Official Site of The State of New Jersey

A developmental disability is a chronic physical and/or intellectual disability that:

• Manifests before the age of 21;
• Is permanent;
• Substantially limits an individual’s ability to complete activities in at least three of the following life activities:
  • Self-care
  • Learning
  • Mobility
  • Communication
  • Self-direction
  • Economic self-sufficiency
  • The ability to live independently; and
• Reflects the need for special care, treatment, or other lifelong or extended services.

Developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. This page provides information for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families about helpful resources, supports, and services. Services for individuals with IDD are primarily provided by:

• The NJ Children’s System of Care, which provides services for children with IDD through the age of 21; and 
• The Division of Developmental Disabilities, which provides services for individuals with IDD over the age of 21. 

Information about both divisions and the services they offer can be found below.

 

Get Help Now 

• For more information about supports and services for individuals with I/DD from birth to age 21, please contact the Children’s System of Care contracted system administrator, PerfomCare, at 1-877-652-7624, or visit the PerformCare website. 
• For more information about supports and services for individuals with I/DD age 21 and older, please contact the Division of Developmental Disabilities at 1-609-633-1482, or visit the Division of Developmental Disabilities website. 

• Individuals with disabilities can open a savings account to pay for many daily, disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for assistance programs like SSI and Medicaid. For more information, visit NJ ABLE.

 

Services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) from birth through age 21 are administered through the NJ Children’s System of Care (CSOC), through PerformCare.

To access services for youth with I/DD through CSOC, families must complete a Developmental Disability (DD) Eligibility application.  DD eligibility is required to access specialized I/DD services. The application consists of four parts and can be found here: Determination of Eligibility Application for Intellectual/Developmental Disability Services.

Children under age 18 years or their guardians can submit applications directly to PerformCare online or by calling 1-877-652-7624.

Individuals ages 18 through 21 years can submit applications through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). Services will be provided through PerformCare until age 21, at which time the eligible individual will transition to DDD.

 

Services Through the Children's System of Care

Children's System of Care (CSOC) services are designed to help families meet the needs of children with I/DD that are not being met through school-related services, medical services covered by health insurance, or by other existing supports or services. Services through this program are administered based upon level of care and the availability of funds.

Family Support Services (FSS): Family Support Services are designed to assist families that provide care at home for a youth with I/DD.  Family Support Services include respite care, assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, and assistance with summer camp during summer breaks from school.

Intensive In-Home (IIH) Services: IIH Services provides clinical and behavioral support and skill-building for eligible youth in their homes.

Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS): MRSS provides in-home crisis support to help stabilize youth and families, and connects them with needed services and supports. 

Care Management Organizations (CMOs): CMOs are agencies that provide comprehensive care coordination and planning for youth with the most complex needs. They work with child-family teams to develop individualized service plans. The CMO’s aim to help youth stay in their communities while they receive treatment and keep them connected to their family and school.

Family Support Organization (FSO): FSOs offer peer support, education, and avocacy to youth and families involved with Care Management Organizations.

Out of Home (OOH) services and supports: CSOC provides out-of-home treatment for youth who are not able to safely be cared for at home. If a youth or young adult (under age 21 years) requires OOH Treatment, PerformCare will work with the family’s Care Management Organization (CMO) to identify the least restrictive type of treatment setting to best meet a youth’s identified needs.

 

The Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

The Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families was established to help make sure that individuals and their families get the services and supports they need and deserve. This Office can:

• Assist individuals and families in navigating New Jersey’s system of care to get the services and supports they need and deserve,
• Work with individuals and families to identify opportunities for improving the system, and
• Help to ensure that the voice of individuals and families is heard in a meaningful way in decisions that directly affect them as well as in larger policy discussions.

Contact the Office of the Ombudsman here.

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Services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 21 years and older are administered through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). DDD will screen individuals for eligibility for services, and help determine what services are needed from the available options.

The Application for Eligibility is also available on the DDD website.

 

Services Through DDD include:

• Assistive Technology
• Behavioral Supports
• Career Planning
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Community-Based Supports
• Community Inclusion Services
• Community Transition Services
• Day Habilitation
• Environmental Modifications
• Goods & Services
• Individual Supports
• Interpreter Services
• Natural Supports Training
• Occupational Therapy
• Personal Emergency Response System
• Physical Therapy
• Prevocational Training
• Respite
• Speech, Language, and Hearing Therapy
• Support Coordination
• Supported Employment
• Supports Brokerage
• Transportation
• Vehicle Modification

 

Finding DDD Providers:

The Division of Developmental Disabilities hosts a Provider Search tool that allows people to search for different providers registered with NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s Medicaid program.

