New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Waiver

At Autism Specialists, our clinicians are proud to follow the DDW model of person-centered therapy and work side by side with individual’s multi-disciplinary teams to provide a collaborative approach and follow through with individual-specific visions and outcomes. 

DDW SLPs work in line with the scope provided in the DDW Service Standards 12.5.6.2 stating:
Speech-Language Pathology Service, also known as Speech Therapy, is a skilled licensed therapy services, provided by a Speech-Language Pathologist. Speech Therapy involves the non-medical application of principles, methods and procedures for the diagnosis, counseling, and instruction related to the development of and disorders of communication including speech, fluency, voice, verbal and written language, auditory comprehension, cognition, swallowing dysfunction and sensorimotor competencies. Speech-Language Pathology services are also used when a person requires the use of an augmentative and alternative communication system and/or strategies. 

Our SLPs will work on goals that are individual-specific and can consist of increasing receptive or expressive language, social/emotional flexibility and understanding, or increasing social skills.  

DDW OTs work in line with the scope provided in the DDW Service Standards 12.5.5.2 stating:
Occupational Therapy is a skilled licensed therapy service involving the use of everyday life activities (occupations) for evaluation, treatment, and management of functional limitations. Occupational Therapy addresses physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life. 

Our OTs will work on goals that are individual-specific and can consist of promotion of health and wellness, increasing social/emotional skills, or increasing productivity in a workplace. 

DDW BSCs work in line with the scope provided in the DDW Service Standards 12.3.2 stating:
Behavioral Support Consultation (BSC) services are intended to enhance the DD Waiver participant’s quality of life by providing PBS (positive behavior support) as the person works on functional and relational skills. BSC services identify distracting, disruptive, and/or destructive behavior that impacts quality of life and provides specific prevention and intervention strategies to manage and lessen the risks these behaviors present. While other service system settings (e.g., SSE) and generic community settings (e.g., adult continuing education) are also considered and utilized when needed, BSC services do not include individual or group therapy, or any other mental health or behavioral health services that would typically be provided through the Medicaid state plan benefits. 

Our BSCs will work on goals that are individual-specific and can consist of identifying barriers to independent functioning, educating individuals on abuse, neglect, and exploitation, or create plans that the team follows to build on the individual’s strength and skills.