Intensive home and community based services to eligible children within the state of Massachusetts
What is the Autism Waiver Program?
Officially called the Children's Autism Home and Community Based Services Waiver Program, the autism waiver program provides intensive home and community based services to eligible children within the state of Massachusetts.
The program is participant directed, meaning that within the parameters of the program, families have the ability to determine which services they deem most helpful to their child. As a team, the family, broker supervisor, support brokers, and clinical managers determine the strengths and needs of the child, and then develop goals to meet those needs.
The main service of the Waiver Program is Expanded Habilitation; Education. This is the direct day-to-day in-home service that the child receives.
Other services available are Community Integration, Respite, Home Safety Modifications, Goods and Services (items, materials, memberships, etc.) Assistive Tech and Adaptive Equipment purchases, Vehicle Modifications, and Homemaking.
Families are able to choose from a master list of Credentialed Providers, or utilize someone they already have experience with, provided they meet the qualifications.
Please note, this program is funded by the Autism Division. Community Autism Resources is contracted by the Autism Division to coordinate waiver services for eligible families.
Open Enrollment Period
The 2023 Open Request period runs October 16, 2023 - October 31, 2023.
Please note, applications MUST be postmarked within this time period. Applications received outside these dates will be discarded. Applications will NOT be accepted in person (NO dropped offs).
2023 Family Letters & Applications are available on the DDS Website in the following languages: Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese (European), Spanish, Khmer, Vietnamese, Nepali and Somali
Please be sure to MAIL or EMAIL the Open Request Application between October 16 and October 31. The Autism Division will discard submissions outside of this timeframe. If you submitted an application during the last open request application period in October 2022, YOU MUST RESUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR 2023.
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Eligibility
The following requirements are necessary for participation in this program:
- The child must have a confirmed diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, subject to verification by the Department of Developmental Services.
- The child has not yet reached his/her 10th birthday. Children birth through age 9 may participate.
- The child is a resident of Massachusetts.
- The child meets the level of care required for services in an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) as assessed by DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.
- The family chooses to have the child receive services in the home and community.
- The child must be able to be safely served in the community.
- The child must have a legally responsible representative able to direct the services and supports of the Waiver.
- The child must be found by the MassHealth agency to be eligible for MassHealth Standard coverage, based on family income. For families who have not yet applied for MassHealth, this must be done at the time of the filing of the Waiver Program Request Form.
Support Brokers
Please note that support brokers are on the road often, but we will try to return your phone calls as soon as possible.
Sherry Amaral-Lopez, Autism Waiver Broker Supervisor
Ext 11 | sherryamaral@community-autism-resources.com
Kim Souza, Autism Waiver Broker
ksouza@community-autism-resources.com