Applying to State Developmental Disability Agency?

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To everyone in the USA, have any of you applied to your state's developmental disability agency/department/division?

What kind of documentation did you need for it? Did have it already, or did you have to get anything new?

Did they give you any kind of testing or interview? What was it like?

Thank you!

Really? No one?

Am I the only one here from the US with severe enough autism to need a lot of help/services?

Not all states allow autism without ID to get aid from their developmental disability agency.

Really!? That's terrible...

Ensure that you need it, I've heard they will limit your income.

I haven't but I have a couple of buddies (one with a severe autoimmune problem, the others are blind) and they restrict your monthly income.

It's cool if you know you need it, but MAKE SURE.

Well, I'm a little confused by your question. Do you mean what happens when you apply for Disability? (That's a FEDERAL, not state, benefit.) If you DO mean Disability (SSDI), you have to fill-out a really long application----like, 10 pages. I don't think I had to get any doctor's papers, or anything----THEY do that, going-by the information you provide on your app. It takes about 3 years----I had an uncle with Multiple Sclerosis, and it even took HIM over 2 years. Then, what the OP said is true, regarding if you want to also work, say, part-time, then they limit your income----I think it's like 1,000 dollars a month. Also, the amount of Disability you get depends on how much you've worked during your lifetime, and contributed to Social Security.

If you're talking about some state agency giving you benefits for a "developmental disability", then I don't know what, in specific, you're asking about. I know, from experience, about a very few things----like foodstamps, job search help, etc., but that's all.

No, I mean state agencies. They're usually called something like (State Name) Department of Developmental Disabilities.

I don't think they give benefits, but they have things like housing and skills training.

I applied and was accepted by my state's developmental disability agency. I needed and already had documentation showing my autism diagnosis and the neuro-psychological testing results, and that my income was under the limit to qualify for Medicaid. They gave me an interview just to find out which services I needed (respite care, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological therapy, etc.).

Oh, my!! I don't think I've ever heard of a Maryland Department of Developmental Disabilities, for instance. I've gone to an agency for job training skills, called DORS, but I think that's the Feds also. I've also been to a Housing Agency (Section 8), but they were the Feds, TOO!! I'm definitely going to look-into if there's such a thing in MY state!!

BTW, can someone please tell me what ID means?? (I've Googled it a couple of times with no luck.) There's someone here who has that in their profile. Someone on this thread even said that probably no one could get benefits without ID. I'm thinking it means something other than "Identification".

It's called the Developmental Disabilities Administration in Maryland. Here's the website: http://dda.dhmh.maryland.gov/SitePages/Home.aspx

ID means intellectual disability. It's harder to get into some of the agencies without one, but in most states, it's not impossible.

WOW----a THOUSAND THANKYOUS----you answered BOTH of my conundrums!! !

You're welcome!