Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, known as the DDA, funds and oversees community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These services can include support at home, help in the community, meaningful day activities, employment support, and residential options, all planned around the individual’s own goals. For many families, the hardest part is knowing where to start. November is National Family Caregivers Month, which makes it a good time to walk through how the DDA system works and what families can expect along the way.
What Is the Developmental Disabilities Administration?
The DDA is part of the Maryland Department of Health. It determines eligibility for developmental disability services, funds services through Medicaid and state resources, and sets the standards that service providers must meet. The DDA does not usually provide day-to-day support directly. Instead, it works with licensed and certified providers, such as Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc., who deliver services in homes and communities across Maryland.
The guiding idea behind DDA services is that people with developmental disabilities should have the support they need to live the life they choose, in the community, with as much independence and choice as possible.
Who Is Eligible for DDA Services?
To receive DDA services, a person first applies for eligibility. According to the DDA’s Guide to Services, there are two main eligibility categories:
- Developmental Disability (DD): the person meets all of the state’s criteria, including a severe and chronic disability that began before age 22 and a need for planned and coordinated supports
- Supports Only (SO): the person has a lifelong developmental disability but does not meet every DD criterion
Families can get the application from the DDA website or from one of the four regional offices, which serve Central Maryland, the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland, and Western Maryland. Supporting documents, such as psychological evaluations, school records, or medical records, help the DDA make its decision. If a family disagrees with an eligibility decision, they can ask for reconsideration or a hearing.
What Does a Coordinator of Community Services Do?
Once a person is found eligible, they are usually connected with a Coordinator of Community Services, often called a CCS. A CCS is an independent case manager who helps the individual and family navigate the system. Their role includes:
- Helping develop the Person-Centered Plan
- Explaining service options and helping the individual choose providers
- Helping with Medicaid and waiver applications
- Connecting the individual with community resources
- Checking in regularly to make sure services are working well
Because the CCS is independent from the service providers, they can help families compare options and make decisions that reflect the individual’s goals.
How Does the Person-Centered Plan Guide Services?
The Person-Centered Plan, or PCP, is the foundation of DDA services. It describes the individual’s vision for a good life, their goals, the supports they need, and the providers they choose. The plan is developed with the individual, their CCS, and the people they want involved, such as family members, friends, or support staff.
The PCP is reviewed at least once a year, but it can be updated whenever needs or goals change. Families who want to learn more about turning a plan into everyday support can read our earlier post, How to Turn a Person-Centered Plan Into Meaningful Daily Supports.
What Is the Community Pathways Waiver?
Most DDA services are funded through a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver. In October 2025, the DDA combined its Family Supports and Community Supports waivers into a single program, the Community Pathways Waiver. Individuals who were already enrolled in those waivers were moved automatically, and their services stayed the same.
To qualify for the waiver, an individual must meet technical, medical, and financial criteria, and must have an approved Person-Centered Plan. Eligibility for DDA services does not always mean services begin right away. The DDA uses priority categories, such as Crisis Resolution, Crisis Prevention, and Current Request, to decide the order in which people enter the waiver, so it helps to apply early and keep contact information up to date.
What Types of DDA Services Are Available?
DDA services generally fall into three groups. Each person’s plan includes only the services that fit their goals and needs.
Meaningful Day Services
These services support adults who have finished school in spending their days in ways that matter to them. They include employment services, career exploration, community development services, and day habilitation. At Helpful Hearts, this includes employment services and community development services.
Support Services
Support services help individuals live safely and independently at home and in the community. Examples include personal supports, respite care, nursing support, behavioral support, assistive technology, and transportation.
Residential Services
Residential services help individuals live in the community rather than in an institution. Options include supported living, shared living, and community living group homes. Each setting is designed to protect the privacy, dignity, and choices of the individuals receiving services.
Provider-Managed or Self-Directed Services?
Individuals can choose how their services are delivered. With provider-managed services, a licensed or certified provider hires, trains, and supervises staff and manages day-to-day service delivery. With self-directed services, the individual manages their own budget and can recruit and hire their own support staff, with help from a financial management agency and, in some cases, a support broker.
Neither option is better for everyone. The right choice depends on how much responsibility the individual and family want to take on, and what kind of support helps the person thrive. A CCS can explain both options in detail.
How Can Families Prepare for DDA Services?
Preparing ahead of time can make the process smoother and less stressful:
- Gather records early, including evaluations, school records, and medical history
- Write down your loved one’s strengths, preferences, routines, and goals
- Think about what a good day and a good life look like from their point of view
- Keep copies of all letters and applications from the DDA and Medicaid
- Let the DDA or your CCS know about changes in address, phone number, or caregiving situation
- Ask questions whenever something is unclear, since the system has many terms and steps
Most importantly, keep the individual at the center of every decision. Their voice should guide the plan, the services, and the providers they choose.
What Should Families Look for in a DDA Provider?
Choosing a provider is one of the most important decisions in the process. Families and individuals may want to ask:
- Is the provider licensed or certified by the DDA for the services needed?
- How does the provider involve the individual in daily decisions?
- How are staff trained, and how is consistency of staff maintained?
- How does the provider protect privacy, dignity, and respect?
- How does the provider communicate with families and the CCS?
- How does the provider support community inclusion and independence?
A good provider should welcome these questions and answer them openly.
People Also Ask
How Do I Apply for DDA Services in Maryland?
You can apply by completing the DDA Application for Eligibility, available on the DDA website or from any DDA regional office. Include supporting documents, such as evaluations and medical or school records, to help the DDA review the application.
What Is the Difference Between DD and Supports Only Eligibility?
Developmental Disability eligibility means a person meets all of the state’s criteria for a severe and chronic developmental disability that began before age 22. Supports Only eligibility applies to people with a lifelong developmental disability who do not meet every one of those criteria.
What Is a Coordinator of Community Services?
A Coordinator of Community Services is an independent case manager who helps individuals develop their Person-Centered Plan, understand service options, choose providers, and stay connected to resources.
Can a Person Choose Their Own DDA Provider?
Yes. Individuals and their families can choose providers that fit their goals and needs, with help from their Coordinator of Community Services.
Building a Strong Foundation for Support
The DDA system can feel complex at first, but each step is designed to put the individual at the center of their own services. Understanding eligibility, the role of the Coordinator of Community Services, the Person-Centered Plan, and the types of services available helps families feel more confident as they support a loved one.
Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc. provides person-centered residential, day, employment, and support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Maryland DDA programs. Families and Coordinators of Community Services can visit our caregiver and family resources page or request services to learn more about how we support individuals and families.
