How to Apply for the Arkansas DDS Intake and CES Waiver

The school district can't apply for the DDS waiver on your child's behalf. That single fact catches most Arkansas families off guard — they assume the transition IEP process includes signing up for adult services. It doesn't. The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) intake is a separate application that the family must initiate independently, and the earlier you start, the better your position on the waitlist.

Starting the DDS Intake Application

The DDS intake process begins with a formal referral. You can submit it through the online DHS referral portal at https://ardhs.my.site.com/DDSReferral/s/referral-intake or by calling DDS Intake and Referral at 501-683-5687.

What you'll need to submit:

1. DCO-0004 form — the DHS application for healthcare and long-term care Medicaid benefits, available through the DHS Provider Services forms page
2. Proof of qualifying diagnosis — clinical documentation of an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, or a closely related condition that manifested before age 22
3. Psychological evaluation — this is where most families hit a wall

The Act 656 Diagnostic Bottleneck

Under Act 656 of 2021, psychological evaluations used to establish CES waiver eligibility must be performed by a Qualified Provider — a list that excludes Licensed Psychological Practitioners (LPPs). Even after Act 433 of 2025 authorized LPPs to perform developmental testing more broadly, the Act 656 restriction remains.

The practical problem: approximately 40% of Arkansas counties lack a registered psychologist who qualifies under Act 656. Families report wait times of 12 to 18 months just to schedule a diagnostic appointment. Some families in rural areas drive two or more hours to reach a qualified evaluator.

Start this process no later than age 16. If your child already has school-based evaluations documenting their diagnosis, those records support the application — but the DDS Psychology Team conducts its own eligibility review and may require a new evaluation.

What DDS Is Evaluating: The ICF/IID Level of Care Standard

DDS uses the ICF/IID (Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities) level of care standard to determine clinical eligibility for the CES waiver. The applicant must demonstrate substantial functional limitations in at least three of six major life areas:

• Self-care
• Understanding and use of language
• Learning
• Mobility
• Self-direction
• Capacity for independent living

The DDS Psychology Team reviews the diagnostic documentation, functional assessments, and any supplementary records you provide. Strong applications include recent adaptive behavior assessments, school-based functional evaluations, and medical records documenting the history and severity of functional deficits.

After Approval: The Waitlist and the Annual Letter

Clinical approval doesn't mean services start. The CES waiver is capped at 8,233 total slots statewide. As of July 1, 2026, approximately 2,268 individuals were on the waitlist, with those at the top having waited roughly three years. Historical waits have exceeded 10 years.

The annual contact update letter is the single most important piece of mail your family will receive. Each year, DDS sends a letter to the address on file asking whether the applicant still wants to remain on the waitlist. If you do not respond, the applicant is immediately removed and the original application date is permanently forfeited. There is no grace period and no reinstatement.

Protect yourself:

• Keep your address current with DDS at all times — notify them immediately if you move
• Set a calendar reminder every year during the month you expect the letter
• Respond in writing (not just by phone) and keep a copy with the date you mailed or faxed the response
• If you don't receive the letter by the expected month, call DDS proactively — don't wait for them to remove you

What Happens When a Slot Opens: PASSE Assignment

Once your child is approved for the waiver or added to the waitlist with active Medicaid, Optum conducts an Independent Assessment (IA) to determine their tier level. Individuals assessed at Tier 2 or Tier 3 are randomly assigned to one of four PASSE organizations — Arkansas Total Care, CareSource, Empower Healthcare Solutions, or Summit Community Care.

Within 15 business days of enrollment, a PASSE Care Coordinator must contact your family. The coordinator develops a Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP) that authorizes funding for services including:

• Supported living and residential supports
• Job coaching and supported employment
• Day habilitation and community integration
• Non-medical transportation
• Specialized medical supplies
• Respite care

ADDT Programs: Adult Day Treatment Options

Adult Day Treatment (ADDT) programs provide structured daytime activities for adults with developmental disabilities — social skills, daily living skills, community integration, and supervised recreational activities. Availability and eligibility depend on the individual's circumstances, so ask DDS or a PASSE care coordinator what options apply while a CES waiver application is pending.

ADDT may help address the gap between high school exit and full CES waiver activation. If your child has Medicaid (whether through SSI, Arkansas Works, or another pathway), ask DDS or a PASSE care coordinator whether ADDT program enrollment is available in your area and what eligibility requirements apply.

Keeping Track of the Process

The DDS intake involves multiple agencies, long timelines, and paperwork that cannot be lost. The Arkansas IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide includes a DDS referral tracker, a CES waiver waitlist tracker, and an agency communication log designed specifically for this process — so you have one place to record application dates, correspondence, and annual letter responses.

For the broader CES waiver picture — eligibility, services, and PASSE care coordination — the Arkansas CES waiver guide covers the full program.

See more Arkansas guides →