Official State of Rhode Island website

Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals State of Rhode Island

Eligibility and Application

You must apply to get developmental disability (DD) services. This webpage shares information about how to apply for services. 

Criteria to Get BHDDH Funded Services 

Anyone interested in DD services must first meet eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria is a set of rules a person must meet to get some kind of benefit, like DD services. The person must meet all five of the following criteria:  

  1. Be 18 years old or older to receive services. The earliest a person can apply is 2 months before their 17th birthday.
  2. Have an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) that makes doing things hard. A doctor must diagnose the person with an I/DD before age 22. This is explained in more detail in the next section.
  3. Live in Rhode Island or planning to move to Rhode Island from another state.
  4. Be approved by the Division for DD services. This is known as Clinical Eligibility (explained in the next section).
  5. Meet financial eligibility through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS; visit website for LTSS application). This approval comes from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS). 

Clinical Eligibility Criteria  

Clinical eligibility criteria are a set of rules a person must meet to get DD services. This set of rules has to do with the person's health and I/DD diagnosis. This section reviews this set of rules. The rules come from Rhode Island State Law § 40.1-21-4.3.  

The law defines a “developmentally disabled adult” as a person who is 18 years old or older with a disability. The person may have an I/DD or other serious, long-lasting disability that:  

  1. Is caused by a mental or physical disability.
  2. Is present before the person turns age 22.
  3. Is likely to be present for the person’s entire life even with treatment.
  4. Results in substantial functional limitations. Substantial functional limitations means a person can't do major life activities alone. The person must have these limitations in 3 or more of the following major life activities:
    1. Self-care. This is means ongoing physical help getting dressed, eating, and showering.
    2. Communicating. This means the ability to understand basic speech and to be understood by others.
    3. Learning. This means ongoing, daily help with new behaviors, ideas, skills, and information. This new learning can be used in the future.
    4. Mobility. This includes, but is not limited to, walking, climbing stairs, grasping or using objects.
    5. Self-direction. This means ongoing, daily help with social activities, decisions, personal finance, and safety.
    6. Living independently. This means staying healthy and safe at home and in the community. This includes basic housekeeping activities like cleaning and simple meal prep. This includes shopping and managing healthcare needs.
    7. Economic self-sufficiency. This means the ability to do work tasks. This includes completing a job application and getting along with coworkers. This also includes being on time and following a work schedule.
  5. Reflects the person’s need for lifelong, supportive services. Trained professionals in healthcare and social services provide these supportive services.
  6. Results in below average general intellectual ability. This means that the person’s IQ score is below 70. The person must have trouble with adaptive behaviors. Adaptive behaviors are learned behaviors that help people overcome daily challenges. 

Application 

If a person meets the eligibility criteria, then they can apply for DD services. To apply, they must complete the Division’s Application for Services form:  

The person must submit supporting paperwork with the application. 

  1. Personal Identifying Information. This includes the person’s birth certificate or I-94 form and social security card. This also includes their Medicaid card and other health insurance cards.
  2. Official Diagnosis. This may come from a doctor, psychologist, or other licensed healthcare worker. It is what the healthcare worker thinks the person’s disability is. It explains the things the person may need support with. Example diagnoses are Down Syndrome, Autism, and/or I/DD.
  3. Intelligence/Cognitive Test Scores. These are the results from tests a person completes with a licensed professional. The tests try to figure out how the person learns, thinks, and makes decisions. The results must be from before they turned age 22.
  4. Medical Records. These are notes related to the person's disability. The records are from their doctor(s). Only recent records are needed.
  5. Vocational Records (if any). These are notes about the person’s work history and goals. The records are from their school or Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS).
  6. Other Agency Records (if any). These are notes about the person from other agencies they have gotten services from in the past.
  7. Court or Legal Records (if any). These are legal documents from the court or a lawyer. Examples are Appointment of Guardianship or Power of Attorney paperwork. 

Please call the Division's Eligibility Unit if you have any questions. The number is 401-462-3421. 

For help with the application, visit the Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN). You can contact RIPIN by phone at 401-270-0101. 

For anyone under age 21, visit the Transition to Adult Services webpage. 

After you submit your application and paperwork, the Division will send you a letter. The letter will let you know if the application is complete or if something is missing.  

The Division will review all completed applications. They will approve or deny an application for services within 30 days. 

If the Division approves the application, then they will send the person a letter with next steps.  

If the Division denies the application, then they will send the person a letter with appeal steps. Visit the Appeals webpage to learn more about the appeal process.

This webpage was updated 4/3/25.