Last state fiscal year, about 5,300 North Dakotans with intellectual or developmental disabilities lived at home in a community setting because of in-home long-term supports and services funded through a state Medicaid waiver.

The 1915(c) Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver expires March 31, 2019. The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Developmental Disabilities Division is seeking public input on waiver services as a first step in the waiver renewal application process.

The agency is hosting public meetings between May 29 and June 4 in nine communities using the statewide videoconferencing system. A meeting will be held May 30 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the North Central Human Service Center in Minot and Northwest Human Service Center in Williston.

“We want to hear from people who use services, their family members and guardians, advocates, service providers and other partners,” said Developmental Disabilities Division Director Tina Bay. “We really want to learn what people like about the waiver, as well as ideas on ways to improve it.”