Developmental Disability Program

Developmental Therapy provides instruction to children with developmental disabilities to acquire daily living skills. A developmental therapist will work with a child to increase his or her skills in the areas of self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. We provide services to children 0-3 and children 3-17 in the home, community, and center settings. In our after-school and summer programs children participate in a variety of skill building activities. A Developmental Specialist supervises all services.

FAQ's:

Q. Who can receive developmental therapy?
A. Individuals with a developmental disability who have substantial limitations in three or more of the following areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self-sufficiency.

Q. What types of things do developmental therapists work on?
A. Developmental therapists can help support children and families in a variety of way. Some examples of real-life application of these skills would be: 1 Communication skills: Working on communicating using sign language, verbal language, and following directions. 2 Social skills: Working on eye contact, taking turns, initiating and maintaining conversations. 3 Motor skills: Working on kicking and catching a ball, walking up stairs, and using a pencil. 4 Community skills: Working on crossing the street safely and staying with an adult in stores. 5 Self-help skills: Working on brushing teeth, combing hair, washing hands, buttoning clothing, and tying shoes.

Q. What do services cost me?
A. Nothing is you qualify for Medicaid. Children who are not eligible for other Medicaid programs because the income or assets of the family is too high may be eligible for developmental disability services through the Katie Beckett Program. To find out and apply for Medicaid visit: www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov or call the Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588 or TDD 208-332-7205.

Q. How do I get started?
A. A call to our office gets the process started. An appointment is scheduled with the Developmental Specialist as soon as possible, typically within a week. If a family is already receiving Medicaid, the child will typically be able to start services within a week of assessment. Contact Katie Jennings at (208) 664-9729 x. 121.

Q. Who qualifies for these services?
A. Idaho Developmental Disability Determination Standards are as follows: "Developmental Disability" means a chronic disability of a person which appears before the age of 22 years and:

is attributable to an impairment, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other condition found to be closely related to or similar to one of these impairments that requires similar treatment or services, or is attributable to dyslexia resulting from such impairments; and
results in substantial functional limitations in three(3) or more of the following major life activities: self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self-sufficiency; and
reflects the need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services which are life-long or extended duration and individually planned and coordinated.

Q. What do I need to refer someone for services?
A. Contact your local AFS office and the process begins immediately.

Q. How will you communicate information to me?
A. We can communicate via e-mail, fax, phone or face-to-face appointment at your convenience.

Q. How quickly can service begin?
A. A call to our office gets the process started. An appointment is scheduled with the Developmental Specialist as soon as possible, typically within a week. If a family is already receiving Medicaid, the child will typically be able to start services within a week of assessment.