About DDS
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is the health and human service agency in Massachusetts that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families.
Our mission is to create, with others, innovative and real opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, to become fully involved members of their communities.
We work with eligible adults to connect them with an variety of supports. This includes employment and day supports; community living and other residential supports; and supports for families and individuals living at home. We work with children and their families to provide help with educational services.
About This Guide
Thousands of families across Massachusetts care for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their home. Our family-support programs provide information, services, and support to help these families for as long as needed. We created this guide to help you understand and use our DDS family-support system, whether you’re a family or a professional who’s helping families.
This guide should be used with the DDS Family Support Program Manual and Guidelines. It was put together with help from with families, family-support providers, and DDS staff from across the state. We recognize the vital role that families play in the lives of their children or relatives with a disability, and we’re committed to supporting individuals and their families to create a “good life.”
This Guide can help families in a number of ways:
- Families can learn about the various family-support programs that DDS has to offer and how to use them.
- It can lead families through the DDS eligibility process, including how to get help with the application.
- It can help families find family-support centers, where families can get help with finding and using services; understand complex systems, like health care and schools; and connect with other families.
- It can also explain how DDS is organized; explain the different roles of DDS and family-support staff; and let families know who can help them with the different challenges they are facing.
This guide is available in multiple languages on the DDS website, at www.mass.gov/dds-family-support