Community Supports

Community supports are DD services that help adults with developmental disabilities become more independent and involved in the community. The two community support services offered to individuals are Community-Based Supports and Center-Based Supports.

Community-Based Supports

With community-based supports, people can get help in or out of their home. The goal of this services is to help people become more independent and involved in their community. They will decide where they want to go, what they want to do, and who they want to do things with. The decisions people make will become goals in their Person-Centered Plan (PCP). 

People can use their DD services to get help exploring the people, places, and activities near them. They may learn about their community by reading maps, newspapers, or activity guides. They may also explore their area and talk to other people. Learning about the community in this way is called community mapping. 

Community-based supports can support people with daily activities. It can also help them learn new skills, like how to solve problems, talk to others, and make choices.

Center-Based Supports 

With center-based supports, people will go to a DD agency center. They will decide when to go to the center for support, and what they want support with. The decisions people make will become goals in their PCP. 

Center-based supports can support people with daily activities. It can also help them learn new skills, like how to solve problems, talk to others, and make choices. 

The services people get must be from a licensed location that is not someone’s home. This means the agency cannot support people in a home setting that they own. The service cannot come from a group home, shared living arrangement, or supportive living program.

This webpage was updated 4/4/25.