If someone told you that your child or family member needs an OPWDD assessment and you have no idea what that means, you are not alone. Most families hear this term for the first time and feel a mix of confusion and anxiety. What is being evaluated? Who does the evaluating? What happens with the results? And does what happens in that assessment actually affect what services your loved one gets?
The short answer to that last question is yes, it does. The assessment is one of the most important steps in the OPWDD process because it directly shapes what support your loved one is authorized to receive. Understanding what it involves before you walk into it makes a real difference.
Here is what you actually need to know, in plain language.
Once a person is determined eligible for OPWDD services, an assessment is required before services can be authorized. This is true for both children and adults. The assessment is not a test your loved one can pass or fail. It is a structured conversation designed to build a picture of who they are, what they can do, what they struggle with, what support they already have, and what additional support they need. The goal is to create a care plan that reflects their actual life, not just their diagnosis.
OPWDD uses different assessment tools depending on the age of the person being assessed. For children and adolescents 17 years old and younger, the tool used is called the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment, known as the CANS. For adults 18 and older, the tool is called the Coordinated Assessment System (CAS). There is also an older tool called the Developmental Disability Profile 2, or DDP2, which Care Coordination Organizations continue to use on a two-year cycle while the statewide transition to the CANS and CAS is completed. Your loved one’s Care Manager can tell you which assessment applies to your situation.
For families with a child 17 or younger, the CANS is what you will be going through. It is a three-part process completed annually by a certified assessor. The assessor reviews supporting documents in advance, which may include medical evaluations, clinical assessments, school records, and the child’s Individualized Education Program, if one exists. Then the assessor has a conversation with the child and the family. After that, the assessor and the Care Manager work together to build consensus around what the results mean for the child’s care plan. One thing that surprises many parents is that the CANS includes a section specifically focused on the caregiver, not just the child. The assessor will ask about your own strengths and the support you have or need as the person caring for this child. This part of the assessment matters, and your answers there are part of the picture.
For adults 18 and older, the CAS covers all areas of a person’s life, including daily living skills, health, mood and behavior, relationships, and the natural or community supports already in place. The conversation is with the person with the developmental disability themselves, though family members and others who know the person well are encouraged to be present and contribute. The person can choose to have the assessment done in person or remotely, whichever is more comfortable. Within 48 hours of the assessment being completed, a summary of the results goes into the person’s record in OPWDD’s system, called CHOICES. Within 30 days after that, the Care Manager reviews the results with the person and their support team and uses them to inform the care plan.
There are a few things families can do to make the most of this process. Bring any documentation that honestly reflects your loved one’s daily challenges, not just their best days. Assessors look at the full picture of what someone needs, and it helps when the documentation and the conversation match the reality of daily life. If your child has hard days, say so. If there are behaviors or needs that do not show up in a brief visit but are part of everyday life, describe them. The assessment is only as accurate as the information that goes into it, and the services authorized afterward are only as complete as what the assessment captured.
If the assessment results do not feel accurate or do not reflect your loved one’s real needs, you have the right to request a review. A reassessment can also be triggered at any point if your loved one experiences a significant change in their condition, whether that is a medical event, a change in behavior, or a meaningful improvement or decline in functioning. You do not have to wait for the next scheduled cycle if something has changed significantly.
Once the assessment is complete and a care plan is in place, the next step is getting actual services authorized and in the home. This is where the home care agency we work with comes in. They help families through every step of this process, from the OPWDD eligibility determination to securing a certified aide in the home or registering an eligible family member as a paid caregiver once everything is approved. They handle the coordination so your family does not have to figure out who to call next or what form comes after which step.
For families who do not yet have Medicaid, the agency also provides free Medicaid enrollment support to eligible clients. Since most OPWDD services are funded through Medicaid, establishing coverage is part of establishing services, and the agency helps with both.
Whether your loved one is a child just entering the OPWDD system for the first time or an adult who has been eligible for a while but has not yet had services fully put in place, the assessment is the step that opens the door to what comes next. Having someone in your corner who understands how the process works and stays with you through it makes all the difference.
We serve families across New York State, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Westchester County, Albany County, Schenectady County, Fulton County, Warren County, Montgomery County, Washington County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County.
If your loved one has a developmental disability and you are trying to figure out where things stand or what the next step is, reach out to us. We will listen to your situation and connect you with the right support to move things forward.
Call or text us at 929-660-2391 or fill out the eligibility form.