Disability Services & Advocacy

What Disability Services & Advocacy does

Disability Services & Advocacy (DS&A) is a New Jersey-based, state-approved support coordination agency that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families navigate the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system. Founded in 2003 by William England—an early advocate for self-directed services in New Jersey—DS&A was among the first agencies authorized to self-approve Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) under the state's fee-for-service model. The agency serves over 1,000 individuals and families across all 21 New Jersey counties, deploying locally based support coordinators who combine community-level familiarity with statewide reach.

DS&A's core offering is a single integrated service—Support Coordination—packaged into four functional modules: person-centered planning (ISP development), provider and resource coordination, DDD navigation and eligibility support, and advocacy, education, and family guidance. Adjacent offerings include transition planning for students aging into adult services, the NJ Disability Directory (an online statewide resource catalog), and recurring workshops and webinars on DDD topics. The technology stack is non-proprietary and built on standard third-party SaaS—Acumen DCI Portal for vendor payment and EVV, GoToWebinar for virtual events, iRecord for provider search, FieldWorker for visit verification, NJCATS for state-mandated assessments, and Zoom/Microsoft Teams/Skype for remote meetings.

The business model is managed services under a fee-for-service reimbursement structure set by the State of New Jersey and funded through Medicaid and DDD programs. Revenue is therefore a direct function of consumer caseload and state-set rates, with all activity confined to a single U.S. state. GTM is community-led, relying on referrals from disability organizations, schools, and healthcare partners, supplemented by content marketing (newsletter, webinars, directory), Facebook outreach, and direct field engagement. No external capital has been raised; the company is a privately held LLC with 18 administrative employees and an active coordinator recruitment pipeline across NJ.

Name

Disability Services & Advocacy

Legal name

Disability Services & Advocacy, LLC

Website

https://dsausa.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Services & Advocacy (DS&A) is a New Jersey state-approved support coordination agency that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities navigate the NJ DDD system, serving over 1,000 families across all 21 NJ counties under a Medicaid/DDD fee-for-service model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Coordination Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYEDAKANAM

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

Keywords

• Support coordination services
• Developmental disability services
• DDD eligibility support
• Person-centered planning
• Disability advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

South River, New Jersey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DDD Support Coordination Services: DS&A operates as a state-approved support coordination agency under New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) fee-for-service model. Services are funded through Medicaid and state DDD programs, with the agency receiving reimbursement for support coordination services provided to eligible individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Disability Services & Advocacy (DS&A) is a state-approved New Jersey support coordination agency that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families navigate the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system. Core services include person-centered planning (ISP development), provider and resource coordination, DDD eligibility and navigation support, advocacy, education, and family guidance, delivered by locally embedded support coordinators across all 21 NJ counties.

Product overview

Disability Services & Advocacy (DS&A) is a state-approved support coordination agency providing comprehensive services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New Jersey. The company operates as a single integrated service offering centered on Support Coordination Services, which encompasses person-centered planning, provider coordination, DDD navigation, and family advocacy. Additional service modules include workshops and speaking engagements, a statewide disability directory, and transition planning for students aging into adult services. DS&A serves all 21 New Jersey counties with local support coordinators who combine community expertise with statewide reach, managing a caseload of over 1,000 individuals and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Coordination Services Person-centered support coordination for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities navigating the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system, including ISP development, provider and resource coordination, DDD eligibility and navigation support, advocacy, education, and family guidance.
• Workshops & Speaking Engagements Educational webinars and presentations on transitioning to DDD services, understanding available programs, family support strategies, and DDD system navigation for individuals, families, and organizations.
• NJ Disability Directory Comprehensive directory of disability resources, providers, and services available throughout New Jersey, supporting consumers and families seeking DDD-approved providers and community programs.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDS&A operates as a state-approved support coordination agency under NJ DDD. The agency is authorized to self-approve ISPs under the state's fee-for-service model and helps individuals navigate the DDD system to access appropriate services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health: One of the largest U.S. providers of home and community-based services for individuals with I/DD. Operates a much broader service portfolio than DS&A but competes in the same Medicaid-funded I/DD support market.
• RHA Health Services: Multi-state provider of I/DD and behavioral health services, including support coordination and case management. Overlaps with DS&A on I/DD service delivery and Medicaid-funded care coordination.
• The Arc (national): National federation of disability advocacy and service organizations serving people with I/DD. Comparable to DS&A on mission and customer base, though operating as an advocacy umbrella rather than direct support coordination.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Publicly traded provider of home and community health services, including I/DD and behavioral health support. Competes for Medicaid-funded I/DD cases and support coordination contracts across multiple states.
• Help at Home: Large personal care services provider focused on individuals with I/DD and aging populations. Comparable to DS&A in Medicaid-funded in-home support delivery, though at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Penn-Mar Human Services: Mid-sized I/DD services organization providing case management, residential, and employment supports in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to DS&A in service model and Medicaid-funded delivery.
• Community Access Unlimited: NJ-based nonprofit providing support coordination, housing, and advocacy for individuals with I/DD. Operates within the same NJ DDD ecosystem and serves a similar consumer population to DS&A.
• The Arc of New Jersey: Statewide disability advocacy and services organization serving individuals with I/DD across New Jersey. Directly comparable to DS&A in mission, customer base (NJ I/DD families), and DDD-system navigation focus.
• Catalight: National I/DD services provider delivering support coordination, behavioral health, and family support. Directly comparable to DS&A's core service model, though operating at greater scale across multiple states.
• Easterseals New Jersey: Affiliated with the Easterseals national network, providing disability services across New Jersey. Competes with DS&A in serving I/DD populations and coordinating DDD-funded supports.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dsausa.net
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disability-services-&-advocacy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disability Services & Advocacy