New York Autism Resource Directory — OPWDD, Medicaid, IEP & Family Support

1. Getting Started — Newly Diagnosed or First Concerns

If you're at the very beginning — a concern, a screening, or a brand-new diagnosis — start here. The order matters: diagnosis first, then OPWDD eligibility, then services. Everything else on this page builds on these first steps.

Free Autism Screening Tool (GRSCorp)

Our free online M-CHAT-based screening for early signs of autism. Not a diagnosis — but a research-backed first step that tells you whether to seek a full evaluation.

Take the screening →

Parent tip: Bring your screening results to the pediatrician and ask directly for a developmental evaluation referral. A paper trail speeds everything up.

Early Intervention (Ages 0–3)

New York's Early Intervention Program provides free evaluations and services (speech, OT, PT, special instruction) for children under 3 with developmental delays — no diagnosis required to be evaluated.

Referral: call the "Growing Up Healthy" hotline at 1-800-522-5006 or your county EI office.

Parent tip: You do not need a doctor's referral — parents can self-refer. Do it the same week you first have concerns; waitlists move slowly.

CPSE — Preschool Special Education (Ages 3–5)

At age 3, services move from Early Intervention to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) at your school district. Evaluations and preschool services are free through the district.

Contact your home school district's Special Education / Pupil Personnel office.

Parent tip: Start the CPSE transition 3–4 months before your child's 3rd birthday so there's no gap in services.

Diagnostic Evaluation Centers

A formal autism diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or psychologist unlocks OPWDD eligibility, insurance-covered therapies, and school classifications.

In the Capital Region: Albany Med's developmental pediatrics, Center for Disability Services, and private neuropsychologists.

Parent tip: Get on 2–3 waitlists at once — cancellation lists move fast if you can take short-notice appointments. Keep every report; OPWDD will ask for them.

2. OPWDD — Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

OPWDD is New York's agency for lifelong developmental disability services — respite, community habilitation, self-direction, day programs, and residential supports. Getting "in the door" is the single most important thing a NY autism family can do, and the process has a specific order.

The path in order: ① Gather documents (psychological evaluation with IQ/adaptive testing, diagnosis reports) → ② Contact the Front Door → ③ Attend a Front Door information session → ④ Eligibility determination → ⑤ CANS assessment → ⑥ Choose a Care Coordination Organization → ⑦ Life Plan & services begin.

OPWDD Front Door

The mandatory entry point for all OPWDD services. They determine eligibility based on your documentation and guide you into the system.

Capital District DDRO (Region 4): 518-388-0398 · opwdd.ny.gov/get-started

Parent tip: Eligibility usually requires a psychological evaluation that includes adaptive behavior testing (like the Vineland). If your evaluation doesn't include it, ask the evaluator to add it — it saves months of back-and-forth.

HCBS Waiver (Home & Community-Based Services)

The Medicaid waiver that funds most OPWDD services: respite, community habilitation, supported employment, and self-direction. Enrollment comes after eligibility.

Your Care Manager submits the waiver application with you.

Parent tip: The waiver also gives your child Medicaid regardless of parental income ("waiver Medicaid") — this is why the waiver matters even for insured families.

Self-Direction Budget

Lets families control an individualized budget — hiring your own staff, choosing services, and paying for approved goods and community classes. Maximum flexibility, more paperwork.

Request through your Care Manager; you'll work with a Support Broker and a Fiscal Intermediary (e.g., AIM Services in the Capital Region).

Parent tip: Attend a self-direction orientation early even if you're not sure — budgets take months from launch meeting to first services, so start the clock as soon as possible.

CANS Assessment

The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment determines the level of support (and budget size) your child qualifies for. Conducted periodically by an assessor.

Scheduled through OPWDD / your Care Manager.

Parent tip: Answer based on your child's hardest days, not their best days. The CANS measures need — describing only your child's strengths can lower the supports they receive.

Respite Services

Funded breaks for caregivers — in-home respite staff or community respite programs. Available through traditional agencies or your self-direction budget.

Through your Care Manager or Fiscal Intermediary once waiver-enrolled.

