ADA – The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – This comprehensive federal civil rights law makes it unlawful to discriminate in private sector employment against a qualified individual with a disability. The ADA also outlaws discrimination against individuals with disabilities in housing, state and local government services, employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunication.
ABLE Account – Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) is a state-run savings program that allows the families of disabled young people to set aside money for their care in a way that earns special tax benefits.
Accessibility – Modification of buildings, curbs, and other physical structures to allow easy movement and admittance by a person with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 mandates accessibility to all public and private facilities. Modifications might include ramps, the use of Braille, and sound adaptations.
Accommodation – A change or adjustment to program rules that allows a person with a disability to make special requests to access the program.
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are routine activities that a person does every day, such as standing, sitting, eating, bathing, and grooming, that can be done by the individual or care provider.
Advocacy – Parents (or families), organizations, and/or volunteers working on behalf of the rights and interests of others (such as people with disabilities).
APS (Adult Protective Services) – APS is a social service program authorized by law in every state to receive and investigate reports of elder or vulnerable adult maltreatment and to intervene to protect the victims to the extent possible.
Arc- An agency that collaboratively provides leadership in addressing the choices and needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Asset – Held item(s) of value (e.g., money, stocks, collectables) that are counted in determining eligibility for means-tested programs.
Assistive Technology – Products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.
Backup Guardian – A person named in an original guardianship order who assumes the duties of guardian temporarily and who can return to court to become a permanent guardian if needed.
Caregiver – Is broadly defined as an individual or provider organization having responsibility for the care and support of those in need.
Case Manager – A person responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing a person’s Person-Centered Service Plan. May also be called a Service Coordinator.
CFC (Community First Choice) – allows States to provide home and community-based attendant services and supports to eligible Medicaid enrollees under their State Plan. This State plan option was established under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
Co-Guardian- Person named in a guardianship order with equal legal standing to other guardians.
Conservatorship- Legal status defined by the court, determining who is responsible for managing the estate and financial affairs of a person with disabilities.
DDA – Developmental Disabilities Administration – In WA State, provides a coordinated service delivery system for people with developmental disabilities. Partners with people with developmental disabilities and their families to provide leadership and resources to enable these individuals in living fulfilling lives. They are guided by the principle that individuals with developmental disabilities have the right to direct their lives and services.
Developmental Disability- Broader category of disabilities that includes ASD (autism spectrum disorders), epilepsy, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, fetal alcohol syndrome (or FASD) and other disorders that occur during the developmental period (birth to age 18). Differs from the above in the age of onset, the severity of limitations, and the fact that a person with a developmental disability definition may or may not have a low I.Q.
Dignity of Risk – The concept that all people need help making some decisions, and that we all learn by making bad decisions.
Direct Support – Means hands-on, cuing/supervision, and other related services and support to an individual with a disability aimed at enabling the person to live as independent, integrated, and self-determined life as possible.
Disability – A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.
Disabled Family or Household – According to HUD, a disabled family or household is defined as a single adult with a disability living alone; One or more unrelated disabled adults living with one or more live-in aides; a related family in which the head of household or their spouse is a disabled adult; two or more related adults with disabilities living together; or two or more unrelated adults with disabilities living together.
DSHS (Department of Social & Health Services) – Administration for assistance with Food, Cash, Medical, Housing Assistance, Child Support, Vocational Rehabilitation, Adult Care, Mental Health Services, and Disability Support.
Durable Power of Attorney- Written authority giving a parent or other person (agent) power to make decisions on behalf of the individual with a disability (the principal). Agent may act even if principal becomes incapacitated.
DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) – DVR is a WA State resource assisting people with disabilities to prepare for, secure, maintain, advance in, or regain employment.
EBT (Electronic Transfer Card- an electronic payment system for people receiving some federal government benefits. EBT allows a recipient to authorize the transfer of their government benefits from a Federal account to a retailer to pay for products received.
Eligibility – A situation in which an individual is found to meet those criteria set forth in the Intake policy, which would allow him/her to access and receive services through the state.
Equal Opportunity – An opportunity for people with disabilities to participate and benefit from programs and services that is equal to and as effective as the opportunity provided to others.
Executive Functioning – A set of processes that all have to do with managing oneself and one’s resources to achieve a goal. An umbrella term for the neurologically based skills involving mental control and self-regulation.
Fair Housing Act- Originating in 1968 as an extension of the Civil Rights Act, this legislation, as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. It also requires that all federal programs relating to housing and urban development be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.
Guardian – A person or agency that assumes limited or unlimited authority to make decisions for a minor or adult who has been determined to be incompetent in a court of law. Includes medical guardianships, guardianship of the person, and guardian of the estate.
HCV (Housing Choice Voucher) – The Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly known as Section 8) provides assistance to very low-income families to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Housing can include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs)
HUD – Housing and Urban Development. A program that provides subsidized housing for low-income people.
