APD > About Us
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
In October 2004, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) became an agency
separate from the Department of Children and Families, specifically tasked with
serving the needs of Floridians with developmental disabilities. Prior to that
time, it existed as the Developmental Disabilities Program.
The APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to
assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also
provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental
disabilities for supports and services.
Agency Mission
The Agency Supports Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Living, Learning and Working, in their Community.
Agency Goals
- Ensure the well being and safety of the people we serve, and maximize self-sufficiency
through the programs we provide.
- Reduce the waitlist for services by implementing the Family & Supported
Living Waiver expansion.
- Increase the number of people employed in integrated settings.
- Increase the independence of people receiving services through expansion of the
Consumer Directed Care program.
- Reduce reliance on large institutions as service settings.
- Improve consumer outcomes and service quality.
- Increase provider focus on achieving consumer outcomes through quality assurance
reviews and quality improvement initiatives.
- Work with Real Choice Systems Grant: a customer service approach to quality
management in community-based service programs, to enhance consumer outcome results.
- Implement core competency training for all persons providing direct care.
What is a Developmental Disability?
"Developmental Disability" is a broad term that refers to a variety of conditions
that interfere with a person's ability to function in everyday activities. Chapter
393, Florida Statutes, defines developmental disabilities as spina bifida, autism,
cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome and mental retardation.
- Spina Bifida means a divided backbone or spine. When a person
has spina bifida, the spine and the cord inside the spine do not grow the way most
spines grow. Normally, the spinal cord carries messages from the brain to other
parts of the body, but when a person has spina bifida, the spinal cord does not
carry all of the messages to the rest of the body.
- Autism is a condition characterized by impairment in social
interactions and communication abilities and unusual or restricted ranges of play
and interest. Autism results in social isolation and varying degrees of unusual
behaviors.
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) - "Cerebral" means the brain. "Palsy" means
moving of the muscles in a way that the person can't control. It refers to a group
of motor disabilities that arise because of injury to the developing brain before
or during birth or during the first year of life. These motor disabilities do not
get worse over time. Cerebral palsy keeps the brain from telling the rest of the
body some of the things it is supposed to do. Despite significant motor impairment,
many people with CP have normal intelligence.
- Mental Retardation refers to significant limitations in functioning related to sub-average intelligence with onset prior to the age of 18 and expected to last indefinitely. People who have mental retardation learn more slowly that other people and might need assistance in areas like communication, self-care, self-direction, health and safety, leisure, work and functional academics. While the term is still clinically correct, "intellectual disability" is becoming the preferred term.
- Prader-Willi Syndrome is an inherited condition. A severe lack
of muscle tone and failure to thrive are present in early infancy. Later on,
excessive drive to eat usually leads to significant weight problems.
Obsessive-compulsive behaviors and difficulty with social interactions are often
present. People with Prader-Willi syndrome are usually short with small hands and
feet. They typically are mildly mentally retarded.
Risk Of Developing A Developmental Disability
All the causes of developmental disabilities are not known. Most developmental
disabilities are present at birth but may not be recognized and identified at that
time. Disabilities challenge the people who have them because they can change the
way people grow, learn and function.
It is not always easy to tell if a baby has a developmental disability.
However, a child who does not crawl, walk, or talk at the same age as most
other children may be considered a child with a developmental disability. In
Florida, children from birth to five years of age who are at high-risk of
developing a developmental disability may receive services from the following
agencies:
- The Department of Health, Division of Children's Medical Services serves children from birth through three years of age.
- The Agency for Persons with Disabilities serves children in the high-risk category who are three through five.
When and where can a person apply for services?
Application for services can be made at any time by completing the Application
for Services form available online at APDF-10-007-application-for-services.pdf
and forwarding the application to the APD area office where the applicant
lives.
Prior Service Authorizations
Based on a 2001 legislative mandate, APD began contracting with Maximus Inc.
to conduct Prior Service Authorizations (PSA) for select services (e.g., residential
habilitation) and high cost plans. The purpose of the PSA review process is to
ensure that individuals on the waiver receive medically necessary services at the
appropriate intensity, frequency, and duration. The program ensures statewide
consistency in the approval of medically necessary, DD/HCBS Medicaid waiver services
for individuals in accordance with Chapter 409, Florida Statutes, Chapter 59G,
Florida Administrative Code, and Chapter 42, ?440.230, Code of Federal Regulations.
The current contract between the APD and Maximus began on January 1, 2003. This
is a fixed price contract where Maximus receives the same amount of money regardless
of whether services are approved, denied, reduced, or terminated. Maximus is
paid by the number of reviews that they complete where a minimum number was built
into the contract. There is no monetary incentive for denying, reducing, or
terminating services. The PSA program continuously strives to help individuals
with developmental disabilities receive the services and supports that are medically
necessary that help them to live and work in the manner that they choose. Cost
plans reviewed by Maximus are analyzed by qualified staff consisting of certified
physicians, dentists, registered nurses, certified behavior analysts, and qualified
mental retardation specialists (QMRPs) and based on documentation from personnel
who have worked with clients, their families, and their situations first hand.
Approximately three in four cases reviewed by Maximus are approved for services
requested.
The Legislature directed the expansion of the PSA process in July, 2004. Due
to a bid protest, the implementation of the expansion was delayed. However, APS
Healthcare began providing additional PSA reviews on July 1, 2005. Reviews are
conducted by the two PSA contractors based on a selection criteria established
by the APD.
New Waiver - FSL
Additionally, in the 2004 Legislative session, the Agency received increased
funding for the Family and Supported Living (FSL) waiver. The program was fully
funded at the beginning of the 2004-05 fiscal year. In order to begin utilizing
the new waiver, clients had to be recruited and educated for services under FSL.
The phase-in of approximately 1,900 clients required a significant amount of time
(the first three quarters of the year) resulting in a one-time budget surplus for
FY 04-05.
Additional Information......
How can you learn more about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities?
- Write to the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities at:
4030 Esplanade Way, Suite 380
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950
- Write or call the local area office, Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
- Attend meetings of the Family Care Council
where people with developmental disabilities and their family members discuss
issues important to them.
To find out more about Developmental Disabilities, please visit these sites:
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