WIHD offers Brokerage Services through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). With Person Centered Planning at the core, WIHD offers Start-Up and Support Brokerage, giving consumers and their advocate’s freedom to make choices that are right for them. Grounded in the principles of Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy the Broker will assist the individual and their Circle of Support to develop a comprehensive Self Directed plan and budget, establish and maintain cooperative relationships, and foster open communication with all support personnel, connect with their community, and recruit and hire staff that will support their goals and desires.

With self-direction, you choose your services, the staff and organizations that provide them, and a schedule that works best for you. Self-direction empowers people to design supports based on their unique strengths and needs. It gives you more control over the funding used to buy your services. Anyone who is eligible for OPWDD services and enrolled in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver can choose to self-direct their services.

WIHD has a team of experienced brokers who can help individuals choosing to self direct their lives to exercise as much choice and control over their life as possible. The Support Broker guides the individual through initiation of a self-directed budget and provides ongoing support and responsibilities include: Build a Circle of Support team; Plan a budget for their services; Educate on services and community resources; Develop habilitation plans; and Communicate with the Care Manager, Fiscal Intermediary and OPWDD.

For more information contact Carole Lucas clucas@wihd.org.