Parents and advocates asked the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities to change Department of Developmental Services (DDS) eligibility rules so neuropsychological evaluations inform determinations for individuals with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Joan Hoffman of Belmont said her 31‑year‑old son Jake, diagnosed with autism at age 4 and with a normal IQ, has struggled in public school and later benefited from smaller, specialized programs; she said DDS neglects non‑intellectually disabled adults with autism and urged funding for services for that group. “Please fund DDS earmarked for non ID autistic adults of all ages,” Hoffman said.

Her husband, Howard Hoffman, described Jake’s loss of work and structure during the pandemic and said the lack of DDS services for non‑intellectually disabled clients leaves many without needed supports. “Tomorrow is Thursday. What am I gonna do?” Howard Hoffman said, illustrating Jake’s daily lack of structure.

Speakers remote and in‑person urged the committee to pass H.4180, which would amend law and require DDS to consider comprehensive neuropsychological testing—including executive functioning, language, reading comprehension and adaptive skills—when evaluating eligibility. Carl Armstrong (speaking to his son Jacob’s case) described a 25‑year‑old with encephalitis, epilepsy and right hemiparesis whose evaluation showed severe adaptive impairments and reading comprehension at or below a third‑grade level despite borderline IQ; Armstrong said the evaluation recommended wraparound DDS supports.

Liz Fancher of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council testified that broader assessments would better capture functional limitations and complex needs for people with “spiky” profiles where IQ alone is imprecise. Witnesses asked the committee to report the bill and to ensure that eligibility assessments capture functional ability, not only IQ numbers. No committee action was taken at the hearing.