03/31/2026
Many families calling us need more info on Future Planning for long term supports for their adult child with a disability. Did you know we provide free consults? When you call The Arc of Alabama we can provide an hour of free consultation based on your future planning interests! Check out our new website here: https://www.alfutureplanning.org/ Securing supports for your child with an intellectual or developmental disability that are sustainable and provide much needed services well into adulthood like, having paid staff who can assist with community living, personal care, medication administration, transportation and more become vital as parents age. As parents age these caregiving skills become difficult and many families find it’s necessary to seek out a system of paid supports. That can get expensive and rule out private pay for most families. Those vital services can be provided at a low to no cost basis by Alabama’s Medicaid Waiver services. The Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services administers these waivers. However, like most states the waitlists for these waivers can be quite long! Getting on the Alabama Medicaid waiver waitlist is crucial because enrollment is limited, making the waitlist the only pathway to securing home-based care services and avoiding nursing homes. Joining early ensures your spot is secured, as priority is often based on the length of time on the list, allowing individuals to access supports for daily living. So we always advise families to apply now if you think your child will need supports later!
Key Reasons to Join the Waitlist:
Access to Community-Based Care: The waiver programs, such as the Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waiver, are designed to keep elderly or disabled individuals in their homes rather than being forced into nursing facilities.
Long Wait Times: The waiting period can be substantial, sometimes lasting up to two years or more for services. Getting on the list immediately is essential to access services when needs become acute.
Prioritization: Many waitlists are ordered by the date of application, meaning early registration is critical.
Newer Opportunities: The Community Waiver Program (CWP) was designed to reduce the existing waitlist by providing services to individuals with intellectual disabilities, offering a faster route to services.
Waitlist Strategy: While waiting, families can work on fulfilling financial and functional eligibility requirements, ensuring they are ready when their name comes up. There are several waivers in Alabama and each waiver has different qualifiers for eligibility. We always recommend future planning consults whether a family wants to apply for waiver services or not. However, since the application process can be lengthy and may require assistance for many families in order to complete their child’s application, future planning consults are important to ensure success in this process.
The waitlists for each waiver vary in length. Some are short and some can be very long (8-10 years). acts as a queue for a limited amount of funding, so making early entry becomes crucial for receiving necessary care when it becomes critical. Call us today for your free future planning consult!
Future Planning for families who have a child with an intellectual disability in Alabama. These resources help individuals and families design supports to navigage life with a disability and live a long full life.
