Getting started
Services, eligibility and access
How a person in Orange County becomes eligible for developmental disability services in New York, and what to have ready before the first call.
Who decides eligibility
Not the county. The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) determines eligibility, based on a review of records and an assessment process. The county's Developmental Disabilities Services Division helps with planning, advocacy, mediation, outreach and training, but it does not make the eligibility decision.
The one number to start with
OPWDD Front Door: 866-946-9733. Ask for a Front Door social worker. They walk you through intake and connect you with a Care Coordination Organization.
What to gather before you call
Eligibility runs on documentation, and an incomplete file is the most common reason a case sits still. Collect what you can first:
- Psychological and diagnostic evaluations, including any IQ and adaptive behaviour testing
- School records, especially a current or past IEP
- Medical records relating to the condition
- Anything establishing that the disability began before age 22
- Proof of identity, residency and any Medicaid information
If evaluations are old, ask whether they are still current enough. Re-testing takes months, so finding this out early matters.
Watch the Front Door videos
OPWDD asks individuals and guardians to watch its introductory Front Door videos. They cover the language used throughout the process, which makes every later conversation easier.
Care Coordination Organizations
After eligibility, a CCO assigns a care manager who helps with person-centred planning and connecting to services. Four CCOs serve Orange County and the choice is yours. The county maintains the current list as a PDF: CCOs that serve Orange County. General background on care management is on OPWDD's care management page.
What services exist
| Service | What it generally covers |
|---|---|
| Community habilitation | One-to-one skill building in the home and community |
| Respite | Planned relief for the family caregiver |
| Day services | Structured day programmes and community-based activity |
| Employment supports | Help finding and keeping work, including supported employment |
| Residential supports | Housing options ranging from supervised to supportive |
| Family support services | Grant-funded local supports run by individual agencies |
For the grant-funded family support services specifically, the county publishes the Orange County Family Support Services Guide (PDF), and asks that you contact those agencies directly.
Authorisation is not the same as staffing
Being approved for a service does not mean someone is available to deliver it. Provider agencies recruit against demand, and waits after approval are common, particularly for community habilitation and respite. Ask to be listed with more than one agency and ask each what their current wait actually looks like.
If you are not eligible
An OPWDD eligibility decision is not the end of the road. Some supports are available without an OPWDD determination, and the county's Department of Mental Health is the right place to ask what those are locally. Call 845-291-2600. You can also ask the county division about mediation and advocacy if you disagree with a decision.
If someone is in danger right now
Call 911. For a mental health crisis in Orange County, the Mental Health Association operates a 24/7 line on 1-800-832-1200, and you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anywhere in the US.
Sources: Orange County Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities Services Division; NYS OPWDD. Verified 2026-08-31. Programmes and phone numbers change, so confirm directly before relying on anything here.