Your Guide to the DDS Eligibility Process

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Mission Statement: The Department is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued members.

Overview

To access DDS services, you must apply for eligibility. Once eligibility has been determined, you may get DDS services.

Applying for eligibility is a choice and we believe that it is important for applicants to fully understand the criteria for eligibility as well as the type of documentation that is required to enable DDS to make such an important decision. Therefore, included in the new application are the criteria for eligibility and explicit instructions about the necessary documentation.

Another important component is legal authorization to proceed with the process. Applicants must give their written permission so that DDS can proceed with the eligibility process. This does not mean that an applicant cannot get help from a family member, friend, or agency. However if the applicant chooses to have someone assist them, they will also need to authorize that by signing a permission form.

This permission is required if the applicant wants DDS to be able to communicate directly with this person on their behalf. These authorizations are now a vital part of the new application form.

After a complete application has been received by the Regional Eligibility Team, applicants can expect to be contacted by a Regional Eligibility Team member to schedule a face-to-face meeting.

Eligibility Criteria

Adult Eligibilty Requirements

  1. Persons who are 22 years of age or older are eligible for Intellectual Disability Supports provided, purchased, or arranged by the Department if the person:
    1. is domiciled in the Commonwealth; and
    2. is a person with intellectual disability as defined in 115 CMR 2.01: Definitions.
  2. Persons who are 22 years of age or older are eligible for Community Developmental Disability Supports provided, purchased or arranged by the department if the person:
    1. is domiciled in the commonwealth; and
    2. is a person with Developmental Disability (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Prader-Willi Syndrome or Smith-Magenis Syndrome) as defined in 115 CMR 2.01: Definitions; and
    3. does not have an intellectual disability as defined in 115 CMR 2.01: Definitions.

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Eligibility for Children's Supports

  1. Persons who are younger than 22 years of age may be eligible for Children's Supports provided, purchased, or arranged by the Department if the person:
    1. is domiciled in the Commonwealth; and
    2. for persons who are five through 22 years of age, either:
      1. have a severe chronic disability that:
        1. is attributable to a mental or physical impairment resulting from Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Smith-Magenis Syndrome or Prader-Willi Syndrome;
        2. is likely to continue indefinitely;
        3. results in substantial functional limitations; or
      2. have a verified diagnosis of Intellectual Disability or a closely related developmental condition that results in substantial functional limitations, or
    3. for persons from birth to age five a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition with a high probability of resulting in a developmental disability if services are not provided.

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Select your region

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Northeast Region:

Regional Eligibility Coordinator | Hogan Regional Center | PO Box A | Hathorne, MA 01937


Intake Referral Number: 978-774-5000 ext. 850 | Fax Number: 978-739-0420

Southeast Region:

Regional Eligibility Coordinator | 151 Campanelli Drive, Suite B | Middleboro, MA 02346


Intake Referral Number: 978-774-5000 ext. 850 | Fax Number: 978-739-0420

Metro Region:

Regional Eligibility Coordinator | 411 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 304 | Waltham, MA 02452Intake Referral


Intake Referral Number: 978-774-5000 ext. 850 | Fax Number: 978-739-0420

Central/West Region:

Regional Eligibility Coordinator | Central West Region | 140 High St. Suite 301 | Springfield, MA 01105


Intake Referral Number: 13-205-0940 | Fax Number: 413-205-1608

Area Offices

Please direct all support- and services-related questions to your local area office listed below. All supports are subject to funding and availability.

Central Middlesex Area Office

35 Nagog Park, Suite 2000 | Acton, MA 01720 | (978) 206-2050

Serves the following communities: Acton | Arlington | Bedford | Boxboro | Burlington | Carlisle | Concord | Lexington | Lincoln | Littleton | Maynard | Stow | Wilmington | Winchester | Woburn

Lowell Area Office

325 Chelmsford Street | Lowell, MA 01851 | (978) 322-4300

Serves the following communities: Billerica | Chelmsford | Dracut | Dunstable | Lowell | Tewksbury | Tyngsboro | Westford

Merrimack Valley Area Office

280 Merrimack Street 2nd Fl. (mail), 3rd Fl. (visit) | Lawrence, MA 01843 | (978) 521-9432

Serves the following communities: Amesbury | Andover | Boxford | Georgetown | Groveland | Haverhill | Lawrence | Merrimac | Methuen | Newbury | Newburyport | North Andover | Rowley | Salisbury | West Newbury

Metro North Area Office

200 Harvard Mills Square | Wakefield, MA 01880 | (781) 338-2300

Serves the following communities: Everett | Lynnfield | Malden | Medford | Melrose | North Reading | Reading | Saugus | Stoneham | Wakefield

North Shore Area Office

100 Cummings Center, Suite 150 B | 181 Eliot Street | Beverly, MA 01915 | (978) 927-2727

Serves the following communities: Beverly | Danvers | Essex | Gloucester | Hamilton | Ipswich | Lynn | Manchester | Marblehead | Middleton | Nahant | Peabody | Rockport | Salem | Swampscott | Topsfield | Wenham

Please direct all support- and services-related questions to your local area office listed below. All supports are subject to funding and availability.

