Disabilities

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person with a disability is someone who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Has a history or record of such an impairment
• Is regarded as having such an impairment

There is a wide variety of disabilities. Disabilities are categorized into physical, sensory, communication, cognitive, developmental and mental health types. Some disabilities are visible and some are not. Some examples include:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• HIV
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Deafness or hearing loss
• Blindness or low vision
• Epilepsy
• Mobility disabilities requiring the use of a wheelchair, walker, or cane
• Intellectual disabilities
• Major depressive disorder
• Traumatic brain injury

To apply for services, individuals or their families should contact their local human services district or authority here.

Citizens with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families may receive services through the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), as well as other bureaus and programs in the Louisiana Department of Health.

To find out if you are eligible for OCDD services, contact your local human services district or authority here.

OCDD services are programs that include the following:

• Home and Community-Based Waiver Services offer services and support based on each individual’s need to help people live and participate in their community. OCDD has a tiered waiver system, meaning that we place individuals in the most appropriate waiver to meet that person’s needs.  There are four OCDD Home and Community Based Waivers:
  • New Opportunities Waiver (NOW)
  • Residential Options Waiver (ROW)
  • Supports Waiver (SW)
  • Children’s Choice (CC) Waiver
• Individual and Family Support (IFS)
  • IFS provides support services and assistance that might not be available from other resources. This could include respite, personal assistance services, specialized clothing, equipment and supplies, communication services, crisis intervention.
• Flexible Family Funds
  • Monthly stipends for families of eligible children (birth to 18 years) with severe or profound developmental disabilities to help their families meet extraordinary costs
  • Local Governing Entities administer the funds on a first-come, first-served basis.
• EarlySteps early intervention program
  • The EarlySteps Program provides services to families with infants and toddlers aged birth to 3 years who have a developmental delay or a medical condition likely to result in one.
  • Children may be eligible to receive services if they have delays in cognitive, motor, vision, hearing, communication, social-emotional or adaptive development.
  • Providers deliver services in the child’s home, childcare, or another community setting typical for children aged birth to 3 years.
• My Place Louisiana
  • My Place Louisiana assists individuals with developmental disabilities who are currently residing in an intermediate care facility or nursing facility transition from an institution to home- and community-based living setting of their choice.
  • My Place Louisiana also assists children with developmental disabilities who meet eligibility requirements and who are living in a nursing facility, hospital or rehabilitation hospital to move into a home- and community-based setting that the family chooses.

Citizens with intellectual/developmental disabilities may also receive services through other bureaus and programs in the Louisiana Department of Health. These included but are not limited to the following:

• Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option or TEFRA
  • TEFRA allows certain children with disabilities to receive Medicaid coverage even if their parents earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid.
  • Children with disabilities who are living at home with their families must meet an institutional level of care for an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), a nursing facility, or a hospital to qualify.
• ICF/IID – residential facilities that provide individuals with 24-hour support, active treatment, and ongoing evaluation and planning. These facilities may be large, medium, or small in size.  There are two facilities that are state-operated:
  • Pinecrest Supports and Services Center
  • Central Louisiana Supports and Services Center
• State Plan Medicaid long term supports and services, including Early Periodic Screening and Diagnostic Testing (EPSDT) for children and Long Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) for adults
• State Plan Medicaid acute and behavioral health care services
• Bureau of Family Health programs

Q: Who qualifies for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) through the Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS)? 

A: Aging Louisianians and individuals with adult on-set disabilities may qualify for Home and Community-Based Services through the Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS). 

Q: Where do I go to apply for services?

A: To apply for services, individuals or their families can contact their local human services district or authority. Applications often require documentation of the disability and an assessment of needs. 

Q: Behavioral Health FAQ

A:

Q: What is the process for reporting abuse or neglect?

A: Suspected abuse or neglect should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities. For contact information on reporting, click here.