mapsli.com
At mapsli.com my goal is to assist developmentally disabled Self Direction Participants with creating a budget that best suits their needs and interests and supporting the participants with all aspects of Self Direction.
I work with participants and their families to develop a plan that encompasses all the participant would like to accomplish, using the Person Centered Planning approach.
I help to connect Direct Support Staff, including Community Habilitation Specialists, Respite Workers, Job Coaches and Job Developers through my Job Link tab.
Providing Start Up and Support Brokerage and Staffing Supports for Self Direction Participants in Eastern Suffolk County, New York
About Donna:
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Prior to being blessed with 2 Special Needs Children, I worked with developmentally disabled folks throughout my years at SUNY Stony Brook and thereafter. Once I obtained my degree in Psychology I became employed with a Long Island Agency that served the Developmentally Disabled population full time. I worked there until the birth of my daughter in 2000. Due to the issues that arose with her and her brother, who came along in 2002, I was unable to maintain a job outside the home. I was lucky. We had one income and with the support of my husband and family we were able to make ends meet and I stayed home to raise my children.
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During that time, I was able to apply for and maintain many traditional services for my children and through OPWDD's Family Support Services, they received, com hab, and respite services. Later we applied for and received CDPAP as well. These services were invaluable but soon I came to find out there was something better....Self Direction. I became a Self-Direction Broker in 2015 and wrote the budgets for my own kids to start. As of today I am currently supporting about 70 participants and their families.
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As I spoke to other parents of Special Needs Kids, I found out the information related to signing up for and receiving OPWDD services was not readily available and many of the kids, even in my own children's school district were not receiving these life altering services.
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So...I began to volunteer my time to educate parents of Special Needs Children on obtaining OPWDD services and most importantly Self Direct these Services. Self Direction has changed my family's life and can change the lives of many others. The process isn't easy and requires a lot of hard work and paper work, but it is worth it!
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If you have a child with Special Needs and don't know where to start, please take a look at the attached pdf. It was printed from the power point "Helpful Information" that I use as a teaching tool when I speak at SEPTO meetings and gatherings throughout the Long Island.
Helpful Information
Please use my Contact page to inquire about Brokerage and my Job Link to apply for open and upcoming positions.