Delaware public guide · Official sources checked July 29, 2026Sources · Report a correction
Beyond ChildhoodDelaware human help

A parent-first guide to Delaware adult services

Turn Delaware’s DD system into the next action you can complete.

Choose the situation that fits. Every action shows where to start, what to prepare, what happens next, what proof to save, and who to contact when progress stops.

No accountNo answers transmitted or savedOfficial sources firstNot an eligibility decision
Immediate danger? Call 911. For suicide, mental-health, or crisis support, call or text 988. Report vulnerable-adult abuse to Adult Protective Services at 1-888-277-4302; use DDDS Incident Resolution for concerns in DDDS residential, supported-living, day, or supported-employment services.

Human help at any point

Contact DDDS Applicant Services

Applicant Services supports online and paper applications, required-document questions, English and Spanish routes, completeness, eligibility decisions, and case-management referral.

Apply for DDDS services

Build a Delaware action plan

Which situation is closest?

Your choice is used only in this page. Nothing is sent or saved.

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All six Delaware starting situations

JNY-DE-01

Not started or approaching school exit

Open DDDS eligibility, build the record, and connect school and DVR work.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the current online or paper DDDS application, include available required records, and preserve submission proof.
  2. Organize the diagnostic, developmental, intellectual, adaptive, medical, and functional evidence required for the person's eligibility pathway.
  3. Keep school transition work moving and open Delaware DVR or Pre-ETS through the current route before exit.

JNY-DE-02

Case management, Medicaid, or program choice is unresolved

Confirm ownership and complete separate Medicaid and program-choice work.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. After DDDS eligibility, confirm referral to the correct Community Navigator, Support Coordinator, or Family Resource Coordinator and the first planning event.
  2. Complete the separate Delaware Medicaid or long-term-care Medicaid application and preserve every request and notice.
  3. With the case manager, determine whether the person meets each program's criteria and choose one if eligible for both.

JNY-DE-03

A result, plan, or notice arrived

Separate every layer, build the person-centered plan, and use DDDS review correctly.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Separate DDDS eligibility, Medicaid, functional or level-of-care criteria, program choice, plan, authorization, provider, staffing, and start.
  2. Turn strengths, goals, assessed needs, risks, program choice, services, providers, safeguards, and backups into the person-led plan.
  3. Use the written DDDS determination and its review instructions when eligibility is denied.

JNY-DE-04

Choosing programs, providers, payment, or a start

Compare models and verify every operational layer.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Compare Lifespan Waiver and DSHP Plus services, provider-managed and consumer-directed options, settings, and verified limits.
  2. Use the DDDS Authorized Provider Network for the exact service and county, then verify current operational facts directly.
  3. Separate the applicable rate authority, person-specific plan and authorization, provider readiness, staffing, and actual start.

JNY-DE-05

A decision is adverse or decision support is needed

Use the correct appeal, concern, benefits, housing, and decision-support routes.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Use the complete Medicaid or MCO notice and its current appeal or fair-hearing instructions.
  2. Document the service, planning, provider, or rights issue and use case management, DDDS, or incident-resolution channels without losing a separate appeal or APS route.
  3. Keep Social Security and housing work moving while documenting the adult's choices and using Delaware supported decision-making correctly.

JNY-DE-06

Urgent need, crisis, abuse concern, or service breakdown

Address immediate safety, use the correct report route, then correct the service failure.

Read the step-by-step guides
  1. Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical, police, or fire emergency; otherwise call or text 988 for crisis support.
  2. Use DDDS Incident Resolution for DDDS residential, supported-living, day, or supported-employment concerns and APS for vulnerable-adult community maltreatment.
  3. Document changed needs, failed supports, and risk and request the specific assessment, plan, program, authorization, provider, or crisis action.

Provider evidence

Listing is not availability

These examples demonstrate the evidence standard. They are not recommendations. Directly verify service, geography, license when applicable, current capacity, safeguards, staffing, quality, and individual fit.

Official listing example

DDDS Authorized Provider Network

Listed service: Service and county-specific authorized-provider listings

Area: Verify capacity, acceptance, safety, quality, fit, authorization, staffing, and start

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

DDDS forms and provider standards

Listed service: Official standards, policies, and service-documentation references

Area: Standards do not prove current individual capacity or fit

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Official listing example

DDDS provider-rate register

Listed service: Service and effective-period provider payment evidence

Area: Not an individual budget, authorization, provider commitment, staffing plan, or start date

Official listingCheckedAccepting inquiriesUnknownActual openingUnknownQuality / fitNot evaluated

Open the official source

Transparency

Delaware official-source register

SourceOwnerStatusCheckedReview
Apply for DDDS services Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent online, paper, Spanish, help, timeline, and appeal route2026-08-01monthly
About DDDS eligibility and adult services Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent eligibility and service overview2026-08-01monthly
DDDS waiver programs Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent Lifespan Waiver and DSHP Plus overview2026-08-01monthly
Compare Lifespan Waiver and DSHP Plus Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent program-choice and service comparison2026-08-01monthly
Apply for Delaware Medicaid and medical assistance Delaware Division of Social Servicescurrent Medicaid and long-term-care application routes2026-08-01monthly
DDDS Authorized Provider Network Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent service and county provider listings2026-08-01monthly
DDDS provider rates Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent page with service-specific effective periods2026-08-01monthly
DDDS forms, policies, and provider standards Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent official forms and standards register2026-08-01monthly
Report a DDDS incident or rights concern Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Servicescurrent Office of Incident Resolution route2026-08-01monthly
Delaware DVR employment services Delaware Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitationcurrent referral, application, eligibility, and employment-plan route2026-08-01monthly
Delaware Pre-Employment Transition Services Delaware Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitationcurrent Pre-ETS route and services2026-08-01quarterly
Apply for Social Security disability benefits Social Security Administrationcurrent federal application route2026-08-01monthly
Delaware Supported Decision-Making Act Delaware General Assemblycurrent statutory requirements and limits2026-08-01quarterly
Find affordable housing in Delaware Delaware State Housing Authoritycurrent official statewide housing-search route2026-08-01quarterly
Delaware crisis and 988 resources Delaware Health and Social Servicescurrent 988 quick-help route2026-08-01monthly
Delaware Adult Protective Services Delaware Health and Social Servicescurrent vulnerable-adult protection route2026-08-01monthly
Approved DDDS Lifespan Waiver Authority Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicesapproved July 1, 2026 waiver authority and supporting-document route2026-08-01monthly
Diamond State Health Plan authority Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistancecurrent 1115 demonstration authority through 20282026-08-01quarterly