What is the Self-Determination Program?

The Self-Determination Program (SDP) functions as an alternative to traditional Regional Center services, where the budget typically received by the Regional Center is instead allotted to an eligible person with disabilities. Creating a person-centered plan is integral to the SDP process; identifying an individual’s wants, needs, and goals, and what services and supports they will need to reach them really drive the program.

This is often done with the guidance of an Independent Facilitator, who will also help create a spending plan with the individual based on their wants, needs, and goals. For example, if a young adult would like to take dance classes, their facilitator can help them find a class that works for them and use money from the budget to pay for it.

Self-Determination offers more flexibility than traditional Regional Center services, especially as a child grows and their needs change. For example, one Undivided parent shared that their daughter had a social skills class called buddy club. As she was getting older, her parent thought her daughter would be better served by doing something more organically, such as socializing during birthday parties, playdates, or out in the community. Her parent social skills funding from clinic originally in her spending plan and instead used it for a social skills coach.

Another example of flexibility with using funds: If you want to use respite hours for extra social-rec activities, you can allocate them. You can also use funds for parent coaching to pay for Undivided membership.

For more information about SDP, see our article Self-Determination 101.