Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

What Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities does

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is a state government agency under the executive branch of the State of Ohio, headquartered in Columbus, that oversees a statewide system of services for Ohioans with developmental disabilities and their families. The agency administers three Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs — Level One, Individual Options (IO), and Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) — and operates the system through a decentralized network of 88 county boards of developmental disabilities that handle eligibility determination, assessments, and Service and Support Administration (SSA) at the local level. DODD oversees services for over 100,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities, with the state's biennial DD services budget reaching $5.5 billion in FY2026 and $5.75 billion in FY2027 across state, local, and federal funds.

DODD's technology stack is purpose-built for Medicaid waiver administration and person-centered service delivery. Core systems include OhioISP for individual service planning, PAWS (Payment Authorization for Waiver Services) for billing, the Provider Management Network (PMN/PSM) for provider data, and the Grants Management System (GMS). The agency is implementing interRAI assessment tools as part of the Waiver Modernization Project (initiated February 2023), which targets four areas: single needs-based assessment with individual budgets, streamlined billing, data-sharing technology, and waiver/county board sustainability. Proprietary operational assets include a DSP Compensation Survey System for workforce tracking, Remote Support Technology for in-home monitoring, and the Ohio Individual Service Plan framework. Additional technology initiatives include a $2.7 million-per-year Technology First program and a planned reimbursement system refresh.

The agency's revenue mechanics operate entirely through public funding: state general revenue funds allocated through Ohio's biennial budget, federal Medicaid matching funds (including ICF/IID institutional funding and HCBS waiver dollars), and local county board funds. DODD does not charge individuals for core eligibility and SSA services; some auxiliary programs like the Rental Assistance Program are means-tested against 30% of Area Median Income. The distribution model flows from DODD through 88 county boards to certified provider agencies, with cross-agency partnerships with the Ohio Department of Medicaid, Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office for joint oversight and program administration.

