State Medicaid Waiver Directory
Find your state's Katie Beckett waiver, TEFRA pathway, HCBS programs, and Medicaid eligibility rules for children and adults with disabilities. Each guide covers waitlists, application steps, income limits, and parent caregiver pay options.
For informational purposes only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Medicaid rules, eligibility, and waitlists change frequently. Always verify with your state's official Medicaid agency before making decisions. Cross-check with Medicaid.gov's official waiver page.
Ohio
Program Overview
Overview
Ohio has a Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) system and a Home Care Waiver for individuals with physical disabilities. Ohio's DODD operates through county boards.
Katie Beckett or similar pathway
Ohio has not adopted the Katie Beckett/TEFRA state plan option. Children access services through their local county board of developmental disabilities and Ohio's waivers — such as the Individual Options, Level One, and Self-Empowered Life Funding waivers — which combine standard Medicaid financial rules with a level-of-care requirement. Contact your county board or Ohio Medicaid and ask how income is counted for each waiver.
Child-relevant waivers
The Individual Options (IO) Waiver and Level One Waiver are the most relevant for children through county DD boards. For adults with physical disabilities who need nursing-facility level of care, the PASSPORT Waiver is a major HCBS program administered through Area Agencies on Aging. PASSPORT covers personal care, home health aide, adult day services, respite, and other community supports that allow adults to remain at home instead of in a nursing facility.
Eligibility
Getting Started
Practical next step
Contact your local county board of developmental disabilities and ask about eligibility and waiver intake.
Services & Support
Parent caregiver pay
Parents who are RNs or LPNs can be paid to provide home nursing care for their own children in Ohio. The three developmental disability waivers (Individual Options, Level One, and SELF) and the Home Care Waiver allow parents and guardians of minors to be paid for personal care services; parents must work through an agency, serve as the provider of last resort, and generally work 40 hours per week or less.
Equipment exchange & assistive technology
Assistive Technology of Ohio (atohio.org) — free device demonstrations, short-term loans, reuse programs, and low-interest AT financing statewide.
Additional notes
Because Ohio's system is administered at the county level, DD services and waitlists vary by county. Adults with physical disabilities should ask specifically about the PASSPORT Waiver through their local Area Agency on Aging, which administers it separately from the county DD board system.
State-Specific Resources
Capabilities Play for ALL Abilities — Inclusive Indoor Play Gym (Dayton Area)
Capabilities Play (capabilitiesplay.com), located at 1953 South Alex Road in West Carrollton/Dayton (OH 45449), is an inclusive indoor play gym for children of all abilities ages 0–12 (with no strict age limit to accommodate cognitive differences). The facility features sensory equipment, wheelchair-accessible play structures, and a wide variety of fine and gross motor activities alongside standard play equipment. ADA-compliant bathrooms, medical-grade changing tables in private rooms, and a snack bar are available. Capabilities also hosts pediatric equipment swaps with PT and OT staff on-site — families can try and take home free adaptive equipment (wheelchairs, gait trainers, standers, adaptive bikes, and more) at no cost. Phone: (937) 741-4741 · Email: lindsey@capabilitiesplay.com. Voted Best Of Dayton 2024 and 2025.
Sources
Recent news for Ohio
WSAZ on MSN · October 23, 2026 · Funding & Budget, Medicaid & Waivers
Voters in Meigs County will decide on a levy that funds essential educational and adult services for residents with developmental disabilities.
Springfield News-Sun · October 20, 2026 · Funding & Budget, Medicaid & Waivers
A failure of a funding levy for a local board of developmental disabilities could result in significant cuts to early intervention and support services.
The Athens Messenger · October 12, 2026 · Medicaid & Waivers, Funding & Budget
Upcoming federal Medicaid changes are expected to impact hospital funding and services for low-income patients, including those with disabilities.
cleveland.com on MSN · October 11, 2026 · Education, Funding & Budget
Proposed state legislation in Ohio seeks to increase funding for students with special needs when local district resources are exhausted.
Perry County Tribune · October 6, 2026 · Housing & Employment
A county board is celebrating the professional contributions and talents of workers with disabilities during a national awareness month.
Community Tips & Experience
Comments reflect the personal experiences and opinions of individual community members only. They do not represent the views, positions, or endorsements of National Disability Resource Project or any of its staff, volunteers, or affiliated members. Always verify information with official agencies and qualified professionals before making decisions.
Sign in to share your experience
No comments yet. Be the first to share!
Help us keep this page accurate
Spotted something outdated or incorrect? Tell us and our team will verify it against current sources.
Translate