Starting or transitioning into SDP
Orientation, person-centered planning, pre-enrollment supports, and the first individual budget and Spending Plan.
SDP Resources
Focused resources for California's Self-Determination Program.
General resource links last checked by Hero: October 3, 2026. The October 14, 2026 FMS directive and its official DDS posting were verified October 16, 2026.
Find what you need
You do not need to know which SDP rule, form, or agency owns the answer before you begin. Start with the task.
Choosing an Independent Facilitator or FMS
Role information, FMS models, comparison tools, and questions to ask before choosing.
Building or changing a Spending Plan
Current DDS tools for individual budgets, Spending Plans, transfers, FMS, and implementation.
A provider or FMS step is stuck
Separate qualification, vendorization, FMS onboarding, authorization, delivery, and payment before deciding what the actual barrier is.
The annual budget year is ending
Use the current DDS continuity guidance when the next individual budget or Spending Plan is not finished.
You have a specific SDP question
Search Hero's Frequent Q&A by the question you actually have.
Start with SDP
A focused set of resources for California's Self-Determination Program. These links are for learning about SDP, entering the program, building a Spending Plan, choosing an Independent Facilitator or FMS, and implementing services.
DDS — Self-Determination Program
The state's main SDP page for current program information, updates, and official links.
California Department of Developmental Services · Official SDP source
SCDD — Statewide SDP Orientation
Registration and current information for the required statewide Self-Determination Program orientation.
California State Council on Developmental Disabilities · Official statewide SDP orientation
DDS — SDP Frequently Asked Questions
Current DDS answers about enrollment, budgets, Spending Plans, FMS, Independent Facilitators, services, and other SDP implementation questions.
California DDS · Official SDP guidance
SCDD — Self-Determination Resources
Statewide SDP orientation materials, getting-started tools, advisory-committee information, and participant resources.
Open SCDD Self-Determination Resources
California SCDD · Statewide SDP resource collection
Build and implement the plan
DDS — SDP Resources & Tools
Official budget tools, SDP service definitions and service codes, waiver information, and other implementation tools.
California DDS · Official SDP tools
DDS — Independent Facilitators
Official information about the Independent Facilitator role, participant choice, and the responsibilities of a paid IF.
Read about Independent Facilitators
California DDS · Official SDP role information
DDS — FMS Contact List
Current FMS providers by regional center, the models they offer, contact information, languages, and links to FMS model information.
California DDS · Official SDP FMS list
DDS — Initial Individual Budgets & Spending Plans
Current DDS direction on initial individual budgets, Spending Plan certification, and transfer of Spending Plan funds.
California DDS · Binding SDP implementation directive
From Approval to Actual Support
Use the detailed guide when several agencies or providers have unresolved responsibilities. Map each barrier, relevant evidence, responsibility, and follow-up—not only what has been authorized.
Current SDP rules and updates
DDS — SDP FMS Vendor Standards (issued October 14, 2026)
Issued and distributed: DDS Directive D-2026-Self-Determination Program-003 establishes statewide Financial Management Services (FMS) vendor standards under Welfare and Institutions Code section 4685.8(p)(2). Attachment A sets specific requirements for FMS vendors; it does not make Independent Facilitators FMS vendors.
Who is responsible: San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) is the statewide vendoring regional center for SDP FMS vendors and oversees vendor-level standards, audits, and enforcement. Existing FMS vendorization transfers occur through a phased review process, not automatically on the directive's issuance date. The participant's regional center remains responsible for monitoring individual billing activities, individual payment matters, and reimbursement for approved services purchased.
Selected participant-facing FMS standards (Attachment A):
- Access and enrollment: Provide translation and interpretation for participants and families whose preferred language is not English (Standard 6.5), a written service agreement and information about budget statements (Standards 7.1–7.3).
- Budget transparency: Provide accurate monthly individual budget statements; notify the participant and regional center within five business days after identifying a needed certified Spending Plan modification; and flag overspending, underspending, or possible unauthorized services in the required budget statements within five business days after discovery (Standards 4.6, 8.2, 8.4).
- Transfers: Maintain a process to transfer a participant to a new FMS within 60 calendar days after the participant requests a transfer, including sending specified records within 30 calendar days and coordinating uninterrupted payment for approved services (Standard 12.1).
- Payments: Timely pay for services based on complete and accurate invoices, receipts, and a completed valid payment request within 30 calendar days (Standard 14.8).
- FMS grievances: Provide a written grievance process with an investigation and resolution timeline not exceeding 60 calendar days, written information on the resolution, and corrective action for substantiated grievances (Standards 5.1–5.2).
These FMS grievance requirements are distinct from the new DDS statewide grievance process scheduled to begin February 1, 2027, and from applicable Lanterman Act appeals.
↓ Download DDS directive (PDF, 8 pages; English) · ↓ Download Attachment A — FMS Vendor Standards (PDF, 27 pages; English)
DDS official directive, attachments A–D, and summary · DDS official SDP directives archive
Source status, October 16, 2026: Official DDS directive listing verified. The local PDF downloads above are copies hosted by Hero; the linked DDS publication provides the official files, Attachments A–D, and the plain-language summary. Existing FMS vendorization transfers remain phased under the directive.
DDS / CMS — Approved SDP waiver renewal (2026–2031)
CMS approved California's SDP 1915(c) waiver renewal on September 2, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. The approval covers updated person-centered planning, selected telehealth options, FMS rate structures, grievance requirements, and performance measures. Check the full waiver for the rule relevant to your situation.
