DOVER (Oct. 13, 2021) –The Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) announced today that Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore will become the Division’s new “Agency with Choice” Provider, providing self-directed services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Self-directed supports provide additional flexibility to individuals and families to build the service system that suits them best.

Marissa Catalon, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services said, “Self-directed care options empower people to control the supports they receive – whether those supports are needed at home, at a job, or out in the community. It’s our most flexible option, and we’re excited to have Easterseals as a new provider of this service option for our community.”

Easterseals will work with individuals receiving personal care and respite services via the DDDS Lifespan Medicaid Waiver Program and their families to provide assistance with training, enrollment, staff-hiring and onboarding.

Pam Reuther, Chief Operating Officer of Easterseals of Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, shared the enthusiasm for this new partnership. “Easterseals has a long history of working to meet the unique needs of every individual we support. We’re excited to have been selected as the new Agency with Choice Provider for DDDS and look forward to enabling more individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families to play a stronger role in building the supports they need.”

DDDS first made self-directed care through the Agency with Choice program available to its service recipients in 2017 in partnership with Consumer Direct Care Network. “We’re incredibly grateful for the work Consumer Direct Care Network did in partnership with the State to build and grow this program over the last four years,” said DDDS Director Catalon. “Because of their commitment and stewardship of this service, we feel confident in our ability to transition this program to our new partner and continue its expansion in our service system.”

DDDS is one of 10 divisions in the Department of Health and Social Services. It serves more than 5,000 service recipients statewide.

The Delaware Academy of Medicine and the Delaware Public Health Administration have published the March 2021 issue of the Delaware Journal of Public Health.  This issue focuses on Diversabilty: Thriving with Intellectual and Developmental Disability. The journal is packed with information and references if you wish to do further research. 

Test administered in the provider-managed setting by a trained staff member using a shallow nasal swab

NEW CASTLE (January 21, 2021) – The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) in partnership with the Division of Public Health (DPH) is bringing a rapid COVID-19 testing program to group homes, day programs and other provider-managed settings in Delaware that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Beginning this month, Delaware provider agencies serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to rapid antigen testing kits that detect active COVID-19 virus in 15 minutes.

“These testing kits are going to be a very welcomed resource to our provider community,” said Cory Nourie, Director of Community Services for DDDS. “Many of the individuals we support across the state have underlying health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. But they also rely on the close contact and care provided to them daily by their direct support professionals and can’t always benefit from the standard tools of mask wearing and social distancing that others rely upon for staying safe. We’ve been waiting for a tool like this to be available, and I’m so excited we now have it for our provider network.”

Dr. Rick Pescatore, Chief Physician for the Division of Public Health, said, “During the pandemic, the state has been working to increase access to fast, accurate testing options. We all know that the sooner we can identify an individual as COVID positive, the sooner we can begin the process of isolation and contact tracing to minimize the spread of this terrible disease.”

“Getting access to rapid antigen testing is exactly what we were looking for and its use in the group home and congregate settings is a smart way to use this tool,” Pescatore added. “We’re excited to see this get out into the field and to see what impact it can have.”

The test is administered in the provider-managed setting by a trained staff member using a shallow nasal swab and a couple of drops of indicator, that when combined, provide a result in 15 minutes. Participating providers are able to test their direct support professionals on-site and identify asymptomatic COVID-19 positive individuals. This, in conjunction with the other safety precautions already in place, will provide an added level of protection and assistance in mitigating the spread to vulnerable Delawareans. Individuals testing positive will be required to isolate at home and obtain a PCR COVID test through Curative to confirm the rapid test. They will not return to work until they provide a negative PCR result or have completed their isolation period.

“The rapid test gives us one more option for ensuring the safety of service recipients and staff until we can bring the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone,” Nourie said.

The Rapid Antigen Tests are provided by Delaware’s State Health Operations Center. Providers interested in testing must obtain a CLIA waiver, a federally mandated waiver that allows laboratory testing to be performed outside of a traditional laboratory setting. Once the waiver has been obtained, and staff have been trained by DPH, testing kits are delivered directly from the State to providers.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) has more than 5,000 service recipients statewide, including 1,270 who receive residential habilitation services in group homes and similar community-based settings.

Specialized savings accounts protect the benefits of individuals with disabilities.

Treasurer Colleen C. Davis is marking the first anniversary of the Delaware ABLE Plan by releasing a new awareness campaign and video. ABLE is a savings program for individuals with disabilities that ensures their ability to put away money and advance in life without risking their important government benefits. Without ABLE, saving money for the future or earning a fair wage can put a person’s ability to utilize Medicaid and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) at risk.

“During ABLE’s first year, the focus was on getting the program up and running. Now the groundwork is laid, and we are shifting our focus towards getting information about the plan into the hands of those who could benefit from it,” Treasurer Davis explained, “Our new awareness video is a great, sharable way for residents to learn about the program and how easy it is to sign up.”

During 2019 alone, Treasurer Davis and staff have reached over 3,000 people through direct, in-person outreach at dozens of events and community meetings. This week, a more broad online awareness effort begins with the release of a video about ABLE.

“Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of people with disabilities seeking employment,” said Dan Madrid, Director of Policy and Performance Management and ABLE Manager in the Office of the State Treasurer. “They would tell me that they needed a job, but could only make so much, or needed a job that paid less. Several would obtain jobs and then have to refuse promotions and raises because of the asset limits associated with their benefits. With ABLE, they don’t need to hold themselves back anymore. They can have a stable, successful future – and we want everyone to know about the opportunity.”

The Treasurer has hope that Congress will help the plan expand as well. Davis is supportive of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which would increase plan eligibility to those who incurred a disability by age 26 to those whose disability onset by age 46, making an estimated six million more Americans eligible for the important program. Treasurer Davis is strongly in support of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, and released an op-ed to encourage support and a joint statement with Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long.

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program allows for the creation of tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities without compromising eligibility for federal benefits such as Medicaid and Social Security. Delaware’s ABLE plan is administered by the Office of the State Treasurer. Learn more about Delaware’s ABLE Plan by visiting ABLE.delaware.gov.

NEW CASTLE (June 12, 2019) – The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) will host two sessions later this month for families interested in applying for the Lifespan Waiver, which is designed to enable individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder or Prader-Willi Syndrome who have left school to live safely in the community. The waiver’s services also will support and respect individuals’ desire to work or engage in other productive activities.

Staff from DDDS and community navigators who work for the Columbus Organization, and help people get connected to services, including the Lifespan Waiver, will attend each session. They will help families with their applications and answer questions. The session dates are:

• Tuesday, June 25 (5:30-7:30 p.m.): Fox Run (first floor), 2540 Wrangle Hill Road, Bear.
• Wednesday, June 26 (5:30-7:30 p.m.): Milford Annex, 291 A Rehoboth Boulevard, Milford.

“This is a great opportunity for individuals and families to come and learn about how the services that DDDS offers under the waiver can help them to lead full and successful lives in the community, and I encourage families to take advantage of this,” said Marie Nonnenmacher, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. “We are excited that we were recently able to expand the waiver to enable individuals living at home who have left school to receive Medicaid-funded home and community-based services and supports.”

Individuals and families are urged to contact their community navigator or the DDDS Manager of Family Engagement before the session for assistance in preparing the necessary supporting documents to bring with them. There are “level of care” and financial requirements used in determining eligibility for these waiver services, which support individuals once they have exited the public school system.

The DDDS Lifespan Waiver is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver that has been in place since 1987. The waiver provides for services and supports as an alternative to institutional care. For more information on the Lifespan Waiver: https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/ddds/