Ohio is raising its limit on environmental accessibility adaptations, the home modifications that make a house usable for a person with a disability, from $10,000 to $15,000 per project. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) set the change to start July 1, 2026, once federal approval comes through, on its waiver changes page first posted Nov. 21, 2025.
The service is also being added to the SELF waiver. Until now, people on that waiver paid for home modifications through participant-directed goods and services, which can no longer be used for them.
Repairs, assessments and bids
The updated service can pay to repair an adaptation the waiver originally funded, when fixing it costs less than replacing it. Every project needs an in-person assessment at the home by a qualified professional, such as an occupational or physical therapist. Bids, two if possible, must list each part of the job, materials, a scale drawing and a timeline, and the team picks the lowest-cost option that meets the person's needs.
The service does not cover routine upkeep, new construction such as added rooms, or restoring the home afterward. Payment comes only after the person confirms the work, the county board verifies it in person and the service and support administrator releases payment. Providers may not require deposits.
How the department set the cap
In a draft waiver amendment, the department said it set the new cap after reviewing claims from fiscal 2021 through 2025, which showed low overall spending and few projects above $10,000. It described the SELF waiver changes as budget neutral.
Other July changes
The vehicle modification service now allows raised doors and moving adaptive equipment to a new vehicle. Service and support administrators must do level of care assessments in person and visit people at home at least every six months and at their day or employment program at least every 12 months.
Earlier changes: support brokerage and billing units
On Jan. 1, 2026, also subject to federal approval, support brokerage was added to the Individual Options and Level One waivers, with its yearly limit staying at $8,000. Support brokerage and remote support moved from hourly billing to 15-minute units. The assistive technology cap stayed at $5,000 per waiver span.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
These are not wage changes, but they shape what a person can buy for a doorway, a bathroom or help running a self-directed plan. Agencies face new billing units and an in-person assessment before every home modification project.