known as their Circle of Support, who will help them select services and create a budget. The Circle of Support can include family and close friends, a Care Manager, a Support Broker, and staff who know the individual well. Together, they will discuss what the individual wants from life and work to make it a reality.
Self-Direction is flexible. Individuals can make changes to their plan whenever they want something different. If Self-Direction does not suit them, they can always switch back to a more traditional model of supports.
Additional information is available through NYS OPWDD here.
Click here to view the NYS OPWDD brochure: My Life, My Choice: Self-Directed Services for People with Developmental Disabilities
For more information or a referral, please contact:
315-253-6227 ext. 220