Overview of BHDD OIDD’s Intellectual & Development Disability Services
BHDD OIDD strives to serve all South Carolinians who are eligible for services and to ensure that services meet high standards. The populations served by BHDD OIDD include individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Related Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Similar Disabilities (disabilities affecting the brain or spinal cord which are not associated with the process of a progressive degenerative illness or disease, dementia or a neurological disorder related to aging).
The first service is a diagnostic evaluation to determine if a person is eligible for BHDD OIDD services. An intake service provider coordinates this eligibility process (no cost). If qualified, the new individual selects a case manager to help plan needs-based services. A case manager coordinates services with a “person-centered planning” approach, which is built upon the vision of what the individual would like to do in the future.
Upon being determined eligible for BHDD OIDD services, a case manager can coordinate some limited services immediately, and developmentally delayed children (ages 3-6) can obtain immediate Early Intervention services. However, the most important services to meet an individual’s lifelong needs are obtained through entrance into a Medicaid service program. The BHDD OIDD public service delivery system relies predominately on Medicaid programs to leverage state funding to maximize services available to the individuals served by BHDD OIDD. As a result, individuals will need to obtain Medicaid eligibility to access the vast majority of services offered through BHDD OIDD.
The Medicaid Programs include both Home and Community-Based (HCBS) and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). HCBS Programs are the Community Supports (CS) Waiver, Intellectual Disability and Related Disabilities (ID/RD) Waiver and the Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI) Waiver (see “Waivers”). These three HCBS waivers serve approximately 12,000 individuals; 4000 in residential settings and 8000 at home with their families. ICFs serve 1140 individuals with intellectual and related disabilities; 480 in community settings and 680 in five state-operated Regional Centers.
An overview of at-home services to enable individuals to remain in their own homes include:
- Early Intervention is a family-focused, in-home service for children age 3 to 6 with developmental delays. An Early Interventionist helps families understand their child’s development and gives specific training to address areas of delay.
- Respite Services provide temporary care to individuals, which allows families or caregivers to handle emergencies, personal situations or take a break.
- At-Home Supports provide support for independent living, such as access to the community, paying bills, shopping for groceries, accessing medical care and other personal assistance as needed.
- Employment Services provide assistance to obtain and sustain employment. This service enables people to earn wages and opportunities to interact with non-disabled workers. Employment services include job coaching, work enclaves and mobile work crew opportunities.
- Adult Day Services provide a safe and healthy environment for people to develop social and personal care skills for more independent and productive lives.
- Individual and Family Support is available to assist individuals and families who incur additional expenses due to the individual’s disability.
Residential services support individuals based on their unique needs, which include:
- Supported and Supervised Living Program Models provide adults with needed support to live in apartments or other (single-family) housing. Supervision and support services are tailored to the person's needs.
- Community Training Home (CTH) Models offer people the opportunity to live in a homelike environment under the supervision of qualified and trained staff. Caregivers are either trained private citizens who provide care in their own homes (CTH-I) or service provider employees caring for individuals in a home operated by the provider agency (CTH-II). A variation of CTH-IIs (up to four individuals) are Community Residential Care Facilities, which normally serve about eight individuals.
- Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) Community Intermediate Care Facilities are residences for individuals needing maximum support for their high levels of need. 24-hour care, supervision, training, recreation and other activities are provided in this structured environment.
- ID/RD Regional Center Intermediate Care Facilities are operated by the state at five (5) locations across the state, which provide 24-hour care, supervision and treatment to the most fragile individuals served by BHDD OIDD, with the greatest need for support. Regional Center care is generally recommended only when all other appropriate community services are not available.
Applying for Services
7 Categories of Eligibility
BHDD OIDD serves people in 7 different categories of eligibility
- Intellectual Disability
- Related Disability (i.e., a disability related to an Intellectual Disability)
- High-Risk Infant
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Head Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Similar Disability (i.e., a disability similar to a head [traumatic brain] or spinal cord injury)
To be eligible for BHDD OIDD services, you must be domiciled in South Carolina and be confirmed by BHDD OIDD to meet the criteria for at least one of the noted disability categories.
Apply Today
By Phone, Toll Free at: 1-800-289-7012
Available 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Please read this entire page. It tells you important information you need to know before you call.
How to Request BHDD OIDD Eligibility
- Call Toll-Free 1-800-289-7012, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
- Have the following information about the applicant available:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Medicaid Number if Medicaid eligible
- Home Address
- Phone Number
- E-mail Address, if available
- Plan to spend about 15 minutes on your call.
- You will be asked questions to establish your residency in South Carolina.
- You will be asked questions to get general information about your disability.
- You will be asked to select three (3) Intake Service Providers from a list read to you over the phone. The Intake Provider will help you through the Eligibility process at no cost to you. BHDD OIDD will contact the Intake Service Provider(s) you choose. If you are seeking Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) eligibility, a BHDD OIDD Autism Eligibility Coordinator will be available to assist you.
- You will receive a letter from BHDD OIDD confirming your application for BHDD OIDD eligibility.
- The Intake Service Provider you choose or an Autism Eligibility Coordinator will contact you by telephone within two (2) weeks and will provide you with information and collect medical and educational records needed by BHDD OIDD to determine eligibility.
- Once appropriate records are submitted by the Intake Service Provider or the Autism Eligibility Coordinator, BHDD OIDD will notify the applicant in writing of their eligibility status.