Brockton Area Office

60 Main Street. 3rd Floor | Brockton, MA 02301 | (774) 296-6090

Serves the following communities: Abington | Avon | Bridgewater | Brockton | East Bridgewater | Easton | Holbrook | Rockland | Stoughton | West Bridgewater | Whitman

Cape Cod/Islands Area Office

181 North Street | Hyannis, MA 02601 | (508) 771-2595

Serves the following communities: Aquinnah | Barnstable | Bourne | Brewster | Chatham | Chilmark | Dennis | Eastham | Edgartown | Falmouth | Harwich | Hyannis | Mashpee | Nantucket | Oak Bluffs | Orleans | Provincetown | Sandwich | Tisbury | Truro | Wellfleet | West Tisbury | Yarmouth

Fall River Area Office

1 Father DeValles Blvd, Suite 203 | Fall River, MA 02723 | (508) 730-1209

Serves the following communities: Assonet | Fall River | Freetown | Somerset | Swansea | Westport

New Bedford Area Office

1740 Purchase St. | New Bedford, MA 02740 | (508) 992-1848

Serves the following communities: Acushnet | Dartmouth | Fairhaven | Gosnold | Marion | Mattapoisett | New Bedford | Rochester | Wareham

Plymouth Area Office

38 Industrial Park Road | Plymouth, MA 02360 | (508) 732-5700

Serves the following communities: Carver | Duxbury | Halifax | Hanover | Hanson | Kingston | Marshfield | Pembroke | Plymouth | Plympton

South Coastal Area Office

220R Forbes Road | Braintree, MA 02184 | (781) 356-8850

Serves the following communities: Braintree | Cohassett | Hingham | Hull | Milton | Norwell | Quincy | Randolph | Scituate | Weymouth

Taunton/Attleboro Area Office

21 Spring Street, Suite #1, Unit 4 | Taunton, MA 02780 | (508) 824-0614

Serves the following communities: Attleboro | Berkley | Dighton | Lakeville | Mansfield | Middleboro | North Attleboro | Norton | Raynham | Rehoboth | Seekonk | Taunton

Please direct all support- and services-related questions to your local area office listed below. All supports are subject to funding and availability.

Charles River West Area Office

255 Elm Street - Ste. 205 | Somerville, MA 02144 | (617) 623-5950

Serves the following communities: Belmont | Cambridge | Somerville | Waltham | Watertown

Metro Boston Area Office

65 Sprague Street, Rear West | Hyde Park, MA 02136 | (617) 363-2900

Serves the following communities: Boston | Brookline | Chelsea | Revere | Winthrop

Middlesex West Area Office

300 Howard Street, 1st Fl | Framingham, MA 01702 | (508) 861-2211

Serves the following communities: Ashland | Dover | Framingham | Holliston | Hopkinton | Hudson | Marlboro | Natick | Northboro | Sherborn | Southboro | Sudbury | Wayland | Westboro

Newton/South Norfolk Area Office

125 West Street | Walpole, MA 02081 | (508) 668-3679

Serves the following communities: Canton | Dedham | Foxboro | Medfield | Millis | Needham | Newton | Norfolk | Norwood | Plainville | Sharon | Walpole | Wellesley | Weston | Westwood | Wrentham

Please direct all support- and services-related questions to your local area office listed below. All supports are subject to funding and availability.

Berkshire Area Office

333 East Street, 5th Floor | Pittsfield, MA 01201 | (413) 447-7381

Serves the following communities: Adams | Alford | Becket | Cheshire | Clarksburg | Dalton | Egremont | Florida | Great Barrington | Hancock | Hinsdale | Lanesboro | Lee | Lenox | Monterey | Monroe | Mt. Washington | New Ashford | New Marlboro | North Adams | Otis | Peru | Pittsfield | Richmond | Sandisfield | Savoy | Sheffield | Stockbridge | Tyringham | Washington | West Stockbridge | Williamstown | Windsor

