What is a communication specialist?

This service is for people who reside in Pennsylvania. The service is designed for people who have intellectual disability who have autism, are Deaf or have other communication differences.  The idea is that a person called a communication specialist will come to meet the identified person in their home or community.  They will teach a common mode of communication to the identified person and all staff who work with this person.  Money comes out of the persons budget from the state’s Office of Intellectual Disability. Contact your supports coordinator to help your loved to get signed up to receive the service.

Communication Specialist

Effective 10/1/19

Service Definition

This is a direct and indirect service that supports participants with nontraditional communication needs by determining the participant’s communication needs, educating the participant and his or her caregivers on the participant’s communication needs and the best way to meet those needs in their daily lives.

The service begins with a thorough review of the participant’s communication needs and skills (both expressive and receptive), including but not limited to the participant’s:

• Current methods of communication (how the participant communicates at the time of the assessment);
• Preferred methods of communication (How the participant prefers to communicate);
• Supplementary communication methods;
• Communication methods that have proven to be ineffective in daily communication; and
• Educating caregivers in the participant’s current and preferred communication needs.

Once the review is complete, an action plan is developed. The action plan should be person-specific and created with the service plan team. The plan should include:

• The participant’s best communication methods, both expressive and receptive;
• Current barriers to effective communication; and
• Measurable steps to address and eliminate the barriers to expressive and receptive communication from all aspects of the participant’s everyday life.

At least annually, the action plan should be evaluated for effectiveness and modified if needed.

The service may include one or more of the following activities:

• Helping to establish environments that emphasize the use of visual cues and other appropriate communication methods as recommended by a Speech-Language pathologist or other qualified professional.
• Providing assistance to remove communication barriers.
• Educating SCOs, AEs, and other appropriate entities about a participant’s specific needs related to communication access, legal responsibilities and cultural and linguistic needs.
• Participating in and assisting in the development of participants’ service plan, as appropriate.

For the purposes of this service, “nontraditional communication” includes the use one or more of the following communication methods:

For participants who are deaf or hard of hearing, the provider must have the ability to sign at Intermediate Plus level or above as determined by the Sign Language Proficiency Interview.

This service does not include any of the following activities:

• Preventing, screening, identifying, assessing, or treating known or suspected disorders relating to speech, feeding and swallowing, or communication disorders.
• Screening participants for speech, language, voice, or swallowing disorders.
• Teaching participants, families and other caregivers speech reading and speech and language interventions.
• Teaching participants, families and other caregivers and other communication partners how to use prosthetic and adaptive devices for speaking and swallowing.
• Using instrumental technology to provide nonmedical diagnosis, nonmedical treatment and nonmedical services for disorders of communication, voice and swallowing.
• Teaching American Sign Language (ASL) unless the “sign” that is being taught is participant-specific. ASL lessons are not included in the service.

The rates for the following services include Communication Specialist services: Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing and Supported Living. As such, participants who are authorized to receive one of these services may only be authorized to receive Communication Specialist services as a discrete service when it is used to support the participant during Community Participation Support.

The direct portion of Communication Specialist services cannot be provided at the same time as the direct portion of the following: Benefits Counseling and Consultative Nutritional services.

To the extent that any listed services are covered under the state plan, including EPSDT, the services under the waiver would be limited to additional services not otherwise covered under the state plan, but consistent with waiver objectives of avoiding institutionalization.

Consolidated Waiver

This service can be delivered in Pennsylvania and state contiguous to Pennsylvania.

Limits on the amount, frequency, or duration of this service

Communication Specialist services are limited to a maximum of 160 (15-minute) units which is equal to 40 hours per participant per fiscal year.

Provider Qualifications

The Communication Specialist must meet the following standards:

1. Have a waiver service location in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Virginia, or a state contiguous to Pennsylvania.
2. Have a signed ODP Provider Agreement on file with ODP.
3. Complete standard ODP required orientation and training.
4. New providers demonstrate compliance with ODP standards through completion of a self- assessment and validation of required documentation, policies and procedures.
5. Be at least 18 years of age.
6. Complete necessary pre/in-service training based on the service plan.
7. Be trained to meet the needs of the participant to carry out the service plan which includes, but is not limited to, communication, mobility and behavioral needs.
8. Have experience in one or more of the following: Speech Language Pathology, sign linguistics, education of deaf, or another relevant professional background.
9. Have personal or professional experience with people with an intellectual disability or autism.
10. Have criminal history clearances per 35 P.S. §10225.101 et seq. and 6 Pa. Code Chapter 15.
11. Have child abuse clearance (when the participant is under age 18) per 23 Pa. C.S. Chapter 63.
12. Comply with Department standards related to provider qualifications.

Resource: PA Department of Human Services, Intellectual Disabilities Services