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What Does the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Do?
Many people with physical disabilities have been able to seek employment or carry out constructive work to earn a living and rejoin the society. This is the main aim of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). The agency has helped many people who are affected by physical and mental disabilities to find work and play an active role in their communities.
Prime Objectives of the APD
Working in collaboration with local organizations and service agencies, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities strives to identify the needs of people with developmental disabilities and assist them to lead a normal life through various forms of support and services. The APD arranges meetings where a family welfare council is conducted to discuss the challenges and issues faced by people with developmental disabilities and their family members. In this meeting which is usually held twice a month, views are exchanged and recommendations are forwarded to the apex authority either for amendment or introduction of policies relating to issues affecting the lives of the people with developmental disabilities.
Programs Introduced by the APD
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities provides certain programs for children as well as adults with impaired physical abilities for their rehabilitation. Developmental Disabilities Waiver or the Big Waiver does not limit the spending or services, provided the eligible person agrees to stay in a group home and meets some other specifications to be able to receive the benefit. The Family and Supportive Living Waiver or the Little Waiver limits the amount of spending per year. Additionally, Living Waiver limits the number of services to those persons who undergo rehabilitation within their homes or supported living environments. The third program is oriented for adults and children with developmental disabilities known as the Intermediate Care facilities program. This program does not require any specification and it is applicable to those who cannot be helped while staying with their family so they require staying as groups in homes.
Services Provided by the APD
The services of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities include:
- Services relating to behavior where the person is taught how to behave in the company of others.
- Supply of Medicare in the form of wheel chair, feeding tubes, van lifts, strollers, gloves, diapers, hearing aids, and supplementary food. Communication boards and adaptive devices to help eating are also provided.
- Ramps and carpet replacement are some aids for use at home.
- Programs to teach communication and social skills required for daily life activities. This service is for adults and is rendered only during the day.
- Personal care and home-maker services delivered at home.
- Administration of therapies as prescribed by doctors relating to speech, respiratory, physical, and occupational treatment.
- Making adults live with a roommate.
- Nursing care as instructed by the doctor.
- Free rides to take the person to and from the center for outside services.
- Dental care for adults.
- Coaching and job oriented training to support employment.
- Training conducted in homes for the rehabilitation within the family environment which includes day-to-day living skills such as cooking, dressing, self-grooming, and other activities.
Eligibility Criteria
The services rendered by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are for persons who acquired developmental disabilities above the age of 3 years up to the age of 18 years. Moreover, the person has to be suffering from debilitating conditions such as cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, autism or mental retardation with an IQ below 69. Those suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome are also eligible for these services.
Other Services
Besides these services, there are other services for persons with developmental disabilities who do not qualify for the above services. These include programs on health and safety, education and care during the early stages, ways of good parenting, and the trends and practices to overcome any tragedy.
The programs formulated for health and safety includes lessons on proper nutrition, prenatal health, dental health, discussions on sexual abuse, issues relating to the fluctuations in weather, and some tips on medical health and safety. Programs on education and care include information on public school care, care centers and homes, accredited centers, and a head start. Parenting lessons are crucial wherein one learns the facts about adoption, ways to become a responsible family member, proper schooling, and tackling behavioral problems.
>All in all, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has been a shining beacon for millions of people, and their lives have become much brighter as a result of the programs and services.
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