The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to obtain services and supports based on individual preference, capabilities and needs, and which promote everyday activities, routines and relationships common to most citizens. For more information on available services contact us. Participation in all DDA services is voluntary. Programs and services that may be available to DDA clients include:
Case Management
Case Resource Managers assist clients and their families to identify interests and support needs and to access DDA services and/or other community resources for which you are eligible and have a need. If it is determined that you are an eligible client of the Administration, your access to DDA paid services depends on:
- Your meeting eligibility requirements for the specific service;
- Having an assessed need for the service; and
- Available funding for the service. The availability of funding does not apply to Medicaid State Plan services or services available under the DDA Home and Community Based Waivers.
Community First Choice (CFC)
Community First Choice is a state plan that offers a variety of services designed to support individuals to remain living in the community. Services are provided to children and adults in their own home, an adult family home, or an assisted living facility. Services offered through Community First Choice include:
- Personal Care
- Relief Care
- Assistive Technology
- Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
- Caregiver Management Training
- Community Transition Services
- Skills Acquisition Training
Not everyone may qualify for Community First Choice. If you do not qualify for Community First Choice, you may be eligible for Medicaid Personal Care (MPC). MPC services provide individual provider or agency support in order to meet a person's needs for assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, meal preparation, housework, and travel to medical services. This service is provided in the person's own home or adult family home. Clients must meet financial eligibility for Medicaid and functional eligibility for the MPC program.
For additional information, please visit the links below:
- CFC Flyer
- Community First Choice WACS
- Information about your Personal CARE Assessment.
- Information about the Limitation Extension process.
Dental Services
DDA does not provide dental services. If you are looking for a dentist to provide dental services to children, go to https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/find-a-dentist. The list indicates whether the dentist can accommodate children with special needs. If you do not find a dentist in your area on the list, use your local phone book. Most offices will tell you over the phone if they are accepting new patients.
If you have Medicaid, you can also call the medical or dental societies in your county to ask if they know of providers taking new Medicaid patients. If they cannot help you, call the Medical Assistance Customer Service Center (1-800-562-3022) and ask about Medicaid providers in your community. The center operators can often direct you to providers who may be able to help. To find out more about what dental services the Medicaid program may purchase, click on this link: HCA Medicaid Provider Guide: Dental-Related Services.
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT)
The ESIT program provides early intervention services, including family resources coordination, for eligible children from birth to age 3 and their families. For more information, visit the ESIT website.
Employment and Day Program Services
Employment and Day Program services are contracted with counties and include:
- Child Development services are designed to meet the developmental needs of each eligible child and the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development. Services may include specialized instruction, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, assistive technology, and vision services and to the maximum extent appropriate are provided in natural environments.
- Employment services provide ongoing support services and training for eligible persons with paid jobs in a variety of settings and work sites. These include individual supported employment, group supported employment, and prevocational services. These may be individual or group options in the community and specialized industry settings.
- Individual Supported Employment services are part of an individual's pathway to employment and are tailored to individual needs, interests, abilities, and promote career development. These are individualized services necessary to help persons with developmental disabilities obtain and continue integrated employment at or above the state's minimum wage in the general workforce. These services may include intake, discovery, assessment, job preparation, job marketing, job supports, record keeping and support to maintain a job.
- Group Supported Employment services are a part of an individual's pathway to integrated jobs in typical community employment. These services include many of the elements described in Individual Supported Employment and offer ongoing supervised employment for groups of no more than 8 workers with disabilities in the same setting. Examples include enclaves, mobile crews, and other business models employing small groups of workers with disabilities in integrated employment in community settings.
- Pre-Vocational services are a part of a pathway to integrated jobs in typical community employment. These services are intended to be short term and include many of the elements described in Individual Supported Employment and offer training and skill development for groups of workers with disabilities in the same setting. Services are provided by agencies established to provide services to people with disabilities.
- Community Access services assist individuals to participate in activities that promote individualized skill development, independent living and community integration. Activities must provide individuals with opportunities to develop personal relationships with others in their local communities and to learn, practice, and apply life skills that promote greater independence and community inclusion.
- Individualized Technical Assistance services are a part of an individual's pathway to individual employment. This service provides assessment and consultation to the employment provider, client and their support system to identify and address existing barriers to employment. This is in addition to supports received through supported employment services or pre-vocational services for individuals who have not yet achieved their employment goal.
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers
HCBS Waivers are designed to allow the provision of ICF/ID level services to clients in community settings. DDA offers services under five Medicaid HCBS waivers:
- Basic Plus Waiver
- Children's In-home Intensive Behavioral Support Waiver
- Core Waiver
- Community Protection Waiver
- Individual and Family Services
Individual and Family Services Program (IFS)
The Individual and Family Services Program supports families who are caring for a family member with a developmental disability in their home. The program provides families with some of the supports necessary to keep eligible individuals at home with parents or relatives. Families may receive the following services:
- Respite care
- Therapies
- Architectural and vehicular modifications
- Equipment and supplies
- Specialized nutrition and clothing
- Excess medical costs not covered by another source
- Co-pays for medical and therapeutic services
- Transportation
- Training
- Counseling
- Behavior support
- Parent/Sibling education
- Recreational opportunities
Medically Intensive Children's Program (MICP)
MICP provides in-home private duty nursing services to eligible children who have medically intensive needs.
- MICP Application (doc)
- MICP Nursing Agency Contact List (pdf)
Mental Health/Crisis Services Program
The Mental Health/Crisis Services program provides therapeutic services to adult DDA clients who have mental health concerns and who may be at risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Services may include:
- Crisis prevention, intervention and stabilization services
- Crisis diversion bed services
- Psychiatric services
- Funded residential placement (limited) for clients being discharged from state psychiatric hospitals (DSHS State Hospital Discharge Protocol for DDA Enrolled Clients at State Psychiatric Hospitals)
- Funded residential placement (limited) for clients being discharged from state psychiatric hospitals
- Funded residential placement (limited) for clients who are discharged from crisis diversion beds
Overnight Planned Respite Services
Overnight Planned Respite Services (OPRS) is a community-based service for adult clients of DDA who live with their primary caregiver. These services offer a break in caregiving and offer individualized activities and support for the adult client. Services are provided in a community setting, such as a home or apartment, and are staffed by contracted, certified providers. Each respite setting serves one person at a time, creating a person-centered plan developed with the individual and primary to meet the person’s needs. Client’s may access OPRS up to fourteen days within a calendar year.
- Holly Community Services, Bellingham, WA Respite Images
- Overnight Planned Respite Services
- The Arc, Spokane, WA Respite Images
Professional Services
Professional Services may be provided to clients who have been assessed as needing professional services beyond what they can access through Medicaid and any other available private health insurance. These may include:
- Nursing provided by a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN)
- Therapeutic services, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy or communication therapy
- Behavior management or counseling
- Medical and psychiatric evaluations
Professional services are available only after Medicaid and any other available private health insurance have been accessed.
State Supplementary Payment (SSP) Program
The SSP Program provides state only dollars directly to clients so that they may purchase residential, respite, therapy, and other necessary services.