There are two main waiver programs intended to help children with disabilities in New York State, the Children's Waiver ("HCBS") and OPWDD Waiver. Both are Medicaid-funded programs in New York, but have different eligibility criteria, goals, and services.

Age Group:

• The Children's Waiver is for children ages birth to 21 who have disabilities, especially those with complex medical needs, serious emotional disturbances, and children with developmental disabilities.
• The OPWDD Waiver serves individuals with developmental disabilities of throughout the lifespan. 

Services:

• The Children's Waiver is meant to be a short term program to help keep children out of the hospital. Your child will get a care manager to help you access helpful care for your child. Your care manager will also create a plan of care that lists which services your child will get. Services may include: home modifications, respite care, community habilitation and parent support services (CFAS). 
• OPWDD provides services aimed at fostering independence and integration into the community. These services remain throughout the lifespan. At a young age, in certain cases the support available may be limited to respite and family reimbursement (for costs associated with your child's care). At an older age, these services can include residential supports, community-based habilitation, job training, self directed services, community classes, and day programs.

Service Accessibility: 

• To access the Children's Waiver, your child needs to have medicaid insurance. If your child does not have medicaid insurance, a care manager from "C-YES" will help you apply for medicaid for your child. 
• With OPWDD, there are some programs available without having medicaid, including respite and family reimbursement. Other programs such as self direction require medicaid enrollment. 

Service Delivery and Setting:

• Children's Waiver services are often provided in the child’s home and community, designed to help families manage complex needs in a less restrictive environment.
• OPWDD Waiver services may be provided in a variety of community settings, including group homes or supported apartments, as well as in the individual’s home, depending on their level of need.

While each of these programs is geared to help individuals with disabilities, they differ in their service offerings and target populations. If you are deciding between one or the other, feel free to call us at Yahalom to discuss which program works best for you. 

Five Towns Sibs Event Date!

We truly enjoyed meeting all of our awesome sibs at our Chanukah parties. It got us thinking that they deserve events too! We are excited to announce our first-ever sibs event!

We are starting in the Five Towns, but don't worry Brooklyn and Monsey, you will get a chance too! Brooklyn and Monsey families are invited to join if they would like.

Come join us for bowling, pizza, and some dancing!

Who: Yahalom Sibs, 3rd to 8th grade

When: Thursday, February 6, 2025

Girls: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Boys: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: Woodmere Lanes

948 Broadway

Woodmere, NY 11598

This event is by RSVP only.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors, Hamaspik and Peoplecare, for making this event possible.

Grandma's Law

We all know mother's know best. But truth is, grandmother's really know the very best. 

Grandma's Law is a great law to abide by.



Grandma's Law: The first and then rule. People are more likely to do something non-preferred when they know a preferred activity will be available after. 

The classic example is ‘First eat your vegetables and then you can have your dessert’, however, it goes much broader than that. How about telling your high school child, ‘Get an 85 or higher on all your midterms, and I'll buy you that special sweatshirt you wanted’. Or, reminding your second grader ‘when he brushes his teeth, you'll read him a page from that book he really likes’.

Grandma's law is a great motivator and tool. Just make sure that obtaining the preferred activity is stronger than avoiding the non-preferred activity. 

Grandma's law works like a charm because Grandmas truly know best! 



Hindy Teichman MSEd, BCBA, LBA has a boutique practice in Brooklyn, NY, Social Trends ABA, where she specializes in treating complex behavior challenges in children with autism. To inquire about services, Hindy can be reached at 332-203-2004.

Early Intervention Therapists

During early intervention, it is possible you will have many therapists for your child. It can be helpful if you have a group chat with ALL your child's therapists. That way you can send one message to the group chat if you need to cancel or reschedule.

- Ilana Kitay

Air Travel

If you are going on vacation this mid-winter break, we have great news for you! The TSA Cares Assistance program allows kids with special needs to cut the TSA lines in the airport.



Sign up by calling (855) 787-2227 or click the link below.

Whole-Body Apraxia vs. Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Whole-body apraxia and childhood apraxia of speech are conditions where individuals struggle with coordinating motor movements, affecting both physical actions and speech.

These conditions are often seen in children with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. Recent advancements, such as the Spellers Method, have allowed nonspeaking individuals, particularly those with autism, to communicate effectively through spelling, revealing that many had far higher intelligence than previously thought.

Join a webinar given Dana Johnson PHD OTR/L, co-founder of the Spellers Method, to learn more.

This webinar is taking place on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 1 PM.

Hearing on DOE's Provision of Special Education Services

This year has been a tough one for children who need special education services.

This Thursday, The New York City Council Committee on Education will hold a hearing at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall, New York, New York 10007 on the topic of "Oversight - DOE’s Provision of Special Education Services."

Many of our Yahalom families are testifying on some of the issues, including issues related to p3, lack of providers, and the June 1st letter issue. Having more families in the audience would greatly strengthen our presence at the hearing. Please join us; we are excited to see you there.

Response to Zebras and Unciorns

Click below to read a beautiful article from Bylu Wertheimer in response to last week's article.

If you have a writing you would like to share, email yahalomny@agudah.org.