What services does the Board provide?
Board services are completely voluntary. Among other things, the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is responsible for:
- Service & Support Administration (SSA) Department, which serves more than 2,000 individuals ranging from school-aged children through senior citizens. Case managers work hand in hand with families and providers to ensure the quality of care every day in helping improve life some those individuals are better able to reach their full potential. The SSA Department also provides employment navigation, which helps individuals served find gainful employment in the community.
- Children’s Department, which serves more than 2,000 children from newborns up to Age 6. The Children’s Department includes the Early Intervention Program as well as Help Me Grow. These services are available for infants and toddlers, who maybe have developmental delays or a diagnosed condition that may lead to delays.
- Community Inclusion Department, which puts on our major community events, and helps the individuals that we serve connect with and advocate for each other, get travel training on everything from bike riding to using a cross walk to navigating routes on public transit, and train to compete in sports year-round through Lucas County Special Olympics.
- Provider Supports Department, which works with more than 500 providers that handle the direct care of the individuals we serve. Provider Liaisons and Investigative Agents ensure compliance with the health and safety of all individuals served.
How should I write or speak about people with disabilities?
Keep in mind that people have differing opinions about what they personally would like to be called, so if you’re able to ask someone their preferences, then do so.
If you’re talking about groups of people or individuals for whom preferences can’t be determined, the Board advocates the use of person-first language.
What does “person-first language” mean?
Person-first language reflects the dignity of people with disabilities. It includes words that put the person first, rather than the disability.
Think people first. Use “a woman who has a disability” rather than “a disabled woman.”
Never refer to a person as “confined to a wheelchair.” Wheelchairs enable people to escape confinement. A person with a mobility impairment “uses” a wheelchair.
Try to describe people without disabilities as “typical” rather than “normal.”
Avoid words like “unfortunate,” “afflicted” and “victim.” On the other hand, try to avoid casting a person with a disability as a superhuman model of courage. People with disabilities are just people, not tragic figures or demigods.
A developmental disability is not a disease. Do not mention “symptoms,” “patients,” or “treatment” unless the person you’re describing has an illness as well as a disability.
Use common sense. Avoid terms with obvious negative or judgmental connotations, such as “crippled,” “deaf and dumb,” “lame,” and “defective.” If you aren’t sure how to refer to a person’s condition, ask. Furthermore, if the disability is not relevant to your conversation, why mention it at all?
Are there exceptions to this person-first language recommendation?
People with disabilities have the right to choose what they would like to be called. As such, some communities discourage the use of person-first language and advocate instead for identity-first language. Two examples are autism and deafness.
Members of these communities recognize that their disabilities are central to their identities. They therefore prefer the use of identity-first language such as “autistic person” or “deaf person.”
What is a service and support specialist (SSA)?
A service and support specialist (SSA) works for a county board of developmental disabilities and acts as the main point of coordination and contact for the services and support you need. He or she is assigned to you and acts as your trouble-shooter, problem-solver and advocate.
Why would I want an SSA assigned to me?
There are many reasons why you would want an SSA to be assigned to you:
- You want to know what services, support and community resources are available to you.
- You live in an intermediate care facility or nursing home and would like to move to a place in the community.
- You want a community job with meaningful pay.
- You want help in getting a provider (or a new provider) for some of the services you need.
What will my SSA do once he or she is assigned to me?
You can expect your SSA to:
- Call you back promptly
- Be honest with you about what services, support and community resources you may receive
- Connect you with people who can help you achieve desired outcomes and promote independence in the community
- Help you find housemates
- Help you solve problems with providers or with other people in your life
- Help you decide what should be in your individual service plan (ISP)
What is an individual service plan (ISP)?
An individual service plan (ISP) is the written description of services, support and community resources available to you. Your SSA helps you and the rest of your team decide which services and support to put in your ISP for these areas of your life:
- Self-determination (choices and opportunities)
- Self-advocacy (personal control)
- Health care and daily living skills (personal care and independence)
- Emotional health (self-worth, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life and spirituality)
- Material well-being (employment, money, education and housing)
- Personal development (experiencing success and learning to do new things on your own)
- Interpersonal relationships (social contacts, relationships and emotional support)
- Social inclusion (doing things in your community and with friends or family)
Who makes up my team?
Your team is a group of people who gives you support to develop and change your ISP. Your team includes your SSA, people with whom you work, providers, professionals, your guardian (if you have one) and any other people you choose to help support you. In thinking about the people you want to include, consider those you know and trust, such as family members, friends and others who have your best interests in mind. Your SSA can help you decide who you want on your team and who you want to invite to meetings about your ISP.
What role does natural support play?
Natural support comes to you from your personal relationships. You do not pay for it, and it’s usually provided by a family member, friend, neighbor, or other person or organizations that also do the same thing for other people who live in your community. Your SSA makes sure that your ISP includes all your services and support, no matter who provides it, who pays for it, or if it is a natural support or a service that is not covered by a Medicaid waiver.
What is person-centered planning?
Your SSA will help you and your team use a person-centered approach to develop, review and change your ISP. Person-centered means that everything centers on you and what you say. You get to share what you think about things other team members say. You get to speak up about the things that you want your team to know and what you want to have in your ISP. Your SSA will help you develop or change your ISP after listening to you explain what you need, how you would like things to be in the future, your interest in school or a job, what you think is working and not working well for you, and other things that are important to you.
Can my SSA help me have different things in my life in the future?
Of course! Your SSA and your team must support the outcomes you want. Outcomes are things you want to have in your life, thing you want to learn to do, things you want to get or things you want to do in the future. They are things that do not exist right now. Outcomes are also things that are important for you. Your SSA must make sure that you and your team agree on the things that are important to you and the things that are important for you.