What is the Self-Determination Program (SDP)?

The California statewide Self-Determination Program is a voluntary alternative to the traditional way of providing regional center services. The SDP is being developed by the Department of Developmental Services to allow participants to have more control over selecting their services and supports. One of the ways this can be done is by giving participants (or their parents or legal representatives) a specific budget to purchase the services and supports that they need to make their person-centered plan work better for them. Participants may choose their services and pick which providers deliver those services. Participants are responsible for staying within their annual budget.

The program has five principles that are part of the law:

1. Freedom (to plan a good life) – to have the same rights as everyone, to choose family and friends that can help, where you want to live, how you want your time to be spent, and who supports you
2. Authority (over your personal resources) – You have a budget, and you get to decide exactly what to spend that money on in order to reach your goals.
3. Support (for building a life in the community) – to choose what you need to meet your personal goals and hire people that will help you live the life you want in your community
4. Responsibility (and pride in making your own decisions) – to be accountable for your budget and the way money is spent
5. Confirmation (of the important role you play) – In the Self-Determination program, you play a critical role as the person who makes decisions.  You and your family get to choose the services and supports that will help you accomplish the goals in your IPP.

For more information, visit the DDS Self-Determination Program Home Page or click here to read WRC’s Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee “Your Life, Your Way” presentation.

How is the SDP different than my current service coordination?

The way the Self-Determination Program works is different than the way services are delivered right now. The thing that makes self-determination so exciting is that it gives you flexibility in choosing your services, supports, and providers. In the Self-Determination Program, you can buy different services, not just those through the regional center.  

The program offers a lot of flexibility.  Services can include, but aren’t limited to:  individual training; vehicle adaptations; or support with communication. Your services and supports can be from almost anyone in the community. Right now, your Service Coordinator from the regional center is the person who helps you find the services you need.

In self-determination, you get to decide who else you want to help you. This could be your family or friends, or an Independent Facilitator. There will be money in a budget and you will choose which services and supports to have to meet your goals.

Self-Determination offers you the opportunity to be creative, think outside the box, and make your own plan for how you want to live. For more information, visit the DDS Self-Determination Program Home Page or view  WRC’s Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee calendar.

SDP Eligibility

To participate in the Self-Determination Program, a person with a developmental disability must:

1. Be a regional center consumer, and
2. Agree to the following specified in the law:
   • Attend an orientation to the Self-Determination Program
   • Use Self-Determination Program funds only when generic services are not available
   • Only purchase services necessary to implement the Individual Program Plan
   • Manage services and supports within an individual budget
   • Use a Financial Management Services provider

Consumers residing in a developmental center may be eligible for the Self-Determination Program if they are expected to transition to the community within 90 days.

Participants do not have to be in the Medi-Cal program.

How Do I Enter Self-Determination?

Anyone who would like to join the Self-Determination Program is required to participate in a two-part orientation through our online platform.

STEP 1 – Create your account

Create an account on the WRC Learning Center website. Click on the blue “Register” button to get started. A registration page will appear and you will be asked to enter your name, email address, the name of the person served by WRC, the individual’s birthdate, the individual’s UCI (Unique Client Identifier), and the name of your service coordinator’s (if you know it). You will also be prompted to create a password for your account.

STEP 2 – Enroll in the Self-Determination Orientation Online Course

Once you log on to your account, you can now move on to completing the online portion of the orientation process.

On the upper left-hand side of your screen, select “Browse Catalog”. A drop-down menu will appear.  Select “Self-Determination”. [See the red arrows/box below].

A new page will appear with two options to complete our online course. Select the course that best fits your language needs (English or Spanish). To start your chosen course, click on the blue “enroll” button.

If you are not able to complete the course in one sitting, you can log back on and resume where you left off at another time. To do this, log back in using your email and password, go to “My Learning Activities” and click “Resume” next to the Self-Determination course.  If you forget your password, you can reset it on the log-in page.

If you need assistance, please send an email to traininginfo@westsiderc.org.

STEP 3 – COMPLETE PART 2 OF THE ORIENTATION VIA ZOOM

Once you have completed Part 1 of the Self-Determination Orientation (the online portion) a WRC staff will confirm your affiliation with our regional center, and you will be contacted to schedule part 2 of the orientation, which will take place over Zoom. You will be offered the soonest available session in the language of your preference, English or Spanish. You can expect to hear from WRC staff within one week of completing Part 1 if you are affiliated with someone receiving services from WRC. If you are not affiliated with WRC, please get in touch with your regional center to confirm the next part of the process.

STEP 4 – NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO BEGIN SELF-DETERMINATION

Upon completing both parts of the WRC Self-Determination Orientation, you will receive a certificate of completion and your service coordinator will be notified that you are eligible to begin Self-Determination.