“I am not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship."

Aeschylus

Maine’s Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS)

“The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) supports Maine’s older and disabled adults by providing Adult Protective, Brain Injury, Other Related Conditions, Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Long Term Care, and Aging and Community services to the people of Maine.”

VIsit OADS Site

Support at Home

“The Office of Aging & Disability Services (OADS), within the DHHS, is responsible for planning, developing, managing, and providing community based services which promote choice and independence for adults choosing to remain in their community.”

Learn About Support At Home

Support in the Community

“The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) oversees several community support services.

Community Support Services are resources for elders and adults whom wish to reside in their communities but may not meet financial or functional eligibility for Medicaid services.

Community Services include, but are not limited to: family caregiver supports, health insurance counseling, nutrition services, outreach, information and assistance, senior employment, public education and legal services.”

Learn About Community Support

Residential Support

“The Office of Aging and Disability Services manages several residential programs, which are located in various geographic locations throughout the state. They are:

Assisted Living Services: There are currently seven state-funded, affordable Assisted Living Facilities. These facilities allow an individual to live independently in their own apartment and receive such services as meals, homemaking, personal care, and/or medication administration.

Independent Housing with Services (IHSP): There are currently five IHSP programs throughout the State. These facilities offer similar services to the Assisted Living Facilities, however do not provide medication management.”

Learn About Residential Support

Nursing Facility Care

“Nursing Facility care provides professional nursing care or rehabilitative services for injured, disabled, or sick persons, needed on a daily basis and as a practical matter can only be provided in a nursing facility.”

Learn About Family Care

Adult Mental Health Services

“SAMHSA Adult Mental Health Services is the designated State Public Mental Health Authority for adults. A primary responsibility is to develop and maintain a comprehensive system of mental health services and supports for persons age 18 and older with severe and persistent mental illness.”

Visit SAMHSA Site

Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation

“Easterseals Project Action Consulting, a division of Easterseals, Inc., provides customized training solutions and technical expertise on the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessible transportation for transportation providers, human service agencies, states, regional agencies, tribal nations, and communities with the goal of working together to build accessible communities for all!”

Visit Project Action Site

Action Planning for Crisis, Prevention, and Recovery

“An Advance Directive for Planning Mental Health Care (sometimes called a Psychiatric Advance Directive) is a planning document that can be used to guide care in the event that a person with severe mental illness cannot make decisions for themselves. Advanced directives are a tool that people with mental illness, their loved ones, and caregivers can use to engage in care and self-determine how care is provided for them in a crisis.”

Visit Action Planning for Crisis Prevention & Recovery Site

Adults with Brain Injury

“MaineCare defines a qualifying acquired brain injury as a qualifying acquired brain injury is an insult to the brain resulting directly or indirectly from trauma, infection, anoxia, or vascular lesions, and not of a degenerative or congenital nature, but which may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness resulting in impairment of cognitive abilities and/or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning.”

Visit Adults with Brain Injury Site

Maine Brain Injury & Stroke Resource Directory

“The Maine Brain Injury and Stroke Resource Directory is intended to provide information and resources available to individuals with brain injuries or stroke. The fluid nature of services and service providers makes it likely that contact information and service availability will change and that some services and/or providers may not be included. It is the responsibility of the user to verify and investigate services and providers to determine the best options for your individual situation.”

Visit Maine Brain Injury & Stroke Resource Directory

Other Related Conditions Waiver (Adults with Cerebral Palsy, Seiure Disorder, & Other Conditions)

“The goal of the Section 20 Waiver Program is to provide a comprehensive array of services to adults with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Other Related Conditions. The benefits of this program include:

  • Community integration through existing natural supports and community relationships.
  • An array of service options that include: Care Coordination, Home Support, Community Support, and Work Support. It does not duplicate other MaineCare services.
  • Innovative technological and clinical services to maximize independence in the most integrated community setting. This is accomplished through Assistive Technology Device Services, Home Accessibility Adaptations, and Maintenance Therapies for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy.
  • Other services are available and may be identified in the care planning process.”
Visit Other Related Conditions Waiver Site

How to Apply for Social Security

Social Security application process when applying for Social Security Disability Benefits.

Visit Social Security Disability Site

ABLE National Resource Center

“The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) is the leading, comprehensive source of objective, independent information about federal- and state-related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts. Our mission is to educate, promote and support the positive impact ABLE can make on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families. ABLE NRC is a collaborative that brings together the investment, support and resources of some of the country’s largest and most influential national disability organizations in an effort to accelerate the design and availability of ABLE accounts to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.”

Visit ABLE National Resource Center Site

DHHS Non-Emergency Transportation

“MaineCare covers Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) for eligible members. You may get a ride to your MaineCare-covered appointment or have your ride reimbursed by MaineCare.

Make sure to make an appointment at least two business days in advance and check that it is covered by MaineCare and approved by the transportation broker.”

Visit DHHS Non-Emergency Transportation Site

NAMI Maine

“Through support, education, and advocacy NAMI Maine is dedicated to building better lives for the 1 in 4 Mainers who are affected by mental illness.”

Visit NAMI Maine Site

Supported Decision-Making (Disability Rights Maine)

Support My Decision  is a project by Disability Rights Maine. Supported Decision-Making (“SDM”) is a method of developing decision-making skills by relying on a team of Supporters to assist an individual in collecting information, processing information, and coming to a reasoned decision. SDM is an alternative to guardianship in that it provides a trusted and formalized environment for individuals who are seeking assistance with decision-making while still promoting self-determination. In contrast to guardianship, SDM is flexible and can change with the needs of an individual to provide more opportunities for independence and autonomy.

Learn about Supported Decision Making

Supported Decision-Making (DHHS Guide)

“The goal of this Guide is to illustrate how Supported Decision-Making can be used to help people with disabilities in making their own decisions, and in reducing more restrictive means of support such as guardianship. Supported Decision-Making can help preserve a person’s autonomy and independence, while still providing the person with support from family, friends, and community.”

Visit SDM Guide

Supported Decision-Making: Exploring Alternatives to Guardianship (MPF Guide)

This is MPF’s parent friendly SDM Guide. SDM expands on the idea that we all ask for support from people when making decisions.

Supported Decision Making is a model of decision making that allows a person to retain their rights and make decisions for their life using a team of supporters. Supporters are people chosen and trusted by the individual, that use their expertise or knowledge to provide additional information, tools and support. They ensure the individual is understanding the decision they are making, but the individual ultimately makes the final decision.

Maine Autism Institue for Education & Research booklet (MAIER)

“The Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research, or MAIER, is dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) throughout the spectrum and life cycle. We work to build statewide capacity in support of our mission through leadership, training, professional development, technical assistance, collaborative consultation, technology, and research. MAIER is located at the University of Maine in Orono.”

Visit MAIER booklet 3

Maine CITE

“The Maine Department of Education’s Maine CITE Program is designed to help make assistive technology more available to Maine children, adults and seniors who need them.

Administered by the Maine Department of Education and funded by the federal Administration for Community Living.”

Visit Maine CITE