Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Eligibility Regulation Fact Sheet

Introduction

  • A regulation to define "developmental disability" for the purpose of eligibility for supports from the PDD program has been approved.
  • The regulation will provide consistent and transparent standards and processes for determining eligibility.
  • This new regulation will not affect individuals currently receiving supports from the PDD program. Individuals currently receiving supports from the PDD program will continue to receive supports.
  • Individuals who apply to the PDD program after the regulation is in effect will be assessed for eligibility under the new regulation. The regulation will be published on July 1, 2009, and the PDD program will begin assessing eligibility under the new regulation as of August 1, 2009.
  • The regulation is consistent with the PDD program’s current eligibility policy. Historically, PDD staff considered at an individual’s intellectual capacity and their ability to perform daily living activities (adaptive skills) in determining whether that person was eligible for PDD supports.
  • This practice will continue. However, the regulation will provide clear criteria to determine significant limitations in intellectual capacity (an IQ of 70 or less) and adaptive (daily living) skills.

Requirements of the Regulation

Significant Limitations in Intellectual Capacity

  • An applicant’s intellectual capacity will be determined through a formal IQ test that is administered by a registered psychologist.
  • "Significant limitations" in intellectual capacity will be defined as a full-scale IQ score of two or more standard deviations below the average IQ of 100. A standard deviation is 15 points, so two or more standard deviations is an IQ of 70 or less.
    • Individuals whose disability is so severe they cannot complete an IQ test will not be required to do so. Records of assessments and/or educational records completed by registered psychologists and/or physicians will be used to determine eligibility.
  • Most IQ test results report a confidence interval. For instance, with a 95 percent confidence, the results indicate that the person’s full-scale IQ score would be between 70 and 75. In such circumstances, the PDD program will use the lower score for determining eligibility.
  • The IQ test must have been administered within the last five years from date of application, unless one of the following conditions applies:
    • Applicant provides a full-scale IQ score of three or more standard deviations below the average IQ of 100 (meaning an IQ of 55 or below);
    • Applicant provides two or more IQ tests, taken at least two years apart, both of which show a full-scale IQ score of two or more standard deviations below the average;
    • or as otherwise determined by the CEO of the PDD Community Board.

Significant Limitations in Adaptive Skills

  • An applicant’s ability to perform adaptive (daily living) skills will be determined through the use of the PDD Adaptive Skills Inventory.
  • "Significant limitation" in adaptive skills is defined by the need for help to perform six or more of 24 typical adaptive skills, at a level comparable to someone who is not disabled.
  • The PDD Adaptive Skills Inventory will be completed for every applicant and will be administered by trained PDD staff.

General

  • Significant limitations in intellectual capacity and adaptive living skills must have existed prior to the age of 18 for the person to be eligible for PDD supports.
  • Eligibility for PDD supports is not based on a person’s diagnosis, such as autism or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). However, individuals with these disabilities, as well as other disabilities such as brain injury and Down Syndrome, will be eligible for PDD supports if they meet the criteria defined in the regulation and the condition existed prior to the age of 18.

For more information, contact the PDD Program Branch at 780-427-1177
Last Updated: June 29, 2009