Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports

Next, to access services through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, there are six regional offices. Each region has an intake and evaluation team who will determine if your family member with a disability is eligible for services. There is an application form to complete and additional documentation that must be sent in to see if you qualify. If approved, the regional offices will give you a list of providers who are approved to offer services in your region. 

Note: GCDD does not endorse any of these particular providers/organizations and encourages families to develop a set of questions unique to their situation to help determine if a provider is a good match for your family member.

The following are other resources to look into:

• Inclusive child care: Georgia Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
• Aging and disability resources: Aging and Disability Resource Connection 
• Georgia's referral network: 211 system
• Special Education information: Wrights Law - Georgia Resources

It is a complex service system and there are different departments involved in the delivery of services. This explanation of each one may assist you in knowing where to begin.

Babies Can’t Wait: Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s statewide interagency service delivery system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. BCW is established by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which guarantees all eligible children, regardless of their disability, access to services that will enhance their development.

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD): DBHDD supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides them with opportunities to live independently and in the most integrated setting possible. To be eligible for services, a person must have an intellectual disability — or a closely related developmental disability, such as severe autism, cerebral palsy, or epilepsy — that substantially impairs intellectual or adaptive functioning. The disability must have originated from birth or during the developmental years (by age 18 for an intellectual disability, or by age 22 for a developmental disability). Also see the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS).

Georgia Medicaid Waiver Programs: Medicaid waiver programs help people who are elderly or have disabilities live in their home or community instead of an institution such as a nursing home or intermediate care facility for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Each program offers several core services:

• Service coordination (help with managing care needs and services)
• Personal support (assistance with daily living activities, i.e. bathing, dressing, meals, and housekeeping)
• Home health services (nursing, home health aide, and occupational, physical and speech therapy)
• Emergency response systems
• Respite care (caregiver relief)

A Medicaid Waiver is money that may be used to pay for services for a person with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. These services can take place in the person’s home or in the community. 

Georgia offers both NOW (New Options Now) and COMP (Comprehensive Supports) waivers for eligible people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. NOW offers services and supports to enable individuals to remain living on their own or in their family home and participate in the community. COMP serves individuals with more intensive needs, primarily those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who would require residential care. NOW/COMP programs are accessed through six regional DBHDD field offices.

Social Security Administration: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) serves children and adults with disabilities. There is an income criteria. The parents’ incomes are taken into consideration when the child is under 18. The person is considered a family of one at age 18 and only their income is counted even if they are still living at home. 

Georgia Special Education Department of Education (GaDOE) – Division for Special Education Services and Supports: The Division provides support for leaders, teachers, and families to meet the whole child needs of each student to improve student outcomes resulting in an increased quality-of-life and workforce-ready future. The Division commits collaboration across agencies ​​and school-home partnerships to support local school districts in their efforts to provide special education and related services for students with disabilities. The GaDOE provides General Supervision for local school districts to improve educational results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities and ensure that the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are met. ​​​

A Medicaid Waiver is money that may be used to pay for services for a person with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. These services can take place in the person’s home or in the community. See also the TEFRA/Katie Beckett Waiver.

NOW and COMP Waivers

Individuals with significant intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or neurological impairments may be eligible for the NOW or COMP waivers. Individuals with physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury acquired between the ages of 21-64 could be eligible for the ICWP waiver. Individuals need to contact the point of entry appropriate for each waiver.

The NOW Waiver stands for New Options Waiver. It provides support to people who do not need 24-hour care. It was designed for people with disabilities who live with family members or in their own home. There is a limit of $25,000 a year for services under the NOW Waiver. This waiver is for people who need less intensive services and support. 

The COMP Waiver stands for Comprehensive Supports Waiver. It was designed for people who need a full range of out-of-home services or intensive in-home services. The COMP Waiver is also used for people who are transitioning out of institutions into community living. It is administered through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. 

Find out more and how to apply for the NOW or COMP Waiver here: https://georgia.gov/apply-new-option-waiver-program-now-and-comprehensive-support-waiver-program-comp. 

Georgia Pediatric Program

The Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP) serves eligible children under 21 years of age who are medically fragile and in need of medically necessary skilled nursing care and/or medically necessary personal care support. Eligible members should be getting physician ordered services to be considered eligible for this program.

Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program

The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program, formerly called the Community Care Services Program, provides in-home and community-based services as an alternative to a nursing home.

SOURCE Waiver

The Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE) is a waiver program that provides in-home and community-based services as an alternative to a nursing home.

How do I find out if I am eligible?

To find out if you are eligible for developmental disabilities services, you must submit an application to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and supporting documentation of a developmental disability. To find your local Intake and Evaluation office. The Intake and Evaluation office will contact you within 14 days of receipt of your application to make arrangements to conduct a screening in order to make a preliminary eligibility determination. Once the determination is made, a letter will be sent notifying you of your eligibility status.