SDP is available to all eligible individuals receiving services from a regional center, and it empowers individuals and their families to have greater freedom and control in selecting support services. You'll receive a certified individual budget, allowing you to choose the providers that align with your Individual Program Plan (IPP) and person-centered plan (PCP). To get started, the participant, parent, guardian, or conservator must attend an orientation provided by the Department of Disability Services.

CWJ Alliance will walk you through the entire SDP process, or we can explain particular aspects of the program. Understanding SDP can be overwhelming, but we will hold your hand so you can be rest assured that your transition and implementation of SDP is well taken care of.

Yes, of course.  A regional center will pay for SDP services, so we recommend becoming a participant if you are eligible to enroll. We can also accept direct payments for our services if you choose to work with us.

We charge hourly for all clients. Please contact us and inquire about our rates. We can offer payment plans as well. We want to do our best in making sure finances do not interfere with your ability to live your best life.

Acronyms are used to make discussing terminology easier, and service codes are given to every service, support, or payment a regional center makes. The following are some of the most frequently used acronyms and service codes:

• SDP: Self-Determination Program​ - voluntary alternative to the traditional way of receiving regional center services. 

• RC: Regional Center -  community-based, non-profit agencies in California that coordinate and deliver services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

• IPP: Individul Program Plan - a personalized document that outlines an individual's goals, needs, and the services they will receive to support their development and well-being. It is a contract between the individual and the regional center, detailing what will be done in achieving their preferred outcomes.

• IF: Independent Facilitator -   a person chosen and directed by a participant in SDP to help implement their program.

• PCP: Person-Centered Plan -  a process-oriented approach where an individual, with the help of their chosen circle of  support, develops a plan to achieve their goals and live a fulfilling life. It focuses on what's important to the individual, their strengths, and their desired outcomes, rather than simply addressing deficits or needs.

• FMS: Financial Management Service - a company  that assists individuals with managing their SDP budgets and spending plans. They follow a regional center's purchase of service agreement to pay bill for services, activities, and items, and offer monthly accounting statements to track spending. They can also help with hiring staff, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and managing related costs. 

• IEP: Individual Education Plan - a legal document developed for students in PK to 12th grade who need special education services. IEPs describe each student's unique needs, as well as outline the specific special education and related services they will receive to help them progress academically and functionally. 

• 300 codes: All service codes assigned in SDP are in the 300's. Some examples are 310 - Respite, 331 - Community Integration Supports, and  340 - Independent Facilitator Fees and Services.

• 000 - 200, 400 - 999 codes: These service codes are given to programs and supports in the regional center's traditional model. Some examples are 021 - Vehicle Modification/Adaptation, 117 - Specialized Therapeutic Services, 864 - In-Home Respite Worker, 

An independent facilitator (IF) plays a vital role in helping you make informed decisions. Starting with the roadmap of your person-centered plan, an IF can assist developing  your hopes, dreams, and goals, figuring out an individual budget, and coordinating services and supports. They attend meetings with you and your regional center to help lead and advocate on your behalf. Additionally, they can also broaden their scope as needed to ensure the most comprehensive plan (e.g., suggesting appropriate generic resources, navigating health insurance, making referrals to obtain a conservatorship).

An individual budget is the amount of regional center funds that will be available to an SDP participant every year they are enrolled in the program. The spending plan details how the available funds will be used to purchase the supports and services that are necessary to achieve the  goals in the Individual Program Plan. A simple analogy would be the individual budget is the amount of money you have in your checking account, while a spending plan is a breakdown of how that money will be used to pay your bills.

There is definitely a learning curve when starting the SDP process. There are many aspects of the program that may seem confusing at first, but CWJ Alliance will help guide you. You will find that developing a person-centered plan is a refreshing contrast to meetings for IEP's and IPP's. We focus more on positivity and what the client can do. We avoid feelings of having to "fix" a  person with disabilities, and instead praise their successes and wonderful traits. This shift in thinking will immediately make your journey more pleasant and profound. SDP is designed to create freedom of choice for the life you want.

We follow the same privacy policy that is mandated by the federal government for all agencies involved in the healthcare industry. We follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines that protect patients' privacy and ensure the security of their protected health information (PHI). Similar to a doctor's office, you will sign and obtain a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices when you become a client.

One of the great qualities of Los Angeles and Southern California is its diversity. We realize that there are many non-native English speakers, and we would hope to reduce cultural barriers. We have staff on hand to translate into Spanish and Korean, and we hope to grow to include other languages.