Tutelage Talks
 At its core, Community Participation Support (CPS) is about helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) live full, connected, and meaningful lives within their communities. It’s not just about “getting out of the house” — it’s about belonging, contributing, and growing in ways that matter to the individual. So, what is Community Participation Support? CPS is a service that supports people with disabilities in engaging in everyday community life. That could mean volunteering, taking a class, enjoying recreational activities, building social connections, or exploring hobbies and interests. These aren’t just fun extras — they’re essential parts of living a life with dignity, choice, and purpose. Why does it matter? Because everyone deserves to be included. Unfortunately, many individuals with IDD and autism experience isolation due to transportation barriers, lack of accessible opportunities, or simply because they haven’t been given the right supports to try new things. CPS helps break down those barriers by offering individualized, person-centered support that encourages people to set their own goals and try new experiences. The benefits are real. When individuals are meaningfully involved in their communities, we see:
And for families and caregivers, CPS offers peace of mind — knowing their loved one is engaging in safe, supportive, and enriching experiences that truly make a difference. What Does CPS Look Like at Tutelage Residential Services? At Tutelage Residential Services, we take a flexible, person-centered approach to Community Participation Support. Every individual is unique — and so is the way we help them thrive. Some of the ways we support individuals through CPS include:
This list isn’t all-encompassing — our goal is to help people live their best lives, in whatever way that means for them. Whether that’s joining a book club, learning how to navigate the bus system, or finding the confidence to try something new, we are here to walk alongside each individual every step of the way. How Do You Get CPS Services? Community Participation Support is typically accessed through a waiver program (such as the Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver or the Community Living Waiver) in Pennsylvania. If you or your loved one is already enrolled in a waiver, talk to your Supports Coordinator about adding CPS to your Individual Support Plan (ISP). Not sure where to start? We can help guide you through the process. Our team at Tutelage Residential Services is available to answer questions, connect you with resources, and support your journey to accessing the services your loved one needs. Contact us to learn more about Community Participation Support or to schedule a consultation. Let’s build something meaningful—together!
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 The Charting the LifeCourse framework was created to help individuals and their families of all abilities and ages develop a vision for a good life. How do you define a good life? Well, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find supports, utilize natural resources, and then discover what it takes to live the life they see for themselves. A LifeCourse tool is Person-Centered that can help anyone who is planning, problem solving, or working on a goal. It is often used to express the hopes, dreams, and vision for what a supported sees as a good life, as well as think about and plan for supports they will need to get there.
Charting the life course is about planning and having various, sometimes difficult, conversations. It is challenges thinking about things differently, aiming high and then adjusting as necessary, having experiences, and creating situations that move this trajectory into the desired vision of what the person wants for their life. Sometimes, it takes a village to accomplish this, help the person create their village. Some key principles to the LifeCourse: Focusing on all people- All people, regardless of age, ability, or family role, are considered in our vision, values, policies, and practices for supporting individuals and families. All families have choices and access to the supports they need. Family systems and recognizing the person with the context of their family- People exist and have reciprocal roles within a family system, defined by that individual. Roles adjust as the family system changes and age. The entire family and individually needs support to ensure they all can successfully live their good life. Trajectory of life experiences across the lifespan- Individuals and families can focus on a specific life stage, with an awareness of how prior, current, and future life stages impact and influence their trajectory. It is important to have a vision for a good, quality life and have opportunities, experiences, and support to move the life trajectory in a positive direction. Striving for and Achieving Life Outcomes-Individuals and families plan for the present and future life outcomes that consider all aspects of life and have opportunities for life experiences that build self-determination, social capital, economic sufficiency, and community inclusion. The LifeCourse Framework offers flexible, dynamic tools that anyone can learn to use in creating a vision of an everyday life and in discovering supports for the experiences, relationships and community opportunities that can help make the vision a reality. For more information, comment below. Today I want to talk about the different types of waivers. If you are looking for services or are assisting someone looking for services then you have heard of waivers. What are waivers? Waivers are one way to pay for the services that support people with intellectual developmental disabilities and autism. Waivers offer a variety of services and benefits such as choice of qualified providers, due process, and health and safety assurances. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) administers multiple medical assistance/ Medicaid waivers. Each waiver has its own unique set of eligibility requirements and services. The waivers are overseen and disseminated to the states by the Centers for Medicare/ Medicaid Services (CMS). In January 2014, CMS created a final rule for Home and Community Based Services (HBCS) in order to make sure individuals receive services in settings that are integrated into the community and individuals receiving services have access to community resources equal to that of those who do not receive services. The CMS final rule states that individuals receiving services should be able to do all the following: Have opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive and integrated settings.
