Medicaid waivers for autism in Arkansas
Arkansans of all ages with an intellectual or developmental disability who meet the level-of-care criteria.
- Main program
- Community and Employment Support (CES) Waiver
- Typical wait
- Years — more than 4,500 people waiting, served strictly in date order
- Administered by
- Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)
- Phone
- 501-683-5687
- Age rules
- All ages.
How to get on the list
Call DDS Intake and Referral on 501-683-5687, or submit an online request for services through the DHS website. A specialist walks you through the application, then a clinical review team assesses your records against the level-of-care requirement.
Open the official Arkansas page →Does autism qualify?
Autism spectrum disorders are explicitly named among the qualifying conditions, and the waiver serves all ages rather than being limited to children. There is no separate autism program — CES is the route.
How the waiting list works
Arkansas is a textbook first-come queue, and it says so plainly: people move into waiver slots based on when they were added to the waiting list. More than 4,500 Arkansans are waiting. That makes this one of the states where the standard advice is exactly right and unusually literal — the date you apply is the only lever you control, and nothing about how well you describe your situation will move you up. Apply now, even with a very young child and no idea what services you would want. A clinical review team then checks your medical records against the level-of-care requirement.
- People waiting statewidemore than 4,500
- How slots are allocatedstrictly by date added to the list
What it can pay for
- Supportive living
- Respite
- Supported employment and employment coaching
- Community experiences and inclusion supports
- Care coordination
- Adaptive equipment and environmental modifications
Arkansasproviders & resources →
Local help you can access now, while you wait.
Waivers explained →
What to do while you're on the list, and what to ask.
Sources · last checked August 2026
Waiting lists and eligibility rules change. Always confirm current details with the agency before making decisions. If something here is out of date, tell us.