INFORMATION/RESOURCES

General Information:

ABLE Accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience)

ABLE accounts help individuals save, while preserving their SSI and Medicaid. Eligible applicants can save for qualified disability expenses without losing eligibility for certain assistance programs, like SSI and Medicaid. Under the law, a person with a disability and that person’s family may put money into a special tax-advantaged account.  The first $100,000 in an ABLE account will not count against the $2000 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limit, nor will it count against asset limits other programs, such as Medical Assistance, may have. The earnings on your investments are federally tax-deferred and tax-free, if used for qualified disability expenses.

For more information visit our ABLE Accounts Page or ABLE Nevada

Accessibility

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

Advocacy/Self-Determination

Life Stages Tool Guide  – The Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD) has created the Life Stages Guide; a tool to help individuals with disabilities and their families plan for, and make informed choices to live the most self-determined life they can at any age. The NGCDD has heard from the community that often times, individuals with disabilities and/or their family members are overwhelmed and unsure of how to navigate through the system. The Life Stages Guide was created as a tool to prepare for and seek services, supports, and resources by asking thought-provoking questions they may not have thought of asking or know to ask on their own.

This guide was adapted with permission from Charting the Life Course: A Guide for Individuals, Families, and Professionals from Missouri Family to Family. It represents the viewpoints of individuals with disabilities, parents and family members on what they found helpful, wish for their future, or wished they had thought about during the different ages and stages in life. It also includes information on self-determination, and a list of various resources and services.

We hope you will find this guide informational and useful for you, your family members and/or consumers. The guide is available in three forms: as a downloadable PDF below (in standard and accessible format) and through our office as an actual handbook. All are free of cost however, we ask that you please compete and return the accompanying survey in the link below as your feedback is important to us. Please let us know if this guide was useful by completing this survey and emailing to Ellen Marquez at elmarquez@dhhs.nv.gov

Advocacy Groups in Nevada

  • People First of Nevada
  • A Team Nevada
  • Kiwanis Aktion Club – Meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. Location: Dining Room of the Douglas County Community and Senior Center. Contact: Gary Dove, 775-339-8882 | gsdpidge@aol.com

Dental

  • Dentably
  • The American Dental Association recently revised its code of conduct to prohibit denial of care to patients with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities. In cases where a dentist does not have the equipment or expertise to meet a particular person’s special needs, the code now requires them to refer the patient to an appropriate dentist rather than simply turning them away.
  •  Oral health guides for developmental disabilities publications »

Developmental Disabilities Definition:

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 defines a developmental disability as a severe chronic disability of an individual that:

  • is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments.
  • is manifested before the individual attains age 22.
  • is likely to continue indefinitely.
  • results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.
  • reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, supports, or other assistance that are lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
  • includes infants and young children from birth to age nine who have substantial delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions, and may be considered to have a developmental disability without limitations in meeting three or more of the areas of major life activity with a high probability of resulting in DD later in life if services are not provided.

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)

In every state and territory, programs authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) empower individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to help shape policies that impact them. DD Act programs conduct important research and test innovative new service delivery models. They work to bring the latest knowledge and resources to those who can put it to the best use, including self-advocates, families, service providers, and policymakers. DD Act programs also investigate cases of abuse and serve as advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Emergency Planning

For presentations or information on including the Access and Functional Needs (AFN) population in emergency planning, or materials please contact Kimberly Palma-Ortega at kportega@dhhs.nv.gov

Employment

Guinn Center Integrated Employment ReportDownload

Guardianship and Supported Decision Making

Home and Community Based Medicaid Waivers

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provide opportunities for Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services in their own home or community rather than institutions or other isolated settings. These programs serve a variety of targeted populations groups, such as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or mental illnesses.

States offering existing Medicaid waivers for home and community-based services must establish transition plans to meet the new requirements as soon as possible under the rule.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a rule regarding several sections of the Medicaid law under which states offer home and community-based services (HCBS).  This rule reflects CMS’ intent to ensure that individuals receiving services and supports through Medicaid’s HCBS programs have full access to the benefits of community living and are able to receive services in the most integrated setting possible.  Full implementation of the final rule must be preceded by a transition plan to ensure that HCBS settings will meet the requirements.

IID Waiver Rate Study

The Cost Study for the Waiver for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Related Conditions.

In July of 2020 a cost study for the Waiver for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Related Conditions was undertaken by Burns & Associates, a Division of Health Management Associates. During March and April of 2021 providers were surveyed about costs related to the services they provide and cost related to their employees and the benefits that are offered to their employees. 88 Providers were sent surveys, 16 providers returned responses. This accounted for 18.2% of the provider community and 47.1% of all claims by payment for ID Wavier services. The proposed rates and the rates presentation are below. Please note that rate changes would need to approved by the legislature next session and that a completed rate study does not guarantee a rate increase.

Housing

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Alternative Diploma Guidance

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

Effective July 1, 2017 the Alternative Diploma became Nevada’s newest diploma option. Requirements for the Alternative Diploma passed the regulatory process on October 11, 2018. The Alternative Diploma is now available to Nevada’s students with disabilities who are assessed on the Nevada Alternate Assessment. Nevada’s requirements for the Alternative Diploma align to the acad0emic coursework and the College and Career Readiness assessment (ACT) requirements for students working to achieve a standard diploma. For more information:

Nevada Alternate Diploma Guidance

ELA NVAC Connector Standards

Math NVACS Connector Standards

Science NVACS Connector Standards

AD Science Credits Guidance

AD Social Studies Credits Guidance

AD Computer Education and Technology Credits Guidance

AD Health Education Guidance

Individual/Family Support

  • A great website with resources to support families throughout the lifespan of their family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Financial assistance to participate in conferences, workshops, and other training opportunities: Consumer Leadership Funds
  • Nevada PEP provides support to parents/families of children with disabilities from birth – age 26.  They provide information and resources, free training classes and support groups for parents, weekly meetings for youth to learn about advocacy, and individualized support including supporting parents with issues related to IEP and section 504 plans in school meetings.

Information/Referral/ Independent Living

Legislative

Lending Library

We have a lending library with books for and about the disability community. To learn more, visit our Lending Library page!

Medicare

Nevada DD Network Partners

Seclusion and Restraint

Religion

Service Animals

Sexuality

Webinar series from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) on Youtube that contains some valuable resources from self-advocates and stakeholders. 

Sexual Harassment

Transition/Post Secondary Education 

Transportation

See our Transportation Page

Virtual Meetings

A quick guide in English and Spanish to getting started with virtual meetings like Zoom

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

WIOA (P.L. 113-128) reauthorizes and updates existing federal workforce development programs including the Rehabilitation Act, which provides for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for people with disabilities. It significantly limits placements at sheltered workshops and other work environments where people with disabilities earn less than minimum wage.

Under the law, individuals with disabilities age 24 and younger will no longer be allowed to work for less than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour unless they first receive pre-employment transition services at school and try vocational rehabilitation services.

It also focuses VR outcomes on competitive, integrated employment as well as promotes greater emphasis on transition services for youth with disabilities through: emphasis on coordination between VR and other agencies; extending the initial time period for VR supported employment services (from 18 to 24 months); and modification of eligibility determination to promote access to VR by people with the most significant disabilities.  For more information and resources click here.

Or read the document published by the Arc on WIOA: What it means for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Please note this list is not all inclusive. Views expressed on these sites do not necessarily represent the official views of the state of Nevada, the NGCDD, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or any other related or supporting agency or organization. The NGCDD holds no responsibility for other website content and no endorsement should be inferred.

If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Ortiz at rortiz@dhhs.nv.gov or 775-684-8619.