Franklin/Hampshire Area Office

One Roundhouse Plaza, Ste. 204 | Northampton, MA 01060 | (413) 586-4948

Serves the following communities: Amherst | Ashfield | Athol | Bernardson | Buckland | Charlemont | Chesterfield | Colrain | Conway | Cummington | Deerfield | Easthampton | Erving | Gill | Goshen | Greenfield | Hadley | Hatfield | Hawley | Heath | Leverett | Leyden | Middlefield | Millers Falls | Montague | New Salem | Northampton | Northfield | Orange | Pelham | Petersham | Phillipston | Plainfield | Rowe | Royalston | Shelburne | Shutesbury | Sunderland | Turners Falls | Warwick | Wendell | Westhampton | Whately | Williamsburg | Worthington

Holyoke/Chicopee Area Office

113 Hampden Street | Holyoke, MA 01040 | (413) 535-1022

Serves the following communities: Belchertown | Chicopee | Granby | Holyoke | Ludlow | Monson | Palmer | South Hadley | Southampton | Ware

North Central Area Office

49 Nursery Lane | Fitchburg, MA 01420 | (978) 342-2140

Serves the following communities: Ashburnham | Ashby | Ayer | Baldwinville | Barre | Berlin | Bolton | Clinton | East Princeton | East Templeton | Fitchburg | Gardner | Gilbertville | Groton | Hardwick | Harvard | Hubbardston | Lancaster | Leominster | Lunenburg | New Braintree | Oakham | Pepperell | Princeton | Rutland | Shirley | South Barre | South Lancaster | Sterling | Still River | Templeton | Townsend | West Groton | West Townsend | Westminster | Winchendon

South Valley (Milford) Area Office

Westview Mall | 194 West Street, Suite #9 | Milford, MA 01757 | (508) 634-3345

Serves the following communities: Bellingham | Blackstone | Douglas | East Douglas | Franklin | Grafton | Hopedale | Linwood | Medway | Mendon | Milford | Millbury | Millville | Northbridge | Sutton | Upton | Uxbridge | Whitinsville

South Valley (Southbridge) Area Office

1 North Street, Suite C | Southbridge, MA 01550 | (508) 764-0751

Serves the following communities: Brimfield | Brookfield | Charlton | Dudley | East Brookfield | Holland | North Brookfield | Oxford | Southbridge | Spencer | Sturbridge | Wales | Warren | Webster | West Brookfield

Springfield/Westfield Area Office

436 Dwight St., Ste. 205 | Springfield, MA 01103 | (413) 784-1339

Serves the following communities: Agawam | Blandford | Chester | East Longmeadow | Granville | Hampden | Huntington | Longmeadow | Montgomery | Russell | Southwick | Springfield | Tolland | West Springfield | Westfield | Wilbraham

Worcester Area Office

324 Clark Street (Rear) | Worcester, MA 01608 | (508) 792-6200

Serves the following communities: Auburn | Boylston | Cherry Valley | Holden | Jefferson | Leicester | Paxton | Rochdale | Shrewsbury | West Boylston | Worcester

Family Support Centers

Central Middlesex Area

Riverside Community Care – Riverside Family Support Center

300 West Cummings Park, Suite 354, Woburn, MA 01801 | (781) 801-5247

www.riversidefamilysupport.org

Lowell Area

LifeLinks Family Support Center

4 Omni Way, Chelmsford, MA 01824 | (978) 349-3039

www.lifelinksinc.net

Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell – Monorom Family Support Program (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

465 School Street, Lowell, MA 01851 | (978) 454-6200 ext.1026

www.cmaalowell.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Cambodian families

Merrimack Valley Area

Fidelity House Human Services – Merrimack Valley Family Support Center

439 Union Street, Suite 401, Lawrence, MA 01843 | (978) 685-9471 (x157)

www.fidelityhhs.org

Metro North Area

Communitas Family Resource Center

60D Audubon Road, Wakefield, MA 01880 | (781) 587-2314

https://communitasma.org/resources/

North Shore Area

Northeast Arc Family Resources

6 Southside Road, Danvers, MA 01923 | (978) 624-2381

www.ne-arc.org

Bridgewell Family Support Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

66 Silsbee Street, Lynn, MA 01901 | (339) 883-1761

www.bridgewell.org

Brockton Area

Brockton Area Arc

1250 West Chestnut Street, Brockton, MA 02301 | (508) 583-8030 x224

www.brocktonareaarc.org

Cape Cod and the Islands Area – Kennedy-Donovan Center

30 Ansel Hallet Road, West Yarmouth, MA 02673 | (774) 352-1305

www.kdc.org

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services

111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 | (508) 693-7900

www.mvcommunityservices.com

Fall River Area

People Inc. Family Support Center

1 Father DeValles Boulevard, Suite 401 Fall River, MA 02723 | (774) 488-5320

www.peopleinc-fr.org

New Bedford Area

Nemasket – Family Connections Center

109 Fairhaven Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 | (508) 999-4436

www.nemasketgroup.org

Plymouth Area

The Arc of Greater Plymouth

52 Armstrong Road, Plymouth, MA 02360 | (508) 732-9292, ext. 117

www.thearcofgp.org

South Coastal Area

Advocates – South Coastal Family Support Center

1189 R North Main Street, Randolph, MA 02368 | (781) 767-3048

www.southcoastalfamilysupport.org/

South Shore Support Services

435 Columbian Street, Weymouth, MA 02190 | (781) 331-7878

www.soshoresupport.org

Taunton/Attleboro Area

The Arc of Bristol County

141 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 | (508) 226-1445

www.arcnbc.org

Tri-Area (Brockton, Plymouth, South Coastal)

