Way back in 2014, when I began volunteering at the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy, I have been told that the Self-Determination Program is coming. From that day, I started planning for my own daughter to enter the program. I have also become an Independent Facilitator to help families navigate the Self-Determination Program.
The big news that starting June 7, 2021, all regional center clients can choose to enter the Self-Determination Program. Here is a quick overview of the program and how it works.
What is Self-Determination?
In the macro sense, self-determination is the idea that people with disabilities are in charge of their own lives, not the professionals or systems that support them. The Self-Determination Program is a voluntary alternative to the traditional way of receiving Regional Center services.
The Self-Determination Program gives people with disabilities freedom, control, and responsibility to choose the services and supports that help them meet their goals and be fully included in their community.
Who is Eligible?
You must be a client of the regional center, over the age of three, and not live in a licensed long-term health care facility.
How Does it Work?
A person-center plan is created that identifies what the participant can and wants to do in their life and the services and supports needed to achieve their goals.
The individual budget is used to fund the program outlined in the person-centered plan. The individual budget is composed of the total amount of funding spent on the participant in the traditional regional center program with adjustments up or down. The individual budget is then used to create a spending plan that outlines what the participant will do with the money based on the person-centered plan. Using the spending plan you do not have to use vendored service providers and you can set the amount of money that you pay service providers.
The only vendored service that is required to be used is a financial management service (FMS). An FMS is an independent agency that pays for the services, taxes, and insurance per the spending plan. Participants can choose the level of involvement they want the FMS to have. Generally, the fees for the FMS come out of the spending plan.
What Services Can Be Approved Under Self-Determination?
You must still use generic services first, but there are a wide variety of different services that can be funded under Self-Determination including a health and wellness coach; recreational activities such as swimming, sports, drama, and music; acupuncture and massage therapy; social skills, community integration, speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapies; respite services; vehicle modifications for accessibility; and much more. I have even heard of ski lift tickets and exercise bikes purchased under Self-Determination.
How Do You Navigate the Self-Determination Program?
An Independent Facilitator can help create the person-centered plan, spending plan, advocate with the regional center regarding the individual budget, help find and hire the correct people. An Independent Facilitator can be paid out of the plan’s budget or DDS might allot money for the first person-center plan for each participant.
You can also use your regional center service coordinator. However, often they carry a high caseload and might have a conflict of interest. A parent or the person in the individual person can also manage the process themselves.
What Can you Do Now?
Right now you can let your Regional Center service coordinator know that you are interested in transitioning to the Self-Determination Program. You must also attend an orientation. You can also ask your service coordinator about the schedule for orientations.
You can also start interviewing Independent Facilitators. If you are interested in speaking to me about the Self-Determination program please schedule a free consultation.
You can also continue to educate yourself. Each Regional Center has a local advisory committee that is open to the public and a great place to learn about Self-Determination. Also, check out Disability Voice United (http://disabilityvoicesunited.org/) and DDS websites (https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/) for information.
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