Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Eligibility

For young adults, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) recommends beginning the adult eligibility application process at age 17.5 unless the individual is expected to graduate from high school prior to age 22. In those cases, the school district should submit a 688 Referral to DDS two years prior to the expected date of graduation, so the agency can prepare services to begin when the individual leaves school. Adults who attend school until age 22 begin receiving DDS services after completing school. Education services are more comprehensive than adult services, so in most cases, it is better to extend the school years when possible.   

Who Is Eligible for DDS Adult Services?

• Age 18 years or older 
• Intellectual disability 
• Autism spectrum disorder and developmental disability 
• Prader-Willi Syndrome and developmental disability 
• Smith-Magenis Syndrome and developmental disability 

Applying for Adult Eligibility

Getting DDS adult eligibility can take three months or more from the time a fully completed application is submitted to the DDS Intake Coordinator until a decision is made. The first step is to complete the Application for Adult Eligibility and include all required documents. Before submitting, be sure to keep a copy of the entire application and documents for your own records. If the person has a court-appointed guardian, the guardian signs the application; if the person is their own guardian, they sign the application. 

For older adults who have been out of school for years and may not have recent developmental assessments, neuropsychological, IQ or cognitive evaluations, the individual should see if their health insurance will cover the cost of these tests. If insurance won’t cover it and the family does not have the financial resources to pay for the tests, which can be expensive, request DDS to pay for the tests. This request should be made promptly, as it will delay the application process. You may be able to speed up the application process if the individual is facing safety or other risk factors, such as homelessness, by notifying the Intake Coordinator.   

Once DDS receives the completed application with all required documents, an Intake Interview is scheduled for information about the individual’s social, medical, developmental, and education history. An Adaptive Assessment is also done to assess functioning levels. The Team Psychologist reviews all information and makes the decision regarding eligibility. If deemed adult eligible, the individual is notified by mail, and the file is sent to their appropriate DDS Area Office. The DDS Area Office will contact the family and assign an adult Service Coordinator. 

If the individual is deemed not eligible, you may appeal the decision by sending written notice to your regional DDS office within 30 days of receiving the determination letter. Knowing your rights, the process, and the timelines involved are critical to successfully appealing a DDS decision. 

Required Documents for DDS Adult Eligibility Application – SEND COPIES ONLY 

• Completed, signed DDS application  https://www.mass.gov/lists/dds-eligibility-forms 
• Birth Certificate 
• Social Security Card 
• Medical Insurance Card 
• Proof of Residency (copy of utility bill, lease, etc. – may be in caregiver/parent’s name) 
• Psychological Testing (including cognitive, neuropsychological, and IQ) 
• Medical Reports, Evaluations, and Developmental Assessments which include formal diagnosis 
• Most recent IEP 
• Most recent set of school evaluations (academic achievement, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language, etc.) 

Takeaway Tips

• Must apply for adult eligibility even if eligible for child services 
• Apply at 17.5 years or sooner if graduating school at age 18 
• Request to speed up eligibility process when person’s safety/wellbeing at risk  
• If new tests required and insurance won’t cover, request DDS pay for them 
• Right to Appeal DDS decisions  

DDS Adult Eligibility Resources

• September 2025 MA21 webinar on the rights, process and best practices for appealing DDS decisions: [WEBINAR] Know Your Rights: The DDS Appeals Process 
• Updated in 2024, this Disability Law Center guide does a deep dive into eligibility criteria: specifically defining developmental disabilities and eligibility requirements with autism diagnosis. DDS-Eligibility-2024-02.pdf 
• Last updated in 2017, this document reviews your rights, timelines and process for appealing a DDS decision, including denial of adult eligibility. DDS-Appeals.pdf 

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Prioritization

Once adults are determined eligible for Department of Developmental Services (DDS) services, the adults are then assessed to determine prioritization and the level of support they need. As a public agency, funding for DDS is determined through the legislative process (learn more in our advocacy section), which in turn determines the availability of assistance to adults. They include input from the person and/or their caregiver as well as others who know the person well. Based on the assessment, the person is assigned a priority level for receiving services. Prioritization is intended to help the DDS area office allocate resources and services effectively, so individuals get the support they need to live as independently as possible. It also is in response to the availability of funding noted above. 

Typically, assessments are completed on adults newly eligible for DDS support, but they should be updated regularly. This is especially true when an individual’s health or functioning levels change, or if there is a change in caregiver and family resources to meet the person’s needs. 

Types of DDS Assessments

As the basis for receiving services from DDS, assessments are important. The individual and their caregiver should be involved in the assessment process and understand the results to make sure they correctly represent the person’s needs. There are two basic assessments currently being used by DDS to evaluate persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism: The Supports Intensity Adult Scale (SIS-A) and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Profile (MASSCAP).  

SIS-A is a comprehensive assessment tool newer to Massachusetts developed by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Recently, DDS has been using SIS-A to evaluate persons with IDD and autism. This new, person-centered assessment is conducted by a SIS-trained assessor and takes several hours to complete. All information gained through the assessment is shared with the person and their caregiver.  

Before using SIS-A, DDS primarily evaluated adults with IDD using the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Profile (MASSCAP), which is still widely used. MASSCAP is a privately owned tool, so caregivers are not allowed to see the actual questions or the entire assessment. They are, however, entitled to see the final score, as well as the results of the Community and Caregiver Assessment (CCA), which is based on information provided by the caregiver and people in the community with close contact to the individual. 

More About the MASSCAP

The MASSCAP has three components:  

• Inventory of Client Planning and Agency (ICAP): When applying for adult eligibility, the ICAP assesses the services a person requires using a standardized needs-assessment format and computer score. The ICAP is completed by the person and/or their caregiver, and the DDS Service Coordinator.  
• Community and Caregiver Assessment (CCA): DDS holds a structured interview with the person’s primary caregiver to get information on the level of care the person currently requires. The CCA does not have a score but results in a MASSCAP Profile.  
• Professional Judgment: DDS staff consider information from the ICAP and CCA evaluations to determine the level of support and services an individual needs. 

You have the right to see your ICAP Report Summary and CCA. Make the request in writing and follow up with your DDS Service Coordinator and/or their supervisor if necessary.  

Takeaway Tips: Assessments are Important

• DDS funding is based on need. 
• Assessments help DDS decide what level of services an individual needs. 
• A person assessed as having high needs (Priority 1) qualifies for more intensive services and support. 
• When a person’s needs change or there is a change in caregiver resources, request an updated assessment. 

DDS Prioritization Levels

• Priority 1: Highest level of support needed to protect health and safety of the individual or others. Needs are critical and cannot be met without highest level of support and intervention.
• Priority 2: Significant level of support needed to meet one or more of the individual’s needs or to achieve one or more of the needs identified in his or her Individual Service Plan but not necessarily to protect their health and safety. 
• Priority 3: No Priority 

Resources Related to Assessments and Prioritization

• The Path Forward Project Implementation | Mass.gov Information about the Supports Intensity Adult Scale (SIS-A), the new comprehensive assessment tool being used to evaluate the level of need for persons with IDD and autism.
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ABOUT MASSCAP See this link for more information about DDS eligibility, MASSCAP and Prioritization.