Self-Determination: Taking Control of Your Own Services
California’s Self-Determination Program (SDP) gives individuals with developmental disabilities greater freedom, flexibility, and control over the services they receive. Instead of using only traditional Regional Center vendors, individuals can choose their own providers, set personalized goals, and manage a self-directed budget.
SDP is built on the belief that people thrive when they have real choice, real control, and real ownership of their lives.
What Is the Self-Determination Program?
The Self-Determination Program is an alternative service model that offers:
- More Choice
Participants select their own support staff, programs, therapies, and community activities.
- More Flexibility
Services can be customized around the individual’s goals, lifestyle, culture, communication needs, and schedule.
- More Control
Individuals or their chosen representative control a spending plan based on their IPP budget.
- More Independence
Self-Direction empowers people to build full lives in their community with supports they choose.
Who Can Participate in Self-Determination?
To be eligible, a person must:
- Be a Regional Center client
- Be willing to follow the program’s rules
- Use person-centered planning to create an individualized plan
- Work with a Financial Management Service (FMS) to handle the budget
- Agree to manage services responsibly
There is no age requirement. Children, teens, and adults can participate if their family or representative supports the process.
Canaan Cares proudly serves California Regional Centers throughout San Diego, Poway, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, Solana Beach, Encinitas, La Mesa, and Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Riverside Counties.
How Self-Determination Works
Participants create an individualized service model that matches their goals. The key components include:
1. Person-Centered Planning
This is a deep, individualized conversation about what is important to the person and what is important for the person. It identifies:
- Strengths
- Needs
- Hopes and long-term goals
- Barriers to independence
- Preferred services and supports
This plan forms the foundation for the Self-Determination budget and spending plan.
2. Individual Budget
The budget is based on the individual’s previous 12 months of Regional Center spending. This amount can be used in flexible, creative ways as long as it supports goals in the IPP.
Examples of allowable uses:
- Community activities
- Skill development
- Job support
- Therapies
- Respite
- Transportation (if included in the IPP)
- Independent living supports
- Coaching or mentoring
- Social/recreational activities that increase independence
3. Financial Management Service (FMS)
All participants must work with an approved FMS provider, who:
- Tracks and manages the budget
- Processes payments
- Ensures spending is compliant
- Helps hire and pay workers
This keeps the individual in control while ensuring the financial rules are followed.
4. Choosing Your Own Providers
This is one of the biggest benefits of Self-Determination. Participants can hire:
- Friends
- Family members (in most cases)
- Community members
- Agencies
- Independent contractors
- Specialized professionals
You are not limited to traditional Regional Center vendors.
Canaan Cares can support individuals with community activities, independent living skills, respite, employment goals, and personalized day and social supports under the Self-Determination Program.
Benefits of the Self-Determination Program
- Individualized support designed around your life
- Freedom to choose who provides your services
- Ability to schedule supports when and where you need them
- More meaningful community involvement
- A stronger sense of independence and empowerment
Self-Determination is ideal for individuals who want more flexibility, want to choose their own staff, or need unique services not available in the traditional system.
How to Enroll in Self-Determination
Step 1: Contact your Regional Center service coordinator
Ask to begin the Self-Determination orientation process.
Step 2: Attend a required orientation
This explains rules, rights, responsibilities, and the structure of the program.
Step 3: Complete person-centered planning
This becomes the foundation for your spending plan and IPP.
Step 4: Receive your individual budget
Based on your last 12 months of services.
Step 5: Create your spending plan
Identify how your budget will be used for supports, staff, and services.
Step 6: Choose an FMS provider
They help manage payments and compliance.
Step 7: Begin directing your services
You choose your staff, set your schedule, and build the life you want.
There are many specialty services offered by Canaan Cares. Click here to see all of them.