What is Self-Determination Program?
The Self Determination Program (SDP) is an alternative funding model to traditional regional center services. Through a person-centered approach, you and your IPP planning team identify service needs. SDP offers a different way of meeting your wants and needs. The SDP program allows for greater flexibility for the individual served or their family to coordinate and purchase services outside of the traditional regional center vendor service system. For example, under traditional purchase of services you select a service provider contracted by SG/PRC. Under SDP you have authority and responsibility to administer your individualized budget, the freedom to select and negotiate contracts with community providers, and you have greater autonomy and responsibility on how you spend public money.
Self-Determination is Person-Centered, and ultimately means “Nothing about me without me.” In alignment with the key principles of the Self-Determination Program (SDP), participants have the authority to control an individual budget and to purchase services and supports to achieve their Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals.
Five Principles of Self-Determination
Freedom to exercise the same rights as all citizens; to establish, with freely chosen supports, family and friends, where they want to live, with whom they want to live, how their time will be occupied, and who supports them.
Authority to control a budget in order to purchase services and supports of their choosing.
Support, including the ability to arrange resources and personnel, which will allow flexibility to live in the community of their choice.
Responsibility, which includes the opportunity to take responsibility for making decisions in their own lives and accept a valued role in their community.
Confirmation, in making decisions in their own lives by designing and operating the service that they rely on.
Commentary on Self-Determination Program
How Do I Get Started?
Contact your service coordinator and notify them you are interested in the Self-Determination Program. They will guide you and connect you with an SDP-Orientation. The completion of a Self-Determination Program Orientation is mandatory.
Why is the Orientation mandatory? — The orientation will provide you an overview of the Self-Determination Program (SDP). It will explain the purpose of the person-centered plan, developing an Individual Budget, the role of an Independent Faciliatory, the role of an FMS, creating a spending plan, SDP services codes and definitions, and developing an SDP-IPP.
Need Help in Finding an Orientation?
SG/PRC offers an online LMS orientation.
For technical support, view e-learning registration instructions (PDF) or contact Edwin Gamino, LMS Administrator at (909) 710-8272 or email egamino@sgprc.org.
SDP Orientations in Your Preferred Language
Additional SDP orientations, please visit the DDS website.
Self-Determination Program Resources and Training Tools
Video 1 — Navigating the Self-Determination Program
Handout: Checklist Navigating the Self-Determination Program (PDF)
Video 2 — Person-Centered Planning for the Self-Determination Program
Handout: Person-Centered Planning (PDF)
Video 3 — Individual Budget for the Self-Determination Program
Handout: My Individual Budget (PDF)
Video 4 — Spending Plan for the Self-Determination Program
Handout: My Spending Plan (PDF)
SDP Network
The Self-Determination Program Network Website is an initiative designed to to inspire, connect and empower participants; and to make Self-Determination accessible and easier for all Californians.
This website hopes to connect hundreds of thousands of individuals within California’s neurodiverse community to service providers.
Public Partnerships | PPL, Education Spectrum, and the San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center have joined forces to launch a new website to help SDP participants and service providers find each other and connect.
For more information, visit SDP Network.