Medicaid waivers for autism in Ohio
Ohioans with developmental disabilities who need support to live at home or in the community rather than in a facility.
- Main program
- DODD Individual Options (IO) and SELF Waivers
- Typical wait
- 2–5 years, varying by county board
- Administered by
- Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), through 88 County Boards of DD
How to get on the list
Contact your County Board of Developmental Disabilities and ask for a waiting list assessment. Review the assessment tool beforehand — Disability Rights Ohio publishes it — so you know what evidence will be asked for.
Open the official Ohio page →Does autism qualify?
Autism qualifies as a developmental disability. Your County Board assesses need using a waiting list assessment tool rather than relying on diagnosis alone.
How the waiting list works
Every Ohio county has a waiting list, and each county board runs its own. Before you are added, the board completes a waiting list assessment to decide whether you need waiver services. Two things families miss: you may sit on more than one waiver's list simultaneously, and Ohio operates priority and emergency categories that can move you up when circumstances change.
What it can pay for
- Homemaker and personal care
- Respite
- Adult day and vocational supports
- Transportation
- Environmental accessibility adaptations
- Participant-directed services under SELF
Other programs worth knowing
Priority and emergency status
If your situation deteriorates — caregiver illness, risk of homelessness, behaviour placing someone in danger — tell your county board and ask for your status to be reassessed. Families commonly wait in a general category when they would qualify for priority.
SELF waiver
Ohio's participant-directed option, giving families more control over how the budget is spent. Worth asking about alongside Individual Options.
Ohioproviders & 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
- DODD — waivers
- Disability Rights Ohio — waiting lists
- Disability Rights Ohio — priority and emergency status FAQ
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 If something here is out of date, tell us.