The Self-Determination Advisory Committee Community Meeting takes place on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am–12pm (EXCEPTION: in March, June, and September the meeting is at 7-8pm).
Click here to join meeting on Zoom or use QR code below.
Self Determination Programs
The SARC SDP committee is seeking applicants for the ambassador program. The goal is to educate the community about the program and to provide information to interested persons. The successful applicant will need to coordinate and report on progress. See the request for proposal for more information.
The San Andreas Regional Center and State Council on Developmental Disabilities- Central Coast Office maintain member. Please complete the application.
Join advocates and others for a monthly self determination meeting. This meeting is for self-advocate adults who are thinking about, planning to, or are in self-determination. It’s a chance to meet and socialize, and share experiences with others going through self-determination. This meeting occurs the 3rd Thursday for every month from 10:30am – 12pm. Once Every quarter, the meeting will be from 7-8:30pm.
In person: 6203 San Ignacio Ave, San Jose
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The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), in partnership with the California Department of Developmental Services (Department), offers statewide SDP Orientations for people interested in the Self-Determination Program (SDP).
Beginning April 1, 2026, the SDP Orientation will be offered in two parts. Each part is two hours. You must complete both parts before beginning the SDP transition. If you completed the orientation before April 1, 2026, or are already enrolled, you do not need to retake it.
Certificates are provided to participants who attend the full session and submit the required information. Required information includes the first and last name of the person served by the regional center and their Unique Client Identifier (UCI).
Once all information is confirmed, certificates are typically sent within two weeks. Information about certificate recipients is shared with the Department to support enrollment.
For more information, see the California Department of Developmental Services Directive
(opens in new tab).
Register Here: SDP Orientation Schedule (opens in new tab)
The Five Principles of Self Determination: The Five Principles of Self Determination (opens in new tab)
The following flowchart explains the process for self determination: SDP_Flowchart 62019 (opens in new tab)
SDP Flowchart other languages: SDP Flowchart Languages (opens in new tab)
Information of the Office of the Ombudsman at DDS: 2021 10 20 Office of the Ombudsperson for Self-Determination (opens in new tab)
The following are questions and answers from the Department of Developmental Services webpage regarding the self determination program: Self Determination FAQ (opens in new tab)
Participants transitioning into SDP can receive up to 40 hours of Self-Directed (099) supports provided by a vendored 099 provider. Soon, participants will also be able to access Self-Directed (099) supports through non vendored providers via Participant Directed Services.
List of 099 Providers click here
Self Determination Program Flyers
The following information explains the program
Self Determination Principles
Participants in the Self-Determination Program may choose an Independent Facilitator to help them in the following ways:
Assisting the individual with making informed decisions regarding their individual budget
Locating, accessing and coordinating services and supports consistent with the participant’s individual program plan.
Identifying immediate and long-term needs and developing options to meet those needs
Leading, participating, and/or advocating on behalf of participants in the person-centered planning process and development of the IPP
Obtaining identified services and supports
It is not required that an independent facilitator have a certification or licensure. However, an independent facilitator is required to receive training in the principles of self-determination, the person-centered planning process, and the other responsibilities consistent with coordination of services for consumers’ individual program plan.
Click here for the DDS IF page: DDS IF (opens in new tab)
More Information: SDP Network (opens in new tab)
You can see which FMS providers are available and their contact information by visiting the DDS website (opens in new tab).
What is FMS?
Participants in the Self-Determination Program (SDP) will receive support from a person or business to help them pay for services they need. This person or business is called a Financial Management Services provider. There are three different models of Financial Management Services available in the SDP.
FMS Models Comparison Chart (opens in new tab)
FMS Service Providers: FMS (opens in new tab)
Read more regarding FMS from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS (opens in new tab)) directive (opens in new tab).
DDS released Guidance Regarding Waiver of Self-Determination Program Budget Restrictions for Payments for Financial Management Services (opens in new tab) on February 3, 2
Participants transitioning into SDP can receive up to 40 hours of Self-Directed (099) supports provided by a vendored 099 provider. Soon, participants will also be able to access Self-Directed (099) supports through non vendored providers via Participant Directed Services.
Read more here: 099- Transition Supports (opens in new tab)
For Self-Determination Program (SDP) participants, the individual program plan (IPP) must be developed utilizing a person-centered-planning process.
Person-centered planning is about the individual’s future and reaching their goals. The process should be driven by the individual and reflect what is important to and for that person. Person-centered planning can include other people, such as family or friends, only if the individual chooses to include them in the process. Once the individual has made choices about what they want and need, the IPP is written based on their decisions. The IPP lays out the their goals and what is needed to reach those goals, including necessary services and supports.
The individual or organization providing person-centered planning services are expected to demonstrate they have received training or certification in the person-centered facilitation process. If the selected individual or organization has been trained in any specific approaches (Planned Facilitation, Liberty Plans, MAPs, etc) the participant has the option to request and receive proof of such training.
Learn more about PCP here: The Learning Community (opens in new tab)
Individual Budget: The total amount of regional center funds available to the SDP participant each year. The individual budget is determined by the individual program planning team, and is based upon the amount of purchase of service funds used by the individual in the most recent 12-months. This amount can be adjusted, up or down, if the individual program planning team determines that the individual’s needs, circumstances, or resources will change. Additionally, the individual program planning team may adjust the budget to support any prior needs or resources that were not addressed in the individual program plan.
DDS Directive on Individual Budget: sdp_individualbudget_jan19 (opens in new tab)
Spending Plan:
This is the plan the participant develops to use their individual budget funds. The spending plan identifies the services and items the participant needs to implement their IPP. The plan also includes the cost of each service or item that will be purchased with budget funds. The amount of the spending plan cannot exceed the funds in the individual budget and must be attached to the participant’s IPP.
What is the difference between the individual budget and the spending plan?
The individual budget is the amount of money an SDP participant has available to purchase needed services and supports. The spending plan is how that money will be used to purchase services and supports. The spending plan identifies the services to be purchased, how often those services will be provided, and the cost of the service. After the spending plan is developed, the amounts are assigned to uniform budget categories developed by the department.
Service codes by category: Click here (opens in new tab)
An Individual Budget Calculation and Certification Tool has been developed in follow-up to the Department’s directive issued on Initial Person-Centered Planning Services (above) to assist regional centers in calculating an individual budget for the SDP. The tool will identify the amount of money that participants will be able to utilize to purchase services and supports detailed in their spending plan. Regional center staff assisting SDP participants that are still in the process of developing their individual budgets should begin using this tool.
Individual_Budget_Calculation_Certification_Tool (opens in new tab)
SDP_Service_Definitions (opens in new tab)
Transparency