The role of a coordinator is to educate and assist individuals to live the life of their choosing; connect individuals with people and services in their community; ensure that services delivered are of the highest quality.
Your coordinator meets with you and your family in your home to gather information about your needs, preferences, and desires for supports and services including:
- Submits necessary documentation to DDA so that DDA can determine if you are eligible for services and assess your priority for services compared to other people who are applying. DDA makes the final decision for eligibility and priority.
- Helps you connect with other people and services in your community.
- Helps you appeal DDA’s decision about eligibility and priority if you desire.
- Helps you develop a plan of supports and services that you can use now and also when you interview potential providers.
(Your Coordinator will send you a copy of this plan and keep a copy in your file.)
This “person directed” plan:
- Describes what you and your family want for the future.
- Outlines the supports and services you need from DDA to help you achieve your goals.
- Outlines other supports and services that may be of assistance.
- Looks at building on the supports you already have and creating partnerships with other people and services in your community.
Your Coordinator:
- Talks to you about your dreams and experiences.
- Gets to know you and assists you in advocating for yourself and what you want.
- Helps you coordinate the development of your Individual Plan of services (IP), making sure that the plan is built on your desires. Your plan will be updated at least once a year.
- Makes sure that what is in your plan happens and that you are satisfied with the supports and services you receive.
- Helps locate additional supports and services that you desire, and helps you make community connections.
- Continues to work with you even if you change residential or other provider agencies.
Talk to Your Coordinator Regarding:
How you feel about where you work and live; What you would like to do during the week and on weekends; If you get to see the people who are important in your life as much as you wish; What is important to you and what you like to do with your time; Whether or not you have enough spending money; Whether or not you get to make your own decisions; How to get to know more people in your community; Supports that you need to keep you safe and healthy; What is most important to you; and more!