Process and Eligibility

Understanding the process for accessing services can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating Medicaid requirements and eligibility guidelines. At Connections in Ohio, we work closely with individuals, families, Service and Support Administrators (SSAs), and county boards to help guide each step of the process with clarity and support.

Services are coordinated through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and local county boards in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties, ensuring individuals receive appropriate funding, planning, and placement based on their unique needs. From determining eligibility and securing Medicaid waiver funding to reviewing Individual Service Plans and touring available homes, our team supports a smooth, informed transition into services.

Our goal is to make the process transparent, collaborative, and focused on finding the right fit—so individuals can access the care, stability, and support they deserve.

Process of services

    • Eligibility for Medicaid services determined by DODD
    • Medicaid funding established
    • Medicaid funding
      • IO waiver or Level 1 waiver, moving to IO
      • Service and Supportive administrator (SSA) assigned (through local county boards). Connections provides services in both Cuyahoga and Summit County.
      • Referral for housing/supports are submitted by SSA
      • Individual Service Plan (ISP) review of individuals needs and possible fit for services or openings.
      • Tour of open homes/vacancies  
      • Site visit with individuals in the home 
      • ISP review and transition meeting

Eligibility for Services

As outlined in more detail through Ohio Administrative Code, a person must have more than a diagnosis to be eligible for services through a county board of developmental disabilities. To be eligible for services, a person must meet both of the following criteria:

1. A person must have a developmental disability that presents or “manifests” before the age of 22 and is likely to continue throughout the person’s life.

2. A person must meet eligibility criteria for Functional limitations are determined through an assessment conducted by the county board. For children ages 6-15, this assessment is called the Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument or “COEDI.” For people aged 16 and older, this assessment is called the Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument, or “OEDI.”

To begin the eligibility process, contact the county board of developmental disabilities. Contact information for each county board in Ohio is available on DODD’s website.

Families with children under the age of three with concerns about their child’s development should seek eligibility for Ohio Early Intervention by visiting https:// ohioearlyintervention.org/

Not sure where to begin or if you’re eligible for services?

Connect with Connections in Ohio to learn more about the Medicaid waiver process, eligibility requirements, and how to take the next step toward residential or support services in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties.