Transportation services are among the many services and resources made available by the California Department of Developmental Services (“DDS”). Transportation can be a major barrier to developmentally disabled individuals seeking care, as many cannot drive on their own. To ensure that transportation does not hold anyone back from receiving the care they need, the DDS provides a variety of transportation services. Vendor types and eligibility are two of the most important things to understand when trying to access DDS’s transportation services.
What Transportation Services Are Available Through DDS?
If you or your loved one requires assistance with transportation, DDS can provide transportation in a variety of ways. While the DDS can help arrange transportation through services such as public transit or day centers, it also has arrangements for a number of different vendors to provide DDS participants with reliable transportation.
In general, transportation vendors include the following:
- Transportation Companies. Typically, these are private companies that have contracted with the state to provide transportation services.
- Transportation Assistants. These vendors provide assistance and supervision, helping developmentally disabled individuals travel safely and effectively.
- Transportation Broker. These vendors coordinate routes. More specifically, they help with scheduling, oversight, and billing. In general, brokers are focused on making arrangements for transportation, but do not provide actual transportation.
Other Options Beyond these types of vendors, DDS can also help developmentally disabled individuals access transportation through the following services:
- public transit
- dial-a-ride
- taxis, rental cars, or ride share services, where appropriate
- day programs that offer transportation as part of their regular programming
Eligibility for Transportation Services
Eligibility requirements for DDS transportation services include the following:
- The individual must be eligible for DDS benefits.
- Similarly, the individual must be receiving care through a regional care center.
- The regional care center must have contracts with a transportation vendor.
- And finally, to access transportation services, the individual needs to include these services in their Individual Program Plan (“IPP”). The IPP is essentially a person’s customized care plan.
To access transportation, start by talking with your regional care center. They will help pair you with the vendor you need.