Recent Articles

A recent settlement involving the Social Security Administration is giving individuals living with developmental or intellectual disabilities (I/DD) who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) a reason to celebrate. The lawsuit, led by the New York Legal Assistant Group, Justice in Aging, and the Arnold & Porter Law Firm, challenged the validity of eligibility decisions made […]

February is Black History Month, a time to remember and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of black individuals in United States history. Black men and women throughout our history have dedicated their lives to advocating for and supporting the rights of black communities and individuals, including individuals who are living with disabilities. Direct Care […]

Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Programs, or CDPAP, is a Medicaid program that provides in-home care for individuals in New York who are living with a chronic illness, physical disability, or intellectual disability. Control over care sets home care services apart from this particular Medicaid assistance program. If this service is new to you, Direct Care Innovations […]

Self-direction is a long-term care program for children and adults living with disabilities who wish to maintain their independence at home. This Medicaid-funded care allows self-directed individuals to be in control of their service plan and make choices that are best for them. Direct Care Innovations works with managed care organizations and fiscal management agencies […]

If you have clients with Medicaid healthcare coverage, then you have probably heard that the renewal and eligibility efforts taking place across the country have been more than frustrating. For many insurance recipients, including children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), it has been a most frustrating process. At Direct Care Innovations, […]

New Year’s resolutions and personal goals are valuable tools to motivate ourselves as we implement positive life changes. For caregivers or individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), it can be challenging to find the time, motivation, and energy to set goals and meet those expectations. Concentrating on our intentions — the why behind […]

The holidays are meant to be full of weekends with friends and family, practicing traditions that only come around once each year. As a caregiver for an aging adult, a child with a developmental disability, or a family member with an intellectual disability, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can make life even more […]

Being a caregiver for a family member struggling with a mental illness or living with a life-threatening condition can be difficult, exhausting, and frustrating. You may spend hours of the day and night sitting by their bedside, taking them to doctor’s appointments, picking up medical supplies or prescriptions, cooking meals, and participating in several other […]

More than seven million Americans receive supplemental security income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This valuable benefit helps many individuals, including those living with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DDs), pay for living expenses such as utilities, groceries, and rent. The agency is proposing an update to its current SSI calculations that would result […]

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that nearly 9% of U.S. children were diagnosed with a developmental disability in 2021 compared to 7.5% in 2019. Other findings included the prevalence of developmental disabilities among boys compared to girls and how some populations now receive accurate diagnoses sooner […]