Understand the building blocks of SDP
Plain-language starting points for participants and families.
What is the Self-Determination Program?
California's Self-Determination Program gives eligible regional center participants greater authority over how services and supports are arranged within the program's requirements, using a participant-directed planning process, an individual budget, a spending plan, and Financial Management Services.
What does an Independent Facilitator do?
An Independent Facilitator is selected and directed by the participant and can help with informed budget decisions, locating and coordinating supports, identifying needs and options, person-centered planning and IPP advocacy, and obtaining identified services and supports.
What is Person-Centered Planning?
Person-Centered Planning starts with the participant's strengths, preferences, priorities, relationships, communication, culture, goals, and what is important to and for them. The participant leads the direction of the plan.
What is the Individual Budget?
The individual budget is the amount of regional center funding available to purchase eligible SDP services and supports. Budget development is a separate step from deciding exactly how funds will be used.
What is a Spending Plan?
The spending plan describes how the participant intends to use available individual-budget funds to meet IPP goals and objectives through selected services and supports.
What is FMS?
Financial Management Services helps manage the financial and employment-related responsibilities of the participant's SDP arrangement. Every SDP participant uses an FMS provider.
Official information: For current program rules, directives, forms, and regional-center-specific procedures, use California DDS and your regional center as the authoritative sources.
Official California DDS resources
For current statewide rules, directives, forms and program updates, use the California Department of Developmental Services as the primary source.
Self-Determination Program
Statewide SDP overview and current program information.
Visit California DDS →Independent Facilitators
Official description of the Independent Facilitator role and responsibilities.
View IF information →SDP FAQs
Current answers on person-centered planning, budgets, spending plans, FMS and services.
View FAQs →