Summary of "Self-Determination Program: Overview with a Focus on Person-Centered Planning"

Main ideas and lessons conveyed

Self-Determination Program (SDP) overview
- SDP is described as a “best-kept secret” at California regional centers.
- It became available to everyone in July 2021 (after a pilot).
- SDP is presented as a way to get regional center services with more flexibility and freedom to choose supports that fit family needs and goals.
Civil-rights / “self-determination” philosophy
- SDP is framed not just as a program but as a civil rights approach for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
- It follows five principles (paraphrased):
  1. People with disabilities should have freedom to make choices about how they live.
  2. Participants have authority to make decisions and control the budget and spending.
  3. Participants and their chosen supports/family are decision makers with a voice.
  4. Participants can choose who supports them.
  5. Participants take responsibility to manage the budget to meet their needs.
SDP vs. traditional regional center services (system comparison)
- Traditional system (typical non-SDP structure):
  - A service coordinator helps decide services.
  - Families are generally required to use vendored providers.
  - Providers operate under set rates and program plans; payments are handled by the regional center.
  - Families often discuss hours rather than rates.
  - The structure can be rigid (e.g., day program schedule is fixed).
- SDP:
  - The participant and/or their supporters manage services (often with a support person/independent facilitator).
  - Providers do not have to be vendored; supports can be selected from the community.
  - Budget authority shifts toward the participant/support circle.
  - There are no set rates in the same way as traditional services; families can negotiate rates, though rates must be reasonable (as defined by the program).
  - Only one vendor service is required: a financial management service, which handles authorizations and bill payments.
Eligibility (who can enroll)
- The talk emphasizes SDP is an enrollment option, not a new eligibility determination.
- Three primary requirements to enroll:
  - Must be a regional center client (including those transitioning in when they already have regional center eligibility under the required categories).
  - Must be over age 3 most of the time (with clarifications that early-start/IDEA-funded services are not regional center status yet).
  - Cannot be living in a hospital or care facility; however, people living in such settings with plans to move out within ~9 months may qualify.
- Additional guidance:
  - Best action: ask the service coordinator whether you are a “status to regional center client” and can enroll.
Key FAQs addressed
- Does enrolling remove you from regional center services?
  - No. You remain a regional center client with protections such as due process / fair hearings and still have an IPP meeting and service coordinator.
- Can you hire family and friends?
  - Yes, with limits:
    - Parents may not be paid for their minor child (adult cases are allowed).
    - Employees must be legally allowed to work in the US; background checks apply in personal care contexts; typically 18+.
- Can you switch back to traditional services?
  - Yes, you can switch back at any time.
  - Switching back from SDP to traditional is possible without reapplying to regional center.
  - Switching again back to SDP later requires a 12-month wait (no rapid back-and-forth).
- Does SDP pay for school services?
  - It follows rules: Medicaid dollars still have restrictions.
  - Some traditional system school rules (e.g., using school district services first) are not treated the same way under SDP in the speaker’s explanation, but SDP still can’t treat funds as unrestricted.
  - Exceptions can apply similarly when requested/approved.
Enrollment process (“road map”)
- Expected timeline: about 7–9 months.
- Steps described:
  - Attend two 2-hour online orientations.
  - Complete pre-enrollment supports with an independent facilitator (IF).
  - IF helps with:
    - Developing the person-centered plan
    - Creating a budget and spending plan
    - Selecting a financial management service
    - Supporting the IPP transition so services are set up and there’s no service gap
  - During transition, the speaker says the family remains in the traditional system and current services continue until SDP switch-over.
Person-centered planning (focus of the video)
- The speaker calls this her “absolute favorite.”
- Not required to have a person-centered plan to enter SDP, but it is described as highly beneficial and is supported/paid for by the regional center.
- It supports the shift from:
  - Deficit-based/medical model thinking (“what can’t they do?”)
  - To strength-based thinking (“what are hopes, dreams, strengths, and supports?”)
- Person-centered planning is framed as a living process that:
  - Informs the IPP
  - Shapes the spending plan
  - Helps prevent the “drop-off/chasm” after high school graduation by planning the next steps in real life and community contexts.
How person-centered planning should work
- The planning is done by a person-centered planner trained in the approach for SDP.
- Tools and activities mentioned:
  - “Tell me about your best day”
  - “Tell me about your worst day”
  - Identifying likes/dislikes, what’s important, and practical goals.
- Goals are distinguished from services:
  - Goals are desired outcomes (e.g., “order my own meal in a restaurant”).
  - Services/therapies are means to reach the goals.
- The planner and team ensure the plan is not just aspirational; it must be implementable and updated over time.
The “important two versus important four” balancing framework
- The speaker emphasizes a balancing act so the plan doesn’t drift into either extreme:
  - Important Two: things that make the person content, satisfied, happy (joyful, preference-based activities).
  - Important Four: things that are important for health and safety (supports needed to stay safe/healthy).
- The intended result:
  - Ensure safety without removing joy/autonomy
  - Allow learning through making mistakes
- Emphasis on word choice and meeting discussion as strengths/goals-focused rather than “shoulds/can’ts.”
Examples of person-centered plan formats
- Plans can be written reports, screenshots, visuals, or creative formats.
- Examples described:
  - A visual “map” with pictures.
  - A non-speaking person using a Pinterest board to communicate preferences and planning details.
- The speaker stresses communication is not limited to speech; plans should match the person’s communication preferences.
- The person/family has the final say that the plan reflects what they want; it can change.
Illustrative story demonstrating SDP/person-centered impact
- The speaker provides an example of helping her son achieve community-based and independence goals:
  - Wanted to attend a local comic book store during a Magic: The Gathering card game night but needed support (e.g., someone who understood the activity and could assist in the moment).
  - The support person was intentionally chosen based on fit and shared interest, not a rigid vendored structure.
  - Later, as needs evolved, they added structured social-skills support (PEERS program), where the chosen coach/support aligned with the participant’s preferences.
  - Eventually, they shifted toward independence skills like using Uber to attend the group and manage travel independently.
- The story is used to illustrate SDP’s ability to:
  - Use natural environments
  - Hire/select supports that work in real-world settings
  - Change support strategies as the participant grows

