The DDS Definitions Appendix defines the terms and acronyms relevant to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) service delivery system.
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Safety
The condition of being safe; freedom for danger; risk of injury.
Safety and security
The individual feels safe and secure within the community and neighborhood. The individual lives and works in environments that are inclusive, safe, secure, and are adapted if necessary to meet their needs, and safeguards are in place to respond to emergencies.
Safety Monitoring
Periodic checks on observance of an organization’s safety standards and procedures.
Satisfaction
The person is supported by the services and supports they receive to live a life of their choosing.
Screening
Refers to that part of the assessment process that is of limited scope and intensity and designed to determine whether or not further evaluation or other intervention is indicated.
Sedation/Sedation Orders
These are medication orders by a treating physician that a patient requires sedation prior to attending a medical appointment in order to complete the appointment.
Self Abuse
Self inflicted injury or act towards self, for which there is no staff intervention.
Self Advocate
A person with developmental disability that advocates on their own behalf and/or on the behalf of others with developmental disabilities.
Self-determination
Refers to the right of persons with developmental disabilities — like all other people — to be afforded the opportunities, support and personal authority to freely make choices and decisions about how they want to lead their lives and to have those choices and decisions respected and carried out. Fostering self-determination requires advancing the following five principles: a. Freedom to make choices and to choose a meaningful life in the community; b. Authority over a targeted amount of dollars, services and supports; c. Support to organize resources in ways that are life enhancing and meaningful; d. Responsibility for organizing resources to make the best use of the funding and to enable each individual to make contributions to their communities; and Confirmation of the important leadership role which individuals with disabilities and their families must play in newly re-designed systems and in supporting self-advocacy.
Serious Medication Error
Any medication error that requires or could require observation or treatment by a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner in a hospital, emergency room, or treatment center. Any medication error that causes or could cause an individual to experience markedly adverse side effects that may require nursing attention, but not requiring professional medical attention, such as a missed dosage of thyroid or seizure medication.
Serious Physical Injury
Injuries in the extreme, requiring additional follow up beyond the initial emergency room visit. Examples include, but may not be limited to: fractures, dislocations, third degree burns (destruction of tissue), electric shock, loss or tearing of body part all eye emergencies, ingestion of toxic substance, sharp or dangerous objects, any injury with loss of consciousness.
Serious Reportable Incident
An incident which, due to its significance or severity, requires immediate notification to, and investigation by, Incident Management Enforcement Unit and external authorities (such as the Inspector General, the Department of Health's Health Care Regulation and Licensing Administration), in addition to internal review and investigation by the provider agency. SRI’s include:
Service Coordination
is defined as a single fixed point of administrative accountability that ensures that services described in the ISP are driven by the consumer needs and choices. The Service Coordinator is the heart of the home and community based waiver.
Service Coordinator
The person who facilitates and supports the individual to participate in, guide, and inform the planning process. DDA designates a service coordinator for each individual served to identify, arrange, coordinate, monitor, and be informed about, services or supports funded or arranged by DDS for the individual.
Service Planning and Delivery
The individual has access to the supports necessary to enable them to contribute to their family and community, be as self-reliant as possible, develop their unique talents and abilities, and achieve their personal goals.
Service Provider
An individual or organization that provides residential or day/vocational, therapeutic, clinical supports and services to the consumers served by MRDDA.
Services
Defined as those funded day, vocational, residential, habilitative and/or therapeutic services delivered by an ICF/MR, HCBS waiver or Human Care Agreement provider, or through the DC Medicaid State Plan.
Sexual Abuse
Any sexual activity or attempted sexual activity between an individual and a provider’s employee, consultant, volunteer, intern, contractor or family member regardless of the individual’s consent. Any touching or fondling of an individual directly or through clothing for the arousing or gratifying of sexual desires, causing an individual to touch another person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desires. Actions which may include, but are not limited to: taking sexually explicit photographs; causing an individual to perform sexually explicit acts, showing an individual pornographic materials for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of either party; and encouraging an individual to use sexually explicit language.
Side Effects
Secondary effects of a drug, which are usually undesirable and different from the therapeutic effect.
Sight Translation
Occurs when an interpreter reads a document written in one language and translates it orally into another language.
Simultaneous Interpretation
Occurs when an interpreter speaks simultaneously with the source language speaker (i.e. while the client or service provider is still speaking). This usually entails auditory equipment for the listeners of the target language. Simultaneous interpretation works best in large settings, such as for public hearings or large events.
Six Areas of Capacity
The six areas of capacity are:
- Granting, refusing and/ or withdrawing consent to medical treatments
- Treatment other than medical (e.g. occupational therapy, behavioral supports)
- Habilitation, day programming and/ or work
- Type and place of residence
- Finances
- Life planning
Specialized Training
Tier two training curricula with learning competencies that are designed to provide the employee orientation which addresses the direct support needs of specific individuals who the DSP will be assigned to support. These training curricula must be completed within thirty (30) days of assignment to the direct service location.
Staff
Defined as the employees, contractors, or subcontractors of direct service agencies.
Substitute Decision Maker (also known as Surrogate Decision Maker, or SDM)
As used by DDS, any individual authorized (by statute or by common law) to make decisions on behalf of another individual to give or refuse consent to medical treatment options recommended by the individual’s physician. The decision whether or not to give consent shall be based on the known wishes of the individual (i.e. substituted judgment), but if the wishes of the individual are unknown and cannot be determined, then the decision should be based on a good faith belief as to the best interests of the individual. DC Law 21-2210 authorizes substitute decision makers to provide medical consent in certain circumstances.
Substituted Judgment
The form of decision making in which the substitute decision maker attempts to establish with as much accuracy as possible what decision the individual would have made if that individual were competent to do so. This conclusion can be based on the individual’s preference expressed in previous statements or the surrogate’s knowledge of the individual’s values, beliefs, personality, and prior life style. This standard seeks to preserve the individual’s right of self-determination by placing the individual’s own preferences at the center of deliberation, and is the standard that court-appointed guardians and substitute decision makers should attempt to use first, leaving the best interest standard as a last resort.
Substitute Healthcare Decision-Maker
Any individual authorized (by statute or by common law) to make decisions on behalf of another person to give or refuse consent to medical treatment options recommended by the person's physician. The decision whether or not to give consent shall be based on the known wishes of the person, but if the wishes of the person are unknown and cannot be determined, then the decision should be based on a good faith belief as to the best interests of the person.
Suicide Attempt or Threat
A suicide attempt is an individual's attempt to kill himself or herself. 2. A suicide threat is an individual verbal, nonverbal, or written threat to kill himself or herself, unless such threats are addressed in the individual's behavior support plan.
Supervisory Service Coordinator
[needs definition]
Supports
Those resources and services (both paid and unpaid) that promote the interests and causes of individuals with or without disabilities; that enable them to access resources, information, and relationships inherent in integrated work and living environments; and that result in their enhanced independence, productivity, community integration, and satisfaction.