Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

What Office for People With Developmental Disabilities does

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is a cabinet-level New York State government agency, established in 1978 and headquartered in Albany, that coordinates services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other neurological impairments. The agency serves nearly 100,000 individuals through an $8 billion Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver, with approximately 95% of services funded by Medicaid and the balance from state and local appropriations; services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries. OPWDD is the largest state agency in New York, with more than 19,000 state employees operating 1,200+ state-operated residential, day, and clinic programs serving over 8,500 people, and it regulates and certifies more than 500 nonprofit service providers statewide.

OPWDD's service portfolio spans Health Home Care Management and Basic HCBS Plan Support delivered through 7 Care Coordination Organizations, the Coordinated Assessment System (CAS) producing person-centered Life Plans, employment services, day habilitation, housing supports, self-direction, respite, NYSTART/CSIDD crisis intervention, family support services, and the Family Care Program. The agency's digital platform stack includes CHOICES (electronic case record system for providers), IRMA (Incident Report and Management Application), SLMS (Statewide Learning Management System), Compass (quality measurement and benchmarking), and the Capacity Management Application for housing matching, with health information integration into the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY) and the UAS-NY assessment system housed in the NYS Department of Health's Health Commerce System. Distribution is structured through 5 regional offices, 13 district offices, 7 CCOs, and the certified nonprofit network covering all 62 New York State counties.

OPWDD's go-to-market model is a regulated hybrid: direct state operations for clinical, residential, and crisis services, complemented by a contracted nonprofit provider network that receives Medicaid rate-based reimbursement. Eligibility and access are routed through regional Front Door offices; regulatory authority is codified in Title 14 NYCRR under NYS Mental Hygiene Law. The agency is led by Commissioner Willow Baer and a senior executive team including the Executive Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners for Administration, Data Strategy & Management, Fiscal Policy, Policy & Program Development, Service Delivery, Statewide Services, State Operations, and Quality Improvement, plus a CIO, Chief Diversity Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief of Staff. Notable strategic initiatives include a $10 million Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence partnership, $25 million in 2026 Regional Disability Health Clinic Awards, $45.9 million in 2026 ESSHI supportive housing funding, and continued investment in the 'More Than Work' DSP recruitment campaign.

Name

Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

Legal name

Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

Website

https://opwdd.ny.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is a New York State government agency that coordinates services for nearly 100,000 individuals with developmental disabilities through an $8 billion Medicaid-funded HCBS Waiver, delivered via 19,000+ state employees, 7 Care Coordination Organizations, and 500+ certified nonprofit providers across all 62 NY counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Human Services / Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Medicaid HCBS waiver
• Care coordination organizations
• Residential support services
• Employment support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medicaid-funded services: Approximately 95% of OPWDD services are funded through Medicaid, with contributions from federal government, New York state, and local governments. Services include Medicaid funded long-term care services such as habilitation and clinical services, residential supports and services.
2. State-funded family support services: New York State-funded family support services designed to assist families in providing care for their loved ones who live full-time in their family home
3. Employment supports: Ongoing job coaching, job matching, and vocational training services funded through state allocations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OPWDD coordinates and oversees services for nearly 100,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities through approximately 19,000 state employees and a network of more than 500 nonprofit service providers and 7 Care Coordination Organizations. It administers approximately $8 billion in Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waiver funding (about 95% of services are Medicaid-funded) to deliver care management, residential, day, employment, respite, and clinical supports across New York State. The agency's Front Door is the starting point for eligibility determinations and referral into person-centered service plans.

Product overview

OPWDD is a New York State government agency responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of services including Health Home Care Management and Basic HCBS Plan Support through Care Coordination Organizations, coordinated assessment and person-centered Life Planning, employment services, day services, housing supports, self-direction, respite, and crisis services (NYSTART/CSIDD). Digital platforms include CHOICES (electronic case record system), IRMA (incident reporting), SLMS (learning management), Compass (quality benchmarking), and the Capacity Management Application for housing matching. The agency also provides advocacy resources, school transition services, family support, and ID cards. Services are delivered through a network of over 500 nonprofit providers and 7 Care Coordination Organizations statewide, with approximately 19,000 state employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver Medicaid waiver authorized by CMS that funds person-centered services for individuals with developmental disabilities who meet ICF/IID level-of-care criteria, enabling community-based living instead of institutional care.
• Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) 7 regional organizations responsible for care coordination and person-centered planning for individuals served by OPWDD, working with affiliated Care Management Agencies (CMAs).
• Front Door Eligibility and Intake Single point of entry where prospective enrollees are screened for eligibility, connected to supports, and introduced to Care Coordination.
• Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA) Residential habilitation service for individuals living in a supervised community home, certified by OPWDD.
• Supervised Residential Services Residential program providing 24-hour supervision and supports in a setting certified by OPWDD.
• Family Care Program Certified family-care homes where families are paid to provide residential supports to individuals with developmental disabilities in a family setting.
• Self-Direction (FSDS) Family-Driven, Family-Supported service model that gives individuals and families choice and control over their support staff and services, using the Compass system for administrative employer functions.
• Supported Employment (SEMP) Ongoing supports to help individuals with developmental disabilities obtain and retain competitive integrated employment.
• Pathway to Employment Time-limited prevocational and employment-readiness service helping individuals prepare for and transition to integrated employment.
• Day Habilitation Day services that assist individuals in acquiring, retaining, or improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills at a facility or in the community.
• Community Habilitation Community-based service that assists individuals with developmental disabilities in acquiring, retaining, or improving skills in their community.
• Respite Short-term relief services for primary caregivers, available as planned or crisis respite in a residential or community setting.
• Behavioral Intervention and Crisis Services Behavioral intervention and crisis intervention services for individuals at risk of placement or experiencing crisis, including intensive crisis response.
• Article 16 Clinic Services Clinic services authorized under NY Mental Hygiene Law Article 16, including diagnostic, treatment, and counseling services.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Waiver Home and Community-Based Services waiver providing specialized services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
• Assistive Technology and Adaptive Devices Assistive technology services and devices that support individuals with developmental disabilities to live more independently.
• Prevocational Services Services designed to prepare individuals for paid employment in integrated settings by developing work-related skills and behaviors.

