Eligibility Information

How do you know if you're eligible for services?

If you wish to receive services, we will need to determine if you are eligible. In the State of Ohio, the guidelines for eligibility depend on the age of the individual.

For any TuscBDD service, an individual must reside in Tuscarawas County.

Ages 0 to 3
Early Intervention Services are provided to families of children up to the age of three who exhibit delays in development or who may be at risk for delays in development due to medical complications or environmental factors. To determine if you are eligible, contact Help Me Grow at (330) 339-3493.

Ages 3 to 5
Each school district determines whether a student is eligible for admission into the district's pre-school program. If at least two delays are noted in the Evaluation Team Report (ETR) completed by the child's school district, or through a medical evaluation, the child is also eligible for TuscBDD services. Please contact TuscBDD. 

Ages 6 to 9
A child who is between 6 and 9 years old is eligible for our services if he or she meets the following criteria:

  • Has a diagnosis of a developmental disability. A qualified professional must make the diagnosis. A report(s) must be submitted verifying the diagnosis.
  • Has a diagnosis that is expected to be a life long disability.
  • Has a parent or legal guardian who must give permission for the eligibility determination instrument to be completed with the child.
  • Three areas in which support is needed is noted on the functional assessment. Areas of support include the following: 

Self Care: skills in the areas of bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, etc. are considered.
Communication: skills in the areas of receptive and expressive communication are reviewed.
Mobility: the child's walking and moving about in the environment are reviewed.
Learning/Cognition: the child's skills in reading, time telling, money skills, etc. are explored.
Self-Direction: the child's ability to make age appropriate decisions and understand cause and effect are considered.
Capacity for Independent Living: the child's ability to do daily living tasks at an age appropriate level such as make a sandwich, operate a television set, take dirty dishes to sink, etc. is reviewed.

To be eligible for services, the child must show deficits in three of the six areas noted above. 

If the child is eligible, DD staff will make referrals for requested services. If the child is NOT eligible, staff will assist the parent/legal guardian in identifying other services to assist them.

Ages 10 and over
To be determined eligible for services in this age group, the person must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a diagnosis of a developmental disability. The diagnosis must be made by a qualified professional. A report(s) must be submitted verifying the diagnosis.
  • Have a diagnosis that is expected to be a life long disability.
  • The onset of the disability must have occurred prior to the age of 22.
  • The individual or legal guardian (parent if under age 18) must give permission to complete the Level of Care Assessment. 
  • Support needed in three of the following seven areas of the Level of Care Assessment. 

Self Care: skills in the areas of bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, etc. are considered.
Communication: skills in the areas of receptive and expressive communication are reviewed.
Mobility: the individual's walking and moving about in the environment are reviewed.
Learning/Cognition: the individual's skills in reading, time telling, money skills, etc. are explored.
Self-Direction: the individual's ability to make age appropriate decisions and understand cause and effect are considered.
Capacity for Independent Living: the individual's ability to do daily living tasks at an age appropriate level such as make a sandwich, operate a television set, take dirty dishes to sink, etc. is reviewed.
Economic Proficiency: the individual's earning ability, benefit status, and vocational skills are considered.

To be eligible for services, the individual must show deficits in three of the seven areas of the Level of Care Assessment. 

If the individual is eligible, referrals to requested services are made. If the individual is NOT eligible, staff will assist the individual or legal guardian in identifying other services to assist them.


Eligibility FAQ

1. How is an individual determined to be eligible for Services?

An individual requesting services, 10 years of age and over, must be determined eligible through the administration of the Ohio Level of Care Assessment. Support must be needed in at least three of the seven life domains assessed. These domains include: Mobility, Self-Care, Self-Direction, Capacity for Independent Living, Economic Proficiency (16 and over), Learning/Cognition. Children, ages 6 through 9 must be determined eligible through administration of the  Functional Assessment. For children ages 6 through 9, support must be needed in at least three of the domains listed above, excluding Economic Proficiency.

2. Can an individual be determined eligible after the age of 22?

Yes. However, it must be established that the persons disability existed prior to the age of 22.

3. How do I start the eligibility determination process?

The eligibility determination process can be started by contacting Beth Starkey, the Introduction and Eligibility Service & Support Administrator, by phone at (330) 308-7172 or email at bstarkey@tuscbdd.org and expressing a desire to have a determination completed.

4. What documentation needs to be provided in order to support an eligibility determination?

A diagnosis verification form needs to be completed and signed by a licensed clinician to confirm a qualifying diagnosis. Other documentation may be requested such as an IEP and ETR from the local school district, pyschological evaluation, medical evaluation or other relevant information. 

5. Does the County Board of DD pay for psychological evaluations to be completed as part of the determination process?

No. It is the responsibility of the individual and their supports to provide the needed documentation of a qualifying diagnosis.

6. The Social Security Administration had a psychological evaluation completed to establish benefits. Can that psychological report be used?

If the psychological report in question has been completed in the past two years it may be used. However, most psychological reports completed by the Social Security Administration are their property as they have paid for the evaluation to be completed. It is the individual or their supports responsibility to contact Social Security and request a copy.

7. Is a person ever automatically eligible for services do to having a specific qualifying diagnosis?

No. Regardless of any qualifying diagnosis the eligibility process must still completed. If an individual does not have the three substantial functional limitations required they will not be eligible regardless of a given diagnosis.

Clinician Verification Birth to Age 9 Clinician Verification Form Ages 10+