HWD (Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities) – The HWD medical program recognizes the employment potential of people with disabilities. The enactment of the federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) of 1999 enables many people with disabilities to work and keep their health care. As a Categorically Needy (CN) Medicaid program, HWD provides access to Medicaid CFC hours and Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver programs.
I/DD (Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities) – I/DD refers to a group of conditions that begin during the developmental period and typically continue throughout life. It includes two related but distinct categories: intellectual disabilities, which involve limitations in cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior, and developmental disabilities, which are broader and may include physical, learning, or behavioral conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, or ADHD.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) – A legally binding document that sets out the rationale for providing special education support and services to your child, specific objectives that your child is to achieve during the year, and enumerates which related services, modifications, and accommodations, they will receive.
Inclusion- Practices and policies designed to identify and remove barriers such as physical, communication, and attitudinal, that hamper individuals’ ability to have full participation in society, the same as people without disabilities.
IRWE (Impairment-Related Work Expense) -Costs for items or services that a person needs in order to work because of their disability. Social Security will deduct the costs of an IRWE from their countable income when determining their eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.
Job Coach -In supported employment, a person who provides job placement, training, and sometimes follow-along services to a worker with a disability.
Live-in Aide – A person who resides with an elderly person or a person with a disability and who: Is considered essential to the care and well-being of the person(s); is not obligated for the support of the person(s); and would not be living in the unit except to provide the necessary supportive services.
Medicaid – A health care program serving eligible low-income persons with disabilities whose income and assets are below specific levels. Generally available to persons receiving SSI or SSI work incentives.
Natural Supports – Resources that are already present and available to all persons in community environments. This includes family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, members of clubs or civic groups, and local merchants.
Paratransit – Refers to a shared ride service for people with disabilities who are unable to use public transportation (bus or rail) due to their disability.
Public Housing Authority – A state, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body authorized to engage in or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing, including an Indian public housing authority.
Public Housing – Federally funded housing made available to people with low incomes. Units are often owned by a local housing authority (PHA) and funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To qualify for public housing, an individual must meet the public housing authority’s low-income requirements.
RA (Residential Assessment) – Partners4Housing Residential Assessment provides an overview of a family member’s lifestyle preferences, desired living environment, favorite social activities, support needs, benefits and services, and other resources. It also provides us with an overview of your family’s housing vision. The Residential Assessment is used to identify gaps in your family member’s benefits and services and is the first step to joining our roommate matching pool.
Reasonable Accommodation -A change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use spaces, or to fulfill their program obligations.
Reasonable Modification – Under the Fair Housing Act, a structural change made to existing premises, occupied or to be occupied by a person with a disability, to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises. Reasonable modifications can include structural changes to interiors and exteriors of dwellings and to common and public use areas.
Representative Payee – A person appointed by the Social Security Administration to receive Social Security and/or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage his/her money.
Respite – Short-term care for a child or adult that allows the primary caregiver relief.
Section 8 Housing – Refers to housing subsidized by HUD. Approximately 30% of tenant income goes towards housing costs (rent and utilities) with the Housing Authority paying the difference up to a limit set by HUD.
Section 8 Voucher -Also known as Housing Choice Voucher (HCV)is the federal government’s program for assisting low-income families, people with disabilities, and the elderly to afford housing. Participants can choose private market housing and receive housing vouchers to help with their rental costs.
SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) – A person who has Social Security and is earning more than a certain monthly amount is ordinarily considered to be engaged in SGA. After 9 months of SGA, the person is at risk of losing their Social Security Benefits. Job Subsidy letters, and IRWE’s are examples of ways a benefits planner can help maintain Social Security benefits.
Shared Living -When people with disabilities live together to share housing and support services
Special Needs Trust (SNT) – A financial arrangement by which a person (grantor) makes a gift of funds to a trustee to be used for the sole benefit of the beneficiary living with a disability.
SSA (Social Security Administration) – The agency that oversees the provision of Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income and related work incentives.
SSDAC (Social Security Disabled Adult Child) – A Disabled Adult Child (DAC) claim provides Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to a disabled adult who can prove a medical disability resulting in an inability to work, prior to age 22.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) – The SSDI program pays benefits to individuals with disabilities and/or certain family members if they have worked long enough – and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on their earnings.
SSI (Social Security Income) – SSI is a federal cash assistance program for those with limited income AND who are either 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. Adult SSI beneficiaries must have limited income and resources ($2,000 in assets). Monthly benefit payments are determined by the current benefit rate
Ticket to Work (TWWIIA) – Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The program offers Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities the choices, opportunities, and supports needed to find and keep employment, increase their earnings through work, and reduce their reliance on cash benefits to the greatest extent possible.
Unrelated Disabled Household – A group of people consisting of two or more unrelated people with disabilities, or one or more unrelated disabled persons living with one or more live-in aide(s) on the same lease.
Waiver Program – Medicaid waiver program allows states to choose groups of people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions to receive tailor-made options at home or within the community. For example, in-home care for people who would otherwise have to go into long-term institutional care.
Waitlist – A list of persons who have been determined eligible for services that are in short supply and cannot be provided until openings arise or services are expanded.