What the Community Pathways Waiver Covers for AT

If your family member has a Medicaid IDD waiver in Maryland, there is real money available for assistive technology. The Community Pathways Waiver covers up to $12,000 per yearin AT, and it defines AT broadly: communication devices, adaptive equipment, environmental controls, vehicle modifications, and more. This guide walks you through what's covered, how to request it, and how to make your request as strong as possible.

What is the Community Pathways Waiver?

The Community Pathways Waiver is Maryland's consolidated Medicaid waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Administered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), it merged the former Family Supports and Community Supports waivers in October 2025. About 19,100 people are enrolled as of FY2025.

The waiver covers a wide range of services: residential supports, day programs, employment services, nursing, transportation, and (the part we care about here) assistive technology. For a full overview of every Maryland AT funding pathway, see our Maryland AT Funding Guide.

What AT does it cover?

The waiver defines assistive technology broadly. It covers any device, equipment, or system that helps a person maintain or improve their functional abilities. Here are the main categories with examples:

• Communication devices: Speech-generating devices, AAC tablets, picture exchange boards, and communication apps (Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, TD Snap)
• Adaptive equipment: Weighted utensils, adapted tools for daily living, specialized seating, and positioning equipment
• Environmental controls: Voice-activated lights, smart home systems, automated door openers, and alarm systems
• Computer access: Adaptive keyboards and mice, screen readers, switch interfaces, and eye-tracking systems
• Vision and hearing support: Video magnifiers, telephone access devices, amplification systems, and visual alert devices
• Vehicle modifications: Adaptive equipment for vehicles that supports community access and transportation
• Recreation and leisure: Adapted toys, gaming controllers, and devices that support social participation

The waiver also covers AT assessments as a separately billable service. This means the cost of the evaluation itself does not eat into your $12,000 AT cap.

The $12,000 annual cap

The Community Pathways Waiver allows up to $12,000 per year in assistive technology purchases. That is one of the most generous AT caps of any state Medicaid waiver in the country.

A few things to know about what counts toward the cap:

• The cost of the AT device, any required software, and accessories all count toward the $12,000 limit.
• AT assessments are billed as a separate waiver service and do not count against the cap.
• Training on how to use the device may be billable separately as well. Ask your CCS about this.
• The cap resets each plan year, so unused funds do not roll over.

How to request AT through your CCS

Your Coordinator of Community Services (CCS) is the person who guides you through DDA services, including AT requests. If you're not sure who your CCS is, contact your DDA regional office. Here is the process, step by step:

1. Talk to your CCS about what you need.Describe the challenge the person is facing in daily life. You don't need to know which device to ask for. Your CCS can help identify what type of AT might help.
2. Determine if an assessment is needed. Items under $1,000 do not require a formal AT Professional assessment (though you can request one). Items at $1,000 or above require an assessment before the purchase can move forward. For speech-generating devices, an SLP handles the assessment instead of an AT Professional.
3. Get the AT assessment (if needed).An AT Professional evaluates the person's needs and produces a list of recommended devices, supplies, software, and equipment. The assessment itself is a billable waiver service, separate from the $12,000 AT cap.
4. Submit three vendor estimates. Before any purchase, DDA requires three price quotes from different vendors. Your CCS or provider can help gather these. This ensures the state pays a reasonable price.
5. Document it in the Person-Centered Plan.Your CCS adds the AT to your Person-Centered Plan with a written justification explaining how the technology maintains or improves the person's functional abilities.
6. DDA authorizes and the provider delivers. Once approved, the AT is procured through a licensed or DDA-Certified Provider. If you use Self-Directed Services, you can direct the purchase through your FMCS provider instead.

What if you need more than $12,000?

The $12,000 cap is generous, but some AT needs exceed it. A power wheelchair with custom seating, a full vehicle modification, or multiple high-end devices can push past the limit. Here are your options:

• Split across plan years. If the need is not urgent, you can request one item this year and another next year. The cap resets annually.
• Layer funding sources. Medicaid State Plan covers durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, hospital beds) without needing the waiver. DORS covers employment-related AT. School districts cover AT for students with IEPs. Using these alongside the waiver stretches your $12,000 further.
• MDTAP low-interest loans. MDTAP offers loans up to $10,000 for AT devices at below-market rates, with less stringent credit requirements than banks. This can supplement waiver funding for larger purchases.
• Refurbished equipment.MDTAP's AT Reuse Center provides free refurbished devices (communication devices, wheelchairs, hearing aids). Check there before buying new.
• Request an exception. In rare cases, DDA may approve spending above the cap if there is strong clinical justification. Talk to your CCS about whether this applies.

Tips for a strong AT request

Not every AT request gets approved quickly. Here is what strengthens yours:

1. Be specific about the problem, not just the device. Instead of “we want an iPad,” describe what the person struggles with: “She cannot communicate her basic needs to new staff, which leads to frustration and behavioral incidents.” The justification should connect the AT to a real daily challenge.
2. Include trial data if you have it.If you borrowed a device through MDTAP or another program, include what you observed. “During a 3-week trial, he used the device to make 15+ independent requests per day” is powerful evidence.
3. Get a therapist's recommendation. A letter from an OT, SLP, or other therapist who has observed the person carries weight. It does not need to be long. A half-page letter explaining the clinical need and why this specific device is appropriate makes a difference.
4. Frame AT as cost-effective. This matters especially now, during budget constraints. If the device reduces the need for staff supervision, enables remote supports, or prevents costly behavioral interventions, say so. AT that saves money elsewhere in the service plan is easier to approve.
5. Start with items under $1,000. Lower-cost AT like visual timers, weighted utensils, simple communication devices, and apps can be acquired without a formal assessment. Getting quick wins builds a track record and demonstrates that AT works for the person.

Try before you buy

Before requesting expensive AT through the waiver, try it for free. Maryland's AT lending program, MDTAP, maintains a library of over 500 devices that anyone can borrow for 1 to 4 weeks at no cost. No waiver required, no income requirements, no referral needed. Just call 800-832-4827 or 410-554-9230 to schedule an appointment.

A successful device trial does two things: it confirms the AT works for the person, and it gives you evidence for your waiver request. Both save time and reduce the risk of spending waiver funds on something that does not fit.

For a full walkthrough of how device lending works in both PA and MD, see our guide: How to Try AT for Free Before Spending a Dollar.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or clinical advice. Funding rules, caps, and eligibility criteria may change. Always verify current information with your CCS, DDA, or your DDA regional office directly. Last reviewed: March 2026.