Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Betty Hardwick Center contracts with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services to serve as the local authority. Services are available to persons who meet the state's "priority population" which consists of the following -

• persons with mental retardation as defined by Texas Health and Safety Code 591.003;
• individuals with a pervasive developmental disorder, as defined in the current addition of the DSM, including autism;
• individuals with a related condition, listed in http://dads.state.tx.us/provider/guidelines/ICD-9-CM_Diagnostic_Codes.pdf, who are eligible for, and enrolling in services in the ICF/MR Program, Home and Community Based Services (HCS) Program, or Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Program;
• nursing facility residents who are eligible for specialized services for mental retardation or a related condition pursuant to Section 1919(e)(7) of the Social Security Act; and
• children who are eligible for Early Childhood Intervention Services through the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).

Services available to those applying for community based services funded by state general revenue dollars through the local authority include:

Screening and Eligibility Determination: Gathering information to determine eligibility for priority population. This may include review of previous testing, administering testing, and social history.

Service Coordination: Assistance in accessing medical, social, educational and other appropriate services and supports that will help a consumer achieve a quality of life and community participation acceptable to the consumer. Assessment, service planning and coordination, monitoring, crisis prevention and management are all included in this service.

Day Habilitation: Site Based programming that assists with acquiring, retaining or improving self help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to live successfully in the community and to participate in home and community life. Betty Hardwick Center offers this service to both children and adults.

Employment Assistance/Supported Employment: Services to assist a consumer in finding individualized competitive employment in the community and to sustain the employment.

Respite: Planned or emergency short term relief services provided to the consumers' unpaid caregiver when the caregiver is temporarily unavailable to provide supports. Betty Hardwick Center offers respite in a 6 bed home with 24 hour care.

Community Support Services: Individualized activities that are consistent with the consumers person directed plan and provided in the home or community locations. Supports included activities that foster ability to perform daily living skills, activities to preserve the family unit, transportation between home and employment or day habilitation site or community activities.

Continuity of Services: Services to assist a consumer residing in the community, a state facility or an HCS, ICF/MR, or TxHmL program to develop another placement such as a change to another provider, or another type of residential setting.

Additionally, Betty Hardwick Center operates two Medicaid Waiver programs:

Home and Community Based Services:Services and supports available in a person’s own home or family home, or in a small residential program. Services include day habilitation, employment assistance, respite, and specialized therapies.

Texas Home Living Program (TxHmL) — Services and supports, such as day habilitation, respite and employment assistance, for persons who live in their own home or their family’s home.

For information about these services and other services provided by DADS, please call (325)690-5182.