Illinois’ Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

The Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities provides services to children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities ages 3 through 21 who live at home with their families and are at risk of placement in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID).

• The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is the state Medicaid Agency (MA) and responsible for administration and oversight of this Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver.
• The Illinois Department of Human Services – Division of Developmental Disabilities (IDHS-DDD) is the Operating Agency (OA).

Eligible Population for the Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities includes:

Individuals with an intellectual or a developmental disability who are ages 3 through 21 who live at home with their families and are at risk of placement in an ICF/ID.

To be Eligible for the Support Waiver for Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities, you must be:  

• A U.S. citizen or legal alien;
• A resident living in the State of Illinois;
• Age 3 through age 21;
• Enrolled in Medicaid

o   Family income is waived, but the child’s financial resources are considered for Medicaid eligibility;

• Assessed as eligible for ICF/ID level of care;
• Not in need of 24-hour nursing care.

Services:

• Adaptive Equipment
• Assistive Technology
• Behavior Intervention and Treatment
• Home Accessibility Modifications
• Personal Support
• Self-Direction Assistance
• Temporary Assistance
• Training and Counseling Services for Unpaid Caregivers
• Vehicle Modification

To see if you are eligible for services:

• The Point of Entry for possible services is through an Independent Service Coordination (ISC) Agency:

o   These agencies can be contacted through the Developmental Disabilities Helpline at 1-888-DD-PLANS or at 1-866-376-8446 for TTY.

• You can also contact your local IDHS-DDD office by using the DHS Office Locator link.
• You can also call 1-800-843-6154 (#4 on menu) or 1-800-447-6404 for TTY.

Service Descriptions:

• Adaptive Equipment: Includes devices, controls, or appliances that enable customers to perceive, control, access, and/or communicate with the environment in which they live, as well as perform activities of daily living.
• Assistive Technology:  Includes an item, piece of equipment, or product, whether bought, made, or modified, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve a customer’s functional capabilities.
• Behavior Intervention and Treatment: Includes ongoing behavioral assessment, functional analysis, development of positive intervention strategies and techniques, participation in individual support plan development, training of family and other workers on the specifics of the customer’s plan and monitoring the effectiveness of the interventions.
• Home Accessibility Modifications:  Physical adaptations to the private residence of the customer or the customer’s family, required by the customer’s support plan, that are necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the customer or enable the customer to function with greater independence in the home.  Examples might include the installation of ramps and grab-bars, widening doorways, or modifying the shower.
• Personal Support:  Includes teaching adaptive skills to assist the customer to reach personal goals; providing personal assistance in activities of daily living; offering services on a short-term basis because of the absence of or need for relief of those persons who normally provide care.
• Self-Direction Assistance:  Assistance is provided to the customer (and his/her family or representative, as appropriate) in arranging for, directing, and managing services.  Practical skills training is offered to enable families and customers to independently direct and manage their services, including hiring, training, supervising, and firing service providers.
• Temporary Assistance:  Includes services provided on an emergency, temporary basis because of the absence or incapacity of the persons who normally provide unpaid care.
• Training and Counseling Services for Unpaid Caregivers:  Includes providing instruction about treatment regimens, use of equipment, or other services included in the customer’s service plan, and counseling is aimed at assisting the unpaid caregiver in meeting the needs of the customer.
• Vehicle Modification:  Includes adaptations or alterations to an automobile or van that is the customer’s primary means of transportation to accommodate the special needs of the customer, enable the customer to integrate more fully into the community, and help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the customer.

Operating Agency Contact Information

Division of Developmental Disabilities
Phone (888) 337-5267
Email:DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov