Here are some of our most frequently asked questions:

Who do I call for information about CCAR services?

• For 24-hour Residential, Community Day Services, Supported Employment,  Respite and Client & Family Support call the Referral/Intake Coordinator at 217-348-0127 ext. 341.
• For information about Competitive Employment services call the Employment Specialist at 217-348-0127 ext. 605.
• For information about Early Intervention services call the Program Director at 217-348-0127 ext. 329.

Who do I call for information about Recycling pick-ups or drop-offs?

Please phone the Recycling Program Director at 217-348-0127 ext. 703.

Is CCAR an acronym? Do the letters C-C-A-R stand for something?

No. CCAR is no longer an acronym. Previously, our name was an acronym for Coles County Association for the Retarded (C.C.A.R.).  When persons with disabilities began to advocate for more respectful terminology, we changed our name to honor their preferences.  However, we didn’t want to lose the local name recognition of “CCAR”. Therefore, we became CCAR Industries.

What is “Waiver Funding” and how do I get it?

Waiver funding is a type of funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disabilities which pays for the following services from CCAR Industries: 24-hour CILA, Family CILA, Intermittent CILA, Adult Home-Based Support program services, Children’s Home Based Support program services, Supported Employment and Community Day Services. This funding is “tied to the person” and is not to a specific agency. This means that if you move to a different community in Illinois, you take your funding with you to use with a different provider.In order to get waiver funding from the IDHS/DDD, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible, and will assist you to obtain funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the state-wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

What is a “developmental disability”?

The Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disability defines a developmental disability as: A disability which is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism; or to any other condition, which results in impairments similar to that caused by mental retardation and which requires services similar to those required by individuals with mental retardation. Such disability must originate before the age of 18, be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitute a substantial handicap.Some diagnoses that are not recognized as a developmental disability by DHS/DDD are: Learning Disability, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, ADD and Behavior Disorders. 

I put my application in to work at the Manufacturing Plant, but no one called me back.

The Manufacturing Plant serves as a training site for individuals with developmental disabilities to learn the necessary skills to obtain a community job in the future.  Individuals who receive paid training at this location are funded service recipients who go through the agency’s admissions process. Rather than complete a CCAR employment application, please refer to the next question.

How do I get services from the Manufacturing Plant?

The Manufacturing Plant is a waiver-funded Community Day Services program. This means that you have to be awarded funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). To obtain this funding, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible and assist you with obtaining funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the state-wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

How do I get services from the Developmental Training program or go to a day program?

The Community Day Services programs are waiver-funded. This means that you have to be awarded funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). To obtain this funding, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible and assist you with obtaining funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the State wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

How do I get help from the Client and Family Support program in order to live alone or independently in the community?

The Client and Family Support program helps individuals to live alone in the community using two funding sources – Intermittent CILA and the Adult Home Based Support program. Both programs are waiver funded programs. This means that you have to be awarded funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). To obtain this funding, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible and assist you with obtaining funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the state-wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

Social Security says I need a Representative Payee. Will CCAR Industries be my payee?

Due to the responsibilities and requirements of being the Representative Payee for an individual’s Social Security benefits, CCAR Industries only serves as the Representative Payee for individuals receiving services from our 24-hour Residential Program. The agency does not serve as the Representative Payee for individuals that are not receiving services from the agency.

I get Social Security disability benefits and/or SSI. Doesn’t that make me eligible for services from CCAR Industries?

In order to receive services from most CCAR Industries programs, you must have a diagnosis of a developmental disability. A developmental disability is a disability caused by mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy/seizure disorder or autism or any other condition that results in an impairment similar to those caused by mental retardation. The disability must originate before the age of 18, be expected to continue indefinitely and constitute a substantial handicap.Some diagnoses that are not recognized as a developmental disability by DHS/DDD are: Learning Disability, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, ADD and Behavior Disorders.

I’m moving to your service area. How do I get waiver-funded services from CCAR Industries?

If you already have waiver funding, contact your PAS agent. They will need to send CCAR Industries a referral packet. This packet contains information about you, your needs, and the services you were receiving before coming to CCAR Industries. We review this information to make certain we can meet your needs. If we think we can meet your needs, we will schedule a time and date for you to visit and tour the program. During this visit, we will also complete any paperwork needed for the admission process and talk about what you want from services. After this tour, we will again review the information and discuss if we feel we can meet your needs. If we think we can, we will complete a funding application that is sent to DHS/DDD. This application is used to make CCAR Industries an authorized provider for you. Once DHS/DDD says CCAR Industries is an authorized provider for you, usually DHS/DDD sends you, your PAS agent and CCAR Industries a letter. Once we have this letter, we will schedule a date for your services to start.If you do not already have waiver funding, you will have to be awarded funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). To obtain this funding, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible and assist you with obtaining funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the state-wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

How does someone move into your group homes?

CCAR Industries operates group homes that are classified as Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) and a Children’s Group Home. All of the group homes are waiver-funded. If you do not already have waiver funding, you will have to be awarded funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD). To obtain this funding, you must work with your local Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agency. The PAS agent will meet with you, determine if you are eligible and assist you with obtaining funding via the process established by DHS/DDD. It is possible that you may be placed on the state-wide waiting list for funding. This waiting list is called the Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services (PUNs).

If you already have funding, your PAS agent will submit a referral packet to CCAR Industries. This packet usually contains a variety of assessments and evaluations that describe what your abilities are and where you need assistance and training. The packet should also contain information about your medical needs and medications. The packet is reviewed by the admission committee for the residential program. The admission committee is made up of a group of staff that works with the program. The committee reviews the packet to determine if the program could meet your needs and if the program has any openings that would be appropriate. If the committee thinks the program could meet your needs and an opening is available, the Referral/Intake Coordinator will contact you to schedule a screening. A screening is just a meeting with you and 1 to 3 staff from the residential program. We like to do the screenings where you are currently living. This allows program staff to ask you and your care giver questions.   It also gives us a chance to look at what accommodations and assistive technology you are currently using. After the screening, the committee meets again to confirm if we could meet your needs and an opening is available. If the committee continues to agree that we could meet your needs and an opening is available, the Referral/Intake Coordinator will contact you to schedule a tour of the CILA home with the opening. During the tour, you can meet with the staff that work at the home and ask questions. If you decide you want to move into the home, the Referral/Intake Coordinator will complete an application packet requesting permission from the Illinois Department of Human Services/ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS/DDD) for CCAR Industries to serve as your provider. If approved, DHS/DDD will send you, CCAR Industries and your PAS agency an award letter. Once this award letter is received, the Referral/Intake Coordinator will contact you to pick a day for you to move into the CILA home.

I was told by my PAS agency that I’m not eligible for waiver funding for services. Can I pay for my services?

Privately paying for services is available for some programs as long as you still meet the admission criteria for the program. The agency charges the same rates that the State of Illinois pays us for the same services and, for most people, this is more than they can afford. For example, the State of Illinois pays $10.39 per hour of Developmental Training services. CCAR Industries also charges $10.39 per hour for those services. For additional information about paying for services, please contact the Referral/Intake Coordinator.

I had an IEP or Individual Education Plan while I was in school. Does this make me eligible for services from CCAR Industries?

Possibly. There are many different reasons individuals have IEPs while in school. In order to receive services from CCAR Industries, you have to have a diagnosis of a developmental disability and a source of funding for those services.

Additional information can be found by visiting our website links.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact our Intake/Referral Coordinator.