Assisting Individuals With Developmental Disabilities to Pursue a Quality of Life That is Consistent With Their Preferences and Choices.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a developmental disability?
- What counties does Full Access Brokerage serve?
- How do I become a Full Access Brokerage client?
- Where is Full Access Brokerage located?
- What are the services that Full Access Brokerage provides?
- How are client services funded?
- What can my support service money buy?
- Can I buy my services from local agencies?
- Will an individual's SSI be affected by them receiving your services?
- What volunteer opportunities are available for me through Full Access Brokerage?
- What is a personal agent or PA?
- What is a transfer meeting?
- What is a person centered planning process?
- What is a fiscal intermediary?
What is Acumen?- What other resources may I want to contact?
Questions from non-agency providers:
- What is a developmental disability?
An estimated 1.8 % of the population, or more than 59,400 Oregonians, have a developmental disability. A developmental disability is a chronic physical and/or mental impairment that occurs before a person is 22 years old, and that affects the person's abilities in at least three of the following areas: communication, capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency, learning, mobility, self-care and/or self-direction. Examples of developmental disabilities include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and mental retardation. As a result of a developmental disability the person may require lifelong supports and services. (Information provided by the Developmental Disabilities Coalition.)
The definition of a developmental disability for adults used by Oregon county developmental disability services is a disability attributable to mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or other neurological handicapping conditions which requires training or supports similar to that required by individuals with mental retardation, and the disability:
originates before the individual attains the age of 22 years, except that in the case of mental retardation the condition must be manifested before the age of 18; and
Has continued, or can be expected to continue, indefinitely; and
Constitutes a substantial handicap to the ability of the individual to function in society; or
Results in significant sub-average general intellectual functioning with concurrent deficits in adaptive behavior which are manifested during the developmental period. Individuals of borderline intelligence may be considered to have mental retardation if there is also serious impairment of adaptive behavior. Definitions and classifications shall be consistent with the "Manual of Terminology and Classification in Mental Retardation" by the American Association on Mental Deficiency, 1977 Revision. Mental retardation is synonymous with mental deficiency. [Case Management Rule Definitions 309-041-0404 (15)]
- What counties does Full Access Brokerage serve?
FAB serves Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lake and Lane counties. There are ten brokerages across the state of Oregon. Each county is served in some way by an area brokerage.
- How do I become a Full Access Brokerage client?
Clients come to FAB through their county developmental disabilities services case manager. FAB clients must be Oregon residents with a developmental disability, at least 18 years of age, and living at home or on their own (not receiving comprehensive services, foster care or other residential care). The county DDS determines which clients are enrolled each month at FAB from the county waitlist. The individual should contact their County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities office or case manager, to determine if they may be eligible for Brokerage services. Once an individual is eligible for support services through the brokerage they are entitled to receive assistance.
Return to top- Where is Full Access Brokerage located?
Full Access Brokerage has three locations. The location serving Lane County is in Eugene at 1240 Charnelton Street. The location serving Deschutes and Lake Counties is in Bend at 155 NE Revere Ave, Suite B. The location serving Crook and Jefferson Counties is in Madras at 715 SW 4th St, Suite A. Further contact information and maps to the offices are at our Contact Us page.
- What are the services that Full Access Brokerage provides?
FAB provides the following services and supports:
Assisting individuals with developmental disabilities to determine their needs, plan support services in response to those needs, and develop individualized budgets based on available resources
Assisting individuals with developmental disabilities to find and arrange the resources necessary to implement support services
Assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in assuring the effective implementation of their plans over time, and help make adjustments to the plan or plan goals as necessary
Providing information, education, and technical assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities in order to help facilitate effective plan implementation
Acting as a general fiscal intermediary in the receipt and accounting of certain funds on behalf of an individual in addition to making payment with the authorization of the individual, and accounting for certain plan costs
Acting as a specialized fiscal intermediary in assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in fulfilling their roles and obligations as employers of support staff when plans call for such arrangements. Being a fiscal intermediary basically means FAB helps clients do the paper work involved in paying for their services
Facilitating development and expansion of community resources
Assuring and assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in monitoring the quality of their supports
- How are client services funded?
