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.
What counties does Integrated Services Network
Support Services Brokerage serve?
ISN serves Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Benton,
Lincoln, Linn, Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties. There
are nine brokerages across the state of Oregon. Each county
is served in some way by an area brokerage.
How do I become an Integrated Services Network
Support Services Brokerage customer?
Customers come to ISN through their county
developmental disabilities services case manager. ISN customers
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 customers are enrolled
each month at ISN 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.
Where is the ISN Brokerage main office located?
ISN Brokerage has seven locations. The main
ISN office is located at 3737 Portland Rd. NE, Salem, OR 97303
and our mailing address is ISN: P.O. Box 20460, Keizer, OR 97307
A. Further contact information is at our Contact
Us page.
What are the services that ISN Brokerage
provides?
ISN 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 ISN 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 customer's 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 customers
and families about this program.
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 provider
agencies?
Yes, you can choose to purchase your support
from provider agencies in your community.
There are many excellent provider 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 ISN
offices.
Will an individual's SSI be affected if they
receive 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 customer. Therefore it
does not affect SSI or social security benefits.
What volunteer opportunities are available
to me through the ISN Brokerage?
Volunteers can become involved at ISN through
our Local councils. We have Local Councils in each of the counties
that we provide services. The Local Councils are made up of
customers, family members and other community members who help
create more opportunities for individuals with disabilities
that live in the community.
The roles and responsibilities of the Local Councils are: Planning
and Policy Recommendations, Stewardship, Resource Development,
and Advocacy.
New members are always considered!
A personal agent (PA) works for their customer
to assist them in planning and developing disability-related
supports so that they truly meet the customer’s needs.
The PA assists the customer 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 customer prioritizes and makes the choices.
What is a transfer meeting?
When a customer enrolls at ISN, a transfer
meeting takes place with the customer and whomever they would
like to have attend with them (i.e. family), the county case
manager (also known as the support specialist), and the ISN
personal agent.
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
customer 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 customer in setting goals, determining
needs, planning for supports, and reviewing and redesigning
support strategies. These conversations assist in identifying
the customer's preferences and choices.
What is a fiscal intermediary?
ISN Brokerage also offers Fiscal Intermediary
services to handle the payment of support services, including
independent providers and family employees. They will write
the paychecks to the providers that the customer employs and
to the services that the customer uses. They are a payroll service
that reports the monies used to the state. Customers also receive
a statement from ISN 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.
