Developmental Disabilities Services
What We Do
At Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), our mission is to empower Oklahomans with developmental disabilities—and their families—to lead safer, healthier, and more independent lives. Over the past year, we have deepened our commitment to person-centered care by expanding access to services that promote dignity, choice, and community inclusion.
Through individualized support plans and collaborative partnerships, we have helped thousands of individuals pursue their goals, strengthen their well-being, and thrive in environments where they feel valued and empowered. Every step forward reflects our belief that every person deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Oklahoma Human Services has made a dramatic reduction in the wait time for Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) from 13 years in 2022 to just one year as of 2026. The agency has made significant progress in helping families receive needed support, now serving over 8,400 people across four waivers and more than 10,000 Oklahomans across waiver and state-funded services.
Additional Information
Modernized Workforce: DDS successfully launched a new Case Management Academy in November 2025. This Academy features modernized training techniques, including self-paced learning, personalized coaching, and live training, both in-person and online. It provides foundational training for new Case Managers, complemented by hands-on mentoring from an experienced Case Manager and their Supervisor. Due to its success, DDS is moving forward with a new supervisor and provider-focused academy training to expand on trainings that will ensure our staff are properly equipped and feel secure in their knowledge, and to ensure families receiving services receive the highest level of care.
This year, DDS also launched a new Quality Assurance (QA) initiative that equips the QA team to provide real-time support to survey teams across the state while surveys are in progress, benefiting both staff and providers. This increases efficiency and allows staff to use data to better support provider agencies, inform training, and resolve compliance issues.
Growth of SDS: Self-Directed Services (SDS) allow individuals and families to self-direct their own services and has become an increasingly popular option for families entering waiver services. This model enables people to select and hire their own support staff at home and access non-traditional services for unique needs. Over the past year, DDS has expanded training and support for individuals and families participating in SDS through family events, webinars, newsletters, and easy-to-use guides. These resources have helped families and staff better understand their responsibilities, required processes, and important timelines. SDS also provides Case Managers with more consistent information to use when assisting families, which helps reduce confusion and prevent avoidable delays. Together, these improvements have made SDS easier for families and professionals to navigate successfully. SDS continues to grow, with over 1,500 families self-directing their DDS services!
Tech First Initiative: DDS continues to lead the charge in making Oklahoma a national leader in Remote supports and enabling technologies. Remote supports and enabling technologies promote individual independence and increase self-determination while reducing the need for traditional one-on-one support through technology. Services are provided in community-based settings, contributing to individuals’ independence, self-sufficiency, community inclusion, and well-being.
This year, DDS concluded our Wearables for Wellness study, a first-of-its-kind initiative for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, utilizing wearable fitness trackers (like an Apple Watch) to self-determine health outcomes and goals. We launched Future Ready for our transition-age youth, helping them use enabling technology to develop vocational skills and improve employment outcomes through individualized assessments and specialized training. Additionally, we opened our fourth Smart Home Demonstration Site, this one in Tulsa, in partnership with Soaring on Hope.
Employment First State: Oklahoma ranks second in the country for inclusive employment, with nearly 2,300 Oklahomans in community or independent employment. DDS provides employment benefits and supports focused on an "Employment First" model, offering competitive integrated employment, job training, placement, and long-term coaching for participants and their families.
DDS’s partnership with Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has grown, and the two agencies work together to assist placements in transitional services for youth and collaborate to help individuals find jobs.
