Need Resources?

If you would like additional resources that are specific to your child’s diagnosis, click on the link below & our Family & Community Support Coordinator, Anna Valenzuela, will contact you.

Arkansas Division of Developmental Disabilities Service

The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) helps ensure Arkansans with developmental disabilities and delays get access to services to help them learn and thrive.

  • This program is a resource for family caregivers who have limited access to respite care and/or other supports through current systems. The purpose of the program is to meet planned respite needs for unserved and underserved family caregivers by providing financial assistance to access respite.

    *This program may not be used to provide ongoing, continuous, or full-time supervision/care for a person with special needs during caregiver’s work hours, etc.

    Respite Voucher Application (electronic)

    Respite Voucher Application (printable)

  • Referral Intake Request

  • The Arkansas Department of Health Division of Developmental Disabilities Services has provided a statewide list of all Community & Employment Support (CES) providers with their respective contact information, what services are offered, including any delivery services if applicable, and which county they serve. For more information regarding the CES Waiver, click here.

    CES Waiver Provider List

To learn more about the Arkansas Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, click here.

Arkansas Children’s Resource Connect

Arkansas Children’s Hospital has a Resource Connect website to help families search for resources such as food, housing, goods, transit, medical care, work, legal assistance & more. Click on the button below then enter your zip code to find service in your area.

Innovations Financial, LLC

At Innovations Financial we are committed to helping you navigate:

·        Setting up your special needs trust

·        Understanding government benefits

·        Ensuring the financial future of your special needs child.

We work with attorneys, financial advisors and insurance agents that are focused on being a resource for you and your family.  

Educational Support Videos

General Resources

Arkansas Able

ABLE Accounts are tax-advantaged investment accounts that help qualified individuals with disabilities and their families save for disability-related expenses.

Arkansas Able

Community Connections

Community Connections is a 501 c3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities by providing extra-curricular activities for them as well as support & care for their families.

Community Connections

Pathfinder Inc.

Pathfinder Inc. is dedicated to the development and implementation of individually designed strategies that enable people with developmental disabilities to pursue total access to community life.

Pathfinder, Inc.

Transition Resources

CES Waiver

The CES Waiver offers services in your community to support clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) with all major life activities, such as living independently and working at a job with help from an employment coach. The program promotes inclusion for clients through community experiences and provides care coordination for getting services. The goal of the waiver is simple: it helps clients with IDD to live in the community rather than in an institutional setting such as a nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility.

Roomate Housing Matching

Easterseals Arkansas has launched an innovative new model to empower adults with disabilities to live more independently in the community – with roommates. Leveraging the power of technology, we are unlocking the potential of our community and establish homes that work for people with disabilities.

The Roommate Housing and Matching program is a community housing model for individuals receiving the Community and Employment Supports Waiver. The program matches individuals with similar interests and uses a shared staffing model and assistive technology to ensure everyone’s support needs are met.

Trust and Guardianship

Bethany Pike is an attorney with the Elrod Firm, where she practices exclusively in the areas of estate planning, guardianship, and probate. She enjoys visiting with people and helping ease their fears and take burdens off of them by creating plans designed to take care of them and their children in any situation that arises—illness, incapacity, long-term care expenses and even death.

2024 Transition Workshop

What’s next?  How can families answer this question as their child prepares to enter adulthood? Community Connections and the Arkansas Down Syndrome Association worked together to host a workshop addressing key areas families need to consider when their child with special needs is transitioning to adulthood. Topics in this video include Guardianship, Waiver Services, Social Security, and Housing options.

Family Support Webinar Series

  • Medicaid, TEFRA, Waiver

    Community Connections & Arkansas Down Syndrome Association are partnering to bring you Melissa Stone to talk about Medicaid/TEFRA/Waiver.

    CLICK BUTTON BELOW & USE THE PASSWORD: ADSAstone2021

    Medicaid/TEFRA/Waiver

  • Teaching Gratitude

    Community Connections & Arkansas Down Syndrome Association are partnering to bring you Sarah Paul from Curricula Concepts to talk about Teaching Gratitude and Managing Challenging Behaviors.

    CLICK BUTTON BELOW & USE THE PASSWORD: YF52z!64

    Teaching Gratitude

  • Behavior Strategies

    Community Connections & Arkansas Down Syndrome Association are partnering to bring you a webinar with Dr. Stacy Taylor to talk about Behavior Strategies: Tips for Managing the Holidays.

    CLICK BUTTON BELOW & USE THE PASSWORD: ADSAwebinar2021

    Behavior Strategies