The CMS final rule further aims to make sure that individuals receiving services have free choice of where they live and what provider to choose as long as the providers is willing and qualified. This is a big deal. Therefore, there are many regulatory requirements and reviews. This ensures compliance. The CMS Rule also ensures that an individual’s rights are not restricted and clarifies that services will not be allowed in settings that have the qualities of an institution. The rule's settings requirements apply to each of ODP's waivers.
Below is a brief description of each waiver.
I will review each of these waivers in greater detail, the differences, eligibility requirements and how they can be used as per ODP later. Thank you for checking out this blog post and video. If you or a loved one has any questions, please feel free to contact me. If you are a provider or interested in becoming a provider, please feel free to contact me for a consultation. I often get asked how someone applies and receives disability services. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is the entity within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that is responsible for the oversight of the intellectual disabilities and developmental services in Pennsylvania. It is the role of the local county offices of intellectual disabilities to verify eligibility for intellectual disability services. Each of the 67 counties has an office, some smaller counties combine service areas. They are called joinder counties these include Adams/ York, Armstrong/ India, Bedford/ Somerset etc. To be eligible for intellectual services through the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requires a diagnosis of an intellectual disability based on the results of standardized testing. One must also be registered with their local county of intellectual disabilities. When applying for services this can be by person who will be receiving services their family or trusted person assisting them. If someone is not registered through their county, they can contact their local office for more information. I will include the link at the bottom of this post. Once a person expresses interest in applying, they will be provided with information to gather and present with their application to establish eligibility. These documents may include medical, psychological and school records. Once eligibility is determined the next step is to obtain additional information birth certificate, social security card, income info which may include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSD) or any other applicable income. The eligibility process is straight forward, however, the actual process to get a waiver (depending on the waiver), can be lengthy depending on circumstances. There are additional factors to consider, such as availability of funding, urgency, and level of car to name a few. When speaking with individuals and families, I prepare them to utilize their natural supports as best they can until paid supports are possible. After application is made, if there are any concerns on outcome of the application or eligibility review, there is due process. It is advised that anyone looking for services register with the county as soon as possible. Individuals can be registered as early as age 14. This is important for school aged children who would otherwise benefit from services now and in the future. This phase is considered the planning phase and preparation for the Individual Support Plans (ISP) and/ or Individualized Education Program (IEP). Once registered, an individual is assigned a support coordinator (they are like case/ care managers). There may be one or several supports coordination units operating within a county. An individual has a choice. The supports coordinator is to assist an individual with locating, coordinating and planning services. This is a condensed, yet simple explanation to how to obtain services. If you or a loved one is seeking services and would like additional information, please feel free to contact me. OR, if you are already a provider or looking to become a licensed provider, contact me for a consultation at [email protected]. Pennsylvania County Contact Information www.hcsis.state.pa.us/hcsis-ssd/ServicesSupportDirectory/CountyContacts |
Blog AuthorFounder and CEO, Aeisha M. Carter, MAEd of Tutelage Residential Services, LLC. Is a coach, consultant, speaker, trainer and industry veteran. She has more than 25 years of education and experience in human and social services. Aeisha has worked with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism in both the public and private sectors. Archives
April 2025
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