The state of Oklahoma offers services to citizens who have intellectual and developmental disabilities to improve their lives. These services are offered INSTEAD of sending them into an institution. These services are referred to as “Waivered” services and are provided in the person’s home and community. The agency that oversees these services is Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and the division is Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD).

When a family with a child or an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities chooses to apply for these services which could help them stay in their own communities over being institutionalized they are placed on a “waiting list” until funding becomes available.

Currently this “wait” is more than 6 years and there are more than 6,434 people “waiting”

Most of these Oklahomans wait without hope….