What if items approved in my SDP spending plan last year are denied this year?

We have heard from Undivided families that some of the items approved in their spending plan last year were denied this year. For example, a summer camp was approved last year, but now the Regional Center is denying the camp and saying it's required to be accredited.

The Undivided team recommends that you talk to your independent facilitator about how to handle your Regional Center and your FMS. Double check if you have something specific in your spending plan (e.g. ABA) that they are trying to check against.

If the Regional Center says there is a regulation that you haven't heard of, such as requiring a camp to be accredited, you can respond with “Please share the regulation with me where this is.” Try to find out if it's a policy in the Regional Center's purchase of service standards. If not, consider filing an appeal.

We have also heard families say Regional Center delays approving items from their spending plan, such as waiting to approve day care until the next school year schedule is finalized, or waiting to approve funding for a parent training conference until the speaker list is released. As above, you can request the policy where these “rules” are noted in writing. Request to speak with the supervisor. This is an issue because they are using up time; by the time they approve the conference, it could be over already.

For more information, see our full article Regional Center Appeal Process: Ages 3+.