Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities

Persons eligible for these services have qualifying disabilities in one of four areas:^[3]

1. Intellectual disabilities or related conditions
2. Acquired brain injury
3. Physical disabilities
4. Autism

The majority of services are outsourced to Private Contractors, however the DSPD also manages the Utah State Developmental Center (USDC).^[4] The USDC, an intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities, provides services in recreation, psychology, social work, and work programs. This 24-hour facility is primarily for people with more severe intellectual disabilities and is focused on active treatment and vocational programs.

The Utah Division of Health established the Office of Handicapped Services in 1979. Four years later, the Department of Social Services merged that office with the Department of Developmental Disabilities and Mental Retardation to form the currently named Division of Services for People With Disabilities.

For the next 34 years, major changes occurred in DSPD in the form of waivers and legislation. These changes and a brief description are listed below:^[5]

1. Waiver Authority (1981) – allows the agency to provide community-based programs instead of institutions and still be in compliance with federal statutory requirements.
2. Community Supports Waiver (1986) – allows the agency to provide home and community-based services at home and not just in institutions.
3. Acquired Brain Injury Waiver (1995) – allows the agency to provide home and community-based services for people with an acquired brain injury.
4. Physical Disability Waiver (1998) – allows the agency to provide home and community-based services for people with physical disabilities.
5. Lisa P. v. Angus (1993) – a lawsuit filed seeking community placement in "least restrictive and most enabling environment" for residents of the USDC.
6. Portability of Funding for Health and Human Services (1998) – legislation enables individuals with disabilities to receive funding to move them out of institutions and into the community.
7. Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) – the outcome led to the removal of many individuals with disabilities from institutional settings to community-based programs.