Overview
In October 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law the Self-Determination Program, which will provide consumers and their families with more freedom, control, and responsibility in choosing services and supports to help them meet objectives in their Individual Program Plan.
In the Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4685.8, the services and supports will be directed by a participant through person-centered planning, as they are designed to assist the participant in achieving personally defined outcomes in community settings that promote inclusion.
How is the Self Determination Program (SDP) different than the traditional program?
Self-determination provides flexibility in choosing your services, supports, and providers. In the Self Determination Program, you can buy different services from almost anyone in your community, not just those through the regional center. In the traditional program, 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 you want to help you. This can be your family, friends, or an Independent Facilitator. You will be given a budget and you will choose which services and supports to use to meet your goals.
For more information about traditional services and the Lanterman Act, please review our Getting Started brochure.
For a brief overview of how SDP works here at RCEB, please review our Self-Determination PowerPoint presentation to the community.
For details and questions about SDP, please visit the Department of Developmental Services’ (DDS) website.
Requirements to participate are:
- Have an active status (not closed, or inactivated)
- Only use funds to meet IPP goals
- Only use funds when generic resources are not available
- Only use funds on federally approved services
- Use a vendored FMS agency
Steps to Getting Started with RCEB’s Self-Determination Program
If you are interested in choosing Self Determination as your service delivery model, please complete the following steps:
- RCEB invites you to register for the MANDATORY State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) Self-Determination Program Orientation, available in multiple languages. Use their calendar to choose a date and register with the link provided. The Statewide Self-Determination Program Orientation is one (1) module that is two (2) hours long. Provide your Certificate to your Case Manager upon completion
2. Express interest in SDP to your case manager.
3. Certify your individual budget.
4. Complete your spending plan.
5. Choose your FMS (Financial Management Service) provider.
6. Participate in your IPP (Individual Program Plan) meeting.
At these meetings, you will meet other SDP participants, receive program and policy updates on SDP, and hear from providers.
To find out more about the program beyond this regional center, see the Self-Determination Program page on the DDS website.
SDP Local Advisory Committee
The RCEB Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee is comprised members have been chosen jointly by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities Bay Area Office and the Regional Center of the East Bay. The purpose of the SDLAC is to meet monthly to discuss how the Self Determination Program is being implemented at RCEB as well as to support SDP and its participants.
The committee meets on the first Monday of every month. For the next meeting date and to join us, please visit our upcoming events page Link to Events Page and view the 2025 Meeting Calendar TBA.
Troubleshooting in the Self-Determination Program
Please fill out this contact form for questions or additional support.
Department of Developmental Services Office of the SDP Ombudsperson
The Self-Determination Program (SDP) Ombudsperson assists regional center consumers and their families to participate in the SDP program.
Email: SDP.Ombudsperson@dds.ca.gov
Phone: (877) 658-9731
Self-Determination – Your Choice, Your Way
- English Brochure
- Español Brochure
- Tiếng Việt Brochure
- 简体中文 Brochure
- Self Determination Video – English
- Video de Programa de autodeterminación – Español
- DDS Self-Determination Program updates
- DDS Self-Determination Program Frequently Asked Questions
Resource Hub
| Templates | |
|---|---|
| Spending Plan Template (09/2022) | |
| PCP-Training Verification Form | |
| Assessment On-Site (State Transition Plan) Non-Residential HCBS | |
| HCBS Compliance Evaluation Form- SD |
| Samples | |
|---|---|
| Spending Plan Sample_2021 | |
| Resources | |
|---|---|
| RCEB understands the importance of choice, you may visit the SDP Network page (thecasdpnetwork.org) to search for, interview, and select a Person Centered Planner, Pre-enrollment Support, Independent Facilitator, or even other providers. Notify your Case Manager when you have identified a Person Centered Planner or Pre-Enrollment Support. | |
| Generic Resources SDP English | Generic Resources Spanish. |
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