Children’s transportation services next steps
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Date: Oct. 1, 2026
To: Intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community members
From: Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)
Hello there,
This update is for the entire community. It’s most important for:
- Teenagers who get in-home supports
- Parents and guardians of children who get in-home supports
- Anyone interested in children’s transportation
The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) hosted two public meetings about children’s transportation in July. Thank you, all who shared your experiences and feedback.
Why did ODDS host the meetings?
Since early this year, we have heard from parents and partners that they are confused about children’s transportation services. We held the meetings to hear directly from you about your questions. We also heard what works or hasn’t worked for you.
What did ODDS hear at the meetings?
Here are some of the main themes we heard from you:
- Some parents and services coordinators are confused by the current policy for children’s transportation. The current policy is not being implemented consistently across the state.
- It’s difficult and isolating when children don’t have enough transportation support.
- Families want clear information about whether they can pay their child’s workers privately or make other plans for workers to drive their children.
- School and medical rides can be hard to arrange or don’t meet children’s needs.
- Families need breaks and support, like respite care.
- Current I/DD services don’t always fit what each child needs.
Thank you, again, all who shared your feedback and experiences with us.
What has ODDS done since the meetings? Is ODDS changing the children’s transportation policy?
Based on your feedback and ideas, we assessed our children’s transportation policy, the related federal policies, and our options. We can’t change our policy without changing our:
- Medicaid waivers and K Plan — the authorities that allow us to use federal funds,
- Needs assessments, and
- Rules.
Also, we’d likely need legislative direction and more funding to make these changes. We’ll base any future changes that we consider on your feedback as much as possible.
Here’s what we can do now: We can clarify the policy to make it easier to understand and follow. So, we updated the worker guide, “Attendant Care for Children.” We added details about when transportation is allowed and why. We also explained more about why the policy doesn’t allow certain things.
For services coordinators: These updates will help you use this guide to plan with children and parents. We’ll also share the new guide with you in a transmittal today. Please use the guide and the translations of this message to assist people with any questions. Thank you.
For parents and teens who get in-home supports: We summarized the clarifications from the worker guide for you in the message below. If you want, you can read the full worker guide online in English.
Which types of workers do the guide’s clarifications apply to?
Our policy for children’s transportation applies to any worker who provides hourly attendant care to children who live in their family home. This includes personal support workers and direct support professionals. This message will call them “workers.”
When can a child’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) services pay for a worker’s time and mileage to drive a child?
We can pay workers to provide transportation and for their mileage in very specific situations. A child must have a specific need for transportation. The need must be defined in the child’s Individual Support Plan (ISP).
This means a parent can bill a worker’s mileage and attendant care hours when:
- A child has a positive behavior support plan that includes transporting a child between their family home and a community location as a reactive strategy during a behavior escalation.
- An individual age 16 or older is working and has an exception for transportation to and from work.
In these cases, services coordinators can authorize both attendant care hours and mileage.
Can ODDS change the children’s transportation policy to pay for specific situations and needs, such as rides for school or medical appointments?
No. ODDS cannot duplicate services that other Medicaid-funded systems pay for. These other systems include:
-
School transportation or support during school transportation: School districts pay for these services when a child needs them.
-
Medical transportation: This service includes transportation to medical and therapy appointments. Oregon Health Plan (OHP) pays for these services. Please note: Our services can pay for a worker to ride with and give support to a child during medical visits.
Can ODDS change the children’s transportation policy to pay workers to drive children for tasks, such as to the park, store, and community events?
No, not with Oregon’s current Medicaid authorities. We cannot duplicate or pay for the care or tasks that parents would do for children who don’t have disabilities.
If a child needs extra support in the vehicle or at the destination, that support is included in our services. We pay for a worker to be with a child while in transit and at the destination. We just can’t pay the driver of the vehicle.
We hear some parents are frustrated by this part of the policy and would like it changed. We cannot do this quickly or alone.
Why? A policy change at this level will likely require funding. We would need to pay for the driver’s time and their mileage because of what is and is not included in hourly attendant care. This type of change would require a change to our Medicaid authorities that allows this service as a part of attendant care, or as part of or in combination with another type of service.
Can a worker get paid to ride along and assist a child on rides to the park, store, community events, or for other ordinary tasks?
Yes, if a child needs extra support on the way. In that case, our services can pay a worker to ride along.
Please note: You cannot use our services to pay the worker to be the driver.
Can a parent privately pay a worker to provide their child with a ride?
Our rules only apply to services that use ODDS funding. Our rules don’t apply to situations outside of our funding. This means that if a parent and a child’s worker agree, the parent can privately pay the worker to give their child a ride.
Can a parent use ODDS funding to pay a worker to go with their child when using a ride service?
Yes, we can pay the worker for attendant care during a ride if:
- A parent pays privately for a ride service, such as a cab, Lyft, or Uber, and,
- Their child needs support during the ride.
What are my next steps as a parent? How do I ask questions about children’s services?
We hope these clarifications are helpful. If you have questions or concerns about your or your child’s services, please contact your services coordinator. They can advise you on how the policy clarifications may affect how you manage your child’s transportation services. They can also help you find information and other resources to help with school transportation, medical transportation, and advocacy.
If you have questions or feedback about the current policy or actions we’re taking, email odds.questions@odhs.oregon.gov.
How do I stay informed?
If you’re not on our community mailing list, please sign up for ODDS community updates. That way, you’ll get our next update.
Sincerely,
 Acacia McGuire Anderson, Director
Office of Developmental Disabilities Services
Oregon Department of Human Services
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