Intake services
Bright Start offers Intake services for children and individuals ages three and up. Our goal is to serve as a starting point in connecting you or your loved one with the resources, services, and support you need. Intake is the first step in gathering and evaluating the necessary information to determine eligibility for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN). As part of this process, we collect information from healthcare providers, schools, and other sources, ensuring that all information is handled with the highest level of security and confidentiality.
Our intake coordinators provide support throughout the intake process, and their goal is to guide you through the stress and confusion often associated with needing help. If you or your loved one could be eligible for DDSN, please follow the instructions below and ask for Bright Start to be your Intake provider.
- Call Toll-Free 1-800-289-7012, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
- Have the following information about the applicant available:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Medicaid Number if Medicaid eligible
- Home Address
- Phone Number
- E-mail Address, if available
- Plan to spend about 15 minutes on your call.
- You will be asked questions to establish your residency in South Carolina.
- You will be asked questions to get general information about your disability.
- You will be asked to select three (3) Intake Service Providers from a list read to you over the phone. Please choose Bright Start as your intake provider. We will help you through the Eligibility process at no cost to you. DDSN will contact the Intake Service Provider(s) you choose. If you are seeking Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) eligibility, a DDSN Autism Eligibility Coordinator will be available to assist you.
- You will receive a letter from DDSN confirming your application for DDSN eligibility.
- The Intake Service Provider you choose or an Autism Eligibility Coordinator will contact you by telephone within two (2) weeks and will provide you with information and collect medical and educational records needed by DDSN to determine eligibility.
- Once appropriate records are submitted by the Intake Service Provider or the Autism Eligibility Coordinator, DDSN will notify the applicant in writing of their eligibility status.