Glossary of Terms

The Maryland Autism Waiver is a Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that provides supports to children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder so they can live at home and participate in their communities.

The program is administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

MSDE oversees the Autism Waiver program in Maryland.

MSDE manages eligibility determinations, service coordination, and program oversight for children enrolled in the Autism Waiver.

HCBS stands for Home- and Community-Based Services.

These are Medicaid-funded services that support individuals in living at home and in their communities rather than in institutional settings.

The Autism Waiver is an HCBS program.

An Autism Waiver Service Coordinator helps families:

Every child enrolled in the Autism Waiver is assigned a Service Coordinator.

A Plan of Care is a written document developed with the Service Coordinator that outlines:

All Autism Waiver services must align with the approved Plan of Care.

IISS provides one-to-one support to children and youth with autism to help build:

IISS is provided outside of school hours.

TI stands for Therapeutic Integration.

TI provides structured, therapeutic group or community activities that help children and youth:

TI may be authorized as Regular or Intensive, depending on need.

Respite Care Services provide short-term supervision and support for a child while giving parents or caregivers planned or emergency relief.

Respite helps support family stability and caregiver well-being.

Family Consultation provides guidance, education, and support to families to help them:

Family Consultation focuses on caregiver support, not therapy.

Adult Life Planning helps families prepare for the child's transition out of the Autism Waiver and into adult services and community supports.

ALP focuses on planning and preparation, not service delivery.

Residential Habilitation (Regular) provides short-term, community-based residential support for children who are temporarily unable to live safely at home.

The goal is stabilization and return to the family home whenever possible.

Residential Habilitation (Intensive) provides a higher level of residential support for children with significant behavioral, medical, or safety needs requiring enhanced supervision and structure.

This service is closely monitored and time-limited.

EAA provides funding for physical modifications to the home that are necessary to support the child's health, safety, or accessibility.

Examples may include safety or accessibility-related modifications approved in the Plan of Care.

Service Authorization is the formal approval that allows Autism Waiver services to begin.

Services cannot start until authorization is confirmed by the State.