One thing that I'm proud of is that when we meet with disability service agencies, we often receive the complement that we're "the first home care software vendor they've met who actually understands disability services." If you're new to disability services (or maybe you've always been an I/DD provider and you never worked in home care for the elderly), allow me to explain the difference...
In most cases home care for older people centers on safety and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). In a nutshell, home care providers recognize that their clients need their services because they are no longer able to take care of themselves the way they used to. Most of the tasks that are done by home care caregivers are for nutrition (prepare lunch, prepare dinner), hygiene (assist with bath or shower, dressing and grooming, etc.), housekeeping (make bed, change linens, take trash) and safety (transfer and positioning, med reminders, etc.). Most of these tasks are "marked as complete" with a check box or by choosing from a drop down list with choices like (complete, not needed today, refused). Lastly, the service is called CARE and the workers are called CAREGIVERS.
In contrast, services for people experiencing Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) or other
disabilities have a different goal. Instead of providing care, the service providers and providing SUPPORT, or Supportive Services. What is being supported? Great Question! You are supporting the individual's ability to live independently. While it's true that this support might also include help with nutrition, hygiene, housekeeping and safety, these are secondary. The primary support is to understand the individual's independent living goals, which vary widely. For example three participants receiving the same service and charging the same service code might have the following differing goals:
- Susan: Susan wants to live independently in her own home with less reliance on outside help. As such, she needs to learn how to prepare meals on her own and how to order groceries for delivery.
- Mike: By contrast, Mike loves to swim. He has been swimming a few times and loves it, but in order to do this without support, he needs swimming lessons, a place to swim and the ability to take the bus to and from the swimming place
- Jaylen: Jaylen is high-functioning and lives independently but he feels lonely and isolated. He finds that people like to talk to him
A final important point is that in the majority of cases, disability service providers need to provide much richer documentation than home care providers. This includes the following:
- Independent living goals: These are the person-centered objectives of the individual receiving support
- Strategies: I've seen two distinct ways that strategies are documented. In some programs there's a default list of strategies like "safety," "collaboration," "communication," and "self-advocacy." The other approach is left in the hands of the direct service provider (DSP). As an example, there can be many reasons that an individual can't take a bus, ranging from understanding the schedule, paying their fare, or even fear related items.
- Actions Taken: Rather than just a check box item, this is more likely to be short narrative that explains what was worked on and how.
- Outcome scores: Outcomes are difficult to measure, because every person's abilities are different and for people with more profound disabilities, it may never be possible for full independence. Having said that there are techniques like "active supports" that can increase the person's participation and joy in life.
Disability Terminology Matters
With the above explanation of the core focus disabilities services, it's easy to imagine that a home care software vendor will use home care terms and lose their audience before even beginning to Navigating developmental disability services requires understanding many acronyms. This guide provides a concise reference to help families, advocates, and professionals communicate clearly and Acronyms are a big piece of that.
Why Acronyms Matter
Acronyms simplify lengthy service names. They are common among professionals. However, if you are new to the system, these abbreviations can be confusing. Knowing what each means is key to accessing the right supports.
Disability Descriptions
- DD – Developmental Disability
- ID – Intellectual Disability
- I/DD – Intellectual/Developmental Disability
- CP – Cerebral Palsy
- ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ABA – Applied Behavior Analysis
- BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
Service Providers and Programs
- DHS – Department of Human Services
- DDD – Division of Developmental Disabilities
- DDS – Division of Disability Services
- HCBS – Home and Community Based Services
- SP – Supports Program
- CCP – Community Care Program
- SC – Support Coordinator
- SD – Self-Directed
- FFS – Fee for Service
- ISP – Individualized Service Plan
- PPP – Personal Preference Program
- PASP – Personal Assistance Services Program
- DVRS – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- DCF – Department of Children and Families
- CSOC – Children’s System of Care
- ASO – Administrative Service Organization
Federal, Educational, and Community Resources
- SSI – Supplemental Security Income
- SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance
- IEP – Individualized Education Plan
- IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
- PRISE – Parental Rights in Special Education
- DRNJ – Disability Rights New Jersey
- NJCDD – New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
- FSCNJ – Family Support Coalition/Center of New Jersey
- SPAN – Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
- SHC – Supportive Housing Corporation
- DCA – Department of Community Affairs
- SRAP – State Rental Assistance Program
- SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- USF – Universal Service Fund
- LIHEAP – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Additional Acronyms and Terms
- DSP – Direct Support Professional or Direct Service Provider
- DSW - Direct Service Worker
- PPL – Public Partnerships Limited (Fiscal Intermediary for DHS)
- MCO – Managed Care Organization
- ADL – Activities of Daily Living
- OT – Occupational Therapy
- PT – Physical Therapy
- BCBA – Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- RBT – Registered Behavior Technician
Conclusion
This guide is not exhaustive—new acronyms appear as services evolve. Understanding these terms is essential for clear communication and effective advocacy in the developmental disability service system. Use this quick reference to help you stay informed and navigate the system with confidence.
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