Support Brokerage for families who self-direct in the Capital Region
OPWDD Self-Direction lets people with developmental disabilities choose their own supports, staff, and schedule. A Support Broker helps you plan it, budget it, and keep it running. Spectrum Arch, a local nonprofit, connects Capital Region families with OPWDD-authorized Support Brokers who do exactly that.
Self-Direction gives families real choices. It also comes with a lot of paperwork.
With Self-Direction you can hire people you trust, build a week around the person instead of a program's schedule, and spend an approved budget on what actually helps. To get there, someone has to build a Circle of Support, turn goals into a budget, get it approved, hire staff through a Fiscal Intermediary, and keep it all on track year after year.
That is the Support Broker's job. People who self-direct with Budget Authority work with one.
A Support Broker helps you:
- Understand your Self-Direction options in plain language
- Bring together your Circle of Support
- Turn Life Plan goals into a self-direction budget
- Find, hire, and keep good staff
- Adjust the plan as needs change, and stay ready for annual renewals
Where we are
Spectrum Arch works with OPWDD-authorized Support Brokers who serve families through our organization across Saratoga County and the Capital Region. Join our list and we'll contact you to talk through where you are and match you with a broker. We also publish free guides for New York families and offer free consultations as part of our community help.
Why reach out now?
Getting Self-Direction started takes time: eligibility, waiver enrollment, a Care Manager, and a budget. If you contact us now, we can talk through where you are in that process and match you with a broker when you're ready for one.
Joining is free and doesn't commit you to anything.
Start here
Support Brokerage
What a Support Broker does and how we help.
Self-Direction guide
Every step, from OPWDD eligibility to hiring staff.
Questions and answers
Cost, timing, choosing a broker, and more.
Serving families in Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and the surrounding counties. Help is available in English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and Pashto.
Explore by topic
Plain-language guides for New York families of children and adults with disabilities.
From our blog
For Care Managers
Supporting a family that wants to self-direct? You can add them to our waitlist with their permission, and we will contact them directly.