Quantifiable outcome

• HCBS Waiver funds services for more than 90,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence (GU-NCCC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2022Three-year partnership (announced May 2022, launched November 2022) to advance policies and practices of cultural and linguistic competence, diversity, equity and inclusion in New York State's developmental disability service system. Governor Hochul announced $10 million for this partnership. OPWDD leadership worked with GU-NCCC on integrating CLC and DEI principles into policies, practices, and professional development.
• NYS Council on Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017OPWDD has a strong partnership with the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities. Through this partnership, OPWDD supports, implements, and expands community-based pilots that meet the needs of diverse populations with developmental disabilities. Partnership also includes funding for the Office for New Americans Ramirez June Initiative.
• Advance Care AlliancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization (CCO) providing Health Home Care Management services. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD to coordinate developmental disability services across New York State.
• Care Design New YorkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization providing care management services. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD to coordinate developmental disability services.
• LifePlan CCO NYcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization providing developmental disability services coordination. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD.
• Person Centered ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD.
• Prime Care CoordinationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization providing developmental disability care management. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD.
• Southern Tier ConnectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization operating in Southern Tier region of New York State. One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD.
• Tri-County CarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCare Coordination Organization (enrollment currently paused). One of seven CCOs contracted with OPWDD.
• NYS Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPWDD works with the NYS Department of Health on the UAS-NY system, Health Home Program integration, Children's Waiver, and Community First Choice Option (CFCO). Collaboration includes updating UAS-NY to support SOGI data collection.
• NYS Department of State - Office for New AmericansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 through the ONA Ramirez June Initiative, which has strengthened the developmental disabilities network's capacity to serve new American families with developmental disabilities.
• Self-Advocacy Association of New York (SANYS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPWDD and SANYS collaborated to create a Right, Responsibilities & Advocacy Booklet to help people with developmental disabilities know their rights. Also collaborated on TechknowledgeMe videoconferencing resources.
• NYSTART/CSIDD ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional CSIDD (Crisis Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities) providers including ARC of Chemung-Schuyler, YAI, and Family RES for crisis intervention and prevention services across the state.
• NYS Education DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPWDD works with the New York State Education Department and school special education staff to help students with developmental disabilities plan for their transition from school to adult life.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• YAI (Young Adult Institute): One of the largest nonprofit providers of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the NY metro area. Comparable as a major NYS-based DD service provider operating within OPWDD's regulatory framework, with broader national footprint.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit federation (with NY chapters like ARC of Chemung-Schuyler) advocating for and serving people with IDD. Comparable as a DD advocacy and service provider network that operates within state agency frameworks similar to OPWDD.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs: PA's state office responsible for IDD services, administering Medicaid waivers (Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family-Directed Support) and overseeing a provider network. Comparable scope, regulatory role, and population to OPWDD.
• California Department of Developmental Services: California's state agency administering services for individuals with developmental disabilities, operating the largest statewide HCBS system in the US. Directly comparable to OPWDD in mandate, Medicaid waiver administration, and service delivery through regional centers.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission - IDD Services: TX's HHS Commission administers Medicaid IDD services including HCS and TxHmL waivers. Comparable as a large-population state agency administering HCBS waivers for IDD populations through a contracted provider network.
• Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities: Illinois' DHS division administering Medicaid HCBS waivers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable to OPWDD's Medicaid waiver administration and nonprofit network oversight.
• Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services: MA's state agency coordinating services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a similar Northeast operating environment, mixed state-operated/nonprofit delivery model, and HCBS waiver administration.
• Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities: Florida's state agency administering the iBudget HCBS Waiver for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable mandate, regulatory authority, and large-scale waiver administration similar to OPWDD's role in NY.
• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities: Ohio's state agency overseeing IDD services including the Individual Options and SELF waivers. Comparable regulatory, funding, and provider oversight role to OPWDD with similar HCBS waiver structures.
• New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities: NJ's state division administering IDD services including community-based waivers and residential supports. Comparable as a sister Northeast state agency performing the same coordinating role as OPWDD for DD populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NYSOPWDD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqRQipj6Ke-Hd6Im6-s0l5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/NYSOPWDD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nys-office-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/nysopwdd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Office for People With Developmental Disabilities