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IDS Adult Services
DBHIDS Division of Intellectual disAbility Services is an administrative  entity under contract to the Pa. Department of Human Services to administer services in Philadelphia. IDS works with service providers to offer quality supports and services so individuals will have choices in their lives, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to participate in their community as valued citizens.
 Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements for intellectual disability services:
- Signed evaluation report inclusive of a diagnosis of intellectual disability.
- An score of 70 or below on an FSIQ test. Examples of such a test include:
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition.
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition.
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition.
- Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability.
- Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition.
- Adaptive behavior scores (scaled scores for all adaptive skill areas/subdomains) indicating that the individual has substantial adaptive skill deficits in two or more areas of major life activity via the:
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Comprehensive Version).
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition.
- Evidence that the onset of the intellectual disability occurred prior to age 22.
Eligibility requirements for autism services:
- Signed evaluation report with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
- Evidence that the onset of the Autism Spectrum Disorder occurred prior to age 22.
- Results from a standardized autism diagnostic tool. Examples of such a tool include:
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition.
- Autism Spectrum Rating Scales OR
- Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition.
- Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, Third Edition.
- Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition.
- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised.
- Adaptive behavior scores (scaled scores for all adaptive skill areas/subdomains) indicating that the individual has substantial adaptive skill deficits in three or more areas of major life activity via the:
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Comprehensive Version).
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition.
- Documentation of a current medical evaluation performed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner that states the individual is recommended for ICF/ORC level of care
- An MA 51 form completed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner may be submitted to document that the individual is recommended for an ICF/ORC level of care.
Eligibility requirements for developmental disability services:
- Individual must be under the age of 9.
- Signed evaluation report with a diagnosis of a developmental disability, which is defined as a condition of substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability of resulting in intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder, the disability manifested prior to the age of 9, and the disability is likely to continue indefinitely.
- Adaptive behavior scores (scaled scores for all adaptive skill areas/subdomains) indicating that the individual has substantial adaptive skill deficits in three or more areas of major life activity via the:
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Comprehensive Version).
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition.
- Children determined to have a developmental disability prior to the age of 9 must be re-evaluated annually; continued level of care eligibility must be based on either a diagnosis of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder by age 9.
ation report with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
Eligibility requirements for argeted support management (TSM) for an individual, 21 or younger, with a medically complex condition:
- A licensed physician, including a developmental pediatrician, licensed physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner, must certify that the individual has a medically complex condition.
- Adaptive behavior scores indicating that the individual has substantial adaptive skill deficits in three or more areas of major life activity via the:
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition (Comprehensive Version).
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition.
- Age o-21.
- Documentation of a current medical evaluation performed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner that states that the individual is recommended for ICF/ORC level of care.
- An MA 51 form completed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner may be submitted to document that the individual is recommended for an ICF/ORC level of care.
- The DP 1090 is a supplement to the MA 51 or the medical evaluation.
- The date of the medical evaluation or the MA 51 must be within 365 days of the QDDP’s review of eligibility for TSM.
Additional Information
If you are eligible, a registration appointment (virtual or in-person) will be scheduled. You will be asked to bring:
- Personal and demographic information.
- Verification that you are a Philadelphia resident.
- Social Security card.
- Medicaid or Access card.
- Birth certificate.
IDS will request that you provide a completed physical exam form to the Supports Coordinator; however, this is not a requirement for registration.
If you are not receiving medical assistance and are eligible, IDS will provide you with information on how to enroll.
The Process
- Step 1: Meet with a registration specialist.
During the meeting, the registration specialist will review and complete forms with you and/or your family or representative. - Step 2: Discuss services.
The registration specialist will help you begin to discuss services you may need and will offer you a choice of a supports coordination organization (SCO). More information about SCOs. - Step 3: Eligibility notification.
Once the registration process is complete (usually within 10 days), you will receive an eligibility determination letter. Your rights in the mediation and appeal process will be included in the letter. - Step 4: Refer to an SCO and develop an individual support plan (ISP).
Within two weeks, you are referred to the SCO. The SCO will assign a supports coordinator to you. The supports coordinator will help you develop an ISP, as well as identify, locate, coordinate, and monitor community and system services and supports. Please note that you can transfer your SCO at any time.
In addition to supports coordination, if determined eligible for the waiver, services include but are not limited to home and community habilitation; adaptive equipment; behavior and other therapies; habilitation services; and residential, respite, employment, and day services.
For further information, you can access the complete list of service definitions available from the Pa. Home and Community Services Information System.
Services for individuals are reimbursed by the Pa. state treasury, primarily through the Medicaid waiver, a provision of the Social Security Act. A limited amount of resources may be available to individuals not in the Waiver. Our capacity commitment is limited; therefore, waivers are prioritized and allocated to address the health and safety needs of an IDS-enrolled individual.
Types of Waivers
- Consolidated waiver.
- Community living waiver.
- Person/family-directed support waiver.
What You Need to Know
- There may be waiting lists for waiver services, but all eligible individuals receive supports coordinator services at no charge.
- If you are not eligible for Medicaid waiver services, you will be helped to find other community services.
- If you are not registered to vote, you will be offered the opportunity to complete an application.
- It is important for all eligible individuals to register with Intellectual disAbility Services if they want to receive services and supports.
- Waiver eligibility must be renewed each year in order to continue services.
Visit the IDS Resources page to learn about the array of resources available for adults with intellectual disabilities.
