Your Path to a Great Place to Live

You Are in the Right Place

If you are looking for a place to live for yourself or for someone you love who has a developmental disability, you have already taken the most important step. You found this website. That takes courage, and it means you are ready to move forward.

The Getting Started guide on this website walks you through everything you need to do, one step at a time. You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to do it all at once. There are real people whose job it is to help you, and this guide will show you exactly how to reach them.

What This Tool Does

The Getting Started guide breaks the whole process into 10 simple steps. Each step has a title you can click on to open it up and read more. You can open one step at a time, or open several to look ahead. There is no wrong way to use it.

Here is what the 10 steps cover:

Step 1 helps you find your local helper — called an ISC agency. This is the first person you will talk to. Their job is to answer your questions and walk you through the system. You do not need to know anything before you call. That is what they are there for.

Step 2 explains how they figure out if the person qualifies for services. They will ask some questions about the person's needs and abilities. You will not need to have everything perfect — just bring what you have and they will work with you.

Step 3 is about getting on the PUNS list. PUNS is a waiting list that the state uses to keep track of people who need services. Getting on this list is important because it is how the state knows you are waiting. The sooner you sign up, the sooner your turn will come.

Step 4 makes sure the person has Medicaid, which is the health program that pays for most living services. If they already have it, great. If not, the guide shows you how to apply.

Step 5 is the fun part. This is where you get to learn about the different kinds of homes that are available. There are small homes in neighborhoods, host families, larger group homes, and services that come to you in your own home. Each one is different, and the guide explains what makes each one special.

Step 6 is about the day you get a letter in the mail saying it is your turn. This is a big, exciting moment. The guide tells you exactly what to do when it arrives.

Step 7 is a formal check to make sure everything is in order for services to start.

Step 8 is where you get to choose a provider — the organization that will run the home and provide support. You have the right to visit, ask questions, and pick the one that feels right.

Step 9 is when a team sits down together to make a plan just for the person. This plan is all about their goals, their preferences, and the support they need. The person's voice matters most in this meeting.

Step 10 is moving day and beyond. The guide helps you understand what to expect in those first weeks and months, and who to call if you ever need help.

You Do Not Have to Do This Alone

One of the best things about this process is that you will have a helper at every stage. Your ISC coordinator is like a guide who walks beside you through the whole journey. Their job is to answer questions, help with paperwork, connect you to providers, and make sure the person gets the services they need.

If something does not feel right at any point, you can speak up. You have rights, and the guide includes information about those rights and how to use them.

It Is OK to Start Small

You do not have to make any big decisions today. If all you do right now is read Step 1 and write down the phone number for your local ISC agency, that is a great start. You can come back to this guide as many times as you want. It will be here whenever you are ready for the next step.

Many families say that the hardest part was making that first phone call. Once they did, they wished they had called sooner. The people on the other end of the line do this every day, and they are glad to hear from you.

Quick Start: Three Things You Can Do Right Now

1. Call the DD Helpline. The number is 1-888-337-5267. When the recording asks, type in your ZIP code, and you will be connected to your local ISC agency. Tell them you want to learn about services for a person with a developmental disability. That is all you need to say.
2. Open the Getting Started guide. Click on Step 1 to read the details. Each step you open will tell you what to expect and what to bring.
3. Explore the Living Options. Use the Living Options Explorer on this website to see the different kinds of homes available. Use the maps to find providers near you. The more you learn, the more confident you will feel.

You have already started. Keep going.