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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.

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