Transition and Adult Services
In Pennsylvania, there are four waivers offered by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) for people with autism and/or an intellectual disability or developmental disability: the Adult Autism Waiver, the Consolidated Waiver, the Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver, and the Community Living Waiver. They are designed to help individuals live more independently in their homes and their communities. We also provide services for adults that are funded through Base Funding and/or the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).
Through these funding sources, we are able to provide a variety of person-centered services promoting independence.
What adult services do you offer?
Support in the Home and the Community
We work to increase or maintain skills related to general independent living. This can include personal care skills, immediate life skills (ADLs), non-immediate life skills (iADLs), communication, basic safety, home upkeep, and community integration. Staff implement basic or specialized interventions to support skill growth and support an individual to maintain their skills. We can help an individual find and get to community events that they can only participate in with support, and provide that support for them to live their best lives.
Job Finding
We assist an individual to find employment matching their interests. This can include a full Career Assessment or Vocational Profile and report if needed, which assesses: strengths and areas of support needs, career interests, and other relevant background/life information. Job finding staff support an individual to try out jobs, complete applications, prep and attend interviews, and help to identify any support needs in the process all the way until an individual begins their first day on their new job.
On-The-Job Support
Once an individual begins their new job, or has been working at a job but could be in danger of losing that job without support, we can step in to provide some support in person and at the job location. This is intended to instruct the individual and support the employer to meet individual accommodations where capable. All on-the-job support types are intended to “fade out” immediately, or immediately transition any support needs away from our staff to the individual’s natural supports.
Behavioral Specialist Support
We provide support for behavioral needs, with a focus on growth and support for both the individual and all others helping that individual, paid or natural supporters. A behavioral specialist (BS) begins with completing a Functional Behavioral Assessment, which assesses for any behavioral-based needs that would prevent the individual from interacting well with their life. The BS then creates a Behavioral Support Plan and (if needed) Crisis Intervention Plan together with the individual, instructs everyone who make sense on those plans, and then provides ongoing and 24/7 phone support to all trained supporters. BS’s typically act as the clinical lead for any paid supports team.
Skills Building
These specialists assist team members and the individual to develop targeted and specialized interventions to help the individual gain life skills (this can include personal care skills, immediate life skills (ADLs), non-immediate life skills (iADLs), communication, basic safety, home upkeep, and community integration). This follows the individual’s preferences to help them better towards their life goals, or “best life”. The skills building specialist works together with the individual, supports team members, and natural supports in the individual’s life to create Skills Building Plans, instructs all on those plans, monitors data collection on the individual’s progress, and updates the plans as needed.
Our TAS Leaders:
Angel Schaer is the Director of ID/A Services
Grant Thomas is the Director of Adult Autism Waiver Services
Mary Petrusch is our Vocational Program Specialist
Speaking of job support options, what employers do you currently work with?
Why, that's a great question. We are working with several local employers (some offer volunteer opportunities, too!) in Western PA, and our list is growing! They are:
Aramark
Beatty Pointe Village
Beverly's Pgh
Brushes and Beans Cafe
Busy Beaver
Carnegie Museums
Channel Craft
Chelse's Greenhouse
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Chuck E Cheese
CIS Installers
Concordia of Monroeville
Dick's Diner
Dormont Manufacturing
E.H. Schwab
Fayette Parts Service, Inc. / NAPA Warehouse / NAPA Genuine Paint Store
GetGo
Giant Eagle
Hempfield Parks and Recreation
Idlewild Park
MAC Bid
McDonald's
Moe's Southwest Grill
Monroeville Chamber of Commerce
Norwin School District
Panera Bread
Penn Trafford School District
Pheple Federal Credit Union
Premier Imaging
Red Robin
Sendell Motors
Steel Cup Coffee
Thermo Fisher
Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce
Westmoreland County Food Bank
William Penn Care Center
How do I know if my loved one is eligible for waiver services?
For someone to be eligible for any of these waiver services, they must have:
- IQ of 70 or below, or a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Medical evaluation (ex. MA51) recommending ICF/ID or ICF/ORC (Other Related Conditions)
- Standardized assessment of adaptive functioning showing deficits in three or more areas
- Testing / clinical judgement records or Standard Diagnostic Tool showing diagnosis of Intellectual Disability or Autism prior to age 22
- There is no age limit for individuals with an intellectual disability or autism. Individuals with a developmental disability with a high probability of resulting in an intellectual disability or autism are eligible from age 0 through 8.
How do I get started?
Referrals for waiver services often come from a Supports Coordinator. To find a Supports Coordinator in your area if you do not already have one, click here.
Are you ready to make a referral for one or more of our adult, transition, and/or employment services? Click here.
For more information, please feel free to reach out to our Transition & Adult Services Team at transitionandemploymentsvcs@achievingtrueself.com.
