Special Needs

What Is Com Hab and How Does It Provide Individualized Support?

It can be difficult for people to understand the specifics of developmental disabilities and the services that are offered to those with special needs. 

Community Habilitation (Com Hab) provides customized support to meet the special requirements of people with developmental impairments. 

Learn what Com Hab is, as well as its advantages, requirements for eligibility, and the ways that Hamaspik helps families with this procedure.

What Is Com Hab?

Community Habilitation (Com Hab) is a program funded by Medicaid under OPWDD for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), 

Unlike institutional care, Com Hab offers one-on-one or one-to-many support to help them become more independent and involved in the community through specific tailor-made programs.

The goal of these services is to assist people improve their quality of life by teaching them new skills or helping them strengthen their current ones. 

In contrast to rehabilitation, which tries to regain lost functions, habilitation is designed for those whose disabilities prevented them from ever learning specific skills. In Com Hab, they reach for new frontiers.

Com Hab Eligibility

To be eligible for any OPWDD services, individuals must fulfill a number of requirements. These processes ensure that individuals get the right individualised support.  Here are the main requirements for eligibility:

Diagnosed developmental disability

The person seeking OPWDD services must be diagnosed with a developmental disability. This covers conditions including Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological impairments, familial dysautonomia, intellectual disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders. 

One requirement is that the developmental disability must have originated before the individual turned 22 years old.

The person must also have impaired functioning in at least three (3) of the following areas:

  • Communication
  • Learning
  • Mobility
  • Self-care
  • Capacity for independent living
  • Self-direction
  • Economic self-sufficiency (for adults)

Goals of Community Habilitation (Com Hab)

The main objective of Community Habilitation services is to assist clients in acquiring and improving the skills required for increased autonomy. 

Skilled professionals work with people one-on-one or in small groups, concentrating on a variety of topics like:

  • Daily living: Personal hygiene and domestic skills such as straightening up, cleaning, and planning.
  • Health and wellness: Dietary recommendations, physical activity, and scheduling doctor's appointments.
  • Social skills: Establishing connections with others and improving communication abilities.
  • Self-advocacy: Knowing their rights and duties and making correct decisions for themselves .
  • Community travel: Safely navigating local places and public transportation.
  • Money management: Financial knowledge and budgeting.
  • Food preparation: Meal planning and cooking.
  • Socialization: Engaging in hobbies and community activities.
  • Community involvement: Participating in volunteer activities and job oppertunities.

Each participant's particular requirements and goals are met with an emphasis on flexibility and individualized support, enabling meaningful and long-lasting gains.

In addition, community habilitation highlights the value of family and community involvement, acknowledging that an individual with special needs cannot succeed or be well-cared for without a network of support. 

Through the promotion of cooperation and proactive engagement, community habilitation assists people to lead more independent and satisfying lives.

Settings for Community Habilitation

Services for community habilitation are intended to address the special requirements of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in a range of real-world settings. Among these settings are:

  • Systems of public transportation
  • Parks and outside areas
  • Recreational centers
  • Community education facilities
  • Volunteers sites
  • Work environments
  • Libraries
  • Residences

Community habilitation makes sure people get the support they need in different settings to succeed in their daily lives. This helps them grow in meaningful ways, become more independent, and stay actively involved in their community.

Benefits of Community Habilitation

There are many ways in which  community habilitation (Com Hab) can improve the quality of life for people with special needs:

  • Enhanced independence: People acquire the skills necessary to live more independently, which lessens their dependence on caregivers and encourages self-sufficiency.
  • Better quality of life: People have a higher quality of life and more personal satisfaction when they engage in meaningful activities and acquire vital life skills.
  • Community engagement: People who regularly participate in community events forge stronger social bonds and experience a greater sense of belonging.
  • Personal growth & development: Through specialized support and skill-building activities, participants meet personal objectives, acquire confidence, and experience  success.
  • Health & wellness: Better physical and mental health results are a result of targeted guidance on health and wellness.
  • Relationships and social skills: Having stronger social skills promotes a sense of community and belonging by assisting people in establishing and sustaining meaningful relationships.