Detailed methodology / step-by-step instructions mentioned

Enrollment process to join SDP (high-level roadmap)
- Attend two online orientations, each 2 hours.
- Complete pre-enrollment supports.
- Work with an Independent Facilitator (IF) (chosen by the participant/family).
- IF helps you:
  - Create the person-centered plan
  - Determine your budget
  - Build the spending plan aligned to the person-centered plan
  - Choose a financial management service (one of many options statewide; “best” depends on fit)
  - Transition services through the IPP so there’s no service gap
- Note: you remain in traditional services while transitioning until SDP takes effect.
Developing a person-centered plan (process elements)
- Use a trained person-centered planner.
- Gather input using structured prompts such as:
  - Best day / worst day
  - Likes/dislikes
  - Important to vs. important for
- Build goals as outcome statements (not “services”).
- Map each goal to:
  - Needs/supports
  - Who helps
  - How it becomes real through the spending plan
- Ensure balance using important two vs important four:
  - Joy/contentment activities
  - Health/safety supports
- Allow the plan to be flexible and updated as life changes.
Using supports in the community
- Select providers/supports that match real-life preferences and settings.
- If supports don’t work (e.g., schedule rigidity in traditional vendored services), SDP allows changing:
  - Who provides support
  - How often and for what purposes
  - Rates (within “reasonable” expectations)
  - Community-based activities

Speakers / sources featured

Teresa Cortes Lamas — Program Coordinator, Connection California (Parents Helping Parents community)
Cristiana Morales — Directs the Self-Determination Institute; researcher/thought leader/trainer; parent and disability rights advocate
Self-Determination Institute (SDI) — nonprofit source of information (website referenced: complete guide to sdp.org)