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

General Services and Supports

New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS)

The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) provides an estimated 2.1 million New Jerseyans with a range of services and supports, including those related to food assistance, child care, healthcare, aging and disability.

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

DHS is home to the State’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), which provides public funding for services and supports that assist New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, age 21 and older, to live as independently as possible.

The functional criteria for an intellectual or developmental disability is that it:

  • Manifests before age 22;
  • Is lifelong in nature; and
  • Substantially limits life activity in at least three areas including: self-care, learning, mobility, communication, self-direction, economic self-sufficiency and ability to live independently.

Division of Disability Services (DDS)

DHS is home to the State’s Division of Disability Services (DDS), which serves as a resource for all individuals with disabilities and their families, including those whose disability had its onset later in life as a result of injury or illness. DDS publishes The New Jersey Resources Directory (English/Spanish) annually.

Among its primary services and supports are the following:

Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services (DMAHS)

DHS is home to the State’s Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services (DMAHS) – the State’s Medicaid office. Medicaid provides health insurance to parents/caregivers and dependent children, pregnant women, and people who are aged, blind or disabled. These programs pay for hospital services, doctor visits, prescriptions, nursing home care and other healthcare needs, depending on program eligibility.

Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)

DHS is home to the State’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), which oversees New Jersey's adult system of community-based behavioral health services, including emergency screening, outpatient and intensive outpatient mental health services, partial care and partial hospitalization, case management, and long and short term mental health and substance abuse residential services.

DHS is also home to the State’s Mental Health Ombudsman , which is a useful resource for DMHAS services, consumer rights, and provider-related conflict resolution.

Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH)

DHS is home to the State’s Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH), which provides education, advocacy and direct services to people experiencing hearing loss.

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)

DHS is home to the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which promotes and provides services in the areas of education, employment, independence and eye health through informed choice and partnership with persons who are blind or visually impaired, their families and the community. Most services are available at no cost.

A person is eligible for services if he or she is visually impaired or legally blind with best correction, and is experiencing problems in his or her life as a result of the vision loss.

To apply or refer someone for services, call 1-877-685-8878 or the local CBVI office.

Last Updated: Monday, 01/08/24

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