You may filter your search results by name, service, location, language, and setting, or use a combination of searches and filters to browse provider options. Services you can search for include community-based supports, respite care, transportation, and day habilitation, among many others.

Providers are responsible for updating their information with DDD. We encourage you to contact providers directly for more details about whether they currently provide services in your area and if they are a suitable match for you or your family member.

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Self-Directed Services/Self-Direction 

Self-Directed Services/Self Direction provide people receiving services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) more control over the supports they receive at home and in the community. Persons with disabilities can manage their own services, including hiring their own caregiver and deciding how their budget is used to meet their needs.

How It Works

Self-Directed Services allow people to choose who provides their care and how it is delivered. This may include hiring a caregiver, known as a self-directed employee (SDE), and choosing from a menu of community-based supports with an approved budget. The person served or an unpaid family member or trusted friend act as the employer and are responsible for directing services as opposed to a service provider.  Directing SDE services includes recruiting staff, arranging backup coverage, hiring/firing staff, approving timesheets, and other activities as needed. A financial management services agency, known as a fiscal intermediary, assists with payroll processing, tax withholding, processing timesheets, and issuing payments to your SDEs. 

Services available through a self-directed employee include:

• Community-based supports
• Individual supports
• Respite
• Transportation
• Interpreter services

Additional supports, such as assistive technology and environmental or vehicle modifications, are also available through community vendors in the self-direction model.

Service Models

There are two options for managing your services. Each model offers different levels of employer responsibility and support.

• Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent (VF/EA), in which you, or someone you choose, is the employer of record.
• Agency with Choice (AWC), in which the fiscal intermediary is the employer of record. In this model, employer-sponsored health insurance and paid time off is available for employees who work 30 hours of more per week.

More information about each model can be found at the links below:

• FAQ: Self-Directed Employee Models
• Side-by-Side Comparison of Self-Directed Employee Models

Who is Eligible?

You may Self-Direct your services if you:

• Are enrolled in DDD services, and 
• Can direct your services independently or designate an unpaid family member or trusted friend to do so on your behalf.
•  Responsibilities of the person directing services may include recruiting staff, arranging backup coverage, hiring/firing staff, approving timesheets, etc. For more information about eligibility for DDD services, visit the Division’s website.

More Information

If you are already enrolled in DDD services and want more information on self-directed services, speak with your Support Coordinator or email the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Office of Education on Self-Directed Services at DDD.OESDS@dhs.nj.gov. If you are not enrolled in DDD services, learn more about how to apply for services here.

Self-Directed Employees are required to complete service documentation.  For more information, please see the following guidance documents. 

• Service Documentation Guidance for Self-Directed Employees
• Self-Directed Employee Service Documentation Log

The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development developed a helpful guide about self-directing services for individuals and families, Deciding to Self-Direct: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered.

 

Office of Education on Self-Directed Services 

The Basics

The Office of Education on Self-Directed Services provides education and support to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), families, and professionals understand how self-directed services work. This office does not replace your Support Coordinator but offers additional guidance to help you in making informed decisions about self-direction.

The Office of Education on Self-Directed Services offers:

• Education on the benefits and responsibilities of self-directed services
• Guidance on managing services and supports
• Technical assistance for individuals, families, and providers
• Resources and tools to support self-direction
• In person and virtual Family networking sessions to share experiences and learn from others.
• Virtual Peer to Peer networking sessions for people self-directing to share experiences and learn from each other.
• Virtual sessions for professionals supporting individuals who self-direct services 

 

The Boggs Center is New Jersey’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and New Jersey's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NJLEND) program.  The Center is part of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and emphasizes a community-based, lifespan approach to meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development educates people and families through training and leadership development programs, disseminates information and educational materials, and conducts a wide array of community training and technical assistance activities.

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The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) now offers a voluntary designation for individuals with ASD or a communication disorder on their driver’s license or non-driver ID indicating their diagnosis. This card can help law enforcement quickly recognize the need for alternative communication methods or additional support.

For more information, visit: Autism Spectrum and Communication Disorder Licenses and ID Cards