What is the DD WAIVER?
For the past few decades, the national trend has been toward moving people with disabilities out of long-term care facilities. The goal is to help people with developmental disabilities to live in their homes and to be active participants in their communities. In order to support this national trend, the federal government created the Title XIX Home and Community-Based Services Program in 1981. Since this act made an exception to, or waived the requirement of going into an institution to receive services, it is referred to as a “Waiver”.
 
Waivers make Medicaid funds available for home and community-based services as an alternative to institutional care, provided that the cost of supporting the individual in the home or community is not more than the cost of institutional care.
 
In New Mexico, the Long Term Services Division of the New Mexico Department of Health administers the Medicaid Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Waiver program, otherwise known as the DD Waiver. This program is designed to serve children and adults in New Mexico with developmental disabilities who qualify for services.

WHY APPLY FOR THE DD WAIVER?
 · Your child may require more specialized therapy services than are available through the public school special education program. Those services may be available through the Waiver.  
· Your child may exhibit challenging behaviors that can be helped by behavior therapy  provided through the DD Waiver.
 · While residential or employment services may not be appropriate for your child right now, your family may benefit from respite care and other support services supplied through the DD Waiver.
· Services available through the DD Waiver can help your child and family enjoy active participation in the community.
· You may also be eligible to receive funding for environmental modifications such as a wheelchair ramp or accessible bathroom for your home through the DD Waiver program. There may also be non-medical transportation available with the DD Waiver.

Who is eligible for the DD Waiver?
To qualify for services, you or your loved one must have a developmental disability that occurred before the age of twenty-two, need help with personal care (bathing, dressing, eating, etc), and be a resident of New Mexico. The individual must have Mental Retardation (MR) or a related condition, and have a developmental disability.