Parent tip: Respite hours have annual caps — track your usage so hours don't expire unused at year end, and plan bigger blocks around school breaks.

3. Care Coordination — Your Guide Through the System

Once OPWDD-eligible, every person gets a Care Coordination Organization (CCO) and a dedicated Care Manager who writes the Life Plan, submits waiver paperwork, and connects services. Choosing a responsive CCO matters enormously.

Care Design NY

One of the largest CCOs serving the Capital Region and much of upstate New York. Your Care Manager is your single most important contact in the OPWDD world.

caredesignny.org · 518-235-1888

Parent tip: Put every request to your Care Manager in writing (email), and before each Life Plan meeting send your own list of goals. The Life Plan drives what gets funded — nothing in the plan, nothing funded.

Other CCOs Serving the Region

Families can choose among CCOs — including LifePlan CCO and Prime Care Coordination — and can switch if the relationship isn't working.

Full list at opwdd.ny.gov under Care Coordination.

Parent tip: If your Care Manager doesn't respond within a week, escalate politely to their supervisor. Squeaky wheels get Life Plans updated.

4. Medicaid & CDPAP — Paying for Care at Home

New York's Medicaid program funds home care that private insurance never will — including the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), which lets you hire caregivers you choose, including certain family members.

CDPAP — Consumer Directed Personal Assistance

A Medicaid program where the family recruits, hires, and schedules Personal Assistants (PAs) instead of using an agency. PAs are paid through a state fiscal intermediary.

Statewide fiscal intermediary: Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) · health.ny.gov (search CDPAP)

Parent tip: Know the co-residency rules — who can and can't serve as a PA depends on relationship and living situation. Verify a specific person's eligibility with the fiscal intermediary before counting on them for hours.

Medicaid Waiver Enrollment

Children on the OPWDD HCBS Waiver or the Children's Waiver receive Medicaid without regard to parent income — the key that unlocks CDPAP, home care hours, and secondary insurance coverage.

Through your Care Manager (OPWDD) or Health Home care manager (Children's Waiver).

Parent tip: Use waiver Medicaid as secondary insurance — it can pick up co-pays and cover therapies your primary insurance denies.

Domestic Workers' Rights & Household Employment

If you privately hire in-home help (nannies, aides) outside CDPAP, New York's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights sets minimum wage, overtime, and paid-day-off rules — and household employer tax obligations apply.

dol.ny.gov (search "domestic workers")

Parent tip: Put every private arrangement in a written agreement covering hours, duties, and pay — it protects both sides and keeps tax filings clean.

5. Education Rights — CSE, IEPs & Placement

School-age services run through your district's Committee on Special Education (CSE). Federal law (IDEA) guarantees a Free Appropriate Public Education — but parents who know the process get better IEPs.

The CSE / IEP Process

The CSE evaluates your child, determines classification, and writes the Individualized Education Program (IEP) — goals, services (speech, OT, counseling), program, and placement. Reviewed at least annually.

Request evaluations in writing to your district's CSE chairperson.

Parent tip: Everything in writing, always. Request meetings and evaluations by email, and after phone calls send a "confirming our conversation" email. If you disagree with the district's evaluation, you can request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at district expense.

Placement Options Beyond the District

When the district can't meet needs, the CSE can refer out: BOCES programs, approved private special-education schools (e.g., Wildwood, Langan School at Center for Disability Services), or specialized day programs.

Referrals go through your CSE — but parents can request specific programs be considered.

Parent tip: Tour programs yourself before agreeing to a referral list. You have a voice in where referral packets are sent — use it, and put your preferences in writing to the CSE.

SEPTA — Special Education PTA

SEPTA chapters connect special-education families within a district — sharing knowledge, supporting each other at CSE season, and advocating collectively for better programs.

Ask your district if a chapter exists — or contact GRSCorp about starting one; we're actively helping organize SEPTA in the Capital Region.

Parent tip: The parent network is the real special-education database. Other parents know which programs shine and which to avoid — years before you'd learn it alone.