How Hamaspik Can Help

For people with developmental impairments, Community Habilitation (Com Hab) provides important support in the form of essential life skills improvement, increased independence, and community integration. 

Services offered by non-profit organizations such as Hamaspik guarantee that the unique needs of people with intellectual and development disabilities are understood and accommodated for.

With the help of Hamaspik, people with developmental disabilities can start along the path to more independence and a better quality of life, and their families can get the support they need to help them along the way with optimism and confidence.

Auditory Sensitivity

My child is sensitive to loud noises
(e.g., sirens, vacuum cleaner).

My child seeks out specific sounds or types of music and appears calmer when listening to them.

Tactile Sensitivity

My child is irritated by certain fabrics or tags in clothing.

My child seems indifferent to sensations that are usually painful or to extreme temperatures.

Visual Sensitivity

My child is sensitive to bright or flashing lights.

My child tends to avoid eye contact.

Taste/Smell Sensitivity

My child constantly prefers bland foods and rejects foods with strong flavors or spices.

My child seeks out strong or unusual smells, such as sniffing food or objects.

Proprioceptive Sensitivity

My child prefers tight hugs or being wrapped in a blanket.

My child is unaware of body position in space (e.g., often bumps into things).

Social Sensitivity

My child becomes anxious or distressed in crowded spaces.

My child is hesitant or resistant to climbing or balancing activities (e.g., jungle gyms, see-saws).

Movement Sensitivity

My child dislikes fast or spinning movements

Vestibular Sensitivity

My child becomes anxious or distressed in crowded spaces.

My child is hesitant or resistant to climbing or balancing activities (e.g., jungle gyms, see-saws).

Please answer all questions before submitting.

Your Child’s Score is

  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

0-15: Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child exhibits low levels of sensory sensitivity, usually falling within the typical developmental range.
  • Recommendation: Generally not  a cause for concern. If you have specific worries or notice a sudden change in behavior, consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

16-30: Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child displays moderate sensory sensitivity, which may warrant intervention.
  • Recommendation: Consider sensory-friendly activities, sensory sensitive toys, or sensory sensitive clothing like noise-canceling headphones and weighted blankets to improve comfort. If symptoms persist, consult health care professionals.
  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

31-45: High Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child has higher than average sensory sensitivity that may interfere with daily functioning.
  • Recommendation: Seek a detailed evaluation by health care professionals for sensory integration therapy options and potential environmental modifications.
  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

46-60: Very High Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child demonstrates high levels of sensory sensitivity that could significantly interfere with daily life.
  • Recommendation: If your child displays this level of sensory sensitivity, it’s highly recommended that you consult with a health care professional for a multi-disciplinary assessment. You will probably be directed towards early intervention programs and specialized support.

The Yom Tov Parenting Survival Guide

Understanding OPWDD Eligibility: What You Need to Know

How Direct Support Professionals Enhance Quality of Life

What Is Com Hab and How Does It Provide Individualized Support?

6 Benefits of Respite Care for Families of Kids with Special Needs

Encouragement for the First Day of School

Sensory Sensitivity Test

The Child Development Checklist

Spina Bifida — an Overview

My Life in Holland

Fostering Independence in Children With Developmental Delays

Understanding Intellectual Disabilities

What is Epilepsy?

Defining Dyslexia

Pathways to Potential

Understanding Down Syndrome

Decoding Diagnostic Tests

Early Intervention for Down Syndrome

Our Roller Coaster Ride

Understanding Cerebral Palsy

Understanding Autism

Autism Support

Social Anxiety Disorder

Confronting Childhood Trauma

Family Strategies for Anxiety

Sleep Strategies for the Anxious Child

Separation Anxiety Overview

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mental Disorder Prevention

Combating Depression in Elders

Depression Overview

Understanding Anxiety

Adult ADHD Action Plan

Unlocking Potential

A Parent's Guide to Food for Kids With Allergies

Understanding Speech and Language Development

Sleep Strategies for the Anxious Child

Sensory Sensitivity Test

Feeding Your Picky Eater

Simple Sensory Activities

Decoding Diagnostic Tests

The Child Development Checklist

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