Medicaid waivers for autism in North Dakota
North Dakotans with developmental disabilities. The ASD waiver specifically serves autistic children from birth to 20 who meet ICF/IID level of care.
- Main program
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver (ages 0–20) and the traditional IID/DD Waiver
- Typical wait
- Minimal on the DD waiver; 52 waiting on the ASD waiver
- Administered by
- North Dakota Health and Human Services, through eight regional DD Units
- Phone
- 701-328-4630 (also 800-755-8529 and 701-328-2310)
- Age rules
- The ASD waiver covers ages 0–20. The traditional IID/DD waiver has no such limit.
How to get on the list
Call 701-328-4630, or 800-755-8529, and ask to be connected to your regional DD Unit — there are eight across the state. Request the North Dakota Autism Waiver application (form SFN 60618) if your child is under 20.
Open the official North Dakota page →Does autism qualify?
North Dakota is one of very few states with a live autism-specific waiver, and for a family with an autistic child under 20 it is the more relevant of the two programs. It is small — only 52 people were waiting — so it moves, but you have to know to ask for it. Ask about the ASD waiver and the traditional DD waiver separately.
How the waiting list works
North Dakota has one of the smallest queues in the country — 141 people across all HCBS populations, of whom 52 are on the ASD waiver, and the traditional IID/DD waiver has minimal wait. At that scale the queue is not really the obstacle; knowing which door to knock on is. The eight regional DD Units determine eligibility and help you access services, so your regional unit is the practical point of contact rather than a central office. The ASD waiver's service list is deliberately modest — respite, service management, assistive technology, a community connector and remote monitoring — so understand it as support around the edges of family life rather than a comprehensive package, and ask what else is available through state plan Medicaid alongside it.
- All HCBS populations waiting141
- On the ASD waiver52
- Traditional IID/DD waiverminimal wait
What it can pay for
- Respite
- Service management
- Assistive technology
- Community connector
- Remote monitoring
Other programs worth knowing
ND Autism Center — family support
A useful starting point for families new to the system, separate from the state application process.
North Dakotaproviders & 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
- ND HHS — autism services
- ND HHS — Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver, provider information
- North Dakota autism waiver application (SFN 60618, PDF)
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.