The basic benefit is made up of a combination of monies from the State of Oregon general fund and federal Medicaid Matching dollars. In order to maximize your benefit you must be Title XIX waiver eligible for Medicaid. If you are not waiver eligible you are limited to the general fund contribution. The basic benefit is a social benefit which means that it can only be used to purchase disability related support services that are needed due to the individual's disability. The basic benefit is an annual entitlement. Many people average the benefit out over the year to provide a consistent level of support, but this is not a requirement. It can be used to address any appropriate need as it arises. For a small number of people with very extensive support needs, a program called "Base Plus" is available. The personal agents help inform clients and families about this program.
Return to top- What can my support service money buy?
Support service dollars are used to purchase disability related supports in any of 16 categories: community inclusion, community living supports, environmental accessibility adaptations, supported employment services, respite care, family training, homemaker, non-medical transportation, chore service, occupational therapy services, personal emergency response system, physical therapy services, special diets, specialized medical equipment and supplies, specialized supports, speech, hearing, and language services.
- Can I buy my services from local agencies?
Yes, you can choose to purchase your support from agencies in your community.
There are many excellent organizations that provide services such as respite, help with finding, learning and keeping a job, behavior support consultation, life skills, and personal care. The extensive list of options is available at the FAB offices.
- Will an individual's SSI be affected by them receiving your services?
No, because the support service monies are utilized to pay employees or other services. The support service monies are not coming directly to the client. Therefore it does not affect SSI or social security benefits.
What volunteer opportunities are available for me through Full Access Brokerage?
Volunteers can become involved at FAB through our advisory councils. One serves Lane County and the other serves the 4 eastern counties: Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson and Lake. The advisory councils are made up of community members who help create more opportunities for FAB clients. They also advise staff how to improve services. New members are always considered! Please go to our Getting Involved page to fill out an application (link). Our Board of Directors generally draws its members from the advisory councils.
Return to topWhat is a personal agent or PA?
A personal agent (PA) works for their client to assist them in planning and developing disability-related supports so that they truly meet the client's needs. The PA assists the client in identifying dreams and goals, determining the support needs necessary to pursue and achieve those dreams and goals, and finding the resources needed to provide those supports. The PA identifies resources available and then the client prioritizes and makes the choices.
What is a transfer meeting?
When a client enrolls at FAB, a transfer meeting takes place with the client and whomever they would like to attend with them (i.e. family), the county case manager (also known as the support specialist), and the FAB personal agent. This transfer meeting does not mean the end of the involvement of the county case manager in the life of the client, it is simply a transfer of the primary support role to the personal agent.
What is a person centered planning process?
A person centered planning process is a series of conversations and/or a specific type of planning meeting. These conversations help the personal agent get to know the client and all the different aspects of their life: education and employment, home life, social and leisure, transportation, medical and health, communication, finances and long term vision. This process assists the client in setting goals, determining needs, planning for supports, and reviewing and redesigning support strategies. These conversations assist in identifying the client's preferences and choices.
What is a fiscal intermediary? What is Acumen?
FAB has retained the services of a fiscal intermediary to handle the payment of support services, including independent providers and family employees. This company is named Acumen. They will write the paychecks to the providers that the client employs and to the services that the client uses. They are a payroll service that reports the monies used to the state. Clients also receive a statement from Acumen when monies are paid out.
What other resources may I want to contact?
Please see our Resources/Links page for related resources on the web.
Return to topQuestions from non-agency providers:
How do I become a provider?
FAB has a database of potential providers. Providers work with our clients to assist them in achieving the goals they set for themselves. Providers work in diverse areas such as aiding clients to access the community, training clients in independent living skills, providing ongoing job support, providing respite to a client's regular caregiver, and many other areas.
To become a provider you need to fill out the Potential Provider Packet
(This packet has been formatted for you to print double sided. If you have problems opening this file please call, or come into, the FAB office for a packet). When you've completed the packet of information return it to the FAB office. When you come in please bring your Driver's License/ID, your Social Security Card and your auto insurance (if applicable). The FAB staff will take a copy of all of these. They will have another form for you to read, a mandatory abuse reporting card for you to take. We will also be available to answer any further questions.
What is my payday?
The provider paydate is the 15th.
When is my time sheet due?
Providers turn in their time sheets once a month. Timesheets are due to the FAB office by noon on the 3rd of each month. Please remember to sign as the employee and have the client (or guardian if applicable) sign as the employer.
Who is my employer?
Your employer is the client. Full Access Brokerage is NOT your employer. The personal agent at FAB assists the client in hiring you, but the choice to hire you and maintain you as an employee, is the client's. You are NOT an employee of Acumen. Acumen is the fiscal intermediary for the support service funds of the client's ISP.
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