Read the approved SDP waiver and CMS approval
CMS approval · Federal Medicaid waiver CA.1166.R02.00 · September 2, 2026
DDS — Language access and cultural competency (May 2026)
Directive D-2026-Equity-001 updates regional-center Language Access and Cultural Competency program planning and requirements. It should not be confused with a participant-specific IPP or interpretation determination.
Read the May 12, 2026 DDS directive
California DDS · Program directive · May 12, 2026
DDS — Self-Determination Directives
Current and archived DDS directives specifically issued for the Self-Determination Program.
California DDS · Official SDP directives
DDS — SDP Program Updates
Implementation updates, certification work, participant information, and other statewide SDP developments.
California DDS · Official SDP updates
DDS — SDP Training & Meeting Materials
Current trainings, meeting materials, presentations, and event recordings about Self-Determination when available.
California DDS · Official SDP learning materials
SDP tools and community resources
DVU — Communication Access & AAC
Self-advocate-led discussions, AAC resources, and practical examples of communication partners, access barriers, and communication rights. Educational advocacy materials; check current rules with official sources.
Explore DVU Communication Access Connect · DVU Communication Rights
Disability Voices United · Communication-access resource · Link reviewed October 16, 2026
Self-Determination Institute — SDP guide
Community education about choosing and directing SDP services, from person-centered planning to spending plans and implementation. It complements but does not replace DDS rules.
Explore SDI's Complete Guide to SDP · Code 360 · Code 336
Self-Determination Institute · Community education · Link reviewed October 16, 2026
Acierto Independent Facilitator
Compare Independent Facilitators by rates, languages, regional centers served, virtual or in-person availability, and whether they are accepting new participants.
Compare Independent Facilitators
Self-Determination Tech Alliance · SDP comparison tool · Listed by SCDD
Acierto Financial Management Services
Compare California FMS options and better understand Bill Payer, Sole Employer, and Co-Employer models.
Self-Determination Tech Alliance · SDP comparison tool · Listed by SCDD
SDP Resource Center
Participant- and family-focused education about California's Self-Determination Program, including planning, budgets, Spending Plans, FMS, Independent Facilitation, and implementation.
Disability Voices United · SDP education and community resource
California Association of Independent Facilitators — Cal-IF
A professional association focused on Independent Facilitation practice, ethics, training, and standards within California's Self-Determination Program.
Cal-IF · SDP professional resource
Provider, vendorization, and FMS are different steps
Quick answer: A provider being qualified, FMS-onboarded, traditionally vendorized, authorized, delivered, or paid are different facts. One does not automatically prove the others.
Non-FMS SDP providers
WIC §4685.8(t) provides that only the FMS provider is required to apply for Title 17 vendorization for the Self-Determination Program. Other SDP service and support providers are exempt from that vendorization requirement when serving SDP participants, while still needing to meet applicable licenses, certifications, state documentation, DDS qualifications, and federal debarment requirements.
The Provider Directory
DDS's March 27, 2026 revised standardized-vendorization directive says entities seeking to provide services through SDP are excluded from the Provider Directory application process, except FMS service codes 315–317. The Directory is the statewide vendorization lane for covered regional-center vendorizations; it is not a required onboarding path for ordinary non-FMS SDP providers.
FMS vendorization is different from FMS onboarding
Every SDP participant uses an FMS. FMS is the SDP provider category that must be regional-center vendorized. An FMS may also onboard a participant's workers or other providers for payroll or payment. That participant-specific setup is not the same thing as Title 17 vendorization.
Keep the evidence states separate
Qualified means the provider meets requirements for the service. FMS-onboarded means the payment or employment setup is complete. Authorized means person-specific approval/funding exists. Delivered, paid, and effective are additional separate states.
WIC §4685.8 DDS revised Provider Directory directive DDS FMS vendorization directive
Annual budget / Spending Plan rollover — no automatic service gap
Quick answer: A delay or disagreement in completing the next annual individual budget or Spending Plan does not, by itself, authorize a gap in the services needed to implement an enrolled SDP participant's IPP.
If the next budget or Spending Plan is not finished
DDS directs regional centers to continue services through a process that achieves continuity. Examples include extending the current budget and Spending Plan when sufficient funds remain, or continuing the prior year's budget and Spending Plan through a new purchase-of-service authorization after removing one-time expenditures.
Timing in the DDS continuity guidance
DDS directs the regional center to tell the FMS how continuity will be handled at least 14 days before the current budget year ends. The new budget and Spending Plan should be completed no later than 60 days after the prior budget year ends, or a Notice of Action should be issued.
What continuity does not mean
Continuity does not automatically approve a brand-new service, a proposed increase, or a disputed Spending Plan item. Current budget-calculation and Spending Plan certification requirements still apply, and one-time expenditures are not carried forward under the DDS continuity guidance.
DDS continuity guidance Current DDS budget / Spending Plan directive Appeals and current law
How to use these resources
This directory links to official and community materials about California's SDP. For a short answer, use Frequent Q&A. For several connected implementation problems, use From Approval to Actual Support.
Not every resource has the same authority. When an exact rule matters, start with current law and applicable DDS directives. FAQs, trainings, comparison tools, and community resources can help explain or navigate SDP, but they do not override controlling authority.
Links and programs can change. If a link is broken or appears outdated, please let Hero know.