Related Services & Assistive Technology

IEPs can include speech, OT, PT, counseling, home tutoring, extended school year (ESY), 1:1 aides, and assistive technology like communication devices or a district-issued Chromebook.

All requested and documented through the CSE process.

Parent tip: If your child regresses over school breaks, document it and request Extended School Year services — summer regression data is exactly what qualifies a child for ESY.

6. Capital Region Providers & Programs

Key organizations serving families in Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer counties.

Center for Disability Services (Albany)

Major regional provider: evaluations, therapies, the Langan School, medical and dental care for people with disabilities, and adult programs.

cfdsny.org · 518-437-5700

Parent tip: Their disability-experienced dental clinic is a hidden gem — sensory-friendly dentistry is hard to find anywhere.

Wildwood Programs (Latham)

School and lifelong services for people with autism and complex learning disabilities — education, day services, residential, and family support.

wildwood.edu · 518-836-2200

Parent tip: Their family support workshops are open to the community — you don't need to be enrolled to learn from them.

AIM Services (Saratoga Springs)

Fiscal Intermediary for self-direction budgets, plus traditional community habilitation and respite services across the region.

aimservicesinc.org · 518-587-3208

Parent tip: As your FI, they process staff payroll and reimbursements — build a good relationship with your assigned contact; it makes self-direction dramatically smoother.

GRSCorp Nature Preserve (Duanesburg)

Our 101-acre nature preserve — nature-based programs and sensory-friendly outdoor experiences for autism families, in development as a regional resource.

See our programs →

Parent tip: Nature is free therapy. Watch our blog for family event announcements at the preserve.

7. Family Support & Crisis Resources

Caring for the caregivers — and knowing who to call before you need them.

NY Office of Children & Family Services — Family Support

OPWDD's Family Support Services fund parent training, support groups, reimbursement programs, and recreation through local agencies.

Ask your Care Manager which Family Support programs serve your county.

Parent tip: Some counties have annual reimbursement funds for autism-related expenses that go unclaimed simply because families don't know to ask. Ask.

Crisis Support — 988 & NY Crisis Services

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 support by call or text. NY also operates crisis services for developmental disabilities through OPWDD's crisis network.

Call or text 988 · For DD-specific crisis support ask your CCO about crisis services in your region.

Parent tip: Save your regional crisis numbers in your phone now, during calm times. In a crisis you shouldn't be searching.

Parent Networks & Peer Groups

Parent-to-Parent of NYS matches trained "support parents" with families facing similar journeys; local Facebook groups and SEPTA chapters fill in the daily-question gaps.

parenttoparentnys.org · 800-305-8817

Parent tip: One experienced local parent is worth ten hours of Googling. Find your people.

8. Travel & Community Access

Autism shouldn't shrink your family's world. These programs make airports, venues, and public spaces more accessible.

TSA Cares

Free TSA program providing assistance through airport security for travelers with disabilities — request support ahead of your flight and a Passenger Support Specialist can meet you at the checkpoint.

Submit a request at tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares at least 72 hours before flying · 855-787-2227

Parent tip: Combine TSA Cares with your airline's special assistance program (request DPNA code when booking) — airlines can arrange priority boarding and meet-and-assist at every connection.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program

A discreet green sunflower lanyard recognized at most major airports and many venues, quietly signaling that the wearer may need extra patience or assistance.

hdsunflower.com — free lanyards at participating airports' information desks.

Parent tip: Grab one at the airport information desk before security — staff at participating airports are trained to recognize it without you having to explain anything.

Access Pass — NY State Parks

Free entry to NY State parks and facilities for New Yorkers with qualifying disabilities — including many individuals with developmental disabilities.

parks.ny.gov (search Access Pass)

Parent tip: It's free and lasts years — one form, signed by a qualifying professional, and your family's park entries are covered.

About this directory: GRSCorp maintains this page as a free community resource, drawn from publicly available information and the lived experience of New York autism families. Programs, phone numbers, and rules change — always confirm details directly with each agency. This page is informational and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Spot an error or want a resource added? Tell us — this directory improves with every family that contributes.