ABSTRACT
The essence of the Medicaid rules and regulations for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) is belief in the individual. The ICF/MR should never be considered a permanent placement. Behavior Management Committees and Human Rights Commit-tees use the requirement of the ICF/MR standards. Good data collection and computerizing the system so that we can teach other people is standard in Medicaid. Active treatment in institutions for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled requires the individual’s regular participation in accordance with an individual plan of care in professionally developed and supervised activities, experiences and therapies. Inter-disciplinary teams often develop individual habilitation plans for the professional’s activities and therapies. Bittersweet Farms is the sole ICF/MR program in Ohio designed to serve the unique needs of autistic adults. Medicaid funding continues to cover the costs of operating Bit-tersweet Farms. Numerous individuals and groups have given through donations, memorials, volunteer work, a fund raiser and supplying and setting up the antique shop.
