Eligibility&

Integrated TransitionPlanning

Disabilitiy ServicesFamily Supports for Children with Disabilities

Persons with Developmental Disabilities

FSCD Eligibility

All of the following criteria must be met for a family to be eligible for FSCD:

Their child must be under the age of 18; Their child must be a Canadian citizen or permanent

resident;Their child must ordinarily reside in Alberta;

The child’s guardian must maintain their full guardianship responsibilities; and

Medical documentation must be provided confirming that the child has a disability as defined in the FSCD Act.

•Determining if a child has a disability is based on the child’s functional abilities not their particular diagnosis.

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Definition of Disability

The FSCD Act defines disability as a chronic developmental, physical, sensory, mental or

neurological condition or impairment

but does not include a condition for which the primary need is for medical care or health services to treat or manage the condition

unless it is a condition that significantly limits a child’s ability to function in normal daily living.

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ApplicationFSCD is a voluntary program.

Families apply to FSCD by completing an application form.

FSCD Workers can assist families to complete the application as required

The application form is emailed /sent/faxed/dropped off to FSCD along with copies of medical information describing the child’s

disability.

The family is contacted for follow up.

They are provided with additional information about the program and other community resources, eligibility for the program is determined, next steps are discussed and an intake appointment to meet with the family is established.

Continued program eligibility is confirmed annually.

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Application

www.humanservices.alberta.ca/disabilities

or# 215 200 – 4th Ave South Lethbridge

LETHBRIDGE CENTREor

403-382-4275

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PDD Eligibility

Currently, PDD defines developmental disability as a state of functioning that begins in childhood and is

characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual capacity and adaptive skills

Eligibility is NOT based on a person’s diagnosis, such as Autism, FASD, etc.

Criteria:Must be at least 18 years old when services commence

Must have a developmental disability (FSIQ=70 or below)

Must have acquired the developmental disability before turning 18 years old

Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident Must reside in or plan to receive services in Alberta

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Once the Individual is determined eligible….

– All Individuals who are deemed eligible for the program are required to complete a SIS interview.

This includes Individuals who are new to the program and Individuals who are already receiving PDD

funded supports

– A SIS interview may be completed at age 17 to assist with the transition process to adult services

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Supports Intensity Scale (SIS)

SIS is a standardized assessment tool, specifically designed to measure the pattern and intensity of supports an adult with developmental disabilities

needs to be successful in various areasIt is not “a test” and does not look at what an

individual can or can’t do, but rather what supports that person needs to be successful.

Areas covered in the SIS: Home Living, Community Living, Lifelong Learning, Employment, Social

Activities, Health and Safety, Protection and Self Advocacy, Exceptional Medical and Behavioral

Supports

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Transition Team

The youth and their guardian along with some or all of the

following participants make up the youth’s transition planning team

depending on the youth’s needs and goals:

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the FSCD worker; representatives from the adult disability

programs: Persons with Developmental

Disabilities (PDD), Assured Income for the Severely

Handicapped (AISH), Office of the Public Guardian / Trustee

(OPGT),

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Alberta Works Program representatives;

• representatives from other government or community programs

that the youth and their family are currently involved with;

• representatives from Child Intervention Services (CIS), including

Supports for Permanency;

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Representatives from Education and/or Alberta Health Services where

applicable; • service providers, teachers and other people who the youth and their family

identify as being important to include in transition planning

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The youth’s transition planning team will participate in three transition to adulthood planning meetings (may be referred to as case conferences)

when the youth is ages 16, 17 and 18 ½. The purpose of the planning

meetings is to develop, review, and monitor the youth’s Transition to

Adulthood Plan.

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When the youth turns 16 years old, the FSCD worker or staff

whose role it is to support integrated transition planning

(e.g., the Transition Coordinator) will:

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Provide the youth and their guardian with information about the integrated

transition planning process. Discuss the youth and guardian’s goals

and vision for the future. Hold the first transition to adulthood

planning meeting involving the youth’s transition planning team and create a

Transition to Adulthood Plan.

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Provide a copy of the Transition to Adulthood Plan to the youth, their

guardian and all transition planning team members,

♦ Arrange for the SIS to be completed by the child’s 17th birthday if the

application to the PDD program is relevant to the transition plan.

♦ Monitor the Transition to Adulthood Plan and follow-up on agreed upon

activities. 17

When the youth turns 17 years old, the FSCD worker or staff

whose role it is to support integrated transition planning

(e.g., the Transition Coordinator) will:

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Hold a second transition to adulthood planning meeting involving the youth’s

transition planning team to: • review progress toward goals as

defined in the Transition to Adulthood Plan;

• review the results of the SIS (when applicable);

• update the Transition to Adulthood Plan as required;

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When the youth turns 18 years old, the FSCD worker or staff

whose role it is to support integrated transition planning

(e.g., the Transition Coordinator) will:

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Ensure completion of the Transition to Adulthood Plan.

Close the youth’s FSCD file.

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When the youth turns 18 ½ years old, the FSCD worker or staff whose role it is to support integrated transition planning

(e.g., the Transition Coordinator) will:

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Hold a third and final transition to adulthood meeting involving the

youth’s transition planning team to: • review the integrated transition

planning process; • ensure that supports and services are

in place; • discuss the successes and

challenges of the transition for the youth and their guardian; and

• provide additional information as required

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