ELIGIBILITY AND APPLYING FOR SERVICES

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EARLY INTERVENTION ELIGIBILITY (birth through age 2):
In order to receive Early Intervention services, children must be found eligible.  The following are ways that children may be eligible and qualify for Early Intervention services:

• Infants and toddlers who have a documented diagnosed physical or mental condition with a high probability of the condition resulting in a developmental delay.

• Infants and toddlers with a developmental delay of at least one and one half standard deviations below the mean on a standardized tool (Battelle Developmental Inventory 2nd Edition), or the equivalent determined through informed clinical opinion, in at least one of the following areas: adaptive, cognitive, communication (receptive and/or expressive), physical(gross and fine motor, vision and hearing), or social emotional development.

The Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities Early Intervention Program works in partnership with Madison County Department of Family and Children/Early Intervention to provide developmental evaluations, assessments, and early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. All referrals for children birth through two are made through Help Me Grow Central Intake. To contact Help Me Grow, please call 614-656-3322 or you can make a referral online through this link: https://ohioearlyintervention.org/referral

EARLY INTERVENTION

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FAIRHAVEN SCHOOL

AGE THREE UP TO A CHILD'S SIXTH BIRTHDAY
Eligibility is based off of a child's eligibility for special education services and determined by their local school district.  For additional information, contact your school district representative:

West Jefferson:    Jennifer Merb (614) 879-7654, jmerb@west-jefferson.k12.oh.us
London:  Sarah Knaebel (740) 852-5700 ext. 3051, sarah.knaebel@london.k12.oh.us
​Jonathan Alder:  Jennifer Korn (614) 873-8617,  kornje@japioneers.org
​Madison Plains:  Kim LeGault (740) 852-3223, klegault@mplsd.org
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If you're interested in preschool services please check out Fairhaven School.​

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AGES SIX THROUGH ADULTHOOD
To be eligible to receive services from the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities, an individual must be a resident of Madison County and must meet Ohio's definition of developmental disabilities as defined in the Ohio Revised Cosde section 5123:2-1-02(C).  

What is a Developmental Disability?
Developmental disability means a severe, chronic disability that is characterized by all of the following and diagnosed by a licensed professional (physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed professional clinical counselor):

• Attributable to a mental or physical impairment, or a combination of both, other than a mental impairment solely caused by mental illness.
• Exhibited before the age of 22
• And is likely to last indefinitely

 
Eligibility for children ages six through 15 is based on the following:

• A substantial functional limitation in at least three of the six following life areas:

1. ​​Self-care
2. Self-direction
3. Mobility
4. Learning
5. Receptive and expressive language
6. Capacity for independent living

Eligibility for adults ages 16 through life-span is based on the following:

• A substantial functional limitation in at least three of the seven following life areas:

1. ​​Self-care
2. Self-direction
3. Mobility
4. Learning
5. Receptive and expressive language
6. Capacity for independent living
7. Economic self-sufficiency

SUPPORT SERVICES

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How Do I Refer Someone for Services from the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities?

Ohio House Bill 569 was passed in 1990 and became effective on July 1, 1991. This new law significantly expanded the eligibility for services and supports from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and all 88 of Ohio’s County Boards of DD.

The law expanded the eligible population to include all persons whose disability:

• Occurs and manifests prior to their 22nd birthday
• Is likely to last indefinitely, and
• Results in three  or more  substantial functional   limitations

 
To begin the eligibility process, you must provide the following:

• Documentation of the disability from a licensed professional

Once the acceptable documentation has been received, an Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (OEDI) or Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination  Instrument (C/OEDI) willbe administered. The person requesting eligibility must be present. Other individuals can also participate in the assessment, such as  parents,  teachers,  or others who know the person well.
 
Many children and adults with disabilities other than mental retardation are now eligible for Board supports and services (once the assessment is completed). Some of those disabilities which are now included, but not limited to, are head and/or spinal cord injuries, neurological impairments, epilepsy, Tourette Syndrome, and physical disabilities.

​ …  A  R E M I N D E R
Just because a person has a diagnosis of mental retardation or other developmental disability does not automatically make them eligible for services. The disability must result in substantial functional limitations. Eligibility is routinely determined   within   45   days  of receiving the documentation.  An eligibility must be completed in order to receive services through MCBDD.

Please contact Jeff Gates, Intake and Information Coordinator at jgates@co.madison.oh.us or 740-852-7050 x1814 if you have questions.