Autism Waiver Program

The Office of Medicaid and the Department of Developmental Service’s Autism Division received approval from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement an autism services program. It receives federal matching funds for Medicaid eligible children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

This three-year model program is called the Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program. Waiver services supplement special education services provided under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

The Waiver Program is managed by the Autism Division at the Department of Developmental Service (DDS). Autism Targeted Case Managers provide oversight, technical assistance and monitoring. The Waiver Program uses a service delivery model called Participant Direction in which the parent takes the lead in designing the program and selecting service providers based on the child’s assessed level of need.

Each family develops and directs a plan of supports and services within the limits of an individual budget, up to $25,000 based on the child’s assessed needs. Families receive support in identifying, hiring and training providers who are qualified to deliver these services.

Each family receives support from a designated staff person, an Autism Support Broker, at one of the seven DDS-funded Autism Support Centers and from a Targeted Case Manager at the Autism Division of DDS. They assist families to develop and direct a plan of supports and services within the limits of an individual budget, up to $25,000 based on the child’s assessed needs.

Autism Connections is one of the seven DDS-funded Autism Support Centers.

The Waiver Program is a Medicaid program designed to provide services that help children with autism remain in their homes and actively participate in their families and in their communities, based on a service called Expanded Habilitation Education.
The goal of Expanded Habilitation Education is to support children who demonstrate significant deficits in the areas of behavioral, social and communication skills as a result of their autism.

The service consists of one-to-one behavioral, social and communication-based interventions developed and monitored by a trained clinician. These services are carried out in the child’s home and community. Expanded Habilitation includes, but is not limited to, behavioral approaches such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Developmental and Relational Models such as Floor Time and Communication Models. Expanded Habilitation Services, Education should help children develop basic adaptive skills, elementary verbal skills and appropriate interactive and play skills.

The waiver also provides related support services such as community integration activities and respite.

The Waiver Program uses a service delivery model called Participant Direction in which the parent takes the lead in designing the program and selecting service providers based on the child’s assessed level of need. Each family receives support from a designated staff person, an Autism Support Broker, at one of the seven Department of Developmental Services-funded Autism Support Centers and from a Targeted Case Manager at the Autism Division.

In order to participate in this program, the following requirements must be met.

1. The child must have a confirmed diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, subject to verification by the Department of Developmental Services.

2. The child has not yet reached his/her 10th birthday. Children birth through age 9 may participate.

3. The child is a resident of Massachusetts.

4. The child meets the level of care required for services in an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) as assessed by DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.

5. The family chooses to have the child receive services in the home and community.

6. The child must be able to be safely served in the community.

7. The child must have a legally responsible representative able to direct the services and supports of the program.

8. The child must be found by the MassHealth agency to be eligible for MassHealth Standard coverage, based on family income. For families who have not yet applied for MassHealth, this must be done at the time of the filing of the Children’s Autism Waiver Program Open Request Form.

An individualized planning process that results in an Autism Support Plan of Care, is used to assist each family in identifying the assessed needs of their child and the specific waiver services available to address those needs. All services have limits on their frequency and scope.

The primary service of the autism waiver program is:

• Expanded Habilitation, Education

Additional services that address other functional needs include:

• Habilitation- This service is designed to assist children in acquiring, improving, and retaining the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to live successfully in their family home and community settings, including
  • Community Integration Activities
  • Activities of Daily Living/Independent Living Skill Development Services
• Family Training
• Respite
• Homemaker
• Individual Goods and Services
• Adaptive Aids
• Home Adaptation
• Vehicle Modification

Autism Connections has a working partnership with several Ph.D. and Master level clinicians who have decades of experience creating, overseeing, and implementing school and in-home supports for children on the autism spectrum.Our senior therapists implement a variety of interventions, including but not limited to Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Floor-time, and Relationship Development.

Autism Connections has several highly qualified autism specialists on staff to provide therapist-level supports. In addition, we partner with other therapist-level providers in western Massachusetts.All therapists have several years of hands-on experience working with children on the autism spectrum and have received intensive training in the field.Families and Autism Connections work together to select the most appropriate provider for your child’s specific needs.

All our autism specialists on staff are highly qualified to provide direct support to children with autism.In addition, Autism Connections partners with other direct support providers in western Massachusetts. All Direct Support Workers have a minimum of several years of experience and training.

For families choosing Autism Connections to be their Autism Waiver Provider, we can recruit Respite support staff to work with your child.All Respite providers hired by Autism Connections have experience and training working with individuals with special needs, including autism. All workers are required to be First Aid and CPR certified, attend an autism workshop, and have been CORI checked (to assure they do not have a criminal record).

Autism Connections has several qualified staff members to provide family training that will help your family build skills in many areas that are unique to caring for your child with a diagnosis on the spectrum.

For families choosing us to be their Autism Waiver Provider, we can recruit Community Integration staff to work with your child.Providers will assist your child in successfully accessing community activities and events.All providers hired by Autism Connections have experience and training working with individuals with special needs, including autism. All workers are required to be First Aid and CPR certified, attend an autism workshop and have been CORI checked (to assure they do not have a criminal record).

We can refer families to an appropriate agency or individual that specializes in homemaker services.

We can recruit ADL/Independent Living Skills staff to work with your child.Providers will implement the appropriate techniques to teach self-help skills, such as washing, grooming, dressing, and toileting.All providers hired by Autism Connections have experience and training working with individuals with special needs, including autism. All workers are required to be First Aid and CPR certified, attend an autism workshop and have been CORI checked (to assure they do not have a criminal record).