Name

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Legal name

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Website

https://dodd.ohio.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is a state agency that administers Medicaid HCBS waivers (Level One, IO, SELF) and oversees services for over 100,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities through a network of 88 county boards and certified provider agencies, funded by state and federal appropriations totaling $5.5–$5.75 billion biennially.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State General Revenue Fund: State funding allocated through Ohio's biennial budget for developmental disabilities services, supporting county boards and department operations.
2. Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers: Federal Medicaid funds administered through three waiver programs: Level One Waiver, Individual Options (IO) Waiver, and SELF (Self-Empowered Life Funding) Waiver. These fund services for eligible individuals in their homes or communities.
3. Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) Funding: Medicaid residential option providing bundled 24/7 support for people with developmental disabilities in institutional settings.
4. Community Capital Assistance: State funding to create housing for people with disabilities in partnership with county boards and nonprofit housing corporations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DODD operates a statewide home and community-based service system for Ohioans with developmental disabilities, administering three Medicaid HCBS waivers (Level One, Individual Options, and SELF), determining eligibility, coordinating individualized service planning (OhioISP), certifying and overseeing provider agencies, funding assistive technology and remote support through the Technology First initiative, and delivering housing assistance via the Rental Assistance Program and Ohio 811. Services are accessed locally through 88 county boards of developmental disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level One Waiver Medicaid HCBS waiver for Ohioans with developmental disabilities providing an entry-level package of home and community-based services including daily living supports, employment, residential, and assistive technology.
• Individual Options (IO) Waiver Medicaid HCBS waiver offering a broader package of services with higher individual budget caps for individuals with significant needs, including nursing, behavior supports, and shared living.
• SELF (Self-Empowered Life Funding) Waiver Medicaid HCBS waiver that gives participants employer authority to directly hire and manage their own support staff and purchase goods and services.
• Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) Services Medicaid residential option providing bundled 24/7 support for people with developmental disabilities in institutional settings.
• Rental Assistance Program (RAP) State rental subsidy program providing monthly rental assistance payments to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities whose income is at or below 30% of Area Median Income, supporting transition from institutions to community living.
• Ohio 811 Housing Program Affordable housing program administered jointly with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency providing rental units in apartment complexes for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Technology First Initiative Initiative dedicated to expanding assistive technology and remote support services for greater independence, including the Assistive Technology service with a $5,000 cap per waiver span and Remote Support continuous monitoring.
• Support Broker Service Waiver-funded service that helps participants plan, negotiate, and manage their self-directed services, with a maximum $8,000 budget per annual waiver span.
• Multi-Disciplinary Comprehensive Assessment Team (MCAT) State-funded assessments and supports for youth with complex needs, funded at $5 million in the budget and delivered in partnership with county boards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities receive services through DODD's statewide system.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Housing Workgroup MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025Coalition including Arc of Ohio, Creative Housing, ElevateDD, OACB, Ohio Healthcare Association, Ohio Self Determination Association, People First of Ohio, and others working to expand housing options for people with DD.
• Ohio Department of MedicaidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for administering Medicaid home and community-based waiver services. DODD oversees DD-specific services while ODM manages overall Medicaid program. Joint oversight of provider certification and fraud investigation in the $40+ billion Ohio Medicaid program.
• Ohio Department of Behavioral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the MI/ID-CCOE (Mental Illness/Intellectual Disabilities Coordinating Center of Excellence) providing telepsychiatry, psychiatric consultations, and training for individuals with dual diagnoses.
• Ohio Housing Finance AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative administration of the Ohio 811 Program providing affordable housing in apartment complexes. OHFA oversees program administration while DODD provides referrals through county boards.
• Family Resource Network of Ohio (FRNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRNO website provides a central resource hub for families discovering various types of resources including agencies, providers, therapists, books, webinars, programs, events, and Charting the LifeCourse training.
• Access Ohio Primary Care & Behavioral Health Center of ExcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the MI/ID Telepsychiatry Project providing remote psychiatric services to adults and children with co-occurring mental illness and developmental disability across Ohio.
• County Boards of Developmental DisabilitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor88 local county boards serve as the primary service delivery partners, managing eligibility determination, service coordination, SSA assignment, and provider oversight at the community level throughout Ohio.
• Nonprofit Housing CorporationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner housing corporations create housing specifically for individuals receiving waiver services, often using Community Capital Assistance funding through county board partnerships.
• Ohio Attorney General's OfficecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDODD refers non-DODD fraud concerns to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud cases.
• OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Complex Needs Policy & Technical Assistance initiatives, providing resources and training for serving individuals with complex needs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD): New York's state agency administering HCBS waivers, residential services, and provider oversight for ~140,000 individuals with developmental disabilities. Closest analogue in scope and structure: operates its own waivers, county/regional system, and Medicaid-funded services similar to DODD.
• North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services: North Carolina's combined MH/DD/SUD state division administering the NC Innovations Waiver for individuals with DD. Comparable Medicaid waiver structure and LME-MCO regional managed care overlay.
• Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHS-DDD): Operates Illinois's HCBS waivers for children and adults with DD, including the new CIE waiver. Comparable person-centered planning, rate-setting reforms, and workforce development initiatives.
• Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP): Pennsylvania's state office administering the Consolidated, P/FDS, and Community Living waivers and the county-based Administrative Entity structure. Closest peer to DODD's 88-county board delivery model and person-centered ISP approach.
• California Department of Developmental Services (DDS): California's state DD agency overseeing the HCBS Waiver (Medi-Cal), 21 nonprofit regional centers, and a $10B+ budget serving ~350,000 individuals. Comparable waiver/regional-center model and statewide service delivery scale make it the largest peer to DODD.
• Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD): Florida's state DD agency administering the iBudget HCBS waiver for ~50,000 individuals and managing provider oversight statewide. Comparable waiver-funded service mix, client registry, and budget allocation model.
• Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD): Administers Georgia's NOW/COMP Medicaid waivers for DD, with comparable provider certification, case management, and behavioral health co-occurring services integration (similar to Ohio's MI/ID-CCOE).
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission — Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Operates Texas's HCBS waivers (HCS, TxHmL, CLASS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with comparable eligibility, person-centered planning, and provider certification mechanisms to DODD.

Broad incumbents

• Administration for Community Living (ACL): Federal agency funding disability and aging community-living programs; collaborates with state DD agencies on person-centered thinking, employment initiatives, and lifespan supports that complement Medicaid HCBS waivers.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — Medicaid HCBS: Federal regulator that sets HCBS waiver rules, approves state waiver applications, and provides federal matching funds underpinning Ohio's $5.5B DD budget. Defines the compliance, settings rule, and FMAP framework DODD operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DODDohio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DODDohio
• Facebookfacebook.com/DODDOhio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-of-ohio---department-of-developmental-disabilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/doddohio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities