The Developmental Disabilities (DD) waiver program offers services that support adult 18 years and older individual recipients to engage in their communities in non-work activities, also known as Community Life Engagement (CLE). The DD Waiver program also uses the Employment First Policy that requires that all working age adults be offered the opportunity to decide if they are interested in working based on an informed choice. Please visit the Supported Employment section of our website to learn more about the employment first policy and informed choice.
The two core services for adults that support CLE and employment are Customized Community Supports and Community Integrated Employment. To access these services, individuals work with their case manager to identify desired services and outcomes to support their vision, needs and preferences related to their definition of Meaningful Day and their aspirations for employment. For more detailed information on the provision of and requirements for these services, please see the Services and Supports section of our website to access the most current DD Waiver service standards.
Customized Community Supports
Customized Community Supports (CCS) are services based upon the preferences and choices of each individual and designed to measure progress toward outcomes specified in the Individual Service Plan (ISP). Activities include: adaptive skill development, adult educational supports, citizenship skills, communication, social skills, self-advocacy, informed choice, community integration and relationship building. Activities or settings in which this service can be used may include participating in clubs, classes or recreational activities in the community, learning new skills to become more independent, volunteering or retirement activities. CCS can be provided in an individual or group model but must always meet the Home and Community Based Settings (HCBS) requirements that assure specific rights and protections related to community life.
Please visit the Home and Community-Based Services website to learn more.
Community Integrated Employment
Community Integrated Employment (CIE) Includes Job Development, Job Maintenance, Self-Employment, and Intensive Community Integrated Employment (ICIE) which all involve customized support to assist people in jobs that are in typical integrated businesses, industries or government environments. CIE can be provided in an individual or group model but must always meet the Home and Community Based Settings Requirements that assure specific rights and protections related to community life.
Please visit the Home and Community-Based Services website to learn more.
Person-Centered Assessments and Career Development Plans
Providers of CCS and CIEs work with the individual, family and interdisciplinary team to develop a Person-Centered Assessment (PCA). The PCA is a process that results in a written report that brings out important information about a person. The PCA helps to customize the supports a person needs to engage in community activities or to get and keep employment.
A Career Development Plan is an action plan and is used with individuals at various stages of employment. It is completed after the person-centered assessment. For job seekers, it may include, developing a Discovery profile or meeting with specific businesses for job interviews. For someone who has been working for a while and is receiving job maintenance supports, the plan may include strategies to develop natural supports and/or to develop opportunities to learn new skills for career advancement. For someone who wishes to start a small business or Microenterprise, the plan might consist of writing a business plan, securing funding or locating vendors for materials.
Learn More
The following additional information is helpful for Customized Community Supports and Community Integrated Employment providers.