Waiver services are funds designed to allow people with disabilities, both children and adults, to live as independently as possible in the community.  For some people, this may mean using those funds to move into a group home or other supported living situation, or to attend community integrated day support program.  For other people, waiver services could be used to make modifications to their own home for accessibility, access supported employment, or obtain needed assistive technology for communication.  There are several types of waivers in Virginia, with access determined by the individual’s level of need.

For many years, Waiver services for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities were managed separately from waiver services for all other developmental disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy.  Virginia’s waiver redesign, which took effect in September 2016, has changed this. Services for individuals with intellectual disabilities will now be incorporated into one waiver, serving people with all developmental disabilities.  This new, “combined” waiver should allow for more streamlined services, with your local Community Services Board acting as both the single point of entry for access to the waivers, as well as the agency responsible for ensuring services are delivered properly.

Another significant change to Virginia’s waiver services is the change in the waiting lists for those services.  Just as the waiver services for individuals with intellectual disabilities were separate from other developmental disability waivers, so to was the waiting list for those services.  This has now changed, and Virginia is now operating one, combined waiting list for access to all developmental disability waiver services.

Your local Community Services Board is now responsible for managing this combined waiting list for Waiver services for all individuals with developmental disabilities. This could affect you in two ways:

  1. If you are a resident of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County, and you were previously placed on the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver (Known as the “DD” Waiver) waiting list, your placement on the waiting list will now be managed by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board. Every effort is being made to ensure this transition will be made smoothly. If you would like more information, please contact us at 540-434-1941.
  1. All screenings for waiver services will now be completed by your local community services board. If you know of anyone needing a screening, or if you would just like more information, please contact us at 540-434-1941. You can also request a screening by downloading the screening form here. We look forward to having the opportunity to assist you.

John Malone
Director of Developmental Services