Answers to Your Most Common Questions

OPWDD stands for the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. It is the state agency responsible for coordinating services and supports for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and neurological impairments that originated before age 22.

To be eligible for OPWDD services, an individual must have a developmental disability that originated before age 22 and is expected to continue indefinitely. Eligibility is determined through a formal application process that includes documentation of the disability, a psychological evaluation, and an assessment of the individual's support needs. Contact your local OPWDD Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO) to begin the eligibility process.

To apply for OPWDD services, contact your local OPWDD Developmental Disabilities Regional Office (DDRO). You will need to provide documentation of the developmental disability, including medical records, psychological evaluations, and school records if applicable. The Broker Queen can help guide you through this process and answer your questions along the way.

A Life Plan is a person-centered document that outlines an OPWDD participant's goals, strengths, preferences, and the supports they need to live a full and meaningful life. It is developed collaboratively with the individual, their family, their Care Manager, and other key people in their life. The Life Plan guides all service planning and is reviewed and updated regularly.

OPWDD Self-Direction is a model of service delivery that gives individuals with developmental disabilities and their families greater flexibility, choice, and control over the supports they receive. Instead of receiving services through a traditional provider agency, self-directing individuals manage their own budget and hire their own staff — the people who provide their day-to-day support.

OPWDD offers two primary Self-Direction models: Budget Reference Self-Direction and Supported Self-Direction. In Budget Reference Self-Direction, the individual manages a budget to hire and direct their own staff. In Supported Self-Direction, the individual has more support in managing the process. The right model depends on the individual's needs, goals, and level of independence. The Broker Queen can help you understand which model is the best fit.

Self-Direction is a great option for individuals and families who want more control over their care, have the capacity to manage a budget and staff, and are committed to building a person-centered support system. It does require more active involvement than traditional services, but with the right support broker, the process is very manageable. Book a free consultation with The Broker Queen to discuss whether Self-Direction is the right fit for your family.

Getting started with Self-Direction involves several steps: confirming OPWDD eligibility, working with your Care Manager to explore Self-Direction options, choosing a Support Broker, developing a spending plan, and hiring your support staff. The Broker Queen can walk you through every step of this process and ensure you feel confident and informed at each stage.

An OPWDD Support Broker is a trained professional who helps individuals and families navigate the Self-Direction process. Support Brokers assist with developing the Individual Support Plan (ISP) and spending plan, help identify and hire Direct Support Professionals, coordinate with the Fiscal Intermediary and Care Manager, ensure compliance with OPWDD regulations, and provide ongoing guidance and problem-solving as needs evolve.

A Care Manager (also called a Service Coordinator) is responsible for the overall coordination of an individual's OPWDD services and supports. A Support Broker works specifically within the Self-Direction framework to help individuals exercise their right to direct their own care. Both roles are important, and they work together to support the individual's goals. The Broker Queen works collaboratively with Care Managers to ensure seamless coordination.

When choosing a Support Broker, look for someone who is OPWDD authorized, has direct experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, takes a person-centered approach, and communicates clearly and compassionately. The Broker Queen brings years of direct support experience, deep knowledge of the OPWDD system, and a genuine commitment to every family she serves. Book a free consultation to see if we're the right fit for your family.

Yes. While The Broker Queen is based in Syracuse, NY, we proudly serve individuals and families throughout New York State. We work with families across all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, and everywhere in between.

A Fiscal Intermediary (FI) is an organization that manages the financial aspects of OPWDD Self-Direction on behalf of the self-directing individual. The FI handles payroll for Direct Support Professionals, manages tax withholding and reporting, processes invoices and payments for approved services, and maintains financial records. The FI does not make decisions about how the budget is spent — that is the responsibility of the self-directing individual, in collaboration with their Support Broker and Care Manager.

OPWDD maintains a list of approved Fiscal Intermediaries in New York State. When choosing an FI, consider their responsiveness, their experience with OPWDD Self-Direction, their technology and reporting tools, and the quality of their customer service. The Broker Queen can help you evaluate your options and choose an FI that is the right fit for your family's needs.

Yes, you can change your Fiscal Intermediary if you are not satisfied with your current one. The process involves notifying your Care Manager and current FI, selecting a new FI, and completing the necessary paperwork to transfer your budget management. The Broker Queen can help guide you through this transition to ensure it goes smoothly.

The best way to get started is to book a free 30-minute consultation. During this call, we'll discuss your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. There's no pressure and no obligation — just clarity and guidance. You can book your consultation directly through our website.

Your free 30-minute consultation includes a review of your current OPWDD status and eligibility, an overview of Self-Direction options available to you, answers to your most pressing questions, and personalized recommendations for next steps. It's a no-commitment conversation designed to give you clarity and confidence about your path forward.

Support Brokerage services are funded through the individual's OPWDD Self-Direction budget — not out of pocket. The cost of brokerage services is built into the individual's spending plan and paid through the Fiscal Intermediary. During your free consultation, we can discuss the specifics of how brokerage is funded within your budget.

The Broker Queen is based in Syracuse, NY and serves individuals and families throughout New York State, including New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, and all regions in between. We work with families wherever they are in New York.