BAMSI Family Support Center

155 Webster Street – Unit D, Hanover, MA 02339 | (781) 878-4074 ext. 11

www.bamsi.org

Charles River West Area

Cambridge Family and Children’s Service

60 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 | (617) 876-4210 x 4259

www.helpfamiles.org

Metro Boston Area

Bay Cove Family Support Center

66 Canal Street, Boston, MA 02114 | (617) 371-3121

www.baycove.org

Vinfen Corp. DDS Family Support Center

260 Milton St, Suite 101, Dedham Ma 02026 | (617) 562-4094

www.vinfen.org

Work Inc. Family Support Center

25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 | (617) 691-1601

www.workinc.org

Advocates – Project Able (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

888 Washington Street Suite 102, Boston, MA 02111

1881 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 | (617) 988-8132

www.advocates.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Chinese and Vietnamese Families

HAPHI – Haitian Family Support Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

1603 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126 | (617) 298-8076

www.haphi.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Haitian Families

Dimock Family Support Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

55 Dimock Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 | (617) 442-8800 ext.1204

www.dimock.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: African American/Multicultural Families

Work Inc. – Solidaridad (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 | (617) 691-1620

www.workinc.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Latin American Families

Middlesex West Area

Charles River Center

4 Strathmore Road, Natick, MA 01760 | 508-651-5914

www.charlesrivercenter.org

Thrive Support & Advocacy

65 Boston Post Road West Suite 220 Marlborough, MA 01752 | (508) 485-4227 x 1004

www.icanthrive.org

Newton/South Norfolk Area

Charles River Center

59 East Militia Heights Road, Needham, MA 02492 | (781) 972-1048

www.charlesrivercenter.org

The Arc of South Norfolk Family Support Center

789 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood, MA 02090 | (781) 762-4001

www.arcsouthnorfolk.org

Berkshire Area

Berkshire County Arc Central & Southern Berkshire County Family Support Center

46 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 | (413) 464-7262

www.bcarc.org

UCP Central Berkshire Family Support Center

535 Curran Highway, North Adams, MA 01247 | (413) 664-9345

208 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 | (413) 442-1562

www.ucpberkshire.org

Franklin/Hampshire Area

Pathlight – Family Empowerment

41 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035 | (413) 585-8010

www.family-empowerment.org

The United Arc – Franklin County Family Support Center

294 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376 | (413) 774-5558

www.theunitedarc.org

The United Arc – North Quabbin Family Support Center-GAAAFSN

361 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331 | (978) 249-4052

www.theunitedarc.org

Holyoke/Chicopee Area

Multicultural Community Services Family Support Center

260 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040 | (413) 534-3299

www.mcsnet.org

North Central Area

Seven Hills Family Services – Family Support Center of North Central

1460 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg, MA 01402 | (978) 632-4322

www.sevenhills.org/affiliates/seven-hills-family-services

Centro – Multicultural Family Development Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

437 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420 | (978) 343-5836

www.centroinc.org

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Multicultural families

South Valley Area

Kennedy Donovan Center

1 Maple Street, Milford, MA 01757 | (508) 473-5700

www.kdc.org

Seven Hills Family Services – Family Support Center of South Valley

208 Charlton Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566 | (508) 796-1950

www.sevenhills.org/affiliates/seven-hills-family-services

Springfield/Westfield Area

Multicultural Community Services Family Support Center

1000 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01109 | (413) 782-2500

www.mcsnet.org

New North Citizen’s Council, Inc – New North Family Support Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family Support Center)

11 Wilbraham Road 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01109 | (413) 747-0098

https://www.newnorthcc.org/

Specific Ethnic/Linguistic Group: Multicultural families in urban Springfield

Worcester Area

Seven Hills Family Services – Family Support Center of Greater Worcester

799 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606 | (508) 796-1850

www.sevenhills.org/affiliates/seven-hills-family-services

Centro – Worcester Multicultural Family Support Center (Cultural/Linguistic-Specific Family) Support Center

11 Sycamore Street, Worcester, MA 01608 | (508) 798-1900 x 243

www.centroinc.org

www.centroinc.org

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